St Andrews in Focus Issue 85 Nov Dec 2017

St Andrews in focus ISSN 2514-409X

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

November/December 2017 Issue 85, £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

My snail-mail address has changed, please note: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd Suite 160 15 Bell Street St Andrews Fife, KY16 9UR

FEATURES

In 2003, when this magazine launched, Royal Mail charged me £53 per annum for a PO Box address.

Today they want to charge me £318 for the same, unchanged, service. I find that unacceptable.

2017 is about to pass into history. I can’t help wondering if future historians, assessing the present era, will recall Charles Dickens’ words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”? My optimistic side sees all the myriads of wonderful prospects before us today, while the pessimistic side of me worries about all the uncertainties. I pray fervently for wisdom, common sense, humaneness.

My immediate wish, however, is that we all enjoy a safe and happy Christmas and Hogmanay.

Flora Selwyn (Photo taken by Alice, my granddaughter, on the Ferris Wheel in Edinburgh in summer)

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The views expressed elsewhere in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. © St Andrews in Focus (2003) NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 EDITOR Flora Selwyn Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com DESIGNER University of St Andrews Print & Design (printanddesign@st-andrews.ac.uk) PRINTER Winter & Simpson (stephen@wintersimpson.co.uk) DISTRIBUTER Drop 2 Door (billy@drop2door.co.uk) PUBLISHER (address for correspondence) Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., Suite 160, 15 Bell Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9UR. Tel: 01334 472375 Email: editor@standrewsinfocus.com SUBSCRIPTIONS St Andrews in Focus is published 6 times a year.

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

Please send cheques to: Local Publishing (Fife) Ltd., Suite 160, 15 Bell Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9UR. £25 overseas (post and packing included).

Please send remittance by International MoneyGram. See website at: http://global.moneygram.com/in/en/money-transfers REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND: 255564 THE PAPER USED IS 100% RECYCLED POST-CONSUMER WASTE

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Contents • The Community Council • The Tower • Around the world adventure • The making of the Kelpies • First-time Mum shares her thoughts • WWI Anniversary • Reviews: – Witches – Children’s books recommended

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SHOPS & SERVICES • • • •

Restaurant review New Inheritance tax legislation Hervé Bernier Roving Reporter

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TOWN & GOWN • •

Mary, Queen of Scots Cross-cultural encounters

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ORGANISATIONS • VAF • The Friday 5Kers • Pilgrim Care • Rotary update • The 40 Club • Kilrymont Rotary

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EVENTS • • • •

White Spirit Arts Christmas at Craigtoun The Play Club Selected Events

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OUT & ABOUT • • • •

Walking in forbidden places Nature Notes Written on gravestones Hidden Gems

NEXT ISSUE – Jan/Feb 2018 COPY DEADLINE: STRICTLY 28 NOVEMBER

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

Cover: an original photo by Richard Cormack

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FEATURES Callum McLeod, from the Provost’s Chair

The Community Council As I sit down to write this, summer is already a distant memory.

Although the Community Council does not meet formally as a group from the beginning of July to the beginning of September, our activities continue apace.

We particularly enjoyed putting on our series of Bandstand Concerts this year.

Public generosity last year meant that our organiser, Community Councillor Kyff Roberts, was able to arrange two additional concerts this year. The bands were without exception on tremendous form, attracting goodly crowds of passers-by to pause for a while on their Sunday afternoon walk and enjoy the music. Adding to the occasion this summer were the majestic Marquettes of the Kelpies overlooking the Bow Butts, which have been a great attraction for visitors and residents alike. By the time you read this, they too will be but a memory….

One of the highlights of the concerts for me was meeting John Wallace, who was conducting the Tullis Russell Intermediate Band. John is a musician – a trumpet player, in fact – of international standing who served as Principal of Scotland’s Royal Conservatoire of Music in Glasgow. He has

now returned to his roots to give something back, seeming just as at ease conducting “The Bare Necessities” and “James Bond” as when playing concertos with the world’s leading orchestras, or at a Royal Wedding – an example, perhaps, to us all.

In anticipation of next summer’s concert series, we have decided to consider having the bandstand, a Common Good property, restored to its former glory.

Another important event of the summer for us was our Floral Competition. At a Reception in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall in September, we honoured the horticultural skills of our fellow citizens, recognising their hard work and dedication, not only in their own gardens, but also in more public arenas.

The threat of rain perhaps put off greater numbers from coming along to our Annual Putting Competition, also in September. We all expected to go home soaked to the skin, but it turned into one of the finest evenings of the summer. Neil had laid out a more than challenging course for us on the Himalayas; however, it proved no match for our winners, Beverley Wilson, and Dennis Martin. My only hope of success was to institute a Chairman’s Trophy for the highest-placed community councillor, which I then, rather

embarrassingly in retrospect, proceeded to win. The trophies awarded to Beverley Wilson and Dennis Martin, however – the Victory and Andra Kirkaldy Cups – go back much further in time, long before the formation of community councils. Indeed, the Victory Cup commemorates the end of the First World War, so will see a particularly poignant anniversary next year.

Now, with the dark nights well and truly upon us, we look to the events of the winter unfolding before us – Remembrance Sunday, our Civic Reception and Beating Retreat for St Andrewstide, our Senior Citizens Treat and discussions around the Western Extension, the new Madras at Langlands and the future of Holy Trinity Church, more of which anon.

One thing which I think would lift all our spirits as the cold darkness of winter takes hold would be to look up from the potholes and bins and enjoy the wonderful sunrises, sunsets, starry skies, and meteor showers which can often be seen over our ancient Burgh, many images of which can be enjoyed – marvelled at, even – on the St Andrews Photocorner Facebook page.

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

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FEATURES Billy Shepherd, who brings this magazine to your door

Around the world with my babies I’ve just returned from a six-week trip, circumnavigating the world with my From here we flew to Sydney. After a couple of weeks of island life, teenage daughters. We visited, in order, New York, Los Angeles, Tahiti, it was right back into the hustle and bustle of 21st century life. I missed Rangiroa, Bora Bora, Moorea, Sydney, Cairns, Perth, Singapore and the peace and tranquillity of the South Pacific, although it was also nice Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. An amazing trip, creating to have the convenience of those things we otherwise take for granted memories that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

– shops, restaurants, buses, taxis, not having to spend up to £100 just That this came about at all, on three main courses with soft however, is also probably worth drinks…! sharing. I’m one of many people The theme for Australia was who have lost someone to cancer, definitely the wildlife. The girls and I understand the pain of losing insisted on visiting Taronga Zoo in a loved one. When that’s also Sydney, while we also squeezed your wife and the mother of your in a bit of whale watching. My two girls, it hammers home just highlight was definitely climbing how short and fragile life is. This Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset. is where we found ourselves in That was incredible!

June last year. If there was any On to Cairns next, where good that came of this, it was the we had a slightly extended stay idea that the girls and I should take too, back in the tropics. Wildlife the opportunity to travel, knowing continued to be the theme. We that Veronica would have been had our photos taken with koalas, delighted I was doing this for ‘our saw huge crocodiles in the babies’. wild, fed a cassowary, assorted So, on 26 June 2017, we left wallabies, emus and kangaroos. home on the first leg of our journey We even saw some impressive and spent three nights in New York. spiders that were just going about Not long enough, but enough time their own business. All harmless to see the sights, and my girls to of course! see Wicked on Broadway, a show From Cairns we then spent a they’d ‘only’ seen five times already in the UK! few days with some friends in Perth. That was nice, completely different Next we moved on to Los Angeles, touring the sights there – from what we’d done so far, as we shared their day-to-day family life for Hollywood, Beverly Hills, downtown LA, Chinatown. We even had a day a short time. on the roller coasters at Six Flags theme park. I thought I was getting After Perth, we flew to Singapore. Perth was quite cool as it was bored with roller coasters until I went there, and ended up enjoying it at wintertime there, so Singapore was a welcome change, as it was really least as much as the girls! warm again. We only had two full days there, the girls wanting to visit the From LA, we flew to French Polynesia. It took a few days for it to sink water park and Universal studios. I enjoyed both, but the most amazing in that we’d finally made it, as this was where, but for the events of 9/11, experience was after we left Universal on our 2nd day. A street vendor Veronica and I would have spent our honeymoon. After a brief stopover was selling what can best be described as cheese puffs frozen in liquid on Tahiti island, we took an internal flight to Rangiroa, nitrogen, or ‘dry ice’. You bit into the puffs and a coral atoll in the Tuamoto Archipelago. This was instantly the dry ice would defrost and fill your mouth So, on 26 June 2017, one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been to in with ‘smoke’. It was hilarious, the vapour coming out my life, one of the big highlights of our trip. Imagine we left home on the first of our noses as well as our mouths! the movie definition of a desert island paradise – From Singapore, we flew to our last location, leg of our journey coconut palms, crystal clear waters, blue skies…

South Africa. After a night in Johannesburg, we Rangiroa had all of that. It was just stunning. travelled out to a safari lodge in the Greater Kruger Off to Bora Bora next, probably the most iconic of all South Pacific National Park. It seems obvious to say that animals in the wild are islands. I liked it, although after the pristine beauty of Rangiroa, it very different to those in captivity, but it’s so true, and we felt extremely perhaps had a hard act to follow. For me, it didn’t match up at all, even fortunate to be able to see this for ourselves. We saw Lions with a kill, though we splashed out on an overwater bungalow here.

Elephants, Buffalo, Giraffes, Zebra, black-and-white Rhinos, Hippos, a Our next stop after that was Moorea, an island practically side by Leopard, and a Cheetah. We were even lucky enough to see Mongooses side with Tahiti, separated only by a stretch of water a few miles wide. and a couple of Honey Badgers!

We spent almost a week on Moorea, more than any other location up to From South Africa, it was a marathon 12-hour flight back home, but that point. This gave us a chance to explore, take in some of the local by this time it was just routine for us! Safely home, we all delighted in culture and also just relax by the pool. This was our last stop in French catching up with friends, family, TV, our own beds again, and we started Polynesia, a nice place to round off that part of our trip. to reflect on the adventure of a lifetime.

(Photos courtesy Billy Shepherd)

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FEATURES The magazine is delighted to learn from Andy Scott

How The Kelpies were made The arrival of the Kelpies maquettes in St Andrews was one of the It is often overlooked, but the Kelpies to me represent the very best latest of the apparently never-ending enjoyable spin-offs from the of British engineering and artistic skill. They are incredibly complex main sculpture project. For my wife Hanneke and me it was a genuine structures. pleasure to see the small-scale sculptures being so well received, and Next time you visit (and if you haven’t yet, you must!) stand at to enjoy such great hospitality in the town. the back of the site and look up at the raised head of the rearing It is particularly rewarding at this stage, as Kelpie… see the grace of the curve of that the years have rolled on since the full-scale neck… that took the best brains in the land sculptures, to see them (both large and small to bring to reality, the finest steel fabricators, versions) acknowledged and become owned the determination of local advocates, and by the people of Scotland. of course, the dauntless funding of the UK It was a long road to this.

Lottery and Falkirk Council.

