St Andrews in Focus Issue 56 Jan Feb 2013

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

Issue 56, £2.00 January/February 2013

www.standrewsinfocus.com

the award winning magazine for St Andrews

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

From the Editor I am often asked to include in this magazine diatribes against this, polemics against that. It seems to be what fuels the general media, but it is not the purpose of St Andrews in Focus. My contention, rightly or wrongly, is that the constant diet of gloom, despair, and misinformation dispensed by our national media leads to a resigned acceptance of what is worst. I believe in celebrating what’s good, what’s worthwhile, to remind us of what is possible. The past 500 years or more of gradual development in Western enlightenment should be cherished. I’m not suggesting that anyone should pretend evil doesn’t exist. I am suggesting that the forces of darkness should not be permitted to obscure what we have achieved; that we should shout to the rooftops that we will always reach for betterment, and that nothing will stop us from continuing along that path.

So, another year is here. I heartily wish us all a positive, and a happy one!

Flora Selwyn

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

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2013 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 FEATURES • • • • • • • • •

Bob Mitchell Reflects Lancaster Cohousing A Journey Through Time Connections Stop Press The Communiy Council The Fisher Cross From Douglas Mottashaw The Seceder Church

3 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7

TOWN & GOWN • • • • • •

George Phillips Explains LETS IPA, Review St Andrews Voices Out of the Flames Tertiary Education

8 8 9 10 11 11

SHOPS & SERVICES • • • • • • •

Our Culinary Heritage New Year Resolutions Toonspot “Chairs give you body rust!”

Tripping and Slipping and Snails Roving Reporter Eating Out: – Zizzi – The Adamson – St Andrews Golf Hotel

12 13 13 14 15 17 18 18 19

ORGANISATIONS • •

StAnza St Andrews Chess Club

20 21

EVENTS • • •

My World in Paint Rohan Winter Selected Events

22 22 22

OUT & ABOUT • • • • • •

Another Colligation Cold Contempt The Botanic Garden Nature Notes Education, Education, Education!!

Hidden Gems

NEXT ISSUE – Mar/Apr 2013 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 JANUARY

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

Cover: Pitcher Plant (Original photograph by Richard Cormack)

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FEATURES Bob Mitchell reflects on his

50 years at St Andrews Botanic Garden In 1962 Professor J A Macdonald enticed me to St Andrews University Botanic Garden from the staff at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, as Assistant Curator to J L Mowat. Little did I realise I would still be involved with the Garden 50 years later.

I was given the remit to move the plant collections and develop a new Botanic Garden on the 17-acre, greenfield site at Bassaguard. Over the years the Garden took shape with considerable support from four Professors of Botany with guidance from the Botany staff as to their botanical needs. The development would not have progressed so well without a keen and loyal garden staff.

To accommodate the botanical requirements special habitats were produced for the successful cultivation of a wide range of plants. With the added provision for training apprentices and amenity, the landscape evolved.

Today the collections feature the widest range of plant life, from tropical forest to alpine tundra, from desert to aquatic conditions.

Interpretation Boards explain the specialist habitats. Among the 8,000 taxa growing in the Garden, there are internationally important collections which include 169 species threatened with extinction listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data Books; 29 Champion Trees recorded by the Tree Register of the British Isles and Ireland (TROBI); special collections of Berberis, Cotoneaster, Deutzia, Philadelphus, Rhododendron, and Sorbus; and various plant-orientated trails. So conservation, education at every level, training and relaxation are the paramount aims of the present Garden.

I started adult education courses on plants and garden through the University Adult Education programme in 1967. Today the St Andrews Botanic Garden Education Trust has a full programme, with over 11,000 children from 107 schools visiting in the past 8 years. There are education programmes geared for pre-school, through primary and secondary schools, to adult classes and workshops. The Education Trust runs the St Andrews Botanic Garden Junior Hortus (founded in 1975). Several former members are now studying science-related subjects at University.

The Junior Wildlife Club (founded in 2011) is run jointly with SWT and the Fife Ranger Service.

Sadly the numbers attending throughout the education spectrum are restricted through lack of space. The success of the education

programme, which uses the whole range of garden plants to teach biodiversity, adaptation, evolution, and variation, within the Curriculum for Excellence, cannot be overstressed; the University should be proud.

I founded the Friends of the Botanic Garden in 1981, now with over 1500 members, they have been a tower of strength in keeping the garden viable, providing support, financially as well as socially.

My career has been blessed with good fortune in being in the right place at the right time; good fortune in the friends I have made; support from the Botany staff, especially in the early days, to develop the Garden for their needs from scratch; a dedicated garden staff; and support and encouragement from the Friends of the Botanic Garden, without whom we would not have the Visit Scotland 4-Star Garden award. This is a marvellous achievement which few gardens achieve, enjoyed by a growing number of visitors, including those recovering from surgical operations!

Without all this help, friendship and association my time in St Andrews would not have been so productive and enjoyable.

It was fitting that Dougal Philip presented the Bar for my RHS Long Service Medal, for he is one of the two Scottish members on the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, and had just delivered a lecture to the Friends.

At the end of a very entertaining and informative lecture last November on gardening for wildlife, Dougal Philip, as RHS representative in Scotland presented Bob Mitchell, honorary curator of The Garden, with a bar to attach to his 40 year service medal to mark his 50 years of service to The Garden. It is not an exaggeration to say that Bob has devoted his life to The Garden being instrumental in the design and structure of the present site in the early sixties, and is now striving to ensure the continuation of The Garden as a centre of botanical excellence.

(Presentation Photo – Bob on the right – by Jean Allardice)

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FEATURES From Mary Searle-Chatterjee www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

Passivhaus Cohousing Near Lancaster Bitter winds whistle around the chimney on winter evenings bringing unpleasant thoughts of fuel bills and bed socks. So wrap yourself in a blanket, huddle in a chair by the radiator, close your eyes and dream. Picture a home so tightly insulated that it is always warm, a home where the heat of your body and its passions is retained in the fabric of the walls. Dream of fuel bills so light they float away.

Open your eyes, go to your computer and type in the word ‘Passivhaus.’ Learn about state-of-the-art building in Northern Europe.

Here’s your dream become reality! Except that British builders have not rushed to follow the example of their European brothers (and sisters). However, the trickle has begun, and if you are very lucky you may one day live in an eco-house like the members of Lancaster Cohousing. Fifty of them have recently moved into their new community-built development on the banks of the river Lune near Lancaster.

Another thirty will follow when the last of the six terraces are completed, with only a couple of home still available.

The term eco-house is bandied around so much at the moment that it’s not always easy to know what it means. Environmental considerations are often sacrificed to fashion or aesthetics. Views and open fires may be

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preferred to energy conservation. This has not been so in the Lancaster project, though the riverside location is lovely. The group has had to make compromises to stay within a tight budget, but it has steadfastly refused to compromise on its commitment to minimising its carbon footprint and keeping warm.

The group’s ambition is that all the homes, when completed, will receive the highest level of Passivhaus building certification, Code 6 for Sustainable Homes. This gave the group, whose five founders were all involved in the Green Party, a solid target to aim for.

The term Passivhaus indicates that interior heating is achieved largely by passive means.

The buildings have large windows on the southern side. Heat enters through the tripleglazing during the daytime, but is unable to move in the other direction. It cannot escape through the fabric of the airtight building. Heat is also generated by the residents and any electric gadgets used. Ventilation is provided by a sophisticated heat exchanger system that draws out moisture while returning the heat into the building.

The Lancaster homes, regardless of size, each have only one heated towel rail and one radiator for use in very cold weather.

These are heated by a communal wood-chip boiler sourced from sustainably-managed woods nearby, housed in a Victorian mill next door that is being renovated as managed office and workshop space. Hot water and electricity are also generated by solar and photovoltaic panels on roofs, and next year should be supplemented by hydro-power from a community weir on the river. Recycled materials have been used whenever possible, including breeze-blocks using recycled aggregate.

The Lancaster project is committed not only to sustainable building, but to building community as well. Most members feel that the two are integrally connected. Cohousing is created, managed and run by the people who live there, and mixes private homes with communal facilities such as a Common House,

guest rooms, laundry, and children’s room.

Supporting each other and sharing, whether meals, washing machines, cars or expertise, helps to reduce carbon footprints.

Community-led projects seem more likely to insist on the highest standards and to develop more integrated social living. This does not mean there is no scope for private builders and commercially-led projects. There are consumers out there waiting for passiv houses to be built. Forward-looking developers can incorporate aspects of communal living into the design. Some have already done so, for instance the award-winning Leeds conversion, ‘Greenhouse’, a block of flats, incorporating allotments, bicycle club, Gymnasium and deli.

So maybe, one day, you will be able to leave your draughty house and snuggle up in a passivhaus fit for the twenty-first century.

NB – please see this magazine, issue 44 Jan/Feb 2011, for an article by Graham Drummond on the Passivhaus and its origins.

(Photos courtesy Mary Searle-Chatterjee)

FEATURES Elizabeth Richmond (Inspired by childhood memories)

A Journey Through Time I love to be beside the sea Where the salty north winds blow, Where poppies dance on the cliff tops And seabirds nest below, Where fishers brave the surging waves And kites soar in the sky, I watch entranced as the billows roll And cotton clouds scud swiftly by.

I love to be beside the sea, Feel the sand caress my toes; ‘tis such a treat to dip my feet In the foaming, tidal flows, And with delight in the morning light I watch the rising sun Cast sparkling gems on the heaving bay; A new day has begun.

I love to be beside the sea To walk through memory lane, Retrace my steps through halcyon days That knew no care or pain; Where is this town I love to be, This ancient seat of Majesty?

St Andrews, by the silvery sea, A special place it is to me.

(Photo by Flora Selwyn)

Alistair Lawson’s

Connections In her last editorial, our editor remarked upon the pleasure she derives from coming across serendipitous, unexpected connections.

I experienced this feeling the other day, while reading Heinrich Harrer’s Return to Tibet, the 1982 sequel to his better-known Seven Years in Tibet. My mind was attuned to Lhasa, monks, monasteries, prayer flags, mountains, yaks, the Chinese occupying forces, and suchlike matters when, all of a sudden, the words “St Andrews” and “world’s oldest golf course” leaped out of the page and arrested my reading in mid-flow.

I thought for a moment that my brain had involuntarily changed wavelength, switching to something else in the room, but a re-playing of the mental video confirmed my first impression.

The explanation? Harrer was writing at that point about the one-time British

Representative in Lhasa, a Scotsman, Hugh Richardson, with whom he had been acquainted during his famous “Seven Years”. Richardson had become an expert on matters Tibetan, had ultimately returned to his birthplace, St Andrews, and there indulged his twin passions for scholarship and golf. Harrer mentioned that he had visited Richardson, become a member of the R&A, and that they had enjoyed the odd round together.

Well, there you go!

Older readers may know all this, as Richardson spent many years in the town, lived to a ripe old age and only died in 2000, aged 94. However, not knowing the background, my mind registered these few words as a serendipitous connection to stand alongside the editor’s best.

A fuller version of the story may be found at: http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/tibet_Hugh_Richardson.html

Stop press!

St Andrews is soon to be embellished by famous Scottish sculptor, David Annand.

