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.Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in the Archive> and the Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here>.
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.
Current Affairs
Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
Entertainment
Sport
There is little change in the First Division, with only one match played this week.Gretna top the table, 9 points ahead of St Johnstone while Queen of the South trail at the foot, 4 points adrift from Airdrie.
In the Second Division table, Greenock are not only 7 points ahead of Stirling, they have a game in hand as well. There is a similar margin of 7 points between Forfar, at the foot of the Second Division, and Stranraer.
Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Viva Glas-Vegas
Glasgow's bid to be the location of Britain's first "super-casino" became a busted flush this week when the Casino Advisory Panel (Cap) recommended Manchester be awarded the regional casino licence. The super casino is expected to bring with it an investment of over £250 million and 2,700 direct and indirect jobs. Glasgow was in second place so comments from the panel chairman that there was a "lack of support from the Scottish Executive" for the bid were seized upon as making all the difference. The government in Edinburgh had said it was "up to local councils to decide what was best" and failed to back any bids. There were others who were unconvinced about the economic benefits and were concerned about the problems of gambling addiction. Not that Glasgow lacks casino facilities. While missing out on the super-size casino, there will be eight such venues in the city by the end of this year. That total includes new ones opening soon, such as the Corinthian, in a lavishly Italianate style 19th century building which used to be a bank and was later used as a sheriff court. And a ninth casino is scheduled to open in 2009 as part of a £100 million redevelopment of the St Enoch Shopping Centre. So Glaswegians - and visitors - will not lack choice if they want to have a flutter. The only successful Scottish bid granted this week by the Casino Advisory Panel was from the Dumfries and Galloway town of Stranraer - which has been recommended for a "small scale" licence. The hope here is that the small seaside town will become another "Atlantic City" with the casino linked to a major marina development.
Ferry Tendering Process in Disarray
25 ferry services on the Firth of Clyde and to the Western Isles were put out to competitive tender last year. The exercise was said by the Scottish Executive to be a requirement of European Union rules, since the routes are subsidised by £25.9 million of taxpayers' money and the services are provided by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) a wholly-owned government agency. But now it has emerged that V Ships, the only private company left in the bidding process, has withdrawn, leaving CalMac as the sole remaining bidder. Isle of Man based V Ships is one of the world's biggest ship management companies, servicing a fleet of more than 600 vessels and employing over 22,000 staff in 26 countries. But the company says that the tender details are too restrictive to allow them to provide more efficient services on the routes. Opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament variously described the situation a "fiasco" and "gross administrative incompetence". The tendering process and internal restructuring at CalMac have cost the company (and, ultimately, the taxpayer) tens of millions of pounds.
The illustration shows the CalMac Ferry "Lord of the Isles" leaving Oban.
University to Shed 250 Jobs
It used to be that a job in a university was for life, but those days are long gone, with short term contracts and frequent cost-cutting exercises so that the books can balance. So there was perhaps no great surprise this week when Strathclyde University in Glasgow announced that it was planning to shed 250 jobs over the next three years so that it can fund higher salaries agreed at national level, pensions and fuel bills. It is hoped that the cuts can be achieved through "voluntary" redundancies and natural wastage. The university has generated a surplus in nine out of the last ten years but there is a £250 million capital investment programme to replace old buildings.
Airline Strike Called Off
After marathon negotiations between British Airways (BA) and unions, the 48-hour strike by cabin staff scheduled for this week was called off, only hours before it was due to begin. The airline had earlier cancelled 1,300 flights and many passengers who had a choice moved to other airlines. So although most flights were re-instated, they were flying largely empty. But that meant that last minute passengers booking flights picked up some tremendous bargains as the airline tried desperately to fill the seats with cut-price offers. And the bargains are continuing over the next few weeks as the airline fights to win back customers. The dispute had centred around pay but was largely about a new regime on sickness pay which was introduced 18 months ago. This had reduced high levels of absence due to illness from 22 days per staff member to 12 days, but it was argued that it resulted in some cabin crew flying even when they were really ill.