The Kelpies project was very challenging, We also forget now that The Kelpies and over the eight-and-a-half years of their were brought to life in the midst of the worst creation there were many hurdles. But that’s financial crisis in memory. It took real faith, another story…Let’s just say it’s been hard tenacity, and the sheer bloody-mindedness of work. my colleagues in the political and funding side They began life as a speculative project, of the project to stick with it, keep the faith, as when Scottish Canals (then British Waterways, I implored them to stick with it.

Scotland) approached me to lend my “If you build them they will come,” I creative thoughts on a project they’d titled used to say, paraphrasing an old movie.

“The Kelpies”. Their chief engineer, George Falkirk Council and Scottish Canals must Balinger, had envisaged a large steel slabhave thought I was mad, but they did type structure, to act as a boat-lift system on a build them. Last I’d heard, visitor numbers proposed new canal extension. were well in excess of two million, and the They’d seen my previous equine works, transformational effect on the local area has and we got on famously, so I gave it some time been phenomenal. and came up with many initial sketch options. My thinking veered away The Kelpies have been used by Visit Scotland and the GREAT from George’s original steel slabs quite dramatically; it’s fair to say the Britain campaigns as icons of the country. Media coverage has been only connection now is the original title. immense, still they pop up unexpectedly; friends in far-flung places Rather than the titular mythological water have seen them in in-flight magazines as far creatures, I was more interested and inspired away as LA and Sydney. They’ve even been

by Scotland’s working horses with their links to used by Ferrari cars, although my offer to use the canals, agriculture, and industries, also of one of their cars to help their brand seems to It is often overlooked, but the course, Falkirk’s own history of foundries and have come to nothing. I live in hope!

Kelpies to me represent the ironworks. I settled on the idea of two colossal Joking aside, all of this for a sculpture steel engineered horses’ heads, rising from very best of British engineering project in a wee town in the middle of the flatlands of the River Carron. My soon-toScotland, a project which at times was almost and artistic skill. They are be clients at Scottish Canals were convinced abandoned … makes me feel like a job well too, so we began the long journey to bring the done. It really was a huge collective effort. incredibly complex structures. sculptures to life.

I am immensely proud to have worked with Our first major hurdle, one which we were such an amazing team in bringing my artistic to encounter many times, was lack of money. vision to reality.

So I boldly announced I would make a pair of maquettes at 1/10th scale It is nice to see how the sculptures now take on their own life and without fee, on the proviso that if the project was funded I would be give joy to so many people. I’d like to finally say thank you to the people commissioned properly to engage and develop the concept further. of St Andrews for taking the maquettes to their hearts this summer and Luckily that gamble paid off, the first 1/10th scale maquettes being for allowing the Kelpies’ saga to continue. impressive enough to convince the assessors of the UK Lottery, and more importantly, the people of Falkirk & Grangemouth, that the full(Photo of Andy Scott by Peter Adamson) scale Kelpies were worth pursuing.

My next task was to sculpt the actual maquettes, which we brought to St Andrews this summer. Those sculptures were painstakingly scanned and measured by the engineers of Atkins in Yorkshire, led by Felicity Starr. Felicity is one of the unsung heroes of the Kelpies project.

She steered the very complex engineering of hundreds of tons of steel with a quiet determination, which matched my own more extravagant artistic vision. It was all very well me saying, “these will look great, trust me”… she actually had to be sure they would stand up!

And so it began. What started as a bold vision rendered in a few sketched drawings and chunks of welded steel, became one of Scotland’s best-known landmarks.

Along the way the team grew to become an amazing collective of talented individuals and companies. The Kelpies involved well over a hundred individuals and businesses both north and south of the border.

Too many to mention them all in this short article.

Project managers Gleeds were appointed, and Jacqui Nichol, another unsung hero, oversaw the project with a tenacious eye for detail, which ensured their accuracy. SH Structures, also of Yorkshire, painstakingly shaped, cut, and welded tens of thousands of steel components, and ensured their seamless on-site construction.

Engineers, fabricators, landscape architects, lighting designers, electricians, concrete pourers, crane operators, painters, truckers, The maquettes, with Pixie the horse that led the procession to the site surveyors, landscapers, even a poet, the list goes on and on… and all (Photo by Gavin Sime) from my initial maquettes.

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FEATURES Nikki Simpson kindly shares her

Adventures of a First-Time Mum After what had been (and I hope will continue to be) a fulfilling career so on – you get the idea. So I arrived terrified and left feeling excited and working for the magazine publishing industry, my husband and I began confident in my ability to have a positive birth – a good result I’m sure to prepare for having a baby and, after a mere two-and-a-half years of you’ll agree. trying (!), were delighted to find we were pregnant in May 2016. What The course also made us both feel we were going through the whole now feels like a lifetime ago has brought us every imaginable emotion experience as a team and I think without it I would have been fighting and, with a view to hopefully being of use to other future first-time him over a lot of the decisions I made (for example on induction, Vitamin parents, I’m writing of our experience. Skip to the end if you just want the K, using a doula), but instead he understood exactly where I was coming top tips! And apologies to anyone who finds this all a bit TMI. from. They also introduced us to the AIMs (Association for Improvements First, the pregnancy. I was incredibly lucky and in Midwifery) booklets, which offer incredibly useful experienced only very mild morning sickness, and impartial advice. back pain in the third trimester eased through yoga Which brings me to the birth. I’d not been keen and a lumber support. I was a relatively keen runner on the idea of induction for various reasons (that’s a As an incredibly until six months in, but this lost its shine a little with the whole other article in itself), but after passing week biased first-time mum, 42 without a whisper of a surge, we decided not to be weight of the baby (who will hereafter be referred to as ‘Horace’) pressing on my bladder and numerous sharp the test subjects for excessive pregnancy and so bit I only have warm exits to the nearby hedge! Otherwise though, this was the induction bullet. Weirdly, the drugs had very little fuzzy things to say uneventful and it was only in month 7 or 8 that I began effect on me, and after four days in hospital a very to think seriously about the birth and the relative terror wrinkly Horace joined us by caesarean section at 43 about Horace that that thought induces in many first-time mums. weeks.

After a conversation with a friend who had As an incredibly biased first-time mum, I only managed through the power of ‘hypnobirthing’ have warm fuzzy things to say about Horace. There’re (warning TMI coming up!) to reach 7cms dilated a lot of clichés about kids, that at first you’ll get weary before going to hospital, I thought it was definitely worth investigating. of hearing, and then subsequently you’ll find yourself saying – the most My husband and I signed up for a four-week course along with four other pertinent being ‘they change so fast’. This is the understatement of the couples, hoping to be either hypnotised out of the fear, or maybe just to year. A mere six months ago Horace was a frightened, personality-less commiserate with others in our situation. At least, that’s what I’d hoped little ball of poo, spew, and tears; now he is Action Man, with his own little for; my husband had just hoped he wouldn’t have to “hold hands and quirks and the most wonderful laugh, making every day feel incredible sing Kumbaya”. and making me powerless to his charms – I mean, look at that wee face!

Hypnobirthing is a misleading term, as there’s actually no hypnosis involved, just a lot of meditation – which really helped with the back pain Top Tips: during pregnancy, incidentally. However, what had the greatest impact on me was the terms they use to describe birth, with the aim to create 1. Try to avoid watching ‘One Born Every Minute’, it’ll give you a very positivity around the whole experience. So rather than ‘labour’ they say weird idea of what birth should/could be like. Instead Google ‘positive ‘birth’, as the word labour is often associated with hard work, or political birth stories’, which will give a more encouraging outlook. leanings (!); instead of ‘contraction’ they say ‘surge’, as contraction is 2. The book What to Expect When You’re Expecting was a massive generally perceived as negative; instead of ‘pain’ they say ‘intensity’, and help to me, making me realise that everything’s normal. £1 from most charity shops.

3. I heard once that the only position to give birth in that’s more uncomfortable than lying on your back, is hanging by your ankles from a chandelier! On your hands and knees is much more comfortable and natural, apparently.

4. If you feel hypnobirthing isn’t right for you, then just remember birth is a positive experience and every contraction is just moving you one step closer to meeting your beautiful baby.

5. Get a support structure of some kind. After the birth I kept up with the other girls from the hypnobirthing and their friendship has been invaluable – even if you know people who have had kids you’ll want people around you going through the same things at the same time.

6. ‘0-3’ does not mean from birth – you’ll want ‘newborn’ clothes and size 1 nappies, unless you particularly like baggy clothes covered in poo.

7. Keep a diary – I haven’t and regret it. A friend said she was writing two sentences a day since her little girl was born, so has a raft of memories that my Baby-Brain has erased for me.

8. If you’re breastfeeding and struggling at night, try lying down on your side to feed, much easier. Also join the Facebook Breastfeeding Support group, offers brilliant peer advice.

9. Buy a bouncer – £25 from Argos for twenty minutes of peace a day, you won’t regret it!

10. Nobody told me about the singing. Oh my goodness, so much singing. Our ‘favourite’ is ‘Row, Row, Row,Your Boat’, which we sing to send Horace off to sleep. Turns out there are four verses – who knew?!

NB – anyone with any questions can find Nikki on Twitter: @ NikkiSimpson3

Horace on his swing (Photo courtesy Nikki Simpson)

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FEATURES Michael Buchanan

The Great War: Light Cometh The Hour military High Command, they were recognised formally as the Graves As the Centenary of the end of the Great War of 1914-18 dawns on Registration Commission. After renaming in May 1917 as the Imperial the horizon, with an avalanche of new publications, a few nuggets of War Graves Commission (IWGC), they were morphed again in 1960 into information can still clarify ‘the fog of war’ and its aftermath. the Commonweal War Graves Commission.

The 2-minute silence is a case in point. In Cape Town, South Africa, I have been heartened to learn that my Cambridge College, Gonville a three-minute silence was adopted as early as November 1916. Gearing and Caius, (William Harvey, Harold Abrahams, Francis Crick et al.) was up in the UK for the First Remembrance and Armistice Commemoration involved in pioneering research that characterised Shell Shock as a real in November 1919, King George V decided that a two-minute silence physical neuropathology. This discovery, once taken on board by Staff would be long enough, 1 minute for the Dead and 1 minute for gratitude Officers, must have saved hundreds from the Firing Squad, and lightened for survivors. Armistice Day itself, 11-11-1918, was announced by peals the load of many a padre. Other research concerned facial reconstruction of Church Bells. This is likely to be repeated in November 2018. surgical techniques, making damaged lives usefully less damaged.

In June 1922, at Clifton College Bristol, a memorial gateway was Some years ago, on a Mediterranean cruise, I was privileged to unveiled by that most famous Old Cliftonian, Earl Haig, a member visit WWII War Graves: near Port Said, at El Alamein, and in Benghazi, and elder of St Columba’s Kirk, Pont Street, SW1. He was treated Libya, before the Arab Spring. Even without a then as Hero Without Stain. Today his statue personal link to such places, visits were moving overlooks their cricket field, ‘The Close’. Haig experiences. On my return home, I penned a was Chancellor of the University of St Andrews note to CWGC to notify them of grave spelling from 1922 to his death in 1928, aged 66. He had a few nuggets of mistakes (‘Montgromery’, ‘Auchlineck’) in an been Captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club information can still clarify Egyptian Museum by El Alamein. They told me of St Andrews, 1920-1921, playing himself into they knew a man there who could help. I felt, office on the Old Course to the sound of yet more ‘the fog of war’ and its as a wordsmith, that I had done my bit, albeit cannon fire. In 1921, the Nation gave Bemersyde aftermath belatedly; they also serve who observe and House to Earl Haig. It was funded by public respond critically! subscription from a grateful people. Haig became God bless the memory of George V. He gave Laird of this seat, linked to his ancestors in the Remembrancers 100 minutes per century: extra Scottish Borders. drinking time for time-poor punters. In 1916, Daylight Saving Time (later In 1916, a 77-minute film, Battle of The Somme, was made from BST – British summer time) was introduced. It shone an extra hour of footage filmed on the Western Front, with some staged reconstructions. evening light on dark, bloody worlds of stalemated conflict until the sun A vehicle of propaganda, it was viewed by millions of cinema-goers after set in/on The West. release on 21 August 1916. The Somme ‘Big Push’ had started on 1 July The 1920s were a field day for monumental stonemasons. One 1916, after weeks of bombardment.

