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WALLETS MARTS HOLD 49TH ANNUAL LUING SALE
EVERYTHING IS SET FOR THORNHILL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014
THORNHILL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014
2nd -4th May 2014
Venues
BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY ARMS HOTEL
FARMERS ARMS
THORNHILL INN
THOMAS TOSH
THORNHILL BOWLING CLUB
Thornhill Music Festival is back for 2014 , building on the major success of last years festival the committee have once again put together aterrific package of artists a mixture of returning acts and fresh faces as well as a high profile headliner . Headliner Jo Harman
The festival kicks off on Friday the 2nd May in the Buccleuch and Queensberry Arms with The John Beattie Band led by former Scotland and British Lions No8 and now a highly successful BBC Scotland broadcaster John Beattie as well as some highly accomplished musicians among them actor Tom Urie best known for Chewin the fat and River City they will bring there own take on classic rock and blues covers .
Hosted by Thomas Tosh the festival have put together what can best be described as an “acoustic cafe ” featuring Houndog Fraser and Rock Hunter , Al Hughes , John Alexander and local Sanquhar singer Lauren Dalgliesh , Thomas Tosh will provide and ideal backdrop for these acoustic acts and an intimate atmosphere for both artists and audience alike .
The Farmers Arms will be hosting local rockers Bad Reputation and in the Thornhill Inn they will feature well known Borders Blues/Rock outfit Ruff Cut .
Saturday’s programme kicks off in the Farmers Arms at 1pm with Strumsum the well known blues band from Dumfries, to continue the local flavour Cammy Black will be rocking out in the Buccleuch from 2pm a great chance to see Cammy who is destined for big things . Among the new faces to Thornhill will be Katie Bradley Blues who will be in the Thornhill Inn from 4pm while young local band The Fused play a small set at the Farmers Arms. Carlisle Blues men The Deluxe take to the stage at the Farmers Arms from 6pm .
This year the festival boasts a headline act one of the foremost names on the UK blues scene Jo Harman and fresh from the release of her Live at the Albert Hall album , Jo will be appearing at Thornhill Bowling Club at 8.00pm this gig will be limited numbers 100 only and will be ticketed , tickets are £3 available from John G Renicks Butchers in the village . This is a massive coup for the festival to have one of the country’s top acts .
In the latter part of the evening Thornhill Inn will be hosting the Paddy Maguire Band with the Buccleuch having the triumphant return to the festival of top reggae outfit The i foundation , and the Farmers Arms will have local favourites The Yahs .
Sunday sees Day 3 start with one of the areas best loved bands The Cats from 1pm in the Farmers .
From 2pm in the Buccleuch one of the UK’s finest blues guitarists Lewis Hamilton will be taking to the stage playing material from his 3 albums and new material from his new album . Returning from 2013 and appearing at the Thornhill Inn from 4pm will be Stirling’s own GT’s Boos Band who have had a great year since the release of their album Steakhouse .
Jed Potts and the Hillman Hunters will be rocking the Farmers Arms from 6pm with
Brothers Groove getting fired up in the Buccleuch and Queensberry from 8pm . Top ska outfit Urang Matang take to the stage in the Farmers Arms from 9.30pm and Lewis Hamilton will round off the weekend with the Festival Jam in the Thornhill Inn from 9.30 with numerous guests no doubt.
It looks like is going to be a great weekend of music in the ducal village and if 2013 is anything to go by it will be a great atmosphere as well
Video The Yahs – Keep On Going official Video
New Team Gets to Work on Developing Arts across Dumfries and Galloway
New Team Gets to Work on Developing Arts across Dumfries and Galloway
From organising major music festivals to bringing movie makers to the region – area convenors have huge experience in the arts
Four Area Arts Convenors have begun work in Dumfries and Galloway as part of a major drive to develop the region’s creative sector.
The arts make a growing contribution to the life and economy of D&G and the convenors will have an important role in providing the professional support to help them thrive.
They form an essential part of the region’s new arts structure, unique in Scotland, which gives artists and arts organisations greater control of their own affairs.
Kathleen O’Neill, D&G’s Regional Arts Convenor, said: “We are really fortunate to have been able to put together a tremendous team of convenors who will be able to support creative people, events and organizations in every part of the region.
“Each of them has a long track record of involvement in the arts and together they have a truly formidable range of experience and knowledge which covers everything from film and performance to founding major festivals like Wickerman.”
