St Andrews in Focus Issue 33 Mar Apr 2009

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

March / April 2009 Issue 33, £1.50

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

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

From the Editor In more ways than one, we are living in ‘interesting times’.

This should give us the impetus to be creative, to come up with solutions to problems. For instance, the perennial complaints about flooding around the Kinness Burn. Why not do what our ancestors did so successfully; i.e. make the Burn work for, not against, us? We could use it to generate electricity. Why not resurrect the crumbling water wheel at Law Mill in the Lade Braes? At a rough guess, at least one house, if not more, could be made self-sufficient in electricity, and in times of spate, any extra energy could be fed back to the grid. The Energy Saving Trust and/or the Scottish Rural Development Programme might be approached for grants; Action Scotland and the Triodos Bank might make loans available. The University’s MUSA on The Scores is setting a very good example.

The building is lit by solar panels, its heating comes from a ground source heat pump.

We have unlimited sun and light for solar and photovoltaic power – let’s use it. We have enough rocks beneath us to provide more power. Large gardens might use small wind turbines (we don’t need wind farms, which are disappointing in so many ways). We also have an ocean on three sides which can provide power. With the will, we could easily become self-suffcient in energy, and at the same time, create jobs.

Stunning St Andrews? Why not make it a reality? All of us – ‘yes, we can’ !!

Flora Selwyn

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

MARCH / APRIL 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.

Subscriptions for 6 issues are: £12.50 in the UK (post & packing included).

Please send cheques to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ.

Contents FEATURES • Air Marshal Sir Peter Bairsto • Air Commodore Clive Bairsto • Community Council • Jerry Beaulier • Israel • The Credit Lunch • Scots Wha’ Hae...Revisited • Ask the Curator • Food for thought • Bloopers!

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Shops & Services • Maisha Restaurant • MBT competition winner • But can we trust them?

• Our New Hospital • Roving Reporter • Shop locally!

• ToonSpot • Scott Caruthers • Selling well

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ORGANISATIONS • Stunning St Andrews • Law Park Wood appeal • Love of cats • The Western Front Association

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TOWN/gown • Rector Kevin Dunion • The missing martyrs • Community Relations Officer • From a student perspective • St Leonards School update

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EVENTS • Beautiful Africa • Passionate about singing • Green Week • KIR Fashion Show • On the Rocks • StAnza 2009 • Calum Colvin • Kate Kennedy Procession • Selected Events List

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Out and About • Organic gardening • Leading lights • Munro bagging...

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NEXT ISSUE – May/Jun 2009 Copy deadline: strictly 28 MARCH

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Cover: Sunshine & Water, an original photo by Miriam Selwyn

FEATURES Father . . .

Air Marshal Sir Peter Bairsto When I was an Air Vice Marshal, with my born there and emigrated to Birmingham. The Headquarters at Pitreavie Castle, as Air Officer kindly and interested welcome I got everywhere Scotland and Northern Ireland, back in the late I went was one of the reasons why my late wife, 1970s, the job was rather different from that Kathie, and I decided to retire to Scotland some which it has been in my son’s time in command 25 years ago, when my 42 years in the NAVY at RAF Leuchars and as Air Officer Scotland. and RAF came to an end.

My NATO responsibility and my headquarters, Happily, in the 1980s the confrontation both of which I shared with the Naval Flag between the Soviet Union and the NATO Officer Scotland, was a very busy commitment.

Western Alliance diminished and it was deemed NATO considered the activities of the Soviet possible to close the NATO headquarters at Union around our Sea and Air Space to be of Pitreavie Castle. However, to this day, from considerable concern, so some of our ships and elsewhere, we are still able to monitor the aircraft in Scotland were constantly on the alert. activities of the Soviet Union adjacent to our Whilst this NATO task was my first priority, sea and air space. With this closure it was it was still very important for me to get to know also found possible to relocate the Air Officer as many of the people Scotland to RAF of Scotland as possible, Leuchars and combine The kindly and interested so that I could explain it with the role of what the RAF role was Station Commander. welcome I got everywhere I in the very large bases course, the Station went was one of the reasons Of we had, and still have, in Commander has the country. why my late wife, Kathie, and been just as busy One thing I Leuchars with his I decided to retire to Scotland at particularly enjoyed, responsibility for his when talking to people Fighter Squadrons, some 25 years ago, when here, was the very proud I was at Pitreavie, my 42 years in the NAVY and as feeling they had for the if not more so, since three military services; in in recent years the RAF came to an end. my experience, perhaps Station personnel to an extent not found so strongly in England. and facilities have been heavily involved with So, I travelled far and wide, visiting as many of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. These involve the cities and towns as possible. Because we personnel from the Station being detached had a large NATO base in Stornaway, I went abroad and away from their families for lengthy there quite often; I particularly enjoyed my visits periods. Even so, I am sure that my son and because my maternal Great-Grandfather was Clare have not spared themselves in fulfilling

the Air Officer Scotland role in getting to know many people across the country and explaining what the Royal Air Force is about.

I am proud that the Bairstos are a military family. Aside from Clive and me having a long service in the RAF, my Father served in the Royal Flying Corp in World War 1, my elder son has recently retired as an Air Vice Marshal engineer, my eldest Granddaughter is an RAF Doctor who regularly assists in evacuating casualties from Afghanistan, and my only Grandson is an Officer in the Royal Ghurka Rifles at present in Afghanistan.

. . . and Son

Air Commodore Clive Bairsto When my father was Air Officer Scotland through the house. At the time, my future (and, in his day, also Northern Ireland) we was bound to go to fighter aircraft – the lived in a large house, called Bendameer mighty Phantoms – so I had no real House, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, interest in ‘boring old helicopters’ – though near Burntisland, which was close to where one had to admire the way he could land a he went to work at Pitreavie Castle. I was a helo. into the confined space between the very junior officer working my way through sitting room windows and the pine trees, flying training and used to ‘come home’ every only 30 yards or less away.

3 months, or so. My parents had a busy life My father’s job also had a NATO entertaining the great and good of Edinburgh, attachment, at the time, as Commander and supporting the various Service activities Northern Maritime Region (COMNORMAR) around Scotland – they were much more – and I remember following him down involved with the Service communities, too, the deep underground bunker where the as far fewer Servicemen owned houses than operations desk and communications now, and many lived in the local environs. operated from. This was the depths of the I could not fail to be impressed by my Cold War – and a critical activity to UK parents’ sense of duty – and that’s probably nuclear defences by our Nimrod patrol something that I take strongly from that time aircraft. Father used to know all the staff in my life. well there and he would joke with them In growing up, I had always helped easily – though they always knew who was father in the garden. But, now, we had a the Boss. All non-commissioned staff were It’s been a great privilege to follow gardener who did all that and so we spent addressed by surnames, and sometimes in his steps in Scotland and I shall more time indoors chatting in the wonderful rank; it was fairly formal compared to conservatory over breakfast – or going today. After 18 months, father moved be sorry to leave for the Ministry of shopping with my mother to Edinburgh. The back to the then HQ Strike Command in Defence in March 2009. kitchen had staff, and a steward was in the Buckinghamshire – just as I was posted house – so we had a life mostly of ‘upstairs’, to RAF Leuchars on my very first tour as the kitchen was arranged for industrial-scale dinner parties and was – that was 28 years ago. It’s been a great privilege to follow in his steps a place one seldom sat in. Occasionally, father would land back in the in Scotland and I shall be sorry to leave for the Ministry of Defence in garden in a ‘yellow’ helicopter – a Wessex from the Search and Rescue March 2009.

(SAR) flight at Leuchars – which always caused a stir of excitement (Both photos courtesy Mrs Clare Bairsto)

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FEATURES Zoë Smith, Chair of the Community Council, discusses

Stunning St Andrews I wasn’t going to write about it, for so many reasons, not least, because I’m asked “what is it?” I find it exceptionally hard to define.

This whole “Stunning St Andrews” thing is loosely hung on the town‘s entry to the Britain in Bloom competition. Being “in Bloom” is something we’re all familiar with and locals and visitors alike enjoy the floral displays already provided by St Andrews in Bloom – a small group toiling late into the night to ensure the tubs and baskets look their best, not just for judging day, but all year round. Indeed it is thanks to the efforts of this group that St Andrews now finds itself in Britain in Bloom.

The “tag line” for Britain in Bloom is, “Transform your local area. Show off your neighbourhood. Get Your community active”, and I suppose that’s the important bit. Britain in Bloom, Stunning St Andrews, it’s about us and our community, the flowers seem almost inconsequential.

I attend monthly meetings about Stunning St Andrews and, in between the noise my pre-school PA makes, a lot gets said.

Most of what gets said is good, useful, and productive, but there is a lot of waffle and, in my humble opinion, far too much emphasis on the town centre and how we present to tourists. Stunning St Andrews gives us an excuse to get together, to help each other out, and to do something to make St Andrews even better than it is.

vegetables. We could allow the neighbour with the foot-tall grass to borrow our lawnmower; we could grow courgettes and carrots in reclaimed tyres at the recycling centre, potatoes on the Petheram Bridge, and sprouts on The Scores! All the while, getting together, getting to know our neighbours and making our community the kind of place we want to be and the kind of place we want our children to grow up in.

Now I know that we’re not going to resurface Market Street or fix up Hamilton Hall, we can’t stop the Kinness Burn from flooding and lord knows I’ve tried to convince Fife Council that the drain in Woodburn Park needs more than a barrier round the gaping hole – but there is lots we can do in order to Transform our local area, show off our neighbourhoods and get our community active.

I’m lucky, I already live in a little patch of town where some of these things happen, but I’d love to see it happen all over St Andrews. Stunning St Andrews is an opportunity for us all to be involved in something great, and I don’t mean some poxy competition, I mean community.

We could move some of the half barrels from the town centre to the bottom of Roundhill Road, we could plant native wildflowers on the plot beside the phone box on the corner of Lamond Drive and Pipeland Road, we could help our children’s schools grow, nurture, and sell

When you decide the time is right for you to get involved with Stunning St Andrews, contact me and we’ll see what we can do: Zoë Smith, Chairman St Andrews Community Council, 170 Lamond Drive, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8JP. Tel: 01334 470 152 Email: zoësmith@ymail.com

Flora Selwyn discovers

“A Man for all Seasons” Born in Kingsford, Michigan, USA on 25th September 1940, Jerry Beaulier’s early life has an other-worldly ring to it, far removed from most people’s experience in our country.

“We were hunters and fishermen, and what have you. All my life we’ve hunted. I can remember when I was five or six years old, we went with my Dad hunting. We hunted for birds, and we hunted for deer, and we were archers. At one time the whole family would compete in various archery tournaments.” Shotguns were used for birds, “but none of our family really liked hunting with rifles, and we hunted basically with bow and arrow for deer, and bear, and other wild animals.” I asked if it is usual for people nowadays to use bows and arrows. “It’s much more common, since they’ve come out with a compound bow, which makes archery a lot easier. We basically hunted with long bows to start with, and it took a fair amount of strength to pull them. The long bow is about 6, to 61/2 feet long. For a conventional bow it takes an awful lot to string it, then to draw it. I suppose I started shooting a bow and arrow when I was seven or eight years old. Both my father and I were what you’d call instinctive shooters.” That meant not taking aim first, but “shoot where you’re looking”, from roughly 30 feet away from the target to avoid merely wounding the animal. No need to crawl on one’s belly, Jerry assured me that deer in particular allow people to walk quite close to them, provided “you’re moving purposefully, walking along slowly, and not making a lot of noise and not making sharp movements”. Standing still, camouflaged by a few branches, also helps getting close to prey. “I was then six or eight feet from a black bear, which is a bit more concerning!” Guns aren’t necessarily any improvement on bows and arrows; Jerry witnessed many a deer “shot to ribbons”, but still alive. “You can’t hunt in Scotland with a bow and arrow; it’s against the law.”

“We were quite poor. I didn’t know how poor we were until I left home.” Jerry picked fruit, did many odd jobs, to pay for his interests,

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“plenty work if you wanted it!” His father was ready to mortgage the family house in order to pay for university education. In 1958 Jerry had no idea what he wanted to do after school. Biology, pathology appealed to him, “I was always going to do something that was going to be medically related” because the biology teacher inspired him, “and I really enjoyed Jerry today those subjects working with him.

That did me a lot of good as I got older, the things that I learned from him.” However, Jerry, 17 years old, joined the US Navy, as a “minority enlistment” signing on till he reached 21, following which he would have to be in the Reserves for four years.

“In the Navy you have to take exams for everything. They want to know what you are, who you are, what you can do, and what your potential is.” Jerry found he had an aptitude for electronics, which led to training in aviation electronics, becoming an Aviation Electronics Technician Airman, then Petty Officer. “That was really good fun.” Jerry served first on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, (today a museum). He recalls the accommodation below decks; 100 men bunking in a space roughly 20 feet by 20 feet, “and there were double tiers of bunks that were five high on each side, and there were three inches separating you from your buddy next to you!” Everyone had to get up at about the same time, so the amenities were quite crowded. There were two kinds of shower – only available at specified times – cold sea water, or hot fresh water distilled from steam from the ship’s boilers. Since there was never enough of the latter, “water hours” prevailed; i.e. “15 seconds to get wet, you could

FEATURES and 4000 hours.” Then at 30 years of age, he was recommended and soap as long as you wanted, and you had 25 seconds of water to rinse off “selected for test pilot school”, one out of the top 3% of applicants from with” – this was enforced by a Master at Arms in the shower area. Cold the Navy. Some 10-15% of the intake failed the course, it was so difficult, salt water showers were unregulated; since the ship was in the South Jerry pointed out. For the next four years he would be rigorously testing Pacific, the water wasn’t too cold. “You learned to keep all your stuff in a new planes; “that was exciting flying, and I enjoyed it”. He progressed 3 foot by 3 foot by 18 inch deep locker.” Boot camp taught everyone how to test pilot instructor. “It was very demanding. You had to learn your to fold all their clothes to fit this space, “and you had one little drawer for own shortcomings. You needed to know what was you, and what was personal things. The life you had was really good. It was spartan, but you the aeroplane, the true man/machine interface. So that what you end spent a lot of your time in the electronics repair shop, where we worked up with is the ability to do precisely what it is that you want to do with on the aircraft radio and navigation and bombing equipment. In the shop the machine.” As an example, Jerry described what it was like to land a you had lots of space and we would play pea-nuckle”, a card game, “not plane on an aircraft carrier at night, when there was no moon. “You have as complex as bridge”, and not gambling, which was banned; “secret no idea how dark, dark is.” To find the carrier in the ocean, “only 600 feet poker games went on as well, but if you got caught you were in big long”, lining up with the Fresnel lens, “the meatball”, and watching the trouble.” The food in the Navy was “excellent”, and of course, “everybody chevron on the plane’s windscreen to check speed, needed split-second smoked in those days. Cigarettes were 10 cents a packet, and they concentration. “The time you call the ball (call that were all old cigarettes, if you flicked the cigarettes you’re landing) to touchdown is 10 seconds!” almost half the tobacco would come out of them, In 1974, “ a personal exchange programme” they were dry. It was the Navy and you worked However, Jerry, 17 years old, brought Jerry to Britain, to the Royal Navy. hard. I was having a hell of a good time.” Jerry reComing straight to Leuchars “on the very first day enlisted at 21. joined the US Navy on arriving” in St Andrews, Jerry met his wifeAutumn 1961 saw the start of a distinguished to-be, Linda-anne. “The Royal Navy was much, naval flying career. Training as an officer, Jerry much smaller” than the US Navy, “everybody gained a degree in electrical engineering from knew everybody. We had the Ark Royal, the only front line aircraft carrier.

Purdue University, Indiana. “They made us take maximum work load the One of the reasons I served with the Royal Navy was I had combat entire time. It was a real grind, three and a half years, only getting a short experience and I’d been a Top Gun, and I brought a lot of fighter tactics to time off. But you couldn’t leave, you were in the Navy, you were drilling share with them.” and so forth, marching with your uniform on. Each Navy year group Married for a year, in 1976, Jerry decided to retire from the Navy, clicked together, we would study together, we didn’t have a lot to do with though “my star was still rising.” The prospect of more training, leading to civilians. While I was there I decided I would put in for pilot training.” a command position with five or six years at sea held no further appeal.

