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a miscellany of random bits and pieces from the dim & distant past
Auchtermuchty, or 'Muchty for short, has been around for quite a while. Traces have been found of very early dwellings (around 350AD) along the banks of the Muchty Burn (which runs through the middle of the town), and at an earlier time the Romans also built a temporary camp in an area just to the southeast. It is said that the legendary Ninth Legion (the one that vanished without trace) passed through here......and was never seen again!!!!
In 1517, King James V was so impressed by the town, or perhaps by the beer at the Cycle Tavern, that he created it a Royal Burgh. Or so it is said. Another version states that the King said "This place is a Royal Bugger of a town!" and was subsequently misquoted. Anyway, as a result the town acquired a motto, "Dum Sero, Spero", which we are reliably informed
is Latin for "All Hope Abandon, Ye Who Enter Here" (Latins apparently spoke all their words capitalised) although the more scholarly reckon it means "While I sow, I hope". We like our version better.
The Rev. James Bennet, the town's second Protestant Minister (that's "Vicar" to you English lot), was in office from 1615 to 1640, but was "gravelie rebukit" for being "ane frequent hunter with dogs, ane player of cards and ane runner of horses upon courses". Quite right too. How he managed to open coffee mornings and write boring sermons when he was too busy being a foxhunter, professional gambler and National Hunt jockey we don't know. You don't see the Vicar of Dibley getting up to all that nonsense, do you?
And as if that wasn't enough, the town had another bolshie clergyman, the Rev. John Glass, himself the son of the parish Minister. Not content with the boring old established Church, the good Rev was a bit of a dissenter, and founded his very own sect, the Glassites. If you can't beat 'em, set up your own lot.
St. Cyre, or St. Serf (from whom the local Masonic Lodge takes its name) is associated with the town (though nobody knows why) and there was an annual fair held on the saint's day, on the Thursday after the second Monday in July. St. Cyre/Serf was better known as the tutor of St. Mungo, patron saint of Glasgow.
The town had its own gas supply from 1838, when the Auchtermuchty Gas Company (a Victorian megacorporation) was formed. Bet you didn't know that, eh? The old gasworks in fact still stood until fairly recently, near the John White & Sons Foundry.
We are told that the first mechanical washing machines were manufactured here by an engineer called Bell in the mid-19th century. The factory unfortunately burned down in 1885.
Herbert Henry Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1908-1916, recorded in his book "Memories and Reflections" that the redoubtable men of 'Muchty "had as a body a large and varied store of political and historical knowledge, and....they were the finest masters of the art of heckling....whom even Scotland has produced". Well, there you have it.
Sir John Arnot, a very slightly famous native of the town in the 19th century, was reputedly raised on oatmeal porridge and the Shorter Catechism. Personally, we think the book was probably the tastier and more digestible of the two....
Sir Jimmy Shand, highly respected accordion player and band leader, is probably 'Muchty's most famous son. This man is just pure dead brilliant. So is his son, Jimmy Shand Jnr.
The Proclaimers, though famous as well, only lived in Auchtermuchty - they are not from it. There is a difference.
Finally, another much more recent prominent citizen is May B*****- a mainstay of the Girl Guides and the S.W.R.I. for many years. Not all that famous, maybe, but legendary in the town. In 'Muchty you don't talk about "sending the boys round" - you just say "I'll get May on to you!"
(Just kidding, May!)