The GENN issue 155 by The Genn Newspaper

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Your voice in the community

PROUD TO BE SCOTTISH

Next Edition 5th June 2015

Glasgow East and North News

17-19

22-23

Volunteers Week Time to say thank you

GLASGOW PRIVATE HIRE Eastends Biggest & Best

GENN Travel Home and Abroad

32-36

GENN Sport With Tom Scott

Dr Don’s View Election final result special

MEET YOUR NEW REPRESENTATIVES L

ABOUR MPs with more than 80 years combined experience were defeated and huge majorities overturned. The SNP swept to victory in every Glasgow seat in an unprecedented night in the city’s political history. Records tumbled as the elec-

tion results threw up shock after shock. Glasgow North East finally set the record at 39% as Anne McLaughlin beat Willie (THE SURE THING) Bain. She demolished his 16,000 majority and cruised to victory by 9,000 votes.

Natalie McGarry, the MP for Glasgow East beat Margaret Curran, by an overwhelming 10,387 votes, .Glasgow North Ann McKechin, a former Labour minister, was ousted by Patrick Grady. Mr Grady said he was hon-

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oured to be the first SNP MP elected in Glasgow at a General Election. He added:” I don’t think I’ll be the last”. Anas Sarwar the party’s former deputy leader, went when Glasgow City Councillor Alison Thewliss won Glasgow Central Glasgow South, Stewart Mc-

Donald defeated Tom Harris and said of his achievement : “Not bad for a boy fae Castlemilk.” Chris Stephens took Glasgow South West from veteran Labour MP Ian Davidson. Ian Davidson laid the blame for Labour’s loss at the door of Scottish leader Jim Murphy. He

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criticised the leadership and strategy of the election campaign in Scotland and said he regretted Scottish Labour had “let down our colleagues in the rest of the UK”. “This has been a revenge vote against the Labour party because we are the obstacle to independence.”

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER

The GENN Newspaper was launched because the team recognised the importance of connecting communities with the news. Your voice in the community The aim of THE GENN, is to encourage communities and groups to get more involved in the local news agenda and to collaborate on stories and content ideas. It is about working in association with you, our readers. “We have always tried to go out into the community, understand what is going on around us and make our own contacts. But, now, we are looking to change the dynamics by giving community groups and organisations access to a low cost events promotion service which we hope will help to encourage people to get more involved with the local news agenda.” We have a need to identify different communities, and avoid the trap that other news organisations have fallen into of assuming an ‘audience’ of consumers can be described as a community. Although a target market might be geographically close, have a combined desire or be striving for a similar objective, the key to defining them is whether or not they are communicating with one another. The premise behind the GENN is to identify, engage, and then work with communities rather than treat them as mute consumers or sources. We provide the tools, the platforms, and the inspiration to bring the community’s stories to light, but then not get in the way of that story being told. This is your newspaper delivering your news help support and promote The GENN your voice in the community, all enquires to info@thegenn.co.uk Glasgow East and North News

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SYRINGES FOUND AT BARRAS TOILETS FOLLOWING our front page story showing Glasgow as Scotlands 2nd highest drug death city we have reports that more than 40 used syringes were found in a Glasgow public toilet block in just over a week. The report shows that in a 2 week period, a total of 43 syringes were found in Stevenson Street West, free-toilets at the Barras, The toilets are owned by Glasgow City Council and run by the public toilet management firm Healthmatic. The company operates other toilet blocks in the west of Scotland, including in St Vincent Street and West Campbell Street with around 300 throughout the UK. Drug addicts “using in“

Glasgow toilets was a huge problem that needed to be addressed. Syringes are used to inject heroin, and sometimes crack cocaine. They can also be used to inject steroids. A member of the public phoned the GENN to say he had reported finding around 10 used syringes in the Stevenson Street West public conveniences 10th May A Glasgow City Council spokesman said they had been alerted to the mess and went to clean it immediately. Although reports stated that the following day 12 more syringes in total were found in the same block by cleaning staff. Locals say the the block had become a hot spot for addicts.

GENN Glasgow East and North News

Editor editor@thegenn.co.uk

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, ‘Can you help grant a veteran’s wish?’ My husband was a spitfire pilot during WW1 and in his later years was cared for at Erskine. Since then, my beloved Scottish Veterans’ charity, Erskine, has been my family. I volunteer every week, and this week I have been sending out letters asking supporters to get involved in Erskine Veterans’ Wishes Week, the charity’s fundraising event which takes place from June 1st to June 8th. Erskine is looking for people to help raise vital funds to care for our country’s veterans, continuing to ensure that they can live life to the full by granting their wishes. Erskine supports our veterans to achieve lifelong ambitions, often everyday things, that they thought would no longer be possible. Douglas, who served in the Royal Artillery during WWII, wishes to visit the seaside again and enjoy a bag of chips! Karen, who served in the Military Police, would love a trip to Stirling Castle. With your help staff here can continue to support our veterans’ wishes. Erskine support over 1,000 residents in five homes across Scotland each year, some of whom suffer from conditions that leave them vulnerable and needing extra help. Our veterans, who sacrificed so much for our freedom, deserve the

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best quality of life possible. No matter how large or small your fundraising activity, every penny will make a huge difference to the lives of veterans. War is not a thing of the past. Erskine needs to raise over £170,000 every week so whether you fundraise this week, next week or during Veterans’ Wishes Week, we would really appreciate your help. Have fun and get involved by planning a ‘Purple Day’ in your school or office, organising a collection in your local area or have a purple themed raffle or bake sale! Donating what you can will mean so much to the residents of Erskine Care Homes. For further information about Erskine Veterans’ Wishes Week or to request a fundraising pack or other materials please contact 0300 123 1203 or email us at fundraising@erskine.org.uk. You can also visit our website at erskine.org.uk/ erskine-week or text “WISH” to 70660 donate £5* to Erskine. Isobel Kirkwood Erskine Volunteer

homes, and as pets they are our companions and protection. They need praise and protection by their owner, as well as the law. Shame on any human that abuses or mistreats them. They must be punished by the law and also never allowed to own another pet! Susan James Dear Editor This past April I lost my lovely wife and our family lost their beloved mother to ovarian cancer. Even though this is a sad time for all of us, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank the several agencies in Glasgow who were so important to us in her care T. F. Burns

illiteracy of the voting population as a whole, who have now, even though few of them will benefit, endorsed the continued shift from state provision to private. Schools, hospitals, the NHS as a whole will now be decimated in another five years of ideological mayhem. The ghettoisation of the UK will be completed. I’m 69 today. Happy birthday? Not. Ted McQueen

Dear Editor Mistreatment of dogs. Having an animal is like having a child. You’re supposed to love and protect them as they do for you! The innocent, childlike animals help the police deptartments, fire departments, in hospitals and nursing

Dear Editor So, there we have it: the bankers, newspaper owners and other vested interests have won and those who had the temerity to have a spare room or have committed the crime of not having a job will now see no end to their misery. That Labour did not put up a credible opposition during the last parliament must now be accepted. The Lib Dems have, as expected, paid the price for their treasonously brief fling in power, endorsing Tory excesses. But above all, it is the political

Dear Editor We are good at farewelling our soldiers heading to overseas missions, but unable to take good care of those who return home, many with disabilities of one form or another. One could only be dismayed at Senator the response to a question on Q & A as to what the government was doing to assist returned soldiers receive a satisfactory remuneration. To paraphrase: assistance would have to fit into the budget framework. How disgraceful. We can easily find millions to build new war memorial in France to honour the soldiers who gave their lives in the past, but not able to commit funds to correct anomalies that have existed for many years for soldiers who have returned home. It’s time the government demonstrated that we are a compassionate country that cares for its citizens. Philip Spowart

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END TO BOUNDARY CHARGE

GLASGOW Taxis have scrapped the dreaded boundary charges, they have announced. But there’s a catch - you have to book them by phone or app. The friendly, cooperative society voted at its AGM to reduce costs for passengers travelling across any distance around greater Glasgow, including fares to and from Glasgow Airport. Glasgow Taxis Ltd, which runs two thirds of the cabs in the city, said they wanted to reward customers and remain competitive in the market. They hope the removal of the boundary charge for any bookings made by telephone will remove any confusion in this area while adding value and passing on savings to customers. Fixed prices are easy to understand and provide certainty and reassurance for passengers. This will reward those longstanding, valued individuals and businesses who regularly travel distances while also making the overall offering much clearer and simpler for people to understand. It’s all part of Glasgow Taxis Ltd’s overall commitment to further improve the service they offer and they will continue to invest in this area for the benefit of customers.

SUPPORT ‘BIG G’ LOGO PETITION

EAST END residents are seeking support for a petition aimed at finding a permanent local home for the Commonwealth Games ‘Big G’ logo. Glasgow City Council had earlier announced the 3D sculpture, which proved a huge tourist attraction last summer in George Square, would find a permanent home outside Kelvingrove Art Gallery. That decision has prompted Calton residents to take action and have ‘Big G’ erected in Barrowland Park. A maximumn of 25 signatures has to be attained on any petition before it is considered by the Council’s committee.

KIDS INSPIRED OVER 220 children attended last week’s Sportinspired event at Easterhouse Sports Centre.

Glasgow Taxis introduced credit card payment machines in its 850 vehicles last year and is expanding to contactless payment.

Booking apps for iPhones and Android devices have also been part of the modernising of the fleet.

POSSIL GIRL IN UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY A LOCAL teenager believes she was rejected by Scotland’s top medical schools because she is from a deprived area. Joanne Martin, 18, left Glasgow’s Springburn Academy with the minimum necessary exam passes to train as a doctor. But she was rejected by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee universities. It was only after she took a three-month-trip to Ghana to teach health and hygiene and did an Open University course to beef up her application that she was finally offered a conditional place at Aberdeen. Joanne, believes the system is weighted in favour of private school pupils or those in middle- class areas whose parents have experience of higher education and who can afford private tuition and she believes she was rejected because of her background when all she wanted was to be treated the same

as the other students She may be correct in her thinking as recent figures show medicine and vet schools have the lowest entry levels for pupils from deprived areas and just over 12% of students accepted on courses in 2013-14 came from Scotland’s most deprived areas. Children in care suffer even greater obstacles in getting to university and they can miss out on outreach programmes available to those living in deprived areas. Deprived areas are judged on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation but most children in care do not live in these areas if they are fostered or minded and they have even less chance of getting to university We at the GENN wholly support the widening access agenda and believe it’s vital to ensure people from all backgrounds can access university education.

YOUSAF ON RACISM CASE HUMZA Yousaf MSP has responded to the news that Christopher Chisholm, who racially abused him while he sold the Big Issue for charity, has pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff court. Commenting Mr Yousaf said: “I am delighted with the outcome of this case. It shows that racism will not be tolerated in Scotland. “When Christopher Chisholm made his racial remarks to me I was selling the Big Issue to raise money for the good work they do, I doubt he would have made these comments had he known I was a Government Minister. This highlights the abuse that Big Issue vendors, who are looking for a hand up not a hand out, have to endure on a regular basis. My admiration for Big Issue vendors has only increased after

this episode. “I hope the outcome of this case demonstrates that those who suffer from any sort of discrimination should not have to passively take abuse. They should report it and ensure we send out a strong message that we have a zero-tolerance approach to bigotry, racism and xenophobia in whatever form it exists. “I would like to thank the staff at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for their determination in bringing this case to the courts.”

OVER 25,000 PEOPLE SIGN PETITION TO KEEP THE ARCHES OPEN

ONE of Glasgow’s most celebrated nightclubs The Arches has lost it’s late license, putting its future in doubt and causing tens of thousands of supporters to protest. On 15 May, Glasgow City Council revoked the nightclub

license for the original Scottish superclub following a series of incidents about drug misuse and alcohol offences. Despite protests that measures had been implemented, this would now mean it would have to close by midnight.

Executive director at The Arches Mark Anderson said of the news: “We’re obviously very disappointed with today’s outcome. We will now have to consider our options but the impact of this decision may well result in the closure of one of Europe’s most highly regarded arts venues, and the loss of a key contributor to Glasgow’s night time economy. Not only is it a bad day for the Arches, but the portents do not look good for the wider licensed trade.” A Change.org petition has been launched in response and has already attracted over 25,000 signatures. DJs from across the musical spectrum have tweeted their support for the club with support coming from Erol Alkan, Hudson Mohawke, Skream, B-Traits and Jackmaster.

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DEGREE DRAMA AT COLLEGE GLASGOW students have voiced their outrage at college bosses for dropping their thirdyear degree option at the last minute by their college. Students in the two-year HND Acting & Performance programme were told the thirdyear to obtain and BA degree would no longer be offered. This the latest in a series of changes throughout the past year, including moving the course on the first day of term last year from the west end to Easterhouse. Some students had already moved to the area to be near classes before being redirected across the city. A second year student told the GENN “Our lecturers have been brilliant but management have not told lecturers of changes. They are in the dark with us. They are opposed and they can’t do anything. “A great majority of the class have nothing to do next year. The college should have let us know at Christmas so we could find other options.”

A spokeswoman for the college said the head of faculty for creative and digital industries met with students on Wednesday to discuss other options. She said: “Due to the extremely low level of applications for the BA Drama & Performance programme, and with no recorded internal offers to current HND programme students, the college has taken the decision not to offer the BA Drama course for session 2015/16. “There is no automatic progression from the HND Acting & Performance programme as there is a competitive selection process for this degree and staff reinforce this with students throughout the two-year HND programme. “The College has continually reviewed applications for the BA degree programme in Drama & Performance and is disappointed that it has now had to take this decision, which it has done as promptly as possible

NEW M&S THE brand new M&S Glasgow Fort opened its doors to customers at 10am on Thursday 21st May, bringing around 250 new jobs to the area. A large proportion of the various positions, from section management, operations staff to customer assistants, have been filled by people living in the local community. The 80,000 sq. ft. store will give customers a wide range of choice across fashion and food, as well as an in-store bakery. Shoppers will also be able to relax in the 200-seat M&S Café and enjoy hot and cold seasonal dishes, tempting desserts, sandwiches and an extensive selection of drinks and Fairtrade tea and coffee. As part of the recruitment process, M&S has been working closely with its charity partners, including The Princes Trust, Gingerbread and Remploy, to provide job opportunities to local people. With almost 100 outlets, Glasgow Fort offers award-winning shopping experience with 1900 free parking spaces. Other leading shopping brands include TopShop, Zara, New Look, H&M, Next and Schuh. There is also the Vue cinema and an array of eateries including Nando’s, TGI Friday and PizzaExpress.

SFHA APPRENTICE CHALLENGE 2015 LAUNCHES

HOUSING Minister Margaret Burgess has marked the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week (May 18-22) by launching a national challenge for housing apprentices. The Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) Apprentice Challenge will see 20 young people from housing associations and co-operatives across Scotland take on a twoday challenge during the SFHA’s annual conference. They will work in teams to devise a communications strategy which could be implemented by a social landlord to help tackle and raise awareness of problems that are common amongst tenants such as social isolation, fuel poverty and mental health issues. This is the second year of the Federation’s award-winning challenge which aims to further consolidate the skills of the Modern Apprentices and highlight the important role that apprenticeships play as a vital first step on the career ladder. Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: “Apprenticeship Week 2015 is about showcasing the positive impact Modern Apprentices have on businesses and industry and the value they bring to employers and their own job prospects. The apprentices taking part in the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Apprentice Challenge are a small group of a much greater number who are being support-

ed to create enthusiastic and skilled workers in the housing sector. “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting young people towards jobs and apprenticeships, with an aim to have 30,000 new opportunities by 2020. By employing Modern Apprentices, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations’ members are helping create a dynamic and experienced workforce.” Clare King, 18, is in her first year of an enterprise Modern Apprenticeship. She is based at Ore Valley Housing Association in Fife. She said: “I chose an apprenticeship as it’s an opportunity to achieve a qualification while earning a wage. At the same time, it gives you the chance to flourish, grow in confidence and gain knowledge and skills within a working environment. I think it’s the best way to initially approach the world of work. “Besides the obvious qualification and experience that I am gaining through my apprenticeship, for me, the best part has been the support and different training I have received. I have not been thrown in the deep end, and my colleagues are understanding of my learning process and are happy to answer any queries that I may have. “My main goal at the moment is to complete my Modern Apprenticeship, get as much experience as possible and, ultimately, be happy with

what I am doing.” Hannah Meldrum, 18, is in her first year of a housing management Modern Apprenticeship at Paragon Housing Association, Grangemouth. She said: “I chose an apprenticeship in housing, because I thought it would be really interesting to learn about a sector that I did not know a lot about. I also thought it would give me a lot of valuable on-thejob experience. I felt that being a Modern Apprentice in housing would give me a lot of challenges to tackle, and I would be able to learn from these. “I feel like I have gained a lot of confidence and now know how to deal with a wide variety of situations either on the phone or at reception. I have enjoyed meeting our service users and have been able to learn from other members of staff about helping people. I have also enjoyed learning from other team members about their own experiences and have gained a lot of knowledge from them. “I look forward to completing my apprenticeship and receiving my qualification. I would like to widen the skill set and experience that I have gained and would like to continue to work in the housing sector and get a permanent job as this would allow me to use and develop the skills that I have learned.”

Scotland’s Larder Brought to Life at Royal Highland Show

ORGANISERS of Scotland’s iconic annual event, The Royal Highland Show, have announced the introduction of ‘Scotland’s Larder Live!’ a food extravaganza bringing Scotland’s larder to the fore. Showcasing a diverse range of quality, Scottish produce (and some exciting tastes and flavours from other parts of the world), Scotland’s Larder Live! will be a dynamic, experiential food show, promoting and celebrating our food provenance, regionality and seasonality. Featuring over 120 producers and showcasing the very best of Scottish produce, the event will ambitiously reposition and refresh the Food Hall by building interactivity and visitor engagement and bring to life the main consumer message of ‘farming equals food’. It will be a lively, stimulating, informative and interactive area full of smells, sights and samples.

It was announced on Friday 15th May that the Show has received support through the Year of Food and Drink initiative, delivered by VisitScotland. The Show has received funding to produce a new ‘Food To Go’ map which will provide showgoers with information about the event’s on-site catering, helping visitors to find delicious food for lunch, dinner or a quick bite. Each 2015 Food To Go provider will have passed the Year of Food and Drink Food Charter, meaning showgoers can rest assured their food is responsibly sourced and, where possible, bought locally. The Cookery Theatre - this year featuring top chefs such as Neil Forbes, Paul Wedgwood, Craig Wilson, David Haetzman and Fred Berkmiller - will have a theatrical element, with chefs and celebrities being challenged to whip up a dish against the clock. Tastings and talks will

give showgoers the opportunity to meet some of Scotland’s finest producers with plenty of audience engagement and participation. Scotland have some of the best, freshest, tastiest products in the world, and given that we are celebrating the Year of Food and Drink, producers at this year’s Show will be going all out to give visitors their best taste of Scotland, you can speak to the producers to hear how our food is made, and to try something new. It will really prove to people that local, in-season produce is available on their doorstep and among the very best you can get. 40% of visitors go to the Royal Highland Show to enjoy the food and drink. “The Royal Highland is the only food event in Scotland that links together the farmer and the food producer sometimes one and the same with farm diversification - and the consumer. With over 120 food and drink producers from across Scotland and the rest of the UK, the Royal Highland is Scotland’s Larder Live! The Year of Food and Drink is all about celebrating Scotland’s natural larder and the people, landscapes and culture behind our iconic food heritage. Food is an integral part of the visitor experience in Scotland and this year is the opportunity to showcase local cuisine and provenance. The Royal Highland Show takes place from 18th - 21st June

NEW PARK FOR CAMLACHIE

THE Camlachie Community Park, in the east end of the city has had a landscape makeover and the next phase of work is to create a skate park, bouldering facility and a natural play and adventure area. The partnership project between Glasgow City Council, West of Scotland Housing Association, Forestry Commission Scotland and the local community, received a funding boost of £156,000 from the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN)Development Fund towards the new adventure play facilities. The project is one of 20 Commonwealth Games Greener Legacy Projects, being close to venues such as Celtic Park and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. It also creates a greenspace link to Forestry Commission Scotland’s flagship woodland park being built at Cuningar Loop, just opposite the former Athlete’s Village. The new community park has been created out of land that was formerly used as a bus park. The additional £156,000 funding for the park was announced 12 May 2015 by Environment Minister Dr Aileen McLeod, during a visit to launch the new community

park. Dr McLeod said: “In total, around £510,500 of greenspace funding through the CSGN Development Fund will go towards 13 different greenspace projects across the central belt. The long-term aim of the funding is to kick-start a transformation to make the central belt a better place to live and work within, by delivering a high quality environment for everybody. “The Camlachie Community Park is a great example of this. By working in partnership, all those involved are taking a piece of unused derelict land and creating a brilliant area of greenspace for local people to enjoy.” With the funding now in place, work is expected to commence soon on the bouldering and skate park, which should be ready at the end of this year. The adventure and natural play area will be completed the following year. Carron Garmory, Interim Chief Executive at West of Scotland Housing Association said: “We are delighted to bring phase one of this community regeneration project to a successful conclusion. This park enhances our 15 year, £60million regeneration of Camlachie

and brings about transformational change by taking a vacant and derelict land site and creating a fantastic people centric space. “This project enhances the delivery of our sustainable communities strategy and provides a fit for purpose multi-functional green space with the long term aim of improving the health and wellbeing of our customers and the wider community. This year marks the Association’s 50th Anniversary and what better way to mark this milestone than by being part of such a fantastic legacy project.” The CSGN Development Funding will ensure we continue to make a considerable contribution to projects like Camlachie Community Park, which is revitalising vacant and derelict land into a valuable greenspace resource. The Fund will also support projects which are enhancing access routes for the benefit of local and disadvantaged communities, businesses and the environment. The funding for the CSGN Development Fund 201516 has been made available through Forestry Commission Scotland and Transport Scotland.

GENN North Glasgow Football Development Group welcome new Club & Volunteer Coordinator THE North Glasgow Football Development Group (NGFDG) are very excited to announce the appointment of former professional footballer Craig Dargo to the role of Club & Volunteer Coordinator. The NGFDG was established in May 2005 by members of the local footballing community who identified the lack of opportunities, facilities and infrastructure in the north of Glasgow for people of all ages (male and female) who are interested in football and wanted to address this. Dargo comes to the club with a wealth of senior experience having played over 440 games with over 100 goals and 10 Scotland U21 international caps to his name. His former clubs include Kilmarnock, Inverness CT, St Mirren and Dunfermline. He also comes with a wealth of coaching qualifications and experience. Craig tells us “During my playing career it was evident that my natural progression would take me into coaching, and for the last 10 years that’s exactly the route I’ve taken, working my way onto and up the coaching pathway to my UEFA A licence and also as a coach education tutor.” Mark Adams, Chairman of the NGFDG, added “This

excellent appointment will provide even more opportunity for children, young people and adults within North West Glasgow area to participate in sport in their own community and enjoy the associated benefits”. Joining a very strong and well established grassroots community sports club like the NGFDG is ideal for Dargo and his future ambitions; I’m looking forward to my role at NGFDG and to continue all the hard work and progress that’s went into the club. I feel that this is such a good fit for both myself and NGFDG and with hard work and commitment from myself and all the staff/ volunteers there will be exciting times ahead. Intelligent coaching and a positive influence is crucial at this stage of a young player/ coaches career, and with my combination of experience and strong personal integrity, I know I can provide precisely that.” The NGFDG host a wide range of weekly coaching sports sessions in a variety of settings and venues and delivers the very successful Bridges & Barriers anti sectarian project in local schools. To find out more about the NGFDG visit the club website at www. NGFDG.co.uk

Clydesdale Bank Hits the Right Note for Charity A SELECTION of the first fully polymer banknotes to enter circulation in Great Britain have gone under the hammer to raise almost £40,000 for charity. A series of the highly sought after new £5 polymer banknotes from Clydesdale Bank were put on the auction block, achieving £38,717.25 to support the Bank’s charity partner, Hospice UK. The Bank created auction lots featuring single £5 banknotes, as well as those grouped together and on uncut sheets, with a total face value of £860. The lots included a range of unusual serial numbers to appeal to the banknote collectors market. The desirable serial numbers performed strongly with some going for several thousand pounds. The £5 banknote with serial number 000001 received the highest bid of £5,200. Clydesdale Bank, along with sister organisation Yorkshire Bank, has been working in partnership with Hospice UK for eight years and the money raised from the banknote auction will bring the Bank’s fundraising total to more than £4.1million to date.

