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Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Wishaw outdoor group hold successful event showcasing local history
Campfire History brought people together to see their local heritage, enjoy nature and the greenspace around. Members of a Wishaw outdoor group held a successful event showcasing local history. Campfire History brought people together to see their local heritage, enjoy nature and the greenspace around and socialising with like minded individuals and sharing stories, knowledge and keeping the heritage alive. The event in and around Cambusnethan Priory was deemed a great success with 50-60 people attending across the course of the day with the age range coming from three to 81 all out exploring our natural forestry and looking at the old heritage within the area. Graham Butt, from the group, said: 'It was great meeting new faces and enjoying the company of old friends who have followed on the 'campfire history journey' from the start. 'Big shout out goes to Graham Smith of Friends of Cambusnethan Priory for delivering the tour to our Ukrainian guests who visited. The partnership working between groups really makes life easier. 'Another shout out to Morrisons in Wishaw for the donation tea and coffee. 'One of the best things out there for our wellbeing is our natural forestry. Being able to share that with like minded individuals is an excellent way to make ourselves feel better. 'To socialise, learn new skills, experience something new and different. It's all about bringing people together. 'We would like to say thanks for those who made a donation towards costs, we are a self funded group and the donations will go towards the tea, coffee and biscuits for the next one.'
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Not My Scotland: what the anti-royal protesters keep getting wrong
There were similar protests in London and Cardiff at the same time; the Not My King protesters have also become a regular fixture at royal events. In 2023, I was in St Giles' Cathedral to report on the Scottish coronation service and I remember the congregation stopping for silent reflection, except it wasn't silent because you could hear the chants of the protesters outside: Not Our King, Not Our King. Part of me thought: free speech, fair enough. Another part of me thought: show some respect. The central argument the protestors advance, that we should have a republic instead of a monarchy, is perfectly reasonable; indeed, if we were starting from scratch and were given a flipchart and a sharpie and asked to come up with ideas for what the head of state should look like, we wouldn't come up with a dude in a crown. We also wouldn't come up with the idea that the head of state should be the son or daughter of the previous one. None of it's logical, which is why new countries go for elected heads of state rather than kings and queens. But old countries like the UK aren't the result of planning meetings with flipcharts and sharpies, they're they result of conflict and history and heritage and compromise and setbacks, and blood to be honest, and if you have a fairly conservative outlook – and most Scots do, whatever you say – you change what you have with care. The monarchy is not ideal. The Union is not ideal. The parliamentary system is not ideal. But before I vote for change, you're going to have to convince me that the alternatives would be better, and that the costs – financial, social, cultural, personal – wouldn't be too great. It's this realistic outlook, a sense of the country as it actually is, that the protesters on the hill, the republicans, will have to overcome if they're ever to achieve their aim, and it looks like a tall order. Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, was complaining, in a pretty mean-spirited way I thought, that the Royals had 'hijacked' the VE Day celebrations and made it all about them, but he also said his movement's goal was to abolish the monarchy 'in the next few decades', which sounds like someone who knows the situation is unlikely to change soon. And it's because of who we are. The conservative but realistic population of Britain says: would the alternative be better? let's just leave things as they are eh. Read more It seems to me that the Scottish protesters in particular also keep getting a fundamental point wrong in their attempts to advance their case. First of all, it doesn't help that one of their spokespeople was Maggie Chapman, whose credibility as a parliamentarian has been fatally undermined by her attack on the Supreme Court. It's also a bit rich of the protesters to complain that the monarchy is anti-democratic and remote when Ms Chapman was only saved from expulsion from the equalities committee by her own vote, cast remotely. It's this kind of stuff that people look at and think: would the alternatives to monarchy be any better? Rallies like the one on Calton Hill suffer as well from a tendency that's plagued the independence movement too: the failure to create a broad church, or even try to. Ten years ago, the Yes campaign became conflated with a whole range of left-wing causes and idealism, which was a turn-off for more conservative voters, who began to think: Not My Scotland. But it also missed the point that Yes could only win if it built a case that would appeal to people on the left and the right. A similar mistake is being made with the republican movement. As I say, there's a rational, reasonable case to be made for republicanism, just as there is for independence, but then out comes Maggie Chapman, eyes spinning, and Tommy Sheridan, teeth clenched, and it all starts to look like an extension of the irrational, extreme left. One of the speakers on Calton Hill was Jemma Campbell of Scottish Socialist Youth who epitomises how the causes are conflated. 