🧭 A Major Milestone for Fife Shipbuilding

Good morning, Fifers! No Mow May is almost over, and our patchy meadow definitely didn’t thrive, but the bees seemed to enjoy it regardless.

Here’s what else is coming your way today:

• A Major Milestone for Fife Shipbuilding

• Fife Man and his Robot Dog Breaking Records

• 58 Events to See This Weekend

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🚢 HMS Venturer Emerges from Rosyth Shipyard

Back in 2019, the contract awarded to Babcock to build five Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy was a big deal for the Kingdom. Now, six years on, we’re seeing that deal take shape, with HMS Venturer, the first of the fleet, rolling out of the Rosyth build hall.

Weighing in at 5,700 tonnes and stretching 139 metres, HMS Venturer was carefully manoeuvred into position using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters. This milestone marks the transition from construction to final preparations, ahead of the ship being floated into the River Forth in the coming weeks. Once afloat, she’ll return to dock for outfitting and systems integration before heading out for sea trials and, eventually, operational service.

HMS Venturer is the first of five Inspiration-class frigates being built at Rosyth, with three currently in production. The first vessel is expected to be completed by 2027, with the full fleet ready by early 2030. We’ll be on the lookout for them sailing down the Fourth in the years to come. [Babcock International]

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🛠️ Fife Council has begun a project to assess and repair the 200-year-old North Queensferry Town Pier, with boreholes being drilled this week to evaluate structural damage.

• ⚓ A £30k memorial garden is planned in St Monans to honour 21 fishermen lost in an 1875 storm. Unveiling is set for the 150th anniversary this November.

• 🍽️ Booffi, an all-you-can-eat world buffet restaurant, will open in Dunfermline on June 6, creating around 30 jobs. It replaces the long-closed Kinema Restaurant and marks Booffi’s first outlet in Fife and fourth in Scotland.

• 🐾 A new dog exercise area opened in Cardenden’s Wallsgreen Park on May 23. The community-led project offers a safe off-leash space, with local support and donations from Pets at Home helping kickstart the facility.

• 🎶 Dunfermline’s Inver Shand, 17, has won Scotland’s Young Musician of the Year for his accordion skills, earning £1,000, coaching, and a recording session to support his musical journey.

• 🏡 Plans have been submitted to build 12 single-storey homes in Aberdour near Inverkeithing Road, aiming to meet local downsizing demand. A previous proposal on the site was rejected in 2016.

• 🏨 North Queensferry’s campaign to save the Albert Hotel has reached Westminster after Scottish Ministers rejected a community buy-out bid. MP Melanie Ward has vowed to keep pressing for support.

• 🎠 Cowdenbeath play park revamp, funded by the Scottish Government, will include a cableway, climbing frame, wheelchair carousel, and more. Construction starts later this year, aiming for completion by Spring 2026.

• 🏗️ MRS Training and Rescue plans a new facility in Crossgates to offer specialist work-at-height training. Approved by Fife Council, it will expand their health and safety services across UK industries, aiming to boost the campus's appeal.

• 🏕️ St Andrews Holiday Park scales back expansion, applying to add 23 caravans on nearby farmland after halting plans for 134 due to local objections. Demand remains high with a growing waiting list for pitches.

• 🩸 Kirkcaldy mum Rachael Nixon, 39, with rare blood cancer myelofibrosis, urges people aged 17–55 to join the stem cell donor register. After finding two matches, she’s set for a life-saving transplant on World Blood Cancer Day.

AROUND FIFE

Each week, we highlight positive news stories, hidden gems, and local experiences to explore.

🐶 Fife Man and Robot Dog ‘Rusty’ to Tackle Munro in World-First Climb

Here in Fife, we’re no strangers to quirky local adventures, but this one’s in a league of its own. Local content creator Michael Cipriani is teaming up with his AI-powered robot dog, Rusty, for a record-breaking mission: climbing Beinn Ghlas, a 1,103-metre Munro in the Southern Highlands.

If successful, Rusty will set a new world record as the highest-climbing quadruped robot, beating the current 1,098-metre benchmark set in Switzerland. Usually found in military or industrial settings, Rusty’s been specially trained by Michael to handle Scotland’s rough-and-ready terrain.

