St Andrews in Focus Issue 54 Sep Oct 2012

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

September/October 2012 Issue 54, £2.00

the award winning magazine for St Andrews

www.standrewsinfocus.com

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

From the Editor As Roving Reporter regularly discovers, St Andrews has its fair share of energetic entrepreneurs undaunted by the mediahyped recession. And of the accompanying old-world kindness in our town that the Post Office showed me, which I gladly published in the last issue, here’s a further example: I had booked my car in for its annual service at Bassaguard Garage for a recent Friday, and hurried as early as I could to drive there.

Half an hour or so later, trying to buy my weekly local paper, it was pointed out to me that, well actually, it was Thursday! So I phoned the Garage to apologise, suggesting they should keep the car till the next day, for its allotted time. No problem, came the answer, the car is already being worked on and will be ready shortly, and the Friday spot will be available for someone else. I duly collected the car in the afternoon with smiles all round, and not a word of complaint. Singing in the rain? That’s me!!

Flora Selwyn

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

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com DESIGNER University of St Andrews Print & Design (printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk)

Contents FEATURES • The Community Council • Coronation Day, 1953 • Power and Pageantry • Olympian Imagery on Ancient Greek Coins • Erratum • Ledyheid Characters, 1920-40 • Where’s the Proofreader?

• Electric vehicles • Séracs • Ask the Curator • Competition • Books: – The Lion of St Andrews – Haunted St Andrews

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A Legal Ragbag Fine Indian Food Hannah Markham’s Column Legal? Moral?

Roving Reporter

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St Andrews’ Children’s Golf Club Trek for Treatment

EVENTS

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TOWN & GOWN

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PUBLISHER (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com

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One Box Equals Three Pyramids St Andrews Voices

A Feast of Conifers Selected Events

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OUT AND ABOUT • • • •

What’s in a Name?

Autumn Days Toonspot Hidden Gems

NEXT ISSUE – Nov/Dec 2012 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 SEPTEMBER

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

Cover: Red Arrows (courtesy RAFLeuchars)

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FEATURES From Kyffin Roberts, Chair

The Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council – continues its work throughout this Diamond Jubilee and Olympic year. The Community Council has supported Diamond Jubilee events in the town and helped organize the visit of the Olympic torch to St Andrews.

The full Council does not meet in the month of August, but its sub-committees maintain their busy schedules. The planning committee meets twice a month to monitor all planning applications relating to St Andrews. The recreation committee has organized the Summer Bandstand Concerts and the Community Garden Competition. Despite some difficulties caused by inclement weather these events remain as popular as ever. The recreation committee has now turned attention to organizing another fundraising coffee morning and the Community Council Civic reception to take place later in the year.

The Friends of Craigtoun group are making plans to take a more active role in the running of the park in the future.

Visitor numbers to the park are increasing as visitors and locals become aware, or are reminded, that the park offers wonderful opportunities for enjoyable days out. Entrance to the park is free, the café will be open at weekends until the end of October, and the miniature railway will be running at weekends until mid-

September. Membership of the Friends group is also increasing, but more members and volunteers are needed if the group’s plans are to become reality. For a membership application form and more information on the group’s plans for Craigtoun Park visit: www.friendsofcraigtoun.org.uk Over the last 2 years the St Andrews Community Council has been working in tandem with the St Andrews Partnership, the St Andrews Preservation Trust, and Fife Council to raise funds to restore the Martyrs Monument on The Scores, St Andrews. The fundraising target has now been reached. Full conservation and repair work on the 170 year-old obelisk will be carried out in the near future.

The Community Council has also given active support to an initiative of the St Andrews Preservation Trust to set up the St Andrews Town Commission on Housing. St Andrews University, the Students Association, CSARA and local Councillors also support this project. A “Reference Group”, comprising representation from each of these interested parties, has been formed. The stated aim of the Commission will be to “consider the housing needs of all groups in St Andrews, how they are currently met and how they may be better met in future”.

It is hoped that the Commission will begin its work in September.

Ian Seeley remembers

Coronation Day, 2 June 1953 My mother’s old aunt cackled, “God save the Queen!”

We children of war smirked and sniggered – The first time that Granny’s big sister had seen Television. She’d come from the country. We figured She’d never heard wireless or been to the pictures; The ‘Friend’ and the ‘Journal’, the ‘Courier’ perhaps Had carried her interest through all Hitler’s strictures And old Kaiser Bill and other like chaps; and that’s How we thought. We were young; she was old.

We’d be off to the bonfire they’d built on the dunes To finish a day that had started with bold Civic pride – the Council, all robed, the gala, the tunes Of the Empire – “Land of Hope. . . “ ne’er sung better.

Who cared, at that time, for the Germans or French Or distant colonial sounds of dissent? What fetter Could shackle a power such as Britain or quench Such invincible spirit as ours?

A new age began, or so it was thought, At that time when the bunting-decked streets taught Of queenship in freedom so recently bought.

And heroes abounded to bolster that hymn – Alanbrooke, Horrocks, Tedder and Slim, Churchill and ‘Monty’, Harris, Dowding.

Rain fell in London, but no cause for gloom; Peace, power and glory for Britain that June.

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FEATURES From Roz Clark, Airshow Manager

Power and Pageantry For the United Kingdom 2012 has been a year replete with spectacle and yet for those of us enduring the dampest of summers in North East Fife it may have seemed that the London Olympics and the Jubilee celebrations were all happening a long way off. Well fear not, because there is one last hurrah around the corner for you to enjoy!

On 15 September, the RAF Leuchars Jubilee Airshow will be ‘A Diamond Celebration’ marking the contribution of the Armed Forces during Her Majesty the Queen’s 60-year reign. The day, as ever, is designed as a family day out, when the Station throws its doors open to the Scottish public to come and experience the work of the Services, their power and their pageantry.

RAF Leuchars’ primary role is Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) which, put simply, means the protection of UK Sovereign airspace. Right now that task is maintained by 6 Squadron with its The Tornado Role Demonstration Team from XV(Reserve) Typhoon aircraft. 24 hours a day, crews are on standby to scramble and Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire will travel south to intercept potential aerial threats. Hand in flying glove with that primary demonstrate realistic scenarios that Tornado GR4 crews encounter on mission, the Station’s personnel have been busying themselves with deployed operations. Right now in Afghanistan, the Tornado Ground another pressing defence responsibility – growing the Typhoon Force Reconnaissance Force (TGRF) is providing close air support to our to shoulder the air-to-air and air-to-ground combat roles of the 21st troops on the ground and, where necessary, striking at important targets.

Century RAF. The next significant step in that process is the stand-up of Given that Leuchars is a one of the RAF’s two Typhoon Main the fourth frontline Typhoon squadron. The official representation of this Operating Bases it will come as no surprise that this multi-role combat milestone will be a stand-up parade for 1 (Fighter) Squadron during the aircraft is lined up to be the star of the Show. 2012 has been an Airshow. exceptional year for 6 Squadron, not least because they have been in 1(F) Squadron is a banner number plate for the Service as the title the shop window becoming the first front-line squadron to mount the is inherited from one of the four squadrons that made up the RAF’s RAF Typhoon Display Team. Ground crews and forebear, the Royal Flying Corps, on its formation engineers have travelled the length and breadth in 1912. So the re-formation of the Squadron in of the country enabling display pilot Squadron the year of its centenary anniversary represents a RAF Leuchars’ primary Leader Scott Loughran to demonstrate the circumstance that will be marked with appropriate extraordinary capabilities of the Typhoon in a tenpomp. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from role is Quick Reaction minute display of breathtaking speed and control.

RAF Coningsby will fly past, a Dakota flanked by a Alert (QRA) which, The routine has been honed in the skies over Hurricane and a Spitfire, both iconic fighters flown Leuchars and has been received incredibly well by 1(F) Squadron pilots during World War II and put simply, means at events around the UK with Sqn Ldr Loughran the ceremony will be accompanied by the Royal Air the protection of UK picking up awards at the Goodwood Festival of Force Band.

Speed and the Royal International Air Tattoo at At the time of the Queen’s coronation in 1953, Sovereign airspace RAF Fairford. Fittingly, the Team will be able to the aircraft that you would have seen flying over conclude their season of events with a ‘home’ St Andrews was the Gloster Meteor, and one of display on 15 September. these venerable aircraft will take again to the skies The show will not just be about the air. In line with the central theme over Fife as part of our flying display. The Meteor will join a host of RAF for this year’s event of the joint contribution of the Armed Forces, RAF aircraft past and present demonstrating the evolving mission of the Leuchars will be welcoming representatives from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force in delivering air power. and the Royal Marines with special guests dropping in on the day. On We sincerely hope that 30 years on from the Falklands War the last the ground, there will be a military village along with an interactive zone flying Vulcan will be air-worthy enough to provide a reminder of the role with a myriad of stands and demonstrations to showcase the work of the the ‘V-bomber’ accomplished during that conflict flying the longest ever military. The static display includes a number of aircraft from Britain’s bombing raid. international allies with the biggest draw (in every sense) likely to be a Two aircraft that are central to current Operations in Afghanistan B-52 long-range bomber provided by the US Air Force – a monstrous – the Chinook and the Tornado GR4 – will demonstrate what makes metal behemoth with a wingspan of 185 feet (56.4 metres). them so effective. Many people are taken aback the first time they Of course, no UK air show would be complete without the Red see a Chinook helicopter fly; its vast double rotors and heavy, turreted Arrows, and the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will add their own body seemingly the antithesis of aerodynamics. At this year’s Show unmistakable lustre to the diamond celebration. If only they could add the Chinook Display Team made up of personnel from both 18(B) and to their spell-binding repertoire a charm to ensure that the ubiquitous 27 Squadrons based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire will demonstrate rain clouds of 2012 could be dispelled to ensure that an Indian Summer the helicopter’s versatility and aerial capabilities. In Afghanistan, the ensures that all the aforementioned is all the more glorious!

Chinook is a life-saver, the workhorse that carries troops, cargo and the Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERT) that extract casualties (Photo courtesy RAF Leuchars) from the front line.

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FEATURES By kind permission of Dr Robin Eaglen. This article is reproduced here from the Money and Medals Newsletter of Numismatics in Britain, April 2012

Olympian Imagery on Ancient Greek Coins The Olympian Games in honour of Zeus are said to have been founded in 776 BC and were then held at four yearly intervals until abolished by the Christian emperor, Theodosius I, in 393 AD. Their life-span thus both preceded and outlasted that of ancient Greek coinage.

In the fifth century BC the games lasted for five days. Perhaps their most remarkable feature was the Olympic Truce. In order to enable the all-male competitors and spectators to travel safely to and from Olympia and the competitors to spend a month there preparing for the events, cessation of all hostilities was declared for a number of weeks across the Greek world, with severe penalties for any breach.

The most prestigious events were the short foot race, echoed in modern times by the men’s 100 metres, and the spectacular chariot races, a preserve of rulers and wealthy individuals. Other events Fig 1: Messana, AR tetradrachm, 450- 425 BC (source, the author) included horse racing and the pentathlon, comprised of discus, javelin, jumping, running, and wrestling contests. Wrestling as a separate The most notable and extensive representations of victory event and boxing were particularly brutal and came to be dominated by in chariot racing came from Sicily. The progenitor was Syracuse professionals. where the somewhat stiff, archaic design of a slow-moving quadriga The games, held at remote Olympia in the Peloponnesian blossomed, through the genius of engravers who proudly signed their Peninsula, were hosted by the modest city of Elis, located about 23 work, into widely copied creations of breathtaking miles to the north. Its coinage, doubtless struck beauty and vigour. mainly for the games, exalted its Olympic role, but An issue from the island of Cos, showing emphasised the religious significance of the games a discus thrower with a prize tripod in the in portraying the head of Zeus, his wife Hera, and the Pottery decoration background, has been linked to the festival nymph Olympia, rather than the contestants. provides the richest of Apollo on the Triopian Promontory. More Pottery decoration provides the richest source illustrating actual competitors, but coins are also source illustrating actual generically, the coins of Aspendus in Asia Minor over a long period have two wrestlers important. However, it is usually not possible to competitors, but coins on the obverse. Usually they are in a grappling identify a victory scene on the coinage with a specific posture – Figure 2 – but some dies portray them occasion, although an olive wreath or branch was are also important competing more aggressively. As a final example, indicative of triumphing at Olympia because different another enduring obverse from Celenderis – tokens of victory were used at the other major games Figure 3 – also in Asia Minor, shows the ending taking place at Corinth, Delphi, and Nemea. One of a horse race at Olympia known as the calpe, in which the rider exception is the success of the tyrant, Anaxilas, in the mule chariot race dismounted and ran alongside his steed. in 484 (or 480 BC). His coins struck at Rhegium in Southern Italy and At some games, but not at Olympia, the first event was the at Messana in Sicily – Figure 1- celebrated the win and at Messana lampadedromia, or torch relay race, after which the winner lit the fire became an immobilised type. The mule race was nevertheless a on the sacrificial altar. This ceremony has, of course, been emulated relatively short-lived event between 500 and 444 BC. Another exception in the modern Olympics. A torch often appears as a symbol on ancient occurs in the coinage of Philip II of Macedon. His success with a horse Greek coins and at Amphipolis in Macedonia is used for the reverse of a and jockey in the games of 356 BC is commemorated on the reverse stunning series of tetradrachms. of his tetradrachms, aptly accompanied on the obverse by the head of Zeus.

Fig 2: Aspendus, AR stater, 380-320 BC (source, the author)

Fig 3: Celenderis, AR triple-siglos, 440-400 BC (source, the author)

Erratum

Gavin White points out that he inadvertently wrote that Paul Waterhouse, architect of the Younger Hall, was the father-in-law of the Youngers’ daughter. In fact he was their daughter-in-law’s father.

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FEATURES Tom Gordon remembers (read his story in issue 14, Jan/Feb 2007)

Ledyheid Characters 1920-40 A’ around the Ledyheid as bairnies we a’ played, O’ a’ the folks abidin’ there, wi’ naen were we dismayed.

There wis fat yins an’ thin yins, cheery yins an’ gurny yins an’ a’, There wis some sae contermashus, ther’ wir ithers, big an’ sma’.

Times were awfy hard back then, nae siller i’ the pot But fisher folk, weel yased tae this, didny care a jot.

Families were bigger then, an’ names were hard tae find, So ther’ wis names, an’ bye names, here’s some that come tae mind.

Efter that, they were ca’ed nicknames!

The Gourlay Clan, there wis a few, an’ o’ Wullies there were many An’ if there’s wan that kens them a’, l’d gi’e the odd ha’penny.

There wis Willie Grieve, an’ Will the Mayor, an’ anither Willey Will.

An’ a’ aroon’ the Ledyheid, their characters linger still.

Ecky Elder wis a man tae roar, when us laddies got him gaun, An Mary Duff wud sit an’ jaw, an’ get on wi’ her shewin’.

P.P. Broon, he built a boat up his back door ye ken, Then had tae tak’ it a’ tae bits, tae get it oot again.

There wis twa’ or three richt auld maids, wha steyed i’ attic room, An’ a man, a walkin’ lamp post, “Ecky hand me down the moon.”

Ther’ wis Mutt an’ Jeff, an’ Fidgy Flech, Black Dug an’ cork an’ Harry.

An’ haudin’ in amid a’ this, wis Pinder’s scaffies barrie.

Ther’ wis Shite the Kilt, an’ Hippins, Tee Ta Toe, he wis a rougie!

Anither o’ the Cinnin’s Clan, a rascal kent as Bogey.

Doo Dah steyed alang the road, an’ Cocky Lister tae, An’ the Pawky Ayton twins bed there, until they moved away!

There wis Frankie an’ Wee Bella, steyed i’ the Home o’ Rest, Ther’ wis Dee Dee an’ Davie Douts, an’ Hackie daen his best.

There wis Cakey Black an’ Chalky White, an’ Cheesy Melville tae, Stiffy Louden, Puddin’ Broon, Shang Grant across the way.

Twa Peter Waters, Young an’ auld, baeth steyed there, Young Peter got it i’ the ear frae Annie Coull, for teachin’ her parrot tae swear.

Auld an’ Young Bully Wilson, steyed next door tae Cheenaman Jock Teeny High Hat Mary Traill an’ that’s no near the lot!

Headlines culled from the internet –

Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn’t you say?

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Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter

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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

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Miners Refuse to Work after Death

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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

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War Dims Hope for Peace

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If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile

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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

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Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide

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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge

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Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

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New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group

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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

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Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

Chum Anderson, the Pig an’ Silver King, an’ ithers o’ that ilk, Were gowfers braw upon the links, wi’ swings as smooth as silk.

Ther’ wis Peem Pie Gourlay, Leery Bell, Chippy Lowery, sic a happy gang, Wi’ Cox an’ steamboat Fenton, an’ ithers o’ that clan.

Easy Dodds an’ Napper Low, Powerful Gourlay, Chipper Dow, The names roll aff the tongue, an’ my heid’s near empty now.

Still Pally Waters springs tae mind, he loved tae gi’e it laldy Singin’ his wey aroon the streets, wi’ the Salvation Army.

The Ledyheid, it fairly rang wi’ Bairnies at their play, Wi’ roonders an’ wi’ kick the can, we spent the lea lang day.

The lassies had their skipping an’ their peever beddies there An’ keepy uppies, stottin’ baws, up an’ doon the stair.

Hop Scotch, tig, an’ hide an’ seek, in an’ oot the entries, An’ auld maids, grim o’ visage, at the close ends stood like sentries.

You’ll no play here, “Awa’ ye gan” they are heard tae say.

But their mothers said,” Gan’ on yersel’ an’ let the bairnies play.”

There’s hosts an’ hosts o’ names like these” that ring upon the ear, An’ the memories that they a’ bring back, are o’ folks that I hold dear!!

CHRIS TULLOCH

PAINTER & DECORATOR 01334 479756 07841435477 Hackie in The Ladyhead in 1953, by Flora Selwyn

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FREE ESTIMATES

FEATURES Flora Selwyn has a suggestion –

Electric Park & Ride Vehicles – Why Not? On recent visits to Poland I was struck by the ubiquitous electric vehicles used to take passengers to tourist spots. Small, silent, pollution-free, they seem the ideal solution for park & ride in St Andrews.

The original buses used here between the town and Petheram Bridge car park seldom had more than 2 or 3 passengers.

No wonder, then, that they were not costeffective. Electric vehicles come in all sizes, from 2- to 10-seater models; see the photos I took. Transparent sides roll down to protect passengers when it rains.

Melex is a family-owned Polish company whose factory is in the Special Economic Zone in the town of Mielec.

