Page 49 - James Pirie News

Are You Expecting the Queen to Visit? –

 What if She Does Come?

Well you could have knocked them down with a feather when a certain E R , her initials according to her post boxes anyway, decided to drop into a local Edinburgh pub. Not since Jeremy Clarkson surprised a producer in a pub in Yorkshire has there been a more unexpected event in a tavern.

The Queen Pubs It

The Sheep Heid Inn, Scotland’s...

Great Scot’s Medal Goes on Sale –

George Cross Awarded to Brave Edinburgh Hero

When the Japanese took over Singapore in 1941 they showed little humanity to their prisoners and growing up I knew a few families who wouldn’t have anything Japanese in the house. But times change and the wheel of time moves on, but a moment of that time is now going up for sale.

Withstood Everything

John Fraser was a 47...

 Get Projected on Edinburgh Castle –

Festival Opens with the Image of Ordinary People

If you live or have lived in Edinburgh you have been invited to share your picture with the world. Thousands upon thousands of local residents will have their image projected the castle and on its rock base, no jokes about showing on Arthur’s Seat please, as part of the opening of the International Festival.

Deep...

Scots Railways Saves the Day –

Newest Addition to Rail Network

For one week only the good people South Lanarkshire have been rescued by rail enthusiasts. When the local council decided to resurface the the B797, the only road in or out. The road was to be closed for up to two weeks.   The village of Wanlockhead, probably Scotland’s highest village, needs the road for access to the only shop and doctor’s...

King Andrew Wins Again –

Second Title a Cause for Celebration

Well Milos wasn’t up to it and Andy was. It was a great day for Scottish sport and against the world’s strongest server. The bombs from Raonic were hurtling down towards the Dunblane man at 147 miles per hour and yet they came back over the net. My heart was in my mouth and I have to admit it didn’t help my language. But the proud Scot weathered...

Know Someone Who Deserves an Award? -

Dr Who Gets His Just Desserts

Only the other day I was thinking about Beattie, alias Maureen Lipman and her character for those BT adverts,  especially the one which goes “You’ve Got an Ology!” Her disappointing grandson has failed most of his GCSEs and she’s baked him a cake, but she is trying to find some light in the tunnel, he has woodwork and an “Ology”...

Dundee Celebrates Life of Mary Lily Walker –

A Woman of Substance

Just recently in Dundee a plaque marking the birthplace of Victorian social reformer Mary Lily Walker was unveiled.  Mary was a clever lassie and she excelled academically. She was educated at Tayside House, and later at the High School of Dundee between 1880 and 1881. She then attended University College Dundee where she was one of...

To Perth All the Way on the Silvery Tay -

Water Taxis Planned for Venice of the North

 Scotland’s salmon fishermen have been interested to see new plans for a water taxi on the Tay. The scheme is part a Tay Regeneration Project master plan to make the river more accessible to the general public, just as they are across Europe. William McGonagall my old favourite called the river the “silvery Tay”...

More Misery on the Rails -

Six days of Strikes Announced

If you use ScotRail you can expect more misery as they have just announced six days of strikes. If you are a golf fan and want to go to Troon for the open then don’t plan to do it by train as the climax of the competition is a strike day.  And when we are voting on the European Referendum, guess what- yes another strike.   

Lightning Conductor...

Tunnock’s Oor Wullie –

Takes the Biscuit

The loveable loon Oor Wullie with the spiky hair isn’t just only 80 years young,  but he now takes the bucket as well as the biscuit with an art trail of sculptures of the scamp on display across Dundee. And one of them has just been revealed as a sculpture made from Scotland’s favourite Tunnock’s tea cakes. The scamp’s tea cake artwork was made by the Fife...