Your local magazine for Gretna, Gretna Green, Springfield, Longtown, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Langholm, Moffat, Annan and all the beautiful towns and ...
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Your local magazine for Gretna, Gretna Green, Springfield, Longtown, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Langholm, Moffat, Annan and all the beautiful towns and villages in our area.
Our Thanks
As every month, our thanks go out to
all the contributors to the magazine
for their interesting and informative
articles. Your hard work is always very
much appreciated
August, summer is here (I hope) and
Scotland continues to open up slowly - in
Newsletter
Add yourself to our newsletter and
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manner than the irresponsible know when each issue is published.
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about and even if we have had our all you need is your name and your
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The 7th August sees Gretna FC 2008’s 1st
home game with fans since Feb 19 so
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and we would love to hear from you if you Although we do our best to ensure
have any ideas for articles or would like to that contents is correct we accept no
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2 3
All Paws Great and Small
In This Month’s Magazine
Help Free The Bears 6 Climate Change 52
07746 381 718
How Do You Feel About Being Gretna FC 2008 56
Alone 8
Dog Walking ▪ 5 Pet Apartment
Mellow Musical Memories with
Vince Tracy 12
The Trouble With History
Anne Germain
64
69 *
Learn Guitar With Rod 20
Sudoku and Crossword 72 Training ▪ Pop-In Visits ▪ House Sitting
Puzzles For Children 74
Mellow Media Budget 25
Some Things To Think About 78 • Reliable and Recommended
The Devil’s Porridge Museum 27
Calling All Veterans and Serving • Dog walking
The Market Hall, Carlisle 32 Members of the Armed Forces 80 • 5 Council licenced pet apartment
The End Of Morality? 38 Do You Know A Local Hero? 81 (home from home)
A Fun Quiz 41 Puzzle Solutions 84 • House sitting
3D Garden Design 43
• All pet home services
Flavours and Spices of India 50
• Canine first aid trained
• Canine behaviour trainer (diploma)
• Puppy trainer (diploma)
• Puppy / Dog socialising
Have your dog(s) be part of your
special day with our stress-free
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We can take your dog(s) to and
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4
AllPawsGreatandSmall 5
Help Free The Bears
There are many ways you can only time for a present). You can
contribute to saving these majestic become a bear carer with a small
creatures. The first thing to do is to subscription each month.
visit their website at https://
freethebears.org/
There you will see the many ways
in which you can help them. At the
time of writing, most of the world is
limiting travel so going along to
volunteer is not an option unless
you are already living near to a
sanctuary, but you can sponsor a
bear, make a purchase for yourself
or as a gift (Christmas is not the
https://www.facebook.com/freethebearsfund
Are your carpets looking a little tired? Your chairs in need of a
spruce up? Then get in touch and we can bring them back to life
again.
We pride ourselves on our workmanship, here are just a few of the
comments we have received from our many happy customers.
As life begins to return to the business world,
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6 7
How Do You Feel About Being
the earth……I don’t makes us feel deeply
Alone think we need
lose any sleep
and strongly, gives
us the advantage
over doing of being able to
Some people have never met Realise that by allowing that now!! As attract and
or married a soul mate….some ourselves to be we move choose the
people are on their own all comfortable away from right people
through their lives for some with being tradition with whom to
reason, and maybe they don’t alone, we can and fall into share
appreciate the situation they become the kind of more ourselves.
are in. Are you on your person with natural Choosing to
own??Are you your own best whom we cycles of enjoy being
friend?? Do you realise that want to have being in the alone allows us to
you are in a position that some a relationship. world today, we fully explore our
people would envy?? Have you may find that there most important
ever tried to see being on your Perhaps at no other are times where being relationship—the one with
own like that? time in history has it alone nourishes us . Our our true selves…..try to
been possible for happiness does not depend on appreciate the freedom and the
The most important relationship people to survive, and other people. It may assist our ability to find your own way in
we have in our lives is with our even thrive, while living state of mind, but WE are life……..some people never
selves. And even though we alone. We can now support responsible for the way we feel have that opportunity!
are the only ones who are ourselves financially, socially, about everything. Loneliness is
present at every moment of our and emotionally without not the same as being
lives—from birth onward—this needing a spouse for survival in alone……I have felt lonelier in
relationship can be the most any of these realms. With this a crowd than I have ever felt Take care ….’Till the Next
difficult one to cultivate and to freedom, we can pursue our just enjoying my own company. time!!!
appreciate. This may be own interests and create Being on your own does not
because society places such fulfilling partnerships with mean loneliness.
emphasis on the importance of friends, business partners, and
being locked into a romantic neighbours. It helps us to Being willing to know and love Violet King
partnership, even teaching us discover ourselves if we move ourselves, and to find what truly
to set aside our own needs for forward. Standing still doesn’t
the needs of another person. achieve much….you can find
Until we know ourselves, so many things to do and really
however, we cannot possibly appreciate things without being With thanks to Violet for her interesting article once again
choose the right relationship to dependent on someone else..
