President: Alistair Hugh

Vice President:  Robin McAlpine

Immediate Past President: Bill Brown

Raith Probus Secretary: Allan Morton

Contact E Mail : RaithProbusSec@gmail.com

The Club meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 10:30am.  We meet at Pathhead Parish Church Hall, 33 Harriet Street, Kirkcaldy KY1 2AG.

FUTURE TALKS:  

If any club member has had a particularly interesting career or has a hobby and wishes to share by giving a talk, please contact any committee member.

Raith Probus Club
Meeting Number 990
Pathhead Church 21st July 2026
President Alistair Hugh opened the meeting at 10:30hrs.
Introduction to Speaker:
Speaker: Brian Steer
Topic: “Croatian Hit Man”
Vote of Thanks: Willie Stewart
Previous minutes, matters arising – The creation of our new Facebook page was confirmed as
being complete with the Secretary thanked for setting it up. The administrators of the page
will be Allan Morton, Bob Terras and Jim Neilson. On the downside the posts are also shared
on the various Kirkcaldy Facebook groups (something that we decided to do, and was noted
in the previous minutes). We need to be sure as a club that we are happy for that to happen.
We should therefore decide whether we only post on our own page or share with the other
groups. Please have a think and we’ll make a decision at the next meeting where a show of
hands will be taken.
REPORTS
Membership: Bob Taylor (given by Jack Cook)
Reported the attendance numbers of 42 members present, 5 apologies and 0 guests.
IT: Jim Neilson
Nothing to report.
Recorder: Bob Terras (not present)
Nothing to report.
Probus Website: Bob Terras (not present)
Nothing to report

Treasurer: Charlie Low
Collecting membership fees at this and the next two meetings in August.
Copies of the financial statement are available on request.
Charlie gave details of the death of Richard Vass, a previous member, who died on 23rd June
2026.
Welfare: Tom Reilly
Nothing to report.
Secretary: Allan Morton
The Facebook page is now up and running and we have posted three messages so far, an
introductory description of the club, a post about Charlie’s Honorary Membership and Jim
winning the gardening competition. The statistics are shown below in the tables. Note that
each of the Facebook groups have their own administrators and approve posts for inclusion
at various times after being originally submitted.
Charlie’s Post:
Facebook Group Views Viewers Engagement Impressions Comments
Love Kirkcaldy 8,075 5,543 439 5,608 27
What’s On Kirkcaldy 31 24 0 24 0
Our Page 109 46 15 50 1
Jim’s Post:
Facebook Group Views Viewers Engagement Impressions Comments
Love Kirkcaldy 5,691 3,790 166 3,981 9
What’s On Kirkcaldy 57 40 2 42 0
Kirkcaldy Connected 1,279 901 18 905 0
Kirkcaldy Billboard 3 1 0 1 0
Our Page 217 119 20 124 1
The table shows:
• Views: The number of times that your content was played or displayed. Content
includes reels, posts, stories and ads.

• Viewers: The number of Meta accounts that have viewed your content at least once.
Content includes reels, posts, stories, live videos and ads. This metric is estimated and
in development.
• Engagement: The number of reactions, comments, shares and clicks on your post.
• Impressions: The number of times that your content was on screen
• Comments: The number of comments on your post
Members are encouraged to take photographs of group activities for any future posts.
We intend to advertise each club meeting in advance and post about any special events or
activities which have happened in the recent past, hopefully with an accompanying
photograph.
Note that other Probus Clubs share their posts with the various Kirkcaldy Facebook groups
and due to our sharing of news we have received offers from people prepared to give at talk
at future meetings as this raises our profile as a club.
Vice-President: Robin McAlpine, 1000th Meeting Sub-Committee
Nothing to report.
STANDING ORDER REPORTS
Speakers: Charlie Low
Awaiting confirmation for last slot in 2026.
Social: Ragnar Ingebrigtsen
Nothing to report.
Calendar of Events:
Tuesday 18th August Curry Lunch at Annapurna Gurkha’s Restaurant in Kirkcaldy at
12:30pm
Wednesday 23rd
September
Coffee Morning at Weavers, 10am, price £4.50
Friday 25th Sep –
Monday 28th Sep
Coach holiday based in Strathpeffer (One day to Skye, one day to
Inverness)
Contact Peter Shields

Friday 9th Oct Annual Dinner
Contact Ragnar Ingebrigtsen
Wednesday 18th
November
Coffee Morning at Weavers, 10am, price £4.50
Saturday 21st Nov Matinee performance from KAOS of “The Hunchback of Notre
Dame” at 2.30pm
CONVENERS REPORTS
Cycling: John Chalmers
Nothing to report.
Further information: John Chalmers.
Gardening: Ron Steedman
The winner of the cup was Jim Neilson at our annual competition which was judged by Moria
Meek. There were six presentations with the results being 1st-Jim Neilson, 2nd-Tom Reilly, 3rd-
Ron Steedman.
The visit to Jim Neilsons garden is confirmed for 22nd July at 10am at 6 Oriel Crescent.
Next meeting will be on 20th August at Kirkcaldy Golf Club.
Further information: Ron Steedman.
Golf: Robin McAlpine
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 13th August at Scoonie Golf Club.
Further information: Robin McAlpine.
Lottery: Charlie Low
Collecting stake money for July/August.
Photography: Allister Todd
Hoping for new pictures to share at our next meeting.
Next meeting – Thursday 30th July 10.00. Kirkcaldy Golf Club
Further information: Allister Todd.
Snooker: Malcolm Walker (not present)
Styx Snooker Club.

