St Andrews in Focus Issue 36 Sep Oct 2009

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

September / October 2009 Issue 36, £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 On the 17th June this year The Rotary Club of St Andrews honoured your Non-Rotarian Editor with their Service to the Community Award (please see my website: www.StAndrewsinFocus.com).

I was genuinely surprised and deeply touched to receive such prestigious recognition. But while this magazine is indeed “my baby”, so to speak, it could not exist without its many willing contributors. Nor could it appear without the dedicated work of its designer, Duncan Stewart (who deserves a medal for putting up with me!) printers Trendell Simpson (who always produce the magazine on time, and even before time) and distributor Elspeth of Guardbridge (who organises a team putting 6800 free magazines through St Andrews’ doors – no mean feat). Those businesses in St Andrews who put their trust in me through advertising, provide the resources to publish; many have told me that it has benefited them.

To all of you, I am deeply and sincerely grateful. Since the magazine’s birth in 2003 I have some 30 pages of emails and letters from all over the UK and abroad saying how much pleasure the magazine gives its readers. In its turn that gives me pleasure, and the satisfaction of being able to provide a service. Rotary’s very kind accolade is, therefore, truly a tribute to the town of St Andrews.

Flora Selwyn

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

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

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Contents TOWN/GOWN • Computer Science & Mathematics • Bombastic biology • High tech

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FEATURES • ‘A man’s a man for a’ that...’

• Jigsaw aficionado • A K H Boyd • Some ‘belles’ in St Andrews • World population • Reviews – Don’t call me Angus – In ma wee gasmask...

– Orchids for Aphrodite – Sgian Dubh • Those boots..

• The Stamper • Hamish...again

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SHOPS & SERVICES • Destiny’s pathway • She loves to talk about it!

• What it takes to run a business • R B Grant, Electrical engineers • PAYE Codes • Eureka moment • Riach Contracting • Roving Reporter

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ORGANISATIONS • RSCDS • St Andrews Chorus • The Preservation Trust • St Andrews Skills Academy

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EVENTS • Music at the Younger • Robert MacMillan Exhibition • RAF Leuchars Airshow • St Andrews Chamber Orchestra • Film Festival • Selected Events list

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OUT AND ABOUT • Going Organic • The Warld O’er • Elephant Rock, yesterday and today • The Botanic Garden Open Day • The Isle of May • Toonspot

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£22 overseas (post and packing included).

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Cover photo courtesy RAF Leuchars

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TOWN & GOWN Isabel Peters won first prize in this magazine’s Essay Prize Competition for first-year Science Undergraduates, with

Computer Science and Mathematics later, the English mathematician, George Boole Could you imagine living without your mobile phone, without a computer, (1815 -1864), developed the essentials of or a washing machine? Certainly not. Looking back to former times: programming code. Boole’s developments are people in their middle age used their intellectual capacity, their sensibility indispensable for proofs in mathematics and and their experience to build houses, to get food and to distinguish processes in Computer science. between enemy and friend. But humans have become more demanding, Handling a lot of numbers, and working and people now find it necessary to process much more data. No genius with them daily, I chose Mathematics as my could manage a database with millions of account numbers, or encrypt second subject. Similar to Computer science, and decrypt data in a fraction of a second – so they had to create it is straightforward and rational. As you have a something that is able to do all of this: computers. tremendous feeling when you finish a program you Computers cannot replace human beings, but they can help them, always feel the same when proving a mathematical make their lives easier, more comfortable, and understandable. But what theorem. Mathematics is a basic subject for all sciences and it is an is so special about computers? Computer science is a very exciting engaging factor in the economy and our society. A mathematician has to subject that concerns us everywhere and everyday. Early in the morning be very precise, concrete and exact in his procedure. we get up by an alarm because it is programmed So does a Computer scientist. A proof has a clearly to do so. The traffic light switches to red and green arranged start and ending point, and it always ends and makes sure that we can cross a street safely. A with a concrete and logical solution. Mathematics is computer works because it is compiled with various an astonishing and outstanding subject. Numbers components, such as software programmed to show a themselves are very impressive and powerful, as Windows (or a Mac OS X) desktop with flashy icons. they have a great impact to our life. For instance, To make a computer do what we want, we have you ever tried to park your car perfectly? have to give it exact and precise assignments, (Picture 1) Mathematics can, in a way, explain our called algorithms, which fix a special flow of data. life, our universe (physics) and there are also many An algorithm is logically arranged: so we tell the natural phenomena strongly tied to mathematics: computer, for instance, to open a program when we Picture 1 Fractals, for instance, are objects that contain the click on an item on our desktop, to write some text same objects just smaller and repeated for an into a file or to connect to www.st-andrews.ac.uk if we infinite time (each in a different scale.) We find this type it into the browser. A special machine translates phenomenon within a lot of plants. (Picture 2) our assignments into a huge chain of zeroes and Mathematics and Computer science encompass ones and the heart of the computer, the processor, my passion and fascination, but they are also hard then reacts accordingly. So in terms of rational work. However, my love for the challenge and the intelligence, a small computer accomplishes a huge feeling when I have accomplished a task, make it and astonishing amount of things. It is programmed all worth it. For my future career: Mathematicians to do what we want it to do. It is amazing and very and Computer scientists are in demand and the exciting to develop its skills and to teach it to become job market is very good. There are many key skills more intelligent and powerful. Briefly said: a computer that I, as a computer scientist/ mathematician, will is primitive, but we have the ability to program it to Picture 2 learn in the course of my academic studies. For make it to be smart. instance: rational and logical thinking, the ability to Being a programmer, there is always the challenge Computer science is not communicate and to work in a group, and creativity. of programming a computer. As a programmer, you only a subject limited to This is required by many companies and may open have to plan your solution and you have to break down its subject itself, but it can up many exciting career opportunities. a problem into smaller pieces in order to accomplish combine almost every other But just in case something goes wrong, there a task step by step. When the task is solved, there is an indescribable feeling of luck, confidence and area we are concerned with are seven special mathematical problems, called the millennium problems, that I could try to find solutions satisfaction. Computer science is not sitting all day to because it would provide a unique challenge and the substantial in front of a computer and bothering with boring, nerdy stuff. Computer compensation of one million dollars per problem solved, would be an science comprises writing code, which is an invention and creation. added bonus. However, Computer science and Mathematics is needed Programmers get their experience from understanding new processes in almost every area and there are a lot of questions in our lives that every day: the Internet, an mp3 player, or digital media. need to be solved. I am willing and open to the possibilities that exist In addition to that, Computer science is not only a subject limited in many areas of IT Industry, and as the human tends to become more to its subject itself, but it can combine almost every other area we are modern and technical, there will be always a need for those who make it concerned with. For instance, it provides us with connectional and possible. technical instruments that allow us to learn from nature (Bioinformatics).

(Illustrations courtesy Isabel Peters) Computer science is also strongly tied with the logic of philosophy.

Aristotle defined the basics of logic, and many centuries and philosophers

University of St Andrews Open Association The Open Association offers an exciting and diverse programme including evening lectures, short courses, and day schools, on a range of topics as varied as Physics, Woody Allen, Geology, and Shakespeare, to name but a few. This semester you will find perennial favourites such as Listening to Music and the Botanic Bonanza alongside new options such as Film Studies, and Writing Fiction. The brochure for courses starting from September 2009 onwards is available now from the Open Association office and online at www.st-andrews.ac.uk/oa For full details please contact the Open Association administrator: St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AX Tel: 01334 462206, Email: open.association@st-andrews.ac.uk The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland. No: SC013532

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TOWN & GOWN Philip Birget was the runner-up in this magazine’s Essay Prize Competition for first-year Science Undergraduates, with

Bombastic Biology It was not a search of a general understanding of this world, no personal quest that drew me to studying Biology. It was rather a very early amazement for life in all its aspects and especially its great diversity, that struck me since my young age. The rich and diverse nature of my homeland Luxembourg was amongst the main drivers to an ever-increasing interest in the environment and especially its faunal inhabitants. As the past is the key to the present, let me briefly consider the sequence of events which made me the enthusiastic Biology student I am today.

Like many peers of my age, I developed an early interest in dinosaurs, but soon I learned that the essence lies beyond plastic puppets and cute cuddly toys. The ideal transition (also in an evolutionary sense) from the prehistoric reptiles to today’s animal world were little chicks I was offered by my parents for Easter. I was stunned by their complex behaviour, and slowly I developed the feeling that the animal’s view of the world could not be inherently different from our own. This reasoning has persisted in my viewpoint until today; the barriers are very smooth. Many people told me at the time that there is a fundamental difference between animals and humans, but even at my young age I could never accept this as an obvious and undeniable fact.

At the age of seven, my favourite occupation was the discovery of the forest and the countryside of Luxembourg’s wilder north, which generated in me an early respect for the environment in its integrity. When I was twelve, my interest shifted towards exotic birds, especially parrots. In the subsequent years I accumulated 24 more birds, finches, insectivorous birds, and other parrots. Birds have the rare capacity to preserve even within captivity a more or less natural behaviour. I could assist within one meter their social interactions and reproduction. But besides taking the wild home, bird observations in the field gained an increasing importance in my daily schedule.

Eight years ago I had the unique chance to become involved in a birdringing station. For the first time of my life it became possible to examine up close the birds that seemed so remote in field observations and in books. I was introduced to one of the most beautiful traits of science: to make the invisible visible! Besides morphological details, it was their behavioural traits, which I could suddenly reveal only by catching them.

The wonderful phenomenon of bird migration embraced me; we could catch different bird species at different times of the year, some arrived earlier in their reproducing areas, others later, some could be caught through tape record attraction, other species not. These fundamental differences lead me to a restless quest for more knowledge and revealed science as a helpful tool.

In 2005 I started my first scientific project concerning differential migration patterns in two very closely related warbler species, the reed and the marsh warbler. Analysing more than 9000 ringing data, I established that reed warblers arrive significantly earlier on their breeding grounds than marsh warblers. However, the age of the bird, i.e. its personal experience, played another important role concerning its arrival or departure date. Scientific bird ringing can turn any bird into an individual with its own biography.

With this study I won the first prize in a national competition for young scientists. It was not the reward, however, but the whole scientific process, which seduced me to invest myself more into the discovery of nature’s secrets.

I have spent most of my free time ringing birds in our station, culminating in the catch of almost 25,000 birds during the year 2008.

It was by then that I discovered that evolution and genetics were the underlying driving forces of the phenomena I observed. In my wetlands, I could observe niche construction on a daily basis. Birds isolated themselves on spatial and time islands. Food might be especially rich in reed beds, where I mostly catch birds, but the sheer number of nonlocal migrants is responsible for a fierce competition, especially in the late summer months. My investigation into these patterns showed me that biological science is much more than a passive contemplation and admiration of nature’s beauty. Evolution has shaped every aspect of the living world and this process continues to the present day. In the beginning of this essay I mentioned that it was not a general quest to understand this world’s complexity that drew me to science.

Today I believe that through an increasing knowledge of evolutionary forces, many tendencies, including our own behaviour, can be explained more precisely and more efficiently. And this is the area in which I would like to invest my future devotion; evolution and its macrobiological consequences.

Science itself is a social activity, no scientist can work on his own.

The success resulting from co-operation of scientists from both, the same and very different areas, is one important characteristic which distinguishes science from arts, where individual views are preferred. In this sense I launched the project, “Follow the birds through Europe and discover new environments” together with the European town-twinning association “Douzelage”. It aimed to gather ornithologically interested youngsters in different ecosystems and vegetation zones across Europe and to study the local avifauna, especially through the means of bird ringing. I was very happy that since its first steps, the project was granted financial support by the European Commission. The first took place in 2006 in Luxembourg, the second in Poland’s Odra valley with at least 50 participants on each occasion. Although the project was initially targeting adolescents, a wide range of ringers, PhD students, and even university professors from all over Europe have participated each year.

I hope I’ve managed to show that Biology is not only a life science, but a lively science itself. We humans are the product of billions of years of evolution, and so is any other organism of this world. All the processes within our history have a common biological basis. For me, there is nothing more exciting and motivating in the world than pursuing this idea.

(Photos courtesy Phillip Birget)

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TOWN & GOWN Professor Gavin Reid, Director of the Centre for Research into Industry, Enterprise, Finance and the Firm (CRIEFF) explains

High Tech

a scientific level, it aimed to create robust It all started in the University Staff Badminton models of the way in which Scottish high tech Club. In China, it would be seen as part of firms function. the ancient tradition of ‘guan xi’ – ‘networking’ Naturally, a starting point was what to us. A distinguished research physicist Scottish economic policy had to say about (and excellent badminton player) asked me stimulating high technology. There were about research opportunities in Economics a number of pivotal policy documents of & Finance. It would involve making a interest, including The Cluster Approach connection between high technologies and (Scottish Enterprise (SE) 1998) followed their commercial applications. Thus began by specialised reports from SE on an odyssey that would lead to new ideas, microelectronics, optoelectronics, and new funding, new findings, and new careers. biotechnology.

This article is about that odyssey, and its The cluster approach has roots in unfolding, over several years. industrial organisation. Adam Smith, (The High technology refers to technologies Wealth of Nations), would have recognised at the leading edge of scientific advance. the concept, when observing the advantages Today, ‘high tech’ is also about business of the division of labour in the Dunnikier venturing. So, the research I mentioned is district of Kirkaldy, which specialised in nail about the technologies themselves, and production. Alfred Marshall, first Cambridge their commercialization, which provides the professor of economics, talked of a similar ‘bridge’ between economics & finance and concept, ‘the industrial district’, when he the science research base. observed the Birmingham small arms cluster.

The physicist was Dr Ujjual Divakar, a Prominent European examples include the mobile and talented academic, moving from production of cars and auto components in posts in St Andrews, to Oxford, then to the Baden-Württemberg, and the production of University of Queensland, Australia, before textile products in Emilia Romagna. finally returning to the UK to work in a high Our project would take us into locations tech company near Cambridge. He, like like science parks and technopoles in many career scientists, has ‘walked over the Scotland, gathering data by face-to-face road’ from the university research lab into a interviews with technology entrepreneurs. We commercial high tech setting, but retaining also used postal and e-questionnaires. Our a research–intensive position in his profitframework covered: performance, resources, driven setting. collaboration, embeddedness, and location.

This vignette of Divakar’s career provides Most of these terms are self-explanatory; insights into the way high tech ideas ‘spill ‘embeddedness‘, meaning over’ into the private sector the extent to which from the universities. His High technology economic activity is wife, Vandana Ujjual, is also refers to technologies embedded in a locale; for a part of the story; she was the one interested in studying at the leading edge of example, in terms of staff recruitment, sourcing of phenomena I have mapped scientific advance raw materials etc. out – hence the enquiry made Using specialised at the badminton club. I am publications and web sites on high Director of the Centre for Research into technology sectors, we gathered detailed Industry, Enterprise, Finance and the Firm information on 836 firms, over two-thirds (CRIEFF), which I founded in 1991. It struck of the active high tech firms in Scotland. It me that a project of this nature was a good fit was a fascinating and privileged experience to CRIEFF’s activities. meeting such bright people. What characters My first call was Professor Wilson they were – tough, creative, and courageous, Sibbett, of Physics and Astronomy, a world with the conviction that they could bring a authority on optoelectronics, and Chief new idea ‘to market’. We were fortunate Scientific Adviser in Scotland. He gave me in having backing from ScotEconNet to useful initial steers on high tech in Scotland, undertake this research. and encouraged me to speak to Vandana Our findings were that Scottish high Ujjual about doing research with me in technology firms were mainly small- and CRIEFF. Vandana had a strong background medium-sized enterprises. They are in life sciences, an MBA, good IT skills, knowledge intensive, mainly employing and some commercial experience. Not an university graduates. They have diverse economist, she had some economics and collaborative agreements, frequently finance training, and her ‘hybrid’ background extending overseas. Whilst embedded in seemed advantageous for the project I had terms of recruitment and purchasing, they in mind. are not in terms of sales. They have high After her registration as a PhD student R&D and innovation expenditure, and this is in the School of Economics & Finance at greater the larger the firm. They are quick in St Andrews, I hired Vandana as Research getting products to market, usually under the Assistant in CRIEFF. She worked on a veil of trade secrecy. Their main impediments ScotEconNet-funded project on Scottish to innovation are costs, finance, and skills. high tech clusters in Scotland. This looked Economics & Finance is not just at linkages, innovation and performance. about facts, however; it is as much about It involved surveys, field work, computing, hypotheses. The two in which we had most and the compiling of case-study material. In interest, were from Richard Gibrat and essence it created a bird’s eye view of the Joseph Schumpeter. Gibrat claimed that high technology landscape in Scotland. On

firm growth was a purely random process, with no systematic effects.

Schumpeter claimed that there were large-scale economies in R&D. To address these hypotheses required a lot of computer modelling, based on the data we gathered.

