SYSTEM©Willie Shand marvels at the rich heritage to be found in the charming village of West Wemyss, in the November 12, 2022 issue of “The People’s Friend”.
West Wemyss is a lovely conservation village on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. Beneath its peaceful facade, though, hides a busy industrial past. It wasn’t so much fishing boats, but ships laden with salt and coal from the local mines that filled its once-busy harbour.
Today, only a few small fishing boats and pleasure craft enjoy the harbour.
Wemyss is one of the oldest family names in Fife. It was the Wemyss family of Wemyss Castle who owned much of the country’s vast coal reserves.
Join Willie as he visits the castle and other attractions in the area.
Art From The Front
Photograph by Shutterstock.
Passing through Tain en-route to Dornoch, Helen Welsh spied a charity shop run by the Highland Hospice Association, and she and her partner paused to look.
They discovered some so-called trench art which led to further research on the subject. Sometimes after an assault, having seen to the dead and tended to the wounded, soldiers collected the empty brass shells and turned them into decorative objects.
Some of these are very attractive in their own right, quite apart from their historical provenance. As a genre, they have achieved considerable “collectable” status.
From model ships to butterfly photograph frames, Helen marvels at the incredible art created from World War I debris.
Melanie Barratt
Photograph courtesy of Melanie Barratt.
Open water swimming takes bravery, grit and plenty of determination.
Luckily, Melanie Barratt possesses all of these attributes and many more besides, so when she got the chance to dip her toe into this new aquatic activity, she went for it.
What does prove problematic, however, is that Melanie, who was born with severe visual impairments, cannot see obstacles ahead.
But she doesn’t let it hold her back and, with the help of friends who provide guidance, she’s able to enjoy the experience with them.
As paralympic swimmer Melanie aims to become the first blind woman to cross the Channel solo, Holly Crawford finds out more.
Joanne Coates
Photograph courtesy of Joanne Coates.
It’s an environment still very much seen as a man’s world, but acclaimed photographer Joanne Coates paints a different picture of 21st-century farming in Britain.
She spent over a year touring the country to document the crucial role women play in keeping farms running and food on the table.
The result is “Daughters Of The Soil”, an exhibition featuring the stunning images she took, and the personal stories of the ladies they feature.
Joanne is putting women in the picture when it comes to UK agriculture. Bill Gibb finds out more.
Elsewhere in the November 12, 2022 issue, we have a collection of recipes that help you eat well whilst also saving energy. Plus we have a knitting pattern to make a cosy hat and snood set.
We hope you enjoy it. Let us know what you think.
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