St Andrews in Focus Issue 90 Sep Oct 2018

St Andrews in focus ISSN 2514-409X

• shopping • eating • events • town/gown • people and more the award winning magazine for St Andrews, Scotland www.standrewsinfocus.com

September/October 2018 Issue 90, £2.00

Lindsay Murray painted

The Mairie in Loches (watercolour & ink) A small group from St Andrews Art Club visited Loches en Touraine, France, in July 2017 for a week of painting, with some sightseeing. We received the warmest of welcomes from our friends and from the Atelier d’Agnès (our Art Club counterparts in Loches). We found much inspiration within the beautiful medieval French town, which is twinned with St Andrews. We discovered the joys of painting al fresco. It was hot – folding chairs, easels, large sun hats, sun-cream, and plenty of water – the paint dried quickly on the paper. The cover painting is the product of part of an afternoon spent in a town square.

A second Art Club visit is planned for 2019.

Some of our paintings will be exhibited in the Byre Theatre this September, alongside photographs from the Loches Photographic Society, to coincide with the arrival of a group of visitors from Loches.

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

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St

Andrews in focus

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

From the Editor

As you will have noticed, I rather like sayings. My son mentioned one I hadn’t heard before, which you might like to share. Supposedly the earliest written version was by one Alice Morse Earle (1851-1911). Then Eleanor Roosevelt apparently repeated it more than once. It goes like this: ‘Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the Present.’ Is there another language, I wonder, which can conflate ‘gift’ with ‘present’ and with ‘present time’? French, maybe? Do let me know and I’ll publish it too. Whatever else you might glean from it, the saying counsels making the most of time, enjoying the present (like our fantastic 9-year overdue summer, while it lasted?). If you can, then I say, Amen to that – carpe diem!

Flora Selwyn

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

Contents FEATURES •

Community Council

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A life with horses

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Digitisation of the Cathedral

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For golfers like me

8

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Mark Ritchie

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TOWN & GOWN Rector Srdja Popovic

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The Chorus celebrates

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Save the Elephants Society

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PULL-OUT FEATURE •

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) DISTRIBUTOR 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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Concert Diary

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ORGANISATIONS •

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

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Cats Protection

17

• StaFCO

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‘Let there be light!’

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St Andrews Photographic Society

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SHOPS & SERVICES •

Silver Seals

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Roving Reporter

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EVENTS 22-23

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Cathedral Pageant

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The Modestine Society

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‘Des. Res.’

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St Athernase Church

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‘Rencontres européennes’

25

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Selected Events

25

OUT & ABOUT •

Nature Notes

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Crail to Anstruther

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Hidden Gems

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NEXT ISSUE – Nov/Dec 2018 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 SEPTEMBER

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

Cover: The Mairie in Loches, an original watercolour and ink painting by Lindsay Murray

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FEATURES Callum McLeod, from the Provost’s Chair

The Community Council As you read this at the beginning of September, it is possible – though, I grant you, unlikely – that election fever is sweeping the town. For the time is once again upon us for elections to the Community Council. This happens every four years, but there has not been a “proper” ballot for many years, something most people interested in local democracy regret, as “properly” elected councillors – elected by vote rather than by default – would, I believe, have more authority, credibility and standing.

Some recent research shows that things were not always so.

The Community Council was formed in 1977 as a means of having an elected local forum after the Town Council was abolished and the District Council, based in Cupar, and the Regional Council, based in Glenrothes, were formed. Rather alarmingly, it was initially proposed that the Community Council would have 50 members, one for every couple of streets, though the more manageable figure of 24, now 20, was wisely settled on. An impressive 34 residents put themselves forward for election, though the turnout was only 7%. None of the student candidates was elected, perhaps not surprisingly as the election was rather bizarrely held in July.

What, then, does a Community Councillor do? The minimum obligation is to attend the Monthly Meetings in the splendid Council Chamber of the Town Hall. Here we discuss matters of interest to the town and its people. Also attending are our four Fife Councillors, representatives of the Merchants, the University, the Police and, occasionally, the Press. The Council is a statutory consultee on Common Good Fund Applications and on planning matters, the latter a grave responsibility as an objection from a Community Council means that a Planning Application has to go to the North Fife Planning Committee rather than be determined by officials.

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Much of our work is done in committee and on working groups, who bring to the table detailed proposals for approval and funding.

The Community Council also organises, among other things, a series of summer bandstand concerts, a putting competition, a gardens competition, two coffee mornings, and a Civic Reception for St Andrewstide, preceded by Beating Retreat by the pipe band.

As Chairman I represent the town at official events and on special occasions, the most sacred being to lay a wreath of poppies at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. For me personally, it is an honour without equal to bear the coat-of-arms of our ancient burgh on such occasions.

We run a 200 Club, which gives modest grants to organisations in the town and are partner directors in the Community Trust, which has disbursed over half-a-million pounds in the past eight years.

We are informal and formal partners with many organisations and groups in the town from StAndEn, to the Pilgrim Foundation, to the Holy Trinity Action Group, and actively support the activities of BID, St Andrews in Bloom, Poets’ Neuk, and many, many others. Being a Community Councillor is a great way to be involved in making small improvements to our daily lives. For example, one of our number is currently taking forward renewed signage at the entrances to the town, another is looking at community engagement, another is looking at ways to mark the 1918 Centenary and another, without fanfare, delivers the Community Council’s weekly contribution to our local foodbank.

Even now, it is not too late to get involved – a nomination form can be downloaded from FifeDirect. The closing date for nominations is imminent, however – 4.00pm on Thursday, 6 September! dum spiro spero

FEATURES Rebecca Bannan enthuses about her

Life with Horses Becca – to her friends and family – encountered horses at her first riding 6-year-old who has her own pony. Becca believes it is important to start lesson, at age 5. It was love at first sight! Mother, who took her along, learning early, in order to build confidence to carry on. according to her daughter is terrified of horses, and none of the family Becca also organizes shows that are popular with the general public, has any interest in riding. Yet here is Becca, instantly devoted to horses. “it’s nice to have people coming in and enjoying it as much as we do.”

Born in Ninewells Hospital in 1995, Last year they even put on a dressage show. brought up in Dundee, Becca left school at The horses are taken about 4 times a week 15 to work with horses in Dunfermline. She to run in the sea. It’s good for them to be is adamant that she didn’t want any other taken to a different place, as horses are kind of career. She did, however, succumb easily bored. Training is often in other places, to family pressure at 16 to try a job in retail in too, for the same reason; all part of horse Dundee; “I didn’t enjoy that.” welfare. Yet it is “quite spooky and scary for It wasn’t long before she arrived at the them for their first time away from home.”

Edenside Stables, by St Andrews, where Looking to save Alistair’s time she is happiest. After three years, aged 20, transporting horses to the nearest vet in she was promoted from Stable Groom to Cupar, Becca is aiming for the 3½ ton littleStable Manager, with large responsibilities. horse lorry licence. The blacksmith comes “I wouldn’t change it for the world, absolutely to Edenside once a week for the horses that love it here. The horses are totally my life and need shoeing. Surprisingly, not all horses everybody makes you feel part of the family. have shoes. Only those with weak feet, or If you want to work with horses you need to taking part in competitions need shoes. come every day, see it as a hobby rather than Tails these days are never docked. But one coming to work every day.” This is the basis young horse recently bought had had its tail for Becca’s success. chewed off by cows in its field. Becca’s team On 5th May this year Rocco was born, is “actually thinking of a hair extension!”

Becca’s first foal. The mother, still a young The team is currently training for British horse at 6, became irremediably lame.

Horse Society (BHS) approval. This entails Rocco with Becca and mare Disappointed, Becca decided to keep her as unlearning everything currently routinely a brood mare. Rocco, sired by Alistair Gatherum’s stallion, will in time carried out, because the BHS has strict rules that differ. Becca has to become a jumping champion, trained entirely by his owner once he is be proficient in knowing horse anatomy, what feeds to give, how to 4 years old. Breaking in a horse takes roughly 6 weeks, though some weigh the animals, all stable management etc. The final ‘oral exam’ is in need more time. Although training is hard every day, foals are introduced England. BHS approval is prestigious, helpful for insurance purposes as gradually to their routines, “you want to let them enjoy your journey.” well as marketing.

Rocco will be Becca’s “to ride and jump, so that he’s Becca and her dog live in a caravan on site. my own competition horse.” Registered with the Liz Gatherum cooks for the team in her own house, I think it’s good to have a job British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) she hopes “she’s a really good cook!” Liz also does all Becca’s that’s 100% for you, that you to take him eventually to Hickstead, West Sussex, washing as well as cleaning the caravan. It all adds wake up and enjoy every day. up to that feeling of family that Becca emphasizes. the All England Jumping Course. At present it is Alistair Gatherum’s horses that enter competitions.

Apart from her work, Becca goes out with friends Asked if Becca is following in champion-rider Alistair’s footsteps, she to eat in St Andrews. Her favourite places are Nando’s and Black Horn. laughs and says she doesn’t have his talent, “he’s just such a natural.”

