David Baldie (pictured above as featured in 22 October 1960 Fife Free Press) was born in Woodside on 15 December 1881 to coal miner William Baldie and his wife Martha Hamilton. David was named after his paternal grandfather, David Baldie (who came to Woodside when it was a newly built settlement and is recorded there in the 1841 census as a 30-year-old coal miner). In 1841 the immediate neighbour of the Baldie family was James Black and family, including a 2-year-old Robert Black, who would go on to be Chair of Largo Parish Council.

Young David attended New Gilston Primary School until 1893, when the family relocated to Kettlebridge for a few months. When they returned to Largo Parish later the same year, he started at Largo Primary School. However by the 1901 census, the Baldie family had moved to the neighbouring Parish of Scoonie, where they lived on Waggon Road, in a cottage they named 'Woodside Cottage'. William was engaged as a coal carter and he placed the notice below in the 5 December 1901 Leven Advertiser to advertise his services. A 19-year-old David was working as a coal miner hewer, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather before him. This occupation, however, was short-lived and in 1905 David joined the police.
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When David joined Kirkcaldy Burgh Police, the force was only 36 strong. Quickly making his mark, David was promoted to sergeant after six years, becoming the youngest person to hold the rank. In December 1912 he married Wilhelmina McKinnon at his parents home, Woodside Cottage, in Leven. The couple had their first child, William, in Kirkcaldy the following year. During the First World War, David was in charge of the "aliens and suspected persons department" at Kirkcaldy - receiving a commendation from the Home Department for his work. Promotion to the rank of inspector followed in 1925 and a year later was appointed Deputy Chief Constable.

In February 1933 David Baldie became Chief Constable of Kirkcaldy Burgh Police. He continued in that role until his retirement in May 1949, just before the merger of Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Fife Country Police Forces. During the 16 years of his leadership, the force grew to become 64 strong. Notably, he oversaw the development of the fingerprinting and photographic department during his tenure. During those years, Baldie also held the role of President of the Chief Constables (Scotland) Association and represented the Scottish Chief Constables at the coronation of King George VI in 1937. 
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In 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, David was awarded the O.B.E. for his services - the burgh's first official to receive this award. The photo below from the front page of the 14 July 1939 Dundee Evening Telegraph shows him at the King's investiture at St James's Palace. ​Wartime brought increased responsibilities, with David becoming A.R.P. Controller for Kirkcaldy. The Burgh Police Force was augmented by 200 Special Constables during the Second World War. One of David's own daughters served under her father as a member of the Women's Auxiliary Police Force. In June 1948, David was awarded the King's Police Medal in the Birthday Honours List. A few weeks later he was presented to the King and Queen on their tour of Fife.
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In May 1949, David retired from the police after 44 years service, and on the eve of the merger of Fife's Police Forces. Pictured above in the 11 May Dundee Courier, he described his career as "a wonderful adventure" and that he "would not hesitate to go through it again". Following his retirement David became a member of Kirkcaldy Town Council - serving on many of its committees. For many years he was secretary and treasurer of the local branch of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He also had a long association with the St Andrew's and Red Cross Scottish Ambulance Service. He served on the Board of Management of the Kirkcaldy Y.M.C.A., was a long-time elder of the Victoria Road Church, a past president of Kirkcaldy Rotary Club and a member of Kirkcaldy Bowling Club.
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The previous post covered the life of Robert Black - a native of Woodside who became Chair of Largo Parish Council and Inspector of the Poor for the Parish. Indeed it was Robert Black who, towards the end of his life, cut "the barricade of red, white and blue ribbon" with "a pair of silver scissors" to allow the first cars to pass over the new bridge linking Drummochy to Lower Largo on Saturday 3 October 1914. Many years in contemplation, the long-desired bridge was composed of steel girders and troughing and parapet railing, with concrete wing walls. It came at a cost of £1,455, 8s and 5d.

The commemorative photograph above was captured by keen amateur photographer, Robert Paxton of Homelands. It shows the first of the three cars that crossed the new bridge as part of the opening ceremony. This car, registration SP 708, bedecked in flowers, belonged to Lower Largo's Walter Horne. Another of the cars belonged to Upper Largo's Thomas Wishart. The cars carried members of the Largo Parish Council, the engineers and the bridge contractors. A profusion of flags and bunting surrounded around the bridge. The buildings in the background from left to right are The Railway Inn (light-coloured gable end), Alexandra House (centre), Beach House (3-storey terrace with dormer windows and many chimneys) and the Crusoe Hotel (extreme right). Robert Black and his wife Eliza could well be among the crowd. Are you able to identify any of the faces shown below? 
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​Having been presented with a pair of silver scissors by Walter Horne, Robert Black declared the bridge open "in the name of the Parish Council" and expressed "the hope that it would fulfil all their expectations and be of advantage to all and disadvantage to none". As the ribbon was cut, there was "a great scramble on the part of the spectators to secure a piece as a remembrance of the occasion". The 8 October Leven Advertiser ran a lengthy article describing the occasion. A large crowd raised loud cheers "as the first gaily decorated motor car sped across the bridge". 

