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.
It was a very stormy evening, but a quiet one, as many folk chose to enjoy the secure warmth of their homes, rather than the cold raw night air. However, some fireworks were heard, but with no dance this year in the village hall, the usual sounds of cheery revellers returning home in the wee small hours were missing.
Worship has been led by supply ministers as our minister is unwell, and warm good wishes have been conveyed to her from the congregation. The day had dawned calmer and bright, so the year was welcomed by a few hardy souls who joined the invigorating walk on New Year's Day afternoon, returning for a warming cuppa and chat. There was a special welcome for a couple who used to live in the village, are now in Kennoway, but reading this column returned to share in the fellowship in Dairsie. So news does travel!
A reminder has been circulated in the village that the finalised draft of the St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan is to be out soon. The plan will include the proposal that 30 houses will be built in Dairsie - 10 initially, with early approval for 20 more. Once published, councillors will have only around eight weeks before they meet to vote on the proposals. Any comments will have to be submitted quickly, with all local folk needing to consider the effect to the community of this inevitable increase in vehicles using our roads. It is proposed that the houses will be built with access from the west end of Osnaburgh Court into the field to the south. It is probable that a minimum of thirty cars will be commuting through the village from this new development, exiting via Ardencaple Terrace or Osnaburgh Court on to the Main Street or south over the historic old bridge. Also, once thirty are approved, will it stop there?
The Community Council supports the objective to keep Dairsie as it is, a unique country village with a character of its own. We are asked to support their efforts and be ready to object to these plans.
The three standard lights are on at last at the Station Road end of Osnaburgh Court - off since before Christmas, it appears the fault was quite a challenge to fix. Then, the weather vane on the church was found lying on the gravel just by the church door - it is heavy metal about six feet long, so thankfully no one was injured when the storms brought it down. The lights for the pedestrian crossing are in place, but not yet working - hopefully it will not be much longer to wait, as they will be such a boon to assist with crossing such a very busy road.
Anyone requiring the services of a minister whilst our minister, the Rev. Sheila Blount is indisposed, is advised to contact the Rev. Brian Casebow, the Rev. Ian Wotherspoon or the Rev. Andrew Stevenson.
Debby Sargent from the Department of Sport & Exercise, University of St. Andrews, was welcomed to the January meeting by the President, Willa Ferguson. She gave a comprehensive resume of the exercise programmes and classes available to all age groups, and issued literature supplying details of enrolment, timetables and so on. Inspired by her talk, a number of members showed an enthusiastic interest in enrolment, and by the statistics quoted, there is no doubt of the health benefits of structured exercise, as well as the importance of keeping as active as possible day by day. Guild member, Barbara Fargie, in her vote of thanks, praised the service and the health benefits, as she has been a regular at the Sports Centre for a number of years.
There was time for some to have an informal chat over refreshments, whilst others were absorbed in looking at the cards and materials kindly brought along by two local, talented ladies, Jennifer Headen and Marlene Pine. The ladies were delighted to talk about their craft, tips were learnt, their patience envied and admired, and many thanks expressed at the time they had given for their demonstration. A short business meeting followed.
Winners of the January draw of the Dairsie War Memorial Hall 200 Club were: J. A. Harding - £20; L. Moncrieff - £10 and R.S.Arden Sen. - £5.