President: Ian Gardner
Vice President: Bill Brown
Immediate Past President: John Hamilton
Secretary: Allister Todd
Treasurer: Charlie Low
Club contact: Allister Todd, Secretary.
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.
Secretary
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 963
Pathhead Church 15th April 2025
President Ian Gardner opened the meeting at 10:30 am, with 39 members present, 6 apologies and one guest: – Angus Hugh with Gordon Suttie.
The President then Invited Angus Hugh into the club as a full member, presenting him with paperwork and badge.
The President welcomed today’s speaker; Joe Fitzpatrick; the topic –’Archaeological discoveries on East Lomond’. VOT. Ragnar Ingebrigtsen.
Previous minutes: 1st April; no matters arising.
REPORTS
Membership: Bob Taylor. Reported the attendance numbers.
IT: Jim Neilson. The laptop is being renewed and software installed. It will have better inputs, more suited to our requirements.
Press: Malcolm Walker. No report, Alistair Hugh is standing in for Malcolm.
Recorder: Bob Terras. Nothing to report.
Probus web: Bob Terras. Nothing to report.
Treasurer: Charlie Low: – Nothing to report.
Welfare: Tom Reilly: – I was speaking to Colin Fowler and his wife Yvonne last Friday. Colin had a stroke at home in Kinghorn on Friday 21st March and was discharged from ward 42 on Friday 28th March. Colin continues with improvements in his speech and mobility. This rehabilitation will probably take weeks and months. Medical professionals in speech and physiotherapy will continue to help Colin on his road to recovery. I am sure we all wish Colin and his family all the best for the future.
Vice President: Bill Brown. As committee report.
STANDING ORDER REPORTS
Speakers. Charlie Low: Talks, for the remainder of 2025 are being actively pursued.
Social. Ragnar Ingebrigtsen. 10th June: – Lunch: Menus and money back by second meeting in May. Opinions are being sought on whether the annual dinner and/or the Scots Night should be held at lunchtime (with obvious name change), and Ragnar circulated a questionnaire asking members to indicate their preference’s.
Alistair Hugh confirmed a time of 2:00 pm on the 8th May for afternoon tea at Hopetoun House. Alistair was collecting money today and travel will be car sharing.
CONVENERS REPORTS
Bowls: Jack Lowther: Nothing to report.
Cycling. John Chalmers. Four members had been on a cycle ride around Kirkcaldy, covering 11 miles and visiting Ravenscraig and Dunnikier Parks and Seafield.
Gardening. Ron Steedman. The next meeting is on Thursday 17th of April at Kirkcaldy Golf Club, 10.00-12 noon.
Sandy Robb has now given up the Vice Convenor role to be replaced by Jim Neilson.
Golf: Robin McAlpine: Congratulated Rory McIlroy on his victory in the Masters Golf in Atlanta before confirming that the next club outing is on 24th April, and will be a Texas Scramble, President v Vice President. Venue Thornton Golf Club; tee off 1:00pm. There will be further outings, with two in August.
Lottery: Charlie Low; – Nothing to report.
Photography: Allister Todd. The next meeting will be on Thursday 24th April at Balwearie Golf Club at 10:00am.
Snooker: Malcolm Walker. No report.
Walkers: Ken Campbell. The next walk will be on Tuesday 29th April when we will walk the Coastal Path & Newburgh. (ref. The Mack Walks – Newburgh Circular). We will meet at 9.30am at Beveridge Car Park, to arrange car travel arrangements via A92, car-sharing to the car park on Newburgh (Sat Nav KY14 6AQ).
The walk will start at 10:30 from the car park at the far end of Newburgh High Street near the War Memorial and Bowling Club, walking for 4 miles (approx. 2 hrs). There is some short uphill walking on good paths, but overall flat.
Refreshments will be at Jamesfield Farm Shop,1-2 miles after turning right from the Car Park (Sat Nav – KY14 6EW).
Committee Report – Bill Brown: – Decisions from Committee Meeting 136.
Honorary Membership
The committee agreed to the appointment of John Johnston as an Honorary Member of Raith Probus.
John has since been contacted and is delighted to accept. The presentation will take place at the first meeting in May (6th).
Coach Trips.
To encourage more members to come along, it was agreed that a subsidy from funds would be tried for coach travel to longer outings.
Email Address for the club.
It was agreed to investigate the setting up of this and to consult Alan Morton.
Purchase of Camera for use of Walking Group.
Advised to use mobile phone camera. Discussion to continue at a future meeting.
Purchase of New Laptop.