High grades in initial training led to piloting jet planes. Jerry returned From power gliders to the F15, “the most modern fighter”, Jerry flew some to aircraft carriers, this time as a flyer. “The flight deck on the old carriers 68 different types and models of aircraft, “and a lot of fast movers! And were wooden. There were two or three inches of steel, and then they had the best aeroplane that I flew, I think was the Phantom”. And what was four-inch teak batons on the flight deck, and when you landed on them the fastest speed flown? “Mach 2 at 43,000 feet or something. And I came they’d go bump, bump, bump. My first touch-and-go I was petrified! You’re across St Andrews Bay in a British Phantom at 100 feet at about 1.2 by yourself, and it either makes you or breaks you. From then on I never mach, and you can’t believe how quickly a seagull comes across. I’ve had had any trouble with carrier landings.” Other pilots were not so lucky, and a couple of bird strikes; I’ve lost two engines from bird strikes. You see it there were deaths, “in my class we started with 100 men, and when I coming and there’s nothing you can do about it.” graduated and got my wings, we’d lost about 10.”

Jerry enrolled in Dundee College of Education for a Diploma in Jerry asked to fly A1s, “the old propeller-driven sky raiders. They Technical Education, which he achieved With Merit. Four months of could carry 15,000lbs of bombs”, but instead he was detailed to fly teaching at Madras College “determined quite clearly that I wasn’t cut Phantoms. Within three weeks Jerry found himself off Vietnam. He calls out to be a technical teacher!” So he opened Beaulier’s Home Decor & it the highlight of his career, “and people don’t really understand, but the Design Centre in Argyle Street, St Andrews, in 1979. However, in 1983 he highlight was that I shot down a MiG-21 in a dog fight. If you ever read returned to America and “went back into industry” as chief engineer in an the book, Scream of Eagles by Robert Wilcox, I’m chapter 21.” (Here is anti-submarine warfare test & evaluation department. Marketing followed the dramatic true story that inspired the movie Top Gun – and assured the in Washington, selling black box flight recorders, “transitioning from Milar most spectacular air victories in modern warfare – Internet review). tape to digital.” Then Jerry became a project director of Portable, Tactical, Overall, after 20 years in the Navy, including his two tours in Vietnam, Approach Guidance Systems, producing covert landing systems for Jerry had clocked up “550 carrier landings; 221 combat missions; undercover work. When that project finished, Jerry worked on warning systems. He was next offered a directorship selling in-flight entertainment.

After three years, “I set up my own company, Advanced Technology Consultants (ATC) & Associates“. Next, with Linda-anne, “we started manufacturing soap, four different lines of soap!” – one line containing small plastic toys endorsed by National Geographic, and Habitat Earth “for authenticity. We had 150 different kinds professionally wrapped soaps and sold to gift shops all over America.”

Jerry and Linda-anne today run a successful B&B. Then there are the dogs: two, sometimes three, extremely obedient pure Border collies, Moss, Gem, and (Kira). To date they have cleared 250 plastic bottles from the golf courses! “I think people in St Andrews know me more for my dogs.” Jerry is a member of New Club and Crail. When not playing golf, he can be seen making and renovating furniture, woodwork of every kind, for friends, for Rotary, for his B&B (ever being improved). “My Dad taught me. We used to build row boats in the basement in the winter time.

The last one we built my mother banned us making any more, because we had to take half the basement apart, we made it too big! Michigan is called a water wonderland, and it’s got thousands of lakes, and hundreds of rivers. I just like to work with my hands.”

“All told in my 20 years in the Navy, I spent almost four years physically at sea on an aircraft carrier in some place. And I went the most to the Far East, Korea, Philippines. Later, in my business life, I travelled even more extensively, to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, all over the Far East, then South America, Europe.”

“I started as a seaman recruit in 1958, and I retired as a lieutenant commander – just below the zone for commander – in 1978, and I had a marvellous career, it was wonderful, it was so much fun! It was scary sometimes, you got shot at...! But if you don’t protect your freedom, you won’t have freedom. You can lose it, and never, ever get it back. To keep people free – I can embrace that. So, that’s Jerry Beaulier!”

Jerry and Phantom

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FEATURES Nicolas Dreyer is studying for a PhD in Russian Literature. He is an Evangelical Christian from Altdorf (near Nuremberg), Germany

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her, rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.” (Isaiah 66:10) A few decades ago, the then-mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek, described the birth of the modern State of Israel as “perhaps the most significant event of this century.” In 2008, Israel celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of this event.

Yes, there is indeed much reason to celebrate, despite all of Israel’s domestic, national, international problems, and challenges. A land, which for centuries lay largely desolate, is populated and cultivated.

Kibbutzim, villages, and cities were rebuilt or built from scratch; swamps were drained, land reclaimed; parts of the desert were made habitable, the land was cultivated; crops increased and multiplied a thousand fold. Israel revived her language, the ancient tongue of the Bible, into a modern spoken language. Several million immigrants from all corners of the earth were absorbed and given new homes. And, Israel has won a number of wars directed at Israel her destruction in which she was numerically weaker, initially without even having her own regular armed forces.

Israel has excelled in agricultural, scientific, medical, and technological innovation as a successful democracy, in which all residents and adherents of all faiths can live and worship freely. Israel is an independent, sovereign Jewish state, in which Jews can determine their own national life, follow their own national aspirations, in freedom, and security from anti-Semitism.

Israel is unique. No other ancient people or empire, Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, or Roman, has ever been dispersed to all ends of the earth, and yet kept their national and religious identity and customs. To have survived more than two and a half millennia of antiSemitism, persecution, and destruction, with their tragic summits in the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Holocaust; and to convene again in their ancient home and rebuild their nationhood is nothing short of remarkable. Indeed, this is unmatched anywhere in human history and was made possible, among other factors, by: •

Israel’s spiritual leaders and rabbis throughout the diaspora, who encouraged their communities not to assimilate, but to observe their traditions.

•

The enthusiasm, pioneering spirit, and willingness to sacrifice of the early Zionists who settled in the land and who, at great personal cost, built their communities and reclaimed the land so that it would yield fruit.

•

The patriotism and fighting spirit of the generations since then which contributed, again sacrificially, to Israel’s continuous existence and successful development.

The creation of the State of Israel is testimony of our God’s faithfulness.

Beginning with His Covenant with Abraham, and confirmed on numerous occasions since, He has last, but not least, through the Old Testament prophets, spelt out His eternal plan and purposes for Israel, including the restoration of Israel. The prophet Jeremiah, at the time of the Babylonian Exile prophesied to God’s chosen people of their return from exile and their national restoration (Jeremiah 3:7-8): “So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”

The break-up of the Soviet Union led to an influx of over one million Soviet Jews to Israel during the past eighteen years, and several million Jews from countries around the world have joined Israel as citizens during the past seven decades. Ancient biblical prophecies are being fulfilled right before our eyes.

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is

If you visit Israel, you will find that all Israel wants peace, more than anything else. The Israelis are weary of loosing spouses and children in terror attacks on buses, on the way to school, or downtown; their fathers, sons, and husbands in battle; or their own homes, health, and life to rockets and shells. Israel truly desires peace and has been prepared to make very, very difficult concessions to work towards a peaceful solution, concessions which meant among others the mass displacement of thousands of her own citizens from towns in the Gaza strip. To help us understand what this meant for Israel, a similar situation in the UK would have been the forced removal of all British subjects from Northern Ireland by the British government in order to appease the IRA. In Britain, this would be, quite rightly, unthinkable. In Israel, it was done.

Israel clearly has been prepared to make sacrifices unique for the sake of peace, and she has been incredibly courageous in her decisions to hand over power to the PLO in Judea, Samaria, as well as to unilaterally withdraw from her security zones in both South Lebanon and in the Gaza strip.

Israel has no desire to be responsible for most of these territories, but the fragile hope, that accommodating Palestinian and Arab demands would usher in at least some kind of peace and cooperation. These were also done without any sustainable security guarantees.

Alas, none of these have brought peace any closer. Israel’s withdrawal from South Lebanon allowed Iran’s terror proxy Hizbollah to take root. The same can be said about the Gaza strip: for eight years, since 2001, Israel’s population in the vicinity has been hit by rockets and shells from Hamas. Israel tolerated this for a very long time indeed before conducting the recent Operation “Cast Lead”. It is doubtful that the British government would have shown similar patience in a comparable situation, if say, Hastings or Newport, or Dumfries had been hit by more than 8,000 rockets and mortar shells! When looking at this record, one might well be tempted to ask where this principle of handing over land in exchange for even more destruction and war (rather than the peace advertised by so many well-meaning, but naïve individuals) is supposed to end? When the whole land of Israel, including Jerusalem (which, by the way, never was the capital of any other nation except Israel), is completely surrendered to the enemies of Israel?

The real obstacle to peace in the Middle East is not Israel, nor the details of her borders, nor her military actions, but the denial of many in the region to recognise Israel’s right to exist. True peace must be both comprehensive, including the whole region, based on the unconditional recognition of the Jewish state by all parties. Peace would require from Israel’s regional neighbours the cessation of hostilities of every kind: terror, war, anti-Israel rhetoric, anti-Jewish education of the young. It would also demand an engagement in real cooperation.

This seems highly unlikely in the immediate future, because of the widespread pro-Islamist and anti-Jewish sentiment in the region, which has generally not made peace with the idea that there is now a Jewish state in the middle of the Arab and Muslim world.

John de Courcy said half a century ago with great discernment, “But one thing is certain. There will not be another dispersion of the Jews from Israel. It is a supremely important political and physical fact, one of the big facts of history, that these people are here to stay, alive or dead.

There is no power on earth that can shift them. No appreciation of the international and political situation comes anywhere near being realistic without recognition of this fact.”

John de Courcy merely re-phrased an ancient promise which God made to His people Israel, “But I will defend my house against the marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch” (Zechariah 9:14).

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Scots wham Broun has often bled

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Time tae stop the rot

If you wish to invest hard-earned wages, Why not try one of our subprime mortgages?

Don’t believe that talk of credit bubble, Those who speak that way are only trouble!

If you’ve cash, and don’t know where to park it, Why not invest it in the stock market?

Those who say it is like playing poker, Haven’t met an honest stockbroker!

What I earn is my bid to offer spread, I trade on margin without any dread.

I’m not driven either by fear or greed, I trade only my family to feed!

If you ever have a toxic asset – Have no fear – to someone else just pass it.

Just make sure that when the music has stopped, From your books it has been well and truly dropped!

Remember when you come to pay the bill, Only with cash we’ll let you ring our till.

Now that you have had your great credit fling, What it comes down to is that cash is king!

The moral of this little tale is clear, Even if at first it does not appear.

All will know by the end of the credit crunch, That there is no such thing as a free lunch!

7

FEATURES Lesley-Anne Lettice, Curator of the St Andrews Museum, brings you the answer when you

Ask the Curator Q, While researching family history I came across a mention of the St Andrews Poorhouse. Can you tell me where it was please, and is the building still standing?

A. The poorhouse was situated at what is now No 36 North Street, a private house. It was set up in 1844 as part of the New Poor Law Amendment Act (the New Poor Law itself having been passed in 1834.) The 1834 Act abolished ‘outdoor relief’, which had kept the poor largely within their own communities, forcing them to move into the workhouse, or poorhouse if they had no relatives to look after them.

The St Andrews Poorhouse was later known as the ‘Home of Rest’. This was home to people of all ages over the years, including young children. Many of those living at the Home of Rest were in need of some level of care, mostly because of age, infirmity, or what we would now call ‘learning difficulties’. However, many of them worked out in the local community and were well known around the town.

Q. Can you tell me anything about the barometer set in the wall outside the Ladyhead Café please?

A. The barometer is known as ‘Admiral FitzRoy’s barometer’. Fitzroy was one of the first to attempt a scientific weather forecast. He is perhaps most famous as the Captain of the Beagle, the ship which carried Charles Darwin. On his return, he took up the newlycreated post of Head of Meteorology at the Board of Trade (the Met Office) and began to collate the information necessary to predict the weather. Using the newly-invented electric telegraph, FitzRoy managed to receive data quickly enough to make a forecast viable.

FitzRoy’s name was associated with several different types of barometer. The one that you can see outside the Ladyhead was designed to be used by sailors prior to sailing.

FitzRoy advocated placing a barometer at every port, so that seamen could read them before embarking on their journeys. Decisions on whether to sail or not were able to be made based on the level of the mercury within the instrument, thus saving many lives. The FitzRoy barometers were enormously popular, both because of their ease of use and their association with the highly respected Admiral FitzRoy. Some of the components added onto the FitzRoy Barometers included bottle tubes, storm glasses, thermometers, and FitzRoy’s instructions for interpreting the results; ‘In winter the rise of the barometer presages frost. In wet weather if the mercury rises high and remains so, expect continued fine weather in a day or two. In wet weather if the mercury rises suddenly very high, fine weather will not last long.

8

Flora Selwyn considers some

Food for Thought In the current Journal of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, Architectural Heritage XIX, there is a paper on research into how people view themselves in respect to their immediate environment (The Raploch: A history, people’s perceptions and the likely future of a problem housing estate. By Douglas Robertson, James Smyth and Ian McIntosh, page 83) Although the work concerned a housing estate, the view of what constitutes a community is relevant across a wide range of areas, not least in St Andrews. It is therefore worth quoting from the study, to remind ourselves, and more importantly, those responsible for the town, what matters to us as individuals and as members of our community: “Women, in pursuing family and child-rearing roles contributed greatly to the communications traffic that created this sense of community. Many of the respondents perceived a decline of such networking given the increasing numbers of working women. Not having women around during the day, undertaking domestic and family chores, playing with their children and being out on the street had diminished a particular understanding of community.

The role played by older people in relation to construction of community was also considered important, but for slightly different reasons. They often provided a degree of historic continuity for a neighbourhood, given their ability to connect directly with the past history of the place. Often this could be best described as an ‘imagined community’, of an idealised memory.

At the same time, because their social world was focussed at the local scale, very often in the past and now more so currently, they also played a similar role to women of school-age children in being part of the local presence which helped emphasise a sense of community.

It seems that what was understood as ‘community’ was often rooted in this realm of the familiar, but mundane and everyday interactions – chatting at the Post Office or hairdressers and conversations related to the school, the bowling club, and suchlike. Community was constructed through this myriad of intangible and fleeting, routine and mundane interactions in various localised settings. These were often enough to give people a strong sense of community and a powerful sense of attachment and belonging. This sense of community was also found to be very fragile and could be lost or gained with very subtle changes to how residents perceived any alteration to their surroundings. For example, with the loss of the Post Office or local shops, the opportunity to engage in a range of social interactions is reduced because the opportunities for chance meetings become fewer. Again these have important implications for those charged with improving old, or creating new housing neighbourhoods.”

FEATURES Keith Morris unearthed these

Church Bloopers What would we do without church ladies and their typewriters? These, apparently, actually appeared in church bulletins, or were announced in church services. Apologies if you’ve seen them already!

• Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist.

Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

• Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER & FASTING Conference: “The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals.”

• The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

• Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8pm in the recreation hall.

Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

• “Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.”

• The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.

• Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.

• Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you.

• Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help.

• Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I will not pass this way again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

• For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

• Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

• Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons.

• During the absence of our Pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J. F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.

• The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing “Break Forth into Joy.” • Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the Church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

• A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.

• Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

• Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

• Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

• Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

• The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.

• Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00pm – prayer and medication to follow.

• The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

• This evening at 7pm. There will be a hymn sing in the park across from The Church.

Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

• Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the Back door.

• The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church Basement Friday at 7pm. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

• The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan Last Sunday “I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours.”

. . . Happy Easter!

Does Hearing Loss Affect Your Quality of Life?

If so, contact your local hearing aid specialist:

St Andrews Hearing Services Ltd (Graeme R Cockburn RHAD) Independent Hearing Aid Audiologist Open Mon-Fri 9.00 to 1.00pm – or at other times by appointment • latest digital hearing aid technology • • 30-day trial • • 2 to 5-year guarantee on systems •

24 Argyle Street, St Andrews KY16 9BU telephone 01334 470 011 to make an appointment

Elite Care (Scotland) Ltd. 01334 472834 / 01382 770303

24 hour a day “Care at Home” service throughout Fife, Dundee & Perth.

Licensed by the Care Commission.

Long visits or short visits.

Driver/Carer for appointments & social activities.

Holidaying in St Andrews or Dundee?

– Home from Home Care Website: www.elitecarescotland.co.uk Email: info@elitecarescotland.co.uk

9

SHOPS & SERVICES

Shagatom – Welcome to Maisha We welcome you to our friendly, family-run Restaurant. We introduce authentic, high quality Indian and seafood dishes that we create with the desire and ambition to please. We think it is important to listen to you, our guest, to achieve the best results. Our chefs use fresh, local produce, to bring you the taste of Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and even Scotland.

