St Andrews in Focus Issue 93 Mar Apr 2019

St Andrews in focus ISSN 2514-409X

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

March/April 2019 Issue 93, £2.00

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

St

Andrews in focus

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

From the Editor

For some reason I was thinking about platitudes, defined in my Collins dictionary as: ‘a trite, dull, or obvious remark or statement’. Then, idly, I clicked on Google, finding a rather long list of examples; such as, ‘beauty is only skin deep’, ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’, ‘better late than never’, ‘it wasn’t meant to be’, and so on. The ensuing ‘discussion’ below it was intriguing, itself full of platitudes. Only one person wondered if alternative phrases could be found. Of course, there are many ways to express (From a photo by Caroline Trotter) oneself, but surely platitudes exist as descriptive shortcuts readily understood by co-speakers of the language. Often derided as mere props for unimaginative people of various kinds, they nevertheless are firmly embedded in daily usage. Arguments about them are very much, “Like the bubbles on a river/Sparkling, bursting, borne away.” (pace, Percy Bysshe Shelley). How do you see them?

Flora Selwyn

********

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

Contents FEATURES •

The Community Council

3

•

Where are the golf balls?

3

•

Bar Mitzvah celebration

4

•

Ask the Curator

5

•

Cathedral lights

5

•

Reflections

6

•

Past days

7

TOWN & GOWN •

A team for all

8

•

This year’s Sabbaticals

9

• Postcards

10

•

11

Origins of the KK Club

SHOPS & SERVICES •

A needed role in the community

12

MARCH / APRIL 2019

•

Celebrating 50 years

13

EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com

•

West Port Printers go forward

14

•

Roving Reporter

15

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.

Subscriptions for 6 issues are: £15 in the UK (post & packing included).

Please send cheques to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., Suite 160, 15 Bell Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9UR. £27 overseas (post and packing included).

Please use PayPal account: editor@StAndrewsinFocus.com NOTE: please pay with a Personal Bank Account, as credit cards incur a 3.9% charge.

REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND: 255564 THE PAPER USED IS 100% RECYCLED POST-CONSUMER WASTE

2

EVENTS •

A musical collaboration

16

•

Memorial Concert

17

•

Poetry in the Junor Gallery

17

•

Selected Events

17

ORGANISATIONS •

Volunteers needed

18

•

Gibson Care

18

•

St Andrews in Bloom, a plea

19

•

The St Andrews-Loches Alliance

19

•

Men’s Shed

20

OUT & ABOUT •

Tim Hardie’s Nature Notes

21

•

Coastal walk

22

•

Hidden Gems

23

NEXT ISSUE – May/Jun 2019 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 MARCH

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

Cover: March Hare, an original image by David Joy

FEATURES Callum MacLeod, from the Provost’s Chair

The Community Council On 20 March the term of office of the current Community Council will come to an end. On 21 March a new Council will be elected, by ballot if more than 20 candidates stand. If there is to be a ballot – unknown at the time of writing – I urge all voters to take part in the democratic process and return their ballot papers in good time.

The end of 2018 was a typically busy time for the Council. In November we said a fond farewell to retiring Member, Dr Ian Goudie, who has served the town for more than thirty years and must therefore be one of Scotland’s longest-serving Community Councillors. Ian made an invaluable contribution over the decades, serving as Vice-Chairman and Chairman. His wise counsel and his incisive analysis of planning matters in particular will be sorely missed.

On Remembrance Sunday I, along with our MP Stephen Gethins, our MSP Willie Rennie, Fife Councillor Ann Verner, and many others representing organisations both military and civic, had the great honour of laying a wreath at the War Memorial, the centenary year being a particularly poignant occasion to have that privilege.

In something of a contrast I then had the pleasure, with Depute Provost of

Fife, Cllr Julie Ford, of switching on the Winter Lights in the company of Dennis the Menace & Gnasher and the hugelyentertaining celebrity lookalike performer “Simply Rod”, who was delighted after his own performance to hear “I am sailing”, played on the Holy Trinity carillon. The Winter Lights are intended to brighten the long, dark winter nights, so remain on from November to March.

Also lightening the darkness is the new, striking Cathedral floodlighting, a marvellous birthday present for its 700th Anniversary. It was touch and go whether the works would be completed by St Andrew’s Day but, driven along by the indefatigable energy and unflappability of the team undertaking this project, under the leadership of former Rector of Madras College Lindsay Matheson, installation was achieved just in time.

St Andrew’s Tide saw the organisation of a full programme of events, including BID St Andrews’ Torchlight Parade of Shining Stars and Fireworks Display, and our own Beating Retreat with the City of St Andrews Pipe Band and Civic Reception, held fittingly on St Andrew’s Day itself. Also notable were the activities of the Student Community Relations Group who, under the enthusiastic leadership of Morgan Morris, organised a week-long programme of

outreach events ranging from a Christmas Market on Madras lawn to a showing of “our very own” film “Chariots of Fire”. Who, like me, can remember the cheer that went up in the cinema, all those decades ago, when St Andrews (masquerading somewhat improbably as a town in Kent) hove into view on the screen? We ended the year with our very popular Senior Citizens Treat, organised with military precision by John Jardine.

And what of the years to come?

Perhaps in the spirit of the sacrifice we commemorated last year our priority should be making life better and easier for those less fortunate – securing and developing Jerry Beaulier’s fantastic Beach Wheelchair scheme; ensuring that a Changing Places facility is brought to fruition within the redevelopment of the Bruce Embankment Toilets; and reversing the decision to close the Out-of-Hours provision for St Andrews and the surrounding area at our Community Hospital, something which our Vice-Chairman Penelope Fraser has, with others, done so much to demand of those in authority.

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

Out of Focus

3

FEATURES Flora Selwyn was privileged to be invited to

St Andrews’ first Bar Mitzvah In December last year, young Joseph Shackman celebrated his 13th were recently moved to St Andrews from the synagogue in Dundee, birthday. Being Jewish, that was a milestone to be recognised by a enabling the Bar Mitzvah, and other services in future, to be held here.

Bar Mitzvah, a proclamation of his coming of age into the community.

Bill spoke movingly of his son’s journey to this point, how his family ‘Bar’ means ‘young man’ (or ‘Bat’ a ‘young woman’), ‘Mitzvah’ means loves him for his “insatiable curiosity…his snarky humour, his big ideas, ‘commandment’. To be a “Bar Mitzvah” means becoming a full participant and even bigger heart.” Joseph, now in S1, Madras College, is an avid in the commandments of Judaism. reader, interested in science, classical cultures, politics, and art history.

Joseph elected to hold his Bar Mitzvah in St Andrews. As far as is He participates in beach cleanups and supports charities. On the known, it was the very first such event ever held in the town, making it occasion of his Bar Mitzvah he supported the World Wildlife Foundation, doubly special. and HIAS, a Jewish organization helping to protect refugees around Joseph Shackman, born on 26 December 2005 in New York, was the world. He has two siblings, Lena, 10, and Samuel, 7, both still at named after two relatives: Joseph Shachman and Joseph Michelson. His Lawhead Primary School. parents, Emily and Bill, are American; they moved It is customary to celebrate Bar/Bat Mitzvahs to St Andrews in 2009. Relatives and friends with a party after the formal religious service. True came to the Bar Mitzvah from all over the world. to form, Emily and Bill organised a real ceilidh Joseph elected to hold his University students and alumni also attended, as in the St Andrews Bowling Club that evening, did the University Chaplain, Donald MacEwan, introducing the many overseas relatives and Bar Mitzvah in St Andrews. together with local friends and families. The guests to a Scottish hoolie! The professional, As far as is known, it was ceremony was held in the University Chaplaincy local 4-piece band was Skyrie, known to Bill from Centre, where both Bill and Emily are Honorary the traditional music scene, where Bill is himself a the very first such event Lay Chaplains to the Jewish students. “We both”, mainstay musician. ever held in the town, explains Emily, “have quite a lot of experience Joseph summed up, “I really liked my Bar with Jewish organisations, leadership, and Mitzvah; it was great, and I got to spend time making it doubly special. education. We also have a very good relationship with all my friends and family. The experience with both the Chaplaincy and the wonderful was really fun. I enjoyed it more because we students. So we feel very fortunate to be able to had organised everything ourselves. To me collaborate with this small, but vibrant, community. Holding Joseph’s Bar St Andrews was the obvious choice – I have lived here most of my life, Mitzvah here made the town feel more like home than ever.” it’s my home, and therefore I wanted to have this event here.”

Since the celebration took place on a Saturday, the Sabbath (Shabbat), there was a set order to the service led by the shaliach Post Scriptum by the University’s Chaplain, Revd Dr Donald tzibbur, leader of the congregational prayers – in this case Emily and MacEwan: For many years the University Chaplaincy building, also Bill themselves, entirely in Hebrew. The congregation joined in with known as Mansefield on St Mary’s Place, has hosted Jewish Society joyous, tuneful responses. The order of service was set out, with detailed events and religious services. But over the past year it has also come explanations for the uninitiated, in a beautifully prepared booklet, in to be home for two Torah scrolls for the local Jewish congregation.