Operating since 1971, it has, since 2004, supplied the world with electric vehicles for golf, for passengers, cargo, and special uses. In a collaboration with Germany’s Sieckmann Engineering, Melex has also designed and fully tested solar recharging stations for electric vehicles, which are said to be both highly efficient and cost effective.

We desperately need a large car park on the east of St Andrews, since the traffic from the east roughly equals that from the west, but with nowhere to go except round and round our congested town. A commercially-operated car park could include in its pricing an extra small charge for park & ride.

Similar park & ride could operate from Petheram Bridge.

Worries are unfounded about electric vehicles here not getting road-fund clearance. Melex cars operate with full road compliance.

Any driver with a regular driving licence can run them. Depending on load and how often they start and stop, they can go for 50km. before needing to Dolny rz ie im z a be recharged. The average yn) rain) in K lw e e th S n (i ra ad y Flo On the ro cost for a 6-seat vehicle (Photos b

On the road in Kracow (Ph

otos by Flora Selwyn)

with canopy top and windshield is 7,000 Euros. Melex supplies all spare parts, which can be obtained through their British representative Simon Holmes, at Lloyd Ltd. in Newcastle.

Time for some common sense!

(Photos courtesy Melex)

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FEATURES Hamish Brown kindly contributed this short story

Séracs

Over-investment in machinery brought about the financial crisis in Danny Peplinska’s scrap yard in the so-called Bassaguard Industrial Estate. Danny could never resist a machine that could cut, flatten, or melt the metals he recycled from our waste society. When an out-of-breath jogger stopped at his gate Danny noticed his interest and invited him in to see round the yard.

Ivan de Rocade, a popular artist in his own right, ran an internationally-renowned gallery of modern art in Bristol, with an outlet in London, but he was as likely to be in Boston or Peking as at either. He had studied in Paris and Grenoble in his early twenties and climbed regularly in the Dauphiné, though the only indications of his activities were the mountain paintings and sculptures he had acquired. His growing lack of fitness led to certain words from his wife, so he thereafter put in a daily run, wherever he happened to be in the world.

Ivan had been visiting the friendly Kirkcaldy Art Gallery (he was hoping to display something from their extensive Peploe collection in an exhibition) so it was late afternoon when he reached St Andrews. He obviously didn’t know about the West Sands for, from the well-known hotel he stopped at, he went off through the West Port and down Bridge Street. Turning into James Street, then right, he stumbled on Danny’s yard.

He had stood, his overloaded Transit a bit breathless, headed south with fascinated by the weird three of the cubes, tangle of shapes, while Danny was left the unintentional chuckling over a £300 geometries, the tortured windfall – which he textures and the frightful badly needed. grace of powerful Ivan made three machinery. He gladly groupings out of his Before him lay cubes of followed Danny round haul, manipulating the yard. the aluminium with what looked like crushed One machine was a fierce joy, seeing tangles of silver snakes effortlessly slicing thick the mountains of power cable (Danny his youth and those enthused, “The Knowles cutter goes through it torrents of ice he once climbed. He called the like butter”), a man in goggles was cutting iron resultant pieces Séracs I, II, and III. Séracs I plate with a blue flame, a furnace opened and he set up on his own patio in the Cotswolds, lava flowed. Ivan quite understood Danny’s part of his own collection, Séracs II went fascination with his work. Suddenly Ivan to the Bristol Gallery (and was sold a year stopped. Before him lay cubes of what looked later), Séracs III went to London, along with a like crushed tangles of silver snakes. They coloured brochure showing Alpine glaciers, an were beautiful. Danny grinned, “Aluminium appropriate modern poem (which he wrote), core: stripped by the Baby Knowles, cubed and pictures of the various stages of his work by the Sondheimer Press”. In Ivan’s eyes on the sculpture. Séracs III was snapped up however they appeared as objects born of the at once by an American collector for a bargain high Alps: chunks of glacial ice, fallen Séracs, £50,000. sculpted by eons of secret forces. Beautiful.

On the same day as Séracs III was sold Desirable.

Danny Peplinska was officially declared “How much?” he rather blurted out, but bankrupt. was soon deep in an aspect of his business (Illustration by Hamish Brown) which he never underestimated. The next day

Jennifer Reid, Curator of the Preservation Trust Museum

Answers Your Questions Q. What can you tell me about the curious building on the north side of North Street beside Gregory Place?

A. Many people have asked why that house is so different from the rest of North Street. It is my understanding that it was built in the 1930s by the Dundee architect J H Whyte. Many people say that it reminds them of a boat, in fact the strangely shaped protrusion on the roof, with its large eastern windows, was used as a gallery. But there is no doubt that the building has a certain art deco look to it. Whyte’s architectural portfolio included a number of cinemas in the popular art deco of the time. Whyte was also the editor and publisher of “The Modern Scot”, the Scottish nationalist magazine. At some point the building passed into the University’s hands (or was it built for the University? Perhaps a reader can clear up this matter for me), although in the late 1950s University Court announced its intentions to demolish the building. The Town Council vigorously objected to the demolition and it was saved, later becoming the University of St Andrews Music Department, and home to Cedric Thorpe Davie, its founder. It is now post-graduate accommodation for the University.

I would be grateful of any more information readers can give me about the house.

Jacob’s Ladder Q. I believe there was an area in St Andrews called Jacob’s Ladder. Where was this and why is it so called?

A. The set of steep steps beside the Gateway Building that lead up to the St Andrews Museum is known as Jacob’s ladder. In most towns there is a “Jacob’s Ladder”, a name given by local people to a steep set of stairs. All of these “ladders” are so called after the biblical Jacob’s Ladder. In the Book of Genesis, Jacob dreams about a ladder reaching down from heaven with God’s angels descending and ascending the steps. The name Jacob’s Ladder is also the name of a popular children’s toy – one is said to have been found in Tutankhamen’s tomb.

(Photos by Flora Selwyn)

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FEATURES Michael Buchanan asks,

Do You Have Street Cred?

Who were they? When were they? What were they?

Each Spring, the history of the University and city of St Andrews is portrayed in the colourful Kate Kennedy Procession – street theatre as a history lesson.

St Andrews’ street names are themselves the silent witnesses to history, speaking volumes about the past.

CIRCUMSPICE! – look around! Sadly, some street name signage needs urgent restoration, having been worn out by time and salty winds. The St Andrews Preservation Trust’s publication Three decades of Historical Notes,1991 covers many angles of the town’s development, street names first.

Many streets were named after people who were: Politicians, Principals, Provosts, Poets, Prelates/Priests/ Bishops/Archbishops, Pedagogues/ Teachers, Physicists, Philosophers, or other VIPs. For example: 9.= George Buchanan (1506-1582), Prince of Poets, Principal.

Can you, dear reader, identify any or all of the following?

Abbotsford Crescent Albany Park Andrew Lang Crescent Argyle Street Bell Street Berry Place Brewster Place Bruce Embankment Buchanan Gardens Cant Crescent Churchill Crescent Crawford Gardens Dempster Terrace Donaldson Gardens

Forbes Place Fordyce Court Greyfriars Garden Hamilton Avenue Hay Flemming Avenue Hepburn Gardens Hope Street Irvine Crescent John Knox Road Kennedy Gardens Kidston Court Kirkcaldy Court Lamberton Place Learmonth Place

Melville Road Moir Crescent Morton Crescent Murray Park Playfair Terrace Spottiswoode Gardens Tom Morris Drive Tulloch Place Wardlaw Gardens Winram Place Wishart Gardens Younger Gardens

First prize of £30, second of £20, and third of £10 are offered for the first three entries with the most correct answers. The editor’s decision is final. The deadline for submission of entries is 30 September 2012.

Please send entries to St Andrews in Focus, either by email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com or by post to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ.

Good Luck!

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FEATURES: BOOKS Patricia Norman reviews

The Lion of St Andrews

By Jennifer Doherty

Published by Serafina Press, 2012.

Available at J & G Innes and all good bookshops price £5.99.

The Lion of St Andrews is a full colour picture book, from Borders-based independent publisher, Serafina Press. The story is suitable for children up to age eight or so, but the pictures make it accessible to younger children.

The book tells the story of a little boy, James, who comes to live in St Andrews.

Lonely, he is sitting by the harbour when a lion pushes its way out of the wall beside him. Partly for fun, and partly in order to help James “find out why he has come to live in St Andrews” the lion takes James into the past – via the Pends gate – on a Lammas Procession day.

With illustrations and explanations about St Andrews’ pilgrimage history, the story then goes on to explain how wishes and longings of pilgrims and St Andreans make their way into the fabric of the walls in the town. James does, indeed, discover what he wants to do – which is to learn the harp –

and, after the lion’s presence has helped him find the necessary courage, and the lion has deposited him back in modern times (via a walk down to the harbour) – he goes on to do just that.

Along the way, he makes a friend, and the book ends with his discovering that his dream has also become part of the fabric of the town.

The Lion of St Andrews is a delightfullywritten book which actually gave me tingles as it delivered its magical story. I am excited about reading it to my grandchildren – I know they will love it too. It has the potential to fire the imagination, and offers hope and inspiration as well as being gently educational by simply delving into some of St Andrews’ fascinating history, cleverly depicted in the enchanting illustrations.

Author Jennifer T. Doherty has written several children’s picture books set on the East Coast (including The Eyemouth

Mermaid, The Sea Dancer at St Abbs, The Treasure at North Berwick ). This is her first book set in St Andrews, and indeed, it appears to be the first children’s title specifically set here.

