Kirkcaldy ‘a town on its uppers’, says crime writer Val McDermid

Fife-born crime writer Val McDermid has described her hometown Kirkcaldy as “a town on its uppers” as she prepares to host a special book event to help its foodbank.

The tartan noir author, 64, will discuss her latest book, My Scotland, at the Waterstones book store in Kirkcaldy Galleries, tomorrow.

Profits from the £2 per head event will go to Kirkcaldy Foodbank, and there will also be a collection of cash and food donations for the scheme, which helps those in crisis.

McDermid, pictured, who highlighted the loss of several shops, said: “Saturday down the High Street when I was young used to be thronged – it was a social thing. Now people drive up to the retail park and there’s nothing social about that.

“The heart has been ripped out the town, and there’s no jobs.

“The foodbank? I could not have imagined when I was growing up in Kirkcaldy that there would be foodbanks.

“It was a working class town. People didn’t have much money but they could get a roof over their head and feed their kids.

“It shocks and depresses me. The event we’re doing in Kirkcaldy, any profits are going to the foodbank, and there will be a collection for the foodbank as well.”

McDermid, who still retains close links with Kirkcaldy and includes the town in My Scotland, has described the book as a “cross between a memoir and a travelogue”.

The book sheds light on places around Scotland that the author has featured in her crime novels and is illustrated by more than 100 stunning images by Perth-born photographer Alan McCredie.

She added: “Scotland is a great location. Whatever you want to write about you can find a setting for it in Scotland. We are spoiled for choice.”