w/c 24 April 2017 No. 11 Incorporating About Free

EAST NEUK FIRST RESPONDERS We welcomed Gillian, Keith, Jenny and Susan from First Responders to our school. The First Responders worked with our P6/7 class to teach them important lifesaving skills. Our children were then given a CPR kit on loan. Our children have been set the challenge to teach their families and friends how to save a life. A big thank you to the First Responders for visiting our school.

ASSEM BLIES Thank you to our P6/7 class who led our Assembly on 10.03.17. They Teaching Excellence Awards shared their learning about Mary Queen of Scots with the rest of our school and their The Editorial Team of Crail Matters would like families. Their diary entries were very detailed to congratulate Professor Will Cresswell and showed an understanding of what it must (School of Biology) who was recognised in the have been like for Mary and their trial was University Teaching Excellence Awards. He thought provoking. Well done everyone! You was nominated by his Head Of School with the are all Successful Learners and Effective award being presented by the Principal. All of Contributors. Thank you to Mrs Mutch for all this whilst providing us with a fascinating of your hard work and thank you also to our column each week. Well done, Will! Clearly, families for coming along to their Class we are not alone in appreciating you! Assembly. We received lots of positive feedback. Snippets from Crail Primary ROTARY QUIZ The annual Rotary Quiz School took place at Crail Primary School on Tuesday 14th March at 6.30pm. 7 schools from our CROSSING PATROL We are delighted to cluster took part and each team answered welcome Mr Danny McCulloch to our school questions on lots of different subjects including team. Mr McCulloch has been appointed as Maths, Literacy, Sport and Natural History. School Crossing Patrol and he will be situated Well done to our P7 team for representing our at the bottom of Bowling Green Place to cross school and we are delighted to announce that families over the Road. He will be we were 2nd overall. We are very proud of you on duty from 8.30am until 9.05am and in the all. Anstruther PS were the overall winners afternoon from 2.50pm until 3.15pm. I am and will now represent our cluster at the next sure you will all make him feel very welcome. heat. We wish them lots of luck!

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BURNS RECITAL COMPETITION

Congratulations to two of our pupils who Got The Feeling’ and then they were able to represented our school at the final of The sing any other song. We chose ‘Don’t Go Burns Recital Competition at Auchmuty High Breaking My Heart’ by Elton John and Kiki School. One of our P5 pupils competed in the Dee. singing competition whilst one of our P7 pupils recited My Hoggie. Lots of pupils from Our children sang their hearts out and schools across Fife took part and it was a great demonstrated a ‘Glee’ spirit. We were praised experience for both girls. Well done to you for our team work, including everyone, dance both, we are very proud of you! routines and the quality of our singing. We are so proud of everyone and I would like to thank Mrs Thomson, Mrs Noble and Sally Mills, a S6 GLEE pupil from The Waid Academy, for all of their hard work and creativity. You did us all proud Well done to all of our children who and you are a credit to our school. represented our school at The Glee Heats in The Rothes Hall on Thursday 16th March. Six Thank you to all of our families for coming schools participated in the first Fife heat. All along to support us. We really appreciated it! of the school’s sang Justin Timberlake’s ‘I’ve

Royal Burgh of Crail and District Community Council

FIFE COUNCIL ELECTIONS - PUBLIC MEETING

PROPSPECTIVE COUNCILLORS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO MEET CRAIL RESIDENTS ON

8.15 pm, MONDAY 24 APRIL

CRAIL TOWN HALL

TEA/COFFEE AVAILABLE AT 8.00PM

Opportunity To Ask Questions, Hear Your Prospective Councillors

2 ROYAL BURGH OF CRAIL AND DISTRICT

COMMUNITY COUNCIL NOTES Public Meeting with Prospective GP Services Covering Crail Councilors

