The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Help make 70 super for town
Locals being asked to give their ideas for celebrations
The people of Glenrothes have been urged to come together in 2018 to celebrate the town’s 70th anniversary.
Mike Mowat, chairman of community group Go Glenrothes, says he hopes the anniversary will help bring together residents of the New Town as preparations for the landmark event begin to take shape.
Stating preparations were now well under way, Mr Mowat said he wanted as many people and groups involved as possible.
“We held a consultation event at short notice but we’ve since heard from other groups who couldn’t attend that they want to be involved,” he continued.
“Things are moving forward and it looks like the big day will be June 30, which was the day the government signed the paperwork and made Glenrothes a new town.
“We’re hoping there will be lots of events and we want them to be free for people, so we can get as many involved as possible.”
The organisation, formed to promote the town with one eye on this year’s milestone, held a conference in November in a bid to get as many other local groups involved as possible.
With a strong response from that, Mr Mowat is keen to see that enthusiasm replicated by townsfolk.
“I’m hoping this will help build civic pride,” he said. “Glenrothes tends to be a bit splintered but hopefully these celebrations will make a difference, but I guess we won’t know until we actually do it.”
Established in 1948 to house workers at the Rothes Colliery, Glenrothes today boasts a population of around 40,000 people.
Though its days as a mining town were short-lived, it has become Fife’s administrative centre and maintains a strong presence in the technology and manufacturing sectors.
While several dates and, indeed, years have been mooted as the official anniversary of the town’s formation, Go Glenrothes has pinpointed this summer as the focal point of its proposed celebrations