Glenbuchat Heritage

37 James Davidson at Glenbuchat Shop 1972

Rather poor photo of James Davidson from the Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 23 September 1972

The Davidson family looked after the shop from 1909 until the lease was given up in 1974

A newspaper article marked his retirement

Ex-Glenbuchat grocer is honored:
Retired grocer Mr James A. Davidson, Cawdor, Greystone Road Alford, was last night presented with a cheque, and his wife with a bouquet at a ceremony in their home. Mr Davidson (67) retired from the grocery trade only last week after being behind the counter for more than 60 years at Craigton, Glenbuchat, a business his father took over in 1909. Mr Davidson ran the Post Office, filling station, and grocery business on his own for the past 27 years. For more than 13 years he also ran a grocery and drapery business at Bellabeg. Strathdon which he sold last September.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 16 February 1974

Following the retirement of James Davidson, the shop was run for a couple of years by George and Janet McWilliam

It was finally closed in 1976 as noted in the following article:

The Only shop at Glenbuchat, near Glenkindie, is to close down. The Post Office, general merchant and grocery business, has been run for the past two years Mr ana Mrs George McWilliam. Mrs Janet McWilliam, who shaded the work with her husband said last night: “Things got to the stage. when we were paying out more on our own costs, for petrol for our two vans, than our vans were making on rounds. We just had to give them up. “And so many people from the glen have moved south. every time a farmer moved out, another would buy his farm, but the house would be left standing empty”, ‘The shop on a lease which expires lit November, so couldn’t sell it, and: though we’re closing down; we might still stay here,” added Mrs McWilliam. The Glenbuchat shop the only one in that area, and customers will now have to go about five mites to. either Strathdon or Glenkindie
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Tuesday 03 February 1976