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Sir Ian sets of on fundraising walk through Britain

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:13:00 GMT

Former cricketer Sir Ian Botham has just set off on another leg of his 131 mile (211 km) fundraising walk.

Beefy's Great British Walk began inTaunton, Somerset last Friday and will visit nine towns in nine days. Many members of the public are joining Sir Ian at various points of his nine walks - the last leg of which began at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk today.

Sir Ian, who is president of Leukaemia Research, said his inspiration to launch fundraising walks stemmed from meeting youngsters with leukaemia in Taunton, 25 years ago. He told BBC News: "When I started walking, the survival rate for children with leukaemia was 20%.

"Now it is 87%. I would like to think we could get it to 100% although I'm not sure that's possible. If we can get into the 90s, we will have done well."

Sir Ian has already raised over £100,000 for Lukemia Research from the first three days of his walk, despite the current economic situation. With regard to the positive financial turnout, he said: "I think people have had a gutful of bad news... I think people are fed-up with the credit crunch and bankers playing Russian roulette with our money...I think they relish the chance to do something positive."

Sir Ian said he had not undergone any special training for the long trek. He told reporters: "I've never trained in my life for anything. I'm not going to start at 52.

"It hurts at times, of course, but it would hurt twice as much if I trained."

Kelly Rowland performs at Student of the Year Awards

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:01:00 GMT

Former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland performed before an audience of award-winning students at the Student of the Year Awards in London last night.

The event, which is in its first year, aims to recognise the achievements of students from a variety of backgrounds over the entire UK. As part of the ceremony, the singer made a special appearance and performed for guests.

Run by careers magazine Xcel, the event was headed by former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and totalled 16 prizes for students' various achievements. According to the Times, the creator of the awards, Andre Dixon, said: "It's a celebration of student achievement, it's telling students that anyone can do it. You focus, and you put in a lot of work and you can achieve anything you want to."

The overall winner was University of the Arts student Alexander Rose, who created the STOP campaign against knife crime. He set up the campaign after losing five friends from knife attacks.

Another winner was Helen Wells, a 45 year old mother of three and grandmother of one. She won the Student of Courage award in recognition of her triumph over struggle. Until she was 23, she could not read or write and her life was plagued by family suffering, including her brother's murder and domestic violence. However, she is now set to achieve a degree in Community Health from Huddersfield University.

She said: "Everything negative that has happened in my life I have turned it into something positive. I have fallen down but there's nothing wrong with falling down but you have to get back up again."

The Deputy Mayor of London, Richard Barnes, said: "Some of these young people come from challenging backgrounds but that doesn't mean that they have to fall through the net...Too often you read about failures but here we are celebrating success."

Olympic spectators to get free TVs

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:49:00 GMT

Mayor Johnson has described a device that may be handed out to London 2012 attendees, allowing them to view details of events and instant replays of current events.

According to the Independent, he said: "One of the things that we were thinking of doing was to have hand-held devices, BlackBerry-type gizmos, that you could be issued with when you come into the [Olympic] park telling you what's going on, or giving you instant action replays."

It was also revealed that an RSVP system for corporate ticket holders would ensure a reduction in the empty stands that were seen at Beijing. Should any corporate guest not attend, the ticket would be made available to schoolchildren for free, ensuring the seat was not wasted.

Speaking about the Chinese Olympics, Mr Johnson commented on the "intimidating" atmosphere of the event, with security checks happening to the point where attendees found them tyrannical.

The Mayor promised that the London Games would be friendlier, with the city welcoming spectators in an attempt to offer a more sociable Olympic atmosphere than that afforded at Beijing. Trips to the site the Games will be taking place at on specially-built boats are one of the ideas plugged by the Mayor - though he is careful to vow that he will not go over the spending budget of £9.3 billion.

Other preparations being made for the London Olympics include a carnival that was held in celebration of the 2012 hosts and a seafront revamp project for the host of sailing events, south-west town Weymouth.

Half of Glastonbury tickets already sold

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:01:00 GMT

Half the tickets for 2009's Glastonbury music festival have been snapped up already, after early ticket sales commenced on Sunday morning.

More than 69,000 places were either reserved or bought by early Sunday evening, despite the eight-month stretch up to the famous Somerset event. Fans had a choice to reserve their tickets by paying a £50 deposit or to simply buy them upfront for £175.

The early sale comes after last year's festival event failed to sell out tickets in the first day.

Organisers had also revealed in September that fans could purchase an unlimited number of tickets for 2009's event.

Event spokesman John Shearlaw said he was "chuffed" that so many tickets had already sold for the event at Worthy Farm, Pilton. He told BBC News: "We are very calm about it - it's a vote of confidence."

He also said that the option to pay a deposit helped out students who wanted to attend the pricey event.

Glastonbury organizer Michael Eavis added that the new ticket-sale scheme was to ensure that tickets went to genuine fans, in addition to making it easier for them to pay by spreading the cost.

"[Last] June saw the most diverse audience for 10 years or so, and hopefully this new fairer ticket system will mean that we have a great crowd again in 2009."

Organisers also revealed in September that fans would be able to purchase an unlimited number of tickets for 2009's event.

Glastonbury 2008 saw over 130,000 festival-goers turn up in south west England to see acts such as Amy Winehouse, Leonard Cohen and US rapper Jay-Z.

Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis told BBC News in September that Glastonbury 2009 headliners would be announced "pretty soon." She said: "It's not Coldplay, it's not U2 and it's not the Rolling Stones."

She also revealed that Franz Ferdinand and The Ting Tings would be "somewhere on the bill."

Glastonbury 2009 will run for five days, from June 24 - 28.

Spider-Man author to appear at book festival

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:36:00 GMT

Comic book author Mark Millar is to appear at this year's North Lanarkshire Book Festival.

The top-selling author, from Coatbridge, near
Glasgow, is best known for his work on world-renowned Marvel comic books such as Spider-Man, Superman and the X-Men.

Mr Millar will appear at Airdrie Library on Saturday, October 4 and will hold a question and answer session for fans. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask him about all aspects of his career, from work on their favourite super heroes to his latest project in the movie business - such as Hollywood blockbuster 'Wanted', starring Angelina Jolie and Scot James McAvoy.

Mr Millar is also anticipated receive droves of questions regarding his work on the ever-famous Spider-Man - a character who has now appeared on the big screen three times, with rumours of a fourth and fifth film to be shot together during 2009.

Festival events will be taking place at libraries and schools across the North Lanarkshire region.

Other authors appearing at the book festival include spy-novel writer, Charles Cumming, Christopher Brookmyre and Booker prize winner, James Kelman.

The festival will also feature a number of events for children and younger readers. London-born Julia Donaldson, author of the renowned "Gruffalo" picture book will be appearing at Cumbernauld library, while Cathy Forde, author of Skarrs and Sugarcoated, will be visiting Kilsyth and Shotts libraries.

The North Lanarkshire Book Festival will run for one week, from October 4 to October 11. Information regarding the festival and its guest authors can be obtained through any North Lanarkshire library or via the Lanarkshire council's website.

Birmingham gets boost from party conference

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:01:00 GMT

Birmingham is enjoying a rise in profile and an economic boost as a result of the ongoing Conservative Party conference, according to the BBC.

The broadcaster reports that the conference had highlighted the city's ability to host large events with success, as the party conference continues as Birmingham's International Convention Centre (ICC).

The ICC is located next to the city's shopping and entertainment centre, Broad Street, and its restored canal system at Brindley Place. And with an influx of up to 10,000 delegates into the city, it's estimated that the conference will bring in an additional £20 million to the local economy.

Ian Taylor, commercial director for Marketing Birmingham, told the BBC: "This is the first time that the Conservatives have held their conference in Birmingham for 75 years.

"And the move away from seaside towns has resulted in a marked increase in delegates.

"We have close to 11,000 people and 1,000 journalists in Birmingham this week, spending money in our hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and other businesses.

"The conference will instil a sense of increased confidence in the city that Birmingham is being taken seriously, people want to come here, want to do business here."

In the past, popular destinations for the Conservative Party Conference have included Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth.

The Labour Party also favours similar conference destinations, but held its annual conference in Manchester in 2006 and 2008.

Previous large events hosted in Birmingham include the G8 summit and the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998.

Turner Prize nominees exhibit work in London

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:24:00 GMT

The works of this year's Turner Prize nominees are being exhibited at Tate Britain in London.

Runa Islam, Mark Leckey, Goshka Macuga and Cathy Wikles are all contending for the award, which is given to outstanding projects created by UK artists under the age of 50.

The Turner Prize is traditionally swooped up for peculiar or controversial work, with previous winners of the accolade including Damien Hirst, Gilbert and George, and transvestite potter Grayson Perry. Last year's winner was Mark Wallinger, whose work included dressing up as a bear and replicating Brian Haw's anti-war protest in Parliament Square.

