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The 18 October 1932 Leven Advertiser ran the headline above when reporting on the first A.G.M of the Largo Parish Community Council. One of the first priorities of the newly-formed community council was to make "foreshore improvements" at Lundin Links. While this stretch of coast already "enjoyed a remarkable measure of popularity", it was thought that there was "nothing to be gained by standing still" and that they ought to "launch out with a progressive scheme to foster the popularity".

Significantly, estate owner Sir John Gilmour had "shown both generosity and foresight in entrusting the Community Council with the development of the beach". The area in question was between Lundin Links Golf House and Mr Walter Horne's feu, (old pan house) south of the railway line. The aim was "to improve its amenity and hold it as a public recreation and pleasure ground". This was not to be a money making exercise but rather the right to sell refreshments would enable the costs of cleaning and maintenance of any new facilities to be covered. 

The pre-1930s postcard view above was taken on the beach at Lundin Links in front of Massney Braes, looking towards Drummochy and beyond. The flat-roofed Crusoe Hotel can be seen to the right. In the centre (under the words Lundin Links) is the old salt pan house (later joiner's workshop). The sand dune and grassy brae on the left had yet to under go the improvements that the LPCC would carry out. The map below shows the approximate position from which the image was captured. Being a later date, the map shows the shelter built on the braes and the public toilets built at the top of the path going up to Drummochy Road past the pan house.

An early foreshore improvement was to make a proper path alongside the railway at the top of the area. The 17 October 1933 Leven Advertiser piece below tells us that this extended from the 'Creaky Gate' (also referred to as 'Squeaky Gate') at the point where the road crossed the railway at the top of Drummochy Road to the Iron Bridge. Work to stabilise the sand dunes by planting grass also took place. Above is the 27 June 1933 notice to contractors that appeared in the Leven Advertiser in relation to the work.

In addition to the path improvements, other early successes included renting out pitches to vendors selling refreshments such as ice-cream and lemonade and the erection of a shelter (built to a design by Charles Raeburn the LPCC's Secretary and Treasurer). Over time, a water supply and drinking fountain was also installed along with seats, litter baskets, a place for setting fires and noticeboards. The image below shows some of these facilities in place. The Largo Silver Band were allowed to continue to play at the site were they had long performed, being seen as an additional attraction. 

The days of shelters, toilets, play equipment and ice cream vans at Massney Braes may have now gone but this remains a place where people can enjoy walking, sitting, accessing the beach and enjoying the views. Now a bit less managed and a bit more wild, rabbits, wildflowers and butterflies are among the wildlife making use of the space.

In 1894 the Parish Councils Act established new local elected bodies designed to give communities more of a voice. These Parish Councils replaced the Parochial Boards that had been in existence for half a century beforehand. However, by 1930, Parish Councils themselves were abolished under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929. Their powers were transferred to county councils and burgh councils. 

So, in early May 1930, the Largo Parish Council, which had an office at 6 Hillhead Street (see 1925 valuation roll above), met for the final time. Officials such as Chairman of six years John Adam and clerk of ten years Hugh Percival demitted office on 15 May. A final audit of the affairs of the Largo Parish Council was carried out in July 1930. In 1931 a new Largo Parish Community Council was formed. The extract below from the 'Largo Village Book' tells us that many local organisations chose to associate with the new community council. The lists of clubs, associations, and other bodies illustrates the vibrancy of the community at the time.

At the end of its first year in existence, the LPCC held its first Annual General Meeting in the Temperance Hall, Lundin Links. The first order of business was to express regret at the recent death of John Adam. There followed a review of the main areas of focus from the past year. These included: the creation of a local calendar to ensure that there was no clashing of events; the protection of the amenities of the villages; the printing and publishing of a guide book to the area; agitating for better lighting of Lower Largo and Lundin Links; planning of foreshore improvements; and helping to fill vacancies on the County and District Councils. One example of how the LPCC 'protected the amenities' of the place related to requesting the removal of a double hoarding with coloured posters, advertising Golden Lager, that had been erected at the east end of Upper Largo. Future blog posts will look in more detail at the guide book mentioned and at the 'foreshore improvements' in relation to Massney Braes. 

