St Andrews in Focus Issue 87 Mar Apr 2018

St Andrews in focus ISSN 2514-409X

• shopping • eating • events • town/gown • people and more

March/April 2018 Issue 87, £2.00

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

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Andrews in focus

• shopping • eating • events • town/gown • people and more

From the Editor

A friend recently emailed me a long list of quotations purported to have originated from Winston Churchill.

One in particular amused me, “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.” Would that today’s social media encouraged the practice of such politesse! I’m sure Churchill would have been horrified by the vile language bandied about today. Churchill claimed he was glad he was kept down in his class at Harrow, because he thereby gained a thorough command of his beloved English language. In his speeches, in his books, Churchill’s English still inspires.

Strange, then, that in everyday usage our wonderful English language inheritance is in such a sorry state. Will there ever be a renaissance? When the novelty of social media finally wears off, will Churchillian English once more become the tool both of clear thinking, and, yes, politeness?

Flora Selwyn

******** The views expressed elsewhere in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. © St Andrews in Focus (2003)

MARCH / APRIL 2018 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., Suite 160, 15 Bell Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9UR. Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com SUBSCRIPTIONS St Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year.

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Contents FEATURES • Community Council • John Cameron’s column • Whither Dundee?

• Bob Mitchell, MBE • The Low-down on fornicators!

• A thing of beauty • Competition, notice • Cats • Faeries in the Lade Braes • Reviews: – Madison Park, a Place of Hope – St Andrews at Work – Innes recommends

EVENTS • KK Day • Haydn’s The Seasons • L’Alliance Loches-St Andrews • Paper Trail • Colour, Collage, Clay • Selected Events

3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 15

SHOPS & SERVICES • • •

How do we define fitness?

Gifts to charities Roving Reporter

16 16 17

TOWN & GOWN • • • •

The Curator has the answer On the Rocks Festival Traditions revisited Enduring Gifts, exhibition

18 19 20 21

ORGANISATIONS • New Kinburn Park play area • St Athernase Church update • St Andrews Rotary 90 years ‘young’ • Beach wheelchairs • Ramblers • St Leonard’s Parish Kids

22 23 24 25 25 26

OUT & ABOUT • Catch of the Day • Mindfulness • Nature Notes • St Andrews Botanic Garden • Hidden Gems

NEXT ISSUE – May/Jun 2018 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 MARCH

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

Cover: Harbour buildings, an original photo by Ian Sturrock

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FEATURES Callum McLeod, from the Provost’s Chair

The Community Council As is so often the case with large organisations, much of the Community Council’s work is done behind the scenes, quietly, efficiently, effectively, without much fanfare in small working groups and sub-committees, reporting back to the main Council, perhaps seeking approval to proceed to the next stage or for funding for specific projects or ideas.

Many of our Members represent the Council on other bodies; it has been very satisfying for me to have received recently a number of requests for the involvement or support of the Community Council, suggesting that our profile is continuing to rise positively.

In the past week alone, for example, we have given support to a town group seeking to effect a community buyout of the rather neglected eyesore which is the garden at the corner of Greyfriars Garden and St Mary’s Place; we have formed a working party to look at unifying signage at the entry points to the town; Community Councillors have played their part in action groups considering the future of Holy Trinity Church; with renewed interest in exploring

tasteful lighting up of the square tower and cathedral ruins.

One organisation we have supported throughout the whole of last year is the town’s food bank, known appropriately as the “Storehouse”, because it is not just food which is collected for onward distribution, but also essentials such as toothpaste, shampoo, toilet rolls, washing-up liquid, and other domestic items. If many are surprised that such an apparently affluent town as St Andrews would even need a food bank, then they will be astonished to learn that a quarter of children living in St Andrews live in what is officially classified as poverty.

As I have described here before, some years ago, along with our partner organisations, the Links Trust and Fife Council, the Community Council set up the St Andrews Community Trust to receive funds from the sale of St Andrews-related golfing goods; it recently passed the halfmillion-pound mark in the value of grants it has given out to deserving organisations in the town. It seemed rather odd and unnecessary for us, then, to have to apply repeatedly for grants for our own projects.

So it was arranged by Trustee and former Council Chairman, Howard Greenwell, that we would automatically receive a portion

of the Trust income, amounting to several thousand pounds per annum.

My first thought on becoming Chairman was that we should share our good fortune with those of our fellow citizens who had fallen on hard times, often through no fault of their own. The Council was quick to agree that a good way of doing this would be to support the Storehouse. Therefore, every few weeks one of us makes a delivery of badly-needed items. It is open to anyone to do so, of course, and very easy to help.

Simply Google “Storehouse St Andrews” to see a list of items that are urgently needed, then check the opening hours for when goods are received. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you need assistance, or transport, and this will be arranged.

The Storehouse is based at the Vineyard Centre in Largo Road, opposite the Marks & Spencer Food Hall. Notice, I resisted the temptation to add the word, “ironically”, as that company was an early leader in distributing surplus, but still perfectly usable, fresh food, something which the town’s fledgling Community Hub will be exploring.

As always, I welcome hearing from you on any matter: callummac@aol.com or: 01334 478 584. Dum spiro spero.

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FEATURES John Cameron’s column

Wintery Reminiscences Around 10 ships sank, or went adrift in In an article late last year about St Andrews the River Clyde, while off the East Coast, weather I wrote, “though the wind is a constant the drilling rig Sea Quest, broke loose in feature, the last big blow was half a century mountainous waves. Thousands of mature ago in January 1968.” Hurricane Low Q was a trees were felled in the Central Belt, as were personal, as well as national tragedy. It caused 10,000 hectares of forest across Scotland as a devastation across our Central Belt, leaving whole. Power lines were down everywhere and over a score of Scottish citizens dead in its many towns were left in darkness. wake and thousands with nowhere to live.

I had booked a late evening run on the The origins of this violent storm appeared University’s computer – research students in a cold front near Bermuda, then moved were only allowed onto the ponderous IBM north of the Azores as a shallow low-pressure 1620 when the undergraduate day was over area before it “explosively” deepened from 50 – but the fierce winds caused a millibars to 956 millibars, passing over Central Scotland. It continued Hurricane Low Q backout. I gave up and wandered home via Hamilton Hall (today’s to Southern Scandinavia, before was a personal, Hamilton Grand), where my finally dissipating in the far Northas well as girlfriend was staying, to see if East of Europe. national tragedy she wanted to come round to my It was Central Scotland’s worst flat. natural disaster since records Coming out of Granny Clarks Wynde began and the worst gale in British history, with beside the Old Course I felt the full force winds gusting up to 140 mph – at the time the of the hurricane. I could see the whole of strongest ever recorded in the United Kingdom.

Hamilton Hall – then a girls’ residence – In Glasgow alone, over 300 houses were seemingly shaking in the gale. Being young destroyed and 70,000 homes badly damaged, and daft, I have to say I thought the whole including half of the city’s council houses.

thing was great fun, until I walked into the Physics department next morning.

A Daily Express reporter phoned to ask if I had news of my father, a Labour leader in Stirling County Council. He was said to have been seriously injured in the storm. After many fruitless attempts to phone home I finally contacted the Chief Constable, whom I knew to be a close friend of my father in an era when that was possible. He told me the stone pillars supporting the manse chimneys had collapsed on top of him in bed. After a nightmare journey the ambulance finally got him to Falkirk infirmary. Sadly, ten years at the coalface as a young man had left him with “black lung” (Pneumoconiosis) and he didn’t recover, dying from his injuries some weeks later.

It’s sometimes hard for people to say when childhood ended, but I know the date mine did.

Tony Jackson asks

Whither Dundee?

After returning from a stimulating breakfast education and health services. Its two universities offer world-leading seminar on The Future of Scotland’s Cities, held research in drugs, medical and forensic procedures, electronic games, at the refurbished Malmaison Hotel in Dundee and design. The Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre now complements as part of a series of meetings organised by the Dundee Rep in establishing a cultural quarter that will be immensely The Times newspaper across the country, I enhanced by the opening of the V&A Museum. Dundee is showing other reflected on the changes that had occurred in Scottish cities how to cope with modern challenges to their raison d’être. that city since my arrival in St Andrews nearly fifty years ago.

The lessons for Scottish cities provided by Dundee’s reinvention In the early 1970s, after losing its railway link to the outside world, are revealing. Gone are the days when the essential economic our town still felt part of an isolated peninsula only recently acquiring magnets of any city were its manufacturing base and its shopping a road bridge over the Tay. The attitude of its townsfolk mirrored that centre. Globalisation has undermined local manufacturing as effectively sense of isolation. Dundee was known for being the city of ‘jute, jam, as electronic communications have done for journalism. Even more and journalism’, seeming to many local inhabitants rather a risky place to insidiously, the pull of town-centre retailing is rapidly fading in the face of visit. electronic giants such as Amazon in America and Europe, and Alibaba More than a decade later, when I was a St Andrews councillor, I in Asia. Nowadays, people can use their smart phones or laptops to remember two elderly St Andreans enquiring whether I was going to compare prices, order goods, and have their purchases delivered to their resist efforts to remove the Tay road bridge tolls. Asking why anyone in door with far less hassle than making an expedition to the high street.

Fife should want bridge tolls to remain, I was told Jobs in retailing are being shed by this rapid shift together with Dundee’s that such payments helped discourage ‘the wrong in shopping habits, echoing the losses of previous sort of people’ from travelling to St Andrews! sources of employment in jute, jam, and journalism. ongoing reinvention we What a contrast to the current situation!

To keep itself alive and attractive to local can point the way for other Jute has vanished, as has jam, and only the inhabitants and visitors, a city centre needs to offer Scottish cities to meet the effective management of D C Thomson has kept more than department stores and cafés. This is challenges of the modern age journalism alive in the face of falling newspaper where Dundee’s efforts to revitalize its waterfront advertising revenues across the globe, with the really matter. When even one of America’s foremost advent of electronic forms of communication. Journalists are as much newspapers tells its readership that Dundee is worth visiting to sample its an endangered species nowadays as the workers in Timex and NCR ‘cool culture’, the decades spent planning the reconstruction of the centre became in the intervening decades when Dundee sought to resolve its of the city and its waterfront can clearly be seen to be paying dividends. problems by switching from textiles to light engineering. Instead of these As and when Dundee genuinely becomes a global attraction offering forms of employment, Dundonians have discovered culture. both visitors and locals a unique set of experiences, its retail centre will The Wall Street Journal recently named Dundee as one of the be able to tap new sources of consumer spending, rather than struggling world’s top ten ‘hot’ destinations in 2018 for ‘adventurous sophisticates’. to compete for the custom of those able to fulfil their needs more cheaply For the benefit of its American readers, it described Dundee as ‘a and effectively through electronic shopping. coastal college town’ (!) before going on to state that it “has emerged St Andrews can then congratulate its northern neighbour on as Scotland’s coolest city (see the old public library turned underground becoming another of the Tay estuary’s ‘cool coastal college towns’. club). In 2018 the V&A Museum of Design will debut as the centerpiece Here on its southern shores we have already reinvented ourselves as of a $1.5 billion transformation of the faded riverfront”. a global attraction, providing the home of golf, one of Scotland’s best In fact, the cultural aspects of Dundee’s renewal are part of a much preserved mediaeval town centres, and its oldest university with a world broader shift in its economic base. A fascinating EU-funded research class reputation to match. Our town centre mirrors the success of these report identified the city as having the highest proportion of its workforce attributes, so together with Dundee’s ongoing reinvention we can point employed in health and education of any of the 120 EU cities surveyed. the way for other Scottish cities to meet the challenges of the modern Since the days of jute, jam, journalism, and its unsuccessful excursions age. into light engineering, Dundee has grown by investing in high-tech

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FEATURES Robert John Mitchell MBE, spoke with Flora Selwyn about

His distinguished life in plants Helping his grandfather in the garden, Bob In 1967, Bob became Curator. From the That same year, decided, aged three that, “this is it”, he would nucleus that J L Mowat had begun, there are 1981, saw the Sinobe a plantsman. He never deviated from that now over 270 plant families in the Garden, British Expedition decision. each requiring the correct soil conditions to to Cangshan, Born in Selkirk in 1936, Bob did not thrive. Bob oversaw the changes in soil pH China, led by Bob. particularly shine at school. However, Margaret over the different areas of the Garden, using As he remarked, Cubie, one of his teachers in his third year at flowers of sulphur, which had the chemists to laughter, in a lecture he gave later, “China Selkirk High School, looking back from 2001 pursing their lips in disbelief. Bob also brought has finally opened up. There’s a chink in the recalls, “I became aware of his horticultural in 60-ton loads of peat tailings considered bamboo curtain!” The tour lasted 6 weeks, the talents when I saw his entry in the local waste by the company supplying them (until first European botanical field expedition with flower show and admired the biggest, most they saw the error of their ways and started the Chinese. New plants were discovered. beautiful gooseberries I had ever seen.” charging). J L Mowat Sadly, however, (Commemorative Newsletter 87 FoBG) had originally planned Maureen died shortly Bob decided, aged three Once in the Edinburgh College of to put the rock garden before the expedition, that, “this is it”, he would Agriculture, George Square, Bob did shine, in a shaded corner, but having helped hugely because he was in his element. “I came out Bob persuaded him with its organization. be a plantsman. He never as one of the top students there,” earning the otherwise, pointing out 12,000 feet up a deviated from that decision. mountain, contemplating top student award from the Royal Caledonian that the plants needed Horticultural Society (RCHS), the national light. He was permitted a plain full of grazing horticultural society of Scotland. to put the rock garden “bang in the centre”, yaks, it was suggested that Bob might lead Enlisted in the RAF for his National where it is today. The ponds were filled from more expeditions overseas.