The convenors are commissioned on a freelance part-time basis and will work with artists and arts organisations to push ahead with a series of projects until September 2015. Each will cover one of the four former districts of D&G:
· Alan Thomson for Annandale and Eskdale
· Belle Doyle for Nithsdale
· Cate Ross in the Stewartry
· Sid Ambrose in Wigtownshire
Cathy Agnew, on behalf of the D &G Chamber of Arts which is now leading the strategic development of the sector across the region, said: “We are taking a new and innovative approach to developing and promoting the arts in Dumfries and Galloway. We hope to create a model that strengthens our creative industries and helps contribute to the economic development of the region.
“The Area Convenors will have a vital role in encouraging artists and arts organisations to develop and co-ordinate their activities and bring exciting new opportunities to the region. We want to see as many people as possible have the chance to experience and enjoy the arts.”
Councillor Ronnie Nicholson, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said, “I am pleased to see the completion of this latest step in sustaining a vibrant arts sector in Dumfries and Galloway. The last two years have been a transition phase as we work on the Creative Future project in collaboration with the arts sector, through the Chamber of Arts, and with Creative Scotland.
“Arts and crafts play an important role in the economy of Dumfries and Galloway and enrich the lives of people who live in and visit our region. I wish the Regional and Area Arts Convenors every success in their roles and look forward to some exciting developments for the sector.”
The region’s new arts structure resulted from the Fresh Start project which took place in 2013 and from a series of successful pilot projects designed to find a new way forward for the sector.
Introducing the Area Arts Convenors
● Cate Ross – trapeze artist and arts organiser
Cate is independent artist and freelance community arts development worker. She moved to the Stewartry in 2008. Cate provides locally based circus arts training, specialising in dance trapeze through her organisation ‘aethAERIALarts’.
Cate holds a Master of Fine Art Degree in Printmaking, a BA Honours Degree in Applied Art (Illustration) as well as a professional certificate in Stage Dance, all of which coalesce into multi-disciplinary artworks that are enjoyed internationally; she has exhibited extensively in the USA, Scotland and Japan. With a Post Graduate Certificate in Community Education under her belt Cate has also been applying arts practices and education to community arts development projects since 2001.
Cate has volunteered for the Stewartry Arts Hub and original Chamber of Arts since 2011. Last year she won commissions to be the Cultural Research Support Worker for the Stewartry and an Arts Mentor to two young Stewartry artists as part of the DGAP Youth Arts Learning Journey project.
Cate said: “I am very impressed with the way that so many members of the D&G community have come together to create this exciting new opportunity to support the arts, culture and heritage within our communities. I have worked across the region, nationally and internationally as an arts and community development practitioner and my heart is now set on raising the profile of the wonderful creativity and life affirming treasures that the area has to offer.”
● Sid Ambrose – founder of Wickerman
Sid is a native Gallovidian with a real passion for the people, places and produce from the region. His career path has been varied and colorful including a stint as a tattooist and working as a tunnel builder.
For the last 15 years he has been fully immersed in either producing promoting or filming arts and music events.He is best known for coming up with the concept for the Wickerman festival and was artistic director for over a decade.
Currently involved in a number of projects through his company SidPR.com,he feels that Dumfries and Galloway is a uniquely creative place which takes its inspiration from both the landscape and resilient population.
He said: “Over the last decade I have been extremely fortunate to have been involved in a number of high profile projects from Wickerman to Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.I am very much looking forward to bringing the skills I have acquired back to Wigtownshire and assisting local artists to meet their full potential.”
● Belle Doyle – who helped win TV’s Two Thousand Acres of Sky for D&G
Remember Two Thousand Acres of Sky or the Peter Mullan movie The Magdalene Sisters? Belle Doyle had a key role in bringing both these to Dumfries and Galloway. Last year she was also the Fresh Start Youth Learning Journeys Co-ordinator.
As the council’s film officer Belle played a pivotal role in attracting Mullan’s production team to the region and ensured that all ran smoothly for the TV folk who made the successful BBC drama at Port Logan.
This was the time of Foot and Mouth, when the D&G economy was under severe pressure, not least because of a severe downturn in tourism. The £1m that the movie and TV shows brought to D&G was one of the few welcome bright spots – benefiting all kinds of businesses, including hotels and restaurants.
For the past seven years Belle has been away in Glasgow continuing her career in film and TV but returned to Dumfries in February. Since then she has been getting active in the local arts scene and is now on the board of The Stove.
She said: “It’s an exciting time to be involved in the arts in Scotland, and, more specifically, to be involved in a new artists’ led movement that has real momentum and ambition.
