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?
Welcoming Three Million Visitors
Over three million people have visited Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum since it reopened after a major refurbishment twelve months ago. Kelvingrove had always been the most visited free visitor attraction in Scotland, with just over a million folk passing through its doors each year. When making an application for a National Heritage Lottery Grant, applicants often provide extravagant claims on what their projected footfall will be once building work has been completed. Glasgow City Council clearly got it wildly wrong - with a modest claim of a rise of 50%. But nobody (apart, maybe, from most Glaswegians) would have believed a nearly 300% estimate, but that is what has been achieved - with 3,209,825 visitors to be precise That was more than Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland combined. Only the National Gallery, Tate Modern and British Museum (all in London) attract more visitors in the UK. While many of those calling in to see what all the fuss is about may have been tourists from all parts of the world, there is no doubt that numbers have been swelled by the many repeat visits from Glaswegians themselves to "their" museum.
Executive Wants Lead Role for Scotland
During a meeting with European Union (EU) officials in Brussels this week, the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, pressed the case for Scotland to lead the UK delegation in EU fisheries talks. These are held every December to decide on quotas for the following year. Scottish Executive officials are part of the UK delegation, but the London-based UK government takes the lead. It is argued that as 70% of fish caught in UK waters are landed at Scottish ports, there is a strong case for Scotland having greater influence in these negotiations. As far as the EU is concerned, it is up to the UK to decide how their representatives are organised. So the next step will be for Alex Salmond to put his case to Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister.
Commitment to National Register of Tartan
Although the project began under the previous administration, it was perhaps appropriate that it was the Scottish Executive administered by the Scottish National Party which was able to commit this week to the creation of a National Register of Tartan to "protect, promote and preserve one of Scotland's most iconic and valuable assets". Enterprise Minister Jim Mather was on a visit to two of the leading textile companies in the Scottish Borders when he confirmed that he was working with Scottish Enterprise and the industry with the aim of having a National Register in place by next spring. Its aim will be to classify and authenticate tartans, with the Court of the Lord Lyon (responsible for all heraldic matters in Scotland) and the National Archives of Scotland playing a crucial role in setting up, operating, maintaining and facilitating access to the register. Scottish Enterprise recently reported on the significant contribution tartan makes to the economy. It is also important to Scottish culture and is an internationally recognised symbol of Scotland.
"This is Glesca - We'll Just Set Aboot Ye"
The Scottish Parliament is to recognise the members of the public who went to the aid of the solitary, unarmed police officer on duty at Glasgow airport when a Jeep was driven into the airport's main terminal building and set on fire on 30 June. Those involved (they included an off-dury policeman and a baggage handler on a cigarette break) are to be invited to an official reception in Glasgow hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond. The First Minister commented that medals and honours were not a devolved matter - but acknowledging people's role in coming forward to deal - effectively - with the suspected car bomb attempt was something he would do. One of those involved suffered a broken leg and ended up in the same hospital as one of the attackers. John Smeaton, a baggage handler who had "got stuck in" to the terrorists amid the flames and minor explosions, became an overnight celebrity as he animatedly described in televised interviews his role in the incident. In typical west of Scotland fashion he recounted how "me and other folk were just tryin' tae get the boot in and some other guy banjoed him!" When an ITV news reporter asked him "What message do you have for the bombers?" he replied "This is Glesca - we'll just set aboot ye".
Financial Giant Creating 600 Jobs
US financial giant Morgan Stanley already employs 770 staff in Glasgow. This week the company announced that it is to expand its operation and create another 600 jobs over the next few years. The firm is to expand its global wealth management support services and the jobs will be "high-skilled" posts for managers, financial analysts and IT workers. The Scottish Executive will back the expansion with a £6 million grant, but it also shows yet again that Scotland's highly skilled work force is capable of attracting investment from multi-national companies across the world.
Picture of Morgan Stanley's office in New York via Wikipedia.
Rail Upgrade Plans Announced
The latest £3.6 billion blueprint for the development of Scotland's rail network was revealed this week. The plans were prepared by the government agency Transport Scotland and the aim is to cut journey times, increase capacity and meet an anticipated rise in demand for rail travel. Covering the period of 2009 to 2014, the plans include improvements to the busy Edinburgh to Glasgow rail service, completing the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link and the redevelopment of Waverley Station in Edinburgh. There were no new dramatic new ideas in the document - and fulfillment will depend on government allocating the investment for the capital projects.
