Mark MacKay

News Editor at The Press and Journal

Deputy Head of Print with Aberdeen Journals, based in Aberdeen. Originally from Inverness. Caley and Locos. Also guinea pigs. Views are my own.

Articles

Man charged after significant cannabis bust in Macduff

Jan 22, 2025 | pressandjournal.co.uk | Mark MacKay

A ‘significant’ number of cannabis plants worth more than £64,000 have been seized during a drugs bust in Macduff. Police officers raided the home in the town’s Skene Street on Saturday and discovered a sizeable cannabis cultivation. A 27-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with drug offences. Police said he was to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court this week. Officers with a search warrant entered the Macduff property at about 10.30am on Saturday.
Denis Law: Aberdeen mourns homegrown football legend after death aged 84

Jan 17, 2025 | pressandjournal.co.uk | Mark MacKay |Ben Hendry

The death of football legend Denis Law has been announced, with Aberdeen fans and friends saying they will “never forget” the humble, home-grown hero. He died aged 84 after a “tough battle” with illness. Law lifted two league titles with Manchester United and was the only Scottish player to ever win the Ballon d’Or when he won it in 1964. But in Aberdeen he was regarded as royalty, with two separate statues in the city he loved.
Denis Law: Aberdeen mourns homegrown football legend after death aged 84

Jan 17, 2025 | pressandjournal.co.uk | Mark MacKay

Legendary Scotland and Manchester United striker Denis Law has died aged 84, with Aberdeen fans and friends saying they will “never forget” the humble, home-grown hero. Law won two league titles with United and was a member of their European Cup-winning side under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 during a glittering career. He was regarded as Aberdeen royalty, with two separate statues in the city he loved.
Niteworks say emotional farewell to fans at Aberdeen Music Hall

Nov 14, 2024 | pressandjournal.co.uk | Mark MacKay

Is 17 years long enough to enjoy what are surely one of Scotland’s finest live musical acts? After Niteworks staged a stunning farewell to hundreds of fans at Aberdeen Music Hall, the answer must be a firm “no”. As a non-Gaelic speaker – despite island family roots – the intricacies of the vocals and song titles often pass me by but that matters not at all when swept up by the band’s craft.
Family Focus Article

May 29, 2024 | thelakenews.com.au | Mark MacKay

In marriage counselling, I often share with couples that consistently one of the most significant causes of stress in relationships is money. And that stress doesn’t just arise out of debt stress. We can disagree over how money should be managed; what should be spent and when; should we have a family budget and what should be in it; if we overspend in one area, what is the other area that has to go.
Travel: Switch on to Inverness - and switch-off from your worries

May 11, 2024 | pressandjournal.co.uk | Mark MacKay

For me, a visit to Inverness is always a breath of fresh air – I relax and switch off from any of life’s woes the moment I arrive. It’s growing all the time but has a compact city centre making it easy to explore, and you’ll not be short of things to do and places to eat and drink. The surrounding area, with attractions such as Loch Ness and the Cairngorms, are what bring many to the Highlands – and an increasing number now arrive by cruise ship.
DID YOU KNOW? - The Lake News

Dec 17, 2023 | thelakenews.com.au | Mark MacKay

Did you know … it was only since the sixteenth century that the poinsettia flower has become symbolic with Christmas. It was cultivated by the Aztecs who used it in the production of red and purple dyes for clothing and cosmetics. In medicine the white sap was used to treat fevers. It was a young girl, Pepita, who was responsible for the symbolic use of this plant. Young Pepita, accompanied by her brother Pedro, was on her way to church on Christmas Eve.
Forest Lake Area Garden Group

Dec 16, 2023 | thelakenews.com.au | Mark MacKay

We say it every year – but, where did the year go? They seem to be getting faster. Or are we getting busier? At least things are winding down now and, apart from a few Christmas parties, most of the organisations we belong to are in recess until February. That means that after the hectic lead up to the actual day we can relax a bit. Sadly, we have a lot of time on our hands but it is too hot to do anything, especially garden.
FLAIR (Forest Lake and Inala wRiters)

Dec 16, 2023 | thelakenews.com.au | Mark MacKay

Author of Love’s True Colors and Take FlightThe glistening body of a dark snake slithers into the brush two paces away from where my child is playing. I bite back a yelp as I fly to my feet, whip Teddy into my arms, then make a mad dash to our sliding glass door. Heat rises to my face, hotter than the sun that peeks through the blinds knocking in the breeze. I check Teddy over for damage and observe nothing but a healthy glow and a grin to boot. Phew. That was a close one.
Family Focus By Mark Mackay

Dec 15, 2023 | thelakenews.com.au | Mark MacKay

Merry Christmas!I love this time of year! There are so many predictable things about Christmas – fruit mince pies, Mariah Carey and Michael Buble being played in every shopping centre, Christmas lights on people’s houses, and so on.