She also goes to the Tailend Restaurant with her mother, especially if the There are some 86 horses at Edenside, overseen by Becca with weather is nice, when they go down to the beach with a takeaway. At the one other full-timer, one part-timer, and 2 volunteers. Regular classes end of a long day, Becca will shower then lie on her bed watching soaps at all levels run every day, including for those with mental health issues, on her TV. who are seen to benefit greatly from their involvement with horses. The Unlike many people who moan about having to go to work, Becca youngest pupil is 3 years old, daughter of one of the workers at the is ecstatic, “I think it’s good to have a job that’s 100% for you, that you stables, who rides with her every day, going down to the beach, jumping wake up and enjoy every day. I love going to work every day, I absolutely all the little jumps, “she’s totally into it and she’s so brave.” There’s also a love it.” Lucky Becca, lucky Edenside!

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FEATURES Bess Rhodes, involved as a historical researcher in

Digitally Recreating St Andrews’ Lost Townscape

The summer of 1559 transformed St Andrews.

In early June the famous preacher John Knox, and his Protestant supporters, arrived in St Andrews determined to bring religious change to the capital of Scottish Catholicism.

Faced by armed Protestant activists, the Archbishop of St Andrews, John Hamilton, fled the burgh, leaving the Reformers in control.

According to Knox, the Protestant leadership and many St Andrews residents then set about destroying ‘all monuments of idolatry’ – by which they seem to have meant removing statues, altars, relics, vestments, and mass books from the local churches, and stopping worship at the Cathedral, the Dominican friary (where Madras College now stands), the Franciscan Friary (near what is now Greyfriars Garden), and the Collegiate Church of St Mary on the Rock (which stood on the cliffs overlooking the harbour).

Over the years that followed, the abandoned Catholic religious foundations came to be used as a source of building materials for the local community. By the early seventeenth century most of the great religious buildings of medieval St Andrews were ruins.

As financial troubles beset St Andrews in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries much of the wider townscape also fell into decay.

In the nineteenth century the Victorians then demolished many of these buildings in the name of ‘improvement’. Because of such upheavals, St Andrews today looks very different from its late medieval splendour.

Now, though, researchers at the University of St Andrews are working to digitally recreate the appearance of the mid-sixteenth-century burgh – a time when St Andrews was still known as ‘the chief and mother city of the Realm’. Members of the Institute for Scottish Historical Research, and the School of

Computer Science’s Open Virtual Worlds team, are working to develop a digital model of how St Andrews probably looked in 1559, just before John Knox and his followers descended on the community. The first phase of the project, a reconstruction of the medieval College of St Salvator (of which St Salvator’s Chapel and Tower are almost the only surviving buildings) was released in the winter of 2017.

This summer the team has shared images of their new work showing St Andrews Cathedral shortly before it was sacked by the Reformers.

The buildings were modelled by the digital artist Sarah Kennedy (a member of the Open Virtual Worlds team) and then placed in a computer gaming engine – Unreal Engine 4. The University team previously created a reconstruction of the Cathedral around the time of its consecration in 1318, which can be seen at the Historic Scotland visitor centre at St Andrews Cathedral. However, the new reconstruction is looking more closely at the wider Cathedral precinct – including the complex network of walls and gateways, which, by the late Middle Ages, controlled access to different parts of the Cathedral site.

The digital reconstruction is made possible by the exceptional visual and written sources still extant for sixteenth-century St Andrews.

Because of St Andrews’ role as a major religious centre, and as the home of Scotland’s first university, it has exceptionally good written records. Literally thousands of documents survive from late medieval and early modern St Andrews – the majority of which are in the care of the University of St Andrews Library’s Special Collections Division. The University’s archivists recently undertook a major cataloguing project that has improved access to these documents, and highlighted many of the treasures which survive from St Andrews’ past.

The researchers working on the St Andrews 1559 reconstruction have drawn on these written records and early drawings of the town – including the remarkable Geddy Map of around 1580. Now held by the National Library of Scotland, the Geddy Map can be seen online at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/00001427 .

Although not geographically accurate by modern standards, the Geddy Map is probably the most detailed and realistic surviving drawing of any sixteenth-century Scottish town.

At present much of the Open Virtual Worlds team’s work has focused on creating digital representations of St Andrews’ pre-Reformation townscape – further elements of which will be released in the near future. However, the project has also been gathering information on the sixteenth-century residents of St Andrews, including their homes and occupations, material we hope in the longer term to make freely available online. Thanks to new digital technologies it is possible to link together St Andrews’ past and present – bringing to life the remarkable history of our community for the modern residents of the burgh.

The two heads of the project are Professor Michael Brown (history) and Alan Miller (computer science). Alan Miller leads the Open Virtual Worlds team.

The digital reconstruction of St Salvator’s College can be viewed online at: https://vimeo.com/240629953 More information about the Open Virtual Worlds Team’s work can be found at: www.openvirtualworlds.org (Images courtesy the Project)

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FEATURES

John Cameron’s Column For golfers like me, the summer of 2018 was perfect. The fairways turned the colour I recall from the halcyon 1960s and 1970s when a heat wave was counted a blessing, rather than a cause of climate alarmism at the BBC. This year, June was among the five warmest, driest and sunniest Junes since records began in 1910, while in July we had the rarity of temperatures hitting over 30C in all four of the UK’s nations. However, it failed to beat the UK record (38.5°C at Faversham, Kent in 2003), while we were a long way from 1976, when temperatures topped 32°C every day in parts of the country for 15 consecutive days.

The jet stream, a core of strong winds blowing from west to east between five and seven miles above the Earth, moved to the north of Britain, dragging with it a belt of high pressure that blanketed the country. This blocked out cloud and rain, sucking in warm

air from southern Europe. Combined with the Scottish Open at Gullane, The Open long days of high summer, when the sun is at Carnoustie, and the British Seniors at at its highest in the sky, it was no surprise St Andrews. temperatures rocketed.

The fiery fairways at Carnoustie allowed High pressure in the higher latitudes the Italian journeyman Francesco Molinari, meant lower temperatures, with heavier a modest, happily-married family man from rainfall in the Iberian peninsula, so that those Turin, to win amidst all the hoopla and who usually holiday in Spain craziness surrounding or Portugal would have been Tiger Woods. For once those who usually holiday better, weather-wise, staying the nice guy did win! in Spain or Portugal would at home. There were several I was a scorer at Elie, have been better, weatherdevastating blazes on the where the former Stirling high moorland as it dried wise, staying at home University player Gemma out. Farmers are concerned Batty beat St Andrews about the impact on crops and cattle, but bee University’s Gabrielle Macdonald by one hole and butterfly numbers rose as a result of the in a thrilling, high-quality final. good weather. I remember the nightmare of I was even more impressed when Batty travelling by tube in summer, when I worked was asked by the press whether she would in London in the late 1960s when Bri-Nylon turn pro. She said that she wouldn’t, because was all the rage! This summer commuters on to make a living she would have go to the the tube endured temperatures that would be US and that she didn’t want to do. “What I do illegal for cattle transportation. want”, she said, “is a home, children, and a The East Coast was fortunate in this meaningful career. Golf will be a great hobby glorious summer to host a number of the for the rest of my life.” very best golf tournaments: starting with What a smart girl – such a good head on the Scottish Ladies at Elie, followed by 24-year-old shoulders!

Mark Ritchie, Master Stone Mason

Inauguration of the Jamie Anderson tombstone Wednesday, 25 July, saw the culmination of a 3-year project led by Roger McStravick, to design and deliver a Memorial Headstone for an often-unknown three-times Open Gold Championship winner, and local St Andrean, Jamie Anderson.

Attending the ceremony at the graveside at St Andrews Cathedral, and afterwards at The St Andrews Golf Club, was a mixture of key players from the project: Mark Ritchie from St Andrews Memorials and Stone Carving; Roger McStravick, Writer and Historian; Sharon and David Allan, living relatives of Jamie Anderson; Dita Stanis-traken from the Pilgrim Foundation, which helped fund the project; alongside the R&A representatives; and Sandy Lyle Open Golf Champion.

Master Stone Mason Mark Ritchie, born and bred in St Andrews, started his business St Andrews Memorials and Stone Carving in 2011, after 21 years working for W L Watson & Sons, Stonemasons in St Andrews. During his time at Watson’s, Mark carved some spectacular pieces, like The Fire Icon at Bluewater Shopping Centre; The R&A Bay window; The Queen Mother Memorial Gates at Glamis Castle; The Princess Margaret Arch also at Glamis Castle, to name but

(Photos courtesy Jackie Flett)

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a few. He specialises now in Headstones and Memorials, is often found in various cemeteries across Fife and Tayside installing his carefullycrafted stones for families recently (and not so recently) bereaved.

For this particular project Mark sourced the stone from Berwick. It was a careful match for the stone from the historic Nydie Quarry used to build most of the houses in St Andrews, most of the headstones in the Cathedral and the Cathedral itself. It’s a light-coloured buff sandstone, with a sparkle fleck through it, not unlike a marble or granite finish.

Mark designed the stone with a double border moulded face and 3/4 size replica of the Claret Jug carved in relief. He also borrowed an 1870s club from Bobby Millar at Auchterlonies, which he also carved in relief on the front of the stone. The club symbolises where Jamie might have left it after he played his last game before he died in 1905.