Firth of Forth Hovercraft Link Lifts Off
With a fanfare of PR trumpets, transport company Stagecoach launched its trial of the new hovercraft service which will carry up to 130 passengers a time between Portobello in Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy in Fife. The two-week trial with fare-paying passengers starts on Monday. It was unfortunate that in the same week as the press launch, consultants working for Fife Council reported that "no business case would stack up" for the service. The experts say that it would attract few passengers and be more costly than a catamaran ferry between Burntisland in Fife and Granton in Edinburgh. Of course, Stagecoach say that they opted for the hovercraft route because of a total lack of progress in negotiations with the Forth Ports Authority in establishing a normal ferry service using high speed ships.
Second Postal Strike
Postal workers staged their first one day strike last month in a dispute over modernisation plans and Royal Mail's offer of increasing staff pay by only 2.5%. The second disruption took place on Friday this week, with mail deliveries at a standstill across the country. Royal Mail claims that it cannot afford a wage increase to match inflation - and that the company already pays staff 25% more than its rivals. Royal Mail lost its monopoly on postal services in January 2006 and estimates that it has lost 40% of corporate bulk mail business to leaner and cheaper competitors, who now handle 20% of all letters posted in the UK.
Cost of Making Things in Scotland
Lanarkshire confectioner Tunnock's - famous for their caramel wafers, marshmallow teacakes and chocolate snowballs - has issued its first profits warning in its 117-year history. The company employs 600 workers and has been expanding in recent years, especially with sales to supermarkets in England and abroad. But they have been hit by a big rise in the cost of raw materials and costs of manufacturing in Scotland have also spiralled upwards, with major increases in water, gas and electricity prices. Water bills have trebled in the last two years and gas prices soared by 66% in the last twelve months. In 2005/06 the company's profits dropped 20% to £1.6 million but this year they have slumped to £425,000. Last December, Boyd Tunnock, the company's septuagenarian managing director and grandson of the founder, was confidently stating that "Things are going along nicely at the moment, exports are going well." Now, in a prepared statement, he says that "Making things in Scotland is becoming increasingly difficult. This is the worst situation I have witnessed in my working lifetime." But he still expressed confidence in the company pulling itself out of these difficult trading conditions.
New Coin Marking Burns Anniversary
It was the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Scot Alistair Darling, who announced this week that the Royal Mint is to produce a new £2 coin to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns in 2009. There will also be a coin to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking work "On the Origin of Species."
Rare Coins Stolen
A private collection of Scottish coins, some dating back to 1136, has been stolen from the home of Lord and Lady Stewartby in Broughton, near Peebles. They are valued at over £500,000. Lord Stewartby has been collecting the coins since childhood and is recognised as a leading authority. He made the collection available for experts and numismatic researchers. The collection includes a number of irreplaceable pieces, many of which were unique, including one coin that was struck in Aberdeen 700 years ago during the reign of Robert the Bruce. The theft took place while the house was empty and is thought to have been "to order" as it would be very difficult to sell many of them on the open market as they are so well known. A substantial reward for their recovery has been offered.
Makeover for Mackintosh Building
Work has started on the conservation and refurbishment of the world famous Glasgow School of Art building. This aims to restore the building to the original design of Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It has taken over ten years of detailed planning and fund-raising to reach this stage. Faculty offices are being moved out of the building so that a number of studio spaces can be returned to use by students.There are elements of a Scottish castle in the design, but overall there is a wealth of Mackintosh invention and detail. The building clings to the side of a steep hill and on the west facade grille-covered oriel windows soar upwards for three floors.Inside (guided tours are available) the lighting for the students is superb, the pièce de résistance being the library with dark timber and light filtering in from outside and being shed by Mackintosh designed lampshades onto the distinctively shaped desks and chairs. Mackintosh's designs for the School of Art influenced architects across Europe - but had little impact in his native Scotland. It was not until nearly the end of the 20th century before the prophet was at last recognised in his own country.
