St Andrews in Focus Issue 20 Jan Feb 2007 by Mike Collins

St Andrews in focus • shopping • eating • events • town/gown • people and more

January / February 2007 Issue 20 £1.50

the award winning magazine for St Andrews www.standrewsinfocus.com

St Andrews in focus • shopping • eating • events • town/gown • people and more

From the Editor

I never knew him personally, though I knew of him – Brian Thomson, for so many years Chairman and Managing Director of D C Thomson of Dundee. The threads of life connect in mysterious ways. For more than fifty years I have admired the Company for which Dundee is famous, journalism ( – along with the other Js, jute, and jam). The Scots Magazine has long been irresistible reading for me, and I’ve been castigated for not taking the Courier – “The No 1 daily source for local news and sport” – every day! Charles Ketcham wrote in these pages as recently as March/April 2006 in praise of the Thomson Family who were so good to him, and the Thomson Family kindly endorsed his supplement. Another subscriber to this magazine has told me he owes his years of employment to D C Thomson, and he spelled out for me the innate kindness, courtesy, and consideration always shown by Brian Thomson, his immediate boss. What can I say? As much part of St Andrews as of Dundee, D C Thomson has lost a great spirit, but long may the Company continue to thrive. St Andrews is the poorer also for another loss, that of Donald McGilchrist, who worked tirelessly for the town he loved. Chairman of Central St Andrews Residents’ Alliance (CSARA) since its inception in 2004, Donald put in endless hours, reading and writing endless reports, attending endless meetings. His work will surely benefit the town, though sadly he has not been spared to see it. Let’s persevere, and remembering his name, strive to protect and improve our town. My New Year wish: may all of us be blessed with all that’s good, in 2007, and beyond. Flora Selwyn

******** The views expressed elsewhere in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel/fax: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com Designer University of St Andrews Reprographics Unit Printer Tayport Printers Ltd. Distributer Elspeth’s of Guardbridge Publisher (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. Tel/fax: 01334 472375 Email: enquiries@standrewsinfocus.com SUBSCRIPTIONS St Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year, starting in January. Subscriptions for the full year are: £12.50 in the UK (post & packing included) £21.00 overseas (post & packing included) Please send your name and address, together with remittance to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. Registered in Scotland: 255564 The paper used is 75% RECYCLED post-consumer waste

Contents Features •

The Editor’s Prize

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Community Council

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Swiss Family Torrance

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Cycling in Copenhagen

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What Really Matters . . .

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Hazy Days

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Ask the Curator

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Green Initiatives

• Pittenweem Sojourn

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The Strange Case of . . .

TOWN/gown •

Amaury Triaud

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Art for Mercy

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Berlin, 2006

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Union Debate

ORGANISATIONS •

The Nathan Johnston Trust

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St Andrews in Bloom

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The Scottish Handcraft Circle

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Friends of the Harbour

Shops & Services •

Farmers’ Market

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World Class Buddies

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From Our Motoring Correspondent

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High Tea

• Tax Matters

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From Hobby to Business

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L’Orient Restaurant

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Roving Reporter

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Toonspot

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Improve Your Golf

Events •

Selected Events

Out and About •

Nil Desperandum

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Giving Notice . . .

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The Enchanter Progresses

Cover: folk art & winter rooftops from last winter (Flora Selwyn). David Hamilton provided his snowman with a Forgan long-nosed wood!

NEXT ISSUE – Mar/Apr 2007 Copy deadline: strictly 28 JANUARY All contributions welcome. The Editor reserves the right to publish copy according to available space.

FEATURES

Editor’s Prize awarded to the first correct and appropriate translation of

“Horas non numero nisi serenas” This has been a rewarding exercise, and I am really pleased that I had a response. So Latin is not dead after all! Although not a Latin scholar myself, I am glad that it is gradually coming back to the school curriculum. Nowadays I think it is taught in a more enlightened, and I don’t mean “relevant”, manner! “I do not count the hours unless they are bright” – while correct in itself, it misses the poetry. “I count none but the peaceful hours”, catches some of the spirit, but loses the reference to the sun and the weather. “I do not count time unless by clear weather” – somewhat lacks the underlying nuances. “I do not count the seasons unless they are bright” – I don’t think horas refers to seasons. Correct me if I’m wrong. I suppose I’ve always been seduced by Hazlitt’s own translation: “I count only the hours that are serene”. It has the poetic cadence as well as all the interweaving connotations of time and weather and personal mood. Perhaps Mrs Ellen Graves comes nearest to it with, “I record only the sunny hours.” So congratulations, Mrs Graves – to you the box of Green & Black’s chocolates, and may it bring you many sunny hours!

Warm thanks also to Joseph Casey, first-year University Classics student, for his researches on the topic. I decided to award him a smaller

box of chocolates as a consolation prize. He wrote:

“The inscription is not originally by William Hazlitt, as I first thought, but it was made famous by his essay, “On a Sun-Dial” after seeing it written on a sundial while travelling around Venice on tour (as was fashionable in the Regency period). The (short) and beautifully written piece describing this discovery can be found here: http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Essays/ Hazlitt/Sundial.htm Since Hazlitt’s publication in 1827 the inscription has become famous around the world, and naturally therefore copied onto many sundials, either as a token of respect for Hazlitt’s works, or simply because the inscription is so elegant; indeed while Jose Marti y Perez was a young man working in the Professional School for Painting and Sculpting in Havana he sculpted a small sundial (with inscription) in homage to Hazlitt and his sundial (Perez was a welleducated man, an artist, a musician, and a writer). This still stands somewhere in Cuba; but unfortunately I have been unable to find out more as I do not speak Spanish. Coincidentally, Hazlitt died in 1830, three years after the publication of “On a Sun-Dial”. Jose Marti y Perez died fighting against the Spanish in Cuba in 1895, three years before that cause came to fruition. Both men died tragically; Hazlitt in poverty and disgrace; Perez in a suicidal two-man charge against the Spanish lines at the battle of Dos Rios in May of 1895 (he was considered an effete intellectual by his peers, and with typical South American gusto decided to prove them wrong!) No doubt there are many fascinating stories associated with Hazlitt’s sundial; and I am glad to be able to shed some light on it. Many thanks, this has been rather interesting.”

Donald Macgregor, Chairman of the St Andrews Community Council, considers

Town and Gown Was St Andrews a better place to live in fifty years ago? Well, perhaps. All of us look at the past to some extent through the rosy-lensed telescope of nostalgia, but have to live our lives in the unfiltered present. Scotland was different, and so the town was different. It was smaller and felt more isolated. There was much less traffic, but as many traffic accidents. Supermarkets were still to appear; licensing hours were restricted; ferries rather than road bridges still linked Fife with Dundee and with the road to Edinburgh, though it was possible to reach these cities from St Andrews by train. The Town Council was still around, its proceedings reported more or less verbatim in the St Andrews Citizen, but there were even then financial restrictions imposed by the Scottish Office, on any major projects it might have wanted to undertake; and years were spent in acrimonious dispute with the University over its expansion plans. And some of the Town Council’s planning permissions (e.g. the harbour flats) were controversial to say the least. We live today in a larger and more complex world, and St Andrews is affected, too, by similar factors to those that exist, though often to a lesser degree, in other Scottish towns. Shortage of affordable housing, the possible loss of land to (executive style) development to the south, alcohol-induced vandalism of private property – despite these and other problems St Andrews is in some respects better socially integrated than half a century ago. There used, for instance, to be an unspoken social divide between those who lived north of ‘the burn’ and those who lived south of it, and an educational one between pupils of the Burgh School (a ‘junior secondary’) and of Madras College (‘senior secondary’). As far as town and gown relations were concerned, there was limited coming and going between the (much smaller) student body and the allyear-round residents of St Andrews.

In today’s bustling St Andrews, there is much more co-operation between business, civic, and university representatives, I think because there has to be: it is in everyone’s interest. A Town and Gown Liaison Group involving all sectors of the community was set up at the suggestion of Murdo MacDonald, then chair of the Community Council, about three years ago. The tradition (which dates from Victorian times) of the Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party has long been taken over and improved by the Students’ Association and the Community Council working together with support from merchants and music-makers. All the year round there are voluntary activities of all sorts in St Andrews life to which local people, students, and others richly contribute. The current executive group of the Students’ Association is in the process of producing a strategy for all aspects of its work, and Tom D’Ardenne, the President, presented a draft of the chapter ‘Outreach to the Wider World’ to the November CC meeting. In brief, the aims are to develop an enhanced and sustainable relationship between the Students’ Association, the student body and the Town; to improve communication channels; to encourage more reciprocal participation in student and town events; and to demonstrate to the local community that students are a special and integral part of St Andrews. These laudable aims will not in themselves ensure the disappearance of unacceptable behaviour, but when that occurs, whether carried out by students or locals, we can be sure that through co-operation between the various agencies represented on the Town and Gown Liaison Group, a consistent approach will be taken to deal with it. In comparison with what life is like in most other places in Britain and in the rest of world, we are extremely lucky here. That doesn’t mean we have to tolerate bad behaviour or accept what outside authorities seek to force on us, but our response should be appropriate. ‘Keeping a sense of proportion’ – a New Year resolution for anonymous letter writers?

FEATURES Alan Torrance, Paterfamilias of

The Swiss Family Torrance – “We are going to get absolutely Since 1994 the small Alpine town of Verbier, caned – everyone else will be miles Switzerland, has played host to what is now better than us!” Dad wondered one of the world’s most famous summer why we hadn’t packed the fishing musical festivals attracting top musicians from rods and headed to Norway! The around the world. Soloists this year included effect of Andrew’s comment was Joshua Bell, Maxim Vengerov, Evgeny Kissin, (Left to right) Andrew, Peter, Jane, Robert, Alan and David that, during the days that followed, Emanuel Ax, James Levine, and Hilary Hahn. everyone practised as if there was In 2000, the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra no tomorrow – from early morning until midpeople we met, the concert up a mountain was founded which has already established an evening, when we all headed for the football surrounded by gentians, mountain azaleas, international reputation. (This August it gave a pitch. At one point, David (cellist) reported that and breathtaking views of the Alps. Finally, televised performance at the BBC proms under his fingers were close to bleeding. there was the opportunity to be coached the direction of the virtuoso violinist, Maxim Verbier is set amidst the most spectacular by the great Gabor Takacs, founder of the Vengerov.) In 2006, the organizers of the scenery. The flat world-famous Takacs Quartet – his insight Festival decided to add which Christian and musical passion, not to mention his to their summer events Thompson, the encouragement, will be an abiding memory. an Amateur Chamber Contrary to expectations incredibly helpful All that we learned culminated in a nerveMusic week drawing Director of the the week was unanimously wracking public concert at which we played the players from around Chamber Music first movement of each of our three quartets. the world and utilizing voted quite one of the most week, had arranged It is hard to describe the team spirit, the the presence of the for us was suspended rewarding and enjoyable we commitment and shared emotional energy Festival’s stars. above a deep valley that attends chamber playing. To experience When news of have experienced as a family looking toward that as a family was more rewarding than this reached us (the glaciers and dramatic any of us could have imagined. After we said Torrances) here in St snow-clad peaks our farewells to the friends we had made and Andrews, it seemed beyond. In addition, we were presented with clambered back into the heat of our struggling the ideal opportunity for the family to come free passes for the chair lifts, swimming pool people carrier – if ‘carrier’ isn’t an accolade together and focus its musical energies on etc. After the opening lunch, at which we – we headed off for a few days’ surfing on the quartet playing, with the opportunity of being were welcomed by the Founder of the Verbier west coast of France en route for home. As coached by top chamber musicians. Although Festival and met the resident Badke Quartet, we set off, Dad risked a Mendelssohn quartet we were all quite extensively engaged in who would coach, encourage, and indeed, on the CD player. The absence of the usual playing and performing (Robert even flying to inspire us over the days ahead, we all set off groans and comments was a telling tribute Brussels for monthly violin lessons), we had for our first practice. to the week – not to mention the unanimous done little more as a family than play at church Our programme consisted of three decision to return next year! services and weddings. We hadn’t begun to quartets, by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and In conclusion, we should express gratitude explore the quartet repertoire. With two now Borodin. Violinists for the support we have received from Fife at university in St Dad, Peter, and Council, who contributed to the costs of playing Andrews and Bristol Robert, each played in Scottish and National Youth Orchestras; to and a third heading to in two, sharing the St Leonards’ School, for music scholarships; York, the time seemed leadership. Andrew, and to the Scottish Arts Trust for funding ripe. viola, and David, music lessons for Robert. For her selfless, As Dad (Alan) cello, were obliged ever-patient and enthusiastic commitment started researching to play without a to organizing the family – meals, clothes, possible repertoire break. Each day timetables, travel, board (“Everyone ready?... (with the expert involved several Where’s Peter?”, “No, David, you can’t wear local help of Peter coached practice those!...”) – while fighting ill health, it is to Jane Branscombe), Mum sessions as well as (Mum) to whom we owe our greatest debt. (Jane) did the hard time for individual work of organising practice. At the end the trip, finding of each afternoon, the cheapest ferry With Hilary Hahn we set off to the crossings etc. We local outdoor pool decided to drive to where we all sought to outperform each other Basel and stay with a former postgraduate of on the diving board. In the evenings, there Alan’s who taught in a seminary high above were concerts or talks by the stars of the the city. This would give us four days in which Festival and the opportunity to play still more to concentrate on rehearsing the chosen chamber music with members of the Verbier programme. Early one morning all six of us Festival Orchestra, not to mention relaxing in piled into our old Espace (with two roof boxes, the pub with those who made the CDs we play three violins, viola, and cello – not to mention at home. tent, camping gear, surfboards etc). Buoyed Contrary to expectations the week was by the fallacious supposition that if the car unanimously voted quite one of the most had already managed 173,000 miles we were rewarding and enjoyable we have experienced entitled to assume it would manage another as a family. The highpoints were myriad: (photos: by the family, of the family) five, we set off! That night we were in a French there was the expertise, commitment, and pub watching the final of the World Cup, the inspirational coaching by the members of next day we were in Basel. the Badke Quartet and also by Roderick A comment which emanated from the back Swanston, academic musicologist and of the car distilled what we were all thinking broadcaster. Then there were the recitals, the and focused our minds on the next four days