It’s a strange coincidence that Mark actually lives on Jamie Anderson Place in St Andrews, the street named after the golfer in the 1970s, long before Mark lived there, and certainly before he ever considered he would be the one to immortalise in stone, the man himself.

Mark and his mother

TOWN & GOWN Srdja Popovic, Rector of the University of St Andrews

Greets the Town

leadership within her Office. The topic of Firstly, by way of introduction, my name is Srdja Popovic, and I was discussion was the University’s strategic recently installed as Rector of the University of St Andrews. As the name plan and future development. Students might suggest, I am not exactly a local. I was born in Belgrade, Serbia, were able to pose questions providing and grew up in circumstances as different from the peaceful streets of feedback directly to the people making St Andrews as is possible to imagine. When I was 16, my country was decisions about the University’s future. I taken over by the murderous dictator Slobodan Milosevic, who had his believe that the students of St Andrews political opponents murdered and imprisoned, and plunged Serbia into have the ability to make change on their decades of war against its neighbours. Against this backdrop, I founded own—I am merely here to support them Otpor!, a nonviolent democratic resistance movement that eventually and lend them my expertise when they need it. overthrew Milosevic and helped Serbia’s transition to democracy. After Perhaps most importantly, I believe that St Andrews can only truly that, I founded CANVAS (Centre for Applied Non-Violent Action and succeed when the University and the local population work together.

Strategies), an organisation that has taught the lessons we learned From my first visit to St Andrews a year ago, and on every visit since, in Serbia to democratic activists from the Maldives to Mexico. Back I have been in awe of the welcome this town has given me. Every in 2017, a group of students here in St Andrews reached out to me to student, staff member, and local resident I have met has greeted me with see if I could bring my lessons in activism to their university by running hospitality, warmth, and patience. I truly believe that this is a unique, a for Rector. I admit, I was hesitant at first. How could my background in wonderful community, with great potential for progress when we all work nonviolent action and activism help the students of a small university together. town? After speaking to the students who would become my campaign While my elected position is in service of the students of the team, I decided to say yes to St Andrews — and I am so glad that I did.

University of St Andrews, I know that this community is more than a Since I was elected, I have been putting my skills into action by University town, that our interests are often helping students advocate for themselves and their interests at all levels of the University’s I decided to say yes to St Andrews intertwined. I’m also aware that, while I’ve been in frequent communication with the student governance. I have met with countless student — and I am so glad that I did body in St Andrews, I am only beginning to open groups and leaders, as well as with Stephen up communication with the local population Gethins MP and Willie Rennie MSP. With the help about how to make the town a better place. I welcome any and all of the Rector’s Assessor, Camilla Duke, the Students’ Association, and ideas, concerns, and suggestions for how to make St Andrews a better the students on the Rector’s Committee, I’ve spent the last couple of place; you can always reach out to my team and to myself by emailing: months assisting students with a variety of campaigns, with a focus on rector@st-andrews.ac.uk student accommodation and transparent communication. Last spring, As the group of misfit activists I put together in Belgrade, or the I commissioned a report that included over 2000 student comments countless unlikely campaigns I’ve helped succeed across the world could about the impact of recent strike action by academic staff. This was to tell you, there’s no limit to what people power can achieve! ensure that student voices were represented at the highest levels of the University. Additionally, the Rector’s Committee hosted a panel which (Photo courtesy Srdja Popovic) included Professor Sally Mapstone, the University’s Principal, and senior

Open Association The Open Association brochure for the forthcoming academic year 2018-2019 is now available. We are happy to maintain the popular and familiar programmes that have been our sustenance for some time, along with a selection of new courses and lectures that we hope will be of interest, all starting in the next few weeks.

As always, the Open Association exists as a link between the University and the town, and seeks to bridge the gap for both challenging and relaxing activities within the University’s walls for the population of St Andrews and beyond.

It is with healthy participation that the Open Association will be able to continue to grow, and we hope to see you enjoying your courses of choice.

Courses include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Opera Listening to Music Pilates for Seniors Wine Tasting Wild Walks Friday Evening Lecture Series Retirement is Opportunity Talks Wildlife Exploration Introduction to Sign Language Enjoying Geology Medical Breakthroughs Literature Shakespeare Art History The Art of Diary Writing International Relations and Terrorism

NEW: • Introduction to Cardiovascular Science and Diseases • Woodland Adventures • Reformation St Andrews • Medicine: Past, Present and Future • St Andrews in the Seventeenth Century • American History • 2018 Year of the Woman Talks • El Cid: The Legend and the Life • The Scots in Early America • Trans-Atlantic Disease in the Age of Colombus • Social Anthropology • The Scottish Soldier

To find out more about any of our courses, or to order a brochure visit our website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/non-degree-courses/open-association/ Call the Open Association office on 01334 463232 or email open.association@st-andrews.ac.uk The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

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TOWN & GOWN Mary Popple, President, St Andrews Chorus

St Andrews Chorus Celebrates 40 Years of Singing “The St Andrews Chorus arose from a wish to satisfy the need for a broadly-based Chorus in St Andrews, embracing both town and gown.

During the summer of 1977 singers from all quarters were invited to form a choir of approximately a hundred voices under the direction of Thomas G Duncan. The chorus appeared for the first time in public on 26 February 1978, when it gave a highly-acclaimed concert with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.”

The rest, as they say, is history. The above paragraph appeared in the programme for the February 1979 concert of the St Andrews Chorus explaining how the choir was founded. In fact, the Chorus grew out of the Holy Trinity Augmented Choir, already drawing on town and university for its membership, conducted by Tom Duncan from 1963. In 1977 Tom and Neil Price brought the choir and the recently-formed Scottish Chamber Orchestra together to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor. On 26 February 1978, under Tom’s baton, this highly-successful concert took place in the Younger Hall. The choir now renamed, “The St Andrews Chorus”, and the orchestra, had embarked on a musical journey, which lasted many years.

In addition, the Chorus performed Handel’s Messiah annually each December. From 1991 Gillian Craig’s Heisenberg Ensemble regularly supported the Chorus. Tom retired from conducting it in 1994, succeeded by a series of equally outstanding Directors, with Dr Michael Downes taking over in 2009.

The Chorus is currently the largest non-auditioning choir in Scotland, with around 150 singers of whom half are students. Michael has grown the repertoire; in recent years the Chorus has performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (accompanied by the University student orchestra as part of the University 600th celebrations); Elgar’s The Apostle; Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast; as well as many familiar works. The Chorus has also involved local school children, most memorably in Britten’s Cantata Saint Nicolas, and has given many student instrumentalists the experience of performing major works as part of the supporting orchestra. The Chorus forged a link with the composer Paul Mealor, enjoying the challenge of singing beautiful, modern, sacred music. Paul delighted the Chorus with the opportunity to sing the première of the orchestral version of his Stabat Mater, shortly before he was called upon to compose a piece for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

As Tom Duncan recalls, “The early years of the St Andrews Chorus was a golden age of singing in St Andrews, with many talented voices drawn from townspeople, University staff, and University students. The present Chorus is again reaching new heights. Who would have thought this would be the case forty years later?”

So, after 40 years, this season represents a real celebration, which the St Andrews Chorus will mark in style. Two major concerts are planned. The first is, very fittingly, Messiah, on 24 November 2018, the second is Elgar’s The Kingdom, which will be performed on 27 April 2019. The latter completes the cycle of Elgar oratorios that the Chorus has undertaken, first The Dream of Gerontius (2001 and again in 2011), then in 2015, the less well-known The Apostles, now Elgar’s final major oratorio, The Kingdom. Performances of these works gives the St Andrews audience the privilege of hearing rare works right on

the doorstep. Interestingly, the year after the Chorus performed The Apostles, it was performed at the Edinburgh International Festival – will they follow the Chorus again with The Kingdom? You can safely say you heard it first in St Andrews!

Performing Messiah in November will be very special, not only because it will be almost exactly forty Poster for the first years since the St Andrews St Andrews Chorus concert Chorus sang it for the first (Courtesy Neil Price) time, but also because this will be the first concert since embarking on a formal collaboration with the University. With such a large number of singers, and with so many students enjoying singing in the Chorus as part of their rich St Andrews experience, the University and the Chorus believed that a sustainable path to the next forty years would be assured by working together. Now, the Younger Hall, which was built for the University and opened in 1929, will be given over twice yearly to the Chorus for their concerts. The University will also provide a home for rehearsals, which are planned to take place in the University’s new Music Centre once it opens. This will be a wonderfully designed rehearsal space the Chorus will surely enjoy.

The collaboration is truly a meeting of minds and spirits between town and gown, entirely appropriate to the vision of Tom Duncan in 1977.

Other events planned for the anniversary year include a pastmembers Reunion Coffee Morning on Saturday, 29 September at 10.30am at Scholars Gate, St Andrews. Anyone interested should get in touch with Elizabeth Sinclair: esinclair111@gmail.com . It is also hoped to mount an exhibition of former programmes and photographs of the first 40 years of the Chorus, and make a couple of ‘pop-up’ appearances through the year.

November’s concert is also special because the Chorus will be participating in a weekend festival of brass music, Fringe of Gold.

