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Post date: 07-Aug-2013 23:54:50
Saline and Steelend Heritage Society:
Saline Timeline Team
You may have noticed a lot activity going on in the Old Graveyard on Saturday 13 July - this was the result of 18 months of planning and the mission was to try and find Saline's 'missing church'. For some time now, it has been a bit of a puzzle as to where the original church was located; we know one existed around the middle of the 13th Century and that one definitely existed from about the 17th Century until it was demolished in 1810, prior to the existing one being built but, as records were patchy back then (if only they had cameras and PCs) it was difficult to say where it was.
A few years ago, Fife Archaeologist, Douglas Spiers, visited the graveyard, and he thought that it might have been in the Glebe Field so permission was sought from the Church of Scotland to carry out a non-invasive survey of that area. However, as more information came to light, it was decided to extend the survey into the graveyard itself and into part of Kirklands House, permission kindly being granted by Mr and Mrs Hart. The survey itself was carried out by members of Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society who work in many parts of Scotland.
It was a beautiful sunny day and those present enjoyed helping; we were even allowed to use the surveying equipment and felt like Tony Robinson's Time Team in action.
We now have the results and, in the graveyard itself, the foundations of a previously unknown building have been revealed. At the moment, we cannot say exactly what it is as various historical experts need to have a look at the images but it is a fantastic result. Many thanks go to our committee members for helping on the day and, of course, to Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society.
116th Fife Scout Group
A hectic end to the 2012/13 session culminated with our AGM and sausage sizzle, for which the weather held fair. Recently the Group participated in the Dunfermline District Camp along with 600 youngsters from eleven other Scout Groups where activities ranged from archery, caving, backwoods cooking, kayaking, as well as hovercraft- and raft-building, to name but a few.
The Group restarts its meetings in Carnock Community Centre on Thursday 15 August for Cubs, Scouts and Explorers and Friday 16 for Beavers. Some of the activities planned for the new season are a sleepover for the Beavers, outdoor visits for the Cubs, and cycling and sailing for the Scouts and Explorers.
At the moment there are vacancies in all sections: Beavers from 6 to 8 years, Cubs from 8 to 10 years, Scouts from 10 to 14 years and Explorers from 14 to 18 years. For further information, please contact Peter Philp (Group Scout Leader) on 852612.
Saline Horticultural Society
Annual Flower and Handcraft Show – Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September
What a wonderful spell of weather we have had and the flowers, fruit and vegetables are flourishing. We hope that you are beginning to think of what produce you could enter for the Show. For the handcraft experts, we hope you are busy creating items for the various categories and, as for the bakers, have you looked in the schedule and seen the new exciting recipes to tempt you to enter? Artwork, flower arranging, photography and lots of children’s categories are also there and wonderful home baking is served both days.
Please let your friends know about the event and, if you should require a schedule, contact the Society Secretary Sheila Travers on 852249.
Saline Environmental Group – What Next?
One of Saline's longest established community-based organisations is pleased to have appointed a new management committee at their 4 July AGM. With Phase 1 of the proposed Saline to Oakley path through to Kinneddar Park now fully funded and the route just days away from being finalised thanks to our supporters and delivery partners, the Group are now looking for new members who care about the local environment and are keen to help identify other initiatives to be taken forward.
Our Community Web Page has recently been updated and now includes links to our constitution and membership form as well as contact details if you wish to find out more. Over the last few months the opportunity has been taken to update the Group's constitution and to re-define its aims and objectives.
Our next meeting is on Thursday 22 August, starting at 7pm in the Saline Community Centre and it would be great to see you there. Meetings are open to all, and are held the third Thursday of every month in the Community Centre, starting at 7pm and last no more than 90 minutes.
Saline Ploughing Match
This year’s Ploughing Match will take place on 15 September at the normal location, West Saline Farm, situated alongside the B914 on the way to Dollar. The first Saline Ploughing Match took place in the mid 1800s and it is wonderful that this event has been revived over the last few years and it is well worth a visit. For more information, contact Mr A Ramsay on 852205.
