St Andrews in Focus Issue 77 Jul Aug 2016

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

July/August 2016 Issue 77, £2.00

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

Lesley Burden’s winning

Poppies

I hope you like the front cover of this edition of St Andrews In Focus. When I entered my painting I’d no thought of being selected for publication and I was thrilled, also a bit overawed, at the thought of my painting being on the front cover of such a prestigious magazine.

I wanted to produce something bright and colourful to represent the “Auld Grey Toon”! There seems to be a strength of character about Poppies, not just because of their association with Remembrance. St Andrews has a long and colourful history; I hope my subject can convey that history, character, and beauty.

I mainly use pastels in my work, as I did for the Poppies. I feel that pastels bring an immediate colour “punch” which, as an artist, is exciting and rewarding. I typically paint scenes from around Scotland; pastels bring that rich colour to scenes and gives that softedged character which, I feel, typifies the wide range of Scotland’s scenery.

I’m married and have a daughter, now grown up and working down

south. After a spell of living in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, we moved to Oregon, USA, for five years. On returning to Scotland 12 years ago, we moved to North Fife, settling in Drumoig. This was when I finally had the space and time to get back to my art work.

I have been interested in art since my school days in Annan, Dumfriesshire. After moving north to Edinburgh, as a teenager, art was put aside, although I did keep my interest going by attending night classes at Edinburgh School of Art, where I focussed on drawing techniques. On settling in North East Fife I joined a few local Art Clubs, enjoying the various classes and workshops they offer. These local classes have some inspiring teachers. They are a great way for people to gain that confidence in their work, and to experiment with colour, media, technique.

St Andrews Art Club has a strong membership, holding regular classes for members. The Club also holds a number of exhibitions at its premises

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in Argyle Street. I have exhibited there, and more widely at Dunkeld, Cupar, Forfar, Broughty Ferry, Dundee Botanic Gardens, Tayport, and participated in the recent Open Studios for North Fife. I also have a website which has a gallery of my work: www.lesleyburdenart.co.uk

St

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

Contents

From the Editor

The words of my brother’s old school song poignantly come to mind: ‘ Where are the men who have gone before us Onward from Elizabeth’s day?

Vanished their names from our lips, but needing Monument neither in brass nor clay…..’

However, in St Andrews today, born and bred, still living here, are families whose forebears made our town what it is. We should honour them. To celebrate them I invited them to a get-together; about half of them were able to come to an enjoyable reunion, reported in this issue. I make a plea that they should be included by those looking ahead, planning St Andrews’ future.

The Hamish McHamish statue is about to have a voice! The recentlyformed Hamish Foundation, set up to support family activities in the town, has commissioned a Hamish App telling the story of our sadly-missed Hamish at the start of a trail ending at Jannetta’s Gelateria. It should be ready for this summer’s visitors. Please consult the website: www.hamishfoundation.co.uk Flora Selwyn

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The views expressed elsewhere in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. © St Andrews in Focus (2003) JULY / AUGUST 2016 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com DESIGNER University of St Andrews Print & Design (printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk) PRINTER Winter & Simpson (stephen@wintersimpson.co.uk) DISTRIBUTER Drop 2 Door (billy@drop2door.co.uk) PUBLISHER (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com SUBSCRIPTIONS St Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year.

Subscriptions for 6 issues are: £14 in the UK (post & packing included).

Please send cheques to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., PO Box 29210, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9YZ. £25 overseas (post and packing included).

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FEATURES • The Community Council • Margaret Overend, a tribute • Jutland revisited • STEPAL report • L’Alliance Loches-St Andrews • Andrew Lang • Lammas remembered • Ask the curator • Nessie’s Birthday • My St Andrews • A sonnet • Whose ditty?

• Reviews: – Poetry online – Wacky – Learning to Fly – The Andrean Project

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SHOPS & SERVICES • From the Osteopath • Stephen Gethins’ first year • Taxation • Hot House Yoga • Business coaching explained • Roving Reporter

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TOWN & GOWN • Evolutionary Theory • From Madras College’s archive • A dementia-friendly town?

• The Playfair Project

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EVENTS • The Glasgow Boys • Getting on his bike!

• A Photography Festival • A summer of Art • Building Arcadia • Celebrating St Andreans • The Harbour Gala • The duck race • Selected Events

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ORGANISATIONS • Lammas underpinnings • The BID – a report • New, sharing skills

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OUT & ABOUT • Making connections • Hidden Gems

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NEXT ISSUE – Sep/Oct 2016 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 JULY

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

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FEATURES From Howard Greenwell, Retiring Chair,

Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council As announced in the press recently, after 2 years in post, I decided it was time to let other members of the Community Council take charge. Though standing down as Chair, I will, however, continue to be active in the Community Council, working to support it in our external relationships with other bodies in the town, also guiding the Recreation Committee.

In my last article for this magazine, I wanted to look back at some of the main highlights of my time as Chair, mostly good, but always some not so good.

Firstly, after 20 years of the St Andrews Loches Alliance asking the question, the Community Council finally said ‘yes’ to establishing a formal twinning relationship between St Andrews and the town of Loches in the Loire Valley, south-west of Paris. It had been a long courtship, and most people I have spoken to believe it has been a good decision by the town. I personally hope that the relationship will flourish going forward, and that many more residents of St Andrews and Loches will enjoy meeting with another culture, making long-lasting friendships.

The second achievement has been the modifications to the St Andrews Community Trust License Agreements. Responding to the requests of the Links Trust to exercise an option of the Agreements between the Community Council and the Links Trust, we have managed to secure increased funding, with a steady revenue stream to the Community Council to help fund the regular recreational events and other projects that the Community Council wishes to undertake.

We hope the Community Trust will continue to do more good work with our community.

Planning has probably been the biggest area of attention throughout my time as Chair. While the level and scale of Planning

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Applications throughout the period has great organization, and a few expressed been reducing, there have been some their belief that this was the “best” Senior notable decisions, which the Community Citizens Treat ever. A special “Thank You” Council has been actively objecting to. The is due to Willie Rennie, our new MSP, who recent upholding of the appeal by STEPAL not only helped with serving up the wine, but regarding the proposed development of more importantly, rolled his sleeves up at the the new Madras College at Pipeland, has end to help with the washing up! in effect forced Fife Council to restart the Other ongoing activities included the planning process for the new school; in work of St Andrews in Bloom and the annual total, a waste of three and a half years of Community Council Gardening Competition. everyone’s time.

While I am personally The children need not a gardener, I do Though standing down as Chair, a new school, appreciate how well I will, however, continue to be especially since it the displays created active in the Community Council, seems the current by these people administration has improve our town. stopped maintaining the existing buildings The whole of the organization deserves used by Madras College. The Community all our thanks for the wonderful displays Council strongly supports the development achieved throughout the summer, especially of a new school in the very near future, and, during The Open Golf Championship.

I believe, hopes to see a full re-assessment I never tire of taking the opportunity to of all possible sites conducted in a fair thank all of the Friends of Craigtoun (an exmanner in the very near future. A full and Community Council-led initiative) for their fair assessment will perhaps go some way efforts in reviving and operating Craigtoun to healing the deep divisions that still exist Park. Last summer appeared to break even between some of the residents of this Burgh. more records. The whole town continues to I am sure we will discuss the school situation owe the Friends a debt of gratitude for what more in 2016-17. they have achieved in such a short time with Alas, the latest draft of the new Fife Plan such limited resources. proposes to remove the proposed Madras Lastly, I would like to remind readers College site at Pipeland from the Greenbelt, about our usual series of Bandstand perhaps to make it easier to build a school Concerts at our Victorian Bandstand this there, or maybe, (given that there appears July and August. Our thanks go to Kyffin to be no designation of intended use), to Roberts, and all the other Community enable the land owner to build houses in Councillors who give their time to make the middle of the Greenbelt. Fife Council’s these events a success. Full details can be stated aims to resubmit the Pipeland found on the Community Council website: Planning Application once the Fife Plan is www.standrewscc.net finalised seems destined to cause more As I step down, I note that there are debate and objections within the Burgh. still plenty of challenges for the town going As ever, the Senior Citizens Treat is one forward, and I am sure plenty of new ones of the highlights of the Community Council we do not yet know about. I wish the new calendar. Many of the participants in this chair, Callum McLeod every success in year’s event expressed their thanks for the tackling them.

FEATURES Margaret Overend chatted to Flora Selwyn about

Life, and all that My Thai daughter-in-law told me some time ago how sad she felt that ‘Civvy street’ after the our elderly people are not respected as they would be in Thailand. So war “was quite an antithis interview with 94 year-old Margaret Overend is offered as a tribute climax”, Margaret said. She to our elderly (and increasing) population. returned to her bank work, Now living on her own in her bungalow, still driving, still giving her but also had both an ailing services as treasurer to a voluntary group, and helping other people mother, and a father who deal with bereavement, Margaret is a shining example of the spirit we needed her help in his subshould all honour. post office and stationery Born in Leeds in 1922, Margaret learned that her father, before shop, before becoming ill being called up in the First World War, had been apprenticed to a himself. church organ builder. Struggling to find a job after the war he became a In 1972 a cousin living railway maintenance man, before taking over from an aunt the position in South Africa invited of postmaster in a shop which he then ran for 30 years. Although her her to visit. Margaret then mother had been no. 10 of eleven siblings, Margaret was an only child. married Ken, a fellow bank “I had always a second job to do” helping Father in the post office. Aged worker in 1981. This was the five Margaret remembers sitting at the high desk counting money, which beginning of several return of course in those days consisted of pounds, shillings, and pence. visits to South Africa in which Illness often kept Margaret from school. Despite that, she did well Margaret and her husband at Thoresby High School in Leeds, then a fee-paying school, earning explored the whole country credits in chemistry and geography. At 16 Margaret stayed an extra with enormous pleasure, “it’s Margaret in the WAAF, 1943 year for a commercial course; “book-keeping actually I loved” setting beautiful.” This included an Margaret firmly on her career course. In 1939 jobs were scarce, many overnight trip on the Blue Train, which is expensive, “and you book up of Margaret’s friends eventually ending up earning 15/- (fifteen shillings) the year before!” Margaret smiled when she recalled some American a week. Margaret, became a book-keeper earning 17/6 a week, out of tourists on the train, who, unfamiliar with dinner menus, ordered which she gave her mother 10/- towards expenses. “We were taught everything printed. In South Africa “our favourite place was Cape Point. very young to pay our way.”

We used to take the car and a picnic and just Margaret went to her work on the far side of sit. It was wonderful; there were all the animals Leeds by tram. During one air raid, the electricity you see.” Renting an apartment and a car, “we My advice to everybody was shut down, keeping passengers trapped in the absolutely loved it.” Egypt and Tenerife were dark tram. Eventually Margaret’s father asked her to other destinations, as was Aberfeldy in Scotland, is to make memories, join him in the post office, but that didn’t work out, “where I still go.” because there will come a “because we were too alike!” In January 1941, as The couple decided that Scotland was where men went off to the war, work at the Midland Bank they wanted to live. “We just looked around, time in your life when you became available. “We worked long hours”, but then realized that St Andrews had everything,” need to remember there was also a lot of fun and Margaret still has from university lectures to the Botanic Garden friends from that period; “although I don’t have any – gardening being one of the couple’s interests family of my own, I do have a bank family. These – perfect for retirement. In Strathkinness, “I are boys and girls that at the age of 16 used to come to me. The eldest joined the Open Group, and I joined the Guild,” The latter closed when one has just died at 82, but a lot in their 60s and 70s will still keep in its members became “too old”. The Open Group runs democratically touch – so I must have done something right!” without any officers, fundraising to benefit the children in the village.

In January 1943, Margaret’s age group was called up, and she was Margaret is treasurer, because “someone has to sign the cheques! But conscripted into the WAAF (the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force), ‘square we’re not a big organisation.” bashing’ in Gloucester then posted to Filey, in North Yorkshire. Before Did she have any plans for her 95th birthday? Margaret cheerfully being requisitioned by the Air Force as a gun emplacement on the told me she thanked her friends for helping celebrate her 94th, pointing coast, this site had belonged to Billy Butlin as a holiday camp, to which out she has lived for 95 years. Since she might not be around next year it reverted after the war. Detailed unhappily, but without complaining, “we might as well celebrate it now – at the pub.” Plagued by various to the kitchen to wash the dishes, Margaret was eventually rescued by food intolerances Margaret is surprisingly well catered for by her local the education officer who, on finding out that Margaret had worked for pub. She is also grateful for the variety of alternative foodstuffs available the Midland Bank, transferred her to the accounting office. Here she today. passed a course with 77%, leading to immediate promotion, and a spell Finally, I asked Margaret if she had any advice for younger folk. “My of leave. Margaret is advice to everybody is to make memories, because there will come a struck by the way that, time in your life when you need to remember.” With that I took my leave, in those days, no-one encouraged, refreshed, inspired. ever discussed what they were doing, since they all had to sign the Official Secrets Act. The contrast with today’s openness is astonishing.

When the war was over Margaret and a friend took advantage of an offer to fly in an RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Lancaster bomber plane taking leaflets over Europe. Margaret and her friend lay on their tummies in the bomb aimer’s compartment for “a six-hour non-stop trip; quite an experience”, Margaret’s very first Treasurer of the Open Group, 2016 flight.

(Photos courtesy Margaret Overend) Margaret today, by Flora Selwyn

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FEATURES John Cameron

A century on, a former naval person looks at Jutland The inconclusive Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 between Britain and Germany was the largest sea battle in naval history with over 250 warships involved. At the time the Royal Navy was by far the greatest sea power in the world, transformed between 1904 and 1910 by the brilliant Scottish sailor Jacky Fisher. As First Sea Lord he was given a free hand by Prime Minister Balfour to concentrate naval forces in home waters – clearly the main theatre – to form what became the Grand Fleet. While he is best known for the Dreadnought battleship and the battle-cruiser, Fisher also championed the submarine, the sea-plane, the water-tube boiler, the turbine, and oil fuel; all this done in the face of great controversy, and he was forced from office in 1910. His innovative ideas and strategic brilliance, however, ensured we won the naval race with Germany.