To mark this collaboration, John Wallace CBE, the world-renowned trumpeter originally from Fife, is composing a short piece of music as a birthday gift to the Chorus. The piece, called Messiah Signals, will be based on ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ from Messiah and will be performed by international trumpeters at the start of the concert. John will play in the orchestra for the entire concert.

Rehearsals for Messiah start on Friday, 14 September at 7.00pm in Physics lecture theatre ‘A’ at the North Haugh. All former singers, as well as new members, are warmly invited to come along. Messiah will be performed in the Younger Hall at 6.30pm on Saturday, 24 November 2018. Tickets will be available from the Byre Box Office and Chorus members.

10

TOWN & GOWN From Nina Udvardi-Lakos, founder of the

Save the Elephants Society The Save the Elephants Society, founded in elephant camps in Thailand have already 2015, is one of the newest societies affiliated changed their practices, ending elephant riding with the University of St Andrews Students’ and performances, putting more elephantAssociation. I started the society with two friendly activities on their agendas. Many more friends with the aim to raise awareness about people are currently working to change the the problems elephants are facing around the laws regarding elephant care and wellbeing, world, and to help alleviate these problems by and change the way people view and treat fundraising for chosen charities. elephants.

I first became passionate about elephants Asian captive elephants are not the only in 2013, when I volunteered at the Elephant ones to suffer. In Africa, one elephant is killed Nature Park in Thailand, a sanctuary that has every 15 minutes for its ivory. At this rate, rescued over 100 elephants from horrifying African elephants will go extinct by 2025. Ivory working conditions, giving is a prized possession in them a new lease in life by many countries, used for Our events are open to allowing them to roam free sculptures or in traditional everyone – both members in their park. The founder of medicines. The demand, of the University and the the Elephant Nature Park, especially in Asia, is general public Sangduen “Lek” Chailert, incredibly high. Fortunately, is an animal-rights activist the UK has decided to ban working to improve the conditions for all the sale of ivory in 2018, but many countries elephants. She gave a haunting talk about the have still not joined in this action. Until the threats elephants face in many Asian countries. sale of ivory has been banned internationally, Young elephants are separated from their the poaching will continue. Other problems families, starved and beaten into submission, elephants face are habitat destruction and before their training starts. Once they have human-wildlife conflict. learned to carry around tourists, paint, or I wanted to help. Since St Andrews is full perform tricks, they are forced to work all day, of energetic, passionate people, I hoped to every day – whether they are sick, pregnant, find like-minded ones. Founding the Save the or injured. Thanks to Mrs Chailert, several Elephants Society was my form of contributing.

Quickly, many people became interested and joined the society. We started with informing people about the plights of elephants. We regularly screen documentaries addressing this topic, such as The Ivory Game and Vanishing Giants. We organise lecture series with renowned speakers, such as Prof Phyllis Lee from the University of Stirling, and Prof Richard Byrne of the University of St Andrews. Every year since our foundation, we have joined the annual Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in Edinburgh.

The Society fundraises for two charities: the Save Elephant Foundation, the organisation behind the Elephant Nature Park and several other sanctuaries like it, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, which rescues, raises and rehabilitates orphaned infant elephants. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the most successful programme of its kind, saving over 150 elephants and reintegrating them into the wild. Every year, Three committee members of the the Save the Elephants Society sponsors Save the Elephants society at the one of the elephants at the David Sheldrick Charitable and Volunteering Fayre 2017

Happy elephants at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand Wildlife Trust, and one living in the Elephant Nature Park.

Fundraising actions include bake sales, working at cloakrooms, scavenger hunts, and pub quizzes. We also aim for one big event every year – so far we have organised a volunteering trip to the Elephant Nature Park, a bungee-jump, and a hike up Mount Kenya.

We have social events as well, to just get together and have fun, such as movie nights, potlucks, and dinners. The Society participates in the annual RAG (Raising and Giving) week organised by the University of St Andrews Students’ Association; we often collaborate with other societies to organise social or fundraising events.

Our events are open to everyone – both members of the University and the general public. Talking to people at some of our latenight bake sales outside the Vic has shown us how many people love elephants and want to help them. Everyone is welcome to participate; while membership is £3 per year, anyone can help out and contribute in any way they want. After all, the aim of Save the Elephants is to work together for the common goal of improving the conditions for elephants worldwide. Events are published on our Facebook page and group, both called “Save the Elephants Society”, and we also send out regular emails to inform anyone interested of what is happening.

While we are still relatively new, we hope to remain one of the many student societies in St Andrews for many years to come!

(Photos courtesy the Save the Elephants Society)

11

ST ANDREWS CONCERT DIARY SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2018

www.st-andrews.ac.uk /music

PULL-OUT FEATURE Welcome to another semester of exceptional music-making at the University of St Andrews Music Centre. Highlights include former BBC Young Musician of the Year Mark Simpson’s performance of Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, St Andrews Voices featuring world-leading chamber choir Tenebrae and our annual celebration of wind, brass and percussion ‘Fringe of Gold’. In addition, don’t miss the visits by the Heath Quartet and by virtuoso pianist Murray McLachlan as well as our wide-ranging lunchtime concerts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

SEMESTER

DATE

TIME CONCERT

VENUE

11:00

University Service sung by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir

St Salvator’s Chapel

Every Sunday during Semester 16:00

Choral Evensong sung by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir and other groups

St Salvator’s Chapel

Every Wednesday during Semester 17:30

Choral Evensong sung by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir and other groups

St Salvator’s Chapel

Every Thursday during Semester

22:00

Compline sung by St Leonard’s Chapel Choir

St Leonard’s Chapel

ORIENTATION WEEK

Thursday 13 September

19:30

Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Nielsen Clarinet Concerto

Younger Hall

WEEK 1

Friday 21 September

13:10

Music Society lunchtime concert by MusSoc pianists

Younger Hall

WEEK 2

Tuesday 25 September

13:10

Organ concert by Claire Innes-Hopkins (Acting University Organist)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Every Sunday during Semester

Wednesday 26 September

10:00-13:00

Younger Hall Rehearsal Room

Piano masterclass with Murray McLachlan

Wednesday 26 September

Thursday 27 September

13:10

Lunchtime concert by Hannah Rarity and Innes White (Scottish music)

Byre Theatre Studio

19:30

St Andrews Concert Series presents Murray McLachlan (piano): The Pianist as Hero

Younger Hall

Friday 28 September 13:10 Music Society lunchtime concert by the University G&S Society

Younger Hall

WEEK 3

St Salvator’s Chapel

Tuesday 2 October

13:10

Organ concert by Lionel Steuart Fothringham (Dundee)

Wednesday 3 October 13:10 Lunchtime concert by Jessica Leary (soprano) and Christopher Baxter (piano)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Friday 5 October 13:10 Music Society lunchtime concert by the University Folk and Trad Society

Friday 5 October

19:30

Younger Hall

‘The Illusionist’s Art’: Improvisation concert by Sietze de Vries, Richard Michael and Charles Balayer

St Salvator’s Chapel

Saturday 6 October 10:00-17:00 Improvisation workshops with Sietze de Vries, Richard Michael and Charles Balayer

Saturday 6 October

10:00-13:00

Various venues

Younger Hall Rehearsal Room

WEEK 4

Tuesday 9 October

13:10

Organ concert by Gary Sieling (Henley-on-Thames)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Wednesday 10 October

13:10

Lunchtime concert by Angela Stevenson (cello) and Graeme Stevenson (piano)

Byre Theatre

Friday 12 October

13:10

Music Society lunchtime concert: A Cappella Showcase

Younger Hall

Saturday 13 October

HARK: Soundings: Percussion, Stones, Bodies, Pulses

Younger Hall and Cupar Silo

10:00-21:00

Alexander Technique workshops with Heather Coates

WEEK 5

Sunday 14 October 14:30 & 19:30 University Opera Society presents John Blow’s Venus and Adonis

Monday 15 October

19:30

Byre Theatre

University Opera Society presents John Blow’s Venus and Adonis

Byre Theatre

Tuesday 16 October 13:10 Organ concert by Alexa Stier (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)

Wednesday 17 October

Wednesday 17 October

Thursday 18 October

13:10

St Salvator’s Chapel

Scottish Chamber Orchestra lunchtime concert by Maximiliano Martín (clarinet) and Scott Mitchell (piano)

Younger Hall

15:00-17:00

Scottish Chamber Orchestra clarinet masterclass with Maximiliano Martín

Younger Hall Rehearsal Room

19:30

St Andrews Concert Series presents the Heath Quartet

Byre Theatre Photo on previous page © Oli Walker

PULL-OUT FEATURE SEMESTER

DATE

TIME CONCERT

VENUE

Friday 19 October 13:10 Music Society lunchtime concert by the University Opera Society

Younger Hall

St Salvator’s Chapel

Friday 19 October

19:30

University Madrigal Group

Saturday 20 October 19:30 St Andrews Chamber Orchestra and the Fitzwilliam String Quartet

Younger Hall

WEEK 6

Tuesday 23 October

13:10

St Salvator’s Chapel

Wednesday 24 October

13:10

Organ concert by Rory Moules (Queen’s College, Oxford)

Lunchtime concert by Donald Robinson (cello) and Jeremy Coleman (piano)

