More Investment in Schools

The spate of government expenditure announcements in recent weeks is reaching fever pitch as the embargo on such statements approaches in the month before the parliamentary election on 1 May. This week, it was the turn of Education minister Cathy Jamieson to highlight further investment in a school building and modernisation programme. Last June she had announced the first stage of an unprecedented overhaul of Scotland’s schools with almost £1.2 billion being allocated through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for new and refurbished schools in fifteen local authorities. This week, she unveiled stage two of this package of PPP investment, supporting a further £748 million of capital investment which will see school buildings improved in nine more local authority areas. Some schools will be completely rebuilt with the latest facilities and others will be substantially refurbished. This is in addition to an extra £110 million in grant funding over the next three years for school building improvements made to every local authority announced last month.

Scotland Trails in European Life Expectancy Table

Despite all the efforts of government to encourage us to adopt a healthier diet, plus the huge sums spent on a National Health Service, Scottish women are now at the bottom of the life expectancy table of western European countries. Scots males are second from the foot, above only Portugal. Fifty years ago, Scotland was 10th out of 17 countries in western Europe for life expectancy. While Scots do live longer than they did 50 years ago, other countries have improved at a faster rate. In the 1950s, male life expectancy was 64 and that has risen to 73, while that for women has gone up from almost 69 years to 78. A report from the Public Health Institute of Scotland says that many Scots are paying the price of heavy drinking, smoking and poor diet. The report claims that poverty is not the root cause - Portugal and Spain are poorer than Scotland but they enjoy better health. Spain has the lowest death rate for women and Portugal one of the lowest rates of heart disease and lung cancer.

Boost for Clyde Shipyards

When the £6 billion contract for six Type 45 destroyers was announced last year it was said that the work would be shared between the BAE yards on the Clyde and those in Barrow-in-Furness in England. But the Glasgow yards were given a massive boost this week when the company made a U-turn and revealed that all six ships will be built and launched on the Clyde. The decision secures the future of 1,700 jobs in the shipyards. The Barrow yard is to concentrate on the construction of three submarines for the Royal Navy. There have also been hints that the government may order further destroyers and submarines.

Gloomy Economic Data

New data published this week shows that retail sales, manufacturing orders, house prices and mortgage lending all fell in February. It has been the high level of retail sales which has been sustaining the economy for some time. But that is now the second month in a row in which retail sales have declined. Manufacturing output also fell in February - the third time in four months. With inflation around 3%, there is little room for a further cut in base rates by the Monetary Policy Committee.

Conference Centre Forced to Think Again

Plans by the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) to double its size have been rejected by a world-renowned architect who has ben engaged by the City Council as a watch-dog on the project. Sir Terry Farrell has objected to a large glass lobby next to the conference centre as it is too large and out of character with the original building. Much of the extra space in the extension will be underground but the glass entrance would have been at street level.

Glasgow Flood Barrier Approved

Scottish Water has announced plans to spend £25 million on a flood prevention scheme for the east end of Glasgow. Last year, parts of Easterhouse, Carntyne, Shettleston and Milton were all badly affected by flooding. Home owners in Cathcart, an area which has been subjected to flooding for the last 90 years, have been told that a £20 million flood prevention scheme for the river Cart will be implemented to try to alleviate the problem. There have been 20 major floods in that area since 1908 and in a recent incident 500 homes were affected. The scheme being proposed will also avoid the construction of seven feet high walls which local families were unhappy about.

Tweed Salmon Recover

Last year, 10,300 salmon were caught by rod on the river Tweed in the Scottish Borders, making it one of the most productive rivers in the North Atlantic. That catch was the largest for ten years and the 1,740 trout caught on the river last year was the highest since records began, 50 years ago. But a report published by the River Tweed Commissioners warns that the years of hard work to turn round the fortunes of the river could be lost if salmon farming is permitted on the River Ettrick, a tributary of the Tweed.

