Spitfire Reunion Party
Monday, 14 December 2009
Florence and Jessie with John, Ella and Grace.
Spitfires were back flying in close formation in Kirkcaldy at the weekend when former members of a wartime concert party turned back the clock more than 65 years to hold a special reunion at the town's Methven House Care Home.
Back in the 1940's the Spitfire Concert Party helped bring a ray of sunshine into the dark days of the Second World War and came back into the news after former members Florence Gibson, now 88, and Jessie Scott (91) both became residents at the Kingdom Homes property in Kirkcaldy's Bennochy Road earlier this year.
Jessie and Florence were workmates in the former Barry's linoleum company offices in Kirkcaldy when they were "recruited" into the Spitfires which aimed to raise money to help buy one of the famous fighter planes to help with the war effort.
When their story was featured in this newspaper a few weeks ago they were delighted to hear from several more former members or their families who shared similarly fond memories of the wartime performers.
And on Friday (27/11/2009) at Methven House Florence and Jessie were joined on a trip down Memory Lane by 74 year-old John McFarlane from Lower Largo, Ella Clough (87) from Burntisland and Grace Morrison, grand-daughter of Adam Penman who formed the troupe at the Dunnikier Arms Hotel with his friend and fellow local businessman Frank Carlo who owned the Rialto and Raith Cinemas in Kirkcaldy.