Latest news with #GeorgeMunro
The Herald Scotland
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Superyacht owned by American tycoon docks in Greenock
She is owned by multi-millionaire James Dicke CEO of design, manufacturing and distributing company Crown Equipment Corporation. The impressive motor yacht was built by US-based Trinity Yacht back in 2008 and can achieve a cruising speed of around 18 knots. (Image: George Munro) Her incredible interior includes an eight-person spa pool, outdoor entertainment areas and a 'beach style' swim deck. There is a private outdoor dining space on the upper deck, as well as further outdoor dining on the main deck and several bars throughout the vessel. Read more: Reef Chief also has a custom-built organ bar and holds a selection of water toys for guests to make use of. It is also fully equipped with exercise equipment for those who like to keep in shape. The vessel has previously visited Greenock in July of 2023.
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Man with Hep C virus not told for 20 years he was infected
Our sister title the Greenock Telegraph reports how the 58-year-old was told in October that he had hepatitis C and that it was likely he'd had the virus for 40 years as a result of an operation in 1984. But Frank said he later discovered that his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice, knew he'd tested positive for the virus back in 2002 – results he says were confirmed in January of the following year. Frank Jamieson at Ardgowan Medical Practice (Image: George Munro) Frank, who lives in Mallard Crescent, told the Greenock Telegraph that after making a complaint to the practice, he was told that his test results were never passed on to him because he didn't call to get them. Now caught up in the long-running contaminated blood scandal, Frank says he wants to speak out now in case there are others in Inverclyde in the same position. He was finally told the news of his positive 'hep C' test last October after years of health problems. "It has ruined my life,' he said. 'I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything. 'My health was so bad, and I had no idea why. It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C.' Frank is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team. Read more health news in The Herald: 'I have been suicidal,' he said. 'Right now, I don't want to be here. 'I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened. 'The surgery had my results but they never passed them on. 'But after all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me.' The hepatitis C virus can cause chronic liver disease, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure if untreated. Fortunately Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment. He says that after staff at the IRH diagnosed him as having the virus in October, he was later contacted by Ardgowan Medical Practice, who produced positive blood test results dated January 6, 2003. Frank said: "I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF. "We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third. "But that Christmas we both lost our jobs with Fullarton Electronics when they closed down. 'Our lives fell apart. All our plans were halted. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again. 'Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results.' Frank did visit his doctor a year later, but says he was told nothing about the positive hep C test. (Image: George Munro) And five years ago his health began to deteriorate rapidly, with severe nerve and joint pain. He also began showing signs of Raynaud's phenomenon, which causes cold and numb fingers and is a visible symptom of hepatitis C. Medics now believe Frank contracted hepatitis C during an operation to correct a broken leg he suffered in a road accident in 1984. 'I've had hep C for 40 years,' he said. 'The accident happened on a bad winter's day, at the Tuck Shop, on the road outside the Ardgowan Practice, unbelievably. "My leg didn't set right and I had to go in for an operation. 'Now I find I'm a victim of the contaminated blood scandal. But my journey is just beginning.' (Image: George Munro) Frank has shown the Tele a letter he received from Ardgowan Medical Practice, responding to his complaint, in which they told him that the procedure for blood test results is the same today as it was in 2003 – that patients should phone within seven days of the test to find out the results. The practice also told Frank it has no record of a phone call from him asking for the results. The Tele has also seen a letter from the practice in response to a second complaint made by Frank in which they say that unless he specifically asked about the blood test during an appointment, a GP would not check his records. He said: "I want to speak out about this because I have nothing left to lose. "I feel that Ardgowan Practice should be more accountable and take responsibility for what happened. "There is no way they should not have passed those results on to me. I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned? 'This has destroyed my life. For 20 years it was known I had hep C. "I want to make sure that this never happens to anyone else. If anything good is to come out of this, it is that people will be aware of what happened to me. "There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know. "I also fear that if I was infected by contaminated blood at the IRH in 1984 there might be other people out there in the same situation who don't know about it." (Image: George Munro) In a further blow, Frank says he has been told by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman that it will not investigate his case because of the passage of time. Frank says he is now hoping for justice through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) after facing a race against time to get his compensation claim in. The SIBSS provides support to people in Scotland who contracted hepatitis C and/or HIV from NHS blood, blood products, or tissue. Ardgowan Medical Practice decline to comment when approached by the Telegraph.