Service, Bob claims he was simply a penthe Kinness Burn, from which they are still Tours followed, taking botanically-minded pusher. He played rugby for his station team, occasionally topped up. A hidden pump people all over the world, starting in the but never managed to fly. recycles the water. The Botany lectures in the Peloponnese in 1983. Bob also took Friends Once demobbed, Bob enrolled in the ‘60s took place in winter months when little was of the Botanic Garden on weekend visits all three-year Diploma in Horticulture course at flowering. So flowers were collected all summer over Scotland. He then started Mitchell Tours the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. The and stored in a deep freeze till requested. with Felicity, taking the Friends back to China course pass mark Students had about in 1985. Bob became involved with Brightwater was 75% averaged 20 minutes to study Holidays. He pioneered their air tours, the over all exams. Bob the flowers before first being a botanical exploration of Crete in finished in the top “they went to mush!”

1997. One of very many achievements was in three among the 15 The Botanic Chile taking participants to a height of 14,800 participants of his Garden lecture/ feet with no ill effects. “I was very unpopular year. Those who demonstrations because I banished the drinking of alcohol at failed received a commenced in 1969, our base at Putre at 12,000 feet” letter to say they had developing over By 1987 the University had no further been on the course, the years into the need of the Garden for the teaching of Botany. but couldn’t resit.

Education Trust, with Management was transferred to Fife Council, Bob was appointed its extremely popular and Bob officially ‘retired’, though he was to the Garden schools programmes. kept on as Honorary Curator and Consultant. staff, looking after To encourage a love The Garden was commercialised, needing a the rhododendron of plants in children, minimum of 40,000 visitors a year to survive. collections and shrub Bob started Junior In addition to all his work, Bob became borders. “That’s Hortus for 5-12 yearManager of the National Trust for Scotland’s where I met my wife, olds in 1975, with an Branklyn Garden in Perth, restoring it and Maureen.” As Civil offer of free bulbs. completing an inventory of its plant collection Servants, married 254 children turned before retiring (again!) in 1996. couples were not up, inaugurating It is impossible to list here all Bob’s many permitted to share a very successful attainments: as plantsman, lecturer, educator, the same work place. venture. Also at this writer, innovator. In 1983 the RCHS awarded Maureen had to time, Bob earned an him the Scottish Horticultural Medal for move to St Andrews MSc, studying the Services to Horticulture. Then last year, 2017, House, the then influence of plant Bob was awarded an incredibly well-deserved Regius Keeper, inhibitors affecting MBE, “For services to Horticulture and to Harold Fletcher, the propagation in Horticultural Education in Scotland”. being less than Eucalyptus species.

In his own words, “I received the Award happy to lose his The Friends of at Buckingham Palace on 23rd November secretary! the Botanic Garden 2017. Felicity and my children Jane and Within only five was set up in John were present. The ceremony is very months, in 1962, 1981. This became impressive and works like clockwork. All the Bob was offered the so successful staff were so welcoming and helpful to allay post of assistant to that Edinburgh’s any nervousness. Jane and her husband Ian, Felicity and Bob with his MBE Curator J L Mowat Botanic Garden who stay near Guildford, arranged transport to at the St Andrews University Botanic Garden. followed suit 10 years later, making the London, and an Investiture lunch at the nearby His remit was to design and develop 17 acres St Andrews’ constitution the template for its Goring Hotel, where Kate and the Middleton of fields at Bassaguard into the new botanic own. Starting here with 150 members, before family stayed before the Royal Wedding. garden, moving the collections of plants from long the FoBG signed up 1,700 members Other family members joined us to cap a truly the Bute/St Mary’s complex, including Dyers supporting the work of the Garden financially memorable day.

Brae. In those days the University had a large and with volunteers. Bob was its Secretary We have just received an invitation to the Botany Department. Medical students were until 2001. As Edith Cormack commented Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyrood also required to study botany, for it should be (in the Commemorative Newsletter 87) “20 in July.” remembered that botanic gardens originated years. I am the 4th Chairman; there has What could be more fitting? in Medieval times as physic gardens growing been only one Secretary. That statement is medicinal plants. overwhelming.”

(Photos courtesy Bob Mitchell)

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FEATURES Leonard Low exposes

The Low-Down On “Fornicators Fornicating Fornicators” Back in my hometown of Largo in the 17th century, residing in the Of course The Witch burnings never alleviated the problem. Two luxury premises of Lundin Castle, was a man of no great importance. sisters found in Largo were destroyed, but the desperate inhabitants But his painstakingly written diaries, (not unlike Samuel Pepys residing devised their own methods to see the portent of approaching pestilence; in London), would capture a page in Scottish history, along with the ingenious and original it was too! A high pole would be put on the upheaval of war, religious change, plague, and the worries of Witchcraft. boundaries of the area of Largo. To this a loaf of bread was fixed on With my book, Largo’s Untold Stories, I filled a chapter with the top. If, (more like when!) the loaf went purple in colour it was considered best of John Lamont’s diary, an original edition of which I have in my conclusive proof the plague was approaching! Simple! bookcase – a fabulous look at Scottish life in those turbulent years of As Largo suffered, St Andrews had its own problems. Two plagues!

1649/71. The diary has a lot about superstition, also diseases that would The first was bubonic in nature, spread by rats. The second, I suppose puzzle today’s inhabitants: “The Irish Aygo”, “St Victus dance”, “Purple spread by rats of another nature, “love rats”; the “filthy, blasphemous fever”, which struck pure terror into the area. crime of adultery”, as St Andrews Ministers loved These, I might add, were before the plague struck, remind their flock. The Parish records from But the Fornicators clogged to taking most of the population with it.

1559-1582, in my new book, St Andrews’ Untold “The Irish Aygo”, started with a terrible sore up the Parish court arteries Stories, is awash with the ‘filth of fornicators’, in head, “some saying their heads were so pained which I cover the best of them in an aptly named like deep-fried Mars bars! they thought they would indeed open”. The chapter, “Fornicators fornicating fornicators”. It remedy was to tie up the head in bindings. It was once came with the maximum penalty of Death, a disease not known to the inhabitants of the kingdom, but rife in Largo as a punishment set out by Mary Queen of Scots in her 9th parliament Parish by the end of June 1650. It was apparently a malaria-like disease, of 1563, (not shy of a wee affair herself). I have records of only one with an acute phase – “Aygo”, from the French word for, “Acute”. person facing the ultimate penalty. But the Fornicators clogged up the “St Victus Dance” has to be my favourite, recorded breaking out Parish court arteries like deep-fried Mars bars! Thousands of them, among 3 persons in Leuchars, affecting them in wild trances and jitters, in all sorts of shameful remorse for the innocent fumble in barns and to a degree they became housebound, epileptic-like in their posture: haystacks. Among them was the innocent, poor Mr Andrews Lumsden, the only known cure was to send for a violinist, who would experiment, March 1559, a day to stick in his memory for sure! In those days of very fighting with his instrument to find the right note to send the victim into little benefit for a Woman – no rights, no vote, no legal representation, a calm sleep! It is regarded as being a cholera-type illness in today’s illegal to live on her own, and legal to be beaten by her husband – one prognosis. right that she did have when married, was to expect a family, lots of “Purple fever”, also known as “Puerperal fever”, was connected with children please! childbirth, a problem to do with filthy, unhygienic conditions, and bad Mr Lumsden was called to the Parish Council Court because of a midwifery. The main cause of death was the spread of the Streptococcus complaint against him. His crime was – “not adhering to his wife”. Her Pyogenes. It forms a regular feature in the Lamont Diaries, with many a complaint was upheld. The interested ministry, like eager perverts, family suffering the loss of mother and child. wanted intimate details of why Mr Lumsden was not satisfying his wife!

The Plague broke out in St Andrews in September 1665, spreading Obviously, Mrs Lumsden had gone to the Church court to demand through Scotland, wiping out whole villages and decimating the satisfaction. And Satisfaction she seems to have got. Mr Lumsden was population. St Andrews lost 4,000 out of 6,000 of its population within its ordered to “perform within 48 hours then report to the Parish with all walls. The woes of the land needed someone to blame, so the peasants details, under “severe ecclesiastical discipline”. The eager Ministers looked to God for guidance and were rewarded with the Ministers and Elders of the court at least gave him time to recover. He had to burning many Witches across the land. An English soldier commented report back to the Kirk again within 8 days, “under pain of all severe in a letter sent home, that within the period of one month across Fife, he ecclesiastical discipline”. No other mention of the case appears in the had witnessed over 30 fires burning unfortunate creatures as witches. records, but it seems Mr Lumsden was kept busy!

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FEATURES John Rankin

A Thing of Beauty Some months ago, the Strathmartine Trust, owners of 2 Kinburn Place, adjoining my house at 1 Kinburn Place, built an extension to their property. The incidental result was that a favourite corner of my garden was by a rather austere stone and plaster wall.

My family suggested that a solution to the problem was to have a mural painted on the wall, which would result in making it an asset rather than otherwise.

Fortunately, I knew just the person to undertake the job, Judith Heald, a well-known artist. During the past few

weeks, often in adverse weather conditions, Judith has created the beautiful scene depicted in the photographs here.

This creation means that I, and my friends can enjoy looking at a thing of beauty as we relax and enjoy a glass of wine together, weather permitting!

I am grateful to Dr Barbara Crawford, Chairman of the Strathmartine Trust, for allowing the picture to be painted on the wall, which is in fact owned by the Trust.

Judith Heald (Photos by Peter Adamson)

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FEATURES

COMPETITION Together with the Friends of the Byre, and The Byre Writers, the magazine has pleasure in inviting budding writers to test their skills! Please consider entering a story on any subject that inspires you.

The rules are as follows: 1. It has to be no more than 1,000 words, emailed to editor@standrewsinfocus.com as an attachment in Word.

2. Any illustrations must be 300dpi minimum and separate from the text (optional).

3. The story must reach the magazine no later than 28 May (for the July/Aug issue).

Hamish Brown

Cats

The cat flowed round the open door Like a wavelet on a stream, Cast eyes right and left, checking For its extinct predators.

The cat paw-stepped silently (Like a child trying tiptoes) Over to the bulky armchair Where the woman sat snoring.

The flickering lights, unobserved, Showed taut African grasslands And lions mauling their dead prey Under certain, casual skies.

The cat sprang onto her lap, Purred, kneaded the soft thighs And curled up, happy, for an hour To forget being a cat.

4. The competition will be judged by the Presidents of The Byre Writers, and the Friends of the Byre: Sylvia Donaldson, and Douglas Telfer.

5. The winning story will be published in the July/Aug issue of St Andrews in Focus.

Your editor knows that Rotary Kilrymont is running a story competition for children, so why not have one for adults (of any age)? Go on, get your pens primed! Good luck!

Leslie Stevenson and

The Lade Braes Faerie (A Midwinter night’s dream)

One January afternoon, when the light was fading rapidly under the Lade Braes trees, I was returning home, trying to see if any snowdrops were out yet – but it was too dark to be sure. Then I heard rapid light footsteps behind me, and I was passed by a diminutive figure in what appeared to be a short tennis dress, a white cap, white stockings and little white shoes. She pattered quickly onward, disappearing round the next tree trunk.

