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 loss against Livingston has allowed Dundee to catch up and the two teams are now level at the top of the table. At the other end of the division, Stirling Albion trail Dunfermline and Queen of the South by 3 points.
Only managing a draw on Saturday, Raith Rovers were unable to capitalise fully on Ross County's defeat against Alloa and so both Raith and Ross County have the same points at the top of the Second Division. Berwick Rangers bring up the rear, 3 points behind Brechin City.
East Fife remain at the top of the Third Division, 9 points ahead of Stranraer. Forfar have just 9 points from 15 games and trail Dumbarton by 4 points.
In the Scottish Rugby League Division One, Boroughmuir power on, now 19 points ahead of Ayr. At the foot of the table, Dundee have achieved just 20 points, 4 less than both Glasgow Hutchesons and Edinburgh Academicals.
Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Scottish Government Trumps Local Council
There was a flurry of activity this week following the decision in the preceding week by Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee to turn down the plans by US entrepreneur Donald Trump to create two championship golf courses. The plans also involved building a 450-room hotel, holiday homes and 500 private houses on the Menie Estate at Balmedie on the Aberdeenshire course. A spokesman for the Trump organisation said that they would "not appeal" - and was considering a move to Northern Ireland for the project. The infrastructure committee, however, had expected to "negotiate" on certain aspects of the plan which were deemed unacceptable. Then the Scottish Government took the wind out of everyone's sails by announcing that they were "calling in" the decision because of its "national importance". First Minister Alex Salmond, who is the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the constituency in which the billion pound golf complex would be built, has always been in support of the scheme. However, the decision will be made, at least in theory, by John Swinney as the minister responsible for Finance and Sustainable Growth. The move was welcomed by the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee. Its convener Tavish Scott (LibDem Shetland) described the Trump project as an "enormous development for Scotland" which had nationwide implications. But any joy that the Trump organisation might have felt about this development was somewhat tempered by the revelation that it could be next spring before any decision is announced. Donald Trump has always threatened to walk away from the project if there were any major delays.
Medicine Prescription Charges to be Abolished
When the UK's National Health Service was first unveiled in 1948, medicines and other items prescribed by doctors were supplied free of charge. As the cost of this soared, successive governments introduced a flat rate charge for each item (regardless of the actual cost of the medicine), with exemptions for children, pensioners and those on low incomes. The current charge is now £6.85 per item (roughly US$14). This week, Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Secretary, said the charges from April next year will be reduced to £5, with further phased reductions towards a total abolition of the charges in 2011. The changes apply only in Scotland, of course, with those in England continuing to pay the full charge.
Scotland Needs 20,000 Migrants Every Year
A report from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) forecasts that by 2040 nearly one-third of the population of Scotland will be aged 75 and over. The government-backed council predicts that shortage of labour will drive up wages, make our exports less competitive, and wreck the economy. To counteract this and save the economy from collapse, it is argued that Scotland needs to attract 20,000 immigrants a year. Their estimates are more pessimistic than those published recently by the Registrar General for Scotland. These estimated that the current population of 5.12 million would rise to 5.37 million by 2031, with births peaking then at 57,600. But the ESRC report suggests that the recent annual increase in population (which the Registrar uses to estimate future population) may be a blip on the long-term population decline which has prevailed for several decades. The report examines the reasons why Scottish birth rates are the lowest in the UK. It points out that Scotland is becoming a nation of small families, because of the demands of work or worries about their finances and living conditions. They are most likely to stop when they have two children, compared with English women, more of whom go on to have three or four.
Rosyth Lands £35 Million Contract
Rosyth dockyard in Fife has secured a £35 million contract to carry out a refit of HMS Sutherland, a Type 23 frigate. The work will include a new air-defence missile system, an improved main gun capable of firing long-range ammunition and a sophisticated submarine-hunter sonar system, capable of dealing with current and future threats. The new equipment will cost £18 million and the work to upgrade the ship will cost another £17 million. HMS Sutherland will be the first Royal Navy ship to be refitted to this new standard. About 1,000 workers are employed at Rosyth, with another 350 due to be hired over the next 18 months, as the company gears up for final assembly work on two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers - the largest ever built in the UK.
The graphic is of a sister ship of HMS Sutherland - HMS Somerset.
