‘The fact that the Gothic lettering in the masthead was interchangeable

between the two parts of the title was intended to underline this. (Another

reason, of course, was that otherwise the editor would be left with a pile of

Lettraset Gothic sheets, complete except for the Ks, Is and Rs!) The regular

feature Last Word, however, offered a Christian reflection on the events of

the day’.

Because of the pressure of work Mr. Galbraith tried to find somebody else

to take over the editorship, but as nobody came forward at that time (no doubt

partly because nobody thought they could produce a newsletter nearly as good

as Mr. Galbraith’s), he continued until June, 1981, although he was no longer

minister of Strathkinness.

After the Galbraith family departed for Australia the task of compiling

and editing “Kirk and Community” was taken on by five young people:

Jillian Morris, Donny Farmer, Alan Gyle, Graham Laidler and Mike Carr.

Their issue of August 1981 is a masterpiece of brevity. In one page they

announced that the Rev. Alexander Strickland would preach in Dairsie,

Kemback and Strathkinness on Sunday 30th August, followed by voting;

they thanked people for the support the Roundabout Club had received in

raising funds for the construction of a Cheshire Home in Fife; they listed

contacts in the village ‘with corrections or omitions (sic) next month’; and

they finished the page with a delightful postscript:— ‘Apologies for the brevity

of this month’s edition. Despite digging like moles to find news we could

find none — the villagers must all be in the Tropics sunning themselves’. In

1983 Graham Laidler and Mike Carr were promoted to Ace Reporters and they

‘had help from Andrew Duncan too’.

When Alan Gyle left, Susan Backhouse took his place. The young people

continued to do an excellent job, even though they were all busy with school-

work and other activities. In 1984 Susan needed a replacement typist. For

the last two years she and Mike Carr had kept “Kirk and Community” going,

but because of pressure of work they were forced to give it up. In 1985 Mrs.

Louise Edward took over the typing and Mr. and Mrs. K. Overend did the

duplicating. When Mrs. Edward’s husband had a serious accident the Overends

took over the typing as well as the duplicating.

Ken and Margaret Overend have worked hard to keep “Kirk & Community”

more than a mere calender of events. They are anxious to continue the

welcome to newcomers and they would like people to tell them in advance

of what will be happening so they can make sure notices are put in before

and not after an event. Mr. Strickland has continued the practice of the

Last Word section started by Mr. Galbraith.

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