Latest news with #Iain
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Former rugby player to take on world-record swim with Scottish Canals
FORMER flanker for Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby Iain Sinclair has allied with Scottish Canals in hopes of becoming the first person to swim the full length of the Caledonian Canal. The 48-year-old aims to tackle and overcome the full 60 miles of the Canal, including 29 locks, starting on September 15 and completing the challenge within 10 days. He is raising awareness for three charities that hold a personal significance to him: Crohn's & Colitis UK, British Heart Foundation, and mental health charity Mikeysline. Sinclair said: 'After some research, I discovered no-one had ever swum the full length of the Caledonian Canal, from sea to sea across the Highlands of Scotland. 'It's long, cold water, and logistically quite tricky. 'Swimming was always the hardest part of the triathlon for me, heavy rugby player legs and the nickname 'Sinky' says it all, so anything that involved swimming would by default, be a challenge. 'I thought it might be fun to build a small team and create our own wee bit of history, perhaps inspire others and raise money for great causes close to us in the process.' He has faced significant health challenges. Diagnosed with indeterminate colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, he underwent major life-changing surgery in 2013 to remove his colon and another operation to reverse the stoma and form an internal pouch using his remaining small intestine. Two years later, determined not to be defined by illness, he completed an Ironman triathlon alongside his friend Colin Maguire, raising funds for Crohn's & Colitis UK in the process. In 2024, Maguire died of a sudden heart attack – and Sinclair also lost Jenny Hastings, the wife of his friend and former Watsonians and Edinburgh Rugby teammate Scott Hastings. He is raising money for the British Heart Foundation and Mikeysline in their memory. Claire Maguire, wife to Colin, in support of Sinclair, said: 'It means the world to me and my boys that Iain is taking on this open water challenge in memory of Colin and other special friends. 'Iain's challenge will raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation, a cause very close to my heart.' Also backing Sinclair is former teammate Scott Hastings, who said: 'It's with huge admiration that Iain is embarking on this amazing challenge in memory of my wife Jenny. 'I am delighted that Iain has chosen the mental health charity, Mikeysline, one of the three benefitting charities of this groundbreaking challenge. 'I look forward to being part of Iain's support team as he takes on this amazing feat.' Sinclair went on: 'I'm genuinely humbled to have the support and input of a hugely experienced and capable core group of people, along with the amazing support from our partners at Scottish Canals. 'From fitness and safety experts to friends, mentors, and family, it's been a shared effort from the start. 'I'm especially grateful for the support of my wife and our three children, the ones I hope to make proud above all. 'We're going to give this everything we've got.'
The National
2 days ago
- Health
- The National
Former rugby player to take on world-record swim with Scottish Canals
The 48-year-old aims to tackle and overcome the full 60 miles of the Canal, including 29 locks, starting on September 15 and completing the challenge within 10 days. He is raising awareness for three charities that hold a personal significance to him: Crohn's & Colitis UK, British Heart Foundation, and mental health charity Mikeysline. Sinclair said: 'After some research, I discovered no-one had ever swum the full length of the Caledonian Canal, from sea to sea across the Highlands of Scotland. 'It's long, cold water, and logistically quite tricky. 'Swimming was always the hardest part of the triathlon for me, heavy rugby player legs and the nickname 'Sinky' says it all, so anything that involved swimming would by default, be a challenge. 'I thought it might be fun to build a small team and create our own wee bit of history, perhaps inspire others and raise money for great causes close to us in the process.' He has faced significant health challenges. Diagnosed with indeterminate colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, he underwent major life-changing surgery in 2013 to remove his colon and another operation to reverse the stoma and form an internal pouch using his remaining small intestine. Two years later, determined not to be defined by illness, he completed an Ironman triathlon alongside his friend Colin Maguire, raising funds for Crohn's & Colitis UK in the process. In 2024, Maguire died of a sudden heart attack – and Sinclair also lost Jenny Hastings, the wife of his friend and former Watsonians and Edinburgh Rugby teammate Scott Hastings. He is raising money for the British Heart Foundation and Mikeysline in their memory. Claire Maguire, wife to Colin, in support of Sinclair, said: 'It means the world to me and my boys that Iain is taking on this open water challenge in memory of Colin and other special friends. 