In fact his influence continued for a time after the maverick politician and loose cannon, Winston Churchill, was given the civilian post of First Lord of the Admiralty in 1911. The early months saw only minor scrimmages, but in 1915 Churchill’s hair-brained plan to invade Turkey provoked Fisher’s final resignation, ending in the Gallipoli disaster.

All through these war years the British people nursed a persistent delusion that the Royal Navy was destined to fight a great sea battle against the German High Seas Fleet. Our ‘Trafalgar complex’ apparently defied the simple logic that the grossly outnumbered German naval forces were not going to accept an engagement they couldn’t possibly win.

Admiral Jellicoe, a long-time protégé of Fisher, was already commander of the Grand Fleet when we declared war on Germany in 1914; he proved to be an excellent strategist. However, Churchill resurrected the career of Admiral Beatty – who shared Nelson’s louche private life, though not his intelligence – and gave him the vitally important Battlecruiser squadrons.

As the German naval force could not openly engage our entire navy, their only option was to bait some part of the Grand Fleet into a situation where it could be trapped and destroyed. Aware of Beatty’s recklessness, on 31 of August 1916 Admiral Hipper used his cruisers to lure the battle cruisers into the path of the main German fleet under Admiral Scheer. As a result, the battle cruisers were badly mauled, two being sunk before they retreated, but in the evening the pursuing Germans ran into Jellicoe’s Grand Fleet racing to Beatty’s rescue.

Jellicoe manoeuvred to cut the Germans off from their base, hoping to continue the battle the next day. Under the cover of darkness Scheer broke through and returned to port. In the end, 14 British and 11 German warships were sunk, and though both sides claimed victory, the British press were bitterly critical of Beatty and the Grand Fleet in general. Of course, it was not a “glorious victory” like Salamis, Lepanto, Trafalgar, or Midway; nonetheless Jellicoe did provide Britain with an overwhelming strategic triumph.

The German High Seas Fleet never again sought a fleet action with the Royal Navy. When it was ordered to make a final attack in October 1918, its crews mutinied.

Sandra Thomson, Secretary, STEPAL

Report on the meeting of Friends of STEPAL, Thursday, 26 May 2016 A well-attended meeting was held in the Town the area of Pipeland for a new school, also Hall, St Andrews. Mr Lindsay Matheson, a to exempt it from the Green Belt. STEPAL, director of STEPAL, and former Rector of other bodies and individuals who responded Madras College, welcomed the company. He to the FIFEplan consultation on this issue, reiterated STEPAL’s main purpose, which have objected in the strongest possible way to is to support a new Madras College in an this attempt to side-step the substance of the appropriate environmental location, outwith Appeal judgement, in that there is no current the Green Belt. He also planning permission thanked all supporters, in place to build such present and absent, for a school. Many of the STEPAL’s main purpose, which is submissions also wish to their help throughout the to support a new Madras College campaign, which resulted see the sites of Madras in STEPAL’s Appeal of College, both South in an appropriate environmental the Judicial Review to Street and Kilrymont location, outwith the Green Belt the Inner House of the Road, and the potential Court of Session (into the site for a new school on decision by Fife Council the North Haugh to be to award planning permission to itself to build a reinstated as per their designated uses in the school at Pipeland) being upheld by the Court, 2012 Local Plan. The Department of Planning and Fife Council’s decision quashed. and Environmental Appeals of the Scottish A legal advisor of STEPAL explained Government will report on this matter no sooner the meaning and importance of the Appeal than late June or July. decision of the Inner Court of Session, whereby These talks were followed by a session of Fife Council’s decision had been found to be questions in which many were interested in the unlawful. Fife Council must act within legislation ownership of the South Street site of Madras and in accordance with the Local Development College, and the comparative valuations of Plan. In future, it has to identify all potential Pipeland, South Street, and the North Haugh, sites for a new school and carry out a clear and around which there is a great lack of clarity, transparent assessment of these to arrive at the depending on how these areas are classified best site for a new school. in the Local Plan, and what the district valuer The planning advisor of STEPAL gave the has decided or otherwise. Cost is also not a background to the current consultations by the planning issue, as was told by Fife Council to Scottish Executive for the FIFEplan, the plan those attending the pre-determination meeting which will take over from the Local Plan, and of the Application for Planning Permission for in which Fife Council is attempting to reserve the school at Pipeland, yet Fife Council used

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this as a reason for not assessing the North Haugh or exchanging it for the Madras College South Street site, which now could in fact be in negative value due to the funds required for its renovation.

Lindsay Matheson reminded all that there must be a focus on education, the environment, and the future of St Andrews as a community.

There are several potential sites on the western approaches to the town which would be infinitely superior to Pipeland for these reasons.

The town is going to expand to the west, while the 68% of the current Madras cohort that comes from the north-west of the catchment will only increase in the future. It only makes sense that a new school should be placed somewhere in this area, not forgetting linkages with the university. The DVD which was produced some time ago was played to remind the audience of the vision for a new Madras College in the ‘education belt’ of the town.

Further questions and discussion followed regarding the Taybridgehead area; the escalating costs of the Pipeland site; the aborted plan by Fife Council to change the Pipeland Right-of-Way; the major drawbacks of Pipeland as a site for a new Madras, regarding the position of the hospital, and the great safety concerns over the proposed single access. The pre-determination by Councillor Ross was also noted.

Refreshments were served and informal discussion continued.

FEATURES Xavier Roche-Bayard

Loches à l’heure écossaise Signature de jumelage oblige, la ville de Loches a revêtu ses plus beaux atours écossais pour recevoir une délégation de St Andrews.

« Vingt ans, ce sont de très longues fiançailles. Je pense qu’il faudra L’Ecosse, qu’est-ce que ce pays évoque pour vous ? Cette question a encore vingt ans pour que St Andrews parte convaincue pour un autre été posée, au hasard, à des visiteurs se promenant dans les allées de jumelage », plaisantait Howard Greenwell, chairman du community la foire-exposition de Loches. Le thème de cette manifestation était en council de St Andrews, lors de la signature. Jim Leishman, provost du effet l’Ecosse, en honneur au jumelage avec St Andrews. Beaucoup Fife, voit dans cette union « un moment qui sert l’avenir de nos enfants ». ont répondu, du tac au tac, et dans le désordre : les kilts, mais aussi la Il signifiait ainsi un attachement de cœur et d’esprit entre les deux musique celtique, le Moyen-Age, le whisky, le vent, la cornemuse, la peuples, hautement symbolique et apprécié des nombreux Français bière… Un des visiteurs a complété par : les lacs, les Highlands, le Loch présents à la signature, inquiets eux aussi par l’actualité du Brexit.

Ness, Walter Scott, Marie Stuart, le mur d’Adrien qui sépare l’Écosse Ce jumelage va permettre d’imaginer des de l’Angleterre, le haggis, les îles... La réponse des joueurs du club de golf de Loches a été sans Ce jumelage va permettre projets qui concernent la jeunesse : échanges entre les lycées Alfred-de-Vigny et St Léonards, surprise : l’Old Course ! d’imaginer des projets qui des stages en horticulture au jardin botanique Les habitants de Loches s’étaient déjà de St Andrews, des partenariats avec le lycée imprégnés d’une ambiance écossaise quelques jours concernent la jeunesse professionnel… Des œuvres d’artistes de auparavant. Des kilts, du tissu tartan en vitrine des Loches pourraient être exposés au Byre Theatre en 2017. Les jeunes commerces, des fanions et des drapeaux écossais ont orné les rues et sportifs, notamment les footballeurs, pourraient bénéficier d’échanges façades du centre-ville… La ville a tenu à célébrer pendant plusieurs spécifiques… Un plan quinquennal d’actions devrait être mis en place jours la ratification de l’accord de jumelage avec St Andrews. La prochainement. municipalité avait décidé de la date de sa traditionnelle foire-exposition, (Photos courtesy Xavier Roche-Bayard) « Loches en fête », pour recevoir une délégation écossaise d’une vingtaine de personnes conduite par John Matthews, président de la New Alliance, Jim Leishman, provost du Fife, et Howard Greenwell, chairman du community council de St Andrews, le week-end de Pâques.

Après un premier accord signé à St Andrews en novembre dernier, le jumelage a été officialisé définitivement en mairie de Loches le 26 mars dernier. Cet accord consacre une amitié née voila vingt ans. Virginia Fowler, ancienne présidente de l’association New Alliance St Andrews – Loches, ne cachait pas sa satisfaction et son émotion : « On n’a jamais pensé que le jumelage se ferait un jour. On avait perdu espoir. Mais il y a eu une nouvelle volonté de la ville (de St Andrews) ». « C’est une affaire d’équipes depuis vingt ans. Ce jumelage a été rendu possible grâce à une douzaine de Lochois et d’Ecossais», insistait John Matthews, actuel président de la New Alliance, évoquant le travail effectué par ses prédécesseurs, notamment Mary Freeborn. « Pour moi, c’est l’aboutissement d’un rêve, c’est beaucoup d’émotion », déclarait Anne-Sylvie Vassenaix-Paxton, présidente de la Nouvelle Alliance Loches – St Andrews. Alors étudiante en droit en Ecosse dans les années 1990, elle avait reçu de la part de sa mère une petite annonce indiquant que Loches cherchait à nouer un lien avec une commune britannique. Une idée alors impulsée par Pascal Dubrisay, alors adjoint au maire.

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FEATURES Gavin White

Andrew Lang “There is an ancient city, beside a Northern Sea ...”. The words are those of Andrew Lang, but the meter is that of the Greek poet Homer; Lang collaborated in translations of both the Iliad and the Odyssey. Born in 1844, the son of the Town Clerk in Selkirk, and grandson of Patrick Sellor – villain of the Sutherland Clearances – Lang was a graduate of St Andrews University, then at its lowest ebb, living for much of his life in the town at Gibson Place. He was a prolific writer of poetry, much of it notable, and books on the origins of religion, promoting the ideal of “the noble savage”. He and his wife published twelve books of Fairy Tales, of which more later. He died in 1912. There is an Andrew Lang Crescent in St Andrews today – if it is a bit wiggly, so was he.

His book on John Knox and the Reformation is a scarifying work in which Knox is made responsible for everything which has gone wrong in Scotland ever since, with the possible exception of the Tay Bridge disaster.

On the nobility he wrote that they were “the most avaricious, bloody, and treacherous of all the generations which had banded, reviled, robbed, and betrayed in Scotland”, seizing church lands while “the preachers were put off with a humble portion”. Some historians, notably Andy Wightman, argue that the whole Reformation was only a land grab dressed up in religious clothing, but Lang does not go that far.

There is a plaque outside St Andrews Castle

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saying that when Knox and his supporters were 1547, long before the murder of Beaton. But the besieged there, they formed the first Protestant idea of the great powers manipulating Scottish congregation in Scotland, which is fanciful; noreligion is never developed. Then St Andrews one can say which was the first. Lang says they became “a vulgar Verona”, whatever that spent their time “drinking, dicing, and assaulting meant. After 1688 it was “a peculiarly filthy, and women”, which was probably true of most, but stinking village”, until Sir Hugh Playfair “found not of all.

St Andrews picturesque and left it clean, or In 1896 Lang published a book entitled cleaner, than its ancient and fishlike wont”. “In St Andrews, which covered much of the summer it was a watering place”, but we hear same ground. Of the early history he quotes nothing more of this Victorian enterprise, except Stevenson: history is “brooding over St Andrews that the hotels were out of the way, so did not like an easterly ‘haar’, grey and cold and cause trouble. And there is a passing reference blinding, a curtain of mist.” to Kate Kennedy’s Day, “a The town is “standing on a kind of carnival, recently bleak and windy promontory, abolished”.

There is an Andrew Lang in a remote nook severed When I was a boy in Crescent in St Andrews from the main part of the Montreal I remember being Kingdom by two wide firths ...” given one of the Fairy Tale today – if it is a bit wiggly, and unlikely to have mattered. books, each of which had so was he Of the Reformation church, a different colour, “The ‘’The nobles took most of Blue Fairy Tale” and so on, her lands, the mob probably because my grandfather seized her jewels, the State for long eked out its came from St Andrews. (As a high official in revenues by stripping lead from her roofs, and the Canadian Pacific Railway, he had a private from the coffins of her dead. Her unprofitable railway carriage, and we were taken to see this ornaments, the statutes of her saints, were marvel. It was named “St Andrews” with this given to the fire.” There is a good deal about written on the side; for long I wondered how my everybody persecuting everybody, which was grandfather could have grown up in a railway hardly new. There are odd ideas left hanging carriage). I recollect being unimpressed by in midair, “most of the medieval heretics were the Fairy Tale book, and rightly so. They are a really socialists”, and Henry VIII “encouraged wonderful gift to the social anthropologist, but Scotch assassins, who were prepared to kill should never be inflicted on children. the Cardinal for money”. Henry VIII died in

FEATURES Kate Ekanger records

My Memories of The Lammas Market Those first memories, which year they were, would be from when the Market returned to the streets of St Andrews after the Second World War. I assume I would be three or four years old, my brother in his pram. We lived in Rosewood, down the cobbled Rose Lane on the Lade Braes.

From there, the whole family set out on the annual Sunday walk from the Lade Braes, the Mill Pond, up over the Craigtoun Road to the grass path with a stile, through the back and front gates of the Western Cemetery to the thirty-mile limit that marked the edge of town where it all started.

The Queue was where we got to see what was coming into South Street on the Monday morning, which showmen were here, with what roundabouts and stalls. From the edge of town, for what seemed like miles west, were the lorries and the caravans. They seemed huge, exciting, so colourful to a child born in the grey war years. My love affair with the Lammas Market began then, with my father’s childish enthusiasm spilling over, remaining with me to this day. There was little traffic on the road.

