Press and Journal, The Aberdeen (UK) back issues from June 2006:
Supporting our troops
Jun 01, 2006 ... Sir, - I do not condone the atrocities conducted by our or othernations' troops in the heat of battle. This, unfortunately, is war. Terrorist acts that result in the death of comrades do result insevere retaliation. The rights and wrongs of such acts must be arguedat another time, ...
Toasting the night away
Jun 01, 2006 ... People indulge in alcohol for a variety of reasons. Some like tosocialise, others enjoy a glass of wine with food and, surprise,surprise, others do so for the sole reason of getting drunk. Surelyit did not require a survey to work that out. The consequences of the latter have ...
Fighting knife crime must be a priority
Jun 01, 2006 ... Britain's knife culture has claimed yet more victims and, afteranother weekend of violence involving blades on the streets of thenation, there seems little evidence that the cowards who carry themare ready to give them up. While police forces have been gathering a frightening array ...
Sorting out flaws in tax credit system
Jun 01, 2006 ... The tax credit system was supposed to offer a lifeline to many ofthe most needy families, but too often the recipients have foundthemselves drowning in a sea of bureaucracy and confusion. The claim that some poverty-stricken families have been left tosurvive on pounds56 a week or ...
Extended period of high demand the driver for buoyant city market The Aberdeen commercial property market is seeing an extended period of ongoing high demand. KEN ROSS, procurement and construction partner with leading Scottish law firm Paull & Williamsons, discusses some current highlights
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Aberdeen commercial property market is seeing an extendedperiod of ongoing high demand. KEN ROSS, procurement and constructionpartner with leading Scottish law firm Paull & Williamsons, discussessome current highlights In 2005, Paull & Williamsons' property services team ...
Caprock HQ deal completed
Jun 01, 2006 ... Property developer Knight Real Estate has completed a deal toacquire a site on which it will build a new headquarters forsatellite communications company CapRock in Aberdeen. The pounds4million development involves land acquisition,demolition of one existing building and a ...
Standard life investments dips toe into central Europe
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Czech Republic's strong economic growth prospects and lowpricing compared with much of western Europe have encouraged StandardLife Investments to make its first commercial property purchase incentral Europe. The investment house has been a key player in western ...
New lease agreed
Jun 01, 2006 ... Travelodge Hotels has taken a new 25-year lease on a 40-bedroomhotel at Burnside Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen, from Redweir Inns at ...
Highland hotel for sale at pounds950,000
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Glenspean Lodge Hotel at Roybridge, near Spean Bridge, hasbeen put on the market at an asking price of pounds950,000 throughthe Edinburgh office of leading hotel and public house agent Christie& Co. Originally built in the 1880s as a Victorian hunting lodge, theproperty was ...
Boost for port as it logs in for timber exports
Jun 01, 2006 ... Aberdeen Harbour's capacity to handle increasing traffic has beendemonstrated again with the export of a cargo of timber to Finland. UK forestry and timber harvesting company UPM Tilhill has shippedaround 2,600 tonnes of pulpwood sourced from various locations in ...
Home in on space and style
Jun 01, 2006 ... Braemore Estates has unveiled its exclusive development ofspacious modern properties in Perthshire. Located in the quietconservation village of Muthill, Drumlaken Park goes against thegrain of many modern housing developments by putting the emphasis onspace, quality and style to meet ...
Otm sales move as trade builds up
Jun 01, 2006 ... With numbers of OTM (Over Thirty Months) farrow cows and bullsnow exceeding 200 a week, in addition to the weekly sales of primecattle and sheep, auctions at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, are inline for a new format from next Thursday. From next week, Aberdeen & Northern Marts ...
University three-year pay offer snubbed
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Union for university and college workers is calling for a fullindependent review to determine how much money is "really available"for staff pay. The Association of University Teachers (AUT) claims an offer of a13.1% pay increase over three years does not take into account ...
