JIM CRUICKSHANK OBE
Jim is a keen angler who caught his first Deveron salmon at the age of ten. Over forty years later in 2006 he was able to buy the Carnousie beat where he had caught that first salmon. He has since added more fishing to the beat and is keen to ensure that the river and its fish are maintained and protected for the benefit of future generations. He is a local farmer who started his own farming business after leaving university in 1977, specialising in high grade seed potatoes. He is still actively involved on the farm but sneaks off to the river whenever possible.
ROBERT SHIELDS
Chairman of a family quarrying business, and trained as both a geologist, and chartered engineer, his family own the Avochie beat above the Rothiemay Bridge, where the fishings and accommodation are let through the FishPal website – www.fishpal.com. He has been a member of the board since 1985, its chairman from 2000 – 2005, and in 2001 was founding chairman of the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers charitable Trust, where he remains a trustee. His grandson, Luka, aged 6, caught a 13lb spring fish during the time of the Covid-19 lockdown.
ROBERT COPLAND
President of Banff and Macduff Angling Association.
GORDON MORISON
Upper proprietor, born in Huntly, who lives and works in the area, managing a family farming, forestry and diversified rural business. He has in the past served on a number of different boards, including the old SRPBA (now Scottish Land and Estates), friends of Chalmers hospital Banff and various other similar professional and charitable organisations. The Morison Family have for many years been heavily involved in charitable works in the North East of Scotland for which Mrs Morison Snr was awarded the MBE around four years ago.
FRANK HENDERSON
Frank was born and brought up in Turriff and educated at Turriff Academy and started fishing the Deveron with his father from the age of five. Upon leaving school Frank served with the Norfolk Constabulary and then joined the private sector with the largest independent haulier in the Uk, Turners (Soham) Ltd as Transport Manager in the specialised sector of tanker operations.A short spell back home in Turriff as Factory and Distribution manager for Howegarden saw a return to Turners as Cold store manager in their ever growing 32 acre site in Newmarket. In 2001 Frank and his wife Carol purchased the business of Ian Masson( Fishing Tackle) and renamed it Turriff Tackle And Trophies. Frank has been a member of Turriff Angling Association for 29 years, was secretary /Treasurer for five years and is now President. He is also a Trustee of The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust and a representative of Salmon anglers on the fishery board.
DAVID BORTHWICK
Chairman of the Huntly Angling Association which encompasses the Huntly Fishing’s water on the rivers Deveron, Isla and Bogie. From this position I have the privilege of sitting on the River Deveron District Salmon Fishery Board as a salmon angler’s representative. I am a native and resident of Huntly and have fished on Huntly Fishing’s water for over twenty years. I have worked in the oil and gas industry since leaving school which has afforded me the time to pursue my passion for salmon and trout fishing mostly on the Deveron but also on several other rivers in Scotland.
JACKY PLAYER
I have known the Deveron for over forty years and lived beside it for thirty-eight. Over that time, I have developed an abiding interest in fishing and with a fine art degree and a background in painting, I have become involved in protecting the architectural heritage and unspoilt landscape of the Deveron valley. I hope now to contribute to the well being of the river itself.
RICHARD BREAKELL
Having moved up from England, I have been living in Scotland for 13 years, with the house overlooking the River Deveron at Inverkeithny. I have been fly-fishing since I was eight, regularly fishing the Deveron, Don, Spey and Avon. I am a ceramic tiler by trade and also offer a ghillie service. I am an Anglers’ Representative and can be contacted on 07786 137 003 or richard.breakell@tiscali.co.uk
RUAIRIDH COOPER
An upper proprietor who owns the Marnoch Lodge beat. Born and educated in Aberdeen, he attended Aberdeen Grammar School, then studied engineering at the then Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology. He enjoyed a career in the oil industry selling his oilfield engineering company to one of the multi-national service companies in 2009. He is still involved in the oil industry but on a part time basis. A keen fisher, he caught his first salmon on the Deveron in the early 80s.
He also serves on the Grampian Committee of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (formerly known as the Game Conservancy).
MATTHEW MARSDEN
A lower proprietor whose family have ownership of the The Wrack Fishings in Banff. A qualified Chartered Surveyor and Associate Member of the RICS. He currently runs the family’s commercial property investment business. He is following in the footsteps of his Father and Grandfather who have both served on the Rivers Board over the last 50 years. An avid fisherman who regularly enjoys fishing throughout the season.
ANDREW AllWOOD (Chairman)
Is the proprietor of Muiresk beat near Turriff. He came to live at Muiresk in 2015 and has enjoyed fishing and studying the river ever since.
He hopes that his service as a board member will be of some use both to the future of fishing on the Deveron and to the welfare of the fish who live alongside us.
ANDREW HIGGINS
I grew up in Morayshire and caught my first salmon on the Deveron in the 80’s returning in 2010 to develop the fishing experience of all those missing out on the enjoyment of fishing a wild river by owning Castle beat and latterly Coniecleugh water. I currently work as the CTO of a FTSE Private Equity and Renewable Energy business, and keen to help technology play a part in the future of the Deveron.
