Latest news with #Hendry
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
The Tall Ships Races 2025 anchor into Aberdeen's proud shipbuilding past
Around 2,000 crew on ships from all over the world set to sail into harbour Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter 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... As 50 formidable Tall Ships from around the world sail into Aberdeen Harbour on Friday, they will anchor into the city's story of a proud shipbuilding history that has now faded to a 'distant memory' for many. This weekend, around 2,000 sailing crew on ships from South America, the Middle East and Europe will guide their vessels into safe harbour after racing from Dunkirk to Aberdeen, where innovative Tall Ship designs were forged and taken to the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aberdeen Harbour in 1890. PIC: AberdeenLine200. | AberdeenLine200 More than 3000 ships were built in Aberdeen from the early 1800s and the 1990s, with the city's shipbuilding past now slipping away in a city that went from seapower to the power of oil and gas. As the sails and rigs come into view from the quayside, it is hoped The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 will reconnect the North East with its proud shipbuilding history, which was forged by companies such as Aberdeen Line, set up in 1825, and Alexander Hall and Sons. David Hendry is the lead historian for the Aberdeen Line 200, an organisation which is highlighting the work of the influential company in its bicentennial year. Mr Hendry said: 'The whole ship building era in Aberdeen has slipped into distant memory for many people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The last ship was built in the city in the early 1990s - 30 odd years ago - so these people are getting older and the memory of it is disappearing. 'Since shipbuilding, the city has been hugely focussed on oil and gas. The harbour is very much a working harbour and it is not somewhere you go unless you have a direct relationship with it - it is fenced off, it is secure, so for a lot of people that relationship is diminished. 'The Tall Ships is an opportunity in a sense to break down the fences and reconnect the harbour with the majority of the population of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.' A poster for the Aberdeen Line company, a dominant force in the city's shipbuilding industry. PIC: AberdeenLine200. | AberdeenLine200 Of the 3,000 ships built in Aberdeen, around a tenth of them were large ocean going Clippers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the leading figures of the industry was George Thompson Junior, a former Lord Provost and MP, who founded the Aberdeen Line. Within 10 years, he had a fleet of a dozen ships built in the city with trade and passenger routes opened up with Australia and China as a result. In the 1840s, Aberdeen changed the way that ships were designed to circumnavigate the taxation of such vessels with the Aberdeen Bow created at Alexander Hall and Co, which cut the volume of a ship that could be liable for duties. Mr Hendry said: 'As ever, people tried to reduce the amount of taxation that they paid. 'The Aberdeen Bow was one of the consequences of that and introduced the sharp, pointy bow that you see on the Clippers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As it turned out, this design was very efficient in cutting through water and allowing the ships to go faster. 'A lot of the ships coming into the harbour for the Tall Ships will have this sharp, pointy bow and in a sense they are coming back to Aberdeen to pay homage to that design. 'That particular design of course evolved over time but its starting point was in this city.' George Thompson Junior, former Lord Provost of Aberdeen, MP and founder of the Aberdeen Line shipping company. PIC: CC | CC The Clipper ship era was at its height during the 1850s and 1860s and one of the most formidable ships to come out of Aberdeen was the Thermopylae, built in 1868 by Walter Hood & Co. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Thermopylae was launched at a time of increased competition from steam powered ships. In response, the Clipper owners went on to design even bigger and faster ships with a new composite design combining an iron frame with timber planking. More efficient sails and rigs were built and much was removed from the deck area, such as cabins, which could disrupt airflow. 'These Clippers had the best crews, the best captains with and were the most well paid in the industry, 'Mr Hendry said. The Thermopylae gained fame for its speed and reliability in the 19th century, particularly in the wool trade to Australia and the tea races from China. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Hendry added: 'Thermopylae was particularly suited to the tea trade, putting in excellent performances even in the lightest of winds.' In 1872, she raced her great rival, the Dumbarton-built Cutty Sark, from Shanghai back to London, taking 115 days and beating her competitor by seven days after the Cutty Sark lost her rudder at sea. In the Thermopylae's 11 tea passages over the years, the Clipper completed the journey from China to London in an average of 106.7 days. Meanwhile, The Cutty Sark averaged a journey time of 117 days over eight China homeward voyages. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The main purpose of these ships was the transportation of tea. These ships were built to make money, so how do you do that? You move high value goods at the highest volume and as fast as possible.' Mr Hendry, who is also the chairperson for the Dundee Heritage Trust, which runs theThe RRS Discovery, the the oldest surviving three-masted wooden ship built in the United Kingdom, said the history of Aberdeen's shipbuilding industry could inspired the city as it faces new challenges as the oil and gas transitions to its end game. He added: 'Aberdeen is facing a time of challenge. If you look at the city's history, over the past 200 years it has faced challenges and met them. 