FEATURES Angela Montford, Confederation of St Andrews Residents Associations (CSARA)

City of Cyclists

– a lesson for St Andrews? Climate change and environmental matters associated with it are making headlines nearly every day – a problem with the potential to affect us all, so it is important as well as interesting to find out how other countries are addressing different aspects of this global problem. Two members of CSARA recently attended a conference in Edinburgh hosted by Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN), an association of town planners aiming to make sure that all local authority development projects reduce pollution, prevent further environmental damage and, by close consideration of the sustainability of any plans, “will meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Examples of projects from Denmark and China of environmentally-friendly energy, water, and building schemes were discussed, and also a number of other measures within local authority development plans to foster sustainable transport. Two young speakers from Copenhagen, known as the “City of Cyclists”, gave a particularly lively and impressive presentation outlining the success they and the city planners have had in their attempts to increase cycling, an important means of reducing pollution. Although the Danish city is far larger than St Andrews, its central core also has many mediaeval street patterns and the principles which lie behind the actions taken in Copenhagen and the way they have been implemented could give Fife Council’s Transport department, as well as the rest of us, much food for thought. Promotion of cycle use and networks of dedicated cycle lanes in Copenhagen began almost one hundred years ago, moving forward significantly since the 1960s. Cycling already represents a 36% share of local transport – planners aim to achieve 40% by 2012. The essence of the developed programme has prospered to a large extent because the

Copenhagen City Council and all its executives permitted on the have long been convinced that it is essential, right-hand side of and they have been prepared to put much the road where money, time, and effort into ensuring that the (with left-hand scheme works efficiently and coherently. drive) the driver’s It is seen as vital to offer a choice of door will be away integrated transport, enabling residents to from the cycle utilise any combination of walking, cycling, lane, thus reducing the risk that an opening bus, train, metro, or car, as best suits their door will strike a cyclist. Cycle lanes are free of needs. Tickets are cheap and interchangeable parking, and are cleaned frequently, removing between the different methods, so that, using St promptly debris, leaves, or snow. Andrews as an example, you could buy a ticket Crossing points are reduced to a minimum, for Edinburgh which would cover the bus from and at traffic lights cyclists can stop several St Andrews, the train from Leuchars, and back metres ahead of cars in order to increase to where you might have parked your bicycle for their visibility. The traffic lights themselves are the ride home. phased to fit in with the speed of cyclists, not Unlike the cycle lanes in St Andrews, cars. The consequent increases in safety mean the Copenhagen planners are adamant that that more and more people are prepared to shared-use pedestrian and cycle lanes on leave their cars at home for cross-city journeys pavements are unsafe, and they all agree that and take their bikes instead. Numerous cycle they should be avoided at all costs. Separating parking spaces are provided throughout the cycle lanes on the city and another road by painted lines side effect has been Unlike the cycle lanes in is also considered the creation of job inadequate, opportunities in the St Andrews, the Copenhagen even dangerous, 143 cycle repair planners are adamant that especially in lanes shops. where there is also The cycle lanes shared-use pedestrian and cycle official or unofficial have narrowed the lanes on pavements are unsafe, car parking. In road space for cars, Copenhagen, cycle but this apparently and they all agree that they lanes, at an absolute has had the bonus should be avoided at all costs minimum of 2 metres of further reducing wide, are separated car traffic, as drivers from the pedestrian pavement on one side waiting in tedious traffic jams and tail-backs and the road for cars on the other by raised enviously watch cyclists speed past them. More kerbs, allowing cyclists safe transit. Many of people are then encouraged to take up cycling, these cycle lanes are now being made even car use declines, and the beneficial effect wider, 2.5 or even 3 metres, to accommodate continues. The workings of the comprehensive the increasing number of cyclists and provide cycling scheme, including cost, safety, and local greater safety for them. Elsewhere, cyclists opinion are now monitored every 2 years and might travel on a separate wide lane inside a adjusted as necessary. The safety of cycling line of parked cars, which then act as a shield and cyclists has been increasing year on year from passing traffic, although this is only and pollution from cars has rapidly decreased. These measures in Copenhagen have also included the gradual phased reduction of city centre parking places by 2-3% per year in order to accommodate new unobstructed cycle lanes. This reduction in car parking has been associated with the complete or partial pedestrianisation of many areas, restrictions on the speed of cars in shared-use streets and the creation of new public squares and meeting places. This in turn has restored the city centre to an agreeable social space where pedestrians and cyclists come first. The proliferation of outdoor cafes, street entertainers, skating rinks, and outdoor benches – even some that are warmed in winter (!) – and other impromptu places to sit has contributed to a greatly increased use of public open space. It has also encouraged long-term residents back to live in the city centre, making it a livelier, safer, and more social place to be, by day and night and at every season. Could St Andrews benefit from some similar measures? (Photos: With thanks to the Danish Tourist Board)

(Photo by Ireneusz Cyranek) (Photograph by Frazer Stockton S3)

FEATURES Colin McAllister, muses on

What Really Matters If fortune your self-esteem flatters, Or if life favours you in every way, Or if the wheel should turn, then come what may, You’ll find that love is what really matters. If your life lies in shreds and tatters, Or if you lose your job or your wealth, Or no longer are in the best of health, You’ll find then love is what really matters. If life’s rainstorm at your window blatters, Or mirth departs, leaving you only tears, Or you’re beset by advancing years, You’ll find then love is what really matters. If misfortune your family scatters, Or former friendships fall far apart, Or others’ ingratitude chills your heart, You’ll find then love is what really matters. When by death your life’s hour-glass has been shattered, And life has lost its passing pleasure, You’ll find this will be your lasting measure, Love, was it for you what really mattered?

Melville Reid, now in his 88th year (see his story in issue 9, March/April 2005) has composed this delightful waltz. Together with St Andrews in Focus he dedicates it to all our readers on St Valentine’s day!!

Hazy Days

FEATURES Hazy days, lazy days, When we were young, Trying out the latest craze, When we were young. Down the years, thro’ smiles and tears In fortune fled, or vanished fears What e’er befall we’ll still recall When we were young. ‘Twas a time in your life you can’t forget No matter how long you live, It’s the time when you’re young and fancy free And life has so much to give, It’s the time when the sun will always shine, And the sky is blue above, A time to laugh, a time to play, A time you’ll always love.

Ask the Curator

– Lesley-Anne Lettice, Assistant Curator of the St Andrews Museum Q. Can you provide any information about the ‘Fraser Building’ or ‘Buildings’, the tenement at the corner of Argyle Street car park? A. The building stands at 18-24 Argyle Street and was commissioned by businessman, David Fraser, in 1897. He owned a sandstone quarry near Anstruther and was also the owner of the ‘Whey Pat Tavern’. The building was designed by local architects, Gillespie & Scott. The building originally consisted of a shop on the ground floor with a flat to the rear and more flats above. Mr Fraser also built ‘Viewfield’, the villa behind the Fraser Building. Erected in 1903, it consisted of two flats, which at that time had fine views over the countryside. Mr Fraser, with his wife and two sons, David and John, lived in the firstfloor flat while the lower flat was rented out. John later set up a fruit and vegetable business in the shop at the (Photo courtesy of the front of the Fraser Building. St Andrews Museum) Q. I recently saw a photograph of Bing Crosby golfing on the links with local man, J.K. Wilson. Can you tell me anything about Mr Wilson’s life, including how he came to know Bing? A. James K. Wilson was one of St Andrews’ most memorable characters. He was born in Canada where his father was working as a stonemason. His father died in 1914 and the family returned to St Andrews where his mother made ends meet by cleaning at the East Infants, or ‘Fisher’ school. In 1923 J.K. became an apprentice stonemason with local builder, Jim Spence. During World War Two he served in the

Building Volunteers, who were sent into heavily bombed areas of London and Birmingham. When he returned to St Andrews he set up his own business in North Street and worked on many restoration projects in the town. He later gave up the business and worked for Lawson’s of Kirkcaldy and the Ministry of Works. Like many St Andreans, he spent much of his spare time on the Links. At the age of 40 he decided to take the game more seriously and went on to win the Links Championship Medal and the R&A Gold Medal. In 1950, while practising at MacAndrews’ Golf School, he met American entertainer, Bing Crosby. The next day, he was drawn to play against Bing in the British Amateur Open. J.K. won the game; after posing for the press, the two men went for a few drinks, beginning a lifelong friendship. Whenever Bing was in Scotland he called J.K. to come and play golf with him. Over the years, they met at famous courses all over Scotland, including St Andrews, Gleneagles, Dornoch, and Carnoustie. J.K. died from lung cancer at the age of 81. He spent his last few weeks in hospital, where, true to form, he entertained fellow patients with jokes and songs. A member of the St Andrews Golf Club for 56 years, he was also a popular entertainer, playing for many years in a local dance Bing Crosby and J K Wilson band, ‘The Harmony Boys’. (Photo courtesy of the University Cowie Collection)

FEATURES Melanie Taylor, Press & Communicatios Officer for Woking Borough Council, outlines

Woking’s Green Initiatives A fuel cell is similar to a While world leaders continue to debate environmental issues on a global battery, except that fuel is scale, England’s Woking Borough Council is tackling issues such as fed into the cell to generate global warming and depletion of natural resources locally, and developing electricity and heat by an a number of green initiatives to tackle climate change. electro-chemical process, Woking is believed to be one of the first local authorities to have producing pure water as its adopted a comprehensive Climate Change Strategy in 2002, which aimed output emission. to reduce Co2 equivalent emissions by 60% by 2050 and 80% by 2100 Woking Borough Council In addition, Woking has a number of cutting-edge technologies that Brockhill has also made effective have positioned the town as a leader in sustainable and renewable use of photovoltaic (pV) cells to generate electricity. photovoltaic cells energy initiatives. have been built onto a number of Council-owned properties and are used The Woking town centre CHp (Combined Heat and power) station is to convert daylight into electricity. Brockhill is an the first commercially operating energy station of its ‘extra-care’ sheltered housing scheme, operated by kind in the country. The CHp station uses combined Woking Borough Council, which uses this technology. heat and power technology, together with heat-fired Brockhill boasts the first large-scale domestic absorption cooling to produce environmentally friendly photovoltaic installation in the UK and, together with a energy services. It distributes electricity via private small-scale CHp unit, enables the building to provide wire networks to power a number of buildings in the a local community energy system that generates town centre, including Woking Borough Council’s Civic power which is used to provide all-year-round Offices, Holiday Inn, Quake nightclub, the Big Apple heating, hot water services and electricity. leisure complex, H.G. Wells Conference and Events Recently, Woking has also developed Hybrolights Centre, and Victoria Way car park. So basically, if in one of its car parks. The Hybrolight, which is the National Grid were to go down, these buildings in Left: Town centre CHP station situated in Manor Way car park in old Woking, uses Woking would still have power. Right: PV wind lighting columns a combination of solar photovoltaic panels and a Woking also installed the UK’s first commercially vertical wind turbine to power a street lighting column. It is thought that operating sustainable energy fuel cell. Fuel cells were originally used in these lighting columns could be installed in areas across the Borough. the USA space programme in the These green initiatives led to Woking Borough Council receiving 1960s and provided the vital heat, the Government award of Beacon Council status during 2005 and 2006 electricity, and drinking water to for sustainable energy. In addition, the Council’s work received global keep space missions going. recognition for its work at the end of 2005, when it was awarded the Low But in Woking the fuel cell, Carbon Leaders – City Government award at the Low Carbon Leaders along with CHp technology, is Awards in Montreal, Canada. used to power the town’s pool in the park and Leisure Centre. For more information on Woking’s work, visit the Council’s website at Excess heat produced in the www.woking.gov.uk and have a browse through the planet Woking summer can also be used to power pages. the pool’s air conditioning, cooling Woking Park; Fuel Cell (Photos: courtesy Woking Borough Council) and dehumidification requirements.

