We concur that the Banchory Show, like Banchory Boys Club, is run by committed, voluntary local people purely for the benefit of Banchory and its residents. The Boys Club have been very grateful recipients of the Show's generosity in the past and would hope that this would continue in the future.

It cannot be disputed that there was considerable damage done to KGV this year as a result of the Banchory Show, caused mainly by the appalling weather conditions immediately preceding the event, which has resulted in the footballing community being unable to use this public facility for seven weeks.

However, there was no intention to lobby for, or suggest that the Banchory Show should take place at another venue. We are acutely aware of the status of KGV as a public park and our purpose was merely to highlight the lack of adequate football facilities in Banchory.

Banchory Boys Club has nine teams playing competitive football as well as 120 children attending their Saturday training and, along with Deeside Girls and Banchory Amateurs, we have become increasingly frustrated by the Council's inability to provide sufficient and adequate facilities.

The season has just started for many teams and, at present, football can only be played at KGV and Silverbank (which is subject to flooding and has pot holes making it largely unplayable over the winter months), as the Council has undertaken re-seeding work at Tillybrake and will be inaccessible until October at the earliest.

Banchory Boys Club U13's and U12's play home fixtures there and now have to seek alternative venues. As a result our teams are struggling to complete fixtures and without the assistance of Banchory St Ternan, who allow us to use their Milton Park facility, it would be an impossible task.

Yours etc

Chris Dickinson
Treasurer
Banchory Boys Club