At home I said to my family, “I think I’ve seen the Lade Braes Faerie!” (I rather like the antique spelling – don’t you?) Chortling, they replied, “Oh yes! She comes out at night to enchant aging dodderers like you.” We enjoyed the joke, and thought no more of it. But a week later my wife said, “I think I’ve seen your faerie – I heard a tiny ‘ting’ behind me, and who should appear but a small person in a short white coat, pedalling a little female bicycle.” “Well, I told you so, but you didn’t believe me”, was my retort.

We had no more sightings that winter, and forgot all about our local faerie. The seasons passed by and the Lade Braes flowers flourished, then withered. But next December, on an especially driech and dark afternoon I was stumbling along that same rough stretch of path, almost feeling my way, when I heard a faint fluttering, which I assumed was a bat. I turned my head and glimpsed an elfin face flying towards me on little whirring white wings, who bestowed on my chilly cheek the lightest and softest of kisses.

Then I woke up.

(Original illustration by Leslie Stevenson)

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FEATURES: REVIEWS Wilson Sibbett reviews

Madison Park – A Place of Hope

By Eric L Motley Published by Harper Collins, 2017. Available from J & G Innes: hardback, price £15.99.

In 1996 the academic community of St Andrews was enriched by the arrival of four very impressive US graduate students who were sponsored through the auspices of the Rotary Ambassadorial Programme.

One of these students, Eric Motley, was a larger-than-life character who became quite well known in the town, and wider afield, both through the impact of his personality and his most effective skills in social networking.

As his assigned ‘Rotary parents’, my wife Barbara and I had a lot of contact and interaction with Eric, not only during his Rotary-funded year while he studied for his MLitt degree, but also for the three years that followed while he undertook his PhD project, with the support of a university scholarship.

Although I thought that I knew Eric rather well, it was not until I read his recentlypublished book, Madison Park – A Place of Hope, that I came to appreciate the multiple dimensions of his family circumstances, his upbringing and the primary motivations that defined his life and aspirations. Through this splendidly written narrative, one can learn of the inherent dignity and faith-based principles of his ancestors who, when freed from the shackles of slavery, founded a remarkable hometown community in Alabama called Maddison Park. It was established as a location where homes could be built within a close-community structure, but importantly also as a place where the newly-freed slaves could have their own parcels of land on which to grow vegetables and fruit for their family use. In describing the historical background to the establishment of Madison Park with its community-resourced houses and churches, it is clear that this was an extended neighbourhood underpinned by a profound

desire to work together and provide all of the elements of mutual support.

In this regard this book gives a wonderful insight into the transitioning from the conditions pertaining to slavery towards the contrast of a highly-organised and disciplined free society.

In explaining how he was born into a most loving and caring environment, Eric traces the various stages of his upbringing by acknowledging, not only the couple he variously describes as his parents or grandparents, but also by paying tribute to neighbours and friends who collectively had his best interests at heart, all of whom gave unstintingly of their time and talent to assist the young local boy growing up amongst them. Through the transparency of his writing, all of these individuals are brought to life; he paints a picture to show that community support can deliver more nurture than material wealth or the abundance of possessions. This was especially true in Eric’s own case, where the importance of education was appreciated by family and friends, all efforts pooled to ensure that he could make progress at school, thereby laying a foundation that would enable him to gain entry to a university.

In his book, Eric takes us through the phases of his life where the challenges and experiences of university, first as an undergraduate at Stanford, then later as a graduate at St Andrews, are set out with clarity and obvious appreciation. His example is one where he demonstrates that his support network had come not only from family and close friends, but also by close interaction with university staff members and other social interfaces that he was able to

stimulate through his infectious enthusiasm and hunger for intellect growth.

There is particular appreciation of the contributions that the St Andrews community brought to his life where the linkages made through the St Andrews Rotary Club and the support of the then University Principal, Struther Arnott, are clearly highlighted.

In his later chapters, Eric Motley takes us with him as he describes how, having secured a staff position in the Office of Presidential Personnel at the White House he interacted with George W Bush while he was the US President, subsequently working with Condoleezza Rice, who had just been appointed to lead the State Department’s Office of Public Diplomacy. The obvious rapport that Eric describes within the context of interactions with the President and with a Secretary of State bears further testimony to the intellect and refined diplomatic skills that had become an integral part of the everyday skills set gained by this remarkable man, who had come from such humble origins in Madison Park.

This record of Eric Motley’s life to date, and his observations on the world around him, makes this a very interesting and inspiring book. It is a blend of autobiography, faith-novel, and social history that has its reference coordinates in the values and texture of the Deep South of the USA. I would recommend it as a book to read. It would not surprise me if one day it becomes the subject of an acclaimed movie!

Laura Ramsden reviews

St Andrews At Work

By Gregor Stewart Amberley Publishing (pp.96) 2017. Available at J & G Innes, price £14.99.

Gregor Stewart provides an overview of the development of key industries in St Andrews over time. Four chapters lead us chronologically from the Middle Ages to the present. Stonemasonry, Tourism, the Golf Industry, Religion, Education, Fishing, are the main concerns of the book, while Brewing and Baking also feature. It is encouraging to note how all of these industries, except perhaps Fishing, still thrive today.

Of particular interest are some of the anecdotes regarding Stone Masonry and the fate of the Fishing trade over time. Several photographs indicate where Stonemasons recorded their individual marks so that they would be paid for their work. Stewart also explains how human conflicts (the First War of Independence and the Scottish

Reformation) as well as past neglect of St Andrews’ key buildings (the Cathedral and the Castle), has meant a continual source of work for Stonemasons. Stewart provides background on the extension of St Andrews’ iconic piers; remarkably, stones from the Cathedral were used in this process.

Black-and-white scenes from the past generally compare very favourably with the more recent coloured photography; anecdotes and photographs of Stewart’s grandfather with his fire brigade chums in the 1940s, and in 1980, painting the numbers on St Salvator’s clock, lend a personal touch. Like Stewart’s previous books, this one will aid the tourist, or newcomer to the town, who wishes to understand how the buildings and layout have been shaped by its industries. However, it should NOT be used as a guide book, given the absence of an index or map!

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FEATURES: REVIEWS

Children’s Book Recommendations “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” – Joseph Addison J & G Innes’ recommendations feature two Easter-themed interactive books for toddlers. The final two suggestions would make a wonderful present for a young reader being prepared for confirmation. That said, any child would enjoy the beautifully illustrated stories, which are so integral to our culture.

Spot’s Easter Surprise

That’s Not My Bunny

Join Spot on an Easter treasure hunt!

Bright illustrations and lots of textures for babies and toddlers to explore.

By Eric Hill Published: 8/3/18. Age 1+.

The Children’s Illustrated Bible

By Selina Hastings Published: 3/2/05. Age 7+.

Arguably the best attempt yet to render the Bible both accessible and enjoyable for kids.

The stories are clear, well told, faithful to the King James Bible. Illustrations, maps and photographs lend geographical and historical context. Available in two sizes.

By Usborne Published: 28/1/05. Age: 1+.

The Tale of Three Trees

By Angela Elwell Hunt Published: 23/8/02. Age 6+.

A memorably-illustrated Christian folk tale that explains the significance of Jesus’s birth and death.

Chinese & Cantonese Restaurant Sit in or takeaway Opening Times: 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

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EVENTS Teddy Wauton, last year’s Field Marshall Earl Douglas Haig (see photo below)

The KK Procession, from the inside On 14 April this year, St Andrews will be transformed into a carnival of not just a testament to his seven major wins, but also due to his 1960 colour and pageantry as the Kate Kennedy procession winds its way Open appearance. He finished an agonising second by one stroke, through the ancient cobbled streets for its 92nd year. The origins of the his attendance helped popularise the Open as the golfing event par modern incarnation of the Kate Kennedy procession stem from J M excellence to American audiences.

Barrie’s Rectorial address in 1922, On Courage. In his speech Barrie There are several costume changes and alterations this year; asks, “if you could choose your hour from all the five hundred years of John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) will be changed this seat of learning, wandering at your will from one age to another, from a flamboyant pink costume to his battle dress from the Battle how would you spend it?” He gives his response as, “I would give a of Killiecrankie. He will now wear a black chest plate and the royal handsome part of it to a walk with Doctor Johnson. I should like to have colours of the house of Stuart for greater exactitude. The jester’s the time of day passed to me in twelve languages by the Admirable costume has also been changed to make it a more vibrant and accurate Crichton. A wave of historical spectacle. the hand to Andrew The murderers Lang; and then, for of Archbishop the archery butts with Sharp, Covenanter the gay Montrose”. noblemen, have had These fantastical their rags updated words inspired two to finer livery, in students, James Doak order to better reflect and Donald Kennedy, their status. The in alliance with the murderers provide University Principal, some of the highlights Sir James Irvine, to of the procession, resurrect the defunct as every so often Kate Kennedy pageant along the route they and bring flesh to re-enact the killing of Barrie’s whimsical wish.

Archbishop Sharp, This first who can be thought manifested itself with of as somewhat the formation of the unfortunate, since Kate Kennedy Club, in he was not the 1926, and the return intended target of the procession that for the murderers. year. The role of Sir William Carmichael James is not to be (sheriff deputy of Fife) underestimated; his was their original great-granddaughter focus, but as soon and biographer, Julia as they got wind of Melvin, found evidence Sharp’s presence that in 1911 Principal they decided he Irvine was one of was the more the convenors of the important of the two.

Left: Field Marshall Earl Douglas Haig. festivities surrounding It should be noted Right: The anti-Pope, Benedict XIII, who authorised the founding of St Andrews University, the Quincentenary that these changes accompanied by his Ombrelle holder, and his Thurible holder. of the founding of are not for the sake St Andrews. These celebrations included, in the words of an article of change itself, but in order that the procession remain a dynamic published in The Times, “Historical tableaux in the North Hall, to be and idiosyncratic event, where there is a place for both accuracy and succeeded by illumination and procession”. romanticism. It is in this spirit that the costume for Bishop Kennedy The ancient origins of the procession are more obfuscatory. It remains the same as it was when it was first made by the mother of is likely that there were festivals of fertility celebrated from the 11th former Kate, and Trustee, Martin Passmore; some things will never century onwards hailing the return of spring and growth, known by the change.

Gaelic term Cath cinneachaid. There are records of The procession provides an opportunity for lavish festivities held on 3 April 1414, when Henry the great men and women of St Andrews to be Ogilvy returned to St Andrews with the Papal Bulls celebrated and remembered for their deeds, establishing St Andrews as the first university in One of the great features both good and bad. In this vein, the fiery John Scotland. The historical evidence for Kate Kennedy Knox mingles with the suffragist Elizabeth Garrett of the procession is that herself is scant, however, tradition maintaining that Anderson; the revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat with she was the niece of James Kennedy, the Bishop the Nobel peace prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen; the no two are alike of St Andrews. She would come to visit her uncle finery of King James I alongside the humble Joan in the spring and stay at the Castle. Her arrival was Clarke. The parade is a cornucopia of tragedy, a source of celebration for the town on account triumph, and tales from the history of the town of her great charm and beauty. Now, almost 600 years later, the most and university. Each member of the procession is tasked with bringing promising bejant (first-year student, from the French for ‘fledgling’) is their character to life with the doomed poet Robert Fergusson swaying elected Kate. She takes her seat next to James Kennedy in the carriage, around the streets after a wee dram or two, the golfers taking pot-shots ‘Victoria’, garlanded with daffodils. around South Street in the sun, and John Cleese strutting his silly walks.

The procession proved popular with students in the 19th century, before quickly becoming infamous for youthful high jinks. The nadir of the procession came in a particularly well-refreshed spectacle in The Kate Kennedy Procession will take place on Saturday, 1881, with Principal Shairp deciding to ban the procession for being a 14 April, winding through the streets of St Andrews, starting at “licentious and debauched affair” when students were unable to help two around 2.00pm from St Salvator’s Quad. We invite one and all to ships in trouble in the bay. attend, to witness the pageantry that brings the town’s foremost One of the great features of the procession is that no two are alike. historical figures back to life.

