Latest news with #Baillie
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
How a 19th century Scottish con artist used 40 aliases and exploited a war for fraud
Annie Gordon Baillie built a life on deceit with a number of different scams. A notorious 19th century Scottish con artist who went by more than 40 aliases once duped crofters on Skye with a wild promise of a better life, thousands of miles away in a swamp. Annie Gordon Baillie, born into poverty in Peterhead in 1848, built a life on deceit. From defrauding shopkeepers in her twenties to posing as an aristocrat and philanthropist, she scammed her way through Britain and beyond. Her story is now the focus of a new episode of Lady Swindlers with Lucy Worsley on BBC Radio 4. By the 1870s, Baillie's ambitions had grown. She launched a fake charity to fund a Protestant school for girls in Catholic Rome. Donations flooded in, but no school ever materialised. 'The law catches up with her briefly in 1872 and she spends nine months in prison for fraud,' said historian Lucy Worsley. After her release, Baillie appeared to turn a new leaf. She married an opera singer, had three children and spent time in New York. But it wasn't long before she returned to her old ways. In November 1884, dressed in luxurious clothing and dripping with jewels, Baillie arrived on the Isle of Skye. According to Worsley, 'she passes herself off as a wealthy literary lady, who is writing a novel about the plight of the crofters of Skye.' She had chosen her moment carefully. The island was in turmoil during what became known as the Crofters' War, a bitter struggle between tenant farmers and landowners over soaring rents and mass evictions. These tensions were a continuation of the Highland Clearances that had displaced families from their ancestral lands to make way for large-scale farming. One of the most violent flashpoints was the 1882 Battle of the Braes, where police baton-charged islanders protesting their treatment. The unrest escalated in Glendale, prompting the deployment of Royal Navy marines from the iron-hulled gunboat Jackal in 1883 to support police in making arrests. Amid the chaos, Baillie saw an opportunity. Victorian Britain was gripped by a wave of philanthropy, and Baillie fashioned herself as a charitable novelist championing the crofters' cause. In a flamboyant interview at a Portree hotel with the Aberdeen Evening News, she arrived in a crimson dressing gown, her hands glittering with jewelled rings, to talk about her fundraising mission. But her plan soon took an outrageous turn. Baillie suggested that 1,000 crofters should emigrate to Australia, where she claimed she had secured new land for them. She even travelled to Melbourne to negotiate a deal and was shown an unwanted patch of swamp. Her pitch was simple: the crofters would abandon farming and become fishermen instead. But the scheme collapsed before it could begin. Back in London, Baillie's growing notoriety had caught up with her. Her elaborate plans and high-profile interviews had drawn the attention of Scotland Yard detective Henry Marshall, who had long tracked her fraudulent dealings. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She was arrested in 1888, leaving the crofters still waiting for their promised "golden ticket" to Australia. Baillie was sentenced to five years in prison for a string of shopkeeper swindles, though the true scale of her deception is believed to have been far greater. Even after her release, Baillie couldn't stay out of trouble. She was later jailed for stealing paintings, and eventually resurfaced in New York where, in 1902, records show she was placed in a workhouse for vagrancy. After that, she disappeared without a trace. Professor Rosalind Crone, resident historian on Lady Swindlers, said Baillie's story reveals 'the dark side' of Victorian charitable culture. 'It wasn't always about helping the unfortunate or supporting worthwhile causes,' she said. For the crofters, however, the war did lead to progress. A public inquiry into the unrest eventually resulted in legislation protecting their land rights, offering hope that no phoney aristocratic novelist would fool them again.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Daily Record
Fatal crash biker's 'broken-hearted' family pay tribute to 'adored' father and husband
Graeme John Baillie, 37, was killed when his blue Suzuki motorbike was involved in a crash with a red Volvo HGV near Glespin, South Lanarkshire. The heartbroken family of a motorcyclist who died in a horror crash with a lorry on the A70 in South Lanarkshire have paid tribute to an "adored father and husband". Graeme John Baillie, 37, was killed when his blue Suzuki motorbike collided with a red Volvo HGV near Glespin at around 2.20pm on Thursday, May 8. Emergency services rushed to the scene but sadly Mr Baillie was pronounced dead by the roadside. His family have released the following tribute via Police Scotland: 'Graeme was an adored husband and father, and he leaves behind a broken-hearted family and many friends whose lives he touched on a daily basis. "Many thanks to the road traffic police officers for their support.' Enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death. Constable Dougie Bryson said: 'Our thoughts are with Mr Baillie's family and friends at this difficult time. We'll continue to liaise with them throughout our investigation. 'I'd like to thank everyone who has come forward with information to assist our enquiries.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
STV News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Partially-sighted man to travel across UK to raise funds for Fife charity
A partially-sighted man will travel the length of Britain to mark the 160th anniversary of a Fife-based sight loss charity. Kris Baillie has been supported by Seescape for 10 years, and to repay the favour he is travelling from Shetland to Penzance in Cornwall to raise funds that will go towards helping others experiencing vision loss. The 3,200-mile journey begins on Monday, where he will set off from his home in Fife, criss-crossing the country via public transport in an effort to show the challenges partially-sighted and disabled people face in getting from one place to another. Mr Baillie, 45, will hop on ferries between Aberdeen and Shetland, as well as the UK's longest train ride from Aberdeen to Penzance. He will spend less than half an hour in Cornwall, before boarding a coach back up north to Edinburgh, via Birmingham and Leeds. His journey will finally end back in Kirkcaldy just before midnight on May 18. Since his diagnosis of partial sight loss in 2015, Kris has been supported by Seescape. Seescape is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year and has launched a 160 Challenge as part of the celebrations, and to raise extra funds. The charity supports more than 3,500 people across Fife every year who are blind or have sight loss, helping them to live independent lives through rehabilitation, advice and help with assistive technology. Mr Baillie said: 'I am very grateful to Seescape and everything they have done for me since I was diagnosed with sight loss. I wanted to help give back and celebrate their milestone anniversary. 'I wanted to take part in the 160 Challenge posed by Seescape, and my journey takes me 20 times 160 miles across the entire length of Britain. 'Public transport can sometimes be a challenge for someone with sight loss and I wanted to do this to challenge to show others that it is still possible to travel and live fully, with the right support, which is what Seescape has given me. 'I feel like I'm completing The Proclaimers song, 500 miles, but I am doing 2,500 more.' Lesley Carcary, Seescape's chief executive, said: 'We're incredibly proud of Kris and deeply touched by his determination and generosity. 'As we celebrate 160 years of service in Fife, this journey reminds us of the resilience of the people we support – and we are grateful for anyone who supports us, either through fundraising or volunteering. 'We can't wait to follow Kris's journey and support him along the way.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Dumbarton train station could be in line for name change in honour of town's historic castle