Our results are fascinating. They refute Gibrat, and imply that our high tech firms do have an ‘equilibrium’ size (i.e. a size which they all tend to approach); in the short run, about 100 employees. As high tech is still an immature economic activity in Scotland, not many firms have yet reached this size.

In the medium term, the ‘best’ size to be, to maximize innovation performance, is 1000 employees. Few high tech firms are close to this. Finally, to enjoy the effects Schumpeter talked about, of potentially unlimited scale economies in innovation, firms need to be very much larger – we estimate over 3000 employees. Only a handful of technological giants are in this position.

Recently, I presented these results to Scottish Enterprise at their impressive facility on Atlantic Quay in Glasgow. A big gathering for a policy meeting, about 70 people, who were lively and well informed, and very interested in the results, especially the implications for size of firm. The general view was that large size could only be achieved by takeover and merger, rather than by internally-driven growth, too slow for the fastpaced world of high tech enterprise.

To illustrate: Micro-Emissive Displays (MED) was a well-known Edinburgh high tech firm, producing the world’s smallest TV screen. Though it had world-class technology, it did not grow, and with an employment size of just 50 (well below the short-run threshold of 100) was a victim of the credit crunch. Despite being launched on London’s alternative investment market (AIM) in 2004, it went into receivership on 25 November 2008. By contrast, ProStrakan, a Borders-based high tech pharmaceuticals firm, grew by both merger (with ProSkelia in 2004) and acquisition (with APS Pharma in 2005). It is now, with approximately 200 employees, about twice the size of the shortrun equilibrium we identified. ProStrakan recently went to market with Sancuso, a new drug (administered in convenient patch form) that alleviates the effects of chemotherapy.

Revenue estimates are very favourable.

Research work such as ours is never concluded, another revised hypothesis always around the corner. What I have presented gives some flavour of the research process, why people engage in it, and how it touches our lives, without going into the technicalities of the research itself. That detailed work continues, new horizons are constantly raising our aspirations, and driving forward our search for understanding.

(Photo courtesy Prof Reid)

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FEATURES Flora Selwyn sat beside David Mann in the Scorecards Bar of the Scores Hotel, surrounded by the framed original scorecards of famous golfers, such as Jack Nicklaus, and was spellbound.

“A man’s a man for a’ that” (Burns) After the army a friend suggested emigrating to Australia. It was 19 “I have been thinking, and my children months before a passage could be found, “we kept pestering them, and have tried to encourage me, to put pestering them.” However, a farewell dinner with David’s parents was so down my experiences that I’ve had, emotional that he cancelled the trip. They had already sold “what little we and where my beginnings were.” I had. We were living in a small bedroom in my mother-in-law’s house, 9 suggested that this meeting provided feet by 11 feet, that was our total life, with a gas fire.” A letter came from a good opportunity to begin! David Canada where a friend had emigrated the previous year, “the only letter went on to list some of the remarkable he ever sent in his life” which would have missed David if he had sailed. people he himself had met, including George and Barbara Bush, “and yet Six weeks later David and Marion set sail for Canada. “We stayed there I’d no education, I was working before my fourteenth birthday.” for 17 years. Our three kids were born there.” David worked hard, started David was born on 12th January 1929 in 280 Tollcross Road, in his own carpentry and builder business in Guelph, near Toronto, and Glasgow, in a tenement room and kitchen, which “ gave us three adults he also played ice hockey – “we won the league the first year.” I asked and two children; and the washroom was the stairhead – very, very where he had learned to skate? “We played ice hockey on the river,” he humble beginnings.” By a strange coincidence, which became apparent said. In 1958 David joined the Referees’ Association, “there’s money in only 16 years later, David’s wife, Marion, was born six months after him this business”, maybe $3 a game! How David found time for charity work in 273 Tollcross Road. In 1934 David and his family moved to Carntyne. on top of everything is hard to understand, but he joined the local Lions Remarkably, David’s future wife, and her family also moved there “at the Club, helping the blind among others, and became its president. end of our street, but I never met her until I was 16, and then on VJ night “I’m a workaholic, I loved it, I just couldn’t stop.” Realising his health (when celebrating the end of the war with Japan) there was a lot of fun might suffer, David decided to take a holiday in Florida, “fell in love with and enjoyment , and the background of all these council houses, every it right away.” A few months later he was back, heard about a hotel for now and again they’d clothes ropes with a light hanging down the middle sale, and bought the Palm Ocean Villas at Pompano Beach, some 30 and a record player going with dancing round the back green – war had miles from Miami. “That’s what got me into the hotel business.” In 1968 finished after five years. And I stood and I watched this girl dancing round he purchased Howard Johnsons Hotel – now Marriott Courtyard – in Key with this fellow, and she danced by me – I never said nothing – she turned West, which his son now owns. “I knew what I was round and said to me, ‘you’ll know me again the next doing. I knew there was sunshine there, and I was time, won’t you?’ And here we are, after 61 years of You’ve got to be working in the cold, I’d either fry or freeze!” married life! so that was our beginning!” outgoing, and nice to For many years David sought to buy a hotel in When David was 9 years old, and his brother 10½, the family was evacuated for a time to Auchterarder, people. But that’s been Scotland. In America David chanced to meet the daughter of Ronnie Alexander, of Alexander’s buses to a farm known to David’s father, “and we went to the the story of my life in Scotland. In 1984, another chance brought David farm school”. There were 24 to 26 pupils, but David and

by Concorde, along with American PGA golfers, his brother were the only evacuees among “all grades. to Leuchars airfield, welcomed by crowds of people who had never And you don’t live on a farm unless you work – up at 3.30 in the morning seen Concorde before, and a pipe band. David is a dedicated golfer, to milk cows, we’d to milk three cows each, carry the milk up through to “I’d applied to be a marshal at the Open. From then on I was known as the separator, carry it back to put in the trunk of the car, and push the car American Marshal.” By another pure chance, David learned that Ronnie to get it started, because (in the war) you couldn’t get new batteries. And Alexander owned the Scores Hotel, in St Andrews, “so I picked up the then we delivered milk to Auchterader.” phone and said, ‘Ronnie, would you like to sell your hotel?’” It transpired At 16 David became an apprentice carpenter. “My father wanted that was indeed the plan, and so the deal was struck in 1985, and David me to be a shorthand typist, because he was big in the Daily Express became the Hotel’s second owner in 38½ years, “just because you circulation business, and he knew that reporters did shorthand typing.” speak to a couple of girls, or you give someone a helping hand. You’ve After six weeks of taking a class in shorthand typing and book-keeping, got to be outgoing, and nice to people. But that’s been the story of my his teacher said, ‘David, I’ve got to talk to you. You’re not going to make it, life.” you just don’t seem to get it.’ Today I still can’t understand book-keeping, Did David have any regrets? He laughed. Some years back Frank debit and credit.” An attempt at joinery followed. “and six weeks later, the Sheridan offered him a special collection of 23 golf clubs used by teacher came up to me, his name was Wilson, real nice fellow, changed winners of the Open – for £10,000. David didn’t think he could afford my whole direction in life entirely, and he said, ‘David, I’ve got to talk to them. Southeby’s exhibited those clubs all over the world, eventually you’, I says,’oh, not again!’ he says, ‘ you’re wasting your time here, you auctioning them for £655,000. “Oh yes, I had made a mistake!” The should be a joiner.’ I took the advice of my teacher; my parents didn’t buyer turned out to be an R&A member, and now the collection is on have any say, so they gave me a letter and off I went to join Cochrane & display in the St Andrews Golf Museum, and “to add insult to injury,” Co.’’ where David started as an office boy.

Frank Sheridan got Southeby’s to send David their portfolio of goods ‘’I served my apprenticeship and went to Stow College [in Glasgow] sold and the prices they fetched, “you win some, you lose some. So for my building, did a five-year course, with a first class certificate, that’s basically me” and I got a bronze medal fourth year, the top boy in school. I was 17.”

David and his friends planned to go dancing, but were persuaded by their teacher to attend the prize-giving, guaranteeing that the boys wouldn’t be kept more than an hour; ‘somebody’, he said, ‘had to represent the class’. To their amazement, David’s friends were awarded third and second prizes, with first prize to David himself!

The friends were given a kit of tools, their “gold”, “and I got a medal!”

David wanted to trade his medal, “but none would part with their tools.”

Then came two years of army service. David hoped to go overseas, but “when they saw my credentials in the construction field, they wouldn’t allow me. They said they wanted me in HQ,” and David never moved. He had married just before his call-up, having informed his fiancée that it would increase their wages from his 15/as a draftee – £2 5s 6d married allowance for her, and 10/6 for him – “so I’ll only lose 5/- and you gain £2 5s. Just think how much we’ll have together!” The wedding itself was therefore hastily decided, so hastily that the minister thought it would be impossible because the banns had to be read three times in church. “Just a minute,” interjected David, “there’s your morning service, your afternoon service, and your evening service.” The minister had never before done it, but since David was about to join the army, he agreed. “The whole wedding, including the taxes, cost us £15, because that’s all we had.”

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FEATURES Dr Gavin White contributed this fascinating snippet

Hazel Gifford, is captivated by

A K H Boyd has not been well regarded in history. A recent journal called him that “great Victorian gossip”, and when I quoted him at an academic meeting, a learned professor reminded me that a prize Galloway bull had been called A K H B and if the bull was A K H B, the man was bull. But for many years he was the public face of St Andrews.

He was born in 1825, the son of an Ayrshire minister, and studied for the law in London, being admitted to the Inner Temple before changing course and qualifying in arts and divinity at Glasgow for the ministry of the Church of Scotland. There followed assistantships, until he was ordained to Newtonon-Ayr, served in other parishes, and was called to the First Charge at Holy Trinity in St Andrews in 1865, staying until his death in 1899. As a minister he was regarded as one of the best preachers in Scotland, and a leading “Scoto-Catholic”, as those in the Kirk who worked for more formal worship, a stress on the apostolic succession of ministers, and other supposedly Anglican developments were called. And he was a lover of England, while a patriotic Scot. He knew many leading figures in the Church of England, and is credited with giving the Church of Scotland a better image amongst them. But he wrote books, and that is what has been held against him.

His first book was compiled from essays he wrote for Fraser’s Magazine, and is described in the Cambridge History of English and American Literature as, “the volume of pleasant, but garrulous and insubstantial essays entitled, Recreations of a Country Parson.” Published in 1866, with no author’s name (later books bore his initials), it was wildly successful in Britain and America; there were over twenty editions in America alone. If some books are stream-of-consciousness, his was a stream of semi-consciousness. There was some pawky wisdom in it, but it was mostly description of an ideal life, which could never have existed. He wrote that “the life of a country clergyman in a pretty parish (is) as happy, useful, and honourable as the life of man can be.” Again, “the life of a country parson passes quietly away.” Yet the life of a country parson involved illnesses, deaths, crimes, and local hatreds. At one point he mentioned hearing that some widow’s son had deserted the army and come home. This was work for a minister, and Boyd had a name as a faithful pastor, but what he did in this case is not mentioned.

Everything in the book is happiness and delight. The modern equivalent would be The People’s Friend with its “feel-good stories”.

None of his later books were as popular, and none were as treacly. His books of sermons were solid, grave, and the world they depicted was more credible than in his Recreations. But once he moved to St Andrews his writings were about the town and its people. Twenty Five Years of St Andrews was published in 1892, still with no author’s name, except that it was by the writer of Recreations, and with accounts of his doings and those of his friends, and of distinguished visitors to the town. He loved to show visitors the antiquities, and it was a great blow when the famous Thomas Carlyle came to St Andrews, but Boyd was away.

Carlyle entered the church, asked who the minister was, and on hearing it was Boyd, muttered, “God bless them”, as he did about everything. But word had it that he muttered, “God save them”, and this Boyd was anxious to refute. When Boyd and the minister of the Second Charge, and presumably the Kirk Session, hired a contractor to clear away bushes which obscured the great elm trees, the contractor said he understood, and then cut down the elm trees. In The Last years of St Andrews, published in 1892, he was more scholarly, explaining that he loathed John Knox (most of the Scoto-Catholics did), and describing his ideal of the church. He quoted Sir Walter Scott as saying that it “was worth going into a Scotch Kirk for the pleasure of getting out again”, and engaged in a diatribe against Perth railway station.

But what must attract us is something from the last page of that work, “Two generations ago there were souls here who saw not that the entire charm and glamour of St Andrews are in its antique air, and that to make it modern is to spoil it. I have indeed seen, not without emotion, the sacred city of a thousand years, described in a degrading advertisement, as ‘this rising and fashionable watering place’. It was a blow.”

A K H Boyd died in 1899 while at a hotel in England, where he drank a glass of carbolic acid in which his false teeth were to rest, believing it to be a sleeping draught. He was buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity, now paved over and probably outside the door of Pizza Express.

I think you are either a puzzler, or it means nothing to you. There I am, sitting happily sorting the pieces, and my visitor smiles pityingly, says “Ye-es” dubiously, and we move on swiftly to other things.

Or, one is hooked! and over the years I have enjoyed seeing how often someone new to our family is drawn in; casual chat becomes easy and relaxed. Whether they are shy or extravert, anyone can join in; they may giggle, or be clever, or quietly quick, and maybe share odd stories. All one needs is a good picture to work on.

As the youngest child in our family by several years, I was often left at home while the rest went off to the local theatre or cinema... “you wouldn’t enjoy it, Darling; here’s a nice jigsaw for you”. I didn’t exactly resent the patronising words, as I used to get nightmares all too frequently after any exciting film, but I was old enough to resent being left behind. Yet I know this is when I got hooked; I can’t resist wanting to fill in the pieces of any incomplete puzzle. Is it the same sort of brain that enjoys Sudoku and Crosswords?

And as the years pass, I know that just to fit something together that ‘stays put’ when it is done becomes a real and positive pleasure, once you are any sort of manager, especially of people. Dear and lovable as families are, they are forever wayward, elusive and unpredictable!

My husband travelled a lot, and my favourite puzzles must always be the five he brought back at different times from Spain: an El Greco, a Goya, and two by Velasquez, all hand-cut wooden, with their own distinctive cut. That has become what I always look for when choosing one to do: a great painting teaches me so much about the techniques and brushwork of different artists. Or I enjoy a really interesting city scene with a lot going on, or beautiful landscapes. The most difficult puzzle he brought home once was small, and the pieces small, too. It was of a brown mare and her brown foal, in the snow! The basic divisions into six sections were all wiggles that turned into the backs of ducks, which subdivided in turn to become palm-shaped ‘trees’, ‘stick’ boys and girls, beautiful, beautiful shapes each one, maddeningly alike, and yet not. And what happened? it disappeared, in a house-move, seemingly. Alas, I mourn its loss still. I would feel happier to know it had ‘found a good home’, somewhere, admired and enjoyed.

My latest enthusiasms come from the Wentworth Wooden Puzzle catalogues: all computerised maybe, but delicately laser-cut, with delightful ‘whimsies’, (small figurines, once popular in the early hand-cut puzzles) cut in with the interlocking pieces, and ‘difficult’, but never ‘impossible’. 250, or maybe 500 pieces, they are manageable and can be done comfortably in a day.

One day, I was chatting with the curator of the Edinburgh Museum of Childhood and asked if he knew of a Jigsaw Puzzle Library, or Club, in Fife or even in Scotland. He looked dubious, but his face lit up as he fished out an address, “Well, there is the BCD, but they are in England”.

BCD?? When I heard what that represented I laughed aloud!

What a wonderful title! I just had to find out more about the ‘Benevolent Confraternity of Dissectologists’! “Yes, we’d had a good bottle of wine when we thought that up!” said their first chairman over the phone. The earliest puzzles were indeed called ‘dissections’ of an educational nature, for children.

For the small fee of £7 I receive quarterly Newsletters, full of articles about the history of jigsaws, collectors’ interests, needs, lists of ‘Wants’ and ‘Sales’, and regular meetings.

These are held, alas, too far away for me nowadays, but clearly enjoyed by all who go a-puzzling together. I am now one of over 700 members.

So while I am happy to hear of their doings I do wonder if there is anyone in the East Neuk who is also puzzling away in isolation, who might enjoy the occasional Get-together. I live in St Andrews and mostly at home, these days. My email is: hazel.dg@btinternet.com Good puzzling, wherever you may be!

