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.
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Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
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The "Magazine" section consists mainly of brief descriptions of the items involved and a link to the Web page where you can find the full feature, if you find the subject of interest to you.
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Walter Wingate paints us a wonderful picture of a January dawn - and a new beginning - with a muted but striking palette. In January Dull tenement and muddy street
No lurid threat of tempest there,
Dim misty purples, veined with gold,
But oh! The poetry of scheme,
To miss his message could I choose?
Two Aberdonians were charged with being drunk and incapable. When they came to court, they both pleaded "Not Guilty".
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Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
A combination of industrial action by railway workers and rush-hour accidents on the roads brought misery to thousands of travellers on Monday, many returning to work for the first time after the festive break. Rail staff have implemented a ban on overtime working and the resultant staff shortages mean that Scotrail have had to introduce an emergency timetable with 25% fewer trains. The service on the busiest route in the country, between Edinburgh and Glasgow has been reduced to every 30 minutes instead of every 15 minutes - effectively a 50% reduction during the day. On Monday the main road between Edinburgh and Glasgow was brought to a standstill after two serious accidents in Lanarkshire, closing both the east and west bound carriageways. Other accidents affected the M80 outside Glasgow and another on the A737 near Paisley also created hold-ups. Any hope of an early end to the overtime ban faded later in the week when union and representatives rejected a further offer of an 8.32% pay increase from Scotrail. Indeed, there is now a prospect of a ballot for a full-scale strike by train drivers.
The BBC has been granted permission to televise the appeal of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi when it goes ahead later this month. The decision also means that the proceedings can be streamed on the Internet in English with a simultaneous Arabic translation. It is the first time permission has been granted to televise any Scottish appeal court proceedings. Megrahi was convicted in January 2001 of murdering 270 people in the bombing of the airliner Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988. His co-accused, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, was found not guilty. A request to televise the original trial was rejected on the grounds that it might compromise the safety of witnesses and discourage some from attending. A protocol has been drawn up to ensure broadcasters follow the strict guidance established by the court. This includes a ban on the televising of any evidence taken from witnesses during the appeal hearing which is due to begin before five judges at Kamp van Zeist on Wednesday, January 23.
Glasgow appears to have lost the battle to decide whether the huge Braehead Shopping Centre should be within the city boundary or become wholly part of East Renfrewshire. A report last year by the Local Government Boundary Commission had recommended the move and the Scottish Executive has now accepted this. The previous boundary between Glasgow and East Renfrewshire cut through the shopping centre and 90% falls within Glasgow. But, supported by 17th century plans, Renfrewshire argued that the site was historically part of the former Royal Burgh of Renfrew. Of course, the local taxes generated by Scotland's largest out of town shopping complex will now pass to East Renfrewshire. Ironically, East Renfrewshire had strenuously opposed the development of Braehead because it feared it would damage trade in Paisley and Renfrew. 
As in previous years, there will be a Web page on the Rampant Scotland site which lists all the Tartan Day events around the world (though the largest percentage are in North America). If you know of any Tartan Day Celebrations in your part of the world, (around 6 April or at other times) do drop a note with details to 
One of Glasgow's oldest restaurants closed its doors this week. The Buttery, on Argyle Street, has been trading since 1869. It used to be a favourite venue of professional Glaswegians and produced Scottish food which food critics described as "exquisite". When all the old buildings around the Buttery were demolished during Glasgow's post war redevelopment, it was allowed to remain - a testimony of the influence of its clientele. But, during the recent boom in trendy new restaurants in Glasgow, it remained with its wood-panelled dining rooms and waiters dressed in Victorian garb and smooth service. The food was still good but was not being produced by well-known "named" chefs. And its location has been described as "even Osama bin Laden would say it was off the beaten track." - though with its own car park, it was convenient for those who did not mind a short drive to a high class establishment (like the editor of this Newsletter!).
The Pearce Institute in Govan, which was scheduled to close, has been granted a temporary reprieve until March. The historic building, which was donated to Govan in 1902 by Lady Dinah Pearce, wife of local engineer Sir William Pearce, is home to dozens of charities. Campaigners hope to be able to buy the building from the present trustees. In the meantime, some of the charities are continuing to use the building, though all evening and weekend usage has ceased. 
