Measuring The Head May Become A Thing Of The Past For Some

Old Scottish Bowlers from the 1880s

Seen here measuring the head  ie after all bowls have

been delivered measuring to determine which bowl is

nearest the jack.

Over the years I've attended various events at local bowling clubs but I've never quite managed to play the game because, much to the relief of those who know how to get anywhere near the wee while ball, the scheduled times for beginner groups has always coincided with my voluntary work.

Wrongly I assumed bowling clubs were privately owned until I learned the council still manages and maintains seven clubs in central Fife.  Council officials are now insisting that these clubs must pay for maintenance of their greens and pavilions (which are council owned buildings), electricity and water, insurance, machinery and equipment.

Colin Morrison, the president of one of the clubs affected said: "The parks and countryside department have been talking to us over the past three years but it came as a surprise to be told, 'Take over the club or close'.  He complained the membership was too old to push a mower/scarifier or aerator around a green and other sports were sponsored by the council; naming swimmers who are subsidised to the amount of £3.59 per visit.

The most heavily subsidised bowling club is in an MP's constituency. Each member of Galltown in Kirkcaldy is said to be subsidised to the tune of £540 annually.  Given that bowling greens are closed for six months of the year that's a hefty subsidy.  I wonder if they've called on Gordon Brown for assistance.

It would appear that the local authority is keen to offer assistance and according to the service manager for parks and countryside there are 'a lot of options', so why do I get the feeling that Mr Morrison is highlighting this now for purely political reasons, after admitting he'd been in talks about it for three years.

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Which Town Flies this Saltire?

The above picture was taken by a Courier photographer. It flies on the roof of a Town Hall. The town is the wealthiest in the Kingdom of Fife.

One Courier reader said : "It's a disgrace in Homecoming year and at any other time." What is sad about this is that the employees who work in the building haven't protested at the condition of the flag or, if they have, management has ignored them.

Which town is it? St Andrews, the home of golf and an area which attracts tens of thousands every year to worship at the shrine called the Old Course.

The excuses from Fife Council can be read here.

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GPS Helps Dementia Sufferers

Fife is leading the way in efforts to give dementia sufferers a more independent life. For a number of months, as part of its wider Telecare programme, Fife Council's social work service, in partnershop with the region's health service and police, has been monitoring the benefits of using satellite tracking technology to trace dementia sufferers should they become disorientated.

Five people across Fife have now been given GPS as part of the pilot, meaning that family members, carers and even the police can quickly pinpoint the wearer if they become lost.

The matchbox-sized sensors enable a person with early-stage dementia to get out and about with the confidence that a family member or other carer can offer assistance if needed.

John Honeyman of Fife Telecare stated:

“I think it’s struck a chord with them that there could be a scenario where a member of their family is still physically active and is quite capable of going for walks, but there is a concern they could get lost.

“Carers or family members are saying they feel a lot better that their loved one has this device—it gives them peace of mind.

“It’s about enabling people to carry on doing the things in the community that they might otherwise feel a wee bit reluctant or scared to do.”

A sixth device is set to be issued in St Andrews soon and Mr Honeyman believes the pilot will throw up plenty of issues to discuss.

“You can do all the research and theory you like but you’re not going to uncover the foibles and issues that you would encounter without putting this into practice,”

“The next step is to carry out an interim evaluation to see how things are going and if we need to look at any glitches.

“Some of the things you can only find out in practice, such as how you make sure people carry the device or how you make sure they keep it on charge—it’s OK if people live with their carers and can be given a gentle reminder to take their GPS device with them but there are other situations where that might not be the case.”

While money is likely to be the biggest stumbling block to seeing such a project become more mainstream, Mr Honeyman believes the positives far outweigh any negatives and should be pursued.

“That’s certainly the hope of the Scottish Government—they have a vision that by fostering this type of technology and supporting projects in all authorities across Scotland, we will be able to make better use of our resources and frontline care staff so they can be targeted where the need is greatest,” he concluded.

What a great idea and an all round winner for the sufferer, family, carer and taxpayer. I know the stress dementia puts on families.

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