Sophie O'Brien, the exhibition's curator, told BBC News that it was a "really exciting" year for the prestigious prize.

She said: "The Turner Prize is about showing things that are intriguing and surprising and interesting... It is about creating debate.

"All of the four artists do very different things and I think it is a really exciting year and people should come and see for themselves."

Among various displays, Cathy Wilkes' work features a female mannequin sitting on a toilet with a bowl of left-over, dried porridge at her feet. Mark Leckey will be exhibiting Industrial Light & Magic, featuring cartoon characters like the famous Felix the Cat.

Runa Islam's work, titled 'Be The First to See What You See As You See It," combines visual and performance art, with a woman wandering around a collection of fragile porcelain pieces before throwing them to the floor.

Polish-born Goshka Macuga will display her glass, steel and fabric installation, called 'Haus der Frau 2,' which art critic Rachel Campbell-Johnston has called "very, very confusing."

The winner of the £25,000 Turner Prize will be named on December 1 and the exhibit will run at the Tate Britain from September 30 - January 18.

The event joins another Tate exhibit, that of Mark Rathko, on show at the Tate Modern from September 26 - February 1.

Carnival held to celebrate 2012 Olympic hosts

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:49:00 GMT

A giant carnival has been held in the east London borough of Hackney, celebrating the district's role as a host for the 2012 Olympics.

The event, called One Carnival, was comprised of fifteen carnival groups, offering a free day of music and street entertainment. A parade kicked off the carnival, moving through the borough then culminating in performances outside Hackney's Town Hall.

The carnival is part of the Cultural Olympiad - an ongoing celebration of British arts and culture in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games. The £40 million, four-year affair kicked off on Friday, and continued with a series of weekend events throughout the United Kingdom.

In the run up to the event, Hackney's mayor, Jules Pipe, told BBC News: "The Cultural Olympiad will showcase the rich diversity of cultures and the talent and creativity of the arts in Hackney, alongside sporting excellence."

"This will give residents and local groups a great opportunity to take part and experience the arts as an integral part of 2012."

One Carnival joined a string of events in the Cultural Olympiad launch, including Dance in Devon - a free dance event held on Saturday at Darts Farm in Topsham - and Light UP Dover - a fire show display held in Kent last Friday - as well as light performances at St George's Square in Luton and at Castle Gardens, Norwich Castle, where images from international artists Shezad Dawood and Mukul Deora were projected on the castle walls alongside a live DJ set.

Fire show to light up England's 'gateway'

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:24:00 GMT

A fire show will light up Kent port this evening, in an attempt to persuade London Olympics organisers to pass the 2012 Games torch through Dover. The display is part the Cultural Olympiad - a four-year celebration of British culture in the lead up to London 2012 Olympic Games - and will be followed by a weekend of events across the United Kingdom.

The pyrotechnic display - organised by Kent-based company, The World Famous - will link the sea, harbour and Kent's iconic white cliffs. Coordinators have said the show will commence with a "moody meditation on the sea" and conclude with a "great celebration of fire and the torch." The spectacle is also to feature a dramatic soundscape.

Councillor Julie Rook, from Dover District Council, told BBC News: "This is fantastic news for the area and is an incredible opportunity to celebrate Dover's world-class heritage and iconic coastline, and to highlight the major role the town can play in supporting London 2012."
The Arts Council England - the event's sponsors - described the show as being part of the 'renaissance' of the gateway to England.
It wouldn't be the first time Dover would experience the accolade of handling the Olympic torch - the iconic torch entered the UK through Dover for the 1948 Olympic Games as well.

The show - called Light UP Dover - begins at 20.15 BST tonight, and will be attended by athletes who competed in the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

Princess Margaret portrait goes on show

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:36:00 GMT

A famous painting of Princess Margaret is to go on display at London's National Portrait Gallery.

The 1957 portrait, painted by Italian artist Pietro Annigoni, originally hung on the wall of Princess Margaret's Kensington Palace apartment. However, after her death from a stroke in February of 2002 - six weeks before the death of the Queen Mother - the portrait was acquired by her son, Viscount Linley.

The Viscount auctioned the portrait off in 2006, along with a collection of personal possessions, in order to pay a £3 million inheritance tax on the princess' estate. However, he eventually bought it back anonymously, for £680,000 - three times its sale estimate. His reasons for re-purchasing the portrait are undisclosed, but he chose to lift his anonymity after speculations regarding the buyer's identity arose.

Artist Annigoni expressed an interest in painting Angus-born Princess Margaret in 1954, when he was painting the first of his portraits of the monarch. In this particular painting, he depicted the princess in an English garden, describing her as being "enveloped in an aura of sensuality".

The sittings for the piece began in 1956 - a year after the Princess called off plans to marry Group Captain Peter Townshend. It is said that Princess Margaret and artist Annigoni spoke French to one another during the 33 sittings that were required to finish the portrait.

Annigoni , who died in 1988, also painted two portraits of the Queen - one of which also hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

North Scotland holds tribute to women of Jacobite rising

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:01:00 GMT

A tribute dedicated to women of the Jacobite rising of 1745 is set to take place later this month in Culloden, near Inverness.

The National Trust for Scotland event will be the first of its kind to focus solely on women. It will involve exploration into the lives of women in the Jacobite movement, which was a political movement that supported the restoration of the House of Stuart to the British throne.

It will involve an exhibition entitled Strong Women - A Tribute to Heroines at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre on September 27 and 28. Glasgow-born author Maggie Craig will also give a talk about researching her acclaimed book, Damn Rebel Bitches.

As part of the research, Ms Craig studied records and letters from the 18th century. She told the BBC: "The research was quite difficult. I had to look for the men and then the women attached to them."

She discovered that women played a much more significant part in the Jacobite cause than presumed, learning that women undertook key parts in raising men to undertake strong roles in the movement and even going on to the Culloden battlefield to tend to injured and dying men.

The learning manager at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre revealed that other events would look at women and the government, where some women undertook spy duties that put their lives at risk.

She added that the tribute's intention was part of an ongoing process that will help recognise the roles women had during the Jacobite movement.

Edinburgh Hogmanay ticket prices rise

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:48:00 GMT

Tickets for this year's Hogmanay celebrations in Scottish capital Edinburgh are set to double in price to £10.

Out of the 100,000 passes sold for the party, just 10,000 will be sold at the previous cost of five pounds. According to Edinburgh City Council, the cheaper passes will be aimed towards locals.

With ticket sales opening on October 3, more details of the event will not be available until November. This year's programme will feature a variety of free and family events that will take place over the four days of Hogmanay - December 29 until January 1.

Edinburgh City Council's festival and events leader, Steve Cardownie, spoke to the BBC about the reasons behind the price rise: "We want our Hogmanay celebrations to continue to be best in the world.

"Not only do they put Edinburgh firmly on the world map, but they significantly boost Edinburgh's economy, last year generating over £29m for city businesses.

"The price increase to £10 will allow us to make this year's experience sparkle.

"We'll also be examining future Hogmanay events to see how we can make them even better.

"We're very aware that Edinburgh's Hogmanay has been copied by various cities, and we want to raise the bar yet again to ensure we continue to stand out from the crowd."

Edinburgh's Hogmanay attracts thousands of tourists to the city from all over the world. Its success has spurred many other cities to hold their own celebrations, including Scottish cities Stirling, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, which all hold all-night celebrations.

Walkers embark on history-inspired trek

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:13:00 GMT

A team of twelve walkers will embark on a historic trek on Saturday to commemorate this year's Royal National Mod.

The trek will stretch 104 miles from Fort William to Falkirk and is expected to take seven days to complete. The journey will retrace the steps of cattle drovers, who traveled the route with their livestock hundreds of years ago.

Among the trek's participants will be Falkirk Provost Pat Reid and Mod organiser Angus MacDonald. The walkers will stop at Glencoe, Kinlochleven, Tyndrum, Inverarnan, Rowardennan and Fintry, before arriving in Falkirk on September 19.

Three weeks after the expected arrival of the trekkers, on October 10, Falkirk will kick off an annual, week-long festival known as the Mod - an event celebrating Scotland's Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage. The festival, organised by Falkirk Council and An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association), will showcase traditional music, poetry and dance, including Gaelic music and song, Highland dancing and drama.

The Mod is a long-standing tradition, originally held in Oban in 1892. Locals believe the festival took its inspiration from trade gatherings.

Around 10,000 people from across the globe are expected to partake in this year's Mod festival celebration. In addition to promoting the Gaelic language and culture, the Mod is regarded as a major economic and cultural boost to the host town and attracts significant national and international publicity, raising the profile of the host location.

Tribute to take place for WWII air cadets

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:01:00 GMT

A full-sized replica of a Mark 1 Spitfire plane is being unveiled in a tribute to the WWII Polish airmen killed in training at Grangemouth's former RAF air base.

The ceremony, which is being held this Saturday in Grangemouth, near Stirling, will include a flypast by a Hurricane and Lancaster bomber. The air display will be the first time a Spitfire has flown over Grangemouth since World War II.

The tribute has been organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps, who launched a campaign in 2006 to trace former cadets' families. A memorial garden and a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots killed at Grangemouth will also be unveiled.

Commanding officer Tom McMorrow told BBC News: "With Grangemouth now hosting a growing Polish community, I just felt that now was the right time to try to do something to commemorate all these brave Polish boys who learnt to fly using Battle of Britain Mk 1 Spitfires.

"Many of these planes had been badly shot up, one of the reasons that so many were killed in training accidents."

Officer McMorrow added: "Two flag-poles will be raised on Saturday, one with an RAF flag and the other with the Polish flag.

"The plane will bear the distinctive markings and colours of the Polish 303 Squadron, which was the highest scoring foreign squadron in the Battle of Britain."

RAF Grangemouth served as a major air centre until 1949 and was where pilots from all over Europe trained. It was strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many of the Royal Navy fleet were based or repaired.

Original Peter Pan and Tolkien works displayed

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:49:00 GMT

Original Peter Pan artwork by Alice B. Woodward, as well as unseen letters from authors such as Agatha Christie and JRR Tolkien, are now on display in East Dunbartonshire, near Glasgow.

The event, hosted by the Harper Collins office in Bishopbriggs, is part of the Doors Open Days season - a month-long event promoted by the Scottish Civic Trust, which sees Scottish cities, towns, villages and islands invite people to explore local cultural interests.

More than 950 buildings will open their doors throughout the month of September - in locales ranging from Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdeen to Orkney and the Shetland Islands - with 300 locations taking part this weekend alone.

Felicity Windmill, records and information manager at Harper Collins, told BBC News: "The [Tolkien and Christie] letters perfectly illustrate the kind of correspondence these authors engaged in with their publishers."

"They uncover fabulous little insights such as Agatha Christie's dislike of the covers chosen for her books.

"The letters from JRR Tolkien are wonderful, as they are beautifully written and illustrated, and also show just how much influence Rayner Unwin, the 10-year-old son of the publisher Sir Stanley Unwin, had in the creation of The Hobbit."

Other must-see displays in the area include maps showing the changing face of Glasgow over the decades, as well as explanations on how dictionaries are made.

Trust director, Terry Levinthal, said: "Doors Open Days holds a special place in the hearts of many Scots and visitors because it provides unparalleled access to sites of historic, architectural and cultural interest.

"The sheer range of open buildings is incredible."

A full list of buildings taking part in the Doors Open Days season can be found on the initiative website.

New conflict exhibition opens in Aberdeen

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:48:00 GMT

An art exhibition focusing on the effects of conflict on children will open in Aberdeen tomorrow.

The exhibit, called Children in Conflict, will feature various types of artwork - from paintings and photography to video - created by a list of acclaimed contemporary artists.

Event headliner John Keane will display a collection of large-scale paintings inspired by his travels to Angola in South Africa, to witness post-conflict issues facing millions of young people after four decades of war.

Regarding his work, Mr Keane told BBC News: "I have attempted to evoke the huge tasks of reconstruction and reconciliation in the face of enormous odds, while at the same time alluding to the indomitable optimism of the human spirit I encountered in the new generation of post-war Angolans."

Claire Shelley of Christian Aid Scotland told the news spokesperson: "Christian Aid is delighted that Children in Conflict is coming to Aberdeen.

"John Keane's paintings are a dramatic portrayal of the difficulties young people in Angola have had to deal with as a result of 40 years of almost continuous war."

Alongside Keane's paintings will be photography from Simon Norfolk and Guy Tillim, a photographic projection by Anthony Haughey, photomontage works by Martha Rosler, a video work from Monika Oeschler, ceramics by Emma Summers and a textile installation by Laura Ford.

Deirdre Grant, Aberdeen City Council's cultural services promotion officer, told the news spokesperson: "The Children in Conflict exhibition gives our visitors the chance to see work by some of today's leading contemporary artists who have interpreted this important theme with powerful results."

Children in Conflict is a Wolverhampton Art Gallery touring exhibition in association with Christian Aid. The event will run at the Aberdeen Art Gallery from September 13 to November 15, 2008.

Glastonbury goers can buy unlimited tickets next year

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Glastonbury fans will be able to purchase an unlimited number of tickets for next year's event, organisers have revealed.

Festival-goers can purchase up to six tickets, before being given the option to make additional bookings with a valid registration number.

Registration for the festival is now open, with ticket sales commencing at 9am on October 5. Tickets can be purchased with a £50 deposit or a full payment of £175 per ticket; however, only one debit card will be allowed per transaction. If a deposit is placed, full payment must be received by February 1, 2009.

Around 100,000 tickets will go on sale in October, with a second batch being releases at 9am on April 5, 2009.

A spokesman for the south west England event told BBC News: "Lots of people have wanted to come in groups over the last couple of years and they haven't been able to.

"But the registration system has worked so well and we have the security in place to give us that option this time. So people can buy as many tickets as they want."

Additionally, registration numbers will be saved this year, eliminating the need for festival-goers to register for the next four years.

Glastonbury 2009 will be held over the weekend of 26-28 June in Pilton, Somerset. As for a lineup, people are usually kept guessing until a few weeks before the event.

Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis told the news correspondent: "Coldplay are a great Glastonbury band, as are Radiohead, but it's really hard to say at the moment for definite who's going to play next year."

However, she speculated: "It would be really good to have an appearance by Led Zeppelin too, that's one band who haven't played here."

Edinburgh Marathon delivers boost to city

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:13:00 GMT

The Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon generated more than £2.75 million for the city this year, according to the event's organisers.

The BBC reports that marathon and relay runners spent £1,207,744 over the weekend of May 31, while their supporters spent £1,546,548.

In addition, the Edinburgh Marathon is said to have raised more than £3 million for charity meaning that, in total, the event delivered economic benefits of over £6 million for the UK as a whole.

Damien O'Looney, marketing manager for the marathon, said: "The marathon draws thousands of people to Edinburgh who would not otherwise come to the capital, we receive entries from every county in the UK and from over 50 countries."

The number of contestants competing in the Edinburgh Marathon skyrocketed this year by 85 per cent, from 5450 entries in 2007 to 10,230 entries in 2008.

Of all this year's entrants, 35.2 per cent were said to come from Scotland, while 57.6 per cent came from the rest of Britain. 7.2 per cent of participants travelled from overseas and just 16.2 per cent of all runners had an Edinburgh postcode.

The Edinburgh Marathon is fast establishing itself as one of the UK's best running events, and is beginning to acquire the standing of more high-profile events, like the London Marathon and the Great North Run in Newcastle.

The event also joins the ranks of Edinburgh's vast summer catalogue of activities, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival (held in June), the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, both of which are staged in August.

St Pancras exhibition celebrates news agency's 140th anniversary

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:36:00 GMT

London's St Pancras station is celebrating its 140th anniversary - and that of the Press Association - with an exhibition of 40 photographs which span over 100 years.

The rare images have been individually selected from seven million at the Press Association, a leading national news organisation.

The exhibition, named Best of British, consists of images both old and new, including Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee portrait, which is the oldest photograph in the exhibition, dating back to 1897.

More recent images include British gold medallist, Edinburgh-born Chris Hoy at the Beijing Olympics and Prince Harry serving in Afghanistan.

However, many of the photographs have not been seen since they were first published decades ago. They range from images of a family picnic at the side of a road after their car broke down to a 1923 picture of a couple of holidaymakers enjoying the sun in Bournemouth.

From history, Churchill speaks to an audience in 1945, a soldier kisses a child before he leaves for France, Liverpool's The Beatles have their hair touched up during filming and celebrations of VE day fill the streets at the end of the Second World War.

Sporting photographs include Bobby Moore at Wembley Arena in 1966, as well as more modern icons like David Beckham and Lewis Hamilton. Also captured is the last Olympics event held in Britain in 1948 and, 40 years before, images of female archers competing in the 1908 London Olympics.

The assistant managing director for the Press Association Photos, Martin Stephens, told the BBC: "We want visitors to the station to enjoy fabulous images of historical and current events in Britain that they may have seen in their lives."

Best of British is free to the public and will run until September 26.

Angus and Dundee Roots Festival attracts heritage tourists

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:13:00 GMT

Visitors from all over the world are travelling to Scotland to take part in the inaugural Angus and Dundee Roots Festival.