We are open 7 days a week.

Paneer, Aloo Gosht or Chicken, Methi Ghosht or Chicken, Tikka Masala, Panjabi Masala, Chilli Masala, Chasney, Pasanda, Nentara, Maisha Special Curry.

3 Course Early Evening Meal £9.95 From 5-7pm (except Saturday) 3 Course TDH Menu £14.95 Every evening (except Saturday) 3 Course Lunch £5.95 From 12.00-2.30pm Sunday Special 4 Course Lunch £9.95 inclusive of cold buffet From 12.00 – 5.00pm Takeaway and A La Carte menu available Home Delivery Service available TAKEAWAY MENU Starter Pakoras: Vegetable Pakora Mushroom Pakora Chicken Pakora Fish Pakora Aubergine Pakora King Prawn Pakora Potato Fritters Onion Bhaji

£2.75 £3.50 £3.25 £3.25 £2.95 £4.95 £2.75 £2.95

Puree Selection: Chicken Puree Prawn Puree King Prawn Puree

£3.75 £3.95 £4.95

Kebab Selection: Mixed Kebab Shami Kebab Seek Kebab Salmon Fish Kebab Tuna Fish Kebab

£4.95 £3.25 £3.25 £4.95 £3.95

Tikka Selection: Chicken Tikka Lamb Tikka Garlic Chicken Tikka Chatt Patt (chicken wings)

£3.50 £3.50 £3.75 £3.50

Executive Combo Starter: Mixed Starter £3.95 Mixed Starter with King prawn £4.95 Vegetarian Mixed Starter £3.75 Salad Selection: Chickpeas Salad Tuna Fish Salad Prawn Salad

£3.95 £3.95 £4.25

Chef ’s Choice Starters: Paneer Pakura £3.95 Garlic Mushroom £3.25 Garlic Prawn £3.25 Vegetable Samosa £2.95 Keema Samosa £3.25 Prawn Cocktail £2.95 Garlic King Prawn £4.95 King Prawn with Spring Onion £4.95 Soup: Mulligatawny Soup Lentil soup

£2.95 £2.75

Seafood and Fish Specialties Scottish Mas Bhuna £10.95 Jhal Kakra Bhuna £12.95 Sea Bass Dupiaza £12.95

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Tilapia Dupiaza Bengal Rupchanda Bhuna King Prawn Garlic Chili Colonial Fresh water Giant King Prawn Tandoori Rupchanda Deep Fried Rupchanda Steamed Rupchanda Tandoori Salmon Tandoori Sea Bass Tandoori Haddock Tandoori Bengal Tilapia Tandoori King Prawn Giant Seafood Platter Tandoori Lobster

An Authentic Indian & Seafood Restaurant 5 College Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AA. Tel: 01334 476666, Email: maisharestaurant@hotmail.co.uk, www.maisharestaurant.co.uk

£10.95 £10.95 £11.95 £12.95 £10.95 £10.95 £10.95 £10.95 £11.95 £10.95 £10.95 £12.95 £13.95 22.95

Charcoal Tandoori Dishes Chicken Tikka Kebab £8.95 Lamb Tikka Kebab £8.95 Tandoori Chicken (On the Bone) £8.95 Tandoori Seek Kebab £8.95 Egyptian Kebab £9.95 Turkish Kebab £9.95 Maisha Special Tikka Kebab £9.95 Tandoori Mixed Grill £13.95 Chef’s Recommendation Green Herb Chicken £7.95 Lamb Jalapani £7.95 Chicken or Lamb Rezala £7.95 Kalija Aloo Bhuna £7.95 Keema Begun or Aloo £7.95 Karachi £7.95 Lemony Chicken £7.95 Costa Special Curry £11.95 Chef Special Curry £8.95 Royal Chicken £7.95 House Specialties Chicken Tikka £7.25 Lamb Tikka £7.50 Prawn £7.95 King Prawn £10.95 Vegetables £6.75 Shahi Jhal Bhuna, Jalfrezi Afgani Gosht or Murgi, Korai, Sag Gosht or Chicken,

Traditional/ Original Indian Dishes Chicken £5.95 Lamb £6.50 Vegetable £5.50 Prawn £6.95 King Prawn £9.95 Bhuna, Dupiaza, Rogan Josh, Dansak, Kurma, Pathia, Madras, Vindaloo.

Balti Dishes Chicken Tikka Lamb Tikka Prawn King Prawn Vegetable

£6.75 £6.95 £7.95 £10.95 £6.50

Balti, Balti with Lentil, Balti Tikka Masala, Balti Sag. Tikka Kurma Dishes Chicken Tikka 6.75 Lamb Tikka £6.95 Prawn £7.95 King Prawn £10.95 Vegetable £6.50 Reshmi Kurma, Burma Kurma, Kashmiri Kurma, Malayan Kurma, Jhal Kurma Maisha Special kurma.

Traditional Vegetarian Main Course/Side Dishes All Dishes £6.50 These dishes are also available as side orders £3.50 Torkari, Sag Bhaji, Sabgi Sag, Sag Aoo, Muglai Sag, Dhal Samba, Mazadar Kumbi Aloo, Aloo Ghobi, Bombay Aloo, Aloo Methi, Mushroom Bhaji, Califlower Bhaji, Aubergine Bhaji, Bindi Bhaji.

Kabli Chana,Tarka Dal, Mint Dal, Chana Kumbi Maslader Sem, Sag Paneer £3.75 Aloo Motor Paneer £3.75 Biryanies Chicken Lamb Prawn Vegetables King Prawn Chicken Tikka Lamb Tikka Special Biryani Seafood Biryani

£7.95 £8.25 £8.95 £6.95 £10.95 £8.95 £9.25 £9.95 £10.95

Thali Selection Vegetable Thali £9.95 Chicken or Lamb Thali £10.95 Tandoori Nan Bread Nan Keema Nan Peshwari Nan Vegetable Nan Poneer Nan Onion Nan Cheese and Onion Nan Cheese and Garlic Nan Garlic Nan Chili Nan

£2.25 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95 £2.95

Accompaniments Plain Rice £2.35 Pilau Rice/Saffron Rice £2.45 Fried Rice £2.55 Vegetable Fried Rice £2.75 Keema Fried Rice £2.75 Mushroom Fried Rice £2.75 Paratha £2.55 Stuffed Paratha £2.95 Aloo Paratha £2.95 Tandoori Roti £1.25 Chapathi £0.90 Chips – French Fries £1.75 Fried Onion £1.45 Fried Mushroom £1.95 Raita £1.50

European Dishes Charcoal Chicken and Chips £9.95 Grilled Sirloin Steak £9.95 Fried Scampi £7.95 Chicken Nuggets £7.95 Dressed Haddock £5.95 Roast Chicken £7.95 French Fried Chicken £7.95 Omelette Chicken Omelette £5.95 Mushroom Omelette £5.95 Chicken and Mushroom Omelette £5.95 Prawn Omelette £6.95 Salads Chicken Salad Prawn Salad Green Salad

£5.95 £6.95 £2.95

Thai Dishes Soups Chicken Satay Thai Chicken Salad

£2.95 £3.95 £3.95

Main Dishes: Chilli Chicken or Chilli Beef £7.95 Chili Prawn £8.95 Chili King Prawn £11.95 Sweet and Sour Chicken £7.95 Chicken Red Curry £7.95 Chicken Green Curry £7.95 Deep Fried Red Snapper £9.95 Thai Fried Rice £3.95

Maisha Set Meal Deals A – Traditional & Authentic Set Meal for two @ 14.95 Choice of any one Starter & two Main Dishes per order served with Chicken, Lamb, Vegetables or Prawns (King Prawn – Extra £3.50 per Meal) including 2 poppadoms, Onion Chutney, two rice and one Nan bread per order.

Starters: Vegetables Pakura Or Potato Fritters.

Main Dishes: Bhuna, Kurma, Pathia, Dansak, Madras.

B – Balti & Kurma Speciality Set Meal for Two @ £15.95

Choice of any one Starter & two Main Dishes per order served with Chicken, Lamb, Vegetables or Prawns (King Prawn – Extra £3.50 per Meal) including 2 poppadoms, Onion Chutney, two rice and one Nan bread per order.

Starters: Vegetables Pakura Or Onion Bhaji.

Main Dishes: Balti, Balti Tikka Masala, Burma kurma, Jhal Kurma.

C – Seafood & Charcoal Tandoori Speciality Set Meal for Two @ £19.95

Choice of any one Starter & two Main Dishes per order including 2 popadoms, Onion Chutney, two rice and one Nan bread per order.

Starters: Fish Pakura Or Chatpatt.

Main Dishes: Chicken Tikka Kebab, Tandoori Seek Kebab, Prawn Biryani, Tilapia Bhuna

D – Party Orders Meal for one to as many @ £9.95 per Order. Order over six will get one complimentary bottle of wine (red or white).

Inclusive Starter, Main Course, Rice and Nan per person (i.e. party of four will get 4-starter, 4-main dishes, 4-rice and 4-nans).

Starters: Vegetable Pakora, Chicken Pakora, Onion Bhaji, Chatpatt, Potato Fritters Main dishes: Main Dishes served with Chicken, Lamb, Vegetables or Prawns (King Prawn – Extra £3.50 per Meal).

Bhuna, Kurma, Pathia, Dansak, Madras, Tikka Masala, Balti, Chasney, Chilli Masala, Jalfrezi Note: Management reserves the right to refuse.

SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn has often indulged herself with friends at

Maisha Restaurant St Andrews can boast of many success stories. dish and chicken tikka kebab. That day we One of them is undoubtedly Maisha Restaurant shared Kulfi, a traditional Indian ice cream, in College Street. In the May/June 2008 (issue which we asked for, and found to be deliciously 28), of this magazine, Roving Reporter profiled light, sweet, and spicy. a wildly happy Mohammed Mohiuddin (Mohi There is an extensive à la carte evening to his many friends), who had just achieved menu available from 5.00pm ( excellent for his dream of having his very own family-run theatre-goers!) until midnight (Saturdays restaurant. In the remarkably short time since until 1.00am) Seafood features prominently, then, the Restaurant has including Rupchanda become a well-established Tilapia fish from the by popular demand, he is and part of the town’s eating Bay of Bengal. To quote experience. now opening on Sundays from the informative I have been welcomed menu, “We specialise in with a 4-course special many a time and can fish and seafood in an vouch for the friendly, authentic and traditional cosy ambience within. The tables, sufficiently way.” I certainly enjoyed the light, clean flavour spaced to give privacy, are attractively laid with of the Tilapia I once chose for one of my main linen and fresh flowers, and have comfortable dishes. Mohi’s wife, Mahfuza, has developed chairs inviting relaxation. Staff are attentive, and a tuna kebab, Bengal Rupchanda Bhuna, also service is efficient. a Scottish lamb’s liver Bhuna, and local crab For lunch there is a choice of 2 set menus, Bhuna, which all feature on the menu – ‘Bhuna’ offering starter and main course, (tea/coffee, meaning ‘curry’, hot, medium, or mild. and/or ice cream, being additional). The £5.95 There is, of course, the whole range of menu features 4 starters and 5 main dishes, as traditional Indian cuisine: Rogan Josh, Dansak, well as fish and chips. The £7.95 menu has 9 Kurma, Pathia, Balti dishes, Tikka Kurma starters (including soup), and 9 main dishes to dishes, many either as chicken, lamb, prawn, choose from. The vegetable pakora – a starter or vegetarian options. Then there are house on each menu – is mild, tasty, and very light specialities, such as Maisha Special Kurma, in texture. Garlic prawns, one of the starters which I have also hugely enjoyed. This is on the more expensive menu, are succulent described as, “specially prepared home-made and buttery. A friend, who was with me on one cream sauce cooked with coconut, almond, occasion, spoke highly of the chasney main ground cashew nuts, and dry mixed fruits...” It is a totally delicious mild curry, which, together with plain rice, makes a most satisfying meal. I accompanied this with a glass of sweet lassie, a particular favourite of mine (but which you have to ask for!) comprised of yoghurt and spices. There is a savoury version too.

In addition to all this and more, including Thai dishes, the menu also has a choice of European fare; so if you come with guests who might be a little shy of trying something new, you needn’t worry.

The wine list is comprehensive, with some unusual names, such as Chablis Ropiteau, a French white Burgundy; or a red Spanish Rioja Campo Viejo Crianza. There is a Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial champagne, also the ‘number one’ Indian sparkling wine, Omar Khayam. Beers, spirits, whiskies, liqueurs abound, along with a host of soft drinks, enough to please the most demanding client!

Takeaway addicts are lavishly catered for. If you don’t have time to wait for your order, or if you order by phone, there is a delivery charge of £3 within St Andrews. Please see the advert on page 10. You may use it for your order and save yourself the trouble of going out for a menu!

Mohi told me that, by popular demand, he is now opening on Sundays with a 4-course special from noon to 5.00pm (after which the normal lunch menu will be available). For this there are 2 menus, each with an additional cold buffet. For £9.95 there is a choice of 2 soups and 9 starters, and 11 main dishes served with rice and nan bread, followed by a choice of Kulfi, or tea, or coffee, or ice cream. The second menu concentrates on seafood and fish and costs only £14.95. This has pappadoms with spiced onion followed by a choice of 7 starters, and 12 main dishes, all served with rice and nan bread, then either Kulfi, or tea, or coffee, or ice cream. This menu features the delicious Bengali fishes Rupchanda and Tilapia (have to be sampled!) as well as Scottish salmon, crab, and sea bass. So, work up a good appetite on Sunday morning, then take the family and friends to Maisha Restaurant for a great lunch!

(Photos courtesy of Maisha)

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SHOPS & SERVICES

MBT Competition winner Congratulations! – Ian Brooks from Newburgh.

•

MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology.

•

There are 26 bones in the adult human foot.

•

“For comfort and foot health, it’s essential that your shoes fit your feet correctly.”

Andrew Wright advises, and asks . . .

But Can We Trust Them?

From April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will have new powers to access information more readily from taxpayers, either through correspondence or during visits to business premises, which can be with, or without, warning in future. Where, as a result, additional tax liabilities are identified, penalties will be levied at significantly higher rates than at present. They may also ask to see the business records for the previous five years, where the taxpayer has been careless in the figures entered into his tax return. So it will be easier for HMRC to gain information and harder for the taxpayer to delay providing the information requested.

There seems to be a consensus among tax practitioners that the safeguards available to taxpayers to block unreasonable requests have been eroded and that the balance has shifted firmly in favour of HMRC. Tax practitioners are particularly worried, as HMRC will have the right to demand the production of “statutory records” in each case, and it is not clear what constitutes a “statutory

record.” Do these include for example a businessman’s private bank and credit account statements? Do they include the daily diaries of B & B establishments so they can compare bookings with takings? Taxpayers will have no rights of appeal against such requests, although HMRC have insisted that such requests will be reasonable and proportionate. The trouble is that I know from experience that such requests are not always reasonable (although usually they are). In particular, requests for private bank statements can be followed by requests for documentary evidence to support all moneys lodged into the account ( in a worse case scenario covering the past six years).

How many of us would be able to provide this? Failure to provide evidence could then be followed by an assertion by HMRC that unexplained income is hidden business income and therefore subject to extra tax. Penalties of £60 a day can also be levied for failure to respond to requests for information within a “reasonable” time. This could happen to a

taxpayer even though all business income has been correctly recorded and their only failure was to properly explain all lodgements into their private accounts.

Tax practitioners feel that some safeguard should be available to the taxpayer to protect them against “rogue” tax inspectors. Although it is true that the standards applied by tax inspectors have improved with training, there should still be some protection available to taxpayers, where unreasonable and disproportionate demands have been made.

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

Tel: 01334 472 255

Anne Herring, Locality General Manager, St Andrews/East Neuk/Taybridgehead. Glenrothes and North East Fife Community Health Partnership

St Andrews Community Hospital The new St Andrews Community Hospital on Largo Road opens this summer. All services and staff currently at the health centre and the hospital will transfer to the new hospital during July and August.

Services available at the new hospital include Blackfriars Medical Practice, Feddinch Medical Practice, Strathcairn Medical Practice, Primary Care Emergency Service (Out of Hours), Minor Injuries, Out-patients, X-ray, Orthodontic, Podiatry, Day Surgery, Endoscopy, Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Red Cross Equipment Loan Service, and In-patients. New services of dermatology treatments, dental, and renal dialysis will start later in the year as staff are recruited and trained.