We walked up the line of vans stopping at each to marvel at the intricate paintwork. Mostly the base colours were brown, green, maroon, with scrolls of gold artwork or brightly coloured graphics, some pronouncing the contents. Even out there on a dusty road they were polished and shiny. You could find the showmen’s names in small print at the bottom, could deduce what would be seen the next day. The excitement grew.

With me on his shoulders, my father would recollect his childhood days at the Lammas Market, nod a head to the occasional showman, exchange a word with elderly women dressed in black, almost to ground level, and consider with us what might be in some mysterious new van. He loved it as much as we did. From him I learnt that the second Tuesday in August was officially Lammas, that the queue moved to outside the West Port at midnight in preparation for being allowed into town at 6.00am. This was when the larger attractions could move to their pre-booked stances at the Eastern end of South Street. The smaller things and stalls had to wait

for the auction of the stances when they could buy ground, paying per foot.

As I was so young I saw none of the auction or building of stalls and roundabouts.

It was all a miracle when we walked up Rose Lane on Monday afternoon emerging into a different street from the norm. My mother pushed the pram, while I had to hold either my granny’s hand, or the pram handle. I would get to ride on the children’s roundabouts with a variety of animals, buses, or the train on rails.

I would wait impatiently while my mother and grandmother played lotto at Mrs Lovat’s. It was always Lovat’s, as it was considered that the best prizes were to be won there, but the wait Hobby Horses, so that I could look right down seemed interminable! There would be people to into the Rotor, or the Motor Bike Speedway! My stop and talk to – relatives, seldom-seen friends brother and I would be up and out the door at – pennies to be collected. Friends of the family, six as it all started; the shuddering, the revving also aunties and uncles just had to give us our of the lorries manoeuvring into place; the smell ‘Market Penny’; a child’s dream! And candy of diesel and oil, the shouting and swearing of floss – we weren’t used to much sugar in those old Mr Wilmot. A myriad of strange men built days, so this was pure nectar to our tongues. with amazing co-ordination. Each part had its After my father closed shop at 5.30pm we place in the van, coming out in precise order. could meet him. He would go round it all with After the first few stalls I would grow bored us again. This was when we would get to meet with the auction, but one of the first stances these mysterious older women in long black and the costliest would be at the Town Church skirts with aprons round their waists to put the and what was then Boots Corner. My mother cash in. They called him ‘Fred’ for they had always wanted to know if known each other since he Mrs Lovat had got it again was a boy. They asked after It still smells the same. It still – the stance up Church us and his business. He excites me in my seventies Square, for her beautiful asked after them and their caravan. That van was families. We always got a always considered by us to be the best, most free shot or a prize for rolling the balls or putting beautifully painted and cared for. It gleamed of them in a clown’s mouth. Then he would take crystal and polished chrome on the inside giving me on the hobby horses sitting in front of him; a glimpse of another lifestyle. The outside was we stood right in the middle of the music and sometimes covered in a striped canvas wrap, galloping horses while he talked to Mr & Mrs doubtless to protect it, but rather hiding its glory.

Wilmot – heady days.

Gradually we saw what we were to spend our The annual routine stayed pretty much the money on. By lunchtime music started and the same for the next few years, but at the age fair was alive! The showmen and their families of ten the family flitted both shop and house came into our shop to buy household goods to what had been ‘The Central Café’ opposite and prizes for their stalls, always exchanging St Mary’s College; those memories started to some chat with my father. change. Now we lived IN the Market! By that So we spent two wonderful days trawling time I was old enough to wander on my own. I the stalls and the rides, rationing out our Market started to see when the wee market came into Money, hoping to come across that uncle town. Apart from the canvas-wrapped central who was always more than generous – a half motor for the Waltzer or Jungle Ride, which crown instead of a sixpence and once even ten was parked by the fountain on shillings!

Thursday afternoon, nothing They cleared away Tuesday midnight, to be came in or was built until gone by Wednesday. We prowled, picking up Friday morning. I watched discarded coconuts, dropped prizes, and once every nut and bolt put into a showman’s magazine full of lists of grand gifts place by men in dark oily given to brides. overalls using language I had I grew up, moved away for years, took my never heard before! I spent a own girls to the market, passed my memories small portion of my well-saved on. The market became the fair with different “market money” there, but rides and stalls. I find myself pulled back every kept most for the following year, waiting for the big gaudy trucks to pull up week. Nothing moved on into empty South Street; my stomach gives the the Sunday, of course, but same little flip. I stroll up and down as these we could walk North Street trucks and large trailers manoeuvre into tiny to see the caravans parked spaces, unfolding like a chrysalis to reveal two abreast along the middle the butterfly within. Less time, less manpower of North Street. I also had required; still a wonder. It still smells the same. a new delight – I could look It still excites me in my seventies. It marks the at the chalk names that had passing of the seasons, summer done, nights mysteriously appeared on start drawing in, schools go back. The year rolls the kerbs of the South Street on. pre-booked stances. Best of (Photos courtesy the Preservation Trust) all was the discovery that my bedroom was right opposite the

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FEATURES Samantha Bannerman, Curator of the Preservation Trust’s Museum

Answers your questions Q. I am interested in local street names, turned down a peerage offered to him and would like to know about Ellice

by Gladstone for services to the Party.

Place?

Nonetheless he achieved much during A. Ellice Place is named after former MP his career, being associated with liberal for St Andrews, Edward Ellice (1810 measures such as electoral reform and – 1880). Ellice came from the Liberal the abolition of the Corn Laws. As MP political establishment. His father was for the Burghs he obtained a large grant the MP for Coventry and one of the from the Exchequer to build United most trusted advisors of the Liberal College, St Andrews, and another to Party; his uncle was MP for Harwich. construct the harbour at Anstruther.

Edward himself studied at Cambridge, Ellice’s long career saw the Liberal and after a spell as Private Secretary to party change from the preserve of the Lord Durham on visits Whig elite to a highly to Russia and Canada, organised radical mass Ellice was a modest stood for the seat of movement; it spanned man, preferring to work Inverness, which he lost an era of dramatic behind the scenes by one vote. In 1837 he improvements in contested and won the public health, housing seat of the St Andrews Burghs, by the and workplace legislation. He was a narrow margin of twenty-seven votes. parliamentary survivor, holding his seat He remained its MP for the next fortyuntil only a few months before his death. two years.

If you are interested in St Andrews Ellice was a modest man, preferring Street Names, the 1995 publication, to work behind the scenes rather St. Andrews Street Names : Their than voice his opinions on the floor of Origin and Meaning by Robert Smart the House. He never held Ministerial and Kenneth Fraser, is an excellent office, choosing instead to remain an resource. independent private Member, and he

The New Picture House Winner of the RAAM Independent Cinema of the Year Award for Excellence Enjoy a pre-show drink in our lounge or book an exclusive function or children’s party with a private screening

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117 North Street, St Andrews Tel: 013334 474902

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Edward Ellice MP taken by John Adamson in c.1860 (Photo courtesy Preservation Trust Museum)

FEATURES: POETRY CORNER Jan Hargreaves

Nessie’s Birthday When Nessie had a birthday, it was quite a howd’yedo.

They planned the grandest party Caledonia ever knew!

A thousand million candles were assembled on the shore – Then someone shouted, ‘Hold it! Don’t we need a million more?’

‘What cake will ever hold them?’ groaned the council in despair – And set a working-party up to ponder the affair.

‘I’ve got it!’ cried a councillor (he’s since been made a peer), ‘One candle for each century instead of for each year.’

The cake rose ever skywards – it was quite a splendid thing.

From all the nation, far and near, they fetched the scaffolding.

And people flocked from far and near. The day dawned fair and bright.

An ex-Olympian runner came to set the flame alight.

‘Let’s drink a toast! the cry rang out, “To Nessie – many a year!’

And into wide Loch Nessie they poured – Wha daured whisper, “beer”?

And then, just on the gloaming – be it told for evermore!

A gleaming head rose up and seized a candle from the shore!

And drunkenly she waved it till she set the loch alight, When with a mighty leap, she plunged – and vanished out of sight!

Stuart Bass’

My St Andrews What is it about St Andrews that I miss when I`m not there?

I have memories of a magical town to which no other can compare.

Smiling, I close my eyes and soon I have returned to that iconic vista – the bridge over Swilken Burn.

I see Chariots of Fire grace the West Sands in the shadow of Hamilton Hall where modern pilgrims, awed, live the dream of sinking a white ball.

Yet there`s much more about this place with which to fall in love than Matador Seve punching the air in the game played with one glove.

For me it’s the joyous East Sands with Kinkell`s ranks standing guard, It`s the swimming pool, rock pools, and Castle beach, skimming stones and hunting crabs.

From walks in Lade Braes or Botanics when the spring blossom returns, to medal-winning gardens – kind gifts to everyone.

The Byre brings culture, laughter and tears – her return another gift where dancing troupes perform their art where cows and hens once lived.

I see Town and Gown intertwined – one supporting the other red gowns trailing vibrancy with mixed accents all achatter.

I wander North and South, visiting a Market in between. with Bell and College and cobbled lanes joined by happy Union.

I see Cathedral and Castle still standing – not “ruins” as some may say but living history, still with us – a glimpse of the past today.

As the sun sets over Market Street we sit outside the Central Bar, or pack in to Sheena`s Dunvegan thronged with tales of putt and par.

These are things I miss when I leave and I know that I am blessed as there`s one special thing to love which separates her from the rest….

All those who love St Andrews will know just as I do You don’t choose St Andrews – St Andrews chooses you.

Illustrated by Val Nicol

Colin McAllister To William McGonagall

A Sonnet There’s not a poet I haven’t plundered, There’s not a meter I haven’t sundered, There’s not a poem where I’ve not blundered, There’s not a line where I have not floundered.

Does this make me want to go to the wall?

Shouldn’t I admit I’m no good at all?

There is just one thought that would make me pall, That is, that I’m worse than McGonagall!

He is a man I would like to meet, As I’m sure it would boost my self conceit!

They say it’s better to laugh than to greet – To make bad verse is an unusual feat!

What do I care if my lines do not scan?

All I can do is the best I can!

From John Birkett I wonder if any reader could advise who the author is of this little ditty: A little day was spent Almost before I knew; I wondered where it went, And so indeed would you If, of a sudden, at set of sun, You found how very little you had done.

My father apparently recited this aged 8, much to his mother’s and aunt’s astonishment. He just recalled “reading it somewhere”. They had it printed in Portree United Free Church’s fundraising bazaar booklet in 1913, but I don’t think anyone recognised it, or identified its origin.

(Photo by Flora Selwyn)

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FEATURES: REVIEWS Brian Johnstone writes about a new online poetry project

Poets Probe Scotland’s Soul It’s a long time since I was last called an extremist – not since my student Each theme is designed to days, in fact – but from Burns Day this year I’ve been happy to consider represent what might be called an myself as such, though entirely in the cause of poetry. For on that date the ‘icon of Scotland’, often of the sort Perthshire-based poet Andy Jackson and myself launched a new poetry that would be found in museums project, the online anthology Scotia Extremis. Not to be confused with or arts centres, but equally often some radical off-shoot of the Tartan Army, this is a blog-based collection such as would not be out of place of writing by a wide range of Scottish poets – from the well-known to in the tartan gift shop, on the sports field, the national radio station or almost the yet-to-be discovered – which, as we say in the blurb, offers the local newsstand. Starting with Burns Night facing off against Up‘poems from the polarities of Scotland’s psyche’.

Helly-Aa, we have already paired such themes as Jenners and The Taking our title from the famous saying of that Barras, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Robert irascible bard Hugh MacDiarmid – I’ll ha’e nae haufAdam, the Forth Bridge and the ‘Bridge Over the The editors hope way hoose, but aye be whaur extremes meet – the Atlantic’, Billy Bremner and Archie Gemmill, Celtic anthology aims to explore ‘the soul of Scotland’ Connections and the White Heather Club, black that, as interest in the through specially commissioned poems. If a nation bun and Black Bob, with many more unexpected, anthology grows, our can be said to have a soul then the soul of the Scottish bizarre, but hopefully enlightening pairings, to nation is surely one which is permanently strung out come. role of followers will between the extremes that MacDiarmid evokes in In a spirit of inclusivity, all of the poets we have soon top the 2,000 mark commissioned are either from Scotland, though what must be one of his most quotable lines. Taken from his great early poem A Drunk Man Looks at the not necessarily living here, or resident in Scotland, Thistle, it seems to sum up both the poet and his nation so well. though not necessarily Scottish by birth. Through diametrically opposed, Each week the editors publish a brace of themed poems with a but nonetheless linked pairs of poems – each written by a poet who particular Scottish focus: people (past and present), places (real and neither knows the nature of the opposite pair nor the identity of the other imagined), culture (high and low), customs (ancient and modern) and poet – the anthology examines, from all angles, the interplay between more. The lengthy and diverse list of themes was drawn up during the extremes of the nation’s culture. The fact that each poet concentrates planning process by the editors who are themselves a diverse pairing: only on their given theme gives the pairings an in-built tension that adds Andy Jackson, an Englishman based in Scotland, and Brian Johnstone, to their interaction. a native Scot long resident in the country. While the list of themes reflects The project is planned to last one year, from Burns Day 2016 to spring the interests and obsessions of the editors, we hope that it also picks out 2017 and has already excited a great deal of interest in the poetry world some telling strands of the nation’s DNA. and beyond. With over 1500 online followers, and growing, it looks set to be one of the country’s most popular web-based poetry sources. The anthology can be found at scotiaextremis.wordpress.com where all of the poems from the first few months of the project can be read, and new ones can be enjoyed each week. The editors hope that, as interest in the anthology grows, our role of followers will soon top the 2,000 mark. Plans are afoot for live events based round the poets involved, and further offshoots of a project that is set to both entertain and provoke. After all, where else can anyone live – and write – who stays in Scotland than “whaur extremes meet”?