Every Friday: 11.00 to 13.00.
Further information: Malcolm Walker.
Walkers: Ken Campbell
Our next walk is at the Falkland Estate. Over half is in shaded areas and close to home in case
we are in the throes of another heatwave.
The walk is around the Falkland Estate on most tracks we have not been on before.
Date of Walk Tuesday 28th July
Destination Falkland Estate
Meeting Point Falkland Main Car Park (turn left opposite the Palace)
Also known as ‘Back Wynd Car Park’ – Sat Nav. KY15 7AN
Meeting Time 10.15am at above Car Park
Length of Walk 2.5 miles (1 ½ hours)
Terrain Good flat paths with one small hill
Refreshments Falkland Estate Café (before returning to the Car Park)
Could I please ask that those intending to join this ‘Walk’ give me their names to avoid any
unwarranted delays or missing anyone out on the trip, also to arrange the car share details
and timings for pick-ups, etc.
SPEAKER
The speaker was introduced by Jack Lowther and was Brian Steer on the topic of “Croatian
Hit Man”. Brian retired from the police in 1998 after 30 years’ service working in all three
divisions in Fife from Cupar to Major Crimes including rape, robbery and murder. His last job
was as divisional commander based in Dunfermline.
We’re going back to October 20, 1988. When I arrived at work in Kirkcaldy at 8.15am I was
informed of reports of gunfire on Glen Lyon Road so we rushed to the scene. As is normal in
this situations we found chaos on the street with many claiming that they heard gunfire.
Forensics combed the area, finding bloodstains in the street, fragments of teeth, and bullet
holes through windows.
The police started door to door enquiries. It was found that the shot man was taken away in
an ambulance, just as the police arrived. We secured the scene and found the shot man’s
neighbour had a bullet through their window and well as numerous bullet casings on the
pavement. It was a vast area to take care of as well trying to find out what had happened to
the shot man and what had actually occurred.
We had nothing more to go on other than people saying Nikola Stedul, a former Croatian
Freedom Fighter, has been shot and was found on the street crawling towards his own house.

We needed luck and we got it when someone told us that they had seen a black car outside
their house for a couple of days. It looked suspicious as the guy had been in it for a while with
the windows steamed up. He even told us number of the black Mini Metro. Praise for nosey
neighbours! It was found to be a hire from Edinburgh Airport.
We traced the car via Edinburgh City Police who were sent to the airport. At 8.15am the shots
were reported to us, at 8.30am we got the details of the car and at 9.30am the car had been
returned to the airport by a driver who was in a hurry to catch a London bound plane. The
name the car has been hired under was Rudolf Lehotsky with a Swiss address. We got a
description of the man but found he had left for London on the plane.
The victim’s name meant something to me as I had visited him before, in association with
Special Branch, and knew he was highly involved in the Croation movement for statehood, in
fact he was their president. At the time Yugoslavia has not yet broken up into new states. He
was known as a person of interest but there was no knowledge of him being in danger of
attack.
At 11.30am the plane from Edinburgh arrived at Heathrow. We waited for news that the
London police had arrested Rudolf Lehotsky. When the phone rang, it was to be told nobody
with that name or description was on the plane! However it was soon found that here was a
standby plane and he was on the other one! He was quickly detained but denied all knowledge
of Kirkcaldy and could hardly speak English. He claimed to be a Swiss businessman on a short
holiday and presented a passport and driving licence in his name. We told the police to check
him for firearms traces and take his clothes.
We now knew that Nikola Stedul was in a serious condition and that five shots had been fired.
We left for London and interviewed the suspect despite him asking for a German interpreter.
He still denied ever being in Kirkcaldy or knowing the victim. The interpreter told us he was
not German based on his manner of speech.
We brought him back to Edinburgh the next day. The plan was to process him and send him
to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. His English was magically improving and he stated he would help in
our enquiries. At court he was remanded to Saughton Prison in Edinburgh. At 10pm that day
we received a call from the prison saying that Rudolf Lehotsky wanted to see the two officers
who had travelled with him from London. We went to the prison and interviewed him in the
chapel. His English had vastly improved now and he told us his name was not actually Rudolf
Lehotsky and that he had to change his name as he was under a lot of problems in his home
country of Yugoslavia and could not leave the country under his real name. He still claimed
his trip to Scotland was a holiday. Now he said his name was Vinco Sindicic and he came from
Croatia. He still claimed he knew nothing about the shooting.
We spoke with the London Security Services who told us Vinco Sindicic was a well-known
Major in the Secret Service in Yugoslavia who is suspected of taking part in assassination
attempts throughout Europe. He was well known by the German authorities and was an
extremely highly trained operative. Because of this the government under Margaret Thatcher
now had to be told as it may be state sponsored terrorism.
We were told to focus on the shooting only and ignore the security aspects. The world’s press
were becoming highly interested once his real name had been released.

