>
Click on the picture to see all 12 calendar views...
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
Hamilton have a 3 point advantage over Dundee at the top of the First Division. At the other end of the table, Stirling Albion trail Dunfermline by 2 points.
In the Second Division, Ross County's lead has been cut to just one point over Raith Rovers as a result of the match between the two clubs on Saturday. Berwick Rangers shared the points in the game with Brechin City and so remain 3 points behind the Angus club at the foot of the table.
East Fife are 9 points ahead of Stranraer at the top of the Third Division, with Forfar trailing Dumbarton by 4 points at the foot of the division. Boroughmuir are almost out of sight at the top of the Rugby Division One table, 23 points in front of Heriots. Dundee have fallen to the foot of the table, 1 point behind Glasgow Hutchesons.
Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Blaze on Oil Platform
Memories were aroused of the explosion and fire on the Piper Alpha oil platform in the North Sea in 1988, which killed 167 men, when news reports of another major fire on another platform hit the news wires last Sunday. On this occasion, however, a major rescue operation evacuated most of the 159 crew on board the Thistle Alpha platform, leaving only essential fire-fighters to tackle the blaze. Helicopters from both Scotland and Norway swung into action to move the crew to nearby rigs and a Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Kinloss was scrambled to co-ordinate the operation. All the oil workers were safely evacuated and those remaining on the platform put out the fire after a three hour battle. Thistle Alpha is one of the most remote platforms in the region.
Trump Golf Course in the Rough?
There was a flurry of activity this week after Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee rejected (on the casting vote of its chairman) the plans by US tycoon Donald Trump to create a billion pound golf resort at the Menie Estate on the Aberdeenshire coast. The plan had been earlier approved by local councillors, by seven votes to four, but the infrastructure committee seemed to hit the project into the long grass. However, there appeared to be a public outcry from those who saw the economic benefit of the scheme disappearing to another part of the world. Now a special meeting of the full Aberdeenshire Council has been called to "reconsider" the decision. The time and place of the meeting have yet to be announced. The Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum and the local Chamber of Commerce view the Trump development as a golden opportunity to boost leisure tourism and raise the area's profile around the world. Refusing planning permission was therefore seen by them as a blow to the long-term prosperity of the region. Protesters have claimed that the resort would have a major impact on wildlife and destroy a beautiful part of Scotland. The Trump International Links scheme includes two championship golf courses and 1,500 homes. It is claimed the houses will pay for the development at the 1,400 acre site near Balmedie.
Picture via Wikipedia.
St Andrew's Day
Encouraged by the Scottish Government led by First Minister Alex Salmond, there were events in Scotland's major cities on Friday to mark St Andrews Day - 30 November. Until recently, the day commemorating Scotland's patron saint was celebrated more by Scots abroad than by those at home. The Members of the Scottish Parliament voted last year to back the idea of a national holiday on 30 November. But faced with resistance from employers, the idea was for workers to opt to swap one of their existing bank holidays for a day off on St Andrew's Day. But it appears that few people opted to exchange a day in the spring or autumn for one at the end of November. Supporters of a St Andrew's Day national holiday say it will take time to take effect in the workplace. A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council, the largest employer of Scotland's 32 local authorities, said: "Our public holidays are well established and there are no plans at present to change this." Even so, Friday marked the start of a new "Winter Festival" which will run to Burns' Night at the end of January, taking in Christmas and New Year along the way.
National Health Service in Scotland
Official data published this week shows that government spending on the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland reached a record level of nearly £9 billion. £3.8 billion of that spending related to 110,000 full-time staff, whose overall pay bill increased last year by 4.6%. The cost of prescription drugs was £1.2 billion, even though there are currently item charges paid by patients who are not in one of the categories (such as children or those over 60) entitled to free prescriptions. The government point to improved statistics on waiting times for diagnostic tests and shorter waiting times for inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Road Accident Statistics
Statistics on road accidents and casualties in Scotland in 2006, comparisons with figures for England & Wales and about 30 countries around the world were released this week by Scotland's Chief Statistician. They show that there were 314 deaths on Scotland's roads in 2006 - 10% more than in 2005, but still the fifth lowest figure in the last 50 years. Between 1996 and 2006, the number of road deaths fell by 12%. 2,625 people were reported as seriously injured in 2006 - 1% fewer than in 2005 and the lowest number since the current series began in 1950. Between 1996 and 2006, killed and seriously injured casualties (combined) fell by 33%. In 2005 (the latest year for which full figures are available) Scotland's overall road death rate of 56 per million population was the sixth lowest of the 31 countries for which figures are available. Between 1996 and 2006, vehicle numbers increased by almost a third, from 1.97 million to 2.59 million.
Distinctive Scotland Census
After consultation with the Scottish Government ministers, the Registrar General has announced that Scotland will move away from the combined census system with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in England and Wales to allow a census that is more aligned to Scotland's needs. There have been calls for more questions tailored to record and reflect Scotland's individual demographic needs. Most questions will remain standard, but there is now room for new and separate questions if a need is identified. Since 1881, the census has included a question for Scotland on Gaelic, asking people if they can understand, speak, read or write the language. But the next census could incorporate questions on, for example, how many people consider themselves Scots, rather than Gaelic, language speakers, and questions on race and ethnicity may be more tailored to suit the pattern of immigration in Scotland.
"Welcome to Scotland"
When the Scottish National Party formed the new Scottish Government in May, one of their early pronouncements was to get rid of the slogan "Scotland - the best small country in the world" which had been introduced by his predecessor. Six months later, there was some surprise this week when it was announced that the replacement "modern, distinctive and moving forward" slogan to greet visitors at Scotland's major airports would be nothing more exciting than "Welcome to Scotland" and images representing Scotland's landscape, its people, history and achievements. As one cartoonist put it the following day "Welcome to Scotland - probably not the best wee country in the world for slogans". Marketing experts have suggested more helpfully that even "Scotland Welcomes You" would have conveyed a better and more welcoming, personal message to new arrivals.
Train Fares Rise by 4.8%
First ScotRail, which operates 95% of the train services between Scotland's towns and cities, has announced that fares on routes outside Strathclyde will be increased by 4.8% when tickets on regulated and unregulated services rise from January 2 next year. The increase equates to the rise on the Retail Price Index plus 1%, which is permitted under the operator's franchise agreement. A number of fares are being frozen, including standard open returns on the Edinburgh and Glasgow to Inverness services. Train fare rises in Strathclyde are due to be announced in spring. Each year, First ScotRail carries around 79 million passengers and there has been growth in that figure of 17% in the last three years.
Major Restructuring Plans by Edinburgh City Council
Up to 1,000 jobs are expected to be lost as a result of restructuring by Edinburgh City Council in its management and IT services. The city is collaborating with neighbouring local authorities to merge posts, although it is thought that only a handful of jobs will be lost in Fife and the Borders. However, a large proportion of the posts which will go are currently filled by agency staff and the bulk of the jobs will be "leached through natural wastage". The council claims that the proposals are "part of a programme which aims to improve the efficiency and quality of council services across Scotland."
Gains and Losses on Scotland's Air Routes
There was disappointment in the north-east of Scotland this week when British Airways announced that it was to pull out of its service between Aberdeen and London (Gatwick) at the end of next March. But nimble, low-cost airlines reckon that they can provide a profitable service on the route and regional airline Flybe immediately announced that it wanted to take over the route. Flybe is to begin a service from Aberdeen to Southampton and Jersey in the Channel Islands next year. And the airline is also to launch new routes from Inverness to Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton. Flybe's positive news may have helped to overcome its mistake on promotional literature published earlier in the month - a map showed Inverness suspiciously close to Edinburgh, 150 miles further south...
University of the West of Scotland
Scotland's newest university was launched back in August, following a £21million merger between Paisley University and Bell College in Hamilton, making it the fourth largest in Scotland. But for technical reasons it was not able to use its new name - University of the West of Scotland - until this week. Politicians and others in Paisley were unhappy about the name change and the loss of the town's name in the title, but the new institution believed that "the name University of the West of Scotland reflects the institution's clear regional focus and commitment to enabling people across the West of Scotland to overcome geographical barriers to gain access to degree-level education." It will have 18,000 students and include Scotland's largest school of health, nursing and midwifery, with almost 5000 students. There are plans to invest more than £160 million in the new university, which will employ 2,000 staff.