Airline Passenger Duty Doubles
There was some confusion at airports this week when the rate of tax paid by airline passengers doubled. The hike was only announced by the UK government last December and many passengers who had bought their tickets before then were upset that they could not fly unless they paid the extra charge. The levy is supposed to discourage people from flying and contributing to carbon emissions and global warming. On short haul economy flights in Europe the charge is £10, which is unlikely to discourage many since overall ticket prices have been kept low by budget airlines. Business and first class long-haul passengers are being charged £80. That might encourage a few cost-conscious companies to cut back. But travellers from Scotland having to fly to London for onward connections abroad are being charged the tax twice-over. Yet another reason for more direct air services from Scotland.
Subway Passengers Walk Through Tunnel
Terrified passengers on the Glasgow Subway system were forced to walk half-a-mile through a darkened tunnel on Wednesday when their underground train broke down. 90 commuters, including children, were alarmed when the train stopped, the lights went out - and smoke started to come into the carriages. After ten minutes of wondering what was going on, they then had to walk to Partick Station, with lighting provided by a few torches. When they got to the station, there were no subway staff to meet them - just a ladder to clamber up onto the platform. Fortunately, there were no elderly or disabled travellers who would have found the climb impossible. The passengers were then left to their own devices to try to complete their journey, with the underground service out of action for another 90 minutes. The operators, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (try not to laugh at their marketing name) issued an apology later, through the media.
Forged Banknotes "Flood" Edinburgh
Police have arrested three people in connection with a spate of fake banknotes which have appeared in shops in Edinburgh and surrounding area. Those arrested are probably just laundering the notes and the forgers who produce them have not (yet) been tracked down. The police have a commendable record of tracing those responsible for counterfeiting Scottish banknotes. The ones being circulated just now are said to be "good quality" though the colours are reported to be slightly lighter than genuine notes. Forgers often have difficulties in producing variable serial numbers and that is the case here - Bank of Scotland fake £20 notes, all with the serial number DK312544, have been turning up. Other notes involved are Royal Bank of Scotland £20 notes. Staff at the bank claimed that they had not received reports of an influx of counterfeit notes.
Aberdeen Harbour Booms
Despite a decrease in the number of fishing boats, Aberdeen Harbour recorded the largest ever tonnage of cargo through the port last year. The facility handled over five million tonnes of freight for the first time and although the number of ships berthing there only grew slightly, the total tonnage went up by nearly two million gross tonnes to 23.46 million, reflecting the larger vessels now using the port. Of course, a major element of the freight traffic related to the offshore oil industry, both in the North Sea and also abroad, particularly West Africa. Timber exports also began to flow through Aberdeen for the first time.
Universities Create Life Sciences Alliance
The universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Dundee and St Andrews are to pool their biology and life sciences research in an effort to compete in the global marketplace. The six universities and the Scottish Funding Council are setting up a £77 million project with 18 research posts and 24 support jobs to strengthen an area that is already one of the jewels in Scotland's research crown. The work is key to the health and wealth of Scotland through discoveries and the critical mass of excellence they can offer to commercial companies.
Sale of Shopping Centre "A Vote of Confidence"
The sale of Dundee's flagship Wellgate shopping centre for over £80 million is being described as a "major vote of confidence". Its previous owners carried out a major refurbishment after they purchased it in 2003 and there is outline planning consent for a 50,000 square foot extension. So there is plenty of potential for even more improvements.
Monster Water Supply
You might think that with all the rain we've been having, there would never be a problem with water supplies. However, the expanding population in and around Inverness has prompted Scottish Water to look at ways of increasing the quantity available to domestic and industrial users. In recent times, the lack of water supplies and sewerage infrastructure has forced Highland Council to refuse planning permission for a number of developments. Current proposals suggest the area's population will increase by another 30,000 in the next three decades. One solution, revealed by the government agency this week, is to tap into the water in Loch Ness. Better known for that famous monster which people claim to see from time to time. the loch is the second largest inland area of water in Scotland and is also the second deepest. That combination makes it the largest loch by volume and it could supply 100,000 homes if a pumping station and a pipeline were constructed. The surprise is perhaps that the resource has not been used before - only 150 houses in the Invermoriston area get their water from the loch.
