St Andrews in Focus Issue 32 Jan Feb 2009

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January / February 2009 Issue 32, £1.50

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

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

Contents

From the Editor Somehow I always get a sense of déjà vu when the year turns.

And it does seem to turn ever faster, and faster. On the other hand, there’s also an undoubted sense of renewal, with the promise of spring, and maybe, who knows, a real summer to come? Time may be a human construct, but at this juncture in the calendar it acquires a limpid reality of its own.

With all the world’s troubles out there as a backdrop, this new year will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth. Rabbie reminds us that, The poor, oppressèd, honest man Had never, sure, been born, Had there not been some recompense To comfort those that mourn!

So once more we should make our New Year Resolutions with determination, keep them in good faith, and join with Robert Burns in being...

Contented wi’ little, and cantie wi’ mair, Whene’er I forgather wi’ Sorrow and Care, I gie them a skelp as they’re creeping alang, Wi’ a cog o’ gude swats and an auld Scottish sang.

Let us all be of good cheer!

Flora Selwyn

********

The views expressed elsewhere in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2009 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com Designer University of St Andrews Reprographics Unit Printer Trendell Simpson Distributer Elspeth’s of Guardbridge Publisher (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com SUBSCRIPTIONS St Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year.

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FEATURES • Best Laid Schemer • From the Land of a Thousand Hills • Land Army Lass • From the Community Council • The Passing of the Years • Book Reviews: – A Snowball in Summer – Bobby Jones • Mother • Ask the Curator

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Shops & Services • Colin Sweeney, Master Mason • Celebrating!

• Competition winners • The Changing Face of Legal Practice • Jim Woods, Master Roofer • So, Who’s to Blame?

• Farewell Murray Mitchell • St Andrews Skills Academy • Roving Reporter

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HEALTH • St Andrews Memorial Hospital, the story • Health Benefits of Transition • Choosing the Best Shoes for your Feet • Silent Child Syndrome

17 18 19 20

EVENTS • For your Diary • Selected Events

21 21

ORGANISATIONS • Strathkinness WRI • Senior Section Guiding • Safety Issues

22 23 24

TOWN/gown • New Music Director • Colin Smith, Glassblower • MUSA • ‘My MUSA’

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Out and About • Fun in the Garden, Report • Sculpture Festival among the Snowdrops • Fife’s Far Frontiers • Biodiversity • Lade Braes Project

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NEXT ISSUE – Mar/Apr 2009 Copy deadline: strictly 28 JANUARY All contributions welcome. The Editor reserves the right to publish copy according to available space.

Cover: An original cartoon by Alex Watson

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FEATURES Robert Crawford, “the leading scholar of Scottish poetry and a distinguished poet in his own right” (Jonathan Cape) celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth with a new biography. Here are some background musings on the

Best Laid Schemer If Robert Burns had been a twenty-first-century poet he would Ach, computers: the more they certainly have visited St Andrews. A charismatic reader of his work, he can deliver for you, the more you would have been invited to read at the poetry festival, StAnza. In the want them to deliver. I found it eighteenth century, however, StAnza did not exist, and Burns, though frustrating, for instance, that, while he did pass through Fife, never set foot in the town where his favourite it is amazingly easy to search for Scottish poet, Robert Fergusson, had attended St Andrews University. individual words across all the Burns’ absence may help explain why St Andrews has none of his material stored on ECCO, it’s a manuscripts, drinking-glasses, pistols, pens, or other paraphernalia waste of time simply to search which festoon so many Scottish sites. You can no doubt buy a bardic for the surname ‘Burns’. This is mouse-mat in our tourist office, and there are thriving local Burns Clubs, because the ECCO database but, compared with many other places, for anyone interested in Robert doesn’t distinguish between the Burns, St Andrews is a relatively clean slate. surname ‘Burns’ and the all too Clean slates, when it comes to Burns, are rare. There have been so common English word ‘burns’. So many biographies, immortal memories, collections of lore and unreliable typing in ‘Burns’ produces an impossible number of hits. If only Burns’ editions that it’s exhausting even to contemplate them. I suppose that’s surname had been ‘McSpunkie’, I’m sure I would have struck gold. why, when I mentioned I was thinking of writing a new Burns biography When I got fed up reading on-line eighteenth-century sermons or a friend immediately looked me in the eye and said simply, “The world’s searching the impressive website of Tarbolton Masonic Lodge, I’d go least necessary book.” This was almost as off and read The Bard himself – not just the disconcerting as the intelligent question people poems, but also the letters. Burns can be a slyly routinely asked me: “So what will be new about entertaining letter writer and there are times your Burns biography?” I was terrified, because I when you begin to understand why a number didn’t know. of people who met him maintained that his Reading other Burns biographies, though, conversation was even more fascinating than gave me hope. They tended to be well written and his poetry. Early on in writing the biography, poorly researched, or else well researched, but I realised that I wanted to quote a good deal unreadable. Maybe I could manage to navigate of Burns’ own words, while at the same time between these extremes. Having subjected maintaining a certain critical distance. Like my family to an enforced holiday in the Burns other good letter writers Burns sculpts his selfcountry, and having spent so long standing in presentation. front of Alexander Nasmyth’s head-and-shoulders Despite my headachey addiction to onpainting of Burns in the Scottish National Portrait line resources, fortunately I also went to the Gallery that I risked imminent arrest or committal, University Library. While St Andrews has no I then did what most researchers do nowadays: I Burns manuscripts, it does have an unpublished hunched for hours in front of a screen. diary, which records the last substantial I’m the first Burns biographer to have enjoyed conversation with Burns to be written down the full benefits of digital technology. So where during his lifetime. One sentence from this others had to travel many miles to find rare jumped out at me. There’s a great deal of eighteenth-century books, I could read almost argument over Burns’ politics. Repeatedly his all of them while sitting at home with a mug of poetic tone is superbly democratic; yet he never coffee. There’s a database called Eighteenth uses the word ‘democracy’ in his verse. Like Century Collections Online (ECCO) on which you can find almost any some 98 per cent or so of the population of his country, Burns had no book published in Burns’ world. Earlier biographers had a long trek to vote. ‘Democracy’ for many of his contemporaries was a dirty word. In find, say, a collection of poems published in Kilmarnock by Burns’ friend the 1790s it was associated with terrorism and the French Revolution.

David Sillar. I simply had to log on.

So I was really excited when the man who wrote a detailed account of a Since ECCO is available only to subscribers, visit to Burns and a friend in 1796 recorded that I could get access to it only because I’m a they were ‘staunch republicans.’ registered reader at St Andrews University In the end I was able to make new points Library. Yet there are other databases where I’m the first Burns biographer about Burns’ life and politics, and about some everyone can see Burns’ manuscripts and of his best poems, such as ‘Tam o’Shanter’. I to have enjoyed the full artifacts in digital form. Try googling for ‘National found that even the hours spent staring at the Burns Collection’ or ‘SCRAN’ and you’ll see what benefits of digital technology screen and at Nasmyth’s Burns portrait paid I mean. Using these I got on the track of some off. Starting with a clean slate need not be a Burns poems that had never appeared in any disadvantage. As I worked on the biography, edition of his works. Eventually, with the help of another idea grew, and, with sponsorship from several librarian friends, I tracked them down. They are now quoted in the University, I asked a dozen contemporary poets to write for a wee my Burns biography, The Bard, and are printed in full for the first time anthology called New Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. That book in a new edition of Burns’ selected poetry and prose, The Best Laid too will be published this January. It’s as close as I could get to inviting Schemes, which I’ve co-edited with my St Andrews University School of Robert Burns to StAnza.

English colleague, Christopher MacLachlan.

‘The Bard’ published by Jonathan Cape, 2009 @ £20, ISBN 9780224077682 Other titles: ‘The Best Laid Schemes: Selected Poetry and Prose of Robert Burns’ edited by Robert Crawford & Christopher MacLachlan.

Published by Polygon @ £12.99 ‘New Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’ Published by Polygon @ £9.99

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FEATURES Gabriel Kayonga is the fourth Scholarship holder under the Rotary University Scholarship Scheme Rwanda (RUSSR). Flora Selwyn was privileged to meet him

From the Land of a Thousand Hills Studies. Of the three interviewed in May 2008, Gabriel was successful Here for only two short months when we – “I’m the first from Rwanda to come to this course.” Travel and living met, it was reassuring to hear Gabriel expenses are paid by The Student Finance Agency Rwanda. The say, “Up to now I’m feeling comfortable University of St Andrews, in tandem with the other with the place.”

Scottish universities in the Scheme, waives course One can only guess at the extreme culture shock this Rwanda has made fees. Till now, Rotary has concentrated on providing personable, cultivated, and courteous young man must have encountered on leaving his home country for the remarkable progress scholarships to Rwandan women who constitute some 55% of the educated workforce, (and who have a higher first time. Rotary understands, however, and is careful in reconstruction proportion of parliamentary seats than in any other to support its scholarship holders in every way possible. country).

Each is assigned a ‘Host Counsellor’, with care for Rwanda has made remarkable progress in reconstruction. Still mainly welfare, and subsequently for introducing their charges to a wide network agricultural, it is entirely landlocked. 56.5% of the population is Catholic, of contacts. Gabriel was met at 11.00pm at Edinburgh Airport (after a 1226% Protestant and 4.6% Muslim. Kinyarwanda is the national language, hour flight) by his Counsellor, Michael Henretty. with English and French. One of “the most densely populated countries Gabriel was born in 1976 in Uganda, where his parents had fled. in Africa” it is also highly The last of 5 children, his first schooling was in Uganda. Once Rwanda literate, with 9 years became peaceful again, the family returned and Gabriel finished his minimum of schooling for schooling, going on to obtain a degree in Social Sciences with a Social both sexes. Coffee and Work Option at the National University of Rwanda. tea are important cash The turbulent events culminating in the horrific massacre of 1994, crops. Tourism has great deprived Rwanda of its educated manpower. “There are no historians,” potential.

Gabriel explained, when I asked him how he came to his post in the “Today,” says Gabriel, National Museum of Rwanda. It is imperative for the country to reclaim “Rwanda is a nice country. its identity, its history. The previous colonial power, Belgium, acquired We are healing step by museum collections which underpinned the prevailing belief in Western step.” Rotary has cause superiority – Gabriel calls them, “biased collections” which also fatally to be proud of hosting reinforced the Hutu/Tutsi racial divide. this gifted, dedicated Because “there’s a need for museums in many places,” Gabriel representative of Rwanda. applied for the St Andrews one-year course in Museum and Gallery (Photo courtesy Jack Daniels)

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FEATURES Marguerite Fairweather has had to wait more than 60 years for the recognition owed to the Land Army for its vital role during the Second World War. Born in Newport, and now living there again after her retirement, she is happy to recall her time as a

Land Army Lass on the Sunday with a wad of I’m sitting here with the rain battering on the windows, the wind rattling Thermogen on my chest. Next everything. This weather always brings me a memory of such a day in day, working in the turnip field, my Land Army time. We couldn’t work out in the fields, so we were sent my chest was burning. I went to clean up the barn, or some such indoor task. When my friend Cathie over to the hedge, ripped off and I moaned or sighed, the men said, “Ach weel, if ye’re doin’ that, the Thermogen and shoved it then ye’re no daeing onything else!” A good thought now in my old age in the hedge. So some birds (I’m 86), as it doesn’t matter what you are doing, you could be doing got a cosy nest that winter! something much worse!

Commemorative certificate (below) There was social life too, I volunteered to serve in the Land Army when I was 19 years of and badge, just received such as the Grand Whist age, and was sent up to the Rowett Research Institute near Aberdeen Drives and Dance in Cameron to learn to be a farm worker in just a few weeks. They had all the most Hall, or dances in the St Andrews town hall. modern facilities at the Rowett. Many were then sent to farms that Farming methods and machinery have changed radically since didn’t even have electricity – and certainly no ‘milking parlours’! my time. I never now see a diagonal line of people with hoes thinning My next posting was to Claremont Farm House, then a Land young turnips. I never see a long triangular Army hostel. Farmers in the area would come in the morning and potato pit at the side of a field, or in that pick up a squad of four or five girls to do crop a gang of school kids during the ‘tattie whatever job they needed help with. In holidays’ gathering their ‘bit’ of potatoes my time there, it was hay time, or turnip into a creel to be carted to the ‘pit’. Then, hoeing time. One of the farmers picking up a squad was Jim Kirkaldy of Cairnsmill of course, there was the grain harvest.

Today it is a solitary combine harvester, Dairy Farm (now sadly a caravan site) and whereas in my day it was a binder towed he asked me and Cathie Stewart to go by a pair of horses, or a tractor. What a to Cairnsmill as resident Land Girls. We wonderful machine was the binder! It cut agreed. From then on we were ‘dairymaids’. the grain stalks; revolving wooden ‘sails’ We milked the 23 Ayrshire cows, cooled came around and swept the stalks evenly and bottled the milk, then delivered it in on to a moving canvas tray, which carried St Andrews. Back at the farm with the used it up into a rack; then the big curved bottles and cans, we washed them and put needle with ‘binder twine’ came round them into the steam steriliser cabinet. There and the sheaf was ejected into a straight were prisoners of war working alongside, line behind. Walking behind the binder and one Italian had a wonderful voice. Aided was a group of happy, singing, laughing by the great acoustics in the dairy, he and I ‘stookers’, who picked up a sheaf under together made the rafters ring! In the hours until the next milking, we worked in the fields each arm, built a stook of six or eight sheaves set up in one direction so that at whatever the season of the year. I learned to the noon sun shone along the top of drive a tractor, so it was ploughing, harrowing, the triangle. These were all practical sowing, reaping, as well as forking, hoeing, ways passed down from generation to threshing, potato planting, and harvesting – all generation – not learned at university! wonderful experiences.

Corn was the easiest grain to handle; Delivering the milk was routine, whatever wheat was stiff and heavy; and barley the weather. We could be soaked by rain, or have frozen fingers in winter. My auntie gave was the bogey, as the ears were surrounded with brittle, prickly awns me an old pair of fur-backed gloves, which were which stuck to one’s clothing and ideal on icy days. We only rang the door bell if itched! After a few weeks, when the the empty bottle from the day before was not on grain was dry, would come the ‘leading’. the doorstep! We also delivered big cans of milk The sheaves were forked up on to a cart with a man on to hotels or university residences. Sometimes, top to build a safe, square load. Then it was transported when we staggered into the kitchens carrying a ten-gallon I volunteered to into the stack yard at the farm, where it was built into a can of milk between us, we were given something to eat – leftovers! Towards the end of the month we often ran serve in the Land big round stack, with thatch on the sloping top to keep out of petrol for the van, so we did the delivery by flat cart the weather out. There it sat until the steam engineArmy when I was drawn threshing pulled by Bobby mill came in to the pony. Besides 19 years of age the final process Bobby, we had of conversion to two Clydesdale sacks of grain, workhorses. bundles of straw, and chaff.

