LEARNING AT THE LOCHPupils experience and exploreThe Ecology Centre - page 11

CHILDREN’S GALA 2016See page 9 for a full breakdownof this year’s Gala celebrations

CALL TO ARMSGinny Reid digs into the archivesas we learn more of Kinghorn’s

coat of arms - pages 6 and 7

Issue 5 - June 2016Free publication

New skiff hits the water, details on page 4

FAMILY FISHING TRAGEDY Coincidence or otherwise?

- page 5

Editorial

Thank you to the following for their ongoing support andsponsorship, without which our newsletter wouldn’t exist.

COMMON GOOD FUND

THE DORICFootpath and steps from

Glamis Road - North Overgate,crossing the loch burn.

KINGHORN RNLI LIFEBOAT OPEN DAY

CRAIGENCALT TRUST NEWS

An old harbour arm, leaning its elbowOn past glories. This is Pettycur. OnceAn important crossing point on the ForthAll that remains are the painted milestonesAnd a harbour with tied-up weekend boats.Cast iron pillars plot across green Fife,On by Cupar, to the Tay, puzzling withPettycur in curling script. Back-trackingLeads one to an uneasy urban haarThrough which only a few will find the truth(Kinghorn’s secret), like some long litanyTo a faith gone. The world has spun and spunAnd tidal waters wash so very clean.Cleaner though our milestones in their new paintLike faith declaring itself for things gone,Marking a route towards the neverwhere.

― Hamish Brown

HELPING PRESERVEKINGHORN’S PLACENAMES

HELPING PRESERVEKINGHORN’S PLACENAMES

By the time you get this issue we should be well into what passes for summer! And what an exciting issue this is!

The Children’s Gala is about to start, the Black Rock Race is nearly here, the school is winding up for the holidays and the “What’s On” page is full of exciting things to do and see. For history buffs there is a wonderful article about our very own coat of arms... or is it? Coats of arms apparently only belong to the people they were created for. See the article on pages 6 and 7.

There are concerns about what is to happen to our library (page 3). What will be decided about the church buildings (page 8) and will Kinghorn in Bloom get a ‘gold’ this year?

There are positive things happening in Kinghorn. The Coastal Rowing Skiff is about to be launched, the Ecology Centre has a full programme for Children, CRCT has new footpaths for you to explore and there is also a new café in the Barn at the Loch. It’s time to get out, get involved and enjoy this wonderful place we live in.

Please keep your contributions coming in. Without them we have no content. We would like photographs, stories, poems and whatever else you feel would interest the community. Adverts also always welcome (price guide below). Thanks for your continued support!

Full page £160 • Half page £80Quarter page £40 • Mini ad £20

Please email contributions to: hilarypayne@btinternet.comDesign by Kinghorn Creative.

- Hilary Payne, Carolyn Keane, Lynette Gray, Alan Macilravie,Ritchie Feenie, Rosalind Moffat.

Pettycur

On Saturday 16th July, between 12 noon and 4 pm, you are invited to come down to Kinghorn Beach to join in all the fun of our Lifeboat Open Day. A great afternoon out for your friends and family too.

Come and browse and buy at our stalls with home baking, bric-a-brac and books, lifeboat souvenirs and loads of beautiful plants. Huge tombola and a raffle. There will be games on the beach for the children to enjoy, plus our tasty burger stall to keep you topped up. More attractions on the day! The highlight of the afternoon will be rescue demonstrations by Kinghorn Lifeboat with the opportunity to meet the crew and find out how the lifeboat provides rescue cover for the coast and waters of the River Forth.

— Elinor Chalmers (Photo: Ellie Cormack)

The Craigencalt Trust has made a lovely new surfaced path for visitors to try out at Kinghorn Loch. It is easily accessible for disabled buggies and families to use and joggers have commented that it makes a good run for them too. Walking from the car park at the lochside, the path enters the woodland at Craigencalt Farm. It follows a gentle incline until it reaches a new picnic area at the edge of the woodland. It then crosses the field to join the farm track that runs along the north side of the loch. At this point, if you turn left the track takes you along to Rodanbraes Path. Go up this path to visit its troll under the wooden bridge and then, along the ridge there are other surprises like the shieling drystane wall shelter, continue on up to the ruined cottage of Rodanbraes, known locally as the witch’s cottage.In summer there is deadly nightshade and hemlock to be found in the hedge rows along this path, and perhaps this is the reason for its local name. There are splendid views across the Forth Estuary on a lovely bright day. The whole path from the loch has no steps so can be enjoyed by all. Alternatively, turning right at the junction with the farm track at the new path, takes you back around to the farm steading where the new ‘Barn at the Loch’ Cafe is now open. The food and welcome is highly recommended and if the weather is cool there is a cosy wood burning stove to sit beside and warm you up.