Diamond Launch on Clyde
5,000 schoolchildren travelled to the BAE Systems shipyard at Govan on Tuesday to witness the launch of HMS Diamond, the Royal Navy's third Type 45 destroyer to be built on the Clyde as part of a £6 billion programme to supply six of the warships. HMS Daring was launched in February 2006 and HMS Dauntless in January 2007. They will come into service in 2009 and 2010. The ships are fitted with state-of-the-art technology, including the Principal Anti-Air Missile System, which can provide airspace cover for hundreds of miles. The Clyde yards will also build HMS Defender, Dragon and Duncan.
Black Watch Based in Fort George
The military base of Fort George may have been built after the defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden in 1746 and is also a major tourist attraction in the Inverness and Moray Firth area, but it is still used by the British Army as a permanent home for its troops. The latest soldiers to take up residence are the men of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Black Watch have been serving in Iraq and Fort George will become their new home early in the New Year.
More Investment from Lithuanian Banker
Lithuanian banking tycoon Vladimir Romanov, who already owns Heart of Midlothian Football Club in Edinburgh, has revealed that he is to create a 5-star hotel on the site of the former HQ of the Royal Bank of Scotland in the centre of the Capital. He purchased 42 St Andrew Square and an adjoining building on West Register Street, creating a total floor area of over 85,000 square feet. When the building was bought, there was some mystery about what Romanov was going to do with it. The purchase price was rumoured to be £20 million and the hotel plans announced this week for an "outstanding development" are likely to require another £15 million. Romanov (who recently appeared on a Lithuanian TV show modelled on "Come Dancing" and wearing a kilt) is due to open a branch of his Ukio bank in Castle Street in Edinburgh early next year.
Carbuncle Crown for Coatbridge
It's the contest nobody wants to win. A few years back, a minor architecture magazine that few had heard of before, launched an "award" for the worst town centre in Scotland. The candidates are nominated by the public and a short list is drawn up, with the winners selected by an on-line vote (often a dubious way of reaching a result). This year, the town that got the most votes was Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire. The "Carbuncle" award has previously been won by Cumbernauld (twice) and Airdrie - both also in North Lanarkshire. The local Member of the Scottish Parliament said that the award was an "insult to the good people of the town". She added "This is nothing more than a patronising publicity stunt. Those at Prospect magazine should get out of their ivory tower and come and tour my Coatbridge and see it's a great place." She was handed the award while being interviewed in Drumpellier Country Park, which is adjacent to Coatbridge.
Weather in Scotland This Week
It was mainly cloudy this week, with some showers and heavier spells of rain. The exception to the unrelenting cloud cover was on Thursday, when the sun shone for much of the day in many parts of the country. The east also fared better on Saturday, with some sunshine breaking through. Maximum daytime temperatures were mainly in the range 5/7C (41/45F) although Aberdeen only managed to reach just above 4C (39F) on Monday and Tuesday. On the other hand, Edinburgh achieved an above average 12C (54F) on Friday.
The photo here is of a Poinsettia (named after Joel Roberts Poinsett who is buried in Sumter County, South Carolina) flowering in the glass houses of Kelvingrove Botanic Garden, Glasgow
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 Christmas lights in George Square in Glasgow; Ceiling of Light at Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Glasgow; Orchids at Kelvingrove Botanic Garden; Pelargonium (also known as geraniums) - see thumbnail here. See This Week's Colour Supplement.
Edzell Castle Mysteries
The garden at Edzell Castle in Angus, surrounded by a remarkable series of sculptured panels on its walls, was created in 1604 by Sir David Lindsay. His intention was to create a stimulus for both the mind and the senses with not just a selection of plants and flowers but niches for sculptures and flowers around the walls with representations of "Planetary Deities" and "Liberal Arts" as well as the "Cardinal Virtues". The sculptures were created by a Flemish Renaissance master Maarten de Vos which have become famous as one of Scotland's most remarkable feats of Renaissance art. But lots of questions about the 14 that depict the liberal arts and cardinal virtues could not be answered as nothing was known about the artistic source from which the stonemason drew inspiration. So there was no way of knowing what missing or broken panels might have looked like, or of explaining certain oddities about the carvings. For example, why are the scales of Justice tipped to the right when they should be evenly balanced and "Dialectic" (the art of argument) looked as though she had a tiny man in her hand, who was poking a bird with a big stick! See illustration here. Now Historic Scotland has found copies of engravings of the original designs by Maarten de Vos in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum. This work has revealed, for example that Music was supposed to be elegant, with long braided hair, and that Astronomy was young and beautiful. But although the missing details of the sculptures have been established, the meaning and intent of some of the designs still largely remain a mystery.
