Black Day for Black Watch
The 600 members of the Black Watch regiment, plus their 250 support staff, who have been deployed 20 miles to the south-west of Baghdad, have been under daily rocket and mortar attack from terrorists. They arrived in their base at Camp Dogwood last week from Basra and earlier this week a Warrior armoured troop carrier was hit by a roadside bomb. Miraculously, nobody was seriously injured in the attacks but that situation changed on Thursday when three Black Watch soldiers and an Iraqi civilian translator manning a checkpoint were killed and eight injured by a suicide bomber. All three of the Scottish soldiers came from Fife and they bring to 73 the total number of British troops killed since the invasion of Iraq began. The town of Latifiya, close to the Black Watch's area of responsibility, is the base for Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the Jordanian terrorist responsible for the beheading of British hostage Ken Bigley and the group have claimed responsibility for the attack on the Black Watch soldiers. The Ministry of Defence expect the Black Watch deployment to come to an end in early December - the Prime Minister has promised that the regiment will be back from Iraq "in time for Christmas." A lot can happen even in that relatively short timescale, however.
"European Region of the Future"
In a competition run by the Financial Times Group, Scotland has been named the "European Region of the Future" and Dundee won the "Best Foreign Direct Investment Promotion Strategy" award for a city. The foreign direct investment magazine, which goes by the title of "fDi" highlights Scotland's strengths including investment promotion, higher education, transport, and support for technology and innovation. Needless to say, the Scottish Executive were delighted with the award and Jim Wallace, the Enterprise Minister, commented that Scotland has an excellent business environment and a support framework, which works for Scottish firms and for inward investors alike, plus a skilled and well-educated workforce. The European Cities and Regions of the Future awards were in three rounds, with 140 entries judged against 33 individual criteria. Scotland had to compete initially against other UK regions and then Northern Europe competition.
Scottish Tourist Industry "Streamlined"
The current 14 area tourist boards are to be integrated into a single network controlled by VisitScotland, under plans announced by the Scottish Executive this week. The agency's staffing levels will treble and budgets will double to cope with the change. There will no longer be fees for businesses wanting to join the new tourism agency and the Quality Assurance Scheme will be expanded. The aim is to boost revenue from tourism by 50% by 2015. Amid concerns about potential redundancies in the Area Tourist Boards, the plan is to transfer staff to the new network under the same pay and conditions. Tourism is one of Scotland's biggest industries, employing 197,000 people (around 10% of the Scottish workforce) and is estimated to contribute £4.5 billion annually into the economy. The changes will mean that local and national tourism agencies will be singing from the same hymn sheet instead of adopting different strategies. In the past, it was said that some Area Tourist Boards refused to promote attractions in neighbouring areas and seemed to be competing rather than co-operating with one another.
Airport Link May Delay Commuters
There were claims this week that the proposed rail link between the centre of Edinburgh and its airport would lengthen journey times on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route, the busiest in the country. A transport lobby group has pointed out that journey times on the link between Scotland's two largest cities were longer now than 30 years ago - the only rail route in Britain where trains run more slowly than in 1974. The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link will result in trains being diverted to stop at the airport to cater for around two million passengers a year. However, those pushing for the new rail service to the airport say that new trains and better acceleration will offset any delay.
Edinburgh University Ranked in World Top 50
The University of Edinburgh was the only Scottish higher education institution ranked in the top 50 universities of the world in a recent survey of 1,300 academics in 88 countries. Edinburgh came 48th and there were seven other universities in England which came higher. The table was dominated by American universities with Harvard, Berkeley in California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology leading the way. Other Scottish entries in the table were: St Andrews (70); Glasgow (112); Dundee (168), and Aberdeen (194).
£1.7 Billion Road Repairs Needed
It didn't need the watchdog Audit Scotland to tell Scottish motorists that many of the country's roads are in a poor state of repair - their car suspensions tell them that every day as they jolt over the potholes. It used to be that if you saw a car weaving along the road, the sobriety of the driver might be in doubt; now it's just the motorist avoiding known craters in the carriageway. But Audit Scotland have now put a figure on what it would cost to bring Scotland's roads up to a proper standard and clear a maintenance backlog of ten years - £1.7 billion. The watchdog says that while 90% of motorways are in an acceptable condition, only 66% of "A" roads and 55% of "B" roads are up to scratch. Spending on trunk roads (managed by central government) has kept pace with traffic growth but all other roads (administered by local authorities) have expenditure at below 1995/95 levels.
Scotland's Lottery Wins
The National Lottery began ten years ago and the media have been looking back at what has been achieved in that time. Of course, it has created a fair number of winners - in addition to a host of smaller prizes, there have been 177 people in Scotland who have won over a million pounds for a £1 stake. The largest individual winner was a lucky lady from Glenrothes who scooped £11,157,490. But it's the lottery money which has been distributed to 22,300 good causes across Scotland to the tune of £1.4 billion that has had the greatest impact. Charities have been the biggest beneficiaries but the arts, heritage and sports have also been major recipients. Major Scottish projects have included the Glasgow Science Centre, Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, the Falkirk Wheel and the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute. To achieve all the money for these and many more projects, Scots have purchased £4.3 billion in lottery tickets. While we have received back winnings and contributions to good causes amounting to £2.1 billion, £2.2 billion has gone to the government and to Camelot, the company which runs the lottery.
Retailers Fight Ban on Opening on New Year's Day
It is perhaps surprising (or perhaps not) that in a country with a Presbyterian history, New Year's Day is celebrated with greater enthusiasm than Christmas. So when some large retails stores start to open on 1 January, there is an outcry. On New Year's Day this year, Debenhams opened in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, giving rise to concerns in some quarters that other large stores would follow suit and break a widely-observed Scottish tradition. To nip the move in the bud, a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) has tabled a bill which would ban shops with an area of over 3,000 square feet from opening that day. However, retail groups - and local councillors who are trying to promote Scotland's two largest cities as international destinations over the festive season - have fought back. They argue that while closing down to allow Scots to nurse their hangovers may be traditional, the cities are nevertheless still vibrant that day, entertaining the many visitors, especially in Edinburgh. They see the proposed legislation as turning the clock back and sending out the wrong messages. The Scottish Retail Consortium argues that if consumer demand for shopping on 1 January grows, shops should be free to respond, so long as staff who do not want to work that day are protected. Meantime, back in the Scottish Parliament, the MSP is confident of "overwhelming support" for a ban.
Britain's Most Powerful Wind Farm
E.ON UK, the German-based utilities group and owner of the large Powergen company, has announced plans to create the most powerful wind farm yet proposed in the UK. The 74 megawatt, 27-turbine farm is proposed for the land next to the existing Windy Standard farm in East Ayrshire. The company's most powerful onshore wind farm is currently Bowbeat near Peebles in the Scottish Borders, which is rated at 31.2 megawatts. Planning permission will be required from the Scottish Executive to set up the £60 million farm which would generate enough power to supply 70% of East Ayrshire’s homes. The company also has a stake in a planned 60 turbine offshore farm in the Solway Firth which has been granted planning permission.
RAF Kinloss Squadron Axed
The drive to reduce costs in the armed forces took another step forward this week with the announcement that one of the three Royal Air Force squadrons of Nimrod maritime reconnaissance squadrons based at Kinloss in Morayshire is to be disbanded. However, the reduction is not as large as it seems. Although the present 21 aircraft are being reduced to 16, the 24 crews are being cut to 20 in two enlarged units. Even so, 60 aircrew and an unspecified number of support staff will be made redundant by April 1, 2005.
Edinburgh Policeman With Big Apple Role
Chief Inspector Graham Sinclair, a police officer from Edinburgh, defeated 20 other policemen from around the world to gain a six-month attachment to the peacekeeping division of the United Nations in New York. He is the first police officer from the UK to work for the UN headquarters and his job is ensuring that UN police work with international police forces to enable them to function independently. Chief Inspector Sinclair is enjoying working in the Big Apple and has an apartment which is only 15 minutes walk from his desk. When he gets time off, he visits museums and galleries or goes for a run round Central Park - a complete circuit is six miles.
