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
Scots Abroad
Sport
Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Priorities for Scottish Executive
First Minister Alex Salmond spelled out this week the strategic priorities for the new Scottish Government. They recognised the realities of having a minority government and the policies were those that were likely to obtain enough support for the legislation to be approved. At the top of the list was the economy, and the appointment of a Council of Economic Advisers to provide independent advice on Scotland making the most of opportunities in the global economy. Then there was a commitment to taking the lead in the 'green energy revolution' and the development of renewable technology. The aim is also to make the country "nuclear free" so any new nuclear power plants proposed by the UK government would be blocked by the Scottish Executive refusing planning permission for any sites in Scotland. However, existing nuclear power stations will continue to the end of their useful life. In a move which delighted those in the east of the country in particular, the First Minister announced the intention to abolish tolls on both the Forth and Tay bridges. The new administration is also looking unfavourably on the plan by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority for ship to ship oil transfers. Although there has been no official confirmation - yet - it looks likely that the proposed tramway system for Edinburgh and the rail link to Edinburgh airport will be blocked, saving government expenditure of over a billion pounds.
Scotland's Local Government Changes
The election earlier this month not only changed the balance of power in the Scottish Parliament, it also created an entirely new set of local government representatives. The upheaval was not just due to the changing political landscape, but also because of the new proportional voting method. Nobody really understands the "Single Transferable Vote" (STV) system, but the ballot paper allows voters to chose a number of candidates and list them in order of preference. The new arrangements meant that decades of one-party control in some areas came to an end - Labour lost control of 11 local authorities and some unlikely alliances have now been created in some locations. Half of the seats held by Labour in Edinburgh were lost to other parties and the party has lost power for the first time in 23 years, being replaced by a coalition of Scottish National Party (SNP) and Liberal Democrats. The SNP also gained power in West Lothian with the support of a Conservative councillor, ending 12 years of Labour rule. The SNP and Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) have also formed a coalition to run East Lothian Council. In Aberdeen, the Lib Dems and SNP have formed a new ruling coalition. A similar arrangement has been made in Renfrew, where the Lib Dems won 15 seats (down five), the SNP doubled to 12 and Labour lost three to 10. The unthinkable has even happened, with Labour and the Conservatives combining in an "unholy alliance" in East Dunbartonshire, even though the nationalists have the largest number of councillors. Stirling Council is the only local authority where a decision on the make-up of the administration has not yet been decided. The full results can be seen at the BBC Election Results page.
Scotland's Employment Market Strengthens
The latest Bank of Scotland Labour Market Report says that the number of permanent staff placements last month were at the fastest rate for twelve months and temporary or contract staff billings increased more strongly than at any time since the survey began, four years ago. The "barometer" of the labour market in Scotland rose to a four-month high in April and the index was above that for the UK as a whole. There are widespread skill shortages. Official data recorded a decline in the number of people claiming the jobseeker's allowance and unemployment remained at 3% in Scotland.
Jobs to Go in National Trust
The National Trust for Scotland is the guardian of over 125 sites in Scotland. The properties include mountains and battlefields as well as stately homes, palaces and castles. Scotland's largest conservation charity has faced rising maintenance and other costs and its income has not been keeping up with expenditure. As a result, it made a loss of £1.2 million last year and its accumulated deficit is around £3 million. Considering the importance of its role, that does not seem a huge sum of money. But this week the organisation confirmed that as staff costs represent half its spending each year, major job cuts were likely to achieve the required balancing of the books. The Trust employs around 500 staff and it has been suggested that between 60 and 80 of them could lose their jobs. Membership numbers have been growing in recent years and have reached 300,000. Members gain free access to all the Trust's properties - and there are reciprocal arrangements with the National Trust in England and Wales.
The illustration shows Culzean Castle, the "jewel in the crown" of the National Trust for Scotland.
Praise From Lonely Planet
The latest edition of the Lonely Planet Great Britain Guide travel guide has some high praise for Scotland's major towns and cities. Edinburgh is described as "one of the most sophisticated cities in the world" and the Royal Mile was "one of the world's most romantic streets". Maybe the reviewers didn't notice the large number of shops selling low quality souvenirs and blaring Scottish music. Glasgow is branded as "alive and kicking with a significant cultural contribution to make" and also rated as "one of the UK's premier shopping destinations". Dundee was "finally taking advantage of its superb location". Although it "still has a grim reputation in parts," Dundee was "ambitiously moving forward". Aberdeen elicited the view that "Its nickname 'The Granite City' may conjure up images of a dour, funless sort of town, but nothing could be further from the truth." The guide is enthusiastic about Plockton, on the northwest coast of Scotland - "Made famous as a location for a TV series Hamish Macbeth, this seaside village is so endearing it's almost unbelievable." It was not all praise, however. Fort William was criticised, with the reviewers saying it "can feel like a mall packed with tartan tat."
