Blog

In Cupar this weekend (15 – 17th November)

Cupar is always busy with local events but this weekend seems particularly packed with a number of events happening and which give you a brilliant opportunity to come to Cupar for the day, to shop in our local shops – whether you are just needing to buy your usual household shop or want to start your Christmas shopping.   And at the same time you will be supporting local community groups and businesses. We thought it might just be simpler to list each event out with a link for all the details!

Cupar’s Yesterdays …

When Steve Penrice was just a boy, his father’s job – working on the railways – brought the family to Cupar. “That was a few years ago now!” Steve tells us when we caught up with him to look over just a selection of the vast array of items in his incredible Cupar archive …

No room at the Inn?

There’s nowhere to stay in Cupar … at least, that’s what many folk tell us. But we know there are guest houses, self-catering apartments and B&Bs with more than 100 beds available, all within an easy walk of the centre – and some are smack, bang right in the middle of town. We took a walk to discover a few and to highlight what’s on offer.

So when you next hear anyone say “there’s nowhere to stay” you can point them in the right direction …

Hard to swallow?

What’s your perception of a Food Bank? Our guess is that unless you’ve been to one, you may well be wide of the mark. We took time to visit Cupar’s Food Bank and to discuss their work with the project’s manager, Joe Preece. An ex Army man, Joe’s passion for helping people and understanding complex logistics shines through. He and his team of remarkable volunteers are running the food bank with military precision … and the coming months with the countdown to Christmas brings a sharper focus to their work …

Fair minded …

CuparNow is ‘by business, for business‘ – but we know and appreciate none of the town’s businesses would thrive were it not for the incredible community spirit that abounds in the town. There’s a multitude of groups and organisations that collaborate and work hard to enhance the Cupar experience. We caught up with Margaret Lawrence, Chair of Cupar Fair Trade, to discover more about their work …

Focused on Cupar

In our work developing CuparNow, we have identified more than 380 businesses and organisations in the town – making and selling all manner of products and services to folk who live close to home and far afield. At our last Open Meeting, Fiona Adamson – a Partner in PLM Optometrists – came along to discover more about our project. And so to demonstrate how we can help, we turned the tables to focus on Fiona and her company. Here’s the latest in our wee profiles featuring Cupar’s businesses …

A Vintage Year …

Anyone who found themselves in Cupar on Saturday 3rd August may have thought they’d stepped into a time machine. The town centre had been transported back to a time when rock was accompanied with roll, when you could tell one car from another by its design … and when haircuts were high with quiffs and beehives. This was Cupar’s inaugural Vintage Festival – and it wowed visitors with music, displays, events and stalls selling all manner of retro collectibles. We caught up with the event’s impassioned organiser …

Tesco’s Champion …

Primarily, our work supports businesses in the town – but hand in hand with that work is our role to showcase the fantastic community groups that deliver all kinds of projects that help those living in and around our town. One such group is Tesco Cupar in The Community. We popped in to the store to meet with Elaine Brailsford, their Community Champion, to discuss how Tesco is engaging with Cupar and our wider community …

A more caring Cupar …

Part of CuparNow’s remit is to demonstrate just how improved digital connectivity can best support multiple audiences in our town. Over a number of months, we have championed the work of Ruth McCabe and the the work she is delivering for Dementia Friendly Fife. The project – overseen by Fife Health & Social Care Partnership – exists to train companies and organisations to be ‘dementia friendly’ so they can demonstrate to those affected by dementia that they will receive a warm and understanding welcome.

Since we started featuring the programme, we are delighted more businesses and organisations in Cupar have taken part and won their certificates. We hope this wee update helps to spread the word more …

Escape with Eden …

On our travels around the town, we’re always pleased to meet the people behind the company names and fascias. The town has an increasing number of independent businesses who are nailing their colours to Cupar’s mast and we’re delighted CuparNow is enabling us to showcase them as never before. In our latest profile, we met with Gail Brunton and her business partner, Andrew Fotheringham, the duo behind Eden Escapes …