RCS brings rock musical to Dennistoun

GLASGOW’S East End rocked this month with BA Musical Theatre students from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire preparing to bring music to its heart. Godspell, the heart-lifting feel-good Broadway musical from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), opened in Dennistoun New Parish Church on the 19th of May. This actor-musician production hosts stunning orchestrations developed from the acclaimed Broadway revival. A company of multi-talented actors play the score live, whilst singing and dancing their way through the Gospel…according to musical theatre. A timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love, featuring such

popular songs as Day By Day, Light of the World and Turn Back, O Man, Godspell has touched the hearts of theatregoers all over the world since it burst into the seen in the 1970’s. This reinvented RCS production brought this classic musical into the 21st century, lighting up the idyllic church venue and the faces of theatre goers of all ages. Producer, Erin Carter has followed the company though their graduating season and had this to say about their final production. “The musical Godspell was conceived by a creative team bold enough to bring together the Gospel, rock music, musical theatre and David Essex to make theatre. This graduating

cohort shares their spirit; they are form challenging, creatively bold and absurdly talented. Gospel aside, there is no greater testament to the talent and commitment of these graduating actors than performing this celebratory piece of theatre in the heart of the city that has hosted them over the past three years.” Godspell Director, Andy McGregor expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming performance. “This is a brilliant musical, performed by a multi-talented group of performers. It’s a unique take on a very wellknown story. It’s not a show about religion but about love, community and it’s a colourful celebration of life!”

Debbie Crosbie, Acting CEO of Clydesdale Bank, said: “Clydesdale Bank has been issuing banknotes since 1838 and the new £5 note continues the Bank’s history of innovation. It’s fantastic that the notes attracted considerable interest at auction, achieving hammer prices exceeding the auctioneers’ expectations, to

raise much needed funds for Hospice UK.” The new £5 banknotes, which are made of a more durable material than existing paper notes, combine images of the Forth Bridge with new security measures to create a unique design. The limited edition commemorative note also features a portrait of prominent

Scottish engineer Sir William Arrol, whose company was responsible for the construction of the Forth Bridge. The new £5 note, which is smaller than existing notes of that denomination, was designed by De La Rue plc and, in a first for Europe, was manufactured on its innovative Safeguard® polymer substrate.

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Local woman puts the fun in fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK A LOCAL woman is putting the fun in fundraising to raise money for the UK’s leading men’s health charity. Esther Newall, 53, from Springboig is hoping to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK by holding a fun day. The event coincides with the latest wave of Prostate Cancer UK’s Men United campaign, which is calling for people to do something great with their friends to fight prostate cancer. Esther, who works in Boots on Duke Street, decided to raise money for the charity after losing her father to the disease in 2012. The fun day is being held on Saturday 30 May at St Serf’s Episcopal Church in Shettleston, starting from 10am. The entry fee is a mere £2, with children going free, which includes refreshments of tea, coffee and cake. In addition to there being refreshments on offer, there will be a wide range of fun activities including a bouncy castle, face painting, home baking stalls, and various prizes up for grabs. There will also be a volunteer speaker from Prostate Cancer UK in attendance

on the day, to share their experience of the disease and to help raise awareness amongst others. Esther said: “I was inspired to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK after my father sadly passed away from the disease in 2012. Three years ago my family lost a muchloved husband, father and grandfather who we miss every day. If holding this event could prevent even one family from going through the same, it will all have been worth while. I hope that people in the local community come down to enjoy the fun events on the day, while also doing something great for prostate cancer. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, but one I don’t think there is enough awareness of. My message to men is to be aware of the disease and if you’re at higher risk, as prostate cancer can often be symptomless in its early stages. Men at higher risk include those over the age of 50, those with a family history of the disease, and black men. Symptoms, if present, can include changes to urinary patterns or pain in your

back, hips or pelvis that was not there before. If you have any worries then please don’t hesitate to go to your GP or to call Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses.” Emma McGowan, Fundraising Executive for Scotland at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Esther for raising money for Prostate Cancer UK. Prostate Cancer UK is determined to one day beat the disease completely, which is why we’re so grateful to Esther and those like her, who go to such lengths to raise money and awareness to help us do just that. We have just launched the second wave of our Men United campaign, which is Prostate Cancer UK’s movement for everyone who believes that men are worth fighting for. By joining Men United people will get to do something great together, and ultimately, help us beat prostate cancer. Whether it’s big or small, signing a petition or running a marathon, doing it together is what really matters.” Search ‘Men United’ or visit prostatecanceruk.org/ menunited to sign up for the fight against prostate cancer.

Fashion Students Strut to Success for Strathcarron!! GLASGOW Kelvin College’s Annual Fashion Show was a ripping success once again this year, for the talented designers AND for their chosen charity, Strathcarron Hospice. The dazzling show enthralled audiences at St Andrew’s in the Square, who were entertained with a myriad of collections, from Avant Pop to Oriental Fusion, fabulous hats and accessories, all crowned by a breathtaking movie-themed Evening & Bridalwear section. A host of students from all over the College worked together to make the show an unforgettable night out; students from Events Management, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Sound Engineering, Film & TV, Photography and, of course, Fashion Design. One of the Fashion Design students had her own reason for being delighted as the Show proceeds helped to bring the funding for Strathcarron Hospice to a figure in excess of £4,000!! A heartbreaking experience for HND Fashion & Design student, Alison McMillan, has spurred on the fundraising spirit at Glasgow Kelvin College. 21yr old Alison from Cum-

bernauld came to Glasgow Kelvin College two years ago and is loving her studies, both practical and creative aspects, where she’s been involved in the annual Fashion Show and a range of other exciting projects. However, her life took a knock last summer when her Aunt Kathryn passed away at a young age. Latterly, she had been cared for by Strathcarron Hospice and Alison, who had heard about the excellent reputation of the staff there, was hugely impressed by the level of care and consideration given to her Aunt in her last days. And also the invaluable support which the hospice brought to her own family. Alison says, “When we were discussing which charity should benefit from this year’s Annual Fashion Show, I didn’t hesitate to suggest Strathcarron and my fellow students were happy to get behind that. I was very grateful.” They still have more fundraising to do and are fitting this around their studies and, obviously, all the preparation for the show. She adds, “It’s a fast –paced course and certainly prepares you for working in the industry as

your work has to be of a high standard. But I love coming here – the staff have been so supportive throughout the last year and I couldn’t have asked for better. My Aunt and I were very close and her loss had a huge impact on me but staff have helped me through this period. My whole class have made great strides and, with the support of the tutors, we’ve been like one big family!” All of the staff and students involved should be very proud of the professionalism, sheer determination and talent that they have showcased through the Annual Fashion Show. It has been a tremendous achievement and a real ‘feather in the cap’ for high quality learning at Glasgow Kelvin College. Pictures feature the design from Megan McRitchie, first year pupil at St Andrews and St Brides High School in East Kilbride, whose marvel comic masterpiece of a design won the schools competition and was crafted by the students at the College. The other fabulous designs are from the various collections. More spectacular images are available on the College website at www. glasgowkelvin.ac.uk.

VOLUNTEER SESSIONS EASTERHOUSE volunteers will find out how they can help the local community at The Bridge Cafe Bar next Thursday. The session, in Westerhouse Road, is held from 10am until 12 noon.

GOOD VIBES SCOTLAND’S environmental awards scheme specialist, Vibes, are looking for green business candidates in the city. Former winners include BAE Systems (Glasgow), City Building and Graham Construction. Further information for interested groups is available at www.vibes.org.uk

FUNDING BOOST CRAIGEND Community Youth Group has received a second year of funding. Helped by Glasgow Fort and Glasgow Housing Association, CCYG, set-up in 2012, has over 200 members, more than 20 local volunteers, and continues excellent work involving primary and secondary school children.

SUCCESS FOR THE FORGE THE Forge Shopping Centre has double reason to celebrate after landing leading fashion brand Peacocks as a tenant and winning the title of Glasgow’s Best Shopping Complex. Peacocks has opened a new 5,800 sq ft store in the Parkhead mall, which attracts more than 7 million shoppers per annum and was ranked the city’s top retail centre in the inaugural Glasgow Awards. It follows the arrival of Toys R Us before Christmas, who have launched a 10,000 sq ft store, and a number of other new lettings including The Works and Vodafone. Ross Wilkie, Associate at Cushman & Wakefield, joint letting agents with Lambert Smith Hampton for The Forge said: “Peacocks is a fantastic addition to the fashion mix at The Forge, which has hugely benefitted from an £8m refurbishment programme by the present owners. “Toys R Us is another great brand for the centre and has helped to significantly increase footfall at the western end of the

complex, near Primark. “In addition, we have two further lettings under offer to leading national brands which will continue to strengthen the tenant mix further.” The mall, which enjoyed a golden summer in the spotlight last year thanks to its close proximity to the Commonwealth Athletes Village and the National Indoor Sports Arena, beat competition for the top award from St Enoch, Silverburn, The Fort and Buchanan Galleries. Paul Devlin of Belfast Office Properties, owners of The Forge, said: “We were delighted to win the Best Shopping Complex award which is a tribute to the hard work of our management team and recognizes the significant investment made by BOP in the refurbishment and ongoing improvements. “The awards were set up to reward the success of those who work tirelessly to make Glasgow what it is today and we are very proud that The Forge has won as it was up against very stiff competition

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MARIE CURIE FUNDRAISING LOCAL man Denis, from Riddrie used to visit Tesco Parkhead three or four times a week to buy lots of dried fruit, flour and chocolate and has been a regular in the store since it opened in 2011. Denis used to make jams, chutneys and cakes for the Marie Curie Hospice in Stobhill to raise money for the charity. Recently Denis was diagnosed with cancer and has been receiving chemotherapy. When Tesco employee Susan Wilson heard of this, she contacted Tesco’s head office. They supplied a £50 gift card for Denis and donated to Marie Curie’s hospice at Stobhill. Susan and her son Scott, who attends Garrowhill Primary School took stock from the Tesco store to the Hospice to sell and raise funds for the hospice.

New research shows Scots relationship with television SCOTTISH viewers watch TV out of habit more than anywhere else in Great Britain, according to a new report by TV provider Freeview. The report showed that TV is a firmly entrenched part of viewers’ lives in Scotland, with almost a quarter (24%) watching their favourite programmes out of habit, compared to 21% nationally. When it comes to how they watch, more than 4 in 10 of Scots polled (43%) admitted that they liked to watch their favourite programmes alone, away from distractions, compared to 39% nationally. Viewers in Scotland were also more likely to watch TV to learn than the rest of the country (37% compared to 34%). But viewers in Scotland are less addicted to TV than elsewhere, with fewer than half (47%) describing themselves as telly addicts, compared to an average of 52% in the rest of the country. Whilst the research

showed that Scots like to spend time watching TV, it also showed that it doesn’t stop them from spending time with their loved ones. 23% of those polled saying doing things with their family is the top reason for missing TV, whilst socialising with friends comes in at a close second (17%).

Managing Director of Freeview, said: “We’ve always known that Brits watch the TV out of habit, but it seems that this is most true for viewers in Scotland. Clearly, it’s a popular pastime but our research also found that it’s a social enabler, bringing together families and friends.”

HOUSING HELP MARYHILL Housing Association has secured additional funding of £154,000 to help with financial inclusion service work. Tenants in Maryhill and Ruchill can find out more details by calling 0141 946 2466 or via email: enquiries@maryhill.org.uk

RIVER KELVIN DATE

JUNE 20 has been set aside for Friends of the River Kelvin Summer Gala. Attractions will include canoe rides, treasure hunts and music. Help is required from the local community, and if organisations can assist or wish to be actively involved, email hello@ fork.org.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/gennnews

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Adult Volunteers Rewarded by Police Scotland TEAM leaders of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV), a Scotland wide initiative to encourage good citizenship and adventure, have been recognised for their efforts by Chief Superintendent Andy Bates. The adult volunteers received a Divisional Commanders Recognition Award for leading the PSYV Glasgow pilot programme which sees 24 Youth Volunteers from the north of Glasgow giving up their own time to help their community. The PSYV programme aims to inspire young people to contribute positively to their local community. Through taking part, the young people gain confidence and develop leadership skills which they may not experience anywhere else. In return they will give a lot back, not least to their community. PSYV have been involved in lots of volunteering opportunities within Glasgow including the Afternoon SafeTea Dances with ng homes, the Moira Jones Charity Run, Firework Displays, Police ‘Choices For Life’ Information Days, an Anti Sectarianism initiative and much more. Clare Bird, a volunteer with PSYV who also works for ng2 in North Glasgow said: “The reason I’m involved in the PSYV is that I fully support their aims. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a young person gain confidence, learn new skills and play an important part in their community and I am keen

to see how we can integrate the aims of the PSYV into the work we do in North Glasgow.” Chairperson of ng2 Margaret Thomson said: “We are delighted that Police Scotland have presented Clare and her fellow volunteers with a Recognition award for their hard work, its richly deserved.” As well as volunteering with various community groups, the Youth Volunteers made a great contribution throughout the Commonwealth Games helping the public at most of the venues. Earlier this year the youths were thrilled to be awarded with a Glasgow Community Champion Award. They will also be volunteering at the forthcoming Wickerman Music Festival and The Open Golf Championship. Chief Superintendent Andy Bates said “The PSYV Pilot programme has been a great success and that is down to the commitment and dedication from the team of adult volunteers who take time out of their own lives to support our youngsters” If you have any volunteering opportunities or events that PSYV could get involved in then email psyv@nationalvpc.org

It’s Blossom Time in North Glasgow CALLING all gardeners... it’s time to pick up your entry form for this year’s ng homes garden competition. We’ve regularly rewarded our tenants with green fingers who keep their garden looking good for not only their enjoyment but also to enhance their local community. Best Garden prizes will be awarded in four areas - Springburn, Balornock, Parkhouse and Possilpark. There is £50 in gift vouchers for the winner in each area plus four second prizes of £30 vouchers and four third place vouchers valued at £20 each. Forms can be picked up at our offices at

Springburn (East)

Ned Donaldson House in Springburn and Saracen House in Possilpark. Completed forms need to be returned by Friday 25th June. Only one application per communal garden will be accepted. Our photographers will take pictures of competitors’ gardens in July and August with the judging panel meeting in mid-August. Their decision is final! The winners will be presented with their prizes in their homes by their housing officer and will also be featured in the media. The first step is to pick up a form, complete it and return it to our office in either Springburn or Possilpark. Good luck!

Email: info@nghomes.net

Ned Donaldson House, 50 Reidhouse Street Springburn, Glasgow. G21 4LS Tel 0141 560 6000 Fax 0141 560 6005

Website: www.nghomes.net @ng_homes

ng homes is a trading name of North Glasgow Housing Association

Possilpark (West) Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tel 0141 336 1300 Fax 0141 560 6005

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International Flavour at Keppoch Campus Cook-in THE latest ng homes international community cook-in took place at Keppoch Campus this week and was attended by over 100 people with parents and children enjoying a variety of dishes prepared by local chefs. The event was also attended and supported by Thriving Places and Foundation Scotland. The event provided opportunities for conversations to take place with local people regarding the aims and objectives of Thriving Places and Foundation Scotland’s role in supporting and making Possilpark a more vibrant and stronger community – ensuring local people are at the heart of the decision making. From Scotland Paul O’Brien served up a vegetarian option of Italian Potato Salad and Marc Layland provided Japanese Style Chicken Noodle Soup. Bangladesh was represented by Imtiaz Ahmed & Mehejabin Chowdhury and everyone enjoyed their Bengali Vegetable Pulau & Bengali Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce. Florence Wandji from Cameroon cooked up African Spinach Chicken, Fried Rice and Plantain. Originally from China, local tenants Mr You and Scott Lin created a Chinese Breast of Chicken Curry dish and Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. From Syria there were 6 volunteers including Ayman J. Aldeen, Fadi Alchoairi, Mohamad Shaker Helmy, Ehsan Helmy and Mazen Alsafadi who they created a dish called Fata which consisted of chickpeas, yoghurt, minced garlic, tahini, cumin and pita bread. India was represented by Mina Champaneri who cooked delicious Vegetable Pakora. All the dishes were created with Halal meat to ensure all cultures had the opportunity to try the full range of dishes on offer. Each person who attended the event received a food parcel containing cereal and the dry ingredients to make each recipe (6 different herbs and spices - cumin, chilli powder, curry powder, garlic salt, turmeric, coriander) and a bag of pasta and rice. Those attending also got to take the recipes home along so they can have a go themselves. There were also over 100 healthy fruit smoothies made at the event using the ng smoothie bike. Board Member of ng homes Richard Porter who tried out the smoothie bike said: “These cook-in’s are an excellent way for people in North Glasgow to eat healthy meals and find out how to cook them, they are always a great success and they bring people together.” Claire Alexander of the Food for Thought team said: “What I think is absolutely fantastic about this event is the diversity – there are so many different nationalities here all sampling each of their country’s recipes – its been a great success and we would like to thank all our volunteer chefs for providing delicious meals.” Cook-in events are held regularly at various locations, people can watch cooking demonstrations using basic ingredients, ask questions and try the dishes on offer. These free events are open to the community. For more information please contact ng homes on 0141 560 6000 or 0141 336 1300. For more information on Thriving Places contact: Linda Devlin on: 0141 287 5385 or by email: linda.devlin@glasgow.gov.uk

ng2 400 Petershill Road, Springburn, Glasgow, G21 4AA Tel: 0141 630 4252

Email: info@ng2works.com

Website: www.ng2works.com

ng2 is a subsidiary of ng homes

ng in the community

Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tel 0141 336 1300 Fax 0141 560 6005

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CALL FOR PSYCHEDELIC LEGALISATION

PSYCHEDELIC drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms should be made legal Scientists have said that drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms should be made legal as banning them is “against human rights”,

Researchers say the drugs are much less harmful than alcohol, and banning them is a human rights issue because of their “spiritual” links. The Norwegian researchers also claim there is no link between LSD and magic mush-

rooms and mental health problems. They analysed information from more than 135,000 random people, including 19,000 who had used psychedelics, and found no association between the drugs and psychosis. The study used data from the US National Health Survey and found there was no relationship with psychological distress, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts. A previous study by the same researchers also failed to tie up LSD and magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin, with brain damage. “Concerns have been raised the ban on use of psychedelics is a violation of the human rights to belief and spiritual practice, full development of the personality, and free time and play.” The researchers say it is time to end the 50-year ban on the hallucinogenic drugs which inspired the Beatles and other pop groups of the Sixties. Drug experts consistently rank LSD and psilocybin mushrooms as much less harmful to the individual user and to society compared to alcohol and other controlled substances. The researchers, whose findings are published in the Jour-

THE DEARER THE RING THE LONGER THE MARRIAGE A POLL of 1,000 women has found that husbands who spent more than £1,000 on an engagement ring were less likely to get divorced. The survey interviewed 1,000 women from across the country, and it revealed that 43 per cent of women surveyed received an engagement ring worth less than £300, while 26 per cent had received a ring valued between £300 and £1,000. Of those surveyed who are now divorced - a total of 150 women - just one had been given an engagement ring worth over £5,000 before the marriage came to an end. 54 per cent of the divorced women had actually been given rings worth less than £300, which didn’t leave a great impression. “I must admit my ex-husband, who was quite wealthy, spent just £200 on my engagement ring,” claimed divorced Sandra . “I can’t say I was very impressed when he told me how much it cost, but we had six good years together and are still friends, although I do rib him about how much he spent

now and again.” Marlow’s Diamonds, a leading provider of diamond engagement rings, takes a keen interest in reports such as this. A spokesperson provided this statement: “Perhaps the results of this survey shouldn’t be too surprising, as you can’t imagine many women being happy with a ring worth less than

nal of Psychopharmacology, pointed out that unlike alcohol, psychedelics are not addictive. They found the use of psychedelic drugs is correlated with fewer mental health problems. Many people report deeply meaningful experiences and lasting beneficial effects from using psychedelics, but given the design of the study, they cannot “exclude the possibility use of psychedelics might have a negative effect on mental health for some individuals or groups With these robust findings,

it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure. Earlier this week British scientists claimed psychedelic drugs could prove to be highly effective treatments for depression and alcoholism after the first brain scans of people under the influence of LSD. Early results from the trial, involving 20 people, are said to be “very promising” and add to existing evidence that psychoactive drugs could help reverse entrenched patterns of addictive or negative thinking.

JUNIOR BUDDY’S BUDHILL Football Academy have launched a second Junior Buddy’s programme following the success of a similar project at Barlanark Community Centre. Forming a partnership with Tollcross YMCA and using their premises at 1161 Tollcross Road, fully qualified coaches have developed football-related games for boys and girls (aged 2-3 years). There is also provision for some participation from mothers and fathers. Children arrive with soft trainers and water to drink at 9.30am. Places are limited and anyone interested should contact the Budhill Chairman on on 07453306788. You can also email them: budhill@live.co.uk

FUNDRAISING SCOUTS EXPLORER Scouts around Broomhouse have been seeking local support to raise money for the victims of the Nepalese earthquakes.

COMMUNITY SEARCH BAILLIESTON Community Council are urging local people to join up as new members.

AWARD FOR LOCAL STUDENT

£300! An engagement ring is something to cherish for your entire life, so it makes sense to take the time and effort to find the perfect one for your partner. You can get all kinds of different designs and styles, but if you need help choosing any reputable diamond specialist should be able to give you all the assistance you need.” NICOLA Fabian, HND Jewellery Design student at Glasgow Kelvin College was announced as this year’s winner of the GemSet 2015 awards from the Scottish Gemmological Association. The annual Scotland-wide competition is intended to encourage the use of gem materials in students’ work and the brief is to design and manufacture an item of wearable gem-set jewellery. Nicola, from Dennistoun, designed and created a beautiful pendant crafted from bubble agate, citrine and carnelian set in silver with delicate tracery which highlights the accents of the stone. The

piece took, in all, around sixty hours to create. It was designed on CAD software, milled out then cast and finished. Fellow students, Paula Sloan and Mariusz Suliga, each picked up a ‘Highly Commended’ at the competition for their exquisite pieces. Paula’s ring is a complex piece set in 18ct rose gold with tourmaline and cognac diamonds and was ‘grown’ layer by layer before casting. Mariusz also crafted a silver ring with garnet, emeralds and freshwater pearls. The students attended the ceremony to receive their awards and Nicola was de-

lighted to win her First Prize Certificate, together with a selection of gemstones to the value of £300. The College is extremely proud of its talented students and the staff who support them. This is another great example of the many successes at the GemSet Awards and is testament to the creative work which goes on in within the College. Nicola hopes to go on to Edinburgh College of Art to complete a degree in Silversmithing and Jewellery design. The College wishes her the very best of luck in making the most of her shining talent. She is pictured here with her piece, and with Mariusz who is displaying Paula’s work.