Work Starts on G1
The A-listed former head post office in Glasgow's George Square has lain derelict for a decade, with accusations that the developer was earning more from the massive advertising hoarding fronting onto the square, than they would from renovating the building. Eventually, Glasgow City Council, based in their own 19th century City Chambers on an adjacent side of the square, pressurised the owners to sell to a company that would do something with the deteriorating architectural gem. Now work has started on "G1" which will retain the frontage, gut the insides and add a glass roof extension. The architects say that the glass roof takes its inspiration from Victorian railway architecture with its glass and metal dome. Internally, 127,000 square feet of flexible accommodation will be created, with the upper floors offering exceptional views across George Square and Glasgow itself.
Troubled Waters for Norwegian Ferry
A Norwegian consortium is looking at the possibility of starting a ferry service between Kristiansund and Rosyth in Fife, with an intermediate stop at the Shetland Isles. While most of the freight would be destined for Britain, some loads could be transferred to the Superfast ferry to Zeebrugge in Belgium. But the group has expressed disappointment at the lack of support from Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland. And with the rival port of Newcastle in the north of England expressing more interest in the project, there are concerns that Scotland could lose out. Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland insist that they would need more details before they could make any progress. While the nationwide bodies are reluctant to commit to the project, the Shetland Development Trust is more nimble and has announced that it will provide £50,000 to part-fund a feasibility study.
Black Watch Veterans Gather
The famous Black Watch standard was first raised on 20 May, 1740. Over 200 veterans of recent conflicts gathered in Aberfeldy in Perthshire this week to remember colleagues who gave their lives for the regiment, proudly displaying their red hackles in their caps. Tayside and Fife were the traditional recruiting grounds for the regiment and Aberfeldy has a fine memorial to all those who gave their lives in countless conflicts over the centuries. With the parade so well attended, the Black Watch Association is now considering having an annual event at Aberfeldy to mark the anniversary of its formation.
University Expansion
Paisley University and Bell College in Hamilton are merging to form the "University of West of Scotland" on August 1. When that happens, it will become the largest university in Scotland, with 18,000 students and 2,000 staff. The institution also has a campus in Ayr, in partnership with the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive, which has 3,690 students. Now the university has announced plans to create a new £75 million campus in Ayr itself, which will increase student numbers by another 700. The site is on the Craigie Estate beside the river Ayr and the development is planned to be completed by 2010.
Decline on Prestwick Passenger
In recent years, Prestwick Airport in South Ayrshire has been able to boast that it was the fastest growing air terminal in Scotland, as passenger numbers soared, at least in percentage terms, from a low base. Boosted by budget Irish airline Ryanair using it as its Scottish hub, passenger numbers have risen along with the expansion of that airline's route network. But in April this year, Prestwick saw a drop in numbers, compared to the same month last year. Increased taxes on air travel (they doubled to £10 for short-haul flights) are being blamed for the drop, with such costs having a disproportionate impact on budget fares. International travel continued to rise and it was the domestic routes to places such as London Stansted airport that saw the biggest fall. In April this year the airport handled 203,018 passengers, a decline of 5,500 on April last year.
Squiggly Bridge Wiggles On
A detailed planning application has now been lodged for yet another crossing of the river Clyde in Glasgow. An original design for the pedestrian bridge connecting the Broomielaw to Tradeston was produced by the eminent architect Richard Rogers (who was responsible for the Millennium Dome in London and the Pompidou Centre in Paris). But when the estimated costs for his creation passed the £60 million mark, that plan was scrapped. The new bridge, reinforcing the quay wall and providing access roads will be capped at £33 million. The crossing is unusual in having a double curve, intended to create a wave-like pathway across the river. That has resulted in it being called (by the local evening newspaper, if by no-one else) the "Squiggly Bridge", following on from the "Squinty Bridge" opened last year, which crosses the river diagonally. Work on the approaches to the bridge have started already and the new crossing is expected to be open next May.