The book is illustrated by Katherine Coulton, a young illustration graduate, with a background in fine art studies as well as illustration. This is her first book. The style is traditional, and there are plenty of recognisable images of the town – including the harbour, the Cathedral, and the Castle – along with smaller details, familiar to anyone who knows St Andrews.

Haunted St Andrews

By Geoff Holder

Published by the History Press, June 2012.

Paperback Original, available at J & G Innes and all good bookshops, price £9.99.

Geoff Holder lives in Perth, a former TV producer and scriptwriter. This book is a guide to the phantoms, poltergeists, and paranormal history of St Andrews, including the Haunted

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Tower with its reputed White Lady. Pitmilly House, and its fire-raising poltergeist also figures. There are 60 black-and-white photographs.

SHOPS & SERVICES David Adie advises. This Article is intended to give only very general advice and is no substitute for taking full and proper advice, taking into account your own circumstances.

A Legal Ragbag I thought it might be appropriate to write a few random thoughts about Law and the Legal world, which may be of interest to readers.

I assume not. The situation is likely to arise, for example, if there is a block of six flats and five out of the six are on the Land Register and one Succession remains in the Sasine Register.To tidy matters There has been a recent change in rules relating to succession. If up, the Registers might just register the sixth a person dies without leaving a Will, i.e. they are intestate, a wife or one.There does seem to be political impetus to husband is entitled, depending on whether there are children or not, to have everything on the Land Register and also, certain legal and prior rights out of the deceased’s estate. This includes a although this is somewhat sinister, to find out house up to a certain value and the value of that house has recently been who owns what. increased to the figure of £473,000.

One of the aspects of the new Bill will be that there will be more A quirk which arises on some deaths is that if someone has emphasis on electronic conveyancing. Already, the electronic record held contracted to sell their house and then dies, it is possible that legal rights in the Land Register is the true measure of a title, rather than a piece of would be claimable against the value of the house and not just moveable paper which a Solicitor may have on its file and which could be out of estate. It has to be admitted there is not much you can do about avoiding date. dying after you have sold your house, but before completion of the sale: it Climate change legislation is the flavour of the month: there is a can happen occasionally! suggestion that the Law may be changed to provide, under the Climate Did you know that if a Will is made and there is absolutely no Change (Scotland) Act/Bill, for commercial property owners to bring all provision in that Will for a child and a child was subsequently born, then buildings up to a 2002 energy efficiency standard if selling, letting or under another obscure Latin doctrine the Will can be challenged by the renewing a Lease. Initially, this would apply to commercial property only, child and set aside? but I understand it would also apply to domestic property in due course.

If you make a Will it is normal to revoke all previous testamentary The theory is that this might put investors off acquiring old buildings, writings in that Will, but be careful if you have another foreign Will; for which require significant upgrade to meet the legal requirements. This example, if you own a property in Spain, you may would of course affect about 80% of the property inadvertently revoke that Will and that can cause stock in Scotland and probably about 90% in legal problems abroad. It is always worthwhile St Andrews. Even buildings built in the ‘60s and consulting a foreign lawyer if you do have a property ‘70s were not all that environmentally friendly. Don’t One thing is certain, the abroad, because the Rules can very often be panic however, because the 2002 Energy Efficiency Law is never static. Some Standards might simply involve putting in a new different and succession is not necessarily covered by a Scottish (or English) Will. boiler or putting draught excluders on the doors say it moves too much. or windows. It remains to be seen whether this Watch these pages!

Property would devalue some properties. I personally doubt There is a new Land Registration bill going through it. There was a suggestion some years ago that the Parliament at the moment. This will make quite when VAT on property was an issue there would be a number of changes to Scottish Land Law: it will two tiers of properties, those which are subject to in some respects improve the position. One of the peculiar aspects is VAT, i.e. VAT is charged on rent, and those which are not. That has not that the Registers of Scotland can voluntarily decide to register your title. happened. The theory was that some people might not want to lease the Many people who have not moved house for years will have their title property if they could not recover the VAT, e.g. an Insurance Broker, but registered in the old Sasine Register and will not have a modern Land that has proved to be mere supposition.

Certificate, which is a map-based system under the 1979 Act with a state One thing is certain, the Law is never static. Some say it moves too guarantee. The Registers might, of their own volition, decide to register much. Watch these pages! your title. It is not clear whether or not they would charge you for this, but

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

We can consult locally

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

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Foot Clinic For Total Foot Care from an HPC Registered Podiatry Team Advice and Treatment in all areas of Podiatry/Chiropody and Biomechanics Foot Clinics: 43a Argyle Street St Andrews KY16 9BX

15 East Shore Anstruther KY10 3AB

52 Bonnygate Cupar KY15 4LD

Podiatry/Chiropody: 01334 479003 Biomechanics/Orthotics: 01334 470111 Website: www.FootClinicUK.com

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

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SHOPS & SERVICES Flora Selwyn enjoyed a taste of

Fine Indian Food There are now 4 Indian restaurants in St Andrews, all of whose staffs are friends, but all of whose styles are different.

Chillies, in South Street, the latest addition, family-owned, has had its extensive premises completely refurbished. Upstairs, the ‘overspill area’ is available also for private or corporate dining. The modern décor has subtle oriental hints; it is comfortable and spacious overall.

The Ladies & Gents are lined in marble, and there is a disabled toilet too.

Curious, I popped in to sample the lunchtime buffet, and was invited to help myself, eat all I wanted! From experience, for I well remember the old Corner House Cafés in London, I Onion Bhajee immediately knew I would overeat, and oh boy, I did. But it was really delicious. For starters, alongside the papadoms, there were Vegetable Pakoras, Onion Bhajis, Vegetable Samosas, as well as Chicken Pakoras, Chicken Bhajis, accompanied by a ‘starter sauce’, onion pickle, mango chutney, and a very fresh mixed salad, with quarters of lemon hiding amongst the lettuce leaves.

The mains were equally Veg Pakora varied. Nan Bread sat beside Pilau Rice, Chicken Masallam, Chicken Korma, Chicken Korai, Lamb Bhoona, and Tarka Dall.

Pintu Saifulislam, the General Manager of the Restaurant, happened to notice I took no chicken or lamb. I told him I am vegetarian. He immediately disappeared into the kitchen, soon returning, to my complete surprise, with a steaming bowl of wonderful Veg Samosa mixed vegetables.

I finished with a tiny helping, which was all I could manage by then, of Fruit Salad, and a lusciously creamy Rice Pudding, both irresistible! All was washed down with a tall glass of mango & apple juice.

Pintu is passionate about his Restaurant, rightly so. He told me the dishes represent authentic Bangladeshi home cooking. “We Chicken Pakora

Salad Starter

Chillies buffet, with waiter Samii

Mixed Vegetables

Rice Pudding and Fruit Salad

Chicken

don’t cut corners,” he told me, referring to the freshness of the produce used in the kitchen. There are no frozen vegetables. The ghee is made with best butter.

The rice is always Basmati, even if there are supposed to be world shortages! The fruit salad is made from available fresh fruit.

The buffet dishes change daily, Lamb so in principle you could enjoy something new every day!

“I just want to be different” Pintu proclaimed, to the extent that he has recruited, and brought over from Bangladesh, a trained chef from the Sheraton Hotel. It shows. Between the hours of 12 noon and 3.00pm, the lunch buffet at £9.95 is excellent value.

The evening buffet menu, at £13.95, is extended to include prawn dishes etc. Children between 5 and 12 years of age are charged £4.95, while under 5s eat for free. Students are lucky to be offered 15% discount, and there is a seven-day-a-week home delivery service too.

Both at lunchtime and in the evening a very extensive à la carte menu is available, encompassing all the well-known Indian dishes, such as Lamb Tikka Massallam. The Tandoori oven provides Nan breads and other specialities. European dishes can be ordered too, such as Grilled Sirloin Steak, and the wine list is comprehensive.

If till now, you think of ‘curry’ as something your local takeaway makes, go to Chillies and re-educate your palate! Chillies’ logo is “Striving for Excellence” and it is no boast. The service is friendly, the staff willing and able to please the most fastidious guest. Pintu would like his Restaurant to be famed as a St Andrews asset. Operating for only a couple of months when I visited, I am sure he will not have to wait long to have his wish come true!

(Photos by Flora Selwyn)

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SHOPS & SERVICES Hannah Markham, Principal Osteopath of St Andrews Osteopaths – Providers of effective treatment since 1998,

Aches, Pains, and Stiffness An 87 year-old gentleman came to see me at the practice a couple of weeks ago regarding the generalised aches and joint stiffness associated with old age. He was keen to see whether there was anything that could be done to help prevent his aches and pains from worsening.

The good news is that osteopathy could help him, but I’ll come to that later!

So what causes the aches and stiffness that so often accompanies the aging process? As we get older, we begin to experience some degeneration in our joints, for some of us it isn’t too problematic, but for others, the aches, pains, and stiffness can be debilitating.

Degeneration is a natural process, but its severity can depend on what has happened to our bodies throughout our lives. If, for example, we have had an injury to a joint, or engaged in a lot of repetitive tasks at work or at If you have a question that you would like to ask the osteopath, please e-mail: osteo@standrewsosteopaths.co.uk or call 01334 477 000.

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home, then this can contribute to the degeneration we experience. Furthermore, as our joints start to stiffen, we tend to use them less. This causes the muscles around the joints to stiffen up as well.

