St Andrews in Focus Issue 44 Jan Feb 2011

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

January / February 2011 Issue 44, £1.50

www.standrewsinfocus.com

the award winning magazine for St Andrews

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

From the Editor It is so cheering to be able to start this new year looking forward to a very happy event. Many sincerely warm congratulations to you, ‘our own’ Prince William and Kate Middleton! St Andrews took both of you to its heart, from Prince William’s arrival, to the glory of your graduation day. Now we eagerly await Friday, 29 April 2011, the day announced for your wedding. St Andrews is indeed fortunate to have been the chosen backdrop to such a significant part of your young lives; you’ve gifted the town another notable landmark in its 800-year history. May you enjoy every happiness, every good fortune, and a long fulfilled life together.

Flora Selwyn

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

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com DESIGNER University of St Andrews Print & Design (printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk) PRINTER Trendell Simpson (ken@trendellsimpson.co.uk) DISTRIBUTER Elspeth’s of Guardbridge PUBLISHER (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com SUBSCRIPTIONS St Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year.

Subscriptions for 6 issues are: £12.75 in the UK (post & packing included).

Please send cheques to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. £22 overseas (post and packing included).

Please use PayPal account: editor@StAndrewsinFocus.com NOTE: please pay with a Personal Bank Account, as credit cards incur a 3.9% charge.

REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND: 255564 THE PAPER USED IS 80% RECYCLED POST-CONSUMER WASTE

2

Contents FEATURES • The Community Council • Roy Cammack Joined The Navy • The Whistling Boy • The Market Street Fountain • Craigmount • Memories • Review: – The Foundations Of Small Business Enterprise • Ghosts • The Quiz Solutions • The Passivhaus

9 10 10 11

SHOPS & SERVICES • Zizzi – A Review • Inheritance Tax Talk • The Nahm-Jim Restaurant • What’s Going On? • Toonspot • The Wool Campaign • Tapas At Bibi’s • Roving Reporter

12 13 14 15 15 16 17 19

TOWN /GOWN • More ‘Belles’!

• The Canoe Club • The Gilbert & Sullivan Society

20 22 23

ORGANISATIONS • A New Film Company • Standen • The Castle Furniture Project • Golf & The Environment

24 24 25 26

EVENTS • Variety Spectacular • Snowdrops By Starlight • Selected Events

27 27 28

OUT AND ABOUT • Earlshall Castle • What’s It Called?

• The Watcher • Winter: A Dirge • Nature Notes

29 30 30 31 31

NEXT ISSUE – Mar/Apr 2011 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 JANUARY

3 4 5 6 7 8

All contributions welcome. The Editor reserves the right to publish copy according to available space.

Cover: West Port an original photograph by Richard Cormack

FEATURES Community Council – a personal view from the chair

Your Council needs YOU! Are you happy with how the Royal Burgh of without the train and the boats and the other entertainments. We have St Andrews Community Council does its job? set up a joint working party with Cameron Community Council, in Particularly if your answer is “No!”, I would ask whose area the Park lies, to explore possible ways in which the local you to consider standing for the Council if you communities might inject new life into it. are an adult resident of the town. The present Council has nearly run Our Recreation Committee continues to enrich the life of the town its course, and, provided there are enough candidates, there will be in a variety of ways. In the summer it organised the annual garden an election on February 24th. If your personal situation is such that competition, and ran a series of bandstand concerts at Bow Butts. being a candidate is not realistic, I would urge you to play your part This autumn we have had the Young Citizen of the Year award and by casting your vote in the postal ballot – the more people who vote the annual Art and Photographic Exhibition. The social calendar the greater the authority with which the Council can speak for the for senior citizens has been increased this winter with one party in town.

December run by the Community Council and one in January by I would emphasise that, in asking you to be a candidate or an St Andrews Events. Our 200 Club has provided financial support for a active voter, I am certainly not suggesting that the present Council range of local groups and projects. An appeal for funds to restore the is on its last legs or that present members are not pulling their Martyrs’ Monument has been launched together with the St Andrews weight. On the contrary, I think the Council can justifiably take some Partnership and the Preservation Trust. satisfaction in what it has managed to achieve over the past year, In late 2009, we issued a newsletter on the issues facing the town funded by an administration budget of just £3,200. in the Local Plan, and mounted an exhibition in the Victory Memorial The town could benefit for very many years from the agreement Hall. In September, we ran a coffee morning advertising our Standen that we have reached with the Links Trust to form a new St Andrews project. The many contributors included two of our student members, Community Trust. Funding for this Trust, who baked enthusiastically and who are which will operate as an independent organising our next coffee morning in the the more people who vote the body, will essentially be generated from Town Hall Supper Room on January 15th. the commercial benefits to the Links that The Community Council also greater the authority with which result from an agreed integrated approach comments on licensing matters and the Council can speak for the town is a statutory consultee for planning to the use and protection of the Town Crest and the Links Trust’s trademarks. applications. The challenges facing the The Community Trust will be able to fund a wide range of projects. next Planning Committee are likely to be particularly demanding.

Possibilities include projects to aid community groups, to public Recent years have seen various consultation exercises, but many knowledge of the history of St Andrews, to improve the environment, people detect little genuine interest in the views expressed. The major to tackle climate change, or to research into ways of furthering these organisations that operate in the town have considerable resources goals. for moulding public opinion, and the strategy for the town often Last Spring a grant of over £110,000 was awarded by the Climate appears to me to be designed to meet their corporate needs rather Challenge Fund to Standen (St Andrews Energy Network) which is than the aspirations of residents. As I write this article, it is expected one of our committees. This project – which benefited greatly from that an examination of the Local Plan will take place in April, and I the assistance of Mr Roddy Yarr, the University’s Environment and hope that this will offer an opportunity for local opinions to be heard.

Energy Manager – aims to cut the town’s carbon footprint by 3% of The present Community Council wishes to see provision of affordable the 2008 levels by improved insulation and other measures to reduce housing, on a scale commensurate with local need, located initially on energy consumption. We have a number of other carbon reduction brownfield sites in the town and then on the low-lying ground of the projects for which we intend to continue to seek funding. These Kinness Valley. Another contentious matter – the planning application include investigating which alternative methods of energy generation for the new Madras College – is also expected early in 2011. My own could be suitable for the sensitive context of St Andrews and how expectation is that any such application will receive consent, pleasing a network of off-road cycle paths in and around the town might be many of those with school-age children, but leaving many others provided. We had also been seeking to fund a feasibility study into unhappy about the implications for carbon emissions and for the reinstating the rail link into the town, but were pleased this autumn to landscape setting of the town. contribute £1,000 towards the cost of the Corus study that was being If you are interested in any of the matters I have described, or promoted by Starlink. believe there are others we should be addressing, please consider The financial pressures resulting from the recession are creating standing for the Council. If you would like to discuss it with an existing a range of new problems for the town. Of particular concern is the councillor, please get in touch. Our contact details are given on our future of Craigtoun Park. Fife Council is now unable to provide the website which also gives further information about the Council. Details necessary cash to maintain the facilities, and intends to run it next of how to stand are likely to appear in the press and on the website in summer as an ordinary public park, with no admission fee, but January.

3

FEATURES Roy Cammack

Joined the Navy and saw the world!

Andrew Scott suggested this magazine contact Roy Cammack for his story, so we did.

Roy was born at Epworth, Lincolnshire, second oldest of five children.

Father was a tenant dairy farmer, which in those days meant, “you moved around with the seasons”. During the war the family was in Kent, “that’s where my memories become vivid. We used to watch the spitfires shooting the engines out of the doodle bugs. In the farmyard, we knew, as soon as the engine on a doodle bug stopped we would run like hell into the house and under the old oak kitchen table, which was our shelter.” The plaster often came down off the ceiling when a doodle bug exploded nearby. There were no air raid sirens out in the country.

Roy’s father kept a large collection of shrapnel, and bits of shell casings, all unfortunately thrown away later. With one brother Roy was then evacuated, very unhappily. He recalls that the lady they stayed with “used to make us porridge – whether she was Scottish or not, she made us porridge. If we didn’t eat it, it was put away till the following morning, and eventually there were maggots in it, I can remember that!”

Eventually reunited with his family, after the war Roy went to school in Woodmancote, near Cirencester in Gloucestershire. At 15 he started work with his father on the farm, “ you got up about 4 o‘clock in the morning, on your old bike away out to the fields to bring the cows into the village to the milking sheds, you worked hard, till 8 o’clock at night”.

At harvest time, “you went out to the fields again and you worked till it got dark”. Falling off a haystack one day onto a piece of wood, Roy split his head open badly. His mother very practically suggested leaving him in a darkened room in the house, where he would either recover or die! He has the scars to this day.

In 1955, aged 17½ he faced conscription into the Forces. Having decided he didn’t want to join either the army or the Air Force, Roy volunteered for the Navy. As he himself said, he had no idea what he had let himself in for. A country boy, he had to get used to naval discipline, being shouted at and told what to do, learn the arts of washing and ironing, and cleaning barracks, “it was a rude awakening!”

His initiation into the service had been a medical examination in Bristol,

HMS Cavendish in Sydney Harbour

4

where, along with five other strangers, he had had to strip stark naked and do three pull-ups on a bar to show he was fit, “that was it, that was your medical!”

Sent to Portsmouth to be kitted out, Roy proved too small for the standard uniform, so he had to have one made to measure. Eventually, in the seaman branch, and qualified in weaponry and anti-submarine warfare, Roy was drafted to the frigate Veryam Bay in Plymouth.

For two weeks they sailed to Bermuda, in such rough weather that Roy was “too terrified to be seasick!” The cook could only heat soup by carrying it in a galvanised bucket down to the engine room and inserting a steam pump. That, and ship’s biscuits, was the only food until they reached Bermuda, where the first person they saw was a lady selling rum & raisin ice cream, which, “she sold out very quickly!” Conditions on board were cramped with the addition of regular national servicemen on “a good cruise” designed to persuade them to remain in the Forces once their National Service was over, “it was a good ploy and it worked for some of them.” After a week, the ship sailed to Jamaica where they explored Kingston for a couple of days, then on through the Panama Canal, “ a great experience”, to the Pacific, down the western seaboard to the southernmost tip at Punta Arenas, stopping off at various places, sometimes “to have a game of football with the locals”. From there it was the Falkland Islands for three months. The men built roads, and the ship’s doctor “pulled teeth” and generally ministered to the population.

It was summer, but the sea, “was icy, icy cold!” There were excursions to Montevideo, and also the River Plate where, at low tide, they could see the wreck of the Graf Spee. Then, while on the next leg of the voyage up the east coast of America, the Suez crisis broke, and they were ordered to South Africa. Two weeks of calm sailing took them to Simon’s Town, the Royal Naval base outside Cape Town, but only to refuel before setting off to the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal, by which time the crisis was over! So it was back to Simon’s Town and a fortnight of relaxation and sight-seeing, “it was good.” Then along the west coast of Africa, back to Plymouth, in all a spell of 18 months at sea.

After a course on updated weaponry, and promotion, Roy spent some time on local submarine-hunting expeditions, before being drafted on to the destroyer, HMS Cavendish, commissioned in Devonport in October 1959. For the next 18 months the ship travelled 83,130 miles all over the Far East. “It was a beautiful trip” in a much more civilised ship with comfortable facilities (and no servicemen!). At the end of the voyage a magazine was produced as a souvenir. A few quotes from it give a flavour of the journey. On page 4 it was suggested that they were made to feel “that if there was another war, we would be the only ship fighting it.....January 5th, 1960, saw Cavendish steaming out of Plymouth Sound at more than economical speed in order to keep an appointment with His Majesty, the emperor of Ethiopia, destined for 22nd January at Massawa in Eritrea.”

Bad weather plagued the ship all the way to the Red Sea, where a frantic clean-up made the vessal fit for inspection by the emperor

FEATURES one feels that [together with Perth in Australia] they have been built on Haille Selassie. They arrived in Trincomalee in time to celebrate the the failures of the ‘home’ country. The streets are wonderfully straight birth of Prince Andrew, and the “Cavendish whaler coming second in and it is practically impossible to get lost.” The ship also was gifted the Fleet Regatta.” Based next in Singapore, Cavendish took part in a black cat, “Nigger (sic) by name. He various exercises visiting several countries. was immediately kitted up with No.10’s, On 6th June , “we entered the Inland Sea a hammock and a pay book – he was of Japan.....[it] is very pretty and compares Having decided he didn’t want to very indisciplined however, with regard most favourably with the passage through leave, and a station card just meant the outer Hebrides, off the west coast of join either the army or the Air Force, to nothing to him!” From Australia to New Scotland. It is dotted with islands and we Roy volunteered for the Navy Zealand, then back. In Sydney, “...as can could see many inviting beaches for picnics. be imagined first, eyes of newcomers We could not stop and in any case one has to were focused on the splendid bridge. keep to the swept channel, as the waters are Quite a bit of time was spent by quite a still reputed to be heavily mined.” The ship’s few feet tramping to and fro over this feat of engineering.” This was long company was very hospitably received everywhere in Japan, before before the Opera House of course. Bondi Beach was the other main setting off again on 25th June 1960. Various ports of call later they attraction. After a longish stay for refitting in Singapore, Christmas was were in Melbourne, which is described as,” ...a very modern city and spent in Hong Kong – with “many more depleted bank balances to show for it (as everyone knows Hong Kong is so cheap – but there is so much of it!)”. With more to-ing and fro-ing to Singapore and elsewhere, the Cavendish finally arrived in Gibraltar on 19th June 1961, from where the crew flew home to Britain. It had been an eventful commission, made even more so by the rescue of the crew of HMAS Woomera, an ammunition ship that had caught fire on 11th October 1960, some 17 miles out of Sydney. While fishing men from the sea after the ship had been abandonned, the Cavendish attempted to put out the fire. All was in vain, however, but, “A point we learnt from this experience was that, no matter how much we complain about manoeuvres, drills, action stations, DC exercises – when it comes to the test, as a result of our training, the job is done willingly and efficiently.” The magazine is full of fascinating stories of trips ashore, and hospitality enjoyed everwhere.

Sports of all kinds are reported and photographs included. There are amusing and teasing poems, too, on many subjects. It is a wonderful compendium and Roy is rightfully proud of it.

After 10 years in the Navy, and a married man, Roy continued to lead an eventful life working in power stations in England, in Libya (where he trained local people), and South Africa, where he lived, also for 10 years. Finally, back in Britain, after a period of unemployment he joined Scottish Power. A heart attack due to stress in 1998 brought him to live in St Andrews, where today he keeps busy with model making, and hopefully soon, with voluntary work.

