🧭 Fife Photography Collection Receives National Honour

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Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• Fife Photography Collection Receives National Honour

• Fife Charity Shortlisted for Award

• 37 Events to See This Week

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

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🚨 Fife has launched a pioneering new safety scheme to help neurodivergent children during emergencies by introducing personalised seatbelt covers that alert first responders to communication or support needs. The Project Embrace pilot has already distributed 200 covers through special education schools, helping emergency services quickly access vital information about a child in the event of a road collision or crisis.

• 🛣️ Concerns over Fife Council’s pothole and road fault reporting system could lead to further upgrades after councillors criticised the quality of feedback provided to residents. Councillor Dave Dempsey said the current system makes it difficult for users to tell whether faults have already been reported, with councillors now set to take part in a workshop aimed at improving the service and reducing public frustration.

• 🏅 A Kirkcaldy pub doorman has received a national bravery award after helping prevent a young man from taking his own life outside Montagues on New Year’s Eve. James Peggie, who works for Spartan Management, stayed with the distressed teenager, contacted emergency services, and later drove him to Victoria Hospital to ensure he received care, earning recognition at the National Pubwatch Safer Night Time Economy Awards in London.

• 🌊 Scottish Water has acknowledged ongoing pollution issues at Torryburn nature reserve after previously denying there was evidence of contamination, leaving local councillors and residents frustrated. Concerns have centred around sewage-related debris washing onto the shoreline, with Scottish Water now confirming it is carrying out clean-up operations and working with SEPA and other agencies to investigate and improve the area’s environmental condition.

• 🏠 Fife Council is encouraging people with lived experience of homelessness to complete a new anonymous survey aimed at improving future housing support services. You can complete the survey here.

• 🏆 Kirkcaldy-based charity The Big Hoose Multibank has been shortlisted for Charity of the Year at the Scottish Charity Awards after supporting thousands of families across Scotland with donated essential goods. Founded in Fife in 2022 through a partnership with Amazon’s Dunfermline fulfilment centre, the project has since distributed more than 4.5 million items and expanded into a nationwide network tackling poverty and waste.

• 💻 Dunfermline-born tech entrepreneur Paul Hamilton has been named one of the UK’s newest billionaires after his software company Halo Service Solutions was valued at £2 billion. Hamilton, who started the business from his mother-in-law’s spare room in 2004 with no outside investment, now supplies IT service software to organisations including Microsoft, the Ministry of Justice and the University of Cambridge.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

📷 Fife Photography Collection Receives National Honour

A photography collection held in Fife has been recognised as Nationally Significant by Museums Galleries Scotland, confirming its place as one of Scotland’s most important cultural assets. The University of St Andrews’ photographic collection contains around 1.6 million images, spanning formats from 1830s glass negatives and lantern slides to modern digital photography. It is also believed to be the oldest photography collection institution in the world.

The collection’s origins date back to the late 1830s, when members of the St Andrews Literary and Philosophical Society collaborated with English photography pioneers to help develop and refine some of the first paper-based photographic processes. Those early experiments with salted paper photography have evolved into a collection that now charts nearly 200 years of photographic innovation and history.

Its images document a wide range of subjects, including social documentary, Scottish landscapes, travel, and exploration, offering a unique record of Scotland’s social and cultural transformation over almost two centuries. The announcement comes as the collection moves into a new home in the centre of St Andrews, where it will become more accessible to researchers, students, and the wider public.

Nationally Significant Collections are designated every three years by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. Each recognised collection is considered to play an important role in preserving and sharing Scotland’s culture and history.

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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.

Tuesday, 19th May

Moments by the Sea: A Mindful Photo Walk on the Fife Coast - Join us for a gentle, wellbeing-focused photo walk along the Fife Coastal Path.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Tentsmuir Forest Car Park | 🎟️ Free

Tearaway Writers: New Writing Night - This showcase of rehearsed readings brings together a range of fresh voices and perspectives, with plays that are darkly humorous, dramatic and sharply observed.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £8+

ORP Orzel: Still on Patrol - The story of a Polish Submarine that came to Rosyth during World War II.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Rosyth Library | 🎟️ £3

Pint of Science 2026: Earth Matters - From how life first emerged, to why mudflats matter, to the resources that will power a sustainable planet.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Sandy's Bar @ The Union, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

