Burntisland Civic Week saved after good turnout of volunteers

Burntisland's popular Civic Week has been saved after community-spirited volunteers turned out to offer their help.

The traditional event, which brings the town together for a week of fun community activities, will go ahead after around 20 people attended a public meeting in the Sands Hotel at the weekend to lend their support.

And, with a new chairman and additional committee members, its future looks secure for a good number of years.

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This year’s event, on the theme of ‘Television and Film’ is also set to see greater numbers of visitors, with the parade day to mark the start of the celebration on June 17 also set as the date for the Fife Kinship Carers big day out.

This event, which started out as a national event in 2015, but has now had to be limited to just Fife carers, is expected to draw around 300 kinship carers and their charges to the town for a day of fun.

Daryl Samson, the new chairman of the committee, said: “I have helped out in the past few years and spoken to the previous chairman a few times about it but never actually did anything about joining the committee.

“When I heard it could fold I made up my mind to join because I thought it would sad for something which is so good for the community come to an end.

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“I am training to be a teacher, so this will be good experience for me.

“I am really excited and there are lots of other new faces with around four joining the committee and others saying they will help out when they can.

“We have a healthy budget and everyone is coming up with new ideas, so we are looking forward to getting stuck in and making it even bigger and better than before.”

One of the things the new committee is keen to continue is the raft race which attracted a lot of interest last year, while they are also looking at more outdoor performances and comedy shows to tie in with the film theme and a bigger parade.

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“It’s great that the Kinship Carers Day will be on the same day as our parade,” added Daryl, who works as a nanny in the town.

“I think that will bring more people along and be good for numbers and give the carers something extra to get the children involved in.”

Councillor Susan Leslie, who also attended the meeting, said: “I am delighted that so many new faces have come forward to form a committee and manage the town’s civic week.

“Given that boost I am sure it will survive for many years to bring joy to future generations in Burntisland.

“It is also great that the Kinship Carers will be able to benefit from taking part.”

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