Scottish effort was inscribed ‘Carry On’, an unfortunate choice given the In 1964, 50 years on from 1914, the BBC broadcast ‘The Great War’, Carry On films later. Perhaps, ‘Carry On Cannon Fodder’, and ‘What A in no less that 26 episodes. Much later, 80 years after 1918, a modest Bloody Carry On!’ were rejected as too long or too candid. 100 years on, 2-part ‘Veterans, The Last Survivors of the Great War’, went out in Great War memorialisations can be a veritable minefield for the unlucky, November 1998. This was to be the last tribute from the fast-diminishing unimaginative, or unthinking. Be careful, very careful what you wish for! band of surviving veterans.

Within Edinburgh Castle, the very impressive Scottish National War The War Office, from May 1915, did not allow the repatriation of War Memorial opened in 1927. It is one of the finest of modern inspirations, Dead. A 45-year-old called Fabian Ware was in command of a Red Cross has stood the test of time and was designed by Lorimer, my kinsman by Unit from September 1914. On his initiative, this Unit started to register marriage. and tend British War Graves. By February 1915, having impressed the

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FEATURES: REVIEWS Leonard Low relates the story of two of St Andrews’ Medieval ‘witches’, from his book, St Andrews’ Untold Stories

Alison Peirson, and Agness Melville

making him weaker. He was now desperate; We go to St Andrews for a most unjust and one of his Ministers, James Melville from ridiculous story of Witchcraft. This tale is typical Anstruther, came forward to say his niece was of when healers and advancing medicines rather gifted in herbs and medicines and might were stalled by the Church in its fear of “wise be able to help. He thought if she impressed women”. the Archbishop with her medical knowledge St Andrews, from its humble beginning, she would be well rewarded and put in good was formed as a religious centre of learning. It standing in the churches’ eyes…what a terrible is famous for its Religious Martyrs, who today mistake! have a rather splendid monument dedicated Agnes Mellville came to the aid of the to them, a monument raised by Ministers for Archbishop of St Andrews, one of the most Ministers, Ministers who threatened others powerful men of Scotland. For company, and to simply by preaching from a different prayer help her out, she asked a friend called Alison book.

Peirson, living in the Byrehill area just outside The Martyrs’ reward was to be tied to a the city, to help. It seemed Alison was actually post and burnt alive. At the time they were the gifted one; with her herbs and potions she branded in the courts, “Heretics”, but the started to see results after two weeks working names of George Wishart, Patrick Hamilton, on the Archbishop. He started to feel better, and Walter Mill are looked on fondly today by much better. By this time Agnes took a back fellow Protestant Ministers, who raised this seat leaving Alison to continue for the next few monument to their own kind. What is missing weeks, until the Archbishop was totally cured. from this quaint affectionate remembrance, are Alison’s next action would have lifethe names of the other 15 people who suffered changing consequences for her and Agnes; likewise in St Andrews, branded Heretics also, she meekly asked the burnt by the churches’ Archbishop for a payment authority as the Martyrs What Alison and Agnes used in coin for curing him! were, but the crime of on the Archbishop was the The utterly ungrateful Heresy also covered the Archbishop, now back accusation of Witchcraft! precise medicine needed for to his full health, reacted It saddens me greatly that his complaint, two hundred angrily. Within a week, these people today are years before it became Alison was thrown in jail ignored. I once took the properly recognised on charges of Witchcraft, fight for a monument to the and Agnes was right 26 Pittenweem Witches I behind her. Alison was charged with putting wrote about in my book, The Weem Witch. It a hand on the Archbishop, taking his illness got worldwide attention in newspapers, but the from him, and transferring it to his horse, local council refused it. which then died. Anybody who had consulted, You now have to search hard through or previously worked with Alison was publicly books and old files to find the names and whipped or flogged down the streets of stories behind the Witches burnt in St Andrews, St Andrews “for the actions of consulting the but today I give you the story of two of them, condemned”. Alison was tortured, found guilty Alison Peirson and Agness Melville: of Witchcraft, then burned to death! Agnes The Archbishop of St Andrews in 1588 Melville also was accused, but miraculously, was Patrick Adamson; he was not in the best because of her Uncle’s position as a minister, of health, quite elderly, and exhausting doctors and his being a friend of Archbishop Patrick with his growing list of ailments. The doctors Adamson, she was let off with a sound used a method of “bleeding him”, cutting a vein flogging. But poor Alison Pierson burned. The to drain what they thought was “bad blood” in ungrateful Archbishop stood and watched with his system, but this endless process was just

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the rest of the clergy as Alison went up in flames; friends who had also benefitted from Alison’s skills, people who had associated with her stood with raw backs from their floggings, but could do nothing to help her!

With modern interpretation, it is clear that the Archbishop had what they called, “Dropsy”, to do with kidney problems, or a sexual disease. Among the many herbs that Alison used on the Archbishop was the foxglove flower. Two hundred years later Doctors experimenting with Foxglove extracted a drug called Digitalis, which assists patients to pass excess water and salt from the body, an effective treatment today in heart patients.

What Alison and Agnes used on the Archbishop was the precise medicine needed for his complaint, two hundred years before it became properly recognised. Had it not been for the constrictions of religion on medicine as the above case shows, medicine today would have been advanced by hundreds of years.

Agnes, with a Witch accusation on her, couldn’t go back home to Anstruther. She is recorded wandering in Berwick and Lundin Links, but in 1595 Agnes Melville’s luck finally ran out; her Uncle had died, so when she was seen again in Anstruther near the family home she was again accused of Witchcraft, this time with no-one to protect her. People who had used her medicines and knowledge still had the flogging scars on their backs for associating with her; seeing her again stirred sore memories. She was accused and arrested for Witchcraft. The stigma of being tainted in a Witchcraft trial never left you. It took 7 years to catch Agnes Melville!

Agnes burned at the stake on 10 September 1595, along with Elspot Gilchrist, and Jonet Lochequoir. A girl with good intentions and herbal skills, who tried to help was killed by the ungrateful regime of religion!

Today nothing marks the existence of the executed Witches of St Andrews.

FEATURES: REVIEWS

Recommended children’s books J & G Innes Ltd provides a regularly updated list of highly recommended books for children. This list considers both the latest titles, and books that we feel have been undeservedly forgotten. A short review will accompany each recommendation; we hope that this will prove helpful to those who seek to explore the wealth of children’s literature available today.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” – Joseph Addison Reading is such a fundamental aspect of a child’s development; ideas develop the mind and a broad vocabulary will facilitate self-expression.

If your child is reluctant to read, or struggles, a factual book may be just the ticket. Here are a few suggestions covering popular themes such as animals, human rights, football, and computers.

Infopedia 2018

By National Geographic Published: 9-5-17. Age 6+.

An up-to-date compendium of biological, geographical, political, technological, and historical facts with games and quizzes thrown in to entertain and inform your child.

Animals Behaving Badly

By Nicola Davies Published: 2-2-17. Age 7+ .

A witty collection of true stories about animals clever enough to outwit other animals, even human beings! This book should ultimately encourage children to reflect on ways in which animals and humans interact. Amusing cartoons will spur the reader on.

We Are All Born Free

By Amnesty International Published: 5-3-15. Age 5+.

Each of the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is made memorable for a child with a unique illustration by famous names such as Axel Scheffler (Gruffalo), John Burningham, and Polly Dunbar.

Football School

By Alex Bellos Published: 1-9-16. Age 7+.

This may be just the trick to encourage a footballmad child to read. Football is only a starting point; each chapter branches out into related lessons in all manner of subjects. Diagrams, cartoons, and football trivia will ensure your child remains gripped!

How Computers Work

By Usborne Published: 1-7-16. Age 5+.

Simple and informative; a young child will enjoy lifting the flaps!

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SHOPS & SERVICES Hugo D’Bere visited

The Innis & Gunn Beer Kitchen North Street, St Andrews

This appears to be a pub with food, but it’s placed round the edge. The difficulty with not a “gastro pub”. It is part of a chain. For this was that the strong flavour of the chorizo example, there is one in Ashton Lane in the tended to overwhelm everything else, so the trendy West End of Glasgow. subtle flavour of the sea bass was lost. That I assume that Innis & Gunn use this said, it filled a spot. as an outlet for their beers. As well as the Muffy decided to go light, with a Caesar Glasgow branch, there is one in Edinburgh, salad, which had prawns in it. Basically, and one in Dundee. they were very big juicy prawns, although I After a busy day, Muffy and I didn’t feel suspect originally frozen. like cooking, so wandered along to the Beer What can I say about the beer? I think if Kitchen and had a thoroughly enjoyable you were going for a night out this is primarily meal. a pub you would want to I had a scotch egg to start visit. The wine selection and with, which was probably best the spirit selection is good, described as a deluxe scotch undoubtedly, there is a The website makes but egg. It was a prime example bewildering variety of beers. much of going for of the breed, and actually a Needless to say, I had some very large portion. The second of the Innis & Gunn variety, ‘a Growler’, which course for me was a sea bass, which again filled the spot. is most appropriate which was grilled and served The website makes on a bed of potato with black much of going for ‘a for bears pudding and spinach. It was Growler’, which is most surrounded by chorizo. I had appropriate for bears. assumed the black pudding and Apparently the term spinach would be mixed through the potato, ‘growler’ was used towards the end of the but there was in fact a large chunk of black nineteenth century when patrons of local pudding under the sea bass, and the chorizo bars would use a small lidded pail to take

draft brews home. On opening the container the noise emitted by the escaping CO2 was said to sound like a growl.

The answer is therefore, try a Growler in either 1 or 2 litre volume sizes. Apparently, you can rent these for £6 each, after which you should only pay for the beer.

I would say suitable for the cubs, good for fast food, which isn’t that fast, but is tasty and nutritious, and great for a pint.

By the way, they also have various things like bobble hats and cotton bags you can buy. Why you would do that I do not know, but perhaps the bag will hold the Growler.

Would you like to advertise in this space?

Please see: www.standrewsinfocus.com for more information (sizes, costs, distribution/readership, contact details, etc)

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SHOPS & SERVICES

McIlroy Hipwell & Dingwall Ltd are pleased to announce the promotion of Liz Milligan, Solicitor and Notary Public to Associate.

