Tartan Day 2003

There were events last weekend in many parts of the world celebrating Tartan Day and the contribution to the world made by Scotland. The biggest parade was once again in New York where the weather for the Tartan Day Parade in Sixth Avenue on 5 April was typically Scottish - cold, damp and dreich. But that did not dampen the spirits of those taking part. This year, there were not so many "celebrities" like Sean Connery (the indefatigable Lord Provost of Edinburgh is not quite in the same league) and the total numbers of those marching were also down on last year. But participants who had been at both parades said that this year was better organised - and there was a post march party with pipes and Scottish country dancing. For a full report and lots of photographs, see www.tunesofglory2003.com/. The illustration here of Mount Kisco Scottish Pipes and Drums" - the mascot band for the St Andrew's Society of New York State - is from that site.

If numbers involved in 2003 were understandably lower than last year, as a result of the world situation, there are nevertheless evolving plans for a gathering of 20,000 pipers and drummers, and a further 20,000 clansmen for a celebration of Scots in Edinburgh in 2005. Epic Concepts, who organised the New York and Chicago Tartan Day parades, are progressing the concept.

Black Watch Lead the Way Into Basra

Units of the Black Watch spearheaded the march into Basra, Iraq's second city, last week, accompanied by a piper on top of a tank playing "Scotland the Brave" and "Mhàiri's Wedding". The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tank regiment and 45 Commando of the Royal Marines based at Arbroath have also been heavily involved in the south of Iraq. By the end of the week, however, as air activity began to run down, four Tornados from 111 squadron flew back to their home base at Leuchars in Fife, the first military personnel to return after finishing their task. 111 squadron along with 12 and 617 squadrons had been flying daily sorties.

The efforts of the Scottish service personnel in the conflict were recognised by President George Bush in a message timed to coincide with Tartan Day, when he sent a letter to the Scottish media saying that he and his country were "deeply grateful" for their contribution to the liberation of Iraq. This is the second occasion on which the US President has given public backing to Tartan Day.

Threat of Cash Chaos

A threat by security guards to stage a three-day strike next week, could threaten the availability of cash in bank branches and autotellers over the Easter weekend. The strike has been called by Securicor staff who are protesting about plans by the company to reduce to one guard the staff needed to refill bank cash machines. The security staff argue that this will increase the danger of attacks on them. The banks claim that they have contingency plans to ensure that there are plenty of banknotes in the system, however, and that there should not be any shortage. In Scotland, most of the banknotes in circulation are printed and issued by the three Scottish-based banks, rather than by the UK central bank.

Mixed Messages for Motorola

Electronics company Motorola was awarded a "business Oscar" this week for the manufacturing excellence of its computer chip plant at East Kilbride. But the award by the government agency Scottish Enterprise was criticised by politicians and former workers. Less than 18 months ago, Motorola closed its factory in Livingston with the loss of over 3,000 jobs and they have announced this week that their factory at South Queensferry is to close, with the loss of another 300 jobs. Motorola has had a production facility in East Kilbride for over 40 years. It currently produces micro-chip components for the car industry.

Record Number of Police

After years of being under strength, Strathclyde Police has achieved its target of 7352 officers, the highest number for 28 years. The Strathclyde force covers Glasgow and a large part of the west of Scotland. The increase in numbers is in response to calls for more police to be on patrol on the streets. It is estimated that only 21% of officers are actually out on patrol, with only 4% on foot.

Plan for Scotland's Largest Nurse Training Centre

With 1,500 nursing posts in Scotland unfilled, the National Health Service has been struggling for years to improve staffing levels. There have been a series of initiatives by the Scottish Executive and pay and conditions have been improved. However, with many nurses moving to better paid private nursing posts or the new NHS24 telephone helpline plus older staff leaving the profession, numbers of trained staff never match the requirements. The Royal College of Nursing recently warned that there is a need for an additional 15,000 new nurses in Scotland, over the next four years. Now Glasgow Caledonian University is working with Glasgow University to create a Glasgow School for Nursing which will become the largest single source of new nurses in the country. The new school will run classes at both universities, using the existing facilities at Caledonian but drawing on the experts from Glasgow University's medical school.The new school should be able to take its first intake at the start of the academic year in 2004.