support our mutual growth If you have a question you would like to ask her, please email us at the
toward our highest benefit. Male and female were told in magazine and we will pass it on to her.
the beginning to multiply and fill
editor@tickledsquirrel.com
8 9
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10 11
Mellow Musical Memories Boys, another great family act his right eye in a near-fatal car
featuring three harmonising crash in Oregon in 1967, and
with Vince Tracy brothers. The Bee Gees' Hall of
Fame citation says, "Only Elvis
consequently always wore an
eyepatch. The eyepatch led
Presley, the Beatles, Michael some to believe that Sawyer
Thanks once again to Vince Tracy for this wonderful jump back in Jackson, Garth Brook and Paul was 'Dr. Hook'. When anyone
time. You can find out more about Vince if you look at his website McCartney have outsold the asked the band which one of
vincetracy.com Bee Gees." The Bee Gees are them was 'Dr Hook' they always
the third most successful band directed everyone to the bus
Hi there pop-pickers and this star who sadly took his own life in Billboard charts history after driver. The humour might have
month's ramble for Mellow in 1996 the Beatles and the Supremes. been debatable but their music
Magazine whizzes me back to was great and 'Sylvia's Mother
August in 1972. We were was their number 8 hit in this
coming away from the swinging month. I was dating a girl called
60s and our drainpipe trousers Sylvia at the time and her mum
were becoming a little wider at seemed to think the song was
the bottom and denim flares about her. I doubt if she had
and bell bottoms were ever seen the band but it was a
appearing in the clubs. The great song.
charts didn't always reflect the
dancing and moods on the disco At number 7 you'd find Sir
dance floors. I'm looking at the Roderick David Stewart CBE
top 10 and Faron Young at The Bee Gees were at number born 10 January 1945 and a
number 10 was an early riser. 9 with 'Run to Me'. Dramatic or British rock and pop singer,
He sang about 'Four in the what? I bet these guys practised songwriter, and record producer.
morning' and for my money this their harmonies round the back Born and raised in London, he is
was a fellow with a mellow of their mum's post office on the At number 8 you will find Dr of Scottish and English
bellow who was more for the Isle of Man. They were good but Hook. After a network of ancestry. With his distinctive
radio shows than for dance greater days lay ahead of them. musicians working around raspy singing voice, Stewart is
floors. He looked more like a I tried singing their high notes America and including George one of the best-selling music
carpet salesman than a country but suffered with a hernia as a Cummings who eventually artistes of all time, having sold
result. The Bee Gees have sold ended up with a band "Dr. Hook over 250 million records
over 120 million records and the Medicine Show: Tonic worldwide. He has had 10
worldwide, making them among for the Soul." The "Hook" name number-one albums and 31 top
the best-selling music artists of was inspired by musician Ray ten singles in the UK, 6 of which
all time. They were inducted into Sawyer' and the eyepatch was reached number one. Stewart
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a reference to Captain Hook of has had 16 top ten singles in the
in 1997 and presented the Peter Pan fairy tale, fame. US, with four reaching number
award to "Britain's first family of Humorously, Captain Hook was one on the Billboard Hot 100.
harmony" by Brian Wilson. He neither a doctor nor wore an He was knighted in the 2016
was the leader of the Beach eyepatch. Ray Sawyer had lost Birthday Honours for services to
12 13
great press cutting of me I'll say this quietly as some
tackling Rod during the game. ladies might go crazy
remembering Donny Osmond
At number 6 was David Cassidy who was at number 4 with
with the Partridge Family. They 'Puppy Love'. The father of
revived a great Neil Sedaka singer, Andy Williams, had seen
song 'Breaking Up is hard to the Osmond Brothers Alan,
do'. The Partridge Family was Wayne, Merrill and Jay perform
an American musical sitcom on a Disneyland televised
starring Shirley Jones and special as a barbershop
featuring David Cassidy. Jones quartet. The group was invited
plays a widowed mother, and to audition for the popular Andy
Cassidy played the oldest of Williams Show. Andy Williams
her five children, in a family that initially had reservations about
embarked on a music career. It This came from the album Hot featuring children on the
ran in the USA from September Butter. This version of programme however, he was
25, 1970 until August 24, 1974, "Popcorn" became the second
on the ABC network as part of a primarily electronic-based piece
Friday-night lineup. The family of music to reach the American
was loosely based on the real- popular music charts, three
music and charity. This wasn't life musical family the Cowsills, years after "The Minotaur" by
too bad for a young lad who a popular band in the late Dick Hyman & His Electric
started busking as a harmonica 1960s and early 1970s. The Eclectics. It peaked at No. 9 on
player. Around this time I song was good but the group the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4
played in a charity was a bit on the Easy Listening chart,
football match cheesey! and had even greater success
against the Jimmy in Australia, topping the charts
Hill Goal-diggers An instrumental for 8 weeks. It proved equally
and Rod played called Popcorn as popular in mainland Europe,
against us. He was at number 5. spending several weeks at No.