He has enthusiastically agreed to a commission to make a bronze statue of our wellknown Cat, Hamish McHamish. Following on the huge success of Susan McMullen’s book about Hamish, it seemed a good time to consolidate the fame of our Puss.

Edinburgh has Greyfriar’s Bobby; we will be proud to have Hamish McHamish!

Fundraising has started (including crowdfunding). Any donations will be gratefully received at St Andrews in Focus, or you can contribute via Hamish McHamish on Facebook! I’ll keep readers up to date here.

Distribution of the magazine is still causing problems. It seems some people have even got it in their heads that the magazine has stopped. Fortunately we’re still here. Please be patient; Elspeth Paterson is doing her best to keep up. If you, or anyone you know, would like to join Elspeth’s team please get in touch with her either by phone: 07852 583 147, or email: elspethsnews@btinternet.com

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FEATURES From Howard Greenwell, Convenor, the Planning Committee of the Community Council

Planning St Andrews New building developments continue to appear in St Andrews, more currently being processed through the planning application system. There has always been a high proportion of planning applications in the town, but 2012 seems to have been a special case.

With the establishment of the moratorium on HMO Licenses in the conservation areas, developers are keen to build developments containing multiple 2-bedroomed flats, thus avoiding the need for an HMO license.

The Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council Planning Committee has continued to monitor development of the town, particularly in the two Conservation Areas. The committee are particularly keen to ensure that the listed buildings, stone walls, and other historic buildings are not eroded by over development, additional entrances through walls and other inappropriate alterations.

The recent publication of Local Plan 2012 has finally confirmed the Green Belt around St Andrews. The Committee will continue to monitor planning applications in this area.

Whilst Enterprise, Planning and Protective Services of Fife Council should perform this function for the town, it is not always the case. Already Fife Council and the Labour administration have proposed to build the new Madras School in the Green Belt at Pipeland.

Another area the Planning Committee is concerned about is the over-use of “A” Boards and outside seating areas within the main commercial areas of the town. The Community Council is keen to ensure that all disabled and partiallysighted pedestrians have safe passage along the pavements.

The Committee have written to Fife Council regarding the over-use of “A” Boards and outside seating. The Committee believe that the use of “A” boards and outside seating on pavements should be controlled by a rental scheme that would provide revenue to police the scheme, and additional income for the St Andrews Common Good Fund.

From Jennifer Reid, Curator of the Preservation Trust Museum. This is her last column for this magazine, for a new prestigious job in Edinburgh has claimed her!

We wish her all the best, and thank her for all her contributions here.

The Curator’s Column

Q. I know St Andrews used to have a Market Cross in the middle of Market Street, but did it have a Fish Cross as well? If so, what was its purpose?

A. It did indeed. A watchmaker called Mr Smith, who lived in St Andrews in the 1800s, took a keen interest in the Fish Cross, or “Little Cross” as it was also known. His writing tells us that he learned from some older inhabitants in the town that it used to stand “in the middle of North Street, somewhat east of the U P Chapel” (opposite 52 North Street), that “it was a stone pillar about three feet high”, and that it was removed from North Street in around 1800.

The Geddy map (c1580) of St Andrews clearly shows a pillar in the middle of North Street, about halfway between Union Street and South Castle Street. The map shows it was quite a plain pillar with little decoration, compared to the Market Cross, which had a pyramid of steps leading up to it and a sculpted stone on its top. Interestingly, the Geddy map shows the Fisher Cross to be at least equal in height to, if not taller than, the Market Cross. It is likely that the level of North Street had been raised over the years, or that the cross was remodelled. The Burgh Treasurer’s accounts from Michaelmas (29 September) 1615 – Michaelmas 1616 state that two masons were paid forty shillings “for repairing the Fisch Cross”, perhaps the cross was shortened at this time.

The function of the Fisher Cross would have been very different from the Market Cross.

Market Crosses were found in towns awarded the right to hold a regular market. It was a symbol of a burgh’s prosperity, a place where merchants would gather, later becoming a focal point of public events such as announcements, proclamations, and punishments. The Fisher Cross did not have the same importance placed on it and the events surrounding it were not nearly as interesting. There were strict laws governing when and where the fisher folk were allowed to sell their fish, and to whom. Records show that fisher folk were required to bring all the fish they wanted to sell to the Fisher Cross between set hours, and were not permitted to sell it elsewhere outwith the set time frame. Although there was a fish market in the vicinity of this cross, the bulk of St Andrews’ fish was sold at the Buttermarket. There were many cases of this law being broken, transgressors being fined. In 1800 this fine would have been somewhere between £1 and £10, with incarceration in the Tollbooth on Market Street until the fine was paid.

Leges Quatuor Burgorum, a compilation of municipal regulations believed to have been compiled in the 1100s includes a law which states that if any man brings fish to a town with the intention to sell it, he shall not sell in a house, but instead bring the fish to the market, and that no man who bought fish to resell was to “presume to buy them at the sea, or at any place save the King’s Market”. It may have been this law that inspired the erection of the Fish Cross, meaning that it could have been as old as the burgh of St Andrews itself.

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Douglas M Mottashaw wrote in answer to Jennifer Reid’s request for information (page 8, issue 54) I have just been reading the September/October edition of “St Andrews in Focus” (now living in Strathkinness I don’t get a regular copy) and realized that I can add some information to Jennifer Reid’s little article about the house on North Street near Gregory Place.

I came up in 1949, and in my second year (ie 1950/51) did Music as one of my General subjects. The right-hand side of the house referred to, housed the Music Department and was also the living accommodation of the Thorpe Davie family. The lefthand side was the home (I think) of the Macarthur family; he was a librarian.

So, when I came along, the Music Department was well established there in 1949. Cedric was the Master of Music, and probably came to St Andrews not long after the end of WW2. At that time Music was possible only as a general subject.

I remember the building very well indeed and in particular the large music room facing out and over the North Sea. In my first year I joined the Chapel choir and stood in the back row of the basses beside Bill Henney, who became well known in the General Assembly in Edinburgh and also as minister of Hope Park.

FEATURES Gavin White unravels the story of

The Seceder Church The Seceder Church was formed by those who left the Church of Scotland in 1733 over patronage (the rights of landowners to select ministers) and doctrine in mainstream Presbyterianism. The St Andrews story is told in Dr Small’s History of the U P Congregations: “On 21st December 1737 the Associate Presbytery” received adherents from St Andrews and its neighbourhood and, “Messrs Moncrieff and Nairn conducted weekday services on 23rd March 1738 at a place two and a half miles south-west of the town.” Other services followed in woods and farms, “but ministers and preachers seem invariably to have kept at a respectful distance from the town itself.”

Sunday services were only to be had at Abernethy, twentytwo miles away by foot, and there is a tale of worshippers returning overnight by lanternlight and passing along the streets of St Andrews in the morning “amidst the jeers of reprobate students.” Dr Small doubts this last point, as the students would not have been in term at the time, but there is no doubt that the Seceders faced great hostility.

From 1741 the St Andrews Seceders were under the Ceres congregation, but in 1747 the new body split over whether

their members could take the oath as stipend, and though Williamson seems to burghers – the Ceres elders saying no, have been in the right, he left in 1795. But and being known as Antiburghers, and the “discretion was not an outstanding feature St Andrews ones saying yes, and being of Mr Williamson’s character”. known as Burghers. In 1750 five new elders were ordained, among them Henry There then followed John Rae, who left in 1805 Thomson, a merchant, the only man of to go to London, where he had differences with substance in the new church. There was his congregation, so moved on to the Bahamas. then division over whether Thomson could Four years after his leaving, John Johnston be an elder as his employees worked on a arrived and was everything a minister should fast day. One elder left, but the objections be. The members rose from eighty to twice that were finally set aside. And in number, with a hundred-and1749 money was paid, “For forty “ordinary hearers” as well, The Seceder knocking down two partitions while a new church was being and making two windows, built in North Street. But in 1825 tradition is now converting cottage into Johnston was sent to a great largely forgotten meeting house.” It was now church in Glasgow. The church safe to do this. in North Street had sittings There then followed a long period of for 440 persons. The Seceders were now a having no minister at all, or having one force to be reckoned with. Seceders were now who was disliked. The first was James sought by employers through their reputation Bennett in 1752, who died five years later. for honesty. Their next minister, Ebenezeer For six years there was no minister, often Halley, was immensely popular, but soon went no Sunday service. Then came David elsewhere, replaced by Thomas Aitken, who Smith, but after four years he went to Nova found himself in disagreement with elements Scotia where, “his untoward disposition had of the congregation, over his “want of tact” and alienated a great part of his congregation.” advocacy of temperance. On hearing he was In 1777 they acquired a new meeting unwanted he entered the pulpit, broke down, house, in what is still called the “Burgher never entering it again. He was followed by Close”. They kept calling ministers who, for James Taylor, who was of such merit that he one reason or another, drew back. was stolen away to Glasgow, and then John Finally George Williamson, who Kidd. But, “a serious charge was laid against had had to leave a parish in Hawick him”. He was deposed, went to America, and through “disaffection”, agreed to come to served churches on the frontier. There followed St Andrews, where his welcome was half James Black, who did well, and the church on hearted. There was then a dispute as to North Street became inadequate. whether the treasurer had, or had not, In 1865 they opened a new church on St given him his quarterly Mary’s Place, with seats for 700, and this is the building we know today as Hope Park, now Hope Park and Martyrs. In 1847 the Seceders had joined with the Relief Church to form the United Presbyterians. They in turn joined the Free in 1900 to form the United Free, who in their turn joined the Church of Scotland in 1929.

The Seceder tradition is now largely forgotten.

They were liberal in politics and in theology – though they had no seminary they produced a stream of respected theologians. And their church architecture was as flamboyant as their theology, Hope Park being typical in this regard.

Martyrs Church, North Street (Photo by Flora Selwyn)

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TOWN & GOWN George Phillips explains

Collatz’s Conjecture There are lots of unsolved problems in mathematics. Many of them are in the area known as number theory. I recommend that you use Google. Put “sum of two primes” into Google and read about Goldbach’s conjecture, first stated in the eighteenth century, that every even number greater than 2 can be written as the sum of two primes. For example, 100 = 3 + 97. If a mathematical conjecture can be proved it becomes a theorem, a known result. A prime is a whole number greater than 1 that is divisible only by 1 and itself. So the first few primes are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, . . . . Goldbach believed his conjecture was true, but although he and many very able mathematicians have tried to prove it over the past 270 years, this conjecture is still unsettled. For most of us, prime numbers are difficult to handle. For example, it is easy to check that 101 is a prime, but what about 10001? It is not easy to answer this question.

If I tell you that this number is divisible by 73 (I used my computer to find this) you will be able to verify that 10001 is not a prime. (Can you find all the factors of 10001?)

However, you can tell at a glance that 10001 is an odd number. I now state a process that involves even and odd numbers. We begin with any positive whole number n. If it is odd we multiply it by 3 and add 1. (Of course, this then gives an even number.) If n is even we divide it by 2. Then we repeat this process: if odd we multiply by 3 and add 1; if even we divide by 2.

For example, let us begin with 3. Since 3 is odd, we compute 3x3+1 = 10. Since 10 is even, we obtain 10/2 = 5. From 5 we get 3x5+1 = 16, and

then we get 8, followed by 4, 2, and 1. Collatz’s five other universities. My Dundee friends Conjecture states that, whatever “starting used to tell a story about him. At the first day number” we choose, the above process always of a conference an eager young man greeted leads to the number 1. Suppose that the Professor Collatz. He said “Hi, Lothar” and conjecture is valid for every “starting number” was ignored. Next day he said “Hi Professor from 1 up to n − 1. Then if we start with n, and Collatz”, and again got no response. On the at some stage we reach a number that is less third day he said “Good morning, Professor Dr than n, we know that we must reach 1, and so Collatz”, but still got no reply. On the last day of the conjecture would hold for every integer up the conference he approached the great man at to n. Let us try some more cases: breakfast time with his most polite greeting thus With n = 4 we get 2 and then 1. With n = 5, far, “Good morning, Professor Dr Dr Collatz”, since 5 occurs in the ‘3’ case above, this and received a warm reply. Surely this story reduces to 1. With n = 6, we get 3, and we was a little exaggerated, but I like it. again use the fact that 3 reduces to 1. With I first met Professor Collatz at my first n = 7, we get 22, then 11, 34, 17, 52, 26, 13, international conference. This was held at 40, 20, 10, and 5, which reduces to 1. the University of Lancaster in 1969, in the Try some more cases, for example try week that Neil Armstrong walked on the n = 11. If you are feeling really brave, try n = 27.

Moon. At that time I had never heard of his This takes 111 “iterations” to reduce to 1. It has conjecture, but knew he was a highly respected been verified by direct calculation mathematician, with very wide that the conjecture holds up to interests. Thereafter I met him There are lots of very large values of n. So if you a few times at conferences, in unsolved problems think you have found a “counterDundee, Calgary, Bulgaria, and in mathematics example”, get someone to check Singapore. Each time I saw him I your arithmetic! greeted him, although never quite Although this Conjecture has been linked as politely as the young man did in his final with many people, it is usually named after greeting in the story above. After Lancaster, Lothar Collatz (1910–1990), who proposed it I always reminded him of the places we had in 1937. (See the article on him in History of met before. He was always very kind but, alas, Mathematics written by my colleagues John never gave any sign that he remembered me.

O’Connor and Edmund Robertson.) Professor He was a great servant of mathematics who Collatz was much admired by my colleagues never truly retired. He died in Bulgaria while in Dundee, including Professor Ron Mitchell attending a conference.

(1921–2007). Collatz attended many of their conferences and was awarded an honorary I write this article in memory of my dear friend degree by the University of Dundee, and by Mike Thresh.

Paul White, Project Worker at Transition University of St Andrews

Local Exchange Trading Scheme across the UK. LETS are local currencies (for example, the Brixton Pound) About two years ago I was visiting in that they allow communities to start up their own network of community local sustainability projects around credit, allowing wealth to be generated locally, especially during times New Zealand when I first came when there is a lack of normal currency circulating. They work by allowing across Local Exchange Trading members to offer goods, skills and services to other members for credits.

Schemes (LETS). The idea of local These are then used to “buy” things they might want from other members. currencies had already been in LETS systems offer interest-free credit (as long as you eventually “spend’ my mind for a few years, but this what you have “earned’) allowing you to access goods and skills you might was the first time I had seen one need now, without having to wait until precious sterling appears later. in action. I was volunteering at the time through the WWOOF network (a With LETS, wealth isn’t measured by how many credits you have, but volunteer organisation of local Organic farms and Sustainable projects) by how many exchanges occur in the community: the more people trade, in a small community called Golden Bay in the South Island, where the the more things get done and the more people get what they want or residents had set up a community exchange scheme called HANDS need. Moreover, it strengthens the local community, providing resilience (based upon the LETS principles). A members’ directory provided the for the future in the face of economic uncertainty, and potential challenges opportunity to offer skills and services, from Childcare and Knitting to Car such as Peak Oil. Repair and Windsurfing lessons, which they could “pay’ for with credits A LETS scheme once ran in St Andrews and locally back in the ‘90s. they had earned. With a membership of 350 for a community of just over Schemes in Anstruther, Cupar, and Dundee also sprang up. As part of 2000 residents spread across an equivalent geographical area similar to St Andrews Communities Working Together group, Transition University the East Neuk of Fife, it was quite impressive. Moreover HANDS earned of St Andrews is re-vitalising the scheme as part of by members could also be redeemed in local shops for the recent successful Climate Change Fund Bid made up to 20% of their groceries, thus encouraging economic With LETS, wealth isn’t to the Scottish Government. Transition is hoping to growth and putting money back into the local community. measured by how many engage with both members of the community and the I was in New Zealand at the same time as University to encourage people to sign up and get the Christchurch earthquakes, which devastated credits you have, but by involved. Eventually it is hoped that LETS will integrate the Canterbury region of South Island. One town how many exchanges into local businesses too, supporting the town and particularly badly hit was Lyttleton, just 20 minutes from occur in the community encouraging more people to buy locally.

Christchurch. Most of the town centre was destroyed.

My role at Transition is to encourage the There was an urgent need for help to rebuild homes, development of LETS, help publicise it and provide support to the LETS reconnect power and water supplies. Interestingly the local residents steering group, made up of members of staff, community, and students. found that government help wasn’t coming quickly enough, so they turned Over the coming months we will be running drop-in sessions, tying to LETS to help “pay” people for their time and services, to get things in with other community events to help promote the scheme. However, fixed, people re-connected, homes and businesses rebuilt. if you would like to find out more or are interested in joining, please Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS) have been around since either email us at: transition@st-andrews.ac.uk or call the Transition the 1980s, when they were first set up in British Columbia, Canada. Now Office on 01334 46 400. they are operating all around the world with over 50 schemes running

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TOWN & GOWN Lucie Fuller-Kling, Head of Events in the IPA

Why Obama Won: What to Expect from the Next Four Years Ambassador Derek Shearer Visits St Andrews On the evening of Wednesday, 21 November, the University’s International Politics Association hosted Ambassador Derek Shearer to shed some light on arguably the hottest topic of autumn 2012: the US Presidential Election. Specifically, Ambassador Shearer discussed – as the event title indicates – “Why Obama Won: What to Expect from the Next Four Years.” As a former US Ambassador to Finland, economics official in the Clinton Administration’s Department of Commerce, and foreign policy advisor to both Al Gore and Hillary Clinton during their respective Presidential campaigns, Ambassador Shearer was a particularly apt speaker for the event.

The International Politics Association’s (IPA) primary function is to increase the political awareness of St Andrews’ academic and local communities by providing access to those involved in the higher echelons of political affairs. An apolitical association, the IPA provides a platform for political figures, such as Ambassador Shearer, to express their views and insights. The Ambassador, a resident of California, came to St Andrews as a guest of Principal Louise Richardson, who also participated in the event by providing an introduction, and moderating the Q&A session following Ambassador Shearer’s talk.

Ambassador Shearer divided his talk precisely along the lines of the event title. First, he outlined how the changing demographics of the United States contributed to Obama’s victory. While the Democratic Party has embraced the potential for ‘majority-minority’ states – that is, states whose collective minority populations exceed the white population, which is already a reality for the Ambassador’s home state of California – the Republicans have largely ignored the changing face of America.

Subsequently, the Ambassador explained how if the Republicans ever hope to hold the White House again, some serious rethinking of their platform must be undertaken. The speaker was blunt in his assertion that a white boys’ party no longer represents the United States; he also explained how a token minority – i.e. Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential nominee in 2008 – is not enough. Indeed, President Obama did not win because he is African American, he won because his platform and policies

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align more closely with the interests of women and America’s expanding ‘minority’ population.

In the second portion of the talk, Ambassador Shearer summarized what he envisioned the next four years would look like both domestically and internationally. Domestically, he addressed the looming fiscal cliff that the US could be faced with after President Bush’s tax cuts expire at the end of the year, along with the immigration policy implications that arise from the changing face of America described above. Internationally, Ambassador Shearer was frank in his claim that the United States – the only nation with an embassy in every country in the world – has particularly high responsibilities globally and, correspondingly, global expectations of its actions. As such, the pick for US President has vast foreign policy implications. The Ambassador outlined the potential issues and developments surrounding the key areas of the Middle East, particularly Iran, Israel, and Syria, Cuba, and the BRICS – with his own addition of T – Turkey. Many of these areas were further explored in the Q&A session led by Principal Richardson.

Ambassador Shearer is currently Chevalier Professor of Diplomacy and World Affairs at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and his teaching and oratory skills certainly contributed to the clarity and level of engagement of his talk. The thought-provoking evening marked the final event of the International Politics Association’s autumn programme. Next semester, the IPA will be hosting Princess Basama bint Saud, daughter of the late King Saud and an advocate for reform in Saudi Arabia; Dr. Seebode, the German Consulate General to Lyon, France; and the Bishop of Birmingham, Rev. David Urqhart; among other accomplished speakers to be announced in February.

Please refer to the IPA’s website, http://standrewsipa.co.uk/, or Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ipastandrews?fref=ts, for the latest updates.

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TOWN & GOWN A review by Marilyn Boulton, retired Director of Music at St Leonards School, teacher of violin & piano, and harpist for afternoon tea at the Old Course Hotel!

St Andrews Voices 2012

four young dancers gave beautiful and sensual The first St Andrews Voices Festival took interpretations of the songs engagingly sung by place in October and was probably the most Damian, with superb piano accompaniment. exciting new musical event in our city this year.

Stamina was required for the weekend, The brainchild of University Director of Music, with three performances on both Saturday Dr Michael Downes and St Andrean, Sonia and Sunday. Ben McAteer, baritone, is well Stevenson, it set out to programme four days known to St Andrews audiences, having of vocal music in a wide range of styles and studied Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry genres. Avid fans of the voice were able to buy here, graduating in 2010. Since then he has a Festival pass giving entrance to everything been studying voice in London at the Guildhall on offer. This, in itself, encouraged attendance School of Music and Drama . He was named at performances which might have been winner of Opéra les Azuriales Ozone Prize in outside the concert-goers’ usual comfort zone – Nice and the Guildhall’s English Song Prize. one of the goals of the Festival!

He was also runner-up at this year’s Kathleen The opening recital in the Younger Hall was Ferrier Awards. His St Andrews fans turned given by the international tenor, Ian Bostridge, up in force to hear him on Saturday morning, Patron of the Festival, with Julius Drake at the and were not disappointed. With pianist, Gavin piano. Their fine performance of Schubert’s Roberts, (another name to watch) he gave a song cycle, Winterreise, was well attended and gripping and emotional interpretation of songs certainly well received. After a work of such

by Schubert and Schumann and operatic arias dark emotion, some felt that they would not

by Wagner and Tchaikovsky. His beautiful wish to break the spell by going to a beatbox voice, musical understanding, and excellent group in a late-night show at the Byre Theatre. diction, conveyed the meaning and mood of However, after a short walk and a drink, the every song. The second half of the programme Boxettes proved to be both highly entertaining was dedicated to songs in English and it soon and musically stunning. I would guess that became obvious why he had most of the audience would won an English Song prize. never have heard such music probably the Again, crystal clear diction and before! Yet it was clear that most exciting new wonderful vocal colour pulled those prepared to try something the listeners into every song. different were very pleased they musical event in And after a taste of opera had done so. our city this year in the morning, Saturday The following day brought evening brought a potpourri of one of the highlights of the favourite operatic arias from Scottish Opera Festival. The performance by the Scottish singers Nadine Livingstone, Rosie Aldridge and Ensemble of music by Handel, Schumann, Roland Wood (standing in at the last moment Mozart, Purcell and Britten was outstanding for Marcus Farnsworth, who was indisposed). in every way. Perhaps the most exciting piece Arias ranged from Purcell to Korngold, and was Britten’s dramatic cantata, Phaedra, included Mozart, Gounod, Puccini, amongst sung by Sophie Harmsen. Already well known others. Perhaps the most exciting and moving in Europe, this was her British debut. Her was an excerpt from Vaughan Williams luscious voice, outstanding musicianship and The Pilgrim’s Progress, sung by Roland dramatic delivery should ensure many more Wood. He will be singing the role in English engagements here.