The path is part of our lochside project which has been funded by, Awards for All, Fife Environmental Trust, with much assistance from Alcan and hard working commitment from volunteers of the Trust. Part of the project funding has already been used to make four new barley straw rafts to float on the loch and ensure good water quality each year. The rafts were finished in February and the barley straw piled on top so that they were in place for the varied bird life to use for nesting in spring. The swans were the first to take up residence on a raft and we hope the brand new accommodation will produce a fine brood this year. If you would like to know more about the Trust or help us, with our projects please email to info@craigencalttrust.org.uk or phone 891330.

— Marilyn Edwards

Keen readers will remember an article from last issue covering local boy Harris Taylor’s call up to the Scotland U-11s ice hockey team. 

His first competitive International campaign began well with two goals against the French hosts of the tournament Wasquehal, in the friendly game before the tournament began proper the following day, with Team Scotland winning by a commanding 15 goals!

Scotland would face teams from France (Amiens & Dunkirk), Holland (Eindhoven) and Slovakia (HC Nitra) in the group phase of the tournament. All the kids showed skill and nerve beyond their years to come through the group undefeated. A semi final against Rouen from the other group was their reward. Unfortunately - and despite best efforts - this was a game too far for very tired boys, going down 3-1 to probably the strongest ice hockey club in France.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE WILD AT HEARTTHE ROTARY CLUB OFBURNTISLAND AND KINGHORN

ICE COOL HORNER AND THE KARATE KID

The activities of Burntisland and Kinghorn Rotary Club continue apace. In March, five teams of P7 children competed in the local heats of the annual Primary School Rotary Quiz. Burntisland P7’s scored 97 points out of 100 to Kinghorn 2’s 94. However, when the date for the Area Final in Inverkeithing was announced as May 3, it was found that Burntisland’s P7s would be away at Ardroy Outdoor Centre; so Kinghorn 2 had to go instead! And they did very well, coming “second” out of 10 teams with 94 points; pity that three other teams - from Crossford, Masterton and Dalgety Bay - tied for first place!

Three classes from Burntisland P4 have started the 11th round of 6 Rotary Rambles; Kinghorn’s participation will continue, we hope, in the autumn. Fundraising continued in April with a Silent Auction and a Casino Night in the New Club in Kirkcaldy. More than 70 folk raised a phenomenal £1931, eagerly enjoying gambling for raffle tickets, and bidding for many prestigious prizes, which included six months’ gym membership, rounds of golf on four local courses, and 3 days’ free use of a top-of-the-range Honda CR-V, worth £33k! Raffle prizes included a family day at Dynamic Earth, afternoon tea at the Kingswood, five classes at Mind and Body, and a bottle of 16 year-old Lagavulin.

The now-traditional Plant Sale and Coffee Morning was as usual very busy indeed, with many satisfied customers and happy fundraisers too!

With an evening canal trip from Linlithgow and a meal in June, the fun continued too. All this will allow the club and its new President, Rita Attewell, to go on putting much needed money and useful services back into the local community, and into national and international good causes.

— Simon Payne Your Library needs you! Kinghorn Library Renewed held its first volunteer meeting on April 26. The good news is that Kinghorn Library will stay open till the end of February 2017, when it will be handed over to the community to run. KLR need to raise approximately £3500 per year to cover the cost of utilities etc. Crucially, we have established that the Public Libraries AND Museums Act (1963) does not cover Scotland. This means that the library may operate commercially to help support itself.

KLR therefore plan to have books to order and for sale, the profits from this being used to support the costs of running the Library. The idea is to encourage local people to order via the Library’s dedicated service rather than individually online. Books would then be available to collect from the Library at the customer’s convenience. The group are also keen to include tourist information within the Library, offering something currently missing in Kinghorn.