After the official party crossed the bridge in the cars, they, and a few select others, made their way to the recently completed Victoria Hotel for a "daintily cooked and perfectly served dinner" supplied by Miss Brown. Toasts were made, including one to Messrs Bruce and Proudfoot of Cupar and Kirkcaldy, the civil engineers. The building contractor for the bridge project had been Mr Henderson of Markinch. The Motherwell Bridge Company was also acknowledged, having supplied specialist materials. The engineers and contractors presented Robert Black with a silver tray and Walter Horne with a silver cigar case, in recognition of their co-operation as members of the Parish Council. After completion of the toasts, speeches, and presentations the national anthem was sung.

The pair of maps below compares the harbour area before and after the building of the road bridge. Close inspection shows that the corners of a couple of gardens had to be clipped to enable smooth entrance to and exit from the bridge for vehicles. One of those who gave up a portion of their garden was Dr Selkirk, owner of Alexandra House (which had a large rectangular front garden in the older map). 
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As we pause to remember those named on Largo War Memorial - notice the new addition to the memorial site this year. The photograph above was taken earlier this year, soon after the weekend of events remembering the Polish soldiers in Fife under General Stanisław Sosabowski. Three floral wreaths in red and white can be seen at the base of the memorial and the Polish flag is flying behind it. A new commemorative plaque was unveiled to the right hand side of the memorial, shown in detail below, which reads:

"In memory of Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade headquartered in Largo House and the Polish soldiers assigned to defend Fife during the Second World War who all fought as part of the Allied forces."

In his memoir Freely I served, Sosabowski states that in 1941 "I made up my mind to form a Polish Parachute Brigade. I was all alone in my office on the second floor of the Leven YMCA; a small coal fire burning in an iron grate spread a meagre warmth through the stolid bare office. It was afternoon and everyone was out training, and I had several hours in which to pace the room and make plans". Sosabowski chose Largo House as the official training centre.

The 23-25 August 2024 programme of events marked the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem where many of the Parachute Brigade eventually fought. Events at Largo comprised a wreath laying at the War Memorial, candle-lighting at the graves of Sosabowski's soldiers at Largo cemetery and a ceilidh at the Simpson Institute. Other events included a ceremony at the cliffs on Kincraig Point, a march along the General Sosabowski Way (a route that runs through places closely associated with the presence of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade in Fife during World War II), a cross-country run, a series of historical lectures and a service at Falkland Palace. A video showing highlights from the weekend of events can be viewed here.

Pictured above is Stina, a two-masted 100-ton steel and timber schooner built by Bodewes at Martenshoek in the Netherlands in 1902. Incredibly, this vessel still sails the seas today and her story is a remarkable one. Stina was originally a sail-powered cargo ship, designed to carry heavy loads across the North Sea. She was described in the book 'Coastwise Sail' by John Anderson as "a very handy type of shallow draught coaster". Her visit to Largo took place very soon after her construction and certainly before 1905. A clue to what Stina may have been doing in Largo can be seen in the newspaper snippet below (30 May 1903 Edinburgh Evening News) when she arrived at Burntisland with a load of oil cake.

At this time there was an oil cake mill at Burntisland, owned by David Russell of Silverburn. Russell also owned the Largo Oil and Cake Mill (pictured further below). This former flax spinning mill had been modified around 1860 by Russell so that box presses could be used to extract oil from linseed, cottonseed, rapeseed, etc. The leftover material was then turned into 'cakes' (e.g. linseed cake and cotton cake) which could be used as animal feed). Some years later, David Russell acquired the old sugar mill at Burntisland and converted it for similar purposes. 
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In 1905 the Stina (a female forename popular in the Nordic countries) was sold and renamed Adolf. She traded across the Baltic and North seas under the German flag until the outbreak of World War One. During this conflict she was taken as a prize of war by the British Navy and turned into a Q-ship - in other words a decoy ship intended to lure enemy submarines into making surface attacks. Q-ships had concealed weaponry which could then be used to open fire. Such vessels formed a fleet to sail in front of the Merchant Fleet to protect them from being torpedoed.

