Latest news with #Innerleithen
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Princess Margaret's wild Monty Python night at the aristocrats' party revealed by BBC presenter
A 'very drunk' Princess Margaret once played a Monty Python song at an aristocratic gathering in the Scottish Borders, a former BBC presenter has revealed. The Queen's sister was described as being 'incredibly sloshed' as musicians danced around, according to former BBC presenter Steve Blacknell. The event was hosted by Colin Tennant, later 3rd Baron Glenconner, at his family's Glen House estate. His wife Lady Anne Coke was Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting. At the time Blacknell was living with Scottish psychedelic folk band The Incredible String Band who were invited to the dinner. Speaking on the Time Capsule podcast, the 72 year old said: 'So there I am living with my heroes, one day the door opens in my little cabin and the drummer Jack [Ingram] comes in and he says 'we're off to have tea with some people so put your shoes on we're leaving in 10 minutes'. 'The row where they lived was in a place called Innerleithen in Peeblesshire, beautiful rolling hills and stuff, so about three quarters of a mile away was a castle which was owned by Colin Tennant. 'Now Colin Tennant was the guy who bought Mustique, the island, and was just an incredibly rich guy and he had this huge mansion thing. 'So we all traipse up there, we walk in and I can't believe I'm doing this with these people I adore so much and we can hear a piano playing so we get nearer and nearer and there plinking away on the piano, cigarette hanging out of her gob, is a very very very drunk Princess Margaret. 'So there she is with Roddy Llewellyn and they're all completely drunk... you're thinking what the hell is going on, I was only 21 or something. 'She starts playing on the piano, rather badly, 'I've got a ferret sticking up my nose' which is the Monty Python song and she said 'well come on then dance'. 'So just like dancing around a maypole me and these heroes of mine are dancing around an incredibly sloshed Princess Margret, to this day I still can't believe it.' Blacknell is best known for being an MTV Video Jockey as well as working in PR for several record labels, he is currently the CEO of the Central London School of TV and Media Training.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Google Earth images used as evidence to reject planning appeal
A planning appeal has been thrown out after Google Earth satellite images were used to disprove claims by the company making the application. RCR Limited said the former gasworks site they had taken over in Innerleithen about three years ago had been used as storage for more than 30 this year, their plan to turn the gasholder site into a storage yard was rejected by the Scottish Borders Council, a decision which they appealed for the Scottish government to appeal has now been rejected after the Google Earth images from 2007, 2014 and 2022 showed no sign of storage on the land. RCR Limited bought the site from gas distribution company SGN on 2 November 2022. Their plans to turn the site into an "excellent storage space" was dismissed by the council on the grounds of a flood risk. The company appealed against this decision, claiming the site had been used as a storage area by the previous said SGN and other suppliers had used the Princes Street space to store waste, signs, barriers and other said that turning the site into a storage yard was just a continuation of what had gone on before. However, in documents related to application, SGN said: "While the site may have been used by the local depot as a storage area, officially, the site was classified as vacant with access for maintenance purposes only."SGN said that it would be an overstatement to say the site was used for storage. 'Heavily overgrown' In his appeal decision notice, the planning reporter appointed by Scottish ministers, Malcolm Mahony, said aerial imagery from Google Earth in July 2022, showed the site as overgrown, with blocks at the images from 2007, 2014 and 2022 do not show reasonable evidence of storage use, he containers only appear in the Google Earth search in the year three years before that, the satellite images show trees and greenery around the site area. Locals from the nearby small town in Tweeddale had also disagreed with RCR's storage claims. In a written letter to the Scottish government planning appeal, Aileen Logan who has lived near the site for about 45 years, said: "At that time there was a working gasometer on the site."This was subsequently removed and the site was locked up and abandoned becoming heavily overgrown.""At no time did the Gas Board use this site for storage."She said the street leading to the site is extremely narrow and would be unsuitable for works traffic. Ross McGinn, who has lived near the site for more than 30 years and is part of Innerleithen Community Trust, said that RCR's claims were "totally false".After reviewing the evidence, Mr Mahony said that on the balance of probability there was insufficient evidence of continuous use throughout the 10 year period required and the appeal fails.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Revised plans for Innerleithen mountain bike centre revealed
Revised plans for a multi-million pound mountain bike innovation centre in the Borders have been had initially been hoped that Caerlee Mill in Innerleithen could be converted but severe structural issues and rising costs put an end to that plans to demolish the building - which dates back to 1788 - have been agreed and approval will be sought for a new structure to replace of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) said the project could create more than 400 jobs in the region over 10 years. The old mill is one of the oldest industrial buildings in Scotland but ultimately proved too costly to the £19m project will see a new centre built where it once approved it would allow Scottish, UK and international companies to develop mountain biking and cycling products and scheme will be funded by the UK government as port of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal. The project will also host academics and research by Edinburgh Napier University across the cycling would include bike engineering workshop space, brand experience units, events space, offices, meeting rooms and teaching Griggs, who chairs SOSE, said: "This is another important step forward for the mountain bike innovation centre project."If planning permission is received, the new facility will allow high-value jobs to come to the south of Scotland, maximising the value of mountain biking to the area by getting more products and services designed and made here."Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill added: "I welcome this major step forward towards the mountain bike innovation centre in Innerleithen opening for business, bringing jobs and investment to the region and attracting riders from across the country and beyond to a world-class facility."