The characters, participants, and costumes are continually updated and changed. This year the late Arnold Palmer joins the procession, adding to other golfing greats, such as Tom Morris Senior and Junior. This is (Photos courtesy the KK Club)

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EVENTS From Margaret Hyland, Vice-President

The Seasons St Andrews Chorus’ performance at the Younger Hall of Haydn’s The Seasons on Saturday, 28 April will be preceded by a special preconcert dinner at the Byre Theatre. Just as Haydn’s vibrant oratorio evokes the characters of the four seasons, so too will the menu be rooted in the seasonal shifts of locally-sourced food. Join Transition St Andrews, the St Andrews Chorus, and a range of specially-invited speakers for this unique insight into seasonal and sustainable food practices, learn how our lives can be just as connected as Haydn’s music to the agricultural cycles of the year. This event is made possible

by Music Planet, a network that draws together musicians, scientists, and other researchers at the University of St Andrews to investigate the relationship between humans and their environment through the performing arts: https://synergy.standrews.ac.uk/musicplanet Tickets for both the performance and for the dinner will be available separately from the Byre Box Office: https://byretheatre.com

John Matthews reports

St Andrews-Loches Alliance Members of the Alliance held their traditional Winter Drinks Party, the first meeting of the New Year, at the St Rule Club on Friday, 19 January.

During the meeting presentations were made to two members who had decided to stand down from the committee after some two decades of service, though they will remain members of the Alliance.

Virginia Fowler, a member since the Alliance’s earliest days and past Chair, played a major role in the completion of the Cultural Partnership Agreement with Loches more than ten years ago. She has supported closer relationships between the two towns

Winter drinks party

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throughout her long association with the Alliance.

Bill Sangster has been a stalwart of the Alliance since its foundation, almost always working quietly in the background. His years of experience in local government were extremely valuable in the work, which led up to the formal twinning of St Andrews and Loches.

Both were presented with signed copies of the most recent book written by Pascal Dubrisay, a founding member of the Nouvelle Alliance Loches-St Andrews and its inspirational leader for many years.

2018 looks like being a busy year. The exchanges between Madras College and

Collège Georges Besse will go ahead with some forty pupils from the Loches school visiting St Andrews in mid March, the return visit to Loches scheduled for mid May. The Alliance provides modest financial support to Madras College pupils for their trip to France. On 23 March a cheese tasting led by Phoebe Weller, the “Roving Fromagière”, will take place in the St Andrews Bowling Club, where a big turnout is expected. The AGM is planned for 26 April in the St Rule Club.

A party of ten from St Andrews has been invited to attend the “Journées européennes” in Loches over the weekend of 11-15 July, the former Bastille Day weekend, now the Fête Nationale weekend, whilst the Lochois are presenting an exhibition in the Byre Theatre in August/September. During this time (early September) a party from Loches is expected to pay a short visit to St Andrews.

Although there may be other happenings, the final event planned for the year is a “Café Cabaret” along the lines of the very successful 2016 event.

The Alliance welcomes new members – see the website: www.standrewslochesalliance.org.uk

EVENTS From Asma Al Jailani, team member, introduces

Paper Trail

We interact with paper constantly in our daily authors such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William lives— from (old) banknotes and receipts, to Shakespeare, Robert Burns. It also features a taking notes in class, and flipping pages of drawing by famous Scottish Colourist, Samuel books and magazines. Yet, how often do we J Peploe, as well as works by contemporary celebrate it? From 17 March to 2 June 2018, Scottish artists, such as Stephen Ratomski, Paper Trail, a new exhibition at St Andrews Paul Bartlett, Chrissie Heughan.

Museum, traces the humble beginnings of Visitors can enjoy an opportunity to paper, its usage as a valuable commodity, view rare items, such as a first edition of and its significant contributions to diverse The Wealth of Nations by 18th century industries, with particular Scottish philosopher, reference to Fife. The Adam Smith, often exhibition is curated by described as ‘the father Paper Trail features a postgraduate Museum and of modern capitalism’.

Gallery Studies students particularly exciting wide selection of objects One at the University of item is a copy of Two that will hopefully St Andrews with assistance Treatises of Government from the curatorial staff

by John Locke. This appeal to all interests at Fife Cultural Trust. was Adam Smith’s own The student group has copy and it features an international flavour, marginalia in Smith’s with members from the USA, United Arab own handwriting – a recent discovery, which Emirates, Spain, Italy, and South Korea. has attracted the attention of Smith scholars The MLitt programme teaches curatorial around the world. Another early printed training, conservation, museum education, book that sparks interest is the 16th century, visitor studies, ethics, exhibition planning Isolario (Book of Islands) by Benedetto and design, as well as management skills.

Bordone, an Italian cartographer, filled with One of the outputs of the programme beautiful maps of then-known islands. culminates in the delivery of a professionalPaper Trail also pays tribute to Fife’s standard exhibition at St Andrews Museum, a papermaking industry, with photographs partnership in place since 1996. and audio recordings relating to Tullis Paper Trail features a wide selection Russell. The exhibition highlights as well of objects that will hopefully appeal to all the role of St Andrews as the birthplace of interests. Their purpose is to illustrate Scottish photography, with examples of early the many forms paper has taken over the calotypes. course of history. Items on display include The role of paper in the digital world and medical books showing detailed diagrams its future, is also highlighted. Will technologies of the human anatomy, flexagon models such as iCloud and Amazon Kindle drive used to teach mathematical concepts, and paper out of existence, or is it the case that early printed editions of works by renowned we are relying on it more than ever? With this

question in mind, the exhibition emphasises the sustainability and re-use of paper in art.

A highlight is The Butterflies, one of a group of exquisite book sculptures created by an anonymous artist between 2011 and 2014.

Many of these were ‘discovered’ in libraries around Scotland in 2011, while others were later commissioned from the artist, whose name still remains a mystery. The Butterflies, appearing in 2014, were then auctioned in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Between 2014 and 2016 the new owners sent the sculptures on a tour of libraries across Scotland, delighting thousands of people. This is the first time it has been on display in St Andrews.

The exhibition caters for families.

There are lots of fun things to do in the museum’s Activity Room with a programme of workshops, including shadow puppets and kite-making. For adult visitors there are curator’s tours and artist’s talks.

Paper Trail will run from Saturday, 17 March to Saturday, 2 June, at St Andrews Museum. Admission is free. For more information about the exhibition, the team behind it, or the events, contact St Andrews Museum: 01334 659 380 or visit www.onfife.com/museums Also: www.papertrail-standrews.com, or follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @papertrail_sta and Facebook @papertrailsta (Photo of the team courtesy Asma Al Jailani)

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EVENTS

Colour, Collage, Clay Three artists will be exhibiting their recent work, from 1-8 April • Opening 2.00-4.00pm Easter Sunday, 1st April – then daily, 9.00am-5.00pm (except Sundays 12:30pm-4:30pm) • Upstairs @ J&G Innes, South Street, St Andrews 1. Philippa Mitchell, a new member of the East Neuk Open Studios. Her studio is off the High Street in Crail. Landscape paintings, in oil or watercolour, are full of colour, texture and pattern, reflecting her training and background in textile design. Each painting portrays personal experiences and feelings that a particular place has left on the artist. All Philippa’s paintings are based on sights seen whilst walking around the town, or the East Neuk, getting to know the local area. Often she includes birds within the landscape.

She has recently been layering historical decorative themes found in St Andrews, such as buildings, carvings, and stained glass windows, into her paintings. Philippa says; “Visits to the St Andrews Botanical Gardens to observe the butterflies in the tropical house have also inspired me in some of my recent work. I have been attracted to their colour, movement, fragile wings, short but beautiful lives.”

2. Christine Macintyre is an embroiderer and textile artist. From childhood she has had a love affair with fabric and threads.

After completing the City and Guilds course at Dundee, her interest was taken to a different level. A total immersion in design, colour and texture using traditional and contemporary techniques drew her so far in that now there is no escape! Living and working in the Cairngorm National Park, she has exhibited with both the Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists, and Creative Cairngorms. Christine is also a member of Broderie Alba, a recently-revived textile art group based in the Perthshire/Fife area, who exhibit throughout Scotland. Christine says; “My work has gone through many different stages, but collage, with the juxtaposition of colour, texture and shape, has always played a major part. I am fascinated by the layering of our landscape. By using hand-dyed, semi- translucent fabrics, with the addition of simple hand stitching, enables me to give an impression of what I see. This technique also lends itself well to our built environment and I have recently been experimenting with working on impressions of our beautiful historic buildings.”

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3. Jennifer Rae is a ceramics and sculpture specialist, also working in a wide range of other disciplines. She is best known, however, within North Fife Open Studios, with whom she has exhibited for many years, for her colourful domestic ware as well as frost-proof garden containers, sculptures and gargoyles. Jennifer is a member of the Scottish Potters’ Association and of the Craft Potters’ Association of Britain.

(Images courtesy the artists)

EVENTS

Selected Events Thursday, 1 March – 2.00pm. Botanic Garden, St Andrews.

Interpreting the Garden – a walk with a focus led by the director, James Hearsum.

Thursday, 1 March to Saturday, 3 March – 7.30pm. Byre Theatre.

Sister Act, a musical comedy by the St Andrews Musical Society.

Saturday, 3 March – 9.00am-1.00pm. Car Park, Argyle Street.

Farmers’ Market.

Tuesday, 6 March – 7.30pm. Lecture theatre B, Chemistry Dept.

North Haugh. Marianne North a talk by Ali McLeod for the Friends of the Botanic Garden. Contact: friendsmembership@standrewsbotanic.org Wednesday, 7 March – 5.30pm. The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews.

Inspiring women. The St Andrews Business Club. Non-members, £10. Contact: https://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk Thursday, 8 March – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street. Piano Recital by Roy Howat. Music by Ravel, Debussy. St Andrews Music Club. Contact: paul.spicker@googlemail.com Saturday, 10 March – 10.00am-4.00pm. The Junor Gallery, 43 South Street. Beginner’s Calligraphy Workshop with Annette Reed, calligrapher to the Court of the Lord Lyon. No experience necessary. Ticket: £30 for the day. For further information and booking contact: info@junorgallery.scot Sunday, 11 March – 2.00pm. New Picture House, St Andrews.

Carmen. Live from The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Contact, for further information & booking: nph.nphcinema.co.uk Saturday, 17 March – 11.00am. Bell Pettigrew Museum, Bute Medical Buildings. The Natural History of Parasites – a tour of the collections. Contact: museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk Thursday, 22 March – 7.00pm. New Picture House, St Andrews.

Julius Caesar. Live from the National Theatre. Contact, for further information & booking: nph.nphcinema.co.uk Tuesday, 27 March – 6.30-8.30pm. Madras College, Kilrymont Road.

Craft Fair. Handmade crafts, activites, snacks. Free parking, disabled access. Contact: communityuse.madras@fife.gov.uk Wednesday, 28 March – 12.30pm. The Old Course Hotel St Andrews.

Facilitated Networking Lunch. The St Andrews Business Club. £10. Contact: https://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk Friday, 30 March to Monday, 2 April – 6.00 and 7.00pm. Art@47 PITTENWEEM. Solo pop-up exhibition by Yvonne Magee.

Contact: yvonne@twomagees.plus.com

Tuesday, 3 April – 7.30pm. Lecture theatre B, Chemistry Dept.

North Haugh. In the footsteps of the Snow Leopard, a talk by John Mitchell for the Friends of the Botanic Garden. Contact: friendsmembership@standrewsbotanic.org Thursday, 5 April – 7.30pm. Byre Theatre. The Fitzwilliam String Quartet. Music by Marcus Barcham Stevens, Brahms, Schubert, Beethoven, Glazunov, Shostakovich. Contact: paul.spicker@googlemail.com Saturday, 7 April – 9.00am-1.00pm. Car Park, Argyle Street.

Farmers’ Market.

Wednesday, 11 April – 7.00pm. New Picture House, St Andrews.

Macbeth. Live from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Contact, for further information & booking: nph.nphcinema.co.uk Saturday, 14 April – 11.00am. Hope Park Church Hall, St Andrews. Spring Show.

St Andrews Gardeners’ Club. Entry Free. Contact Joe Peterson: 01334 473 552. Website: www.standrewsgardeners.co.uk – 2.00pm. Starting in North Street, at St Salvators Quad.

The annual KK Procession, celebrating the town’s history, and the start of spring. See page 11.

