Evening Times

Picking Up the Pieces

THE guidebooks speak of Glasgow as a "cultured and dynamic" city, full of stylish galleries, shops, restaurants and flats. But it wasn't always like this. The Glasgow of the immediate post-war years was a different proposition altogether: a sprawling inner-city with endless warrens of tenements, overcrowded and often unsanitary.

Don't Hide Beauty of Square

What a pleasure it was to walk through George Square the other day unhindered by tacky tarpaulins, temporary fencing or other unsightly reminders of the major events which appear to commandeer this precious space every other week. I had forgotten how glorious our grand civic square was and spent some time wandering around, re-acquainting myself with what is undoubtedly one of the jewels in the city's crown.

(Pounds) 1.2m Bid to Get Pupils Aiming Higher

THOUSANDS of young people are being encouraged to take advantage of higher and further education under a scheme launched today. The Aimhigher road-show will target 17,000 pupils from more than 140 Scottish schools over the next year to promoting the benefits of higher and further education and training.

I'm so Glad to See the Back of the Flats I Once Called Home; Great- Grandmother Helps Pull Down Last Derelict Tenements

GREAT-grandmother May McLeish lent a hand to demolish the last of the derelict houses in the place she called home for decades. The final homes were pulled down by Blairtummock Housing Association in a project spanning 15 years.

Kids at the Double for Exhibition

YOU could be seeing double at a display of photographs in Possilpark library which opens today. Children from six to 11 who took part in a summer arts programme organised by the Children's Inclusion Partnership (CHIP) made 'doubles' of themselves using full-size mannequins.

Parents to Be Quizzed On School

PARENTS are to be asked for their views on plans to change a school's catchment area. Renfrewshire education chiefs want more children from Houston to go to Houston Primary School.

12-Year-Old Booze Binge Boys Dicing with Death; Health Warning After Shock Drinks Report

BOYS in Glasgow aged just 12 are dicing with death by hitting the bottle. New research has revealed pre-teenage youngsters are drinking as much alcohol as the safe limit for an adult woman.

Critic's Choice

who do you think you are?, BBC2, 9pm THIS series has been an interesting journey through the mists of time with familiar faces as they weed out the fact from the fiction in the roots of their family trees.

Probe After Blaze Hits Former Nursing Home

DETECTIVES were today probing the cause of a fire at a derelict nursing home in the south of Glasgow. Firefighters were called to a blaze at the Beeches, a former private retirement home, in Langside Drive, Muirend.

Man On Murder Charge

A man has appeared in Paisley Sheriff Court charged with the murder of his partner. William Burke, 52, of Clippens Road, Linwood, Renfrewshire, is accused of seizing hold of 59-year-old Eileen Comrie by the hair, throwing her about, and murdering her.

30,000 Scots Civil Servants Set for Walkout; Pickets Take to Streets in Massive Protest Over Jobs Axe

MORE than 30,000 Scots civil servants will take to the picket lines on Friday in a row over job cuts. The one-day strike, the biggest for 11 years, will hit JobCentres, benefit agencies, pensions offices, Customs, the Inland Revenue and passport and driving test centres.

Prisons Hit by Sick Leave Crisis

THE Scottish Prison Service has one of the highest rates of sick leave for civil servants in the UK. Employees at the service took an average of 12.7 days off sick last year, according to figures released today.

Baby in Crash Drama

A SERIOUSLY-ILL baby escaped injury when an ambulance taking the infant from Aberdeen to the Sick Children's Hospital in Glasgow was involved in a crash. Police say the ambulance was in collision with a car on the A90 near Forfar, but no one was hurt.

Pledge to Fight Plan for Huge Wind Farm

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build one of the biggest wind farms in Scotland have brought a storm of protest. Community leaders and environmentalists have warned they will oppose any attempt to site the huge development near Dalmellington in East Ayrshire.

Police Seize Drugs Haul

Police have seized a major drugs haul with a street value of (pounds) 100,000. A man is being held following the find, understood to include cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy and diazepam, in Paisley.

Two Stabbed in Pub

TWO men were treated for stab wounds after an attack at a Glasgow pub. A 55-year-old and a 56-year-old were stabbed in the Saracen Bar, in Possil.

Girls' Night Out After Stint As Independent Women

SHE may be one of the world's biggest solo stars, but Beyonce Knowles proved three's no crowd as she smiled for the cameras with reformed group Destiny's Child. Looking relaxed and happy to be reunited, the trio - Beyonce, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland - were in London to publicise their new single Lose My Breath.

Oasis Launch Comeback at Hampden

ROCKERS Oasis are to kick off their comeback tour at the home of Scottish football. The Manchester supergroup, led by Noel and Liam Gallagher, have chosen Glasgow's Hampden stadium for the first gig in their three- date 2005 tour.

Switch-On of Festive Lighting

THE Lord Provost will switch on the Christmas lights in Glasgow's George Square on Sunday, November 21, and the ceremony will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Lights have already been strung up around the square and a Christmas tree and nativity scene will transform it into a festive wonderland.

Executive Will Decide If Casinos Are Built; Ministers to Get Tough Powers After Gambling Bill Gets Go-Ahead

MINISTERS at Holyrood are to get more powers to regulate gambling. The move revealed today comes under the controversial gaming law changes going through the Westminster parliament.