The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Trust celebrates 20 years of keeping heritage alive in Fife
Fife Historic Buildings Trust (FHBT) kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrations with an event at Kirkcaldy Old Kirk.
More than 100 guests were welcomed by the trust’s patron, former prime minister Gordon Brown, before hearing more about FHBT’s work across the region.
Working together, Fife Council and FHBT have secured significant funding and delivered conservation and regeneration schemes throughout Fife over the past two decades, bringing more than £30 million of investment to historic buildings and places.
From FHBT’s first project in West Wemyss to its current schemes in Cupar and Lochgelly, the trust has worked with local people to find new uses for historic buildings that bring activity and opportunity to town centres.
Trust chairwoman Christine May said: “Over the last 20 years, I am proud to have been associated with a great team of staff, volunteers, community groups, trustees and funders who have helped FHBT deliver over £30 million of regeneration investment into Fife’s towns and communities. My heartfelt thanks to all those we have worked with over the years.”
Notable projects have ranged from the creation of business units at Station House in Burntisland and the development of holiday lets in Kinghorn Town Hall and Cupar Burgh Chambers, to initiatives that improve health and wellbeing, such as the Silverburn project in Levenmouth and a climbing centre at St Andrew’s Church in Lochgelly.
Mr Brown concluded: “The trust has an enviable record of successfully restoring previously neglected buildings and bringing them back into productive use as business units, community meeting places or homes.”