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A good stooshie

‘It’s good to see politics is alive and can generate a good stooshie,’ commented Dr Katherine Trebeck of Oxfam after the Sunny Govan Radio’s hustings on Tuesday 26 April. Oxfam is a supporter of the 24 hour radio station which beams out across the whole of Glasgow and beyond.
Held in Kinning Park Church and chaired by media director Martin Paterson of Paterson Communications, the Southside Constituency contenders of Nicola Sturgeon (SNP), Stephen Curran (Labour), Kenneth Elder (Lib Dem) and David Meikle (Conservative) had a sparky interchange and the audience took no prisoners either!
The biggest audience applause was during the question on the future of shipbuilding in Govan and Scotstoun when the questioner – Iain McInnes a community campaigner said: ‘We should be building ships for peace not war. Ferries for around the coast and sea-going structures for renewables is what we should be building.’
Nicola Sturgeon said she was proud of the local shipbuilders in what was her constituency before recent boundary changes.. ‘We should be 100% behind Govan and Scotstoun yards,’ she said. ‘Anyone who suggests they only got the work because they are a part of the UK, is doing them a great dis-service. It is because of their skills and their willingness to change and be flexible that they got the orders.’
David Meikle in making a point that the companies should be securing new contracts in new markets as defence cuts took effect, was rounded on by Nicola who said it was ‘Tory cheek’ to suggest that, when Conservatives had been responsible for massive cutting of defence jobs.
Stephen Curran wanted to see the River Clyde better used. ‘It has great potential. The only reason Govan yard is still open is because we are part of the UK. In an independent Scotland, shipbuilding would disappear. It is absurd for the SNP to suggest otherwise.’
Lib Dem candidate Kenneth Elder said technology and future generations had to be considered. ‘We should be thinking of extending the industry not neglecting the River Clyde. There are not enough craft on the river which is a common good asset. We need a longer vision for the Clyde,’ he added.
Audience concerns covered – travel expenses for job seekers attending interviews in the city; regeneration and the plight of pensioners in flats who want Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) to renovate their lifts, not install new ones. On that issue, the panel was unanimous that GHA had to listen to what the pensioners wanted. ‘I’ll be on the phone to GHA in the morning,’ said Nicola.
When the effect of cuts at the St Mungo centre for disabled people was aired, Stephen said: ‘People don’t listen enough or trust enough. We are all in this together and we need to learn to trust each other.’
The spectre of people trafficking increasing during the Commonwealth Games was raised. ‘We’ve got to recognise this happens and talk about it,’ commented Kenneth. ‘We can find out what London does for the 2012 Olympics and learn lessons from and co-ordinate with international agencies across Europe.’
In a bit of banter, Nicola said she liked Midge Ure’s music: ‘I supported him in the 1980s so I’m giving my age away!’ Ure’s concert was a free one on the night of the hustings and aimed at young folk. Labour accused the SNP of a serious breach of election laws. Commented David:’ I don’t know who Midge Ure is! I suppose that shows my age!’
Post Office closures, regeneration, mental health, human rights and Go Ape and Pollok Park were all subjects tossed around by the candidates with dexterity.
Heading up Oxfam’s Poverty Programme for Scotland, Dr Trebeck said she was delighted with the evening.

A team of first year media students from Cardonald College filmed the event. ‘We want the experience,’ said Amy Hamlan (18). ‘I’m looking for good shots,’ said Dan Lowrie (26). ‘We’ll be giving Sunny Govan good feedback,’ added Jordan McClymont (22). All aim to be directors or writer directors in tv.

Highland cattle descend on Pollok

A spectacular Cattle show will conclude an important conference on the future of Highland cattle this Saturday 2 October.

The 7th City of Glasgow International Highland Cattle Show will see 35 breeders from Scotland and 175 entries compete in 13 separate classes. The show will be judged by German, Dr Stephen Janz who, by inspecting the age and sex of the cattle, will decide which is this year’s Supreme Champion.

Last year saw a 3 year old heifer, Garbh Allt 34th of Balmoral, crowned Supreme Champion Animal. This year, gates will open at 9.45am and judging on the 13 classes will commence at 10am. Entry is free and there is plenty of entertainment, even if your fancy is not cattle. Also on offer: a fresh food market, a pipe band, a silver band, children’s rides and inflatables, plus much more. You can even fit a Clydesdale with new shoes- if you are game?

The event will be the culmination of a conference that began in Burrell Collecton building on Wednesday 29 September. The 3rd International Gathering of Highland Cattle Breeders is an attempt to maintain and improve breeding standards worldwide and conserve the quality of Highland Cattle. The title of this year’s gathering is ‘The Future of our Highland Breed’.  Experts from the Cattle Industry will address the conference.

Get to Pollok Park this Saturday – it is an event not to be missed as it isn’t often you can get up close and personal to so many fierce beasts.

Pictured above:  Ian Bowie, President of the Highland Cattle Society and Helen Davidson, Sales Manager UK, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau at Pollok House where Highland cattle such as the one pictured, are a visitor attraction.

Photograph by: Iain McLean

Home Start have their cake after 10 magic years

Home Start Glasgow South celebrated their 10th birthday on Saturday 7 August with a magic-tinted Family Day at Pollok Park.

Home Start is a charity where volunteers offer practical support and advice to young families who, for many reasons, are struggling to cope in their homes. To celebrate 10 years of offering this service, friends, families and volunteers-past and present- gathered in Pollok Park.

Kids and adults alike were dazzled by Fuzzy the Clown’s logic-defying magic show before Scottish pop star, Michelle McManus, released a batch of balloons into the air to commemorate the day. Glaswegian Michelle, a former winner of Pop Idol and current host of The Hour, is a proud patron for Home Start.

With balloons jostling in the air, the candles were blown out and the rather large birthday

cake was cut and divvied out. Rumours circulated that the cake had been a lot bigger on arrival.  Fuzzy the Clown was unavailable for comment!

A single father, having digested his wedge of cake, said: ‘Home Start has been invaluable to my three children. As a single father, sometimes you need help. I have kids of three, five and six-years-old and Home-Start has been so supportive.’

Worried that your family might be in danger of crisis or breakdown? Or do you just want to talk to someone about family related worries? Call Home Start on 0141-585-6712 or visit their webisite www.homestartglasgowsouth.org.uk

Labour and Tories tight knit at Pollokshields hustings

By Martin Graham

Youth Community Services Association and radio station Awaz FM held a pre-election information evening on Wednesday, 10 February at Pollokshields Burgh Hall to give people the chance to question political candidates about their manifestos and policies.
On the podium were Osama Saeed, the SNP’s candidate for Glasgow Central; Shabnum Mustapha, Lib Dem candidate for Glasgow South; Anas Sarwar, Labour candidate for Glasgow Central, and Richard Cook, the Conservative candidate for East Renfrewshire.
Each speaker gave a brief introduction and then the debate was opened up to questions from the floor.
It was interesting to see how Labour’s Anas Sarwar and Tory Richard Cook supported each other, with Mr Sarwar even defending Conservative leader David Cameron at one point.
They seemed united against Mr Saeed and the SNP. Despite the much vaunted ‘two-horse race’, it would appear from the candidates’ performance that there is very little difference between the Labour and Conservative parties.
When asked what they had done personally for their communities, Mr Cook said that he had helped clear snow from the driveways of older people, and sought to develop community leaders.
Mr Sarwar said that he had campaigned against gang masters in Govanhill exploiting workers, and had sought to restore flights from Scotland to Pakistan.
Ms Mustapha said that she has helped with the Save Pollok Park campaign and also campaigned to save a post office in North Glasgow.
Mr Saeed said that he had been holding local surgeries to hear people’s concerns and had organised anti-war protests.
On the subject of auctioning lunches at the Scottish Parliament, it was pointed out that David Cameron had done the same thing at Westminster. Mr Cook said that it was unacceptable to use Parliament for this purpose.
Mr Sarwar pointed out that Mr Cameron had apologised for his lunch scandal, but Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond had not apologised for his.
Ms Mustapha stated that access to Parliament is not freely available, and that it should be treated with respect.
Mr Sarwar was asked about his father’s expenses history and his attendance record at Westminster, but he declined to answer questions about Mohammed Sarwar.
One audience member asked the panel if they would support restricting homosexuality to limit the spread of AIDS and HIV. Every panel member rejected the suggestion.

Save Pollok Park Public Meeting

Save Pollok Park will hold a public meeting at 7.30pm on 28 October in Pollokshaws Burgh Hall to plan the next phase of their campaign against Go Ape.

Their campaign received a boost when National Trust for Scotland (NTS) Chairman Shonaig Macpherson publicly confirmed their objection to having Go Ape in the North Wood of Pollok Park. She said they were “concerned about the proposed location”. In response to questions from the Save Pollok Park campaign at the NTS AGM, the NTS stated they were in discussion with Glasgow City Council ‘to find an alternative, less sensitive, location within the park.’

Save Pollok Park has launched a new petition calling on Glasgow City Council to rethink its plans to allow Go Ape to open an adventure assault course in Pollok Park. Bill Fraser, a spokesman for Save Pollok Park, said: ‘It’s now clear that the City Council has no legal right to grant a lease to Go Ape without the approval of the Maxwell family and the National Trust for Scotland. Both organisations have refused to give their blessing to the project.’

The National Trust for Scotland has agreed to appear at the public meeting on 28 October to answer questions.

Editor's Corner

Glasgow City Council needs to take a long hard look at itself. Each person elected to serve this great city is duty bound to honour its motto: Let Glasgow Flourish. Flourish now means ‘What’s in it for me?’ There is no sign of the humanity or humbleness established by St Mungo, the City’s ancient Christian [...]

Read this months Editor's Corner...