Around 1922, the vessel was sold to Dalbeattie-based shipping company John Carswell and Sons. There in the Solway Firth, she had a paraffin engine fitted and was given the name Solway Lass. For years she transported all sorts of general cargoes across the Irish Sea, often calling at Liverpool. One typical cargo example was maize brought into the Solway Firth to be processed for use as animal feed. ​Carswell sold her in 1935 to Kristian Andersen, a Swede who had settled in Portmadoc in Wales.

Shortly after this sad incident, Andersen's widow sold Solway Lass to Peter Pedersen of Lemvig, Denmark. She was renamed Bent - a male forename of Danish origin which means 'blessed'. From there she once again carried cargo across the Baltic and North Seas. The Second World War interrupted her trading exploits. Some stories report that she was seized by the Germans, who then used her a supply ship. Her troubles continued beyond the end of the war. The book 'Coastwise Sail' states that "in 1946 she was struck by two mines and had to be beached in a sinking condition but was salved and repaired".

Around 1949 she was given yet another new name - Sundeved - and carried cargo for a Danish Shipping Company. Sundeved is an area on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in South Denmark. After a couple of decades, in late 1971, Dane Leif Brochmann took Sundeved on a voyage from Dover to Fiji, via Barbados, the Panama Canal and Tahiti. The vessel then remained in Fiji for many years, where she was rechristened Lawendua. She traded between the Fijian Islands and at some point appears to have been given another new name - Tui Na Savusavu.

In 1983, Sydney businessman Tim Lloyd found her in Fiji in a rundown state but still being used to transport cargo. He bought her, took her to Sydney, restored the name Solway Lass and embarked upon a full refit. During this lengthy and costly process, her cargo hold was fitted out in teak as a large dining room to seat 60. Below is an image of the refit which appeared in the 26 June 1986 Galloway News. Once restored, Solway Lass operated out of Sydney Harbour and was quite the tourist attraction as an historic tall ship. 

In a proud moment, in 1988, Solway Lass took part in Australia's bicentennial celebrations, participating in the First Fleet re-enactment. Several tall ships were chosen to follow part of the route of the First Fleet which sailed from Portsmouth in May 1787, arriving in Sydney in January 1788. The 18th century fleet of eleven ships carried around 1400 colonists, including 759 convicts, who founded modern Australia. The original route went from Portsmouth, via Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town. Solway Lass followed the last part of the route from Botany Bay to Sydney. The image of Solway Lass below appeared in the brochure for the event and was reproduced in the 9 January 1986 Galloway News.
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Having survived two world wars, almost becoming a wreck twice and having given many decades hard service around the globe (not to mention many name changes) the warm, calm waters of the Whitsundays seem a most fitting place for Solway Lass to enjoy her old age. Recent images of her are shown above (from Wikipedia) and below (from John Downie). Having celebrated her centenary in 2002, and had another major refit in 2018, she continues to be an important and iconic ship. ​Her present life is certainly a world away from carrying oil cakes along the Fife coast.

Football had been played in Fife for some time before the game was formalised with the foundation of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in 1873. Above is the description of a chaotic sounding match played in 1845 in Cupar, where twelve writers took on twelve tradesmen (Fife Herald 13 March). As the popularity of football accelerated among the general population, the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) was formed (in 1886). The word 'junior' indicated the grade of football played rather than the age of the players. The term 'juvenile' was used for young players aged under 21 years.

The top tier Scottish Football League began in 1890 and over the years that followed football flourished at all levels, senior, junior and juvenile. Numerous teams were established, including many in Fife. An East Fife Football Association was set up in the early 1890s for junior clubs, with a 'juvenile' section added in 1895. Around the same year Largo had formed its own juvenile team, named Largo Crusoe. For many years, 'The Crusoe' flourished, competing in various cup competitions as well as local leagues. They played their home matches in Lundin Links, specifically at the ground which was then referred to as Homelands Park but is now known as The Common.

The match report above from 6 March 1896 East of Fife Record tells of a game against the L. and C. (Largoward and Colinsburgh). This report lists the Largo players' names and includes some familiar surnames such as Horne, Ballingall, Kidd, Clunie, Simpson and Gillies. Such names suggest much of the team were drawn from families with fishing connections - perhaps the reason for the team taking the Crusoe name (in a nod to their sea-faring heritage). 

