An honorary Doctor of Letters has been awarded to one of Scotland’s best-known writers, a regular contributor to the Press and Journal and The Herald newspapers and the Church of Scotland’s Life and Work magazine.
Orkney-based freelance journalist, Ron Ferguson, had the honorary degree bestowed upon him by Glasgow Caledonian University at a graduation ceremony yesterday.
Ferguson is a former Church of Scotland minister in Glasgow’s Easterhouse and at St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney. Four years ago, he was named columnist of the year at the Scottish Magazine Awards. He has also won plaudits for his books, including a best-selling biography of George MacLeod, and is a successful playwright.
His one-man play, Every Blessed Thing, toured Kirkwall, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Toronto, New York and Connecticut. He has been a weekly columnist and book reviewer with The Herald for the past 14 years.
The Press and Journal reports today that Professor Pamela Gillies, Glasgow Caledonian University’s principal and vice-chancellor, said Ferguson had been recognised for his “remarkable record of achievement” and inspiring co
Beneath the feet of Glasgow’s residents, a brand new way for commuters to get their STV news updates has been launched. As part of STV’s ongoing commitment to make its content available whenever and wherever viewers want it, the broadcaster has gone underground to benefit the passengers on Glasgow’s Subway.
Eleven LCD screens providing HD quality images have been installed in key subway stations across Glasgow. As well as advertising opportunities, the screens feature a feed from STV that is constantly updated, combining current affairs and entertainment headlines, offering commuters a snapshot of the most up-to-date news available.
Today’s Subway travellers were the first to be treated to this new method of accessing the latest news, courtesy of a collaboration between STV, Primesight outdoor advertising and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
Gordon Macmillan, Head of News at STV, said: “There’s a variety of ways people can access STV when they’re on the move – from the stv.tv website to the recently launched STV News iphone app.
“Now we’re delighted to be able to offer another innovative option for Glasgow’s Subway travellers and provide a fast and digestible STV news service during their commute.
“With around 14 million passenger journeys a year, STV now has a great opportunity to connect with existing and new audiences in a unique environment.”
Gordon Maclennan, Chief Executive of SPT, said: “People are always looking to do more on the move and we are delighted to be able to bring the latest news from STV directly to our customers as they travel on the Subway network. Our Subway modernisation plans include bringing in the most up to date technology and this link-up with STV is just the start. We have vibrant and media-rich screens operating in real time, enabling us to expand our Subway communications directly to all our passengers as well as delivering effective advertising.”
STV is delighted to confirm that it will be screening Rangers’ vital Champions League match against Manchester United on Wednesday 24 November live from Ibrox.
Former Rangers captain Richard Gough and Everton Manager David Moyes will be joining Sports Centre presenter Gerry McCulloch for full analysis and discussion of the evening’s football action.
Live coverage of this crucial game will be on STV from 7.30pm to 10pm, with an online video chat from the stadium on stv.tv/sport from 5pm to 6pm.
The match commentary will be provided by Derek Rae and Craig Burley.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s ‘Battle of Britain’, Gerry said: “It will be fantastic to present this key match live from Ibrox with two such knowledgeable guests.
“I’m sure our viewers will appreciate unique Scottish coverage of such an important game and I’m looking forward to welcoming Richard and David to the programme.”
In addition to live coverage of all the action from Ibrox, STV will also be screening a live two-hour highlights show at 10.30pm from the STV studios.
STV sports presenter Raman Bhardwaj will front the programme and he will be joined in the studio by ex-Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands, currently playing for Newcastle United, and Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez as he brings viewers highlights of all the Champions League matches from across Europe.
Scotland’s leading innovation in conservation and digital technology will be showcased at the World Creativity Forum in Oklahoma City on 16th and 17th November.
David Mitchell, Director of Conservation at Historic Scotland and Doug Pritchard, Head of Visualisation of Glasgow’s Design Studio have been invited to present their work in digitally documenting and visualising cultural heritage. Their work came to international attention when a joint team scanned the four presidents of the United States at Mount Rushmore this year.