Liz joined the firm in 2016 with 20 years of experience in the legal profession with a particular interest in Family Law. She has specialised in dealing with Separation, Divorce, Children’s Law and Adoption. Liz complements the skills of Mary McIlroy Hipwell and Fiona Dingwall who have been offering a boutique private client service in St Andrews for over 20 years, providing a full range of legal work including buying and selling homes, Powers of Attorney, Wills, Trusts, Executries and Guardianship applications.

We are able to sympathetically guide you through all aspects of family life including even the most difficult divorce. Our friendly, approachable and efficient service is offered at competitive rates as we maintain our philosophy to keep our fees down by keeping our overheads low.

We offer home visits and a late service on Thursday evening or Saturday morning by appointment.

Call us on 01334-402147 to arrange an appointment.

11

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

Inheritance Tax and the new Residence Nil Rate Band The beginning of the new tax year in April 2017 saw one of the most significant changes in Inheritance Tax legislation in recent years come into force.

Back in 2015, the Conservatives promised the British public a £1 million tax-free allowance from Inheritance Tax (IHT) on death. As always with politics, it was never going to be that simple. What has been introduced is a complicated piece of legislation, which will allow married couples (or those in a civil partnership) to potentially reach the £1 million allowance if they meet the strict criteria that have been set for qualifying.

Here are the most important things you need to know about this new allowance: How much is the new allowance?

The allowance has been introduced (with effect from 6 April 2017) at a rate of £100,000. This will rise on 6 April every year by £25,000 until it reaches £175,000 in 2020. It will then only rise in line with inflation, and this will be measured by the Consumer Price Index.

In a similar way to the ordinary Nil Rate Band (currently £325,000), if your estate passes to your spouse on first death, when your spouse dies they will have their own residential nil rate band and will be entitled to use your transferable residential nil rate band as well.

How can you qualify for the relief?

You can only qualify for the relief if your property is passing to “direct descendants” on death. Direct descendants are set out in the legislation as children, grandchildren, step-children, adopted children or fostered children. Your property must be passing to one of these groups on death, or on second death if you are a married couple.

Nieces and nephews do not qualify.

What are the main restrictions?

1. The most notable is that the relief is only available on estates under £2 million. Once an estate is over this amount, the relief tapers by £1 for every £2 and this means by 2020, if your estate is worth over £2,350,000, it will not qualify for any relief (and there will be no transferable nil rate band relief to pass to a surviving spouse/civil partner).

2. The level of allowance available to you is directly linked to the value of your property. If your property is only worth £100,000 on death, the relief will be capped at £100,000. Any house worth over £350,000 after 2020, will still only get £350,000 of allowance.

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3. Property that passes into a Discretionary Trust on death for the benefit of direct descendants will not qualify. This is because the property has to be becoming part of the direct descendant’s estate.

However, this does mean that property which is being held in Liferent Trusts for the ultimate benefit of direct descendants will still qualify for the relief.

Do you miss out if you downsize or sell your house and move into residential care?

As long as this was done after 8 July 2015 then the answer is no.

If you downsize your property the relief will still be available on the value of your previous property as long as the new property and/or the remaining funds are passing to direct descendants. Good record keeping is essential in these circumstances and it may be sensible to ring fence the capital which was not reinvested in the new property so that it is easily identifiable to HMRC on your death.

Can I use the RNRB on more than one property?

No. If you own more than one property, you do not get a separate relief for each property and you cannot carry over any unused relief to use as relief on a second property. Only one residential property will qualify and the executors of your Will must nominate which property it will be applied to. You must have lived in the property for a period before your death, although you need not have lived there permanently. In some circumstances, a holiday home could therefore be the nominated property if it is worth more than the family home.

What issues should I be thinking about now?

Firstly, you should review your Will. Many Wills make use of Discretionary Trusts and although these types of Trust provide many benefits, they may prevent you from qualifying for up to £350,000 of tax free allowance after 2020.

If your estate is just over £2 million, you may want to speak to a professional advisor about how you can reduce your estate to below this figure to ensure that you qualify for this allowance on death.

As with all tax planning, keep your Will under review and keep good records. If you plan to downsize, make sure that any funds that are not reinvested in your new property are identifiable as funds still passing to direct descendants on death.

Nil Rate Bands often appear to be straightforward as a concept, but can give rise to complex issues. This article offers an oversight to this new tax relief and how it operates generally. If you need more information or specific advice, please contact a solicitor who specialises in this area of law.

(Photo courtesy Chris Gardiner)

SHOPS & SERVICES Hervé Bernier, General Manager, Hotel du Vin, St Andrews, chatted to Flora Selwyn

The Auld Alliance writ large!

Hervé Christian Jean-Pierre Bernier was born in France 47 years ago.

Glasgow accent – to another Macdonald Hotel in Livingston for 5 When he had finished his training in the hotel industry, he needed to years, and finally to the Hotel du Vin in St Andrews in February 2017. perfect his English. So he “wrote to a few UK establishments and got Mentioning accents, Hervé confesses that when he goes to France he a reply from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (near Oxford), but Scotland now speaks French with a Scottish accent! He has been amused a few had more appeal for me.” In 1989, one dark afternoon times when he has been complimented on ‘his good in November he arrived in the West of Scotland, French’; he doesn’t let on! struggling to understand what was being said. Yet In St Andrews, “I’ve got a great Hotel, a new Hervé managed to make his way to the Turnberry Hotel, which is easy to look after, and is part of a Hotel in Girvan, “that big white building all lit up,” which Company with great values.” In order to have happy he says will stay in his memory forever. So began his customers who will return, the Company makes sure love affair with Scotland! it employs happy staff. There is a Company-wide After working there over the winter, “the best time calendar providing days when the staff enjoy a fun to be there,” Hervé returned to France to sit his final theme, such as the recent ‘dessert day’. When the exams, “which I passed!” Back in Scotland with a new latest new menu was introduced, the kitchen staff car, but no job, Hervé gravitated to Dunkeld, where he went to Harrogate to learn about it. The Company is became a waiter in the Dunkeld House Hotel. A year very proud of its food. Staff are thanked in various later it was back to France for national Service in the ways for their hard work, whether it’s a trip to a Air Force, near Orleans. Trained as an officer, Hervé bowling alley, or a corporate dinner. As expected, learnt management skills, how to work in a team – the Hotel caters for conferences, weddings, etc. in invaluable lessons which have served him well. addition to the comfort of its customers.

Back in Dunkeld, Hervé was promoted, first to Asked if he is able to find time for any hobbies, restaurant supervisor, then eventually to deputy Hervé spoke about his love of sport, and in general manager. He stayed for 14 years. It was there, particular of running. Four years ago he ran his first too, that he met and married Jacqueline, and became half-marathon, and ”loved it”. He runs regularly on In St Andrews, “I’ve got a father to twin boys. the West Sands, “I try to keep to a 10K routine”, he Next, the family moved to Ireland to participate in says. Do his sons wish to emulate their father in great Hotel, a new Hotel, the rebranding of the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, the hotel industry? Now 14 years old, one is keen which is easy to look after, Co. Carlow. “My kids picked up the Irish accent!” When on football, the other on golf, but neither shows and is part of a Company the children were ready for school two years later, the enthusiasm for the Hotel line. Hervé is phlegmatic with great values.” family relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland, where Hervé about that, wishing only that the boys should have a became manager in a city-centre Macdonald Hotel. good future.

This was a big change from the country living he had As for himself, contemplating his career, Hervé become used to, and he missed the ‘hunting, shooting has no hesitation in asserting that he wouldn’t have and fishing’ lifestyle. changed anything. He has enjoyed the travelling, meeting interesting Then came another move, from the 200-bedroom hotel to general people, the diversity of experiences. Hotel du Vin is clearly in very good manager of the 36-bedroom Grange Manor Hotel in Grangemouth, hands!

“I was in charge, a very good learning curve!” From there it was the (Photo courtesy Hervé Bernier) Crutherland Hotel, East Kilbride – where the boys picked up the

We have pleasure in offering: • a mobile hairdresser • cutting/colouring services • party/wedding hair styling 07445 764 289

hannahmilner893@hotmail.co.uk

Leuchars Station £10 Dundee City Centre £25

Print & Design

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

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

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SHOPS & SERVICES

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

www.nphcinema.co.uk

117 North Street, St Andrews Tel: 013334 474902

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SHOPS & SERVICES

As ever Roving Reporter delights in stories of success 1. St Andrews’ newest private gallery at 43 South Street ( The Junor Gallery ) opened in August to a warm welcome from the town. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive responses,” the Gallery Director, Beth Junor, tells Reporter. “So many people have come in to say they love the gallery. People of all walks of life have been delighted by the artists’ works. The theme of maps in my opening exhibition has struck a chord with so many.” Miss Junor is another of our local entrepreneurs who’ve exchanged gown for town, with years of experience in between – in Beth’s case, a very demanding career in Speech & Language Therapy, specialising in childhood autism, while publishing poetry and non-fiction all the while. She edited the letters held in the National Library of Scotland of Valda Grieve, wife of poet Hugh MacDiarmid. Her writing and experience in the field of autism came together when she translated an autism handbook from the French, explaining autism to children and young people who have the condition. “I began my career in Aberdeen, then lived in Edinburgh, while I worked with a great multidisciplinary team in Forth Valley for 13 years. I then took up a post in the London Borough of Hackney and although I loved my work there, and London, after 12 years I was homesick, ready to return to Scotland. I’ve always loved art and had studied Fine Art here, under Professor John Steer. Now I can’t imagine being anywhere else but back in St Andrews!” She was also an active participant in the peace movement that flourished in the ‘80s, when preparations for the use of nuclear weapons were at their height, as again now – an experience soon to appear in a Channel 5 documentary with Michael Portillo. She sums up her journey with a quote for Reporter from Robert Louis Stevenson, “We remain the same person throughout life, but simply move into different rooms.”

‘Maps of the Imagination’ runs until St Andrews Day. Details of the next curated exhibition will appear on the gallery’s website www.junorgallery.scot Miss Junor promises ‘Colour and Light’ for the long evenings, hinting at some very special photographic portraits coming.

(Photo © Stephen Gibson)

*****

2.

Phon (L), Wan (R)

For the size of the town, says Reporter, it’s truly astonishing how many parts of the world are represented in culinary terms! TANON, 56-58 Market Street, (01334 477 088) is the latest addition. Owner Phon McLean serves Thai street food – the Thai equivalent of fast food – both for eating in, and takeaway. The eatery’s Thai name means ‘street’, she

3.

explained. Phon came to Britain in 2003, first in London, then Manchester, then to Dundee to gain a degree in marketing at the University. While in Dundee she met her St Andrean husband, Steven, and they now have an adorable little girl, Amaya, who’s almost 3. “I love cooking, trying different kinds of food from everywhere” said Phon. Her best friend, Wan, shares the cooking.

The menu is extensive – the takeaway one offers 21 Appetisers; 8 Thai curries; 7 Ramen Noodle Soups; 7 salads; 15 Main Dishes; 6 rice dishes with clear soup; 7 Bento boxes; 4 Wok-fried Noodle dishes; 10 Side dishes. Desserts are written up on a notice board.

Prices range from £13.95 for Tamarind Duck, to £2 for Thai Prawn Crackers with sweet chilli dip. Phon expects her alcohol licence to be granted in time for the appearance of this magazine, when her restaurant will be complete! Opening hours are 7 days a week: 12noon to 2.30pm and 5.00pm to 10.30pm. Reporter says, go, eat!