Art Sale to Save Castle
A major collection of the works of Scottish colourists went under the hammer this week to help save the historic Blairquhan Castle in Ayrshire. The castle was used as the setting for the Oscar-winning movie "The Queen". Although the building we see today was built in the 1820s, there has been a fortification there since the 14th century. The Hunter Blair collection at Blairquhan (pronounced "Blairwhan" to rhyme with the Spanish "Juan") was assembled by the late Sir James Hunter Blair, during the
1960s and early 1970s when Colourist pictures could be bought for as little as £100. The Colourists were a group of four Scottish artists who traveled frequently to France during the early years of the 20th century, where they were heavily influenced by French Post-Impressionist movements. The 20 paintings being sold are by such artists as Francis Cadell, Samuel Peploe and John Duncan Fergusson. The collection is expected to fetch over £1 million.
Full Steam Ahead for Renfrew Ferry
There have been recent rumours that the 500-year-old ferry service across the river Clyde between Renfrew and Yoker was under threat of closure and would be replaced by a footbridge. There has indeed been a surge of bridge building on the Clyde in recent years, but that has been further up river, nearer the centre of Glasgow. Now the management of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, who operate the "Renfrew Rose" and the "Yoker Swan", say that they are looking at investing in the service and refurbishing both vessels. The ships carry 150,000 passengers each year. Without the ferry crossing, travellers would have to make a five-mile trip to the Clyde Tunnel and back.
Victim of Success
You wouldn't think that the small Easter Ross town of Invergordon would have a transport problem. With a population of just over 4,000, travel chaos is not the first thing that springs to mind. But the success of the port in attracting cruise liners can cause a disproportionate increase in the number of people looking for taxis or public transport. Local people are getting angry because they sometimes can't get on the regular bus services when that happens. Last Sunday, an estimated 1,500 passengers from a cruise liner descended on the town, with many wanting to travel to places like Loch Ness. It seems that many cruise passengers were unwilling to pay for excursions organised by the tour operator because of high prices. The local bus company is usually informed in advance about the arrival of a liner and can lay on extra buses. But on this occasion, it was the first time that this particular cruise company had included Invergordon as a port of call and no notification had been passed on.
Ospreys Overcome Matrimonial Troubles
A romantic novelist would have trouble matching the ups and downs of the love triangle of ospreys this year at Loch Garten, in the Badenoch and Strathspey area of the Highlands. The rare birds have been nesting there since they returned to Scotland in the 1950s. One pair of ospreys have been returning for many years and they have produced many youngsters. But this year, the female bird (named by the rangers on the nature reserve as "EJ" due to the ring on her leg) arrived before her mate. A younger bird then muscled in and a clutch of eggs were laid. Then EJ's mate, named Henry, turned up, after his 3,000 mile journey from Africa.. He promptly chased off his rival - and then kicked the eggs out of the nest. The rangers were horrified, as each addition to the osprey population is welcomed. But all's well that ends well. EJ has incredibly laid a second clutch - an event that has been observed only once before in Scotland, 25 years ago. Meanwhile, down at the Loch of Lowes reserve in Perthshire the webcam next to one of the nests beamed CCTV pictures to the visitor centre, showing the first of this year's young breaking out of their egg last Sunday. Then, over the course of the next few days, another two eggs were successfully hatched.
Haggis Champion from Northern Ireland
Every second year, a competition has been organised to find the producer of the best haggis. This year's winner hails from Northern Ireland, though he does now run a butcher's shop in Dalbeattie in Dumfries and Galloway. When he took over that business in 2004, he "totally re-invented" the haggis recipe, making a large number of changes. The latest incarnation was submitted to this year's competition - and it won.
"Sorry for the Delay"
Anyone who has driven along roads in the countryside will have come across the long tail-backs which can be created by farm tractors trundling along at 30 mph or less on roads capable of twice that speed. Frustrated drivers often overtake when they shouldn't and accidents occur all too frequently as a result. So now the National Farmers' Union is producing stickers to be fixed to the back of farm vehicles that read "Sorry for the delay. Farm gate to dinner plate - good food comes to those who wait." Whether that will help - or just increase the blood pressure of the drivers behind, is debatable. The best solution, of course (adopted by some considerate farm workers) is for the tractor to pull off the road at convenient points to let the stream of cars behind pass by, before resuming their trundle again.
Weather in Scotland This Week
The old saying "If you don't like the Scottish weather, wait five minutes and it will change" has frequently been the case again this week. Umbrellas have been going up and down like yo-yos, to be replaced by sun glasses on some occasions. Winds have again been blustery at times and as the temperatures dropped towards the end of the week, there were even some sleet showers overnight on the mountains in the Highlands. Edinburgh did manage to reach 17C (63F) on Monday and Wednesday but the thermometer had dipped by the weekend. Glasgow only managed a daytime maximum of 12C (54F) on Saturday and the forecast for Sunday and Monday is much the same.
