BBC 2 Landward - Friday

[Bruce_H]

As some of you folks may remember, i was down in Dunbeath and Berriedale filming an episode of Landward in mid-September. Word from the producer is that the episode that this was a part of airs this coming Friday, November 27th, for those that may want to have a look.

We shot a few hours of footage, but I am sure it was cut down quite a bit. It features several great folks including George and Nan Bethune, several Henderson kin from Dunbeath and the folks from the Dunbeath Heritage Centre.

More information at BBC 2 Landward (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m994)

Bruce

[Angela]

Good to know that, Bruce. :)

I watch Landward most weeks and will be sure to catch this one. The whole programme only lasts for half an hour though, with a number of different topics, so I'm not sure how much of what was filmed will actually be shown. :confused

Really looking forward to it anyway -thanks for letting us know. :)

[pat]

will make a point of watching this week - watch whenever there is something on about Caithness/Sutherland/Orkney or the Western Isles.

Like Dunbeath Strath at any time of year.

[achingale]

Thanks for that. I will be watching as my husband's family are from Dunbeath.:)

[Rheghead]

It features several great folks including George and Nan Bethune.

Who are they and why are they great?

[Bruce_H]

George and Nan Bethune, after long careers in the south retired back to Caithness and bought a farm at Ballachly near Dunbeath. Nan had worked as an archeologist and anthropologist, and it was a huge stroke of luck when they started finding artifacts on their farm, including something that I think in years to come will be determined as a key artifact to unlocking the early history of Dunbeath, the Ballachly Stone (http://www.dunbeath-heritage.org.uk/archaeology/db10-04.html).

The BBC even took interest in evidence they uncovered towards an early church site in the Dunbeath strath (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7666916.stm).

I consider them great given the amount of work they put into what is probably a fairly small segment on this Friday's landward, and the fantastic attention to detail and just plain love of the work.

Also two of the nicest people you would ever want to meet!

Bruce

[Rheghead]

Will the Duke of Kent crash be mentioned? It's a pet subject of interest for me.

[Bruce_H]

Great point! We did in fact film a bit about the Duke of Kent, I don't know if the BBC will have that in, but it was filmed.

Bruce

[ywindythesecond]

As some of you folks may remember, i was down in Dunbeath and Berriedale filming an episode of Landward in mid-September. Word from the producer is that the episode that this was a part of airs this coming Friday, November 27th, for those that may want to have a look.

We shot a few hours of footage, but I am sure it was cut down quite a bit. It features several great folks including George and Nan Bethune, several Henderson kin from Dunbeath and the folks from the Dunbeath Heritage Centre.

More information at BBC 2 Landward (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m994)

Bruce

Make sure you watch it folks because later in February 2010 the Caithness and Sutherland Planning Committee will decide if Highland Council will approve or oppose the Dunbeath Windfarm
http://www.caithnesshost.co.uk/syv/7.jpg

[pat]

Did make a point of watching it - shame it ended up being cut so much - enjoyed what there was to see.

[Bruce_H]

Through a bit of internet trickery I was able to convince the BBC's servers to let me watch it through iPlayer. I was fairly happy with the way it came out, though the part with the looming ghost of John Sinclair was a bit much. I am overwhelmingly grateful to the Dunbeath Heritage Centre, George and Nan Bethune and Margaret Irvine for all the work they put into it.

I do wonder about that family and their turkey though (segment before me)....

Bruce H.

[Rheghead]

I watched it on iplayer as well and tbh I was a bit disappointed with it as it just came across as a 'Who Do You Think You Are?' of an unknown American. It did nothing to promote Caithness or to put the Clearances in a historical context.

[Bruce_H]

I think it did do a bit to promote the Dunbeath Heritage Centre - as much as you can in 6 minutes.

Maybe a historical treatment of the clearances was a bit much for such a short segment.

Bruce H

[Angela]

I was a bit disappointed I'm afraid. But there was a bonus for me when a portrait of my ggg grandfather (wrong side of the blanket of course! :roll:) appeared.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Sinclair,_1st_Baronet

At least he acknowledged my gg grandfather and gave him the Sinclair name.:)