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In
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In The News - June to August 2008 |
The Festival and Fringe brought several Accie musicians and artists to the fore this summer. Singer-songwriter Nick Keir (58-70) was mentioned in the Scotsman as being 'carefully tucked away in the Lawnmarket… with his Fires of Edinburgh show'. At around the same time, Angus Tully (staff 2004-) was giving a well-received organ recital in Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk. The Scotsman in early August also mentioned the Cambridge Folk Festival, which provided 'the first folk evening outing' for the children's jazz show Kidsamonium with Tom Bancroft (76-85). For those who have not heard this, Tom is bringing this family show to the Queen's Hall this week (Saturday 13th September, 2:00 pm). Farther from Edinburgh, James Ingham (86-97) appeared in July in BBC2's Dragon's Den with his Indie band, Hamfatter. They played well and impressed Dragon Peter Jones, who was 'blown away by the band’s performance, agreeing to back them with £75,000 of his own cash, in return for 30% of all profits'.
Already-established band, Coldplay, in which the bass guitarist is Guy Berryman (87-90), had a new album released this summer. Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends was reviewed in the Scotsman in June. The review by Fiona Shepherd is largely negative though she does admit that the title track, Viva La Vida, is 'the one track which could stand up beside Coldplay's best efforts'. Coldplay will be playing at Glasgow SECC on 5th and 6th December. Lastly Paul Jones (58-60) appeared on Radio 4's obituary programme, Last Word in June, where he was discussing the life of rock and roll icon, Bo Diddley, with presenter Matthew Bannister.
To art and July also saw a new exhibition by artist Jamie Primrose (77-90). Entitled Serenity, the show ran for three weeks at the Dundas Street Gallery. The Sunday Times reported on this 'series of 50 atmospheric oils and Indian inks… which capture the city… at various times of day when the light is at its most inspirational'. Artist Chad McCail (78-79) had his work critically reviewed in the Sunday Times in July. 'It looks childish and slight, but in fact is packed full of ideas that leave adults with a head full of difficult questions.' The Scotland on Sunday reviewer, Moira Jeffrey, described him as 'one of Scotland's most singular artists' who 'continues his one-man crusade for a better world'. An exhibition of his work has just finished at the Edinburgh Printmakers Gallery.
John Macaskill (55-63) featured in Scotland on Sunday in July. He and his business partner have spent two years and more than £1m rebuilding and restoring Fenton Tower, near North Berwick, to its former glory. The pictures show the ruin two years ago and the rebuilt castle, together with several of the interior, and one of a very happy looking John casually leaning against a door frame.
In the culinary arts, David Ramsden (59-70) appeared in the Stockbridge Gazette in May. David has opened a new bar-restaurant, The Dogs, in Hanover Street. To quote his reaction on being asked whether this was a gastro pub… ' "Whatever you do, don't call it that," he shuddered'. In July, former restaurateur Juliet Wilson (91-92) appeared in the Scotsman in a question-and-answer column discussing the humanist movement. Juliet, who describes herself as a food writer, opinion columnist and voice-over artist, was portrayed in the interview as 'one of the Humanist Society of Scotland's youngest celebrants'.
Finally a couple of non-artistic snippets. At the start of August, Alan Robertson (87-97) appeared in the Herald. Alan is the chairman of the BMA Scottish Junior Doctors' Committee and was quoted on how the European Working Time Directive is applied to junior doctors, 60-70% of whom are working more hours than the directive directs. And lastly, the RNLI magazine, Compass, paid tribute to Admiral Jock Slater (42-50), who has been the chairman of the RNLI for the past four years. The piece said that 'under Sir Jock's leadership, the facilities to train and develop crewmembers and staff have improved enormously, helping the RNLI to provide a world-class lifesaving service. Jock was also heard on Sunday 31st July on Radio 4's programme The Reunion about The Navy Lark. He was saying how much like the Navy it really was!
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