Wednesday 28 July 2010

BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS: Saturday 7 August – Friday 13 August 2010

Title: Clach Mhile

First programme in a five-part series exploring contemporary Scottish build and design, its heritage and current resurgence. We celebrate with leading architects at the Inverness Architectural Awards and meet two families embarking on their own build journeys to create their dream home.

Transmitted: Sunday 8th August 2010
Time: 21:30


Title: Iomall nan Tonn

This series gives a bird's eye-view of the Scottish Islands with stunningly shot views of the area. Each programme also highlights important historical, geographical and enviromental facts about each area. This programme focuses on the Western Isles.

Transmitted: Wednesday 11th August 2010
Time: 19:00


Title: Larach anns an Fhasach

Botswana, blessed with revenue from diamond mining, has invested in its people, providing free education for all children, over a period of ten years. Professor Donnie Murdo MacLeod has played his part in the education programme, training teachers to work in the most remote parts of the country. Accompanied by the musician and broadcaster, Mary Ann Kennedy, Donnie tours the country assessing the impact of free schooling for all in rural areas.

Transmitted: Thursday 12th August 2010
Time: 21:00

Monday 26 July 2010

HEBRIDEAN PETROLHEADS FEATURE ON BBC ALBA

TRUSADH - CINN-CONNAIDH NAN EILEAN / HEBRIDEAN PETROLHEADS
Monday 2 August at 9pm on BBC ALBA

Motors are an all consuming passion for many island folk who spend much of their free time with their nose in an engine. Islanders’ fascination with all things mechanical is explored in an intriguing new documentary in the Trusadh series being broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 2 August.

The programme, ‘Cinn-Connaidh Nan Eilean / Hebridean Petrolheads’, meets island folk who restore buses, tractors, even an Indian jeep, as well as a father who has taken up a dangerous hobby at an age when many would be thinking of winding down.

Sandy Morrison, 62, from Dunvegan, Skye, has recently started rally driving, encouraged by successful driver son Neil, albeit to the despair of many including his wife Faye. “My wife says I’ve lost the plot and I’ve got a screw loose,” says Sandy with a wry smile.

Faye adds: “I thought he’d get wiser as he got older but he’s got worse. Neil is now involved too so there is even more commotion than before.”

Another whose passion for motors has proved a little distracting from family life is Donald ‘Cudaig’ Macleod, of Callanish on Lewis. The mechanic, who’s currently doing up a Massey Ferguson, gives his wife credit for her patience: “I’m married and she’s done well to stay with me. She says the tractors and pigs get more attention than she does.”

Duncan Campbell, of North Uist, is restoring a 1991 H-registered Indian Mahindra jeep he bought for £100. In the islands, parts can be hard to come by but resourceful Duncan has used old bed springs to close the bonnet and fashioned little brackets from lager can ring-pulls. “It’s good to have a pastime. Even if it’s ready I can still improve on it,” he smiles.

The programme also follows the iconic red and green liveried MacBrayne’s buses out for an annual excursion through Skye, with plenty reminiscing. The buses, the last of which stopped running in 1972, were once a regular feature on Highland roads. The owner of one bus, Donnie MacDonald from South Uist and his friends in the MacBrayne Circle are determined to keep them going. Donnie says: “I spend a lot of time restoring the bus – too much time probably!”

For mum-of-two, teacher Donna Barden, from Coll on the Isle of Lewis, seeing her late husband Alasdair’s home-made NG restored brings back happy memories of the couple’s honeymoon in the car. Motor enthusiast and GP Alasdair died tragically 12 years ago in a gyrocopter accident.

But Donna has decided to take the old NG from the garage and have her brother Iain Campbell make it roadworthy in time for her nephew’s wedding. She says: “I hope the couple who are getting married like the car and it doesn’t let them down. If Alasdair was here he’d be so happy that it was being used for such an occasion.”

Produced by mactv and directed by Magnus Graham for BBC ALBA, ‘Cinn-Connaidh Nan Eilean / Hebridean Petrolheads‘, will be broadcast on Monday 2 August at 9pm.

HEBRIDEAN PETROLHEADS FEATURE ON BBC ALBA

TRUSADH - CINN-CONNAIDH NAN EILEAN / HEBRIDEAN PETROLHEADS
Monday 2 August at 9pm on BBC ALBA

Motors are an all consuming passion for many island folk who spend much of their free time with their nose in an engine. Islanders’ fascination with all things mechanical is explored in an intriguing new documentary in the Trusadh series being broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 2 August.

The programme, ‘Cinn-Connaidh Nan Eilean / Hebridean Petrolheads’, meets island folk who restore buses, tractors, even an Indian jeep, as well as a father who has taken up a dangerous hobby at an age when many would be thinking of winding down.

Sandy Morrison, 62, from Dunvegan, Skye, has recently started rally driving, encouraged by successful driver son Neil, albeit to the despair of many including his wife Faye. “My wife says I’ve lost the plot and I’ve got a screw loose,” says Sandy with a wry smile.

