St Andrews in Focus Sept / October 2004

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

September / October 2004, Issue 6 £1.50

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RAF Leuchars Airshow

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University Principal Looks To The Future

www.standrewsinfocus.com

the magazine for St Andrews

Eating Out Nothing succeeds like success, and St. Andrews has every reason to congratulate Tim Butler, Director & Co-proprietor, and Craig Millar, Executive Chef & Co-proprietor, on the notable success of their Seafood Restaurants.

Success, however, doesn’t come without experience or hard work. Tim Butler, born in Edinburgh, spent 18 years in the City before pursuing a career as a professional musician in the South of France. Adding work experience in both Italy and Switzerland, he returned to Scotland with a French bride in 1994 and set about turning a pub in St. Monans into a prestigious seafood restaurant.

Craig Millar, a Dundonian by birth, trained at Dundee College of Further Education, before migrating south to High Wycombe, where he joined Crest Hotels. Faced with the prospect of being de-skilled when Trust House Forte took over, Craig returned to Scotland in 1992. Craig quickly rose to become head chef at Fernie Castle in Letham, reaching the Scottish finals of Young Chef of the Year (1995). In 1998, Craig joined the Seafood Restaurant, bringing his own innovative approach to the kitchen.

Construction problems on the Scores meant that the first summer of trading in 2003 was largely missed. However, since then extremely positive reviews for this new venue have come from both the press and various food magazines.

The Restaurant is open 7 days a week. Lunch (3 courses £24) is served from noon to 2.30 pm; dinner (3 courses £35) from 6.30pm onwards.

But booking is recommended, the Restaurant has been full every night since last Easter.

The Seafood Restaurant

Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AB Tel: (01334) 479475 Fax: (01334) 479476 Email: info@theseafoodrestaurant.com The Seafood Restaurant 16 West End, St Monans (01333) 730327 www.theseafoodrestaurant.com

THE COFFEE HOUSE Quality teas, coffees, teapots – everything for the discerning connoisseur 6a Greyfriars Gardens, St. Andrews Tel: 01334 477122

139 South Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9UN Tel: 01334 479479 Fax: 01334 474399 Email: info@bradburne.co.uk Web: www.bradburne.co.uk

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

From the Editor

This magazine could very well be 48 pages thick – there is so much to write about in our town! Unfortunately we have to face the reality of financial constraints. It would be wonderful if we could publish St. Andrews in Focus without asking for the all-important advertisements. On the other hand, it is these very advertisements that inform us of what’s available in town. I want to see our businesses flourish, to see our community flourish. We need each other, we need to support each other. Let me quote an article I read just the other day in Eretz, a magazine I subscribe to, and which covered exactly this subject. The relevant bit is headed “Business or Charity?” and goes on to say “A healthy company needs a healthy society, since companies are part of their communities and function better when their communities are stronger. In the long run, it is simply good business sense to invest in the community. The result can be better workers and customers and increased support from the community as a whole. ‘It’s a win-win partnership to serve both sides’ interests.’”

That said, St. Andrews in Focus is going world-wide! Please note our new website and new email address.

As for me, it is a rare privilege to publish this magazine – thank you, all of you.

Flora Selwyn

Contents

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2004 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel/fax: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com

TOWN/GOWN •

Dr. Brian Lang reviews the present, and looks to the future

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Gillian Craig and musical certainty

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Encouraging students to be entrepreneurial

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ADVERTISING MANAGER Chris Manighetti Email: chris.manighetti@talk21.com DESIGNER University of St Andrews Reprographics Unit

FEATURES •

Our Church Heritage

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Ever-young Sandy Donald

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Harbour Master David Martin

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St. Andrews’ long-lost coinage

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Tracy Buchan – film extra

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The Old Fishers’ School remembered

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RAF Leuchars Airshow, and reminiscences of Concorde

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1st St. Andrews Company The Boys Brigade

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The Community Council Reports

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Ask the Panel at St. Andrews Museum

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PRINTER Tayport Printers Ltd. DISTRIBUTER B & S Distribution, Dundee THE PAPER USED IS 75% RECYCLED POST-CONSUMER WASTE PUBLISHER (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd. PO Box 29210 St. Andrews Fife, KY16 9YZ Tel/fax: 01334 472375 Email: enquiries@standrewsinfocus.com

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SUBSCRIPTIONS St. Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year, starting in January. Subscriptions for the full year are:

SELECTED EVENTS •

Take your pick

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Please send your name and address, together with remittance to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ.

SHOPS & SERVICES •

“Exploring” Scouting

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Visit to Golf City Taxis

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Behind the scenes at Shell Service Station

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Need someone to clean up after you?!

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Roving Reporter

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Know your cheeses

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REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND: 255564 149 Market Street, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9PF.

NEXT ISSUE – November/December • St Andrews Week

OUT AND ABOUT •

Autumn in the Botanic Gardens

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• Christmas & Hogmanay in St. Andrews

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A stroll on the Coastal Path to Caiplie Caves

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COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 SEPTEMBER.

Cover picture – Kirsty on the wing, courtesy of RAF Leuchars

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

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TOWN/GOWN Address by Dr. Brian Lang, Principal of the University of St. Andrews, to the

General Council, June 2004 This year’s graduation week saw 1200 happy graduates pass on to the next stages in their lives. A variety of emotions, through satisfaction, pride, and relief, saw them through some dreadful weather. This year’s honorary graduands were international figures from an extraordinary range of activities, from banking, chemistry, philosophy, newsreading, to rock and roll. That people like Trevor McDonald, Jean-Marie Lehn, Hilary Putnam, the banking knights Grossart and Goodwin, and Bob Dylan, are willing to associate themselves with the University of St Andrews, is powerful testimony to our standing.

Looking into the future of the University, we can only assume that the high quality of our teaching, learning and research, as well as our delightful East Fife location, will mean that we continue to be attractive to the best academics and potential students. Demand for places at St Andrews remains at a height such that predicting how many first year students will arrive here, having accepted our offers of places, is increasingly difficult. It is not in the University’s interest, nor in the interest of the city of St Andrews, for the University to grow other than very carefully and cautiously.

Not only do we have a responsibility to existing staff and students, to ensure that the environment for teaching, learning and research remains congenial; we also need to provide a good service to our students, and accommodation is an increasing problem. This obviously impinges directly on our neighbours in St Andrews, who I hope will bear in mind that the University, just as much as anyone else in St Andrews, wants to see St Andrews retain its small town characteristics.

It is the University’s firm intention to retain its distinct “Scottishness”. What students and staff from around the world find so attractive about St Andrews is not just our good performance in research and teaching, but the experience of strolling down Market Street and stopping to speak to several friends and colleagues on the way, our historic buildings like St Salvator’s Chapel, Parliament Hall, and the houses along The Scores.

So we will expand with care and caution.

Expand we must, if the University is to become financially stronger and remain internationally competitive. The School of Management has expanded with the incorporation of the Centre for Business Education, and some exciting new appointments have been made to that School, particularly in the area of sustainability accounting. The School of Management will be housed in the Gateway which, surely to the relief of all of St Andrews, the University was able to buy earlier this year. We will also soon begin teaching in a new discipline, cinema, and new appointments have been made to carry that out.

The student body of St Andrews remains highly diverse, coming from 96 countries. We want it, however, to be more socially diverse and we have been fundraising to raise money for scholarships to allow bright students from less well-off backgrounds to come here. The University is fundamentally committed to excellence. However, we are also determined to offer equal opportunity to that excellence and wish to have substantial funds available to ensure that entry to St Andrews has nothing to do with the social or economic circumstances of the people who will benefit from being here.

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The University’s research continues to shine, as evidenced by the substantial research grants we are being awarded. Major grants have been given for projects ranging from structural proteomics to digitisation of the Scottish Parliamentary Record.

This summary of the University’s activities is based on a confident view of the future. No one can fail to be impressed by the scale of the University’s current construction activities. Not only are we preparing the Gateway for University occupation, the demolition and rebuilding of David Russell Hall is well underway and a new Computer Science building is making rapid progress on the North Haugh. We are also planning, however, new buildings for the Arts and Science Faculties, both in the town centre. In order to provide the community, as well as the local planning authority, with a clearer idea of the University’s development possibilities, we have spent the past two years creating a “2025 Vision” – an impression of how the University will most likely make use, over the next 20 years or so, of the land it presently owns. We want, for instance, the University to continue its strong presence in the centre of town. Not only that, we are determined that the University will have well designed modern buildings in the centre of town.

Our broad approach is that the University and the town have always taken their personality from one another. The town and the University have been inextricably linked for almost 600 years and the intertwining of scholarship and learning with quintessential St Andrews pursuits like shopkeeping, pubs and restaurants, banks, and golf have combined to produce a quality of life that can have few parallels. The number of people who choose to retire to St Andrews is witness to that.

Reaction to our vision for the future, bearing in mind that this does not constitute a definite plan, but rather an indication of how we will develop our estate in response to the need to expand, was on the whole positive and the public meetings that were held to present our vision were well attended and lively.

The main concerns that were raised about the future were traffic and parking. The University is as concerned as anyone in St Andrews about transportation, but this is an area in which we cannot act alone and the cooperation of Fife Council and everyone living and working in St Andrews will be essential if we are to take successful action on traffic congestion.

What is worth remembering, is that the University of St Andrews is so far the only Scottish university to have produced an environment strategy.

This contains a commitment to taking action on cars and parking, but solutions that bring benefit can only come about if all St Andreans bear in mind that they have responsibilities. Real progress will be made only on the basis that everyone is likely to have to make some sort of sacrifice or compromise.

The central message, though, is that the University of St Andrews is flourishing. There are challenges to be faced but many of the problems we have would most likely be envied by other universities. The University is proud of the St Andrews setting that gives its distinctiveness and the “brand” that serves it so well. However, we will never take our St Andrews location for granted, and will always treat our surroundings, be they buildings or people, with sensitivity and consideration.

TOWN/GOWN Sir Thomas Beecham once said, “The English may not like music – but they absolutely love the noise it makes.”

Gillian Craig is English, and she absolutely loves the music as well!

Uncertainty Made Certain When Cedric Thorpe Davie headed the music department in St. Andrews University, Gillian Craig came to study under him. “Born and bred in Yorkshire, and proud of it”, she arrived in 1973, graduating four years later with an Honours degree in Music and French.

Hull was the next stop. Here, Gillian obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), describing the course as “very good indeed.” By this time Scotland was calling again and Gillian headed north to Edinburgh.

One year as woodwind instructor for West Lothian Region was enough for Gillian; “I decided that I preferred to be my own boss, and I’ve been self-employed ever since.” Though job security was unreliable, Gillian found immense satisfaction in the enhanced scope for personal development, and she has been able to organise her time to suit her need for practice – and “to dig the garden as well!”

Four years passed. Gillian moved up to Crail, eventually buying a 17th century fisherman’s cottage. By now, Gillian was teaching the clarinet as a private tutor to St. Andrews University students. Towards the end of the 1970s she formed the Crail Children’s Orchestra and Choir for 5 -12 yearolds. Every Wednesday after school there’s a rehearsal, and concerts take place in many venues several times a year. Some 20 children take part playing flute, clarinet, recorder, and the odd violin. “We aim to have fun basically,” In 1988 students approached Gillian to help them arrange a concert. What sort of

name should the resulting ensemble be given?

Someone joked about the apparent uncertainty – and the Heisenberg Ensemble was born! The name was appropriate too because the famous physicist, Werner Karl Heisenberg, whose name is synonymous with the Uncertainty Principle, had lectured at St. Andrews in the 1960s. While here, he had also played the piano at a concert.

Since those early days the Ensemble has gone from strength to strength. From being just, “a group of students and local amateur musicians”, it has become “the best student and local amateur musicians, with visiting professionals“.

Losing the University music department was a sad blow, not only for students, but also for the town. To fill the vacuum, the Music Centre was set up in the Younger Hall in 1991.

