Tokens of diplomatic thanks up for auction

 

 

By Cara Sulieman

THEY were symbols of thanks for preventing two countries from going to war over a drunken misunderstanding.

And now the silver punch bowl, cup and salver given to the American admiral who saved the day are going under the hammer in Edinburgh.

Russia and Britain almost went to war in 1904 over the Dogger Bank incident, where a nervous Russian fleet opened fire on British fishing vessels in the North Sea.

But the Americans stepped in and negotiated a truce between the two nations, who were so grateful that they sent gifts.

Bookies refuse to offer odds on SuBo number one

 

 

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle was all smiles during a flying visit back home to Blackburn today (Thurs) as bookies announced they were refusing to take any bets on her album reaching number one next week.

Bookmakers William Hill said they were “one hundred per cent certain” that the 48-year-old’s debut would top the charts after canvassing retailers the length and breadth of the UK.

And they have also tipped her as a favourite for the Christmas number one in the album charts – expecting her to beat Leona Lewis and even the Pope to the top spot.

Asked if she was excited about the prospect of bagging her first number one album, SuBo grinned broadly and gave the thumbs up, before waving goodbye.

Britain’s modern day soldier poet launches poetry competition

By Cara Sulieman

A POETRY competition designed to raise awareness of Remembrance Day among children was launched with the backing of Britain’s own modern day soldier poet.

Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Brown attended the launch of Poppyscotland’s poetry competition today (mon) to inspire school kids to write about war and remembrance, so others never forget.

Lt Col Brown has been in the army for 22 years – serving in Northern Ireland, the first Gulf War, the Falklands and Iraq.

He is currently commander of the 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps based in Germany, and says it is the variety of places that he has been and things he has seen has helped inspire his work.

No fuss for Susan Boyle as film crew checks in

By Cara Sulieman

FANS failed to turn out for a Susan Boyle documentary when a Japanese film crew visited the Britain’s Got Talent star’s hometown of Blackburn today.

Two of SuBo’s biggest fans flew over from the States to meet up with a crew from Japan’s state broadcasters NHK to show them around the West Lothian town.

But they couldn’t find any of the singer’s fans so resorted to giving out badges featuring Susan’s smiling face to bemused passers-by.

Leslie McMillan – who had travelled from New York – said: “We just wanted to see where Susan Boyle was from and what her life was like before she became famous.”

Simon Pegg to star in Burke and Hare film

By Cara Sulieman

COMEDIAN Simon Pegg is poised to star in a film about infamous Scots murderers Burke and Hare.

Since the film was announced last year, actors such as Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell have all been tipped for the lead roles.

But director John Landis – famous for horror films such as An American Werewolf in Paris and Michael Jackson’s Thriller video – hinted that the British star has already signed up for the role.

At the US Monster-Mania Convention in New Jersey on Saturday, the legendary filmmaker told fans that Pegg had been lined up to star as Hare.

Japanese film crew looking for Susan Boyle fans

By Cara Sulieman

A JAPANESE film crew are searching for Susan Boyle fans to join them in her home town to celebrate her rise to stardom.

The team – who are travelling from Tokyo for the project – are planning a programme all about Boyle-mania.

American Leslie McMillan is already signed up to show the group around Boyle related landmarks like the Happy Valley Hotel in West Lothian.

She spent two weeks in Blackburn earlier this year with her husband Del, visiting Susan’s old haunts.

Meteorite sale not as earth-shattering as was thought

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTLAND’S answer to Indiana Jones sold his meteorite collection today – but the results weren’t as earth-shattering as the experts thought.

Estimated at over £500,000, Robert Elliott’s collection of rocks – which included a piece of the moon – raised just £130,000 when they went under the hammer at Lyon and Turnbull.

The enthusiast’s collection included pieces of meteorites from all over the globe, including the Barwell Meteorite which fell to earth on December 24 1965.

It was the highest selling item – fetching an impressive £8,000.

Penguins at Edinburgh Zoo become webcam sensation

By Cara Sulieman

A PILOT trial of a webcam watching penguins at Edinburgh Zoo has been such a hit that it is to be made a permanent fixture.

It was set up in June to capture the Gentoo penguins nesting and bringing up their young and has been attracting 9000 visitors a month so far.

There was even a massive Twitter campaign to get it back up and running after technical hitches saw the camera go down briefly.

Bosses admit they never expected the scheme to be as popular as it has been and are now looking at rolling out the idea to other animal enclosures.

Alex Salmond’s fawning letters to Sandi Thom

By Cara Sulieman

NEW LIGHT has been shed on the friendship that has blossomed between Sandi Thom and Alex Salmond.

After recommending her second album to Sir Sean Connery, the first minister has shown himself to be a staunch supporter of the Banff-born singer and has even sung a duet with her.

The letters reveal a mutual respect between the pair, and they heap praise on each other with Salmond describing the singer as a “leading light in Scottish music”.

In October 2007, the first minister wrote to Thom apologising for not being able to meet her at a performance by the National Theatre of Scotland in Los Angeles.

Transatlantic flight celebrates 90th anniversary

The R34 at East Fortune

By Cara Sulieman

RESIDENTS of a tiny town in America have been invited to Scotland to mark the 90th anniversary of the first return flight across the Atlantic.

The giant Glasgow-built R34 airship set off from East Fortune in East Lothian bound for Mineola on Long Island on July 2 1919.

And the National Museum of Flight, which is based at the East Fortune site, have waived the admission fee for any of the 19,000 residents of the US town.

The airship’s flight was an adventurous and exciting event and hit the headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.