Fanny was old and docile, but When the last sheaf came off Queenie was young and I was the field, that was the cue for the a bit afraid of her. I remember Harvest Home – a barn dance one day, walking through with an accordion. These were, the yard in thick fog, hands indeed, happy years. Of course in pockets, head down, and there were bad days, as there are something prompted me to in all walks of life, but one tends stop. I was face to face with to remember the good times, and Fanny, who did not move. Had it has been a pleasure to have that been Queenie, she would this opportunity to recall incidents have been up on her hind legs! from my former years in the I remember once, at home Scottish Women’s Land Army. for the weekend, I had a bad Marguerite, Land Girl 1942 cough. My mother sent me back Marguerite today

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FEATURES Zoë Smith, Chair of the Community Council

Young Citizen of The Year 2008 Among the many and varied projects the Community Council organizes there is one little-known contest that deserves a little extra publicity.

The Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council Young Citizen of the Year award recognises positive contributions to life in the town, by young St Andrews residents. Whilst obviously life in St Andrews is enhanced by the mere presence of youngsters, some go out of their way to make life better for individuals, groups, or indeed the world.

Last year’s Young Citizen of the Year, Niall Watson, who set up a low-cost recycling business, was not only providing a valuable service to local people, but he also donated money to charity and in encouraging recycling was helping to save the planet too.

Previous winners have raised money for charity, worked with groups in the town to provide facilities for their peers and offered guidance and mentoring for other young people.

This year we invite nominations from anyone who knows a young person (aged 11-19) who has done something exceptional, or who has done something perfectly normal in the face of exceptional

circumstances. We are looking to reward courage, determination, and selflessness.

We’re not looking for perfection or saintly behaviour, just someone who deserves a bit of recognition and happens to be young!

If you think you know someone who fits the bill then pick up a nomination form from the Local Office in St Mary’s place or from the library. Alternatively email me and I’ll send a form: zoesmith@ymail.com Thanks It feels timely to do this as I write at the end of November, and may seem a little odd come publication, but better to do it oddly than not at all.

My learning curve continues to follow a hair-raising gradient and along the way there have been several people without whom I just couldn’t do the job, I would like to thank all of my Community Council colleagues, past and present. There are also a huge number of non-community councillors who have helped and I’d like to thank them all here – I hope they know who they are.

There are some though that deserve a special mention, so in true “Oscar” style and in no particular order (well except the first one!) :

Dorothy Hill Bradshaw contemplates

The passing of the years

• • • • •

• • • • • • •

Ken Crichton, for always having the information I need and for being incredibly efficient and supportive.

Patrick Marks, for being a great secretary and sharing his vision for Hallow Hill with me.

Maries Cassells for being there at the beginning.

“The Fife Councillors” for being supportive, encouraging, and occasional political sparring partners.

My children for not missing me too much and accepting that breakfast cereal is perfectly acceptable for dinner (sometimes).

The people that helped rescue the Art and Photography exhibition.

Marysia Denyer, for volunteering for everything.

My wonderful partner, Stephen for not running for the hills.

Flora Selwyn, for stretching deadlines, listening and giving me hope.

Kate Hughes, for help and advice on hosiery and other matters.

My “secret” friends in the hut on Pittenweem harbour.

And finally, all of the people I’ve spoken to over the year who have given me advice, encouragement and a hard time, I thank you all, just for being interested.

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When we are ten, the days are long.

No need to think of right or wrong.

Our hopes and dreams are all so new And many things we want to do.

Fifty is a special age, For sporting pastimes to engage.

A little leisure here and there.

Although some aches and pains to bear.

When twenty comes we still aspire To reach the stars and fame acquire.

Romantic thoughts abound within And rise and fall at every whim.

Sixty comes we’re unaware Of the many many passing years.

A slower pace is what we crave Our strength and sight we have to save.

At thirty we have settled down.

We live in the country or in town.

Responsibility ours to share With other lives to love and care.

At seventy we hold our breath, Afraid to contemplate our death The Earth so sweet, our Family dear.

We wish to keep them close and near.

Now forty is the strangest age Our fading youth – our middle age.

The extra weight, the loss of hair.

The time has come to feel despair.

If to eighty or ninety we survive, By then we’re glad to be alive.

Our grateful thanks for all that’s past.

And the Higher Hand we’ll meet at last.

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FEATURES: BOOK REVIEWS Lorn Macintyre

Bonspiel

The New Picture House Winner of the RAAM Independent Cinema of the Year Award for Excellence Enjoy a pre-show drink in our lounge or book an exclusive function or children’s party with a private screening

He saw the weather written on the pane as he buckled on his gaiters, shouldering the hammer to walk the lane spooked with his breath, to the pond at the extremity of his acres.

The hammer bounced on the ice a dozen times before he was certain that it would bear the weight.

He took the pungent moth-balls from the pockets of his plus-fours before sending the serving-man with a message round the doors: ‘Bonspiel at Murdo’s pond, tomorrow, noon.’

They came on foot, on horseback, by trap, ladies in breeches, ploughmen with twine lashing their shins for the only game in the district. The shelves in the brick shed were lined with stones like ancient cheeses, each one owned by a chalked name.

Men down on a knee, as if proposing, send the stone slithering across the ice, its way hastened by scrabbling brooms.

Stones clash, and by the pond’s edge a brazier offers searing chestnuts.

www.nphcinema.co.uk 117 North Street, St Andrews Tel: 013334 474902

The pond has leached into the earth now, reverting to a bog. In the bracken I uncover the brazier’s rusted remains, like a cauldron from an abandoned coven.

The door of the shed hangs off its hinges.

I lift down a stone from the dusty shelves, the granite cracked from the collision in the forgotten bonspiel. As I send it spinning across the floor I hear the roar, and through the broken window see a beauty brushing up her game.

From A Snowball in Summer (Argyll Publishing, February 2009), £6.99

Kenneth Fraser reviews

Bobby: Robert Tyre Jones, Junior, and St Andrews

by Keith McCartney Published by the author at Waid Academy, St. Andrews Rd., Anstruther, KY10 3HD, price £3.80 inc.p&p In any list of the greatest golfers of all time, Bobby Jones is certain to take a high place, and several of his greatest triumphs took place in St Andrews. Keith McCartney’s latest contribution to local golfing history comprises a short account of his life. This includes reminiscences of St Andreans who encountered him, followed by a compendium of press reports, by permission of the Citizen, chronicling his St Andrews connections from 1921, when he first played in the British Open here, to 1974, when an addition to the organ of Holy Trinity Church was made in his memory.

Oddly, there is no mention of the recent naming of a street after him on the suggestion of the Community Council.

Jones’ first appearance at the Open Championship in 1921 was inauspicious: he was bunkered at the 11th Hole, and in an uncharacteristic display of temper, tore up his score card and retired. The Citizen was then describing him as “the bright young American”, but by 1926 when he returned as a member of the US Walker Cup team, he had become “the great Bobby Jones”. In the following year he won the British Open, showing “super skill in every department of the game”; afterwards he was carried shoulder high by the crowd, while holding aloft his putter, “Calamity Jane”. (Do

golf clubs nowadays have personal names, like the swords of ancient heroes?)

1930 was Jones’ greatest year, when he won the Open and Amateur Championships of both the US and Britain: the last of these was held in St Andrews. As on the other occasions described in the book, the Citizen provided a full account of the contest (they were not afraid to say that in two matches he had “no more than scraped through”) and of the resulting speeches. In that year, having no more worlds to conquer, he gave up golf tournaments to devote himself (successfully) to his family and his legal business.

In 1936, Jones played what was to be his last round of golf in St Andrews, with the veteran professional Willie Auchterlonie, winner of the 1893 Open. As the news spread, 4,000 spectators – not far from half of the town’s population – came to watch him play. He went round in 72, though asserting that, “I am content nowadays to have a knock at the ball just when I feel like it”.

Jones’ last visit to St Andrews mingled triumph and tragedy. Some years earlier, he had been struck down by a progressively crippling disease of the spine, and when he received the Freedom of St Andrews (at the suggestion, Keith McCartney reveals, of Ronald

Cant) before an audience of the world’s greatest golfers, he was confined to a wheelchair; many spectators shed tears to see the enfeebled condition of the great sportsman.

But his spirit was unbroken; it was on this occasion that he declared, “I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St Andrews and I would still have had a rich and full life”. The book is issued on the fiftieth anniversary of that touching ceremony, and most appropriately, is being sold for the benefit of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Bobby Jones was held in such high regard for his modesty in victory and his courage in adversity that the year after his death, the 10th Hole of the Old Course was named in his honour, the first hole ever to be officially named.

Keith McCartney’s compilation will bring back memories to the dwindling number of St Andreans who knew him, and will introduce younger generations to the achievements of this remarkable golfer.

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FEATURES Miriam Anne

Mother Visions of you . . .

At the doorstep with arms outstretched – welcoming. Smiling.

Rose-red cheeks shining; your singing voice lilting a warm, friendly greeting as smells from the kitchen of rich, wholesome cooking come drifting!

Lesley-Anne Lettice, Curator of the St Andrews Museum, has the answer, so always,

Ask the Curator Q, Can you tell me anything about the three panels above the entrance to St Leonards School at the Pends? Why is one of them blank?

A. The panels show the Royal Arms of Scotland, as the archway was originally the entrance to the New Inns, built in 1537 to receive James V and his first wife Magdalene of France. The building fell into disrepair and the archway was taken down and rebuilt in 1845 and 1894. The arch was later widened to allow better vehicle access to the school and the blank panel was added to retain symmetry (see issue 29 p8) The archway also shows the arms of Prior John Hepburn. His arms can be seen at intervals along the walls surrounding the old Cathedral precinct, of which the St Leonards School grounds were once a part. The walls were heightened and strengthened by Prior John Hepburn during the early 16th century. His coat of arms features a pastoral staff, two rampant lions and the words ad vitam, ‘for life’.

Q. Can you tell me anything about the turreted house on the corner of Rose Lane and South Street beside the Baptist Church?

A. The building was built in 1904 as a private house for John Suttie. He owned an aerated water and lemonade works in St Andrews. The architect was David Henry (1835-1914). He was born in Edinburgh, but came to St Andrews in 1862 as an assistant to Jesse Hall.

He became a partner in the practice in 1874. His other work in St Andrews includes Rusack’s Marine Hotel, the Gibson Hospital, the Burgh School (Abbey Walk), and a large number of domestic dwellings.

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SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn knows that St Andrews has reason to be grateful for this wonderful

Master Stonemason For four decades from the age no interest in history lessons when he was at of seven Colin Sweeney has school. It amuses him that most people who visit lived stone. Apprenticed to a hard St Mary’s Quad assume that the holm oak is the taskmaster, his father George, tree planted by Mary Queen of Scots, “they see Colin has acquired a deep-seated this huge tree” and are shocked by the remnants knowledge and love of his trade, of the thorn reputed to have steeped in the age-old traditions been her work. of Scottish craftsmanship. Colin’s Colin mentioned that he skill is such that when he builds a repaired 97 University chimneys, new wall it looks as if it has existed and that brought back a Pittenween M for centuries, and when he makes a reminiscence. He said that some anse before repair it is indistinguishable from the chimney sweeps “had very little original. knowledge of broken bridges, as we would call them” – internal flue Brought up by a Catholic father and Protestant mother, dividers in the same stack. On Colin has worked “on so many one occasion in South Street the ation Before restor churches I’ve lost count”, for sweep climbed up on the roof, “put both the Church of Scotland and down his brush” and proceeded to Historic Scotland. As a result, push it up and down. “This American woman came out of this flat, and she he named one of his sons, Levi, and this young man is now his was like something out of Hiroshima. apprentice working alongside She’d been eating toast with a white him. dressing gown on. You could see For fifteen years Colin the mark on her mouth.” One of the r te af se an Pittenween M worked for St Andrews chimney’s bridges was broken and University; “fifteen years is a long time, the rods had gone into the wrong and I thoroughly enjoyed it, some of my fondest memories are of working house. “We thought it was hilarious”, on University buildings” when George Brown was the University Master but that mistake cost the University After restorat ion of Works. Colin feels he owes a lot to George Brown “who was very, £15,000. A smoke test these days is very conscientious, and I think he expected us to be the same. It was de rigueur to make sure the right chimney gets swept! a pleasure to work for him.” At that time, some twenty years ago Colin Another time, chipping plaster out of a gable end, the owner of a avers, the University had the “finest squad of tradesmen garage 56 feet away complained that Colin had caused in the country.” In those days, a job description fitted plaster to fall on and damage his car. However, it an A4 sheet, whereas today it fills a book, including a transpired that the car had been in the garage for six method statement, a risk assessment, and so on, “so months, and “there was no claim on the University.” much politics, even if it was only a cracked lintel, it Some people “try and jump on the bandwagon” as wasn’t feasible. I prefer to go back to the old system, soon as they learn that the University is paying for where somebody would take common sense, and say, something. As a result, if Colin has to cross a roof he is ‘look, that needs sorted, get a tradesman to come and obliged to “photograph every bit slate on that roof” and sort it’, rather than all this officialdom.” How refreshing if there’s damage it has to be recorded so that if a claim that sounds to my ears! “You know, there’s not a stone arises it can be shown the damage was already there building the University owns that I haven’t worked on. before.

I’m still very grateful today that I was allowed to work I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who wrote, on those buildings. I always took it as an honour.” But “Hide not your talents,/ They for use were made,/ rather than call in a specialist tradesman today, work is What’s a sundial in the shade?” Colin told me he was “I just love the job that brought up the old-fashioned way, never to boast. So tendered out to the cheapest contractor, and it shows.

Living in Glenrothes, Colin tells me he still “gets was an effort to get him to admit the praise he has I do. It’s a pleasure to itreceived a buzz” coming to St Andrews, which has benefited and the many awards for his work. All the work on the old walls.” same, he insisted, “you get awards for silly things, everywhere from his skills. Not just University buildings, but Hope Park Church, the Links Trust, and numerous not for the really artistic things.” Among those ‘silly other places in the town are the better for Colin’s dedication. “If there’s things’ was a Civic Trust Award for restoring the Lomond Hill lime kiln, a place in Heaven called St Andrews” that’s where Colin would wish to a rosette (pictured) for stone work at Dunblane, and a certificate be, “when he’s passed over!” He says that when he’s here he thinks of the town as it used to be, and is quite sad that the owners of properties (also pictured) given by the Young he once worked on are often no longer with us. He loves Farmers for stone walls. There are the views of the rooftops when high many others. up on a scaffold, It is not surprising that Colin’s and “you see order book is full for the next eight the town from months ahead. And it’s really different angles, wonderful to hear him say, “I just you see different love the job that I do. It’s a pleasure skylines”, unlike to work on the old walls.” A true in Glenrothes treasure!