Regarding the victim, we found he had been shot three times and it was unbelievable that he
did not die due to his internal injuries. We were also told we could speak with him quite soon.
A lorry driver was diving along the Standing Stane Road and spotted a bag in the long grass
which we found to contain two guns, a silencer and ammunition. We went out with dogs
looking for evidence.
We proved that the bullets found at the scene came from one of the guns. Also evidence was
found on the suspect that he had fired guns recently.
The Swiss police were asked to help and they located the real Rudolf Lehotsky. He was an
agricultural salesman from Geneva but on his last trip behind the Iron Curtain his passport
and driving licence had been stolen.
We were sent to Switzerland with the correct paperwork including a list of prepared
questions. We met Rudolf and he told us his passport and driving licence were stolen at his
hotel when police checked residents in Russia, a common practice at the time. We were
convinced he was an innocent person.
We had held the passport and driving licence for quite a while and when looking at them more
closely we noticed that it was the same photograph on both documents despite the
documents being dated two years apart. We sent them to experts who found they were both
perfect forgeries.
We had to provide security at the hospital for Nikola Stedul with armed guards. We also
informed the prison that the suspect was a very dangerous guy so they put him on tight
lockdown.
We then arranged an identification parade and the suspect was identified by the witness who
had seen him in the car, the lady at the car hire desk and Nikola Stedul himself.
We then had a very good case against Vinco Sindicic regarding the shooting. He was also
suspected of shooting a Croation family in Italy, a dissident in Paris and other crimes all over
Europe. He was even considered a suspect in the shooting of the Swedish Prime Minister,
although he was not involved in that case. It was strange that none of these countries were
interested in speaking with him while we held him in custody.
The trial was months away and security was extensive. We kept the victim and his family
upstairs in Dunfermline Police Station as the trial was not until the following May. For physical
exercise we escorted him around the local park at 1am, however the conditions were not
great despite being the safest thing to do.
Nikola made a good recovery and was looking forward to the trial. It was held in Dunfermline
High Court which we made secure. There were many firearms officers including an armed
escort from Saughton Prison travelling over the Forth Road Bridge.
The lawyers were Gordon Jackson (crime prosecutor, famous for speaking about Alex
Salmond on a train) and Edgar Prais defending Vinco Sindicic. Security at the court was high
as the prisoner arrived with cells underneath the court. A prison officer searched Vinco before
and after the journey from the prison. On arrival at Dunfermline it was found Vinco had been
given a small tub of thick ointment for a skin condition. It was opened up and poking around
in the cream revealed a Garote he had made by unpicking his prison blanket and entwining
the threads together. He then smashed his plastic razor into little sharp bits, heated them and
stuck them in intervals along the strong cable. We assumed he did this to take a hostage so we had to tell the judge and the lawyers. Edgar Prais was very anxious and demanded
protection when speaking with his client, something he had previously denied needing. Vinco
was a very powerful strongly built man who was clearly very inventive and dangerous.
The trial lasted a few weeks and included flying in an ex-spy from Yugoslavia who volunteered
to give evidence about his time in Germany when he worked with Vinco and about how
dangerous he was. He cost the police a lot of money in hotel and drinks bills and was probably
not needed for the conviction after all.
At the end of the trial the jury quickly returned a guilty verdict for the attempted murder of
Nikola Stedul and for firearms offences. He was given 15 years.
That’s not quite the end of the story as Vinco Sindicic arranged many appeals and sued the
police, the judge and prison staff, who hated dealing with him. After 10 years he was sent
back to Yugoslavia in 1998 despite this being against his wishes. He was arrested on arrival
for a murder in Paris. At that trial he was found not guilty. He then retired to his luxury house
and yacht and started a restaurant in Croatia. He had clearly been highly paid for the work he
had been doing. Subsequently he was locked up for trying a buy another restaurant at gun
point. The police on the Nikola Stedul case were warned never to go on holiday in Croatia
despite wanting to visit the county.
In the mid-2000s we found Vinco had moved to Spain. He was being followed by a journalist
who kept trying to keep him in the news by repeating his stories.
He was then sent back to Croatia from Spain after he failed to turn up as a witness at a murder
trial. He is now still living in Italy as far as we know but must be in his 80’s.
Nikola Stedul went back to the new Croatia but lived in fear throughout his life. He died a
couple of years ago.
Brian met Nikola’s daughters just before Covid who thanked him for the work the police did
in the case.
His daughter Monika wrote a book on the case and said “My father drew his last breath in his
beloved Croatia, but he always retained his love for Scotland, the land that had given him
refuge for almost 20 years, and a special place in his heart was reserved for Kirkcaldy.”
The gunman obviously lived a very healthy lifestyle. Despite many killings linked to the him
(there were at least 70 attempted assassinations of Croat dissidents around the world) the
Kirkcaldy case was the only time anyone was brought to justice for such attacks.
The assassination attempt was subject of a 1994 movie by Scottish Television, The Yugoslav
Hitman.
There is also a BBC podcast on the attempted political assassination of Nikola Stedul in
Kirkcaldy you can listen to at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hvvrrw
Questions
Was the jury decision unanimous? Yes it was, the judge and jury were well convinced from
the evidence. Having the victim identify the suspect gets you off to a great start.