In 1897, the new season kicked off with the Largo men taking to the field in an opening match against Kilrenny F.C. - a team that called themselves the ”K.Y. team”. A good game was anticipated, as the opponents were chiefly employees of Cellardyke boot factory and hailed from Dundee. Nevertheless, the K.Y. "could not withstand the rushes of the Crusoe and retired defeated 7 goals to 4. The Crusoe were aided by Kennedy, Leven, who did some smart work centre-forward". Alexander Kidd the Largo Crusoe Club Secretary suggested that those interested in spectating "should lose no time in writing for dates". Above are the type of football shirts that players back then might have worn (from an 1897 catalogue).
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In 1897 a short history of the first 11 years of the SJFA was published. This included professional photographs of 98 of 170 clubs with membership of the association. This included the St Andrews-based Ancient City Athletic - featuring John Ripley (2nd from left in the back row) who went on to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915 and is buried at Largo Cemetery. Also included was neighbouring team Leven Thistle. If you have or have ever seen a photograph of the Largo Crusoe Football Club from any stage in their existence, please get in touch. If you know what their team colours were, or have any other information about them, please comment.

Players Horne and Thomson (mentioned in the 1896 match report against the L. and C. above) must have been Largo Crusoe's star players. Both were chosen in 1898 for the East Fife Association select team to play against Edinburgh Association. The same year, both Andrew Horne and Thomas Thomson moved from juvenile to junior level to play for Leven Thistle (the year after the photo of the team above was taken). Horne in particular distinguished himself at Leven Thistle, which led to further moves - first to Buckhaven and then to Cowdenbeath to play at senior level in the Northern League.
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Unsurprisingly, the Largo Crusoe team went into abeyance during the First World War. The local team re-emerged in the 1920s under the new name of Largo Rovers, who were later rebadged as Largo Thistle. The Second World War interrupted play once again, with Largo Villa being the team name thereafter. More on the exploits of those later teams another time.
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The previous posts have covered the life of former Lower Largo resident John Letham (from whom Leven's Letham Glen takes its name) and the days when Letham Glen was known as Spinkie Den (or more officially Sillerhole Den). The renamed Letham Glen dates back to 1925, when Leven Town Council took over the glen and changed its name. The date on the stone arched entrance shown above displays the date 1925 although the arch itself was not constructed until 1930 (see Dundee Evening Telegraph above). The new entrance gates were part of the Town Council's gradual enhancements over the years. Features such as this, and bridges over the burn, like as the one pictured below, were added when budget allowed.

The first Rose Queen was crowned at Letham Glen in 1938, in a new element of Leven Development Association's summer programme. Elizabeth Ballantyne of Dewar's Buildings, Parkhill, a Third Year pupil at Leven Higher Grade School, was elected the first Rose Queen (also briefly known as the May Queen).  After the lavish ceremony was rained off twice, Betty was finally crowned in the glen a week later than scheduled (see photograph below from 10 June Edinburgh Evening News). The following year, a second summer festival took place where once again the Rose Queen crowning took place at Letham Glen. However in subsequent years the event moved to grounds of Carberry House.

The 26 May 1949 Leven Mail updated that "work is going on at Letham Glen which will make the Glen even more attractive. The sunken garden with fountain at the site of the old swimming pond there is now taking shape." There must have been a fashion for sunken gardens around this time, as Festival Gardens close to Leven Prom and Macduff Park by East Wemyss also had sunken gardens laid out around this time. Letham Glen's sunken garden is pictured below.
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The 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of the popular 'Go As You Please' contests in the glen. These were talent competitions, hosted by a compere, where people could sign up in advance or on the day to sing, dance, recite a poem, play an instrument or perform some other turn. An accompanist was on hand to play music. Cash prizes were on offer for those judged to be the most skilled performers by the panel of adjudicators. Often consolation prizes handed out for the less talented. Sometimes these contests were themed - for example on the 'Scotch Night' all artists had to perform a Scots item and wear something tartan or a sprig of heather.

Other activities held in the glen included treasure hunts around the grounds, putting competitions, pie eating contests, theatre group performances, community singing, dog shows and by the 1960s barbecues. Other special events included selection of a Glamorous Granny, a Holiday Queen or a Pin-Up Boy. Concerts of various kinds were another feature - from pipe bands and military bands to dance bands and choirs. In the mid-1950s, a bandstand was erected, replacing a smaller 1930s bandstand, and soon afterwards a platform for dancing was added. The above example advert dates to July 1957 while the one below is from July 1961. 
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The gardens were well tended as these postcard images illustrate. In 1970 a wishing well was built thanks to a donation from Leven Inner Wheel Club. The well had the inscription "If in here your siller cast, a wish may well come true at last". Proceeds from the well were given to local charities. The aviary of the 1940s eventually evolved into a much wider Pets' Corner, which by 1970, featured pheasants, swans, ducks, geese, pygmy goats, sheep and deer. Later additions included donkeys, rabbits and guinea pigs as well as occasional more exotic residents. The keeping of animals ended at the glen in 1998 and in 2001 Fife Council took the decision to close all such facilities across the county.
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The above map shows the trail around the glen in the 1980s. The Nature Centre is shown at the foot of the map, with the wishing well and pets' corner close by. The wooden nature centre was constructed around 1980 from timber felled in the glen itself. It was an ideal venue for visiting groups of school children and for evening talks, among other things. The numbered stops on the nature trail were as follows:

1. Duck pond            2. Deer enclosure          3. Bandstand                 4. Woodland A     
5. Woodland B          6. Woodland gorge        7. Ochre mill                 8. Sitka spruce grove     
9. Top bridge            10. Ochre millstone       11. Silver birch trees   12. Geans (Wild cherry trees)
​13. Old oak tree       14. Beech tree                15. Elm tree                  16. The last bridge

The millennium was marked by the installation in the glen's sunken garden of a granite replica of the Leven mercat cross, a structure dating back to the 17th century which features sundials on its shaft, now located in the gardens of Carberry House (pictured above). The replica features designs by local children. Today there are plans afoot to mark the centenary of Letham Glen as a public space in 2025. That will be a fantastic opportunity to reflect on all that the park has seen over the past one hundred years and more. The opportunity will also allow people to recall the role of John Letham in setting the natural beauty spot on the road to becoming an important community space, which so many folks have enjoyed over the decades.  

This Remembrance Day the blog will focus in on just one of the names inscribed on Largo War Memorial - that of Sergeant Edward Smith. Born at the Temple, Largo on 14 September 1895 to fisherman Charles Smith and his wife Agnes Turnbull, Edward was their sixth son and one of eleven siblings, all of whom were alive at the time of 1911 census. In that census, aged 15, Edward was described as an apprentice plasterer. Elder brother David was also a plasterer. The family were living at Berwick View on Lower Largo's Main Street. Now known as Crampie (pictured below) this is the house which still displays a 'sun plaque' on its external wall. 

​Edward Smith joined the 1st/6th battalion of the Highland Light Infantry soon after the outbreak of war. He fought in Gallipoli and Palestine before later serving in France. After a visit home in August 1918, Edward was in northern France the following month at the time of the recapture of Cantaing. It was there that he was killed on 1 October 1918. The 17 October 1918 Leven Advertiser reported on the death of Edward, along with that of another local soldier, Thomas Johnston (see below). Edward is buried at Cantaing British Cemetery in France.

Edward (pictured above courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk) is also remembered at Largo cemetery on the grave of his parents (see below) as well as on Largo War Memorial.

Lest we forget.
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The previous post looked at the Eagle Gates which once provided access to Largo House from the South. Now they provide access only to the Eagle Gates Lodge. Pictured above, the Lodge has outlasted its 'parent' mansion by many decades. The annotated aerial image below shows the Lodge in context within the grounds of the now derelict Largo House. The photograph highlights the following features:

1. Eagle Gates Lodge            2. East Drive Entrance             3. Cricket Ground           4. Largo House (ruin)
5. West Drive Entrance        6. Walled Garden                      7. Wood's Tower             8. Largo Home Farm

​A more detailed view of the Lodge's location is shown below, with Largo Burn flowing past it, through a small valley to the east, before it passes under the road to continue its route alongside the Serpentine Walk, ultimately discharging into the sea at the Temple car park. A Lodge appears on this site in an 1827 map and originally had a simple rectangular footprint. Over the years it has been extended and modernised. 

The earliest mention of the name 'Eagle Gate' dates to 1851, when the census return (above) lists a 59-year-old widow named Susan Low as the "Lodge Keeper". The 1841 census a decade before described the building as simply "Largo Lodge". Between 1840 and 1850, the ownership of Largo House had changed multiple times. General James Durham died at Largo House in 1840 and was succeeded in his Largo estate by his nephew Thomas Calderwood Durham of Polton. The latter died only two years later, also at Largo House, and was succeeded by his brother Admiral Sir Philip Charles Henderson Calderwood Durham. Philip died in 1845 in Naples and his estates at Largo and Polton passed to his niece Lilias Dundas Calderwood Durham (the daughter of Thomas Calderwood Durham). She was the widow of Robert Dundas of Arniston, who had died in 1838.

The Eagle Gate Lodge name was used in the census from 1851 onwards. In 1861 an Alexander Imrie (farm servant) lived there with his wife, children and sister-in-law. The detail of the 1861 census return is shown below. In fact the Largo Parish census that year begins with Eagle Gate Lodge which is listed number 1, ahead of the Mansion House of Largo, followed by the Stables, Gardens, Bothy and Home Farm.
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The Eagle Gate Lodge gets a mention in the newspaper archives in the 1860s when the Dundee Advertiser piece below from 16 October 1866, names the location in a snippet about a rifleman shooting a goose.

