A RELATIVELY QUIET entry into the New Year was the verdict of most people in Moray as 2016 was welcomed with more muted celebrations than in the past.
It appeared that many chose to start the party in their own homes this year – although organised events such as Lossiemouth’s Town Hall’s annual ceilidh drew large numbers.
Moray also saw Aurora hunters out in force for a rare opportunity to capture the northern lights alongside celebratory fireworks bringing in the new year – as noted at the Fochabers Observatory where Pete Sherman said: “It was not a bad way to see in the year – sipping Talisker while watching the northern lights and Hogmanay fireworks above the observatory.”
Hundreds took to the beaches on a cold but calm New Year’s Day, although surfers were left slightly disappointed that the large waves experienced over the last week along Lossiemouth’s East Beach had entered 2016 a great deal more subdued.
Not so quiet at the ringing of the bells was the maternity unit at Dr Gray’s Hospital, where Moray’s first arrival of the year was being celebrated by delighted Elgin parents Michael Geddes and Lynne Stephen. Their son entered the world just 28 minutes into the New Year after Ms Stephen had gone into labour at 3am on Hogmanay.
Not long after it was the turn of Elgin City star Brian Cameron and his partner Tanya Ross, who welcomed their daughter into the world at 12.45am. It was something of a surprise for Brian, who is preparing to face East Fife for his club today, as Tanya had not been expecting their baby to arrive until January 9.
By the end of the day the maternity unit had delivered five New Year babies, with a member of the maternity unit staff commenting that was two more than their average three babies a day.