The community survey showed adults, teenagers and primary schoolchildren all requesting CDs and DVDs, as well as fiction and non-fiction books. Study areas were suggested, as were workshops, reading groups, help with job applications and CV’s, and a relaxed area for reading magazines and newspapers.

The intention is to open Tuesday – Saturday; afternoons and evenings to make the library more accessible for all. KLR must be able to show that the library service can be run and maintained, so the group need more volunteers as well as ideas for fund-raising activities. We need your help! If you could volunteer even just two hours a month, that would help keep our Library open. If you could help in our fund- raising group, we want to hear from you. Please contact Elizabeth: secretary@kinghornlibraryrenewed.org.uk.

We also have a Facebook page - please visit to comment, like us and share us. Or contact us via the suggestion box at Kinghorn Community Centre, where you’ll also find copies of the latest KLR handout with our new logo - designed by committee member and local artist, Catherine Lindow. Finally, we’d like to thank Kinghorn Chronicle,the Community Centre, Alan McIlravie and Councillors Susan Leslie and George Kay for all their help and support.

Scotland then had a play-off for third place against Amiens. The boys managed to put the disappointment of the semi behind them to claim third overall of 10 teams competing. A very impressive six out of seven victories.

Kinghorn’s answer to the Karate Kid, Keisha Cummings, is nearly 10. She has been practising karate for the last six years and recently won her black belt (first Dan) and has also competed at a high level in Malta over the past two years, where she received the silver award for freestyle fighting (Kumite). We wish continued success for Harris and Keisha, both at home and on their travels!

Sustainable Communities Initiative are running nature clubs at Kinghorn Loch for 7-12 year olds in the summer holidays.

Young adventurers will explore how to build dens, make fires, cook, play games, forage and learn about the natural world, themselves and their peers.

There will also be games, storytelling and cooking to keep everyone warm! The sessions (8.30am to 4.30pm) will run from Monday 25th July until Friday 29th July.

Sessions cost £25 with a discount for siblings. There are limited spaces available so parents are advised to book in advance. The course leader is a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

Contact Paula on 07960 063731 or email paulacowie1@gmail.com for more information.

If you know of a local event you’d like included in issue 6 of The Chronicle, please call Hilary on 01592 890375, email hilarypayne@btinternet.com or enter your event details into the Community Diary at the Community Centre. Deadline for all submissions is Sunday 31st July 2016.

All events taking place between September and December 2016 are suitable for the next issue. Whether it’s a Mothers & Toddlers group, Guerilla Gardening or Extreme Ironing, we want to hear all about it!

WHAT ’S ON? JUNE - SEPTEMBER 2016DATE TIME EVENT VENUE

JUNE

02.06.16 4pm Gala Football Tournament School Field

03.06.16 7pm Kinghorn Primary School Fun Run Park Place

03.06.16 7.30pm Black Rock Race Harbour Road

04.06.16 2pm Ceremonial launch of ‘Yolande’ Kinghorn Beach Coastal Rowing Skiff

5th-11th Kinghorn Children’s Gala * See page 9 for details

05.06.16 10.30am Gala Crowning Ceremony Parish Church

05.06.16 2-4pm Gala Family Fun Community Centre

06.06.16 10.30am Gala Fun on the Beach Kinghorn - 1.30pm Beach

06.06.16 7pm Gala Adult Pool Competition The Crown

07.06.16 9.30am Gala Story Telling and Church Hall Puppet Toddlers Party

07.06.16 7pm Gala “Kinghorn’s Got Talent” Church Hall

08.06.16 7pm Whole School Kite Festival Church Hall (bring packed lunch)

08.06.16 P7 parents invited to Balwearie High School

09.06.16 6-8pm Family Quiz and Karaoke Bowling Club

10.06.16 7pm Gala Adult Darts Competition Auld Hoose

11.06.16 10am and Gala Carnival Parade Park Place 10.30am

11.06.16 12 noon Gala Sports Community Centre - 2.30pm

11.06.16 7-11pm Gala Party Night Community Centre

16.06.16 7pm SWI “Rural” Church Hall

24.06.16 2.30pm Busy End for parents Primary School

30.06.16 Evening Prize-giving Ceremony Primary School

JULY

01.07.16 9.30am KPS Leavers Service *School closes at noon

2nd July Retrospective Exhibition of Kinghorn- 1st Sept the works of Ian McLeod RSW Gallery