Commissioning ceremony of HMS Cavendish at Devonport

(Photos courtesy Roy Cammack – the black and white photos appear in the HMS Cavendish magazine)

Ken Roberts

The Whistling Boy (The Scores, St Andrews, Glasgow Fair fortnight, 1949) A steam train full of anticipation Shunts at old St Andrews’ buffers “Fair” minded Glaswegians pour Onto platforms of promised land.

At the poolside, a dishevelled brigade, Faces blitzed pale, slumps row on row, Turners, joiners, poets for the day All fodder for the risqué postcard home.

An exodus, bristling with dreams Born of a long year’s drudge, Sets footloose for sand and sea A sweeping coastline, a tall sky.

A restless ocean of sartorial disaster: Knotted handkerchiefs; braces; simmits; Flannel trousers rolled to the knee; odd Widows’ black coats buttoned to the chin.

By the bay, lay preachers squeeze guilt From remains of a Punch and Judy crowd.

Fish suppers, snug in yesterday’s news Taint picture house and penny arcade.

There is a glory in the noise of it all: Waves lapping and hissing; the call of gulls; Laughter of children; echoes ringing On a breeze that clears the stench of war.

Whistling his way to Step Rock Pool, Between strides, a boy is frozen in the sun By an opportunist stranger with a Lieca lens That steals the colour from his world.

The picture is creased and faded now And the Step Rock Pool an archived memory.

Whatever became of the whistling boy And the carefree tune that once was on his lips?

5

FEATURES Gavin White relates the literary stories connected with

The Fountain on Market Street The Brookes of Bridlemere is a far better read, since Melville was Visitors to St Andrews writing about the sort of people he knew. The Brookes are gentry, though often have themselves only just, one being an impecunious cavalry officer, the other a squire, photographed before the their sister loved from afar by Philip Stoney, who is bankrupted when an fountain on Market Street, uninsured brewery burns. There are also a wicked moneylender who perhaps because they gains possession of Brooke’s bills, and then nearly kills him, seen by come from places with Jem the poacher, who was in the brewery – another coincidence. As if no fountains, or perhaps this were not enough, there is a maidservant who must be the lost heir of because they have never someone, and if the thing is very much like Anthony Trollope, some of the seen one which produces characters appear to be his as well. petunias instead of water.

A third volume is Good for Nothing, or All Down Hill. It begins with the Those who look carefully will well-heeled Lady Gertrude thinking to marry her feckless cousin Gilbert. discover that the fountain Then there is the beautiful Ada Latimer, whose beauty is described in is a memorial to George three pages, and whose useless husband has gone to Australia, and John Whyte Melville, or who has fallen in love with Gilbert, who goes to seek Latimer in Australia, Whyte-Melville, and there is and who then dies, slowly, leaving Lady Gertrude to marry John Gordon, a marble reproduction of his who is the second son of a landed family and has gone into trade face on the west side, by the and is partner to Alderman Jones whose daughter Bella is pupil to the artist J.E. Behme. impoverished Ada Latimer, who teaches the piano to make ends meet!

George Whyte Melville Yet a good story, and for the reader patient enough with digressions, it is was born at Mount Melville rewarding enough. in 1821, grandson of a duke George Whyte Meville met his death in a hunting accident, as the and very much a gentleman. plaque on the fountain relates. For someone who rode fearlessly over the He was schooled at Eton and then entered the army, being a captain in roughest ground, it was ironic that he lost his life while galloping over a the Coldstream Guards before he retired in 1848. He married in 1847, and ploughed field in the Vale of the White Horse. He was buried at Tetbury there were children, but the marriage was unhappy and his wife left, then in Gloucestershire, where he had lived for much remarried bigamously. In 1853 he published a book, Captain Digby Grand, which was really the tale of George Whyte Melville was of his life. In 1880 his friends had a sarcophagus designed by the architect Robert W. Ellis to mark his own life, and much concerned with fox-hunting, born at Mount Melville in his grave. In the same year Ellis designed the on which he became an authority. He followed it fountain, which was opened by his mother, Lady the next year with General Bounce, and his literary 1821, grandson of a duke Catherine Melville. It was a fitting tribute to a man work was only interrupted by the Crimean War, in and very much a gentleman who lived and died in the saddle, since its main which he served as a major of Turkish irregular purpose was to provide water for thirsty horses. cavalry. After the war he wrote and published, both The horses drank from the bottom basin, dogs drank from the four small in London and New York, a further twenty-one novels, together with works basins at street level, the householders took water flowing from the basin of verse. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Whyte-Melville was above, and the top was purely ornamental. But in the course of time the not merely the annalist of sporting society for his generation, but may horses vanished from Market Street, and the also be fairly described as the moralist of that society; he exercised a fountain seems to have had blocked pipes considerable and a wholesome influence on the manners and morals of or other problems. Converting it to a the gilded youth of his time.” Much of the money he made by his writing flowerbed was the easiest solution. was devoted to the welfare of grooms and other lowly paid workers in But it may yet be restored to its hunting and sport. And his books reflect a concern for the underdog. earlier glory. Fife Council are It is doubtful if his books would find a readership today. Cerise is an reconstructing Market Street, adventure set in the previous century. It is very long-winded, with a full and amongst their plans are forty pages devoted to three seamen sitting in a tavern. They are then new pipes to be laid to the shanghaied onto a privateer which sails to the West Indies, where one fountain, so that if ever money of the seamen is found to be the son of a Quadroon (quarter-caste) – is found to restore the internal his books are full of coincidences. There is much about slavery, and a plumbing, the roadway need not Marquise from France, whose daughter, Cerise, is the heroine of the be dug up again. story, and who, with her mother, is saved from a slave revolt by the son of the Quadroon. And so the story goes, with excursions into history, (Photos courtesy Flora Selwyn) philosophy, and just about anything else. Improbable though the tale is, it is well-written.

Monteaths

Accountants & Tax Consultants APPOINTMENTS: MORNING, AFTERNOON or EVENING, OUR OFFICE, YOUR HOME or PREMISES QUALIFIED CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY STAFF OVER 30 YEARS TAXATION EXPERIENCE We prepare annual accounts for multi –million £ turnover businesses. Vat Returns: Flat rate schemes, partial exemption, fixed monthly vat payments. PAYE: Weekly & monthly. We set-up new businesses, Ltd’s and partnerships. Cashflow projections, letting income calculations, dividend reports, Capital gains tax calculations. We prepare Tax Returns, advise on tax liabilities and offer tax advice.

WE HELP – WE SAVE YOU MONEY

14 School Road, Balmullo, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 0BD Tel: 01334 870343 Fax: 01334 871004E mail: morag@monteaths.com Web: monteaths.com

6

FEATURES Sylvia Thomson has been researching the history of

Craigmount Nursing Home Those who have known Craigmount Nursing Home only as a care That same week Mrs Effie Keracher home for the elderly are surprised when I mention that I was born there! had her first baby in Craigmount. In those Recently, I decided to find out when the change from private maternity days there was no antenatal care. Her baby home to care home actually took place. I began by was delivered by her searching through valuation rolls, but gradually a more local GP, who drove human angle was to reveal itself when people who her there himself. She had been born, or had given birth in Craigmount, came has a vivid recollection forward with information. I quickly discovered that it had of Dr McLeod entering always been a care home, although for some years it her room wearing a did make a few rooms available for maternity patients. white coat and hat, Sylvia Thomson The building was designed at the end of the 19th white wellingtons, a century as domestic premises for a George W Burnett white mask and carrying a pail! Effie remembers and was named ‘Kinellar’. The architect, John Milne that the décor was drab and a coal fire was the (1822-1904), was born in Fettercairn, but made only source of heat. Every morning the maid noisily St Andrews his home from his late twenties until his raked over the ashes creating clouds of dust in her death, becoming one of its most eminent citizens. room! Coal was delivered to the basement and the Around 1920 ‘Kinellar’ became ‘Tighnamara’, until maids had to haul pails of coal along corridors and in 1935 it was bought and run as a nursing home by up three flights of stairs. The bathroom was freezing Miss Rachel Bell White, a trained nurse. She changed cold and sometimes there was ice in the wash-hand the name to ‘Craigmount’ perhaps because that had basin in the morning! She remembers sitting in the been the name of her house in Tayport. From then until bath shivering while nurses walked in and out with Craigtoun Maternity Hospital opened in 1949, she took bedpans! Meals were served to the mothers in bed as in maternity patients while running it primarily as a care they were not allowed to get up. Effie’s legs collapsed home. She died in 1977 aged 92, remaining in charge under her the first time she tried to walk! until the year before her death. It was then taken over The third mother I spoke to was Mrs White, who Craigmount main entrance

by Dennis and Marlene Matthews, who extended the gave birth to both her daughters there. Her younger premises with the purchase of the adjacent ‘New Halls’. daughter Susan was the last baby to be born in (designed by David Craigmount (June 1949), which was when Craigtoun Henry, 1835-1914).

Park Maternity Hospital opened. Mrs White recalls I was born there!

The Home still has two pressing her bell if she needed anything and the separate entrances and sound reverberating throughout the whole building! I has been run by the ‘Four was also told that babies were tightly swaddled and Seasons’ group since the had cotton nightgowns for daytime with flannelette for Matthews’ retiral in 1999. night-time. A blue or a pink bow decorated each cot. One mother’s most When I appealed for information enduring memory was that of the dentist (Mr Duncan), who would arrive about Craigmount during Miss White’s at Craigmount with a drill on a long stick operated with a foot pedal! ownership, my first contact told me that One of the last nurses to work there was when his father developed pneumonia Charlotte McIntosh, now aged 94. Charlotte in the mid 1930s, he was nursed there. was a trained midwife and delivered the He remembered Miss White and a Sister babies if the doctor didn’t arrive on time. At Frame. He himself had been born in that time, the only pain relief available was The Scores Nursing Home in 1927 and gas and air.

Miss Rachel Bell White wondered if that was a different building. I Freida McIntosh whose mother (Mrs believe that it was, as the name and date Crisp) was also a nurse at Craigmount, told are consistent with a nearby building which had been known as her that Miss White had very little money St Colmes (Board Residence). with which to pay her staff, but always In 1926 St Colmes was purchased by a Mrs Helena Mackie Scollie. provided the most delicious home-cooked It became known as The Scores Nursing Home, reverting to St Colmes meals. (The cook’s name was Jean). She (Board Residence) in 1931. Mrs Scollie remained the owner until 1934 also ensured that the staff dining table was and in 1935 it became the Sidlaw Hotel. always beautifully set. She had a strong I have spoken to several ladies who gave birth at Craigmount and personality and expected her staff to work Mrs White despite the fact that their ‘babies’ are now over 60 years of age, they hard, but seemed to have been a caring were able to give me a few glimpses of what it was like to be a patient person. Lastly, Freida was able to tell me there! that at night the babies were put in their baskets on the dining room table Mrs Isobel Roger told me ruefully that when her daughter was born for the convenience of the staff. They were fed only boiled water at night, in November 1948, the fog was so thick that she couldn’t enjoy the the theory being that this would get them into the habit of sleeping through wonderful sea view! Dr Preston (who was also my doctor when I was the night, thus giving their mothers a rest. As one of these unfortunate growing up in Cupar), delivered her baby. Apparently, on his way home, babies, my own theory is that it goes a long way towards explaining my he had wakened her husband by throwing a stone at his bedroom own relationship with food! window and shouting, “You’ve got a lovely daughter!”

(Photos courtesy Sylvia Thomson)

Total

ecommerce

Total Ecommerce, 7 Borthwick Place, Balmullo, Fife Call: 01334 871101 Email: Info@total-ecommerce.co.uk

— No nonsense brochure websites from £250 — Ecommerce websites from £400 — Beat the credit crunch and get your business back on track — No nonsense approach to your online business from Total Ecommerce

7

FEATURES World War II still resonates vividly. Dorothy Bradshaw shares her own

Memories

young lives to free the world from a Dorothy Bradshaw was born in 1924 in Giffnock, at that time a village terrible tyranny. five miles South of Glasgow, now a suburb. With her brother and sister The Wrens at Largs station Dorothy attended the local primary school then went to the Glasgow were invited aboard the training High School for Girls. When the second World War broke out the school aircraft carriers on the Clyde that was evacuated to Pitlochry, but as she lived outside the boundary they communicated with. They were Dorothy was excluded from going there. In January 1940 she became amazed at the food, which consisted employed by the Bank of Scotland, at fifteen shillings (15/-) a week, of tinned fruit salads, white bread, remaining until going into the Forces. Dorothy volunteered for the and various other items, which they Wrens. Called up in January 1943, she travelled to North England Dorothy today did not see ashore. In May 1945, to a wireless school, HMS Cabbala, for six months training as a (by Flora Selwyn) coming off duty from working in the wireless telegraphist (called a Sparker). Shortly after arriving there she HFDF hut, Dorothy had a nightmare volunteered to take part in a concert. This led to another one, which that night and fell out of her top bunk in her sleep, fracturing her right was broadcast, a classical concert from “a Naval Camp in the North of elbow and wrist. As a result she was given two England”. Dorothy sang Schubert’s Who is Sylvia? weeks sick leave and was able to secure a lift and, of course, her family and friends all heard it! up to Scotland in the “Clipper”, an Averill Anson She was then posted to Largs wireless/telegraphy plane which left each day at 1300hrs. It landed (w/t) station and quartered in Netherhall, working first at Hendon, for London, then travelled up with another seven Sparkers. “We were given to Arbroath, then down to Donibristle. It took bicycles to travel to the Station”, and the watches Dorothy longer to reach Giffnock from there than were 8.00am to 1.00 pm, then 6.00pm to midnight, the journey up from Lee-on-Solent! It was her the next day 1.00 pm to 6.00pm, then midnight to very first flight.

8.00am the next morning, followed by a day off.

While stationed at HMS Daedalus, on Dorothy was able to go home to Giffnock when VJ Day Dorothy and a few other Wrens off duty. hitchhiked to London to celebrate. The crowds Arriving at Largs, knowing nobody, Dorothy were enormous and they all surged along sat on the shore. She loved rowing, having spent Shaftesbury Avenue to Buckingham Palace all her family holidays on the island of Arran. So to cheer the King, the Queen, and Winston she collected one of the skiffs she saw and rowed Churchill, who were standing on the balcony. across to the island of Cumbrie. Half-way across, Eventually Dorothy and her friends were taken Largs looked so far away, but she carried on and on VJ Day Dorothy and a by truck to Clapham Common air raid shelter, landed, then rowed back again. It was a very where they were given bunk beds, with a grey calm day, but she would not like to do that again, few other Wrens hitchhiked blanket and pillow each. “We were so tired we even though arriving back safely! She stayed at to London to celebrate slept immediately. The next day we had to return Largs for two years, taking part in concerts and to Camp and took the train back to Portsmouth. entertainments and sporting activities. However, We were put on ‘defaulters Parade’ and fined one day’s pay for going she requested a transfer South and was posted to Lee-on-Solent, near a.w.o.l (absent without leave)”. to Portsmouth (always In November 1945 Dorothy was demobbed as the sailors had called Pompey) where she now returned to their w/t stations. She stresses she would not have worked in Flying Control on missed those three years in the Navy, for anything. Back in civvy street the R/T (radio telephone) it was difficult to settle and Dorothy had a number of jobs, eventually giving the pilots their becoming employed until1953 in the Head Office of the Bank of instructions. HMS Daedalus Scotland on the Mound in Edinburgh. She married an Edinburgh was a Fleet Air Arm station.

