Visiting Speakers 2026

John Marshall

Opening the meeting, President Mike Stevenson gave us a potted history of Fife, which you can learn yourself if you play the crazy golf course at Cluny. The holes there have annotations of their relevance to parts of Fife history.

Our secretary reminded us to pick up the new membership booklet before leaving the meeting, and our treasurer reassured us that everything financial was in order. The meal at Fife College was a resounding success and thanks were given to Robert Main for organising it. Our next outing will be to East Fortune airfield later in June and the following visit will be a three bridges cruise from South Queensferry. This will be on July 8th, at 10.30, costing £18.00 per head and partners and guests are welcome. We will eat nearby afterwards. The next committee meeting will discuss other options for activities. If you can think of anything suitable, please contact Mike Stevenson. Similarly, remember to contact Ron MacLeod with any suggestions for future speakers.

The Senga Trophy was played for by our club golfers at the Dora course in Cowdenbeath and was won by Ron Wylie. No trophies, as yet, in the bowling section, but the draws will be made in June for the singles competition and the pairs. The venue for the walk on Friday 22nd is still to be decided, but the last two walks were vey enjoyable. Last Thursday’s walk to Blairadam was postponed till Thursday 28th and we walked the length of Kirkcaldy prom in much better weather than had been forecast.

John Marshall was our speaker for the day. He talked about “The American French Fry Story”. John had grown potatoes all his life and was part of a group of similar men, with connections in some way to the potato industry, who took a trip to Idaho to discover more about potatoes and their uses. Who knew how many potato varieties there were, or how much work went on behind the scenes to produce new varieties? We also found out about the many scientific procedures that are undertaken to ensure that the potatoes we buy and eat are disease free.

John’s journey took him from Salt Lake City to many stops in Idaho and a few in Montana. At each stop he learned something different about potatoes and what is involved in their growth and processing. He finished up at a giant McCain’s factory, where it was not the first place he was given special gear to wear, for biosecurity purposes. We also learned that the potatoes used to make fries throughout America were Russet Burbanks.

Alan Court gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the members.

David McNeil will be our speaker at our next meeting on June 3rd. His subject will be “Literacy in Scotland”. The meeting will be preceded by a committee meeting at 9.15.

Keith Mason

President Mike Stevenson opened the meeting and gave us a few reminiscences, before welcoming Graham Love, our new member. Vice-President Julian Berg presented Graham with his Probus badge. The new members’ booklet will be at the printers soon and members are reminded that, if any changes need to be made to their information, now is the time to inform the secretary.

The club golfers made their first outing to Cluny where President Mike Stevenson came out on top. They then went indoors to the 12-hole mini-course where they played for the Derek Bethune claret jug. Bob Hutchison and Bill O’Donnell will share the prize for six months each. The golfers will play the Dora course in Cowdenbeath on May 7th then Canmore on the 4th of June. Twenty-eight players participated in the first outing of the Fife Probus golf season, which was won by another club. The next meeting is over a month away. The bowls’ season is well under way and you are welcome to give it a try on Mondays at 2.00 at St Clair Bowling Club. We will provide the bowls if you provide flat-soled shoes. The walk this Friday will probably be to the Silver Sands and on Thursday 14th the walk will be at Blairadam. Our visit to the lifeboat station in Anstruther proved to be very illuminating. Mike Simpson gave a potted history of the organisation and our thanks go to Alastair Watson for organising the visit.

Keith Mason returned to give us more insight into the history of trams, but this time not just at Kirkcaldy, but concentrating on Wemyss and District trams while also travelling further afield. The talk was illustrated with many interesting evocative slides, including some sights still recognisable today. The Wemyss and District trams opened in 1906 and reached Leven one year later. The trams were all single-decked, though double-deckers from Kirkcaldy were also needed on the line. At the time, their upper decks were not allowed to be used. Another restriction was that Wemyss trams were not allowed down the “prize” of Kirkcaldy High Street. When the Kirkcaldy trams came off, Walter Alexander took over and ran buses. While we can no longer see historic trams on the streets of Fife, Wemyss trams can still be seen working in Sintra near Lisbon.A very impressed Mike Birkett gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the members.

