SUCH has been the success of Lochgelly Salvation Army's holiday cruise venture it is being adopted in other parts of the country.

The Holiday At Home initiative was launched last summer at the Auchterderran Road Hall by Major Mary McDonald and it attracted over 30 senior citizens for the three day 'cruise'.

Last week the 2018 cruise took place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and up to 40 veterans were involved in being aboard The Loch cruise ship which took in Spain, Latvia and Ireland.

And there was a special visitor 'aboard' The Loch all the way from Latvia!

Said Major McDonald: "The initiative is all about enjoying activities special to each of the countries involved and we were delighted when Ilona Kaspare came over from Latvia to join us.

"It has become a very popular summer event and we were delighted with the turn out of almost 40 people each day."

Each day was run on cruise lines with boarding, registration and safety drill at 10am, followed by refreshments, and then music and movement sessions, deck games and lunch with a Spanish input on the Tuesday, Latvian on the Wednesday and Irish fare on the Thursday.

There were also table games and crafts and on the Thursday music from Bobby Weir and quizzes from Tamara Horsburgh, from the Salvation Army's central hub.

Ilona Kaspare was persuaded by Major Christine Bailey to get involved after meeting her while Christine was working for the SA in Latvia for three years.

Said Ilona: "I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to get involved in this initiative, it really is inspiring to see the senior citizens having such fun and fellowship.

"I have learned a lot from being in Lochgelly and I will look to put it to good use when I return home."

Mary was surprised when she learned that through social media the activities on the cruise ship The Loch were catching the eye of Salvation Army operations in other parts of the country.

She said: "We have been putting items from each day on Facebook and some of the groups in other parts of the country have been really interested in the idea and would like to try it themselves."

Mary thanked the many volunteers who have supported the initiative this July and she intends to have The Loch sailing again next summer.

Helping Mary, Christine and Ilona have been John Howe, Darren Stephen, Cathy Knott, Margaret Howe, Lesley Heuchan, Helen Ross, Eileen McKenna, Margaret McDonald, Moira Watson, Marie Bain, David Robertson along with Tamara and Bobby.