A meeting with prospective councillors has The adoption of the Local Plan for Crail was been arranged at 8.15pm on Monday 24 April discussed at recent Community Council in the Town Hall. This will follow the meetings. It came as a surprise to many that Community Council meeting, which will finish provision of GP services was not an issue that early at 8.00pm. Tea/coffee will be available comes within the planners remit. This is from 8.00pm. All 7 prospective candidates because GPs are “independent contractors”. have been invited to speak to residents, and we This basically means they are seen as being hope as many people as possible will take this self-employed, although in reality the vast opportunity to listen to the prospective majority of their work is for the local Health candidates, and ask them questions. Polling to Board providing medical care for the elect the 3 Councillors to represent the population. Electoral Ward of East Neuk and Landward Our local practice in Anstruther has been very will take place between the hours of 7am and helpful in providing information on how an 10pm on Thursday, 4th May, 2017. increasing population in their catchment area might affect them. Currently, in common with Play Areas every practice, they struggle to meet demands for appointments. Any increase in housing will inevitably make this worse. Currently there are Over the years there have been a number of 4.33 whole time equivalent doctors working in proposals to upgrade the play facilities in Crail. the practice. (Put simply two doctors working Whilst there is opposition in some quarters to half time equals one whole time equivalent). adding to and making more modern the They currently look after 6338 patients which existing play areas, there is equally support to equates to just under 1500 patients per GP. improve what we have and to add to it. We This is a smaller average than in the rest of Fife would like to hear what you think, especially if and Lothian. The practice does however, have you are a parent or grandparent, have a higher than average proportion of elderly responsibility for patients, more than 25% over the age of 65. children, or have Unfortunately, with age comes infirmity and experience of the older we get the more we consult our GP. using our existing Looking to the future, Dr Mitchell plans to facilities. We reduce his hours of work in July prior to his would even more retirement in December. Further ahead, Dr Hall love to hear from will probably retire sometime in 2019. The children! practice is currently in the midst of recruiting a new partner to fill this imminent vacancy. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of trained GPs in as in the UK as a whole, Left on the Coastal resulting in a nationwide recruitment crisis. Path at Kilminning Finding replacement partners is a problem and – you can only Fife will not be immune from this. The practice wonder why? will do their utmost to maintain continuity and we should all do our best to support them through this time of transition.

3 Prospective Councillors’

Statements. to ensure children can get to Nurseries, Harbour Crail Matters approached each of the Improvements and further improvements in prospective Fife Council Councillors at the Sports Facilities for all ages such as the MUGA forthcoming election, and invited them to in Crail and a recently opened one in St outline their policies and what distinctive Monans. And to work with others to increase contribution they hope to make as a County the usage of current sports facilities. I am a St Councilor to the East Neuk in general to Crail in Monans & Abercrombie Community particular. Committee member. I am married, living and working in St Monans . We have two grown up Here are the responses we have received; one children. I am a graduate of Dundee University. useful way to judge between them might be in terms of how they have focussed on local issues My working life - I have worked with small and of concern to our community. medium sized businesses to encourage Apprenticeship training with targeted Central Bill Porteous (Liberal Democrat): Government support and for the last 20 years as a specialist recruitment advisor within the U.K. A recent press release from Willie Rennie and Middle East. I am the Chairman of referred to our Liberal Democrat Councillors Beautiful St Monans with a dedicated group of being champions of the community and having volunteers enhancing our village for both local a reputation for hard work all year round. I am people and visitors. sure you will have recognised this on many occasions over the years from our Lib Dem John Docherty (SNP): Councillors Elizabeth Riches and Donald Macgregor.The East Neuk and Landward has a At present, I represent you as one of the East strong tradition of liberal ideals as we have seen Neuk and Landward Fife Councillors, I from Ming Campbell and others. therefore have five years of experience of representing the good people of Crail, indeed I On our visits to your doorsteps in Crail we have am the only candidate, standing here in this been encouraged by your positive responses but Ward, that has that experience. several issues requiring attention came up Over the past five years I believe that I have regularly from residents. worked hard and to the best of my ability to - Consideration of a 20mph speed limit through effectively represent you, in fact I gave up my CRAIL High Street. professional career in the NHS, to do so. I - More frequent and better timed intervals for believe I have shown the highest level of local buses. commitment, recognising the role with which - A lack of local police presence exacerbated you entrusted me to have. by the SNP Government' s centralising of Locally, I have been involved with the Scotland's police service into Edinburgh. Community Council, assisting you and taking - There was support and relief our children will on tasks to improve the community in which at last have a New Waid Academy. you live and work. I had input into the Crail - Concern was also expressed regarding lengthy Town Hall Committee, where I used my waiting times to see local doctors. Equality and Diversity experience to assist them - Plans for further new housing worries some with the installation of a wheelchair lift, I am that the local infrastructure is not up to scratch. proud to say that I was one of the first Councillors to be involved with the campaign to On a National level the Liberal Democrats want keep our Libraries open. to prioritise Mental Health provision, consult Along with ten Community Councils, I over a change to an unfair Council Tax system am involved, as a Councillor, with a total and improve the provision of Education for all. of seventeen Groups/Committees/Organisations My Own priorities include enhancing transport plus hold a surgery, monthly.