Record Year for Highland Show

Last year, the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, which organises the annual Highland Show at Ingleston on Edinburgh, had its most profitable year since it began operating in 1784. A new £3.5 million exhibition hall, which will be one of the largest facilities of its kind in Scotland, is nearing completion at the showground. The Royal Highland Show is a showcase for the agricultural community and it is claimed that it generates at least £100 million of business each year. The show also attracts a large audience of town and city dwellers - the annual flower show, Highland cattle, horse jumping and food hall are all popular.

New Air Routes From Glasgow

The new managing director of Glasgow airport claimed this week that he was talking to a number of airlines about new services to destinations such as Milan, Vienna, Munich and even Philadelphia. He is also keen to develop passenger facilities, reduce check-in queues and add quality shops to the terminal. Over the next 10 to 12 years there are plans for investment of £200 million to double the airport's capacity from 8 million passengers a year to 16 million by 2015. A new multi-storey car park for 2,000 vehicles opened last year and Jenners, the up-market Edinburgh-based department store, opened an outlet at Glasgow Airport last Monday.

Blood Tests in Store

Greater Glasgow Health Board is trying to set up a network of local clinics to provide blood tests for elderly patients who are taking blood-thinning drugs and currently have to travel to hospitals for vital regular tests. The health chiefs are currently in talks with the management of the Asda supermarket in Newton Mearns, south of Glasgow, to see if the blood tests could be carried out in the store as the patients do their shopping. Other local clinics have been established but this would be the first to be established in a supermarket. The store was involved last autumn in a pilot project to provide vaccination against influenza.

1,350 New Supermarket Jobs

Supermarket giant Tesco has announced that it is to build another five new stores in Scotland over the next year, creating 1,350 new jobs. Tesco is currently Britain's largest supermarket and the leading grocery chain in Scotland. The company already has77 stores in Scotland and employs 17,500 staff. Outlets in Elgin, Shettleston (in Glasgow), Cumbernauld and Dundee are already under construction, in addition to the latest announcement.

Dolly Immortalised

The world's first cloned sheep has now taken her place in the National Museum of Scotland. At least her sheepskin is there, stretched over a mould taken of her skeleton which was then covered in glass fibre. Dolly was born at the Roslin Institute in 1996 as part of their research into creating therapeutic proteins via cloned animals. She was the first animal cloned from a cell taken from an adult animal. Dolly gave birth to a healthy lamb in 1998 by natural means, confounding those who argued that Dolly would be sterile. She was put down two months ago when she developed a lung tumour.

Developers Told to Think Again

The controversial plans for the redevelopment of the site of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary have been rejected once again by the local planning authorities and the architects told to go back to the drawing board. Sir Norman Foster's award-winning team of architects have drawn up a series of proposals for the £400 million project to convert the 130-year-old listed building to apartments, five-star hotel, offices and private and public housing, while retaining much of the original buildings. But a number of plans involving knocking down some of the old existing buildings and creating what has been described as a "Manhattan Skyline" overlooking the nearby Meadows open grassland, have run into opposition from local residents and heritage groups. New tower blocks have been reduced from seven storeys to six but it is argued that existing housing would still lose a large amount of daylight.

Scotland's Most Beautiful Shortcut

Ships were once again sailing through the Crinan Canal this week after a £1 million refurbishment resulted in its closure on 10 January. The canal cuts through the Mull of Kintyre, a long peninsula on the west coast of Scotland. The canal is regarded by many as Scotland's most beautiful shortcut - though the Caledonian Canal which runs across Scotland from north of Fort William to Inverness is more well known.

Million Pound Art Sale

Organisers of the Glasgow Art Fair, Scotland's biggest art event, forecast that sales of over a million pounds could be achieved over its four days of operation. Last year, £750,000 of new paintings and sculpture were sold as the event attracted around 16,000 visitors. Many were first time buyers - the items on sale cover a wide range of tastes and prices. The average prices of items sold was around £500 though an original painting by Glasgow artist Avril Paton fetched £18,000. The art fair is held in tents set up in George Square in the centre of Glasgow.