National Opera’s production this year and his Again, it seemed that a complete change of St Andrews performance certainly encouraged style after such a wonderful concert would spoil some to contemplate a trip to London to see the euphoria. Not so! The second late night the whole opera. concert at the Byre, in yet another different Saturday’s late night offering was from genre, saw Company Chordelia and baritone, The Cast, a folk duo of Mairi Campbell (fiddle Damian Thantrey give a night of sensuality and voice) and David Francis (guitar). Their and sumptuousness (to quote their programme performance in story telling and music of “The notes) inspired by 1930s Berlin cabaret. The

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Red Earth” was very moving. There was a gentleness and understated beauty in their performance as they told the story of Mairi’s forebears, who were missionaries in China, with the dramatic events in which they were caught up in the first half of the twentieth century.

St Salvator’s Chapel Choir shone in the Festival Service on Sunday morning, with music by James MacMillan and Monteverdi, serving as a reminder of the great work being done by Thomas Wilkinson, both in St Salvator’s Chapel and in the music of St Andrews. A quick lunch was followed by Counterpoise and Eleanor Bron in the Byre.

The unusual combination of violin, trumpet, saxophone, and piano worked extremely well both in Britten’s Cabaret Suite and Walton’s Façade, arranged for the group by their pianist, Iain Farrington, also in David Matthew’s Actaeon, written for the group. This was a very exciting piece, which should certainly be heard regularly. Eleanor Bron has lost none of her charisma and humour; it was a very entertaining afternoon.

The final performance of the Festival was Handel’s The Triumph of Time and Truth performed by Edinburgh-based Ludus Baroque, conducted by Richard Neville-Towle. Though rarely heard, this was a most interesting piece with outstanding soloists in Mary Arnet, Mary Bevan, Tim Mead, Ed Lyon, and William Berger. Another piece which deserves to be heard more regularly.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this marvellous Festival was the small audiences at many of the performances. There had been much publicity both locally and nationally, so it was a mystery why, in a city counting itself cultured and musical, there were not more people at every single concert. It is to be hoped that next year will bring a similar calibre of wonderful artists and that St Andrews can produce the support such artists deserve.

(Photo courtesy Marilyn Boulton)

TOWN & GOWN Jen Kelshaw previews

Out of the Flames Martyrs’ Church and its congregation will still March 2013 will be very much alive and accessible. see the launch of Did you know there’s a time capsule in Out of the Flames, the church from the Twenties? We don’t know an exhibition where it is, or what’s in it, but we’ve been charting the history reliably informed that it’s in there somewhere! of Martyrs’ Church In that vein, as part of our education and events on North Street, curated by the University of programme we will be running drop-in timeSt Andrews’ Museum and Gallery Studies capsule-making events for everyone, we’ll be students. The exhibition will explore the asking them to write postcards recording what origins of Martyrs’ from the Reformation, the their daily life is like in St Andrews in 2013. martyrs that inspired its name, its architecture Because the exhibition also coincides with the and craftsmanship and the current University University’s 600th Anniversary celebrations, we renovation project. As a member of the curation will be holding another drop-in event to create team I wanted to let the town know how we a celebratory banner using colourful fabric, are building the exhibition; by acknowledging sequins and ribbon – we’re hoping to display it the important role that Martyrs’ has played in in the newly refurbished Martyrs’! the St Andrews community and looking to its In the meantime we will be working hard future, with its new incarnation as part of the researching the wonderful University, we hope to show craftsmanship in the that its long history will not We’ve had a great church; the spectacular be lost. response from stained glass; St Andrews’ We’ve had a great place in the Reformation response from members of members of the and the 1843 Disruption, the Martyrs’ congregation Martyrs’ congregation also how to create who are now at Hope Park, a modern, engaging St Leonards, and elsewhere, exhibition. It has been exciting consulting with and have gathered a wonderful range of local experts from the Preservation Trust, photographs, documents, and memories the St Andrews Partnership, the University’s already. Our events programme kicks off with Special Collections, and School of Computer an ‘Archival Afternoon Tea’ in the Museum Science – who will hopefully be helping us of the University of St Andrews on Sunday, develop innovative and interactive ways in 20 January. We’re inviting all members of which the public can virtually tour the church the community to come along and have a and the related sites around the town. We ‘cuppa’ and cake, to chat about their memories welcome contributions and advice from any of Martyrs’. We would love people to bring (Photos courtesy Jen Kelshaw) members of the In Focus readership. anything that they would be happy for us to digitise in order to build an online archive.

We will have scanning and audio-recording You can email us at jmb85@st-andrews.ac.uk Find us on Facebook at: MGS Martyrs’ Church. equipment. Of course, you’re welcome just to Tweet us: @MGSMartyrs. We look forward to welcoming you to our exhibition in March, if we come along and find out more about what we’re don’t meet you before! up to! By the time we launch our exhibition on The Out of the Flames Exhibition Team: Vikki Bielby, Jen Kelshaw, Sinae Lee, Deirdre 15 March at the Gateway Galleries, we hope to have an extensive exciting online database Mitchell, Bess Ruzich and Yi Zhang. of memories that will ensure the history of

John Cameron reflects on

Tertiary Education The University and College Admissions Service has found that demand website ‘Coursera’ launched a year ago, for UK degree courses is falling faster among the affluent middle class only Stanford and Princeton signed up. than poorer teenagers. It had been feared that fees would discourage the Today it has 35 partner universities and poor, but it is the smart bourgeoisie who are opting for foreign universities two million students. Not to be outdone, or direct entry from school to the world of work. Our educational the Massachusetts Institute of Technology establishment will not like these findings, yet it costs much more for a launched “edX” featuring its own content with teacher’s daughter to go to Oxford than to attend Harvard on a ‘full-need’ that of Harvard, Berkeley, and the University of Texas. scholarship. On the horizon is the even greater challenge of the internet, Of course these are early days and though access is free, degrees which, having revolutionized the retail and travel world, is turning its are not yet available, though some universities are already giving credit attention to tertiary education and the future is boundless. There are still issues I spent the 1960s and beyond knocking about to be sorted out – for example computers are neither government the universities of Scotland and America, enjoying good at grading maths questions, while marking grants nor scholarships the sport, music, and social life, as much as any of English literature essays is another matter. This the courses I studied. It has been said that those can cope with 50 per cent has produced a preponderance of scientific and who were undergraduates in California in the years technical subjects, as the number of arts courses is of the population before Vietnam were as close to heaven on earth as increasing, and the problems are not insuperable. human beings have ever come. However, the fact is An ever-nimble Edinburgh University has joined the system was designed for an intellectual elite and neither government Coursera to offer six courses for which 100,000 students have already grants nor scholarships can cope with 50 per cent of the population. signed up; i.e. four times its current student body. The future for ‘realToday, for would-be students in developing countries, or those in world’ universities is, however, bleak with the elite ones set to become the first world who boggle at the soaring costs, on-line universities must much more expensive vocational units to just survive, and most of the surely be part of the answer. The UK led the way in technologicallyrest to go to the wall. Higher education does not like to think of itself as an driven educational access via television; the Open University, at £5,000 industry, but it is clearly a kind of business, and students – whether they a year, is no longer the cheap alternative it was in 1969. When the want to admit it or not – are its consumers.

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SHOPS & SERVICES Fiona Richmond, Slow Food Edinburgh

Savouring our culinary heritage – some reflections on Slow Food generation of young people able to grow and Coming from a long line of St Andrean fisherfolk (generations of my appreciate good, clean, and fair food. family were all born in North Street and were the lifeblood of the fishing Jane Stewart from St Andrews community), as with a Yorkshire Grandfather who was never happier than Farmhouse Cheese Company, said: keeping hens, growing vegetables and pottering in the garden, I have always felt strongly about being connected with the source of food and “We were absolutely delighted to be keeping small-scale traditional production methods and food culture alive. asked to attend Terra Madre, and present This is probably one of the reasons that led me to the Slow Food our cheese alongside such a wealth of movement, which was featured in this magazine a number of years ago fabulous products from all corners of the globe. The opportunity to when, by chance, your naturally curious Editor contacted me eager to find taste, network and learn was an experience which will stay with us out more, after stumbling across Slow Food during her travels in Italy.

– and influence our thinking – for a long time to come” In essence, “Slow Food is a global, grassroots organisation with supporters in 150 countries around the We have a lot to be proud of in Scotland, world who are linking the pleasure of I realised the importance of cherishing our with a thriving food and drink sector good food with a commitment to their artisan food producers, the need to record and and a demand for quality products with community and the environment. A nonpromote traditional foods that are in danger of provenance at an all-time high. Our profit member-supported association, Slow disappearing, and bringing communities together products are revered across the world; Food was founded in 1989 to counter we must continue to celebrate that, the rise of fast food and fast life, the ensuring that our traditional products and artisan producers have a future. disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in If we look to our own doorstep we can discover fantastic quality, tasty the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food food that has been produced with love, that has a story behind it. Seek it choices affect the rest of the world” www.slowfood.com out and relish it!

Like your Editor, when I discovered Slow Food, it struck a chord I hope that my forebears know how proud I am of them and all that with me and I have been an avid supporter ever since, working for the they did to support the fishing community in St Andrews over generations. organisation for several years and, now, an active committee member of I think they’d be curious about Slow Food, too. my local group, Slow Food Edinburgh.

I realised the importance of cherishing our artisan food producers, the need to record and promote traditional foods that are in danger of Slow Food Fife disappearing, and bringing communities together, from chefs, bakers, Viv Collie, Director of the Fife Food Network established the fishermen, breeders and growers, to young people and anyone interested Slow Food group in Fife. Over the last three years the group in the movement’s ideals to champion the ‘good, clean, and fair’ food has organised a wide range of events celebrating local food philosophy in Scotland. and producers. The topics have included venison, asparagus, Scotland was given a superb opportunity to present a selection of cheese, ice cream, beef, wild food, organics, bakery products, ‘good, clean, and fair’ products on the international stage at the highlyblack pudding, seafood, soft fruit, orchard fruit, chocolate, chilli, acclaimed Slow Food global exhibition of ‘Foods that Change the World’, wine, beer and pork. The group also has good links with Slow the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2012, held in Turin, at the end of Food Edinburgh and Perth. For further information and how to get October. involved contact Viv via www.foodfromfife.co.uk Featuring more than 1,000 exhibitors from 100 countries from Asia, Africa, North & South America, Europe, the Middle East, and more, the events offered a platform for small-scale farmers and artisans to unite and (Photos courtesy Fiona Richmond) present their products, participate in food debates and conferences on key issues and taste education activities.

