Latest news with #Fifer
The Herald Scotland
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Some of the world's best bands play Scotland in June: Here's our pick
But can we point you in the direction of this Glasgow gig by our favourite Fifer Jacob Alon? The singer-songwriter has often been called Scotland's next big thing (we said it ourselves in The Herald Magazine back in January), a debut album, the sublime In Limerence, out May 30, is the next step on the journey. Alon's delicate vocals and searingly honest lyrics have drawn comparisons to Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. Heady company, but Alon doesn't sound out of place. This will probably be one of the quieter gigs this month, but it will possibly resonate the longest. Iggy Pop 02 Academy, Glasgow, June 3 Iggy Pop (Image: PA) Maybe the drugs do work. Or maybe he's indestructible. So many of his contemporaries are no longer with us, but Jim Osterberg's still around, still singing Lust for Life and The Passenger and showing off his aged torso as he reaches the fag end of his seventies. It really is quite something. Still a street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm, in other words. Spectacular Shostakovich: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Usher Hall, June 6; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, June 7 Marking the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich's death, the RSNO performs his epic 11th Symphony, inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1905. Thomas Sondergard conducts and cellist Daniel Muller-Schott is the soloist. Pulp OVO Hydro, Glasgow, June 7 Getting the jump on Oasis, Britpop's finest (well, it's them or Suede) mark their first album - entitled More - in 24 years with another round of live gigs. Last seen in these parts ushering in 2024 at Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the band have had a new lease of life whilst mourning the loss of bass player Steve Mackey. Will the new album live up to its predecessors? That remains to be seen (the precursor single, Spike Island, is OK but maybe not much more). Still, any excuse to sing along to Do You Remember the First Time and Babies is always to be welcomed. Abbie Gordon The Poetry Club, Glasgow, June 19 New blood. Abbie Gordon is a teenage singer-songwriter from Irvine who was named Young Live Artist of the Year in December after headlining King Tut's. The future starts here. And while you're at it, maybe check out Theo Bleak (Canvas, Dundee, June 20), another fresh singer-songwriter with an ear for a tune. Diana Ross OVO Hydro, Glasgow, June 25 Diana Ross (Image: Newsquest) Yes, that Diana Ross. Now in the foothills of her ninth decade on the planet, Ross has a back catalogue that stretches back to her Motown pomp in The Supremes, and takes in her imperious disco era working with Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, her Bee Gees-fuelled Chain Reaction chart ascendancy and even collaborating with the name producer of the moment, Jack Antonoff, on 2021 album Thank You. Not sure she'll have any time for deep cuts. The question is, which of her 100 plus singles will she leave out? Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band Mono, Glasgow, June 25 The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band (Image: free) In the mood for some country blues? This might be the gig for you. Big voice, big beard and guitar picking. The good Reverend, who hails from Indiana, leads a trio including his wife Washboard Breezy (on washboard, you might not be surprised to hear) and Jacob Powell on percussion. Can't deny, they make a noise. Lana Del Rey Hampden Park, Glasgow, June 26 Lana Del Rey (Image: free) Gone are the days Lana used to hang out in Glasgow's south side, but she is back in the city for this arena gig towards the end of the month. Del Rey's shtick - established as early as her first single Video Games - is the society girl with an eye for bad boys, as played out in a Mogadon haze. On paper that doesn't sound like a recipe for filling arenas but it's turned out to be surprisingly moreish. Del Rey is currently the 25th most streamed artist in the world. Hopefully she will turn up on time this evening and not risk getting the power turned off as happened to her at Glastonbury in 2023. Simple Minds Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, June 27 Part of this year's Summer Sessions programme (preceded by the Sex Pistols and Sting on June 21 and June 25 respectively), Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill return for a hometown gig. We can argue over their back catalogue (my cut-off point is 1982; given the commercial success of what was to follow clearly few agree), but the truth is they remain a formidable live act. As frontman, Kerr both looks his age and acts like he's still in his twenties. It's quite the combination. Macy Gray Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, June 27 Macy Gray (Image: Newsquest) Want to feel old? It's now been 26 years - yes, 26 - since Macy Gray's breakthrough single, I Try, which introduced us to the gorgeous rasp of her voice. It remains her best known song, but she has never stopped making records. Quick question. Is her cover of Radiohead's Creep better than Billie Eilish's? Discuss. Kid Creole and the Coconuts Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, June 28; Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, June 29 To be honest, there is a corner of my head where it's always 1982. The year I left home, the year I started fending for myself, the year I fell in love. Kid Creole and the Coconuts were part of that year's soundtrack, a heady mix of disco, Latin rhythms and New Pop, amped up by August Darnell's larger-than-life ego and Zoot suits, and gilded by the Coconuts themselves, all backcombed blonde attitude and harmonies. It was pop panto back then, probably more so now, but, admit it, you're humming 'Ona-Ona-Onamatopea' even as you read this. (Who cares if that's not the real lyric? It's a better one.) Lucy Dacus Usher Hall, Edinburgh, June 30; Barrowland Ballroom, July 1 Fresh from her time as a member of Boygenius and being namechecked by Taylor Swift in her song The Tortured Poets Department, the American singer-songwriter is touring in support of her latest album Forever is a Feeling. It contains a track called Limerence, by the way, which takes us back to Jacob Alon and where we came in.
