While archaeologists can tell us much about these periods, historians of more recent times are blessed with a wealth of material to survey. The last millennium of Belhelvie's history has revealed a much more complex, and less parochial story - if that is the right word in this context - than even the authors expected at the outset of the project. Belhelvie has apparently long played a role in significant episodes in Scotland's history.
Reflect for a moment on the exploits and importance of Alexander Stewart the 'Wolf of Badenoch', Reverend David Lindsay the Covenanter, and Reverend Alexander Forsyth the inventor. This place has proved to be far from a placid observer to Scotland's history - or British history for that matter. Add to this the references to King Eric of Norway, Danzig Willie and his friends in Poland, the Inuit in Belhelvie or the Orroks, Turners and Lumsdens in the East Indies and Jamaica. Think of them and it becomes apparent that Belhelvians have long been part of a larger global history. And so it continues today with many families from the parish living and working abroad and non-Scots coming to live and work here - and both forms of migration ultimately enriching the parish. Indeed the connection with Scandinavia, America and South East Asia remains strong as locals who work in the oil industry can find themselves employed in Norwegian, Danish, American, Indonesian or Malaysian offices to name but a few.
The economy of the area has risen and fallen with the passing trades and industries, but it remains a largely agricultural stronghold, although government subsidised tree-plantations and the ever-popular trend for equestrian centres continue to make an impact on the landscape. In addition, the establishment of a recreation park at Balmedie beach and the spread of housing developments emphasise the parish's role as a 'green haven' from the urban centre of Aberdeen. The survival of the oil industry, despite several dips in the 1980s and 1990s, has meant that the hamlets of Balmedie, Belhelvie, Potterton and Whitecairns continue to grow and prosper.
To bring Belhelvie into the new millennium, Belhelvie Community Council has set up a website at http://www.belhelvie.org.ukwhich supplies information on the future plans and projects ongoing in the parish, along with numerous photographs of the area. The church continues to play a significant role in the community of Belhelvie parish, having gained funding for the new Forsyth Hall recently opened next to the manse. A time capsule, to which the parish was encouraged to donate items, was buried at the hall to commemorate the passing of the last millennium. Perhaps when the capsule is next unearthed it will provide inspiration for an updated history of the parish to be written.
|
|
|
|