Relaunch of Gourock Ferry Terminal Upgrade
A major revamp of the ferry terminal and railway station at Gourock on the Firth of Clyde, which was proposed six years ago, had to be postponed due to a funding gap at the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. Now the agency has at last managed to put together a funding package which will include an interchange for bus, rail and ferry services as well as a 100-bed hotel, new homes and space for business and leisure. The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service to Dunoon runs from the current facilities. It is hoped that the plans will breath much needed life into the Inverclyde town.
Record Investment in North Sea Oil
Every time the Chancellor of the Exchequer raises taxes on oil producers in the North Sea (a not infrequent occurrence) there are dire predictions of the companies moving investment away to where they can get better returns and a more stable tax regime - West Africa perhaps? But as another round of licences for exploring another 246 blocks of the waters off Scotland's shores was launched this week, the government was able to report (with just a touch of smug satisfaction) that investment in the North Sea continues to attract record levels of investment. The investment is paying off too - there were more oil and gas discoveries in 2006 than in the previous five years. The oil industry calculates that it has invested £340 billion in exploration, development and production since oil was first discovered there in the early 1960s. With potentially over 20 billion barrels of oil and gas still available under the sea, it is estimated that a similar amount could be spent before the supplies are exhausted.
Famous Grouse Cookery and Whisky School
Scotland's oldest distillery at Glenturret, near Crieff in Perthshire, is the most visited distillery in Scotland. But it is not resting on its laurels. It has undergone another makeover and a new Cookery and Whisky School is being launched later this month. Award-winning chef Steven Craik will run the one-day cookery school and the manager of Glenturret will be providing an insight into the production of the distillery at the Whisky School. In addition, a new "Malt Experience" has been developed to showcase the Famous Grouse Malt Whisky range. It will provide an opportunity to see behind the scenes at the distillery and view areas of the distillery normally closed to the public. More details at thefamousgrouseexperience.com.
Pod of Killer Whales in Firth of Forth
A pod of killer whales, numbering up to nine of the impressive creatures, has been spotted in the Firth of Forth, attracted by grey seal pups in the area. Previously, they have been seen further out in the North Sea, but this is the first time they have been reported so far into inshore waters. The sightings will be further ammunition for those who want to stop plans for ship to ship transfer of oil in these waters.
Ugly Duckling to Flying Swan
The Clydebank Shopping Centre was a major attraction for miles around when it opened 25 years ago, bringing in customers not just from West and East Dunbartonshire, but neighbouring Glasgow as well. But it has been overtaken by larger and more modern shopping experiences such as Braehead and Glasgow Fort, quite apart from new shopping malls in the centre of Glasgow itself. Efforts have been made over the years to upgrade the facilities, but one eyesore has always been a basic metal-latticed frame bridge over the Forth and Clyde Canal. Now the unsightly ugly duckling is to be covered with two cantilever wingspans which look like a swan in flight. This was the winner of a design competition and was described by the chairman of the judging panel as an "inspired and iconic structure". The upgraded bridge will link Clydebank town centre with the former John Brown shipyard site which is to undergo a massive development. There will be around 2000 new houses there along the waterfront, plus the relocated Clydebank College, a new leisure centre and waterside cafes and restaurants.
Beatling Off To Sutherland
Having the best wilderness areas and stunning scenery is not enough these days for the tourist industry. There has to be a celebrity endorsement, even if it is from someone whose connection was over 40 years ago. In the case of Durness, in the far north of Scotland, the latest marketing publicity focuses on the childhood trips of Beatle John Lennon and his return to the area with his wife Yoko Ono and his own children. There is even a memorial commemorating Lennon's time in the area, which was unveiled in 2002. A book about Lennon's links with the most north-westerly village on mainland Britain is also being published later this month. Lennon crashed his car on one of the narrow roads and needed 17 stitches to his face. On his return to London, the Beatle star said: "If you're going to have a car crash, try to arrange for it to happen in the Highlands. The hospital there was just great." Quite an endorsement...