Wednesday, 18 April – 5.30pm. The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews. AGM. The St Andrews Business Club. Non-members, £10. Contact: http://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk – 7.30pm Laurence Levy Studio, Byre Theatre. Friends of the Byre, AGM. Refreshments from 7.00pm. Contact: friendsofbyre@outlook.com Thursday, 19 April – 2.00pm. and 6.30pm. Burnside Hall, BALMULLO. 2 Fashion Shows, in aid of the St Athernase Church, Leuchars regeneration. X-High Street clothes & accessories 50% or more off + charity raffle at both shows.

Entry £7.50 Free parking. Contact: Alison Jeffrey 01334 870 674. See page 23.

Wednesday, 25 April – 7.30am. The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews. Business Breakfast – how to ensure better sales & profits. £10. The St Andrews Business Club, Contact: http://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk Saturday, 28 April – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

The Seasons – Haydn. The St Andrews Chorus; Conductor, Michael Downes. There will be a special pre-concert dinner on the theme of nature’s seasons – see page 12. Contact: 01334 462 226.

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SHOPS & SERVICES Allison Beard, advises

How do we define fitness?

Is it the strong and powerful person who can squat the weight of a small car, but looks out of shape? Or would you be more likely to consider the marathon runner with the endurance to run all day, but struggles to touch their toes? Or perhaps you would prefer to suggest the yoga or Pilate’s practitioner who has a great deal of mobility, but will struggle under load? Or there again you might consider the body builder who looks as if carved from granite, but for whom chasing the kids round the garden is an effort?

The above examples are all great singular representations of areas of so-called fitness, but who certainly do not reflect an overall fitness ideal. Being fit is more than the ability to succeed in any one area. The human body is designed to be mobile, flexible and strong. Take any athlete you admire, they would be able to demonstrate parts of all of the above traits.

Your training aim should be to build a body that is not just fit, but fit for any task. A person of strength has the ability to cope with carrying the shopping, picking up the kids endlessly, and the ability to work all day without pain. Endurance should be the ability to get through a manic day, yet still be able to go for a night out with friends without wanting to collapse on the sofa. Regardless of age, good

mobility and flexibility will help fight against the rigors of ‘driving’ a desk all day.

Well-rounded training and rehabilitation principles will contribute to making robust people. The same can be said of anyone wanting to improve their health and fitness: aim to improve mobility/flexibility, strength and endurance.

For too long we have taken fitness and dissected it into a sum of parts. Each part looks good, but that’s its lot. If we aim to function well first, how it looks will come with hard work. Our new facility for rehabilitation is fully equipped with everything that is required to enable anyone to become more mobile, strong, and ultimately fitter. The space is available to anyone to use, working with practitioners from the clinic.

We can develop Rehabilitation Programmes, Clinical Pilates Regimes, as well as strategies to develop mobility, flexibility, strength, and conditioning.

For more information you can contact our St Andrews Clinic at www.standrewsosteopaths.co.uk or give us a phone on: 01334 477 000.

(Photo courtesy Allison Beard)

Chris Gardiner, a Private Client Solicitor based in St Andrews who specialises in all matters relating to Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, & Tax.

The gift that keeps on giving?

Late last year, a major Cancer Charity published their latest public accounts. The details in these showed that income from legacies left to the charity in individuals’ Wills had risen by more than 20% from £64 million in 2015 to £77 million in 2016.

This specific Cancer Charity is not alone in benefitting from this increase in charitable legacies, with many individuals now opting for some money to be set aside for their favoured charities when they die. Many individuals often ask me for advice on how best to leave money to charity in their Will, and whether there are any tax benefits for them in doing so.

Can I instruct the Charity to use the legacy in a certain way?

If you wish a charity to use the money in a certain area and/or for certain purposes, you should ask your Solicitor to express this wish in your Will. For example, you may state that your legacy to a national Dementia Charity should be used to support their group which provides respite activities for spouses, of those suffering from Dementia in the St Andrews area.

When you pass away and your estate is administered, your Solicitor will advise your chosen charity, or charities, of your wishes.

It is difficult for checks to be put in place to ensure that the charity uses the money (or item) in line with your wishes. However, in my experience, charities are very grateful for being remembered in Wills, and always advise that they will follow the wishes of the deceased person as far as is possible.

So how does it work?

How you leave money, or assets, to a charity in your Will is reasonably straightforward.

The most common way to do this is to leave a specific amount of cash, a valuable item, or a piece of property. Some clients even wish to leave a charity a share of their entire estate (i.e. 20%, 50%, even 100%). The best option for you will depend on your personal circumstances and how your estate is made up.

But are there any benefits for you as well?

In fact, there are, and charitable legacies can be an effective tool to use in estate planning.

Firstly, any money that is left to a charity in your Will is exempt from inheritance tax.The value of the legacy is taken away from your estate before inheritance tax is calculated.

Also, if you leave a legacy of at least 10% of your estate to charity in your Will, any inheritance tax payable on the rest of your estate would be at the reduced rate of 36% instead of the normal 40%. The 10% of your

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estate can be made up of a specified amount of cash, an item, or from a share of your entire estate. This obviously means there is a potentially significant reduction in your estate’s tax bill, but also provides the peace of mind that some of your money is going to a worthwhile cause.

People often donate to charities throughout their life in many ways as well. A lot of these donations make use of the Gift Aid scheme, which allows the charity to claim back the tax on your gift. This means that for every £1 you donate, the charity can claim an extra 25p. Not everyone can claim Gift Aid though, as you need to have paid enough tax in the current tax year to qualify. Aside from the income tax benefits, any gifts to charities during your lifetime are also exempt from inheritance tax as well, unlike larger gifts to children or friends, and can be helpful when estate planning.

Charitable gifts and legacies can be useful in tax planning, but they also allow you to benefit a particular cause, or campaign, that is close to your heart. Whether it is a large multi-national, or a smaller local charity, your donation can make a difference. Making these gifts in lifetime, or through your Will, shall depend on your own preferences and individual circumstances. If you have any questions as to how you should approach leaving a charitable legacy in your Will, you should ask your Solicitor for advice.

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter’s insights 1. James Russell invited Reporter to his Tai Chi class on Wednesday, 12.30pm, All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street, St Andrews. Reporter was captivated watching James in front of his class. This is his story: Before university, I spent 3 months in China at a martial arts academy, and 2 months in Thailand studying Thai kickboxing.

Working for a year in the private sector and feeling unfulfilled with engineering, I decided to return to China. I travelled to Henan Province, to an ancient Buddhist Monastery, the home of Shaolin and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shaolin Temple. Training under Shifu Shi Yan Jun, a 34th generation Shaolin warrior monk and 17th generation disciple, I gained a rich, fulfilling experience in a number of martial arts over a period of twelve months. I have also been captain of my university club training there for a number of years. I teach boxing, kickboxing, tai chi, qigong, and kungfu. I have been teaching in the St Andrews area and love it. I think tai chi is the perfect bridge between physical exercise and meditation. I also have private 1 to 1, or group classes, and will tailor a class specifically for you. Whether it’s losing weight, learning to move better, or having a better awareness of your kinesthetic sense and workings of your mind. For anyone wanting to get involved please visit easternpractice.com, or email me at: james.russell.taichi@gmail.com Well worth enrolling, says Reporter with enthusiasm.

2.

*Karen * * Ogston, * * who some years back

owned the Hair Loft in South Street, has, after an absence, returned to her first love, hairdressing and barbering. She has bought the premises of Headstart at 10 Pipeland Road, St Andrews renaming her new venture, Karen Ogston Hairdressing (KO Hairdressing).

Situated opposite St Andrews Bowling Club, there is free on-street parking.

Wishing to continue in the tradition of what had always been a hairdressing salon, Karen wants to let everyone know, “I’m back in business!” She is offering all aspects of affordable quality hairdressing for both men and women. Opening hours are: Monday-Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm; Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm, but longer if required. Karen told Reporter that she is flexible in her working hours, able in addition to offer home visits. Karen can be contacted on: ogstonkaren@yahoo.co.uk or 01334 473 849 (also 07877 251 343) and Facebook. Reporter wishes her well.

*****

3. Reporter learned that 6 years ago Patrick MacEwen began running a group called CoffeeNet. Last year, Patrick’s work took him away from the town, so the group didn’t meet. He told Reporter, “I’ve been asked by those working in and around the town what happened to the group. It was used to great effect to garner businesses into generating ideas and campaigns – based around the use of digital and social media. The time seems right to rekindle the idea – and to engage with a range of businesses in and around St Andrews who are new to the area.” With a large online audience of predominantly business owners and managers in St Andrews, the first resurrected meeting was held at the end of February in the Doll’s House. It was decided that the following meetings will be held on the last Friday of each month. Click on: @StAndCoffeeNet Twitter page for further information, and to find out the next chosen venue.

4. Just over one year ago, Reporter met Chris Rose when he opened his St Andrews Waffle Company at 131 South Street (01334 474 559).

He has now doubled his seating capacity to about 40 covers. In addition to the genuine Liège Waffles, with teas, coffees, etc there is an à la carte menu from breakfast at 7.00am to dinner, closing at 10.30pm.

Guests are invited to, ‘bring your own bottle’. Prices range from £6.95 (example: Bangin’ Haggis, served on a sweet Waffle), to £12.50 (example: Big Burger Challenge! served on a savoury Waffle). Chris aims to provide affordable meals for office workers, students, visitors etc. with nearly all ingredients sourced locally. Added to all this, Chris has refurbished premises next door as his takeaway food outlet; it has the same address, 131 South Street. The menu here is different from its parent eatery: in addition to the award-winning selection of waffles, there is soup, toasted Ciabattas, stone-baked pizzas, salads of all kinds. Both

outlets serve Finlay’s Farm artisan Cream O’Galloway ice cream, “the best producers of Scottish-based ice cream!” – made from organic milk, with no artificial flavouring, colours, or gum. Reporter could go on and on! He says you really have to go and see for yourselves, or find

out more by visiting the website: www. standrewswafflecompany.co.uk or info@standrewswafflecompany.co.uk (Photo courtesy Chris Rose) 5.

*****

Juno Lee with his partner Alex Longson are bringing something new to the town, as Juno explained: “CombiniCo. is a Korean & Japanese ready-to-go food brand, located in 91 South Street, (formerly Cherries). From bottled tea beverages and ready-to-go meals, to snacks, and other unique non-perishable items, we serve food and beverage products that locals, students, and tourists alike can enjoy. CombiniCo.’s roots lie in the unique cultural phenomenon of Japanese convenience stores, otherwise known as konbini – in Tokyo, one can expect to buy delicious meals and do light shopping in any konbini located throughout the city. CombiniCo. has been started by a student and a recent graduate of the University here, where they met initially as academic father and son.” Reporter is intrigued!

Alex left, Juno right (Photo courtesy Juno Lee)

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(Photo courtesy Patrick MacEwen)

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17

TOWN & GOWN Nicola Moss, The Preservation Trust Museum’s Curator

Answers Your Questions Q. Were the Forgan Sisters ‘Bunkwives’?

A. The Forgan sisters, Mina, Annie, and Jane, whose family owned the famous Forgan golf club factory, lived at 9 The Links and rented out rooms to students.

In the very early days of the University the students stayed in college and ate en masse in the college dining room. By the mid-18th century, however, the residences were in a bad state of repair, the masters complaining that most of their students were lodging in town.

Principal Hill of St Mary’s College (1791-1819) discouraged college residences, and by the 1820s the system had all but disappeared.

In 1891, a St Andrews student described his experiences during his time at University. In this verse he

warns bejants (first year students) to think carefully when choosing their ‘bunk’ or room: Though rents be heavy, and bunks be few And most of them troubled with rat or mouse.

Never take rooms in a corner house; Or sackcloth and ashes and sad self-scorning Shall be for a portion unto you.

The ‘St Andrews Bunkwives’, as they became known, (‘bunk’ is a corrupt form of banc, the French word for bench), offered a solution to the situation. They accommodated students during term time and later with the coming of the railway, became

seaside landladies during the tourist season.

Jane Forgan worked for the family business. Annie and Mina looked after their student lodgers, carrying coal scuttles up flights of stairs, shopping and cooking. The house at the Links, with its welcoming fires and stunning views across St Andrews Bay, was a far cry from the early bunks.

A student who lodged there recalled, “In 1948 I got a room with a coal fire, my breakfast, and all my meals at the weekend for £2 10/-” The student arrived home one evening and said, “You must go and see this terribly funny film called Whisky Galore”. She did not know then that the sisters were members of the British Temperance Society, with Annie being the president of the local branch! She added, “they rather held their breaths!”

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

www.nphcinema.co.uk

117 North Street, St Andrews Tel: 013334 474902

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TOWN & GOWN Jessica Armstrong, Festival Head of Press

10 Years of On the Rocks Festival At a time when the survival of the British arts sector is constantly under threat, the team behind On The Rocks Arts Festival (OTR) is extremely proud to be able to say that this year’s Festival will mark its 10th anniversary.

In 2008 a group of University of St Andrews students decided to merge their annual film and theatre festivals into one bigger and better event. Since then, the Festival has gone from strength to strength. The entirely student-run Festival has grown to be the largest of its kind both in Scotland and the UK. It has also caught the attention of several high-profile figures, counting Dame Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley and Simon Pegg among its patrons.

The Festival highlights both student and local talent by inviting student societies, community groups, and individuals to host events. The result is a creative showcase spanning 10 days. This year it will include over 50 events! The aim is to show that the arts are for everyone.

The programme features a mixture of paid and free events.

Something we value immensely is our thriving relationship with the St Andrews community. Since 2014, the team has been working to strengthen these ties by introducing a range of events specifically geared towards children. Every year since, we have had an Evolving Mural making its way around St Andrews for the duration of the Festival. We encourage passersby to contribute to the mural by drawing or writing on the canvas what ‘art’ means to them – as you can imagine, the end result is a wonderful collation of creativity. Among the events organized by the team responsible for this year’s community and outreach are creative workshops in collaboration with local primary schools; a Brownies group; a jazz and drawing event called Musical Sketches; an Upcycling Workshop, which will give attendees the opportunity to reinvent unwanted items, giving them a new lease of life.

With multiple events often occurring simultaneously across different venues, it is almost impossible to avoid OTR’s influence.

Deemed a ‘miniature Edinburgh Fringe’, this year’s programme promises to be bigger and better than ever. There truly is something for everyone; for theatre lovers, the Festival will play host to many productions, including theatrical adaptations of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and Stephen Sondheim’s popular musical, Sweeney Todd. For those who love a laugh, the programme features sketch shows. In addition to all this, the Festival aims to show that there is artistry to as Festival Director is to increase the range of opportunities afforded every discipline, so we are delighted to be able to host Beach Combing and individuals served by the Festival. I hope that students, locals, with BioSoc, the University’s biology society, as well and tourists alike can take advantage of the as the Saints LGBTQ+ St Andrews PRIDE parade. opportunities presented by On The Rocks to There will also be musical showcases, such as participate in and appreciate art. On The Rocks a cappella and operatic performances, as well as With multiple events often 2018 will provide a more inclusive and diverse film screenings, charity events, and art exhibitions. programme than ever before, and I am incredibly occurring simultaneously Through our Art On The Rocks programme, visitors excited to see familiar faces as well as new ones will have the opportunity to view artwork created by this April”. across different venues, students and locals alike.

A festival of OTR’s scale takes a lot of it is almost impossible to The Festival utilises unconventional venues for organisation and manpower; it couldn’t happen its events. In addition to creative spaces such as without the support the committee receives avoid OTR’s influence the Byre Theatre and the Barron Theatre, events annually from the University of St Andrews and will be held across town – in venues including the its societies, as well as financial sponsorship University of St Andrews Students’ Association from many local businesses. It really is a team building; Taste café; St Andrews Community Library; West Sands; the effort in every sense. We really hope that you will able to join us as we Old Union Coffee Shop on North Street. We are extremely excited to celebrate a decade of creativity, enthusiasm, and talent! be closing our 10th birthday celebrations with an event which has come to be eagerly anticipated by students and locals alike – the Ceilidh in the Castle. Hosted by the Celtic Society, this extremely popular event On The Rocks Festival will take place from 6-15 April. For more offers the chance to participate in all of the traditional Scottish ceilidh information and the full programme, please visit: dances in the stunning setting of St Andrews Castle, overlooking the www.ontherocksfestival.com North Sea. This event – like many of the others – always proves to be Reservations for ticketed events can be made through the extremely popular, so we would advise you to make sure to reserve Byre Theatre, by telephone, online or in person. your tickets as soon as possible!

This year’s Festival Director, Sneha Nair, looks forward, “On The Rocks aims to provide a platform for students and community (Photos courtesy OTR) members in St Andrews to access and participate in the arts. My hope

19

TOWN & GOWN David Watkinson contributes

A Short History of Student Traditions Until the mid-twentieth century the University was very small, with comparatively few students. They probably numbered 100 or so until after 1810 and did not pass 200 until the mid-1880s. Originally they resided in one of the three colleges: St Leonard’s, St Salvator’s, and St Mary’s, the latter exclusively for postgraduate divinity students. The first two merged in 1747 to form the United College, while St Leonard’s buildings were given over to other uses. The residential buildings of St Salvator’s became increasingly dilapidated as the eighteenth century progressed. Although those students with bursaries could reside rent free, providing their own furniture and bedding, a decreasing number chose to do so. Dinner had been provided in the College; surviving evidence shows a varied diet, though Robert Fergusson, the student poet, was admonished on one occasion in the 1760s for saying grace in verse thus: For rabbits young and for rabbits old, For rabbits hot and for rabbits cold, For rabbits tender and for rabbits tough, Our thanks we render – for we’ve had enough.

Increasingly it became the norm to seek lodgings in the town. By 1820 College residence and common dinners had been abandoned. Teaching accommodation was soon rebuilt, but the students were left to fend for themselves in ‘bunks’, as they were known.

The tedium of student life was relieved by various customary events that became highlights of the annual calendar for town as well as gown. Rectorial elections by the students were originally held annually, usually a formality, as only four staff members were deemed eligible; they served in rotation, though there were occasional spats, as when attempts were made to elect Sir Walter Scott and Thomas Chalmers. The rectorial drag of the successful candidate to the installation is a tradition going back to 1922.

The pier walk of red-gowned students after Sunday chapel is said to date from the arrival of Lord Rosebery by yacht for his installation in 1911. The Charities Week procession ran from the 1920s to 1985, when the lack of open lorries put a stop to it. Students’ year-long fundraising today

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brings in sums which would have amazed played on the Rev. A K H Boyd, minister of their predecessors. Raisin Monday (not the Holy Trinity Church, who was asked to pray alcohol-fuelled travesty of recent times) and for “a young lady in deep affliction – Kate Meal Monday were of much longer standing.

Kennedy.”

Kate Kennedy’s Day has had a very In 1875 it was decided to hold no chequered history. Suggestions that it has demonstration and the next year Kate was existed since medieval times appear to be commemorated by a supper. Thereafter nonsense. Ronald Cant, who was rarely, if peace reigned until 1879 when the students, ever, wrong, dates it to 1849. probably encouraged by a It seems to have started as a Cambridge undergraduate, masquerade in which students W T Linskill, whose Star Kate Kennedy’s of the fourth year Natural Burlesque Company Philosophy class claimed Day has had a very had been performing the the privilege of turning up in pantomime Aladdin in the chequered history fancy dress for a noon-time Town Hall, determined to lecture one day in February. mark Kate Kennedy’s Day in The earliest reference I have the traditional manner. They found so far is in 1862. The following year the evaded the prohibitory regulations by staying masquerading students paraded the streets out of the College, fixing the procession for to the amusement of the inhabitants. In 1865, a Saturday, though they did produce the for the first time, one of the students dressed customary cartoon and annual. Determined to up as Kate Kennedy. The following year a wreak vengeance, Principal Shairp pressed horse was provided for Kate. Accompanied by the police to prosecute eight of the students, a drummer, the procession visited the houses claiming that their howls and yells outside of the various professors, thus evolving into a his house in The Scores, and the adjoining traditional pattern. residence of Professor Campbell, were a In 1868 the Principal ordered the barring breach of the peace. Unfortunately for Shairp of the College gates, though Kate and her the police testified that those identified had mounted escort were allowed through the merely been part of the crowd and had not wicket on foot to make a token appearance been seen or heard to do anything wrong. A at the locked door of the classroom. reluctant Campbell, called by the defence, Trouble loomed when a group of fishermen admitted that he had heard no disturbance at accompanying the procession forced entry all. Principal Tulloch and two Professors gave into the College. Prosecution was threatened, character evidence for the accused. It was no until it became clear that the offender who surprise that the three magistrates concluded broke the padlock was actually a student. that the case was not proven.

Thereafter a familiar pattern of peaceful Even this did not quite signal the demise procession was usually followed, though it of Kate Kennedy. In February 1881 Linskill is not clear whether one was actually held in was definitely the ringleader in organising 1869. another procession with Kate portrayed by Songs and cartoons of the Professors Thomas Rodger, a local photographer who were hawked in the streets. In 1870 for had left the University seven years previously the first time, a small pamphlet containing without a degree. Shairp persuaded his songs and jokes entitled Kate Kennedy’s colleagues to come down hard on the Annual went on sale. After the successful undergraduate participants. Seven were celebration of 1874, however, those who disciplined, while those who declined to took part were brought up before the Senate apologise were rusticated. One was George and reprimanded. It was announced that the Manson Wills, later an Arbroath solicitor, and University was determined to put an end to for many years afterwards he and Linskill the event. Regulations were issued forbidding exchanged telegrams on the anniversary. fancy dress in the College, the dissemination This marked the final suppression of Kate of any anonymous pamphlet connected with Kennedy’s Day until its revival in 1926, with a procession and absenteeism from classes the sanction of Principal Irvine, as a historical for any purpose connected with a procession, pageant welcomed by students, townspeople, all on pain of deprivation of bursaries, if held, and visitors alike. and rustication for a session. Naturally the students acquiesced, though a hoax was

TOWN & GOWN Juliette Deval, Marketing

Enduring Gifts: 600 Years of Philanthropy in St Andrews You may have enjoyed a concert in the Younger Hall, but how much do University, children will be invited to you know about James and Annie Younger? Have you ever noticed how discover the art of mosaic-making; craft many cherry trees there are in St Andrews? their own deep-sea creatures; or have In the exhibition Enduring Gifts: 600 Years of Philanthropy in a go at making modern art and selfSt Andrews, we will answer some intriguing questions. This is a studentportraits. run exhibition, at the Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, a tour around the town on open from Saturday, 17 March to Saturday, 30 June 2018.

20th March, will allow members of the public an insight into the buildings Enduring Gifts will explore the many and varied donations made that have been donated to the University over the course of hundreds to St Andrews, with the stories of the people behind them. We will of years. This guided walk is perfect for those who love hidden gems reveal how these charitable acts have shaped and fun facts, as stories about the buildings and the University’s existence, and rendered their their benefactors will be told. Adults can also A notable gap in scholarship donors immortal. Enduring Gifts will highlight get involved in a self-portrait masterclass, run exists on the impact that some of the most influential personalities and by the artist Mark H Lawrence, and attend a fascinating objects that have made the University unique screening of our very own documentary, philanthropic gestures have of St Andrews what it is today.

‘The Women Who Shaped St Andrews’. This had in Scotland The Exhibition is run in collaboration with the documentary is an exciting project involving University’s Centre for the Study of Philanthropy original research and innovative analysis of the and Public Good. A notable gap in scholarship exists on the impact that role that female philanthropists have had on the shaping of St Andrews philanthropic gestures have had in Scotland, although Scotland as a into a world-class centre for education and culture. We invite the public nation has a long history of giving. Enduring Gifts hopes to bridge this to come and join us for the screening on, Friday, 13 April, followed by gap, focusing on St Andrews. refreshments and an informal discussion on the film’s themes.

We will, for the very first time, bring together objects that were given Our final event will be an interdisciplinary afternoon of talks, given to the University by a great variety of benefactors, for example Mary, by members of the University from a wide range of different fields.

