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www.crabpublishing.co.uk

CRAIL MATTERSW/C 17 July No 23

Free - Donation welcome

Eileen Robertson Heather Corbett wishes to inform all friends in Crail of thesad passing of Eileen Robertson on Friday 7th July. The funeral will take place on Saturday 22 July at 11.00amat the Daldowie Crematorium in Uddingston. Please wear bright colours.

Respite For Young Carers

A new service for the people in Fife from Disabilities Fife.Funded by Young StartWe now have the opportunity to offer respite for young carers,who provide care and support for relatives or friends.

We can help with everyday tasks and give young people amaximum of a 2 hours break each week.

What is available ?Weekdays the service will be available from 4pm onward andat weekends from 8am onward. During school holidays thesehours can be adapted to suit the needs of the individual.This service will give the young people time to do the thingsyoungsters enjoy, perhaps just spending time with friends.All our carers are friendly, helpful, and have Protection of Vul-nerable Groups (PVG) certificate and membership.

If you know of anyone that needs help, please feel free to con-tact Disabilities Fife on:-Telephone: 01592 203993Email: respite@dfscot.comWebsite: YoungCarersRespite.comTwitter: @YoungCarersRespFacebook: Young Carers Respite Fife.

Or arrange an informal chat by contact-ing any of the above

Editorial comment

The Ricoh British WomensOpen Championship

KingsbarnsNotice has been given that the Scottish Ministers have con-firmed the order made by Fife Council exempting accessrights at Kingsbarns for the duration of the Ricoh BritishWomans Open Championship. The effect of this order is toexempt an area of land comprising Kingsbarns golf links, theadjacent car park and a section of the coastal path and fieldsto the south west of the golf links from access rights from 31July to 7 August. This includes a diversion to the coastal pathalong the beach adjacent to the golf links. The purpose forwhich this order was made is to enable a charge to be madefor entrance to the event, and for public safety and site secu-rity.

The only substantive modification to the order made by theMinisters was to require access rights to be maintained onCore Path 67, Back Stiles. What this means is that pedestrianaccess to the beach down Back Stiles is not limited, and incorrespondence with Crail Community Council, Fife Councillegal services confirmed that there would be ‘unimpededpedestrian access’ to the beach down Back Stiles. Vehicularaccess is not allowed.

Given that effectively the whole of Kingsbarns has been de-clared a 'No waiting at any time area' for the duration of theChampionship, visitors in cars can't park anywhere nearbyanyway to use this access. This therefore seems at best arather modest concession to maintaining visitor access to apopular beach. It also suggests that Fife Council, and theScottish Government, has little regard for the broader issuesinvolved in maintaining public access, and chooses to supporta commercial venture over access for families to a popularbeach at a peak holiday time. In earlier comments on this, aFife Council official made reference to the need to balancediffering needs - we can now see clearly where that balancenow lies for both the Council and the Government. Yet again,and as we have seen in recent planning exercises, public ben-efit and objection has been dismissed to enable profit.

The Grenfell Tower disaster shows what can happen whenlocal authorities become distant from the communities theyserve, and where financial priorities become more importantthan personal needs and listening to communities. In oursmall world and thankfully with consequences immeasurablyless, at least for now we seem to be similarly afflicted.

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You don’t have to like me…agreewith me…or enjoy the same things

I do.But you do have to respect me.

The growth in internet based socialmedia has turned the focus of mediaand public attention to cyberbullying.However, recent a study in the UKpublished in The Lancet Child andAdolescent Health journal finds thatface-to-face bullying is still a majorproblem for children.The study estimates that less than 1%of 15 year olds in England report onlybeing bullied online regularly, whilemore than one in four (27%) experi-ence only face-to-face bullying meth-ods. With nine out of 10 of theteenagers who are bullied online alsofacing regular traditional bullying, theresearchers suggest that cyberbullyingis an additional tactic in the bullies’ ar-senal, and that both forms must betackled together to prevent bullyingand improve teenagers’ resilience.“Despite common perceptions and thegrowth of the online world forteenagers, our study finds that cyber-bullying, on its own, is relatively rare,with face-to-face bullying remainingmost common among teenagers,” saysDr Andrew Przybylski, University ofOxford.Cyberbullying seems to be best under-stood as a new avenue to victimisethose already being bullied in tradi-tional ways, rather than a way to pickon new victims. The study used con-fidential questionnaires to assess bul-lying and mental well-being over atwo-month period in more than110,000 15 year olds across England

