St Andrews in Focus Issue 55 Nov Dec 2012

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

November/December 2012 Issue 55, £2.00

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

The Bell Rock Lighthouse It all begins with the Reef. The word is old; from the Old Norse ‘Rif’ meaning ‘Rib’. The Reef, as a geographical and geological feature, is infinitely older. From time immemorial, to the eyes of man, it was not discernible from the shores of Fife or Angus.

To mariners, however, ancient and relatively modern, it was obvious, but often only at the last, nightmarish moment, when vessels were wrecked upon it and sailors perished.

Countless ships and countless mariners came to grief upon its semi-submerged body. Like all deadly hazards it garnered a fearsome reputation. And a considerable body it is, lying there, eleven miles offshore from Arbroath, seventeen miles offshore from St Andrews, where it hides due East on the horizon. It’s bigger than you think.

It breaks surface – just – at low tide, revealing its flat pitted ridge bulk at only four to five feet high. Yet it is a surprising 2,000 feet long by 300 feet wide. Its very hard sandstone mass sits on an even larger platform thirty feet deep, and that on an even larger base, a full ten fathoms down (60 feet). There it meets the shallow sandy bed of the Bay. It is a true survivor. It has endured many cataclysmic changes and environments. In recent times it has been oppressed by the crushing weight and the grinding friction of the advances and retreats of glaciers. It has been subjected to the gravel-borne torrent of melted glacial waters, and for a brief period, a rocky outcrop surrounded by dry land, landmark for early hunter gatherers. But the sea reclaimed it, as seas do, and pounded it relentlessly.

Eventually and surely, man the mariner, man the merchant, grew weary of this malign impediment to trade. In the 15th Century the Abbot of Aberbrothock (Arbroath) managed, with some courage and ingenuity to have a ringing bell fixed upon it as an audible warning system. A Dutch pirate removed it; a not inconsiderable achievement, with the intention of recovering the contents of

wrecked ships. Yet irony of ironies, he too fell victim to the Rock’s impartial malevolence. More centuries of regular wrecking followed, the Reef becoming a virtual scrap yard of iron and brass and, lest we forget it, a graveyard.

Then with the dawning of the 19th Century, the first of the troupes of actors stepped onto the interventional stage. The first troupe was the national Lighthouse Trust, or National Lighthouse Board, founded in 1786 charged with building lighthouses to safeguard ships, their cargoes and their crews. Whilst they hummed and hawed, quibbled and questioned, the Reef continued to waylay and wreck, culminating in 1799 with the wrecking of the naval vessel HMS York with the loss of life of the entire crew. This ‘act of casual vandalism’ could not be ignored by the Commissioners, and they resolved to ‘Place upon the Reef a permanent Light’.

Onto the stage then stepped the remaining ‘players of prominence’, John Rennie, engineer, and Robert Stevenson. Rennie was chosen as the designer, Stevenson as his assistant. If overworked, stretched Rennie was scrupulously, innocently honest, Stevenson was selfishly single minded, obsessively focussed, devious, political, and determined at all costs to get his own way. Get his way he did. Yet despite his personal shortcomings and his sidestepping of Rennie, his accomplishments as a true ‘Hands-on organizer, engineer and supervisor’ were undeniable. Whist the design in its raw form was Rennie’s the final outcome, much tinkered with, was Stevenson’s. Its construction was a feat of endurance and tenacity in the most hostile of conditions. The Lighthouse, 108 feet tall (same height as St Rule’s, the ‘Square Tower”, in St Andrews Cathedral grounds) the Bell Rock Lighthouse was commissioned on the first day of February 1811. Its clockwise rotating light continues to shine. Today it is unmanned. Today it is festooned with the electronic paraphernalia

Cover: The Bell Rock Lighthouse (Original illustration by Jureck Putter).

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of modern gadgetry; a sweeping Radar beam unseen to the naked eye; beacons, GPS systems and the like.

Here, in this unfamiliar view, we see the upper part of the lighthouse and its lantern turret in all its original architectural glory, a wonder of its age. Here it looks towards the distant silhouetted profiles of Fife and Angus. Here its beam, frozen in time, points westwards towards the shipping channel of the outer Tay Estuary. Here the waves, march ever westwards, their crests tinged by the red glow of twilight, their troughs sparkling with the reflecting light of the beam, their flanks speckled and streaked with foam. The Lighthouse, the sentinel guarding the maritime freeway prevails for now; the Reef will probably have the last laugh.

Illustration and text © Jurek Alexander Pütter

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

From the Editor Even after all these years it still gives me a thrill when a connection is made, as it often has been through the magazine, across both years and miles. As a student here in the 1950s I took a photo with my Box Brownie of the then ‘weel kent’ Hackie, the oddjobman of the University’s book shop. I used that photo to illustrate Tom Gordon’s wonderful poem of reminiscences in issue 54. Betty Richmond telephoned from Ayr to tell me that the man leaning against the wall behind Hackie is her grandfather, Lindsay Cunningham, and Jureck Putter thinks the person sitting on the pavement beside him might be Elizabeth Dick. I hope you share my sense of continuity, the feeling that the Auld Grey Toun exerts its magic still.

I’ve just acquired an iMac, and with it another steep learning curve as I come to grips with a different way of working. Wish me luck – as I wish all of you another Happy Season of goodwill and cheer!

Flora Selwyn

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

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com DESIGNER University of St Andrews Print & Design (printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk) PRINTER Winter & Simpson (ken@wintersimpson.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.

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Contents TOWN & GOWN • Keep Your Cup! • Children! – from the Internet • Celebrating 600 Years SHOPS & SERVICES • Playfair’s Restaurant • Family Fortunes • Balance Your Life • Contracts • Aches and Pains • Toonspot • Roving Reporter

FEATURES • Community Council • The Prophet of the Links • Baker Lane • A Colligation • An Exciting Life • Martyr’s Church • Competition Winners • Reflections • An American Blog • Oor Hamish • Reviews: – A Bed’s Eye view – Miss Esther Scott’s Fancy – Hamish McHamish – ‘You’ve Been Trumped’ – Fife Buses – St Andrews’ Shop Fronts ORGANISATIONS • St Andrews Curling Club • St Andrews Musical Society • Food from Fife • St Andrews in Bloom

EVENTS • St Andrews Chorus • ‘Treat’ • St Andrews Renaissance Singers • Selected Events OUT & ABOUT • Bees in Bonnets • Nature Notes • Snaw Scenes • Thunderstorms • Botanic Garden Open Day • More Hidden Gems

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NEXT ISSUE – Jan/Feb 2013 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 NOVEMBER

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

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TOWN & GOWN Katherine Ellsworth-Krebs, a PhD student in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, wants you to

Keep Your Cup Hopefully many of you by now have seen the colourful new travel cups taking over St Andrews. Not only do the KeepCups look good – and come in a cornucopia of colours – they are also a more sustainable alternative to the conventional disposable cups used for your takeaway coffee and other beverages. In our ‘throw away’ culture KeepCup then offers an easy solution to reduce your impact on the environment.

There is enough plastic in 32 disposable cups and lids to make one medium, 12 oz KeepCup. Moreover, the full impact of one KeepCup is estimated to break even with disposable cups after just 15 uses. Last year when the new library café opened, 3rd year Claire Rampen was disappointed to see the number of disposable cups overflowing the library trash, and decided to do something about it. Claire attended a Transition University of St Andrews’ Open Forum where she could present her concern and get connected to other University members – from sympathetic students to the University’s Environment Team.

Transition University of St Andrews is part of a worldwide network of initiatives trying to reduce their environmental impact at a community

level. In 2009, University students and staff launched this local initiative that has achieved many successful projects; the group is always looking for new ideas and keen members.

KeepCups can now be purchased at all the University cafés; Library, Physics, Medical Building, New Hall, and the Gateway. Even better, with your £6 KeepCup you get a free drink and 10% off hot drinks. Thanks to Claire’s efforts, more of the St Andrews community is contributing to both the reduction of disposable cups going to landfill and trees felled for paper pulp. KeepCup estimates that between June 2009 to January 2012, KeepCup users diverted 30,000 tons of disposable cup waste from landfill and stopped 750,000 trees being felled for paper pulp.

To find out more about the sustainability of KeepCups, or to calculate your individual impact from using a KeepCup visit www.keepcup.com/sustainability Claire’s KeepCup story is an inspiring one because it reminds us that everyone can make a difference.

According to the KeepCup footprint calculator, if you use a reusable cup instead of a disposable cup once a day for a year you will divert 5kgs of waste from landfill. That means if every individual in the St Andrews community were to do this we could save almost 142,000kgs of waste per annum. That’s a lot of waste.

More school howlers culled from the internet . . . ajor disease Q. Name a m ith cigarettes associated w death A. Premature Q. What is th e fibula?

A. A small lie

you delay milk Q. How can turning sour the cow A. Keep it in

Q. How are th e main 20 pa rts of the body ca tegorised (e.g. The abdo men) A. The body is consisted in to 3 parts – the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The br ainium contains the br ain, the borax contains th heart and lung e s and the abdominal ca vity contains the five bowel s: A, E, I,O,U.

seizure?

Q. What is a Emperor an om R A. A

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Q. What are steroids A. Things for keepin still on the stai g carpets rs

on e most comm Q. What is th l ro nt form of birth co ent le prev M A. ost peop g ion by wearin pt ce contra t ha (T m a condominiu would work)

Q. What is ar tificial insemination A.day Whe n rthchu Sun e fa afte rmMom rch, er doask es ed her it to bughte youth ngedau ll inst r wha eadt of thethless onwwas e co about.

The daughter answered, “Do n’t be scared, you’ll get your quil t.”

Needless to say, Mom was perplexed.

Later in the day, the pastor stop nessped by for tea andaMom inaledillhim t is termask ha W .

Q e t thwha that morning’s Sun e sick day ar schat ool u less yo on n he W A. about. was t rpor He saidai“Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming.”

Q. What does the word ‘benign’ mean?

A. Benign is what you will be after you be ei ght

es the tides in Q. What caus the oceans are a fight A. The tides e e earth and th th n ee tw be to s nd te er at w moon. All the moon, flow towards e is no water because ther and nature on the moon, um. I forget abhors a vacu joins the n su where the fight

Q. Name the four seasons A. Salt, pepp er, mustard an d vinegar

ratic society, Q. In a democ are how important elections rtant. Sex can A. Very impo hen a male only happen w n gets an electio

Q. How is de w fo A. The sun sh rmed ines down on the leaves an d makes them perspire

TOWN & GOWN Professor Louise Richardson FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews

Celebrating 600 Years

The next twelve months is going to be an exciting time for the University In June 2013 we will host a golf tournament designed to raise funds and the community of St Andrews. for scholarships, a lectureship in American literature, and our Special In anticipation of the approach of the 600th anniversary we Collections. We are deeply grateful for the support we have received in consulted early medieval historians throughout the country to see if we organising this event from the Links Trust, The R&A, the Duke’s Course, could determine the actual foundation date. Should it be 600 years after and Kingsbarns.

May 1410, when a school emerged in the precincts of the Cathedral?

On the Sunday after June graduation we will again host an event Or should we commemorate Bishop Henry Wardlaw’s provision of a for the town. In keeping with our three-year themes of past, present, charter to the school on 28 February and future, which saw the Medieval 1412, giving it the corporate status of Banquet in the Quad last year, a a university? Should it commemorate Farmers’ Market this year, next June when Pope Benedict XIII signed the our event will have The Future as its six papal bulls conferring university theme. status? Or should it be later, when Over the summer six relay teams Henry Ogilvy arrived in St Andrews of cyclists, made up of students with the papal bulls on 3 February and staff of the University, will travel 1414, when after due solemn the route of the papal bulls from ceremony, bonfires were lit and Peniscola in Spain to St Andrews. If wine drunk in the streets, and the all goes according to plan the final town – with an estimated population cyclists will arrive in St Andrews at of 1,800 – erupted in “boundless the opening of our grand academic merrymaking”, in the words of a celebration. contemporary observer? A procession On 13 & 14 September 2013 of 400 clergy along with lesser clerks we will hold a major event loosely and young monks, observed by “an modelled on the 500th Anniversary astonishing crowd of people” gave celebrations in 1911. We will confer thanks. As academics, we want to honorary degrees on distinguished get it right. But, as so often happens academics and public figures at a when one consults a group of experts, special ceremony on the Friday. On they disagreed. They did agree on the the Saturday this will be followed by difficulty of pinning down a specific a series of “Master Minds” panels date particularly given that the Julian and an academic summit on the calendar in use in the 15th century future of universities. has been replaced by the Gregorian On St Andrews Day 2013 we calendar. will close the festivities with a large In light of this uncertainty and community-wide celebration in which notwithstanding the fact that the 500th we will endeavour to recreate the anniversary was celebrated in 1911 boundless merrymaking that marked we decided to celebrate from 2011 to the arrival of the papal bulls so very 2013. The anniversary celebrations long ago. and fundraising campaign were In addition to these activities, launched by two of our most famous our academics are planning a wide recent alumni, now the Duke and range of lectures, workshops, and Duchess of Cambridge, on 25 conferences. Our students are February 2011. We are now entering planning their own “Your 600th” the final and most exciting year of the campaign to raise funds for a celebrations and we are hoping that, hardship fund and our Development as in 1414, the town will join us in Office is planning a number of “boundless merrymaking.” fundraising activities. These fundraising activities will go hand in We have a wide range of activities planned and while it will be hand with our celebrations. They are essential to ensure the financial impossible for everyone to participate in every activity we hope that sustainability of the University, to ensure that every admitted student can by the close of celebrations on St Andrew’s Day 2013 everyone in the afford to study here, and to ensure we have a future worthy of our past.

University and the town will have There is always a tendency at a participated. time of anniversary to look backward, On 10 November the University, but the men who built this University for the first time ever, will have a place from its modest beginnings to the I hope that over the coming year the in the Lord Mayor’s show in London at globally recognised educational University and the town will come together which students, dressed in red gowns powerhouse we are today, did not and in costumes depicting some of do so by looking backward, but by to celebrate six centuries of sharing this the great figures from our fabled past, looking always to the future, and beautiful space and to lay the foundations will represent the University before so must we. We will be mindful the assembled crowds and television in the coming year of our debt to for an even brighter future cameras. our predecessors, whose wisdom On 20 December we will hold a informs everything we do, but we service of Thanksgiving in St Paul’s are also acutely conscious of our Cathedral organised by the London Alumni Club. It will be a spectacular obligation to future generations of students and scholars. occasion which will bring together alumni and friends of all generations.

