The "Mars" training ship was part of the landscape of the Tay for sixty years from 1869 until 1929. Serving as a training place for boys, sent there to remove them from circumstances of poverty and/or crime, with the intention that they would learn new skills, equipping them for a better life - potentially in the navy. The Mars had been built in 1848 at Chatham and had served in the Crimean war. But twenty years on it had become outdated and so had been relegated to the reserve fleet. 

In fact it was exactly 150 years ago this week (May 1869) that orders were given for the 'Mars' to be brought forward from the reserve at Sheerness as a training ship for boys. There were already a number of other training ships dotted around the country at the time and Dundee was selected as the location for this latest addition. Following a two month refit, the Mars arrived in Dundee in August of 1869 to much anticipation. It could accommodate 400 boys.

The daily routine on board involved being awoken by a bugle call at 5 am in summer (6 am in winter), before stowing away the hammocks and assembling on deck for prayers. Then a wash in cold water followed by an hour of deck scrubbing before breakfast. An inspection took place before the boys dispersed to either a schoolroom or workshop for the day - with a break for dinner at 1pm and then for tea at 5pm. At 6:30pm there was time for such activities as reading, swimming, football, boxing or draughts. Supper was served before bed at 8:45pm. Skills such as carpentry, metalworking, blacksmithing, shoe making, tailoring, rope making and sail making were taught on board.

Boys from all over Fife, other areas of Scotland and further afield spent time on the Mars. Above is the case of two brothers from Lundin Links who were sent there for theft (Dundee Courier 20 Jan 1915 and Dundee Evening Telegraph 19 Jan 1915). While running messages around the village, the boys - who resided at Paradise Place - had stolen various items including clothing, household linen, shaving equipment, hens and game, and a bicycle. At the time George Dewar was aged just eleven (James presumably either slightly older or younger). They were to stay on the Mars until they turned 16.

Another local case, three years later saw a 12-year-old Leven boy sent to the Mars after taking 16 golf balls from the golf club house at Lundin Links. This offence, together with his previous convictions, saw him also being sent there until he reached the age of sixteen. His three friends were let off much more lightly. 
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For many years, the Mars boys spent a month in the summer at Elie, staying in the granary building.  More on that here:

http://www.eliehistory.com/explore/mars-training-ship-elie-gordon-douglas/

On at least one occasion, they made it to Largo. The Dundee Courier 16 August 1895 reports that Mars Training Ship Band played at the Largo Flower Show, in the grounds of Largo House. ​Music was a big part of life on the Mars and competition to get into the band was fierce. Performances were given all over Scotland. When the Mars reached the end of its life in 1929, before it was taken to Inverkeithing to be broken up, an auction was held to dispose of various stock and equipment. Many of the brass band instruments were purchased for use on HMS Unicorn and some are still in use to this day. 
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A model of the Mars is on display at the McManus Galleries in Dundee along with other memorabilia.
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For more about the Mars Training Ship see "We'll Send Ye Tae the Mars" by Gordon Douglas (2008) and "The Mars Training Ship" by Linda McGill (1996). Also the website 'Sons of the Mars: ​http://www.sonsofthemars.com/

Comely Bank is situated directly opposite Largo St David's Church on Main Street, Lower Largo. It is shown above from the beach (to the left of the church). It was under construction at the time of the 1881 census as it was recorded as '1B' (i.e. house being built) next door to Balfour Cottage (the lower height house to the right of the church in the top image above). The builder appears to have been Andrew Masterton who was involved in the construction of several properties around that time. 

By the time of the 1891 census, the head of the household at Comely Bank was John Watson. He had been made a widower earlier that same year when his wife Magdalene (nee Simpson) had died aged 40 of tuberculosis. John was living in the house with his nine children, ranging between the ages of 2 and 17. However, the family did not stay much longer and by 1895 Miss Ann Jeffrey Smythe was tenant at Comely Bank. The Watsons moved to Edinburgh.
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In 1900 Comely Bank was advertised for sale (see 12 May Scotsman above) and it was purchased for £508 by Mr Jenkins of Stirling 'for clients'. The clients were the trustees of "The Stirling Children's Home" - a home founded by Annie Knight Croall (1854-1927) (pictured) in Stirling, which was looking to establish a branch home by the sea. The Children's Home was officially opened by Sir John Gilmour of Montrave on 17 May 1901. The institution was "intended to serve as a convalescent retreat and a place where boys trained in Whinwell - the Home in Stirling - can finish their education and be prepared for their life battle in the world." (18 May Dundee Evening Telegraph). The opening ceremony was held in the U.F. Church and had a large attendance including General Briggs of Strathairly, Colonel Anstruther Thomson of Charleton, Rev. Atkinson of the U.F. Church and Rev. Pulford of the Largo Baptist Church. Musical entertainment was provided by the children and a tour of the home was given.