– representing a total of one in five 15year olds in England. Focussing onfrequent bullying, the researchersfound that one in four teenagers (27%,29,302 teenagers) reported facing tra-ditional bullying only, less than 1%(406 teenagers) reported cyberbully-ing only, and 3% (3655 teenagers)were regularly bullied in both ways.The authors note that their study doesnot include estimates on whether cy-berbullying is becoming increasinglycommon. The study used self-reporteddata on bullying and mental well-being but did not include formal diag-noses of mental health problems, anddid not include other forms of abuseor neglect. It controlled for gender, so-cioeconomic status and ethnicity dueto their association with higher levelsof bullying.Professor Dieter Wolke, University ofWarwick, UK, notes: “Until not thatlong ago, being bullied by others wasoften considered as a normal rite ofpassage… Any intervention to reduce

bullying and the adverse mental healtheffects caused by victimisation mustinclude efforts to reduce traditionalbullying.“This could be by new innovative in-terventions in schools including onlineresources and learning or consideringapproaches involving primary health-care professionals. Furthermore, anystudy or review of the effects of cyber-victimisation must take into accountthe effects of traditional bullying.”Bullying is of course not just confinedto children and young people. The el-derly, the disabled, and indeed manypeople who for whatever reason aresocially marginalised can face bully-ing.

Resources to counter bullyingA useful web resource is BullyingUK(www.bullying.co.uk). It offers a 24hour helpline, advice website, livechat and information on parenting/re-lationship support groups. Respectme(respectme.org.uk) is Scotland’s Antibullying service. Respectme have de-veloped a range of resources for adultsand children and young people, whichoffer practical advice and guidance ona range of anti-bullying issues. Theirpublications can be downloaded fromthe website and paper copies of somepublications can be ordered by con-tacting them directly at enquire@re-spectme.org.uk They also have anumber of videos, which can be usedwith children and young people togenerate discussion around bullyingand the impacts that it can have on ev-eryone involved. Video resources canbe viewed on the website, and addi-tional short films can be found onYouTube.

Bullying

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Fife Councillor Reportfrom Bill Porteous - Mayto July 2017

First of all, may Ithank you all forelecting me asCouncillor for EastNeuk & Landward -I look forward torepresenting you all.At the moment, I will not be holdingPublic Surgeries in my ward butplease contact me at any time byphone or email - contacts below. How-ever, if you wish me to visit you in-stead please get in touch.

What's happened recently? - Ricoh Golf Kingsbarns- after pro-longed negotiations between IMG/Ricoh Golf and conversations be-tween residents, Kingsbarns CC andCouncillors with Fife Council BackStile Road will not be used for specta-tor traffic and residents’ only signswill be used. Unfortunately, no satis-factory accommodation between IMG/ Ricoh and Fife Council with theCheese Shack at the car park wasmade so locals and tourists have lostthis facility for a month. - Station Road Development at Kings-barns rejected for planning by yourlocal councillors. - There is an ongoing plan to extend

the footpath out of Crail towards Kil-renny - the missing link - I fully sup-port this community project tosafeguard all who use this section ofdangerous road and hopefully bothcommunity involvement and grantswill be available to get this underwaysoon. - The badly damaged gravestones inCrail Church of Scotland cemeterycontinues to be a major concern andyour Crail C C and I are seeking assis-tance from various groups to sort thisout.

01333 730837 or 07753982311cllr.bill.porteous@fife.gov.uk

Crail Rowing Club Crail Rowing Club win silvers and a bronze at the Ullapool Regatta

8-9 July 2017

A small group of 15 from Crail Rowing Club at-tended Ullapool’s annual regatta over the week-end of 8-9 July. Conditions looked quite good inthe lee of the shore, but proved to be very chal-lenging with strong crosswinds blowing boats offcourse. Navigating the turning buoys 1km fromthe start line was fraught and some clubs, Crail in-cluded, suffered clashes as boats vied for positionin the adverse conditions. The competition wasfierce and with 22 clubs in attendance and only 15lanes, the fully subscribed races set off in twowaves with results determined by best times. De-spite being small in number, Crail competed in 9of the 20 categories, which set off every half hour.

