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STV News
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- STV News
Scots town launches own official tartan after council's unanimous support
Banchory now has its own official town tartan, which it hopes both locals and visitors will be able to wear with pride. It came to be thanks to an idea and the hard work of volunteers at the Banchory Community Trust. The design, created in partnership with specialists at Lochcarron of Scotland, is now available to buy from the social enterprise shop Studio 1 in the town centre. However, getting the town tartan wasn't an easy task. Trust chairman Alasdair Ross revealed there had been a 'long-held ambition' for Banchory to have its own recognisable identity. 'We wanted something that people could see and say, 'that's Banchory' when you look at it,' he said. 'The community council has got its coat of arms, but there are a lot of good things about Banchory, so how do you show it off?' After some discussion, the idea for a town tartan seemed to be the best option. Alasdair explained why: 'We used to be a traditional coach tour stop, but now that is starting to come back there are lots of people looking for a bit of Banchory to take home with them. 'Local folk as well, you want to show you are from Banchory and are proud of your town. 'There are lots of other towns in Scotland that have their own tartan, so we thought, why shouldn't we?' Volunteers on the Trust's board came up with an idea based on the colours they wanted to use, each representing a different part of Banchory's heritage. 'We gave a design brief to Lochcarron saying we wanted it to be bold and recognisable, but also wearable,' Alasdair said with a chuckle. Green – illustrates the forestry in the area and the mighty Scots Pine. Pale blue – signifies the River Dee which runs the length of the town. Dusky pink – a nod to Hill of Fare granite that features on buildings in Banchory. Purple – represents the town's historic lavender industry, heather and Royal Deeside. Lochcarron sent the Trust eight variations of the pattern back in February. Following a vote between members, the final design was chosen and an order was placed to create the scarves. But there was one final hurdle the Trust needed to get over to allow the project to proceed – getting permission to use the name Banchory. As the tartan was to be named after a town, the Scottish Register of Tartans asked for the group to reach out to Aberdeenshire Council. The matter went before the Marr area committee last month and councillors unanimously gave the proposal their support. Alasdair said the Trust was 'very grateful' to councillors for allowing them to register the name, as well as the grant from the Common Good Fund that allowed them to do it. After opening the box and seeing them for the first time, Alasdair said: 'I thought it was something that people would be proud to wear. 'It has come together really well – I think we've done a good job.' The thought of buying a scarf in the middle of the summer may seem a bit odd, but Alasdair believes the timing couldn't be better. 'This is the time of year when everything is happening in Banchory,' he states. 'The Banchory Show is coming up which is the biggest thing in the town and a summer celebration. 'Visitors have already been in the shop admiring the tartan, one lady said it would be the ideal Christmas present. 'I said to my colleague, on Boxing Day when everyone goes out for a walk in Banchory, everyone will be wearing a tartan scarf,' he chuckled. Alasdair hopes the tartan will become something of a promotional tool for the town. In an extra boost, local crafters have said they would be willing to use the pattern when making their own items. While the tartan is currently only available as a scarf, the Trust is hoping to look at producing other goods such as ties and mugs. The chairman added: 'We've learned a lot about tartan weaving and the whole process which has been very interesting, and we would encourage other communities to do the same. 'Why shouldn't every town have it's own identity and be able to show off and celebrate it?' All money from sales of the tartan scarves will go back to the Banchory Community Trust. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Enjoy a taste of the Highlands at the Tomatin Distillery
There's no danger of that today, a quiet Monday where I and a Swiss whisky enthusiast are the only two booked on this particular tour. As such we're given licence to take our time, strolling around at a leisurely place. Tomatin itself is a small village which once served as a waystation for farmers driving their livestock to Inverness, the hills surrounding it used for illicit whisky production as far back at the 16th Century. Read More: The distillery was first established in 1897 but until relatively recently focused on blended whiskies, once producing 12.5million litres per year. When the whisky market collapsed in the mid-1980s though it was taken over by a Japanese conglomerate and began focusing on its own single malts. As such the number of stills were reduced from 23 to 12, the focus on quality rather than quantity. Alasdair is an engaging guide, telling us the hi-tech solution for checking the pipe which takes grain by-products to a waiting truck isn't blocked: throw a football down it and see if it comes out the other side. That combination of fine-tuned scientific production and old school methods is present throughout, one sticky lever resolved by a hearty smack with a wrench. Tomatin Distillery (Image: Newsquest) Alasdair answers any questions we may have, down to the finest details of production or subtle differences in flavours – not to mention the extensive collection of barrels inspected and repaired by award winning cooper Allan Bartlett. It's all authentically fascinating, but as with any distillery tour we're quite keen on getting a dram. We're taken through the barn where casks are filled and up the stairs to a cozy bar. Here there are four barrels which we're invited to uncork and smell, tasked with guessing whether the whisky has been matured in wine, cognac, sherry or bourbon casks. We manage three out of four, which ain't bad… After that we get a chance to taste some of the offerings, starting with the young, clear distillate which is surprisingly smooth. Another is an attempt to hark back to the illicit stills of the past, which were essentially spirit infused with various herbs and spices. In this case that means oregano and other such things from the supermarket, which I can't say I'd recommend. Much better is the Cù Bòcan, a lightly peated number named after a ghostly dog which allegedly haunts the nearby hills and which is only produced for around a month every year. Accommodation is at the four-star Grant Arms hotel in Grantown-on-Spey, which dates back to 1765 and looks like a castle by the side of the road. That regal feel is certainly replicated on the inside, with my room featuring a four-poster bed and possibly the biggest bathroom I've ever seen. Seriously, I've lived in flats smaller than this thing. The Grant Arms hotel, Grantown-on-Spey (Image: Newsquest) Here, too, it's a whisky-lover's paradise, with the Capercaillie Bar boasting a selection of more than 135 bottles from all over Scotland. So, what's the best cure for a day on the whisky? Zipping around the forest on a quad bike, obviously. Tuesday brings a trip to the Alvie & Dalraddy estate, a sprawling 13,000 acres by the banks of the Spey. Cairngorm Quad Treks offers guided tours over the moorland with spectacular views of the Cairngorms, not to mention the pure childish fun of revving your vehicle through water or down hills, kicking up dust as you go. Quad Biking on the Alvie & Dalraddy estates (Image: Cairngorm Quad Treks) The estate boasts an Edwardian shooting lodge, bothies, zip-lines and just about everything else one can think of, including its own working farm. It also features the Coyote Cook House, which is a lot more than your common or garden burger van. When I visit they've just had a delivery of the first venison of the season, deer which would have been roaming this very estate a matter of weeks ago. You can't get much fresher than that, and the roasted loin served up in a sub roll with chestnut mushoors, onion and a spiced sherry and apple chutney is a delight. Just the kind of thing that'd go well with a nice whisky, as it happens… Tomatin's Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 10:30 to 16:30, from September to March and from 09:30 to 17:30, from April to August. For more information on tours and bookings, visit Find out more about the Grant Arms Hotel here. Cairngorm quad bike tours are £47 per person, with groups welcome. Find out more here.
The Herald Scotland
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon believed Alasdair Gray was a 'bright light'
His 1981 novel, Lanark, was hugely influential. In a newspaper obituary, writer and friend James Campbell described him as 'the father figure of the renaissance in Scottish literature and art'. However, he began life, like most people, as an infant, in Glasgow on 28 December 1934. He had a traditional Scottish upbringing on a council estate. His father, Alexander, was a factory worker, builder's labourer, and remover of damaged chocolate bicuits from a conveyor belt. Wounded in the First World War, he helped found the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. Alasdair's mother Amy worked in a clothing warehouse. A 'good housewife who never grumbled', she loved music, particularly opera. Both parents leaned Left (Amy's father had been blacklisted in England for trade union membership). During the Second World War, Alasdair was evacuated to Auchterarder in Perthshire and Stonehouse in Lanarkshire. From 1942 until 1945, the family lived in Wetherby, Yorkshire, where his father ran a hostel for munitions workers. Back in Glasgow, Gray frequented the public library, enjoying Winnie-the-Pooh, The Beano and The Dandy, plus all manner of 'escapist crap' before discovering 'the good stuff' such as Edgar Allan Poe. He attended Whitehill Secondary School, in Dennistoun, where he edited the school magazine. Aged 11, he appeared on BBC children's radio reading his own poems and one of yon Aesop's Fables. He also read his own poems, 'very poor A.A. Milne' stuff initially, until he found his own voice and started writing short stories. Alasdair Gray Creative poverty Having previously encouraged him, his parents feared poverty and humiliation if he pursued a creative career, which fears proved largely correct (at the turn of the century, Alasdair was reduced to applying to the Scottish Artists' Benevolent Fund for money). In 1957, Gray graduated from art school with a useful degree in Design and Mural Painting. From 1958–1962, he was a part-time art teacher, undergoing pedagogical training at Jordanhill College. Gray also painted theatrical scenery for the Glasgow Pavilion and Citizens Theatre. His first mural was "Horrors of War" for the Scottish-USSR Friendship Society. He received a commission (unpaid, apart from expenses) to paint Creation murals for Greenhead church, this becoming 'my best and biggest mural painting'. Alas, the building – and the mural with it – was demolished in 1970. Indeed, many of his bold and distinctive murals have been lost, though surviving examples can be found at the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant and the entrance to Hillhead subway station. A collaborative ceiling mural at the Òran Mór arts venue depicts Adam, Eve, the Creation and sundry Glaswegians against a stunning, star-streaked, inky blue background. In 1977–78, Gray worked for the People's Palace museum as an 'artist recorder", producing hundreds of streetscapes and portraits of politicians, artists, punters and workers. These are now in the collection at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. In 2023, also for the Kelvingrove, Glasgow Museums acquired Grey's 1964 mural Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties. With distorted perspectives reminiscent of Cézanne, Gray described it as 'my best big oil painting'. Ga-ga for radio His first plays were broadcast on radio (Quiet People) and television (The Fall of Kelvin Walker) in 1968, the latter transmogrifying in 1985 into his third novel. McGrotty and Ludmilla (1990) and Mavis Belfrage (1996) began life similarly. However, his best-known work was his first novel, Lanark, published in 1981 to widespread acclaim. The Observer called it 'probably the greatest novel of the [20th] century', while James Campbell described it as 'an almost preposterously ambitious concoction of thinly disguised autobiography, science fiction, formal playfulness … and graphic design'. Comprising jumbled chapters (four), prologue and epilogue, Lanark came with an erratum slip on which was printed: 'THIS ERRATUM SLIP HAS BEEN INSERTED BY MISTAKE.' The epilogue, four chapters before the end, lists the book's supposed plagiarisms, some from non-existent works. The book tells two parallel stories, the first a Bildungsroman – aye – of a young artist (roughly himself) growing up in 1950s Glasgow. The other is a dystopia set in Unthank (roughly Glasgow). In an oft-quoted passage, the main character says cities gain a positive identity only when so depicted in art: 'Imaginatively Glasgow exists as a music-hall song and a few bad novels. That's all we've given to the world outside. It's all we've given to ourselves.' Despite Lanark's success, Gray preferred his second novel 1982, Janine, published in 1984. The stream-of-consciousness narrative has a more pornographic theme. Anthony Burgess, who'd previously called Gray 'the most important Scottish writer since Sir Walter Scott', described it as 'juvenile'. Of Gray's other novels, Poor Things (1992), a Frankenstein-style tale about a scientist seeking to create the perfect companion, received the most attention, acclaim and income after Lanark. His first short-story collection, Unlikely Stories, won the Cheltenham Prize for Literature in 1983, and he published three poetry collections, often featuring big themes – not always treated seriously – like love, God and language. READ MORE Rab McNeil's Scottish Icons: Don't be a whinging windbag – our bagpipes are braw RAB MCNEIL'S SCOTTISH ICONS: John Knox – the fiery preacher whose pal got burnt at the stake Scottish icons: Saint Mungo – the Fifer with a Welsh name who became patron saint of Glasgow Scottish icons: the midge, vicious little beasties that bite you in the Cairngorms Dear unseen place In appearance likened to a nutty professor with a hysteria-tinged high-pitched laugh, Gray consequently supported socialism and Scottish independence. He popularised the epigram 'Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation', which was engraved hopefully on a wall of the new Scottish Parliament Building. In May 2014, he designed The Sunday Herald's front page, supporting Yes in the indie referendum. In 1992, he'd written that 'by Scots I mean everyone in Scotland who is eligible to vote', a strategy that doomed the referendum to failure. Elsewhere, Gray described English arts administrators in Scotland as 'settlers' and 'colonists'. This led to comically inaccurate accusations of anglophobia by leading nutters. Usually backing the SNP or the Scottish Socialist Party, Gray voted Liberal Democrat at the 2010 general election in an effort to unseat 'corrupted' Labour, and voted Labour in 2019 as a protest against the SNP's timidity. Politics. It's complicated. As is life. After a short illness, Alasdair Gray died at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on 29 December 2019, one day after his 85th birthday. Among many tributes, Nicola Sturgeon, then First Minister, remembered him as 'one of the brightest intellectual and creative lights Scotland has known in modern times'.