11th 9-3pm Eco Adventures Holiday Club Ecology Centreand 12th (9-12 years)

14th 9-3pm Eco Adventures Holiday Club Ecology Centreand 15th (5-8 years)

16.07.16 12-4pm RNLI Open Day Kinghorn Beach

18.07.16 10am-12 Mud Mischief with the Ecology Centre + 1-3pm Woodland Elves (4-8 years)

19.07.16 10am-12 Nature Ninjas: The science Ecology Centre + 1-3pm of survival (9-12 years)

21.07.16 10-12.30 Dens & Friends (4-8 years) Ecology Centre 2-4.30pm

AUGUST

04.08.16 1-3.30pm Dens & Friends (4-6 years) Ecology Centre

8th-12th 9-3pm Eco Adventures Holiday Club (5-8yrs) Ecology Centre

27.08.16 Kinghorn in Bloom Village Show Church Hall

SEPTEMBER

3rd-11th 1-1.30 CRCT Walking Festival Craigencalt

03.09.16 Ecology Centre Summer Festival Ecology Centre

YOLANDE’S MAIDEN VOYAGE

A SIMPLE THANK YOU

In May 2016, a 23 foot blue and white skiff slipped relatively quietly into the calm and quiet water of the Kinghorn Loch.

This unofficial launch was planned to check all was ‘ship shape and ready to go’. It happened with little ceremony but with huge sense of pride in what has been achieved since the concept of ‘building a Community Skiff for coastal rowing in Kinghorn’. It’s two years since the set-up of the KCRC in April 2014. The whole village and Community Council has supported the club and helped with fundraising events, the primary school children and local artists have helped with the logo and mosaic installation at Quarrel Brae.

During that time other Fife coastal rowing clubs have been supportive in practice rows and ‘Come & Try’ days. KCRC members were successful in securing grant applications and there has been 18 months of hard work done voluntary on the build of the completed boat. Coastal Rowing is a craze thathas spread like wildfire and interest in the sport has been jumping from one village to the next since the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association began encouraging villages to build their own boats from a first design as a small demo project for the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther.

Competing in and bringing regattas to the village of Kinghorn may be the ultimate aim, but for a good number of folk it’s just to enjoy the experience and the sheer pleasure of rowing at sea with a supportive crew. It is expected that the current KCRC membership (pre-launch around 30) is likely to significantly rise after the launch, as there are more than 100 other contact names held who are interested in the club and coastal rowing. The members of Kinghorn Coastal Rowing Club were delighted that the lead builder, Bob Connell, took the cox seat for this important milestone for the club and with him the first crew, quite rightly, were the other builders of this magnificent Kinghorn community built skiff. This launch allowed the members of KCRC to practice their rowing skills, and skiff handling, in preparation for the official village launch.

Watch out for the official launch posters with an invitation to everyone in the village and surrounding areas to celebrate the naming ceremony and the sea launch. Come and join us!

Kinghorn in Bloom would like to thank all the people who offered to 'adopt' various containers and boat gardens in Kinghorn. We really appreciate your help.

We are happy to give advice if required and also answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to contact us at: kinghorninbloom@gmail.com.

Many thanks,Carolyn, Kinghorn in Bloom.

KCRC Community Club:Kinghorn Village Skiff Launch & Naming Ceremony

at Kinghorn beach on 4th June 2015. Not to be missed!

NB Remember the Community Centre holds a diary of events to help planners prevent clashes of dates.

TRAGEDY

Early on the morning of 6th November 1868, my 41 year old Great Grandfather Robert Chalmers and his 14 year old eldest son Robert set out in their yawl from Kinghorn harbour to haul their lines bated with approximately 200 hooks, set in the Firth of Forth off the shore from what was the Abden Shipyard at the East Braes.

During this procedure the yawl capsized drowning both fishermen. Their bodies were never recovered. This tragedy left my Great Grandmother a young widow aged 37 with five young children.

CLOSE CALL

Alex Chalmers, my Great Grandfather’s younger brother, a ship’s carpenter and renowned local boat builder, specialised in the construction of fishing yawls - the preferred choice of sailing fishing boat on the Fife coast in the 19th and 20th centuries.