​The 18 October 1932 Leven Advertiser also listed the office bearers re-elected for the second year of the LPCC (details below). Much of the work of the community council was undertaken by Charles Raeburn, pictured at the foot of this post, who resided at 'Naikban' on Bourtree Brae. Born in Banff in 1875, Raeburn was an engineer, who had travelled extensively with his work. India, China, Russia, France, Belgium and Burma were among the places that his work had taken him, prior to retiring to Lower Largo in 1929. He named his home 'Naikban' as it meant 'heaven' in old Burmese. He died in 1955 aged 79 and more can be read about his life here.
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After the Second World War, the Largo Parish Community Council morphed into an 'Improvements Association' covering Lundin Links, Lower Largo and Upper Largo. Over time this divided into individual village 'improvements associations' which had varying periods of existence. In 1975 new community councils were formed in Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
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An earlier blog post looked at artist Eugen (or Eugene) Dekkert and a painting he did of Largo Harbour. Above is another painting of his, featuring the same scene but with different detail. The above artwork shows the harbour with the tide out and with a horse and cart using the ford under the viaduct and the footbridge from the Oilcake Mill to Drummochy (see 1893 map detail below where the route of the ford is shown in the centre as an 's' shaped dashed line).   

Both this painting, and the one shown at the foot of this post, omit the railway viaduct. Dekkert was fascinated by the sea and boats, so likely wanted to focus on this. Perhaps he thought that including the 1857 viaduct would have detracted from the quaint harbour scene. Omission of detail is just one way in which a painter can apply artistic licence to a piece to portray an alternative version of reality. The 21 August 1908 East of Fife Record piece below, tells us that Dekkert wished to focus on the "natural beauty of the spot" without the distraction of an imposing manmade structure.

With the outbreak of World War One, life changed for the Dekkerts. As the National Archives website explains:

"On 5 August 1914, the Aliens Restriction Act was quickly passed by parliament the day after war was declared on Germany requiring foreign nationals (aliens) to register with the police, and where necessary they could be interned or deported. This act was chiefly aimed at German nationals and later other enemy aliens living in the United Kingdom, but the legislation and subsequent orders-in-council affected all foreign nationals in this country.

Men of military age who were categorised as enemy aliens were arrested and interned, although for the most part this was done peacefully and men reported to temporary holding camps while more permanent internment camps were set up. Few records of individual enemy aliens have survived....With the coming of peace, restrictions on aliens were not removed but continued and extended by the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act 1919."

The Dekkerts movements during the war years are unclear but they did eventually return to Germany, settling in Bavaria. In August 1922 their belongings in Scotland including furniture, paintings, frames, easels, etc were sold off (see notice from the Scotsman newspaper below). Eugen re-established links with his native city of Szczecin, joining artistic and museum associations there. The Stadt Museum Stettin awarded him an atelier in their building at Hakenterrasse (now Wały Chrobrego), which he used for several seasons in 1920s and 1930s. Fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the neighbouring waterway, he captured the changeable weather and varied scenes of the Oder River. 

Today his work has permanent exhibition space at the Szczecin History Museum. Many of his works, collected by The National Museum in Szczecin can be seen there, including views of his home city. During his career, Dekkert painted in Italy, France and The Netherlands. As well as St Monans, he exhibited his works in Glasgow, Munich, Dresden and Berlin. Examples of his work were purchased by museums in several different countries. On Eugen Dekkert's 70th birthday in 1935, the City Museum in his home city held a jubilee exhibition. It was one of the painter's last visits to Szczecin. He died in 1956 in alpine Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

In addition to the Largo War Memorial which stands at the crossroads at the top of Harbour Wynd, there are beautiful memorial plaques within Largo Kirk to those who lost their lives in the two world wars. Like the main stone memorial, the memorial plaques took some time to discuss, design and raise funds for. Both memorials reach their centenary this year, as both were first unveiled in 1921, bearing the names of those lost in the First World War. The main war memorial was unveiled in June (see photograph below) and the plaque in the Kirk (shown above) in December.

Designer of the First World War plaque, William Walker, died suddenly on 7 February 1923, aged 39, from heart failure. Born in Cupar in 1883, son of a wine merchant there, Walker served his apprenticeship as an architect at the offices of Gillespie and Scott in St Andrews. He then formed a partnership with Andrew Haxton and set up an office in Leven, at 3 High Street. When the war came along, Walker mobilised with the Highland Cyclists' Battalion. He was stationed at Lundin Links and at Cupar prior to being sent to India. He rose to the rank of Captain but was eventually invalided home. Upon demobilisation, Walker set up his own office in St Andrews and was admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects (F.R.I.B.A.). As well as the Largo Kirk memorial, Walker designed war memorials at Dairsie Parish Church and Pittenweem Public School.
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