Hebrew and English, allowing everyone to feel fully part of it. It was a Almost immediately, this allowed the Chaplaincy to host the wonderful long service too, because it coincided with both the seasonal festival of occasion, which was the Bar Mitzvah of Joseph Michelson Shackman, Chanucah and the new moon (Rosh Chodesh). son of the University’s lay Jewish Chaplains, Emily and Bill Shackman.

Central to the service, Joseph was called up for the blessing to read I was delighted to be invited, even more, honoured to be asked to read from the Sefer Torah, (the Torah scroll, containing the 5 Books of Moses) a prayer for the civic authorities. The Bar Mitzvah – my first – was a signifying the community’s recognition that he is now an adult. He wore rich, happy, and memorable experience. The sense of warmth within the a skullcap (kippah) on his head, and a prayer shawl (tallit) round his family, the responsibility and insight shown by Joseph himself, and the shoulders. The reading was from Miketz, Genesis 41:1-44:17, the story significance of handing on the faith to the next generation were palpable. of Joseph in Egypt. The Bar Mitzvah boy then recounted the Biblical As a minister, I brought to mind Christian rituals of growing maturity, story of Joseph in English. which now seemed stilted and colourless by comparison. And of course, The Torah scrolls were lifted to display the open scrolls, symbolising as Chaplain, I can now truly say I am available for baptisms, weddings, that the Torah is an open book belonging to all. They were taken round funerals... and Bar Mitzvahs! the room for everyone to show respect, before being covered once more with their beautiful mantles and returned to the ‘Ark’. The Torah Scrolls (Photos by Caroline Trotter, with permission)

Ceilidh

4

Parents and siblings

FEATURES Nicola Moss, The Preservation Trust Museum’s Curator

Has the answer Q. Can you tell me about the St Andrews Memorial Hospital?

A. The history of the St Andrews Memorial Hospital goes back to the mid-1800s.

In 1864 the Douglas Cottage Hospital opened at 33 Abbey Street as a memorial to Lady Douglas of Grangemuir and Dunino. By 1866, Dr John Adamson and Dr Oswald Home Bell had established a small ‘cottage’ hospital for the treatment of minor injuries and non-infectious diseases. In 1877, the hospital was moved to Greenhill Villa in Abbotsford Place.

By the late 1890s, because the hospital had become inadequate in size and facilities, plans were being made to build a new hospital on Abbey Walk. Shortly after building started, the famous golfer, Freddie Tait (18701900) was killed in action fighting with the Black Watch Regiment during the Boer War. The money raised by the Freddie Tait Memorial Fund helped to fund the new hospital, which was larger and better than initially planned.

A special ward was named in his honour. The new hospital was opened

by Freddie Tait’s mother on 27 August 1902.

Over the years, the St Andrews Memorial Hospital was extended and modernised with help from legacies and donations. In 1905 the annexe for a children’s ward was gifted by Colonel James Thomson. Miss Janet Webster of Guardbridge gifted a maternity wing to the Memorial Hospital in 1926. The Tom Morris Memorial Bed was gifted in 1912 in memory of the famous golfer.

The building closed when the new Community Hospital opened in 2009.

Liz Taylor of Balmullo

Cathedral Lights Standing bold against the ink black sky, Your tower twins demand the awe And solemn admiration of our passing eyes.

Each Gothic arch, each pillar stands aglow.

Light seeks out moulding, nook and portal, While lurking shadows treasure fast The wraiths and secret spectres of your past.

(Photo by Peter Adamson)

5

FEATURES Colin McAllister, Retired Lecturer in Economics, Dundee College

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, the slogans of the French Revolutionaries. What could be more noble, more acceptable? The word slogan, incidentally, is from Gaelic, meaning a war cry.

Hence it is a simplified message, a rallying cry.

But do these slogans bear close examination, are they in any way compatible?

Liberty sounds a fine thing – freedom from constraint, captivity, slavery, or tyranny, freedom to act as one chooses, the unconstrained enjoyment of natural rights, the power of free choice. It is clear Liberty does not mean Licence, which is excess or abuse of freedom, licentiousness, libertinage, or debauchery. Liberty is bounded by the rights of others. For example, one is not free, for this reason, to drive dangerously, or to smoke indoors. Liberty is therefore not absolute.

Equality also sounds admirable – the condition of being equal, evenness, But Equality is often confused with Equity, a right as founded in the laws of nature, moral justice, fairness. Men and women are equal in their human dignity, their rights to freedom of expression, to vote and so on, but they are not equal in their physical and psychological makeup. Men and women play golf, tennis, rugby, football, etc, but not normally as integrated teams because of their differing physical abilities. Men and women should of course

6

have equal pay for equal work – anything less best qualifications for the job in hand. Indeed, would be inequitable, but women who only Equality is the wrong target. Equity is what we play three sets of tennis should not have equal should aim for. pay with men who play five sets of tennis.

Equity means equal freedom to be Equity demands that those women should get unequal. Some will study hard to get to 60% of what men earn. Some people today University, and will get a good job as a doctor, talk of equal marriage. This is a misnomer. dentist, and so on. Others will not, and will Marriage means the union between a man and end up in lower-paid jobs. Some will spend a woman as husband and all their income and not wife. Anything else may save, others will save and be a civil union, but it is will end up having more What we need is a not marriage. As Thomas assets. Older people will Jefferson said, “There is balance between Liberty, tend to have more assets no greater inequality than because they are older.

Equity, and Fraternity the equal treatment of So some inequality in the unequals.” distribution of income and Fraternity means the wealth is justified. Clearly, state of being brothers. not all inequality in wealth That suggests something in common, originally and income is equitable, but neither is it the a common parent, but more loosely an case that all inequality is inequitable. association with a common objective.

Today’s sloganeering of Equality is based My contention is that Liberty, Equality, on a mistaken premise that Equality is the Fraternity are a cat’s cradle. Too much Liberty same as Equity. What we need is a balance leads to Inequality – witness the widening between Liberty, Equity, and Fraternity. Without income gap in modem Britain and in the that, we will suffer a loss of Fraternity. We United States. Too much Equality leads can see that in the votes of the dispossessed to infringements on Liberty – witness the and marginalised for Trump, and in the votes Politically Correct limitations on freedom of for Brexit among those left behind by the speech, and the use of racial, sexual, or other globalised economy. quotas on employment at the expense of the

FEATURES Norman Izzett fondly remembers

Days Past in St Andrews It was inevitable that I should study at St Andrews. As a boy, I had spent holidays in Fife, first in Elie. From there my parents took me to St Andrews, where they lost me in South Street. They went to the Police. My mother asked, “What if he can’t be found?” The reply was, “You would have to go back to Elie.” However, I was found. I had run clockwise: South Street, Bell Street, Market Street, Church Street to the Post Office, where I saw Mother. I still remember the relief I felt. I suspect she never forgave me for running away.

Our first holiday in St Andrews itself was in 1935. We stayed in The Station House. Our landlady was the Station Master’s wife. Our board was ‘with attendance’. We had bedrooms and Mother bought the food for the landlady, who provided three meals per day. Today I can still see the window of my room – top floor on the right in The Jigger Inn. The House was near the Goods Yard with the Sheds over which the golfers played to the Seventeenth Green. I used to watch the train driver catch a pouch, which contained the single token that guaranteed no other train could use the line.

1935 was the Jubilee of King George V, celebrated in St Andrews with a bonfire near the Goods Yard. There were celebrants in fancy dress carrying paper lanterns. Micky Mouse was a favourite costume.

We found another holiday let from a friend in Edinburgh; she recommended her cousin, who lived in 18 Argyle Street. We had bedrooms and a sitting/dining room with a splendid Oriole window looking down to The West Port.

Much of my time was spent at the Step Rock Pool. There was a paddling pool for juniors. The main pool was huge, with seaweed Our first holiday growing on the bottom. One dived in through the weed and the water was really cold. Mother sat itself was above the pool on benches built into the Rock.

She made friends there. They would sit knitting and chatting, morning and afternoon.

Father spent his days on the Eden Course. He found a professional to teach me. I learned to golf with hickory-shafted clubs. My tutor could be found in The Whey Pat Inn in Argyle Street.

Time passed, the world was changing. I shall never forget 1 September 1939. On holiday in St Andrews, we decided we must return home. When our train crossed the Forth Bridge I looked down and saw a sailor wearing a tin hat (steel helmet) with a rifle slung on his shoulder, bayonet attached. I knew it would be war!

Despite the war we continued to holiday in St Andrews in September.

We accepted that RAF Leuchars was across the Eden. I do remember September 1940, when a lady on the Links commented on The Battle of

Britain and its seriousness. Fife was a base for Polish soldiers, and I remember the dedication of the Polish Memorial on the corner of the Town Hall.