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X FACTOR WINNER COMING TO GLASGOW THE X Factor winner Shayne Ward has confirmed that he will be performing at the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation’s 2015 Black & Red Vasculitis Charity Ball at the Thistle Hotel,Glasgow on Friday 18 September 2015. Since winning The X Factor in 2005, Shayne has sold over three million albums, achieved 14 platinum discs and clocked up Number One albums in nine countries. He just launched his new album, Closer, which became his fourth Top 20 album. Shayne is set to perform his hit songs plus a track from his new album at the charity ball. Shayne, 30, was born in Tameside, Greater Manchester and has toured and recorded around the world with top music producers including Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), Cutfather (Olly Murs) and Mike Stock of Stock Aitken and Waterman (Kylie Minogue, Bananarama and Rick Astley). He is to date the most successful solo male X Factor winner. The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation was set up by Grant and Adrienne Currie following the death of their 15-year old daughter and only child Lauren in 2010. Lauren had suffered

Living Wage in the East End INDEPENDENTLY calculated each year and based on the costs of goods and services deemed mandatory by the public, the living wage is defined as a minimum income necessary for an individual to meed their basic needs. These include food, utilities, transport, health care, education and recreation and are generally seen as factors which together make up a decent standard of living. The living wage is currently estimated to be £7.58 per hour in the United Kingdom. Figures indicate that over half of working age adults experiencing financial hardship in Scotland live in a household where at least one person works. Low pay is clearly a major contributor to keeping families below the poverty line, and in-work poverty is a continuously growing issue. An estimate of 18% of employees in Scotland earn less than the living wage which equates to around 414,000 individuals. Campaigners argue that the modest £1.85 increase in pay will not only transform the lives of individuals across the country, but that it also has the potential to boost economy growth, especially on a local scale as less people rely on benefits and more have access to a disposable income. Spearheaded by Scottish Living Wage, the campaign hopes to endorse a rise in pay across the East End by promoting the idea among employers and employees alike. The participants believe that the close knit community found in the area combined with a large number of small independ-

ent businesses will allow locals to lead by example, transforming the community as well as the commonly found attitudes towards the minimal

from Wegener’s granulomatosis, a variant of the auto-immune disease vasculitis. Lauren’s condition was only diagnosed in the final hours of her life and her parents realised that, with earlier diagnosis, her life could have been saved. Speaking ahead of the event, Shayne Ward said, “I am deeply touched that I have been invited to perform at the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation annual ball. “It’s inspiring that Lauren’s parents are driving such a positive awareness campaign in such a tragic situation. It’s a real honour to be celebrating and contributing to their great work at the Black & Red Vasculitis Charity Fundraising Ball in Glasgow.” Vasculitis is uncommon and early diagnosis is an important factor in the effectiveness of medical care, which is why the charity focuses on public awareness of the condition as a key objective. In addition, the Foundation has given £62,000 of funding to the University of Aberdeen, which will be used to support a three-year PhD research project on vasculitis. The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation also aims to raise

income necessary to lead a modest, yet comfortable, existence. The guest speakers at the meeting included representatives of Poverty Alliance Scotland, Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, The Green Party, SWP and the Fast Food Rights movement, providing a wide variety of views and potential strategies, which were then

the international profile of vasculitis, and is one of only two vasculitis-specific charities operating in the UK. It is happy to collaborate with other relevant charities, including those in the US. So what is vasculitis? Grant Currie explains, “Vasculitis refers to an inflammation of the blood vessels. It is an uncommon illness and different variations can affect people of different ages. “The cause of vasculitis is usually unknown, but it can be caused by other illnesses that cause inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory diseases of the bowel.” Tickets for the ball are priced at £60, or £90 for premium seats. The ticket includes a champagne reception and a three-course dinner, alongside the special performance from Shayne Ward. There will also be a silent auction. The Thistle Hotel’s ballroom, where the event will be held, has capacity for around 500 people. The Black & Red Ball has been held annually in Glasgow since 2011 and has helped to raise over £300,000 from events and donations in over three years for the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation. For more

discussed in smaller groups. Scottish Living Wage has already seen impressive success. Their achievements include securing the living wage for all NHS Scotland workers as well as the employees of local councils. In addition to supporting grass-roots campaigns, such as the one initiated in Monday’s meet-

information http://www.thelaurencurrietwilightfoundation. org/blog/2015-black-red-vasculitis-charity-ball/ May is Vasculitis Awareness Month and what better way to support this great cause than by signing up for a charity fundraising event in Glasgow’s Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road? The ‘Twilight in the Park’ event, on the evening of Saturday 13 June 2015, is organised by the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation. It will include a 24 foot outdoor cinema screening of a Twilight film after a 5km themed sponsored walk in support of vasculitis sufferers in the UK. The walk takes place from 7:00PM. Visitors will walk the route through the darkened woods (you will not be alone) and the organisers say, “watch out when the sun goes down!” Tickets will cost £10 for adults and £5 for children. Free passes to Twilight in the Park are available for fundraisers. Adults raising a minimum of £50 and children raising a minimum of £25 for The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation will obtain free entry. Tickets for the event can be purchased on Eventbrite.

ing the campaign hopes to continue their country wide efforts, raising awareness, influencing policy and providing resources in the fight to tackle in-work poverty across Scotland. You too can get involved! Visit slw. povertyalliance.org or find ScottishLivingWage on Facebook!

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Blair Castle to Welcome Thousands at Atholl Highlanders Parade & Gathering

GLASGOW MAN COMES HOME TO FIGHT

GLASGOW fighter Rab ‘The Hammer’ Whiteford says it’s a “dream come true” to be named on the card for Scotland’s first ever UFC event. The 32-year-old mixed martial artist will square-off against Irishman Paul RedPREPARATIONS are under way for the historic Atholl Highlanders Parade and Gathering which is taking place on May 23rd and 24th at Highland Perthshire’s Blair Castle. The historic event, an annual Gathering hosted by The Duke of Atholl, has been enjoyed for generations and is set to attract thousands of people to the area to witness the famous Parade and competitive Gathering over the course of the weekend. The weekend will kick off at 11am on the Saturday with an Atholl Highlanders talk where you can discover more about the history of the Atholl Highlanders, Europe’s only private army, led by Castle Archivist Jane Anderson and Atholl Highlander CSM Geoff Crerar. After the talk, the spectacular Atholl Highlanders Parade begins in the Blair Castle forecourt at 2pm with music from the Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band, Parade inspections and traditional marching followed to military precision.

The Parade is followed on the Sunday by a day of traditional Highland Games, from caber tossing and wrestling to highland dancing, piping competitions and family races. Starting at 10am, the day is packed with unrivalled sights and spectacles that are unique to Blair Castle and Highland Perthshire. Andrew Bruce-Wootton, General Manager at Atholl Estates, said: “Every year, the Atholl Highlanders Parade and Atholl Gathering attracts visitors from all over the world. There is no better place to see and participate in historic Highland traditions than here at Blair Castle. The amazing spectacle of Europe’s only private army parading on the castle’s forecourt to the sounds of the bagpipes is something really special that is not to be missed. “As well as the range of events taking place throughout the weekend, there is also a series of war exhibitions inside

Blair Castle commemorating the centenaries of three major conflicts. It is 100 years since the Dardanelles Campaign during World War One which is especially poignant.” Visitors can also enjoy the Castle’s scenic grounds and experience brand new five-course taster menu in the Castle’s Tullibardine Restaurant. As a member of the VisitScotland’s prestigious Taste Our Best quality assurance scheme, the restaurant will showcase the Scottish provenance of the ingredients used on the taster menu. Andrew continued: “As there is so much to see, do and taste, we are offering special annual passes for £12 that allow people to visit Blair Castle and its grounds as many times as they like for a full year, so visitors don’t have to see everything we have to offer all in one trip.” To find out more about visiting Blair Castle, go to www. blair-castle.co.uk

Trio Take on Mental Health Cycle

THREE men will be taking to the saddle on 23-24 May to help promote the benefits of cycling on mental wellbeing. Ed Smith, Tony McLaren and John Carruthers will be cycling on a two day roundtrip from Plockton in Lochalsh via Edinbane on the Isle of Skye, taking in 120 miles. The cycle adds to the previous week of events and activities which have taken place across the country for Mental Health Awareness week (11-17 May). “We are hoping to meet as many people as we can on our travels and encourage folks to get active. Cycling is a great social activity and one where you can appreciate Scotland’s beautiful scenery and get fit at the same time. Exercise can have a really positive effect on your mental health.” said Tony. Tony is not only a keen cy-

clist but is also National Coordinator of Breathing Space and NHS Living Life, two national mental health phone services. In recent years, both services have worked closely with Network Rail to promote mental wellbeing messages to staff and passengers. The trio will be visiting Plockton, Duirinish and Kyle of Lochalsh train stations en route with their mental wellbeing message. Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “I send my best wishes to Tony, Ed and John for a successful weekend of fund-raising and awareness raising. Covering 120 miles in two days won’t be easy, but cycling through some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery should make the going a bit easier. They are spreading a really

important message about the value of physical exercise. You don’t need to do a long distance cycle ride, just incorporating some gentle exercise into your daily routine can really improve your physical and mental health.” Mark Henderson, Senior Communications Manager (Communities Engagement) Network Rail, added: “We have been working closely with partner agencies for a number of years to promote positive mental wellbeing initiatives. It is therefore great that Tony, Ed and John are taking on this cycling challenge and are promoting their mental wellbeing message; we are delighted to offer our continued support.” Follow the trio’s journey on Twitter via @MHCycleforScot and the hashtag #MHCycleforScot

mond in a featherweight bout on July 18 at the SSE Hydro. Also featuring on the card is Birmingham’s Leon Edwards who takes on Polish fighter Pawel Pawlak, while Dutchman Hans Stringer will face Sweden’s Ilir Latifi on

the UFC Fight Night Glasgow card. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is still to announce the main event of the evening. Describing the chance to fight in front of his home fans, Rab said: “We’re breaking boundaries everywhere in this sport and reaching new markets, and now we’re coming to Scotland. “It’s going to be absolutely tremendous walking out there in front of thousands of home fans. “I don’t think I have the words to do it justice, just how much it means. It’s so much more than a dream come true”. Tickets for the event go on sale to the general public on May 29.

Experts warn of bumper year for wasps

PEST experts are warning of a bumper year for wasps in Scotland. Mild spring temperatures following a relatively cold winter have created perfect conditions for the nuisance insects. And with forecasters predicting warmer than average weather for the rest of May and June, industry insiders are expecting a huge rise in both the number and size of nests. Figures produced by the British Pest Control Association last week indicate problems with wasps shot up by around 87 per cent in the UK last year compared to an unusually quiet 2013. And Rob Simpson, leader of independent pest controllers register BASIS PROMPT, is expecting a similar surge in complaints this time around. He said: “The annual wasp population in the UK is very much dependent on weather conditions. “The number of nests seemed to be down significantly in 2013, but there was a substantial increase last year when numbers returned to something like normal.

“Colder winters often mean there are more wasps about the following summer as mated queens spend the period deep in hibernation. “If it’s milder in December and January, wasps become restless and use up their food reserves. They then have nothing left to forage on, so they die. “This year, temperatures were relatively cold during the winter and have so far been warm in spring, so we’re expecting our members to receive a deluge of calls.” In a typical British summer, wasps will not appear in huge numbers or become a big issue until August or September. But they begin building new nests in spring and Mr Simpson says it’s best to have them treated as early as possible, when the colony is smaller and the wasps less aggressive. He added: “With warm weather expected and nests growing in size as the season progresses, we expect the number of wasp-related enquiries to rise substantially. “So if people do find a nest in their garden or around the house, however small at the

moment, it shouldn’t be ignored.” Mr Simpson says homeowners shouldn’t be tempted to tackle issues themselves. He said: “Treating a wasps nest can be very dangerous as they feel threatened and are likely to become aggressive if their nest is tampered with. “A mature nest can contain thousands of wasps, so it’s really not worth the risk. “You don’t need to remove a nest, but you do need to have it treated as early as possible and it’s definitely a job that should be left to experts.” Homeowners seeking professional advice are being urged to find a company registered with BASIS PROMPT – an industry initiative designed to promote standards in pest control. Mr Simpson added: “Our members are all fully-trained professionals who are obliged to stay up to date with the latest products, techniques and legislation. “They’re guaranteed to give the best advice as well as safe, effective and legal treatment of wasps nests and every other pest infestation.”

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What is collective switching? HIGH gas and electricity bills and the huge profits that energy companies seem to keep delivering have been a source of enormous frustration for UK consumers. We all need to keep the heating and the lights on, and many have been left feeling there’s nothing they can do other than somehow find the extra cash to keep paying the ever-rising bills. There are, of course, energy money-saving tips you can follow to keep the costs down and shopping around for gas and electricity - considering small energy suppliers as well as the big six - helps to keep competition in the market. But we’ve also seen the rise of a more innovative way to keep the pressure on the fat cats and to deliver power into the hands of the people… collective energy switching, which began with government backing in 2012. “Collective switching can benefit both the individual customer and the wider community at the same time,” “By using the power of the group you join it’s possible for you and fellow community members to get cheaper gas and electricity tariffs than the ones that are available on the

regular energy market.” Known as Collective switching, when a large group of people (a ‘community’) uses its collective purchasing power to negotiate its own tariff with energy suppliers. This gives the group the potential to secure more attractive deals than those advertised to the wider market. A collective switch typically works in the following stages: • A registration stage where the community is gathered • A negotiation stage where the group uses its collective power to negotiate deals with energy suppliers • A switching stage where members of the community decide whether or not to take up the de Collective energy switching schemes put power back in the hands of the people when it comes to gas and electricity prices. Key points • Gocollective - Gocompare.com’s first collective switch - will be open for registration from 1 June, 2015 • Collective bargaining power may give access to more attractive rates than you’d get if you shop around yourself • Deals may be good be-

cause energy suppliers use collective switching to target specific groups and to get around tariff caps • Collective switches are available for a limited time • The larger the community that registers, the greater the group’s chance of securing market-leading deals • You’re NOT committed to switching after you register Where can I find a community? Almost any group can found an energy-switching community. Did you know...? • In February 2015 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said that 13.5 million UK households were missing out on £2.7bn of energy savings by not switching suppliers • The DECC said that millions of people could save around £200 a year - and some could save even more It could be led, for example, by a price comparison website, a newspaper, a local council, or a combination of such groups. Look out for advertising flagging up new collective switches and remember that the offer will only be open for a limited period of time.

GIRL GUIDES TARTAN GIG AT SECC 6,000 music fans joined Girlguiding Scotland members from across Scotland at the youth charity’s sell-out pop concert, Tartan Gig 2015, at the SECC last Saturday to watch some of Britain’s biggest and most popular acts. The Guides and senior section members were entertained by star acts Labrinth, Rixton and Conor Maynard, Nina Nesbitt, Karen Harding, Neon Jungle and Only the Young at the exclusive event. Tartan Gig 2015, which was hosted by Scottish comedian Iain Stirling, is the fifth of Girlguiding Scotland’s girl-only pop concerts exclusively for young members aged 10 and up. Past acts include Little Mix,

Amy Macdonald, Pixie Lott, The Wanted and Scouting for Girls. The gig is just one of many great opportunities available to girls from the Borders through Guiding. Girls can learn about stars, try abseiling or raft building, go camping and even travel abroad by being a member of Girlguiding. One Guide, said: “I’ll never forget Tartan Gig 2015 – I had so much fun watching all the amazing bands with my friends. “I love being a Guide as we get to try new things, make brilliant friends and go to amazing events like Tartan Gig.” County commissioner said: “All the girls had such a brilliant time in Glasgow and the atmosphere

was amazing. “This is what Guiding is all about – having fun with friends and doing something different.” Girlguiding Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity for girls and young women, with more than 60,000 members. It is part of a worldwide movement which enables girls and young women to fulfil their potential and take an active and responsible role in society. Girls can take part in a wide range of activities, from adventure sports to camps, international trips, science projects and community action. Find out more: @GirlguidingScot, www.facebook.com/ GirlguidingScot or www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk.

GLASGOW OLD PEOPLE’S WELFARE ASSOCIATION

BUDHILL HALLS , 2 HALLHILL ROAD , G32 0LL

MATTIE CARWOOD CENTRE OPEN DAY & ELDERLY INFORMATION DAY FRIDAY 29th MAY 11am to 3pm CRIME PREVENTION , FIRE SAFETY ADVICE, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, WELFARE RIGHTS & BENEFITS ADVICE,PLUS OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE ELDERLY. ALL WELCOME

Drinks Cash Deposit Scheme in Scotland A NEW report investigating the options for a refundable cash deposit for recycling drinks bottles and cans in Scotland has been released thursday 14th May by Zero Waste Scotland. National deposit return systems already operate in many other countries, as a measure to improve recycling and cut litter. The systems see customers pay a small cash deposit when they buy a drink in a can or bottle, and get the money back when they return the item to a collection point. The items can then be recycled into new containers or other packaging. Zero Waste Scotland’s research has assessed the benefits and challenges of a deposit return system in Scotland, gathering evidence from a range of key players including deposit return experts and operators in other countries; drinks companies and trade bodies; retailers and logistics companies. The study explores the role that such a scheme could play in reducing litter, complementing local authority recycling services, and improving recyclate quality. It also considers the potential costs of such a system. The study models what a Scottish system could look like, based on a comprehensive comparison of other systems

operated across the globe. The model included a deposit of between 10p and 20p per item, and covered all drinks and containers, including bottles, cans and cartons. Today’s report is being launched in tandem with a call for evidence to industry and other stakeholders on the role of a deposit return system. Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Scotland has set ambitious targets for moving towards zero waste, and we know that many drinks cans and bottles are not currently being recycled and may end up as very visible litter. “Deposit return systems

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have been used in many other parts of the world to prevent waste and increase recycling. So this new report, which assesses how such a scheme could work in Scotland, is an important contribution to the debate about how we achieve our zero waste goals and move towards a more circular economy. “The research explores how a deposit return system could work in Scotland, and the issues to consider in designing and implementing a system. That’s why we are also launching a call for evidence today to understand the impacts of such a system and how it could work most effectively.”

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Learner drivers suffering Penalty points LEARNING to drive is a long and complicated process. There is a lot to learn and it can be easy to make mistakes. Practicing road safety is an important part of the process, but also being aware of the law when it comes to points, penalties and insurance is crucial. The fact that so many learner and newly qualified drivers are unaware the law is worrying. If learners aren’t being told all of the facts from the beginning then there could be a rise in new cars being written off in their first few years of owner-

ship.’ Naturally as a learner driver you are prone to making mistakes. A statistic that is slightly more worrying is that a third of learners with points received them for driving without insurance. This could be due to a simple lack of understanding of the law. A frightening statistic being that only 16% were aware that you could receive points on your provisional licence. Newly qualified drivers were equally unaware of the stricter rules concerning their penalty

points. A staggering 40% had no idea that their licence would be revoked if they acquired six or more points within two years of passing their test. The statistics show that there are 50,000+ provisional licence holders who have already been caught committing motoring offences with 60% of these caught breaking speed limits. Another large proportion were prosecuted from jumping red lights DVLA data shows nearly ¼ of UK drivers received points for motoring offences as learners.

Erik Chisholm (1904 - 1965), Scottish composer Selected works for voice and piano featuring soprano Emily Mitchell, baritone Douglas Nairne, pianist Edward Cohen and Master of Ceremonies, Dr John Purser, author of “Erik Chisholm: Chasing a Restless Muse” Pollok House Arts Society Pollok House, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G43 1AT 5pm, Sunday 7th June 2015 Member: £15 Non-member: £18 Newcomer: £12 Student: £5 Optional two-course supper with coffee post-concert: £17 (48 hours’ notice must be given for supper tickets) Bar open from 4.30pm and at interval Book via secretary@phas.org.uk 0141 942 0023 / 07798 926508

PENSION WARNING

THE cost of saving for a comfortable retirement could be at least £50 per day – seven times current average savings levels in Scotland - a new study has revealed. A survey of over 12,000 pension savers shows that, on average, people believe an annual income of £23,457 is the minimum required to fund a comfortable retirement. This would require a funding pot of £469,140 by retirement. But with the average saver questioned expecting to retire at 60, a huge savings gap emerges. A 35-year-old starting to save for a pension now would need to save £52 per day to reach the £23,457-a-year watermark by retirement. A 25-year-old, meanwhile, would need to find at least £37 worth of daily savings.

True Potential’s 18-month study of the UK’s Savings Gap – the difference between the income people want in retirement and the one they are on course to receive – reveals a chasm between aspiration and reality. Saving habits in Scotland show that an average of just £7.21 per day is currently being put aside for retirement. For someone starting their pension at 35 and retiring at 60, this would deliver an ultimate pension pot of just £65,791, a fraction of the £469,140 required for a comfortable retirement. Research shows a clear gap between the retirement expectations of many savers and the likely reality with their current saving habits. This has not happened overnight. Instead it is the result of

decades of poor or non-existent personal finance education and complicated products. This has been compounded by years of rock bottom interest rates that have discouraged people from saving at all. The keys to closing the Savings Gap are proper financial education, simpler products that are more attractive to savers and technology that allows people to save and invest when they want to. The pension freedoms that were introduced on April 6, have at long last given people more options and control than ever in terms of how they will fund their retirement. They are a step in the right direction but the new government must go even further in terms of education and simplifying financial services.”

GET OUTSIDE MORE IN todays technology driven world, it’s so important to plan and make the time and spend time outside with your family. We waste so many hours a day staring at a tv or pc screen that children/teens now only allocate 10 per cent of their playtime outside every week. This lack of nature time means kids and families are missing out their daily dose of Vitamin Green! It’s well known that being outside and having contact with nature has a positive effect on your health and wellbeing, especially for kids. It can reduce stress levels and depression, increase confidence and self-esteem, reduce risks of obesity, improve concentration and even reduce the symptoms of ADHD. It has also been found that that contact with nature has a distinct happiness benefit and plays an important role in maintaining positive mental health. Most children from the 1960/70s can remember climbing trees, running around at the local park, games of hide and seek, catching frogs and camping under the stars. I think one of the reasons I love and respect nature as much as I do is because I was exposed to nature as a child. It was a part of my every day and it helped make me healthy and happy.

