The 'Contact' facility and the three buttons to the right of each message in the guestbook can only be used by the webmaster. If you would like to contact someone who posted a message, please do so via the webmaster (Iain Sommerville) by clicking here. Iain will forward your message to the original poster.

If your message is about family history or tracing relations, you might also find useful pointers on the Family History page.

Submitted by
Name: Jim Storrar
From: London
Subject: Storrar Family in Burntisland
Email: Contact

Comments:
What a wonderful website - every town should have one.

I am researching the family history of Tom Storrar (1868-1942) and his wife Helen Burnett (1869-1966)and I would love to hear from anyone who has any memories of them. Any scraps of information would be most welcome.

Tom began his working life in Kinghorn where he became manager of Darney's glueworks until it closed down in about 1904. Tom and Helen then moved to Burntisland where Tom was a coaltrimmer at the docks. The family lived, in succession, at:

1904: 12 Craigholm Crescent (now 45-95 Kinghorn Road).
1905: 15 Somerville Street
1908: 35 East Leven Street
1915: 23 James Park
1920s: 40 Rossend Avenue (now Broomhill Avenue)
1930s: 18 Ferguson Place
1940s: 26 James Park (ground floor)

Tom and Helen had five children:
Thomas (1898-1980) A Civil Engineer.
Jock (1901-1978) Pharmacist. Went to Australia.
Jessie (1907-2003) Schoolteacher, married Bill Morrison.
Peter (1909-1987) Pharmacist.
Jim (1915-2002)Pharmacist.

Original message added: November 26, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Colin
From: Eastbourne
Subject: Visited in 1968
Email: Contact

Comments:
It is very interesting to find and read your website. My reason for doing so is because I visited in 1968 on-board an R.N. Minesweeper. It was H.M.S. Warsash which was attached to the Southampton division of the R.N.R. ( Disbanded now ) Apparently we were there for what was called De-Gaussing, which is the removal of the magnetic field around a minesweeper. I have not found any mention of the R.N. presence in relation to this in the history of the port. ( Or have I missed it ? ) I did enjoy my stay and even took the train into Edinburgh for a city visit, of which I always fondly remember. I was never fortunate enough to visit Scotland again via the R.N. but always promised my wife that we would do so one day ...... that day is coming within two weeks of posting this. Regards to all.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Colin. I do remember the occasional naval vessel in the East Dock in recent years, presumably there for degaussing. I found a reference at www.mwassociation.co.uk/news/toast.to.burntisland which says that the facility closed in 2011. I hope you and your wife have a great time when you visit!

Original message added: August 1, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Iain Gordon
From: Barnstaple, Devon
Subject: Broomhill House, Burntisland, Fife
Email: Contact

Comments:
I have the address Broomhill House, Burntisland, Fife listed as the destination of passengers disembarking from SS City of Cairo at Liverpool on 6th December 1928.

I can find no trace of such a house today and wonder if anyone knows anything about it. Could it possibly have been a private boys' school, or a hotel?

Any help will be much appreciated.

Iain

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Iain,
My Heritage Trust colleague, John Burnett, is following a number of leads. We'll get back to you by private email as soon as possible.
Regards, Iain

Original message added: December 29, 2013

Submitted by
Name: John Welsby
From: Formerly Aberdour now Stenhousemuir
Subject: The Shipyard
Email: Contact

Comments:
I have found all the information on the shipyard very interesting and it brings back some fond memories I worked in the Engine Drawing office from 1961 till 1968.
Keep up the good work Iain.

Regards

John

Original message added: October 5, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Russell green
From: Berkshire
Subject: Trying to find relations of my grandfather George Green born 1894 Cromwell rd
Email: Contact

Comments:
He had a brother called Henry and sister Euphimia

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Russell,
You could try a few other ways as well. There are some suggestions at the top of the 'Family History' page on the website - see under 'Data Sources' on the main menu.
Good luck!
Iain

Original message added: August 19, 2013

Submitted by
Name: richard john
From: swansea
Subject: burntisland
Email: Contact

Comments:
I live here in Swansea born and bred but am no stranger to Burntisland I have great memories of the town back in the 1950 s 60 s my grand father had the barber shop on the high street for many years by the name of Hutton the shop is still there .
He lived along with my gran Mary Hutton they lived in dick crescent .on recent visits I see the town hasn't changed much. I remember climbing the binn one sunny after noon and waving a welsh flag when I got to the top much to the dismay of the local farmer the links haven't changed and the fair is still great fun.

Original message added: May 28, 2013

Submitted by
Name: clare summers
From: london
Subject: my nan
Email: Contact

Comments:
I would just love to say I think your web site is a fab site, my very much and love Nan was born and grew up in Burtisland she was born up on the Binn and I used to love listening to all her fun story's of life there and have visited there many a times I was wondering if you have anything as in photos or writings about the ingles family my nans name was Mary Ingles and there was 7 girls in total nan was born in 1923.I hope you can help or know of anyone that may help me

best wishes Clare.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks for the kind words, Clare.
You told me subsequently that your Nan's sisters were Lilly, Barbara, Margret, Grace, Agnes (who died young), and Ena. Of course, with them all being girls, it's more difficult to trace descendants if they got married!
I've asked a former Binn Village resident if he remembered the family, but unfortunately he couldn't.
I think the best thing to do would be to write to the Editor of the Burgh Buzz with the information you have, and ask him if he'd put an article in the next issue. You'll find his email address at the bottom of page 3 of the current issue, which you can download from www.burghbuzz.org.uk.
Finally, with the Binn Village website photos, I've added names where I have them - but I don't have names for the group of children. Sorry!
Kind regards, Iain

Original message added: May 23, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Allen Conway
From: Burntisland
Subject: Spelling of my name
Email: Contact

Comments:
Hello,

I now live in Lille, France. I appear in 2 photos:
Burntisland Primary 1b pupils (1950-51)
Burntisland Primary 7b pupils(1956-57)

There the spelling of my Christian name is given as Alan. Not a big deal, not important, but anyway... Doesn't matter if you don't change it.

Good site. Good work. Really well done!

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Allen! That's the corrections made.

Original message added: February 10, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Alex Ferguson
From: Somerset
Subject: Old Photographs
Email: Contact

Comments:
Hello, I have found some old photgraphs most of which are about the Co-op when it had a horse drawn delivery fleet.I cant't tell the year but I expect older residents will recognise some of the people.
If you would like to have the please let me have an address to forward to.
Alex

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thank you very much for the kind offer, Alex. The address is - Iain Sommerville, 225 High Street, Burntisland, Fife, KY3 9AE. I'll add the photos to the website, and we'll retain the paper copies in the Burntisland Heritage Trust archives.

Original message added: November 10, 2012

Submitted by
Name: Bruce Meldrum
From: Burntisland
Subject: Town Provost 1936
Email: Contact

Comments:
Ive came across some old postcards with the Town Provost on them one with Prince of Wales which I believe is around 1936.I know there is a list of the Provosts in the town Hall but obviously at moment cant gain access .Does anyone know the name of the Provost from 1936 much appreciated

BRUCE

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Bruce. James Leith was the Provost from 1928 to 1943. That's taken from the list in the Burgh Chambers. Luckily I have photos of the lists! There's a tree at the entrance to the Links which commemorates his long reign.
Regards, Iain

Original message added: October 29, 2012