The midwives, community psychiatric nurses, district nurses, health visitors, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social work will be based on site.

The building is designed around a central hub from which the GP Practices and all departments are accessed, either on the ground floor or first floor. In-patients are on the second floor. The way in and out will be via the main entrance, which is easily visible from the roundabout on Largo Road.

12

Further information, and a virtual tour of the building, can be taken on http://www.nhsfife.scot.nhs.uk/standrews/index.aspx Staff will be on hand at the main reception to give information.

Volunteers will also provide a ‘meet and greet’ service. Recruitment has already started for volunteers to join this service and if you would like to find out more, contact Marlynn Halley, Volunteer Co-ordinator: 01334 658 452.

We will say goodbye to the Health Centre and Memorial Hospital over the next few months with fond memories, many of which have been recorded and placed in a sealed time capsule, which will be sited in the main entrance. We are busy ordering furniture and equipment, planning the move, counting the weeks, and looking forward to welcoming patients and staff to the long-awaited new hospital.

Artist’s impression of the new hospital from Morrison’s car park – by kind permission

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter, as usual, finds some reason to be optimistic! Doom and gloom never appeal to him.

1. A new shop opened on 4th November just outside the West Port: The Digital IT Centre, 1 City Road, (01334 479 755).

Reporter found a moment to chat to the busy Manager (about to be Managing Director) Peter Carlyle. Unique in the town, the shop provides everything the digital user needs: computers, laptops, and all their associated accessories. From photocopy paper, to ink cartridges, to hardware, software, cables, surge protectors, etc etc. In addition, Peter repairs, updates, cleans, recalibrates, installs, whatever you need. He will come to your home if you prefer. Reporter was pleased to learn that Peter encourages the return and recycling of ink jet cartridges, a service that saves the customer’s purse some 60% (even 90% in the case of BT cartridges). By the time you read this, recycled mobile phones will also be available. “We save people money; that’s basically us, and what we’re here to do!”

Peter enthusiastically informed Reporter.

So, if you have problems, or are short of supplies, come to City Road. The shop is open Monday – Friday, 10.00am -5.30pm, and 10.30am-5.00pm on Saturday.

*****

2. Roving Reporter met a piper in South Street, who led him to McKays Bar and Restaurant at 119 North Street. Manager Lisa Hume greeted him kindly.

She said, “We would like to welcome everyone back to the new-look McKays Bar & Restaurant. We are open again, and as well as offering you a new, warm, comfortable place to relax, we offer the best food deals in town. We Lisa Hume, Manager (on the left) have a new look express lunch and Assistant Manager menu with a mouth-watering Emma Cunningham selection of home-made dishes from as cheap as £3.95. We also have amazing nightly specials. From Sunday, right through until Wednesday, its BOGOF (buy one get one free main meal, and get a starter or dessert absolutely FREE!). Thursday Night is the new Saturday night with Char-grill Night at McKays – any 2 meals from our char-grill section PLUS a bottle of wine for only £25.00! You’ll Thank Fish Its Friday with our amazing Fish Tea deal – 2 battered haddock fillets, chips, peas, bread ‘n’ butter, and a pot of tea for £15.00. Anyone love a film? You’ll enjoy a night out at the cinema even more, when you hear about our cinema deals – great food deals and 2-for-1 on all drinks, when you show a valid cinema ticket.

There’s no reason not to push the boat out and treat someone to dinner and a movie (we are located right next door to the cinema).”

Reporter’s mouth watered noticeably! Do book, and for any other queries call: 01334 478 479.

*****

3. Karen and Graham McIntosh are celebrating their first year trading at Macs, 67 Lamond Drive, St Andrews (01334 467 849). Reporter, who enjoys a good walk, often bought plants from this store in the past, and is delighted to learn that he’ll be able to go on replenishing his garden here. In fact, Karen told him that they hope to expand in this area. St Andreans to the core, Graham and Karen are putting everything into their venture, and it looks sparkling and well stocked. Local sourced supplies are prominent; Reporter noticed a well-known patisserie shop’s name at the deli counter! The shop is very much a convenience store, selling confectionery of all kinds, newspapers (“if we haven’t got what you want, we’ll order it for you”), groceries, including frozen goods, free-range eggs, also duck eggs, drinks, snacks, and milk (“our 2 litre milk is cheaper than in superstores”). Reporter asked if the school children still came to the shop. “Yes,” said Karen, “and they’re very well behaved.” Other customers include holidaymakers from the caravan sites, who love to buy plants as well as food. By the time this issue appears, the shop will be a Pay Point, accepting utility bill payments, rent, council tax, etc, and hopefully, credit card payments too. And there’s also a photocopier in the shop. What, wonders Reporter, would we do without our dedicated, hardworking, family-run local shops, like this one? We must cherish them!

*****

4. Susan Sloan has moved from South Street to No.1 Greyfriars Garden (01334 477 070). The same excellent service that valued customers have enjoyed till now will, of course, continue. The most popular collections from both shops are available – fear not! you will still find your favourite things, for example; Basler, Lucia, not forgetting the Gardeur and Michele trousers, and all the other wellloved names! Plus ça change, says Reporter . . .

*****

5. Duncan Bowman has taken over Kingdom Runner, 34 South Street (01334 470 971). Duncan told Reporter that he has lots of ambitions for the shop.

For a start, he now opens on Mondays, and he promises to provide the same level of good service that customers have come to expect. Personal service and expert fitting are key. There will be a wider range of goods, and more generalised equipment. He’s also hoping to expand Mail Order. His Mum, Jean, who sometimes helps out, told Reporter that Duncan “has great plans – he’s full of enthusiasm.” Sports people have a wonderful resource here, Reporter says.

Jean Bowman

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SHOPS & SERVICES John Birrell, Wholesale Fruit and Vegetables, The Warehouse, Kinnessburn Road, and also the shop at 201 South Street, St Andrews (01334 472 530), is our town’s only remaining specialist greengrocer.

Shop Locally

– save our small businesses John Birrell moved to St Andrews from Kirkcaldy in 1964.

Today his son Alan runs the business with his wife Lynn, and Alan’s mother is still often seen at the shop as well.

Success comes only with hard, hard work. Alan started out with his father at 16, as soon as he left school. By 1989 the back of the South Street shop had become too small to Alan & Lynn in The Warehouse cope with all the goods, so The Warehouse was acquired in Kinnessburn Road, by the Bowling Green. The Warehouse Always busy, Alan says the bulk of his business is is open to shoppers and there is parking, so you don’t have supplying hotels and restaurants all over the East Neuk, and to go to the edge of town to stock even Dundee. What happens up! The quality of the produce has to fruit and vegetables that The Warehouse is open to to be seen to be appreciated. haven’t sold? “There’s not much shoppers and there is parking, so Three times every week, while waste,” Alan says, “Slightly soft, most of us are still fast asleep, you don’t have to go to the edge of or broken carrots, for instance, Alan leaves home at 1.00a.m. to can go into soup; or they can town to stock up! drive to the market in Glasgow. go to horses, along with bruised Because quality is everything, apples!” “you have to choose your own stuff,” Alan explains. Orders The Birrell family has been trading here for 41 years also arrive direct from Holland. Just a phone call, and – treasure them! peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes etc. are on their way.

Wholesale and Retail Fruit & Vegetable Merchants The Warehouse, Kinnessburn Road & the shop at 201 South Street, St Andrews.

Tel: (01334) 472138 (24 hour answering service) Fax: (01334) 479316

14

SHOPS & SERVICES

Artery Gallery Exhibit Latest Success Story

1a Greyfriars Garden St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9HG Tel: 01334 477070

Artist Scott Carruthers is exhibiting his latest paintings at Artery Gallery, in St Andrews.

Scott’s paintings have attracted many admirers during his previous sell-out exhibitions at Artery Gallery, where his original style and thoughtprovoking images have captured the imagination.

Largely inspired over the years by the art of Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and LS Lowry, the biggest inspiration for his work has been his two young children.

The stories behind Scott’s paintings are based on the mix of nostalgia from his own childhood along with watching his two young kids grow up.

Not necessarily making any comparisons, but

Reprographics Unit We welcome commercial enquiries

The services we offer include: • High Quality Colour Digital Printing • • Pull-up Exhibition Display Stands • • Graphics & Pre-Press • • Illustration • • Report/Dissertation Printing • & Binding • Wide Format Poster Printing • • Short run customised folders • Reprographics Unit St Katharine’s West 16 The Scores St Andrews Fife KY16 9AX T: (01334) 463020 E: repro@st-andrews.ac.uk

“One Love” by Scott Carruthers

being reminded of the nostalgic years and how their life today differs in these modern times, yet in some ways have some similarities to Scott’s own childhood.

Scott explains, “Each individual painting is telling its own story, however the description is only secondary to the image itself. I like to add my own thoughts behind the piece so that the viewer knows exactly what I was thinking regarding the particular painting and my reasons for it. Although this is designed to work alongside and complement the image, I do find sometimes that the viewer has already made up their own mind anyway before they even know my written description. I am always fascinated by people’s thoughts on my work and their imaginations are understandably diverse”.

Last year Scott Carruthers signed a major publishing deal with one of the UK’s largest fine art publishers, which has resulted in numerous exhibitions of his original work and limited editions going on show across the country.

Scott adds, “It’s great to have my original work on show at Artery Gallery once again as it’s where I enjoyed my first success as an artist”.

Artery Gallery, based in both St Andrews and Crieff, has been a major supporter of contemporary artists over the years and continues to boost the profiles of up and coming artists, as well as the well established. To view the works by Scott Carruthers, log on at www.arteryuk.com or visit Artery Gallery on South Street, St Andrews.

The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

Antique, restored, & hand-painted furniture, curios, linen & lace, gifts, prints, Scottish crafts.

For something unique visit us at:

Time & Tide

Burghers Close, 141 South Street, St Andrews, Fife Tel: 01334 461 427 Open 6 days (closed Thursdays)

Swimwear at

Elspeth’s of St Andrews

9 Church Street, St Andrews Tel: 01334 472494

Emily Jenkinson runs an art gallery in London, the Portland Gallery. She’s planning a retrospective exhibition of the work of John Maclauchlan Milne (1875-1957), and is seeking to contact owners of such works who might be willing to lend their paintings for the exhibition, or to use the event as an occasion to sell. Nicknamed by some, “the fifth Scottish Colourist”, he painted Scottish west coast scenes, including Arran, plus Fife fishing villages, plus scenes on the French Riviera. Emily may be contacted by phoning 0207 493 1888 or by email: emily@portlandgallery.com

Alan Sturrock reports that

St Andrews Lammas Market DVDs Sell Well The credit crunch doesn’t seem to be affecting sales of the latest St Andrews Lammas Market DVD from local firm AJS Professional Funfair Video Productions. The Company, part of the AJS Video Services Group headed south to Long Eaton, between Derby and Nottingham, to one of the biggest Fairground Enthusiast Model Shows in the country.

The show this year had a theme of Waltzers, and exhibits included fully-working models in 1/24th, 1/16th, 1/12th, 1/50th, and 4mm scale, along with items of historic significance from several full-size machines.

AJS Professional Funfair Video Productions took its place amongst the 125 exhibitors and trade stands selling their full range of DVDs and photographs. Owner, Alan Sturrock said, “Sales were brisk and very surprising, bearing in mind the situation the country is in. Our St Andrews Lammas DVD sold very well and seems very popular south of the border, along with our new documentary ‘Wanderer’”

February 2009 saw the company head south again, this time to the Leeds Valentine’s Fair Model Show.

Mr Ian Thacker and Mr Daniel Mortimer of Lincolnshire (right) with Alan Sturrock (left) after purchasing St Andrews 2008.

(Photo courtesy Alan Sturrock)

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ORGANISATIONS

“Stunning St Andrews” Campaign Gets Under Way (contributed) Readers of “St Andrews in Focus” need little reminding that St Andrews is an exceptional community in which to live and work, and a superb place to visit.

But now a new campaign, which has been named “Stunning St Andrews”, has been launched by a consortium of local organisations. We believe that by working together, local people can help make the town an even better place. Our “strapline” (to borrow a term from the advertising world) is: “One proud community, one shared goal – a clean, green and stunning town”

The following organisations (listed in alphabetical order) have already expressed their support for, and have offered to participate in, the Stunning St Andrews campaign: • • • • • • • • • • •

Fife Council (various departments) Friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden Rotary Club of St Andrews St Andrews Community Council St Andrews in Bloom St Andrews Links Trust St Andrews Merchants Association St Andrews Preservation Trust St Andrews World Class Initiative University of St Andrews University of St Andrews Students Association

We hope that the “Stunning St Andrews” campaign will unite our whole Also currently being approached are local schools, churches, and youth community behind a commonly-held ambition – to further enhance groups, whilst support from other clubs and organisations is also being our town’s appeal whilst respecting its current character and beauty. sought.

Our ongoing partnership efforts will ensure that current and future Though this long and growing list demonstrates the depth and breadth generations of residents and visitors can enjoy a notably clean, of support that has already been pledged to our campaign, it is not just environmentally sound, and stunningly attractive town. about organised bodies: every citizen of St Andrews has a role to play.

Why has this come about, and why now? The immediate catalyst Over the coming months, we will be providing lots of ideas (via the media was the success enjoyed by the St Andrews in Bloom group, which and a soon-to-be-announced website) about how local people can get achieved the “Best Coastal Town” award for Scotland and a silver gilt involved and use their talents and energies in the best way possible. It medal in the 2008 “Beautiful Scotland in Bloom” Awards. This resulted might be as simple as keeping your front garden a bit tidier, or minimising in St Andrews being entered into the 2009 Britain in Bloom Awards as the time your wheelie bins or black bags are on the street – or it could be Scotland’s representative. So the immediate priority something a bit more energetic, such as walking, is to get the town looking spick and span for the or cycling into town, rather than taking the car, every citizen of St Andrews judges’ visit in August. or giving up a few hours to participate in a beach has a role to play However, it was quickly realised that whilst clean-up. floral displays and horticultural excellence are We also need local people to tell us what worthy ends in themselves, what St Andrews needs is not a “quick they think should be the priority areas for action. For instance: is there fix” of hanging baskets, but an ongoing campaign of improvements an unsightly black spot that needs tidied up? Is dog fouling a particular and enhancements which will continue for years to come. That’s why problem where you live?

“Stunning St Andrews” will be getting involved with matters as diverse By coincidence, 2009 will be the 30th anniversary of St Andrews last as litter prevention, recycling, renewable energy, beach clean-ups, and winning a “Britain in Bloom” award. It would certainly be nice to mark wildlife education. We will be supporting the Preservation Trust’s “Pride the anniversary with a repeat win, but what will be far more important for of Place” Awards later in the year and also hope to draw upon all the future generations of residents, students and visitors to our town is if our wealth of St Andrean talents in the fields of botany and environmental campaign can continue for years to come, making St Andrews even more sustainability (to name but two). special, sustainable and – dare we say it again – stunning!

New Recycling Centre

Martyrs’ Monument

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Hope Park Church

ORGANISATIONS Derek Barrie, Press Officer, The St Andrews Preservation Trust Ltd.

Boase Wood Appeal For the best part of fifty years the St Andrews Preservation Trust has such as has been given in the been responsible for the maintenance of the “Boase Wood” (also known past by individual volunteers, as the “Law Park Wood”). The wood at the western end of the Lade St Leonards School, and the Braes comprises 1.325 acres. It is bounded on the east by the pathway University “Tree and Frog running from Hepburn Gardens to the Kinness Burn along the west wall Society”. of the former Law Park House; on the south and west by the Burn as Because of the work now far as the bridge to Lawmill Cottage; then along the northern side of the required and the financial outlay access road from Hepburn Gardens; and finally on the north side by necessary, the Preservation Hepburn Gardens. New signs are shortly to be erected by the Trust to Trust will be launching an draw attention to the wood. appeal, primarily to members, It is often not realised that the Trust owns this attractive and but also to outside bodies, much admired part of the Lade Braes, named after a former owner for £25,000 to put maintenance of the Wood on a firm footing for the and Chairman of the St Andrews Preservation Trust. The wood was foreseeable future. This appeal has been organized by an ad-hoc subbequeathed to the Trust in 1963 in memory of Philip Boase, and it has committee of the Trust, launching in early March. been carefully looked after ever since, involving a great deal of voluntary But as important as money, is a commitment to help physically with effort, and also considerable financial outlay by the Trust. The terms maintaining the Wood, either by individuals or by organizations within of the bequest require that the wood be the town. Anyone who can help is maintained to provide a habitat for birds asked to contact Ian Christie through It is often not realised that the Trust owns the Trust Office at 4 Queen’s Gardens and small animals.

