Evening Times

A Decent Tour Rep? Give Me a Break

COME on. Pick a holiday brochure, any one will do. Ignore the retouched and over-coloured pictures of sand, sea, hotel rooms and swimming pools. We're after bigger game here, usually within the first 10 pages or so. Guessed what we're looking for yet?

No Justice for Savers

I AGREE with the letter writer who said it is foolish to save for old age (September 24). My husband and I bought our own house and paid into pensions all our working life to support us in old age. My husband passed away 10 years ago and I get no help.

Ex-Celtic Star Gets Driving Ban

FORMER Celtic player Mark Burchill has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding at 100mph. Burchill, who now plays for English club Rotherham, was spotted on the M6 near Carlisle in his BMW in May.

Highers Blow for Glasgow Youngsters; Pupils' Results Well Below National Average

FIFTH year pupils in Glasgow are six times less likely than those in a neighbouring council area to get five Highers at the highest grades. City teenagers had the poorest results in nine of 11 categories in this year's Standard Grade and Higher exams, according to figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Kenny's Bizarre Behaviour Bewildered Me

KENNY Dalglish was an outstanding footballer, arguably the finest player ever to wear a Celtic jersey. In my view, however, he failed spectacularly as manager of Celtic. He preferred the title "director of football operations", but it amounted to being manager and I find it impossible to defend his time at the club.

Five Kids, Six Grandchildren, That Keeps Liz and Me Young!; Billy Mcneill: Family Life has Been My Greatest Success

LIFE couldn't have been easy as the wife of a prominent sportsman. Not only did my wife, Liz, run our home, but she also had to pamper me to an extent.

Restaurants' Charity Help

GLASGOW diners are being urged to help starving children. Customers will be asked to make a donation during Restaurants Against Hunger week, starting on October 9.

Harbour Welcome for First Resident; Loraine Toasts Her Arrival to (Pounds) 300,000 Home in Flagship Waterfront Development

THE first resident of the prestigious (pounds) 500million Glasgow Harbour development was today handed the keys to her property. A delighted Loraine Chassels-Sambucci, of Bearsden, could not contain her excitement as she walked through the door to her (pounds) 300,000 ground floor two bedroom apartment by CALA Homes.

'Licensee' Drink-Drive Charge

GANGLAND figure Tam "The Licensee" McGraw has appeared in court charged with drink-driving. The 52-year-old was allegedly more than twice over the limit when stopped by police in Glasgow's Mitchell Street in the early hours of September 19.

Robber Is Jailed for Eight Years

AN armed robber who held up a delivery man at knifepoint has been jailed for eight years. George Dallas, 28, lured his victim to a rendezvous after placing an order for a takeaway, but his victim turned the tables and hit Dallas with a wooden mallet.

City Leaders Unite in Bid to Halt Rail Service Axe; Glasgow and Edinburgh Battle to Save Train Routes Used by 3.5m People Each Year

THE civic leaders of both Glasgow and Edinburgh united today to warn of rail cuts which could damage the cities' economies. Glasgow City Council chief Charles Gordon and his Edinburgh counterpart Donald Anderson are deeply concerned over the future of cross- country rail services currently used by 3.5million passengers from the two cities every year.

Guard Firm Was Told to Expect Extra Prisoners

PRISON escort firm Reliance had been told when to expect extra prisoners before its boss claimed staff had been caught unawares by high volumes of inmates, a report reveals today. Reliance managing director Tom Riall told a committee of MSPs the firm had not anticipated a heavier workload after weekends when quizzed over a catalogue of failures earlier this year.

Brief Encounter

GREG DYKE is the former director-general of the BBC. He resigned in January following the publication of the Hutton Report. His career has seen him editor-in-chief of TV-am, managing director of LWT and chief executive of Pearson Television. He was part of the consortium which created Channel Five and was once a director of Manchester United. We caught up with him when he was in Glasgow to speak about his autobiography, Inside Story, at the Theatre Royal.

Burrell House Is Sold for (Pounds) 700,000; Famed Art Collector's Home Will Be Restored to Former Glory

A NEW family is to take up residence in the historic home of Glasgow art collector Sir William Burrell. The two-storey townhouse, which was designed by renowned city architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson and extensively altered by Robert Lorimer, has been sold for around (pounds) 700,000.

Italian Tourist Robbed in Central Station

AN ITALIAN tourist was beaten and robbed of his fare home by three thugs in Glasgow Central Station, police said today. The 20-year-old, from Rome, was targeted at the station on Sunday at around 6.30pm.

Lunn Poly Threat to Axe Scots Jobs; Fears for Future of 500 Holiday Shop Staff in Firm's Shake-Up

SCOTS staff at a holiday firm were today at the centre of a major jobs purge by the country's biggest travel agent. Lunn Poly is to axe 800 jobs across the UK triggering huge savings and leading to the closure of a number of high street shops.

University Tops Drop-Out List

NAPIER University in Edinburgh has the worst student drop out rate in the UK, new figures showed today. More than a third of students who attend the former college of commerce are predictedto leave before they complete their studies.

Liz Helps Sort Out Malawi Appeal

Picture: Andy Buchanan GLASGOW'S Lord Provost Liz Cameron helps sort donations for an aid mission to Africa.

Woman Who Killed Invalid Partner Jailed; Carer Given 30 Months for Stabbing Boyfriend

A WOMAN who stabbed her invalid boyfriend to death as he lay helpless has been jailed for 30 months. Anna Whyte, 39, of Thornliebank, who was also Stephen Wood's carer, injured a main artery in his left leg.

Factory Strike Staff Warned Dispute May Threaten Jobs

WORKERS on strike at a Glasgow production plant were today told their jobs would be under threat if they did not settle a pay dispute and return to work. The warning came on the third day of a week-long stoppage at the Soapworks factory in Easterhouse.