You can grow so much outside and it is imperative to be reminded of the benefits that getting outside amongst the trees can bring to you and your family. In fact, childhood is a time of physical, mental and emotional development and spending time outdoors provides a diversity of sounds, sights, smells and textures as well as exposure to native wildlife and plants. It is no secret that living in a home with a back-garden and in a ‘green’ neighbourhood is important to families, even more important than proximity to work, shops and public transport. In fact, a survey showed that 78% of families want to live in a home with many natural elements, such as trees, plants and a garden. We WANT to be surrounded by nature and greenery! So why aren’t we getting outside more? As a working mother or father it can be really challenging to incorporate outdoor play into your family’s daily routine. Life is so busy these days that it’s easy to forget about actively getting your kids and yourself outside. It can be challenging to get everything done – the homework, after school and weekend sports, play dates and tearing your kids away from the screen (be it television, computer, iPad or Xbox) but it’s worth it. The

simple act of making time for nature can make you and your very family happy. A report found that over 90% of respondents agreed with the benefits of outdoor play for the positive development and growth our of kids. These benefits included allowing children to use their imaginations, helping develop physical and motor skills, and providing a positive outlet for reducing stress. Make time in nature part of your day in simple ways, such as walking through the park to school instead of along the road. It takes a little longer, but this way you get to connect with nature and each other. Here are some ideas to get your kids outside and grow: 1. Outdoor BBQ or family picnics at the local park 2. Employ a ‘daily dose of 30 minutes of green time’ rule for the whole family (not just the kids!) 3. Local council and community initiatives such as nature walks, fishing, bird watching or kayaking 4. Get involved in National Days and nature care events 5. Read nature-related stories to your children . 6. An impromptu game of hide and seek or backyard cricket 7. Gardening

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FINNART SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY IN MOTION EVENT FINNART officials, coaches and players gave their support to a local Community in Motion event held at St Annes Primary School last Thursday, writes TOM SCOTT. The whole purpose of the event was to raise awareness for parents from the local and make them aware of the type of different sports and activities their children can become

involved with. to show the school trophies Finnart Coach Jamie Mcand awards our Under-15 age Gowan told the GENN: group won at the Easter Black“There was also a presentation pool Cup (pictured).” The Under-15s were repfeaturing online activity for kids, which was very informa- resented by Jamie and Coach tive and interesting. Mark McKenzie. Two of the “The message there was - let successful Blackpool playing kids be kids! squad, Connor McKenzie and Jamie McGowan jnr, were also “We, as a club, were delighted to be asked along, present along with Phil Blair, and the invitation allowed us from Finnart Amateurs.

MISSING DOG

Belle is a family dog who is deaf and blind and she has been missing for over a week. She is a Tibetan Spaniel and she was wearing a dalmation print collar when she went missing last thursday in Newlands park area in Glasgow. If you have any information contact info@thegenn.co.uk or phone 0141 552 997

COLLEGE CATERING CONTROVERSY L-R - Jamie McGowan snr, Connor McKenzie, Phil Blair, Jamie McGowan jnr, Mark McKenzie

L-R - Jamie McGowan snr, Connor McKenzie, Jamie McGowan jnr, Mark McKenzie

L-R -Connor McKenzie, Phil Blair, Jamie McGowan

A PRIVATE catering company running a loss-making cafe at its city campus PAID £100000. Contracts drawn up by the management of Stow College before a merger with John Wheatley College and North Glasgow College means the cafe must be subsidised if it is not making “sufficient revenue” Minutes of board of management meetings revealed that more than £100,000 was paid to contract caterers Elior last year. The leaked report said: “The cost of this contract is absorbed as management fee in relation to the sales made, currently the catering company are not making sufficient revenue and we are having to subsidise this contract in the region of £110,168 plus vat.”

However, the college management is desperate to make savings and agreed to hand over the lump sum to Elior to avoid haemorrhaging more cash on subsidies for the loss-making cafe. College catering staff whose employment contracts were transferred to Elior in 2012 when the French multinational won the tender are believed to be “furious” at bosses who signed off on the deal. Many will be surprised by the amount of money being paid to this Elior. This is a very large multinational company which signed a contract which means they had no risks while the tax payers took all the financial risk. It is a disgraceful waste when the further education sector is struggling under the cuts. Students who are cam-

paigning against the cancellation of a BA Drama and Performance course at the college also hit out at management. “The people in charge are not making decisions with the best interests of students at heart.” A spokesperson for Glasgow Kelvin College said: “I can confirm that on merger in November 2013 we inherited a contract, from legacy Stow College with Elior for catering services, which contained considerable exit costs. Expensive contracts like this are draining further education colleges of money and resources. “The college is now tendering again for outside contracts despite no evaluation to see if the service is better, worse or more costly. We should consider in house bids.”

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Easterhouse village and the origin of name Easterhouse EASTERHOUSE was partially built on land gained from the county of Lanarkshire as part of a boundary expansion of Glasgow before the Second World War. Building began in the mid-1950s by the then local authority, Glasgow Corporation. The goal was to provide better housing for the people of the east end living in sub-standard conditions. The area is on high ground north of the River Clyde and south of the River Kelvin and Campsie Fells. It was built to house over 50,000 people, The village of Easterhouse was built from the late 19th century in land owned by, and south of, a farm of that name, in the immediate area around where Easterhouse railway station stands. The village was bounded to the north by the Monkland Canal and to the south, almost continuously with, the village of Swinton. Contrary to the stained glass window in Morrisons, Glasgow Fort, the villagers worked in a number of industries including the canal, the stone quarry at Auchinlea, coal mines at Gartloch and Baillieston but mainly in the surrounding farms and estates as agricultural workers. The Bishops of Glasgow were granted the land on which much of modern Easterhouse was built when the church of Glasgow was elevated into a bishopric in the 12th century. The remains of the Bishop

of Glasgow’s country palace have been revealed by the West of Scotland Archaeology Service next to Bishops Loch (a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)) at Lochwood. Local oral history talks of the Bishops of Glasgow sailing in a Venetian gondola from Glasgow Cathedral to his palace at Bishops Loch. Hogganfield Loch is the source of the Molindinar Burn next to the Cathedral, so some truth may lie in this claim. The village’s name was derived from Easterhouse Farm. Easterhouse farm was opposite (to the east) to the farm called Westerhouse. Easterhouse farm was located on what is now Millenium Court and Westerhouse near where Errogie Street now stands (off Westerhouse Road). A small group of remaining trees are still present lead to the site of the farm buildings. Other farms in the area included Westerhouse, Netherhouse and Dungeonhill farms, these names are still found in local street names. Public art installations include a Clydesdale horse and a Phoenix sculpted from galvanized steel by Andy Scott. The Phoenix was designed to represent the regeneration of the area and is located in a prominent location on Easterhouse road, in the grounds of the old Easterhouse farm. The Easterhouse mosaic (1982-4) is located on Lochend Road. It covers 1,500 sq ft (140 m2), making it the UK’s biggest handmade mural and one of the largest in Europe. Large-scale building commenced in the mid-1950s by the Corporation of Glasgow, replacing farms and country estates, to provide housing for city residents living in sub-standard accommodation in the city. The old village of Easterhouse was not developed with the new estate and declined. The old railway station was demolished (later replaced with a modern station building), together with a small number of the houses. Shopping areas include the , Shandwick Square shopping centre, which contains a McDonald’s restaurant. Several small, village style shopping areas are scattered throughout the suburb. There are two business parks, Glasgow and Westwood. Glasgow Business Park was built to the west of the 19th century village. Businesses located in the park include Home Scotland, Lovell Partnership Scotland, Real Radio, Miller Homes, MFI Distribution and Iveco Ford. Queenslie has a large industrial park. Local parks include Blairtummock and Provanhall. Bishopswood

is a local nature reserve and SSI. Drumpellier Country Park lies to the east of the estate in North Lanarkshire. The surrounding countryside includes 11 sites of SSI and local nature reserves, including Craigend Moss, Todds Well, Bishops Loch LNR and Gartloch woods. Other waterways and country parks around the area include Lochend Loch, Woodend Loch, Hogganfield Loch and Drumpellier Country Park Leisure facilities include the Easterhouse swimming pool, sports centre, library, and an arts centre in The Bridge (which includes a lecture hall). Easterhouse has a resident artist, sponsored by the Scottish Arts Council, with the first being Katy Dove. The area is served three primary schools - Provanhall, Oakwood, St. Benedict’s, and one high school, Lochend Community High School. The Glasgow Kelvin College Easterhouse campus forms, with the Bridge, the area’s ‘cultural campus The Forestry Commission administers land around Easterhouse under the name ‘Bishops Estate’, thus maintaining a link to the medieval bishops.

Shandwick Square, Glasgow G34 9DT. Tel: 0141 773 0114 MARINALDO`S - POST OFFICE - ROUGE - B & M BARGAINS - MONEY STATION - ICELAND - LIVINGSTONE BROWN - AUDREY BELL - DAY-TODAY H & T PAWNBROKERS - SWEET GREETINGS - BRIGHT HOUSE - MEATMARKET - THE BIG WINDAE - GREGGS - JACKPOTS TOO R S MCCOLL - SHANDWICK FOOD FAYRE - SEMI CHEM - SENSE SCOTLAND - CARD CHOICE - HOSPICE SHOP - LLOYDS PHARMACY - CREDIT UNION - EASTERHOUSE COMMUNITY CHURCH - FARMFOODS - C.A.B. - ABRAHAMS - BROWNS SOLICITORS - LLOYDS TSB - GRIERS - JOB CENTRE MCDONALDS - LADBROKES - THOMAS RAE TAILORS - SPEEDY UNLOCKERS - L & L SALON - UNIT 19 TATTOO PARLOUR - SUNGLO TANNING STUDIO

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More New Homes for Tollcross IN the next few weeks Tollcross Housing Association will start work on the construction of 45 new one and two bedroom flats at Ogilvie Street, just off Tollcross Road. This development is the latest step in the Association’s ambitious development programme that could see the provision of over 150 homes in the

next few years. The Association is committed to continuing to provide high quality affordable homes in the East End and they are exploring every opportunity to ensure that they meet this objective. Mr Ian Smith, Chairperson of the Association, said: “We are absolutely delighted

to be developing on the site at Ogivlie Street. The site is a bit of a no mans land at the moment and the development is a vital part of the on going regeneration of that area of Tollcross. These high specification flats are what our tenants and waiting list applicants are crying out for, and we are determined to keep providing what people

want.” The Association is also about to complete the demolition of the inter war tenement flats on Dunira Street and Braidfauld Street, Tollcross. The Association has already received grant funding from Glasgow City Council to build 45 flats and houses on this site and they also plan to build a new office

on this site. Both of these projects should be on site by the end of 2015. Clive Douglas, Chief Executive, added “We are grateful to Glasgow City Council for their continued support for these schemes. Between these two projects they have provided over £ 5.80 million in grant funding. We hope

to continue to develop plans for further new build projects across the East End and we are currently investigating the possibility of providing different tenure opportunities to tenants. The Management Committee members have worked so hard to make these two schemes a reality, they should be very proud of what they have achieved”

We are very pleased to be thanking the volunteers who make a difference to our communities within Tollcross, Lilybank/ Newbank and Carmyle (TLC). So much so, we are holding our TLC Celebration on Friday 5th June in recognition of their hard work carried out throughout the year. The Event will be an informal evening of music, food, refreshments and good company, ensuring that those who volunteer all year round have a great time for their sterling efforts that we, at Tollcross Housing Association, appreciate. In attendance there will be groups and individuals who help people of all ages with various types of activities and events, including those who sit on Committees and Boards, those organising activities for young and old and those who are providing a service such as Advice. We will keep you posted on how our Celebration goes in a future edition of the GENN. If you are interested in volunteering you can contact the Volunteer Centre on 0141 226 3431 who are able to match agencies and projects who are looking for volunteers with those who wish to get involved.

Our Centre has a Volunteer Project where local people help provide services to other local people, including Welfare Rights and Money Advice. We also assist people to use the Learning Centre computers to find a job, design a CV and use email and provide an opportunity to learn how to carry out reception duties. We look after the Community Garden and more as well as local community groups finding it a great resource and meeting place. The Centre’s volunteers are recruited in various ways, but the most successful method has been the volunteers who were service users of the Centre becoming volunteers to help others. An application and interview process takes place to ensure that the volunteer is suited to the post they are applying for. Our volunteers have access to free training via the Centre’s partners Glasgow Kelvin College and Glasgow City Council that has led to many volunteers going onto employment or further education creating a great sense of pride amongst the team. The Centre is not suitable for everyone who wants to volunteer but the staff will always welcome people and help find a suitable place by liaising with the Volunteer Centre and local projects. If you would like to find out more about the Centre, Volunteer Project or live locally and need assistance with any of our services such as advice and job search, please contact us.

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Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer Thinking of becoming a volunteer? See a list of reasons that will help you make up your mind. #10: It’s good for you. Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards. It: • Reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns. • Makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.

#9: It saves resources. Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.. #8: Volunteers gain professional experience. You can test out a career. #7: It brings people together. As a volunteer you assist in: • Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a

common goal • Building camaraderie and teamwork #6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem. Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy. #5: Volunteering strengthens your community. As a volunteer you help: • Support families (daycare

and eldercare) • Improve schools (tutoring, literacy) • Support youth (mentoring and after-school programs) • Beautify the community (beach and park cleanups) #4: You learn a lot. Volunteers learn things like these: • Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change

your view on your self worth. • Government: Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government. • Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs. #3: You get a chance to give back.

People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about. #2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility. Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it. #1: You make a difference. Every person counts!

Thanking all our volunteers in Volunteers Week Tel: 0141 551 8387

Email: parkheadcredit@btconnect.com

Web: www.parkheadcreditunion.co.uk

53 Ballindalloch Drive Glasgow G31 3DQ Call 0141 551 8131 www.milnbank.org.uk

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS Active East would like to say a big thank you to all their volunteers during volunteer’s week Visit www.active-east.co.uk

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Find out how to make your volunteer experience last a lifetime

ROYSTON YOUTH ACTION VOLUNTEERS NIGHT

25 volunteers who support Royston Youth Action (RYA) enjoyed a fantastic teambuilding and social activity night at Hollywood Bowling on Monday 11 May 2015. Volunteers got the opportunity to meet volunteers who work on different nights at the Rainbow Hall and the youth centre in Royston Road. Group photograph attached separately. The event was partly financed from funding given to RYA by the Scottish Government People and Community Fund. Quote from RYA Chair, Andrew Muir “ Royston Youth Action delivers a wide range of social, recreational, educational and sporting activities for over 400 local children young and older people. This work could not be done without the commitment ,enthusiasm and dedication of the many people who volunteer to help staff each year. My organization is totally committed to supporting volunteers and where possible support them into training or employment to enable them to achieve their dreams” A man who attended aged 29 said “ Good to

meet new people and to see things from another angle. Building new friendships with new people and new relationships with new people and giving something back” Another volunteer, female aged 33 said “ Good to meet new people, listen to their views and make new friends and having fun” “Good training opportunity when you cant get a job. So this gives you a plus for future employment” Female (aged 17) “My volunteering has made me feel good about helping others and encouraged me to help out my community, also giving kids some guidance towards the right path makes mehave a smile each day” RYA is always looking for volunteers and if you can spare some time during school holidays or a few hours every week to spare that you contact Liz McIlroy Older People Development Worker/ Volunteer Co-ordinator on 0141 572 0986 or email liz@roystonyouthaction.co.uk.

Pick the right project. Ask yourself: • What kinds of work would I like to do? • What groups would I like to help (such as children, seniors, animals)? • What social or environmental issues would I like to address? • How much time do I have to volunteer? • What do I want to get out of volunteering? A chance to meet people, make a difference, use a skill or talent, or gain professional experience and contacts? • Choose organizations you’re interested in, then:

• Ask for a tour of the facility • Ask questions that interest you • Stretch beyond your comfort level. Something you’ve never tried before could put you in contact with new groups and help you build new skills. Relate effectively to the people you serve. • If you are working with the organization’s clients, listen to them more than you talk. Listening validates others’ experiences and helps them feel comfortable. Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn some things as you listen. • Avoid extremely personal questions or questions that

might embarrass clients. Engage. • Go out of your way to interact with the people you’re serving, other volunteers, and staff people. • Even if you’re working on just a short project, sharing yourself can have a lasting impact on others. • Watch for lasting impacts others have on you, too. Go above and beyond. If you finish the task you came to do, ask the agency for another project that could use your help. You’ll get to see a different aspect of the organization and gain another experience.

ROYSTON YOUTH ACTION Volunteers are priceless and unique Thank you for all of the time and energy you give

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS

Helen McGregor House, 65 Pettigrew Street, Shettleston, Glasgow G32 7XR.

Telephone: 0141 763 0511 www.shettleston.co.uk

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Glasgow students awarded £28,000 funding boost

GLASGOW’S brightest entrepreneurial students have been recognised at this year’s Young Innovators Challenge. Fifteen students are among 38 to be awarded a total of £28,000 to help bring their socially innovative ideas to life. The entrepraeneurial competition is funded by the Scottish Government and is part of the Scotland CAN DO approach. The students each received up to £2,000* to fund development of their business ideas which aim to tackle health, social, environmental and infrastructure challenges facing Scotland today. Fending off tough competition from 431 other participants across the country, the winners took part in a ‘social innovation weekend’ where they received hands-on business advice from competition organisers, Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE). They then produced a

video pitch before finally being selected as winners. The judging panel included Josh Littlejohn, organiser of the Scottish Business Awards and creator of Social Bite, Susan Aktemel, Director of Homes for Good and Graham Bell, chief executive of the Kibble Foundation One winning team from the University of Glasgow is developing an assistance app, which aims to support those living with dementia as well as their carers. ‘DementCare’ keeps patients fit and active with mental and physical training, promotes a healthier lifestyle with nutrition advice, and makes dementia patients more independent with a unique tools package paired with wearable technology. Other winning ideas from the competition focus on improving life for people with limited mobility. A team of students from the University of Strath-

clyde came up with the app, ‘Smoove’, a map-based app that uses GPS to highlights wheelchair-friendly routes. The app contains a community element too, with businesses and users recommending and rating wheelchair-friendly locations. The app has also received endorsement from Michael Kerr, captain of Team GB wheelchair rugby, and by the Disabled Access Glasgow community. Kirstin Lamotte, a Product Design and Innovation student, also from the University of Strathclyde, plans to produce a low-cost rehabilitation device to help stroke survivors regain the use of their arm. Kirstin said: “I came up with the idea due to my dad having a stroke two years ago. The hospital was good at getting him back on his feet and living independently, but getting the strength back in his arm was a particular challenge. There

is technology available to help with this but it’s very expensive. I wanted to make a device that was available to all stroke victims. “I’m at the stage where I have a fully functional prototype which has been verified by physiotherapists. However, I don’t have any experience with the business side of things like marketing, patents and business plans. I’ve already learnt a lot about these and think the Young Innovators Challenge will really help get my idea out in the market.” Fiona Godsman, Chief Executive for competition organisers, Scottish Institute for Enterprise, said: “Scotland is brimming with young entrepreneurial talent and Glasgow is no different. The city’s colleges and universities have consistently provided a high standard of entries to the Young Innovators Challenge since it launched in 2013 which was also the case this year. “We congratulate the winners and would encourage those who haven’t been successful at this stage to seek out help and persevere to move their ideas forward.” Graham Bell, chief executive for the Kibble Foundation and one of the judges, said: “The standard of entries was inspirational. There was both variety and depth. As a group of judges, we felt it truly uplifting to see Scotland’s young people not only identify real business and social issues, but also to bring potential solutions to those problems.”

GLASGOW FORT SET TO HAVE THE LONGEST OPENING HOURS OF ANY SCOTTISH SHOPPING CENTRE AN extension to the opening hours at Glasgow Fort will give its customers more time than any other centre in the country to enjoy shopping and leisure. From Saturday 23rd May, the vast majority of its stores and leisure outlets will be open from 9am to 8pm on Saturdays, 10am to 7pm on Sundays and from 9am to 10pm on weekdays with a number of restaurants and the cinema open even later. The new hours gives shoppers seven extra hours each week to enjoy its almost 100 leading brands. The extended opening hours have been launched to coincide with the opening of the much-anticipated flagship Marks & Spencer store. Phil Goodman, Centre Manager at Glasgow Fort, said: “This is a really exciting time for Glasgow Fort with the launch of the new Marks & Spencer store. We expect an influx of existing and new customers using the store and, as such, decided it would be fantastic if our other shops and leisure outlets could also be open. “We are particularly excited about the majority of our stores staying open an hour later on a

Saturday and a Sunday. There never feels like enough time at the weekend to get everything done so hopefully this will take the pressure off those looking to update their wardrobes or buy gifts. It also means people have more choice about which part of the day they do their shopping, meaning they can avoid peak times and enjoy a more leisurely experience. “Our array of eateries and cinema are open late into the evening so people can continue to enjoy themselves once they finish shopping. “We have long been the pioneers of late night shopping and this latest development shows we continue to lead the way for shopping in Glasgow. We are delighted to offer the longest shopping hours of any centre not only in Scotland but we believe UK-wide.” Glasgow Fort is home to leading stores such as Zara, Swarovski, Smyths Toy Superstores and Topshop, as well as restaurants including TGI Friday, Nando’s and PizzaExpress and a Vue cinema. It will welcome a flagship Marks & Spencer next week, with Wagamama and FatFace set to open in June.

THE OAKS UNVEILS NEWLY DEVELOPED SAUSAGE AT GALA DAY TO mark Mental Health Awareness Week, local residential care home The Oaks has designed and produced its own brand of sausage. The Mighty Oak Sausage, which contains pork, haggis and herbs, has been created with input from the residents and produced by award-winning Campbell Prime Meat. Two different sausages were initially produced, before res-

idents voted the pork, haggis and herb option as their preferred banger. Residents visited Campbell’s factory to help the team produce the new variety of sausage, with Campbell Prime Meat donating 100 packs of the new product to the Gala Day. Julie Stevenson, manager at The Oaks, commented on the positive impact the project has had: “One of our aims is to

equip residents with the skills to help them live independently, which includes all aspects of nutrition and how to manage their diet. Encouraging residents to get involved in the creation of our new sausage has helped to develop their confidence in this area, and it’s something we hope to do again in the future. “Our Gala Day was a fantastic way to launch the new

product and was enjoyed by all. We’ve still got a few packs of sausage left, so hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy many more BBQs over the summer months.” David Blackwood, Meallmore’s regional catering manager, said: “This is a fantastic initiative by The Oaks and a great way to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. In fact, we are so proud of the

product that we’ll be serving it in all our homes across Scotland this week. I’d like to thank the team at Campbell Prime Meat for working with us on this and for their kind donation to the fun day BBQ.” Christopher Campbell, owner of Campbell Prime Meat, adds: “Our team have really enjoyed working with The Oaks and its residents to produce this sausage. It is one of

the best sausages we have ever produced, and I congratulate both Meallmore and the residents for the enthusiasm they have shown.” Meallmore provides a range of care services for elderly and vulnerable people. The Oaks is the company’s newest facility and provides care for up to 32 adults living with mental health problems to help them live as independently as possible.