Ellen Brownlow reviews

Pittenweem Sojourn by Nanzie Mcleod (price £9 99. Available at J&G Innes, St Andrews) I have just read the new novel by Nanzie West End of the city for several years. McLeod. It is called pittenweem Sojourn and part two starts on the day that war is although it is much longer than her successful declared. Annie has decided to take her sevenbook of last year, Tales of the East Neuk, I year-old daughter to Fife for safety, and so found it easy to read, humorous and very hard starts the pittenweem sojourn of the title. For to put down. those of us who are older, the descriptions This book deals with the problems of revive memories of what a very different a middle class family in the years between life it was at that time. I particularly enjoyed 1928 and 1944. Nanzie McLeod trained as pittenweem Sojourn as an aide mémoire. a painter at Glasgow School of Art and in Constantly some detail in the story would spark her story she has tried to paint a picture in my memory and generate some other long-ago words of how those difficult years affected fact that I had completely forgotten. The author the different generations of a Glasgow family. assures me that she did little research, other Annual holidays were spent in pittenweem, than in her own mind, although after the book and the book depicts was written she combed scenes on both sides of For those of us who are through old copies of the Scotland. The ‘day out’ in St Glasgow Herald for the older, the descriptions Andrews is fondly recalled, fascinating snippets of with memories of the information which appear revive memories of Lammas Fair, the seaside casually throughout the what a very different life book. Some of these tell of entertainers, and lunch at the Tudor cafe. world events, while others it was at that time The interesting heroine are advertisements, quoting is Annie, who meets the threat of war, the prices and the number of clothing coupons onset of illness and the difficulty of personal required for everyday items like coats and relationships with optimism and courage. She combinations! one society item describes Herr is closely modelled on the author’s mother. The Hitler in evening dress attending the opera, first part of the book describes Annie’s splendid while on another page that same day, the wedding to Bruce and their first modest home preparations for war are only too obvious in on the South side of Glasgow. After her articles on the newly invented barrage balloons daughter Helen is born, the family moves to the and the distribution of gas masks. I asked if

there were any particular theory in her choice of these news items and she laughed and suggested the chaos theory. A wide range of cleverly-drawn friends and acquaintances moves in and out of the story, adding another dimension to the family. Nanzie has a facility with dialogue and uses it with fine realism to gain tension, to define the characters and to carry the action forward. She has a sharp ear for dialect and the Fife and Glasgow accents are immediately recognisable. Although Annie’s health is deteriorating, (she is eventually diagnosed as suffering from disseminated sclerosis, now known as multiple sclerosis) her humour and creativity in dealing with the harsh winters in the inadequate holiday house, plus the shortages and vicissitudes of wartime, are impressive. We are delighted to watch Helen’s character develop, thanks to her mother’s support and encouragement. The friendship and love which Annie and her daughter share are at the heart of this book and make it a very positive story. This is the first volume of a trilogy and I look forward to next summer when the second book will be published.

FEATURES Dr. Veronica Smart, and

The Strange Case of Bishop Kennedy and the Abbey Loo In an earlier number of this magazine (issue 6, Sept/Oct 2004), I described how the bishops of St Andrews were given the right of minting coins, and how St Andrews was among the first burghs in the mid-twelfth century to take part in a coinage for Scotland. Maynard the Fleming, the first provost, who owned property towards the east end of South Street, was in charge of coinage here. After the abdication of John Baliol in l296, St Andrews disappears from the number of towns named on the coinage, but a later episode shows that the privilege was revived for a short time. Bishop James Kennedy is familiar to St Andreans as the founder of St Salvator’s College, and perhaps even more as a figure in the annual pageant of Kate, his supposed niece. He was an immensely important man in his own day; politician and diplomat, as well as churchman and educationalist, and close friend of the king, James II. It was in the bishop’s palace (our Castle) that in 1452 the future James III was born, and the king, in gratitude for the safe haven provided for the queen during the turmoil provoked by the Douglas murder, granted to the bishop the so-called Golden Charter, one of whose privileges was a confirmation of the ancient right of coinage. For many years it was believed that this right existed in name only, since no contemporary coins naming Bishop James or St Andrews had been discovered. In 1913 Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire came into the ownership of the nation, and the ruins were cleared and stabilised. It was then that a find of coins was made in a silted-up ditch that had flushed the monks’ latrine. Amongst other pieces were fifty-one copper pennies of an enigmatic type. The only clues to their identity were the fifteenth century context of the other finds and the name Jacobus Rex. The reverse legend gave no indication of the issuer, being a line from a Latin evening hymn invoking the Cross as protection. Various suggestions for this Jacobus were made, including rulers of Aragon, Sicily, and Naples. None of these was a plausible identification, since the few examples previously known bad been found in Scotland, and none in the Mediterranean area. Sir George Macdonald, who published the find, recognised a Scottish attribution, but was convinced that they were minted at the abbey itself. For many years the unlikely notion of a Crossraguel Abbey mint obscured the connection with Kennedy’s charter.

both in stone and timber”. Martine further observed that some coins of this type were held in the charter chest of the town council in his time. It was probably by no means a small coinage. Although surviving examples are rare, they exist with three variations of the orb device and in several different dies. It would be disingenuous not to record that the identification of the “Crossraguel” coins with Bishop Kennedy’s charter is not universally accepted, but to my mind the coincidence cannot be dismissed. The distribution of the surviving examples, the orb device, and George Martine’s testimony, all support the contention that Kennedy exercised his privilege. Why so many fetched up at Crossraguel Abbey may have something to do with the fact that it was very much Kennedy country, as the old rhyme had it,

It was then that a find of coins was made in a silted-up ditch that had flushed the monks’ latrine

(Drawings by the late Christine Woolf) By 1950 a number of new single finds of examples of the “Crossraguel pennies” had come to light These suggested that the hoard was an exception, and that the coins had much more an east coast distribution – in fact, four had been found in St Andrews itself. Robert Stevenson, then keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities, realised that the design, the orb surmounted by a cross, was strongly reminiscent of the device associated with Kennedy’s foundation of St Salvator’s College. He discovered that this association was not new; that in fact the 17th century antiquary George Martine, in his history of St Andrews, referred to Kennedy’s charter, adding, “For proofe that this privilege was sometime in use, I have seen copper coins bearing the same mond [ie. the orb] chapletted and adorned with a croce, just as in all things the mond set by Bishop Kennedy in sundry places in St Salvators College

“Twixt Wigton and the toun of Ayr Port Patrick and the Cruives of Cree No man may think to bide there Except he court with Kennedy”.

The Abbot of Crossraguel at the time when the coins were probably received there was one Colin Kennedy, but so far I have not been able to discover the degree of his kinship, if any, with our Bishop. It is understandable that James Kennedy might have sent to his kinsmen such proofs of the king’s favour, but since they are in base metal any kind of ceremonial presentation is unlikely. Why they ended up in the abbey’s drain is anyone’s guess!

Macgregor Auctions Auctioneers & Valuators

Tel: (01334) 472431 Est 1857

56 LARGO ROAD ST ANDREWS FIFE KY16 8RP

2007 Sale Dates January

– 11/12

July

– 12/13

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– 25/26

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– 26/27

February – 8/9

August

– 9/10

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– 22/23

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– 23/24

March

– 8/9

September – 6/7

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– 22/34

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– 20/21

April

– 5/6

October

– 4/5

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– 19/20

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– 18/19

May

– 3/4

November – 1/2

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– 17/18

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– 15/16

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– 31/June 1

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– 29/30

June

– 14/15

December – 13/14

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– 28/29

TOWN & GOWN Multi-talented Amaury Triaud, from Bordeaux in France, is a final year student here in astronomy.

“And that inverted Bowl we call the Sky, . . . ” (Omar Khayyam) Not many people realise that St Andrews owns the largest optical telescope in operation in the United Kingdom. It demonstrates how the department of Astronomy in the University uses all means to acquire data and help in understanding how the Universe works. Astronomy in St Andrews has had a long history, starting from the earliest settlement apparently showing a site dedicated to the Moon. As science progressed in the 19th and early 20th century with this urge to understand nature and space the observatory was set up in St Andrews, one of the southernmost points from which to observe and study the Northern Lights frequently enough without the disturbance of a large city nearby. St Andrews still remains a very good place to witness such events, as we were able to admire some of the strongest auroral activity ever recorded (see photos and article in the January/ February 2004 issue of St Andrews in Focus). When I disembarked in St Andrews on a grey, cold, and drizzling day in the summer of 2002, after a sleepless night in an airport, I did not know what was awaiting me in this northern city. The bad impression of the start lasted two hours, just the time to meet a first person and realise that although being dropped 1500 miles away from home, life was still possible. Ever since that day, never have I regretted the choice of coming to St Andrews. I discovered a new way of learning through the excellent and vast teaching professed by the University, from Astronomy in the Solar System to large scale Cosmology via extrasolar planets, stellar physics, or the mysterious world of Quantum Mechanics, but also learning how to speak German and Spanish. It allowed me to start doing research in various institutes in Europe during my summers. The latest one, last summer, brought me to observe at the Observatory of Haute-Provence, in France, and to work at the Observatory of Geneva,

Switzerland, on data which eventually led to the discovery of two new planets outside our Solar System. This discovery, largely publicised, prepared the way of, hopefully, many more to be found with instruments in the Canary Islands, and in South Africa, founded by a British Universities consortium called SuperWASP (www.superwasp.org) in which St Andrews plays a very important part. Being at University is not only about studying; St Andrews, being a microcosm, helped me a lot to develop my interests and my character. Now that I reflect on it, even if a larger town gives more opportunities for entertainment, culture, and larger numbers of people to meet, I would probably have been lost. It is because St Andrews is small that I have met so many interesting people and have integrated in its society so well and so quickly. The small Astronomy department has helped me know my lecturers well and hence gain their help and respect to conduct research abroad. Because of the limited facilities in town (a small cinema and a small theatre), I have been forced to look towards people and give time for so many things that would have otherwise been discarded. Photography is one of these many activities that I developed. It is so easy to go out of town and walk down the Coastal Path along the East Neuk of Fife, gaining many opportunities to take interesting shots to show friends and family the wonderful land that I live in, as well as for producing more personal work, something that requires time and attention, in relaxing and inspiring surroundings. One of the major themes was capturing work and life related to the sea, in many respects similar to the one I knew, but in so many other aspects different; I come myself from a sea-faring region and family. After four years at the University, I am using the fifth and final year of my degree to release

Being at University is not only about studying; St Andrews, being a microcosm, helped me a lot to develop my interests and my character

OHP 193 open some of my photos; a way of giving to the community the vision I have of this land I discovered. This is how I got involved with the Art for Mercy auction. Many people think scientists are people untouched by art or more earthly subjects. Not at all, and on the contrary, as scientists, we try to explore ways to understand and explore our world and Universe, its laws and its creation, making us very aware and amazed by its fragility, and the beauty it owns. Our scientific training makes us full of curiosity, a gift that helped me a lot for my photos. The University also helped me through all the events and possibilities: being photographer of the Saint, travelling with the Fencing Team (e.g. Paris last year), or going to foreign observatories. It is also a unique place, and gives the opportunity to start presenting my photographs to a wide and open-minded public. St Andrews, again, due to is small size and also to the intricate life the University and the Town have created, gave new insight and the feeling of living in a vibrant community encompassing everybody. Working as fencing teacher at St Leonards School, getting involved with St Salvator’s Chapel, or promoting Lillet – a drink from my home region of Bordeaux (www.lillet.com) – and revealed recently in James Bond’s new film Casino Royale – I have been able to meet and appreciate the company of those whom as students we call, ‘the Locals‘, gaining from them wisdom and respect which we, as students, ought to keep. (Photos courtesy Nahiz)

TOWN & GOWN Danielle Johnson writes

Local Artists Support ‘Art for Mercy Auction’ – a Student charity Event Local artists, including photographer Nahiz, and the Crail pottery group, are to give support to the Art For Mercy Auction, an annual event run by a group of students from St Andrews University. Art For Mercy is part of a nationwide scheme instituted by the international organisation,Tearfund, which aims to provide relief for sufferers of HIV/ AIDS around the world. The auction date is set for March 2007, in the Byre Theatre, St Andrews. At the moment, the Art For Mercy group is putting out a call for submissions of work for the auction, which should not only raise funds for an extremely worthy cause, but allow publicity for any artists involved. Both student and professional pieces are welcomed. please contact ieb2@st-andrews.ac.uk or dej2@st-andrews.ac.uk Also see http://www.tearfund.org for more information about the charity.