I hope that over the coming year the University and the town will Throughout the year, in St Andrews, Edinburgh, London, and the come together to celebrate six centuries of sharing this beautiful space US we will have screenings of the specially-commissioned film Ever and to lay the foundations for an even brighter future. to Excel, which stars Sir Sean Connery depicting the history of the University through the eyes of those who have taught and studied here.

(Photo courtesy the Principal)

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SHOPS & SERVICES Hugo D’Bere, your Grizzly Gourmet, has been to

Playfair’s Restaurant Ardgowan Hotel, North Street, St Andrews

Why go to Gleneagles when Gleneagles can come to you? Playfair’s used to be a fairly run-of-the-mill pub-type restaurant serving pub grub, but has now had a major makeover, and I understand that the chef, the son of the owner, was formerly at Gleneagles, as was his assistant.

It’s been years since I was last there, but the whole place is now much lighter. The floor is partly wood and partly flagstones, the wall partly stone with light areas. The ceiling has an odd selection of doors on it, i.e. old doors stuck on the ceiling, including one which still has a key in the lock, so don’t sit under it! Despite this, the place somehow seems to have been opened up into the fresh air, with light streaming in from North Street.

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There are the usual pictures of old Tom Morris etc. on the wall, with the usual St Andrew’s golfing theme, which, for a non-golfer, becomes a bit monotonous. The only distractions are 6 TV screens dotted around, and I certainly found these sometimes commanded my attention. The waitresses are chippy and friendly. The best food description is really gourmet pub, but perhaps it goes beyond gastro pub standards.

Up to 6.00pm you can have a club sandwich, steak sandwich, burgers etc. There is the usual range of beers. After 6.00pm, dinner is served, including some specials. For example, the starters included steak tartar, or a half lobster. The mains included a whole lobster, which was not only mouth watering, but also eye watering at £37.50.

Muffy had no starter, but I had the steak tartar, which I found slightly bland. I’d have preferred it with a bit more capers, onion etc. in it. It was served with nine neatly arranged chips at the side, with some capers and onions and chilli jam on the side.

Muffy had a steak for the main course. Steaks are sourced locally from an artisan butcher (established 1978). The meat is better quality than the meat sometimes served in the best hotels in St Andrews. I chose the pan-fried chicken stuffed with haggis, with a garlic mash and veg. Dessert was a panna cotta with exotic fruits, and Muffy had apple and pear crumble with crème anglaise.

The starters range from about £4.50 to £6.25, main courses from £12.95 up. The wine list is small, but quite reasonable, and there are very good descriptions of the wines. A bottle of Côtes de Ventoux cost £18.50 and was excellent.

I would award Playfair’s 9/10, and will definitely be back. The bill for two, including the wine, was £70.35, excluding tip.

Well done Playfair’s!

(Photo by Flora Selwyn)

SHOPS & SERVICES Jonnie Adamson

Family Fortunes There has been much written about the changes in child benefit entitlement and as the implementation date withdrawing this benefit for families with higher earners draws closer there are some details which will cause more than a little concern amongst those affected.

It is not unusual in this day and age for a family unit to be made up of two partners living together with one having a child from a previous marriage. Consider the situation where, although living together, two partners maintain an element of financial independence. Where, for example, the mother receives the child benefit into her bank account quite correctly for her son or daughter, however, her partner earns above £60,000. Controversially, it is the partner who will receive the additional tax bill for the child benefit which the whole family is no longer entitled to, and not the mother who received the money in the first place. I expect that there are going to be a few interesting discussions over the dinner table when that tax bill falls on the doorstep.

The highest rate of income tax peaked during the Second World War at 99.25%. It was slightly reduced after the war and was around

90% through the 1950s and 60s. In 1971 the top-rate of income tax on earned income was cut to 75%. A surcharge of 15% on investment income kept the top rate on that income at 90%.

In 1974 this cut was partly reversed, and the top rate on earned income raised to 83%. With the investment income surcharge this raised the top rate on investment income to 98%, the highest permanent rate since the war. These days seem far removed from the current tax system. So it might come as a surprise to you to hear that there will be a 101% effective tax rate in 2013! Granted this will only affect families with eight or more children, but with potential effective rates of over 71% for four child families you do not have to look too hard to find some pretty dramatic scenarios. Amazing still is that this tax rate is coming from a Conservative chancellor – changed times indeed.

As happens with tax credits, benefits which are received, but turn out not to be entitled will be recovered at a later date. This system of retrospective collection caused havoc with tax credits and I can only foresee similar problems here. To avoid this retrospective charge those who find themselves losing the entitlement

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should revoke their right to receive it, simply not collecting it will not alone allow you to avoid the charge.

As this comes into effect on 7 January 2013 action needs to be taken quickly. Whilst I agree that there is a strong case for higher earning families not receiving child benefit it is proving difficult to deliver in practice. Whatever your opinion on this emotive issue I feel there is going to be increasing fall out following this decision and can only hope that any disagreements are settled amicably over dinner.

Professionals St Andrews If you would like a free market valuation to determine the value of your home, please call Gerry Donlon today on 01334 659111 or 07544 540385 WE MAY HAVE A BUYER FOR YOU !

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SHOPS & SERVICES Kayren Hall BSc (hons), MAR, IIR explains how to

Balance Your Life Keeping in balance We all know the theory of eating a balanced diet and most of us regularly try to balance our budget, but do we take time to balance our busy lives? When pressures at work or home increase, we often keep on pushing forward and seldom manage any time out to relax. This may lead to stress, which can cause you to experience mood swings, to find it hard to concentrate and to worry more than usual. Stress can also affect many of the body systems resulting in an increase in physical problems – leading to more worry. Reflexology can help bring your body back in to balance, leaving you feeling more relaxed than you have felt for a long time!

How did reflexology start?

Reflexology is not new – it has been about for thousands of years.

There is evidence of foot and hand therapy being practised in China in 4,000 BC. Other evidence dates back to ancient Egypt and was found in the tomb of Ankmahor, known as the physician’s tomb.

The beginning of modern reflexology was accredited to Dr William Fitzgerald who worked on the theory of Zone Therapy. He discovered that applying pressure to certain areas of the feet had a beneficial effect on the organs within the zone being worked. Further research in the 1930s by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist, resulted in maps of the reflexes found on the feet and hands, showing clearly that they mirror the structure of the whole body. These points are called “reflect”, the benefit to the organs they represents. Eunice Ingham created a system of techniques, known as the “Ingham Method”, which is still the main system of reflexology used around the world today.

What is reflexology?

Reflexology is a complementary therapy based on the principle that there are reflex areas in the hands and feet that correspond to all of the glands, organs and parts of the body. A reflexologist can detect areas where there is congestion or tension and works these areas using the thumbs and fingers. This can have a beneficial effect on the part of the body corresponding to that reflex. Working the whole foot or hand can help to bring the whole body into balance.

As reflexology can improve blood circulation and reduce stress, it can be particularly beneficial for improving general health and wellbeing. In some cases it helps to improve digestion, quality of sleep, anxiety issues and dealing with pain. However, reflexology is a complementary therapy and should not be used instead of any medical treatment or seeking medical advice.

Who can benefit from reflexology?

The very young, the very old and all of us in between can benefit from the deep relaxation experienced during a reflexology treatment.

Young mums finding life very hectic, students approaching exams, those juggling full-time work with other commitments and older people becoming more anxious – all these groups and more could benefit from fitting some reflexology into their life. Deciding to have a reflexology session can be part of an active approach to good health. Some people book a series of reflexology sessions tailored to a specific problem, while others enjoy a monthly “top-up” session.

See Roving Reporter, page 12, for contact details.

(Photo courtesy Kayren Hall)

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Elspeth’s of St Andrews 9 Church Street, St Andrews Tel: 01334 472494

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.

Contracts

I would imagine that most people’s view of a contract is that it is a multirun for a year, but there may be a provision in paged document printed on thick paper, perhaps bound up with a big wax it which says, if you do not give a minimum of seal hanging from it. This is indeed probably a contract, but a contract is say, three weeks’ notice prior to its anniversary it much more than that formal type of document. Everyone makes contracts will automatically continue for another year and ever day. If you go to buy a packet of mints you make a contract with the this way you can be caught with a continually shopkeeper. You have agreed the subject matter of the contract, he has renewing contract should you keep forgetting agreed to sell, and you have agreed to buy at an agreed price. to serve notice. Contracts sometimes have Contracts form one of the basic courses taken at University, and penalties for ending them, or other penalties in certainly when I was at University, was one of the hardest to pass. certain circumstances.

Contracts can fall into many categories, such as purchase and sale, There can be tricky price escalator clauses. Sometime there are or loan, or one of the fancier types of contract dealing with manufacture complicated formulas which I think even accountants have difficulty in or supply of goods. Lawyers are not involved in forming most contracts. understanding. You will probably find that most consumer contracts, aside Most commonly a lawyer will be involved in a house from statutory requirements, are indeed fairly one purchase and sale contract, which is probably the you should be aware sided. most expensive and important one the average man or I am not suggesting for a minute you seek legal of the potential pitfalls advice on every relatively minor contract which you woman on the street enters into. Lawyers are however becoming increasingly involved in negotiating, or enter into. Lawyers are really an uneconomic way and try and at least helping to negotiate, more complicated and esoteric of seeking advice on say, your gas contract, but you understand some of contracts, such as dealing with the supply of electricity should be aware of the potential pitfalls and try and at to commercial concerns. least understand some of the provisions before you the provisions before Consumer contracts form a different category and sign up. If you don’t understand them, ask someone, you sign up these are entered into daily; for example, if you buy a and ask them, that is, the supplier to explain it. television, or have a credit card. There is quite a lot of A cheaper way of challenging some of the more legislation in this area, most notably the Consumer Credit Act, but whether unfair consumer contracts might be to enlist the help of the Citizens it is very effective to protect the consumer is another issue.

Advice Bureau, or one of the consumer organisations like Which. They do Most of these contracts tend to be very one sided, in that the supplier good campaigning work on behalf of the consumer. has the controlling hand, but increasingly the consumer is finding that A lawyer and the legal process is a blunt instrument, but contracts there is statutory redress. are none the less the bread and butter of legal work, albeit they probably A basic piece of advice is, if in doubt, read the contract. Watch out for have to reach a certain level to justify the employment of a lawyer. contract conditions which can catch you out. For example, a contract can Tread with caution.

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

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Anything not stocked we can order.

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SHOPS & SERVICES

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WINTER LECTURE PROGRAMME First Tuesday at 7.30pm Chemistry Dept, North Haugh Entry Free – All Welcome CHRISTMAS PLANT SALES Saturdays 15th & 22nd December 10am-12noon TO JOIN THE FRIENDS AND SUPPORT THE GARDEN CONTACT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Tel: 01334 476452 Charity No. SC006432

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

Aches & Pains

A lady in her forties came to see me at the to rotate it. In addition, the ball and socket joint – where the Humerus practice last month regarding a problem she articulates with the Scapula – had become compressed, adding to the had with her shoulder. Several weeks prior restricted movement. to seeing me, she had tripped over The shoulder is a complex structure made up of her dog; to prevent herself from three joints, several ligaments, and plenty of muscles and falling, she had put her arm out to tendons. For the shoulder to function well and to maintain catch herself on a table. Although The shoulder good mobility, the joints, tendons and muscles all need to the shoulder wasn’t sore at the work together as a team, each playing its own part. If any is a complex one of those structures becomes injured – through trauma, time, it gradually became painful over the next couple of days, strain, or repetitive tasks – this upsets the delicate balance structure especially when lifting her arm out and can lead to problems within the shoulder complex. to the side. She had had a couple So how was I able to help this patient? After a couple of sessions of massage, and of treatments of massage to the problematic muscles and although this had improved the symptoms, it didn’t take the pain away some articulation and stretching of the joints of the shoulder, coupled and she still continued to have reduced mobility in her shoulder. with some exercises to do at home, she found that the pain eased away When I examined her it was evident that she had strained part of and full mobility of the shoulder returned. her rotator cuff – a group of muscles in the shoulder that attach the And what of the dog? I am pleased to report that the dog was no Humerus (long bone in the upper arm) to the Scapula (shoulder blade). worse for wear, but has since learned to stay well away from tripping These muscles enable us to take our arm out to the side as well as feet!

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.

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

11

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter . . . is still happily roving around St Andrews 1. “I’m a Fifer!” Jim Brown proudly proclaimed. Reporter had driven to his workshop at Kincaple Farm, just off the Guardbridge Road. A large airy, spotlessly clean workplace in an idyllic location, it has on display the most wonderfully crafted Scottish hardwoods of all kinds; tables, mirrors, bowls, candle holders, magical small boxes, as well as the largest solid oak garden seat Reporter has ever seen, Jim Brown with raw wood a commissioned wedding present!

Jim, born in Kirkcaldy, started his working life in the paper industry, travelling the world selling high tech products to the industry. 12 years ago his urge to create beautiful things in wood took over and he became self-employed, “It’s really satisfying work, and I’d always wanted to see how far I could take my hand skills.” At first he worked installing kitchens, bathrooms, doing general joinery, etc. but as more and more customers requested bespoke furniture the commissions became virtually full time. Highly motivated, also very down to earth, Jim has a natural affinity with his materials, understanding how wood responds to its environment, letting it guide him towards its final form. Every piece he makes is original. His methods are traditional, using locally-sourced materials in conformity with the ethical Association of Scottish Hardwood Suppliers. His tools are state-of-the-art. “Things can be achieved with your hands”, and to prove it Jim described to Reporter how he had crafted his workshop in the empty shell of the old farm building. He does some restoration work as Casual Tables well. With management and marketing qualifications and skills, Jim finds time to pursue his other interests, which include scuba diving all round Scotland. Do visit, and see for yourself, says Reporter. Jim can be contacted by email: jimb.homesure@yahoo.co.uk or by mobile: 07901 865 654.