had been This was gold 1 in France and Switzerland
associated with dust to any radio ultimately becoming the encouraged by his father to try
Millwall FC and DJ using talkover biggest-selling single of 1972 in them out,. They quickly proved
was quite a good techniques and both countries. In France, this they were to become an asset,
player. He turned Stan Free, a version of "Popcorn" is the and soon became regulars on
up at the Poulton member of the 131st best-selling single of all the show. In 1963, Donny
Vics club in First Moog time, with sales of Osmond made his debut on the
Wallasey with Quartet, re- approximately 900,000 copies. show at the age of five singing
actress Britt recorded Popcorn" was also a No. 1 hit in "You Are My Sunshine". The
Ekland on his arm "Popcorn" with his Germany, the Netherlands and brothers continued to perform
and I have a band Hot Butter. Norway. on the show throughout the
14 15
was re-issued in 1976, again in both his legal name and his
1978 reaching number 34 on stage name, beginning his solo
the UK singles charts, and once career with the 1975 concept
again in 1983 reaching number album 'Welcome to My
67 on the UK singles charts. Nightmare'. Mary Whitehouse,
a Christian morality
At number 2 was a summer fun campaigner, persuaded the
song in the genre of Mungo BBC to ban the video for
Jerry 'In the Summertime. Keith "School's Out",although
Trussell played an instrument Whitehouse's campaign did not
called the Zobstick. He was prevent the single reaching
also known as Keef Trouble number one in the UK. Cooper
and later co-wrote Jona Lewie's sent her a bunch of flowers in
hit, You'll Always Find Me In gratitude for the publicity.
The Kitchen At Parties. The blood, reptiles, baby dolls, and Meanwhile, British Labour
1960s along with a visit from band name was just made up. duelling swords, Alice Cooper is Member of Parliament, Leo
their sister Marie. I think the The sun obviously got to them considered by music journalists Abse, petitioned Home
rest is well-known about this that summer! and peers to be "The Godfather Secretary Reginald Maudling to
tremendously likeable and of Shock Rock". He got his have the group banned
talented Mormon family. At number 1 was Vincent ideas from horror films and altogether from performing in
Damon Furnier, born February Vaudeville to pioneer a the United Kingdom. I'll bet you
At number 3 was a rather weird 4, 1948 with the Alice Cooper macabre and theatrical brand of didn't know about this!
sound that I didn't really like hit 'School's Out. Furnier rock designed to shock
and hated people asking me to became an American singer, audiences. Originating in Incidentally, I hadn't
play it at my discos. I always songwriter, and actor whose Phoenix, Arizona, in 1964, remembered a lot of this detail
played the request as it was career spans over 50 years. "Alice Cooper" was originally a and thoroughly enjoyed this
very popular but not for me. I With his raspy voice and stage band with roots extending back musical ramble for Mellow
just didn't get it. Silver show that features numerous to The Earwigs in 1964. They Magazine.
Machine"was a song by the props, including pyrotechnics, broke up in 1975 and Furnier
UK rock group Hawkwind. It guillotines, electric chairs, fake adopted the band's name as
16 17
Look and Smell
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18 mumpreneurlifestyle.com 19Learn Guitar With Rod
Hi, I'm Rod Karel Fialka hit lyricist and singer
songwriter.
Since I was very young and living
in Scotland, my passion has been As a teacher I have become a very
music. patient person with a love and
passion for both acoustic and
I began by learning that every
electric guitar and music from all
culture around the world has
around the world, and I enjoy
invented a form of interesting
sharing this passion with my
music, and use it to serve many
students and watching them
purposes— it can be part of
evolve into the guitarists they want
celebrations, it can be a form of
to be. My students are motivated
storytelling, or even an artistic
people who have time to develop
expression.
musically.
Once, in France as a teenager, I
By learning their favourite songs at
saw one of the best guitarists I had
their own pace and with passion
ever seen in my life, I fell in love
they find themselves on the road to
with this instrument and I promised
becoming a good guitarist.
myself that one day I would play it
I hope that with their commitment
and my training they reach their
goal much faster.
Remember, my goal is their goal.
I teach guitar for intermediate and
advanced in both English and https://www.rodrossonlineguitarlessons.co.uk/
Spanish. Classes take place in a
More Than Twenty Years Experience
small studio or online that has
become quite popular lately.
Theory is not important to begin
with.
Why not give me a call and try
just as well as he did. your first time for FREE.
Now I teach a variety of people Hope to meet you soon.
from all walks of life, I have my
own studio and I have worked with Cheers,
some well-known people, such as Rod
My Website: https://www.rodrossonlineguitarlessons.co.uk/
20 21Some of The Acrylic Art I have been working on over the past
Heather Berry month, inspired by nature, memories and Fantasy. I am looking
Heather Berry - The Painted Heart Gallery
for places and spaces that I could display and sell some of my
work, if anyone can help do get in touch.
