Jim Clark letter up for auction

By Alexander Lawrie
A LETTER written by Scots racing legend Jim Clark just 18 months before his death is set to fetch over £1000 at auction next week.
Signed by Clark on his own personal notepaper, the letter is dated September 1, 1966 and in it the former World Champion exclusively reveals his plans to market new [...]

Mystery of the phantom piano player

By Alexander Lawrie
A NINETEENTH century piano once played by Fredric Chopin is spooking guests and staff at a historic Scottish country home.
Visitors, staff and even guest’s pet dogs have been left trembling as the ‘haunted’ piano plays by itself during the night.
And while residents are tucked up in bed and staff [...]

‘Miracle’ abandoned ducklings survived

By Michael MacLeod
FOUR tiny ducklings left abandoned in freezing conditions have been hailed as a “miracle”
The baby birds are making a surprise recovery after being found shivering outside a health centre in Perth on Tuesday.
Stunned Scottish SPCA inspectors say they have never heard of ducks being born in late October – [...]

Wicker man amongst scariest films of all time

By Alexander Lawrie
 
SCOTTISH movie The Wicker Man has been voted one of Britain’s top ten horror films of all time.
 
The classic cult movie is set on the island of Summerisle, and tells the story of a Christian police officer in search of a missing young girl.
 
The residents of the island turn out to be Pagan [...]

Greyfriar ghosts caught on camera

By Kate Smail
TWO pals claim to have captured mysterious ghostly images on their mobile phones after an unsupervised visit to a graveyard dubbed the most haunted in Scotland.
Damien Kielty and Steve Greenwood were in what is considered the spookiest graveyard in Scotland – the covenanters’ prison in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The pair felt nothing as they [...]

Model boat sparks Coastguard ‘rescue’

By Alexander Lawrie
 
COASTGUARDS had to laugh when flashing red and white lights in the sea caused panic – but turned out to be a birthday message in the shape of a model boat.
 
An off-duty police officer reported he could see three of the strange lights off the beach at Staffin Bay in the north of [...]

WRI swaps baking for a gladitorial battle

By Kate Smail
TWO Gladiators faced their fiercest competitors yet yesterday (THURS) – a group of ladies from the WRI.
Tornado and Enigma arrived at a tiny hall in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders to put the elderly women through their paces in an active aerobics class.
The group – aged up to 85 [...]

Casinos set for bumper weekend thanks to Bond

By Kate Smail
 
THE stakes are high at casinos around the country this week – thanks to the release of the latest James Bond flick.
 
Quantum of Solace will hit screens today (Friday) and casino bosses are rubbing their hands in glee at the increase in custom in the run up to the release.
 
And they say that [...]

Boy, 4, wanders half a mile after being left home alone

By Paul Thornton
 
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy crossed a busy dual-carriageway himself and wandered for over half a mile after he was left home alone.
 
The youngster was spotted by concerned drivers who stopped to check he was okay when they saw him walking down the side of a road.
 
Police were called, and when they returned with [...]

Roses from Chick-kick MSP 289

By Michael MacLeod
A BUNCH of red roses is on its way to Chick Young – from the team of MSPs who kicked him off the park during a charity football match.
A cheeky peace offering was made after MSP John Park left the BBC TV pundit worried he had a broken ankle.
Park’s Labour party colleague Councillor [...]