Angel Anne Psychic Medium Show - Scotland’s Angel of the North, her abilities passed down the generations on her mother’s side, she is a renowned medium & Author.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £20

Wednesday, 20th May

Beginners Vegetable Growing Workshop - Get your hands dirty & learn how to grow your own organic veggies from scratch in this fun, beginner-friendly workshop.
📁 Food | 🕢 6pm | 📍 The Sanctuary Garden, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £40

BBQ & Blether - Join us for a relaxed BBQ and a chance to have your say on how money is spent in our community.
📁 Community | 🕢 6:15pm | 📍 Methilhill Community Children's Initiative | 🎟️ Free

Letter to the Tree Book Launch - Collect your free anthology of love letters to Fife's trees. Learn about Fife Climate Forest's Tree Canopy Survey and how to get involved.
📁 Talk | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Greener Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

James Yorkston’s Tae Sup Wi’ A Fifer - James hosts another stellar line up at the Byre with Kate Stables, Phill Jupitus, and The Elidas.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £18+

Pint of Science 2026:When Polymers Walk into a Pub - Speakers from Chemistry, Physics, and Biomedical Sciences will share how polymers are shaping our world in different ways.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Sandy's Bar @ The Union, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

Bringing Back Scotland's Native Oysters: A Community Talk - Come share a drink and learn about an ambitious community project to bring back the native oyster and restore our lost marine ecosystems.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Larick Centre, Tayport | 🎟️ Free

The Shoregate Session - Everything from traditional tunes through to songs ancient and modern.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 The Shoregate, Crail | 🎟️ Free

Thursday, 21st May

Song Sung Blue - Uplifting true story of two down and out performers who find love, hope and a fresh start through.
📁 Stage | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £6.60+

Table Top History - A chance to pop in, learn about elements of the past and have a friendly chat.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 11:30am | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Pixies: P40 - Celebrating 40 Years.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £55+

Witches of Scotland - The history of the witch hunts that ripped through the country from the 16th to the 18th century.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Duloch Library | 🎟️ £3

Andrew Carnegie and the Patons of Dunfermline - Explore the connections between the Carnegie and Paton families, which started over 200 years ago.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £7,21

Stuart Mitchell and Friends: On The Road - The one-liners have been sharpened, the quick replies are flowing fast and this time he’s bringing his pals.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £22.50

Friday, 22nd May

Sketching On Tour Workshop - Start your very own travel sketchbook and create a personal souvenir of your visit as you join Mark the Edinburgh Sketcher.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £64.12

Friday Night Slides - 1/10th scale Electric RWD Drift cars only, and must be running Buzz Break or DS Racing LF4 tyres.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ £5+

Ruts DC - Drums and Bass building the defence wall. Guitar and whatever else lobbed in stun/attack mode. That is Ruts DC.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £27.50

Dunfermline Charity Gin Festival - Over 40 gins will be available at the festival which takes place in the Glen Pavilion.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Glen Pavilion , Pittencrieff Park | 🎟️ £20.60

Discos For Grown Ups - 70s, 80s and 90s disco party.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £17.50+

Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit-In - This new play is full of authentic details that bring this significant moment in Scottish history to life.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £16+

Fountain Island - With support from No Glory, The Borderline and High Voltage.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Monarch Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.05

The Johnny Cash Roadshow - The world’s longest-running tribute to the Man in Black.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £26.50+

Sandy Power - Dunfermline-based live musician who plays a mix of pop classics and crowd-pleasing favourites from across the decades.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Multi-Day Festivals & Events

Building No.3 Dock Exhibition - An exhibition curated by the Methil Heritage Friends showcasing a huge part of the history of the local area.
📅 Wed, 8th April - Sat, 30th May | 🕢 11am-4pm | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ 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

Burntisland Fairground - Rides, stalls, and attractions lining the town’s seafront.
📅 Sat, 23rd May - Sun, 16th August | 🕢 1pm | 📍 The Links, Burntisland | 🎟️ Varies

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

The Wemyss Ware Cat Trail - Trail of 17 large-scale Wemyss Cat sculptures, each standing over 1.7 metres tall.
📅 Sat, 25th April - Sun, 6th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ 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