The Culling Fields of Uist

The cull of hedgehogs on North Uist in the Western Isles got off to a slow start this week. The animals are accused of eating the eggs of native birds on the islands. They are the descendants of two hedgehogs originally introduced to attack garden pests but have prospered over the years. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is organising the cull. But their ineffectiveness in similar exercises in other parts of Scotland has led to SNH also being referred to as "Still No Hedgehogs". So far, they have caught four out of the estimated 5,000 on the Western Isles - though it is early days yet. SNH claim that the hedgehogs are still hibernating. But the group trying to capture and relocate the hedgehogs are doing better - they have rescued 31 so far.

Poet Who Welcomed London Blitz

Hugh MacDiarmid, who is regarded by many as Scotland's greatest poet of the 20th century, appears to have welcomed the potential destruction of London by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Hundreds of previously unpublished poems by MacDiarmid, who died 25 years ago, have been discovered in a collection of material purchased by the National Library of Scotland. In one of the poems, entitled "On The Imminent Destruction of London, June 1940", he writes that "if any place be burned, and lost, it may as well be London - Nay, London far better than most". MacDiarmid's view of London as a "foul disease" may have had its origins when he worked there from 1929 to 1932. The collection of new work is to be published in a new three-volume edition of his complete poems.

Paisley Pattern Deal for Japan

Fashion giant Kanebo Fashion Research in Japan has signed a deal with Renfrewshire Council to use the 200-year-old Paisley patterns on a range of new products in the Far East. The deal will allow the company to use the trademark logo on its products along with a stamp of authenticity. Renfrewshire Council own the trademark for the swirling Paisley patterns, which have become very popular amongst young people in Japan. Another company in Japan is still attempting to patent the term Paisley Museum and the designs in Japan and the case could still end up in the Japanese courts.

Most Borrowed Books

Figures published by the Public Lending Rights registry show that the most popular author of books borrowed from public libraries in Scotland last year was Josephine Cox, who has two books at the top of the list. Maeve Binchy's "Scarlet Feather" is in third place. Prolific writer Catherine Cookson's book "The Silent Lady" is fourth, while Edinburgh-based writer Ian Rankin's "The Falls" is the fifth most borrowed book in Scotland. In the UK overall, JK Rowling's book "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is top of the list. However, the number of books borrowed from Scottish libraries has fallen from 51 million in 1990 to 34 million in 2000.

California Coffee Faces Closure

A chain of 40 coffee stalls, established in Edinburgh in former police boxes, is facing closure over unpaid tax bills. California Coffee was set up by Gordon Thomson a former solicitor who turned entrepreneur after he was struck off by a disciplinary tribunal of the Law Society in Scotland. The Law Society later accepted that he was not dishonest and settled out of court. But now his chain of coffee shops has run into financial problems. Coffee shops in Edinburgh appear to be under pressure - the number of new outlets in the last year was matched by the same number closing.

Drumming Up Volunteers in Glencoe

For centuries, the call to arms has reverberated around the Highland glens of Scotland, as the British army has sought volunteers to join the armed forces. The band of the Scots Guards marching down the main street of the village of Glencoe last Sunday in brilliant sunshine were also looking for recruits to join the present-day forces - although they were also adding to the appeal of a fundraising event for the local Heritage Trust. One of the locals watching the parade was a former army pipe major - aged 93.

Billy Connolly - A Pain Killer?

Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University claim to have established that listening to the humour of comedians like Billy Connolly increases people's tolerance of pain by up to three times. They got volunteers to place their hands in freezing water and measured how long they could stand the cold in silence - or while listening to Connolly's performances on tape. But while they lasted three times as long while having a good laugh, their tolerance was increased even more when listening to music which they liked. But it is probably unlikely that dentists or hospitals will start playing Connolly's brand of humour in their waiting rooms.

More Annoying Than Mobile Phones?

Travellers on Scotrail commuter trains in the West of Scotland are being driven to distraction not by other people's mobile phones ringing but by the taped voice of a female employee which is used to announce approaching stations on the new Juniper train services. The tedious-sounding, drab voice mispronounces many of the names - such as "Wee-miss-bay" for Wemys Bay (it should be "weems bay"), "John-is-tone" instead of John-stone and "Mullguy". At least Mullguy is almost excusable - the name is spelt Milngavie and pronounced "Mill-guy" with the accent on the second syllable. Ticket inspectors on the trains wince every time they hear the voice - one commented that it was worse than listening to his wife... Scotrail have accepted that the voice files need to be revised - but insist that they will use the same member of staff to create the new recordings.

Claymores First to Sell Booze at National Stadium

Until now, no alcoholic beverages have been sold at the National Football Stadium at Hampden, Glasgow (except in the up-market, expensive hospitality suites). The ban was introduced in 1980 after a pitched battle by drunken fans at a Rangers v Celtic Cup Final. But the fans at American Football are apparently better behaved than some soccer fans, so Glasgow City Council licensing chiefs have granted a one-off permission to sell beer and lager at the NFL Europe match on Sunday when the Scottish Claymores play Frankfurt Galaxy. Organisers say that the NFL Europe games are family affairs and that alcohol is freely available in away matches in Spain, Holland and Germany. If the experiment is a success, applications will be submitted for the remaining games of the season, and for the World Bowl final in Glasgow on June 14.

Weather in Scotland This Week

Usually in Scotland we are used to changeable weather so the recent weeks of dry, sunny weather has been most enjoyable, if a little disconcerting. This week saw yet more sun and only an occasional light shower. In the six days from Sunday to Friday, Edinburgh and Glasgow had around 40 hours of sunshine and 0.3mm of rain. Temperatures have not been all that high, however, especially in the morning after overnight frost in some places. On Monday the thermometer fell to around 8/9C (46/48F) and for much of the week the maximum daytime temperature hovered around 10/12C (50/54F). The outlook, over the next few days is for milder weather but some rain - which will almost be welcome as gardens and farmers' fields are beginning to suffer from the lack of rain.

This week's illustrations of current flowers in Scotland were taken at Greenbank Gardens, south of Glasgow, earlier this week. The picture above is of erythronium, also known as dog's tooth violet. The second illustration is of pulsatilla or pasqueflower.

Edinburgh Castle to Help Fight Neo-Nazis?

The residents of the Bavarian town of Wunsiedel are fed up with neo-Nazis converging on their town because it has a connection with Rudolf Hess, Hitler's second in command until 1941 (when he flew to Scotland to plead for peace). Hess was also the last of the Nazis to stay alive in Spandau prison after a war-crimes tribunal gave him a life sentence. He has become a martyr of the neo-Nazis in Germany and they descend on the city each year, marching through the town chanting slogans beneath imperial German flags. Now the city authorities, in an attempt to erase the connection, are planning to create a new theme park with scale replicas of famous monuments from around the world, including the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. With Edinburgh Castle one of the most recognised images of the UK, they have included the ancient building on its volcanic rock to "represent culture, history and fascination through the ages." Edinburgh City Council are delighted about the development, saying that "Edinburgh is a world-class city. We have one of the most famous castles in the world and for it to be recognised as an icon in conjunction with the Great Wall of China and the Sphinx is truly remarkable."

Declaration of Independence on Tartan TV

An Aberdeen-based company recorded the re-enactment of the signing of the Declaration of Scottish Independence at Arbroath Abbey on 6 April. Tartan TV has a weekly half-hour slot on some American and Canadian TV channels and the ceremony will be shown there.

Historical Murder Mystery Revealed

The company behind the newly refurbished "Real Mary King's Close" beneath Edinburgh City Chambers (roughly equivalent to the town hall) claim that they have uncovered a murder mystery while opening up more rooms in the rabbit warren which was once an Edinburgh street until it was built over. Experts discovered old documents on a murder which took place in the 16th century in a house on the street. The papers showed that a mother had killed her daughter's new husband over the non-payment of a dowry. But the experts have also shown that the legend that victims of the plague in 1645 were incarcerated in their houses in Mary King's Close is not true - the residents were indeed encouraged to stay at home, but were provided with food and water by the local council.