Over 200,000 visitors flocked to soak up this extraordinary event and learn about, taste, and buy special foods from around the world.

Our Scottish exhibitors featured award-winning organic beers from the Black Isle Brewing Company, native breeds from Hugh Grierson Organic; Bread Matters, a Peeblesshire business promoting and teaching artisan breadmaking; The Scottish Crofting Federation, with items from the traditional crofters’ diet; handmade pies from Acanthus Pies; and, last but not least, flying the flag for Fife was our very own St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company, the only artisan farmhouse cheesemaker in the region.

It would be fair to say that they were all blown away by the event and the genuine interest shown by visitors in their products and the story behind them. They were impressed with Slow Food’s commitment to bringing together food communities from every corner of the globe in celebration of their very diverse traditional food cultures; to meet, share stories, exchange ideas, and to joyfully show the world how vital it is that we conserve this traditional knowledge; save the world’s best foods and foster a Jane Stewart (R) with Sascha Grierson (L) of Hugh Grierson Organic, Perth

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SHOPS & SERVICES Jonnie Adamson

New Year Resolutions As the year turns, thoughts moving from Furthermore, there are a number of mince pies and Christmas puddings, it is likely allowances across a variety of taxes available that many of us will look to give our bodies to everyone; it is worth making sure that they a break from the excesses to reinvigorate are all used properly: ourselves for the New Year. Whether it be a brisk walk along the West Sands or a revisit 1. Tax free savings – have you used to the gym many feel the need to get physical your Individual Savings Account (ISA) wellbeing to the top of the resolution list. With allowance? You can save up to £5,640 a tax this in mind, should we also be thinking about year in a cash ISA, or £11,280 in a Stocks paying a little attention to our and Shares ISA, or spread financial health as well? These the overall yearly allowance of It is certainly worth days it is becoming ever more £11,280 across both (subject to having a review at important to make sure every maximum of £5,640 in a cash this time of year, penny counts and there are a few ISA). It might also be worth simple things that can be done to checking your current ISAs are make a difference. performing; a number of accounts recently The first major change of the year (7th have had high initial interest rates which January) is the well-publicised change in Child drop down after a period. They can be Benefit entitlement. You may be inclined to easily changed. register to stop receiving the benefit to avoid 2. If inheritance tax is a worry, then make a future tax charge, if so then you need to sure you have made gifts up to your annual do this now. If you are affected and you are exemption of £3,000 by 5th April. This only just over the limits then it might be worth rises to £6,000 if nothing has been made making additional pension contributions in the previous year either. You can also before 5th April in order to preserve some of give small gifts of £250 to an individual to the entitlements. Making charitable donations help reduce your estate for inheritance tax by gift aid may not only save you higher rate purposes. tax, but could also help retain your entitlement 3. Making full use of your capital gains tax to Child Benefit. annual allowance before 5th April is also a Secondly, do you need to do a tax return, useful strategy for helping save future tax if so then make sure you get your tax return bills. Each person is allowed capital gains in on time (31st January). Penalties are now of £10,600 each year before tax is paid. significantly higher (up to £1,200) and are not Selling some shares before 5th April can dependant on how much tax you pay. help reduce the tax payable in the future.

4. It is relatively widely known amongst employees involved in healthcare as well as policemen and firemen that there are tax allowances for uniforms and other expenses. However, not so well known are the allowances for employees working in building, agriculture, food, printing, and forestry. If you haven’t claimed already you can go back four years. So for example, a carpenter claiming allowances of £140 per year for the last four years could be entitled to a tax repayment of at least £112. The deadline for claims for the 2008/09 tax year is 5th April.

It is certainly worth having a review at this time of year, and hopefully, as the bathroom scales move back in the right direction the back pocket will feel that little bit heavier as a result.

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

“Chairs give you body rust!”

Now that we are into the beginning of January, I’m sure many of you will have come up with a list of New Year resolutions.

I would like to encourage you to add one more resolution to your list – spend less time sitting!

Consider this question for a moment – how many hours a day do you spend sitting? If you are like the average person, you get up in the morning and sit for breakfast, jump in the car and sit for your journey to work, sit all day at a desk, then probably sit some more during your lunch break, then jump in the car again for the journey home for a little more sitting, and then relax in front of the television for the evening! That’s quite a big proportion of your waking hours spent sitting – much of which is not good for your back let alone the rest of your body!

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.

The body is designed in such a way that it requires a mixture of movement and exercise along with an appropriate amount of rest to keep the muscles strong and healthy and to help to keep the joints moving well. Most of us find the rest part easy, but the movement part takes a bit more effort! If you don’t have a sport or activity in which you partake on a regular basis, then one of the easiest ways to move more is to introduce walking into your daily routine. Some ways you can do this is to get off the bus a stop earlier or park the car a bit further away from your destination. Another idea is to use the stairs instead of the lift or escalator, or to walk along the West Sands during your lunch break.

In an ideal world, spend 30 minutes a day walking or exercising. If you can’t find 30 minutes free in the day, or if that is longer than you’re able to manage at the moment, you can build up to this gradually.

Alternatively, it can be broken down into two 15 minute sessions. At the end of the day, a small increase in daily activity is better than none at all; of course it has the added benefit of being good for your health too, not to mention burning off one or two of those mince pies enjoyed during the festive season!

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

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SHOPS & SERVICES David Adie. 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.

Tripping and Slipping and Snails Has anyone ever read John Grisham’s book called “The King of Torts”? was that the bottle had the decomposed remains I will not give away the plot here, but basically it involves a lawyer who of a snail in it. The person who drank the ginger makes a fortune out of reparation claims because of a defective drug and beer suffered sickness and sought recompense. the subsequent events that befall him. He is so successful at one point From this case the law of negligence or delict that he is called the King of Torts. A tort is a civil wrong. It is known in has evolved. It is one of the areas where Scots Scots Law as a delict and delict comes from Roman Law. Law at one time led the world. There is, in fact, If a delict is a civil wrong it is sometimes, but not always, a crime. If I a small memorial to this case in Paisley; if you punch you in the face, that is a crime, but it is also a civil wrong and you wish to visit it, you can see the very site where are entitled to reparation from me for the injury which you have suffered. the café used to stand where the ginger beer bottle was sold. There is a For example, if you have a broken nose and are off work for a week, you company which markets various things to the legal profession, actually would be entitled to recover from me the cost of medical treatment and making a paperweight in the form of a replica of the ginger beer bottle, the loss of wages plus something for solatium, i.e. the hurt. with an accompanying snail paper knife.

It is this general principal of Law which is used for What should you do if you suffer injury? The example, by claims companies. How many of you have answer is probably, consult a lawyer, not a claims What should you do if company. There are many specialist firms who do this received a text offering you compensation for a road accident? You have perhaps never even been in a road you suffer injury? The type of work. The difficulty with claims companies is accident, but there are some claims companies who go that they very often take a very large percentage of answer is probably, around touting for that sort of business. It is probably the award if they are successful. Lawyers, on the other best described as ambulance chasing, one of the less hand, have fairly strict guidelines as to what they can consult a lawyer, not desirable aspects of the American legal system which and cannot charge in that situation. The difficulty these a claims company has come across the Atlantic now entrenched here. If it days is funding any potential action, but if there is a is not your fault, you are injured and suffered loss, you prima facia, i.e. “on the face of it”, a good claim, most are entitled to compensation.

Insurance companies (who generally step in in these situations) will pay The activities of some claims companies have apparently led to a out a reasonable figure and you can avoid under-selling yourself. large number of claims, particularly in relation to motor accidents, some One important word. Businesses often try to recover what is called of which have been proven to be fraudulent. The general view is that this pure economic loss. This is not recoverable. For example, where a has significantly put up the cost of motor and other insurance. contractor digs up the road and damages services to buildings, he would That is not to say that lawyers or others who pursue accident claims be liable for putting right the services, but would not be liable for the loss are bad. There are many justified accident claims and many justified of trade resulting in the cut-off of electricity for 2 hours. examples of reparation which is due because of some delict which has Remember you might find you have a claim in delict, but also in been committed. The obvious example might be medical negligence or a certain circumstances a claim for breach of contract as well, if there road accident. is a contract in place. This could include breach of implied terms and Most people have probably heard of the most famous case and the conditions of contract, not just the written down black and white terms. development of the concept of a duty of care. The best known formulation My advice is tread carefully, seek proper professional legal advice is to be found in Donoghue v Stevenson which was decided by the from a lawyer and be guided by them. It is complicated so get advice.

House of Lords (now the Supreme Court) in 1932. That was when a Please remember this article is giving only general advice and is no manufacturer (in Paisley) of a bottle of ginger beer owed the ultimate substitute for detailed professional advice from a Solicitor on your own consumer a duty of care regarding the contents of the bottle. The problem particular problem.

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

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

15

SHOPS & SERVICES

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16

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter 1.

(Photo courtesy of Mohi, fundraising for Cancer Research) Mohi Mohiuddin, owner of the Maisha Restaurant in College Street, St Andrews, told Reporter that he is now in his fifth year in our town. He feels, rightly, that he should celebrate, as he goes from strength to strength. Among the top five in Scotland in the Scottish Curry Awards, he now proudly displays a Recommended sticker from Trip Advisor. Already offering a huge choice of dishes, Mohi has added new items, such as Mackerel Bhuna/ Dupiaza, Tandoori Lobster, and Tandoori Monkfish, all sourced locally. On top of that there is now also a Thai range, including for example, Thai Fried Chicken Wings. Prices remain competitive, for example, from £10.30 to £15.75 for set meals. Students benefit from generous discounts up to 25%; a group of 8 even offered free wine! Mohi unstintingly supports several student charities, as well as Cancer Research, the British Heart Foundation, and Oxfam. Mohi also mentioned in passing that his Arabic studies are progressing too! Reporter warmly wishes Mohi and his Restaurant continuing success.

3.

*****

2. Reporter loves something a little different. He was fascinated to discover a new laser cutting business in Upper Largo, and paid a visit to see for himself. There, he met Jane Banks, owner of the company LaserFlair. Jane makes all sorts of beautiful things with her amazing machine in a wonderful, converted stable. She engraves olive wood platters for The Guid Cheese Shop in St Andrews, gifts for Bonkers’ shop, and is about to start engraving slate tableware for St Andrews University, also the Links Trust, with their respective

logos. In addition she makes her own range of personalised products, including baby and wedding keepsakes from solid oak. Last August Jane exhibited her laser-cut wood-line art at the Pittenweem Art Festival. In November, she started to offer ‘Designing artwork for laser cutting’ courses and workshops where customers can make personalised gifts and decorations using their own artwork. The cutting machine itself is state-of-theart, instructed by the computer, on which Jane makes her designs. Want to know more?

Reporter says you can contact Jane by mobile: 07534 103 549 or email: jane@laserflair.co.uk.

There’s a website and online shop: www.laserflair.co.uk.

You can ‘like’ laserFlair on Facebook and follow @LaserFlair on Twitter.