This has now become the hub of the musical life of the whole town, and much credit must surely go to Gillian Craig as its first Principal Teacher, with responsibility for recruiting tutors. Today tuition is available for all orchestral instruments, as well as piano and voice, and there are some 30 visiting tutors. The lunchtime concerts attract a sizeable audience every week, and concerts of all kinds take place throughout the year. One unforgettable event a year or two ago was the inspiring student production of The Magic Flute, with scenery and full costume on a stage that was never envisaged as an operatic venue!

Conducting has become more and more important to Gillian. She emphasises the hard work needed to prepare for a concert. Does she ever suffer from nerves? Not on stage, she says, but it can be nerve-wracking before the

performance.

Her career is extremely varied. A superb clarinettist, Gillian also plays the saxophone, which she started playing “as something different“. She is a member of the Scottish Saxophone Quartet.

Her repertoire ranges from Early Music to Contemporary, and she is equally at home in jazz. She has broadcast in Down Your Way and Coast to Coast, and she has made music from Shetland to the Borders.

What of the future? Gillian says the possibilities are endless in music; she would like to work her way through the repertoire, which is a “real privilege”. But the Heisenberg Ensemble “is my big thing that I want to continue with, and I’m looking forward to the next concert,” (see Selected Events on page 16). The student Mus Soc also needs her as its conductor.

Music has always played a part in Gillian’s life; her grandparents on both sides were good amateur singers. For relaxation Gillian enjoys skiing. Her Thai sister-in-law has given her the wonderful opportunity to travel widely in Thailand. Then there is gardening.

Thinking back, Gillian smiles – she used to enjoy “hunting for derelict Scottish castles; my ambition was to restore one, but luckily I’ve got over that!” That’s lucky for us, too, or we might have been deprived of Gillian’s exceptional musical talents.

Music Centre Tuition available to all ages from beginner to diploma on all orchestral instruments, piano, organ, harpsichord and guitar as well as voice A wide variety of orchestras and ensembles available to musicians, irrespective of whether they are members of the University Ensembles and choirs specifically for young people Practice and library facilities available to users as well as facilities for electronic composition and publishing using Sibelius Regular concerts including Wednesday lunchtime Full details available from Music Centre Younger Hall North Street, St Andrews Telephone 01334 462226 Email music@st-andrews.ac,uk http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/services/music

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TOWN/GOWN Christopher Venditozzi, SIE Student Enterprise Manager, introduces

Student Enterprise – Enterprise For All

As Student Enterprise embarks on its third year of activities, there are many new departures in this partnership between the University of St Andrews and the Scottish Institute for Enterprise [SIE].

Initially started to stimulate a spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship at the University, particularly in Science and Technology, Student Enterprise has steadily grown, assisting students in developing and commercialising their business ideas. With an expanding remit and the need to become more integrated into the academic activities of the University, the Student Enterprise Office is now situated in, and part of, the new School of Management at The Gateway Centre on the city’s North Haugh.

Building on the success of the first two years, where Student Enterprise developed, amongst other things, the Student Business Plan Competition and a series of seminars and workshops designed to assist commercially-minded individuals to acquire the various skills and knowledge essential in business today, the new academic year programme will be ground-breaking, allowing all students to engage with Student Enterprise, making it Enterprise for all.

From the beginning of the Martinmas Semester, new interdisciplinary credit-bearing degree modules will be available to students at postgraduate [semester 1] and undergraduate [semester 2] levels. Also, for those wishing to expand their learning and continuous personal development, the introduction of our own accredited Certificate in Entrepreneurial Development [CIED], will allow individuals to engage with our programme, whilst at the same time enhancing their enterprise capacity and employability.

The CIED will be a series of talks, seminars and workshops from entrepreneurs, professional organizations and representatives from business and industry, on different aspects of working in and/or running a successful business. In semester two, these will become more focused and concentrate on business start-up and new business development to assist those participating in the annual Business Plan Competition, Quantum Leap – Accelerating Enterprise™ 2005.

Student Enterprise sought to build on the popularity and success of the inaugural Student Business Plan Competition of two years ago.

Subsequently, Quantum Leap – Accelerating Enterprise™ 2004 became a £10K, expanded competition. We wanted to present students with a leaner, meaner competition – leaner in that it stripped away as much of the bureaucracy as possible; getting rid of rules and regulations that were prohibitive and perhaps stifled creativity and innovation; but also meaner in that we made it harder for participants to become a top prize-winner.

As well as the two categories of Science & Technology Business Ideas and Service & Lifestyle Business Ideas in our main stream,

Quantum Leap introduced the concept of Enterprise for all and opened out participation to potentially every student in the University with some new and innovative approaches. Added to the 2004 competition was the Sports Clubs Investment Stream, in association with the Athletic Union and the Student Societies Investment Stream (both sponsored by Student Enterprise), as well as the VIT Pg.Dip. Stream, where candidates could integrate their IS5003 Industry Placement module – working on a technology-based business that they wanted to start up – with the competition, in order to gain the skills and develop their business in the hope of funding their ideas combined with competition success.

Last year’s competition was voted a great success by the University students, with the prize winners continuing to take their ideas forward. With continuous development it is hoped a few of the winning teams will be ready to enter their plans into the SIE National Competition at the beginning of 2005. Academic year 2004/05 also sees the appointment of two new undergraduate SIE Student Interns – Siddarth Ramnani and Tobias Sommer, both honours students.

The new interns will continue the work already started by last year’s incumbents, Thomas Bohné and Bryan Watson. It is the first port of call for all things enterprising and it generates enthusiasm and a buzz within the student body for all the activities and opportunities we have to offer throughout the year. It is hoped that a postgraduate student Intern will join Sid and Tobias at the beginning of the semester.

One of the Intern’s key responsibilities is to help drive forward and grow the Student Entrepreneurship Society, Innovate, which was formed out of the Student Enterprise Office. Innovate’s slogan, “Why work for someone else” captures the essence of the spirit of entrepreneurship. It offers a full program of activities ranging from Meet the Entrepreneur to holding Focus Dinners when different aspects of the entrepreneurial experience are debated.

Student Enterprise is always looking to form new strategic alliances with businesses in St Andrews and beyond, which can be of mutual benefit. Past and current partnerships within the city of St Andrews have included The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, South Street; Lloyds TSB Scotland, Church Street; and John Smith & Son, The Booksellers, Market Street.

To find out more about Student Enterprise and our activities, log on to www.st-andrews.ac.uk/sie. We look forward to working with and for the students of the University in this new academic year and strengthening our ties with local businesses, recognising the benefits of people in an enterprising environment.

Eve Brown

The leading firm of property managers urgently require quality town centre properties to satisfy existing tenant demand.

Other services available at exceptionally good rates • Specialist acquisition services • Estate Agency • 12A Hope Street, St Andrews 01334 478800 www.evebrown.co.uk

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FEATURES Edwina Proudfoot on

Recording and Preserving our Church Heritage The Church, University, Golf – the essence of St Andrews? Certainly those who live here think so. My focus is on the first of these – the Church. Not only has it been around for a long time, 1300 years in St Andrews, it is open to all, which is more than can be said about many institutions.

One special aspect of the Church worldwide, is its buildings. As an archaeologist, I am interested in them all, those in use as well as those that are ruined. I suppose my interest goes back a long way, but nowadays it is rather more focused and, in fact, it takes up all my available time! Years ago, when I ran the Council for Scottish Archaeology, I organised an Inventory of Church Heritage in Scotland – only a name and address for each entry, but even that took great effort by our research assistant to include; ruins, place names, through parish churches to buildings of different denominations, and the many built in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 21st century we can add synagogues, mosques, temples as well – and, more significantly, we have to record those that go out of use, as more and more churches become redundant.

Now, for a look at St Andrews and the churches past and present in the burgh.

Some 25 churches are in the database, plus a number of unlikely sites that need to be confirmed. As you would expect, some early chapels have disappeared, like St Peter’s, which stood at the end of North Street. Then there was St Mary Magdalene, within the Cathedral precinct. St Mary on the Rock is outside the precinct wall – but it was there first. St Rule’s and the first parish church, Holy Trinity, were also within the precinct, so it was rather crowded.

Holy Trinity was moved to its present location in 1410, following the population, which was moving further westward as the burgh grew. The original building has disappeared, but there are a few records of where it was. Other churches included St Leonard’s Chapel, St John’s, (below Parliament Hall), St Salvator’s – all university buildings. Blackfriars and Greyfriars had buildings on the edge of the developed part of the burgh, though only part of the Blackfriars Chapel remains.

It took some years after the Reformation before new churches were erected in St Andrews, but from the 19th century as the population grew, there was a proliferation of church buildings. Some of the new buildings include St Andrews Episcopal Church, North Castle Street, and later a second Episcopal church, in Queens Terrace; St James Roman Catholic Church, on the Scores, which was built to serve the Roman Catholic community after a long period without a presence in the burgh; two others are Hope Park, and St Mary’s Chapel of Ease, now the Victory Memorial Hall.

St Leonard’s Chapel was left ruinous after its congregation moved to Hepburn Gardens, although it was repaired and is now in University use. Other buildings disappeared.

For example, St. Andrews Episcopal Church in North Street was sold and moved stone by stone to Buckhaven, where it has had a chequered history and has long been in other use. The Congregational Church, Bell Street was demolished in the 1980s to make way for shops.

What do we know about all these buildings? Churches have always been built ‘from the inside out’; that is, the uses of the space and circulation during services influenced the shape of the building. As buildings they are all very different from each other and from even the grandest of local houses. Think what it must have been like in the 12th century during the construction of the Cathedral – stone dust and traffic everywhere, no notice boards to explain what it would look like – all at a time when stone buildings were rare.

Our basic inventory lay virtually forgotten for some years after the first stage had been completed, but there was a steady flow of queries from all kinds of people, teachers ministers, planners, students, genealogists, for example; they were seeking information that we could not provide. Eventually another, independent, organisation was set up to develop church archaeology and church research in Scotland. Scottish Church Heritage Research has charitable status and was set up in 2000 with an anonymous donation and a start-up grant from the Russell Trust.

The committee has been working towards converting the Inventory to a Gazetteer, so that we can include more detailed information when we have funds to do so and we hope to be able to answer more of the questions people ask. We now have a preliminary web site – www.scottishchurchesgazetteer.co.uk , and plan to add a ‘How you can help’ button soon. Suprisingly, there is no simple, national record of all places of worship, whether architecturally important listed buildings, or little local churches that have no merit nationally, but are of huge local importance. Our Gazetteer is using volunteer local knowledge to develop a record of the buildings, especially those now redundant or demolished, as a community record for schools, local authorities and others, including tourists and tourism bodies. This should be useful in St Andrews, which grew up as a tourist burgh, starting when all those pilgrims filled the place every year.

In case you are wondering why this seems so important, let me add a few observations and a story. Churches are landmarks, a focus of the community, but sadly they are difficult to upkeep and many have gone out of use – and rapidly knowledge of them is disappearing. I had a conversation one day when I visited a small church now in retail use. To the astonishment of the staff I asked if I could take some photographs.

I explained my interest, but failed to convince them that this was once a church. We were only a hundred yards from the Parish Church, but they could not tell me where to find one. They had never been in a church, they told me.

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FEATURES One of the joys of this magazine is meeting modest people in our town, and discovering how remarkable they are. Here is the story of

Sandy Donald – and his life in football, jute, piping, and dancing Sandy was born into a talented, happy family in Lochee, Dundee in 1921. Out of a family of 14, he was the oldest of three boys and the fourth of the siblings. All were musical; Dad played the melodeon, Mum sang, as did the brothers and sisters, who also played mouthies, button accordions, and pipes. In those TV-less days music was a community pleasure, performed with wide-open windows that invited the neighbours to join in. Dad played entirely by ear, yet when the young Sandy was stuck reading his music, it was Dad who showed him by playing the proper tune, how to continue.