Washed cobbles – finishing the job where “the roof lines are much all the same height.”

And through his work Colin has learned the history of the town, citing the origins of the former Grand Hotel, and All Saints Church, among other places. Yet Colin New work confesses he had (Photos courtesy Colin Sweeney) From ‘Fife Today’

9

SHOPS & SERVICES Jahangir Restaurant is happily

Celebrating!

Jahangir Restaurant is ten years old! In these difficult times it is indeed and also European dishes. If you find cheering to have cause to celebrate, so hearty congratulations to proud it hard to choose, you can try a Thali, owner, Zulfi, and brother Wali who does the cooking! which offers several small portions of Last year the Restaurant was completely redecorated to welcome popular foods such as bhuna, kurma, in its second decade, keeping that iconic stream, where fishes swim tikka masala, a meal in itself. The underfoot, to enthral clients. New clothes have even been given to the comprehensive menu describes each charming figure in the window, representing Anarkale, the dancing girl dish, indicating whether it is hot, medium, or mild. There is a wide choice for vegetarians. The Kurma specialities who caught the eye of Prince Jahangir, after whom the Restaurant is named. come with “a specially prepared homemade cream sauce which gives In 1998, when the Jahangir opened, Zulfi said he them a slightly nutty, extra-creamy texture and a distinctly unique flavour” – definitely has to be tasted was sure he had made the right decision. Today, he has many awards to prove it; and many clients, both for full appreciation! And Jahangir’s staff are always local and from all over the world, including sporting willing to offer advice. celebrities, who definitely agree. A Member of the Prices are very competitive, and the best thing Guild of Master Craftsmen, Zulfi was awarded Two is to consult the menu. Lunches range from £5.95.

Medallions by the Scottish Tourist Board for Good Along with the à la carte evening choices, between Food and Service. He also holds the Gold Award with 5.00pm and 7.00pm (except Saturday) there is a 4 Stars, 2006, from the Affiliation of Master Chefs, 3-course set menu for £9.95. The Restaurant is fully and he is among the Top 200 Masterchefs UK. licensed with a large range of wines and spirits.

“We endeavour to provide individual dishes and Takeaways are available and also a home delivery excellent service” – this encapsulates the Jahangir service. ethos. All the spices used are prepared fresh, none Jahangir Restaurant at 116a South Street, are ready-made proprietary brands. The range (01334 470 300), is a St Andrews treasure, well of dishes is mouth-watering! There are Charcoal worth visiting! More details on the back cover of this, Tandooris (with rice), deriving from the Indian North Nan bread; chicken tikka masala; and every, issue of this magazine.

West frontier; Balti dishes from Pakistan; Moghul chicken balti pasanda; lamb Madras; (Photos by Flora Selwyn) Biryanies; Punjabi Masalas; house specialities; garlic mushrooms

Competition Winner The solution to the word search in the last issue is so complicated it is best left out! And there is an apology due to the University, because their inclusion got mixed up with Henderson the Jeweller – and none of us can understand how that happened! Does the magazine have a resident gremlin?

It is a great pleasure to name the winners: Mr & Mrs T. C. Barker of St Andrews, who spotted the mistake, and sent in a correct entry. Warmest congratulations on winning two tickets to the (new) Byre’s first pantomime, Cinderella.

10

SHOPS & SERVICES Audrey Dishington, Pagan Osborne

The Changing Face of Legal Practices It was not so long ago that the words ‘pace’ and ‘change’ were alien to the legal profession.

So what happened? Three fundamental things – the current Global Financial Crisis; The Scotland Act 1998, and a report by David Clementi in 2004. The first is perhaps obvious, but the other two, although not as widely discussed in the media, are also having a deep impact on the look and shape of law firms for the future.

Global Financial Crisis When I penned this article in November, it would have been hard to pick out any one story about the Global Financial Crisis… there were so many of them.

Like many businesses, Scotland’s law firms have already seen redundancies, cost cutting, and even office closures. Turbulent times lie ahead, particularly for the domestic property market. To exacerbate the problem, our clients have the onset of Home Reports and Energy Performance Certificates from 1st December and 4th January respectively.

We all have to react positively in such challenging times.

The Scotland Act 1998 It’s hard to believe that it is only 10 years since the Scotland Act 1998 was passed. It led to the establishment of the first Scottish Parliament since 1707. By 1999, the Executive was elected. The political steam engine began to move and there were plenty of topics to feed the furnace. You only need glance at the recent petitions, bills, motions, and amendments on the Scottish Government’s website www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent to get a flavour of the pace of change.

The devolved government is responsible for day-to-day issues in Scotland. Such is the speed of the new legislation being passed, it’s almost impossible to be a general practitioner now. Solicitors must be aware of all changes in the law. And it’s simply no longer possible for a single lawyer to be expert in every field. Most young – and not so young! – lawyers realise this and are more likely to choose a specific practice area. Today, solicitors specialise, and expert knowledge and experience are greatly valued, with niche firms becoming much more commonplace.

Legal Service Review 2004 Upon the request of the DTI (now DERA), Sir David Clementi produced a report reviewing legal services in England and Wales. He was asked to consider what regulatory framework would best promote competition, innovation, public & consumer interest in an efficient, effective and independent legal sector. As a result, by July 2010, solicitors in England and Wales will be able to enter into partnerships with other professionals. Ownership of legal partnerships will be opened up to outside investors.

The Scottish Government is expected to put forward its plans for a modern legal profession in Scotland over the next few weeks.

The new measures will also allow Scottish law firms to adopt different types of business models. Currently, law firms are owned by their partners, but this will change to give way to more innovative organisations – or ‘alternative business structures’ – created to meet market demand, offer greater consumer choice and flexibility.

For many firms this may mean not only offering legal advice, but also financial, taxation, survey, or any other similar advisory service, and to operate under one business entity.

Likewise it will encourage the large brands such as Tesco, the AA, and the banking sector to provide legal services to their customers.

The legal profession of Solicitor, as we currently understand the term, will not exist in five years’ time. The role and title of ‘partner’ will disappear. We will have ‘shareholders’ who have an investment in the business. They may or may not be employed in the business. The business itself will be run by a board of directors Changing Market Place Take all of the above factors and consider that people are living longer, many own their own homes and need regular professional advice. Today’s time-poor consumers need property analysts, surveyors, financial advisers, fund managers, accountants, and business consultants. The chances of one professional identifying clients’ needs will be far higher if the advice is seamless and provided by the same firm.

Pagan Osborne recently undertook a survey that highlights this even further. Our clients want one point of contact – one person

who understands their personal circumstances to the full and who can, therefore, co-ordinate the right advice and guidance to meet clients’ unique individual needs. What people don’t want is a technical person who talks nothing but jargon. Accessibility, not just to legal services, but to all professional services, will make our profession more user friendly, convenient and easier to understand.

The Future An article by David Maister, “Are law firms manageable?” was published in April 2006 in an edition of the American Lawyer. Maister opens the article thus, “After spending 25 years saying that all professions are similar and can learn from each other I am now ready to make a concession, law firms are different”.

He then goes on to say, “the ways of thinking and behaving that help lawyers excel in their profession may be the very things that limit what they can achieve as firms. Management challenges occur not in spite of lawyers’ intelligence and training, but because of them” How will lawyers overcome the cultural differences between legal and non-legal practices? Depending on the culture of the law firm this could be the hardest thing to do.

In our case we were a 250 year-old partner-centric business. We have now come a long way towards changing that. We have a Chief Executive, Alistair Morris, and a Board of Directors. Three of these directors are nonlawyers, specialising in property, marketing, and business management. They are treated as partners, involved in all major decisions.

Whether the changes are seen as an opportunity or a threat depends on the solicitor.

At Pagan Osborne we see only progress and new potential.

The quality of the service we can offer to our clients and the sustainability of the Firm can only be enhanced by the skills and experiences of other service industry professionals.

Change is happening and we must embrace it rather than fear it.

11

SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn’s roof is in excellent condition, thanks to

Roofing Contractor Jim Woods For a man with a head for heights, Jim Woods up, about 5 feet in the air! The brush must have has his feet planted firmly on the ground! He hit something on one of the bends.” The fire has never looked back since he set up his own brigade came, and all was well. Bob cleared up business as Roofing Contractor in February in the room and they left for the shops. Parked 1984, “I’ve never regretted it. I think it’s given in Market Street, a woman came banging on the van for attention. It transpired that her fire me a lifestyle that’s probably different. I’m my own boss, and I don’t think I could ever go back grate was removed along with all the soot and to working for someone.” However, this was not grime, and was in the back of the van. “They achieved without first undergoing a rigorous say, if a chimney goes on fire, it’s the best clean apprenticeship. you’ll ever get!”

Jim was born in Stirling in 1959. Walter, his Jim was well aware of the risks in those weel-kent greenkeeper father, took his family days before stringent health and safety laws from Tillicoultry, to Alloa, to Nottingham, and came into effect. He says that today safety eventually in1974, to St Andrews. “In the early has become second nature, and tells the story days my Dad wasn’t around of one of of his former for us very much. My Mum apprentices: told to stay on brought us up. My Dad was the sunny side of a new roof, focussed on his career.” In the apprentice suddenly Receiving the Freddie Tait Memorial Medal those days, of course, that vanished. His mates was not unusual. Jim has discovered him in a pile of exactly what their price would be. He was selfunbounded admiration and sand on the other side of the taught as well.” Jim soon “had five or six people respect for his father, “he got house. He had stepped over working for me.” But then, “ A company I was to the top of his profession, the ridge onto frost, and slid working for went into liquidation. Well, that’s you can’t get any better all the way down, shooting what happened. All of a sudden, money got place than St Andrews Links. past a startled joiner “putting tight, plus I had a young family; my daughter He’s well respected all over the fascia up.” was born in ‘89, my son was born in ‘93. I had the world,” and now, since By 1978, Jim was a to keep going.” With sheer determination and certificated tradesman. retiring in 1995, Jim adds, the help of David, his accountant, Jim came he does have time for his He worked for Charles through – “that was a struggle” – to earn the grandchildren! All the same, Gray, “putting roofs on new very high reputation he enjoys today.

Jim asserts, “I spent a lot houses, especially ones Hankering after golf, Jim took it up again of time with my Dad,” in the away up the back of in 2004. Susan advised him to try to relax holidays especially, lapping St Andrews, near R&A Gold Medallist when he played, and he honours her for up his encouragement in golf, Morrison’s”. Then he gained that advice. He immersed himself in Dr Bob the other passion in Jim’s life. “I didn’t have any more experience with David Donaldson, Rotella’s books on golf psychology. With “the lessons, no!” but Jim watched and paid close “I had a great two and a half years with them, hunger, the thirst, and the mind to do it” Jim attention and learned how to play. He also had and I learned a lot.” Jim has a gift for learning; has succeeded. In May 2006 he won the R&A the advantage of closeness to all the famous anything that interests him, Gold Medal; in July this golfers his father came into contact with. Thus it whether it’s computers, year he won the Freddie For a man with a head was that Jim was thoroughly steeped in golfing roofing, golf, he applies Tait Memorial Medal; and for heights, Jim Woods etiquette by the time he arrived in St Andrews. himself till he masters it. All in August, the Thistle Club Looking for a career on leaving school in the while he was working Championship, which “will has his feet planted 1975, Jim became an apprentice with William for others, he pondered how always have a special firmly on the ground!

Brand & Son. Roofer Bob Grier of Largoward, to run a business, and if he place in my heart as it’s my his mentor, helped him understand every aspect himself should try. Marriage first Club championship.” of his trade, including how to recognise which clinched it. Susan, a nurse, is his inspiration, He claims he doesn’t practice a lot, but always quarry a slate came from by its colour and his guiding light, “99% of the time, she’s right!” warms up before a game, “I must have a natural Together they decided that roofing would take texture. On a Friday he also swept chimneys, ability.” Whatever happens, he is adamant that “they were good days as well. Bob knew precedence over golf, and Jim concentrated he “won’t be quitting again. I’ll probably die on everyone.” In College Street one day the two of on his business with Susan’s help. The late the golf course!”

Jim Russell’s influence is also warmly recalled, them were asked to clean a second chimney.

Roofs and golf – a well-balanced Sitting on the outside pot of the stack, Jim “he had a rough idea what a roof would cost. combination if ever there was one!

Subcontracting, like the plumbing, roofing, heard Bob call that he was ready down below, and began to sweep. Suddenly, flames “shot electrician, the painter and decorater – he knew Photos courtesy Jim Woods

12

SHOPS & SERVICES Andrew Wright asks

So, Who is to Blame?

What a terrible mess we are in, and there is almost certainly worse to come (I am writing this at the end of November).

Apparently this year’s pantomimes are introducing “bankers” as the villains the children love to hate. Maybe this is a little unfair and the blame should be spread more widely.

Certainly the bankers who put together and marketed the sub-prime mortgage packages will have known the dangers.

They were gambling on the continuation of favourable market conditions and that any downturn would be short lived. They were also heavily incentivised to find some such products or risk losing their substantial annual bonuses. How far up the chain did this knowledge go? Certainly their immediate bosses will have understood, but did anyone further up the chain really understand the dangers? I realise that does not exonerate the bank directors from blame, but I wonder how many of them really appreciated the danger of these “toxic assets”. Or perhaps they did, but were worried about the effect on the bank profits of not joining this latest banking fad.

In any event, they encouraged the culture of massive bonuses that contributed so much to the present mess.

Ultimately, of course, the politicians, and particularly the Government, bear the main responsibility But the blame does not fall solely on the bankers, although they were certainly central to the prevailing mood of encouraging unbridled borrowing. Some would blame the introduction of Thatcherite economic policies for starting the rot. At the time, banking was considered a profession and subject to a professional ethical code.

Certainly there is a conflict between the culture of massive bonuses, which demand an essentially selfish approach to one’s job, and an ethical approach which seeks to put the customers’ interests first. Elsewhere in the City of London, “my word is my bond” was an oft-quoted phrase among stockbrokers at the time before the “old fashioned” firms were swept away by a tide of takeovers and a “profits at any cost” culture. Large deals would be sealed by the shake of the hand.

But if bankers are to blame, what about those who are paid handsomely to regulate the bankers’ activities, the Financial Services Authority in particular? Their risk analysis will have identified any number of risk areas and they introduced control systems to monitor these, often at great inconvenience and extra work to those involved.