After nearly 30 years at sea Alex - or “Old Paul” as he was known locally - continued the family tradition of fishing. Now aged 66, “Old Paul” set off from Kinghorn harbour in the early morning of 5th November 1909 to tend to his lines set between Inchkeith and Kinghorn. In the darkness his yawl was run down and swamped by a steamship, pitching “Old Paul” into the Forth. Fortunately, being the old seadog he was, he managed to reach the shore in an exhausted condition. Thus averting another family tragedy.

Coincidence or otherwise, “Old Pauls” close call happened the same day and month 41 years after his older brother Robert and nephew Robert were lost at sea.

― Jim Chalmers (ably assisted by digital technical assistant Ken Hunter)

KINGHORN PRIMARY UPDATEMay’s focus on Health and Well-Being across the school enabled us to work with the wider community with visits from RNLI, Community Police, Mary’s Meals, NSPCC and then our Sports Day. Mrs Turners P2/3 class ran a Healthy Cafe and a whole school lunch BBQ all took place this month. Pupils engaged in taster sessions of Golf, Rugby, Tennis and participated in our own Race For Life event!

On Saturday 14th May we held our ‘Grounds, Gardens and Grub’ afternoon where families and members of the wider community all worked together to support making our school playground and surrounding areas look amazing and areas to be proud of!

June was ‘Carnival’ time as we looked forward to Gala week – lots of wonderful events were held and our school was thrilled to play such a large part in these community events such as the Fun Run, Football Tournament, Kite Festival on the beach and Talent Show. It’s super to be part of such a great community!

― Carol Wyse, Headteacher

Happy Spring everyone! What a busy time at Kinghorn Primary School!

April saw us host our Spring Fayre – the weather was very kind to us so with numerous activities both inside and outside it proved to be a fun Sunday afternoon for all. Our huge thanks to everyone who helped, attended and contrib-uted – we raised over £1000!!!! Absolutely wonderful!!

Our new Homework was launched with Parent Guideline leaflets shared and Workshops held to work with parents how they can best support their children. We plan to have more workshops next session!

The Science Museum came to visit our pupils – all pupils were able to learn about science in a fun, exciting and enjoyable way. Our thanks to Mrs McPhail for organising this – we can now use this knowledge to build on our other Science work covered over this year.

Family Fishing Tragedyand a Close Call

We have all seen coats of arms on old buildings, in stained glass windows, above old gateways, on letter headings and at the entrance to towns and villages, but few of us really understand what they are for, or what the symbols mean.

Coats of arms are an ancient form of identification. They were introduced in the 12th century when knights wore armour with helmets that completely covered their faces. There had to be some means of telling friend from foe on a battlefield so the knights put distinctive patterns on their shields and surcoats. Each knight had a different pattern which conformed to a strict system of designs and colours. These came to be known as coats of arms. As more people adopted this form of identification regulation became essential to make sure no two people had the same design. Different countries developed their own system of registration and regulation of arms. In Scotland, the Office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms has been officially responsible for overseeing the issue and use of arms since the 16th century. Arms are issued to an individual or an organisation and it is illegal for them to be used by others – just like a passport or a driver’s license. Scottish heraldry is governed by civil law.

In the 1670’s the original register of arms in Scotland was lost – possibly by fire or by the actions of Oliver Cromwell. In 1672 an act of parliament introduced a new Public Register of all Arms and Bearings. All those using ‘arms or signs armorial’ were required to prove their entitlement and register them in the new register. Arms were recorded with a description in words called a ‘blazon’. Artists may interpret (emblazon) the blazon in any style and copyright remains with the artist.

Seals were also used as an ancient form of identification. In medieval times a wax imprint from a seal would be attached to a legal document instead of a signature because many people could not write. Burghs adopted this form of identification. Latterly the seal became a device that embossed the paper that documents were written on. Over time the civic seals were looked upon as ‘armorial bearings’ and burghs were expected to register seals with the Office of the Lord Lyon, although few did. There is little evidence for burghs having arms registered prior to 1672 and few burghs registered armorial bearings between 1672 and the mid-19th century.