Artist and Poet This painting is called 'Wishing Well'
'Fond Memories' 'Dragon's Realm'
'Fairy Glen'
Facebook and Twitter – The Painted Heart Gallery
Etsy.com – heathermariearts17
https://heatherberry206.wixsite.com/paintedheartgallery
22 23Mellow Media Budget
How Much Money
Few of us are in the position accounts or credit cards which
Will You Have At The where we can spend our money does mean you might have a little
without thinking about it, so we all extra work to do. But I like to keep
End Of The Month? need to keep an eye on where our my security and I am sure you do
money is going. But that can be too.
easier said than done. We might Using Budget, you can enter
have a credit card to pay off, hp or repeating payments such as bills
other credit repayments, rent or and loan repayments, incomes
Not Enough? mortgage payments, gas bills,
electricity bills . . .
such as wages or benefits, one off
payments such as supermarket or
Did you know that the more you understand It is all too easy to get lost and clothes purchases.
about where your money goes, end up spending Then your whole
money we really
the more you will be able to keep? don’t have. And I Less than £1 per month financial situation is
and a free 1 month trial. displayed on a
know, I have been
No matter how little or how much you have there.
calendar (on
coming in each week or month, smartphones it appears as a list).
Mellow Media Budget can really make a As someone who understands You can see at a glance how
spreadsheets, I have tried to keep
difference and even leave you better off. much you will have in the bank on
records that way, but it has never any given day in the future so you
worked for me - too much to
Our free offer ended on the 30th April can feel confident when you
remember to do. decide to purchase something that
But even now it is only £10 per year. So I looked online and found a you will still have enough to pay
Yes, less than £1 per month. number of apps and sites that the rent. Or if not, you will know
offer to manage your money, but not to make the purchase.
And you have a one month Free Trial. most of them want to link to your Peace of mind for everyone, and
bank account and I am afraid I although our free offer has ended,
really am not sure I want a you can try it for free for 1 month,
company I have never heard of and then it is just £10 per year,
having such access. less than £1 per month.
Find Out More So I developed Budget. So give it a try, you have nothing
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To register only needs your email address and a runs online in your browser. It has becoming a lot simpler.
password - no bank information of any kind. no connection to your bank
See the following page or have a look at
https://mellow-media.com/budget https://mellow-media.com/budget
24 25The Devil’s Porridge Museum
Did you know that the creator of
the well known Australian spread
Vegemite once worked at HM
Factory Gretna? “Neither did we
until recently!” explained Judith
Hewitt, Museum Manager. “One of
our research volunteers uncovered
the story of how Cyril Callister, an
Australian scientist who came to
work in the Factory as part of his
war work. He married a local girl
in Annan in 1919 then returned to
Australia where he invented
Vegemite.”
Open daily from 10am
Café serving home cooked food (open to non-visitors)
Fascinating history on your doorstep
Pay once and return for an entire year for free
when you Gift Aid your ticket
Free monthly online talks via Eventbrite
(search devil’s porridge museum)
New exhibition now on display
Annan Road, Eastriggs DG12 6TF 01461 700021
info@devilsporridge.org.uk www.devilsporridge.org.uk
26 27The Miracle Workers
research project has been
underway since January is
really making great strides
Paws 2 Run
now with new information
Dog
The Devil’s Porridge Museum
coming to light about
chemists, women
footballers and people from
overseas who worked at
the greatest factory on
Park
earth in World War One. Our new exercise field is
Museum Research
Assistant, Laura Noakes,
perfect for letting your dogs off
recently tracked down a the lead, safe in the knowledge
video of Maud Bruce. She you will not be disturbed.
was a munition worker in
both World Wars and was Perfect for nervous or sensitive dogs
awarded an MBE for her who have had a bad experience. And dogs
work at HM Factory Gretna with poor recall who cannot be let off lead and
in World War One. “It is relied upon to come back
amazing to hear the voice
of this incredible woman at
last” enthused Laura, “We’re onto Wikipedia as possible”
really looking forward to continued Judith. “This is Web: https://pawsnclawswithpowerforce.weebly.com/
sharing all of these accounts because it is one of the most
in an exhibition and film later used websites in the world so Phone: 07444 070274
this year.” information on there is very Email: weegretnagal@hotmail.co.uk
prominent. We also want to
Several other events are help address the gender Facebook: Paws2Run2
planned as part of the project, imbalance by adding more
this includes an online mini- women’s history to this
conference where resource and empower more
researchers will share what people to edit Wikipedia. If
they have found out about you’d like to learn – join us for
and a series of Wikithons. a free session – no prior
“We’re keen to get as many experience is needed.”
people of HM Factory Gretna
You can book for the mini-conference and Wikithons via the
Museum’s Eventbrite page here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-devils-porridge-
museum-19974682824
28 29Paws 'n' Claws with DW Plastering
Powerforce
And Tiling
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30 Email: darran70@yahoo.co.uk31The Market Hall, Carlisle Pets and Plants
Pet food, bird food, plants, garden ornaments, pet treats, hay, straw.
Carlisle Market Hall has been in existence for more than 200 years
and is one of the few covered Victorian markets left in the country.
Packed full of stores of all kinds, it is well worth a visit and being
covered you can wander at your own speed without getting wet!