“A K H Boyd of St Andrews”

Photograph of A K H Boyd from the Preservation Trust archives

Jigsaw Puzzles

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FEATURES John Michael Buchanan, BSc, considers

Some ‘belles’ in St Andrews St Mary’s College, above the northern gable In the Secret end of the Hebdomadar’s Block; also on the Bunker, near St Mary’s Place Council offices building (exAnstruther, Fife, a West Infants School). The Town Hall has a very Civil Defence film old, functioning bell, used inter alia, to mark the dating from the passing of distinguished citizens. height of the Cold The most impressive bells in St Andrews War, advises the use of church bells to warn are in the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, of an imminent nuclear attack. However, since and also in St Salvators College. The sound there’s a paucity of bells in Scotland, it offers, of the Holy Trinity carillon will be familiar to as a practical alternative, word of mouth! It many, its 27 bells continuing a tradition which was John Knox who disabled Scotland’s early may have started when the Town Kirk was built warning system! As usual, St Andrews is the on the present site in 1412. The first 15 bells exception that proves the rule, being blessed were installed as recently as 1926, the largest with a richness of bells (and public clocks) over weighing in at 1.5 tons. Two bells were added the centuries. Not all remain in working order. in 1938, six in 1962, and four more in 1998.

St Salvators College Tower, integral to the The ‘chime’ became a ‘carillon’. There are only Chapel, had only one bell initially. This bell, two larger carillons in Scotland – in Perth and named ‘Katherine’, or ‘Kate Kennedy’, is 2ft Aberdeen – and few overall in the UK. These 7.5ins in diameter and was cast in AD1460. It bells are hung ‘dead’, sounded by clappers is the source of the name of the world-famous activated by a clavier operated by a carilloneur.

Kate Kennedy Club and the Kate Kennedy Our carillon will surely feature in the November Procession. It was recast in 1609, 1686, and 2009 celebrations marking the centenary of the 1940. In 1761 it was joined by the St Leonards rebuilding of this very fine Church. Quarters and College bell, ‘Elizabeth’, which is only 1ft 6ins in hours are struck using these bells and linkages diameter and was cast in Ghent around 1520. It to the clock mechanism. Curfew is tolled was recast in 1724, and 1940. Physically linked automatically each evening, though this was to the mechanical College clock (dated from done manually in living memory.

1853), a hammer strikes the hour on ‘Elizabeth’.

At other times, both these bells can be swung using ropes. Both bells have extensive Bells Past inscriptions which have been augmented at On a site above the harbour, associated with each recasting. The clock was restored and the vey much earlier Culdee Church, the the mountings of the bells upgraded 1999Church of St Mary on the Rock (c.1144), there 2003 thanks to the generosity may have been a low central of the late Mrs J R F ‘Cookie’ tower, but no belfry. It would St Andrews is Matheson, and others. have been visible on haar-free St Andrews is blessed with blessed with a rich days to sailors making landfall a rich heritage of bells, which in the harbour. heritage of bells are sure to be used to mark The Cathedral Church of special moments of celebration St Rule (c.1160) had a bell in the years ahead. Additionally, in times of tower, which has survived. Initially at the west crisis St Andrews’ bells could be deployed as end of this Church, it became centred when an early-warning system. a western extension was added. Neither the Earlier this year Cambridge University western extension nor the bell have survived. launched its 800th-year celebrations with a Inspection of the masonry suggests where the mass bell-ringing throughout the town. Perhaps bell mountings were secured.

St Andrews will do something similar, nuanced St Andrews Cathedral was consecrated in with its characteristic panache and originality on AD1318. It featured a central tower and belfry a human scale. high above the cross. It would have been much higher than the highest parts of today’s Bells Present ruins. Even at a considerable distance, pilgrims Small bells are to be found in the corballed approaching from the high ground to the south belfry of the Founder’s, or Stair tower, of and west would surely have rejoiced at the

Detail sight of Scotland’s largest Cathedral, and been heartened by the sound of bells signalling journey’s end to their spiritual travels.

St Leonards College chapel was built with a bell tower, later demolished. The bell itself has survived. In time for the University’s 500th-year celebrations in 1911, the Chapel was rescued from its ruinous state and reroofed. In 1952 it was fully fitted out for use to mark the 500th anniversary of the founding of St Salvators College. On St Leonard’s Day, 6th November 1952, the renovated Chapel was rededicated in a service, the first to be held there for nearly 200 years. It was still without a tower.

Inscriptions St Salvators College bell – translation of the full original: That holy man, James Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews, and founder of the College of the Holy Saviour, had me cast in the year 1460, giving me the name of Katherine.

St Leonards College bell – translation of the full original: I am Elizabeth of St Leonard’s, cast at Ghent 200 years before, and impaired by the ravages of time. Robert Maxwell recast me at Edinburgh in the year 1724, at the charge of St Leonard’s College, and after the passage of another 100 years, when my voice had cracked and I was growing old. James Colquhoun Irvine, Principal of this College, took care to have me recast in 1940.

John Michael Buchanan was educated at the co-ed kindergarten of St Katherine’s School, under the shadow of the bell tower of St Salvators College in North Street. He went on to study physics at St Andrews University from1967-1971. In 1971 Michael took part in the KK Procession as his kinsman, George Buchanan (1506-82), and again in 2008 as Shield Bearer to Bishop Kennedy himself.

1926 – the first 15 bells installed in Holy Trinity Church as a memorial to Patrick Macdonald Playfair, Minister of the First Charge (Photo courtesy Holy Trinity Church).

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Michael has a continuing interest in the development of his Alma Mater. Readers’ comments, he says, will be graciously received with interest.

FEATURES Richard Salinsky BSc lives in London. Flora Selwyn met him recently. Impressed by his concerns about world population pressures, she invited him to air them here.

Overpopulation?

I chatted to Flora about the student-run, that war, there are very nearly 3 times as “Oil: Challenges and Opportunities” held in many people in the world as there were Parliament Hall, St Andrews in May this year. in 1939!

She asked me with such disarming aplomb to Consider: from the time of Jesus write an article, I couldn’t possibly refuse, so of Nazareth; till some 600 years later here it is! when Mohammed lived; and even later These days we’re constantly bombarded when the Vikings were on the move, with statistics. Facts about this, figures about the population remained almost static that, and often after taking an interest in at just below 3% of today’s figure. Note; something we later find it simply wasn’t true, or it was millions back then, not billions, perhaps better research subsequently showed and only growing slowly. Today’s it more accurately in a very different light. We’ve population is now growing by a billion all heard the famous quotation, “lies, damned every 12 – 15 years, which means pretty lies, and statistics”, which can thoroughly much doubling every 40 years. It’s now undermine the credibility of numerical analysis projected (Population Reference Bureau and give people a quick excuse to drop the and others) to reach 8 billion (and still subject then move on. It may seem a bland growing) by 2025. statement of the obvious to say “there are a lot Take a look at the graphs. Notice the more people in the world than ever before”, but extraordinary and very dramatic “spike” is it true? After all we hear that the population to the right, which is exactly where we of Scotland has been hovering around the 5 are now. There can be little doubt about million mark since at least the 1960s and may the overall accuracy of the figures these even be falling. Is the same true in other parts graphs are based on (mainly very sober of the world?

US Census data, but also other equally Let’s first put this into context by well-respected sources). considering the total population of the world The simple unassailable fact is we throughout history. Civilisation began about are currently experiencing a staggering and 10,000 years ago as the last great ice age utterly unprecedented on-going explosion in finally ended and people abandoned “hunter growth of the number of people in the world. gathering” in favour of very simple farming.

There have never before been so many people Obviously population figures going back that far alive at one time; nothing remotely like it. Some are fairly speculative (they get more accurate as people optimistically believe that as countries we steadily return to the present century). It’s in the world “develop”, their local fertility rates estimated (for example by US Census Bureau’s will fall, leading to stabilisation (at extremely “Historical Estimates of World Population”) that high levels) of their populations. This in turn, some 5 million people roamed the earth then; they hope, might eventually lead to a stable about the population of present-day Scotland! worldwide population of perhaps 11 – 12 billion Not much changed until about 1,000BC by 2040 or so. There are many weaknesses when slowly, but steadily, the population in this theory, not least the fact they’ve had to began to increase. There was a plateau about continually increase the “stable” upper limit the year 0, after which it started rising again. and push back the date when it might finally The Black Death had a “naturally” happen! terrible impact in Europe Frankly I’m sceptical.

There have never before but numbers quickly Further advances in been so many people recovered. medicine, even more Since the start of the widespread use of alive at one time; nothing Industrial Revolution, industrialised agriculture remotely like it around AD1750, when methods (with further it was a mere 10% of technical advances what we have now, the population of the world coupled perhaps with genetic modification) has been growing much faster. Incredibly, the and changes in ideological and cultural values appalling loss of life from all 20th century wars (already seen in parts of the world today) could made virtually no long-term difference to the all very easily mean the current startling growth world’s population. It’s estimated that roughly is but a prelude to what our future holds.

50-60 million people died during the Second Though not remotely desirable to my World War alone. Some estimates (see for mind, I can see how, at the expense of most example the Wikipedia article “World War II natural habitats, and by turning the entire casualties”), including indirect deaths, even biosphere into a human feeding machine, our put it as high as 72 million. Yet astonishingly, once beautiful planet could quite “comfortably” the world’s population then grew so fast accommodate even a hundred times as many (spurred on by “the Green Revolution”, as well people as there already are! Yes, 677 billion. as medical advances) from around 1950, that Why not? Carpet the Highlands of Scotland with today, in 2009, just 64 years after the end of cities! Would that worry you?

flexi-offices

Arguments rage about the implications. Can our planet support such numbers? Some say there isn’t a problem, believing there’s plenty of room left and that we’ve hardly even started to tarmac and tame the whole world yet! They say we don’t really need huge wildernesses and claim that tiny natural habitats are still perfectly viable. They’re confident science and technology will find solutions to shortages of food and other resources.

Opponents are not so sanguine. James Lovelock’s classic Gaia theory suggested the earth is self regulating, no matter what the inhabitants do to it. But there are those (like me) who believe a clock is ticking, leaving little time to make necessary adjustments to the way we live.

Let’s leave out climate change (it may not be driven by human activity after all; but pollution, habitat erosion, and resulting species extinction most certainly are)..... Whatever your own take on these matters, these graphs (borrowed from Wikipedia) give pause for thought. You may be concerned about the growth and continued development of St Andrews, but let me assure you it is nothing compared to what is happening right now on a vastly more alarming scale in most parts of the world. Visit Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) as a good starting point for further reading.

Take a look at the “overpopulation – history”, “population”, and “world population” articles for yourself. Though far from perfect, Wikipedia is open for discussion and monitored constantly by experts in their field.

(Graphs supplied by the author)

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FEATURES: BOOK REVIEWS Amanda writes on...

A

Don’t Call Me Angus D

by Gus Mackenzie b Published by Global Authors Publishers, New York, and available from Waterstone’s, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon at £9.50 paperback, £15.50 hardback.

“Everyone has at least one book within them.”

A view that is echoed

by Gus Mackenzie, author of his first novel, Don’t call me Angus.

With an increase in genealogy and in tracing one’s family roots, whether through necessity or purely as a hobby, here was a chance to record some tall tales and yarns, something of a keepsake for future generations.

For Gus, as he prefers now to be called, living in Kirkcaldy with his wife Steph and daughter Amanda, inspiration came simply from Amanda. She knew when and where in St Andrews her Dad was born – after all, she had visited the town on a regular basis, since a large part of the family still remains there. But it seems she wanted more of an insight into her Dad’s background as a small child at her age.

What was he like at school, where did he play; the list went on, and so the first novel, Don’t call me Angus was born.

Don’t call me Angus is a short, sweet mixture of fiction and memoir. The reminiscences narrated by the eponymous Angus, tell the story of an ordinary Scottish family in the 1960s and ‘70s, now called the MacKays. Just the mere mention of St Andrews stirs up excitement in the heart of every golfer.

But to young Angus Mackay, living in the Swilken Bank Hotel, overlooking the eighteenth hole of St Andrews’ Old Course was not particularly awe inducing; for him and his family, it was an adventure.

The story opens nicely with an older Angus explaining things to his daughter Amanda and

wife Steph, whilst they board a flight for New York. Here he could pin them both down as they trundled along the runway and memory lane of his disastrous holidays as a nipper, and the ultimate torment of having older brothers and sisters. Always with a humorous insight into the life of a troubled, and not so smart baby brother, living a posh and unique life with the family Mackay as a bairn; sorry, as a child.

This starting scene focuses clearly on all of the principle characters, with an evocative description of St Andrews. It is clear from the beginning that his family are hoteliers and that the story focuses on the fictional ‘Swilken Bank Hotel,’ home of the MacKays. The characters are placed in it with the scope and precision of figures in a small child’s dolls house, each in their own appropriate place. The introduction all feels comfortable and well conceived; generating familiarity of the warm environment.

Anyone who knows the Home of Golf can relate and instantly fall for the charm and uniqueness of this book.

The key to Don’t call me Angus is of course its character dialogue and page-turning humour, which are the best things about it. The light and breezy tone makes it a simple and easy read, in a style of loving amusement, possibly as a 12 year-old boy, with a twinkle in his eye fibbing to his 12 year-old daughter, years later, recalling his lifestyle and events.

It would seem unbelievable to many, the shenanigans these children would get up to, which make it a delightful story. Imagine then, losing your child one afternoon, only to find him once again, five hours later by the ‘Polis’ in Arbroath, aged 3 and alone. Or living in a hotel

and receiving complaints from residents about there being a pet rabbit in their hotel room chewing through the cables of their room’s television. Or that the pet Siamese cat ‘TJ’ landed in a large pot of chicken stock, which was left to cool once the cat was removed and rinsed; the head chef ‘George’ then still used the stock regardless! Hard to believe, but highly entertaining.

Author Gus Mackenzie hasn’t just picked up on the humour, but also managed to write of the emotions and moderate dramas generated by years of hotel life, telling and retelling these family tales. However, for many, the New York holiday is a surprise story and one that ignites a strong family bond. But it is the setting of the hotel which some may find very familiar, conjuring up images of a ‘Fife Fawlty Towers,’ in an era that was simply the decade of discontent. Gus homes into his childhood fondly: The long trips on bikes, tracking down his hero Sean Connery, Greyfriars primary school, the movies at the two cinemas on North Street, Bing Crosby, run-ins with Christopher Lee, the music from that period, the floats and the Kate Kennedy procession, the Lammas market, not forgetting the homemade boat trips from the Steppie to Elephant rock.

For Amanda (who designed the book’s front cover) and her cousins, there is now some record of the family history, though fictional in parts. With luck, Gus has confidently encouraged the Clan’s children to read more, and hopefully enjoy books more.

Don’t call me Angus makes a great travel read.

Sandy Cameron profiles a new author:

In His Wee Gas Mask He Went To War

by William Green To read the book, contact St Andrews in Focus. It was not produced for commercial consumption, but if there is sufficient interest a new print run may be ordered. It will cost in the region of £5 and any profits will be donated to Willie’s beloved St Andrews United FC St Andrews has produced a new author at the tender age of 92. Willie Green is a kenspeckle figure around the town. Until recently, he had no pretensions to a literary career. One day, however, he was reflecting on days-gone-by when he realised that the experiences he had had during his long life would disappear with him when he went. He has lived through one of the most cataclysmic periods in human history and he felt the need to make a record for posterity. So he started scribbling down his experiences during the most momentous period in his life, namely the Second World War. To his amazement, the process was like a dam bursting. Details he thought long forgotten came flooding back.

Before long he had several hundred pages of reminiscences. His family conspired to organise and edit them and get them printed in book form.

Thus was born his magnum opus entitled, ‘In Ma Wee Gas Mask I Went to War’.

Willie is not a native of the town. He was born and raised in Bathgate.

One of his contemporaries there was a famous name in the world of golf, namely the fiery Eric Brown who went on to captain our Ryder Cup team (Eric was well known in St Andrews and was often to be found having a pint of McEwan’s in the Links Hotel). As he relates in his book, Willie met his wife, Jessie, when he was posted to the town during the war. Her maiden name, Anderson, is also well known in the history of golf, and her father was a clique maker for Forgan’s in Market Street.

His book deals with his wartime experiences as a member of an artillery detachment, which spent the war years at home. It is crammed

10

with humorous anecdotes of his service career.

The parallels with ‘Dad’s Army’ are inescapable.

He paints a picture of inefficiency and downright cock-up that is hilarious. And the ‘blackmarket’ shenanigans would do credit to Milo Mindbender in ‘Catch 22’.

He tells how he was sent to Greenock to haul two enormous naval guns to St Andrews to form part of the East Coast defence network.

It took Willie and his comrades three days using a steam traction engine. They dragged them over the Links to a position near Rusacks.

He still recalls the look of horror on the face of the head green keeper.

And when they were later fired, many of the windows in Hamilton Hall were shattered and schoolgirls playing hockey nearby ran for their lives. The year was 1940. It was a hot summer and while the Battle of Britain raged in the blue skies of southern England, Willie and his mates swam in the Step Rock Pool (below The Scores) and danced in the Templars’ Hall. Despite the austerity of the time, it seemed a carefree time for the boys of C Troop. Between courting Jessie in the Lade Braes and drinking beer in the Links pub, Willie paints a picture that is not far from idyllic. He spent a pleasant six months here and at the same time cemented a lifetime partnership with both his wife and the town.