Take-Off For Hotel at RAF Base

It seems like a heaven-sent opportunity for foreign spies (and aircraft spotters), but the RAF is progressing its plans for the creation of a hotel within the perimeter of RAF Leuchars, one of the busiest fighter bases in the country. The hotel would be less than six miles from St Andrews and its many golf courses. The hotel would have an entrance separate from the base and would have its own perimeter fence. The possibility of using the base for civil flights is still also being examined. The base already has private jets landing there, but there were only 300 flights last year, mainly carrying wealthy golfers. But it can handle airliners up to the size of Boeing 737s, which is larger than Dundee Riverside Airport on the other side of the Tay estuary.

Plans for Princes Street Gardens Digging Deep

Edinburgh City Council is considering the construction of a tunnel under the National Gallery of Scotland which would link East and West Princes Street Gardens. The gallery is currently undergoing a multi-million pound extension, much of it below street level. The Council are bidding for funds from the National Lottery to finance improvements to the gardens and possibly construct decking over the railway line which runs between the gardens and Edinburgh Castle.

Action Demanded on Shoddy Pavement Repairs

Glasgow City Council has demanded new powers to force service companies that dig up the roads to leave their repair work in a satisfactory condition. Utility companies such as gas and telephones have legal rights to install underground services and it is estimated that they dig up roads and pavements 20,000 times each year in Glasgow. But they finish the work in a poor state. Telecommunications company NTL, which has been going through financial problems, is the worst offender with 73% of their repair work being substandard. Now Glasgow City Council wants the Scottish Executive to give them new powers to force these companies to perform at a proper level.

Edinburgh's Cowgate Reopens Early

Cowgate, the street in Edinburgh's Old Town, which was closed by a devastating fire last December, is to reopen a month earlier than expected. Demolition work on 12 buildings has been completed and the street will be open to traffic again on Monday. The demolition workers have managed to save an archway at the front of the Gilded Balloon theatre and many mementoes and files from the buildings which were gutted by the fire.

House Sales Break £10 Billion Level

Despite a lack of houses coming onto the market, the value of house sales in Scotland exceeded £10 billion last year - up 17% on the previous year. The biggest percentage increase was in the Scottish Borders, where sales rose 23%, according to figures compiled by the government agency, Registers of Scotland. Glasgow saw an increase of 20% in the value of house sales. The official figures are a slight underestimate of the real total as they only cover property sold between £20,000 and £1 million. Around 50 houses changed hands for over £1 million in 2002 - mainly in the Edinburgh and surrounding area. It seems that the growth of property sales in the Borders is being fuelled by people forced out of the capital and settling for the lower prices - and longer commuting distances.

Glasgow and Edinburgh Swop Art Treasures

The director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) surprised the art world this week by predicting that the £26 million Playfair Project to renovate and extend the National Gallery in Edinburgh would be completed by next August - a year ahead of schedule. Timothy Clifford said that the renovated building would reopen with a blockbuster exhibition "Titian and His Age". Glasgow City Council has confirmed that it will lend 13 works to the NGS for the show. This is part of a "contra deal" which will see 12 popular works from the NGS exhibited at the Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park in Glasgow this summer. Other works in the Glasgow collection will be taken to the NGS for conservation work. The art collection at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery is now closed to the public in the first stage of a £25 million refurbishment of the gallery and museum.

Perthshire Millionaire's Village Approved

Perth and Kinross Council unanimously approved plans for a £350 million development of ultra-luxury homes in a hamlet near Blackford. Nearly half the properties at the Gleneagles West project will cost over £3 million and the "cheapest" will be £1.5 million. The Council will have a right of veto over potential buyers, for example if convicted criminals attempt to buy one of the houses. The self contained golf resort will take nearly ten years to complete and will incorporate a five-star, 180-bedroom hotel with leisure facilities.

Landmark Gallery Saved

The art gallery in Perth which is dedicated to the work of JD Fergusson is in the unusual setting of a former 19th century water tower and pumping station on the banks of the river Tay. But the iron clad roof is in urgent need of repair and the gallery could not afford for the work to be carried out - entry to the facility is free and they are dependent on subsidies. Faced with the threat of closure, the gallery has been saved by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the local county council stepping in with a £900,000 funding package. The gallery holds 200 works by Fergusson who, along with artists such as JS Peploe, FCB Cadell and GL Hunter became known as the Scottish Colourists. Work on the repairs to the roof will begin this summer and the gallery will be closed for 15 months.