By this time, Miss Croall had already had twenty five years experience of running the Stirling Children's Home. Her work with neglected or orphaned children began when she had found a baby on a back street, left by its mother who had gone into town for a drink and had been arrested while there. The children that stayed at Comely Bank attended Kirkton School in Upper Largo - some of them are shown listed in the admissions book excerpt below. Miss Croall's homes were dependent upon voluntary subscriptions for support. Covering costs was an ongoing challenge. When Miss Croall wrote her memoirs, these were entitled "Fifty Years on a Scottish Battlefield", referencing the struggle to get her home going, keep it going and secure adequate funding. 

The 'Branch Home' at Largo ran until around 1910. Comely Bank was 'unoccupied' in the 1911 census and by 1914 the advert below appeared in the Scotsman newspaper. The house was eventually bought by Margaret Davie who set up a shop and ran it from Comely Bank for many years.

Meanwhile, the main children's home in Stirling continued. In 1917 Annie wrote to the Stirling Observer newspaper (17 July) that, of the individuals that had come to her as babies over the decades, sixteen were "now young men fighting for their King and country; over 100 are married in good comfortable homes with babies of their own; over 100 are in good service, some of them in splendid positions". Annie died on 1 June 1927 at Whinwell House, aged 72 - she was described as 'Superintendent - Children's Home' at the time of her death. The Stirling Children's Home continued to be run by a board of trustees until 1980 when responsibilities were transferred to the Aberlour Childcare Trust.
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Kirkton of Largo Primary School's present building was completed in 1879 replacing the former school (later Scout Hall) further down North Feus in Upper Largo. A comparison of the building as it looks in the present day with old architect drawings downloaded from Canmore (the national record of the historic environment), shows that the school has lost many of its original ornate features including the steeple, chimneys and the barge boarding on the roof apexes. The drawings are dated to the time of the 1910 additions and alterations by Haxton and Watson of 5 High Street in Leven but reflect the original 1878 design by John Melvin & Son of Alloa. The floor plan below shows the separate girls and boys entrances at the front and some detail on the classroom layouts and other facilities.

The building of this school was preceded by years of debate and controversy. A summary of the saga was published in the 15 November 1877 Fife Herald under the headline "An Irrepressible School Board". Pointing out that "school board squabblings" had once been more common but had "long since settled down", aside from "one board which has not yet given up the ghost on contention".  The piece continues:

"During the weary four years of its existence it has been going from bad to worse...In the Largo School Board, which has been the scene of so many wordy warfares, the great topic of contention has been the propriety of erecting a new school or enlarging the old school at Kirkton. With singular variableness the Board, or rather a section, has oscillated from one proposition to the other."

The Education (Scotland) Act of 1872 had made primary education mandatory. This triggered the creation of 1,000 regional school boards and led to the need to increase many a school's capacity. Kirkton School had an average attendance of around 90 pupils around 1874. An early idea was to build a new classroom at the back of the existing school. This suggestion was met with objection from the then teacher who said this plan "broke up and destroyed his garden"! 

A counter proposal of building out at the front of the school was also deemed unacceptable (and led to the board member who suggested it retiring in disgust). It was then resolved to lower the floor (in order to effectively heighten the roof). Some outlay was incurred to do this work but not long afterwards it was concluded that a new school was needed after all. Ratepayers protested at this and much debate ensued about a suitable location. The site eventually chosen next to the cemetery was deemed by many to be "unhealthy".

Other newspaper reports on the proceedings of the Largo School Board around this time talk of "hot words", walk outs and "disgraceful conduct". The Fife Herald piece concludes that "there must be a screw loose somewhere when in a company of representative parishioners things have come to such a pass."