Drivers Fined for Mobile Phone Use
Nearly 10,000 drivers have been fined for using mobile phones in Scotland since in February this year (when the laws were strengthened) and the end of October. In February fines were doubled to £60 and three penalty points were added to the licences of those convicted. Strathclyde police force, which is the largest in the country, covering Glasgow and a large part of the surrounding area, issued over 5,000 of the penalties. Despite the figures - and the evidence showing that driving while using a mobile phone is dangerous - even a casual count of the numbers of drivers to be seen flouting the law in this way shows that many just ignore it. Earlier this year, a newspaper ran a campaign by printing photographs of drivers caught on camera driving while using their mobiles. The cause of more responsible driving was not helped, however, when the then Chief Superintendent of Strathclyde Police was caught using his mobile phone by one of his own officers as he drove on the M74 motorway while off-duty!
Scottish Radio Stations Sold
Radio Forth and Radio Clyde are being sold off by their holding company Emap to German publisher Heinrich Bauer Verlag. The sale is part of a £1.14 billion disposal of Emap's entire magazine and radio business. Bauer, based in Hamburg, publishes 166 magazines in 14 countries, including 40 magazines in Germany. It is not yet known what the German company plans to do with the businesses. Radio Clyde began on December 31st, 1973.
Higher Parking Charge for Gas Guzzlers
It used to be that parking meters were confined to city and town centres. Over the years, however, town and city councils have gradually extended the areas covered by meters out into residential areas. While they might argue that it helps to control the number of cars clogging the streets, they make a considerable income from such systems, especially when they sell more permits to residents than there are parking bays. Now the City of Edinburgh is to impose a higher charge on motorists with cars that have high CO2 emissions to park outside their houses. The aim, they say, is to reduce pollution. It is understood that Edinburgh is the first local authority in Scotland to introduce such a scheme - though it is already operating in London and Surrey in south-east England. A recent report on household carbon emissions in the of UK showed that rural areas such as the Orkney Islands had the highest level of pollution per head - mainly because there is limited public transport in those areas. The area with the lowest carbon emissions (per head) in Scotland was Glasgow.
Edinburgh Tattoo Tickets On Sale
Although details of who will be performing will not be available until next summer, tickets for next year's Edinburgh Military Tattoo are going on sale via the Internet and by post on 10 December, nine months before the event begins. The performances in 2008 are from 1st to 23rd August. Tickets for the 2007 event sold out in January, so clearly there is plenty of demand. The 58th Edinburgh Military Tattoo, held on Edinburgh Castle's Esplanade in August 2007, involved 500 musicians, 200 dancers, 35 motorcyclists and 30 horses.
New Cook School
Later this month "Cook School" by Martin Wishart will open in Leith. By revealing the secrets of the "restaurant kitchen" through a series of practical classes, the cook school promises to deliver an all round culinary education. The classes, based on Martin Wishart’s cooking style, will provide detailed tuition on the preparation of numerous dishes. Students will learn how to select the finest quality ingredients and then transform them into restaurant quality meals for friends and family. The school aims to give students a background in both classic and modern culinary styles. Demonstrations and practical sessions will then provide the background theory and basic skills and techniques that form the foundation of cookery as a whole. The launch of the new cookery school is being well publicised, with large billboards on prominent sites in various parts of the country. See also www.cookschool.co.uk.
Strong Feelings on Bridge Name
When the original bridge across the river Forth at Kincardine-on-Forth in Fife was opened in 1936, there was probably no dispute about calling it the Kincardine Bridge. The second crossing, a short distance further up-river, is proving to be more problematic. After a lot of lobbying, the new bridge makes its northern landfall in Clackmannanshire, the smallest county in Scotland. The local council there naturally believe that the crossing should be named the "Clackmannan Bridge". Meantime, Fife councillors want it named after their area as "Kingdom Bridge". The county is often referred to as the "Kingdom of Fife" as it was at one time a Pictish Kingdom. Of course, Falkirk Council at the southern end of the bridge has had to enter the fray too. So the Transport Minister in Edinburgh is inviting people in the three counties to make their own suggestions. Already, some odd names have been put forward, such as "Bridge at Jones Diary" (If you don't know the book and "Bridget Jones's Diary" that one will go right over your head). Once names have been suggested, it will be up to the Transport Minister to use the judgement of Solomon (or political expediency) to make a decision. The new bridge won't be open till late 2008, so he has plenty of time.