At Hogmanay the whole family practised at home before going the rounds in the town. “There was more togetherness in the tenements, much more community spirit,” Sandy says, “Everyone knew everyone – there was good gossip!” Home was in a tenement of 8 houses sharing one stair and one toilet. Sandy said that you knew when the toilet was occupied because the key was left on the outside for everyone to see!

Ancrum Road Primary school saw the start of the passion for football. Captain of the team, Sandy never looked back, but went on to captain the Rockwell (Secondary) School team. “Football,” says Sandy, “was the outstanding part of my teenage years, but war broke out and everything stopped.” At the age of 16, Sandy was a junior professional with Dundee North End, and Huddersfield’s top team wanted him to play for them. During the war he played centre half for Fulham, and Sandy boasts that he “could beat 6 foot tall international players by jumping higher than they could!” In the late 1940s, after he was demobbed, he feels he “came down gradually,” for instance, as captain of Lancaster City FC. But what of the war? Called up in 1940, Sandy became an aeroengineer in the RAF. It meant losing one year of his apprenticeship in the textile industry, but war service was counted instead. Once more, it was football that became all-important. “My football was so good, the RAF refused to send me overseas.” Many of Sandy’s friends never returned, so football probably saved his life, literally. The CO of Sandy’s maintenance squadron was “football mad.” He regularly won bets on football results, as much as £70 a time, and when the team won he would put his arm round Sandy and invite all the boys down to the pub. As a non-drinker Sandy wryly remarks, “I was the best player, and I couldn’t drink!”

After the war, it was Huddersfield, where Sandy worked in the woollen industry. Then, married and with four children, in need of more money Sandy joined ICI in the same town. “That was a dangerous job.” The money might have been better, but “it was danger money.” Even with protective clothing, Sandy got acid

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burns. “Maintenance staff had to dismantle machinery with their hands and put it back again.” ICI appreciated Sandy, and when he got divorced, the company tried hard to keep him, telling him that, “we don’t just let workers like you go after 10 years.” Huddersfield was where Sandy improved his Highland dancing, thanks to Ken Goodin, a local man with a passion for Scotland, who was a stricter teacher than any Scots Sandy had known. Also in Huddersfield, Sandy was Pipe Major of the Huddersfield Scottish Pipe Band.

Nevertheless, it was back to Dundee in 1965. One year with TCK, (Thomas Colin Kaye) and Sandy was invited to go out to India and the Far East. “I did 7 years erecting new jute mills in India, Pakistan, all over the East, and 3 years as technical consultant in Dacca.“ Country dancing in Pitlochry in 1972, Sandy met, and married Sheila. Only one week after the wedding both of them were in India. Not surprisingly, football had also accompanied Sandy to the East! He coached WAPDA 1st Division (Water & Power Development Association). “I took them from the bottom of the 1st division to 2nd top of the 1st division in one year.” Wherever Sandy went to start a new jute mill, he first looked for a piece of land which he could clear for a football pitch, “not a blade of grass; you had to get all the wee stones out of the way.”

The climate suited Sandy. He loved to sunbathe. One day he fell asleep on the roof. A sound woke him suddenly, and he was horrified to find himself completely surrounded by vultures on all the parapets!

“I was away with fright. Once inside I looked to see if my eyes were still there!”

Sandy returned to Dundee in 1975 as Chief Inspector, but sadly, TCK closed down two years later, making him redundant. The next job was with N. E. Fife as Warden of the Kinkell Caravan Site in St. Andrews. After summer the caravans used to be moved, and Sandy was required in the Cupar office to oversee the reservations. The Site was eventually sold to a private investor, and Sandy “has been retired ever since.” But not out of work! “I think I’m going to try and settle down to being an old man,” says Sandy, laughing.

Today, watching him dance a Highland Fling, seeing how he relishes Old Time Dancing each week, (and singing along with the music, remembering all the words of all the songs) it’s impossible to think of Sandy as “an old man”. No-one could guess that he is a Greatgrandfather 15 times over! If Sandy has been lucky in his life, then surely we, too, are lucky to have such a shining example of how to live life to the full, and enjoy it all. Long life, Sandy, to you and to Sheila, and blessings on your family!

FEATURES St. Andrews in Focus congratulates David Martin, St. Andrews’ newly appointed

Harbour Master The Harbour Trust is a charity permanently short of funds. As Harbour Master, David will receive a small honorarium to run the harbour for two hours a day for ten months. Fife Council gives a grant that it inherited from N.E. Fife Council – and harbour dues make up the rest of the income. Harbour Master David, an employee of the Trust, has a great deal of work in front of him.

Until very recently Trustees could only be elected from among fishermen resident in the town. As a result, over time, there were just 6 fishermen voting for 4 Trustees! One of John Prescott’s aims in government was to modernise Trust Ports, and David Martin, as one of the Trustees, worked hard to implement the reforms in St. Andrews. Today, Trustees are appointed on merit, through interview, and are not obliged to reside in the town itself. There are 12 Trustees with powers to co-opt, of whom 9 form a quorum. Two of the Trustees are Fife Councillors (since the Council gives a grant) but are not eligible to be chairmen. Officially the Trustees meet four times a year, but in fact there are constant unofficial meetings between them as well.

David has ambitions for the harbour which require a great deal of money. Already some £6-7000 has been spent on a feasibility study for new pontoons. £11⁄4m had to be spent on the recent repairs to the harbour wall (which had collapsed), to the pier, and on the new bridge. Now another £11⁄4m are needed to modernise the whole harbour. All that money must be in place before any work can start.

Fund raising has begun. David feels it was very unfair that the harbour was left out of European considerations; St. Andrews was thought to be too affluent to need help!

What is David’s vision for the future? More boat berths are needed. At present there is a waiting list. For safety reasons a berth in the outer harbour is not enough, because when there’s a storm boats have to be able to shelter in the inner harbour. That’s only partly why new pontoons are needed. David would like to revitalise the whole harbour, so that people visit it for pleasure, as they used to long ago. It would be good to see craft shops, a proper restaurant, and even a small museum celebrating the fisher community. David wants to “reconnect the harbour to the town”.

David’s family connections to the town can be traced back to the 1700s. His ancestors were all fishermen and merchant seamen.

Grandfather was a fisherman, and on the last lifeboat in the town. Grandmother acted as scribe to the fisher folk, writing letters for them when needed. Father, then recently back from active service in Korea, bought his own first lobster fishing boat in the year that David was born. David himself was born in the Cottage Hospital in St. Andrews in 1954. At that time his parents were living in the Priory, long since demolished, in the Cathedral grounds. The old Borough School was where David began his education, going on to the new Kilrymont School as one of the first intake.

Given this background, how did David become a jeweller, with a workshop in Bell Street? A.T. Reid, who used to have a jewellery shop in Bell Street, was a drinking friend of David’s father. One day, when David was 16 years of age, he was told that he would work with Mr. Reid; and that was that, no argument!

So now David says, with a laugh, “It’s taken me 33 years to move 20 feet. I can still see the window of the place I started in”. But David has achieved his ambition and become Harbour Master in the place he loves above all others, and he is a happy man.

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FEATURES Dr. Veronica Smart turns a fascinating page of our history,

Coins, Kings, and Bishops in St. Andrews In St. Andrews we are justly proud of our mediaeval heritage, our Castle, charters to validate their claims to rights or property, and no coins of Cathedral and Colleges. Another medieval C for St. Andrews is less well St. Andrews before Alexander III’s time had been discovered. Then an known. Even residents who are well informed about their city’s history are English collector bought a coin of David I from a small coin dealer; it had often surprised when told there are Coins bearing St. Andrews’ name. Yet a poorly struck reverse catalogued simply as ‘irregular’, which no-one the St. Andrews mint was one of the earliest in Scotland, and the story of had been able to decipher. He enlisted the help of Lord Stewartby, the its discovery is a fascinating one. foremost expert on the Scottish coinage, and asked if he knew of any Scotland’s kings were amongst the last in Europe to strike a coinage coins struck from the same dies, which might supply details worn away of their own. In fact, before the middle of the eleventh century there seems or lost in the striking. No fewer than seven coins emerged which provided to have been little use for coins in much of Scotland; those finds that have the full reading as MENA VD or MEINARD SAN. This was a most exciting been discovered were mostly buried by the Vikings in the islands and discovery, as historians already knew about a Meinard of St. Andrews. nearby mainland fringes. It was during the reign of David I that a number As Maynard the Fleming, he was Bishop Robert’s steward (‘praefectus’ of circumstances all came together, which favoured the beginnings of a or ‘provost’), who was sent to him by King David from Berwick, where he Scottish coinage. was the king’s burgess, to build up the burgh in St. Andrews. Here he was David was keen to modernise his kingdom. He had spent much again, now as the bishop’s moneyer, and so St. Andrews was established of his early life in England, and as Earl of Huntingdon and Lord of as one of the earliest minting burghs in Scotland, striking coins in the Northampton, he was familiar with the 1140s, over 100 years before the first long-established English boroughs, documentary record. An eighth coin has St. Andrews was established as one of urban centres with markets, and usually been discovered earlier this year, near the earliest minting burghs in Scotland, with their own mint. His opportunity St. Abb’s Head, and one of the original came in 1136 when, on the death of his loaned from Lord Stewartby’s striking coins in the 1140s, over 100 years seven, brother-in-law, Henry I of England, the own collection, can be seen on display before the first documentary record. southern kingdom became embroiled in the St. Andrews Museum, along with in the conflicting claims to the throne two coins of Alexander Ill – one of the of Henry’s daughter Matilda and her cousin Stephen. A rich find of silver moneyer Thomas (about whom, alas, we know nothing else) and the other had recently been made in Cumbria, a territory which had always been in from a later issue without moneyer’s name. dispute between the kings of Scotland and England. With the pretext of It is a pity we cannot definitely say to our visitors, “This is where the supporting his niece Matilda, David invaded and seized Carlisle, where St. Andrews mint was”. It is possible that the coins were struck within the Henry had established his mint to exploit the silver mines. The city’s bishop’s castle, but from investigations in other cities it seems likely that, moneyer, Erebald, agreed, or was compelled, to strike coins for DAVIT as with other tradesmen, the moneyer’s business was carried on in a REX. So, curiously, the first coinage of a Scottish king was struck in workshop in his own property. The late Dr. Ronald Cant’s conclusion was England. that the plots of land granted to Maynard would have been on the south We now jump over a hundred years. Alexander III was on the throne, side of South Street just west of Abbey Street:, and it is perhaps here we and the Scottish coinage was well established, with widespread minting should picture our mint. towns. We have coins naming Ayr, Forfar, Glasgow, Inverness, Kinghorn, St. Andrews is not named on the coins of any reign between David and many other places including St. Andrews. At last we have a historical I’s and Alexander III‘s, though the mint may have continued anonymously. record to accompany them. Wintoun’s Chronicle describes how in 1283 The last named coins of our city are those of John Baliol; William Fraser, Alexander III came to St. Andrews and confirmed to Bishop William Fraser bishop at the time, was his strong supporter. A good case has been made “To God and to St Androis he / grantit the stryking of the money / as frely out that the emblems on a mysterious group of coins from the fifteenth and as fuIely / as any bischop before gane by.” century indicate that Bishop Kennedy exercised the right of the bishops of We have quite a lot of surviving St. Andrews coins of Alexander III, St. Andrews to a mint, but that is a story perhaps for another time. but until the 1980s the idea that any ‘bischop before gane by’ held similar rights was dismissed as political embroidery. It was not unknown in the Acknowledgement : The illustrations were drawn by the late Christine Middle Ages for ecclesiastical institutions to backdate or even forge Wolfe, for a booklet published by St. Andrews University Library, 1991 Silver penny struck by Meinard c. 1140 (shown at actual size left).

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Silver penny of Alexander III, moneyer Thomas at St. Andrews 1251-80 (shown at actual size left).

Silver penny of John Baliol 1292-6 CIVITAS S ANDRE (shown at actual size left).

