Scotland to Stub Out Smoking
Prior to the announcement this week by the Scottish Executive on their legislation to curb smoking in public buildings, there had been concerns amongst the anti-smoking lobby that the proposals would allow smoking to continue in bars and private clubs Instead, it was decided that a comprehensive ban on smoking in all enclosed public places in Scotland would be a clear signal, easier to enforce and simpler to understand than other options that would fall short of that. The only exceptions will be care homes for the elderly and psychiatric hospitals. Private houses are also exempt, even when a cleaner or home help is employed. Licensees of bars or employers who fail to enforce the law will face fines up to a maximum of £2,500 and owners of licensed premises who persistently refuse to comply with the law will face the ultimate sanction of losing their liquor licence. Individuals who persistently break the law will face a maximum fine of £1,000. It is estimated that smoking causes the premature death of around 13,000 Scots each year, with 1,000 of these resulting from passive smoking. And every year, 35,000 Scots are treated for smoking-related diseases.

Smoking Ban Derails Train Company Plans
Rail company GNER is in the middle of a major rebuilding of its fleet of long-distance trains. The company was introducing floor to ceiling partitions and smoking compartments with extractor fans to suck out the fug. Although in theory smokers could puff away while the trains were in England, as long as the cigarettes were extinguished once they crossed the border between the two countries, the Scottish Executive's ban will result in GNER abandoning smoking compartments entirely. Ten out of their thirty electric trains already have the new smoking compartments along with wireless internet access, power sockets and extra legroom.

Surprise Resignation of Scottish Socialist Leader
Tommy Sheridan, the charismatic, firebrand leader of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), shocked everyone by suddenly announcing on Wednesday that he was standing down as convenor of the party. He says he will continue as a Member of the Scottish Parliament but will no longer be the leading spokesperson. He has been leader of the SSP since it was formed in 1999. Although mocked by his opponents for his permanent sun-tan, Sheridan has been an astute politician who has led his party to win six seats at the last elections for the Scottish Parliament. Support for the policies of achieving an "independent socialist republic" in Scotland has grown over the years as his undoubted communication skills have converted disaffected former Labour voters. However, the SSP is often seen as a "one man party" despite the additional MSPs voted in as a result of the proportional representation system. Sheridan quoted "personal reasons" for the shock resignation, citing the his wife Gail (an air hostess) who is expecting their first child in six months and that he aims to be a "socialist dad" who spends more time at home. Almost inevitably, he was forced to deny that the resignation was due to any as yet unpublished "scandal". Opposition politicians greeted the announcement with great pleasure but political journalists are full of gloom as Tommy Sheridan was one of the real "characters" in the Scottish Parliament.

Voters Unconvinced by Devolution
A survey by the National Centre for Social Research suggests that only 30% of Scots feel that a Scottish Parliament has improved the government of the country. The majority of those responding to the poll felt that devolution had just not made any difference and only a minority of voters believe that the Scottish Executive has been responsible for improvements in key areas such as health and education.

National Bird for Scotland Recommended
The public petitions committee of Members of the Scottish Parliament has recommended to the Scottish Executive that a national bird for Scotland should be named. The most likely candidate, if one is selected, is the golden eagle, though some MSPs suggested that one which was less aggressive should be chosen. Other birds which have been put forward include the capercaillie, gannet, osprey, puffin and red grouse.

Edinburgh Airport Rail Link
Proposals for a new rail link connecting Edinburgh airport to the rest of the Scottish network were announced this week by the Scottish Executive. The plans for the "Edinburgh Airport Rail Link" (EARL) envisage a tunnel under the runway offering direct rail travel from the airport to Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Stirling, and south to Newcastle. It is estimated that the new airport station will be operational by the end of 2010 and cost £500 million. It is the largest rail project in Scotland and, together with the proposed Glasgow airport rail link (estimated to cost £140 million), will provide 21st century travel for many air passengers. For more details, see www.earlproject.com

Demolition for Landmark Edinburgh Stores
It is likely that Bhs and Marks & Spencer stores at the east end of Edinburgh's world-famous Princes Street are to be demolished in the biggest face-lift on the street since the blight of "modern" shops was inflicted on the capital's most prestigious retail properties in the 1960s. A new multi-million-pound development, which will stretch right back to Rose Street, is being discussed. This will create the sort of large, department store shop units which major retailers now demand. Luxury flats on the upper floors overlooking Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle are also thought to be a possibility. The Capital’s most famous street has enjoyed prime status as the most expensive street outside London to rent shop space for many years, but now locations in Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester can now command higher rents. It was realised, too late, that the architectural quality of the street suffered in the post-war years and it will take a lot of effort to return it to the grandeur it once enjoyed.

Fall in Number of Primary School Pupils
Figures published this week by the Scottish Executive illustrate clearly the demographic shift in Scotland's population. They show the number of pupils attending primary schools (age 5-11) shrinking by 7,700 in one year, to 397,853. Projections suggest that the numbers will continue to fall, reaching 350,000 over the next ten years. Rural areas have seen the biggest reductions - Dumfries & Galloway fell by 9.1% between 2003 and 2004 and Argyll & Bute by 9.5% (the illustration shows Luss Primary School, Argyll). The Orkneys had the biggest percentage fall of 9.7%. Although the primary school roll in Glasgow only fell by 4.4%, that meant nearly 2,000 fewer pupils. Inevitably, the falling number of pupils will lead to the closure of more schools.

Indian Summer for Glasgow Tourist Board
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board have reported that visitors to Glasgow and the west of Scotland continued to arrive in record numbers in September and October. 75% of hotel rooms were full in October alone, compared with 69% in the same month of last year, despite the continued growth in the number of rooms available. Major internet booking services account for much of the increase as independent travellers browse around before making a reservation. The Tourist Board structure is being abandoned and the national tourist agency VisitScotland will play a bigger role which will not be restricted to each of the old tourist board areas. For example, VisitScotland will be able to offer packages combining a trip to Glasgow, a trip to Loch Lomond or Edinburgh.

Scotland's Fastest Growing Airport
Even though three of the four main airports in Scotland are owned by the one company (British Airport Authority), there is always a sense of competition between them to see which one is growing fastest. Prestwick (the one independent air terminal) sometimes can claim the title of "fastest growing" because its percentage increase (from a very small base) can be mathematically the largest. But in real terms, it has often been Edinburgh which has outshone everywhere else. However, in October passenger numbers at Glasgow shot up by 8.4% to 858,275, beating Edinburgh's healthy 7.1% into second place. The budget airline Flyglobespan, with holiday flights to the Mediterranean and other European resorts, has been a major factor as well as Emirates to Dubai, US Airways to Philadelphia. Czech airlines started a Glasgow to Prague service this month and that will help to boost traffic volumes too. Prestwick Airport also enjoyed its biggest ever October, with more than 201,000 passengers - up 2.8% on the same month last year. The illustration here is of an Emirates Airbus A300 heading in to land at Glasgow Airport.

Clydesdale Bank Profits Decline Again
A recent poll by the Forum of Private Businesses may have described the Clydesdale Bank as "the UK's most improved bank" but like its parent company, the National Australian Bank, Clydesdale has seen its profits slump again according to its annual report. Rising costs and falling income - a disease which has not affected rivals Royal Bank, Bank of Scotland or Lloyds TSB Scotland - were cited as the cause. The key cost-income ratio worsened from 52.8% in the previous year to 63.5% in the recent financial year. Clydesdale's chief executive, David Thorburn, claims that the profits slide has "bottomed out" and that the directors expect to see an improved trading position in the current financial year.

Scots Singleton Men Outnumber Women
You would think that with the publicity surrounding the fictional life of Bridget Jones and her diary, single women living on their own were common-place and that they would outnumber single men in a similar situation. But recent research has shown that men are twice as likely as women to live alone in Scotland. Indeed, at 17.9%, there are more Scots singleton men than in England, where the figure is 15%. There is a growing number of young professionals aged between 25 and 44 who choose to live on their own, cooking themselves microwave meals and downing a glass or three of Chardonnay and watching sport on TV. The reason is not just enjoying the freedom, but the lack of a role model from parents, since 45% of marriages end in separation or divorce these days.

Calling Time on 24-Hour Supermarkets
The UK's leading supermarket has decided to stop 24-hour opening in many of its outlets due to "minimal" use by customers. Tesco had opened 287 of its UK stores around the clock in the mid-1990s. But with the aisles empty - apart from staff restocking the shelves - the retail giant is closing many of these at midnight instead. Stores at Greenock, Ayr, Milngavie and Argyle Street in the centre of Glasgow have all curtailed their hours, but the superstore at St Rollox in Springburn will continue on 24/7 trading. Tesco employs 20,000 staff in its 84 Scottish stores, but the change in hours will not affect staff numbers.

Ferry Company in Stormy Waters
Caledonian MacBrayne, known affectionately as Calmac, have created a storm with their latest advertising brochure. They have used the names and photographs of famous celebrities such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Pierce Brosnan and many other glitterati who have used the Calmac service. But none have granted permission and, probably more to the point, without payment. The brochure includes "articles" which are purported to have been written by the celebrities and many are none too pleased. Richard Wilson, famous for his irascible character Victor Meldrew with his catch-phrase "I do not believe it" called on Calmac to make amends and at least make a donation to the Scottish Community Drama Association (of which he is honorary president). Scots actor Bill Paterson not only doesn't endorse Calmac, he complains about the high fares they charge. The quotes in the Calmac brochure come from a book "A Sense of Belonging to Scotland: The Favourite Places of Scottish Personalities." While the Calmac brochure acknowledge the Mercat Press as the source, no contact was made to see if the celebrities would agree to the extended use of their quotes. 150 high-profile celebrities attended Stella McCartney's wedding at Mount Stuart on Bute last year - and those who didn't hire a private helicopter arrived by the Calmac ferry. Calmac claim the brochure had been produced by an outside agency and that they had presumed that permission had been requested.

Catamarans to Create a River City?
A report which was commissioned by the Scottish Enterprise agency, suggests that a ferry service using high-speed, low-wake catamaran ferries could transform the river Clyde into a bustling artery with vessels running every 20 minutes between ten locations from Glasgow city centre via Pacific Quay, Glasgow Harbour, Braehead Shopping Centre and Clydebank to Erskine, covering ten miles of the river. The report by Professor Alfred Baird, the head of the maritime research unit at Napier University, says that it could eventually attract nearly a million passengers a year. Of course, the idea of a catamaran ferry service on the Clyde is not new - in March 2002 Clydefast.com announced a new £20 million high-speed ferry service from the centre of Glasgow to Braehead, Greenock, Dunoon and Rothesay. So far, the only ferries on the Clyde are the "Pride of the Clyde", which runs between Glasgow and Braehead, providing mainly trips for tourists, plus the venerable Renfrew Ferry, which still carries passengers across the river at Yoker.

National Trust Reduces Debts

The annual report from the conservation charity National Trust for Scotland shows that it has reduced its debts from £2.5 million in 2001 to just £0.5 million this year. The cash flow crisis arose between 1999 and 2001 when visitor numbers fell by 25%. Since then, cost cutting, increasing members and visitor numbers have all contributed to the turnaround. Trust properties overall saw an increase in visitor numbers of 2.1% on the previous year, though that figure covers up the decline in paying visitors as all National Trust members enjoy free entrance (but contribute no doubt to the cash flow with purchases at cafes and shops). Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire continues to be its most popular property with 201,978 visitors - that's Culzean Castle illustrated here. Numbers at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre fell last year from 81,978 to 63,992. Crarae Garden in Argyll drew double the number of visitors compared with the previous year - its first year under Trust management.

Makeover for Historic Harbour
An international real estate company has unveiled plans for a £150 million development at the 400-year-old harbour at Bo'ness on the Firth of Forth, 16 miles west of the centre of Edinburgh. Bo'ness was at the eastern end of the Roman Antonine Wall and was at first called Borrowstounness. The proposed development will create a marina, a 100-bedroom hotel and 700 harbour-front apartments and town houses.

Tartan Mania Hits Japan - Again
The Japanese love affair with tartan was reinforced last week when the British Fair held its centenary event there and decided to make tartan the focus. The hottest property proved to be a small tartan holdall in a tartan which was created for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh in 1997 - though few Japanese customers who crowded into the Mitsukoshi department stores across Japan where they were giving away 860,000 free holdalls would care about that. The downtown Nihombashi district was brought to a standstill as tens of thousands of Japanese arrived as the store opened to get their free bag. With 75,000 holdalls in the store there seemed little need to panic about getting one - until it is realised that this one department store gets 100,000 customers a day. 4,000 of the bags had a "special promotion" containing three boxes of Walker's Shortbread and a teddy bear.