Eventually the new school was built and its first head teacher was Thomas Nicoll who remained in post for 35 years bringing welcome stability. His successor David Low Pye was head teacher for over twenty years. Below is a little snippet from the school's history, telling of a scheme to provide lunch to school pupils in 1896 (21 November St Andrews Citizen). The idea of vegetables from the Largo House gardens being made into soup by a lady that lived in North Feus and given to the Kirkton pupils is a lovely one - local food supplies being put to good use with no 'food miles' or packaging involved.
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The above photograph shows the 42nd Fife (1st Largo) Scout Group circa 1960 in the Scout Hall on North Feus, Upper Largo. All sections of the Group are included in the picture (Cubs, Scouts and Rovers) as well as leaders. According to the 'Largo Village Book' by Leonora Rintoul (1932):

"In the early days of the Boy Scout movement, a troop was formed in Largo, and went on very successfully for a considerable number of years.  In the Great War it was found impossible to get a Scout Master and so the troop was allowed to lapse.  With the return of peace it was revived, and is now a flourishing body under the leadership of Scoutmaster Kay."

The origins of the Scouting movement as a whole can be traced back to 1907, when Robert Baden Powell held a camp on Brownsea Island in Dorset to test out some of the ideas in his 'Scouting for Boys' book. The book was originally intended to be a training aid for existing organisations but it quickly became the handbook of a new movement. Scout patrols were rapidly set up all over the country. A patrol was formed in Leven late in 1908 (see 5 December St Andrews Citizen article below). 
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When Baden-Powell formally set up the Boy Scouts Association in 1910 it had over 100,000 participants. In March 1910 there were 650 Boy Scouts on the register of the Fife Association and the number was expected to double within twelve months (26 March 1910 St Andrews Citizen). A key figure in the beginning of Scouting in Largo was Major George James Lumsden who lived at Aithernie House (now the Old Manor Hotel). In his obituary (Fife Herald 23 Sept 1953), following his death aged 88 at Cupar, stated that "while resident at Lundin Links, Major Lumsden began a long connection with the Boy Scout movement that culminated in his receiving in 1938 the highest honour the Scouts can bestow, that of Silver Wolf. He was chairman in 1910 of the committee that formed the first troop of Scouts [there]." 
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As well as having its own troop, Largo became a popular place for Scout troops from other areas to come and visit and to set up camp. However, when the First World War came, not only did Largo Scouts go into abeyance but all scout camps were prohibited throughout Fife (12 June 1915 Fife Advertiser).

Despite stories in the early part of the war of Scouts assisting the Coast Guard in watching the coast, collecting money for various war funds and acting as test patients for the Red Cross, the regular troop meetings couldn't continue with leaders absent. However, Largo Scouts were re-established after the war ended and by the 1920s the newspapers ran stories of the their activities including running cake and candy stalls, celebrating Burns Night, giving concerts and of course taking part in Remembrance services. An innovative "comic dog show" was held in 1930 at Durham Hall. Local dogs such as 'Paddy', 'Rover' and 'Spotty' competed in categories such as 'most handsome dog', 'dog with the longest tail' and 'dog with the most "soulful eyes"'!  In 1935 the older Scouts set the bonfire on Largo Law that was part of a chain of beacons to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George V. The Sale of Work advertised below dates to August 1950 (Fifeshire Advertiser).

The Largo Scouts base was the old schoolroom on the east side of North Feus, Upper Largo. The school had moved to new premises further up the same street in 1879 (where it remains to this day). The old school had been taken over by the Largo Field Naturalists' Society (established 1863) soon after the school's relocation, as a base for the society and to house their museum. When the Montrave Hall was opened in Lundin Links in 1910, the Society moved their museum to an annex there. The Field Naturalists continued to own the North Feus hall but let this to the Largo Scouts for many decades.

Below is the programme from a 1962 Scout fund-raising show called "Laughter United". Many of the boys pictured in the photograph at the beginning of this post likely took part. Perhaps you remember this show or other Scout events over the years?  If so, please comment. 

The 'Pier Pavilion' on Largo Pier changed in appearance over the years, as the selection of images above shows. The temporary and portable nature of the structures plus exposure to the salty air would mean frequent repairs and a limited lifespan. The 'pavilion' with its stage was accompanied by a fenced off section containing seating. An early reference to the Pier Pavilion exists in the 9 January 1913 'The Stage' newspaper, which said:

"Wanted to Let; very reasonable terms to really First-Class Concert party or Attractive Entertainment - Largo Pier Pavilion. Tip-up stalls, stage and scenery. From Easter to end of June. Only tip-top show would be entertained."

The 'tip-up stalls' were later replaced with benches and (more pricey) deck chairs. While a charge would be made for a seated view of the performance, those trying to watch from outside the fencing would not escape the notice of the company - members of which would pass around the crowds with collection tins. The 22 June 1929 Fife Free Press snippet below gives a flavour of the popularity of the venue in the 1920s.