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Political cartoons get new lease of life FOLLOWING a fascinating campaign and the redrawing of the political map in Scotland, Leiper Fine Art will continue to make cartoon artwork from both last year’s exhibition concerning the independence referendum and their just completed show of general election cartoons available online. “We have a busy programme of visual art exhibitions planned for the year ahead, with a variety of great local artists to come, but interest in the cartoons has been so strong that it feels a great shame to deny people the opportunity to see them once they come down from our walls” says Ewan Kennedy, the gallery’s director. “The conventional view of political cartoons is that they

are of the moment but it’s very interesting to see how some remain relevant many months later. For example, Iain Green’s cartoon of David Cameron alone in a life boat as the ship of the UK sinks looks like a cartoon that was drawn last week, but in fact he did it almost exactly a year ago!” “And despite all the changes that have ensued since May 7th, certain faces that lend themselves to caricature – Farage, Osborne, Salmond – haven’t disappeared from the scene.” Original drawings and prints of cartoons can be bought from the gallery on West George Street or via their online store. Meanwhile a further showing of The Auld Acquaintance, the

collection of international “indyref” cartoons, seems likely. Terry Anderson of the Scottish Cartoon Art Studio is the exhibition’s curator. “The SNP’s gains against all other parties in Scotland has inevitably raised the possibility of a second independence referendum and likewise renewed interest in what artists and commentators have to say about the issue, for and against. We’ve had a couple of notes of interest from potential venues for a showing later this year. Hopefully we can make a formal announcement early in the summer.” For more information visit Scottish Cartoon Art Studio and Leiper Fine Art’s websites scottishcartoons.com leiperfineart.com

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HOLIDAY IN SCOTLAND TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

YOU don’t have to travel far from Glasgow to enjoy both country or coast. The west coast of Scotland offers a diverse landscape from the tourists in Ayr to the serenity of Iona, discover these landscapes when holidaying in or enjoying days out in Scotland. One ideal day trip worth planning will take you from Oban over to Mull on the ferry then a scenic drive through Mull before transferring to a boat for the journey to the Isle of Staffa. After exploring this unique island and Fingal’s

Cave, sail to Iona before returning to Oban via Mull. The Isle of Mull is home to rich history, bountiful wildlife and iconic scenery. From deserted beaches, bustling villages to stunning glens where WhiteTailed Sea Eagles nest, its diversity is part of its attraction for visitors. Mull is another ideal place to visit on a day out. Discover this wonderful island with a range of ideas that suit independent travellers and those who prefer guided tours by experienced local people. Closer to home we

can experience the Highlands’ natural forests, lochs and mountains in Loch Lomond National Park and feel Scotland’s past in the heartland of its great heroes - Rob Roy, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Visit the medieval stronghold of Stirling Castle and sample single malt whisky at Glengoyne Distillery. This tour is for those who love tales of Rob Roy and Braveheart, Renaissance palaces and a healthy walk in the Loch Lomond National Park, before relaxing with a fine malt whisky

Booking your next holiday? hold off until Tuesday morning to save money

IF you’re shopping around online for a cheap holiday deal, it’s worth knowing that package prices can fluctuate throughout the week and even during the same day. So that deal you spotted at 10am may well have gone up by mid-afternoon. This is often the case with holidays advertised on comparison sites like icelolly.com and it’s because companies use sophisticated software to flag up “load control”. If lots of people are looking at a holiday this demand puts the price up - even if they’re not actually booking. Go online any time before 11am and you could still be looking at last night’s prices but beyond 11am that day’s deals will have been updated. So waiting until after this time means you’ve got the best chance of securing the headline price. Why is Tuesday the best day to book a holiday? When it comes to the best day of the week to book your trip, “Tuesday is the day companies usually adjust their prices, especially if holidays aren’t selling

Although Tuesdays are good days to find lower leisure fares, but booking early is still the best way to get a good price. However for last-minute deals, “book five to six weeks before departure, as this is when airlines check seat stock and may discount any unsold seats. From then onwards it’s unlikely you’ll get any further discounts. The cheapest day to fly When it comes to the best day to fly in terms of securing a cheap fare, “go for Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday afternoons Midweek flights are less popular, hence the lower prices. But Saturday afternoons can also be good value as most weekend travellers want to fly out first thing on a Saturday morning or the night before. Hotel bookings If you’re booking hotels independently, look for deals that don’t have cancellation fees attached. Then snap these up while you shop around as you can switch deals later on if you find a better value room. This can pay off when book-

ing in advance, say, for a big sport event like a Formula 1 Grand Prix. A tried and tested tip from Confused.com team is to check hotel prices well in advance, then check back a couple of days before the event. Many travel firms block book hotels but if rooms don’t sell they may be sold off cheaply a couple of days before. Discounted rates for midweek bookings With UK hotels, opting for midweek bookings can mean discounted rates compared with weekends, which often impose a minimum two-night stay. A good way to find out when any sales or deals are likely to start is to follow airlines and holiday companies on Twitter and Facebook. You can also sign up for early-bird emails and make a note in your diary to remind you when budget airlines release their new schedules. You have the choice of 3 airports each with easy transport links, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick. Don’t forget travel insurance and make the most of your holiday money this summer,

THE UK may not have the guaranteed sunshine of other destinations but what we do have is access to some of the most quirky, imaginative places to stay in Europe. If you’re planning to holiday at home this summer, or are looking for a short break with a difference there are lots of interesting places to stay with your family, which make a change from the standard B&B or camping options. How about experiencing ‘glamping’ (a more sophisticated take on camping) in a luxurious yurt or stepping back in time to the golden age of the railways by staying in an authentically restored railway carriage? There is a myriad of really different places to holiday the length and breadth of the country...here’s two to inspire you. Can there be a more romantic way to holiday than in a Romany-style caravan? These gorgeously ornate vehicles are the polar opposite of your standard modern caravan, and are steeped in nostalgia. However, they are on the compact side and usually only accommodate families of no more than 4 people. Most caravans are static but there are some holiday companies offering the opportunity to take to the road in your caravan too. This latter option is more of a holiday experience, though, as you’ll be taught the basics of horse handling so you know how to catch, look after, harness, yoke and drive a horse. If that all sounds too much like hard work there are plenty of places where you can get a feel

for life on the road without actually having to drive on it, the length and breadth of the UK. Scotland’s only gypsy caravan site - Old Spittal Farms - is situated in the heart of the Rhins of Galloway, in the south west of the country, and features a collection of beautiful gypsy caravans surrounded by tranquil countryside. There are also several smallscale and stand-alone caravans to choose from also, such as the Gipsy Caravan and Shepherds Hut at Walcot Hall in Shropshire. Hidden among the trees surrounding a Georgian country estate, these colourful caravans feature authentic Romany detailing such as colourful stencilled furniture and traditional oil lamps. Or you could consider an ‘open lot’ style gypsy caravan located amid the splendid surroundings of Monmouthshire’s Black Mountains, sleeping up to five people. The owners of this beautifully restored caravan rent out an Irish Romany caravan too, located in County Fermanagh, which has received rave reviews by both the Guardian and Independent newspapers. For something completely different again, check out La Rosa, in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park near the popular coastal resort of Whitby. This eco-friendly campsite is a real flight of fancy or ‘campsite extraordinaire’ as it calls itself. The 20-acre site is quite simply like no other campsite, and offers accommodation in imaginatively decorated classic and vintage caravans. A converted truck and tipi also feature. Each van

is furnished in keeping with its theme, so you’ll find chrome Romas full of etched glass and ‘50s caravans bedecked with vintage fabrics and kitch knicknacks - everything has, in the owner’s words, been chosen to make you smile. Truly caravanning with a difference! 0r If you want to enjoy a road trip with a difference, how about hiring a classic VW campervan? The vehicle of choice for surfers and hippies in the ‘60s and ‘70s have enjoyed a real resurgence in recent years, with enthusiasts painstakingly restoring vans to their former glory and then hiring them out to the public to enjoy. Not only do you get to enjoy funky retro styling but you drive them to the location of your choice, in more comfort and space than a standard car offers. And it’s much more fun, of course, for both kids and adults alike. Most VW’s will accommodate up to four people (3 adults or two adults and two children) and have a good range of conveniences: double beds, gas stoves, fridge freezers, etc. Some even come equipped with DVD and CD players. And of course they’ll usually have an electricity hook up for use at campsites. When you hire a campervan you can often add on extras such as awnings or tents if you require more space. In short, campervans offer a really fun way to experience the open road, rocking up at different places en route - you get the freedom to enjoy lots of different places and the nostalgia of driving and sleeping in one of the most iconic vehicles ever conceived.

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STRONG POUND GIVING YOU VALUE FOR MONEY ABROAD WITH the Summer holidays just around the corner, the continuing strong performance of the pound against the Euro and Dollar should be good news for many families. Especially as new research reveals that for more than half of Scots, booking a holiday comes with anxieties about the cost. When it comes to holiday worries, 61% of respondents said they get anxious about the cost of the trip. The best way for travellers to get the best out of their holiday spending money is to load funds onto a Travel Money card while the rates are favourable. By buying their currency in advance they beat any drop in the pound and can get more spending power. Since last week’s General Election, the pound has gained 2.4% against the US Dollar and 3.5% against the Euro. And British holidaymakers are considerably better off than they were this time last year, when spending abroad. Travellers get an extra €77 for every £500, compared to 2014, making this a great time to think ahead and buy holiday currency for trips to Europe and the US Once the holiday is booked, 28% said the thought of the long journey makes them anxious. Nearly a third (31%) worry about letting their family down if they’ve made a bad choice of destination or hotel. Another 36%, said the thought of going somewhere unfamiliar was a concern and 29% worry about airport hotel transfers Understandably, cost is the main concern for people booking holidays, but the choice of destination and the thought of going somewhere unfamiliar can also weigh on their minds. That’s where good planning comes in. As well as researching the hotel and destination, it pays to shop around for the best rates on currency and consider arranging your own airport transfers.

GENN TRAVEL

Far from the Maddening Crowd FED up waiting for summer, my wife and I booked a couple of weeks in North Cyprus sometimes known as the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus ( TRNC) Everyone knows of Cyprus as a holiday destination, but few realise there are two Cyprus’s, basking in the same sun.. North Cyprus, as its name suggests, lies along the North Coast from Morphou Bay to the Karpas peninsula, known to ex pats as the ‘Panhandle’, and is a tranquil haven, getting on with its own gentle

way of life. It’s not for the free loving, disco crazy, jet set. It’s a land of peaceful backwater beaches, little family-owned ‘slowfood served here’ tavernas with friendly staff, good wine and cool beer. It’s a land of ancient castles, dramatic mountains, and a taverna encircled marina to rival Portofino, but at a quarter the price. It’s a laid back, inexpensive retreat where you can catch your breath without being hounded by souvenir merchants, where you take an unhurried, British side of the road drive up

the mountains, take a Turkish gulet sail along the coast, sit on a quiet beach with a brandy sour, or play golf on the magnificent Kornelium Golf course. Seafood and local fruit and veg. are plentiful and fresh. A local fish dinner and a beer for two- £12.00. For an incredible view of the bay and coastline you can climb up to St Hilarion Castle or for a less demanding view, take it all in from the beautiful Bellapais Abbey. There is a vibrant Scottish connection in Kyrenia with a

sold out Burns Supper, summer caleidh and St Andrews night every year organised by a Scotsman from Glasgow, Scott Kennedy. Contact Scott on leenann@astutefma. com for all you need to know about what to do, where to go and where to eat. In town ( Girne)I can recommend the Grapevine for the best value for food in town, and where knowledgeable ex pats gather on a regular basis. To get there, it’s Stansted to Istanbul with Pegasus Airlines and a short connecting

hop flight without getting off the plane to Ercan airport. Although they use Turkish Lira for cash, they are just as happy to take UK Sterling or Euro. If you want a peaceful, quiet, restful break, without too much excitement, North Cyprus is the place. My wife and lived there for 7 happy years. If you need any more advice, use my e mail or contact Scott. Dr Don Campbell-Thomson campbellthomsondon@ gmail.com

LOCAL PHOTOS IN NATIONAL COMPETITION TWO talented photographers from Glasgow have been shortlisted in the Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) photography competition. Alisdair Woodburnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (57) distinctive image of the River Clyde has been selected as a finalist in the Urban Greenspace in Action category of the contest. Emma McBride (16) has also been shortlisted for her image of Linn Park in the My Greenspace (for ages 16 and under) category of the competition.

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THREE GREAT WORKERS AT SHETTLESTON BOWLING CLUB - BAR STAFF LADIES ALISON, JEAN and SHARON.

PRESIDENT’S WIFE, MRS SANDRA LAWSON, OPENING THE GREEN FOR SEASON 2015.

PRESIDENT ROBERT LAWSON EXTENDS A WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE. DANNY McKENNA (left) IS CONGRATULATED ON BECOMING VICE-PRESIDENT BY CLUB PRESIDENT ROBERT LAWSON.

SHETTLESTON BOWLING CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS. PICTURED ARE: RICKY COCHRANE, ALEX GRAY, SCOTT DEIGHAN, DREW ROBERTSON, IAN COLLIGAN (Treasurer), ALISTAIR DOUGHTY, DANNY McKENNA (Vice-President), ADAM MARCHBANK, ROBERT LAWSON (President), GEORGE BOYES, MICK McCORMICK, STEVIE MALEY (Assistant Treasurer), PETER GILL, and IAN BEATTIE (Secretary).

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Your Horoscope Predictions By Eris

Aries

Libra

(24 Sep - 23 Oct)

This week sees several critical cosmic configurations, build as the week progresses and peak towards the end of it. In some ways, these are meat and drink to you, since you are at your finest in a crisis and thrive on the urgency of a challenging situation. Initially, you are driven to pinpoint practical solutions, for a scenario that has arisen almost without you noticing and that has challenged a number of ideas, you had previously considered to be perfectly workable. Changes you intend to make, you must attract outside input and assistance…

The new moon helps you to revisit relationships that have become stale or flat. Your intimate and romantic associations are fortunately the least impacted by this trend, since they have been unpredictable and changeable for such a long while, you have rather grown inured to these ups and downs. Similarly, matters within your immediate family have undergone more than their share of deep and transformational experiences; leaving colleagues, friends and casual acquaintances to bear the brunt.

Taurus

Scorpio

(24 Oct - 22 Nov)

(21 March - 20 April)

(21 April - 21 May)

The new moon in your sign signals a fresh start, initially on a private and personal level, but becoming more obvious over the coming months. In general terms, the theme of this cycle covers your interaction with the world, the impression others receive of you and the course of your relationships as a result. Unconsciously, many people stick with the same attitude and approach, that maybe suited them during a successful and happy period, but that ultimately can grow a little old.

Gemini

(22 May - 21 June)

You are questioning the dynamics of your closest relationships and asking yourself whether, some adjustment to your attitude and expectations might lead to a smoother passage through this minefield. Links of an intimate and romantic nature feel the full force of this lunation, coming as it does after six weeks or so, during which your personal affairs have not run entirely smoothly. You are keen to assert yourself when it comes to certain significant factors in your personal life, but at the same time are finding this a tough proposition.

Sagittarius

(23 Nov - 21 Dec)

Mars enters you constellation, commencing a visit lasting until a few days beyond the forthcoming solstice. Named after the Roman god of war, this planet can be a harbinger of discord, arguments, anger and conflict, but only if you fail to deploy its potential effectively. This influence places plenty of energy at your disposal, so imagining you’ll be able to kick back and relax, or gaze lovingly into your partner’s eyes for hours, is a fond but misguided illusion

Mars features throughout this week as it powers into your opposite sign, before it’s locked down almost immediately by Saturn, its arch-nemesis. Simultaneously, Neptune pours cold water on whatever fire Mars has left, leading to a confusing and even demoralising picture that is liable to provoke some issues. There is a big part of you that wants to tell a few home truths to certain prominent people in your personal life, without mincing your words or showing much regard for your volume control.

Cancer

Capricorn

(22 June - 23 July)

(22 Dec - 20 Jan)

Venus in your sign is a welcome and favourable influence. It signals improving relationships and material good fortune; although these benefits do not come so easily as you might have expected this week. It takes two for the atmosphere within certain close associations to improve, but others appear to have a firmly entrenched viewpoint that does not adapt readily to compromise or to putting the past behind you. Doubtless you have played some part in the way matters have developed and should be open and honest in seeking a resolution.

Pluto in your constellation and Venus in the sign opposite, gaze uneasily at one another across the sky. The planet of love is not sure what to make of this brooding and sullen admirer, while Pluto is ready to bring a new and previously undreamed of complexity to the affairs of whoever has captivated its attention. Uranus continues at right-angles to both these protagonists, introducing a huge helping of the unexpected into the mix.

Leo

Aquarius

(24 July - 23 Aug)

You are happier in your work this week, with a more relaxed attitude towards your routine chores and responsibilities. Besides, you are determined to have fun and are considering how to make your everyday activities more entertaining. A good starting point might be, to concentrate on bigger issues than the chaos that surrounds you, as you have no control over those in your community whose intelligence is negligible, but still vastly outshines their insight.

Virgo

Pisces

Mars at the apex of your horoscope strengthens your ambition with a renewed sense of purpose. You are determined to create a good impression and to convince others that you are a person, who is capable of getting the job done. You are certain that others with fewer talents and less commendable abilities, have already attained positions beyond the level of their competence and feel quite annoyed sometimes that such an unequal situation persists.

COLOURS AND WHAT THEY MEAN

MODERN research has shown that when our eyes connect with a color, our brains release different chemicals that impact us on a physical and emotional level. For instance, being in a red room will increase your heart rate and stimulate chemicals associated with aggression and high energy, while the colour yellow stimulates serotonin (the feel-good chemical) in our brains. Colour therapy has been practiced in traditional healing professions for many years, but marketers and businesses more recently have also used colour to shift human moods. Did you know your surroundings may be influencing your emotions and state of mind? Do you ever notice that certain places especially irritate you? Or that certain places are especially relaxing and calming? Well, there’s a good chance that the colours in those spaces are playing a part. It is no coincidence that many fast food restaurants use red liberally, or that Volkswagen uses yellow to induce a happy-go-lucky image. We see greens and blues in yoga studios, and some prisons house aggressive inmates in pink rooms for its calming and energy draining effects. In art therapy, colour is often associated with a person’s emotions. Colour may also influence a person’s mental or physical state. There are also commonly noted psychological effects of colour as it relates to two main categories: warm and cool. Warm colors – such as red, yellow and orange – can spark a variety of emotions ranging from comfort and warmth to hostility and anger. Cool colours – such as

green, blue and purple – often spark feelings of calmness as well as sadness. The concepts of colour psychology can also be applied in everyday life. For example, maybe you’re planning on re-painting your walls or redecorating a house or room with a new colour scheme. Well, you might want to consider some of these suggestions about colours and how they might affect your emotions and mood: Colour can promote the atmosphere we want in the different rooms of our homes Red is associated with high energy and power. It is the colour our eyes are drawn to first in a room, so a little can go a long way. Red signals courage, ambition and strength. It promotes alertness and speed, and connects us to our physical self Orange is a warm, inviting, and joyful colour. It invokes feelings of sociability, enjoyable connection, and happiness. It has an emotionally strong presence, and promotes extroverted behaviour Yellow is the colour of optimism, brightness, cheery attitude and mental clarity. It promotes creative, clear, upbeat thinking and decision making. Yellow can be helpful in easing depression and encouraging laughter. Green is a tremendously pleasing colour. It has many positive qualities — invoking renewal, balance, refreshment and peace — which provides a calming influence and stress reducer. Blue promotes rest and calm and is a very popular colour (the majority of people will respond that their favorite color is blue). Blue can be very effective to help ward off insomnia and

The Genn Crossword

promote a deep relaxing sleep. It can help balance hyperactivity in children, and promotes imagination and intuitive thinking. Violet is often the favorite colour of adolescent girls, it stimulates the problem solving areas in our brain, and it promotes creativity, intuition and artistic ability. In design, violet communicates richness and sophistication Before bringing colour into your home, do a little personal assessment of how colour impacts you. Sometimes a colour may generally impact people one way, but for you, it brings out entirely different moods, feelings or emotions. Write out each color on a sheet of paper (perhaps use a set of crayons or colored pencils to shade in a space of color on

the page) and write down any words that come to mind. Don’t analyze it, just let it come out stream of consciousness. After jotting down your kneejerk feelings about each colour, review it and see if you feel drawn to certain colours — or resistant to others. Use this as a guide as you think about ways to bring colour into your world. There are countless ways to weave colour intentionally into your surroundings, from completely redoing a room’s decor, to adding subtle but effective accent colours to a space Keep in mind that certain shades or tones may result in very different meanings. Also, the context around the colour, and even surrounding colours, can have an effect. Think of this as more of a beginning guide to colour psychology.

CHECK FOR ANSWERS ON PAGE 31

Across (21 Jan - 19 Feb)

While the bulk of the planetary action is taking place elsewhere, this week is your chance to regroup and reorganise, before the demands on your time increase afresh and you are ready to return to centre stage. So don’t be dismayed by the opportunity to enjoy a few moments in quiet seclusion and even occasionally entirely alone, since this is when you will be able to heal some of the minor bruises and abrasions, the everyday round of living often entails.

(24 Aug - 23 Sep)

Just a Thought

(20 Feb - 20 Mar)

Right now, certain issues in your personal life and the obstacles you’ve been facing around the continued pursuit and prospective attainment of your goals, are looking almost too much to handle. Your confidence is at a comparative low and you feel undermined rather than energised, by the gap that looms between the ideal situation you have in mind for yourself versus the anger and anxieties that persist meanwhile, in spite of your best efforts.

1. Slow moving ice mass (7) 5. Lawsuits (5) 8. Sacred song (5) 9. Hide (7) 10. No longer in existence (7) 11. A select few (5) 12. Avid (5) 14. Shrimp-like crustaceans (5) 19. Implements (5) 21. Grisly (7) 23. Irksome (7) 24. Ice hut (5) 25. Church officer (5) 26. Throw away (7)

Down 1. Burrowing rodent (6) 2. Conform (5) 3. Vast (7) 4. Repeat aloud from memory (6) 5. Small boat (5) 6. First and most important (7) 7. Found a solution (6) 13. Staved off (7) 15. Draws back with fear (7) 16. Sculpture (6) 17. Entertained (6) 18. On the far side (6) 20. Examine minutely (5) 22. Strong lightweight wood (5)

GENN

Your News

editor@thegenn.co.uk

0141 552 9977

Sandaig Nursery Sponsored Dance-a-long Saturday 9th May 2015

THE weather was fine and the sun shone brightly as over 250 people took part in a sponsored dance-along at Sandaig nursery in Barlanark on Saturday 9th May.

The staff and the nursery children along with their parents and family members showed off their dance moves to a selection of favourite, well-known songs including ‘Choc-

a-latte’, ‘Superman’, ‘Cha-Cha Slide’ , ‘The Slosh’ and the ‘Hokey, Cokey’. A spokesperson for the nursery said ‘A massive thank-you to every-

one who supported this fabulous event, it truly was a fun, family occasion. Events like this help to bring communities together and we were delighted with the huge

turn-out today’. We would like to thank everyone who donated their money to help raise nursery funds ; to date we have raised an amazing £1,321.00!”