Proﬁle

As well as giving prints to the auction, photographer Nahiz (also known as Amaury Triaud) will be donating a percentage of his sales from the works sold now until March, to Art For Mercy. Nahiz has been taking photographs for the last five years as a sideline to his work in Astrophysics. His work captures abstract moments around St Andrews and the East Neuk, which have an almost painterly quality to them. To view work by Nahiz, please visit his website, http://nahiz.blogspot.com, where a new photo is presented each day. purchases can be made by “College Street” by Nahiz contacting the artist direct.

Annabel Reid found that an exercise in the art of diplomacy turned into a masterclass for making friends for 16-year-old students.

Berlin, 2006 When I found out I had got through to represent St Leonards School at the Model UN conference in Berlin I was absolutely delighted. I had been on the trip the previous year and knew that it Students listen to the debate was not only brilliant from an educational point of view, but also on the social side, as you meet people from all over the world. St Leonards was the only school in the UK to have secured places at the conference, but we were there to represent Austria from a political point of view. At the conference, you use your debating skills and prepare resolutions about your allocated country. I was on the environment committee, and you have to make sure you have all the facts on your country’s stance in today’s global political climate so you can answer any questions thrown at you. During the conference, I and fellow St Leonards delegates, Alexandra Schwenke, Hannah Harvey, Lauren Dall, Malte Feldman, and Julia Arndt listened to other people’s speeches and ideas for making the world a better place. We then put forward our ideas, spoke to other delegates and came up with joint initiatives. Sitting on six separate committees, we gave Austria’s view on topics surrounding the main theme of “promoting peace: Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Ethnic Rivalry”. The idea was to follow on from the World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR), held in Durban, South Africa in 2001. The WCAR had called on several far-reaching programmes to address intolerance and discrimination, but it was our duty to try to find methods which will help implement these programs. During the conference, it was our task to convene and look at past mistakes and failures in order to be capable of understanding how best to combat racism today and in the future. We lobbied for resolutions, and our thoughts were considered by everyone. We feel that the conference acted as a testament to the aims of this year’s main theme, as the formation of friendships from a diverse host of backgrounds and ethnicities proved the necessity for a new equal and multicultural society. It was also really interesting to hear a speech by Dr. de Forges, who is the senior consultant at the Human Rights Watch and directs research on Africa. She had just returned from testifying at the international criminal tribunal for Rwanda and spoke about the awful genocide the country has

experienced, which really brought home to us just how important such discussions are. politics aside, the beauty of the conference is that it gives you so much confidence to put your own ideas across and to get as involved as you can. Everyone has come away with so much enthusiasm for world politics and so much confidence to be themselves, and not to be intimidated just because you don’t agree with other people’s views. I love the fact that you meet people from all over the world. I have ended up with friends I plan to keep in touch with from, amongst other places, Germany, and New York. And the friends you make are not necessarily your political allies, they are just people you like and can learn from, through their experiences. on top of that, Berlin is a great city – really youthful and fun and there is so much going on. We had a chance to enjoy shopping and lots of café culture and the fantastic German food – I loved the pretzels. We went to the Reichstag – the seat of the German parliament – and some of us went to the pergamon museum to see the Greek classical sculpture, which was wonderful. Ultimately, our visit to The Brandenburg Gate was symbolic, as it really made us all think about how unity between all races can be achieved if we do our bit to combat division.

TOWN & GOWN Beth Conner, Clerk to the House, University of St Andrews Union Debating Society

‘This House Prefers the Town to the Gown’ As part of its continued objective of involvement with the local community, the University of St Andrews Union Debating Society met on Wednesday, 22nd November to discuss an issue of pressing local importance; the relationship between the town and the gown. The motion before the House was that ‘This House Prefers the Town to the Gown’ with Mr. Richard Douglas and Mrs Flora Selwyn speaking in Proposition, and Reverend Rory Macleod and Mr Steven Cooke opposing the motion. The issues raised in the debate were of particular relevance immediately after Raisin Weekend. The initial division of opinion strongly supported the Gown, with 28 preferring the Gown, 2 in support of the Town and 15 abstentions, leaving the Proposition speakers with the challenge of swaying the opinion of the House to their side. After a somewhat lively adjournment debate with regard to whether ‘Casino Royale’ had reinvigorated the Bond Franchise, the main issues of the evening were discussed. Mr Richard Douglas, in his privileged position as both a citizen of the town and a long-standing student of the University (he matriculated in 1995), most certainly has the credentials to speak on town-gown relations. He informed the house that they were to vote simply on preference, as opposed to judging on any other grounds. However, he reminded the House that while the Gown is synonymous with fees, exams and essays, the Town offers us pubs,

coffee houses, and beaches. He spoke of the necessity for students to interact with ‘this fair and ancient burgh’ if they are to realise the full potential of their university experience. Reverend Rory MacLeod, minister of Holy Trinity Church, spoke of the benefits of the Town embracing the Gown, stating his own experience of the reviving potential of students in enriching the spiritual climate. He stated that the burgeoning international reputation of the University also confers benefit upon the town and the presence of students enhances its commercial capacity. He sounded a cautionary note however, that the University must not take the town for granted. As opposed to creating unnecessary division, he proposed a ‘theologically respectable alternative’ of ‘a healthy respect, one for the other’. Mrs. Flora Selwyn, editor of the St Andrews in Focus magazine, continued the Proposition case by sharing ‘Come Back to St Andrews’, a compelling poem by R. F. Murray (1863-1893) which evocatively presented the beauty and power of the town. Although when her teacher at school had first recommended St Andrews to her, she had asked ‘what’s that?’, her intense attachment to the town has only increased. She reminded the House of the inextricably linked nature of the Town and the Gown, stating that because ‘the Town embraces the Gown’, we cannot underestimate its importance. Mr. Steven Cooke, Vice Chair of the St Andrews Merchants Association wished to amend the motion to ‘This

Evening Degree Programme Keen to get a degree? Too busy to study full-time? Try the flexible route to your MA General degree at the University of St Andrews via the Evening Degree Programme • One or two evenings of classes per week • Broad range of subjects • Minimum age 21 • Flexible entry requirements • Fee Waiver scheme for people on low income or State benefits Find out more from: Alison Andrews Evening Degree Co-ordinator Telephone: 01334 462203 Email: parttime@st-andrews.ac.uk

(Photo courtesy Arlene Cooke) House Believes that the Gown is a vital part of the Town’, perceiving the injustice of arguing solely for one side or the other. Without students, the town would be a ghost town; businesses like his own, ‘The Barber’s Pole’, would become much quieter, there would be far fewer jobs for the locals and the town simply would not be able to function as it currently does. The students are ‘a vital cog of the St Andrews wheel’ and ‘without them, the town would struggle; but without the town, the students would be in trouble’. A lively and engaging floor debate followed, after which another division was called and the Proposition speakers had admirably managed to garner greater support, with the motion being only narrowly defeated by 13 votes against, to 12 in favour, with 28 in abstention. However, all speakers had contributed admirably to an enjoyable evening and, more importantly, to a renewed understanding of mutual respect and the immense worth of both the Town and the Gown.

ORGANISATIONS

Organisations There are many things going on in our town that people don’t always know about. If you have a club, society, or other organisation you would like to bring to public attention (or even recruit new members for) please get in touch by the due deadline for each issue (see the editorial page).

The Nathan Johnston Trust Nathan is the muchloved four-year-old son of Graham and Lesley Johnston. He has severe epilepsy and profound learning difficulties, and suffers around six epileptic seizures a day, leaving him exhausted. The family have a home in Ceres, where they have already adapted a ground floor room to provide a safe and stimulating soft play area. Now that Nathan is getting older (and heavier!) they need to extend their home on the lower level to include a wet room and bedroom which will incorporate all the essential lifting equipment and aids needed to make life a little bit easier for them all, as Nathan is not capable of doing daily tasks by himself. The family and friends have already done some successful fundraising, with events including a sponsored whitewater rafting day at Aberfeldy and a ceilidh, which was held in St Andrews, to which several local businesses kindly donated raffle prizes. The fundraising is on-going, and more activities are planned for the coming months: such as a five-a-side football tournament to be held locally in the summer – look out for posters advertising this. Perhaps you can raise a team from workmates or friends. There is a ceilidh in February, to be held in the BB hall in St Andrews, with music by The John White Sound. Please bring friends and family, young and old, and join in the dancing, or just enjoy the excellent music (see Events p25). Any help, or participation in these fun activities would be greatly appreciated. Further information can be obtained from Lesley at: grahamlesley@talktalk.net or by telephoning 01334 828 325

Janice MacDonald tells us about

St Andrews in Bloom It is a little-known fact that the majority of hanging baskets and window boxes you see around the Town Centre in the summer are provided by a voluntary group, St Andrews in Bloom. Until recently this ‘group’ consisted of Bill Sangster, Joe Peterson, and Maisie Cunningham. From autumn 2006 a new committee has formed with representatives from the Community Council, local Government, University, Links Trust, Merchants Association, Education, and Student groups, along with others who are passionate about the wellbeing of our Town. Most of our funding is from grants, in particular the Common Good Fund, as well as vital donations from businesses and individuals around the Town. Our constitution says that we must continue to expand the planting within St Andrews and we have already provided

flower boxes at Holy Trinity Church, which added to their own spectacular planting in the church grounds. We also encouraged more Town Centre businesses to have flower displays at their premises. With the help of the Kate Kennedy Club and Fife Council gardeners, spring crocuses were planted on the verges at the top of Largo Road. Another very important part of our remit is to involve the whole community in improving the local environment. Pupils at Madras College have already volunteered to raise money to help provide planting for the front of their school in South Street, making it more attractive for everyone to enjoy. Some organisations are currently making arrangements to participate in their own projects and we look forward to hearing from other groups which we will support wherever possible. However, we wish to work with individuals too – do you know an area that needs to be cleaned up and planted? Will you have spare plants that we could use next season? Would you participate in our community projects, which will be advertised in due course (even if you are unable to garden you could provide a flask of tea for the volunteers!) – we want to involve as many people as possible. This is our Town and with your help and support we will make St Andrews a more attractive place to live in, work in, and visit. Please contact Janice MacDonald, tel: 01334 477460

Mairi Wheeler, President of the St Andrews branch, introduces

The Scottish Handcraft Circle The Scottish Handcraft Circle is a group of amateur craft workers who, through their activities, aim to encourage their members to Mrs Clark and Lady Elliot create articles of good design and high technical standard. Lady Rachel Younger founded the Circle after the Second World War. During the war, people were occupied sewing to maintain their households, so had little time for the fine work previously done by “ladies”. Lady Younger started the Circle with a group of Girl Guide Commissioners, to prevent these skills from dying out. The Circle is mainly involved in needlecrafts, including embroidery, patchwork, quilting, crochet, and tatting, but other crafts such as pewter work, wire work, and calligraphy are practised from time to time.

Membership is open to all who are interested in craftsmanship, but it is a tradition of the Circle that members should be willing to pass on their knowledge and skills to others. Handcraft Circles are currently active in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews. Each branch organises its own programme of classes, lectures, day workshops, courses etc. A joint residential craft weekend is held every May, whilst a biennial exhibition of work is hosted in succession by the three branches, at which all members are encouraged to show their work. These exhibitions are well supported by the public, whose modest entry fees subsidise Circle expenditure. The St Andrews branch was founded in 1972. As well as the many pieces made by and for members, Circle members were responsible for the wall hanging featuring St Andrews life, which hangs in the St Andrews Museum. Another large wall hanging is displayed in the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. In addition, there are six wall hangings on loan to local retirement homes. These are rotated every six months. At present, St Andrews members are working on two further hangings, to take account of the increased number of retirement homes in the area. Over the past three years, St Andrews Circle has made over 60 quilts for the Linus project, a national endeavour that aims to give a quilt to every young person in hospital. The most recent Circle project has been “Blankets of love” for the Neonatal Unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, and for the Delivery Suite of the Forth Park Hospital, Kirkcaldy. If you would like further information and are interested in joining, please contact our secretary, Anne Cruickshank, Tel: 01334 320 496.

Alison Gilmore reports that the

Friends of St Andrews Harbour Sale On! October 28th saw volunteers from ‘Friends of St.Andrews Harbour’ gather at the Town Hall to take part in the annual charity card sale. Over the last two years ‘Friends’ have printed a range of 5 cards with tasteful scenes of the harbour and surrounding area. Blank inside, the cards may be used as note cards, future Christmas cards, or indeed, for any occasion. Packs were purchased for gifts too, and a healthy profit was returned at the end of the day. We hope to print more cards and extend our range -– these will be on sale at the Harbour Gala, August 2007 . . . watch his space in the next issue when the actual date will be divulged!

