"Kirkcaldy...the lang toun" Kirkcaldy by gordonilla

This picture was sent to me by a friend still living in the Kirkcaldy area. It was taken at the opening of the new annex to the Adam Smith College, St Brycedale Avenue campus. It replaced a tower block bulit in the 1960s/1970s. It has fond memories for me - especially the paternoster lift that was in use at the time.

The tower block was home to many departments including my own, Building. There was a refectory, a hair dressing department, catering department and art studios. There was probably much more - but it was a long time ago.

My love of travel comes from the two European study tours I participated in during my time at the College.

Heraldic Arms of Fife

The two is an ancient port and Royal Burgh in Fife and is situated on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. Kirkcaldy is known as the Lang Toun, originally for it's High Street and now for it's esplanade which extended to some 6.5km along the Forth. The town is known for it's Links Market, held every year in April and is said to be the longest street fair in Europe, it dates back to 1305.

The town has a number of notable sons and others who are associated with the town have used the town as important elements in their work or ensured their Fife upbrining was used in their work output.

It appears that Sir Walter Scott set the story of the "lovely Rosabella" in the Lay of the last Minstrel in Kirkcaldy (1805).

The 15th century Ravenscraig Castle is one of the locations said to have been the inspiration to John Buchan for his spy thriller "The 39 Steps". The castle itself is an important historcial reminder of what was necessary in defence of our country. My recolelction from college is that this was the first mainland Scottish castle built to withstand cannon fire.

In addition to these loose associations, the town is the birth place of the celebrated architects Robert Adam (1728 - 92) and James Adam (1730 - 94); not to forget the economist and philospher Adam Smith (1723 - 90) author of The Wealth of Nations.

We wont make any mention of the the current politicians who may be associated with the town, but suffice to say at least one senior labour politician was born there.

who in fact were the hairies?

The illustration was given to me by one of my classmates. he was extermely talented in many ways - he had been a bread salesman, a gravedigger, cartoonist and he had a wicked sense of humour. So recognition goes to Ian B Anderson.

The background to this is, a number of students were bikers. In the summer when the weather was warm, the college windows were open and the noise of the traffic was quite a disturbance, especially the motorcyclists. aka Kirkcaldy Hairies. I am not sureif anyone who went to Kirkcaldy Tech during the 1980s has read these pages - if so you will recognise the image of the lecturer!