'It is not just about looking at ships as a piece of nostalgia, but as an inspiration as how our ancestors faced these sea changes.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 is the centrepiece of a four-day festival held in the city between Friday and Tuesday, July 22. The ships will arriva after a competitive voyage from Dunkirk and will depart for Kristiansand in Norway, departing in a Parade of Sail on Tuesday. Before then, a Crew Parade will march from Union Terrace along Schoolhill to Regent Quay, with nearly 2,000 sailors taking part. More than 200 local young people will be part of the parade after taking to the high seas on one of the Tall Ships racing between either France and Scotland or Scotland and Norway. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Monday, the Red Arrows will perform a flypast in a 22-minute display just off the Aberdeen shoreline, which is best viewed from the Beach Esplanade. During the weekend, the quayside will host performances from local artists, ship bands, sea shanties and street performers.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
The Tall Ships Races 2025 anchor into Aberdeen's proud shipbuilding past
Around 2,000 crew on ships from all over the world set to sail into harbour Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter 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... As 50 formidable Tall Ships from around the world sail into Aberdeen Harbour on Friday, they will anchor into the city's story of a proud shipbuilding history that has now faded to a 'distant memory' for many. This weekend, around 2,000 sailing crew on ships from South America, the Middle East and Europe will guide their vessels into safe harbour after racing from Dunkirk to Aberdeen, where innovative Tall Ship designs were forged and taken to the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aberdeen Harbour in 1890. PIC: AberdeenLine200. | AberdeenLine200 More than 3000 ships were built in Aberdeen from the early 1800s and the 1990s, with the city's shipbuilding past now slipping away in a city that went from seapower to the power of oil and gas. As the sails and rigs come into view from the quayside, it is hoped The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 will reconnect the North East with its proud shipbuilding history, which was forged by companies such as Aberdeen Line, set up in 1825, and Alexander Hall and Sons. David Hendry is the lead historian for the Aberdeen Line 200, an organisation which is highlighting the work of the influential company in its bicentennial year. Mr Hendry said: 'The whole ship building era in Aberdeen has slipped into distant memory for many people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The last ship was built in the city in the early 1990s - 30 odd years ago - so these people are getting older and the memory of it is disappearing. 'Since shipbuilding, the city has been hugely focussed on oil and gas. The harbour is very much a working harbour and it is not somewhere you go unless you have a direct relationship with it - it is fenced off, it is secure, so for a lot of people that relationship is diminished. 'The Tall Ships is an opportunity in a sense to break down the fences and reconnect the harbour with the majority of the population of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.' A poster for the Aberdeen Line company, a dominant force in the city's shipbuilding industry. PIC: AberdeenLine200. | AberdeenLine200 Of the 3,000 ships built in Aberdeen, around a tenth of them were large ocean going Clippers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the leading figures of the industry was George Thompson Junior, a former Lord Provost and MP, who founded the Aberdeen Line. Within 10 years, he had a fleet of a dozen ships built in the city with trade and passenger routes opened up with Australia and China as a result. In the 1840s, Aberdeen changed the way that ships were designed to circumnavigate the taxation of such vessels with the Aberdeen Bow created at Alexander Hall and Co, which cut the volume of a ship that could be liable for duties. Mr Hendry said: 'As ever, people tried to reduce the amount of taxation that they paid. 'The Aberdeen Bow was one of the consequences of that and introduced the sharp, pointy bow that you see on the Clippers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As it turned out, this design was very efficient in cutting through water and allowing the ships to go faster. 'A lot of the ships coming into the harbour for the Tall Ships will have this sharp, pointy bow and in a sense they are coming back to Aberdeen to pay homage to that design. 'That particular design of course evolved over time but its starting point was in this city.' George Thompson Junior, former Lord Provost of Aberdeen, MP and founder of the Aberdeen Line shipping company. PIC: CC | CC The Clipper ship era was at its height during the 1850s and 1860s and one of the most formidable ships to come out of Aberdeen was the Thermopylae, built in 1868 by Walter Hood & Co. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Thermopylae was launched at a time of increased competition from steam powered ships. In response, the Clipper owners went on to design even bigger and faster ships with a new composite design combining an iron frame with timber planking. More efficient sails and rigs were built and much was removed from the deck area, such as cabins, which could disrupt airflow. 'These Clippers had the best crews, the best captains with and were the most well paid in the industry, 'Mr Hendry said. The Thermopylae gained fame for its speed and reliability in the 19th century, particularly in the wool trade to Australia and the tea races from China. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Hendry added: 'Thermopylae was particularly suited to the tea trade, putting in excellent performances even in the lightest of winds.' In 1872, she raced her great rival, the Dumbarton-built Cutty Sark, from Shanghai back to London, taking 115 days and beating her competitor by seven days after the Cutty Sark lost her rudder at sea. In the Thermopylae's 11 tea passages over the years, the Clipper completed the journey from China to London in an average of 106.7 days. Meanwhile, The Cutty Sark averaged a journey time of 117 days over eight China homeward voyages. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The main purpose of these ships was the transportation of tea. These ships were built to make money, so how do you do that? You move high value goods at the highest volume and as fast as possible.' Mr Hendry, who is also the chairperson for the Dundee Heritage Trust, which runs theThe RRS Discovery, the the oldest surviving three-masted wooden ship built in the United Kingdom, said the history of Aberdeen's shipbuilding industry could inspired the city as it faces new challenges as the oil and gas transitions to its end game. He added: 'Aberdeen is facing a time of challenge. If you look at the city's history, over the past 200 years it has faced challenges and met them. 'It is not just about looking at ships as a piece of nostalgia, but as an inspiration as how our ancestors faced these sea changes.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 is the centrepiece of a four-day festival held in the city between Friday and Tuesday, July 22. The ships will arriva after a competitive voyage from Dunkirk and will depart for Kristiansand in Norway, departing in a Parade of Sail on Tuesday. Before then, a Crew Parade will march from Union Terrace along Schoolhill to Regent Quay, with nearly 2,000 sailors taking part. More than 200 local young people will be part of the parade after taking to the high seas on one of the Tall Ships racing between either France and Scotland or Scotland and Norway. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Monday, the Red Arrows will perform a flypast in a 22-minute display just off the Aberdeen shoreline, which is best viewed from the Beach Esplanade. During the weekend, the quayside will host performances from local artists, ship bands, sea shanties and street performers.
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Are the Reserve Bank's employee benefits gold standard or pretty standard?
Like a small cohort of employers who favour the language of 'wellness' and 'wellbeing', the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) rolled its statutory requirement for sick leave into wellness leave in mid-2021 – a change that was concurrent with the doubling of the minimum sick leave entitlement from five to 10 days. So the bank offers an additional five days for wellness (or sickness) but beyond the semantics, there isn't much difference in how the leave can be used: Employment New Zealand notes a wide range of legitimate uses for sick leave, including 'stress'. On a tightened budget, the RBNZ is preparing to cut staff and may rein in benefits. Photo / RNZ It's difficult to get an exact read on just how common (or uncommon) an extra five days' wellness or sickness leave are, but there's an indication in work done by the remuneration advisory firm Strategic Pay. Its latest survey found that 40% of New Zealand employers provide five weeks' annual leave for 'at least some staff' and 18% offer more than the legally required 10 days' sick leave. Of those offering extra sick leave, roughly three-quarters are in the public sector and the remainder are in the private sector. The extent to which they augment the basic requirement is not clear. What is clear is that RBNZ employees tend, on average, to treat their wellness days as leave to be used if needed (albeit within generous guidelines), rather than a leave provision to be fully exhausted. An RBNZ spokeswoman told the Herald that staff took an average 7.42 days of wellness leave in the last fiscal year – half their entitlement. ''Wellness leave' replaced 'sick leave' to encourage our people to take personal responsibility for staying physically, emotionally and psychologically healthy,' she said. 'While sick leave was reactive, providing time off to recover from illness or injury, wellness leave provides both proactive and reactive support. 'It gives employees the opportunity to take time away from work to maintain their overall wellness, helping to prevent illness in the first place.' By comparison, according to a BusinessNZ-Southern Cross Health Society survey, Kiwis took an average of 5.5 days' sick leave in 2022. The RBNZ also makes a 4% contribution to employees' KiwiSaver accounts where the employee contributes 4% or more. Cathy Hendry, managing director of Strategic Pay, described this provision as better than average, but not highly unusual. Financial Markets Authority Hendry also said that, for its financial and highly numerical jobs, the Reserve Bank likely competes with financial services in the private sector, which almost undoubtedly pay higher salaries. Private sector entities themselves, such as ANZ bank, declined to provide the Herald with specific details about their benefits policies. 