Customer Gets 75,000 Bank Statements
When 22-year-old Stephanie McLaughlan asked for a routine bank statement from Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS), she expected the usual one or two pages of computer print-out. Instead, five large packages, each containing 500 sheets of customers' names, sort codes and account details for 75,000 other customers were dumped on her doorstep. HBOS has apologised and is "carrying out an investigation into the serious - but isolated - incident." Breaking customer confidentiality is considered a serious affair - at least it was in the "old days". As for Stephanie, her confidence in the bank has been shaken and she says she is going to move to another bank. Finding a bank these days that provides good customer service is easier said than done though.
Playground Ice Slides Banned
Generations of school kids have created frozen ice slides from packed snow in the playground. Of course, global warming has reduced the opportunities for such sport and now political correctness and health and safety considerations may bring such healthy exercise to an end. A number of local authorities, concerned that little Jimmy's parents may sue if he gets hurt, have instructed schools to send out the caretaker to cover with salt or sand any that appear . It seems that the only area where kids can still get the exhilaration (and grazed knees) on a slide is East Renfrewshire, where a spokesperson said: "There are no guidelines. Our children can go and slide." Most other local authorities primly insist that they have a "duty of care" to the children.
Weather in Scotland This Week
The mild but cloudy and damp spell continued at the start of the week. Maximum daytime temperatures reached nearly 14C (57F) in Aberdeen on Thursday and other parts of Scotland were not far behind. By Friday, the cloud, showers and mist departed, producing wall to wall sunshine on Friday and Saturday. But the clear skies, particularly at night, caused a drop in temperatures, with Edinburgh and Glasgow struggling to reach a maximum of 8C (46F) on Saturday. The sunshine is forecast to continue over the next few days in central Scotland, but daytime temperatures may be as low as 2/3C (36/37F) by Wednesday.
The illustration this week shows the flower of a viburnum in Colzium Lennox Country Park near Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire.
This Week's Colour Supplement
This week's large format photographs taken in Scotland to show the current season and its flora and fauna include a sunset, Glasgow Fort, Easterhouse (see thumbnail); River Clyde at Scotstoun; panoramic view of some of the shops on Princes Street, Edinburgh; white Carrara marble statue of Sir Walter Scott; Royal Scottish Academy. See This Week's Colour Supplement.
Glencoe Story Retold
A BBC Scotland documentary to be shown on Monday attempts to shed some further light on the massacre of 38 MacDonalds in Glencoe on 13 February, 1692. Because the soldiers who carried out the atrocity were led by Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, there was a time when the crime was laid at the door of the Campbell clan. However, it was the secretary of state for Scotland, John Dalrymple, who issued the order to "fall upon the rebels the MacDonalds of Glencoe and put all to the sword under 70. You are to have special care that the old fox and his sons do upon no account escape your hands." The story of the atrocity began to circulate in Edinburgh and London and a hue and cry arose. The TV programme suggests that the circumstances of what happened came to light because Captain Campbell, while drunk, left his orders lying around for people to see - perhaps deliberately. In 1695 a commission was formed which noted that. King William had demanded that the MacDonalds be "extirpated" but this had been taken too far by the Master of Stair who was deemed to have exceeded his authority. But Stair was never brought to trial, and though he was forced to resign, soon returned to politics - and was one of the chief architects of the Act of Union in 1707.
Picture via Wikipedia.
Next Week in Scottish History
Fort William Mountain Festival
Originally just a film festival, the Fort William Mountain Festival, now in its sixth year, has grown into a celebration of everything encompassing mountain culture. Taking place from 16 February 3 March 2007, the two week festival has a packed programme of events and activities including art, photography, literature, animation, original theatre, inspirational music and distinguished guest speakers and the opportunity to learn new skills in a series of inspirational workshops. For more details, see www.mountainfestival.co.uk.
