The Anstruther Writing Awards is a creative competition organised each year by the AIA and is open to one and all.

In years gone by an ‘Anster Fair’ was held in the town to celebrate the poem of the same name written by William Tennant (1784-1848). The poem features the characters of Maggie Lauder and Rob the Ranter and has a sub plot of witches, wizards and fairies. Numerous events used to be held in Anstruther during the ‘Anster Fair’ and one of them was a writing competition. So in 2013 the AIA decided to revive the competition to build on our community’s great tradition of creative writing and to celebrate talent of all ages.

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# PRIMARY PUPILS #

CREATIVE WRITING
First Prize: £20 book token
Second Prize: £10 book token

Entries can be poetry, or prose or illustrated fiction up to 500 words.

Judge: Chae Strathie

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# SECONDARY PUPILS #

POETRY
First Prize: £25 book token

SHORT STORY (1000-1500 words)
First Prize: £25 book token

REFLECTIVE WRITING (1000-1500 words)
First Prize: £25 book token

Judge: Christina Banach

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# ADULTS #

POETRY
First Prize: £100
Judge: Andrew Greig

SHORT STORY (between 1500-2500 words)
First Prize: £100

Judge: Jennie Erdal

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The competition closing date is the 30th of September 2016.

It’s a busy month at Dreel Halls with both an Anster Nicht on Thursday and Community Cinema on Sunday. The Anster Nicht takes us to the Southern tip of the world to the Sub Antartic Island of South Georgia. Our speaker, Katie Murray, spent the summer of 2011-2012 there as curator of the Grytviken Museum. Grytviken was once a famous whaling station and it is the place where Ernest Shackleton famously arrived after crossing the mountains of South Georgia after an 800 mile journey from Elephant Island. It is a fascinating place and we look forward to the talk.

On Sunday, we have Robert Carlyle directing and starring in a macabre comedy as a Glaswegian Barber who takes up serial killing. We have teas and coffee and home baking and a 6.45 start.

Also Yellow ducks going up over the town for the AIA Duck Race. As usual this takes place at 10.30 on Easter Saturday. Please support us in our biggest and craziest fund raiser of the year to keep this tradition going.

Elizabeth Gordon, Hon Pat.

As part of the Anstruther Harbour Festival festivities the A.I.A will be holding their Boat Race on the Dreel burn on Saturday 30th May at 10:30am. Boats are available locally where you see the Boat Race sign or at the burnside from 10am on the morning of the race.

Easter Saturday morning, Dreel Burn, has meant only one thing to the AIA these last 26 or 27 years – The Duck Race. Thanks to massive support from traders in the town, and indeed massive support from all the buyers of Ducks, the Duck Race has become an institution. The Duck pushers said this was one of the easiest Duck Races, no ducks escaped and 25 prizes were won. The crowd piled into Dreel Halls for refreshments and an Easter Bonnet Parade judged by the Fisher Lass and Lad.

The Duck Race has now been surrounded by King Creosote’s ‘Yellae Deuks’ Festival, a three Day event that culminated in an ecstatic crowd dancing to all his ‘big international hits’, the loyal fans favourites. Some of the best in Anstuther, Scottish and British music played over the Easter Weekend. The crowd consisted of friends old and new, young and older who also enjoyed an Easter Picnic and the stunning weather Anster had to offer on Easter Sunday.

Next Sunday, the AIA are helping to support the Table Top Games Club’s fund raiser for the RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station.

Elizabeth Gordon, Hon. Patron

The AIA’s big fun fundraiser, the Duck Race, takes place this Saturday morning at 10.30am when up to a 1000 yellow plastic ducks get chucked off a bridge and are cajoled towards the finish line at the Dreel Bridge. It’s a great sight and lots of fun.

Prizewinners are announced in Dreel Halls immediately afterwards and the public are invited to join us in refreshments and see the Easter Parade. There are prizes for the best hats so come and have some fun.

Ducks are available where you see the yellow duck sign. We have already had amazing support from local traders selling the ducks so a great big thank you to them.

