The Scottish Snippets Newsletter in its original format began in April 1997 and continued in an unbroken series for 591 issues. Although no longer produced in that format there is now a regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site and also "Scottie's Diary" on an intermittent basis, To receive this, kust send an e-mail to Scottie with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.
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Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
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Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Sam Galbraith has decided that the pressure of being the Minister for the Environment is interfering with being able to properly look after his health and has resigned. In 1990, he became one of the first people in Europe to undergo a lung transplant and is now one of the longest surviving lung transplant patients. He says he has not been able to take enough exercise and that he owes it to his family to step down now. Sam Galbraith was a close friend of First Minister Donald Dewar who died last October. As Education Minister, Galbraith had to face the criticism arising from the disastrous performance of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) last year, although he maintained that he was not responsible. It has been obvious to friends and political commentators for some time that he was not in the best of health, struggling to climb a flight of stairs. Sam Galbraith started out in medicine and was a neuro surgeon when he decided to enter politics and was elected a Member of Parliament at Westminster in 1987.
In a week in which a US government Web site giving advice to tourists seemed to be equating Britain with war-torn Macedonia, the government eased restrictions on many areas not so far affected by livestock foot and mouth disease. Many National Trust properties which had closed as a precautionary measure were opened again, including areas such as Glen Coe (the visitor centre is open and the surrounding area is open on a restricted basis to climbers and walkers), Torridon, the Trossachs, Ben Nevis, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and Argyll. Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and many National Trust properties are open as normal. Urquhart Castle is closed till the autumn but that is because of the major building works there. North of the Forth-Clyde valleys is regarded as "safe" although visitors are advised not to enter enclosed fields which contain livestock in case they inadvertently bring in the virus. Even there, Blair Drummond Safari Park, with its wild animals which roam freely, is still closed and there are restrictions on parkland at Blair and Glamis castles. The West Highland Way and Speyside Way pathways remain closed. In central Scotland, there are restrictions on a number of country parks and country areas but Culzean Castle is open and in Edinburgh the only tourist attraction still closed is Edinburgh Zoo. The chimps there, who revel in the attention they get from visitors, are said to be pining for human contact. In Dumfries and Galloway, where there are many farms affected, there are major restrictions and the advice is to stay away from the region. The number of confirmed cases in the south-east of Scotland continues to rise, with 73 farms affected so far.
A glossy guide to golfing in Britain, which has been produced by the British Tourist Authority in consultation with the Scottish Tourist Board, has omitted such well known courses as Gleneagles, Royal Troon Turnberry and Carnoustie. But it has included Macrahanish (a nice course, but somewhat off the beaten track, well down the remote Mull of Kintyre) and Loch Lomond (which is not open to non-members). The brochure describes Scottish golf as "legendary" and the British Tourist Authority claimed that with 500 courses to choose from in Scotland, only a small selection could be covered. But why select two courses that most visitors will not be able to play on? At least they remembered to include St Andrews, the home of golf (pictured here).
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the government increase in annual funding for universities in Scotland next year will grow at a faster rate than inflation. The 8.5% increase will put the total amount up to £672 million. Much of the additional funding is being targeted at increasing university access to students from socially deprived backgrounds.There will be a 5% premium for every student identified as coming from a deprived background so that additional resources can be allocated to helping them. As a result, Paisley University is one of the main beneficiaries as it has enthusiastically followed such a policy for many years and Glasgow (pictured here) and Strathclyde Universities have a good record on this too. Edinburgh University, on the other hand, will have the smallest increase.
The ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne (known as Calmac) has long had a monopoly in the service to the Western Isles. But not any more. An Aberdeen company, Taygran Shipping, started a ferry service last week between Ullapool on the mainland and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The new ferry can carry 42 trucks and lorries and offers a better timetable and free food for passengers. It is already carrying all the supermarket and fish farm deliveries between Lewis and the mainland. The company says it is planning to run a number of other services around the Scottish coast such as the profitable routes to Arran and Mull. Taygran are also looking at introducing a high speed passenger ferry to Stornoway which would cut the journey time from 160 minutes to 90 minutes. Calmac receives government subsidies of £20 million to run the essential services to the main islands and also to the smaller ones which are unprofitable. The company is fighting back, however, with the introduction this week of its latest ferry on the route serving Tarbert (Harris), Lochmaddy (North Uist) and Uig (Skye).
Clydeport, the organisation which owns and operates the harbours and docks along the banks of the river Clyde from Glasgow to Greenock, has revealed its plans for a huge scheme to revitalise the waterfront. It will create at Meadowside Quay 2,500 new houses, an 18-storey hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, a casino, theatre, shops, offices, cinema and visitor attractions including a river walkway. Finance for the £500 million pound scheme is being provided by the Bank of Scotland. Part of the plan will result in the Clydeside Expressway being lowered by 4.6 metres to allow a pedestrian bridge to be built from Partick railway station. The derelict Meadowside Granary on the river front, which was built in 1902, will be demolished to make way for the new development. The plans were given unanimous planning approval by Glasgow City Council this week.
