Dead woman identified

The body of a woman found in the River Clyde close to Napier Drive, Govan on Saturday 1 December 2012 has been identified as 23 year-old Victoria Sloss from Glasgow.  Family members have been informed.
Following a post mortem examination,  Police say her death is not thought to be suspicious. However, they are  keen to establish her movements prior to her body being found.

It is understood Victoria got out of a silver coloured taxi in Seaward Street, Kinning Park,  around 04.30 am on Friday 30 November 2012.  She was  around 5’6″ tall:  slim build and had very long brown hair.  She was wearing a white t-shirt, maroon jumper, blue legging jeans and knee high beige UGG boots.
Anyone with any information which can help re-trace Victoria’s movements,  is asked to contact Helen Street Police Office on 0141 532 5400.

More Glasgow colleges merge

Anniesland, Cardonald and Langside Colleges have now formally agreed to merge. The decision was made at a joint meeting of the Boards on Monday 30 July. Mark Toma, chairman of the Cardonald Board of Management, said: ‘We are delighted at the prospect of merging with Anniesland and Langside. We are three strong and successful colleges and as one unit we will be a stronger force in education in Scotland.’ Anniesland chairman, Ken MacAldowie, commented: ‘If there were any two colleges that we would want to merge with, then it would be Cardonald and Langside. We work well together and we will continue to work well together to take forward this proposal and produce the best outcome for our learners, staff and stakeholders.’ Chair of Langside Board of Management, Brian Keegan, added: ‘We are absolutely delighted to move forward with this. Our aim is that it will broaden the opportunities for our learners and staff, and enable us to contribute more to our stakeholders and communities.’ The legal due diligence was conducted by the legal firm Anderson Strathern, and the financial due diligence by the chartered accountants Scott-Moncrieff. Both firms confirmed that there were no legal or financial obstacles to the proposed merger. Murray McCall, a partner at Anderson Strathern, said: ‘This has been by far the most straightforward college merger proposal that we have dealt with. It is a tribute to the management and staff at all three colleges that we have got to this stage so quickly and it bodes well for the future of the proposed new college.’ The three colleges serve the south and west of Glasgow and have a combined student body of approximately 30,000. They began merger talks earlier this year in response to the Scottish Government’s reform agenda for further education in Scotland. A full internal and external consultation on the proposed merger will be launched on August 27 and will run until November 16. The planned vesting date for the new college is August 2013. All three colleges have stressed that courses will continue as normal at their institution during the ongoing merger process.

ABOUT THE COLLEGES:

Anniesland College is in the West End of Glasgow at Hatfield Drive. A brand new state-of-the-art campus was opened in August 2010. It is organised into five teaching departments, providing 8,000 students with full-time and part-time courses in areas such as Business and Digital Technologies, Care Health and Communities, Creative Industries and Sport, Engineering and Construction and English and Highers. The five departments offer a range of qualifications from SQA Intermediate 1 and 2 and Highers up to Higher National Diploma (HND) level. The College maintains close connections with local universities to enable student articulation into related degree programmes. It also works in conjunction with local secondary schools and offers a wide range of link courses for school pupils.

Cardonald College is a major provider of further and higher education, in South-West Glasgow based at Mosspark Drive. With an annual turnover of £20 million, the College is home to over 2,000 full-time students, 10,000 part-time students and 400 staff (full time equivalent). The College is accredited by many awarding bodies such as the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), VTCT, City & Guilds, CISCO and Microsoft and has excellent links with major universities and art schools across the country. It celebrated its 40^th anniversary in 2012.

Langside College was established in 1947 and has been delivering quality education and training to the residents of the South-side of Glasgow and beyond for more than 60 years. It holds awards for quality including Investors in People. The College enrols more than 7,000 students annually, of whom, over 1,500 are from countries outwith the European Union. Its new campus on Battlefield Road, was formally opened earlier this year where it delivers a comprehensive range of courses at various levels covering childcare, greenkeeping and horticulture among many subjects.

College challenge to secondary pupils

A scheme to encourage more senior students from secondary schools to opt to go to college was rolled out this week at Cardonald College.

Groups of students from Govan High, Whitehill Secondary and St Paul’s High were invited to the College and challenged in a series of activities to get a taste of student life there. College students were the mentors to each group of 10 secondary school pupils. Apart from practical workshops covering tv, fashion, hairdressing and beauty, music technology and construction – all courses offered at Cardonald – the pupils learned how College students manage their finances and how the college functions.

Said a College spokesperson: ‘The main aim is to show the options available here. Some may not be ready for the jump to University from school just yet. Others can come here to gain more qualifications such as Highers before taking degree level study.’

The 30 secondary schools with the lowest progression rates into higher and further education will be sending their S3 to S6 pupils in the College option.

 

Hair today, Blackpool next month

Triumphant Cardonald College students will go forward to the national finals of the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists’ national students competition after success in the Scottish heats this week.

Emma Simpson who is studying NQ Level 5 hairdressing was 1^st in the long hair competition. Siobhan Rice who is studying Level 6, took third place in the cutting category. They will be accompanied by other Cardonald competitiors, Kyla Wilson and Helen Allan, at the national finals in Blackpool on Sunday 11 March

Head of School for Hair, Beauty and Holistic therapies, Doris Graham said: ‘The competition was intense and our students coped really well under the pressure. They were very professional and worked really hard to produce fantastic results. We are proud of them all and can’t wait for the March finals where we hope to do just as well.’

Cardonald College which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, is discussing a proposed merger with Anniesland College in the West of the city. Home to more than 2000 full-time students, 10,000 part time students and 400 staff, Cardonald College has an annual turnover of £20million.

Kids take over the Fort

by Alieu Ceesay

photograph: Stuart Maxwell

Glasgow Fort Shopping Park hosted a Trade Fair last weekend, and all the stalls  were manned by kids from 15 primary and secondary schools in the North East of the City.

The Trade Fair was part of Enterprising Month, an initiative giving pupils the opportunity to learn skills that will be valuable throughout their working lives. Braving the weather, the resolute youngsters enjoyed the hustle and bustle of market life selling produce – 90% of which they’d made themselves.

The event was organised by Determined to Succeed Glasgow with support from Glasgow East Regeneration Agency. The stalls were as full as a Christmas stocking when the day kicked off at 10pm on Saturday 28 November.

On sale, to list a few items,  were Christmas hampers, clothes, jewellery, food stuff, Christmas cards, crackers and other festive novelties. By the close of play, the stalls were as clean as the mince pie plate on Christmas evening.

Scott White, aged 10, from Oakwood Primary School, managed to avoid the temptation to go wild in the thick sheet of snow that spread white across the Fort car park. Scott told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘We have sold a  few things so far. It’s been fun for us to try selling to the public. And all our items are hand made.’

Teacher Alexis Grant, from East Bank Academy, told LOCAL NEWS the ‘ the day is a great way for students to be exposed to the world of business and one that will help them understand how to get jobs and raise funds for future projects.’

Gary Condie, Determined to Succeed manager, was delighted with the response from the public. Said Gary: ‘Each year the Trade Fair gets bigger and better. It’s a great opportunity for children. Not only is it a learning initiative, it is also fun while raising money for their school or nursery.’

Glasgow Fort manager, Phil Goodman, thought the market was a great addition for all the shoppers determined to spend their money this Christmas. Said Phil:  ‘The young people have some fantastic ideas and products. Our shoppers really enjoy the opportunity to meet with these enterprising youngsters and buy some unusual and quirky Christmas gifts.’

TWO TICKETS TO BBC FOOD SHOW UP FOR GRABS

This weekend the BBC Good Food Show is coming to Glasgow!  The LOCAL NEWS has 2 tickets to give away from Plenty- the creator of the UK’s primo household towel.

The BBC Good Food Show, paradise for the palate, will run from this Friday 22 October at the SECC until Sunday 24 October. Celebrity Chefs will be on hand to display their culinary mastery, Scotland Food and Drink Regional Village will offer a sensuous journey through Scottish produce. The BBC Good Food Show is a must for anyone who takes cuisine seriously, or for anyone who wants to satisfy neglected taste buds.

The LOCAL NEWS are delighted to offer two tickets after teaming up with Plenty. To win the tickets simply answer this question- looking at the accompanying picture, who is the Plenty Mysterious TV Character? A) Juan Sheet
B) Juan Spill
C)Joe Blogs

Respond by emailing your answer to competitions@localnewsglasgow.co.uk and if your lucky enough to win the LOCAL NEWS will deliver your BBC Good Food Show tickets asap.

Also, Plenty, determined we should eat in style, are running their own competition- the gastronomic chance of lifetime, dinner for two at John Torode’s- him from MasterChef- restaurant SMITHS of SMITHFIELDS in London plus passes for MasterChef live this November. To enter visit www.plenty.co.uk/masterchef

Scottish Asian Wedding Show voted a great success.

More than 2000 people attended the hugely sociable, 3rd Occasions Scottish Asian Wedding Show on Sunday 4 April in the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow.
Chocolate bouquets, personalised cupcakes, UK award winning ice cream, halal wedding cakes and exquisite chocolate fountains were just some of the delectable delights among the festival of food and catering stalls. Other stands showed how a wedding venue could look, what the bride and groom – and all the family – could wear, video, photograph and film records of the day, examples of finely crafted wedding jewellery and the thousand and one other essentials to making The Wedding a truly memorable occasion.
Amid the wedding bands of the day was Bollywood singer, Nafis, who performed tracks from his debut album and Bollyfeat dance troupe and Nadmin Bollywood Dance.

Yet it was truly the three fashion shows that stole the show. Showcasing beautiful occasion and bridal wear from boutiques and wedding specialists around the UK, the gowns were stunning and the models (male and female!) equally gorgeous. The stunningly intricate designs and fabrics provided elegant, modern modes to inspire any future bride or groom.

ZaynaB to star in Scottish Asian Wedding event

World renowned make-up artist, ZaynaB, will attend the Occasions Scottish Asian Wedding Show on Sunday 4 April in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow. This international professional is known as the make-up Guru to Bollywood stars. She has provided the magic touch for people such as Keira Knightley, Rachel Weisz, Emilia Fox, two Miss Worlds and many Bollywood leading ladies.
Accompanied by her team of award-winning make-up artists, she will give tips to visitors and makeovers for brides-to-be at the glittering Wedding Show. Each visitor will receive a gift voucher for ZaynaB’s Provoke cosmetic range and one lucky person will win a VIP Bridal Make-Over with ZaynaB worth £2000 for their big day. This will include a bridal cosmetics hamper. Five runners-up will also win cosmetics hampers.
Said Tara of Provoke Cosmetics which are sought out by high profile celebrities: ‘Provoke cosmetics is pleased and excited to be taking part in the Occasions Scottish Asian Wedding Show. We are especially excited that our founder, ZaynaB, will be at the show. Visitors can enjoy personalised bridal consultations and tips and advice from her.’
Ladies attending the exciting and glamourous event, which is the third one to be organised by Oceanic, will discover how to get the perfect base for their make-up, how to achieve the current ‘must-have’ look and how to sign-up for make-up master classes with Zaynab.
The show opens at 12 noon and two fashion shows are scheduled. A full complement of wedding day services and companies specialising in organising such important events will be on hand to be consulted. For an outlay of only £5 per person, this glamorous day will be a boon and a blessing to anyone planning a wedding – Asian or Scottish.

Football’s hair-erasing game

It was a bitter-sweet afternoon for the Partick Thistle fans who made the 240 mile round trip to Dingwall on Saturday 24 October.

Supporters of the Glasgow club were in good spirits and enjoyed the day, but one or two may have risen on Sunday with slightly fuzzy heads and bare chests.

On the pitch, Ian McCall’s side twice came from behind to secure a draw against Ross County.

The 400-strong travelling support twice roared their team back from a goal behind against a physical and direct County side that  started the day on top of the SFL First Division.

The carry-on, the invention, the bonding and singing of songs is all part of the fun, but there is a line that certain folk crossed and some weren’t far from getting their fingers burnt – after they had scorched off their chest hair. Yes, that’s right, allegedly one guy wilfully set fire to the hair on his own chest.

Today, the Highland constabulary confirmed that while they were well aware of the Glasgow contingent in Inverness and Ross-shire,  no Jags fans were guilty of anything other than enjoying themselves.

And the more extrovert and excitable  Jags’  fans won praise from Thistle manager Ian McCall.

He told www.ptfc.co.uk; ‘The support we got was great but quite how those supporters managed to stand out in the elements with their tops off I don’t know.’

While the majority of such shenanigans are good natured and innocent enough, one or two of the lads caught up in the excitement developed bulletproof syndrome including the young man who quite accusingly asked me why was I ‘no getting involved?’

I suspect he was too far-gone on the Bass Shandy to hear me reply that I’d ‘been involved’ since before he was a twinkle in his Daddy’s eye.

Word is that later that evening, this particular individual – having lost his mates, his mobile, his money and his train tickets – had to spend the night under the kind shelter of the Northern Constabulary HQ in Inverness.

Following health and safety rules, the assisting PC took the lad’s lighter off him before he got into his single room for the night.