1940
WIFE DIED FROM SHOCK, Lost overboard in the Firth of Forth’ two months ago, the body of Mr. Alexander McRuvie (32), of Dove Street, Cellardyke, Fife, has been recovered. His wife (27), who never got over the shock of the news of his loss, died a fortnight ago in Edinburgh Infirmary. When McRuvie was swept off his ship the skipper made a gallant attempt to save him, and was himself saved by another vessel,
ANSTRUTHER. – AWARDED VELLUM.—Thomas Anderson, aged 49, Craigaven, Williamson Place, Cellardyke, has been awarded the vellum the Royal Humane Society. Anderson, along with James Watson Bett, aged 32, 36 Forth Street, Cellardyke, who attempted, on 22nd August, to save Alexander McRuvie, aged 32, from drowning in the Firth Forth at Wemyss.
1942
Fife Joiner Electrocuted at work
A fatal accident inquiry into the death on September 10 of John Gardner (27), joiner, 22 Rodger Street, Cellardyke, Anstruther, was heard at Cupar Sheriff Court to-day. Gardener was employed by Walter Reekie, boat builder, at the boat building yard, Harbour Head, Anstruther, to do odd joinering jobs and mending cables for electric drills. Alexander Stevenson, apprentice ship wright, 24 West Forth Street, Cellardyke, Anstruther, employed in the same yard said that when handling an electric drill earlier in the day of Gardner’s death he received a slight shock and reported the matter to the foreman. Later Stevenson saw Gardner with the same drill on his way to the switchboard, presumably to test it. He (Stevenson) and two other men to whom he was talking then heard Gardner shouting, “Put off. Put it off.” He was standing,’ drill in hand, apparently unable to let it go. Stevenson rushed across and switched off the power. Thomas Melville Parker, foreman, said that when it was reported to him that something was wrong with the drill, he instructed a qualified electrician to repair it. He saw Gardner in the yard with the drill in his hand, and it had not been repaired. Gardner said that there was nothing wrong with the machine, only the cables were needing repaired. Parker told him to obtain new cables from the store and join them to the drill. Thomas Chalmers Hunter, electrical engineer, Fife Electric Power Co., said that when he examined the drill, which carried 250 volts., after the accident saw the wires had been incorrectly joined, allowing the current to flow direct to the body of any person holding the drill. This, in his opinion, was the cause of the death. . Dr M. D. Armour, Crichton House. West Anstruther, said he found death was due to an electric shock. Sheriff More returned a formal verdict of accidental death.
1943
CAPTAIN WILLIAM SMITH KEAY, of the Merchant Navy, has been awarded the O.B. E. for gallantry and skill in saving his ship when it was continuously bombed during the North African landings last November. Thus he makes good in his second war. In the last one he held the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve. A fisherman’s son. who began his working life as a boat-builder. Captain Keay is a native of Cellardyke, Fife, and now has his home in neighbouring Pittenweem.
O.B. E. FOR A FIFE CAPTAIN The London Gazette of Tuesday announced the award of the 0.B. E. Captain William Smith Keay, Fernlea, Pittenweem, Fife, whose vessel, almost continuously attacked enemy aircraft while serving on the North African coast, put up a “magnificent defence.” One attacker was shot into the sea. but the ship was hit by torpedo in one of the holds, which contained a large quantity of petrol. The master, after examining the damage, decided that the ship could be saved, and orders were given for the extinction of ail fires on board to minimise the risk of the petrol catching fire. “Captain Keay,” adds the citation, displayed courage and seamanship of a high order, and it was due to his determination and skill that the damaged vessel was brought to port safely without assistance.” Captain Keay, who is a son of the late and Mrs Andrew Keay, Cellardyke. Anstruther. took part in the North African landings in November of last year. IT was on his second passage out to North Africa that his vessel was the subject heavy bombardment from the air. An aerial torpedo practically tore the side out of his vessel. He has been at sea since his youth, and during the last war held the rank of Lieut, in the R.N.R
1944
Intimation has been received by Mrs Wallace. 67 John Street, Cellardyke, that her son, Sig. Adam Wallace, has been posted missing. He was a signaller the Airborne Division which made the landing at Arnhem. Educated at Waid Academy, Anstruther, Sig Wallace entered the service of the Clydesdale Bank at Falkirk. He came to the Grangemouth office of the bank in 1937, where he was employed as clerk for two years. When he was called up in 1940, he was in the Dunoon branch of the bank. While at Grangemouth, Signaller Wallace served as an officer in the local company of the Life Boys. He was a keen member of the Men’s, Own Brotherhood, and was also a prominent figure in the Y.M.C.A. Boys’ Club.