Younger Hall

Wednesday 24 October 14:30 Music Talks with Jane Pettegree and Anne-Marie Weijmans:

The Judgement of Paris: sound, light and heavenly bodies, from Isaac Newton to the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys

Younger Hall Rehearsal Room

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Thursday 25 October

17:30

Fringe: John Eccles: The Judgement of Paris

Younger Hall

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Friday 26 October

13:10

Music Society lunchtime concert: student song recital

Younger Hall

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Friday 26 October

15:00

Masterclass with Jamie MacDougall

Younger Hall

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Friday 26 October

19:30

Tenebrae: We Will Remember Them

Holy Trinity Church

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Friday 26 October

22:00

Fringe: Jazz with Zoë Gilby

The Adamson

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Saturday 27 October

10:00 & 12:00

Singalong Film: Beauty and the Beast

Byre Theatre Studio

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Saturday 27 October

10:00

Come and Sing Choral Workshop with Nigel Short

Younger Hall

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Saturday 27 October

15:00

Scottish Opera: Opera Highlights

Byre Theatre

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Saturday 27 October

19:30

Kathryn Tickell: Tales & Tunes

Younger Hall

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Saturday 27 October

22:00

Fringe: Open Mic Folk Night

St Andrews Brewing Co Pub

WEEK 7 Sunday 28 October 13:00 Book reading with David Almond ST ANDREWS VOICES

St Katherine’s Hall, St Leonard’s Junior School

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Sunday 28 October

11:00

University Service with St Salvator’s Chapel Choir

St Salvator’s Chapel

ST ANDREWS VOICES

Sunday 28 October

15:00

Jamie MacDougall: Lauder

Byre Theatre

Tuesday 30 October

13:10

Organ concert by Michael Overbury (Newark)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Wednesday 31 October

13:10

Lunchtime concert by the Wallace Collection

Byre Theatre

Friday 2 November 13:10 Music Society lunchtime concert by vocal students of Jessica Leary

Younger Hall

Friday 2 November

19:30

University G&S Society presents The Mikado

Byre Theatre

Saturday 3 November

14:30

University G&S Society presents The Mikado

Byre Theatre

Saturday 3 November

19:30

University G&S Society presents The Mikado

Byre Theatre

WEEK 8

Monday 5 November

19:00

Music Centre Soloist Competition

Younger Hall

Tuesday 6 November 13:10 Organ concert by Seamus Heath (Campbell Watterson Organ Scholar)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Wednesday 7 November 13:10 Lunchtime concert by John Kenny: The Mouthpiece of the Gods

Wednesday 7 November

19:30

Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Schumann Cello Concerto

Byre Theatre Younger Hall

Friday 9 November 13:10 Music Society lunchtime concert by FELICE (Fife East Lively Chamber Ensemble)

Younger Hall

WEEK 9

Sunday 11 November

19:30

St Salvator’s Chapel Choir: In Remembrance

St Salvator’s Chapel

Tuesday 13 November

13:10

Organ concert by Geraud Guillemot (Chaource, France)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Wednesday 14 November 13:10 Lunchtime concert by Uli Evans (violin), Robin Mason (cello) and Peter Evans (piano): Ravel’s Piano Trio

Wednesday 14 November

14:30

Music Talks with Sarah Moerman and Parker Gordon

Friday 16 November

13:10

Music Society lunchtime concert by vocal students of Megan Read

Younger Hall Younger Hall Rehearsal Room

Younger Hall

PULL-OUT FEATURE SEMESTER

DATE

TIME CONCERT

VENUE

WEEK 10

Sunday 18 November

19:30

St Salvator’s Chapel

St Andrews Renaissance Singers

Monday 19 November 19:30 St Andrews Strings/St Andrews Chamber Choir: Sure on this Shining Light

St Salvator’s Chapel

St Salvator’s Chapel

Tuesday 20 November

13:10

Organ concert by Chris Bragg (St Andrews)

Wednesday 21 November 13:10 Lunchtime concert by Richard Michael (piano): The History of Jazz Piano, part I

FRINGE OF GOLD

Thursday 22 November

10:00-13:00

Younger Hall Younger Hall Rehearsal Room

Flute Masterclass by Ashley Solomon

FRINGE OF GOLD

Thursday 22 November

FRINGE OF GOLD

Friday 23 November

19:30

St Andrews Concert Series presents Ashley Solomon (baroque flute) and Terence Charlston (harpsichord)

St Salvator’s Chapel

13:10

Music Society lunchtime concert by St Andrews Brass and Music Centre Saxophone Ensemble

Younger Hall

FRINGE OF GOLD

Friday 23 November

17:30

Chosen Vale Trio play a Wallace Collection

St Salvator’s Chapel

FRINGE OF GOLD

Friday 23 November

19:30

University of St Andrews Wind Band and Big BUStA

Younger Hall

FRINGE OF GOLD

Saturday 24 November

13:10

Wind soloists of St Andrews Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra

St Salvator’s Chapel

14:30

Music in Museums: St Andrews Flute Ensemble

FRINGE OF GOLD

Saturday 24 November

Bell Pettigrew Museum

St Andrews Chorus: Handel’s Messiah

Younger Hall

WEEK 11 Sunday 25 November 15:00 FRINGE OF GOLD

Festival Finale: Unfinished Symphony (Tullis Russell Mills Band)

Younger Hall

Music Society Singers and Ukelear Fusion

FRINGE OF GOLD

Saturday 24 November

Monday 26 November

18:30

19:30

The Stage, Union Building

Tuesday 27 November

13:10

Organ concert by Henry Fairs (Honorary Professor of Organ)

St Salvator’s Chapel

Wednesday 28 November

13:10

Lunchtime concert by Scottish Opera Emerging Artists

St Salvator’s Chapel

Thursday 29 November

19:30

St Andrews Symphony Orchestra

Younger Hall

Friday 30 November

13:10

Lunchtime concert by students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Younger Hall

Friday 30 November

19:30

University Madrigal Group

St Salvator’s Chapel

Saturday 1 December

19:00

StAFCO Christmas Concert

Younger Hall

POST-SEMESTER

Sunday 2 December

19:30

University A Cappella Society Christmas Concert

Younger Hall

Wednesday 5 December

19:30

St Andrews Baroque Ensemble

St Salvator’s Chapel

Sunday 9 December

19:30

Heisenberg Ensemble

St Salvator’s Chapel

For further information about events at the University of St Andrews Music Centre, please call 01334 462226, email Head of Programming Chris Bragg, cjb30@st-andrews.ac.uk or visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk/music The University of St Andrews reserves the right to replace advertised performers or to amend the programme advertised in this brochure where it is found to be unavoidable.

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST! To receive our season brochure ‘Music in St Andrews’ through the post and/or receive our weekly email updates, please fill in the form below and return to the Music Centre office at the Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews, KY16 9AJ. Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Folk Jazz The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland. No: SC013532

ORGANISATIONS From Rob Gillie, Branch Development Manager with Cats Protection.

Cat carers desperately needed for local feline charity Cats Protection’s East Neuk of Fife Branch is looking to recruit fosterers to care for unwanted Volunteer with cat and abandoned cats, while they wait to find a new owner. Cat fostering is hands-on cat welfare work, looking after cats on a short-term basis, either in cat pens in their garden, or a spare room in their home.

The branch, which is run entirely by volunteers, needs people who can offer a temporary home to one or more cats whilst they get back on their paws.

“Cat fosterers play a vital role in our charity by caring for cats in their own home until a new owner can be found. No special equipment is needed, but cat fosterers do need to have either a spare room, or an area in their garden where a cat pen can be housed and, of course, a love of cats is a must. The charity will provide plenty of assistance and support materials for all fosterers. Offering a temporary home to a cat in need can be an incredibly rewarding experience, becoming a volunteer for Cats Protection is a great way to meet new friends – both human and feline!”

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity; the East Neuk of Fife Branch

is part of the charity’s nationwide network of over 250 volunteer-run branches, with 34 centres that together help around 190,000 cats and kittens each year. As well as finding new homes for unwanted and abandoned cats, the charity also offers cat care advice to the public, and can help towards the cost of neutering.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Cats Protection’s East Neuk of Fife Branch, then please call: 080800 191 919.

(Photo courtesy Rob Gillie)

Frank Quinault

Let’s Make Music!

