Welcome to St Andrews in Focus Magazine Archive
Launched in 2003 by Flora Selwyn, St Andrews in Focus magazine celebrated its 20th anniversary in November 2023. At a party to celebrate its anniversary, and Flora’s retirement at the age of 89, she handed over the magazine to its new owners, Joanne and Emily Jarvie (Flora and Emily are pictured on the right)
Under Flora’s guidance, each issue of St Andrews in Focus has featured the town’s people, favourite shops and eating places, with articles on its maritime tradition, its theatre and cinema, its internationally-recognised University and, of course, its world-famous Golf. Joanne and Emily have pledged that the magazine will continue to provide a unique insight into the immensely rich and varied life and times of the town.
This website preserves the magazine’s previous issues under Flora’s continuing copyright. All back issues can be found by clicking on the ‘Back Issues’ button or by visiting the Cover Gallery. A decision was made to keep publishing the magazine despite the pandemic, so issues 101 and 102 were produced in digital format only and can be viewed in the Back Issues section. Generous donations from all quarters enabled the magazine to return to print with Issue 103.
History of St Andrews in Focus Magazine
Started with the published wish to strengthen the sense of community, increase town/gown co-operation, and promote business through information and advertising, the magazine became an appreciated part of town life. Newcomers to the town in particular have been grateful to the magazine for helping them feel at home.
Published six times a year by Flora, the magazine had well-written articles, illustrated with high quality photographs, drawings and occasional cartoons. St Andrews in Focus recorded how the town evolves. It welcomed new businesses, celebrates their successes, offers them advertising to help them grow, while making them known far and wide.
Under Flora’s ownership, around seven thousand copies were distributed free within the town itself and amongst its many hotels. It also had subscribers in every part of Britain, from the Scottish Islands to the Scilly Isles, and all around the world. Before the pandemic it was available for free in the Media Walls at Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports, as well as at the new V&A in Dundee. Readership was estimated to be in excess of 25,000.
In 2005, some eighteen months after its launch, St Andrews in Focus was delighted to be Highly Commended by the prestigious PPA (Professional Publishers Association, Scotland) in the category ‘Best Small Publishing Company’. In 2009 the Rotary Club of St Andrews awarded the editor its highest Award for Service to the Community.
In November 2019, the PPA Scotland shortlisted the magazine for the Community Magazine of the Year awards, while on 25 January 2020, the prestigious St Andrews Burns Club presented the Editor with its highest Award for Citizenship.
