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www.celtic-connection.com
OCTOBER 2002
SCOTTISH NEWS ROUND-UP
Memorial to the Highland Clearances
Plans have been unveiled to create a 30-foot high bronze sculpture of a family forced to leave Scotland as a result of the Highland Clearances. The giant monument would be part of a u5 million scheme to create a visitor centre providing an archive of the events surrounding the mass eviction, a genealogy centre and a museum at Helmsdale in Sutherland. It is also proposed to have smaller versions of the sculpture set up in locations around the world where Scottish emigrants eventually settled. The aim is to establish a memorial to the victims - and their contribution to the countries in which they settled.
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Historian Calls for Gravestones Fit For Kings
David R Ross, a historian who is convenor of the Society of William Wallace, has called for suitable headstones and monuments to be erected to mark the last resting places of Scotland's monarchs. While the last resting place of some Scottish kings, like Robert the Bruce in Dunfermline Abbey, are well known, many are not commemorated.
Most of the early Scottish monarchs, including Macbeth, were buried on the island of Iona. But over the centuries stonework and inscriptions have been worn away - unlike the kings and queens of England who have marble monuments in Westminster Abbey in London.
A number of other Scottish kings are buried at Dunfermline, including Malcolm Canmore and Kings Edgar, Alexander I and David I but there is nothing in the abbey to show this. Robert II, the first of the Stuart dynasty is buried at Scone Palace but, despite the obvious appeal to visitors, the burial site is not marked.
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Living With Maureen
Aberdeen's Maritime Museum has created an exhibit to tell the story of a North Sea oil rig called "Maureen." It provides an insight into the UK's heaviest steel oil platform and focuses on the experience of those who worked there.
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Medieval Scotland Comes To Life
Stirling Castle's rich heritage was brought to life when it hosted its annual extravaganza. The highlight of this long-established event was a choreographed combat by fight display team, The Clann, who battled it out in true "Braveheart" style. There were also falconry demonstrations by the Edinburgh Bird of Prey Show. The castle was filled with stalls, courtesy of living history group, Gaddgedlar, where guests could try their hand at medieval crafts such as arrow-fletching, leather-working and coin-striking.
Visitors also met some legendary characters from Scottish history such as Black Raven who performed his series of dramatic monologues throughout the day. Others stepped back in time with the Alba Adventure Company as they staged a witchburning (purely in the name of theatre), a Covenanters meeting and a skirmish with the Redcoats.
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Aberdeen: 'One of the Darkest Places Imaginable'
English author Martin Amis has infuriated the citizens of Aberdeen by describing the Granite City as "one of the darkest places imaginable - like Iceland." Although he has never set foot in the place, he said that Aberdeen was the "epicentre of gloom." Amis is using the city as the location for a short novel which, as he is a well-known author, will sell well around the world.
The business community and tourism officials are concerned about Aberdeen's image being tarnished and were quick to point out that the author's views are incorrect. They say that the granite, from which many of the city's buildings are constructed, makes the city sparkle in the sun. They also highlight the self-deprecating Doric humour, the thriving economy and high quality of life.
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City of Love - Again
Last February, around St Valentine's Day, Glasgow mounted a series of romantic events and declared itself to be the "City of Love . The pretext, apart from the city's reputation for friendliness, was that some of the bones of Saint Valentine are preserved in the Blessed Johns Duns Scotus Church in the Gorbals area of Glasgow.
The "romantic extravaganza" was deemed a great success, particularly as it brightened up an otherwise bleak February. Now promoters have put forward proposals to Glasgow City Council for a repeat performance with a 100-foot high ferris wheel (with a red heart in its centre) in George Square, a romantic film festival, exhibitions and concerts. A "Love Bus" tour took hundreds of couples to visit Glasgow's most romantic locations. It was estimated that an extra 17,00U hotel rooms were rented in city hotels during the week-long festival.
Free Bus Travel for Pensioners
People over the age of 60 across Scotland can now enjoy free travel on local bus services under a new concessionary scheme. Supported by u25 million of public funding, elderly folk are now entitled to free bus journeys after 9.30 AM on Monday to Friday and all day at weekends.
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Duke of Edinburgh Puts His Foot Down
During a visit to the Braemar Gathering on Royal Deeside, the Duke of Edinburgh, wearing a kilt, leapt to the defense of the Queen as a wasp flew around the area where she was sitting. In front of the 18,000 spectators, he made a pre-emptive strike and stamped on the offending insect as it naively landed on the decking of the pavilion. Having accomplished the task, the Duke then sat down again to enjoy the show.
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Pictish Cross Comes Home
Forgotten Hearing Aid Causes Crash
A 76-year-old woman told Perth Sheriff Court that she crashed five cars, a bus and a camper van because she forgot to put in her hearing aid - and couldn't hear the engine revving when she pressed down on the accelerator instead of the brake.
She thought that she was skidding when the car continued to move forward. The lady from Auchterarder in Perthshire has been driving for 59 years but the judge ordered her to take a standard driving lesson so that an instructor could assess her ability to drive, before deciding whether she can continue to use the roads. It was her first crash in nearly 60 years.
A nine-foot high red sandstone cross, which was removed from a hilltop in Perthshire where it had stood for over 1,100 years, has _ been returned to the same area. The Dupplin Cross is highly ornate Po| IC0 WOffld fl and has carvings of animals, birds, horseriders and Celtic patterns. vv\si I Id I I
It also has the inscription "King Constantin son of Fergus, High King D ("AO IfC Cm locc of the Picts." Constantin died in AD820 and some historians believe ^* CdlVO VJIdOO that it was erected by Kenneth macAlpin or by one of his sons.
Lord Forteviot, the owner of the Dupplin Estate, wanted to move the cross from the hillside where centuries of wind and rain were taking their toll on the carvings. But local people were suspicious that the impressive stone would be retained in Edinburgh where it had been put on display in the Museum of Scotland after restoration. But after a public enquiry, it was decided that it would be housed in Serf's Church at Dunning once the church had been adapted. Thus, the cross has been returned to St Serf's. The old church itself is in the care of Historic Scotland.
225 mph Trains from London?
A study by engineering consultants is likely to conclude that a new dedicated railway line between London and Scotland, capable of carrying new high-speed trains at 225 miles per hour, would have a positive economic impact along its route and would dramatically increase the capacity of the rail network.
The plans have two provisional routes in mind - an east coast line to Edinburgh or a central line which would terminate in Glasgow. Journey time for the 400 miles would be under three hours. At the moment, the highest speed achieved on UK railway lines is 125mph, due to the many curves on the lines, most of which were laid down over a 100 years ago. But it is projected that it would be 2015 before the first trains could be running on the new track, even if approval is given. The consultants' report is due to be made public later this year.
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Scottish Banks Aim to Print Euros
Scottish banks have printed their own banknotes since 1695 and have fought over the years to be allowed to continue to do so - Sir Walter Scott was a major force in the 1820s, writing in defence of the Scottish note issue. The Banknote (Scotland) Act passed in 1845 regulates today's note issue by the Scottish banks.
With the introduction of the Euro, all the individual currencies of each of the 12 countries involved have disappeared. But a clause in the Maastricht Treaty, introduced at the last minute at the insistence of the UK government, appears to allow the possibility of the Scottish banks continuing to print (Euro) banknotes if the UK adopts the new currency. There have even been negotiations with the European Central Bank on this and, so far, the ECB has not completely refused.
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Latest Viking Invasion of Ayrshire
Alcohol is expensive in Norway, once the home of the Vikings who ravaged (and settled) in north and west Scotland 1,000 years ago. A pint of beer costs ii5.50 and a bottle of wine ii25 in Oslo. So the introduction of bargain flights between the Norwegian capital and Prestwick International Airport in Ayrshire has sparked a new Viking invasion.
Fun-loving Norwegians using the Ryanair flights are heading for bars and restaurants in Ayr and find that they can easily save the cost of the fare. Eating out in an average Norwegian restaurant costs around ii30 and nightclubs are equally expensive. Before the arrival of budget airline Ryanair, flights between Scotland and Norway cost around u500. They are now down to u70 on the no-frills service.
Ceiling
Norma Graham, the newly appointed assistant chief constable at Central Scotland Police declared that she believes that the "glass ceiling" which has stopped the promotion of women to senior posts in Scottish police forces, has now been broken.
In her new role she will be head of operations in the force which has 730 officers and 300 civilian support staff.
She will have particular responsibility for crime investigation, the war on drugs and the implementation of high visibility policing to deter disorder and reassure the public.
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Gender Gap in Scotland Worst in EU
Statistics published by the Equal Opportunities Commission show that, on average, women in Scotland earn 16.6 percent less per hour than men.
This puts the UK and Scotland twelfth out of 15 European Union countries, and when part-time wages are included in the statistics, the UK drops to last place. There has been equal pay legislation on the statute books for 32 years.
Witch Hunts for Nessie 'Ghost'
A self-styled "white witch" has focused his mind on the legendary Loch Ness Monster. He believes that Nessie only exists in a spiritual state - in other words, it's a ghost.
Kevin Carlyon says he will try to raise the creature by the power of positive thought and "find out once and for all if she really exists."
He believes that only certain people have the power to see the ghost of Nessie and that changes in the atmosphere have made seeing it more likely.