(Image and photos courtesy Brian Johnstone) Brian Johnstone (Photo by Dominique Carton)

Andy Jackson

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Edinburgh Airport £70 We welcome commercial enquiries St Katharine’s West, 16 The Scores St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AX

T: (01334) 463020 E: printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

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Monday and Wednesday – Saturday 12.00pm – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 11.00pm Sunday 4.30pm – late Tuesday – Closed

11-13 Crails Lane St Andrews, Fife Tel: 01334 467822

FEATURES: REVIEWS Sunita reviews

Wacky – The Diary of a Ship’s Cat ‘Enabled’ by Ursula Haselden Illustrated by Gill Waugh Published by Seashell, 2016. Available at all good bookshops price £16.99.

This action-packed memoir of Ship’s Cat Wacky’s travels in the sailing yacht Cappelle takes you by the paw from his circumnavigation of the Aegean up to his idyll in the far Hebrides. It had me grabbed by the whiskers from the off.

WISH IT, DREAM IT, DO IT, as Wacky’s Pet once rather cleverly said, and so they have.

Such high feline commendation should give the book a good send off!

Jane Lambert talks about her book,

Learning To Fly Published by Amazon, price £7.50 paperback, £2.46 Kindle. Available from Amazon and most bookshops.

Forty-year-old air stewardess Emily Forsyth has everything a woman could wish for: a glamorous, jet-set lifestyle, a designer wardrobe, and a dishy pilot of a husband-in-waiting to match. But when he leaves her to “find himself” (forgetting to mention the bit about “… a younger girlfriend”), Emily’s perfect world comes crashing down. Catapulted into a mid-

life crisis, she is forced to take stock and make some major changes. She ditches her job and enrols on a drama course in pursuit of her childhood dream, positive that, in no time at all, she’ll be posing in Prada on the red carpet and her ex will rue the day he dumped her. Wrong!

Her journey to the bright lights proves to be a rollercoaster ride of odd jobs and humiliating auditions; from performing Macbeth single-

handedly at Scone Palace to chauffeuring the world’s top golfers at St Andrews – and getting hopelessly lost.

The comedy aside, Learning To Fly explores issues faced by many of us: love, betrayal, insecurity, grief, self-belief. James Joyce it may not be, but it will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. A perfect holiday read.

Jane will be talking about mid-life reinvention and what inspired her to write Learning To Fly at Blackwells New Writers at The Edinburgh Fringe on 18 August.

David Dixon reviews

The Andrean Project

by Ian C Simpson DB Publishing, price £14.99 This is former Sheriff Ian Simpson’s fifth outing, and second for his fictional country sheriff Hector Drummond. The story is again based around the triumph of amateur golfer and lawyer Bobby Jones in the year he achieved the then Grand Slam of the golfing world. Intertwined are two narratives of murder and greed, the latter by an American with too much cash, with overinflated views on seeking to improve/develop the golfing landscape and facilities of Scotland. Any takers? The author develops the characters from the last book; we learn more of the relationship between Hector and his wife’s son from her marriage to Hector’s best friend, whom Hector adopted as his own. His wife Lavender is more prominent.

However, the relationship between Hector and his caddie, Tommy, is central, well drawn. Hector increasingly relies on Tommy’s wit and guile

to investigate the murders and the fraudulent activities of the American, while becoming paterfamilias to the young boy and his family. Ian Simpson has a sharp eye, a gift for period detail and, in doing so, provides the reader with a clear picture of the cityscape and life of St Andrews in 1930: crowds flock to the golf; drinks are taken at the Grand Hotel, or the club; the authority and status of public officials, whether of sheriff or constabulary; local policing with its local connections and knowledge; a gentler, civilised, slower pace of life. Makes one almost misty eyed! A book to be savoured and, with a nod to the misty eye, with a dram, much in the manner of Sheriff Drummond.

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SHOPS & SERVICES Heather Lang

“ Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”

Chinese proverb Every four years, the media buzzes with all things sport.

Each nation sends its fittest and finest, armed with years of dedication, sweat and commitment, to do battle for gold and glory.

Each event is a defining moment in the life’s work of the Olympians. Dreams can come true, or be shattered into a thousand pieces, whilst four billion of us pass judgement from the comfort of our sofas, feet up, with a latte coffee and a nice packet of biscuits, reminiscing about our own days of thunder, when standing from sitting could be done in one fluid, silent movement. As we get older, life somehow gets in the way, while things just seem to take longer. It is all too easy to lay the blame on ‘getting old’.

In this year’s London marathon, 201 runners ran the full distance in the 70+ category with the best of both the men and women finishing in around 3½ hours. The oldest runner was 88 year-old Iva Barr, who has been competing for over 30 years. If stiffness, aches and pains are the inevitable result of aging, how can these people, and many more, succeed in physical tasks that would challenge most people half their age?

We are taught to think about our bodies as static objects that stiffen and harden as we get older with pain and joint failure being a natural inevitability. The truth is that aging does not cause stiffness, but stiffness encourages aging. If aging were responsible for the degeneration, everyone would succumb.

Dr Mark S Lachs, director of the Center for Aging Research and Clinical Care at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, states that, “Stiffness should not necessarily be ascribed to ‘normal aging,’ as it could be a symptom of treatable conditions that become more prevalent as we get older.”

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The main reasons a body stiffens are: – Trauma from past injuries and how the body had to compensate.

– Muscle tension and repetitive strain from poor posture, work and habitual demands, stress and inactivity.

– Stress, and the consequential protective fear response.

– Inactivity.

– Unbalanced muscle coordination.

All of these factors cause the fascia and soft tissues of the body such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, and connective tissue to dehydrate and toughen. This loss of elasticity also reduces the fluid flow around the joints and promotes inflammation. To prevent and reverse this, the fascia needs to move. How much and in what way depends on where your fitness levels are now.

Start where you’re at No exercises are suitable for every individual, but everyone can do some exercise. If you have medical concerns or are experiencing pain, please consult an osteopath, or other registered therapist, qualified to prescribe specific exercises for your individual needs. It is important to start at the right level and be respectful of any twinges or injuries. Whatever the starting point, there are 4 basic steps to follow: Step 1 – Prepare your mind Remember that the body is a dynamic structure and it can change. Studies have shown that even people well into their 90s can benefit from regular exercise to improve stamina, flexibility, strength, and balance.

Step 2 – Prepare your body Take a slow, deep breath into your belly. As you breathe in, the belly and chest should expand. There should be a pause between the inbreath and the outbreath. Many people find this difficult, in which case see an osteopath,

or your doctor, for guidance, as this is the level you are starting to regain fitness from.

Coordinated breathing is essential to wellbeing and maintaining mobility; many injuries in people of all ages are due to laboured or shallow breathing.

Step 3 – Gain flexibility The first thing an animal does on waking up is to yawn and stretch. Gently taking each joint through its comfortable range of motion helps lubricate the joints and fascia. It also acts to identify areas of tightness and imbalance that need attention. Roll the shoulders, stretch the arms and legs, elongate the back, gently splay the fingers and roll the ankles and feet.

This will help pump fluid around the joints and through the muscles and can be done sitting or lying if balance is an issue.

Step 4 – Adopt a routine and practice Improvements to health are short lived unless you embrace them into your daily routine. It is amazing what can be achieved with as little as 15 minutes each day.

“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step”.

Heather Lang is a registered osteopath and ergonomic consultant.

For further information, she can be contacted at St Andrews Osteopaths, www.standrewsosteopaths.co.uk Tel: 01334 477 000 Mob: 07501 113 480

SHOPS & SERVICES Stephen Gethins, MP for North East Fife

Opens a window into his life as a Member of Parliament It seems like no time since I was elected in May last year, but on the other Much of my time has to be hand, so much has happened since then. spent at Westminster, where I have In the immediate aftermath of the election result I had to quickly been involved with both national establish an office in the constituency. I’m very pleased we chose 38-40 and international issues, including Bonnygate in Cupar, because its prominent location makes it very easy to welfare changes, air strikes in find as we are always glad to welcome constituents and other visitors who Syria, and child refugees seeking safety in the UK. As a member of the are passing by.

Foreign Affairs Committee I have seen at first hand the desperate plight of Since then it has been very busy with over 4300 cases dealt with by families living in refugee camps created as a result of the conflict in Syria. myself and my four colleagues in the office. I am very fortunate that staff It is very helpful for getting a closer insight into the situation, finding out share a range of expertise proving invaluable when dealing with a wide how we can best help with the crisis. I know many constituents are very range of cases. concerned by this situation, many getting in touch to Getting out and about in this wonderful It has been a very busy ask how they can help. constituency has provided me with great opportunities With the European Referendum on June 23 year, but a good one to find out what’s going on and meet so many fast approaching I have been involved in trying to people. Many are contributing to their communities, encourage positive debate on all sides. As Europe building their businesses, providing a boost to the local economy; a lot is spokesperson, this has been very interesting, involving numerous radio happening. I’ve been fortunate to meet a number of people and groups, and TV appearances, newspaper interviews, and debates on the issues from cub packs and school children, to people campaigning on local raised. I hope that in the run up to polling day local people engaged with issues, such as saving their libraries. It has been a privilege to work with this important issue no matter how you voted. these communities to find a solution.

Westminster also has a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups I’ve also met with those running various local businesses, including (APPGs). Given that the constituency includes St Andrews, the Home of Eden Mill, the St Andrews Brewing Co, Zest, Muddy Boots, and Golf, I was very pleased to establish the APPG on Golf, and help do what the Falkland Centre for Stewardship – just some of those providing I can to promote golf in partnership with many interested groups. I am employment and developing skills whilst building the economy and also a member of the APPG on climate change. reputation of North East Fife.

It has been a very busy year, but a good one. Thank you to all who I’ve been really pleased at the numbers of people attending the have engaged with me; I look forward to working with you in the years surgeries I have held across the area, also at the constituency office. I ahead. am hoping to add a few new venues to the list so that we can make these events even more accessible. Of course, if you need help urgently then (Photo courtesy Stephen Gethins) my office is open five days a week; you can also contact me directly by email.

Jonnie Adamson

Can We See The Wood For The Trees?

Having received income of under £11,000 while one partner my trusty tax has income between £11,000 and £43,000. tables in the post Furthermore, the allowance has to be claimed this morning I was by the lower-earning partner online. I feel the saddened to see government are relying on the apathy of the that the number population not claiming, in order to minimise of pages has the tax cost of this flagship policy. I would urge increased once again. I treat this annual event those who are eligible, and haven’t claimed as a barometer to the magnitude of the tax for 2015/16, to do so now. It does feel like an legislation. More rates, added complexities, awful lot of compliance for a relatively low tax new taxes. Is this the product of a system relief, perhaps that’s the point (I must stop this better tailored to give a fairer outcome to cynicism). specific sections of society? If I wasn’t in such The continued devolution of the Scottish a cynical mood I might have regarded this as tax system will undoubtedly add layers on to a possibility. However, my the existing model. Indeed, instinct tells me that there if there is an increase to The continued devolution is another reason. It is very the higher rate threshold of of the Scottish tax system easy to use the tax system income tax in Scotland then will undoubtedly add layers we may see a 52% band to make instant political on to the existing model headlines. Many of the taxes, of tax on earnings between allowances, and reliefs are around £43,000 and tinkered with to ensure that the maximum £45,000. This is because the (currently aligned) amount of political capital is gained with National Insurance threshold is set according minimum affect on the Treasury. to the UK, not the Scottish threshold. One to Transferable married-couples allowance watch out for. made waves in the press when heralded Help is at hand though! The Office of in 2014. This allowance can help reduce a Tax Simplification was set up some 5 years couple’s tax bill by £220 per year (maximum). ago; there have been successes, such as However, there are only certain circumstances the reforms to taxing benefits in kind through in which this is available – one partner has payroll. The next challenges look to be

simplifying small business taxation, possibly by treating owner-managed companies as ‘see through’ for tax, the ever closer integration of income tax and national insurance, improving the administration of the tax system. There have been some sensible suggestions since its inception (around 50% of the 400 suggested measures have been implemented) and I do hope that government considers future recommendations carefully.

Whilst it may be naïve of me to think that my 2017/18 tax tables will be thinner than this year’s I do hope that the bigger picture is considered when tax legislation is proposed and enacted. Perhaps it requires the ladies and gentlemen of parliament to be braver in their decisions on significant issues, avoiding the urge to make headlines on populist issues and adding unnecessary compliance. One can only hope!

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

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SHOPS & SERVICES Sarah McLaughlin is celebrating

Hot House Yoga’s 1st Birthday Okay, back to my first birthday… so one I can’t personally remember my first birthday. year ago (almost to the day), I moved from However, for my parents I’m sure it was rather Edinburgh to the sunny shores of St Andrews hard work – combined with tears, lots of running – with stints of yoga training in India, around, and an overriding sense of optimism.

Australia, and Thailand.

So in that regard, I assume it I came without knowing was not dissimilar to the first a soul here, and with no 365 days of running my first The business has experience of opening my ever small business – Hot House Yoga! already evolved over own independent company.

So the fact that I sit here Let me start with a little this short period today, coconut water in about Hot House. It’s a hand, running through St Andrews-based studio, my register showing an where my customers come to average of over 150 clients per week – I can practice fast-paced yoga against a 39 degree honestly say that I’m smiling ear-to-ear.

Celsius backdrop. Suitable for all ages, all The business has already evolved over levels and all personalities, Hot Yoga has this short period. I now have three new quickly proven itself as a revolutionary workout teachers supporting me, each bringing a new for the body – promoting muscle strength, style, skill, and personality to the brand. I balance, weight loss, and a detox for the mind. have increased the class timetable to more than 17 per week, and brought in a variety of yoga disciplines, including Hot Power and Hot Vinyasa.

And I truly believe that I have evolved too.

The first year has been challenging, emotional, and surprising. While yoga is known to increase flexibility – I’ve had to become mentally and professionally flexible at the same time. When I reflect on the year-gone-by, the highlight that really shines through is, without a doubt, the amazing people of St Andrews: the people who wave at me on my bike

16

as I pedal to work, the contractors who helped me design and create what is a very unique studio, and of course – my fantastic clients. The warmth from the people far exceeds the heat in the room!

