‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
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Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Military museum plans street party to mark VJ day anniversary
A military museum hunting for a new home has unveiled plans to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with a street party. West Lothian's military museum has seen an upsurge in visitors and wider support in the month since it was revealed that it will have to relocate from its current home in the grounds of the war-blind veterans' estate at Linburn, Wilkieston. And museum owner Ian Inglis revealed they hoped to attract more crowds. He said: 'We will be open as normal on the 15 of August, from 10am to 4pm. We will have a special exhibition on the far east campaign including a diorama of Bridge over the River Kwai, made by our resident modeller. Normal entry fees apply to the museum. 'We will also be having a street party between 11am to 4pm, and anyone is welcome to come along, there is no charge for that.' He added that tea/coffee/ juice will be supplied but people should bring along food. There is no charge, but all donations are welcome. Ian also revealed there would be a talk by best-selling author Mary Monro, who's book Stranger in My Heart tells the remarkable story of her father's escape from the Japanese occupiers of Hong Kong. Ms Monro will be at the museum on the day signing copies of the book. Ian told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'Mary Monro wrote about her dad's exploits in WWII. He was captured by the Japanese in Hong Kong and sent to a POW camp. 'He did manage to escape from the camp. It's a fantastic book; there will be a few copies there to purchase that will be signed by the author.' Founded by Ian, who served in the Royal Artillery, largely around his own collection of militaria the museum has become an award-winning attraction. The museum has also become a community hub for local veterans and hosts weekly breakfasts and other events to keep ex-servicemen and women connected. The museum is also staffed by ex-service volunteers. 'We're not just a museum we're more than that, we' re unique education resource. We we have the veterans' hub as well. It would be ideal if we could stay locally, we don't want to move to far away, we'd like to stay within easy access to the bridges.' Such has been the success of the museum the search has been on for a while for a new home in the area. That hunt has gathered new urgency since the charity which owns Linburn – Sight Scotland Veterans – announced their intention to sell the estate for housing development. The museum features indoors and outdoors exhibits of equipment, uniforms, vehicles, and even a First World War trench display. Somewhere nearby for a new home would be ideal as a new home, as Ian pointed out. The museum's growth in popularity draws visitors from across the UK and the world. Earlier this month an American family, rolled up from Edinburgh airport taking time out before checking into their hotel. 'We get a lot of that, and people going to the airport,' he said. 'They have a few hours to kill before their flight, so they pop in here.' By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Outlander fans distraught at 'devastatingly cruel' theory Claire was kept from parents
Outlander fans have been theorising that a "devastating" plot line regarding Claire Fraser and her parents is going to come out in the prequel Blood of My Blood. WARNING: This article contains spoilers from the Outlander franchise. As Outlander fans eagerly anticipate the prequel Blood of My Blood, a chilling theory has emerged concerning Claire and her parents, Henry and Julia Beauchamp. Claire Fraser (portrayed by Caitriona Balfe) had a tragic childhood, losing her parents in a car crash when she was just five-years-old. This led to her adoption by her uncle Quentin Lambert Beauchamp (Prentis Hancock), a historian and archaeologist who instilled in her a love for history. However, with the upcoming release of Blood of My Blood on Friday, August 9, on MGM+, the prequel has sparked numerous questions about Claire's parents. Hints suggest that after Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermoine Corfield) fall in love during the First World War, Julia finds herself transported back to 1714 via the iconic Highland stones. It's suggested that she and Henry are separated by time but remain determined to reunite. A Reddit user posed an intriguing question: "I just had this thought... if it turns out Claire's parents ended up living their lives in the past, wouldn't it be possible they were alive and well when she went through the stones?" In response, another fan agreed: "That was my thought when I saw the trailer. "What if the stones were reuniting her with her parents and Jamie accidentally 'interrupted' that." A third emotionally remarked: "That would be such a devastatingly cruel twist of fate. "Claire travels to when her parents are but no one's the wiser and by the time it's revealed they've already died of old age." As yet, there has been no confirmation whether either Balfe or Heughan will return to their roles as Claire and Jamie in Blood of My Blood. However, given that time travel features heavily in the MGM+ series, there remains a chance their storylines could intersect in the spin-off. During a Q&A session about Blood of My Blood, Balfe admitted: "I did not start the show thinking I would ever meet my parents. "I didn't know that these guys were going to be part of the prequel and I was super excited when I found out they were because I think I was like, 'Oh great, like it's really cool that Claire's parents are in the show.' "Having met Hermione and Jeremy, I'm like they are definitely fitting parents."
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Award-winning Michael Brawley Big Band marks 30th anniversary with series of gigs
It all began when musician Michael Brawley sent out a call to players in the Hamilton Advertiser back in 1995 in the style of First World War minister Lord Kitchener, which read '(Your) Swing Band Needs You' - and the rest, as they say, is history. It's 30 years since Lanarkshire's award-winning Michael Brawley Big Band first took to the stage - and it all began with an ad in the Hamilton Advertiser. And to mark the anniversary milestone, the marvellous musicians have a number of gigs lined up, including at Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Super Sunday Community & Family Day, at Bridgeton Bus Garage, this Sunday, July 27, performing two sets from 12 noon. Hamilton musician Michael Brawley sent out a call to players in the Hamilton Advertiser back in 1995 in the style of First World War minister Lord Kitchener, which read '(Your) Swing Band Needs You' - and the rest, as they say, is history. The band, which performs solely to raise money for well-meaning and worthy causes, has donated more than £60,000 to charity. Michael, 50, said: "Looking back, I'm proud of what the band has achieved. "I was two-and-a-half years into my degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland when I came up with the idea. "I'd played in jazz bands at school and knew there were lots of local players whose instruments were lying under their beds. "Eileen Mortlock, principal music teacher at St. John Ogilvie High School in Hamilton, and her husband, musician Ernie Mortlock, were great supporters. "We rehearsed in the school and our first gig was at a Christmas concert." The band went on to win a raft of awards at the National Concert Band Festival, the UK's largest festival for wind and big bands. The players secured a platinum award, two gold awards and a silver award at events in Cardiff at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Michael, who has a distinguished career as a musician and music teacher, still plays with the band on occasion. The group has been run for many years by a committee of players and its current musical director is Duncan Parkinson. Michael said: "Being a musician is part of something that you are. If you have that compulsion, you can't choose not to follow that path. "The band has such a good energy about it, and I'm thrilled that there are players still there who were there at the start. Here's to the next 30 years." The band's schedule in the past year alone has included gigs at the iconic B-listed Kelvingrove Bandstand in Glasgow, Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort, Hamilton Pride, Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust (GVVT) and Coatbridge's Summerlee Museum. As well as the gig at Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Super Sunday Community & Family Day, at Bridgeton Bus Garage this weekend, locally, the band is performing at an event to mark 150 years of Lodge St Bryde in Uddingston on August 22 at 7pm. This is open to all and donations to charity are welcome on the door. And the band returns to GVVT on September 7 for the Blue Lights, Buses and Troops open day, celebrating the services, emergency and military; for more information, visit or the band's Facebook page. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
