St Andrews rock-themed restaurant Ziggy’s has announced it is closing after 42 years The popular venue is run by husband and wife Phil and Annie Wishart who count many celebrities and even royalty among their customers Open Golf champions and other well-known faces have all dined at the Murray Place spot courtesy of former England footballer Ian Wright and Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter “It disappeared one night and we assumed it would turn up in a hotel room,” said Phil “It turned out they had taken it as a prank “They took it on a European tour and there were photographs of it with celebrities in a golf magazine they came back and brought the coyote back with them.” Phil and Annie insist their regular customers are just as important to them And that’s why their phone has been ringing off the hook as people clamour for a table on May 10 Ziggy’s is St Andrews‘ longest-serving independent family-run restaurant The idea was sparked during a trip to London where Phil and Annie spotted long queues outside the Hard Rock Cafe in the middle of winter “I’ve always been interested in music and that was the beginning of it,” Phil said The couple set about filling the venue with original rock music memorabilia And their walls are now covered with signed photos guitars and posters from some of the world’s top artists and a rock soundtrack made Ziggy’s a go-to institution “We’ve seen massive changes in the town over the years,” said Phil “We’ve seen them come and go but we’ve just kept our head down and built up a good clientele base.” Ziggy’s became a favourite of Prince William during his time at St Andrews University “He used to phone to book and called himself Mr Wales and we’ve tried to treat everybody the same way “During the Open Championship we didn’t take any bookings and had long queues “Some celebrities would come to the front and try to get in but we’d very politely tell them to join the queue.” New owners are poised to take over the Ziggy’s premises they are planning to refurbish and change the name before reopening with their own venture Meanwhile, Phil and Annie are considering auctioning off their huge collection of memorabilia in aid of St Andrews Foodbank And they teased it could return at some point “Ziggy’s won’t be appearing again for a while but there might be something else,” said Phil so might be looking to do something.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments The North Carolina liberal arts institution’s president said that “financial sustainability is no longer attainable.” Andrews offered little detail about what went wrong at the university beyond Malik’s note about financial sustainability The small liberal arts institution’s enrollment has fluctuated in recent years fall enrollment fell 11.2% to 809 students The university in fiscal 2023 had a net loss of $6.9 million on top of a $1 million loss the year before, according to tax records Its net assets had also turned to negative $1.7 million in fiscal 2023 Andrews was created out of a combination of women’s college and Presbyterian men’s college was built to be “accessible to all,” which St Andrews says put it in “the forefront of service and research in the education of physically disabled students.”  it began aggressively courting military students and still touts its support of active-duty students Following financial and accreditation struggles the institution won approval to merge with Webber in 2011 Webber at the time was larger by about 300 students Webber leaders cited a desire to combine the university's business program with St Andrews offered its first graduate program it faced a total operating deficit of $8.2 million more than double its $2.7 million deficit the year before prompted auditors to add a “going concern” warning to the university’s latest financials indicating Webber might not be able to continue operating over the next year Malik said the university will focus on helping forge teach-out agreements for students and help them to transfer as well as assist employees with looking for new jobs Andrews would preserve its historical record and work with community leaders around the disposition of its property The university also has a campus in Pinehurst but the institution didn’t specify whether it would remain open or close along with the Laurinburg flagship Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The financial value of 4,600 colleges has been updated in a database from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce The letters escalate the Trump administration’s scrutiny of how colleges are handling student protests over the Israel-Hamas war.  The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines After a major refurbishment that has reimagined The Old Course Hotel’s fourth floor the legendary Road Hole Restaurant in St Andrews has reopened – and it’s not just the views that dazzle This three AA Rosette gem boasts a contemporary new look and a menu that turns local Scottish produce into high culinary art I went along on a warm spring evening with my young nephew to see if the food and experience lived up to the promise The Old Course Hotel is one of those places I’ll take any excuse to visit. Whether it’s afternoon tea, a trip to the Kohler Waters Spa or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this iconic St Andrews landmark I was excited to finally experience the rooftop Deck Bar with those sweeping views over the course and the sea Where you know you’re in for some top-notch champers the moment you sit down now open for the summer season and with the sun still warming the air after a scorcher of a day we perched on bar stools sipping our drinks Marley enjoyed a vibrant mocktail called Scratch crushed ice and Peroni 0% and I had a lovely full-tasting champagne We watched golfers finishing their rounds on the Old Course while being mesmerised by the view across the West Sands – the very definition of a St Andrews golden hour This was our introduction to the newly transformed fourth floor The refurbishment celebrates Scottish coastal colours – think sea blues golden sands and rich burgundies – and we felt that warmth throughout the space we were escorted past the opulent Road Hole Bar a whisky lover’s dream with more than 300 varieties lining the shelves And into the spacious Road Hole Restaurant – named after the famous golf course’s 17th hole The open kitchen has been made even more visible and is now a live copper-clad stage where the chefs cook just metres from diners It adds a theatrical buzz that complements the refined yet relaxed vibe of the room Our evening kicked off with oysters – six Cumbrae beauties with a custom Bloody Mary dressing that was kindly made gluten-free chilled and already loosened from the shell they were effortless to enjoy and absolutely delicious Starters followed: I had grilled Wye Valley asparagus with fermented wild garlic emulsion It was elegantly simple and full of flavour the emulsion reminiscent of a green-hued hollandaise But I would’ve preferred to see a local asparagus on the menu Marley went for the St Andrews Bay lobster ravioli – a beautifully plated dish topped with a crunchy coral tuile “It’s like nothing I’ve ever had before,” he said a surprise palate cleanser arrived – green apple sorbet with white chocolate crumble Marley declared it “the best sorbet ever,” and I wouldn’t disagree He even said if they sold tubs of it he would happily buy some to take home I chose the butter-poached St Andrews Bay lobster tail served with velvety potatoes and delicate watercress it was every bit the indulgence I hoped for but the generous portion and quality helped it live up to the splurge Marley’s choice was a standout – the braised leek with sprouted wild rice the dish resembled a floral sushi arrangement with a piping of soft tofu lending a creamy balance to the sprouted wild rice The chef even came to our table to explain the technique behind the dish Staff were eager to share the story behind the menu and the local ingredients that inspire it It is clear that the restaurant’s fine dining ethos is as much about hospitality as it is about flavour We’d been advised to save room for dessert – a tip we were glad to take on board lured by the promise of pistachio ice cream with our server ceremoniously cutting a cross in the top and nestling the ice cream inside where it slowly melted into the fluffy centre A spoonful was like biting into sweet rhubarb-scented air it was not only exquisite but excellent value for such culinary theatre the Blacketyside strawberry and basil Vacherin strawberry sorbet and shards of basil meringue it was perhaps a touch too involved for my taste I longed for something a little simpler – but every component was delicious The meringue-smashing ritual at the start added a playful note After dinner, we retreated to the Road Hole Bar where we sank into plush armchairs and watched the sky darken over the links As the last golfers disappeared into the St Andrews night it was hard not to reflect on just how special this place is From the tactile luxury of the refurbished interiors to the confident this is a restaurant that has found its rhythm – blending tradition with modern finesse prices lean toward the premium – this is But the experience justifies the price and many of the dishes weren’t prohibitively expensive or dissimilar to other high-end establishments I’m already thinking of an excuse to return – and next time Website: www.oldcoursehotel.co.uk/dining/road-hole-restaurant Price: £140 for two people having three courses (not including drinks) The rector of St Andrews University in the UK has won her appeal after the institution removed her from its governing body for issuing a statement that condemned Israel's "genocidal attacks" on Gaza Last year, the University of St Andrews removed Stella Maris from her position on the university court after its investigation concluded that she exercised "poor judgment" for sending an email to all students in November 2023 that called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza Maris, who is an alumnus of the prestigious Scottish university, also called on students to condemn "practices such as apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment observed in the treatment of Palestinians" St Andrews launched an independent inquiry led by Morag Ross KC to "examine" whether Maris's actions and activities were compatible with her role as rector after the UK Lawyers for Israel group lodged a complaint against her Ross submitted the findings from her internal inquiry to the university court She found that Maris's email had caused "anxiety and fear" among Jewish students Despite Ross concluding that firing Maris would be "disproportionate," the university court concluded that she should be removed from her position ruled in Maris's favour and overturned her dismissal from the university court Maris described her victory as a "surprise" as well as "vindication of my position [...] and a defence of the fundamental principles of free expression and democractic accountability within our universities “Universities must remain places where individuals are free to speak out against injustice especially where that speech is grounded in humanitarian concern and moral conscience in line with the principles of international human rights," Maris said in a statement '[Maris'] victory [is] a clear rebuke to the growing pattern of repression facing those who speak out for Palestinian freedom' and members of the public who stood in solidarity with me over the past months I intend to continue campaigning to ensure the right to political expression and academic freedom.” the students elect the rector to represent and advocate for their interests The position is unpaid and carried out voluntarily Maris received support from students on campus and over 500 academics across 17 countries Her supporters included the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) which provided her with legal support and helped fundraise for her appeal against the decision to fire her Tasnima Uddin from the ELSC described Maris' "victory as a clear rebuke to the growing pattern of repression facing those who speak out for Palestinian freedom" yet St Andrews chose to punish its rector for calling for a ceasefire," Uddin told Middle East Eye "The reinstatement of Stella Maris proves that the attempt to quash this mass movement will not succeed and legal means will continue to be used." A St Andrews University spokesperson said: “As the body that made the decision to dismiss the rector University Court is carefully considering the chancellor’s decision and taking advice from counsel “This issue was never about free speech and only ever about governance Ms Maris remains rector of the university and has done so throughout.” Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye          ISSN 2634-2456                      THE world's oldest golf club maker says it faces a 'challenge' to find new people to learn the traditional skills and keep the craft alive St. Andrews Golf Company was established in 1881 and is now Scotland's last remaining golf club manufacturer It is home to three brands - George Nicoll the company prides itself on being the last clubmaker in the world to use traditional skills to craft both modern clubs and vintage-style hickory clubs The company produces around 2,000 individual clubs per year with a team of three full-time clubmakers and three part-timers Hamish says the company faces challenges with finding and training new staff in the art "Our passion to retain the skills and handcraft playable sets of hickory golf clubs makes us unique - we're the last ones really doing that. "We've been undergoing a bit of change recently. "We've been lucky that we've had a very loyal workforce for many years. "You can't go down to the job centre and pick up half a dozen clubmakers - you have to train them and work with them so that's been a challenge recently." The company ships most of their clubs out internationally, with a large customer base in the United States - and they have crafted clubs for golfing legends, including three time Open champion Henry Cotton "George Nicoll has exported clubs to every country in the world where golf is played particularly in the early 50s," said Hamish "Sometimes they'd be sending out 10,000 sets of clubs a month was a lifetime ambassador for George Nicoll "We are represented globally - around 85% of what we manufacture is exported "That's the most exciting thing about working in this industry - the people you meet internationally." who has a passion for keeping the clubmaking craft alive Andrews Golf Company is one of Scotland's "best kept secrets" - but says he is always eager to open the doors to anyone interested to learn more about the trade "Our doors are open - we're always happy to invite people to the factory to have a look around and visit our workshop to learn how to grip their own clubs," he said "I think it's hugely important to keep this craft alive "But we think there's a balance to be struck and we need to retain some of the traditional skills that have been an important part of our country and our heritage." Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here Accepting all cookies will ensure you have the best experience possible when visiting TheOpen.com Some of these cookies are necessary to make our site work while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used Be the first to know about ticketing and hospitality for The 155th Open by registering your interest here The R&A has announced that The 155th Open will be played at St Andrews from 11-18 July 2027 The Championship will return to the home of golf for the first time since a record-breaking 290,000 fans attended The 150th Open in 2022, a historic occasion that culminated in Cameron Smith [below] producing a remarkable final-round 64 over the world-renowned Old Course to lift the famous Claret Jug said: “I’m hugely excited to be making this my first announcement at The R&A I’m looking forward to The Open’s return to St Andrews every bit as much as the fans and the players “There is something incredibly special about The Open being played on the Old Course and so many of the great Champions have walked these fairways since the first staging here in 1873 “St Andrews is the home of golf and it generates a unique atmosphere for the fans and the players as well as providing an amazing spectacle on television and digitally for millions of viewers around the world It promises to be another milestone occasion at one of sport’s greatest and most historic venues and we will be doing everything we can to make it a memorable experience for everyone involved.” said: “We’re delighted to be working with The R&A Scottish Government and VisitScotland to see The Open return to St Andrews in 2027 The 155th Open will be the 31st occasion the Old Course has hosted this great Championship “The St Andrews Links Trust golf courses are open to all and are an intrinsic part of this historic town We look forward to The 155th Open inspiring the journeys of many more golfers who wish to create unforgettable memories at the home of golf.” The 150th Open at St Andrews generated over £300 million in economic benefit for Fife and Scotland through driving tourism and providing income for local businesses and communities as well as showcasing the country to a global television audience of over 80 million Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This is great news for the home of golf St Andrews is draped in golfing history and prestige enjoying a global reputation for its prevalence in the game “The staging of the Championship here in 2027 will have a significant and positive economic impact on the region We know from independent research that the last ten Opens held in Scotland contributed a total of £1.36 billion to the economy it was just last year that the Scottish Government and VisitScotland agreed a long-term partnership with The R&A to secure The Open’s ties to Scotland for 11 years I am pleased that this agreement is already paying dividends showcasing Scotland on the global stage while boosting local economies.” VisitScotland Director of Industry and Events added: “Scotland is proud to host The 155th Open at St Andrews a global stage that showcases our country and all it has to offer Events like this are vital to our tourism and events industry; they support local businesses and communities while delivering significant economic and social benefits “The Open is more than a sporting event and culture while contributing to sustainability “We look forward to working with The R&A Scottish Government and St Andrew’s Links Trust to welcome golf fans back to Scotland in 2027 and reinforcing Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage for events.” The Old Course at St Andrews first hosted The Open in 1873 when the 13th Championship was played over an 18-hole course for the first time and was won by Tom Kidd Since then it has held the Championship on 30 occasions Hundreds turned out as the annual May Day Dip took place in St Andrews on Thursday The event saw University of St Andrews students gather at East Sands beach at sunrise The university says the May Day Dip is believed to promote good luck in exams Plans for more than 700 student beds at the former Madras College site in St Andrews have been recommended for approval Scotsman Developments want to build accommodation across four blocks at Kilrymont They would sit alongside 208 student bedrooms already created in the main school building Councillors will meet to discuss the latest proposal on Wednesday afternoon phase three includes cycle and bin storage parking and landscaping are also proposed for the site in the south of St Andrews affordable housing once mooted by another developer is not included Thirty-four people have objected to the Kilrymont planning application. Concerns include the lack of mainstream housing concerns over out of term use and the impact on existing residents the bid also received 19 letters of support from people who say the work already undertaken on the site is of good quality Supporters also hope hundreds of extra student beds will ease pressure on mainstream housing in St Andrews The accommodation includes three sets of three-storey townhouses in the east It also proposes two four-storey apartment blocks in the centre and west A swimming pool and gym contained in the original plan will now likely come forward as a separate application In a report to next week’s north east planning committee officer Sarah Hyndman says the development would consist of modern architecture with traditional elements A central greenspace would be at the site’s heart and public art and a performance space are also included The Kilrymont development aims to address an acute shortage of student accommodation across St Andrews Developers said they looked beyond the UK for inspiration And they focused on creating a “campus-like” environment similar to those found in the USA and Scandinavia Ashley Gibbons, who oversaw the launch of the first phase last year described it as “a new generation of student accommodation” A new bus service is connecting St Andrews with Edinburgh Airport – and we have all you need to know The Jet 787 route launches on Monday May 5 It will supplement the existing Jet 747 service from Halbeath Inverkeithing and Ferrytoll Park and Ride to the airport The Courier has taken a look at everything you need to know about the new service The Jet 787 service will stop in the following places: Most journeys from St Andrews to Edinburgh Airport are scheduled to take about one hour and 35 minutes It is expected to take the service around 40 minutes to travel from Kinross Park and Ride to the airport and 25 minutes from Halbeath Park and Ride The first service will leave St Andrews at 3.10am on Monday May 5 A 1am service from St Andrews will terminate at Halbeath Park and Ride Weekday buses to Edinburgh Airport will run at the following times Jet 787 services will operate at the following times at weekends: An adult single from Fife to Edinburgh Airport will cost £10.60 A Jet period return ticket costs £21.40 and can be used from anywhere along the route A Jet duo ticket provides return travel for two adults for £38 Stagecoach has also introduced a staff discount of 50% for passengers who work at Edinburgh Airport with a special day return ticket costing airport workers £6.20 Passengers over the age of 60 or under the age of 22 will be able to use their National Entitlement Card to travel for free SearchSt. Andrews University closing at the end of the school year Log InSubscribeThe Christian Post To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience 2025Wikimedia Commons/RantemarioTwo Christian colleges in the Carolinas have announced their intentions to close after the current academic year in light of financial concerns St. Andrews University, based in Laurinburg, North Carolina, has announced that it is closing and ceasing operations on May 5 A branch location of the Florida-based Webber International University Andrews is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is separate and distinct from the University of St has also made public its decision to close at the conclusion of the spring semester In a statement on its Facebook page on Friday Andrews said the decision resulted from "extensive financial analysis strategic review and exhaustive recovery efforts." "We explored every viable path forward," said Webber International University President and CEO Nelson Marquez "But the persistent financial and enrollment challenges facing St Andrews could no longer be mitigated through internal solutions alone This was a deeply painful but necessary decision." St. Andrews first held classes at St The new school was a merger between two schools based elsewhere in the state Flora Macdonald College and Presbyterian Junior College Andrews University as the institution merged with Webber International University Andrews indicated that it was "engaged with a number of universities about transfer credits" and expressed gratitude that it had received "an overwhelming amount of support in recent days." The institution listed more than two dozen other colleges and universities it is looking to establish "teach-out" agreements with that would enable students to transfer their credits to the new school and continue their education Schools in talks to enter into a "teach-out" agreement with St Andrews include several North Carolina-based institutions such as Appalachian State University Johnson and Wales University Charlotte and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Colleges in discussions about a "teach-out" agreement with St Andrews extend across multiple states to Alfred University in New York Tennessee Wesleyan University and Webber International University in Florida In addition to pursuing "teach-out" agreements the college will provide "advising and transfer assistance" to all currently enrolled students as well as "personalized transition guidance including employment resources and benefit counseling" for members of the school's faculty and staff According to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics The student body consisted of 806 undergraduate students and 26 graduate students Limestone University made public its decision to close at the conclusion of the spring semester In a statement posted on the school's website Limestone's Board of Trustees Chair Randall Richardson explained that "Despite exhaustive efforts to secure the funding necessary to continue our operations we have come to the difficult conclusion that Limestone University has not been able to secure the necessary funding to sustain its operation." "We want to thank the almost 200 recent supporters in the last two weeks who committed a collective $2.143 million We had hoped that would be enough to sustain our institution we could not continue operations on-campus or online without a greater amount of funding," he added Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that Limestone had an enrollment of 1,782 students as of fall 2023 "Words cannot fully express the sorrow we feel in having to share this news," Limestone President Nathan Copeland stated and supporters fought tirelessly to save this historic institution." Like St. Andrews, Limestone is taking steps to assist students as they transfer to other colleges and universities in addition to supporting faculty and staff. The school's Facebook page describes the institution as an "accredited St. Andrews and Limestone are the latest of several Christian colleges to shut their doors in recent years Last year, the Roman Catholic Church-affiliated Notre Dame College in Euclid not to be confused with the prominent University of Notre Dame in neighboring Indiana announced that it was shutting its doors after more than 100 years in operation Birmingham-Southern College an Alabama-based institution with ties to the United Methodist Church announced it was taking the same course of action weeks later Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage. The Courier is taking a closer look at planning applications and developments across Fife with our new regular round-up Fife Planning Ahead looks at the most interesting plans across the Kingdom This week they include the demolition of a house at Lade Braes St Andrews; a new memorial cairn to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kirkcaldy war memorial; and the conversion of a Cupar office into flats Permission has been granted for the demolition of a house within St Andrews conservation area The applicants hope the detached home at 46 Lade Braes will be replaced with a contemporary home Conservation area consent has now been granted to allow the existing building to be knocked down the replacement will be a two-storey house with basement that is sympathetic to the conservation area space for drying clothes and parking spaces The planning agent adds: “The proposal is a positive contribution to the urban fabric of St Andrews.” A memorial cairn is to be erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kirkcaldy war memorial Plans by the Royal British Legion have been approved by Fife Council The stone cairn in the war memorial gardens will include a time capsule containing information provided by local schools And seven “Walking With Heroes” stepping stones bearing the names of distinguished Kirkcaldy war heroes will also be laid Kirkcaldy is thought to have Fife’s biggest war memorial following a parade to the garden from Volunteers Green According to the application on the council’s planning portal a new standard for Kirkcaldy could also be dedicated The war memorial will then be cleaned in advance of a significant remembrance parade in November A former solicitor’s office in Cupar is to be converted into two flats The ground floor of the premises at 35 Bonnygate was latterly a barbers However it has been empty for several years Fife Council planners have approved a plan to create low cost housing upstairs the ground floor will continue to be a shop The plan states the changes will not affect the exterior of the building which is within the Cupar conservation area The Glenrothes electricity supply is to be given a boost following approval of an energy storage battery box The 200 kilowatt system will be installed at Viewfield Industrial Estate AMP Clean Energy is developing similar boxes across the UK to provide a low carbon flexible store of electricity for communities It imports electricity from the network when demand is low and then exports it back during period of high demand The company says this improves reliability given the increasing demand for electricity through the use of electric vehicles and heating systems All of the stored electricity from the Glenrothes battery box will be consumed locally A cycle path and footpath near Kincardine will be closed for more than seven months during work to repair an electrical tower Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) has been granted permission for the significant strengthening works near the town’s power station The remedial work on the shore of the Firth of Forth will last until November And a cycle route that runs from Station Road under the Clackmannanshire Bridge and towards Kilbagie will close for the duration The Fife planning portal links to all of the developments can be found here: Kirkcaldy war memorial cairn St Andrews house demolition Cupar office conversion Glenrothes battery box Kincardine electricity tower repairs Andrews University in Laurinburg said they were blindsided last Friday when they learned the school is closing May 5 She asked that we not reveal her name because she's still working at the University Andrews has violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act and their communities by requiring employers to provide 60 days’ advance notice of certain plant closings and businesses that employ at least 100 workers The college's website says 416 people were employed there including 273 full and part-time faculty and staff and 143 student workers with an annual payroll of $8,284,509 in 2020 ABC 15 also checked the North Carolina WARN summary of closings for this year and didn't see St She added that she has prior experience for another university and understands the inner workings She said students and parents have been asking all week what happens to their financial aid and scholarship funding now that the university is closing The woman said she's also worried about employees' pay because last week they didn't get a full check “We either got 75 to 85 percent of our paycheck I don’t even know if we’re going to get paid for this week They say we have until May 23 to get paid up by the university They’re supposed to be looking for funding for that.” Andrews merged with Webber International University Tarun Malik and to officials with Webber University with the employee's concerns but they haven't responded at this time (WPDE) — Two former students at Saint Andrews University in Laurinburg filed separate lawsuits in February surrounding a convicted registered sex offender on campus and a member of the school's wrestling team It also names Webber International University The former students are listed by the names Jane Smith and Jane Roe in the lawsuits to protect their identities negligent infliction of emotional distress intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract Andrews recruited Mison Mickle to be a part of the school's wrestling team as he was a successful wrestler in South Carolina RELATED: St. Andrews University in Laurinburg closing, leaving hundreds of students in limbo Andrews and its wrestling coach at the time: or should have known when it made that statement in its 2022 report that following the link to the North Carolina sex offender registry would not alert its students to the presence of Mickle The college is accused of transporting Mickle across state lines to other college and university campuses to participate in NAIA-sanctioned sporting events while he was a student at the university without any notification to the sponsoring bodies or to the other colleges and universities that Mickle was a sex offender It says he raped Jane Roe and Jane Smith in the Fall of 2022 the suit alleges that during her first semester on campus in the Fall semester Laurinburg police went on to charge Mickle in the incidents Court records show he pled guilty last March to two counts of second degree forcible rape and failure to register as a sex offender He's serving a 12-year prison sentence in North Carolina Andrews University filed responses to the lawsuit denying most of the allegations including having prior knowledge that Mickle was a registered sex offender ABC 15 reached out to the university's president but at this time he hasn't responded to our emails or returned our calls Court records show the university's lawyer filed a motion last week to no longer represent the college David Coyne was lucky to survive a dramatic accident that altered the course of his life one Friday afternoon in April 1984 the former Leuchars Primary and Madras College pupil was helping a friend remove large plate glass windows at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews when a sucker pad slipped with the weight bringing the pane crashing to the concrete A large shard of glass fell on David’s neck slicing part of his main blood vessel and breaking his knee cap leaving the 24-year-old father in a critical condition hotel staff drove him to the then St Andrews Memorial Hospital where local GP Dr Bell knew how to clip his vessels to stem the blood flow Blue-lighted by ambulance from St Andrews to Ninewells in Dundee a staggering 66 pints of blood were pumped through David to keep him alive ahead of an eight-hour operation to repair his wounds he was left with permanent nerve damage in his left arm This rendered him unable to return to joinery work or his then job at the Guardbridge paper mill this enforced change of direction was the beginning of a new chapter It led him to work as a caddie on the Old Course at St Andrews for over 30 years two years after David died aged 63 from an aggressive melanoma cancer – a diagnosis which his family think is probably linked to decades of working on the golf course without sunscreen – his family are celebrating his “bittersweet” legacy with the posthumous release of his book that collates decades of stories “Dad was not particularly a golf lover,” says his daughter Louise Coyne, 42, the head barmaid at Ye Olde Hotel, known as ‘Hendies’ “But what he did enjoy was meeting people and wanting them to experience and enjoy the full splendour of the Old Course In a sit-down interview with The Courier overlooking the Old Course are full of pride as they reflect on his book dream coming to fruition It’s been a team effort following his death involving some of the biggest names in the local golfing world they remain sad that he’s not here to see it for himself Louise explained that her dad loved the camaraderie and banter of the caddies Many of his memories involved real salt-of-the-earth “characters” of the St Andrews caddie world The stories – often recounted in the Dunvegan bar – were legendary Over the years he caddied for celebrities like Tom Chaplin from Keane, Justin Timberlake, Bill Clinton and Catherine Zeta-Jones But while he enjoyed his brushes with fame what really moved David were the stories of ordinary people living their dreams – like the American veteran who played the Old Course from a wheelchair using adapted clubs David created hand-drawn course guides to help players navigate the links He collected stories from fellow caddies and tourists jotting down memories and moments between rounds What started as a few folders of anecdotes turned into a lifetime project: plans for a book But before his book ‘St