Scottish Car of the Year
The French Peugeot 407 was crowned Scottish Car of the Year this week by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers. The car was launched in the UK in May and is proving to be a great success with Scottish buyers as well as in the rest of the UK. Motoring correspondents are impressed by its purposeful styling, outstanding driving dynamics and superb value for money. Peugeot is targeting to have sales of 150,000 407s across Europe by the end of 2004. The 407 saloon car sells in the UK for around £15/16,000.
Scheduled Seaplane Service?
Loch Lomond Seaplanes is to start trials for a scheduled air service which will connect Bute, Arran and Inveraray with Glasgow, possibly landing at the Braehead Shopping Centre or Yorkhill Quay. The journey time from the Firth of Clyde and the destinations in Argyll would only be 20 minutes, instead of the present, lengthy road trip - three hours to Lochgilphead on the Mull of Kintyre. Since this is the first seaplane service in the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority is having to redraft legislation to take account of the proposed service. The Cessna aircraft can carry five passengers and can land on either water or land. Trials to test noise levels are being made.
Clansman Italia
A few weeks ago, there was an item in this Newsletter about Michael Lemetti, who is proud of both his Scottish and Italian roots. As a result, he has recently registered the design for an Italian national tartan with the Scottish Tartans Authority. The businessman, who owns a fish and chip shop amongst his other interests, has now set up a Web site through which he will be able to sell Italian tartan ties, scarves/sashes, kilts, trousers and ladies kilted skirts to those around the world who also have Scottish and Italian connections. Mr Lemetti plans to give all the players in the AC Milan team (and Silvio Berlusconi the Italian Prime Minister and owner of the football team) an Italian tartan scarf when they come to Glasgow to play Celtic in the Champions League. He has already presented one of the ties to Rocco Forte, who owns the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh - a picture of the hotel magnate adorns the Web site! Rocco says that his father used to always put on a Tam o’ Shanter (or was that a Tommaso Shanter) when England were playing Scotland and went along to the match, supporting Scotland. See www.clansmanitalia.com/.
Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November
After Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605, a relieved government passed a law compelling people to celebrate 5 November and it took until 1859 before the law was repealed. By that time compulsion was no longer required and celebration of Guy Fawkes Night passed into the annual calendar with the lighting of bonfires (with an effigy of Guy Fawkes on top) and, in post-war years, the sale of fireworks and sparklers. However, in recent years the volume of noise and the number of injuries has got out of hand and legislation has been passed to curtail the excesses. New laws ban youngsters under 18 from buying or having fireworks and the sale of fireworks is now restricted to 3 weeks before and 5 days after 5 November. That seems to have reduced considerably the indiscriminate use of fireworks, day and night, during the weeks running up to 5 November. The sale of fireworks producing over 120 decibels are banned (though some people are still illegally importing such bangers from abroad). It is also now against the law to set off fireworks after 11pm (midnight on 5 November) and amazingly that seems to have been largely obeyed. So domestic pets and wild animals (far less human beings) will not be frightened out of their wits by explosions in the wee small hours of the morning. It should also reduce the number of people injured over the four week period around Guy Fawkes day - 1,136 in the UK 2003. Oh for the days of sparklers and a few Roman candles....
Cabbies Get Customer Care Lessons
Glasgow's 6,000 taxi and private car hire drivers are to get lessons in customer care which, it is hoped, will turn them into ambassadors for the city. The training will include improving courtesy, dealing with foreign visitors, providing better services for the disabled and learning basic first aid. They will also be given training on "selling" Glasgow to tourists and improving their knowledge of the city's attractions. When drivers' three-year licence comes up for renewal, the drivers will be required to take the one-day course.
Otters Return to Glasgow
After an absence of nearly 20 years, there is evidence of the return of otters in the river Cart in Pollok Country Park in Glasgow and they have also been spotted in the river Kelvin, another tributary of the river Clyde. As the water in the rivers has improved from the days of industrial pollution, fish were the first to recolonise the waters. But it was not long before natural predators came back too. Shoppers at the Braehead Shopping Mall who take time out to walk along the riverbank at Renfrew can sometimes see cormorants and herons diving for fish and also seals (which bask on a mud bank further up-river where it is joined by the river Kelvin).
Keith Clan Chief Dies
The 13th Earl of Kintore, the chief of the Clan Keith, died last Saturday at his home in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, aged 65. As well as spending much of his life promoting the spirit of his clan, he was a stockbroker, insurance broker and a consultant for Christie's, the London auction house. His ancestor, John Keith, was the younger brother of William Keith, Earl Marischal of Scotland. The Keiths were involved when the Honours of Scotland were successfully smuggled from Dunottar Castle to avoid them being seized by Oliver Cromwell. Later, John's mother successfully petitioned King Charles II for a reward for her son for his role in saving the Scottish regalia, and he was granted the earldom of Kintore. The coat of arms (used to this day) has a quarter showing the Scottish crown jewels. In 2002, the Earl of Kintore and David Irvine of Drum signed a peace treaty bringing to an end a feud between the two families which had lasted 600 years. The new clan chief and 14th Earl of Kintore will be Jamie, son of the 13th Earl.
President Gives First Lady A Scottie for Her Birthday
Newly re-elected President Bush may not have named his team for the White House but headline writers had a field day when it was announced that the US President had given his wife another Scottish terrier for her birthday. "New Puppy to Prance at White House" and "Newest Addition to White House Family" vied with "White House to hear the patter of little paws". Somewhat inaccurately, as Beazley is actually the second Scottish terrier owned by the Bushes (the first is named Barney - not exactly a name straight from the Highlands) was "Prez adds First Pup." Perhaps the best was "Bush and First Lady: Call It Puppy Love".
Voted Edinburgh's Ugliest Building - Again
Perhaps it was inevitable that the St James Centre in Edinburgh should become the capital's most disliked building. After all, the design was the winner of a competition backed by Edinburgh City Council in the 1960s. Last year it was voted as one of the ten worst architectural eyesores in Britain by readers of Country Life magazine - and nobody leapt to its defence. Now the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has suggested the creation of a new "X-list" status - the opposite of the protective A and B-listed system allocated to important buildings which should be preserved. The X-list would be for buildings which should be demolished - and the St James Centre is one of ten eyesores across the UK which have "won" this accolade. RIBA suggest that such buildings should be given tax incentives to encourage their replacement. A panel of Edinburgh architects and high-profile figures in the capital were asked recently to nominate a building for a new TV series called Demolition - the reverse of the BBC show Restoration - to find Britain's worst building and reduce it to rubble. The panel had no great difficulty in choosing the St James Centre. The massive intrusion on the city's skyline is split into three parts - the actual St James shopping complex on the ground floor, the adjoining Thistle Hotel and office blocks above, which used to be occupied by the Scottish Office before devolution. Despite being so ugly, the shopping mall attracts 300,000 people a week. Of course, once they are inside, they don't see the monstrosity above.
Weather in Scotland This Week
The best that could be said about the weather this week was that it was mild for the time of year, with maximum temperatures at the start of the week hovering around 12/13C (54/55F) though Glasgow was a bit chillier later in the week at around 10/11C (50/52). But the heavy cloud, lack of sunshine and frequent showers reminded us of why the Scots still use the word "dreich" to describe such weather. Edinburgh did manage to record 5 hours of sunshine on Thursday, but that was the exception. However, the weather forecasters are predicting a better start to next week, with sun symbols prominently displayed for Monday to Wednesday. But they have a nasty habit of changing their minds on such things as the forecasts become closer!
This week's illustrations of current flowers in Scotland were hard to obtain this week because of the consistently poor weather. So I resorted to taking pictures in my own garden in suburban Glasgow. Despite being November, there are still a fair number of flowers combatting the gloom, including the Antirrhinum, one of the annual bedding plants which has been flowering for some months. Below, the white heather is a recent addition which is only just coming into bloom and should continue to provide a splash of white in the coming weeks. Finally, I used to think that Cistus was a delicate plant which only produced flowers in warm weather but this one has been throwing up a succession of new blooms since the summer.
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