Fire rips through Sauchiehall Street building

A Sauchiehall Street building, gutted by fire, was still being monitored more than 12 hours later.
Strathclyde firefighters saved four adults and a child from the top flat of the property in what Area Commander, Garry Milne described as: “A classic textbook ladder rescue”.
Believed to have started around 11pm on Tuesday 8 February in the kitchen of The Steak & Cherry Restaurant – normally open till 4am to serve clubbers – the fire quickly spread to the upper floors and the roof space of the tenement. A major hazard was the threat of hidden fires spreading via enclosed voids and spaces in a traditional building of that type.
Surrounding flats were evacuated and overnight accommodation found for those displaced.
At the height of the blaze 11 engines including two with high reach capability, and 70 firefighters, were in attendance.
The fire was under control by 8am but smoke could still be seen drifting from the building at 12 noon on Wednesday when it was still being closely monitored.
Traffic which would normally enter that part of Sauchiehall Street from Charing Cross, was diverted.

Art students’ venue to close

After 24 years at the Vic, Rita Greig will have to lock the door of the famous art students’ pub and music venue soon.
The Glasgow ikon in Renfrew Street is at the heart of Glasgow School of Art’s campus and is to be refurbished. It will close in June for two years. Said Vic venues manager, Rita: “It is like a huge family village here. You see new people come in on the first term, very nervous. But as time goes on, they gain confidence and blossom as adults.”
Because it is run by the Students Representative Council (SRC) all the profits go back to help the students. “The hardship fund has helped pay for exhibitions, feed people and launch careers,” said the spirited grandmother who hits 50 this year.
Some of the famous people who’ve been through the doors in the early stages of their creative careers include Timorous Beasties’ Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons, who met at Glasgow School of Art where they studied textiles. The textile tower block – the Newbery – is behind the Vic and will be demolished along with the Foulis building,  to make way for 21st century facilities. “We could only afford one roll of Timorous Beasties wallpaper which we put behind the bar,” said Rita. “The President at that time, Amanda Dobbratz, then made little pictures from all the offcuts and gave each of us in the Vic, something relevant to us personally.”
Rita also has items gifted to her by students through the years. World class painters such as Neil Clements, once SRC President, and now located in Berlin and New York is one of them.

“Travis have played here and Scissor Sisters cut their teeth here,” said Rita, proudly. “Franz Ferdinand practised in the band room and Fran Healy from Travis was here during Celtic Connections when the Vic was the festival’s  late night club.”
With a staff of 30 tending the bars and music venues in the Vic building, Rita is kept busy. But the decision on where the temporary SRC chill out zone will be during the refurbishment period, has yet to be taken. “I don’t worry about it,” said Rita philosophically, “I’ve asked for practical things like the cellar to be below the bar to make it easier and cheaper to clean the pipes in the new version of the Vic, but other than that, there is no sense in worrying about things. I’m looking forward to the new space opening because it will be more modern and more adaptable and better for the students. The more we can do for them while they’re here at the School, the better.”
Her final tip was to make sure folk got their tickets for the street party and the final fashion show in June and a massive exhibition of students’ work in the dance hall upstairs where the shutters will be taken off to form a temporary gallery before the final shut down.

Nominations wanted

Nominations for the Scottish Education Awards have to be in before Friday 4 March 2011. The accolades go to teachers, schools, nurseries and individuals in the education field across Scotland and celebrate achievements.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “I see real enthusiasm, commitment, ambition and achievement during my visits to schools around Scotland. The hard work of teachers and front line professionals is at the heart of all the local success stories and the Scottish Education Awards showcase these achievements at a national level.

“If you think your school is doing something exciting or your teacher has done something very well, get online and put it forward, as it is important we recognise the excellence that exists within Scottish education.”

Categories include: Learning Through Technology Award, Lifetime Achievement, Educational Supporter of the Year, Enterprise and Employability Across Learning Award at Primary and Early Years level and at Secondary level, Entrepreneurial Learning Award, Global Citizenship Award, Health and Wellbeing Award.

Last year’s winners in Glasgow were: St Stephen’s Primary School- Global Citizenship Award; Wellshot Primary School- Aiming High Award; Lois Lurinsky- Probationary Teacher of the Year; Anne McFadden, St Mirren Primary School – Headteacher of the Year.

Nominations can be made at website:www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk

Misssing medal returns home

A solid silver medal, missing for 30 years, has been found and returned to rightful owners – the 1st Glasgow Boys’ Brigade Company.
The Squad Challenge medal is the oldest medal ever made for a Boys’ Brigade company and recently turned up in a jiffy bag posted to the BB Scottish Headquarters in Carronvale House, Larbert.
It was formally handed back to the 1st BB company by Bill Stevenson, Director for the Christian based, youth organisation.
Said Bill: “This really is a remarkable story – it was quite astounding to see the oldest ever medal in the BB just appear in a jiffy envelope one morning. It was so good to be able to return it to the 1st Glasgow Company.”
Allan Gow, Captain of the 1st Glasgow BB Company said: “We believe the medal was either stolen or went missing in the 1980s. We were all just amazed and delighted to see it once again; everyone thought it had been lost forever.”
Such was the importance of the medal, the Company had commissioned a replica in 1988. With the return of the original, Sergeant Bobby Watt became the first boy in the 1st Glasgow’s 128 year history to wear two Squad Challenge Medals, the replica and the original.
As the name suggests the 1st Glasgow Boys’ Brigade Company was the very first company in the world and was founded by Sir William Alexander Smith in 1883. The silver medal dates from 1885, and features in some old Brigade photographs.