SHOPS & SERVICES Jimmy Wilson, Co-ordinator extraordinaire, introduces

The St Andrews Farmers’ Market St Andrews’ Farmers’ Market has been held on a monthly basis since last April and the stallholders are delighted with the response from the people of St Andrews, who, in their droves, have been buying locallyproduced quality goods. On the first Saturday morning of each month from February to December, the event has become an enjoyable experience for all involved. Unfortunately the first week in January proves to be too difficult for supplies of produce. There is no magic or scientific jiggery-pokery in supplying top quality food. It is done quite simply by farmers producing food to the best of their knowledge and capability and supplying it fresh and directly to the customer, discussing its merits with the customer and using any comments received to improve the product. Farmers’ Markets returned to Scotland in 1999, and to Fife in 2000, following consumer demand to Jimmy Wilson know more about the food they were buying, its origins and the methods used in its production and the knowledge that food would taste better if it was produced with a view to quality rather than quantity. At the same time farmers were becoming more and more frustrated that, in spite of their best efforts, the taste and eating quality of their food was being sacrificed in the name of mass production and quick turnover. The idea that it was more important for food to look good on supermarket shelves, rather than taste good, has also caused a great deal of harm to our local food industry. The advent of farmers’ markets gave farmers the chance to offer shoppers food at its very best and freshest and the customer had the chance to sample food produced with eating quality in mind. Selling produce direct to the public has tremendous advantages. Farmers can and do receive a quick feedback from their customers, who can always ask advice about existing products, or about unusual or novel products, and find out which cuts, or types of food, suit their needs. Shoppers aren‘t shy, for there will always be someone there to answer questions, and if a product can be improved the farmer will do exactly what is needed. This formula has worked very well.

The Stallholders Hilary’s Famous Meringues Hilary supplies ready meals and her famous meringues to a variety of people and restaurants from her base in Saline. Having made her reputation for baking top quality meringues, she now offers hot soup as well, and has very quickly gained a reputation for what will undoubtedly become “Hilary’s Famous Carrot and Coriander Soup”.

Fletchers Seriously Good Venison With a huge range of cuts and additive-free products, plus great cooking advice, Fletchers are a small, family business, renowned for excellent service. Their venison is free-range and stress-free; traditionally matured for flavour, then freshly cut for sale. They deliver orders nationwide or for collection. Balhelvie Aberdeen Angus Beef and Scotch Lamb Since the 1940s the Wilson family have produced renowned Aberdeen Angus cattle and Scotch lamb on the banks of the Tay near Newburgh. They produce quality meat from naturally fed cattle and sheep grazing all summer on the hills of North Fife. You can discuss your needs with Jennifer or Sandra at the market or visit the farm.

Puddledub Pork and Fifeshire Bacon A small family business based in Auchtertool, West Fife, Puddledub offers the customer real dry-cured bacon, fine hams, delicious sausages and fresh tasty pork, either bought at the market or delivered to your home. Growing numbers of people today care how animals are reared and treated. Puddledub’s clients include renowned Glaswegian restaurateur and TV chef Nick Nairn.

SHOPS & SERVICES

Iain Spink, Original Smokies From Arbroath Iain has recently been awarded by UK TV Food and Radio 4 as one of Scotland’s best food producers. His smokies are smoked in the traditional way, over hardwood in halved whisky barrels. Caledonia Coffee Caledonia Coffee Roasters source only premium grade Arabica coffee from around the world. After processing in Perth, they offer an extensive selection of single origin beans along with unique and well-balanced house blends. Their fluid bed roasting system offers a cleaner, purer coffee flavour than traditional drum roasting. Olives and Thingz Olives and Thingz is a family run business located in Greenock in the west coast of Scotland, aiming to provide the very best collection of stuffed olives and other deli products in the country. Although Toni has been challenged to grow his olives in Greenock he will only admit to processing them there! Stewart of Langraw Well known in the area, John and Mairi Stewart sell the Highland beef they rear at Langraw just outside St Andrews. They take pride in selling quality beef presented to the shopper at its best. Moira Henderson Ring Farm Eggs, lamb, and traditional mutton are produced at Ring Farm, which lies in the heart of Fife not far from Cupar, but poultry is the main enterprise. Moira’s abilities are widely recognised and she is the Chairperson of Scottish Egg Producer Retailers Association. Along with husband David she can be found whenever the market is in St Andrews. Gartmorn Poultry Farm From their base in the beautiful heart of rural Central Scotland, overlooking Gartmorn Nature Reserve, Gartmorn Farm produces and supplies the finest free-range corn fed poultry. As of spring 2006 they can now boast that their birds are all fed on corn as a 100% replacement for wheat, as nature intended, therefore the taste and quality are truly exceptional.

Puddledub Buffalo The newest arrival at St Andrews Market is the award winning Steven Mitchell with his Puddledub Buffalo, reared at Clentrie Farm near Kirkcaldy. His buffalo steaks and burgers have been an amazing success. Making real mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk is in the planning stage, and he is now looking for a dairy farm willing to milk buffalo. Knowehead Products Barry Batchelor is head of the catering department at a wellknown Edinburgh college, and produces jams and chutneys, honey and other delights to tempt shoppers. Bellfield Organic Vegetables Award winning organic vegetables, certified by the Scottish Organic Producers Association can be found on the Bellfield stall. All of their plants are grown from seed thus ensuring only the highest quality organic produce. Harmony Healing Natural remedies are available from Julia. She supplies advice and cures for a wide variety of ailments, from stress to sore hands. Arran’s Cheese Shop All their cheeses are produced in Scotland, with over 25 distinctive flavours from which to choose. They also stock superb oatcakes. Jamesfield Organic Farm Ian Miller, along with brother Roy, own and manage Jamesfield, the 300acre farm sprawled along the banks of the River Earn on the Perthshire and Fife border where modern organic farming was pioneered in Scotland. They offer organic meat, as well as free range poultry, and also their recently launched bakery products.

Hudson’s Home Baking Wanda Hudson offers a wide range of sweet and savoury flans, cakes, and scones, taking orders, which include celebration cakes. Her husband, Pat, is an expert cake decorator. Tikasam Tracy produces cards for all occasions. Her skill in producing cards and adding names on the spot have seen her sales soar and her everhelpful personality attracts customers again and again. Colin Chalmers Colin and his family bring a large variety of vegetables from the family farm in Carse of Gowrie. Something different is always found on Colin’s stall. Caurnie Soap From the Organic Herb Garden in Kirkintiloch, Caurnie Soap has been providing quality cold-process handmade vegetablebased soaps since 1922. Kilduncan Donald Peddie supplies award winning eggs, fresh from Fife’s golden fringe. Kilduncan Eggs is a family-owned business producing high quality eggs in the East Neuk of Fife for over 40 years, producing both free-range and caged hens’ eggs, as well as duck, and quail eggs. The Crisp Hut The Crisp Hut offers freshly-made potato crisps straight from the fryer. You can watch for a few minutes and see a fresh potato transformed into a bag of crisps before your eyes! Jude’s Jewels Judith makes and supplies a wide variety of jewellery from her base in Bridge of Allan. Imaginative and colourful earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are ideal for gifts or to treat yourself. Bouvrage Is a unique drink made from raspberries or blaeberries. The fruit, ripened slowly during the summer, is pressed carefully to retain the exquisite flavour and the natural quality of the berries. Bouvrage meets the growing demand from adults for a natural, flavoursome, refreshing drink that can be enjoyed on its own, with food, or as mixers. Find out more about the St Andrews Farmers’ Market on: www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk

SHOPS & SERVICES Manager, Patrick Laughlin, says –

St Andreans Are “Great Buddies” Stephen Owen, said, “It was very refreshing Local people visiting their favourite restaurants, shops, and attractions in and around St having Lindsey, an expert from a different Andrews recently might have been surprised to part of the service sector, with us for the day, see an unexpected face serving them! All over providing a fresh perspective on what we do.” the town, staff members and owners of local Meanwhile, Sophie Webb, a first-year businesses were participating in job swaps, job HND student at Adam Smith College, was shadows and “back to the floor” exercises. It discovering different aspects of working was all part of “Buddy Day”, life in a top-class hotel. a national initiative promoted She glimpsed behind by Springboard UK, the the scenes at the organisation that promotes hotel’s kitchens and It was an absolute careers in hospitality, leisure, housekeeping service, pleasure to participate learned how to make a travel and tourism. Buddy Day aimed to customer reservation in Buddy Day and I provide participants with a and also helped at the taste of what a particular reception desk. thoroughly enjoyed it job involved, the skills and Said Sophie, “I attributes they would need couldn’t believe that I was and a chance to sample chosen by Springboard to the atmosphere of a particular working take part in Buddy Day. I had been thinking environment. The participants included about working in travel agencies when I finish students, managers, employment service College, but today has been brilliant and I advisers and staff of all ages, all willing to am definitely now keen to experience more experience a day in a different workplace. aspects of the hospitality industry.” Patrick Laughlin, Manager of the Rufflets Country House Hotel hosted two “Buddies”. Lindsey Adam – proprietor of the St Andrews World Class Initiative, was award-winning Bonkers gift shop in St Andrews “shadowed” for a day by Jackie Herriott, who – sat in on marketing and other planning works for Historic Scotland at St Andrews meetings with the hotel’s management, Castle. contributing to their ideas for promoting short Said Jackie, “It was an absolute pleasure breaks and improving customers’ access to to participate in Buddy Day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Shadowing Patrick gave me a on-line booking. The hotel’s General Manager, whole new perspective on St Andrews World Class. It also gave me a greater awareness of the bigger picture and an appreciation that although St. Andrews is such a great place, there is always room for improvement. Patrick’s job is very varied and I was extremely impressed with his ‘multitasking abilities’ – who said men weren’t good multitaskers?!” Jackie’s colleagues at St Andrews Castle also acted as hosts to a Buddy, Janet Spence from Scottish Enterprise Fife. Janet discovered how the Castle operates as a visitor attraction; learned about the importance of merchandising for generating income, and discovered the high degree of emphasis, which is placed on customer care at the Castle. Other businesses and organisations which Janet Spence (left) is shown around participated in Buddy Day in and around St Andrews Castle Visitor Centre by St Andrews included the Inn at Lathones, Monika Dehnert of Historic Scotland

Student Sophie Webb (right) registers a guest at Rufflets Hotel Job Centre Plus, The Old Course Hotel, Fairmont St Andrews, Bonkers Gift Shop, and Strathclyde Hotel School. Summing up the event, Carolyn Baird, Project Manager for Springboard Scotland, said, “Buddy Day is a great way to raise the profile of the industry among both potential employees and the wider community. It not only enables individuals to experience the industry directly, but also offers an enjoyable and cost-effective way to share best practice, provide staff development opportunities and recognise the efforts of committed employees; thereby helping businesses to both recruit and retain staff. Springboard is extremely grateful for the wholehearted support received from the members of St Andrews World Class, which helped make Buddy Day in St Andrews a resounding success.” There will be a second Buddy Day organised in Spring as part of National Tourism Week, 12-16 March 2007, and businesses and individuals wishing to take part should contact either St Andrews World Class (Tel: 07905 857420) or Springboard (Tel: 07724 112954) in order to secure their first choice of placement.

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SHOPS & SERVICES Jim McGill tries out

The New Mini ‘Surely there’s been some mistake,’ my brain was telling me as I stepped off the plane and viewed the line-up of Minis. ‘I thought I was here to drive the NEW Mini.’ Certainly what I was confronted with as I came down the steps was a car which, I was convinced, was exactly the same as the one which BMW first launched to an adoring public in 2001. How wrong could I be! There’s no doubt you would be excused for looking at the photograph above and thinking it’s an old model, but believe me the 2006 version of the iconic Mini is a completely different – and dramatically improved – car. And it’s an improvement on a formula which has been a winner for the past five years. Externally the changes are subtle. The new Mini’s nose is 38mm longer, its tail is 20mm longer, its waistline is 20mm higher behind a bonnet which is 60mm higher. Minimal as the re-skinning is, it’s all in response to ever moredemanding crash-test regulations, especially in relation to passenger impact. But such has been BMW’s desire to get everything right that every external panel is new. Some, though, might now see the Mini as a contradiction: check out the dictionary and I think you’ll find it says something along the lines of “small or miniature”. That certainly cannot be levelled at the latest incarnation of the car first designed in the Fifties by Sir Alec Issigonis, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on November 18, the day the new car entered showrooms across Scotland. For the record, the new car has also grown two inches in length to 12ft 2.25in – that’s a whole 1ft 6.25in longer than the original 1959 version. Anyway, let’s get back to the future. The Mini remains the most identifiable and distinctive car in the world, selling more than five million. Closer inspection of the newcomer throws up the fact that the radiator grille is now a single chrome unit and the large, staring headlights now incorporate the indicators, which is a nice touch. Pop round the back and

the rear lights are bolder. There’s also a more defined look between the Cooper and Cooper S with the latter growing a power bulge in the bonnet and a lower grille. The combination unquestionably signifies extra clout. But it’s inside where the changes are most noticeable. Like everything outside, the inside is larger too. The immediate benefit is more leg room both front and rear, though it remains a glorified 2-plus-2. The seats, thankfully, are more comfortable and they have a new sliding mechanism, letting you get in and out of the still titchy rear seats more easily. The cabin is still dominated by the oversized speedometer centred in the fascia, though it certainly looks more in keeping with the original from the Fifties. In fact, such was the positive feedback about its traditional positioning that the current Mini designers actually decided to increase the size of the speedo on the dash, which now also houses the radio/CD system and the optional satnav. For the purists, the rev. counter remains directly in front of the driver just above the steering wheel. Thankfully, the designers have retained the retro toggle instrument switches – in fact there’s actually a new bank of them in the roof – and, in reaction to some well-found criticism, the standard of the interior trim quality has been raised. Check out the options list and you’ll find you can also select natural wood, hand-sewn leather, or chrome, to individualise your car’s interior further. Much of the Mini’s heritage revolved round its incredible handling and, believe it or not, this has been sharpened even further in this latest model. It’s an exhilarating, devilishly fun piece of kit, which thrives on being driven with zest and confidence. No matter how down in the dumps you are as you slide into the

driver’s seat, when you get out at the end of your journey I guarantee you’ll have a smile on your face. Squeezed under the bonnet of the Cooper and Cooper S sits a gleaming new, and significantly more sophisticated 1.6-litre, direct-injection engine, which is the result of BMW’s partnership with Peugeot. The same power plant is also beginning to appear in the new 207. While we must wait for the introduction of the new entry-level Mini One, which will use a 1.4-litre version of the engine, plus the revised diesel, which will be powered by a Peugeot 1.6HDI unit, there’s plenty to enjoy in the Cooper and Cooper S, now enjoying 120bhp instead of 115, and 175bhp instead of 170 respectively. Worth highlighting here that while the 2001 Cooper S upped its power through a heavy supercharger, this current version has direct injection and a turbocharger. Not only is it lighter, it’s yet even more fun to drive. Fun though it was, I found the new electricpower steering – at least on the model I drove – slightly hesitant on turn-in. There seemed to be a split-second delay between the turn of the steering wheel and the information being relayed to the actual wheels. And while it’s unfair to criticise the stiffness of the S’s suspension with its bespoke spring and damper settings, within yards of driving the Cooper you realise how much a better all-round car the non-S is. It’s a delight. Not only will it hustle along with the best of them – it may be two seconds slower than the S’s 7.1s to 62mph, but it certainly doesn’t feel it – but unlike the previous model there are no power blank spots as you accelerate through the gears. More importantly the ride is silky smooth, making the cabin a relaxing place to be. It somehow also manages to make the car feel more substantial and bigger. Prices remain attractive. The two models now, the Cooper and Cooper S, cost £12,995 and £15,995 respectively. The Mini One, due next Spring and powered by a 1.4-litre engine, will be priced £11,595. Prices of the diesel Mini, due around the same time, should start around £12,500. Mini’s brilliantly comprehensive five-year service pack – tlc – which has been purchased by 95% of Mini buyers, will continue at the same price, £150. Also continuing are the two option packs, Pepper (£940) and Chili (£1875) which represent a 25% saving over the price of buying the options individually. And if that’s not enough, there’s a host of additional options available – the average spend on a new Mini is £1500 – which will allow the buyer to completely customise their car. So there you have it. The new Mini. It’s the new marvel.

SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn and a good friend sampled the new

High Tea at The Scores Hotel on a dreich November evening, with the rain whipped by a cold wind, I products for the restaurant, in fact, are sourced locally and are fresh. was glad to escape into the welcoming warmth of The Scores Hotel on The pleasant ambience in the Hotel is achieved by Norma, in tandem the Scores in St Andrews. There I was met by Manager Norma pacholek. with her team of Deputy Manager peter McClurg, who also greeted us, She ushered me and my companion, who had arrived Head Chef Bryan McCusker, and all their staff. The by this time hidden under a huge umbrella, but soaking 30 places in Alexander’s can also be hired for private All products for the wet nevertheless, into the Hotel’s beautiful Alexander’s functions, including breakfasts, dinners, high teas etc. Restaurant. Tables laid with spotless white linen, shining restaurant, in fact, You and your family can enjoy Sunday lunch cutlery and glass, instantly set the mood of expectancy. in the Hotel. From 12noon until 8.00pm, there is a are sourced locally Seated by the window we had a last glimpse of the traditional ‘roast of the day’ and a hot pudding. This and are fresh glorious view over the West Sands as darkness set in. two-course set menu is only £9.95 per person, and if And throughout our very enjoyable meal we noticed an you happen to have a small appetite there are smaller occasional golden leaf floating by outside the window like a blessing! portions available for £7.95 per person! The High Tea menu offers ‘deep fried fillet of haddock’ either We set forth again into the cold night, well fortified by our breadcrumbed or in batter, with ‘fries, garden peas & tossed salad’; delectable food – which, we felt, had been served unobtrusively and ‘steak & ale pie’; ‘roast breast of chicken’, each with either fries or new considerately – and having lingered long without being hassled. Thank potatoes,‘fresh market vegetables or tossed salad’; ‘honey roast ham you, Scores Hotel! salad’ with either fries or new potatoes. Vegetarians are also catered for with ‘chargrilled aubergine with tomato chilli jam and crumbled goat’s cheese’. There is toast, white or brown, scones, cream cakes, and tea or coffee. My friend and I both chose the haddock, and were delighted when it came, beautifully presented on a huge plate, looking very appetising! We agreed that we were not disappointed eating it! The fish and its batter were light in texture, the chips obviously made from real potatoes. I was pleased particularly by the mixed salad, served on its own plate and delicately dressed; (previous high teas I had experienced in Scotland had ‘salad’ consisting of one sad lettice leaf, half a tomato, and some indifferent onions, without any hint of a dressing). A mouth-watering array of cakes arrived. We looked at each other! What to choose, and did we have room to do it all justice, after helping ourselves to toast and coffee as well? I leave a veil over this bit – except to say that it was home baking of the best kind! At £10.50 per person we decided the value is exceptional. Norma pacholek emphasised that the pastries are freshly made on the premises, none is brought in. All

J & T Rodger (The Meal Shop)

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St Andrews Garden Centre

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SHOPS & SERVICES Andrew Wright tells us that

“Ignorance of the Law is no Excuse” Warning! This article is scary and may result • Taxation of “ pre-owned assets” (e.g. in nightmares! Those subject to apoplexy, or where assets previously gifted under suffering from high blood pressure should not the “7 year rule” to avoid inheritance tax read on. are later “enjoyed” in “Self assessment” some way by the donor, Many of us feel that means taxpayers are a common example responsible for monitoring being an aged parent the Government has to their own tax liabilities, staying for more than a stop the ever-increasing short holiday in a house and deciding whether or not they are due to pay owned by their children, spiral of complexity in tax. Any transgressions, which was originally the tax system however innocent, may funded in part by the result in stringent penalties parent. • The poorly thought-out tax credit system (e.g. not reporting something that should have been reported). The burden on taxpayers is with its requirement for those on lower illustrated by the fact that the 2005 edition of incomes to fill in the most unintelligible a definitive tax textbook is almost twice the forms and tell the Revenue about every size of the equivalent publication in 1997. event in their lives. • Changes in the tax rules on children’s Understanding the whole tax spectrum is impossible for a tax practitioner, let alone a trusts. It is now impossible, without pensioner. significant tax cost, to protect trust assets While Dawn Primarolo, the Paymaster from distribution to young people once they General, accepts this, she feels the blame reach the age of eighteen, no matter how lies not with the Government, but with the tax immature or irresponsible they may appear profession, who continually try to thwart the at that time. (Following a public outcry, here administrators’ intentions by finding ways for are now interim arrangements between their clients to avoid paying unnecessary tax. ages 18 and 25). For example, the last few years have In 2000, the professional tax institute suggested seen complex legislation covering the to the 658 UK MPs that they try and complete following: their tax returns themselves, rather than

with professional assistance, so as to bring home to them the complexity of the system. Only seven accepted the challenge and, of these, only one stated that he completed the return without difficulty. Many of us feel that the Government has to stop the ever-increasing spiral of complexity in the tax system. It is wrong to have a system that the ordinary taxpayer cannot understand and then to penalise him/her for failing to pay the correct amount of tax. We need a tax law simplification project that sets out to achieve real changes in the foreseeable future. The project team would need to include the best brains within the Revenue together with those in the professional bodies. Will this happen? Only if it becomes an election issue, which means only if it is taken up by the media, and large numbers of us write to our MPs to complain. For further information on this, or other matters, please consult: Henderson Black & Co. 149 Market St. St Andrews. Tel: 01334 472 255

Tracy Mckendrick, inspires us all with the story of

The Hobby that became a Thriving Business When I am asked the question, “How on earth do you have the patience and skill to do this?” I reply, ”It just comes naturally!” It wasn’t until I had been asked this question several times that I realised that I have been truly blessed with a gift I quite simply took for granted. I started making cards as a hobby. This has now turned into a fulltime business. Two years ago I was working 70 hour weeks as a manager of Fife’s largest tearoom and deli. It suddenly became apparent that I was overdoing it, and I decided it was time to have a rest. I left my job and spent 3 months recuperating. After a while I became bored and a friend advised me that I needed a hobby. So off I went to the shops in search of something to do. I went straight to the craft section as I had always enjoyed art and crafts and I found blank cards and envelopes. Perfect I thought; since I was relying on my husband’s income, I could make my own Christmas cards and save money. I really did not have a clue where to start and I remember standing in craft shops looking at decoupage sheets thinking, what on earth are they for. It turns out they are images printed on an A4 sheet, which you hand cut then layer to make a 3D image. I made several cards and showed them to my family. They thought they were fantastic. I took them to a shop to ask their opinion. They were amazed, and bought the lot on the spot. Enthused, I contacted the Fife Farmers’ Market, and Jimmy Wilson explained that only hand-made goods were allowed to be sold. He came to my house to check that this was so. I couldn’t believe it, I had been accepted to have a stall. I had 3 weeks to make enough stock to take to market. I really do not know how to explain what I do. I get my inspiration from everyday objects and scenes around me. I sit at my cluttered desk with pieces of card, flowers, and ribbon spilling on the floor. I take a blank card, hand stamp it inside with a simple message and then I start to create, mixing colours and textures, until I have the desired effect. I soon become bored with a design, so all of my cards are unique and different. And with over 1,000 cards in stock, I rely heavily on my family; my mum, who sits cutting out the decoupage sheets in order for my daughters to stick them together before I can put it on the card and then take it to the market for me and my husband to sell. It truly is a Fife family business! When I first stood, freezing cold, on the market, people buying their sausages or organic veg would pass and think, “Oh, I need a card.“ Now

I have my own customer base and my regular customers have turned my hobby into a thriving business. I also have many customers who require custom-made cards. One lady was desperate for a Highland dancing card. I made it and she was delighted with the result. Indeed I can make any card to any specification. The funniest order I had was when a gentleman read my notice on my stall stating any card can be personalised free of charge with any name, age, or nickname, indeed anything you require. We do this with gold stickers and it only takes about 1 minute, making the personal card even more personal. The gentleman asked me to pick a card and put on it Many Happy Returns to the War Department. So I picked a card with a boat on it and did as he had asked. When I showed the card to him he said, “Fantastic! It’s for the wife’s birthday!” I still don’t know how well it was received. My cards have been sent all over the world; Australia, Dubai, America, to name but a few. Customers often comment that there really is no comparison, when they look at the mass-produced hand-finished cards in the shops, and then come back to pick a hand-made original personalised card for £2.50. I spend hours making my cards and have become very aware how much difficulty customers have finding a personal card in the high street shops. Have you ever tried to find a birthday card in December? This is why I still have my full range of cards all year round. I have also started making jewellery, and from personal experience and listening to my customers I found I was not the only person to struggle with jewellery clasps, constantly having to ask for help to put on a favourite necklace. This is why my necklaces are all on magnetic clasps; they are perfect, so easy to use, and they have been extremely popular for people with arthritic hands. As to the future, who knows what that will bring? However you will always find me standing at my stall, come rain or shine, admiring the smiling faces of my customers when they find that perfect elusive card. For further information phone, 01592 873052 / 872001

SHOPS & SERVICES

Ferguson’s Shoe Repairs

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SHOPS & SERVICES Sandy Mitchell describes how