I could not miss the convoy on the bridge when I saw it when going to work – was it overkill?
Yes maybe it was a bit excessive with cars either end of the van, motorcycle outriders etc.
Did you manage to trace where the firearms came from? No, we were not able to trace them.
The security services were involved in this but nothing could be traced, nor did we find how
the guns were transported to Kirkcaldy, maybe via an embassy. The guns had been well used
with lots on ammunition found alongside them. We suspect he planned to have assistants
who flew into the country under cover of a football match at Hampden where Scotland were
playing Yugoslavia the weekend before the crime, however those three suspects were turned
back at passport control. Vinco Sindicic arrived via London and did not carry the guns with
him. Somewhere between London and Edinburgh he got the guns but we could never
establish if he had any assistance.
Was this case the highlight of your career? Yes, it was totally different and unique. So much
so there was an STV Crimewatch programme made on the case. The end result was very
disappointing as it was a dramatisation with much poetic licence used. We even asked for
Harrison Ford to play me, instead it was an actor from “Take The High Road”, Inverdarroch.
The end result was not too bad and the key points were shown.
In a serious case with weapons, are they destroyed? Yes they are destroyed.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Willie Stewart. Who would ever had have thought there
would be a politically motivated assassination attempt in our town undertaken by foreign
nationals.

The policework was outstanding and we brought a very dangerous man to justice..

We are very pleased Brian came to talk with us today, especially as he had not given this talk
for many years.

NEXT MEETING
Date: 4th August 2026
Speaker: Michael Mulford
Topic: “Fun with words”
Vote of Thanks: Robin McAlpine
AOCB:
Charlie was concerned that he was not asked prior to being pictured in a Facebook post. This
should be considered in future. The President stated that he will review the posts so far so as
to form our view on the best use of Facebook.
The meeting closed at 11:35hrs.

Allan Morton
Secretary
Probus Website: www.probusonline.org/raith-of-kirkcaldy

Probus Calendar: calendar.google.com/calendar …
Secretary Email: RaithProbusSec@gmail.com

 

Walking Group     Musselburgh & The Racecourse 23rd June 2026

Two weeks ago,  9 members of our group, met up at Kirkcaldy Bus Station to catch the 9.08am bus to Edinburgh and, on arrival, we boarded our famous No. 44 bus to Musselburgh for the start of the Walk.  Fortunately, it was a lovely scorching sunny day with clear blue skies and no wind  –  unusual for that part of the country but we were at the start of a heat wave.

After which we returned to Musselburgh for some lunch and refreshments at my favourite, Wetherspoon’s,  in this case it was  “The David MacBeth Moir”, ( a local physician & Poet to whom Charles Dickens subscribed money to a statue of him in the town ). It was then time to catch the bus back to Edinburgh and on to Kirkcaldy, despite a 35 min delay, in Princes Street, as our scheduled Kirkcaldy bound bus home, did not turn up !!!   We arrived back in Kirkcaldy at 4.15ish. All in all, a great day out and well worth the visits and views, not to mention the sun tan !!!!. Plus the total 4 mile approx. walk.

 

Finally, I would like to thank once again Phil Bate for organising the Walk and  Allan Morton for the photographs. As for our next walk, hopefully details of which, will be available at our next meeting.

Walking Group Balmerino Abbey 26th May 2026

Last Tuesday, on a lovely sunny morning, 10 of our ‘Probus’ members went on our monthly ‘Walk’, this time to Balmerino. Eight of our Group, car shared to Balmerino Car Park, where we met up with Phil and John Johnston at 10.15am. and then commenced our walk along the banks of the River Tay, until we reached a fairly steep staircase leading on to Wormit. It was felt that ascending the staircase may cause difficulties to one or two of our Group, therefore it was decided to retrace our steps and return to the Car Park, via a slight detour  to view other aspects of the area,

 

We then visited the ruins of Balmerino Abbey, which was started in 1229 by twelve Cistercian Monks who had travelled by foot from Melrose. Originally set up as a private dwelling with a Dormitory ; Refectory  and Church which was perfectly designed for communal living, where they ate, slept and worshiped together, sharing everything and owning nothing. Over the years, it was slowly added to resulting in the full Abbey. However in 1559, the Abbey was overthrown by Protestant reformers and the community dispersed.