For people like me who lived through the war, his book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane and a reminder of the mind-numbingly pointless routines of much of military life. For those of more recent vintage, it is an entertaining, amusing, and personal picture of what things were like for a ‘squaddie’ at home here in wartime.

FEATURES: BOOK REVIEWS Jane Chancellor reviews

Orchids for Aphrodite

by Ursula Haselden Published by Seashell, 2009. ( ISBN 978-0-9556291-0-5). Available at all good bookshops price £16.99 hardback I’ve just read such a lovely book. It left me hoping that many other people will share my pleasure in it. Ursula Haselden has written vividly and beautifully of her experiences sailing an elderly wooden boat, Cappelle, round the shores of Greece and Turkey and across the Aegean Sea. A widow, never having sailed before, she set off bravely with shipmate Bob (“The Captain”), regarding herself as Cabin Boy. Bob was an experienced sailor and clearly a delightful companion, with a sense of humour that matched her own.

The great thing about Orchids for Aphrodite is that no aspect of this huge

adventure gets left out. She writes as much about the dangers, hardships and mishaps of life as a “live-aboard” as she does of idyllic swims in warm blue seas and the scent of flowers growing on the hills behind.

Knowing something of Greek customs and language, her awareness of their myths and history, her trusting friendliness (and no doubt her long blonde hair and petite stature) endeared her to local people, many of whom, including the shopkeepers, become quite protective, as indeed they did in Turkey. Just as well, for there were some horrors of course, and some pretty ghastly people on board charter yachts. But most of the other boat people sound extremely nice, helping each other out with a mixture of camaraderie and competition and sharing a

lot of fun. Sailors will appreciate her evidently increasing skill in handling the behaviour and quirks of Cappelle. There are maps showing their routes.

Then there is Wacky, the kitten they rescued from the water, who hung onto them for dear life, literally, and quite took them over, developing a strongly individual character and undertaking adventures of his own ashore that gave rise to heart-stopping concern from time to time.

The book is full of colour and light. There is a lovely passage as they are leaving the Aegean with Ursula alone at the helm under the stars feeling at one with the vastness of the Universe. Boat, cat, Cabin Boy and Captain made it safely home and – reader, the Cabin Boy married the Captain.

Tony Martin reviews

Sgian Dubh, Sgian Two, and Sgian Free

by Anthony Miles Martin Published by Melrose Books, 2008. Available from all good bookshops. Hardback price £13.99, £12.99 and £11.99.

An eminently readable trilogy covering the many adventures of the juvenile Scot Sgian Dubh. The narrator moves matters along at breakneck pace, while skilfully blending Celtic legend and science fiction into the action-packed exploits of this extraordinary hero. There is well-researched content relating to matters scientific, geologic, and medical, all implicated in the actions of Sgian, mostly accompanied by his half-sister Fiona, as he counters an alien threat to our planet from the highlands of Scotland to the mountains and glaciers of Switzerland and in the depths of the oceans.

In the opening book Sgian Dubh (meaning black knife) sets off on a school holiday back to his roots in the north-west of Scotland. The destruction of a Bedouin camp in the Sahara by a meteor about 2000 years ago, an involvement by his ancestors in the escape of the Prince after Culloden, and the return to Scotland of the Stone of Destiny are the events which combine together to provide the focus for his adventures.

We are introduced to Mackenzie, a gardener; Anna Sterne, a Norwegian geologist; Morag Macdonald, a Gaelic-speaking teacher; and Sasha the dog. Then there are the villains of mysterious origin who indulge in violence and kidnapping as they try to acquire the Stone. Sgian is gifted with the second sight and along with his uncanny balance and climbing ability he manages to keep one step ahead in adventures that range from the shores of Loch Maree to Gruinard Island in the search for the two parts of the Stone. As an alien lichen takes hold in the highlands Sgian discovers his step-sister Fiona, and the next chapter is set to unfold.

SGIAN TWO finds Scotland in the grip of an alien lichen invasion leading to large mutant plants and creatures, along with a respiratory epidemic. Our hero fights off a would-be assassin and finds himself transported back in time to Drumossie Moor, where he helps the defeated Prince Charlie to escape. The intrigue intensifies and along with his stepsister Fiona he indulges in industrial espionage in a chocolate factory in Zürich and goes exploring the Rhone glacier to locate an asteroid. The villains step up their evil activities, which include brain implants, a new Jacobite Rebellion to put a substitute Prince Charles on the Scottish Throne, and the use of nanotechnology weapons to generate lightning strikes. What a feast of action climaxing in dark Loch Hourn with the two halves of the Stone of Destiny brought together! A brain tumour engulfs Sgian and we are left wondering whether he will survive to finally deal with his foes.

SGIAN FREE kick starts at a circus in Zürich in accustomed furious fashion. All is not as it seems. The travelling circus is used by a gang as a front to allow them to gather intelligence for criminal purposes at an international level using R.F.I.D. radio frequency identification based on nano-devices. Miniature telemetric tags can be covertly attached

to the victim to provide a mobile means to spy on individuals. Another of the villains, BMAN, performs in the show with his robot nanobees, but is bent on using these killers to destroy all working hives in the planet through Colony Collapse Disorder and bring famine to the land. A fire during the performance allows Sgian to save one of the trapeze artists and along with Fiona to rescue a polar bear cub from its kidnappers and return it to its mother. Once again the author skilfully weaves all the elements of this conspiracy into a fast-moving adventure as it heads to its climax. Back in Edinburgh and back in time, Sgian meets Captain John Paul Jones aboard his US warship. He is given a gold-handled sgian and warned that the modern fast attack nuclear submarine named after the legendary Scot has been hijacked in the Arctic. Joined by Fiona, his Norwegian and circus friends, Sgian heads for Svalbard in northern Norway to deal with the threat to the World Seed Bank stored deep in the tundra. Acquisition of these seeds would allow the villains to hold the world’s nations to ransom once the killer bees have removed the insects so necessary for crop pollination. Our hero’s special powers extend to relationships with animals, and a key player at this time is a large and clever polar bear who enjoys the odd backpacker or villain for lunch. All contribute to the demise of the criminals and the thwarting of the aliens’ attempts to acquire Sgian’s intellectual powers. But are these aliens really evil? Why do they seek our young hero’s neurones after waiting for 2000 years to find him, and for what purpose do they seek to acquire the Stone of Destiny? All is revealed in a stirring finale, but where is Sgian?

Last heard confirming the recapturing of the Seed Bank before his phone drifted into silence.

Altogether a unique mixture of history, magic, legend, and science fiction cleverly blended into these action thrillers while always retaining a great sense of fun throughout. An enormously entertaining read for the young, and not so young, and we all hope Sgian will return to further captivate us in future instalments.

11

FEATURES “These boots were made for walking” – so what were they doing high up in a tree last spring? A box of Green & Black’s chocolates for anyone who can come up with the best explanation. Your editor was out for a stroll and couldn’t believe her eyes. Luckily, for once she had her camera with her!

The Hamish File 1. Jayne Burdon saw Hamish looking through the door of a well-known Estate Agent in South Street. Was he, perhaps, looking for other accommodation? “But when I asked him,” Jayne said, “he ignored me, though he did turn one ear back towards me, so he heard.

Anyway, it was out of hours and I don’t think he could tell the time.” But perhaps he was merely philosophing about his reflection in the door?

2. He sure gets around!

Here he is in Moshulu in Market Street.

Manager Frances Proctor says he’s “eyeing up my lunch.

He’s already had my breakfast!”

3. Who’d have believed it – even in Waterstone’s!!

Catherine Macdonald found this poem. Does anyone know who J.Saxby, the author, was?

The Stamper I started out with just one stamp.

And when I bought some more I decided that a shoebox Would make an ideal store.

Then as I added inks and pens My stamping collection grew So I bought a roomy plastic crate, It would last for years, I knew.

Embossing then became my thing With powders and heat gun.

Metallics, tinsels, pearls, and clear.

I soon had everyone.

By now my lovelv plastic crate Was spilling everywhere And my glitter glue collection Lay scattered on a chair.

My husband started muttering And said things had to stop.

So I bought a huge old wardrobe At the local charity shop.

But after just a little while I couldn’t shut the door And I put shelves in the spare room To accommodate yet more.

Our house is now for sale.

Something larger being sought.

By the way, did I show you The latest stamp I bought?

(Picture by Alice)

12

SHOPS & SERVICES Keith Taylor, Stockbroker and Financial Adviser, has trodden

Destiny’s Pathway did a musical every year.” Keith was Buffalo From Mulanje, in Malawi, where Keith was Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, then Percy, in born, to St Andrews, where he now works, at 37 the Boy Friend. “I really liked that, and I liked years of age, Keith has lived more than one life. playing rugby,” in the 1st XV, from 4th to 6th With his two brothers, Keith enjoyed year, “when we got to the semi-final of the an idyllic existence. Their parents were Scottish Cup.” In his final year Keith became Church of Scotland missionaries. “We went Head Boy. to school really early in the morning, at 7.30.

St Andrews University came next, We came back at 12.00. We didn’t have culminating in a 2:1 Honours Degree in afternoon school; we had afternoon projects, Medieval History, a subject which was chosen like cookery class, or football. It was so hot, almost by default, as Keith was unsure at and you had a nap in the afternoon. I loved first what he wanted. Keith claims that the it; we used to go to the lake, we climbed highlight of his student days was going mountains, we used to go and see all the abroad for the whole of the three months wildlife, the animals in the game parks.” of each summer! The first was in Israel, in Leaving, therefore, was an enormous wrench.

Jaffa, “in a hostel (Returning for a visit (run by the Church of in1995, Keith and his today, fully trained and England), cleaning parents were deeply registered with the Financial toilets, making beds, touched by the welcome checking people’s they received from Services Authority (FSA), passports when they villagers singing their Keith is to be found in his came in at reception.” special songs, “it brings a Next, Keith went to tear to your eye”). own Edward Jones offi ce in Pakistan, teaching in Leaving Africa South Street, St Andrews English, at the Murree instigated the first of Christian School, many adaptations to new which catered for Missionary children from circumstances. Father became a minister all over the world. It was run on American in Argyll, Scotland, from 1981-6. On the educational lines, but the exams set were coast, “we would see the submarines go up Scottish Highers. “You can imagine, I was and down from the American naval base, 20 years old, I wasn’t a qualified teacher, still sometimes we’d see the Waverley (paddle a university student.” Keith, “just copied my steamer); and of course we had to get a ferry (own) best teachers.” He managed! “That – even though it wasn’t an island, that was was where I met my first Finnish person.” the quickest way to get to the mainland.”

Keith returned to Pakistan, near Lahore, to A new posting took the family to Glasgow, teach English as a Foreign Language to men where Keith continued his secondary (naturally not women!). “Some of my students education. “And that was actually some were amongst the wealthiest Pakistanis in the of the happiest days of my life as well; I country. The most ornate, luxurious, home absolutely loved school. I just got involved I’ve ever been to in my life, and I’ve been to with everything I could.” Jordanhill School, quite a few homes, including in America and uniquely, is neither private nor local authority all kinds of places, was there in Pakistan.” run, nor does it select or charge fees, but Among its attributes were “lush green lawns receives its funding direct from the Scottish with peacocks all along, and everything was Executive (earlier, from Westminster). “We

marble, and there were goldplated bed knobs on the beds, and servants.” This compared with dire poverty on the outside, yet some of Keith’s students were “subsidised to learn English,” students “who had hardly anything, except hospitality and kindness, which they certainly did have.

I absolutely loved Pakistan, and I didn’t have any negative experiences.”

“When I finished my degree I didn’t know what to do.” Having enjoyed teaching English as a Foreign Language, Keith then gained his Certificate in TEFL at International House in London, and went to Munich in 1994, his first permanent job earning hard currency, teaching business English. This allowed him to repay all his university debts. “And that’s where I met my wife, Nina, a Finnish fashion model.” They married in August,1996 in Helsinki. Almost all Keith’s numerous friends from his many sojourns attended the wedding, “quite a number of them had kilts on, and you can imagine that the Finnish people liked that!” While in Munich, Keith decided he would like after all to follow his father into the ministry. The couple headed for the Westminster Theological Seminary in America, where Keith had a full international scholarship. Studying incredibly hard, Keith crammed four years into three and achieved a first class degree, “I wouldn’t have made it without my wife!”

The couple had no plans to stay in America. Keith was now a father. Nina naturally spoke Finnish to their baby, and Keith suddenly realised he felt left out, “I was going to be a stranger in my own home.

I literally wasn’t going to know what they would be talking about.” So in 1999 the family moved to Finland, allowing Keith to learn the extremely difficult language. In America, Keith had also become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), “I did it in three months, I was really in a study mode!” So he worked for Canon, then the Nordic company Cygate, top partner of Cisco.

In 2004, with their three children, the Taylors came to Scotland, chiefly so that Keith could help further his elder brother’s political ambitions in Perthshire. Three years of reflection followed, and Keith came to realise that the ministry was not for him after all, and that there was an urgent need for him to take a new direction. Remembering that he had once been told he was both trustworthy and likeable, Keith applied to Edward Jones, a firm which pays its staff a salary while training them. “I’d always wanted to be a stockbroker, but thought it was out of reach,” that it was only for those from a different background.

However, he was accepted, “it was like a dream come true,” and today, fully trained and registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA), Keith is to be found in his own Edward Jones office in South Street, St Andrews.

(Photos courtesy Keith Taylor)

The Helsinki wedding

13

SHOPS & SERVICES Yvonne Magee practices Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as close as possible to the original EFT as taught by its founder, Gary Craig, but may use it in her own way, and may use other techniques alongside it, and …

She Loves To Talk About It!

as memories of childhood trauma (Yvonne How can a simple acupressure technique has also worked with clients in a sexual assist with weight loss, help improve golf abuse agency setting), and has been shown scores, relieve stress, handle exam and often to be highly effective for job stress, and interview anxiety, and relieve phobias, such flying, height, dental, and spider phobias, and as fear of flying, heights, and spiders? has proven to be very helpful in many cases The technique is EFT, or Emotional of chronic pain (many people who use EFT Freedom Techniques, and Yvonne Magee, no longer worry about headaches, because EFT practitioner, has recently joined the team a couple of quick rounds of EFT tapping has at St Andrews Osteopaths and Natural Health often relieved them on the spot). EFT has Clinic. The Clinic houses the practices of a been effective in all sorts of situations when number of other complementary therapists nothing else has worked. along with the osteopathic practice. Yvonne is The technique is easy to learn, and after also a trained and accredited counsellor and the first session, Yvonne’s clients have a tool hypnotherapist, but chooses to focus mainly that can be used for a lifetime for assistance on EFT, a drug-free, needle-free method that on a daily basis. She uses it herself in traffic has been around for 18 years and is growing when something unsettling occurs. “Most in popularity, because she feels her clients of my clients find receive greater benefit in affinity with one fewer sessions using EFT EFT has been effective in an acupuncture spot of the for some issues, including those listed above. all sorts of situations when nine that we use that will help them to calm The simple method nothing else has worked themselves instantly,” consists of gentle tapping, she says, “and that is mostly on the face and the spot we use when something happens, upper body, on specific acupuncture meridian such as being cut off in traffic. Instead of points, while working with the issue at hand. carrying that stress for the rest of the day, or One theory explaining why EFT is helpful in letting it escalate, we can simply tap that spot most cases (it has proven to be effective in a few times, to help release the emotion and at least 80% of cases) is that any trauma, the stress, then go on with the day in a good large or small, be it physical, emotional, or mood again. This use of EFT alone is worth chemical, leaves an energy ‘glitch’ in the its weight in gold!” system. By releasing the glitch the results EFT practitioners are working in schools often simply fade. EFT cannot and does not in some areas to teach children to release replace medical care or psychotherapy, for the stress of the schoolday at the end of each which your GP or psychotherapist will be your day. Imagine going through life without the provider, but can be used as a very effective load of accumulated emotions and stresses and day-to-day self-help tool to assist. With we each carry with us. By releasing leftover her counselling clients, Yvonne integrates feelings from the day’s events each day, what EFT work with counselling. It is highly would we experience in terms of emotional regarded for release of war trauma, and for and even physical health? It has been shown cases of physical and sexual assault, as well

in many studies that stress may be one cause of many serious illnesses, and this is a simple tool that can help us live with a much lower level of stress in our lives.

After struggling for years to release excess weight, Yvonne is having success using EFT for releasing the issues underlying the weight gain, and for releasing cravings instead of acting on them. She is now having the success she has wanted, and is sharing that success with others. Her weight loss group in Glenrothes has been highly successful, with one attendee releasing over 2 stone in the first 12 weeks.

