The History Quine

Fiona-Jane Brown•www.hiddenaberdeentours.co.uk

History is under our feet and on our doorstep; local historian, Dr Fiona-Jane Brown delves into Aberdeen's forgotten and lost past with material from her Evening Express column "The History Quine".

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Episodes

Podcast #10: Harry Burnett, Last Man Hanged in Scotland

This week, Dr Fiona-Jane Brown looks at the sensational and controversial murder case of Thomas Guyan, shot dead at point blank range by his wife's lover, Harry Burnett. The trial would lead to Harry's execution on the 15th of August 1963. Medical evidence at the time suggesting Harry had neurological issues which caused his "psychopathic personality" was rejected by trial judge, Lord Wheatley. Today it would appear Harry Burnett would have been treated very differently, and perhaps have still b...

Jun 04, 2020•42 min

Podcast #9 - True Crime Special: The Murder of Betty Hadden

First in our true crime specials. Local historian, Dr Fiona-Jane Brown presents one of Aberdeen's famous unsolved murder cases, that of 18-year-old Betty Hadden, apparently murdered on 12 December 1945, as only her forearm was ever found, the fate of the rest of her remains a mystery. She was last seen in Torry walking down Crombie Road late at night; her arm was found on the foreshore near the foot of St Fittick's Road by retired cooper, Alexander King, who was walking his dog. Police scoured t...

May 23, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Podcast #8 - Musical Origins in the Mearns

This week, Dr Brown looks at the origins of a tune and a bothy ballad (worksong) associated with the Mearns/Kincardinshire, now part of Aberdeenshire; the first is the tune "Bonny Lass o' Bon Accord" penned by fiddle virtuoso, James Scott Skinner, a native of Banchory, who was inspired by Wilhelmina Bell, a girl who had fallen on hard times, and the second, the lesser-known bothy ballad "Atween Stanehyve an' Lowrinkirk" (Between Stonehaven and Laurencekirk) which local balladeer, Geordie Murison...

May 10, 2020•14 min

Podcast #7 - Crimond's Curious Clock / HMS Merganzer

Two stories from Aberdeenshire this week, looking at Crimond Kirk's famous 61-minute clock and its origins, why it had one too many strokes on the clock face, and how the village reacted to well-meaning Polish ex-serviceman who tried to rectify the problem after WW2; also Crimond Aerodrome and its part in WW2 as HMS Merganzer, run by the Admiralty. Both stories came from "Hidden Aberdeenshire: the Coast" published in 2014.

May 03, 2020•10 min

Podcast #6 - Urban Legends 3 - Bon Accord and Robert the Bruce

Most Aberdonians know that "Bon Accord" is our civic motto. When asked what it means, they either say "Happy to meet, sorry to part, and happy to meet again," (that's another story in itself) or "French for good agreement"! The legend goes that it was the password Robert the Bruce's army used to attack the occupying English forces at Aberdeen Castle in 1308. Historians have dismissed this as fantasy - join Dr Fiona-Jane Brown to find out what truths and half-truths there are behind this famous p...

Apr 25, 2020•19 min

Podcast #5 Urban Legends 2 - William Wallace's Arm

An enduring legend of Aberdeen is that William Wallace's severed arm was displayed on the Justice Port of Aberdeen following his execution in 1305. It was believed that patriots stole the arm at night and buried it - either at St Machar Cathedral or St Fittick's Kirk in Torry. Dr Fiona-Jane Brown, the History Quine delves into this most fascinating of stories concerning Aberdeen's connections with the Guardian of Scotland

Apr 21, 2020•11 min

Podcast #4 - Urban Legends Part 1

This week, we look at two lesser-known urban legends of Aberdeen; the Russel Head, a grotesque sculpture which is current affixed to the side of Provost Skene's House, believed to have been created by George Russel who owned a property on Ragg's Lane, opposite Queen St. He created it in a fit of rage against his neighbour across the road in Broad St, who he believed had reported him to the council and had his bakery closed... or did he? Secondly, investigating the belief that Hitler instructed t...

Apr 12, 2020•17 min

Podcast #3 - Artistic Connections in Aberdeen

In episode 3 we look at artists connected to Aberdeen, firstly John "Spanish" Phillip RA, who started his life as an apprentice glazier, then Theodore Gudin, married to Marguerite Hay of Seaton, who was a prominent artist in France, commissioned by the king to decorate the Palace of Versailles, and lastly, Joan Eardley, who fell in love with the coastal village of Catterline, just outside Aberdeen, and exhibited her work at the Gaumont Cinema which had a gallery in the 1950s.

Apr 06, 2020•9 min

Podcast #2: Flying Gigs Wynd, Peterhead - Haunt of Smugglers?

Possibly unique to this, the most northeasterly spot in Scotland, Flying-gigs Wynd was a lane or alleyway dating back to the 16th century. "History Quine", Dr Fiona-Jane Brown investigates this curious street name and its back story.

Mar 28, 2020•4 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Podcast #1 Aberdeen's Four Maries

First podcast in the History Quine Series! Mary, Queen of Scots had four, but so had Aberdeen (and many more), Maries who made a difference. Tune in to find out who these local quines were and what they did with their lives. Researched and narrated by Dr Fiona-Jane Brown, historian and author. Theme music "The High Reel" by Horslips.

Mar 22, 2020•11 min

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