Commissioned Seat

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2. A bright new convenience store, COHO Convenient, has opened at 4A Bell Street (01334 461120). Reporter went along to have a look and met Manager Fiona Ramsay. This is not a chain store, but an independent and is the brainchild of two Glaswegians, Neil MacFarlane, and Brian MacBride who has family connections with St Andrews. Jennifer Meikle is their Retail Operations Manager.

The refurbished premises are light and spacious, with well-stocked shelves easily navigated. Fiona is enthusiastic about the range of products: daily essentials such as milk, bread, cheese, eggs, butter, vegetables etc. as well as sandwiches, tinned foods, drinks of all kinds, including many interesting beers and wines, Havana and other fine cigars, the list is endless! “We have lovely fresh morning rolls from Wallace Family Bakers in Dundee.” says Fiona, adding, “in keeping with our policy of Just Ask @ COHO, we’re happy to have requests for any items which we do not currently stock, but which any customer might want to purchase regularly. If it exists out there in the world of retail, we’ll track it down and get it on the shelf!”. There are monthly special offers. The store opens daily 7.00am to 10.00pm and Reporter was surprised when Fiona told him they would even open “later if necessary!” Reporter can see what a boon this store will be to students and locals alike, anyone coming home late and needing sustenance, or if unexpected visitors call. To make it even more accessible you can find the store on Facebook at: Marian and Cin www.facebook.com/CohoConvenient

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3. In issue 47 (July/Aug 2011) Reporter wrote about Dervish, 13 Bell Street (01334 470 736). Since then a transformation has taken place, opening up the café into a more attractive, friendly environment.

Owners Bahit Gùçlù from Turkey, and his St Andrean wife Gaye have also changed their opening times, trading from 9.00am to 2.00am Sunday to Wednesday, and 9.00am to 3.00am Thursday to Saturday. Reporter now understands why a taxi driver told him that Dervish was a ‘saving grace’ to those working at night! The menu is extensive, using locally sourced produce where possible, and catering to all tastes. Gaye claims they make “the best pizzas in town!” and their kebabs “are to die for!” The emphasis is Turkish/Scottish. All their meat is halal. Vegetarians are catered for too, with felafals to the fore.

All food is “freshly made to order,” and contains no E-numbers. Gaye told Reporter that her policy is to keep prices affordable, so you can have a good breakfast of scrambled egg on toast/coffee/tea etc for £3, while a main macaroni cheese course would be £5.95. Parties, and outside catering are available; Gaye has provided the food for University balls, as well as fashion events. There is free local delivery for orders over £8. Gaye is “constantly changing the menu to suit customers.” Reporter took a deep breath when he entered the eatery and instantly felt hungry!

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4. Kayren Hall BSc (Hons), MAR, IIR, got in touch with Reporter about her SeaTangle Therapies business. She explained that she achieved a diploma in the Ingham Method of Reflexology from the International Institute of Reflexology after many years as a secondary school teacher. She is keen to help others take a positive step towards optimum health, so she now works every Tuesday at 147 Market Street, St Andrews (opposite Tesco). A foot reflexology session takes about an hour, £30, and hand reflexology about half an hour, £15. You are invited to pop in and have a chat about how reflexology can help you to keep your life in balance – see page 8 in the Shops & Services section. Phone for an appointment: 01333 451 882. There is also a website: www.seatangletherapies.co.uk Kayren has another string to her bow – literally, for she plays the violin. Together with husband Tom on the guitar they play for charities, Burns Suppers, etc, “we’ve done music around the place and we enjoy doing that.” Called Sea Tangle they can be contacted in this guise at: music@seatangle.co.uk Reporter finds the combination of talents irresistible!

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5. Can you help a young person start a business? asks Reporter. Please meet Catherine Anderson.

Catherine runs her own floristry business, Blue Poppy Florist, from her workshop near Crail.

She is a local girl with a Bsc and Msc (Hydrogeology) who worked as a geologist in Australia. Unfortunately she had to come home after contracting glandular fever.

While recuperating, she spent a lot of time pursuing her hobby of making bouquets and wreaths for family and friends. It was obvious to all that she had a great talent for floristry and many people encouraged her to train as a professional florist. Catherine had the great fortune to know the highly-esteemed, retired florist, Alison Stevenson of Alison’s Flowers. Alison gave up countless hours of her time to teach her all the techniques of Floral Art and share the benefit of her long experience. To quote Catherine, ‘’I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Alison who taught me all the techniques while always allowing me to develop my own styles and ideas. She also helped me with the business side of floristry which I would sum up as always giving good value for money. Most of all, she gave me great confidence and I am

SHOPS & SERVICES

now undertaking all sorts of work, especially wedding flowers. In an age where people are sometimes having to pay for work experience, it is wonderful to experience such generosity of spirit. I am very lucky in that we have a well-established garden and I work hard to keep my costs to a minimum. For example, I have created new cut-flower gardens, where I grow fresh flowers and greenery year-round, and I also created my own website. My sister Laura, a trained artist, has designed all the Blue Poppy Florist artwork and logos. Local people have also been very kind and helpful, especially customers at my family’s bookshop in St Andrews. A good customer, Jim Wilson spent a lot of time helping me improve my website. I am extremely grateful to all the local people who have shared their wisdom and experience and spent their time helping me improve and promote my business, all out of kindness.”

So do visit the website, says Reporter: www.bluepoppyflorist.com And you can contact Catherine by phone on 07969 207 155 or email: cath@bluepoppyflorist.com 6.

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a great place to meet friends for a drink or a night out. It now stocks cask ales and premium lagers together with a range of malt whiskies and fashionable liqueurs. Why not drop in?” Gordon says he and his staff will give you a warm welcome.

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7. Reporter dropped in to see Jenny Morrison, owner of Top Drawer, 77 South Street, (01334 479 758) and learned that she was planning to celebrate her first anniversary in the town. Jenny would like “to thank all my customers, old and new, for making it a fabulous first year of trading.” This year she has focused on identifying new suppliers, with emphasis on new Scottish suppliers, which complement her existing ranges of cards, glassware, jewellery, ceramic picture tiles and much, much more. She asks people to “watch out” for her plans! Find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/topdrawergifts Twitter: www.twitter.com/topdrawergifts and at: www.topdrawergifts.co.uk Reporter wishes Jenny a very happy and productive First Birthday, and mony mair to come!!

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A chat with a neighbour drew Reporter’s attention to Gordon Brodie, the new owner of Drouthy Neebors, West Port, South Street. As Gordon says, “he’s back in business!” After much needed renovation the pub is back on the map as a welcoming and friendly place to eat and drink. Serving traditional, home cooked hearty meals the favourites are old-fashioned steak pie, rib-eye steaks, and fresh Pittenweem haddock with homemade batter. Light bites such as paninis, burgers, and real nachos are available all day. From 11.00 in the morning try Cara’s scones served with jam and whipped cream with fresh Italian coffee. Special Senior Citizens’ lunches are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Gordon told Reporter that he started in the licensed trade with his father in the Snug Bar in Dundee. He then built his reputation for delicious pub food at the famous Birkhill Inn, continuing this at the Anglers Inn Guildtown, Perthshire. “Drouthy’s is

8. Another trader celebrating a first birthday is James Gorham, Reigning Cats and Dogs, 78 South Street (01334 470 873). This is St Andrews’ only specialist pet shop. James told Reporter that with his many years of experience he is always on hand to offer professional advice. By way of celebration, James planned a fundraising event for Guide Dogs. Dressed in animal costumes, he and his helpers devised great plans offering free gifts for dogs, a raffle for 6 months free dog food, organic food tastings for dogs, goody bags, and lots more. Inspired by his inventive brain, James intended publicly to eat a “frozen iced treat for dogs, containing Aloe Vera, flax oil, and fruit”. When he spoke to Reporter, James had no idea how it would taste! Reporter hoped he wouldn’t be barking afterwards!

If successful James hopes to do other fundraising events throughout the coming year. Reporter wished James Happy Birthday and mony on ‘em, as well as every success for the future.

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13

FEATURES From Kyffin Roberts, Chairman of the Community Council

Local business helps get Craigtoun Park back on track The Friends of Craigtoun Park committee are working hard with Fife Council to enhance the wonderful green space of Craigtoun Park. The Friends group intends to have some old favorites in operation in the spring of 2013.

The Friends are extremely grateful to Mr John Kirkaldy, owner of Cairnsmill Caravan Park, for taking on the project to refurbish the train previously used at the park. The Denver Rio Grande “ steam ” locomotive was taken out of service some years ago when Fife Council were looking to make savings.

The locomotive was lying in storage at Craigtoun Park, The years of neglect had taken their toll on the old favourite.

Mr Kirkaldy arranged for the transfer of the train from Craigtoun to his own facility where his workforce set about a complete renovation of the train. The work is well under way and the Friends are confident of having the popular attraction back on track by the spring of 2013.

In addition to the train, the Friends also have plans to re-launch the rowing

boats on the lake at Craigtoun. Fife Council have given the Friends the use of a workshop at the park The Friends will use volunteer help over the winter months to carry out repairs and maintenance on the boats. Anyone interested in helping with the repairs, or helping to run the train and boats next year, should contact the

Chairman of the Friends of Craigtoun group at kyffinroberts@hotmail.com The train and the boats form iconic images that people hold in their memories of Craigtoun Park. The Friends of Craigtoun group believes that interest in the park will be rekindled by having these old favorites back in operation.

The locomotive on its way to be refurbished at Cairnsmill Caravan Park

John Cameron recalls

Sandy Rutherford – the Prophet of the Links During St Andrews’ Opens, Peter Alliss used to refer to the Big Room the unified national interest. It in the R & A as the inner sanctum of that prophet of the links – the late inevitably leads to a plan for Sandy Rutherford. ‘national salvation’ which demands Sandy was eminently quotable and observed during the devolution acquiescence and unity with no place debate, “A Scotsman needs only three levels of authority, Westminster, a within government for doubters, local council and the wife.” He was a member of our old town council and mavericks, or back-sliders. This argued that a devolved government would undermine local councils and internal authoritarianism, Sandy create a democratic deficit in Scotland. He predicted Holyrood would not predicted, would lead to excessive centralisation and the demise of local only extract increasing sovereignty from Whitehall, but would also strip democracy – as we have indeed seen in recent years. essential powers from local democratic institutions.

Surveys show that only one in five believe they have any influence Too late, Jim Sillars and other democrats realised Sandy had over local decisions and there has clearly been a huge transfer of been right and that extreme centralisation is the natural tendency of all resources and political control to Edinburgh. nationalist governments.

My father was Labour convener of the In my youth the Scottish nationalists were still education committee in post-war Stirlingshire with a Too late, Jim Sillars and recovering from the disaster of being associated in surprising amount of autonomy in the golden era of the popular mind with the regimes in Italy, Spain, other democrats realised state schooling. Then Scotland had more than 200 and Germany. Winnie Ewing’s victory in the 1967 councils whereas today is has a mere 32 and the Sandy had been right Hamilton by-election was really the first time the SNP nation is the most centralised and standardised in came up on my radar and later North Sea oil gave it Western Europe. some credibility. All political parties aspire to internal discipline, but not Local authorities are now in a financial straitjacket, increasingly even New Labour achieved the uniformity which today characterises Alex feeble, as can be seen when Holyrood rides rough-shod over local Salmond’s government. No internal pressure groups influence policy nor, protests about windfarm planning. since Margo MacDonald was expelled, does any individual support an All this was predicted by Sandy in the last decade of the 20th century unapproved cause or ask an unvetted question. and the impotence of our remaining councillors in crucial areas of local Most political movements are driven by an economic philosophy and concern is alarming. represent a broad social interest which they seek to advance through There is also an overwhelming need for dissenting voices among our parliamentary means. This produces, as Tony Blair eventually discovered, parliamentarians; the ease with which these voices can be silenced bodes a constant internal dynamic based on competing priorities, group ill for the future. strategies and a broad clash of ideas.

(Photo courtesy John Cameron) Remembering the rise of nationalism on the continent in the 1930s, Sandy was alive to the danger of a political party purporting to represent

14

FEATURES Jimmy Macmillan looks back at his life in

Baker Lane Opening this magazine recently I was delighted to see Bill Glover’s drinks habit. When Grandpa died painting of Baker Lane, beautiful in its artistic mastery and capturing his widow sold the smiddy to Dad beside the portrayal of the cherry trees, the solid, and to me, the safe for £100, a massive sum for those and age-secure years when I first entered this world. days, particularly as Dad had been That happened just over 90 years ago, when I first made an early maintaining the family for years appearance into Number Nine. Mum, at 6 months pregnancy decided and striving to keep his own family she would surprise Dad and whitewash the ceiling. She climbed on fed. Dad borrowed the £100 from a the kitchen table which normally wobbled, and consequently promptly local moneylender with a condition fell off. The following morning at 5.l5am she gave birth to me, on that he repay the loan within 12 (Photo courtesy Jimmy Macmillan) her birthday, a scrawny 4 pounder with little prospect of survival. months or the interest would With no NHS in those days and an overworked nurse at the clinic, it increase. To find approximately £9 was deemed wise to take me to be reared with maternal Granny in every month became an exhausting necessity of 12-hour days, 7 days Broughton, Northants, before I departed this mortal coil. Granny was a week, but he did it, because that was the character of the man. Mum the village lady of her time who laid out the dead, delivered the village helped in that she had a stock pot that was never off the grate which babies, and generally treated the village sick with her own remedies, accommodated potatoes, carrots, turnips, and usually a ham shank and had not a single qualification. In my case she decided her treatment costing from 2d to 6d according to the amount of meat on the bone. for me was porridge, sips of brandy, and some of her own The butcher was a good man as was his firm, the B & A. concoctions. Two weeks later we returned to St Andrews and We had a neighbour who also dropped the occasional Dad apparently didn’t recognise the podgy kid that was his trout in our sink. We suspect he was a poacher and that son.