The SCO is a professional orchestra of Making music is what Gillian Craig helps players of all ages and abilities the highest calibre, its musicians among the to do with StAFCO – the St Andrews and Fife Community Orchestra. The world’s top instrumentalists. Nevertheless, music they make together can be heard twice a year at concerts in the they are ready to sit and play alongside Younger Hall. The concerts are free, but raise funds for charity through the members of StAFCO and give them the involvement of the Rotary Club of St Andrews. sectional coaching sessions. They are “always StAFCO is remarkable because its members are not auditioned. It is enthusiastic and inspiring, able to ‘come truly open to all: recent beginners, ‘rusty’ musicians who have not played Gillian Craig down to our level’, kind and generous in their since their schooldays, even retirees who have taken up an instrument encouragement”. Together, Jill and the SCO for the first time late in life. The aim is to create a warm and welcoming have taken StAFCO far beyond scraping and tooting! environment that will bring out the best in everyone, whatever their Concert programmes must be chosen with care, capability; it succeeds in attracting not just locals, but to ensure that no part of the orchestra is faced with musicians from as far afield as Tayside, Angus, and The aim is to create a an insuperable technical challenge, but Jill always Edinburgh. They are willing to travel in order to take warm and welcoming asks her players for their suggestions. She aims for advantage of what is a unique opportunity. environment that will bring a variety of styles, with classical repertoire alongside StAFCO is a joint venture between the University out the best in everyone film, folk, light, and popular music, with an occasional of St Andrews Music Centre and its orchestra in jazz-inspired piece. Whenever possible she also residence, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. It began chooses a work from the SCO’s own repertoire so that “our players, in 2010 with what the SCO, as part of its outreach programme called, a having played it themselves, will feel a far greater involvement and “Scrapers-and-Tooters’ day.” StAFCO’s roots go back much further, to awareness when they hear the SCO play it”.

1988, when Jill Craig founded the St Andrews Ad Hoc Orchestra. It was Jill has always loved working with amateur players and StAFCO based in the Boys Brigade Hall, later in the Guide Hut, but the support of is a great joy in her life. She relishes it when they are joined by the the SCO and the University has enabled the creation of a much bigger St Andrews Youth Orchestra, with children as young as 6 playing together orchestra – so large in fact that the stage extension in the Younger Hall is with adults of all ages – even an octogenarian – a cross-generational needed to accommodate it. collaboration that music alone makes possible. Each year now, again Jill took up conducting to fill a vacancy for which no-one else had thanks to the SCO, the orchestra is joined at one of its concerts by a come forward, but soon discovered that she loved it. Much later, when guest soloist in a concerto, as they were this Spring by Principal Horn, she reached her 50th birthday, she decided it was “time to learn how Alec Frank-Gemmell – a tremendous treat for players and audience alike. to do it”! Since then, again in her own words, she has had “the huge StAFCO’s next concert, at the Younger Hall, St Andrews, on Saturday privilege” of taking part in classes given by Martyn Brabbins, Sian 1 December, with a hint of Christmas, will also see the welcome return to Edwards, George Hurst, Rodolfo Saglimbeni, Denise Ham, Robert St Andrews of Soprano, Angela Bell. Special guest for the Spring concert Hoolihan, John Longstaff. “All are inspirational and different, and I take on Wednesday 17 April will be Nikita Naumov, Principal Double Bass with the special things from each – conducting is about finding your own way the SCO. Both concerts will also feature the St Andrews Youth Orchestra, to communicate and that cannot be taught.”

Children’s and Youth Choirs.

Jill’s own music-making extends to many other engagements – for instance, playing clarinet and saxophone; conducting The Heisenberg Ensemble (St Andrews’ own professional orchestra); directing StAndrews Renaissance Singers; Ateovus the contemporary vocal ensemble); and StAndrews Youth Choir and Orchestra – but she somehow finds time to be a member of the Rotary Club of St Andrews, which has fostered another form of community-based collaboration, with the Club providing front-of-house and refreshment facilities at the StAFCO concerts. Thanks to generous sponsorship by various St Andrews businesses, all proceeds go to charity, so StAFCO helps good causes as well as making music.

If you play, or have played, an orchestral instrument, why not make music with StAFCO? Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings in the Younger Hall, that will begin on 19 September. For details, please email: music@st-andrews.ac.uk St Andrews and Fife Community Orchestra

(Photos courtesy Olli Walker)

17

ORGANISATIONS From Lindsay Matheson, Convener of the St Andrews Partnership floodlighting sub-group

“Let There Be Light” Since 2016 the St Andrews Partnership has archaeological work and track excavation for been working to restore the floodlighting of the electrical installation. New bat-boxes have our Cathedral ruins, and the tower of St Rule. been ordered and delivered to accommodate The initial planning application stalled owing those other admirers of our beautiful ruins. to an objection raised that resident bats might By day and by night these stones cast be adversely affected. Under a new sub-group a spell over the town, giving us pause for of the Partnership formed in January this year personal reflection as well as appreciation of a second application was prepared, having to the enterprise, ambition, and hope of those await the outcome of thorough bat surveys at who went before us. To believer, agnostic, or various seasons of the year. This application atheist, alike, they are a backdrop of great was submitted and registered significance to the whole in July 2018, with an outcome community. In his bright and By day and by night anticipated in September. scholarly synopsis of the 700th these stones cast a Meantime, a revised lighting anniversary of the Cathedral, spell over the town plan and costing have been currently being celebrated, prepared by local electrician RB Professor Ian Bradley in the Grant. Funds have been allowed (or pledged May/June issue of this magazine describes the on condition of planning) by the Kinburn ruins as “evocative and open to the sky”, also Trust; the R&A; the St Andrews Community setting our working group a target of having Trust; the Pilgrim Foundation; and the Fife the floodlights ready by St Andrew’s Day. No Environment Trust. Personal donations have pressure then! also been received from local supporters Another current project nearing completion of the scheme. St Andrews University has is the Pilgrim Way from Dunfermline to agreed to pay for the annual electrical running St Andrews. The soft white floodlights on the costs – a spokesperson stating memorably walls and towers in the evening should further that, “without the Cathedral there would have lift the spirits of walkers or pilgrims nearing been no University”. Historic Environment their goal. They may also encourage our Scotland (HES) will undertake any necessary imagination, our powers of visual recreation, to

The 2015 trials illustrate more clearly the story of our town in all its variety. Over his forty years of dedicated research and graphic representation, Jurek Pütter has shown us the way, most recently in his contribution to the July/August issue of this magazine on the “First and oldest Church of the Holy Trinity”, taking the story back into an age of warlords, high priests, early missionaries, and beyond, to ancient rites with pagan veneration of stone and tree.

The thought occurs that our little – yet great – town needs not only a few subtle floodlights, but also a place where this fascinating tale can be told and appreciated by all – citizen, pilgrim, and visitor. But let’s get the lights on first.

(Image courtesy Lindsay Matheson)

John Peacock

St Andrews Photographic Society Celebrates 60 Years since its Post War founding in St Andrews Out of this grew a circle of pioneer photographers, including St Andrews was a centre for research during the earliest developments in Dr John Adamson, Thomas Rodger — who in 1849 became the photography, due to the presence in the University of Sir David Brewster, first professional photographer in the town — and Robert Adamson, Principal of The United College of St Salvator and St Leonard, a physicist who collaborated with the artist David with a special interest in optics.

Octavius Hill in and around Edinburgh Brewster was a friend and collaborator The Society today comprises some forty to lay the foundations of documentary of William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor in amateur photographers with a common photography.

1839 of the first successful negative/positive interest in various aspects of photography A “St Andrews Photographic Society” process, known as the Calotype. Brewster came into existence around 1907; local was also Vice-President of the St Andrews directories record the names of the Office Bearers in 1909 and 1913, Literary and Philosophical Society, established in 1838. Although this but little else is known, and the society seems to have ceased during was never a photographic society, Brewster did present papers to it on World War I (1914-18). optics and early work on photography.

The modern Society was founded in 1958-1959, according to founding member Dr David Thirkell (University Biochemistry Dept), and Ian Kinghorn (Biochemistry technician and son of George Kinghorn) who joined the Club a year or so later.

The Society today comprises some forty amateur photographers with a common interest in various aspects of photography. It meets in the Art Club Rooms in Argyle Street every Wednesday at 7.30pm from mid-September to April, for a series of talks by both invited speakers and members, supplemented by practical evenings.

Society members take part in four internal competitions each season, covering digital images, colour and monochrome prints, in addition to participating in a number of regional competitions and Scottish Photographic Federation (SPF) events. Four Society Members have recently been very successful in having entries accepted for the 2018 Scottish Salon, which receives thousands of entries from around the world.

Stan Farrow FRPS EFIAP DPAGB has also had entries accepted for the 156th International Print Exhibition of Photography, that forms part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. These photographs could be viewed at Venue130 68 Great King Street during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018.

The Society will be exhibiting work in Holy Trinity Church St Andrews during the St Andrews Photographic Festival in October.

‘Golden Girl’ by current Society President, Nicola Shepherd LRPS

18

ORGANISATIONS

19

SHOPS & SERVICES Sam Mace, Owner and Instructor of ‘The View’ Studio, St Andrews interviews

‘Silver Seals’

Have you ever wondered why some people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, even 90s, have zest for life? In St Andrews we choose to nickname them, ‘silver seals’. These ‘silver seals’ seem to be able to swim for longer, move with a spring! Their population around St Andrews and Fife seems to be on the increase. Ever questioned how being over 50 and seemingly ageless can occur? Could it be the lifestyles they lead and the fresh sea air that they breathe?

I decided to find out more by interviewing a number of St Andrews’ ‘silver seals’ on how they manage it.

The initial question – Was turning 50/60/70/80/90 a big life changer for you and why?

The most common answers I received was that no particular decade was a life changer, that life is there to be taken advantage of at any age. Some believe that time awarded is the chance to explore new opportunities for self-fulfilment, to have fun with friends and family.

Exercise for these particular silver seals is a way of prolonging this at any age. Life, as they say, is for living. Keeping a positive attitude at any age is probably the biggest life changer.