Pan fish sees profits leap
Jun 01, 2006 ... High prices for fresh fish help Norway's Pan Fish, the world'sbiggest fish farmer, to profits in the first quarter of 2006 ofpounds13.62million, triple its profits a year earlier. Its revenues for the period were pounds58.43million, up frompounds35.61million the year ...
Sheridan and fox in a show of unity
Jun 01, 2006 ... Scottish Socialist Party MSP Tommy Sheridan yesterday revealedproposals for returning rail passenger services to national ownership- with party leader Colin Fox by his side. The MSPs continued their display of unity the day after holdingtalks to settle a dispute over a letter ...
Standard float could be delayed by city volatility
Jun 01, 2006; ... Scottish insurer Standard Life's move towards a stockmarket flotation in July could still be derailed, its bosses admittedyesterday. The warning came as policyholders voted by a huge majority tofloat the 181-year-old company. Votes cast by proxy and at a special meeting at ...
Taste-test MEPs fail to tell the difference
Jun 01, 2006 ... Attempts by some European distillers to outlaw the sale of vodkanot made from grain or potatoes came unstuck in a blind tasting inBrussels. A bill being pushed in the European Parliament by Nordic, Balticand Polish vodka distillers would mean renaming more than a third ...
Sir Brian says plc move best way forward
Jun 01, 2006; ... Standard Life shareholders' "emphatic mandate" for a flotationgave the insurer a strong platform for future growth in investmentreturns of up to 10% a year, its chairman Sir Brian Stewart saidyesterday. Delighted by a 98% vote in favour of a stockmarket flotation forthe ...
Last-minute nerves begin for emmerdale extravaganza pair
Jun 01, 2006; ... It Has grown into one of the biggest fundraising events in thecountry. Last year it attracted more than 34,000 people, who betweenthem raised pounds250,000 for charity while mingling with the starsof Emmerdale on a perfect summer's day. But Emmerdale Extravaganza organiser George ...
Nothing too much trouble with helpers like Roy sage
Jun 01, 2006 ... The extraordinary success of the Emmerdale Extravaganza would notbe possible without an army of volunteers, many of whom come backyear after year to lend their support. "The reason the whole project works is because we are such goodscroungers," admitted George Walker with a ...
Students aim to put new life into old buildings
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Glimpse into the future of interior design, including neglectedbuilding conversions and plans for hotel bedrooms, has gone on showat Angus College. Students on the HNC interior design course are showcasing theirwork at the college's conference centre in Arbroath in the annual ...
High-risk halibut fails to deliver
Jun 01, 2006 ... Canadian oil and gas operator Oilexco and Aberdeen explorer FaroePetroleum announced disappointing news yesterday on a central NorthSea well. They revealed there were no commercial quantities ofhydrocarbons present at the Halibut prospect. The well drilled by Dolphin ...
Shell strikes it lucky with Lucy gas find
Jun 01, 2006 ... Shell Uk said yesterday that gas had been found in the Lucyprospect in block 49/20a in the southern North Sea. Work is now taking place on commercial development for Lucy incombination with the Smallfoot field, discovered in 2004 with well 49/20a-6. It is planned to develop ...
Energy firm pledges to freeze prices until January
Jun 01, 2006; ... The north of Scotland's biggest energy supplier insisted yesterdayit had no plans to put up prices again until at least the start ofnext year. But bosses at Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) declined to saywhat might happen to customers' gas and electricity bills ...
Granby adds a further two partners in North Sea farm-out deal
Jun 01, 2006; ... Granby Oil and Gas said yesterday it had reached a farm-outagreement on UK block 15/13b with Nexen Petroleum and Gas Plus,adding to a previously announced farm-out agreement on the licencewith Albion Petroleum. The central North Sea block contains the Guinea prospect and is ...
Expro boss expectsbusier year ahead for its services in ukcs
Jun 01, 2006; ... Oilfield service company Expro International Group reportedyesterday that its performance in the UK North Sea had been outstanding. The comment came as the firm said headline operating profits forthe 12 months to the end of March had soared by nearly 80% ...