 

At this stage it was nearing our lunch break at mid-day, so left the Abbey and returning to our cars and headed to the Bridgend Garden Centre and Restaurant at Freuchie for some well-earned and excellent food and drinks.

 

After our lunch break, it was time to return home, arriving back after our 2 mile ramble at approx. 1.30pm.

 

Hopefully, the photographs, which were shown on the screen and also on the Web Site, will provide some of the views, which we appreciated during our ‘Walk’.

 

Again I would invite you to Join us and get some exercise on our future ‘ Walks ’. details of which will be provided in the future. You never know, you may learn some interesting facts about the locations along with that of your fellow youthful members and it would be lovely if you could increase our numbers and get to know you a little better.

 

Probus Website: Bob Terras

Michael Lovedays Garden visit 2026

 

Visit to Branklyn Gardens Perth

On a most glorious day our President and good lady were out and about.

These gardens look their best when the azeleas and Rhododendrons are in Bloom.

Well worth a visit.

2026 Craigtoun Park

 

Our Web Site is slowly developing.
At the bottom of our Website report for meetings we now have three Google Links for the
Website, Probus Calendar and Secretary Email.
I have suggested that we all should forward any matter of interest found on our travels.
Last week on returning from Newcastle found a resting coffee place in Moffat. Have you seen
the Spitfire we were asked?
Not five minutes’ walk from Moffat centre along Well Street we came upon Dowding House.
Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding was born in Moffat. Pictures show resplendent in the Spring
Sunshine presented on the front grass a magnificent Spitfire.

Spitfire Moffat April 2026

Craigtoun Park May 2026

 

Walking Group

 ‘Walk’ from Balerno to Slateford.   28th April 2026

 

Walking Group,

Last Tuesday,  8 members of our Walking Group, took part in a lovely walk again,  along the corridor of the ‘Water of Leith’ from Balerno, to Slateford, accommodating again pleasant warm “Walking’ weather.

 

Starting at Kirkcaldy Train Station at 9.25am,  we travelled to Edinburgh,  using our invaluable ‘Fife Travel Pass’,  reaching Haymarket Station at approx. 10.15am.  We then walked across the road to board our favourite No.44 Bus to Balerno.  Reaching there at approx. 11.30am.  Where we commenced our ‘Walk’ along the ‘Water of Leith’, viewing some spectacular vistas and expensive houses along the way, including the historic ‘Colinton Tunnel’, ( Which was completed in 1874 and is now the home to a 140 meter mural depicting a Child’s first train journey taken from Robert Louis Stevenson’s  poem “ From a Railway Carriage ), arriving after a 5.2 mile ramble, at the ‘Water of Leith Visitors Centre’ in Slateford, to connect with our No 44 Bus back to Haymarket for approx. 1.50,pm where we had some expensive and limited snack meals & drinks at ‘The Haymarket’ ( a place to be avoided ). After which, we crossed over to Haymarket Station to catch the 2.45 train and return to Kirkcaldy around 3.30.pm

 

In conclusion, a pleasurable time out was had by all and I would add that all of the ‘Group’ expressed the reaction that it had been one of the most scenic and enjoyable Walks ( and longest ) that we have been on. Due in a large part to the weather, plus most of us had not been there before. Could I add that Allan and myself have taken many photographs, including that of the mural in the tunnel and the No 44 Bus !!. All of which can be seen on our Web Site.

 

Finally, as I state at the end of my reports, should anyone be interested in joining us in the future, please give me your details and like the rest of our Group, further information on our next Walk will be forthcoming in due course, weather dependant.

 

 

 

Date of Walk     Tuesday 28^th April.

 

Destination                Waters of Leith – Balerno to Slateford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15th April 2026   Coffee at the Weavers

Winners

 

 

31st March 2026 Walkers St Andrews

24th February 2026 Mystery Walk Edinburgh

Coffee Day 18th Feb

Raith Probus Golf  15th January 2026

Future Walk West Wemyss 13th January 2026

Walking Group,            

 

Here are the details of our next ‘Walk’ to West Wemyss on the 13th Jan.,  plus some photos for display on the Screen & Web for next Tuesday’s meeting :-

Date of Walk      :-        Tuesday 13^th January.

Location          :-           West Wemyss.

 

Date of Walk      :-        Tuesday 9^th December.

 

 

 

Finally, our next group ‘Walk’ will be advised at our January Meeting.