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 magnificent late flowering magnolia (see thumbnail); mecanopsis - the Himalayan poppy; yellow flowers of the Potentilla shrub; Davidia - the "Handkerchief Tree"; the bell-shaped flowers of Halesia - the "Snowdrop Tree"; Xerophyllum Tenax or "Bear Grass"; baby sparrow; Coot chicks. See This Week's Colour Supplement
New Life for Museum
The Hunterian Museum in Glasgow University may be overshadowed by the much larger Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on the other side of the river Kelvin. But it has nevertheless an impressive collection, which was founded 200 years ago when the pioneering teacher Dr William Hunter gave all the items he had collected over his lifetime to the university. The legacy included books, manuscripts, coins, anatomical and geological specimens including a good-sized collection of dinosaur bones, an armoury of native weapons, an array of medical specimens - and an elephant skeleton. When it opened in 1807, the Hunterian was Scotland's first public museum and it has expanded over the years, with a particular emphasis on Roman antiquities, geological specimens (the Bearsden shark is a well-known exhibit) and coins (30,000 of them, only a proportion on display at one time). The manuscripts and books (Hunter left 10,000, many from the 16th century) are now part of the University library. The museum has just completed a major revamp to mark its 200th anniversary and a number of items not previously on public display are now to be seen - including a map of the world produced for the Chinese Emperor Kangxi in 1674 and a slice of the tree under which David Livingstone's heart is buried.
Scots Guard Memorial?
Historians in Edinburgh have launched plans for the creation of a monument to mark the proud past of the Scots Guards regiment. It would stand on the Esplanade (forecourt) of Edinburgh Castle, where the unit was first garrisoned soon after its formation in 1642. Surprisingly, it would be the only monument to the unit in Scotland. An importer of granite, who once served with the regiment, has offered to turn the plans into a reality. The Scots Guards remained as a separate regiment when many other historic units were amalgamated into the Regiment of Scotland last year. The plans will require approval from Historic Scotland and Edinburgh City Council's planning board. So it may be a while before it becomes a reality...
Rethink for Clipper's Future?
It is probably too late now, but the fierce blaze that badly damaged the Cutty Sark sailing clipper on the river Thames in London, has prompted some people to question the planned destruction of Cutty Sark's sister ship SV Carrick This sailing ship plied between the UK and South Australia in the 19th century as the "City of Adelaide" but has been rotting for many years on the quayside at the Scottish Maritime Museum at Irvine. The Carrick is actually five years older than the Cutty Sark. Experts have said that to save the Carrick would mean replacing so much of the structure would mean it would become akin to a modern replica. After the fire this week on the Cutty Sark, that will almost be true of that ship too.
Next Week in Scottish History
Strathclyde Police Cop Championship
On a wet and windy Saturday afternoon, Strathclyde Police Pipe Band won the Scottish Pipe Band Championships last weekend at Dumbarton's Levengrove Park. This is the first major competition of 2007 organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. The House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead band came second. Winning the Scottish championship is sometimes an indicator for the World championship, held in Glasgow in August. The Field Marshal Montgomery band won at Dumbarton last year and went on to win the supreme event.
Most Fan Friendly Festival
Lat year, the Isle of Skye music festival was voted as "Most Fan Friendly" in the UK's Festival Awards. This year's event, which is part of the Highland 2007 Year of Culture programme, is taking place this weekend at the island's Ashaig Airstrip. The 8,000 capacity event will have Kasabian topping the bill on Friday and Primal Scream headlining the festival on Saturday. Other acts include Ash, El Presidente, Echo and the Bunnymen, Mylo, Calvin Harris and John Martyn.
Retrofest Line-Up Confirmed
Retrofest has locked the first day line-up for the UK's first 80s outdoor music festival at Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland on September 1 and 2. Bananarama, The Blockheads, Kajagoogoo, Go West, Jimmy Sommerville, Howard Jones, Tony Hadley and ABC will all be playing with The Human League headlining. The vast majority of the acts will be playing 45 minute sets with The Human League performing for around 90 minutes, giving 80s music lovers more than seven hours of prime talent. But the music doesn't stop there. As well as special guests for the main stage - who will be announced on the day - there will also be a stand alone stage and tent area for up and coming acts due to the incredible response to the Retrofest Talent Hunt. The promoters say: "Look at the line-up. If there had been outdoor festivals on during the 80s then that's the line-up you would have killed for."