Scottish Sun
22-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Hunched over a laptop all day or sleeping funny? The 5 best exercises to ease stiff joints, banish pain and sleep better
Plus the most common causes - and when you must seek medical help SORE POINT Hunched over a laptop all day or sleeping funny? The 5 best exercises to ease stiff joints, banish pain and sleep better SITTING hunched over a laptop or sleeping funny leaving you feeling stiff? If getting out of bed or picking something up from the floor is making you say 'ooh' and 'ahhh', you'll likely benefit from some simple exercises you can do at home, at work, or in the gym. Advertisement 7 Staying agile will lessen joint pain, improve sleep and boost longevity Credit: Getty And mobilising your joints won't just make movement more comfortable; a study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports says that being mobile is one of the secrets to longevity. Research by Deep Relief found that 62 per cent of Brits have faced sleepless nights because of muscle and joint pain. Housework, walking and even getting out of bed are parts of life that are affected by the affliction. The knees, back and shoulders are the most impacted areas, followed by fingers, ankles and feet. Advertisement Alasdair Nicoll, personal trainer and expert tutor at The Fitness Group, says the main cause of stiffness is lifestyle and occupation. He tells Sun Health: 'Those that lead a particularly sedentary lifestyle and work in an office setting can often be tighter through their hamstrings, which can lead to hip and upper back stiffness.' He adds that it's "incredibly important" for these individuals to warm up and stretch on a daily basis. This could be in the morning upon waking, or before bed. Advertisement If you work from home, you might prefer to break up your work day with some joint mobility. 'Stretching minimises the risk of dysfunctional movement patterns which can limit your range of motion and lead to more severe injuries,' says Alasdair. Back pain relief stretches Another reason for stiff joints is skipping the warm up before exercise - which loosens them up - and the cool down afterwards. Stretching after exercise prevents muscles from seizing up, which in turn stops joints from feeling stiff. Advertisement Here, Alasdair has pulled together five different exercises to help you loosen up stiff joints, so you can move with ease. They will also make sleep more comfortably and reduce pain, and you never know, they may even help you live to 100! Follow the repetition guidance below. And if you feel comfortable, or have more time, then feel free to hold the stretches for longer. Tight hips: Hip internal and external rotation 10 to 15 reps on each side. Advertisement Sit on the floor with your right leg out straight, slightly to the side, and the other leg bent so that your foot is flat on the floor. Place your hands on the floor behind you and lean back. Lower your bent knee down to the floor as though you are trying to touch your knee to your other knee (rotating the hip). Lower it as far as you can before raising it back up. You should feel a bit of a stretch on the inside of the leg and outside of your butt. Advertisement Aim to move slowly so that you really benefit from this stretch. Swap sides. 7 Start position for hip rotations Credit: Supplied 7 Lower the knee of the left leg down to the right, rotating the hip Credit: Supplied Tight shoulders: Shoulder flexion and extension 10 to 15 reps on each arm. Advertisement Stand upright with both arms down by your sides. Keep your arms straight and lift your left arm straight up above your head and as far back as you can. Swing the arm down until it goes behind you, while simultaneously lifting your right arm up. Keep repeating this until you've completed the allotted reps. Advertisement To deepen the stretch, gently pulse your high arm back slightly. 