Latest news with #TheHerald
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Get your teeth into the history behind collops
Another early citation comes from David Fergusson's Scottish Proverbs (a1598): 'It is a sairie collope that is tain off a capone'. This proverb must have proved popular, as Andrew Henderson also records a version more than 200 years later in 1832: 'It's a sary collop that's taen aff a chicken'. Of course, today's chickens are much heftier than the ones Fergusson or Henderson would have encountered. In March 1830, the Aberdeen Press and Journal concluded its report on a successful boar hunt with a reference to the 'ancient method of roasting [boar] whole, and the more modern method of cooking in a collop, with wine sauce, as practiced at Naples and elsewhere'. In November 1956, the Montrose Review noted: 'Now that venison is plentiful and cheap in Montrose and in the best condition at this time of the year, here is a recipe for Venison Collops, which is as economical as it is appetising'. More recently in April 2016, The Herald listed 'traditional Scottish fare like cabbie claw, collops, rumbledethumps, and Cullen skink', demonstrating how the dish persists into the 21st century. Long may it continue!
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Erskine launches £330,000 home support scheme for aging vets
Speaking to The Herald, retired Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE, who heads up the charity, said the new programme will provide veterans with much-needed companionship and assistance with shopping and getting to doctors' appointments. He said: 'I'm acutely aware of how vital home services are - but they are too often under-resourced and rushed. 'It's become clear to me that the bond staff have with service users goes beyond personal care and extends to the time they spend together. 'It's about having a friendly face to talk to, get fresh air with, and go shopping together.' Scotland marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day earlier this spring. (Image: Gordon Terris/The Herald) Each veteran enrolled in the scheme receives a weekly visit lasting at least 90 minutes, and support varies on individual circumstances and needs. Cumming says it is important that veterans are cared for by people who empathise with their experience. 'On the whole, most veterans thrive in the community once they've left the service,' he said. 'Most do not have sensory impairments or PTSD, but when issues like bereavement, divorce, or the early symptoms of dementia crop up, it can be difficult to deal with. 'That's why it is important that veterans are supported by people who know how they tick.' A successful £250,000 pilot programme was trialled in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, and is now being rolled out more widely in conjunction with Erskine's Veteran Activity Centres, located in Forres and Bishopton. A third centre is set to open next year in Fife. Read more: Cash for Charities: Veterans' charity Erskine in bid for funds for life-saving tests Celebrate Burns Night and Support Scotland's Veterans at the Erskine Burns Supper Agenda: Working to improve the care given to our veterans Cumming added: 'This service will be delivered free of charge. We don't want anyone who needs help not to get in touch because of money. 'We need to fundraise around £10m over the course of the year to ensure public support, and we are grateful for the public's support of our work thus far. We'd encourage people to donate and remember us in their wills. 'This scheme is not intended to replace home care services,' Cumming noted. 'Rather, it will complement it with regular visits and support.' 'I'd encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch.' Founded in 1916, Erskine provides a range of support for veterans outwith the home support programme; including nursing facilities, end of life care, and a 44-cottage 'Veterans Village'.
The Herald Scotland
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Swinney government accused of twisting EHRC advice
The comments earned a stinging rebuke from Baroness Kishwer Falkner, the Chair of the EHRC, who said the Commission had made it "clear" to civil servants that public bodies should not wait for updated guidance before acting on the judgment. The peer said she was "very concerned that our conversations with officials appear to have been misrepresented". FWS told The Herald they were stunned by the claims from officials: 'At what point does this stop being ignorant incompetence and tip into wilful malpractice?' Read more: In April, the UK's highest court ruled unanimously that a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) does not alter a person's sex for the purposes of the Equality Act. The judgment clarified that the terms 'man' and 'woman' in the legislation refer to biological sex, not acquired gender. The EHRC then issued interim guidance in May related to trans people's use of facilities including including changing rooms and toilets, and participation in sports. It also launched a consultation on changes to parts of its code of practice for services, public functions and associations, which is due to conclude on June 30. The watchdog is due to publish the updated code later this year. While First Minister John Swinney initially welcomed the 'clarity' provided by the ruling, the Scottish Government has repeatedly said it is waiting for this further guidance before issuing new guidance of its own to Scotland's public bodies. However, the EHRC has repeatedly said that the ruling applies now and that "those with duties under the Equality Act 2010 should be following the law and looking at what changes, if any, need to be made to their policies and practices". For Women Scotland following the court ruling (Image: PA) After the meeting with the Equalities Directorate, FWS wrote to the EHRC to question the claims made by officials. Baroness Falkner replied: "As you rightly point out, our public messaging has been that the law as set out by the Supreme Court is effective immediately. "We have been clear in our public messaging and in direct conversations with duty-bearers, including the Scottish Government, that they should not wait for our