Update On Large Wind Turbines Around Saline
As you will be aware from exhibitions in the Community Hall in spring or from the July bulletin, two large wind turbine projects are being planned to the East of Saline, Outhmuir and Blairadam. REG – a developer based in Devon - has submitted their planning application for five 110m (361ft) turbines on Outhmuir near Knockhill to Fife Council by now. It is likely to take several months to go through the application process. The application number is 13/01898/EIA and you can search for it via the following website http://planning.fife.gov.uk/online/ . Comments on the project can be submitted using the same link. This is where your opinion counts! If you don’t want to use a computer you can also write a letter to Fife Planning. Alternatively, e-mail your objections or support to David Shankland at development.central@fife.gov.uk
REG organised an Outhmuir Community Liaison Group which has been meeting since last December; John Crane, Gareth Turner and Till Kroeber represent Saline District. You can view the minutes from the meetings at http://outhmuir.regwindpower.co.uk/ . The group’s role is to facilitate communication between REG and communities located within 10km around the Outhmuir site. Membership of the group does not mean support for the project.
There are some comments by the local MP and MSP on the Wind Turbine Discussion Forum on www.salinesteelend.org . The online forum also provides information on the project and a platform for discussion.
SPOT Fife is a group of West Fife residents set up because of concerns about the number of wind turbine applications in the area. SPOT is experienced in objecting to controversial projects and you can contact them via spotfife@gmail.com or www.spotfife.org.uk .
The application for the Blairadam project - eleven 115m turbines (377 ft) - has not been submitted yet.
The Wind Turbine Discussion Forum at the Golf Club meets again at 7pm on Wednesday 18 September. The informal meeting provides an opportunity to discuss questions that you might have regarding wind turbine projects.
This application will be on the agenda of the next community council meeting that will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 27 August in the Saline Community Centre. All are welcome to attend and express their views.
New Neighbours
You may already know that the Community Council endeavour to provide a “Welcome Pack” to all new residents in the parish. This pack includes useful information about the area and a list of all the local voluntary groups and organisations.
It would help us considerably if you could let us know when new folk move into your street. Just ring John on 852698 or Jim on 852688 and give us the address of new arrivals. We do not need names. Alternatively e-mail johnrobertcrane@ic24.net
Saline and Steelend Heritage Society
Free bus trip - the next bus trip is to East Lothian Mining and Farming Museums. It will take place on 14 September, leaving Saline bus turning circle at 10am then making a brief stop at Steelend. There are only a few places left so if you are interested, contact Jane on 852677.
Mini-museum - featuring local industries - farming, mining, weaving, ironworks and lime works. Open Wednesdays 10am -12noon and Sundays 11.30am-1pm until 8 September.
Volunteers Required!
The annual Saline Bonfire and Firework Display, organised by your Community Council, is mainly funded by the proceeds of a community raffle. We are extremely grateful to those community-spirited folk who normally take on the task of selling raffle tickets in their areas, but a few more people to help out would be extremely useful. Additionally, if you can assist in other ways by helping to build the bonfire, undertaking stewarding duties on the night or helping with the firework display, we would like to hear from you. We do not want to scare any volunteers off but we are rapidly approaching the stage where some new people will be required to take over the whole organisation of this event. If we cannot persuade a few people to understudy the present organisers the future of the event is in serious doubt. This year’s event will be held on Saturday 2 November.
If you can help in any way, please give John or Marie a ring on 852698 or e-mail johnrobertcrane@ic24.net .
Faster Broadband
As many people know only too well, the internet service in parts of our area is poor and some outlying properties have no service at all. It was mentioned by many people who completed the Community Futures questionnaire and a commitment to getting the service improved is included in our Action Plan. The Scottish Government has pledged to provide most homes in Scotland with superfast broadband by 2016 and the Communications Group, which publishes the Bulletin and maintains the village website, is now pressing to have Saline and Steelend designated a priority area.