Auchindoun Castle Reopens to Public
Historic Scotland has recently completed a three-year programme of safety and conservation work at Auchindoun Castle, a medieval hill-top fortress near Dufftown, in Moray. The public have been unable to gain access to the building since the 1960s due to the danger of falling masonry. Skilled stone masons from Historic Scotland’s Monument Conservation Unit have consolidated the walls of the four-storey castle, using traditional materials and methods. The castle stands within the ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort and was built for John, earl of Mar, in the 15th century. But he was later murdered by his own brother, King James III. The castle then passed to Thomas Cochrane, one of the king’s favourites. He also came to an unpleasant end when he was hanged from Lauder Bridge in 1482 by jealous nobles led by Archibald "Bell-the-Cat" Douglas, earl of Angus. The castle later became a stronghold of the Gordons but was torched by the Mackintoshes in 1591. Although repaired, it was finally abandoned in the 18th century.
Photograph of Auchindoun Castle courtesy of the Scotavia> © Web site.
Next Week in Scottish History
Tickets Unsold for Edinburgh Hogmanay Party
It used to be that tickets for Edinburgh's Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) street party were snapped up within days of becoming available. But demand for passes is believed to be well down on previous years, after two of the last four celebrations fell victim to poor weather conditions. Tickets for the main event on Princes Street are normally all snapped up by the end of October, but officials say there are still plenty available, just over a month before the festivities. Tickets for the Concert in the Gardens are also said to be moving sluggishly, despite the event boasting a strong line-up with Kasabian, Calvin Harris and Idlewild on the bill. Guesthouse operators and leading hotels in the city have said bookings are well down on last year.
Tartan Army Let Down by Terrestrial TV
Scottish football fans will not be able to see Scotland's home or away games in the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches on terrestrial TV as a result of subscription channels Sky and Setanta. Fans who can't get to the matches and want to see the live games will have to pay a connection fee and around £10 a month to see Scotland's games against Holland, Norway, Macedonia and Iceland. Of course, many supporters will go to bars which pay hefty fees to allow them to show the games on their premises. The BBC will be able to show edited highlights of the matches after they have ended.
Getting the Message Right
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which has welcomed its four millionth visitor since its reopening last year, won an award this week for the outstanding way it communicates with its visitors. The Interpret Britain and Ireland Award recognises "the art of helping people explore and appreciate our world". The judges said that Kelvingrove offered "A lively, engaging and eclectic series of displays that are proving very popular with visitors and local people alike. The displays use a lightness of touch and a sense of humour, which help take any stuffiness out of a museum visit, particularly in galleries like Every Picture Tells a Story. Overall, the new displays and visitor provision at Kelvingrove are exciting and engaging and seem to be working well for its visitors - evidenced by the number and variety of users during our visit."
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.
Burns Nicht in Texas
The Scottish Society of San Antonio, Texas, will be hosting its 35th annual Burns Nicht at the NCO Club at Fort Sam Houston, on January 26th 2008.The menu is sumptuous, including Scotch trifle and, of course, haggis accompanied by the traditional "neeps". Entertainment is by Campbell & Wilson and the Scottish Society Highland dancers followed by dancing 'til the wee hours.... For all the details, see Scottish Society of San Antonio.
Sunday Football Results
Gretna 1 Heart of Midlothian 1
European Champions League / Uefa Cup Group Matches
VfB Stuttgart 3 Rangers 2
Celtic 2 Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 1
Atletico Madrid 2 Aberdeen 0Clydesdale Bank Premierleague Results - 1 December 2007
Dundee United 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
Heart of Midlothian 1 Celtic 1
Motherwell 3 Gretna 0
Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 0
St Mirren 1 Falkirk 5
Aberdeen v Hibernian will be played on Sunday.Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Results - 1 December 2007
Clyde 0 Queen of the South 0
Dunfermline 0 Dundee 1
Greenock Morton 2 Livingston 2
Partick Thistle 2 St Johnstone 2
Stirling Albion 2 Hamilton 4Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 1 December 2007
Ayr United 1 Cowdenbeath 4
Brechin City 2 Berwick Rangers 2
Peterhead 0 Airdrie United 1
Queens Park 1 Alloa 0
Ross County 2 Raith Rovers 3Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 1 December 2007
Albion Rovers 3 Elgin 4
Arbroath 3 Forfar 4
East Fife 2 Montrose 0
Stenhousemuir 2 Dumbarton 1
Stranraer 2 East Stirling 1Scottish Hydro Electric Rugby Division One Results - 1 December 2007
Ayr 24 Heriots 17
Boroughmuir 61 Stirling County 3
Currie 22 Watsonians 10
Edinburgh Academicals 18 Glasgow Hawks 15
Glasgow Hutchesons 38 Hawick 17
Melrose 17 Dundee 13League Tables
Celtic now have just a one point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier as a result of their draw with Hearts. Hibernian and Dundee United lie 5 points behind Rangers. Gretna remain fixed at the foot of the SPL, with a 9 point margin separating them from St Mirren, despite managing to draw with Hearts last Sunday.