FEATURES Tracy Buchan reports on being

‘A Stroke of Genius’ Extra It was still dark as I left the house at 4:30 am one Sunday in June last year.

For that I was thankful. Unaccustomed to rising at that hour, neck sore from the rollers I was still wearing, and 10 years out of practice, I very nervously mounted my husband’s oversized mountain bike and wobbled my way to the West Sands, hoping no one would see me. The reason for this strange behaviour? I was to take part as one of the extras in the film, ‘Stroke of Genius‘, and I intended to get there on time.

Shaking and out of breath from the very scary bike ride, I arrived at the marquees that had been set up for filming. Having found the registration point – and more importantly, the coffee – it was off to the wardrobe department where the time era transformation began. My costume consisted of a brown and cream silk 1950s flapper dress, tiny leather laced-up heeled brogues, and a rather fetching felt hat. Changing was a delicate process as the dress was extremely fragile, but with some help I was soon off to the hair-and-make-up area. Make-up took no time at all; literally, a quick coating of sunscreen was applied and that was all. 1950s women didn’t spend their time and money on cosmetics as we do today, but what they lacked in make-up they made up for in hairstyles. The hair stylist spent around 40 minutes with as many hairpins, wave lotion, hairspray and hairnet, to create the perfect 1950s hairdo. The elaborate braiding was sitting perfectly in position just under the bottom of my hat. With the transformation complete I headed outside to the early morning sunshine and the aroma of griddle cooked bacon from the catering vans. Breakfast in hand, I returned to the holding area, which was by now starting to buzz with excitement as a steady trickle of people had arrived waiting to register and be called through to wardrobe. I noticed a lot of them had smiled at me and realised I was one of the first few to be transformed. The current occupants in the holding area consisted mainly of ragged or roller-haired ladies, still sleepy but chatting excitedly about the costumes and the filming. People arrived in ever-increasing numbers, many now also in period costume, and with them the atmosphere grew until the entire marquee was filled with a buzz of voices and electric tension. One by one each person returned from wardrobe not only with a new outfit, but a new persona; the gentlemen all smart with waistcoats Martha, Louise and a Vintage Rolls Royce

and hats, ladies in pretty frocks, amazing hats, and many were gloved. By 11.30 the transformation was complete and Tracy in period clothing (centre) we gathered outside and began the walk to the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse, where the shooting was to take place. The summer sun had gained in strength and the holiday makers were out in force. Delighted by the sight of over 200 extras in period costume they smiled and waved and wished us well. The filming began, we all repeatedly smiled, clapped and cheered, sometimes without making a sound, well into the evening. Between takes sunscreen was applied, hair was restyled and friendships were made. I flopped on the sofa around 10.00pm tired but happy, and looking forward to the next few days of filming.

Between takes friendships were made!

The Bobby Jones film ‘Stroke of Genius’ had its premier in St. Andrews this summer. Intended as the golfing equivalent of ‘Chariots of Fire‘, the film begins and ends in St. Andrews where Jones was much loved, returning to receive the Freedom of the Burgh in 1958. In addition to the obvious St. Andrews locales, the production also used the five-star St. Andrews Bay Hotel, (doubling as Hoylake in 1930), where Jim Caviezel (Jones) and key cast members stayed. The Royal and Ancient allowed the film-makers full access last summer, with Alan McGregor (who played the starter at St. Andrews) and Jamie Farmer (body double for Jim Caviezel) and around 200 local extras hired in period clothes to recreate the era.

Ian Seeley, a ‘weel kent’ native of St. Andrews now living in Hawick, was given a copy of the July / August issue of the magazine, which pleased him; and so he kindly contributes his:

Contemplations; The Old Fishers’ School, St. Andrews

Fisher School, 1930 (Photograph courtesy of the Preservation Trust Museum).

The Fishers’ School – it seems a world away From all the sophistry that now confronts The scholar child; and yet it managed to purvey The absolute necessities of life – for life – so often absent In the mass of steel and glass and concrete Which now passes for a school. And so we went, And learned – no, not just mere discovery of great And wondrous facts and deeds – we learned by dint Of firm authority still sanctioned from above – there could be no dissent.

And yet, the iron rod was held by hands that gave more than a hint Of caring. Sturrock, Blue and Robertson meant Education in our parents’ book. With Autumn’s tint Came round the open fire, and shifting places for a ‘turn’ Of heat was Winter’s order of the day; but when the Summer came, That lane between the graveyard and the school would burn In flaming June – a sun trap, sheltered from the breezy main, The North Sea pounding fifty yards away, by fisher cottage And a row of ancient biggins; and often people in their dotage, Paying their respects, remembering a different time, would wander Down the lane and past the school, creating that dichotomy of age and youth – The poignancy of gleeful childhood in the playground and the truth That all must face just yards away across the wall.

But now that balance has gone; the Fisher School can scarce Be recognised; I know it still in memory; soon none will know at all.

What was a school with children’s laughs and shouts proclaims the farce Of progress in some quiet and sheltered housing for the old; The Fishers’ tale remains and should be told.

I.W.S. 5/4/02

Ian Seeley writes, “I was a pupil there in 1951 & 52. The teachers then were Miss Nellie Sturrock, who seemed to be in charge, Mrs. Blue and Miss Jessie Robertson (a real disciplinarian) – but they were all firstclass teachers by the standards of the time – and we learned; there was no-one who couldn’t spell correctly, read perfectly, or do simple arithmetic.

‘Remedial education’ was unheard-of.

If you were punished, you knew you’d deserved it, and so did all your peers.

The basic building’s shape is still there – the bit at the very end, the harbour end, doubled as a shelter and bike shed. I think it was three classrooms, but for some reason we had a Miss Smith, which would suggest four teachers. Miss Robertson was in the room which fronted on to the cemetery lane. The other teachers had windows facing out to sea, but I think they were too high for pupils to see out; that would be too much of a distraction from the work in hand!”

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FEATURES

Theatre of the Skies www.airshow.co.uk Scotland’s International Airshow takes off again at Royal Air Force Leuchars on Saturday 11 September, when aircraft from around the world will fly in and perform breathtaking displays of precision flying.

Located in the Kingdom of Fife, surrounded by beautiful coastal scenery and overlooking historic St. Andrews, RAF Leuchars provides the perfect arena for this ‘Theatre of the Skies.’

The event dates back to 1945 when, in September of that year, the Royal Air Force opened the gates of many of its stations to the general public to celebrate victory in the Battle of Britain and World War II. These events, known as ‘Battle of Britain At Home Day’ airshows have gradually decreased over the years and today, RAF Leuchars is the last remaining RAF base to hold an airshow over the traditional Battle of Britain weekend.

On walking through the gates of the UK’s premier fighter station, the atmosphere and excitement won’t fail to grab your attention. With 7 action packed hours of non-stop flying by up to 30 different aircraft, you won’t want to look away in case you miss something! The static aircraft park, where you can get up close, speak to the crews and see inside some of the larger aircraft, shows a huge variety of different aircraft types including helicopters from the Royal Navy and the Army, and foreign participation by the USA, Portugal, Denmark, France, and The Netherlands.

This year also sees a new and exciting highlight, a set piece ‘tactical demonstration’ simulating an airfield attack, with Tornado GR4s – the RAF’s primary bomber aircraft – performing at speeds of up to 550mph and supported by Hawk fighter aircraft. RAF Leuchars’ home based 43 Sqn Tornado F3 fighters will come to the rescue, scrambling to defend their airfield.

The Airshow is delighted to be hosting the Scottish celebrations of the Red Arrows’ 40th display season. Originally displaying with only seven pilots, the team flew the Folland Gnat jet trainer, and this aircraft will arrive at Leuchars in a most spectacular manner, in formation with the current Reds Team. It will then go on to perform solo, painted in the historic livery. 1965 saw the Team increase in size to nine and adopt the classic ‘Diamond Nine’ formation which has become their trade mark, recognised world wide. The 1980 display season saw the team change over to the Hawk aircraft which is currently flown, and with over 3,750 displays in 52 countries since their creation, the Reds’ popularity continues, with all 100

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team members ever committed to their motto ‘Eclat’, meaning brilliance.

Back at Leuchars since they last performed here in 1998, the only professional wing-walking team in Europe, will slice through the skies at 150mph, with their daring ‘Utterly Butterly Wingwalkers’ waving from the top wing of 1940s Boeing Stearman biplanes. Performing handstands at 500 feet up in the air and pulling 4G, which is four times their own bodyweight, the wing-walkers need to be both strong and agile.

Wing-walker Kirsty, who is a chartered accountant during the winter months says, “The views are incredible and the sensation literally uplifting.

Why sit on the inside when you can stand on the wing!”

FEATURES Always a highlight, and most definitely not to be missed, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly their legendary Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane. Out of the 7,377 Lancaster aircraft that were built, only two remain in airworthy condition – one here and one in Canada. These magnificent aircraft, which have stood the test of time, stand out from the crowd as they proudly fly through peaceful skies, bringing a tear to many an eye.

In contrast, old and new, the RAF’s new supersonic aircraft, Typhoon, will make a welcome appearance. This swing-role aircraft, which offers the pilot extreme manoeuvrability, is capable of Mach 2 – that’s twice the speed of sound – and can go from brakes-off to take-off, in just 5 seconds.

Apart from the aircraft, there are many other attractions including a mile-long trade fair offering lots of shopping opportunities; an indoor craft fair with unique items for sale; a funfair; exhibitions; and a beer garden where you can take the opportunity to sit and relax. There is also the chance to get a bird’s eye view and experience the thrill of helicopter flight, with pleasure flights available to book in advance or on the day at www.airshow.co.uk or Tel: 01875 320032 option 5.

Special Packages are also available with our popular Aviation Enthusiasts weekend; Veterans Hospitality; and high flying Corporate Hospitality. Details from the Airshow Office – Tel: 01334 839000 or www.airshow.co.uk.

Gates & activities open from 8 am to 6 pm Flying Display takes off 10 am to 5 pm Supporting RAF Charities

• • • •

For Advance Saver Tickets call the Ticket Hotline: 08701 200 722 or www.airshow.co.uk Buy at selected Scottish Tourist Information Centres, Oddbins, and the Dunfermline Building Society.

ScotRail – Rail/Airshow tickets available. Call 08457 48 49 50 or www.scotrail.co.uk Tickets can be purchased on the day.

Stella Zukowski went on a recent outing with the Friends of the St. Andrews Museum to the Museum of Flight in East Lothian. Seeing Concorde languishing wingless in one of the hangars brought back

A Wonderful Memory Stella was born at her granny’s house in Dundee, and was then brought up in Pittenweem.

Eventually, as Fifers often do, she ended up working in London. From her office window she used to watch Concorde go by, “like a beautiful bird”, and fell in love with it. Stella believed, however, she would never be able to afford to fly in it “because of the general pressures of money, and it was so expensive.”

In 1998, Stella finally came to stay in St. Andrews. One year later she saw an advert. in the Daily Telegraph for an all-inclusive holiday in Toronto, “and it was flying Concorde out from Manchester, and it was so cheap, with the hotel. The cherry on the top of the cake was that it also included a helicopter flight over Niagara, and that was another thing I’d always wanted to do.” Having friends in Toronto settled the matter.

So what was Concorde like? Stella says it was “very, very comfortable inside. It looked small but it wasn’t cramped.” Champagne was served before an excellent lunch on board. “Once clear of Ireland we reached our top altitude and I could just see the curvature of the earth. It was very peaceful, because of course at mach 2.2 we left the sound behind.” The passengers were invited to the flight deck in small groups; “it was minute, about three or four could squeeze in. It was hard to believe it could fly the full plane”.

Stella’s journey home was a complete contrast in a scheduled airliner, everything going wrong. “Seeing Concorde in the Museum of Flight the other day,” Stella said, “I could have wept. I remembered the beautiful bird that flew. But there’s the future – it will be restored, maybe in two years” – but alas, only as an exhibit.