Fifth of Scots drink simply to get drunk
Jun 01, 2006; ... Nearly a fifth of all Scots drink with the sole intention ofgetting drunk, according to new research. Survey results show that 18% of Scots drink to get drunk, while27% admit to drinking too much (39% of men and 17%) of women. Nearly one in five (19%) Scots have had times when ...
Supermarkets destroying community spirit - study
Jun 01, 2006 ... Some nine out of 10 of the nation's shopkeepers fear for thefuture of community in Britain because of the advance of the majorsupermarket chains, according to new research published today. The study, which was carried out by Opinion Matters in conjunctionwith Professor Alan ...
RGU academic working for better links with saudis
Jun 01, 2006 ... A Leading academic at the Robert Gordon University took part in aconference in Saudi Arabia aimed at fostering closer links betweenthe UK and the Middle Eastern kingdom. Professor Robert Newton, associate dean of research at theAberdeen university's business school, was part of ...
Subsea consultancy expanding its French connections
Jun 01, 2006 ... Subsea riser engineering consultancy MCS is expanding itsoperations with the opening of an office in Paris. MCS has worked with clients in the French capital since the early1980s, and this existing business combined with the opening of theParis office has been recognised with an ...
Caledonia chairman accuses government of wrecking pensions
Jun 01, 2006; ... The chairman of Caledonia Investments has launched a blisteringattack on the Government. Peter Buckley said in a statement with the company's annualresults yesterday that the recent market downturn had not come as asurprise to Caledonia because it had been puzzled by the ...
Councillor says pylons inquiry a waste of money
Jun 01, 2006 ... A Costly public inquiry into the proposed upgrade of the Beauly toDenny power line would be a waste of public money because its outcomehas already been decided, according to a senior Highland councillor. Jimmy MacDonald told a planning meeting in Inverness yesterday that taxpayers ...
Number of empty private homes in rural Angus falls
Jun 01, 2006; ... The number of empty private houses in rural parts of Angus hasdropped by almost half since a similar survey eight years ago,according to new figures. Members of Angus Council's housing committee will be told tonight that 213 properties were discovered by consultants as part of ...
Counterfeit crackdown secures boot sale future
Jun 01, 2006; ... The future of Scotland's biggest car boot sale has been securedfor the next three years after its Perthshire operators pledged toaddress concerns about the sale of counterfeit goods. Morris Leslie Ltd has introduced stewards at its weekly Sundaymarket at Errol airfield in an effort ...
No more artificial stocking as Loch leven owners announce losses
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Kinross-shire loch, which has hosted national anglingcompetitions for more than a century, will no longer be artificiallystocked after fishery owners announced losses of more thanpounds500,000 over the last five years. Loch Leven will revert to being a natural brown trout loch ...
Cartie challenge rounds off catterline gala
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Mearns coastal village of Catterline is gearing up for one ofits biggest weekends of the year later this month. The Catterline Gala weekend kicks off on Friday, June 9 with theinaugural Talent in the Tent show and culminates on Sunday, June 11with the Catterline Cartie ...
Spectacular blaze shuts Dundee roads
Jun 01, 2006 ... Firefighters battled for more than five hours yesterday to containa "spectacular" blaze which broke out in an abandoned building inDundee. Some 22 officers in four appliances and an aerial platformvehicle were called to Milton Mill on Ferry Road in Monifeith ataround 3.15pm. Flames were ...
Children on their marks for mini games
Jun 01, 2006; ... Thousands of young athletes will be on their marks in Falkirktomorrow at a miniature version of the Commonwealth Games. Nearly 2,000 children from primary schools throughout the Falkirkarea will be lining up to compete in a range of sports at GrangemouthStadium. Each school ...
Lynch mob hopes for Brighton rock simply to hold Simon
Jun 01, 2006 ... Dundee manager Alex Rae hopes to fight off interest from Australiato keep leading scorer Simon Lynch at Dens Park. The 24-year-old Lynch has been targeted by Aussie A-League sideQueensland Roar, but Rae wants him to spearhead the Dark Blues attackin partnership with transfer ...