But they missed altogether the greatest risk of all. They were so busy ticking boxes and following procedures that they did not see the big picture. And what about my own profession? Surely the Auditors of the big banks, with their sophisticated risk analysis models and their £million fees, could have been expected to uncover the “toxic assets” scandal?

Ultimately, of course, the politicians, and particularly the Government, bear the main responsibility. It suited them to sit back and allow the market to sort itself out. During the good times, their economic data looked good even if common sense should have told them it could not last.

And what has been learned from this? Already the bankers, while accepting there will be no bonuses this year, appear to expect a resumption thereafter. And the Government think they can solve the problem by introducing yet another regulatory body to oversee the behaviour of the Banks.

The only real answer is to re-introduce a culture of honesty and respect in our society, where the wealthy accept they have an innate responsibility to the whole of society, including their poorer and less talented brethren.

Our chefs use fresh local produce to create delicious dishes from Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Scotland. Together with Bangladeshi and Indian Beer and spirits you are sure to have a unique experience !

The best food, the best service and all-in-all friendly atmosphere second to none.

3 Course Early Evening Meal £9.95 5-7pm (except Saturday) 3 Course Lunch £5.95 12.00-2.30pm (except Sunday) Takeaway menu available Home Delivery Service Open 7 days Lunch 12pm-2.30pm Dinner 5pm-midnight Sunday 5pm-midnight 5 College Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AA Tel: 01334 476666 Fax: 01334 475380 Email: maisharestaurant@hotmail.co.uk www.maisharestaurant.co.uk

For further information on this, or other matters, please consult: Henderson Black & Co. 149 Market St., St Andrews.

Tel: 01334 472 255

13

SHOPS & SERVICES Photographer Rick Booth, records a fond

Farewell to Murray Mitchell “I found Murray Mitchell’s presence reassuring. They’ve been very good to me and might have a chuckle seeing themselves in print as it were.” (see Roving Reporter, p.16)

14

SHOPS & SERVICES Patrick Laughlin, Manager, St Andrews World Class Initiative

St Andrews Skills Academy prepares for its first term Board (becoming Head of Hospitality Training Foundation Scotland), The already proud reputation of St Andrews as a world-class place of before being appointed as Chief Executive of the Sector Skills Alliance learning has been boosted further with the announcement of ambitious Scotland, a post she filled with distinction between 2000 and 2007. plans to establish St Andrews Skills Academy.

Anneliese has spent her first few months in post meeting with This is an innovative initiative, which aims to bring skills development businesses and organisations at both local and national level, and has and training provision in St Andrews and the surrounding area under written a recently-approved Operational Plan for the Skills Academy, in a single umbrella. It will involve colleges and other training providers anticipation of its formal launch – anticipated to be in early spring 2009. working together with employers to develop and co-ordinate a programme She says, “I am thrilled to have the chance to shape and direct the Skills of training to meet local needs. It will be aimed largely, but not exclusively, Academy, and it’s an honour to be involved at service industry businesses, including with such an innovative project. I’m really those in the hospitality, tourism, and retail The Skills Academy will not exist in looking forward to getting to know local sectors. terms of a bricks and mortar building, businesses and helping them and their The St Andrews Skills Academy will employees to access top-quality training. provide a one-stop, user-friendly service to but will be a “virtual” facility And of course it is an added bonus for me employers and staff at every level—from the to be working every day in such a beautiful town!” pre-recruitment stage through apprentice, supervisory, and management Anneliese is being guided by a business-led Advisory Board, whose levels. In addition, the intention is that every course delivered under the Co-Chair is Stephen Owen (Rufflets Country House Hotel). Stephen says, Skills Academy banner will have an added degree of quality: all training “We are delighted to have secured the services of Anneliese, who is one providers will have to meet agreed quality assurance standards. The of the best-known and respected names in the Scottish training world. result will be that everyone completing a course will receive a special St Andrews-branded qualification, serving as a “badge of honour” which will She will be an excellent advocate for training and skills development throughout St Andrews and North-East Fife.” indicate to employers that the recipient has been trained to a high calibre.

The Skills Academy will not exist in terms of a bricks and mortar If you would like Anneliese Archibald to visit you to discuss your business building, but will be a “virtual” facility. Its aims are: training requirements, or are simply interested in finding out more, contact 1 To improve the range of training available to, and to increase her on the St Andrews Skills Academy hotline: Tel 0845 1300074. the amount of training undertaken by, businesses.

E-mail: anneliese@standrewsskillsacademy.co.uk 2 To raise skills and productivity, improving customer satisfaction Or visit the website (currently under construction) at and business performance. www.standrewsskillsacademy.co.uk 3 To raise retention levels by motivating employees through continuing professional development and clearer career opportunities.

4 To improve the attractiveness of the hospitality sector as a career choice.

5 To create job opportunities for Fife residents, including the unemployed and economically inactive.

6 Over time, to put St Andrews on the map as the place in the UK to come for education and training in the hospitality sector – raising the town’s profile as a world-class visitor destination.

The Skills Academy will be led by a full-time Manager, Anneliese Archibald (pictured), who took up her post in summer 2008. She will oversee a three-year pilot programme, which is being funded by Scottish Enterprise and the Fife Tourism Development Fund after a successful funding bid from the St Andrews World Class Initiative.

Anneliese has many years’ experience in the training and hospitality sectors. She spent 16 years with the Hotel and Catering Industry Training

Anneliese Archibald (Photo courtesy Skills Academy)

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15

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter – busy as ever!

1. Well, he may be busy, but he’s always happy to let people introduce themselves!

So welcome, Chief Geek, Rick Flett, who “hails from a long background in IT, having previously worked for the biggest names in the industry and is a fully qualified and experienced computer service technician.”

He continues, “Computer Geeks is a new service to the Fife area that offers fast, friendly, and economic solutions to all your computing and technology problems. We can fix your computer or laptop in your home, at your office, at our lab or over the phone, for a fixed cost.

We have no expensive shop costs to pass on to our customers; this helps to keep our prices at the very lowest.

We offer a broad range of services including: setting up networks; finding and fixing viruses; installation of security software; back-ups of those important photos or documents; parental security filters; and many more.... Our most popular home service is the ‘Deep Clean’ – over time computers often become painfully slow – our Geeks can fix these problems in no time.

For our business community we offer a full range of IT support at fixed costs per PC – its like having your very own IT department.

Our e-mail: computergeeks@virgin.net, Phone: 07711 519 279.”

2.

*Reporter * * * was * glad that our last butcher

of long standing was archived in photos

by Rick Booth (see page 14) Rick told Reporter that he “was a student in St Andrews a decade ago, and remembers the great sides of beef in Murray Mitchell’s window with affection – they were honest, beautiful and (on student finances) unattainable. I completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Photojournalism at the London College of Printing and settled in Lower Largo two years ago. I’m always on the look-out for local stories and I wanted to document Murray Mitchell before he closed; I try to catch things as they happen rather than step in and stage-manage”.

Rick’s work has been exhibited in London and Edinburgh and he’s

committed to using photography to expand knowledge and forge change. Reporter learned that, “As well as editorial work, I also shoot annual reports, PR, and portraiture”. And what’s more, he’s available for commissions! Catch Rick Booth, at 9 Durham Wynd, Lower Largo Tel: 01333 320 123 Mobile: 07960 747 173 or email: riboot@tiscali.co.uk

*****

3. A brand new shop for the town – Specsavers, is at 169 South Street. Store Director, Julia Campbell kindly let Reporter over the threshold. She told him that five new jobs have been created at the store. The examination room is state-of-the-art “equipped with the very latest eye examination equipment, including a new Fundus camera.” An official launch party is planned for this January, with “various celebrations and special promotions.” Julia said, “I am thoroughly looking forward to working as part of the team at the St Andrews store and will relish the opportunity to meet and build relationships with new customers and staff. Specsavers ranks as one of the country’s most iconic brands and I’m delighted to be able to offer our services to the people of St Andrews. We plan to build on Specsavers’ reputation as one of the most respected names on the high street by providing customers with the highest quality eyecare at excellent prices.”

You will be able to choose a variety of frames from just £25. Designer styles at £125 include names such as Missoni, Jasper Conran, and many others, including Specsavers’ own designer range, Osiris. “All frame prices,” added Julia, “include single vision PENTAX lenses with a scratch-resistant treatment.” Needing new glasses, or an eye test? Then call at the store, or phone: 01334 468 580.

*****

4. One door closes, another opens – so, says Reporter, with butcher shops. Welcome, Bridges Butchers, 183 South Street! The latest of a family-owned, and run, ‘chain’ of three shops, the St Andrews addition opened ‘just in time for Christmas’ Chris Grove has the experience, but is diffident of walking in Murray Mitchell’s shoes! However, there is nothing to fear. On offer six days a week from 7.00am is a cornucopia of organic, locally sourced, traditionally-hung meat, game, and poultry. There are also pies, potted hough, sausages, sausage rolls made on the premises.

Chris is on record as having wanted to move to St Andrews for a long time; Reporter is sure Chris’ future here is safe!

*****

16

HEALTH May Watt, Secretary, League of Friends tells

The Story of the St Andrews Memorial Hospital Africa, financed the new building. It cost £3000 and was to be supported The history of this hospital goes back to 1864 when the Douglas Cottage Hospital was opened in Abbey Street as a memorial to Lady William by voluntary contributions. On the 27th August 1902, Mrs Tait, Freddie’s Douglas, Grangemuir and Dunino, by her children and friends. By 1866, mother, opened the new hospital.

Dr John Adamson and Professor Oswald Hume Bell had successfully In 1905 the annexe for a children’s ward was gifted by Colonel James established a small “cottage” hospital, where non-infectious diseases and Thomson, and in 1926 Miss Janet Webster of Guardbridge endowed a minor injuries could be treated more effectively. Around 1877 Greenhill Maternity wing, which operated until 1951. The Tom Morris Memorial Bed Villa, in Abbotsford Place, a more commodious and pleasantly-situated was endowed in 1912 in memory of the ex-Open Champion. There was house, was purchased for the sum of £750. A fund had been raised to also a bed in memory of Professor Purdie of St Andrews University, and commemorate the services of Dr John Adamson, who died in 1870, and in 1905 the Earl of St Andrews Bed was endowed as a wedding present from the citizens to the Duke of Kent. Students of Professor Oswald Hume Bell, Professor of Medicine in St Andrews University, who died in 1875. The St Andrews University maintained another bed by For the fourth time the donating the annual collection on Kate Kennedy Day. managers of the Cottage Hospital and the Committee hospital is moving of the Adamson/Bell Fund agreed to amalgamate their The endowment fund at the time of the transfer to the resources to purchase Greenhill Villa. Adamson and National Health Scheme stood at over £60,000.

Bell had been the instigators behind the first Cottage Hospital and it was Over the years the hospital has been extended and modernised felt that their names should be permanently associated with the new into the present facility, the last major extension, giving new X-Ray, hospital, hence the Memorial Cottage Hospital. The building was only Physiotherapy, and Out-patient Departments to the hospital at a cost of slightly larger than the original one, and gave comfortable accommodation £1,231,000. This extension was formally opened by HRH The Duchess of Kent on 14 October 1986. for six patients – 3 male and 3 female. The weekly cost was raised to 5 shillings. For domestic servants (of whom there were many at that time) Also in 1986, at the request of the Charge Nurse at Craigtoun Hospital, and supported by Mrs Inch, Nursing Officer at the Memorial the charge was more – unless their employers were subscribers to the new hospital at £5 per annum.

Hospital, the League of Friends was formed, to be known as “League of By the late l890s the stretched resources and inadequate Friends of Craigtoun and St Andrews Memorial Hospital”. The aim of the accommodation of the cottage hospital had made necessary the building League would be to provide amenities and comforts for patients and to of a new hospital in Abbey Walk. By 1900, money from the sale of supply medical equipment. A twice weekly transport service was provided Greenhill Villa, together with help from legacies, and a further sum of for people visiting elderly patients in Craigtoun, and retired guide dogs’ £1500 raised by friends and admirers of the famous golfer Freddie Tait, veterinary and insurance expenses were provided by the League along sadly killed in action that year fighting with the Black Watch in South with comforts and equipment for both hospitals, too numerous to mention.

With the closure of Craigtoun and the inclusion of the Community in the Constitution, the name of the League was changed to the “St Andrews League of Hospital Friends”. In addition to the equipment being purchased, both in the hospital and community, a successful appeal in 1989 raised the money to install an Ultrasound Machine for the Radiology Department of the Memorial Hospital. This saved patients travelling to Kirkcaldy. A Cardiac Ultrasound Appeal was launched in 1997 to raise £30,000. The sum of £42,000 was raised, and this enabled the League to purchase extra equipment for the machine. In 2004 a new Cardiology Clinic was set up in the Memorial Hospital saving patients the journey to Kirkcaldy or Dundee. Since the 1997 scanner was obsolete the League was asked, and agreed, to launch an appeal for £45,000 to buy a new one for the clinic. The money was raised and in October 2004 the League Chairman handed over the scanner to Dr Francis. This is proving to be a very successful clinic. At present League members are working closely with the hospital authorities with a view to supporting the new hospital in the future.

For the fourth time the hospital is moving. Looking back, we see from the People’s Journal the following entry on 24th May 1902, “The Memorial Miss Reid, Matron of the Memorial Cottage Hospital in Cottage Hospital, which is being erected in Abbey Walk is now nearing 1936, kicking off for a charity football match. completion, and is expected to be opened some time in July”. 107 years (From St Andrews in the 20s, 30s, and 40s by Helen Cook, on, the accommodation has again become inadequate, and we look Stenlake Publishing, Catrine, Ayrshire. By kind permission.) forward to moving into the new building in early summer 2009.

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17

HEALTH Dr Margaret Hannah, Deputy Director of Public Health in Fife, is particularly interested in the

Health Benefits of Transition for St Andrews A Change of Age As banks crumble in the aftermath of the credit crunch and governments intervene in the market in ways inconceivable only months ago, there is a sense that the old rule books are being ripped up, choppy waters lie ahead and life is never going to be the same again.

The level of uncertainty, interconnectedness, and complexity of the challenges we face today suggest we are living not so much in an age of change, but a change of age.

Looking back over the last 100 years, we can begin to see how profound these changes are. Traditional certainties of Newtonian science have been overturned by relativity and quantum theory. Traditional sources of authority, such as church and state, are treated with suspicion.

One hundred years ago, 90 percent of the population lived within ten miles of their birthplace. Now, only ten percent do. As families disperse and re-constitute, traditional sources of care and support have dwindled. With less family support for raising young children and going through the tough times, marriages have been put under strain. Children grow up in single-parent or re-constituted families.

Commuting and travelling have expanded as people have to search more widely to find work. The profound changes in our economy and society mean we have no job for life, no partner for life, and no time for life.

Changes in technology over the last 100 years have been arguably even more dramatic.

The amount of information in one week of The Times newspaper has been estimated to be more than the total amount of information someone would deal with in a lifetime in the 18th century. The Victorians were worried about the health effects of travelling faster than a horse. Now many of us have taken flights where we travel at 500 miles per hour!

The accumulation of greater speed, information overload and reliance on technology leaves us feeling disoriented and disconnected.

Culturally, we lack a strong narrative for our lives. Whereas the traditional industrial model was one of production of goods and services, we are now trapped as the consumers of goods

Earthship Fife

18

and services. In addition to the challenge this has for our identities, on a practical level, consumerism has led to debt and financial worries for many of us.

Health threats The change of age we are living through brings with it a range of new health challenges. Most of us are living longer, which is good, but many live with chronic diseases, so quality of life suffers. Liberal use of antibiotics over the last 50 years has left us a legacy of bugs resistant to most of them, leaving patients vulnerable to infections such as MRSA and C.difficile. Our food has become highly processed and calorie dense which, combined with more sedentary lifestyles, has led to an epidemic of obesity. As our climate becomes more unstable, we have to deal with more severe weather events. Public health agencies are on constant alert for the possibility of pandemic flu, and there are other emergent infections which may yet surprise us.

The New Science of Wellbeing At the same time as these new health threats have been emerging, there has been growing interest in wellbeing and the prevention of ageing. The most important factors in staying young are: sleeping well, taking regular exercise, and restricting calorie intake so that we maintain our waistlines. Of course these three factors are related. If we walk 30 minutes a day and take strenuous exercise for 20 minutes three times a week, we are more likely to sleep well and keep our waistlines.

Other factors can also help delay ageing.

In Scotland for example, ensuring we have enough Vitamin D, especially in the winter, is important to maintain our health. Having good social networks is also important, especially as we grow older. In fact, good social networks are more important for our health than whether or not we smoke. We can also reduce our chances of dementia by keeping our brains active through puzzles and crosswords, remaining active in our communities, and passing on skills to others.

Selfbuild-Benarty What is Transition about?

The Transition movement is responding to the combined challenges of peak oil and climate change. It seeks local solutions to food production, human development, and cultural life.

The links between transition and health Given what I have described above, it becomes clearer how transition might be beneficial for our health.

If we locate work more closely to home, we can walk and cycle more. Building regular exercise into our daily lives is a much better way of staying well than going to the gym every so often. If we grow more of our own food, we are outdoors more, soaking up Vitamin D and getting more fresh air and exercise. Eating home-grown food means we eat less processed and energy-dense food, reducing our risk of obesity.

Transition also means using local materials for buildings, making them highly energy efficient and utilising renewable energy sources wherever possible. This generates more local work for others, provides us with lots of exercise in the open air and builds close bonds with others by building together. Indeed, the more we work together with our families, neighbours, and friends, the more we strengthen our social ties and keep our minds active.

Another aspect of transition that might lead to health benefits are the links with more traditional forms of medication. Relying on simple, herbal remedies for common ailments might reduce our use of antibiotics and antiseptics to which bugs can become resistant.

Living our lives more locally, growing more of our own food, building with locally-sourced materials and using renewable energy to supply our homes offer real health benefits for St Andrews. In so doing, we also create a healthier planet for others.

(Photos, courtesy Dr Hannah)

HEALTH Sara Boardman, Principal Podiatrist at the Foot Clinic considers

Footwear – Choosing the Best Shoes for your Feet The feet are two of the most important, yet most abused parts of the human body. Feet are designed to take body weight and give mobility.

Whilst vast amounts of money are spent in educating people to look after themselves nutritionally and physically, little effort is made to educate them on the importance of foot health, for instance, feet are often crammed into the most unsuitably-shaped shoes.

The only time feet are given a thought is when they hurt. There is no doubt that from birth to early teens feet are at their most vulnerable, in fact there are 26 bones in the foot, and they do not completely ossify (harden) until around the age of eighteen. Podiatrists spend most of their time trying to ease discomfort that could have been avoided if shoes had been correctly fitted when purchased.

For comfort and foot health, it’s essential that your shoes fit your feet correctly. Comfortable shoes will allow your feet to work normally, and will not restrict their movement in any way. According to leading podiatrists, 90% of patients wear shoes that are too small. Many people believe that their feet stay the same size throughout their lives. However, feet tend to increase in both length and width. Also, shoe sizing can vary tremendously between brands, so it’s important to ensure shoes fit correctly, rather than relying on the size alone.

So where should you turn if you need footwear advice? You need look no further than St Andrews! There are plenty of stores with well-trained, knowledgeable staff ready to help you select and fit the perfect shoes for every occasion. From ranges including Ecco, Hotter, Clarks, Asics, and FootJoy, along with less well-known brands such as Hispanitas, Think!, El Natura Lista, MBT, and Christian Dietz, to name but a few.

Children’s Shoes Ill-fitting children’s shoes can cause many problems, from pain and blisters, to foot deformity.

Purchase shoes from a children’s shoe shop where a trained fitter will measure your child’s feet free of charge. The shoe fitter will advise you if your child needs new shoes and how much time they may have left in their existing shoes, and also give advice about growth, development, and general foot health High Heels Ask any woman… high heels are an essential part of the wardrobe, but they can cause problems ranging from blisters, corns, and calluses, to serious foot, knee, and back pain. Enjoy your high heels, but only wear them for short periods or for special occasions. There is a perception that “sensible” shoes with lower heels are unfashionable and boring; clearly this doesn’t have to be the case (see photographs). There are some exciting shoes on the market such as Think! which are not only very stylish, but provide comfort, stability, and control, as do the very funky El Natura Lista.

Orthoses Many people now wear corrective insoles, or orthoses, within their shoes.

Foot orthoses are special insoles which allow the muscles, tendons, and bones of the feet and lower legs to function at their highest potential.

They can decrease pain, not only in the foot, but in other parts of the body such as the knee, hip, and lower back. They can also increase stability in an unstable joint, prevent a deformed foot from developing additional problems, and improve overall quality of life.

If orthoses have been prescribed for you then the correct footwear is essential for their success. Ideally footwear should have removable insoles and be deep enough to accommodate the orthoses. They should also have a maximum heel height of around 1.5 inches and have a retaining medium such as a buckle, laces, or Velcro. The German-made Christian Dietz shoes fall into this category, as do many other makes of footwear such as Ecco and Mephisto. If in doubt seek the advice of a specialist shoe fitter or Podiatrist.

Shoes for Sporting Activities Getting the right shoe really cuts down on the likelihood of suffering a sports-related injury. Make sure that you buy a shoe that is designed for the activity you are doing.

Running shoes are very flexible, enabling the foot to bend and flex through each step. It’s best not to use these for sports such as tennis, basketball, or aerobics, which involve sideways stepping; instead use one of the following: • • • •

Cross trainers – much stiffer and provide greater support for the foot when side-to-side movements are made, allowing them to be used across a range of activities.

Sports shoes designed for tennis, basketball, etc. give a combination of flexibility and sideways support.

Fitness shoes are designed for aerobics, etc. They combine flexibility with support and incorporate cushioning to lessen the effect of shock generated during high-impact work.

Golfers have a huge range from which to select. Choose a waterproof shoe which allows the feet to breathe and gives plenty of support. If you have feet of markedly different size, FootJoy allows you to select the appropriate size and width fitting for each foot with its MyJoys range, at no extra cost.

Tips to Remember when Shoe Shopping: • • • • • • •

Make sure you can wiggle your toes a little inside your shoes Try on both shoes and walk a few steps to see if they pinch or rub Shoes should be comfortable when you buy them. You should not have to “break them in” or wait until they stretch.

The socks or tights you wear when trying on a pair of shoes should be the type you would regularly wear with them. This is particularly true when trying on shoes for sport or exercise.

Choose leather uppers, or materials that allow your feet to breathe and mould well to the shape of your foot Feet tend to swell a little during the day, so buy shoes in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest Buy the right shoe for the purpose – high heels are not for walking distances Photographs above courtesy of Thomas Rogerson & Sons

Entries to:

21 Church Street, St Andrews

Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd, PO Box 29210, St Andrews, KY16 9YZ

Q: How many bones are there in the adult human foot?

no later than 31st January 2009. Please don’t forget to include your own name and address. Results – and winner – will be published in the March/April issue.

Has pleasure in offering, free, one pair of MBTs (worth £150) to the first person to answer the following correctly:

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B – 10

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Q: What do the initials MBT stand for? and – Complete this sentence: “For comfort and foot health . . .

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19

HEALTH Kathleen Burt, currently studying for a PhD in Divinity, describes from personal experience a little-known syndrome

A Silent Child “She doesn’t speak in class.” That’s how my silence did not render me invisible, or eclipse ten-year-old classmates explained it. Not, she my personality. I especially liked those who can’t speak; not, she won’t speak, just a matterdiscerned my sense of humour. In my village of-fact behavioural observation, uttered in a primary school, everyone knew me. With non-judgemental chorus as the supply teacher imagination, and no pressure, my teachers struggled to understand why I did not respond helped me to move from silence to mouthing the words, to whispering, so I was finally able to to the register.

I was always quiet. I was the midwives’ communicate verbally. favourite infant for bathing demonstrations – I High school brought with it greater refused to cry in front of adults. I made them challenges and teachers who were less familiar look good. I was not physically incapable of with my problem, but, given the number of speech. In fact, I was very talkative – to other teachers I had during those six years, things children and to my immediate family. With went pretty smoothly. There were, of course, others I was trapped in silence. moments of unvented frustration. There was By chance, it was a friend who discovered an oral component to English, and while I “Selective Mutism”, or SM, a social anxietywas capable in the other areas, my teachers related disorder that renders the sufferer explained, without a recognised cause for my incapable of speech in certain situations. There silence or being able to perform in front of is no physiological or developmental reason for the whole class, it was impossible to give me the highest scores for official purposes. Yet their silence, but they experience a consistent, almost physical barrier. allowances were made, and I presented to a SM occurs in seven out of every thousand small group, in a quiet room at my own volume. people, making it several times as common as Tension, however, never dissipated. I came autism. Diagnosed, it is sometimes possible to dread the times when, lining up outside a to ease the anxiety classroom, the word of younger children would spread that we Mute children are through desensitisation. had a supply teacher. tremendously observant, and My silence was always When unexplained, others may feel – and an issue; every class often have the measure of express – frustration. involved taking a their adult interlocutors!

Mute children are register. Invariably tremendously observant, there would be a and often have the measure of their adult comment, though not always pointed. I saw interlocutors! Crucially, for me, even after the most supply teachers add me to their mental anxiety factor subsided, there was always the “watch list”. Understandable, perhaps, but silencing fear, soundly based, that any speech unfair. Everyone had an opinion. Some who did would lead to an anxiety-inducing fuss. not understand simply dismissed me.

People react in various ways to a child I still get frustrated thinking of all I who doesn’t speak. A common impulse is the wish I could have said at the time. “You wish to “take the situation in hand”, wanting to don’t understand my silence, but neither engineer a “breakthrough”, or seeing silence as do I.” – “Don’t punish me because you feel bad behaviour– what, after all, is so hard about uncomfortable.” And, above all: “What makes speaking? My parents, both experienced social you think that because I don’t speak I have workers, received comments ranging from the nothing to say?” critical to the bizarre. A playgroup teacher even The difference a diagnosis would have offered to take me to her house and scream at made is a subject I often ponder. Those who me until I spoke. recognised a disorder in those days would My favourite people never made it an issue. not have branded me a selective mute, but No censure, no jokes; they understood that an “elective mute”, on the erroneous belief

that silence is wilful, whereas “selective” notes only that silence is situational.

While I had no diagnosis, professionals who observed me assigned to me many “elective mute” characteristics. That my parents were switched on and willing to endure criticism saved me repeatedly from misguided, even blundering attempts to help, that were nonetheless genuine .

A diagnosis is no barrier to prejudice. When it becomes known that they are physically capable of speech in other settings, sufferers are still sometimes accused of belligerence and told their silence is manipulative or controlling.

Awareness is crucial, since it is rare to find a professional with experience of SM and even now there will be many undiagnosed children.

Nevertheless, recognition of SM is creeping into our culture – the TV series The Big Bang Theory features an SM character, and in 2001, Paul McCartney even wrote a song called “She’s Giving Up Talking”!

While the current advice is that it is rare for someone with SM to just grow out of it, I always believed that, logically speaking, since I had difficulty with adults and people older than me, as I grew older there would be fewer and fewer people in the “problem” category. Ignorance and denial were my friends. My difficulty in speaking to “new” people diminished, and by the time I was sixteen I would seem merely shy to those who did not know me in a school or family context.

My life has moved on from silence.

Academia, after all, is a very speech-intensive world, with conferences, seminars, and tutoring, which I adore. Some situations remain challenging. But the reward for the rest of my progress is the incredulous laughter with which my friends receive my admission that I – I, of all people – was once mute.

For further information see: www.selectivemutism.org

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20

EVENTS Michael Downes writes:

For your diary

Selected Events

Opera, theatre, poetry, film, and music old and new – the Music Centre is promoting an exciting range of events in early 2009, for which everyone is warmly invited to join us.

Wednesdays, 7, 14, 21 January – 1.15-1.45pm. St Salvator’s Chapel, North Street. Lunchtime concerts. Admission £2.

•

•

•

•

On Wednesday 18 February, we are promoting a performance at the Byre Theatre by the young London-based group Counterpoise (see www.counterpoise.org.uk) – their programme Ghosts Before Breakfast explores the links between music, theatre, and film, and includes a performance of On the Edge, a new music theatre piece by the widely acclaimed young composer Edward Rushton. It should be a fascinating evening, and the performance will be followed by an informal discussion with the performers.

On 26, 27 and 28 February, St Andrews Opera will give its début performances in All Saints Church Hall. Our best student singers have been working throughout the year on a double bill: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and a Monteverdi ballo, to which we have given a modern twist, entitling it Heaven or Hell? Jane Pettegree and Ann Baird are directing the fully-staged performances and Jill Craig and I will be sharing the conducting. We hope this will be the first of many exciting opera performances in the town and beyond – we will be selling tickets from Monday 19 January and they are sure to be in great demand so make sure you book yours early!

On Friday 13 March we will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns in the Younger Hall with an evening organised jointly with the Department of Scottish Literature – it will include settings of Burns by classical and modern composers in a range of styles, and readings of Burns, and new poetry inspired by his work from some of the University’s distinguished poets.