So how was I able to help the gentleman? After discussing his general health and asking him some questions regarding his aches and pains, I then proceeded to assess the joints that were causing him problems. Once I had determined the cause of the discomfort, I was able to give him some gentle massage to the muscles around the joints to help relieve the muscle ache, and I also gently articulated his joints to help relieve the stiffness.

I am pleased to report that after two treatments he told me that he was “feeling the best he had felt in years” (his words, not mine!).

Hannah Markham is the principal osteopath at St Andrews Osteopaths and Natural Health Clinic on South Street. She has been in practice for 15 years and has vast

experience in treating a broad spectrum of injuries in patients of all ages. www.standrewsosteopaths.co.uk

SHOPS & SERVICES Jonnie Adamson

Legal? Moral?

Print & Design

We welcome commercial enquiries The services we offer include: • Colour Digital Printing • Graphics & Pre-Press • External Display Banners

• High Quality Fine Art Printing

• Report/Dissertation Printing & Binding St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AX T: (01334) 463020

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

printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk www.st-andrews.ac.uk/printanddesign

The purse strings have been tightened for a this behaviour. It is frustrating that it is the while now and the debate seems to be firing honest trader who loses out, but if there is no up on the collection of tax. It is an emotive allowance for VAT and tax in the pricing of a issue for many; when it seems people are job then it will be hard to compete. not paying their fair share it can lead to At the other end of the scale, there is criticism and frustration. From millionaires a significant amount of money offshore. using complicated offshore Often this can be done structures to tradesmen for legitimate reasons, doing a cash in hand but often there is an In the current climate it ‘homer’ there has been undercurrent of evasion. plenty of opinion offered on There are many clever is becoming ever more what is morally acceptable. schemes available; important to consider Quite simply, tax with careful planning evasion is illegal. Not significant amounts of tax not only what it legally declaring income to the tax can be saved. correct, but also what is man can lead to all sorts However, I am most of problems, but is it easy comfortable when there morally decent to draw a line between is commercial rationale evasion, avoidance, and behind any tax planning. careful tax planning?

I am intrigued as to how Hiding or disguising income is clearly the proposed general anti-abuse rule will wrong; it is very difficult to have sympathy be used by HMRC as it seems to allow for for those who persistently offend. It is not a more challenging approach to be taken to only the taxman who suffers as the result of situations where, although legally allowed,

the motive for doing so is solely to avoid tax. I hope and feel that these provisions will be used to attack artificial schemes steering clear of those where there are other, commercial and personal reasons, for having their affairs set up in a certain way. In the current climate it is becoming ever more important to consider not only what it legally correct, but also what is morally decent.

For further information on this, or other matters, please consult: Henderson Black & Co. 149 Market St, St Andrews Tel: 01334 472 255

THE St Andrews pet shop!

Stocking the widest range of pet foods, accessories.

Anything not stocked we can order.

78 South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JT Tel: 01334 470 873

BEST WESTERN

Scores Hotel St Andrews

It’s never too early to book your Christmas function!

PRE-CHRISTMAS LUNCH & DINNER 3rd-24th December, 3 courses £19.50 CHRISTMAS PARTY LUNCH Friday 14th and Friday 21st £21.50 CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS Saturday 1st £21.50 Friday 7th or Saturday 8th £27.50 Thursday 13th £21.50 Friday 14th or Saturday 15th £30.50 Thursday 20th £21.50 Friday 21st or Saturday 22nd £24.50 CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH £49.00 per adult, £24.50 children 5-12, £5.00 children under 5 HOGMANAY DINNER DANCE £64.00 per adult (Limited Availability) BOXING DAY & NEW YEARS DAY BRUNCHES £16.95 per adult, £9.95 children 5-12 PRE-CHRISTMAS ACCOMMODATION from £37.50 per person (terms and conditions apply) 76 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9BB Tel: 01334 472451, Fax: 01334 473947 Email: events@scoreshotel.co.uk Website: www.bw-scoreshotel.co.uk

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SHOPS & SERVICES

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter

. . . is happy he still has positive news to share!

1.

It gives Reporter great pleasure that the latest empty property in Bell Street is now home to a privately run business. Sanna Pennanen together with her boyfriend Safak Bilici co-own S P Styling at 14a Bell Street (phone 07564725292).

Sanna was born and brought up in the town of Siuntio, in Finland. Safak hails from Turkey, and they met in Turkey while on holiday!

Sanna is an experienced hair stylist, trained more than ten years ago in Finland. The couple had a salon in Edinburgh, but decided to relocate to St Andrews because they prefer a small town – Sanna proclaims it reminds her of home! Coming here was, “something that we wanted to do, and it’s better to run your own business than work for someone else.” Safak, however, works across the road in Dervish. Open on 14 July this year, Sanna has already made an impact. She offers all the services of a regular hairdresser, but also has that Continental something, suggests Reporter. Her prices are competitive, ranging from £15 for a lady’s dry cut; from £35 for colouring. A half head nailtip extension is from £150, and a wedding hairdo from £50. Men are catered for (it’s a unisex salon) from £8-£12, and children under 10 years are £8-£10.

The premises are inviting and roomy. A welcome addition to St Andrews, says Reporter.

*****

2. Reporter was introduced to a talented young sculptor, recently down from Aberdeenshire. Kay Vanessa Thomson is currently to be found as Assistant Manager in Rogerson’s shoe shop in Market Street, helping her to “get to know St Andrews more.” Kay has an Hons BA in Fine Art, specialising in Sculpture from Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art, Dundee. She has taken courses in advanced bronze foundry casting, and sculpture workshops at Lumsden, Scotland, as well as courses in casting processes in advanced plasterwork.

Kay has been: Winner of the George of Drumfork Award for Contribution to Sculpture, 2007; Exhibitor of the BP Portrait Award held in Aberdeen Art Gallery; Winner of the Sculpture combining poetry, Aberdeen Art Gallery. She has exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh; Aberdeen Art Gallery; Melvin Gallery, Forfar; as well as in Duncan of Jordanstone, Dundee. In addition to all this, Kay has had commissions for work from private individuals. Reporter was happy to learn that Kay believes you should touch sculptures, “texture is quite important“. You should also be aware of the play of light and the hidden spaces in landscape. From which you can infer that Kay’s work is mainly for out of doors. Kay offers classes in sculpture, either on a one-to-one basis, or in small groups.

Reporter is filled with admiration! More details are on Kay’s website: www.kay-vanessa.co.uk You can contact her at: fifeart@yahoo.co.uk Kay would be delighted to hear from you.

(Photo courtesy Kay Thomson, with sculpture ‘A Fond Kiss’)

*****

3.

The Jahangir Restaurant, South Street, opened 14 years ago this July, has just been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for the year 2012 by world-famous TripAdvisor.

Reporter congratulated the Manager, Zulfi, warmly thinking how quickly the years have flown, with such hard work over the time. “In this area we were placed in the top 12, which is a good achievement for us. Moreover, TripAdvisor has awarded us 4 out of 5 stars!” Reporter is impressed! Zulfi’s brother Wali is still Head Chef, producing such innovative and mouth-watering dishes as the new Jahangir Special Tikka Kebab, Butter Chicken, Lahoree Special Tikka etc. Zulfi says he sincerely thanks all his customers and many friends for their support, for without them he could not have achieved such success. Reporter wishes Zulfi and his staff all the very best for the future, with many more awards to come!

*****

4. Lovers of fine Italian food rejoice! So says Reporter, for 33 Bell Street is the new home of the Rocca Italian Deli. Adrian and Susan Pieraccini are bringing their prize-winning Rocca Factor to the town centre with their “good fresh unique goodies you can’t buy anywhere else!” A new emphasis on fresh, chilled meals will allow you to enjoy the authentic Italian taste at home. You will be able to entertain at home as well, because shortly you will be able to order your requirements in advance – Rocca at Home. The Deli will stock all the wonderful things you could buy previously, pastas, cheeses, wines, olive oils, salamis, etc. In addition, there will be bread baked fresh every day at Rocca. The shop will have a complete makeover, including more friendly, affordable prices. As Susan puts it, “less gift shop, more working Deli.” A new identity, a new beginning – Reporter can’t wait!

Architect’s drawing courtesy Rocca

*****

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Elspeth’s of St Andrews

9 Church Street, St Andrews Tel: 01334 472494

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ORGANISATIONS Lauren Galloway, now in S5 at Madras College, has researched

St Andrews Children’s Golf Club

What local club can boast that it had Clementine Churchill, the wife of our famous wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, as a member in 1898? It was the St Andrews Children’s Golf Club – established in 1888 as a welcome diversion for children during the holidays. Many came with their nannies to second homes in St Andrews from addresses such as Knightsbridge, or Eton Square, London. We imagine that the nannies appreciated the Club too; an ex-member commented that nannies were “sitting in the wooden hut knitting and chatting”. However, it’s incredible to think that the Club is still alive today, having celebrated its centenary year in 1988, and now continuing into the new millennium.

The Club is open to any child who lives or attends school in St Andrews. Other children may be able to join, however, priority is given to locals. Children are eligible to join at the end of Primary One, starting with junior putting at Kinburn. The members then progress to senior putting on the Himalayas, junior golf competitions on the Balgove, ultimately The Club is open to any competing on larger courses, such as the Strathtyrum, Eden, or New. Matches are played child who lives or attends over the Easter and Summer holidays, with prizeschool in St Andrews givings taking place at the conclusion of each

(Photo courtesy Lauren Galloway)

season, when a wide range of trophies is presented, some of them dating back to the early days of the Club.