Andrews Caddies to the Fore’ could be completed David was diagnosed with stage four cancer in December 2022 recalls how David was already talking about writing a book when she first met him while walking the West Highland Way in 2010 so full of stories,” smiles the accountant “Writing a book was something he always had in the back of his mind And even when his health started to deteriorate she sometimes wondered if they should do it without him But after Louise discussed with her sister Elizabeth Louise admits she sometimes struggles with the emotions tied to the book’s release “It’s sometimes a struggle not having dad here,” she says The book itself is a testament to David’s dedication and passion historical reflections and vivid images of St Andrews and its iconic caddie culture There are stories of unforgettable characters from the 1970s These range from the legendary Steve ‘Soapy Bubbles’ Parnell and Roddy ‘The Proddy’ Mathieson to Dave ‘Croc’ Kilgour and Freddie McCready who would often be seen roaming about St Andrews bars The book also spotlights the famous enduring partnership between Arnold Palmer and Tip Anderson told through the eyes of David and his fellow caddies offer readers a glimpse behind the scenes of the caddie shack Ellie said the book “helped ease some of the pain of losing Dave” “It’s a real labour of love,” she says and seeing it come together was incredibly emotional for all of us.” “It’s amazing to think that all those years of gathering stories all those orange lever arch files full of notes It feels like dad’s spirit is still with us.” Though it’s been bittersweet, St Andrews Caddies to the Fore is more than a book – it’s a celebration of the caddie community in St Andrews but it’s also the story of so many others who walked those fairways with him.” Ellie thanked those who helped bring the book to life – Chic Harper David Lawrence and Tom Coyne (no relation!) Ellie adds: “I know that if Dave was with us today he would be bursting with pride at seeing his years of work and dedication coming to fruition” St Andrews Caddies to the Fore by David Coyne is now available for purchase through various outlets including Toppings St Andrews and the R&A’s World Golf Museum A 22-year-old man was hospitalised and later arrested after the car he was driving crashed into a wall in St Andrews The incident happened on Abbey Walk on Sunday at around 11pm including police and Scottish Ambulance Service rushed to the scene and the road was closed for a time Paramedics attended to the man at the scene before transporting him to hospital for further treatment The extent of his injuries has not been confirmed The injured driver was later arrested but then released as inquiries into the incident continued A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 11.00pm on Sunday, police were made aware of a vehicle colliding with a wall on Abbey Walk, St Andrews “The road was closed to allow for a collision investigation to take place. “A 22-year-old man was arrested and released pending further inquiry. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident.” © DC Thomson Co Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved. Save to My BitesizeSave to My BitesizeSavingSavedRemovingRemove from My BitesizeSave to My Bitesize close panelSign in to saveSave guides, add subjects and pick up where you left off with your BBC account. Sign inorRegisterIn Britain we best know St Andrew as the patron saint of Scotland but he is actually celebrated in many countries around the world They all have their own way of marking their connection with the Galilean fisherman who, according to the Christian Bible, became Jesus’ first apostle Join BBC Bitesize as we discover how communities in Romania Barbados and Greece celebrate St Andrew’s Day Patron saints appear to be great multi-taskers as many of them are connected to a number of different countries or cities Thought to have been born between 5AD and 10AD in Galilee St Andrew would not have made it to Scotland during his lifetime he is believed to have visited some of the other places that also celebrate him and each has a different story describing their links with the apostle Garlic has a big part to play in Romania’s celebrations of St Andrew Local legends say that evil spirits of the dead are on the prowl on the evening of 29 November so people rub the pungent root vegetable on the doors and windows of their homes and stables girls each place three bulbs inside a vase which is guarded by an old woman while the young people eat it is studied to see how well the following year’s crops will grow Although St Andrew was named patron saint of Romania fairly recently and 30 November only became a public holiday in 2012 his influence there dates much further back Many Romanian Orthodox Christians believe he brought Christianity to the country in the 1st century AD although this has been contested by some historians Bulgaria and Ukraine gather at a monastery near a cave by the Black Sea port of Constanta where the saint is said to have lived If the fisherman was busy converting people 1,500 miles away then how did he become the Patron Saint of Scotland One medieval theory was that the early Scots were descended from ancient Scythians from Romania and Bulgaria who had already converted to Christianity before making the journey to their new home Imagine the sound of hundreds of tin cans being dragged along the streets of Puerto de la Cruz as Tenerife marks St Andrew’s - or San Andrés - Day If that doesn’t sound noisy enough then you could head to Plaza del Charco a square where people gather to throw discarded objects that clatter against the ground daredevils slide down the famously steep street of Calle del Plano on wooden boards in a tradition that dates back to the days when wood had to be brought to the town from places higher up St Andrews Day is also when the island’s new wines are tasted for the first time in a ritual that takes place in towns and villages across Portugal 30 November is the nation’s Independence Day celebrating the end of over 300 years of British rule and landmarks including the Parliament Buildings Independence Square and the Independence Arch are illuminated in the national colours of blue and yellow Thousands of Scots travelled to Barbados during the second half of the 18th century to work in the British colony. Some helped to run the plantations that enslaved people worked on while others were transported to Barbados as punishment for crimes and were forced to work there for the length of their sentence Some wealthy Scots were 'absentee' owners of plantations the country’s Scottish connections continue to be important there - its coat of arms shows a pair of crossed sugar canes as a reference to the saltire the X-shaped cross that St Andrew was martyred on and in 2020 Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc commissioned a Glasgow-based kiltmaker to create an official blue yellow and black tartan to mark its independence Parts of St Andrew’s relics - or physical remains - and pieces of wood believed to have been from the cross he died on are kept in the cathedral in Patras the Greek city where he was crucified in 60AD Greek Orthodox worshippers from across the country gather for a service that venerates these objects and marks the beginning of an all-night vigil followed by a procession with his skull through the city centre streets This article was published in November 2024 How St Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world St Patrick’s Day has been marked in unique ways across the world over the years - here are some of them Brush up on Welsh culture and heritage in honour of St David's Day Five things you never knew about St George He's England's patron saint but his history could surprise you The University of St Andrews Women’s Football 1st Team were crowned British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) national champions this week (Wednesday 19 March) after beating the University of Nottingham in the Championship Final at Loughborough St Andrews took the lead just after half-time with a goal by Player of the Match Olivia Boscaccy (3rd Year who went on to claim her second in the 59th minute to take St Andrews 2-0 ahead Nottingham reduced the lead to 2-1 with two minutes left on the clock but the Saints held out to bring the Championship Cup back to St Andrews for the first time The result is the culmination of an impressive couple of years for the team who won the BUCS Premier League at their first attempt in 2023-24 followed by a 3rd place finish in the league this year They reached the Championship Final – the pinnacle of women’s university football – after a convincing 7-0 defeat of Essex at home in Round 1 followed by a 2-0 win away to Exeter in the quarterfinals before travelling to Loughborough University to beat the reigning National Champions and BUCS Premier League winners 1-0 in the semifinals The Saints are right back in the action this week playing against Robert Gordon University in the semi-final of Scottish Student Sport #She Can She Will Cup and hoping to round-off an incredible year by claiming their fourth successive victory in this competition Women’s 1st Team Captain Liva Helt said: “I’m beyond proud of every single person on this team the ups and downs—we’ve been through it all together To see all of that come to fruition in such a historic moment is something we’ll never forget and this victory is a testament to the heart and passion of everyone on this team and in this programme This team works so incredibly hard for each other and this victory will forever be a proud part of our team’s legacy.” Director of Football Stuart Milne said: “Becoming BUCS National Champions is a bit surreal but one that I am incredibly proud to have been a part of I cannot speak highly enough about this group physical and tactical qualities have all given the team the best opportunity to achieve this highest level of success The Women’s programme has progressed so much through the years from one team in Scottish Tier 2 to now having 3 successful teams who have played their part in helping us on this incredible journey.” the University of St Andrews Men’s Rugby 1st Team claimed the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) national trophy after beating Loughborough 3rd Team in the Trophy Final After a cautious start in the opening exchanges by both sides St Andrews took the lead through an electric finish by winger James Murray (1st Year with postgraduate rugby scholar Chris Schreueder (MSc Banking and Finance) making the conversion to take the Saints 7-0 up Both teams exchanged penalties before the Saints repelled a period of Loughborough pressure to finish the half with another Schreueder penalty with St Andrews taking a 13-3 lead at half-time St Andrews extended their lead after the break with a great piece of link up play followed by a try by centre Angus Mather (4th Year BSc (Hons) Geography and Sustainable Development) BUCS Man of the Match Schreueder made the conversion and then shortly after slotted another penalty to take St Andrews 23-3 ahead The game then saw a turn with Loughborough fighting back to claim a converted try which they quickly followed with another breakaway try to bring the score back to 23-15 to St Andrews St Andrews held off a late attack by Loughborough to secure the win and bring back the BUCS Trophy for the first time in the club’s history Men’s Rugby 1st Team Captain Fergus Cato said: “The result down in Loughborough was a culmination of all the hard work the squad have displayed over the season turning up week in week out driving each other to be better the squad has stepped up and taken it in their stride It has been a privilege to lead this outstanding group and to finish the season with a cup win is a just reward for all the effort put in throughout the year.” Director of Rugby David Morris said: “I am delighted for the players that their season long commitment consistency and drive to keep improving has ended with a BUCS Gold medal The performance in the final showed clarity of thought and leadership under pressure It was lovely seeing the joy and interactions between players The connections between the players are strong having been through so many shared experiences together “I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to the players who did not make the final selection but who have been pivotal in the success of the club this season thank you to my colleagues at Saints Sport and our external partners who are brilliant teammates supporting behind the scenes It was a wonderful day to be a Saint with the Women’s football team being victorious as well.” © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland Dundee United are excited to announce a new multi-year strategic partnership with the prestigious Fairmont St Andrews A world-renowned resort set on a stunning 520-acre estate overlooking the North Sea the Fairmont St Andrews is a hotel steeped in history located in one of Scotland's most scenic towns a luxurious spa and exceptional Scottish dining Combining rich heritage with modern luxury it’s one of Scotland’s largest and most prestigious leisure and corporate venues Dundee United will host exclusive events at Fairmont St Andrews including our annual corporate Golf Day and Business United events.  "This partnership with Fairmont St Andrews represents a significant milestone for the club Their commitment to quality and service aligns perfectly with our vision and we are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring to the football club.” added: "Fairmont St Andrews is thrilled to announce this partnership with Dundee United We’re delighted to align with a historic club that has been at the heart of Scottish football for over a century We take pride in delivering world-class hospitality and look forward to supporting the club CLICK HERE to book your stay or find out more! The University of St Andrews launched its ambitious “Making Waves” campaign to raise £300 million to support scholarships and sustainability initiatives last week (Friday 27 September) was officially unveiled with a series of events throughout St Andrews including a torchlight parade through the town (Saturday 28 September) The Making Waves campaign focuses on four key areas: New College Making Waves is a visionary campaign launched at a critical time when the role of universities and their positive impact on society are under significant scrutiny This campaign showcases St Andrews’ unwavering commitment to advancing research and affirming the transformative power of higher education New College will be the University’s first new college in nearly 300 years and will bring together the School of International Relations and the new Business School Located at the historic Madras College site New College will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and educate future global leaders Prominent business and technology leader David Jones joined more than 200 staff and donors to celebrate the official launch of the University of St Andrews Business School on Saturday 28 September David delivered the keynote address about the impact of artificial intelligence on brands and leadership The Business School aims to develop globally minded leaders with the ambition and skills to create a more prosperous and sustainable world through world-leading research A state-of-the-art facility for the School of Computer Science, the Digital Nexus Building will be a hub for research in artificial intelligence It will facilitate collaboration between scientists and medical researchers creating an environment for transformative research that addresses critical global challenges Scholarships and bursaries for students are a central focus of the ambitious campaign helping students to reach their full potential The University will continue to support and attract top-tier talent and ensure that all students will succeed by providing financial support New academic positions will be created through Endowed Chairs to attract leading researchers and educators to St Andrews enhancing the university’s capacity to generate impactful research and foster academic excellence said: “Our ambitious Making Waves campaign is fundamentally about the restless power of ideas and the environment in which we shape and challenge the brightest minds “Making Waves is more than a fundraising initiative it’s a transformative movement for the future of St Andrews and the world It encapsulates our vision to break boundaries and attract the brightest minds to our University By investing in critical projects such as the New College and Digital Nexus we are creating spaces where interdisciplinary research and teaching can thrive These new developments will enable us to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time But this is only possible with the support of our community and every brick laid represents a collective belief in the power of education to shape a better future “With a focus on fostering global leaders and advancing research that benefits society Making Waves represents a bold step forward in St Andrews’ vision for the future.” the Principal announced more than £121 million had already been secured during the quiet phase of the ambitious project For more information on the campaign and how to contribute, visit Making Waves Campaign Stella Maris has won an appeal after she was removed from the university court over a statement in which she condemned Israel’s ‘genocidal attacks’.A university rector removed from her institution’s governing body for speaking out about the situation in Gaza has said her success in an appeal against the decision is a “vindication” and a “defence… You must be a member to access this content View Membership Levels The views expressed in the comments below are not those of Perspective homophobic and other types of hateful comments will not be published Two professors at the University of St Andrews have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is a medievalist with a specialism in German-language literary texts in their multilingual Professor Bildhauer’s main current research areas are the history and politics of menstruation and menopause and queer gender in global medieval literature She was awarded a Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award in 2020 and a Philip Leverhulme Prize in 2009 Professor Bildhauder said: “I am frankly amazed to find myself in the company of such of illustrious scholars and public figures It means a great deal for me as a Germanist to be part of the RSE strengthening Scotland’s connection to Europe and the wider world I am so pleased that the leading work of my collaborators and me in Critical Menstruation Studies and in translingual medieval studies is recognised in this way.” is an astrophysicist interested in how galaxies form and evolve working with large datasets and simulations to understand the role of galaxy collisions and starbursts in building “red and dead” elliptical galaxies as well as the link between galaxy properties and their surrounding gaseous halos She is also interested in the role of belonging and identity in the progression of underrepresented groups in physics and how we to reduce the environmental impact of large astronomy infrastructure projects Professor Wild said: “I am honoured to have been elected to the RSE and excited about the opportunity to be able to contribute to their education and policy programmes in the future.” New research from the University of St Andrews has revealed that cumulative exposure to air pollution is linked to a heightened risk of admission to hospital for mental/behavioural as well as physical illness led by Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad from the School of Geography and Sustainable Development reviewed published data from across 16 years on the health effects of long term exposure to ambient air pollution Previous research has tended to emphasise deaths rather than hospital admissions Dr Abed Al Ahad and her team have concluded that stricter environmental restrictions are needed to curb the impact on secondary care The research is published in the open access journal BMJ Open. the researchers drew on individual level data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study which represents 5% of the Scottish population and includes demographic information from linked censuses 202,237 people aged 17 and above were included in the analysis Their health and hospital admissions for all causes; cardiovascular or infectious diseases; mental illness/behaviour disorders were tracked from Public Health Scotland data and linked to levels of 4 key pollutants for each of the years between 2002 and 2017 inclusive The 4 pollutants from road traffic and industry comprised: nitrogen dioxide (NO2); sulphur dioxide (SO2); particulate matter diameter of at least 10 μm (PM10); and small particulate matter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) per 1 km2 in each person’s residential postcode Fluctuations in pollutant levels were observed across the study period Over the entire period 2002–17 average levels of NO2 PM10 and PM2.5 were lower than the 2005 WHO guidelines but the levels of NO2 and PM2.5 were higher than the most recent 2021 WHO guidelines Average cumulative exposure to air pollution was strongly associated with higher rates of hospital  admissions and PM2.5 was associated with a higher incidence of hospital admissions for all causes and infectious diseases before accounting for residential area When fully adjusted for cumulative exposure across time the incidence rate for respiratory disease hospital admissions rose by just over 4% and just over 1% for every 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and NO2 pollutants SO2 was mainly associated with hospital admissions for respiratory disease while NO2 was associated with a higher number of hospital admissions for mental illness/behavioural disorders Exposure to ambient air pollution was assessed yearly rather than monthly or daily while residential postcode had to serve as a proxy for personal exposure to air pollution the findings echo those of previously published research Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad said: “Policies and interventions on air pollution through stricter environmental regulations and the shifting towards renewable energy could eventually help ease the hospital care burden in Scotland in the long term.” “Policies and interventions targeting air pollution emissions such as zero-emission zones or incentives for renewable energy in transportation and energy production sectors could help ease the hospital-care burden in the long-term both locally and globally.” One of the most important histories of Scotland which sheds new light on William Wallace and the Stone of Destiny has found its permanent home at the University of St Andrews It’s being made available to the public for the first time in its 500-year history and has been given a new name The St Andrews Chronicles is a startling manuscript It is largely a handwritten copy of John Mair’s History of Greater Britain – one of the most influential and innovative histories of Scotland and England of the sixteenth century It also contains an earlier hand-copied pamphlet including new information about William Wallace said: “It’s really important that a manuscript like this is held in a public institution like St Andrews where it can be cared for in perpetuity and also where it can be made accessible for research “It’s a Scottish manuscript about the history of and origins of Scotland and it’s been through a succession of Scottish owners since the 16th century so there’s a real resonance having it back in a Scottish institution “The first name listed as owner describes himself as a ‘chaplain of Edinburgh’ some of the names listed as owners of the book potentially correlate to students in St Andrews who were studying in the early sixteenth century – indicating an even greater correlation with St Andrews than previously thought.” The St Andrews Chronicles was acquired at auction by the University with generous support from Dr William Zachs and the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries after being sold by notable Norwegian collector Martin Schoyen but it was at Balcarres in the East Neuk of Fife near St Andrews in the sixteenth Century The book is the size of an iPad and joins the archive and rare book collection at the University of St Andrews the collection contains more than 200,000 rare books and many medieval and early modern manuscripts The collection supports teaching and research at the University and elsewhere Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University said: “I am absolutely delighted that the manuscript has come back to Scotland and particularly to a place with which it has real associations.” “John Mair taught at our University in the 1520s The manuscript was also owned during the later sixteenth century by John Lindsay of Balcarres a notable Fife noble and secretary of state The University continues to value its links with Balcarres and readily studied by a range of scholars and students of Scotland’s chronicle history and the history of ideas is also very much within my own research area “We understand our present so much better if we engage with This manuscript really helps us to do that.” Head of Archives and Rare books at the University said: “We were waiting patiently for it to arrive by courier and every time the doorbell went off we all jumped; it took about half a dozen times of the bell going before it actually arrived I got over excited and took lots of photos of it even before we took it out of its packaging A group of us gathered around it while Elizabeth unpacked it Elizabeth Henderson said: “We had seen photos of some of it but there was nothing like seeing the real thing and the conversations which were sparking up amongst this group of archivists we were all seeing different things from the very beginning The small book is bound in stamped leather over wooden boards and originally would have been fastened with a clasp The stamps include an unidentified beast and a hound chasing a hare The text inside is neatly handwritten Latin script with capitals and decorations added in red Professor Dauvit Broun from the University of Glasgow said: “The contents of this home-made pamphlet include a chronicle for the years 1286 to 1327 which has a few bits of new information seven – not six – guardians were elected to rule Scotland after Alexander III’s tragic death in 1286 as well as Wallace co-leading the attack on the sheriff of Lanark rather than leading on his own: it also gives us the exact date – 3 May 1297 – of when this happened It also has a copy of what is likely to be the earliest version of the legend about the Stone of Destiny.” Now the St Andrews Chronicles is digitised and made available online for the first time and will be on display at the Wardlaw Museum in 2025 Sean Rippington said: “The digital version opens it up to new forms of investigation and research We wanted to give democratic access for people to see and connect with it “The University of St Andrews is its permanent home It has been in private ownership for its entire existence meaning relatively few people have seen it so we are keen to make it available to the wider population in as far as possible.” Five academics from the University of St Andrews have joined the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC),strengthening the expert panel that supports the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland in her work with Scottish Ministers The St Andrews cohort make up half of the new appointees across Scotland The new Members will serve for three years and the new Associate Members – who are early career researchers – are appointed for an initial one-year term The SSAC is Scotland’s highest level science advisory body to the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Scotland to inform policy development and delivery across all areas of the Scottish Government’s work SSAC Chair Professor Julian Jones said: “Our new members and associates bring a range of expertise and experience to the SSAC complementing that of our existing members This will broaden our range of specialist skills as we continue to provide expert scientific advice in subjects of critical importance to the Scottish Government in their development of strategy and policy.” Richard Lochhead welcomed the appointments: “New developments in science and technology have a huge impact on our economy Making sure the Scottish Government has access to the latest science advice and evidence to inform our policies is therefore critical to Scotland’s future success and I look forward to hearing more from the members of the Council as their work progresses.” The next meeting of the SSAC will be on Tuesday 25 March 2025 The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews has unveiled a revamped bar and restaurant after renovating its fourth floor New images show the transformation that has taken place at the five-star hotel The Road Hole Restaurant and the Road Hole Bar have been at the centre of the renovation Floor-to-ceiling windows now provide views of the 17th hole of the Old Course and West Sands Beach The restaurant offers fine dining and includes an open kitchen where guests can watch the chefs in action Dishes include the St Andrews Bay lobster ravioli and a Vacherin dessert including strawberries grown at Blacketyside Farm near Leven the Road Hole Bar offers guests coffees and light lunches during the day customers can enjoy a drink from a collection of more than 300 Scottish whiskies A deck at Road Hole Bar will also provide an outdoor area in the summer months featuring pods and blankets Elsewhere on the floor is the Swilcan Loft which will continue as a modern seafood bar and chophouse A boardroom has also been included in the fourth-floor revamp which includes floral artwork and artwork showcasing Scottish landscapes Old Course Hotel bosses say this provides “one of the most spectacular views” from any boardroom in Scotland Phyllis Wilkie, general manager at the Old Course Hotel said: “Our guests can savour both the landscape and cuisine that makes Scotland truly special and revel in the elevated comfortable spaces that nod to our home in St Andrews.” “We’re creating living narratives that connect our guests to the soul of Scottish heritage while delivering truly indulgent good times.” The University of St Andrews School of Art History is teaming up with education charity Art UK on a pioneering project to research and tell stories about the art collection owned by the UK public As part of the groundbreaking memorandum of understanding between the charity and the University students and academics from the School of Art History will have the opportunity to publish story content and learning resources through Art UK This content will be free to access by Art UK’s global audience of 5.5 million users a year Art UK will support a University of St Andrews funded PhD student by supplying digital data relating to art collections in Scotland The School of Art History at St Andrews is consistently ranked top in the UK An international community with a global outlook it is one of the largest and most dynamic art history departments in the country with world-leading experts in a range of subjects and periods The School’s teaching is research driven and colleagues are internationally recognised for their expertise Art UK is an education charity and the online home for every public art collection in the United Kingdom bringing together art from nearly 3,500 institutions in one of the UK’s biggest ever arts partnerships together with art owned by national bodies such as the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland Art UK shows more than 400,000 works by over 55,000 artists and is continually growing Art UK’s database offers rich opportunities for student and academic researchers interested in discovering more about the artists artworks and collections that have shaped our world-class public collections The partnership will not only provide specialist content but also offer opportunities to collaborate to tell stories about the UK’s national art collections through data visualisations that help map the history and shape of the UK’s national collection of art Art UK will also offer career development opportunities for St Andrews students who want to progress in arts journalism through dedicated mentoring and opportunities for short-term placements said: “We are delighted to partner with Art UK on this exciting new venture which will create valuable opportunities for learning we will reach new audiences in the UK and beyond.” said: “Art UK proudly shows art from nearly 500 Scottish venues and we have a fifth of our team based north of the border So it is wonderful to announce this important partnership with the University of St Andrews’ highly regarded Art History Department All of us at Art UK look forward to working closely with the teaching staff and students on research and stories that will grow our understanding of the extraordinary art collection owned by the UK public.” Director of the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) at Newcastle University and an Art UK Trustee said: “This exciting strategic collaboration between Art UK and the University of St Andrews further cements the Art UK platform’s function as an essential part of the research infrastructure for the UK’s arts and culture sector It will enable the full range of Art UK’s resources to be deployed in the production of St Andrews’ art history research as well as bringing more of that research to Art UK’s significant and growing global audiences.” Co-Director of Museum and Heritage Studies at St Andrews said: “This partnership will foster training at PhD level equipping our students with innovative skills to work in art and heritage organisations and providing crucial support to develop their careers in this sector.” Collaborative Art UK PhD student in the University of St Andrews School of Art History said: “This partnership has allowed me to pursue further studies and I am incredibly grateful with its access to collections across the country will prove to be a resource not only for myself I look forward to sharing more insight with a broad audience on specific topics and collections items nearby and farther away in the coming years.” The University of St Andrews is to be the first higher education institution in Scotland to participate in the upcoming Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER) undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) This external review will assess the University’s quality assurance and enhancement processes with a central focus on improving the student learning experience and fostering student success said: “Welcoming this review will give us an opportunity to reflect on how well we support our students to achieve positive outcomes in education and student experience “We appreciate the deep exploration of our work by expert peer reviewers which will help to highlight how we meet the expectations of our students their future employers and society and where we can further enhance our provision” Students’ Association Director of Education (DoEd) Hitanshi Badani said: “The last institutional review of our University received many commendations and flagged just one recommendation that would have been meaningful to every single student on or off campus: our feedback mechanisms The Students’ Association and the University have been working in partnership to use that recommendation to pilot several changes “The end-of-semester Module Evaluation Questionnaire system was reviewed with the goals of making it more user-friendly; closing the feedback loop and informing students on how survey data has been actioned and is being written into policy; a new mid-semester survey sent out by class reps is being standardised; and we are procuring a better digital platform to gather feedback; and our overall approach to surveys is shifting towards low quantity “This is a great example of the real-time effects that participating in an institutional review might have – it will drive our academic experience towards positive change through data and recommendations the new review method centres the student perspective in evaluating the quality of our academic standards I am tasked with ensuring that the University’s consideration of student experiences is accurate and external bodies will be engaging with representatives and the wider student body in consultations “If this opportunity presents itself please do participate and take some time to be honest and transparent in your reflections Though you may not still be in St Andrews to see it your thoughts might change how future students receive their education.” The external