 

Walkers    

Destination – East Lomond 

11th November 2025   

Antartica Team Selection- Test

Largo Law view                                                  Team Assembly Point                          Testing Equipment

  Passed the Test                   Largo Law

 

 

Top of the Leader board

Hole in One on My Travels

Vliedburg  Netherlands

Vliedburg  Netherlands

 

 

 

Loch Fitty October 2025

 

Photographic Competition  2025

Ragnar Ingebrigsten                                                                      John Chalmers                                   John Chalmers

Ken Millar                                                           Allister Todd                                   John Chalmers

Allister Todd                                           Ragner Ingebrigsten                                                          Ken Millar

Ragnar Ingebrigsten                                                         Allister Todd                                                         Ken Millar

Walking Group next outing Tuesday 30^th September 2025. Blairadam Forest

 

 

 

Weavers Coffee October 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Portmoak Gliding Day

After our talk at the last meeting, 4th Sept has been fixed for a Raith Probus , Gliding Day experience. Near Loch Leven.

3 members interested need at least 4 for the day.

Jack Lowther will fill you in.

“Fly Like a Bird”

 

Invitation visit to Phil Bate’s home in Glenrothes on Monday
25th of August.

 

26 August 2025  ‘Walk’ around Letham village and on to Monimail.

 

Some of our ‘Group’ car shared at various points, to eventually meet up at our final destination in Letham around 10.00. When we commenced our walk along a single track road, avoiding traffic along the way.

 

The weather was fortunately with us in this outing on a beautiful sunny morning, despite the forecast of rain, etc.  We continued our ‘Walk / Stroll’ along the prescribed route eventually coming across the 18^th century Monimail Parish Church, which is unbelievably up for sale and hopefully can be seen in the photograph, if any one has a bob or two for ownership !!!!   From there, it was a short amble to Monimail and it’s historic cemeteries, where we ventured in to a church yard and cemetery, where nine Fife Council vans were parked and on enquiring into this very expensive rebuild of a building with only two adjacent walls in one of the farthest areas to be visited, was this a priority investment for our ratepayers ? ?, what with potholes, etc,  Sorry, but my hackles are on a very extreme high. !!!!

 

Anyhoo, this apart we then visited Monimail Tower, which was the residence of the Archbishop of St Andrews for many a year. Again hopefully the photograph will show the simple life of a man of his stature and considering the power he held.

 

By this time, as it was nearing 12.00 and after our two hour sojourn, it was time to head to the ‘Bridgend Cafe / Farm Shop’ for our well-deserved enjoyable lunchtime refreshments. After which we all returned to Kirkcaldy and home around 2.00ish.

 

Hopefully, the photographs, which are shown on the screen and also on the Web Site, will provide some of the ambience, which we generate during our ‘Walks’  Thanks to Allan for those.

 

Again I would take this opportunity to thank Phil for his reconnoitring of the route, which is not necessarily the easiest of tasks, given that he advised our ‘Group’ that our ‘Walk’ was on country roads, omitting the fact that there were one or two inclines !!!!!!  Again in an apparent futile gesture, we would invite any member to Join us and get some exercise !!!!!!

 

Finally, details of our September  ‘Walk’,

Weavers Coffee Morning

 

 

2025 Walking Group Musselburgh

 

 

Roman Bridge

 

 

 

2025 Garden Competition

2025 Butterflies

Burnett Moth                                           Cinnebar Moth                            Comma

Common Blue                                                    Common Blue Female                         Common Blue

Green Veined White                                       Meadow Brown Female                          Ringlet

Ringlet Underwing                                       Small Tortoishell                                           Small Tortoishell Underwing

Wall Brown                                                         Wall Brown Underwing                              Speckled Wood

Small Heath Underwing                                 Green Lacewing                                         Vespilloides Beetle (Sexton Beetle)

24 June 2025 Formonthills

 

Garden

 

 

 27th May Walking Group – St Andrews

 

                              25 April 2025  Easter Snooker – Challenge

Raith Probus snooker contestants entered the Arena at Styx in Kirkcaldy on 25th April 2025 for the Easter Egg challenge.

A simple task for the session.

Seven members present with the winner over the whole session to achieve the highest break on the day.

Ken Campbell put the other competitors under immediate pressure in minutes with a commanding score of 11.

The day developed with various descriptive cheers and comments in a foreign language of Bistardo following another miss.

On table one a threesome was in play trying to pot a red sitting within the jaws of a corner pocket.

Yes, three attempts by the players involved who failed miserably to increase their score.

Our Vice President calmly with cue in hand showed the way on the fourth attempt to pot the red ball to great acclaim

 We had to wait until almost the end of the session when a resounding cheer echoed through the building.

 

After almost two hours and within the last 5 minutes we had our worthy winner with a great break score on the day of 17,

 

Ken Miller.

 

 

Bowls

Jack Lowther:  showed the trophy he won in the Probus Invitation Indoor Bowls championship which is competed for by clubs from Perth and Fife. The downside is that as he claims he got carried away in the heat of competition and won, so now he has to organise next year’s competition.

 

 

 

 

Walking group

Could I please ask that those intending to join this ‘Walk’ give Ken Campbell  their names to avoid any unwarranted delays at the Station or missing anyone out on the trip.

 

Secretary

 

March planned walk , details to follow.