The Club is run entirely on a voluntary basis with a committee comprised of 16 members. These are all parents of Club members. The committee always welcomes new volunteers. As well as playing fellow members, the Club also plays yearly matches against selected members of St Rule and The Ladies Putting Club. The most senior members of the Club have the opportunity to play with members of the R&A over the Old Course.

All matches are played with a good-natured competitive spirit while some are followed by a well-deserved tea with playing partners.

Speaking as a current member of the Club, it’s an excellent way to meet new playing partners and friends, keep yourself occupied during the holidays, be introduced to golf etiquette in a fun and relaxed way, even improving your game a little!

Dated September 1892 (with the permission of The Ladies’ Putting Club)

For further information, please contact Joan Graham on: jm.graham@btinternet.com

Anne Tait is participating in the

Trek for Treatment On Monday, 15 October two local couples In the Peak District and the Lomonds, up Ben will be heading for the hills – the Himalayas, Vrackie and Largo Law, they have pounded. in fact, and not for a game of putting! They When time has been short, the steps above will be travelling to Nepal as part of a Kemback have even served as surrogate fundraising event for The Himalayas!

Leprosy Mission Scotland.

Most people think Globally two to three Alan McDonald, former leprosy is a disease of million people are Moderator of the Church the past, but the reality of Scotland, minister of is that it is very much a permanently disabled the linked charges of St disease of the present, by leprosy, with the Leonard’s and Cameron, with 700 new cases being will be accompanied by his diagnosed worldwide highest number of doctor wife, Judith, retired daily. Globally two to sufferers in India local GP Hamish Tait, and three million people are his wife, Anne. They will join permanently disabled by a group of ten others for the trip of a lifetime leprosy, with the highest number of sufferers “The four of us, the McDonalds and to the Himalayas. During their two week stay in India. The Leprosy Mission works to heal the Taits, preparing to do some in Nepal, they will visit two Leprosy Mission and to tackle the prejudice and stigma that training up a Scottish hill” hospitals and see the work being done there are part of the daily lives of sufferers of this (Photo, courtesy Anne Tait) to cure and rehabilitate leprosy sufferers. horrible disease.

Towards the end of their stay in the country, they will spend four days climbing All participants of this trek must pay their own travel and accommodation expenses and in these magnificent mountains. All four raise a minimum of £1,000 per person towards the work of The Leprosy Mission. Anyone are convinced that the fitter they are before wishing to sponsor the intrepid foursome can do so at: http://tlmscotland.workwithus.org/ tackling the climb, the more they will enjoy it, so serious training started for them all in May.

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TOWN & GOWN George Phillips is a retired University lecturer in Mathematics who has travelled very widely in pursuing research. He has taken part in Melvyn Bragg’s radio programme, “In our time”, on the subject of Archimedes.

One Box Equals Three Pyramids!

In the first of four television programmes entitled The Story of Maths, first broadcast in 2008, Marcus du Sautoy very briefly discussed how to find the volume of a pyramid. Although he spent no more than one minute on this, because he had so much ground to cover, this is a topic that deserves to be more widely understood. Marcus du Sautoy talked about bringing together three pyramids to make a rectangular box. I begin with the case where the box has equal width, breadth and height, and so is a cube.

height, the cross-sections of these two pyramids are the same) that the two pyramids have equal volumes.

The cube and the pyramids are examples of polyhedra (the plural of polyhedron). These are solids in three dimensions with flat faces that have straight edges. Corresponding to any polyhedron we can find a net. This is a diagram consisting of one large polygon constructed from a set of polygons, one for each face of the polyhedron. The net can be folded and assembled to create the polyhedron. Given any net, drawn on a piece of card, we cut out the large polygon that is the outline of the net and fold it appropriately to obtain the required polyhedron. Then we use sticky tape to join appropriate edges together. For example, the net on the left side of Figure 3, consisting of six squares, is that of a cube, the best known polyhedron. Before folding the net it is helpful to score the sub-dividing lines part-way through, using a pen-knife guided by a ruler.

Figure 1: The vertex V is joined to the other seven vertices of the cube.

A cube has six square faces, eight vertices, and twelve edges. Let V (see Figure 1) be one of the vertices. We join V to the seven other vertices of the cube. If each edge of the cube has length one unit, then A1, A2 and A3 are all 1 unit from V, B1, B2 and B3 are all √2 units from V, and the vertex C is √3 units from V. (If you remember Pythagoras’ Theorem you will be able to check that these distances are correct.)

Figure 2: The cube in Figure 1 is dissected into three congruent pyramids, one being the pyramid A1B2CB3V shown above, on the left. On the right side we have another pyramid on the same base, but with apex V1, one unit above the centre of the square base. These two pyramids have equal volumes.

If you study Figure 1 closely, you will see that the seven lines that join V to each of the seven other vertices, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3 and C, split the cube into three identical solid figures. One of them is A1B2CB3V, which is displayed on the left side of Figure 2, and its volume is therefore one-third of the volume of the cube. If we move the apex V so that it is one unit above the centre of the square AB2CB3 and name the new apex V1, we obtain the pyramid A1B2CB3V1. It can be shown (using the fact that, at any

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20

Figure 3: The net on the left is that of a cube, and that on the right is the net of the pyramid A1B2CB3V. The numbers on the net of the cube indicate one possible order in which it may be folded to create the cube. The four folds required to create the pyramid may be made in any order. Vertices labelled with the same letter in any net are to be joined together.

If you didn’t follow my earlier argument that a cube can be split into three identical pyramids, you now have a second chance to convince yourself that this result is correct, by constructing the three pyramids from their identical nets, shown on the right side of Figure 3 and putting them together to give the cube.

Let us now return to Figure 1. Although it was meant to represent a cube, let us now suppose it represents a rectangular box with height V A1 = a, width V A2 = b and depth V A3 = c. Then it is divided into three pyramids which are not identical unless a = b = c. However, it can be shown that the volumes of these three pyramids are all equal to onethird of the volume of the rectangular box.

If you have understood all I have written here I believe you will know more about this topic than most mathematics undergraduates.

To pursue this further, you could draw nets and make up models for the dissection of the rectangular box into three pyramids. For more information about polyhedra, see my book cited below. If you send me an e-mail I will send you a fuller version of this article and a free copy of the relevant chapter of my book.

Reference: George M. Phillips. Mathematics Is Not a Spectator Sport, Springer-Verlag, New York (2005).

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TOWN & GOWN Dr Ros Powell, Festival Administrator St Andrews Voices

St Andrews Voices

– A New Festival of Vocal Music in Scotland 18-21 October in St Andrews will see the rising mezzo-soprano Sophie Harmsen We are keen to engage young people, launch of a unique musical event: the only (Friday, 7.30pm). Saturday evening’s main both as audience members and participants festival in the UK, and one of very few in the concert will see young stars from Scottish in the festival. We are launching our Rising world, to place the voice in all its different Opera coming together to perform some of Voices scheme, which gives emerging vocal guises at the centre of its programme. the very best arias from Puccini, Mozart, and performers a platform, with a morning recital Spanning four days and showcasing a broad Rossini. Setting much-loved songs alongside

by Ben McAteer in Younger Hall on Sunday spectrum of song from folk to baroque and less well-known operatic music, this is sure to at 11.00am. A St Andrews alumnus, and a opera to cabaret, St Andrews Voices will be a concert of delight and discovery. Finally, favourite among local audiences due to his have something for everyone. St Andrews on Sunday evening many appearances is going to be bursting with song: headline at 7.00pm Ludus with the St Andrews concerts featuring internationally-renowned Baroque Chorus Chorus and the classical performers will take place each and Orchestra and a University’s Gilbert evening in the Younger Hall, whilst the Byre cast of internationallyand Sullivan Society.

Theatre will host daytime and late night acclaimed soloists Ben was recently concerts exploring more unusual vocal will present a rare awarded second prize genres. performance of in the prestigious St Andrews Voices is the brainchild of Handel’s overlooked Kathleen Ferrier Sonia Stevenson, who grew up in St Andrews masterpiece The Awards at the The Boxettes and is now based in London where she works Triumph of Truth and Wigmore Hall. He for leading music publishers Faber Music, and Time. returns to St Andrews 18-21 October in St Andrews will see Michael Downes, who arrived in the town in Over at the with pianist Gavin the launch of a unique musical event: Roberts for a recital of 2008 as the University’s first full-time Director Byre Theatre, there the only festival in the UK, and one of Music for many years. Both are certain will be numerous works by Tchaikovsky, that St Andrews has everything needed – a opportunities to hear Korngold, Schumann, of very few in the world, to place the beautiful environment, receptive audiences, something new and and Vaughan voice in all its different guises at the educational, and cultural infrastructure slightly different in Williams. centre of its programme – to become a leading festival venue; as the field of vocal There will also Michael comments, ‘professional performers music. Thursday’s late be opportunities invariably enjoy coming here and we would night feature is performance of alternative for students and adults to be involved as like to make the town a more regular venue a cappella by The Boxettes, an all-female volunteers in the running of the festival; please for international artists.’ Their vision for group based in London. Their unmistakable email standrewsvoices@gmail.com or leave a St Andrews Voices, in Sonia’s words, is of ‘a sound sets beatboxing against vocal message for Michael at the University Music festival of high quality and diversity that cuts harmonies in soul, jazz, and hiphop styles. On Centre if you are interested in being part of across age barriers. It is presented in a way Friday night, another exploratory genre will a festival that promises to play a big role in that encourages people to try something new. be presented by Scottish Cabaret Chordelia Scotland’s cultural scene in the years to come.