'Where public organisations can compete [with the private sector] is often on workplace culture, flexibility and benefits,' Hendry said. The RBNZ offers a roughly similar set of benefits to those of the conduct regulator for the financial markets, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), an Independent Crown Entity which, alongside Treasury, often competes for staff with the RBNZ. The FMA provides employees five weeks' leave, including five days of office shutdown over the Christmas period. In addition, staff receive: an additional five days' annual 'loyalty leave' after three years of employment; a days' leave per year to volunteer their time; and an extra day of leave at Matariki (in addition to the public holiday). FMA employees can buy an extra five days' annual leave, while RBNZ employees can buy an additional three weeks' annual leave (at a cost of 2% of their salary per week). The FMA offers no work-from-home set-up allowance and no wellness allowance or leave. However, it does provide permanent employees with a health and life insurance package. A spokeswoman said it was 'not possible' to provide the value of the benefit per employee: 'This is because the premium (value to the staff member) differs pending age, gender, salary etc. There are also commercial sensitivities limiting what we can disclose, given this was negotiated with our insurance broker – Aon.' She said the benefit does not extend to employees' spouses or dependent children, but that this can be added at the employees' expense. The FMA contributes 4% to employees' KiwiSaver accounts when the employee contributes 3% or more. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reined in the RBNZ's budget, starting this year. Photo / Mark Mitchell Treasury and Public Service Within the Public Service, the core departments and ministries of government, the policy since 2009 has been that maximum leave provisions across individual and collective employment agreements should not exceed five weeks (25 days). As of 2022, 75% of fulltime-equivalent (FTE) employees fall within this maximum. However, Public Service Commission analysis from 2023 indicates that the majority of the remainder of employees are grandfathered on leave provisions that are more generous. Treasury provides five weeks' annual leave and employees have the option to buy additional leave, subject to approval and the 'business needs' of the department. Treasury provides only statutory sick leave and no wellness leave, but it does give permanent employees a 'wellbeing assistance allowance' of up to $500 per year. A spokesman said this can be used for 'gym memberships, classes providing regular physical activity, working-from-home equipment and similar activities'. Employer contributions to KiwiSaver are 3%. Budget and staff cuts at RBNZ The number of staff at the RBNZ exploded – along with some expansion of the organisation's remit – from 255 FTEs in mid-2018 to a current 625 FTEs. But that number is under review. The RBNZ's latest funding agreement, signed with the Government, provides an operating budget of $155 million in the current fiscal year, falling to $145m the following year (with some limited scope to carry over underspends) – the agreement provides an average $150m per annum over the next five years. That's a heavy reduction from recent years – operating expenses at the bank ballooned to $200m in the last fiscal year, according to Finance Minister Nicola Willis, and the bank's annual report shows operating expenses were $182m the previous year. The tug of war between previous RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr and the Government over funding led to Orr's resignation earlier this year, according to the bank. The RBNZ spokeswoman said the organisation has already reviewed both its executive leadership team and its leadership team and is now moving to a review of the overall bank structure and staffing. Two deputy governors resigned following Orr's departure and were not replaced, and the leadership team has reduced by eight positions to 20. 'This phase includes a formal consultation with the wider organisation. At this time, no final decisions regarding staffing numbers have been confirmed ... ' the spokeswoman said. She also said that no decisions have been made relating to any potential changes to employee benefits.
Glasgow Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Russell Martin told Rangers' 'true marker' for season
The former Scotland international, Colin Hendry, believes this is winning the Scottish Premiership title back from Celtic. The Ibrox side's upcoming Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos will be a test, but the league should be the main priority. Rangers will face the Greek team in a two-legged encounter starting next week. Mr Hendry said: "The Champions League tie against Panathinaikos will be important, of course it is. "But the true marker is what the club does in the Premiership. "Winning the league is what truly matters." The former player praised Martin's enthusiasm and honesty when he was just starting out at MK Dons. He said: "Russell would have been 34 or 35 at the time and it was his first few weeks in the job at MK Dons. "We met for an hour and I was impressed. "He was young, he was enthusiastic and he was honest." The ex-defender believes that Martin's stint in the English Premier League (EPL) with Southampton will benefit Rangers. He added: "There is no doubt Russell will have learned so much from those four or five months in the EPL. "Rangers will get the benefit of that." However, Hendry admits that it will not be an easy task for Martin to turn Rangers into title winners. He said: "It's a massive ask to go to Rangers and turn them into title winners. "But that's what he has signed up for. "He knows the level of expectation and he knows that he will need to deliver." Reflecting on Rangers' past performances, Hendry noted that the team needs to improve on their consistency. He said: "Last season, the team showed that they could beat Celtic. "But it was going to Motherwell, St Mirren and Hibernian. "They are the fixtures where they faltered." He concluded by stating that the pressure at Rangers is not for everyone and change is necessary.
