CENTRAL AND WEST FIFE LOCAL HISTORY PRESERVATION …

1 1 "A WEE KEEK BACK" BY JIM CAMPBELL " CENTRAL AND west fife LOCAL HISTORY PRESERVATION " ("The Present Preserving the Past for the Future") --------------- 24 St Ronan s Gardens Crosshill KY5 8BL 01592-860051 --------------- A Wee Keek Back 2 THE COWDENBEATH & LOCHGELLY TIMES AND ADVERTISER.

2 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1895. PROPOSED GOLF CLUB. A meeting has been arranged for Thursday night, to consider the advisability of forming a golf club for Lochgelly. This is a matter that has been long talked of, but none of our public men have up until now have taken the initiative. The idea ought to meet with hearty support, and we hope to see ere long the Royal and Ancient game established in Lochgelly. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1895. GOLF. A meeting of golfers was held last Thursday evening in the Drill Hall. Mr James Connel presided and explained that the purpose of the meeting was to try to form a golf club for Lochgelly. The only obstacle he saw was the procuring of a suitable course, but that he had no doubt that difficulty would be overcome.

3 Other gentlemen present expressed themselves in favour of the idea. Amalgamation with Cowdenbeath club was spoken of, but this matter was allowed to lie over in the meantime. A committee was appointed to see about a suggested course near Lumphinnans Farm, and the result of their enquiries will be laid before the next meeting, which takes place on Monday evening first. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1895. GOLF CLUB. At a meeting held on Monday evening it was agreed to form a golf club. The following office bearers were appointed: - President, Dr F. Dendle; vice-president, Mr Connel; treasurer, Mr A. Graham; secretary, Mr A. Westwater; committee, Messrs J. Irvine, Stiven, P. Anderson, R. Penman and J. Hickman. A suitable course adjoining the Spittal Farm was unanimously agreed upon and Mr Connel was left with full power to complete negotiations of renting the field in question.

4 It was agreed on the suggestion of Mr Stiven to admit ladies to the club. The male members fee was fixed at 10s and the ladies at 5s. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1895. LOCAL NOTES. Lochgelly golf course is to be put in order at once, and the members expect to get a game on it very shortly. A great number of ladies and gentlemen have joined. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1895. LOCAL NOTES. Lochgelly golf course is now ready, and the first game is expected to-day. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1895. A Wee Keek Back 3 GOLF.

5 The new golf course was opened last Wednesday. Though the ground was very soft, owing to the recent rains, and the greens a good bit from being perfection, the enthusiasm of the golfers seemed to overlook these deficiencies, and everyone appeared to thoroughly enjoy their game. We believe the game will be very popular in this district. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1896. GOLF. The first competition for the monthly medal took place last Wednesday. After the scores were handed in the lowest was found to be that of George Crombie with 95 minus 10. The nearest cards to this were those of Rev. P. McMahon, and Bethune, (both scratch) with 87 and 88 respectively. The medal was supplied by Mr Barclay, jeweller, Lochgelly. THE COWDENBEATH & LOCHGELLY TIMES ADVERTISER.

6 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1896. KELTY. THE LATE EARL OF MORAY'S BEQUESTS. It may be remembered that the late Earl of Moray bequeathed a sum of 90,000, 50,000 of which he left to his trustees to divide among deserving charitable and other institutions in the city and county of Edinburgh, and the remaining 40,000 to the counties of fife , Perth, Moray, Inverness and Nairn. The trustees recently have been engaged in the allocation of the money, but from inquiries that have been made it is understood that their labours in that respect have not yet been completed, though it is intimated that they will be in the course of the week. Allocations, however, have been made and intimated to various bodies. Among others of which intimation has been made so far are the following: - The United Industrial School of Edinburgh, 500; Church of Scotland Deaconess Hospital, 1000; and the town of Forres, 3450, divided as follows among the institutions of that burgh: - Forres Coal and Clothing Society, 1500; Forres Mechanic's Institute and Library, 750; Forres Leanchoil Hospital, 700; Falconer s Museum, 500.

7 PUBLIC MEETING - A public meeting was held last week in Oakfield Hall to consider matters relating to the library. Mr James Terris, Keltyhead, chairman of the Library Committee, entered very fully into the means taken to participate in the bequests left by the late Earl of Moray for benevolent, religious, scientific, and literary purposes. To Mr Stewart, one of the trustees, and factor on the estate, they had forwarded an application for 500 to assist in the erection of a library, reading-room, and other suitable buildings. They found, however, that they had been premature, for such a sum was not adequate for these purposes. To strengthen their application for a larger sum, namely, 750, it was thought advisable to call a public meeting.

8 The opinion was expressed by others that 1000 would be necessary. Mr James Terris jun., Dullomuir, explained that he had not shared hitherto in library affairs - not from any want of sympathy with the usefulness of the library, but that his hands were pretty full, and he felt the business was in good hands. He had endeavoured, however, to assure Mr Stewart personally that the library was an nondenominational institution, but somehow it was a very difficult matter. He might say that the trustees were in sympathy with the movement, and would, no doubt, treat the application generously. Mr Terris went on to say that he had seen Mr Ure, A Wee Keek Back 4 architect; but he (Mr Ure) had not yet completed the rough sketch of the plans of the buildings contemplated, and which Mr Stewart desired to inspect.

9 He therefore moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr James Cowie: - "That this public meeting of the subscribers to the Kelty Public Library, and of the inhabitants of Kelty, Oakfield, and Cantsdam, recognise the great advantages to be derived from the permanent establishment of a public library in their midst, which shall be accessible to all the inhabitants on equal terms; considering also the difficulty of meeting the expense of an adequate library and suitable building in which to place it by subscriptions obtained within the district, especially at a time characterised by a depression in the staple industry; recognise also the favourable opportunity now offered of overcoming the difficulties by obtaining a grant from the bequests of the late Earl of Moray, resolve to support the application made by the Library Committee, and to apply to his Lordship's trustees for a grant of 750 to provide the funds for the aforesaid purposes, and respectful to point out to the trustees that this district may fairly be held as possessing peculiarly strong claims for their consideration, as being the most important centre of the mining industry of his late Lordship's estate".

10 The customary votes of thanks concluded the meeting. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1895. KELTY. Golf. Kelty has been seized with the golfing mania. Some enterprising gentlemen have formed a club and have already acquired a course. The course is of six holes, so that will entail three turns to make a round. We wish them every success. LOCAL JOTTINGS. On Sunday the Rev. Mr Sinclair intimated that the Parish Church recently built at Kelty has been granted 500 from the Earl of Moray's bequest, and that the church was now entirely free of debt.. Kelty folk have been granted 800 from the Earl of Moray's bequest, in aid of their library and reading room. The members of the Cowdenbeath Reading Room have also got 100 from the same bequest, to assist in defraying expenses of library.