Police Sergeant Murray also suspected him, but never Baker Lane The home I returned to consisted of what was commonly caught him! The period of the twenties’ depression didn’t offered a world change our lives much, poverty is a great leveller when known as a room and kitchen with a landing between. It accommodated a sink, our sole water supply, with a skylightshared by a nation, no one was better or worse off and we of its own type window which, by a system of pulleys became access to survived. Dad was kept busy, horses needed to be shod, a non-outdoor washing line. I slept in Mum and Dad’s bed for with a constant stream of Clydesdales, Belgians, and local nearly two years, when I joined my siblings, Jean 4, Gib 3, hunters, added to which were the taxicab horses from and me 2. Our family was completed when Grace arrived 4 years after.

Johnstone’s Yard. There was little profit in shoeing in those days, but Dad was a blacksmith working for his father in the smiddy in Bridge enough to keep the family heads above water.

Street, which is now a petrol station. Mum was a lady’s maid who But enough about our family. Baker Lane offered a world of its arrived in St Andrews and worked for the Gordons of Gordon Lodge. own. Starting at the West end of the Lane from South Street the family There she met my Dad and they married and set up home in 9 Baker of Fordyce had their house entrance. Next door was the McCormacks Lane. My paternal granny and her family didn’t initially approve of Mum with a stone head carved on their wall. Affixed to their wall also was a because she was English. This was not uncommon in those days. wooden enclosure which protected a telegraph pole, also a constant After their marriage, Mum did some cleaning for the Fordyce family family of rats nesting inside the box. Following on, a cottage housing who had an entrance to their house in Baker Lane. We were clearly Mrs Edie. She had a pretty little garden surrounding the cottage. Next very poor as Grandpa Macmillan paid Dad a very low wage. In some door lived and worked a bookie who called himself a turf accountant measure this was a reason for the wage; Grandpa needed to foster a and occasionally disappeared when allegedly the public were on a winning streak. Then another little cottage housing employees of Mrs Walker who owned the common lodging house, sited across the Lane.

Next was where Mrs Walker and the Wilson family lived. On a Saturday, Mrs Walker appeared outside her front door selling delft.

If you continued into Market Street you would often encounter an old gentleman staggering around singing, “Dee Dee”, not a song, but he constantly rendered his ‘song’ and he was commonly known as D D. Commencing at the East side of the Lane, the lodging house housed all and sundry. The cost for sleeping on the rope was one penny, but I believed this included the use of the frying pan, as sausages appeared to be the main diet.Travelling back up the Lane, a fairly large house was occupied by Tulleth, the painter family. The next house had three steps up from the Lane and had varied tenants.

Then to number 9. In the entrance, a single room was occupied

by Mrs Turnbull and her son. Up one flight of stairs was a room and kitchen with duplicate sink in between, occupied by the Andersons and their family. Dave Anderson was the kind man who kept us in trout occasionally. Then the common toilet shared by all three families. It had a bolt inside and a window to the street and at an early age I could bolt the door then shin down the bracket street lamp to the Lane, much to the discomfort of many until the bolt was removed.

Then the tone of the Lane was heightened with the occupants of the next house, the Miss Cunninghams, who, armed with cello and violin humoured us with their charm and expertise periodically at the Burgh School. They were always dressed in long black clothes and terrified us into a silent audience. The crowning glory of the Lane was the final occupant, Miss Moir, a former Provost of St Andrews and had the respect of all the Lane occupants.

From all the foregoing I gained my childhood friends, Jim Turnbull, Jessie Anderson, Eileen Tulleth, Daisy Anderson and Eddie Anderson. I suppose we were all loud and naughty as we played in the Lane. In those days we had little or nothing to play with, but we were taught security and respect, and we were proud and happy to live in the Lane.

Baker Lane today (Photo by Flora Selwyn)

15

FEATURES Alan Tricker, on appearing in a play by Zenya Hamada

A Colligation –

the binding together, or the linking of a number of isolated facts.

I was interested to read the article about Zenya Hamada if the last issue of St Andrews in Focus (‘Hamada’s Trees by Anne-Kate Putter). My contact with him was when he first wrote a play and wanted to put it on at the Edinburgh Fringe. I was asked by A B Paterson if I would like to be in a play which was destined for the Fringe – he was going to direct it. I was already rehearsing for a summer play in the Crawford Centre, but thought, “Why not”. The Fringe is always an exciting time, especially with a new play. Alex asked me to attend a read-through on Saturday afternoon in a suite at Rusacks Hotel to read the play to the author. Also, could I please bring along an actress to play the other part. I phoned April Duffen with whom I was already in a play that summer. She agreed, so we duly read the play to Mr Hamada. He had arrived in Edinburgh that morning, booked the suite at the Hotel for the day and got a taxi over from Edinburgh. As ever, money was never a problem with Mr Hamada.

The play was entitled A Colligation. It was about a husband and wife who argue after dinner about pollution and its effects on human life. The argument starts to move on to aspects of their own lives; eventually the wife kills the husband and the last scene is the husband on his journey to the next world. The translation from the Japanese was awful and we had to

spend many of the early rehearsals cutting and lots of extras. They just had to enter at the back re-writing sections. Eventually we got it into of the auditorium, process through during some an actable shape and prepared ourselves for tumultuous music and exit by another door. I Edinburgh. There was also a Japanese cast think they were robed as monks. The stageand we were to perform alternate nights with manager put an advert on a board at the Fringe them. Just before we went to Edinburgh we Club stating the generous fee for the 2 minutes’ each performed the play for Mr Hamada and performance – £10, I think it was – each night each other – I have to say there was a queue of it sounded a lot better in Mr Hamada was a very hopefuls at the stage door.

Japanese! It really was a He counted in the first 30 generous man and we rather unreal and enjoyable extras each night. Probably month. He taught us how to the highest-paid extras were well looked after put on a kimono, explaining on the Fringe! When he why a lady’s opened a certain way! He was paid our ‘expenses’ he handed me a bundle of quite a ladies’ man. In fact I think the Japanese notes. They looked red and I thought, “Oh no! actress he brought over to play the part might He’s paid me in yen”. I then looked at one and have been his current girlfriend. Even though realised they were £50 notes. I had never seen I couldn’t understand a word of the Japanese these before. This was 1987.

I could tell that her acting was not in the same The next year Zenya Hamada had another class as the actor from Japan! play at the Fringe about Picasso. Alex Paterson Our venue was splendid; we were given and I went down to see it and were greeted membership cards to eat and drink in the effusively by the playwright, who insisted on café-bar as often as we wished. We were taking us out for a meal with the cast after the also given very generous expenses as well as show. I did see his name attached to various taken out to the best Japanese restaurant in Festival ventures for a year or two after that.

Edinburgh (maybe it was the only one!) several For those of us involved with A Colligation – times during the run. Mr Hamada was a very me, April Duffen, Alex Paterson, Brian Freeland generous man and we were well looked after. (the stage manager) – it was a strange, but fun Another interesting snippet about this show is time that has produced a wealth of stories to be that the final scene in the next world required shared around the dinner table.

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

16

FEATURES James and Julia Smith kindly hosted Flora Selwyn, relating

“An Exciting Life” scheme, so “no cement, no Hilton”! At that time James says, there were James was born in Dysart, Fife, Julia in Shanghai, China. The story of only 4 people in the world covering the Hilton’s food & beverage. Offered how they came to meet and marry is an inspiring one of enterprise, hard a choice between returning to Kenya, where he had originally helped work, and enjoyment. to set up the Lodges, or Taipei, James instead opted to return to Hong The work ethic must have been embedded in James with his genes, Kong as Food & Beverage Director for the Far East, and the Pacific “from for his father moved from being a miner, to becoming a radio engineer, Tokyo down to Sydney”. Each hotel has three bosses: the executive chef, to owning both a radio shop in Dysart and one in Kirkcaldy, both “selling the food & beverage manager, and the general manager, “3 different bicycles, electrical appliances, and charged accumulators”, as well as characters in each hotel, and you have the culture of the country, which owning a hotel in Berwickshire. “At that time I would help my mother wire again was exciting”. up these accumulators, and she would stick on the chargers and that was Another opening, this time in Taipei, Taiwan, as General Manager, it!” And James’ grandfather had a large bakery business in Dysart. together with Julia as Food & Beverage Director. 4 years later Julia Father wasn’t too keen on his son becoming a chef; nevertheless, took over in Taipei as General Manager, while James was transferred to an opening in Lundin Links provided the perfect solution. The restaurant Toronto, Canada, where at last he and Julia married. The Toronto Hilton at the Hotel there operated an exchange with Suvretta House, 2km from had 1000 rooms, 5 restaurants, St Moritz in Switzerland. After and a convention centre for national service James went 5000, “the biggest Hilton to Lundin Links, then Suvretta International we had at that House, “with about £100 in my time”. This required a certain pocket”, where he learned his degree of readjustment since, skills in the kitchen.

“I did not know the American After 8 years another market.” There was, too, the door opened. In 1963, James change of culture from the was invited to join the new Far East. A favourite saying Hilton International in Rome. of James is that, ‘it’s easier With other Hiltons opening all to take someone who is, and around the world that year, “it teach them to know, rather was a good time to get into the than someone who knows, and hotel business”. James had teach them to be’. As general progressed to Sous Chef. A manager, “to run a hotel you year and a half later saw him need a lot of energy, and some transferred to Cairo as Executive creativity, and you’ve got to Chef, in charge of 110 cooks, motivate the people; you’ve got serving some 3000 covers to like people”. per day. James enjoyed his “Then I became Area 4 years there, getting on well Vice-President, and I covered with his Egyptian colleagues.

China, the Philippines, Many customers came from cruise ships on the Suez Canal, The story of how they came to meet and marry is an Bangkok, Korea, and Taiwan.

I travelled quite a bit, but that stopping off for visits to the inspiring one of enterprise, hard work, and enjoyment. was before emails”. The Hong pyramids.

Kong Hilton was bought by Li When the sous chef in the Ka Shing, who decided to close it. Therefore, in 1995, James retired, but Hong Kong Hilton wanted to transfer to Cairo, James decided a swap continued to work for Li Ka Shing as a consultant. Other consultancies would be a good idea, even though it meant returning to that slightly followed, giving James and Julia the opportunity to travel on the Transhumbler role. James, though, soon felt uncomfortable with the position.

Siberian railway from St Petersburg to Beijing, over 12 days, “with a bit A word with the Vice-President, and James was appointed Restaurant of sightseeing on the way. It really was pretty spectacular, and then of Manager instead, encompassing 6 restaurants and 3 bars, in a hotel of course the people on board the train were usually quite interesting.”

750 rooms. It was here that he and Julia first met. A tour guide in Hong Back in Scotland, having bought, renovated, then sold Kinfauns Hotel, Kong, Julia had joined the Hilton as secretary to the assistant manager, in Perthshire – which their daughter managed – six years ago James becoming Food & Beverage Manager, eventually General Manager: “I and Julia came to live in St Andrews, in a beautiful home filled with the was the first female in the Hilton to be a General Manager.” memorabilia of all the years. They entertain their many friends, James James went on to the Tokyo Hilton as Food & Beverage Manager. naturally doing all the cooking, though Julia does contribute Chinese “It was exciting – we could have as many as 11 weddings a day in that dishes. Both are keen salmon fishers on the River Spey, in North-East hotel!” The Tokyo general manager, on becoming vice-president, took Scotland. James “plays a little bit of golf” and they still enjoy travelling.

James with him to Nairobi, Africa, as Area Manager for Food & Beverage, They have also completely transformed their house and garden, “it’s been covering “from Madagascar to Katmandu”! Among the places James exciting to see it grow, although we’re not gardeners having lived all our now travelled to, Lalibela in Ethiopia was where “we had our opening lives in hotels.” parties”. Connected with the story of the Queen of Sheba, Lalibela has Able to speak French, German, Italian (but not Mandarin!) and having the most extraordinary churches carved entirely out of the living rock of met many famous people, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Ustinov, Billy Connolly, the mountains, an early settlement of Coptic Christians. among them, James sums it all up: “It has been an exciting life and with Four years on, and James decided to join management, becoming the changes in the industry these same or similar opportunities are not so Executive Assistant Manager in the Teheran Hilton, “the second manager available to the young person today”, which seems a shame. in a hotel” to whom everybody reports. “It was a fantastic learning process.” Later, destined to go to Lahore as General Manager, there was (Photo by Flora Selwyn) a hitch: the cement for the hotel had been highjacked for a hydro-electric

Print & Design

We welcome commercial enquiries – the services we offer include: Colour Digital Printing • Graphics & Pre-Press • External Display Banners St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AX. T: (01334) 463020, E: printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk www.st-andrews.ac.uk/printanddesign The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

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FEATURES Gavin White revisits

Martyrs’ Church Martyrs’ Church on North Street is to become a research library for the University. But why was it built in the first place? The answer lies in there having been three major Presbyterian denominations in Scotland for most of a century. There was the Church of Scotland (Auld Kirk!), the Free Church, and the United Presbyterian Church. Holy Trinity was Church of Scotland, Martyrs’ was Free, and Hope Park United Presbyterian.

The Free Church came into being in 1843 when a third of the ministers and people walked out of the Church of Scotland in protest at the power of patrons to choose ministers, and the interference of the civil courts in church matters. They built new churches and manses and expected the Auld Kirk to wither away, which it did not. “The Auld Kirk, the Auld Kirk, the Kirk with the steeple; The Free Kirk, the Free Kirk, the Kirk with the people.” In 1900 the Free Church joined with the United Presbyterians to form the United Free Church, though a minority, mainly Highland, stayed out, and carry the title of Free Church today. And in 1929 that United Free Church joined the Church of Scotland to form the present Church of Scotland.

In St Andrews supporters of the Free Church came out and, “Church, Manse, and Mission Hall were erected forthwith”. The first minister was Dr W Hetherington (1844-1848), who was given oversight of Free Church students studying for the ministry at the University. He later became professor at the Free Church College in Glasgow. He was followed by John Ainslie (1847-1875), Lewis Davidson (1978-1884), J E McRae (1884-1891) and from 1892 John Ferguson who was still minister when the new church was built in 1928. Ainslie and Davidson both held doctorates appropriate for a college town. But Free Church candiidates for ministry were soon sent to New College in Edinburgh (so named to offset Old College in the University) or the Free Church College in Glasgow which had a tower to be higher than that planned for the University across the road – though the University was actually rebuilt a mile further west, and the tower was wasted.

