The Fife Herald has kindly given the Dairsie web site permission to copy the Dairsie News that is printed in the Fife Herald every week.
Members met on the 22nd May to discuss the agenda for the forthcoming year, with numerous suggestions for topics and speakers. Members also heard details of the designated charities recommended for the year. The appeals ranged from the homeless, aid for Bangladesh, help for sufferers from post-natal depression, aids for sufferers from leprosy, helping the disadvantaged throughout Europe and finally help with finance to build homes and schools etc. for the "Untouchables" in India who are ostracised and abandoned. A small Guild such as Dairsie could not offer help to all, so difficult choices had to be made, and the lengthy discussions continued over a cup of tea.
Winners of the May draw of the Dairsie War Memorial Hall 200 Club were: B. Littlejohn - £20; J. Cox - £10 and B. Owen - £5. All the winners are local folk.
The convener of the house-to-house collection thanks warmly all who contributed with special thanks to the collectors, and is pleased to report that the amount of £288.70 raised this year is around £80 up on last year.
The funeral service for John Cobban was held at Dairsie Parish Church on Tuesday, 30th May. John died suddenly on May 22nd. whilst at work at RAF Leuchars, where he had been employed as a civilian since 1987, having moved there after working from 1964 at the Redstone Quarry, Balmullo.
The minister, the Rev. Sheila Blount, led the worship, paying tribute to John as the eldest of a family of five, with two sisters and two brothers to whom he was a much loved and respected big brother as well as special uncle and great-uncle to his nine nieces and nephews and their families.
The family were greatly honoured and overwhelmed at the numbers who came to pay their tribute, with special thanks for the representation from the RAF, and for their piper, who played as they proceeded from the church.
At Leuchars, he had joined the Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes and was such a dedicated and hardworking member that from joining in 1989, he progressed through until in November 1996 he rose to become Provincial Grand Primo of the Central and East Fife Provincial Grand Lodge. In his honour, the Funeral Marshall Brother C. Lander led the very moving service at the crematorium, concluding with the words "May he rest in peace".
The Rev. Sheila Blount then finished the Ceremony.
The Council met on Thursday in Dairsie Memorial Hall. Some of the matters raised were as follows.
Due to the continuing and strong concerns being expressed by the Council and local residents, the Chief Executive of Fife Council has written that the Transportation Services are to suspend work and look for an alternative proposal to allow a 20mph scheme to be implemented in Osnaburgh Court.
It is planned that work will commence soon on completion of the part time 20mph limit - the installation of the Puffin crossing by the garage - and the renewal of the street lighting columns along the length of the street.
The Community Council is still unhappy about the proposals for development in East Fife, and specifically in Dairsie. Leaflets have already been delivered to all households with information on how and where to complain at the failure of Fife Council to listen to the very real concerns expressed locally. Write, fax, phone our MP Menzies Campbell, or MSP Ian Smith soon, as the Scottish Executive are now considering the proposals - they have a 6 week consultation period from 5th June, so do not delay as it is still not "the end of the road".
Fife Council is liaising with Historic Scotland on necessary repairs to the old bridge, and is currently waiting for special cement from Limekilns.
This month, members enjoyed an outing to see Kilconquhar Church. The present church was built in 1820, and recently, the interior has been successfully altered to meet the needs of the church today. The central section has been retained, but the two side areas have been closed off. One side is now a meeting area, fulfilling a community need for a village hall, and it has a small kitchen and new toilets. The other side is the meeting place for the Sunday School, and a small Vestry. Members then went on to Kilconquhar Timeshare complex, where they were served a most enjoyable tea.
Winners of the June draw of the Dairsie Memorial Hall 200 Club draw were L. Jerking, Leuchars - £20; R. Braid - £10; and S Suleiman £5 - both Dairsie.
Dairsie Primary School would welcome the support of local folk at their Fair, to be held at the school on Friday, 30th June from 3.30 to 5.30pm. There will be teas/coffees available and the usual stalls all planned and presented by the children themselves, with a little help from the adults, of course!
For some time, there has been a pleasantly clean park, with owners being very careful to ensure that the park is kept hygienically clean. However, it has been reported that recently this has not been the case. With the children now on holiday from school and park usage increased, it is more important than ever that owners deal with any dog mess. It is very offensive and insanitary, and care should be shown by the owners. Remember - dog fouling is an offence.
The last of the congregation led services was held in Dairsie Church on Sunday, 23rd July. The chosen subject was the body of Christ, and as the Guild theme for the coming session is "Body, Mind and Spirit" the talk was given by the President of Dairsie Guild.