‘new town’

Glenrothes was chosen to represent Scotland’s wave of “new towns”, which were built in the 1940s and 1960s, writes Kieran Andrews, political editor.

Four ladies stitched the panel, which captures artwork studied by Historic Scotland and took five months to complete.

Two of those behind the tapestry, Patricia Macindoe, who has been stitching all her life, and Ruby Henderson, who has crafted the art for more than 40 years, were present to see the work completed yesterday.

Both said they had an affinity with the Fife town — despite never having visited it.

Ruby said: “You don’t want to hand it back.

“You want to hang it up in your work room.

“We now know about Glenrothes.

“We did take the town to our hearts.”

Patricia revealed the quartet initially started all meeting in her house on a weekly basis to sit and work on the panel before it became so big they had to take turns at stitching it individually in their own homes.

She said: “It’s great to be part of a really historical project.

“There’s a great social aspect to stitching it together and putting into something for the nation.”

Presiding officer Tricia Marwick said: “The tapestry and Andrew Crummy, the designer, has captured Glenrothes perfectly with the depictions of our town art, such as the hippos and the totem poles, and everybody is to be congratulated.”