On Saturday 18 April, meanwhile, we will be launching the University’s week-long arts festival with a performance from Lucy Russell (violin) and John Butt (harpsichord), two of the country’s most eminent performers of baroque music – Lucy and John will be playing an all-Bach programme in the intimate and atmospheric surroundings of St Salvator’s Chapel.

These are just some of the many exciting musical events that will be taking place during the semester – for full details and updates please drop into the Music Centre for a leaflet or visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk/music. I look forward to meeting many of you at these and other events in the months ahead.

(Photos by Ben Goulter)

Tuesday, 13 January – 7.30pm Chemistry Building, North Haugh.

Encounters with Plants, talk by Dr Edith and Professor Richard Cormack, St Andrews; Friends of the Botanic Garden.

Wednesday, 14 January – 7.30pm.Town Hall, Queen’s Garden.

Scottish Ornithologists Club, Fife Branch indoor meeting.

Contact: Howard Chapman 01334 870 768.

Thursday, 15 January – 8.00pm. St Leonards School Music Auditorium, The Pends. Canteloube, oboe, clarinet & bassoon, music by: Rossini, Mozart, Canteloube, Chandler, Milhaud, Ibert. St Andrews Music Club – tickets £10, concessions £9, students £5, junior £1. Contact, Concert Secretary: katie.elliott@btopenworld.com Tuesday, 20 January – 7.30pm. Martyrs Church Hall, North Street. Patagonia, talk by Ian Christie, President, Scottish Rock Garden Group; Fife Rock Garden Group, tickets £2.

Thursday, 22 January – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra Concert. Nicholas Angelich (piano); Conductor Yannick Nézat-Séguin. Music by Schumann; Mendelssohn. Tickets from the Byre Box Office: 01334 475 000.

Tuesday, 3 February – 7.30pm. Chemistry Building, North Haugh. Rhododendrons for Year Round Interest, a talk by Ian Douglas, Craigrothie, for the Friends of the Botanic Garden.

Entry free.

Wednesdays, 4, 11, 18, 25 February – 1.15-1.45pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Lunchtime concerts. Admission £2.

Saturday, 7 February – 9.00am to 1.00pm. Argyle Street car park. Farmers’ Market.

Wednesday, 11 February – 7.30pm. Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens. Scottish Ornithologists Club, Fife Branch, indoor meeting. Contact: Howard Chapman 01334 870 768.

Sunday, 15 February – 4.00pm. St Leonards School Music Auditorium, The Pends. Aisling Agnew & Matthew Mcallister flute & guitar. Music by Bach; Fernando Sor; Debussy; Milhaud; Francois Borne; Greg Caffrey; Ravel; Astor Piazzolla. St Andrews Music Club, Tickets, £10, concessions £9, students £5, junior £1. Contact: Concert Secretary, katie.elliott@btopenworld.com Tuesday, 17 February – 7.30pm. Martyrs Church Hall, North Street. Early Bulbs, a talk by Susan Band, Pitcairngreen.

Fife Rock Garden Group. Tickets £2.

Wednesday, 18 February – 8.00pm. The Byre Theatre.

Counterpoise. New music, theatre, and film. Tickets £14, concessions £12, under 24s £8.

Thursday, 19 February – 5.15pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

The James Gregory Public Lecture, given by Sir John Houghton – Global Warming – is it real and what should we do? All welcome.

Saturday, 21 February – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

Rotary Club of St Andrews presents JAZZ! JAZZ!! JAZZ !!! showcasing Louise Major, Alex Dowman, Kenny Irons.

Tickets £10, concessions £8, students £5 from the Byre Theatre, St Andrews Art & Music Shop, Tourist Information Centre, Younger Hall.

Wednesday, 25 February – from 1.15pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Afternoon & evening events, Saxaphone Day featuring Llyn Klock. Concert admission £2.

Thursday, 26 February to Saturday, 28 February – 7.30pm.

All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street. Opera Double Bill Purcell Dido and Aeneas, Montiverdi Heaven or Hell?

Information from The Music Centre, 01334 462 226.

21

ORGANISATIONS Morag Brown honours

Strathkinness Women’s Rural Institute The final meeting of the Strathkinness Branch of the SWRI took place on form one in Strathkinness and the following committee was 4th December – exactly 90 years to the day from the very first meeting, a elected with power to add to their number: bare month after the end of the First World War. Miss Challis, Miss R Cunningham, Mrs Graham, Miss The year 1918 was a very significant one in the lives of the women Gray, Mrs McLeod, Mrs Mauchline, Mrs Niven, and Mrs Scott. Tea was of this country. Not only did it see the end of a war that had brought served at the close of the meeting. hardship to all the countries involved and grief to At a committee meeting on 6th December, 4 many personally, but, importantly, it also brought a It is very sad to think that members were added and the following officers new sense of self worth to women. During the war, elected by ballot: we will no longer stand women had not only to struggle with food shortages to provide for families, with the fear of personal loss – Mrs Younger together at Strathkinness President hanging over them, but also took on tasks which Vice Presidents – Mrs McLeod and Mrs Mauchline and sing the Rural song had traditionally been performed by men. The main Hon Secretary – Miss Challis breakthrough came with the new Representation of Hon Treasurer – Miss Cunningham the People Act, which gave women of 30 a vote, and parity with men of It was decided to hold the first meeting in January.

21. Today we find this totally unfair, but it was a major advance. It was 1928 before the disparity was ironed out.

Many troubles still lay ahead, of course. I also noted that the Citizen I looked through the archives of the St Andrews Citizen for 1918 said that a large proportion of the 129 reported deaths had been caused and found – amongst Cinema notices for Mary Pickford and Douglas by influenza. Men were about to return from the Front, wounded or Fairbanks films, collection of sphagnum moss, food card announcements, traumatised. Many widows found it hard to get support for their families. and of course the sad notices of wounded and dead from the front – the Women found themselves expected to give up jobs they had found following items; stimulating. Government and menfolk alike expected things to be as they had been at the outbreak of war. However, thanks to political changes and March 23rd organisations like the WRI, we were on our way to a brighter future.

Success of Fife Women’s Rural Institutes The main aim of the ‘Rural’ was to provide some kind of social activity That the WRI scheme has found favour in Fife District and is rapidly for women living on isolated farms, and in villages with little or no public strengthening its hold was evidenced on Friday by reports given at a transport. Programmes of talks and demonstrations of cookery and crafts meeting of Fife Women’s County Committee held in Cupar. In regard to brought new interests to many. That the movement was popular was Largo, Miss Rintoul stated that there are 123 members, and in Kilmany evidenced by our branch membership roll in the 1930s of 75-85. During about 100. the Second World War ladies concentrated on working for the Services, and later: producing what used to be called ‘comforts for the troops’. Meetings then Strathkinness were arranged to coincide with a full moon because of the ‘blackout’.

A meeting of women and girls was held in the Girls’ Club on the 4th We in Strathkinness during the past 90 years have taken part in all December when Miss Campbell BA of the Board of Agriculture explained aspects of SWRI activities and competitions. These include drama, golf, the nature and purposes of Women’s Rural Institutes. It was decided to curling, bowling, photography, handcrafts, and baking. Frequent visits between Rural branches and attendance at the Group and Federation meetings helped to foster friendships and bring in new ideas. Head Office in Heriot Row, Edinburgh, occasionally organises trips abroad, also the very popular and worthwhile Summer Schools. A Conference is held every 3rd year when delegates from all over Scotland debate wide-ranging topics. The opinions of such a widespread group should, we hope, be of interest to those at present governing the country.

Rotary’s Concert in aid of Hamish Tait’s Hospital in Cameroon.

It is very sad to think that we will no longer stand together at SHOWCASING Strathkinness and sing the Rural song:

JAZZ! JAZZ!! JAZZ!!!

• The Jazz Horn Quartet • The Trad Jazz Set • • Louise Major & Kenny Boyd • • Alex Dowman’s Group • Kenny Irons • • The Alleycats • The Saxophone Quartet • YOUNGER HALL SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 7.30pm Tickets £10, £8 (seniors), £5 (students) From the Byre, Music Centre, Tourist Information Centre

The watchword’s Home and Country, The broader, fuller life, That draws within its circle The mother, maid, and wife.

When women’s tasks seem endless, And heaviest our load, Hope spells for us a watchword To help us on our road.

However, we have all had a lot of fun over the years. Thank you, Strathkinness SWRI !

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22

ORGANISATIONS Pauline Blake-Johnston is pleased to report on the newly-formed

St Andrews Senior Section Unit, Girlguiding UK For the first time in a long time, a Senior Section Unit has been formed in St Andrews.

The Senior Section is part of Girlguiding UK, and is open to young women aged 14 to 26. It is designed to support older members of the movement to continue giving service in a wide variety of activities, as well as to gain valuable qualifications in a variety of skills, helping them as they move on in life.

‘Senior Section’ is an all-embracing term for older Girlguiding UK members that includes: • • • • • • • • •

Ranger Guides, both members of Ranger Guide Units and Lone Ranger Guides Young Leaders Female members of Joint Scout and Guide Units Young Guiders, Advisers and Commissioners who choose to participate in the section programme Junior Council members Members of Student Scout and Guide Clubs British Youth Council delegation members Female LINK members Girlguiding UK Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants

As part of a Senior Section Unit, you can have the opportunity to work on many different awards and qualifications that not only enhance your CV, but provide valuable voluntary experience for many girls preparing for University or employment.

Look Wider – This programme is based on principles and methods of Guiding, which can be worked through by members of the Senior Section. It is clearly linked to qualifications both inside and outside of Guiding. You don’t have to be a member of a group to complete it either. It is based around 8 areas known as

Octants, that vary to accommodate the variety of talents among members, and is flexible to suit the individual.

Queen’s Guide Award – This was introduced to Girlguiding UK in 1946 and is the highest award attainable by its members. It is based on the principles of personal challenge and participation. Any member of the Senior Section can work on the Queen’s Guide Award, but candidates must have reached their 16th birthday. The aim of the Queen’s Guide Award is to give young women the opportunity to offer service to their family group, to Guiding, and to their local and wider communities. In this way they extend their skills to a high standard and demonstrate the ability to use and develop knowledge gained.

Duke of Edinburgh Award – offers a nationally-recognised accreditation scheme, which is flexible and available to all.

Young women are not obliged to be part of Girlguiding UK to complete this award. They can choose to participate at any time between the ages of 14 and 25 years (minimum ages apply) at one of three levels – Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Young and Adult Leadership – This is a Girlguiding UK qualification. Young leadership is for girls aged 14-16 years, and the Adult leadership for 16-18 year-olds. It is a scheme that trains young women in the skills required to help run a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, and Senior Section Unit as a Girlguiding leader.

Participants are placed within a section of their choice and have two years to work through modules to gain the qualification.

The St Andrews Senior Section Unit began in March 2008 and currently has eleven members – from both town and gown. We are a mixture of girls training on the Young

and Adult Leadership qualifications, Duke of Edinburgh scheme and Queen’s Guide Award. As a Unit we get together once a month at the Guide Hut in Greenside Place, to share ideas and resources (and copious quantities of biscuits and sweeties!), to talk through the activities we have been working on in our respective Units, and to discuss, and attempt to offer, solutions to any moans and groans anyone is dealing with. We have lots of fun and look at projects and activities we can work on as a group, but our primary focus is to provide support for the awards and qualifications our members are working on.

We have also set up a small Senior Section Patrol in partnership with one of the local Guide Units. This was developed as a way of fostering links between Units in the local area and ensuring a smooth transition when it’s time for girls to move on from Guides. There are four young women in our newly-formed Senior Section Patrol and they are currently working on three Octants of the Look Wider programme.

Although, for a newly-formed Unit we have fairly healthy numbers, we are always looking for new people to join us. Perhaps you were a Rainbow, Brownie, or Guide a few years ago and want to get back into Guiding, or you were a Senior Section-er in another part of the UK and would like to get back into Guiding in some way? Perhaps you’ve always fancied helping out in a Unit? – whatever your interest, please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

If you would like any further information about the St Andrews Senior Section, or Guiding in St Andrews in general, please contact Pauline Blake-Johnston, pbj1@st-andrews.ac.uk, or Tel: 01334 479258.

St Andrews Senior Section in the Guide Hut (Photo by Flora Selwyn)

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ORGANISATIONS Community Safety Officer PC Paul Buttercase discusses

Safety Issues I am delighted to have been asked to contribute this article, and would credibility of a company or sales like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as your new Community person by how ‘professional’ they or Safety Officer for North East Fife, based at Cupar, albeit I have been in their promotional material or website situ for the past 6 months. seems.

I have over 22 years’ experience with Fife Constabulary, spending Those members of the community most of my service as an operational officer in Central Division at whose work involves returning Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Burntisland, and Levenmouth. In July 2007 I took home after dark, or are leaving their up the post of Community Safety Officer at Kirkcaldy before transferring in properties empty for any length of August 2008 to the same role to cover North East Fife. time during darkness, should consider Having worked predominantly in urban areas I am gradually becoming using timer switches on lamps, and PC Buttercase (Photo courtesy accustomed to the subtle, but obvious, differences in Policing rural and possibly a radio or television, to make George McLuskie) semi-rural areas. your property appear occupied. If you have an intruder alarm fitted to your property arm it whenever leaving the I have been involved in working with St Andrews & District Community Safety Panel, recently organising a successful Women’s Safety Event, property empty, even if only for a short time. and with St Andrews & District Neighbourhood Watch during the period of Ensure that gardening equipment is not left lying in the garden, but Operation Nightlight. I am gradually making links with other agencies in stored away in a secure shed, garage or outbuilding. Do not advertise the town, and I look forward to working with them in the near future. the contents of your shed or garage by leaving the door open when using I have close links with St Andrews, having being born at nearby equipment stored within. If not using any outbuildings on a regular basis Craigtoun Hospital and spending my childhood regularly visiting my during the winter months check them regularly, as otherwise it may be grandparents in the town; invariably heading down some time before any break-in is discovered. to the East Sands and Harbour area.

Christmas and the busy time before it has nowadays persons utilising Now I find myself looking at the town now passed, however January Sales time is upon telecommunications systems, such through different eyes, my role being to address us, shops will still be busy and the opportunity for as the telephone or email, are community safety issues in the town and purses, handbags, and wallets to be targeted will committing crimes from hundreds, surrounding area. St Andrews has a relatively low increase. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash crime rate, but we cannot be complacent, as being and keep handbags secured and with you at all if not thousands, of miles away a relatively affluent area it can, and has, proven times. Keep your purse in a secure compartment attractive to the travelling criminal, as well to those who reside locally. if carrying it in a handbag or in an inside jacket or coat pocket. When We live in a highly technological global world and nowadays persons using cash machines, make sure no-one is standing too close to you utilising telecommunications systems, such as the telephone or email, are whilst making the transaction, politely ask them to step back, or if you committing crimes from hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. have any concerns use another machine.

