Congratulations to Aileen Brown, Colin McAllister and David Brown who were presented with Archdiocesan medals by Archbishop Cushley at the weekend.

For many year Aileen Brown, of Leven, has volunteered on a weekly basis to do the finance work, including the year-end accounts, for the parish of St James in St Andrews.

Aileen (79), a former bookkeeper, retired from this role in 2021 but continued preparing the annual accounts until 2024.

She was also a member of the Fabric & Finance Committee up until September last year.

David Brown, of St Andrews, was baptised at St James’ in 1945 and  attended Mass there as a child. He moved to London in his twenties before returning in 1975.

Since them he has served faithfully as sacristan and passkeeper at the Saturday Vigil Mass.

David is a retiring man and everything he does or donates to the church he does so quietly in the background.

Colin McAllister, of St Andrews, was born in the town and also attended university there.

Since 1990 Colin has single handedly tended the gardens at St James, buying plants and shrubs and keeping the garden in a beautiful state - the parish has frequently won the annual Best Garden Competition run by the town council.

He attends Mass daily and is well known throughout the town.

The Archdiocesan Medal is awarded by the Archdiocese to recognise outstanding service to the Catholic Church. The medal was established in 1975 by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray.