🧭 Cutting-Edge Heart Treatment Now in Fife

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• New Funding Pledge for Rosyth Ferry

• Cutting-Edge Heart Treatment Now in Fife

• 65 Events to See This Weekend

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

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🐧 Two puffins rescued from Fife beaches after Storm Chandra have been successfully returned to the wild by the Scottish SPCA, following months of rehabilitation, and are now thriving near the Isle of May.

• 🏨 Students from Fife College gained hands-on experience of luxury hospitality during a visit to Rusacks St Andrews, exploring behind-the-scenes operations and service standards at the iconic four-star hotel overlooking the Old Course.

• 💼 Nine senior figures at Fife Council and its associated trusts have been named in the TaxPayers' Alliance Town Hall Rich List 2026, with chief executive Ken Gourlay earning a total package of nearly £240,000.

• 💍 Students from Fife College have won Bronze awards at the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards, highlighting their creativity and technical skill in one of the industry’s most prestigious competitions.

• 🚢 The SNP has pledged to invest £3 million in the proposed Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry link in Rosyth, matching UK Government funding to support the long-discussed plan to restore a direct passenger and freight route between Scotland and mainland Europe via Dunkirk.

• 🚌 Stagecoach Group has announced bus fare increases across Scotland from May 3rd, affecting tickets including singles, returns and MegaRiders.

• 🖼️ A new “Kirkcaldy Then and Now” photography exhibition has opened at Victoria Hospital, featuring historic and modern images of local landmarks and supported by Fife Health Charity to create a more welcoming public space for patients, visitors, and staff.

• ♿ West Sands beach in St Andrews has become more accessible with the introduction of a new all-terrain automated wheelchair, delivered to St Andrews Beach Wheelchairs through funding support, including Freddie’s Ataxia Fund, enabling greater independence for disabled visitors to enjoy the coastline.

• 🛒 Fife’s Greens Retail, part of the Glenshire Group, has reported record sales of £29.6m for 2025, driven by expansion to 29 stores across Scotland, despite a small pre-tax loss linked to ongoing investment in new and refurbished sites.

• 🥤 Irn-Bru have released the advert they were spotted filming a few weeks back in Aberdour. Check it out here.

• ⚓ Babcock International Group has agreed a two-year extension of the Future Maritime Support Programme with the Ministry of Defence to continue supporting Royal Navy vessels, with key engineering and maintenance work delivered from its Rosyth Dockyard and Devonport facilities.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

❤️ Cutting-Edge Heart Treatment Now in Fife

NHS Fife has introduced a cutting-edge cardiac procedure typically only available at large city hospitals, allowing heart failure patients to receive specialist treatment closer to home. The cardiology team has begun offering Left Bundle Optimised Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (LOT-CRT), a highly specialised pacing technique that helps the heart's chambers beat together more efficiently by precisely placing pacing leads in both lower pumping chambers and in the heart's natural electrical conduction system.

This builds on NHS Fife's position as Scotland's first health board to adopt Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP) back in 2022, an advanced technique that more closely mimics the heart's natural electrical activation. The new LOT-CRT procedure takes this further, offering benefits for selected patients with heart failure by reducing strain on the heart muscle and improving symptoms. Patients who would previously have required referral to specialist centres outside Fife can now receive this cutting-edge care locally.

The development ensures that advanced technical capabilities normally associated with major city hospitals remain available at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. For patients with heart failure in Fife, this means accessing world-class cardiac care without the stress and inconvenience of travelling to Edinburgh or Glasgow for treatment.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

Friday, 17th April

Spring Visits 2026 - Meet our friendly animals at Hillview Animal Park.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £11.55

Lyne Burn Bugs and Bulbs - Fun workshop finding out about bugs and beasties and planting bulbs.
📁 Family | 🕢 11am | 📍 Touch Community Garden, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Hayley Matthews Art Paint & Sip: Cherry Blossom - Paint, sip, create! No experience necessary! All art materials and refreshments provided. BYOB! 
📁 Art | 🕢 6pm | 📍 St Peter’s Church, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £35

Desperate Improv! - Meet the contestants of the newest hot reality show!
📁 Stage | 🕢 6:20pm & 7:40pm | 📍 University of St Andrews Students' Association | 🎟️ £3+

Darren McGarvey: Trauma Industrial Complex - McGarvey dissects how personal suffering is repackaged, exploring the fine line between awareness and exploitation.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16

Wrest - Scottish folk rock band, formed in 2017.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £24.75

The Band - Fife premiere for this hit musical featuring the music of Take That.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £17.50+

