District (Strathkinness, Guardbridge, Leuchars and Balmullo) celebrated its

fiftieth anniversary last year with a party for all the Brownies and their Guides.

In 1963 Strathkinness won the Brownie Competition Cup, and that year Mary

Wemyss (Nicol) became Brown Owl.’

The (first) Youth Club

Miss Dorothy Robertson has also provided the following information about

the first Youth Club:

‘The first Youth Club in Strathkinness was started in 1944-45 by Mr.

Murray Stewart, County Organiser. The first meetings were held in the School,

until the Youth House could be used following its occupation by the Home

Guard. Miss McCormick was the first leader, and she was followed by Miss

Sheila Walker.

‘There were many activities, including gym classes and boxing for the boys,

and in home-making competitions the girls won the rose bowl at least once and

were runners-up several times. The Club held dances, when they were joined

by members of other Youth Clubs in the area.

‘In 1952 Miss Dorothy Robertson succeeded Miss Walker and one of the

Club’s main activities became the pantomimes of ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Aladdin’.

The Club made most of the scenery and the costumes, and the performances,

held every night for a week, were always sold out.

‘There were annual Hallowe’en and Christmas parties and a bus trip. The

Youth Club members visited many places in Scotland, and along with other

groups they went to London, Ireland, Holland, and in 1960 to Oberammergau

to see the Passion Play.

‘At Christmas time we distributed gifts we had made ourselves, such as

Radio Times covers, calenders, plum puddings, cakes and jellies, to the older

people in the village. On our rounds we sang Christmas carols and were

sometimes joined by the Guides.

‘Strathkinness Youth Club had two representatives on the Scottish Council

of Youth Clubs and had the privilege of being invited to royal garden parties.

Several members of the Club were presented to members of the royal family.

Margaret Watson was the only Scot present at the Golden Jubilee of the

National Association of Mixed and Girls Clubs and was presented to the Queen

Mother. She was also presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in

1958, and in 1961 Margaret Watson and Ellen Kerrigan were presented to

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon.

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