I must make mention of the St Andrews shops, so different from Edinburgh. First, there were the bakers. In South Street there were two MacArthurs, one central with a splendid tearoom, the second near the West Port, which still exists. The grocer I remember was Aikman and Terras on the corner of Bell Street. My mother liked the Norman Izzett, 1938, butcher shop in Church Street. on first tee in front of the R&A There, too, was The Citizen shop. I am sure the main door now is the same one from long ago. My choice was the sweet shop in Market Street, next to the Pend. There were so many jars filled with every type of sugary confectionary. It is still there, but the sweets are quite different. Next to the Post Office was a Stationers’, or bookshop.

Therein was a bird cage in which a mechanical songbird twirrelled and sang. I found it fascinating. Down South Street was Janetta’s. In the evening Mother and I walked down for a bag of chips. I was in St Andrews disappointed two years ago to discover they now sell only ices! in 1935 I must mention entertainment, important in holidays. The Cinema House was there, and I did like Westerns, especially Hopalong Cassiday. In the Bow Butts was a Band Stand for musical performances.

The main entertainment centre was The Pavilion above the Step Rock, where the Pierrots performed in Summer. There was a troupe of performers, singers, dancers, musicians on a small scale. They could be good. Not everyone paid for a seat. Many stood at the back of the enclosure to watch. The Pierrots would go around them with a collecting box.

I was most impressed by the title of John Buchan’s autobiography, Memory Hold The Door. This article has been my experience.

(Photo courtesy Norman Izzett)

7

TOWN & GOWN Kerry Watson, Sales Manager

A Team for All – Accommodation, Conferences, and Events, University of St Andrews Many people within the area may have fond memories of spending time at Christmas for All, held within St Salvator’s Quad in December 2018. Over 2,000 people visited both the daytime Christmas Market and the Christmas Party Evening. A concept based on the 2015 “Open for All”, this was a first Christmas event for the University, organised by the Accommodation, Conferences, and Events team (ACE). Calum Morrison is University Events Manager, spending most of the time in his role supporting students who organise events throughout the year. Calum was one of the main event organisers responsible for the inaugural Christmas for All, along with all other team members in the department.

The ACE team is responsible for internal and external events, many taking place in the summer months. Events take place throughout the year in a variety of venues in the town, including Lower and Upper College Hall, The Byre Theatre, and Parliament Hall, as well as in lecture theatres and classrooms outwith term times.

The team is also responsible for the management of the University accommodation bookings for leisure guests, conference delegates, summer schools, and golf parties throughout the summer months. With over 1,500 en suite bedrooms, and standard accommodation, this keeps the team very busy.

Consisting of over 30 members of staff, many well known, the team comes from St Andrews and the surrounding areas.

Scott Francis, Senior Events Manager, is a graduate of the University. The team books all the venues and accommodation, as well as supporting clients with the delivery of their event, both in the lead up and on the day.

Sales Manager Kerry Watson oversees sales and marketing to promote the University’s facilities. This includes advertising, promotion of events, attendance at a range of tradeshows and working internally with academics to provide bids that support hosting events at the University.

For conference support, the events managers also undertake tasks, such as, delegate registration, menu planning, social

8

programmes, website management and abstract submission. This support is key for the academics hosting conferences. Many conferences managed by the team each year are national and international events that academics have submitted, and won bids to host here in St Andrews.

Margaux Park, also a graduate of the University, oversees the event operational arm of the department. She ensures all individual requests of clients are delivered, from catering requirements, set up of venues, and delivery of the event. Her team is also responsible for the co-ordination of the hospitality for the Graduation ceremonies in June and December, as well as hosting VIP breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for visiting guests of the Principal.

‘Operations’ are also responsible for the running of the cafés in the Library, Physics, and Medical buildings.

The Delivered Catering team within Operations is managed by Michael Croy, responsible for providing the catering requirements for conference lunches, gala dinners, and wedding breakfasts. Many of the team have previous experience working in 4and 5-star hotels; they have brought with them a wealth of skills ensuring the menus offered to clients are of the highest quality.

Watson Bell is Commercial Manager, overseeing both the events and operations teams within the department. With a wellestablished career in the hotel banqueting and events sector, Watson first came to Scotland from Château Elan Winery and Resort, Atlanta, as Director of Events for the launch of the St Andrews Bay Hotel (now the Fairmont, St Andrews). He was responsible for the event delivery of the G-20 Summit held at Fairmont in 2009. Before joining the University, Watson was Head of Events at Gleneagles Hotel, and supported events including the Ryder Cup in 2014. Watson has passed on his knowledge and skills to the team. Since joining the

University Watson has worked with Michael and his chefs designing high-quality menus, including for those with dietary requirements and vegetarian/vegan options. Watson has also introduced Vegware packaging in all retail units and for all delivered catering. The range of ecofriendly packaging and catering disposables is environmentally safe, always completely compostable.

Overseeing all the commercial and operational activities of ACE is Deputy Director of Residential and Business Services, Marianne MacKinnon. Having lived in St Andrews for most of her life, Marianne was instrumental in the opening of St Andrews Bay Hotel. She studied in Edinburgh, gaining her BA in Hotel Services Management, and was the first person from Fife to be accepted on the Château Elan internship in Atlanta. Her training was key to being part of the team launching the new hotel in St Andrews, where she remained for 7 years. She then moved on to Sales and Events within Hotel Du Vin, before joining the University in 2012, initially in a team of three.

Marianne’s drive and passion have seen sales and revenue for the department increase year on year. Working with the Director of RBS, Ben Stuart, she has used her vision to bring together the operations and events team into one department, aligning functionality within the unit, leading to great team rapport. Those who visited Christmas for All would have been witness to this, a team effort, for which great feedback has been received.

(Photo courtesy ACE)

TOWN & GOWN Morgan Morris, Community Relations Officer, St Andrews Students’ Association

Sabaticals

Every February/March St Andrews students elect six full-time sabbatical St Andrews, so that we can highlight the importance of student safety in officers for the next academic year. The photo below was taken way our town. back last summer when we first took up our positions since when Students have done much work in the areas of welfare and equality it’s been a whirlwind of activity! We’ve reflected here on some of the this term. We’ve been fighting hard against the loss of GP out-of-hours highlights to give you an idea of what the student body, and we, as their service at the community hospital – you might have met us petitioning representatives, have been working on. on your doorstep, or seen our protest at the NHS Fife Annual Review Community relations have been the key focus of the Sabbaticals in November. The student-led ‘Reclaim the Night’ marched through the this year. There are so many issues on which we can work together; pouring rain shouting our solidarity with the survivors of assault, and this semester saw much collaboration. The Association’s dedicated that harassment is unwelcome in this town. The ‘Peer Support’ and (student-run) Community ‘Nightline’ volunteers Relations subcommittee helping people every had its own week of events hour deserve particular and publicity this semester, praise. which proved to be well A fully student-led received by students. project, ‘Race2’, the Accommodation is original St Andrews always a big topic in Charity Hitchhike, saw Semester 1 as students another successful start thinking about where coordination year as they would like to live the hundreds of students next year. We published raced to Munich our ‘2018 How to Rent mid-January, raising Guide’ (which had improved over £40,000 for the advice for students about University of St Andrews everything from moving Charities Campaign’s back into halls to tips for three nominated a first-time tenant) and charities: Doctors held our annual Student without Borders (MSF, Accommodation Fayre. international charity), We also launched a new The Wave Project partnership with Marks (national charity), and Out Of Tenancy, an online Fife Women’s Aid (local platform for reviewing charity).

From left to right: Paloma Paige (Association President), properties, overall letting Student Academic Fiona Murray (Athletic Union President), experiences, a constructive Representatives have Adam Powrie (Director of Events & Services), Nick Farrer (Director of Wellbeing), tool for landlords, and been up to a lot this Jamie Minns (Director of Student Development & Activities), soon-to-be tenants. past semester: the Alice Foulis (Director of Education).

St Andrews now has more Postgraduate Society reviews than any other town in Scotland! and St Leonard’s College starting a new series of PG social events, Saints Sport has had another very successful year, both on and off and The St Leonard’s College magazine being re-released – better the court. Led by an all-female executive committee, the clubs have than ever and written entirely by current Postgraduates and alumni! A been working with the Athletic Union in support of some great causes Humanities Internship Fair between History, Classics, English, and Art and have been challenging big issues in sport. October saw our sports History and an Internship Panel between International Relations, Social clubs don pink, to raise awareness for breast cancer charities, while in Anthropology, and Philosophy together engaged 1000+ students – a December everyone got together to donate gifts to children who spent great success. Other exciting highlights include: the introduction of their Christmas in hospital at Ninewells. Club leaders have also been the Geography Ambassador Scheme to local schools; Physics and trained in LGBTQ+ inclusion and bystander intervention. Saints Sport Astronomy pioneering the first ‘Wellbeing Day’ for staff/students; Film also continues to work on outreach projects with sports coaches in local Studies’ planning for their March 60 Hour Film Blitz – which is open to schools. the whole community!

