Analysis: 'The strength of the local community throughout the area is magnificent'

Published on Friday 18 December 2009 22:09

I CAME to live in Aberdeenshire from Paisley in 1974 and only planned to stay here for a couple of years. But 35 years on, I am still here.

It is the general quality of life, including education, services and culture, that marks this part of the world out as somewhere great to live.

The vibrancy of the local community and the richness of the culture is shown every year in the annual Stonehaven Fireballs ceremony.

When you see those great globules of fire parading down the high street you know that you are somewhere special.

It shows the areas rich cultural background and really makes you feel part of something that stretches back in history.

The strength of the local community throughout the area is also magnificent.

You only have to look at the recent floods, and the response from residents, to see that this is a close community where everyone helps each other out.

From those who donated furniture, to the people who were involved in rescue efforts, nobody asked for a thank you. People just got on with it as they always do here.

When I first moved to the area, the thing that struck me was the inclusive nature of the people.

I was used to a sectarianism that started at primary school. But the same sort of attitudes just did not exist in this part of the country, and I am happy to say the same is still true.

This inclusiveness extends to the people who come here from different parts of the country and from further abroad.

No matter what nationality you are from you become a North-east person.

Everyone is included and invited to become "one of us".

The landscape is the last piece of this fantastic area that warrants special mention.

We have beaches, mountains and sea and everything else in between. The only thing we are missing are some islands.

Perhaps we could borrow Arran for a day and then we would be complete.

&#149 Ian Mollison is a constituency helper for ex-deputy first minister and Aberdeen South MSP Nichol Stephen