Boyndie

Boyndie
The ruins of Boyndie Old Kirk
Boyndie  Boyndie shown within Aberdeenshire
OS grid reference	NJ6463
Council area	Aberdeenshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Banff and Buchan
Scottish Parliament	Banffshire and Buchan Coast
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 57°39′N 2°36′W / 57.65°N 02.60°W

Boyndie is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.^[1]

History

Boyndie was once home to RAF Banff Strike Wing, which played a pivotal role in protecting the area during World War II. Under the command of group captain the Hon. Max Aitken, six multi-national squadrons formed the Banff Strike Wing. Between September 1944 and May 1945, crews flying in Mosquito and Beaufighter aircraft targeted U-boats and surface vessels in the North Sea,^[2] causing the loss of thousands of tons of iron ore and other vital supplies. More than 80 airmen from the Wing gave their lives during the conflict. The airfield closed in 1946. In 1989, the R.A.F. Banff Strike Wing Memorial was erected on the Banff to Portsoy road near Portsoy.^[3]

Attractions

In 2004, Boyndie's old school building was converted into a training centre for people with special needs, and a visitor centre and restaurant serving the local community.^[4]

In 2006, Falck Renewables Wind Ltd built and commissioned the Boyndie Wind Farm, located on a disused World War II airfield. The wind farm has 8 turbines and when it’s operating fully it generates 16.65 MW of electricity.^[5] The local community owns shares in the wind farm through the Boyndie Wind Farm Co-operative Ltd, which is the first wind farm co-operative in Scotland.^[6]

Royal visit

On 11 November 2004 the Princess Royal visited Boyndie to tour the newly converted school building.^[7]

See also

• Banff Bay

References

• United Kingdom Ordnance Survey Map (2004) 1:50,000 scale, Landranger series; 29

Footnotes

1. United Kingdom Ordnance Survey, 2004
2. "Sorties Flown By RAF Banff Strike Wing 1943 - 1945". Scottish History Online. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
3. "R.A.F. Banff Strike Wing Memorial". The Banff & Buchan Arts Forum. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
4. "Page 18" (PDF). Banffshire Partnership Newsletter. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
5. "Boyndie wind farm". Falck Renewables. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
6. "About Us". Boyndie Wind Farm Co-operative Ltd. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
7. "Engagements". The official web site of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 15 January 2014.