‘Miss Robertson was succeded by Mrs. Pea when she retired in 1968.

(In November, 1974 there was a presentation to ‘Robbie’ for her many years’

service.)

The (second) Youth Club

The second Youth Club in Strathkinness was set up after a meeting in

1975 of the Rev. A. Bennett, some parents and a few young people. Mrs.

June Backhouse, the present leader of the Youth Club, has contributed the

following material concerning its foundation, its progress, and what it- is

today:

‘The Club, which was set up in 1975, was known at first as the Kirk Youth

Club. It was given a grant of £100 by the North East Fife District Council

and became affiliated to the Fife Union of Youth Clubs. Two early leaders

of the Youth Club were Dr. I. Easton and Mrs. Eileen Faed. When Mr. Bennett

retired in 1978 the Rev. Douglas Galbraith became the new leader.

‘Since it was founded the Club has taken part in many competitions; five-

a-side football, badminton, fishing, table-tennis, baking, cross-country running,

darts, chess and other pursuits.

‘The annual Guy Fawkes celebration has been organised by the Youth Club

for many years. The Club gives a contribution for fireworks, and other

fireworks are given to appointed people to set off safely. For the first few

years the bonfire and the fireworks were at the field in the centre of the

village, with hot soup, sausage rolls etc. afterwards in either the Church Hall

or the Village Hall, but latterly a more exposed and often windswept site has

been used, and in spite of an often biting wind, hot soup has been served on

the spot.

‘At Christmas the Youth Club delivers to the pensioners in the village tea

from the Church and Christmas Cards from the Community Council.

‘Discos, which have often been held in the Village Hall, used to cost fifteen

pence including a sandwich and a drink, but now cost £1 without refreshment.

‘The Youth Club received another £100 grant after raising funds from

jumble sales and coffee evenings and showing that it had spent £200 on various

Club activities. The Club has won several competitions, but the main emphasis

is on team spirit. There is a free and easy atmosphere at the meetings in the

Village Hall, where a Hi-Fl plays all the favourites, and badminton, table

tennis, snooker, darts and other games are played. With another room they

could play volley ball or carpet bowls, which is rarely seen these days. The

kitchen is the centre for discussion of all manner of things.

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