We were reminded of the Academy dinner on the 7th. Please bring cash for gratuities and for beverages. We will meet at 5.45 for 6.00pm. Our next meeting is on Wednesday 20th May at 10.00 for 10.30am when our speaker, John M Marshall will tell us about “American French Fries – Bring the Ketchup”. Join us at the Dean Park Hotel if you are able.

Ian Archibald - Picture to follow.

President Mike Stevenson opened our 1091th meeting by extending a very warm welcome to Past President Jack Christie. 34 members were in attendance and new member John Tripp was welcomed to the Club.

Almoner Roy Urquhart reported on the health of two of our members. The College Dinner, for members and guests, will take place on Thursday May 7th. Anyone still wishing to attend should contact Robert Main. The visit to the RNLI station at Anstruther will go ahead on April 22nd and those attending were asked to be there by 10am.

The first of our golf outings is to Cluny Clays on 16th April and Convenor George Warner asked those playing to be there by 9.30am. The first Fife Probus Golf Association match is at Scoonie on Wednesday 29th April and those interested in playing should contact Bob Hutchison. The next Thursday Walking Group outing is to Heatherhall Woods near Ladybank on 23rd April.

The bowling season will open on Monday 20th April at 2pm in the St Clair Club in Loughborough Road. Convenor Mike Birkett advised members that those who wished to try bowls should come along.

We welcomed Ian Archibald as our speaker to tell us about “The Search for the Lost Baggage Ferry of King Charles 1st”. Ian is a retired cartographer and Convenor of Burntisland Heritage Trust. King Charles was born in 1600 in Dunfermline and was crowned in 1625. Due to the recent Union of the Crowns it was felt that a separate coronation in Scotland was required and this took place in Edinburgh in 1633. The king then embarked on a tour of the royal palaces in Scotland starting in Fife. The king arrived safely but his baggage, which was on the ferry “The Blessing of Burntisland”, did not and sank in the Forth. Ian then told us about the extensive search for the wreck, which has been ongoing for many years, using side scan sonar, help from both St Andrews and Essex Universities and divers.

Jim Husband gave the vote of thanks.

At our next meeting on 6th May our speaker will be Keith Mason who will give the second part of his talk on Kirkcaldy Trams.

Sam Henry

New president Mike Stevenson opened our 1090th meeting appropriately by looking at past April Fools on the BBC. Also, with the changing of the clocks, he welcomed the uplifting arrival of Spring and nature beginning to return to life.

The treasurer reported that all is up to date, before our almoner entertained us with another round of clever jokes. Mike Simpson, webmaster, reminded members to keep their information accurate if there are changes. New members should pass their details to him so that they can gain access to the members’ only section of the website. The website received an impressive 3250 hits last month.

Names were added for the trip to Anstruther Lifeboat Station on April 22nd, and a later trip on the Maid of the Forth was mooted. The College dinner, for members and guests, is on Thursday 7th May and names can still be given to the treasurer. Our new speakers’ convener, Ron Macleod, reminded members that if they have information about potential speakers, they should contact him with details.

The sporting season is upon us and the Club Golf outings will begin with a visit to Cluny Clays, taking in a game at the impressive mini-golf course as well. The Derek Bethune Claret Jug will be played for in this outing, the first of six this season, with trophies in each. George Warner reminded members that the objective is fun and camaraderie, as well as enjoying the game, and that new participants are welcome. Fife Probus golf competitions begin on Wednesday 29th April at Scoonie and information has been circulated. Anyone else interested should contact Bob Hutchison. The last Thursday walk was to Pittencrieff Glen, and on Thursday 9thwe will walk from Heatherhall Woods to Ladybank, meeting at our usual car park. The Friday group walk every week, first from North Queensferry to Inverkeithing, then round Townhill Loch.

The bowling season will begin on Monday April 20th at St Clair Bowling Club. New participants are welcome. If you can supply your own flat-soled shoes, we can supply bowls.