So what’s next? Well, on the back of the appetite and energy I’ve seen for yoga in St Andrews, I’ve decided to further develop my yoga skills. I will be introducing more new styles of yoga, to keep things fresh for my many regular clients. And I’m going to be sharing regular updates via my website, and my social media platforms: across FaceBook, Twitter, and Instragram.

Also in special recognition of Hot House Yoga’s 1st birthday, there will be an open day on Saturday, 27 August, when FREE 30 min taster classes will be offered to showcase some new styles of Hot Yoga, and to give new starts an opportunity to try a short class. Full details will follow on the Hot House website: www.hothouseyogastandrews.com and social media sites.

First birthdays are a time of celebration, joy, and the odd tantrum… I’m sure this one won’t be any different!

For further information please contact: Sarah McLaughlin, Founder / Owner info@hothouseyogastandrews.com 077762 281 159.

(Photo courtesy Sarah McLauglin)

SHOPS & SERVICES Nigel Edwards asks

Why do businesses need business coaches?

A business owner just setting up a business would quite rightly require help in doing so. The help they might seek would be from professionals, such as business advisers/coaches, accountants, solicitors. The adviser would guide them through the process of producing a business plan, establishing and obtaining funding requirements, registering any intellectual property rights, commercialisation of the products or services, and making sure that the business owner stays on track.

With an established business, on the other hand, having survived the rigours of starting up why would any business owner, or business leader, ever want to be challenged and held accountable by a business coach, in addition to everything else they have to contend with in the business?

And if they did, at what point during the life of their business would they choose to engage a business coach?

Start Up

But, at the same time, these were his issues: – I want to grow my business – I want my business to succeed in spite of me – I don’t want the business to miss opportunities because of me – The business has got really complicated and I don’t always know the way forward – I have felt increasingly lonely and isolated as the business has grown, regardless of my senior management team – Everyone thinks I am the expert at everything, and that I have all the answers – I’m in danger of looking seriously incompetent if I don’t develop with the business – I fear failure of the business more than ever.

So how can business coaching help? Well, it’s about providing a safe space with time-out to enable the CEO and the leadership team to step back from the day to day minutiae of the business to look at the wider picture. Also, it’s about giving them the opportunity to talk openly,

Transition Growth get help, and support without feeling guilty, without it being taken as a sign of weakness or ignorance. It’s also about helping businesses overcome growing pains in order to grow up; if that sounds like a child breaking into their teens, or a teenager breaking into adulthood, there are similarities since high growth is fundamentally about accelerated Maturity Expansion change and the challenges this throws up.

Mainly, however, business coaching is about focusing on supporting a business in “raising its game”, “taking the next step”, perhaps by For many businesses, working with a business coach will be the first time increasing levels of profits, enhancing the competitive edge, creating that they have engaged in depth with an expert adviser from outside the the ideal conditions for the business’s long-term success and raising the business, and often their reservations and questions reflect this. I recently business profile. asked a business owner at what point he would engage a business We are told that business coaching is coach. His business has gone from strength to increasing because it is a cost-effective means strength over the last 10 years, and he has just The focus is on people who of driving enhanced performance. In the United opened up a new office in the USA. He responded Kingdom, in a huge departure from several years have done it, rather than at first that he was just too busy to do any coaching ago, 20% of SMEs are now using business justice, and that “coaching doesn’t work with those who can talk about it coaching as part of their growth strategy. In awkward people like me”, but finally, when pushed one international study, 79% of medium and a little further, the real story started to open up. large businesses in the United Kingdom reported using coaching The reasons were not to do with the performance of the business; in of some type to support their high growth ambitions. The overriding fact, they were to do with his personal brick walls, his own attitudes and requirement of business leaders is to drive the business forward. They beliefs which were a barrier to growth: expect a business coach to be able to earn their keep by supporting – I hate taking advice that ambition, to have the credibility of personal experience, not just – I know my own mind the theory and qualifications. The focus is on people who have done – I have fears I don’t want others to see it, rather than those who can talk about it. This is where real-life – I hate looking weak experience counts: being able to bring knowledge and ideas from a – I hate talking about my feelings: it makes me lose focus variety of industry sectors and across different business models, is – Looking incompetent is my greatest fear extremely valuable.

– I worry I’ll discover I’ve been doing it all wrong (Photo courtesy Nigel Edwards)

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We can consult locally

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

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SHOPS & SERVICES

From your Roving Reporter 1. Brad Eggleston, who has a Barking Mad franchise serving N E Fife, Dundee, and Angus, contacted Reporter to tell him the good news that he has scooped the “Most Improved Business of the Year Award” ahead of over 70 other Franchisees, at the annual Franchisee Conference held on the shores of Lake Windermere. Barking Mad provides ‘home from home’ accommodation for dogs whose owners go on holiday.

Brad has successfully increased his turnover by 47% year on year, demonstrating the need pet owners have for peace of mind when away from home. Reporter congratulates Brad and wishes him continuing success.

(Photo courtesy brad Eggleston)

*****

2. Artery St Andrews, 183 South Street, (01334 473 153) told Reporter that they have just marked their first anniversary, and are ready for what promises to be another amazing year in St Andrews.

Everything is 100% handmade by makers local and throughout Scotland, as well as other areas of the UK. There’s a fantastic range of gifts for everyone with gorgeous jewellery, homewares, glass, textiles, crafts; all things beautiful and unusual for your home.

Owners Jason and Elaine Michaelson said, “We aim to be the home of handmade. Our makers and craftspeople create amazing and beautiful things with love and care in small workshops, sheds, spare rooms, even kitchen tables across the UK, that you can enjoy and cherish much more than something which rolled off a production line in some far-off country. We’ve searched high and low, finding some wonderful works which we think our customers will really love”.

Earlier this month Artery closed the doors to their gallery at the other end of South Street after 10 years there, but rest assured, Artery St Andrews is going full steam ahead with many exciting plans for this year and beyond!

Jason added, “We are delighted that our loyal customers have been finding us and have been so complimentary – thank you so much – here’s to the next 10 years!” Amen, from Reporter.

(Photo courtesy Artery)

*****

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3. Another local business making good is celebrating 3 years in the town: St Andrews Podiatry at 31, Largo Road (01334 476 100).

Reporter said ‘hello’ to business partners Jackie Shand and Martha Watt in their welcoming shared premises. Before the NHS started cutting costs, both Jackie and Martha worked in Ninewells Hospital, where they met, though each of them practised many years on their own before that, adding Jackie and Martha up to some 30 years’ experience between them. They treat all foot problems, from the general to the particular; for example, ingrown toenails; diabetic feet; verrucae etc.

Each holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Podiatry, Martha from Queen Margaret University (Edinburgh), Jackie from Caledonian University (Glasgow). They are therefore qualified to perform nail surgery, make biomechanical assessments, and deal with sports injuries. Children are also treated. Home visits are available for those unable to go to the surgery. Jackie told Reporter that patients come from far and wide, even America! Nursing homes and residences are visited, while the University medical faculty and one shoe shop in the town have benefited from presentations of podiatry, as part of preventative medicine. Reporter enjoyed Jackie and Martha’s bubbling enthusiasm for their work, and wishes them both continuing success.

4.

*Newly-opened * * * * law firm Fyfe McDonald

Solicitors can be found, Reporter learned, at 43a Argyle Street, St Andrews, next door to Wilson and Partners Vets. The firm is headed up by Fiona McDonald (formerly a partner at Pagan Osborne) and offers advice on all private client law matters, including making a Will, Powers of Attorney, Inheritance Tax Planning, Trusts, Charity Law, Estate Advice, and Fiona McDonald Executry Administration when someone has died. Fiona is a recognised legal expert, one of only four Solicitors in the whole of Scotland to be accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Private Client Tax Law. Fiona is also the author of the books Inheritance Tax in Scotland and The Elder Client. This expertise, coupled with the firm’s client-focused outlook, leads to clients benefiting from expert advice in a friendly and supportive manner. Fiona tells Reporter that, “Our St Andrews roots are very important to us, and we are delighted to provide advice and support to existing and new clients”. Contact: 01334 845 197, email: enquiries@fyfemcdonald.co.uk or visit the website www.fyfemcdonald.co.uk

*****

TOWN & GOWN Kevin Laland, Professor of Behavioural and Evolutionary Biology at the University of St Andrews

The Evolution of Evolutionary Theory not solely reflect ‘the A striking feature of living creatures is how suited each is to its natural survival of the fittest’, but environment. Birds’ feathers are beautifully apposite for flight and also ‘the arrival of the insulation; desert plants possess spines or hairy leaves that reduce frequent-est’. In recent water loss; whilst Arctic creatures are furnished with thick fur or years, evolutionary blubber to keep warm. These features, which make each species biologists have discovered that the same body shapes arise again and look as if it has been designed to live where it does, are known as again in independent populations. Sometimes we not only witness adaptations. Adaptations are fashioned over long periods of time parallel evolution, but parallel radiations, in which a single species through natural selection in a slow, but relentless winnowing process. diversifies into a number of distinctive forms and independently the The individuals of each species vary, in part because of differences same diversification evolves in a different location. Historically such in their genetic make up. Some will be marginally better suited to the parallel evolution was explained through convergent natural selection. conditions of their existence than others, and, being better placed to There is no question that convergent selection happens, but the survive and reproduce, will be more likely to pass on their genes to observation that parallel evolution is more extensive than previously the next generation. As fitter individuals beget more than their share of thought has led researchers to wonder whether developmental bias descendants, gradually, over the centuries, the population accumulates is also part of the story, with the same easy-to-build morphologies impressive adaptations. being manufactured in different locations. Some data supports this In his classic 1859 book The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin suggestion. explained how adaptive evolution could occur through the process Also generating discussion is the finding that other materials to of natural selection. However, it was not until the 1930s and 1940s, genes transmitted from parents to offspring, include components of the almost a century later, that a mature scientific understanding of egg, hormones, symbionts (micro-organisms such as evolution emerged, with the integration of knowledge of bacteria or fungi that live inside bodies), epigenetic evolutionary processes and biological inheritance. To marks (compounds that bind to DNA and affect researchers who study evolution, that coming together is known simply as the Modern Synthesis. It represents Evolutionary biology their function), and learned knowledge. One core of the Modern Synthesis was that acquired more than just the accumulation of knowledge. The is a thriving, vibrant assumption characters cannot be inherited. In a classic nineteenth Modern Synthesis provides a way to think about and century experiment, German biologist August understand the diversity of life and the intricate properties field of science Weismann cut off the tails of generations of mice and of living organisms. bred from the amputees, finding no reduction in tail From this traditional standpoint, the small differences length. This led to the view that genetic mutations in between individuals upon which natural selection acts the germ line (eggs and sperm) were the only changes passed to the arise through random mutation in genes; the inheritance of characters next generation. Recent experiments suggest a more complex picture, occurs through the transmission of genes from parents to offspring; and and a broader notion of heredity is starting to emerge in which some adaptations arise solely through natural selection. These are some of acquired characteristics are recognized as inherited. Scientists now the core assumptions of the Modern Synthesis. know that non-genetic inheritance can bias the expression and retention Evolutionary biology is a thriving, vibrant field of science. Like of environmentally-induced characteristics, thereby influencing the rate evolutionary biologists around the world, researchers at the University of and direction of evolution.

St Andrews study the processes of evolution: for instance, investigating It is too early to be certain whether these, and other, new findings how new species arise (speciation), or how the mating decisions of will bring about substantive change in biologists’ understanding of animals fashion the evolution of elaborate characters (sexual selection). evolution. Many biologists, myself included, believe that an extended The bulk of this research, both in St Andrews and elsewhere, works evolutionary synthesis is required, although this remains controversial. within the framework provided by the Modern Synthesis.

What is certain is that these advances will increasingly become the That is not to suggest that evolutionary biology has not changed center of attention for many evolutionary biologists over the coming since the 1940s. To the contrary, over the decades the field of years. evolutionary biology has incorporated many new theoretical and Researchers at the University of St Andrews are at the forefront empirical findings, leaving today’s discipline vastly more sophisticated of this research. Last month an international consortium of 50 than the original synthesis, and covering a broader range of biologists and philosophers, announced a new £5.7 million pound phenomena. Yet, while such progress is undeniable, the bulk of these research programme to put these ideas to the test. The researchers advances have not challenged the Modern Synthesis’ core assumptions. come from eight universities around the world, including Cambridge, However, over the last few years some new findings have emerged Stanford, Indiana, and Lund Universities, but with the University of that suggest to some researchers that a broader synthesis may be St Andrews taking the lead. The planned research at St Andrews required. No-one questions the fundamental role that natural selection, includes experimental studies of sticklebacks, corals, spiders, ants, or genetic inheritance, plays in evolution. The issue is whether there and seaside invertebrates. These studies will investigate whether the are hitherto unrecognized processes that are also operating. One plastic responses of organisms to different environmental conditions possibility, brought to prominence through the work of biologists (developmental plasticity) and their modification of environments studying the development of organisms, is that the variation upon which (niche construction) impose direction on evolution and help account for natural selection acts is not random after all. Some morphological taxonomic diversity. These are exciting times for evolutionary biology, as characteristics would seem to be easier to produce than others, a the ramifications of these new developments are explored. phenomenon known as ‘developmental bias’. The diversity of life may

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19

TOWN & GOWN Liz Higgins, Madras College Librarian

Madras College Archive On Tuesday, 26 April 2016, representatives of Madras College Archive Group were delighted to welcome Dr Eve Soulsby, when she visited the school to donate a copy of her book, The Golfing Kyles of St Andrews.

This celebrates the lives and careers of members of a St Andrews family with strong ties to Madras College, and, as the title suggests, a notable prowess on the golf course. In the early years of the 20th century, five of six Kyle siblings attended the School, and even whilst still at Madras, were winning prestigious golfing competitions. The eldest, Elsie Kyle, won the Scottish Ladies’ Championship in 1909 when she was still a pupil!