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FEATURES

1st St. Andrews Company The Boys’ Brigade Stephen Donaldson, Acting Captain The 1st St. Andrews Boys Brigade is very proud of the fact that we have been in existence now for 110 years. The company was started on 14th March 1894 with 88 boys enrolling. We do not have quite as many on the roll nowadays, but we are still meeting every week and doing reasonably well.

The boys of today continue to have a lot in common with those of the past and we do some of the same activities they learnt then; the main one being drill. The annual Display in May was a fine example of how the boys can still learn the same skills, 25 of the Company and Junior Sections giving a good demonstration of their marching skills to parents and friends.

On 8th September 1897, a public meeting was held in the Town Hall to consider the best means of increasing the efficiency of the St. Andrews Company The Boys’ Brigade.

A committee was appointed to raise funds to build a drill hall, gymnasium and reading room primarily for the use of the Boys’ Brigade.

The estimated cost was £1400. The hall in Kinnessburn Road is still used today and although not so much as a gymnasium, it is used for games, indoor football, badminton, table tennis etc.

The Foundation Stone was laid, and the building work on the hall began on 18th May 1899. On the 18th May 1999 the Company celebrated the 100th birthday of the hall with a special evening when the opening of a sealed bottle, placed behind the Foundation Stone, was opened. It was an exciting moment for the Company and interesting to find out what was inside. It contained several business cards from people involved in the building; newspapers of the day; a local almanac; and other items of interest from the time of laying the stone.

This past year has been a busy one as usual, with the boys learning a lot of new things. We have been lucky enlisting the help of Dr. Ian Black and The Rev. John Cubie to teach the boys First Aid and Religious subjects. This was greatly enjoyed and again a good display of work was put on at the parents’ night in May. Mr Ron Cruickshanks takes the Company Section boys for Bible Class on a Tuesday evening, bringing a lot of fun into the class. The Company Section is for boys of Primary 7 age up to 18 years old. Most of them have been in Junior Section, but this is not necessary. There are various badges to work for during Section evenings and the syllabus also includes physical activities and indoor games. There is also time to make use of the pool table or darts board etc.

Boys in Junior Section do 3 years service, but again boys can join at any time. Each year the boys take part in the achievements scheme to gain 2 badges. The highest of these is the Gold badge awarded at the end of third year. Some of the work is done on Section evenings and some at home. The boys also have time for potted sports and games usually involving running about the hall.

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In Junior Section, boys are old enough to join the piping class taken

by Mr. Bill Watson, Mr Alex Bayne and Mr. Lennox Harrower. Meeting on a Tuesday and Friday evening they start by learning the pipe chanter before moving on to bagpipes. At present we have 4 boys playing the bagpipes. It is encouraging to hear again the pipes being played in the hall after a gap of about 5 years. We are still looking for a side drumming instructor.

The Junior Section is for boys who are in primary 4, 5 and 6 and this year we had 20 boys all attending nearly every week. We had great fun at Halloween with a party, when some of the boys dressed up and lots of messy games were played. At Christmas we had another night of party fun and also a visit to the pantomime in Dundee.

We celebrated Burns night in January with a Burns Supper and the boys joined in by reciting some Burns poems they had learned at school.

Hopefully they learn a lot while having fun at Boys’ Brigade.

The 3rd and youngest Section in Boys’ Brigade is the Anchor Boys Section, which meets on a Monday evening between 6 and 7pm.

This group is for boys in primary 2 and 3, and they spend most of the evening playing games, racing, or doing crafts. This year they made totem poles, masks, origami cups and lots of other things. Again the boys in this Section enjoyed parties at Halloween and at Christmas and were included in the trip to the pantomime. The boys in primary 3 have an Achievement Book to work through on Anchor Boys’ night learning things like road safety, how to feed the birds in winter and telling the time; they then get a certificate and badge to say that they have done 12 Achievements.

We are struggling for helpers in all Sections. We manage to give the boys a good programme but if we had a few more helpers we could offer so much more. Have you been in the Boys’ Brigade before? Do you think you would like to help today’s boys? We need help with Anchor Boys, Junior Section, and Company Section. Any help is better than none, even if you can only manage a few weeks at a time.

If you are interested, please contact: Stephen Donaldson, 01334 472987.

Our start-up date is September 7th, enrolment night. If any boy is interested, please come along and join us.

Anchor Boys, primary 2 and 3, Monday evening 6 – 7 pm.

Junior Section, primary 4, 5 and 6, Tuesday evening 6.30 – 8pm.

Company Section, primary 7 & over, Tuesday evening 7-30–9pm.

FEATURES

The Community Council of the Royal Burgh of St Andrews One of the most important aspects of the Community Council is that everyone over 18 who lives in St Andrews may stand for election. Each councillor is elected independently, not as a representative of a political party. You are free to belong to one, base your attitudes on its Principles, but the purpose of your election is to influence ways the Royal Burgh of St Andrews may be developed, organised and maintained for the benefit of all the people who share it.

The extent of our concerns is illustrated by items in the minutes of the June 2004 meeting: 1. Chris Broome, the Service manager of Fife Council Community Services spoke about the coastal path and said that phase 3, Tay Bridge to Newburgh, is being studied for feasibility. Reference was made to Kinkell Braes.

2. Plans for the next phase of the South Street refurbishment were displayed outside the meeting.

Derek Crowe (Fife Council Area Transportation Manager) and Scot Harper (Scottish Enterprise Project Executive for St Andrews’ Physical Infrastructure Project) referred to intentions to modernise parking arrangements, in order to take account of the increase in car size, to damage to road and footways from tree roots, and threats to underground utilities.

3. Visitors parking in the Greenside Court area and limiting the space available to residents, was brought up by a member of the public, but members of the Planning Committee said they do mention prospective parking difficulties when responding to planning applications.

4. Someone asked why South Street was the priority for refurbishment when other areas were in greater need, and Councillor Frances Melville commented that it was of continuing concern to her that Scottish Enterprise was the driving force and that there was a lack of democratic input.

5. The 4 Fife Councillors then gave their reports, which included references to works on David Russell Hall, the Bruce Embankment, the World Class Survey of Aims of Business Development, the Petheram Bridge Car Park, road resurfacing, the Tennis Club, Bus Shelters at Safeway Supermarket, the Memorial Hospital, and St Mary’s Place, the Spar problem, Kinnessburn pollution, May Day, the audible warning system for the South Street pelican crossing, giant hogweed in the Kinnessburn stream, the University’s 20-year Vision, lack of a railway, the East Sands blue flag, an unsatisfactory meeting with Scottish Water, Milestones, and the Local Housing Strategy.

6. The Planning Committee report included objection to the creeping development of Cairnsmill Caravan Park.

7. Matters arising from previous meetings included Bandstand Concerts on the West Sands, writing a regular column for St Andrews in Focus magazine, student use of the Leisure Centre on the East Sands, Joe Peterson’s report on the Fife Access Seminar which referred to the ‘Bums off Seats’ walks, Falkland Palace’s ground access, the Tayport paths project, and the Clan’s ‘Bless the Community’ afternoons entertainment at old folks’ homes/centres.

8. New business included the Youth Problem (including vandalism at the Spar area); nomination of Gordon Christie, as an Honoured Citizen, for the Holyrood opening; Fife Environment Network, Planning Aid for Scotland, Friends of Holy Trinity Church, the proposed Residents’ Association which seemed to aim mainly at owner-occupiers, Community Council training, the Scottish Language Dictionaries AGM, and the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Bulletin which was circulated.

9. Reports from Community Council officers included references to letters of thanks to the Kate Kennedy Club; an award received; thanking Councillor Frank Riddell (who had had to resign from the Council after suffering a stroke) for his services to both the Community Council and St Andrews as a whole; the Association of Scottish Community Councils Survey; and the Trust Fund. Joe Peterson also mentioned that the Community Flower Bed planting and that the Floral Decorations for the War Memorial were in hand, and that, having been a finalist in the Scotland in Bloom competition, St Andrews is automatically in the final this year.

10. AOCB included a suggestion from Councillor Sangster that PC Mark Anderson – the new Community Safety Officer – should be invited to speak at a future meeting. He also said that the St Andrews in Bloom hanging baskets were to be put up within the following fortnight.

Members of the public are welcome to come and speak to members of the Community Council before their meetings (which start at 7pm on the first Monday of each month at the Burgh Chambers in the Town Hall in Queen’s Gardens). They may also speak at the beginning of a meeting, preferably having previously informed Pete Lindsay, the Secretary. For example, a local taxi driver spoke recently about the effects of the plans being discussed for the modernisation of the bus station.

The current members are: Laurel Aguilar, Bettie Christie, Ken Crichton, George Davidson, Richard Douglas, Ken Fraser, Ian Goudie, Ian Hamilton, Joe Lamb, Chris Lesurf, Pete Lindsay (Secretary), Dennis Macdonald, Murdo Macdonald (Vice Chair), Donald MacGregor (Chair), Joe Peterson, Bruce Ryan, Ewen Sparks, Archie Strachan (Treasurer), Cynthia Tero, and Penny Uprichard (Vice Chair). The Students’ Association is represented by Simon Atkins, Ben Reilly, and Alex Yabroff.

Our Fife Councillors are: Sheila Black (St Andrews South), Bill Sangster (Central), Jane Ann Liston (South East), and Frances Melville (West) who are all allowed to take full part in the meeting, but do not have the right to vote.

Community Councillors may be approached between meetings by post, by ‘phone, or by email with details being available via their website.

Why not get to know who is representing you so that you may make an informed decision, rather than an inspired guess, at the next election in the autumn?

Is there anything you would consider worth changing/knowing about life in St Andrews? Why not visit the Community Council website : http://www.louisxiv.demon.co.uk/standrewscc/ or check on Events: http://www.louisxiv.demon.co.uk/standrews/events.html

The Three B’s Bedding Bits & Bobs 47-49 Kinnessburn Road, St Andrews, KY16 8AD Phone 01334 470700 Photocopying 5p per sheet A selection of haberdashery & wool Bedding at good prices with 10% discount for students, hotels and B&Bs Dance wear now in stock – shoes and outfits Also in store: cards, candles, fancy goods, batteries, tools, crystal, etc.

15

FEATUTRES / SELECTED EVENTS

Ask the Panel at St. Andrews Museum Continuing our Ask the Panel at St. Andrews Museum. This time they seem to be stumped! If anyone out there has any answers, please send them to this magazine, and we’ll be happy to add them to our next issue in November.

Q. Although I must have gone down Kinnessburn Road hundreds of times, I have only just noticed a shell-decorated wall at the Bridge Street end (see illustration). I know about the Anstruther houses decorated with shells, but never knew that there were any in St. Andrews. What is the history of this wall and how common were shell decorations in this area?

A. We were quite unaware of the existence of this shell-decorated panel in Kinnessburn Road and are grateful to you for drawing it to our attention. It’s a rather attractive way of dealing with the bottom part of a blocked-up doorway where the upper part has been turned into a window. We suspect that the decoration is relatively recent, but would love to know more!

The most elaborate of the shell-decorated houses in Anstruther is the 17th century Buckie House at 2 High Street. Here the east gable was decorated in the mid-19th century with rows and whorls of shells by the then owner, Alexander Batchelor, a local slater.

Apart from wall decorations, Fife boasted at least two shell gardens during the last century, one in Leven and another in Ceres (see illustration). These were filled with miniature houses, castles and churches, usually made of concrete and decorated with shells, fragments of pottery and household ornaments. The gardens were open to the public and were popular with visitors. Valentines of Dundee published postcards of both in the 1930s.

The Leven shell garden, at the corner of the Promenade and Seagate, was the larger of the two and contained an entire singledecker bus, covered completely with shells.

The garden was started during the First World War and its owner, Walter Bissett, was still at work on it when he died at the age of 95 in 1964. Only a shell-encrusted chimney stack and wall in Seagate now remain.