The present Martyrs’ Church was completed in 1928, on the site of the former church, with the congregation worshipping meanwhile in St Mary’s Church, a daughter church of Holy Trinity, on Market Street – it is now Victory Hall. This was a generous gesture, no charges being made, in view of the union of the two denominations, which was about to take place. The new building had been a long time coming. Henry Maitand of Balmungo had left a bequest of £7,000 for a new church, but war had intervened, and a quarter century went by before work began.

Happily, the £7,000 had been so invested that by 1924 it amounted to £15,000 and the church cost £14,000. The hall and porch were not built until later. At the dedication on 9 February, John Ferguson took the service, while Dr Weatherhead, the Moderator, preached. The Church possessed a stained glass window in memory of Robert Forgan, the golf-club maker, and memorials to members of old St Andrews families – Warrack, Berwick, and Grubb. The notable window on the east side was added later.

That Martyrs’ is no longer a church, though the name has been added to that of Hope Park where the congregation now worship, is a sad end to a long history. But at least the building will be used for a noble purpose and not converted to a pub or a nightclub.

(Photo by Flora Selwyn)

From Michael Buchanan, who generously submitted this competition

Street Cred: The Judgement of Solomon I have checked out the 4 entries posted on to me. Each represents considerable dedication, diligence, and local knowledge.

Without splitting hairs, I find it not possible, or just, to rank them.

I feel 4 equal prizes of £15 should be awarded to: Veronica Whymant Margaret Squires Lindsay Cordiner Jane Ann Liston With hindsight, I am much relieved that we were not inundated with entries.!!

CHRIS TULLOCH

PAINTER & DECORATOR 01334 479756 07841435477 FREE ESTIMATES

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FEATURES S. Todd Shively wrote, “As a new resident of St Andrews, some friends in the US asked me to keep a blog about our family and the happenings here in Scotland. Attached is a modified version of a blog post that I wrote just under a week after our arrival here:”

A Blog – ‘Bourbon.’

I mean, ‘Whisky’.

Ian Seeley

Reflections: Christmas What irony; to think the Christ Child’s birth Should be remembered by the worth Of merchandise that changes hands In Occident while children starve in other lands.

How did it come to pass That He who rode upon the ass In such simplicity, the Prince of Peace, Should be the subject of such splendour Where vaulted roof and arch serve to increase Men’s wonderment and awe, and choir and organ render Music of perfection?

How many stand outside cathedral doors Or window shop at glitzy stores And crave a new direction For the human race?

What pictures do they carry, in their minds, of Jesu’s face, These prisoners of Mammon?

To be outside and needing to be in Is how, we’re told, His life began, this Son Of Mary, and the enemy of sin.

But will they, who profess Him Lord and Master of their hearts, Concede the entry, to their world, of those from other parts, Whose lives are less than blest, Who occupy the stable while the party swings For ticket holders only? What of the rest – The elderly who chitter by the one-bar fire And fret upon the prospect dire Of life’s departure – when and how?

And those who live in cardboard, brought so low By lack of hope; what presents do they seek to help them grow A life of dignity? ‘tis certain that no kings will wish to know Their plight or bring a gift, Or act in any way that shows the rift ‘Twixt those who have and those who go without.

The Third World’s round the corner and, no doubt, They’ll never seek to turn it And see things that the Son of God must know Exist in this divided world, lit, In honour of His birth, at Christmas. So Let them sing and dance and eat and drink Who have the blessings of their time; But let them also search their souls and think; Is Christmastide, for all, so very fine – And is there still some room for Love Divine?

Those readers who enjoy writers from the Southeast part of the United States may recognise this title as one that pays homage to a Walker Percy essay that he wrote in 1975 about the strong drink made exclusively in the great state of Kentucky. Having loved Percy since I moved to Georgia after university in 1993, his essay sort of gave me permission to drink, although I didn’t begin drinking really at all until a couple years later and drinking bourbon neat as he recommends until a couple years ago. Then I took up a near-nightly ritual of drinking a child’s fingerwidth of bourbon before going to bed that has continued until very recently, when I stopped it suddenly.

My wife, two boys, and I moved to St Andrews precisely four weeks ago (as I write this) for my wife to take a Lecturer post here at the University, and her acceptance of the position came just over thirteen weeks before that, which is about the time between now and Christmas. Not knowing what our future would be at the time, it was sort of charming when my wife brought back two souvenir bottles of whisky from her interview trip to St Andrews. ‘Isn’t that nice,’ I thought as I began making Rob Roys with bourbon’s unrefined hairy overseas cousin who smokes cigars and swears.

‘Whisky straight from Scotland. That will be a nice memory for us for the next few weeks.’ A few nights later, I began drinking it neat, and a few nights after that I began actually to like it. I discovered that this coarse cousin had depth and vanilla and cinnamon and sweetness.

At that time, I never dreamed that one Sunday evening about three months later, I would be sitting with my wife, drinking whisky exactly 59.7 miles from where it was made, if one believes anything on the internet.

I haven’t had bourbon since. So when I passed this sign on our way to visit our first church in St Andrews, I had to pause and think about it. I’m not completely sure that I want to drink any liquid while I’m getting my hair cut! But if it is free whisky, I might at least have to give it a shot.

Renate Mackay, a Glasgow reader, popped in with this photo taken together with Hamish last year; he was making himself at home in Moshulu in Market Street.

Mrs Mackay was disappointed not to see him on a more recent visit. However, she has been reassured that Hamish is still very much with us, and that a book about him has just been published (see Reviews on page 22).

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FEATURES: REVIEWS Douglas N Anderson reviews

A Bed’s Eye View

By Andrew Wylie

ISBN 978 0 9565894 1 5 Price: £5.99 plus P & P. Available direct from Jennifer Wylie by email: info@birdseyeview.co.uk Or by Paypal from the website where an extract may be read. Also available from Amazon Andrew Wylie and I met and became friends in Transitus in 1938 – a friendship which lasted until his death last summer. We had sometimes talked, as old men will, of our mortality and, hesitantly, of any faint footprint we might leave behind. Yet of Andrew there was never any doubt that he would be well remembered, and by many at that. For, as a minister of the Church of Scotland his avowed purpose and determined vision carried him through and far beyond the boundaries of church wall and parish. His life and work became a “reaching out” to people, culminating in his time as the first Chaplain to the Offshore Oil Industry during which he was involved in the aftermath of several disasters including Piper Alpha. Of these years he left an eloquent and engaging account in his book Just Being There – With Bears and Tigers in the North Sea (see review in issue 14, Jan/Feb 2006)

But he has left another tangible legacy in a collection of prayers written over 30 years ago and conceived during long weeks in hospital after suffering a severe stroke.

In recognizing that his were commonlyexperienced emotions Andrew sought to share thoughts of them hoping to help the sick, their carers and those left at home to better understand a stressful situation.

These short prayers, of seldom more than fifteen or sixteen lines, are immensely insightful, speaking both personally and of others with compassion. They show courage in admitting fear and in the confusion of the unfamiliar, hope in weary loneliness, gratitude for companionship and care. If this sounds a tad sanctimonious I do my friend an injustice; his words are deceptively simple, but aptly profound, and, for those of doubt, may be read as elegant prose or blank verse. I

guarantee they will resonate and stir latent thoughts.

A warm introduction to the book is contributed by Gerald Stranraer-Mull, Dean Emeritus of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. The hard cover and pleasing professional design throughout is by Andrew’s friend Michael Marshall.

A Bed’s Eye View is published by Jennifer, Andrew’s widow, (as they had planned before his death) with his original hope and aim that it provide comfort to those unwell, at home or in hospital, and to those supporting them.

John M Sturrock reviews

Miss Esther Scott’s Fancy

By Lorn Macintyre

Published by Priormuir Press, 2012. [ISBN 978-O-9567681-3-1].

Available at J & G Innes and all good bookshops price £9.99.

It seems hard to credit today, but there was a time within living memory, when Scots danced their native dances every week. As a race, they were known the world over as “being handy wi’ their feet”. Partly the stimulus was the music, for few nations have a richer musical heritage than Scotland. Partly it was the easy accessibility of that music both from local performers, on wind-up gramophones, or on the radio. Scottish Country Dance music hardly ever seemed to be off the air in the 1940s; indeed, many popular programmes used well-known dance tunes, like ‘Glasgow Highlanders’, or ‘Kate Dalrymple’ as their signature tune. Partly it was the lack of all the present-day alternatives to dancing, and partly it was – more practically – a very simple and enjoyable way of keeping warm during the cold, drab, hungry, post-war years. Local author, Lorn Macintyre, has turned his hand to many sorts of writing in recent years. Now, finally, he has used his wealth of experience of those wonderful years, when Scottish Country Dancing, Reelin’, Ceilidh Dancing, Highland Dancing, and all the others, brought a dash of life, colour, movement, and excitement to a greyer world, to produce a book of eight short stories under the umbrella title “Miss Esther Scott’s Fancy”.

The longest story in the book, the second, concerns the adventures of the young Esther Scott, a hosiery mill worker from Hawick, arising from her attendance at the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Summer School at University Hall in 1936. This Summer School continues in St Andrews to this day – indeed the 81st has just been held – and Lorn captures very well indeed those last peaceful summers, the horrors of war, and the triumphant re-emergence of Scottish life afterwards.

Naturally there is heartbreak for Esther along the way, but Lorn makes sure that it all comes right in the end. Miss Milligan, the co-founder of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society features throughout this story, and many of her traits are brought vividly to life. Lorn has entitled this story, ‘Dance With Your Soul’ – a nod to one of Miss Milligan’s most famous sayings, and to the title of a well-known biography of her.

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Scotland, of course, has had differing forms of dancing for many generations, which you did often depending on where you lived, or which form your parents took part in. Those who lived in the Big Hoose, for example, would take part in Reelin’, and Lorn has a great story concerning this in ‘Reel of Three’ , which manages again to include Miss Milligan and the tale of how the dance ‘Reel of the 51st Division’ came to be written. Those allotted another station in life might be keen Ceilidh Dancers, and Lorn – an expert in this area – celebrates this in ‘The Ceilidh Howff’, based closely on the real Riverside dance hall in Glasgow, where, in its heyday one had to queue for an hour before opening just to have a chance of getting in. This is probably the story closest to Lorn’s own heart, and contains a very believable explanation as to why these evenings became so popular, for so many.

It would be hard to imagine a book on dancing in Scotland that does not mention Highland Dancing at Highland Games – the one art that the entire population has either seen in the flesh, on television, or in the news.

To this day, the Queen and Prince Philip still watch the competitions, every year at the Braemar Highland Gathering, and it still appears – if in somewhat modernised form – at the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.

Sure enough, Lorn includes dancing at Braemar in his first story, ‘Dying to Live’. This tale lends a certain symmetry to the book because, while the last story concerns the relationship between two male dancers, this one concerns two females…

All tastes are catered for; Lorn includes ‘Piper Through the Meadow Straying’, a tale based on Irish dancing in Glasgow, and ‘The Lindy Hop’ celebrating Barrowland, and the thousands of romances between GIs and Clydeside lassies. As in every story, the sheer joy of the dance is always there in this fascinating collection.

Appropriately – because she was responsible for so much of the post-war boom in Scottish Country Dancing worldwide – the final story, ‘Gay Abandon’, ends with the death of Miss Milligan in 1978. There is no evidence that she was, herself, censorious of same-sex relationships, but the rest of the world certainly was at that time, as this story graphically brings out. It is somewhat ironic that, only 34 years later, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society has just announced the Affiliation of the Gay Gordons clubs, in both Edinburgh and London, for same-sex Scottish Country Dancers…

FEATURES: REVIEWS Laura Sneddon reviews

Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town

By Susan McMullan Published by Black & White Publishing, 2012.

Available at Waterstone’s and all good bookshops price £8.99 hardback.

St Andrews is many things to many people – home, university town, golfing paradise, historical city – a place of Royal romance and windswept beaches. But with no disrespect meant towards any of these wonderful badges of honour, there is perhaps one individual in St Andrews who has risen to a greater fame than any of the others: Hamish.

The handsome redhead is often to be seen perusing the shops at his leisure, stopping to make idle chat with the locals, students, and visitors alike, with no prejudice given unless, perchance, you have some manner of fish upon your person. Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town is a portfolio of the dashing feline gentleman, with photographic contributions from his various benefactors and swooning fans, all told by the man himself. Or at least as best as Susan McMullan could translate for him.

The book itself is a lovely-looking little hardback, quite at home with the various other humour- based gift books that descend on our shelves at this time of year, and the decision to have the text told from Hamish’s

voice is ingenious. With a foreword from his owner, who still hunts him down for his yearly vet visit, Hamish launches into his life story, beginning with the rather adorable baby pictures which certainly put any rumours of there having been multiple Hamishes to rest!

The sheer number of photos within the book is testament to the size of his fan base; this is after all the cat with some 3000 Facebook friends. McMullan is clearly a fan herself, as evidenced by the great amount of work she has put into the production of this book, and notes that the response to her collecting his photographs was overwhelming. Everyone who has contributed a photo towards the book is listed in the credits at the back of the book, and receive exclusive Hamish hugs for their efforts.

Hamish even takes the reader on a small tour of St Andrews, though for reasons of cat politics he visits some spots via his computer.

Still, his favourite shops are given a shout out (for their chair comfort rating and tuna availability no doubt), while some candid shots reveal the aftermath of partying all night with students, and overall Hamish has

provided both tourists and locals alike with a lovely and more personal look at the town.

That double appeal is precisely where the book has really found its own success story, with the inclusion of photographs from such a wide variety of fans giving the title a real sense of love for our furry friend – after all, there can be few of us who have met Hamish who have not snapped a quick photo of our very own local superstar.

Already the book is well on its way to outselling JK Rowling, Jamie and Nigella this season, with a price-point that quite possibly guarantees its place in many a Christmas stocking and gift bag. To have a bestselling book is really no less than Hamish McHamish of St Andrews deserves, and will maybe even see his celebrity status expand further into the world. So make sure that you pick up his book, give him a scritch when you see him, and that cat treats are always welcome!

