Appeal to trace owner of stopwatch found buried in banks of the Dee

An appeal has gone out to trace the owner of a commemorative stopwatch discovered wedged in the banks of the River Dee.

Andrew Tweedie was walking along the waterway with his 11-year-old daughter, Fara, when they spotted the timepiece glistening among the sand and mud.

Upon examining it, they discovered that the stopwatch is inscribed with a message to a “Mr John Grimes”.

It states: “Many thanks for your safety work in 1999”.

Mr Tweedie, who lives at Drumoak, had been staying at the campsite at Ballater when they made the find.

He said: “My daughter and I dug it out of the sand, just beyond the main bridge in Ballater next to the campsite.

“We don’t know how long it has been there, and it isn’t in the best state.

“But given a wee polish, at least the owner will have some kind of memento if not a working watch.”

Mr Tweedie reckons that it may have been accidentally dropped in the water by an angler.

He passed photographs of the item to the River Dee charity, who have shared the pictures online in an effort to trace the owner.