The Ceres shell garden was begun by George Todd, a local joiner, in 1928. He and his wife collected shells during trips to seaside towns like St. Andrews and Elie and worked on the structures in the evenings. There was no admission charge for the garden, but visitors were asked to give donations to help fund a district nurse. After Mr. Todd’s death in 1935, no further work was done on the garden, but Mrs. Todd continued to open it to the public until her death in 1955. The shell structures were demolished in 1988 when the Part of the Ceres shell garden in site was re-developed. (see illustration) 1988, shortly before demolition Q. The South Port Gates in Gibraltar features the coat of arms of Sir John Miller Adye who was Governor of Gibraltar from 1883 until 1886. I remember visiting Gibraltar with my family in 1951 and being clearly told by my father (who had been in Gibraltar many times) that the only identical coat of arms was in St. Andrews. Can you tell me where this is in St. Andrews and what the connection is with Sir John Miller Adye?

A. I am afraid that I have not found any image or description of arms relating to the Adye family, nor have I found any connection between St. Andrews and Sir John Miller Adye or Gibraltar. I note that the Gibraltar arms depict a triple-towered castle with a pendant key, but I have not come across a similar image in St. Andrews.

A propos the Qs and As in the last issue, Mrs. Elspeth Shepherd wrote from Glasgow, “Regarding the bomb which fell on Nelson Street in 1942 – I thought the family whose house was destroyed was called Brown. My uncle William Wilson stayed in a house called ‘Marella’, which is at the corner of Nelson Street and Bowling Green Terrace.

He was an A.R.P. Warden. When the siren sounded he left his house to go to his post – at that moment the bomb fell on the house opposite. My uncle died of his injuries.

His name appears on the War Memorial at the end of North Street. The only (civilian) citizen mentioned.” She added that she and her brother were in the Forces and that Uncle was a widower with no family of his own, so her parents had a very stressful time visiting the hospital and making all the arrangements afterwards. It would be nice, she added, to remember her uncle after all this time.

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Selected Events Sunday, 12 September – Scottish Widlife Trust outing to Morton Lochs and Tentsmuir Forest.

Forest Warden Tom Cunningham will talk about habitat improvements. Meet at noon at Morton Lochs car park. Contact: Sue Armstrong 01334 838 279 Friday & Saturday, 17 / 18 September – Flower Festival at St. Leonard’s Church, Hepburn Gardens, St. Andrews, to commemorate the centenary of the Church. For further information call: 01334 473 807 Saturday, 18 September – 10.00am Town Hall, St. Andrews. Coffee morning in aid of the 8th Fife Scout Group. Contact: Morag Wilson, 01334 470246 Monday, 20 September – BBC2 8.00pm – Mastermind. Jane Ann Liston, finalist in Brain of Britain in 2003, will be taking part. See the relevant Radio Times for details.

Tuesday, 5 October – 7.30 pm, Chemistry Department, North Haugh, St. Andrews. The Rich Heritage of Chinese Plants, George Anderson, President of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, Edinburgh. The first of the annual lecture series of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, St. Andrews. Admission free; all Welcome.

Wednesday, 6 October – the first of the regular Lunchtime Concerts in the Younger Hall, North Street, St. Andrews. For details please contact the Music Centre, Younger Hall, 01334 462 226, or pick up a leaflet there.

Saturday, 9 October – First of the Music Club concert series. The Edinburgh String Quartet playing music by Mozart, Peter Maxwell-Davies and Brahms. Please check the date in the Citizen, also posters around the town. The website is: www.saint-andrews.co.uk/smc Sunday, 10 October – 7.30 pm. The Heisenberg Ensemble at the Younger Hall, North Street.

Vladislav Steinberg plays the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Programme also includes Beethhoven’s 5th Symphony. Tickets £7 / 5.50 (children and students £3) from the Music Shop in South St., the Music Centre, Younger Hall Office (1 week beforehand), or at the door.

Sunday, 10 October – Scottish Wildlife Trust visit to Cameron Reservoir led by Jean Stewart and Bob Jaffray. Meet at 2.00pm at the reservoir car park.

Contact: Jean Stewart 01334 475 763 Thursday, 14 October – 8.00 pm in Lower College Hall, University Quad, North Street, St. Andrews.

The Annual Mitford Memorial Lecture: Excavations in Doura-Europos in Syria, Dr. Simon James of the University of Leicester. Everyone welcome.

September, to 17 October – at the Crawford Centre in North Street. Lovely Weather, Diane Maclean explores current concerns about climate change in novel artistic/scientific combinations. Also, embroidered wall panels by Claire Anderson; enamel jewellery by Lynne Glazzard; stitched bags

by Poppy Treffry; silk scarves by Jennifer Mackey.

Further details from the Crawford Centre.

29 October, to 19 December – at the Crawford Centre in North Street. A preview of the concepts behind a building designed to interact with its surrounding landscape. Maggie’s Fife, a Maggie’s Centre for Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital. Also, Jewellery by Michael Peckitt, Suzanne Tweddle, Jenni Wilson, Maike Barteldres. Glass by Joanne Mitchell, and tweed and wool accessories by Mootie House Designs, Shetland. Further details from the Crawford Centre.

SHOPS & SERVICES Morag Wilson, Cub Scout Leader

“Exploring” Scouting It has been 100 years since Baden-Powell’s Scouting for Boys was first published and Scouting is still going strong in St Andrews.

The 8th Fife Scout Group, based at the East Scores, are looking forward to another busy year of activities and a mammoth fund raising campaign. Plans are currently in place for the renovation of the existing Scout Hall to incorporate a new kitchen, disabled access, and new showers and toilets, and it’s not just the Scouts who would benefit from the improvements. The hall is currently used as a base for the St Andrews Judo Club (further information at www.standrewsjudo.org.uk) and also the St Andrews Sunday Afternoon Ceilidh & Old Time dancers.

The Scout Group itself has approximately 80 members in 3 Sections (open to boys and girls, as we are a co-educational movement): Beaver Scouts are usually aged between six and eight years old, the first and youngest Section in the Scouting family. Young people can join Beaver Scouts in the three months leading up to their sixth birthday. They can move to the next Section, Cub Scouts, between eight and eight years six months. Easily recognised by their distinctive turquoise sweatshirts, Beaver Scouts enjoy making friends, playing games, going on visits and helping others.

Cub Scouts. There are loads of fun things that you can do as a Cub Scout. You will get a chance to try lots of different activities like swimming, music, exploring, computing and collecting. If you do them properly you will get a badge which you can wear on your uniform. Cub Scouts also go on trips and days out, to places

like the zoo, theme parks, or a farm. Sometimes you will be able to go camping with the rest of your Pack. This will mean sleeping in a tent and doing loads of outdoor activities.

The Scout Section is for young people, usually aged between 101⁄2 and 14 years. A young person can come in to the Troop at 10 and stay to 15 years of age. The Scout Troop is the third and final Section in the Scout Group. Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme. “Participation”, rather than meeting set standards, is the key approach and for the Scout who wants to be recognised for his or her achievements there are a number of Challenges Awards and Activity Badges. Scouts take part in a balanced programme that helps them to find out about the world in which they live, encourages them to know their own abilities, the importance of keeping fit, and it helps develop their creative talents. It also provides opportunities to explore their own values and personal attitudes.

It has been a very busy year with various camps being held and several charity fundraising events. The Scout Troop raised a staggering £793.50 for the National Asthma Campaign – a great achievement by all who took part.

Scouting doesn’t stop when you get to 14 years old. We are looking to open a new section for Explorer Scouts. This is for 14-18 year olds and also gives the members an opportunity to become young leaders. This Unit is far more flexible and doesn’t need to meet once a week; it may well be once a fortnight, or once a month.

All Sections are led by a team of dedicated volunteers, many of whom are local residents or student helpers. However, we are always looking to recruit new adults to the group, whether it be to our Executive Committee, Fundraising Committee, as a Leader, or as an Assistant. Maybe you have a special skill that you could teach our members, or maybe you have some skills that could assist in our hall renovations.

The new School Term kicks off and we welcome back existing members to the Sections and would also be interested to hear from any new recruits. Why not arrange to come along and see what we do?

As mentioned earlier, the fundraising starts for the hall renovations. There will be a coffee morning at the Town Hall in St Andrews on 18 September 2004 at 10.00am. Why not come along and show your support?

If you think you can offer Scouting some of your spare time, or have a child interested in joining Scouting, or could help with the hall renovations please do not hesitate to get in touch. Contact Morag Wilson, Cub Scout Leader, Tel: 01334 470246, Mobile: 0771 445 7881, email: morag.wilson@st-and.ac.uk

Flora Selwyn talked to Douglas Ross, Proprietor of Golf City Taxis in Argyle Street.

It’s easy to take taxis for granted.

Just lift the phone, dial a number, and lo and behold a shiny, clean car arrives to take us wherever we ask. I wandered into the office of Golf City Taxis to find out a bit more. Sheila Ross, wife of the owner, kindly made an appointment for me, so I turned up on a sunny day to chat to Douglas Ross.

Douglas has been running the business for 19 years. He pointed out that his is the only visible taxi office in town where you can just walk in, as I did, and talk to a person. Office hours start at 6.45am and finish during the week at 1.00am the following morning! On weekends that can extend to 3.00am the following morning. Indeed, the service often runs for 24 hours at a stretch.

Douglas has 12 full-time and 15 part-time drivers. All of them dress smartly and, because they deal with people of all kinds, are great diplomats. Douglas says they are “probably the most knowledgeable diplomats in existence”.

Golf City specialises in tours, airport transfers, and golf outings. ‘Golf widows’ are especially well catered for while their husbands chase the wee ball, the taxi drivers acting as guides to castles, monuments of all kinds, and places of general interest. Many famous names in golf and the media have permanent contracts. Douglas said the shortest journey he was ever asked to take was when a lady called from the Niblick Restaurant (now 1 Golf Place) to go to the Dunvegan Hotel, round the corner in Pilmour Place. He wondered if he should reverse to the Hotel,

but in the end took his fare right round the block! The longest journey ever undertaken was all the way to the Wentworth Golf Club in deepest Surrey, and back.

I asked about the rising number of taxis in the town. “It’s not easy,” Douglas replied. And then he added, on a serious note, “There are too many independent taxis in the town without a base station and that raises a safety issue. Also, if someone loses property in a taxi there’s difficulty getting it back. There should be more control.” I also wanted to know about training. In London, taxi drivers are put through a rigorous training programme called The Knowledge, before they are licenced. In St. Andrews a driver has to have a clean driving licence for one year; the Council tests cars, and the Police use a map to test knowledge of routes.

It is far less rigorous, but then, this is not (yet) London! The person who knows most is the taxi controller in the office who directs calls and often has to spell out where an address is to be found. Sheila shares that task with three other controllers. All the cars are in radio contact with the office at all times. Douglas is always pleased to take on more drivers, especially during the busy summer season.

I mentioned the Rolls Royce taxis that used to ply the town of St. Andrews when I was a student. Douglas laughed, “Today they’d be helicopters!” he said. But, he added, “We’re not the cheapest in town, and never will be because of the excellent guys I’ve got. We don’t believe in cheapness, but in giving value for money.” That made me wonder if students used his taxis. “Yes, and on one occasion we carried the most famous one!”

Finally, Douglas gladdened my heart by telling me that he had had new customers after advertising in St. Andrews in Focus! However, most of his business comes through personal recommendation, and that is the most rewarding.

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Next time you fill up at the Shell Service Station on Bridge Street, or buy something in their shop, remember the hours put in by Manager Lindsey Anderson Nine years ago, Lindsey worked in sales and promotions and, in order to earn a bit more, she helped out at Shell in Broughty Ferry, cleaning the forecourt, doing odd jobs. Six years ago she was offered a job in the St Andrews Service Station as Manager and has never looked back, with top management salary to match, and in charge of training.

Almost a year ago, Shell acquired a new Head of Retail Operations in the UK. Rationalization followed, meaning staff cuts across the board, “to the bone”.

