Culture
The life and loves of TV favourite Carol Smillie
Carol Smillie has been one of the most popular faces on British TV for over 25 years. The television presenter talks ice skating, her biggest career break and what it’s like to be parodied as ‘smiley, smiley, Carol Smillie…’ I am a big fan of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, I just…
Read MoreScotland’s rival to St George and the Dragon
By Eric Bryan The story of St George and the Dragon has a Scottish rival – the fiery, gory legend of the deadly Worm of Linton. As fearsome fiends go, the Worm of Linton doesn’t seem to carry quite the same threat as the Beast of Bodmin Moor or even the Creature from the Black…
Read MoreHer commitment to her business is heart felt
Dalmally Station on the Oban branch line may seem like the last place you’d expect to find a designer, but felt artist Liz Gaffney thinks it makes perfect sense. ‘The landscape of Argyll was shaped by sheep following the Clearances and people are becoming more and more interested in following the story of wool from…
Read MoreCulture, heritage and arts as you Wander Argyll
Argyll and the Isles are renowned for spectacular scenery and coastline. Now a new campaign is being launched to showcase its diverse array of culture, heritage and arts attractions along one of the many long-distance routes in the region. Wander Argyll, an initiative from Argyll and the Isles’ Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS) network,…
Read MoreLetter writing competition for Gaelic Glasgow
A new competition is encourages Glaswegians to pen a letter to Gaelic Glasgow. Glasgow Life, together with the Gaelic Books Council, has launched Letter to Glasgow, a brand new event which encourages Gaelic supporters across Glasgow to pick up their pens and write a letter to their city – one which looks at Gaelic Glasgow,…
Read MoreDr Archie Cameron – the man who was the last Jacobite
A reluctant soldier and a skilled doctor, Archie Cameron was a valued aide of Bonnie Prince Charlie and became the last Jacobite to die for what he knew to be a hopeless cause. Archie Cameron was born in 1707, the year of the Treaty of Union. The fourth son of John Cameron of Lochiel, he…
Read MoreHis Majesty’s Theatre is still in the limelight
Despite the draw of modern technology, the enduring appeal of His Majesty’s Theatre continues to capture the imaginations of Aberdonians young and old. W e live in a constantly evolving digital age. With new movie releases, Netflix Originals and all your favourite TV series a click away on Amazon Prime, can traditional theatre really compete…
Read MoreReading the road saw actor Tam follow the baton
As an actor, Tam Dean Burn’s work has taken him all over the country. Having appeared on screen, notably several roles in Taggart and as gangster Thomas McCabe in BBC Scotland soap River City, Tam has also been all over Scotland on stage too. But one of his most unusual journeys occured in 2014, when…
Read MoreRemembering the Mackintosh of yacht design
Think of the heyday of the Clyde and what names are conjured? John Brown, Denny, Lithgow, Fairfield, Yarrow and Napier were amongst the shipbuilding titans of a river upon which, in 1914, one quarter of all powered vessels in the world had been launched. But this year also marks the 115th anniversary of the death…
Read MoreWinner of north east short story competition revealed
The Toulmin Prize is open to amateur writers over the age of 16. The stories entered should have a north east focus, and may be written in Doric or English, or a mixture of the two. This week, we’ll be posting one story a day, including the four commended stories and the overall winner of…
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