East meets West at L’Orient When my wife Bee and I opened the doors to our Thai restaurant in Crail’s Lane our aim was to bring a flavour of authentic Thailand to St Andrews. Almost four years on we have been fortunate to have enjoyed some great times, met all kinds of amazing people, and in the process built what, we hope, is a good reputation for our food and hospitality. I am sure we have been helped by the emergence of Thailand as a popular destination for European holidaymakers, and we know that virtually all return enriched by their experiences and most of all by the nature of its people and its fabulous cuisine. As most of our customers know, Nahm-Jim has an entirely Thai staff and during the past few years we have been delighted to see the Thai population growing here, with Thai students and several Thai ladies seduced into life in Scotland by St Andrews’ gentlemen! The cultural face of the town is always changing; stronger relations with the university and golf increasing throughout the world resulting in more visitors and residents from overseas than ever before, especially from the Far East. When you have a successful meeting of different cultures, either by way of marriage, friendship or work, we believe that respect and admiration for each others’ differences adds richness to our lives. Developing these closer relationships with people from different cultures makes us feel like part of a bigger picture and in many ways I believe this is what makes our home of St Andrews unique, as we live in probably the most cosmopolitan ‘small town’ on the planet. When I first met my wife, one of the first things Bee and I discovered that we had in common was our love of food, obvious in my appearance, entirely absent in Bee’s! And long before we ever thought about opening a restaurant we would spend our time in London either cooking, or visiting fabulous French, Italian, Spanish, and Asian restaurants. You name it, we ate it! (The only thing I ever refused to eat was Chinese chicken feet, and even today this is the only thing that is absolutely banned from our home). A few years later, and now, having a better understanding of the running of a busy restaurant, we decided to create something that would both reflect our mixed cultures and allow us to indulge in our passion for food. The result of this ‘East meets West’ collaboration is L’Orient Restaurant & Lounge. Situated in Market Street in premises formerly occupied by both Café India and the Red Reiver, the more formal restaurant can be found upstairs and the less formal lounge bar, open all day, downstairs. Contemporary Japanese and Thai cuisine form the basis of the restaurant menu with more traditional dishes served downstairs in the lounge bar. In addition, during the day, there are some popular European dishes served with a slightly ‘Oriental’ influence. Something of a coup for the L’Orient lounge is that it’s also the first bar outside London to serve draft Japanese Asahi Beer. The addition of

a team of trained cocktail bartenders also ensures a perfect start for the night, or a great way to relax after dinner. Another exciting aspect of the new restaurant from our perspective is the introduction of Japanese cuisine to the town. Having long been a personal favourite of Bee’s and mine, we never cease to be amazed by some of the dishes, with their flavours and exquisite presentation. The notion that Japanese food consists mostly of raw fish and sushi couldn’t be further from the reality, with several incredible lamb, beef, and vegetarian dishes merely the tip of the iceberg. The head chefs have taken traditional Japanese and Thai dishes to a new level, influenced by European cuisine, including French and Italian, and using local ingredients such as fish caught locally and meat reared by local farmers. The past couple of months we have been spoiled rotten by the chefs, showing off their masterful skills and creativity. Particularly satisfying is the broad range of nationalities that form the staff at L’Orient in both restaurant and lounge bar, with several non-Asian members of the kitchen team relishing the opportunity to prepare and cook dishes they would never have encountered before. Bee and I were also very lucky to secure the services of Alistair Rae as our manager who joined us having previously managed the Victoria Café. Alistair brings with him a wealth of experience in the hospitality trade and a great understanding of St Andrews and its clientele. Another important aspect of creating this new establishment were the people we employed to physically renovate the building. With so many recent projects in the town undertaken by firms not just from outside St Andrews, but in many cases from outside Fife, we were determined to use local tradesmen for the job wherever possible. Bee and I would like to express our warmest personal thanks to Tam Campbell & Jack, John Devlin, Ian Cunningham, Malcolm McGowan & Andy, Stevie Herd & his team, Jim McDonald, and not least my brother Rick Mitchell. We sincerely hope that St Andreans embrace this new addition to the town’s restaurant and bar facilities, and that they will be as delighted as we are with the sheer R e s ta u r a n t & Lo u ng e ‘wonderfulness’ of its J a pa ne se & Th a i C u i sine food.

The head chefs have taken traditional Japanese and Thai dishes to a new level

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter . . . noses around town, as usual 1.

Reporter has noted the many makeovers in the town over the past few months. Curiosity prompted him to pop into Littlejohns, 73 Market Street, tel: 01334 475444 to see beyond the door. Peter Smurthwaite, the new Business Development Manager, is the man responsible for the transformation there. Peter has turned Littlejohns round from tired and run down to sparkling and welcoming, with a background of softly changing colours to add to the pleasure. He said it was “great fun”, and that he is not afraid to do things not done before. This also refers to his recent past experience. Brought up in Cupar, where his father was Rector of St James Church, Peter went to Bell Baxter School. Following a very brief spell in the RAF (which he had always assumed would be his career), he gained an HND in Hotel Management

Safety Panel

Spring at Elspeth’s of St Andrews

9 Church Street, St Andrews Tel: 01334 472494

in Kirkcaldy. His path next took him to Garfunkels Plc (now Restaurant Group Plc), where Peter became part of a research and development team producing Café Uno; the noodle bars – Wok Wok; Frankie & Benny’s, and The Filling Station Restaurant & Bar concept, among other successes (for the past 10 years as Regional Manager for The North of England & Scotland). “It was”, said Peter, “real entrepreneurship.” The huge, new menu card at Littlejohns now tells the story of the eponymous original “founder”, Little John, who was only 4 feet tall “in his socks”, but whose love of, and skill in cooking, soon had people flocking to his kitchen. Peter insists that all his dishes are made freshly, nothing frozen. He plans to source ingredients locally more and more. ‘Upmarket fast food’ probably best describes the range on offer. But go and eat there, urges Reporter; don’t take his word for it! And Littlejohns won’t disappoint you either.

*****

2. Roving Reporter wishes he were a student again! Why? Well, he has just been given a brochure by St Andrews Student Residences, 146 South Street, and he’s been thinking back to the squalid (by comparison) accommodation he “enjoyed” back in the long-ago 50s; no laundry facilities, dish washers, TV, etc. in those

days! The brochure has eye-catching, beautiful photos of some of the most prestigious properties in town, properties anyone would be proud to inhabit. And Reporter is amazed by the luxury on offer. To quote the brochure, “All flats have hard wood flooring, leather sofas + dining suites, hotel-standard beds, DVD players, wall-mounted plasma TVs with free-view, desks and chests of drawers.” In addition, of course, health and safety standards (including a no-smoking rule), security locks, and the ever-necessary HMO licences, are all scrupulously in place, as well as “a full-time janitor, Sky TV, wireless internet, and shuttle service to and from Hepburn Hall.” What more could any student wish for? Even The Times reports that “student accommodation is now the last word in luxury.” Our reporter learnt that, at the moment, the agency actually owns all the properties in its ever-expanding portfolio. St Andrews Student Residences are looking to manage more properties and also make them accessible to a wider public. If you have a property that you would like St Andrews Student Residences to manage for you, rest assured that you can have full confidence in their “all-inclusive property management service” provided by their own full-time maintenance team! And if you need somewhere to live, or you have a house to let, go to the office,

SHOPS & SERVICES or phone 01334 477 644; fax 01334 477 665; email sslet@btconnect.com Please have a look at the website: www.standrewsstudentresidences.co.uk There may be room for you as well, then that enviable student luxury could also be yours – and be assured, you will be given top-class personal service! 3.

*****

Kenny McEwan, and James Lindsay, new owners of the Guardbridge Hotel, Old St Andrews Road, Guardbridge (tel: 01334 839 337) kindly opened the door for Reporter on a cold, but sunny afternoon. While Kenny went to make a warming cup of coffee, Reporter had fun reading the amusing notices among the numerous photographs on the walls, many from times well and truly past. Kenny said he had always wanted to own a hotel, and that he and James are both “passionate about providing quality and service to all who visit them”. There are three bedrooms, a family one, a double, and a single. All are in the process of being upgraded – “a labour of love, even though it’s hard work!” On Saturday, 2nd December they held a free event to which tourists and locals flocked. Music was provided by singer Christina Mowatt (see page 11 in issue 15 of St Andrews in Focus, March / April 2006). It was a happy event, with folk relaxing with their drams beside the log fire. Kenny assured Reporter that a warm welcome always awaits you on any day of the week, seven days of the week. Lunches are served from 12 noon--2.00pm; dinner from 6.00--9.00pm. On Sundays there is high tea from 4.30--7.00pm (but no dinner). Booking is advisable, though not strictly necessary. Frequent musical evenings are planned, and a telephone call will give you all the details. There is a large garden at the back of the Hotel; living in it are two 4months old goats, Wallace and Simpson (!), two dwarf rabbits, Jasper and Poppy, and two Aylesbury ducks, “for the kids to enjoy in the hot summer days to come.” As the old Michelin guide used to say, definitely “worth a detour”!

*****

4. Rev. Marie-Louise Moffett, Chair of the Pilgrim Care Trust, talked to Roving Reporter about the Trust’s hopes for building a mini Auchlochan – similar to that near Lesmahagow – either in, or adjacent to, St Andrews. Because of time restraints, no more details are available just now. However, in the next issue, March / April 2007 this magazine will carry a full report on this important issue.

*****

5. With the arrival of the New Year comes an exciting new venture for Premierlet, Residential Letting Agents, who have opened an office in St Andrews at Slotline House, Largo Road. Established three years ago by Carole & Douglas Davidson, who, as letting agents, are well known within the student population in the Town. The business was set up when Carole & Douglas relocated to the Glasgow area for family reasons, after living and working in St Andrews for eight years. During this time Carole was employed as letting manager for a local firm. Carole told our Reporter, “with over fifteen years’ experience in property management, I believed there was room in the highly competitive letting market for an exclusive management service offering a high level of commitment to landlords and comprehensive support for tenants”. With the business in Glasgow firmly established and remaining active in the St Andrews letting market for three years, Premierlet has grown considerably during

this time, and a decision was made to expand by opening an office base in the Town. Carole continued, “We are delighted to welcome on board Michelle Cunningham as Letting Office Manager. In joining Premierlet, Michelle has re-established a team of letting advisors with a proven record of success in property management. Assisting Michelle as Letting Co-ordinator is Norma Walker, who will provide further support in the St Andrews office that will ensure the continuation of an efficient and pro-active letting service for existing and future landlords.”

*****

6. Roving Reporter has watched Farmore Interior’s beautiful new shop develop in Church Street. It has delightful surprises in store for babies, and their mothers, so do go and look!

*****

Once again St Andrews in Focus is most grateful to The Barber’s Pole, South Street, for sponsoring Roving Reporter’s articles. Thank you Steve Cooke!

SHOPS & SERVICES Liz Forrester shows how you can

Reduce Your Handicap in 4 Ways: Flexibilty; Stability; Strength; Power Most golfers know that an effective exercise programme, such as the one described above and correct training, can prevent injuries and can ultimately lead to a better golf game. When consulting the advice of a personal trainer or physical therapist to achieve better results, it is important to choose a trainer who has a solid understanding of golf. The only way to improve a golf game is to improve the actual golfer; the way they stretch, swing, and train. By addressing golf-specific conditioning needs, as mentioned above, you will improve performance and decrease the risk of injury. Using detailed assessments and personalised programming, the individual needs of each golfer can be identified and addressed, thus reducing your handicap in 4 easy ways. Golf is one of the fastest-growing participation sports in the world and golfers will do anything to hit the ball longer and lower their handicap! Golfers regularly spend as much as £2,000 on a set of clubs, hoping for an extra few yards on their drive. However, despite all the technological improvements in golf equipment, plus all the gadgets and gizmos available today, the average handicap for both males and females has not dropped in the last 20 years. So much for technology! What golfers are now discovering is that the clubs don’t play the game, the golfer does! The only way to achieve a lower handicap is to improve the function of the golfer: the person who actually swings the club. As in any sport, golf places specific demands on the body. For example, a full golf swing places such a load on the body that it is equivalent to a 4-RM lift in the gym. This means lifting a weight that you can only lift four times before you fatigue and cannot continue. Yet a golfer may swing the golf club sixty times or more in one round of golf! General exercises will not address these issues, neither will a machinebased conditioning programme. In many cases, such programmes can actually decrease the performance of the golfer.

Finally, a Way to Improve the Golfer, Not Just the Game . . . To effectively balance your swing, you must identify your particular pattern of muscle imbalance. Each individual’s muscle imbalance presents a unique pattern. This pattern is dictated by such factors as past trauma, work environment, repetitive exposure to sport-specific stresses and posture.

A series of muscle balance tests will help the golfer identify which muscles must be stretched in order to achieve balance in the golf swing. Once we have the results of the assessment, a personalised programme will be produced.