Owned by the Pier Committee by the 1920s, the pavilion could be rented for the season (see example adverts below from The Stage for the 1927, 1928 and 1934 seasons respectively).
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While 'The Rigmaroles' enjoyed a twelve week run on the pier in 1927, one of the most regular performing companies was led by Tom O'Reilly. In 1925, 'O'Reilly's Vaudevillian Orchestra' were in residence at Largo. By 1929 they were still around but known as 'O'Reilly's Hammer and Tongs' (see piece below from 29 August 1929 The Stage). The company provided a ventriloquist act, comedy, songs, sketches, dancing and various musical items featuring a range of instruments. Further below, is a notice from The Stage on 11 September 1935 where the retitled  'O'Reilly's Serenaders' were performing for a sixth season.

By 1936 there was debate over the future of the pier pavilion and its alfresco shows. As the feature below from the 25 July Fife Free Press indicates, many would have wanted to preserve this traditional form of entertainment. But the unreliable weather, changing fashions and lack of profitability were beginning to work against it. The option to hold more events in La Scala was proving to be popular. The pavilion's days were numbered.

On 24 Dec 1937, the Dundee Courier ran the advert below when one of the structures was put up for sale along with a quantity of deck chairs. However, perhaps a sale was not secured as the pavilion was still mentioned in the 1938 season, including a performance by the local silver band. The era of the Pier Pavilion came to an end early during the Second World War when the Pier Committee was dissolved. 
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​As a follow-up to the previous post - above is a 1969 view across Largo Harbour with the disused station in the background. This image has been converted from a slide and the magnified view below shows the station in more detail. The station master's house is visible above the viaduct arch to the left of the tree. The bridge over the railway line remains in place. The station buildings still appear to be in reasonable condition from this distance but the track area seems quite overgrown with vegetation.

Another point of interest in the detail below is the bright red World War Two sea mine positioned in front of the Crusoe Hotel, tucked in next to the 1888 harbour toilet facility. These mines were reconditioned into charity collection boxes to support the dependants of those lost at sea, as well as sick, disabled or retired fishermen and mariners. These were found in many a coastal town or village. Some displayed the message "I am a real sea mine. Instead of destroying seamen, I want to help them". Does anyone know when this one was removed from the harbour area?

The location of the remaining sea mines around the UK can be seen on the shipwrecked mariners' society website.  The closest one appears to be at St Monans. For another glimpse of the old Lower Largo one, see about 23 seconds into the following home movie clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MDMfqXcpus

The six-part BBC Scotland drama series 'Tutti Frutti' (which follows the fortunes of rock and roll band 'The Majestics') is currently being shown again on TV. Many will know that Episode Two of the series was partly filmed in the Lundin Links Hotel in the summer of 1986. The above photo shows cast members Stuart McGugan, Harriet Buchan, Maurice Roeves and Jake D'Arcy taking a break outside the front entrance of the hotel. First broadcast on 3rd March 1987, the series also starred Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Richard Wilson, Katy Murphy, Ron Donachie and Fiona Chalmers.

​​Below are a couple of stills from the second episode, 'On the Road Again', showing 'Vincent' at the hotel foyer and staircase. Alongside these stills are two promotional shots of the hotel for comparison. Note that, for the purposes of the show, the foyer was made smaller by boxing in the area to the left where the ornate pillar is. Presumably the hotel had to be made a bit less elegant to be in-keeping with band's budget.
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The images below show some of the cast in the 'lounge', off to the right of the entrance hall. This room was opposite the reception/office (see floor plan at the foot of this post). Robbie Coltrane's character famously wore a silver lurex suit in this episode - ready for the band's performance at Denbeath Miner's Welfare Institute. Incidentally, Coltrane was no stranger to the area, as his mum lived in Largoward.

The series, written by John Byrne, won six BAFTAs in 1988. In 2006, Byrne re-wrote it as a stage play. Finally, after years of music licensing issues which prevented its re-screening on television, the series is being rerun on BBC Scotland - catch it quick on iPlayer. ​Episode 1 is due to drop off iPlayer in a matter of days, although the series is also available on DVD.