The Union remains both an enjoyable and a safe venue for all We are really looking forward to the Spring Semester, which is students in the town. A notable success is the implementation of the always a busy time, with the weather increasingly resembling Summer ‘Ask Angela’ scheme in our bars and commercial venues. Staff have and the Winter washing away. Students will no doubt be putting much been trained with the help of Fife police in recognising and preventing energy into events such as On the Rocks Arts Festival, Alumni Festival potential threats to a person’s safety when in one of our venues. In Weekend, RAG (Raising & Giving St Andrews) Week, and our own addition, with the help of our ‘Got Consent’ volunteers, bar staff will also Students’ Association elections. receive training in bystander intervention. The Association is hoping to expand this training and offer it to all late-night commercial venues in (Photo courtesy the Students’ Association)

Print & Design

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

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

9

TOWN & GOWN Patrick Marks

Postcards The 19th century witnessed a revolution in communications in a wide range of areas, from the development of mechanized methods of transport, such as railways, to the invention of the postage stamp around 1840. Prior to these changes the ability of people to travel, and communicate, was more difficult and expensive. Most people could not afford to travel beyond their communities, while the sending of mail was also slow, expensive, probably not particularly efficient, until the rail network opened up faster ways to travel and send mail. Likewise the invention of the postage stamp significantly reduced the cost of communications.

As the century progressed, other inventions and innovations broadened the scope and use of the Royal Mail. As with any major invention, the benefits of the development of the postal service, with its universal standard postal rates, allowed other ideas to be developed.

The postcard was part of the revolution in communication. in series with a range of different Early postcards began to views. appear around 1870, mainly Professor Ritchie, sender of as business communications. the postcard, was the Professor of Postcards as we know Logic & Metaphysics at St Andrews them, began to appear on University, having come from the continent over a decade Oxford in 1894, where he had been later in Europe, but not in a Fellow at Jesus College, a tutor, Britain. The Post Office had and later a tutor at Balliol College. a monopoly in the production Apart from his considerable of official non-illustrated academic achievements he has postcards; it didn’t allow been described as having had a private enterprise to produce simple and unaffected nature, a the types of postcards being seeker of the truth in ethics and used in many European politics. countries and in the USA. His postcard was sent to a Eventually pressure, probably Rev. G H Williams of the School from businesses, helped the House, Kendal, head master of a private school in Kendal. It is possible Royal Mail to approve the production of private, illustrated postcards. that he may have known this gentleman from his time at Oxford, These were officially authorized to start from 1st September 1894. maintaining some contact on subjects of mutual interest. The fact Initially, the early postcards were an oblong size to fit the size of that Williams wrote to Professor Ritchie within months of his move to official Post Office postcards, but by early 1895 a smaller size known St Andrews may support this possibility. Professor Ritchie’s postcard, as “Court Cards”, 4.75 x 3.5 inches in size, was permitted. The picture in its brief communication, reads, “Many thanks for your kind letter. and correspondence were allowed on one side, with the address on Certainly consider yourself quite free to re-date the postscript in text as the obverse. The decision to allow postcards saw a response from convenient. If you “go in” I wish you success”. What exactly the Rev. printers around Britain, but it is believed that a firm, George Stewart Williams was trying to achieve isn’t clear, but of Edinburgh, may have been the first to it may have related to a subject of mutual produce postcards in Scotland. E T W Dennis of academic interest in the sphere of ethics and Scarborough is generally agreed to be the first Early postcards began to politics. to commercially produce picture postcards in Professor Ritchie has been described appear around 1870, mainly the whole UK from September 1894. A couple as liberal with socialist leanings; his writing of examples of their early postcards do survive, as business communications may have been the subject of intense debate but no known examples exist of the George amongst likeminded, educated people, such Stewart postcards postally used, to confirm that as the Rev. Williams at that period. He is said firm’s status. to have been a part of the Hegelian school of thought. However, unless It is a few months later, in January 1895, that the connection of the letter sent to Professor Ritchie survives in the University archives, postcards to St Andrews was established, though the publisher of the we’ll never know the exact reason for the correspondence. Apart from card remains uncertain. The postcard depicting “St Andrews Cathedral being the earliest postcard printed and known to have been used in looking SW” as a small sketch is a Court Card. It is believed that some Scotland, its short content is a reflection of that late Victorian period publishers aware of the decision by the Post Office to allow this smaller when societal changes were happening with increasing rapidity. It would size were able to prepare cards in advance. It should be noted that have been less than 20 years before society experienced massive the publishers of postcards had often been publishers of other printed changes with the onset of the 1st World War. By that time Professor matter which had pictures, such as notelets. This meant that they were Ritchie had been dead for 12 years, having passed away in 1903 at the able to rapidly design and print the new postcards. age of 50 and laid to rest in the Eastern Cemetery.

The St Andrews postcard was posted on 8 January 1895, Professor Ritchie’s use of the new medium was at the very with a clear postmark, so the purchaser – a respected academic, beginning of a veritable explosion in the use of postcards, as the Royal Professor D G Ritchie – must have been able to purchase it from a Mail relaxed its grip on how they could be produced and used. The local shop in December, or early January. He appears to have been following 20 years would become the Golden Age of postcards. Despite aware of the medium, and the way postcards could be used for brief electronic communications, we still send them today. communications. To date, the postcard he sent is the only example I know about. It is the oldest postmarked-postcard known in Scotland, (Copies of Prof Ritchie’s postcard courtesy Patrick Marks) the second oldest in the UK. Whether it was part of a set with different pictures is not known, though most postcards were generally issued

10

TOWN & GOWN Jane Ann Liston

KK

Although it is sometimes claimed that the origins of the Kate Kennedy procession are lost in the mists of time, that is not quite the case. Certainly the historical pageant we see today only dates from 1926, but over a hundred years earlier we find mention of an end-of term frolic bearing the name ‘Kate Kennedy’. It would appear that this bore no resemblance to a historical pageant but instead was an event of a scurrilous nature where the students lampooned their teachers!

Around 1870 the University grew tired of these ‘frolics’ and The Anti-Pope, Benedict XIII Procession banned them, which is why the 1926 students had to seek permission to re-establish an event of the Katherine Maxwell, with her supposed links to St Andrews, but in truth same name. Principal Irvine agreed, but only on condition that no women it is extremely unlikely that she ever left her native Ayrshire. She was took part. This was not unusual in the 1920s, when separate spheres born around 1445 at Cassilis House, Maybole, married Alexander were the norm; at that time and for several decades more there were Montgomerie of Montgomerie (1445-1468), who lived in the vicinity of even separate Women’s and Men’s Student Unions. It later turned out Ardrossan and Skelmorlie, and their son Hugh became the first Earl of that the reason for this ‘men only’ rule was because of the media interest Eglinton, near Irvine. It is therefore highly possible that Bishop Kennedy, in the then-recent rectorials of J M Barrie and Rudyard Kipling, where ensconced in St Andrews, never even met his niece. the London-based press appeared to focus on, to them, the unusually But there was a Kate Kennedy in St Andrews even before the high numbers of women students, the ancient English universities having nineteenth century, though not of flesh and blood. Robert Fergusson’s been much slower to admit women and even more tardy in awarding 1773 poem ‘Elegy on John Hogg, late porter to the University of them degrees. In an era where to prefix anything with ‘women’s’ was to St Andrews’ refers to her: ‘Kate Kennedy to dowie crune may mourn label it of lesser worth, Principal Irvine feared that another high-profile and clink’, i.e. will toll. The inscription on the St Salvator’s college bell, event featuring women students would first cast in 1461, states that she was named see St Andrews dismissed as a ‘women’s Katherine by James Kennedy, and in later university’, hence his edict. There was a years people would refer to the ringing of that the 1926 students had to seek hiccup in the 1930s when a young girl called bell as ‘Kate Kennedy clacking her tongue’.

Hope not only lent her pony for one of the Recently, some have alleged that the bell permission to re-establish an mounted characters, but led it herself in the have been named after the Bishop’s event of the same name. Principal must procession; allegedly there were complaints niece, though that seems unlikely. What that this was breaking the rules, and such a we do know is that, in the 15th century, St Irvine agreed, but only on thing did not recur. of Alexandria was a very popular condition that no women took part Katherine However, by the late 1960s antisaint, and not just in Scotland. Known for discrimination legislation began to appear brains as well as beauty, she was the patron in response to the feminist movement, with saint of scholars, which may be why there the Equal Pay Act being passed in 1970. The male-only policy of the KK was an altar to her in St Salvator’s Chapel. St Catharine’s College procession was questioned and in 1972, women played at least some Cambridge (1473) was named after her, and she was also patron of the of the female parts, one being the late Sue Innes, later a well-known University of Paris, the origin of the first St Andrews teachers. What’s journalist. This clearly did not go down well with some, and ever after, if more likely than Bishop Kennedy naming the bell hanging above the altar it was even admitted that women had actually participated, it was said after this same saint? His sister-in-law, Katherine Maxwell (Gilbert’s wife), that ‘the townspeople objected’, although that barometer of St Andrews was probably named after her too, as was her daughter in turn. opinion, the St Andrews Citizen, is remarkably free of rancour on the So what is the connection between the bell and the festivities of subject, suggesting a slight rewriting of history took place. But the ban on St Andrews students? A clue is found in the words of Professor Lewis women based upon the decree of a long-dead Principal was becoming Campbell’s 19th century ‘Carmen Saeculare’, set to music by Sir Herbert increasingly hard to justify, not only with regard to the procession, but Oakley: also the Club, which hastily reinvented itself as primarily a charitable organisation, rather than one for preserving the history and traditions of ‘En, juventus Andreana town and gown. In the 1980s a rule was brought in that any member who Rubra veste praemicat raised the subject of admitting women would be deemed to have forfeited Katherina quos campana his own membership, with one of the victims of this severe regulation Per tot annos usque sana being the SRC president.

Intra claustrae convocat!’

In the 1990s the question of women’s participation began to be raised outwith St Andrews, in the wake of the Hawick Common Riding – roughly: ‘the red-gowned youths of St Andrews are summoned to their dispute along similar lines, with an article appearing in the national press. classes, as they have been throughout the years, by the bell Katherine’.

A year later, there was at last a lurch into the latter half of the twentieth Surely this bell striking the hours was also the signal for the end of century, with women playing some of the parts, though not the female classes, end of term, and freedom? Hence what started out as the ‘Kate ones because apparently there was not time to adjust the costumes Kennedy frolic’ and is now a historic pageant is named after a bell, rather of Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Margaret, Louisa Lumsden, Mary Ann than a belle.

Baxter, and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson ‘to fit women!’

Why is the procession called ‘Kate Kennedy?’ A fine web of (Earlier procession photo courtesy Flora Selwyn, fiction has been woven about Katherine, the daughter of Bishop also KK Club (2018) The Anti-Pope) James Kennedy’s elder brother, Gilbert, Lord Kennedy of Dunure and

11

SHOPS & SERVICES Sydney James Stevenson is

Fulfilling a Needed Role Syd didn’t plan to be a Funeral Director, but as in Kelty. The Diploma course turned out to be in the case of many happily successful people, very rewarding. Syd had to write a 3000-word it could be said that it was meant. essay on the subject of bereavement, based The son of St Andrews’ fisher folk, Syd on interviews. He had to plan a role play about was originally destined for a life at sea. a London hotel cleaner who had died and had Leaving school at 16 he “went to sea with to be repatriated to Jamaica; this involved a Dad.” Unexpectedly, however, the engine’s great deal of paperwork. There were exams as diesel fumes regularly made Syd nauseous. It well. In 1996 Syd was awarded the Diploma by naturally upset his father, but it seemed nothing the National Association of Funeral directors could be done about it.

(NAFD).

Syd’s mother had several shops in the Starting work in Dundee, Syd then came town where Syd could help. There was a shop back to St Andrews to be with Macgregors on the site of the old Pierrot’s Funeral Directors, until he Theatre on the Scores (now was headhunted by Purves Not only is Syd fortunate the Seafood Ristorante), in the summer of 2018. in his job, St Andrews is then the Harbour Café, the “That”, says Syd, “is the best fortunate to have him! little beach shop on the East move I have ever made!”

Sands, and a shop at the Being a true St Andrean with Cairnsmill Caravan Site. This was seasonal long family ties to the town has helped Syd to summer work. In the winter, for some 20 years, “make a sort of bond” with the local people he Syd drove taxis. Sometimes, when there was helps. Often, he is on first-name terms with a car shortage, he would drive limousines for clients, relaxed, able to talk about anything. the funeral directors in Cupar, Tayport, and Perhaps one downside, is that Syd has had to Dundee. bury some of his old school friends!

One day, Davie Jordan of Jordan & Son Apart from his work, Syd enjoys an active in Cupar asked Syd if he had ever considered social life. A member of St Andrews Bowling becoming a funeral director? Asked why, Davie Club, he plays out of doors from April to told him that, watching Syd interact with the October, then indoors at carpet bowls upstairs public he appeared to have all the skills, and in the new Club House. He can also be found that a Diploma in funeral directing might be a playing carpet bowls at the Social Club on good idea.

Wednesday nights. Bowling takes him round Mulling it over, Syd decided to act on Fife, also to Edinburgh.

Davie’s suggestion. He enrolled to be tutored For more than 20 years Syd has holidayed

by Margaret Dow of Ewing Funeral Service in the Gambia. He used to go to Egypt,

12

Jamaica, Morocco, wherever it was hot, until someone in Tunisia mentioned the Gambia.

Told, “you either love it, or you hate it”, Syd fell in love with the country on his very first visit. He supports an orphanage over there, for which he raised £850 last November through a disco at the Bowling Club.

Syd has a practical view of life, and his job. He maintains that life should be enjoyed, made the most of. He remarks on the different attitudes to death and bereavement, between those who cope and those who don’t. It becomes obvious from chatting, that Syd has the ideal attributes of a funeral director as set out by the National Association, namely that he has: excellent communication and people skills; a serious and dignified manner; the ability to deal sensitively with distressing situations; and attention to details. Not only is Syd fortunate in his job, St Andrews is fortunate to have him!

(Photo courtesy Sydney Stevenson)

SHOPS & SERVICES Stephen Fairfield, of House of Hearing

Fifty Years of Sorting Ears Morpeth in Northumberland. We’ve been Hearing healthcare is not exactly the hottest careful to keep up the high standards and of conversation topics. It’s more likely to be a quality service that define us as a premier source of humour and the butt of jokes than healthcare provider. It’s all about the right the subject matter of serious conversation. people, in the right places.

Yet hearing is one of the most important The industry has come a long way connection humans have to the world around since those early years too. Even when I them, particularly to other people. And started in 1988 the tools of the trade were a when (rather than if) it starts to deteriorate, screwdriver and a buffing machine. But the it can be anything but funny. In fact, recent days of the often-whistling ‘beige banana’ evidence suggests that, as well as the with great big pink ear-moulds filling people’s obvious communication difficulties and social ears are long gone, Now, with the digital stigma, deteriorating hearing is associated revolution, hearing aids are really softwarewith symptoms as varied as dementia and controlled microprocessors, laser-scanned, balance issues. tailor-made, and House of Hearing, a programmable to the local Scottish firm with a specific requirements centre in St Andrews, has of the individual. The been providing solutions House of Hearing will latest products today for hearing problems continue to do what it feature direct internet since the late 1960s. connectivity, have In 2019 it celebrates its has done so well over bluetooth streaming, 50th anniversary. A family this past half century; can measure a raft business, it was founded of physiological data,

by David Fairfield, one improving hearing, and even detect the of the early pioneers restoring confidence and likelihood of its wearer of hearing healthcare provision in the UK. Now enhancing our customers’ falling. And importantly for many, today’s run by his son, Stephen, quality of life solutions are very the firm has grown from discreet. its original base in central Demographics Edinburgh to cover all of have changed – with south-east Scotland and average life expectancy greater than ever, the north-east of England. hearing loss just goes with the territory. In Our business has grown substantially fact, the statistics are quite staggering. There since my father started it, all those years are currently 11 million people in the UK with ago. He began as a one-man-band working hearing difficulties; by 2035 that number will out of a space that is now the stairwell in be closer to 16 million. Or to put it another our Edinburgh office. Here, we operate way, when I started working, one in seven over 3 floors, and have opened centres people had a hearing problem, currently it’s in St Andrews, Perth, Galashiels, and

David & Stephen Fairfield outside an Edinburgh branch

one in six, and by 2035 it will be one in five.

It’s certainly a growth industry with the changing demographics placing Stephen Fairfield an increased pressure on the already stretched state-sector provision. We see that even now in our ear-health clinics, with more and more clients coming for wax removal and basic triage services, rather than wait, possibly for weeks, to be seen at their GP practice.

As a company, we’re heavily committed to investing in highly trained staff. Both our hearing-aid dispensing team and our ear-health staff are among the most highly qualified in the UK while our emphasis on customer care is second to none. As an independent provider, we’re also free to choose and fit whatever solution is best for the client’s needs.

In so many ways, as I reflect back over fifty years in hearing healthcare, our business has been revolutionised, but the basis of how we operate hasn’t changed at all in that time; we offer personal, bespoke, high-quality hearing healthcare. Coupled with the very latest in digital hearing aid technology, it’s been a winning formula that can be attested to by so many. Perhaps one day in the future there will be a pill that will restore one’s hearing, when our services will be no longer be required. But until then, House of Hearing will continue to do what it has done so well over this past half century; improving hearing, restoring confidence and enhancing our customers’ quality of life.

(Photos courtesy House of Hearing)

Stephen’s father (far right) in a photoshoot with “Dr Finlay” in January 1973.