Scottish Culture Around the World
The main focus of the Scottish Snippets is news items, usually about Scotland but occasionally items from overseas are covered. The new "Scots Abroad" section, invites folk to write in about Scottish-related events in their part of the world. It allows publicity for them and an appreciation by others of just how much Scottish culture is perpetuated in every corner of the globe.
Distant Support for Dunfermline
The football (soccer) club in Dunfermline in Fife has had mixed fortunes this season. In the Scottish Premier League, the club has finished at the foot of the table and is relegated to the lower division. But in the Scottish Cup - a knockout competition involving all Scottish clubs - Dunfermline defeated big clubs such as Glasgow Rangers and Edinburgh's Heart of Midlothian. They are now playing on Saturday in the final at Hampden. Their fans may believe that there is only one Dunfermline, but in fact there are two other towns with the same name. The Premier of Saskatchewan, has sent a message saying "Greetings to everyone at Dunfermline, Scotland, from beautiful Saskatchewan, land of living skies and home to the locality of Dunfermline. Best wishes to Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup!" Meanwhile, a notice printed in the local newspaper in Canton, Illinois prompted some of the 250 residents of the small town of Dunfermline in the state to send messages of support to the team. Of course, the club has supporters all over the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, Europe and Ireland. (The Sports Section below records that Dunfermline put up a determined performance but lost 1-0 after Celtic scored a late goal).
Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - Last Sunday
Aberdeen 2 Rangers 0
Hibernian 2 Celtic 1
Kilmarnock 1 Heart of Midlothian 0League Tables
Aberdeen secured a place in the Uefa Cup qualifying rounds by defeating Rangers last Sunday. In the end, the victory wasn't needed to secure third place, as Hearts lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock. The results deny the Edinburgh club any European football next season - a key objective of owner Vladimir Romanov. So at the end of the season, Celtic are 12 points ahead of Rangers who, in turn, have 7 points more than Aberdeen. Hearts are 4 points further back, with Kilmarnock in a creditable 5th place and Hibernian a long way back in 6th.
Scottish Cup
Celtic have done the Double of League and Cup thanks to a late strike from Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe to allow the club to snatch the Scottish Cup 1-0 from a plucky and hard-working Dunfermline side. The goal was the first that Doumbe had scored for the club. The Cameroonian knocked home from close range from Craig Beattie's pass after the SPL champions had toiled for long periods. Neil Lennon was captain of Celtic for the last time, before leaving the club after nearly seven years service. Team-mate Steven Pressley created a record by winning the cup with three different clubs - he had already picked up medals with Rangers and Hearts.
Rangers in Los Angeles
With the Scottish football season at an end until August, it is an opportunity for clubs to travel abroad and play friendly matches against foreign opposition. Rangers were quick off the mark with a game against Los Angeles Galaxy this week, days after the end of the SPL season. A crowd of over 15,000 saw a fairly lack-lustre game, with Kris Boyd scoring the only goal of the match for Rangers.
Edinburgh Marathon
More than 7,500 runners are expected to participate in this year's Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday. The route has been drastically altered to minimise traffic disruption - and also reduce the costs to the organisers as less stewarding will be required. The route has been based on the one used by the marathon in the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. The course leaves Edinburgh and heads along the East Lothian coastline, before finishing at Musselburgh Racecourse. It is expected to produce a fast time for the more experienced runners.
Scotland's Cricketers to Play Pakistan
Last week, it was announced that the Indian and Pakistan international cricket teams were to play a special one-day match in Glasgow on July 3, in aid of charity. Now it appears that Pakistan will prepare for that match by playing the Scotland national team in Edinburgh on July 1. The game will be a great experience for the Scottish side (even if, as expected, they are soundly defeated). But it will raise the profile of the game in Scotland and, with a large Asian population in Scotland, the games as sure to attract a big crowd.
Official Opening of Extreme Sports Centre
Aberdeen's recently-completed extreme sports centre was officially opened by the Duke of York this week. The centre, which has been open to the public since April, caters for a variety of sporting activities including basketball, climbing and skateboarding. Although the building of the centre only took 12 months to complete, this week's opening marked the end of a decade-long campaign for such a facility in Aberdeen. Later the duke visited the Joseph Robertson fish factory in Torry - Scotland's oldest, independent seafood processor. He was there to re-open the factory after it was destroyed by fire in December 2005.