Early Bird Captures the Nest

A young female osprey set a record by arriving early at the Loch of Lowes nature reserve between Dunkeld and Blairgowrie in Perthshire this week. But the young bird is expected to have a battle on her hands when more mature birds arrive over the coming weeks as the birds usually return to their old nests. Ospreys, which spectacularly catch fish in lochs around the country, were re-introduced into Scotland 45 years ago. There are now between 150 and 160 nesting pairs. Numbers would have been higher but they are a constant target for egg collectors, despite constant vigilance by wardens. The birds over-winter in Africa and normally arrive back in Scotland between the end of March and early May. Around half nest on platforms built by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland, the Forestry Commission or the Loch of Lowes Trust. At least four pairs of birds nest on electricity pylons.

Windfarm Warning

The leading environmental watchdog, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has issued a report calling for more research into the environmental impact of large off-shore windfarms. There has been a rise in interest in these due to the opposition from protest groups about the creation of windfarms on land. The report draws attention to the plan for 120 turbines generating 500MW in the Moray Firth. Dolphins and other cetaceans could be affected by the development and there has been insufficient research into the impact.The SNH report also raises issues concerning devices for harnessing tidal power.

Gaelic Signs in English Supermarket

It would appear that the town of Corby in the East Midlands of England has become home to one of the largest concentrations of expatriate Scots south of the Border. It is thought that the town, which has a population of 53,000, also has one of the largest groups of Gaelic speakers outside of the Highlands. Gaelic may be in decline in Scotland itself, with the percentage of speakers down to 1.2% and the Scottish Parliament unwilling to accord it a "special status". But in Corby, it is estimated that 3% of the population can speak Gaelic. While that may not match the 61.1% in the Western Isles, it has induced the local Asda Supermarket to display banners with "Fàilte gu Asda" (welcome to Asda) and the store's advertising slogan (always happy to help) on banners which read "Toilichte Cuideachadh". Corby used to be a major producer of steel and the Scottish company of Stewarts & Lloyds moved there in the 1930s. A large number of Glaswegians have moved there over the years, so much so that the locals refer to Corby as "Wee Weegieland."

Sinking the Thistle with a Viking Galley

Tourist routes and signs to attractions throughout Scotland have a stylised thistle as a recognised emblem, invented by the tourism agency, VisitScotland. But Shetland Council, in the far north of the country, is proud of the Viking roots of the islands and wants to scrap the thistle in favour of a Viking galley. The move was prompted by a campaign by islanders and is backed by Shetland Islands Tourism. Needless to say, VisitScotland is not in favour, saying that it would confuse tourists. Currently, the thistle is the only tourism road-sign approved by government regulations but Shetland Council has written to the Scottish Executive requesting approval for a Viking galley to be authorised too. A previous request - to have Old Norse included in road-signs - was turned down.

What's Under the Kilt?

A kiltmaker, who also likes drinking cold beer, has come up with a way of combining the two. Doug Bathgate has designed a series of miniature kilts to fit round cans of beer, keeping your hands warm and the beer cold. He is also making miniature kilts to fit wine bottles. They have proved particularly popular at weddings and parties.

Extinct Plant Found in Caithness

A colony of the little yellow marsh saxifrage, which is extinct in the rest of the UK, has been discovered near the village of Lybster in Caithness district. Botanists, who had been using snow shoes to walk over the fragile bog surface, were surveying a 3,000-acre reserve owned by the plant charity Plantlife. Botanists have been looking for the yellow marsh saxifrage for over 100 years without success - until now. The plant is on the red list of the International Conservation Union. The botanists also discovered a small patch of the rare bog orchid.