Community Broadband Scotland is the agency established by the Government to assist in rolling out the programme and the Communications Group is now in contact with their co-ordinator to see when the service in our area will be upgraded. The highest priority is being given to those areas where the average download speed is below 2Mb/sec. Allan Laing who lives in Upper Kinneddar and runs his business from home, has been monitoring the speeds he has received over a two-year period and has produced graphs to show how variable the service has been. This data has been passed to Community Broadband Scotland and a response is awaited. We hope to provide more information in the September Bulletin.
In the meantime, if you have evidence of poor speeds or no service at all, please pass details on to Allan so that we can use the information in our discussions with CBS. The email address is broadbandspeedcheck@saline1.demon.co.uk (if you can access the internet!!) or you can ring Allan on 853175. Instructions on how to test your broadband speed and a questionnaire to fill in the results are available here: Broadband Questionnaire
Are You One Of Saline and Steelend’s Own Mad Men?
The Communications Group are looking for a volunteer to fill the new position of Advertising Manager for the Bulletin. This would include researching the possibility of publishing advertisements in the Bulletin and the likely costs, seeking out potential advertisers and helping to put the Bulletin on a secure financial footing.
If you feel that you can help in this way, please contact Mark Baugh on 851059 or marklbaugh@aol.co.uk
Notice to All Community Groups:
The Saline & Steelend Community Council Bonfire and Firework display is an annual event that the whole community, young and old, can enjoy. A number of community groups, such as the Scouts and the PTA, take the opportunity to set up stalls to sell fast food and other items appropriate to the occasion.
If any other groups would like to participate in any way please give John or Marie a ring on 852698 or e-mail johnrobertcrane@ic24.net . This event provides good fund-raising opportunities and gives your group local publicity.
Church News
The Holiday Club for Primary 1-7 children is on every morning from 10.00am to 12.30pm from Monday 5 to Friday 9 August. The theme is ' Space Academy' and registration is from 9.30am on 5 August.
There are four Evening Sessions for S1 and S2 students between 7 - 9.30 pm on Friday 2, Monday 5, Wednesday 7 and Friday 9 August.
There will be a Golf Tournament of nine holes on Friday 16 August at Saline Golf Club. Tee off is at 4pm and the tournament will be followed by supper in the Club House. Further information is available from Ann Easton on 852885.
The Flower Festival in the Church on the theme of 'Our Community' will take place on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 August at 1.00-5.00pm and 7.00-9.00pm and on Saturday 24 August 10.00am 4 .00pm. Entry is by donation and refreshments will be available in the Church Hall.
Bandrum Summer Fete
The Bandrum Summer Fete is on 17 August, 2-4pm.
Please see the website www.bandrum.co.uk for more information or call us on 851030.
Events at Shieldbank
On Sunday 23 August, singer Wendy Arrowsmith will be appearing at a Folk Night at the Shieldbank Coffee Shop, starting at 8pm. Wendy has sung many different styles of music but with folk music she has found songs that come from the heart and allow great emotional expression and social commentary. Originally from Glasgow, Wendy performs a mixture of British folk songs, including a generous helping of Scottish material, plus songs of her own. She generally accompanies herself on guitar, but whistles, bodhran, mandolin and accordion have also been known to appear. Advance tickets are £7.50 and tickets at the door are £9.00.
The Shieldbank Championships will take place on Monday 12 August. There will be dressage, show-jumping and cross-country classes as well as fun classes for the younger or less experienced rider – all classes with trophies and rosettes! Entry fees are £10 per class and spectators are very welcome at no charge.
A dog training demonstration will take place on Sunday 1 September at 2.00pm. Again, all spectators are welcome.
Please see www.shieldbank.co.uk for further details.
How The Bulletin Works
The Saline & Steelend Community Bulletin is a monthly publication, published by the Communications Group, the members of which are all volunteers. None of us are professional journalists, and we rely on members of the communities of Saline and Steelend and, in particular, organisers of community groups, to send in items for publication. As the Editor (thanks to previous experience of editing a work magazine and the possession of an English degree!), I check that there are no obvious factual errors or anything in each submission that could be considered defamatory, illegal or otherwise unsuitable for publication. I then edit the submissions to suit our house style so that the Bulletin reads well as a whole; minor changes may be made to the text to further this but each article is the work and/or opinion of its individual author.
