The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Trust honours Bob Watt
A 19TH CENTURY jail cell guard room has been transformed in honour of a renowned architect and prolific charity fundraiser.
The Bob Watt Studio was officially opened yesterday in the grounds of Kinghorn Town Hall as the new base for the Fife Historic Buildings Trust.
The building, which was recently restored by the trust, was originally a guard room for jail cells in the neighbouring town hall.
Mr Watt, who died in May 2012, was a visionary for the creation of a better future for the people of Fife. He was a trustee with the Fife Historic Buildings Trust, which was formed in 1997, primarily for the purpose of saving and restoring historic buildings at risk in the region.
Kinghorn Town Hall and guard room date from 1830 and were designed by architect Thomas Hamilton in the Tudor Gothic style. The category B-listed buildings form a central feature within Kinghorn’s conservation area.
The town hall was restored by Fife Historic Buildings Trust in 2008 as part of the Kinghorn and Burntisland townscape heritage initiative.
Mr Watt was also a founding member of the Levenmouth DevelopmentTrust, which sought to improve the area for the better of the local community.
He had moved to Methil after qualifying as an architect and had a positive impact on many people throughout his life and career.
Mr Watt was also chairman of the Fife Strathspey and Reel Society, which was on hand to provide accompanying music at yesterday’s event.
The studio was officially opened by Mr Watt’s partner, Jeannette Malcolm, who said: “Bob was a very modest man and the improvement of Fife meant everything to him. I know he would be very honoured by this recognition from the trustees of the Fife Historic Buildings Trust.”
Chairperson of Fife Historic Buildings Trust Christine May said: “Bob is greatly missed by all of us at Fife Historic Buildings Trust, and now we have a fitting way to remember his enthusiasm and professionalism.
“I am sure our staff will be inspired to even greater achievements with Bob’s name on their new premises.”