University dentistry lecturer and, with their two children, lived in the She also worked in a hut Greenbank area for the next twenty years. at the edge of the airfield In January 1973 Dorothy came to St Andrews as a on HFDF (high frequency Housemistress at St Leonards School, her daughter Diana becoming direction finding) to bring a boarder. She returned to Edinburgh for seven years in 1976, then the planes home through took early retirement in 1983. Having sold her house she used cloud. her holiday home in St Andrews as a base, travelling the world on On 6th June 1944 her own. In St Andrews once more Dorothy did voluntary work for Largs w/t Station was eighteen years in the Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as in a charity ordered complete silence; cancer shop. She feels fortunate to be residing today for the last not a sound on the air twenty years in Rose Park, The Woodcock Bequest Trust, living waves. Dorothy went home quietly, and composing a little poetry now and then. Her daughter that day and thought of all and family live in Florida USA, and her son Andrew in Tranent, East the young men killed or Dorothy when young Lothian, but she sees them frequently. Dorothy says she is very wounded on the beaches of (courtesy Dorothy Bradshaw) grateful for the life she has been privileged to live.

Normandy, sacrificing their

8

FEATURES: REVIEWS Lowell R. Jacobsen, Elizabeth Harvey Rhodes Professor of International Business in Baker University, Kansas, USA. with a PhD in Economics from the University of Edinburgh. He reviews

The Foundations of Small Business Enterprise

by Gavin C Reid

Routledge, 2010. Paperback (404 pages) Series: Routledge Studies in Small Business @ £22.50 ISBN: 978-0-415-59829-3 Professor Gavin C. Reid’s The Foundations of Small Business Enterprise: An Entrepreneurial Analysis of Small Firm Inception and Growth is a most remarkable academic achievement and for many reasons. First, as the title suggests, the book is concerned with the founders of new businesses which are typically small in size yet, arguably, the most visible and potentially significant form of entrepreneurship. New firm formation serves as the foundation from which economic development and indeed the wealth of a nation are manifested.

Secondly, this book provides a foundation from which to carefully weigh and hence, to properly understand the multitude of critical factors confronting the new firm’s inception and early development. Such factors for owner-managers to address include financing; business strategy; marketing; organizational form; information systems; human resources; cost structure; technical change, in addition to performance. These factors are particularly critical to the nascent firm as often there is such a fine line between success and failure in those initial years. All of these factors are systematically addressed in no less than eighteen chapters covering nearly 300 pages.

Thirdly, the data analysis is founded on empirical work conducted ‘in the field’ – i.e. on the companies’ premises with the owner-managers – by the author and co-workers over many years (extending as far back as 1983). Undertaking such incredibly time-consuming tasks include constructing the interview instruments; conducting pilot studies; then revising the instruments to ‘work-out the bugs’; speak with ‘gate-keepers’ who will identify and perhaps offer introductions to owner-managers; making arrangements (often including introductory letters and followup phone calls) to visit (and later re-visit) the owner-managers at their company’s site for the purpose of gathering the data; and then recording the raw data into a computer data base to be later analysed. Is it any wonder economists and other researchers prefer not to undertake the arduous gathering of primary data, but rather rely on secondary data sets (often) provided by the government? (By the way, the interview instruments of more than 100 pages are included at the end of the book.)

Of course, primary data, especially that which is considered ‘thick’ and collected over a long time horizon is preferred as the researcher is best able to ensure its validity, accuracy, and proper interpretation. Further, the researcher has a heightened awareness of and appreciation for the significance of the data when collected directly from owner-managers and on the premises of their business. To quote the great Oskar Morgenstern:

(Only then can we) “carefully distinguish between what we think we know and what we really do and can know. .. (thereby, leading to) a more powerful and realistic theory”.

The book’s data set features an incredible 150 small firms from across Scotland. Indeed, Prof Reid must have spent an extraordinary amount of time in cars, trains, buses, taxis, and even on foot. However, as he cheerfully and Scot-proud remarks in the Preface: “All this fieldwork took the data-gathering process into the cities of Scotland, and also, to my delight, to its roads and pathways, its hamlets, villages and towns, and past the meadows, woods, hills, glens, river sides, and burn banks of this bonnie land” (p. xvii). Further, the data analysis is not only scientifically rigourous, but also comprehensive, as it involved statistical, econometric, as well as qualitative methods.

Consequently, such extensive formal analysis of rather rich primary data taken from a certainly large sample results in especially meaningful and compelling findings that are of interest to the entrepreneur, government policy-maker, as well as the academic researcher.

Fourthly, this book has its roots in Prof Reid’s founding of the Centre for Research into Industry, Enterprise, Finance and the Firm (CRIEFF) in the University of St Andrews in 1991. To borrow a phrase of Tobias Smollett, the 18th century Scottish author of Humphry Clinker, to describe Edinburgh during the Scottish Enlightenment, CRIEFF has been something of a ‘hotbed of genius’ in terms of research activity over the many years as it has attracted numerous researchers interested in small business and entrepreneurship from around the world. During a sabbatical visit to CRIEFF in late 1992 and early 1993, I found myself immersed in a most congenial and intellectually-stimulating environment.

As an admirer of Alfred Marshall, as well as Adam Smith (of course!), Prof Reid over a good many years has successfully built on those early efforts of the ‘Oxford Economists’ at formalizing, indeed making more scientific, the systematic testing of theories with sound evidence regarding small business enterprise.

May Prof Reid’s Foundations be read by many interested in entrepreneurship including those with a dream to start their own business, government policy-makers concerned with economic development, as well as researchers looking for inspiration, and for generations to come.

St Andrews & District Community Safety Panel

Leuchars Station £10 Dundee City Centre £25 Edinburgh Airport £70

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

CHRIS TULLOCH

PAINTER & DECORATOR 01334 479756 07841435477 FREE ESTIMATES

9

FEATURES John Freebairn, recounts his tale of

Ghosts

I briefly explained the silly bet that had resulted in me spending the You might be wondering what I was doing night at my family’s grave. sitting alone in the graveyard in St Andrews “And what of you?” I asked, “What’s your excuse?” late at night. I was wondering the same “I have just finished my degree and am leaving St Andrews, I have thing! I blame Malcolm, my best mate, or had a very happy three years here and thought I would visit the places possibly Johnny Walker. We had been that have special memories for me.” spending the evening in the pub and, “The graveyard!” I interrupted incredulously. as happens, the later it got the sillier the “Yes, actually I lost my virginity not ten yards from this very spot.” arguments became. As a non-believer I He went on to tell me that he came from New York and that he had argued that as there was no life after death fallen in love with what he called “The Auld Grey Toon”. He said he would there could be no ghosts. Malcolm said that as St Andrews had dozens of really miss it. I turned away to study my ancestors’ gravestones, what ghosts there must be life after death. He ended up betting me a fiver that would they have made of this young man who had established such an I couldn’t spend the night in the cemetery, which was well known to be affinity with OUR town? I looked back to continue our conversation, but he positively hooching with ghoolies. was gone.

So here I was sitting with a blanket round my shoulders and a flask Next night I was back in the pub waiting to collect my fiver. Malcolm of coffee by my side. I had taken up a position in front of my family plot. breezed in.

There were stones commemorating deaths covering more than two “Well, what did you make of all the excitement hundred years ranging from my recently-deceased last night? It would have given you something to think niece, who had died on her first birthday, to my greatI pondered why ghosts all about instead of worrying about ghosts.” great-grandfather who died at the age of 92. If I were to had to be from so long ago “What excitement?” I asked. see a ghost I was determined to learn a bit more of my and had to have such a Malcolm looked at me. “If you didn’t hear any family’s history. excitement you weren’t there and I don’t owe you a I thought about St Andrews’ ghosts. As well as dramatic persona fiver.” I obviously looked perplexed. the White Lady who reputedly haunted the graveyard, “There was a terrible accident just before midnight last night, just there was the headless coachman and Piper Jock and various assorted outside the cemetery wall. A student fell to his death over the cliff. There martyrs. Some even claimed that Old Tom Morris still played on the Old were ambulances, fire engines, helicopters – if you didn’t hear them you Course late at night. I pondered why ghosts all had to be from so long ago weren’t there.” and had to have such a dramatic persona. Why couldn’t they just be Mary “I was there, are you sure you’ve got the story right?” from down the road, or the lady who used to clean for my granny?

“Yes,” he said. “It was on the news this morning. A young student, I I must have fallen asleep. I was woken by the chimes of the clock on think he was from New York, was out celebrating the end of his degree St Salvator’s. I think it was sounding midnight, but I didn’t actually count exams. His girlfriend said that it was particularly sad dying there, it was them. As I came to I became aware of a young man, obviously a student, just over the wall from a very special place for them.” sitting beside me. He was wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a woolly sweater.

I never did get my fiver from Malcolm.

“What brings you here?” I asked.

“I could well ask you the same question” he replied in an American (Photo courtesy John Freebairn) accent.

Hearty congratulations to Margaret Wilson of Largoward, and Mrs R Cornfield of St Andrews, who both achieved 100% correct answers in the Nov/Dec issue quiz. Sandy Cameron is delighted to award each of them a £10 book token! Warm thanks for Sandy’s generosity.

Solutions Hanging on the Telephone l 1) Alexander Graham Bel 2) 911 3) Finland 4) 118 118 5) (Kingston-upon-)Hull 6) 1471 7) Android 8) 1995 aphone’s 9) Ernie Wise (he called Vod y) bur New in rs arte dqu hea 10) 112

Myths & Lege nds 1) The sea 2) A Midsum mer Night’s D ream 3) Nine 4) Haruman 5) Little John 6) Horus 7) King Priam 8) King Arthur 9) Lilith 10) Schehera zade

10

Chasing the Jack 1) John 2) Jack the Ripper 3) Colin Jackson 4) Canis (Dogs) 5) General (Charles) de Gau lle 6) Jackson Pollock 7) Andrew Jackson 8) Judo 9) Florida 10) Cleopatra

re Art & Literatu 1) Mowgli n Gogh 2) Vincent va ll de en R h 3) Rut ger) bein (the Youn 4) (Hans) Hol an 5) A E Housm ly in objects (usual 6) Wrapping ) tic as pl or canvas Makepeace ir (by William 7) Vanity Fa Thackeray) Goethe olfgang von) 8) (Johann W 9) Ned Kelly te 10) Don Quixo

Getting Lyrical 1) Yellow Submarine rge 2) Careless Whisper by Geo Michael 3) Strangers in the Night 4) Crazy in Love the 5) I Bet You Look Good on oor Dancefl 6) Super Trouper m Fiddler 7) If I Were A Rich Man (fro f) on the Roo er) 8) The Joker (accept A Jok s Mar on 9) Life 10) Killer Queen by Queen

Time for a M eal 1) Antipasto (accept Antip asti, which is the plural) 2) Deer 3) The Fat D uck (in Bray, Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant) 4) Mr. Creos ote 5) Bouillaba isse 6) Eton Mes s 7) Stinking Bi shop 8) Sweetbre ads 9) Roux (firs t Albert and M ichel Roux, and currently Michel Jr) 10) Squid

FEATURES Graham Drummond, a Director of Passivhaus Associates, (www.passivhausassociates.co.uk) describes how an

Arctic explorer’s ship sets the standard for low energy buildings What is the connection between a research ship which sailed to the Arctic in 1883 and what is becoming internationally recognised as the gold standard of energy efficient buildings?

The standard is called Passivhaus, and was pioneered in Germany in the early 1990s. The UK is starting to adopt this voluntary set of rules to design low-energy buildings requiring very little heating in winter, yet very comfortable and healthy to live in all year round.

Whilst the first two Passivhaus buildings in the UK were completed in Wales in 2009, an example can be found closer to St Andrews. In October 2010 Kingdom Housing Association successfully completed the first affordable rented house in the UK to be built to this standard in Pittenweem.

The author of this article is preparing to build a 2-bedroom Passivhaus bungalow in Craigrothie near Cupar in 2011.

family and business co-founders, Professor Bo Adamson and budgets. In 2009 fuel Dr Wolfgang Feist, designed 4 prototype poverty affected over houses built in Darmstadt, Germany in 800,000 households in 1991. Comfort, energy efficiency, and cost Scotland. effectiveness were their main goals.

There is a There are now some 20,000 Passivhaus political will to make buildings worldwide, most in Germany and our buildings more Austria. Passivhaus is not a branded building energy efficient, a product. It is open to anyone to design and plethora of reports, build to the standard. A Passivhaus has low recommendations, running costs, high comfort levels, good indoor consultations, targets, air quality and is quiet and easy to use. It is and so-called “route a concept that is tried and tested, predictable maps” to low energy and calculable – as an engineer this feature building standards. The appeals to me. common approach of Fram sticks (legal measures), carrots (financial measures) and tambourines (information and training) is being adopted.

Building regulations (the “stick”) will require new buildings to become increasingly energy efficient in the years ahead. The Climate Challenge Fund is a Scottish Government initiative for community projects, and the Energy Saving Trust provides free advice and information. These are examples of “carrot” and “tambourine” respectively. So one way or another our buildings are going to become Energy-efficient buildings cost more to more energy efficient and some would say not build than less energy-efficient ones. You before time! But how best to achieve it? would expect to have to pay more for a better Austrian Architects Martina Feirer and product and here in the UK a Passivhaus Alexandra Frankel describe a Passivhaus building may cost up to 15% more than a as, “A building which is comparable one built to wrapped up very warm so minimum legal standards.

In October 2010 Kingdom that only a little heat gets But this extra capital cost lost during the cold season will deliver substantially Housing Association of the year. The sun shining lower running costs year successfully completed through the windows works on year for the life of the the first affordable rented building – a payback like a heater.”

The Passivhaus against a background of house in the UK to be building performance increasing energy costs built to this standard in standard can be applied to and diminishing fossil Proposed Craigrothie house new or existing buildings fuel supplies. In addition, Pittenweem Passivhaus principles concentrate and sets much more the Passivhaus building on saving energy, rather than relying on ambitious (ie lower) energy will provide its occupants renewable technologies, to generate heat consumption targets than both existing and with comfortable healthy living conditions year or electricity for individual buildings. The planned future legal minimum standards. In on year for no extra annual cost.