Each one was hard fought and at times, over the 2km course, barely a boat length separated the winners. The Ladies 50+ andthe Mixed 50+ teams won silver, with the Mixed 40+ team winning bronze. In the Mixed Under 17 category, Crail’s FrankFry, borrowed by Eastern Amateur Rowing Club and rowing in stroke position, was delighted to win silver.

Dear friends,

I just signed the petition "Investigate whether Crail Racewayis operating illegally" and wanted to ask if you could addyour name too.This campaign means a lot to me and the more support wecan get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding.You can read more and sign the petition here:http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/investigate-whether-crail-raceway-is-operating-illegallyThank you!

Beaty Bluetit

P.S. Can you also take a moment to share the petition withothers? It's really easy – all you need to do is forward thisemail or share this link on Facebook or Twitter:http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/investigate-whether-crail-raceway-is-operating-illegally

Dear SirI was a bit surprised not to be credited with having providedthe information about John Lewis' Cheeky Seagull range.They also have a Shoals of Fish towel range, presumably sothe cheeky seagulls have something to eat!

Jenny Wren

Letters to the Editor

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WILD CRAILWill Cresswell,

with Photographs by John Anderson

Last week Balcomie Beach continued to be the place to go.

On the 8th, the star wader at Balcomie was a whimbrel. Twocurlews flew up from the rocks and I noticed one was muchsmaller than the other. A quick check of its bill shape (whim-brels have an initially mostly straight bill with the decurve atthe end) confirmed it as a whimbrel. I whistled at it – theseven note whistle of a whimbrel is about the easiest bird callto imitate. And it checked its flight, came back to look at me,whistling as well. Whimbrels love company when they mi-grate and generally only hang out with curlews when thereare no other whimbrels about. I couldn’t resist whistling atthe whimbrel again as it flew off looking for a real whimbrelto join. It checked and came back whistling at me once morebefore heading off to rejoin the curlew, hopefully not too dis-appointed by my deception. But there is something magicalabout calling to a wild bird and having it respond to you. Andespecially so when that bird is a literally globe-trotting whim-brel. The all time champion migrant bird in my opinion.

There was a whinchat on the 9th halfway between Crail andHammer Inn, on the now fairly overgrown footpath up from

Balcomie caravan park. The last whinchat I saw was in Nige-ria, last year: I see hundreds of whinchats in Africa where Istudy them but hardly ever see them in Scotland. They usedto be a much more common bird but are now confined to theWest and the uplands. It is strange because they are very gen-eralist, needing only small insects and a perch – unimprovedpasture or meadow with some small bushes and scrub doesthe job. That they have disappeared from lowland Scotland

is probably indicative of the general reduction in the quantityand quality of insect food, as well as possibly tidier fieldsand earlier mowing of hay fields. But there are still many ne-glected field edges that should suit a whinchat – they cer-tainly would suit a whinchat in Africa and a bird on passageto Africa. These edges have enough to keep a single bird thatcan move on when necessary but not a breeding pair and itsgrowing brood for two months. Whinchats pass through Crailmainly in August so the bird of last weekend was fairly early.Some Augusts, particularly on an easterly wind with rainshowers, every field might have one or two: they will sit jaun-tily on top of the unharvested crop of wheat or rape so areeasy to find. But most autumns (or springs) there are only afew that come through Crail. From Boarhills down to themouth of the Kenly Burn seems to be the most reliable sitefor them then.

There was more action at Balcomie on the 10th. There wereover 100 dunlin present with the first juveniles of the year.More redshanks and the first turnstones back. Other new

birds were a couple of common sandpipers, another knot andbest of all two black-tailed godwits – always a good bird forthe Crail list. They are common on the Eden Estuary but onlya few pass through Crail in July or August. One of the god-wits, at least, looked like an Icelandic bird with stronglybarred chestnut flanks. They breed in Europe generally to thesouth of us and then winter even further south and only breedto the north of us in Iceland so this makes sense. Most of thewaders were gathered into the main high tide roost on thelarge rock by stinky pool (this is the one where all the shagsand cormorants sit regardless of tide), with half the dunlinsfeeding with the many gulls and eiders on the tideline of Bal-comie Beach.