Used in a House advert, it was titled, “Can you hear me now, doctor?”

13

SHOPS & SERVICES From Stephen Simpson

Directors become owners, as West Port Print founder retires West Port Print founder, Terry Scanlon, has retired from the print trade after more than 50 years; he’s looking to spend more time in Portugal playing golf and relaxing by the pool!

Directors Stephen and Claire Simpson have taken on the reigns and are looking ahead to an exciting 2019.

Stephen joined the business in 1997, becoming a director in 2008, while his wife, Claire works in the graphic design and artwork part of the business.

Taking over the business is a mixture of pressure and excitement; we’ll be doing more or less what we’ve been doing for over 20 years, but it takes on a different feel when the responsibility is 100% on your shoulders. However, we’re excited to get on and make a few changes here and there to the business, and to put our own stamp on things. We also realize that the business has been very successful over the last 30 years – if it’s not broken, then don’t fix it!

We have a great customer base in St Andrews, The R&A, St Andrews Links Trust, Old Course and Fairmont hotels, to name but a few. We’ve dealt with lots of our customers for many years. In many cases our customers are more like friends than clients. St Andrews Succession (Terry on the left) has so much going on all year round; thankfully, that generates lots of printing, leaflets, banners, programmes, flyers, and much more. We’re to print a job are long gone; most jobs are required within a few days, very lucky that the St Andrews community is good at supporting local this being the new on-demand world! business. Print can be bought online, but we find that people like to The print industry requires constant investment, and West Port has speak about their printing in person, and discuss their requirements. always looked for the latest in print technology. Our Ricoh digital press When they come into our office they can discuss the kind of design can produce high-quality brochures in small they would like, look at samples, feel the kinds volumes, with really quick turn round. Our of paper finishes and styles.

Epson large-format machine can produce With our office in the heart of St Andrews We have an exciting year ahead high-quality outdoor banners and large (Argyle Street), our clients can easily visit exhibition displays. our office, or we can quickly deliver their and look forward to welcoming We also have a Sister Company called orders, or go to their premises for a meeting to both St Andrews businesses and Formlink, with an office upstairs, above discuss their next print job. Our premises have our main reception area. We bought this sometimes been described as a bit of a ‘tardis’ citizens through our door business back in 2013; they offer a different – we have our reception, artwork department, service, and act as brokers for specialist print and production factory all under one roof. Pop products, such as food labelling, or large runs in and we’ll show you around! of continuous stationery. Formlink’s customers are all over Scotland, We’re also lucky to have great staff, many of whom have been from Inverness down to Dumfries. with us for over 20 years – a few of them even longer. We have great We have an exciting year ahead and look forward to welcoming both expertise in the building, all the way from the design department St Andrews businesses and citizens through our door. through to production.

Because we print most of our products in-house (everything from simple business cards to large banners and company brochures) we can Please contact: Stephen@westportprint.co.uk meet tight deadlines, controlling quality and delivery. The for any print enquiries. days of having two weeks (Photos courtesy West Port Print & Design)

14

SHOPS & SERVICES

Roving Reporter finds new talent I’m Cameron McGiffin, founder of The 51 Club – Bespoke Gentleman’s Grooming located at number 77 on the sunny side of South Street! My aim is to bring old-school traditional barbering to this amazing town steeped in history. The 51 Club allows men to book appointments around busy schedules, whether that be work commitments or study timetables. My online booking system means no wasting of precious time waiting in line, or in busy shops, instead allowing our members to book quality, relaxing time to kick back with a Pilgrims Gin, or alternative tipple of their choice, and enjoy their traditional barbershop experience, including a hot towel neck shave with every service. My background in professional sport, while juggling barbering, means I understand how hard it can be for men to balance everyday demands and also have time to look after themselves. Visiting St Andrews I fell in love with the place immediately; I knew The 51 Club would be a perfect fit along with local unique businesses, and knew from that moment my vision was to bring my high standards and experience in Gentleman’s Grooming here. You can book your appointment at any time by registering and visiting: The51Club.co.uk (Photo courtesy Cameron McGiffin)

GARAGE St Andrews 01334 472882 MOT TESTING SERVICE & REPAIRS ACCIDENT REPAIR VALETING

Chinese & Cantonese Restaurant Sit in or takeaway Opening Times: Monday and Wednesday – Saturday 12.00pm – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 11.00pm

CAR SALES

Sunday 4.30pm – late

24 HR RECOVERY

Tuesday – Closed

Used cars and 4x4’s sourced to your requirements.

Finance available on request.

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

www.brownhillsgarage.co.uk

15

EVENTS John Cameron

Heralding A Musical Collaboration At 3.30pm on Sunday, 10 March, in Holy Trinity Church, the St Salvator’s Chapel Choir will be joined by Yale University’s Glee Club for a concert combining the ‘sacred and the profane’.

The Yale Glee Club was one of the earliest US college musical groups, the first to regularly tour abroad. Established as one of the earliest US male-voice college choirs in 1861, since 1969 it has been a mixed chorus of men and women. The distinguished New York Times music critic, Robert Sherman, said that it’s “one of the best collegiate singing ensembles, and one of the most adventurous, especially famous for its harmonic precision”.

Among eminent former members of the Glee Club was Cole Porter, who went up to Yale in 1909. He wrote 300 songs while in New Haven, but these were easily forgettable college football songs. Later, in the 1920s

16

and ‘30s, he wrote, “I get a kick out you”, which Sinatra and others immortalized.

Then there was the tenor, John Stewart, who had a long international singing career, spanning some 26 years up to 1990. He was particularly active with the New York City Opera and Frankfurt’s Opera, but also a regular guest with the New York Met, the Amsterdam Opera, the Deutsche Opera Berlin, and Geneva’s Grand Théâtre.

Like our own University, Yale is sited in a legendary fishing port, New Haven. It is a coastal city in the state of Connecticut, located on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, with a population of around 130,000, still rising. With eight streets laid out in a four-by-four grid, it was the first planned city in America, founded by the English Puritans in 1638. Yale University, a member of Eastern America’s fabled Ivy League, was established there in the early 1700s. It’s the third-oldest institution of higher education in the US.

It took its name in 1718 from Elihu Yale, a fabulously wealthy East India Company merchant and Governor of Madras, who stabilised its financial future. Today the University’s assets include an endowment valued at $30 billion, the second largest endowment of any educational institution in the world. With 15 million volumes, it has America’s third-largest academic library. It was the first US university to award a PhD. It is rightly proud of its alumni, who include 61 Nobel laureates, 5 US Presidents, 19 Supreme Court Justices. It has clearly long outgrown its earlier fame, located in a great American whaling port.

Sixty years ago a Brit needed a sports scholarship to attend a major US university.

Today a high-flying student from a household whose annual income is under £50,000 can get a full scholarship from Yale (tuition, living expenses, and flights). That’s cheaper than Oxford – some 10,000 now cross the Pond!

EVENTS

Professor Reginald Christian Memorial Concert Sunday, 17 March – 2.30pm. Byre Theatre, St Andrews All former students, colleagues, fellow orchestra members, and other friends are warmly invited to attend a memorial event being organised for the family of the late Professor Christian, Professor of Russian (1966-1992) and a former Dean of Arts (1976-1978) at the University, who died in May 2018.

The event, a concert of Russian music interspersed with spoken tributes followed by refreshments, is Free, but requires tickets in advance.

Please book your ticket(s) online: https://byretheatre.com/events/ prof-reg-christian-memorial-concert-presentation In addition, please email Professor Christian’s daughter to say you are attending: jessica.christian@btinternet.com

Beth Junor invites you to

A Special Poetry Reading Junor Gallery, South Street, Saturday, 30 March, 2.00pm Highlighting “the wealth of international literary accomplishments in our local community”, as Beth puts it, Professor Douglas Dunn will be leading a poetry reading complementing an exhibition of Sarah Longley’s paintings

and drawings. Prof Dunn and Sarah’s father, Michael Longley, have been friends for many years, evident in “dedications to each other in some of their poems.”

For more information, please see the gallery website: https://junorgallery.scot

Selected Events Friday, 1 March – Bell Pettigrew Museum, Bute Medical Buildings.

Baby MUSA:World Explorers. Ages 0-5, stories, songs, art, messy play highlighting fantastic things in museums.

Tuesday, 2 April – 6.30pm. Chemistry (Purdie) Building, North Haugh. Glen Fender Meadow, a talk by Dr John Ford for the Friends of the Botanic Garden. Free.

Saturday, 2 March – 9.00am to 1.00pm. Argyle Street car park.

Farmers’ Market.

Thursday, 4 April – 7.30pm. St Salvator’s Chapel, North Street.

Fitzwilliam String Quartet. Music by Schubert. See: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/music/stringsinspring

Saturday, 5 March – 6.30pm. Chemistry (Purdie) Building, North Haugh. Lichens in the UK’s Atlantic rainforest: diversity & conservation work. A talk by Dr Rebecca Yahr for the Friends of the Botanic Garden. Free.