*****

Yet another Son of St Andrews has returned to open his own takeaway food business here: Jonathan Hughes, The Canny Soul, 81 South Street (07712 423 386). He told Reporter that he offers a “Simple menu, but done really, really well, cheese & ham toasties heavenly, and bacon butties to die for, as I said nothing fancy but so tasty…” Jonathan’s family owned the Star Hotel in St Andrews in the 1940s, then the Golf Hotel on the Scores. Jonathan learned about food preparation in the family’s kitchens. From there he went to Kent University to earn a BA Hons in Communication, followed by an MPhil in Conflict Resolution at Trinity College, Dublin. A chance meeting led Jonathan next into the film industry, becoming Senior Production Manager overseeing the filming of “thousands of golfers over the next 6 years.” His winters were spent filming in Vilanova, Portugal, “exclusively for Oceanico.” For the last 5 years Jonathan has been with We Film Golf, “Our dedicated team have been filming and delivering, bespoke video production services and hilarious after dinner entertainment at corporate and charity golf events across UK, Europe, and Asia…” (website). Yet Jonathan still found time to open the Canny Soul in August using “top ingredients, at good prices, and the blether is free!” His opening times are Monday to Saturday, 8.00am to 4.00pm; Sunday, 11.00am to 4.00pm. Hungry?

Reporter suggests a visit.

(Photo courtesy Jonathan Hughes)

*****

15

TOWN & GOWN Dita Stanis-Traken revisits the almost-forgotten story of

Mary, Queen of the Royal & Ancient City… of which is the tiny attic box bedroom still containing the original bed on Earlier this year I read a vignette in a local publication about the which she slept. incumbency of Scotland’s uniquely female monarch prior to her regal, Tribulation was never, alas, far from Mary; in 1563 the Queen’s later political, union with three other nations; the monarch in question lovelorn court poet (or as some would have it, a Huguenot spy seeking continues to inspire fascination, invoke debate, yet remains enigmatic, to tarnish the Queen’s reputation), Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, often poorly understood despite her iconic stature and historical import was executed at St Andrews on – I speak of course of the brilliant, 20 February, 1563; his final words beautiful Mary, Queen of Scots. were, by repute, a recitation As I witnessed a group of Ronsard’s “Hymn of Death” of approximately forty people succeeded by a cry of “Adieu, most bringing traffic to a halt at the lovely and cruel of princesses!” east end of South Street, listening Today, a cross in the cobblestones with enraptured awe to their tour of Market Street marks the place of guide’s explanation that part of this unfortunate man’s demise. this terrace was in fact Queen A happier moment occurred Mary’s House, it struck me how in 1565 when the Queen of Scots many associations the Queen of planted a Hawthorn Tree at Scots has with St Andrews, how St Mary’s College on South Street; little awareness there seems to it (or perhaps its successor) still be of these, and how equally little grows there to this day, its slender, has been committed to publiclybut sturdy, presence elegantly signed heritage in our town. These counterpointed by the adjacent columns, and the kindness of their Holm Oak, with which it shares editor, provide an opportunity to its beautiful collegiate setting, partially rectify this. having been immortalised by the King James V and Queen nineteenth century poet R F Murray Marie were wed at St Andrews in in his poem Winter at St Andrews, June 1538. Born in 1542, just six in which he notes, “… Of her all days before her father’s untimely her summer robes forlorn – and death at nearby Falkland, Mary dead is all her summer pride – was their only surviving child, the leaves are off Queen Mary’s having been preceded (and Thorn.” predeceased) by her brothers, In the same year, at James, Duke of Rothesay (1540 St Andrews, Mary made the ill-1541) and Robert, Duke of Albany fated decision to marry her cousin, (1541), the former of whom was Lord Henry Darnley, heir to the born at St Andrews and later died Earldom of Lennox, a spouse here. For reasons of dynastic suitably high-born, whose descent alliance and personal safety, Mary from Mary’s grandmother, Margaret spent the years 1548 – 1561 in Tudor, further strengthened the France whilst her mother Marie rights of any ensuing Scottish royal remained in Scotland to govern in children to the English throne, but her stead; in 1558 Mary became whose immaturity and petulance, Dauphiness on her marriage to carefully concealed prior to the François, heir to the French throne. marriage, became all too evident Reeling from the double soon after. However ill-fated, this hammer-blow of the deaths decision, made in St Andrews, of her beloved mother and produced King James VI, the cherished husband just six months Scottish king who inherited the apart in 1560, made entirely Photo of the bust owned by Dita Stanis-Traken English throne and whose tenth unwelcome by her mother-in-law great-granddaughter today sits on the thrones of England and Scotland.

Caterina de’ Medici (a femme formidable and possible instigator of the Of unfailing interest to our legions of devoted golfers, is the tale St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre), Mary returned to Scotland in August of the deployment of Mary’s Francophonic cadets in the business of 1561. retrieving her stray ‘gowf’ balls, and how the term “cadet” gave rise to the The Queen became a regular visitor to St Andrews, the town modern golfing appellation “caddy.” becoming a personal favourite of hers; in addition to its beauty, holy To St Andrews, Mary bequeathed her ritual, and bracing sea air, St Andrews perhaps exquisite collection of Latin and Greek texts in also afforded Mary the psychological comfort of order that her University might found a common being in the place of her late parents’ marriage. library; more of these texts eventually came “Queen Mary’s House” in South Street bears However ill-fated, this to St Andrews via her son, King James VI, witness to the Queen’s visits during the brief decision, made in St Andrews, who, in 1612 and in concert with his Queen years of her troubled personal reign in Scotland.

Consort and princely sons (one of whom was Built on the site of older dwellings dating to the produced King James VI the future King Charles I) donated over two 12th century, the present Queen Mary’s House hundred books to the University. The elegant was constructed between 1520 and 1526, then King James Library graces the University estate in 1560 purchased by David Orme, Chamberlain to this day, serving as a poignant reminder that her favourite town of to the Duke of Moray, the Queen’s half-brother. Thence begins the St Andrews remained in Queen Mary’s thoughts as she set down her dwelling’s formal association with the Queen of Scots, who stayed final dispositions. on several occasions, enjoying brief periods of carefree respite, and I again speculate on the absence of a visible Marian heritage trail indulgence in pleasurable pastimes such as garden archery, needlework throughout our town, beginning with entryway signage, including the sites and, it is said, making sweets in the kitchens. The house, now part of and settings described here. En ma fin est mon commencement (In my St Leonards School, is beautiful without and within; it features many end is my beginning); Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542 – 1587. relics, depictions, and mementos of the Queen of Scots, the most moving

16

TOWN & GOWN John Cameron’s column

Cross-cultural encounters Among the many foreign students who have The latter produced Scotland’s iconic arrived recently in St Andrews will be the financiers, engineers, medics, academics, usual large contingent from America. Misled and made a huge contribution to early by a common language, they have perhaps American university education. They never realized just how many misconceptions they spoke Gaelic, but a form of Low-German brought along with their luggage. I certainly known as the Doric. They were early found myself making plenty of missteps when converts to the Protestant revolution that I arrived in California on a sports scholarship came in through the East Coast ports trading in the early 1960s. with the Hanseatic League.

I assumed Americans were just English The Celts made the mistake of supporting people living on the far side of the Pond Bonnie Prince Charles against the English – after all, America had in 1745; as a result been one of our colonies. many then fled across I had been there a few the Atlantic. Sadly, months before an elderly when the American an elderly British expat British expat suggested I Revolution started in suggested I would make 1775, they got it wrong would make fewer gaffes if I thought of Americans again by deciding this fewer gaffes if I thought as English-speaking time to join the colonists of Americans as English- supporting the English.

Germans.

In a similar tongue-inThis is why so many of speaking Germans cheek vein I suggest our their descendants are guests think of Scotland found in Canada, or the as a loose federation of Appalachian Mountains. two peoples – the Celts and the Saxons. The The dour Presbyterian Scots former live mainly in the West, associated almost without exception sided with the with the whisky, the kilt, the bagpipes, the revolutionaries, providing military leaders, such humour, the music, the dancing, and the as Commodore John Paul Jones, Generals ability to start a fight in an empty room.

Henry Knox, William Alexander, Hugh Mercer,

and many of the Founding Fathers. It can also be argued that the intellectual ferment of the revolution was to a considerable extent driven by the civic tradition of Edinburgh’s Enlightenment.

As some 75 per cent of US presidents – including the present incumbent – are of Scottish descent, the town being inundated all summer long by American golfers, St Andrews, will soon feel like a second home. Ignore any ribald criticism of “The Donald” – we have had our own ‘fruits and nuts and flakes’ in Bute House. As far as this town is concerned, anyone who has produced so many superb golf courses cannot be all bad!

Finally to those finding the weather a bit of a mystery, St Andrews has about the same annual rainfall as Spain’s Seville (24 inches), less than half that in New York. Our hours of sunshine per annum are around the highest in Scotland, more than London, but less than two-thirds of New York. However, we rarely have snow, and though the wind is a constant feature, the last big blow was half-a-century ago in January 1968.

17

ORGANISATIONS Esther Fantevie, née Glavee in Ghana, sends this update of the Foundation she started after her time in St Andrews as the second holder in 2011 of the inaugural International Student Leadership Scholarships, awarded by the St Andrews University Students’ Association (see issue 80, Jan/Feb 2017).

The Vocational Ambassadors Foundation

Vocational Ambassadors Foundation (VAF) is a local charity based along the banks of the Volta River in Kpando Torkor, a fishing community in Ghana. This community is surrounded by islands.

Fishing is the key occupation of the folks, hence child trafficking is rampant. These vulnerable children, mostly trafficked in the community, are denied access to education. One key reason for this is the unavailability of schools for the islanders, so the children are involved in child labour activities on the lake, or trafficked to neighboring communities to fish. Amidst this lack of education is the rise of teenage pregnancy amongst the young girls, whilst the boys engage in all sorts of social vices.

VAF, passionate about the future of these vulnerable children, organizes them to train, giving them at least basic education to enable them to read and write. It has a Core mandate of putting smiles on the faces of this vulnerable group of people, through educating the children and getting the youth engaged in vocational training. This will help the teenage girls and young boys to be empowered to make a living to fend for themselves and their families. This would go a long way to curb unwanted pregnancies with its associated complications like ‘unwanted’ innocent babies, who are later trafficked.

It’s about 7 years since its inception. We have about two hundred of these children in our facility who are being educated, clothed, and fed, all in the bid to improve their lives. Also about 30 youth are enrolled in diverse forms of skill training, including dressmaking, Esther and her 1-year-old son, Alele hairdressing, mechanical engineering, carpentry etc.

We are still a small Foundation, hence funding is a challenge, and we to Ghana to work as a volunteer A group of young passionate volunteers come lack a lot of amenities to make our in our school for a couple of weeks. assist to teach these children facility a decent school. We currently We will host you during your stay. host the children under a dilapidated structure at the mercy of the weather when it rains. A group of young passionate volunteers assist to teach these children. Our toilet facility Our website ( www.vaffoundation.com ) went down a couple of is nothing to write home about, since the children have to resort to the weeks ago because of our inability to renew on expiry. However, bushes to attend to nature’s call. We lack educational materials, and our Facebook page is very active and we can be contacted via entertainment facilities to make learning fun for these children. It is very phone calls on WhatsApp: 00233 246 811 184 or by email on: ironical that we teach Information Communication Technology in the vaffoundation@yahoo.com or glasteldor@yahoo.com school without a single computer! In fact, the children have never even seen a computer. It is indeed an irony in this 21st century.

