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Broch Photo House

Photos of local scenes, activities and events taken in and around Fraserburgh. Feel free to tag yourself!

01/11/2026

60 years ago this week the “Battle of the Mucker” was in full swing.

At the start of November 1966 for a full week the “Battle of the Mucker’ had been raging at Fraserburgh Academy after a surprise order the previous Wednesday from Mr John Ferguson, the rector, forbidding pupils to leave the Academy grounds and buy food from the four bakers' vans waiting in Dennyduff Road.

From the time the order was issued pupils crowded to the railings of the Old Academy at the interval and chanted “We want food” and singing “We shall overcome”.

Janitors and teachers spent their break keeping pupils away from the vans and within the confines of the school grounds. Once the bells rang signalling the end of the interval the pupils who had been kept at the New Academy brokk loose and charged down the hill towards the pupils at the Old Academy. They met at the vans and many of them ignored warning and attempted to buy suckers, pies, etc., from them. Passers-by were frequently stopped and asked to buy food for the youngsters, handing them through the railings.

Mr Ferguson gave the following reason: for the ban “Cars go charging through them (the pupils) and it can be dangerous to the driver as well as to the children, but I am responsible.”

The bakers’ van men pointed out that they have been going to the school since before the war and that in all that time there had not been one accident. As an answer to the safety problem one vanman put forward the suggestion that the janitors who were employed in keeping the children away could be used simply to keep them in order when they went to the vans.

In an attempt to solve the problem the four bakers’ van drivers concerned sent a letter to Mr Ferguson asking if they could be allowed to enter the school grounds to sell their goods and in this way they could overcome the road safety criticism and everyone would be happy.

Replying to this request in a letter to each of the men, however, Mr Ferguson refused to give them this permission with the result that they all met up to discuss their next move.

Mr William Gibb, of Gibb's Bakery in Mid Street, pointed out that they were persisting not only because they were losing a large part of their trade but also because “There are a number of kids who come in from the country and need something hot to eat during the morning. The teachers are able to have their coffee so why should the pupils not have something?”

He also mentioned the fact that one teacher had complained to him about the ban after he had tried to buy some hot pies and had been refused. The teacher in question had to travel a long distance every morning and liked something hot at the break.

Asked what their next step would be they said that they had not decided and added: “We are doing all we can. It is now up to the mothers of the children to make their feelings known.”

Billy Watson 2026

30/10/2026

Boats in the Bay from Cairnbulg Boathaven 30 October 2026

24/10/2026

A Bazaar was held at Broadsea 24th October 1887

It was a big occasion when a bazaar was opened in the Broadsea Hall on Monday 24th October 1887 by Lord Saltoun, the object being to defray part of the cost of the Broadsea Hall which had just been erected for the village.

The construction of the hall was undertaken by the Broadsea fishermen some eighteen months earlier, the object being to provide a place for their meetings.

The fishermen appointed a committee to carry out the scheme, and the late Lord Saltoun, shortly before his death, granted a site at a nominal rate. About £200 was collected, and the bazaar was held to raise further funds, the cost of the hall being about £500.

The work was begun in April 1886, from plans by Mr. McDonald, and was carried on under the superintendence of Mr. Brebner, builder. The mason work was done by Mr. James Rollo, joiner work by Mr. James Shirras, and plumber work by Mr. Rennie, the other contractors were Mr. Morrison, slater, and Messrs. Low & Barrie, plasterers. The building is 60 feet long by 32 wide, and about 23 feet high, and was specially decorated for the occasion with evergreens and drapery.
At the bazaar the stalls showed a great variety of useful and ornamental articles. The following were the stallholders:
Stall 1: Mrs. Reiach and Mrs. McAllan; assisted by Miss McAllan, Barrasgate; Miss Robertson, Cross Street; Miss Georgina Fraser, Broad Street; and Miss Nelly Gray, High Street.
Stall 2: Mrs. Macconnachie; and Miss Gray, Saltoun Place; assisted by Mrs. Charles Gray; Miss Proctor, High Street; Miss Burnett, Kirkton; and Miss Macconnachie, Seaview.
Stall 3: Mrs. Burnett, Broad Street, and Mrs. Paterson, the Manse; assisted by the Misses Burnett, Miss Tocher, and Miss Ligertwood
Stall 4: Mrs. George Noble, Broadsea; and Mrs. Johnstone (Custom House); assisted by Mrs. Bruce and Miss McLaren.
Stall 5: Mrs. Park, Ardaros; and Mrs. McNab, Broadsea; assisted by Miss Park, Ardaros; Mrs. Henderson, Saltoun Place; Miss Robertson, Inverallochy; Miss Barclay, Aberdour House; and Misses Milne and Watt, Broadsea.