I finally caught up with the ring-necked parakeet that is reg-ularly roosting in a garden on the south of Marketgate. Abeautiful male with a bright pinky-red neck ring with ablueish border. It looked so vividly green and tropical in thelight drizzle of the early morning last Tuesday. I’m glad tosee one back in Crail. It has also been seen in gardens aroundBeech Walk Park.

The Mediterranean gull is still in residence in Crail. It wasseen in Roome Bay last week and I saw it again on the 10th

Black-tailed Godwit

Whinchat

Whimbrel

Last week's Red Cross Coffee Morning raised a total of£619.12. Grateful thanks to all involved.

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ROYAL BURGH OF CRAIL AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL NOTES

ToiletsAt the time of writing, there has beenno progress on replacing or repairingthe damaged toilet, nor any movementon provision of a temporary toilet. TheCommunity Council will continue tofollow up on this. The lack of actionon toilet provision by Fife Council isnot acceptable (although not surpris-ing) as it's now fully 8 weeks since theincident. Diverting folks down to theharbour where the opening hours arerestricted isn't good enough. Elderlyfolks can't do that brae and there's nospace for buses to manoeuvre. Oneoption is for the Town Hall & Com-munity Hall to be designated as publictoilets during the summer and pay fora cleaner.

ParkingThe Council have received a number

of complaints about parking in Crail,particularly around the Co-op. Therehas been a noticeable increase in traf-fic, and as the summer progresses andvisitor numbers grow, parking issuesare likely to get worse. We would re-spectfully ask drivers not to park onthe pavement, and to have regard forthe flow of traffic and pedestriansalong the main road. There are manymore children than usual in the centreof Crail at the moment, so please ex-ercise caution.

The Coastal Path CrailParts of the coastal path betweenRoome Bay and Crail has again beenresurfaced, and the weed growth hasbeen successfully controlled (withoutthe use of chemicals!). A walk alongthe path is very popular with visitors(and of course residents) and the Com-

munity Council are so pleased to beable to keep it in a good shape. Helpwith controlling/ removing litterwould be appreciated.

Tree CharterCrail is proud to be a ‘Tree CharterCommunity’, and to mark the launchof the Charter for Trees, Woods andPeople in November this year, 800‘Tree Charter Legacy Trees’ will beplanted across the UK, serving as liv-ing reminders of the 800 years thatseparated the 1217 Charter of the For-est and the new charter. The Charter isled by the Woodland Trust, and it in-cludes more than 70 organisationsfrom across multiple sectors who areworking together to build a future inwhich trees and people stand strongertogether. Crail will apply to receive aCharter Tree.

roosting with black-headed gulls on the rocks atSauchope Caravan Park, at the roundabout, at high tide.There are a lot of gulls sitting in the surf feeding on thetideline at high tide in Roome Bay most afternoons and Iwould predict that the Mediterranean Gull will keep feed-ing there for the next few days. Look for the black hoodrather than the chocolate brown head.

Black headed gulls (left) and the Mediterraneangull (right) that is around Roome Bay at the mo-ment (photo Erica Hollis)

Funding Crail MattersWe depend on your support to keep producing Crail Matters.If you enjoy reading what we produce and wish to make adonation, then please contact crailmatters@gmail.com for de-tails of our account for bank transfers, or contact a memberof the Editorial Team. If you take a hard copy, we would wel-come a suggested donation of 30p per issue to cover costs.

CAN YOU HELP?Crail Museum needs someone to translate the descriptions ofour Exhibition Rooms into Spanish and Italian. The descrip-tions enable visitors who only speak those languages to getmuch more out of their visit.

Please leave contact details at the Museum.

Stagecoach Bus Services changes totimetables implemented 14 august

Stagecoach have announced a number of changes to theirtimetable, none of which directly affect Crail, but may affectconnecting services. http://www.travelinescotland.com/ hasfurther information.