I therefore wish to call on all individuals, organizations, churches, Thanks so much for making time to read about us. charities, to please come to our aid. You can donate anything, including books, clothes, money, learning materials etc; also, you are welcome to (Photos courtesy VAF)

18

ORGANISATIONS From Margo Lindsay

Friday 5Kers We are group of 17 fabulous friends, who run for fun and call ourselves the Friday 5Kers. In February of this year we formed a fundraising group, The St Andrews Friends of Maggie’s, chaired by me, Margo Lindsay. The Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres in Kirkcaldy and Dundee have provided much needed support for one of our friends and their family recently, while one of our friends and family used the Centre a few years ago when undergoing treatments. involved in our virtual 5K run where they log their run and receive a We have held numerous fundraising events over the course of the medal from Maggie’s too. We even had members of the Allsorts running last few months. On 1 October we were finally involved in a relay run group in Anstruther come to St Andrews to take part, and we offered organised by STAART, covering 66 miles from the Dundee Maggie’s them a little hospitality with teas, coffee, and cakes when they had all Centre to the Kirkcaldy Maggie’s Centre, presenting both with a split of completed. the funds raised. We have raised in excess of £12,000, and counting!

It has been a fantastic few months, the ladies Our group started the relay In Dundee, finishing in pulling out all the stops to achieve such amazing Kirkcaldy.

We hope we have done Maggie’s events for everyone to be involved with.

On a recent visit to Maggie’s to see the Centre proud, and we wear their T-shorts The Friday 5Kers plan on fundraising next and the services on offer, we were informed that with pride at our events year for a portable defibrillator for our running there are 35,000 cancer diagnoses in Fife each club STAART. Our members are Mairi Stewart, year and that the Centres are completely funded Pauline Donaldson, Jenny Donaldson, Margaret Mary Johnson, Pam by charity Webster, Heather Bones, Laura Sinclair, Susan Sinclair, Sandra Browne, Our fundraising has involved a live band dance ‘UNDERFIRE’ with Susan Kelly, Linda Hunter, Sophie Curnyn, Vanessa Drury, Susan Kelly, fun and games and a spectacular raffle. We have had a quiz night, and Joyce McBride, Jakie Barclay, & myself Margo Lindsay. We have had a a Family ceilidh with a piper and traditional stovies. We held a ‘swishing lot of fun along the way, as well as some hard work organising and coparty’ with good quality secondhand clothes, serving teas, coffees, and ordinating events to ensure they all went off with a bang. home baking; a Silent Auction with gifted prizes, paintings and jewellery.

We hope we have done Maggie’s proud, and we wear their T-shorts We held a makeup party. 5 of us walked 25.6 miles for a sponsored with pride at our events.

Kiltwalk from St Andrews to Monifieth, and a 13-mile sponsored Kiltwalk We have a Facebook page if anyone would like to ‘like’, or follow us, over the weekend in Edinburgh. We held our last ‘swishing party’ on or make a donation.

Saturday, 23 September in St Andrews.

(Photos courtesy the Friday 5Kers) We had a group of friends do a sponsored cycle run between 50 & 100 miles organised by Heather Ovenstone. We have had lots of people

Ken Cochran

Pilgrim Care Pilgrim Care is supported by local churches, doctors, or who trusts, and individuals. It is in the context of perhaps need an this generous donation from The St Andrews advocate to help them Community Trust, that St Andrews in Focus receive the services highlights the work of Pilgrim Care. The they need, access St Andrews Community Trust distributes opportunities for funds generated through the protection and socialisation, or just trademark of the Town Crest of the Royal someone to listen.

Burgh of St Andrews.

While Cath does not In Scotland, the proportion of people over provide services that pensionable age is likely to increase by a third are provided directly in the next 20 years. St Andrews is likely to by the NHS, her work have more than its share of the increase. Even helps reduce the without this increase, NHS and Social Care strain on the NHS by services are already stretched to the limit while further enabling people to live independently in local care-home resources are decreasing. their own homes. She works closely with other How we care for elderly members of society is medical professionals in town, and the pastoral a marker of how civilized we are as a society. staff of local churches. In recent years she has It’s in this context that the St Andrews had over 100 referrals for assistance. charity, Pilgrim Care, has established a Parish Pilgrim Care’s other focus is to increase the Nursing ministry, working on behalf of all care-home facilities available locally. Currently the churches in town, to St Andrews has only 130 provide additional health registered care-home In Scotland, the proportion of care advice and advocacy places within 10 minutes people over pensionable age to the elderly of the drive of town; the need is likely to increase by a third town. Ultimately Pilgrim by 2030 is projected to in the next 20 years Care is working towards be 216. Already many establishing a new care people have to locate home for the town, which would ideally be to care homes in Leven or further afield, modeled on the Auchlochan Care Village in which is severely disruptive to their sense of Lanarkshire. Pilgrim Care is a Christian charity community and ability to maintain contact with providing services, at no charge, to people of friends, family, and neighbours. Pilgrim Care all faiths, or none. is consulting with the new St Andrews West Parish Nurse Cath Carter (RN, BN Hons, development planners to support and facilitate MSc) works with a team of volunteers to help the construction and management of a new elderly people, who may need a little extra time care home. We believe that to be economically adjusting to new circumstances, understanding viable a care home needs to accommodate medication changes, or medical advice from over 40 residents with a 2/3rd to 3/4 acre site.

Ideally a 60-person home on a one-acre site should be contemplated. Positioning sheltered housing nearby would allow those needing some additional support to live independently, then to transition to/from residential care as needed with little disruption to social life and contacts. It’s encouraging to see the St Andrews West development plans include a care-home facility; we are eager to see it as the best facility it can be for our town.

Pilgrim Care (St Andrews) Ltd. is a registered Scottish Charity SC023571 www.pilgrimcare-standrews.org Pilgrim Care’s AGM is on 9 November 2017 at 7.30pm in St Andrews Episcopal Church, Queens Terrace. All are welcome.

(Photo courtesy the Pilgrim Foundation)

19

ORGANISATIONS From Rotarian Walter Hill,

An Update in addition to Morrisons’ valuable Sheena Wellington, who sings and writes work for Kids Out. Scottish songs, and who sang at the Since it arrived in St Andrews, inauguration of the Scottish Parliament; Marks and Spencer has become journalist, broadcaster, active supporter of a valued partner. Packing bags in the arts, Ruth Wishart; Professor Caroline the store not only enables Rotary Wilkinson, reconstructor of the faces of Mary to collect money, but allows us Queen of Scots and Richard lll; Nicola Carslaw, to meet, and hopefully help, the reporter for the BBC from war zones and crisis public. This is a major, high profile, areas all over the world; Peter Alliss who is, activity Rotarians greatly enjoy. well, Peter Alliss; renowned journalist and The major annual fundraising broadcaster Hazel Irvine; Sir Craig Reedie, StAFCO’s concert in April this year, in performance with opportunity is the sale of raffle President of the World Anti-Doping Agency SCO Principal Clarinet Maximiliano Martin tickets on the Old Course during (WADA) and, until recently, Vice President of the Dunhill Links Championship. the International Olympic Committee, (IOC); IMG, which organizes the event, not only Very many businesses and organizations musician, broadcaster, former shinty star, Gary allows this to happen, but has proved to be a in St Andrews contribute in various ways to Innes. All of these have at least one thing in cooperative, proactive, and willing partner for support Rotary’s fundraising. Without their common. All have given freely of their time and around two decades. The prizes have always backing it would be impossible to reach the considerable expertise to entertain audiences been very valuable thanks to our many donors. levels of success we achieve. for the Rotary Club of St Andrews, helping In particular, Auchterlonies has regularly However, the money comes from to raise a total of more than £15,000 for the provided a set of state-of-the-art golf clubs as generous people. People like you. Previous charities it supports. the star prize. As a result, editions of St Andrews in Focus have shown The committee more than £100,000 has been how the money is used. The Rotary Clubs responsible for organizing However, the money raised at the Dunhill. in St Andrews have no paid staff, and no these shows and all other comes from generous The St Andrews and overheads. Every penny received goes directly fundraising activities is the people. People like you.

Fife Community Orchestra to those who need our help. The Rotary Club Ways and Means Committee.

(StAFCO ) comprises people of St Andrews, alone, supports more than thirty Its policy is to offer value to of all levels of musical ability. It is melded individuals, organizations, and charities in a our neighbours in the various projects it does, into a cohesive unit by Rotarian Jill Craig typical year. Last year more than £13,000 was while developing strategic alliances that add working with the University of St Andrews distributed. We, and all those we serve, are value to the businesses of our sponsors.

Music Centre, with significant support from the grateful for the money you donate.

Look Who’s Talking has become Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The Orchestra synonymous with the major regional legal firm gives two concerts each year, both absolutely Thorntons. Starting with the Peter Alliss event, free. The Rotary Club of St Andrews provides To find out more about the Rotary Club Thorntons has been a consistent partner. front-of-house services, such as distributing of St Andrews please visit: Morrisons has been a long-term supporter, programmes, refreshments, fire marshaling standrewsrotary.net for many years making the foyer available to etc. In return, we sell raffle tickets and hold the Rotary Club of Kilrymont as well as the a retiring collection. Another example of Rotary Club of St Andrews. Many thousands partnership at work.

(Photo courtesy Oli Walker) of pounds have been raised as a result. This is

Linda Parry-Richards

The 40 Club of St Andrews The first meeting of the Club on 9 January,1933 had probably been The 40 Club met in preceded by some earlier informal gatherings, but why did the Club come different venues over the years. into being just then? During the earlier years of the century, particularly However, from 1972 onwards, after the first world war, the pattern of life was changing; women now it has met in the Supper Room were able to choose how to spend precious leisure time as they wished. of the Town Hall, where it Gatherings such as Guilds and Women’s Institutes were around, but the remains today. We are so lucky 40 Club was where you would meet once a week to have fun, meet your to have live music to dance to; friends, and enjoy yourself. there have been many musicians and teachers over the years. Presently In 1933 the Club was not only, or even mainly, for Scottish Country we have a superb accordionist, Luke Brady. He has played for us for a Dancing, but was a social club where activities included ballroom few years now. Our teacher is Fiona Mackie, a beautiful dancer and an dancing; hat nights – when subjects drawn from the hat excellent teacher with lots of patience. Monday nights were discussed; home hints; talks; quizzes; and whist are full of dancing and fun.

It was at the 1936 AGM drives, to name just a few. The motto of the Club was Our programme for this season is from October that the 40 Club decided “Service”, and over the years contributions were made to to December. We have 10 evenings, with the last one it would be for Scottish various charities. In the beginning only the first meeting being the Christmas party. A further 10 evenings start in Country Dancing only in the month was devoted to Scottish Country Dancing.

January through to March. On the last evening we have In the summer there were picnics, visits, theatre outings. a dinner, with music and dancing to follow.

