Peterhead residents who banded together to show community spirit by creating their own tartan and whisky are in line for a funding boost.
The Buchanhaven Heritage Society is bidding for up to £4,400 from Aberdeenshire Council’s Buchan area committee, which has £4,600 left in its area initiatives pot.
The old fishing village has been subsumed by the larger town of Peterhead over the years, however, Buchanhaven residents are eager to celebrate their roots.
Last night society chairman Alex Geddes said: “Funding applications have been submitted and now it’s pretty much a waiting game to see if we’ve been successful. On the whole everything is very positive.
“We’re starting to organise events for the next six months which we’ll be announcing very soon. We’ve had a vote on the four designs for the tartan and we have a winner which is down with the National Register for Scotland to be approved.”
An official piping tune is also being composed and is expected to be complete in the autumn at the same time the tartan is ready.
Flavours have been chosen for the much-anticipated Buchanhaven blend whisky, and the society is awaiting sample blends to taste.
The Buchanhaven Heritage Centre, where the society is based, has also been open this week as part of Peterhead’s Scottish Week celebrations.
In a report to the committee, local authority communities director Ritchie Johnston says: “The group has developed their own tartan and part of the project is to create two rolls of the material costing £4,400.
“This material will be used to make travel rugs, bags, teddy bears and gifts for their centre, costing £7,560. The project cost also includes a Scottish Music cultural event, where a new pipe tune, dedicated to the area, will be played.”
Mr Johnston has recommended the councillors award £2,000 from the pot to the heritage society.
Councillors will meet in Peterhead on Tuesday to discuss the applications.