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I will ensure Crail has a strong voice on the they need much better support from Fife issues that matter to us all such as education, Council, with fewer bureaucratic obstacles. roads, the local fishing and tourism industries. Elect me as your Councillor and I will continue Alisdair Gilbert (Liberal Democrat): that commitment to ensure our towns and villages get the attention, investment and I am standing in this election as I believe in care they deserve. supporting communities and protecting community hubs. There is a need to integrate Linda Holt (Conservative and and engage with all aspects of our community Unionist): to ensure we develop a vibrant and varied society. I first got involved in local politics I have a track record in campaigning, and I’m through being a member of the Community standing to fight for the East Neuk at Fife Council. I live and work in Fife with my wife, Council so local needs are recognised and a secondary school teacher for Fife council, pledges delivered. Rural and coastal and two young boys. communities have been neglected in favour of I recognize the financial situation facing local larger towns. Locals know best what their government which will remain challenging communities need, and decisions should be over the next 5 years. My commitment will be taken as close as possible to those whom they to ensure we provide high quality, locally affect. accessible, cost effective services that work in conjunction with local communities. Administratively, I want more budget Some of the projects that I’d like to see decisions devolved to the North-East Fife Area progressed are: Committee, with greater accessibility and • Continued investment in road public participation at council meetings and improvements and public enhanced accountability for councillors. Neuk- transport across Fife wide, I want the budget for roads and pavements increased and a sustainable • Provision of replacement care maintenance and upgrade plan created. homes focusing on the one in Anstruther Like neighbouring communities, Crail has lost • Building of the New Madras local shops and facilities in recent years, with College which will service those remaining under increasing pressure. Fife communities in the north of the Council should develop a pro-active strategy to East Neuk safeguard and grow local business infrastructure, addressing inadequate internet • Monitor the use of the new and mobile access, poor transport links and Pupil Equity Fund and continue punitive business rates. Major housing to support our schools ensuring development is planned for Crail, but we must all pupils go on to a positive ensure that existing services, including roads, outcome. are not overloaded, Crail’s character is enhanced and a mix of affordable units are I have met many residents from East Neuk and provided. Landward, I have listened to your views, I shall continue the work of Elizabeth and My son finished Crail Primary last year, and I Donald who have worked hard for their experienced the incredible job staff do given communities for the past 27 years, and I will ever-increasing budgetary challenges. I would represent you on the Council where I will work take every opportunity to fight for more to develop the traditional, distinctive support and resources, including restoring the community nature of East Neuk and Landward. recent £3million cut to Fife’s Education budget. Crail’s voluntary groups do essential community work, but like others in the Neuk,

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Rosalind Garton Scottish Labour Candidate East Neuk & Landward 2017 Learning for Living Adult Education Classes:

Rosalind Garton has lived in East Fife for over 40 years, working as a lifelong learning tutor in Geology at the University of St. Andrews. She also runs her own business, giving an insight into business issues in the East Neuk. She is particularly concerned about the higher than average number of employees in NE Fife who earn less than the Living Wage, and about the need for more affordable housing in the East Neuk area. Rosalind is campaigning on the record of achievements already delivered and planned for 2017-22 by Labour-led Fife Council: * The new Waid Academy: part of FifeLabour’s investment in education, from early years support to new classroom assistants, protection of school transport, and closing the attainment gap; * The largest affordable house building programme in the UK, with high quality homes to tackle fuel poverty; * Increasing local employment, with investment in apprenticeships, developing Anstruther Marina, installing a new ice making machine at Pittenweem, and harbour dredging; * Investment in social care for the elderly and disabled – still free in Fife – and renewal of the Ladywalk Care Home. FifeLabour is the only party campaigning about the growing problem of holiday homes in the East Neuk and Landward area, a trend which threatens primary schools and businesses and makes it more difficult for local people to afford their own homes. Rosalind is concerned to see East Neuk and Landward thrive, with employment, great education and affordable housing for all.