Discussions are being held over the potential name change of a Dumbarton train station in a bid to boost links with historic Dumbarton Castle . Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail have held discussions regarding the introduction of a formal station name change process and there is a test case for station re-naming currently underway to change Dumbarton East station to Dumbarton Castle station. Dumbarton's Labour MSP Jackie Baillie has written to the Scottish Government's Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, to request that Dumbarton East railway station, which sits less than a mile from the iconic landmark, has its name changed. Ms Baillie, the deputy leader of the Scottish Labour party, has embarked on a campaign to deliver investment in the castle and promote its cultural significance to the community. A Transport Scotland spokesperson today said: 'Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail have held discussions regarding the introduction of a formal station name change process and there is a test case for station re-naming currently underway. When this is completed a formal application process will be shared with interested parties for other stations. 'As passengers are generally familiar and recognise existing station names, there must be a compelling case for change. 'Successful station name changes will incur costs and adjustment, so it is important that applications are evidenced as considered, robust and well supported. 'Applications must demonstrate what the value and positive impact of changing the name will be. 'It should set out the longer-term benefits and why the name is worthy of being changed. Applicants will be responsible for undertaking and presenting evidence of support within the local community and relevant stakeholders. Click here for more news and sport from West Dunbartonshire. 'Transport Scotland officials will engage with Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail once the application process is ready to proceed.' It's expected that applications will come from recognised public groups or organisations – such as a councils or the Chamber of Commerce, as part of the process does not allow individuals to submit an application. Ms Baillie said: 'I'm delighted that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, has agreed that renaming Dumbarton East station to promote links with Dumbarton Castle and help boost tourism is a possibility. 'I would urge businesses, organisations and members of the public to get behind the move and help us to secure this change, to help bring more visitors to the area and boost tourism potential.' The move follows a recent visit by Angus Robertson MSP – the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture - to the site, at Ms Baillie's invitation. He visited the Rock after Ms Baillie called for greater investment from Dumbarton Castle site owners Historic Environment Scotland. Pressure group Friends of Dumbarton Castle has backed the bid to rename the station and promote cultural links. Paul Neeson, chairman of the organisation, welcomed the news, saying: 'It would be an excellent idea to rename Dumbarton East station. 'Dumbarton and the castle are intertwined and to have a station named after the castle would be a great thing.' Click here for more news and sport from West Dunbartonshire.
The Independent
30-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Spending more on benefits would be ‘wrong approach', Jackie Baillie says
Jackie Baillie has defended the UK Government's £5 billion welfare cuts, saying the projected rise in the benefits bill is 'not sustainable'. The deputy leader of Scottish Labour said it would be the 'wrong approach' for the UK Government to pay more while not ensuring people get back into work. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced £5 billion worth of cuts earlier this month, mostly from a reduction in support for those on incapacity or disability benefits. These were late compounded by further cuts in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spring statement. Three million people are expected to be impacted. Speaking on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Ms Baillie said it was important for the Government to encourage people into work. She said: 'If you look at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), they're saying currently personal independence payment (Pip) accounts and disability benefits account for £50 billion each year. 'They're projecting, in the next five years that will grow to £75 billion. So if you were that's not sustainable.' Asked if she would vote for the measures if she was an MP, she said: 'I would support getting people into work. I think that is the right objective. 'Spending an extra £75 billion, if we don't do anything about getting people back into work, is the wrong approach. That's not sustainable. 'Getting people back into work is key. None of these changes take place until November 2026. There is time to focus and an additional £1 billion is going towards employment support, which frankly, the SNP have cut.' The OBR has predicted the welfare reforms could push another 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children. But Ms Baillie told the programme those figures did not take into account whether those people would take up employment. 'The OBR modelled the impact of the changes,' she said. 'What they didn't model was the impact of people going into employment. 'And that needs to be seen as the counterbalance to what's going on.' Appearing earlier on the same programme, Scotland's Health Secretary described the welfare cuts as a 'big mistake' and an 'error'. Neil Gray accused Labour of conflating Pip with out-of-work benefits. Pip is designed to help disabled people who face extra living costs due to their disability, regardless of their work status. In Scotland, this benefit is being replaced by the Adult Disability Payment. Mr Gray said: 'I think that was the big mistake the Chancellor made, to seek to settle and balance the books on the backs of disabled people who are more likely to be in poverty, are more likely to be furthest from the labour market. 'You're better to provide that support to them to enter the labour market, rather than take it away.'
