(Jan 2) Shaks Hair & Beauty reopens after relocation to a larger premises at 288 High Street, Graeme Dey, MSP for Angus South performing the official opening. Proprietors are Jackie Stuart and Sharon Russell. (Jan22) Resurfacing of Keptie Street and it's pavements badly affected by potholes between Helen Street and Catherine Street commences Mon. 23rd Jan., work to span approximately 5 weeks. (Feb 7 - 11) Arbroath Musical Society present 'Titanic' at the Webster Memorial Theatre. (Mar 9) Pipe Major Robert Arnott Gillespie Fraser, printer and Pipe Major (born in the town in 1922), dies in Winnipeg, Canada in his 90th year. A selfless piping tutor, he accepted no fee in all of his 54 years of instruction. See '1922'. (Apr 5) B&Q's new Arbroath store is officially opened at Westway Retail Park by depute Provost of Angus Peter Murphy. It occupies the unit formerly occupied by 'Focus' until it's closure in 2009. The store will offer the area up to 34 new jobs. (Apr 10) Work begins on the Stewart Homes site at the junction of Montrose Road and Bearfauld Road. The estate will be named 'Monarch's Rise' and offer 270 traditional 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes. (Apr 11) The Harbourside Grill opens on Ladybridge Street under proprietor William Inglis. The premises was previously occupied by an Indian restaurant. ( Jun 11) James Hutchison and Danny Laverty open Webmor's at 66 High Street (adjacent to the Webster Theatre), a central but secluded fine food & wine 'eating and meeting' bistro. Renowned for their vocal and musical production skills in Angus, their new tasteful establishment was once the Guild Hall of the Erskine Church on Commerce Street, revitalised by the Voigt Partnership. Capacity is for 64 people over two open plan floors. (Jul 28) Three ongoing projects photographed in the town : (below, left) The West Links play area under construction, (centre) Replacement of Kings Drive's concrete seafront barriers, and (right) Long awaited progress now in evidence by the harbourside. (Aug 4 - 5) As well as the familiar stalls, funfair, boat trips & tasty Smokies, this year's Seafest boasts nine bands ('The Declaration Band', 'The Limelight Co.', the local Sea Cadets Band, 'The Sellar Bros Swing Seven', 'Bygones', 'The Trade', Lochnagar' and 'Kimber's Men'). Historic maritime visitors are the boats 'Sovereign' and 'Rachel Douglas'. Dinnae miss it ! (Sep 10) Lucy Byatt succeeds Willie Payne as Director for the Hospitalfield Centre for Art and Culture. Mr Payne retired in April this year after 37 years service. (Sep 16) An aerial display (offshore from Queens Drive) by a Supermarine Spitfire Mk X1X from Lincolnshire and a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota forms a major part of the commemoration of local WW2 effort in financing a Mk Vb Spitfire 'Red Lichtie' which went into RAF service in 1942. (Sep 28) Asda opens a petrol filling station beside their store at Westway . Sep (end) The footway and cycle path between the old Dowrie Works and Easthaven (construction of which began on Apr 16th this year) is completed. The path augments the 2009 Carnoustie to Easthaven cycleway project, meaning a continuous coastal cycle path now runs from Arbroath to the Dundee City Council boundary. (Oct 2) Angus Council commence upgrade and repair to the road and car park at Arbroath Golf Club. (Oct 4) The impressive new West Links playpark opens - click the pic : (Oct 4) Conversion has begun on the the old Brothock Mill building on Burnside Drive into 20 'affordable rental properties' over three floors. Until 2008 it was the home of the 'Arbroath Herald' who had moved there in 1936). Most of the building will remain externally as it was, as will the substantial floors, built to withstand the weight of heavy machinery. The completed project will see the rear wall rebuilt, and the inclusion of a new stairwell and lift, making the flats suitable for mature tenants. (Nov 9) The 80 tonne fishing trawler 'Nimrod', the last wooden boat built by WH Mackays in 1989, is relaunched after her return tae the toun o' it's birth for refitting and painting. The vessel now operates out of Amble, Northumberland. (Dec 1) Arbroath FC 1, Celtic 1....nae bother !