Crail Parish Church of Scotland (Charity registered in Scotland SC 001601) Intimations Sunday 23rd April

Welcome to our Service

Readings: NT: Acts 2: 14a, 22-32 & 1 Peter 1: 3-9, Gospel: St John 20: 19-31

Sponsor forms are now available for Mandy Guthrie's Half Marathon in aid of Church funds which she runs on the 28th May. They can be found in the Butcher, the Chemist, The Golf Hotel, at the back of the Church and in the Hall. Mandy would like to thank everyone who has already sponsored her.

Any items for the next issue of the Karail which will be out in June can be sent to Heather at ([email protected]) and are needed by the 19th May. Intimations to be in by Thursday noon to Lisa 450035, Joan Forrest or email to([email protected]) Minister: Revd Dr Ann Allison tel 451986 or email ([email protected])

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Easter Coffee Morning

This past Easter, Crail Parish church held the yearly Easter Saturday Coffee Morning. The Art Club’s beautiful works decorated the walls of the Kirk Hall. Tables were decorated with lovely Easter themed decorations. The door opened promptly at 10:00am welcoming their guests. The Kirk Hall was filled with over 80 people enjoying the coffee morn with fresh baked goods and freshly made coffee and tea. There was a large raffle with a cake made by Heather Aird as the Grand Prize (The Rabbit cake pictured above) which was won by Ann Mayes. Anne stated when she bought her tickets she would win the Grand Prize. She also told the room that she would take the cake along to Miss Christina Ross at Ladywalk. The lovely cake was shared with the Ladywalk residents on the landing.

Guests eagerly bought the baked goods which were made and donated by many talented residents of Crail. The Easter Coffee Morning raised 543.00 for Church funds. The Kirk Hall committee wishes to thank everyone who participated Saturday to make the Easter Coffee Morning a great success.

Please visit their Facebook page (Crail Parish Church) to see the latest activities in the Parish Church.

------Lost and Found

Bracelet/Arm Band found on Roome Christmas decoration from town Christmas Bay. Silverplated. If you lost this item Tree 2016. Found or you know who the item belongs to, on the ground this please email [email protected]. week. The bell is gold, pink and Hopefully, white with initials we can on the back. return to Please contact owner.

[email protected] if this belongs to you or you know the owner. We know a wee one would enjoy having the bell returned.

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WILD CRAIL

Will Cresswell,

with Photographs by John Anderson

Week ending April 21st Spring migration season has been progressing these last two weeks.

There are still pink-footed geese passing Crail and Fife Ness, heading north in flocks of a few tens each time. On the 8th April I had a flock of 18 whooper swans doing the same, passing Fife Ness majestically, heading towards Aberdeen. As a counterpoint I saw my first swallow of the summer, conveniently over my garden after spending all morning looking for one at Balcomie and Fife Ness. A male powering along, following the coast and singing happily as it went by. This and a chiff-chaff singing below the doocote at Roome Bay were my only summer migrants that day, although the pair of shelducks back again, quacking around the bays north of Balcomie were definitely another sign of summer being around the corner.

A cycle through the farms of Sypsies, Troustie, and Third Part (i.e. all the farms two fields north Sandwich Tern of the Crail to Anstruther road) on April 9th turned up quite a few corn buntings. More systematic counts will follow in May but at the moment it is looking good. I came back along the coastal path. Another swallow hawking over the sheep flock down at Caiplie caves and a female wheatear – the first of the year – on a wall just as I got back to Crail.