Waxwings Predict Harsh Winter
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland has revealed that thousands of Scandinavian waxwings, which breed in the forests of northern Siberia, have arrived in the Highlands and North-east Scotland. According to folklore, the plump, pink visitors which are about the size of starlings, come here in advance of harsh winters to feed on the local berries. On the other hand, although they used to be rare in Scotland, waxwings have been arriving here in increasing numbers in recent years. Last year, 700 birds were spotted in early November in the north but already the numbers have soared past the 2,000 mark. With pink and brown plumage, a prominent feathered crest and a black throat, the waxwing is one of Europe's most colourful species.

Weather in Scotland This Week
Temperatures this week were on a bit of a roller-coaster with Aberdeen recording 15C (59F) on Sunday, plunging to 8C (46F) on Wednesday, rising to 16C (61F) on Thursday before dropping back to 7C (45F) on Friday. Part of the reason was a variable wind direction and lack of cloud cover on Wednesday and Friday and again on Saturday. Although that meant low temperatures both at night and during the day, it also resulted in clear, sunny skies too. Strong winds, however, added to the cold on Friday. The outlook over the next few days is for temperatures around 9/10C (48/50F) but the return of more cloudy weather.

This week's illustrations of current flora and fauna in Scotland shows first of all the yellow spikes of Mahonia just coming into bloom in Colzium Country Park in North Lanarkshire. The Sycamore leaves were also photographed this week at Colzium while the cygnets, with their white adult feathers beginning to show, were swimming in the loch at Drumpellier Country Park, also in North Lanarkshire. The cygnets are accompanied by a coot.

Private Lives of Books
The National Library of Scotland has opened a new exhibition showing the lives of a number of selected books, such as the library's copy of the Gutenberg Bible, one of only 20 intact surviving editions from 1455. It was exported to London in the late 18th century and sold to David Steuart (sic) who brought it to Edinburgh where it was sold to the Advocate's Library - the forerunner of the National Library. The price of this now priceless book was a mere 150 guineas (no doubt a lot of money at the end of the 18th century). Many of the books have been defaced with scribbles which, with the passage of time, become as fascinating as the books themselves. Like an 18th century Latin text showing the penciled conversion of Scots merks to English pounds after the Act of Union. Then there's "A Book About Boys" which would have been pulped if it hadn't been dedicated on the fly-leaf by Robert L:ouis Stevenson to his favourite nurse. A copy of "A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland 1703" was borrowed from the Advocates Library by those famous early tourists Boswell and Johnson for their journey of 1773. It was returned with some cheeky remarks about the author being "erroneous as to many particulars." The Private Lives of Books runs to January 31 at the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

New Archive of Medal Records
The UK national Archives Web site has launched a new section covering the medal records of over five million men and women who served in the First World War in the British Army and Royal Flying Corps, including those from Commonwealth countries. Anyone who received even just one campaign medal is included. Searching the index is free but downloading an image of a medal card costs £3.50. See www.documentsonline.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Chronicle of the City of Aberdeen
A fascinating new display has been unveiled at the Aberdeen Art Gallery. The colourful exhibit is a celebration of the influences which have made Aberdeen the city it is today, and highlights many of the businesses and organisations which have helped build its outstanding national and international profile. The portable display labours under the title of "The History and Economic Development Chronicle of the City of Aberdeen". It portrays the history of the City of Aberdeen, and how it has developed from eighth century fishing settlement to thriving, global energy centre. It focuses on themes such as education, industry and, in particular, the developing energy sector. The display can be seen at Aberdeen Art Gallery until November 24, after which it will go on show at other council venues, before being made available for loan to companies and organisations in the city.

