The Rampant Scotland Newsletter - your weekly insight into what has been happening in Scotland, snipped from the Scottish media, for Scots in Scotland and abroad, bringing you news, events plus a Scottish magazine section. Printed with 100% recycled electrons.
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Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
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The "Magazine" section includes songs/poems of Scotland, Scottish humour and brief descriptions of Scottish Culture items added recently to the Rampant Scotland Website - with a link to the page where you can find the full feature, if you find the subject of interest to you.
Scottish regiments were well to the fore in the battles in France during both world wars and many fell in Flanders Fields. Here is a poem by a Canadian surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae during a lull in the 1915 Battle of Ypres. John McCrae's grandfather had emigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1849. The inspiration behind the poem is thought to have come from the death of one of McCrae's friends. In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow
We are the Dead. Short days ago
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
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Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Glasgow City Council is currently running a European design competition for a new iconic pedestrian bridge and public realm works to both banks of the River Clyde, linking the districts of Broomielaw and Tradeston in the centre of the city. 30 proposals have been made to the council and, from these, a short list of six designs have now been selected. Artists' impressions of the designs can be viewed at a number of locations in Glasgow and on a Web site. We are all being invited to comment and vote on the designs - though whether the council will listen to the views is another matter! The designs are certainly very different from one another, ranging from graceful arches to more solid structures which will more clearly link the two sides of the river. The names of the architects are being kept secret and the bridges have been given code names such as "Neptune's Bridge" (pictured on the right) and "People's Crossing" (see below). Whatever design is chosen, it will certainly add another fine structure to Scotland's largest city - which is not short of eye-catching architecture at the moment. You can view the design concepts for all the bridge designs at 
The Golden Jubilee Hospital, formerly the HCI private hospital at Clydebank, was bought by the National Health Service (NHS) in June last year for £37.5 million, it has one of the most advanced cardiac units in Scotland. As part of the NHS, it was initially very successful as a national resource to reduce patient waiting times. But now that Health Trusts across the country have reached the waiting time targets for cardiac surgery set by the government, they are no longer sending as many heart-surgery patients to the hi-tech facility. As a result, the hospital could have carried out 40 more operations, cutting waiting times even more. But the Health Trusts, under pressure in so many other areas, are allocating financial resources elsewhere. The Golden Jubilee Hospital is now looking at taking patients from Northern Ireland and England - a move described as "scandalous" by opposition politicians.
Plans by Edinburgh City Council to introduce road tolls on vehicles entering the city are facing yet more controversy as it appears that they are ready to cut tolls for motorists who have already paid tolls crossing the Forth Road Bridge from Fife. Edinburgh and Fife councils have been wrangling for months on this. Meanwhile, Midlothian Council have sent thousands of leaflets to their residents who live on the periphery of Edinburgh urging them to vote against the tolls which could be in place by 2005. Consideration is also being given by some local government councils outside Edinburgh taking legal action against the proposed "congestion" charges. 
The recycling of household waste by 4,000 Scottish families has been examined in detail as part of a government report. The survey shows that while better off families regularly dispose of newspapers, glass and cans at recycling centres (usually located in supermarket car parks), less affluent families do not show the same commitment. As a result, European targets for recycling are unlikely to be met. People in high rise flats or those without access to a motor car find it harder to take items for recycling. And those with larger houses and garages can often find the space to store items and take them in bulk to collection points. Those who made the greatest efforts have been found to be well educated, often with a university degree or professional qualification. On average, Scots recycle 6% of their rubbish - one of the lowest rates in Europe. Those in remoter areas such as the Highlands were even worse, with only 2%. At the other end of the scale, Austria recycles over 64% of household waste and Belgium 52%. 
Edinburgh's "New Town" which was started in the 18th century, was originally designed for wealthy citizens who wanted better accommodation than could be created in the "Old Town" down the Royal Mile and adjoining alleyways. But in the 20th century, particularly after WW2, many of the gracious houses were converted into offices for the growing number of commercial organisations moving into Scotland's capital. Now, however, the trend is in the opposite direction, with lifeless offices being changed back to elegant - and expensive - homes. 25% of the premises being sold in the New Town are being reinstated as town houses or divided into smaller units. Even basement flats in the sought-after 18th century streets, which were designed by Robert Adam, are selling for over £200,000. A basement flat in the former Caledonian Club (pictured here) in Abercromby Place recently sold for £400,000.
There were news reports this week that the Royal Bank of Scotland's US subsidiary, Citizens Financial Group, had been making overtures to the shareholders of the Philadelphia-based Sovereign Bancorp, which has a stock market valuation of $6 billion. Sovereign's management are believed to be holding out for a higher offer from the Royal Bank. It remains to be seen who blinks first or whether a compromise can be reached. The Royal has made over 20 US acquisitions in the last ten years. The Royal Bank of Scotland is now the world's fifth largest bank. In addition to the US, it has expanded into Europe where it now has two million customers.