The 1871 census records 'Lodge Eagle Gate', occupied by John Sibbald, age 42, wood forester plus his wife and nine children. Ten years on another forester - Robert Simpson - lived there with his wife. By 1891, the forester living there was Thomas Millar, along with his wife and child. In 1901, John Cameron, forester plus his wife, children and a boarder inhabited the dwelling.

The year 1901 brought big changes to Largo House, and upgrades to the Eagle Gate Lodge. Owner of Largo Estate George Johnston had died on 29 December 1900. His heir was Charles Julian Maitland Makgill Crichton, who was only 20 years old at the time. In 1901 he reached his majority (turned 21) and in 1902 he married Sybil Twynihoe Erie in London. The ​20 February 1902 piece below from the Leven Advertiser describes this whirlwind period in the heir's life. The newlyweds intended to take up residence at Largo House and set about arranging a number of changes at the estate, including extensions to Eagle Gate Lodge and its connection to the water supply.  The maps above illustrate the expansion of the building, showing difference at the site between 1856 and 1912.
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The Leven Advertiser local news snippet above from 8 May 1902, anticipates the arrival of the recently married couple (in their steam launch Shelda) and reports on the works being undertaken. An update was given, below, in the 14 June 1902 St Andrews Citizen. Although the couple had hoped to moved into Largo House in mid-June, the renovations had overrun. As they were "anxious to be on the coast", they rented a house in Lundin Links short-term.

However, the pair did not stay in Largo House for long and by 1904 they had relocated to Lathrisk House. Largo House was leased to Benjamin Connell Cox, who remained there for twenty years. In the 1911 census, the Eagle Gate Lodge was occupied by George Smith, estate forester, plus his wife, son and lodger (a teacher). Meanwhile, in 1913, the Maitland Makgill Crichtons left Fife and bought a ranch in California. While developing that property, the Great War broke out. Mr Maitland Makgill Crichton offered his services and was given a Captaincy in the 11th Cameron Highlanders. Later he transferred to the 10th Gordons and was given the rank of Major. He was killed on 25 September 1915 in the advance on Loos. Pictured below, from the Fife News Almanac, his name was later inscribed on the Largo War Memorial.

Celebrating a Golden Wedding Anniversary is a landmark achievement. Back in the 1940s, to reach that milestone and have a parent present at the occasion was newsworthy. When Robert Imrie and his wife Isabella (nee Mitchell) marked 50 years of marriage, the above feature appeared in the 1 September 1945 Daily Record. Mrs Imrie's mother Helen Mitchell (nee Swan) appears with the golden couple in the photograph above.

In fact five generations of the family were represented at the event, including Isabella's sister, Margaret Honeyman (nee Mitchell) of Kennoway who was bridesmaid at the wedding. At the time of the celebration, Mr and Mrs Imrie had two daughters and five sons (one of whom lived in Canada). They also had fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. The couple, who lived at Watson Cottage on Mill Wynd, received many gifts and messages of best wishes, including a cablegram from Canada.

Robert Imrie was born in Strathmiglo and married Isabella in Kennoway on 30 August 1895. He had a long career in agriculture, becoming a farm grieve like his father George before him. He started out at Gateside, followed by a spell at Stanley in Perthshire, before completing the remainder of his working life in Fife. He worked at Hayston Farm near Balmullo and at Luthrie Bank, ahead of twenty years as grieve at Lundin Mill Farm (where he oversaw the other farm workers, when George Bell was the tenant farmer). The family lived in Broadlea Cottage on Cupar Road during that era.

Later, Robert spent thirteen years as farm grieve at Cassingray Farm, near Largoward, on the Kilconquhar Estate, working for Lady Lindsay. Above is an image of the farmhouse at South Cassingray where the family were based (image from the Canmore collection). Below is an advert for the lease of the farm in 1939, with Robert named as the grieve who would show round interested parties. It must have been soon after this point that Robert returned to Lundin Links, a place to which he obviously felt a strong connection. ​The Imries were members of Upper Largo Church for forty years and Robert had a spell on the District School Board.

The newspaper article at the top of this post describes Robert as "green keeper on the Lundin Ladies' Golf Course". This was late career shift brought about by the Second World War. Having returned to Lundin Links, where son Jimmie was green keeper at the Ladies' course, Robert was well placed to step into his son's shoes when Jimmie joined the Auxiliary Fire Service full time in 1941. At Jimmie's suggestion, Robert took over as greenkeeper while his own wife Christina acted as starter and looked after the clubhouse. Jimmie and Christina lived in the greenkeeper's cottage (the 1911 built cottage pictured above to the right of the club house).