Bereaved man fails in NHS review bid
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Campaign by a bereaved Buckie man for MSPs to debate anindependent review of the NHS 24 advice and out- of-hours telephoneservice has reached the end of the line. MSPs decided yesterday to take no further action on the 3,500-signature petition from offshore worker Kevin ...
Architecture debate back at Holyrood
Jun 01, 2006 ... A Scottish Parliament debate is finally due to go ahead today, nearly three months after it had to be scrapped when a beam in thedebating chamber came loose. Business was abandoned on March 2 as the beam swung just inchesfrom a glass screen and dangled just 20ft above the Tory ...
Medical expert is new university chancellor
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Leading peer and former obstetrics expert at Ninewells Hospitalhas become only the fourth chancellor of Dundee University in its 39-year history. In a ceremony last night at the city's Marryat Hall, Lord NarenPatel was installed as the institution's new head, following in ...
Angling lines
Jun 01, 2006 ... Being a Scot means that at an early age you are invariablyintroduced to the joys of rugby, golf and trout fishing. Well, to beprecise, boys are, rather than girls - although my wife, Ann, hasplayed golf and is also an angler. As a boy, I was never particularlyjoyful with the rugby bit - ...
French are looking for a better performance
Jun 01, 2006 ... When Zinedine Zidane ran out to win his 100th French cap againstMexico on Saturday, the Stade de France rose as one to give him arapturous welcome. It was his final game in the French capital. Ninety minutes later,however, Fabien Barthez was being jeered with the rest of the ...
Golden girls celebrate amazing cup success
Jun 01, 2006; ... The Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association is celebrating gold fromBritain's biggest junior regatta for the first time in 40 years. ASRA rowers Iona Riley, of Hazlehead Academy, and Harlaw Academy'sJamie Steel combined to win the Tristan Hewins Cup by winning theunder-14 girls' double ...
Youngsters set for final showdowns
Jun 01, 2006 ... Amateur boxing supporters will be able to witness the leadingyoungsters in the country fight it out at Mugiemoss social club,Aberdeen, on Saturday, with 12 junior titles at stake for boys fromall over the country in the Scottish amateur boxing juniorchampionships. Carrying the ...
The Danish superliga
Jun 01, 2006 ... Since 1996, the Danish Superliga has been made up of 12 clubs,playing each other three times a season. Each team meets each one ofthe other teams once at home, once away, plus one more time home oraway depending on the club's league placing the previous season. The two teams with ...
Tax credits minister in firing line
Jun 01, 2006; ... The Government minister in charge of the tax credit system wasurged to resign last night after admitting it paid out nearlypounds2billion in overpayments for the second year running. Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo was in the firing line afterRevenue and Customs said 1.9million ...
Academics team up to tackle obesity
Jun 01, 2006; ... Researchers at Aberdeen University are to team up with formercolleagues to spend almost pounds500,000 looking for ways to stopadults from becoming clinically obese. Academics hope their work will reduce the risk of cancer, heartdisease and diabetes, which are caused by ...
Caley Thistle target Livingston's hoolahan
Jun 01, 2006; ... Caley Thistle want to sign relegated Livingston's Irish midfielderWes Hoolahan. The Highlanders are prepared to offer goalkeeper Mike Fraser andmidfielder Liam Fox in part exchange for Hoolahan, who cost Livipounds100,000 when he moved from Irish club Shelbourne on January ...
Hopes of fast progress on golf resort falters as first deadline passes
Jun 01, 2006; ... Donald Trump's hopes of making quick progress in bringing apounds300million golf resort to the north-east faltered yesterday asthe billionaire's May deadline expired with no sign of a planningapplication. The Trump Organisation had hoped to submit its designs toAberdeenshire ...
Arts centre faces cash crisis over funding
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Leading north-east arts centre was facing an uncertain futurelast night after it emerged it was facing a pounds180,000 fundingshortfall next year. The Scottish Arts Council is withdrawing its core grant to theLemon Tree in Aberdeen, widely regarded as one of the best venues ...
