Latest news with #BuckieHighSchool
The Herald Scotland
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Buckie radio station to mark 50 years since launch
To understand Radio Buckie, a community radio station which began in the local school and went on to broadcast to hospitals and care homes across the region, one must first become acquainted with its founder - science teacher and former pirate disc jockey Jeff Jones. Fraser, now in his sixties, remembers him fondly. The Pirate Radio Scotland ship, the Comet, which transmitted for 20 months from 1966-67 (Image: NQ) He recalls: 'Back in the 1960s, there were a lot of ships in the North Sea which would broadcast music to Europe and the UK. Jeff was from Darlington and he broadcast from a ship called Radio 270. 'That is, until the Marine Offences bill came into force in 1967. His mum didn't want him to get arrested,' Fraser chuckles. Jones emerged onshore in Aberdeen, where he was studying at the university, and became one of the city's most popular DJs. He then moved to Paisley, where he took his broadcasting expertise to the local hospital radio and became a science teacher at St Aelred's High School. In 1973, Jones moved north to the town of Buckie, 62 miles north-west of Aberdeen. There, he worked as a chemistry teacher at Buckie High School. One day, Fraser says, Jones, who was known for his love of three-piece suits, made a rather interesting proposition to his teenaged charges. 'Jeff said: 'If anyone would like to get involved with broadcasting, come up after the lesson.' I was 15, so that really interested me. 'So I was part of the first group of pupils who set up the hospital radio in our classroom in Buckie High School. Jeff was the first to bring the idea of hospital radio to Buckie.' A young Keith Fraser (right) along with engineer Innes Flett in 1975. (Image: Supplied) The station, which went live in February 1975, was met with widespread community support, Fraser remembers. 'There were 12 to 15 pupils involved. We were given a Wednesday afternoon each week to do programming. Before long, a local care home in Buckie and the community centre were keen to host our shows. 'You have to remember,' he tells me. 'This was 50 years ago. We had a very active community Rotary Club who fundraised for us, and raised thousands of pounds.' Small-town set-up aside, the fledgling studio was run like a professional organisation. A landline connected the studio in Buckie High School to the nearby Seaforth Hospital. 'It introduced a group of young people to professional broadcasting. Jeff insisted that we do it professionally. We had a range of programming; country, Scottish music, easy-listening. We played Frank Sinatra and Perry Como.' READ MORE: 1970s luminaries such as Tammy Wynette, David Essex, and The Corries were interviewed on the station, which was an early proponent of Bruce Springsteen, according to Fraser. He adds: 'It was really quite a good grounding and a lot of people got very good experience in the industry. 'One of our broadcasters was Mike Holloway, who went on to work at Northsound in Aberdeen on their breakfast show, and was in charge of programming at Radio Clyde.' The group gathered in 2000 to celebrate 25 years since the station began. (Image: Supplied) However, changing technology and rising costs finally caught up to the station. Fraser explains: 'What really put the kibosh on the radio was our use of post office landlines to broadcast. It only cost £50 at first, but by the 1990s, it cost thousands every year. 'So the radio reverted back to its roots and provided music to kids at lunchtime for a few years." Programming stopped before the community radio station was relaunched in 2015. Looking back at the last 50 years, Fraser says the skills he learned as a part of Radio Buckie helped to set the stage for the rest of his life. 'We produced outside broadcasts and interviewed big stars. It was a good all-round grounding. 'I wasn't a shrinking violet, but radio gave me a lot more confidence in dealing with people. I brought a lot of that to my later career.' In the early 1980s, Fraser was living in Aberdeen when he received a call from Jones, asking him to help a group of locals set up a hospital radio at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Fraser, who was in the midst of a degree programme at Robert Gordon Institute of Technology (now RGU), answered the call. Read more: 'Grampian Hospital Radio was set up in 1981. I was the first chair,' he tells me, proudly adding: 'And it is still going today, broadcasting 24/7 over the internet. Fraser, who worked in the records department at Robert Gordon University (RGU) for many years, has retained his love for community radio. 'I still do two programmes for Grampian, a Sunday morning breakfast show and a Sunday afternoon contemporary charts slot,' he tells me. 'Folks from as far away as Japan and Brazil listen in.' Meanwhile, Jones had a long career as a part-time newsreader in north-east radio circles, where he could be heard across the decades on Moray Firth Radio, BBC Aberdeen, Northsound, and even BBC Radio 2. Yet, time has taken its toll, and while the original members of Radio Buckie get together to reminisce every five or ten years, the group's founder is no longer among them. The group, pictured in 2015 to celebrate 40 years. Jeff Jones is third from right. (Image: Supplied) Jones, who died in 2019, is remembered as a bastion of the Moray community. Over the years, he served as a chartered chemist, Girl Guide ambassador, newspaper contributor, and justice of the peace. His absence makes Radio Buckie's 50 year reunion, which will be celebrated at a special reunion lunch in November, all the more poignant. 'This will likely be the last time the original group will be able to come together,' Fraser says, rather matter of factly. 'November 27th would have been Jeff's 80th birthday, so I felt it was fitting that we met up then.' Indeed, as the gang gets together one last time, they will doubtless be toasting the pirate DJ who brought them all together, so many years ago.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Moray Council insists Buckie High School is safe after concerns
Moray Council has insisted Buckie High School remains a safe environment for pupils and staff after photos were posted online appearing to show it in a poor local authority said improvement work was ongoing and issues were being media posts of the secondary in a state of disrepair have been uploaded in recent days, with one parent saying the picures were a "massive concern".However, in a statement, council leader Kathleen Robertson said some of the damage shown was from storms in 2024, and that those specific issues were addressed at the time and had since been resolved. Stephen Birtwistle has a son at the school - as well as a son and daughter who will be moving up soon. He told BBC Scotland News: "Nobody wants to stress about their kids having to go into a school which is unsafe. "From the look of the pictures and the stories I am being told it is a massive concern as a parent, you just do not want that phone call saying something has happened to your child. "Our kids deserve better, it is not acceptable to have them at a school in that condition." Parents have long campaigned for an improved school to be built in its place but Moray Council said "work towards a long-term solution" was ongoing. Council leader Ms Robertson said: "We are aware of recent posts and photographs circulating online about the condition of Buckie High School and understand that parents, carers, and members of the community may feel concerned and upset by what they are seeing and reading online."While some current concerns have already been identified by both the council and the school, our maintenance teams are addressing them where appropriate."Any urgent matters are responded to as a priority."