Borders Banquet
Food enthusiasts from across Scotland and the UK are being encouraged to indulge in the delights of Scottish produce at this year’s Borders Banquet. The event runs for two weeks from Saturday 3 March to Saturday 17th March and includes a programme of activity such as special themed menus at some of the Borders’ leading restaurants and hotels; special food and wine tastings; meet the chef events, tours of local food and drink producers; and special screenings of culinary themed films at two local cinemas. The events are designed to boost tourism in the region, capitalising on the growing food tourism market, where visitors want to experience local produce when dining out. With its strong agricultural sector and network of local food and drink producers, the Scottish Borders is well known for its fresh produce, particularly seafood, fruit and vegetables and its livestock. A dedicated website has been developed which will enable all participating establishments to take online bookings during the event. See www.bordersbanquet.co.uk.
New On-Line Aberdeen Events Guide
A new Web site providing details of events and entertainment in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has been launched. Local organisations are being encouraged to post their own event. Users can search by themes, area and venue on a diverse range of activities. The on-line information is also to be made available via a network of iKiosks across the city. See www.creativeculturescotland.co.uk.
Death of Opera Composer Menotti
Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti came to the Edinburgh Festival many times in its early years and decided in the 1970s to move from New York to Scotland. He fell in love with Yester House, a Robert Adam mansion in Gifford, just outside of Edinburgh and eventually bought the house. "Italy created me, America nourished me and Scotland will bury me." he once remarked with great pride. In 1958 he founded the Spoletto Festival in Italy and continued to mastermind it even when he was over 90. He wrote over 20 full-length operas and his "Amahl and the Night Visitors" is regularly shown in US schedules during the Christmas season. His talent was often overlooked in Scotland (and the UK, for that matter) although one of his Pulitzer-winning works, The Saint of Bleecker Street, was staged last year by Edinburgh Grand Opera. Menotti passed away this week at the age of 95. For more on this Italian-born American composer who fell in love with Scotland, see Scotland in Italy which was written at the time of his 90th birthday.
Saga is Now Smooth
Radio station Saga fm is being re-branded as Smooth Radio from the middle of next month. The station broadcasts programmes from Dennistoun in Glasgow focusing on "golden oldies" music for older listeners. It was taken over by a company that already runs two Smooth fm stations in London and the North West of England.
Return Visit to Sarasota Highland Games
Popular Scottish singer Moira Kerr has been asked to make a return visit to the Sarasota Highland Games in Florida, USA. The games are held at Venice Municipal Airport Grounds, Venice, Florida and are organised by the Scottish Heritage Society of Sarasota. In the week before the US trip, Moira is taking part in an afternoon of Scottish and Italian music at Kinfauns Castle near Perth. This is a charity event in aid of "Wells Across Africa" and in addition to the music, there will be fine food and champagne, all in the fantastic setting of the baronial Kinfauns castle with its turrets and impressive parkland setting. For both events, see www.moirakerr.com/tour.htm.
Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Celtic 2
Kilmarnock 3 Falkirk 0 (CIS Cup Semi-Final)
St Johnstone 1 Hibernian 3 (After extra time - CIS Cup Semi-Final)Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - 3 February 2007
Scottish Cup matches on Saturday mean that there are no SPL games (and a limited fixture list in the First Division).
