17 December 2024
As part of its 125th-anniversary celebrations, Fife College is bringing history to life for pupils across Dunfermline with a series of engaging puppet and storytelling performances.
The sessions, funded by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, connect Lauder Technical School's legacy, George Lauder and Andrew Carnegie's achievements, and Fife College's evolution.
Renowned storyteller, Kate Walker of Chatterbox Stories, visited Carnegie Primary School, where she captivated Primary 5 and Primary 6 pupils with tales of Lauder’s engineering ingenuity, including his plan to pipe fresh water from the Glen Devon hills into Dunfermline and the pivotal role of Lauder Technical School in advancing the town’s prosperity.
Performances are also taking place in McLean, St Johns, Canmore and Commercial Primary Schools, with puppets representing Andrew Carnegie and George Lauder, making the storytelling interactive and engaging.
The College traces its roots to 10 October 1899, when Lauder Technical School opened its doors, thanks to the vision of Lauder and the generous financial backing of Carnegie, his nephew. Since then, the College has evolved through the years, becoming a cornerstone of learning and innovation in the Fife region.
Fife College Assistant Principal Iain Hawker attended the Carnegie Primary School storytelling session. He said:
“The puppet storytelling sessions have been a fantastic way to bring the history of Fife College and its founders to life. It was wonderful to see how engaged the pupils were, and we hope these performances not only gave them a better understanding of Dunfermline’s past but also inspired them to think about how education can transform lives. The enthusiasm and curiosity of the pupils were a true highlight of our 125th-anniversary celebrations.”
Kate Walker said:
“It was a great pleasure to use the puppets to help make these connections and to assist the pupils in understanding the benefits that Lauder Technical School brought to Dunfermline, as well as the improvements to public health that arose from the provision of fresh water.
“It was also lovely to hear the pupils singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Fife College in the presence of the Assistant Principal, Iain Hawker, who, as well as attending the storytelling session, also helped by playing the role of one of Andrew Carnegie’s heroes, King Robert the Bruce!”
Carnegie Dunfermline Trust CEO Gillian Taylor added:
“Our Trustees were delighted to approve funding for the storytelling sessions as part of the 125th anniversary of Lauder Technical School. George Lauder was a beloved uncle and influential mentor to young Andrew Carnegie. The puppet storytelling sessions are a way of sharing the story of these inspiring Dunfermline characters with the next generation of learners.”
Plans are also in motion to deliver additional storytelling sessions at the Carnegie Birthplace Museum, further strengthening the connection between Andrew Carnegie’s legacy and the College’s history.
The puppet shows in schools are part of a broader series of events and initiatives to mark the College’s 125th anniversary. Highlights of the celebrations include the revival of the Lauder Lecture series, a Lauder Talk event, a special 125th-anniversary reception at the Scottish Parliament, and the naming of the ‘Lauder Library’ at the College’s new Dunfermline Campus.
Fife College’s new Dunfermline City Campus, which will open in the 2025/26 academic year, is part of the new Dunfermline Learning Campus – an innovative and collaborative project that will bring together the College, Woodmill High School, and St Columba’s RC in one purpose-built site.