The week-long Tayside event will see visitors from both Britain and international locations - including Australia, Canada and the US - attend workshops on local surnames and trace their family histories.

Visitors will head to graveyards and historic tourist attractions, such as the Angus Folk Museum, Arbroath Abbey and Glamis Castle.

It is estimated that about 2.5 million people in the world have ancestors from Angus and Dundee. Many people attending this week's event have been researching their family history for years.

The BBC reports that Gillian Harrower, from the Angus and Dundee Ancestral Tourism Initiative, said: "There are some who know their ancestors were involved in the building of the Tay Bridge, others whose ancestors worked at Glamis Castle, some who worked at Verdant Works, others who are looking for particular grave stones.

"Quite often they've reached a brick wall in their family history search and they've got back so far and they're just looking for a wee bit of assistance to put that final brick in place, but others are looking to find places, houses or specific streets."

Organisers of the Angus and Dundee Roots festival are hoping to cash in on the ancestral tourism market, an area that is currently seeing growth as more people seek to discover their roots.

"Ancestral tourism generally accounts for about 200,000 trips a year to Scotland," Ms Harrower added, according to the broadcaster.

"We estimate it will grow substantially to probably 800,000 trips over the next five years."

Yoko Ono to launch exhibition in Newcastle

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:01:00 GMT

Yoko Ono, John Lennon's famous widow, will display an exhibition of her artwork in Newcastle later this year.

The event, a retrospective that spans Ono's 50 year career as an artist, is entitled "Between The Sky and My Head", and will be held at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, located beside the River Tyne.

According to The Telegraph, the exhibition will be the artist's largest and will occupy two floors of the gallery.

This covers 1400 square metres of gallery space and will incorporate a variety of media, including film and sound installations, painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and participation works.

The broadsheet states that exhibition goers will be invited to write wishes on paper and hang them on 'Wish Trees'. These will then be sent to Imagine Peace tower on Vidney Island in Iceland.

Included in the retrospective will be pieces from Ono's 1966 display at the Indica Gallery in London - where she first met John Lennon.

During his time in The Beatles - Liverpool's most revered musical heroes - he wrote several songs for Ono, including "Don't Let Me Down" and "Come Together".

The couple were married in 1969 and gave birth to one son, Sean, before Lennon was murdered in 1980.

The Baltic exhibition will run from December 13 2008 to March 15 2009, and is one of two major retrospectives of contemporary art to be showcased in Britain this year.

A significant retrospective of the work of Turner Prize-nominated artist Tracey Emin is being held in Edinburgh this summer. The exhibition will run at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art until November 9 2008.

20-tonne spider to crawl across Liverpool

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:37:00 GMT

Come tomorrow morning, Liverpool will see a big creepy-crawly making its way across the city. But arachnophobes need not worry - the creature is merely a piece of artwork.

The 20-tonne arachnid - dubbed La Princess - is constructed out of steel and wood, and measures 65ft (20m) in width and 50ft in height. It also has 50 axes of movement and is operated by 12 people strapped to its frame.

The mechanical piece, which took 18 months to plan, was created by Francois Delarozière for the French arts collective show, La Machine, which ends on Sunday. Both the show and the piece were commissioned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Liverpool Culture Company for a total of £250,000. Projects such as La Machine have been upholding Liverpool's status as a European Capital of Culture, as well as boosting the number of people visiting the city's venues.

Helen Marriage, the co-director of Artichoke productions - the creative group overseeing the project - told the Telegraph that the logistics had been formidable.

"In a theatre you'd use the set to rehearse, but we can't - we have to practice off-site and in secret. The first time we'll get on set is in front of the whole city; hence the 18-month planning period. You really can't over plan something this big.

"We've measured every road, removed street lights and even dug up a roundabout. Now we just have to hope it's all been accurate, otherwise, well, it could all turn into a bit of an excitement."

The spider is currently dangling from the side of the Concourse House in the city centre, waiting for its cue to crawl at 11:00 Friday morning. The last thing displayed on the building was a 100ft photograph of Steven Gerrard.

£3.2m campaign to protect army museum is launched

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:48:00 GMT

A £3.2m campaign to protect the spiritual home and museum of a British army regiment has been launched.

The Black Watch Heritage Appeal aims to raise funds that will not only buy the headquarters at Balhousie Castle, Perth, but pay for expansion and improvements to the building and facilities.

Currently owned by the Ministry of Defence, the castle's lease could end with six months' notice. Organisers of the Black Watch Heritage Appeal hope to acquire the building by the end of 2008 and complete improvements by 2010.

Organisers wish to build new spaces for exhibits and expand the museum's capabilities to host school and tourist group visits. Facilities such as toilets and catering would also see improvement.

According to the BBC, the appeal's director, Major David Noble, said: "[Balhousie Castle] is a very important part of Scotland's heritage which really needs to be preserved.

"We are doing everything we can to make sure that the name of the Black Watch remains as relevant today as it has in the 267 years of its history.

"What we learn about our past does influence the way we face the future."

The Black Watch is an army regiment formed in 1739 that, since its inception, has received 14 Victoria Crosses and 164 battle honours.

The regiment is anticipated for deployment in Afghanistan next year and is currently based at Fort George in the north of Scotland. The regiment traditionally obtains new recruits from Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire.

Record takings for Edinburgh International Festival

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:13:00 GMT

The Edinburgh International Festival has received record box office takings this year, organisers have announced. A rise of seven per cent from 2007 ticket sales brought proceeds up to more than £2.6m and resulted in the festival's highest ever box office takings.

Organisers revealed that one in three shows were sell outs and the popularity of dance performances and events contributed significantly to the result, with London-born choreographer Matthew Bourne's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray topping the list as the best-selling dance show in the history of the festival.

According to the BBC, the festival's director, Jonathan Mills, celebrated this year's Edinburgh International Festival as "...a tremendous three weeks of performance.

"So many people have drawn together to put on a fantastic festival."

For many visitors, the festival was made powerful as a consideration of world events that were unfolding during its tenure. It strengthened this year's theme - Artists Without Borders - which reflected on Europe's continual evolution.

The organisers of the festival reportedly said: "Some artists not only thrilled audiences with their festival performances, but brought with them an extra significance to their appearances as events unravelled at home."

One example is the State Ballet of Georgia, who performed at the festival during their country's burgeoning conflict with Russia.

In contrast to the Edinburgh International Festival's success this year, the Edinburgh Fringe saw a downturn in profits - tickets sales slumped by almost ten per cent from last year. The Fringe sold over 1.5m tickets for the third year in a row, but missed achieving last year's 1.7m sales.

The drop was blamed on poor global economy, bad weather conditions, problems at the Fringe box office and competition from the Olympics.

Edinburgh’s festival season ends with spectacular fireworks

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:48:00 GMT

It seems just yesterday when the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe kicked off with the Cavalcade parade. However, a colourful fireworks display illuminated the skies of Edinburgh during the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert last night, signaling the end of the Edinburgh International Festival.

An estimated 250,000 spectators turned up across the city on Sunday night to enjoy the spectacle; 12,000 alone packed into Princes Street Gardens to get optimal views of the show.

The display was overseen by a team of international fireworks technicians, who used more than four tones of explosives to choreograph and set off hundreds of firing sequences into the air. On the ground, however, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra - conducted by Nicolae Moldoveanu - performed a string of beautiful pieces to compliment the fireworks, including Brahms' Hungarian Dances and Dvorak's Slavonic Dances.

A festival spokeswoman said: "The skies above Edinburgh Castle absolutely danced with fireworks from delicate to daring.

"The waterfall came early on in the Brahms, followed by a series of mini waterfalls later in the evening.

"The castle looked very dramatic, fitting the Transylvanian music perfectly, the orchestra played brilliantly, and the evening culminated with a stonking finale.

"The crowd in Princes Street Gardens was roaring and cheering at the end."

The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert is held each year at the end of August, bringing a close to the Edinburgh International Festival within the all-embracing Edinburgh Festival.

Bournemouth Air Festival will return for second year

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:12:00 GMT

Organisers of Bournemouth
Air Festival confirmed on Sunday that the event will return in 2009 after a successful debut this year.

An estimated three quarters of a million people flocked to the south west England region of Dorset over the last four days to take part in the excitement of this year's air spectacle; 380,000 spectators alone descended on the seafront and overcliff on Sunday. Seasoned observers said the town never looked so busy and vibrant as it did during the festival.

Vintage Battle of Britain and the Red Arrows display team were among the various attractions at the show, which was held over Bournemouth pier.

Stephen MacLoughlin, Bournemouth's council leader, told BBC News, "It has been incredible and there's been the most amazing atmosphere day and night."