Dr Soulsby, a former Principal Teacher of Geography at Madras College, also presented the Archive with a globe dating from the early 1920s, and an abacus, which were used at Madras. They had been left, outmoded and forgotten, in a cupboard, and were rescued from the rubbish bin by Dr Soulsby in about 1980, when the former Kindergarten rooms, by then the Geography Department at Madras, were being cleared.

References to the Kyle children’s time at Madras College can be found in school magazines from the period, and viewed on the Archive’s website, www.madrascollegearchive.org.uk Copies of Dr Soulsby’s book are available from the author.

(Photo courtesy Madras College)

Standing (from left): Dr Eve Soulsby, Mr Lindsay Matheson, Mr Donald Macgregor, Mrs Liz Higgins, Mr Arlen Pardoe Seated: (S6 Pupils) Katie Stewart and Lewis Garippa.

From Dr Maggie Ellis about a possible

Dementia-friendly St Andrews My work as a Fellow in Dementia Care involves teaching, consultancy, applied research, and training. I teach a large Senior Honours module on the Psychology of Dementia in which I introduced my students to the Dementia Friends initiative promoted by Alzheimer Scotland. To my delight, almost all of my students signed

up to become Dementia friends, and wanted to learn how they could contribute towards helping individuals with dementia in the local community. I thought that this could be possible through the Dementia-Friendly Communities initiative. As part of my role as Fellow in Dementia Care at the University of St Andrews,

I aim to make St Andrews a dementia-friendly community. Alzheimer Scotland has set out a clear pathway to how this might be achieved, including the development of a local ‘Dementia Alliance’ which would help to organise events and to fundraise.

The first event in the ‘Dementia-Friendly St Andrews’ initiative was a launch at the Byre Theatre on Tuesday, 24 May from 12.00 – 1.30 pm. 55 people attended the event; there was so much interest around bringing the Dementia-Friendly Communities initiative to St Andrews.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved, please get in touch via one of the following methods: Dementia-Friendly St Andrews website: www.dementiafriendlystandrews.org.uk Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dementiafriendlystandrews/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Maggie’s website: https://maggieellis.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk (Photo courtesy Dr Ellis)

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TOWN & GOWN Kristine Caillé, Co-Head of Operations,

The Playfair Project CIC Playfair Project CIC is a pro-bono studenthave worked with the Fife Social led consultancy business with a vested Enterprise Network to devise a interest in the welfare of the St Andrews strategy to further develop the community. Operating locally, the Company brand, services, and marketing works exclusively with local businesses and capacity of the network. Their enterprises, which ensures that every client suggestions are set to be put into practice project makes an unparalleled difference this summer with the creation of a new FSEN within the town or region. Since its inception website, and the development of presences in 2013, the Playfair Project has reached a on social media platforms, including Twitter, position where clients typically request their Facebook, and LinkedIn. services, and after each proposal is thoroughly Another example of the services examined, an average of three projects provided by the Playfair Project is a detailed a semester are chosen. The Company analysis of the St Andrews coffee-shop has had clients in a myriad of businesses, market, which the consultants did on behalf including, but not limited to, of a local entrepreneur. local restaurants, NGOs, Their approach was well the hospitality industry, thought out, beginning Since its inception and St Andrews Business with preliminary market Improvement Districts. research, where website in 2013, the Playfair The Playfair Project data was gathered to Project has reached a provide an overview of the currently has 28 members, distributed across three market. Having position where clients St Andrews consultancy project teams, an a broad understanding of typically request their operations team, and a board the market then made it of directors. Membership possible to select a diverse services has become increasingly range of established competitive over the last St Andrews coffee shops couple of years, allowing the for further analysis.

Company to choose the best among a pool The analysis encompassed observations, of highly motivated, talented and tenacious such as the prices of key products, footfall students. Playfair’s consulting services throughout the day, and the location of include gathering and analysing first- and businesses, allowing useful comparisons to second-hand research, conducting market be made. The competitor analysis was also analysis related to products, entry to market supplemented with a survey of 102 people techniques, physical and digital marketing (70% students, 26% locals) which aimed to strategies, statistical modelling, running determine how often people in St Andrews revenue-generation analysis. The Company’s visit coffee shops, at what times of day, and diverse client history with high levels of their common purchases; as well as the satisfaction shows the flexibility of their unique factors which influence their choice of coffee skills as a student-run organization, and the shop. By utilizing this research approach, abilities they possess to help their clients the student consultants were able to draw grow. Recently, a group of Playfair consultants meaningful conclusions on the key factors

influencing the success of some businesses, as well as generating extremely useful data on customers’ purchasing habits and attitudes.

The success of this project has since led to the Company being approached by numerous local businesses who were impressed by their methodology and attention to detail.

The Playfair Project has recently reached 99 current and past members; this number is set to increase continuously as they expand, allowing more and more students to develop their skills within the organization, while contributing to the success of the Company, as well as its clients. The community-interest Company has also recently developed a strong alumni network, and as many of its past members have joined some of the world’s foremost professional services firms, this is set to be an incredibly useful resource for current and future members. It is safe to say that the organization is doing well to fulfil its two-fold mission to let members develop their abilities in a real company with real outcomes, as well as providing local businesses with highquality advice and solutions free of charge.

The Company is, however, still in continuous development, its members striving to find innovative ways of furthering its success through the acquisition of new clients and challenging projects. Considering the drive and dedication of the members, as well as its increasing popularity among clients, the Playfair Project is set to reach even further heights in the near future.

(Image courtesy of the Company)

St Andrews Art Club

Summer Exhibition 2016

Saturday 16 July until

Sunday 31 July Weekdays 10.00am – 5.00pm Sundays 12.30 – 5.00pm 14c Argyle Street Admission free

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EVENTS Lesley-Anne Lettice, Curator (Exhibitions), Fife Cultural Trust

The Glasgow Boys: A Spirit of Rebellion St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park – 28 May to 3 September 2016 Many of the Boys travelled St Andrews Museum has a very special treat in store for summer widely, influenced by visitors. From 28 May until 3 September the museum is showcasing an other cultures and artistic exhibition of paintings by the celebrated group of artists known as the traditions. Some became Glasgow Boys. Bound together by friendship and a shared desire to sought-after portrait painters, rebel against the Scottish art establishment, they revolutionised Scottish while others specialised in painting, going on to become internationally famous. landscapes, military scenes Now regarded as one of the most influential groups of artists and animal paintings. working in the late 19th century, their paintings can be found in public Although their work may and private collections around the world. In 2010 a major retrospective not look particularly radical of their work was held at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, later by today’s standards, the touring to the Royal Academy in London. The Glasgow Boys exhibition “The White Flower” Glasgow Boys were viewed at St Andrews Museum follows on from a series of very successful fine Edward Atkinson Hornel as progressive, especially art exhibitions held there in recent years, such as McTaggart’s Scottish the paintings they produced between the mid-1880s and the mid-1890s.

Shorelines in 2011 and S J Peploe – The French Connection in 2012.

As they entered the 20th century they were no The Glasgow Boys – A Spirit of Rebellion longer pioneering new movements in art, but features 25 paintings by 17 artists. As with the they continued to enjoy critical and commercial Peploe and McTaggart exhibitions, all of the The Glasgow Boys wanted success, both at home and abroad. They paintings on display come from the wonderful fine were even invited to become members of the art collection cared for by Fife Cultural Trust on to move away from the institutions they had once rebelled against. behalf of Fife Council. There are over 40 Glasgow dark, varnished portraits The Glasgow Boys – A Spirit of Rebellion Boys paintings in the collection; the exhibition illustrates the diversity of the work produced at St Andrews Museum offers visitors a rare and sentimental landscapes by the group. The exhibition traces their opportunity to see many of them brought together favoured by the Royal development from the early days of their in one venue. association, through the international recognition Most of the Boys (as they called themselves), Scottish Academy. achieved in the 1890s, to their acceptance into were not born in Glasgow, but almost all of them the art establishment in the 20th century. It lived, studied or had a studio there at one time. features work by leading figures in the group They came together at an opportune time in the and many others associated with it, including John Lavery, E A Hornel, city’s history. Late 19th century Glasgow was a manufacturing and George Henry, Joseph Crawhall, E A Walton, W Y Macgregor, David trading giant, home to a wealthy new middle class with large houses Gauld, and Thomas Millie Dow. Also on display are two large paintings to fill and money to spend. Forward-thinking art dealers and collectors,

by Arthur Melville, widely regarded as one of the finest watercolourists such as Alexander Reid and William Burrell, brought in paintings from of the 19th century. Some visitors may recognise one of the Melville Europe and championed the work of young Scottish artists. Glasgow paintings, The Boatyard, from the major retrospective of his work held School of Art – the first to admit women on the same terms as men at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh in 2015-16.

– was a hotbed of young talent. The distinctive work of artists and As well as providing an opportunity to see some wonderful paintings architects, such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Herbert McNair, and by world famous artists, the Museum also has plenty on offer for younger the Glasgow Girls became known as ‘the Glasgow Style’. visitors over the summer. There are a host of arty activities on offer, from The Glasgow Boys wanted to move away from the dark, varnished a giant snakes and ladders game to art-themed storybooks, jigsaws, portraits and sentimental landscapes favoured by the Royal Scottish colouring sheets, and special Glasgow Boys gallery explorers rucksacks Academy. They valued realism, inspired by artists working in France, full of fun games and quizzes for all the family. In addition, there are Holland, and London. Following on from their example, the Glasgow bookable children’s art and craft workshops, and adult masterclasses Boys wanted to paint life as they found it – real people in real places. with artist Gemma Coyle. Also on offer are curator’s tours, where visitors Like their idols, they painted out of doors, adopting the use of the can find out more about how the exhibition was put together while taking square brush technique and a high horizon line. Much of their early a more detailed look at some of the paintings. For more information work followed a similar path – intimate scenes of Scottish rural life. By about the exhibition and the events programme please go to the the 1890s their paths had diverged, both geographically and artistically. website: onfife.com/museums or telephone St Andrews Museum: 01334 659 380.

Images courtesy Fife Cultural Trust (Kirkcaldy Galleries) on behalf of Fife Council-Kirkcaldy Galleries

“Seashore Roses” – Edward Atkinson Hornel

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“Spring Day, Morocco” – Thomas Millie Dow

EVENTS Local dentist Chris Pritchard is

Getting on his bike!

On Sunday, 21 September, Chris will be With some of the funds raised, Chris and embarking on a challenging 100-mile cycle Jackie hope to start a dental health project race through the spectacular, but rather within the schools and villages around the hilly, countryside around Royal Deeside. His Palpa area. Although not directly affected by strenuous efforts will be for a very good cause, the recent earthquakes, the region has seen given that he is raising money a massive influx of refined for two very worthy charities: sugars as a result of food with over 10,000 feet of Chest, Heart and Stroke shortages that attracted aid hills to climb it will certainly packages. Tooth decay and Scotland (CHASS) which be no walk in the park! will be familiar to many of abscesses are becoming our readers, but also for the increasingly common as lesser-known Palpa Trust, a charity set up by a the locals in the area have little or no access to New Zealander called Jackie Taylor, now calling toothbrushes or toothpaste. Chris and Jackie St Andrews her home. have already commissioned the services of The Palpa Trust was established in 2010 a local Nepalese Dentist, who has recently to help many of the rural areas of Nepal, started some dental health education classes where living conditions are poor. The funds for children and teachers in the area. raised up until now have been used to provide Chris is no stranger to the saddle, having much-needed education resources, improve ridden over 250 miles across Jordon in his infrastructure, set up numerous water projects early 20s to raise money for the British Lung in the Palpa region.

Foundation, a challenge inspired by having

lost his father to lung cancer.

This latest venture is likely to be on the cooler side of Jordanian temperatures; however, with over 10,000 feet of hills to climb it will certainly be no walk in the park! Chris says that although he cycles fairly regularly he has never covered this kind of terrain before and will definitely need to up the ante with his training schedule in order to avoid a sore derrière, while negotiating the course in a respectable time.

Here he is putting in some off-road training for the challenges ahead.

If you are interested in sponsoring Chris, please call in to Gentle Dental Care, 85 South Street, (01334 475 433) where you will be able to donate.

(Photos courtesy Chris Pritchard)

From Rachel Nordstrom, Photographic Collection Manager, University of St Andrews

Festival of Photography

It has been more than 175 years since the discovery that changed how Thomas Rodger, Robert Adamson, David Octavius Hill, and Brewster we viewed and documented the world around us. When William Henry himself were some of the first amateur and professional Scottish Fox Talbot announced his photographic process in photographers. Their collections now sit in 1839, his close friendship with Sir David Brewster, renowned archives, museums and galleries Over the past few years, we have Principal of the United Colleges in St Andrews, seen a resurgence in appreciation around the world. While most people see resulted in an immediate flurry of photographic St Andrews as either the home of golf or the home for photography in Scotland activity in the north-east corner of Fife. Talbot’s of an ancient university, there is a rich history famous patent did not apply to Scotland, so anyone here often overlooked by most visitors, but known here could freely experiment with photography. Through Brewster’s social to a few locals. There are several Blue Plaques around town marking and academic networks several notable local figures were quick to learn historically significant and noteworthy buildings. the process.

Over the past few years, we have seen a resurgence in appreciation St Andrews luminaries Dr John Adamson, Hugh Lyon Playfair, for photography in Scotland – the Retina Festival highlighting international Alexander Govan, Admiral William Maitland Dougall, Lord Kinnaird, contemporary photographers, the rebirth of the Scottish Society for the History of Photography (SSHoP), the founding of the Institute for Photography in Scotland, and ongoing efforts to promote an annual Season of Photography, as well as the Actinic Festival for alternative photographic processes.

Adding to this growing excitement, while paying homage to St Andrews as the birthplace of Scottish photography, BID St Andrews is launching an annual photography festival next month to celebrate Scottish photography, both historic and contemporary.

From 1 August to 11 September, visitors will be able to take in a series of pop-up style exhibitions in non-traditional venues, such as restaurants, cafés, halls, theatres, and libraries which will showcase contemporary works and historic collections by Scottish photographers. During the sixweek festival the organisers are aiming to schedule a series of events to rouse all visitors, students, and locals.