Emails are regularly received warning of loss of access to bank Do not leave any items, particularly of any value, on view in vehicles, or other accounts, such as PayPal, and if leaving anything of value in the if personal details are not updated; luggage compartment of your vehicle be telephone calls have been received wary of who is watching you. purporting to be from banks asking This time of year usually means for apparently unimportant personal an increased social calendar. Personal details; telephone messages informing safety and self-awareness, particularly the recipient that they have won a amongst women, is important to make sure we all have a fun-filled, enjoyable fabulous holiday; and letters informing the recipient that they have won a and safe festive period.

Know where you are going and how foreign lottery – these are just some of the fraudulent schemes originating to get there. Familiarise yourself with your from other continents. Anyone receiving surroundings. Always have your mobile similar emails should delete them phone and personal attack alarm with without opening them, and if unduly you. (All main Police Stations now stock worried should contact their bank, or the on behalf of the area Community Safety organisation concerned, to ascertain Panels a selection of personal attack if there is any issue with the account. alarms and a range of other cost effective Banks or other legitimate organisations crime-prevention devices.) will never contact you like this and ask for Whenever you are going out leave personal details. details, or tell someone, where you are Never respond to a telephone call going and how long you expect to be. If Women’s Road Safety Course (photos, Flora Selwyn) that transpires to be a recorded message. your plans change let someone know. If Do not respond to letters informing you of lottery wins, or similar, and you are dubious or unsure about anything use your phone and get advice or help. Avoid dangerous short cuts, walk facing the traffic, and if it is dark asking for details of bank accounts or other personal details. Remember the old adage ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to or you are uncomfortable, telephone for a licensed taxi. be true’.

With identity fraud becoming a growing concern it is vital that you Anyone who wishes information or advice on personal safety or the don’t provide any financial or other personal information before you security of their property, whether residential or business, should contact establish whether the company is legitimate. You shouldn’t judge the me on: 01334 418 745.

St Andrews & District Community Safety Panel

For more information about your local panel please contact PC Paul Buttercase, Community Safety Officer Tel. 01334 418745 EMail joanne.francis@fife.pnn.police.uk

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TOWN & GOWN Flora Selwyn was delighted to meet the

New Director of Music, University of St Andrews Dr Michael Downes is a breath of fresh air, and Stravinsky’s The Nightingale.” There followed I’m sure he won’t mind my saying so! Dynamic “a variety of jobs teaching in universities in and full of enthusiasm, he brings a wealth of Canterbury and London and also for the Open new ideas which look set to benefit the music University.” In addition, Michael formed his scene hugely both for the University and the own contemporary music group, The Bergamo town.

Ensemble, named after the town that the Pierrot Born in Manchester, educated in characters come from, since the “first piece we Cambridge, Michael knew from an early age did was Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire. That was that music would be his life. He studied cello a group of young London players” performing with Ioan Davies, also playing double bass and new music by contemporary composers. piano, and singing in the church choir. While “Also I became quite involved in community earning his degree in English at Cambridge music projects, so I directed children’s opera University, Michael immersed projects in Kent, and on behalf himself in music, playing in of a New Music Festival in Michael knew from an and organising concerts, Canterbury, and became early age that music “and conducting the College involved in doing workshops would be his life orchestra at King’s”. in schools with new music.”

Music as a career became Writing about music ties all the obvious choice. An MPhil dissertation on this activity together – reviews, and also helping Shostakovich was followed by a Doctorate from “Wagner’s great-granddaughter, Nike Wagner, Sussex University focussing on the musical on the English version of her book about her journals of Debussy, thus “bringing together my family’s history, which was quite interesting!” musical and literary interests.” While at Sussex, Back in Cambridge, Michael was appointed “I got more and more interested in conducting, Director of Music at Fitzwilliam College, a and conducted the University orchestra, new post, like the St Andrews one. Work and choral society, and chamber orchestra, with student musicians proceeded in tandem and got my first experience of conducting with “concerts for the wider community, and opera, working on Purcell’s King Arthur, then I set up a chamber opera group, which did

performances in Cambridge. We also took them out to the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, where I used to live.”

With his wife Marie, clarinettist and music teacher working especially with primary-aged children, and three small daughters, Michael’s life is surely full, yet he is also currently writing a study of contemporary composer, Jonathan Harvey. I couldn’t resist asking about future ambitions: “limitless” came the reply! “St Andrews is such an exciting place in which to make music really, because you’ve got the combination of a long tradition, but also the very fluid relationship between the University and the town....Putting on events which draw together the wider community is something I’m very keen to do, also giving things back to the local community in terms of concerts, opportunities – and that I suppose is where specific plans can be built in.” Exciting times lie ahead!

Colin Smith, glassblower extraordinaire on

Years of Burns Cuts and Bangs I only ever wanted a job where you used your hands to create and went after a few different ones with no luck, but I was lucky to be offered an apprenticeship as a Scientific and Medical Glassblower with Glass Appliances in Aberdeen, where they made glassware for Aberdeen University and other research establishments.

I started on July 1968 just before my 15th birthday with another fresh apprentice Sandy Milne. We were taught our skills by Dave Milne, the foreman of the firm (also Sandy Milne’s big brother). Learning the basics, as with any skill, is a very tedious and repetitive process as you have to repeat it over and over again until you get it right, but as the years go on when you get a job to do it hopefully can be done in one attempt. There were two qualified glassblowers, two apprentices, and six women glassblowers in the factory, the women only made one item on a production line (asthma inhalers) for export. After about three years the firm took on two more apprentices, and that was a great relief for Sandy and me, for we no longer had to go to the shop at break time with a huge list of everyone’s sandwiches, cakes etc: the new boys got the job, also no more sweeping the factory every day for us.

We now got bigger and more complicated jobs to do, as the factory never did large production runs, the day-to-day work being varied all the time, so it was great to go to work, as you never knew what you had ahead of you.

I had a great apprenticeship learning all I could from Dave (thanks Dave!). I was sent to St Andrews to deliver some glassware and chemicals to the University Chemistry Department, and the store was next door to the Glassblowing Workshop, so I asked if I could see around the workshop, being a glassblower myself. I was told I could; “great”, I thought… then I was told they didn’t have a glassblower and the department had been looking for one for nine months.

Aberdeen had been rapidly changing at that time, with the oil industry starting to explode all over the city. My wife and I thought it would be a better and quieter life down here, so I came to work for the University of St Andrews in 1978, three years after serving my seven-year apprenticeship.

My work here in St Andrews is making research equipment for the School of Chemistry. I also do work for all other departments within the University, also for Dundee University, and Ninewells Hospital. The glass used in the workshop is mostly borosilicate glass, commonly known as Pyrex, which is a trade name. Other glass used to make apparatus are Quartz, Soda, and Lead glass.

I have made in the past an 8” glass Cockroach for the Botany Dept (for which they gave me a 3” live one to copy, and I had to feed it for a week!), also Hermit crab shells so the researchers could see what the crabs were getting up to (this was for Venice University).

Scientific glassblowing is working with glass at a bench using a bench burner, or when the glass gets too big to manipulate with your hands a lathe is used. The glass is heated and manipulated while molten, it can be bent blown into shapes, or other pieces of glassware added. I work with 5 feet long glass tubing ranging from 4mm Outside Diameter to 120mm O.D. cutting off whatever lengths I need for the work required with a glass knife made of tungsten carbide.

(Photos courtesy Colin Smith)

Bench Burner

Lathe

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TOWN & GOWN Emma Jane McAdam, Curator at

MUSA – the Museum of the University of St Andrews – has now opened its doors to the public. It is situated in a restored and extended coach-house beside University House on the Scores, and aims to tell the story of Scotland’s oldest University through the display of artefacts and artworks collected over almost 600 years.

University Maces

Catalogue D Hero Moller

We have been determined to ensure the museum appeals to the widest range of The project to create MUSA has been in visitors: local people, including school children development for a number of years and is and families; the university community, the product of a vision: to make accessible including alumni and tourists to St Andrews. A to the public the collections and heritage of consultation exercise, which included surveys Scotland’s most ancient university and to use at other visitor attractions in the town, was these collections to illustrate the history of carried out during the development phase, the University and its contribution to society which helped us to identify our audiences and – locally, nationally and internationally. MUSA what they might want to see will probably be the most visited public space in the The starting point for MUSA in a University museum.

Because the University is University so we have striven was the knowledge that the nearly 600 years old and for quality and accessibility University’s 8 Registered has been host to many throughout. thousands of people from The starting point for collections are historically all over the world we have MUSA was the knowledge important and that they almost unlimited potential that the University’s 8 should be more accessible for ‘connecting’ to visitors Registered collections are globally. For example, the historically important and first archery medal was won by a student from that it is in the public interest that they should nearby Crail called Cunningham, and another be more accessible for a better understanding by the future Marquis of Argyll, Archibald of their significance. Shortly before MUSA Campbell. Surnames such as these might just opened three of the eight collections were help ‘connect’ visitors of Scottish descent with formally designated as Recognised Collections our collections in a unique way. of National Significance. Visitors to MUSA can The Museum Collections Unit has in the now see the University’s three medieval maces; past run successful community education important College silver, including the earliest programmes through its temporary exhibition known fully hallmarked piece of Edinburgh gallery in the Gateway building and the Bell silver; all 70 of our archery medals from the Pettigrew Museum. A recent success has 17th and 18th centuries; some of our finest been our annual MUSA Young Artist Award scientific instruments: James Gregory’s ‘Great competition (sponsored by the Vettriano Trust).

Astrolable’ and Universal Instrument; and a In 2008 1500 school pupils from 27 schools in selection of our finest art works, including a Fife took part, and the competition grows every Samuel Peploe and recently-acquired works year. MUSA will now become the key facility for

by John Opie and J. D. Fergusson, as well as developing and widening our museum outreach more modern works by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi programme. Based in MUSA’s purpose-built and David Mach. education centre, the ‘Learning Loft’, this will include schools’ workshops and arts and crafts sessions. A focus group comprising MUSA staff and local school teachers meets regularly

to discuss educational opportunities and has been invaluable in the developmental stages of MUSA. MUSA incorporates a range of interpretive strategies and combines display cases, text and graphics with low and high tech inter-actives.

The ‘Memory Bank’ in Gallery 2 encourages visitors to either select existing film clips of St Andrews to view, or listen to recorded memories from former students, staff, or visitors.

Additionally, they can leave their own memories of St Andrews. The memory bank will become an important oral history archive and will also allow us to look at the types of visitors coming to MUSA and their attitudes to the University.

The Viewing Terrace, sponsored by local charity the New Park Educational Trust, which boasts fantastic views over St Andrews Bay, contains a specially-designed working sundial and a ‘talking’ telescope, both of which will be used in educational programmes based on the local natural environment.

The design of the building, by a local architect, has an emphasis on energy efficiency – heating is supplied by a ground-source heat pump, and solar panels have been fitted on the roof. The build work was undertaken by a locally based contractor, most of the subcontractors were from nearby and the interactives were developed and built by Fife-based inter-actives company FifeX. MUSA is open throughout the year and visitor numbers have been encouraging, with an interesting mix of tourists and local residents.

MUSA was officially opened on 25 November

by Ian Rankin – born in Fife, an Honorary Graduate of the University and a supporter of the museum.

(Photos courtesy MUSA)

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TOWN & GOWN Rhona Hamilton, Learning & Access Curator at The Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), which opened in October 2008.

‘My MUSA’ This New Year sees the launch of the 2009 MUSA Young Artist Award. Now in its third year, the award – sponsored by the Vettriano Trust and University of St Andrews – promotes and celebrates the artistic endeavours of school pupils from across Fife.

Entitled ‘My MUSA’, this year’s competition is open to all nursery, primary, S1-3 and SEN pupils in Fife. Last year’s competition saw 650 pupils take part in various art workshops at St Andrews Botanic Gardens – nearly double the number of 2007! It is hoped that school and pupil participation will increase again this year, particularly amongst Early Years groups. In previous years, the competition was based on the collections of the Bell Pettigrew Museum and the Botanic Gardens. This year, to celebrate the opening of the Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), pupils are invited to draw inspiration from the collections displayed in MUSA to create an original piece of art based on their favourite object.

The Museum is a real cabinet of curiosities, and school groups are invited to explore it throughout February and March, when sketching and object-handling sessions will be available. Teachers and pupils will also be able to prepare for the competition by visiting the MUSA Young Artist Award website, set to re-launch in January. The stories of some of the museum staff’s favourite objects from MUSA will feature on it, alongside a photograph of the items, and perhaps an attempt by staff members to create their own ‘My MUSA’ masterpiece! These stories and images are intended to capture the imagination of pupils and make them think about the objects that museums collect, and why they collect them.

Support will be available to teachers through a CPD event aimed specifically at Early Years, Primary teachers, and practitioners. Based on the Hands-on guide, an inspiring new publication, this session will focus on learning with objects and observational drawing. Objects from the collections will also be available to classes that cannot make it to MUSA, through various outreach sessions led by museum staff.

Workshops will be available to schools until the Easter holidays, with the competition deadline soon after. Entries for the MUSA Young Artist Award are judged on: · · ·

Originality and creativity Confident handling of materials Boldness and impact

The judging panel will consist of representatives Pupils of Hillside School create from MUSA’s Learning an artwork inspired by and Access Team, the Andy Goldsworthy during a University of St Andrews’ workshop at the Botanic Gardens, Museum Collections Unit, Photo by Alison Hadfield the University of St Andrews’ Art History Department, and the Vettriano Trust.

Winning entries will be announced by early June, with the prizegiving ceremony taking place before the Summer Holidays. All of the successful artworks will then be mounted and displayed in the Gateway Galleries throughout June and July.

Details of the competition, including guidelines and curriculum links, can be found from January 2009 at: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/art-competition For further information, please contact Rhona Hamilton, Learning & Access Curator, at reh2@st-andrews.ac.uk or Laura Paterson, Learning & Access Intern at ljp3@st-andrews.ac.uk Tel. 01334 462 396.

Lawhead Nursery School children create a ‘petal throw’ in the style of artist, Andy Goldsworthy, Photo by Peter Adamson

2007 & 2008 – The competition judges show off some of the winning entries (left to right: Jean Kemp, Carolyn Osborne, Brendan Cassidy, Frieda Morrison), Photo by Alison Hadfield

Are you ready to take the University of St Andrews Challenge • Take one or more undergraduate courses in Science or Arts subjects (or a mix).