Irn-Bru Snowman Advert Goes Nationwide
Last year, the Barr and Company's advert "Walking on Air" for Irn-Bru (an orange, sweet, fizzy drink that rivals Coca Cola sales in Scotland) was a great hit on TV and cinema screens. It is a humorous cartoon parody of a popular snowman character from a book by Raymond Briggs. The snowman is seen sailing over well-known Scottish landmarks with a red-haired Scots lad who refuses to hand over his can of the fizzy drink. So the boy is dumped (unharmed, of course) in the snow of Glasgow's George Square after the snowman grabs the drink from his hand. It has been voted as Barr's most popular advert of all time. Now the company is to televise the commercial in England and Wales. The 60-second cartoon has already proved popular on YouTube - you can find it by searching for "Irn Bru Snowman Advert".
Award for Dog Who Saved a Life
A springer spaniel named "Ghillie" was being compared to the film-star collie dog "Lassie" this week as he received the animal equivalent of the George Cross from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals' (PDSA) for his life-saving actions. He had been out for a walk with the mother of his owner, who had been visiting her son in outside Kirkwall, the largest town of the Orkney Islands. During the walk she collapsed unconscious in some undergrowth due to an epileptic fit. Ghillie realised something was wrong and raced off to a group of workmen. Initially they thought the dog was being aggressive, but eventually they realised the dog wanted them to follow him. They were led to the woman and an ambulance was called. She was then taken to hospital where she recovered.
Vital Spark Returns to River Clyde
The Clyde "puffers" were small steam-powered vessels that provided vital services to the towns and villages along Scotland's west coast in the 19th and 20th centuries. They were originally designed to fit the locks of the Forth & Clyde canal between Glasgow and Edinburgh and the Crinan canal across the Mull of Kintyre peninsula. They were nicknamed "puffer" because of the distinctive puffing sound from their non-condensing steam engines. They became legendary after being immortalised in a series of books by Neil Munro about Para Handy, the captain of the puffer "Vital Spark". So there was a special interest this week when one of the last surviving vessels - carrying the name "Vital Spark" - arrived at Bowling on the river Clyde to mark the 150th anniversary of the launch of the first of its kind. The first puffer - named "Glasgow" - was built at Kelvin Dock, Maryhill, on the Forth & Clyde canal, in 1857. The present "Vital Spark" is one of the last surviving Clyde puffers. It was previously named "Eilean Eisdeal," and is normally berthed at the Inveraray Maritime Museum in Argyll - see illustration.
November Weather Summary
The Scottish meteorological office has published the data for Scotland's weather in November which describes it as "an unsettled spell of weather, with temperatures well above average and sunshine below average." The mean temperature for the month in Scotland was 1.7C above the 1961-1990 average and the rainfall total for the month (152.8mm / 6 inches) was close to the long term average for the month. But the total hours of sunshine was just 39.2 hours, which is 81% of the 1961-1990 average.
Weather in Scotland This Week
Another week of cloud and showers with some blinks of sun. Monday in particular had good sunny spells and at the start of the week the temperatures were on the mild side for November at 9/13C (48/55F). Later in the week it turned colder, with maximum temperature around 4/7C (39/45F) with snow on the mountains and hills on Saturday. There was even sleet at lower levels in parts of the central lowlands.
The illustration is of Christmas decorations on a former bank building in George Street, Edinburgh.
This Week's Colour Supplement
This week's large format photographs taken in Scotland to show the current season include Edinburgh Castle, as the rain swept over the esplanade; Princes Street, Edinburgh, at night (see thumbnail here); a Helter Skelter (a slide built in a spiral around a high tower); a traditional "merry-go-round" in front of a Ferris wheel; a "German Market" with many stalls selling, among other items, models of Bavarian houses; East Princes Street Gardens, showing the "Winter Wonderland" ice skating rink as well as the other amusements.
See This Week's Colour Supplement..
