Latest news with #Dundonians
The Courier
7 hours ago
- The Courier
Hate crime declared as 'disgusting' antisemitic graffiti appears in Dundee city centre
'Sinister' antisemitic graffiti written on a Dundee city centre poster is being treated as a hate crime. The vandalism was discovered on Tuesday May 20 in the Arctic Pend tunnel, which connects New Inn Entry to the High Street and gives access to the Keiller Centre. Vandals targeted a poster, which has the message 'It can't be terrible forever' written on it. Beneath the message they had written: 'Only kicking out the Jews will make things better.' The bottom part of the poster containing the message has now been ripped off. Police say they are treating the incident as a hate crime. Cllr Fraser Macpherson, the Lib Dem group leader on Dundee City Council, said 'Dundee has always been an inclusive city, welcoming to all, and Dundonians will agree with me that any racist and antisemitic graffiti is disgusting and totally unacceptable.' He added: 'It is a criminal offence and a hate crime and Police Scotland moved fast to put out an appeal for anyone who witnessed this taking place to contact them. 'I have raised this dreadful graffiti with the council's environment management to ensure it gets removed.' Mayfield councillor Lynne Short (SNP) said: 'There has been a proliferation of graffiti appearing in the city centre recently. 'Most of it is senseless and mindless. 'But this one is disgusting. 'We shouldn't be in a situation where any race, creed or colour should be brought into anything – least of all, street graffiti.' 'This is not mindless graffiti, or people just passing the time of day. 'This is more sinister. 'It's targeted and it is not right.' Police have appealed for witnesses to the vandalism to come forward. PC Rebecca Cantwell from the city centre policing team said: 'Due to the nature of this graffiti, we are treating this act as a hate crime. 'Our enquiries are ongoing, and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.' Police have urged anyone with any information to contact 101 and to quote incident number CR/0211555/25. Members of the public can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Succession star Brian Cox takes scathing swipe at Glasgow over ‘sectarianism & Orange walks'
The Scots actor looks back on an award-winning sitcom BRIAN Cox has claimed his fellow Dundonians have a more positive mindset than Glaswegians because they are unaffected by sectarianism. The award-winning actor was brought up in a Catholic family in Dundee but said he never experienced any prejudice over his religion in the city. Advertisement 2 The succession star branded Orange Walks in Glasgow as 'odd' Credit: Tom Farmer He said being free from bigotry gave people on the east coast a can-do attitude and a bright, optimistic sense of humour. By contrast, the Succession star said he felt many people from the west of Scotland have a "poor me" mentality which stems from the "burden" of sectarianism. Cox, 78, said the positive mindset fed into his portrayal of Dundee burger van owner and would-be politician Bob Servant in the BBC comedy series. He said: "What I loved about the script was it was very, very much our humour as opposed to west of Scotland humour. Advertisement "A lot of TV things in Scotland are all very Glasgow and west coast, you've Rab C Nesbitt and Still Game and all that. "I'm an east coaster and my humour is east coast. It's kind of wacky and off the wall. "It's not 'poor me' like Glasgow. Dundee is very bright and very up and very high and Bob is an endless optimist. "He's a complete whack job but he's unique in that sense, I don't think there are many other characters like him. Advertisement "Bob's recovery is incredible, he doesn't get daunted, he always finds another path. He goes 'That didn't work, I'm going to do this'. "I think that's very east coast, that we always find another way of doing something. Tense scenes in Glasgow as Celtic fans in stand off with Orange walk followers "We haven't got the burden of sectarianism at all, we don't have any of that. "I always found it so odd that there were these Orange marches in Glasgow. Advertisement "It would have meant nothing in my hometown because we all got on." Bob Servant, which is set in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, ran for two series on the BBC before ending in 2015. 2 Brian Cox has taken a swipe at Glasgow over 'sectarianism' and Orange walks Credit: Getty Cox looked back on the show in a new BBC 4 programme called 'Brian Cox Remembers Bob Servant'. Advertisement Writer Neil Forsyth published a Bob Servant book - a series of hilarious back-and-forths between the Dundonian and an array of spam emailers - which was named by author Irvine Welsh as the funniest book he'd read. Welsh's boost was enough to get it republished, at which point BBC Scotland bought the rights to it. Cox was cast in the role after the actor's son discovered the book in the bathroom at his New York home and persuaded his dad to take the part.
The Courier
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Best pictures from Abertay Digital Graduate Show 2025
The Abertay Digital Graduate Show returned for another year this weekend as Dundonians were treated to a spectacle of talent. This year's event features over 140 honours projects spanning a broad range of digital themes, including concept art, character design and animation. The showcase began on Thursday and will run until Saturday. The show is being held over two floors at the Kydd Building – home to Abertay University's National Centre for Excellence in Games Education. VIP guests from across the UK games industry are also in attendance, engaging with students and viewing their innovative projects. Doors are open between 12pm to 4pm. .
The Courier
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
MARTEL MAXWELL: My message to brilliant Dundee DJ Hannah Laing
There are two types of people in this word: radiators and drains. The radiators give: positivity, laughs, support. The drains take: sucking the joy out of life. I thought of this as I read about Dundee DJ Hannah Laing whose homecoming dance event was by all accounts (of anyone who was actually there) brilliant. Yet while she should have been riding high on the success of her inaugural event, she found herself hitting back at criticism by keyboard warriors online. This Harris Academy former pupil has beaten the odds, becoming a name recognised in her field of DJing, around the world. From Ibiza to the States, she's in demand and has experienced an outpouring of positivity for her sets in a growing list of countries. So, you'd think playing a surprise set at the weekend at Dundee Dance Event – remembering her roots and wanting to start something special – would be applauded. But a vocal and often anonymous minority found what they could to complain about: the crowd spoiled things videoing on their phones; the nineties were so much better – came the moans from Dundee Drains. Hannah replied, saying: 'The Dundee Dance Event was honestly amazing. 'However, Dundee can be a really negative city and the more I explore the world, the more I realise it. 'People in other places I go are kind, welcoming, open-minded. 'If you weren't there, stop judging it. The energy was electric but loads of comments on this post are insane.' A measured, honest response – but why should she have to defend herself? Is it not embarrassing that the most negative place she's ever encountered is her home? She also pointed out that it's 2025, things move on and that while 'phones are not ideal for the dancefloor, which I've expressed many times, people were singing, dancing, loving life with friends/family and that's what it's about.' I wrote just a few weeks ago about the brilliance of Dundee and Dundonians – but the underlying negativity of some that lets us down. It's the minority who do people and our city down – for so many are proud of Dundee – but the bitterness can negate the positivity. Why, when we could all be cheerleading and making people see how great this place we are lucky enough to call home is? That's not to say people shouldn't be honest or critical – but just saying people, events or our city is rubbish – is personal and depressive. Not wanting people to get ideas above their station and remember where they come from is toxic. Look at Hannah – all she was doing was remembering where she came from. She has 'made it' and this is cause for celebration. For all the kids facing the anxiety of exams with a fear they don't fit the mould of going to university or getting an office job – look at what you can do. Be bold, be different. Hannah's journey has taken her from being a dental nurse to selling out gigs around the world. She will have faced gigs to a man and his dog; of not knowing when her next pay day was coming. It's not an accident she's successful – she worked hard and deserves our positivity. Back to the radiators and drains. They exist in every town and city around the world. And I suppose one person's drain might be another's radiator. You know when you've lost a bit of weight or have had your hair done – a radiator would tell you you look fabulous. A drain would clock the change but rather not give you the compliment. They might also frown and say 'my, you were drunk last night' while the radiator tells you not to be daft, everyone was dancing on tables. That's not to say a radiator can't moan or complain – and sometimes they'll need you to be their radiator and buck them up. I have one radiator friend and I take great pride in being her go-to phone call when she needs to feel better. The call for help might only come once a year but she'll say 'Can you please say something to make me feel better?' It might be a sticky situation at work or personal dilemma. I want to be that person – it makes me feel great I can help. The point is that radiators can moan – it doesn't make them a drain. But that vibe when someone just isn't really on your side? That's a drain and the more I live, the more I learn – there's no point trying to please them. If they don't like you, don't try to change their mind. Let the ranting few shout into the echo chamber of social media like the ranting drains they are. To Hannah, and indeed all the radiators out there, just you continue to do you.
The Courier
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Courier
John Swinney told to apologise for state of GP services in Dundee
First Minister John Swinney was told to apologise for the state of GP access in Dundee on Monday as he visited a local surgery. Mr Swinney was in the city as he prepares to set out plans to improve access to family doctors. But he was met by a small group of protesters outside Newfield Medical Group holding signs highlighting the 25% reduction in GP surgeries in the city after 18 years of SNP government. The Scottish Government says improving the health service will be at the heart of the new programme for government on Tuesday. The reset is also expected to focus on the first minister's other priorities – including cutting child poverty rates, creating jobs and growing the economy. Mr Swinney – who marks 12 months in the top job on Thursday – vowed to unveil a 'radical programme' with a 'relentless focus' on delivery. Speaking about his plans for the NHS, Mr Swinney said: 'When I became first minister a year ago, I heard loud and clear people's concerns about the NHS. 'The programme for government I announce today will take serious action to put the NHS on track to meet the needs of the public.' The government has delivered more than 100,000 NHS appointments and procedures to reduce waiting times, but he says there is more to do. 'While many people's experience of their GP is excellent, for many others there is deep frustration over what has been described as the 8am lottery to make appointments,' he said. 'So we will act to reduce pressure and increase capacity in the system, to make it easier for people to get the care they need, when they need it.' Dundee-based Labour MSP Michael Marra, told The Courier the First Minister's visit to a GP surgery in Dundee should have come with an apology. He said: 'The first minister has a brass neck visiting a GP practice here in Dundee, when his SNP government has presided over crisis after crisis in our city's health service. 'On the SNP's watch, almost one in four GP practices in Dundee has closed, while patient numbers have soared by 37%. 'He should be apologising to Dundonians for the mess that he and Shona Robison have made of our city's health service.'