Passivhaus approach fits with what needs a Passivhaus heat losses are minimised by Finally, what has Passivhaus got to do to happen on a bigger scale. We all need to creating a super-insulated, airtight building with a ship sailing to the Arctic in 1883? Well, reduce the amount of energy we consume, as with triple glazed windows and doors (the the Passivhaus Institut in Germany claim that well as finding new ways to generate clean thermal envelope). Good indoor air quality is the first really functional “passivhaus” was not energy, principally electricity, on a national or provided by ventilation with heat recovery. So a building, but a purpose-built round-hulled district scale. the investment is in the structure of the building research ship, the Fram of Fritjof Nansen.

Energy use in buildings accounts for rather than equipment to generate energy on Nansen was a Norwegian Arctic explorer and over 40% of Scotland’s carbon dioxide site. the Fram took him and his crew to the Arctic in emissions. Old buildings need to be made A Passivhaus does not deliver zero heating 1883. He writes: more energy efficient wherever practical and – it just needs very little. On the coldest day of “... The walls are covered with … felt, as funding permits. All new buildings should the year the amount of heat required to keep followed by cork filling, then a panelling from be constructed to use substantially less energy internal temperatures at 20°C is equivalent pine wood, then a thick felt layer, then linoleum than at present, because they are going to be to burning a single and eventually panelling. The ceilings... have in use and consuming energy for the next 60 to candle in each all in all a thickness of approximately 40 cm.

100 years. square metre of The window, which the cold could very easily Reasons for using less energy can floor space. Annual penetrate, was protected by triple glazing and be justified at different levels. You may be heating costs in other ways. (Here) is a warm, comfortable concerned about the “big picture” – the effects for the proposed place to stay. Whether the temperature is 5° of current actions on future generations, Craigrothie or 30° below zero, we have no fire in the oven. climate change, and global warming. The Passivhaus are The ventilation system is excellent, …having security of future energy supplies is also in estimated to be almost fresh winter air through the fan floating the spotlight with predictions of an “oil crunch” £100. down. I go around with the idea to completely in the next few years, and worries about the Passivhaus erase the oven; “it is only in the way.” (from vulnerability of the UK’s gas supply. Increases started life in the late Nansen: “in night and ice”, 1887) in the cost of gas, electricity, and oil to 1980s as a research project to find out why low consumers have an immediate impact on both energy houses failed to meet expectations. Its (Photos courtesy Graham Drummond)

11

SHOPS & SERVICES Hugo D’Bere, your Grizzly Gourmet, reviews

Zizzi, Italian Restaurant 87/89 South Street, St Andrews

This is a large chain restaurant, and the palates are different from Italian ones. I felt St Andrews branch is a relatively recent the meat was not terribly good quality, but it addition. The venue has had several was certainly a very filling dish with a modest incarnations. At one time it was part of the amount of salad on the side. Muffy had the John Smith book shop, then it became an special, which was the ravioli with fungi, Indian restaurant called Babur, and ultimately which was excellent, with a very noticeable Ciao Roma. Zizzi is the current incarnation, and enjoyable mushroom flavour. It is too and as well as providing Italian cuisine, gives easy sometimes to get a bland mushroom a general Tuscan feel. dish in an Italian restaurant. This was I had the calamari as a starter. This was certainly not one of them. advertised to come in a “bucket”, and indeed We both shared a limoncello sorbet, it did. It was a very small, perfectly formed which was served with a small glass of “oor wullie”- type bucket limoncello. containing calamari. They The whole lot was were not rubbery as they washed down with some There is a good buzz San Pellegrino sparkling sometimes can be, but were quite salty. The garlicky sauce water and a bottle of Italian about the place went very well.

Cabernet Sauvignon. It is I shared with Muffy garlic very easy to chose a wine bread covered in cheese in an Italian Restaurant and caramelised onion, which is a delicious (especially a cheap wine) which gives you a appetiser. The main course in my case was crashing headache, but this was nice and soft lasagne. Unlike Italian lasagnes, UK lasagnes and had no nasty after effects. seem to have more meat and less pasta For £51.90 (excluding tip) this was good and tomato sauce. I personally prefer less value and the service was very friendly. meat and more pasta and tomato sauce, but This is one of these big restaurants it is a matter of taste and no doubt British which you can imagine lots of Italian families

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

12

Hugo dining enjoying and we did indeed find friends in a far-off corner. There is a good buzz about the place.

Overall score 7/10.

SHOPS & SERVICES David Adie, writes: “this article is not intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice. In any given situation, full and detailed legal advice should be taken from a Solicitor”

Inheritance and Inheritance Tax Planning This is no doubt a subject dear to the heart of There are some specific exemptions which are many elderly St Andreans, given the price of sometimes used, namely: properties in the town and the fact that St Andrews is one of the wealthier areas in the (1) The first £3,000 of transfers by each country. Many people are concerned about spouse in any fiscal year are exempt. passing on this wealth to their children, so This can be carried forward 1 year only if Inheritance Tax impinges on their affairs. not used in the previous year.

Inheritance Tax replaced something called (2) Gifts up to £250 by each spouse by way Capital Transfer Tax, which in turn replaced of outright gift to any one person in any Estate Duty. Basically, Inheritance Tax is a tax one fiscal year are exempt and there is on capital levied on the individual’s estate at no limit to the number of persons to whom death and also on certain lifetime transfers the gifts may be made. made within 7 years preceding the death, (3) Normal expenditure out of income which including lifetime transfers made into certain does not affect the normal standard of trusts. living of the transferor is also exempt.

Each individual has a nil rate band up to This may mean if someone has an £325,000 and in the event of a husband and income of £50,000 but only spends wife this can effectively be doubled on the £25,000, the other £25,000 can be gifted second death if the first nil rate band was not away as exempt if it is regarded as used on the first death. Most couples could normal expenditure. therefore die and leave £650,000 free of tax.

To some extent however, it is a voluntary (4) Gifts in consideration of marriage are tax, because it is possible to make considerable exempt within certain limits. Where the savings through judicious tax planning. Gifts transferor is a parent of either party to the can be made to reduce the ultimate value of marriage the first £5,000 by that parent is the estate. Please bear in mind that these gifts exempt and grandparents may gift up to a could have further tax implications, for example limit of £2,500. for Capital Gains Tax and it is important to look (5) Gifts to charities are exempt. at the whole picture. It is also important to look at the donor’s continued income requirements.

If you are thinking about tax planning, take Some people take out “whole of life proper legal advice and make sure your Will is insurance” to cover Inheritance Tax liabilities, in order and properly drafted, but think carefully. but this can be an expensive and sometimes a I have seen a very sensible fruitless exercise. tax planning exercise People often try to To some extent however, it involving a family whereby reduce their liability by is a voluntary tax, because many of the assets passed passing on assets to their it is possible to make on the wife’s untimely children and hoping they considerable savings through death to the children. This will survive for 7 years. left the Father and the If a person is of the right judicious tax planning children jointly owning age and in good health the certain properties. The Father decided to repotential liability incurred if they died in that 7 marry and the children did not get on with the year period can be insured against. Bear in new wife. Family warfare erupted. This may mind that the tax is tapered over that 7 year well have been a perfectly valid tax planning period, so if the person were to die in year 6, solution, but the ultimate family mess which I there would be less tax payable than if he or was called in to resolve was not an easy one to she died in year 1.

FOR OUT OF TOWN LEGAL ADVICE Wills / Inheritance Tax Planning / Executries / Powers of Attorney / Guardianship Conveyancing / Commercial Property / Business Law

We can consult locally

resolve and was only caused by the tax tail wagging the dog.

Also think carefully about passing assets on to children who may not be responsible or whose own tax position might be adversely affected, especially if they are on benefit and then became dis-entitled to benefit.

I also advise clients above all, to watch they do not get “painted into a corner”. Laws change, and particularly with a change of Government, the nature of a tax, the rate of a tax and indeed the type of tax may change radically and it may not always be possible to undo what has been done. I always caution clients to maintain maximum flexibility especially if they are young.

The definition of young is a subjective one, but a balance has to be drawn between doing tax planning before it is too late, (i.e. before someone is 99), and doing it too early when they still need their assets and may need them to provide care in their old age.

A final point of great interest is that there is a thing called a Deed of Family Arrangement.

This is a bit of an anomaly because it was often considered a loop hole which could very easily be closed by the Government, thus getting more tax for the Government. A Deed of Family Arrangement is a Deed where all or some of the beneficiaries in the estate get together and decide to voluntarily re-distribute the estate.

This could be done to save tax after a person’s death and subject to being done within 2 years of death and complying by certain rules it is a very effective post-death method of a family sorting their affairs to their own benefit and avoiding tax charges. As always, I advise, take full legal advice on your individual problems before you jump.

I also advise clients they might just want to spend their wealth and go on what is now known as a ‘ski’ holiday (spending the kids’ inheritance).

ADIE HUNTER Solicitors and Notaries 15 Newton Terrace Glasgow Telephone: 0141 248 3828 Fax: 0141 221 2384 email: enquiries@adiehunter.co.uk

13

SHOPS & SERVICES Sylvia H Thomson, celebrates with

The Nahm-Jim Restaurant 62 Market Street, St Andrews

A popular and well-loved restaurant in St Andrews was recently awkwardness of the layout was to go against them as they struggled to nominated by hundreds of its clients to compete in Gordon Ramsay’s serve food that had been cooked on a different level, involving lifts, radio ‘Best British Restaurant’ competition. head-sets, even the telephone! Sandy and Bee found it a relatively easy Top-notch Thai restaurants are few and far between, but after being challenge. As they explained, the restaurant might be empty at 12.55pm checked out by Gordon’s team, the Nahm-Jim in Market Street and the each day, but by 1.05pm there will be fifty students waiting to be served. prestigious Mango Tree As they have to be in the heart of London back to lectures by were chosen to go head2.00pm, thirty of to-head. Two restaurants Gordon’s diners with from each of eight two hours to spare was different cuisines (Italian, not a problem!

Indian, Chinese, British, Sandy did mention Thai, North African, that they had been French, and Spanish) criticised for serving competed against each starters and main other and Nahm-Jim won courses at the same through to the semi-final time, but the cameras stage. failed to record that the Sandy (“The only diners were delayed, Scot in the village,” as were very hungry, and Gordon quipped) with had requested being his Thai wife, Bee, served with whatever employ 7 full-time chefs, course they had 1 manager, 2 assistant ordered as soon as it managers, and 25 was prepared. part-time waiters all Asked if Gordon Gordon Ramsay, Bee and Sandy of Thai origin! Gordon Ramsay lived up to commented that the staff his reputation, Sandy were obviously happy and it showed in the food. Having eaten in the replied that as he didn’t watch much television he hadn’t known what to best restaurants in Thailand, he is familiar with the taste of authentic Thai expect. However, his verdict was that Gordon is very nice, thoroughly cuisine. “The balance between sweet and bitter, hot and salty, has to charming. I asked the inevitable question about Gordon’s often dubious be just right.” he said. He promised (or threatened!) that he would miss language. Sandy reported that he had been extremely impressed with nothing and spot everything; as a famous golf course town, he expected his manners. In the privacy of the kitchen, with no cameras around, he nothing less than a hole in one! had told the staff that he had just returned from Thailand having great Sandy, a graphic designer, was a brand and identity consultant with respect for the culture, adding that there would be no swearing! Sandy his own business in London. However, with his father a chef for 40 years, also emphasised that Gordon’s celebrity status was clearly secondary food and cooking is in his blood. Bee owned a hairdressing salon next to to his passion for, and knowledge, of food. His pleasure at being in the LWT studio, styling the hair of many a television their kitchen was evident and it was obvious he personality. It was at this time that they met. Bee’s couldn’t wait to get his hands on the food! He proper name is Pornthip, but Thais use nicknames everything to be right; any observations they have taken the trouble wanted with animal connections, thus the charming ‘Bee’ – he made hit the nail on the head. His comments perfectly suiting her personality. were always clearly articulated. Bee said that she to create a signature dish Sandy from Aberdeen settled with his family and her staff loved working with Gordon. They celebrating Scotland in St Andrews. With their passion for Thai cuisine, said the experience was great fun and a huge ‘lift’ the Restaurant began as a family business, less for them all. a money-making venture than a desire to involve Since the programme, their already themselves in the community (as Sandy said, a successful restaurant impressive following has increased to unbelievable heights, benefits local suppliers and guest houses amongst others). demonstrating the enormous power of television. One Aberdeen couple Sandy and Bee are perfectionists, wanting as brilliant a success arrived for dinner, stayed overnight in a local hotel, leaving at 4.30am to as possible. With a growing family – two boys are aged nine and five get back to work in the morning! If people came from outwith Fife before, – Sandy wanted to avoid travelling to London frequently. Two or three they are now arriving from as far away as London to dine at Nahm-Jim! years ago, he became less involved in his agency.

Inevitably, customer expectation has risen. Sandy and Bee aim to retain Bee has been cooking professionally only since the start of the the same principles of customer satisfaction – value for money, quality business eight years ago, attracting many famous names. They use food and service, whilst maintaining focus on improvement. the best ingredients from Thailand. “Simple but perfect,” said Bee The restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine. Sandy and Bee proudly. However, they have taken the trouble to create a signature dish recently spent 5 months in Thailand working on a new business. That celebrating Scotland. What else could it be but haggis! This has been they could do this is a tribute to the loyalty and excellence of their staff. variously described by diners as ‘exceptional’ and ‘exquisite’. There is Their customers are very important to them and they take immense even an equally delicious vegetarian version. pride in every aspect of their business. Their energy knows no bounds; ‘Knocked my socks off!’ is another expression uttered by one of the in fact this summer they took over The Grange! thirty ‘foodies’ sent to the restaurant by Gordon as testers. This might St Andrews is already on the map for many reasons. It’s safe to say have been quite a challenge for the smaller restaurant as all thirty diners that ‘gourmet paradise’ could be added to its already impressive list of were sent in en masse expecting a faultless meal in two hours! This attractions. Gordon Ramsay’s parting words were that he couldn’t wait is where the opposition in the form of the Mango Tree could have had to return next year for a meal! the advantage as they have larger premises and are used to catering (Photo courtesy the Nahm-Jim) for 350 diners every night. However, their very size coupled with the

14

SHOPS & SERVICES Andrew Wright, wonders

What’s Going On? I suppose it was easier in the old days. We had a Budget once a year and all tax changes were announced at that time. More recently that has doubled with a “Pre- Budget Report” (PBR) in the autumn, followed by the real thing the following spring. However, this year we have had the final Budget of the Labour Government on 24th March followed by the Coalition’s first Budget on 22nd June Then there was the Autumn Statement in October (which announced changes to the tax credit system among more important announcements) and a PBR on 29th November. To complicate matters further, tax changes are frequently announced in advance of their implementation so that by the time they are actually introduced we have forgotten about them. So we can be forgiven for a certain amount of confusion about what is actually happening! This short article attempts to summarise the main changes.