World's Oldest Surviving Golf Club Manufacturer Closes

Ben Sayers has been making custom-made golf equipment in North Berwick, East Lothian, since 1873. But competition in the global market place resulted in the company being bought out by new owners last February. Now the Tandem Group, which had promised to continue production in Scotland, is moving manufacturing to the company's main factory in England in May, before moving production to the Far East. There are now only two golf equipment manufacturers left in Scotland.

This Week in History

• April 13 1951 - The Stone of Destiny, which had been removed from underneath the Coronation Chair by Scottish nationalists on 25 December 1950, was returned to Westminster Abbey after being found at Arbroath Abbey.
• April 14 1582 - University of Edinburgh founded.
• April 14 1736 - "Porteous Riots" in Edinburgh take place after the hanging of a smuggler by the City Guard led by Captain Porteous. The Guard killed several people in the ensuing riot.
• April 15 1799 - Prof Joseph Black chemist, researcher, teacher, first to identify carbon dioxide, died.
• April 15 1961 - Scotland defeated 9-3 by England at Wembley, a record score for a football match between the two countries.
• April 16 1746 - Charles Edward Stewart defeated at Battle of Culloden.
• April 16 1953 - Royal yacht "Britannia" launched at John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank.
• April 17 1341 - Edinburgh Castle captured from the English.
• April 17 1766 - James Craig's winning entry for development of Edinburgh New Town was approved.
• April 17 1895 - Scotland's first cremation at Glasgow's Western Necropolis.
• April 17 1909 - Riot by fans after replay of Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park.
• April 18 1874 - Remains of David Livingstone interred in Westminster Abbey.
• April 19 1390 - Robert II, grandson of Robert the Bruce, died at Dundonald Castle.
• April 19 1825 - Robert Byron (later Lord Byron) died at Missolinghi, Greece.
• April 19 1905 - Aviator Jim Mollinson born in Glasgow.

Early Opening for National Gallery

The gaping hole in the side of the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh may suggest that a lot of work on the £26 million refurbishment is still to be completed. But the overhaul of two neo-classical buildings beside Princes Street Gardens is now scheduled to be completed in August next year, a full twelve months ahead of schedule. The work involves tunnnelling under the buildings to create a new 20,000 sq ft of space between the two 19th century buildings. The cavity will also create a new entrance from the gardens, a restaurant and lecture theatre as well as additional display space. 50,000 tonnes of earth is being removed.

International Street Market

Over 40,000 shoppers strolled along Union Street in Aberdeen last weekend admiring - and buying - smoked cheeses, wine, German sausages, handmade pottery, flowers, garlic and continental breads which were on view in 70 stalls in an International Street Market. Sellers from France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany had travelled to the granite city to display their wares. The traders plan to return to Aberdeen in August.

Scotland's Biggest Spring Flower Show

The Caird Hall in Dundee was full of colour and scent last weekend as 4,000 horticulturists streamed through the doors to view the City of Dundee Spring Flower Show. A bulb grower from Banff swept the board with a wheel-barrow full of medals for his daffodils.

Scots Lover for Catherine the Great

It could only happen in Hollywood. Writer Randall Wallace, who created the screenplay for the movie Braveheart, has angered historians by inventing an affair between Empress Catherine the Great of Russia and a fictional young Scotsman in a new epic film. In the movie, "Kieran Selkirk" become's Catherine's lover and persuades her to turn down British requests for Russian troops to help crush the Americans fighting in the War of Independence. Historically, Russia did remain neutral during the American revolution, despite appeals from Britain. But there was never a Jacobite character who fled to America before returning to Europe to help Benjamin Franklin, the US ambassador.

Iraq War Impacts on Edinburgh Tattoo

Pipes and drums from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Black Watch regiments are a popular part of the annual Military Tattoo on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle every August. But the organisers are having to draft in alternative pipe bands because of the service men and women who are involved in the conflict in Iraq. However, there will still be plenty of massed pipes and drums, using personnel from the Royal Highland Fusiliers, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Scots Guards.

Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results

Dundee 1 Celtic 1
Rangers 3 Dunfermline 0 (Scottish Cup Fifth Round replay)
Dundee 4 Falkirk 1 (Scottish Cup Fifth Round replay)
Celtic 1 Boavista 1 (UEFA Cup, semi-final, first leg)

Bank of Scotland Premier League Results - 12 April 2003

Aberdeen 1 Dunfermline 0
Hibernian 2 Livingston 2
Motherwell 1 Dundee 2
Partick Thistle 1 Hearts 1
Dundee United v Rangers will be played on Sunday

Scottish First Division Results - 12 April 2003

Alloa 2 Ross County 1
Arbroath 0 Queen of the South 0
Inverness 1 Clyde 2
St Johnstone 0 Falkirk 1
St Mirren 1 Ayr United 1

League Tables

Rangers remain at the top of the Scottish Premier League with 84 points from 32 games, followed by Celtic with 76 points from 30 games. Hearts are in third spot with 54 points from 32 games. Motherwell are still at the foot of the SPL with 24 points.
Falkirk's defeat of second-placed St Johnstone effectively put an end to any hopes that Saints had of bouncing back to the SPL after their relegation last year. But unless Falkirk can persuade the SPL to bend the rules about having a stadium with a seating capacity of at least 10,000, Falkirk will not gain promotion.

Chief Executive Told to "Think Again"

As the national football team thrashes around to find out why performances have been so dismal, it was probably only a matter of time before someone would blame the dirge of "Flower of Scotland" which is used as an unofficial Scottish national anthem. This week the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association indeed suggested that a more rousing anthem might help to rouse the national team. But football fans, known as the "Tartan Army" reckon that a poor team and bad tactics are more likely to influence the result than the words of a song. Ronnie Brown, the surviving member of the Corries who made the song famous, commented that there was "no viable alternative" as an unofficial anthem.

Bad Week for Celtic

Celtic fans must have felt that the cards were stacked against them this week. First, they only managed to draw with Dundee in a Scottish Premier League (SPL) match, allowing rivals Rangers to draw ahead at the top. Then their hopes of reaching the final of the UEFA Cup were given a knock when they drew 1-1 with Boavista at Parkhead - Boavista's goal on the score sheet was an own goal and then Celtic's leading goal scorer Henrik Larsson missed a penalty. Celtic were also unsuccessful in persuading the SPL executive to rearrange the date of the final match against Rangers. It is scheduled for three days after the return leg against Boavista in Portugal. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is incensed - claiming that if Rangers had been in the same position, SPL would have agreed to a later date. Lex Gold, the SPL chairman says that O'Neill is talking "cobblers" and that the decision was made by the 12 members of the SPL board.

It's the Pits

David Coulthard, the Scottish Formula 1 racing driver was philosophical about the way he lost the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday. The 32-year-old from Twynholm was in the lead by 21 seconds when he was forced into the pits. Having rejoined the race in 4th position, the race was stopped one lap later, due to two major crashes on the track. If he had delayed by one lap, he would have won the race as the positions were frozen at that point. So although he is still second in the drivers' championship, he has slipped further back from the leader.

Claymores Break Records

The NFL Europe season got off to a thunderous start at Hampden Park, Glasgow, when the Scottish Claymores scored a record-breaking 62 points in their win over Berlin Thunder. This was not only the Claymore's highest score, it was more than any other team in NFL Europe had achieved since the league started, eleven years ago. Claymore's running back Ken Simonton became the first in that position to score four touchdowns and Maurice Hicks scored with a Claymores' record-breaking, 93-yard run. And it was not as if Berlin Thunder are a poor team - they have won two World Bowls, back to back, and were in the lead at half time, leading 31-28 (itself an NFL Europe record for the highest scoring first half). But in the second half, Claymores silenced Berlin with an impressive display and ran out 62-31 (the highest-ever points total in a single game). With the current parlous state of much of Scottish sport, it is a delight to have a group of (mainly) Americans representing Scotland and achieving victories like that!