'We have to come together to resist far-right elitism,' she said. 'We have to call for an independent socialist republic in Scotland.' (Image: Maggie Chapman at the protest) That sort of stuff is going to get them nowhere to be honest because the people who could be their potential allies in a rational case for republicanism do not meet their test: they are not left-wing enough, they are 'far-right'. To be fair, such attitudes are widespread and are part of our fractious times – them and us. But deep, profound change, like ending the union or abolishing the monarchy, will only happen when the them and the us draw together round a cause that genuinely attracts broad support. So, even though the protesters may not want to listen to this, let me mention something else that happened during the coronation service at St Giles' Cathedral. The Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator at the time, delivered a sermon that seemed to directly address the problems of the fractious age. She urged people to 'chose collaboration and trust over fear-filed circling of our wagons'. 'How narrow our sight,' she went on, 'and how monochrome our understanding when we do not embrace the richness of different perspectives. We should learn to listen to each other, not just respond.' The republican protesters won't have heard the sermon – they were outside chanting 'Not Our King' – but even now they could draw a lesson from it. No one's suggesting they should ditch their republican views, but if they continue the circling of their wagons and conflate support for the monarchy with 'far-right elitism', they're going to remain a niche cause forever. They will also need to recognise, as all radicals have to in the end, that political success only comes when a movement includes the richness of different perspectives. The campaigners up on Calton Hill may dream of an independent socialist republic, but down here, we take a look and think: nah.
The Independent
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Royal family hijacked VE Day anniversary, says republican protest organiser
The head of a republican movement has claimed the royal family 'hijacked' VE Day anniversary celebrations as protesters campaigned in central London. Several hundred people gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday for the demonstration, organised by anti-monarchy group Republic, to mark two years since the King's coronation. Large yellow banners were hung in front of the National Gallery that read 'Abolish the monarchy' and 'Change country for good', while protesters also held yellow flags that said 'Down with the crown'. The demonstration included a 15ft dinosaur called Chuck the Rex that represents the monarchy as 'a tamed fossil that belongs in a museum', organisers said. Separate republican protests were also due to take place in Edinburgh and Cardiff on Saturday. It comes after Charles and the royal family attended a busy week of public engagements marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, including a military procession and flypast over Buckingham Palace on Monday. Graham Smith, Republic's chief executive, told the crowd at the protest that the monarchy was 'a corrupt, disreputable and grubby institution' and called for 'a parliamentary republic where citizenship really means something (and) where we are genuinely equal'. He said the movement's goal was to abolish the monarchy 'in the next few decades'. Asked about the royal family's role in the commemorative VE Day events, Mr Smith told the PA news agency: 'The royals certainly hijacked those celebrations. 'They are not a celebration of the royals but if you watched some of the coverage, it was. 'The war was a collective effort and we should be reflecting on the people that made those sacrifices at the time and went through it, not gawping at princes on balconies and worrying about who they're having tea with.' Mr Smith and other Republic members were arrested for taking part in a pre-agreed protest on the King's coronation on May 6 2023, and were later told no further action would be taken. The group held up banners and chanted 'not my King, not my King' when Charles and other royal family members joined a service at Westminster Abbey celebrating Commonwealth Day in March. Mr Smith said Republic would continue to protest at every major royal event, including at the Trooping the Colour next month. Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker, who was MP for Lewes from 1997 to 2015, told the crowd: 'You don't have to be a republican to find unacceptable the huge handouts, the unique tax exemptions and all the tricks and ways that they used to inflate further their bulging bank accounts at our public expense. 'It's time for all of us, republicans and supporters of the monarchy, to say enough is enough and call time on this greedy family.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Royal family hijacked VE Day anniversary, says republican protest organiser