Individual work is ongoing, and groups in St Andrews will be forming in August and September, including a ‘6-weeks of weight loss tools’ weekly group, and there will also be workshops on sports performance for golfers; exam and interview anxiety for students, and job seekers.

Yvonne is available for group sessions as well as private appointments, and would be happy to talk with clubs or groups who might be interested in a demonstration of how EFT works. Her website is at www.yvonnemagee.co.uk, and she can be reached at yvonne@yvonnemagee.co.uk, or by phone at 01334 806 157. If you are interested in learning more, feel free to phone Yvonne to discuss EFT – she loves to talk about it!

(Photo courtesy Yvonne Magee)

Ferguson’s Shoe Repairs Where better to give your footware new life?

151 South Street, St Andrews Tel: 01334 472134

14

SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn finds out

What it takes to Run a Business Duncan Bowman is 25 years old and a father of two, Bethnay (2½) and Hannah (7 months).

Trained first as a hotel chef, he spent 8 years in catering in “numerous positions” starting off “washing dishes while at college, also front of house, kitchens, waitering, reception, management etc.” In other words, Duncan learnt the old-fashioned way from the bottom up. As his parents own a B&B in Burntisland he was familiar in any case with many of the requirements. Then he met Jade Mitchell. On night shift, he realised, “I wanted a job that would let me see her and spend time with her.”

So he became a Regional Security Manager for Scotland which, however, entailed a lot of travelling.

“I had a motorcycle accident,” Duncan said, “then the kids came along. On Christmas Eve [2008] it was announced that the company I worked for was going into receivership.”

Duncan and Jade decided on a plan of action and on, “1st January we put the plan into action before hearing whether I’d be made redundant.”

They decided, bravely, to buy Kingdom Runner in South Street, St Andrews. “The timing was perfect; on Monday, 16 February we bought the business. I was made officially redundant on the Friday, 20 February!”

Jade has retail experience, “she’s the creative one, with a woman’s touch. That’s what you need in a shop.” At present looking after the window displays, Jade will eventually learn

how to fit shoes and give advice to customers, gradually taking more share in the running of the business as the children grow up.

“I’ve always been a runner,” Duncan told me. “I also love snowboarding, climbing, camping – I love the outdoors.” But to run a business needs more than enthusiasm. Duncan approached The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) – see issue 28 p16. Fortunately he was just within the right age bracket to be able to gain from their expertise.

“We have to take it slowly.” Duncan is wise, understanding that it takes time to establish himself solidly. “By next spring the shop should be fully stocked with all the main brands of technical clothing, such as Asics, Mizuno, Inov8, and many more,” all known to runners of every level. Any item not in the shop, Duncan can order. He is in direct contact with suppliers, “I actually have a personal say. In terms of product knowledge and information, we have first-hand knowledge.” Kingdom Runner is a specialised running store with a good walking section. In addition there are accessories such as suntan lotions, insect repellents, energy bars, water bottles – everything a runner may want. “Every couple of weeks there are new products coming in,” including general swimwear (more next year).

It is vitally important to have the correct shoes. Customers are encouraged to run up and down the street outside the shop so that Duncan can make a professional gait analysis.

He can then advise which shoe would be best for the customer. There are 4 different brands of road shoes, with 3 different shoes for different support levels. “We would rather we had someone leave with no shoes than the wrong shoes.”

Eventually, “we’d love to be involved in local races in terms of sponsorship and organisation, perhaps through the University, schools etc. We’re geared up for most runners, from beginners to competitive runners.”

Duncan and Jade will warmly welcome you when you call. But please don’t ask, as some people have, for bowling equipment, curling, table-tennis, or beach balls, none of which can be found in Kingdom Runner! But for runners and walkers – everything is available.

15

SHOPS & SERVICES Ronnie Grant talked to Flora Selwyn about his family’s firm, R B Grant, Electrical Contractors.

“It works for us.”

Most St Andreans, Ronnie claims, will remember his Granny, because of her sweetie shop, Grants, in Church Square. Granddad was a surveyor working for Walker & Pride in the town. Ronnie lived in a flat in South Street, near the West Port. By the 1980s the family felt in need of more space, so they moved to Denhead, at a time when the country was undergoing another of its seemingly recurrent financial crises. By this time though, R B Grant Electrical Contractors was well established.

Ronnie was a bright school pupil. It was deemed natural for him range from simple domestic installations to shops, offices, the NHS, Fife to continue to university. However, after two years in Glasgow, Ronnie Council; “I can design systems as well as install them.” The firm also decided he was in the wrong environment, “it just wasn’t for me”. At that has apprentices. Everyone is extremely proud of one young man, Scott point his father said, “I‘ve got a job for you at the moment, why don’t you Fillipovic, who has twice won the Apprentice of the Year award at Adam come and work for me for a bit?”, and that marked Ronnie’s entry into Smith College in Kirkcaldy, and who is currently the Best Second-year the family business, “I became an apprentice.” Nevertheless, Ronnie’s Apprentice in the East of Scotland. He is setting his sights on even higher father was aware that, “it was a hard industry to be in”. As Ronnie points awards! Ronnie is expecting to have 5 adult and 7 junior apprentices later out, today the electrical industry is wide ranging, involving data, security in the year. “The standard is phenominal now; where systems, fire alarms, telecommunications, the internet, before you were getting 16 year-olds leaving school and so on, “it’s a very, very important industry now,” Registered with the and just wanting to be electricians, you’re now getting much respected. By chance, Ronnie’s brother similarly started a university course (in astronomy and physics NICEIC, the industry’s people who are going to university.”

Until recently “we were turning work away, at St Andrews), felt he was in the wrong world, left, and governing body, because you just can’t do everything. Now, we’re not joined the family business. Ronnie’s uncle “does the turning work away, we’re saying ‘yes’ all the time.” books. His daughter, Katy, is now doing the books as R B Grant is obliged Competition has increased, “I can’t be as cheap as the well.” to uphold the man in the street with a white van, because I’ll be on Registered with the NICEIC, the industry’s governing body, R B Grant is obliged to uphold the strictest standards of courses for the rest of my life” to comply with safety standards in a constantly changing technological strictest standards of competence. Training in the most competence world. “Regulations are a difficult thing to explain up-to-date practices and materials is on-going and to people. People say, ‘I’ve lived here for ten years, rigorous. As Ronnie stresses, electrical equipment is it’s been safe before, why should I change it?’ But they don’t put these potentially lethal in the wrong hands. Customers must have confidence regulations in to make money, they put them in for safety. I take the in their contractors, and NICEIC registration is therefore vital. “The responsibility. The NICEIC will come out and check us, and they will make regulations now are very, very different from what they were ten years ago sure that we keep to the standard.”

– there are a lot of changes. Most people should get their houses checked The present recession shocks Ronnie. As he points out, his father’s every ten years” for their own peace of mind. generation experienced similar downturns, but his own has never known Once Ronnie joined the firm he became enthusiastic. However, he anything like it. There are now so many people seeking jobs. “I like people had to prove to his boss, his father, that the modernising ideas he wanted and my business, and I like seeing people learn new skills.” Ronnie’s two to bring in were sensible and workable, not just wild thoughts in his head. years at university in Glasgow made him self-reliant. Working hard to This, along with the requirements of his apprenticeship, honed Ronnie’s earn enough money to return to St Andrews has also made him keenly learning of his trade, and its business needs. Over the years “we really appreciative of the town, “we realise what a special little town it is, there is have developed.” Today, the firm employs some 39 people, among nowhere else like it. I think we’re very, very lucky here.” whom “we have brothers, father and son, uncle and nephew, father and Working closely with family is so very rewarding, Ronnie says, yet daughter,” with expertise in different fields of the industry. Still trading at the same time it is demanding, in the sense that family loyalty is prefrom Denhead, a new office has also been opened in Kirkcaldy. Projects eminent and one can never simply walk away.

While at school Ronnie was in “the Boys Brigade pipe band to start with, then I was in the City of St Andrews pipe band, which is still going”, and music is important to him; he has a huge and eclectic collection of CDs. Another joy is a burgeoning art collection, specialising in Scottish artists of the early twentieth century. With his extremely strong commitment to his firm, Ronnie has little time for holidays. However, his partner, Karen, has linguistic skills which have added hugely to their short trips on the Continent, and “now that brother Michael is joining the management of the firm”, Ronnie hopes there will be more time available in the future to make such trips longer.

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?

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16

SHOPS & SERVICES Andrew Wright advises

PAYE Codes – Why Bother to Check?

Most employees, including directors, and most pensioners have their tax deductions determined by PAYE Coding Notices issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). These are issued to Employers or Pension Providers. If you have more than one source of income (e.g. two pensions), you will probably have a different code for each.

These notices show on one side allowances and reliefs that reduce the amount of tax payable, for example personal and age allowances, and relief for gift aid and pension contributions. On the other side are shown the income sources to be taxed. Typically, for an employee, these will include car benefits, medical insurance and any other benefits which are to be deducted from the personal allowance to arrive at the PAYE code.

For a pensioner, the typical income deduction is the state pension, which is taxed by means of the PAYE code with additional tax being deducted from the occupational pension for this purpose.

Normally, the PAYE codes are correctly calculated and the correct tax is collected. In a significant minority of cases, codes are calculated incorrectly, which can lead to too much tax being paid. Where an annual Tax Return is completed, this should not matter, as an adjustment to the tax liability is made at that stage (there may be a timing loss however).

Where no Tax Return is issued, the wrong tax will have been collected and this mistake may well continue into subsequent years.

So what are the usual reasons for errors by HMRC in the calculation of PAYE codes?

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incorrect age allowance. To calculate age allowance, HMRC need to know total taxable income for the tax year. Usually they make a reasonable estimate of this, but where income has reduced in the year, the age allowance given is likely to be too low. incorrect benefits, reimbursed expenses and claims. HMRC rely on the annual P11D Return submitted by the employer for this information. If no P11D Return is received, they assume that the

benefits etc remain unchanged. So, for example, where an employee changes jobs and there is no company car in the new job, too much tax will probably be charged because the car benefit restriction remains on the Coding Notice sent to the new employer. This error will continue until notified to HMRC –

“underpaid tax” brought forward from an earlier year. This is very difficult to check because the tax year is not identified and the reason for the underpayment not given.

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gift aid and pension contributions can affect “age allowance” and also “higher rate tax” liability. Often the same figures are assumed by HMRC from one year to the next resulting in an under/overpayment of tax.

HMRC increasingly use PAYE codes to collect non-PAYE income (e.g. rental income and higher rate tax liabilities on investment income) They do this partly because it results in an earlier collection of tax than the traditional collection dates of 31st January and 31st July. You do not have to accept this and can ask for the traditional dates to apply. There is also a box on your Tax Return, which can be ticked for this purpose.

A new computer system for PAYE is shortly to be introduced which should alleviate some of these problems. In the meantime, if it all gets too much for you, there is always your friendly local Accountant to turn to!

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

Tel: 01334 472 255

Neal Robertson’s

Eureka Moment Some two years ago Neal was mixing a cake the butter and sugar, then sift in the flour and batter in the Tannochbrae Tearoom kitchen, and then beat the eggs before adding them, they all as usual he tutted with irritation as some of the went straight in at the start, this also meant less mixture clogged in the hollow of the bowl. He washing up. scraped it clear and started mixing again and As the mixture came together it rolled over that was when he had his “Eureka Moment”. It the device (it didn’t have a name yet), thus was the back of the spoon folding air into the batter that was doing all the with every turn. The results work, the bowl was just a were so good that Neal nuisance. What he needed had to buy taller cake was a spoon with two backs, boxes to fit his Victoria not just a flat paddle but two Sponge and Lemon and distinctly rounded backs.

Lime Cake, they had never He also realised that other risen so much before. people might find this idea Neal then turned his useful too. attention to all the other First stop was Fife “cloggy spoon” jobs in the Business Gateway, and kitchen, everything from from there, armed with making his own porridge in confidentiality and nonthe morning to scrambled disclosure agreements, egg, choux pastry, and he went to Strathclyde sauce work, to the clogging University to get the design classic, lentil soup. The It was the back of the spoon work and prototypes made extra weight also makes it that was doing all the work, (early attempts in his garden ideal for breaking up and the bowl was just a nuisance shed had only resulted browning mince. in skinned knuckles and Neal’s old spoons sit swearing). forlornly at the back of the drawer now that the With the prototypes made and the patent Spon (as it has been christened) is the first and registered design applications lodged, choice every time. it was time to give one a spin and make a The Spons are available exclusively at cake. The “squashed rugby ball” shape of the the Tannochbrae Tearoom, 44 High Street, business end gave extra weight and heft when Auchtermuchty, Fife. KY14 7AP or at mixing and a sort of mortar and pestle action, www.thesponco.com as a set of two, one which he found meant that all the ingredients large and one small, for £5 per set including could be measured straight into the mixing free U.K. post and packing, International rates bowl. There was no need to cream together can be found on the website.

Neal’s Crunchy Top Lemon and Lime Cake For the cake Finely grated rind of 1lemon and 2 limes 8oz soft margarine 12oz golden caster sugar 12oz self raising flour 1 and a half tsp baking powder 4 large eggs 6 fl oz milk For the topping 8oz golden caster sugar Juice of the lemon and limes (I find the limes give this cake a fresher zing than a straight lemon version) –

Grate the rinds off into a large mixing bowl, I use an 8 litre, and measure everything else in on top.

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Spon it all together until creamy, it may need a little extra milk if it is too stiff.

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Grease and fully line a 26cm sprung cake tin, I do this with one large piece of greaseproof, crushing it against the sides, it gives a crinkly “home made” look to the cake.

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Tip the mixture into the tin and shake to level. Bake at 180c/350f/gas4 for about 40 minutes until shrunk slightly from the sides.

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Mix together the juices and sugar ready for the cake coming out of the oven, pierce the top quite fiercely with a fork and spread on the topping.

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Leave on a rack until completely cool before turning out.

17

SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn heard from local business, Riach Contracting, about their

Sustainable Partnership with Elmwood College “Wood stoves and the concept of wood as fuel is changing rapidly.”

Specialising in sustainable solutions for heat and water needs, Riach Says Dan Riach, managing director, “once sleepy and artisan, the whole Contracting has just launched its new showroom with the help of industry was very pleasantly shocked last year as record sales flooded design expertise provided by Elmwood College. The spanking new in. Primarily gas and oil prices drive people into looking for alternatives showroom in Guardbridge, showcasing woodburning stoves from leading to satisfy their heating demands, although there is definitely a change in manufacturers in the UK and Europe, has been put together with the help attitude also. There is growing awareness of the environmental impact of interior designers from Elmwood College’s Interior Design course. of consuming mineral fuel in conventional boilers, when wood-fuelled The dynamic firm has turned to expertise in the form of course leader stoves or boilers offer a carbon neutral alternative. Manufacturers are Anne Leitch from Elmwood College, and two of her brightest students, responding to this by creating more efficient, easy to Debbie Dargie and Debbie Hynd. In keeping with Riach use and stylish stoves. Now woodburning stoves can Contracting’s sustainable approach to heating solutions, The showroom aims provide sensible, sustainable heating and at the same they have capitalized on local know-how to produce a to present an ideal of time a fantastic design feature, thus saving money and showroom to satisfy the surge in interest since featuring adding value to your home.” in St Andrews in Focus last month. home life supported Riach Contracting is keen to encourage people Riach Wood Burning Stoves’ (RWBS) diverse by sustainable to come along to the showroom and have a look range of wood-fuel products, from small stoves to fully at display models, get a feel for the company and automated wood pellet systems, has attracted interest woodburning heating discuss their installation plans and ideas. This allows from all over Fife and now they have a showroom to Dan to assess customers’ requirements and deliver a complete package, match their energetic operations. Closer to home than the spread of from design ideas, advice and practical information, through to installation Riach Wood Burning Stoves’ customers throughout Fife, Angus, Tayside, and ongoing maintenance. Dan adds, “We are proud to be able to say and Perthshire, has come the dynamic award-winning duo from Elmwood that our stoves are of the highest quality and efficiency and are a sound College buoyed by recent national success. investment.”

