Ziggy & Anne's Postcards From Home (2)

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Hi All

From what we hear, this has been a pretty miserable summer in the UK, constant rain and floods but Anne and I must be blessed since we have been here. Plenty of sunshine and fair days.

Decided to take a walk and look at the three villages to see what changes, if any, there have been over the three years since our last visit.

Started off on our trek by going down to West Wemyss.

One thing that struck us straight away was the cleanliness of the beaches, this is a view from Lady's Rock along to Buckhaven. As you can see, the Michael Pit no longer dominates the skyline.

Approaching West Wemyss it is good to see that the renovations on the waterfront and residences are progressing well. Most of the newly renovated houses have already been bought, the steep prices show their popularity.

Some things will never change and the Wemyss Arms is still a well-liked, social venue.

The village is served by a regular Stagecoach bus service, since there is only one way in and one way out, the bus turns at the East end close to the Parish Church

On to East Wemyss where we stopped for a chat with local hairdresser Mhairi Bryce daughter of Bill and Janis (nee Doran) of Approach Row.

Then to the local post office, still a big part of village life where we met Janet Hunter whose family have been running the shop for a number of years. Janet has taken over the responsibility from her parents Jack and the late Hazel Morris who everyone has fond memories of. The picture of Janet has not come out as well as we would have liked but we will try to rectify this asap!

Just along the road was the Masonic Hall, which has been tastefully converted to a family home by Tommy Morrison who was a neighbour of mine in the Coaltown of Wemyss.

Onwards to Macduff where there was a noticeable vacant patch which once was the site of the Co-operative Store and later the Grosvenor Pub



Heading back to the Coaltown we passed the Michael Colliery Memorial, which tells it's own tragic tale of miners who lost their lives in the pit disaster of 1967



On arrival back in the Coaltown we saw further demise of local social meeting places. The Coaltown ex Servicemen's Club as illustrated in the pictures below is now in ruin. It is hard to believe that a building that came about during our lifetime has already come to an end.

Sad note to end a really pleasant day.

Another day which sees one of our local soccer teams playing at home in the new Bayview Stadium. East Fife versus East Stirling in the second game of the season.

Decided to take the bus and lo and behold another Wemysser at the wheel, at least we know we are in safe hands. With the ever-immaculate John Anderson as our "tour leader" we headed for Leven for a pre-match look around and refreshment.



While "daundering" around Leven bumped into Ex-Wemysser Bill Cape and his wife Ann in Woolies. You will also see more of Bill and Ann in the "Where they are now" gallery.

Work goes on for some however and Pete Ballingal is hard at it in Leven High Street.
Pete comes from Macduff and still lives in East Wemyss.

As match time draws closer, we indulge in the local tradition of a pint and a pie before the game.

No better place than Big Jock Band's pub the Brig Tavern. Jock has Wemyss connections and here is his ever-smiling face ready to greet you.

You would find it hard to believe that an ex-pat from Australia would bump into an ex-pat from New Zealand. In the same pub, well here it is, Bill Duffy (New Zealand) with his brother Ray.
Bill was a "sparky" in the Michael Pit before emigrating.



Then it's time for "Come on East Fife" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spotted in the crowd was our very own FiferJim, the Friends from the Wemyss football reporter. You will catch his match reports on the fortunes of East Fife Football Club in our "Blether" Forum under Black and Gold.

We will be back to tell you about our forthcoming trip to the Edinburgh Festival.

Best wishes
Ziggy and Anne

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