Speaker Kyffin Roberts - 'Saving Craigtoun'

Tue, May 21st 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm


An update to the funds raised as a result of the week-long raffle sales held at the Balgove Larder showed a final profit of £1200. A £400 donation will go to each of three charities – Breathing Space Scotland, Touched By Suicide Scotland and the Rotary Foundation.

Winning raffle tickets of Balgove Larder vouchers were purchased by Ann Pretswell (£200), Mrs Munro, St Andrews (£100) and Sandra Smith, Craigrothie (£50).

President John Spittal then introduced a significant event in the club season – an increase of almost 11% in numbers – by welcoming three new members.

Irene Walker proposed Stephen Bennie, a Strathkinness resident. Stephen, originally from Glasgow, had enjoyed a stellar career as an executive CA in the higher echelons of the finance industry in California, Canada and most recently in the UK, but is now retired.

George McIntosh followed to propose the membership of Eric Fraser, Inverness-born and now resident locally. Eric was a high-ranking Royal Navy officer and at one time held the position of UK Naval Attache to the USA, based in Washington. Now retired from life on and off the high seas, Eric operates a travel guide business in St Andrews.

Last but far from least, James Yule proposed Graham Dalton. Originally from Stirling, Graham first became familiar with St Andrews when he graduated from the Town’s University. He was subsequently involved in the film and TV industry but returned to St Andrews in 2010 when his family purchased the former South Street Post Office and opened the Adamson Restaurant. Since then, Graham has become involved in golf tourism.

John Spittal formally inducted the trio and stated, “Stephen, Eric and Graham will without doubt assist the Kilrymont Club as active members following the stated aims of “service before self” – the object of Rotary, which is the world’s oldest, largest and finest service organisation.”

Each of the new members was then greeted individually by all members present.

 (L-R) Eric Fraser, Stephen Bennie, President John Spittal, Graham Dalton


Member Kyffin Roberts was then invited to tell all about “The Saving of Craigtoun”. As a founder member and currently head of the Friends of Craigtoun organisation, Kyffin is in a unique position to explain the history of what is now a hugely popular venue – but which almost never happened.

In 1947 Craigtoun Country Park was sold by its owners, the Younger family, to the local authority for £25,000.

Decades later, in 2010, Fife Council had determined they could afford only to keep and preserve St Andrews Botanic Gardens in preference to doing anything at all with Craigtoun. Kyffin organised a public meeting which attracted 100 interested parties and the work began to save Craigtoun.

With funds only from donations, Friends of Craigtoun came to an agreement with the Council to maintain the Park and, where possible, enhance it.

“We hit the ground running in 2017, “ said Kyffin, identifying the major works which have since been carried out to repair and run the miniature railway system, the Puffing Billy tractor rides, stock the boating lake with 14 craft, bring the café up to an excellent standard, and a lengthy list of other works.

A 5-year deal with Fife Council is approaching its end, with negotiations taking place on a new arrangement. The Friends of Craigtoun, which numbers around 300 volunteers in addition to the 43 paid staff, are determined to continue their work improving the venue’s facilities. Last year, some 170,000 visitors entered the gates, proving how popular an attraction Craigtoun has become and its enormous value to the Town.

It remains the case that no funding other than donations and visitors’ fees supports the venture.

John Fernie’s vote of thanks pointed out that most present had nostalgic memories of Craigtoun, which they had passed on to their children and now grandchildren. All of which prompted John to praise Kyffin and his team for a “fantastic effort”, and that the Club would certainly be contributing financially to Craigtoun’s ongoing success.

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