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Friday 19 Jul 2024

Levenmouth celebrates picture perfect competition

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Entrants to a Fife-based photography competition were celebrated recently (11 July) at the Together Levenmouth Hub in Leven.

Each entrant was presented with a framed edition of their photo, which collectively captured the unique beauty of the area.

It was part of a community-wide event in the run up to the opening of the Levenmouth Rail Link last month.

Jim Hamilton, the lens behind the Levenmouth Building A Railway Facebook page, worked with Network Rail to organise the competition, which received 60 entries.

Ruth Vance from Auchtermuchty, won the competition, while Lynne Muir from Anstruther was runner-up.

They were joined at the Hub by seven shortlisted entrants and by Jim and Hamish Brown MBE, photographer and writer, who previously judged the competition.

Jim said: “It was really great to meet the people behind the camera of these wonderful images.

“I was amazed at the quality of the entries, and it was interesting to see how the photographers interpreted the guidelines for the competition.

“Each of the shortlisted images showed that capturing a special image is down to the dedication, patience and timing of the photographer. It’s about being in the right place at the right time to capture a moment in time. Well done.”

Hamish Brown MBE, said: “I was impressed by the number, quality and variety of the images submitted. They were judged anonymously and then 10 were picked as having something special.

“From there, winner and the runner-up were chosen and they make excellent images of Fife attractions that will welcome travellers by train to Leven.”

Stephen Gamble, Network Rail project manager for the Levenmouth Rail Link project said: “The photography competition was a fitting way to mark the opening of Levenmouth Rail Link, as the return of the railway will help to encourage more people to visit here, allowing them to see for themselves all that the area has to offer.

“During delivery of the works over the last three years, the project benefited from the sense of ownership and pride the community fostered towards the return of the railway – which comes as no surprise given the people of Levenmouth were such a driving force in campaigning for this.

“In welcoming the railway back, this should help encourage future inward investment and growth, creating opportunities that are truly transformative socially and economically for Levenmouth.

“Congratulations to all who took part in the photography competition and to Ruth and Lynne for their striking winning entries. Thank you also to Jim and Hamish, as we appreciate the very difficult task they had in choosing the shortlist.”

The community as well as visitors to Levenmouth can now view all 10 photographs as they are being exhibited in  Leven shortly. Ruth and Lynne’s photographs will shortly be on display at the new Leven and Cameron Bridge stations.

Part of the prize from the Levenmouth Rail Link project means local charities have been nominated by those who took part in the competition.

Ruth has nominated the Castle Hill Centre in Cupar to receive £500.

For Lynne, a donation of £250 will be made to Cellardyke Tidal Pool, and John Gibson, representing the shortlisted entrants, nominated Jim Mathew Camera Collection in St. Monans, which will also receive £250.

The Scottish Government-funded Levenmouth Rail Link includes a new six-mile double-tracked line with two stations in Leven and Cameron Bridge that opened on 2 June 2024, reconnecting local people to the railway after a gap of more than 50 years.

For the latest information and updates as the Levenmouth Rail Project, follow on twitter @NetworkRailScot or visit www.scotlandsrailway.com/projects/levenmouth-reconnected-raillink