Things picked up the following week, with sandwich terns passing by in small numbers from about April 12th. I caught up with first two of the year on the 15th at Balcomie Beach despite the wind shifting northerly: my last were fishing in the much warmer surf of Senegal in October. The two at Balcomie will likely have spent the winter on the coast of West Africa and will now spend the next six months with us in the North Sea. There was a chiff-chaff singing incongruously from brambles at Saucehope on my way back from Balcomie: although they are early migrants, the majority will pass through well after the first birds through Crail,

On the 13th there was a handsome male northern wheatear at Balcomie, feeding on the rocky shore and a bit further on my first whimbrel of the year, launching itself up with its lovely seven note whistle to tell me instantly that this wasn’t just another curlew. Despite these two further migrants, I think it is safe to say that Willow Warbler this spring has not turned into an early one, and most migrants are still to come. 8

The wind was a light south-easterly overnight on the 18th after some stronger southerly winds during the day. Sufficient to push a lot of seabirds close in to Crail in the evening. A steady stream of gannets, kittiwakes, fulmars and common gulls passing with the first puffins of the season further out. In the morning there was a willow warbler singing from the Denburn sheep field – the first of the year and about a week earlier than usual. There were also some chiff-chaffs singing from odd garden locations suggesting they came in during the previous night as well. There were more arrivals on the 20th April: a steady stream of barn swallows and the first house martin of the year at Boarhills.

I went to the May Island in the afternoon. The first time I have been in April. Usually I go late May or June when the seabird breeding season is in full swing and the island can be full of thousands of puffins. This trip it was just hundreds. Still really nice and impressive, particularly for anyone who hasn’t seen puffins before, but most of the puffins were either underground on newly laid eggs or still out at sea improving their body condition for their stint at incubation and the coming frenzy when they have to work constantly to feed their chick. If you haven’t been to the May Island yet, then make it this year. You won’t regret it – puffins alone make it worthwhile and it is almost magical as you approach the Puffin island and start to glimpse puffins at a distance or flying by, then you realise you are surrounded by them, and when you land they really are everywhere, shooting past your head, waddling along like penguins, or popping out of burrows. Then there are all the other birds to see – guillemots and razorbills (even more penguin like – yet surprisingly aerobatic in the updraughts of the big cliffs on the west side of the island), kittiwakes, shags and later in the season terns (just a bit too early for terns on the 20th unfortunately). Everywhere you look there is a little natural history story: female eiders trying not to be noticed as they incubate by the paths while the too conspicuous males, their job done, try to find late females to bother down on the shore; great black-backed gulls on the prowl for an unwary puffin (hundreds get eaten a season, but then there are 96,000 puffins there…); newly arrived willow warblers feeding on the short turf like pipits because there are so few bushes on the island; razorbills in pairs, in synchronised slow wing beat display flights, confirming their pair bond and commitment before their lay their egg for the season. The two hours or so on the island before the boat goes back to Anstruther flash by. And on the journey back there are always the gannets – in fantastic close flybys – to enjoy.

Any trip to the May Island in spring or autumn might turn up a rarity as well. I failed to connect up with a common redstart that had been seen earlier – still, we get those in Crail and it’s a likely species this week. Shag The rarest bird on the island was actually a common buzzard. This could have been a Scandinavian migrant off course or just a chancer from Fife out on a day trip just like me. Exciting for the warden who might only see one or two buzzards on the island every year, less so for a visitor from Crail. Rarity is always relative.

9 Letter from America

Alex Fleming, Washington DC

Many of you baby boomers will remember the “very lucky that Trump is going to provide political satire of “That was the week, that most of the jokes for the foreseeable future”. was” from the 1960s. It introduced us to the Trump is almost a perfect target with his talents of David Frost, Bernard Levin and offhand manner, his ill-advised tweets and ad Millicent Martin among others. Some would lib comments that often reflect a poor grasp of say that it was part of a golden age for political the facts. But he has also surrounded himself satire. There were doubtless subsequent phases with people who have become merciless in the UK when political satire came to the fore targets of the US satirists. although my knowledge of post-1980s Britain is a little shaky. The Spitting Image portrayal of Mrs. Thatcher springs immediately to mind however. Private Eye of course has been a constant thorn in politicians’ sides over the years.