Press and Journal
16-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Why Moray Council officials are recommending AGAINST upgrade works to Buckie High School
Education officials have warned Buckie High School could be left to deteriorate as part of a plan to secure government funding for a new school. This is despite council officers admitting the school has 'further deteriorated' and is close to becoming part of the lowest rated schools in Scotland. Councillors have been given a number of options to decide the future of the school, but have decided to delay the decision until after a public meeting in June. The council will also wait until after a decision to move ahead with Elgin High School's extension has been made in the autumn. While guaranteeing 'complete transparency,' Deputy Chief Executive for education Denise Whitworth warned upgrade works could impact any future funding bids for improvements. Officials are hesitant because if school standards improve, it risks the Scottish Government diverting funding to a different school in need of a new build. It means any future works to Buckie High School will likely be dictated by the Scottish Government's school standards grading system. Currently, on a scale from A to D, Buckie High is rated a 'C' in condition and 'B' in suitability. The minimum standards for both is 'B'. This puts the school in the worst 8% of both primaries and secondaries in Scotland. Moray Council's learning estate programme manager Andy Hall admitted there is a 'necessity' for 'substantial' investment into Buckie High School. He told councillors 'mechanical and electrical' areas of the school have 'further deteriorated.' He also noted issues with the school's roof and windows. However, as a result of Moray Council's ongoing budget issues, officers admitted finding funds for school improvements is a 'significant concern.' The council is currently unable to fund a new school for Buckie and would need financial support from the Scottish Government. However, the government are yet to commit any more funding for new school projects. This conundrum means officers presented several alternatives to councillors, including transferring funding from other projects such as Elgin High School's extension. Buckie councillor Sonya Warren said the school and its additional role as a community centre has always been 'the heart of the community.' She wants the school to remain 'top of the priority list' for a new build to afford Buckie students the same learning opportunities as 'all other upgraded schools in Moray.' Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Marc Macrae said it was 'disappointing' the recent Programme for Government announcement did not make any further funding available. Meanwhile, SNP group leader Scott Lawrence said it was important to 'maximise the funding opportunities' and said any extra money the council could source for Buckie High School would be welcome. The council has agreed to postpone any decision until after a public meeting on the 17th June and once final research into Elgin High's extension is complete. However, councillors did agree to work together to prepare a cross-party letter to be sent to the Scottish Government, asking for a clearer picture on future school funding.
Press and Journal
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Fears Buckie High School revamp could be 'kicked into second place again' in favour of Elgin High School extension
Plans for Buckie's new high school could face yet more delays while Elgin High School's extension is finalised. A council report has published several options for Buckie's new school, a number of which recommended councillors wait until the exact details of Elgin High School's planned extension are confirmed. Other options include the council 'do nothing' or have officers borrow more money. In reaction to the report, Buckie councillor Sonya Warren said the lack of progress on a new school was 'beyond being political.' It comes after hopes of the Scottish Government's Programme for Government unveiling new funding for school projects were dashed earlier this week. Buckie councillor Sonya Warren told the Press and Journal the recent Programme for Government announcement 'doesn't change the situation' for Buckie High School. The SNP councillor said she intends to 'hope and pray' the Scottish election next year brings a government that will commit funding for a new school. Without that extra funding, she doesn't believe the council is in a position to be able to afford not just a new school, but perhaps even a programme of refurbishment. Councillor Warren said: 'Buckie High absolutely has to stay top of the priority list. Three times now it's been kicked into second place. 'It is still one of the worst schools in Moray and one of the worst in Scotland – there are not many worse than it. 'It's way beyond being political, it's a vital resource for the east of Moray.' She added the school situation was 'not a reflection on the teachers' and they were doing a 'phenomenal job' in the circumstances. Moray Council's learning estate programme manager Andy Hall has prepared a report outlining eight proposals councillors could take forward for Buckie High. They range from 'do nothing' or 'delay' going all the way up to borrowing money for the new school. With Buckie High School currently at 87.5% capacity, a number of different proposals remain on the table, dependent on funding. The bare minimum approach the council has suggested would be to refurbish the priority areas of the school with whatever money they have. Councillor Warren has questioned this approach. She said: 'It's obviously going to be a huge expense whatever. 'The question has to be asked – is it worth spending so much money on repairing and replacing to keep it going instead of doing a new build?' The report has made it clear to councillors they should consider postponing making a decision until plans for Elgin High School's extension are finalised. The Elgin High project is currently paused until further work is done on the capacity needs of that school. The report also says 'any significant investment beyond immediate repair and maintenance' should wait until after more Scottish Government funding becomes clearer. Buckie High School's last condition report graded it a 'C' which is below the minimum 'B' standard. Councillor Warren said more recent investigations moved the school down to a 'very low C,' and nearing the lowest tier 'D' grading. Recently announced housing could bring more families to Buckie, adding further stresses for the school. A petition earlier in the year calling for more investment in the school gathered over 1,000 signatures. Another report will be prepared for November, with a review on how much funding is required for the Elgin High School extension.
