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
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Scots Abroad
Sport
In the First Division, Hamilton are three points in the lead over Dundee. St Johnstone are a further 9 points behind in third place. Stirling Albion trail in the Third Division, 2 points adrift from Dunfermline and Queen of the South.
There have been no games in the Second Division since 10 November, so positions are unchanged. Ross County are in the lead, 4 points ahead of Raith Rovers, while Berwick Rangers remain at the foot of the division, 3 points behind Brechin.
In the Third Division, East Fife are far out in front, 9 points ahead of Stranraer, while Forfar bring up the rear, 7 points behind Dumbarton. In the Rugby Division One, Boroughmuir are 19 points ahead of Heriots, while Glasgow Hutchesons remain at the foot of the table, 3 points adrift from Dundee.
Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
First Round to Donald Trump
There are many more stages involved in the planning process before US entrepreneur Donald Trumps billion pound golf resort on the Aberdeenshire coast gets the go-ahead. But this week he won the first round, when local councillors granted outline planning approval for the development by seven votes to four. The US billionaire has said he wants to build "the world's greatest" golf attraction over the next five years at the 1,400 acre Menie Estate near Balmedie. Although business leaders have welcomed the plans, because of the economic benefit it might bring to the area, environmentalists and some local residents claim the resort will destroy the landscape. They argue that areas such as this are a vital part of our environment that should be protected for the benefit of wildlife and people for generations to come. The next step is Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee. Eventually, the approval process is likely to involve the Scottish Government in Edinburgh - where First Minister Alex Salmond is a strong supporter. The Trump International Links scheme includes two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 36 golf villas.
Warning of Another Terrorist Attack
Strathclyde Police's new chief constable took up his new post this week - and immediately warned that another terrorist attack in Scotland is almost inevitable. He said that his force will have to be constantly prepared to react to a similar attack to the one in which a car exploded in flames as it was rammed into Glasgow Airport in June this year. He had watched that incident from London and commented on how impressed he had been at the way it had been dealt with and the good relations which existed between the local police and minority groups.
Air Passenger Numbers Soar
The number of travellers using Scotland's five largest airports has been rising rapidly in the last 15 years. Edinburgh grew fastest, rising from 2.5 million in 1992 to 8.6 million currently, with international scheduled routes increasing from ten to 45. Glasgow saw passenger numbers grow from 4.3 to 8.8 million in the same period. The number of passengers using Prestwick grew from an almost invisible 95,000 to 2.4 million - much of it due to Irish airline Ryanair using the terminal as a hub to European destinations. The growth in recent years has been assisted by the Scottish Government's "Route Development Fund" (RDF) which provides subsidies for airlines in the early years of new services. The new administration elected in May has decided to scrap the RDF for new entrants, arguing that they have to "strike the right balance between sustainable economic growth and the needs of our environment." The decision will also allow finance to be redirected to other areas.
More Concerns Over Forth Road Bridge
Engineers reported this week that work must be done to prove the structural integrity of cable anchorages on the Forth Road Bridge. The cost and engineering implications of this latest finding are now to be assessed, with a report expected early next year. The news adds fuel to the debate about a new crossing for the river Forth. It is expected that a second bridge (or tunnel) would operate alongside the existing one. Equipment has already been installed to dry out suspension cables which were being affected by rust and the cost of a 15-year programme to upgrade the bridge currently stands at around £107 million. Motorists have already been warned that the bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction for weeks at a time, starting in April 2009, to replace the roadway's main expansion joins, now reaching the end of their life after 43 years wear and tear.
Deadliest Roads in the Highlands
A survey the European Road Assessment Partnership has found that eight out of ten of Scotland's worst roads can be found in the north of Scotland. The study looked at the number of serious and fatal collisions between 2000 and 2005 in relation to road length and traffic volume. It found that the A99 from Latheron to Wick came out worst and the second worst road, according to the statistics, was the A82 between Tyndrum and Tarbet - a route labelled the "gateway to the Highlands". The chairman of the Highland Council's transport, environmental and community services committee suggested that the region's geography was a contributing factor. He pointed out that the Highlands cover an area the size of Belgium but with a population of just over 200,000 and with a greater road network to manage. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said that driver behaviour, and a lack of experience, particularly among younger drivers, is often a key factor. But that is true about all parts of the country, not just the Highlands.
"Inspiring Capital" No More?
Edinburgh City Council is reported to be considering dropping their "Inspiring Capital" logo and branding which was unveiled just over two years ago, in May 2005. It was designed by a London-based agency at a cost of £800,000. The brand has had little impact since then - although it is always difficult to quantify the benefit of such marketing. But unlike the "Glasgow - Scotland with Style" promotion, which is seen on many occasions across the city and on marketing material, the "Inspiring Capital" logo seems to have been almost invisible since it was launched.
Scottish History Included in Top Exam
In 2005, Professor Tom Devine, the nation's foremost contemporary historian, described as a "national disgrace" the lack of a compulsory question on Scotland in the Higher Leaving Certificate exam on history. He said that Scotland was the only country in Europe with a national history that was not compulsory in school. While the Higher History exam always had Scottish questions, they were in topics that weren't commonly studied by schools, which mostly opted to teach the later modern period - such as suffragettes. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has also been lobbied by other interested bodies to rectify the situation and now, at last, the SQA has decided to introduce a revised Higher paper in the 2010-11 school year, which will feature a compulsory section on Scottish history. The content is still under consideration, but topics could include the 1286-1329 Wars of Independence, migration and Scotland's role in the Empire and the Act of Union. History teachers and academics welcomed the changes.
Award for Clyde Arc
The Clyde Arc bridge over the river Clyde (known locally as the Squinty Bridge because it crosses the water diagonally) opened in 2006 and has been praised for its attractive design (but slated for its confusing road markings and turning restrictions). Recently it was recognised by the Saltire Society which has given it a Civil Engineering Award. The society said the bridge was a state-of-the-art structure and an elegant addition to the skyline in Glasgow. The Saltire Society includes in its aims enhancing the quality of Scotland's contribution to all the arts and sciences by encouraging creativity, inventiveness, and the achievement of the highest standards of excellence in these fields. Other projects commended at the awards ceremony included BBC Scotland's headquarters at Pacific Quay (which was the catalyst for the Clyde Arc being built in the first place) and the Lairig Eilde Bridge replacement on the A82 road in Glencoe.
School Pupil Statistics
Scotland's Chief Statistician published this week a range of data relating to pupils in and outwith the country's schools. The total number of pupils receiving publicly funded school education is projected to decrease steadily from 700,000 in 2006, to 660,000 in 2013 and then rise until peaking at 680,000 in 2022. There were 1,172 pupils educated outwith school due to health or other issues and 703 known to be educated outwith school due to parental choice. 318 of the 376 secondary schools had an average class size of 20 or less in the Maths and English classes in the first two years of secondary education (ages 12/13).
Hidden Car Park Plan
More than a dozen firms are said to be bidding to build and operate a hidden car park in the street in front of the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Vehicles would be lowered underground and parked and retrieved automatically. The street's existing 89 parking bays would be replaced by 100 underground spaces - leaving the historic street clear of the clutter of parked cars. t is hoped similar car parks could be built at other sites such as the West End or George Street, if the initiative proves to be a success. Similar car parks already operate in other cities across Europe such as Rome and Milan. It takes an average of just 50 seconds per vehicle to either park or retrieve a car. Work on the project is scheduled to start late next year and take 18 months to complete - creating severe disruption in the street during the building phase.
Edinburgh Zoo - In Glasgow?
The management of Edinburgh Zoo has confirmed that it is looking at the possibility of opening a satellite animal park in Glasgow - and the city councillors there have said that they are willing to do whatever they can to help the visitor attraction find a base in the west. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the owners of Edinburgh Zoo, recently suffered a rejection of their plans to sell off land to a housing developer to provide much needed finance to fund a £72 million expansion of the 100-year-old visitor attraction. It was claimed that the decision put the future of Edinburgh's conservation, research and education programme at threat. Edinburgh Zoo denies that it would ever leave the Capital, but looking at another site in Glasgow for expansion may be seen as a way of applying pressure on Edinburgh City Council. Glasgow's own zoo closed in 2003 with debts of over £5 million, but it was in a poor location and lack of finance meant that the animals were not kept in suitable accommodation. Edinburgh Zoo, on the other hand, currently covers 82 acres, attracts 650,000 visitors a year and is on one of the main arteries into the Capital.
New Banknotes Cause Problems
From time to time, the three Scottish commercial banks that issue their own banknotes produce a new design, usually to incorporate even more sophisticated security features to thwart potential forgers, as well as for marketing reasons. Unlike nearly every other country in the world where only the government issues banknotes through a central bank, Scotland has perpetuated the privilege of Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank being allowed to put their own notes into circulation. Within Scotland, around 95% of the banknotes we use every day are from these three banks (Bank of England notes make up the remainder). Recently, Bank of Scotland introduced a new design, incorporating a new metallic security thread, new holograms and strengthened corners to help them last longer. Their introduction will have followed rigorous testing and liaison with the other banks. But despite all that planning and the cutting-edge design, they are causing problems with a large number of automated machines in car parks, air terminals and vending machines that accept banknotes. The machines have to be reprogrammed to recognise the new notes - and that all takes time. The Scottish Parliament restaurant is one of the places where the machines just spit out the new notes - and the tourist attraction "Our Dynamic Earth" across the road refuses to recognise the notes in their underground car park. Most machines will eventually be updated, but some older and cheaper machines may never recognise the new cash because they do not have enough memory to be reprogrammed with a new set of notes. It will take about three years for the £800 million of the old-style Bank of Scotland notes to be replaced.
Jellyfish Invasion
Salmon farmers on the west coast of Scotland have been warned to look out for an invasion of stinging jellyfish which has already wiped out 100,000 salmon worth £1 million at a fish farm in Northern Ireland. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said it has received reports this month of millions of baby mauve stinger and compass jellyfish being seen in "blooms" off Skye, Eigg, Ullapool and in the sea near Durness in the far north of Sutherland. The creatures are normally found in the Mediterranean and are relatively harmless in small numbers. But the jellyfish can be deadly when massed in vast quantities. As well as using their sting, jellyfish can kill caged fish by using up oxygen in the water. The jellyfish in Northern Ireland covered an estimated sea area of ten square miles and 35 feet deep.
Sea Eagle Population Soars
A programme begun 30 years ago to reintroduce sea eagles into Scotland has proved to be very successful, with around 200 birds and 42 territorial breeding pairs of Britain's biggest raptor now to be seen. This year saw the numbers increase as 24 successful pairs fledged a total of 34 young birds. The numbers of sea eagles now give tourists and wildlife enthusiasts the best-ever chance of seeing these spectacular birds, which are sometimes referred to as "flying barn doors" due to their size. The birds are concentrated in Skye, Mull and the Western Isles. Their range is expanding, however, and breeding pairs have established territories as far south as the islands off Argyll and west on to the mainland in the Highland district of Lochaber. The final phase of the programme saw fifteen chicks from Norway released in Fife at the beginning of August. Up to 20 young birds will be released there each year for the next four years.
Picture via Wikipedia.
Weather in Scotland This Week
The early part of the week saw a lot of cloud and some showers and temperatures mainly in the range 7/9C (45/49F). Heavy rain on Wednesday across much of the country caused severe problems, including a number of road accidents and some roads in Aberdeenshire had to be closed due to flooding. By Thursday night there were clear skies - and temperatures plunging below freezing. On Friday, the clear skies and sunshine, but temperatures struggled to reach a maximum of 4/5C (39/41F).
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 an atmospheric picture of the sunset at Drumpellier Country Park in North Lanarkshire (see thumbnail here); long spikes of small yellow flowers of Mahonia; Great Hall in Stirling Castle; bright yellow blooms of the Welsh Poppy; an almost full moon rising above the leafless trees. See This Week's Colour Supplement.
Storm Reveals More on Newark Castle
The original tower house of Newark Castle on the banks of the river Clyde at Port Glasgow dates from the 15th century and was built by the Maxwell family who were Lords of Newark until 1694. In the 1590s Patrick Maxwell added a splendid Renaissance three-storey mansion to the original building. It is not known what was on the site of Newark Castle before it was constructed, but archaeologists have been given an unexpected insight into what might have preceded the stone structure. Last year, gale-force winds damaged the roof, revealing the oak timbers. Experts discovered that the wood had pre-dated the rest of the building and it is now suspected that it was taken from an older building on the same site. The older structure may have been demolished and the timbers used in the construction in the late 15th century. A specialist in dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) will help Historic Scotland to piece the jigsaw puzzle together. Not only can the wood be precisely dated, but cut marks can be used to suggest the shape of the roof and the building from which they had been taken.
A History of Cruising on Loch Ness
A new book has been published which records the history of the steam boats which have sailed on Loch Ness for commerce and pleasure for more than a 180 years. The first Loch Ness steamer, Stirling Castle, was introduced in 1820 to sail between Inverness and Fort Augustus following the opening of the eastern part of the Caledonian Canal. Among the owners of that steamship were Henry Bell, who in 1812 operated Europe's first commercial steamboat on the Clyde, and Thomas Telford, who supervised the building of the canal. By the middle of the 19th century, rival companies were operating on the canal and the route became even more popular after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made the trip in 1847. Nowadays, the Jacobite Queen sails from Inverness to Urquhart Castle and there are scores of cabin cruisers rented by holidaymakers.
Photograph courtesy of the Scotavia> © Web site.
Next Week in Scottish History
Winter Wonderland
18,000 people gathered in Glasgow's George Square last Sunday to see the Christmas lights being switched on, followed by a firework display. This year, new environmentally friendly illuminations have been added to the display, creating even more to admire. Work on creating the ice rink in the middle of the square is not yet complete, so the full effect is not yet visible. Indeed, as the city council tries to cram more and more into George Square over the festive season, with a sound stage for the Hogmanay event and catering for the skaters, the traditional Christmas tree and decorations are losing some of their magic.
Monster Hogmanay
The full programme for Edinburgh's four-day Hogmanay (New Year) celebrations was published this week and it looks like a monster celebration - with giant beasts modelled on mythological creatures taking to the streets of the Capital. The giant monsters will join a mix of musical performers and ten European street theatre companies, with entertainment taking place over several stages on George Street. Organisers claim this year's Hogmanay will be the biggest and best yet, following the disappointment of last year when the street party again fell foul of the weather and had to be cancelled. The full programme sees massive ceilidhs planned for Princes Street Gardens, the Assembly Rooms and the Queen's Hall. In addition to previously announced performances by indie rock band Kasabian and local heroes Idlewild, acts such as former New Order bassist Peter Hook and singer-songwriter King Creosote will be taking to the stage in Princes Street Gardens on the Hogmanay itself.
New Lease of Life for Theatre
The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow has seen the great names of Scottish showbusiness treading its boards for the last 103 years. From Charlie Chaplin to Billy Connolly, Lulu to Lena Martell, Lex McLean to Rikki Fulton, the Pavilion has seen them all. Now the grand old lady has been "reinvented" as the "Scottish National Theatre of Variety." The move is aimed at encouraging organisations to help fund both new productions and improvements to the theatre. The theatre has survived for over a century without any financial support from government, either national or local. It is hoped that the rebranding will help to raise funds to set up a youth variety theatre school to develop a new generation of all-round entertainers. Not that the Pavilion - a local Glasgow landmark - will disappear. Its name will not change but the Scottish National Theatre of Variety title will be used in promotions and feature on the front of the building.
Six Year Wait for Theatre Revamp
The historic King's Theatre in Edinburgh is in desperate need of upgrading. The work was originally scheduled in 2002, to be completed ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2006, but it failed to secure Scottish Arts Council funding and Edinburgh City Council, which owns the venue, had to abandon the work due to lack of finance. The City Council have admitted that they cannot afford to pay for the start of the long-awaited work until 2010/11 at the earliest. But the theatre management say that unless poor electrical and lighting systems, inadequate toilets and cramped seating are attended to, it will have to close in the next couple of years. Consultants have estimated that a full-scale revamp will cost £19.7 million. Simply carrying out enough work to keep the King's in proper "working order" for the foreseeable future would cost at least £5.3 million.
Click on the picture to see all 12 calendar views...
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.
Annual Fresno Burns Supper
The Scottish Society of Central California is holding its annual Burns Supper on January 26th, 2008 at Love and Garlic, North Diana Court, Fresno, California. Hear about Scotland's bard from Dr Neil McLeod and the entertainment will be headlined by the Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh. Music will be provided by the Fresno Stag and Thistle Pipe Band. "Harps at Play" and Hannah Tarrant's Fresno Highland Dancers will also keep the feet tapping. For more details, see Scottish Society of Central California.
Clydesdale Bank Premierleague Results - 24 November 2007
Celtic 3 Aberdeen 0
Falkirk 1 Rangers 3
Hibernian 2 Dundee United 2
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 St Mirren 0
Kilmarnock 0 Motherwell 1
Gretna v Heart of Midlothian will be played on Sunday.Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Results - 24 November 2007
Dundee 1 Hamilton 0
Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 24 November 2007
Stenhousemuir 4 Forfar 0
Third Round of Scottish Cup - 24 November 2007
Airdrie 1 Queens Park 1
Albion Rovers 1 East Stirling 5
Arbroath 0 Cowdenbeath 1
Brechin City 1 East Fife 1
Clyde 2 Montrose 0
Cove Rangers 1 Edinburgh University 0
Culter 1 Huntly 3
Dumbarton 2 Berwick Rangers 0
Linlithgow 1 Dalbeattie Star 0
Livingston 4 Alloa 0
Greenock Morton 3 Buckie Thistle 2
Partick Thistle 2 Ayr United 1
Peterhead 0 Queen of the South 5
Ross County 3 Whitehill Welfare 0
Stranraer 0 Stirling Albion 6
Threave Rovers 0 Raith Rovers 5Scottish Hydro Electric Rugby Division One Results - 24 November 2007
Dundee 30 Boroughmuir 33
Glasgow Hawks 15 Melrose 9
Hawick 20 Edinburgh Academicals 12
Heriots 28 Glasgow Hutchesons 0
Stirling County 6 Currie 6
Watsonians 10 Ayr 13League Tables
Celtic remain 3 points ahead of Rangers at the top of the SPL, with Hibernian and Dundee United two points further back. Gretna's 4 points so far this season put them 8 points behind Falkirk at the other end of the table.
New Chairman of Celtic
As expected, John Reid, the former Home Secretary in Tony Blair's government, was approved as Celtic's new chairman at the club's annual general meeting this week. He was confirmed as the successor to Brian Quinn, despite a vocal minority who objected because of John Reid's role in supporting the war in Iraq as Secretary of Defence. But of those members voting by proxy, 97.85% backed his appointment. John Reid has been a lifelong supporter of Celtic and he says that being appointed chairman of the club was "the greatest honour of my life."
Picture via Wikipedia.
London Olympics Cause Problems
Sportscotland, the government agency that administers the funding allocated to sport across the country, is facing some hard decisions caused by a £13 million drop in funding over the next few years because of cash from the National Lottery being diverted to the 2012 Olympics being staged in London. The agency says it will have to make choices between supporting elite athletes, new facilities or grassroots sports. There will be pressure to support elite athletes so that Scotland can perform well in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - but that could result in less for other priorities at a time when there is an increased demand for facilities due to both events.
Scotland to Host Euro 2016?
Fresh from the success of landing the staging of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Scottish Government is looking at the possibility of bidding to host the Euro 2016 football finals. A bid to stage Euro 2008 jointly with Ireland failed, partly because of the lack of suitable stadia in the two countries. Scotland would require new or significantly upgraded facilities to meet Uefa's requirements for the tournament. If the number of teams involved rises from the current 16, that could pose additional difficulties. So far, discussions with the Scottish Football Association and government officials are described as "exploratory".