'NEXT year marks the 70th anniversary of Glenrothes. Being a new town it is often thought of as a place without longstanding history – but nothing could be further from the truth.

Glenrothes remains the administrative capital of Fife with the headquarters of Fife Council based here. But long before the ‘new town’ project, people have cultivated the land there for centuries.

Last week I visited Linda Ballingall and her fantastic team at the Glenrothes Heritage Centre. Officially opened in 2013, the centre seeks to preserve and promote the history of Glenrothes and the surrounding area, and to tell the town’s story to local residents and visitors.

While Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline have first-class museums supported by Fife Cultural Trust, this centre is run entirely by volunteers and funded by donations.

What struck me most about my visit to the centre was the dedication and enthusiasm of the volunteers for their work. For the past few years, this small group has been championing the story of Glenrothes; whether it’s through the permanent exhibit telling the remarkable survival story of the Countess of Rothes on the Titanic, or the recent exhibition celebrating a century of paper making at Tullis Russell.

It is truly remarkable that the centre offers the quality of service that it does given that it survives on such little financial support.

We are indebted to those volunteers in every community who help to share that story and keep our community histories alive. It’s only by knowing where we’ve come from that we can know where we’re going.

It’s clear that our town has its own special story to tell. Glenrothes is not just a ‘new town’ - and Fife’s history isn’t only about St Andrew’s Golf Courses, Dunfermline’s Abbey or Kirkcaldy’s historic linoleum industry.

Fife’s history is one of people scattered throughout the landscape – some on the coast, some on the land, some in the towns. I know that every single community in my constituency – from Kennoway to Kinglassie – has a story of its own.

Next year’s anniversary in Glenrothes is a perfect opportunity for us to celebrate that, and I’d encourage everyone to get behind the town’s celebrations'.