Send in your news story and pics to share to editor@thegenn.co.uk

GENN

GLASGOW TIGERS SPECIAL FEATURE

“HAVE they started yet?” I looked to the man, a fellow spectator having a final prematch cigarette on the clubhouse patio, attired in the esoterically emblemed sports strip of a U.S. team I had no chance of identifying. He offered half a nod across the grass, and between puffs confirmed, “Aye, they’re just starting.” I returned my thanks and made my way towards the hubbub of enthusiasm on the sideline. The Tigers throng was huddled together, a mass of orange and black, hard plastic helmets topping off swelling fabric draped over their protective pads. They were impossible to miss, a swathe of vibrant Americana contrasting the lush, green parkland. The Glasgow Tigers American Football team makes their home in the heart of the Pollok Park jungle. Through my long trek I had stumbled across various pitches of different sports before eventually arriving at my destination, a clubhouse and a handful of flat pitches enclosured by the golf course on one side and trees on the other. Today was the first chance of the season for the lads to sink their fangs into Dundonian opposition on home territory. On the opposite sideline the Dundee Hurricanes massed in freshwater white and blue, mirroring their Glasgow opponents with pacing coaches hailing last minute bouts of enthusiasm. The Tigers were coming into this one after narrowly losing away to Aberdeen Roughnecks 2 points to 0 in a tight affair, the Aberdonians claiming their only points due to a ‘safety’ in the last minutes. The blood was still drying under the claws, and the Glaswegian team is clearly out for the kill this season. “We need to be good at what we do,” head coach Alex Paterson had told me before the season began, “The key focus this year is toughness, both

mental and physical. As an amateur sport it is even harder to be consistent if you are not putting the hard work in. Our players are very much up to the challenge. When the mind or the body is weary from either a tough week at work, or you are carrying a couple niggling injuries, it can be hard to be motivated and put in the work needed. A team that can overcome this can do great things.” Once I reached the pitch I listened for any other spectators showing any sort of premonition or insight beyond my very limited knowledge of the sport, and took my stand behind one particularly rowdy group. I had no previous experience with American Football other than SuperBowl events, where the game on the TV had eventually faded into a background screensaver as more and more alcohol was imbibed and other party distractions made themselves known. Today the onlookers provided no help, so I was reliant on the tattered patchwork of rules I had in my head. As the whistle blew and the put-put of the Tiger studs made their way into formation, I finally realised how far up the river and out my element I was; ‘never get out of the boat.’ The game got underway and the football sailed into orbit off the kicker’s foot. It made its solitary trajectory towards a willing recipient at the opposite end, who caught it with ease and rushed headlong into the oncoming onslaught of white, resulting with the muscular thump of pad against pad and turning into a mosaic of strips piled on the turf. Incoherent roars bellowed from the Tigers’ pack on the sideline, and already players were rushing on whilst others made way with pensive strides. American football only allows 11 players from each side on the pitch at one time, but many, many more stand side waiting for frequent substitution. It was here where I was most impressed with the

Tigers pack, their sheer number overshadowing that of the visiting opposition. Apparently the offseason break starting last October had brought new members to the Glasgow team in droves. “We had over 100 players come and try out, and we are now situated with a corps of 50 committed and dedicated guys that are all working very consistently and very hard to improve and meet our team goals,” enthused Alex Paterson, “When I took over as the Head Coach of the team we had 5 returning player and in the early days struggled with attendance and numbers. It has taken a few years but this year we finally have a complete coaching staff of 8 dedicated coaches for every position and the players have responded with excellent turnouts. The committee has worked hard to improve our facilities and we have managed to get a lot of new equipment, all the while keeping costs to the players as low as possible.”

Today at least 35 Orange ‘N’ Blacks could be counted, and their cheers of “DEFENSE” held my admirable gaze for a while, until my attention was yanked back to the pitch by the inimitable thwack of the ball striking the chest of a diving interceptor. It was time to try and get my head around the organised chaos. From my own interpretation, the aim of the game is much like rugby, whereby the team aims to score points by running the ball over the touchline at the end of the pitch. On offense, a team has four attempts, or “downs”, to move the ball ten yards further up the pitch before getting tackled. Failing this, the game switches possession and the opposing team then has an attempt at attack. After the ritual huddle, about 6 or 7 players line up face to face with 6 or 7 of the opposition, and on what is invariably a “hut” the ball ‘snaps’ back into the hands of the quarterback (strip number 1 Darnell Starks is holding this position for the Tigers today). Whilst the players in front of him block the opposition from taking him down, he either passes to another nearby player sprinting past on a run to make short yards, or throws a longer pass up pitch to another runner who has made a dash for space. Naturally not everything always go to plan first time, and lot of the entertainment (and hollers from the group of spectators I’m shadowing) results from missed passes, off the ball tackles and slips through the defense. When undertaken successfully the spectacle is entrancing, a whirlwind of nimble footwork rushing around the quarterback and a crunch of pad to pad providing him vital seconds of respite whilst he eyes out his target

downpitch. I grew up playing rugby, so thought I would have had the wartime attack strategies of sport down. I have even managed to keep up with the various iterations of the offside rule in football over the years. Trying to pick up all the rules and tactics of American football on first viewing is a whole other mindset of madness to the untrained eye. Sometimes the game seems to reset almost arbitrarily at a completely different end of the pitch from where the previous tackle took place. Players run on and off at random constantly, replacing each other under what must be some secret conspiracy between coaches, inappropriate for unenlightened ears. Occasionally one of the referees, comically dressed in their black and white striped shirts and precariously balanced caps, throws a tassled weight onto the pitch, a childlike strop and whistle-blow of enforcement. In fact, most of the time I don’t know the reasoning behind any referee decision or what tactic was used or why. But to be honest, now that I’m jumping up into the fever pitch of sport and oofing and awwing in chorus with the dramatic tackles taking the players to ground, I don’t really want to know. I’m Captain Willard on the beach, and the horror, the beautiful horror of the brutes steaming off and then piling up over the football is too enticing, and immensely entertaining. After an inspiring showing and never really showing signs of being dominated at all (at least to my biased and not completely sharpened eye), the Glasgow Tigers bit into the Dundee Hurricanes during the final quarter after a level halftime score, winning 18 points to 6.

I turn and make my way back to homeland in the East End, via the train station at Pollokshaws West. I’m inspired by what I had seen from the Glasgow team, a young team of cubs still working hard to improve on their disappointing year last season. The players stood up proudly and enthusiastically against the blustering Hurricanes, and whilst some of the Tigers may not have shown complete confidence to spring at full pounce into all the tackles, they had a clear desire to play well and inspire each other. They can be comforted knowing that any shows of disappointment in mistakes were matched in more than equal part by the pure joy in a success of any size. Head coach Alex Paterson summed up this feeling when discussing his hopes for the team this year: “that all of my players give 100% in what we are trying to each. That they learn the values and truly embrace the team philosophy of Discipline, Respect, Enjoyment, Attitude and Determination. Our guys are really performing well with the goals and expectations we are setting for them. I am really proud of everyone involved in the team.” Today it seemed to show, and I look forward be treading back to Pollok again to see their sheer Tiger spirit. The Glasgow Tigers next home game is against Northumberland Lightning on the 14th June, where they hope to imitate their 27-3 win back in April. Admission is free and all Glasgow locals are encouraged to attend at the Lochinch Playing Fields, Pollok Park. The team is always looking for help from anyone interested in the sport, as a player, coach, sideline staff, film assistant or through any other means.

GENN

Music

With Mark Johnson

REST AND BE THANKFUL

LINDEN are the current band of ex-Superstar singer-songwriter Joe McAlinden, along with guitarist Eric Lindsay, bassist Marco Rea and drummer Stuart Kidd. Their latest album was was recorded in an old fisherman’s croft on the shores of Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland and inspired by the dramatic natural beauty of the Rest and be Thankful in Argyll. Opening track “I See” blends 60s west coast influenced harmony vocals with warm electric pianos violin hooks harmonic suspensions and even reverse guitars. “Window Pane” moves into McCartney or Teenage Fanclub territory with a big chorus punctuated by horns with sentimental lyrics “Cos I’m OK hope that you feel the same.” Title track “Rest and be Thankful” is dripping with harmony vocals and Beatles influenced guitar arpeggios “On the Rest and Be Thankful, my heart stops right there” again with horns to add sonic interest. “Short Worm” is sonically more experimental with a heavily delayed Rhodes piano and reverse guitar hooks. The

uplifting chorus “You will catch when I’m falling , lift me up and I’m not crawling” is teamed with massive double tracked guitar riffs on probably the album’s most catchy number, in a song that allows the band to express themselves. “Pull Me Round Again” has a more acoustic feel with descending piano hooks and slide guitar and more horn flourishes and a big singalong melody. “Dream Dream” creates a different atmosphere with more experimental minor harmony with a saxophone hook and picked guitar work from Eric Lindsay. “Lost and Found” has a 60s pop feel with heavily tremoloed guitar sound and west coast harmony vocals, while an influence of country rock shines through with some more slide guitar. “Take my Hand” is a more quirky upbeat pop song with one of the album’s most engaging vocal performances and a catchy melodic guitar solos, while sonically it’s enriched with electric piano, and some percussion. The waltz time of penultimate track “Yesterday Re-

Live Review - Sophie Rogers Broadcast 15th May FLAME-HAIRED singer songwriter Sophie Rogers profile has been rising in the past year having won the CalMac Culture music, performing regularly around Scotland and with a few appearances on STV Glasgow she is becoming a stalwart of the music scene. Promoting her new album Two Sides, Sophie was accompanied by her band of Lucy Rogers on backing vocals, Stuart Ivens on bass and Shaun Hood on drums. They took to the stage in the packed venue for opener and debut single “Devil’s in the Detail” they exploded into the song despite the obvious technical problems. The slower paced “The way you are” shows a more countryish side to her songwriting and with harmony vocals in the chorus, supplied by Lucy Rogers. The band launched straight in to “Unspoken” with it’s big drums played by Shaun Hood and its jaunty bass line played by and lyrics about missed connections.

As Sophie introduced the band we were treated to a unexpected riff from Chameleon by Herbie Hancock. For “Safe Room” the band were joined onstage by Dave Ivens and Mark Rogers who provided harmonica and additional electric guitar respectively. The haunting vocal harmonies were spot on as the larger sound of the additional musicians added something different. “Free to fly” is a more solid four on the floor acoustic number with close harmony vocals and excellent shaker playing tying the sound together. The more upbeat “Drunk on Us” was reminiscent of a more country KT Tunstall, getting the crowd dancing and was met with a massive cheer. We were then treated to a stripped down acoustic set with hand drums instead of a drum kit “Breathe”, lead track from previous EP “An Overflow of Words” has drivetime Radio hit all over it, with it’s uplifting lyric and tight harmony, delivered, as all vocals were, immaculately

wind” is something a bit different with a dreamy soundscape of guitar arpeggios, doowop backing vocals and a soaring vocal line with a heartfelt lyrics about reassessing your past. Closing track “Broken Glass” warm electric piano sounds and upbeat pop style moving into the biggest chorus on the album “As I look along the shore as far as I can see, falling stars like broken glass are watching over me.” For me this is the most complete song on the album with harmonic rises and falls and a festival singalong chorus. Rest and Be Thankful is an album that covers pop territory, with the lyrical subjects of hope, relationships and personal reflection and inspiration. It is quirky enough to never become boring and after a few listens the infectious melodies get stuck in your head. The arrangements take it out of the usual two guitar band territory with a broader sonic palette with enough interest to keep coming back especially to standout tracks “Short Worm” and “Broken Glass.” Rest and Be Thankful is released on AED Records in June

After a shout out to her parents who are celebrating twenty-seven years of marriage they went into sentimental waltz time ballad “Don’t Let It All Go To Waste” with it’s majestic key changes. The last song of the acoustic set was “Try” with it’s tight close vocal harmony and cajon adding rhythmic texture. Set closer “Wasted Time” brought the set to a close with its upbeat, high energy pop

Artwork & Design Andy Campbell

with it’s big strummy guitars. The encore “These Times” was an unexpected departure, moving into the territory of 50s doowop finishing the gig with a sentimental ending. There is a massive tradition of blue-eyed soul in Glasgow and Sophie Rogers’ impeccable vocals are a worthy addition to this tradition and with a songwriting maturity which belies her age she’s definitely worth checking out live.

THE RETURN OF THE MEMBRANES

FRONTED by charismatic singer John Robb, the Membranes formed in the wake of Punk in Blackpool in 1977. The band made a huge impact on the post-punk scene of the 1980s, with John Robb also establishing himself as a music journalist of note. John Peel was a huge supporter and bands as disparate as Mercury Rev, My Bloody Valentine and Big Black have cited them as an influence. After Membranes folded, John returned to the stage with Sensurround and most notably Goldblade, before rekindling Membranes a few years ago. Dark Matter/Dark Energy is the first Membranes album since 1989. It’s awash with their off-kilter mix of angular post-punk adventure, Krautrock-ish soundscapes and edginess. The album is inspired by a conversation with Joe Incandela, the head of the CERN project about the Higgs Boson particle (Joe features on one of the tracks). It’s all about the life and death of the universe;

during recording, John Robb’s father died and the album is also about him. The new Membranes have stretched their sound from noise to neo classical, from drones to jagged riffs to hypnotic grooves perfecting a new way transforming the grotesque into grandeur, making beautiful music and hypnotic noise. Dark Matter/Dark Energy conjures up primal forms of power that lie in noise rock and the most melancholic of classical music. The music weaves noise, drones, percussion, feedback, discord, melody, free jazz, dub, dark dub, free punk, heavy rhythms, classical music, orchestras, percussion, near silence, death to trad rock noise and freedom into a unique whole of beauty and noise and enjoys all the contrasts. The new album will see music from string quartets to dark dub to classic noise in a groundbreaking release- Dark Matter/Dark Energy. The Membranes Play Broadcast on June 13th TIckets £11.50

GENN

WHAT IS FIBRE AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT? HAVE you heard about the importance of getting enough fibre in your diet? Yes, it’s an oldie but a goodie and so important. Did you know that getting enough fibre in your diet can decrease your risk of bowel disease and cancer, improve your cardiovascular health, help with maintaining a healthy weight and most importantly, make it easy for you to enjoy a daily ‘poo’! Constipation and other bowel disturbances can be rather uncomfortable Feeling ‘backed up’, bloated and experiencing tummy pain due to not getting enough fibre in your diet is not a nice feeling at all What is fibre? Fibre comes only from plant based foods and usually forms the structural parts of the plant. For example, fibre comes from the husk of a grain, the outer shell of a seed, the skin of a fruit or vegetable or the walls of each cell inside the plant. The interesting thing about this nutrient is that although it provides numerous health benefits, its actually not digested by our bodies. It goes straight through us. “What’s the point?” You might be thinking, “if it just goes in one end and out the other.” One important role of fibre is to create a bulky stool. Because it’s indigestible and goes straight through us it gives the body a mass to help move non-useful foodstuffs or toxins out of the body. A larger mass passes through the intestines much easier than smaller masses and thus fibre helps the body eliminate toxins and other carcinogens quickly and easily. The longer these “clingons” stay in your intestines the more damage they can cause. Getting enough fibre coupled with drinking plenty of water also helps with quick, easy elimination as well as helping

you feel full after a meal. The fibre absorbs some of the water, another way it creates a bulky stool and is why high fibre foods will fill you up quicker than lower fibre foods. Adequate fibre in your diet has also been shown to improve your body’s cholesterol levels decreasing your risk of heart disease. It binds to cholesterol in the digestive system and carries it out of the body. Finally, because fibre helps keep you full and high fibre foods are less energy dense then lower fibre foods, a high fibre diet is fantastic for weight loss. Where does it come from? Fruit – all fruits (including dried, frozen and canned fruit) are a good source of fibre Vegetables – all vegetables (including canned and frozen) are good sources of fibre Legumes – chick peas, lentils etc are fantastic sources of fibre and are a good source of protein and healthy carbohydrate. Beans – baked beans, kidney beans, soy beans etc are a fantastic sources of fibre as well as protein and healthy carbohydrate. Nuts – walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, pine nuts etc are a great source of fibre Seeds - pumpkin seeds, linseeds (flaxseed), sunflower seeds, chia seeds etc are a very good source of fibre Grains - whole grains are also a great source of fibre as long as they are not highly processed. Wheat, corn, barley, rye, quinoa, oats rice are all good sources of fibre as long as you are choosing products such as wholemeal bread and pasta, brown rice and rolled oats etc. Choosing high fibre foods will automatically mean that you’ll choose healthier foods. Processed foods such as pastries, biscuits, crackers, chips, cakes, lollies, fried foods and

other highly processed products contain very little or no fibre at all. Unprocessed, fresh whole foods like the ones listed above are all fantastic sources of fibre as well as other nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals. It’s recommended that we aim to eat 25-30g of fibre per day. It’s pretty easy to ensure you are getting enough fibre every day. The best way to ensure an adequate intake of fibre is to aim for the UK Dietary Guidelines recommendation of 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit in your diet every day. Then, aim to eat one serve of high fibre carbohydrate at each meal and you’ll add another 10-15g into your day and you’ve made the daily quota. Quick hit fibre foods. Banana (4g fibre) Small handful of nuts (5g fibre) 2 slices of soy and linseed bread (5g fibre) 1 cup of mixed salad (2g fibre) Apple (5g fibre) 1 avocado (8g fibre) 100g Sweet potato chips (3g fibre) Mixed salad (2g fibre). All processed foods must contain a Nutrition Information Panel which outlines the basic nutrient content of the food. It’s not compulsory for manufacturers to have fibre in this panel unless they’ve made a nutritional claim about fibre on their packaging. A product that provides 3 or more grams of fibre per serve is a pretty good benchmark to main for and comparing the fibre content of different brands is a great way of making the best choices for certain foods, particularly products such as muesli bars, breakfast cereals, crackers, breads, rice and pasta Take 5 minutes next time you’re planning your shop or your food for the day and think about what you can do to ensure you are getting enough fibre in your diet … your body will thank you!

Quick and Easy Healthy Eating For All The Family DO you think of “dieting” or healthy eating as eating low calorie microwave meals or lettuce leaves and cottage cheese with an apple thrown in as a treat? There’s nothing more boring than eating the same uninteresting foods day in and day out. At Weight-Watchers we promote eating great food that can be eaten by all the family. Making yourself different meals from the rest of the family or your partner can be recipe for disaster. Weight-Watchers have lots of really easy recipes in our weekly meeting handout, in our recipe books, on our website and in Weight Watchers cookbooks .For example add a tin

of chopped tomatoes to a tin of mixed beans ,a chopped onion and some spices and you have a really tasty and filling “Mexican Bean Soup” that is a great favourite with my members. A packet of extra lean minced beef or turkey mince can be turned into Burgers, Chilli, Curry, Cottage Pie, Lasagne, Meatballs or Moussaka just by adding a few basic ingredients. These are meals that all the family can enjoy and are they not expensive to make. They can also be made in batches and frozen to save time and enable us to fit healthy eating into our busy lives. It could save you time and money to make a meal plan for the week, take five minutes to

write down what you going to make and which ingredients you need. Shopping online is a good way of stopping impulse buys that you might regret later. People often get into the habit of ordering expensive takeaways to save time but some of our easy recipes can be made in twenty mins or less. It CAN be “simple” to lose weight and it certainly shouldn’t be about starving yourself. Just by changing some of the ingredients and cooking methods you are using you can lose weight and eat fantastic food with your family and friends. Find a meeting at weightwatcherslocal.co.uk

BURN FAT DON’T STORE IT DID you know that the combination of sugar and wheat creates a fat-storing trigger in your body? Unless you are running a marathon, the moment you eat this combo, your fat-storing genes are forced into overdrive. That’s why so many people of all ages today struggle with bodyfat: they eat breakfast cereals that ALL have hidden sugars in them. Virtually all of them have wheat too. AVOID that… and here’s what you can eat that will actually help you BURN BODYFAT (and some of these foods may surprise you…) FatBurning Breakfast Food Whole Eggs Eggs contain lean protein, friendly fats, B vitamins like choline for your heart and brain—and naturally occurring antioxidants that benefit your

eyes. One study even found that, compared to those who eat toast and jam, people who eat two eggs for breakfast lose 65 percent more weight and have higher energy levels. TIP: I recommend 2-3 whole eggs over-easy cooked in real olive oil FatBurning Breakfast Food Coconut Oil The Journal of Nutrition published a study where they had researchers investigate all studies relative to medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) that are abundant in coconut fat. All the studies showed that diets rich in fats, such as those found in coconut oil, prompted a plethora of benefits including: - Boost in metabolism - Increase in energy - Decrease in food consumption - Reduced body weight and lower body fat mass

TIP: I add a tablespoon to your tea or coffee at least 5 or 6 days of the week. FatBurning Breakfast Food Kefir Kefir is getting a ton of attention in the nutrition world these days because it’s like a MUCH healthier version of yogurt from the high amounts of probiotics. A six ounce serving of milk kefir contains 6 grams of protein, along with a healthy dose of calcium, B12, B2 (Riboflavin), phosphorus, magnesium, and even a little bit of vitamin D. Kefir has also been shown to improve digestion, aid in weight management and mental health, which makes it one of the healthiest breakfast foods you can consume (even though it’s technically a liquid). TIP: Try with protein shakes as a replacement for milk.

TRY THE DASH DIET THE DASH diet, a specially customized diet plan, rich in vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, has been named the ‘Best Diet’ again for the 5th consecutive year, beating Weight Watchers and the Mediterranean diet in the U.S. News & World Report. DASH, which was developed to lower blood pressure without medication, was also chosen by a panel of health experts as the best plan for healthy eating. The DASH diet is traditionally recommended for people with hypertension or pre-hypertension, however it has superior qualities to any food diet for any person of any age, in any health condition. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hyperten-

sion) has been proven to lower blood pressure in studies sponsored by the National Institute of Health. In addition to being a low salt (or low sodium) plan, the DASH diet provides additional benefits to reduce blood pressure. It is based on an eating plan rich in fruits and vegetables, and low-fat or nonfat dairy, with whole grains. It is a high fibre, low to moderate fat diet, rich in potassium, calcium & magnesium. The DASH diet is a healthy plan, designed for the whole family. New research continues to show additional health benefits of the plan. The DASH eating plan has been proven to show astonishing results in just 14 days. The DASH Diet can help lower

cholesterol, and with weight loss and exercise, can reduce insulin resistance and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The Dash Diet has stormed the US over the last 5 years and has made a huge impact in Europe in the last year or so, especially in the U.K. where good dieting and weight loss takes priority. DASH is certainly not a fad and its 5 year reign as the Best Diet worldwide, only assures us of its health benefits and quick weight loss potential. Getting started is easy and using a service such as MyDashDiet.co.uk can help you find your feet, eat well and stick to a good routine. Well, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get started..