Scotland Face Netherlands
The draw for the 2010 Football World Cup was made in South Africa this week. The top-seeded country in Scotland's group is Netherlands, with Norway, Iceland and Macedonia also in Group 9. Scotland is in the only group that has just 5 countries - all other groups have six. Netherlands are ranked 9th in the football world rankings, so there are other teams that could have pose an even bigger challenge. Scotland have risen in the rankings as a result of a series of good results in the Euro2008 competition, just failing to qualify. Norway are ranked 28, Macedonia 59 and Iceland 89. Only the teams finishing top in each group automatically qualify for the finals, with the best eight runners-up facing play-offs for the remaining four places.
Scotland's National Football Manager Departs
Alex McLeish, who was appointed as Scotland manager in January of this year, has carried on the good work which had been achieved by his predecessor, Walter Smith. So there was disappointment amongst the Tartan Army when it was announced this week that McLeish had resigned so that he could take up the post of managing English Premier League side Birmingham. The deal was concluded shortly after McLeish returned from South Africa where he had been attending the draw for the 2010 Football World Cup. The prestige of managing the successful national side had clearly not been enough to outweigh a rumoured tripling of his annual salary by moving to the English Premier club, which is struggling near the relegation zone.
VfB Stuttgart 3 Rangers 2
Stuttgart had lost all four of their Champions League matches this season, and not scored a goal in their last three home matches in the competition, losing all three. Rangers' defeat by FC Barcelona in the previous group match ended a nine-game unbeaten sequence in the Champions League. But this is football, and Stuttgart, playing only for pride, edged ahead of Rangers in the penultimate match of the group stage. The result means that Rangers have to win or draw in their final Champions League match against Lyon to progress to the knockout stages. The match is being played at Ibrox and in the away match against Lyon, Rangers won 3-0, so there is some optimism that they will win through. But this is football....
Celtic 2 Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 1
Despite losing an early goal, Celtic fought back to win their European Champions League Group D match and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage. If Celtic lose their last match in Milan, they will miss out on the knockout stages if Shakhtar beat Benfica at home. That would leave Celtic and Shakhtar both with nine points, but the Ukrainians would go through on head-to-head, having beaten Celtic 2-0 at home and lost only 2-1 at Parkhead. AC Milan have already qualified and will therefore be playing against Celtic for pride - and avoiding Celtic heading the Group if the Parkhead side were to win.
Atletico Madrid 2 Aberdeen 0
Aberdeen's hopes of qualifying for the next stage of the Uefa Cup look slim after losing 2-0 to Spanish side Atletico Madrid. After three games, the Dons have just one point, have scored just one goal - and lost six. They currently sit at the foot of their group but still have an outside chance of claiming one of the three qualifying slots in Group B. But they have to defeat FC Copenhagen in their final match and hope that other results go their way.
Celtic Cup For 2009
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland football associations have agreed "in principle" to play a series of three biennial "Celtic Cup" tournaments, starting in 2009. The competition will be arranged on a league basis, with home and away games rotated from one tournament to the next, with each team playing three matches in each of the competitions. England have declined to participate in any such "home" tournament - the annual fixtures which made up a Home Championship, which included England but not the Republic of Ireland, was last staged in 1984.
Scotland Win Golf World Cup
Golfers Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren won the World Cup for Scotland for the first time last weekend. They defeated Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum of the United States on the third extra hole on the Olazabal course in south-east China. The Scots finished their final round with a six-under-par 66 for a 25-under 263 total. The US pair birdied the 18th to set up the play-off. The Americans had been in the lead in the three previous rounds and were disappointed with their performance on the last day.