Picture special: 150 years of caring at Stratheden celebrated at fete

Stratheden Fete (All pictures by Neil Gallacher)

The event was opened by Bill Pagan who is the great, great grandson of one of the lead committee members that oversaw the commissioning of the hospital in 1866.

A welcome speech was given by Sandy Riddell, director of the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, who gave thanks to the League of Friends of Stratheden who were ‘the driving force’ behind the event.

Stratheden is one of the oldest mental health hospitals in Scotland still operating on its original site after 150 years.

A committed group of people in Fife formed a commissioning group to oversee the development of the hospital and they supervised everything from the land purchase to the slates on the roof.

Later, a school of nursing was built on the site; Occupational therapy commenced in 1928 and a hospital social worker was sought in 1946.

More recently two purpose built and award winning wards were opened for older adults and just last month the hospital opened a new modern, state of the art Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit.

Until the late 1990s, an annual fete was held in the grounds of Stratheden and was a regular feature going all the way back to the 40s.

A number of Fife businesses offered services and prizes for the day: William Wilson Bathrooms, Ladybank Golf Club, Cupar Post Office, Time Fitness, Blossom, J&T Rodgers Pet Supplies, Watts of Cupar, The Traditional Barbour, The Wee Steamy, Brodies Blooms, Youngs Jewellers and Nappy-Pun Toy master. William Wilson Bathrooms, Rufflets Country house hotel, Knockhill racing circuit, Poundstretcher, Boots Pharmacy, Luivians Bottle shop, Bonnygate Garage, Debbie’s hair design, COOP, Westport café, The Wee Kingdom, MGM Plumbing, Burgh Falconry, Paterson’s Fruit Merchants, Kettle Produce, Joebhoy Designs Group, East Fife FC, Raith Rovers, Fife Zoo, Rejects, Morrisons, Bonkers, AbaTan, Nandos, Leven Nail Bar, Cupar Collectable, Yvonne Gray Dance Studio, Enigma Gymnastics Club, Springfield Global Taekwondo Federation and City of St Andrews Pipe Band.