February's Weather in Scotland

The aggregate weather data for February has been published by the Scottish Meteorological Office. It shows that the north-west and the Moray Firth recorded above average temperatures during February. The Western Isles and Shetland in particular, were 1.5C above the norm. Sunshine was also well above average, especially in the north and east. February was also a very dry month, especially in the east. Aberdeen only saw 25% of its normal rainfall and had its driest February since 1959.

Weather in Scotland This Week

It is not often that I can report a week of dry, sunny weather but that has been the weather in much of Scotland for the last ten days. There was a fair amount of morning mist on some of the days, with a few eastern areas seeing the mist lingering for most of the day. But in the seven days from last Saturday to Friday there were nearly 46 hours of sunshine in Glasgow and nearly 40 hours in Edinburgh. Aviemore reached 18C (64F) on Tuesday, a temperature they would have been happy with in June. But the mist in Kinloss only 30 miles away, the temperature rose to only 7C (45F) on the same day. Although the thermometer fell to below freezing during the night in many places, daytime temperatures were generally in the range 11/14C (52/57F).

This week's illustration of current flowers in Scotland is of a crocus (above) which is one of the later flowering varieties which grows in my own garden. The second picture is of the blossom on a fruit tree growing in Rodney Gardens on the banks of the river Tay in Perth. Both photos were taken earlier this month.

Burns Cottage Saved by Lottery Cash

The 18th century thatched cottage in which Robert Burns was born and which is now a museum, has been saved from closure after an 11th hour rescue package was put in place by the Lottery Heritage Fund. The trustees of the Burns National Heritage Park at Alloway in Ayrshire have been struggling for some time to pay for essential maintenance in the face of trading at a loss. Now, an immediate grant of £50,000 is to be made which will keep the attraction going while a team of architects, surveyors and conservationists draw up a detailed plan for the complete conservation and preservation of the cottage and museum. It is estimated that over £2 million will be required to put it on a firm footing. In recent years, leaks in the roof have resulted in damage to the Burns family bible, with its handwritten entries. The Burns Collection has over 300 manuscripts connected with Scotland's national poet.

Return to Darien

A 50-strong team of British archaeologists are to visit the site of the 17th century Scottish colony at Darien on the Panama isthmus. The settlement was established in 1698 to challenge the trade and influence of England. A small town named New Edinburgh was created but by 1700 it had been abandoned leaving the backers, mainly Scottish business men, with huge losses. The Union of the Parliaments in 1707 was pushed through in part as a result of a financial inducement to those who had lost money in the Darien project. The archaeological expedition is being organised by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and the Scientific Exploration Society and will coincide with the centenary of the creation of the state of Panama.

Prehistoric Mummies Found in Hebrides?

A university archaeologist claims that the bodies of four Bronze Age inhabitants of Cladh Hallan on South Uist had been mummified before burial. The use of such sophisticated techniques on the edge of Europe at the same time as the Egyptians, has surprised experts in the field. But tests have shown that the individuals had died over 500 years before they had been interred. Forensic tests suggest that they had been mummified using peat to preserve the bodies. The discovery suggests that 3,500 years ago the inhabitants of the Hebrides not only developed the technology but had a reverence for their ancestors. Only about 50 bodies from this period have been found in Britain, so the discovery of the four skeletons was exciting enough for the researchers who were excavating the remains of three round houses at Cladh Hallan. The discoveries were shown this week on a BBC documentary in the "Meet the Ancestors" series.

Hawick Reivers Festival

By the 16th century, hundreds of years of conflict between Scotland and England had turned the borderland between them into a place of turmoil and warfare. The people who lived amongst these vales and hills - the Elliots, the Scotts, Kerrs, Armstrongs and other 'riding families' - had learned to give allegiance only to those they could depend upon: their own kinsmen, and had turned to cattle thieving and plunder - against their English neighbours and each other - to gain wealth and power. It was a time of raid and reprisal, blackmail and blood feud, that bred resourceful and ruthless men, who became known as the Border Reivers. Now, a new and unique festival celebrating the turbulent past of the Scottish borderlands and a culture born of fire and steel is being organised. Highlights include a spectacular torchlight procession and shows featuring fire swinging routines, giant puppets, fire breathing, vibrant costumes, drumming, and stilt-walking from 'pyrotechnic mischief makers', te Pooka on Saturday 29th March. And on Sunday 30th March a foot-stomping concert by Session A9, featuring members of Capercaillie and Wolfstone. For more information, visit www.teribus.com.