GENN

Political Forum

Dr Don’s View The column which cuts though the garnish

WELL, it’s over at last but it was one of the most acrimonious elections I have ever witnessed. The level of insults, innuendo, baseless rumour, gimmicks, sterile, tasteless photo shoots, character assassinations and freeze-dry speeches was without precedent. It would put the average ‘Joe’ off politics for life. The amount of perfidious pledges, promises and denial, verged on insulting the intelligence of voters. On the night the exit poll drew gasps of disbelief across the horizon of political analysts resulting in the most astute and respected pollsters having to review their methodologies and a few experts publically eating hats. The exit poll was in fact the only poll to accurately predict the outcome, but for 6 hours, collective radio and TV station pundits were waiting to see it proved wrong. There will now be an inquiry by the British Polling Council. What we didn’t get was Ed Miliband, caught on the final stretch still trying to erase the legacy of Brown, Blair and Darling and promising the moon based on funding from the magic money tree. So much for the Blair, Kinnock and Livingston advice, more like the kiss of death. I wonder if he has had any offers for his stone of destiny on ebay yet? So what did we get? That feeling in my water, which I reported in my column last week came true. The silent majority, scared stiff by the prospect of Boris Johnson’s amusing, but deadly serious, threat of a Labour/SNP ‘Ajockalypse Now’, would rise up from their complacency in their thousands and allow David to make a late burst to the tape and get back into Downing St. It was a master stroke, and it was singularly responsible for the last minute swing to

the Conservatives, but how long will he last? A majority of 12 seats is comforting, and he now has the luxury of appointing his own team of loyal disciples which has erased the prospect of an SNP/Labour confluence voting down the Queen’s speech. It’s a working, but thin, majority, but his major worry will not be the opposition; it will be the threat of maverick back-benchers who have already defied him on several occasions in the last parliament. There are a few in his own team who are not singing from the same page with regards to his in/out EU referendum. I also notice he has sneaked in a new word into this EU commitment. He is now saying he will hold an in/out EU referendum on the reformed EU constitution. In this he means reformed to meet the UK demands on immigration and benefits, but if that is left to Juncker and Merkel, it’s just not going to happen. In fact it’s starting to sound like a back door exit to me, so I think you should score that one off the list of pledges I advised you last week to stick on your fridge door The SNP? What can I say? I never thought I would see the day when the Labour Party would be thrown out of Scotland, but this was more than eviction; this was a well deserved humiliation. I recall Alex Salmond’s last First Minister’s question time at Holyrood when he said “Labour supporters may be confused about what the Labour Party stands for now, but they sure as hell know who they stood WITH in the referendum”. The Scots have long memories, and not so quick to forgive, as we have just witnessed. For over 40 years the Labour Party has ruled Scotland by default, but now 56 new Scottish MPs are going Westminster for the first time this century with a

CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across 1. Glacier 5. Cases 8 Psalm 9. Conceal 10. Extinct 11. Elite 12. Eager 14. Krill 19. Tools 21. Macabre 23. Tedious 24. Igloo 25. Elder 26. Discard

Down 1. Gopher 2. Adapt 3. Immense 4. Recite 5. Canoe 6. Special 7. Solved 13. Avoided 15. Recoils 16. Statue 17. Amused 18. Beyond 20. Scour 22. Balsa

new agenda. I am thinking the London set are kicking themselves for interfering with the referendum vote. The immediate task for the SNP, having been denied the opportunity to have a direct influence in UK policy through a weak Miliband administration, will have to re-think their strategy. David Cameron will not sanction another referendum in the foreseeable future even if the SNP sweep the boards again at the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2016. I believe the SNP’s immediate priority should be to follow up Cameron’s meeting with Nicola, and to pursue his acceptance speech commitment to deliver the Smith recommendations plus extra devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament. This is not the time for heavy handed threats or demands. In parallel, they should immediately mobilise their formidable activists again to fend off the kamikaze attacks which will come from a desperate Scottish Labour Party in May 2016. It’s just around the corner, and the issues will not only be quite different, they will need a whole new defence strategy. Jim Murphy RIP. I had you tagged as another Blairite barrow-boy from day one, and I am delighted the electorate saw through you also. We have a collective noun for your type in Scotland ‘a chancer’. Your sales

pitch was of “never mind the quality, feel the width”. How your party could have contemplated allowing you to continue in your role as Scottish Labour Party Leader beggars belief. The Scottish Labour Party, and especially the unions, who were not too thrilled with your appointment in the first place, needed more effective leadership as it has been the core problem for the past 5 years. Your only honourable avenue had been to emulate the example of the leaders of the other defeated parties, to not only accept responsibility for the Scottish Labour’s humiliation, but to fall on your sword and resign as you have belatedly done. To my mind, Ruth Davidson was the clown in the pack. Her series of tacky photo shoots including cuddling dead fish, pretending to be a bookmaker, sitting on a tank, etc, failed to translate

into votes which faltered and was reduced to 14.9%. In fact she also failed to achieve her self- imposed objective of increasing Conservative MPs: they are still left with only one. Cameron’s strategy of playing the SNP as the bogey man actually undermined Ruth’s aim of supporting greater devolution for Holyrood. Now she is starting to believe her own hype by openly challenging her boss by being prepared to “absolutely not advise the Prime Minister to use constitutional powers to block a second referendum.” She reminds me of the lone piper on the battlements, and the traditional pibroch he plays is a fitting obituary for the Conservatives in Scotland. My concern now is that the enthusiasm of our new tartan team may be frustrated by not being able to pressurise the Conservatives the way they had planned to lean on

Miliband to pursue Scottish interests. I suspect there will be collective anger when the SNP sees the watered down version of the Smith Commission report when it comes in front of Parliament. There will have to be effective discipline and collective patience in the ranks, together with utilising the wily skills of Alex Salmond. Much as I enjoy his patriotic rhetoric and scathing wit, he will have to be strictly controlled if Nicola is to achieve her aims. Although the SNP will now be allocated seats on all the major committees, they have to avoid being tagged like the Labour party of 1987, that of being ‘the feeble fifty six’. They will also have to be careful of Cameron’s apparent fiscal generosity in case his aim is to give the SNP enough rope to hang themselves. Watch this space Dr Don

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BOWLS EXTRA – GLASGOW NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE

TWO highly-competitive divisions are emerging in the GENN Newspaper-sponsored Glasgow North Eastern Bowling League, writes JACK HIGH. Friday evening games over the past two weeks have produced the following results and up-to-date placings. My thanks goes to Secretary Alex Morrison for his co-operation. Week Two. Division 1 Carmyle 7, North British 2; Mount Vernon 7, Blackhill 2; Garrowhill 8, Rutherglen 3; Foxley 5, Shettleston 5; Baillieston 2, Whitevale 7. Division 2 - Kirkhill 5, Sandyhills 5; Springburn 8, Chryston 3; Parkhead 4, Springboig 4; St Rollox 10, Belvedere 0; Tollcross 9, Riddrie 1. Week Three. Division 1 Whitevale 4. Mount Vernon 4; Carmyle 6, Rutherglen 4; Garrowhill 3, Blackhill 8; Baillieston 7, Shettleston 5;

Foxley 5, North British 5. Division 2 - Riddrie 8, Kirkhill 3; Springboig 2, Tollcross 7; St Rollox 5, Chryston 5; Parkhead 8, Springburn 3; Belvedere 5, Sandyhills 5. In other bowling news, GARROWHILL hosted an excellent Inter-County game between Glasgow East and Dunbartonshire. Glasgow won

HAGHILL FINAL

CANDY STEP-UP

HAGHILL A.F.C. are through to another final, writes TOM SCOTT. The unbeaten Airdrie and Coatbridge A.F.L. champions and Knock-Out Cup holders continued their impressive run of form with a 3-0 win against Billy Harkness Memorial Cup Semi-Final opponents East End A.F.C. Richard Perriss, Brian Eaglesham and Gary McDougall were on target to line-up another visit to Airdrie, where they will again meet Jerviston -whom they defeated in the K.O. Cup Final -on Sunday, May 31. Kick-off 2pm

ST ROCH Juniors have won promotion from the Central District Second Division - following a last-game drama involving North city neighbours Glasgow Perthshire. Both clubs had the opportunity to join champions Rossvale and second-top Johnstone Burgh in the First Division. ‘Shire lost 3-1 against Burgh, while Candy secured a 2-2 draw at hosts Royal Albert. Those results put both clubs onto 33 points from 20 games, but the James McGrory Park club step-up on goal difference - plus 10 as opposed to plus 9! Back in early January, St Roch were second bottom of the league with three wins and two draws (11 points) after 11 games.

CHAMPIONS HELD

CHAMPIONS Glasgow City F.C. and Hibernian Ladies maintained their unbeaten records following Sunday’s Premier Division 3-3 draw at K-Park, East Kilbride. Hibs, twice behind, secured a point thanks to a Richards shot which was deflected into the net by City’s McCulloch in 87 minutes. Hayley Lauder and Fiona Brown (2) were on target for City. The pair meet again in the Scottish League Cup final next month.

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POSTAL GO DOWN POSTAL United A.F.C. have been relegated from the Fosters Central Scottish Premier Division after losing 4-2 against Bannockburn.

115-110 shots despite losing in four of the six games. In the Lanarkshire Champion of Champions competition, there were exits for Foxley and Baillieston. However, Mount Vernon and Shettleston were successful and moved into the next round at Quarter Bowling Club, Hamilton.

DIVISION 1

POINTS.

DIVISION 2

POINTS.

Carmyle

St Rollox

Mount Vernon

Sandyhills

Garrowhill

Parkhead

Whitevale

Tollcross

Rutherglen

Kirkhill

Blackhill

Springboig

Foxley

Springburn

Shettleston

Chryston

Baillieston

Riddrie

North British

Belvedere

TOWN PUT PRESSURE ON PROMOTION RIVALS

SHETTLESTON Juniors have turned up the heat on promtion rivals Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. With champions Pollok Juniors already heading out of the Super First Division the race for another automatic promotion place, and a third via a two-leg play-off looks like going down to the wire. Town strengthend their second-top place with first half goals from Chris McCormack and Paul Martin in a 2-0 victory against Cumbernauld United at Guys Meadow, and now have one fixture remaining. Rob Roy remain third with a better goal difference, and started this week on a threegame countdown.

HOLDERS CRUISE INTO FINAL

PLAY-OFF SUCCESS

SPRINGBURN Thistle edged out Rannoch A.F.C. 2-1 in the Greater Glasgow Premier A.F.L. 3rd/4th Division PlayOff at McKenna Park, Govan.

GLASGOW CUP WIN FOR ‘HILL

MARYHILL Juniors Under-21 lifted the Birdston Kennels Glasgow Cup with a 3-1 victory against Bishopton at Greenfield Park, Shettleston last Sunday. Greenfield will also host the Only Sport Golden Goals Cup Final, between Rutherglen Glencairn and Goldenhill, this Sunday (2pm).

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TIGERS POSTPONED GLASGOW Tigers Speedway suffered more weather woe whentheir home clash against Scunthorpe Scorpions was postponed on Sunday afternoon, writes TOM SCOTT. Rain overnight left the track in a poor condition and the club had no option but to postpone their third Sunday league tie in as many weeks. A restaging date will be announced in due course. The postponement came after their visits to both Ipswich and Peterborough during the week were also called off due to the weather and track unavailability respectively. The Tigers will now hope it’s fourth time lucky this Sunday when they face Newcastle Diamonds, before visiting the north-east a day later.

GLASGOW City F.C. celebrations... Picture credit: Andy Buist.

GLASGOW City F.C. cruised into the SWP League Cup Final for a fourth successive season following a resounding 4-0 victory over Celtic at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh, writes TOM SCOTT. Hayley Lauder, Kerry Montgomery, club captain Leanne Ross and Nicky Docherty were on target for the cup holders. A week after City beat the same team 2-1 on league business, the rematch was one-way traffic. City had only one first half goal to show for their territorial advantage, when Hayley Lauder crashed home a volley after 34 minutes. Second half, City continued to press the Celtic defence and McCulloch almost made it 2-0 but shot into the side

netting after her initial effort had been saved by ‘keeper Laura Hamilton. Montgomery shot wide from distance and Fiona Brown had the ball in the Celtic net, but again the flag was raised for offside. City finally scored a second goal on 62 minutes through Montgomery’s shot from the edge of the area. Jo Love followed that with a powerful free kick which Hamilton did well to turn around the post, and Abbi Grant had a golden opportunity to net following a great cut-back from Lauder, but fired over the bar. A third goal arrived in 75 minutes. Second half substitute, Erin Cuthbert, deserves credit for creating the opening, and City captain Leanne Ross crashed an 18 yarder

past Hamilton. Two minutes later, full back Nicky Docherty scored the goal of the game with a powerful left foot drive, which will be a strong contender for goal of the competition. Delighted City Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black said: “First and foremost, congratulations to everyone at the club on reaching another final. “I did say that a full week’s preparation for this game would make a difference and I believe that was the case.” City will face Hibernian Ladies in the SWP League Cup Final at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh, next month. Lucy Graham (2), Lizzie Arnot and Joelle Murray netted in a comprehensive 4-0 win against Aberdeen at Ainslie Park.

McKAY DOUBLE DUMPS CUP HOLDERS Continued from back page Despite an additional five minutes of injury time, Cranhill’s composure effectively dealt with a final Harvester surge. Not surprisingly, fresh legs were introduced from the bench. Paul and Kevin Martin, Chris Kennedy, Stuart McNally and Gary Rae helped to illustrate an outstanding squad achievement. Man of the Match - Paul Ross

(Cranhill United). Cup Final Information Officer and Photographer -Mr Stuart Rae. * Cranhill United Management would like to record their thanks to sponsor David Millen (Quality Butchers), who has been an outstanding supporter of the team throughout the season. In particular, they would like to thank Mr Millen for provid-

ing an embroidered kit/ jersey fully commemorating the team’s appearance at the final, which they have been allowed to keep as a memento. Final Line-up. Scott, Campbell, Halliday, O’Connor, McGregor, McDevitt, McGeough, Ross, McKay, Boyce and Dorrans. Subs: McNally, Rae, K Martin, P Martin, and Kennedy.

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THE RACE IS ON

STEWART Dickson has declared the race for the Premier League title is under way - and believes his Glasgow Tigers will have to fend off a handful of teams to land the silverware. Dickson’s men were in superb form to put high-flying Sheffield to the sword at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium with a 53-40 win live on Sky Sports. According to the Tigers team boss, the night was a massive success with close racing, plenty of incident and a bumper crowd. Dickson said: “The track rode well - but we had all day to prepare it. The weather tried its best a couple of times but it actually helped us because it gave us a natural watering.

My thanks to Doc Bridgett for coming in and helping me. I leant on his experience a wee bit. “Three points for us and nothing for Sheffield - that was the plan. I thought before the meeting we’d win by 12 or 14 when I heard that Ty Proctor wasn’t racing. There were a few good races as well, an excellent atmosphere and a good crowd, and a win. “I know I keep saying it we’re not quite firing on all cylinders yet. But we keep winning when that’s happening and that’s a good sign.” Glasgow had to shake off the attentions of Sheffield in 2011 to win their last Premier League, and Dickson insists his side will have to do the

same again this year if they’re to finish top of the pile. He added: “I think Sheffield are one of a few teams that could win the league. Obviously the two Scottish clubs see themselves as strong contenders. I think Somerset are beginning to come to the party now, as are Peterborough and Ipswich had a wee blip but it’s too early to write them off. I think there are five or six that could be in the mix. Sheffield will certainly be one of them. “These teams have got a couple of race wins already on the board and I’m not that concerned about it, but we’ve got a wee bit of work to do to catch up with them and the season’s just started. Once we start firing, we’ll be fine.”

TYNECASTLE CROWNED CHAMPIONS

CELEBRATION time for Premier Division champions Tynecastle A.F.C.

DELIGHTED Tynecastle A.F.C. captain Paul McCarthy holds aloft the SSMAFL Premier Division championship trophy - won for the third time in seven seasons.

EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT ISSUE 156

TRANS WORLD Soccer Scottish Youth Cup Round-Up... AROUND the Greens bowling latest... MATCH Action Reports section... GLASGOW Tigers Speedway... GLASGOW City F.C. ... SPOTLIGHT on a goalkeeping success story... and much more. Make sure you pick-up your copy of issue 156, due out on June 5.

TYNECASTLE A.F.C. have been crowned Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Premier Division champions for the third time in seven seasons, writes TOM SCOTT. Trailing to a first half penalty kick against Whitefield Rovers at Hamilton Palace, the East End club came good with goals from ex-junior signing Andy Dearie and Steven McGlinchey six minutes from time.

Tynecastle captain Paul McCarthy, brother of Everton star James, celebrated his birthday in style by raising aloft the SSMAFL Premier Division trophy following the after-match presentation. Speaking exclusively to GENN Sport, Manager Bernie Vallely said:” Charlie Miller (ex-Rangers) had an off day and missed chances, but we finally got over the line in the end with a great team performance.”

Assistant Manager Dan Hutton added: “We have a cracking bunch of lads. “Charlie Miller and Andy McLaren are two of the most down to earth guys you could meet.” The winning Tynecastle squad was: Craig Brown, Scott Faulds, Sean Cahill, Andy Dearie, captain Paul McCarthy, Chris Hughes, Kevin Taylor, Tony Cahill, Andy McLaren, Charlie Miller and Steven McGlinchey.

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR TERRIFIC TIGERS GLASGOW beat Sheffield in a Tuesday scintillating showdown for the Sky Sports speedway cameras. There were fireworks on and off the track as the Tigers came out on top 53-40 to open their Premier League account with a bang. No 1 Nick Morris carried on the form that’s seen him named in the Australia squad for this summer’s World Cup with three wins. At reserve, James Sarjeant scored nine,

while Dimitri Berge bagged the new track record as he raced to eight points. Sheffield had been rocked by the news that their No 2, Ty Proctor, couldn’t race due to a visa problem just hours before tapes-up. Thanks to ex-Glasgow man Andre Compton and impressive reserve Arthur Sissis, they kept it tight early on, but the home team pulled clear in the middle part of the meeting and never looked back. Sarjeant said: “There were a

few close races but no-one was too hard on anyone - there was some fair racing. Everything is going well - we’ve just got to keep scoring points and winning matches. “I put hard work in so it’s nice to get something back, when you’ve put 100% in.” Tigers scorers: Nick Morris 12+1, Aaron Summers 9+2, James Sarjeant 9+1, Dimitri Berge 8+2, Kozza Smith 6+2, Richard Lawson 6+1, Rafal Konopka 3.

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 9977 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

GENN

FOCUS - GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

FINNART 2008 age group. Back Row - Millan Kerr,Oscar Kowalczyk, David Glackin and Taylor Gibson. Front - Cole Smith, Ashton Quinn and Lewis Lindsay. WELCOME to another roundup from clubs involved at grassroots level. We continue to feature general team news, non-competitive action and small-sided games, writes TOM SCOTT. FINNART 2004 team are still seeking a goalkeeper who has previous experience of 7-a-side football at Boys’ Club level. Trial periods will be given to each applicant. Contact Coach Gary Watson at 07570072426. BUDHILL Football Academy were out in force to support one of their coaches, Big Jorg, at the opening of Buffalo Grill House, Tollcross Road. I understand everyone was suitably impressed with the products on offer! Great to see Big Jorg and people like him give up their valuable time in the pursuit of helping the game at grassroots level.

FINNART RESULTS: PROGRAMME ONE. 2003. Game 1. Lost 5-1. Liam Hagan. Star Player Jay Murray. Game 2. Won 8-2. Ryan Cadder (3), Jay Murray (3), Liam McLaughlin and and Star Player Cody Kerr. 2004. Game 1. Won 4-0. Lee Miller (2), Marshall O’Hara, Thomas Reid. Game 2. a 1-1 draw. Thomas Reid. 2005. Game 1. Won 1-0. Liam Hughes. Game 2. Lost 4-1. Matthew Brannigan. 2006. Game 1. Lost 3-1. Leon Power. Game 2. a 3-3 draw. Leon Power, Robbie McArthur (2). 2007. Team A. Game 1. Won 5-4. Jack Marr (2), Star Player Zach Fenwick (2), Calum Blair. Game 2. Won 16-2. Star Player Jack Marr (5), Zach Fenwick (3), Aiden Coll (3), Calum Blair (3), Shaun Fredrickson (2).

Team B. Game 1. Won 8-1. Star Player Aiden Sinclair (5), Jack Marr (2), Riley Milliken. Game 2. Lost 3-2. Aiden Sinclair, Star Player Aiden Gallagher. PROGRAMME TWO. 2003. Game 1. Lost 5-2. Jamie Avery, John Burke. Game 2. Won 6-3. Liam McLaughlin (3), Jamie Avery, Harvey Mullen, and Player of the Day Cody Kerr. 2004. Game 1. Won 2-1. Thomas Reid (2). Game 2. Lost 2-0. 2006. Game 1. Won 3-1. Jay R Brown, Robbie McArthur, Cole Jackson. Man of the Match Robbie McArthur. Game 2. Lost 4-2. David Maharg, Jamie Kinnaird. Joint Man of the Match vote for David Maharg and Leon Power. 2007. Game 1. Lost 4-1. Zach Fenwick. Man of the Match Aiden Coll. Game 2. Won 7-1. Man of the Match Zach Fenwick (4), Aiden Coll, Shaun Fredrickson, Calum Blair. Game 3. a 4-4 draw. Man of the Match Dylan Haining (2), Riley Haining, Aiden Sinclair. Game 4. Won 4-1. Aiden Sinclair (2), Aiden Gallagher (2). 2008. Played 4. 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats, with scores as follows: 0-3, 1-1, 4-1 and 3-6. CLUB NOTES: 11 v 11 Player Pathway Course, at Glasgow Green. Mark Ainslie, David Sutherland and John Foy represented Finnart. A Community In Motion Event at St Annes School, and run in conjunction with Glasgow Life. Aimed at Primary Five children. Finnart chose Jamie McGowan, Mark McKenzie and Phil Blair to attend.

GENN SPORTS FEEDBACK

Tom, Great coverage in issue 152. Really impressed with how we as a club are doing thanks to publicity in the GENN. Can I also thank you for a brilliant back page story on Budhill Football Academy/ Black and Lizars in number 154. Another tremendous boost for everyone. Thanks once again, William McNaught, Chairman/Head Coach, Budhill Football Academy. Tom, Great piece on our Cup Final victory ( 152). Thanks for that mate. Regards, Paul Hughes, Team Manager, Haghill A.F.C. Hello Tom, Received the latest GENN

paper ( issue 153). Great bowling coverage on all the different bits and pieces I sent through, plus, of course, the Glasgow North Eastern League shield story on the back page. Many thanks, Alex Morrison, Secretary, Glasgow North Eastern Bowling League. The Genn Newspaper, Cranhill United A.F.C. Management would like to take this opportunity to thank the Genn’s Sports Editor, Tom Scott, for his excellent coverage of the team’s efforts in his section throughout the entire Fosters Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy campaign. Best wishes, Stuart Rae. Editor’s Reply: Big thank-you

from myself to Mr Rae, who has been with Cranhill every step of the way, and was instrumental in the GENN being able to run a great photographic feature in the last paper, and also his major contribution in our latest back page lead story. Dear Tom, Made sure I picked up plenty of copies of the last paper ( 154). Match Action Reports on wins against both Celtic teams, a thank-you to our Blackpool support, plus a great photo/ spread for our grassroots football. Massive thanks Tom once again from the club. Jamie McGowan, Coach, Finnart 2000 age group. Morning Tom, Great read once again ( issue 154). I know the boys and

EXCLUSIVE - NEW MARYHILL BOSS TALKS TO GENN SPORT

INCOMING Maryhill Juniors manager Jim Delaney has revealed he wants to put his “own stamp” on a bright new future at Lochburn Park, writes TOM SCOTT. Currently coach of Maryhill Juniors Under-21s in the LSK Supplies West of Scotland Youth League, Delaney is preparing himself for resigning talks with existing players, potential new signings, a summer training schedule, and pre-season friendlies. Since the departure of former manager Brian Heron and coach George Wall, the Central District First Division club has been under the guidance of Michael Tolland, whose switch from playing duties has brought about a more-thandecent run of domestic form. According to Jim Delaney, Michael and midfielder Craig Ferguson will join him in a newlook backroom staff. He said: “After Brian and

George left it was important for the club to install someone from within to steady the ship “At the time I still had eight Under-21 league games and a cup quarter-final to negotiate. I did not think it was right to walk out on them and take over as the Juniors’ manager. “I have been involved with the club for eight years. Many of the players have come through from Under-13 level. We won the Under-14 and Under-15 Glasgow League championships, and I have watched boys move into Pro-Youth football with the likes of Aberdeen, St Mirren and Partick Thistle. “It certainly has not been easy. We have had to build and re-build again – especially over the past three years. We’ve tried to teach the boys about social development, too. Quite a few have found their way back to us from Pro-Youth level because they like the way we organise things, conduct train-

ing sessions and play the game. “I have been fortunate enough to watch some of our junior games and their training nights, and I am confident we have 4 or 5 players who can make the step-up from Under-21 football. “Despite my own situation, we have no plans to fold the Under-21 team. In fact, I have already spoken to one interested party who is keen to come on board with us next season.” GENN Sport understands the Lochburn Park club will be looking at promising amateur football talent - a grade Jim Delaney knows all about. He told me: “I had a great journey with Aikenhead Thistle in the amateur ranks, winning 13 trophies in 12 years. They also won promotion into the Central Scottish A.F.L. Premier Division last season, and I will be talking to good amateur players about signing for us.”