The wood is greatly appreciated Tel: 01334 477 152. this attractive and much admired part of by the townspeople of St Andrews and Financial contributions are also the Lade Braes, named after a former visitors alike, particularly in spring and welcome, to be sent to the Trust early summer, when it is carpeted by Office, payable to “The St Andrews owner and Chairman of the St Andrews snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, and Preservation Trust Ltd (Boase Wood Preservation Trust bluebells. The Trust, through the diligence Appeal)”. Remember, if you pay UK and commitment of various trustees Income Tax at any level, or Capital over the years, has kept the wood in good order, and in recent years Gains Tax, you can authorise your donation to be treated as Gift Aid, under the watchful eye of “Keeper of the Wood,” Ian Christie, they have allowing the Trust to reclaim £2.80 for every £10 donated. For a copy of worked to a specific management scheme. the appeal brochure, contact Janette Gillespie, the Trust Administrator, on 01334 477 152 or by E-mail: trust@standrewspreservationtrust.co.uk The principal criteria for the management of the wood are: conservation of existing trees; removal of the myriad sycamore saplings; making space to plant young trees; lopping of hawthorn bushes to (Photos, taken in late January, by Flora Selwyn) create thicker young growth; and maintaining a scale map of the woodland indicating the position of the principal trees of interest, and recent plantings.

The Law Park Wood greatly enhances the beauty of the Lade Braes, but the need for proper professional maintenance involving tree surgeons and replacing broken and vandalized fencing, makes increasing financial demands on the Trust.

Moreover Ian Christie and his small band of helpers badly need additional voluntary assistance,

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ORGANISATIONS Lyn Flanders

For the Love of Cats When we bought our house in seek new homes for cats – and the odd dog – and in the last twenty-one Newport-on-Tay in 1982 it came years have enhanced many a home with a pet. with two old cats – thirteen year-old In 1996, on a whim, we decided to move to the country to provide brothers called Sweep and Tiger, a home to five feral cats, who had lost their territory when Invergowrie who were as dear to us as any Paper Mill closed. This was a major upheaval for us, and heart-wrenching, cat could be. They were also an as we loved our beautiful home overlooking the Tay. We had worked on attraction for our daughter Vikki, the house for 14 years – interior design came a close second interest to who was leaving her friends behind cats. The house sold so quickly I had no time to change my mind. So from in the village where we had lived. our lovely Victorian house we moved to an isolated 150 year-old cottage By 1984 we still had Tiger with an acre of garden next to hundreds of acres of forest.

– poor Sweep had died in 1983 – when I was gifted a Burmese kitten Despite years of neglect it had charm and we could see beyond its we called Benji. His youth dictated that he play and jump upon the old actual state. Unfortunately it needed more doing to it than we realised. I cat, who was furious. Our solution (pre-Cats Protection days) was to visit could write a book on the problems we encountered, but we built a huge the pet shop in Dock Street, Dundee, where we spent fifty pence on a enclosure for the feral cats. After being cooped up for a year they loved timid black kitten we named Scamp. We then had the space offered in this huge run with a pine tree the joy of two kittens at play, so no longer needed a in the centre and heated beds in a large shed. For It is a national tragedy television! every big mistake they say there is one good thing, that cat and dog shelters and ours was when we got our first dog – Lucy – a In 1987 I became a redundant Mum when Vikki went off to University, saying, if you did not meow are packed to overflowing 10 year-old black toy poodle. She, too, had been in our house you got no attention. At the same time badly neglected and we gave her the loving home with unwanted animals my husband started studying part time for an MBA she needed. In return she rewarded us a thousand – three nights a week on top of his working day. I times over. worked full time in a job where I met lots of people by day, but this left my Nowadays I enjoy taking in the older cats, so often overlooked, but evenings free. One Saturday in October I chanced by the City Churches, that bring so much pleasure. It is a known fact that stroking a cat lowers Dundee, where a coffee morning held by the local branch of Cats one’s blood pressure and is therapeutic. Last year, we were lucky enough Protection attracted me. Before I knew it, I was roped in to help at the cat to get a 14 year-old dog called Cracker. Despite being half blind and shelter. That first sight of the homeless and neglected cats inspired my having only three legs he runs around without a care in the world and is dedication to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome as many cats as possible. the happiest of dogs. He and our current poodle Sophie are great pals.

We housed the cats communally in one small stone building, which We have two charity shops to raise funds for the cat shelter and I was not ideal. However, it was all we had, and we made do until we constantly pick up goods for stock. I also spend many hours updating had pens built and could house the cats individually. By then I was Cothe website which you can visit on www.dundee.cats.org.uk and see for ordinator of Cats Protection Dundee, taking up every spare hour of the yourself the beautiful homeless cats. week. The excuses people gave for giving up their cats were amazing (Photo, courtesy Lynn Flanders) – as well as the usual family split, moving house, asthma, and having babies, I have seen a cat handed in covered in chewing gum, which they could not be bothered to remove. Inevitably our own cat family grew until we had the `Magnificent Seven`. By this time I was very involved in trapping and neutering – there were, and still are, too many cats for the number of available homes; the only answer is neutering. It is a national tragedy that cat and dog shelters are packed to overflowing with unwanted animals. People who say, ‘Just let them have one litter’ have not seen the heartbreaking sight of incarcerated animals. Allowing a cat to breed is an unnecessary luxury; every cat passing through our hands is spayed or neutered before rehoming.

Many a Saturday morning in 1993 I spent visiting Councillor Ian Luke and wore him down, until he located the premises at 102 Foundry Lane, where we still have the shelter – much improved from the dilapidated building strewn with broken glass, which was our first impression! A good omen was the sight of a tabby cat walking through Award Winning Fish & Chip Shop 2006, 2007 & 2008 the rubble outside!

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ORGANISATIONS Bob Paterson, Chairman, introduces

The Western Front Association – New Tayside Branch The Western Front Association, with a current membership of nearly 6000, was formed in 1980 to maintain interest in the period 1914-1918, to perpetuate the memory, courage, and comradeship of those on all sides who served their countries in France and Flanders and their own countries during the Great War. It does not seek to glorify war, and is non-political.

For a modest annual subscription members receive a wide range of benefits. In particular, belonging to the WFA provides the opportunity of meeting like-minded people to learn, share, and exchange information in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Members will also receive regular, high-quality publications, in total six times a year.

‘Stand To’, the WFA’s prestige journal, is posted to all members three times a year. Its editorial policy increases the knowledge and understanding of the Great War. Articles include: • • •

Previously unpublished accounts of the Great War Original research and previously unpublished photographs Regular features include book reviews and a correspondence column

The Bulletin is also published three times a year. It carries reports on the Association’s activities and future events. It gives details of meetings at national and local level.

Regarding Remembrance, in order to remember those who died in the Great War, the Association for example, meets in Whitehall at 11 o’clock on Armistice Day for wreaths to be laid at the Cenotaph • Lays wreaths on memorials at home and abroad • Encourages people to tour the battlefields • Has an active education and research function • Participates in the Royal British Legion Parade on Remembrance Day

The WFA frequently organise all-day Regional Seminars around the country, often with internationally-renowned speakers, and the Association supports a Bob Paterson, on the left, with wide range of local WFA guest speaker Mike Taylor) Branches in the United Kingdom, in other European countries, in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.

The Western Front Association, together with the Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London, is involved in a joint project to produce a series of DVDs of trench maps and aerial photographs from the IWM archives.

This project, called Mapping the Front, aims to create a set of themed DVDs of Great War maps and photographs covering significant and interesting aspects of The Great War. In terms of Research, The WFA’s Historical Information Officer tries to answer members’ queries, and links from the website may prove helpful.

The new internet Forum, the Front Forum, also has an active Research area. The Website address is www.westernfrontassociation.com New Tayside Branch The inaugural meeting of the new Western Front Association (WFA) Tayside Branch took place on Saturday 6th December at the Conference room in the Central Library Dundee.

Around 30 people attended to hear guest speaker Mr Mike Taylor give an excellent presentation entitled, From Front To Rear:The BEF’s German Prisoners of War. The new Branch, which is self funding, will have 7 meetings in 2009 with guest Speakers, location visits etc. Members of the public are most welcome to attend – entrance is free, but donations to branch funds will be gladly accepted.

The Tayside Branch covers the approximate geographical area of Angus, Dundee, South Perthshire, and North Fife.

The branch programme for 2009: • Aces Falling: War above The Trenches 1918, • Disaster and Victory: Two Days at Beaumont Hamel, • 4th & 5th Territorial Battalions the Black Watch .... Sketches of 1914-1915, • Verdun : the capture of Fort Douaumont, a fascinating story of perhaps French stupidity and German courage, • Visit to Black Watch Museum, Balhousie Castle, Perth • Press and Public Propaganda: Anti Militarism and Conscientious Objectors in The Great War • Cambrai 1917: The Myth of the First Great Tank Battle Further details can be obtained by emailing the Tayside branch chairman Bob Paterson: Wfatayside@lochnagar.fr or phoning: 01382 775 000 (Photo courtesy Bob Paterson)

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19

TOWN/GOWN Kevin Dunion, OBE, MA, MSc, FRSA graduated with an Honours degree in Modern History from St Andrews in 1978. He is currently the Scottish Information Commissioner, with his office in Kinburn Castle, St Andrews.

Here, as the new Rector of St Andrews University, he writes about his experience in post so far:

Another Hat! What does the Rector do? That’s a question I have been asked (and have asked myself) since being elected by the students late last year.

Formally the Rector is described as President of the University Court, chairing what is the supreme governing body of the University. This role of Rector as chair of the Court is unique to Scotland and is confined to only 4 ‘ancient’ universities – St Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. (Dundee is the only other university to elect a Rector, but the post does not involve chairing Court). The intention is that the Rector should be independent of the university management and also should ensure that students’ issues and concerns are addressed and fairly heard by the university. Students clearly value this role and in the week of the election campaign I spoke to hundreds of individuals at lectures, halls of residences, societies, and debates, as well as at the formal hustings which test all the candidates.

Although the ceremonial installation takes place several months after the election the new Rector takes up his duties at the stroke of midnight on election day – in my case Halloween. The next few weeks were spent in a flurry of activity, getting up to speed. Although I was a student here 30 years ago, and physically much of the University looks the same, it is quite a different organisation. It has more than twice as many students and from many more countries; new disciplines have become

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

20

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prominent, such as International Relations, and the development of new facilities, especially on the North Haugh, reflects changes in academic demand and the needs of new technology.

This was apparent by the agenda for my first Court meeting, which dealt with major developments in the University – for example, the building of the new medical school; proposals to improve the library; and plans to tackle the energy needs of the university in a more sustainable way. (This meeting was the last for outgoing Principal Dr Brian Lang, and my second one saw his successor Dr Louise Richardson make her first Principal’s report.)

That is the formal part – the rest of the Rector’s function emerges from a mix of long-standing tradition, current student concerns, and enthusiasms matched to the Rector’s willingness and availability.

Traditionally, the Rector is strongly linked to issues of student welfare – so for example, I was asked for help by a postgraduate student who was getting married, but whose mother had been refused a visa to come from Zimbabwe. I contacted the Foreign Office and the UK Consulate, and soon after, the visa was issued and, happily, the family were all able to be present in St Andrews for the ceremony. Another case involved a first-year student, who was concerned at the system for releasing lists of private accommodation, which often requires hopeful tenants standing in long queues in the middle of exam time, and even sleeping out overnight in freezing temperatures, to be sure of finding a place to rent. I will be working with the Student Association to try to bring about improvements.

My diary has rapidly filled with staff-student forums, debates, and meetings with clubs and societies. The Rector is asked to help promote or take part in events like World AIDS Day; Disability Week; One World Week, and of course Freshers’ activities ( which happen at the beginning of the second semester in February as well as the traditional September jamboree) The Rector is also invited to many formal University events.

The opening of the splendid new Museum of the University of St Andrews by Ian Rankin, celebrated crime writer and honorary graduate, was a real pleasure – I would urge visitors and townspeople alike to take the time to go down to The Scores and enjoy the fascinating and well-presented displays. My first graduation event saw Sir Jackie Stewart receiving his honorary degree which, as he pointed out in a touching acceptance speech, is an aspiration and honour beyond all thought when he was being punished at school for being ‘stupid’ because of what has since been recognised as severe dyslexia. Graduation requires all of those on the platform – vice-principals, governors, deans, professors etc – to form up in the room below the Younger Hall and then to process upstairs and through the ranks of young people, soon to be transformed, as the Principal put it, from pupil to Master.

As Rector I enter the Hall behind a mace. Problems with my gown meant that I was several paces behind the servitor carrying the mace and I rather bounded down the central aisle to catch up, to be later gently admonished for somewhat lacking decorum. I duly maintained a dignified gait the next time.

The mace was specially crafted for the rector by talented silversmith Donald Wintersgill who is also the author of The Rectors of the University of St Andrews. His book details a daunting list of predecessors, which includes J.M Barrie, Rudyard Kipling, and Field Marshal Haig. In the late ‘70s there was an apparent preference for Rectors who might amuse – with John Cleese, Alan Coren, Frank Muir, and Tim Brooke-Taylor passing the Rectorial baton to each other for over 10 years. Thankfully, as I can never remember a punch line, the call in more recent times has been for a working Rector who, as I have described, will commit sufficient time to understanding the complexities of a major institution, and who will actively engage with student issues.

To be Lord Rector is a signal honour, especially for someone who benefited from studying here. The advice I intend to give to students is one given to my generation from John Cleese, who advised, “Don’t let your degree get in the way of your education.”

At least, that is what we were told he said…

TOWN & GOWN Alan Robertson, MA 1957, Life Member, The Kate Kennedy Club, tells of

The Missing Martyrs Crowds viewing the Kate Kennedy Procession will see represented Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart, whose familiar stand for religious reform and death by burning at the stake are briefly described in College Echoes, issued annually to coincide with Kate Kennedy Day. Hamilton, former Abbot of Fern, was of noble blood, a nephew of the Earl of Arran. Aged about 24, he was burned before the gate of St Salvator’s College on 29 February 1528. On 1 March 1546, having first been judicially strangled just short of death, Wishart was aged 33 when he was burned in front of the castle, the traditional spot marked by his initials in granite setts, close to the junction of North Castle Street with The Scores, placed there in 1946 on the 400th anniversary of his death. According to some authorities, his end was rendered even more grisly by having had bags of gunpowder sewn into his clothes to provide a fireworks display for Cardinal James Beaton’s invited audience of nobles and clerics looking on from the castle.

What of the others? Since 1842 the Martyrs’ Monument has stood at Witch Hill on The Scores, and forbye Hamilton and Wishart, two other names appear there: Henry Forrest and Walter Mill. The original inscription at eye level on the monument’s east side is badly weather beaten, but a clear renewed version set high on the west side of the obelisk reads: IN MEMORY OF THE MARTYRS PATRICK HAMILTON HENRY FORREST GEORGE WISHART WALTER MILL WHO IN SUPPORT OF THE PROTESTANT FAITH SUFFERED DEATH BY FIRE AT ST ANDREWS BETWEEN THE YEARS MDXXVIII – MDLVIII The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance

ravaged St Andrews Cathedral, and more importantly, for his grant to the University of a Charter of Incorporation on 28 February 1412.

Regarding Bishop Wardlaw, Revd C J Lyon [History of St Andrews, 1843] quotes Martine: “His memorie is sullied by the death of John Resby and Paul Craw, who were condemned and burnt for some opinions derogatory to the papacie”. Who was John Resby? He was ‘a Lollard or Anglican preacher of the school of Wyclif,’ an Englishman by birth, influenced by Martyrs’ Monument (Flora Selwyn) the teachings of Huss and Jerome of Prague, very active in Perth and its surrounds. “Strictly speaking” (writes Lyon) “Resby, burnt at Perth in 1407, was the protomartyr of Scotland, not Patrick Hamilton.” Lyon’s is a viewpoint probably little favoured in St Andrews!

George Martine of Clermont, 17th century antiquary, author of Reliquiae Divi Andreae. He was secretary and friend to Archbishop James Sharp, murdered by Covenanters at Magus Muir on 3 May 1679.

With that injunction in mind, what is known of Henry Forrest and Walter Mill?