On 2nd April 1929 Thomas Innes of Learney, later Lord Lyon King of Arms, wrote a letter to the Scotsman Newspaper highlighting the fact that seventy six Scottish burghs were using unregistered armorial bearings (coats of arms or seals) illegally and pointed out that legal action had been taken in the past against such transgressors. Kinghorn was one of the Royal Burghs illegally using an armorial bearing. The Town Council minutes for 8th April 1929 records a reference to the letter in the Scotsman and the need to register the Burgh’s arms. The Town Clerk was to organise it.

Like the arms of many of Scotland’s old burghs the design was based on the old burgh seal. A blazon for Kinghorn had been published in several books between the 1500s and 1929 using an adaptation of the burgh seal, but it had never been adopted or used by Kinghorn Town Council and it had never been registered. Although the original seal is long lost, a 16th century impression of it is on record. On one side of the seal was a building with three towers and a cross above the centre tower, and on the reverse was an image of St. Leonard giving a blessing with the Latin motto: Sanctus Leonardus de Kinghorn.

Correspondence from the Office of the Lord Lyon to Kinghorn Town Council in 1929 states:

This confirms there were no arms being used up to 1929, only uncoloured seals. The design was taken from the seal and redesigned in 1929 using colours from the arms of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn.

The blazon for the new Kinghorn Burgh Arms was recorded as:

The shield is the ‘mount proper’ and is coloured azure (blue). The castle is represented as a triple towered castle and is coloured argent (silver) and was assumed to be the Castle in Kinghorn, although a cross on the top would often indicate a church. In 1979 Alexander Cain, who researched the history of Kinghorn Parish Church, suggested the image of the building on the seal represented the west door of the early Kinghorn Church because the cross is so prominent on the 1891 seal.

‘Azure, on a mount proper, a castle triple-toweredArgent, masoned Vert, windows, portcullis and fansGules, the middle tower ensigned with a cross pate�tchee Or, between two mullets in fess of the second.Motto: Sanctus Leonardus de Kinghorn.’

‘�e design on the arms being a very old one, preservedto us in uncoloured seals, there has been somespeculation regarding the proper colours, but it would benatural to make these the same as the Earl of Strathmoreand Kinghorn’s:- Silver and blue.’

Casts taken from seals of Kinghorn Burgh and held in the Office of the LordLyon in Edinburgh. L – R: cast from an original 16th century wax seal;

cast from the obverse of a seal held in the Town Clerks Office in 1891;cast from the reverse of a seal held in the Town Clerks Office in 1891.

May’s focus on Health and Well-Being across the school enabled us to work with the wider community with visits from RNLI, Community Police, Mary’s Meals, NSPCC and then our Sports Day. Mrs Turners P2/3 class ran a Healthy Cafe and a whole school lunch BBQ all took place this month. Pupils engaged in taster sessions of Golf, Rugby, Tennis and participated in our own Race For Life event!

On Saturday 14th May we held our ‘Grounds, Gardens and Grub’ afternoon where families and members of the wider community all worked together to support making our school playground and surrounding areas look amazing and areas to be proud of!

June was ‘Carnival’ time as we looked forward to Gala week – lots of wonderful events were held and our school was thrilled to play such a large part in these community events such as the Fun Run, Football Tournament, Kite Festival on the beach and Talent Show. It’s super to be part of such a great community!

― Carol Wyse, Headteacher

Ginny Reid takes a look at the provenance of historic coats of arms in general and, in particular, Kinghorn’s own.

THE ROYAL BURGH OF KINGHORN ARMS

6 KINGHORN CHRONICLE / ISSUE 3

‘�e Clerk exhibited the receipt by the Lyon King (sic)for the matriculation of the Burgh’s Arms. It wasdecided the receipt should be framed and hung up inthe Town Hall’

However, the cross on the earlier seal is smaller and not directly connected to the tower. Green is a colour especially associated with St Leonard, so the green brickwork (masoned vert) represents Kinghorn’s patron saint. The red (Gules) windows etc. in the silver castle indicate it was a royal castle – possibly a link with Alexander III. Stars in heraldry represent spurs on personal arms but on civic arms they are taken to represent celestial bodies. The stars, or mullets as they are called, on opposite sides of the shield are thought to represent the sun and moon as opposites: day and night.

The coronet above the shield is one that is used in the arms of every Royal Burgh in Scotland and the motto has been taken directly from the seal. Kinghorn Burgh Arms have no crest above the coronet.

