Bert Dalrymple

Bert arrived in Falkland in 1972, from Glasgow, where he had worked as a Studio Manager in an Advertising Agency.  His departure from the advertising world began in November, 1971 when the urge for a new challenge took hold.

He ventured over to Mull to inspect a croft for sale at Bunessan.  However, the idea of becoming self-sufficient was soon dashed on learning the croft had no electricity, gas or running water.  With the imminent arrival of his second child, Bert realised it was non-starter. Better to take on an established venture.

Bert had seen an advert for a Tea Room & Art Gallery for sale in the village of Falkland.  The Tea Room was named Kynd Kittocks Kitchen*.  Having an interest in art (but no knowledge of running a Tea Room!), he thought that such an enterprise would suit him very well; he and his wife, Liz, and their young family of two boys would set up home in the wee house next to the Tea Room and he would ensure that Falkland’s only eating place (apart from the pubs) would be in safe hands.

Well; his first year was a baptism of fire; there were only 24 seats and visitors to Falkland seemed to be increasing almost daily.  The food was prepared in the wee house and carried along the back path to the Tea Room (sometimes under umbrellas if it was raining) and served to an ever-growing group of customers.  People were often queuing outside, waiting for a seat.

The situation inspired Bert to build a tea garden to accommodate the increasing customer base.  So, it was, that in 1973, he built the garden at the back of the existing Tea Room, and this proved to be a great success, as 36 more customers could be accommodated during what turned out to be a lovely summer.

Initially the Tea Room was a summer business and other ways of surviving the winter months were required.  This consisted of “tattie” picking for the local farmer and acquiring freelance design work for businesses in nearby Glenrothes.  Bert decided not to continue with the upstairs Art Gallery, but, rather, to concentrate on the Tea Room and tea garden.  He bought the tumbledown house next door, rebuilt it and extended the Tea Room.  The Art Gallery became the baking and serving kitchen, with Bert becoming an expert baker and no mean jam maker!

During his time in the Tea Room, Bert discovered that plans were afoot to start excavating down at The Myre with the aim of laying out a pitch and putt course there.  Bert had a look at the area and was left with the opinion that a nine-hole golf course could be set out on that particular stretch of land, so he got together with the other golfers from the village and was instrumental in designing and constructing the golf course; becoming the first secretary of the club at its inception.  The Golf Club is still running after 40 years.

After a couple of years of running the Tea Room, Bert decided to sell it as a going concern and he bought Maspie House in 1975.  The house had been the village Post Office and the Post Mistress had kept cats; many cats!  There was a great deal of work to be done in terms of renovation and reconstruction; a big job in fact; but Bert got on with it, including landscaping the garden.  Maspie House became a shop selling crafts and collectibles.  The project took a few years to complete and again other means of income were required.  Liz started full time employment in Dundee as a milk official allowing Bert to continue in the role of house husband and renovator.  Once the physical work was complete Bert relieved Liz and gained employment with D.C.Thompson in Dundee.  This routine continued until the craft business became established.

While running the Tea Room, Bert bought Mercat House and Shop (now Fayre Earth) which he renovated, adding outside stairs and refurbishing the flat above the shop.  He bought it as a family business and eventually passed it on to his sons.

Time passed, the two boys grew up and followed their own paths in life and Bert began to think about hanging up his apron strings!  But, having, still, the urge to be busy, he bought Rose Cottage in Sharp’s Close, a little house in very poor condition, knocked it down and built Sweetheart Cottage in its footprint.