According to Archbishop John Spottiswoode, writing less than a century after the event, Henry Forrest, a native of Linlithgow, was burned “at the north stile of the abbey” on 27 August 1534. Two others judged guilty of heresy, named only as Gourlay and Straiton, shared the same fate on the same occasion.

The last of the named martyrs, Walter Mill (or Myln) an apostate priest turned schoolmaster, teaching at Lunan near Montrose, was burned on 20 April 1558 “before the Pends”, or according to others, at the highest point of the headland, just above St Rule’s Cave. He was 82 years of age.

On the face of it, then, these are the four who suffered death by fire at St Andrews between the years 1528 and 1558. There was however one noteworthy other, not a Scot, who suffered a heretic’s death here in the same manner.

Paul Craw (as we know him) was actually Pavel Kravar. He was a physician from Bohemia, which, with Moravia, forms today’s Czech Republic, and came to St Andrews to practise his profession.

It is known that he was a Hussite – that is to say, a follower of the Bohemian reformer John Huss (Jan Hus, born c 1370), himself burned as a heretic at Konstanz on 6 July 1415, and that he was also influenced by England’s John Wyclif. “He took the opportunity of disseminating his opinions, which he was able to confirm by readily quoting Scripture”. Refusing to recant these opinions, he went to his death by fire in Market Street in 1432, probably between College Street and Church Street, close to the spot where the site of the Merkat Cross is marked. It is recorded that while he was being burned, a heated brass ball was put into his mouth to prevent his addressing the people, and further (according to Bishop Lesley) that the abbacy of Melrose was afterwards procured from the king for John Fogo, Professor of Theology ‘because he had been zealous in the prosecution of this affair’. The case against Paul Craw was brought by Laurence of Lindores, a monk, Papal Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity for Scotland, who was also several times Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and the first to hold the office of Rector of the University.

Paul Craw’s death occurred under the episcopate of Bishop Henry Wardlaw (1372-1440), rightly revered as restorer of fire-

21

TOWN & GOWN Matthew Guest

Community Relations Officer I last wrote an article for In Focus about a year ago, having just become the Students’ Association’s first Community Relations Officer, and coming now to the end of my term, it feels as if I have never stopped! It has been an amazing and surprisingly awarding experience.

So what has Community Relations been up to this year? It may, or may not, astonish you to hear that one of the main jobs has been attending various meetings and committees to offer (hopefully positive!) student input into the many different areas of activity in the town. This, of course, involves continuing to sit on the Community Council and attending the Senior Citizens’ Christmas Tea (held in January this year), which was possibly one of the most entertaining experiences this year!

Additionally, the Students’ Association now has its own extremely active Committee dedicated to enhancing and improving Community Relations in any way it can. If you are interested in finding out more, just let us know!

Overall, the number of meetings and groups which Community Relations has become involved in this year has quadrupled, and this is extremely positive, even if it does mean that barely a day goes by when I do not have a meeting (or meetings) to attend! I’m amazed I find the time to study sometimes!

The Town Group is one of the smaller committees I sit on, but has the potential to be one of the most active, as it includes representation from some of the key areas in the town. It is also working on one of the most important day-to-day issues that concern “Town” and “Gown:” Not seagulls, but public notice boards! The University has offered, and set aside funding for, a couple more notice boards, and is now working with the group to identify some suitable sites in the town.

However, the most exciting new group has to be Stunning St Andrews. It is a fully representative group, with the clear aim of working together for the good of the town, by bringing all members of the community in to help St Andrews win the prestigious Britain in Bloom Competition (and hopefully beat my hometown of Southport, which has already won several times). For more information, see the article in this edition of In Focus.

Community Relations does not just involve sitting on committees, but in helping to run community events. This starts as early as the beginning of the academic year. In September, I was honoured to help with the Old Time Ceilidh Dance which Flora Selwyn kindly ran to help welcome the new students into town. It was immensely popular, with over 200 students, who came along eager to learn some of the very special traditions of their new town, culture, and even country. Both Flora and I were amazed at just how popular and successful the event was and agreed it was a shame more such events did not happen, as both “Town” and “Gown” seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.

The other major event last year, which was a true Community Event, was the Christmas Lights Switch On. It showed Fife Council,

the Merchants’ Association, the St Andrews’ Festival Committee, the Community Council, and the Students’ Association working together to create a successful day. Indeed, from my point of view, it was amazing that an event which a year before had not included any students in it came to have over 50 and to be hosted by STAR, the student radio. Both showed a keen community involvement, and on that day, I really felt that everyone worked together to make an event to be proud of, and to build the relationships for bigger and better.

Of course, “Community Relations” (in the Students’ Association sense of the term) would not exist without the students, and this academic year has already seen an explosion in the number of events that have been specifically put on for the community. They do not just include the yearly events, such as the Kate Kennedy Procession, but also those on a grander scale. Most notable of the future events is the On the Rocks Festival, which, looking at the line-up even when I am writing this article in January, is extremely impressive. This will be a week-long series of Arts Events, billed as a mini Fringe, and the article elsewhere in this magazine will tell you all about it, if you haven’t already found it! It is a fantastic occasion to look forward to in St Andrews, and is encouraging all forms of participation, and there will be lots of opportunity to become involved, even if you want to go along and just witness some of the exciting things on offer.

Well, that, very briefly, brings you up to date. There is also a vast amount of day-to-day involvement in all areas of this diverse community (For example, I was surprised to find out that there are 1,300 registered student volunteers), and it has been a great honour for me to have been involved in it in some small way.

Remember, if you would ever like to contact the Community Relations Officer, or the Students’ Association, about any matter, please email: community.relations@st-andrews.ac.uk or just pop into the Union.

And keep your eyes open for the Community Relations Logo!

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22

TOWN & GOWN Iain Nicol writes

From a Student Perspective No Scottish university has a smaller percentage of its undergraduates from low income backgrounds than St Andrews: the University misses the national average of 27% by over 10%, or 610 students. Out of 160 Higher Education institutions in the UK, St Andrews ranks 6th worst for this. At the same time, for student rent, St Andrews is the most expensive university town in Scotland, and the fifth most in the UK. For reasons like these, I and fellow members of the Lower Rents Now Coalition (LRNC) call upon the University to take more social responsibility, and increase its number of affordable beds. Instead, the University will demolish Fife Park, one of its two affordable undergraduate halls. 252 beds costing £55.56 per week are to be destroyed. Their replacement – the New Fife Park – will have 777 beds. Construction is intended to start this summer. As I write this, the rent estimates given have been in the range £100–130 per week, but even these seem optimistic.

To put these figures in perspective, when rent of £100 per week is combined only with the cost of groceries (but not, for example, text books), a student must spend more than the maximum available student loan. Rent of £130 per week alone is larger than the loan. These rents show affordability is far from a priority for the University: In Aberdeen, the private sector rents out student rooms, including energy bills, for £60 a week.

Evidently affordability was not a design criterion for the Fife Park redevelopment: 567 of the 777 bedrooms will be en-suite rooms almost identical to those in the University’s existing, expensive, David Russell Apartments (DRA). Renting a room in DRA will cost £130.44 per week this coming academic year, so it is unlikely the 567 en-suite rooms in the new Fife Park will cost less; as for the non en-suite rooms, we have been told these could cost nearly £117, more than double the current rent.

If affordability were taken seriously, the existing Fife Park might not even be demolished. The justification given by the university for upgrading Fife Park is that it fails to meet the Council’s stringent Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) standards. However, upgrading Fife Park to meet HMO standards could be as simple as reassigning one bedroom per Fife Park house as a common room. When I asked the University for a feasibility study proving its claims that refurbishment without demolition is not “cost effective”, it was unable to provide one. Worse, the University had undertaken a study, but then destroyed all its copies.

DRA, the template for the new Fife Park, has various unnecessary luxuries that contribute. Every bedroom is en-suite, with a television; the kitchens have dishwashers; the rooms underfloor heating. For summer tourism, the Scottish Tourist Board gives DRA 3 stars. Blaming building and planning regulations, the University claims it cannot build a replacement Fife Park any cheaper, but here it implicitly makes the ridiculous claim that it is not possible to build accommodation any cheaper than 3-star.

The University says “en-suite facilities do not add significantly to the build cost”. This is false. Figures from a Vice-Principal estimate the cost of building en-suite flats as £48,000 per bed space, versus £38,000 for non en-suite, i.e., a significant 26% more. The justification continues, “the University has to anticipate the needs and expectations of many future generations of students. Retro-fitting these facilities at some date in future would cost significantly more”.

Every year, a third of returning students applying for an affordable bed are denied one. Over 1,000 students signed a petition calling for an increase, not decrease, in the number of affordable beds offered by the University, and 110 students marched to back that up. Hundreds of students submitted objections to the Fife Park planning application, partly on affordability grounds (the application was ultimately approved). Hence current students have a real need for affordable student housing, and the University should work to help them. Irrespectively, the University presses ahead with plans to build these expensive en-suite rooms, justifying it as the hypothetical wants, not needs, of some future, demanding students.

Perhaps the real motivator is profit; did you know the University’s summer profit margins are larger for en-suite rooms?

The University’s position is that “the issue of affordability and access [cannot be] narrowly defined” by the cost of rent. I find this naïve, considering just how prohibitively high the rents at the new Fife Park will be. The University instead highlights its scholarship programme. However, the University’s financial needs-based scholarship programme, the Wardlaw programme, only gave out 38 scholarships this year, and these only cover two-thirds of a year’s rent at DRA. Over six years, the number of these scholarships is expected to increase to a maximum of 100. The problem is that this pales in comparison to the number of affordable beds that will be demolished: 252.

In 2004, the University of St Andrews promised “the retention of at least 500 bed-spaces (c. one sixth of the total University complement) at low cost”. The Fife Park redevelopment will see the University owning around 3943 beds, a sixth of which is 657. Without an affordable Fife Park, however, this promise will be broken, as the University will have only 464 affordable beds left. These affordable beds are so important because the University offers no mid-priced beds.

In short, to allow poorer students to afford an education here, the University should provide more affordable beds. Instead, the University intends to demolish much of its affordable accommodation stock.

Demolition has never been shown to be necessary. The replacement beds will be prohibitively – and unnecessarily – expensive. Sadly, the University’s widening access policy is wanting in substance.

If you would like to find out more about the LRNC or help us, please visit our website at www.lowerrentsnow.org, or email us: contact@lowerrentsnow.org. We meet weekly on Tuesdays at 5.00pm in the Whey Pat.

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23

TOWN & GOWN Graeme Mutch, PR Officer

St Leonards pupils become Culture Vultures!

With representatives from 16 different countries in their midst, it’s not surprising that pupils from St Leonards enjoy lapping up culture from across the globe. And that’s something they have had plenty of opportunity to do in recent times…

To kick things off, students got better acquainted with the life and works of a Scottish legend when they marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns with some special events: for Burns Night, boarding and day pupils sat down for a highspirited Burns Supper in the School dining hall. Following the traditional format, the night included the piping in of the haggis by Headmaster, Dr Michael Carslaw; a recital by Maths teacher Paul McDonald ‘To A Haggis’; the serving of a typical Bill o’Fare; and a rendition by Lower Sixth Form (S5) pupil, Eilidh Oliver, ‘To A Mouse’.

The entire Senior School joined in the celebrations at a special Burns assembly, where Head of Modern Languages, Joyce Duncan, demonstrated the cultural importance of the National Bard; Physics teacher Diane Lindsay provided a lively demonstration of traditional Scottish dancing; Upper Sixth Former (S6) Francesca Cassidy gave a spell-binding recital of ‘John Anderson My Jo’; and music students provided an uplifting performance of some typical Scottish music.

Joyce Duncan said, “The Burns Supper was a great occasion and it was fantastic to see pupils and staff alike playing their part. This

The famous Roman Acqueduct in Segovia

24

is a particularly important year to remember Burns and we decided to hold a special assembly so that all of our students would get a chance to realise his cultural significance.”

Soon after, the School turned its attention to the other side of the world, City tour in Salamanca when it welcomed in the Chinese New Year with a night of colourful oriental festivities.

To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma studies, took part Ox, pupils staged a party featuring Chinese in a language revision course at the “Instituto songs, a China-themed quiz, a game of de Lenguas Aplicadas”, toured the ancient ‘chopsticks’ and recitals of Chinese poetry.

University town, visited the famous Roman Organised by Lower Sixth Form (S5) pupil, aqueduct at Segovia and sampled tapas.

Xuehao Wang from Shanghai, the event Staying with local families, the young linguists also featured a magnificent also enjoyed a salsa lesson dragon parade and a raffle, and got to know the Plaza which saw Lower Sixth Form Mayor inside out after Chinese pupils donate gifts taking part in a treasure from their homeland. To hunt in the historic square. make it a truly multicultural Susana said, “We thought spectacle, the School’s Burns that the trip would be an Night celebrations were also invaluable opportunity for extended so that they could our students. It allowed be combined with those them not only to practise for the Chinese New Year. their language skills and Pupils and staff therefore to revise for their final paid £1 each to wear either exams, but also gave them red to represent China, or insight into the culture and tartan to represent Scotland, lifestyle of the country. It with the money raised going was an experience that to charity. Headmaster, Dr they will never forget!” The Michael Carslaw, said, “It students, who kept friends was a highly entertaining and and family back home up to colourful night of festivities. date with their adventures At St Leonards we are very Piping in the haggis via a blog-site set up by the fortunate to have a student teachers, certainly appear body that has representatives from across to have taken a lot from the excursion. Lower the world. Our students enjoy having the Sixth Form pupil Sophie Cole said, “The trip to opportunity to celebrate the international Salamanca included such a diverse range of dimension in our lives.” activities that we left with an excellent picture A group of Sixth Formers were lucky of what the country could offer after only one enough to gain first-hand experience of week. The intensive lessons, combined with another culture when they set off on an staying with a host family, really improved educational trip. Led by Spanish teachers, our grasp of the language, and the day trip to Susana Aranzana-Gonzalez and Maria Segovia to see the famous Roman aqueduct Lago, eight pupils enjoyed a week-long stay was a highlight. It was a thoroughly enjoyable in Salamanca where they brushed up on experience that has served to re-ignite my their language skills and got to know more enthusiasm for learning the language.” about life in Spain. The students, who are learning Spanish as part of their International (Photos courtesy St Leonards School)

EVENTS Hawa Sesay, fourth-year student of International Relations, is Director of Réfèt Afrique

Beautiful Africa comes to St Andrews Years of media reporting from, and about, the Continent of Africa have imprinted on the minds of the West images of deprivation, calamity, and loss of every kind. Small wonder, then, that African students in St Andrews feel it is time to change the stereotype, and also raise awareness of the real efforts being made to bring about change for the better.

Beautiful Africa, Réfèt Afrique, is the first-ever, entirely student-run African fashion show. (The name is borrowed from the West African Wolof Tribe).

For five hours on Friday, 20 March, at The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, visitors will be able to admire a scintillating array of African styles from all over the Continent, “a distinguished fusion of fashion spanning four centuries.” Designers include Nigeria’s Estella Couture, and Tanzania’s Angelo-Elly Mlaki, as well as Vagabond Van, owned by St Leonards School graduate Lucinda Galt. Designers based in London, Senegal, Guinea, and The Gambia, will show, as well as students at the University of St Andrews.

Traditional and contemporary African drama, dance, and song will add to the festive and cultural atmosphere. There are to be performances by Makosa dancers (very energetic!) and presentations of traditional ceremonies. African musicians from all over Britain will perform a fusion of popular Western music and traditional Senegambian drumming called Mbalax.

Funds raised will be donated to Ugandan Liberation of Youth, which is a charity affiliated to the St Andrews Students’ Association. It is dedicated to bringing education and a better future to the children of Northern Uganda, who are at present in mortal danger from militia gangs.

For further information, please contact Hawa Sesay at: hks6@st-andrews.ac.uk or phone her on: 07891 013 262.

Réfèt Afrique also has a website at: www.refetafrique.blogspot.com (Photos courtesy Kayhan Photography, www.kayhan.co.uk)

Donald Phimister asks, are you

Passionate About Singing?

St Andrews Chorus is presenting a concert of the St John Passion

by Johann Sebastian Bach on 21st March in the Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews -- one of the finest works in the choral repertoire.