Curling to Have Historic Home
Thomson's Tower, beside Edinburgh's Duddingston Loch, was named after Duddingston Kirk's most famous minister, John Thomson. The tower was built by Duddingston Curling Society in 1825, who used the nearby loch as a rink in the winter when it froze over and the curling stones could be sent down the "rink" similar to a game of bowls, but on ice. The society had drawn up the first formal rules of curling in 1804 and these are still the basis of the game today. Even so, those first rules listed only 12 laws and today's version runs to 46 pages! Curling was once regarded as Scotland's national sport, before football and golf took over. The loch provided the setting for Henry Raeburn's famous painting of "The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch." Now the octagonal tower designed by William Playfair is to be restored and opened to the public next summer. The upper part of the tower will be used for exhibitions and private functions, while the lower part will be devoted to curling.
Nicklaus to Design Second Scottish Course
World-famous golfer Jack Nicklaus has been involved in the design of over 250 golf course in 30 countries around the globe. But so far the only one in Scotland has been the Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course in Perthshire, which opened in 1993. However, the "Golden Bear" is now to design the course which is to be part of a £40 million development on the Ury estate at Stonehaven. 17th-century Ury House is being restored as the centrepiece of a resort that will include a golf club, hotel and seven golf lodges. The project will also include a shooting range, equestrian centre, fishing ponds, tennis courts, children's play areas, picnic areas, cycle paths and a historical trail allowing walkers, runners and cyclists to visit the local Roman camp, the Barclay family mausoleum and Ury House. That historic building was created by the Barclay family, whose descendants established Barclays Bank.
Tenacious
The Tenacious is the world's largest wooden tall ship. She is one of two square-rigged ships owned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a charity which helps disabled people to enjoy the challenge and adventure of tall-ship sailing. She sailed up the Clyde at the start of this week and will take a starring role in the Glasgow River Festival this weekend. The tall ship was moored for most of the week beside the even taller Finnieston Crane, not far from the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. The new "Squinty Bridge" across the river stopped the Tenacious from sailing further up the river.
It Can Only Get Better?
Newly-weds usually have a long honeymoon spell when everything is sweetness and light, don't they? Well, not for one Aberdeen couple. After a romantic wedding at Ardverikie Estate (made famous by television series Monarch of the Glen) the bride ended up in court for assaulting her husband with her stiletto heels at the Hilton Treetops Hotel a few hours after the ceremony. The battered groom went to reception holding a blood stained towel to his head - and worried staff called the police. When they arrived, they found the distraught bride still in her wedding dress and the room where the couple were due to spend their first night together damaged, with broken glass and wires pulled from electric sockets. The bride was arrested and was later fined £250. Her solicitor reported that the couple were still living together and had offered to pay the hotel for the damage caused - estimated at £500. This being the electronic age, the story has been reported in newspapers around the world...
Weather in Scotland This Week
Regular readers of this newsletter must wonder if I just copy and paste the weather report from the previous week, as the same cloudy, showery weather never changes. This week was another repeat of that pattern, though there was a fair amount of sunshine on Monday, especially along the eastern side of the country and Saturday has turned out brighter, with some sun, especially in the central belt. There have been a few spells of heavier rain, but mostly it has just been overcast skies and a few showers. Maximum temperatures have been largely in the range 17/18C (63/64F).
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 onopordum, a thistle look-alike that grows to 8 feet high; Coot mother feeding newborn chicks in the nest; tall spires of white delphiniums; Red deer and its white fawn (see thumbnail); a very pale, almost white Red deer stag; cornus flowers. See This Week's Colour Supplement.
Research Into Centre of Royal Power
Visitors to Scone Palace this week were able to observe archaeologists making preliminary geophysical surveys in the grounds. They are attempting to unravel more about the abbey which once stood there and the famous Moot Hill . That was where generations of Scottish monarchs, including Robert the Bruce, were crowned while seated on the Stone of Destiny. Scone developed from an early medieval royal settlement into a massive Augustinian abbey in the 12th century. Archaeologists are puzzled that such an important building left so little trace above ground. Very little archaeological work has actually been done before at Scone, although it is a place of immense historical importance. The geophysical remote sensing allows the researchers to look underground for buried structures. The present Scone Palace dates from around 1600. This was after the Reformation when the Abbey was sacked and burned by an angry mob. Of course, it is possible that the former abbey provided at least some of the stonework for the new building.
The illustration shows the Scottish TV news van at Scone for an item on the archaeological dig.
