2010

Jan (7) Arbroath experiences the first real winter for many years (temperatures will dip in one highland area tonight to around -22 degrees C). Jan (7) Angus Council's Development Standards Committee approve A) the demolition of the Fisherman's Association building at 2 Marketgate, it's warehouse & storage area, and B) an application to construct 10 flats & 13 parking spaces on the 14,000 sq ft site. Jan (12) A new bronze statue (by Port William artist Andrew Brown) of King Robert the Bruce holding aloft the Declaration of Arbroath, and emphasizing his role as nation builder has been mounted at Annan town hall. The Bruces were lords of Annandale in the 14th century. Jan (25) Demolition of the Mayfield Terrace flats at Cliffburn begins. The retail shop units will be re-roofed and the project completed in about 18 weeks. Feb (5) Clarks Shoes close their Abbeygate Centre premises. Mar (2) Scotland's winter has been the coldest since 1962/63. Mar (6) Milos Kasparek & Jan Phillip open the 'Parrot' restaurant & takeaway at 273 High St. Mar (end) Improvements begin to Arbroath Bus Station. The refurbishment, costing £420,000, includes a new pedestrian entrance from Burnside Drive, upgrading & enlarging of the cafe and waiting area, taxi office refurbishment, a new 'Stagecoach' office porch & external lighting. Apr (2) Plans to transform West Links into a more inviting tourist attraction are discussed between business owners and Angus Council. Apr (6) The anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath this year becomes an evening event including a public torchlight parade from Danger Point to the Abbey followed at 7.30 pm by a 'Celebration of Scotland' concert at St Andrew's Church beside the abbey. Click here: Apr (7) Bairds Malt, of Elliot Ind. Est., on completion of a £20M malting facility creating 10 new jobs, have the plant officially opened by Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville. Apr (15) Shepherd Chartered Surveyors sell a half acre site at Westway Retail Park to KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). Apr (15) 'The Quiet Doorman', a novel by Arbroath born Davida Crammond, is published. Apr (16) Helen Addison, conductor, pianist & musical director for 30 years with the Arbroath Male Voice Choir, retires on the evening of the choir's 76th annual concert. Apr (20) 'Harbour City' oriental take away opens on East Grimsby. Apr Rev. Ian Coltart retires as Minister for Arbirlot & Carmyllie Parish. Apr (24) Birthdays Ltd. cease trading at 178 High Street. Apr (27) Morris Pert, Arbroath born musician & composer, dies aged 62 at his Sutherland home. Apr (30) Fraser Ogston opens his 13 bedroom 'Ogston's Boutique Hotel' at 99 High St. May (early) Empty premises on Arbroath's High Street now total 11, over 60 jobs having been lost. May (5) Jim Kennedy, joiner & musician, dies aged 71. His craftmanship is evident in the Meadowbank Inn & in the conversion of the surviving section of Arbroath Bathing Pool into a disco. May (7) Mike Weir retains the Angus seat for the SNP with an increased majority. May (16) The Webster Theatre shows major films 'Avatar' (a.m.) and 'Sherlock Holmes' (evening), the first Arbroath film screenings since (----). Sunday films should become a regular occurrence. May (26) ' The Old Brewhouse ' restaurant at the Fit O The Toun becomes a family owned business again as Punch Taverns relinquish ownership. Jun (19) The former Woolworth premises at High Street / Kirk Square corner open as a hardware & household goods store under the name 'Nickel & Dime'. The proprieter is Mr Abdul Ahmed, owner of the similarly named store in upper High Street. Jun (24) Semichem (cosmetics & toiletries) relocate from Abbeygate Shopping Centre to 178 High Street. Westway Retail Park - the way being cleared for KFC (and even further delights). The scene on a bright but windy 4th July. Jul (1) A memorial stone, commemorating those of 45 Commando at RM Condor who have lost their lives during conflicts in Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, is laid within the military establishment at Barry Buddon. Jul (1) Arbroath Museum - Signal Tower closes for the duration of a £425k refurbishment. Arbroath's maritime heritage will be the focus as the Bell Rock Lighthouse's bicentenery looms in 2011. Jul (2) Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary John Swinney, MSP and June Dickson of Volunteer Centre Angus, open a Volunteer Life Skills Centre in Guthrie Port. Jul (13) 'Papa John's Cafe' opens in Arbroath Bus Station, currently receiving a substantial upgrade. Jul (24) 'Iceland' frozen foods vacate their Abbeygate premises. Later this year that unit will house a Co-op store, relocated from it's larger store within the centre while Iceland will relocate to High Street. Jul (27) Arbroath's 7th Seafront Spectacular's many performers include the Breitling Wingwalkers and motorbike ace Steve Colley. Jul (30) Wimpy restaurant at 243 High Street, a familiar sight at this location since 1970, ceases trading. Jul (31) 'Brian Skerritt opens the 'Corner House Deli' at -- High Street. Aug (16) Bruce Mahar becomes musical director of Arbroath Male Voice Choir. Sheena Guthrie is also appointed as the choir's new accompanist. Aug (21-22) Arbroath's 14th Seafest entertains us all around the harbour area & seaward of Ladyloan. Aug (28-29) The Bell Rock Blues Festival rocks the town, acts including such east coast bands as 'Hard To Handle', 'Ghosts Of Progress', 'Juke Joint Rollers' & 'Georgia Crawl'. Aug (31) Angus Council approve the plans of Stewart Milne Homes for the construction of 338 new homes on farmland off Montrose Road. A condition is the installation of a pedestrian crossing with lights. Sep (7) 'Oasis', a valuable youth activity centre on Lindsay Street since 1994, closes it's doors. Sep (11) Owners of 'Pie Bob's' , Muriel & Neil Elford, close their High Street shop, although their Grant Road outlet will provide increased services. Sep (11-12) Hospitalfield House welcomes the public as part of the 'Doors Open Day' programme. Pianist Mark Spalding & young NE musicians entertain. Guided tours are assisted by Rotary Club members. See 'Hospitalfield' sub-page. Sep (12) Prior to a new owner having been found, current owner Tony Short closes the Cliffburn Hotel. Sep (30) The 249 visits by boats to Arbroath Harbour shows a 16% increase on the 2009 figure. Oct (13) The Co-op open their new Abbeygate Centre store (manager Carol Cargill) within the unit previously occupied by 'Iceland'. A number of vacant Abbeygate units now await new retailers. Nov (6) The Angus Minstrels 50th anniversary show, running since Oct 27th, has it's final celebratory night at the Webster Memorial Theatre. Dec (11)Mark & Sheila Robb open J M Bakery at 182 High Street. Dec (13) 'The Car Wash' on Burnside Drive opens for business on the site formerly occupied by Golden Lion car sales. Dec (17) Richard Stiff, originally hailing from East Anglia, has been appointed Chief Executive of Angus Council and will take up the position in Feb 2011 on the retiral of current CE David Sawers. Dec (31) With the retiral of Christine Southward and employees Gillian Findlay & Sylvia Whitton, Robertson's Ladies Hairdressers on Cairnie Street closes it's doors for the last time. Christine's mother Noreen Robertson opened the business on Howard Street in 1965, relocating to Cairnie Street in 1967.