100+ issues of St Andrews in Focus

 President Colin Mitchell and the members of the Rotary Club of St Andrews welcomed Flora Selwyn to talk about the St Andrews in Focus magazine. Flora is no stranger as she is a Friend of the Club and often attends the meetings by Zoom.

Flora attended St Andrews as a student and was very happy to return to the town in her later life. Nearly eighteen years ago, despite having no background in publishing or journalism, she decided to set up a magazine which would reflect the community of St Andrews. She paid tribute to her printer and designer who over the years have given her so much help in the production of the magazine and to her distributor who distributes over 6,000 copies of every edition throughout the town.

Her main reason for setting up the magazine was to reinforce the sense of community in the town, to boost business in the town and to bolster town and gown relations. It is evident that the magazine has achieved its aims over the years and over the years, and the magazine has been responsible for connecting many people over the whole country.

Two years after the first edition was printed the St Andrews in Focus received a Highly Commended Award from the Professional Publishers Association, a great honour and in 2009 Flora received a Service to the Community Award from the Rotary Club. 

The University Special Collections holds every copy of the magazine which are regarded as historical documents for the future. Copies also go to the British Library and the National Library of Scotland.

In May 2020 the magazine printed its 100th edition and a competition was held to design the front cover.

When Covid struck and publishing was very difficult a digital platform was set up so that the magazine could continue through the difficult times. Printed editions are now available again and welcomed by so many.  Flora said that she never has any difficulty in having enough copy for each edition.

All the Rotarians present realised how lucky they all were t[1] o have such an amazing publication in the town and applauded Flora for the commitment she has shown to St Andrews in Focus.

The vote of thanks was given by Walter Hill.