This Week in History

• March 23 1848 - First Scottish settlers arrive Dunedin, New Zealand.
• March 24 1603 - Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland on the death of Queen Elizabeth I and the succession of King James VI of Scotland.
• March 25 1437 - Coronation of King James II.
• March 26 1934 - Car driving tests introduced for the first time.
• March 27 1306 - King Robert I ("The Bruce") crowned at Scone.
• March 27 1371 - King Robert II crowned at Scone.
• March 27 1871 - First Scotland/England rugby international, 20 a side, played at Raeburn Place. (Scotland won).
• March 27 1971 - David Coulthard, Grand Prix racing driver born.
• March 28 1318 - King Robert the Bruce captured Berwick on Tweed.
• March 29 1783 - The Royal Society of Edinburgh incorporated by charter.

Discovery Sailing Towards Art Award

The Dundee-built Royal Research Ship "Discovery" has been berthed for the last 17 years at the quayside in the city of her birth as a tourist attraction and a symbol of the "City of Discovery". Now it has been short-listed for the £100,000 Gulbenkian Prize for museums and galleries. The sailing ship and the visitor centre are competing against such attractions as the Natural History Museum in London and the Galleries of Justice in Nottingham. The prize is for redevelopments or innovative projects and the winner will be announced on 15 May. Discovery Point, where the ship is berthed, attracted 72,000 visitors last year and is one of the few attractions to be awarded five-star status by the tourism agency VisitScotland.

Puff of Smoke May Cost Film Maker £100,000

A steam train, used in scenes from the latest Harry Potter movie being filmed at Glenfinnan, set fire to 500 acres of moorland last year, devastating 50,000 trees. Now the owners of the estate are about to launch a claim for damages amounting to £100,000. The spark from the train which set the moor on fire, coincided with a particularly dry spell and high winds fanned the flames. The train had been used in the first two Harry Potter films without any problems. But this time ground to the side of the tracks caught fire shortly after the steam train crossed the 90ft high Glenfinnan viaduct on the West Highland line.

Runrig to Rock the Castle

Gaelic rock group Runrig are to celebrate 30 years in the music business with a one-off concert at Stirling Castle this summer. An audience of 7,000 fans will crowd onto the esplanade of the castle (normally used as a car park). Special guests including fiddler Aly Bain and accordionist Phil Cunningham are expected to join the group on stage. Stirling Castle has staged a number of concerts in recent years, including Bob Dylan, REM and Ocean Colour Scene.The band started as a ceilidh dance band on the Isle of Skye in 1973 and was voted third best Scottish band of all time in a recent poll.

Battlefield Band's North American Tour

Midway through a performance of Battlefield Band's North American tour, Scottish fiddler Alasdair White taught the audience how to say "very good" in Gaelic. "Shout it out anytime," said Alasdair. "It's not only encouraging, it'll make you feel cultured." There have been dance tunes, including reels bursting with color and energy, to entice nearly everyone in the packed performances to underscore the music with clapping hands and stamping feet. Even an old-fashioned Celtic waltz proved rhythmically contagious once the renowned quartet pushed the tune into overdrive - arguably its favorite gear. The band will be performing over the next few weeks in Tennessee, Texas, California and Washington State. See http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk for the tour dates and locations.

New Arrivals at Edinburgh Zoo

With conservation one of the main aims of most modern zoos, the birth of new animals is always a source of pride. Edinburgh Zoo's latest success is a litter of four baby otters. The parents were originally brought from Malaysia in 1987 but this is the first time that they have produced any young. The keepers believe that the success is due to a new enclosure built for the otters last year. It is complete with waterfalls and a solar heating system to keep the correct temperatures for the attractive animals.

Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results

Celtic 1 Rangers 2 (CIS Cup Final)
Kilmarnock 1 Dunfermline 1
Clyde 4 Inverness 1
Queen of the South 3 Arbroath 0
Hamilton 1 Stranraer 2
Rangers 2 Motherwell 0
Liverpool 0 Celtic 2 (UEFA Cup quarter final; Celtic win 3-1 in aggregate)

Tennent's Scottish Cup Quarter Finals

Falkirk 1 Dundee 1
Stranraer 0 Motherwell 4
Dunfermline v Rangers and Inverness v Celtic will be played on Sunday

Scottish First Division Results - 22 March 2003

Clyde 3 Ayr United 0
Ross County 0 Queen of the South 3
St Mirren 1 St Johnstone 3

League Tables

With few Premier Division matches this week, there was little movement in the SPL table. Rangers continued to grind out victories and are now six points ahead of Celtic, but have played two more matches than their rivals. Hearts are in third spot (with a place in Europe if they maintain that position) with Kilmarnock now three points behind, having played one game more.
St Johnstone continued to put some pressure on First Division leaders Falkirk by winning their 7th match in a row. Falkirk are still three points ahead and also have a match in hand.

England 40 Scotland 9

There have been memorable occasions in the past when Scotland has thwarted England in reaching a "Grand Slam" - winning all the internationals in the Six Nations (or Five Nations before Italy entered the tournament) rugby championship. But this was not one of them. Indeed, Scotland's rugby squad have not won at Twickenham in England for 20 years. Scotland hung on grimly in the first half, managing to reach half-time only down by 16-9. But in the second half England showed the class which has made them dominant this season and the game finished with England scoring four tries, four conversions and four penalties against Scotland's mere three penalties. Only Ireland now stand in the way of England gaining a Grand Slam.

Rangers Win CIS Cup Final

Despite losing to Celtic eight days previously, Rangers raised their game - and had a fair share of lucky breaks - to win this exciting CIS Cup Final at Hampden Park. Goals by Claudio Caniggia and Peter Lovenkrands in the first 45 minutes seemed to settle the match, although Celtic kept pressing. In the second half, Henrik Larsson showed that he was fully recovered from his recent injury by heading the ball into the net in the 57th minute. Celtic had a goal by John Hartson disallowed as offside (TV replays showed he was not offside) and were then reduced to ten men in the 85th minute after Neil Lennon had a second yellow card offence. Then at the end of 90 minutes and with five minutes injury time remaining, Celtic were awarded a penalty. John Hartson is normally deadly but on this occasion, as the goalkeper dived the wrong way, he sent the ball wide of the goal. Celtic's gloom was further deepened with Chris Sutton suffering a broken wrist which will see him out of the game for six weeks.

Celtic Triumph Over Liverpool

Celtic rejoined the elite of European football again this week by convincingly defeating Liverpool 2-0 and qualifying for the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. Alan Thompson scored the opening goal just before half-time and John Hartson confirmed the victory with a second goal in the 81st minute. Liverpool fought hard to avoid defeat and the Celtic defence and goalkeeper Rab Douglas were as important as those who scored the goals in achieving the final result. It is the first time for 29 years that Celtic have reached a European semi-final. Celtic now play Portuguese club Boavista in the semi-finals. The first leg, at Celtic Park, takes place on 10 April and the return match is on 24 April.

Celtic's Winning Run Helps Scotland in Europe

The success of Celtic in the UEFA Cup has ensured that next season's Scottish champions will gain automatic entry to the group stages of the Champions League for the first time. And if Celtic go on to win the UEFA Cup it will advance Scotland to 8th position in the European table for club football and would mean that Scotland would have six teams in European competitions next season.

Torrance Collects Another Medal

Scottish golfing legend Sam Torrance was at Buckingham Palace this week to be presented with his OBE by the Queen. The award was in particular recognition of his captaincy of the Ryder Cup team which beat the US at the Belfry last September. The OBE (Officer of the British Empire) was a "promotion" as Sam already has the MBE (Member of the British Empire) medal.