Emotional reunion for RAF Lossie squadron
Jun 01, 2006; ... It was an emotional reunion for members of 51 Squadron at RAFLossiemouth yesterday, who returned home after four months serving inIraq. The 140 RAF Regiment servicemen and women had been stationed atBasra, where they were charged with protecting the airbase and itssurrounding ...
Inverness charity fundraiser invite
Jun 01, 2006 ... The medical charity Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland is looking forteams to take part in their big Inverness summer fundraiser. The aimis to have 30 local teams take part in the Loch Ness Golf CharityChallenge on the 24th and 25th August. They will attend a sportsman'sdinner at Lochardil ...
Argyll gets cash assistance to get its timber lorries off the roads
Jun 01, 2006; ... It Is the location of huge swathes of forest but by 2015 Argyllwill face the huge challenge of transporting around 1.4million tonnesof harvested timber a year. And yesterday the problem of moving such bulk on the roads networkwas recognised as Argyll became one of the first areas ...
Shoplifter 'too honest'
Jun 01, 2006 ... A Shoplifter who was too honest about his dishonesty was made thesubject of an 18-month drug treatment and testing order at TainSheriff Court yesterday. Last June, Martin Duff, 25, of 4 Woodside, Alness, pleaded guiltyto stealing a bottle of whisky from the Safeway store in Alness ...
Paralysed woman's arctic trip ahead of schedule
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Paralysed Highland woman who is attempting to cross theGreenland ice cap is expected to complete her journey a week early. Karen Darke, 34, of Grantown, set out to ski across the Arctic onMay 2 as part of the Hands and Feet Across Greenland expedition,covering 372 miles. It is ...
Mountain rescues increase by almost half in a year
Jun 01, 2006 ... The number of walkers being rescued from the hills aroundScotland's highest mountain increased by 47% last year. Figures compiled by Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team show theirmembers were called out 69 times in 2005, 22 times more than in 2004. The statistics, compiled from ...
Harris tweed woven into the culture of islands
Jun 01, 2006; ... Since it was first fashioned back in the mists of time on the Outer Hebrides, the hard-wearing cloth has carried with it afascination. It even has its own Gaelic name, clo mhor or the "the big cloth,"and much of the islands' very culture is interwoven with the tweed,with Gaelic ...
Factory worker burned in wood plant accident
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Factory worker was being treated for burns yesterday after anelectrical accident at the Norbord wood processing plant nearInverness. The Health and Safety Executive is now investigating the incident,in which it is believed the injured man received a serious ...
Smoking ban success
Jun 01, 2006 ... Businesses and customers in Highland have been obeying the ban onsmoking in enclosed public spaces, councillors will be told today. A report going to the Highland Council's TEC services committeewill show that the enforcement strategy adopted by the council hasbeen effective and ...
About-to-open Inverness live music venue launches local talent hunt
Jun 01, 2006 ... A Talent hunt has been launched to showcase Highland musichopefuls and mark the opening of Inverness's first dedicated livemusic venue. Local groups and individuals are being targeted in the UnleashedLive! initiative being driven by principals of The IronWorks, thepounds2million ...
Lewis mill owner moves to allay fears over jobs despite three-day working
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Carloway mill on Lewis will continue to operate on a three-day working week said manager Stephen Mackay as he moved to allayfears over jobs. But the mill, the last small operator in the industry, hassignificantly reduced its output of Harris Tweed. Workers were said to be ...
Quality boost for salmon river
Jun 01, 2006; ... The quality of the water in an important Highland trout and salmonriver has been dramatically improved by the installation of a newcommunity septic tank at a cost of pounds600,000. Scottish Water has just completed the work which will reducepollution of the River Inver at Lochinver ...
One Highland school child in 10 caring for sick relative
Jun 01, 2006 ... One in 10 secondary school children in the Highlands is caring fora sick relative at home, according to research unveiled yesterday. Thousands of youngsters across the region are skipping school,neglecting their homework and witnessing friendships deteriorate asthey look after ill ...