7 Swing your arms for a shoulder stretch Credit: Supplied Tight hips: Pigeon stretch 10 to 15 seconds on each side. A great stretch for tight hips, this can be done with equipment such as a bench or sofa, or it can be done on the floor. Advertisement Take your right leg and either place it - at a 90-degree angle - on the edge of a bench or on the ground. Your left leg should remain straight behind you. Keep a tall torso as you sink down into your hips. Gently lean forward slightly to deepen the stretch. 7 Use a bench or the floor for a pigeon stretch Credit: Supplied Advertisement Tight ankles and knees: Ankle flexion Hold for 10 to 15 seconds on each side. Aim for 3 reps on each side. Tight ankles can come about from running or other sports, as well as wearing heels for long periods of time. This movement is also good for knees. You'll need a stable bench or chair for this stretch. Place half of your right foot on your bench and press it into the bench. Advertisement Place your hands either side of your foot on the bench, making sure your left leg is straight behind you. Now, aim to push your right, front knee over your toe, keeping your torso upright as you do so. Alasdair says this is great for helping increase flexion in the ankle; if possible, aim to deepen the stretch as it becomes more comfortable. 7 For ankle flexion, lean your knee over your toe Credit: Supplied Advertisement Full body: World's greatest stretch 10 reps on each side. Alisdair says that this is called the 'world's greatest stretch' as it helps to stretch multiple joints at one time, including the hips, spine and shoulders. Get into a low lunge position with your back knee on the floor. Place your hands on the ground alongside your front foot. Advertisement Next, take the hand that's furthest from your foot out to the side, and lift it up to the ceiling, opening up your chest and following your hand with your gaze. Then lower it back down. Keep repeating this until you've completed the allotted reps on each side. 7 The 'world's greatest stretch' targets the whole body Credit: Supplied
The Courier
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Fife lawyer promoted to head up top Scottish legal firm
A Fife lawyer named the next managing partner of Scottish legal firm Lindsays has vowed to grow the business. Andrew Diamond, currently head of the firm's Perth and residential property divisions, will take up the new role in October. He will succeed Alasdair Cummings, who is stepping aside after 14 years in the role. Under Alasdair's tenure, Lindsays has grown its presence in Dundee – including mergers with RSB Macdonald and Miller Hendry – and employee numbers in the city have increased from 15 to 81. Over the past decade, the firm – which began in Edinburgh – has also added offices in Perth and Crieff to its portfolio. Mr Diamond, from Aberdour, has been with Lindsays since 2012. He said: 'I am delighted to be taking on this role. 'I am very much the continuity candidate. And, while in politics that may not always be viewed favourably, it is a good thing for Lindsays. It's business as usual here. 'We are clear in our identity as an independent firm, working with families and businesses. 'There will be no change to that. We will continue with steady, strategic growth on the same path as we have followed. 'Our culture at Lindsays is our greatest asset and our people matter. We have the soul of a smaller firm but with all the benefits of scale. 'A big part of that is down to Alasdair's leadership, for which we are all grateful.' As well as its 81 solicitors and staff in Dundee, Lindsays has a further 32 people across its offices in Perth and Crieff. With offices also in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the firm now has a total of 53 partners along with 300 solicitors and staff. Alasdair said his time as managing partner has been 'the undoubted highlight' of his legal career. He added: 'Lindsays and its tremendous team mean so much to me. The past 14 years have been a successful and exciting journey. 'Together, we have achieved good growth, a wider geographic footprint and become a full-service firm, of which I am incredibly proud. 'The time, however, feels right for a new voice to lead Lindsays into the next stage of that journey. 'Andrew is a very worthy successor and I look forward to supporting him in any way I can.'