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My Name Is TomDawn Black

“Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it – J.K. Rowling2009. London.My name is Tom. I was five when I turned ‘not normal’ or as adults like to say, ‘abnormal’. I’m eleven now and I’m more normalthan most adults I know. It was the day after my birthday it happened, the ‘thing’. My birthday is in August which is brilliant because the sun is alwaysout, most of the time anyway. Everyone was in the garden having fun, me and my pals all had water pistols and were firingwater all over the place, especially at the girls and the girls were screaming (as they usually do) and trying to escape, some ofthem even tried to hide in the bouncy castle which was great because it meant that when we caught them they had nowhere torun and so screamed even louder, that annoying girly scream. It was when my little brother Joe actually threw his water pistolat Lottie and Lottie started to cry when things started to get really bad. My Mum started screaming at Joe, Lottie’s mum startedscreaming at Joe and I just stood there watching, hating my brother for ruining my party. Then I started to scream at Joe and thenJoe started to cry but while Lottie cried like a girl, sniffing and gasping, pretending she couldn’t breathe, at least she cried quitequietly. Joe on the other hand cried like only boys can and pushed his tears out with so much noise that I remember clasping myhands over my ears shouting at him to shut up. I don’t normally shout, don’t like it but that day I shouted and shouted andshouted. I shouted so much that my throat got sore and my head started to hurt but is still didn’t stop me shouting.It was my Dad. It was my Dad who finished my party and told everyone to go home, to get out. He just kept shouting, over andover and over again. I couldn’t believe it, why was he shouting? Dad’s shouldn’t do that sort of thing, it’s not fair. Dad’s shouldbe the ones working the barbecue thing and asking if anyone wants another sausage or if the kids want more juice or if the ab-normal adults want more wine. But my Dad didn’t do that that day, my fifth birthday, my Dad stopped my party and made mecry and I hated him for a long time after that, until I was about eight anyway.I watched everyone leave as I perched on the top of the stairs, peering down through the bannister, no-one noticed me, and theywere too busy trying to get out the front door, away from us, from me, from my mad Dad. Some left on their own, others inbunches, huddled together trying to escape the mad sunny day that the Saturday had become. My brother was still bubblingaway but now he was in the hall, like me he was watching everyone leave but he was right next to them all but no-one caredabout Joe now, he didn’t matter anymore and it was almost as if he cried louder and louder as more and more people scuttledout. By the end he was the one that was screaming, my Dad was still shouting but my Mum was now crying. I on the other handjust sat there, listening, watching and knowing that this was a very bad day for us all, especially me.When I woke up the next morning I felt unsure. It was like I could smell something but didn’t know what it was. I rolled overand grabbed my watch; it was only eight o’clock so I turned over and put my head back on my pillow and snuggled under myquilt.. I didn’t close my eyes though; it was the smell that stopped me. I knew something was bad but didn’t know what so Iquietly got up and put my dressing gown on, the house was cold, why was it cold? Maybe Mum and Dad were still sleeping sono-one had put the heating on. I tried that once, to put the heating on I mean but my Dad caught me and went ballistic, tellingme I didn’t know what I was doing and to leave it alone. The truth was he was right, I must only have been about three or fourbut I felt as if I knew what I was doing at the time, that’s the confusing thing, I felt I knew what I was doing until the abnormaladults told me I didn’t. And I believed them.Joe was still asleep. I stood watching him as his chest moved up and down and he let out strange noises, not snoring exactly,more gurgling sounds, like he was under water or something. ‘You ruined my party and I hate you’ I said out loud, hoping he’dwake up but instead Joe just lay there, making those stupid noises as I talked to myself about how horrible yesterday had beenand how much he’d ruined my life and my special day. Part of me wanted to grab him and shake him awake so I could shout inhis face but I was scared that I’d wake Mum and Dad and then I’d be in deep trouble. It was a Sunday and Sunday’s were ‘lie-in’ days in our house, no-one and I mean no-one was allowed to get up before nine, evenDougal the dog was shouted at if he got up and disturbed anyone but only by the abnormal adults. I used to worry that Dougalwould go deaf with the number of shouts that were thrown at him, I even asked Dad that once but he just laughed at me and toldme not to be stupid. I think any man who calls anyone under ten stupid is more than just stupid. I was too young to say anythingthen though it never stopped me thinking it or stopped me from feeling sad inside. Stupid is a stupid word, it shouldn’t be in dic-tionary’s, it should be banned except for using it in one situation. If I was in charge I’d only let kids under ten use the word‘stupid’ when it came to describing the abnormal adults. I’m eleven now so I think I should be allowed to use it but only in theway that I’ve just described. Most adults I’ve met are stupid in one way or another. They do stupid things, the sort of things that they tell under tens not todo, like shouting or screaming or drinking alcohol (I think all Mums drink wine) or telling fibs or hurting other people’s feelings,yep all the things that they tell children not to do they do themselves so what does that say about them? I reckon it sucks beinggrown up because you do things that even I know are wrong. If I could I’d magic me staying eleven until I was eighteen I would.That way I’d put off doing stupid things for a few more years though I’ve told myself that even when I am grown up I won’tact like that, like the rest of them I mean, it’s my number one secret. I call it ‘Tom’s Top Tip’ or TTT for short.I’ve only ever told one person about TTT, my best friend Dylan, when we were both eight. He laughed at me (a lot) so I decidedI wouldn’t tell anyone my secret ever again. My secret is my invisible friend. I like that, it’s mine.I stood and watched her and I started to feel really sick. What was she doing and why was she doing it? My head was full ofwhooshing, like a Red Arrow in my brain doing stunt after stunt after stunt with the roar of its engines and its coloured smokefilling my skull and getting louder and louder as each second ticked by. I don’t know how long I stood there for, it didn’t seem