Fabrics and Threads
We have included just a few of the many stores there, to give you a For a wide variety of fabrics and linens
taster of what you find when you next visit. So don’t delay, pop
along and see them soon, it really is like an Aladdin's Cave.
32 33Hi Fashion Additions
Fashion for the mature ladies Mobile phone unlocking & repairs , bags , shoes , slippers and
artificial flowers
Benson’s Fruit and Veg
The Food Shack
Home made Pies and Cakes
34 35Work and Leisure
Work wear, trousers, voiles & nets, socks and much more
The market hall is open every day (apart from Sunday when it
is closed) from 8am to 5pm but some stalls may have different
opening times of course.
If you have a stall and would like to be included in the next
issue of Tickled Squirrel, please do get in touch. Advertising is
completely free of any charges, and we will even design the ad
for you for free as well.
Email us at ads@tickledsquirrel.com
36 37the thought that “we” voted for it. And the terrible government in
The End Of Morality? Westminster which “we” apparently voted for as well.
But the truth of it is that “we” did not vote for this government. 54% of
those who voted did not vote for a conservative candidate. But
As I write this, the UK government is about to break up from their somehow the conservatives got a majority from just 46% of the votes!
playschool and head back to wreak havoc more locally. But they
continue to show their entire lack of moral integrity, along with their And have you noticed that there seems to be more crime now than
almost total lack of intellect. An example came to light today as Ms there used to be, more violent crime like knife attacks and guns crime?
Patel was forced to try to support her sending yet more money to Perhaps it could be due to the reduction in funding of the police - a
France in her absurd hatred of asylum seekers and her misguided reduction of £1.9 billion since the conservatives came to power in
thought that France will somehow help to stop these desperate 2010! They would rather spend £283 million on a pointless royal yacht,
people from coming across the channel to get to what they many billions on HS2 (when we cannot even afford the high prices for
mistakenly think is a safe haven. rail travel anyway), heaven knows how much on a review on whether a
bridge or a tunnel could be built between Ireland and Scotland. All
It seems to me that a better approach could be to see why these these vanity projects would be more in keeping in a dictatorship!
people are coming, risking their lives and spending vast amounts of
money to evil people traffickers. But no, this apology for a But why have successive conservative governments been so
government would rather sell weapons to countries that actively absolutely useless? One theory is that they have never forgiven the
oppress their populations, support regimes that do the same, in fact world for their loss of their colonies. They see the rest of the world as if
do anything that helps to bring more riches to their supporters and they really should belong to Britain. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland,
themselves. And, at the same time, they reduce the foreign aid that The Falklands, Gibraltar are seen by them as the last remaining
they are legally obliged, and more importantly morally obliged, to colonies which is why they are so hurt by the thought of Scotland
give. looking to regain their Independence, how dare they, they couldn’t
survive without the leadership of their masters! And we all know the
You might ask why these people coming from France do not apply reality is the opposite.
for asylum there. They do, France handles around 3 times as many
as Britain does, Germany 4 times as many. But for many of these For the survival of Britain especially England because Scotland does
desperate people, they see Britain as a hope for a better future, little at least have a functioning and honest government in place, it is
do they know how bad this country has become under this and the becoming vital that this evil, inept government is replaced by one with
previous far right conservative governments. integrity, honesty, compassion, an understanding of the ordinary
person in the street. Yet in the last election a lot of people (not a
A new bill being debated would make it a crime punishable by up to majority I stress) voted for them. I would love to know why? Has the
14 years in prison if a journalist publishes a document that UK population been completely taken in by their lies? Has the UK
embarrasses the government. In particular it refers to leaked population gone far right? Is it still racist? I don’t believe any of these
documents being published. But the question is, why are things kept things, but I really and truly do not understand how anyone with any
secret? I understand that details of military matters might be kept integrity, any belief in the value of humankind, any belief in honesty
away from the general public for security reasons, and perhaps could vote for this apology of a government.
some policing operations, but that is all. The only reason apart from
that for a government to keep secrets is because either what they Please people, if you ever get the opportunity, tell this nasty, divisive,
are doing is illegal - quite a common occurrence these days it would racist, incompetent apology for a government to stand down and let us
seem - or they know the public will not agree to it. But are we not a have a proportionally represented government instead.
democracy? Well no we are not really, but we should be. Better still, help us work towards regaining independence for Scotland
I have friends in Spain and the discussion is often about Brexit, and and let us benefit from a decent government for a change.
38 39A Fun Quiz
the
Station
Kirkpatrick Fleming
1. Who wrote the 1864 novel Journey To The Centre of the Earth?
2. In 1965, The Times They Are A-Changin’ was the first top ten hit
for which singer/songwriter?
?
3. Which Scottish engineer gave his name to the Siunit of power?
4. Borderline was a 1983 single by which singer?
Abi and her team welcome you to the newly refurbished 5. Which international tennis trophy did Great Britain win in 2015?
Station the well loved village pub, restaurant and bar 6. In a 1954 song, who was entreated to “Bring me a dream”?
located in Kirkpatrick Fleming, Dumfries and Galloway in
the south west of Scotland. 7. What is 3/4 expressed as a percentage?
