Trustees
The current Trustees are:
- Chair: Peter Stock.
- Vice Chair & Bennachie Landscapes Project Group: Allan Will.
- Secretary: Willie Linklater.
- Treasurer: Alan Henderson.
- Publications: Alex Doig.
- Environmental: David Bale.
- Wildlife Group Coordinator: Lorna Bell.
- Work Parties: David Caney.
- General Trustee: Graeme Ralph.
All previous Trustee Meeting Minutes are available to read.
Trustee Biographies
Peter Stock
I have lived in Kemnay since 1985. I have the joy of seeing Bennachie and Millstone Hill from the end of my driveway every day, so the range has been a part of my life these past 35 years. I am a chartered civil engineer, with my work experience being in the oil industry. As light relief from my working life, I used to run the annual Kemnay Fair (now defunct sadly) and was on the committee for Inverurie Music. I have also developed my interest in classical guitar and am a founding member of the North East Scotland Classical Guitar Society, which is now in its 15th year.
I retired in 2016 which was the starting pistol for me to pursue my personal interests, including becoming a volunteer tour guide at Castle Fraser, attending undergraduate modules at Aberdeen University in music and Scottish history and attending Creative Writing, yoga and Pilates evening classes. I am interested in hill walking but not at the Munro bagging level. I became a Hill Warden in January 2020 and was elected a Trustee in July 2020, with responsibilities for administering the Hill Warden scheme.
Allan Will
I was brought up on a farm in Midmar where Bennachie was always in
sight, then moved to the Inverurie area in 1991 and have lived and
worked here since then.
I enjoy getting out on my road bike and also chapping my way round the golf course.
I wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was a wee boy and by chance, a few years back I spotted a Bailies advertisement looking for volunteers on an archaeology dig on the slopes of Bennachie. I got in touch and since then have enjoyed getting involved with the various archaeological projects and learning about the stories the hill has to tell.
I joined the Bennachie Landscapes Project in 2018 and became a Trustee in April 2023.
Willie Linklater
I was brought up and have always stayed in Inverurie or surrounding area, apart from when my job as a subsea engineer in the oil and gas industry took me to various locations in UK and overseas. I have walked regularly over the tops and lower levels of Bennachie for several years and enjoy the area greatly, this being the main reason I joined the Bailies of Bennachie.
I became a trustee in 2018 and my main interest is the outdoor aspect of the hill, I am the secretary and volunteer elsewhere as required. Through my involvement I have learned from others about the history of the hill and the people who used to reside there. This is really interesting and is something I would have never thought I would become involved with in the past.
Alan Henderson
I have enjoyed hillwalking on Bennachie for over 35 years since moving to Aberdeen to go to university. I am very lucky to have a view of Bennachie from our front door.
After working in Nigeria and the United States for almost 15 years, I have now retired and moved back to the area permanently and am delighted to have been appointed a trustee.
Alex Doig
I spent my childhood exploring, playing on and getting lost in the beautiful Angus Glens; they hold special memories for me and whenever I get the chance I'm there with my mountain bike, for a hill run with the dog, a walk with the Family, or maybe a cheeky burger and chips in the walker's bar at the wonderful Clova Hotel. I've never felt more at peace or content than when surrounded by hills and mountains and for the last 20 years, Bennachie's given me and with fingers crossed, my own Family that now in bucket loads. I'm new to the trustees but feel excited and privileged to be given the chance to promote and preserve the hill for hill users now and future generations to come.
David Bale
I have a lifelong interest in all aspects of nature and land use, with particular emphasis on plants and birds. I have a degree in Botany/Zoology with ecology and a PhD in peatland ecology. I have had the privilege of working in statutory nature conservation bodies, the Nature Conservancy Council and its Scottish successor body, Scottish Natural Heritage for 30 years dealing with land management, outdoor recreation and planning issues related to statutory nature conservation sites and protected species. Since then, I have been active with the Bailies as a member of the Bennachie Wildlife Group. When this was established in 2016, I led a 6-session plant identification programme helping people to understand how to look for the features that distinguish various species growing in the area, so that they gain confidence in plant identification for themselves. Using the same approach in principle, I also lead walks looking at the plants of the moorland, woodlands, blanket bogs and fen habitats of Bennachie, and their relationship with past and present land uses on the hill. I also lead week long wildflower holidays for the Aigas field centre in the Highlands, focusing on how to identify plants, their habitats and ecology. Listening out for birds and drawing attention to them always features as part of my walks.
I am actively involved with a steering group on behalf of the Bailies developing plans to promote management of the habitats and species of the Bennachie area. When finalised, after consultation with the various interested parties, including landowners, these will be used to promote and undertake practical management to enhance the wildlife and habitat value of the hill and make them more resilient to climate change.
David Caney
Moved to Kemnay with my family in 1999 and since then Bennachie has been a wonderful playground for family walks and cycles.
The area is very ‘user friendly’ with a fantastic network of paths that show off all the grand views, forestry, archeology and wildlife.
Being retired, I have now joined the Bailie Work Parties that help maintain access and as a new trustee I’d like to see Bennachie more accessible to those less able to reach it.
Graeme Ralph
Lorna Bell
I spent my childhood in Blairdaff with Bennachie as my back drop. My first memories of walking on the hill are from the 1970s when I took part in the annual Christian Aid Walks as well as hillwalking with the Guides whilst on camp near the Donview Centre – getting slightly lost if I remember!
I now live near Dunecht so not moved far and still enjoy the outdoors – hillwalking as well as wildlife and birdwatching, gardening and charity volunteering.
I am a member of the Bennachie Wildlife Group and became a Trustee in April 2021.
All previous Trustee Meeting Minutes are available to read.
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