Hamish’s Mum: “If he could speak, I don’t think he would say, ‘I belong to St Andrews’, but rather, ‘St Andrews belongs to me’!”

Elizabetta Girelli reviews the film

Local Heroes: You’ve Been Trumped Director Anthony Baxter the land he has bought is on the East or West coast of Scotland. Yet mortgaged his home to make despite these occasions for bitter merriment, the film’s overall mood is the documentary You’ve Been both tragic and scary: watch Trump cut off power and water supplies Trumped, and his film reverberates with a sense of commitment, to residents for ten days, while police and local authorities refuse to obstinacy, and sheer courage. Set on the Aberdeenshire coast, intervene. Watch Trump’s bulldozers dump tonnes of newly-dug earth You’ve Been Trumped tells the extraordinary tale of how a unique outside the residents’ windows, so that they end up living in a kind of piece of Scottish wilderness was bought, destroyed, and turned into trench. Watch director Anthony Baxter being arrested by the Grampian a golf course by American tycoon Donald Trump. Not without meeting Police, for the ‘crime’ of interviewing witnesses. Finally, in a twist of opposition, though: the film charts the dogged resistance of the people such creepy surrealism to befit a novel by Franz Kafka, watch Donald caught up in Trump’s actions, the Scottish residents Trump being awarded an Honorary Doctorate whose world was literally torn apart by bulldozers.

by Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University. The The events documented in Led by farmer Michael Forbes, whose property is justification for the doctorate? Trump’s ‘services to You’ve Been Trumped can dismissed by Trump as ‘a slum’, these local heroes Scotland’. In a film that allows characters to speak be directly traced to the face their grim situation with humour, pluck, and an for themselves, with no intrusive narration, the utter refusal to give up. Their struggle is not simply plight of Trump’s victims takes on epic proportions, Scottish government, who against Trump, however: in an increasingly sinister offering the audience an almost primeval choose to dismiss their own plot, the film shows the wider context in which the story of good versus evil. This is perhaps the environmental policy and sell American billionaire carries out his destruction. The greatest achievement of You’ve Been Trumped: Trump a fragile ecosystem, the its combination of the intensely local and the events documented in You’ve Been Trumped can very last of its kind in the UK be directly traced to the Scottish government, who overwhelmingly global. The story of a few Scots choose to dismiss their own environmental policy against Donald Trump is also a much bigger tale; it and sell Trump a fragile ecosystem, the very last of its kind in the UK. is the timeless confrontation between ordinary citizens and the greedy, Once Alex Salmond’s cabinet seals that decision, the locals are totally power-mad people who seemingly rule the world. Spectators don’t abandoned to their fate, as neither the council nor the police move a need to be Scottish, or even to have first-hand knowledge of Scotland, finger to help them. It is the terrible revelation of this abandonment, of to identify with Michael Forbes and his neighbours. This film will move the authorities’ reverence for money against humanity and environment, and infuriate you in turns, yet it will also give you some hope: ordinary which ultimately has spectators glued to their seats. Meantime, very people can be heroic, whether they are farmers, artists, filmmakers, dark humour is provided by Donald Trump’s outrageous statements: he or elderly ladies. And who knows: it may be possible, after all, that the claims the dune landscape he’s destroyed needed ‘stability’, promises Donald Trumps of society will not have the last word. untold numbers of local jobs that never materialise, and forgets if See also Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youvebeentrumped

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FEATURES: REVIEWS Eddie Taylor, Trustee of the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, reviews

Fife Buses

– From Alexanders (Fife) To Stagecoach

By Walter Burt

Published by Amberley, 2012 [ISBN 978 1 4456 0992 8]. From all good bookshops, price £14.99.

When I heard that a book was being published with a collection of photographs depicting Fife buses from the early 1960s to the early 1990s I listed it as a ‘must purchase’. I was not disappointed. Whilst the book, at first glance, may just seem a bland collection of bus photographs, it is the surrounding detail that may interest the casual reader. Many of the photographs show places and buildings now no longer standing, having been demolished or changed over the intervening years. Three Dunfermline bus stations shown no longer exist, and who remembers the old bus station on Kirkcaldy promenade?

The book opens with an introduction giving the reader a brief history of Fife buses within the Scottish Bus Group from the time of the split of the huge Alexander’s bus empire in 1961. The following three pages give a fairly detailed history of the company in Fife and the particular vehicles used. Older readers will remember the ‘Bluebird’ buses being replaced by the red and cream of the new W Alexander & Sons (Fife) Ltd company in the early 1960s. The history lists all the 10 depots in use at the formation of the new company and the subsequent closure dates of five of them, plus the opening of Glenrothes depot in 1985.

The various vehicle types used in the fleet are discussed. Noteworthy was the purchase in 1968 of twelve Bristol RELL6G single-deck buses with Eastern Coach Works bodywork that were the only low floor singledeck buses in Scottish Bus Group service until the introduction of the Leyland National in 1970.

The geography and topography of Fife lends itself to various and diverse requirements for bus services, from the heavy industries of the

west of the Kingdom to the sparse population of the East Neuk. This results in differing challenges for the bus operator and the author makes the reader aware of this in the text.

The remaining ninety pages are taken up with photographs of Fife buses, the majority being shown in the familiar red livery. Most of the photographs used are from private collections and vary in quality, although the subject matter of the photograph is not diminished by this. Each photograph is suitably annotated, though your reviewer has noted a few errors in the descriptions. Most of the photographs are taken in the west or central areas of Fife, but the author does point out that photographs from the north-east of the county are thin on the ground. Although the author has included most types of vehicles in the fleet over the period there are some serious omissions, most notably from the early 1960s, but this may be due to a lack of suitable material. On the other hand some types of vehicle seem to get greater coverage than others.

For anyone with an interest in the road passenger transport of Fife and in particular from the 1960s to the 1990s this is a must read with many of the photographs evoking a distant memory.

Derek Barrie reviews

St Andrews Shop Fronts 1820-1940

By John Frew

Published by The St Andrews Preservation Trust and available from the office at 4 Queen’s Gardens, St Andrews, price £3.

St Andrews Preservation Trust recently launched its first publication for a number of years; “St Andrews Shop Fronts 1820 to1940” is the work of retired university lecturer and architectural historian, Dr John Frew. The 24-page illustrated survey accompanied the inaugural Trust lecture on the same subject, delivered by Dr Frew to a 150-strong audience in St Andrews Town Hall on 4th September.

Organising and holding a first annual lecture was how the Trust marked the 75th anniversary of its inception in 1937.

The booklet expands and updates an earlier article, also by Dr Frew, published in the Preservation Trust Year Book for 1981.

Although the booklet demonstrates serious academic research it is very readable for anyone with an interest in the development of the town. It takes a chronological approach, covering the work of a number of prominent local architects en route, including John Milne (1822-1904); David Henry (1835-1914); James Gillespie (1854-1914); and James Scott (1861-1944).

A considerable portion of Dr Frew’s work is devoted to the use of cast iron as a basis for architectural construction. He points out that it was “capable of resolving the (Victorian) period’s characteristic fondness for decorative effect with structural economy.” Moreover, “it was cheap, easy to assemble, supposedly fireproof and immensely strong.” Dr Frew’s interest in and knowledge of the thirty cast iron frontages surviving in St Andrews was heightened by his leading involvement in the Preservation Trust’s ongoing project of restoring a number of cast iron shop pillars to their original state. Five restorations have been undertaken to date with three more in progress. Funding support has come from the Pilgrim Foundation, with contributions from individual businesses whose premises were involved. A particularly attractive feature, stressed in the booklet, is the prominence of gold leaf on the more elaborate cast iron shop fronts.

The thirteen pages of text are supplemented by a further eleven pages of photographs, illustrating points made in the written text. A total of nineteen illustrations are included. Most show buildings as they are today, although a number are from earlier days.

Despite the inclusion of much technical information, the booklet greatly adds to the reader’s knowledge of the development of St Andrews’ town centre. John Frew is to be congratulated on a highly informative, well-researched and comprehensive piece of work.

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ORGANISATIONS Gordon de Vries, President, introduces

The St Andrews Curling Club – Instituted 1846, Admitted 1850 History of the Club and Curling Locally, curling takes place at rinks in Kirkcaldy, Kinross, Perth, St Andrews Curling Club was formed in 1846 and, apart from the war Dundee, and Forfar from the end of September to the end of March. years, has been in continued existence since then. It can claim “Old Tom St Andrews Curling Club plays most of its games on different evenings Morris” of golfing fame as one of its past Presidents, along with many during the week and during daytime at weekends. Main venues for other prominent St Andrews citizens of their time.

St Andrews are Kirkcaldy, Kinross, Dundee, and Forfar. The Club runs a Like all other Curling Clubs in existence during the mid-to-late 1800s number of competitions during the season and also plays in various inter(and there were quite a few in this part of Fife) curling was played on club competitions, as well as friendly games against other local clubs for local ponds or lochs during the winter months when the weather was various trophies. cold enough for the ponds to be flooded and frozen – this meant that there had to be a Interested in Becoming a Curler? sufficient number of consecutive days when Curling is for all ages, from children (boys and the air temperature was below freezing in girls) in Primary 6/7 to males and females in order for a sufficient depth of ice to form and their 70s and beyond! It is a game that can be support the weight of the Curlers and their played by most people after only a few practice curling stones, weighing around 40lbs. Ponds sessions and as a team game (usually as were normally only flooded to a depth of a few rinks of 4 people). Experienced and relatively inches and were quite safe to curl on, but when inexperienced players can play together to curling took place on lochs, such as Loch of make up a rink. Although there is a serious Lindores, the thickness of ice had to be at least side to playing in competitions, there is also a 5-6 inches (the requirement now is a minimum great deal of fun and fellowship associated with of 8 inches) to ensure that it was safe for up the game; it is one of the few sports where the to 50 or more Curlers to play on without falling players shake hands with their opposition both through the ice! This meant that curling on lochs at the start of the game and at the end.

St Andrews Curling Club was quite curtailed. Some years, when there Some people are naturally apprehensive was formed in 1846 were mild winters, no curling could take place. about getting started, but every club now has Nevertheless even after many years of mild access to free “Come and Try” sessions held winters, the curling always resumed on the first sign of a hard enough at various ice rinks during the curling season. In addition, once someone frost, players taking full advantage of any frost available by using the ice has been introduced to the game there are coaching sessions available night and day, relying on the moon or candles to guide them through the during the season at a very reasonable cost, when members have the hours of darkness! opportunity to improve their basic skills in the game. Some new members are quite happy to learn as they go along with basic tuition from their own Curling Today club members. Apart from paying for the cost of ice time there is very little In the early to middle part of the last century, as major towns and cities initial outlay in starting to play the game. in Scotland started to build indoor ice rinks, using refrigeration plants, If anyone is interested in having a go at curling, or if anyone new curling gradually moved indoors, the great advantage being that it was no to the area has already curled and is looking to join a local club, please longer weather dependant, although when conditions were suitable it was contact the undernoted who will be only too happy to discuss it further still played outdoors. With guaranteed ice on the indoor rinks, more clubs with you. were formed. Club and inter-club competitions were organised within what are known as local Provinces, usually comprising approximately 12-14 clubs. St Andrews Curling Club is a member of the East of Fife Province, • Gordon de Vries – President, St Andrews Curling Club. which in turn is part of Area 7 made up of four Provinces – East of Fife, Tel: 01334 473 205, Mob: 07834 519 537, Cupar District, West of Fife, and Loch Leven. Within Scotland there are e-mail: russellhotel@talk21.com 37 Provinces divided into 10 Areas with the Royal Caledonian Curling • Allan Milne – Secretary, St Andrews Curling Club.

Club (RCCC) based at Ingleston Showground near Edinburgh being the Tel: 01382 542 956, Mob: 07745 514 975, governing body for Curling, to which every Curling Club and its members e-mail: allanmmilne@hotmai1.com must be affiliated.

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

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ORGANISATIONS Jeannine Nicholls, Publicity Officer for the

St Andrews Musical Society

Producer Sylvia Guy and Musical Director Robert Nee

St Andrews Musical Society have been performing the best in people who may never have been on amateur shows providing entertainment in St Andrews stage for many years, or at all. Robert Nee, our for over 60 years. The aim of the Society is to provide Musical Director, brings fun and a huge amount of musical entertainment to audiences, as well as being enthusiasm through the musical score. We have a a society for people wishing to explore new choreographer this year in Ross an interest in acting, singing, dancing, Croll, who is raring to go with the big Our team is held in or stage work. dance numbers, always a big part of the highest regard in Last year, like many other amateur any successful musical. the world of Amateur societies, we had to work extremely Last year, ‘Anything Goes’ was hard to raise the funds required to well received by audiences. We were Musical Societies produce and perform a show worthy of given great feedback on our recentlya paying audience. In the months leading up to show developed Facebook page, and this year we are week, members put heart and soul into fundraising. hoping for the same with our production of ‘Carousel’.

On average it costs £600 to put each member of SAMS are always looking for new members.

SAMS on the stage. Monthly committee meetings Whether you are a budding actor, singer, dancer, or ensure ideas for fundraising are kept fresh and just wanting a new interest and make new friends, we successful. will welcome you; all we ask for is involvement and Before we start the year we select a strong commitment. production team to guide us throughout the process.

Our session has started, we rehearse Mondays Our team is held in the highest regard in the world and Wednesdays at Kilrymont (Madras) School 7.00of Amateur Musical Societies. Our producer, Sylvia 9.30pm.

Guy, shares her wealth of experience and knowledge Show week will start with tech and dress of the stage with all members, ensuring everyone rehearsals on Sunday, 24 & Monday, 25 February is confident in what they are doing, bringing out 2013. Opening night is Tuesday, 26 February, running till Saturday, 2 March with a matinée and evening performance. It is a very exciting week ending in an ‘After Show’ party. It is hard work, but very rewarding, and great fun.

If you are interested in joining SAMS, or would like more information please email: janicholls@aol.com or go to Facebook, St Andrews Musical Society.

