Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Symbols found on Stone of Destiny
MARKINGS that resemble Roman numerals have been discovered on the Stone of Destiny, the rock on which Scotland’s monarchs are crowned. A three-dimensional (3D) model of the stone has been created ahead of its use during the coronation of King Charles III next month. The scans have also revealed more details about the structure of…
Read MoreFirst Haggis World Championship launched
PERTH will host the first Haggis World Championship on 14 May. Entries for the competition, which is organised by the Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB) trade body, will close on 5 May. The hunt for the world’s best traditional haggis will see restaurant chefs compete with local butchers and haggis manufacturers for the coveted title. SCB…
Read MoreFrom Ukraine to Scotland: Scotch Whisky Training School
Olga Varvarova visits the Scotch Whisky Training School at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. FOR the longest time, whisky had been a drink I would avoid like the plague. As a Ukrainian, I’m much more accustomed to wine or “nalyvka” – a sweet liquor made of fruit or berry. However, my country’s national drink…
Read MoreREVIEW: Swan Lake – Birmingham Royal Ballet
Megan Amato reviews the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. SWAN LAKE is one of those ballets that needs no introduction. Without having to be prompted, many of us can hum Tchaikovsky’s alluring score in our sleep. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small school show or a…
Read MoreArt gallery news round-up: Lawson, GoMA, and more
Peter Ranscombe rounds-up the latest art gallery news. ARTIST Ron Lawson has used lighter tones for his latest exhibition at the Annan Gallery in Glasgow. “I definitely focused on bringing that lighter feel to my work and it cheered me up during the winter months,” he explained. Lawson, who takes his inspiration from the Hebrides,…
Read MoreSt Mary’s Music School pupils visit new home
PUPILS from St Mary’s Music School have been given a sneaky peek at their new home. The pupils received a tour around the Old Royal High School building in Edinburgh, which is being converted into the new base for the specialist school, and which will also house a National Centre for Music. Their tour was…
Read MoreScots want ‘wilder’ national parks
A MAJORITY of Scots want our national parks to be “wilder”, according to a survey by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. An opinion poll conducted by market research agency Survation found that 74% of Scots agreed with a call to make national parks wilder, while 6% were opposed to the idea. In February, NatureScot – the…
Read MoreShortleet for 2023 Walter Scott Prize unveiled
SEVEN books have been named on the shortleet for this year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. The titles competing for the £25,000 prize are: These Days by Lucy Caldwell (Faber) The Geometer Lobachevsky by Adrian Duncan (Tuskar Rock Press) Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris (Hutchinson Heinemann) The Chosen by Elizabeth Lowry (Riverrun) The…
Read MoreCaddy Mann named top game restaurant
THE Caddy Mann restaurant in Jedburgh was named “best restaurant” at this year’s Eat Game Awards, receiving a prize of £1,000. The event, which held in London, marked the culmination of a national search to find businesses and individuals championing the use of British wild game. Restaurateur Ross Horrocks and his wife, Lynne, said they…
Read MoreScottish designers at Dressed to Kilt
MORE than 65 outfits were on display on Saturday at the Dressed to Kilt fashion show’s 20th anniversary gathering in Washington DC. Scottish designers and brands taking part in this year’s show included: Calzeat; Glenisla Kilts; Harris Tweed Hebrides; House of Cheviot; Kinalba Scottish Cashmere; Lorna Gillies; Strathmore Woolen Mills; Slanj; Totty Rocks; and Walker…
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