Duncan Harley

On 23 August 1989, Mary Webb’s ashes were scattered within the grounds of Kaimhill Crematorium at Garthdee. It's a fine place and worthy of a walk around. Mary however had actually been cremated at Oakley Wood Crematorium near Leamington during what Jack Webster recalls as “a brief and pathetic finale; few even in her own native area having the slightest idea of her significance.” So who was Mary Webb? When the Victorian era Aberdeen Music Hall closed for much needed renovations in 2016, a series of public events was organised during the weeks leading up to the closure. Titled ‘Lights Oot!’ the final performances showcased the diversity of the venue and celebrated the entertainments which had drawn the folk of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to the hallowed place over the years. Built to a design by architect Archibald Simpson the building opened in 1822, initially as a private membership only gentleman’s club, and over the intervening decades performers as diverse as Charles Dic...

We had a wee gander around Stonehaven at the weekend before gadding off to the new Mama Mia blockbuster. Unexpected rain meant that the queue at the Bay Chipper was a mere 17 minutes which was fine since queuing in a thunderstorm can be a complete pain. As an aside, the harbour was empty of water but full of boats and spiked lightning. As the lightening flashed the countdown went from 20 miles to under two, at which point we sped off to Garthdee to watch an episode of Метод . It’s a kind of Russian adaptation of Dexter. Slightly disturbing – well very disturbing if truth be told, I have no idea how it will end although there are dark hints that the main character Rodion Meglin may be a serial vigilante. As for Mama Mia Two. It’s not at all bad apart from the strange lack of a coherent timeline. The hiring of a heavily made-up Cher as Meryl Streep’s mum is probably the cause of it all. With a mere three years between the pair of them – Cher is circa 72 and Meryl is seemingly ...