Michael Bruce poem below.

Virtue and Happiness in the Country

How blest the man who, in these peaceful plains,
Ploughs his paternal field; far from the noise,
The care, and bustle of a busy world!
All in the sacred, sweet, sequester’d vale
Of solitude, the secret primrose-path
Of rural life, he dwells; and with him dwell

 

25 February 2025

Riverside Park

 

 

 

 

Thanks to K Campbell for the photographs

Special thanks to the photographer for the day   Ken Campbell

 

Bob Terras             Raith Probus Club

 

 

 

Walking Group

Future Walk

PHOTOGRAPHS:

Balbirnie Dec 2024

 

 

2024 Kinghorn to Kirkcaldy Walk

2024 Burntisland Visit

2024 Photograph Competition

 

 

 

  

2024 October Tayport

2024 September Elie

2024 August  Pittenweem

2024 July Forth & Clyde Canal Edinburgh

2024 July Forth & Clyde Canal Edinburgh

Silverburn to Lower Largo – 28 May 2024

 

Dundee Riverside walk 23rd April 2024

Kinghorn Loch March 2024

 

Murrayfield November 2023

 

Aberdour to Dalgety Bay – 24th October 2023

 

“Christmas” Highest Break

 

 

Birnie and Gaddon Lochs – 26 Sept. 2023

 

Loch Ore Meadows 29 August 2023 – Walking Group

 

Gardening Group Competition 2023.

 

Blackford July 2023

 

Burntisland to Aberdour – 27th June 2023

 

 

Golf – Scoonie GC – 22nd June 2023

 

Fountainbridge to Slateford – May 2023

 

Hampden – May 2023

 

Bunnet Stane

 

Winner of ” The Great Easter Break” is Jack Lowther.

 

 

Raith Probus cyclists -March 2023

 

Raith Probus walk -March 2023

 

Loch Leven 28 February 2023

 

Loch Leven walk 14 Feb 2023

 

Scots Night 2023

 

Annual Quiz Winners 2023

 

Golf New Year Meal

 

Snooker Champ 2022 – John Johnson.

Excellent break of 38 (4 Blacks, 1 Blue and 5 Reds).

 

Formonthills walk 22November 2022

 

Cramond Walk 29-Nov-2022

 

Slateford to Dean Bridge Walk, Edinburgh

25th October 2022

 

Annual Dinner October 2022

 

Kirkcaldy half-marathon course 21st September – 13.5 miles

 

Dean Bridge to Murrayfield walk – August 2022

 

Flower Competition 2022

1- Jim Neilson; 2 – Andy Morrison; 3 – Ron Steedman.

 

Incoming President Bob Terras and Vice President Colin Johnston

 

Cycling. A successful outing was held on the West Fife Way.

 

40th Anniversary of the founding of Raith Probus Club

 

Ian Gunn – Highest break 27 May 2022

 

Big Break winner – Ken Campbell. 22 points.

 

Lundin Links outing 21st April.

 

Big break winner, Ken Miller 12 points!!

 

North Queensferry August 2021

 

Balbirnie and Braes Loan, Markinch 29 Jun 2021 (at last we’ve got a new member!)

 

Markinch Heritage Rural Walk

 

Letham Glen walk – 28 July 2020

 

Walking group 14 July 2020

 

Lockdown Walking group July 2020

 

Walkers – 26 November 2019 – Formonthills, Glenrothes.

 

Amazon visit November 2019

 

Cyclists.

 

Visit to Tulliallan.

 

Crossgates Gardeners

 

Wullie’s allotment

 

Doubles Competition July 2019

 

Cramond Walkers October 2019

 

Cyclists – Loch Leven

CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF RAITH PROBUS CLUB OF KIRKCALDY

 

1. Title

 

The club shall be called Raith Probus Club of Kirkcaldy

 

2.           Aims and Objectives

The purpose of the Club is to provide a regular meeting point for retired business and professional men who appreciate and value in their retirement increased social contacts and opportunities to meet others in similar circumstances. The club shall be non-political and non- sectarian.

 

3.            Membership

(i) The total of active members shall not exceed one hundred.

Membership shall be open to all professional and business men aged sixty years or over, resident in Kirkcaldy and District, who have fully or partially retired from their normal business or profession. The restriction regarding residence or age may be waived at the discretion of the Committee. Applications for membership shall be sponsored by two existing members and shall be subject to approval by the Committee. Admission to the Club shall be determined by interview of the proposed new member by the President and two other Committee members.

 

(ii) Honorary Life Membership

 

Any member wishing to make a nomination for election to Honorary Life Membership should do so in writing to the Secretary at the latest by March in any year. This nomination should be kept private and not communicated to any other member (including the nominee)

 

In April each year the Executive Committee should consider any nominations for election to Honorary Life Membership and decide if such nomination(s) should be recommended.