Income Tax The new 50% rate for individuals with income over £150,000 a year applies from April 2010 with complicated rules to avoid artificially reducing income by means of pension contributions. The new PAYE computer is now “on stream” and, embarrassingly has coincided with revelations that many taxpayers have been paying the wrong amount of tax due to incorrect PAYE codes having been applied. Most of us were not aware before this that HMRC are two years behind in checking taxpayers’ liabilities. We must remember also that, in the four year period ending in late 2009, HMRC have been forced to reduce staff numbers from 98,000+ to below 82,000 (and

further cuts were announced in the recent Spending Review) so it is not surprising perhaps that standards have slipped.

Capital Gains Tax The 2009/10 tax year was the first with the new “simplified” tax regime, where everybody, including Trusts, was taxed at a flat rate of 18% and taper relief disappeared. In the current tax year, higher rate taxpayers and Trusts are now liable to a 28% rate of tax.

Inheritance Tax The tax-free threshold, before tax becomes payable, remains frozen at £325,000 until such time as personal allowances reach £10,000 a year (likely to be in the final year of the current Parliament). Additional relief is available to the Estate of the surviving spouse to the extent that the Estate of the first spouse to die did not use all the relief available at the time.

Value Added Tax The rate is due to rise to 20% from 4th January 2011. Also from the beginning of January, UK businesses supplying “services” (as opposed to “goods”) to overseas businesses will not normally have to apply VAT to their invoices to customers (but they will have to tell their customer their VAT number and also complete quarterly sales lists). Conversely, businesses receiving “services” from EU countries will have to account for VAT under the “reverse charge” mechanism on their VAT Returns, although this does not lead to an increase in the VAT payable.

National Insurance Contributions New rates were announced in October to take effect from 6th April 2011. The main employees’ (Class 1) rate will rise to 12% while the Class 4 (self employed) rate will rise to 9%. The Class 1 employers’ rate will rise to 13.8% (to apply also to benefits in kind). The additional rates for high earners will be 2%.

It all makes for gloomy reading! How has tax become so complicated in such a short period of time with the number of pages needed to describe successive Finance Acts increasing dramatically? Will the higher rates of tax encourage an increase in tax avoidance?

Will the new “Tax Simplification” Quango introduced by the Coalition Government lead to a significant improvement or will this be another false dawn? Will HMRC be able to cope with the increasing complexity after such a significant fall in staff numbers or will their service standards continue to fall?

As this accountant nears his retirement, it is with a sense of relief that I realise that I will not be involved much longer!

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

Tel: 01334 472 255

15

Charlotte Mountain, of Johnstons of Elgin introduces

The Campaign for Wool Johnstons of Elgin is a privately and involved in the wool industry. As the Campaign independently owned textile manufacturer, for Wool develops and grows, it will continue to established in 1797. Proud to be supporting engage consumers, and strengthen the industry local communities, their products are produced year on year. Backing The Campaign for on two sites in Scotland; Hawick where knitwear Wool will encourage awareness and therefore and knitted accessories are produced, and demand for wool products, and reinvigorate Elgin where woven accessories and cloth for opportunities for manufacturers to run high jackets and overcoats are produced. The Elgin capacity levels to meet that demand.” site is home to the last vertical woollen mill in Johnstons of Elgin employ over 800 people existence in Scotland. based in local Scottish communities and are HRH The Prince of Wales, passionate about creating patron of the Campaign for Wool, opportunities within the textile The Elgin site is announced his commitment to industry. They manufacture the sheep farmer and wool textile under two routes; under their home to the last industry which aims, through own label of Johnstons of vertical woollen the campaign, to help raise the Elgin, which produces and sells profile of wool with the consumer. products worldwide, and also mill in existence The initiative to promote wool the production of cloths which in Scotland. generically will focus on the are sold to private labels in the natural, sustainable attributes of fashion industry with clients wool as a fibre that meets the environmental including Burberry; Chanel; Gant; Boss; Brora; agenda. It will also highlight the many other and Barbour. In addition to the strong textile benefits of wool, including its fire safety and manufacturing business, they also have a practical durability. retail arm, with a visitor shop at their Elgin site, Johnstons of Elgin have a long-standing and stand-alone shops in St Andrews and the relationship with Australian Wool Innovation Northumberland town of Corbridge. Having and have recently become a licensee of direct contact with the consumer through their the Gold Woolmark. The company chooses retail outlets, allows Johnstons of Elgin to stay wool as a raw material as it is a sustainable, at the forefront of innovation and investment biodegradable, natural fibre, with premier within the industry. Proud to be partner of The performance characteristics. James Dracup Campaign for Wool, Johnstons of Elgin will be (Group Managing Director), comments, “There promoting the initiative within their own retail is a clear need to promote wool as a versatile stores. fabric, and also to educate consumers about (Photos courtesy Johnstons of Elgin) the benefits of choosing wool. As a hugely versatile, niche fibre it can create both practical fabrics, as well as those with a natural softness and drape.”

Dracup continues, “The Campaign for Wool will help to increase awareness of the benefits of buying natural wool products amongst manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, encouraging relationships along the supply chain. If we can stimulate demand, the benefits will be seen throughout communities across the globe. Being socially responsible and entrepreneurial is becoming increasingly important within society, and campaigns such as this will provide a lasting legacy for those

16

SHOPS & SERVICES Jane Freer and Flora Selwyn, enjoyed an evening of tapas at

Bibi’s Café

We were delighted to accept an invitation to the launch of Bibi’s Café tapas evenings. On a particularly stormy November night we were warmly welcomed by Bibi’s new owner, Susan Westwood (see Roving Reporter in issue 43 of this magazine). The long, narrow venue looked pretty with its clever lighting, candles, and festive atmosphere. On offer was a tasting menu of all the delectable tapas dishes which would henceforth be available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 5.30 – 10.30pm.

A delicious, and not too alcoholic Sangria beckoned on each table, and it wasn’t long before the first dishes arrived. Nicely presented were a Pan Catalan; Sun Dried Tomato Tapenade; Marinated Olives; and Smoked Mackerel Paté – the first three suitable for vegetarians. Jane commented that both the Tapenade and the Olives had a pleasant texture, neither of them swimming in oil. For her the Mackerel Paté was a little “too strident”, but I liked it and thought that though it was obviously mackerel it was tasty without being overwhelming. We both remarked on the agreeable freshness of the Pan Catalan.

Next came Pan Fried Garden Peas with Smoked Bacon, Red Onions & Fresh Mint; Traditional Spanish Omelette; Baked Black Pudding Topped with Mango, Fresh Coriander Salsa & Melted Goat’s Cheese; Bruschetta Topped with Garlic, Tomato, Chorizo & Melted Mozzarella. We both agreed that, apart from the Omelette, which was on the dry side with little taste, the dishes were inspirational!

The Black Pudding was particularly ‘moorish’ with its melting texture and well-married ingredients. Jane said the peas had a kind of sorbet effect, being fresh on the palate. The bread was notably crisp under its topping, something often missed in other establishments.

Then came Ropa Viejo (traditional stew of Gran Canaria with chicken, pork, chorizo, vegetables & white beans); Greek Style Big Beans in Garlic & Tomato Sauce (V); Spanish Meatballs; King Prawns in Garlic & Herb Butter. Again, nothing was either intrusive or overwhelming and, perhaps against expectations, the balances were just right. We concluded that each ingredient had its own integrity without detracting from any other.

Pan Fried Garden Peas with Smoked Bacon . . .

Susan Westwood Finally, on a different note, we were served a light, airy Sticky Toffee Pudding with Whipped Cream – a nice touch to bring us back from the Mediterranean to Scotland!

Packed with invited guests, Bibi’s certainly earned itself a sincere pat on the back that evening. Service was a mite swift, with plates whisked away before one of us had finished, but that could simply have been nervousness on the part of new staff. Just one quibble – the music at the start. Jane and I, no doubt of an older generation, feel that restaurants should be places where you can to talk to friends, not shout at them, or sit in silence because the music is loud; it’s a widespread problem. However, on this occasion we did notice that eventually we could hear only the chatter of happy voices.

From both of us, therefore, a truly hearty “thank you” to Bibi’s Café – long may you prosper!

(Photos courtesy Flora Selwyn)

Ropa Viejo, Greek Style Big Beans in Garlic & Tomato Sauce, Spanish Meatballs and King Prawns in Garlic & Herb Butter . . .

Sticky Toffee Pudding

17

SHOPS & SERVICES

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

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

WINTER LECTURE SEASON

Open Association

The University of St Andrews Open Association offers a wide range of classes and lectures between January and June 2011. These encompass a variety of topics including: Literature, Music, History, Creative Writing, New Testament Greek, Film Studies, Wine Tasting, Vegetable Growing and Geology (in St Andrews and Kirkcaldy).

For full details of the courses and day schools available, please see our website at www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/non-degree/openassociation/ or contact the Open Association office on 01334 462206. Brochures are also available during office hours from the main reception at St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AX. We do hope that you will find something which appeals to you and we extend a very warm welcome to you to participate in the Open Association programme in the New Year.

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

Tuesday 11th January at 7.30pm Tuesday 1st February at 7.30pm Medical School, North Haugh Entry free – all welcome

TO JOIN THE FRIENDS AND SUPPORT THE GARDEN CONTACT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY. Canongate, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8RT. Tel: 01334 476452. www.st-andrews-botanic.org Charity No. SC006432

Minick Minick of of St St Andrews Andrews (the (the Artisan Artisan Butcher) Butcher) Ltd Ltd 183 183 South South Street, Street, St St Andrews Andrews

Your Quality Traditional Butcher

– Local Beef, Lamb, Pork and Poultry – – The BBQ Specialists – – Wholesale and Catering Enquiries Welcome – – Bespoke cutting and packing service – available for local farmers email: minickofstandrews@hotmail.co.uk tel: 01334 472127

Minick of St Andrews Traditionally Modern

18

SHOPS & SERVICES

Around town with

Roving Reporter 1. Another individual business has opened in town, adding to our prosperity, says Reporter (in spite of the ubiquitous roadworks!)

Meeting Svetlana Redpath was a treat. Born in Kemerovo in Siberia, some 3 hours from Novosibirsk, Russia’s third largest city after Moscow and St Petersburg, Svetlana earned a degree in foreign languages. She then went to America on an exchange programme, gaining a second degree in International Relations, followed by a Masters in Liberal Arts, specialising in globalisation and Russian culture. While in America, Svetlana financed herself by becoming a deputy manager in a famous chocolate café. “I’ve always loved good food” she confesses, so when she attended the summer New York Fancy Food Show she was inspired, especially by the cheeses.

Till then she had had no idea there was such variety. Immediately she exchanged chocolate for cheese, acquiring an internship with Murray’s Cheese Shop in New York. Here she learned all she could, “everyone was really helpful!” Svetlana returned home to Russia with one overriding ambition – to have her own shop, specialising in artisanal and farmhouse cheeses with the broadest possible price range! Crossing the Atlantic she met her husband-to-be on the Queen Mary 2, and he just happened to be a native of Pittenweem, here in Fife. As he can’t speak Russian, it was a foregone conclusion that the couple would settle in Fife and open a shop in St Andrews. So, recommends Reporter, to meet this wonderful romantic addition to our retail scene, please visit Svetlana Redpath in The Guid Cheese Shop, Tel: (01334) 473355, 141 South Street (Burgher Close) Mobile no: 0779 051 0346. By the way, he adds, apart from learning more about cheese making at the St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company, Svetlana also had “hands-on training in cheese caves in France, where I learned all about affinage (cheese ageing)” – and she also published In cheese shop Roanne, France a cheese book in Russian (Photo courtesy Svetlana Redpath) this year!

*****

2. Enthusiasm is a trait much loved by Reporter, and when it’s coupled with the desire to “work with tradition” he is disarmed! So you will not be surprised by the pleasure he had visiting Twice, newly opened at 14 Bell Street, St Andrews. When owner Caroline Hoyer Millar and her family moved to Scotland, they had such cold feet that Caroline made hot water bottle covers out of the blankets she found in the house! Discovering that other people liked the covers too, and were happy to buy them, a business was born. “I started making more things in 2006,” Caroline explained. With the advent of a website, the business grew “fairly organically”, and with her husband on board, success “doubled every year”. The logical next step was to open

a shop, St Andrews being the lucky destination. Every item in the shop, be it clothing, baskets, soap, linens, notebooks, is made using traditional materials, manufacture, or design. Tradition is the hallmark of the enterprise. So, amid a whole cornucopia of different things, you can find hand-turned wood, hand-carved horn, hand-made rice straw brushes, Scottish-tanned suede made in Somerset into contemporary bags. Wicker baskets are sourced from a family business in Indonesia that has allowed the makers to see their children through university. “As long as there’s integrity,” Caroline will source goods from many places. Prices range from as little as £1.50, to almost £300. Opening hours are: Mon – Fri 10.00am to 5.30pm: Sat 10.00am to 6.00pm: and Sun 11.00am to 4.00pm.

If you find it difficult to visit personally, there’s the very comprehensive website: www.twiceonline.co.uk

*****

3. A one-time hill gangrel, Reporter is delighted to announce the opening of a branch of his favourite, award-winning outdoor shop, Rohan, at 137 South Street. To quote the management, “ it will be the company’s first store in the city and will showcase both the label’s men and women’s wear collections. With over 30 years’ experience in designing durable and lightweight outdoor clothing, the new Rohan store will give shoppers the chance to try out some of the best performance wear on the market, as well as getting advice on forthcoming travel plans from like-minded adventure enthusiasts.

Rebecca Serieys, marketing manager at Rohan, said: “The residents of St Andrews have always been known for their sense of adventure.

The city is surrounded by stunning scenery and some fantastic walks, so it is a natural step for us to open a brand new store here.” The new colours are a dream, and Reporter is absolutely positive that every penny is money well spent – the clothes are smart enough for town wear too. Opening times are Mon-Fri. 09.30 to 17.30; Sun. 11.00 to 16.00. Hurray!

Fit the best

Everest

Home Improvements – more than just doors & windows – conservatories; flat roofs; driveways; etc.etc.

Jim Wilson, Area Manager Tel: 01334 475 300 Email: jim.wilson26@btinternet.com

*****

Leuchars Station £10 Dundee City Centre £25

Print & Design

We welcome commercial enquiries Edinburgh Airport £70 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

19

TOWN & GOWN Michael Buchanan is proud to record

More ‘Belles’ for St Andrews Earlier (in Issue 36), I wrote a review of bells, past and present, in St Andrews This piece is about recent additions to the tower of St Salvator’s Chapel, which was itself dedicated 550 years ago in 1460.

