Latest news with #Allan'sPrimary
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Stirling pupil Ru gives MSPs at Holyrood a welcome laugh
The Allan's Primary youngster was one of just 32 finalists from thousands who entered the national joke telling competition, with the final being held at the Scottish Parliament. A P1 pupil from Allan's Primary School in Stirling had MSPs in fits of laughter recently at the VoiceBox grand final – a national joke-telling competition. Ru McCallum had taken part in the contest, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). The final, which took place at Holyrood, featured 32 pupils from across Scotland, with a regional winner representing each local authority. Every finalist performed their joke live before an audience of MSPs, families, and supporters. The final followed a nationwide call for entries that saw thousands of jokes submitted by pupils from hundreds of primary schools. Ru's joke, which earned a place in the final, was: 'Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because he wasn't peeling very well!' VoiceBox was created by the RCSLT to spotlight the importance of early speech, language and communication development and the power of speech and language therapy. While rooted in fun, the competition's purpose is to raise awareness of the vital role communication plays in a child's confidence, learning, and life outcomes. Ezra Pasifull, of P3 at Oakbank Primary School in Perth and Kinross, was crowned Scotland's funniest young comedian after leaving MSPs in stitches. The winning joke, delivered 'with confidence and impeccable timing', was: 'I bought 10 bees but the beekeeper gave me 11 bees. I asked him why there is an extra bee and he said, because that one's a 'Free Bee!'.' Glenn Carter, Head of RCSLT Scotland, said: 'While the event is full of joy and laughter, its purpose is serious. Speech, language and communication are essential skills that underpin a child's learning, relationships, and long-term opportunities. VoiceBox shines a light on this by showing just what children can achieve when they're supported to express themselves.' The final was hosted by the Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, and compered by BBC journalist and comedian Zara Janjua, who returned for her second year with the competition. Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: 'It was a pleasure to welcome so many young people from across Scotland to their Parliament. Following a strong nation-wide competition, I want to congratulate all our finalists. The effort, imagination and thought that went into their contributions was extremely impressive. I'm pleased that once again the Parliament was able to support such a worthwhile competition.' The 2025 final marks the second year VoiceBox has been held at the Scottish Parliament, following its January launch on Blue Monday, a date chosen to brighten the calendar and kick-off joke competitions in classrooms nationwide. Each of the 32 finalists received £100 worth of books from sponsors Collins Big Cat, the UK's leading whole-school primary reading programme. The overall winner's school received £500 worth of Collins Big Cat books, while the runner-up, Freya McVie Branley from St Winning's Primary School in North Ayrshire, and third-place winner, Craig Speirs from Shortlees Primary School in East Ayrshire, were awarded £200 worth of books for their schools. In addition, the top three finalists received toy gift cards – £100 for the winner, £75 for second place, and £50 for third place.
The Courier
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
10 famous faces you didn't know were educated in Stirling
Stirling and its surrounding area has produced many celebrities over the years. From TV stars to sporting legends, plenty of famous faces went to school locally. While tennis pros Andy and Jamie Murray are among the most celebrated names, others are less synonymous with the area. Here are 10 well-known figures who you may not have known studied in the Stirling Council area. All Quiet on the Western Front claimed four Oscars in 2023. But did you know its screenwriter and producer, Lesley Paterson, is from Stirling? The triathlon world champion used her race winnings to retain the rights to the film. Lesley credits Allan's Primary for developing her passion for writing. And it was while attending Stirling High School that she first read the original book by Erich Maria Remarque. Influencer and Love Island star Laura Anderson is also an alumnus of Stirling High School. The former flight attendant from Cambusbarron was crowned runner-up on the fourth series of Love Island in 2018. She has also appeared on Celebrity Karaoke Club and reality show Celebs Go Dating. Laura has 1.5 million followers on Instagram and almost 40,000 on TikTok. Finn Russell is a big name in Scottish rugby. The Bridge of Allan native has 87 caps and currently plays for Premiership club Bath. After leaving Wallace High School, he worked as a stonemason before becoming a full-time rugby player. But it was during his secondary education that he discovered his love for the sport. Having starred in Bad Girls, Wire In The Blood, EastEnders and Downton Abbey, Simone Lahbib is a household name. The Scottish actress is a former pupil of St Modan's High School. She then went to ballet school and later studied drama at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh. Olympian Ross Murdoch is well known in the swimming world. The six-time Commonwealth Games medallist was part of the University of Stirling's high-performance swim programme and graduated with a MSc in sport Management in 2022. But before finding aquatic fame, he attended Balfron High School. Nick Nairn hasn't strayed too far from home with his restaurant ventures. The Trossachs TV chef runs Nick's at Port of Menteith and his Bridge of Allan eatery closed last year. In 1991, he became the youngest Scottish chef to win a Michelin star and appeared on The Great Food Guys with Dougie Vipond. He attended McLaren High School in Callander, as well as Port of Menteith Primary. Finn Russell isn't the only rugby legend to come out of Wallace High School. Kenny Logan's international career saw him win 70 caps for his country, 220 points and compete in both the Five Nations and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently dedicated to fundraising for motor neurone disease (MND) in honour of former teammate Doddie Weir. Globally known musician and CHVRCHES star Lauren Mayberry grew up in Thornhill, near Stirling. The former journalist, whose band is known for hit single The Mother We Share, has played at top festivals, including Coachella and Glastonbury. Lauren went to Beaconhurst School – now Fairview International School – in Bridge of Allan before studying at Strathclyde University. Basketball ace Kieron Achara was part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics and has played at the Commonwealth Games. He got his start at Falkirk Fury, played for Duquesne College in the United States and retired in 2019 after more than a decade with the Glasgow Rocks. The former Stirling High School pupil is on the board of directors for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Since leaving Wallace High School, actress Mirren Mack has gone on to star in some big shows. These includes Netflix's Sex Education and The Witcher: Blood Origin, as well as BBC's The Nest and Miss Austen. The Stirling star went to Holy Trinity Primary School and Riverside Primary, as well as the Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