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish golf round up: Rankings rise for in-form Crail ace plus club's £25,000 golf day
All the latest from tournaments involving Scottish golfers from Martin Dempster Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Our golf correspondent Martin Dempster wraps up the latest news from events with Scottish golfers involved: Rankings rise for in-form Andrew Davidson Crail Golfing Society's Andrew Davidson has made a huge leap up the World Amateur Golf Ranking after producing his second eye-catching performance of the domestic season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hot on the heels of making home advantage count to win the Battle Trophy, Davidson finished joint-third in the 59th Lytham Trophy, one of the top events on the amateur schedule in the UK and Ireland. The Fifer posted rounds of 71-75-70-72 on the testing Royal Lytham links for an eight-over-par total, ending up just three shots off the winning aggregate as Frenchman Hugo Le Goff closed with a best-of-the-week 66 to claim the coveted title. Crail Golfing Society's Andrew Davidson has made a strong start to the domestic season | Contributed Le Goff, who started the final round in joint-14th, pipped England's Tom Osborne with his closing salvo, becoming the first French player to win the event and just the fifth Continental European to do so. Davidson, who was 717th in the WAGR heading into the event but is now up to a career-best 336th, shared third spot with Ireland's Matthew McClean, who played in the 2023 Masters after winning the US Mid-Amateur the previous year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It was good to follow up my win at Crail with a performance like that, especially as Lytham has got to be up there among the hardest courses in the UK,' said Davidson. 'I didn't have a lot of birdies, which was down to the fact I didn't putt very well, but, at the same time, I managed to keep any big numbers off my card, which is always a positive round there. 'It is good to see that you can compete at that level. There were a couple of times last year when I was up there in the Brabazon Trophy and the St Andrews Links Trophy before falling away, so it was good to stay up there right to the end this time.' Elsewhere in Lancashire, brother and sister Jamie and Carly McDonald both recorded top-ten finishes in their respective categories in The Fairhaven Trophies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martine Pow, winner of the scratch section at Scotscraig, and Golfbreaks Get Back to Golf Tour founder Alan Tait | Contributed Martine Pow turns back clock on SWAT Former Scottish Women's Amateur champion Martine Pow turned back the clock in the latest event on the Golfbreaks Scottish Women's Amateur Tour at Scotscraig. In breezy conditions at the Fife venue, where 58 players teed it up, the Selkirk member carded a three-over-par 75 to claim the scratch spoils by a shot from both Dunfermline's Megan Scott and Mary Smith from Tain. In the handicap event, Lochend's Linda Robertson carded a net six-under 66 playing off 11 to pip Kerry Lockerbie from Crichton. After four events, Kelso's Leanne Wilson leads the way in the scratch order of merit and Sandra Stanton of Broomieknowe tops the net standings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The leading six players from both categories will qualify for The Tomatin Whisky Tour Final at Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart in September. The Calvin Cheyne Golf Day at Newmachar raised £25,000 for the club's former assistant | Contributed Newmachar golf day delivers £25,000 boost for Calvin Cheyne A golf day held at Newmachar raised £25,000 for an ex-club champion at the Aberdeenshire club and a North East District player. The Calvin Cheyne Charity Golf Day was organised by a group of friends, including Greg McBain, the head PGA pro at Newmachar, and members to raise money for one of the club's former assistants. Cheyne was forced to give up golf after being diagnosed with a condition called Chiari Malformation and required emergency life-saving surgery last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He has been through the wars of late and all funds raised are trying to get him back up on to his feet,' said McBain. 'The support shown for Calvin has been incredible, and we want to thank every single person, business, golf club, friends and family that contributed. 'We managed to raise a whopping £25,000 for him and this will go a long way in helping his rehabilitation!' Craigielaw's Guy Dalziel, Marc Reid and Kenny Glen show off the Lothians Team Tournament Trophy at Harburn | Contributed Craigielaw win Lothians Team Tournament Craigielaw won the Lothians Team Tournament for the second year in a row after coming out on top in a keenly-fought contest at Harburn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kenny Glen led the way for the East Lothian club with a 67, which was bettered only by a 66 from Longniddry's Craig Davidson. With Guy Dalziel signing for a 69 and Marc Reid posting 75, it was job done once again for Craigielaw by only just on this occasion as they pipped both Longniddry and Bathgate by a shot. The win meant that Craigielaw were the last name on the old trophy for the Lothians Golf Association and the first name on a new one as well. The Bank of Scotland, represented by John Nisbet, Andy Stevenson and Graeme Stevenson, won the trophy for the affiliate clubs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Two of the competitors in the Scottish Senior Women's Golf Association Midland Division Spring Meeting at Crail | Contributed Sweet success for Alison Davidson on Crail return Twenty-seven years after being there for its grand opening, Alison Davidson made a winning return to Crail Golfing Society's Craighead Links. It came in the first event marking the 75th anniversary of the Scottish Senior Women's Golf Association - the Midland Division's Spring Meeting. Davidson, who was the Women's British Amateur champion when she joined men's equivalent Craig Watson and club champion Ross Forgan at the opening of the second course at the historic Fife venue in 1998, carded a 79 to win the scratch section. 'It was lovely to be back and play the Craighead after all that time,' she said. 'It was great to see how well the course is playing and Crail Golfing Society were so welcoming with great hospitality.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotscraig's Alison Anderson picked up the overall prize, the Allan Trophy, with a net 74 playing off 14. Gullane's Jill McNicoll shows off the East Lothian Ladies' County Championship Trophy | Contributed Gullane glory for Jill McNicoll Gullane's Jill McNicoll made home advantage count to win the East Lothian Ladies' County Championship for the third time. McNicoll beat Carys Irvine in the title decider on Gullane No 1 to deny the Kilspindie player in her bid to claim the prize after finishing as the top qualifier in the Spring Meeting. Irvine, who was the low-handicap player in the field off +0.8, carded a 74 to finish four shots clear of both The Renaissance Club's Alyssa Henderson and Kirsten Ireland of Dunbar. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Henderson, the defending champion, suffered a first-round exit in the championship to her clubmate, Una Cooper. Then, in the business end, McNicoll beat Longniddry's Janette Murdie in her semi-final while Irvine progressed to the final at the expense of former Scottish Women's champion Shirley Lawson (Winterfield). The Glen's Lesley McClelland won the handicap trophy, beating Lee Ann Mullholland of Haddington in the final. Inverness member Summer Elliott secured her second success of the new Junior Tour Scotland season | Contributed Summer Elliott strikes again on Junior Tour The latest events on the 2025 Junior Tour Scotland illustrated the fact it gets around the country, with a trip to Portpatrick in the south-west being followed by one north to Elgin. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The boys' section at Portpatrick resulted in a tie after 36 holes between Gourock's Scott Newman and Jamie Henshaw of Bruntsfield Links after matching rounds of 71-67. Played over 54 holes, Greenock's Jayla Kepler won the girls' event with a 223 total, having posted scores of 75-76-72. At Elgin, Summer Elliott backed up her win in the season-opener at Tain and Royal Dornoch by sharing top spot on this occasion with Nairn Dunbar's Kaci Robertson on 231, the pair finishing nine shots clear of the player in third place. Deeside's Oli Roberston, meanwhile, claimed the boys' scratch spoils by posting rounds of 74-73-75 to win by a shot from Thurso's Tyler Gordon, with Scott Riddoch (Duff House Royal) one further back. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Shot of the weekend in that event came from West Links Junior Harris Munro, who had a hole-in-one at the 15th in the opening round. Defending champions Renfrewshire made a winning start in this season's Scottish Area Team Championship | Contributed Title holders Renfrewshire off to winning Area Team start Defending champions Renfrewshire and record winners Lothians suffered contrasting fortunes in the opening round of matches in this year's Scottish Area Team Championship. Renfrewshire, who bridged a ten-year gap to land the title for a sixth time last year, made home advantage count as they beat North East 5.5-3.5. But it was a disappointing start for Lothians as the 15-time winners went down by the same margin, albeit away, to Glasgow.
The Courier
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Fifer Rena Stewart went from Bletchley Park hero to BBC pioneer
Rena Stewart was the 'ordinary Fifer' who worked in a secretive world of encryption and translated Adolf Hitler's will. After signing the Official Secrets Act, she spoke very little about her activities. Rena agreed to reflect on her incredible life with author Victoria Walsh. In November 2023, before the interviews were completed, Rena passed away. She was 100. Victoria took on the responsibility to complete the story and document Rena's life, in her own words, and in the words of those who knew her best. The Story of Rena Stewart: Bletchley Park Girl, Translator of Hitler's Will, and BBC Pioneer is the result and will be published on May 30. Rena was born in Lundin Links in 1923 to Thomas and Andrewina (Rena) Stewart. She grew up with older sister Isobel. Rena had an idyllic childhood 'filled with books, music and Scottish dancing'. She was educated and enjoyed a 'successful scholastic career' at Lundin Mill Primary School where her grandfather was a former headmaster. She went to Buckhaven High School after leaving Lundin Mill. Rena gained the Dux Medal at both schools. Victoria said: 'She loved reading and poetry, so she decided to study languages. 'She thought that this would give her access to a whole new world. 'It certainly did. 'Off she went to St Andrews University, in the early years of the Second World War. 'On graduating, in 1943, she and her friend Agnes Gardner, from Cellardyke, decided to 'do something about the war', so they signed up with the Auxiliary Territorial Service.' They became firm friends with Dundonian Margery Forbes. The St Andrews University languages graduates would go on to work at Bletchley Park where Alan Turing's pioneering Enigma machines were housed. 'Rena was community spirited but also had a will of iron,' said Victoria. 'At university, she had joined a cadet unit for women and cleaned up bomb damage. 'Volunteering for war service was the logical next step, and because of her German language skills, she got selected for Bletchley Park.' The vital codebreaking work was a significant factor in the Allied success. 'Bletchley Park was serious and secret stuff,' said Victoria. 'It was a long way from home, so she didn't get to go back to Lundin Links on leave. 'However, Rena was the kind of person who just got on with things.' Rena adapted to the challenge, even if it meant toiling behind closed doors. 'Rena was assigned to a room called the German Book Room with Margery and an ATS girl from Uphall, near Edinburgh, called Elma Morley,' said Victoria. 'There, she worked on secret, decoded messages, essentially making the German readable before they were collated into books for further analysis. 'The messages were mostly uninteresting, but one, from a German Field Marshal, was destined to go straight to Hitler.' Rena described the message as 'absolutely fascinating'. Victoria said Rena lived in a spartan army camp at Bletchley Park, which was led by a dictatorial camp commander, Senior Commander Kemp. 'They had a fantastic social life – hitchhiking, Scottish dancing and tennis,' she said. 'They made up poems and songs, including a humorous tribute to SC Kemp. 'It was called Mein Kemp!' The job came to an abrupt end when the war ended in 1945. Rena and Margery were transferred to Bad Nenndorf, near Hanover, in Germany. 'Rena and her friends hadn't been in the army long, so at the end of the war, they were sent to an interrogation centre in Germany,' said Victoria. 'Their role there was to translate the written statements of captured Nazi officers. 'One day, Rena and Margery were given an extra, top-secret task.' The head of the unit was Major Bill Oughton. He told them to work together on translating a document. The message delivered by Major Oughton was direct: 'Take as long as you like, but there must be no mistakes, and you must agree on all details'. Rena said it was obvious it was Hitler's will. The discovery of the documents had recently been widely reported. 'Hitler actually wrote two wills: a political and a personal one,' said Victoria. 'He dictated these shortly before he committed suicide in his bunker. 'Rena and Margery translated the personal one, which stated what he wanted to happen to his belongings. 'They didn't know what happened to their work until 1947, when Rena spotted the translation in the best-selling book The Last Days of Hitler.' The extraordinary task wasn't even her greatest achievement. Having risen to the rank of sergeant, Rena left the army in 1947. She always wanted to work in the media. 'On her return to England, she managed to secure a position as a clerk at the BBC World Service, and she worked her way up from there,' said Victoria. 'She eventually became the first female boss in the World Service newsroom.' It was a dream job. Rena declared: 'My greatest achievement has been getting people to recognise that a woman can be as good a journalist as a man. 'I'd like to be remembered as a good journalist.' Rena and Margery remained best buddies. They were both lifelong friends with Agnes and Elma. Margery married a Polish soldier and returned to Dundee in 1964. She named one of her daughters Rena. Margery took her secret to the grave when she died of cancer in February 1973. She was 49. The top-secret work done by the codebreakers was declassified and became public in 1974 when The Ultra Secret by Frederick Winterbotham was published. It was the first of the books about what had gone on there. Rena retired from the BBC in 1983. Victoria said it has been an honour creating a lasting tribute to Rena. 'Rena never got married nor had children,' she said. 'She stayed in England because of friends and work. 'However, she never forgot her roots. 'She still had some family in Fife and she spoke fondly of Lundin Links. 'She also taught Scottish dancing until she was 90.' Rena was brought home to Lundin Links when she died. At her request, she was buried in the family burial plot with her parents. Victoria said: 'The secrecy of her war years had a lasting effect. 'She hadn't talked a lot about her wartime efforts over the years, but when I met her, she had finally become happy to blether about herself. 'When Rena died, I was permitted to look through her possessions. 'Among them I found a photo album, containing an amazing set of photos and other mementos from Rena's time in Germany, just after the war. 'The album included the cut-out back of a cigarette packet, humorously granting 'Sgt McHaggis' (Rena's alter ego) membership of the Sergeant's Mess. 'Rena was truly inspiring and her story shows that with a bit of determination and humour, ordinary Fifers can do great things!'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Powell County judge-executive speaks out on RedSTAR agreement termination
STANTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — It's not out of the ordinary for rescues to take place in Red River Gorge. Powell County Search and Rescue and RedSTAR Wilderness EMS often join forces to save the day. But a recent falling out between RedSTAR and the county has led to some major, sudden changes to the rescue force. A Facebook post on Friday by RedSTAR announced that its decade-long partnership with Powell County had been 'unilaterally terminated.' The county's judge-executive, Eddie Barnes, said he came to this decision because RedSTAR hadn't been holding up its end of an agreement that each volunteer work at least one 12-hour paramedic shift each month that they would then be compensated for. Historic Grant County church destroyed in weekend storms Richmond police warn drivers not to test your luck this St. Patrick's Day Powell County judge-executive speaks out on RedSTAR agreement termination 'The paramedic shortage is getting worse… One of the things that we were looking at is asking RedSTAR if they can have their people to step it up and help us a little bit more,' said Barnes. Barnes told FOX 56 that he's been in contact with RedSTAR's coordinator, David Fifer, for over a year, reminding him of this agreement. Barnes read an email exchange between the two that said, in part, 'RedSTAR needs to step up and start providing some coverage like agreed. If not, we may need to revisit our agreement.' He then read aloud Fifer's reassuring response, which partly said, 'I discussed with the RedSTAR roster of the importance of this. And I think you can expect a lot more signups from RedSTAR members, myself included, over the next few weeks.' Barnes said that did not happen. He took office in January 2023 and said he has only been able to get a draft from a magistrate of the 10-year agreement. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Barnes told FOX 56 the straw that broke the camel's back was a March 8 incident when Powell County EMS received multiple calls, but only one crew was available to respond after another called out sick. Fifer provided a statement to FOX 56 that said, 'RedSTAR was created 10 years ago to provide a specialized response to medical emergencies in the Red River Gorge, and we've consistently delivered on that commitment through thousands of volunteer hours and by raising tens of thousands of dollars to fund our own many employees of the county ambulance service have left, and we feel that Judge Barnes has expected that our volunteers shift their focus more to filling these scheduling holes. We met with Judge Barnes to discuss our agreement with the county, gain a better understanding of his expectations, and to seek a new agreement to address them. Judge Barnes abruptly ended that meeting and dismissed us from the county.' Barnes acknowledged his actions in the meeting, and said, 'I did lose my temper, and I apologize about that, but the thing about it is, I feel strongly about supporting our people here in the community. I want to make sure that everybody here is safe.' Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news The judge-executive reassured the public that ambulance services are not stopping, and Powell County Search and Rescue will still be making calls. Barnes said he plans to call a special meeting with the fiscal court and RedSTAR to possibly come to some common ground. 'I hope and pray to God that we, we work this thing out, but, you know, it's just everybody coming to the table with an open mind and try to work this thing out,' he finished. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