Simon & Garfunkel: Through the Years - The world’s most authentic tribute to Simon & Garfunkel.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £30+

The Burleigh Blues Band - Four-piece with a soulful, funky take on new and old standards.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.70

Susie McCabe: Best Behaviour - The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award winner Susie McCabe is back!
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18

Moving Pictures - The ultimate Rush tribute.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £21.50+

SlayOff! Who Will Rule the Stage? - Bands, singers, drag artists, burlesque performers, and more, all going head-to-head in a Battle of the Bands–style showdown.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.50

Twist & Shout - Sing and dance along with an all-star West End cast.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £29.50

The Petty Heartbreakers - A celebration of the great Tom Petty.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £28.60

Saturday, 18th April

Scottish Championship Car Racing: Round 1 - Unique format where drivers will tackle the challenging reverse direction across two days of bumper racing action.
📁 Sport | 🕢 8:30am | 📍 Knockhill | 🎟️ £18

Cupar Market - Independent producers and creatives, fresh produce and food, handmade crafts, and more.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Crossgate, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

Madder, Weld & Woad: The Three Primaries - 2 day workshop focusing on three plants that have been the source of colour for thousands of years.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £130

Nature Connection Experience - Guided walking journey around some of Dunfermline's local green spaces to help you connect with nature.
📁 Tour | 🕢 10am | 📍 Townhill Woods, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Hayley Matthews Art Paint & Sip: Cherry Blossom - Paint, sip, create! No experience necessary! All art materials and refreshments provided. BYOB! 
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 St Peter’s Church, Kirkcaldy  | 🎟️ £35

Kirkcaldy Funfair Model Show - Every year we showcase some of the best model making in the UK with all the fun of the fair in miniature.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am | 📍 Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Spring Visits 2026 - Meet our friendly animals at Hillview Animal Park.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £11.55

Community Day - Explore St Andrews’ unique local stories before the Procession with arts and crafts for all ages, literary talks by local authors, live music, and more.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Town Hall | 🎟️ Free

Led-ride: Culross to the Kelpies and Back - Join us for a fun led-ride from Culross to the Kelpies and back, exploring the beautiful scenery along the way!
📁 Sport | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 West Car Park, Culross | 🎟️ Free

Kirkcaldy to Kinghorn Coastal Ramble - Join us for a beautiful coastal walk along the Fife Coastal Path from Kirkcaldy to Kinghorn.
📁 Sport | 🕢 11am | 📍 Seafield Beach Car Park | 🎟️ Free

Calving Tours - A special behind-the-scenes tour of the farm and experience the magic of calving season up close.
📁 Family | 🕢 12:30pm & 2:30pm | 📍 Teasses Estate | 🎟️ £8+

Felting with Pre Felts - Be inspired by Central/east Asian felt-making techniques, in a fun, fast-paced workshop with an amazing result.
📁 Art | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 Off The Rails Arthouse, Ladybank | 🎟️ £65

Ailsa Magnus Workshop - Each workshop will explore a different craft, including Casting, Gelliplate printing and Rag Rug Making.
📁 Art | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️

Sci-Fife: An Ace Afternoon With Sophie Aldred - Actor Sophie Aldred chats about her time on Doctor Who both classic and new.
📁 Talk | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £26.50

Kate Kennedy Spring Procession - The Procession starts and finishes at St Salvator’s Quad, winding through the town centre for a total of two hours.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station Visit - Come and get a behind the scenes look at Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station | 🎟️ Free

The Band - Fife premiere for this hit musical featuring the music of Take That.
📁 Stage | 🕢 2:15pm & 7:15pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £17.50+

Lochgelly Racing - Featuring U-Pull-It 1400 Stock Cars, ProStocks, 2.0 Hot Rods, Ninja Karts, and Junior Productions.
📁 Sport | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Lochgelly Raceway | 🎟️ £16

The Spirits of the Palace: After Hours Tours - Join us on an exclusive tour of the Palace and find out the fascinating spirits of Culross Palace.
📁 Tour | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Culross Palace | 🎟️ £27

Stock Car, Banger, and Hot Rod Racing - The Racewall brings all the action from BriSCA F2, Saloon Stock Cars, ORCi Stock Rods & Micro F2.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Cowdenbeath Racewall | 🎟️ £18.50

The Bunny Hop - Hop on over for The Bunny Hop, a fun-filled party full of music, dancing, and good vibes!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £54.88

Turn Up the Twirl - Our annual showcase of all our hard work from 2025/2026 seasons.
📁 Stage | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15.50

OCS - Ocean Colour Scene tribute band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £15.40

The Columbos - Cover Soul Music from the 60’s.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £11.55