The arms were officially registered on 3rd July 1929. Kinghorn Town Council minutes for 9th September 1929 record:

The ‘receipt’ in question was in fact a beautifully illuminated image taken from the Public Register of all Arms and Bearings.At the time of Regionalisation in 1975 the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn ceased to exist and the arms of the Royal Burgh could no longer be used. It would be a bit like using the passport of a dead person and would be illegal. The Community Council registered new arms in 1998.

The design was identical to the old Burgh Arms apart from the Royal Burgh coronet which was replaced with the Scottish Community Council coronet. The two sets of arms illustrated look slightly different because of a different interpretation of the blazon by the artists. At the time of the restoration of the Royal Burgh name to Kinghorn in 2013 a note was placed in the register to reflect the change of name, but the design of the arms remained the same.

So, why aren’t the Community Council arms displayed on the entry signs to Kinghorn like they used to be? Prior to 1975 the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Town Council used to erect the signs at the entry points to Kinghorn. They owned the signs and they owned the arms, so they could display their own arms on their own signs.

After regionalisation in 1975 Fife Council erected the signs at the entry to Kinghorn, but Fife Council did not own the Burgh Arms. It is illegal for Fife Council to display someone else’s arms on their signs. Fortunately the present Kinghorn Commu-nity Council has been in discussion with Fife Council and the Office of the Lord Lyon to find a compromise and happily the Community Council Arms will soon be displayed on the entry signs to Kinghorn.

Stars or mulletsmay represent thesun and moon

The Coronetof a ScottishRoyal Burgh

Stars or mulletsmay represent the

sun and moon

Red windowsdenote a Royal

residence

Red windowsdenote a Royalresidence

The Coronet ofa Scottish

CommunityCouncil

Triple towered castlemay represent a castle

in Kinghorn

Blue backgroundand silver of the castlefrom the colour of the

arms of the Earl ofStrathmore and

Kinghorn

A shield– a ‘mount

proper’

Green is a colourassociated withSt. Leonard hencethe greenbrickwork

Mottotaken from

the oldKinghorn

seal

Motto takenfrom the oldKinghorn seal

Community Councils are not alloweda crest above the coronet

A crest would often go above the coronet butThe Royal Burgh of Kinghorn did not have a crest

Arms of the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Town Council,registered in 1929

Arms of Kinghorn Community Council registered in 1998. Re-registeredin 2013 as the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Community Council Arms

The two sets of arms appear different because of a difference in interpretation of the blazon by the artists.Images courtesy of the Office of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms (copyright).

Sources

1. Kinghorn Town Council Minutes (1929) pp. 350; 375; 417 (Fife Archives)

2. Urquhart, R.M., (1973) Scottish Burgh and County Heraldry. Heraldry Today, London.

3. Cain, A., (1979) Kinghorn Parish Church. Allen Litho, Kirkcaldy, printers.

4. John Marquess of Bute, McPhial J. R. N., Lonsdale H. W. (1897) The Arms of the Royal and Parliamentary Burghs of Scotland. Blackwood and sons, Edinburgh. p365.

5. Images courtesy of the Office of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms (copyright).

Smokey Robinson sang "I heard it on the grapevine" (how much longer would you be mine). Well, by now you may have heard on the Kinghorn "Grapevine" that the Trustees of Kinghorn Parish Church of Scotland have been looking at various options for the future of our two buildings: Church by the Sea and the Church Hall on the High Street.

The Buildings Group of the Congregational Board has been meeting for the past three years and has reported to the Trustees/Board and from that have come three options which were made known at an open meeting to the Congregation recently: Make the Church up to date, multi-use and the main place of worship and community use and dispose of the Church Halls, or make the Halls the main place of worship and community use and dispose of the Church Halls, or continue as present with the two buildings: Church and Halls.

We realise that this is a major decision that is driven by Christian considerations to have the best place for worship and witness daily not just one day a week, community use by all and financially appropriate investment for the future rather than laying a heavy financial upkeep onto an upcoming generation. The decision has to be made by the Trustees of Kinghorn Parish Church of Scotland (not "they" faceless folk from afar but local people that you know and respect) and is a decision that has to be faced before major financial outlay on either building may be necessary. We value the opinions of all: Church Members, Parishioners and folks of goodwill in the Community; we would most of all value your prayers and encouragement that the proper decision in God's will be reached.