guidance but should be seeking to update their policies and practices in the light of the new understanding of the law, taking their own specialist legal advice where necessary." Earlier this week, FWS wrote to the Scottish Government's Permanent Secretary Joe Griffin calling for a full investigation, saying it was "extremely concerning that statements made by a senior government official to a third party about EHRC advice have been directly contested by the regulatory body itself". In a letter to the campaigners on Friday, seen by The Herald, Mr Griffin did not challenge FWS's account of the meeting, and said his team would "revert in due course" with a fuller response. He said the Government accepted the Supreme Court's judgment and "acknowledges the EHRC statement that duty-bearers should not wait for our statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations to be in place to review their policies to ensure they are complying with the law as now settled by the Supreme Court". This, he added, "aligns with the approach the Scottish Government has taken since the judgment was issued in April". Read more: In Holyrood on Wednesday, Mr Griffin was pressed by SNP MSP Michelle Thomson to name any concrete action the Government had taken since the ruling. Mr Griffin said only that the "short life working group" had been established to prepare for implementation. He could not identify any specific changes made to guidance or policy. Asked whether the threat of legal action — including two formal pre-litigation notices issued by FWS and Sex Matters — had prompted a rethink, Mr Griffin insisted that his advice remained that it was appropriate to wait for final EHRC guidance. Susan Smith from FWS told The Herald: 'After the rambling performance of the Permanent Secretary at committee, it was clear that the Scottish Government has done nothing to comply with the Supreme Court ruling. 'To justify this, the civil service has materially misrepresented the advice given by the EHRC. There is no justification for Ministers or civil servants to ignore the law, and these highly paid public servants and politicians should not sit on their haunches while grassroots women's groups with little power or funding explain to them the basic principles of law and professional standards. Scotland deserves better. 'To say we are shocked is an understatement. At what point does this stop being ignorant incompetence and tip into wilful malpractice? 'The only recourse open to us is to return to court. But given the Scottish Government resoundingly ignored earlier Court of Session rulings and is now seemingly intent on not implementing the UK Supreme Court judgment it appears largely futile and a further waste of taxpayers' money. Has the Scottish Government really put itself beyond the law?' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has been clear that we accept the Supreme Court judgment and that public bodies have a duty to comply with the law. "Work is proceeding at pace to implement the ruling across Government. We have established a Short Life Working Group to ensure support and consistency in this. "We expect public bodies to be analysing policies and procedures and this is what is happening. For example, Police Scotland this week issued interim guidance on searching, including searching of transgender people. "The Scottish Government has also updated the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 guidance to reflect the judgment in relation to the definition of 'woman' under the Equality Act and this is now published online. "The recent changes to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's interim update demonstrate the complexity of this work and the need for extensive legal advice and consultation with stakeholders. We will continue to take this work forward at pace in a way which protects the rights of everyone in society. "The Permanent Secretary has responded to For Women Scotland."
Glasgow Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Councillors increase Murrayfield capacity for Oasis concerts
Promoters will be able to sell up to 8580 tickets across the three sold-out shows at Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh next month, our sister title The Herald revealed. The city's licensing board has approved a bid to increase the stadium's official capacity to 69,990. The application has been backed despite previous concerns from council officials about the potential impact of the concerts clashing with other major events in the city, including the Fringe. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher became embroiled in a spat with the council earlier this month after leaked minutes of public safety briefings suggested that visiting fans of the band would be middle-aged, drunk, rowdy and would be likely to 'take up more room' at the stadium. Edinburgh councillors have approved an increase in Murrayfield's capacity for the forthcoming Oasis concerts. (Image: PA) Gallagher had suggested that the council's attitude "stinks" towards his band, whose shows were sold out as soon as tickets for their three shows went on sale last summer. Posting on social media after reports of the safety briefings emerged, Gallagher said: "I'd leave town that day if I was any of you lot." The city council later insisted that the local authority was "proud to host the biggest and best events in Edinburgh", and that it was "looking forward" to the Oasis concerts being staged at Murrayfied. Scottish Rugby had asked the licensing board for permission for a temporary increase in Murrayfield's capacity from 67,130 to 69,990 for the three shows on August 8, 9 and 12. The application was approved shortly before Oasis put their army of fans on alert for the release of more tickets for their forthcoming live dates across the UK, which also includes shows at Heaton Park in Manchester, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Wembley Stadium in London. A statement posted on official Oasis social media channels earlier this week said: "As the shows are getting closer, Oasis promoters may be able to release a very limited of additional tickets for sale once final sight lines are checked and the production is fine tuned. "These final