Debbie Hynd and Debbie Dargie were recently recognized in Riach Contracting has recently passed the HETAS Solid Fuel and the UK Skills Competition, Visual Merchandising category, a national Wood Burning Engineers Course and the BPEC Wood Biomass Heating competition for students and professionals in the retail industry. The Systems course. These qualifications are now compulsory for those two students studying for Elmwood College’s National Certificate (NC) installing woodburning stoves and boilers in England and Wales. Together qualification in Interior Design won first prize in the UK-wide competition with practical experience these specific courses have given RWBS firstwith a St Andrews-inspired design, and they are hoping for similar rate knowledge of the installation and operation of woodburning stoves coverage with their design of Riach Wood Burning Stoves’ showroom. and heating systems ensuring that appliances are installed safely and The showroom aims to present an ideal of home life supported by efficiently. Dan notes also that his stoves will fit in any home: “Our range sustainable woodburning heating. The two Debbies have created an of both traditional and contemporary stoves means that they are suitable ambient atmosphere with beautiful soft furnishings and deep, appealing for a variety of installations, it is not always necessary to have an existing couches to sink into while hearing all about sustainable heating. Friendly fireplace or even an existing chimney for your woodburning appliance, and knowledgeable staff are always on hand to keenly impart information because we also design, supply, and fit chimneys and hearths.” about woodburning stoves, and provide customers with mugs of tea and RWBS is confident about the future, even in the current economic coffee. downturn, and customers tell the Company they are looking for sustainable investments for the years to come and to add value to their homes now. Although autumn and winter are not quite upon us, Dan is pleased to note that warm weather has not dampened the stream of customers to his showroom: “Visitors tell me they are planning now for autumn and winter. And with our range of outdoor woodburning stoves they are even finding solutions for their barbecue needs now.”

It seems that Riach Contracting is providing something to interest everyone and is here to stay. With their charismatic talisman at the helm, St Andrews in Focus expects it will be returning to Riach Wood Burning Stoves in the future to discover how they are influencing sustainable heating needs in St Andrews and beyond.

To find out more, visit the showroom at: Unit 1, Avalon Business Park, Guardbridge, KY16 8PE See: www.riachwoodburingstoves.co.uk, or call: 01334 848 913 or email: danriach@riachwoodburningstoves.co.uk (Photo courtesy Dan Riach)

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SHOPS & SERVICES

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

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

3 Course Early Evening Meal £9.95 5-7pm (except Saturday) 3 Course Lunch £5.95 12.00-2.30pm (except Sunday) Takeaway menu available Free Delivery on orders over £24.95 within St Andrews area.

10% discount on orders collected personally Open 7 days Lunch 12pm-2.30pm Dinner 5pm-midnight Sunday 5pm-midnight 5 College Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AA Tel: 01334 476666, Fax: 01334 475380 Email: maisharestaurant@hotmail.co.uk www.maisharestaurant.co.uk

OAPs & students – Bring this advert for 15% discount

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter’s roving eye has spotted rather fewer new enterprises this time. Maybe summer has something to do with it?

1.

Clinics. Gavin told Reporter that he believes “we have something special to offer the town.” Relationships with patients are of first importance, and time is never grudged. The Clinic offers a multidisciplinary approach for a variety of health concerns. Appointments are also available with Medical Herbalist James Short; Acupressure and Reflexology with Janet Thompson; and Chartered Physiotherapist Lindsey Graham. Reporter now knows where to go if he ever feels peelie-wally!

Dr Gavin Sinclair and daughter Annie “People often focus on sickness more than health” Dr Gavin Sinclair told Reporter when he visited the sparkling new Kingdom Chiropractic premises in 205 South Street, St Andrews (tel: 01334 473 399). Chiropractors do the opposite – wellbeing and natural good health are promoted at the forefront of their practice, “Many patients begin care in our office with a specific health concern and then realise that chiropractic is all about optimal health ...how to get well faster and stay well longer”. Chiropractic is holistic, that is, it believes everything in the complicated environment we live in affects our wellbeing; it is conservative, in that it avoids surgery and medication; and it believes in the body’s ability to heal itself.

Chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system and can help with many conditions including back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Gavin is Canadian and studied in Canada where professional chiropractic training takes 7 years. He also undertook postgraduate studies at the AngloEuropean College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth, where he met his Norwegian partner, Sigrid Hopen, who works with him at both their St Andrews and Cupar

*****

2. Reporter heard that the St Andrews Mortgage Centre has moved. Since most of their appointments are away from the office, and business costs have to be maintained at a cost-effective level, Lorraine Carter, MD, and Fiona Ramsay decided it was time to give up their office premises in Argyle Street. They are now able to provide a more flexible service for clients, either in their own home, or other convenient place. For everyone’s convenience they have a St Andrews mail box, where documents can be left for them to collect. They can be contacted at: St Andrews Mortgage Centre Limited Suite 214, 68 Market Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9NU.

surrounding areas”. Ken, with over 20 years’ experience cooking Chinese and European food, started out, he said, “with an apprenticeship under a wellrespected Hong Kong Chinese top chef, in a 5-star hotel restaurant.” Since he also confesses to “love eating out,” he knows what customers want, and he delivers! He continued, “It is great to be back, to see the many familiar faces of loyal customers I remember from many years ago, and now, many new faces as well. Most of our customers first hear about NG’s food by word of mouth, more than by other means.”

Reporter is impressed that NG’s is so popular alike with local residents, students, and holiday-makers, since it is hidden away from any main thoroughfare. Ken relates that, “some of our customers say they wouldn’t eat anywhere else!”

Reporter suggests you try the new “Taster Meal Deal” on Mondays, when you can purchase a Taster Meal, choosing from the blackboard, for a mere £1 each. NG’s is open 6 days a week, 4.00-11.00pm (closed Tuesdays). Deliveries are to the whole of St Andrews, to holiday homes, student halls, caravan parks etc. and even furtheraway places such as Leuchars, Largoward, Crail, Anstruther, and all places in between! (how do they do it, wonders Reporter?)

T: 01334 478 293 M: 07979 000168 E: lorraine@standrewsmortgagecentre.com W: www.standrewsmortgagecentre.com

*****

3. Ken Ng, the original owner of NG’s, is back in Tom Stewart Lane Industrial Estate (behind the Aldi Supermarket, neighbouring Bassaguard Garages) Tel: 01334 477 749.

He was pleased to tell Reporter that his newly redecorated premises are open again, offering Cantonese and European cuisine, “one of the best, top quality Chinese takeaways in St Andrews and

*****

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

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

ORGANISATIONS From Jonathan Wilson, Secretary of the St Andrews branch of the RSCDS

Scottish Country Dancing in St Andrews Every year in July and August we see notices directing us to “RSCDS Summer School”, and no doubt we deduce that the gentlemen in kilts and ladies wearing some tartan in the streets during these four weeks are Scottish country dancers.

But what is the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) and what does it do, other than hold a Summer School in St Andrews?

The Society dates back to 1923 when it was established by two ladies, Miss Jean Milligan and Mrs Ysobel Stewart, to preserve and promote traditional Scottish dances. Now it is a world-wide Society, with branches in practically every country, many represented at the annual Summer School here in St Andrews.

The St Andrews Branch meets regularly throughout the year, holding classes in the

autumn and winter, plus dances in May, and in July/August to coincide with Summer School.

Our Beginners’ Class, on a Tuesday evening, is thriving and we also hold an Intermediate Class on a Wednesday evening, and a General Class – for more experienced, but not necessarily expert – dancers on a Thursday.

If you would like to give Scottish Country Dancing a try, or if you enjoyed it at school, but haven’t given it a thought since then, why not come along either to our – free – Open Night in St Andrews Town Hall Supper Room at 7.30pm on 22nd September, or to one of our classes?

It’s good exercise for both mind and body, and you’ll certainly make new friends.

RSCDS class getting instructions (Photo courtesy the St Andrews branch) Interested?

Then contact the Branch Secretary (01334 475 274) or Membership Secretary (07980 753 668) for further information.

We look forward to meeting you.

Mary Popple of the Publicity Team tells us that the

St Andrews Chorus welcomes a new Musical Director The latest chapter in the life of the St Andrews Chorus begins this autumn under the leadership of a new Musical Director. It was with pleasure that at the end of last session the Chorus appointed Michael Downes, Musical Director at St Andrews University, to the post of Musical Director of the Chorus. Already Michael has announced an exciting programme for the coming winter, but more of that later. His appointment follows the departure of Edward Caswell, who has left us to take up a St Andrews Episcopal Church, prestigious appointment as Artistic Director of the Philharmonia Chorus in London.

As a farewell gift to the Chorus, Edward, accompanied by Walter Blair, is giving a concert in St Andrews to kick off the 2009/10 season. This concert, which will take place at St Andrews Episcopal Church, will be on Friday 18th September starting at 7.45pm. The programme will feature Schubert’s last song cycle Schwanengesang, which was completed shortly before his death in 1828. After the interval Edward and Walter will perform Gerald Finzi’s Let us Garlands Bring – five Shakespeare songs for voice and piano, a work dedicated by the composer to Ralph Vaughan Williams for his birthday in 1942. Walter and Edward last gave a concert in St Andrews in November 2007 with a very memorable performance of Schubert’s Winterreise. All are welcome to this very special concert.

The St Andrews Chorus provides singing opportunities for everyone in the St Andrews area and is proud of the link it provides between the

town and the University. With Michael Downes in the role of Musical Director this link is expected to develop further. Last season we awarded a choral scholarship to Matthew Pattie, a first-year student at the University, enabling him to have singing Edward Caswell lessons while studying in St Andrews. On the basis of the success of this, the Chorus has offered Matthew a scholarship for a second year and will audition for an additional scholar at the start of the University year. We look forward to welcoming students back to the Chorus at the start of term in September.

The Chorus starts its Friday night rehearsals on 25 September, the week after Edward and Walter give their concert. Rehearsals take place in the music auditorium of St Leonards School, Pends Road, St Andrews, and begin at 7.00pm. All are welcome and there are no auditions. For his first concert in charge of the Chorus, on 12th December, Michael has chosen two anthems by Handel and Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat. Next April the Chorus will perform an all Mozart programme of three anthems and the Mass in C Minor.

The Chorus welcomes singers of all abilities and new members are always welcome – www.saint-andrews.co.uk/sac (Photos courtesy the Chorus)

Concert in the Younger Hall

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ORGANISATIONS Former chairman, Elizabeth Williams, describes the life and work of a lively organization.

What do you know about ...

The St Andrews Preservation Trust?

Did you know that – St Andrews Preservation Trust (SAPT) was the first local amenity society to be founded in Scotland? In 1937, following the success of the newly-formed National Trust for Scotland in preserving the ‘little houses’ of Culross, the SAPT was started by local people – drawn from both town and university – who realized that the gradual demolition of old houses, many officially condemned as insanitary, was beginning to destroy this most characterful of Scotland’s historic towns.

The PreservationTrust Museum – At 12 North Street, in a delightful little house once occupied by fisher families, you will find a unique collection devoted to the history of the town: its buildings, shops, local figures, and activities. Three exhibitions a year: Easter, May – September, and St Andrews Week, feature local history, brought vividly to life by the Trust’s famous collection of photographs, some going back to the earliest days of photography in the 19th century. Everything in the Trust’s care has been gifted to it over the years by people who wanted to ensure that objects with local associations would have a good home. Enjoy the walled garden, with further exhibits, and seats to enjoy the peace while admiring the plants.

Although entrance to the Museum is free, it is entirely independent and run by the Trust from funds and donations.

Work within the community – Increasingly important: there are visits by schools, and talks to groups whose members – sometimes unable to go to the Museum themselves – can see some of the artifacts and reminisce about them. The November exhibition will focus on the history of medicine, in line with the newly opened St Andrews hospital.

St John’s Garden entrance, Market Street What has the Trust done over the years? – The first and most pressing job was to save properties from demolition by purchasing and restoring them: this sounds obvious enough today, but in the 1930s restoration work was generally carried out only on important individual buildings rather than quite humble buildings which together form a historic streetscape. During its first decades, keeping the bulldozer at bay was the Trust’s main objective, which it was able to do with the generosity of like-minded individuals. Over the years, restorations were increasingly undertaken by private owners, consequently the Trust’s work has extended into related areas.

Green Belt for St Andrews – Constant development pressures threaten not only social cohesiveness, but the town’s famous landscape setting. Go up to The Grange or along the Strathkinness High Road, and notice how the town nestles in a bowl of hills, with the sea behind it and, to the North, the hills beyond Dundee. A Green Belt to preserve these marvellous views both into and out of the town is needed urgently, so in 1997 the Trust took the initiative of setting up the St Andrews Green Belt Forum, to put the case for sensible boundaries to the town; the fight continues to this day!

What is it doing today? – All the Trust’s activities are aimed at involving the community in the history and well-being of the town.

Buildings – The Planning Committee continues the Trust’s original aims by scrutinizing planning applications within the town’s two Conservation Areas, representing its members at Public Inquiries, arguing the case for sensitive treatment of this most special of towns, and liaising with Historic Scotland and other bodies on conservation issues.

The Environment – The Boase Woodland, at the far end of the Lade Braes, is maintained by the Trust for the benefit of the general public, as well as the doocots at Bogward and Kenly Green.

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The Preservation Trust Museum, North Street What to look out for – As you walk round town, look out for some of the buildings restored by the Trust. Starting at the West Port, walk up South Street and look at Nos. 166-168, then the charming houses in Louden’s Close (the very first to be restored by the Trust in 1939-1941); Imrie’s Close, No 136, contains the Old Burgher Kirk with a plaque giving its history. Across the road, at No 141, is the picturesque Burgher Close which housed a later Burgher Kirk. No 24 was dramatically saved from demolition by Professor Jack Allen in 1970 during the widening of Abbey Walk.

In South Castle Street, look at No 11 with the stone staircase – ‘Joan’s House’, so called after the last of the St Andrews’ fishwives – and pause to consider that the whole street might have disappeared in 1944 when it was proposed to make it part of the trunk road between North Street and Abbey Street. No 11 College Street was the last building restored by the Trust. In Market Street, notice the new entrance into St John’s with its arched gateway: the Trust made a contribution towards this project, as to others in the town. If you are further out of town, take a stroll through the Boase Woodland at Law Park: in spring its lovely beeches are carpeted with snowdrops and bluebells.

As a further way of engaging with the community, the Hidden Gardens Day in late June is now an eagerly-anticipated annual event.

Are you interested? – Members enjoy outings to historic properties and social events at the Museum.

The Museum, staffed by a professional curator and an enthusiastic band of volunteers, has groups which research aspects of local and family history as well as working on the extensive archive; other volunteers keep up the garden. If you’re interested in any of these activities and the companionship they give, do contact us!

What can you do for the heritage of St Andrews? Why not learn more about the Trust, or become a member, or volunteer, or contribute to the current Woodland Appeal?

Contact: Janette, at the Trust Office, 4 Queen’s Gardens, St Andrews, between 8.30am and 1.30pm Mon-Thurs.

Tel: 01334 477 152.

(Photos by Flora Selwyn) The Burgher Close and Plaque, South Street

ORGANISATIONS Bethany Craggs, Website & Communications Manager

St Andrews Skills Academy – Transforming Lives through Training sharing the costs between several employers, By the time making training a more cost-effective you read this, investment. Not only has the Skills Academy the St Andrews coordinated with Scottish Enterprise to organize summer tourist training events that have had a huge impact on season will be St Andrews employers (such as the national over. The kids customer feedback workshop ‘Listening to our will be back Visitors’), it has also run courses for front line at school and staff who work directly with tourists. the students One such course is the One Hundred will be back at Natalie O’Kelly Thousand Welcomes ‘Delivering Service the pubs. You Excellence’; a day-long workshop improving will once again be able to nab a parking space customer service skills in front-of-house staff. on Market Street, or a seat on the EdinburghThis course has made real differences to many Leuchars train. This would be reason enough of the delegates who attended. We caught to breathe a sigh of relief, but for those whose up with Natalie O’Kelly, who works at Rufflets livelihoods rely on UK and international Country House Hotel, and she told us how the visitors, the return to ‘off-peak’ hours brings a course has had an impact on her performance. mixed blessing. Shops and restaurants further “I am definitely a lot more positive with my out of St Andrews enter semi-hibernation, colleagues and the guests. I smile more whilst operating with a skeleton staff and even closing at work; I address everyone I walk past with a completely for several days every week. What good morning/afternoon instead of just flashing can our tourism industry do to make sure that a smile at them. I approach customers a lot the winter months are put to good use? more easily with my new positive attitude, and The St Andrews Skills Academy has an instead of being intimidated by certain guests, I answer; it is encouraging Fife businesses to make a lot more small talk. I have also passed use this quiet period to hone the skills of their what I learned in the workshop on to my staff, preparing them to provide an even better colleagues.” experience for next Furthermore, the St Andrews Not only did this year’s tourists. The training improve Academy also promotes Skills Academy is bringing trainers Natalie’s working opportunities for owners to St Andrews and sharing the attitudes, it has also and managers to costs between several employers, permeated other areas develop their companies making training a more costof her life: “I have been in order to help them getting a lot more attract new customers effective investment sleep, which gives me and retain existing ones. more energy. I get less stressed at work and Launched at the Fife Tourism Conference when I do, I talk it through calmly. I take a lot in March, the St Andrews Skills Academy is more time with each customer and make sure a non-profit organization that aims to help I am giving them all of my attention and make the Fife tourism industry grow and flourish by sure all their needs are met. It really gives me a sourcing quality training that meets the needs buzz when people thank me and I have noticed of employers and staff alike. Their brand new that more since I have been on the course and website (www.standrewsskillsacademy.co.uk) learned more about customer service. I treat features hundreds of training courses every customer the same as the last and think categorized by industry sector, many of them that the consistency in how I am and what I available to book online. The Skills Academy do plays a vital role in the business. I have blog provides articles and links to free online been asking more questions and getting more business resources, including a section about information on St Andrews, even visiting places online marketing, and expert opinions from local I haven’t been so that I can provide more advice employers and training providers. to visitors, I was amazed at how much there Furthermore, the St Andrews Skills is to do in the area! I can honestly say that the Academy is bringing trainers to St Andrews and

course has given me more confidence and I am a lot happier in my role just because of all the positive feedback I have been receiving through my new-found confidence.”

