Kirstie Waterston

Aberdeen

Features Journalist at Evening Express

Features Journalist at The Press and Journal

🗞 Features writer @pressjournal @eveningexpress ✍🏻 Vintage enthusiast 🏡 Renovator: https://t.co/KEqHShiHQv 👇🏻 views my own

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Articles

Gallery: Do you feature in our 30 past party photos of Paramount Bar?

1 week ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

Paramount Bar has stood the test of time and been a stalwart of Aberdeen’s night scene for 30 years. The Bon Accord Street bar opened in May 1995 when Aberdeen’s night scene was booming. Paramount quickly made headlines for quirky publicity stunts like television screens on urinals featuring Rangers players, which didn’t go down well with Gers fans. But that didn’t stop it being named best new bar at the Scottish Discotheque Pub and Club Awards in 1995.
Making a splash: Looking back at Inverurie Raft Race in 43 nostalgic photos

2 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

For decades, the annual Garioch raft race has been an event that’s brought the communities of Inverurie and Kemnay together. For more than 45 years, the event raised tens of thousands of pounds for cancer and kidney charities. Sadly the race has not gone ahead this year as, despite best efforts, the organisers were unable to secure insurance for the race. But it’s hoped the traditional spectacle can make a splash once again in the coming years and reach its 50th anniversary in 2029.
How Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown has gone against the grain since 1886

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

There are few businesses that can boast being built stone-by-stone by their founder, but that’s just one of Glenfiddich Distillery’s claims to fame. In 1886, William Grant, former manager of the Mortlach Distillery, realised a long-held ambition to make his own dram. He had no financial backing, but a lot of determination. And as luck would have it, the owner of Cardhu Distillery, Elizabeth Cumming, decided to replace her stills.
Tall Ships: Looking back at history of the world-famous Aberdeen Line on its 200th anniversary

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

The Tall Ships are making a grand return to Aberdeen this summer, and their arrival will help reawaken the city’s illustrious maritime history – the Aberdeen Line. Excitement is already building ahead of the races in July, with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to attend the quayside entertainment. Seeing the elegant ships glide into Aberdeen port is virtually a once-in-a-generation sight these days.
Archive photos of May days in Aberdeen over the years: Beach battles, a pitch invasion and competing clergy

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

In days gone by, May Day was an almost universal holiday across the north-east that attracted thousands of visitors to Aberdeen, particularly when the weather was favourable. Shops, schools and offices would shut across the region for one day, while communities like Turriff and Banff traditionally enjoyed an extra day’s holiday. For years, a May Day fayre was held at Queen’s Links to raise funds for charities.
Ballater Station's remarkable tale of surviving neglect and devastating fire

4 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

There’s something about Ballater Station that embodies the beguiling glory days of steam – stepping inside is a step back in time. But this railway heritage was nearly lost forever when a ferocious fire razed most of the building to the ground 10 years ago. While its royal links, community spirit and a dose of nostalgia undoubtedly helped, it largely owes its survival to Aberdeenshire Council – both in the aftermath of Beeching and the 2015 blaze.
See Aberdeen's WW2 bombsites in colour for first time, and how they look today

1 month ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

The Second World War changed the face of Aberdeen forever – lives were lost and whole streets torn apart. For the first time, we’ve used artificial intelligence software to add colour to air raid photos to see the scenes as Aberdonians saw them more than 80 years ago. When Victory in Europe was declared after six long years of strife, Aberdonians danced in Union Street and embraced strangers in celebration. VE Day not only signalled the end of bloodshed abroad, but at home too.
Gallery: Do you feature in our past party photos from The Pearl Lounge?

1 month ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

The Pearl Lounge nightclub opened in December 2006 promising to be “very different” to other Aberdeen venues. The club had reopened after a six-month revamp to the tune of £900,000. But the once-popular Pearl Lounge in Dee Street had a number of guises over the years. It was the first ecclesiastical building in Aberdeen to give way to ‘demon drink’ over divine declamation when it was turned into a nightspot in 1981.
Gallery: Archive photos of April days in Aberdeen during the 1970s

1 month ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

This month in our nostalgic wander down memory lane, we’ve looked back at the people and places of Aberdeen on April days during the 1970s. It was a decade that saw great change in Aberdeen, but these archive photos show the day to day happenings of Aberdonians. From photos of spring scenes at the Winter Gardens and beach carnival, to Oliver, Aberdeen Joint Station’s cat, we’ve collated an eclectic selection. But not everyone wanted to spend a grey April in the Granite City.
The Prop of Ythsie: The story behind striking monument near Haddo House

1 month ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Kirstie Waterston

The Prop of Ythsie is a striking monument near Tarves that commands pastoral views across the rolling Formartine countryside. In recent months the tower has garnered wider interest after TV personality and sometime Aberdeenshire resident, Georgia Toffolo, listed it as one of her favourite dog walks. For more than 160 years, the landmark has borne silent witness to the ebbs and flows, feast and famine of rural life and agriculture.