FORK fun doesn’t stop when it rains.

The bands played on with musicians and electrical equipment shielded from the rain.

Rain didn’t stop play at the FORK Gala day on Saturday 9 June 2012.  A line up of more than 11 groups performed despite heavy rain between the  sunny spells at the annual event run by Friends of the River Kelvin. While the music flowed from noon till 7pm, stalls provided information and things to buy as well as ‘handknitted hamburgers’ . Children had an arts programme painting a collage of the natural environment around the River Kelvin, and an amazing puppet show. Professionally guided canoe trips were ‘just amazing,’ said one happy voyager. All of the activities were centred on FORK headquarters – the Ha’penny Bridge House in the Botanic Gardens at the junction of the tracks leading to Wyndford and Kirklee.

There's always time to talk with FORK.

Said new FORK Convener, Sally Johnston: ‘This has been another exceptionally good and very enjoyable event, despite the rain. We thank everyone who helped and who took part. We plan to hold social evenings in Ha’penny Bridge House in the autumn for members. Before then, we hope to launch, officially, the very colourful boards painted by local school children, which protect the windows of Ha’penny Bridge House.’  For more information on Friends Of the River Kelvin, including their next Saturday morning litter pick-up on 7 July, see their website: www.fork.org.uk

FORK stall's champagne tombola prize was won by Laura Hughes and Ross Brown who' planned to celebrate Ross's new job with the bubbly.

Inspiring citizens honoured by Lord Provost

Johnny Beattie receives Glasgow's Loving Cup for the honour and recognition he has brought to the city.

Actor, funny man and stage presence for 60 years, Johnny Beattie was given Glasgow’s Loving Cup at a civic dinner on Thursday 5 April. ‘I was totally surprised,’ said Johnny who has starred in River City TV soap for ten years.

The fresh looking 85-year-old recollects with total clarity his first day treading the boards. ‘It was May 19^th 1952 at the Tivoli in Aberdeen.  I was with Robert Wilson who was the biggest name around in Scotland at that time. I was the comic – you could tell that by the pillerbox red suit I was wearing!’ Johnny who was honoured by the Queen some years ago with an MBE, added: ‘I’ll keep on working till I’m found out.’

The Loving Cup is Glasgow’s highest honour and is presented to a person who has brought distinction and honour to the Dear Green Place.

Lord Provost Bob Winter presided over the annual awards ceremony  when a roll of honour of key people is thanked publicly by the city for their contribution to its wellbeing.

In what was almost his last public event as Lord Provost, Councillor Winter said: ‘This event is truly one of the most rewarding for me as the city’s Lord Provost. It is such a great occasion when we can honour people from diverse walks of life who all have one thing in common – a commitment to Glasgow and its people. I can think of no better way to express our gratitude to these outstanding men and women by celebrating their achievements this way and presenting them with the Lord Provost’s award and one of them with the Loving Cup.’

The gold awards are in the form of a medal and were given to:

Prominent Accident & Emergency consultant Mr Ian Anderson for improving the health of the people of Glasgow and in keeping the city at the forefront of postgraduate medical education. Based at the Victoria Infirmary, his views are frequently sought at national and international level. He is one of the founding Fellows of the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Surgeons and one of its longest serving Council Members. He was elected President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 2009. He has also played a key role in establishing collaborations with Medical Schools and hospitals in the South of India.

BAE Systems Maritime received the Lord Provost’s award for business. It was accepted by Mr Angus Holt on behalf of the company which is on track to deliver six Type 45 Destroyers for the Royal Navy by the end of 2013. Four have already been handed over. It also produces Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and the Type 26 Global Combat Ship among other complex engineering programmes and services. The yards at Scotstoun and Govan employ 3000 people which includes 140 apprentices and 30 graduates in training.

Professor Jane Duckett receives her Lord Provost's Award from Lord Provost Bob Winter.

Professor Jane Duckett was presented with the Lord Provost’s Award for founding the Scottish Centre for China Research at the University of Glasgow. Since its establishment in 2008 it has developed distinctive new MSc programmes in Chinese Studies. A leading international scholar in contemporary Chinese politics, Professor Duckett was instrumental in setting up the Confucius Institute at the University in 2011. It is testament to her dedication to enhancing the understanding and knowledge of China in the communities of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and her pledge to support the business communities as they reach out to work with Chinese industry.

Dame Elish Angiolini received the Lord Provost’s Award for her services to Law and Justice. Like Johnny Beattie, Dame Elish was born in Govan. She was Solicitor General from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Advocate of Scotland, and was the first woman, the first Procurator Fiscal and the first solicitor to hold either post. Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the administration of justice, Dame Elish holds honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian and Aberdeen universities. In September she will replace Andrew Dilnot as Principal of St Hugh’s College in Oxford.

Donald Shaw, founder of Capercaillie was presented with the Lord Provost’s Award for the Performing and Visual Arts. Through his work with the band he built up an international network of contacts and musical partnerships which he has grown in his work with Celtic Connections. A performer, composer, arranger and musical entrepreneur, Donald was acknowledged for his unique contribution to music in Scotland, and Glasgow in particular. His direction of the Celtic Connections festival makes it the city’s largest, most nationally and internationally significant festival.

Robert Booth, who retired in 2011 after 33 years’ service – latterly as Executive Director of Land and Environmental Services at Glasgow City Council – received the Lord Provost’s award for his public service. He joined Glasgow District Council in 1978 and fulfilled senior management roles in both Housing and Building Services before being appointed Director of Land Services in March 2003. In 2007 he became Executive Director of Land and Environmental Services, with responsibility for managing the city’s road network; parks and open spaces; parking; refuse services; enforcement; trading standards; and the design and project management resources of the council. He received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2011 for services to local government.

The Lord Provost’s Sport Award went to Walter Smith, one of the most successful Scottish football managers in history. He managed Rangers (twice) and the Scottish national team as well as Everton, and was awarded the OBE for services to football in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1997. Previous winners from the world of football in this category include Sir Alex Ferguson (1993) and Ally McCoist (1996).

Bailie Jean McFadden received her award for services to local government. The city’s longest standing councillor, she was first elected to Glasgow Corporation in 1971.

Bailie Jean McFadden, leaves the council after 41 years' service.

She held key positions in various areas of the council most notably as Leader of the Council (1979-1986) and 1992-94) and also including Opposition Leader (1977-1979), and Vice Lord-Lieutenant City of Glasgow from 1981 to 1992. She was also President of COSLA 1990-92 and City Treasurer 1986-92, and was awarded the CBE in 1992 for services to local government.

The Lord Provost’s Special Award for an Inspiring Individual was presented to Julie McElroy. Despite cerebral palsy, mobility problems and profound deafness, Julie has trekked in the Himalayas, canoed Loch Shiel.

Julie has inspired others to be adventurous despite disabilities.

She has used her expertise in assistive technology to make outdoor sports accessible to disadvantaged disabled young people in India. She is an ambassador for Bobath and has received the prestigious John Muir award after completing four adventure challenges and inspiring other disabled people to enjoy the great outdoors.

Upper Kelvin explored

Exploring the upper reaches of the River Kelvin by canoe

It will take several hours for about ten peoople to travel from Kirkintilloch to Torrance – because they will go by canoe. All under the trained eye of Wild by Nature, a canoe company based in Kirkintilloch. In groups of ten, the flotilla will see the Kelvin from a different angle, enjoy new sounds, see both plant and wildlife and stop to explore interesting places along the way.

Paddle -ing from Kirkintilloch Bridge in the East of the town, the intrepid explorers will finish in Torrance. A group of FORKS (Friends of the River Kelvin) recently did this route. They saw buzzards, mallard ducks, sand martins, swallows, brown trout, cows and many tree species, wild flowers and river plant life.

Said Wild by Nature boss,  Cliff Giddings, who has canoed professionally: ‘The trip was relaxing, very quiet and peaceful and provided gentle exercise,’ He said more strenuous routes were available for those who could take them. Charles Thompson, Secretary of FORK who was one of the participants said: ‘We got loads of fresh air and the day was excellently led by Wild By Nature.’ email:info@wildbynature.eu or tel: 0141 777 6211.

Weekly litter pick-ups are still being held by FORK members every Saturday from 10.30am. And on Saturday 6 August they will tidy up the riverbank at Kelvindale Road. Said Charles: ‘We intend to uproot a patch of Himalayan Balsam (one of the three major invasive plant species on the River Kelvin.’. The organisation invites anyone interested to join them. Contact the Secretary on email: friendsriverkelvin@live.co.uk or tel:0141 563 6498 and see website: www.fork.org.uk 

FORK members were given an especially big thank you from Keep Scotland Beautiful because they’d collected an amazing 120 bags of rubbish and other debris over four Saturdays in April during the National Spring Clean 2011.

Kelvin canoe convoy

Cliff leaving safe moorings before paddling to the River Kelvin

Paddling up the Clyde has long been an urban myth. But the Friends of the River Kelvin have organised a couple of outings to paddle along the upper reaches of the River Kelvin. There are still places left for the trip on Friday 22 July and on  Wednesday 3 August. A maximum of ten can go on each outing.

Said canoe master and expedition leader Cliff Giddings: ‘This is a chance to be nudged along slowly by the current, learn some canoe skills and see this rarely paddled stretch of water. The upper and middle sections of the River Kelvin are classed as simple, moving, water. They do not pose any significant difficulties to negotiate.’  Except, perhaps an occasional redundant supermarket trolley! For more information contact Cliff direct: 0141 777 6211 or email: info@wildbynature.eu at his Kirkintilloch headquarters.

Musical FORKS charm the crowds

Happy crowds at FORK Gala

Everyone enjoyed a wonderful day at the FORK Gala on 4 June in the Botanic Gardens at Ha’penny Bridge House. Formally opened by MSP Sandra White, many hundreds of people sat in the sun to be entertained by the musicians – who were still playing at 6pm when the Gala, technically, finished at 4pm. Then there were the stalls to browse, the dog show to challenge, useful things to buy, interesting things to learn and plenty of fun, food and cool drinks too. Canoe rides gave experience on the water.

The whole event is a great West End gathering where people mix and chat, meet and eat, sing and sort out the rest of the world. FORKS are Friends of the River Kelvin and the gala is a showcase for their work and philosophy – to care for the environment around the River Kelvin and to carry that care into other aspects of living.

Welcomed by the Big Fork himself, founder Mark Eden-Bushell, the day was well organised by the FORK Gala committee with FORK Secretary Charles Thompson busy in the background making sure everything fell into place.

Volunteers are welcome to join the FORK’s next river clean-up on Saturday 2 July at 10.30pm at Ha’penny Bridge House which is the organisation’s headquarters.

New musical talent surfaced at the FORK gala