Next Week in History

• November 14 1770 - James Bruce discovered the source of the Blue Nile, Lake Tana in north-west Ethiopia.
• November 14 1896 - Speed limit for horseless carriages was raised from 4mph (2mph in towns) to 14mph.
• November 14 1916 - Author Hector Munro died in action in France. Some of his work was written under the pseudonym "Saki".
• November 15 1715 - The "Glasgow Courant", the city's first newspaper, appeared for the first time.
• November 15 1824 - Edinburgh's Great Fire began - and lasted until 17th November. It destroyed the High Street, Parliament Square and the Tron Kirk.
• November 15 1873 - Statue to Greyfriar's Bobby, who stayed by his master's grave for 14 years was unveiled.
• November 16 1891 - Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show opened in the East End Exhibition Buildings, Duke Street, Glasgow.
• November 17 1292 - John Balliol acceded to Scottish throne.
• November 17 1855 - David Livingstone reached Victoria Falls in Africa.
• November 17 1858 - Robert Owen, Welsh-Scottish industrialist and social reformer, founder of New Lanark community, died.
• November 17 1959 - Prestwick and Renfrew airports in Scotland became the first in the UK to offer duty free goods for sale.
• November 18 1785 - Sir David Wilkie who later became a well-known painter of historical and religious works as well as portraits, was born near Pitlessie, Fife.
• November 19 1600 - King Charles I born.
• November 19 1960 - "National Service" which required all fit young men to train in the armed forces, was brought to an end.

Festivals Join Forces
A new Association of Edinburgh's Festivals has been formed to act as a unified voice and lobbying group for eleven of Edinburgh's festivals. The move comes as other towns and cities in the UK gear up with their own arts events, providing yet more competition in a crowded market. Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester are launching major new arts festivals. Representatives from the organisations in Edinburgh plan to meet every two months, but are also working towards setting up a permanent office.

1500 Tonnes of Snow for Xscape
Further details of the plans for the £60 million Xscape leisure complex were released this week. Scotland's first indoor ski slope will have over 1500 tonnes of real snow on a 120 ski slope, climbing walls, an aerial assault course, a multiplex cinema, a 24-lane 10-pin bowling alley, shops and bars on a site overlooking the river Clyde and beside the Braehead Shopping centre at Renfrew. The complex is aimed at attracting over three million visitors a year from all over Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. Construction work on the site started in September and is due to open in April 2006.

Aquarium for Loch Lomond Shores?
The Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre, at Balloch on the southern end of Scotland's most famous loch, has welcomed over two million visitors since it opened in 2002. It is now one of the country's top ten tourist attractions. But its 120ft high Drumkinnon Tower has flopped financially with only 70,000 people paying to see the IMAX large screen films. Entrance to the tower and its eating facilities used to be free but now a small fee is charged which reduces still further the number of people going in. The charge at least allows visitors access to the observation deck near the top of the tower which offer magnificent views of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond. But now Scottish Enterprise Dumbarton are looking for a new private operator, hopefully one who will provide a nature-based attraction. An aquarium has been suggested, featuring local fish such as the Loch Lomond powan, a relic of the last ice age, and rays from the Firth of Clyde. The cinema will remain, but will show more nature films rather than historical films about the surrounding area.

Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results

Aberdeen 0 Hearts 1
Livingston 1 Rangers 4
Dundee United 2 Hibernian 1 (CIS Insurance Cup Quarter Final)
Dunfermline 1 Heart of Midlothian 3 (CIS Insurance Cup Quarter Final)
Livingston 0 Motherwell 5 (CIS Insurance Cup Quarter Final)
Rangers 2 Celtic 1 (CIS Insurance Cup Quarter Final)

Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - 13 November 2004

Aberdeen 2 Dunfermline 1
Dundee United 1 Livingston 0
Kilmarnock 1 Heart of Midlothian 1
Hibernian v Rangers will be played on Sunday.

Scottish First Division Results - 13 November 2004

Airdrie United 3 Clyde 1
Hamilton 1 Queen of the South 0
Partick Thistle 0 St Mirren 3
Raith Rovers 0 Falkirk 2
St Johnstone 1 Ross County 1

BT Scotland Rugby Division 1 Results - 13 November 2004

Watsonians 14 Aberdeen 39
All other Division 1 matches are being played on Sunday.