?

•

The Science Challenge February 2009 – Environmental Biology, Environmental Geography, Physics & Astronomy September 2009 – Psychology, Information Technology.

•

The Arts Challenge February 2009 – Modern History, Classics (Ancient Rome), Art History (Modern Period) September 2009 – Scottish History, Art History (Renaissance to Baroque), Classics (Classical Athens), Philosophy, Theology, Reading English.

• Study at times suitable for busy people: evening classes, 6.30-9.30pm.

For further information please contact Nicky Haxell T: 01334 462203 E: parttime@st-andrews.ac.uk or at St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AX. www.st-andrews.ac.uk The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland. No: SC013532

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OUT & ABOUT Jean Allardice remembers last November’s

St Andrews Sunday at The Botanic Garden When we opted to celebrate St Andrews sense of achievement. Sheena Scott was Week in The Garden on Sunday 23 kept busy all day feeding the hungry with November, we never dreamt that we would bacon butties. wake up to find The Garden transformed Other activities in the Glass Class overnight into a winter wonderland. This included screen-printing, supervised by local provided an extra bonus for the youngsters, artists Anne Lightwood and Brenda Hunter. building snowmen and enjoying snowball The children really loved this as there was fights. Fortunately, the snow had stopped and plenty of opportunity to get really messy. Neryl we even had some sunshine for a day packed Malcomson returned with Phoenix Trading’s with activities appealing to young and old. exquisite selection of cards and gift wraps.

The theme was conservation, and the With an eye to the evergrowing problem of highlight was a special ceremony involving sustainability Anja Hunkin had brought along the pupils of Lawhead Primary, who are a selection of “Real Nappies”- remember helping to look after a rare form of those! Though no more pins Sticky Catchfly, rescued by Bob and folds which come undone.

Mitchell from its original habitat These are beautifully shaped The theme was to fit snugly and come in a wide in the Borders. Accompanied by conservation the school recorder group the range of attractive designs. pupils planted three specimens Once a new Mum has bought in the Order Bed with a plaque to her stock she has no further mark the spot, and they will visit regularly to expense and obviously they are so much monitor progress. better for the environment.

Sheila Kinninmonth held storytelling Continuing the theme of conservation, Ian Douglas conducted walks around The Garden sessions in the potting shed, attracting an pointing out our very special Champion Trees. enthralled audience. In the temperate Fife Ranger, Deirdre Munro took a group house we had a new activity of younger children on a Minibeast hunt, – composing a communal poem showing how to find them and how to protect – with input from a real poet, Jonathon them. Medical Herbalist, Rebecca Holloway Johnson. Alex Bousie, a talented explained how herbs can improve your health amateur photographer, brought along a and provided quizzes and colouring sheets for selection of photographs he had taken the children. in the Garden. We were delighted to Sheila Lamb once again devised an welcome back the young Fiddlers from outdoor quiz – this year based on the native Ferryport, who provided a musical Scottish plants we are trying to protect in The interlude in the Alpine House.

Garden. Kate Campbell had a selection of Volunteers from The Friends were tree seeds for children to plant in pots and on hand to provide very welcome hot take home. drinks, and there was an opportunity to Reni Timmermans, who runs Junior buy plants grown in the greenhouses.

Hortus, had brought along a selection of As ever, the proceedings came to a driftwood and demonstrated how to plant climax with the Annual Conker Contest young sedums in the cracks. These would presided over by Friends’ Chairman, then grow and eventually cover the wood, Louise Roger – this year held outside on making an unusual feature. Fife Ranger, Tony the lawn. The entire day was organised and co-ordinated by Jean Kemp of the Wilson led a fungal foray in The Garden and Colin Rae helped the children make their Education Trust with help from a willing own very individual toadstools. Education band of volunteers. The Garden is fortunate Tutor, Jayne Fraser was on hand to help to have such widespread support from the with collages of plant material to take home. community. Our thanks to all who helped and Graham Kemp helped an eager bunch of especially to all those who came to take part boys and girls to make bird boxes. Several in the activities and enjoy the Garden. overloaded parents were seen leaving, followed by enthusiastic children with a real (Photos courtesy Eve Soulsby)

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OUT & ABOUT Fay Smith, Cambo Estate, reveals the new

Sculpture Festival among the Snowdrops Each year Cambo Snowdrops succeed in bringing a new element to their Snowdrop Spectacular and in 2009, as well as introducing their delightful new piglet Gertie, a Gloucester Old Spot, they will be welcoming environmental sculptors David Gosling and Lorna Green to spend 10 days in early February creating structures in the woodland among the snowdrops.

Cambo’s Jacob Sheep will be producing lambs in February, and have already donated their fleeces to David, an environmental artist, who uses a wide variety of materials to create art/sculptures in the landscape.

Lorna creates site-specific sculptures considering the history, economy, landscape, or mythology of the area, utilising materials such as wood, stone, earth, planting, glass, snow, hay etc.

A few local schools will have the wonderful opportunity to join a free workshop

working with the artists to produce their contribution to the Sculpture Festival. In addition to watching David and Lorna creating their sculptures, adults can also become part of the fun by joining two special workshops at a cost of £25.00 a head, including coffee, and a soup lunch. It is envisaged that all the sculptures will be completed by the middle of February for visitors to enjoy until the end of the snowdrop season.

Helen Denerley, breathes life into old metal, producing stylish sculptures from scrap metal; and two local sculptors, who exhibit at the Pittenweem Arts Festival, Adrienne McStay, working in glass, wood, and metal, and Gary Watson of Ropepots, will all be exhibiting work, which will be for sale.

This will be a precursor to 2010 when Cambo will be staging ‘Snowdrops by Starlight’, an illuminated snowdrop landscape also featuring sculpture.

Dragon made in June ’08 out of willow, by Dave Gosling and school children on a Bournemouth beach as part of an arts festival (Photo courtesy Cambo Estate) The Snowdrop Spectacular will run from 31 January to 8 March. For further details of Sculpture Workshops contact Cambo on 01333 450054 or go to their website www.cambosnowdrops.com www.lornagreen.com www.davidgosling.com www.helendenerley.co.uk

Countryside correspondent Alistair Lawson explores for us another in the series of

Fife’s Far Frontiers Having previously taken readers across the frontier at Abernethy / Newburgh and through the Lomond Hills, we now offer a further trans-frontier journey along the length of the former Dunfermline to Alloa railway line, now a fine, tarred cycle track. The first point to note is that this is not the Stirling – Alloa – Rosyth line, which brings coal to Longannet Power Station and, since early 2008, passengers from Stirling as far as Alloa. Taking these coal trains off the Forth Bridge has created additional capacity for passenger services.

The cycle track can be joined at the west side of Dunfermline at Grid Ref 081 881, near the top (N end) of William Street (the A907), where there is ample parking space. As well as being tarred, the cycleway is furnished with waymarkers every kilometre, marked on opposite faces with the distances to both Alloa and Dunfermline. So, one knows how far one has come and how far there is to go. The whole route is 18 kilometres / 11 miles.

The route passes close to the communities of Milesmark, The route is equally possible for Gowkhall, Carnock, Oakley, Comrie, and Blairhall to the north, walkers, cyclists, or horse-riders, and, being and connecting quiet roads lead to Crossford, Cairneyhill, Torryburn, nicely tarred and only gently graded, it is Newmills, Valleyfield, and Culross to the south, these being slightly also ideal for disabled users and either further away than the communities to the north, but never more than 3 manual wheelchairs or electric mobility kilometres. buggies. On reconnoitring the route for this For users not intending to go the whole way and looking for a article, I was passed by a cross-country different sort of experience, the network of forest tracks in Devilla Forest skier on roller-skis! (leading eventually to Kincardine, if so desired) As regards can be reached by leaving the cycleway at Grid the former Dunfermline to alternative return Ref 973 900. The Fife-Clackmannanshire frontier is crossed at the curiously-named ‘Slack’ at Grid Alloa railway line, now a fine, routes, they will be longer, more Ref 956 912. tarred cycle track contrived and less Because the cycle track merges with the level, but some resurrected Alloa – Kincardine line some way constructive browsing with an Ordnance short of Alloa, the effective end of the route is at Grid Ref 919 925, Survey map will certainly reveal at the B910. From here, it is half a kilometre to Clackmannan and 3 possibilities. kilometres to Alloa. There is local history available at both Clackmannan Tower (external viewing only) and Alloa Tower, the latter being furnished Leaflet by kind permission of and accessible to visitors (NTS membership card allows free entry).

Clackmannashire Council. See also: Both these Towers are part of Clackmannanshire’s “Tower Trail” (leaflet www.clacksweb.org.uk available, see below), which also includes Sauchie Tower, Menstrie

Castle, and Castle Campbell at Dollar.

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OUT & ABOUT Patrick Marks, Secretary, St Andrews Community Council

Biodiversity Biodiversity is a word, which is frequently used by anyone in the conservation movement. It is a buzzword for politicians wanting to sound as if they understand the complexity of our natural world, and the effects of a loss of biodiversity upon the future of the planet. According to Wikipedia, “Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or for the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems. The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species, and is the product of nearly 3.5 billion years of evolution”.

There is no doubt there has been a huge loss of biodiversity around the world, and closer to home this loss has been as great, but as a wealthy country we have more opportunity to slow, even reverse, the loss, and we have the expertise to progress this work. One area of our Gymnadenia borealis Fife environment, which has seen a major loss of habitat, has been our meadows. These are not an entirely natural environment, but the product established. Meadows are not like a garden, as in the natural course of of our management of the landscape of Britain for agricultural purposes. development plant diversity will depend upon seed being blown or carried The natural climax vegetation in Britain is woodland, except in areas in and finding a niche in which to grow. To some, a meadow will look hostile to tree growth, but meadows, when managed traditionally, have “untidy”, especially in late summer when seed is setting, but this is part added to the biodiversity of any landscape. of the natural order and a small price to pay for the greater biodiversity Fife, like many areas, has lost nearly all of its traditionally-managed which follows. Anyone who has seen an alpine meadow will appreciate meadows, due to intensification of farming. However a few meadows the biodiversity of plants and animals, and the benefit to the environment remain, and demonstrate by their richness, the in a number of ways. potential for maintaining biodiversity in Fife. There The Parks Service will monitor the areas left to There is now an opportunity is now an opportunity to add to the few remaining grow and will ensure that litter does not accumulate, to add to the few remaining meadow areas, and that is in a change in management but hopefully members of the community will act meadow areas practices for some of the parkland maintained by Fife responsibly and take away their litter. Benefits, apart Council. Fife has for a number of years been managing from increased biodiversity, will include educational an area of meadow in Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy, following the discovery potential for local schools and the Ranger Service. This type of scheme is of a population of native wild orchids. This area remains uncut over the also encouraged by Beautiful Scotland and will stand St Andrews in good growing season, and as a result the population of orchids has increased stead for the annual judging in that competition. considerably.

Fife Council and St Andrews Community Council will welcome public It is possible to return other areas of parkland to a more natural state, comments on this proposed scheme. If successful there is the potential though not all have the advantage of Beveridge Park. One such area in for other areas around St Andrews to develop in a similar way.

St Andrews, where there is the possibility of recreating a meadow habitat is the Lade Braes, in particular the Hallow Hill area. Fife Community Services – Parks and Countryside (north) have begun to look into a possible project, beginning on a small scale in the coming year.

The idea is to create wildflower margins, transitional strips between mown areas and woodland edges, with meadow areas under selected stands of trees. This is to be initially achieved by reducing the mowing regime of the selected areas, as well as plug planting, or direct seeding of native wildflowers. More persistent perennial weeds will be removed to reduce competition and allow development of the more typical meadow mix of flowering plants and grasses. These areas would be mown at the end of the season, with Invite you to visit a hidden treasure in cuttings being removed to maintain an appropriate the heart of St Andrews level of fertility, and reduce WOODLAND & WATERGARDENS the risk of invasive species returning too vigorously.

HERBACEOUS & SCREE Areas on Hallow Hill ALPINES & RHODODENDRONS have been identified as GLORIOUS GLASSHOUSE COLLECTIONS suitable for the initial phase of this project, though OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR ROUND it will take a number of Meadow outside St Andrews years for them to become

WINTER LECTURE PROGRAMME Tuesday 13th January at 7.30pm Tuesday 3rd February at 7.30pm Chemistry Dept. 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 Charity No. SC006432 Orchids beside St Andrews

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OUT & ABOUT Community Services, Parks and Countryside (north) explain their

Lade Braes Biodiversity Project The Lade Braes and Kinness Burn are a core part of the green network connecting countryside, town, and coast of St Andrews. There is a long history of naturalised planting here, as evidenced by the memorial fountain to John McIntosh found on the north side of the burn opposite the Botanic Garden.

Parks and Countryside manage and maintain a number of relatively large green spaces along the length of the Lade Braes for the purposes of amenity and recreation. Well-used paths join public, private, and trustowned land to provide informal walks and links to community parks for football and equipped play areas.

Traditionally the grass open spaces have been maintained on a clear-cutting regime. However, the large expanse of these grasslands gives scope to introduce and try out new elements of environmental management within existing maintenance practices.

Timescale • • • • • •

Phased approach, initial proposal is Hallow Hill.

Spring 2009; identify grass margins to be left.

Summer 2009, increased litter picks as necessary.

2009 begin herbicide treatment for waterside invasive weeds August/September harvest, cut and removal of haylage September/October plug planting for Summer 2010

Benefits • • • • The Project The aim of the project is to increase biological diversity and improve wildlife potential by: • • • • •

Creating wildflower margins, transitional strips between mown grass and woodland edges, with meadow areas under selected stands of trees. Achieved by reduced frequency of grass cutting.

Plug planting or direct seeding of native wildflowers. Removal of competitive perennial weeds, such as Docks and Thistles, until the system is in balance.

Lifting of all cuttings at the end of the season, and removal for composting off site.

Undertake a control programme of non-native invasive weeds appearing along the watercourse, such as Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, and Himalayan Balsam.

Selective thinning of seedling Sycamore trees and raising of tree canopies to let in light and encourage woodland ground flora.

•

Environment, encouraging the establishment of a more diverse range of native plants and insects.

Visual contrast to acres of mown grass.

Links to Big8 aim to become the leading green Council in Scotland and to Beautiful Scotland campaign for St Andrews.

Opportunities for future educational use via Countryside Rangers and Schools Reduced carbon footprint

Issues • • •

Litter, long grass may trap litter. Increased requirement for litter inspections and removal.

Public perception of long grass equals untidiness, can look like rough ground after harvest Meadow may take a number of years to establish.

Feedback Monitor, collate comments and review on annual basis.

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