Calling all Crail Jam MakersDo you have any jam jars as several Jam makers urgently need them all sizes acceptable?

The garden fruit this year is plentiful and jam and jelly is always needed for coffee mornings and sales.

Please had them into Chat bite on a Wednesday morning at the Kirk Hall.

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to matter. I remember glancing up at the great big black clock, my Mum called the clock Bertie, after the man she’d bought itfrom in Camden Market when she was twenty. Funny that, calling a clock Bertie. It was one of her most loved things, apart fromme and Joe of course. She always said good morning to it; see, abnormal. I once asked her why she did that, say good morningevery morning to a ‘thing’ and she just looked at me, as if I was the mad one, replying ‘Why not?’ I’ll never forget that.Bertie ticked and ticked as I stood and stood and watched and watched. She was still sitting there, not moving, except to wipeher eyes and put her hands through her messed up hair. I looked down after a while and realised that I’d had an ‘accident’ and Iwatched as the pool of pee got bigger and bigger on the floorboards. I didn’t know what to do except pray that it would go downthe cracks between the boards and somehow magically disappear. But it didn’t disappear, it just got bigger and as the pool gotlarger and it reached my toes I knew that I was in for a huge row and someone was going to start shouting at me. I was scaredto move though. Moving meant that she would hear me and if she heard me and looked up she’d see me and then god knowswhat would happen. I needn’t have worried though, when she looked up at me she called my name and came over to hug me.She wiped away my tears and told me it was OK, told me not to cry but I couldn’t stop, I didn’t even know I’d started. As sheput her arms around me I knew that I was crying more but didn’t understand why and as she tried to sooth me all I could hearwas Bertie ticking away in the background, pushing the day forward. I realised then that time never stops nor ever goes back,not even for me.It was my Mum in that room, the ‘she’ who was wiping her eyes. And it was only much later, maybe when I was around nineyears old that I suddenly realised that was the morning he’d left her, that he’d left us. My Dad had gone and he never came back.He shouldn’t have done that, that was abnormal, especially on a Sunday.

This story was submitted to the Crail Matters Short Story competition.

31/07/71 until 06/08/17 Ricoh Women’s British Open 2017 - KingsbarnsROAD AND CAR PARK CLOSURESBack Stile from its junction with Seagate to the Public Car Park entrance at the extremity of Back Stile.Public Car Park at the extremity of Back stile. Pedestrian access remains unimpeded.