While all submissions will be considered for publication, I will also consider whether each is (a) village news, (b) there is benefit from knowing this, (c) how many people it will affect, and so on. Should I feel doubtful about any item, the Communications Group as a whole will make a decision on publication.
Please remember that the Bulletin is your community newsletter – help us to publish news about the communities of Saline and Steelend by submitting items for publication. Tell us about your groups, your meetings, your sports teams, your concerns, your engagements or weddings, your functions – anything in fact that you want the community to know about!
JC
The Real Living Cafe
The Real Living Drop-In Cafe offers support to older people who find themselves feeling socially isolated. It gives people the chance to meet others in similar situations, helps to boost confidence, self-identity and improve the quality of life. Relatives and carers are welcome.
Open from 10.30am-12.30pm, in Valleyfield Community Centre, Chapel Street, High Valleyfield, KY12 8SJ. For further information, please call 01592 644048.
A Brief History of the Plough
(In view of the impending Ploughing Competition on the 15th Aug)
Eight thousand years ago, our ancestors hitched oxen to an ard (a kind of hoe) and created the plough. Since then ploughs have been drawn by all manner of animals, including elephants. The Shetlands is known for a plough pulled by a man walking backwards.
By the late Iron Age, ards in Europe were commonly fitted with coulters (a blade that cuts the soil ahead of the ploughshare). Early British law required every ploughman to make his own plough, and stated that no one was entitled to use one unless they constructed it themselves. Not much changed in plough design until the 17th Century, and in 1837 John Deere introduced the first steel plough. Steam ploughing came in in the 1850s and by 1867 the First Class Champion Prize of £10.10s (£10.50p) at Launceston was won with a Barrowman plough, invented locally in 1840 (see Of Cabbages and Kings ). In the 20th Century tractors took over, and, more recently, a plough was hitched to a Bugatti Veyron sports car costing over a million pounds. The ploughman, pictured here just before ploughing commenced, said afterwards that he couldn't tell how successfully he'd ploughed the field, as by that time, he was wearing most of it.
The Bulletin has heard that a ploughing competition in Ayrshire had to be cancelled last year when vandals sneaked onto the site, on the night before the contest, and ploughed the entire field.
IH-L
Forthcoming Meetings and Events:
Steelend Club
Domino and pool competitions every Friday from 9.00pm
Pilates, every Monday 6.15pm-7.00pm
Zumba ,every Monday 7.00pm-8.00pm
Drumming Group, every Tuesday, for all ages, 7.00pm-8.30pm
Afternoon Cabaret: Sunday 25 August, 2.3 pm, entry £3, including food.
Brownies
Every Thursday 6.00-7.30pm
Saline Church Hall
Guides
Every Thursday 7.30pm-9.00pm
Saline Church Hall
116th Fife Scout Group
Beaver Colony
Every Friday, 6pm-7.30 pm
Cub Pack
Every Thursday, 6.30pm-8pm
Scout Troop
Every Thursday, 7.30pm-9pm
Explorer Unit
Every Thursday, 7.30pm-9pm
The Group meets in Carnock Community Centre, Camps Road, Carnock. Open to both boys and girls.
Highland Dancing Classes
Tuesdays 4.00pm-5.00pm
Saline Church Hall
Thursdays 6.30pm-8.00pm
Saline Church Session Room
Adult Badminton
Mondays 7.45pm
Wednesday 1.30pm and 7.30pm
Saline Community Centre
Beginners welcome
Saline Smilers (Toddler Group)
Tuesdays 9.30am-11.30am during school terms
Saline Community Centre
Craft and Chatter
Thursdays 10.00am-12.00 noon
Last Friday of month 7.00-9.00pm
Shieldbank Coffee Shop
Sambangra Drumming Group
Tuesdays, 7.00pm
Steelend Club
Community Council Meeting
Tuesday 27 August, 7.30 pm
Saline Community Centre
Saline, Steelend & District SWRI
Christmas Recycling Crafts
Wednesday 4 September
7.15pm
Saline Community Centre
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