BANFFSHIRE STORIES
Our 2025 Annual Conference
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Our annual conference on the theme of Banffshire Stories and was held on Saturday, 4th October 2025 at the Seafield Arms Hotel in Cullen. It was a sell out event with delegates attending both in person and online! You can see some highlights here.
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Programme
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09.30
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Registration
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10.00
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Welcome and Introduction
Andrew Simpson, HM Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire |
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10.15
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Keynote 1
Shona MacLean Shona is an internationally-acclaimed writer who is best-known for her series of novels featuring Alexander Seaton, the first of which 'The Redemption of Alexander Seaton' is set in Banff in 1626. |
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11.15
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Coffee and shortbread
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11.30
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Short Paper 1
Stories from the Moray Firth Fishing Disaster of 1848 Lorna Summers |
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12.00
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Short Paper 2
'Four fast and fabulous fables': stories from Banffshire A woman clothed with the sun - John Aitken James MacPherson: fact and fiction - Mary Arnold Spirit of Banffshire - Alison Smith A village bobby and two German spies - Peter Reid |
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12.30
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Lunch
Soup and sandwiches served in the main hall. The lunch break also provides an opportunity to browse stands and visit Cullen, Deskford, & Portknockie Heritage Centre (directly downstairs) where you can see a range of exhibitions, particularly the extended model of the old town of Cullen. |
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13.30
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Short Paper 3
A Banffshire story Frieda Morrison |
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14.00
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Short Paper 4
Aberlour: stories of the orphanage Siobhan Carroll, Aberlour Children's Charity |
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14.30
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Short comfort break
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14.45
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Keynote 2
Dr Rachael Ironside Rachael is an Associate Professor at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Her research focuses on storytelling, legends, folklore, and the supernatural. |
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15.45
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Closing remarks
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