Even the display pilots were full of praise for the festival and said they were already anticipating next year's event.

MacLoughlin added, "The event has been such a tremendous success.

"The two year dream of a spectacular air festival has become a magnificent reality.

"After the investment and hard work of the people involved - their vision, commitment and dedication - it would be unthinkable not to be planning enthusiastically for 2009."

The festival won acclaim from countless spectators, organizers and Dorset locals, including the region's tourism board, the festival's headline sponsors - More Buses - and the area's hospitality industry.

The latter of the three saw an immense boom in business during the run of the event. Kevin Wood of Oceana Hotels described the weekend as phenomenal. He told BBC News, "We broke all records for occupancy and takings in our hotels and the feedback from tourists and locals was quite incredible."

Provisional dates of 20 to 23 August have been announced for next year's event.

Britain's only antiques mansion up for auction

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:13:00 GMT

In the late 1960's, Lady Pamela Pidgeon of Somerset converted her 10-bedroom home into Britain's only "antiques mansion". Now, the spectacular estate - along with all of its contents - are being held at auction.

A former fashion model at Harrods, Lady Pidgeon developed her interest and love of antiques when she first travelled with her husband at the time, Major Francis Howells, to Malaysia. Upon returning to England, she bought the Herefordshire Great Brampton House and began selling antiques from there. Her international clientele list grew so rapidly - drawing the likes of famous collectors such as actress Ava Gardner and singer Pavarotti - that she installed a helipad on the grounds of the mansion and purchased a fleet of Rolls-Royces to transport her customers to and from her home.

However, ill health has urged 79 year old Lady Pidgeon to retire and place the mansion up for sale. The October 1 auction - called the "country house sale of the year" - will be held at Bonhams in London.

Harvey Cammell, director of Bonhams, told the Independent, "The sale should attract enormous interest not only from within Britain but also from Lady Pidgeon's customers from around the world."

"Lady Pidgeon had a very strong eye for classic English furniture and French opulence, and there will be some exceptional pieces in the sale."

More than 700 pieces - including furniture, paintings and Asian ceramics - will be placed on auction, at starting prices of anywhere between £100 and £80,000. The mansion itself is expected to fetch at least £2m.

Some of the auction's highlights are said to include a rare 1988 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Saloon, a 1997 Bentley Turbo RT sports saloon and a painting of the Marchioness of Donegal, originally painted by Francis Coates, which is expected to sell for up to £60,000.

More than a million attend Notting Hill Carnival

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:01:00 GMT

More than one million people gathered at this year's Notting Hill Carnival to take part in the annual street processions.

The Mas Parades - themes of which included Back From Space, Tutti Frutti Sweeties and Creatures Of The Earth and Paradise - featured strings of colourful floats and dancers in bright, elaborate costumes of sequins and feathers. The rumble of steel drums, horns, whistles and sound systems could be heard for miles around the Caribbean-style celebration.

Michael Williams, from the London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, told the Telegraph, "The carnival is the perfect London spectacle to captivate the world with its dazzling array of costumes and music."

London Mayor Boris Johnson also commented on the festivities, saying, "As a former resident of Ladbroke Grove, I have watched the Notting Hill Carnival go from strength to strength each year to become an internationally acclaimed event.

"Nothing beats the sounds of the steel pans, the aroma of delicious Caribbean food and the dazzling colours of the costume parade."

Fun and frolics aside, however, London's police force made sure to keep a close eye on the event. The amount of arrests made this year was higher than previous years, but this was stated by the police chief inspector to be predominantly due to pro-active policing rather than a higher rate of delinquency.

Latifa Ghazliy, 22, from Notting Hill, said she was reassured by the police presence at this year's celebration, specifying, "This year is better than last year...there has been a really good police presence; I feel better to see them around."

Mark Bonsu, a 19-year-old Surrey University student, said he had not witnessed any trouble at all. "I've been very impressed. It's been lively and colourful and people are really enjoying themselves."

Pipe bands descend on Glasgow for annual piping championships

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:24:00 GMT

The annual World Pipe Band championships brought more than 200 bands and over 40,000 spectators to central Scotland city Glasgow this weekend.

The competition, which remains popular despite taking place during the Edinburgh International Festival, is held on Glasgow Green and features not only around 8,000 musicians from 16 countries but also a range of dancers and Highland games competitors.

The Northern Irish group, The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, was the reigning champion having won the event for the last two years. This year, the band battled to retain its title against competition from Spain, the USA, Canada, France, Australia and Pakistan as well as the UK. However, it was the Canadian band Simon Fraser University that took the title in the end, with Montgomary coming in second and the Scottish Edgar, Shotts and Dykehead band in third.

Speaking to the Scotsman, Robert Mathieson, pipe major with the Edgar, Shotts and Dkyehead band from Lanarkshire said: "Glasgow is a fantastic host. The city has turned the event into a week-long festival of piping."

Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has run the event since 1947. Its chief executive, Ian Embleton, said: "The competition has grown phenomenally, particularly over the last decade, as it has become a permanent fixture on Glasgow Green."

The weekend also saw the Glasgow Barrowlands hosting the fifth annual Piping Live! event. The event, which capitalises on the profusion of talented musicians drawn to the city for the championships, offers another chance for fans to enjoy some of the world's finest pipers.

According to the Scotsman, the championship is expected to bring more than £10 million in revenue to the city.

Nairn Film Festival draws crowds

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:12:00 GMT

A small town in the north of Scotland is currently playing host to a unique film festival. Crowds of enthusiasts have flocked to the Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams from as far afield as New York and Amsterdam to take part in the special event.

The festival, founded and funded by widely-respected actor Tilda Swinton and former Edinburgh Film Festival director Mark Cousins, is being held in a former bingo hall in Nairn - a seaside town near Inverness - and has attracted worldwide attention.

According to the Guardian, the idea of the festival was first seeded when Swinton and her family saw a film at the Screen Machine - a mobile cinema that tours the Highlands and Islands. The festival is mainly being funded by Swinton and Cousins themselves, with much help from friends and well wishers although Scottish Screen also donated a chunk of money to the project.

For the most part, the films shown in the improvised cinema are old favourites rather than new releases. Swinton told the Guardian that the feel of the festival produces a different film-going experience, she said it was like: "going to a restaurant that you trust and saying, 'Feed me'.

"People are coming not because they know all the films we are showing, but out of trust. People have said it's like going to the pictures as a child - being taken and told, 'You are going to love this'. And you know, anyone can do this. All you need is some DVDs and a space."

With tickets from as little as £2 for children and £3 for adults - or an alternative payment of a tray of cakes - and a welcoming atmosphere, the Nairn film festival is proving popular with locals and visitors alike.

Female comic wins award for Fringe

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:24:00 GMT

Scottish comedian Janey Godley has been named the queen of 2008's Nivea Funny Women Fringe Award.

Godley, from Glasgow, has been putting audiences and critics in stitches with her show, "Domestic Godley," in which she delivers hilarious accounts and antics about her family, friends and domestic skills.

Following her win, Godley told BBC News, "Women's humour has played a significant role in Scotland's cultural identity over the generations.

"Scottish women who have faced challenging situations in their everyday lives have often survived poverty and oppression because of their humour."

She added, "Women who choose comedy as a career have significant challenges ahead. I am very happy to have won the award."

Lynne Parker, producer of the awards, also commented to BBC News, "We have been at the vanguard of delivering new female comedy talent to eager audiences across the UK for six years.

"This is our opportunity to reward and promote talented women at the Fringe.

"Janey Godley is quite simply one of the most prolific and extraordinary stand-up comedians working in the UK today, and represents the real spirit of the Fringe."

The Nivea Funny Women Fringe Award was established last year to place more female comedic talent in the limelight at the Fringe, as many of the festival's mainstream awards seemed to be going to males.

Runners up for the award were Best Sketch Show, "Angry Puppy" - a team comprised of Leah MacRae, Susan Calman, Marj Hogarth and Kirstin McLean - and Best Newcomer, Pippa Evans, who recently competed in the final of Funny Women's nationwide competition.

The Nivea Funny Women Fringe Awards were presented by Christina McKelvie MSP at the Pleasance Dome on Monday evening. Judges saw more than 60 Fringe shows, and nominated 20 of them.

"Domestic Godley" runs until 25 August at Edinburgh's Pleasance Theatre.

Grouse-shooting season to kick off

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:37:00 GMT

Sporting estates in the Borders and the north of England are gearing up for grouse-shooting season - a four-month period that draws countless enthusiasts of the sport to these regions.

However, disputes are circling over this year's shooting season. The League Against Cruel Sports and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have both raised concerns regarding a fall in bird of prey populations within areas where shooting will take place. The RSBP has even published research which shows that the number of golden eagles is decreasing in areas of south Scotland where grouse management is in effect. Populations in north Scotland are also said to be particularly affected by the cold, wet spring.

Arguments against the event include highlighting its cruelty: The League Against Cruel Sports chairman, John Cooper, told BBC News, "It is utterly ridiculous to label an industry which depends on the mass slaughter of wildlife for entertainment purposes as glorious."

The Scottish Countryside Alliance and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), on the other hand, are in favour of shooting for rural Scotland, highlighting both its economic and environmental benefits.

Geva Blackett, chief executive of Scottish Countryside Alliance, told BBC News, "Sporting estates are playing several vital roles in the Scottish countryside.

"Their land management keeps down numbers of predators such as foxes, and this in turn helps birds such as the lapwing and curlew to thrive.

"They also employ keepers, use local businesses and act as a hub of economic activity in rural areas that really need the boost to the economy."

Shooting is said to provide the equivalent of 13,000 full-time conservation and shooting jobs, with a worth of £240m a year to the Scottish economy. The BASC also highlighted that sporting estates work hard to protect the environment, spending £43m a year on improving habitat and wildlife management.

Historic Oxford geologist honoured by new memorial

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:24:00 GMT

A memorial to William Buckland, a highly-regarded geologist and lecturer in the early nineteenth century has been unveiled in Islip, Oxfordshire.

The blue plaque was installed to commemorate Buckland, who was posited as a revolutionary teacher of science at Oxford and also wrote the first complete account of a fossil dinosaur. It was for his finding of giant reptile fossil bones, which he named Megalosaurus, that he was awarded the Royal Society's Copley Medal.

Born in Devon, Buckland spent his formative years developing an interest in geology and fossils that continued through his life as a student and adult. After attending Oxford University, Buckland was ordained as a priest. He was then appointed Canon of Christ Church, later becoming Dean of Westminster Abbey and rector of his hometown, Islip.

According to the BBC, the director of Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Professor Jim Kennedy, said: "William Buckland revolutionised the teaching of science in Oxford, and was the most charismatic teacher of his day.

"His collections are housed in the University Museum of Natural History, and we are delighted to be associated with the installation of this blue plaque commemorating such a distinguished academic, cleric, and eccentric."

Blue plaques are permanent signs commemorating links between famous people and the location they are placed at. Buckland's memorial at the Old Rectory in Islip, where he lived, follows the recent addition of a blue plaque honouring character actor Alastair Sim at his former home in London.

Edinburgh Fringe expands to nearby towns

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:12:00 GMT

The world-famous Edinburgh Festival is expanding from Scotland's capital to nearby towns.

An assortment of events that will spread over the next two weeks mark Musselburgh's addition to the celebrations, Musselburgh on the Fringes. The fortnight of festivities will include attractions and performances such as music, dancing, storytelling and competitions.

In East Lothian's North Berwick, another festival entitled Fringe by the Sea is being organised as a four day event running from August 13-16. Organisers have arranged North Berwick's events in order to allow Edinburgh Festival-goers to catch the last train back to the capital, allowing for an accessible and more appealing festival.

The Scotsman reports that co-founder for Festival on the Sea, John Shaw, said: "We thought it was about time we brought some of the festival magic down the coast to North Berwick.

"The Fringe has become a huge event - and very crowded for both visitors and performers so we decided to give people the chance to escape the city but not miss out on seeing some shows."

Both Musselburgh and North Berwick event organisers are clear that the individual events are not being set up in competition with the main attraction in Edinburgh. According to the Scotsman, the Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council vice chairman, Alan Hay, said: "We are just adding to the Edinburgh Fringe to make it even bigger.

Celebrating its 61st year, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe officially kicked off a week ago and attracts thousands of tourists to Scotland's capital every year. This year, a record of 2,088 shows are running, showcasing 19,000 performers around 247 venues.

Eisteddfod festival to be hosted at Welsh ex-steelworks

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:00:00 GMT

It has been announced that the 2010 National Eisteddfod - a popular Welsh festival - will be hosted by Blaenau Gwent, south Wales.

The annual cultural festival will be held at The Works: Ebbw Vale - a former steelworks site. An Eisteddfod field will be created in the heart of a £300 million redevelopment project specially for the festival. The 185-acre former steelworks site is set to be redeveloped as an area for future housing, education, arts, leisure, business and transport facilities.

Ebbw Vale, which last hosted the event fifty years ago, was announced as the 2010 destination at this year's Eisteddfod in Cardiff.

According to the BBC, Des Hillman, leader of Blaenau Gwent council, said the event would be a chance to "present a new Blaenau Gwent to audiences across Wales." And there are hopes that the festival will help to raise the profile of the area.

The folk festival was first celebrated in 1176, when Lord Rhys held a grand gathering at his castle in Cardigan and invited a number of poets and musicians. The National Eisteddfod association was formed in 1880 and charged with the responsibility of staging the festival annually in south and north Wales alternately.

The Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Lieghton Andrews, also said that he thought the festival would revitalize the area, adding:

"The Eisteddfod is one of Europe's largest and oldest cultural events and hosting it in the heads of the valleys provides us with a great platform to show what the region has to offer and help change perceptions."

A review of Welsh tourism earlier this year suggested that Wales could boost its tourist industry by maximising cultural icons.

Edinburgh's Festival Fringe officially kicks off

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:13:00 GMT

Edinburgh's Festival Fringe - also known as the world's largest arts festival - is now under way.

This year's festival will showcase a record 2,088 shows, many of which have been holding preview performances since last week. An estimated 19,000 performers will entertain out of 247 venues around the city.

Fringe director Jon Morgan told BBC News:

"We are the biggest open-access cross-artform festival in the world, and every year we have such a great variety of shows from all over the world catering for all age ranges and tastes. And these shows are popping up in increasingly varied places.

"This year people are performing in all sorts of different areas; under Arthur's seat, on top of Calton Hill, in swimming pools, at the city zoo, and Edinburgh lends itself so well to that. There are so many great areas of this city, so many fascinating parts."

The Fringe runs alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and within the all-embracing Edinburgh Festival - one of the highlights of which is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Edinburgh Festival was officially kicked off with the renowned Cavalcade parade yesterday.

This year's newly-designed Fringe box office system initially presented some problems in issuing tickets. However, organisers have been successful in smoothing out a majority of the snags. 1.7 million tickets were sold at last year's Festival Fringe, with anticipation for even higher sales this year.

The 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe officially runs from 4 to 25 August and attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe to the Scottish capital each year. The word-famous event is currently celebrating its 61st year.

Special events mark 34th annual Yorkshire Day

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The 34th annual Yorkshire Day is being celebrated with a series of special events.

Occurring each year on August 1, the first Yorkshire Day was held in 1975 in honour of soldiers from Yorkshire regiments who fought in the Battle of Minden in Germany. The day is a tribute to the soldiers that picked white roses from bushes close to the battlefield as a tribute to fallen comrades.

Although Yorkshire Day officially takes place on August 1, the celebrations are expected to carry on over the weekend. One of the main events is the three-day festival at Harewood House, near Leeds.

Visitors to the festival will partake in Yorkshire food tasting, visit arts and craft stalls, sample Yorkshire's many ales and see some of Yorkshire's sporting celebrities.

There will be a reading of the Declaration of Integrity, which involves those born within the county announcing their solidarity with others as a region.

Many Yorkshire residents will show their support by wearing a white rose and displaying Yorkshire Day posters in their windows. At the York maze, the annual Yorkshire Day straw bale race will take place.

The BBC reports that the minister for Yorkshire and the Humber and MP for Doncaster, Rosie Winterton, said: "Yorkshire Day is an excellent opportunity to reflect on many of the great things there are about living here.

"Yorkshire is a great place where National Parks sit side by side with vibrant and exciting cities."

The festivities follow last month's Great Yorkshire Show, which celebrated its 150th anniversary with displays of animals, agricultural products, music and arts and crafts.

Sell-out Edinburgh Tattoo begins three week run

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:48:00 GMT

The 59th Edinburgh Military Tattoo is starting its three week, sell-out run.

The show, which takes place on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, will run from August 1 to 23. It will feature over 1,000 performers from countries around the world, including New Zealand, Asia, America and Australia.

Almost 9,000 people will attend the Tattoo each night to take in favourites such as the massed band, the Lone Piper and the massed pipes and drums. The annual event will also feature its first performance by an Indian military band in 46 years.

Also returning to the Tattoo are the Singapore Police Gurkha Pipes and Drums, who last took part in the event 17 years ago.

The full line-up was recently revealed for the 90 minute show. Despite selling out in April this year, a number of tickets have been since returned to the box office. A decline in foreign tourists has been blamed, but Tattoo organisers say the returns were quickly resold.

The Tattoo is a vital part of the month of festivities descending on Scotland's capital over August. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a world-renowned festival in which performances across the spectrum of the arts world feature every day.

On Wednesday, the first Edinburgh Comedy Festival started, following the previous week's opening of the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival.

The Edinburgh Fringe officially starts this Sunday. The world-famous festival will then run for three weeks until 25 August.

The final performance of the Edinburgh Tattoo will be televised by the BBC.

Two Liverpool buildings shortlisted for World Architecture Festival Awards

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:36:00 GMT

It's been announced that two Liverpool buildings have been shortlisted for first World Architecture Festival Awards.

Liverpool's new Arena and Convention centre and the old, refurbished Bluecoat arts centre are both competing for the international architectural award which pits structural achievements of the past 18 months against one another.

Across the globe, a total of 224 buildings from 43 countries have been shortlisted. The UK's offerings include Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre near Inverness, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, the RSPB Environment and Education Centre at the Thames estuary, east London, The Dairy House in Herefordshire and John Wheatley College in Glasgow.

As the current European Capital of Culture, Liverpool has a lot to live up to - and its cultural status has certainly helped it do so. Reports in April showed a 30 per cent boost in visitors to the city following the title award.

Alongside the other entries, Liverpool will present the Bluecoat and the Arena and Convention Centre during the World Architecture Festival, which is being held in Barcelona on 22-24 October. The last day will see finalists from various categories spanning from health centres and offices to private homes and religious buildings compete for the World Building of the Year 2008 award.

The Guardian reports that the editor of the Architectural Review and programme director of the World Architecture Festival, Paul Finch, said: "This shortlist provides a true indicator of the quality and diversity of architectural design worldwide.

"Each of the projects has been selected for its aesthetic quality as well as for the way in which it takes the economic, social and environmental needs of the clients and communities into consideration. Any of them could win, irrespective of their scale."

First Edinburgh Comedy Festival gets underway

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:01:00 GMT

2008 sees the launch of the first Edinburgh Comedy Festival (ECF), a celebration of diverse comedic stylings taking place during the Capital's August festivities.

Characterised as a "festival-within-a-festival", the inaugural celebration intends to be a separate institution for comedy within the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Featuring more than 250 acts over 55 stages, the new subdivision of the Edinburgh Fringe is set to become what organisers hope to be the biggest comedy festival in the world. Performances across the entire gamut of comedy will feature, from sketch shows to music and poetry.

Following on from the beginning of the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival last week, the ECF has started the celebrations in style - but has been met with some controversy.

Created by four of Edinburgh's biggest Fringe venues, the event aims to raise the profile of comedy within the Fringe. However, this move has struck chords with excluded rivals that feel the new feature only underscores what was only reticent before - that comedy in the Fringe has its favourites and only certain 'higher-level' shows will be part of the new festivities.

Some have also expressed anger at the feeling that the Edinburgh Comedy Festival has abandoned the Fringe, causing a tear in what is famously seen as a coming together of all styles in the arts world.

ECF organisers claim that they are rebranding in order to attract sponsors. Sponsorship will allow better marketing which will, in turn, draw larger crowds for all Fringe events as well as comedy.

The official start of the Edinburgh Fringe is August 3. The widely-popular festival will run for three weeks until August 25.

Coastal protection campaigners to demonstrate in Suffolk

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:01:00 GMT

Demonstrators campaigning for better protection of the east coast will stage a protest demanding government funding.

The Blyth Estuary Group has placed a call on its websites inviting those concerned about the coastline to join it in protest on Southwold promenade today "to draw attention to our neglected river and shoreline defences".

Southwold's residents say that the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) may allow areas of the Suffolk coastline to flood as part of a long-term sea defence plan.

The protestors believe that the government should allocate more funding towards protecting the south east coast. They will be making the most of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit to the area for his summer holiday away from London.

The BBC reports that Group chairman Sue Allen said: "Our whole coastline is under threat from the lack of funds for maintaining sea defences and we need Gordon Brown's help.

"Of course there are other demands on tax money - and the economic climate is tight - but what is more important than preserving our land and our way of life for future generations? This is our heritage. That's why it's called the Heritage Coast.

"Gordon Brown's government announce initiatives to link up coastal paths and say how important our coastline is and then fail to fund protection of it.

"The sea coming in is not inevitable, it is just a matter of political will."

The protest, staged near Mr Brown's holiday home, hopes to raise the Prime Minister's attention so that he will take action and increase government spending to combat coastal erosion.

Mardis Gras marks beginning of Edinburgh International Jazz Festival

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:00:00 GMT

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival was marked in style over the weekend as its annual Mardis Gras celebrations carried on despite the rain in the capital.

The Jazz and Blues Festival, which began on Friday July 25 and will run for a week, is now in its thirtieth year and has been awarded a £49,370 grant from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, according to the Scotsman.

Using the funds, festival officials will organise the first Scottish Jazz Expo: a series of concerts that will showcase the best of Scottish jazz.

The chairman of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Brian Fallon, told the newspaper, "As we move into our fourth decade, we wanted to increase our commitment. Thanks to the Scottish Government we have been able to do it."

The advent of the Jazz and Blues Festival marks the beginning of Edinburgh's August festival season. Its main attraction is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival - the world's largest arts festival - which is scheduled to start on Sunday August 2.

The Fringe began in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival. Together, the festivals now attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Edinburgh each August.

Other popular festivals taking place during the month include the Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, at which Sean Connery will launch his memoirs this year.

Until 2007, the Edinburgh International Film Festival was also a fixture during the month's celebrations. However, this year, it was held in June for the first time in its 62 year history, as organisers hoped to differentiate the event from "the vast cultural offering in Edinburgh in August".

Edinburgh Military Tattoo reveals line-up

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:49:00 GMT

The city of Edinburgh is gearing up for one of its most popular Festival events - the Military Tattoo.

Each year, the sell-out show, set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, captivates some 200,000 spectators and this year's event promises to shine with a number of talented acts, as well as a specially-commissioned fanfare - Op Corporate - to open every show.

The event will feature more than 1,000 performers from across the globe - including America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK. Among them are the Indian Army Chief's Military Band, comprised of 40 musicians, who will make their first appearance at the Tattoo in 46 years.

Melbourne's Rats of Tobruk will make their sixth appearance at the event, while the Singapore Police Gurkha Pipes and drums will return after a 17 year absence. The Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Scotland, Plymouth and Portsmouth will be joined by the likes of the King's Guards Band of Norway and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The all-girl Lochiel Champion Marching Drill Team from Wellington, New Zealand will also make a comeback, while one of the most renowned university marching bands in the US - the 100-member Golden Eagles Marching Band from South East Missouri and the Massed Highland Dancers - are also set to perform.

Long-time favourites, such as the massed pipes and drums, massed bands and the Lone Piper will also feature in the performance.

Major General Euan Loudon, event chief executive and producer, said, "I plan to present the best of Scotland's heritage along with wonderful variety from around the world, which I hope Tattoo visitors will delight in."

The 59th Edinburgh Tattoo will run 25 performances from 1-23 August and will be televised on BBC1 on 23 August.

Vettriano rescues Welsh art gallery with donation

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:48:00 GMT

Scottish artist Jack Vettriano has donated a new drawing to the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw gallery in Pwllheli, North Wales.

'Beautiful Dreamer' will be auctioned, along with 11 other works by artists and celebrities, in the hopes that enough money will be raised to save the gallery - one of the oldest in Wales - from closure.

With annual costs of £200,000 and a grant of just £15,000 from the Arts Council for Wales to sustain it so far, it is hoped that the auction will make a big difference to the gallery's future.

The BBC reports that Fife-born Vettriano said: "I first heard of the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw gallery when a friend and collector of my work asked me if I would contribute something to their fundraising event.

"I do get many requests to help many different causes but I thought the gallery looked magnificent and was sorry to hear that Wales' oldest gallery gets overlooked for funding.

The drawing, which is produced on an A6 card, shows the image of a woman standing at the window in Vettriano's London studio. It is the first drawing he has ever submitted for public display.

It will feature in the auction this Saturday alongside works from selected artists including Wrexham-born Keith Bowen, Gareth Parry, William Selwyn and Welsh concert singer Bryn Terfel.

The gallery's director, Gwyn Jones, revealed that significant attention has already been paid to Vettriano's piece. According to the BBC, he said: "We've already had substantial interest with people wanting to place phone bids. The reserve is £5,000 and we're hoping it will make £10,000."

The auction will take place on the opening night of the gallery's Cerdlun exhibition. Tickets have already sold out, but will be open to phone bids.

Liverpool Tall Ships Festival to end in parade

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The world famous Tall Ships Festival in Liverpool will end in a parade today as the 60 vessels taking part in the event begin a five-week race.

