New era starts for CCH in Maryhill

The deal is sealed. City Treasurer Paul Rooney and CCH Board Chairperson Anna Dyer shake on the handover of the CCA building to the Trust.

A new era has started for Community Central Hall (CCH) in Maryhill Road. The Trust which runs it has been gifted the building by Glasgow City Council.

City Treasurer, Councillor Paul Rooney made the announcement today (Thursday 27 September 2012) during 35rd anniversary celebrations of the popular venue.  He said: ‘I’m delighted to be part of the decision to transfer the premises to CCH. The City Council will only do this where best practice is clearly seen and good management has an identifiable track record.’

He added: ‘This place is well known for the public inquiries – such as Stockline – held here. But it has an amazing level of users, workers and volunteers.’

Anna Dyer, Chairperson of the Trust Board which runs CCH, thanked Treasurer Rooney and said: ‘We have a new future to look forward to now because we can access more funding. This will keep the building in community use for future generations.’  She paid tribute to John Gray who, as a Strathclyde Regional Councillor more than 35 years ago, fought to retain the former church for the community.

At an evening reception for members and supporters of CCH Anna presented John with a silver salver to recognise his foresight and his fight.

A clearly delighted John told this website: ‘We were ecstatic 35 years ago when we got possession of the halls. There was a lot of support and a good committee. When the caretaker Jimmy Gordon handed over the big bunch of keys he said all the furniture had been taken away. I discovered the Council had a store full of furniture and got permission to take what we needed. With the Boys’ Brigade, the committee and a whole team of helpers, we made a lot to trips back and forward with two vans till we furnished the place.’ He said the first thing the committee did was double the wages of the caretaker.

An exhibition of past times and community activities is on display in the CCH. Built by subscription in the 1920s, it was used as a church until it became a Community Trust and registered charity 35 years ago.

The anniversary celebrations included a pacey variety concert hosted by Dave Anderson. ‘This is a fantastic facility,’ he told the audience in the Reid Hall. ‘I’ve been using it since I was a boy.’ Entertainment included a toe-tapping routine by pupils of LA Stage School which is one of the newest groups to make CCH their home. Maryhill Integration Network (MIN) provided two splendid sets. First up was a dance and music piece with adults and children singing lullabies from around the world. Later they gave a fashion show with the models dressed in beautiful outfits reflecting ethnic and antique costumes from a wide variety of countries sometimes re-interpreted to show the fusion of cultures.

The world’s longest running Scouts’ Gang Show – the Glasgow Gang Show – gave a harmonious preview of their own show which takes place in November. ‘We’ve been rehearsing in the CCH for 15 years because the facilities are so good,’ said their spokesman.

A seven strong Gospel choir with accompanying drummer from the Redeemed Christian Church of God which worships in the CCH, gave a non-stop praise session which had the power and the conviction of ten times their number.

Commented Dave Anderson at the end of their set: ‘That’s a far cry from the joyless Presbyterian church style I grew up in!’

As the night wore on and the audience decreased, the second half of the show moved to the CCH cafe. The stalwarts who remained had a brilliant treat from Dave Anderson himself. He played keyboard and sang to give a humorous insight into his own musical upbringing. ‘A song I wrote years ago is currently included in ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ thanks to Elaine C Smith remembering it,’ he told the appreciative audience as he sang it for them. With wit and humour, he brought the anniversary event to a happy close.

Friday 28 September was day two of the 35^th anniversary celebrations with a children’s fun day complete with a real fire engine and a play bus, a community exhibition in the CCH and dancing to the Black Havana Diamond Band in the evening.

Queen’s Birthday Honour for Principal of Langside College

Langside College Principal, Graeme Hyslop OBE

Graeme Hyslop, Principal of Langside College, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2010. This is in recognition of his contribution to Scottish Further Education and his involvement with the local community.
Graeme has been employed in the College sector for over 25 years following a period in Higher Education as a lecturer in Social Sciences.
Initially he worked as a lecturer and senior lecturer at Reid Kerr College in Paisley before becoming a Further Education Officer with Strathclyde Regional Council where he was responsible for strategic planning, European Structural Funds and adult education.
In 1991 Graeme joined Langside College as Depute Principal and since 1999 has been the Principal.
The last few years, under Graeme’s leadership, have marked an exciting period in the College’s history.

In 2007, the learning establishment celebrated 60 years providing excellent training and education to the Southside of Glasgow. It is currently in phase two of  building a state of the art facility on the existing footprint of the College.
Graeme is involved with many educational committees including being elected by his fellow Scottish College principals to serve on the Board of the Association of Scotland’s Colleges. More recently Graeme has fulfilled a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence.
Graeme is also an advocate for the Southside of Glasgow and participates on many local committees tasked with the economic development and regeneration of the area including being Chair of the Resources Committee of the Glasgow South East Regeneration Agency.
On receiving the OBE, Graeme said: ‘I am immensely honoured to be awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours but humble enough to know that it is the efforts of hundreds of people that are recognised by this award. All of my staff have made it possible.
‘I am nothing without the extraordinary support of my family, friends and colleagues over the years.’
Graeme has enjoyed a full and varied career including being a columnist for the Times Educational Supplement.
Married with one daughter, he considers himself to be a ‘true public servant’ as three generations of his family have worked in the public sector.
Arthur Hyslop, Graeme’s father, a former pupil of Allan Glen’s School, was the City Engineer (Depute Director of Strathclyde’s Roads) and his daughter Amy is presently a history teacher at Turnbull High School in Bishopbriggs and Fernhill School in Rutherglen.
Graeme was educated at the High School of Glasgow and has studied and worked at each of Glasgow’s three universities.
He is also a committed trade unionist and has been involved in supporting the establishment of Scottish Union Learning. Unusually for a College Principal, he continues to be a proud member of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)