SPOTLIGHT - AMATEUR FOOTBALL

BELLGROVE A.F.C. have announced that the Duchess Pub (Dennistoun) will renew a sponsorship deal with their set-up. I can reveal a relaunch night is planned at the premises on May 24. NORTHERN Amateur Football League defeated a Scottish Amateur Football Association Select 2-1 at Lesser Hampden - a result which allowed them to retain The Jack Britton

Rosebowl for another year. The Irish opened with a bang and netted after 22 seconds according to match officials. Captain Peter McCann made it 2-0, and the Scots replied through David McKay. MARYHILL Black Star A.F.C. left it late but secured a 2-1 extra-time victory against DENNISTOUN Vale in the SSMAFL Challenge Cup final at Thorniewood United’s Rob-

ertson Park. FINNART 2000 team once again supplied ball boys and all performed superbly. Incidentally, one-time Finnart Amateurs striker Paul Rodden sent the match into extra-time with a great individual goal. MARYHILL Black Star Player of the Year night is booked for Friday, June 26. Tickers are £5.

GENN SPORT - INSIDE TRACK

ASHFIELD Juniors surprisingly pulled out of their sponsored Euroscot Engineering Central League Cup Third Round fixture against ST ROCH, who advanced into the Quarter-Finals against Thorniewood United. STRIKER Michael Daly, who has been on loan from Clyde to Petershill Juniors, is now on the official list of Bully Wee frees. Manager Barry Ferguson has also released Keigan Parker, who left Shettleston Juniors for

girls at Finnart Mini Kickers will love seeing their picture and name in the paper. My daughter Lucie was amazed by it when I showed her. I have also shared the photos around my two facebook pages Finnart BC 2007s and also Finnart Min Kickers. The work you have done supporting us, is again, fantastic Tom. Thanks, Jamie Marr, Coach, Finnart 2007 age group.

Airdrie and onto Clyde. GLASGOW Tigers Speedway had to postpone their opening Premier League clash against Plymouth (May 10) at Peugeot Ashfield Stadium. Overnight rain and through Sunday morning had affected the circuit. With rider safety in mind, referee Jim McGregor made the call on a postponement after he completed his track inspection. BSC GLASGOW (Lowland League) will play League One

champions Greenock Morton in a pre-season game on Wednesday, July 9. Queens Park have also agreed to play BSC probably at Lesser Hampden. Ex-Whitehill Welfare assistant manager, Mark Adams, is the new BSC Under-20 coach. FINNART 2000 team (Under-15) have been drawn against Kelvindale in the Supplementary League Cup Semi-Finals. The winner will play Garnock or Deans Thistle in the Final on Sunday, June 7.

GENN SPORTS THANKYOU.... As Sports Editor, I am always greatly appreciative of constructive feedback from managers, coaches, officials, and clubs who follow our publication. Establishing honest and reliable contacts has undoubtedly assisted GENN Sport stay well ahead of the pack, and I would like to pass on my best wishes to one of my not-so-well

known sources of supplying welcome news and sports copy - step forward LISA-MARIE JAMIESON, who has left Active East (Programme Co-Ordinator) for a new job as Progressions Worker at Fuse Youth Cafe. Lisa, on behalf of the numerous people and organisations you have helped since November, 2012, may we wish you every success at the new location.

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL... CALL 0141 552 9977 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

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CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 9977 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

AROUND THE GREENS MATCH ACTION REPORTS

Scottish Youth Football Association. FINALS- sponsored by Trans World Soccer. Under-13 - Tynecastle F.C. v Banks O’Dee. Under-14 - Rangers SABC v

Broomhill. Under-15 - Renfrew Vics v Crosshouse. Under-16 - Spartans Reds 2, Hutchison Vale 0. Under-17 - Lewis United 2,

Rossvale Thistle 1. Under-19 - East End United 4, Broxburn Ath Colts 3 after extra-time. Under-21 - Harmony Row 1, St Peters Giffnock North 0.

SYFA WEST REGION 4, SYFA EAST REGION 2. UNDER-15 Inter Regional Cup Final at Toryglen. West substitute Rowan Gibson turned the match with goals after 69 and 79 mins. Other scorers were Ben Harwood (30) and Chris McLeod (76). SYFA SOUTH EAST REGION 3, SYFA SOUTH WEST REGION 1. UNDER-16 Final. Goals from Polson (15 mins), Dawson (68) and Richardson (75). Dempsey netted the South West reply after 25 minutes. SHETTLESTON 2, KILSYTH RANGERS 1. TOWN bounced back from their home defeat against Rob Roy with a midweek win at Greenfield Park. Callum McRobbie (2). MARYHILL JUNIORS 1, BELLSHILL ATHLETIC 1. SECOND Round of the Euroscot Engineering Central League Cup. Maryhill won 3-2 on pens. MARYHILL JUNIORS 2, RENFREW JUNIORS 1. PENALTY-kick winner from Shaun Fraser as ‘Hill regained second-top spot. Scott Arthur put Frew ahead on 35 minutes. Justin Begg equalised six minutes later. MARYHILL JUNIORS 0, THORNIEWOOD 2. EUROSCOT Engineering Central League Cup Third Round. Stefan Law and Chris Lennon. *TEN-man Vale of Clyde knocked out holders Clydebank 1-0 in a Second Round meeting at Tollcross. GLASGOW CITY F.C. 4, SPARTANS 0. CITY moved to the top of the SWPL table on goal difference with a Wednesday evening victory. First half counters from Jo Love, Fiona Brown, Sarah Ewens (o.g) and Abbi Grant. POSTAL UNITED A.F.C. 2, CAMBUSNETHAN TALBOT 0. M and M Trophy First Round. Solid display from United, whose goals came from Carroll and Murdoch. Next round against Uddingston Anvil. UDDINGSTON ANVIL 4, POSTAL UNITED A.F.C. 2 after extra time. DEFEAT at Coatbridge for United, who scored through Adesola and Carroll. SHETTLESTON 0, POLLOK 4. QUARTER-Finals of the sponsored New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup at Greenfield Park. Goals from Jamie Darroch, Davie Winters, Ryan McCann and Tam Hanlon (pen) against a reshuffled Town line-up. CUMBERNAULD UNITED 3, PETERSHILL 0. GUYS Meadow saw another Peasy defeat for the second year running at this venue - in the same cup competition! First half goals from Dylan McGuigan,

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GLASGOW North Eastern League Secretary Alex Morrison has been encouraged by the amount of new people taking to the bowling greens this season, writes JACK HIGH. Said Alex: “I visited Baillieston, Shettleston, Mount Vernon, Foxley, Sandyhills, Carmyle and Garrowhill on their opening days as part of my Lanarkshire Bowling League duties, and it was great to see that all of those clubs have introduced new members this year. “Some has transfered from other clubs, but the majority were new bowlers, which bodes well for the game. Baillieston, Mount Vernon and Garrowhill are up to strength with gents’ memberships. “Garrowhill now have 26 players entered into the Under-45 Cup competition, which is most heartening as most clubs struggle to field an Under-45 team of four players in competitions.” KIRKHILL recently hosted an Inter County game between Glasgow East and Wigtonshire. MOUNT VERNON will stage Glasgow East v Ayrshire South, while Glasow West v Lanarkshire West is bound for CHRYSTON on June 6. Alex Morrison, who passed on this information to GENN Sport, told me: “These games are great spectator events as they generate a noisy, lively atmosphere.” SHETTLESTON Bowling Club are holding a Race Night

on Friday, June 12, to raise funds for a local girl, Nicola McAneny. Club spokesman Ian Colligan told me: “Nicola stays in Sandyhills and requires to upgrade a wheelchair which will allow her to stand up. Her parents have been organising ways to try and raise money, and since our President, Robert Lawson, knows the family well, we thought proceeds from a Race Night could help them.” GENN SPORT BOWLERS DIARY... SHETTLESTON: May 24 Mixed Rinks (10.30am), MAY 30 - Home Friendly v Sandyhills (2pm). MAY 31 - Nominated Fours Competition (10.30am). JUNE 3 - GBA Senior rinks (8 players), and GBA sponsored fours. Junior singles/pairs/rinks/22 players, from 6.30pm. JUNE 5 - GBA Under-45s (6.30pm). JUNE 6 - McKinnon Wood Cup (2pm). JUNE 7 -Charity and Centenary Cup 16 players (2pm). JUNE 13 - SWBA District Semi-Finals on East and West Greens (2pm). JUNE 14 - Cairns and Scott Nominated Triples (10.30am). JUNE 21 - Nominated Triples Competition (1 Day). JUNE 23 - Lanarkshire District Semi-Finals (6.30pm). JUNE 26 - Lanarkshire League Division 4 v Whitemoss (6.30pm), Lanarkshire League Division 3 v Wishaw

South (6.30pm). JUNE 28 - Pat Fannan Invitation Fours (10.30am). JUNE 30 - WOS Ladies District Finals (1.30-2pm). GARROWHILL: MAY 31 Bowls Scotland Under-25 on four rinks (2pm). Also LBA Millenium Trophy on five rinks (2pm). JUNE 1. - Senior Muppet Trophy (11am). JUNE 5 - Monklands Cup (6.30pm). JUNE 6 - McKinnon Wood Cup (2pm). JUNE 13 - Two-Bowl Pairs (10 am). JUNE 27 - Ladies v Gents (2.30pm). MOUNT VERNON: MAY 23 - Mixed Game (1pm). MAY 24 - Nominated Mixed Pairs (10am). MAY 30 - Thorburn 4’s Gents (1pm). JUNE 4 - BS District Semi-Finals (6pm). JUNE 6 - County Game: Glasgow v Ayr (12 noon). JUNE 7 - Taywood Trophy Ladies (10am). JUNE 13 - Ladies Day (2pm). JUNE 20 - Presidents Day Gents (1.30pm). JUNE 27 - Nominated 4 Bowls Pairs - Ladies (10am). SANDYHILLS: MAY 30 - Shettleston Friendly (away) 2pm. JUNE 6 - McKinnon Wood Cup. JUNE 20 - Gents Open. JUNE 27 - Tollcross Friendly (away) 2pm.

Only Sport Golden Goals Cup, Semi-Finals - Rutherglen Glencairn 3, Kirk Rob Roy 21s 1; Steins 1, Goldenhill 3. Birdston Kennels Glasgow Cup, Semi-Finals - Giffnock 0, Maryhill 5; Bishopton 3, Rosebank 1. LSK Supplies West of Scotland Cup, Quarter-Final Campsie Black Watch 0, Port Glasgow 2. Semi-Finals - Port Glasgow v Bonnyton; Goldenhill v Harmony Row. MIDWEEK: Premier Division - Tower 0, Goldenhill 2; Baillieston 4, Rossvale 2;

Tower 4, Bonnyton 0; Harmony Row 2, Baillieston 3; Goldenhill 3, Rossvale 1; Baillieston 1, Goldenhill 2; Tower 2, Rossvale 1; Rossvale 0, Goldenhill 4; St Peters G.N. 1, Baillieston 1; Rossvale 3, Campsie 0; Bonnyton 1, St Peters G.N. 2; Harmony Row 5, Tower Hearts 3. Second Division- Maryhill Juniors 2, Gleniffer 2. SATURDAY - Premier Division - Baillieston 2, Antonine 1; Goldenhill 4, Harmony Row 1; St Peters G.N. 1, Glencairn 1; Campsie 0, Rossvale 3; Johnstone Burgh 2, E.K.Rolls

Royce 1. First Division - Sauchie 2, Victoria 4; EKFC 1, Eastwood 4; Wishaw W Wands 1, Glasgow University 0; Vale of Leven 3, Claremont 1. Second Division - Albion Rovers 0, Calderhill 8; Barrhead Arthurlie 1, Castlemilk 9; St Mirren 1, West Park 2; Erskine 1, Maryhill Juniors 4; Gleniffer 2, Westfield 0. Third Division - Giffnock 3, Crookston 1; Renfrewshire Th 2, Dumbarton 0; Renfrewshire Th 6, Crookston 6; Milngavie 1, Holytown 3; Rosebank 2, Giffnock 0.

LSK SUPPLIES WEST YOUTHS

TRANS WORLD SCOTTISH CUP

Gary Carroll and ex-Peasy favourite Davie Dickson. BROOMHOUSE F.C. 1, CUMBERNAULD COLTS 3. Colts clinched the league title and showed they are worthy champions with only two defeats and a draw. Dylan Porter gave ‘House a 5th minute lead, but Daniel McKay equalised 17 minutes later. Wesley Wilson punished sloppy defending after 47 minutes, and six minutes from time Matthew Halcrow beat ‘keeper Don Scott. ASHFIELD JUNIORS 1, RENFREW JUNIORS 5. FOUR-goal Scott Arthur stole the show as ‘Field completed their Central First Division campaign (two wins in 26 games. A third successful relegation issue for the Saracen Park club, and 111 goals conceded. ST PATRICK’S F.P. 3, WELLHOUSE A.F.C. 2. PREMIER Division defeat at Dumbarton. Great goal from Lewis Stewart and a Chris Hopkins 30 yarder. CELTIC LADIES 1, GLASGOW CITY F.C. 2. THE SWPL champions took the lead through a McKerlie own goal. Just before half-time, Hayley Lauder took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake by Hamilton and scored their second. McGuire reduced the leeway after 76 minutes at K-Park, East Kilbride. FINNART 1, CELTIC JUNIORS 5. ANY slim chance of winning the GADYFL title for the Under-15s vanished with this result. Celtic completely dominated and led 3-0 at half- time. Man of the Match Jack McIlveen scored from a Jamie McGowan corner kick, but it was short lived, and Celtic added another two. HAGHILL A.F.C. 3, CELLAR BAR A.F.C. 0. THIRD Cup Semi-Final appearance of the season looming for Haghill after they beat their last-eight opponents in the Billy Harkness Memorial tourney. Goals from Richard Perriss, Man of the Match Marc Murphy and Calvin Scolin. BLANTYRE CELTIC 3, FINNART 4. START of a five-game finish for the title-chasing Under-16 team. Celts took advantage of dreadful goalkeeping/defenders lack of communication as they went into a 2-0 half-time lead. Man of the Match David Fraser cut the advantage following great work by Kian O’Neil, and the same player made it 2-2. Blantyre scored a third via the penalty spot. Fraser completed his hat-trick (3-3), and netted a sensational winner inside the last 10 minutes. GLENCAIRN 2, SHETTLE-

trading or moving when that is not the case and false claims (or creating the impression) the trader is not acting in the course of a business are also prohibited.

STON 2. TOWN had to settle for a share of the Monday evening points. Ex-senior signing Ross McNeil put Glens ahead on 17 mins. Scott Anson (pen) and Callum McRobbie replied either side of half-time. McNeil equalised after 68 minutes. DRUMCHAPEL AMS 2, WELLHOUSE A.F.C. 1. M and M Trophy defeat for the visitors, who had no luck on the night. Thomas Sinclair scored from 20 yards (1-0). Drum replied twice. Sinclair twice struck woodwork with excellent free kicks. SHETTLESTON 2, NEILSTON JUNIORS 0 TOWN went third in the Super First Division - and pushed the Farmers’ Boys nearer relegation with a Chris McCormack double. DRUMCHAPEL AMS 4, POSTAL UNITED 1. MIDWEEK league match at Glenhead Park. Dunnett (pen) for United. HURLFORD UNITED 5, PETERSHILL 0. PEASY completed their 22game Super Premier Division with a crushing defeat. Hurlford led 3-0 at the break through McKenzie (17 mins), Kean (26) and Robertson (35). Kean (62) and Mitchell (70) completed the nap hand. MAYBOLE JUNIORS 1, SHETTLESTON 2. TOWN guaranteed themselves, at the very least, a Play-Off (twoleg) from the Super First Division. The win edged them into second-top place. Goals from Callum McRobbie and Brian McEwan. WHITEFIELD ROVERS 1, TYNECASTLE A.F.C. 2. Goals from Dearie and McGlinchey clinched the SSMAFL Premier Division title at Hamilton. MOTHERWELL 4, MARYHILL BLACK STAR 3. LEAGUE clash. Goals from John Coll, Mark Carlin and Sean Magee. DEANS THISTLE 0, FINNART 5. FINAL game of the season for the 2000 (Under-15) team. Julien Kouame, captain Kenneth Crampsie and the impressive Paul Waddell (with a brilliant 25 yarder) put them into a 3-0 half-time lead. Jamie McGowan added No 4, and goalkeeper Paul Monaghan came upfield to convert a penalty kick after Jakub Dmowski had been upended. HAGHILL A.F.C. 5, ROLLING BARREL 2. LEAGUE champions ‘Hill missed enough chances to record a healthier scoreline. They netted goals via Gareth May (2), Richard Perriss, Marc Murphy and Man of the Match James Simpson.

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McKAY DOUBLE DUMPS CUP HOLDERS

TWO-GOAL David McKay helped Cranhill United A.F.C. write another chapter into the history of the sponsored Fosters Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy at Energy Assets Arena, Livingston. In a re-match of last year’s final, which United lost 1-0 against Harvester A.F.C., the East End club looked more confident, composed and stronger as they beat the holders 2-0. The result means Cranhill can now proudly take their place alongside former winners Finnart (record holders), Centaur A.F.C., and the Gantry. As expected, Harvester were prominent right from the start through dangerman David Swan, but the game’s first chance came at the other end. West Lothian defender Whitelaw collected a yellow card following a second hefty challenge, and from the resultant free kick Chris Boyce headed wide. United’s controlled short-passing game in midfield took them well into their opponents’ half, and when Chris

Campbell whipped over an inviting cross, David McKay timed his jump perfectly to steer

GOALKEEPERS to register for specialist summer coaching courses. Age Groups 12-17 years. Will include Boys’ Club, and senior ProYouth (signed or released). Contact 07403452960. BELLGROVE Amateur Football Club have organised pre-season sessions and trials for Adult-Aged players (all positions), Under-21 and Under-19 next season. Call 07821478779. BUDHILL Football Academy, an excellent S.F.A. Quality Mark set-up in the East End, are expanding their Girls’ set-up to cater for the following age groups. Under-15 – 07876128464. Under-13 - 07554232193. Under-11 – 07960344563. Under-9 - 07734919930. BUDHILL Football Academy are looking for an experienced goalkeper born 2003. Call 07453306788. BUDHILL Football Academy have a number of talented grassroots teams playing a variety of small-sided, non-competitive games, leading up to full 11-a-side football. Saturday morning and Sunday

involvement. Born 2009 - 07515888624. Born 2008 - 07534522141. Born 2007 - 07412964163. Born 2005 - 07765538006. RANGERS SABC 2004 are poised to make the transition from 7-a-sde football to 11-a-side next season, and want to sign players who have experience at that level. Training sessions take place at Townhead, and games are played at Toryglen Regional Football Centre. For more information, contact Gordon Andrews on 07715546236. AIKENHEAD Thistle A.F.C. require experienced players for the Fosters Central Scottish Amateur Football League (Saturday football). Call 07476240536. JIMMY JOHNSTONE ACADEMY are preparing their squads for next season, and want to hear from players born 2002, 2003 and 2004. Training sessions are Monday and Thursday evenings, and will continue during the summer alongside trial outings andcoaching. For more information, call Coach Kenny Butler on 07503876289.

CRANHILL United A.F.C., sponsored by David Millen Butchers, are the 2015 Fosters Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy winners. Photograph taken and kindly supplied by Mr Stuart Rae.

a 20th minute header beyond goalkeeper Reid. Swan twice went close for a

stunned Harvester team, but it was Cranhill who finished the stronger outfit as half-time

loomed. McKay brought out the best in Reid with a rasping shot, which was touched over.

McGeough’s chipped effort landed on the roof of the net, and Boyce sent a header inches wide. Following interval team-talks, Harvester passed up a golden opportunity to equalise. Burnett and Swan combined brilliantly to set-up Harley, who made a terrible hash of his header. The cup holders continued to press, and goalkeeper Don Scott denied Chilton with a spectacular finger-tip save over the bar, and minutes later made a crucial block to keep out Harley. A second goal of genuine quality seven minutes from time settled the destination of this season’s silverware. McGeough and Boyce were involved in the build-up play. McKay sized up the situation brilliantly with his run and first touch to avoid the on-rushing Reid. He had time to take another touch before dispatching the ball into the net - and spark wild celebrations among the travelling United support. Continued on page 32

PLAYERS WANTED RACE NIGHT HELP FINNART BALL BOYS

2 pairs of glasses for £49

SHOT STOPPERS Goalkeeping Coaching Academy have been helped by sponsors and partnerships for their annual Race Night Fundraiser. Coaching staff would like to thank the following firms/people: Technical Progress Ltd (Cumbernauld), Bobby Ramsay (Livingston Juniors), Ian Marshall Upholstery (Bearsden), Jamie McGowan Finnart Coach, Finnart Under- 15 age group, BoltonGate (Bellshill), Coronet Clean Team (Glasgow), Land Director Owen Wilton at Park-

Lane-Group, Port Dundas Road, Glasgow, Stevie Cameron Event Logistics (East Kilbride), and The Wedding Store, Newhouse Industrial Estate, near Motherwell. Director John Higgins, J.H. Civil Engineering, Broadless Industrial Estate, Carlisle Road, Airdrie, and Director/Partner David Wheeler, at Drummond Laurie Chartered Accountants, Unit 5, Gateway Business Park, Grangemouth, have come forward to help Shot Stoppers as first-time partners.

SPORTS Council for Glasgow are launching a new quarterly award to recognise the work carried out by

an athlete, coach, official or volunteer. First nominations have to be submitted by June 29.

HAGHILL A.F.C. and Lochgreen A.F.C. will play in the Airdrie and Coatbridge

A.F.L. League Cup Final at Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie, on Sunday.

SPORTS AWARD

STRATHCLYDE Saturday Morning Football League have again asked Finnart Boys’ Club to provide them with ball boys at their four Cup Finals this month. Finnart have covered these games over the past two years, and the boys always enjoy the

experience. Finals take place Thorniewood United’s Robertson Park, Old Edinburgh Road. Under-15 Coach Jamie McGowan said: “We would like to thank all the committee and management at the league for asking us once again.”

LSK SUPPLIES-sponsored West of Scotland Under-21 Youth Football League are looking at an option of running Sunday games in addition to their highly competitive and

well-established Saturday divisions. Applications are being taken for both Saturday and Sunday. Contact Match Secretary Bob Toohill at 07766168280.

ST ROCH will hold their AnnualGeneral Meeting on Monday, June 8 at 7pm. Full membership season tickets (£30), non-

wage (£15), and free 16/under season admission can also be obtained on the night at James McGrory Park.

SUNDAY CENTRAL Amateur Football League are accepting entries from new and existing

clubs for season 2015-2016. Contact them at Sunday Central@live.co.uk

SUNDAY OPTION

ANNUAL MEETING

LEAGUE CUP FINAL REFEREES WANTED

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