The belfry, home to the two ancient bells, Katharine and Elizabeth, was also upgraded to house 4 extra bells, in the expectation that suitable bells and funds would some day be found. That day arrived recently. With help from the Keltek Trust, four suitable bells were acquired – three second-hand and one new commission. They were craned into place from North Street on Sunday, 12 September 2010, and a new ringing chamber was fitted out. In keeping with tradition, these bells were named; the names chosen were, George, Margaret, Agnes, and Annie. As principal benefactor, I suggested George and Annie, the tenor and treble. The After Many Days Club, and the Tower Captains chose Agnes and Margaret respectively.

Number 6 (the tenor bell) came from Cradley Heath in the West Midlands.

Numbers 2 and 4, the two Greenock bells, were recast in 1950, corresponding to the 500th anniversary of St Salvator’s College.

With six bells in place now it is possible to ring ‘full circle’ properly for services, weddings, graduations, and other special occasions (such as possibly the Kate Kennedy procession). It is hoped to recruit students, staff, and others, as bellringers.

This activity is eminently suitable for young and old alike, affording simultaneous physical, musical, and intellectual exercise, as well as team working. With this new peal of 6 bells in the Chapel Tower, the 27-bell carillon in Holy Trinity Church, and a handful of fine organs, St Andrews is well placed to offer hands-on experience in many aspects of church music.

From L – R: Jamie Walker, Roy Dyckhoff, Chris Frye, Andrew Haynes, Tom Smith, Michael Buchanan, Rachel Wetherfield, Tower Captain

The Names GEORGE is named for George Buchanan (1506-82), student at St Andrews, graduating from St Leonard’s College in 1525. He rapidly established a reputation as an international humanist, poet, and dramatist. After many years abroad, he became tutor to Mary Queen of Scots; Principal of St Leonard’s College for 4 years; and tutor to the very young King James VI for 8 years. He was Courtier, Diplomat, and Moderator of the General Assembly of the reformed Church of Scotland (see issue 30 of this magazine).

George Buchanan’s experience of bells is well documented. He described life in a Parisian College in these terms, “The watchman suddenly announces it’s four o’clock and with terrifying peals disturbs the closed eyes; thunderstruck as you are, the piercing bronze’s sound shakes sleepiness away.”

MARGARET – “The tower captains named the bell ‘Margaret’ after Saint Margaret (11th century Queen of Scots) who, amongst her great religious works, provided a ferry across the Forth for pilgrims coming to St Andrews. “We wanted to name our bell in honour of someone who had strong connections with Fife and who facilitated movement to St Andrews from the wider world, just as we welcome students from all over today.”

Portrait of Michael Buchanan in his younger days (painted by his grandmother)

20

AGNES is named after Agnes Forbes Blackadder (1875-1964), the first female graduate of the University in1896. She then studied Medicine in Dundee and Glasgow, later achieving great eminence as a consultant dermatologist in London.

She published on the forcible feeding

of suffrage prisoners on hunger strike, and played a central role in the Scottish Women’s Hospital in Royaumont, France, during the 1914-1918 war. Her married name was Dr Agnes Savill.

ANNIE is named for Annie Forbes Salvesen (nee Burnet) (1867-1909), an early female graduate of London University, first wife or Theodore Emile Salvesen (1863-1942) and sister of Professor John Burnet (1862-1928), chair of Greek at St Andrews (1892-1926). She is Michael Buchanan’s great-grandmother. After a bicycle accident in Norway, she was paralysed, and died aged only 42 years. She left a husband and six children. Her father-in-law, Christian Salvesen of Leith, a shipowner of Norwegian extraction, died on 15 January 1911. Two of Annie’s children, Noël and Harold, were pallbearers, along with Principal Irvine and others, at Professor Burnet’s funeral in 1928. He was buried in the Western Cemetry with a tombstone inscribed mostly in Greek. At that time, St Andrews funerals would involve almost everyone from all walks of life. Naming a bell for Annie neatly squares a circle.

Her husband, Theodore, and two of his brothers are memorialised by a group of peaks over 6000 ft: the Three Brothers, on the South Atlantic Island of South Georgia.

The family name is given to the Salvesen Range, which together with the Allardyce Range, forms the backbone of this 100 mile majestic island.

The names of the ‘6 for 600’ cover 1,000 years of St Andrews history and the first 600 years of the University – a proud achievement through good times and bad.

TOWN & GOWN Celebrations On 3 February 1414, the church bells in St Andrews all rang in celebration of the arrival of the Papal Bulls, heralding several days of ‘boundless merry-making’. Although teaching had started in 1410, the Bulls conferred full University status. They were in transit for many months, having been ‘signed off’ by the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII on 28 August 1413.

The sound of the 6 Chapel bells – the voice of God, for some – can now herald events leading up to the 600th anniversary in 2013, a ‘long century’ after the ‘500’ celebrations. On Sunday, 3 October 2010, a special Chapel service, with an elaborate 16-page order of service, and packed pews, marked the Chapel’s dedication of 550 years and the newly-installed 4 bells. The two ancient bells rang out before the service, then ‘6 for 600’ were rung ‘full-circle’ afterwards.

Principal Dr Louise Richardson hosted a reception in Lower College Hall – another occasion for merry-making, despite the dark clouds gathering over Scotland’s higher education enterprise. St Andrews now boasts the only University in Scotland with a ring of bells “suitable for traditional change-ringing.”

Start of operations at 6.00am

The new commissioned bell

The last bell is lifted home

Realisation of the project was due to the generous sponsorship of Michael Buchanan, the St Salvator’s Chapel Ringing Society, the After Many Days Club, the Keltek Trust, the Scottish Association of Change Ringers, and the University.

Roy Dyckhoff adds: 1. Chris Frye is the Ringing Master of the Scottish Association of Change Ringers – the person who alerted us to the availability of several second-hand bells and thus made the project affordable – otherwise we’d probably never have started.

Andrew Haynes is a member of staff here, in Mathematics; he is

also our Steeple-Keeper, i.e. the person responsible from now on for bell (and frame and rope etc) maintenance. He told me at the pub on Tuesday that he’s spending Reading Week on a train to Paris and back – via the Arctic Circle...

Tom Smith is the project manager in Estates, who has been managing the project. I believe he has found this an interesting change from the usual run of departmental constructions :-).

2. One of the unusual features of the project was the extent to which volunteers (such as Chris Frye and his son Jonathan) came from afar (e.g.

Paisley, Edinburgh, and Dunblane) to assist the bell-hangers; Pete Whyatt spent a couple of weeks here and will be back for another four days.

All without pay (and so far without expenses) – just for the thrill of working on an interesting project!

(Photos courtesy Flora Selwyn)

21

TOWN & GOWN Sam Roberts, Publicity Department, University of St Andrews Athletic Union: (www.saints-sport.com)

Celebrating: the Canoe Club A University of St Andrews student recently Jonny Hawkins (21), a 3rd year Geography claimed victory at one of the UK’s most student led the field to win the open singles prestigious extreme sporting events. competition with a time of 13.30 minutes over Celebrating its 3rd year, the Etive River the 2.5km course.

Race in the West Highlands attracts elite Jonny, a former captain of the University competitors from across Europe. This year, 50 Canoe Club and current Secretary of the kayakers qualified and arrived University Athletic Union has the course is ready to test a series of tough over a decade of experience white water rapids and rock kayaking and competing in unrelenting the whole slides that culminate in ‘Right several different countries. entire time, there is Angle Falls’, a challenging As one of the top student always something and spectacular seven meter paddlers in the UK, he has coming up around the recently been selected for the waterfall.

“This is the most extreme British Universities Kayaking next corner kayak race in the UK” said Expedition Team. organiser James Fleming “it’s not for everyone He said, “It was an awesome day: the and everyone cannot take part” course is unrelenting the whole entire time, Skills and fitness are at a premium when it there is always something coming up around comes to safely racing in such conditions and the next corner ”. the competitors were supported by several “It’s just an adventure,” said Joel Wilson, a rescue teams and an event doctor.

St Andrews graduate and fellow competitor “It

22

tests all your skills and by the time you are at the end, your body is reaching its limits.”

A test of endurance and sheer speed, the event’s popularity grows every year and is supported by the National Trust for Scotland.

Jonny’s success in a kayak follows last year’s national headline-grabbing paddle from Devon to St Andrews by science student James Killingbeck.

St Andrews Canoe Club is based near the town sailing club at East Sands and, whilst predominantly a student organisation, welcomes University staff and members of the public alike. More information, photos and videos can be found on the club website.

University Canoe Club: www.staucc.com Photo: Jonny Hawkins, Etive River Race 2010 (Courtesy the Canoe Club)

TOWN & GOWN Nick Murphy, Publicity Officer of the St Andrews University Gilbert and Sullivan Society

The Yeomen of the Guard It’s 10.00am on a cold, icy morning in November, the Society has grown massively both in size and members of the St Andrews University Gilbert and ambition. Lately it has become renowned for and Sullivan Society are beginning to arrive for staging impressive adaptations of the Victorian rehearsals of their next production: The Yeomen partnership’s work, and has been active in both of the Guard. Gradually the fog of sleep lifts and town and gown circles performing shows and dissonant singing gives way to beautiful harmony concerts alike for many years. The last academic as the cast warms up ready for the morning’s year saw not one, but three popular shows activities. Although it’s the best part of three brought to life by society members – the sell-out months until the first performance, preparations double bill of HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury are in full swing as director Katie Bradley and her in November, followed by Ruddygore in March. cast rehearse their most ambitious This year is no exception, as the show to date.

Society flexes its creative and Rehearsals have now been musical muscles in staging of It seems certain under way for a couple of weeks for The Yeomen of the Guard in the the first performance of Yeomen in imposing venue of the Younger that the show will St Andrews since 1986. The cast Hall. be a wonderful comprises 35 students at varying The Yeomen of the Guard stages of their relationship with way of celebrating is often considered to be the Gilbert and Sullivan (or just simply most operatic of the G&S canon, the Society’s ‘G&S’). One of these is Stephen but nevertheless it has all the McKelvie, who joined the Society trademark humour, wit and anniversary year just last year and returns in his vivacity that is associated with second starring role. McKelvie, their work. It tells the story of however, is seemingly undaunted by Colonel Fairfax, sentenced to the pressures of playing Jack Point – the strolling death on a charge of sorcery. To avoid leaving jester who is set to meet a tragic end. “It’s a his estate to his accuser (who is also his cousin) fantastic show,” he enthuses, “I’m really looking Fairfax secretly marries the strolling singer Elsie forward to playing Point – he’s a great character Maynard, the chief love interest of jester Jack to play.”

Point. Fairfax, however, manages to escape, Katie Bradley, a long-time stalwart of the G&S throwing the crowds of London, the Yeomen Society, is similarly excited about the prospect of Warders, and various love lives into states of the show. “I was utterly delighted to be chosen disarray and confusion to direct this rarely-performed jewel in the G&S It seems certain that the show will be a canon,” she remarks in a break from directing the wonderful way of celebrating the Society’s crucial finale to the show’s first act. “It’s great to anniversary year and will set the standard for be working with such a committed and talented future productions to match, or better. If you’d like bunch of performers and I can’t wait to see the to keep up to date with the activities of the Society, final product, which promises to be superb.” then you can always join the Society newsletter However, it isn’t just the actors that Katie’s by visiting the website at, www.gssoc.co.uk or you excited about, “for the first time in many years we can ‘Like’ the Society on Facebook by going to: have the backing of a full-scale orchestra, which www.facebook.com/gilbertandsullivan will only help to bring Sullivan’s music to life.” In this production G&S are being joined by the St Andrews Chamber Orchestra under the direction Tickets for The Yeomen of the Guard are on of Jethro Dowell and the supervision of Michael sale from the Younger Hall for just £7, and Downes – Musical Director at the University and £6 concessions for students, children, and also of the St Andrews Chorus.

OAPs. The Yeomen of the Guard will be It is now, as best we can tell, around forty performed in the Younger Hall on the 25th years since students first took to the stage as and 26th February 2011. the University of St Andrews Gilbert and Sullivan Society, making this year the Society’s fortieth anniversary. From humble beginnings, staging (Photos courtesy the G&S Society) a concert of popular work in Lower College Hall,

BEST WESTERN SCORES HOTEL “FOOD WITH A VIEW”

* * * * *

Best Western Scores Hotel has unrivalled views from Champions’ Grill with 9 large picture windows over the spectacular West Sands where Chariots of Fire was filmed.

Alexander’s Restaurant was used recently for filming by a top advertising agency, so they liked the view too!

Breakfast, great coffees, Lunch, all day meals and still traditional High Tea ( sorry, will be dark by then! ) Richard Brackenbury and Neil Elder have just taken over the Kitchen as Executive Chef and Head Chef respectively after 2 years at Lathones and 12 years at the Links Clubhouse.

Look out for new menus in all areas in the New Year. New Function Menus available by December (3rd)

* * * * *

So drop in to Champions or Chariots, reservations not required, with a “view to some food” 76 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9BB

Tel 01334 472451 reception@scoreshotel.co.uk or events@scoreshotel.co.uk

23

ORGANISATIONS St Andrews in Focus, learns of a

New Film Company in St Andrews St Andrews is a hotbed of artistic talent, from are at the development stage of one project Hollywood screen writer Jan Read, local author and looking for help to get the project off the Michael Torbet, and writers such as Frank Muir ground, complete the script, cast leading roles, who uses St Andrews as the base for crime and prepare full production budgets. Support at novels. The East Neuk has an environment the early stages can make a big difference in and ambiance that clearly inspires artistic and the life of a film company. We have a first-class creative minds. team offering investors Now a local screen an opportunity to be The East Neuk has an writer is setting up a new involved at the beginning of environment and ambiance film production company something very special.” that clearly inspires artistic in St Andrews called So Given Roger’s It Is Productions. Roger background, the first project and creative minds McStravick, originally from is set in N. Ireland. The N. Ireland, has been living in St Andrews for Company, in talks with both Irish film boards, three years now. “Starting a new company is is hopeful of their support. Roger has also very exciting. We have lots of great ideas and worked in Comedy Development at the BBC have pulled together a superb team of talented and also for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. industry folk, including the former head of Actors being considered for the leading roles scripted comedy at the BBC, Gregor Sharp, and in the film include Jimmy Nesbitt, known for Rosalie Clayton, the casting director for Alfie, both his comedy performance in Cold Feet and and for Vera Drake.” more serious roles, such as the tough Detective The new film company, currently working Sergeant Tommy Murphy in Murphy’s Law. on its first feature-length comedy, is looking Nesbitt, a keen golfer, was here in St Andrews for investors for the development phase. “We recently at the Dunhill Links Championship.

Projects also on the horizon include a film based around the war memoirs of the Rev. Donald Caskie, the Tartan Pimpernel. “I wrote a book about the Tartan Pimpernel, but once finished, I put it in the cupboard! The creative part has always been the most enjoyable. I think that there is potentially a very fast-paced war movie based around his story. He was an amazing man and saved the lives of over 2,000 Allied soldiers in France during WW 2.”

With their first project, the company is also hoping to bring a student from the St Andrews University film school on board. “I think it could be a great opportunity for a student to see the film industry first hand. They will see what a producer needs to do to make a film happen.”

So, if you are interested in the arts and wish to support a new film company in St Andrews, do get in touch with Roger on rmcstravick@gmail.com or 0781 785 6706.

Sue Jenkins, writes on behalf of StAndEn

StAndEN – part of the drive towards a carbon neutral St Andrews StAndEN (St Andrews Energy Network) was set up by the Community The champions are also able to provide information on renewable Council in conjunction with Fife Council, St Andrews University, and energy, including heat pumps (air and ground source), biomass, wind VONEF (Voluntary Organisations North East Fife). Funded by the Climate microgeneration, solar thermal (for hot water) and solar photovoltaic, Challenge Fund, it was set up in July 2010, and will run until April 2011. the latter allowing householders to generate their own electricity. Not The aim of the group is to help reduce the carbon footprint of St only that, but the team can help especially vulnerable people to ensure Andrews by 3%, i.e. 921 tonnes. To this end 4 energy champions (Sue, that they are on the correct tariff for their electricity and /or gas and Lynne, Anne, and Bruce) have been recruited, ably coordinated by Jane. can even carry out the switching process for them where necessary.

They received initial training in energy awareness They can advise on matters of insulation and and have been visiting homes within St Andrews The StAndEN team is aiming to condensation too. since the end of September 2010.

The StAndEN team is aiming to visit every visit every home in St Andrews They are not selling anything, but are out home in St Andrews, and where possible will to provide advice to householders on reducing carry out home energy checks, loft surveys, fit energy use, therefore energy costs. Energy monitors,TV and Computer powerdowns, monitors, and radiator panels. powerdowns are being made available to residents where possible.

A number of residents have already benefited from a visit by the Powerdowns help reduce the energy consumed when appliances are champions, such as improved insulation, advice on renewables, having left on standby – the dreaded red lights! The champions will be able to radiator panels and powerdown fitted, and tariffs switched. provide radiator panels, either free to those who qualify or at £2 per panel As part of the drive towards reducing energy use, the team devised to those who can afford to pay for them. Radiator panels are easily fitted a poster competition for St Andrews primary schools on the theme of behind most radiators situated on outside walls, or on the wall between saving energy. The entries were on show at Madras College Assembly house and unheated garage. They significantly reduce heat loss through Hall, as part of the annual art exhibition over the weekend 26-27th the wall.

November. The competition was run in conjunction with the Community Council and all entries received a prize, the winners receiving vouchers for £25.

In the new year, probably during the February midterm holiday, the team is hosting a free event at the Town Hall on the theme of Energy efficiency and renewable energy, in which it is hoped to have stands featuring local suppliers of multi-fuel stoves, biomass, wind and solar energy, heat pumps , wind generation, in addition to basic information on draughtproofing and insulation measures, such as cavity wall insulation, chimney balloons, and other energy-saving measures. Watch for posters advertising the event and come along and see how you could save energy, money, and improve your home!

So, if you have missed having a visit, or would like some further information, do get in touch. They can be contacted at the Council offices in St Andrews, via the StAndEN website (www.standrewsenergy.org) or by telephone (01334 659 315).

(Photo courtesy StAnden)

24

ORGANISATIONS Drew Mayne, writes about a special organisation started in 1993 by Maries Cassells as a Fife Council Social Work Project, together with the late Grace Weber of Stratheden Hospital.

The Castle Furniture Project

Castle Furniture Project is a registered charity as well as secure the lease for another founded by Maries Cassells to promote warehouse adjacent to the existing one, the welfare of people with mental health allowing approximately 1,000 sq.yds of floor problems, and to relieve poverty among the space, and four additional rooms that include residents of North East Fife. a bric-a-brac shop. Castle has also started In the early days it was a much smaller a Fire Risk Assessment service, to cover operation than today, starting within All all commercial buildings that by law must Saints Church in North Castle Street, have it. This service is still in its infancy, but St Andrews, whence the name. After two is progressing nicely, as is the PAT service, short stays it moved to Cupar to premises available to both public and private sectors at the back of the Co-operative. It was here, Although the same principles apply, the thanks to Lottery funding, that the Castle operation has grown. For our supported Project of today started to take shape. volunteers within our mental health umbrella As well as helping towards the lease of we still offer a unique service. Our therapeutic the premises, a new work environment is workshop was built, and structured, purposeful, a new van purchased. fun, and creative, The workshop was used encouraging positive After finding its feet at mainly as a therapeutic change and the the outset it has seen a service for clients as well chance to achieve as for small repairs to remarkable change, with so in a safe, supportive damaged furniture. Then environment. The many new ventures, but still service offers people in 2005, thanks to more funding, another van was the opportunity to retaining all the principles purchased. In 2006 the develop skills in the organisation started with woodwork, upholstery, Castle Project moved into its present home, PAT testing, hopefully for many years administration and to come. After finding its computers. Working feet at the outset it has seen a remarkable as a team, we encourage people to try new change, with so many new ventures, but still things and work towards helping people retaining all the principles the organisation build their levels of confidence, self-esteem, started with. and develop their social and life/behavioural In 2007 Castle was awarded the Disabled skills. If a supported volunteer finds that the Users Symbol by Jobcentreplus. This is still particular learning is not for them they can proudly displayed and is testimony to the change and try something else; we always commitment shown to equal rights for all. tailor their wishes/needs to suit all parties. We Round about this time it was felt that the now run short workshops, 2-4 hours weekly. workshop was inadequate and in 2008 a new We were responsible for the Motivators workshop, office, and display unit for work produced by clients was completed. It allows our specialist furniture restorer/polisher to carry out work on any antique furniture that is distressed. Also in 2008 Castle started their PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) service, which has proved very successful both to the voluntary and private sector.

2009 saw another milestone, when staff and volunteers achieved the highly prestigious Investment in Volunteers award. George Thomson CEO of Volunteer Development Scotland was unable to attend the presentation, but sent this message,

Programme at Elmwood College dealing with mechanical items such as garden equipment in a therapeutic environment, but it unfortunately lost its funding. Castle also provides facilities enabling the workshop to continue. Who knows, in the future garden equipment may turn into motor bikes and cars!

The generosity of the public allows us to have a large selection of furniture in our warehouses, as all items are donated.

White goods are always in high demand and we find it difficult to keep up. We have work placements trained in all aspects of warehouse and distribution as well as collecting and delivering goods, the same applying to our loyal and dedicated team of volunteers, both vital to the project. Our warehouses are now open seven days per week Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00. Saturday 09.00 -16.30 and Sunday 10.00-16.00. We have two vans out all day Monday – Saturday collecting and delivering as well as for sales, and Sundays for sales within the warehouses.

In 2009/10 we provided assistance to 3,210 homes in the area, including delivery of 1,873 items to 1,353 homes. We diverted 144 tones of furniture and other goods, not including white goods, away from landfill, saving residents a total of just over £20,000 in collection charges. We also managed to deliver training to sixty-eight individuals, via the Government-funded New Deal Programme.

Overall, judging by the feedback we receive, the community is pleased to support us, just as we are more than happy to support the community.

“Congratulations to Fife’s Castle Furniture Project for being the very first to achieve the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Award from a group of environmental organisations supported by the Forum for Environmental Voluntary Activity. It’s a tribute to the quality of your service and the ways in which you have involved volunteers in achieving success. You’re providing a great example for others, and your commitment to the people that you serve is recognised and very much appreciated”.

2010 has seen more change than ever as we were able to extend our lease on the building

Main Warehouse (Photo courtesy the Castle Furniture Project)

25

ORGANISATIONS From Steve Isaac, Director – Golf Course Management, R&A St Andrews

Golf and the environment Golf is often on the receiving end of a wide variety of habitats for wildlife and negative press, particularly with regard to recreational space for golfers and for those environmental issues. On 3rd November, that believe golf is a good walk spoiled!

Steve Isaac, Director, Golf Course He explained that The R&A works very Management at The R&A, attempted to closely with regulatory agencies, Scottish set the record straight in a Natural Heritage, when comprehensive and wellThe Open is held North Trampling by over illustrated talk given to The of the Border, to ensure 200,000 visitors to Scottish Wildlife Trust, Fife that wildlife is protected & Kinross Branch, following during the erection St Andrews this July their AGM in St John’s & and breakdown of the actually created Dairsie Church Hall in Cupar. extensive infrastructure Focussing on the nine opportunities for more that is necessary for a links venues for The Open sporting event, e.g. wild flowers to emerge global Championship (Carnoustie, stands and the tented St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal through thinned rough village. Similarly, great Troon, Turnberry, Royal care is taken to avoid grassland Birkdale, Royal Lytham & harming sensitive areas St Annes, Royal Liverpool, for wildlife when siting and Royal St George’s), Steve Isaac stands and spectator routes. Trampling by emphasised how well golf courses fit into over 200,000 visitors to St Andrews this July the coastal environment. They protect green actually created opportunities for more wild space from increasing urbanisation, provide flowers to emerge through thinned rough

George Ferguson Shoe Repairs Luggage, Shoe Repairs and Accessories

Steven George Ferguson Traditional Cobbler 151 South Street St Andrews KY16 9UN steven@fergos.plus.com 01334 472134

grassland. A publication produced for The Open on the environmental management of the St Andrews links went into detail on the positive work being done to get the best balance between dune grassland, gorse, and heather to enhance the flora and fauna found on and around the golf courses. This was supported by the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Natural Heritage, and the Fife Coast & Countryside Trust.

The Open also brings financial benefits.

A recent economic impact assessment calculated that the total value of the Championship to the Fife and Scottish economies was more than £40m and £47m respectively. Not all golf courses bring this level of benefit, but the majority can deliver value for golfers, the golf business, the environment, and the community. The R&A is doing its best to promote this message and to encourage golf facilities to achieve this goal.

(Photo courtesy Flora Selwyn)

Nightwear at Elspeth’s of St Andrews 9 Church Street St Andrews

14b Woodburn Terrace, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8BA Tel: 01334 477 491 Mob: 0770 315 4537 www.standrewsplumber.com

* Gas boilers maintained & fitted * * All plumbing / heating works * * Bathrooms & showers *

26

Tel: 01334 472494

EVENTS Jill Craig prefaces a

Variety Spectacular The Rotary Club of St Andrews’ annual charity concert will be a Variety Spectacular, involving performers from the local St Andrews community and Fife, to be held in the Younger Hall, North Street, on Friday 11 February at 7.30pm (see advert below).

Singing, Taiko drumming, dancing, jazz band, concert band ... there is an exciting evening in prospect. Performances will include ByreRhythm, Dry Island Buffalo Jump, The Alleycats, and many more. Special guest for the evening will be jazz pianist Richard Michael, who is just too good to miss!

The Rotary Club of St Andrews raises money for local, national and international Jazz pianist charities. This year the money raised at the Richard Michael concert will be donated to cancer charities.

There will be a raffle and a bar; doors open at 6.30pm. So ... a really good evening’s entertainment in prospect for a really good cause; what more could you ask?

Tickets, £10 (£5 students) are available from The Byre Theatre, 475 000, the Tourist Information Centre, 472 021, the Younger Hall Music Centre, 462 226, and at the door.

(Photos courtesy the Rotary Club)

Taiko drummers ‘ByreRythm’

Fay Smith, extols

Snowdrops by Starlight ** * * The First Ever Illuminated Snowdrop Wood – ‘An inspiring and artistic spectacle’ To the thousands of visitors to Cambo Snowdrops each February the series of walks through the 70 acres of snowdrop woods on Cambo Estate are already an inspiring sight in daylight Inspired by the amazing sight of drifts of snowdrops caught in the headlights of her car, and thanks to funding from Celebrating Fife 2010, Fife Council, and Heritage Lottery, for ten evenings in February 2010 Catherine Erskine transformed these snowdrop woodlands by light and sound into an enchanting wonderland delighting young and old. Children hunted for fairies, adults enjoyed the mesmerising light effects, all ages had a wonderful experience viewed, as one visitor remarked, ‘through a magical lens’. The lights picked out features in the designed landscape, both natural and manmade, mature trees seemed even more

magnificent, and the sculptures created by artists and school groups from willow and natural materials caught everyone’s imagination. Even the odd shower of rain or snow didn’t dampen the effect, indeed visitors remarked that they added to the enchantment!

Funding is in place from Celebrating Fife, Fife Council’s Strategic Events Investment Programme, and EventScotland, and this ‘celebration of the woodlands awakening’ is to be repeated in 2011 from 11th to 27th February.

With the snowdrop woodlands once more transformed into a magical wonderland, plans are afoot to have more woodland art contributed by Scottish visual artists and to invite Will Menter, composer and visual artist, to set up sound sculptures which will be ‘playable’ and encourage participation. It is also hoped to illuminate the Georgian Stables which are

virtually in their original state and to display less weather resistant art there. As last year, the Snowdrop Tea Room, transformed in the evenings with twinkling lights, will be serving refreshments, the Gift Shop will be open and of course snowdrop bulbs will be for sale.

Timed tickets are available from www.snowdropsbystarlight.com or 01333 450 054. Coaches will leave St Andrews for Cambo, Saturday to Tuesday, and from Crail on Thursday and Friday. Pre-booked parking will be available and there will be disabled parking and access available on site for registered disabled.

27

EVENTS

Selected Events Till Sunday, 23 January – St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park.

Embroiderer’s Guild – Fife Branch. Exhibition of imaginative and diverse embroidery.

Sunday, 2 January – 2.00pm. New Picture House, North Street, St Andrews. The Nutcracker: Ballet filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Contact: 01334 474 902.

Monday, 17 January – 8.00pm. St Leonards Music School, The Pends. Roxburgh Quartet plays music by Purcell, Debussy, Clapperton, Mozart. Tickets at the door: £11, concessions £10, students £3, children £2. Contact: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Thursday, 20 January – 1.00-1.30pm. Gallery 3 in MUSA, 7A The Scores, St Andrews.

The Great Astrolabe. Arianna Carlini will talk about this great treasure. Contact: Rhona Ramsay, 01334 462 396 email: reh2@st-andrews.ac.uk – 7.00pm. Madras College, Kilrymont Road. Police Community Engagement Meeting. Have your say on policing matters.

– 7.30pm. Boys’ Brigade Hall, Kinnessburn Road. Begonias – a talk by Mr Andy Paterson for the St Andrews Gardeners’ Club. Contact: Secretary, Mrs. S. Scott, Beley Bridge Farmhouse, Dunino, St Andrews, Fife. KY16 8LX. Telephone: 01334 880 341.