8. Which comedian co-presents Stargazing Live with Brian Cox?
OPEN AGAIN 9. Who sang lead vocals on the Commodores 1978 hit Three
Times a Lady?
We are so pleased to be open again, serving food
all day in the restaurant and the beer garden 10. What was William Gladstone’s middle name?
11. Of which sea creature is there a variety known as Jack Sail-by-
Come along and see us again soon the-Wind?
12. Who played Lilith in the TV series Cheers and Frasier?
13. What make and model of car was driven by the Duke boys in the
TV series The Dukes of Hazzard?
14. Which sport is named after the Gloucestershire seat of the Duke
of Beaufort?
15. Along with Gog, whhich biblical giant was associated with
apocrolyptic prophecy?
16. Keep On Running was a 1966 hit for which group?
17. What term is given for a post for winding up a ship’s cable?
18. Which country produces Bull’s Blood wine?
19. Who was the Norse god of war and poetry?
20. Which 1997 film featured the song You Can Leave Your Hat On?
Telephone: 01461 800410 Email: info@thestationkpf.co.uk
Website: hestationkpf.co.uk FB thestationkp Answers can be found inside the back cover
40 41THE
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44 45Roald has been a gardener for many years and started his working
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50 51Climate Change
The climate is changing, there can be no argument against that. conditioning, have a shower, we are using energy and unless this is
Some people say it would have happened anyway, they are simply generated using green technology, then we are adding to the
burying their heads in the sand. It is definite that we are causing it problem. When we get in our (petrol or diesel) car and start the
by pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. engine, we are pumping pollution and CO2 into the air. When we fly
to our long needed foreign destination holiday we are doing the
Governments across the world, not just the excuse for one we have
same.
in Westminster right now, talk a lot about what they will do, but
actually do little or nothing. In the UK, the government’s own report But we must be realistic. We are not going to stop heating our
says the UK is less prepared now for what is coming than it was 5 homes, cooking and making hot drinks or lighting our rooms. We are
years ago. And while they talk: not going to stop driving to the shops, and we are still going to fly to
• Sea levels are rising. Parts of the world are experiencing foreign holiday destinations. But if we think before we do each of
flooding like they have never seen before. these things, and ask ourselves if they are really necessary, then we
will reduce our impact on the planet. Going by bus or train can
• Wild fires worse than any in living memory are happening in
reduce our impact as well, if we can afford the high prices, since the
America, the UK, Europe, and across the world.
bus or train is travelling anyway and our added weight will not
• One part of India is now said to be at a temperature too hot for increase the pollution by very much. Shopping locally will also help
humans to live in. as it reduces our journey miles.
• Storms rage and hurricanes occur where they don’t normally.
Changing to a vehicle with lower fuel consumption helps as well of
• And it will only get worse. course. An electric car would be a great step in the right direction as
long as it is charged from a renewal energy source. But do bear in
mind that the manufacture of a car uses a lot of energy with its
One thing the pandemic has taught me is that the most important associated CO2 emissions, so there is the argument that keeping a
thing people need is honest and accurate information, not the secret car, or any manufactured item for that matter, for as long as possible
talks, the illegal money making processes that go on in the UK is a good thing.
government and the lies. Only by the public knowing the truth of
what is happening will they make proper decisions on how they But there is one thing we can all do, and that is to demand that our
should behave to try to mitigate the potential disaster that could government, wherever we live, takes action and actually accepts its
befall the Earth. responsibility to do something, rather than just talk about it. So
But can we do anything on our own to help slow the process down? contact your MP if you can, contact your Prime Minister, and
With governments seemingly unable or unwilling to do what is demand that action is taken. We have known for 50 years that we
needed to slow the change and possibly even reverse it, it comes to are causing climate change, but all that has been done is talk, and
us to do something. But do we have the will? And do we have the obviously this has not changed anything.
means?
Only action on climate change will do anything,
We need to change the way we treat energy. Every time we turn on talk does nothing.
the lights, heat water in the kettle, turn on the central heating or air
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54 55Gretna FC 2008 Euan Griffiths Midfielder
Blair Sneddon Defender from Falkirk
Luke Holt Goalkeeper from Falkirk
Jordan Kemoe Striker from Partick Thistle
Matthew Connolly goalkeeper on emergency loan
Robert Griffiths formerly of Kirkintilloch Rob Roy FC
FOOTBALL IS BACK FOR GRETNA
And so the Governments and authorities give the green light and it's
go go go as Gretna resume football again after an 8 month break for
Covid. Without doubt it's been a difficult time for everyone and the
football club has probably had the hardest ever preseason with
Covid and changed priorities having a huge impact.
That said the club has been working hard and have put together a Louis Jeffrey Lee Kilbride Gregor Donald
23 man squad and strengthened the management team. We have
recruited a new Head of Player Recruitment/Youth Development
and first team coach in Eddie Warwick and a new Assistant
Manager in Mark Shanks. As manager, Rowan Alexander stated,
"Both are excellent additions to our backroom staff, bringing a
wealth of experience".