The ships, which have been docked at Liverpool since last Friday, have been visited by an estimated 500,000 people, the BBC reports.

Vessels participating at the festival, held at Wellington and Sandon docks in Merseyside, come from over 18 countries, including Brazil, Poland and Oman.

Today's closing parade, dubbed the Parade of Sail, will be led by a Royal Navy frigate, the HMS Argyll, and will start at Otterspool Promenade in south Liverpool.

On Wednesday, the five-week race will begin off the coast of Northern Ireland. The first leg of the contest will take the ships to Maloy in Norway. The ships will then sail for Bergen, also in Norway, before the second leg of the race takes them to Den Helder in the Netherlands.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley, said: "This will probably be one of the biggest weekends in Liverpool's history. It's bigger than the Matthew Street Festival has ever been.

"The water is the heart of our great city."

The Matthew Street Festival is music festival that is held across Liverpool annually on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Liverpool has been awash with festivities since January as the city plays out its year as European Capital of Culture.

In April, a survey revealed that two million people had attended at least one cultural event in the city between January and March 2008 - a 30 per cent rise on the previous year's figures.

Princess Anne continues her mission to see all Scotland's lighthouses

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:48:00 GMT

Patron of the Edinburgh-based Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) Princess Anne is continuing her quest to visit each one of the 209 working lighthouses in Scotland.

The princess has reportedly visited around half of the Scottish structures: 80 as a result of her work with the NLB and an additional 20 with her husband.

Chief executive of the NLB, Roger Lockwood, said: "She must have visited more than 80 with us.

"It is not just about ticking off another light on the list. She also likes to see the places and conditions in which the technicians have to work.

"The princess has done all the major lights now and it will not be easy to do them all because there are many that are scattered all over the place. But it will be a remarkable feat if the princess ticks them all off."

Princess Anne has been patron of the board since 1993. She visited the Isle of Arran last week. Next week, she is expected to visit two lighthouses on the north of Scotland's Isle of Skye in continuation of her tour.

Her ambition to visit every lighthouse in Scotland has been compared with that of walkers wishing to scale all 284 of Scotland's Munros. The Guardian notes that it is unknown whether anybody has succeeded in visiting all 209 before.

Airship to make aerial tours of London for six weeks

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:49:00 GMT

This summer a 246ft long airship, named Star Over London, will take to the skies to offer trips over the capital for six weeks.

Britain's first ever commercial airship will cruise over the city of London for up to five hours a day and is able to carry up to 12 passengers at a time, plus two crew members.

Its main appeal is its height and speed - flying at just 30mph at a height of 1000ft above the city, passengers will be able to view the land below with the sensation that they are simply hovering above it.

Flights must be pre-booked and the price has been set at £360 for an hour and £185 for half an hour. Taking off from an airfield in Essex, the airship will cruise over many of London's main landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and fellow London sightseeing feature, the London Eye.

Unlike the Eye, however, movement on the airship is not completely smooth. The Star Over London rocks gently over the course of its flight due to the heat rising from the city below. It is also affected by weather conditions and will not fly in a wet or windy environment.

The Guardian reports that co-pilot Katharine Board said: "It is like riding the waves, like a boat on the water. There's no other aircraft you can fly this low, this slow."

The airship, sponsored Stella Artois, bears a logo for responsible drinking as well as adverts for the Belgian beer and will be seen in the London skies until August 21.

Highland film festival receives worldwide attention

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:48:00 GMT

A small film festival that is to be held in Nairn in the north of Scotland has seized worldwide attention, according to the BBC.

The Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams, which will take place in a former bingo hall, will feature a variety of Scottish films and will run from 15 to 23 August.

The festival is being funded by founder and Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton, alongside former Edinburgh Film Festival director Mark Cousins. Both have expressed hope that the new festival will be held annually

Tickets will cost £3 for adults and £2 for children, while free entry will be granted for anyone bringing a tray of home baking to the door.

The BBC reports that Cousins said: "We might be eating a lot of cakes, but it was important we got the right feel for the event, that it was familial."

The Herald writes that Cousins admitted the new approach to the festival has brought worldwide approval. "From Poland to Senegal we've had the same reaction: thank God someone is doing this.

"Tilda and I feel strongly that in a place like Nairn we're doing something this international that isn't trying to make money, isn't trying to help the marketing strategy of a film, isn't trying to be part of the juggernaut of Hollywood. It is quite independent of that."

Despite the non-profit scheme, even famous names invited to attend the festival will be required to pay the £3 entrance fee - unless they bring a tray of cakes, that is.

Nairn, a seaside town near Inverness, also hosts an annual book festival and a jazz festival.

Fairford air show could move venue next year

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:13:00 GMT

The International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire could switch venues next year after the event was cancelled due to bad weather conditions earlier this month.

100,000 tickets will be refunded by the organisers, who were forced to abandon the air show at the last minute because of heavy rain. The cancellation is the first ever in the history of the 38-year-old show.

Last week's deluge of rain caused waterlogged car parks and damaged areas used by performing planes.

The organisers of the show have now said that they may move the show to a new venue next year rather than risk another cancellation.

International Air Tattoo director Tim Prince told the BBC: "We want to keep the International Air Tattoo going. It's an international event and we are famous for it.

"We want it to run no matter what so if we have to move we would do so, we wouldn't rule it out, but it would be a great shame because our hosts here and the Cotswolds people are outstanding in their support of us."

Saturday's air show was called off on Friday at 8.30pm, while Sunday's was abandoned less than 24 hours later.

The International Air Tattoo supports the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which was set up in 2005. As a result of the cancellation, the charity lost out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The heavy rainfall experienced last week raised flooding concerns across the country. However, the torrential downpours are not expected to last all summer, with weather experts widely predicting a spate of light showers and mild temperatures until the end of the season.

Tower Bridge to undergo £4m restoration

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:37:00 GMT

London's Tower Bridge is set to undergo a three-year restoration in which its withering exterior will be stripped to reveal an original framework. This will be the first time the Tower Bridge has seen any such restoration in its 114-year history.

Eric Sutherns, operations manager at Tower Bridge in London, told the Times yesterday: "If you give [the bridge] a close inspection, you can see it's getting pretty grubby. The blue in particular is very faded."

Tower Bridge originally donned a chocolate brown colour until it was re-painted in red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee in 1977. At that time, the new paint was simply slathered on top of the old, brown coat.

However, modern health and safety regulations call for the original lead-based paint to be removed. The operation is thus expected to reach vast proportions - and will certainly call for major precautions. All scaffolding will be enclosed with airtight seals to prevent lead dust from falling into the river or on to pedestrians.

Restoration of the landmark follows a trend after the Tower of London entered renovation, back in April.

The facelift on Tower Bridge - which will require 22,000 litres of white and blue paint - is expected to cost more than £4 million. But who will foot the bill for this costly makeover? None other than a group of monks who invested the money they collected from bridge tolls dating back to 1097. Their trust, the Bridge House Estates, now £700 million, will pay for the repainting of Tower Bridge.

Only a quarter of Tower Bridge will be refurbished at any one time in order to minimise disruption to road and river traffic.

Mr Sutherns assured the public that the bridge would not be completely obscured by scaffolding. He told the Times, "People will still be able to take their photo from angles where you can't see the work going on."

T in the Park to draw 80,000 to Kinross

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:25:00 GMT

T in the Park kicks off this evening, with 180 acts taking to the stage in Balado, in Perth and Kinross until Sunday night.

Main stage headliners The Verve, Rage Against the Machine and REM will join the likes of Amy Winehouse, The Fratellis, The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers to entertain more than 80,000 fans each day.

Tickets for the outdoor music event were snapped up within hours of going on sale. However, recent rumours claim that a few Edinburgh and Glasgow outlets have made a limited number of tickets available to latecomers.

This is the 15th T in the Park and organiser Geoff Ellis predicts it will be a great event. He told BBC News, "To go from humble beginnings 15 years ago to now being the fastest selling ticket probably in the world, certainly in the UK, as far as festivals go is very pleasing. It's the audience - they're what makes it special and the bands feed off the audience."

Last year, torrential rain caused traffic chaos at the event, with revelers experiencing water-logged car parks and long queues on the way to the site. And despite fears of bad weather this year, Mr Ellis was confident that 2007's difficulties would not repeat themselves.

"We spent a lot of money on drainage, particularly in the arena itself," he told BBC News.

The grass at the venue was also woven in a different way from normal park or farm grass, in order to minimise water and mud coming through.

To further ease traffic congestion, the T in the Park campsite was opened a day earlier on Thursday, making 2008 the first year that fans were allowed to camp at the site from the night before the festival started.