We welcomed Sam Henry as our speaker, to tell us about his experiences as a Battlefield guide. Sam is a retired Principal teacher of History, and he latterly works for Mercat Tours taking parties to WW1 battlefields. Most of these parties are from schools, though there are also many adult groups. They spend three full days visiting different cemeteries, and pupils write up their experiences afterwards. Sam showed pictures of several graveyards, and memorials, and had stories and reminiscences of all of them. These were both historic about characters and events, and about the visitors. In advance, the company finds out if anyone in the party has an ancestor buried there and they can show them the grave, a moving experience for the visitor, and for Sam.

Bob Hutchison gave the vote of thanks after this moving talk.

At our next meeting, on April 15th, we will be joined by Ian Archibald, who will tell us about “The Search for the Lost Treasure of King Charles the First.”

Judith Kerr

President Mike Birkett conducted the business of our AGM then handed over the reins to new president, Mike Stevenson. Mike Stevenson thanked his predecessor for his calm and assured command of his job over the year. He also thanked speakers’ convener, Jim Browning, who was now stepping down, for the excellent range and quality of speakers he has brought us over the past three years. Following this, Mike produced the plaque with the presidents dating from our founding in 1971 inscribed on it. He then recalled some of the personalities from earlier times.

We heard about two forthcoming events. The first is on 22nd April to Anstruther Lifeboat Station; and the second is our visit to Fife College to sample a tasting menu, on May 7th.

Judith Kerr was our speaker for the day, on the topic of “Growing Kirkcaldy”. Judith, now retired, has been on various committees, serving the people of Kirkcaldy, since she was sixteen. She started her talk by giving us a little bit of history about Kirkcaldy and showed her pride in the town by mentioning the three Green Flag play parks and the two award-winning beaches.

“Growing Kirkcaldy” is an umbrella organisation for the improvement of Kirkcaldy. “There are lots of things we can’t do but we help those who can.” They work with others, and, in particular, do a lot of the gardening about the town. They are so successful that Kirkcaldy reached the final of “Britain in Bloom” last year, winning a gold award. Judith is very proud of this achievement, and gave us an overview of all the different categories they were judged on.

Later, she showed us interesting pictures of “Then and Now”, but it is obvious Judith is not a person steeped in nostalgia but someone who loves Kirkcaldy as it now is and hopes to help create an even better future for Kirkcaldy.

Bill O’Donnell thanked Judith for a very interesting talk about the town.

Our next meeting is on April1st, when Sam Henry will give us the “Reminiscences of a Tour Guide”.

Dr David Caldwell

Mike Birkett opened his final meeting as president, with part three of “The History of English Language Poetry”. He took us from the copyright act of 1710, through the Romantic Poets, and concluded with a poem about Kirkcaldy Esplanade car park, the sort of poem that would have been perfect material back in the days of the broadsheets in the 1660s.

Our first outing, sometime in April this year, will be to the Lifeboat Station in Anstruther. This will be followed by a visit to the Japanese Garden, probably in May. We are also having a six-course taster dinner at Fife College on May 7th. Names, with additional gests, will be collected soon.

Details about the club golf will be announced at our next meeting. Information concerning Fife Probus Golf venues has already been emailed. The walk last Thursday was round Balbirnie Park, where the snowdrops were at their best. The Friday walkers have had two outings; one to Lochore Meadows and one to Birnie and Gaddon Lochs. Information about the Thursday walks can be had from Mike Birkett; Ian Gilchrist will provide you with details of the Friday walks.

David Caldwell, whose subject was ’The Stone of Scone’, was the speaker for the day. David, employed at the National Museum in Edinburgh at the time, was involved in the process of bringing the Stone back to Scotland. He wrote the legal document which explains the significance of the Stone and why it should be preserved. David conjectured, throughout his talk, on certain aspects of the Stone and its history, in a very considered and thought-provoking way.

The first actual record of the Stone was in 1297, when the English catalogued the artefacts they were taking from Scotland. The Stone’s earlier significance is now lost in time, but it must be great, since the Stone itself has nothing special in its appearance.

The Stone became famous for the first time, in modern times, when it was stolen from Westminster Abbey in 1950, after which time it became a growing symbol of Scotland and better known as ‘The Stone of Destiny’. It was eventually returned to Scotland in 1996.