You may have already spotted them training on the Lomond Hills, prompting more than a few double-takes. Now, the big climb is set for the coming weeks, and you can follow every step on Michael’s YouTube channel, @project_rusty. [Fife Today]

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

✨ Featured Event

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🎶 Live Music & Concerts

📍 An Evening of Prog Rock - With Long Earth, Black Sails Collective & The Wizards of Progg.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

📍 DS:UK… in tribute to Dire Straits - Ultimate Dire Straits experience with all the songs that you want to hear.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £26

📍 Jamie Adamson and John Muir Jr - Acoustic guitar duo performing originals and covers.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 8:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Ciaran McGhee Solo Acoustic - Folk stalwart and great singer/songwriter Ciaran McGhee plays his intimate solo set.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Phonics - Tribute band to the Stereophonics.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 9:00pm | 📍 The Duchess, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14

📍 Soul Night - Bring your dancin’ shoes to FSC’s very own Soul & Motown Club.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £8.30

📍 Kings of Marigold - Performing Abbey Road in full & many more Beatles favourites
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

📍 Livewire The AC/DC Show - AC/DC tribute band.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £25

📍 A Tapestry of Life: Workshop and Concert - Universal themes of love and friendship, situations and journeys, with music that's sure to touch the heart.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Leslie Town Hall | 🎟️ £12

📍 Voodoo Pilots Acoustic - Local legend blues rock ensemble Voodoo Pilots with semi-acoustic versions of their set.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Columbos Soul Band - Fife's finest soul band.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 9:00pm | 📍 The Duchess, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Lights Out By Nine - Scotland's premier Soul & R&B band.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 3:00pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 Beauty and the Beast - Step into the enchanted world of Disney’s modern classic, Beauty and the Beast.
📅 Wed, 28th May - Sat, 31st May | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £16

📍 May Madness - An evening of short "pint sized" sketches and plays, monologues and more.
📅 Fri, 30th - Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:30pm (Fri) & 2:30pm (Sat) | 📍 Hunter Hall, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

📍 El Duglas - HotTrod Theatre Company original drama.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Dunfermline Abbey and Palace | 🎟️ £20.21

📍 Singin’ I’m No a Billy, He’s a Tim - Comedy play exploring bigotry and ethnic identity.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £28

🎬 Entertainment

📍 Anstruther Harbour Festival - Fun filled family festival with music, food, games, and more.
📅 Fri, 30th May - Sun, 1st June | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Anstruther Harbour | 🎟️ Free

📍 Lang Toun Fest 2025 - Culture, art, history, music, food, family-friendly activities, and community projects throughout June.
📅 Fri, 30th May - Sat, 5th July | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Noody Dook - Charity skinny dip.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 7:00am | 📍 Silver Sands Beach | 🎟️ £15

📍 Scurry Swims 2025 - Open water swimming in a beautiful Scottish loch.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 8:30am | 📍 Lochore Meadows | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Scottish Championship Bike Racing: Round 2 - Round two of the 2025 championship season roars into action.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sun, 1st June | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Knockhill | 🎟️ £17

📍 Chess Challenge - Join us for a match an hour before the museum opens and play for another hour as visitors arrive.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum | 🎟️ Free

📍 A Minecraft Movie - Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 2:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 Doctor Who: Season 2 Finale - Watch the finale of Season 2, The Reality War, on the big screen!
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 6:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 Sinners - Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 Markinch Highland Games - One of the oldest Highland Games in Scotland.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 John Dixon Park, Markinch | 🎟️ £8

📍 Klimt and The Kiss - A close study of the story behind the famous painting, The Kiss.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 2:00pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

📍 Restless Natives - 1985 Scottish adventure comedy film telling the adventures of two Scottish youths from Wester Hailes.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 3:00pm | 📍 Larick Centre, Tayport | 🎟️ £5

📍 A Real Pain - Expertly navigates the thin line between comedy and tragedy.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 6:45pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £6

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 History in the Park - Encampments demonstrating life in the area through 6 different time periods.
📅 Fri, 30th May - Sun, 1st June | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Craigtoun Country Park | 🎟️ Free