We hope to appeal to audiences and baritone Damien Thantrey in St Andrews, the UK, and in an evening of song and [St Andrews Voices gratefully acknowledges beyond.’ dance that merges classical the support of the University of St Andrews, The festival will open on and cabaret music with dance.

The Byre Theatre, Event Scotland, Family Thursday, 18 October at 7.30pm Folk fans can catch The Cast, Communications, Fife Council, Arts and with a recital by world-renowned Mairi Campbell (fiddle/voice) Business Scotland, Stay in St Andrews, tenor Ian Bostridge, who will be and David Francis (guitar), The Binks Trust, The Leche Trust, the Tay joined by his long-term pianist on Saturday night, when they Charitable Trust, and the Russell Trust]. collaborator Julius Drake, in a will be performing The Red performance of Schubert’s song Earth, narrating the story of Concert tickets cycle Winterreise. Ian Bostridge Mairi Campbell’s missionary Evening concerts: is also one of the festival’s ancestors and their travels in £12-£21 full price / £9-£18 concessions. two distinguished patrons, China. All late-night concerts Late night and daytime events: alongside conductor Esa-Pekka begin at 10.00pm.

Ian Bostridge £10 / £7 concessions.

Salonen. He says, During the ‘I have always been day, there will be Festival passes impressed by the a number of other All events: enthusiasm for vocal events, including an £99 full price / £85 concessions. music in St Andrews afternoon concert £49 (students and under 18s) and I was proud to by contemporary Evening concerts only: be made Honorary instrumental group £65 full price / £55 concessions.

Doctor of Music at the Counterpoise – £35 (students and under 18s) University in 2004. who will be joined by Late night and daytime events only: I’m looking forward to actress and narrator £40 full price / £25 all concessions returning to this vibrant Eleanor Bron in (including students and under 18s) The Scottish Ensemble town for this exciting performances of new festival.’

Walton’s Façade, Further details: www.standrewsvoices.com The following evening, audiences will be David Matthews’ Actaeon, and Britten’s Blues or the Byre Theatre Box Office: 01334 475 000 treated to an eclectic programme spanning

by Benjamin Britten – and a Festival Service www.byretheatre.com four centuries of music including Purcell’s in St Salvator’s Chapel with Scottish and Fantasias, and Britten’s cantata Phaedra, Italian music from the University’s flagship (Photos courtesy St Andrews Voices) from the virtuoso Scottish Ensemble and Chapel Choir.

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EVENTS

Renton Oriental Rugs Tel: 01334 476 334

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

72 South Street, St Andrews Fife, KY16 9JT

Cream of honey roasted parsnip soup with sweet potato crisps Ham hock terrine with foie gras served with toasted brioche and an orange reduction Traditional oak smoked Scottish salmon with baby capers, shallots, parsley and freshly baked bread Grilled goats cheese, apple, pecan and chicory salad with a cranberry dressing ********* Roast local turkey with apricot and thyme stuffing served with all the traditional accompaniments Pan fried Chef’s steak of the day served with hand cut chips, grilled vine tomatoes, field mushroom, Café de Paris butter, watercress salad. (£5 supplement) Fresh seafood bouillabaisse with rouille accompanied by freshly baked Playfair’s foccacia Slow cooked aubergine fondant served with pine nuts, rocket, shallots, pumpkin squares and a beetroot purée ********* Traditional Christmas pudding with brandy custard Chocolate fondant with clootie dumpling ice cream Playfair’s trifle Scottish cheese platter

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EVENTS From Angela Montford, Education Trust Liaison at St Andrews Botanic Garden

A Feast of Conifers This September there will be a new venue in which to learn about the natural history, botany, and ecology of different conifers and conifer woodland on the special St Andrews Botanic Garden Conifer Awayday, which is being planned to take place in Meigle and Dunkeld. This is being put on as part of the Garden’s adult events organised by the Education Trust, and will be led by Sheila Brinkley, whose Fascination of Ferns Awayday held last year was greatly enjoyed by those who attended.

Participants will drive to Meigle Church Room to arrive by 10.00am, when they will have an introduction to the varied world of conifers in the classroom there. After a sandwich lunch and the drive on to Dunkeld, the class will be able to study conifers and cones in the wild, learn the techniques of their identification, and appreciate their botany and habitat in the area’s beautiful woodlands. The day will finish at approximately 4.00pm for the drive home. This is a great opportunity to visit a different area for botanical study, meet some new people, and learn more about the natural world around us.

Conifer Awayday: Saturday, 29 September, 10.00am-4.00pm.

Application forms are available in the Gatehouse, or the Glass Class at the Botanic Garden. For queries please contact The Secretary: ed.trust.sec@st-andrews-botanic.org or telephone: 01334 476 452.

(Photo courtesy Angela Montford)

Also – Autumn Harvest is On Its Way

The harvest of fruit and vegetables from garden, farm, and countryside Children can see how apples are turned into juice for tasting with the has been celebrated in every country for centuries. St Andrews will be no hand apple press. There will also be lots of fruit-related games to play on exception when this year’s autumn event, Autumn Harvest Day is held at the Upper Lawn, and a treasure hunt in the orchard. Sheila Kinninmonth the Botanic Garden on Sunday, 30 September. will have her tepee in the wildflower meadow where small children can Following two years in which we held our very successful Apple Day, drop in for a storytelling session; budding cooks can try their hand at this year we decided to change the emphasis, the name, and not only assembling berry biscuits in the Glass Class; or young artists make an have apples as before, but also many other items impromptu artwork from autumn berries. In the from the autumn harvest. The old favourites of apple this year we decided to change Display House off the greenhouse corridor, older identification will still be there, although this year visitors can read about some Harvest History and the emphasis, the name, our stalwart expert Willie Duncan of Drumeldrie customs, along with some odd or interesting facts and not only have apples as will be replaced by Mark Armour of Kellie Castle about fruit and nuts, and can take part in a wild food before, but also many other garden, who will be bringing along the display of quiz. Minibeasts will be under the microscope in the many different apple varieties and will also identify Glass Class; find practical information about edible items from the autumn harvest unknown apples brought along by visitors. If you fungi and other wild food from Tony Wilson; get the have a mystery apple in your garden you would like to know the name lowdown on potatoes from Rosalind Garton. Behind the greenhouses of, please bring at least two apples and preferably a leaf as well. You can you’ll find Information about bees and honey from Fife Beekeepers. There also bring in any windfalls you may have for juicing or to swap. You’ll be will be opportunities at 2.00pm and 3.00pm to take a short Garden tour able to taste some different apple varieties as well, and having decided in the company of Bob Mitchell, the Honorary Curator of the Garden, who which ones you like, you can order the trees from Quercus Nursery of has been involved with its design and development since it moved from Springfield. If your garden is too small the town centre in the 1960s. for a tree, how about a pot herb?

In the Glass Class, also on the lawn outside, you’ll also find lots of There will be a good selection for things to see and buy – botanical cards and wild food recipes; jams, sale in the Herb Garden. chutneys, and cakes; herb vinegars from Pittenweem’s Little Herb Garden; Elaine Lindsay’s corn dollies; chilli goodies from Ceres firm Chillicious; information about compost and waste; tickets for the tombola; tea, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks, plus our ever popular barbecued bacon rolls, burgers, and sausages. Enjoy your snack while listening to Dysart Colliery Silver Band, who will be returning by popular request after the great entertainment they offered us last year. The Gatehouse will be open for the last time this year with an art display and more things to buy.

You can finish off the day by taking home a plant or two from the Friends’ plant sales area near the Gate.

Fife Council have generously offered to waive the Garden entrance fee for the day, so come along, bring friends and family with you. It’ll be a great day out: don’t miss it!

(Photo by Flora Selwyn, Charles Ross apples from my garden identified at a previous Apple Day by Willie Duncan)

Autumn Harvest Day, 11.00am-3.30pm on Sunday, 30 September 2012, at the Botanic Garden, Canongate, St Andrews, KY16 9RT. FREE ENTRY

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EVENTS

Selected Events

Selected Events

Saturday, 1 September – 9.00am-1.00pm. Argyle Street Car Park. Farmers’ Market.

– Time to be announced. Charity Dance Marathon, Dundee to St Andrews in aid of Burma. for more information please visit www.dancebritain.com – 2.30pm. Glasite Hall St Andrews Church Hall Complex, King Street, DUNDEE. Branch Gala Speaker Day: 2/3 main speakers + buffet lunch. Details from the Tayside Branch of the Western Front Association. Contact: Bob Paterson, 01382 775 000.

Friday, 5 October – 6.30pm. St Andrews Church Hall, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews. Champagne: the art of the bubble.

Discover the art & the science, and taste with Bollinger’s UK representative. Cost: £30. Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk

Friday, 7 September – 6.30pm. The Guid Cheese Shop, Burghers Close, South Street, St Andrews. French cheese meets Spanish wine. A seductive rendez-vous in collaboration with Appellation Wines, Edinburgh. Cost: £20. Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk Tuesday, 11 September – 10.00am. St Andrews Library, Church Square. Bookbug. Story, song, rhyme for babies/toddlers/preschool children. The Scottish Book Trust. Admission Free, but please book. Contact: (01334) 659 378.

Saturday, 15 September – Leuchars Airshow. Ticket hotline: 0844 481 8922.