Esperanza - With guests Ratistas.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Monarch Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £11.25

The Sorries - The duo sing, play and banter their way through a show which features a host of traditional tunes.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Leslie Town Hall | 🎟️ £10+

Jack Docherty in The Chief: Still No Apologies - Jack Docherty is Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson, your Chief, our Chief, The People’s Chief!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £25.50+

Big Girls Don't Cry - Relive the iconic sounds of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £31.50

Joe Martin - Country and Americana singer-songwriter from the Ribble Valley.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £22

Sunday, 19th April

Scottish Championship Car Racing: Round 1 - Unique format where drivers will tackle the challenging reverse direction across two days of bumper racing action.
📁 Sport | 🕢 8:30am | 📍 Knockhill | 🎟️ £18

Spring Visits 2026 - Meet our friendly animals at Hillview Animal Park.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £11.55

Create Cacti and Succulents in Wire - Come and explore the creative potential of wire in this one-day workshop with metalwork artist Philippa Johnston.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Off The Rails Arthouse, Ladybank | 🎟️ £65

Calving Tours - A special behind-the-scenes tour of the farm and experience the magic of calving season up close.
📁 Family | 🕢 12:30pm & 2:30pm | 📍 Teasses Estate | 🎟️ £8+

Culross Community Market - Enjoy a fantastic day of local shopping, delicious food, and live music.
📁 Markets | 🕢 12pm | 📍 Culross Green | 🎟️ Free

Curator's Tour: 12 North Street - Guided tour focusing on the history of one of the oldest domestic homes in St Andrews.
📁 Tour | 🕢 2pm | 📍 St Andrews Heritage Museum | 🎟️ £7.50

Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station Visit - Come and get a behind the scenes look at Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station | 🎟️ Free

Community Ceilidh - St Andrews will come together for an upbeat, family-friendly afternoon of live music and Scottish dancing.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 3pm | 📍 Station Park, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

Beatles Acoustic Trio - An evening filled with acoustic renditions of your favourite Beatles classics.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18.04

The Bluetones - One of the UK’s most consistently entertaining live acts.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £28.25

Finding the Money - This documentary follows economist Stephanie Kelton as she demonstrates why money is not the obstacle in tackling climate change.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Foresters Arms, Aberdour | 🎟️ Free

Stuckfish - Highly acclaimed UK melodic prog-rock band.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £26.40

Monday, 20th April

Musical Theatre Toning - Class is suitable for all levels, with a full body workout that uses showtunes to make exercise feel like a performance.
📁 Sport | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Dunfermline Learning Campus | 🎟️ Free

Multi-Day Festivals & Events

Sands 26: International Film Festival - Exciting showcase of international cinema as well as film-related events and workshops.
📅 Fri, 17th - Sun, 19th April | 🕢 Varies | 📍 St Andrews | 🎟️ Varies

Kirkcaldy Links Market - Europe's Longest Street Fair and Scotland's oldest, will return to the Esplanade for 2026
📅 Wed, 15th - Mon, 20th April | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Esplanade, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Hayley Matthews Art Exhibition ’Wild!’ - A vibrant new collection of original paintings and prints by self-taught artist Hayley Matthews. 
📅 Tue, 7th April - Thu, 25th June | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ Free

Pins and Needles Exhibition - The exhibition showcases previously unseen or rarely-seen items from the museum’s textile collection.
📅 Thu, 9th April - Sun, 23rd August | 🕢 10am-4pm (Mon-Sat) & 11am-4pm (Sun) | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Admission

Living Colour: Celebrating 200 Years of the Royal Scottish Academy - Experience the incredible range of RSA artists represented in this specially curated show from OnFife’s collections.
📅 Sat, 28th March - Sat, 5th September | 🕢 10:30am-4pm (Mon-Sat) | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

Unearthed - Step back in time to where it all began in our latest family-friendly exhibition.
📅 Sat, 21st March - Sun, 6th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Dear Earth - An exhibition exploring how artists are responding to the increased fragility of the world around us.
📅 Sat, 21st March - Sun, 13th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Carnegie and the RSA: A Celebration of the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship - This exhibition celebrates the wide-ranging impact of the Royal Scottish Academy’s Carnegie Travelling Scholarship as part of RSA 200: Celebrating Together.
📅 Mon, 23rd March - Sun, 13th December | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum | 🎟️ Free

Kirkcaldy Boot & Mart - Indoor and outdoor market held every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
📅 Sat, 10th January - Wed, 16th December | 🕢 9am (Wed, Sat, & Sun) | 📍 6 Michelson Drive, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan