Latest news with #DundeeUni
Scottish Sun
25-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Missing man's photo ‘aged' in fresh bid to find him on his 54th birthday
David McCallum was only 31 when he vanished near Loch Lomond HOPE Missing man's photo 'aged' in fresh bid to find him on his 54th birthday Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MISSING man's photo has been digitally aged by 23 years in a fresh bid to find him on his 54th birthday. David McCallum was 31 when he vanished more than two decades ago with scientists using modern techniques to show what he might look like today. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Dundee Uni scientists used age progression technology to alter a photograph of missing man David McCallum 4 Police released the images to mark his 54th birthday 4 Teams used tech to give David different hair styles and a beard to give an idea of what he might look like today 4 David disappeared near Loch Lomond 23 years ago Dundee University experts used age progression software to create four updated shots showing him with different hairstyles and a beard. Extensive searches have been carried out for David who disappeared near Loch Lomond with possible sightings more than 400 miles away years later. Detective Inspector David Lavery hopes the shots will help bring answers to his family. He said: 'There have always been unanswered questions around David's disappearance. 'These latest images show what David may look like now. 'I would appeal particularly to anyone who was wild camping in the Lochan Maoil Dhuinne area the weekend David was last seen, as well as people who have worked with the homeless community in London over the years. 'If anyone recognises David from these images, or has any information that can help our enquiries, please contact us.' David, from Clydebank, was last seen near Rowardennan, in Stirlingshire, in March 2003, with his black Ford Focus discovered nearby. Brit tourist missing after flying to Tenerife three weeks ago but never returning as cops launch huge search He is described as 5ft9, of slim build and with dark brown hair. David's case has featured in television and Missing People charity appeals, with potential sightings logged in Sussex in 2017 and London's Tower Hill tube station two years later.
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Troubled Scots uni's new finance chief quits after EIGHT DAYS
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE new finance chief of Dundee University has quit just eight days into the job. Chris Reilly was appointed to the senior position last month for a period of 18 months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The new interim finance director of Dundee University has quit his role Credit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd Uni chiefs hailed his arrival and said he comes with a "wealth of experience". But after just over a week in the hot seat, Mr Reilly has left his role at the troubled institution "by mutual agreement". The new interim university principal, Professor Nigel Seaton, told staff of Mr Reilly's departure. In an email to workers, he wrote: "Dear colleagues, I am writing to let you know that Chris Reilly, our Interim Chief Finance Officer, has left the University by mutual agreement. "We are moving quickly to appoint a new Interim Director of Finance who will take us through the next steps of the University Recovery Plan for submission to the Scottish Funding Council. "We will share further information about this process with you as soon as possible." Bosses at Dundee Uni will now have to find their fourth finance chief in less than a year amid a financial crisis. Mr Reilly replaced former interim finance director Helen Simpson after she worked just seven months in her post. Last October, her predecessor Peter Fotheringham quit shortly before the state of the university's finances emerged. Last week, ex-interim principal Shane O'Neill quit shortly after the release of a scathing report into management's handling of the crisis. Major Scots university to axe 632 jobs as staff left 'in tears' Last week, we told how former boss Iain Gillespie refuses to give back his £150,000 pay-off. The former principal and vice chancellor left as Dundee Uni went into meltdown. He later admitted to MSPs that he had been "incompetent" during a Holyrood grilling. Last month, the Scottish Government handed the uni an extra £40million in emergency funding.
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Dundee University principal: 'I'm not corrupt, I'm incompetent'
The University of Dundee had to be bailed out by the Scottish Government due to a £35m black hole in its finances, with a total of £62m provided this year. Professor Gillespie was criticised heavily in the Gillies report into the crisis which found he had an "overbearing leadership style" and disliked being questioned or having potentially awkward confrontations. Read More: Hearings are being held in the wake of the report, Amanda Millar, the former chair of the university court, former finance chief Peter Fotheringham and Dr Jim McGeorge, the former chief operating officer, gave evidence yesterday - something Professor Gillespie said he did not watch. The principal "tended to control the narrative to the court and elsewhere", painting a picture of all being well at the university, the report found. It said: "There were many reports to this investigation that the Principal frequently demonstrated hubris, or excessive pride in his role. Hubris is relevant insofar as it can be characterised by dangerous over self-confidence and complacency, often in combination with arrogance, contempt towards people who offer criticism and obsession with personal image and status." The report concluded that cultural issues "were not the primary cause of the financial collapse" but aspects "may have facilitated or been associated with a lack of transparency". On Thursday Professor Gillespie faced MSP questions at the education, children and young people committee, wit Opening questioning, convenor Douglas Ross put it to the former principal that his leadership style was flawed, something the professor challenged. Mr Ross said: "Why are you the only person who thought you were a good leaders, when Pamela Gillies makes clear in her report that your leadership was part of the problem here?". Former principal of Dundee Uni Professor Iain Gillespie will not take questions from the media after getting a grilling from MSPs during the Education committee at Holyrood this morning.@HeraldPols @heraldscotland asks if he acted with hubris? No response — Hannah Brown (@HannahMargBrown) June 26, 2025 The Conservative MSP directly accused the principal of lying to staff and students when, on February 28, he said the university was "moving into a surplus after decades of financial deficits" while there was an £8m hole in the budget. Professor Gillespie said: "There was no lie there, there was no mendacity. It may have been incorrect, and I accept that it was incorrect." A big part of Wednesday's evidence centred around the breach of the university's banking covenant, which should have been, but was not, reported to the Scottish Funding Council. The former principal said his knowledge of the situation was "very poor" and only became aware of a 2023 challenge to the covenant when he read it in the Gillies Report. Mr Ross replied: "Sorry? Say that again, because I can't believe what you've just said." Professor Gillespie was given a £150k payout when he resigned from the University of Dundee, and was quizzed repeatedly on whether he would repay that. He indicated that he would not. Willie Rennie said: "You say your apology is heartfelt, I have to say I don't feel it. "You didn't watch yesterday, you're not prepared to pay the £150k back to the university. It doesn't feel like you really feel the pain other people are going through at this time. "Do you understand how angry people are about that?" He then brought up a previous session where Professor Gillespie gave evidence to the committee, in which he said universities in Scotland were "quite well run" and that he did not see "any risk to survival" of universities. The Liberal Democrat MSP concluded: "Were you delusional or incompetent, or was there something else?". Mr Rennie then asked Professor Gillespie if he felt people were afraid to challenge him, leading to a long pause after which the former principal said members of court "certainly" weren't afraid to. Ross Greer asked the former principal if he'd ever withheld information from the university court. He replied: "I certainly wasn't deliberately withholding information from court. I would have conversations with the chair of court on specifics. 'I had a conversation as I began to see the severity, and the chair of courts view was very firmly that she communicates with court members,' he says. 'There was sense that you speak when you're spoken to.' The Green MSP said he found that "hard to believe". The session concluded with some more questions from the convenor, Mr Ross. In his final question he asked Professor Gillespie whether he was incompetent or corrupt. The former principal replied: "I'm certainly not corrupt, so I have to choose incompetent.' Following the session he refused to answer questions from the media.