'Iain's challenge will raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation, a cause very close to my heart.' Also backing Sinclair is former teammate Scott Hastings, who said: 'It's with huge admiration that Iain is embarking on this amazing challenge in memory of my wife Jenny. 'I am delighted that Iain has chosen the mental health charity, Mikeysline, one of the three benefitting charities of this groundbreaking challenge. 'I look forward to being part of Iain's support team as he takes on this amazing feat.' Sinclair went on: 'I'm genuinely humbled to have the support and input of a hugely experienced and capable core group of people, along with the amazing support from our partners at Scottish Canals. 'From fitness and safety experts to friends, mentors, and family, it's been a shared effort from the start. 'I'm especially grateful for the support of my wife and our three children, the ones I hope to make proud above all. 'We're going to give this everything we've got.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
I built an authentic Scots pub in my garden for less than £1k – everything inside was under a tenner
Iain revealed how he managed to keep costs low CHEERS TO THAT! I built an authentic Scots pub in my garden for less than £1k – everything inside was under a tenner A SCOTS man has built an authentic pub in his garden for under £1,000 complete with roaring open fire, cask ale pumps and branded beer mats. Iain Mason, 55, has converted his garage into 'Stoaters', a cosy six-seater boozer filled with genuine pub memorabilia. Advertisement 6 Iain Mason built his own pub in his garden for less than £1,000 Credit: SWNS 6 Iain believes he spent around £900 creating Stoaters over a four-month period Credit: SWNS 6 He kept the budget down by ensuring everything inside cost less than £10 Credit: SWNS 6 He even got his own branded beer mats and dart wings Credit: SWNS He kept the budget down by ensuring everything inside cost less than £10 or was being given away for free. Iain sourced everything from pint glasses and tables to a dartboard and even the bar from charity shops and Facebook Marketplace. He used timber from old palettes and wardrobes, and scoured Facebook Marketplace and charity shops deals and within four months he had constructed Stoaters, his garden pub. Iain, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, said: "My younger brother had a pub down the bottom of his garden. Advertisement "I thought it was brilliant - just to walk down to the bottom of your own garden, sit in your own pub, have your own music on, and to feel like you're somewhere different. "I didn't have an overall budget in mind - but I'd seen other ones where people had end up going wild. "I think the sense of accomplishment is greater when you do have a budget and you can save here and there. "By finding bargains and finding things to repurpose, there was a much greater sense of achievement. Advertisement "I set an initial budget of £10 and under for everything. It's been really well-received. It's probably the best thing I've ever done.'' Iain travelled the country on his days off - finding furniture being sold for cheap or given away for free, and repurposing them to add to his 13 sq m bar. BrewDog to close TEN pubs across UK as staff set to be axed The only exceptions to the rule he says, were the fridge and TV, which required a little more of a splurge. Overall, Iain believes he spent around £900 creating Stoaters over a four-month period. Advertisement "I'm not a handyman - but my dad is very good at DIY and has taught me a few things over the years," he said. "Once I had the layout of the bar, I was determined to do it properly. When I made a mistake, instead of living with it, I'd take it down and start again. "I had to pay for things like wood stains and screws, but I didn't pay for any timber - it was all palettes and old wardrobes. "I did have to spend a bit more on the fridge, which was new. The TV was secondhand, but that was still a little bit more. Advertisement "There were a couple of things I had to spend a little bit more on, but the initial budget was everything £10 or under - and I was so determined to do it like that. "The dartboard I got from a young couple in Greenock, who had just moved into a new flat and found that in a cupboard - that was £10 and I drove to get it as soon as I saw it. I was really happy with that. 6 Iain unveiled his bar to his family and friends after keeping his progress secret Credit: SWNS 6 The pub with roaring open fire, cask ale pumps and branded beer mats Credit: SWNS Advertisement "The top of the bar itself was an old table that was broken, so that was given away. It's quite a long bar, so finding a big table probably would have been quite expensive. "There's a small table in the corner that was being given away for a fiver by a cricket club. The fireplace was also being given for scrap. "The shelves behind the bar that all the bottles are on - that was an old sideboard that a couple was getting rid of in Paisley. "That was a great find - a really nice, sturdy old sideboard. Advertisement "When I put that up in the corner of the bar, that's when it really started to turn into a bar and not just a room." Iain unveiled his bar to his family and friends after keeping his progress secret from even his wife Sheena and daughter Olivia, 16. He said: "My wife was genuinely impressed. The biggest compliment I have is when people say it's like a real pub." Iain has two rules for visitors to his pub - everyone must take a turn behind the bar, and punters should leave behind a foreign banknote or a business card, in homage to a bartending job Iain had 30 years ago. Advertisement "We've had some great nights," he said.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Huge Channel 4 show being revived after 25 years off air and it's set to be ‘very rude and funny'