* *Reporter * * *heard from artist and lecturer

Jaclyn Stuart, originally from Arbroath, now based in Guardbridge. With a BA in Fine Art from the Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Jaclyn teaches adults and children, privately or in groups. With her husband, Jaclyn told Reporter, she used to come to St Andrews in summer, “walk on the East Sands and catch a quick kiss in Dean’s Court! St Andrews was where my husband proposed to me, just before midnight, lying on the Pier looking up at the night sky.” Though inspired by her surroundings, Jaclyn is above all attracted by the people here, “the continual heartbeat of St Andrews.” Mondays and Thursdays from 4.00 – 5.00pm Jaclyn has after-school children’s art classes at All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street, St Andrews. She also teaches ladies’ evening classes, as well as offering children’s art parties. Please see her blog at: www.jaclynstuartart.blogspot.co.uk or visit her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jaclyn-stuart-art/148950058478611

*****

17

SHOPS & SERVICES: EATING OUT Amico dined in

Zizzi – South Street You can go to a restaurant just to eat, or you from Devon.” There is a separate wine list. can go to have an experience. Zizzi offers both My friends and I started off with Cichetti. opportunities. The menu (pictured) is the clue.

We shared Arancini, Gamberi, and Aubergine Why has the chef got a needle and thread Involtini. As with everything on the menu, these in his/her – ambiguous – hand? What is the are described in detail in English, so you can’t seamstress’ stand doing on a restaurant menu? claim ignorance! I could easily have eaten And what is it being dressed in? And at the nothing else, these dishes were so delicious. bottom is a theatrical invitation, “Zizzi Presents The Arancini were crisp, the prawns melting, Fresh Talent”. Inside you are told that, “Fresh the tomatoes sweet – I could go on. talent is all about Zizzi giving people a chance Next I chose a Superfood Salad for my to showcase what they can do. They get to main course. My friends chose a Rigatoni con build on their skills and develop new ones.”

Pollo e Funghi, and a Pollo Prosciutto which The menu cover was designed by a London seemed smaller in portion than the others, watercolour illustrator, Eleanor Percival, who but I was assured was more than adequate. ‘cooked up’ the idea of dressing people in food, We agreed on the good quality and freshness to, in her words, “…show the creative process of the dishes. I relished the mixture of lentils, involved in coming up with the dishes.” Hmn, beans, and salad leaves in their white balsamic not sure I’m convinced, yet an vinegar dressing, topped with interesting idea. The inside back slices of butternut squash and Zizzi is a cover has photographs of some of goats’ cheese, though I found the restaurant Zizzi’s Fresh Talent, disclosing the accompanying dough sticks a trifle St Andrews can Company’s exemplary involvement too chewy. Carnivores can opt for with The Princes Trust. That surely the addition of chicken. There’s a be proud of explains a lot, in this writer’s view! red heart symbol attached to this Nevertheless, Zizzi is a restaurant, so what item, telling you that the dish boasts a mere 650 about the food? Basically it’s Italian. There are calories. That’s not why I chose it, but it helps to Antipasti, Insalate, Pasta of all kinds, Risotto of feel virtuous! many kinds, and of course all sorts of Pizzas, We decided on a bottle of Pinot Grigio as well as Cichetti, an Italian version of Tapas.

Blush to share. I first met this light, refreshing Wide-ranging drinks include Organic Sicilian Rosé wine at lunch with a friend in a sunny Lemonade, Arizona Iced Green Tea with Honey, St Andrews garden on one of those rare days among others, all with “good quality ingredients when you could have believed you were in the

Mediterranean!

Here it added to the sense of wellbeing among friends.

We couldn’t do without dessert! My friends chose a Chocolate Melt, and a Tarta Amaretti, having been told that their original desire for Tiramisu could not be met. They were consoled by the taste and creamy excellence of their second choices. I was intrigued by the Grissini e Cioccolata. This is described as, “Sweet and crispy dough sticks drizzled with honey, pine nuts, and served with a hot chocolate sauce.”

Only some of the neatly piled dough sticks were really crisp. I’m not sure where the pine nuts were; however, it was different, though I’m not sure I would choose it again.

It was too late at night for coffee we thought; in any case we were replete. The young staff in Zizzi are helpful, efficient, and amazingly freshly cheerful at the end of a long day. Service is good, prices are fair, the food is cooked in full sight at the back of the restaurant. The décor is fairly bland, but light and airy, the tables set sufficiently apart for privacy. Delightfully, there is no music! Zizzi is a restaurant St Andrews can be proud of.

Hugo D’Bere, your Grizzly Gourmet, visited

The Adamson Restaurant 127 South Street, St Andrews

This is going to be one of the No bread was served or nibbles. A few olives would have gone down grizzliest reviews yet! well. I had yellow fin tuna tartare, which was acceptable, but not a huge The Restaurant is so called portion. Muffy had a goats cheese salad which contained a lot of salad, because it was the family home but not much in the way of goats cheese. The goats cheese itself was of Dr John Adamson, a physician fairly bland. and pioneer photographer. He My main course was moules frites, certainly fine and succulent, took the first ever calotype photograph. Adamson was curator of the although again the portions were not particularly large. Muffy had the St Andrews Literary and Philosophical Society Museum in Scotland from haddock goujons with slim fries and some mushy minted peas. The peas its formation in 1838 until his death in 1870. It was here that he learned were, if anything, slightly over-minted. The fries were a bit soggy I am of the invention of photography from Sir David Brewster. The Restaurant afraid. is indeed kitted out with a number of old cameras in a glass The surprising thing was, although it was a quiet night, display case. While Dr Adamson was quite a distinguished they had run out of a number of basic items on the menu, Apparently people individual, the Restaurant fails to live up to that appellation including burgers. How can that be? Even the bar did not come in still asking of distinguished. look well stocked. for stamps!

The décor is certainly very modern and sleek, although The bill, including a bottle of wine at £17, was £65 smaller inside than it looks from the outside. (The reverse including tip. There are better restaurants in St Andrews Tardis!) where you can spend £65 and get better value and better food.

It was originally the old Post Office, and it still has the words “Post On the plus side, if you go for the fixed-price lunch, two courses is Office” chiselled into the stonework above the door. Apparently people £9.50; three courses £12.50, available noon to 2.30pm, and an early come in still asking for stamps! In my experience however, waiting on the evening dinner of two courses is £11.50, three courses £14.50, but only food arriving is about as long as waiting in a queue in the old Post Office. available from 5.00pm-6.30pm. That may be better value.

While the service was friendly, it was certainly not quick and I was not in All in all, not what the Doctor ordered. Disappointing, and only 6½ out with Muffy on a particularly busy night. of 10 for food and service, albeit the décor is fine.

CHRIS TULLOCH

PAINTER & DECORATOR 01334 479756 07841435477 FREE ESTIMATES

18

SHOPS & SERVICES: EATING OUT Virginia Fowler with Flora Selwyn enjoyed

Dinner at 40 The Scores A cold evening saw the pair of us warmly welcomed into the attractive, container reminiscent of boutique-style restaurant at the St Andrews Golf Hotel on The Scores. We a traditional poke. Her were ushered to a table in a window alcove with a gorgeous view over the green beans, she said, twinkling lights of the Bay under a full moon. were perfection and just We took some time to decide what to choose, from either the Prix al dente.

Fixe or the à la carte menu, for both looked inviting. The Prix Fixe menu, To accompany the I’m told, changes daily, its ingredients sourced locally as far as possible, meal we naturally each offering two courses for a reasonable £15.50 or three for £19.95. It is had a glass of wine. available at both lunch and dinner times.

Virginia chose a red Finally, of course, for us it had to be the à la carte! Virginia chose Château Bauduc, ‘Clos de Quinze’ Bordeaux, while I had a Picpoul de to start with Bayonne Ham & Charentais Melon, while I plumped for Pinet, Duc de Morny, Languedoc, a white wine I had never come across Asparagus Lyonnaise Salad with a Crispy Hen’s Egg. Virginia then before, crisp and dry, a great discovery. followed with Rump Steak, Dithering over the dessert, medium rare, with Pommes as usual for us women (!) I Frites and Haricots Verts as side couldn’t resist the Chocolat vegetables. I had Roast Cod Pavé with Candied Pistachio, with Buttered Leeks & Salsa Virginia going for the Crêpes Verde, with Lyonnaises Potatoes Suzettes ‘drenched in Grand and Steamed Broccoli on the Marnier and orange sauce, side. topped with fresh oranges and Virginia was delighted zest’. She asked for a scoop with her delicious melon and of ice cream to go with it as an ham. She asked Keri, our kind, extra. Somehow she expected efficient waitress, what the the Crêpes to arrive flambées, greens on top were, and was but it was not to be, probably intrigued to learn they were because the ice cream was pea shoots. Neither of us had on the plate with the crêpes. encountered these before. I Virginia also thought that the discovered some on my plate crêpes were not as thin as she too, and we both agreed how expected, more like ordinary nice they were. I was just a little pancakes. She found them disappointed to find only two tasty all the same. My Pavé asparagus stems at the bottom was scrumptious! A chocolate of my starter, topped by a huge mousse on a chocolate sponge, egg coated in a crisp batter. I the whole topped with a layer think I would have preferred a of chocolate and crumbled crispy quail’s egg above several pistachio nuts. Beside it was a asparagus stems. It all tasted helping of whipped cream with very good however, together blackberries. with the said pea shoots.

After that, My cod portion was fairly uncharacteristically for both of large, beautifully presented us, neither had room for coffee. with the leeks beneath and the All in all, we agreed it was salsa verde on top. Otherwise a most satisfying meal. We did the taste was a little on the wonder why the vegetables had bland side and the thick part of to be ordered separately from We can wholeheartedly the fish a trifle chewy. Potatoes the main course, at £2.95 each. recommend 40 The Scores and broccoli were idyllic, full of However, that does give more flavour, perfectly cooked. choice, with less likelihood for a good evening out!

Virginia enjoyed her steak, of disappointment. The wine which was just the right shade list is very comprehensive, of pink. She wondered if the chips were oven chips, rather than freshly adequately described (covering two sheets of A4 paper). In fact there are made ones as she expected. However, she was soon reassured that the 63 names, including two dessert wines at the end. My medium glass cost chef makes only fresh chips. They were attractively presented in a cute £5.15, Virginia’s large one was £9.20. The price per bottle ranges broadly from £16.95 (for a 2010 Chardonnay Vanel) to £105 (for a 2007 Château de Valois Pomerol, Bordeaux).

In total, the price of our two meals together came to £83.40. An Espresso would have added £2.25 each (or tea, £2.95). Apart from the music, which we asked to have turned down (not everyone has the same musical likes, and anyway, companionship surely demands peaceful chatting, not shouting) we believe we had good value for money. We can wholeheartedly recommend 40 The Scores for a good evening out!

PS – The Restaurant is constantly updating its services. There will be more organic vegetables, more local suppliers, new menus; for example, the Prix Fixe one is now available for Sunday lunch as well. There is a Bar Menu, with all the usual sandwiches, salads, burgers, ‘classics’, charcuterie, cheeses. The Number 40 Cocktail Lounge has its own bar menu too. And traditional Afternoon Tea has been brought back (£9.95), including a Champagne (£18.95), or Hendricks Gin (£17.45) Afternoon Tea. Indeed, The Golf Hotel really has it all, enough to please everyone for many visits. So go along and see for yourself!