The chief executive of Glasgow-based Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks (subsidiaries of National Australia Bank) has quit his post to be chief financial officer of rival commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. Stuart Grimshaw, a New Zealander, had been in Scotland since August 2000. He was part of the All Blacks hockey team in 1984 and won more than 50 caps for his country.
A gathering of the Clan Galbraith is taking place at Culcreuch Castle, Fintry, Stirlingshire, from 19th to 25th May this year. There will be a full schedule of events including trips to Loch Lomond and Inch Galbraith and other sites of significance to the clan. The gathering is taking place at Culcreuch Castle which is now a hotel although at one time it was the property of the Galbraiths (until 1630). The castle and grounds have been reserved for the event. Reservations should be made via David Littlefair at Culcreuch Castle - david@culcreuch.com The clan have a small Web site at 
An archive of Clan Sinclair has been set up at Noss Head in north-east Caithness. It contains over 2000 books and four volumes detailing Sinclairs who died in wars during the 20th century. The books are not just about the clan and its links with Freemasonry and the Knights Templar but also includes items relating to the history of the Vikings. There are also other historic records, photographs and clan memorabilia. A new study centre is due to open at Easter but before then a nine-foot high statue of Prince Henry Sinclair is to be unveiled. He is credited with reaching North America 100 years before Columbus.
Edinburgh-based Lothian Buses has reported that some fare dodgers, trying to avoid the fare by throwing substitute coins into the machine as they board the bus, have been giving away coins which are actually more valuable than the fare they are trying to evade. In addition to foreign coins which have been found to be worth more cash, there have been two half-sovereigns each worth about £45. In total, the coins have reached a value of around £5,000. Although the company loses on low-value coins, they have generously donated the coin "windfall" to charity.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh is giving visitors the opportunity to see some of the treasures which are usually kept in historic country houses around Scotland. The exhibition, which starts on 25 January, has items from seven great houses - Ballindaloch, Blair, Dunrobin, Glamis, Scone, Thirlestane (entrance pictured here) and Traquair - and features paintings, antiques and family mementoes from each.
Hopetoun House, one of Scotland's most elegant homes, is to be refurbished at a cost of £9 million to create a new exhibition area, more conservation workshops, new restaurant facility and shop. A new 70-seat auditorium is also to be built for educational and community use. Hopetoun House was built around 1700 and involved influential Scottish architects such as Sir William Bruce, William Adam and his sons John and Robert. Since its completion as the home of the Earls of Hopetoun (later created Marquess of Linlithgow) it has been occupied by the same family up to the present day. Now owned by the Hopetoun House Preservation Trust, it is still occupied by the present Marquess and his family.
Started as a minor event to brighten up the dark days of January, the Celtic Connections music festival is now in its ninth year and has become an important event on the Scottish cultural calendar. Last year, 80,000 people from throughout the world attended a wide range of performances at venues across Glasgow. This year the events will take place at ten different venues between 16th January and 3rd February. "Celtic" is interpreted widely and includes music from Spain, Cape Breton, Brittany, Ireland and Galicia as well as across Scotland. Artists include Aly Bain, Runrig, Old Blind Dogs, Capercaillie, Ceolas, Tartan Amoebas, Shine, Salsa Celtica and Blazin' Fiddles - and many more.
An exhibition of work by this year's winner of the JD Fergusson Arts Award, Shona Leitch is now on at Perth's Fergusson Gallery. Winning the competition has allowed Shona Leitch the opportunity to produce an exciting new body of work, creating large-scale sculptural ceramic pieces. She transforms the textures, colours and shapes found in nature in rural Perthshire into impressive ceramic sculptures, using an innovative technique she has developed. The show, entitled "Layers" runs at the Fergusson Gallery until 6th April. 
The organiser's of last year's "Gig on the Green" in Glasgow could face court action as a result of breaching nearly half of the conditions imposed by the council to limit noise levels and ensure public safety. The rules were introduced after the concert in 2000 had resulted in residents near Glasgow Green complaining about excessive noise. Glasgow Green is now overlooked by expensive flats as part of the "Houses of the Future" development and residents there were angry at the noise levels. Last year's event attracted 50,000 fans and featured Marilyn Manson. Now the promoters may have to appear before councillors to explain the lapses.