Queen of Scots; or John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute. Visitors Specialists from the schools of Medicine, and Art History, to name but will get the chance to see some of the most impressive artworks from the two, will be discussing their fascinating research and how it has been University collections, including an outstanding late-19th century portrait; impacted by philanthropy, past and present. a selection of specimens from the Challenger expedition; manuscripts donated by King James VI himself. The Exhibition will focus on specific themes, showcasing the essential role philanthropy played in the fields This event, which will be held on the 19th of May as part of of scientific and medical research, education, and its more general the Scotland-wide Festival of Museums, as well as a full list influence on the town of St Andrews itself. of other events and their dates, can be found in the MUSA There will also be an accompanying publication, generously What’s On Guide, or on the Enduring Gifts website sponsored by the After Many Days Club. This publication will highlight ( www.enduringgifts.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk ). Some events require the stories of some of St Andrews’ most illustrious donors, with short booking, but all are free to attend. Be sure to follow us on biographies helping to bring them to life. The publication will be available Facebook: www.facebook.com/enduringgiftsSA or on Instagram: at the Exhibition. www.instagram.com/enduringgiftssa to keep up with what we’re There will be a full events programme, featuring an exciting range of up to! activities for all ages. The team has organised four hands-on children’s workshops in April for those aged 3 to 12 who are partial to adventure, or crafty fun. During these events, inspired by key donations to the (Images courtesy the Marketing Team)

Black Madonna, by Paul Furneaux (1994)

Specimen from a Challenger exhibition

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ORGANISATIONS William Sutherland in praise of

A New Asset For The Town It all started with the simplest of requests. Former Councillor Dorothea Morrison and I were having a chat. I asked, “Is there any way that Fife Council could provide a couple of swings in Kinburn Park? It doesn’t have anything for youngsters.”

Nothing happened for quite some time. However, unknown to me, Dorothea was working away in the background. I then received a plan prepared

by Alan Bisset of Fife Council, which was very comprehensive. Alan heads the Parks Development Section of Fife Council. At that point, he estimated the cost of the project would be £50,000. Shortly after, that became £60,000. When it went out to tender it was just short of £80,000.

Kinburn Park has four separate elements: St Andrews Tennis Club; Kinburn Bowling Club; St Andrews Museum with its Café in the Park; the Labyrinth. We got together and called ourselves ‘Kinburn Park All Together’ and set about raising the funds to allow our plan to become a reality. As Treasurer of Kinburn Bowling Club I approached a raft of organisations that might be prepared to help.

In the event, all the money was raised by: •

St Andrews Community Trust

•

Kinburn (St Andrews) Charitable Trust

•

The R&A

•

Fife Environmental Trust

•

Fife Community Works Programme

•

St Andrews Common Good Fund

•

Fife Local Community Planning Budget

It took some time to come through, then the physical work started on 18 September 2017. About eight weeks were needed to complete. The official Opening Ceremony took place on Thursday, 7 December, with Dorothea doing the honours.

Kinburn Park All Together are delighted with the way all of this has worked out. The architect, Alan Bisset, project-managed the work; he has been a star from the beginning! We were surprised by how extensive the area covered was. We hope readers will make up their own minds about how exciting this new Play Area is. Please go and see it for yourselves!

The Sensory Garden part has been planted out, but it will be a few months before the value of it becomes apparent.

Kinburn Park All Together hope to attract youngsters and their families to make use of it; it will be up to each of us how we go about it.

We would argue that this is not just for the town.

The location, backing on to the Bus Station in the centre of town, will be a major attraction for all visitors with young children.

A couple of traditional swings would have been handy, but what we have instead is in a different league!!

(Photos courtesy William Sutherland)

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ORGANISATIONS Carol Petrie, Project Manager, and Alison Jeffrey, Fundraising Team

Leuchars St Athernase Church Regeneration Update and News about a Fashion Show The first phase of the Leuchars St Athernase Church regeneration project is almost complete. After more than four years of planning, we hope to have completed the building works of this phase by the end of February 2018. We are very grateful to the Historic Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, and many other grant-funding bodies for their assistance in funding our project.

The exterior of the Church has been restored to its former glory, with new roofs, refurbished windows, rainwater goods,

replacement stone skews, and pointing of the existing stone. The refurbishment of the 1745 bell tower is now complete, with a new weather vane commissioned to replicate the original.

Our cockerel on top of the weather vane has even had a face lift!

The Church bell (dated 1740 ) will now be rung using an automated system, but the bell wheel and various other objects of historical interest are to be kept, forming part of a small exhibition detailing the various stages of the restoration. The Church has been closed

Shrouded in scaffolding.

The refurbished weathervane, showing dents where people took pot shots at it over the past 300 years!

The 3 prongs are lightning conductors. during the construction period, we now look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful medieval building when it re-opens in the spring!

The Fundraising Team are continuing to work for future regeneration work. Their next venture is another Fashion Show, after the great success of the inaugural one. This will be held on Thursday, 19 April 2018 in the Burnside Hall, Balmullo. There will actually be two Fashion Shows . . . an Afternoon Show with doors opening at 2.00pm, starting at 2.30pm, and an Evening Show, doors opening at 6.30pm to start at 7.00pm.

As with last year’s show, a wide selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories from well- known high street stores, including for example, Marks and Spencer, Wallis, Next, New Look, Oasis, Top Shop etc., in a range of sizes, will be modelled by professional models. The clothes will then be available to try on in the changing rooms provided, to buy in our Pop Up Shop. Everything will be on sale at 50% or less than the shop prices.

This is an opportunity to enjoy an evening with your friends, have fun trying on clothes you have seen modelled, while knowing that you are helping to raise money for the further regeneration of St Athernase.Tickets cost ÂŁ7.50 each.

There will be two charity raffles, one drawn in the afternoon, the other in the evening.

Remember that plenty of FREE PARKING is available at the Burnside Hall.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from Alison Jeffrey: 01334 870 674.

(Photographs by Don Duncan)

From the roof, looking over Leuchars towards Balmullo.

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ORGANISATIONS Walter Hill celebrates

Ninety Years of Rotary in St Andrews six continents. The international teams will reflect this. As always, the When James Orr presided over the Charter dinner in 1928 of the week will start on the Sunday evening with a reception at the New Golf recently-formed Rotary Club of St Andrews, he could not have foreseen Club, where old friendships will be renewed, and new visitors made the changes the Club would witness over the next ninety years. It was welcome. The evening will close with the traditional Beating the Retreat a daughter club of the Rotary Club of Dundee, the two clubs remaining on the Old Course by The St Andrews Pipe Band. in regular contact, with the annual golf match keenly This, our sixty-fourth event, promises to be the best contested, played alternately over Downfield and ever.”

St Andrews Links.

Fellowship is the basis of all Rotary; it was solely Until recent years a requirement of Rotary for this purpose that the International Golf Week membership was that one had to live and work in was begun. However, Rotarian visitors have always the town. The new Club was fortunate in attracting been keen to contribute to the work of the Club prominent local businessmen and professionals as the so, in recent years, an element of fundraising was five initial members. They invited others. Before long introduced. Consequently, over the past five years, the Club had twenty members. the event has contributed £20,000 to the charity James Orr, a highly-respected general account, significantly augmenting the £60,000 raised practitioner, was to be followed as President by from all other events over the same period.

David Rusack, whose hotel still bears his name.

Inner Wheel was established for the wives Soon afterwards, Alfred Scott took the chair. He of Rotarians. A club was formed in St Andrews in was an architect of some distinction. Both his sons, 1949, of which the first chairman, Mrs A G Scott, Hunter and Michael, were to join the Club. After was the wife of none other than St Andrews Rotary being President, Hunter became District Governor, founder member, Alfred Scott. It is an autonomous ultimately, President of Rotary International Britain and organization, carrying out charitable work in its Ireland (RIBI). own right. However, it does find time to offer help, It is interesting to note, in passing, that James Orr, first President advice, and support to Rotary itself, which is very St Andrews also produced a National President of much appreciated. Since the founding both Round Table Britain and Ireland of our daughter club – the Rotary Club (RTBI), and of Ladies Circle Britain and of St Andrews Kilrymont – wives of its Ireland (LCBI). Norrie Hood and Sheena members have been welcomed into Dishington, respectively, held these offices St Andrews Inner Wheel, where they have in successive years. made a significant contribution, including In addition to becoming Club President, chairing the Club.

Tom Fordyce, who had a drapery business For many years, Rotary has in the town, went on to be Provost of the encouraged female members to join. Two Borough of St Andrews for a total of nine in St Andrews Rotary, Sylvia Donaldson years. His daughter, Frances, remains a and Kathleen Thain, have become member of Inner Wheel, her late husband, President. Kilrymont has produced a Stan Room, having been President of the District Governor, with another in the Club. These early Rotarians did not lack wings. vision and drive. The original five members The Rotary Club of St Andrews of the Club have grown to seventy A vessel similar to the Peggy Nutten. continues to support those in our members today.

The painter is unknown. community who require assistance.

The Club continued to meet throughout Above all, the basis of the spirit of Rotary the Second World War, when many remains as an enjoyable environment, where there is fellowship and members were engaged in civil defence. It “adopted” the steam trawler satisfaction from a job well done. We enjoy what we do. If it’s not fun, it’s Peggy Nutten, one of five vessels built for the Nutten line by the Hall not Rotary!

Russell yard in Aberdeen. For the duration of hostilities, the Club As we look back on ninety years of Rotary in St Andrews, and we provided various forms of comforts for the brave crew, who worked congratulate Kilrymont on its twenty-first anniversary, we are aware of fearlessly for the vital food supplies of a nation under siege. the debt we owe to our local community for its support throughout this However, it was not until 1955 – the fiftieth anniversary of Rotary’s journey. We shall try to earn its continued support in the years ahead. founding in Chicago – that the Club, under the presidency of solicitor John Caithness, inaugurated the longest-running project in the Club’s history. The International Golf Week started in a small way, but was Rotary International Golf takes place this year from 10 to 14 June soon to attract entrants from England, Ireland, and Wales, as well as inclusive. To find out more about Rotary and what it does locally, from all over Scotland. nationally, and around the world, visit www.standrewsrotary.net Douglas Jackson has recently taken over as tournament director of the Golf Week from Bill Whyte. As a result of Bill’s use of the internet and electronic communications, the event now attracts entrants from all (Images courtesy Walter Hill) over the world. Douglas said, “This year we’ll welcome Rotarians from

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ORGANISATIONS Debbie MacCallum, Tourism St Andrews

Beach Wheelchairs for the disabled Tourism St Andrews, in partnership with the Hamish Foundation, is looking for funding to buy specially adapted wheelchairs for use on the beach. The only scheme of this kind in Scotland at present is in North Berwick.

Elderly and disabled people are prevented from enjoying the sands, as normal wheelchairs get bogged down. One 70 yearold lady, who used the scheme in North Berwick, is quoted as saying, “It’s the first time I’ve been able to get to the edge of the water in over 60 years.”

The plan is to provide storage for the wheelchairs; a hoist for transfers for the more severely disabled; a ‘changing places toilet’ so that those with higher-level needs don’t have to leave the beach; eventually to have a motorized all-terrain wheelchair as well.

Donations towards this worthwhile project can be made online: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/hamishfoundation/ beachwheelchairs For more information, please contact Debbie, either by phone: 07977 190 710 or email: debbie.maccallum@gmail.com (Logo & photo courtesy Debbie McCallum)

From Jane Houston, publicity officer for St Andrews & North East Fife Ramblers Group

The Ramblers – St Andrews & North East Fife Group The Ramblers is a charity which aims both to help people enjoy walking and also to protect the places where we all love to walk.

The St Andrews & North East Fife Group was formed in 1990. In those early days it took an active part in reconnoitring sections of the Fife Coastal Path when it was being developed.

We now take our 100 or so members from the foot of the Lomonds to St Andrews, and from Levenmouth to Newport-on-Tay.

Walking is a great way to get out into the countryside, make new friends, boost your health and wellbeing. Our Group walks every two weeks throughout the year, usually on a Saturday or Sunday. More recently we have introduced mid-week leisurely walks, held once a month, which have proved popular with those who enjoy a shorter walk, often followed by a leisurely lunch! We are also a member of the Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside

area of the Ramblers’ Association, which offers the opportunity to enjoy an extensive programme of walks of all kinds with any Group in this area.

You’re very welcome to try walking with us. You can contact us via our website (details below) or by phoning Will Aitken on 01334 470 066.

In addition to our regular walks we are also involved in looking after and publicising local pathways. For a number of years we have prepared and issued free Local Walks Leaflets for both St Andrews and Cupar. After receiving considerable financial support, with the main sponsor being Ramblers Holidays, and other St Andrews and Cupar based organisations, new leaflets have recently been published.

These leaflets, which include walks’ details, a map and information about the towns, are designed for use by both visitors and locals alike. The walks vary in distance from three to six miles taking in historic and famous places as well as providing opportunities to explore hidden gems and enjoy great views.

The leaflets are available in various locations across the towns, with the Tourist Office in St Andrews being the major hub. Additionally, they are available for download from a number of websites, not least our own website at www.standrewsnefiferamblers.com In case of difficulty, contact can be made via the website.