League Tables - 13 November 2004
Celtic are still out in front of the Scottish Premier League with 37 points from 14 games, followed by Rangers with 30 points, but from 13 games. The gap between the two teams could change dramatically next Saturday - when the two teams play one another at Ibrox. Aberdeen lost third position to Hearts after losing to the Edinburgh club last Sunday but regained third from the top when Hearts could only manage a draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday. At the foot of the SPL, Livingston are now two points behind Dundee United.

In the First Division, Falkirk are out in front, 2 points ahead of Clyde with St Mirren a further point adrift. At the foot of the table, Raith Rovers languish 9 points behind Hamilton.

With only one Rugby Division 1 match today there is no change at the top or bottom of that table.

CIS Insurance Cup
Rangers came from behind to win by 2-1 in their CIS Insurance Cup Quarter Final match against rivals Celtic - ending a seven-game run of wins by Celtic. The last time Rangers beat Celtic was in March 2003 - in the final of the same competition. Motherwell now find themselves in their first CIS Insurance Cup semi-finals in 17 years. Hearts and Dundee United are also through to the semi-finals. John Robertson, the new Hearts head coach, was a substitute in the Tynecastle team who won the Tennent’s Scottish Cup in 1998. The draw for the semi-final (which take place next February) was made on Saturday - Rangers play Dundee United, while Motherwell take on Hearts.

Scotland at All-time Low in World Rankings
The task facing the new manager of the Scotland football (soccer) team, whoever he may be, was put into focus this week as the latest FIFA rankings showed that the national side had slumped by nine places from last month to joint 77th (beside Congo Democratic Republic) and below such renowned footballing nations as Libya, Qatar, Latvia, Estonia and Angola. When Berti Vogts took over in 2002, Scotland were placed 50th.

New Football Hall of Fame Inaugurated
20 of Scotland's most famous footballers were named as the initial inductees of a new hall of fame at the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park Stadium this week. They had been selected by thousands of fans who voted for the top stars in the game and a final selection by a panel of experts from the media and football world. Denis Law and Graeme Souness (who are on the list themselves) fronted the media event at which the names were announced. The list in full was - Jim Baxter; Billy Bremner; Sir Matt Busby; Kenny Dalglish (pictured here); Sir Alex Ferguson; Patsy Gallagher; John Greig; Jimmy Johnstone; Denis Law; Dave Mackay; Danny McGrain; Jimmy McGrory; Billy McNeill; Willie Miller; Bobby Murdoch; Bill Shankly; Gordon Smith; Graeme Souness; Jock Stein; Willie Woodburn. The Scottish Football Museum decided to launch their own Hall of Fame as one set up by the Scottish Football Association is restricted to players who have appeared at least 50 times for Scotland.

Bank of Scotland Premierleague Manager of the Month
John Robertson, the new manager of Heart of Midlothian, was awarded the Bank of Scotland Premierleague Manager of the Month trophy for October this week - for his performance as manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Robertson won the First Division Manager of the Year trophy last season after leading the Inverness club to promotion to the SPL.

Scotland 100 Japan 8
Scotland scored a try after only 90 seconds in this international rugby match, played at McDiarmid Park in Perth, home of football Division 1 side St Johnstone. Japan, despite their inexperience, struck back with a try of their own a few minutes later but after that the traffic was nearly all one way after that, with the Scots recording their highest-ever score in international rugby and the first time they have reached 100 points. The Scots will not find it so easy next Saturday when they play Australia again, this time at Hampden Park in Glasgow. At the end of the month, Scotland play South Africa, this time back at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Scrum in the Square
Scottish Rugby are calling on all rugby fans to help them set a new world record, in aid of the BBC's Children in Need campaign, that will need more than just dedication to complete. They are hoping to break the world record for the longest continuous game of rugby played if enough people take part in the game for at least 24 hours to break the current record. George Square in the centre of Glasgow will be transformed into a rugby arena to host "Scrum in the Square", a continuous 5-a-side tag rugby game for 24 hours from midday on Wednesday 17th November. The record attempt is open to anyone and everyone and this is their chance to be a part of history while raising money for charity. Scottish Rugby is urging anyone who wants to take part to come along and 'Pay to Play'. As the game is going on for 24 hours, so whether it's an office worker, a school kid or someone finishing nightshift, they can all come down to George Square to do their bit.