“At the moment, Dumfries & Galloway is being seen as the site of a revolution in arts practice that brings in real social change, economic regeneration, and public engagement with the arts, and as far as I am concerned, Nithsdale is at the heart of this revolution.”
● Alan Thomson – arts development specialist
Alan Thomson is well known across the region following his 10 years’ experience with Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, latterly dgArts, where began as Area Development Co-ordinator before progressing to become Business Manager and Depute Director. Since then he has been developing arts projects and managing events on a freelance basis.
Alan is delighted to be taking on the challenge of the Annandale and Eskdale Arts Hub Convenor role so that he can support the artists and organisations of his home district to achieve their aspirations. He said: “This is a time of change for our creative sector, when innovative partnerships and collaborations are at the heart of contemporary arts practice; I look forward to working with ambitious practitioners on a wide range of projects.
“Annandale and Eskdale’s superb transport links mean that rather we can make the most of our proximity to the central belt and our links with Borders and Cumbria.”
D&G MP WRAPS UP TO BACK COLD HOMES WEEK
RUSSELL BROWN MP WRAPS UP TO BACK COLD HOMES WEEK
Campaigners calling for more help for those struggling to keep warm this winter delivered a hand-knitted scarf to Russell Brown MP in Parliament yesterday to thank him for his support. The scarf was one of hundreds knitted by supporters of the Energy Bill Revolution campaign to mark “Cold Homes Week” – a series of events and activities focussing attention on the shocking state of many of the UK’s homes, and the terrible effect they have on the people left shivering inside them.
As Cold Homes Week was taking place, fuel poverty figures showed that in Scotland fuel poverty has increased by 12% since 2013. The latest figures for Dumfries and Galloway show that 38.5% of local households live in fuel poverty.
The Energy Bill Revolution campaign has brought together almost 180 organisations, charities and companies to call on Government to do much more to help those in cold homes by providing far more support to insulation and energy efficiency schemes. The campaigners point to other countries, such as Sweden, where incomes and fuel prices are broadly similar to the UK, but better housing means far fewer people cannot afford to heat their homes.
The Energy Bill Revolution has identified billions of pounds in “carbon taxes” already being paid by bill payers that currently disappears into the Treasury, and has called on Government to recycle this money into help for households to become more efficient. Such a policy would end fuel poverty in 10 years, and could also provide help for better off families to cut their bills.
Ed Matthew, Director of the Energy Bill Revolution said:
“We welcome Mr Brown’s support for the Energy Bill Revolution. It is clear that the lasting solution to this crisis is to stop homes leaking heat. This must be UK’s number one infrastructure priority, it will save families hundreds of pounds on their energy bills and end fuel poverty for good.”
Russell Brown MP said:
“It really is a disgraceful situation in the 21st Century that so many households, especially pensioners, are struggling to heat their homes and be comfortable. The Government really does need to take action to reduce fuel poverty and ensure that this blight on so many households is reduced immediately.”
Notes to the editor
Attached photo of Russell Brown MP receiving scarf from Ed Matthew, Director of the Energy Bill Revolution
SCOOP THAT POOP ! KEEP D&G’s PUBLIC PLACES DOG POO FREE
Enforcement campaign for dog fouling and litter
The Community Safety Team has been out in force recently, raising awareness of blights in our communities of dog fouling and litter.
The team has run high-profile campaigns in Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Wigtown, Whithorn and the Isle of Whithorn, with others to follow when operational requirements allow.
Free bio-degradable dog bags along with a copy of a leaflet containing the main points of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 were handed out to dog owners. It places responsibility on dog owners to clean up after their dog and properly dispose of the mess.
If an offence is committed in a public area, authorised officer will issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for £40. Conviction for no payment of the penalty could result in a fine of £500.
Littering and fly tipping are another concern in all communities of Dumfries & Galloway. Whilst most are aware if they drop litter they commit an offence, many smokers are unaware that a cigarette end is classified as litter.
During the National Litter Campaign in June this year, it was found that the vast majority of littering tickets were issued to smokers for discarding cigarette butts.
During the campaign days, portable ashtrays known as “stubbies” were given out to smokers. These fireproof pouches are used for cigarette ends to be placed in and emptied into a bin when one is available.
It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to throw down, drop or otherwise dispose of litter. A Fixed Penalty Notice of £50 will be issued to offenders. The Scottish Government has proposed to raise this to £80 in April 2014. Conviction in court for non-payment could result in a fine of £2,500.
Fly tipping is disposing of rubbish or waste onto land without permission or licence to accept it. At present the Fixed Penalty Notice is £50, although the Scottish Government intends to raise this to £200 from April 2014.
