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. Me

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

May 23rd, 2020 20m 6s

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

Podcast #8 - Musical Origins in the Mearns

May 10th, 2020 13m 45s

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 Skinn

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

May 3rd, 2020 9m 39s

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

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

Apr 25th, 2020 18m 37s

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 tha

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

Apr 21st, 2020 11m 11s

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 Cathed

Podcast #4 - Urban Legends Part 1

Apr 12th, 2020 16m 35s

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'

Podcast #3 - Artistic Connections in Aberdeen

Apr 6th, 2020 8m 55s

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, commissione

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

Mar 28th, 2020 4m 10s

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.

Podcast #1 Aberdeen's Four Maries

Mar 22nd, 2020 10m 30s

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 n

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