Scottish Football League First Division Results - 3 February 2007
Airdrie 0 Dundee 3
Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 3 February 2007
Brechin City 2 Ayr United 0
Raith Rovers 3 Alloa 0
Stirling 2 Peterhead 1Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 3 February 2007
Elgin 2 Berwick Rangers 1
Montrose 4 East Stirling 0
Queens Park 1 East Fife 1
Stenhousemuir 1 Arbroath 2Scottish Cup - Fourth Round
Deveronvale 0 Partick Thistle 1
Dunfermline 1 Heart of Midlothian 0
Falkirk 0 St Johnstone 3
Hibernian 3 Gretna 1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Dundee United 0
Motherwell 2 Greenock Morton 0
Queen of the South 2 Cowdenbeath 0
Livingston v Celtic is scheduled for Sunday.League Tables
Celtic's narrow defeat of Inverness Caledonian Thistle put the Parkhead side 19 points ahead of Rangers at the top of the SPL, with Aberdeen 4 points further back in third place. Dunfermline remain fixed to the foot of the table, with 8 fewer points than St Mirren.
While Berwick Rangers are only 4 points ahead of East Fife at the top of the Third Division table, they have two games in hand. At the other end of that league, Elgin trail East Stirling by just 3 points - but have played three games more.
Scotland Face the "Auld Enemy" Again
England may have won the last world rugby championship, but they have lost eight of their last nine internationals - including last year's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield. But the Scots have won only four out of 42 rugby internationals in London since 1911 - and the last occasion was in 1983. So Scotland's first match in the Six Nations tournament was always going to a tough one. The Scots were trailing at half time with the score 17-10 in England's favour. But in the second half a sparkling performance by Jonny Wilkinson, back in the team after a lengthy spell of injury (and not seen in an England shirt since the 2003 World Cup final), led the English team to a 42-20 victory, despite a dogged performance by the Scots.
Alex McLeish Named Scotland Coach
Nobody was surprised when Alex McLeish was unveiled as the new coach of the Scotland football (soccer) team on Monday. The vacancy had arisen when Walter Smith was enticed to return to take over as manager of Glasgow Rangers. McLeish had been Rangers manager until last year, when he was replaced by Paul le Guen (now back in France). McLeish has brought in Andy Watson and Roy Aitken as backroom staff. In his playing days, McLeish turned out 77 times for Scotland and appeared in three World Cup finals tournaments. He holds the highest UEFA coaching qualifications and brings to the post 12 years of managerial experience, including international competition at club level.
CIS Insurance Cup Semi-Finals
Steven Naismith of Kilmarnock scored his first-ever hat-trick in the comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Falkirk in the first of the two semi-final matches played this week. In the other semi-final, First Division St Johnstone gave SPL club Hibernian a much harder game. Hibs scored after the first few minutes but the Perth club fought back and Jason Scotland got an equalizer before the end of regular time. Then Hibs did it again, with a 30-yard free kick that the goalkeeper should have stopped, only minutes into extra time. Hibs made the final result secure with another goal which produced a final 3-1 result.
Uefa Cup Final
The final of the Uefa Cup is to be staged at Hampden Stadium, Glasgow on May 16 and the tickets will be much in demand when they went go on sale, with four British teams in the last 32 of the competition - with fans of Glasgow Rangers hoping that their team will be featuring in the final. The 52,045 capacity at Hampden will be split between the two teams that win through to the final, neutrals, sponsors, competition winners, the Scottish Football Association and Uefa itself. Glasgow is hoping that the event can be as successful as the Champions League Final staged in the city in 2002, when a Zinedine Zidane wonder goal won the trophy for Real Madrid. The last Uefa Cup final to be staged in Scotland was in 1987 when Dundee United lost out to Gothenburg of Sweden over the two legs played in those days. A logo for the 2007 Uefa Cup final, inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, has already been unveiled (see graphic).
ICC World Cricket League Division 1
Scotland is currently competing in Nairobi in the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 against teams from Kenya, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada and Bermuda. In the first match of the series, Scotland won a thrilling victory against Ireland. Ireland had scored 281 in a match which was the 100th between the two countries. With only three overs remaining, the Scots needed to score another 33 runs for victory - and achieved that target on the last ball, scoring 15 runs in the last over. Scotland then went on to defeat Canada by 7 runs and then Netherlands by the narrow margin of two runs. Only Kenya has won all three of their matches, but that situation will change for one of the undefeated sides on Sunday, when the two teams face one another.