Elizabeth Gordon, Honorary Patron

At the AIA AGM, retiring President Elizabeth Gordon spoke of the success of Dreel Halls and the fun that had happened there over the last fourteen months. Dreel Halls has become an important venue for various clubs, groups, ceilidhs and parties. There remains the challenge of turning Dreel Halls into a venue with access and facilities for all, and although our recent planning application was turned down the AIA will strive to achieve this.

Thanks were given to our supporters and members, especially the two Petes from Colinsburgh Community Cinema in screening films and Fife Free Press for their support in publishing our news and launching their calendar in Dreel Halls.

The new Committee is ready for action. They are Kate Anstruther, John Barker, Jen Gordon, Chloe Milne, Cllr Elizabeth Riches and Alan Stewart. Elizabeth Gordon and Christine Keay were made Honorary Patrons for a five year period. The Committee’s first task will be to get the Duck Race organised for Easter Saturday.

We finished our Anster Nicht season with local success story Murray Barnett giving a demonstration of cooking with artisan bread. There were tastings of a pineapple jam and hot cross bun pudding and a savoury pizza dish. Murray also explained the advantages of artisan bread using less preservatives and causes less bloating. The tasting was enjoyed by many and it was an enjoyable end to the Anster Nicht season.

Elizabeth Gordon, Honorary Patron

We had an excellent film night at Dreel Halls on Sunday, with the screening of the South African film ‘Felix’ as part of the Scotland Africa Film Festival. Once again, thanks to the two Petes from Colinsburgh Community Cinema, this was a lovely big screen presentation. The vibrant colours, wonderful music and a story that brought a tear to the eye contributed to a good Sunday event. The AIA Committee will be working hard to bring Community Cinema to Dreel Halls in the Autumn.

This week we have an early meeting and AGM starting at 7pm on Thursday, before award winning Artisan Baker, Murray Barnett gives us a talk on bread making. Only full members can vote at the AGM but all are welcome at the talk staring about 7.30pm. There will be, as always at the AIA, refreshments.

This week keep a lookout for the ‘Yellow Ducks’. Easter weekend means our Duck Race on the Saturday at 10.30 and our Easter Picnic on the Sunday afternoon. Ducks will be available where you see the yellow duck sign.

Elizabeth Gordon, President

This Sunday, the doors are open at 6.15pm at Dreel Halls for a film show. Showing as part of Africa in Motion, the Scotland Africa Film Festival, the two Petes from Colinsburgh will be putting up the screen and projecting so the AIA can screen the film Felix. This 2013 film has been described as, ‘Billy Elliot with sax meets Buena Vista Social Club in South Africa’. It is directed by the SAFTA lifetime achievement winner Roberta Durrant and has been described by one critic as standing out simply because it has bucket loads of charm.

The AIA is pursuing the possibility of having its own screening equipment in the Dreel Halls so come along and support us. Tickets, with refreshments, are £4 for adults and £2 for under 18s. Tickets on the door.

Elizabeth Gordon President

At our most recent Anster Nicht, local architect Fermin Beltran of Fife Architects led an informed discussion on green homes. In an intelligent and comprehensive presentation, Fermin helped the audience consider what was really green and how this impacted on both ecology and the economy. Architects can provide some answers and in an area like the East Neuk there is the challenge of ensuring that the existing housing can be improved. It was a thought provoking evening.

Our Final Anster Nicht will also involve a local businessman when we have Murray Barnett, Artisan Baker talk about his very delicious bread. That meeting will be held on 12th March immediately following our AGM.

Next Sunday, 8th March there will be a film show. This is part of Africa in Motion, the Scottish African Film Festival, and the film is a delightful tale called ‘Felix’, about a young African dreaming of becoming a saxophonist. There are details on our website and there will be more information in the local press next week.

Elizabeth Gordon, President

Dreel Halls continue to be very busy this Spring. Now on the third week of February we have our Anster Nichts and this Thursday we have Anstruther based Fife Architects, Lucy and Fermin Beltran talking about Eco architecture, sustainability and being green. Fermin will have a presentation and would welcome questions about both the economics and the ecology of modern architecture, We look forward to welcoming members and visitors alike.

Elizabeth Gordon, President