Laura nets a well-deserved award

BY LYNSAY KEOUGH
Women’s football stalwart, Laura Montgomery won a top honour at the McDonald’s / Sunday Mail Grassroots Awards, in partnership with the Scottish FA.
Laura was named Best Volunteer in Women’s/Girl’s Football at the awards ceremony held at Hampden Park on the Thursday 3 February. The awards celebrate the tireless efforts of volunteers who keep football flourishing in communities across Scotland.
Laura co-founded Glasgow City Ladies Football Club in 1998. It has gone on to become the most successful Scottish women’s team, winning the last four Premier League titles in a row and being the first Scottish team to qualify for the Women’s UEFA Champions League.
An unprecedented achievement, Glasgow City Ladies was the only amateur team to get to this stage of the tournament.
Scotland legend and McDonald’s Head of Scottish Football, Kenny Dalglish, praised Laura’s work and encouraged more women and girls to take up the game. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Kenny said: ‘Football in communities is built on the sheer hard work of individuals like Laura. Laura’s dedication over the past 13 years has seen Glasgow City Ladies become the most successful women’s team in the country, and to advance into the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League as an amateur team, is a remarkable achievement which is yet to be matched. As a long-term supporter of grassroots football in Scottish communities, McDonald’s is proud to honour Laura and her team’s achievements.’
Laura added: ‘Winning this award is a wonderful honour. When we founded the club, we never imagined we’d end up winning the Premier League – let alone four times in a row. Alongside playing, I’ve also been responsible for our sponsorship, accounts, marketing and the website. While I always say I’ve got two full time jobs – my day job and my work for Glasgow City – I wouldn’t change a thing.’
The eighth McDonald’s / Sunday Mail Grassroots event covered ten categories including Best Volunteer in Youth Football, Grassroots Community Club and McDonald’s Community Champion Award.
Over the last eight years, McDonald’s has helped to improve football in Scotland, significantly. The scheme has created more than 2,000 new community coaches and 1,800 new football teams. And it has worked with a network of McDonald’s restaurant franchisees to provide kit and equipment to clubs through the club twinning programme.
Last year alone, McDonald’s helped to create over 700 new boys’ and girls’ teams in the local community.
For more information on McDonald’s coaching programme, please go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk

Gearing up for the May Election

Travelling home via good music and dance

Paragon which has been making and encouraging new music for 30 years, will hold a celebration event at the CCA in Sauchiehall Street on Thursday 17 February at 7pm involving children from a variety of ethnic communities.

The Paragon Ensemble will perform the premiere of a new commisssion by Gareth Williams.

Ninian Perry, Paragon’s Creative Director said: ‘We have been working with children from Roma and Pakistani communities who attend Annette Street Primary School in Govanhill. Out of this has evolved ‘Travelling Home’ because home is where you are when you play or hear or dance to familiar music.’

He added: ‘The enthnic mix for both communities is rich musically. The children have been wonderful to work with, inspirational too as the Roma children, in particular,  have a natural affinity with music.’

Gareth Williams has written a new work for Paragon Ensemble featuring Heather Corbett playing the Hungarian dulcimer, an extraordinary instrument known as the Cimbalom. Tommy Fowler’s new piece, Take One, has been ‘re-mixed’ by Bhangra DJ artists, Tigerstyle – this ‘track’ will be danced to by teenagers from YDance who live in Knightswood.

Young wheelchair dancers have also created a new piece, Make Music Move, to Scottish Dance Theatre’s Caroline Bowditch choreography. Paragon’s world music group, Kaleidophone, perform traditional melodies and dance tunes from Iran, Africa, Eastern Europe and Scotland.

Tickets £5 and £8 from Box Office tel: 0141 352 4900 or online: www.cca-glasgow.com or www.paragon-music.org

New heart beating in Govan

The production of Heart of Govan was described by everyone involved as an outstanding success.

Written and directed by ‘Neds’ actor Frank Miller, it was produced by Fablevision and CRAN Theatre in and around Govan Old Parish Church on Tuesday 25 January and attended by several hundred people.

Weaving Govan’s story of the past, present and future together,  the multi-disciplined event included music, drama and local people working alongside professionals. It told the story of the place from the early peoples such as the Picts and Celts to today’s regeneration and forward to the hoped- for future.

Famous singer and song writer Carol Laula composed the songs for the choir. Said soloist Elizabeth Freer: ‘It was nerve-wracking but great fun to do.’

Richard Greer, a young composer with the Royal National Scottish Orchestra had created a specially commissioned piece for the performance entitled, ‘St Constantine’s Theme.’  And this was played by the RNSO to effect,  in the resounding chamber of the old church.

Other participants were the Govan Gaelic Choir, GalGael,  a black male-voiced choir called A-Men or AFM, and a good number of local primary school children who paraded with their lanterns into the church.

The district now has the beginnings of a Govan People’s Choir and there is expectation that the production could become an annual event.

‘We were concerned how people would react to this very different mixed media happening,’ said a spokeswoman for Fablevision. ‘It doesn’t fit into any familiar category. But in the vox pops we did afterwards, people said they absolutely loved it and loved the story that was told.’

Valedictory for the Vic

Students at Glasgow School of Art are preparing to say goodbye to the Vic Bar which closes, with adjacent Newbery Tower, in June.

Part of the campus in Renfrew Street, the Victoria cafe bar is where art and music collide and produce great things.

Third year students will host the last ever annual Fashion Show in the Vic on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 March.  Textile design students who are based at Newbery, which is to be demolished, will create garments and the fabrics, using the wealth of information from the School’s archives.

Some of the unique pieces will be sold afterwards. Tickets are £7 per adults  £5 concession and the funds raised are expected to enable the final year students to take their degree collection to London next year for the New Designers’ graduate event.

Alongside the show, an exhibition of work from first year fashion and textiles students will feature in the School’s Atrium Gallery from Tuesday 8 to Sunday 13 March.

The various parts of the school turned out of their present accommodation will re-locate in Skypark. But at the time of writing, the Vic’s new home had not been confirmed though there are high hopes it will be on Sauchiehall Street, near the School of Art.

Famous textile students include: Timorous Beasties, Jonathon Saunders, Louise Grey and Bebaroque.

Doing Business with Burns

Robert Burns attracted a full house at Glasgow South Business Club’s January meeting. Held in the beautiful function rooms of the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston, the lunch celebrated the Bard with former chief executive of SPT, Ron Culley, sharing his wit and wisdom on the subject.

Welcomed by Govan High School music students, the gathering of around 80 members and guests had a feast of entertainment before the meal. Under the baton of Elaine Bonner, Head of Music and accompanist Stephen Roger, vocal soloists were Jennifer Baird, Frazer Chisholm and Tiree McDonald. Recorder soloists were Colette Rinaldi and Gabriele Pikturnaite. Clarinet soloist was Kristofer Shaw and guitar soloist was Craig Connell.

School Head Teacher, Iain White, piped in the haggis which was address, with panache, by Local News  Editor, Grace Franklin.

After the delicious meal, Ron Culley took the floor.  He had been chief executive of Govan Initiative when it launched the Business Club in 1987. Its first secretary,  he reflected on what Govan was like in those, not so far off, days. ‘There was no BBC, no Science Centre – that was all derelict dockland. Some parts of Govan had 100% unemployed. So in that relatively short time it is good to see what changes have been made.’  He paid tribute to Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency which is today’s version of Govan Initiative and the other agencies who are transforming the area.

Since stepping down from the SPT for health reasons, his heart problems are being  overcome, he told the audience. Twice before, the Club had anticipated his Immortal Memory at their Burns lunch and twice they’d been disappointed when he’d had to call off for those very health reasons.

Using the lunch as the trial run for his speech – he had three other audiences to address in similar fashion – he asked why Burns had transcended the centuries and was celebrated as the man and the poet, while Shakespeare and Charles Dickens were only celebrated for their works and not their humanity.

‘We could ask ourselves if Burns would have stood in the queue at Cupids?’ he questioned to much laughter. ‘He was a genius but also he had honesty and despite his faults, kept his feet on the ground and despised hypocrisy.’

Explaining how Burns was well schooled in grammar, Ron Culley said his generation of Pollok residents was schooled in the same way. That’s why he found writing came relatively easy to him and he has now published two books – copies of which he had with him.

The Kaibab Resolution was a thriller set in America and I Belong to Glasgow – with a foreword by Sir Alex Ferguson – was his own look at his native city. Ron is working on two other novels to complete his first trilogy.

Thanks were expressed to Ron and the other participants by Club member Ralph Riddiough with the whole day efficiently conducted by Club Chairman Remo Pisaneschi.

READERS OF THIS ENEWS have a chance to win a signed copy of Kaibab Resolution. Just tell us what year Glasgow South Business Club was founded. Email answers to: newsdesk@localnewsglasgow.co.uk with GSBC in the subject box to arrive by 9am Friday 11 February 2011.

Members of the Glasgow South Business Club are raising £500 to pay for one country team to enter the next Homeless World Cup. They have a football signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, who wrote the foreword to Ron Culley’s book ‘I Belong to Glasgow’ which is being raffled. Tickets from the Club committee.  See website: www.glasgowsouthbusiness club.co.uk or phone 0141 440 2334 or email Frank

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