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Parents face 'huge' nursery bill after Scot council's cost-saving
From this year, there will be three intakes in Inverclyde, in August, January and April, which brings Inverclyde Council in line with the Scottish Government's funding - and saves them £70,000 a year. Children who turn three between March 1 and August 31 will start in August 2025; those whose third birthday is between September 1 and December 31 will start in January; and those turning three between January 1 and the last day in February will start in April. Up until now Inverclyde Council - along with other areas including Renfrewshire - had allowed three-year-old children able to take up their place on, or very soon after, their third birthday. But the council says that significant financial pressures have now forced them to make the cuts. Three years old miss out on nursery hours (Image: George Munro) For many families, it means hours of nursery time will be lost, with one Port Glasgow mum telling the Tele it means her child - born on September 1 - will now have to wait four months until she can start nursery. Despite Renfrewshire Council making a highly publicised U-turn following a huge backlash from parents, Inverclyde children will continue to be restricted to the three intakes a year. Shocked mum Emily Thomson said: "I couldn't believe it when I realised my daughter would not be able to go to nursery until January. "But my friend's child, born a few days earlier, can start in August. "It seems very unfair on many children. It means my daughter will be missing out because of the date she was born. "It is supposed to be for three and four year olds. But children born at certain times of the year are getting less hours than other children. That does not seem right. "I think everyone is now realising it has changed. "There will also be a huge childcare cost for some families. "I just want my daughter to be able to start nursery at three years old with her peers. 'I am willing to pay for the place until January. The place is going to be there anyway. They can't give it to anyone else. "But I was told that I would need to wait and see." The Scottish Government introduced its flagship policy of 1,140 hours of fully-funded early years education and childcare for all three and four year olds in 2021, after some delays. Ministers said the policy was intended to improve children's development, close the poverty gap, improve family wellbeing and increase parents' opportunities to work, train or study. But in the report to the education and communities committee, Inverclyde officials admitted that as a result of the changes, some children will actually get fewer hours than they're entitled to. Twenty-six per cent of those who took part in a survey on the issue said they feared it could cause either financial strain for working parents, impact on children's development, mean a reduced time in nursery for some, and 'create an unfair system'. But despite this the committee voted to approve the change in approach at a meeting in November. Education bosses in Inverclyde said they'd worked with other local authorities, including Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, to implement the changes to the system. However, earlier this month councillors in Renfrewshire voted to overturn the policy change which had cost families thousands of pounds and sparked a massive backlash. Read more: The picture elsewhere in Scotland is mixed, with neighbouring North Ayrshire only offering three intakes, while the country's largest local authority, Glasgow City Council, gives every child a place on the Monday after their third birthday. An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: 'We previously provided early years provision a month after a child's second/third birthday, which was above the national minimum. 'However, councils only receive government funding for early years provision for the term after a child's second/third birthday. 'Following a review of our admissions policy and due to significant financial pressures on the education budget, it was proposed that we would align with other areas in Scotland and provide the statutory minimum early years provision. 'This was approved by the education and communities committee in November 2024.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Landmark Gourock building to be transformed into outdoor learning hub