Metro
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Stephen Hendry makes Zhao Xintong prediction and Ronnie O'Sullivan comparison
Stephen Hendry feels world champion Zhao Xintong has an air of Ronnie O'Sullivan about him and expects plenty more success to come in his future. The 28-year-old beat Mark Williams to win his first world title in Sheffield in May, completing a remarkable return to the game. Zhao sat out for two years after a ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal, although he did not fix any matches himself, which is why his punishment was relatively light. In his first World Championship since his return he won four qualifying matches just to reach the Crucible, where he brushed aside Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin, O'Sullivan and Williams. Already a UK Championship and German Masters champion before he was banned in January 2023, the Cyclone was very highly thought of as an incredible talent on the baize and that has only been further cemented by his Crucible exploits. Hendry feels he makes the sport look easy in a way no one has since the Rocket came on the scene and expects multiple world titles in Zhao's future. 'I think Xintong is a special, special talent,' Hendry said on his Cue Tips YouTube channel. 'Since Ronnie O'Sullivan, no one's made the game look as easy as Zhao Xintong makes it look. 'He won the World Championship at a canter, really. Okay the draw opened up for him and he could have played other players but you can only beat who is in the other chair and he did it so comfortably. 'I think he's got that special something…if he didn't win another two or three World Championships I'd be very, very surprised. I think he's capable of being at the top of the sport. 'Obviously you've still got players like Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, the Selbys and Shaun Murphys of this world, who are going to be up there. But I think this guy he seems level headed enough and if he can get used to the expectations on his shoulders, I think he can go on to do special things in the sport.' Zhao is yet to play since he downed Williams 18-12 in the Crucible final, with his first match of the new season coming at the Shanghai Masters at the end of this month. He has been busy, though, with his profile exploding in China thanks to becoming the first winner of the World Snooker Championship from the country. The sport is extremely popular in China and while he is set to make plenty of cash from the opportunities which will now present themselves as world champion, he will also have to deal with the pressure of fame. Speaking to Hendry, Zhao said: 'I think it's a big change for me, life's changed, I've got a little bit famous in China. When I walk on the road, fans know me, I'm very happy I can feel that. 'I'm looking forward to next season. I know the season has started now, so I've watched some matches on my phone. I'm looking forward to my first match at the Shanghai Masters. 'When you're famous you get big pressure, I know that but I will try to keep to myself, just keep going, don't think a lot about the media and the internet. I just want to keep to myself.' Beaten finalist Williams also compared Zhao to a young Rocket, saying at the Crucible: 'He's close to as good to watch as O'Sullivan when he was younger. He just walks around the table as if he's just walking to go to the toilet or something. 'He's just strolling. Pots from anywhere. Walks around not a care in the world. Two minutes later he's on 65. Gee whizz! He's got to sixty like that. Frightening.' More Trending While the Welshman can also see the Cyclone breezing to more world titles, he does not see Zhao matching O'Sullivan and Hendry's record of seven, or the Rocket's eight Masters and UK Championship titles. 'No. I don't think anyone will ever challenge them records because the standard is too good to get that many Worlds and Masters and UKs it's too tough,' said Williams. 'Who knows? But it will be highly unlikely.' The Shanghai Masters gets underway on July 28, with Zhao due to play either Chris Wakelin or a wildcard player on July 30. It will be the first time Zhao has played in the current non-ranking version of the Shanghai Masters, which was won last season by Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan on the four editions prior to last year. MORE: Snooker icon warns rivals about 16-year-old rookie with huge future ahead of him MORE: Stephen Hendry puts Ronnie O'Sullivan second in top five snooker players to watch MORE: The players who had dream and nightmare first weeks of the snooker season