The next question I asked was, you have appeared to age positively – what are your top tips on living life to the fullest?

Due to the variety of answers we now have a great list of tips: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Keep moving Stay interested in the world around you Do what you enjoy / have fun You are never too old Make exercising a regular occurrence Take part in social activities Eat healthily Talk and meet people Have something in the week to look forward too Be comfortable in your own skin Usually you get back what you put in Positivity, a smile goes a long way

Most of these ‘Silver Seals’ refer to exercise. Our next question asks, having started Pilates / Barre / Yoga / Nordic Walking, what are the greatest benefits you see in the exercise?

For Pilates the silver seals listed having found their core, understanding the importance of alignment and stretching. Pilates also offers improved flexibility and suppleness.

Yoga has offered the seals a range of benefits including the improvement of overall fitness; great for both the mind and body. In

respect to the body the benefits include increased flexibility, balance, strength, and body awareness.

Silver seals have found that practising Barre has similar benefits for the body to those listed for Pilates and yoga, but one seal also realised that with the Barre classes she attends she is often amongst the young, which really lifts her spirit!

We asked our ‘Silver Seals’ what their top health and fitness tips are for men and women over 50?

The silver seals have these great health tips for those over 50: • • • • • • • •

Look around, find some form of exercise that will suit you, there is certain to be something out there Don’t be afraid to try something new; you are never too old Participate in social activities Eat healthily Keep the brain active Drink plenty of water Exercise classes are a great way to both exercise and socialise, whilst being instructed in how to keep oneself safe from injury Most importantly, have fun.

Lastly we asked our ‘Silver Seals’ what they enjoy most about being in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s?

Again, the general opinion was that age is not an issue. Every decade brings with it new joys. For instance, one seal revealed that being aged 60+ was so enjoyable because it meant there was time, space, and the finances to be able to make choices. For another the amount of memories increase as the decades go by. Some remember rationing, man landing on the moon, the civil rights movement, seeing the Beatles in concert, the crazy fashions over the years. Every memory reminds the seal that life has never been boring.

Overall, the ‘Silver Seals’ concluded that we are all living longer; being fitter for longer seems to be an accumulation of positive attitudes, gratitude for each healthy day, healthy diet, regular exercising, socialising, having fun.

I would therefore recommend that in order to join these amazing silver seals that you start acting upon their recommendation today.

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SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter 1.

Lada Wilson is amazing! She had the imagination and the perseverance to turn a redundant telephone box into an art gallery.

Named, the 201 Telephone Box Gallery in Strathkinness it opened in May this year, the ceremonial ribbon being cut by Cllr Ann Verner.

The box, threatened with removal, was purchased by Strathkinness Community Trust for the princely sum of £1. The original number of the phone in the box was 01334 850 201; people answered calls with, “Strathkinness 201” – hence the name of the new Gallery. Lada, a local artist and lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Perth, plans to have a new exhibition every 40 days.

Supported by a generous award from the Fife Decorative & Fine Arts Society, already a range of artists is lined up. The first exhibition by Mat Dugard, showed a combination of traditional and digital media, followed in the village by an illustrated talk on his work. The July exhibition was by French furniture designer, Aymeric Renoud, based in Dundee, who has developed a novel use for ‘draff’, the waste from the brewing and gin distillation industry. Contact Lada for more information: gallery201curator@gmail.com Full updates are on: www.facebook.com/201artgallery Reporter is blown away with admiration!

(Photo courtesy Scott Wilson)

*****

2. Reporter loves creativity! So it was a great pleasure to meet Master Stone Mason, Mark Ritchie. He was born and grew up in St Andrews. For 21 years he worked with W L Watson & Sons, honing his outstanding skills carving stone. Among his many works are The R&A Bay window; The Queen Mother Memorial Gates at Glamis Castle; The Princess Margaret Arch also at Glamis Castle.

See this issue, page 8 for his latest stunning piece, the Jamie Anderson tombstone in the Cathedral cemetery. Having started his own business in 2011, St Andrews Memorials and Stone Carving, Mark goes from strength to strength. Contact him to discuss requirements for special commemorative stone work at: 07808 177 885. You’ll be delighted, assures Reporter!

(Photo courtesy Mark Ritchie)

*****

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EVENTS Frank Quinault, on the pageant recalling

© Ken Cochran © Ken Cochran

Bishop William Lamberton officiated at the consecration of St Andrews Cathedral on 5 July 1318, more than a century and a half after the building had begun of what was Scotland’s largest church. King Robert the Bruce was also present, giving thanks for his victory at Bannockburn four years earlier. The Bishop and the King are both characters in the annual Kate Kennedy Procession each recently acquiring a spectacular new costume, researched and designed

by Mark Dennis. This prompted the Kate Kennedy Trust to suggest that it could help to mark the 700th anniversary of the consecration by putting these new costumes on display.

It was thanks to Dr Bess Rhodes that what was originally envisaged as a simple photoshoot became instead a full-scale Pageant. Bess, who is a mediaeval historian with a special interest in the Cathedral, scripted eight scenes that told its story, beginning with an imaginary meeting between St Regulus and St Andrew himself. Culdee monks, the saintly Queen Margaret, Henry Wardlaw founder of the University, and Prior Haldenstone (whose historical significance was recently acknowledged by the erection of a blue plaque outside Deans Court) were among the characters portrayed, together with two more bishops – Turgot and Robert – for whom new costumes were specially created.

The penultimate scene featured John Knox and the Reformation, before Bess’s script turned the clock back to the consecration itself and the arrival of The Bruce: not, sadly, on horseback as tradition would have it, but accompanied by two splendidly attired attendants, and a Page bearing flowers.

The Pageant played to a large, enthusiastic audience, under a heavenly blue sky, against the backdrop of the Cathedral itself, during the afternoon of Saturday 30 June. Thanks are due to the co-directors, Wendy Quinault and Mark Dennis, to the University, and the St Andrews Play Club for their support, also to Historic Environment Scotland, without whose consent and active participation the Pageant could not have happened.

© Peter Adamson

The Story of St Andrews Cathedral

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© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

(Photos courtesy of Peter Adamson, and Ken Cochran)

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

© Ken Cochran

© Ken Cochran

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

© Peter Adamson

EVENTS

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EVENTS From Michel Joullié, President of the Modestine Society

Golf Meeting at St Andrews On Tuesday, 17 July, Gabriel Varga, of Slovakia, won the Modestine Society golf competition at the Fairmont Kittocks course, “with a net Stableford score of 38”.

The photo shows him being presented with the Tailend Trophy, by Jessica & Darren Spink, managers of the Tailend Seafood Restaurant in St Andrews.

Michel Joullié is on the left.

(Photo courtesy the Modestine Society)

From Fran Sauberlich, Regeneration Fundraising Committee

St Athernase Church of Scotland in Leuchars The scaffolding finally came down in early Spring, bringing an end to the first phase of the Regeneration of St Athernase. The church is now wind-andwatertight. The roof was replaced and renewed, rainwater goods were replaced, the external walls and windows were restored, an improved drainage system was installed. In addition, extra funding was granted to enable the internal walls to be plastered and decorated.

All who have seen the Church are in agreement that St Athernase has been transformed. Efforts are now directed towards raising funds to allow the next phase of work to be carried out; to make the church accessible to all and ensure that this architectural gem is preserved for future generations.

The Fundraising and Regeneration Committee have planned a number of events to be held in the near future. We hope that you will be tempted to come along and support us.

Talk and Taste Cairn O’Mohr Winery, Errol, will be coming on Thursday, 20 September, bringing with them a selection of their wonderful fruit wines for us to taste.

Cairn O’Mohr produce award-winning wines from fruit grown locally as far as is possible. Having been on one of the tours at the winery and enjoyed the tasting room at the end of the tour, I can highly recommend this evening.

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There will be a talk on the history of the winery and the making of the wines, followed by tutored sampling of 7 regular fruit wines plus non-alcoholic drinks, with some seasonal specials, or limited editions.

Orders for the wine can be taken and paid for at the event. Cairn O’Mohr have offered to donate a percentage of their sales on the evening to our fundraising. The wine ordered will be delivered to the Committee approximately one week later and arrangements made for collection or delivery.

Tickets for the Talk and Taste will be £5.00 and this includes cheese and oatcakes!

These can be obtained from any member of the Fundraising Committee; from Alison Jeffrey on 01334 870 674; or on the door.

Music and Tea at Three Sunday, 28 October, 3.00pm. in St Athernase Church in Leuchars. A concert of music ranging from Baroque and Classical to Romantic and Modern, played by the Eumelia Ensemble and the Eumelia Junior Ensemble on Violin, Cello, and Oboe, plus the choir of St Athernase.

Tickets, (refreshments included), £10, from Alison Jeffrey: 01334 870 674, and on the door. All proceeds are to be donated to the Church Regeneration Fund.

The refurbished interior (Photos courtesy St Athernase Church)

EVENTS Joyce Duncan reports

‘Rencontres Européennes’ 11-14 July 2018 The town of Loches en Touraine, now twinned with St Andrews, was at the heart of this European Festival for young people from all 28 countries of the EU. Representing Scotland were a small group of Highland dancers from the Joyce Anderson School of Dance, together with their piper Craig McNicol, accompanied by a few members of the St Andrews – Loches Alliance.