In the US meanwhile there were similar phases when the political satirists had a field day. The most obvious one was the Richard Nixon era Watergate scandal that provided continuous fuel for the satirists as it unfolded. Then there was the spicy antics of Bill Clinton with Monica Lewinsky in the White House that was tailor-made for satirists. After that the rather bumbling George W. Bush became a constant Some of the funniest satire is on NBC’s satirical target. Saturday Night Live. If you have not done so already do check out Alec Baldwin’s portrayal Some are now asking whether the arrival of of Trump on You Tube. Whatever the Donald Trump at the White House heralds the political future brings in the US it is certain start of a new golden age for transatlantic that sharp-witted satirists will keep us well political satire. The initial signs are good. entertained through it all. British satirist, Ian Hislop, says that he feels

Crail Matters Short Story Award

Crail Matters has established a Short Story Award and Prize to encourage creative writing in Crail and the East Neuk in general; if this initiative is successful, we hope it will be offered on a regular basis. The award will consist of a cash prize of £50 and a certificate. In addition, selected entries will be published in Crail Matters, and may also be included in a collected anthology which may be published as an ebook by Crab Publishing. The Editorial decision in all matters is final. Stories can be on any theme or subject but must be original and written in English, and should not be longer than 3,000 words. They must also be for adult or young adult readers; non-fiction and fiction written for children under 13 years is not eligible. Entrants must be 16 years or over. Work should be submitted by 9 June 2017 to crailmat- [email protected]. Authors should be resident within the East Neuk, or be able to demonstrate significant association with the area. See issue 9 for Conditions for entry, or visit www.crabpublishing.co.uk

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It is the that time of year ...... calling for all Volunteers (New and returning) to help make the Crail Festival a great success!!!!

Everyone who are interested in volunteering please contact: Jill Bueckardt

01333 450644

Or

[email protected]

Come, Join the fun and the team !!!!!

2017

Crail Museum and Heritage Crail Community Choir Centre. The Choir will meet in the Kirk Hall on Monday 24 April at 7.30 pm. Coffee Morning for Crail Museum Everyone will be made very welcome and there 10.00am Sat 24th June is no obligation to attend every week. Legion Hall

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Funding Crail Matters

The Editorial Team wish to thank those readers and advertisers who have very generously made donations to Crail Matters. We continue to depend on your support to maintain what we hope is an interesting and useful Newsletter. To donate, please make cheques payable to ‘Crab Publishing’, or please contact us for the necessary details to make a bank transfer.

The Crail

Seagull

An eye on our world

I was having a rest at Denburn recently – it was actually over the Easter weekend – and I noticed how some cars stop at the new traffic markings and others didn’t. So, I started to look more carefully. As far as I could see, most cars approached the new signs (from both directions) fairly slowly, but some don’t slow up at all. And oddly enough, they were nearly always SUV’s, often with one elderly male driver. And I’ve noticed a similar thing when cars turn into the Sauchope Caravan Park road – the large SUV’s speed down the road. Is there something odd about the kind of driver these cars attract?

My sneaky little mouse friend from Nethergate tells me that the Community Trust is at last having an AGM. It seems to be something of a secret; I can’t find any notice of it, but I am reliably informed (by my little friend) that it is in the Legion Hall at 2.30 on Sunday April 30th. I won’t bother going (and they wouldn’t let a seagull in anyway), but it should be interesting. Let’s hope someone tells us what’s going on.

Did you know that it was recently Unicorn Day? People from all over Scotland have been searching for Unicorns, and I noticed people in Crail looking around. And have you seen ours lately? Well it’s on the mast head of Crail Matters of course, but just look next time you are in Marketgate to see the real thing. And you might just see me there.

I hear from another friend in Nethergate (a rather attractive dormouse) that some of my distant brothers and sisters are being a nuisance. I’ve tried to speak to them, but they are a rough lot from Anstruther, and just ignore me. Even I think something needs to be done to get rid of them! I’m just not sure what.

Material for inclusion in Crail Matters should be sent to [email protected] and received on Friday midday before publication. We reserve the right to edit copy. © Crab Publishing 2017: Editorial team this week Graham Anderson, Julie Middleton, Isla Reid, Valencia Sowry, Max Taylor, John Wilson.

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