TEMPORARY "NO WAITING AT ANY TIME" RESTRICTIONSMain Street (Both Sides) over its entire length Back stile (South Side) from Main Street to Seagate.A917 (Both Sides) from 30 mph speed limit at Back Stile to the south entrance to Cambo Layby.

TEMPORARY 30 M.P.H. SPEED RESTRICTIONA917 from 30 mph speed limit at Back Stile to the south entrance to Cambo Layby.

Mon. 24/07/17 at 09.30hrs to Fri. 28/07/17 at 15.30hrs. West Green, Crail From adj. to properties nos. 47/49 High Street to rear of East Neuk Hotel to allow replacement of defective sewer equipmentin the carriageway to be carried out in safety.There is no alternative route for vehicular traffic.Access for emergency service vehicles and residents will be maintained. Access for pedestrians is unaffected.A Plant Lux are responsible for these works and can be contacted as follows:-Contact Telephone No: 01698 745069

Between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. on 22/07/17 Rumford and NethergateFife Council has made an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 prohibiting the use by vehiculartraffic of Rumford (from property no. 10 Rumford to property no. 70 Nethergate) and Nethergate (from its junction with CastleWalk to property no. 56 Nethergate).The alternative route for through traffic will be via Tolbooth Wynd, High Street and Castle Street, Crail.Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained.The Order is to allow the Crail Festival Street Market to take place in safety.Crail Festival Society is responsible for this event and can be contacted on the telephone number shown below:-Contact Telephone Number: 01333 451345

Temporary Road Closures

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10 yr. old Niamh is our newest recruit for starting hut dutyat the Putting Green. Niamh spends her summer holidaysin Crail. All yearshe looks for-ward to helpingthe adult volun-teers at the CrailFestival PuttingGreen by puttingout the pins thenhaving a fewrounds of putting.Well doneNiamh, we ap-preciate your as-sistance. SadlyNiamh returns toher home on Sat-urday, 15th July.Even withoutNiamh theputting greenstays open daily from 1.30 – 7.30pm until Sunday, 20th Au-gust.

The CrailSeagull

An eye on our world

It’s no wonder us Seagulls have a bad name. The poorlady in Kirkcaldy who was attacked by one of my badcousins, and then suffered a heart attack, makes me feelvery sorry. These Kirkcaldy birds even make me feelnervous when they come up here - we have enough baduns without them adding to it.

Have you seen the petition doing the rounds about CrailRaceway, requesting Fife Council to investigate if it isoperating legally? I wonder how many people havesigned, and if it will come to anything. As I fly over Idon’t see much evidence of anyone from Fife Councilmonitoring anything, but who knows? Maybe they areunder cover driving cars! But money talks louder thanpeople in these things - how else would the summer re-strictions at Kingsbarns Beach get the go ahead?

The flower arrangements along Marketgate look as nicethis year as ever. I watch the people working away onthe tubs with great admiration. There’s a very noticeableincrease in the number of people in and around Crail,so its nice to see the old place looking well. And all theincreased litter and the food dropped just makes forgood snacks for me.

Took a spin over Crail Wednesday morning and saw acouple of Fife Council vans (and presumably people inthem) sat in Roome Bay park. Came back after a nicesnack at the Chippie after about an hour or so, and sawthey were still there. They seem to be erecting somefencing around the damaged roundabout. Ever heard theold joke - how many safety inspectors does it take tochange a light bulb? Four - one to change it and three tohold the ladder. Well .......

Material for inclusion in Crail Matters should be sent to crailmatters@gmail.com and received on Friday middaybefore publication. We reserve the right to edit copy for length and style. Submission does not guarantee inclusion.

© Crab Publishing 2017: Editorial Team this week: Graham Anderson, Julie Middleton, Isla Reid, ValenciaSowry, Max Taylor, John Wilson

Crail Parish Church of Scotland

(Charity registered in Scotland SC 001601)

Rev. Peter Neilson is taking Pastoral care of Crail Parish.His contact information is:

Landline: 01333 310477Email: neilson.peter@btinternet.com

Kirk Sale19 July 2017

Doors open at 2.00pm and more information can be hadfrom Helen Armitage 450516.