This is part of the Scottish Ten project which uses cutting-edge technology to create exceptionally accurate digital models of Scotland’s five UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites and five international sites.
Scotland is a member of the Districts of Creativity, a network of 12 creative and innovative areas stretching from the USA, through Europe to India and China. The forum will bring together participants from 34 US States and 14 countries who will be focusing on a number of topics looking at creativity and innovation.
Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture said: “It is great to see Scotland showcase this innovative technology on a world stage.
“This cutting-edge digital technology will help preserve important historic sites for future generations and will encourage the development of new international partnerships in the areas of culture, tourism and technology.”
David Mitchell said; “The international community knows Scotland for its culture and perhaps for its technological innovation in the past – we are keen to show that Scotland remains a dynamic and innovative country that is respectful of its cultural heritage but can also use it as a springboard into the future.”
Doug Pritchard said: “Glasgow School of Art and Historic Scotland have created a wonderful partnership which brings together two public bodies and in some respects divergent skill sets to create something innovative and exciting. As a Canadian with Scots blood it is exciting for me to part of this and continue the legacy of innovation – Glasgow School of Art is known the world over and we hope for a positive reception”.
This is a lunch with a difference which will take place on November 25th 2010 at Oran Mor, from 12pm to 3pm
The format is that you have a starter with your pre lunch refreshment, then you eat your main course followed by a reading from one of the authors, followed by some questions. Then you get your pudding, the second author speaks and then you get to have the books signed. Great format which allows for lots of chat over lunch, so take your friends!
Dark Water
by Caro Ramsay
Caro Ramsay was born in Glasgow and now lives in a village on the West Coast of Scotland.
She is widely recognised as one of the most significant new voices in the crime genre. This is her third DI Anderson and DS Costello novel.
Praise for Caro Ramsay
‘Many shivers in store for readers, followed by a shattering climax’
The Times
‘Ramsay handles her characters with aplomb, the dialogue crackles and the search for the killer has surprising twists and turns’
Observer
The Plot
A bitterly cold February in Glasgow. A body of a criminal, his face hideously disfigured, is discovered hanging from a rope in the attic of a deserted tenement…
Investigating officers DI Anderson and DS Costello believe the dead man to be a suspect, in a decade old case involving rape and attempted murder. But what has happened to the dead man’s accomplice, ‘Mr Click’?
With the discovery of another young woman who has been brutally attacked, detectives Anderson and Costello realise this terrifying psychopath has started working once more. For Mr Click has developed a taste for his bloodthirsty trade. And to satisfy his lust he will strike again and again…
The Real Me is Thin
by Arabella Weir
Arabella Weir is the author of the best-selling Does My Bum Look Big In This? She is best known for her role in BBC2′s The Fast Show and is a frequent commentator on current issues in the Guardian. Arabella contributed regularly to the Radio 4 comedy series Smelling of Roses and most recently appeared in E4′s teen drama Skins. Arabella recently appeared in the West End show Calendar Girls. She lives in north London with her husband and two children.Praise for Arabella Weir
‘Arabella is such a funny and charming person she talks about herself and these issues in a really light-hearted and entertaining way.’
Harper Collins
The Plot
Lumped into ‘the too fat for potatoes group’ by her mother, carefree eating isn’t something Arabella Weir had much experience of growing up.
Written with startling frankness, Arabella unravels her own eating history in this humorous appraisal of our attitudes towards eating disorders and obesity. Not easy for someone who still can’t be alone unsupervised in a room with a packet of chocolate biscuits.
Recounting stories of unhinged mothers and callous doctors, mystery-meat suppers, and egg custard battles with calculating boyfriends’ mothers, this candid memoir vividly recreates a childhood and adolescence marred by the social embarrassment of being marked as different simply due to your weight.
Tickets: £50 per head / £500 per table of 10 You can book online
Glasgow has set up an independent commission devoted to helping renew the city’s economy and identifying new trade and investment opportunities.
The Glasgow Economic Commission is made up of leading business, academic and economic experts from the private and public sectors who will guide Glasgow’s job creation efforts.
The team will provide their vast expertise to advise the city on the best ways to harness its strengths to drive forward the city’s continued and future economic prosperity.
The commission will be chaired by Professor Jim McDonald, Principal of the University of Strathclyde. It was established by the Glasgow Economic Partnership, which is chaired by Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, and managed by Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
Cllr Matheson said: “There are a vast number of people who live and work in Glasgow who have a great amount of expertise, knowledge and ability to influence.
“This commission will tap into this enormous reservoir of talent, to help our great city and its citizens through these current difficult economic times.
“We are sure that the Glasgow Economic Commission will enable our city to think outside the box, come up with new ways of doing things and drive forward Glasgow’s continued renewal and future economic prosperity.”
Professor McDonald, chair of the new commission, said: “In challenging economic times, it is crucial that public and private sectors work together and capitalise on opportunities for growth. The commission will review the city’s economic position and identify investment opportunities that will sustain and develop Glasgow’s future prosperity.
“We are extremely pleased that senior business leaders will help us with this work to grow the economy, create jobs and help the city compete internationally.”
Stuart Patrick, who proposed the creation of the commission, said: “Glasgow works best when it works together. This is the right time to be looking at where Glasgow is headed. I am delighted that high calibre senior business leaders will bring an informed perspective to our work to help identify the next wave of investments in Glasgow’s economic renewal and development.”
The commission will focus on specific business and management expertise in five key areas – Investment and Infrastructure; Industry/Business Alignment; People and Skills: Higher and Further Education and Economic Context. This is to ensure that the economic programmes being implemented by Glasgow are both relevant and effective in creating jobs and opportunities for citizens and businesses in the city.
Another key element of the commission’s work will be to take evidence from interested parties about high impact initiatives that should be introduced to improve Glasgow’s economy.
The commission will also look to refresh the city’s current economic development strategy – A Step Change for Glasgow – which was launched in 2006. Following the analysis and consultation, the commission will deliver its recommendations to 0city and business leaders on how best to translate that strategy into reality.
Scotland’s GPs called today, Thursday 11 November 2010, for better coordination of out of hours services for patients.
In light of the Scottish Parliament’s debate on rural out of hours services, Scotland’s GP leaders have called on the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to do more to establish better quality standards and coordination of services to deliver real improvements for patients. They also underlined that none of this requires a renegotiation of the GP contract.
Dr Andrew Buist, Deputy Chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee said: “There is a perception amongst politicians and the public that the problems with out of hours care stem from the introduction of the GP contract in 2004. This is not the case. In many areas, such as Greater Glasgow, the service that operated prior to 2004 is the same service that continues to operate, albeit the service is now directly managed by the NHS Board.
“The BMA recognises that there is a need to improve some elements of out of hours care. This is a priority for GPs as well as politicians. Involving GPs and other service providers in the planning and co-ordination of services can deliver real improvements for patients. None of this requires a renegotiation of the GP contract.” The new contract, which allowed GPs to transfer responsibility for providing out of hours care to the local NHS Board, was designed to combat a crisis in general practice and ensure the sustainability of out-of-hours care for patients. Before the new contract was introduced, morale was at an all time low, GPs were planning to retire early and recruitment was becoming impossible.
Dr Buist added: “Doctors were working excessively long hours, and rural communities in particular were at risk of losing daytime GP service at the expense of out-of-hours availability. There is no going back to the old ‘Dr Finlay’ model of general practice. In today’s modern service much more complex care is provided to patients in hours and there needs to be a comprehensive out of hours service that does not rely on over-tired GPs bearing the brunt of the work.
“NHS 24 has improved over the last few years, but more needs to be done to educate patients as to who to contact out of hours. Patients continue to receive high quality health care round the clock. However, it is by no means perfect. Improving out of hours care is a priority for GPs as well as politicians.
“Out of hours care encompasses all aspects of the health service: general practice, secondary care and community care, all of which can be accessed by first contacting NHS 24. More should be done to promote NHS 24 to the public as the first point of contact for non emergency calls out of hours.”
Sometimes we see the most unlikely things on YouTube. The Reporter spends a good proportion of the day online and is something of an internet addict, but today we have been surprised! Here is a YouTube video from the British Medical Association’s Scotland branch to explain to us what Glasgow GP, Dr John Tobias, does each day…..
On a slightly more serious note there is a debate on out of hours medical provision on 11 November at Holyrood. Read more here
The former Scottish Socialist MP Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail are on trial at The High Court in Glasgow for perjury. They are accused of lying during their successful libel action against the News of The World in 2006.
The trial was adjourned until Friday after the jury was told yesterday morning the politician was too unwell to attend court.
Sheridan, 46, is respresenting himself in the case.
Damages of £200,000 were awarded to Sheridan over allegations he was an adulterer who visited swingers’ clubs. Both Gail and Tommy Sheridan deny the allegations.
The trial was adjourned without any new evidence being heard as judge, Lord Bracadale, said Sheridan had seen a doctor on Monday afternoon who had certified him as unfit to attend court.
“The doctor will review the situation on Thursday,” Lord Bracadale said.
The trial, which started on October 4, was adjourned until 10am on Friday.
With the cityscape of the ‘Dear Green Place’ as its backdrop, Voices is four days of contemporary theatre, dance, street and live arts, with more than 70 performances by over 30 companies presented as part of IETM Glasgow.
IETM (International network for contemporary performing arts) has chosen the city as the venue for its international plenary meeting and artistic showcase during 4-7 November 2010. Up to 600 performing arts practitioners from 45 countries will roam Glasgow for an intensive four-day programme of talks, performances, networking tours and events.
The theme of ‘voices’ encompasses everything from communication, argument, noise, identity and many other ways to express ourselves as individuals, groups and nations
One of the most strategically significant cultural events in Scotland’s 2010 calendar, IETM Glasgow integrates Creative Scotland’s ambition to increase the country’s capacity for international working with showcasing the country’s creative talent: on stage; in found spaces, newly inhabited by artists; and across the dinner tables of its host city.
New productions commissioned for the IETM Glasgow artistic programme include Bridging by Laika (Minty Donald and Nick Miller), a unique site-responsive performance situated on the banks and waterway of the River Clyde and Fish and Game’s Alma Mater, which will take the audience on a performative tour of Scotland Street School. Many of Scotland’s leading arts organisations will be presenting work, including: Roadkill, Ankur Art’s site specific production on the complex realities behind sex trafficing; Midsummer, David Grieg and Gordon McIntyre’s weekend to remember; and Janice Parker’s Private Dancer.
Keynote speaker at the conference is Todd Lester, the founder of freeDimensional (fD) and more recently the Creative Resistance Fund. Before launching freeDimensional he served as Information & Advocacy Manager for the International Rescue Committee in Sudan.
Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland: ‘IETM Glasgow is an outstanding showcase for the best of Scotland’s performing arts talent, the city of Glasgow as a creative place and as a catalyst to promoting the country’s contemporary culture internationally.’
Mary Ann DeVlieg, Secretary General of IETM, says of IETM Glasgow 2010: ‘Let’s meet Glasgow as it is today with its nuanced historical, demographic and contemporary cultural mixes. Let’s let Glaswegians see how a few hundred incoming arts professionals see their richly layered city and let the meeting’s participants hear how Glaswegians ‘live’ their city.
‘Glasgow also marks a turning point for the IETM network: an energetic three-year commitment to proving the value of arts to our societies by making visible the hundreds of amazing projects throughout Europe which allow people to think, see, feel, touch, taste, be critical and be confident… in other words to be alive and be human in this century. Starting with Glasgow!”
According to IETM Glasgow’s Producer, Steve Slater: ‘It is an opportunity to change the way people think about Scotland. It’s also about how we think of ourselves, our own creativity, imagination and culture.
‘This project has re-kindled in me an excitement for the potential of Scottish work to hold its own on the international stage. It’s made me see the work and the city a-new again, fresh and sparkling in its commitment to new ideas and creativity.’
Dark Water
The Real Me is Thin
![[googleMap name="Oran Mor" width="400" height="400"]Byres Road Glasgow G12 8QX[/googleMap]](../wp-content/uploads/2010/11/gl_logo.gif){kind=link}