We have recruited a talented young squad and some are pictured in
this article. We will introduce you to them all in the next few months
but for now we have brought in
Louis Jeffrey Midfielder from Greenock Morton
Lee Kilbride Goalkeeper from Greenock Morton
Connor Smith Midfielder from Broomhill
Gregor Donald Defender has previously been with St Johnston and
represented Scotland at youth level Blair Sneddon Luke Holt Aidan Duffy
Aidan Duffy Attacking midfielder from Greenock Morton
56 57We also have a number of Trialists that at the time of writing can't looking penalty and made it 2-0. A third shortly followed and things
be named we welcome all to the club and hope they enjoy their time looked as grim as the drizzly Midlothian weather. However, Josh
at Raydale. Cooper pulled a goal back for us and we went in 3-1 down at half
time. Bonnyrigg took control of the second half quickly and added
We are also pleased that Connor Liddell, Farrell O'Sullivan, Robbie two more. Jordan Kemoe superbly rounded the keeper to get us a
Ivison, Daniel Harvey, Colin Bell and Dean Watson have all goal back, but Bonnyrigg had the last word with an overhead kick to
remained at the club for at least another season. secure the 6-2 win.
PRESEASON
CARLISLE UTD U 18 2 GRETNA FC 2008 2
CUMNOCK 2 GRETNA FC 2008 1
THE LOWLAND LEAGUE
MATCH DAY 1 UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING 2 GRETNA FC 2008 O
MATCH DAY 2 BERWICK RANGERS 1 GRETNA FC 2008 1
A great point was earned at Shielfield Park and just what was
needed after the opening day defeat. This was a battling team
performance where we rode our luck little bit. Jordan Kemoe led the
front line superbly and deserved his well taken equaliser.
MATCH DAY 3 VALE OF LEITHEN O GRETNA FC 2008 2 NEXT GAME.....IT'S COMING HOME ALMOST....
The team showed some excellent football at times against a Our first "home" game of the season is to be played at Annan
physical Vale of Leithen side. AIdan Duffy opened the scoring with a Athletic's Galabank stadium on Saturday 7th August, 3pm against
brilliant first goal in the 54th minute and this enabled Gretna to take East Stirlingshire.
control of the game with Duffy adding a second goal near the end to
secure the 3 points. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN ALL TICKET GAME!
MATCH DAY 4 BONNYRIGG ROSE 6 GRETNA FC 2008 2 We would love a bumper crowd for this game as due to Covid we
have had no income for such a long while.
A tough afternoon for our young squad. The scoreline probably
flattered Bonnyrigg a bit but they capitalised on their set pieces and Tickets can be purchased from our Ticketing partner Fanbase at:
showed why they are one of the favourites for the league title this
season. Gretna were well in the game albeit 1 0 down when Jordan https://app.fanbaseclub.com/club/gretna-fc-2008
Kemoe scored an equaliser...... Only for it to be ruled offside! Soon
after Bonnyrigg went up the other end and were awarded a dubious
58 59OTHER AUGUST FIXTURES
14TH GLASGOW RANGERS 'B' 3PM AWAY AT DUMBARTON
18TH CUMBERNAULD COLTS AWAY
21ST BROOMHILL HOME
28TH BO'NESS UNITED HOME
Please follow our social media platforms and website for fixture
updates and ticket news.
AND FINALLY
Congratulations to the Gretna FC 2008 Walking Football team who
recently won their latest festival.
And thanks to our backroom staff who make it all possible as well,
Perry Oakley
Mark Shanks
Eddie Warwick and
Physio Susan Pollock
Hope to see you all at Annan on the 7th August!
Gretna FC 2008 Media Team
Iain Martin
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62 63The Trouble With History history is that it doesn’t look to the future.
By Paul Cowan
For a while now the idea has been circulating around Annan
that the town should be renamed History Town. I have been vocally
So where do we start with history, right at the beginning? against this idea from the start, when it was first put to me by
There’s the first problem right there, where does it all begin and why councillor Richard Brodie when he was coming up with the idea, he
technically does it never end. The paragraph I am now writing and asked me my opinion on it and I told him flat out that it was a
you (I hope) are now reading is in fact classed as an historical rubbish one and I set out my reasons for my stance, which I will now
document. But if I were to move the cursor over it and wipe it out, share with you.
does it still constitute a part of history, a Schrodinger’s document
Every town has history, most of it has gone, especially in
situation if ever there was one.