Wartime had a significant impact upon the Ladies' course with much ground given up for agriculture. The War Cabinet instructed that portions of golf courses had to be leased to increase food production. By special arrangement, the Ladies Club gave up more than its quota (two thirds of its area) so that the main Lundin course could remain intact. The much reduced course comprised six holes with the added feature of some grazing sheep (which both supported food production and kept the grass short at at time when there was little fuel for green keeping).

​When Jimmie returned to post after the war, he set about the restoration of the course (shown below) including re-seeding and the re-laying out of the lost greens, tees and bunkers. As the book published for the club's centenary by Alan Elliot said of Jimmie Imrie:

"He was an excellent worker, conscientious and thorough. When it is realised that he put the course back from its wartime ploughing to its former state almost single-handed, it may give some idea of what he did. He worked with the minimum of equipment....a spade, a shovel, a barrow, a roller, an elderly tractor and mowers of great age: an awesome lot of effort. He achieved much in a remarkably short time after the war, and overall he provided the club with a course again when it mattered most."

In the years following the end of the war, all three of the family members featured in the photograph at the top of this post passed away. Helen Mitchell died in 1946 aged 94, Robert in 1947 aged 75 and Isabella in 1950 aged 70. Jimmie Imrie lived until 1985, reaching the age of 79. This remarkable and hard working family left their mark on the community in several ways over many years. Their descendants must be very proud of them.

Margaret Baird Paxton was born on 17 February 1902 at Drum Lodge, shortly after her parents and elder sister Jessie had returned to Scotland from Texas, where her father was a rancher. Two years later her younger sister, Isabel, was born and in 1907, the fourth sibling, Emily, completed the family. The Paxtons bought their long-term home, named Homelands, in 1908. As a young teenager, during the First World War, Margaret would have been involved in the Red Cross Work Party which was based in her home and co-ordinated by her mother. The piece below, from the 17 September 1914 Leven Advertiser, tells of an early consignment of gifts from the local group. By the end of the war, over 12,000 garments had been supplied by the work parties in Largo.

The Paxtons were involved in many charitable activities and supported several improvements to the district. For example, Mr and Mrs Paxton provided and equipped a hut to act as a social club for ex-servicemen in 1920 and funded a pitching and putting course at Lundin Golf Club in 1923. The Paxton ladies frequently ran stalls at fetes for various causes. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute was a cause that they supported regularly. Margaret was a frequent cast member in the productions of the Lundin Links Amateur Dramatics Group and was active in Largo S.W.R.I. One cause that was especially close to Margaret's heart, however, was the Girl Guiding movement. She was captain of Largo Girl Guides for many years, going by the name "Eagle Owl", and was for a spell Girl Guiding's 'Camp Secretary' for the whole of Scotland.

In 1926, Margaret's parents gifted the community a cottage for the residence of the Largo and Newburn District Nurse. The cottage stands behind the Parish war memorial (in a location chosen because it was as close as possible to the centre of the nurse's district). Robert Paxton passed away in October 1926 before the building was completed, so Mrs Paxton and her three daughters saw the project through to completion. 

When the District Nurse's Cottage opened in March 1927, the Leven Advertiser (12 March) noted the sunny southern outlook towards the Bass Rock, the telephone which was installed "so as to facilitate communication with doctors and patients" and the way in which the nurse's rooms had "been furnished with a completeness and comfort which leaves nothing to be desired." The report continued "the forethought and care which Mrs Paxton and the Misses Paxton have lavished on the cottage are evidence of how much it has been a labour of love to them". Two small gardens were laid out - one for the nurse and the other for the caretaker. The nurse's garden was tended by the Largo Girl Guides, under Margaret's direction.
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Margaret was very close to her sisters, so when elder sister Jessie set up a pioneering nursery school in Methil in 1935, Margaret supported her. Having gained experience in the nursery, Margaret was inspired to take action to meet another great need - for residential accommodation for children. She set about planning a children's home. Such a home would be for those requiring full-time care, perhaps because their parents were ill or because they had been rendered temporarily homeless. 

Margaret enlisted the help of a large committee to support her plan and in due course an Executive Committee (see above) was set up to administer the business of the home. Upper Largo's Dr William Eggeling acted as honorary medical officer. A large dwelling close to Homelands had become vacant, called Aithernie House (today known as the Old Manor Hotel). This was owned by Silverburn's Sir David Russell. Aithernie had four public rooms (all facing south), ten bedrooms, three bathrooms, electric light, modern central heating and a wash house with laundry. The map below shows how close Aithernie was to Homelands. 
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In December 1936, Margaret wrote to Sir David Russell to say that she was "very anxious to start a children's home in Largo" as "there is no place in Fife to which necessitous children may be sent and there is a very great need for such a home". She stressed that she had "come across some very deserving cases recently". ​The initial plan was to accommodate up to 36 children. The first year's expenses were covered by friends of the Paxtons, and the hope was that wider public support would be secured once the home was up and running and could demonstrate its worth. 