Responses like this have encouraged the St Andrews Skills Academy to start work with a number of St Andrews employers to create a recognised package of training courses for staff new to the tourism industry – and those who simply want to sharpen up their skills. To achieve this ‘St Andrews Standard’, candidates will have to attend some core skills training, including, for example ‘Delivering Service Excellence’ customer service workshop, as well as completing a section on local knowledge.

Networking events for the tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors will be running throughout the winter to support this local knowledge module, starting with a ‘Meet the Retailers’ evening in November. Late-night shopping in the town, coupled with refreshments in a central location, (which will also host exhibitors from outside St Andrews) will make this a night to benefit more than just the tourism industry.

St Andrews Skills Academy is a key partner in a number of activities involving the St Andrews Partnership, all of which aim to improve the visitor experience of the town and help companies create an outstanding visitor experience.

Would you like to be involved in the exciting work of the St Andrews Skills Academy? To learn more about anything in this article, or to meet the Skills Academy staff, visit their website and blog: www.standrewsskillsacademy.co.uk and http://standrewsskillsacademy. wordpress.com Make sure you sign up to our monthly e-newsletter to stay up-todate with all the latest developments, or email Bethany Craggs, the Website and Communications Manager, on beth@standrewsskillsacademy.co.uk for more specific questions.

We look forward to working with you to make St Andrews an even better place to live in, work in, and visit!

(Photo courtesy the Skills Academy)

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23

EVENTS From Michael Downes, Music Director of the University Music Centre

Haydn/Mendelssohn ‘09

The University of St Andrews Music Centre has announced an autumn season of three professional chamber concerts, marking the bicentenaries of Haydn’s death and Mendelssohn’s birth. All concerts will take place on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. in the Younger Hall.

On 1 October the Fitzwilliam String Quartet will play two of Haydn’s best-loved quartets, ‘The Bird’ and ‘The Frog’, alongside Mozart’s ‘Hunt’ Quartet and a quartet by Haydn’s English contemporary, John Marsh.

The Fitzwilliam Quartet became internationally known through their close association with Dmitri Shostakovich, whose last three quartets they premiered in the West. More recently they have gained a particular reputation for their performances of earlier music: they are the only quartet in the UK who play on both period and modern instruments, and their performance in the Younger Hall will be given on instruments with gut strings. On Wednesday, 30 September, the evening before their concert, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet will be leading a workshop on the music of Bach and Handel with the University’s newly formed Baroque Orchestra.

Players and observers are welcome; for further details please contact the Music Centre, or the Baroque Orchestra’s director, Claire Garabedian (email: cgarabedian40@yahoo.com).

The Haydn/Mendelssohn series continues on 29 October with a performance of perhaps Mendelssohn’s best-known work, the Octet for

strings, alongside works for the same combination of instruments by Percy Grainger, Paul Patterson, John Woolrich, and Joe Duddell. The concert is given by the St Paul’s Chamber Players, which contains some of London’s most talented young instrumentalists. On 26 November, meanwhile, the German-based Hilarion Piano Trio joins us as part of their tour of Scotland for a programme of piano trios by both our featured composers, as well as Beethoven’s ‘Ghost’ Trio.

Season tickets giving admission to all three concerts are available at the special price of £25 / £20 concessions; tickets for individual concerts may also be purchased at £10 / £8 concessions. All tickets are now available from the Music Centre office in the Younger Hall: tel: 01334 462 226, email: music@st-andrews.ac.uk

From 21 September: the Music Centre office, at the Younger Hall, North Street, is open for the new session.

Come and join us, and find out about the many activities on offer, including concerts, groups, tuition, practice facilities, instruments for loan, and much more. The Centre welcomes everyone, whether or not connected with the University.

At the Fraser Gallery in South Street, a

New Exhibition of Work by Robert Macmillan

Head Study

Summer Rain

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Over recent years, Robert MacMillan has developed a strong reputation as one of Scotland’s foremost figurative painters. Through consistently reconciling traditional working methods with an attitude of painterly experimentation, Robert’s work is undoubtedly charged with an emotional intensity. Demonstrating meticulous technique, he applies layer upon layer of paint to create depth and luminosity.

Much admired by many other artists and gallerists for his painterly abilities, he focuses on single figured portraits, and his work is greatly influenced by the old masters, the results are simple and uncluttered at first glance, but upon closer inspection the detail is captivating. Indeed, his work has been likened to a wellcrafted poem, where the omission of even a single word would alter it irrevocably.

These new works will see the artist push the boundaries for which he has become known; haunting landscapes, added to this collection, extol his ability to capture atmosphere and mood as cleverly as in his figurative work.

A finalist in the much respected Aspect Prize in 2007, Robert’s skill and expertise has been attracting attention since he graduated in Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone in 1997. He has won a number of awards including travelling scholarships and won the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Exhibition Award in 2002.

A much collected artist, Robert’s work hangs in the private collections of ‘Harry Potter’ author, J K Rowling, as well as in the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.

The Fraser Gallery St Andrews is currently showing their summer collections which includes works by George Devlin, RSW, RGI, ARWS, Simon Laurie, RSW, RGI and Dylan Lisle – who are new to the Gallery, as well as exciting new works by Francis Boag, Marj Bond, and John Kingsley, PAI.

Golden Blanket

EVENTS

Roz Clarke introduces this year’s

Royal Air Force Leuchars Airshow RAF history is not forgotten and we will have displays of aircraft We are delighted to announce that the Royal Air Force Leuchars Airshow through the ages including an SE5a Scout, one of the first aircraft to will take place on Saturday, 12 September. Keeping up the tradition be flown in the RAF, and many more including the Spitfire, Hurricane, launched back in 1945 with the first ‘Battle of Britain At Home Day’, RAF Meteor, Vampire, and Hunter will be featured. The SE5a Scout, a World Leuchars Airshow has grown and evolved into one of the largest Airshows War 1 bi-plane fighter with a top speed of 138 mph was flown in the in the UK and certainly the largest event of its kind in Scotland. past by Leuchars’ own 111 (Fighter) Squadron – compare this with the What will strike you as you walk through the gates onto this military RAF’s newest jet fighter Typhoon, which has a top speed of 1480 mph, airfield is the sheer size of the event. A fully-operational airfield, and home twice the speed of sound. In its role as a living flying memorial to the to the last Tornado F3 Squadron, has been transformed in a matter of a Few, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with the Spitfire, Hurricane, few days into an event site. Static aircraft stand to attention along the taxi and Lancaster will proudly parade through the skies watched by over way, aircraft hangars are transformed to house exhibitions and a Scottish three hundred veterans. We are delighted to announce that the Vulcan Fair, trade stands form a shopping village, simulators, and a funfair, and bomber XH558 will once again make the journey to Scotland – this will an Arena featuring a plethora of exciting acts, offer entertainment for undoubtedly be the highlight of the show. There will young and old alike and then …. there are the flying Over one hundred aircraft will be lots of action, intricate manoeuvres and special displays. effects throughout the display so prepare yourself Over one hundred aircraft will flock to RAF flock to RAF Leuchars with for bangs and flashes!

Leuchars with several foreign nations arriving to several foreign nations arriving When you do take some time out from the flying showcase their aircraft, and no doubt experience to showcase their aircraft, and displays, make your way over to the Interactive some good old Scottish hospitality. There is a no doubt experience some Zone where you can meet service personnel and be definite buzz about the place with an atmosphere of offered the opportunity to try your hand at some of anticipation and excitement as you wander around, good old Scottish hospitality the RAF’s trade skills and witness at first hand the jet engines starting up, aircrew manning their aircraft, work carried out by our Airmen/women. And don’t forget to visit the ‘Crew children excitedly pointing to the skies and cameras snapping furiously.

Room’, where you can chat with the crews following their displays and Representing the Royal Air Force we are delighted to welcome a have your Airshow Programme autographed. number of display teams, including The Falcons Parachute Team, and the And finally, another RAF Leuchars Airshow will draw to a close with most famous being the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Display Team, The Red a Sunset Ceremony, the Station Commander taking the salute and the Arrows, demonstrating the art of formation flying. The nine Hawks, their RAF Leuchars Pipes and Drums marching by. Marquees are taken down, distinctive pillar box red adding a splash of colour to the skies, will perform hangars return to normal use, aircraft fly off into the distance, and the a series of manoeuvres with ultimate skill and precision as only they can.

Station resumes daily operations.

We celebrate 100 years of Naval Aviation history with a fabulous display by the Royal Navy Historic Flight, and the dynamic Royal Navy Black Cats Don’t miss it! will perform their magnificent helicopter display.

Advance Saver tickets available on 08700 130 877 or: www.airshow.co.uk In addition to our home-grown talent we are thrilled the MiG-29 Buy at selected Scottish Tourist Information Centres, the Dunfermline Fulcrum, one of the best known Soviet era fighters, will be put through its Building Society, and Ticketsoup.com at the SECC. paces by the Polish Air Force. We welcome again the fantastic displays of Tickets available on the day. the Dutch and Belgian F-16s.

• Gates & activities open from 8.00am to 6.00pm • Displays take off 10.00am to 5.00pm Supporting RAF Charities.

(Photos courtesy the RAF)

25

EVENTS

St Andrews Chamber Orchestra invites new members to audition to play in its exciting 2009-10 season.

On Thursday 3 December the orchestra will perform Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto with soloist Murray McLachlan (the University’s Visiting Professor of Piano and one of Britain’s leading pianists, recently heard with the Heisenberg Ensemble in the memorial concert for Peter Branscombe), Sibelius’s Pelleas and Melisande suite and Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll. Our second concert of the season, meanwhile, will take place on Friday 30 April and features Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in A major alongside exquisite French works by Fauré and Ravel. The

orchestra will be conducted this year by Michael Downes, the University’s Director of Music, and led

by Tim Craggs, first violinist of the Rusalka String Quartet. St Andrews Chamber Orchestra warmly welcomes players from the local community as well as staff and students of the University. Anyone interested in finding out more, or arranging an audition, should contact Michael Downes at the Younger Hall Music Centre. Email: mjd14@st-andrews.ac.uk, tel: 01334 462226.

Reprographics Unit We welcome commercial enquiries David Roche from the Bute Photographic Unit has now joined us in St Katharine’s West. The specialisms he brings to the team include: • Digitising of images • (multiple film formats & photographic) • Digital photo repair • • High quality fine art printing • Print & Design St Katharine’s West 16 The Scores St Andrews Fife KY16 9AX T: (01334) 463020 E: printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

The Music Centre offers exceptional opportunities to everybody with an interest in music – players, singers and listeners.

We are open to everyone – students and non-students alike.

• tuition with experienced professional tutors in singing and many instruments, from beginner to advanced • St Andrews Chamber Orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings: events for 2009–10 include a St Andrews week concert at Younger Hall and an Easter tour. New members welcome: please contact us to find out more or arrange an audition.

• other groups include baroque ensemble, opera group, saxophone ensemble, big band, fiddle group, ad hoc orchestra and many more.

• a regular series of Wednesday lunchtime concerts by professional musicians and talented students. Admission only £2, or free for Music Centre members.

• evening concerts, including visits by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and our new autumn series (see p.24 for details) • workshops and master classes with top-class visiting artists • intensive weekend courses in jazz, conducting and more Music Centre, University of St Andrews, Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews, KY16 9AJ. T: 01334 462226 E: music@st-andrews.ac.uk W: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/music The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland. No: SC013532

26

EVENTS Dr William Brown, Lecturer in Film Studies at the University, gives advance notice of the

French Film Festival – St Andrews, 3-6 December 2009 Following the successful Italian Film Festival in St Andrews in May, St Andrews will also play host to the French Film Festival UK in December.

The event will give locals and students alike a rare chance to see, and talk about, recent French cinema, together with retrospective screenings of French classics, and an Educational Screening for the schools in St Andrews.

We are also hoping to have various French filmmakers visit in December, and to organise discussion forums led by academics to talk about the films being screened.

The French Film Festival UK comes to St Andrews for the first time in 2009. The Festival also travels to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and various other locations in the UK. The St Andrews leg of the festival is supported by the Institut Français Ecosse, Fife Council, the Russell Development Awards, and the Centre for Film Studies at the University of St Andrews.

The event also looks set to include a ‘festival rate’ deal with the Golf Hotel for those wishing to come to St Andrews for a weekend à la française.

For further information please contact Dr Brown at the University of St Andrews, 99 North Street or: Email: wjrcb@st-andrews.ac.uk Tel: 01334 462 453 Mobile: 07950 978 708 Blog Space: http://cinemasalon.ning.com/

Selected Events Until Sunday, 27 September – 2.00-5.00pm. Preservation Trust Museum, 12 North Street, St Andrews. Colours, curtains and chords – arts in St Andrews. Explore the variety and richness of the artistic community in St Andrews. Entry free.

Saturday, 12 September – 8.00am-6.00pm. RAF Leuchars Airshow.

Contact: 08700 130 877 or: www.airshow.co.uk Friday, 18 September – 7.45pm. St Andrews Episcopal Church. St Andrews Chorus. Walter Blair, piano. Conductor, Edward Caswell in a farewell concert. Music by Schubert, Gerald Finzi. Contact: Mary Popple, tel: 07872 384 044 www.saint-andrews.co.uk/sac Saturday, 19 September – 10.00am-4.00pm. Victory Memorial Hall, St Mary’s Place. Book Sale. Admission, free.

Sunday, 20 September – 2.00-5.00pm B B Hall, Kinnessburn Road, St Andrews. Freshers’ Welcome Ceilidh. Gary Sutherland, accordion. Come and meet our new students for a fun afternoon – everyone welcome, admission free. Contact: 01334 472 375.

Monday, 21 September – 10.00am-5.30pm approx. Preservation Trust private visit to Thirlestane Castle, Lauder. There are a limited number of places available. Cost, including travel, fingerbuffet lunch, guided tour of the Castle, £30. Contact: Trust office at 4 Queen’s Gardens, 01334 477 152.

Thursday, 1 October – 8.00pm Younger Hall, North Street.

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet. First in a series of three concerts. Music by Hayden, Mozart, John Marsh. Tickets £10 (concessions £8) for individual concerts, or £25 (concessions £20) for all three concerts – from the Music Centre, Younger Hall, or at the door. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Email: music@st-andrews.ac.uk Saturday, 3 October – 2.00pm. Victory Memorial Hall. St.Andrews Preservation Trust’s Grand Charity Auction of Antiques and Quality Goods. [preview from 11.00 a.m.] Contact: the Preservation Trust, 4 Queen’s Gardens, St Andrews. Tel: 01334 477152, email: trust@standrewspreservationtrust.org.uk Wednesday, 7 & 14 October – 1.15pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

Lunchtime concerts. Admission £2. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Friday, 9 October – Sunday, 31 January 2010 – The Fisheries Museum, Anstruther.The Weird and Wonderful World of Frank Buckland. An exhibition showcasing the life, works and legacy of the foremost marine scientist of his age, founder of the Museum of Economic Fish Culture and Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, a true innovator in the fields of marine research and conservation.

Featuring newly conserved specimens from his collections.

Museum opening hours and charges apply. Contact: Tel: 01333 310 628. Email: info@scotfishmuseum.org Saturday, 10 October – 8.00pm. St Leonards Music School, The Pends. Fujita Piano Trio. Music by Haydn, Dvorak, Mozart, Shostakovitch. Contact: The Music Club.

Tuesday, 13 October – 10.00am at St Andrews Bowling Club, Kinnessburn Road. Probus – first meeting of 2009/10 season of the Club for retired business and professional men. New members welcome. Contact: Secretary 01337 830 262.

Wednesday, 14 October – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Joseph Swensen, Conductor.

Henning Kraggerud, violin. Music by Borodin, Sibelius, Beethoven. Tickets from the Byre Theatre, or at the door ½ hour before the performance (cash only). Online booking available: www.byretheatre.com Phone: 01334 475 000.

