Ashleigh’s singing to win
March 14, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Thursday 14 March 2013
A maths mad Calton school girl is making great headway in the singing world.
Ashleigh has two talent competiton finals ahead.
Thirteen-year-old Ashleigh Burns has won a place in the regional final of the TeenStar competition which takes place in Glasgow City Halls in Candleriggs on Saturday 6 April. And she’s reached the final of Quest for Talent which will be decided on Saturday 20 April in Paisley Arts Centre.
Her proud dad, Drew, said: ‘Ashleigh is a very keen singer and likes to enter competitions. Day by day her confidence is getting better.’
A second year pupil at St Mungo’s Academy in Glasgow’s East End, Ashleigh is also exceptionally good at maths. With another pupil from the school, she takes part in a maths test at Paisley University this week.
All the numbers add up to a very talented teenager!
A cracker of a Chinese celebration
February 19, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Getting into the spirit of Chinese New Year: Glasgow Lord Provost and the Chinese Consul General (3rd and 2nd from right respectively) were among the many VIPs who took to the floor.
While we Scots claim to know how to celebrate New Year, the Scottish Chinese community gave us a run for our yen last night at the See Woo restaurant in Glasgow.
More than 500 guests were entertained by a prodigious galaxy of stars from home and abroad including artistes from the ‘Cultures of China, Festival of Spring’ Troupe led by Mr Zhao Kun and organised by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
Among the VIPs attending were the Chinese Consulate General, Mr Li RuiYou; Glasgow City’s Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty; Provost Jim Todd from East Ayrshire; Provost Tina Murphy from Clackmananshire Council; Provost Helen Moonie of South Ayrshire; Provost Helen Oswald of Angus Council; Deputy Provost Councillor John Patrick of Falkirk Council; Deputy Provost Councillor Donald Balsillie of Alva and Bailie Fergus Wood T.D. of Stirling Council.
Hosts for the evening were the Confederation of Chinese Association in Scotland with a warm welcome from Chairman Mr Lui On Lee OBE with the Association’s First Vice Chairperson, Mr Thomas Ho, giving an appropriate vote of thanks at the end.
Following a feast of singers, dancers and highly skilled acrobats and breathtaking Lion Dancers a feast of Chinese festive dishes were served by the restaurant’s able staff. Copious amounts of tea and a little wine were consumed and people were happy without being outrageous.
When the official entertainment programme was completed, an informal ‘sing-along’ developed with most of the gold chained Provosts up dancing to ‘sexy girl’ – including Glasgow’s Lord Provost Sadie Docherty and the Chinese Consul Mr Li Rui You being among the first to show how to move it.
As the happy company said good night to make their way home; the Chairman of Glasgow Chinese Association, Mr Wan Tianming summed it up: ‘That was a brilliant evening.’
One of the many traditional dance styles performed by the troupe from China.
ATOS protesters on the doorstep
February 8, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Protesters wanting ATOS to be dropped as a sponsor of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 plan to doorstep Glasgow Councillor Archie Graham – at home.
Representing Langside Ward since 1996, he is Depute Leader of the Council and Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games and lives in Pollok. He is also married to Johann Lamont, MSP, who is the Scottish Labour Party Leader. Her Scottish Parliamentary profile says she is focussed particularly on tackling poverty…..among disabled people.
The protesters say ATOS is the company assessing whether sick and disabled people are fit to work and that they are doing this in an ‘inhumane’ way.
They claim that 17,000 people in Scotland have had benefits removed after being processed by ATOS. They also claim that 500 people have died while being assessed by ATOS which proves that not only were they too sick to work but that they were actually terminally ill and should never have been assessed for work in the first place. ‘We invite anyone who shares our concern to join us on Monday 11 February at 10.30am at the fireman statue outside Glasgow Central Station,’ said protest leader Sean Clerkin. ‘ATOS is taking people’s human dignity from them and leaving them in a distressed state. Anyone who wishes to see our politicians adhere to the Scottish civilised values we value, is invited to join us.’
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said there would be ‘no comment’ in respect of the proposed doorstepping of Councillor Archie Graham.
ATOS is a French information technology services company and the largest in Europe with an annual revenue of EUR8.7 billion in 2010. It was announced as a sponsor of the Glasgow 2014 Games by Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The company, which employs 1,500 people in Scotland, is Glasgow 2014’s fourth Official Supporter and was a Worldwide IT Partner to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It has been widely criticised for its Atos Healthcare £1 million contract with the UK Government to assess the capability of people on incapacity benefits, to work. In late 2010 the contract was amended, extending it to 2015, beyond its original conclusion date of 2012.
The anti-Atos campaigners have already protested at various government and 2014 Games offices.
A statement has been requested from Atos to comment on the Glasgow protests.
Both the Glasgow Trades Council and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) have passed resolutions condemning the fact that Atos is a sponsor of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 and have called for action to remove the company as a sponsor.
A Facebook page has been set up calling for a Boycott of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games if Atos is not dropped as a sponsor.
Easter eggs cheer sad kids
February 7, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Wednesday 6 February 2013
Primary 6 pupil, Ashleigh Broomhall and Primary 4 pupil Mark McNeill were delighted to accept the eggs from Silverburn's Lynne Butler, on behalf of their classmates.
A surprise gift of Easter eggs for everyone helped bring a smile to the faces of the pupils of Darnley Primary School yesterday. Their brand new outdoor classroom, completed on Friday last week, was destroyed by vandals on Sunday. ‘They hadn’t even a chance to use it,’ said Head Teacher Rona Bernstein.
Nearby Silverburn Centre which is also located in Pollok, sent manager Lynne Butler to the school with 330 eggs they’d bought as a treat for the youngsters.
Said Mrs Bernstein: “It was such an unexpected surprise when the folks from Silverburn arrived with the gifts. It is nice to know that members of the wider community are thinking of us. Everyone – staff and pupils – was completely delighted.”
Silverburn has also offered the school the use of the shopping mall for any fundraising activities to help raise the money for the reconstruction.
Lynne Butler said: “We were so upset on the children’s behalf that we drove to the school with the chocolate treats in the hope that we could bring some cheer. Fingers crossed, the school will get their outdoor learning facility repaired. Silverburn will do everything we can to help.”
Later, Mrs Bernstein told this website: “The company who installed the outdoor classroom will be assessing the damage today. The vandalism happened in broad daylight on Sunday afternoon. ” Someone must have heard or seen something. It highlights for me that we need a Neighbourhood Watch in this area. I’d encourage anyone with information to go to the Police.”
Strathclyde Police were asked for a comment and update on searching for the culprits and their statement is awaited.
Monte Carlo or Bust!
January 29, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
By Lynsay Keough
Photos by David Whaley
Tommy Bryce in his 1928 Citroen
A new sign was unveiled on Glasgow Green on Saturday 26 January. Beside the arrows pointing towards the Barras and the People’s Palace, it declared – 2190 miles to Monte Carlo.
For the third year running, Glasgow had been a starting point for the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. Along with Copenhagen, Barcelona and Reims the city sees cars of older vintage drive to the Principality of Monaco on the French Riviera to herald the start of the World Rally Championship season.
Started in 1911 to bring revenue to Monaco during the quiet winter months, the Monte Carlo Rally featured 400 cars at it peak. In the 1950′s and 60′s the rally started from Blythswood Square, in front of the then RAC club. This year, the start line was at the People’s Palace.
Tommy Bryce, who received a very special send-off in the first car over the start line, reflected on the 1954 rally: ‘I was in the back seat of a Reilly then. Thousands turned out to see us. There were no motorways, it was B roads for us. We were cheered on in all the villages we passed through: Hamilton, Larkhall, Ferniegair. I used to drive on the cat’s eyes to keep myself awake!’
Are you sure you know where you're going?
Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Sadie Doherty, had been expected to wave off the first few cars at 2pm, but she stayed to wave off all of the 90+ vehicles.
She said: ‘We expected 12,000 spectators and haven’t been disappointed! I’ll wanted to give all the drivers a wee wave and wish them safe passage!’
The cars and drivers started the day in Buchanan Street, to let city centre shoppers get a closer look at the gleaming, treasured labours of love before their epic journey began.
Teams from across the world had come to compete from Glasgow. Richard Davison and his team travelled from Australia to compete in the rally, just as his dad, Lex, had in 1953, 60 years ago. He will be competing with a replica of the Holden FX that his dad drove and be using the same racing number. He said: ‘It will be great to appreciate just what the original team went through in doing such an adventurous thing, it’ll be lots of fun.’
And that certainly was the mood on Glasgow Green. The buzz of eccentric adventure passed from the drivers to the crowd wishing the travellers well. The journey will see them travel to Dover, across to France and down through the Alps, to Monaco.
There was a car with a cuddly hamster on the roof; a car where the co-driver appeared to be a terrier and drivers in goggles and flying jackets. All were exuberant.
Douglas Anderson of the Caledonian Classic & Historic Motorsport Club, the man who brought the rally back to Glasgow, crossed the start line, to the strains of Snozzle Durante singing ‘Monte Carlo or Bust’, and someone shouted ‘Send us a postcard!’
‘Aye! I will, if I make it!’ came the response from the Triumph Vitesse.
In this case, it really isn’t the winning, but the taking part that counts!
Needles click to aid veterns
November 30, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Residents of Lambhill Court Care Home on Glasgow’s Southside, knitted a tidy sum for Erskine, the charity for armed services veterans.
They raised £100 from selling goods they made during activities sessions in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday and handed over the cheque in November.
Manager, Iain Ballantyne said: ‘Erskine is a charity which our residents can relate to. Many of them and their family members went through the Second World War. We are proud of the residents and of Frances -who has a parent living in Lambhill – for taking this on and raising money for such a fantastic charity.”
The knitting, selling and the presentation were organised by Lambhill’s activities co-ordinator, Mary Fox.
Erskine fundraiser Alan Moss said “This is a terrific donation. We, at Erskine, are delighted everyone at Lambhill Court has been thinking of our brave veterans. Donations are vital to continue to provide the high standard of care our veterans deserve so this will make a real difference. Thanks very much and well done to everyone for the successful fundraising.”
Such encouragement of activities and participation in its community is given priority at Lambhill Court, where there are currently a few places for new residents. All five care homes in the Lambhill Court group meet the same standard and staff are expected to treat each resident ‘as if he or she was your own parent.’ For further information please contact Deepak Poddar tel 07786 735 709
www.lambhillcourt.ltd.uk
Erskine has been looking after veterans for almost 100 years and is the leading care organisation for ex-Service men and women in Scotland.
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World festival on human rights includes local experiences
October 19, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Maryhill Integration Network recently performed Lullaby Spirit in Maryhill Community Central Hall (CCH)
Maryhill Integration Network’s dance piece ‘Lullaby Spirit’ is one of the events to be seen in
DOCUMENT – the ten day festival on human rights issues in Glasgow starting on Friday 19 October.
The beautifully choreographed piece by Natasha Gilmore, centres on sleep and is interpreted by people from around the world who have arrived in Maryhill for a multitude of different reasons. Those different reasons are seen and understood even without one word being spoken. Produced by award winning author Remzije Sherifi, the dance is skilfully shown by adults and children who are touching on their own experiences.
That is just one of the stunning events and 85 films on offer at DOCUMENT which celebrates its tenth year now.
Another local contribution will be the special screening of ‘Roma of Govanhill’ with a guest audience of Govanhill residents.
Most of the films and events take place at the Centre of Contemporary Art (CCA) at the Charing Cross end of Sauchiehall Street but some are scheduled for Glasgow University’s Gilmorehill Centre at the foot of University Avenue near Kelvin Way.
Festival Director Mona Rai said: “A visit to DOCUMENT Film Festival is like time-travelling through a decade of world events from the comfort of an armchair.”
A special award presented by an international jury has been created for the best film. In the form of a glass sculpture featuring Glasgow’s Duke of Wellington statue, complete with his famous traffic cone ‘hat’, it will be handed over during the final gala night on Sunday 28 October in the CCA. The winner will be one of the 11 films which have already won a category at the Festival. All of them will be screened in Glasgow. On the same evening Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh will receive the Festival’s DOCUMENT Lifetime Achievement Award. His films explore the state of Cambodia in the aftermath of years of genocide.
Other events include ‘Harry Horseplay’ a tribute to cartoonist and social commentator Harry Horse performed by actor Tam Dean Burn.
The festival programme will also feature a debate on Israel and Palestine, with a screening of films made by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, in association with The Guardian newspaper.
Other film highlights include ‘The Redemption of General Butt Naked’, about former Liberian warlord Joshua Milton Blahyi who reinvents himself as a Christian evangelist preacher.
‘The Sisterhood’ tells the story of Hope, Rollie and Pietie, South African vineyard workers and drag queens.
Full details can be found at http://documentfilmfestival.org/doc10/
All screenings are free for OAPS and asylum seekers / refugees. Since visiting international film directors from Germany, Poland, Italy, South America and elsewhere will be attending DOCUMENT is a Festival where there is a lot going on. Don’t miss it! See their website: www.documentfilmfestival.org
Exhibition of Glasgow buildings, enhance city’s reputation for preservation.
October 4, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Photographers David Barz and Ross Campbell (back) and Vice Chair of GBPT, Pat Chalmers and Board member Steve Inch cutting the cake.
Glasgow Restored is a photographic exhibition celebrating 30 years of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust’s (GBPT) work. With images so distinctive that they could be paintings, the photographs are the work of Ross Campbell who led on the project and David Barz. Both were students of photography at City of Glasgow College. They are now working on their BA at the University of the West of Scotland.
Said Ross (25): ‘I did architecture before photography so jumped at the chance when a lecturer told me about the project to photograph architecturally significant properties for the GBPT.’ The list of 19 properties ranged from Hutchesons’ Hall and Castlemilk Stables to Police Boxes and St Francis Church.
‘It is good to be a part of this exhibition which shows 30 years’ work,’ said Ross. Added David: ‘I joined three quarters of the way through the project and have done 5 of the 16 images. There was a lot of waiting to get the blue skies exactly where you wanted them and the light were you needed it.’
What had been the GBPT’s headquarters in the city centre, The Tobacco Merchant’s House, was the most difficult to photograph. ‘It is in Miller Street – a very narrow street and the sun only strikes it for about 20 minutes,’ explained Ross.
On view in The Lighthouse in Mitchell Lane till the end of October 2012, the show was launched with a cake cutting ceremony by Pat Chalmers Vice Chair of GBPT and Board Member Steve Inch. Said Pat: ‘With the Glasgow City Councils’ support, the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust is going from strength to strength. Everything we do is a challenge. We tackle new territory – from working with the railway companies through the Pollokshields Railway Station project to sinking heat generating bore holes in Castlemilk Stables, we are at the forefront of using technology to make old buildings usable today.’
The latter project, alone, cost £4.8 million with Glasgow City Council putting up .5million which levered in £4.3 from outside sources. ‘We also need to count the 45 construction jobs created while that work went on and the 48 current jobs for people in the community now,’ said Pat.
The GBPT is not some arty farty group. It is creating jobs and bringing in big sums to the local economy with every project.’
Paisley pricing seminar – for free!
September 18, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Gloria Murray, Director of Murray Associates, Accountants, will give a seminar on ‘Pricing: how to get it right and make more profit’ on Tuesday 25 September in a Santander evening in Paisley.
In the 20 minute, free presentation, business people can get valuable tips on how to make their business more profitable by getting the price right.
Hosted by Santander Business Banking, the event will take place in the Santander Bank at 13 High Street, Paisley starting at 5.15 running till 7.30pm. Time to network and enjoy some food and refreshments is included. Book on line at: http://www.murrayassociates.co.uk/events
Asbestos clean-up after school fire
May 25, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Picture by Evelyn McKechnie, was taken at the height of the blaze around 16.15 on Tuesday 22 May 2012.
Demolition of the disused St Mark’s Primary School in Glasgow’s East End will start on Saturday 26 May. The building was torched earlier this week and white asbestos revealed.
The clear-up operation is being handled by specialist contractors in the immediate area and around Tollcross Park where the suspect debris will be dealt with.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said there was no immediate risk to public health. ‘Air quality is being monitored and is well within acceptable limits,’ he said. ‘The Council has written to residents in four streets beside the former school to give advice and explain how the clean-up is being done.’
Local people have been warned to leave all the clearing to the asbestos specialists and not to attempt to do any of the work themselves. In addition, residents have been asked not to cut hedges or lawns until work is complete and to limit use of their gardens. Plot holders at Tollcross Allotments have also been advised not to use their plots until the clear-up is complete.
The work will be carried out between 7am and 10pm each day until it is finished with atmospheric and ground level monitoring continuing till the completion of the job.
The process for removing the debris has been agreed with the Health & Safety Executive. The work is being carried out by specialist contractors – Hunter Demolition – and overseen by Glasgow City Council. Anyone finding material they are concerned about should not interfere with it, but notify Glasgow City Council immediately on 0141 287 0999.
The fire, which happened on Tuesday 22 May in the afternoon, was started deliberately. Strathclyde Police are appealing for information and ask people who can help to call 0141 532 4800 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
