Small town, big thesis – how Cupar helped write history

Residents of Cupar have helped one determined student cross the finish line of her PhD, not with library books or footnotes, but with waves, whiteboard updates, and a card through the letterbox. 

Islay Shelbourne became a familiar sight at her window in Kirkgate, Cupar, where she spent countless hours working on her doctoral thesis on the 1918-19 flu pandemic. Known locally as the “PhD Writer,” she used a small whiteboard to track her progress – updating her word count and current chapter as a way of keeping herself motivated. 

The sign began almost by accident. “My desk looks out over the street, right where people stand to cross the road, so it is great for people watching but also for people watching you!” Islay explained. Back in March 2024, she told her mother that passers-by must be curious about what kept her at her desk at all hours. Her mother joked that she should put up a sign – and a few days later she sent a whiteboard in the post. 

What followed was a year and a half of updates, watched closely by neighbours. “A couple of my neighbours had commented on the sign in that time, especially when I got stuck on a chapter and didn’t update the word count for a few months,” Islay said. 

It wasn’t until the final crunch period before submission, in August 2025, that she discovered just how many people had been following along. After adding her submission deadline to the sign, a card and a coffee voucher arrived through her door from an anonymous well-wisher.  

Touched by the gesture, Islay turned to the town’s Facebook group to say thank you – and was met with an outpouring of support. “The support from people waving or commenting on my progress has been a spark of joy in an otherwise gruelling process,” she wrote. 

As she continued updating her whiteboard – through submission and eventually her viva – the messages kept coming. “To the people of Cupar: I could never have guessed the outpouring of care and support that putting a sign in my window with my thesis word count would bring,” she wrote. “For all the waves, thumbs up and wonderful online words of support, thank you. It takes a village to raise a child, and it has taken a village to make this thesis.” 

Reflecting on the experience, Islay said the sign became more than just motivation. “With how lonely and hard a PhD can be, having a visual reminder of what I had achieved was really helpful,” she said, adding that discovering how many people were quietly cheering her on made her “extra determined.” 

This week, Islay was officially awarded her PhD.  

“The people of Cupar got a very much deserved thank you in my thesis acknowledgments because I truly believe their support and care helped me to complete the PhD. I will never be able to express how grateful I am to this wonderful Fife town,” Dr Shelbourne said.