Wednesday, 19 September – 5.15pm. Buchanan Lecture Theatre, Union Street, St Andrews. A Long, Long Way. Sebastian Barry talks about his Man Booker Prize shortlisted novel. Contact: baw@st-andrews.ac.uk Friday, 28 September – 6.30pm. The Guid Cheese Shop, Burghers Close, South Street, St Andrews. Roman holiday: regional Italian cheeses & wines. Cost: £20. Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk Saturday, 29 September – 10.00am to 12 noon. St Andrews Episcopal Church, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews. Michaelmas Fair. In aid of the Church Organ Fund. Home baking, crafts, produce. Coffee & biscuits £1.50. Contact: admin@stastachurch.plus.com

Saturday, 6 October – 9.00am-1.00pm. Argyle Street Car Park.

Farmers’ Market.

Tuesday, 9 October – 10.00am. St Andrews Bowling Club, Kinessburn Road. First meeting of the season of St Andrews Probus – the club for retired business and professional men. New members welcome, inquiries to the secretary: 01337 830 262.

– 8.00pm. St Leonards School, The Pends. St Andrews Music Club. The Piatti Quartet. Music by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Beethoven. Tickets at the door: £11, £10 (concessions), £3 (students), £2 (children).

Friday, 12 October – 6.30pm. The Guid Cheese Shop, Burghers Close, South Street, St Andrews. Belgium Beer meets British cheese. Celebrating Belgium traditions plus British cheeses during the Octoberfest. Cost: £20. Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk Saturday, 13 October – 5.55pm. Perth cinema, PERTH. L’Elisir D’Amore. From the Met, New York. Tickets: Adults £17.50, Concession £15.00. Contact: Ken Creelman: 07870 552 304.

Sunday, 14 October – 12.00 noon to 4.00pm. Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns. Octoberfest. A harvest festival for all the family, including seasonal stalls & crafts. Contact: 01333 450 054 cambo@camboestate.com www.camboestate.com Saturday, 20 October – 2.30pm. Glasite Hall St Andrews Church Hall Complex, King Street, DUNDEE. The work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A talk by Iain Anderson of the Commission, for the Tayside Branch of the Western Front Association. Contact: Bob Paterson, 01382 775 000.

Friday, 26 October – 6.30pm. St Andrews Church Hall, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews. Around the world in 5 cheeses and wines. All four corners of the world included – not to be missed! Cost: £20. Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk Saturday, 27 October – 5.55pm. Perth cinema, PERTH. Otello.

From the Met, New York. Tickets: Adults £17.50, Concession £15.00. Contact: Ken Creelman: 07870 552 304.

Sunday, 28 October – 11.00am. Waterstones, Market Street. Sally Magnusson will be launching her new children’s book, illustrated by Norman Stone, Horace and the Haggis Hunter, and ‘Horace’ will be with her!

Contact: Waterstones, 0843 290 8429.

– 11.00am – 4.00pm. The Scores Hotel, St Andrews.

Carnaby Market Fair, fashion and craft. Entry £1. Contact: thischarmingvintage@talktalk.net 07904 102216.

Wednesday, 31 October – 7.00pm. Starting at All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street, St Andrews – A Ghostly Tour of Old St Andrews, with Supper & Quiz. St Andrews Preservation Trust. Tickets: £10 (include glass of wine/ soft drink). Contact: 01334 461199 or email: trust@standrewspreservationtrust.org.uk

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OUT & ABOUT Alistair Lawson asks

What’s in a Name?

That date, 1920, is significant, in that the whaling station of Stromness St Andrews is a university town, many of whose inhabitants are was established by then – much to the relief of Ernest Shackleton and familiar with the academic rituals enacted in the modern-day ‘torture party as they completed their 1916 epic traverse of the Southern Ocean chamber’ that is the examination hall, including that mystical act of and of the island – the Scots working there transubstantiation whereby a probing, specific, would doubtless have mapped and named and deeply academic question, carefully other features around the island. prepared, edited and rephrased in the mind of The Bay was also mentioned in the recent The Bay was also mentioned the examiner, morphs, in the mind of the hapless BBC series, “The Frozen Planet” (also in examinee, into “Write all you know about ...”. in the recent BBC series, the BBC’s book of the same name). David If readers of St Andrews in Focus were asked, “The Frozen Planet” Attenborough comments that the Bay is “Write all you know about St Andrews Bay”, summer home (September to November in the resultant offerings might make reference (also in the BBC’s book of the southern hemisphere) to vast numbers to geology, ice-action, wave-action, coastal the same name) of elephant seals, for whom it is one of their landforms, cartography; perhaps moving on traditional breeding beaches. The males may to human settlement, land-use, and historical weigh up to 4 tonnes. On arrival, they begin to geography. Alternatively, the examinee might write engage in heavyweight contests to claim mating of golf tourism, Canadian entrepreneurs, hotel rights, no insignificant prize, in that a good harem may number up to and conference centres, the economics of North-East Fife, the cases 100 females. Given their clumsiness and lack of dexterity, their only for/against further visitor influx, and the arguments regarding the longaggressive technique is to rear up on their flippers and tails to bite at awaited (by some) ring road. the neck, face and “elephantine” snout of their opponents, often leaving Our hypothetical examiner might take the dreaded red pen through each other scarred and bloodied. all of the above! So, if the above were wrong, what alternative approach The snout acts as a voice box, amplifying the roaring which should one have taken? Well, we all know that the modern student accompanies these contests. The ladies, only a third the size of the studies by using the internet, so here goes ... males, arrive some weeks later, boosting the population to around 6,000 (out of the world population of 600,000). They make curious neighbours St Andrews Bay with the colony of King Penguins to the comparatively small and dainty King Penguins, which are actually the second biggest after the Emperor Penguins, and which occupy the Saint Andrews Bay is 2 miles wide and indents the north coast of bay year round, for it takes 10 –13 months to rear a chick to full size.

South Georgia immediately south of Mount Skittle. It was probably The elephant seals, on the other hand, the business of mating done, first sighted by Captain Cook’s expedition, which explored the return to the sea after two or three months, leaving the penguins as true north coast of South Georgia in 1775. The name dates back to at kings of their realm. least 1920 and is now well established.

So, “Write all you know about ...”.

St Andrews Bay, South Georgia – about 100,000 King Penguins line the beach below a retreating glacier (© Liam Quinn)

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OUT & ABOUT Ian Seeley’s

Autumn Days It’s over now, another summer and another year;

The photographs, developed, speak of precious times

Passed with well-tried, true and trusted friends when every care

Was cast aside with laughter, food and wine and walks beneath tall pines And long beach strolls invited search for shell and glistening stone – Each flow and ebb of tide reminding us we pass

This way but once and that the friends who shared our pleasure might be gone When next we make our sojourn in the south. For such is life, alas.

And so we now embrace the colder clime with colours turning

Gold and crimson on the bough; and yellow, too, the close-shaved field Exuding still the husky smell of ripeness. The burning

Of the parched potato shaws shows summer’s fate now sealed The symbol of a harvest gathered in – of making ready For the lean and raw endurance that must follow

This most fruitful interlude which we call autumn; seedy

Autumn, in the noblest sense, which bears the grains of life’s renewal in its hollow Pods. We waste them at our peril; they nourish us and we must nourish them.

Likewise our friendships, welded in the summer warmth; it only takes the pen

To cultivate what has been sown – the reaping will be friendship’s flower again.

Invite you to visit a hidden treasure in the heart of St Andrews OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR ROUND

PLANT SALES AREA Open till end of September AUTUMN HARVEST DAY 30 September WINTER LECTURES Start first Tuesday in October Chemistry Dept, North Haugh TO JOIN THE FRIENDS AND SUPPORT THE GARDEN CONTACT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Tel: 01334 476452 Charity No. SC006432

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OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe again finds

Hidden Gems in St Andrews (in plain view)

Dates on buildings are not particularly unusual anywhere in the country, but St Andrews has an unusually large selection.

We will start to look at some examples here and continue in a future article.

Dates on Skewputts

Dates A date serves to identify when the building or construction was erected, or perhaps when an addition or alteration was made. Most dates are high up on the building where they can be readily seen, perhaps on a skewputt where the stepped gable hangs over the supporting wall, or on a pediment over an upper window, close to the roof.

They may also be on a carved stone set into the wall. In rare examples the date is combined with a street name (for example, Greenside Place 1843, and Victoria Place 1901).

On some buildings the date is not incised on stone, but instead is moulded on the hopper of the downpipes carrying rainwater from roofs.

Dates on Lintels

Lintel - New Mill

Dauphin Hill

Golf Place

Marriage Lintel, Market St Lintels over windows and doors may carry a date and a special example of this is the marriage lintel, where not only a date but also the initials of the couple may be incised into the stone.

New Buildings The practice of dating local structures has continued into the current millennium with examples of dates on new or rebuilt structures.

North Street

St Leonard’s School

United College

The presence of a date does not necessarily mean that the structure was erected at that time. It is relatively easy to remove the stone bearing the date to install it elsewhere. St Andrews has seen more than its share of stones being removed from one structure and installed in another. A date might also refer to a previous event, such as those in West Burn Lane, which refer to events in the seventeenth century, but were placed there in the early twentieth century.

Union Street Dates on Pediments

Southgait

Hepburn Gardens

South Street

South Court

Market Street

Links Clubhouse

The University buildings have an unusual style of date; we will look at these and some of the more ornate dates on other buildings in a future article.

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe) Murray Park

Shore Tower

West Burn Lane

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