A POPULAR Channel 4 show looks set to be making a comeback over 25 years on from its debut. The 11 O'Clock Show, was fronted by TV and radio presenter 4 Iain Lee is reviving a show he hosted for Channel 4 in the late 90s Credit: Getty 4 The TV presenter fronted the 11 O'Clock show for the network for four series Credit: Channel 4 While it is understood the show is not yet attached to a channel, Iain has firmly declared it is in "his power" to bring it back and has already begun to reconnect with those who worked on the show in 1999. Iain hopes to have the new series on air in 2026. He said of the show's return: 'Loads of you for years have been asking me to bring back The 11 O'Clock Show and I didn't think it was within my gift. "I thought it had to be a channel or something," he said, as per the Read More on Channel 4 Iain continued: 'But it is within my power to do it. So next year I will be bringing back Iain Lee's The 11 O'Clock Show. "I'm not quite sure how it's going to work yet, but I am talking to a few people who were connected to the show and we have got a few ideas bubbling around and it will be very rude, very funny, very 1999.' The show first launched in 1998 before coming to a close just two years later. While it has a number of presenters across its five-series run, Iain hosted the first four of them and was largely credited with its success. Most read in TV He worked alongside Daisy Donovan for three editions of the show. Jon Homes and Sarah Alexanders took over for the final series of the show before it was axed. Iain Lee says his life has changed after coming out as bisexual on Good Morning Britain It is known for launching the careers of stars including After leaving the show, Iain focused on radio broadcasting and could be heard across many major networks. He took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2017 but later took a step back from media work in 2020 to focus on training to become a counsellor. Iain was inspired to follow his new career path after struggles with addiction, sobriety and his sexuality. 4 Iain presented alongside Daisy Donovon Credit: Channel 4 4 Now he hopes to bring it back in 2026 Credit: Rex Features
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Huge Channel 4 show being revived after 25 years off air and it's set to be ‘very rude and funny'
The show famously launched the careers of a number of comedians tv comeback Huge Channel 4 show being revived after 25 years off air and it's set to be 'very rude and funny' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR Channel 4 show looks set to be making a comeback over 25 years on from its debut. The 11 O'Clock Show, was fronted by TV and radio presenter Iain Lee, and now the star has confessed he is determined to bring it back. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Iain Lee is reviving a show he hosted for Channel 4 in the late 90s Credit: Getty 4 The TV presenter fronted the 11 O'Clock show for the network for four series Credit: Channel 4 While it is understood the show is not yet attached to a channel, Iain has firmly declared it is in "his power" to bring it back and has already begun to reconnect with those who worked on the show in 1999. Iain hopes to have the new series on air in 2026. He said of the show's return: 'Loads of you for years have been asking me to bring back The 11 O'Clock Show and I didn't think it was within my gift. "I thought it had to be a channel or something," he said, as per the Daily Star. Iain continued: 'But it is within my power to do it. So next year I will be bringing back Iain Lee's The 11 O'Clock Show. "I'm not quite sure how it's going to work yet, but I am talking to a few people who were connected to the show and we have got a few ideas bubbling around and it will be very rude, very funny, very 1999.' The show first launched in 1998 before coming to a close just two years later. While it has a number of presenters across its five-series run, Iain hosted the first four of them and was largely credited with its success. He worked alongside Daisy Donovan for three editions of the show. Jon Homes and Sarah Alexanders took over for the final series of the show before it was axed. Iain Lee says his life has changed after coming out as bisexual on Good Morning Britain It is known for launching the careers of stars including Sacha Baron Cohen and his character Ali G as well as Ricky Gervais. After leaving the show, Iain focused on radio broadcasting and could be heard across many major networks. He took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2017 but later took a step back from media work in 2020 to focus on training to become a counsellor. Iain was inspired to follow his new career path after struggles with addiction, sobriety and his sexuality. 4 Iain presented alongside Daisy Donovon Credit: Channel 4
