Aberlour 150th Afternoon Tea Party

On Sunday 18th May a lucky few of us returned to our Moray roots to mark Aberlour’s 150th anniversary with an afternoon tea party hosted by our Chair, David Robb, at the Fleming Hall.

Guests included former residents coming from as far afield as Cambridgeshire and Kent, as well as local civic leaders, people connected to the orphanage and charity, trustees of the board, senior management and staff.

At the event we launched the new Aberlour 150th anniversary tartan and David Robb, who grew up in Aberlour village, wore the kilt.

Former resident Ron Aitchison spoke at the tea party about his entire childhood which was spent at the orphanage having arrived as a 10-month-old baby, suffering from pneumonia, alongside his eight brothers and sisters.  Speeches were also delivered by David Robb, Lynne O’Brien and Banffshire Lord Lieutenant Andrew Simpson.

Jack and Rhys from Youthpoint Moray composed and performed a special tune on their bagpipes at the event and Vange spoke about the art created and on display, as part of the creative community, by local children and young people supported by Aberlour.

Several former residents were recorded speaking about their lasting memories of their time at the orphanage and wishes for the future. Whilst positive about his experience at Aberlour, Ron welcomed the change from placing children in large institutions to housing them in small, family-style homes and said:

The young children today have got a much better chance to get going in life.  

He finished by offering an emotional message to those currently in care

I would like to encourage the younger people to stick to their guns – and not to give up on their dreams.

Exhibition boards and archive exhibits were displayed for two weeks in the Speyside Museum to give an insight into Aberlour Children’s Charity’s work  ‘Then and Now’.