
Thistle Primary chosen as name for new Dargavel school
Pupils at the existing Dargavel and Bishopton primary schools were asked to suggest names for the new school, and a public vote was then held for two weeks in March, with nearly 2,000 votes cast in total.
READ MORE: Business owner hits out at silence over Celtic title party
The winning option, Thistle Primary School, was chosen to reflect the nature surrounding the new school.
It received 735 votes, narrowly beating Craigton Primary School, which received 723 votes.
The third option, Rossland Primary School, which relates to a historic area name, received 476 votes, or 24.6 per cent.
The school will have the capacity for 800 pupils and facilities for the wider community, including a full-size sports pitch.
READ MORE: Busy town close to Glasgow named 'popular affordable location' for families
Members of the council's Education and Children's Services Policy Board will be asked to formally approve Thistle Primary School as the name for the new school when they meet on May 15.
Councillor Emma Rodden, the board's convener, said: "We were delighted to see the level of engagement and the number of votes cast – to have nearly 2,000 is a fantastic total and I thank everyone who contributed.
"The pupils who came up with the initial longlist of names had some great ideas and we had a tough time narrowing it down to three to go to the vote.
"Being able to give the new school a proper name is an important milestone in the project and a key step towards developing a proper identity before we start to welcome pupils and parents in two years time."

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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
More parents are ditching Celtic baby names amid 'cultural identity' fears
The Record has listed the most popular Celtic baby names in 2024 but it seems they could be on the road out Scotland has a deep Celtic history and heritage, with strong ties to our Irish and Welsh counterparts. The culture and language, specifically Gaelic, have significantly shaped Scotland's identity and is part of its living culture today. When it comes to having children, parents may draw on this strong sense of identity when it comes to names. It is not uncommon to have an Isla or an Eilidh in your university class, or bump into a Harris or a Finlay down the pub. However, the latest data analysis by language learning marketplace Preply of birth records from the past 20 years reveals a steep drop of 37 per cent in Celtic-origin baby names. According to Preply, this shows that language endangerment has extended beyond spoken words, now affecting how people name their children. Celtic languages belong to two branches: Gaelic (including Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic) and Brythonic (Welsh, Cornish, and Breton). UNESCO had classified all six as endangered to some degree. Irish is listed as "definitely endangered" and others as "vulnerable". The dominance of English is suggested to have gradually eroded native speaker communities, influencing how parents named their children, with fewer Celtic names being chosen as the languages themselves lost ground. Preply's analysis used the official UK birth records from 2003 to 2023. An interesting point to note, though is that Scottish girls' names have actually risen, despite the overall decline. Scottish girls' names have upped in use by 14 per cent - the only language to have jumped on the whole table alongside Cornish boys' names, which spiked by a huge 633 per cent. Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for Preply, said: "While some languages such as Cornish show signs of revival with an increase in names given to boys, the overall decline highlights the continuing impact of language erosion on cultural identity markers like personal names. "Names are intimate symbols of cultural identity. When Celtic names fade from birth records, it signals more than just shifting trends. It suggests a disconnect from ancestral languages and heritage. "Even with current revival programmes, many young parents may feel less connected to Celtic languages if their own identities were not shaped by them, potentially perpetuating a cycle of decline." The most common names for girls and boys in Scotland in 2024 included a host of Celtic names. Rory, Harris, Finlay, Brodie and Finn were all in the top 20 for boys. Isla, Bonnie, and Orla were in the top 20 for girls' names. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. So, all of this begs the question - will a Celtic language revival translate back into names? "The increasing visibility of Celtic languages in education and media offers hope," Anna assured. "But will this translate into more children receiving Celtic names? "Will future birth records reflect renewed pride and connection to these ancient tongues? "The next decade will be telling. The story of Celtic languages is still being written, and names, which is the first gift we give our children, could be a powerful sign of cultural resurgence or continued retreat." Numbers and percentage changes by language branch and gender Language Girls' Raw Changes % Change (Girls) Boys' Raw Changes % Change (Boys) Gaelic 1,758 → 1,441 −18% 7,107 → 2,159 −70% Irish 13,681 → 7,569 −45% 22,575 → 16,077 −29% Scottish 3,072 → 3,495 +14% 12,090 → 3,952 −67% Welsh 10,933 → 2,437 −78% 13,234 → 4,972 −62% Cornish 47 → 36 −23% 3 → 22 +633%