The Pearce Institute in the Govan district of Glasgow has been a landmark in the community for nearly 100 years. Donated by a local benefactor, it provides a home for many local social and educational clubs in the area and there is a library in the building. The main hall is considered to be one of the best in the city for holding a ceilidh (a social gathering involving folk singing and dancing). But like many such buildings, it struggles to make ends meet and was in danger of closing by the end of March, which would have left a massive hole in the heart of the community. But this week the trustees managed to put together a financial rescue package. The trust is applying to the Charities Aid Foundation and Glasgow City Council will continue to provide funding support. But as the building approaches its 100th birthday, it is in need of major renovation and the trustees do not have the cash for that.
Three pupils from Kinlochbervie School were in Darien, Georgia, this week staying with local families. Kinlochbervie (in a remote part of north-west Scotland) is twinned with Darien and the schools have been exchanging letters and information since last year. Highland emigrants settled in the Darien area of Georgia nearly 300 years ago and many of their descendants are keen to establish cultural links with their roots. The pupils will be in Georgia for a week. They will meet black members of the Scottish community there as Scots in the area were amongst the first to petition against slavery. Many black people in Darien have Scottish names and are proud of the connection.
There was a heavy fall of snow in the east and south of Scotland last weekend. But the snow did not reach the west of the country and sunshine in the Glasgow area on Tuesday tempted the editor of this Newsletter to have an after-lunch cup of coffee in the back garden (suitably wrapped up in a woolly jumper). Later in the week, Scotland was subjected to cold northerly winds and it became cloudy with some rain which fell as sleet in the far north.
Plans have been announced that the landmark Kibble Palace glasshouse in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens is to be dismantled. But only so that an underground exhibition area and theatre can be built underneath it - the building will then be reassembled above as part of a major refurbishment. The project is dependent on a successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Kibble Palace was donated to the city in 1873 by John Kibble, a wealthy merchant. Initially, the city council refused to take the building with its nude sculptures, describing them as "immoral". In addition to these works of art, it now contains a fine collection of exotic tree ferns, which was started in 1881. For more on the Kibble Palace and other Glasgow "Winter Gardens" see this 
The research ship "Discovery" was launched in Dundee on 21 March 1901 and the event was celebrated in Dundee this week. The ship is back in Dundee, moored at Discovery Point after its adventurous life in the Antarctic, commanded by Captain Robert Falcon Scott. It is the centrepiece of an exhibition which covers, amongst other "discoveries", Antarctic exploration and the whaling ships which used to be based in Dundee.
Last year, the BBC ran a competition to encourage the creation of robots and St. Paul's High School, Priesthill, Glasgow entered "MacPaulus", a four-legged Scottish Robot which "danced" the Gay Gordons. The pupils at the school built the robot complete with kilt, sporran and socks and it dances to traditional songs like "Scotland the Brave" and "Wee Deoch'n Doris." The recorded event has now been televised and so the results of the contest can be revealed. The pupils at St Paul's were competing against 11 other schools and won a bronze medal. "MacPaulus" was built with the help of Dr Bruce Weiner, a neurologist from California. E-mails were used to keep in touch (and the neurologist's patients had to be kept up to date too!). The pupils were described by their teacher as incredible. Indeed, in Glaswegian parlance, they were 'pure deid brilliant, so they were'. The robot's dancing footwork was admired and the commentator mentioned his 'heel to heel' and 'toe to toe' as Mharie's Wedding was played in the background!
The exhibition "Walking With Dinosaurs"at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow has proved to be a hit with the people of the city. In just six weeks it has pulled in 40,000 visitors - it normally has 70,000 in a full year. Of course, passers-by can hardly fail to notice the star attraction - Millie, a 40ft high model of a tyranosaurus rex which stands outside the museum.
Colin Hendry the Scotland captain gained his 50th cap in this World Cup qualifying match against Belgium. Before the match, only goal difference separated the two teams at the top of their section. Scotland had taken 7 points from their first three matches but Belgium went into the match favourites to win. Scotland got off to the best possible start when a cross from Craig Burley was put in the net by Billy Dodds. Dodds scored again when Scotland were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute. Belgium had a player sent off and Scotland seemed to be coasting to a victory. But Belgium fought back and got a goal back in the 58th minute. Then disaster struck in the last minute of injury time when Belgium equalized. The Scottish players were shell shocked by the result and admitted that they only had themselves to blame for throwing away their lead. Scotland play San Marino next (Belgium scored 10 goals against them in their match against the principality).