The original membership number was, of course, 40 – hence the Club’s The 40 Club has been in existence for a lifetime, yet is still going name. By the second AGM in 1934 any member who missed three strong; we are sure this will continue. Next year we will celebrate our consecutive weeks would be asked if they wished to continue – this 85th Anniversary! shows that the Club was popular! In 1936 the limit of 40 members was raised to 45. Nowadays, the maximum number of members is 49.

It was at the 1936 AGM that the 40 Club decided it would be for If anyone who has experience of Scottish Country Dancing would Scottish Country Dancing only. By October 1939, however, life had enjoy the 40 Club, please contact the Secretary, Linda Parrychanged for everyone – war had been declared. The accordionist had Richards : 01334 871 272. to give up because of war work, but fortunately, a pianist came forward to provide the music. During the war years, money was raised for warrelated charities, such as the Red Cross. By 1945 there was a long (Photo courtesy the 40 Club) waiting list for membership.

20

ORGANISATIONS Iain Mackinnon, PR and Press Liaison Officer

Out and About with Kilrymont Rotary 2017 has been a very special year for the Rotary Club of Kilrymont for the adults, and Lucky Lollies and balloons for the children, Karina St Andrews. On 25 August the Club officially came of age – 21 years MacKinnon, daughter of member Iain, had offered to do face painting. since its inaugural meeting.

This proved to be an enormously successful venture, not only with the So it was time for a celebration in the form of a Charter Dinner. 69 children. One adult delighted his own youngsters by having his face members and partners; visiting Rotarians from the St Andrews Rotary painted as Catboy, from the PJ Masks cartoons. Queues grew, waiting Club; St Andrews Inner Wheel; Elgin; Claverhouse; Laurencekirk and patiently most of the day. Those who paid for the privilege were thrilled District; Auchterarder with their partners; with the results. By close of play Karina gathered at The Best Western Scores had worked her expertise on more Hotel. than 60 children. A huge thanks to the A photographic display by George talented Karina for all her efforts. All Rees (District 1010 Rotary Young told, £319 was raised to help support Photographer 2016 and Runner-up 2017) local causes. Thanks to members for greeted the guests. Taking advantage donating prizes and to the general of a warm, dry summer evening Madras public for participating.

College Pipe Band provided a stirring The Club’s planters and garden performance in the garden. Later, a area at the Community Hospital have cheque for £500 was donated to the put on a good show again this year. We band, as Kilrymont Rotary have been their replant twice a year for Autumn/Winter dedicated sponsors for some years. and Summer displays. In the summer, Following dinner, the party was members take turns to water, feed, and entertained by the delightful music weed them. If you see them in action, of Two Way Street, twins, Katie and be sure to say ‘Hello’. On Thursday, 14 Isobel Grieve, and 5th year pupils at September, President John Spittal was Madras College, hugely talented in delighted to receive, at the Royal Burgh violin, keyboards, and wind instruments. of St Andrews Community Council Performances by all represented the Annual Garden Award Ceremony, a Club’s continuing particular interest and certificate commending our efforts. support in the development of the area’s The Club geared up for its major youth. The evening was topped off by fundraiser of the year. On Monday, 30 a hilarious talk from guest speaker Jim October we staged our 16th Annual Brown. Excellent entertainment all round, International Golf Tournament, in the Hotel providing a top quality meal and conjunction with Kingsbarns Golf Links. service.

From this event over the past 15 years The Charter Dinner was indeed a we have raised in excess of £80,000 celebration. Visiting Rotarian officials for charitable causes, mainly due to have described the Club’s high level of the generosity of our sponsors. With service to the community as “punching more than 100 golfers from across the above its weight”. That has certainly UK, this year’s event raised funds for been proved during a busy summer of a number of charities identified by the both work and fun for members, out and Club: selected to receive the largest about getting involved in many community donations this year were, Kidneys for events.

Life; Children’s Hospice Association When the Club learned the Cosmos Scotland (CHAS); Disability Sports Fife.

Centre was looking for someone Moving on towards Christmas, to sponsor the annual Sandcastle members are training their voices Competition on the West Sands for 5 to “entertain” the good people of Rotary face painting weeks in July/August, we were delighted St Andrews with carol singing. This was to help out. As well as cash support, first tried out last Festive Season with members got involved with some of the judging, thoroughly enjoying some success around the Town’s pubs and restaurants. Watch out for the ingenuity and enthusiasm of everyone involved. us at various venues in the run-up to this Christmas. If you think we For some years now the Club has had a presence at the are worth it – and your ears can stand the strain – put a donation in our St Andrews Highland Games in July. This year there were free balloons buckets. It all goes to local charities! for youngsters with a Tombola for adults, and a Lucky Lollies game for those not so old. Whilst not intended as a fundraising venture, around £150 was made. It was good to chat to members of the public, letting Would YOU like to join Rotary? them know about our work.

Rotary Clubs have male and female members with a mixed age That same afternoon, other Club members were getting their range. Everyone is welcome, working or retired. They simply need wellies – and feet – wet in the Swilcan Burn; not because they had to be interested. Members believe in voluntary work for the local fallen into the water, but running the Club’s first-ever Charity Duck and international community. They have fun and fellowship on the Race. A total of 426 ducks were sold, prompting the organisers to drop way. into the Burn at start and finishing lines to ensure that all the ducks got a fair chance, and the winners noted. A lot of laughter was in evidence.

Find out more on our website www.kilrymontstandrews.org The winners were: £50 – duck 49 – Milly Donaldson; £20 – duck 138 – our Facebook page (Rotary Club of Kilrymont St Andrews) Julie Falconer; £10 – duck 267 – Margaret Yule. Thanks to everybody’s or contact our secretary: secretary@standrewskilrymont.org support we raised £300.

A month later on Sunday, 27 August, members were again out in force manning a public relations stall at the Craigtoun Charities Fair (Photo courtesy Kilrymont Rotary Club) to promote the Club, and persuade the public to part with their cash in aid of various local charities. In addition to the ever-popular Tombola

21

EVENTS From Jaclyn Stuart

White Spirit Arts

Exploring God, faith, and life through the arts White Spirit Arts aims to provide a series of spaces in our lives where people of all faiths and none can come together to explore ideas and experiences of God, faith, and life; through the arts. It is a predominantly Christian foundation, but all are welcome to join our common journey of spiritual exploration and discovery. You can see all the artists involved, and any other information, on: www.whitespiritarts.co.uk And here are the workshops that we are planning on running for November, December, January. Booking is required. Please email: Whitespiritarts@gmail.com

Friday, 3 November – 12 noon to 2.00pm. The Vineyard Centre, 62a Largo Road, St Andrews. We will reflect on the year past and explore what gave us energy and life. Cost, £5. Come along to the Lunchtime Gallery to view the art, have space to sit and think. Free.

Friday, 1 December – 10.00am-12noon. The Vineyard Centre, 62a Largo Road, St Andrews. Pre-Christmas calmdown. In this workshop we will use sound to relax and calm our minds and bodies. Cost : £5.

– 12noon-2.00pm. Come along and view the art, have space to sit and think. Free.

Advance Notice Friday, 19 January – 11.00am-12noon. The Vineyard Centre, 62a Largo Road, St Andrews. Personal Map: explore your own personal journey and create a personal map. Cost, £5.

– 12noon-2.00pm Come along and view the art, have space to sit and think. Free.

From The Friends of Craigtoun

Christmas at Craigtoun Christmas Lunches Mid-week throughout December Having successfully hosted a lunch last Christmas for nearly 30 staff and volunteers, the Friends of Craigtoun have decided to make the Craigtoun Café available to the wider community this coming Festive Season. With a 4-course traditional menu for £15.00 per person and the option to BYOB, this will make a budget-friendly alternative to the hotels and restaurants in town for local businesses and community groups. Groups of 10 or more can request exclusive use of the café and are even welcome to use Santa’s Grotto to do their Secret Santa.

For those who want to do more than just eat and drink, there is the opportunity to turn the day into a team-building exercise with access to 47 acres of open grounds at their disposal, along with the adventure park and trim trail – we can even throw in a specially-tailored letter trail at no extra charge. We are happy to cater for any special dietary requirements your group may have, and can also offer a children’s menu for £5.00 per child for any pre-school groups. For more information, or to make a booking, please contact our Ticket Office: 01334 472 013 or e-mail us: enquiries@friendsofcraigtoun.org.uk

Christmas Market Saturday, 9 & Sunday, 10 December 10.00am-4.00pm Christmas at Craigtoun would not be complete without our annual visit from Santa. He will be welcoming children of all ages to his grotto in the café this year during our Christmas Market on 9 & 10 December.

Slots to visit Santa will be available to pre-book for £7.00 per child and include a gift, Christmas Crafts, and Christmas Letter Trail.

Entrance to the Christmas Market itself is free of charge. We will have a wide variety of stalls selling stocking fillers to suit every budget. The Craigtoun Café will be open throughout the event serving hot and cold food; there will be Christmas cheer aplenty to go round. To book your Santa slot, please contact our Ticket Office: 01334 472 013 or e-mail us: enquiries@friendsofcraigtoun.org.uk

Chinese & Cantonese Restaurant Sit in or takeaway

GARAGE St Andrews 01334 472882

Opening Times:

MOT TESTING

Monday and Wednesday – Saturday 12.00pm – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 11.00pm

SERVICE & REPAIRS ACCIDENT REPAIR VALETING

Sunday 4.30pm – late

CAR SALES

Tuesday – Closed

24 HR RECOVERY

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

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

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

22

EVENTS From Director Alan Tricker

Travels With My Aunt

by Graham Greene (adapted by Giles Havergal) St Andrews audiences are in for a treat in November, when the St Andrews Play Club brings a stage adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel – Travels with my Aunt – to the Byre Theatre. The adaptation is by Giles Havergal, the former Director of the Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow. It is a big undertaking for the Play Club as it has 19 in the cast!

When retired bank manager, and dahlia enthusiast, Henry Pulling meets his long-lost Aunt Augusta at his mother’s funeral, he has no idea of the whirlwind of exotic adventures that lie ahead of him. Coaxed into a new life of travel and intrigue, Henry meets many people from his aunt’s exotic past as she

leads him across the world from suburban England, through Europe, to South America.

On the way, he gradually uncovers the details of his aunt’s unconventional life.

When the play was first performed, The Guardian reported that it was “a miracle of lightness and wit”.

The play is directed by Alan Tricker and tickets are on sale from the Byre Theatre for the performances that start on Tuesday, 7 November.

Members of the cast (Photo courtesy the Play Club)

Selected Events Wednesday, 1 November to Sunday, 3 December – Daily at the Byre Theatre. Fusatian presents Coastlines 2 : an exhibition of contemporary arts & crafts. Contact: janannmill@btinternet.com

Saturday, 25 November – 7.30pm. Younger Hall, North Street.

St Andrews Chorus. Music by Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Hubert Parry.

Saturday, 4 November – 9.00am-1.00pm. Car park, Argyle Street. Farmers’ Market.

– 11.30am-4.00pm. BALMULLO, Burnside Hall. Christmas Craft Fair. Fundraising for the regeneration of St Athernase, Leuchars.

