Kirkcaldy's Heritage in 50 Objects by Alan Crombie

Wed, Jul 27th 2022 at 12:50 pm - 2:00 pm

Alan is an expert

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This week’s speaker was Allan Crombie from Kirkcaldy Civic Society. His subject was ‘Kirkcaldy’s Heritage in 50 Objects’. He described the society’s plan for its 50th anniversary in 2024 -to research a topic of special interest to the town every month, finishing with number fifty in time for the golden anniversary celebration. Allan has researched many of the topics himself, but guest contributors have included Michael Portillo (whose grandparents lived in Kirkcaldy), Tom Reid and Margaret Watson. The Covid lock-down was a positive force, giving time to research topics, and now the project is half-way to its completion. Allan chose five of the topics to illustrate to the club both the scope and the fascination of local history: Volunteers Green on the Esplanade which underwent a mixed history until finally, threatened with becoming the site of a multi-storey car-park, the Kirkcaldy Civic Society was formed, saved the space and landscaped it; John Blythe, curator of Kirkcaldy Art Gallery, whose birth centenary will be celebrated in 2023, collector of paintings by Peploe, MacTaggart, Sickert and other Scottish colourists; Law’s Close, Kirkcaldy’s second-oldest building, a merchant’s house of particular importance for its painted interior decoration; ‘Twelve Paces, Aim and Fire’, the story of the last fatal duel in Scotland; John Barry, MP, linoleum magnate and leader of a double-family-life; ‘The Boy on the Train’, a poem by Mary Campbell Smith, written in 1913 and ending with the famous words ‘For I ken mysel’ by the queer-like smell That the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!’ This was an illuminating and passionately-felt talk, which was much appreciated. Allan Crombie urged members to fight for their own local history, not let it die. Sylvia Donaldson gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the club.

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