Scottish Samurai Remembered
Entrepreneur Thomas Glover was born in Fraserburgh in 1838 and later travelled the world, working for a trading company. He settled in Nagasaki in Japan, where his home is recognised as the oldest western-style house in Japan. He helped samurai warriors overthrow Japan's leader the Shogun and restore the Emperor to the throne. Glover was at the forefront of the modernisation of Japan and introduced the first mechanised coal mine and railway. He commissioned three warships for the Japanese navy from Aberdeen shipyards and then built up his own shipbuilding company, which later grew into car giant Mitsubishi. He married a samurai's daughter named Tsura - who was thought to be the inspiration for Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. Thomas Glover died in 1911 at the age of 73 and is still remembered as a hero in Japan. His former home and garden overlooking Nagasaki Harbour are visited by two million Japanese every year. For many years he was unknown back in Scotland, but in the last few years his one-time family home at Bridge of Don in Aberdeen has become a museum owned by the Grampian-Japan Trust. This month, an exciting programme of workshops are being staged at Glover House. The activities have a Japanese theme and include calligraphy, woodblock printing, making daruma (simple brightly coloured charms made to ensure success for any project) and origami (the ancient art of paper folding). The workshops take place every Saturday afternoon until August 4 at the Glover House museum.
Picture of bust of Thomas Glover in the garden of his house in Nagasaki via Wikipedia.
Next Week in Scottish History
Bob Hoskins for Edinburgh Film Festival
There will be a star-studded line-up for this year's Edinburgh Film Festival with Bob Hoskins and Samantha Morton fronting the event. Other well known faces at the 61st festival will include Oscar winner Chris Cooper, "Trainspotting" author Irvine Welsh and "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Stellan Skarsgard. Films in the festival include UK premieres of Pixar animation "Ratatouille" and Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof." Closer to home, "Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle", the first-ever Scottish Gaelic feature film (see graphic here), will have a British gala presentation. 200,000 people are expected to attend the films and special question and answer sessions at the 12-day event which runs from August 15-26. For more details, see www.edfilmfest.org.uk.
Sell Out for 2008 Festival
The first batch of 40,000 tickets for next year's T in the Park pop festival at Balado near Kinross in Perthshire sold out in just over an hour this week - only days after this year's event finished last weekend. The tickets were being sold at this year's prices, but purchasers do not know who will be performing next summer - they just expect it to be as good as this year, if not better. It will be the 15th year of Scotland's biggest open air festival and will last for three days over July 11 to 13. 80,000 fans enjoyed this year's event and local police praised their good-natured behaviour. The clean-up of the site went on for several days - with workers finding two sets of false teeth, three Superman costumes, and 499 wellington boots.
World Famous Cellist in Aberdeen
World-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber will be performing with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra at Aberdeen's Music Hall in the opening concert of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, on August 2. He will be performing the Elgar Cello Concerto and will then take the show to Perth Concert Hall on August 5. Julian Lloyd Webber is dedicated to encouraging young people to enjoy and play classical music and he has been playing the Elgar concerto extensively this year to mark the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth. But the programme also includes Malcolm Arnold's "Four Scottish Dances," Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Roever and Korb's popular "Highland Cathedral" arranged by Glynn Bragg.
Supersonic Concorde Breaks 250,000 Barrier
Since the Concorde supersonic airliner formerly operated by British Airways touched down two years ago at the Museum of Flight, at East Fortune, East Lothian, 250,000 people have taken the opportunity to see the famous passenger plane and the associated exhibition.
Knights of Royal England
Linlithgow Palace is once again hosting a popular event which usually brings in record crowds of spectators. Two years ago, 7,000 people turned up for a jousting spectacle performed by a top group called "Knights of Royal England." That show led to a rush on replica lances in the visitor centre shop. So Historic Scotland are laying down extra supplies of these and other souvenirs for the weekend of 14/15 July.
Scottish Culture Around the World
The main focus of the Scottish Snippets is news items, usually about Scotland. But the "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.
