Dyce

Dyce Gaelic: Deis
Aberdeenshire
War Memorial at Dyce
Location
Grid reference:	NJ885125
Location:	57°12’11"N, 2°11’31"W
Data
Population:	5,811  (2009)
Post town:	Aberdeen
Postcode:	AB21
Dialling code:	01224
Local Government
Council:	Aberdeen
Parliamentary constituency:	Gordon

Dyce is a parish in Aberdeenshire that forms a suburb of the city of Aberdeen, about six miles north-west of Aberdeen city centre, and best known as the location of the city's airport. It is on the River Don.

History

Dyce is the site of an early mediæval church dedicated to the 8th century missionary and bishop St Fergus, otherwise associated with Glamis, Angus. Today the cemetery, north of the airport, and overlooking the River Don, hosts the roofless but otherwise virtually complete former St Fergus Chapel, within which Pictish and early Christian stones from the 7th–9th centuries, found in or around the churchyard, are displayed (Historic Scotland; open at all times without entrance charge).

The Chapel is a unicameral late-mediæval building with alterations perhaps of the 17th or 18th centuries. Two further carved stones, of uncertain (though probably early) character, were discovered reused as building rubble in the inner east gable and outer south wall during the chapel's restoration. They were left in situ and are readily visible. A broken font, somewhat resembling a round-backed chair in its present condition, lies outside the church, and may also be of early mediæval date.

The graveyard surrounding the old church was used into the 20th century, and retains almost no old gravestones. There is a small 'mort house' in one corner of the enclosure, which is adjoined by a modern extension, still in use for burials.

Economy

Head office of BMI Regional, Aberdeen Airport

British Midland Regional Airways has its corporate head office at Aberdeen Airport East in Dyce. Halliburton has an office in Dyce.

Aker Solutions, the Norway-based oilfield services giant, runs its UK operations from Dyce, at the Aberdeen International Business Park.

Transport

Dyce railway station is served by local and long-distance trains on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line.

There is an old railway line running from Dyce northwards past Newmachar which is now a path for pedestrians and cyclists.

Education

The local secondary school, Dyce Academy, has about 500 pupils. There is also a primary school, Dyce Primary School.

Parks and recreation

Sports facilities include the local junior football team Dyce Juniors F.C. who currently play in the Scottish Junior Football Association, Northern Region and the cricket team. Dyce also have an amateur football team, currently named Dyce ITC Hydraulics in honour of its sponsors ITC Hydarulics also of Dyce. Dyce ITC currently play in the Aberdeenshire Amateur Association Premier League and play their home games at Pitmedden Road in Dyce.

Dyce (Aberdeen) Amateur Swimming Club (Est 1977), which runs its own Swim School for those wishing to learn to swim, is based at the Dyce Academy swimming pool. The Club and Swim School are both affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association to help swimmers compete up to North District and Scottish National Level.