This Passion was written in 1723-1724 to enhance the Holy Week services in Leipzig. The idea of the passion is many centuries old and its use during Holy Week can be traced back to the first years of the Christian calendar. To start with, it was a reading from the liturgy, but from the fifteenth century the words were sung by soloists and choirs, who represented various groups of people in the story. The music of the Passion was developed polyphonically during the sixteenth century with several musicians creating their own works. The first performance of Bach’s St John Passion was in 1724 with modifications coming in 1725 and in later years too. The splitting of the work into two parts originally allowed the sermon to be preached in between them.

Nowadays the singers appreciate a rest!

St John’s Passion is a very dramatic work with bold trial scenes and a strong approach to the musicality of the story, which is taken from chapters 18 and 19 of St John’s gospel. It includes a large variety of music interspersed with arias and chorales.

The work tells of the taking of Jesus by soldiers in the garden of Gethsemane and then being interrogated by Annas, the brother-in-law of Caiaphas. Jesus was passed on to Caiaphas and then to Pontius Pilate, but the latter did not find fault with Jesus. However, the people were determined that Jesus be condemned as he had called Himself “King”.

Crucifixion, death, and burial follow.

The opening chorus represents a strong burst of choral singing, which no doubt our talented musical director, Edward Caswell, will maintain, and it will be complemented by the musical sensitivity that later deeply-moving scenes depict.

St Andrews Chorus welcomes singers from “town” and university, staff, and students. No voice test is required and anyone who can hit a good note and enjoys singing is welcome to join us next season: just contact our president Eric Priest: eric@mcs.st-and.ac.uk or see our web site for information.

Remember, 7.30pm, Saturday, 21 March, in the Younger Hall for the concert – it promises to be a memorable occasion – not to be missed!

St Andrews Chorus in a pre-concert rehearsal with conductor Edward Caswell and accompanist Marilyn Boulton (Photo courtesy of Gerry Priest).

25

EVENTS Susan Horsman

Sustainable Living Fair and Green Week Interested in the environment? Concerned about your carbon footprint? Or simply looking for ways to reduce your energy and fuel costs? Then help is at hand.

The University will be running its annual Green Week from 14 – 21 March, with a range of events to promote sustainability, and help to highlight the easy steps that everyone can take to reduce their environmental impact.

And do not be put off by the venues. Although the Students’ Association is normally reserved for University use, all of the events detailed below are open to the public.

Saturday, 14 March 12.00-3.00pm. Church Square and town centre. Launch of Plastic Bag-Free St Andrews Campaign. Stylish bags that can be reused again and again, cutting down on the unnecessary waste caused by disposable bags, will be on sale in several shops around the town, but at the launch we will be giving them out for free!

Thursday, 19 March 12.00-2.00pm.

School III, St Salvator’s Quad, North Street. The Day After Peace, film viewing and Q&A session.

Friday, 20 March 12.00-5.00pm. Venue I, Students’ Association, St Mary’s Place. Sustainable Living Fair.

• • • • • • • • •

Choose from a range of fully refurbished second-hand bikes Reduce your fuel costs Save money on your energy bills Discover the wonders of the Fife Diet Support Fairtrade Treat yourself to some ethical toiletries Learn about recycling and waste reduction Pit your leg-muscles against a light-bulb Find out what the University’s doing for sustainability

1:15 and 3.00pm. Venue I, Students’ Association. Cookery demonstrations.

Thursday, 26 March 7.00pm. Venue I, Students’ Association, St Mary’s Place.

Keep It Recycled Fashion Show.

Green Week aims to show a variety of quick and easy ways in which everyone can reduce their carbon footprint. And also how this can be fun!

For more information, visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk/greenweek (Photos courtesy Green Week)

Bike sale

Maxine Latinis invites you to the

KIR Fashion Show The Madras College Young Enterprise group, K.I.R (Keep It Recycled) are putting on a fashion show, based on the concepts of not only being friendly to the environment, but to your pocket too.

The fashion show is to demonstrate how clothes can be changed from old to new, with a few simple adjustments. Within the fashion show there will be outfits made out of entirely recycled materials.

We have sourced our clothes from Cancer research UK charity shop, 143 South Street, St Andrews. The clothes will be auctioned and the proceeds go to Cancer Research UK. The event will be a continuation of the St Andrews University Green Week.

Thursday, 26 of March – 7.00pm.

Venue 1 at the Students’ Union.

Ticket price to be advised/ VIP seating available Contact: Maxine, maxinelatinis@yahoo.com

“On the Rocks” From Sunday, 19 April to Sunday 26 April, our students will present a unique arts festival, a first for St Andrews. The Press Office has this on the website: ‘Organiser Philippa Dunn said, “We are delighted to bring this exclusive showing to St Andrews – we hope that this performance will push the boundaries of theatrical entertainment in St Andrews. This is the first time that students from around Scotland will be brought together in this way – we will feature projects from students at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Caledonian, Aberdeen, Napier, and Robert Gordon, as well as St Andrews. It’s the first forum of its kind for creative and talented students to share experiences, ideas, and resources.”

Philippa, Director of Student Development and Activities for the Students’ Association, continued, “On the Rocks will provide a unique, innovative, and exciting platform for new and established Scottish talent in the creative and performance arts. We hope to create a festival to develop and inspire both artists, performers, and audiences alike, and establish a new appreciation for all forms of art in Scotland.

We are really excited by the unique partnership we have created with local theatres – among the best in the country – and industry professionals. Anyone interested in working in the arts will be given the chance to be at the heart of the creation of a new and exciting piece of theatre, providing them with exciting career development opportunities. There are also plans to work closely with groups such as Families First, which provide disadvantaged children the chance to use their creative skills in a safe environment.’

For full listings visit: http://www.ontherocksfestival.com or Philippa Dunn: ontherocks@st-andrews.ac.uk Or the Press Office, University of St Andrews, St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores, KY16 9AX Tel: 01334 462 529 proffice@st-andrews.ac.uk For event information please contact: events@st-andrews.ac.uk

26

EVENTS Annie Kelly, Press Officer, StAnza, says

StAnza brings the poets back home to St Andrews As Scotland’s only festival devoted entirely to poetry in all its forms, StAnza: Scotland’s International Poetry Festival is in a perfect position to celebrate Homecoming Year and its central inspiration, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. This year’s festival includes Homecoming as one of its themes, and boasts over 70 events involving over 80 poets, writers, artists and performers. The emphasis is on live poetry in all its forms: complementing the major Byre Theatre readings are relaxed and informal Poetry Breakfasts, intimate Round Table Readings, Poetry Cabaret, slams, open mic and jazz nights and encounters with StAnza’s strolling poet/players in the Byre Theatre Foyer.

‘We are delighted to have attracted so many major talents to appear at StAnza 2009,’ says Artistic Director, Eleanor Livingstone. ‘Many of them have strong connections with Scotland and indeed with St Andrews.

And as always the festival’s success is a result of the strong support it receives from the community through sponsorship and the enthusiasm of the festival’s team of volunteers.’

StAnza gets started…

StAnza’s launch at 7pm on Wednesday 18th March at the Byre Theatre – free and open to the public – offers a taste of what’s to come during the festival. A very distinguished guest speaker, First Minister Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond, a graduate of St Andrews, will open proceedings, preceded by readings from New Zealand poet (and StAnza’s Poet-in-Residence), Bill Manhire and Scottish-born poet and writer Kate Clanchy. The spirit of Burns presides in music from the Ferryport Fiddlers and a song from Sheena Wellington (who performed so memorably at the opening of the Scottish Parliament). StAnza has also commissioned a fiery centrepiece from sculptor David Mach, famed for the Big Heids by the M9. ‘David Mach’s match head sculptures add a contemporary twist to the Burns theme at StAnza,’ says Festival Director Brian Johnstone. ‘His incendiary artwork at the launch is not to be missed.’

Homecoming poets StAnza 2009 offers a stellar list of prestigious poets including Simon Armitage, Patience Agbabi, Helen Dunmore, Sophie Hannah and Peter Porter, and many who have Scottish roots, most especially, Carol Ann Duffy, Robert Crawford, Kate Clanchy, Angus Peter Campbell and Elvis McGonagall. And there will be a unique opportunity to hear Ian Rankin, Scotland’s best-known crime writer, talk about poetry and the song lyric.

The Scottish Diaspora is well represented: New Zealand’s Bill Manhire is StAnza’s Poet-in-Residence, joined by fellow New Zealander Jenny Bornholdt. Both have been able to come to StAnza, thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Canada-based poet and scholar Stephen Scobie is an St Andrews graduate. So too is Jay Parini, who will give the StAnza Lecture on the theme of Homecoming. Also with strong Scottish connections are poets Annie Boutelle, who spent her childhood in Scotland and Ros Brackenbury, co-founder of Edinburgh’s famous Shore Poets. Alongside poets writing in Scots and Gaelic, including Martin MacIntyre and Nancy Somerville, StAnza welcomes poets Elisa Biagini and Bianca Tarozzi from Italy; and from Lithuania, Sonata Paliulyte and Kornelijus Platelis.

Carol Ann Duffy

Helen Dunmore (Jerry Bauer)

Poetry Centre Stage StAnza’s other theme, Poetry Centre Stage, celebrates poetry’s dynamic relationship with drama and theatre. Not Another Word is a specially commissioned collaboration between three St Andrews alumni: actor/ director Crispin Bonham Carter, Cralan Kelder and Clark Morgan. In the one-man play Out of His Head, actor Kenneth Price explores the troubled life of Scottish poet W S Graham. Live performance is also at the heart

of Poetry Cabaret. Poet and thriller writer Sophie Hannah, St Andrews-born Roddy Lumsden, BBC Radio 4’s Elvis McGonagall and East Lothian based Jim C Wilson entertain audiences over a lunchtime pie and a pint.

Time for talk…

Poetry Breakfasts were a sell out last year and the line-up this year promises to be as enticing: where else would StAnza’s Festival Director, you have the chance to have Brian Johnstone, with the coffee and pastries with Ian First Minister Alex Salmond Rankin, Simon Armitage and songster Martin Newell? On a scholarly note, StAnza reflects the wealth of Burns expertise in talks about the poet’s life and times. Discussing Poets of the Enlightenment & the 18th Century Gaelteachd, Gaelic poet Angus Peter Campbell and Robert Crawford, Burns biographer and Professor of Modern Scottish Literature at St Andrews, evoke eighteenth century Scotland, where Gaelic poetry and society underwent major upheavals. Knowledge and wit are the hallmarks of Drew Clegg, said by both the present and past presidents of the World Burns Federation to be among the best speakers on the poet to be found. In two innovative talks, he takes a fresh approach to the comic masterpiece in Tam o’ Shanter & the Fairy Cult; and in Burns – The Next 250 years, he speculates on what the poet will mean to future generations.

Poetry for your eyes only Art lovers at StAnza will also get the chance to experience a unique contribution to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

Photographers Tricia Malley and Ross Gillespie, known collectively as broad daylight, have created ‘as others see us’, a live projection of portraits of contemporary Scots from various walks of life, all of whom offer personal responses to Burns’ poetry. On display at the Public Library in St Andrews will be part of the world famous Byron Collection from the National Library’s John Murray Archive. The Preservation Trust Museum is the venue for A Bright Glade, an exhibition of work from Moschatel Press, run by poet/ artist Thomas A Clark and Laurie Clark. And a rich mix of exhibitions at the Byre Theatre and Town Hall Foyer includes Jim Carruth’s ‘visual poems’, Pittenweem artist Tim Cockburn’s witty festival drawings and Susan McGill’s ceramics decorated with poems and song lyrics.

Where to book For full programme details, visit www.stanzapoetry.org. Extra programmes can be ordered from Fife Contemporary Art & Craft, 01334 474610. Tickets are available online via the StAnza website and from the Byre Theatre Box Office, 01334 475000. With tickets selling fast, and two events already sold out at time of writing, don’t delay in getting your tickets for the Homecoming StAnza.

18–22 March St Andrews Celebrate Homecoming & 250 years of Burns with 70 events round the town readings : performances music : drama : cabaret talks : exhibitions : films Over 50 poets from 10 countries including Carol Ann Duffy Simon Armitage Robert Crawford Sophie Hannah Elvis McGonagall Over 30 writers, actors, artists & musicians including Ian Rankin David Mach Sheena Wellington Crispin Bonham Carter For full programme visit www.stanzapoetry.org Tickets now on sale at The Byre Theatre 01334 475 000

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EVENTS Claire Atwater on

Instruments of Interpretation: Works by Calum Colvin Inspired by Sir David Brewster An exciting and original exhibition exploring the work of contemporary Scottish artist, Calum Colvin, and the renowned 19th century scientist, Sir David Brewster, is to open in St Andrews this month.

Colvin, a graduate of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone, is known for his unique style combining installation art and photography. He creates three-dimensional sets, using real objects such as chairs, ladders, Action Man, tartan scarves, and even biscuit tins. These full-scale scenes are then used as a backdrop onto which Colvin paints his detailed image. Finally the painted scene is photographed, creating a unified picture from a disparate group of objects. Colvin’s work has been exhibited in London and Chicago, as well as in Edinburgh at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Colvin is putting on another exhibition of his new work entitled ‘Natural Magic’ in the Royal Scottish Academy, 7 March-5 April 2009.

Calum Colvin is working with St Andrews University students of Museum and Gallery Studies to create an exhibition looking at Sir David Brewster, the development of early photography, the stereoscope, and the way in which different ‘instruments of interpretation’ can influence how we perceive our surroundings.

Colvin’s current interest in the history of perspective and vision is evident in his newest work, a large 3D portrait of Sir David Brewster. Brewster’s groundbreaking work on the theory of light and its uses led him to invent the kaleidoscope and later the lenticular stereoscope. Focusing on this milestone in the history of vision and perspective, this exhibition looks at Brewster’s role in the development of early photography, and Colvin’s work on this theme. It is a celebration of Scottish art and science.

Colvin is enjoying working with the students, and had this to say on the upcoming project: “I am very excited to be involved in this collaboration with St Andrews University and to be exhibiting in the town. This exhibition explores the relationship between the artistic and scientific communities, which cuts across different eras and fields of interest in order to create new ways of perceiving the world around us.”

The exhibition opens on 21 March 2009 and runs until 16 May in the Gateway Gallery, Gateway Building, North Haugh, St Andrews.

The gallery is open Monday to Friday: 09.0017.30, Saturday: 10.00-17.00, with lots of free parking in front of the building. Entry is free We are eager to invite anyone and everyone to come and see the exhibition, and will be offering educational activities for children, local schools, and adults.

Details can be found on our website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/ccexhib The artist’s work can be viewed at www.calumcolvin.com For more information please contact us: ccexhib@st-andrews.ac.uk or phone Ross: 07752 187 269.

(Photo, by kind permission of Calum Colvin)

Spring has come, heralded by

The Kate Kennedy Procession Each year in April, after careful planning, the lovingly cared-for costumes are brought out of storage, and another Procession marks the coming of spring in St Andrews. Tamed in 1926 by Principal James Irvine, with the help of students James Doak and Donald Kennedy (a descendant of Bishop James Kennedy), the procession commemorates those who “have gone before” and shaped the town we know today. St Andrew himself leads, holding his cross of Martyrdom, the saltire of the Scottish flag.

Behind him comes a long line of distinguished figures representing the historical personages who contributed so much to both the town and the University. They are churchmen, royalty, scholars, poets, writers, Rectors, benefactors of the University, outstanding students, and citizens of the town. The climax of the Procession is the arrival of a daffodil-adorned coach bearing none other than the Lady Kate herself, with her attendants.

The historical Katharine is steeped in mystery, yet her connection with St Andrews is cemented by the words on the bell of St Salvator’s Chapel, cast in Paris for Bishop Kennedy: “That holy man, James Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews, and founder of the College of the Holy Saviour, had

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me cast in the year 1460, giving me the name Katharine.” Each year the Kate Kennedy Club, in the greatest secrecy, chooses a first-year male student, a Bejant, to take the role of Lady Kate. The following year, he has the daunting task of organising the Procession as its Marshal. The brochure, ‘College Echoes’, is on sale along the route, describing the characters portrayed, and bearing the good wishes of sponsors and officials. Money is collected for charity – indeed the Kate Kennedy Club has a proud history of raising funds for many charities, both local and national.

So go along and join the crowds, enjoy a unique spectacle, and at the same time support the worthwhile work of the Kate Kennedy Club.

(Photos, Flora Selwyn)

EVENTS

Selected Events Sunday, 1 March – 2.00pm. St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park.

The Artistic Language of Elephants. A talk by Dr Stephanie Bunn, Department of Anthropology, University of St Andrews.

