Games, set and match to the Royal Couple
April 5, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
William, Duke of Cambridge met young athletes at the Emirates Arena. Photograph by Ian Watson
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their first formal visit to Glasgow yesterday.
They spent the morning meeting young people at the city’s recently opened £113 million Emirates Arena. The flagship venue will host badminton and track cycling events in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It is a key part of the city’s bid to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Later this year the Junior Track World Championships and World Youth Netball Championships will take place there.
During their tour of the state-of-the-art facility the Royal couple watched pupils from the Glasgow School of Sports and other aspiring athletes, training in athletics, track cycling, badminton, football and netball. They then viewed a Glasgow 2014 exhibition where they met young people including Beth Gilmour who designed Glasgow 2014 mascot Clyde and apprentices who were employed as part of the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative. They also met Mahad Ahmed and Jasmine Main – young ambassadors for Glasgow’s bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games – and some City Building apprentices who worked on the construction of the Emirates Arena.
Next they went to Drumchapel’s Glasgow Club Donald Dewar. There they launched a Scottish pilot of the innovative Coach Core project. Launched last July just before the London 2012 Olympic Games, Coach Core aims to inspire and train the next generation of sports coaches across the UK.
The Duchess tried her hand at table tennis.
It is hoped that the Glasgow project will form an important part of the legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the city’s bid to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.
The Royal Foundation is partnering with Glasgow Life and the Hunter Foundation on the initiative.
Chair of Glasgow Life and the Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, Councillor Archie Graham, said: “This visit highlights our shared vision and commitment to sport in Glasgow, from investing in world-class facilities such as the stunning new Emirates Arena through to our partnership with The Royal Foundation, which will create coaching opportunities at a grassroots level. Sports coaches are at the very heart of sport in Glasgow and we are honoured that their Royal Highnesses chose the city to launch the Scottish pilot of the Coach Core initiative. London 2012 inspired a generation and we want to continue that journey through the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Coach Core will help us do that.”
Sir Tom Hunter, Chairman of The Hunter Foundation which has provided funding to The Royal Foundation to enable the delivery of the Coach Core programme in Glasgow, said: “Coach Core is an exceptional model of positive social intervention because it uses sport to enable lasting change at grassroots, community level. We are delighted to have supported The Royal Foundation in bringing this important initiative to Scotland. Our hope is that the apprentice coaches employed by Glasgow Life each year will deliver transformational change in their communities through sports development. We’d also like to see Coach Core in every local authority in Scotland through the leadership of The Royal Foundation and Glasgow Life.”
Glasgow 2014 Chairman, Lord Smith of Kelvin, said: “We were absolutely delighted to show the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge how young people are an integral part of the journey towards the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the biggest multi-sport event Scotland has ever seen.
“Young people have been involved in all of our major milestones from the creation of our official games mascot, called Clyde,
The Royal Couple meet Clyde the 2014 Games Mascot, which was designed by a schoolgirl.
to the design of the official Glasgow 2014 tartan and right through to the Commonwealth apprentices who work on delivering the Games at our Glasgow headquarters.”
Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic Games ambassador Jasmine Main said: “It was a fantastic experience being able to tell the Duchess of Cambridge about the city’s plans to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.”
Par for a long life
February 16, 2013 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Hugh (seated) holds his card from the Queen. Brother Sandy is beside him. They are surrounded by the family including son Hugh (back row third from left) and silver medalist grandson Chris (back row, fourth from right)
Celebrating his 100th birthday, Hugh Baillie considers his secret of long life is: ‘Living a normal life. And not having too much to do with the drink.’ But his younger brother Sandy – a mere 92 – blew the gaff: ‘Only the good die young!’ he quipped.
Most of Hugh’s family of two children, 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren – and brother Sandy – attended his special birthday party in Sherbrooke Lodge care home in Pollokshields. Hugh and his late wife Peggy were married in September 1939 as war broke out. They lived together in Sherbrooke Lodge in recent years until Peggy passed away 18 months ago.
A railway worker since leaving school at 15, Hugh was in a reserved occupation, critical to the war effort, so not allowed to join the forces.
He spent a good number of years operating the signal box at Central Station, before retiring after 50 years’ service.
A keen golfer – he played off a handicap of 8 – he had at least one game a week at Blairbeth Golf Club until he was 95. Brother Sandy was head green keeper at Gleneagles and Turnberry when each was a railway hotel.
Born in Govanhill, Hugh has lived all his life in the Shawlands, Pollokshields area. He enjoys being in Sherbrooke. ’There’s a couple of nice wee groups (of friends) here,’ he commented.
Sherbrooke operations director Lissa Ameur presented Hugh with a bouquet of flowers. And all the residents joined in the party after Hugh received his birthday card from the Queen on Saturday 16 February 2013.
Until recently he and Sandy and a third brother who lived well into his 90s, would attend model railway exhibitions.
Hugh’s grandson Chris Baillie is a silver medalist having run the 110 metre hurdles in the last three Commonwealth Games. He’s now in training for Glasgow 2014 Games and hopes to be chosen to run there.
With the life style Hugh is enjoying at Sherbrooke Lodge, there’s a real chance he’ll be at the Games to cheer his grandson on.
Atos targetted by Citizens United
November 27, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Some of the protesters outside the Commonwealth Games 2014 offices.
The man who famously cornered a senior politician in a sandwich shop, now has his sights on the Commonwealth Games 2014 sponsors Atos.
Sean Clerkin and around 20 of the Citizens United group of campaigners, occupied the 2014 Games offices in Albion Street, Glasgow today (Tuesday 27 November 2012). They called for Atos, a global IT company which provided consulting and technology services for the recent Olympics, to be removed as a sponsor of the Commonwealth Games 2014.
”This company is the same one that assess whether people are fit to work or to claim sickness or invalidity benefits,’ said spokesman Sean.
One of the protesters claimed Atos had only ten doctors to cover the North East of England and Scotland to make all the assessments. ‘They don’t have a clue,’ he said. ‘And they are not qualified to assess anyone with a mental health problem.’
Two of the protesters on outside door duty.
Citizens United claim Atos has a 7 year contract worth more than £1 billion. ‘This is happening while the people of Glasgow are suffering and are being victimised by the same company and are being treated in a shocking and inhuman way during the assessments.’
One retired civil servant in the protest said: ‘Atos is involved in assessing if civil servants are fit to work or not after they’ve been off sick. If a person is declared unfit to work and applies for disability allowance, the same company turns round and assesses they are fit to work and therefore not entitled to any allowance.’
The Commonwealth Games 2014 senior press officer, Matthew Williams, said later: ‘We are very proud to have global IT experts Atos as part of Glasgow 2014′s sponsor family. The company has demonstrated unwavering commitment to driving forward the Paralympic movement by providing dedicated practical support to athletes for the last ten years. We are confident in the positive role Atos will play in helping us deliver an athlete centred and sports focused Commonwealth Games.”
In any language, Doors Open day is a success
September 18, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
More than 500 people attend the Gaelic speaking church during Doors Open weekend. ‘We’d love to have that number every Sunday!’ said the St Columba’s Church elder, Donald MacKechnie at the St Vincent Street ‘B’ listed building.
The black Bibles in the pews are in Gaelic. The red ones are in English.
Despite their Doors Open day banner being ‘pinched’ and despite major repair work still underway following the storms early this year, the church welcomed visitors in true Gaelic style with tea and home baking in the hall and quiet time to walk around the sanctuary and savour the atmosphere. A Gaelic language service is held at 10am and one in English at 11.30am each Sunday in a worship tradition going back to 1770. But the forward looking congregation is on facebook as well as in the history books so have a look at their artistic pages.
This was one of more than 100 buildings taking part in this year’s Doors Open festival in Glasgow. Seminars, talks, walks and artistic events were woven around the core weekend of 15 and 16 September 2012.
And the rain did not deter people from attending or taking part. The East Glasgow Concert Band played under a canopy at the Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre off Kelvin Way. And they needed the cover as the rain came down through most of their very tuneful 30 minute set. Conductor Kirsty Martin, a music teacher, said: ‘We’ve played in worse weather! It snowed last year at the Fort shopping centre.’ With their music ranging from Elton John to Queen and from film themes to ‘Yakety Sax’ it was real top tapping stuff. ‘It’s really good to be playing here, ‘ said Kirsty. ‘The more people who hear us the better.’ The wind band was started almost 25 years ago by people who’d learned an instrument at school and wanted to continue to play as a hobby. Now covering a wide age range from school pupils to retired – but mostly early 20s – the band welcomes interested new players. Check their Facebook page or turn up on Tuesdays for the 7pm start to rehearsals at St Andrew’s Secondary School in Carntyne.
Among the bystanders enjoying the playing in the rain were 9 month old Millie Fleming whose mum Cheryl was in the band, and retired librarian Olivia Scott who remembered attending concerts in the Kelvingrove Bandstand in summers past.
‘I’ve still got all the programmes,’ said Miss Scott. ‘You could follow what was being played through the numbers on the programme which were supposed to be matched by a number on the stage. But often the man on the stage would forget to change the number as each new piece of music was played.’
Such memories of music in the Bandstand are likely to become fact in the future if a dedicated partnership led by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust has its way. The derelict site is to be redeveloped in time to be used for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. ‘Fundraising is going quite well,’ said Anne McChlery Director of the Trust who was standing at the Bandstand site throughout the rainy Doors Open Sunday to inform visitors about the project. ‘We’ve raised £900,000 to date and are confident we can reach the £1.5million target.’
Closed in 1999, the site became derelict and is on the Buildings At Risk Register. But a band of valiant supporters kept campaigning to bring the place back into use. Built in 1924, it could accommodate 3000 people seated and 7000 standing for open-air performances. Earlier this year an agreement was reached with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and Glasgow Life on a plan to develop the site, access funding and confirm users. Page/Park lead the design team. Further details from Miranda Lorraine at GBPT : 0141 221 6061 www.gbpt.org or email: miranda@gbpt.org
Impressive Olympic Parade in Glasgow
September 14, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Gold all the way to George Square
Glasgow did the Olympic and Paralympic athletes proud! The crowds turn out in their thousands. People did a Glasgow traditional ‘window hing’ and the sun shone on their parade. An estimated 17000 packed George Square and everyone had a good time.
Here are some of the first pictures as the parade approached Charing Cross before heading to George Square where First Minister Alex Salmond awaited them. He then took them to a reception at the Old Furitmarket. He said: ‘These Games were good and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be even better. But London Olympics has set the bar high indeed. We hope to do even better.’
Flat dwellers had a bird's eye view
At the start of the parade from the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum around 4pm today (Friday 14 September 2012) Sir Chris Hoy said: ‘Thank you for this support not just today but throughout the Games. It has been a special summer for sport.’
Among the medalists on parade were: Sir Chris Hoy, cycling double gold; Katherine Grainger, rower, gold; Neil Fachie, paracyclist, gold. Scott Brash, equestrian, gold; Michael Jamieson, swimmer, silver; Aileen McGlynn, cyclist, silver; Luke Patience, sailing, silver.
Helen (in pink) and Kathleen came all the way from Kirkcaldy to cheer the Olympians.
A ‘very proud’ Helen MacKenzie and her friend Kathleen Westwood had travelled from Kirkcaldy to wave their flags and cheer on the Olympians. Said Helen: ‘This has been fantastic for Britain. We just wanted to show the athletes how much we support them.’ Added Kathleen: ‘We’ve spent the whole summer glued to the Olympics and Paralympics. It has been wonderful and we wanted to share the success.’
And local Lanarkshire family David and Gillian Haggart and their daughters Lindsey (6) and Emily (3) were there to cheer on the Olympians.
Having been to London, the Haggart family completed their sports circuit in Glasgow.
Said curler Gillian: ‘We watched it on TV and went to London last weekend and watched the games in Trafalgar Square on the big screens.’ Added David: ‘We’re here to day because this is a once in a lifetime event and we won’t get the chance to do this again.’
East End opens up with new roadway running clear
April 28, 2012 by Grace Franklin · 1 Comment
A vintage bus opened the new roadway on Thursday 26 April 2012. pic by Ian Watson
The £25 million Clyde Gateway (the East End Regeneration Route) opened to traffic on Thursday 26 April 2012. It is a key piece of infrastructure associated with Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the expectation is it will bring jobs and economic advantage to the East End of Glasgow – Shawfield and Dalmarnock in particular – by improving accessibility.
The four-lane, 2.6km carriageway links the Oatlands and the M74 junction at Polmadie in the south to the Forge Retail Park in the north. Designed by Gronmij and built through a joint venture between Farrans and I&H Brown, it will give easy access to Celtic Park, where the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games will be held, the Commonwealth Arena, Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and the Athletes’ Village.
This will be a critical route to transport some of the 18,000 athletes and support staff and hundreds of thousands of spectators expected during the Games. Afterwards, the roadway will be a legacy for the benefit of the local community.
Traffic congestion on existing local roads should also ease, especially during peak times. Recent traffic modelling studies have shown that there will be a reduction in traffic across the major east/west arteries crossing road around London Road and Gallowgate and in association with the new M74 link, this will free up road space to allow for additional walking, cycling and bus routes to be put in place.
Phase 1 of the road opened in April 2007 as part of the development of new housing in the Oatlands area and was officially re-named- New Rutherglen Road. Phase 1A followed in April 2010, running from the Polmadie junction of the M74 and Shawfield Stadium. This stretch totals 1.5km.
The Chris Hoy velodrome is in the background. pic by Ian Watson
Phase 2 is the longest section, crossing the Clyde at Rutherglen Bridge and passing Dalmarnock Railway Station, the Commonwealth Arena and Celtic Park before joining the Parkhead by-pass at the Forge Retail Park
Brian Devlin, Executive Director for Land and Environmental Services said: ‘The Clyde Gateway creates a new, direct link between the completed M74 and the heart of Glasgow’s East End. This will offer fantastic new opportunities for people and business either currently living or based in this part of Glasgow or looking to move there. This is part of the wider regeneration of the city.
Neil MacDonald, Chairman of Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company said: ‘The M74 has already shown that new roads play a very important part in businesses choosing where to make crucial investment decisions and there is no doubt that Shawfield and Dalmarnock in particular will benefit from this new piece of infrastructure. Our on-going efforts to attract developers to the East End have been helped immensely by this road opening and I’d like to thank Glasgow City Council for again demonstrating their commitment to the long-term regeneration of the Clyde Gateway area.’
Children on bikes got an early trial run on the new Clyde Gateway road system.
Prior to the formal opening when traffic started flowing, children from four primary schools in the east end were given the chance to try out the newest section of the road.
More than 100 Primary 6 and 7 pupils from St Michael’s, St Anne’s, Dalmarnock and Quarrybrae primary schools cycled around an obstacle course set up on part of the new tarmac running from new Oatlands over Rutherglen Bridge, through Dalmarnock to Gallowgate.
The children experienced, first hand, the road’s new cycling facilities including dedicated cycle lanes and extended footpaths that are provided along the full length of the route.
They also got the chance to brush up on their safety skills with Glasgow City Council road safety officers and Strathclyde Police cyclists and motorcyclists. Dr Bike offered advice on maintaining bikes and gave practical demonstrations to ensure they were fit for the road.
As well as providing better facilities for cyclists, the new road, funded entirely by the Council, will improve public transport links and accessibility around the East End.
With phase one opened as part of the Oatlands new neighbourhood development last year, phase two of the 2.4km stretch runs over Rutherglen Bridge, continues via Dunn Street, Poplin Street, Dalmarnock Road, Mordaunt Street, London Road and Camlachie to join the existing road network at the Parkhead by-pass, Forge Retail Park.
The facts of building a new motorway are all here. pic by Ian Watson
TheClydeGateway (Phase 2) Facts
1. More than 35,000tonnes of asphalt used to lay roads, footpaths and cycle ways.
2. 800m of 2.74m diameter tunnel used to alleviate storm water flooding.
3. More than 250 trees planted and 40,000 sq m of landscaping to the road corridor.
4. 10km of new drainage pipes installed for new roads.
5. 250 new traffic signal heads installed over seven junctions.
6. 330 new lighting columns.
7. Construction period 2 years (April 2010 to April 2012)
Double Silver for Shettleston
April 1, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
All attention was on Livingston on Saturday March 31, at the last major championship of the Scottish Cross Country and Road Season, the National Road 6 Stage Relay.
Shettleston Harriers went into the race as defending champions but Central Athletic Club proved to be too strong on the day for our team. The team of Paul Sorrie, Michael Deason, Adam Peters, Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab, Matthew Turner and Thomas Fay only finished 43 seconds behind Central but Thomas Fay had to work hard to hold off a fast finishing Stuart Gibson of Cambuslang Ron Hill to win the silver.
In the Veteran Men Race Cambuslang turned the table on the Shettleston team of Bill Breckenridge, Kenny Richmond, Billy Coyle, Andy Little, John J Duffy and Denis Williams to win the gold with Shettleston picking up our second silver of the day.
Our B team of Gary McBride, Adam Lee, Kevin Brydon, Marc McColl, Gary Turner and Kenny McCoy finished 12th
Carole Setchell was our only lady competing but she finished an excellent 6th on stage 1 in 19.20.
The Club’s attention now turns to the English 12 Stage Road Race Championship at Sutton Park Birmingham on 14th April, last year the club finished 11th and was the first Scottish Club.
Shettleston runners show their mettle
March 26, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
photo shows Tewoldeberham and Paul at Grangemouth
ATHLETICS REPORT by Alex Mackay
Shettleston Harriers competed at Maryhill on Saturday 24 March and at Grangemouth the next day. The Nigel Barge 10 K on Saturday saw Thomas Fay winning in 31.55mins from club mate Lachlan Oates by 30 secs. Matthew Turner finished 4th with brother Gary in 25th position. Peter Ward was 49th with Sarah Ward finishing 80th.
On Sunday at the 46th ‘Round the House’ road race at Grangemouth Shettleston’s Tewoldeberham Mengisteab finished 2nd behind Ross Houston of Central Ac. Mike Deason was 4th with Paul Sorrie 7th. Kevin Brydon finished in 24th position.
Meanwhile, on Thursday 23 March, Emma Arbuckle, running at the Renfrewshire Schools Cross Country, came away with the gold medal to add to her recent bronze. At Balloch Park Natasha Mackay, running in the Dunbartonshire Schools Cross Country, finished 4th just getting run out for the bronze medal a couple of metres from the line.
Harriers beat the weather
February 19, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Best individual performance of the day was from Stella Winters (blue strip) who was 4th.
Athletes from Shettleston Harriers were unphased by variable weather at the Scottish Cross Country Championships at Callander Park, Falkirk, writes ALEX MACKAY.
Shettleston Harriers’ first competitor of the day was Lewis Collins who finished 79th in the under 13 boys race. In the under 13 girls race all the six starters battled through snow and hail. Claire Mason lead the team in 58th position, Adeline Callan was 63rd, Natasha Mackay 85th, Ruth Ferguson 98th, Georgia MacDonald 107th and Emma Arbuckle 108th. The team finished 10th.
Ryan Flanagan (blue strip) in the under 15s.
In the under 15 boys event Ryan Flanagan finished 20th, Murray McGiven 39th and Daniel Toland 46th. In the girls event Amy Harkins finished 25th.
The best individual performance of the day in the girls came from Stella Winters who worked hard to finish an excellent 4th, just missing out on a medal. Only 6 seconds separated the first four girls in this event. Mhairi Hendry finished 66th.
The club had two representatives in the under 17 men, Callum Drummond finished 40th with Gary Mason finishing 64nd.
Games LEAD through sports
February 3, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Pupils from Beaconhurst School in Bridge of Allan run for LEAD 2014: Christie Malcolm (15) Millie Dillon (7) Anand Cheema (15) and Gregor Rodger (9) photo by Bill Fleming
Sports festivals could be developed in local communities to promote involvement in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. Keen young athletes will lead the way to create this interest with support from the LEAD 2014 Campaign. The campaign is a youth leadership and volunteer mentoring programme aimed at university students and high school pupils across Scotland as part of the Games build-up.
Triathlete Grant Sheldon and swimmer Cameron Brodie – who are working towards competing in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – were among the top young sports people who launched LEAD 2014 at Stirling University on Friday 3 February. The campaign will hone and develop leadership skills among the young generations. This could include LEAD 2014 protegees helping run sports events in their own communities. Organised by sportscotland, the Youth Sport Trust and Glasgow 2014, LEAD 2014 the main idea is to inspire a real interest in the Games and support for them so that volunteers will come forward at the right time and young people will be enthused to take part in sports.