Conviction in court for non-payment could result in a fine of £40,000 and/or a six-month prison sentence.
Community Safety Officer Gordon McKeand said; “This campaign has helped raise awareness of these issues once again, but also has given us valuable pointers to hotspot areas and alleged offenders, which we are following up at present. As an authorised officer I will issue fixed penalty notices for any environmental offences witnessed by me. Hopefully this campaign will have helped educate members of the public about environmental offences.
Senior Community Safety Officer Diane McColm added; “My officers will deal with environmental offences rigorously, and during these dark mornings and evenings, it becomes far more difficult for authorised officers to detect offences such as littering and dog fouling. I would appeal to members of the public to pass on all information about alleged offenders, and we will deal with them appropriately.”
Drumlanrig Galloway Country Fair 2014 Promises to be Biggest ever
Drumlanrig gears up for biggest Galloway Country Fair ever
Following on from the success of 2013, Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate is urging visitors to save the date for this year’s Galloway Country Fair as it shapes up to be more action-packed than ever before.
The popular weekend, which is fast becoming one of Scotland’s premier country events, will be held at Drumlanrig Castle on the weekend of 16 and 17 August to showcase the best country sports, produce and retail that Scotland has to offer.
The largest and most renowned country fair in southern Scotland brings together thousands of visitors with hundreds of businesses, demonstrations and activities each year offering a true celebration of rural life.
The Food Marquee will be full to the brim with food and drink to cater for every taste, including fresh produce from local suppliers.
Visitors can enjoy gifts or homeware in the huge Craft Marquee and purchase a variety of goods, from premium clothing and sporting supplies to jewellery, pet products, artwork, toys, gifts and much more.
As well as regular attractions such as traditional Highland games, and the chance to see the Buccleuch hounds and gundog demonstrations in the main arena, this year will also see a new focus on mountain biking.
The popular Fishing Village will make a return, allowing youngsters to learn about the sport through demonstrations and casting clinics.
Once again, visitors can try their hand at clay pigeon shooting, and a wide range of firearms, rifles, shooting accessories and fishing tackle from leading suppliers will be available in Gunmakers Row.
Event Manager, Jo Jones, said: “It’s that time of year again when the buzz of the Galloway Country Fair starts to spread at Drumlanrig. It’s a super-sized event and all of the team have a hand in preparations for many months ahead.
“The weekend is always very family friendly with a funfair and plenty of entertainment to keep everyone amused. The variety of stalls and shows is fantastic – we will have something for thrill-seekers, shopaholics, sporting fanatics, foodies and more.”
There are still opportunities for traders and sponsors of all kinds to get involved. Trade packs are available from the brand new bespoke Galloway Country Fair website which is also new for 2014 www.gallowaycountryfair.co.uk
The annual fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 16 and 17 August, from 9am-6pm. Tickets are priced at £12 for adults, £5 for ages 5-16, £10 for concessions and £30 for a family pass. Under-fives go free. Anyone buying tickets online will enjoy a 25 per cent discount if purchased online before 1 August.
Sixtieth Kirkcudbright Candlemas Ball for Band Leader Bert Rae!
The traditional Candlemas Ball was hosted by Kirkcudbright Academy Parent Council on Saturday 8 February.
This year’s event was a very special occasion as marked the 60th year that Mr Bert Rae has lead the band at the school Candlemas Balls.
Our guests included parents, former pupils (some from many years ago!), current Sixth Year Pupils and the new Head Teacher. Approximately 100 of us birlled, whirled, reeled, two-stepped and Gay Gordon-ed the night away in the Cochran Hall which had been decorated by the School Pupils in a very appropriate diamond theme.
A welcome respite from the dancing was provided in the form of a fantastic finger buffet very kindly donated by parents and local businesses. During the supper, the winner of the traditional “Guess the Whisky” game was announced along with the winners of the amazing raffle prizes again kindly donated by local businesses and parents. Highlights of the night were a presentation of champagne and diamond-studded flowers to Mr Rae, the traditional Grand March, the dance demonstrations by the Caller and MC Mr Mark Hutton and the Orcadian Strip-the-Willow which left us all gasping and laughing!
The Parent Council are very grateful for all the behind the scenes help, the generous donations and for the support of the guests for this major fundraising event.
DUMFRIES MART SALES REPORT FOR 10/2/14
Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC held their fortnightly Sale of Store Cattle in Dumfries on Monday 10th February 2014.