(Photos by Flora Selwyn)

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ORGANISATIONS From Annie Kelly,Press & Media Executive StAnza

StAnza 2013 brings poetry to the heart of St Andrews StAnza: Scotland’s International Poetry Festival has become a Drama and music feature too, with a rehearsed reading of Sir Walter cornerstone of the St Andrew’s cultural calendar. It is unique in other Scott’s famous poem Marmion about the Battle of Flodden, a concert of ways: as a celebration of all that the town has to offer, and as the Jacobean music from the Fires of Love quartet, also Shakespeare as you only festival in Scotland devoted entirely to poetry. It is also one of the have never heard him before in Martin Dimery’s Shakespeare, Rattle and top three poetry festivals in the UK. It is famous for its warm, friendly Roll. atmosphere as well as the high quality of its programming, which is There’s plenty for practising and aspiring poets, from short ‘inspire’ both local, Scottish, and international in outlook. Above all it is a winning sessions to get creative thoughts going to themed workshops. Building combination of town and gown. on the success of StAnza’s all-day workshop at leafy, secluded Balmungo This is the festival to hear your favourite poet, discover new voices, House, former home of the artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, there will be meet other like-minded folk and enjoy the energetic buzz of the StAnza’s two day-workshops in 2013, led by Douglas Dunn and Sean Borodale. hub venue, the Byre Theatre. StAnza is run by a small number of staff, StAnza’s two main themes provide a focus for readings, workshops, a devoted team of volunteers, with supporters drawn from the University and events. Designs on Poetry looks at the forms poems take, the and the community in and around relationship between other St Andrews. Among its funders aspects of design and poetry. and supporters are several local One of StAnza’s famous poetry businesses. In this year’s festival breakfast discussions will look at (5-10 March 2013), over 70 poets poetry and form. The festival’s will be taking part in more than 90 visual art strand, already famous events. for innovative multidisciplinary One of the highlight readings approaches to poetry and art brings together two poet laureates. will feature some intriguing Liz Lochhead became Scots Makar encounters including an exhibition in 2011, an accolade that has of works from the archive of Ian crowned a prestigious career as a Hamilton Finlay and The Lace poet and playwright. One critic has Sensor Dresses, part of the Lace said of her, “her work is that of one Sensor Project, a collaboration StAnza will be launching a poetry digital map of woman speaking to many, and one between artists Anja Hertenberger St Andrews, linking specific poems and poets with person speaking for many”. She and Meg Grant which combines locations around the town will be reading at the Byre Theatre poetry with dress design, using with Gillian Clarke, the Welsh Poet conductive lace.

Laureate, President of Ty Newydd, the writers´ centre in North Wales. Her Legacy & Place coincides with the 600th anniversary celebrations poetry is studied by GCSE and A Level students throughout Britain, her at the University of St Andrews, in part a response to the year of Natural latest collection being shortlisted for the T S Eliot Prize 2012.

Scotland. The theme looks at the impact on poetry of great past writers, Other headlining poets include Robin Robertson, Luke Wright, Paula men and women of the arts and sciences; also how poetry addresses a Meehan, the USA’s Mark Doty, and three poets from Canada: Ken sense of place. Two major events celebrate this theme: the first, on the Babstock (recent winner of the prestigious Griffin Prize), Erin Moure, Festival’s opening night, is RiverRun, a stunning multimedia evocation of Antony Christie. Other well-known names to look for are George Szirtes Dublin past and present, with poetry, music and visual imagery. and two poets from the T S Eliot Prize shortlist: Sean Borodale, Deryn The second, in a unique collaboration with the University of Rees-Jones. The lively, entertaining poet and broadcaster John Hegley St Andrews, StAnza will be launching a poetry digital map of St Andrews, heads up this year’s Children’s programme, which includes StAnza’s linking specific poems and poets with locations around the town.

Children’s Poetry Competition. In keeping with StAnza’s commitment to St Andrews has long been known as Scotland’s Poetry Town, and the international poetry, there will be poets from Singapore, Romania, Latvia, University is renowned for the innovation of its science work. In a project Iceland, Germany, as well as a particular focus on poetry from Wales. As which brings these two elements together, StAnza has been working well as the aforementioned Gillian Clarke and Deryn Rees-Jones, other with the Computer Science department at the University of St Andrews to poets from Wales include Zoë Skoulding, Eurig Salisbury, Samantha create a Digital Poetry Map of St Andrews, featuring poems by published Wynne-Rhydderch, Ifor Ap Glyn. poets, past and present, who have worked, lived or studied in town. The StAnza’s live performances and spoken word events attract evermap and poems will be available on a website, allowing people anywhere increasing audiences. Performing at the Poetry Café (where tickets in the world to have a virtual poetry walk around town. Locals and those include a drink and a snack) will be rising stars Harry Giles (a St Andrews visiting the town will be able to follow an actual poetry trail and, if they graduate), Edinburgh-based Rachel McCrum, from Australia Ghostboy, have a smart phone, to listen to the poems in situ. leading UK performer, Luke Wright. Local poets can sign up to take part in the Festival’s fast-paced open mics, and the StAnza Slam, which is You can browse through StAnza’s packed events programme, building a reputation for showcasing the best performers on the circuit. find out more about the poets at www.stanzapoetry.org or call 01334 474 610 for a free brochure. Tickets are on sale from January and are available from the Byre Theatre, 01334 475 000.

(Photos courtesy StAnza)

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ORGANISATIONS Heather Curtis, Media Officer of St Andrews Chess Club

Chess: An Ancient Hobby for a Mediaeval Town In 1831 the shifting sands revealed a small stone kist on the west coast Sadly in St Andrews we have nothing quite so grand to play with, of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. When Malcolm Macleod from but the excitement and challenge of the game which has ensured its a nearby village stumbled upon the site he found within a number of survival for over fifteen hundred years lives on! St Andrews Chess Club ivory treasures dating from the twelfth century, but most impressively has sprung from the University society, where a passionate group of a collection of ninety-three chess pieces. Made predominantly from individuals meet to play the game together for fun and also competitively walrus ivory with the remainder being of whale in tournaments. We currently have two teams in tooth, the pieces are carved in such canny detail St Andrews Chess Club is now the Tayside and Fife Chess Association League, that Macleod supposedly ran away in fright, thinking and also travel to take part in individual events looking to involve members he had unearthed a party of ‘little people’. When throughout the year. from the local community looking at the enchanting expressions and unique St Andrews Chess Club is now looking to personalities of the pieces, often considered amongst involve members from the local community, so the most significant archaeological finds in Scotland, it is easy to see why. whether you feel you can help us aim for victory by competing in a team, Fortunately for us his wife had the wherewithal to give him a scolding or perhaps you used to play a little and feel like getting back into it, then before sending him back out to collect them! we would love to hear from you. Chess is truly a game which can engage Although their origin is uncertain they were most likely carved in people of all ages and occupations, and as a club we aim for inclusivity Trondheim, Norway, which at the time owned the isles, and later hidden and sportsmanship. by a merchant on course to Ireland. Other more fanciful legends have the hoard being stolen by a cabin boy who was then killed by a cowherd who For more information, please visit our new website stashed the loot, eventually being lost when the murderer was hanged www.standrewschessclub.webs.com or alternatively email for another crime. The pieces’ uncertain past is mirrored by their disputed chessoc@st-andrews.ac.uk and we will respond promptly with future: currently eleven are on display in Edinburgh’s National Museum of more details about getting involved.

Scotland, whilst eighty-two are shown at the British Museum in London.

Despite calls for their return north there is no indication that this will change any time soon.

(Photo supplied by Heather Curtis)

THE St Andrews pet shop!

Stocking the widest range of pet foods, accessories.

Anything not stocked we can order.

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

THINKING OF SELLING?

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 !

21

EVENTS Isabelle Scott introduces

My World In Paint

– at the Byre Theatre from 21 January to 4 March 2013 The Byre Theatre’s first art exhibition of the New Year features the work of St Andrews artist Isabelle Scott. Showcased will be some 40 to 50 of her oil paintings.

Isabelle has been painting all her life, beginning in her native Southern France, and continuing in her adopted town of St Andrews. Her range of subjects and styles matches the variation between these two very different locations, as well as springing quite simply from the mind’s eye of her creative imagination. You will find here contrasting landscapes: villages, forests, seashores of Languedoc; harbours, roadsides, woodlands from nearer her second home; or, above all, belonging to both places or neither, but reflecting the undefined regions of dream and fantasy. There are still-life paintings also, and imaginary portraits.

Some pictures are naturalistic: trees groan in the wind as they do in Fife and France; while others, dreamlike or nightmarish, depict inner visions of jungles, cathedrals, roofscapes. The human form is everywhere, looking invitingly out of the canvas or peering in wonder into it, real or surreal according to the mood. Above all there are rich colours and contrasts of tone.

The exhibition is free; all are welcome to come and enjoy it.

Simon Powis

Rohan Winter – 2012/13 Photography Exhibition Local landscape photographer Simon Powis will be exhibiting some of his images of Fife and elsewhere in Scotland in the Rohan shop, South St, St Andrews over the course of the winter. Simon, who is an academic in the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, spends his spare time out and about in the countryside waiting for the perfect lighting conditions for photography. These usually occur in the hours just before and after sunrise and sunset, which can mean some very unsociable early rises in summer time, and waiting in freezing conditions in winter. Many of his images are also taken of the coastline, often using long exposures to give an ethereal calming effect on the sea.

Drop into the Rohan shop to see the printed images, or view more of Simon’s work online at www.simonpowis.co.uk

Selected Events Saturday, 5 January – 5.00pm. Live from the Met at the Perth Playhouse, PERTH. Les Troyens by Berlioz. Tickets, £17.50; concessions, £15. Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

Wednesday, 9 January – 7.30pm. St Andrews Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens. Climate Change and Scottish Birds, a talk by Chris Wernham for the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. Contact: 01334 657 188.

Thursday, 17 January – 8.00pm.

St Leonards Music School, The Pends, St Andrews. Kandinsky Piano Trio playing music by Mozart, Anthony Payne and Schubert. The St Andrews Music Club.

Tickets at the door: £11; concessions £10; students £3; children £1. Contact: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Saturday, 19 January – 5.55pm. Live from the Met at the Perth Playhouse, PERTH. Maria Stuarda. Tickets, £17.50; concessions, £15. Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

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Thursday, 7 February – 8.00pm. School I, The Quad, North Street. Scottish fields of conflict & the inventory of historic battlefields, a talk by Kevin Munro for the University Archaeology Society.

Contact: 01334 462 600.

Wednesday, 13 February – 5.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

Early evening concert by the SCO. Tickets, £8, concessions £6, students £3. Contact: 01334 462 226, email: music@st-andrews.ac.uk – 7.30pm. St Andrews Town Hall supper room. Nature in Spitsbergen, a talk

by Edmund Fellowes, for the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. Contact: 01334 657 188.

Saturday, 16 February – 5.55pm. Live from the Met at the Perth Playhouse, PERTH. Rigoletto. Tickets, £17.50; concessions, £15. Contact: Ken Creelman 07870 552 304.

Monday, 18 February – 8.00pm.

St Leonards Music School, The Pends, St Andrews. The Gildas Quartet playing music by Haydn, Britten, Brahms.

The St Andrews Music Club. Tickets at the door: £11; concessions £10; students £3; children £1. Contact: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Wednesday, 20 February – 7.30pm.

Younger Hall, North Street.

Anderszewski Plays Mozart, with the SCO. Also music by Schubert, Beethoven. Contact: info@sco.org.uk Thursday, 28 February – 8.00pm.