Friday, 5 April – Bell Pettigrew Museum, Bute Medical Buildings.

Baby MUSA: magical creatures. Ages 0-5, stories, songs, art, messy play highlighting fantastic things in museums.

Wednesday, 13 March – 7.30pm. Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens.

Moray’s birds: a century of change. A talk by Martin Cook for the Scottish Ornithologist Club’s Fife Branch.

Thursday, 14 March – 7.30pm. Byre Theatre. The Delta Piano Trio. A St Andrews Music Club concert. Music by Beethoven, Auerbach, Schönberg. Contact: simon.kidd@hotmail.co.uk Saturday, 17 March – 1.00-3.00pm. Cosmos Centre, Abbey Walk.

Indoor Car Boot Sale. Admission Free. Sellers’ tables are £10, and booking required: 01334 474 140.

Saturday, 23 March – 10.00am-12 noon. Preservation Trust Museum, North Street. Museum Open Morning. Explore the Museum, chat to volunteers over some refreshments and discover what goes on behind the scenes. Free. Contact: curator@stapt.org.uk Saturday, 23 March to Sunday 21 April – 2.00-5.00pm.

Preservation Trust Museum, North Street. Listen Up! Our War. Stories about those who lived in St Andrews during WWII. Contact: curator@stapt.org.uk

Saturday, 6 April – 9.00am-1.00pm. Argyle Street car park.

Farmers’ Market.

Thursday, 11 April – 7.00pm. Bell Pettigrew Museum, Bute Medial Buildings. MUSA and Music is Love. “An evening of live music at one of St Andrews’ quirkiest venues!” Free.

Saturday, 13 April – 2.00pm. Starting at the entrance to the University Quad, North Street. The annual KK Procession.

– 11.00am-3.30pm. Hope Park & Martyrs Church Hall.

St Andrews Gardeners’ Club – Spring Flower Show, the only one in Fife. Free entry. Contact: Joe Peterson, Secretary 01334 473 552, 1833joe@gmail.com Saturday, 13 to Monday, 22 April – 14c Argyle Street, St Andrews Art Club’s Easter Exhibition. Contact: jean.lemaitre1942@gmail.com

17

ORGANISATIONS From Caroline Hirst, Senior Property Assistant at Kellie Castle

Volunteer Guides/Volunteer Retail & Admissions Assistants, currently needed for Kellie Castle, Pittenweem Built in the 14th century, Kellie Castle has been extended and added to over the centuries, today featurng magnificent interior decoration from the 19th century, including a long-hidden Arts and Crafts mural by Phoebe Anna Traquair. Our volunteers help us look after this wonderful building, welcome visitors from around the world and ensure that they have a fantastic experience while visiting.

Our Volunteer Guides explain the Castle’s long history to our visitors, helping them understand more about the families that lived here and the collections on display.

Our Volunteer Retail & Admissions Assistants welcome visitors, introduce them to the Castle, assist visitors with selecting the most appropriate membership or ticket option, also promote the Trust and its conservation work.

These roles give the opportunity to meet people from around the world, help them learn about the history of the property, its historical context, and about those who lived here. Volunteers at Kellie Castle

can also get involved in other opportunities that arise from time to time.

Trust volunteers can attend special events, such as training sessions.

They are recognised for their work through our national ‘thank you’ programmes. After 40 hours volunteering, you will also receive a volunteer card entitling free entry to NTS properties, and a 20% discount in NTS shops.

No previous experience is required for these roles, as full training is given.

We are hosting a Volunteer Open Day on Sunday, 3 March 2019 from 12noon-4.00pm at Kellie Castle, Pittenweem, Fife, KY10 2RF. All welcome.

For more information about either of the volunteer roles, please contact Caroline: 01333 720 271, or email: chirst@nts.org.uk

Nicola Lindsay, Manager

Gibson Care Gibson Care leads the way in Fife Council Electronic Monitoring of Care Packages (the planned/ assessed support someone requires and will receive from the care provider). In the latter part of 2018 Fife Council introduced the Total Mobile Monitoring system. This has now been successfully rolled out to all external providers in addition to the Council’s own Homecare team. It forms part of the contract between Fife Council and all External Providers.

In order to assess the implementation process of this innovative new system, Fife Council looked for a reasonably sized Provider offering a wide range of Care Packages to ‘test run’ the system, ensuring it would operate efficiently. The chosen Provider was required to have good management policies in place, an understanding of the new system, as well as a willingness to work in close partnership

18

with the Local Authority. Around 24 Providers were considered; Gibson Training and Care were delighted to have been chosen.

Managers Nicola Lindsay and Ingrid Roberts, along with senior members of their team, met with representatives from Fife Council to discuss the requirements of the implementation, including timescales. We facilitated this in a timely manner meeting the deadlines set by the Council. The test was successful and full implementation has now happened. This electronic monitoring system is in operation for all packages of care that are commissioned through Fife Council.

Residents of St Andrews may have read about us in the previous edition of St Andrews in Focus, and further to this you may have received a leaflet advertising our services. Our years of experience and expertise are reflected in the support we provide, which was an important factor in our being the provider chosen by Fife Council.

If you would like to discuss any care, or support needs, please do not hesitate to contact us. All contact details are available at our website: www.gibsontrainingandcare.co.uk (Photo courtesy Gibson Care)

ORGANISATIONS Barbara Boyd and Lyn McCartney

Keep St Andrews Blooming Beautiful In the last issue of this magazine we included an article about the work of our volunteer group and the financial challenges we face. We will only be able to continue to put flowers in the planters and hanging baskets if we get financial support from the townsfolk, companies, and organisations. A leaflet is delivered with this magazine giving you information on how to become a Friend of St Andrews In Bloom, make a donation, or how you can sponsor a planter. You will also find leaflets in the library, St Andrews Museum, and Millers Tale shop. Further information about how to donate, including

a direct link to PayPal, is also on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/standrewsinbloom Please give generously to keep our town Blooming Beautiful (Photo courtesy St Andrews in Bloom)

Joyce Duncan, Secretary

The St Andrews-Loches Alliance Loches – Where? What? Why? informal alliance between Loches and As people become aware of the road signage, St Andrews, which proved successful.

‘Twinned with Loches,’ at the entrances to In 1997 a delegation representing a St Andrews, the next question is surely – ‘Loches? wide cross section of life in St Andrews, Where on earth is Loches?’ and, ‘What’s all this headed by the late Mary Freeborn, was about?’ The reply is not complicated. Loches invited to visit Loches with the object of (pronounced Losh ) is a town of 6,500 inhabitants establishing long-term cultural links. It situated south of Paris, in the valley of the river was evident from the response from both Loire. The inhabitants are referred to as Lochois towns that there was genuine interest and or Lochoises. The town is classified as a Ville d’Art determination to make this alliance succeed. et d’Histoire, testimony to its rich A Trust was formed with historical heritage, which dates charitable status, whose aim, back to antiquity. as spelt out in the Constitution, There has been a ‘cultural is to establish, develop, Much of its mediaeval history can still be seen today. The and by raising funds, afford partnership’ between Château de Loches, or Logis opportunities to support Loches and St Andrews Royal, dates back to the 10th educational, cultural, and for over 20 years century, and is associated with sporting links between the Henry II of England, as well as his Royal Burgh of St Andrews son Richard the Lion Heart. It was and the town of Loches-enhere that Joan of Arc met the vacillating Charles Touraine in France. Following almost 20 years of VII convincing him to claim the crown of France exchanges, the towns were then officially twinned and lead his army. Nearby is the Donjon, or keep, during ceremonies in St Andrews (November a great square tower built in the 11th century as 2015) and in Loches (March 2016). part of the town’s defence. Its underground escape In the past 20 years there have indeed been passage, prison cells, and torture chamber are many exchanges, a large number involving reminders of crueller times. The very picturesque both St Leonards School and Madras College, town hall, or Mairie, is built in the Renaissance projects involving the primary schools, football style, forming part of the ancient walls of the town. tournaments, and visits from young golfers.

I could go on, but it would be much better to go The Renaissance Choir, University and see for yourself; Easyjet to Paris, then train.

Symphony Orchestra, and Concert Band, Culturally very active, every year Loches stages have all given concerts in Loches. There exhibitions, festivals, concerts, and conferences, have been Art and Photography exhibitions. which belie its small size.

In 2016 artists from the St Andrews Art There has been a ‘cultural partnership’ Club spent a week painting in Loches. All between Loches and St Andrews for over 20 years. this has taken place, plus many, many How did this come about? visits, either working, or purely social.

The story begins when the town of Loches Since the twinning there is renewed was looking to twin with a mediaeval town in enthusiasm in both towns, with visits from Scotland. It occurred to a young student from different organisations in the pipeline.