169 Forward – Mixed offering forward. Best types easily sold, Full ringside of buyers in attendance.
94 Bullocks ave 210.5p to 268.1 and £1280
31 Holstein Friesian Bullocks ave 142.8p to 157.3p and £740
36 Heifers ave 208.2p to 229p and £980
8 Bulls ave 167.2p to 213.1p and £875
Principal Prices
Bullocks
Charolais to £1280 Carsegowan, £955 Nisbet
Simmental to £1080, £1030 Hightownhead
Limousin to £1020 Tregallon, £1005 Hightownhead
Shorthorn to £1080 Hightownhead
Angus to £1020 Hightownhead, £960 Ballaggan
British Blue to £925 Upper Moor
Hereford to £905 Baltersan
Holstein to £740 Topmuir, £715 Upper Longbank
Heifers
British Blue to £980, £920 Upper Moor
Limouisn to £910 Kirkbride, £900 Nisbet
Simmental to £910 Courance, £860 Nisbet
Charolais to £720 Nisbet
Bulls
Luing to £875, £860 Raehills
Per Kilo
Bullocks
Charolais to 268.1p Nisbet
Simmental to 256.4p Buittle Mains
Limousin to 248.4p Nisbet
Angus to 218.7p Ballaggan
Heifers
Simmental to 229p Courance
Charolais to 218.7p Nisbet
Limouisn to 215.3p Tregallon
Bulls
Limousin to 213.3p Bush of Craigs
SCOTTISH WATER OPENS NEW TWITTER COMMUNICATION CHANNEL FOR D&G
SCOTTISH WATER OPENS NEW COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
Scottish Water has opened a number of new community-focused social media channels to help keep customers informed about improvements to services in their area.
Five new Twitter accounts covering the regions of Scotland have been launched, headed up by Scottish Water’s regional community managers who are working to keep communities informed about campaigns on subjects such as water efficiency and water safety, as well as new projects in and around communities to provide the best possible water and waste water services.
The new community social media channels, which reflect the areas the regional community managers cover, are:
@SW_BillElliot – Bill covers Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian, West Lothian, the Borders, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and Dumfries & Galloway
This supports the existing Twitter account @scottish_water which provides customers with the latest service updates and has over 7,500 followers. Customers can also telephone the Scottish Water Customer Helpline around the clock on 0845 601 8855.
Scottish Water has also launched a dedicated news account on Twitter to keep customers and stakeholders up to date with breaking news stories from around Scotland – such as media campaigns, work to refurbish infrastructure such as water mains and sewers, build new treatment works and refurbish existing facilities. The account name is @ScotWaterNews, and all the up-to-date news can be found at www.scottishwater.co.uk/media where a Media Centre has been launched to assist journalists.
The demand for more news about Scottish Water has resulted in the utility firm launching community driven Twitter accounts to ensure that information gets to all customers through the widest possible range of communications – website, social media, letters, meetings and print and broadcast media.
The website www.scottishwater.co.uk is also kept up to date with real time information affecting customers such as burst pipes or road works as a result of our improvement work.
Helen Lennox, head of corporate affairs, said: “The increasing popularity of social media and our main website shows that there are a whole host of ways customers can get information about the work of Scottish Water.
“We are increasingly finding many customers go to the website first rather than calling our customers contact centre. That’s why it is important we make available a variety of ways in which our customers can contact us.
“We are putting an increased focus on our work in communities around Scotland, and our new social media channels are designed to give customers increased choice about how they access information on our services – whether it’s information in advance of work to improve services, or to provide an update to customers on those occasions when services are disrupted, for example because of a burst water mains.
“Customers may choose to call us, send a letter or email, but we know customers may wish to use social media to get in touch if they have a query or want to find out more about us and our services.”
FERGUSSON APPOINTED TO CHAIR UK WIDE REVIEW OF DAIRY CODE OF PRACTICE
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Alex Fergusson has been appointed to Chair the UK wide review of the voluntary Dairy Code of Practice. Following the announcement of the appointment, which was made by NFU Scotland, the NFU and Dairy UK,
Mr Fergusson said:-“I feel deeply honoured to have been asked to take on this role, and look forward to playing my part in reviewing and updating this voluntary Code of Practice between milk producers and milk processors that has been in place for the last year.
The introduction of the Code of Practice was hugely important in overcoming many of the sensitivities that previously existed within the chain of milk production. With goodwill on all sides – and I am convinced that that goodwill exists – my task will not be a particularly difficult one. However, there are one or two areas that clearly require further discussion, and I look forward to
playing my part in ensuring the voluntary code is robust and fit for the future.”