Many thanks, Jim Reid, Kinghorn Minister

Kinghorn Community Land Association was proud to host a planting day to launch the brand new community orchard behind the new Ecology Centre on Sunday 20th March 2016.

Over 80 people helped on a beautiful sunny day to plant over 40 fruit trees: apple, russet, plum, greengage and pear. A shelter hedge with native species trees was also planted.

Apple tree experts, Andrew and Margaret Lear, were on hand to provide expert advice and support to tree planters of all ages. Funded by Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme, a further 40 trees will be planted in the autumn. — Ewen Campbell

IMPORTANT DECISIONS AHEAD

A FRUITFUL

FUTURE

Hope forVenue Hire@The Ecology Centre

Our Nest room with wonderful views of Kinghorn Loch is the perfect venue to stage your workshops, training days, conferences, parties or even intimate wedding celebrations!

Room Hire from £10 per hour • Home cookingParking including disabled spaces • Free Wi-FiTo find out more, please call 01592 891567or email admin@theecologycentre.org

www.theecologycentre.org

Barn at the Loch

Farm Shop & CaféOPEN 10AM – 4PM EVERY DAYHope to see you soonCraigencalt Farm, Kinghorn, KY3 9YG

Like us on@TheLochFarmShop

We really hope that pupils from the school will continue to explore the site throughout the seasons and enjoy having such a fantastic resource on their doorstep. We always encourage children to teach their family members about everything they’ve learned so hopefully some parents will be visiting and exploring too!

– Claire Reid, Education Manager

Thanks to generous funding from the Kinghorn Common Good Fund, all children attending Kinghorn Primary School have had the opportunity to experience and explore the new Ecology Centre. The new centre now sits on the East side of the Loch, on land purchased for the community by the Scottish Land Fund.

Children were able to play environmental games, explore the site with a scavenger hunt and find out about all the different types of bugs, beasties and birds that call the loch their home. There were no shortage of flying displays from the local Heron, some buzzard calls, plenty of geese and lots of worms to hold. Older pupils explored the new eco-building checking out its solar panels, the sedum roof and, of course, learning about the composting toilet! All of the sessions were designed to allow the pupils to build connections with the land and learn about community ownership.

As pupils played games they were learning how The Ecology Centre and its volunteers look after the land for wildlife and for people.

We’ve also been working with a small group of pupils from the upper school each week. They’ve had the chance to experience a different type of Monday morning learning all about camouflage, natural fire lighting and food chains.

Kinghorn Primary pupilsenjoy learning at the loch!

KINGHORN CHRONICLE / ISSUE 3 11

TheBarnatTheLoch

The Kingswood Hotel& Restaurant

The Pet LadyDog Walking – Pet TransportCat Care - Small Animal Care

Puppy and Kitten Visits

Telephone: 01592 890849Mobile: 07740 335876

mairi@thepetlady.org.ukwww.thepetlady.org.uk

:ThePetLadyFife

Friday 10am–5pmSaturday 10:30–4pmSun/Monday ClosedTue/Wednesday 10am–6pmThursday 10am–5pm

Enquiries01592 890805www.dicethebarber.co.uk

WALK INS AVAILABLE: 3 HIGH STREET • KINGHORN • FIFE • KY3 9UW

Full details on all of our events can be foundon our website: www.kingswoodhotel.co.uk

The Kingswood Hotel Kinghorn Road nr Burntisland

Tel 01592 872329 - enquries@kingswoodhotel.co.uk

CANMORE SUITE OR CONSERVATORY

For private parties up to 50 guests.

ALEXANDER FUNCTION SUITE Wedding Receptions and/or

ceremonies or private parties for 40 – 250 guests.

Wedding Packages from £2400

Restaurant Open Every DayFor Lunch & Evening Meals

Coffee and home baking daily 10am to 4.30pm

High Tea £12.95Saturday 3.00pm-6.00pm Sunday 3.00pm-7.00pm

Sunday @ The KingswoodCarvery available 12.00-8.30pm

including High Tea Cake Buffet 3.00pm-7.00pm

Carvery Night Last Thursday of Each MonthCurry Night First Friday of Each Month