In turn David Russell wrote to his lawyer enclosing the letter from Margaret Paxton. In it he emphasised that he had known the Paxtons for many years and found them to be reliable. He also referenced Jessie's good work with the Methil Nursery. He closed by saying that with regard to the proposition "he was inclined to consider it favourably". Soon afterwards, all was signed and sealed. The 11 September 1937 St Andrews Citizen below tells of the imminent opening of Fife Children's Home. 
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Six months after opening, there were twenty children in residence between the ages of 2 and 11, along with six staff (Miss Paxton, her assistant, a cook and three nurses). Margaret and her assistant Miss M. Scrymgeour Wedderburn were voluntary workers. Below are descriptions of some 'typical cases' at that time. 
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Above is a photograph of some of the early residents of the children's home. Meals were taken outdoors, when possible, to get the benefit of fresh air and sunshine. The benches and tables were no doubt hand-made by local people and the children's bibs hand-made too. One of the glasshouses in the Aithernie garden can be seen. The grounds would have been carefully nurtured over many decades and at one time would have produced a great variety of produce.
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The piece above is from 19 February 1938 Fife Free Press. The work of both Jessie and Margaret Paxton was innovative and was followed with great interest. Of course, in the 1939, the outbreak of war brought new pressures on both ventures. At Fife Children's Home there were new reasons for children requiring assistance, as fathers were called up to join the armed services. One example was a widower with six children who went to serve in the Navy on a minesweeper. Three of his children went to stay with grandparents, while three came to reside at Aithernie. Two refugees from Austria, aged 2 and 4 also came to the home. Their fees were paid by two members of the home's committee.

In July 1940 another brochure was created to highlight the work of the home in the hope that further support would be forthcoming from farther afield. Below is an extract from this brochure. While daily life had continued much as before, gas mask drills and air raid precautions were now required. 
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1941 proved to be a difficult year for Margaret. The headline above, from 6 August Leven Mail, reports on the Annual Meeting of the committee. The clear message was that the home may have to close if not better supported. In the October of the same year Margaret's mother, Margaret, died at Homelands aged 78. Unsurprisingly, all those circumstances combined, took their toll on Margaret's health and in 1942 she had to spend some time in a nursing home to recuperate.

The sixth AGM for Fife Children's Home took place in 1942. The health of Miss Paxton was referenced, as were the direct and indirect impacts of the war. Ongoing challenges included food rationing, meeting blackout requirements and air raid precautions, staffing shortages and financial issues. While day nurseries were eligible for a war-time grant, the home was not. Yet somehow the home continued to function.

However, early in 1943 the home had to close for a six-month period. This had come about because Margaret had suffered a breakdown, having had do the cooking and attend the children at night, on top of her usual role as superintendent, due to staff shortages. In July 1943, Fife County Council made a grant of £100 to Aithernie Home and it was able to reopen. At the seventh annual meeting a few weeks later, Margaret expressed her regret at the circumstances which had necessitated the closing of the home. Now, however, the home was full up and had a long waiting list. Thirty-eight cases had been dealt with during the year, nearly all being the children of service men. The health of the children had been good and they had been vaccinated against diphtheria. 

​At the eighth annual meeting of the subscribers to Fife Children's Home in 1944 it was once again noted that Miss Paxton's health had not been so good. It was likely that Margaret continued to be overworked and was unable to give herself the time she really needed to rest and recover from earlier ill health. There had also been "very serious staffing issues". Above is an advert from 1944 for a cook for the home. Nevertheless, splendid work had been done with a considerable number of children benefitting from a stay. The war was still ongoing and sadly two key committee members had died during that year - ex-Provost Barron of Leven and Mrs Rowand of St Andrews. 

The ninth annual meeting took place in 1945. In the summary of the year, it was noted that several valuable subscribers had been lost by death and that staffing difficulties persisted. There were a few vacancies on the General Committee. Seventy children had been cared for over the year, with the waiting list remaining long. The "absence of so many men overseas had produced a very serious social problem" and many mothers found themselves having to work. The clipping below from the 12 September 1945 Leven Mail shows some of the year's highlights. An insight into the support given by local people was also given when Margaret described a "constant supply of vegetables" from Mrs Fleming and the "many friends who darn and re-foot socks and make and mend the clothes" as well as knitting, sending food and holding fundraising events.