Entry £2.50, children £1, ticket includes refreshments. Plenty of free parking. Contact: rak4@st-andrews.ac.uk

Saturday, 25 November to Sunday, 3 December – Preservation Trust Museum, North Street. Annual Art & Craft Exhibition & sale of local work. Contact: curator@standrewspreservationtrust.org.uk

Tuesday, 7 November to Saturday, 11 November – 7.30 pm.

Byre Theatre, Abbey Street. Travels with my Aunt. The Play Club present this Graham Greene play, adapted by Giles Havergal. Tickets from the Byre Box Office.

Wednesday, 8 November – 4.00pm-5.30pm. Byre Theatre, Abbey Streeet. Brexit Means?

Roundtable discussion moderated by members of the Cultural Identity Studies Institute. Free.

– 7.30pm. Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens. The Raptor-monitoring Season Through the Lens. A talk by Ben Darvill for the Scottish Ornithologists Club, Fife Branch.

Thursday, 9 November & Friday, 10 November – 7.00pm.

The Old Course Hotel. A Faulty Towers-themed 1970s-style 3-course dinner. Comedy/food/drink. Contact: 01334 474 371.

Saturday, 11 November – 10.00am-5.00pm. Byre Theatre, Abbey Street. Christmas Craft Fair.

– 10.30am-4.30pm. Students’ Union, St Mary’s Place. Craft Fair.

The Fife Craft Association.

– 2.30pm-3.15pm. MUSA, The Scores. Wind Quintet playing a variety of original works and light arrangements as part of the Fringe of Gold Festival. Free.

Sunday, 12 November – Remembrance Sunday.

Tuesday, 14 November – 6.30pm. Waterstones Bookshop, Market Street. An Evening with Graeme Macrae Burnet, discussing his new novel, The Accident on the A35. Chat & wine. Contact: 0843 290 8603.

Friday, 17 November – 7.15pm. Garden Suite, Rufflets Hotel.

Champagne v Sparkling Wine Tasting + Fork Buffet. £68 per person. Contact: 07984 893138. Email: masterclass@rosemurraybrown.com

Thursday, 30 November – St Andrews Day.

*****

Friday, 1 December – 6.30pm. South Street, by Holy Trinity Church. Beating the Retreat by the local Pipe Band.

Saturday, 2 December – 9.00am-1.00pm. Argyle Street Car Park. Farmers’ Market.

– 10.00am-5.00pm. St Andrews Art Club Rooms, 14c Argyle Street.

St Andrews Day Festival Exhibition 2017. Unframed work.

– 1.00pm-4.00pm. All Saints Church Hall, North Castle Street.

Christmas Stocking taster workshop.

Sunday, 3 December – 10.00am-5.00pm. St Andrews Art Club Rooms, 14c Argyle Street.

St Andrews Day Festival Exhibition 2017. Unframed work.

– 7.00pm. St Salvators Chapel, North Street. Handel’s Messiah in celebration of the first performance in Dublin.

The Heisenberg Ensemble, Conductor Gillian Craig, with the Celebration Soloists & Chorus. Tickets £12, concessions £10, students £5, available in advance from: gc5@st-andrews.ac.uk also at the door.

Wednesday, 6 December – 7.30pm. Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens.

Fife Branch Members Night of the Scottish Ornithologists Club.

Saturday, 9 & Sunday, 10 December – 10.00am-4.00pm.

Craigtoun Country Park, Christmas Market. Contact: enquiries@friendsofcraigtoun.org.uk Tel: 01334 472 013.

Sunday, 10 December – 2.00pm. New Picture House, St Andrews.

The Nutcracker. Live from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. For further information (and booking) contact: nph.nphcinema.co.uk Tuesday, 12 December – 4.00pm-8.00pm. Balgove Larder, Strathtyrum. The Christmas Market. Contact: 01334 898 145.

23

OUT & ABOUT Craig Gilbert

Walking in forbidden places Elie is a popular Tower. Looking east, St Monans and village in the East Pittenweem are clearly seen. Across the Neuk of Fife, a waters of the Forth to the south lies Bass gateway to the Rock and Craigleith Island. other villages that It is rather ironic to me that a beautiful lie dotted along walk to a ruined tower at this point of Elie the coastline up to began life filled with the conceit of the Lady the ‘nose’ of Fife, Anstruther, who used it to change her clothes before the coastal route heads northward to for subsequent bathing in the sea! When this St Andrews. Next door is the older village of occurred, she forbade any of the townsfolk to Earlsferry, and it is interesting how the two come to the area, often using a bell ringer to have somehow merged together, each with its notify the local populace of this event. There own harbour, and certainly they define a place are rumours of a curse being bestowed on of some importance for pilgrims years ago, the Lady Anstruther’s family because of before heading to St Andrews. this, and that subsequent generations of her When I visited, on a beautiful sunny day family would never manage to stay in Elie. in the present year, my walk descended This proved to be quite true four generations from the High Street at Elie, then alongside later! Now, walking in this old, forbidden the coast via the Terrace, a lovely street place brings much reward and satisfaction. with large holiday homes, but I love the fact the tower each with its own history, and now has a much more Elie is a popular stunning views. There’s a small suitable purpose: a place ‘sit’ spot area where you can village in the East where everyone can visit and pass the time just looking out to view spectacular scenes of Neuk of Fife sea at the harbour, and even, if the coastline from each side you’re as lucky as I was, catch of the open windows, framing a game of cricket playing on the sand. I then the view like a perfect picture. Indeed, the continued downward, before heading east to paths here are now recorded as core paths Ruby Bay. and recognised by Fife Council. The route Ruby Bay certainly emulates the jewel in from the tower towards St Monans is also a its title: a lovely sandy cove, one of several in public right of way, itself a fascinating walk this area, with a wealth of space to walk upon towards the village, complete with old ruins and explore. Even in the summer peak, there and an old 18th century windmill (once part is plenty of room to stop and breathe. of the salt production industry in this area).

I adore the walk along from Ruby Bay out towards Elie lighthouse and the Lady’s (Photos courtesy Craig Gilbert)

Lady Tower, Elie

24

Elie Beach

Elie Harbour

OUT & ABOUT Tim Hardie’s

Nature Notes Hoping for a long hot summer you can almost wish Autumn would not come, but when it does it is nothing short of fabulous. I have just returned from a vigorous walk round stubble fields in the dark, the temperature is perfect, the peace and quiet is blissful. That said I have indulged in a small amount of bale rolling; round bales left on any sort of incline is too good an opportunity to be missed!

It is also a sad day today, the 18 September, for the swallows have left and I will greatly miss their aerobatics, their constant chattering as they frankly take over the running of the homestead where I live. They arrived on the 14 April this year and if you allow them a month each way travelling back and forth to their winter residence in South Africa, that suggests they split their time in both countries – no fools these swallows, also no cancellations from Ryan Air! The vegetable garden has been productive this year, but equally shambolic.

I concentrated on one plot leaving all the rest fallow, the nettles have made hay, so to speak, and the first frost cannot come soon enough. I tried cutting them back with a sickle, but eventually retired hurt with my rotator cuff in pieces! Potatoes, beans, and peas have been as reliable as ever, and are a delicious treat when ready, the season is just so short so you do wonder if all the

work involved is worth it. I have actually comprehensively decided it is not, but this will not stop me next spring religiously digging and planting with the hope that this year will be different. It is an addiction that I hope is never cured.

Took delivery of 15 point of lay pullets last week; they will sort the nettles out I hope. It is always good to have a new batch of young layers, for unlike the old girls, the new ones will start laying next month and lay throughout the winter. Their first eggs are particularly exquisite, and although small in size, have lovely thick shells. They are quite the best eggs you will ever taste. This is particularly handy when the café I run is basically known for its eggs, and maybe coffee on a good day.

It has not been a great summer, so I was astonished to see the only pair of grey partridge on the farm going under a gate down the road, followed by around a dozen poults. This success is down to the exceptional parenting skills of the parent birds, with a fair slice of luck. Sadly our oyster catchers suffered their usual calamitous breeding season. I was so looking forward to reporting the fledging of chicks, as the parents had successfully brought 3 chicks up to three weeks old, when the youngsters all disappeared on the night of the 23 June,

Grey partridge the culprit being a huge feral cat we saw the following day returning to the farm; please go and nest somewhere safer next year?

As I mentioned, earlier Autumn is truly a magical time of year; the other morning I looked out of my bedroom window at a large apple tree where I could see blackbirds, Jenny wrens, long tail tits, great tits, blue tits, hedge sparrows – how lucky am I. (Photo by John Anderson (Crail Birder: www.pbase.com/crail_birder ))

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OUT & ABOUT Contributed by Keith Morris

Old Cemeteries – from the internet Harry Edsel

Smith of Alb any, New York:

Born 1903 – D ied 1942.

Looked up th e elevator shaf t to see if the ca r was on the way down.

It was.

In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery: Here lies an Atheist, all dressed up and no place to go.

On a East Dalh grave in ousie C Nova Sc emetery, otia: Here lies Ezekial A Age 102. ikle, Only the good die young.

ery:

et England cem In a London, Mann, Here lies Ann d maid ol an ed who liv Mann. d but died an ol 67 17 8, Dec.

In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery: Anna Wallace The children of Israel wante d bread, And the Lord sent them ma nna Clark Wallace wanted a wife , And the Devil sent him Ann a.

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In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery: Here lays The Kid, We planted him raw.

He was quick on the trigger , But slow on the draw.

h ’s epitap A lawyer nd: in Engla Strange.

Sir John t lawyer, an hones e.

Here lies is Strang and that

John Penny’s epitaph in the Wimborne, England, cem etery: Reader, if cash thou art in want of any, Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.

In a cemetery in Hartscombe, England: On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.

ell’s grave in Anna Hopew lls, Vermont: Enosburg Fa nna, body of our A Here lies the na. na ba a by h Done to deat low, it that laid her It wasn’t the fru of the thing But the skin r go. that made he

On a grave fr om the 1880 s in Nantucket , Massachus etts: Under the sod and under the trees, Lies the body of Jonathan P ease.

He is not here , th Pease shelled ere’s only the pod, out and went to God.

In a cemetery in England: lk by, Remember man, as you wa s I. wa e onc so , As you are now be, you ll sha so , now am As I me.

Remember this and follow

by eone replied To which som tombstone: e writing on th t, I’ll not consen To follow you u went. yo ay w ch hi Until I know w

On a tombstone in Boot Hill Cemetery, Tombstone, Ari zona: Here lies Lester Moore Four slugs from a 44 No Les, No more

OUT & ABOUT Arlen Pardoe

Hidden Gems in St Andrews Focussing on features that are in plain sight, though often overlooked Door Handles The handles on many old doors have an individual character. Whilst some may look like, and act as, a door knocker, the difference is found inside the door where they turn or move to operate a catch. There might also be a keyhole to lock the mechanism. They can be plain metal, often brass, or painted metal.

Over the years the action of using the handle may have worn a groove into the woodwork or metal.

(Photos courtesy Arlen Pardoe) Brass Handles

Abbotsford Crescent

Pilmour Place

Lockhart Place

Hope Street

Queen’s Gardens

Argyle Street

Queen’s Gardens

Gibson Place

Painted Handles

Hepburn Gardens

North Street

St Leonard’s College Chapel

South Street

Grannie Clark’s Wynd

Town Hall

Kinburn Place

Argyle Street

Argyle Street

Queen’s Gardens

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