John Stewart thanked David for his very informative and illuminating talk.

Our next meeting, on March 4th, is our AGM and an email with the agenda will be sent, with a link, to the required papers for the meeting. Please read the papers in advance of the AGM meeting.

Judith Kerr will speak on “Growing Kirkcaldy” after the AGM.

Alan Crombie

After opening the meeting, President Mike Birkett gave us part two of “The History of English Language Poetry”, taking us through the time of Charles the Second, when numerous broadsheets published ballads for the general population to read and, where able, to memorise. He finished with the Copyright Act of 1710,though this applied only to books, not broadsheets. Our AGM is scheduled for March 18th, and reports and pictures should be with Stuart Rennie as soon as possible. Subs should also be with the Treasurer before our next meeting. Last Friday’s walk was to Aberdour to see the snowdrops while this Friday’s walk will be decided on the day. Bad weather prevented last Thursday’s walk, so we will try to visit Balbirnie Park next week instead, weather permitting. The outing to

the comedy club, preceded by a good meal at Annapurna restaurant, was enjoyable.

Alan Crombie was our guest speaker. His topic was “The Beginning of Beveridge Park”. This involved relating the story of Michael Beveridge, mill owner, then provost. After he died, his bequest enabled the purchase of land from the Raith Estate and the establishment of the

park. Parks at the time were being created to give open spaces to the workers as a relief from the terrible conditions in which many of them worked and lived. When Beveridge became provost of Kirkcaldy in 1886, he wanted to open a park for the local people, to

commemorate Victoria’s Jubilee, but Kirkcaldy Town Council would not provide the money.

Beveridge died in 1890 and bequeathed £50,000 to Kirkcaldy, to buy land and create a park for the public.  Different sites were proposed, but the one at Robbie’s Farm prevailed. This land was purchased and was given the name Beveridge Park in his honour. It was opened in 1892. There was enough money in the bequest to build the Adam Smith Hall at the same time. At the end of his talk Alan distributed leaflets entitled “Kirkcaldy in 50 Objects”, published to commemorate 50 years of Kirkcaldy Civic Society. Ian Gilchrist gave the vote of thanks, stating that the members were very impressed and now had a much deeper knowledge of a facility most people believed had always been there.

At our next meeting, on March 4th, David Caldwell will talk about the Stone of Destiny.

President Mike Birkett took the chair for our 1086th meeting. He began by giving us part one of the “History of Poetry”, taking us up to Chaucer, the first example of

written recorded poetry in English. Our AGM is on March 18th, and reports should be with the secretary by February 18th. Photos should also be with Stuart Rennie before the 18th of this month. This is also the deadline for payment of subs this year.

Our first visit of the new year is to Kirkcaldy’s Comedy Club on Saturday February 6th, meeting for a meal in advance, at Annapurna restaurant at 5.45. We discussed revisiting Fife College for a taster menu and agreed the date of Thursday 7th May. Further potential visits for later in the season were announced. With weather in mind, Friday’s walking group should meet at the Merchant’s House this week, and information about next Thursday’s walk will be given nearer the date.

Our speaker for the day was Keith Mason whose topic was Kirkcaldy Trams. First, he gave us a lot of interesting background regarding the history of discussions about the potential introduction of trams before they finally arrived in 1902. This was after electricity became available. They were brought by train to Sinclairtown Station, before being delivered by horse-drawn buggy to their newly built depot at Gallatown. At this point, Keith began using slides. These comprised an evocative selection of postcards from bygone days. The early trams were open to the elements upstairs and the drivers were not enclosed. Our members who were not Kirkcaldy natives enjoyed these pictures of historic Kirkcaldy as much as the long-time residents. Keith made the photos come alive as he talked about not only the trams in the pictures but also elements to the side and in the background. This provided a wealth of information that we would otherwise not have appreciated. Keith recommended books by Alan Brotchie, if we wanted to know more, especially “Wemyss Trams and Early Buses”. Members are looking forward to seeing Keith again for part two of his talk at a future date.

Mike Simpson thanked Keith for his very interesting presentation.

Our next meeting will be on February 18th when Alan Crombie will tell us all about Beveridge Park.