Arbroath Bid for Return of Treasure
Many of Scotland's historical artefacts are displayed in national museums or galleries in Edinburgh. In some cases, they have strong local connections and in recent years efforts are sometimes being made for their return from the Capital. The latest such attempt is by the Angus County Council member for Arbroath who has written to the National Museum of Scotland and Historic Scotland in a bid to bring the 800-year-old Monymusk Reliquary back to Arbroath. King William the Lion entrusted the rectangular casket to the Abbot of Arbroath in 1211. The reliquary was to be kept available to bless the royal army before battle - and was said to have been used to good effect before the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The casket is made of wood, covered with thin sheets of copper and silver and is decorated in a characteristically Pictish manner with animals against a stippled background. It was said to have at one time housed a bone relic of St Columba, who brought Christianity to Scotland in the 6th century. It is unlikely that the National Museum would allow the casket to be displayed permanently in Arbroath, so the aim would be to have it displayed there for short periods. It is argued that moving the casket and providing safe keeping would be far easier than for that other historic item associated with the town - the Declaration of Arbroath which is a delicate parchment.
Virtual Tour of 1938 Empire Exhibition
The Empire Exhibition, which was held in Glasgow in 1938, has been brought back to life at a building on the site of the original exhibition. A 3D construction of the event, including a virtual tour, has been created at a cost of £146,000 in the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park. The original exhibition incorporated about 80 buildings, including Tait's Tower, and attracted 12.5 million people over six months.
Next Week in Scottish History
2008 Fort William Mountain Festival
Organisers of the 2008 Fort William Mountain Festival, due to be staged from Friday 15 to Saturday 23 February, have promised a nine day "extravaganza of films, lectures, guided walks, workshops, exhibitions, literature, photography and music for residents and visitors who want to learn about and celebrate mountain culture." The diverse programme sees a wide selection of cultural and sporting events and activities in Fort William and Lochaber. This year festival organisers have introduced the first annual Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture - to celebrate outstanding contributions to Scotland's mountains, encompassing sport, theatre, art, photography, film and literature. This unique national award, that will celebrate the achievements of one inspiring individual every year, will be presented to the first recipient on the last night of the 2008 festival.
Extra Kylie Concerts for Scotland
Kylie Minogue has announced that in addition to the previously announced dates of July 5 and 6 for her next KylieX2008 tour at the Scottish Exhibition and Concert Centre in Glasgow, she will also be performing on July 8 and 9 at the same venue. Tickets for the original two dates went on sale this week - and were snapped up within 30 minutes.
Radiohead For Glasgow Green
Popular rock band Radiohead, which released their first single in 1992, are to play at a large open-air concert on Glasgow Green on June 27 next year. Around 40,000 fans snapped up tickets for the gig as soon as they went on sale this week. The concert is one of only four Radiohead shows planned for the UK next summer. The group made record industry history last month by releasing their new album "In Rainbows" online and inviting fans to set their own price. It will be released on CD on 31 December.
Lemon Tree Theatre Closes
The Lemon Tree centre in Aberdeen has ceased trading and is to go into voluntary liquidation, after failing to secure its financial future. At a crisis meeting of the directors and members of the Aberdeen City Council, it was agreed that the Lemon Tree had no alternative but to cease trading with immediate effect. The venue has suffered from a series of financial problems since it opened in 1992. Although it made money from high-profile gigs, a range of community events and clubs use the centre and do not always make a profit. It received a grant from the city council of £346,000 in 2005, but last year the Scottish Arts Council withdrew its annual grant, funding which totalled about £800,000 between 2002 and 2006.
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.
Biggest Burns Supper in Rhode Island
There will be 500 seats available at the 45th Annual Burns Supper and Dance being held at the Rhodes on the Pawtuxet Ballroom, Cranston, RI, on Saturday, February 2nd 2008. It is the biggest (and many would claim the best) Burns Night in Rhode Island. The event is recognised by the State of Rhode Island's Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and is described as "a traditional Burns Supper - with extras!" There will be sword dancing, accompanied by the Mystic Highland Pipe Band and Scottish country dancing as well as the traditional Burns supper. The Immortal Memory is being given by Graeme J W Smith, a senior partner in Atlantic Technology Group in Newport, RI. He recalls attending a Burns Supper at the United Nations in New York and Kofi Annan gave the Immortal Memory. Warned in advance, nobody was wearing dirks or sgian dubh, but the sporran chains, Charlie Jacket buttons, kilt and belt buckles and plaid pins played havoc with the metal detectors. Some male guests were down to their shirt tails to get in.. Without desperate measures, the haggis was going be cold by the time the rest reached their seats. So the security guard asked if any of the guests had any of those "wee knife things" they had been told to watch out for. They all said solemnly "no" and so they turned off the metal detectors and let them all in! See Burns Anniversary Committee, Rhode Island.
Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results
Aberdeen 3 Hibernian 1
AC Milan 1 Celtic 0 (European Champions League, Group D)Clydesdale Bank Premierleague Results - 8 December 2007
Aberdeen 2 Kilmarnock 1
Celtic 1 St Mirren 1
Falkirk 3 Dundee United 0
Hearts 1 Motherwell 2
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Hibernian 0
Celtic v Falkirk will be played on Tuesday. The Gretna v Rangers match scheduled for Saturday has been postponed in view of the Ibrox club's vital European Champions League match next Wednesday against Lyon.Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Results - 8 December 2007
Dundee 3 Stirling 1
Dunfermline 1 Clyde 1
Livingston 2 Hamilton 0
Queen of the South 1 Partick Thistle2
St Johnstone 2 Greenock Morton 2Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 8 December 2007
Airdrie United 3 Cowdenbeath 1
Alloa 3 Ross County 1
Berwick Rangers 1 Queens Park 1
Peterhead 3 Ayr United 0
Raith Rovers 1 Brechin City 1Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 8 December 2007
Dumbarton 0 Stranraer 2
East Stirling 4 Albion Rovers 5
Elgin 1 Arbroath 3
Forfar 0 East Fife 2
Montrose 1 Stenhousemuir 0Scottish Hydro Electric Rugby Division One Results - 8 December 2007
Dundee 16 Glasgow Hawks 17
Glasgow Hutchesons 17 Edinburgh Academicals15
Hawick 8 Ayr 19
Heriots 10 Currie 26
Stirling County 12 Melrose 6
Watsonians 17 Boroughmuir 9League Tables
A characteristic late equaliser allowed Celtic to grab one point in their match on Saturday against St Mirren, leaving the Paisley club second from the bottom of the SPL, though 10 points ahead of Gretna. Celtic remain top of the SPL meantime - but Rangers, one point behind, now have a game in hand (the postponed match against Gretna). At the foot of the table, Gretna are struggling, 10 points adrift from St Mirren.
Celtic in Last 16 of European Champions League
The European Champions League group D match in Italy between AC Milan and Celtic was a muted affair for much of the game. Milan had already qualified for the knock-out stage and were not inclined to push hard, while Celtic seemed content to contain them. Milan's Filippo Inzaghi, however, was keen to break the record for most goals scored in Uefa competitions and achieved that objective in the 70th minute. But Celtic supporters were not downhearted - they had raised the biggest cheer of the night when they heard that Benfica had scored twice against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. That meant that the Ukrainians could not overtake Celtic, who thus went through to the last 16 of the Champions League, being second in their group. Benfica were third - and qualify for the "consolation prize" of entry into the Uefa Cup.
Aberdeen's Uefa Hopes Still Alive
As a result of other games in the Uefa Cup group in which Aberdeen are placed, the Dons still have an outside chance of progressing to the next stage. But they have to defeat FC Copenhagen on December 20th in Aberdeen. The Danish side dropped into the Uefa Cup after losing in the preliminary knock-out stage of the Champions League to Benfica., so on paper appear to be the stronger side.
European Gold for Scotland's Curling Team
Scotland's men ended Norway's unbeaten run to win gold at the European Curling Championships in Fussen, Germany. Earlier, Scotland managed to scrape into the semi-finals after a play-off. But in the final against Norway (who had narrowly defeated Scotland in the earlier stages of the competition), the Scots forged ahead and finished by leading 6-3. Last year the Scots were beaten into silver. This year it was the turn of the ladies to win the silver in the European championships.
New World Class Tennis Centre
A new, advanced tennis centre is to open to the public in East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire next autumn. Its eight indoor courts will increase the provision of such facilities by a surprising 25% and it will mean that tennis talent in Scotland need no longer go abroad to get top class training. The size of the new centre will mean that it will also be able to attract national events. It will be the UK's largest indoor tennis facility as part of Playsport, a huge indoor/outdoor sporting and leisure complex. Tennis stars such as Andy Murray, who spent his early years training in Barcelona, will be able to train at home as a result.
Ski Resorts Get a Lift
The Ptarmigan Ski Tow and the Mountain Railway at Cairngorm opened last weekend for the first time this season, following a fall of snow. The operators of the ski slopes welcomed the early of arrival of snow and were hoping for more this winter after four successive bad seasons.