School I, The Quad, North Street.

Discoveries at two mediaeval hospitaller sites; the conventual buildings in Acre (Israel) and the castle of al-Marqab, a talk by Prof. Jonathan Riley-Smith, University of Cambridge, for the University of St Andrews Archaeology Society. Contact: 01334 462 600.

OUT & ABOUT Alistair Lawson, ScotWays, has decided on

Another Colligation

Borrowing the above title from Alan Tricker in the last issue, I am about to try and bind together into one little article, some disparate elements from my previous scribblings.

Observant readers may recall my account, in 2009, of the “Causeway Coast Way” in Northern Ireland. I have recently been back over there, again with my boots and rucksack, and this time picked away at little bits of the “Ulster Way”, which winds its way round just about everywhere in the Six Counties. The same observant readers may recall this photograph of the 18th U.S. President, Ulysses Grant, which I used to illustrate a subsequent article about Grant’s visit to Fife – remember where? and why?

Where can I take my connecting thread from there? Well, my thumbing of the Ulster tourist literature led me to references to two U.S. Presidents who had family connections with Northern Ireland, Andrew Jackson, the 7th President, and Chester Arthur, the 21st.

Neither was born in Northern Ireland, otherwise – as the world learned when Barack Obama was a candidate four years ago – they could not have become President, as candidates must be born within the U.S. However, Jackson’s earlier family lived in a traditional Scots/ Ulster 18th century farmhouse at Boneybefore (yes, that’s a real word), near Carrickfergus. Just alongside the cottage is an exhibition relating to the U.S. Rangers, containing uniforms, documents, and the history of the regiment. Jackson’s military career included being in charge of the American Army at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Likewise, Chester Arthur did not live in Northern Ireland, but his family connections are with Dreen, Cullybackey (again, a real place, I assure you), in County Antrim, where their thatched cottage is still to be seen. As well as the story of his road to the Presidency, there are ladies in period costumes, an open turf (peat) fire and traditional baking displays, including such Ulster staples as soda bread and pancakes. Like several other Presidents, he succeeded following the assassination of his predecessor, in this case James Garfield.

So, I hope I have discharged my basic obligation to the editor to write about outdoor matters; I did mention the Ulster Way, didn’t I? Be that as it may, there is one more turn to this miscellany of looselyconnected thoughts. Those readers who are exceptionally sharp of eye and sharp of brain will have noticed (will you not?) the connection between, on the one hand, the place of each President in what we in our monarchy would call “the succession” and, on the other hand, the face value of the stamps?

Yes, you’ve got it! The U.S. Post Office managed, very cleverly, to devise a set of 32 stamps in which the first President, George Washington, was depicted on the 1 cent stamp, his successor, John Adams, on the 2 cent stamp and so on upwards through the set.

Those depicted here were the 7th, 18th, and 21st Presidents. This truly beautiful idea broke down when they got to Chester Arthur’s successor, Grover Cleveland, who was both the 22nd and, later, the 24th President. The set, issued in 1938, continues up to $5 and philatelists can assemble a complete set for no great outlay.

So, who’s for the Ulster Way? Incidentally, it runs for 625 miles.

How long have you got?

(Images courtesy Alistair Lawson)

Gordon Jarvie © 2012

Cold contempt for crocuses

Latterly, she’d registered raw fury at the merest glimpse of crocuses.

I wondered at the fierce contempt, the pent-up anathema they’d aroused from her.

What harm did crocuses ever do?

She was in her late eighties when I asked her the question once, after a memorable outburst beside a bonnie bed of them. And what did she say on that otherwise fine spring day?

“Huh!” she denounced them. “Nae sooner here than a’ wede awa’!* They war coming oot last week, and luik at them noo: feenished!”

Well, she was just railing against her destiny, which was much the same as theirs, or mine.

Later, another penny drops. “Fair daffodils, we weep to see you haste away so soon . . .”

It’s true. In crocuses as in daffodils we see intimations and markers of our own mortality, and we are troubled by the sight. * a’ wede awa’, all withered away

(Photo by Flora Selwyn)

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OUT & ABOUT

The Botanic Garden: a year-round treasure St Andrews in midwinter can be a grey town in rain and/or wind.

We can escape to the shelter, peace and colour of the Winter Garden in town formed by the glasshouses in the Botanic Garden.

Cool and crisp in the Alpine House, warming up through the deserts of the Succulent House and the linking corridor to heat and humidity in the Tropical/ Orchid House. Above all at this time of year enjoy the display in the Temperate House with its rhododendrons, camellias and towering magnolia tree.

It is a Botanic Garden, with an educational function, and there are notices and labels for those who want to pick up snippets of information about plants and their environments, but everyone can enjoy the beauty of colours, shapes, and textures of nature’s wonders. Leave your stresses outside, along with your umbrella.

Entrance from the Canongate: winter opening hours daily 10.00 am till 4.00pm.

Alpine Primula

Alpine Narcissus

Corridor – Strelitzia

Alpine House

Succulent cacti

Succulent

Succulent House (Photos by Richard Cormack)

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OUT & ABOUT

Pink orchids

Orchids

Tropical House

Temperate House

Magnolia blooms

Rhododendron flowers

Invite you to visit a hidden treasure in the heart of St Andrews Woodland & Watergardens, Herbaceous & Scree, Alpines & Rhododendrons, Glorious Glasshouse Collections OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR ROUND

WINTER LECTURE PROGRAMME Tuesday 8th January at 7.30pm Tuesday 5th February at 7.30pm Chemistry Dept, North Haugh Entry Free – All Welcome TO JOIN THE FRIENDS AND SUPPORT THE GARDEN CONTACT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Tel: 01334 476452 Charity No. SC006432

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OUT & ABOUT Tony Hardie’s

Nature Notes – Winter 2012 The pied wagtail is a bird of St Andrews, never more so than when we see it in November, having chosen to muster in that small tree between Holy Trinity and Lloyds Trustee Savings Bank. As night falls this little rowan, devoid of leaves, becomes the scene of constant mobbing as the wagtails, some twenty of them, try to find a roost to their liking. If not satisfied they fly off to the church roofs, only to return seconds later. This kaleidoscopic movement is accompanied by a cheerful, but argumentative chattering all the while, a choral in that it never ceases until they are all settled

Fieldfare

for the night. Later one finds them, feathers puffed out, heads turned in, silent and still. In winter this is a long night, neither the traffic nor the lights seem to disturb them. The Revd. F.O. Morris in his History of British Birds of 1903 reports that no fewer then 300 roosted under the roof of the Post Office in Edinburgh! I was obviously wrong in my youth to think that the pied wagtail was a bird of gracious lawns and big houses, where it would build its nest in the Virginia creeper!

Whilst the fairways of the Old Course provide the mown lawn on which they can run and run again just to catch the flies, they are not averse to our pavements, when not too crowded, as my readers will know. This wagtail is equally at home in town and country; a smart and friendly bird that can live with all of us.

Winter is upon us and I hope, as ever, that the fieldfare will come to enjoy the berries that adorn the cotoneaster. At the time of this garden visit I expect the ground to be frozen hard, but the fieldfare is in the best of his winter plumage. Last year in early January half an apple that I put out, daily for the blackbirds, was spotted. It was a Cox’s orange pippin and much to his liking. I watched him at close quarters as he devoured this – what an appetite. As a whole our birds are of modest colouring and the fieldfare is no exception, but nevertheless quite beautiful. The back is of a field grey/blue,

Wagtail but brownish about the wings with a speckled chest on white changing to pale chestnut on the throat. A sharp yellow bill has a black tip and there is a dash of white at the eyebrow; this is the smartest of all our thrushes. Male and female are alike. They arrive here in October from Scandinavia where they have bred. Large flocks can be seen and heard in the Highlands where the rowan berries of the wooded glens prove a great attraction. In Fife, as winter descends, they are found in hawthorn scrubland, mostly on the “rigging”, still in flocks, noisy and wary. It is difficult to get close to them.

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

From Fay Smith

Education, Education, Education!!

Reading a document recently, written by Catherine Erskine on the development of the gardens at Cambo, I was interested to come across the following sentences: The last three generations have been involved in spreading the snowdrops at Cambo. Peter’s grandmother, Magdalen, had eight children, mainly educated at home, and they all recall being made to plant snowdrops for pocket money – a mixture between PE, nature study and definitely part of their education.

And so it continues – everything always seems to come back to the Cambo snowdrops! Catherine has explained many times how she started selling snowdrops in the green in 1986 to make some money to buy plants to improve the walled garden. This tiny operation has of course grown into a major business and the walled garden has never looked back, particularly since Head Gardener, Elliott Forsyth, arrived in 2001.

A trainee scheme for student gardeners was introduced, under Elliott’s tutelage, with one student per year. The gardens benefit greatly from their energy and ideas; teaching the student helps develop everyone working in the garden. Demand for places for both the one year course and for short work placements now surpasses demand, the same going for volunteers offering a wide range of skills.

Marketing the snowdrops as a tourist attraction has not only brought great publicity putting Cambo firmly at the centre of the Snowdrop Map, but also, through children’s art and environmental workshops, created an awareness of the demand for such activities, also for therapeutic and educational work centred on the woodlands where the snowdrops grow, with several projects already running successfully. Among these is The Green Team, inspiring members to improve both health and the environment at the same time, which meets every Wednesday; Waid Academy pupils learning woodland skills as part of their Skills for Work programme; a schools’ orienteering course is planned, both holiday and after school nature classes for children having become established.

It is to meet all these demands, to create further possibilities, that Cambo Institute, a charity whose aims are to create opportunities for

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learning in heritage, environment, arts, culture, and horticulture on Cambo Estate, has received Heritage Lottery Funding. This will move forward their project to create an education centre and visitor hub in the historic stable block on the estate, also to restore the glasshouses to provide adequate provision for the training of horticultural students.

The Institute has embarked on the major task of raising £1,923,039 to complete the project. Local group Cantamus started the ball rolling with a very successful concert in Cambo House in December. The Stables themselves have already been used, throughout August, in their current dilapidated, but original state, as the venue for a very successful sculpture exhibition by Heartwood Artists, also for children’s art and environmental workshops at the Octoberfest in mid October.

And still the snowdrops continue to be spread, and still by hand, although not for pocket money! The Snowdrop Festival runs from 2 February to 18 March.

OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe unearths more

Hidden Gems in St Andrews (in plain view)

Ornate Dates on University Buildings This first set is to be found on those University buildings erected in the late part of the 19th century and into the early part of the 20th century.

– See if you can decide on the dates they represent. (answers at the bottom of the page)

Other Ornate and Unusual Dates Other buildings in our town have dates that are presented in an ornate fashion and are much earlier than the university buildings featured above. As in the previous article, the existence of a date does not necessarily relate to the building; such ornate stones can be moved from one building to another.

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe) 1894 Southgait Hall

1621 St Mary’s 1561 Market Street

1721 Abbey Street

1655 St Leonards

1734 South Street

1815 Abbey Cottage

1866 South Street

1858 Town Hall

1902 Whey Pat

1865 Westerlee

1909 Holy Trinity

1870 Abbotsford Crescent

1897 Queen’s Terrace

1897 Jubilee Course

University Dates answers: St Mary’s 1890; Psychology 1889; Kennedy Hall 1896; Bute 1899; University Hall 1911

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