There is a growing list of talks by notable academics, tours highlighting the hidden and photogenic history of the town, historic process workshops and demonstrations, even a Victorian outdoor tintype studio, so you can have your portrait done as you would have in the 1860s.

“Dr John Adamson’s home on South Street, St Andrews in 1862”

by John Adamson (Courtesy of the University of St Andrews Library).

Keep an eye on the BID St Andrews website and social media channels for more information and updates.

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EVENTS Pamela Robertson previews

A Summer of Art Annual Art Exhibition St Andrews Art Club’s annual exhibition runs for just over two weeks, from Friday, 8 July – Sunday, 31 July. It has its usual varied and interesting display of paintings. Over 50 local artists will show their work in the clubrooms near the West Port, each artist having maybe up to 6 works of art for sale – really something for everyone!

Over the last few years, artists have been expanding their skills; moving into abstract, mixed media, and crafts; such as, embroidery and weaving as well as the traditional oils, acrylics, watercolours, and pastels. The display is always colourful and exciting, while visitors can vote for their favourite painting and visit as

many times as they like to make up their minds.

All works are for sale, entry is free.

Many of our members are professionallytrained artists who can also be seen at the North Fife Open Studios in May, as well as the summer exhibitions in Pittenweem and the East Neuk – others have learned their skills after joining the Club and attending the many classes and workshops that run throughout the year. To be a member of the Art Club, you don’t need to be able to draw – you just need to want to!

Membership details are on our website: www.standrewsartclub.co.uk After the main exhibition, members can book the clubrooms for their own exhibitions.

Alan Stephens and Lyn Evans

Friday, 5 August – Thursday, 11 August. (9.30am – 4.30pm) Alan is a highly experienced award-winning oil painter and tutor, specialising in portraits, landscapes and seascapes. His work hangs in private collections around the world, with many important portrait commissions. His paintings can be viewed at: www.alanstephens.co.uk Lyn paints mostly in watercolour and pastel. She uses both mediums in a loose and impressionistic way to describe the world around her, endeavouring to show her emotional response to a subject rather than an accurate portrayal of it. Lyn teaches watercolour and pastels; her work is in collections and exhibitions worldwide. This year she was honoured to be included, and to sell, two paintings in the Annual Pastel Society Exhibition in London.

Linda Paton

Friday, 12 August – 18 August (10.00am – 6.00pm) Linda works in oils, her paintings always vibrant and exciting. Highland Cows, Proud Stags, alongside paintings of St Andrews, also various well-known scenes around Scotland being part of her portfolio. Linda has exhibited in the Art Club premises over the last two years. She is looking forward to meeting old and new friends once again.

This allows artists to hang much larger works of art and, if you like their paintings in the main exhibition, this gives you a chance to see many more examples of their work. This year six local artists will be in the clubrooms throughout August, showing different paintings each week – a Summer of Art indeed.

Pam Robertson, Carole Tricker and Liz Craig

Friday, 18 August – Thursday, 25 August. (10.00am – 4.30pm) Pam, Carole and Liz have decided to have their first exhibition here is St Andrews. They are delighted to be showing their current work in the Club rooms. All have several paintings in private collections, their range of styles enhancing and complementing each other.

Pam works in inks, mixed media, and printing techniques, as well as detailed botanical illustration. As a biologist, her work usually includes animals and plants – she finds that living things manage to include themselves somewhere in almost every painting. Both framed and mounted work will be on display, as well as cards and prints.

Carole has produced many lino cuts and is now working with textiles, weaving fine wools into small abstract landscapes, taking the Scottish mountains and seas as her inspiration.

Liz works mostly in pastel, acrylic and mixed media. She draws inspiration from the Fife and Cornish coastlines and countyside for her landscapes, and also paints cityscapes, influenced by visits to Barcelona and Venice. Original work and prints will be available.

(Images courtesy the Art Club)

Dr Angela Montford, Director The Garden Educational Trust

Building Arcadia at the Botanic Garden Following the success of the last year’s sell–out Study Day at the Botanic Garden –-the plans for this year’s event are already well under way. The speakers have been booked for this

(Photo by Charlotte Weychan, courtesy Mary Caroe)

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year’s garden history Study Day in September which is to be called Building Arcadia: from Pulham Rock to Pergolas. We shall hear about five different aspects of the built constructions that have been incorporated into gardens over time, from the practical to the ornamental, with occasional unusual and extraordinary ones as well.

Five experts will be speaking on their particular specialist topics which will include water features; the history of sundials, rockwork in Scotland and the specialist firm of Pulham

involved with it; pergolas and eyecatchers; and the “layered landscape” behind Yorkshire’s famous Sculpture Park.

There will also be an opportunity for Study Day visitors to take an a optional tour of this year’s special attraction at the Botanic Garden – the new Tropical Butterfly House – at a modest charge of £2.95 in addition to the Study Day fee.

This promises to be another fascinating and friendly day, as it was last year, and we shall be delighted to see old friends and new visitors.

The Study Day will be held at the Botanic Garden Glass Class, on Saturday, 10 September 2016. Doors open 9.30am for 10am-3.30pm; Butterfly House tour at 4pm.

Lunch and refreshments are included in the fee of £50 for visitors; £45.00 for FBG members, £40 for RHS members. Optional Butterfly House tour: please add £2.95.

Booking is now open: info@standrewsbotanic.org or telephone 01334-476 452 (10.00am-4.00pm).

EVENTS

Flora Selwyn says

All Honour to those families who made St Andrews To a large extent, I feel, people forget that the forebears of many families born and brought up in our town made St Andrews; so I thought it was time to celebrate those still living here, by inviting them to a get-together in the BB Hall.

About 50 St Andreans came along on Friday, 20 May, for what turned out to be a grand reunion of old friends and relations. Memories were revived, the ‘crack’ was lively. Billy Anderson and his band brought joy to all, getting them up dancing. Fisher & Donaldson generously gifted a splendid tea.

Peter Adamson took the photos.

The book of ‘suggestions’ that was passed round is filled with complimentary comments unanimous in declaring that the event was a success, with pleas for a repeat! There are, of course, many more than 50 true St Andreans in our town; all honour to them! Lang may their lums aye reek!

(Photos by Peter Adamson)

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EVENTS Marion Mason highlights this year’s

Harbour Gala Our annual harbour gala this year will be held on Saturday, 23 July from 11.00am to 5.00pm at the harbour and we are hoping for glorious weather and a huge turnout!

This is only a brief insight into our plans which are still ongoing as I write this: We have been fortunate once again to have a visit from the magnificent Reaper, which will arrive on Friday, 22 and depart on Sunday, 24 July. It will be open to the public to go on board. We are looking for sponsors to help with the costs, either individual or businesses, please use the contact details here below.

There will be bouncy castles, inflatable slides, rides for children, face local golfers who can be quite competitive, which can be very rewarding painting, and various stalls, including raffle, tombola, and a bottle stall. for the harbour income!

There will be individual craft-type stalls in one of the The human league inflatable football game large marquees. If you would like to rent a table or has been booked. If you are interested in playing We are looking for sponsors find out more, please make contact. We have had five-a-side football, (child or adult, single or team to help with the costs a few interested people already, so please get in entry) contact details are below. We will be going touch as soon as possible. round pubs, clubs, and schools with entry forms The raffle tickets will be available to purchase in local businesses, with more information. The current holders of the trophy are The New Inn and of course, on the day. One of the most popular games is to try to pitch – a win this year again? – we will see! a golf ball into the rowing boat in the harbour. There is no need to be an We are hoping to have a visit from the local emergency services: expert golfer for this one, it really is just a bit of fun, but there are a few fire engine, ambulance, police, and the local coastguard.

Our licensed bar this year will be run by Heidi Orr of The New Inn. Our usual catering of burgers, strawberry tarts, scones, home baking, tea, coffee, and ice cream will be situated right next to the bar. There will be seated areas in the bar and in the catering marquees.

Everyone involved with the harbour gala, the planning and organising, assembling and dismantling of the huge marquees, manning stalls etc. are all volunteers; every penny that is made goes direct to assisting with the maintenance and upkeep of the harbour and surrounding area. We would be delighted if you were able to lend a hand on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or all three days, or even by making a donation of a raffle prize, home baking, or merely just buying a raffle ticket!

Additional information will be advertised on our Facebook page.

If you would like to get in touch please contact Marion on 07580 137 116 or email marionmasons@hotmail.com, or message our Facebook page: St Andrews Harbour.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the day and hope you have as much fun as we do!

(Photos courtesy last year’s Gala)

From David Adie

The Harbour Gala Duck Race This year’s Harbour Gala on 23 July will have the usual stalls; it should be a fun day for all the family from 11.00am. One of the attractions again will be a duck race run

by St Andrews Coastal Rowing Club. The yellow plastic ducks will be released further upstream at the bridge to race over a short, or perhaps longer course, depending on tidal conditions, wind etc. There are substantial prizes for the winner. The ducks will be sold at £1 each or 6 for £5. They will be available on the day. This year there should be 1000 ducks in the race.

The aim is to raise money for the Coastal Rowing Club, which was founded in 2014 as part of a community project bringing together people of all ages who would like to get involved in something both sociable and which improves fitness. The

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Club is inclusive, friendly, and open to all.

It is also affordable, catering for all tastes, both the energetic and the more leisurely rowers. The Club has built its own St Ayles skiff (Sandbay Century). Its second skiff was launched on 5 June.

The duck race will help the Rowing Club expand its activities, allowing disabled rowing, and helping disabled ex-servicemen’s charities and organisations. The duck race is also sponsored by Adie Hunter, Solicitors for out-of-town legal services.

Come along and buy some ducks and support the event. You may even win!

For more information on the Coastal Rowing Club please email: contact@standrewscoastalrowingclub.org.uk

EVENTS

Selected Events July-September – Holy Trinity Church, South Street.

Exhibition – St Andrews Photographers. Website: www.standrewsphotographers.com

Wednesday, 3 August – 12.45pm. All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street, St Andrews. Simon Chadwick, medieval harp recital. Admission free. Contact: simon@simonchadwick.net

Saturday, 2 July – 9.00am-1.00pm. Argyle Street carpark. Farmers’ Market.

– 10.00am. St Andrews Town Hall. RNLI Coffee Morning.

Contact: 01334 476 347.

– 7.00pm. Hope Park & Martyrs Church, St Mary’s Place.

Shore to Shore: Poetry & music supporting the 10th anniversary of Independent Bookshop Week.

Thursday, 4 to Tuesday, 9 August – Lammas Fair & Market and Continental Market.

Saturday, 2 and Sunday, 3 July – 10.00am-5.00pm. Craigtoun Park.

Craigtoun Country Fayre. The Friends of Craigtoun have treats in store for everyone. Contact: friendsofcraigtoun@gmail.com 01334 472 013.

Sunday, 3 July – 2.00pm. New Picture House, North Street. Werther Live from the Royal Opera House. Contact: 01334 474 902.

Wednesday, 6 July – 12.45pm. All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street, St Andrews. Simon Chadwick, medieval harp recital.

Admission free. Contact: simon@simonchadwick.net Thursday, 7 July – 7.00pm. New Picture House, North Street.

Romeo and Juliet. With Richard Madden & Derek Jacobi.

Contact: 01334 474 902.

Saturday, 9 July – 10.30am-3.00pm. Victory Memorial Hall.

Craft Fair: Fife Craft Association.

Sunday, 10 July – 12noon-4.00pm. Victory Memorial Hall.

Little Birds Summer Market. Unique craft & vintage goods for sale. Contact: littlebirdsmarket@outlook.com Wednesday,13 July – 5.00-9.00pm. Balgove Farm Shop, Strathtyrum. Night Market, Fresh & Wild: Fresh local food, drink, and flowers with celebrity guests.

Sunday, 31 July – Station Park, St Andrews. Highland Games.

*****

Friday, 5 August to Thursday, 11 August – 9.30am-4.30pm.

14c Argyle Street. Alan Stephens & Lyn Evans exhibit at the St Andrews Art Club. Contact: pam.robertson2011@yahoo.com Wednesday, 10 August – 5.00-9.00pm. Balgove Farm Shop, Strathtyrum. Night Market: Fire & Meat.

Friday, 12 August to Thursday, 18 August – 10.00am-6.00pm.

14c Argyle Street. Linda Paton exhibits at the St Andrews Art Club. Contact: pam.robertson2011@yahoo.com Friday, 19 August to Thursday, 25 August – 10.00am-5.00pm daily.14c Argyle Street. Pam Robertson, Carole Tricker, Liz Craig exhibit at the St Andrews Art Club. Contact: pam.robertson2011@yahoo.com Saturday, 20 August – 10.00am-5.00pm. Town Hall, St Andrews.

Antique & Collectors’ Fair. Contact: rob1waker@btinternet.com Monday, 22 August – 10.00am-12noon. All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street. Creative Watercolours. First of 6-week course, price £96. Contact: jaclynstuart@hotmail.com 07890 716 543.

Wednesday, 24 August – 10.00am-12 noon. All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street.

The Human Head in Colour. First of 6-week course, drawing with coloured pencil, pastel, inks. Fee, £96. Booking required.

Contact: jaclynstuart@hotmail.com 07890 716 543.

– 7.00pm-9.00pm. All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street.

Drawing the landscape. First of a10-week course. Fee, £160.

Booking required. Contact: jaclynstuart@hotmail.com 07890 716 543.

Saturday, 27 August – 10.30am-4.30pm. Students’ Union, St Mary’s Place. Craft Fair. Fife Craft Association.

GARAGE St Andrews 01334 472882 MOT TESTING SERVICE & REPAIRS ACCIDENT REPAIR VALETING CAR SALES 24 HR RECOVERY Used cars and 4x4’s sourced to your requirements.