The present laptop has been causing some problems recently. Jim Neilson presented the committee with a number of options. It was agreed that a refurbished Samsung (Take a Laptop Home) be purchased at a cost of £325. There will be an additional cost of £25 for Microsoft Office.
The present laptop will be cleared (consultation with Alan Morton) and disposed of, perhaps to a charity.
Member Interaction.
It was reported that a new member had resigned because of unfriendliness and cliques he experienced. He has since been persuaded to return. In future, guests and new members should be introduced to the President and Vice-President prior to the start of the meeting proper.
Members should be encouraged to approach others who might be sitting alone and more information should be given to the meeting when new members are introduced.
Members are again requested not to cluster in groups round the coffee tables.
Douglas Hamill BEM.
It was agreed that this honour should be recorded in the list of members.
There may be other members whose honours should be similarly recognized.
Officials’/Conveners’ Duties.
Charlie Low distributed lists of duties to the relevant Officials and Conveners with a view to having these corrected and updated.
Storage.
If anyone had any items which more properly should be deposited with our collection at Fife Council Archives, they should inform our Officials.
Ownership of Base Documents.
These include Constitution, Membership Record, Completed Application Forms, Membership List. It is not clear who holds these. Data Protection also requires that a record of who holds information on members and what information is held. Vice-President is to consult with President and Robin McAlpine on this matter to come up with a simple solution.
Bereavement.
Under AOCB today Charlie Low will present an addition to the constitution to deal with this and how we will proceed.
Stewart Michie.
Stewart Michie rejoined but has not attended since. Vice-President will investigate.
Pyramid Download Member Information System. It was agreed that, on the next occasion this has to be used, the Secretary would send out the information by email using his distribution list and that the four members with no email would be contacted by phone. The arrangement would then be reviewed.
SPEAKER. The speaker Joe Fitzpatrick was introduced by Jack Lowther; the topic ‘Archaeological discoveries on East Lomond’.
Joe gave an excellent talk on the ongoing archaeological dig on East Lomond. Some of the finds and information deduced from them has yet to be published but all the time it is throwing light on the importance of East Lomond as a centre of continuous occupation and metalwork. Finds from a Bull-stone which indicated power to Melon Beads and Roman pottery suggesting Trade with Rome have been found.
Digging has revealed evidence of furnaces for jewellery and weapons making and more is revealed at every level down the dig. A door knob spear butt found last year is only the second found in Scotland.
The talk was very well illustrated and surprised most members as to how important East Lomond had been for millennia, being one of, if not the most important sites in the East of Scotland during the 7th century.
Members were invited to go to East Lomond in July to help when the dig restarts.
Bottom of Form
The Vote of Thanks was given by Ragnar Ingebrigtsen.
Next Meeting – 6th May, Keith Mason – Kirkcaldy/Leven Trams. VOT Tom Reilly.
AOCB: Charlie withdrew his proposed change re Bereavement.
The meeting closed at 11:54am.
Allister Todd,
Secretary
RAITH PROBUS CLUB OF KIRKCALDY
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
.Next walk 27th May 2025
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.
Web Site
Kirkcaldy War Memorial
Kirkcaldy Museum, Art Gallery and Public Library and the surrounding gardens. A cenotaph with the dedication and a wall with plaques of names fronts the museum building. The buildings and garden were bequeathed to the town of Kirkcaldy as a war memorial by linoleum manufacturer John Nairn in memory of his son, Ian Nairn.
The War Memorial was paid for by the people of the town and was designed by Scottish sculptor George Henry Paulin (1888-1962).
The War Memorial opening ceremony On 27th June 2025 was attended by Admiral of The Fleet – Lord Webster Wemyss GCB; CMG; MVD
This focal point in the town will be 100 years old in 2025
The Royal British Legion Scotland, working with Fife Council, On Fife, Kirkcaldy Civic Society and other partners, are organising a number of activities to be announced starting from April 2025.
A major part of the arrangement is to engage the community to help “dress” the War Memorial with a cascade of poppies.
The Royal British Legion Scotland are asking individuals and organisations to help produce at least 1,500 poppies- the number of war dead listed.
Kirkcaldy’s Men Shed have agreed to dress Kirkcaldy War Memorial with the poppies.
Further back up information knitting patterns etc can be sourced from the following
e mail contact.
KirkcaldyRBLS@legionscotland.org.uk
Bob Terras Raith Probus
Raith Probus Club
Meeting Number 959
Pathhead Church 18th February 2025
President Ian Gardner opened the meeting at 10:30 am, with 40 members present, 4 apologies and no guests. The scheduled speaker, Lawrie Brewster, has had to withdraw and is replaced by our member, John Hamilton.