Loches, Anne Sylvie Vassenaix, who was studying The Alliance has a programme of in Edinburgh at that time, that St Andrews would fundraising events, such as have been make a possible partner. Through links with the reported in past issues of this magazine, Community Council, in particular with Frank that help to support these activities.

Riddell, who was then Convenor, St Andrews was indeed proposed. A delegation from Loches arrived in St Andrews in November 1996. They The St Andrews-Loches Alliance is open to gave an impressive presentation of Loches, everyone within the St Andrews area. For showing this delightful town with strong similarities more information, or if you, too, would like to St Andrews, dominated, as is St Andrews, by to join, please visit our website: great historical buildings, a constant reminder to www.standrewslochesalliance.org.uk both of their mediaeval past. St Andrews hitherto had always resisted formal twinning proposals, and did so again. What developed instead was a more (Photos courtesy Loches)

al

Le Logis Roy

La Mairie

Le Donjo

n

19

ORGANISATIONS From Brad Eggleston

Men’s Shed St Andrews Now into our second year, (see this share their skills, have a laugh and a cup of magazine, Issue 86, Jan/Feb 2018) Men’s tea, whilst working on practical community Shed St Andrews has grown from a humble, activities, or home projects of their choice. undeveloped site at the back A place for members to of the St Andrews Botanic be themselves; a place to We are regularly involved Garden to the current ‘Shed’, work at their own pace; a in community work with workshop, meeting place to exchange ideas room, and social space with and learn; a place for a hot drink station. The recently installed members to support each other and build wood-burning stove has ensured we have a friendships. cosy environment for our members during the We are regularly involved in community cold winter months. work, from assisting St Andrews in Bloom So, what is the Men’s Shed all about, with making and repairing flower boxes, to I hear you ask? We bring together men to building an outdoor ‘mud kitchen’ for the

children of Kilmaron School in Cupar. We also work with the St Andrews Coastal Rowing Club, the Botanic Garden on various projects, as well as tackling ongoing projects at the Shed itself.

2019 will see exciting new changes and projects as we try and move up a gear. Members’ social outings are planned throughout the year, as well as increased participation at events where we will be selling items crafted by our members, to raise funds. And best of all will be the installation of solar panels to reduce the use of the ‘off grid’ diesel generator.

Our membership is diverse; we encourage all ages of men over 18 to come and see what we do. Please pop along any Tuesday or Friday between 10.00am and 1.00pm to chat with us about this brilliant local initiative.

We are at the end of Wallace Street in St Andrews, KY16 8AN – under the viaduct, and 100 yards up on the right. Call Henry Paul: 07977 131 635.

Physical and mental stimulation, along with companionship, banter, and laughter are key to men’s mental health!

Jim, Tim, Stuart, & Jim

20

(Photo courtesy Men’s Shed)

OUT & ABOUT Tim Hardie’s Nature Notes

My dear Father and fishing My Father generously introduced me to fishing and shooting at a tender age. A fishing rod was in my hand by the age of five, and I will never forget shooting my first game bird, a woodcock, on Boxing Day 1975, when I was the grand old age of 12. Father always included me on his forays to various salmon and trout lochs in Highland Scotland. Father, like me, had been taught to fish by his Father, Philip, at a tender age, and was a fly fishermen of the highest order.

I remember Father taking me to fish the Tulchan beat of the river Spey in the late seventies. We were sharing the beat with a fairly famous salmon fisherman called Esmond Drury, who had invented the renowned salmon fly The General Practitioner – basically an artificial prawn!

Needless to say Father and I were late arriving and Mr Drury had Roe deer buck & doe chosen the best pool for the morning. Father and I were laughing our heads off at lunchtime, when Esmond arrived at the fishing hut, There is now little chance of Georgina’s record being broken for bemoaning the lack of fish taking. Father had caught a lovely salmon lots of reasons, which we won’t go into today as the editor would not let and lost two. me have enough space, and frankly I probably don’t know anyway. She I am reminded of all this by reading a book called Salmon and did, though, fish when salmon were plentiful and there was always a Women – The Feminine Angle. This is a book that explains in some likelihood of catching a large fish, or portmanteau, as they used to call detail how the three largest Atlantic salmon caught in the British Isles, them on the English rivers. were caught by women.

I do think, however, that because Atlantic salmon As most people know, the largest was caught played such a part in their lives, Georgina and her

by Miss Georgina Ballantine on the Glendelvine father had a thirst for the battle, that this, combined My Father generously beat of the river Tay on 7 October 1922, weighing with their inner perseverance, skill and damned in at a mighty 64lbs. Georgina was the daughter of introduced me to fishing and fortitude, was a match for a record-breaking salmon.

James Ballantine, the ghillie for landowner Alexander I was reminded to write my notes when, driving shooting at a tender age Lyle, of sugar fame. The hooking and landing of this

by Longforgan on the A90, I noticed ten roe deer fish was an outstanding case of skill, patience, and grazing in a field of winter wheat on the river side of perseverance. It was especially handy that Georgina the road. There is not a huge amount of woodland on had her father with her in the boat; having read her own personal that side of the carse, but obviously enough to provide cover for a truly account of the battle, I do think his vast experience was imperative. lovely native creature and they seem to be doing well living cheek by jowl To put this in perspective, here they were in the middle of the Tay in with us lot. a boat, when they managed to pick a fight with probably the largest fish As I looked out of the window today, 28 January, I noticed blackbirds in the whole river. That fish was hooked at 6.15pm, and finally landed getting fruity with each other – Spring cannot be far away! at 8.20pm, following a struggle that took them and their boat half a mile downstream.

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

Watch all the latest movies at the NPH. Oscar Nominations, latest Blockbusters, Dramas and Romantic Comedies, and a great selection of live by satalite events.

NPH Cinema, 117 North Street, St Andrews

21

OUT & ABOUT Craig Gilbert

A flask and atmosphere from Kincardine to Culross Mercat Cross, enjoying the wynds and On a bright, yet cobbles. The road signs provided a distinct frosty, January medieval feel, notably by some of the names morning, I visited (try, ‘Stinking Wynd’!) A lovely sense of Kincardine and community still prevails; we encountered a decided, with wonderful community garden, bespeckled a good friend of mine, to walk the Fife with blue pagodas and benches.

Coastal Path to Culross (something I’d Just alongside never done before).

Culross towards Low My friend happened to Valleyfield, lies Preston be into heritage and Island, where salt history, so it came as a Overall, this muchpanning took place complete surprise to me overlooked section of again in the 19th century that Kincardine was the

by Sir Robert Preston, home of Sir James Dewar, Fife is well worth a visit using coal as fuel. Now Physicist and Chemist, there are just ruins, but inventor of the vacuum the feel of industry, with flask principle. A plaque Grangemouth across the water, its chimneys resides on the side of a hotel/restaurant, and looming out of the atmospheric mist on the we took delight in drinking from a flask next Firth of Forth, keeps this firmly in mind. to the plaque in ceremonial celebration. This In sweet juxtaposition to industry, there set me up for the day! is still wildlife (indeed, Torryburn Nature Where the route to Culross, after Reserve is just nearby). We saw and heard circumnavigating Longannet and some industrial areas, came out beside an old, coastal railway, we followed the coastline to the village, past the grand feature known as Dunimarle Castle, before entering the historic village of Culross itself.

The village is a snapshot of 16th century living, with its cobbled streets and unique architecture. As well as its palace, abbey, and religious connotations, the village was a thriving industrial centre for coal mining and salt panning. Culross produced more salt at its height than anywhere else in Scotland.

The funds from this built the palace between 1597 and 1611 by Sir George Bruce, (who also designed and implemented The Moat Pit, for the coal).

After some warming soup at the Biscuit Café (recommended) we walked to the

22

the delights of whistling wigeons, herons, oystercatchers, to name a few.

Overall, this much-overlooked section of Fife is well worth a visit, not just for the friendliness we received, but for the deep reminders of our cultural history – atmospheric, with hot vacuum flasks!

(Photos courtesy Craig Gilbert)

OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe

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

Fire Points Before St Andrews had a piped water supply the only source of water was from wells and burns such as the Kinnessburn and the Swilken Burn. If a fire erupted in a building, getting water in any quantity to extinguish it would have been difficult. The purchase of the first town fire engine in 1834 still required access to a supply of water. By the late 1800s a more reliable water system existed and Fire Points were available for supplying water for fighting fires. The 1893 Ordnance Survey map of St Andrews shows these located in many places in the town with the letters FP. At each location there would be a sign, or inscription, on a nearby wall indicating the direction and distance to the point. The modern version of these signs can still be seen using a yellow plaque with letter H (for hydrant) with the hydrant covered by a plate with the letters FH (Fire Hydrant).

St Rule East

Ollerenshaw, St Leonards

St Salvator’s Chapel

Kennedy Gardens

St Rule West

The Links

Balfour Place

Largo Road

Kinburn Place

Bridge Street

South Street

Market Street

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe)

Kinburn Terrace

Gibson Place

Upper College Hall

Lower College Hall

23