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: Tom Cunningham
From: Kettlebridge
Subject: Our dad
Email: Contact

Comments:
Our dad Tom (Tam) Cunningham worked most of his life in Burntisland: in the shipyard, the aluminium works and the fabricators.
Thanks for the Shippy section, its really very interesting and I can remember some stories he told us all about especially the ship that sank the company.

We were hoping to see lots of photos and hopefully some of our dad.Perhaps there are some of his old workmates that sent in more images?

Dad died in 1986 at 60 years old, far too young and we all miss him. Especially he only saw one grandchild and two of his kids getting married whereas there are now a son-in-law, a two daughter-in-laws and two step daughters along with four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. (I hope I got that right!)

Any stories and images would be great to see and read about.

Thanks

Tom Cunningham

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Tom. All the shipyard material I've received is on the website. If you're interested, there's a chapter on the Shipyard in our book "Burntisland Voices". For details, please return to the Home page, and then you can access the Heritage Tust/Publications page from the main menu.
Iain

Original message added: September 30, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Margaret Rolland Amato
From: originaly from Glasgow Scotland ,now USA
Subject: Family
Email: Contact

Comments:
My father and his brother were born inBurntisland,he spoke of it fondly ,my Fathers name was Peter Rolland and his Brothers name was James ,I have been in touch with James,s son William ,iwas wondering if there were any more of his family still there ,like everyone else when my father was alive I never asked more

Original message added: September 23, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Pat Hastings
From: Preston
Subject: Glass family
Email: Contact

Comments:
My ancestor John Glass as born in Bruntisland in 1804 he moved to Edinburgh and married Elizabeth in the 1830's, they had 8 children including my great grand father...I can find no more about him can anyone help?

Original message added: August 4, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Ann Garriock
From: Canada
Subject: Family from Burntisland
Email: Contact

Comments:
Hi

I was brought up in Burntisland from the age 8-21 my maiden name is Anthony.

I still have a lot of Family living in Burntisland and came home 2 years ago as my father Eugene Anthony sadly passed away and a few weeks later his sister Margaret Sweet.

I get a real buzz when i walk down the high street and all the old memories come flooding back, your website is great keep up the good work

Ann

Original message added: June 4, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Allen Stutchbury
From: born Barrow in Furness now live in Sydney Australia
Subject: MV Mystic
Email: Contact

Comments:
First time I ever heard of Burntisland was when I joined the MV Mystic in King George the Fifth dock in London in June 1966, I looked at the builders plaque in the engine room and wondered where on earth was Burntisland.
I sailed on the Mystic to Australia as a junior electrician, what a wonderful ship she was, I still have a photo on my desk of her at sea.
When I left the sea in 1972 I emigrated to Australia and have been here ever since.
You people certainly knew how to build ships, much like my hometown, but sadly the industry has gone due to the mismangement of several governments.
Loved the site keep up the good work.

Original message added: May 27, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Lyn Wilcox
From: Australia
Subject: Re: Kells Family

Comments:
Researching my family tree of Kells (orignally spelt Keltz) According to tradition the Kells family originated with a Pastor in the Piedmont Valley of the South Western Alps or N.Italy. "Waldenses or somtimes known as Vaudois religious group persecuted for their beliefs. The Pastor' son Alexander & Wife & 1 child escaped and saught sanctury in Britain & settled on the Banks of the River Tweed in Northumberland. According to some research I have located my 9th Great Grandfather, James Kells was born in Burntisland abt 1625, married a Elspeth Thomson born abt.1647 They wed abt 1676 at Burntisland later generations re-located to Templeport,Ballyconnell, Ireland. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Regards Lyn Wilcox

Original message added: May 2, 2011

Submitted by
Name: bernadette gilliland
From: livingston
Subject: Tierneys in kirkton
Email: Contact

Comments:
researching my family tree and discovered that my great grandparents were living in burntisland in late 1800's 2 of their children were born there. great grandad john was a shale miner and according to the census (1891) was listed as staying at kirkton. can you tell me where roughly this would be now. i realise that all has changed but a rough idea would help.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Bernadette,

Please select 'Current: More' from the main menu on the website, then 'Maps', and then the top link. Scroll down to the second map and click on it. You'll see Kirkton marked - although it's actually a bit misleading! The old Kirkton area is the area immediately surrounding the junction of Aberdour Road and Kirkton Road, which is to the north east of the word Kirkton on the map. Quite a few of the old buildings are still there. It's odd that the census doesn't have a street name, but perhaps the birth certificates do?

Iain

Original message added: March 19, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Joyce Paterson
From: Edinburgh
Subject: Photos of Old Burntisland
Email: Contact

Comments:
Hi Iain

Have traced my mother's family - Ropper - to Burntisland. Inglis Ropper is listed on your Traders list and was my great great grandfather. He was a grocer in Harbour Place and the family lived in Back Street and Harbour Place. I have visited once with my daughter and will be back however wondered if I could purchase two old photographs listed - " Harbour Place 2" which I believe shows where his shop possibly was - and the other "The West End of the High Street". Can you also tell me where Back Street was and what happened to it.

Great site and many thanks.

Joyce

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Joyce. I'll send you higher resolution copies of the two photos, plus a couple of others of the same area. Back Street is still there, now called Somerville Street - it's parallel to and south of the High Street.

Eric Johnstone's database of businesses (available in Burntisland Heritage Centre) has Inglis Roper in Harbour Place from 1861 to 1869. No street numbers then, unfortunately. It also has his dates - birth 1/10/1814, death 11/3/1869, but you probably have these already. Plus he's a grocer. That's all the information on him in the database.

Hope this helps!

Iain

Original message added: March 10, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Hamish Kirk
From: Fife
Subject: Disruption
Email: Contact

Comments:
I read and enjoyed the piece on the Disruption as it affected Burntisland.

This momentous event in Scottish history was ignored for many years but now, with an awakening interest nationally in the History of Scotland, we are again taking note of the great events of the recent past

Original message added: March 4, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Bill Collins
From: Originaly Kirkcaldy But lived in Burntisland since a teenager.
Subject: Like the site
Email: Contact

Comments:
I have not been in Burntisland for approx 7 years, and probably will never return...

A friend sent me some old pictures of a few friends from Burntisland ( Pud Wilkie, Chick Cooper)that jogged my memory of old times, so thought I would check out whats available on the web.
Like your website and your picture gallery.

Keep up the good work.

Regards
Bill

Original message added: February 20, 2011