Glasgow Times
27-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Renfrewshire nursery won national award for outdoor learning
West Johnstone Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC) received the Alba Trees Early Years' Trophy at Scotland's Finest Woods Awards for its use of woodland-based learning. This award, presented by the Scottish Forest Commission, recognises the nursery's commitment to outdoor education, including daily sessions in Rannoch Woods through its Forest Kindergarten programme. The nursery also runs family forest days and provides forest bags to encourage families to continue outdoor learning at home. Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Read more: UWS project to help new nurses tackle complex healthcare needs Elaine Stevenson, head of centre at West Johnstone ELCC, highlighted the importance of outdoor learning to the nursery. She said: "We have a strong commitment to ensuring our approaches and links to the forest and outdoor environment are key to supporting and nurturing our children's wellbeing, learning, and natural curiosity. "We are committed to transforming the lives of our learners by providing daily opportunities outdoors to play and learn. "We are delighted to be winners in the Early Years category. "Our Forest Kindergarten sessions help children to collaborate both verbally and non-verbally and set themselves challenges and take valuable risks. "During risk-taking play, our children demonstrate perseverance, resilience, and determination as they control their body movements through climbing and balancing. "They apply concentration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. "Ensuring children are supported to spend as much time as they can engaging in outdoor experiences is an integral part of our vision here at West Johnstone ELCC." Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Read more: Two-child benefit cap impacting over 1200 homes across Renfrewshire Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council's Education and Children's Services Policy Board, praised the nursery's success. Cllr Rodden said: "West Johnstone ELCC's commitment to daily outdoor learning opportunities and visits to their local woods is a fantastic experience for young children. "This award is well deserved for everything the nursery does to promote forest learning, nurturing children's wellbeing, and building resilience."

Leader Live
27-07-2025
- Leader Live
Tributes paid to Wrexham pub landlord after sudden death
Glenn Hamilton sadly died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on June 18 due to coronary thrombosis (blood clot on the heart) - two days before his 53rd birthday. Loving husband of Patricia for almost 30 years, and proud father of twin boys Lyndon and Cameron, he will be very sadly missed by all who knew him. Glenn with his twin boys, Lyndon and Cameron (Image: Family photo) He ran The King William pub in Summerhill, alongside Patricia, for the last nine years. As a testament to his character, over 200 people attended his funeral at Pentre Bychan Crematorium. Glenn, a proud Scotsman, served in the army for 24 years - meeting Patricia while posted in Northern Ireland. Their children were born in Glasgow before the family moved to the Wrexham area. Glenn, Patricia, Lyndon and Cameron (Image: Family photo) Paying tribute, Patricia said: "He'd do anything for anybody. One of the last conversations he had with one of our regulars, Bryn, was that Bryn was talking about having a long car journey to collect car parts. "Glenn asked where Bryn was going, and after hearing where he said he was heading that way anyway and said he'd do a little de-tour to pick up the parts for Bryn - who's in his 70s and wasn't looking forward to the drive. "That's just an example of the sort of man Glenn was." Glenn and pub regular, Cliff Phillpott (Image: Family photo) She added: "He was a cheeky chappy, and would always have little jokes with people. He loved football, and was a Celtic and Liverpool fan. All three of my boys were born in Glasgow - and I love the fact that all my boys were Scottish. "He taught our boys (now aged 16) to play pool from a young age, and they both play pool for Wales u18s. He also coached the Llay junior football team they play for. He loved the boys, and our dogs, so much - and sadly missed their recent school prom. (Image: Family photo) "As landlord of the pub, he was really popular. He'd always know what channel to turn on the TV when certain people came in, and he'd always give our older ladies a hug goodbye when they left - as well as a kiss on the cheek when they asked: 'Where's my kiss'. People came from all over for the funeral." A spokesperson for The Welsh Pool Association (WPA) said: "The Welsh Pool Association would like to send their condolences to the family of Glenn Hamilton. "We are truly saddened to hear of his sudden passing. A true loss to the pool community, as a father to two of our international unders players, Lyndon and Cameron, and as a WPA team manager. RIP, Glenn." Read more Annie Perry, a member of the Summerhill community, set up a GoFundMe page for Patricia and family at this difficult time. It has raised over £600 and can accessed via It states: "This page has been set up at a time when we are all truly devastated by the sudden passing of the amazing Glenn Hamilton, we are thinking of Trish, Lyndon and Cameron as they work through this difficult time. "Glenn, Trish, Lyndon and Cameron have been a huge part of our community running The King William pub for many years. They have been there for so many of us when we've had a rubbish day or when we are celebrating, they have made it the heart of the community and we want to now show our appreciation for being there for us to now be there for them. Glenn and Patricia on their wedding day. (Image: Family photo) "We want to help eliminate the immediate financial burden, to take away some of the stress so they can concentrate on each other as a family and can focus on getting through this time." It adds: "With our support to raise some funds, hopefully we will be able to help in a practical way. "We understand that we are in hard financial times, so if you can donate anything to help, to show our love and support we would very much appreciate it. Let's gather together when Trish, Lyndon and Cameron need us the most."