The Blackford, Perthshire company which produces Highland Spring bottled water has produced bumper profits this year. The company is the second largest seller of bottled water and is now snapping at the heels of market leader Evian, a French company. Highland Spring is opening its fourth 24-hour bottling line next month, taking its workforce up to 300. Sales soared 28% in the last financial year and pre-tax profits nearly doubled - due, it is claimed, almost exclusively to more efficient production processes. The Iraq war produced an upturn in sales as the UK government urged consumers to stockpile water. After the BBC ran a picture of Highland Spring on their website when reporting the news item, the company did the equivalent of a month's sales in four days.
Salmon would normally have returned to their spawning grounds on the river Ericht in Perthshire by now, but exceptionally dry weather has meant that they are only heading upstream. However, the cold, fast currents have tired out the fish and when they reached a well-known salmon leap near Blairgowrie they failed to get over the weir. So conservationists and fishery organisations are mounting a rescue operation by netting the fish and carrying them further upstream in containers, carried by a fleet of vans. If they had not taken this action, the fish would all have laid their eggs in the same area and all the young salmon would have been competing for food in one small part of the river.
If architectural awards mean that hotel residents are getting a wonderful stay, customers at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow's Argyll Street must be having a wonderful time. The Glasgow designers of the striking, £45 million hotel picked up yet another award last week when they received the Architectural Award for the Best New Hotel at a ceremony in London. They have already won the Architectural Grand Prix and the Best Commercial Design at the Scottish Design Awards. But Glaswegians, who are hard to impress, have nicknamed the building the "Big Green Blob."
There has been recent comment from the companies trying to move forward with renewable energy projects that progress is too slow because of lengthy planning delays. But if the companies decide that the best locations are on the top of hills which are regarded as local beauty spots, it is hardly surprising that they meet opposition. The latest plan to come under the spotlight is to construct twenty-two, 328ft high turbines on Corlic Hill, part of the Clyde Muirsheil Regional Park. While some people may see the large, slender columns with their huge rotating blades as a thing of beauty, there are many local people who do not see it that way. In addition, Scottish Natural Heritage and British Airports Authority at Glasgow Airport have lodged objections. Airticity, the company behind the project, have increased the number of turbines and their output so that it becomes a matter for a Scottish Executive planning enquiry rather than something which can be dealt with by the local Inverclyde County Council.
The utility company ScottishPower posted a sharp improvement to profits in its half-year operating results to end-September announced this week. The company attributed the rise to its expanding wind-farm business, particularly in its United States subsidiary, which is now the second largest provider of wind power in the US. Profits in PacifiCorp rose by £48 million to £254 million, helped by US energy price increases, volume growth and cost savings. But the company warned that the UK government aim of producing 20% of power from renewable sources such as wind, waves and solar power by 2020, could lead to switching off traditional power plants too early, producing an energy gap.
The cold spell of the previous week (temperatures were around 7/8C - 45/46F - last Saturday) came to an end and by Wednesday temperatures were hovering around 14/16C (57/61F) with Kinloss on the Moray Firth reaching 19C (66F) on Friday. But winds are expected to change to a south-easterly direction over the next few days, pushing temperatures back down again. Once again, there has been only light showers although good, long spells of sunshine were only seen on Thursday and Friday.
The Bank of Scotland's Head Office building, perched over Princes Street and the gardens below, was first opened in 1806, although the Scots baroque building with its dome we see today was an extension built in the second half of the 19th century. The bank also owns the garden below, which now forms part of the larger Princes Street Gardens. Now the bank says that it is to carry out a major restoration project inside the building which will recreate its "Great Hall" which was roofed over in 1929 to create executive offices. The work will create a two-storey corporate meeting space for bank functions and an expansion of the bank's in-house museum. But all this will result in the closure of the building to customers and some observers are concerned that the role of the building as the Head Office of HBOS (created when Halifax and Bank of Scotland amalgamated) will be diminished.
The company which operates the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive had its shares suspended this week as it was plunged into a fresh financial crisis. The company's plans to build a tourist centre at Edinburgh's Waverley station have been repeatedly derailed. If a suitable alternative site cannot be found, the famous railway icon might have to be sold off to the highest bidder - an American purchaser seems the most likely. This year, the dry weather and associated fire risks have reduced the ability of the train to pull its luxury carriages on trips around the country. 
It was estimated (by somebody in the media?) that a billion people around the world saw the MTV Europe Awards in Leith on Thursday. The hope is that they were impressed by what Scotland had to offer though in reality most just wanted to see their pop idols. There was disappointments when Britney Spears had to pull out after being struck down by flu. But stars such as Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé Knowles, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Minnie Driver, Missy Elliott, Anastacia, Pink, Christina Aguilera and Scots singers Sharleen Spiteri and Shirley Manson all performed at the glittering occasion. Only 2,000 tickets went on sale to the general public last month - and sold out in under 15 minutes.