review team is set to begin its assessment in March and April with findings to be published in a final report by October 2025 The report will include qualitative feedback and recommendations for further enhancements The University is committed to acting upon these recommendations and will provide a follow-up report detailing its response and future improvements As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability the University of St Andrews will publicly share the final review report reinforcing confidence in its approach to academic quality and student success Scotland’s First Minister and the former Prime Minister of Ireland have helped St Andrews celebrate taking over the chairmanship of the international relations think tank, the Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA) First Minister John Swinney MSP and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined Principal Professor Dame Sally Mapstone at an event held in the School of Medicine’s Booth Lecture Theatre to mark the transition of SCGA from the University of Glasgow to St Andrews for the next two years Professor Mapstone said: “As a globally oriented socially responsible institution which majors on International Relations the University of St Andrews sees our role on the Scottish Council on Global Affairs as a central part of our strategic and academic mission All of us need today more than ever a richly strategic and humane approach to global relations and foreign policy.” Professor Mapstone also thanked colleagues from SCGA partner institutions attending the event including University of Glasgow Principal Professor Anton Muscatelli as well as Irish Consul General of Ireland to Scotland the First Minister talked about the important role Scotland and the SCGA can play in meeting current and future challenges to global security He said: “As First Minister I want to ensure we are always able to draw on the council’s wealth of insight and expertise when it comes to considering international affairs And we are engaging directly internationally as well as through that expertise here at home That engagement enables is us to attract international investment and attract the talent that drives our nation’s productivity and innovation we are fortunate that we enjoy a strong and distinctive international profile but there is immense value in knowledge exchange and learning from the good work of other countries to improve policy and public services here at home.” “there is no independent country closer to Scotland either geographically or culturally than Ireland” adding We have seen the central role Ireland has played in European institutions and the way it has enhanced its sovereignty influence and indeed its wealth through those institutions The First Minister also reflected on the “shared commitment” of Scotland and Ireland to international development and “the recognition of the basic injustice at the very heart of climate change” stating: “Both our governments have been at the forefront of funding innovative research that will help shape the global conversation on loss and damage.” Mr Swinney then went on to introduce the keynote speaker for the evening who served as Taoiseach – or Prime Minister – of Ireland from 2017-2020 and again from 2022-24 Mr Varadkar helped lead Ireland through the Pandemic with one of the internationally recognised best public health and economic responses He also led Ireland through Brexit preventing a hard border between North and South maintaining Ireland’s place at the heart of the European Union its single market and upholding the Good Friday Agreement The Governments he participated in lifted Ireland’s ban on abortion and improved LGBT+ rights including the introduction of marriage equality and a gender recognition law He also prioritised equality between men and women including gender pay gap reporting greater diversity on state and corporate boards and women’s health who stepped down following the most recent General Election said he was delighted that he could come to St Andrews on his first visit to Scotland His talk focused on how nations like Scotland and Ireland can provide a hub for debate and discussion on international affairs and the importance of SCGA – Scotland’s only International Relations think tank – in meeting current global challenges particularly European security and stability Commenting on the SCGA and the role of smaller states like Ireland and Scotland in international affairs Mr Varadkar said: “The fact that three institutions – the universities of St Andrews Glasgow and Edinburgh – came together to found the Council is very good practice and not something I have seen in any other jurisdictions.” He went on to say; “As the Prime Minister of Ireland I often reflected that while everyone in Ireland knew our country was an island too many thought it was also its own planet with all problems home-grown and easily solved with home-grown actions and solutions we are deeply affected by global developments All the major crises and situations I was involved with – the global financial crisis and banking collapse migration and inflation – all originated outside of Ireland….Our problems are local and global And the solutions During the lively Question and Answer session that followed both the First Minister and Mr Varadkar spoke about current challenges and their belief that closer co-operation and consensus is “desperately necessary” both domestically and internationally A recording of the event is available here  the grey seal and the smaller harbour seal harbour seal numbers are in decline or are at drastically depleted levels compared to 20 years ago SMRU aerial surveys revealed harbour seal numbers in The Wash (southeast England) This large embayment has regularly been home to around 5,000 harbour seals when surveys began in 1988 and as recently as 2018 University of St Andrews Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) are undertaking a programme of work to understand the decline Its thought that larger grey seals are potentially a factor The UK is home to over a third of the world’s grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) since the cessation of culls in the 1970s and the ban of hunting in the early 1980s has been hailed as a conservation success story SMRU aerial surveys revealed that the number of grey seals in southeast England has risen over 20-fold in the last 20 years from less than 2,000 to over 40,000 Surveys conducted by partner organisations indicate there may be a recent decline in the number of grey seal pups born on the UK east coast; the reasons are unknown but marine heat waves (2023 and 2024) and a disease outbreak are potential factors Deputy Director of SMRU said “The apparent drop in grey seal pups need to be investigated further SMRU will be continuing their aerial survey program in August 2025 to survey key grey and harbour seal haul-outs SMRU are also scheduled to survey all major grey seal breeding colonies in Scotland and east England in 2025 to generate estimates of pups born across colonies These will indicate the degree to which declines at some colonies on the east coast are offset by increases at others and the nature of the declines – whether the associated females have died or are still alive but did not give birth then the cause may have also impacted already compromised harbour seal populations.” Dr Russell added “SMRU are conducting a programme of work to determine the cause of the southeast England harbour seal declines which will be critical to inform potential population recovery The key potential causes of such declines include interactions with grey seals with multiple interacting factors being most likely.” SMRU uses various methods including the deployment of adapted mobile phone tags to track where seals from both species feed at sea (glued to the fur these fall off in the annual moult); taking a suite of health measurements similar to what would be taken at the doctors; and collecting and examining their poo to understand what seals are eating such studies can only tell them so much – the public is needed to fill in the gaps a key part of the jigsaw puzzle can only be provided by dead seals The SMRU need more information on the number of dead seals washed up and on the causes of death Error: no decision tree source folder detected The University of St Andrews celebrates double success today after receiving two awards in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 to be published this weekend (Sunday 22 September) St Andrews is the Scottish University of the Year 2025 and University of the Year for Student Experience 2025 in the definitive university Guide Overall St Andrews was ranked second in the UK behind the London School of Economics with Oxford and Cambridge ranked third and fourth respectively It is the second time in a matter of weeks that Scotland’s oldest university has been recognised for the strength of its teaching quality and student experience. St Andrews was named University of the Year for Student Experience in the new Daily Mail University Guide 2025 published earlier this month St Andrews was singled out by the Mail Guide for its sustained performance at the top of the National Student Survey which measures student satisfaction with the quality of teaching and academic support The Times and Sunday Times Guide profiles and ranks 135 UK universities and is regarded as one of the most comprehensive analyses of the British higher education sector St Andrews Schools also performed well in the subject rankings with seven subjects ranked top in the UK: Anthropology All subjects at St Andrews were ranked in the top six in the UK President of the University of St Andrews Students’ Association said: “The student experience at St Andrews is one of a kind where everyone plays an important role in making it the success it is today “St Andrews is a place where students can feel supported encouraged and have the freedom to explore their passions coupled with an unrivalled learning and teaching experience and unique traditions that make this place so special “These awards are a positive endorsement of the hard work that we as a community should celebrate and be proud of.” The University also performed well in the Guardian University Guide 2025 with seven subjects ranked top in the UK and all 21 of our subjects ranked in the top ten St Andrews was ranked second in the UK overall and top in Scotland The new print edition of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 will be published this weekend in The Sunday Times (22 September) The Scottish Government has partnered with academics at the University of St Andrews to tackle a significant evidence gap with the aim of informing new policies to improve the management of Scotland’s seabed This collaboration is supported by two £30,000 grants and seeks to enhance understanding of Scotland’s marine environment These marine carbon stores are significantly larger than Scotland’s land-based carbon stores which have increasingly become the focus of restoration efforts aimed at reducing Scotland’s land-based greenhouse gas emissions from the University’s Scottish Oceans Institute explained: “Scotland’s vast seabed carbon stores are vulnerable to a growing number of pressures and our research will focus on assessing the risks to these stores “We know that some of the carbon held in seabed sediments is highly reactive and While it remains scientifically challenging to quantify the actual greenhouse gas emissions resulting from these cumulative and widespread seabed pressures our research is developing an improved understanding of the risks posed to the most vulnerable stores of carbon “We are now on the cusp of delivering improved risk management tools that will help the Scottish Government deliver a more sustainable outcome for our marine environment potentially guiding new policies to help protect these vulnerable stores of carbon.” The work will be undertaken by Bill and Craig Smeaton Lecturer in the School of Geography & Sustainable Development at St Andrews in partnership with the Scottish Association for Marine Science Craig added: “The funding provided by the Scottish Government has allowed the purchase of a new experimental system to simulate natural and anthropogenic sediment resuspension This will support in-depth investigation of these seabed disturbances and their impact on the carbon stored in seabed sediments.” Andrews University in Laurinburg is closing effective May 5 leaving hundreds of students and faculty members in limbo Several students tell ABC 15 there was a meeting early Friday morning about the school closing The students say they don’t even have to take final exams Many of them were already packing up to go home for summer break Andrews’ website says it has over 800 students from 28 different countries The University has been hit with a couple of lawsuits in recent months surrounding rape allegations by former students BREAKING: Former Pageland Chamber of Commerce president faces fraud charges Andrews shared the following message via social media: The college said further communications will be shared in the days ahead and community members are encouraged to visit www.sa.edu/closure for the most up-to-date information ABC 15 reached out to the president of the college for additional information and will let you know when we hear back from him An expert at the University of St Andrews’ Scottish Oceans Institute has developed a groundbreaking tool that uses machine learning to identify dolphin species based on their calls even providing different modules for regional ‘accents.’ Dr Julie Oswald created the freely available tool known as the Real-time Odontocete Call Classification Algorithm (ROCCA) It can categorise dolphin calls by species and comes in different versions linked to different geographical regions and they use hundreds of different sounds to communicate dolphins learn to mimic the sounds they hear and some even develop a unique “signature whistle” that they use to announce their identity throughout their lives Because dolphins are so acoustically active scientists can study them using hydrophones which are underwater microphones that capture sounds as dolphins pass by Dr Oswald explains that analysing these sounds is not easy: “We can use visual observations and hydrophones to capture audio but we can’t easily match those sounds to specific dolphin species.” ROCCA overcomes this challenge by using machine learning to uncover subtle acoustic differences to match dolphin vocalisations to species with regionally specific settings to account for accents This allows the tool to identify the species present in a particular area meaning that a bottlenose dolphin in the North Sea may produce different sounds compared to one in the Pacific ROCCA accounts for these regional differences helping conservationists more accurately identify dolphin species and assess the impact of human activities such as fishing and sonar disturbances Dr Oswald is expanding ROCCA’s applications to other species and ecosystems in regions like West Africa she works with scientists and conservationists to train them in acoustic monitoring using ROCCA The ROCCA was one of the winners of the Earth Rangers 2024 Conservation Technology Award which recognises innovations and technology-driven solutions that make measurable conservation impacts praised the tool for its “beautifully practical approach to integrating automated data processing techniques into global bioacoustic monitoring of cetaceans.” Speaking of the Conservation Technology Award Dr Oswald said she was delighted to be recognised in this way and that she will use the funds from the award to help create new classifiers Some cookies used are essential to providing a service while others help us improve your experience and provide us with insights into how the site is being used For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Cookies page Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security You may disable these by changing your browser settings but this may affect how the website functions We'd like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone For more information on how these cookies work We'd like to allow Social Media cookies to provide a richer experience These cookies will allow us the ability to list Fife Council tweets and Facebook posts audio clips & Videos on some of our pages Our videos use Youtube's privacy-enhanced mode These cookies allow us to show relevant adverts to the content you are viewing They also provide the ability to deliver targeted online advertising across other platforms like Facebook News Centre St Andrews will retain its outdoor seating arrangements at cafés bars and restaurants as councillors agree to make pavement build outs permanent Councillors on North East Planning Committee agreed on Wednesday to make permanent alterations to the pavements in South Street by granting planning permission for five different applications Each application relates to a different area of temporary build out The areas were originally introduced in 2021 to allow businesses to continue serving the public while maintaining a degree of social distancing At that time the council temporarily extended the footway width at five different locations on South Street to allow tables and chairs to be placed on the pavements Convenor of North East Fife Planning Committee said: "These outdoor seating arrangements have been in place since 2021 and are very popular in the town the current arrangements were always only temporary and as such they are a mix or bollards and planters marking off the areas to make these build outs from the pavements permanent mean that we can now create spaces which will look far more attractive "St Andrews is a beautiful town with large parts of it a conservation area The pavement extensions will be built with Caithness stone to blend in with the surrounding areas and create a more uniform and aesthetic look." It was pointed out at committee that these areas have been in place for four years now and recent local area economic profiles show that St Andrews town centre is thriving Each application attracted between 20 and 25 objections but following a debate councillors on Wednesday agreed that the plans could proceed Councillor Tepp continued: “ I think the right decision for St Andrews has been made today The leisure and tourism sector is one of the town’s key employers and vital to keeping the economy strong "These outdoor spaces have proven very popular with locals and tourists Some of the objections focussed on the loss of 40 car parking spaces in South Street but parking is not a material consideration in relation to these planning applications It was noted that the town centre still has a large number of on street parking spaces with a number of free car parks within easy walking distance of the shops The permanent works will include new disabled parking and bike stands “There have been a number of questions and legal points raised around this application but councillors agreed these were all answered satisfactorily and the plans were approved This is a significant investment in St Andrews town centre and I look forward to seeing these improvements in South Street." It should be noted that a large public consultation had previously been carried out to see what support there was for these spaces to be made permanent The results of the survey showed that 46% of respondents were in favour of retaining the additional pedestrian spaces versus 42% that wanted these spaces removed 12% were in favour of keeping some of the implemented zones. These results were reported to the North East Fife Area Committee on 26th April 2023 and they agreed these extensions could remain Roads & Transportation Service were instructed at that point to advance design work to make these spaces permanent Contact us Make a complaint Site map Social Media Accessibility Cookies Policy The University of St Andrews has picked up a new award for its sector-leading teaching quality and student experience being named University of the Year for Student Experience in the new Daily Mail University Guide due to be published tomorrow (Friday 6 September) St Andrews was singled out by the Mail Guide for its sustained performance at the top of the National Student Survey which measures student satisfaction with the quality of teaching and academic support St Andrews Students’ Association President Cam Brown said the new award recognises efforts made to ensure St Andrews students have the best possible experience whilst studying at the UK’s top university He said: “As a student and now as President I’m constantly inspired by how the University and the Students’ Association come together to create a home where every student feels they belong It’s not just about the world-class education—we’re part of a vibrant and inspiring community where everyone has a place And our traditions—whether it’s the Pier Walk the Gaudie or the May Dip—aren’t just events; they’re the threads that weave us together “Our consistent top rankings in student experience aren’t just numbers—they reflect the heart and soul of St Andrews built by the tireless dedication of the University and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of it.” added: “St Andrews is one of the serial winners in British – and global – higher education over the past 20 years That might seem strange to say for an institution that has survived for more than 600 years: it has clearly been doing something right for much longer than that “But the past two decades have seen the university come to the fore as a serious alternative to Oxford and Cambridge for those seeking the very best higher education on offer within these shores “Strong competition for places from home and abroad has accompanied the university’s rise to prominence – and a place to study here is among the most highly prized Sustained success in the annual National Student Survey has proved difficult for most of the UK’s top universities Only St Andrews among universities at the top table has been able to combine both the highest academic standards with ratings from their students that consistently confirm that excellence “St Andrews is the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Experience 2025 off the back of this year’s outstanding results in the National Student Survey St Andrews students rated the university more highly than anywhere else for everything from course organisation and learning resources to student feedback being valued and acted upon Evidence of a 600-year-old university showing its students that it has still got something to learn from them Golfers are being given the chance to play the famous Old Course in St Andrews for less than £50 St Andrews Links Trust has launched an initiative offering a small number of rounds on the iconic course at a near-90% discount to Scottish residents A round on the Old Course normally costs £340 but players can enter a ballot to play for just £42.50 Rounds on several other St Andrews courses are also being offered at a massive discount as part of the Drive campaign where a round will cost just £22.50 on specific dates in 2025 Players can also enter a ballot to play the Eden course for just £9.50 and the Jubilee course for £18.75 The initiative will benefit more than 700 golfers across 179 discounted tee times with just 11 tee times available on one date – May 21 The only stipulation is that the player is a Scottish resident Some of the other dates have specific criteria – for example places on the Eden course on certain dates in May and June will be limited to groups like Armed Forces or emergency service personnel disabled golfers and Scottish golf club members The move comes as part of an ongoing review of access to the courses amid unprecedented local and global demand It also follows criticism of St Andrews Links Trust over access to the courses for local golfers Players can sign up to be entered into a two-ball ballot via the St Andrews Links Trust website Successful applicants will then be paired up and allocated a tee time on the date specified The ballots for tee times on the Jubilee and Castle courses in September and October will be opened at a later date St Andrews Links Trust takes its responsibility to the sport incredibly seriously “That is why we are so excited to launch a new initiative offering golfers the opportunity to play our historic and iconic courses at a lower price “Widening access to golf is a key objective for us we hope we can continue to provide opportunities to golfers of all ages and abilities.”