(Photo and image courtesy Jane Houston)

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ORGANISATIONS Simon Baldwin introduces a

New Parish Children’s Group Tying in with the Church of Scotland’s support for this Year of Young People 2018, a new children’s group has been launched at St Leonard’s Church in St Andrews to reach out to people in the parish.

‘St Leonard’s Parish Kids’ combines five-to-15 year-olds at the Church’s Sunday School under one umbrella. They engage with community groups and families across

the parish. The Parish Pancake Breakfasts are now a regular feature at the Church.

Minister, Graeme Beebee, says, “We have some great kids at the Church …

In the countdown to Christmas, they launched a new idea: inviting parishioners into Church on the last Sunday in each month to serve them a pancake breakfast.

That has been very well received by our

congregation, and has attracted new people to visit St Leonard’s. The children will be continuing with the pancake breakfasts, as well as trying new initiatives in 2018.”

For more information, please email: simon@destination66.co.uk

(Photos courtesy St Leonard’s Church)

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OUT & ABOUT Henry Harding, Publicity Officer

Catch of the Day, Exhibition at the Scottish Fisheries Museum Did you know that shoals of herring can reach over a mile in length? haddock, which is actually what we prefer in Scotland as far as white Did you know that fish and chips, despite being seen today as the fish are concerned)? Ever wondered what happened to herring, which is ‘quintessentially British’ dish, actually has Jewish and Italian ancestry? really good for you, but which can be so hard to find these days? Always Did you know that the sniper eel has its anus in its face? You didn’t? on the lookout for tasty Scottish fish recipes to put in your scrapbook?

Then come along to Anstruther this spring, and check out the latest We can help you find out about how, which fish, how much fish, we eat exhibition at the Scottish Fisheries Museum. in Scotland has been changing, and might change in the future. Whether Catch of the Day; Fish, Food, and Sustainability is curated by you prefer limpet stovies or crab linguine, we’ve also got some delicious students on St Andrews University’s Museum and Galleries Studies recipe tips, traditional, as well as modern.

Programme. Opening on 15 March, the Over the Easter holidays, and as exhibition looks at how the role of fish in spring turns into summer, we’ll be putting come along to Anstruther this spring, the Scottish diet has changed over the past on a series of events for adults, children, century and what changes there might be and check out the latest exhibition at and all the family. Ever heard of gyotaku, to come. You can learn how catches have the Japanese art of printing using fish? the Scottish Fisheries Museum fluctuated and how this has been driven by Come along and learn how, also enjoying developments in tastes, technology, and a wee taste of local gin too! On 19 May the availability. Using exciting interactives, digital displays, and little-seen Scottish Fisheries Museum is putting on a Fish and Food Fair, featuring objects, we trace the story of the Scottish fishing industry and how it is a stall from the Pittenweem Fishermen’s Mutual Association, talks on evolving with the times. how the catch is changing, with a cookery demonstration by local chef Many of us will have seen the recent BBC television series with Sir (and Fife Food Ambassador) Christopher Trotter. Every Saturday we will David Attenborough, Blue Planet, and the question of just how much be putting on a special immersive digital experience, where you can find plastic there is in the ocean will have crossed our minds. The simple out for yourself what it’s like to be a fish swimming through the ocean, answer is; too much. Our exhibition takes a look at where this plastic is Finding Nemo style! coming from, how it enters the oceans, and what effect it has on marine So, this spring, make sure you pop down to the East Neuk and see life once it has got there. So-called ‘nurdles’ are on our beaches, in our us. You never know, you might even get lucky and treat yourself to fish seas, in ever-increasing numbers. These tiny lumps of plastic trap toxins, and chips on the way home! then are eaten by fish or pass into the food-chain directly.

Overfishing is another big risk. According to the UN, 70% of the world’s fishing grounds (including Scotland’s) are either fully exploited, The Scottish Fisheries Museum, St Ayles, Harbourhead, over exploited, or significantly exploited. What this means in blunt terms Anstruther, Fife KY10 3AX. NB Summer Opening Hours (1 April is that even if fishing were to cease tomorrow, stocks would still take onwards) are Mon-Sat 10.00am-5.30pm; Sun 11.00am-4.00pm decades to recover, such has been the rate at which fish (especially Twitter: cotdexhibition Instagram: cotdexhibition young fish) have been taken from the seas in recent years. Now that Website: cotdexhibition.wordpress.com the UK looks set to leave the EU, the outlook for Scottish fishing is even Telephone: (01333) 310 628 more uncertain.

But it isn’t all doom and gloom. Have you ever been curious about why it only ever seems to be cod that you get in the supermarket (or (Photo courtesy the Fisheries Museum)

Teresa Fraser, who will run the gyotaku (Japanese fish printing) sessions this spring

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OUT & ABOUT Craig Gilbert

Mindful Walking In The Lomonds I often explore the Lomond Hills Regional Park, which contains the two highest peaks in Fife: East and West Lomond, along with the Bishop hill, which lies just over the border in Perth & Kinross. There are many ways to reach the park, including north from Leslie, where one can reach Holl Reservoir (there’s parking and a good start to a walk), or nestled between the two prominent hills. Craigmead car park offers sanctuary for your car while you explore.

Most people I see use the multitude of rights of way up here for exercise. There’s also a bit of glory in the claim of ‘bagging’ Fife’s highest points. There is certainly an incredible view from atop either Lomond.

Looking north, Perthshire and beyond the Cairngorms is clearly visible (on a good weather day, of course!) To the north-east, Dundee sits pretty, and east St Andrews is visible, as well as the Fife Coast. To the south, Glenrothes sprawls outward, and beyond lies Kirkcaldy, then eyesight takes you across the Forth to Edinburgh. One can even make out the iconic Forth Bridges, if you’re looking sharply enough.

However, with such a range of landscape, from rocky terrain, to forest, to moorland, pocketed with water bodies and interesting features (such as Maiden Castle Hill Fort), there is a real wealth to be had in taking one’s time, to observe the view and the walk with Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is being in the present moment, fully engaging in what one is doing with awareness, and non-judgment. A glance to West Lomond and seeing the dark raincloud above it, through Mindfulness, is no cause for concern, but staring in awe at the majesty of the fierce weather systems at play. The harsh wind assaulting the face is

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part of the journey. The grand view is to take Only, in a place such as the Lomonds, it’s it all in, and give gratitude for being in such a clear to see it’s not all about the self. We can wonderful place. wake up, and take in what is truly important.

There is a time This place for just being, for not reminds one of what bringing life’s drama it is to be alive. The There is a time for just being, and mental concerns constant shift of with you. As soon as weather up on the for not bringing life’s drama and thoughts enter one’s hills is a reminder that mental concerns with you mind, Mindfulness is lost everything changes, and one swims through including our own their own head in the emotions. When life past or in the future, plotting this, designing gets a bit too much, the wilderness can show that, and failing to just connect with where us our true nature: everything has a beautiful, one is, right here, right now. When one is powerful connection to everything else. in such a ruminative state, experience is What delight, what grandeur, can one get lacking somewhat, because we are not truly from anywhere else; other than sitting and present, we are elsewhere, pondering over staring in wonder at the outdoors? something, especially related to one’s own situation – it’s all about me.

(Photo courtesy Craig Gilbert)

OUT & ABOUT Tim Hardie’s

Nature Notes I attended the funeral of a considerable They are quite shy, gentle fellows, St Andrean, John Picton, in the middle of happy with a few berries a day. I January. John had attended university in the am sure they were confident this town during the 1950s and returned in the food supply would last them till early 2000s with his wife Elizabeth, having spring. Sadly this presumption was raised a family in Tayside. John and my father misplaced, last Sunday in the snow were both in the RNR at HMS Camperdown and ice, a mob of Scandinavian in Dundee; in fact John succeeded my Dad as visitors arrived and in good Viking commanding officer there. tradition had their way with the Driving home between the Auld Grey town tree, stripping it of all berries in and Guardbridge I was pleased to see two about two hours. Their feeding kestrels hovering over a field of turnips beside frenzy made me think the fieldfare the road, planted for nearby stock. It is a grand is the piranha of the bird world. illustration of how a little bit of biodiversity can My local birding friend, Barry, reap rewards for wildlife. I can surely guarantee called in at my café last week in a fair state of that these turnips are slug-pellet free, excitement as he announced he had a dead insecticide free, therefore providing a home pine marten in the boot of his car, which had for voles, mice, and in turn kestrels, owls, and been run over on the A90 – would I like to much more. As I drove on past Pickletillum my come and see it? Well no, not really, but it heart sank a little as I viewed the sea of plastic does confirm how this handsome little fellow that is a modern fruit farm. I didn’t see a lot of is expanding its range. I have been very biodiversity there and hope conscientious in shutting for the sake of all wildlife my hens in as soon as I I was lucky enough to see a that the expansion of poly get home, as the thought relation of the pine marten, tunnels is going to cease of a pine marten in the hen a stoat in ermine shortly; how much soft fruit house would be too much do we need! to bear. I did go and have Here at home last weekend we were a look at Barry’s marten and its front teeth did subject to a smash and grab raid that was remind me of a piranha fish! quite astonishing in its competence. For the I was lucky to have a day shooting in last couple of months a pair of mistle thrushes Strathardle last Saturday in the snow. This have been enjoying the fruits of a berry tree.

Strath is a spectacular Highland Perthshire

Stoat secret, the company was superb and my three spaniels were in heaven. I was lucky enough to see a relation of the pine marten, a stoat in ermine, who, having been pushed out of a thicket by the rat pack, disappeared in a flash not to be seen again.

It was good news to hear from the local cattleman that there had been hundreds of salmon spawning in the river in December. The Ardle is a perfect little salmon river, providing really good nursery quarters for juvenile salmon and wonderful gravel spawning beds.

The Tay would not be world renowned for salmon without these well-managed tributaries.

(Photo by John Anderson (Crail Birder: www.pbase.com/crail_birder ))

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OUT & ABOUT James Hearsum, Director

The Botanic Garden: an Update Spring is not yet fully here, but St Andrews is already truly in bloom!

Despite lacking in natural suitability, over the past 50 years successive garden leaders have had the foresight to amend and protect aspects of the Garden for great interest early in the growing year.

Delicate spring flowering bulbs, such as Scilla mischtschenkoana, and many, many Galanthus species lead with jewel-like emergence from the soil, only to disappear again seemingly as quickly.

The big flowering shrubs such as Rhododendrons dauricum, fulvum, and spinuliferum, put on a grand show. Winter scents like Sarcococca hookeriana, Viburnums, and Jasminum nudiflorum still float through the air. And the big trees are bursting into flower or leaf, none more impressive than Magnolia grandiflora. We haven’t even ventured inside, where orchids are at their peak, and everything is flushing out after the earlier winter prune. It is a time of change, of life, and of beauty in the Garden.

But not every day is yet a garden day. Still the chill of winter hangs in the air at times, the blue sky giving way to lowering cloud and rain. So we want to bring the Garden to you, at home, whatever the weather.

St Andrews Botanic Garden’s website is a rich resource for you at home. Every one of the plants mentioned above has a detailed online

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write-up, along with hundreds of others. These have been completed monthly by Bob Mitchell over the past 15 years. They are currently being re-released on the Garden Trust website: www.standrewsbotanic.org to reach a wider and new audience. The Garden also manages a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ standrewsbotanicgarden with stunning daily photos and the latest updates on events and activities, including the occasional Garden closures due to wind and maybe ice. Above all, we want your Botanic Garden to be a resource, not just when you visit, but every day as inspiration, assistant, and daily pleasure.

Have a look, follow us on Facebook, let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Back in the Garden, the Tropical Butterfly Experience returns by popular demand, opening on Saturday, 24 March.

It will stay open until the end of the October school holiday. Look out for daily activities in school holidays, and Planet Botanic Holiday Club from Easter onwards.

(Photo of Dombeya courtesy James Hearsum)

OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe

Hidden Gems in St Andrews Focussing on features that are in plain sight, though often overlooked

Pediments A pediment is an architectural feature found on buildings. It can take a number of shapes, often triangular, but also as an arch or rectangle. It need not be continuous and can be broken, with an opening or gap. A pediment is typically found above door or window openings, but can also be above an entire entrance to a building, such as a portico or porch. The space enclosed by the pediment can be decorated with patterns, figures, or inscriptions.

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe) Triangular Pediments

Arched Pediments

Other Variations

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