Booking in advance required, 01334 659 380 or email: standrews.museum@fife.gov.uk Tuesday, 3 March – Sunday, 7 March – 7.30pm. Byre Theatre, Abbey Street. Kiss Me Kate by Cole Porter; St Andrews Amateur Operatic Society; Tickets £10. Contact: 01334 475000.

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

Saturday, 7 March – 9.00am – 1.00pm Argyle Street car park.

Farmers’ Market.

Saturday, 7 March – Sunday, 15 March – 10.30-12pm. Gateway Building, North Haugh. Recording Scotland: Walking Tour. Architectural historian Dr John Frew discusses 1000 years of the town’s architectural history; free but limited places – advanced booking required. Contact: Laura Paterson 01334 461 663, or email: ljp3@st-andrews.ac.uk – 2.00-5.00pm daily at the Preservation Trust Museum, North Street, St Andrews. Works of art by St Andrews University students, sponsored by Ha@sta, the art magazine produced by students in the School of Art History. Admission free.

Sunday, 8 March – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews.

Concert. 20th Anniversary Season of The Heisenberg Ensemble.

Conductor, Gillian Craig. Bassoon, Simon Rennard. Music by Brahms, Weber. Tickets £8, £7 concessions, £5 children & students, from The Art & Music Shop (South Street), The Music Centre, Younger Hall, or at the door. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Wednesday, 11 March – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Scottish Chamber Orchestra concert. Conductor, Louis Langrée; violin, James Ehnes. Music by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky. Tickets from the Byre Theatre box office, or at the door, Younger Hall (half an hour before the concert).

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

Friday, 13 March – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Unlucky Poet: a Celebration of Robert Burns – in poetry and music.

Tickets £10 / £8 / £6.

Saturday, 14 March – Saturday, 21 March – noon to 5.00pm – St Andrews Green Week. Bell Pettigrew Museum, St Mary’s Quad. Skulduggery workshop. Celebrating National Science & Engineering Week.

Sunday, 15 March – 12.00-1.30pm & 2.00-3.30pm. MUSA, The Scores. Fantastic Plastic. FREE, but advance booking required.

Contact Laura Paterson: 01334 461 663 or email: ljp3@st-andrews.ac.uk Tuesday, 17 March – 8.00pm St Leonards School Auditorium, The Pends, St Andrews. Ruth Waterman (violin) and Florian Uhlig (piano), music by Mendelssohn, Bach, Beethoven, Schumann.

The St Andrews Music Club. Tickets: £10, concessions £9, students £5, junior £1. Contact: Concert Secretary katie.elliott@btopenworld.com Wednesday, 18 March – Sunday, 22 March – StAnza Poetry Festival. Various venues; see page 27.

Thursday, 19 March – Sunday, 22 March – 2.00-5.00pm weekdays, 10.00am-5.00pm weekend. The Preservation Trust Museum, North Street, St Andrews. During StAnza. A Bright Glade. Work from Moschatel Press by Thomas A Clark and Laurie Clark. Admission free.

Friday, 20 March – 7.00pm. The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews.

Réfèt Afrique. A unique student-run African fashion show and cultural event. Contact: Hawa Sesay: 07891 013 262 or email: hks6@st-andrews.ac.uk Saturday, 21 March to Sunday, 17 May – St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park. In Pursuit of Knowledge: Voyages of Scientific Exploration. In conjunction with Darwin 200, Museum & Gallery Studies students have put together a fascinating exhibition. Contact: 01334 659380 or email: standrews.museum@fife.gov.uk Saturday, 21 March – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

St John’s Passion, J S Bach. The St Andrews Chorus. Contact: 07786 548 788.

Wednesday, 25 March – Installation of the University Principal, Dr Louise Richardson.

Saturday, 4 April – 9.00am-1.00pm. Argyle Street car park.

Farmers’ Market.

Saturday, 4 April – Thursday, 9 April – 2.00-5.00pm The Preservation Trust Museum, North Street. The world at our door – St Andrews’ Migration and Travel Stories from throughout the ages. Admission free.

Saturday, 4 April – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Camerata Scotland. Tickets, £10 / £6 / £2.

Monday, 6 – Sunday, 19 April – MUSA, The Scores. Easter Holiday workshops. Contact: Laura Paterson: 01334 461 663 or email: ljp3@st-andrews.ac.uk Wednesday, 8 April – 7.30pm.Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens.

Scottish Ornithologists Club Fife Branch. Contact: Howard Chapman 01334 870 768.

Saturday, 11 April – 10.00am-4.00pm. Victory Memorial Hall, St Mary’s Place. Book Sale. Admission free.

Wednesdays, 15, 22, 29 April – 1.15-1.45pm Younger Hall, North Street. Lunchtime concerts. Admission £2.

Saturday, 18 April – 2.00pm. Starting at University Quad, North Street, the annual Kate Kennedy Procession.

Sunday, 19 April – Sunday, 26 April – On the Rocks, a brand new, innovative arts festival, “that aims to showcase the very best in new Scottish talent across the widest variety of art forms.”

Hosted by the University Students’ Association. Various venues.

See press for details.

Thursday, 23 April – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Scottish Chamber Orchestra concert. Conductor, Joseph Swensen; Ilya Gringolts,violin, Music by Schumann, Schubert. Tickets from the Byre Theatre box office, or at the door, Younger Hall (half an hour before the concert).

Thursday, 30 April – 5.15-6.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Life: Creation or Evolution? talk by Kenneth Miller; James Gregory Public Lecture. Contact; 01334 463 709.

Advance Notice Friday, 1 to Monday, 4 May – MUSA, the Scores. A Weekend with the Stars. Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the night sky. Contact: Laura Paterson: 01334 461 663 or email: ljp3@st-andrews.ac.uk

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OUT & ABOUT Clio Turton, the Soil Association says, “With the end of winter and our attention turning once again toward being outside and in the garden – the UK’s leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming – takes a look at the benefits of gardening organically and the guiding principles behind the organic approach…”

Organic Gardening – cheaper and more cheerful

7. Get thrifty with The winter frosts may have killed off some of the slugs and snails waiting your meat in hope of something tasty to munch on in your garden, but inevitably Look for savings, the battle will recommence and the temptation to zap them with some dreadful chemical has to be resisted. Rather then mastering your garden without compromising your choice to eat high quality organic meat. with artificial fertilisers and pesticides, transform it into a thriving ecoOrganic meat is more expensive than non-organic meat for a number system using techniques that work with nature rather then against her. of very good reasons – the use of non-GM organic feed, access to Organic gardening uses natural processes and the outdoors, slower and more natural growth rates, and management-based, rather than product-based, solutions. extremely high animal welfare standards. Try eating a Nature already has little less meat and seek out the lower-cost cuts, such as Gardens are treated as a living whole system. Nature already has a solution to most of our problems. Organic belly of pork, neck of lamb. Offal, too, can provide tasty a solution to most gardeners use compost and other natural fertilisers, not nutritious meals. See Soil Association’s online Organic of our problems artificial chemicals, to feed and protect plants. The result Directory for direct suppliers of organic meat. is that birds, butterflies, beetles, bats, and wildflowers are www.soilassociation.org/directory encouraged to thrive. A study by English Nature and the RSPB found 8. Avoid waste that, on average, wildlife is 50% more abundant, and there are 30% Go shopping with a list so you don’t get waylaid with ‘bargains’. With more species on organic farms than on conventional ones. a bit of forward planning for meals, and inspired use of leftovers, you Diversity makes the system more robust to external challenges, can avoid the need to throw away wilted or mouldy produce. See so more stable. This also allows for more sophisticated and specialist WRAP website for more info: www.wrap.org.uk processes to act within the whole; niche soil organisms, for example, 9. Get busy in the kitchen controlling specific pests. In the 1940s, pioneering organic agriculturist Sir Make meals in batches and freeze in portions and use herbs and Albert Howard said, “Pests must be looked upon as nature’s Professors of spices to make a little go a long way. Check out ‘How to Store Your agriculture: as an integral portion of any rational system of farming.”

Garden Produce: The Key to Self-sufficiency’ by Piers Warren.

Prevention rather than cure is key. Rotate crops to break the life cycles of pests, rather than use pesticides. Focus on the plant and its 10. Take a walk on the wild side ability to resist disease. Think of managing a garden organically as being Get free wild food and have fun outdoors. Pick up some tips from like a conversation between gardener and garden, whereby you observe master forager Fergus Drennan: www.wildmanwildfood.com the response to the management and adjust practices accordingly. The non-organic approach is more akin to a lecture, and the routine use of pesticides is a one-size-fits-all approach.

The freshest and cheapest way to enjoy food is to be able to pick it from your own garden – and what better way to teach your children more about natural life cycles than growing your own fruit and veg. then making it into a meal together? I bet they will be keener than ever before to eat more green stuff if they’ve nurtured it and picked it themselves.

Finally, as a bonus – with about 30% of our carbon footprint coming from what we choose to eat and drink, a switch to low-carbon food choices is not only fun, it’s crucial.

Ten top tips for organic on a budget: 1. Grow your own For the freshest, most local food you can get – right on your own doorstep. Check out Soil Association Master Classes for growing courses: www.soilassociation.org/masterclasses Also Garden Organic is a great resource: www.gardenorganic.org.uk 2. Sign-up to an organic box scheme Excellent value for money – local, seasonal and organic fruit and veg. delivered straight to your doorstep. Find your nearest scheme with the Soil Association’s free online Organic Directory: www.soilassociation.org/directory 3. Create an organic buying group Bulk-buy your store-cupboard staples with a group of friends. Try a cooperative such as Suma: www.suma.co.uk 4. Join, or start, your own local Community Supported Agriculture project Community supported agriculture is a partnership between farmers and consumers, where the responsibilities and rewards of farming are shared. For more info visit: www.soilassociation.org/csa 5.

Keep your own chickens Fancy some super fresh eggs for your Sunday fry-up? Try a Soil Association Master Class on caring for chickens: www.soilassociation.org/masterclasses

6. Avoid over-packaged convenience foods Cook fresh fruit and veg. from scratch. For recipe ideas try ‘The boxing clever cookbook’ by Jacqui Jones and Joan Wilmot, or the new ‘Riverford Farm Cook Book: Tales from the Fields, Recipes from the Kitchen.’

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Invite you to visit a hidden treasure in the heart of St Andrews WOODLAND & WATERGARDENS HERBACEOUS & SCREE ALPINES & RHODODENDRONS GLORIOUS GLASSHOUSE COLLECTIONS OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR ROUND WINTER LECTURE PROGRAMME Tuesday 3rd March at 7.30pm Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm Chemistry Dept. North Haugh Entry free – all welcome CONDUCTED WALKS at 2pm First Sunday from March to October SPRING SALE IN THE GLASSHOUSE Saturday 14th March 10am – 12 noon 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

OUT & ABOUT Alison Gilmore, on the

Leading Lights of St Andrews Harbour!

‘Friends of St Andrews Harbour’ have been customised bench seating alongside the beach engaged in a most pleasurable task – spending wall and have allocated a further £2,000 to a money! After the success of their annual Gala rolling replacement programme for the benches in August 2008 – where they raised several around the harbour itself. These and other thousand pounds – again! – they thought that additional improvements will increase the members and readers would like to know how enjoyment of townsfolk and visitors alike....a these funds have been allocated. They enjoyed fine place to take time out, relax, and enjoy the great support from everyone in and around the scenery! A further £1,000 were allocated for a St Andrews area.....from new ‘Leading Light’, which the crowds turning up at will be a fixture on the old This shows how a small, local, the Gala to enjoy the fun Coastguard Look-Out voluntary group, working with (and to part with their hardbuilding after renovation the continuing and valued earned cash), from donors works there are completed. support of townspeople, can of goods for stalls, from This will make the harbour really make a difference teams in the Human Table entry safer for all boat Football League, from the users. As time and tide Madras Pipe Band, from Fife Council, the local wait for no man, a further £500 were allocated Police, and from volunteers in keeping the for the complete refurbishment of the Harbour Gala running, and clearing up afterwards. Their clock. These projects are likely to require more grateful thanks go to everyone concerned. funding and consideration will be given to ‘Friends’ have already spent £1,800 on additional expenditure in the next financial year. clearing and landscaping the area of former Chairperson, David Martin, who is scrub land on the beach-side of the harbour. overseeing progress on these projects remarks, To complete the final phase of this project, they “This shows how a small, local, voluntary group, intend to spend another £2,500 on building working with the continuing and valued support

of townspeople, can really make a difference.

I would like to thank everyone involved in our fund-raising efforts for giving so freely of their time and talents, and will make sure everyone is kept informed as to how our plans are progressing. As the key objective of ‘Friends of St Andrews Harbour’ is to support small projects in and around this beautiful mediaeval harbour area, we are delighted that finance can be targeted in this way. I look forward to another successful year for ‘Friends’“.

Of course, the ‘Friends’ will be holding the annual Harbour Gala in the summer of 2009, the 6th Gala in recent history, and the date will be published in the near future. Again, they wish to convey their thanks to everyone who helped their fund-raising efforts in any way and look forward to seeing many new friends at this summer’s big event. Watch this space!

If anyone requires further information, please contact David Martin, Chair, Friends of St Andrews Harbour, on 07778 618 634 (mobile).

A Munroist enthuses about

Munro Bagging – Getting Going The Editor wanted a piece on Munro-bagging. But here we are in Fife, a Munro. By now you have lost 220 metres, most of which you have to regain if you want to climb Bishop’s Hill. You will spot the path ascending without a solitary Munro within our boundaries. What is a novice to do to see if Munro bagging suits? There is a lot that can be done from the on your left. A steep pull up brings you to a more gentle walk to the comfort of your computer terminal: try www.Scottishhills.com Here you summit. Gliders and paragliders use this hill, so it’s worth taking a look can find routes up any size of Scottish hill discussed, together with some over the edge to see who else is about. While you are picnicking on the stunning photos. If December’s Trip Report winner, Doogz climbing Ben top you can take a look at the white spheres the other end of the plateau, Nevis by the Carn Mor Dearg arête makes you tremble which before they were erected were promoted as in your seat, there are gentler walks, where the demerits “hardly visible”. These tell the forecasters when heavy if I can complete the of dog-tossing over deer fences, are explored by clouds are approaching, so don’t be too annoyed by Munros – more than half fatdogwalks! them. When you are into your Munro-bagging career, while in possession of a However, the time comes when only going out and you will be logging on to www.mwis.org.uk/ and grateful bus pass – anyone can trying something will do. A careful study of OS Map 58 for anything they can tell you. shows that there are several walks up the Lomonds, Return to the Glen Vale path the way you came and and a crafty combination can give you a taste of what it might feel like head for the road and your car. Surely these two small hills don’t add up to tackle that first Munro: moreover, if it all gets too much, you can head to a 3,000 foot Munro? Many a Munro does not require the 914.4 metres back to the car. Drive to Gateside on the A91, and turn left towards of ascent. Take Carn Aosda in Glenshee, and you will need to add in Nether Urquhart. At the T junction turn right, and almost immediately The Cairnwell and Carn a’ Geoidh as well, just to stretch your legs: we there is a parking place where a footpath begins. You can follow this past walked them most recently with an American friend and his ten year-old the intriguing Bunnet Stane until it climbs steeply up the side of the hill, daughter, who wanted to outdo her elder brothers’ Munro-bagging feats. and then turning right joins the main path, which leads you to the top of The nearest Munros to Fife, Dreish, in the Angus glens, and Ben Chonzie the West Lomond at 522 metres. We climbed this before Christmas, up beyond Comrie, both have well-marked paths to the summit and ascents through the cloud, and with the sun behind us we saw Brocken Spectres of around 700 metres, so if you are fit enough for the pair you have just projected on the cloud beneath, I’m sure that some would disagree with done in Fife, you are fit enough for one of these. its appropriateness, but I was glad to see that mine had a colourful halo!

I was the girl who could never do sports, and was sent to stand in Even this elevation gives a great view of Fife farmlands below.. goal, so I always say that if I can complete the Munros – more than half From the summit, weave down southwards until you hit the path, while in possession of a bus pass – anyone can. Buy or borrow a copy which you follow just north of west, down Glen Vale, past John Knox’s of the SMC Hillwalkers’ Guide to the Munros and an O/S map, and get pulpit – if you have had enough by now, you can follow it right down to going. With one behind you, there are only 283 to go! the road and back to the start. A good try, but not enough to follow up with

(East Lomond from Bishop’s Hill)

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