Such members shall be those who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, have contributed service of an outstanding nature to the Club and who have shown a sustained interest in the Club or the community

 

iii) If any member conducts himself in a manner which discredits the Club, or acts willfully in contravention of the Constitution of the Club, the Executive Committee shall have the power to suspend that member until the matter can be fully considered at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.   A letter shall be written to the member notifying him of the allegations against him and the basis of the allegations, inviting him to a meeting to discuss the matter, and advising him that he has the right to be accompanied by any member of his choice. If, subsequently, a member is called upon to resign and fails to comply within fourteen days after the request is dispatched, he will be expelled from the Club. The member shall have the right to appeal against the disciplinary decision of the full Committee and this must be lodged in writing with the Secretary within fourteen days of the Committee’s decision. In the event of an appeal, this will be heard by an Appeals Committee comprising of three of the most recent available Past Presidents of the Club. At that meeting the member has the right to be accompanied by a member of his choice. The Appeals Committee decision shall be final.

 

4.           Office Bearers

(i) There shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Recorder, Press Correspondent, Social Convener, Speaker’s Convener and Welfare Officer and the general affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Committee of those Officers with the Immediate Past President and the various Conveners, whose names can be found on the current membership list. Within this group the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Welfare Officer, Press Correspondent, Recorder, IT Correspondent and Immediate Past President shall constitute the Executive Committee.

 

(ii) The President of the Club shall hold office for one year, unless there are extenuating reasons why this period should be extended. Officers and Committee members shall be eligible for re- election each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). If for any reason an AGM cannot be held then these office bearers’ term of office shall be extended until such times as an AGM, or an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) can be constituted.

Six members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the Committee shall have the power to co-opt and appoint one or more Sub-Committees. Committee Conveners shall be able to co-opt members who may have expertise useful for any issues under consideration by that Committee. In the event of it being unlikely that the President can continue to officiate then the Vice President shall assume the role of President with the appointment of a new Vice President. Both these officials will see out that presidential year and assume the posts in the next year i.e. there will be no appointments for these posts at the AGM at the end of the retired President’s year of office.

In the event of there being any reason necessitating a suspension of meetings or in the event of closure of the Club all committee members shall remain in office until an EGM can be called to review the situation.

(ii) An Executive Committee (see 4.1) shall have the power to manage any urgent or unforeseen event or set of circumstances which may arise.

5.           Meetings

• The regular meetings shall take place at a suitable venue in the Kirkcaldy area and will be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 10:30am and at such intervals as may be decided by the Committee.
• An Annual General Meeting shall be held in June of each year at such time and place as may be determined by the Committee. At least two weeks’ notice of such meeting must be given in writing to each member.
• The Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting on the written request of not less than fifteen members and shall give to all members, in writing, at least two weeks’ notice of such a meeting.

 

(iv) Voting at all meetings, including Committee meetings, shall be by a show of hands or by ballot if so desired. In the event of an equal division of votes: the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote,

6.            Visitors

Members may introduce male guests at meetings, but the same guest shall not be brought to a meeting more than six times in any Presidential year and may not attend the Annual General Meeting, but would be welcome to participate in Club activities.

 

7. Subscriptions

 

• There shall be an annual subscription, the amount of which shall be determined each year at the Annual General Meeting. The subscription year shall run from September to August each year. Any member joining during the subscription year shall be required to pay the whole or part subscription depending on the date of joining. (see 7 iii). Life members will not be required to pay an annual subscription. Members who are unable to attend regularly but wish to remain in membership can do so by payment of their subscription.

 

• To confirm membership all subscriptions should be paid by the last day in August in any year unless the Club is unable to meet for an extended period due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

(iii) Months left in current subscription year:

September – November           100% of current subscription.

 

December – February               75% of current subscription.

 

March – May                             50% of current subscription.

 

June – August                           25% of current subscription.

 

8. Capital Expenditure

 

Expenditure, other than revenue expenditure, will be brought before the Treasurer and one other Executive Committee member for approval, who would then consider and decide on the proposed purchase. The Treasurer would then inform the Executive Committee at the next scheduled meeting.

If necessary, the request, if not approved by these two Executive Committee members, may be referred to the Committee of the Club for consideration and either approval or rejection of the request.

 

9. Accounts

 

A Receipts and Payments account for the Financial Year to 31^st March shall be prepared, and after audit by two members of the Club appointed at the previous Annual General Meeting, be present for approval at the Annual General Meeting.

 

10. Constitution Amendments

 

Any amendment or addition to the constitution can only be made at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose.

 

Any proposed amendment or addition to the constitution should be given to The Secretary and President with the names of the proposer and seconder so that members may be informed at least 14 days prior to the meeting that will consider these.

 

Any proposed amendment or addition to the constitution shall only be enacted if at least two thirds of the members present vote in favour.

 

The foregoing Constitution and Rules were agreed at the AGM meeting of the Club on 17th June 2025, and as amended at General Meetings.

 

Signed

 

Bill Brown                                                                             Allan Morton

 

President………… ……………………                                Secretary………… ……………………