📍 Gaelic and Scots Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Robert the Bruce Festival 2025 - Celebrate the life and times of King Robert the Bruce, Scotland's legendary hero.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sun, 1st June | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Pittencrief Park, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bluey at the Cinema: Let's Play Chef - An hour-long treat for fans of Bluey to enjoy.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 11:00am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5

📍 Rosyth Gala - Activities, events, market stalls, face painting, music, rides, pony rides, inflatables and lots more.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 11:30am | 📍 Rosyth Public Park | 🎟️ £11.55

📍 Burntisland Fairground - Rides, stalls, and attractions lining the town’s seafront.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sun, 24th August | 🕢 1:00pm | 📍 The Links, Burntisland | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Sunday Storycraft - Session of themed crafts and stories.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 An exclusive lunch with Veuve Clicquot - 4 course lunch with champagne pairings celebrating the excellence of Veuve Clicquot.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 12:00pm | 📍 The Adamson, St Andrews | 🎟️ £145

📍 Australia Wine Tasting - Wine tasting evening to sample 13 wines selected by Rose Murray Brown Master of Wine.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Hams Hame, St Andrews | 🎟️ £49.46

📍 Foraging Walk - Explore edible and useful plants, make a magical potion and enjoy a wild picnic.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Charlestown | 🎟️ £20

📍 The Big Seafood BBQ - When it's gone, it’s gone, so be quick and get yourself down early.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 12:00pm | 📍 Cellardyke Bathing Pool | 🎟️ Varies

🛒 Markets

📍 Artisan Fridays Market - A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 9:00am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Jack & Jill Market - Quality nearly-new baby and children's markets where families sell and save.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 The Vine Conference Centre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Kirkcaldy Antiques and Retro Fair - Find a bargain at this local market.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Culross Community Market - Enjoy a fantastic day of local shopping, delicious food, and live music.
📅 Sun, 1st June | 🕢 12:00pm | 📍 Culross Green | 🎟️ Free

🎨 Exhibitions

📍 Unearthed - Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed and explore prehistoric creatures.
📅 Sat, 8th February - Sat, 27th September | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

📍 Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
📅 Tue, 4th March - Tue, 28th October | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

📍 Hag: Knowledge, Power & Alchemy through Craft - Exhibition celebrating the creativity, strength, and mastery of 13 Scottish women craft artists.
📅 Sat, 8th March - Sun, 8th June | 🕢 10:00am (Mon-Sat) & 12:00pm (Sun) | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre – Explore Cupar’s rich history with locally focused exhibitions.
📅 Wed, 16th April – Fri, 31st October | 🕒 2pm (Wed, Fri & Sun) | 📍 Cupar Railway Station, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March 2026 | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

📍 Fife Flyers British Championship 40th Anniversary Exhibition - Relive the dramatic victory of the 1985 British Champions.
📅 Wed, 30th April - Sun, 8th June | 🕢 10am (Mon-Sat) & 12pm (Sun) | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Wonder Store - Exhibition showcasing artworks by various renowned artists.
📅 Fri, 2nd May - Sat, 27th Jun | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

🧶 Arts & Crafts

📍 Photo - Fife College photographic students exhibit their work.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 Life Drawing - Friendly, untutored drawing group offering the chance to draw a live Life model for 2 hours.
📅 Fri, 30th May | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 Woodwork for Beginners - Learn basic woodworking skills and safe practices.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Methilhill Community Children's Initiative | 🎟️ £45

📍 Edinburgh Sketcher - Join Mark as he shares his skill and technique for sketching around the grounds of Kellie Castle.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Kellie Castle | 🎟️ £48.24

📍 Cast ON - A cosy, free fortnightly knitting & crochet meetup for all skill levels.
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 Crochet Flowers and Jesmonite Vase Workshop - Design and create your very own eJesmonite vase and crochet a flower .
📅 Sat, 31st May | 🕢 2:30pm | 📍 Larick Centre, Tayport | 🎟️ £38.62

📍 Cafternoon - Using Delft tiles which feature a ball and stick game called kolf, we will create our own tiles.
📅 Mon, 2nd June | 🕢 2:00pm | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan

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