Back in the Summer of 1970, a 'Grand Opening' took place of a new enterprise on Emsdorf Street in Lundin Links. The Yellow Carvel offered food and dancing in what had formerly been La Scala cinema. Named after Admiral Sir Andrew Wood's ship, the opening was reported in the East Fife Mail as follows:

"A new entertainment centre for all age groups opened last week in Lundin Links. The 'Yellow Carvel', the brainchild of Mr Ian Addison, was launched with a buffet dance on Friday. Mr Addison has converted what was the La Scala cinema into a centre which will provide entertainment ranging from the latest on the pop scene to folk singing and a village hop. It will be open Tuesday to Saturday inclusive with a different programme each evening and during the day it will be open for coffee and other refreshments."

Mr Addison felt there was a need in the community for such a venue as there was little for locals or visitors to do. Tom Clayton the former La Scala owner, who had a wealth of experience on providing entertainment locally, had been helpful during the preparation for the opening of the Yellow Carvel. The venue's original weekly programme was a discotheque two nights a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays), dancing to "Fierce" on Tuesdays, folk singing on Thursdays and a village hop on Fridays. Timings and prices are shown in the advert below.

The opening buffet dance attracted more than 200 guests. However, the 'Yellow Carvel' name continued only until 1972, when it was rebranded as 'Seaway'. Below are a range of adverts for 'Seaway' from the mid 1970s. Note the wide range of live acts that performed there. Hogmanay 1975 saw the well-known jazz musician Chris Barber perform with his band. 

Finally, the architect drawing further below, dating from 1981, shows the front of the building annotated with proposed alterations. Soon afterwards, another re-branding of the venue took place, when it became the 'Admiral's Bell'. 

Following on from the previous post about La Scala cinema, above and below is another example of the programme produced to advertise the month's film screenings. This example was one of (if not the) last ones produced, as the cinema officially closed in November 1968 when owner Thomas Clayton retired. 
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Although the 'screen went blank' in November of 1968, that was not quite the end of the story for La Scala. The local children had become accustomed to an annual treat of a free film show under the auspices of the children's gala day committee. So, on 11 January 1969, just weeks after the official closure, the children had their film showing as usual when Tom Clayton opened the cinema again for this special show. The kind gesture was much appreciated by the children of the Largo villages. As the clipping from the East Fife Mail below states, the special show was a double-bill of "The Gnome-mobile" and "The Million Dollar Collar". The following week's paper reported that a full-house of 330 children and nearly 40 adults attended.
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​La Scala cinema was a feature of Emsdorf Street in Lundin Links from 1920 until 1968. The programme shown above and below dates to the final months of the picture house, which closed in November 1968. The front cover above indicates that the cinema was open every day except Sunday at that time and that there was only one showing at 7pm. However, if it was raining, continuous screenings would begin from 6pm (as people would be looking for something to do if they couldn't be on the beach, playing sports, etc). 

Below is the centrefold and the back cover, giving full details of all the films showing from the end of July until the start of September. This included the 1966 'Batman' movie featuring Adam West and 1967's 'Barefoot in the Park' with Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. Did you see any of these films at La Scala?  If so - please add a comment.

As well as showing films, La Scala hosted a wide range of events. Some early examples from the 1920s and 1930s are shown in the newspaper clippings below. One of these clippings mentions the Motor Club Dance - one of the attendees of that event became part of a news story, dating from 2 March 1929 in the Fife Free Press. One man travelled from Dysart to La Scala by car but unknown to him, two young, daredevil Dysart lads had hitched a ride on the back of his vehicle by clinging onto the spare tyre...

"The lads had apparently intended to jump off before the car left the town, but the exhilaration of the surreptitious ride, like stolen fruits, seemed too good to miss, and so they hung on and hung on until not to hang on would have resulted, at the best, in serious injury. Thus was a pleasure trip turned into a grim and hazardous enterprise. Along the undulating Standin' Stane Road, through Windygates, past the top of Leven, up Scoonie Brae, and thence along the Leven-Largo highway sped the car at a speed which often touched fifty miles per hour. Nine miles, an icy cold wind, the wheels of the car churning up slush and snow, and the young lads clinging onto the back like leeches!"

Eventually upon arriving at Lundin Links, the driver of the car went into the dance - still unaware of the stowaways. Around ten o'clock a local lady noticed the lads sitting on the step of the car, shivering and splattered with mud. The boys told of their experience and explained that they were waiting in the hope of a ride back. The owner of the car was informed and "more in sorrow for the plight of the boys than in anger at the foolhardy thing they had done, he put them into a passing Kirkcaldy-bound bus and paid their fare home."
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In the next post - another cinema programme from the final days of La Scala.
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