The head of a republican movement has claimed the royal family 'hijacked' VE Day anniversary celebrations as protesters campaigned in central London. Several hundred people gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday for the demonstration, organised by anti-monarchy group Republic, to mark two years since the King's coronation. Large yellow banners were hung in front of the National Gallery that read 'Abolish the monarchy' and 'Change country for good', while protesters also held yellow flags that said 'Down with the crown'. The demonstration included a 15ft dinosaur called Chuck the Rex that represents the monarchy as 'a tamed fossil that belongs in a museum', organisers said. Separate republican protests were also due to take place in Edinburgh and Cardiff on Saturday. It comes after Charles and the royal family attended a busy week of public engagements marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, including a military procession and flypast over Buckingham Palace on Monday. Graham Smith, Republic's chief executive, told the crowd at the protest that the monarchy was 'a corrupt, disreputable and grubby institution' and called for 'a parliamentary republic where citizenship really means something (and) where we are genuinely equal'. He said the movement's goal was to abolish the monarchy 'in the next few decades'. Asked about the royal family's role in the commemorative VE Day events, Mr Smith told the PA news agency: 'The royals certainly hijacked those celebrations. 'They are not a celebration of the royals but if you watched some of the coverage, it was. 'The war was a collective effort and we should be reflecting on the people that made those sacrifices at the time and went through it, not gawping at princes on balconies and worrying about who they're having tea with.' Mr Smith and other Republic members were arrested for taking part in a pre-agreed protest on the King's coronation on May 6 2023, and were later told no further action would be taken. The group held up banners and chanted 'not my King, not my King' when Charles and other royal family members joined a service at Westminster Abbey celebrating Commonwealth Day in March. Mr Smith said Republic would continue to protest at every major royal event, including at the Trooping the Colour next month. Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker, who was MP for Lewes from 1997 to 2015, told the crowd: 'You don't have to be a republican to find unacceptable the huge handouts, the unique tax exemptions and all the tricks and ways that they used to inflate further their bulging bank accounts at our public expense. 'It's time for all of us, republicans and supporters of the monarchy, to say enough is enough and call time on this greedy family.'
South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
80 years of VE Day honoured in Newport's Edward German Crescent
80 years since Victory in Europe Day was honoured at an event put on by Newport Council and the Royal British Legion. This year's VE Day was particularly significant as it marks 80 years since Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender against allied forces in 1945. The event put on yesterday (May 8) was held at Queen Elizabeth II Playing Field in Edward German Crescent. Many members of the public and armed forces personnel showed up to pay respect and acknowledge the end of war in Europe. Lord Lieutenant of Gwent Robert Aitken 68 at the VE Day event in Edward German Crescent (Image: NQ) Speaking of the event Lord Lieutenant of Gwent Robert Aitken 68 said: "It's fabulous that Newport is doing this, it's very important for us all to remember the sacrifices that were made by people 80 plus years ago meant for us all. "It's terribly important that we remember the service that is given by our men and women that is given in the armed forces." Standard Bearers Anne-Marie Cobley 52 and Graham Smith 81 stood with Lord Lieutenant of Gwent Robert Aitken 68 (Image: NQ) 81-year-old Graham Smith Standard Bearer for The Royal Welsh Newport regiment was able to recall what post war life was like for people in Gwent. He said: "Well obviously we are very proud to be here as coming from my age as it is we remember the tail end of the war. "I remember the hard living the battle books and having to live on what we were allowed to purchase. So, we remember all that. "More so, we remember family members that went away and never came home. There were a lot of people in Newport that in my family and other people at the time that suited up and never came home. "Coming here is just our tribute to them to say thank you for putting your lives on the line and defending us and letting us have the life we've got today.' Newport Male Voice Choir at the VE Day event in Edward German Crescent (Image: NQ) A range of entertainment was provided. Wartime songs such as Vera Lyne's 'We'll Meet Again' and 'White Cliffs of Dover' were played. Newport Male Voice Choir also put on a selection of Welsh and war themed hymns. Choir Master Marc Main 61 said: 'We are very proud to support the event a lot of us are ex forces. I'm ex RAF myself." The lit beacon paying tribute to 80 years of VE Day (Image: NQ) The main event however was a national beacon lighting that took place at 9:30pm and was held at VE Day events across the country. The significant moment was followed by a moments silence to reflect then the Welsh National Anthem. Standard Bearers Anne-Marie Cobley 52 and Graham Smith 81 in front of the lit beacon (Image: NQ) John Griffths MS for Newport East Said: 'Everybody's so conscious of the need to remember the sacrifices that were made during the second world war, so we can have the way of life that we hold so precious today." "I think today the world can be such a dangerous place and there are so many wars so today that crucial message of peace is a big part of this."