Annan. What history Annan does have, historical buildings for
Philosophical paradoxes aside, we have to admit that history example, are so badly maintained that whatever historical
is all around us, so we must now look at the quality of historical significance they had has been seriously eroded, physically and
events, subjects, artefacts and lore. Quality is of course another metaphorically, there has to be something to actually see, or a book
paradoxical and abstract concept, as brilliantly illustrated by the would do. Even the clock tower of our town hall, the most important
writer Robert M. Pirsig, in his sensational treatise on the subject, building in the town, has weeds and even a small tree growing out
“Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance“. Something of an of it and the sandstone it is made from is badly discoloured and
historical object in itself, especially my copy with all my added page failing in it’s integrity, take it from a stone sculptor. Let’s not even go
inserts in pen, that I bought in second year at the Academy, way there with the disgraces that are the old church in Bank Street and
back in 1976, two years after it was published. We all know that the Central Hotel, the first thing visitors arriving by train witness.
quality is a wholly subjective concept. Too many people are so One of which is in a designated Conservation Area. The Annan
obsessed with history as a whole or history in relation to a certain museum has seen dwindling attendance figures for years now,
subject and period, that it controls their lives and others around strangely enough the former curator told me that the busiest it had
them, who invariably fail to see what all the fuss is about. been was for exhibitions of art that I put on in it. It has unfortunately
become merely an adjunct to the main museum in Dumfries and
Let’s look at the 1st and 2nd World wars. We endlessly trawl basically just gets the dregs of it’s bigger brother’s displays for a
through all the offensives, being extremely careful to get all the couple of flea bitten months at a time. I have noticed recently that
dates right and all the “facts” right and pat ourselves on the back every time I drive past going down to the High Street, that the
that we have done our duty. We tend to look at both wars from the current “curator” is standing outside looking forlornly up and down
perspectives of hindsight and of course the knowledge that we were the street. So what about non-visible history, otherwise known as
on the winning side each time - history is always written from the the past! So we do have some but the concentration has always
winning side. This of course gives us a skewed and ultimately been on the wrong things, mainly with no thought or relevance to
biased viewpoint. What I have taught my younger son recently is the future. People even crow about our strength in the fish industry,
more important. I showed him the build up of events to both wars but they cite the factories and processes, we seemingly invented
and the context of both conflicts as seen from a wider worldly scampi. Woopedoo, that tacky ‘70s delicacy that we as children all
perspective, so he better understands the reasons they happened in clamoured for because it came in a… wait for it… BASKET. They
the first place. As the saying goes - he who doesn’t learn from his fail to talk about the ship building industry, the actual sites are of
mistakes is destined to repeat them. So the main trouble with course all gone, nothing to see here, move on. They also fail to talk
64 65about our engineering excellence and innovation, both at committee involved in local town running, usually containing the
Cochranes with boilers and Boyds, crane makers and designers usual suspects and a scattering of local councillors vying to get their
and builders of the world’s first train turntable, currently in the faces in the paper), is of course destined to line the pockets of some
National Rail Museum in York. The idea behind History Town is flash city PR company and we’ll get a couple of banners and a
ostensibly to bring visitors to Annan, where they will spend money handful of flyers and a raft of dubious “events”, that will invariably be
and boost the local economy, but there has to be something to see only enjoyed and attended by the organisers and their friends. As
that will hold their attention for longer than 5 minutes, the average has seen to be the case with the opening “event” at the weekend,
attention span for most younger people in this digital age. If you the photographs strangely contain no audience, not a single one. As
can’t do that then you will invariably only get the same old faces for wrapping the disintegrating historical buildings up in illustrated
turning up - old being the operative word. Let’s face it most history is cloth, even when I’ve seen it done in large cities by experts it looks
for old people. They are usually tight with a pound as well, so very terrible. Stupid idea. Really stupid idea. Amazingly stupid idea.
little boosting going on, and let’s face it, most of them are destined
to shuffle at any point as well. They do tend to twine a lot though, I am of course not saying we should abandon history, or
when they think we are ignoring our “heritage”. Look at the example indeed the teaching of it in schools, after all where would we get the
when it was discovered that the Savings Bank Museum in Ruthwell next generation of history teachers from? As I intimated way back in
was destined for closure, they twined so hard that our local MP, the the historical context of this very article, if we don’t learn from
Right Honourable David Mundell, heard it down in London and history… la di da di da. However if our town and indeed any town or
being a prize band-wagon jumper, instantly jumped on the band- city is to survive and thrive in the future, then we, and they, must
wagon. Trust me there isn’t a band-wagon he won’t jump on. It was look to the future. Or find somebody that can.
saved, but let me tell you, I have waxed lyrical-ish about the
museum to every visitor I’ve had, but I’ve never been into it, neither Our thanks once again to Paul for this great article.
have all the twiners and of course all the band-wagon jumpers,
which is no doubt why it was ear-marked for closure in the first place
and no doubt they all haven’t visited it now either.
The other problem with the concept of History Town is that Mr
Brodie’s other reason was that it would be great as other towns in
the region had celebrity status by being called Towns. I had to point
out to him that ALL the other towns had names based on specialities
that were involved with the arts and that ALL had things and
experiences that most people, including crucially, younger people,
would be interested in, both looking at and physically enjoying. To
no avail. There were also no old farts hobbling about wearing moth
eaten old rags, sorry costumes, to put them off. Why does history
and the telling of it always attract pseudo, Legz Akimbo type,
ACTORS!!!, mainly the same old farts playing for recognition from a
similarly old fartish audience. Throwing good money at the problem
is also not the answer, the £19 thousand and something pounds
that the Annan The History Town committee, (isn’t there always a
66 67You can also read
