remember most was the big barrel of herring (salted) which stood in the

narrow passage. The floor boards were rotten and how it didn’t go through

them I’ll never know. Then along came the Galloways and made the shop,

which was attached to the house they stayed in further up. We had a fish

and chip shop for a while. Then up where Mrs. Akerboom stays (on the

corner of Sunnyside and Main Street) was Laing’s Pub which was a real dark

affair. It changed hands to a George Nunn but he sold up to go trapping on

the Hudson Bay. After that it became a baker’s shop and a tea room with

a big bakehouse at the back —you could get rolls straight from the oven at

6 am. The Post Office was there for a wee while and also a shop where Mrs.

Hacking stays (38 Main Street); groceries and Post Office — it had changed

again! Later on another shop opened up near the top of the town. Many

years earlier there was one across from the monument. There was also a

Co-op next door to Mrs. Coutts (34 Main Street) but long before her time. It

was burned to the ground. There was also a butcher’s shop and slaughter

house. A dairy was round at the back of The Poffle. Many piggeries were

in the village 60—70 years ago. A weiqhbridqe stood opposite the pub at the

top of the town and some rings are still in the wall where the men from the

Knockhiil stone quarry tethered their horses while in for a pint when the

stones were getting weighed.

‘Long years ago there were two brothers who lived at the End o’ Jean’s

at this end of the Pleasance Row; they had a horse and cart selling china,

doormats, chamber pots, black lead, etc. One brother stayed on the cart and

the other walked about shouting, “Pan, shine...” There was also a house along

Bonfield Road, one room of which was a shop; they sold vegetables and

Hislop was their name..

‘The Youth Club was the meeting place for the W.R.l. who had a very good

entertainment group and put on a lot of concerts. A skiffle group was formed

and this played many times in the village and to many W.R.l.s around Fife,

Also 25-30 years ago a country dance class was held in the school; in addition

there was dressmaking and art. Down at the far side of the nurseries was

Mitchell Hall where many dances were held.

‘Down at Kincaple Farm they sometimes had barn dances in the barn and

a sight to behold were the 16 Suffolk Punches and the Belgian horse which

they had there. They came up the back braes to be shod at the village smithy.

‘Many changes have taken place in the school. At the new end (towards

Main Street) before the change you entered by a big green door. To the left

stood the staff toilet and on the other side the boys’ cloakroom with two

sinks at the window and rows of green pegs all numbered. The two front

classrooms had a folding partition which, when opened up, made one big

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