Pre-Game Warm-Up Sessions Pre-game warm-up sessions are a must. A golf specific warm-up will lubricate your joints, warm your muscles and connective tissues, activate your nervous system and sharpen your senses. Using a variety of muscle energy-mobilisation exercises and dynamic warm-up exercises you can achieve: • • •

Increased range of motion in the shoulders, spine or pelvis. Increased fluidity of swing and a sense of reduced effort. Heightened activation of senses, such as sight, movement awareness, clarity of thought and even hearing may be improved!

Liz Forrester – Golf Biomechanic and Personal Trainer is dedicated to improving golfers of all abilities and all ages. My original interest in this subject came about by virtue of my husband being a PGA- registered professional golfer and myself working as a personal trainer. The complexity of the golf swing and the body mechanics that need to be in place are a prerequisite to achieving high standards in the game. My approach to conditioning golfers is to work on the ‘whole’ body and not just one part of the body. The biomechanics of golf are a different concept of training as opposed to a normal fitness programme designed by a personal trainer. As technology advances, golfers are required to maintain training levels equal to an Olympic Athlete; however, most fail to recognise this or to follow a specific golfconditioning programme. This is the missing link that will take any golfer to the next level of golf performance. I now run my own ‘Conditioning Studio’, where I instruct people on a one-to-one basis to ensure individual attention in a non-intimidating environment. To book your Individual Flexibility Assessment and to receive your personalised Conditioning Programme, please contact me at the number below. If you would like any further information, you can e-mail me on: info@coreflex.co.uk The studio is conveniently situated above the St Andrews Mortgage Centre at 14 Argyle Street, 07780 913044.

The Three B’s Bedding Bits & Bobs 47-49 Kinnessburn Road, St Andrews, KY16 8AD Phone 01334 470700

A good selection of haberdashery, including wools and a range of craft materials for card-making.

Warm congratulations to Paula and Rod. They wish all their customers a happy and prosperous New Year.

Dance wear now in stock – shoes and outfits

Come in and see what we have!

EVENTS

Selected Events Ongoing – at the Town Hall & Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Craft. Fife Contemporary Art & Craft, Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens, St Andrews, KY16 9TA / web: www.fcac.co.uk Usual office hours, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. For full details tel: 01334 474 610.

Thursday, 18 January – 7.30pm. Cuba’s Organic Revolution. Talk by Neil Anderson, for the St Andrews Gardeners’ Club. Come along and enjoy the social atmosphere with coffee after all meetings. Saturday, 20 January to Sunday, 4 March – at the St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park. Zarah Hussain – The Beauty of Abstraction. Paintings exploring the complexity of Islamic geometrical designs, on tour from Cartwright Hall, Bradford. For further information, tel: 01334 412 690. Sunday, 21 January – 4.00pm. St Leonard’s School Music Auditorium, The Pends. Concert: Arta Arnicane (piano), programme to be announced. Tickets at the door, £10, £9 concessions, £5 students, £1 kids. Website: St Andrews Music Club.

Fife Contemporary Art & Craft – Diana Sykes with Susan Davis Tuesday, 9 January – 7.30pm. Chemistry Department, Purdie Building, North Haugh. The International Conifer Conservation Project. Talk by Martin Gardner, Edinburgh. Friends of the St Andrews Botanic Garden. Free. Contact, 01337 840553.

Friday, 26 January – in Anstruther. A fun day to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboats Institution (RNLI). For more information please phone, 01738 642 999 or email: events_scot@rnli.org.uk Tuesday, 6 February – 7.30pm. Chemistry Department, Purdie Building, North Haugh. Adventures in Rhododendron Evolution. Talk by Dr. Richard Milne, Edinburgh. Friends of the St Andrews Botanic Garden. Free. Contact: 01337 840553.

Wednesday, 7 February – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Olari Elts, Conductor; JeanMarc Luisada, Piano. Music by Schubert, Schuman, Brahms. Tickets, £18.50 – 7.50 (Senior Citizens 20% discount) from the Byre Theatre Box Office, and the Music Centre, Younger Hall. Thursday, 8 February – 8.00pm. St Leonard’s School Music Auditorium, The Pends. Concert:The Wakeford Trio (flute, violin, harp). Music by Teleman, Bach, Debussy, Takemitsu, Alwyn, Ravel. Tickets at the door, £10, £9 concessions, £5 students, £1 kids. Website: St Andrews Music Club. Friday, 9 February – 8.00-11.00pm. Boys’ Brigade Hall, Kinnessburn Road, St Andrews. Ceilidh (music by the John White Sound) in aid of the Nathan Johnston Trust. Tickets at the door, £5 Raffle. Contact: 01334 828 325. Thursady, 15 February – 7.30pm. Hope Park Church Hall. Landscaping Gardens. Talk by Mr E Campbell, for the St Andrews Gardeners’ Club. Come along and enjoy the social atmosphere with coffee after all meetings. Monday, 26 February – Sunday, 11 March – Fairtrade Fortnight. Various venues across St Andrews. See local press for details.

NPH Cinema 117 North Street St Andrews

We now cater for children’s parties in screening lounge cinemas

vip ticket price now includes a glass of wine or beer.

www.nphcinema.co.uk Tel: 013334 474902

OUT & ABOUT Les Hatton can offer real solutions, so –

Nil Desperandum In any project’s life there comes a moment when it feels as if it’s time to throw in the towel. Sometimes it’s the paperwork, sometimes it’s the protected species found lurking in the bucket of the digger, and often it’s finding yet another person pointing the finger and declaiming, “you shouldn’t do that”. So if you are reaching for the relief afforded by the trusty old service revolver because your project looks as if it’s hit another fatal snag you might want to try us first. Noblecastle has been finding innovative solutions for over a decade for land- and waterbased projects, particularly those related to agri-enviroment schemes and the management of sensitive areas. Our unlikely crew includes a working farmer with a background in hydrological consultancy, a qualified electrician, an MCA-approved boatman and diver, a former golf course construction engineer and head greenkeeper, and an ecologist with a degree in political science.

So if you were wanting to build an underwater solar-powered golf course and steer it through planning and the Natura regulations, then we could do that. Alternatively, we’ve worked on everything from stripping nutrients from water (useful for complying with nutrient budgets, watercourse protection, and fishing clubs), providing solar-powered pumps to allow cattle to be watered away from riverbanks, creating wetlands for the public and private sector, delivering effective water vole conservation throughout Fife, and carrying out bat, bird, and vegetation surveys. We do lots of other stuff as well, but by now you should have got the picture. If words like Mitigation and Enhancement, SUDS, SSSI, Habitats regulations, NVZ, and other apparent intractables are keeping you awake at night, then visit us at www.damandblast.co.uk and talk solutions, not problems.

(Photo courtesy Les Hatton)

Alistair Lawson, intrepid Field Officer, ScotWays, on

Giving Notice . . . The English language is a rich and varied thing, but, at the same time, it offers huge scope for confusion, whether deliberate or inadvertent. Scotland’s new Land Reform Act (2003) makes it clear that to display an obstructive or hostile notice is contrary to the spirit of the new, extended access rights. Consider the one in this photograph. Countryside users arriving at this gate will first take in the pretty clear message ‘Keep Out’, which raises the immediate question as to whether the owner or manager of the land has the authority to issue an order of that sort to the public. The Act requires managers to “act responsibly” and to ensure that what the Act gives the public is, in practice, available to them. It is recognised that there will be circumstances when agricultural operations are best conducted with the public at a distance, but is this such a circumstance? Under both rights of way law and the new, general access law, the owners of animals are required to consider whether animals which are to ‘share space’ with the public can be trusted to behave dependably, or with certainty, and owners are required to think very carefully about what they do with “animals of uncertain temperament”. In the case in point, that

Photo by Alistair Lawson

raises the question as to what might be the normal temperament of boars. Of course, the recreating public will have no idea how to assess this, but the onus is not on them to do so; the onus is on the owner, and if he is comfortable that his animals are unlikely to behave out of character, then, with one eye on his insurers and the other on his solicitor, he may choose to allow those animals to ‘share space’ with the passing public. To illustrate this point, I was walking in cattle-rearing country in Aberdeenshire a year or two ago, when a farmer came rushing out and said, “Don’t go that way; I’ve a new bull there, newly bought, and he is still in a bad mood with having been forced to parade around the show ring and then been forced into a cattle float and brought to a strange place, handled by strange people. He’ll be ok in a few days, but, for now, he’s grumpy. Would you mind going round the other way?” I was happy to comply, but this story shows that that farmer was doing just the right thing; he knew the bull might behave out of character just then, but he equally knew that it would be placid and trustworthy in normal circumstances. When members of the public encounter animals about which they may have doubts, there is an invisible, underlying guarantee that they are probably placid, for this reason: the owner is the person who handles them most, and he does not want to put himself at risk by having to handle a bad-tempered animal every day; therefore, consistent trouble-makers are the first candidates for the abattoir! To revert to our photograph: the two instructions are contradictory, which is silly – the one implies a complete ban on entry, while the other implies that people will enter, but, having done so, will need to take care. They can’t both be valid! The moral of the story is that it is very easy to get notices wrong. The good news is that various countryside organisations – principally Scottish Natural Heritage and the Paths for All Partnership – are working to devise and disseminate guidance and examples of good practice to help land mangers avoid silly mistakes and act in accordance with the spirit of the new law.

OUT & ABOUT Alison Gilmour, on that labour of love –

‘The Enchanter’ – Oh for that Magic Wand! Over the summer, and indeed into the A year has passed since Dave Martin skippered autumn and winter of 2006, weekend work our newly-purchased wooden trawler, ‘The parties were organised, with friends kindly Enchanter’ on her trip from Granton down the Forth to her new home in St Andrews volunteering to give up their free time – in Harbour. That was on a crystal clear, (sunny, exchange for hours of hard labour, perishing cold, seeping damp, and getting very, very but freezing), Sunday in February, when she grubby!. Much heavy physical work has been caused a great stir on her arrival in port. So needed simply to clear out below decks. A many people have shown an interest in the surprise find was several tons of ballast in ‘Enchanter’ that we thought you might like to the stern of the boat have an update on what’s – weights of pig iron been happening in 2006. Failing the existence of accompanied by a pile Failing the existence that magic wand, a lot of of very large stones, of that magic wand, a sufficient to create a lot of very hard work very hard work has been substantial rockery or has been required to required to make progress! two! Nothing daunted, a make progress! Firstly, it chain gang was formed, was necessary to make and boulders were passed from man to man into good the wheelhouse windows – victims of the a trailer on the quayside for removal. vandalism which occurred when she was lying The next steps now are cutting out the old neglected at Granton. New panes of specially reinforced glass, were fitted and the wheelhouse diesel tanks and replacing them with smaller plastic tanks, also installing a generator large roof made watertight. The next task was major enough to power all functions. The deck will and required the hire of a crane and use of steel cutting gear – all the metal superstructure, finally be sealed and work will then start on dating from her later trawling days, was cut restoring the wheelhouse to working order. and lifted off; no mean feat! Without the steel The Volvo engine, which still starts at the first superstructure the turn of the key, will be thoroughly serviced, ‘Enchanter’ is now and a casing built to beginning to look, in keep noise levels to a profile, as she did when minimum. first built by Forbes of Sandhaven in 1967.

Trawling gear gone! Designing the layout of cabins and living space is the fun and easy part of the project and we’ve been looking at other trawler conversions from west coast to east, in search of bright ideas. It will of course be some time yet before we are choosing colour schemes for the interior decor! We always knew the project would take a number of years to complete as a ‘hobby’, but look forward to the day when we can take our friends on their first cruise through the Caledonian Canal to the Western Isles! A very big thank-you is due to all who have been helping us and we look forward this year to celebrating Enchanter’s 40th birthday in style!

Windows!

Invite you to visit a hidden treasure in the heart of St Andrews av

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WOODLAND & WATERGARDENS HERBACEOUS & SCREE ALPINES & RHODODENDRONS GLORIOUS GLASSHOUSE COLLECTIONS OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR ROUND

WINTER LECTURE PROGRAMMME Tuesday 9th January at 7.30 pm Tuesday 6th February at 7.30 pm Chemistry Department, North Haugh ENTRY FREE – ALL WELCOME

TO JOIN THE FRIENDS AND SUPPORT THE GARDEN CONTACT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY. Canongate, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8RT. Tel: 01334 476452. www.st-andrews-botanic.org Work Party, tea break

Award Winning Fish & Chip Shop 2006 Traditional Fish & Chips, Pizzas, Burgers, Kebabs, Baked Potatoes, Kiddies Meal Boxes Our batter is made to our own special recipe Pizzas are freshly made on the premises

If you are looking for a personal pro-active letting service at low cost, call our free advice centre on: 01334 474 347 E mail: standrews@premierlet.net Web site www.premierlet-standrews.com

Shop here with confidence

Open every day from 12 noon Friday and Saturday nights open extra late Delivery service (St Andrews only) 131 South Street, St Andrews Tel. 01334 470400

– Repairs – Alterations – – Haberdashery – Your 1-stop Sewing Shop

Embroidery Professionals