Wednesday, 26 January onwards – at the Fisheries Museum, Harbourhead, Anstruther. A Taste of Europe. A major exhibition about all aspects of food. Curated in collaboration with 8 European countries. Contact: the Museum, 01333 310 628, email: linda@scotfishmuseum.org

Wednesday, 9 February – 7.30pm Younger Hall, North Street.

Concert. The SCO, Conductor, Robin Ticciati. With Sally Matthews, soprano. Music by Haydn, Stravinsky, Fauré (orchestrated by C. Matthews) – 6.30pm.Pre-concert talk for ticket-holders by Robin Ticciati in conversation with Dr Michael Downes about this evening’s music. Tickets online: www.byretheatre.com or from the Byre Theatre, or the Music Centre, Younger Hall.

Friday, 11 February – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Variety Spectacular, The Rotary Club of St Andrews supports cancer charities. (see article on p.27) Tickets, £10, £5 Students, from the Byre Theatre, Tourist Information Centre, Younger Music Centre & at the door.

Thursday, 17 February – 1.00-1.30pm. MUSA, 7A The Scores, St Andrews. Inspired by shipwrecks. A talk by Professor David Cole-Hamilton of the School of Chemistry about developments in preserving fragile artefacts. Contact: Rhona Ramsay, 01334 462 396 email: reh2@st-andrews.ac.uk – 7.30pm. Boys’ Brigade Hall, Kinnessburn Road. Moths & Butterflies of Fife – a talk by Mr Duncan Davidson for the St Andrews Gardeners’ Club. Contact: Secretary, Mrs. S. Scott, Beley Bridge Farmhouse, Dunino, St Andrews, Fife. KY16 8LX. Telephone: 01334 880 341.

Sunday, 20 February – 4.00pm. St Leonards School Music Auditorium, The Pends. Song Studio – four singers and a pianist – a whimsical look at the unpredictability of romantic relationships....by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for the St Andrews Music Club. Tickets at the door: £11, £10 concessions, £3 students, £2 children. Contact: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Friday, 25, and Saturday, 26 February – 7.30pm. The Younger Hall, North Street. Yeoman of the Guards (Gilbert & Sullivan) Production the University G&S Society. £7, £6 concessions for students, children, and OAPs. Contact: gssocmail@st-andrews.ac.uk

Advance Notice: Tuesday, 1 to Saturday, 5 March – 7.30pm. Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Guys and Dolls. St Andrews Amateur Operatic Society. Tickets, £13 (£11 concessions Tues-Thurs). Contact: Lindsay Rowan, secretarysaos@gmail.com

THISTLE DAE FOR ALL OCCASIONS A Gift for all occasions • Party Decorations • Themed Parties • • Gifts for Tourist/Golfer • Home Crafts • 207 SOUTH STREET, ST ANDREWS 01334 479408

28

OUT & ABOUT Karen Hutchence visited

Earlshall Castle Earlshall Castle – one of the most spectacular castles I have had the pleasure of visiting, is just a stone’s throw from St Andrews, down a picturesque country lane in the village of Leuchars; this Castle stands proudly, partly shielded by private woodland, next to the RAF Leuchars runway.

Frequented by knights – the Castle’s history dates back to 1546, when the building of it commenced by order of Sir William Bruce shortly after acquiring the property. Sir William was a trusted councillor to successive Scottish Monarchs. He received Mary Queen of Scots as a guest at the Castle when she was just nineteen, and later her son James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England, ruling both Kingdoms.

In 1584, at the grand age of ninety-eight, Sir William died. A memorial has been erected inside the nearby Church of St Athernase in Leuchars.

Descendents of Sir William added their own touch to Earlshall in the years that followed; the most significant achievement was the painting of the Long Gallery ceiling on the second floor, all fifty feet of it!

The coats of arms of noble families of Scotland (some relatives of the Bruce’s) along with European Royalty and historic images were painted in grey and black tempera. The Royal coat of arms of James VI of Scotland and his coat of arms when he became James I of England, are painted also, signifying the powers of justice granted to the Baron when holding his Courts of Barony, given directly from the King.

As the years passed, the Castle changed hands many times, and by 1890 the then-disused castle was purchased by a merchant from Perth, Robert Mackenzie, who embarked on a mission to restore it. He gave a family friend, the young Robert Lorimer, the task of restoring Earlshall, with some excellent additions – a sixteenth century-styled gatehouse, dowager house, out buildings, pavilion, and the exquisite recreation of the gardens. Lorimer’s legacy as one of Scotland’s greatest architects is notable in the restoration of Earlshall. He was later to become Sir Robert.

Robert Mackenzie, was also a director of Heron Factory which produced the famous Wemyss Ware. Distinctive black and white china with ‘craws’ and leafless trees were designed for the Castle’s use, but became so popular that production of them for general sale was introduced. Mackenzie held a country fair at Earlshall every year known as the Mercat Fair; yet in 1914 it had to be cancelled because war broke out.

Today the Castle is in immaculate condition. The present owners, Paul and Josine Veenhuijzen, are intent on keeping and improving Earlshall for future generations. The couple are key fundraisers in the community and open their gardens to the public twice a year under the Scottish Gardens Scheme, raising money for many worthwhile causes including the RAF Benevolent fund.

This year please mark these dates on your calendar: Sunday, 29 May and Sunday, 3 July, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm to view the gardens and support charities like the RAF Benevolent Fund (29 May) and the local Church (3 July). Entry is £5 per adult (children are free). Pop along to see the historic and beautiful gardens. Home baking and teas are available to enjoy in the beautiful courtyard. Something to look forward to!

Group viewings of the Castle can be arranged by writing to Paul Veenhuijzen, Earlshall Castle, Leuchars, KY16 0DP. For more information on gardens in your area to view, visit www.sgsgardens.co.uk (Photos courtesy Karen Hutchence)

29

OUT & ABOUT Alistair Lawson asks

What’s it called?

The cover of the last issue of this magazine and the Bonnytown article on the inside front page reminded us of those who walked the Scottish countryside 2,000 years ago, not clad in boots and rucksacks, but in heavy military accoutrements.

Jurek Pütter’s reference to the “Flavian period” rang a bell with me, as I had, earlier this year, been asked, in my ScotWays sign-posting role, to install signs on the “Via Flavii”. To be honest, it was not somewhere I had heard of before, and I was surprised to learn that it was in ... what’s it called? – Cumbernauld! To be more accurate, it is on the very northern edge of Cumbernauld, on the ridge looking north over what were, 2,000 years ago, the Dullatur marshes. These stretched as far as modern Grangemouth and were a significant barrier to travel at

that time and, indeed, right up until they to relate that, in the street leading to the were drained in the 19th century. That Coliseum, there is a map of the Roman being so, the Romans built their wall and Empire on which Croy and the Antonine its supporting network of roads along the Wall are marked! high ground to the south of the marshes.

The modern “Via Flavii” is Traces of their activity can be found around indistinguishable from other paths round Dullatur and on nearby Croy Hill and Barr about and passes an odd mix of very Hill. The “Via Flavii” ran non-Roman places – parallel to and behind the St Andrews Primary Jurek Pütter’s reference wall and its function was to School and Cumbernauld to the “Flavian period” supply the watchtowers on the Mosque. What does rang a bell with me wall, as well as being a trade remain, though, and is route from the west to Castle right by the side of the Cary, which was an important junction. path and available to view, is a Roman Whether the road was named after the Altar (see below). It is a silent witness to Flavian dynasty in Rome, or after a local the sacrificial practices of long ago, but commander, may be open to question, but local history enthusiast, Barney Kinsler local opinion favours the latter. Regarding has given it a voice of its own in the short Rome, historians in Cumbernauld are proud story that follows.

Local history enthusiast Barney Kinsler on

The Watcher A starling flew up onto the rock surface with a straw in its beak. Carefully, the small bird balanced its length against the stone then reached out to hold the dead grass against the top of the altar before transferring it into its claw and flying off to its springtime nest site.

Something inside the stone became aware. It was programmed, by the priests who consecrated it, to react to things laid on the cold surface.

In Roman times, when the altar was first set up, there was the warm blood of hares, small birds and sometimes lambs or goats in the depression on the top, offerings to the gods of the soldiers who marched along the narrow military road which joined the forts at the place which would be named Mollinsburn and the fort which protected the main route up into the north of Caledonia, later called Castle Cary.

The altar had been erected at the highest vantage point on the ridge of land overlooking the marshes, the fort in the east, and the mountains The Carrickstone, which gives its name to the estate surrounding, to the north and at a stretch the hills on the island out to the west could is reputed to be the site where Bruce asked his troops to muster be seen. Passers-by now referred to these as the Ochils, the Kilsyth Hills, before Bannockburn “at the old Roman altar above Dullatur”. and out to the west, the island of Arran.

There were many houses around now and men, women, children, and That wooden fence on top of its double earth mounds and ditch was their dogs passed the stone every day. Few could name it or its purpose more a customs barrier than a wall to hold the wild warriors from the north as a gateway between this world and the implacable forces which made it back, although they would be allowed through to trade in their sturdy and still ruled it – the wind and rain, the sun in the sky and the fires below, horses or garrons, and the hairy red and black cattle from the mountain which erupted as volcanoes and changed land and sea. Their time-scale pastures. Sometimes there would be jewels, such as the yellow cairngorm was enormous, marked by the hills which walked down into the waves as stones and freshwater pearls from the River erosion filed them away, then pushed them up Tay, much valued by the Roman matrons. in other places. One hundred thousand years One hundred thousand years The altar stone had watched while the was like a second, and the stone was made of the same stuff. was like a second, and the stone Wall was built, and then abandoned after the northern warriors had broken through, The Romans worshipped all of the was made of the same stuff. led by Grimus as the Romans called him or attributes of nature and named their gods Graham in the native tongue. At least that was Vulcan for the fires below and the hot the story told by the wise old men round later camp fires who renamed volcanoes, Neptune in the sea’s waves and other gods for the many the Wall as Graham’s Dyke. They also told of a battle the Romans had smaller features of the world they lived in. The native Caledonians lived fought with four of their legions in the far north and which they had won, with the same relationship to nature, worshipping in the stone circles but strangely they had retreated back south behind the great Hadrian’s found all over the land pointing out the moon and stars and the passage Wall leaving Antonine’s Wall unguarded after fourteen years, and the altar of time over the wide country. stone abandoned where it was.

The stone knew that the old religions had been displaced and that Awake for now, the stone thought back through the years and the no-one would now come to lay offerings on its top or sacrifice some many times it had awakened as men and birds had laid offerings, whether small animal or bird with the warm blood running into the hollow and a intended or not, on its active surface consecrated by the Roman soldiers’ life ended. Mankind now placed its faith, where it still believed at all, in priest when it had been carved and set up for its sacred purpose. It would Jesus, who had been sent to his death, helped in his sacrifice by a native lie now in the gentle spring sun thinking back over events of the centuries Caledonian from Fortingall, who had joined with the Roman invaders past on this site and later watch the stars above in the black night before more than a century before and changed his name to Pontius Pilatus. The drifting back into its dormant state until the next offering was made on its Romans sent men to the opposite ends of their Empire from whence they barren surface. Like the stars above and the land beneath it had all the came as a matter of principle. The soldiers who set the altar up were from time in the world to wait while the stars wheel round and humans and the German reaches of the same Empire. They were Celts like the native their affairs dance in time to their brief history. Meantime it would revise its Caledonians, but hardened in the discipline of the Roman Army and the memories and watch for what came next. constant wars they fought. They had been sent to protect the roads and camps behind the Wall decreed by the emperor Antoninus to show the (Photo courtesy Barney Kinsler) extent of his Empire.

30

OUT & ABOUT Robert Burns, to mark his birthday on 25th January.

Burns presented ‘some observations on various subjects’ to Mr Riddel, ‘a man who had little art in making money, and still less in keeping it...’ He continued, ‘As I am what the men of the world, if they knew such a man, would call a whimsical mortal, I have various sources of pleasure and enjoyment, which are, in a manner, peculiar to myself, or some here and there such other out-of-the-way person. Such is the peculiar pleasure I take in the season of winter, more than the rest of the year...’

He illustrated his thoughts with this poem.

Winter: A dirge The wintry west extends his blast, And hail and rain does blaw: Or, the stormy north sends driving forth The blinding sleet and snaw: While tumbling brown, the burn comes down, And roars frae bank to brae; And bird and beast in covert rest, And pass the heartless day.

“The sweeping blast, the sky o’ercast” The joyless winter-day, Let others fear, to me more dear, Than all the pride of May: The tempest’s howl, it soothes my soul, My griefs it seems to join, The leafless trees my fancy please, Their fate resembles mine!

Thou Pow’r Supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil, Here, firm, I rest, they must be best, Because they are Thy Will!

Then all I want (0, do thou grant This one request of mine!)

Since to enjoy thou dost deny, Assist me to resign.

[from Vols II & III, William Blair, Edinburgh,1819 edition. p15 &152] (Photo: Winter Dawn, East Sands by Flora Selwyn)

Tony Hardie’s

Nature Notes – November 2010

Of all our garden birds is not the robin the most friendly? In spring one can’t start to dig without one appearing on the wheelbarrow, which becomes the perch to watch for the worms that are brought to the surface. If any old utensil has been left at the roots of the ivy, or the foot of the garden wall, their nest will be built there and how very hard they will work to bring up their young. In the autumn too the robin is very special. Keats noticed “how he whistles from a garden croft”, and John Clare, in one of five poems dedicated to the robin, “finds thee autumn’s favoured guest”. He describes vividly why the robin holds such a special place in our esteem. Our own cock robin has chosen to sing, morning and evening, from the high perch that the blackbird “owned” in spring. It’s a plaintive song and here at Dauphinhill we hear a response from the gardens of Abbey Park, but I suspect that both songsters know their territorial rights.

Far away on the links a pair of grey partridge have brought up five young. This covey can be seen early in the morning feeding - I think, on the grass seed scattered by the greenkeepers. Survival cannot be easy, but the female is a wonderful mother. The murderous predators that pass overhead hardly bear thinking of: the peregrine falcon, the sparrow hawk, the merlin, and the carion crow, and on the ground the fox. This partridge must be the mother of the year!

By the end of February this family will break up; the birds will be seen in pairs, the cock bird calling with that gravelly voice. In this way he announces his presence and perhaps his dominion. As game birds they seem to hug the ground and, being round, squat, and the colour of our earth, grey, brown and chestnut, it is as if they are part of our landscape, which they are! They fly low and fast.

(Photos by kind permission of John Anderson (Crail Birder: www.pbase.com/crail_birder))

Robin

Grey partridge

31