1946
CHAIRS—FROM “CHAR” CHAT A steady flow of non-utility furniture is now coming from a factory in Cellardyke, Anstruther, founded as a result of a chat over cup of ” char.” Two naval officers, Lieutenant D. P. Appleby, of Ipswich, and Lieutenant Commander P. Branch, of London, were discussing post-war plans with Mr J. Brown, of Cellardyke, a civilian employee at Crail Royal Naval Air Station. As they sipped their tea one of them suggested that they should extend their war-time co-operation into a peace-time partnership in furniture-making. None of them had any previous experience of this type of work. Demobbed this year, the two ex-officers and Mr Brown took over a disused net factory in Cellardyke. Mr Branch, engineer before the war, drew up plans for machinery they needed. With the help of local blacksmiths it was produced. Now the only limitations on the output of the ten employees are the B.O. T. restrictions on quantity and variety.
1947
Graduates – B.D.S.—Charles Alexander Smith, L.D.S., Anstruther. B.Sc. (Engineering) Robert Gardner Stevenson, Cellardyke.
1948
Dead whaling man – inquest adjourned
When James Fleming, a young seaman from s.s Southern Larkspur, a whaling vessel which was berthed at South Shields, visited his father on another ship of the whaling fleet lying at Newcastle yesterday, he entered his cabin to find his father dead.
When the fleet left the Tyne at mid-day today, James did not sail with it.
The dead man, James Elder Fleming, aged 42, a pump man aboard the Southern Harvester, lived at Shore Street, Cellardyke, Fifeshire.
The police are conducting investigations and it is believed that the man died after inhaling chlorine vapour from a fluid used for cleaning clothing.
At the inquest held in Newcastle this morning, only, evidence of identification was heard before the hearing was adjourned to enable an analysis to be made of the cleaning fluid.
1950
Merchant Navy Passes – Skipper Fishing Full – George Barclay, Cellardyke.
1951
Logan Martin Church. The Woman’s Guild began the session week with a Dedication meeting. On Monday of this week, there was good turn out of members to welcome the speaker. Miss Pratt, from Cellardyke. Mrs Muir presided, and after the opening devotions she introduced the speaker, wlio.se subject was “Scotland.*’ Many interesting and delightful details were given life in the olden days. Customs, clothes and ways living were discussed. Special reference was made Fife and the part it had played in the story of our country. At the close Miss Pratt was cordially thanked for her very interesting address. Tea hostess for the evening was the vice-president, Mrs Ramsay.
1952
EXECUTRY NOTICE. All Parties having CLAIMS against the Estate of the late Provost WILLIAM WATSON CARS AIRS, O.B.E. J.P., who resided at 18 West Forth Street, Cellardyke. Anstruther. Fife, are requested to lodge the same with the Subscribers within Ten Days from this date. All Parties INDEBTBD to the Deceased are requested make Payment within the same period.
LOOKING over a souvenir booklet issued for the jubilee celebrations of the municipality of Quirindi, a town of 3000 Inhabitants situated nearly 250 miles from Sydney. Australia. one feature interested me specially It is the story of the A.l Bakery founded in 1917 by Mr James R Taylor. who was a classmate of mine at school. Cellardyke people will note that he has perpetuated in the name of his bakery the once well-known “Al. Biscuits” made by the local firm of Black, with which he served his apprenticeship. Along with the booklet comes a picture of the Quirindi rink which won this year’s New South Wales Bowling Championship at Sydney; and one of the four players is my old friend. Jimmy Taylor. Congratulations!