A PIONEERING project is transforming a landmark Gourock building into an outdoor learning hub for young people. Founder of the award-winning Inverclyde Shed Bruce Newlands is now setting his sights on creating an outdoor community classroom in the former Gourock Library in the Gamble Halls. He has set up charity Creative Regeneration to inspire youngsters with science, arts and heritage in Inverclyde. The team is now hoping to open the hub this summer in a building which has a long tradition for community learning. OTHER NEWS: 'Short-term funding' hurting alcohol and drugs services in Inverclyde, board hears For more than two decades it was home to Gamble Children's Centre - a nursery started started by parents - and before that it was a library, once used by famous late author Iain Banks. Bruce Newlands (Image: George Munro) With some help from West College Scotland students they recently started on work to get it into shape. Bruce said: "We are creating a youth hub to support the local area with STEM subjects and to encourage learning outdoors. "It will be open after school and in the holidays, somewhere for youngsters to come and have fun and learn about the outdoors. "There is so much potential here, we can have gardening, cooking classes, we will have Lego clubs. It is about inspiring our young people. "We are busy getting it up to scratch, putting in planters and we are delighted with the support of West College Scotland as well. READ MORE: Bruce Newlands: Inverclyde Shed founder loves to see transformation "We have been working with primary pupils in schools but this is somewhere they can come outside of school." West College Scotland lecturer Emma Crawford and her students (Image: George Munro) From the base to launch this summer there will be interactive learning activities, a digital fabrication suite looking at 3D printing, AI coding club, Lego and the outdoor growing space. Bruce has teamed up with stained glass artist Alec Galloway, teacher Finlay Campbell, and Lyle Gateway co-ordinator Derek Mitchell to establish Creative Regeneration, which is also has a project at Glebe in Greenock. The new hub will be within the former library and nursery in the Gamble Halls. (Image: George Munro) Up until 2012 it was the Gamble Children's Centre for more than 20 years, which started out as a play group and was then run by parents. Previously it was the old Gourock Library, which was used by the likes of the best selling author the late Iain Banks, who was also famous for his science fiction novels. He said it was where he developed his love of books of all genres, and shaped his imagination. West College Scotland joinery and construction students recently visited along with lecturer Emma Crawford to help out with painting. She said: "It has been a great collaboration and the students have enjoyed taking part in the project. It has also helped towards their volunteering Saltire Award. "This will be a great project for Gourock and we are proud to be part of it."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kind-hearted schoolgirl cuts off 22 inches of hair to donate to sick children
Kind-hearted schoolgirl cuts off 22 inches of hair to donate to sick children Kind-hearted schoolgirl cuts off 22 inches of hair to donate to sick children (Image: George Munro) A KIND-HEARTED Greenock schoolgirl has taken part in a hair-raising charity challenge to help sick children. Eight-year-old Luna McDonald lopped off 22 inches of her luscious locks, which will be made into a wig for a child who has lost their hair through cancer treatment or due to conditions such as alopecia by the Little Princess Trust. The caring youngster has also raised more than £750 for the charity, which will cover the costs of making the wig. Those wishing to donate to Luna's fundraiser should visit Speaking to the Tele after her hair got the chop, Luna told us she was delighted to be donating her long locks to a good cause, and said she was pleased with her new look. ADVERTISEMENT (Image: George Munro) She added: 'I wanted to get my hair cut to give it to a little boy or girl. 'We were talking about the wee boys and girls that lose their hair because they have cancer. 'I was excited [before getting it cut], I thought it would look good like this. 'I've not told people about it that much, I want it to be a surprise for them.' Luna's proud parents Paula and Robert said the St Patrick's Primary pupil had done them proud with her generous gesture. (Image: Paula McDonald) Paula said: 'Her hair's always been really long, so we thought we'd let it grow as long as we could. 'She got 22 inches of hair taken off, it was right down to behind her knee. 'They take the hair, but it also costs £500 to make the wig, we have a wee fundraiser on the go and she's already raised over that. 'We're really proud of her, she's wanted her haircut for a while but she's grown it to this length so it can be donated, which is a lovely thing to do.' ADVERTISEMENT The Little Princess Trust has helped more than 18,000 children and young people by providing them with free wigs to help them through their cancer journey since the charity was established in 2005. Since 2016, it has funded more than 150 research projects searching for kinder and more effective treatments for childhood cancers. The charity's work earned it the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service - described as 'the MBE for voluntary groups' in 2012.