There were also a game, poultry, and fish stall, in charge of two fisher lassies, Isabella and Ann Noble; a refreshment stall conducted by Mrs. Forbes and Miss Mortimer; and a stall for fishing gear under the charge of a party of fishermen.

Lord Saltoun was conveyed from Philorth to the bazaar in a fishing boat mounted on a carriage, and escorted by a procession of fishermen, with the R***e Volunteer band at its head.

Lord Saltoun’s party included Lady Saltoun, General the Hon. D. McDonald Fraser, C.B., and Misses Fraser; Colonel Richards, Grenadier Guards, and Mrs. Richards; Captain Turner, Kinharrachie; and Mr. T. D. Croft. The boat was dragged by a large number of fishermen, and great crowds witnessed the procession.

At the opening ceremony Mr. George Noble, “Sottie” presided, and briefly introduced Lord Saltoun.

His Lordship, in opening the bazaar, thanked the fishermen for the honour they had done him in coming out to Philorth for him. There was no laird in all Scotland that day had a finer boat or a grander crew — (applause). This was the fourth occasion that the Broadsea fishermen had conveyed their laird from Philorth to Fraserburgh, the first being in 1844, when they came for his grand-uncle to a tenantry dinner on his return from the Chinese war, and he believed it was a fact that three or four of that crew were now alive, among others George Crawford “Mosley,” who was the owner of the boat. The other occasions were at the marriage of the Prince of Wales and the laying of the foundation stone of Balaclava Pier. Since then times had gone very much back, but he hoped that as they had had some years of adversity, they would now have many years of prosperity — (applause). He thought that there were already signs of improvement. On the occasion referred to in 1844 they had an admiral as one of the crew — Admiral Gordon — but he was sure that boat was not one whit better manned or commanded than was their boat to-day — (applause). Since then they had to mourn the loss by death of Sir Alexander Anderson, who had done a great deal for Fraserburgh, and had amongst other things got them the benefit of the Police Act. With regard to the bazaar, he had had great pleasure in carrying out his father’s wishes in giving a feu for the hall at a nominal feu-duty, and he hoped it would be a great benefit to the inhabitants of Broadsea — (applause). The ladies of Fraserburgh had kindly assisted and got the help of their neighbours, but he appealed to the ladies to spare him and fleece the strangers he had brought with him — (laughter). This was the first time he had opened a bazaar, and he felt himself unequal to it. He could not make a joke, which he supposed was expected; however, he declared the bazaar open and hoped it would fulfil the object for which it had been undertaken — (applause).
Rev Richards read a speech on behalf of the fishermen, sincerely thanking his lordship for the part he had taken in opening the bazaar, and expressing their pleasure in seeing Lady Saltoun make her first public appearance. He hoped the new hall would be the beginning of a new era in their history, and he proposed a vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Saltoun.
Lord Saltoun, in reply, said he trusted it would not be the last time Lady Saltoun would appear on the platform with him, and he was sure her ladyship would be glad to assist them in any way in her power. He advised them, when they had any complaint or grievance, either singly or collectively, to come to them, and they would do the best they could for them.

The usual business of the bazaar was then commenced and it continued on the day after.

The Broadsea Hall building is still standing and is now privately owned.

Copyright Billy Watson 2026

23/10/2026

The final waves of the day were caught with the same enthusiasm and energy as the first waves at Fraserburgh Beach on Saturday 17 October 2026 on what had been an epic day of surfing.
The hugely successful Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing will be remembered fondly for the many things including the brilliant weather and conditions, the talent and potential showed by all the youngsters, the brilliant surfing and the brilliant planning, preparation and organisation.
Well done to all who took part in any way to make it such great success.

23/10/2026

One of the longest waves of the day was caught by one of the youngest surfers. A truly epic surf on the day of the superbly organised Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing on Saturday 17 October 2026.

23/10/2026

Epic Surfing by Epic Surfers at Fraserburgh Beach on the Saturday of the brilliantly organised Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing on 17 October 2026.

23/10/2026

Brilliant displays of surfing by the youngest surfers in great conditions at Fraserburgh Beach during the highly organised Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing on Saturday 17 October 2026.

23/10/2026

Fraserburgh Beach saw the best young surfers in Scotland put on a scintillating display of surfing at the brilliantly organised Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing on Saturday 17 October 2026.

23/10/2026

The best young surfers in Scotland put on a scintillating display of surfing at the brilliantly organised Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing on Saturday 17 October 2026.

23/10/2026

An Epic weekend of Surfing at Fraserburgh started off with the brilliantly organised Scottish Junior Series surf event run by the Broch Surf Club and Scottish Surfing on Saturday 17 October 2026

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