Spain Remembers "Brave Sir James" Douglas
The small town of Teba in Spain's Andulicia is hosting an event on 4/5 August, with pipers and Highland dancers, to celebrate establishing a museum and visitor centre which is dedicated to the story of Sir James Douglas and the heart of Robert the Bruce. After King Robert had died, "Brave Sir James" as Bruce called him, had been taking the king's heart on a Crusade to the Holy Land, as he had been asked to do. While passing through Spain in August 1330, he came across Teba and its Moorish occupants under siege by the armies of King Alfonso XI of Castille. Sir James Douglas, (also known as "Black Douglas") had helped Bruce defeat King Edward I of England at Bannockburn. So the warrior immediately joined forces with King Alfonso against the "Infidels". In order to inspire his Scottish soldiers, he threw the silver casket containing Bruce's heart into the centre of the battle and led his men to recover it, while slaying the enemy. They were successful in recovering the casket - but Douglas died in the conflict. Bruce's heart was returned to Scotland where it was buried in Melrose Abbey. In 1921, a leaden casket - containing a heart - was found during archaeological excavations under the Chapter House floor. For more on Teba and its connections with Scotland (there's more!) see Teba Web site.
Highland Games in Bressuire, France
Bressuire, in western France, was twinned with Fraserburgh over fifteen years ago. They take the link seriously and have been staging a Highland Games in the French town every summer for many years. The event took place this year on 9/10 June and a report on the event says that theu attracted a crowd of nearly 5,000. There ware three pipe bands - the Fraserburgh British Legion band, Lord Edward's Own from Kildare and St Brieg from France. There was the usual Highland sports, with professionals and food and entertainment. However, the star was the arena itself, with a lovely ambience, within an ancient castle with a Chateau inside. The graphic here is from www.casteland.com .
Friendly Football Matches This Week
Peterborough (England) 1 Celtic 2
Gutersloh (Germany) 0 Rangers 3
Cloppenburg (Germany) 2 heart of Midlothian 1
FC Basle (Switzerland) 0 Celtic 1
St Cuthbert Wanderers (South Scotland) 0 Gretna 10Scotland Crash Out of Under-20 World Cup Finals
After losing their first two games in the Under-20 World Cup Finals in Canada to Japan and Nigeria, the young Scots footballers had to win their game against Costa Rica (and hope for some favourable results in other games in their section) to have any hope of progressing further in the tournament. It began well, with the Scots scoring first after 18 minutes. But an equaliser and a last-minute goal by the central American side sent the Scots on their way home.
Icing on the Cake - And Crumbs
The impact of success - or otherwise - in Europe was highlighted this week when UEFA, football's governing body in Europe, confirmed that Celtic had received £11 million last season for reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. Meanwhile Rangers payment for reaching the same level in the Uefa Cup was a mere £370,000. Heart of Midlothian only got as far as the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, followed by a round 1 exit in the Uefa Cup - and got £121,500 for their efforts. The figures do not include gate receipts or other marketing benefits.
First Wimbledon Title for UK for Twenty Years
With younger brother Andy Murray side-lined due to injury, it was Jamie Murray from Dunblane who stepped into the spotlight at Wimbledon last week. Other UK tennis players were knocked out in the early stages of the singles title races (some things never change). So Jamie's progress in the mixed doubles, partnered by Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, attracted more and more media attention. It is 20 years since anyone from Britain, far less Scotland, has won a senior Wimbledon title and Jamie is ranked 834 in the world (compared to Andy's number eight position). Jamie himself had never considered himself a serious contender in the competition. So realistically making good progress through the early rounds was all that could have been expected. Instead, they went on to win the mixed doubles title, much to the delight of the crowd.
Monty Ends Title Drought
The European Open is a European Tour golf tournament with total prize money of £2,400,000, putting it in the leading group of European Tour events outside of the major championships and the three individual World Golf Championships events. So Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie, who has not had much success lately, was delighted when he claimed victory after a thrilling finish. He commented "This is not an important win - it's a very, very important win." The victory means that Montgomerie (with 31 wins) has surpassed Nick Faldo (30 victories) as the top British and Irish winner on the European Tour. The performance should have put him in good shape for the Scottish Open Championship at Loch Lomond - but after a second round 74, he missed the cut. That's Colin for you...
Picture via Wikipedia.
Scotland Nearly Defeat "Windies"
It would have sent a shock wave round the cricketing world if Scotland had scored just a few more runs and defeated the West Indian touring team in the "Quadrangular Tournament" in Dublin this week. Set a score of 165 to beat by the West Indian team, in a match cut short by intermittent rain, the Scots sent hearts fluttering with some stout and stylish batting. In the end, they fell 13 runs short, but the result will - hopefully - give the Scottish cricket team renewed confidence.