Reno played by Audrey Dishington

Hope & Billy played by Magan Hana Asano and Roy

Sponsored by Barnetts, St Andrews (charity No. SC044141) (Photos by Graeme McKay)

Viv Collie introduces

Food from Fife The Fife Food Network has been growing strong links with St Andrews in recent months, and is about to take part in two major initiatives: a partnership with Visit St Andrews saw the two organisations take part in the BBC Good Food Show in Glasgow in mid-October. Then, at the end of November, several high profile events are planned for another initiative on and around St Andrews Day. The network’s ‘Food from Fife’ initiative has already attracted several high profile members from the St Andrews area, including the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, Fairmont St Andrews, Rufflets, St Andrews Links, the Balgove Larder, and Macdonald Rusacks Hotel is about to sign up.

Under chair Toby Anstruther and fellow directors Viv Collie and Jimmy Wilson, the network has already carried out a great deal of work, much of it behind the scenes in

areas such as business-to-business activities, business-to-consumer promotions, also education and training events.

The network has been instrumental in producing two editions of the acclaimed ‘Fife Larder’ – the very first regional collaboration with List Guides Scotland.

In the past few weeks work with Fife Council has resulted in the production of a ‘Fife Food’ guide for self-catering visitors, featuring a number of the go-ahead businesses that helped the network get on its feet.

Food from Fife has participated in events such as VisitScotland Expo, the Royal Highland Show, the Fife Show, the Crail Food Festival, and the Leuchars Air Show. At the forthcoming BBC Good Food Show it is sponsoring the Tasting Theatre along with Visit St Andrews.

In an introduction to the new Food Guide, chair Toby Anstruther celebrates the region’s varied food and drink offering. He said that there are many places in the world where the idea of Buy Local, Eat Local would be

Viv Collie (Photo courtesy Viv Collie) difficult to live out, “In Fife, we are blessed with some of the best seafood, fruit, meat, and vegetables in the whole world. We have been rightly famed for them for more than 1000 years. Fife has several of the country’s best farm shops, a fantastic range of soft fruit, and beautiful orchards in historic settings.

There are fresh prawns, crabs, and lobsters, all caught off the East Neuk; landed in its beautiful small harbours. Fife also has a wide range of restaurants, including two owned and operated

by Michelin starred chefs”.

Further details about the Fife Food Network, a not for profit company, can be found at www.foodfromfife.co.uk

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ORGANISATIONS From Patrick Laughlin, Secretary of

St Andrews in Bloom

St Andrews “Bloom” Volunteers Commended – but fears for future are raised The volunteers behind the However, St Andrews rejuvenated “St Andrews in Bloom’s current in Bloom” campaign have Chairman, Ray Pead, has enjoyed a rollercoaster now sounded alarm bells autumn – with great for the future – citing a successes at local and shortage of both money national awards tempered and people power. by fears about funding and In a hard-hitting volunteer support in future. statement issued to In the Beautiful Fife St Andrews in Focus, Mr competition, St Andrews Pead says, “At the very won a Gold Award and time we are celebrating the title “Best Coastal our great success and Town”. In their marking have hopes to make sheet, the judges say. “The things even better for group’s enthusiasm and its 2013, our very small ability to co-ordinate and team of volunteers generate the support of is instead, extremely the community, business, concerned about the and institutions to make future. Annual running All of our stunning displays, the aims of St Andrews in costs for each campaign which are so widely admired, Bloom a success is to be are around £14,000 and are created each year by just commended. They should that is simply to repeat be proud of what they have 2012’s level of activity. four people achieved in the short time This is money which we since the group was reformed.” do not have. Many people still assume that At national level, Beautiful Scotland judges St Andrews in Bloom is funded and carried out also singled out the work done by volunteers,

by Fife Council, but the fact is that although with special mention made of the contributions the Council is supportive in many ways, of local community groups, churches, golf it provides only about 10% of our running courses, and University students. St Andrews costs. The remainder has to be raised from came within a single mark of achieving a Gold local donations and is an annual struggle to Award, the top accolade possible, but was achieve.” nonetheless very pleased to receive Silver Gilt Continued Mr Pead, “In 2012, we received status. most welcome donations from the St Andrews St Andrews also added to its haul of prizes Partnership, the R & A, Stayinstandrews, by winning the Beautiful Scotland Award for the Merchants Association, and the B & B Tourism 2012 (sponsored by VisitScotland).

Association, as well as a handful of other The citation for this award says, “It is great to generous local businesses and clubs. see St Andrews back in the competition this However, it is unrealistic to expect this small year. The town is a busy and vibrant tourist number of organisations to continue their destination, which is hugely complemented by support at current levels, year after year. the work of this newly formed and strong group.

Furthermore, we desperately need more The group is very much true to its mission hands-on help to assist with tasks such as statement of ‘one proud community, one shared fundraising, as well as planting out and caring goal – a clean, green and stunning town’. New for the 200 hanging baskets and planters planters and hanging baskets decorate the which adorn the town. All of our stunning town, university students are heavily involved in displays, which are so widely admired, are green and environmental schemes, and there is created each year by just four people. Just a real understanding of the value of tourism to imagine what could be achieved if we had a the local economy.” dozen more helpers! If the town as a whole

really values St Andrews in Bloom, then please can we ask that more businesses and individuals step up and offer their support, either through sponsorship or help. St Andrews would be all the poorer without these beautiful year-round displays and the planning for 2013 starts now!” concluded Mr Pead.

Carolyn Miller (left) and Jenny Sibbald from St Andrews in Bloom with their awards at the Beautiful Scotland ceremony in Motherwell.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the work of the group can visit its website at http://bloom.standrews.co.uk Donations to St Andrews in Bloom can be handed in at any time to J&G Innes (Booksellers) in South Street. Readers are also reminded that contributions to the ‘Brighter St Andrews’ charitable fund, which has numerous collecting tins around the town, also support St Andrews in Bloom.

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EVENTS From Mary Popple, Publicity Officer for St Andrews Chorus

Exciting New Season for the St Andrews Chorus: Fauré and Sullivan As part of the St Andrews Festival week The overall critical verdict was very this year, the St Andrews Chorus and the positive. Reviews of The Prodigal Son Heisenberg Ensemble will perform both a generally suggested that the work took Sullivan familiar work from the choral repertoire and to a new level of eminence as a composer. an oratorio that will be new to many. The first The reviewer in the Pall Mall Gazette wrote half of the concert will give concert-goers the that,‘Mr Sullivan now occupies a very different opportunity to enjoy once again Fauré’s much position from that in which he stood before the loved Requiem. production of his oratorio’.

According to the Society, After the interval, there It was a standard in the will be a performance of choral repertoire for the the performance in the Sir Arthur Sullivan’s first next forty years, but then Younger Hall on Sunday, oratorio The Prodigal Son. fell out of favour, along with 25 November will be the This work was written as the the rest of Sullivan’s sacred largest in living memory result of a commission from and serious music. Through the Three Choirs Festival. the twentieth century he In accepting the challenge to compose a major was of course best known and loved for his sacred choral work, Sullivan was following partnership with W.S.Gilbert. in the path of his great heroes Handel and In this century, however, the body of Mendelssohn. Although there had been some work including The Prodigal Son is being previous choral treatment of this parable, re-assessed. In particular, the Sir Arthur Sullivan was effectively breaking new ground in Sullivan Society is ensuring that professional choosing to base his oratorio on this particular recordings are being made to give access to parable. It fitted well with the religious ethic of a wider audience. Since the recording of The the time, of God reaching out to the wayward Prodigal Son in 2003, there have been several and the repentant sinner to bring them back to performances of the work in both Germany the fold. It is suggested that there is an element and Britain. According to the Society, the of self-portraiture in the way that the 27 year-old performance in the Younger Hall on Sunday, Sullivan conceived the character of the Prodigal 25 November will be the largest in living Son as a restless youth going out into the world, memory. This performance will use a choir of which inevitably led him into follies and sin. around 150 voices and have the distinction of Structurally, The Prodigal Son follows the being accompanied by a full orchestra. conventions of oratorio composition established The professional soloists for the

by Bach and Handel and is influenced by works performance are of a very high calibre and it is such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah. It was composed pleasing that both the tenor Joe Timmons and in just three weeks, with the first performance the baritone Ben McAteer are former students given in Worcester Cathedral in September at St Andrews University. The other soloists are 1869, and subsequent performances in Roisin Walsh and Tania Holland Williams.

Hereford, Edinburgh, and at the Crystal Palace, The performance coincides with the London in December of that year. Charles Hallé meeting in St Andrews of the Sir Arthur conducted the first performance in Manchester Sullivan Society, and several other events in1870. are programmed for the weekend of 24-25

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November, including a talk on Saturday at 4.30pm in the Younger Hall, by Dr Michael Downes, Director of Music at the University and Musical Director of the St Andrews Chorus, a concert in Holy Trinity (Saturday, 24 November 7.30pm) and the St Andrews Chorus pre-concert talk on Sunday, 25 November at 6.30pm given by Dr Ian Bradley, vice-president of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society and member of the Chorus.

Commenting on the performance to come, Dr Bradley said, “I am very excited that the Chorus is singing this neglected work. The Prodigal Son shows Sullivan at his melodic best, giving excellent music for the soloists and choir to sing while telling the story of repentance and forgiveness”.

The Chorus rehearses in the Physics Lecture Theatre, North Haugh, St Andrews. between 7.00pm and 9.15pm on Friday evenings.

There is no audition requirement and all newcomers will receive a warm welcome.

We start rehearsing for the spring concert on 18 January. The concert will take place on Sunday, 28 April, and will have a spring theme with Haydn’s Spring, and Britten’s Spring Symphony.

More information can be found on the website at http://www.saint-andrews.co.uk/sac/ or by emailing the president, Eric Priest, at eric@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk (Photo of Sir Arthur Sullivan from Wikipedia;

by Ellis & Walery of 51, Baker Street, London, first published in 1893)

EVENTS Chloe Milne, Marketing Project Officer says,

St Andrews is in for a treat this November A new pop-up craft experience opens in the town, for one long weekend only!

Fife Contemporary Art & Craft (FCA&C), a St Andrews-based organisation promoting contemporary art and craft in Fife, is set to host what will be an exciting pop-up craft experience featuring a variety of contemporary work on display, as well as a shop and interactive activities.

FCA&C have launched a new brand, appropriately named ‘treat’. This year they hope

‘treat’rings by Zoe Duthie

to indulge the people of Fife with delightful craft treats to make the winter feel that little bit warmer! The idea behind ‘treat’ is to offer the people of Fife access to contemporary art and craft in a variety of ways, in the hope that more people will engage with it, whether through looking at it, shopping for it, reading about it, or doing it themselves. Their recently launched blog, www.treatfife.wordpress.com aims to keep the art lovers of Fife involved in their events, workshops, and art news from around the area.

Running over the weekend of the 16 to19 November (Friday to Monday) ‘treat’ will move into the fantastic, traditional setting of the All Saint’s Church Hall, North Castle Street, merging old with new. With work exhibited throughout the hall and a pop-up shop for those wishing to indulge further than just looking, the exhibition will also become interactive through a ‘meet the maker’ event to learn more about the exhibits. There will also be a children’s craft workshop with artist Susie Wilson on the Saturday morning.

Exhibits, shopping, a workshop, and ‘meet the maker’ event, isn’t all ‘treat’ has to offer you! As well as the art and craft items featured in the exhibition itself, the venue will also play an important role in this experience. Part of a

complex of arts and crafts buildings from the early 1900s, the location itself is famous for the high quality liturgical craft items that furnish the Church – textiles, metalwork, and glass in particular. It is therefore somewhat appropriate that this ‘treat’ pop-up experience will bring fabulous new craft items to sit side by side with historical pieces within All Saint’s Hall.

For more information on the event, the artists, the workshop and more, dates and opening times or how to find it, please visit www.treatfife.wordpress.com Finally, to sign up for the children’s workshop on Saturday, 17 November, or to find out more about the planned ‘meet the maker’ talk, please email: mail@fcac.co.uk or call FCA&C: 01334 474 610.

(Images courtesy FCA&C)

Claire Luxford, choir director, violin and piano teacher, announces a

Choral Renaissance After more than fifty years as an independent entity, the University’s most extraordinary choir has finally joined forces with the University Music Centre. Formerly known as the Renaissance Group, the choir was founded in 1955 by Douglas Gifford, Professor of Spanish and taken over in 1989 by David Gascoigne from the Department of French. While the choir still retains a strong link with the School of Modern Languages, it is now directed by a professional musician, Claire Luxford, who is particularly interested in further improving the standard of the choir.

The St Andrews Renaissance Singers, as they are now known, have an exciting year ahead. The highlight of the year will be a tour to Italy in July 2013 which they will undertake in collaboration with St Salvator’s Chapel Choir and University organist Tom Wilkinson. This tour will feature three concerts in the environs of Milan and will culminate in the singing of Mass in Milan Cathedral. All the tour arrangements will be overseen by Giampiero Innocente, who recently hosted the choirs of University and King’s Colleges, London. The Renaissance Singers are very grateful to Giampiero for his wonderful offer, and we look forward to welcoming his own ensemble, the Collegium Vocale di Crema, to St Andrews on an exchange tour in June 2013.

The choir will be putting on a concert in St Salvator’s Chapel on Monday 3 December, in collaboration with string players from the St Andrews Baroque Orchestra. The concert will feature both renaissance and baroque music, including Dietrich Buxtehude Das Neugebor’ne Kindelein (or The Heavenly Child), a charming and joyful cantata for fourpart choir, strings and continuo celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus, and the anthem I was glad by Henry Purcell, composed for the coronation of James II in 1685. The text of I was glad (taken from Psalm 122) will be familiar to many through its more famous setting by Charles Hubert Parry, performed at the royal wedding of William and Kate last year.

To complement these two baroque works the choir will also sing some Renaissance music, including one of the greatest masterpieces of early sixteenth century polyphony, the two-part motet Virgo Prudentissima by the Netherlandish composer Heinrich Isaac.

For this concert the choir and orchestra are delighted to be able to use the brand new University chamber organ, built this year by Robin Jennings of Dorset, England. Jennings has made organs to order for churches and music groups all over Britain, Europe and beyond, perhaps

most notably for The King’s Consort and for The Monteverdi Choir, who used one of his organs to record their cycle of the complete Bach cantatas under Sir John Eliot Gardiner. The St Andrews instrument is a portable four-stop continuo organ and is the generous gift of Jean McPherson.