Lindsey faced a choice; either redundancy, or selfemployment with a cut in salary. She chose selfemployment. From a staff of 14, the Service Station was reduced to six, with only Lindsey and a cashier at any one time. Between them they were expected to do everything. She is now able to employ seven staff to lighten the workload.

The Service Station is open 24 hours and must be staffed continuously. Lindsey “falls out of bed” at 5.00am (she lives outside Forfar, Angus) and is in her office by 5.45am. Sometimes she doesn’t get home until 9.00am the next day! “Just three months ago I did a 25 hour shift. You’ve got to keep open”. She ‘celebrated’ the Millennium by sharing a bottle in her office with her then Assistant Manager, because noone else would come in to work.

The shop is very successful. Lindsey owns the stock, and is the staff employer; Shell owns the

land, the fuel, and all the fixtures. Once a customer complained about finding goods lying around on the floor. What he didn’t know was that a delivery to the shop can take 10 hours to put away and Lindsey was doing that as well as serving, cleaning the forecourt, and looking after the office; he just came at the wrong moment!

How does Lindsey cope with her demanding job and a family of four? “The ability to multi-task is essential” she explains. And she has a wonderful, supportive husband. Whenever she can, she tries to be home in time for tea with the family. It must be hard, all the same, for her contract doesn’t mention holidays at all, and in fact, she has no holidays, or even weekends to call her own. “I’m lucky with the staff that I’ve got. We are a team now and you couldn’t do it without these guys”. Does she still have any ambitions for the future? Lindsey used to hack and she says, “I’m still going to have a horse of my own and a house back in the middle of nowhere, where I can just go home, shut the door and have no noise outside”. Unusually for that time, she got married in the garden of her previous house, which “looked out over Coupar Angus and Alyth”.

In spite of the hours she puts in, Lindsey says, “I still do get job satisfaction. I’ve done this for nine years, it’s what I know, what I enjoy”.

Life’s Too Short Wendy Erskine Steele is a graduate of too many degrees, spanning too many faculties in a number of our finest Scottish universities. She has experience of a variety of careers, out of which she now knows far too much. She was born in St. Andrews, then left it 35 years ago, before remembering where she came from, and returned recently to begin a cleaning company aimed at the, mainly, student market.

Reflections upon my former student status do not lead me to recall some of the episodes that I have the opportunity to encounter each day trawling through urine soaked textbooks and maggots in breakfast bowls.

I might be forgiven for believing that I have basked in studentdom for long enough to have negotiated directly or indirectly most plausible student experiences. We are, after all, regarded by a more cynical, if common-sense public, as a stereotype in our own right. The stereotyping of the great British university student was brought sharply back to me recently. I found myself standing in a Savers queue in Market Street, when I observed a young male undergraduate, whose landlord last term was kind enough to employ me to cater for his tenant’s domestic needs.

I was conscious that the ‘client’ was suffering from a bad cold. It was the next logical step then for him to purchase some tissues. He was clutching a very large packet combining smaller packets of tissues within, and for sale at around a very reasonable 50p. In his grip the undergraduate held perhaps the capacity to endure at least half a dozen seasonal colds and respiratory tract infections. However it had to be seen to be believed, the student, reverting to type, would have been a credit to any Dostoyevsky plot. He began to request that the cashier extract perhaps only one of the tissues from the many, many tissues contained within for an intended cash sale. The offer had to be declined sadly, due perhaps to the likelihood that the till might have been unable to compute OO.O3p. It was a good attempt though, and not something that you can be guaranteed to witness on any given day in a St. Andrews shop queue. You may have to wake early to witness it and visit a few shops before you will find a student with the temerity, combined with the mindset to match.

Here’s another story. They say something like; a friend in need is a pain in the neck. What if that friend is prepared to visit you in the dead of night with a bottle of red wine to meet your needs? “What a good friend,” you might say, “ there at the drop of a hat to nurse your needs and nurture your thirst”. It’s good to have a friend to counsel you through your exam nerves and panic. However, it’s not so good when a friend visits you in

18

the dead of night, not at your invitation, armed with said bottle of very dark, red wine; you are sound asleep, and he then begins to pour the complete contents of the bottle through the letter box on to the hall carpet. It’s not really something that you want to deal with the next morning when you wake to pick up the mail….which is exactly what our young hero must have felt too.

This must have been the rationale then for wholly disregarding the stain for four months before moving into the deposit-returning quarter of the year... (if you are lucky; he wasn’t), and then panicking. The thing is, by the time that the carpet cleaning expert reached it – with at least one of his eyes almost popping out of his head – he had to acknowledge that it was very good quality and it would not be possible just to put down any cheap rubbish on top of it. I am wondering now, even at this date, if he was referring to the vintage of the red wine and not the beige carpet; after all, it was Hope Street. As far as I know, the Satan of all stains is still there.

I ponder sometimes what finds me returning to the student fraternity again and again, and I think it must be connected to being around likeminded people with a lot of curiosity and passion for a variety of subjects.

However, I distance myself from some of the examples of this, such as breaking every lock in the house, including its contents, just to see presumably, what was on the other side – a police warrant in somebody’s case. If you are afraid of the dark though, and worry that nobody in St. Andrews will be in when you return to university after the vacation, leave all the lights on in the three-storey block that you inhabit, and keep reentry convenient by leaving the front door wide open when you leave at the end of the academic year. You won’t be assured of a warm welcome upon your return however, because all the heating will have escaped. It’s a helpful measure in some respects, because this open house generosity has obviously allowed Fife Council workers, who have an excess of traffic cones, public litter bins, parts of bus shelters, and other bits and bobs of taxpayers’ flotsam and jetsam that crowd the street, the scope to park these objects in town-centre flats temporarily, when they are not needed for the public. At least that’s the way that I try to work it out. I could be wrong though... it’s happened before.

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter

Roving Reporter was walking down Market Street, when his eye was caught by an unexpected nautical theme in the window of St. Andrews Health Foods at no.123. A day or two later there was a ‘sea change’. Reporter simply had to find out more!

In the shop he met Hugh Livingstone, who co-owns the business with his wife Susanne.

Reporter asked about the two model boats that had attracted his attention. Hugh was pleased to explain. The first one was a scale model of the yacht Dorade, built in 1931 to race in the Fastnet. Hugh’s son enjoys sailing and the model started out as a Christmas present for him. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t fit into the car, so Dad still has it! “I do a bit of everything,” said Hugh, “I like to be doing something and I’ll try anything.” Hugh is surely gifted with nimble fingers to be able to create the tiny details on the model.

Everything works, from the lights to the blocks and tackle, which “all have wheels in them.”

Two or three times a year Hugh and Susanne escape to the Lake District for a little peace and quiet.

“On an impulse” Hugh bought the plans of the steam launch Bat, built in 1891. Not in kit form this time, he had to scale it up two and a half times for the working scale model steam engine to be in proportion. Radio controlled, Hugh has sailed it on Ullswater where “it’s nice and quiet, tucked away.

When you sail that you don’t want crowds of people round you.” Why, Reporter wanted to know, why boats? “Deep down I’ve always wanted a boat”, Hugh admits, and

making the models has taught him the mechanics of sailing, “but, otherwise, it’s just a hobby really.”

Because some of the goods sold in the shop are made in the Lake District, Hugh put the steam launch in the window for a novel display.

Hugh’s next project is a model of the Steam Launch Branksome, in its day the most luxurious pleasure launch on Windermere, made of mahogany and teak and with brass fittings.

How long did it take to make the models? The Dorade “probably took five months”, the Bat around three. Hugh had had no previous experience. He admits that “it must be determination. Once or twice I contemplated giving up”.

Hugh is also a very competent watercolourist, and his paintings sell extremely well, even though “I was apparently useless at art at school.” Artist and model-maker, Hugh was an accountant for 25 years before turning to health food.

Reporter felt very privileged to meet such a talented man, truly a man ‘of a’ the airts’.

31, Market Street, St. Andrews, 01334 476724 run by Ann and Bill Anderson since 1982.

The name ‘Bouquiniste’ comes from the famous booksellers along the River Seine in Paris, and it reflects Bill and Ann’s happy memories of their time teaching in France (Ann taught English in Loches, which now has a close association with St. Andrews).

The name has also become synonymous with the open-air book stall run by the Andersons for over 30 years at the Fountain in Market Street.

Ann explains, “We are fortunate to be a family-run business owning our own premises. We thus avoid prohibitive costs, such as exorbitant rents and salary bills, and can therefore concentrate our resources on paying very good prices for quality books,

while still remaining extremely competitive in our selling price.”

She goes on, “Because of our long experience in the book trade, we know which authors and subjects the public like, and our stock ranges from paperback detective fiction, to a good selection of rare antiquarian items. We have many loyal customers from St. Andrews district, as well as those from further afield, who never fail to pay us a visit when coming to St. Andrews.”

Ann and Bill are especially delighted when former students keep in touch by letter or phone.

Customers are aged from 4 to 94, from all walks of life, and from all over the world. They know they will always find a warm welcome and an ever-changing range of interesting and unusual books, as well as old postcards at Bouquiniste.

* * *

Next, our Roving Reporter was struck by the friendly ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ atmosphere of the Bouquiniste Bookshop,

INVALID SERVICES Ltd. 01334 472834 / 01382 770303

Providing overnight assistance to Clients at home Throughout Fife & Tayside Licensed by the Care Commission

How would you like to be in my shoes?

You will always be welcome to inspect a marvellous selection of ladies and gents top quality Footwear

JAMES SENIOR BOOTMAKER & RETAILER 47 SOUTH STREET ST.ANDREWS TEL: 01334 473355

For all day food, you’ve got to try the new

Champions Grill in the Scores Hotel

Open 6am – 10pm Bacon Rolls, coffee or tea to take away from 6am every morning Breakfast, Morning Coffee, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Grills from 6.30 pm every night (Remember to collect your Loyalty Card for discounts on future visits) For reservations please telephone Scores Hotel, St Andrews 01334 472451 or email office@scoreshotel.co.uk

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Sash Window Problems? – There is a solution Sliding sash windows are found in many of the older properties in St Andrews and they are an important part of the local heritage. However, people who live in these beautiful properties are only too aware of the problems with sliding sash windows. They are difficult to open and close, the sashes rattle in the wind, and they let in cold draughts as well as dust and noise.

No wonder home owners are sometimes tempted to change their sash windows!

But this is not a good idea. Removing the original windows will ruin the character of traditional property and planning restrictions protect certain areas of St Andrews from such unsuitable alterations. Sash windows can be an asset and research shows that well preserved original features enhance the value of your property.

Fortunately, there is a reliable solution to sash window problems.

Ventrolla is the UK market leader in sash window renovation services. Since 1986 when they won a Design Council Award for their patented method of upgrading old sash windows to modern performance standards, they have renovated many thousands of windows throughout Britain. Their clients include the Royal Household, Edinburgh Castle and Gleneagles Hotel. They have worked on national treasures such as windows inscribed with Robert Burn’s poems in his own hand. However, most of their work is for private customers who want to improve their sash windows whilst retaining the unique character of their homes. Ventrolla have recently completed a major renovation project for The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

The first step is to arrange for Ventrolla to carry out a free, no-obligation survey and provide a report on the condition of the sash windows. The customer receives a written quotation detailing the work needed to repair and up-grade the windows. The cost depends on the size and condition of the windows but customers are often pleasantly surprised to find that renovation is significantly cheaper than replacement.

All work is carried out on the premises by Ventrolla’s own craftsmen.

As well as carrying out timber repairs using a combination of traditional and modern methods, the windows are thoroughly overhauled. Weights are re-balanced, cords renewed and pulleys are serviced. To improve energy efficiency, ensure ease of operation and eradicate rattles, Ventrolla fit their patented Perimeter Sealing System.

Ventrolla regularly carry out work in St Andrews and their system has been approved for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas. To find out more about this unique service contact Ventrolla and let them solve your sash window problems.

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Connie Weir – Clinical Hypnotherapist Connie qualified in psychology 12 years ago and specialised in Hypnotherapy 3 years ago.