Finance available on request. www.brownhillsgarage.co.uk

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ORGANISATIONS Alan Sturrock traces the story of

The Lammas Love it or hate it, it’s Lammas time again. Having been born and brought 1926 to 1952 made up in St Andrews, the Lammas has always been part of my life. I have fairground rides. The great memories of being at my granny’s house in Lamond Drive when company produced Noah’s showmen arrived with their big trucks and caravans to park there and on Arks, the first undulating Langlands Road. roundabouts with stunning The history books tell us that the Lammas dates back to 1153, when décor that would take it was given royal permission from King Malcolm. King James I and VI the British fairgrounds by Chair-o-planes granted a charter in 1620, which was confirmed by an act of the Scots storm.

Parliament of Charles I. It was around the 1870s that fairground rides The name, Noah’s Ark, comes from the assorted animal mounts that started to be seen in the streets of St Andrews; it is still billed as the oldest were fitted. As time went on these were replaced by fitted motorcycles. surviving mediaeval street fair in Scotland.

Lakin got the concept by exploiting the then-current popularity of The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain celebrated its 125th motorcycle speedway racing. In the 1930s he fitted movable cars onto the anniversary in 2014. It is the principal trade association for travelling platforms in place of the fixed mounts, introducing us to the Waltzer, still showmen. The people it represents gain their livelihoods by presenting very popular today. amusements at funfairs. There are some whose roots go back to the time The Jungle Ride was built in 1937, travelling with the Evans family. of the strolling players and entertainers.

In the 1950s the family converted it to a Waltzer, but still was able to The fairground bioscope shows (moving have the motorcycles on it. The family sold it pictures) first appeared on the fairground at the to the Robertson brothers, who refurbished The history books tell us that King’s Lyn Market 15 February 1897, introduced the motorcycle mounts and gave the ride a the Lammas dates back to

by Randall Williams. These were ghost new paint job, rebranding it Soulshifter. The shows adapted by showmen to become early brothers travelled the ride for a few years, but 1153, when it was given royal forerunners of the walk-up bioscopes of the early the popularity of the Waltzer was beginning permission from King Malcolm to take hold on the fairgrounds. The Arks and twentieth century. Showmen travelled around the country adapting and building portable booths.

Speedways were getting converted into this By 1898 the early cinematograph shows dominated the fairground. By modern world of the Waltzer. It is sad to say that this ride was parked in the end of 1914 the fairground cinematograph shows gradually started to a yard in Glasgow for a lot of years. Recently it was sold to an English disappear, resulting in the building of cinemas. George Green and Sons showman, so hopefully it will be going round the fairgrounds for people to from Scotland built their own, the Playhouse at Glasgow and Dundee. enjoy as we all did at the Lammas.

Last November I visited the New Picture House where my family The Dodgems as we know them today were introduced to Britain in has a connection. My grandfather was manager. I also worked as a 1928, but there are several claims to their invention. The dodgem car is projectionist; I think that’s where I got my love for film making, but that’s powered through an electrical pick-up linked to roof nets. There is a pole another story. The Picture House showed a film about St Andrews in from the car to the net. Big Joe White, a name from the past, bought the 1974, a short part being about the Lammas. Let’s have a look back and dodgem set new from a company called Supercar. The Dodgems sat on find out where some of the rides that we all know come from. the other side of the fountain behind the Jungle Ride, almost sitting in the position it is now in. The White family travelled the Dodgems until selling them to Joe Sedgwick in March 2003. Sedgwick kept them for 5 years then sold them to Morgan Miller in January 2008, who still travels them today. The set of Dodgem cars you see on the ride today go back to the late ‘80s early ‘90s.

The Lammas was on both sides of South Street, when Mondays would be popular with locals walking through the market meeting people they hadn’t seen for years. Some locals still do this today. Nowadays because of Health and Safety, the big rides are only down one side.

Chair-o-planes first became popular on British fairgrounds in the 1920s. They were exported from Germany, the thrill ride of their time. The Wilmot family travelled the set until the ‘80s. After 3 other showmen, this Doubled Dive Bomber Gallopers set of Chair-o-planes found themselves in the hands of showman Richard Auctions on South Street Jennings, who refurbished them and brought them back to Scotland for Showmen and traders would gather round Boots the Chemists in South 2 or 3 years at the Irn-Bru Carnival in the SECC (Scottish Exhibition & Street (where Trespass is now). Sections of South Street would be sold Conference Centre) Glasgow. off to the highest bidder. I remember standing behind the auctioneer, who Gerald Wilmot travelled his Cyclone Twist from the end of 1977 to pointed to the showmen or traders bidding for that section of ground; all 1994, when he sold it to Benny Codona. This ride was very popular at the the money raised went to the St Andrews Common Good Fund.

Lammas. Benny sold it to a showman in Norway in 2006, where I believe Over the years the Council and Showmen agreed to pre-let ground it still is. to the bigger rides. The auction would still start outside Boots, but only John Walter Wilmot Gallopers used to sit very proud in South Street. showmen would be allowed to bid. Bidding for the traders would start at We’ve all got the photos when we were kids or teenagers sitting on one of the corner of Bell Street near the West Port. Today that ground is pre-let the horses. This set of Gallopers was manufactured by Salvage in 1885. to traders to represent the old market. The Lammas was the only fair to The Wilmots kept it in the family from 1903 to 1984, when they sold it. keep the tradition of the auction going up to 2000.

Another Scottish showman, Jimmy Graham, took it over at the end of ’84, gave it some TLC, and transformed it back to its full glory. Jimmy also Where are some of the rides now? took it to the Irn-Bru carnival at the SECC Glasgow. Martin Loades is the Market Street had 3 main rides, and it’s still that way today. The Ferris current owner.

Wheel (Big Wheel of its time) is the most iconic of fairground rides; The Dive Bomber was developed at Blackpool as part of the Lusse created in 1893 in the USA. The White family was a big name in the Company under licence from a USA company called Eyerly. The first fairground world, owner of around 13 rides, employing several staff. Their machine made its debut in the Pleasure Beach in 1939. It was seen on Ferris Wheel sat just past Fairfields Stores, alongside Peter Michael’s the fairgrounds up until the 1980s. A major development occurred when it Café. When the wheel stopped at the top you got a great view of the fair. was twinned up to make a double machine. Mattie and Douglas Taylor (M The White family travelled the Wheel until the early ‘90s, when they sold & D’s) completed the first double Dive Bomber in 1961, and this machine it. Today it’s possibly at Butlins Minehead (not sure). became a major part of their success story. We have all got memories Next on my list is the Jungle Ride, or Thriller, to give this ride its of this ride at the Lammas. The machine travelled with the Taylors until proper name – loud and proud, fast and furious, the public screaming.

1984, when it was purchased by Michael Mitchell. It was scrapped in This machine was hot, all built on St Andrews’ own J Wilson’s Bottling Ireland in recent years.

Company lemonade crates. (This Company closed in December 1984).

I hope you all have enjoyed a trip down memory lane. Have fun at Situated in front of the fountain the Jungle Ride was an Ark/Speedway, the Lammas manufactured by R J Lakin. The Lakin company during its lifespan of (Photos courtesy Alan Sturrock)

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ORGANISATIONS Alistair Lang, Chair, BID St Andrews

BID is delivering for St Andrews The first half of 2016 has seen St Andrews’ business district take positive She will be responsible to the Board steps to secure its commercial future. As you will have read in the March/ and levy-payers for both the day-to-day April issue, following a vote of businesses in the proposed Business management of the BID, as well as the smooth Improvement District (BID) area last year, BID St Andrews formally came running of its strategic projects. Rhonda will also into being on 4 January this year. It will run the Business Improvement be the main point of contact. She brings to the District for the next five years. role a strong background The purpose of this new not-for-profit company, in financial and event management, including four The first half of 2016 has as set out in our Business Plan, is to help local years as a financial accountant at the University of seen St Andrews’ business businesses better realise the commercial potential St Andrews, which included work on capital projects. district take positive steps to which St Andrews has for their benefit and for the At the time of writing, BID St Andrews has just secure its commercial future wider community. A series of projects and services, in held its first event designed to help town businesses. addition to those run and funded by Fife Council and The seminar, held at The Byre Theatre on 12 May, the Scottish Government, will allow town businesses to fund the creation educated local businesses on how to make the most of the growing cruise of a more vibrant business environment by delivering an enhanced ship market – this year more than 80 cruise ships will visit the Forth and customer experience and Tay, bringing more than 90,000 passengers and crew. reputation for the town.

Peter Wilson, Project Manager of CruiseForth – an award-winning These include more group which welcomes passengers and crews stopping in the Forth and marketing and promotion, Tay, which also promotes local services and visitor attractions – shared a calendar of events, invaluable information about the sector, how to become a more ‘cruisebetter accessibility, waste friendly’ business, and how attendees can be involved this year, as well management and business as prepare for increased traffic in 2017. support. These are paid The event was the first of a series of initiatives we’ll be delivering for by a levy on qualifying over the coming months, reporting to you in this column. We’ve also businesses in the BID area. been setting up lots of projects in the Business Plan, submitting funding You can read and download applications. Watch this space for news and more! details on the BID website.

The most significant decision taken by the Board For further information please see our website: since our election has been http://bidstandrews.co.uk the appointment in May of Rhonda McCrimmon as BID Rhonda McCrimmon Manager.

(Photo courtesy the BID)

From Alistair McLeod

New skillshare space gets growing A partnership of St Andrews green groups has launched a new community project that aims to bring people together to share their skills growing food together within the grounds of the St Andrews Botanic Garden’s new Low Carbon Hub. The first spade was planted in the ground on Sunday, 20 May 2016 by an enthusiastic team of volunteers supported by a partnership of Transition UStA, the St Andrews Environmental Network, and the St Andrews Botanic Garden. The Low Carbon Hub is making use of an underused piece of land with the aim to engage local residents, students, and University Staff to support their reduction in carbon emissions.

This first dig saw the start of food growing at the site, which will also be a location where skills can be shared within the community, such as bike repair, food preparation, and lots more, limited only by the skill set of the people using the space. Many thanks must go to the R & A Golf Club which was tremendously helpful in loaning a digger and driver for 2 days to work to prepare the site, also funding from the Climate Challenge Fund.

There is still a long way to go, volunteers are encouraged to come along and be part of what will be a vibrant addition to the St Andrews community. Over the Summer Transition UStA are hosting garden sessions at the Hub on Thursdays 4.00-6.00pm and on Sundays 12noon-2.00pm.

Come along and get involved! Contact: www.Transitionsta.org (Photo courtesy Transition University)

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OUT & ABOUT Alistair Lawson of ScotWays, is

Making Connections Which Fife town has a name, which means “Boundary island”? (though different sources suggest different meanings). It’s one which I have written about before, when I encouraged readers to go and sample the Braes Loan Trail – does that trigger the memory cells? Answer: Markinch.

The force behind the Braes Loan Trail, namely the Markinch Heritage Group, has now provided another leaflet as a stimulus to encourage folk to get out and to get walking; i.e. a Town Trail Quiz, leading folk round the town while at the same time directing their attention to points of interest along the way. The first few “clues” along the way ask folk to consider things such as (i) which modern street was a causeway in mediaeval times, (ii) which of the town’s 5 churches has now been turned into flatted accommodation, (iii) what the MCS was, which provided 100 years of service to the town, and (iv) what the significance of a pair of twin date stones might be. If you like treasure hunts, quizzes, dot-to-dots, or paper trails, this is for you. Allow about an hour; if you couple it with the Braes Loan Trail, allow at least two.

The leaflet shows the way by means of a combination of green, blue, and red panels – see illustration; the green ones give directions, the blue ones provide snippets of background information, while the red ones pose questions regarding the things you are invited to find. Family walkers will discover this suits the natural curiosity of 5-to-15 year-olds. Answers can be checked on the Heritage Group’s website. Much of the information is by way of “tasters”, but curious minds should be prompted to research further.

If, as a mixed-age family group, your adults then want to learn more, there are further leaflets available with more serious information: a Place-Name Walk, a Rural Walk to Kirkforthar, and Star Moss. All these leaflets are available at no charge in the principal shops around the town.

(Illustration courtesy Markinch Heritage Group)

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OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe

Hidden Gems in St Andrews (in plain view)

Focussing on features that are in plain sight, but often overlooked Inscriptions Look about the streets of St Andrews and you will find buildings with inscriptions in a variety of languages, mainly English and Latin. A small selection is illustrated here. The same inscription may appear on more than one building; for example, several University buildings have the Greek inscription AIEN ARISTEUEIN (ALWAYS TO BE BEST) while around the Abbey Walls and St Leonards school there are examples of the arms of Prior Hepburn with the Latin inscription AD VITAM (FOR LIFE).

Greek

English

St Leonards New Park

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe)

Town Hall

Muttoes Lane

University Hall

GODS BLESSING

BE ON THIS HOUSE IN THE LORD IS THE LORD GAVE AND

ALL MY TRUST THE LORD HATH TAKEN Behind 33 Market Street BLESSED BE THE NAME

16 Queen’s Terrace OF THE LORD

Hope Park Church Hall

AIEN ARISTEUEIN THE BLESSINGS OF GOD FEED MY LAMBS, (ALWAYS TO BE BEST)

THE LORD DIRECT MY WAYS BE HEREIN TEND MY SHEEP

Latin

Wyvern, City Road St Mary’s 90 South Street Town Hall

PAX INTRANSIBUS

SALUS EXEVNTIBUS (PEACE TO THOSE WHO ENTER,

SALVATION TO THOSE

WHO DEPART)

Abbotsford Lodge

MISERICORDIA (MERCY)

IN PATRIEM FIDELIS (FAITHFUL TO THE HOMELAND)

DUM SPIRO SPERO (WHILE I BREATHE I HOPE)

Madras College

St Leonards School

West Port

NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA (UNLESS THE LORD IN VAIN)

Holy Trinity Church

NEC. TAMEN : CONSUMEBATUR PRO REGE ET GREGE AD VITAM (YET IT WAS NOT CONSUMED) (FOR KING AND PEOPLE) (FOR LIFE)

DAVIDUS, DEO RECTORE, REX SCOTORUM (DAVID, BY THE GUIDANCE OF GOD, KING OF SCOTS)

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