This year the theme of the Festival was ‘Se souvenir de l’Avenir’ / ‘Remembering the Future’ and while the future for the Scottish contingent looked very uncertain, political problems were cast aside as everyone remembered that geographically at least, all were indeed European, belonging, as Churchill had said in the aftermath of WWll, to the same ‘European family’. The theme was presented in a film featuring young people from all over Europe who, in many languages, expressed their hopes (and fears) for the future of Europe.

A frank discussion followed. Present that morning was Madame Bouygues, Deputy Director of Communication in Brussels who was left in no doubt as to the expectations of her young audience in respect of the European Commission.

The serious part of the Festival over, the participants enjoyed each other’s company, with dances from all over Europe (Scotland’s were the stars here!) singing and music making. They shared food from other countries

and celebrated with the group from Tetbur, who signed their twinning agreement with Chatillon, a town near Loches also participating in the Festival.

The ‘Rencontres européennes’ ended on 14 July in Loches, when everyone gathered round the main square. Dressed in their national costumes and bearing the flags of their countries they joined in the Bastille Day celebrations with the French. Spectacular fireworks that night were a very fitting finale.

It was a busy few days, the weather was very hot indeed, the kilts were heavy, the language sometimes too difficult, but the Scottish group who took part agreed that it had been a very enriching experience.

(Photos courtesy Elizabeth Gray)

Selected Events Saturday, 1 September – 9.00am to1.00pm. Argyle Street car park. Farmers’ Market.

– 11.30am. Waterstones bookshop, Market Street, St Andrews.

Saturday Children’s Storytime. A wide range of authors and illustrators, classical to modern.

Tuesday, 2 October – 6.30pm (Please note new time). Lecture Theatre B, Chemistry Dept, North Haugh. What Beatrix Potter can tell us about Fungi, a talk by Professor Roy Watling, for Friends of the Botanic Garden. Free, all welcome. Contact: angelamontford2@gmail.com

Tuesday, 4 to Saturday, 8 September – 7.30pm. The Byre Theatre, St Andrews. Oliver, Anstruther & District Amateur Musical Society.

Saturday, 6 October – 9.00am to 1.00pm. Argyle Street car park.

Farmers’ Market.

Thursday, 6 September – 7.00pm. Rooftop Café, British Golf Museum, Bruce Embankment. Golf, Gas, and the Great War: the Edinburgh meeting of war poets, Owen, Graves, and Sassoon, a talk by Dr Neil McLennan and Catherine Walker MBE. Entry Free.

Sunday, 7 October – 6.00pm. Mitchell’s, Market Street, St Andrews. Jazz Sundays. Early evening jazz along with a drink & a bite to eat.

Saturday, 8 September – 11.00am to 4.00pm. Preservation Trust Museum, North Street. Autumn Fair. Contact: sapt-curator@btconnect.com Wednesday, 12 September – 7.00pm. New Picture House, St Andrews. The Merry Wives of Windsor. Live from The Royal Shakespeare Company. For further information & booking contact: nph.nphcinema.co.uk Thursday, 13 September – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews. Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor, Cristian Macelaru. Nielson Clarinet Concerto, soloist, Mark Simpson.

Also music by Mozart, Prokofiev, Beethoven. Tickets from the Byre Theatre, or online: info@sco.org.uk Sunday, 16 September – 10.30am to 1.00pm. The Flower Barn, Balgove Larder, Strathtyrum. Autumn Shades. Flower experts teach the art of arrangement; a hands-on class.

Thursday, 11 October – 6.45pm. Arts Lecture Theatre, Arts Building, The Scores. Preservation Trust Lecture by The University Principal Sally Mapstone. Contact: trust@stapt.org.uk Saturday, 20 October – 10.00am to 3.00pm. Victory Memorial Hall, St Mary’s Place, St Andrews. Fife Craft Association Sale.

Saturday, 27 October – 10.00am to 2.30pm. St Andrews Town Hall. Annual Charity Christmas Card Sale downstairs, with Free Blood Pressure Checks upstairs (Know Your Numbers!). Free Entry. Refreshments on Sale. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of St Andrews. Contact: pp.ndavidson@btinternet.com Sunday, 28 October – 02.00am Clocks go back to 01:00 UTC. – 1.00pm. St Katherine’s Hall, St Leonards Junior School, The Pends. A Telling of Stories with David Almond. David will be reading from four of his books.

Thursday, 20 September – 7.00pm. Rooftop Café, British Golf Museum, Bruce Embankemnt. History of the Ladies Golf Union a talk by Diane Bailey MBE. Free, but booking advised.

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OUT & ABOUT Tim Hardie’s

Nature Notes Who would have believed, when we were was unable to do it. No surprise there, thought all battening down the hatches on the arrival Philippa. But no, Archie had come across a of the Beast from the East in early March, hedgehog with six little hedgehoglets tucked that four months later we would be basking away in the straw. Mrs Hedgehog moved house in the hottest summer since 1976. Seriously shortly afterwards to avoid peering teenagers.

1976, that is a long time All my blackbirds and ago, so there should be no thrushes have vacated the Archie had come across complaints from anybody! a hedgehog with six little garden. They seem almost The recent open scarce at the moment. I hedgehoglets tucked Championship at Carnoustie imagine, like lots of bird it is away in the straw was a startling success, moulting season and they are the parched fairways, huge well advised to live a quieter crowds, quite spectacular setting by the mouth life out of the limelight. I even noticed the other of the River Tay was a perfect place for the day the chieftain of the hen run looking a bit form golfer in World Golf to rightfully collect his ragged. Almost certainly first major. Congratulations Francesco! he’s planning on a brand Last week I had a few hours with family new livery in time for the fishing on a little trout loch in the hills above point of lay pullets arriving in Strathardle. Needless to say, the fishing was September; he likes a young lousy, but I was impressed by the swifts that bird! arrived intermittently, and hunted with such My friend the peregrine verve and swagger that it must have made has been about here at them wonder what we were doing. Their home, although I have not pouches in their mouths were soon crammed seen him. A pea field was with insects as they vanished as quickly as recently harvested. Soon they had arrived to go and feed their chicks in the local wood pigeon some far-away buildings many miles distant. population took advantage I was chatting to my lovely sister Philippa and descended to feast on the other day; she was telling me that having the left-over goodies, which instructed her youngest son to go and clean out seems fine until you realise her dog kennel, he had reported back that he they are being watched

and don’t all return home. I found three free carcasses, freshly killed, plucked and stripped to the bone, and there is only one supreme hunter that can do this.

The swallows and martins have reared plenty of broods, while the hot summer I am sure has proved a bonanza for insect-loving creatures. The bats in turn are no doubt doing well; certainly my field mice continue to prosper, devouring my peas on a nightly basis, but I’m not complaining.

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

Craig Gilbert

Crail to Anstruther, an everchanging landscape Recently, I took a wonderful walk from the old harbour of Crail to the equally old harbour of Anstruther (via Cellardyke).

Crail never fails to impress me, with its aromatic smells of lobster-fishing in its old harbour, with the cobbled streets and its homemade pottery. Leaving the town to walk the coastal path, a wellknown right of way as well as a core path, one has to travel behind nestled homes and harbour walls, vault steep inclines and stone steps, wander along grass and wildflower meadows; the result is a versatile and memorable adventure that always changes through the seasons.

The sight of the Caiplie Caves is an enduring image; the far cave seems to be glancing back at you, with its facial mouth and eye feature.

The caves were first used for worship in the ninth century by Christians.

Carved crosses can be found in some of the caves. It startles me that at some point in the distant past, these caves must have been formed by the sea, although where they stand now they rise above a grassy

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meadow basin. As such they have a stark, striking appearance to their surroundings.

As one walks this route towards Cellardyke, the Isle of May winks at you from the horizon, invariably changing its position as you walk further along. The great cliffs of the island, wreathed in white gannet droppings, are clearly visible. One’s awareness is brought back suddenly with the hoots of oystercatchers along the foreshore closer to you.

Reaching Cellardyke, I love the fact that people are still hanging their laundry along the harbour walls. It is like going back in time, witnessing the old buildings nestled between the more modern caravan park and playground. Interestingly, maps still show Cellardyke’s harbour as being called ‘Skinfast Haven’.

The walk to Anstruther from Crail is around three miles, and what better way to finish the route than to sample fish and chips at one of the fish restaurants in Anstruther, although a keen eye on the hovering seagulls is required!

(Photos courtesy Craig Gilbert)

Caiplie Caves

OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe

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

Steps Walking around the town, a feature that is immediately obvious in some parts of the centre are those houses which have an outside staircase leading to the first floor of the building. At one time there were many more examples, but the improvement works carried out by Hugh Playfair as Baillie saw the loss of many of the porches and stairs which were a feature of many houses in the 1800s.

Those that have survived add character to the town and are a reminder of times past.

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe)

Saint Gregory’s

South Castle Street

South Castle Street

College Street

North Street

North Street

South Street

North Street

North Street

St Salvators

St Salvators

St Mary’s

The Links

Market Street

The Scores

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