Previous minutes: 21st January no matters arising.
REPORTS
IT: Jim Neilson. Nothing to report.
Membership: Bob Taylor. Reported the attendance numbers.
Press: Malcolm Walker. Alistair Hugh was thanked for standing in for last meetings press report.
Recorder: Bob Terras. Nothing to report.
Probus web: Bob Terras. As in my previous reports to the Raith Probus meetings. I have pointed the way for members to access our Web Site.
- No Computer
- No smart Phone
- No iPad
Sure, we all know a Probus Member, son, daughter etc who can help.
At the last meeting I reported on the easy access to using the Public Computers at your local Library. To access our Web Site. Log in to your browser and type in Raith Probus then click on the Probus Online link.
Anyone can access our Web Site at any time to keep up to date with our program etc and future events including photographs. I also put out a prompt to encourage Raith Probus members to forward any news, reports of interest to our members.
To start things off I offered a wee report set out in our Web Site which I am sure is of interest. Bob’s full report can be seen in the second attachment sent with the minutes.
Treasurer: Charlie Low. Account balance at 31/01/2025 is £4190.00.
Welfare: Tom Reilly: No Report
Secretary: Allister Todd. Reported on an email from member Crawford Ross.
Vice President: Bill Brown. Nothing to report.
STANDING ORDER REPORTS
Speakers. Charlie Low: In dialogue.
Social. Ragnar Ingebrigtsen. Nothing to Report, but maybe next meeting.
CONVENERS REPORTS
Bowls: Jack Lowther: Nothing to report.
Cycling. John Chalmers. Nothing to Report
Gardening. Ron Steedman. Next meetings should be 20th March.
Golf: Robin McAlpine: The next outing is on 24th April, and will be a Texas Scramble, President v Vice President. Venue Thornton Golf Club; tee off 1:00pm.
Lottery: Charlie Low. Collecting stake money for March and April.
Photography: Allister Todd. The next meeting will be on Thursday 27th February at Balwearie Golf Club at 10:00am.
Snooker: Malcolm Walker. We had meal on the 7th February with six people attending.
Walkers: Ken Campbell. The next walk will be on the 25th February to Riverside Park Glenrothes with a 10:30 start. The park has had a lot of money spent on it and walking is a lot easier with plenty of tree cover. If possible, car share to the park (turn left at the Preston Roundabout and 200yds on the left after the third roundabout).
The walk is about three miles and will take about 11/2 hours on good walking paths. Refreshments will be at the Golden Acorn/Wetherspoons.
SPEAKER: John Hamiton who’s talk will be ’Canals; A Miscellany’ replaces the advertised speaker Lawrie Brewster. John was introduced by Charlie Low.
John, as usual gave a clear and well researched talk, beginning with the canals of Scotland before moving on to those in England and Wales and eventually some of the more interesting canals and structures around the world.
John spoke first about the canals of Scotland, the first being the Forth/Clyde Canal in 1791 followed by the Crinan in 1801, the Caledonian in 1822 and the Edinburgh/Glasgow Union in 1823. He emphasised that many of these canals were built too late because they were not long in service before developments in shipping made them obsolete, although they can now be used for leisure.
Many examples of innovative ways of overcoming problems encountered by canal builders were given e.g. aqueducts and some very impressive lifting mechanisms were shown.
John had been on several canals himself and it made for very interesting presentation invoking several questions.
Bottom of Form
The Vote of Thanks was given by Robin McAlpine.
Next Meeting; will be on the 4th March 2025; speaker Darren Peattie – topic ‘The Craft of Salt Making’
AOCB: Two matters were raised by Charlie Low,
1 Should the ‘Thankyou Box’ be discontinued and money contained (30p) transferred to the tea/coffee fund. This was passed unanimously by members.
2 Should bereavement information be passed on by email or by telephone as at present. A large majority voted to continue with the telephoning of information.
The meeting closed at 11:57am.
Allister Todd,
Secretary
.Michael Bruce Way
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
sdr
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
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
- 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) The Committee shall have the power to recommend the election of members as Honorary Life Members, within the active membership numbers. Such members shall be those who, in the opinion of the 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.
- 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.
- An Executive Committee (see 1) shall have the power to manage any urgent or unforeseen event or set of circumstances which may arise.
4. 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 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
- Voting at all meetings, including Committee meetings, shall be by a show of hands or by ballot if so In the event of an equal division of votes: the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote,
5. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Accounts
A Receipts and Payments account for the Financial Year to 31st 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.
The foregoing Constitution and Rules were agreed at the inaugural meeting of the Club on 22nd June 1982, and as amended at General Meetings.