The St Andrews Renaissance Singers rehearse on Tuesday evenings in St Salvator’s Chapel in St Andrews. Rehearsals take place each week during the University teaching semesters (Sept-Dec and Jan-April). The director would welcome enquiries from singers interested to audition, particularly those with choral experience and the ability to read music at sight. Members of the choir do not have to be part of the University but are required to join the University Music Centre. Please go onto the Music Centre website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/music to find more information and to enjoy a recording of what has been historically the choir’s favourite motet, one with which the choir has been associated from its inception, Palestrina’s Alma Redemptoris Mater.

(Photo courtesy David Stothard)

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EVENTS

Selected Events Wednesdays in November – Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns. Cambo House Uncovered.

A tour of the house with a member of the Erskine family. Tickets £9.50 (includes coffee & shortbread) in aid of the Cambo Institute. Contact: 01333 450 054 cambo@camboestate.com www.camboestate.com

Tuesday, 13 November – 9.00pm. The Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Global Cinema at the Byre: Morgen (Marian Crisan, Romania, 2010). Tickets from the Byre £6, students £5. Contact: Stefanie Van de Peer, Research Coordinator Centre for Film Studies sevdp@st-andrews.ac.uk

Saturday, 3 November – 9.00am to 1.00pm.

Argyle Street car Park. Farmers’ Market.

Sunday, 18 November – 11.00am to 4.00pm. Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns.

Christmas Food & Craft Fair.

In support of Gardening Leave www.gardeningleave.org Local crafts and delicacies, seasonal music and entertainment.

Admission £1.00 – Children free.

Contact: 01333 450 054.

Monday, 5 November – 8.00pm. St Leonards School Music Auditorium, The Pends.

The Idomeneo Quartet plays music by Haydn, Mendelssohn, Shostakovitch.

The St Andrews Music Club – tickets at the door £11, concessions £10, students £3, children £2. Contact: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Tuesday, 6 November – 9.00pm. The Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Global Cinema at the Byre: Kynodontas / Dogtooth (Yorgos Lanthimos, Greece, 2009). Tickets from the Byre £6, students £5. Contact: Stefanie Van de Peer, Research Coordinator Centre for Film Studies sevdp@st-andrews.ac.uk Thursday, 8 November – 8.00pm. School I, The Quad, North Street. The Fortification of Scotland 1940-41, a talk by Dr Gordon Barclay of Historic Scotland for the Archaeological Society. Contact, the Secretary, janemwatkinson@hotmail.com Friday, 9 November – 6.30pm. The Guid Cheese Shop, Burghers Close, 141 South Street, St Andrews. Learn about the art of affinage, and sample perfectly matured cheeses from the finest French affineur.

Cost: £20. Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk Saturday, 10 November – 10.00am to 5.00pm. Byre Theatre, Abbey Street. Christmas Art & Craft Fair. Entry Free. Contact: 01334 475 000.

– 1.00pm to 4.00pm. Hope Park Church Hall, St Mary’s Place, St Andrews.

Strathkinness Playgroup Winter Fair. Fun for the whole family; stalls, toys, books, face-painting, silent auction,cake/candy.

Entry £1, children Free. Contact: www.strathkinnessplaygroup.co.uk – 2.15pm. Holy Trinity Church Hall, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews. Guild Christmas Fair. With famous, popular Afternoon Tea. Contact Joan Archer 01334 475 716.

– 5.55pm. Perth Playhouse, PERTH. Live from the Met in New York: The Tempest.

Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

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Monday, 19 November – 7.30pm.

Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews.

Holy Trinity Guild Joint Meeting.

Lieutenant Commander Glen MacDonald R N will give a talk on the charity Military Combat Stress. We hope for a really good turnout of men and women. Refreshments will be served during the social time following this talk. Come along, help us to help others. Contact: Guild Secretary 01334 475 716.

Tuesday, 20 November – 9.00pm. The Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Global Cinema at the Byre: Iklimer/Climates (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey, 2006).

Tickets from the Byre £6, students £5. Contact: Stefanie Van de Peer, Research Coordinator Centre for Film Studies sevdp@st-andrews.ac.uk Friday, 23 November – 6.30pm. The Guid Cheese Shop, Burghers Close, 141 South Street, St Andrews.

Christmas is coming! Get some ideas about an outstanding festive cheeseboard, complimented by festive drinks, naturally! Cost: £25.

Contact: 01334 477 355 or email: info@guidcheeseshop.co.uk Tuesday, 27 November – 9.00pm. The Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Global Cinema at the Byre: The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner (Stefan Komandarev, Bulgaria/Slovenia/ Hungary/Germany, 2008). Tickets from the Byre £6, students £5. Contact: Stefanie Van de Peer, Research Coordinator Centre for Film Studies sevdp@st-andrews.ac.uk

Saturday, 1 December – 2.30pm. Glasite Hall St Andrews Church Hall Complex, King Street, DUNDEE. Development of tactical abilities in a Territorial Battalion 1916-18, A talk by Fraser Skirrow, for the Tayside Branch of the Western Front Association. Contact: Bob Paterson, 01382 775 000.

– 5.55pm. Perth Payhouse, PERTH. Live from the Met in New York: Clemenza di Tito. Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

Tuesday, 4 December – 8.00pm.

St Leonards Music Auditoriam, The Pends. Andrews Johnston (piano) & Jessica Beeston (viola) play music

by Schubert, Schuman, Watson Forbes, Fauré, Rebecca Clarke.

The St Andrews Music Club – tickets at the door £11, concessions £10, students £3, children £2. Contact: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Wednesday, 5 December – 7.30pm.

Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews. Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor John Storgårds; Piano Artur Pizarro.

Music by Rautavaara (UK première), Beethoven, Mendelssohn.

Pre-concert talk for ticket holders at 6.30pm. Tickets: 01334 475 000.

Information: www.sco.org.uk Thursday, 6 December – 8.00pm.

School I, The Quad, North Street.

Excavations at Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, a talk on the rise of the Pictish kingdoms of Northern Scotland by Dr Gordon Noble of Aberdeen University, for the Archaeological Society. Contact, the Secretary, janemwatkinson@hotmail.com Saturday, 8 December – 5.55pm.

Perth Payhouse, PERTH. Live from the Met in New York: Un Ball in Maschera. Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

Saturday, 15 December – 5.55pm.

Perth Payhouse, PERTH. Live from the Met in New York: Aida. Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

OUT & ABOUT Alistair Lawson, ScotWays

Bees in Bonnets Regular readers of “St Andrews in Focus” will know that this column has, in the past, commented on cattle on public rights of way, ill-disciplined dogs on public rights of way and has even hinted that sometimes – yes, just sometimes – there are ill-disciplined people to be found on public rights of way.

To continue that theme ...

A certain community council in Fife (anonymity is perhaps the wisest option here), has been troubling its corporate mind recently on the subject of bee hives adjacent to a public right of way. Debate has been heated, bees have been detected in bonnets, parochial fretting has occurred, the important business of the world has been set on one side while this allconsuming local battle has been fought to a standstill.

One really is forced to wonder ... are Fife people more disputatious than the population at large?

The Access Officers of Fife Council have been drawn into the debate and have delved into the relevant handbooks, regulations and laws. On re-emerging some considerable time later, they were able to state that bees are not classed as dangerous under the Animals (Scotland) Act of 1987, and therefore the landowner is allowed to keep bees next to a right of way or other type of public path. This has been confirmed by Fife Council’s Legal Department, Scottish Natural Heritage, Fife Council’s Environmental Services, Fife Council’s Health and Safety Department and the Scottish Bee-keepers’ Association. The Council of Europe and the United Nations have not been consulted.

(Cartoon by Sheila Fisher) However, maybe Fife people are not terminally disputatious after all, in that the bee-keeper has agreed to move the bees (this will take a while as bees can only be moved slowly). It should be pointed out that this has been done freely, as a goodwill gesture, as no law has been infringed and Fife Council has no power to enforce this action.

So, all’s well that ends well (in this instance, at least).

Tony Hardie’s

Nature Notes – July 2012 I apologise to my readers that I missed the to second homes, retirement homes and the editor’s deadline for the last issue. But for a motor car. Lovely trees have gone; no longer writer of these notes July is such a sad month. will the Tawny Owl call at nightfall, and the last It seems that all our garden birds have gone chance for Fife Council to raise their sights has away to hide; in most cases to moult. No longer gone. do we hear their song; the garden is quiet, the And so to write these notes I walked in woodland is quiet, the moorland is quiet. The late July to the Eden Estuary and the sands song thrush was the last to fall silent. He sang at Outhead where, when the wind is from the all day from the rough growth East, the sea breaks in white behind Greenside Place, not horses over the bar. Here there Along the coast of Fife as tuneful as the blackbird, is something to write about! we can see five species The terns, those wonderful but as Robert Browning of the tern family wrote: “He sings each song wanderers of the oceans have twice over / Lest you think he started their migration with their never could recapture / The first fine careless young in company. It is astonishing that over a rapture.” I fear that when the bulldozers arrive period of two months the young have hatched at that part of Abbey Park he will leave us and fledged to fly with the parent birds, still forever. Abbey Park, the policies laid out in the being fed by them. The tern can breed on the eighteenth century, has been delivered unto the shoreline between two Spring tides; a further developers. These policies, where the buzzard twenty-eight days and they are on their way – used to call with that lovely cry from overhead, no wonder because the Arctic Tern may have to where I have known the truly wild pheasant to fly twenty thousand miles before we see them bring up her young and where the woodcock again. They will “winter” in southern latitudes might rest in November is now to be dedicated where they moult and replenish on the krill of the Polar sea.

Along the coast of Fife we can see five species of the tern family: common, arctic, roseate, sandwich, and little. They are all elegant with long pointed wings, a forked tail and a slim build. Coloured white with the smartest of a black cap they are to be seen fishing close inshore for sand eels, a splash revealing their dive before they emerge with the silver prey glistening in their sharp bill.

They fly with a slow measured beat of those graceful wings. The turn that they make in the air, having spotted their prey is acrobatic. They have a raucous voice, not garrulous like the St Andrews gulls, and this carries a long way.

They are often to be heard from the St Andrews links and last night with a full moon they were flying over Abbey Park at midnight.

They nest in colonies around our coast, the Common Terns Isle of May is a great station for the common

Arctic Skua Tern and the lovely small islets of the Western sea lochs are much favoured. They are brave in the protection of their nests and do not hesitate to draw blood off the unwary intruder. At Outhead in small groups the greyish Little Tern, on their way South, look so peaceful, settled on the sand with very short legs, their tummies almost on the sand itself. The tern with the crest at the back of its head is the Sandwich Tern and there is a lovely colony where that little sea trout river runs into the sea, the Ythan. Their voice is even more rasping than the other terns.

At the start of their migration I believe that the terns are followed by that elegant pirate the Arctic Skua. This skua relies on another bird to do its fishing for it, pouncing until the target drops its prey. And so over the Eden Estuary the Arctic Skua is occasionally to be seen in the company of these migrating terns. The skuas have bred on the remote hillsides of Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebrides. At a distance they are darkish with pointed wings and pointed tail feathers, most easily identified by the way in which they follow and harry their prey. It is illuminating that the descriptive latin term for the Arctic Skua is parasiticus, the Arctic Tern paradisaea!

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

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OUT & ABOUT Gordon Jarvie

Snaw scenes, East Fife Things no seen at Kenly Green –

Flashback to the

Botanic Garden Open Day – Sunday 5 August 2012

snawy spoor on Magus Muir, roe deer foraging fer food steppin doon bi Cambo Wuid as aince agane the warld gaes chill an spindrift flees aff Lucklaw Hill.

Noo the sun’s striking Kittock’s Den. We step throu trees, an then – an then – there’s snaw ower the Sidlaws an sun ower the sea.

High tide’s at Kinshaldy an here’s whaur I’d be.

Sune eneuch’ll come the thaw creepin ower Kellie Law. rden

Rock Ga

This wee story came via a London reader’s New Zealand daughter-in-law!

Thunderstorms

A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather one morning was questionable and clouds were forming she made her usual trek to school. In the afternoon the winds whipped up, along with lightning.

The little girl’s mother felt concerned her daughter would be frightened as she walked home. She also feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother got into her car and drove to her child’s school.

She saw her little girl walking along. At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile. More lightning followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother drew up beside the child, she called, “What are you doing?” The child answered, “I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.”

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Making a bee

house

Lawn Party

OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe unearths more

Hidden Gems in St Andrews (in plain view)

– focussing on features that are in plain sight, but often overlooked.

Benchmarks This time we are looking at benchmarks. These were once very important for surveying purposes, but with the advent of satellites and global positioning they are now mainly redundant. Ordnance Survey no longer maintains the benchmark network. St Andrews has a reasonable number of ‘cut mark’ benchmarks, the familiar shape cut into a stone, a wall, or a building.

There is one example of a more important type, a flush bracket, to be found in South Street.

As benchmarks were important for survey and mapping purposes up to about 30 years ago, they can be found in most areas of St Andrews and not just in the historic centre. In many cases they are just a plain mark incised on a stone in a wall, but there are variations. Some are cut to cover two stones; some property owners have made a feature of the benchmarks and coloured them in to make them stand out; some are to be found on milestones. There are an appreciable number which appear on old ordnance survey maps but that no longer exist, either through building or road improvements or demolition. Some may still be there, but hidden behind new features or under harling or wall finishes. There are some that have simply worn away as the stone on which they have been carved has been affected by the ravages of the weather. The 1894 Ordnance Survey Map shows about 100 benchmarks in St Andrews. I have found around 75 still existing, though in some cases in a different location.

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe)

On a milestone in Buchanan Gardens

Total

Wearing Away

Coloured

Kennedy Gardens

Dauphin Cottage

Teinds Yett

Langlands Road

Pilmour Place – behind a lamp post

Hope Street – coping stone

St Andrews Church, Queen’s Gardens

BB Hall – on brick

Old Burgh School, Abbey Street – over two stones

St Mary’s, South Street

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