Sunday, 18 October – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

The Heisenberg Ensemble, directed by Gillian Craig. Music by Haydn and Mendelssohn. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Thursday, 22 October – 7.00pm at Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews.

Pre-concert talk by conductor Harry Christophers. Followed by The Choral Pilgrimage 2009 celebrating Purcell’s birth and also James MacMillan’s 50th birthday. Tickets from the Byre Theatre: 01334 475 000.

Wednesday, 21 & 28 October – 1.15pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Lunchtime concerts. Admission £2. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Thursday, 29 October – 8.00pm Younger Hall, North Street. St Paul’s Chamber Players. Second in a series of three concerts. Music by Mendelssohn, Percy Grainger, Paul Patterson, John Woolrich, Joe Duddell. Tickets £10 (concessions £8) for individual concerts, or £25 (concessions £20) for all three concerts – from the Music Centre, Younger Hall, or at the door. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Email: music@st-andrews.ac.uk Advance Notice

Saturday, 26 September – 12noon-5.00pm Town Hall, St Andrews.

Annual Flower Show. St Andrews Gardeners’ Club. Admission £2, members free. Contact: Dr D R King, 01334 477 429.

Tuesday, 3 November – the Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan will open a series of talks under the title of “An audience with….” at which Christians in the professions – some well-known, some not at all – will talk about their work and open themselves to questioning from an audience drawn from St Andrews and around the East Neuk.

Details in the next issue of this magazine.

Tuesday, 29 September – 6.30pm. the Younger Music Centre, North Street. Come and play or sing in Mozart’s Requiem. Ceilidh to follow at 9.30pm. Presented by Mussoc. Admission free, all welcome. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Thursday,12 November – Sunday, 15 November – Younger Hall, North Street. FORBESFEST – A celebration of St Andrewsborn Watson Forbes, one of the foremost viola players of his generation. Details in the next issue of this magazine.

Wednesday, 30 September – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

Baroque Orchestra open workshop led by the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. Come and play Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 and Handel’s Water Music and find out more about historical performance styles. Open to all, admission free. Contact: 01334 462 226.

Thursday, 26 November – 8.00pm Younger Hall, North Street.

Hilarion Piano Trio. Third in a series of three concerts. Music by Hayden, Beethoven, Mendelssohn. Tickets £10 (concessions £8) for individual concerts, or £25 (concessions £20) for all three concerts – from the Music Centre, Younger Hall, or at the door.

Contact: 01334 462 226. Email: music@st-andrews.ac.uk

27

OUT & ABOUT

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

CONDUCTED WALKS 1st Sunday September & October, 2pm

WINTER LECTURE SEASON Starts 1st Tuesday in October 7.30pm, Chemistry Dept., North Haugh

PLANT SALES AREA Open till end September 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

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

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

28

OUT & ABOUT Caroline Langdale is a part-time lecturer in horticulture, teaching the Royal Horticultural Society programme of courses.

Going Organic – ‘Let’s do it...’ (as the song goes) a hold and you get relatively few problems with Bellfield do it, pests and diseases.” Also, the main drive for famous people do some commercial growers to go organic is that it, even St Columba they just don’t want to eat food which has been Hotel on Iona do it, treated with pesticides, because they believe so “let’s do it, let’s fall in love” .... with organic it affects people’s health. This was enough to gardening. convince me to give up the killers and give it a Spend a few days at the St Columba Hotel try. (just off the island of Mull on the west coast Well, what is the best way to start of Scotland) as I did in June this year and gardening organically? For home gardeners, you’ll soon get to hear that they are almost it’s getting to grips with self-sufficient in high-quality vegetable and salad produce “once you get going, a the key elements: crop rotation, crop protection, to hotel-plate standard. balance takes a hold building and maintaining Closer to home, Bellfield Organics, based in Abernethy and you get relatively soil fertility, cultivations, pest and disease, and weed

by Newburgh, Fife, produces few problems with control. Now, what I say is, a variety of seasonal start simply. In the first year, vegetables which, through pests and diseases.” start by growing one type their highly successful ‘box of vegetable, say cabbages, under low, one scheme’, brings organic produce in returnable metre wide plastic-framed tunnels covered with net bags straight from the field directly to your reusable protection netting (fine mesh netting door. They deliver to Fife, Tayside, Glasgow, or fleece). You will be so pleased with the result and Aberdeenshire with carrots and leeks topping the chart. New for August 2009 is their small fruit and vegetable box specifically for folk who live on their own. “Our boxes are also favoured with students in St Andrews,” enthuses owner / grower, Irene Alexander.

So what is organic gardening?

Essentially a method of growing trees, shrubs, fruit, vegetables, herbs, and traditional greenhouse crops, without using artificial fertilisers and pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) and thus minimising damage to the environment, human health and wildlife.

However, I know why some people don’t do it and reach for the slug pellets. Take for example last year, when a friend decided to grow some runner beans which she planted out as young plants. Within a week all the lower that you will start to wonder why you didn’t use leaves resembled doilies and most of the shoot protection netting before now. Of course I’m tips were eaten; the result of those tiny white or assuming the bed will have been weeded, desmall brown slugs which feed mainly at night or stoned and well dug over first. At the end of the after rain. The disappointment comes first, then growing season get the cleared ground covered annoyance. One of the most heartening facts I with a sheet of black woven ground cover. This learned from a commercial grower a few years will protect the soil structure and prevent the ago is that “once you get going, a balance takes weeds from taking over the plot again.

The next year grow some carrots and beetroot on the same plot, again under protection netting. In addition, buy in a good quantity of proprietary mulch (go for the middle of the price range) and mulch your flower and shrub borders to a depth of 8 cms. This will reduce weed growth, but more importantly, help to retain moisture in the soil.

Drought-stressed plants that are not adapted to such conditions are more susceptible to diseases and insect pests.

Provided you continue to add the mulch annually

or better still, garden compost, you’ll notice an overall difference in the growth and health of your plants too. They will be bigger and better than your neighbours (tee-hee!) and the foliage will have lustre.

In the third year, plant onions and leeks in your vegetable plot and buy yourself a couple of slatted wooden compost bins and start to make garden compost. There’s a great book called Straight Ahead Organic

by Shepherd Ogden. The chapter on caring for your soil includes a really good explanation on how to make the ‘finest’ compost, aerobically. The important elements are moisture, the size and shape of the compost bin, the need for air and the right balance of carbon to nitrogen material (leaves/ dry prunings to grass clippings).

This now takes us on nicely to your fourth year. Double dig the vegetable plot and incorporate your garden compost at a rate of about two normalsized buckets per square metre. Then plant the peas and beans. Planting of the peas and beans completes our crop rotation system. There are more detailed crop rotation systems, which include the use of green manures.

Shepherd Ogden gives a sample rotation.

Green manures are plants such as crimson clover and fenugreek, grown specifically for incorporating into the soil and improving soil fertility. Weeding has to be carried out by hand (get them out in May), but take comfort from the fact that on a commercial scale hoeing out weeds in between rows of lettuces growing in open-ended 80 metre long polytunnels is a continuous job; once the bottom of the tunnel is reached it’s time to begin again at the top the following week! As you get more experienced at gardening organically you can then take on board another tip from the professionals: the control of pests and diseases is due greatly to the choice of cultivars, particularly when it comes to growing vegetables. Not all cultivated varieties of vegetables do well, so this means experimenting with different types to see which ones are the best at the job and for your garden soil. Whether you choose to buy organic produce through Bellfield’s box scheme or grow your own, let’s do it!

Bellfield Organics: Tel: 01738 850 589 Email: orders@bellfield-organics.com (Photos courtesy Caroline Langdale, with permission from Bellfield Organics)

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OUT & ABOUT Alistair Lawson takes us on a journey

The Warld O’er Readers of this be reached in 20 minutes from the capital, magazine would Kingston. probably be quick It is not inappropriate that we should to identify with think of Jamaica during Scotland’s Year of the assertion the Homecoming, in that a remarkable book that “There’s just appeared in 2006, linking Rabbie Burns, nowhere quite Scotland, and Jamaica. It is by Andrew like St Andrews!”.

Lindsay and is called Illustrious Exile, and However, the name (give or take the terminal it develops a hypothetical series of events ‘s’) has been uplifted and transplanted to other based on the fact that Burns very nearly parts of Planet Earth and, believe it or not, there emigrated to Jamaica. Had his affairs not are other human communities out there, living taken a sudden turn for the better, he would parallel lives under the same banner. have done just that, and in 1786 he had got These lines of thought were triggered by as far as arranging employment on one of the a recent visit to the philatelic market place at sugar cane plantations, and it is this which e-bay, where my eye was caught by the caption provides the central theme of the book, i.e. how on the stamp below – yes, “St Andrew”! Not would the egalitarian poet whom we all know, only was that familiar, but “Castleton” also have adjusted to a situation in which slavery gave me pause for thought, in that Castleton prevailed, black and white were sharply divided, is the name of a hill in the Ochils, visible from where the whip was used freely to enforce my house. For what it is discipline, and where worth, it is also the name of plantation owners very much It is not inappropriate that a farm just on the edge of we should think of Jamaica made their own laws? Could Auchterarder, on the far side Burns have preserved his during Scotland’s Year of of the Ochils from where I principles in that situation? the Homecoming write.

To our shame, not a few So, what does the of these plantation owners stamp, issued in 1938, tell us about this other were Scots. “Living parallel lives”, did I say in St Andrew? It is the name of a parish, rather my first paragraph? Maybe today, but certainly than a settlement, and is situated towards not in the 1780s. the NE corner of the island. The Castleton I shall not spoil a thoroughly good read by referred to in the caption sits on the Wag Water saying more, but I can thoroughly recommend River and is known for its Botanic Gardens, the book. What’s more, Andrew Lindsay has looked after by the Jamaica National Heritage Cellardyke connections!

Trust. The Gardens are, in fact, just over the parish boundary in St Mary Parish, and can (Image courtesy Alistair Lawson)

Thank you, Willie Robinson for bringing these pictures showing the power of the sea close to home.

1. The Elephant Rock, West Sands, 1967

2. The Elephant Rock today

Membership Secretary Jean Allardice reports on the M

Friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden Open Day, 26th July 2009

handmade satchels and bags, and Arts & Crafts by The forecast was right for once, and it rained.

Dida featuring animal portraits and abstract art.

We never even considered cancellation, but we Coffee and tea were available in the Glass Class had to make some changes. Davie Laing, and Strawberries and cream were on offer in the the head gardener, got out the tractor and Temperate House. trailer to carry the band’s equipment and Outdoor attractions included a tree trail, and whole the barbecue over the grass. We didn’t families could be seen pondering the clues. Lizzie and want cars getting stuck – or churning up Kirsty manned the children’s games the grass. The St Andrews area, which was very popular. Bob Preservation Trust were In all, around six installed in the long corridor hundred visitors came in Mitchell, Hon. Curator of The Garden, led a walk around the rock garden and instead of a windy gazebo. to enjoy the attractions scree area with a group including a I think they quite enjoyed on offer in The Garden very enthusiastic youngster. the change. Then we were On the North Lawn, Logiealmond rewarded with beautiful sunshine Lamb provided excellent burgers and chops (yes, just after one o’clock. It was a glorious afternoon. chops!), which could be followed by ice cream by G.G. A steady trickle of brave souls in the morning and more strawberries provided by Barnshill Farm, became a steady flow in the afternoon. In all, Crail, and cream. around six hundred visitors came in to enjoy the The Dave Husband Sound kept everyone’s toes attractions on offer in The Garden. tapping and your editor couldn’t resist teaching her We were well supported by the members of French visitor the Military Two-step!

Made in Fife, who provided a varied selection of We had lots of admiring comments regarding our local crafts in the Glass Class. The Courtyard new Gate House and the beautiful displays of locallyStudio displayed a selection of hand-painted produced craft work made and sourced by our vicejewellery and trinket boxes; Colin Mackenzie chair, Anne Lightwood. showed a selection of unique gifts made from We will be doing it all again next July, but don’t local hardwoods; Tartan Teuchters had a wide wait till then to visit The Garden! We are open all year choice of cards and prints; The Cottage Soap & round, and there is always something interesting to Gift Gallery’s display was not only attractive, but see. beautifully scented; Earthen Images with their (Photos courtesy The Friends) hand-crafted pottery; Baptie Accessories with

30

OUT & ABOUT Jane and Jack Matthews of the Scottish Wildlife Trust visited

The Isle of May – Jewel of the Forth

Like the Bass Rock off the south shore of the entrance to the Firth of Forth, the Isle of May stands guard off the north shore, a danger to sailors, but a haven for wildlife. Man’s involvement with the island dates back to prehistoric times. There was a small farming community and, in the days of the Early Church, an island monastery that suffered the inevitable Viking raid, but it was more widely known – and dreaded – in early seafaring times, when sailors had to rely solely on their own Guillemots navigational skills and experience to avoid shipwreck and reach safe harbour in the Firth. There was an urgent need for reliable warning of the dangerous rocks that had claimed so many ships – though it is said that they pass just over your head. And keep to the paths: you might crush some opposition came from those who didn’t want to lose the living they a puffin chick in its burrow; falling over a cliff might be a second reason, could make from salvage! The first beacon was built in the 17th century, but that wasn’t mentioned! Most of the birds were safely out of reach on a brazier on a tower that had to be tended through dark, wet, and windy their rocky ledges, but in full view. It was an encouraging sight this year nights – once with tragic consequences when the storm blew out the fire, to see the puffins come in carrying full beak-loads of sand-eels, stand by and fumes from the hot ash killed the keeper and his their burrows a few feet away from where we were family in their sleep, all bar an infant who survived, standing as if to show off their fishing prowess, then The history of the Isle of May wrapped in her mother’s shawl that must have disappear down the burrow to the chick beneath. from then on became very masked her from the poisonous gases.

How does a puffin manage to catch and hold yet much a part of the history of The history of the Isle of May from then on another wee fish when its beak is already almost the lighthouses fast developing became very much a part of the history of the full? And how does a guillemot know just which is its lighthouses fast developing around the British coast. own chick – or even its egg – on the crowded ledge around the British coast Foremost in all this activity were two generations of as it flies in from the sea? The shags were ahead of the Stevenson family, and the Forth was home ground to them. Their first the rest, with large fluffy “chicks” that seemed larger than the parents, but lighthouse was built in 1816, since when the lighthouse service has run not yet ready for a swim and still hungrily demanding attention. To us, the continuously for nearly two centuries, tended by resident keepers until terns seemed the most elegant in flight and delicate on the ground. They 1989, when automation took over. So the island, now a National Nature were suffering some harassment from the gulls which the adults can take, Reserve owned by Scottish Natural Heritage, has returned to the charge but the chicks may not. of its original inhabitants, the birds, and the seals, under the watchful eye The three hours we spent on the island gave us time and cause of the Warden. to wonder: a multitude of birds of many different species, reflecting In June, some 40 members of the Fife and Kinross Branch of the the space and the range of life-styles that the oceans can provide and Scottish Wildlife Trust joined other passengers on MV May Princess for support, yet so tightly massed together on land at breeding time. For the 40-minute boat journey from Anstruther to the Island. Many had done these creatures of the sea, whose ancestors evolved and came to live the journey before, for others it was their lives entirely ashore aeons ago, are still, with the exception of the their first time, but for everyone cetaceans (whales and dolphins), dependent on terra firma to breed and anticipation rose as we got close: rear their young; suitable temporary accommodation is clearly limited! rafts of guillemots, razorbills, and No wonder time was up all too soon and we set off back to Anstruther puffins rode the bow wave as we where the people, too – some of them at least – still obtain their living passed, or flew overhead with fish in from the sea. As we left the island, with the promise to come back again, their beaks to feed their chicks, seals we sailed round under the high cliffs, white with guano, and with the cry swam in the water near the shore of the multitude in our ears. On the top of a cliff, we could see the solitary, or lazed on the rocks, and the noise still silhouette of a peregrine. Was it patiently awaiting its opportunity? from the gulls grew louder.

On behalf of the SWT party, thank you again, Captain and Crew of On shore by the sheltered jetty, the May Princess and all the Staff of Anstruther Pleasure Trips, for a we were politely reminded that this memorable day. island belongs to the wildlife, that (Photos courtesy Jane & Jack Matthews) this was the height of their breeding season and that we were their uninvited, but accepted, guests – unless you got too close to their eggs or chicks, when the terns and the gulls can be scary, swooping from behind and screaming as Isle of May lighthouse

31

freshly cooked fish and chips in St Andrews!

Locally sourced haddock coated in our light crispy batter and fried in vegetable oil.

And it’s still only £5!

– fancy something lighter?

Half fish and chips only £2.75!

Healthy options – During September we’re introducing lots of new tasty options such as baked potatoes, baguettes and home made soup. Try us for lunch.

New Pizza Menu now!

1 Union Street St Andrews Formerly PM’s – we’re at The east end of Market Street