She was drawn to hypnotherapy because it uses the individual’s own resources for health and healing in a very safe and natural way. It is about empowering someone to help themselves, so that the numbers of sessions required are not prohibitive. For example, she has had considerable success with her ‘STOP SMOKING’ technique which only involves one session. Whether you have a 6 or 60 -a-day habit, this method can help you overcome the hurdles between you and a healthy, smoke-free life. As long as you REALLY want to stop, Connie can help you with the rest.

Connie works in St Andrews, at The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa and The Natural Therapy Clinic in Argyle Street. She also works with golfers who wish to improve their concentration and focus within their game. The most common problems encountered in golf are often psychological and not physical – constant inner critic, inconsistency in shots, muscle tightness due to stress – and these are all areas helped by using hypnotic methods.

Other areas helped by hypnotherapy are: • Weight control (Connie also has a Diploma in Eating Disorders counselling) • Phobias • Stress (including IBS, Skin problems and other stress related conditions) In Hypnosis you do not lose control and the therapist cannot make you do or feel anything against your will. Hypnotherapy is designed for your needs and working WITH you to help improve your life.

For further information, please see advert above or check out www.connieweir.com

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HYPNOTHERAPY can help with issues such as

Consultations in: The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa. The Natural Therapy Clinic, St Andrews.

STOP SMOKING USUALLY IN 1 SESSION

For further information, contact Connie on: 0777 618 3695 www.connieweir.com Connie Weir BA(hons) Psy. DHyp

Angels Piercing & Tattooing 36 South Street 01334 477399

SHOPS & SERVICES Assistant Gavin Macgregor sings the praises of

Real Cheese Most people, I think, maintain a love/hate relationship with their (less than) local supermarket. We love the convenience of the car park, the wide aisles, the big trolleys, the even bigger shelves crammed with all kinds of everything, we like too that we can go any time we please... and it will be open. At the same time though, this large and constant availability means a creeping uniformity of product, a feeling that what we are buying is perhaps a little bland, a little anaemic and over-stretched in order to suit all tastes; the one-size-fits-all approach to food selling. I think sometimes we would rather have a greater sense of human involvement, a better understanding of what it is we are eating, who made it, and where it has come from. Reader, I know how easy it is to sit and make derisive remarks about big supermarkets and I know too we would all miss them if tomorrow they packed up and went home to Slough. Where else under one roof at 3am can you buy a melon, a mini-hifi, and a Melton Mowbray pork pie? Perhaps what I’m trying to say is that we as consumers might be able to influence the buying policy of big supermarkets in a positive way by choosing less intensively farmed or factoried products where output is high and quality is low.

Now here’s the thing: at I.J.Mellis Cheesemonger we believe we are doing exactly what supermarkets should be at least attempting to do.

We have built close working relationships with our suppliers and have developed a good

understanding of how our cheeses and other products are made. lain Mellis himself has been in the cheese industry for over twenty years and many of the producers are now friends.

This privileged position allows him insight into the methods of production and consequently, more chance of finding cheeses that offer the best flavour. I don’t wish to go on about it... but I will, and say that farmhouse cheese bears the same resemblance to supermarket cheese that fine wine does to cheap plonk. From behind the counter at Mellis I have seen customers’ astonishment and pleasure when trying cheese, because they didn’t know that it could taste so good. The flavour of farmhouse cheese is exceptional, and the demand for this taste is high. Such a demand seems to fit well with the current trend towards organic produce. People are attracted to the idea of small scale production using natural ingredients. The number of organic cheeses being produced is on the increase; a couple of years ago few existed, now we have half a dozen in our shop alone. It should be pointed out perhaps that farmhouse cheese is always very near to being organic, if not fully complying with soil association requirements.

Finn is a fantastic example of an organic cow’s milk cheese. From the Neal’s Yard Creamery in Herefordshire, it has 10% cream added, is sweet and nutty and sold in small 7oz rounds. We also stock Staffordshire Organic, a cow’s milk cheese, full fat, unpasteurised and flavoured with wild garlic; this cheese is the only one we sell with anything added. The flavours are beautifully balanced and seem to suit the cheese perfectly. The only British

cheese that is defined in law as to where it can be produced is Blue Stilton. It must be made from full cream milk and from cows grazing in either Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire or Derbyshire. The cheese should be tangy and creamy, not sharp. Our Stilton comes from the small Colston Bassett dairy in Nottinghamshire.

From the Camphill Village Trust at Beeswing in Dumfries we have two wonderful Scottish cheeses. Loch Arthur Organic is a cheddar-style cheese; full fat, unpasteurised organic milk, made in 20lb truckles.

It has a milder flavour that is subtle and varying – the kind of cheese you can eat every day and not get bored. We also stock Criffel; a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese made with unpasteurised, organic cow’s milk. It has a smooth texture and a fairly strong sweet/tangy taste. Barry Graham, who runs the Loch Arthur Creamery, asked lain Mellis to help him devise Criffel, which became an improved version of a previous soft cheese Barry had made.

As well as organic cheese, Mellis Cheesemonger stocks a good range of organic dry goods; we have Shipton Mill organic flours from Gloucestershire; Prince Charles’ Duchy oaten biscuits; other fine oatcakes; Loch Arthur live yoghurt, and a number of others besides.

With the growth of smaller, specialist food shops and the increasing popularity of farmers’ markets, there is a definite sense that people are beginning to grow frustrated with the predictability of the large supermarket. We want to feel that we can have the kind of access to good food that the French, Italians and Spanish have. At I. J. Mellis we seek to offer such a service.

NPH Cinema 117 North Street St Andrews • • • • •

Open 7 Days Matinees Saturdays Late Night Shows Wednesdays at 11pm 3 Screens Childrens Parties

Jump the Q – Book online at www.nphcinema.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT Edith Cormack, Chairman of the Friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden invites you to the

Early Autumn Spectacular in St Andrews Botanic Garden This is the season of the ‘candy floss’ tree!

(The katsura from Japan, Cercidophyllum japonicum). When its heart-shaped leaves fall to the ground they decompose releasing a strong candy floss smell into the air. On a still day, waves of perfume float over the

Cactus patterns (all photographs by Richard Cormack)

Botanic Garden wall into the Canongate, making passers-by stop in their tracks! Inside the Garden, in addition to perfume, there is still plenty of vivid colour and interest; the late flowers, including gentians in the woodland garden, the leaves turning in response to the first frosts and shorter days, and the huge variety of fruits, with berries appreciated by birds and small rodents. Late butterflies may be around. Have a look at the ‘Plant of the Month’ described at the main gate. If you marvel at shapes and patterns, go into the succulent house to look at the collection of plants which have adapted to surviving in arid regions of the world, or wander in the warmer, more humid climates of the temperate glasshouses where variegated leaves are outstanding.

September and October events include the ‘DNA in the Garden’ exhibition with demonstrations by biologists from the University of St Andrews; a fungus foray, led by Tony Wilson of Fife Council Ranger Service on Thursday, October 7th at 2.00pm; and the increasingly successful schools visits programme arranged by the Friends of the Botanic Garden. (Over 1200 primary pupils from schools in all parts of Fife visited between March and June). First Sunday in the month guided walks by the Friends continue, starting at 2pm. Monthly winter lectures start again on October 5th. (Open to all free of charge)*

Katsura tree Just a reminder – St. Andrews University owns the land, Fife Council (Community Services) manages the Garden, and the Scottish Charity, the Friends, plays a huge and varied part in supporting it. (Membership benefits and details – see advert) Together they provide one of the superb public attractions in St. Andrews.

An outstanding plant collection is beautifully displayed in an admirably designed landscape, creating a special place for public enjoyment and education *

Further details, phone 01334-476452 or visit www.st-andrews-botanic.org

Reach the Garden on foot (use Viaduct walk from the Argyle Street Car Park, perhaps make a circuit to include the Lade Braes), or by car (plenty parking space). Nearest bus No 94A from town centre. (Walk from Nelson Street, or Broomfaulds Avenue.)

Opening hours: – May-September daily10am-7pm – October-April daily 10am-4pm Small entry charge to Fife Council.

(Friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden free)

THE FRIENDS OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN Invite you to visit a hidden treasure in the heart of St Andrews

OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR ROUND Adults £2 Concessions £1 PLANT SALES AREA

SUMMER EVENTS: DNA IN THE GARDEN Until October 24th

If you wish to support the Garden please apply to the Membership Secretary at address below Canongate, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8RT Tel: 01334 476452 www.st-andrews-botanic.org

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OUT & ABOUT Flora Selwyn and a friend explored along the Coastal Path between Kilrenny and Crail one fine spring day and came to the surprising

Caiplie Caves Taking the B9131 out of St. Andrews, we drove to Anstruther and turned left along the A917, Crail road. About a mile past Kilrenny, but a little before Bankhead, you have to look sharply out for a very minor road on the right. This takes you to the hamlet, I suppose you could call it, of Caiplie, over an old raised beach. On the left is a small car park where we left the car, then walked back to a straight path over the field down to the shore and the Coastal Path. Here we turned left and strolled along for about a mile. The view over the Forth is dazzling on a sunny day. In the distance across the water are the Pentland Hills behind Edinburgh; Berwick Law and the Bass Rock stand proud, while much nearer is the Isle of May with its historical buildings and crowded bird sanctuary. If you’re lucky (we weren’t!) you might see seals on the rocks, or even dolphins doing gymnastics in the water. Everywhere there are interesting birds, so take binoculars, and if you also like botanising, you won‘t be disappointed. The walk is easy, though it’s advisable to wear stout shoes, as there can be the odd boggy areas, especially after rain.

Suddenly, there they were, red sandstone caves rising up almost from the edge of the sea.

There wasn’t much information about the Caves on the web when I got back home, or maybe I typed in the wrong questions, so I consulted, Dr. Veronica Smart! This is what she told me: “I have a leaflet from the Tourist Office called Caves on the Crail Coast. It does mention a man ‘Covey’ Jimmy Gilligan, who lived in the caves ‘earlier this (i.e. 20th) century’, and a Hermit’s Well, whose location has not been discovered.

The earlier story is connected with the 9th century St. Adrian (aka Ethernan or Odran) of the Isle of May – one of his party of missionary monks settled at Caiplie. The source is Wyntoun’s Chronicle, 15th century, but with good reason to believe it having access to Fife tradition. Adrian is supposed to have come from Hungary “and arrivit intil Fife/ Where that they chused to lead their life/ Then Adrian with his company/ Together came to Caplawchy...”.

I got this from a book called The East Neuk of Fife, by the Rev. Walter Wood MA (of Elie) 1887, which goes on to say that the cave where one of the missionaries took up his abode is still to be seen at Caiplie . “On the one side a part of the stone has been cut away to form a place for the altar over which are three crosses conspicuously carved in the rock”, I didn’t notice particularly the cut away stone as I wasn’t then looking for it but the three crosses are indeed conspicuous. He says that there is a flight of steps carved, leading to a small cell. I didn’t notice this either but there has doubtless been a bit of erosion and it might not now be visible.

You might like to mention that if you throw a stone right through the hole in the stack you get a wish. Anna (my daughter) did it – I know the stone went through because bits of it hit me!”

Taking seriously the Council danger notice (unstable rocks), we explored happily for a long time, noting the various marks believed to have been cut into the rock by past inhabitants.

Noting, too, that if we had approached from Crail and stuck to the upper grassy path, the Caves would have been completely hidden from view beneath our feet!

We might have returned to Anstruther and indulged in Anstruther’s famous Fish n’ Chips next door to the Fisheries Museum, or eaten in any one of the many eateries to be found in that delightful town. But instead, we went on to Crail, where I was treated, lucky me, to a delicious traditional Scottish high tea in the Golf Hotel. A great afternoon out!

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Purdie Building North Haugh St Andrews Fife KY16 9ST Telephone: (01334) 463020 Email: amm@st-andrews.ac.uk Website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/reprographic/latestrepro.html