The revellers who will see in 2004 at this year's Hogmanay party in Glasgow's George Square will be entertained by the Scottish twins Craig and Charlie Reid, better known as "The Proclaimers." The duo stole the show at this summer's T in The Park pop concert at Ballado Field near Kinross and were a massive hit at Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party in 2001. Passes for the party in George Square will be on sale from 15 November. 
The public have been given a chance to have their say in the proposals to refurbish the McManus Galleries in the centre of Dundee at an exhibition which shows the plans and designs. Dundonians have been asked to offer their views on what sort of services they would like to see at the museum, the kind of projects to be staged and the level of service they expect from the gallery while it is closed for refurbishment.
When people buy tickets for the National Lottery, they not only have the opportunity to win the top prizes but also have the satisfaction of knowing that part of the cash raised by the lottery will be allocated to worthy projects. (Of course, some of the money raised from the sale of Lottery tickets goes to the government, but let's not dwell on that aspect of the system). While this has helped to produce many excellent projects (ranging in Scotland from the Glasgow Science Centre to the Falkirk Wheel and the reopening of the Forth and Clyde Canal) it has two main weaknesses. First of all, it only pays for capital projects - future revenue costs must be paid for by other means. And in the desire to get funding, project sponsors often exaggerate the income they will derive in the future. As a result, after the expenditure of significant cash, a number of projects funded by the Lottery Fund have run into financial difficulties. That seems to be the case with the Centre for Contemporary Art (originally called the Third Eye Centre) which received £10.2 million of public funds and opened two years ago. Higher than expected running costs have resulted in growing losses and a leaked report published in the newspapers suggested that the centre could close by the end of the year, unless additional funding could be found. The £7.8 million capital grant contributed towards creating the CCA was the largest single award to an arts project in Scotland. However, the CCA has denied that it is on the brink of collapse and that income had improved in recent months.
Celtic are comfortably out in front in the Scottish Premier League with 34 points from 12 games. Rangers, in second place, have only 26 points but have played one fewer game (against Kilmarnock on Sunday). Hearts are third with 20 points and they have a Sunday game also, against Aberdeen. Partick Thistle continue to struggle at the foot of the SPL with only two points from a single drawn match. Aberdeen are 5 points above them.
Playing the world rugby champions on their home ground was never going to be easy for Scotland, who just managed to qualify for the last eight in the Rugby World Cup. But the Scots battled well in the first half and went in at half time with the scores level at 9-9. Admittedly, Australia had not played at their best but they rectified that in the second half and three tries helped to put them well in the lead at 33-9. But Scotland never gave up and a last minute try and conversion by Scotland made the final score a slightly more respectable 33-16. Australia now play the All Blacks in the semi-finals.
In the usual verbal sparring before a major football match, Rangers manager Alex McLeish was reported to have said that he would not be telling his team to play for a draw but to attack and go for a win in their European Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Perhaps after only narrowly losing to United by 1-0 at Ibrox he had reason to be bullish. But Rangers got off to a bad start by conceding a goal after only six minutes. Outclassed and convincingly defeated 3-0, Rangers are now in danger of failing to reach the next stage in the competition and may have to settle for second best and a place in the UEFA Cup. The Glasgow club needs to win both of their remaining matches (in Stuttgart and at home to Greek side Panathinaikos) to survive to the later stages in the Champions League. 
Last month Celtic lost 1-0 in Belgium against Anderlecht in the first leg of their European Champions League match but they made no mistake at Parkhead on Wednesday with a magnificent 3-1 win. It was that man Larsson who opened the scoring after only 12 minutes and young Liam Miller followed up five minutes later with a well taken goal. Chris Sutton scored the third before the half-hour mark, putting the end result beyond doubt. Burly John Hartson made a major contribution, creating the chances for his teammates to score. Anderlecht did fight back and gained a soft penalty towards the end but Celtic had dominated throughout. Celtic are now second top in their group and will have renewed confidence for their next match later this month against Bayern Munich.
Even the Heart of Midlothian manager Craig Levein was pleasantly surprised when his team beat Bordeaux in the first leg of their Uefa Cup match this week. Hearts recorded one of their finest results in Europe thanks to a late goal by Mark de Vries. Credit has also to be given to the manager's tactics and a patient performance by the team as they soaked up the pressure - helped on by 3,000 supporters who travelled to France and made more noise than the home crowd. The return match in Edinburgh is in three weeks.
At the Hibernian Football Club's annual general meeting this week, the club announced a programme of capital investment, including the installation of a pitch made from artificial grass. This would allow the team to train in the ground rather than have to travel to other locations. The aim is to reduce costs and increase income so that the club can break even by 2006. The proposed move to a stadium jointly owned with Hearts was finally killed off with confirmation that Hibs plan to remain in their present ground - where they have played for 128 years.