Faye adds: “I thought he’d get wiser as he got older but he’s got worse. Neil is now involved too so there is even more commotion than before.”

Another whose passion for motors has proved a little distracting from family life is Donald ‘Cudaig’ Macleod, of Callanish on Lewis. The mechanic, who’s currently doing up a Massey Ferguson, gives his wife credit for her patience: “I’m married and she’s done well to stay with me. She says the tractors and pigs get more attention than she does.”

Duncan Campbell, of North Uist, is restoring a 1991 H-registered Indian Mahindra jeep he bought for £100. In the islands, parts can be hard to come by but resourceful Duncan has used old bed springs to close the bonnet and fashioned little brackets from lager can ring-pulls. “It’s good to have a pastime. Even if it’s ready I can still improve on it,” he smiles.

The programme also follows the iconic red and green liveried MacBrayne’s buses out for an annual excursion through Skye, with plenty reminiscing. The buses, the last of which stopped running in 1972, were once a regular feature on Highland roads. The owner of one bus, Donnie MacDonald from South Uist and his friends in the MacBrayne Circle are determined to keep them going. Donnie says: “I spend a lot of time restoring the bus – too much time probably!”

For mum-of-two, teacher Donna Barden, from Coll on the Isle of Lewis, seeing her late husband Alasdair’s home-made NG restored brings back happy memories of the couple’s honeymoon in the car. Motor enthusiast and GP Alasdair died tragically 12 years ago in a gyrocopter accident.

But Donna has decided to take the old NG from the garage and have her brother Iain Campbell make it roadworthy in time for her nephew’s wedding. She says: “I hope the couple who are getting married like the car and it doesn’t let them down. If Alasdair was here he’d be so happy that it was being used for such an occasion.”

Produced by mactv and directed by Magnus Graham for BBC ALBA, ‘Cinn-Connaidh Nan Eilean / Hebridean Petrolheads‘, will be broadcast on Monday 2 August at 9pm.

BAG IT, BIN IT! - says Council

Dog owners across Argyll and Bute are being reminded how important it is to ‘bag it and bin it’.

Argyll and Bute Council and the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dog’s Trust, are urging dog owners to pick up the mess and help keep our public spaces clean.

The message comes in the run up to national Poop Scoop Week 2010, which runs from July 26 to August 1.

Councillor Robert Macintyre, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Economy, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “Some people seem to forget that dogs can’t clean up after themselves.

“While the vast majority of owners are responsible and pick up after their dog, a number of selfish individuals are still giving dogs a bad name.

“We receive a significant number of complaints about dog mess, and have fined nearly 40 members of the public over the last year for failing to clean up after their animal.

“Having dog dirt littering our parks, pavements and public spaces is something which Argyll and Bute Council is determined to tackle. Poop Scoop Week gives us the opportunity to reiterate our clear message that irresponsible dog owners will not be tolerated.

“Our environment wardens will continue to be pro-active across the council area in a bid to catch and punish those who disregard the law, and I would urge anyone who witnesses an owner failing to clear up after their dog to contact the police."

Anyone receiving a £40 fixed penalty notice has 28 days in which to pay. If they fail to do so, it will increase to £60. Should anyone continue to ignore the notice, they risk a court summons and a possible £500 fine.

FIDDLERS’ BID SPECIAL FROM SHETLAND FOLK FESTIVAL ON BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA will be broadcasting a special programme from this year’s 30th Shetland Folk Festival, on Saturday 31 July at 9pm.

Popular presenter Mary Ann Kennedy will host a special one hour concert featuring the legendary Fiddlers’ Bid from Shetland, as they staged a very special performance live to their home audience to mark the 30th Annual Shetland Folk Festival.

The programme, produced by Bees Nees and directed by Bridget Caldwell, will offer viewers exclusive coverage of the band’s performance along with special interviews and background information on the inspiration for their music.

The festival, showcasing the best folk music from around the globe, took place from 29 April – 2 May with Fiddler’s Bid performing at the sold out Clickimin Concert on the Saturday night.

Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA, said: “We are delighted to be broadcasting this special concert showcasing the best folk music Scotland has to offer. Shetland is renowned for its unique musical heritage and rich fiddle tradition and we are extremely excited to offering a special one hour show dedicated to Fiddlers’ Bid, the leading exponents of Shetland’s folk music.

“In the year that the festival celebrates its 30th year, and the band their 20th anniversary, we are pleased to be continuing our commitment to event-based music coverage which appeals to a wide audience base of music fans tuning in to BBC ALBA.”

Since their formation in 1991, Fiddlers' Bid has played an extremely important role in the success of numerous Shetland Folk Festivals. They have acted as global ambassadors for the Festival and Shetland as a whole, as they’ve astounded audiences all over the world with their expressive, high-energy music and performances.