1953
A new professor JOHN DICK, Oxford, the newly appointed Professor of Engineering at Dundee Universitv College, comes of a well-known Fife family. He was born in Cellardyke and is former pupil of Waid Academy, Anstruther. From there he went to Glasgow University, where he graduated with first class honours in electrical engineering and in mechanical engineering.
St Monance CONGREGATIONAL GUILD At the meeting on Monday night Mrs Robertson presided and welcomed a visiting party from Cellardyke. Mrs Motion. guest speaker, gave an inspiring address. Mrs Thomson and Mrs Myles rendered duets. Mrs J. Gourlay presided at the organ. and tea was served by the committee
1954
6th Oct
Married on Saturday, Miss Agnes A. Christie, of 26 Rodger Street, Cellardyke; Anstruther, who was married in Cellardyke Parish Church to Mr James S. Robertson, of Maud. Aberdeenshire. The bride is secretary at the Waid Academy, Anstruther. And is a former Anstruther Sea Queen. The bridegroom is in the R.A.F., stationed in Cornwall.
BACK home from holiday to Canada and America. Mr and Mrs Martin Gardner 29 James Street, Cellardyke, are busy telling Cellardyke folk about Cellardyke folk! For in the course of their tour they met an amazing amount of exiles, and reunions were numerous and happy.
The “Kent faces ” began at Quebec for Mr and Mrs Gardner, who were accompanied by Miss Watson, Cellardyke, who was going to visit her sister, for there was Captain Reekie of Anstruther who was in port with his ship the ” Begonia “.
In Montreal they met Mr Robert Swinton and Mr William Swinton, both of Cellardyke, and also Mrs Cruickshank,. formerly Miss Betty Brown whose father was the minister the Baptist Church.
At Toronto they were greeted by Mr Tom Martin and also by Mr and Mrs Joseph Boyter (Jessie Bett.) They also met Mr Alex Martin and Mn Kember who Miss Elisabeth Marr. The Misses. Herd added to the exiles in Toronto.
Off to Hamilton, Ontario, and there Mr and Mrs Gardner were greeted by Mr and Mrs Wilson Brunton, now about seventy years old who visited Cellardyke six years ago. And again there was a reunion. Among those encountered ware Lil Gardner. now Mrs John Watson. wife of a Cellardyke man, Bella and Barbara Hodge, who are now Mrs William Brown and Mrs James Brown, Miss Bessie Hodge and Miss Lizzie Hodge, who is a cousin of the three sisters.
Others whom they met included Mr and Mrs George Tarvit, Cellardyke, and Mr Johnnie Wood guided Mr and Mrs Gardner very efficiently.
At Lake Erie there were more Fifers. There the Gardners met and chatted with Mr and Mrs Robert Davidson. Mrs Davidson used to be Miss Janet Gardner. One of the oldest of the emigrants whom they met their on travels was Mrs Alex. Brown, better known probably to the older people of Cellardyke, as Kate Davidson. She is now about 80 years of age. With her they met her daughter. Mrs Dunn, formerly Maggie Brown. and her husband who hails from Pittenweem. They also met Kate’s niece, Miss Margaret Davidson. There was an exchange of greetings between the Gardners and Mr George Ingram, his sister Annie and her husband Alex. Wood and Mr William Tarvit.
A few miles from Port Dover is Simcoe where they paid a visit to meet Mr and Mrs James Reekie, formerly of Rodger Street. Cellardyke. After eight days at Gloucester the Gardners moved on to Lynn where they met Mr and Mrs Roberts, the uncle and aunt of Mr. James Corson; and then they went to Boston to me Mr Alex. Tawse, formerly of Cellardyke, but he and him wife happened to be away on holiday at the time and they were missed. The next stage of their journey took them to New Jersey where they spent a night with Mr Charles Swinton. Mr and Mrs Gardner then returned to Montreal, ‘their holiday finished.
COIN FOR LUCK Most of the boats have now left for the herring fishing at Great Yarmouth. The departure of the drifters was marked with the usual custom of distributing biscuits to the spectators who in turn threw coins on the deck for luck when the boats were leaving the harbour. So far there is no report of the fishing by the local boats from Yarmouth. The “Irene Julia,” skipper James Bett, Cellardyke, leaves this week for the fishing grounds and the crow are at present busy getting nets and gear in order.