production releases will happen over the coming days." Councillors have previously approved bids to increase the capacity of Murrayfield for sold out shows by Harry Styles and Taylor Swift. Towever the timing of the Oasis concerts has proved more controversial as Murrayfield gigs have never previously clashed with Edinburgh's main summer festivals season. Venue operators at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have blamed the timing of the shows for a slump in advance ticket sales this year. Bookings are said to be down as much as 35% for some venues, with leading figures citing the soaring cost of accommodation in the city in August. And there are fears that the Fringe, which relies heavily on last-minute ticket sales, will be badly affected in August when the festival will clash for the first time with concerts at Murrayfield. The Fringe Society is planning a 'tactical marketing campaign' to encourage ticket-holders for the Murrayfield concerts to see Fringe shows while they are in Edinburgh. Louise Young, convenor of the Edinburgh licensing board, said: 'An application to increase the capacity at Murrayfield for the upcoming Oasis concerts was approved on 23 June. This decision followed consultation with the police and public safety officers.' Speaking earlier this month, Margaret Graham, the city council's culture convener, said: "We're very proud to host the biggest and best events in Edinburgh throughout the year, which bring in hundreds of millions of pounds to the local economy and provide unparalleled entertainment for our residents and visitors. 'As with any major event which takes place in the city, we prepare extensively alongside our partners to ensure the safety and best possible experience of everyone involved – and Oasis are no different. No two events are the same in terms of requirements or planning and our multi-agency approach reflects this appropriately. 'We're also working closely with residents in the local area to make sure these concerts pass off as smoothly as possible. Over the past few years, we've hosted many similar events and managed to strike the right balance between communicating well with residents and fulfilling the needs of major events and I have no doubt we can do so once again. We always look to learn lessons from previous years to update and improve on our plans. 'We're all looking forward to seeing Oasis take to the stage this August and I'm sure that they'll 'live forever' as some of the most memorable concerts ever performed at Murrayfield.'
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Matt Damon arrives in Scotland ahead of The Odyssey filming
The Odyssey - an adaptation of Homer's epic Greek poem - boasts an all-star ensemble cast, with Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron starring alongside Matt Damon. Slated for a July 2026 release, Universal Pictures describe it as "a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology", while Jim Orr, the studio's distribution chief, said it will be 'a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of.' Principal photography began at Aït Benhaddou in Morocco in February before filming moved to Pelopennese in Greece and the island of Favignana off the coast of Sicily - believed by some scholars to be one of the locations described in Homer's epic poem. Earlier this month, it was revealed that scenes for the film will be shot at Findlater Castle overlooking the Moray Firth in Aberdeenshire. It came after Variety named Scotland among the list of 'announced locations' for the film, while actor Jesse Garcia confirmed in an interview that The Odyssey would be filmed in Scotland - and Ireland. Speaking about the film, Garcia said: "The locations are beautiful. It's been fun to work with all the actors that we're working with, and everyone is putting everything into it. We're literally emptying the tank every day. "It's epic. There's going to be some groundbreaking stuff on screen that's really never been done before. [Nolan] keeps upping the game with everything that he does, and the way it's going to look on screen is just going to be incredible." Back in February, Universal unveiled a first look at Matt Damon as Odysseus in The Odyssey. The side-angle shot showed Damon, who worked with Christopher Nolan in Oppenheimer, clad in military armour. Nolan is no stranger to Scotland, having filmed parts of The Dark Knight Rises in the country. The opening scene, where supervillain Bane hijacks a plane, was filmed over the Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms National Park. News of Matt Damon's arrival in Scotland for filming comes after Deadline confirmed that Joel Coen's next film, Jack of Spades, will shoot in Scotland this summer. The movie will star British actor Josh O'Connor - primarily known for his portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown - in the lead role. Coen is best known of course for his collaborations with his younger brother, Ethan. Among their most acclaimed works are Fargo, True Grit, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and No Country for Old Men. The film will follow Coen's previous solo release, 2021's The Tragedy Of Macbeth, starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. Plot details for Jack of Spades remain under wraps, but there are reportedly offers out to two British actresses to star alongside O'Connor. The Herald understands that Coen is already in Glasgow ahead of filming starting. In an interview with The Herald in 2009, Coen, who has visited Skye repeatedly on holiday, hinted of a possible future shoot in Scotland. He said: 'I love Scotland, I visit there a lot for the countryside, the landscape of it. I go up to the Isle of Skye. "Who knows, maybe some day we will do a movie set in Scotland. It will probably have an American character in it though.' In other film news, Deadline also reports that Russell Crowe has joined Henry Cavill's Highlander reboot. The Oscar-winning actor is set to play Cavill's mentor in a variation on the part played by Sean Connery in the 1986 original. Earlier this month, director Chad Stahelski confirmed that filming is due to commence by mid-September in London, before production heads to Scotland. READ MORE:
