Elf Lyons during her interview with the Midlothian View
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
“I honestly think Edinburgh will lose the festival”, award-winning Fringe performer Elf Lyons explained when discussing the rising cost of the Fringe.
Comedian and theatre-maker Elf Lyons has been attending and performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since she was 18, bringing her top-class and personal comedy to the annual festival since becoming a professional comedian at 24. Now 35, she is returning to the festival with a new performance despite concerns with Edinburgh’s rising costs.
Explaining that she believes “we’re on the tail end of the beauty of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival”, the rising costs specifically surrounding accommodation has become a major factor in planning a show with Elf highlighting that she books accommodation months prior.
“How is any young artist, someone who’s new, going to be discovered if you haven’t got a team behind you or haven’t smashed it online”, she explained, “I think the Fringe can’t keep growing, there needs to almost be an ethical point of going, when is this wrong?”
With the rising costs pricing many young artists out of the city during the Fringe, this may only get worse with the introduction of a tourist tax that goes into effect tomorrow (23 July) which will see a 5% charge added to accommodation costs on nightly stays for visitors to the capital.
The cost of a room when Elf first experienced the Fringe 17 years ago was around £300 pcm but now she is paying around £4,500 for a three bedroom flat near the Meadows that she shares with other performers.
“When I was first there, it was full of 18 year olds, now the only 18 year olds you see are technicians working”, she explained.
“It was obviously much more affordable back then. I don’t think people quite appreciate why the Fringe is so valuable. I think people grudge it when it’s there or the tourists but I think we’re going to lose a lot of access to so many talented people coming to share their work in this beautiful global festival.”
Edinburgh's population almost doubles during the festival, increasing from around 530,000 residents to around one million people
Festival organisers are attempting to combat skyrocketing costs through many different avenues, such as venue-led collaborations, adjusted booking fees and targeted financial aid. Before the 2025 festival, organisers raised the commission rate by 5% aiming to ‘address rising costs of software, technology, human resources and customer services’ but this may not completely mend issues revolving around costs for performers and agencies.
Alongside last year’s changes, in 2022 the Fringe Society (the official charity and governing organisation that supports the festival), has operated a fee rebate process after payout, meaning a share of revenue from the box office booking fees is redistributed. Since this implementation, they have distributed over £1.8 million to the Fringe community.
Despite the Fringe Society attempting to combat rising costs, accommodation is one of the key issues with private companies and landlords drastically raising prices during the month of August.
Based in London and having a career that has received much recognition including recently winning the Sky Arts Award for Comedy 2025, Elf has always held a large space in both her heart and efforts for the festival, explaining she wouldn’t have seen success if it wasn’t for the Fringe.
“It’s the epicentre for me of how I got really good because you get to watch and you learn from everyone else. It’s like a beautiful fountain of knowledge, the Edinburgh Fringe.”
Ely Lyons is the Women On The Edge promotional content
Elf’s 2026 performance is her most personal and intimate yet, ‘Elf Lyons Is The Women on the Edge’ is inspired by the breakdown of her engagement whilst she was alone on tour in Australia where she was still expected to walk onstage every night and entertain audiences as though nothing was happening.
Night after night, Elf was expected to continue touring, performing and being funny, whilst a breakup was happening. Inspired by the end of her relationship during an international tour, the show examines heartbreak, dissociation, resilience and the strange performative nature of “holding it together” when your personal life is falling apart.
Performing as one of her clown characters, the show acts as if Elf isn’t there, portraying this tragic part of her life as someone else telling the story. Tying in themes such as Apollo 13, it discusses the reliance of a woman on the verge of a breakdown and the realisation that the world doesn’t stop turning despite going through traumatic circumstances
When asked about the effects and resilience of telling a personal story night after night on stage in front of large audiences, she described the vulnerability of how she feels at the end of her performance.
“This show is much more, in terms of how the audience feel towards you afterwards, it’s considerably different from my previous shows. I suppose it’s vulnerable because people do talk to you differently after the show and I haven’t quite made peace with that yet.”
Using the analogy of the Olympics, she explained that each year she aims to get better and better with this year’s performance being very physically exhausting.
“The show is physically exhausting because I’m doing it on my tiptoes the whole way through the show. Muscular and physically wise, it’s quite gruelling. You can’t afford to have a show where you’re half cut, you have to be on top form.”
Elf discussed the importance of socialising with other performers in her spare time, highlighting the power of collaboration that is often sparked during the festival. Explaining that the powerful feeling of the Fringe when she was young and volunteering at venues was a highlight each year. But this may be affected with many young and up-coming performers attempting to create a name for themselves now being unable to afford attending the festival.
Elf explained: “You can’t take risks, like there’s so many newcomers who are so anxious because it is costing them an arm and leg to be here. If I was starting now, I don’t know how I would do it. You are going to price out a lot of communities and end up getting people who can afford it and who have a different spending attitude.”
With the exact number of performers reaching 25,000 in one year, from around 71 countries, since the festival began in 1947, the Fringe has been known for giving up and comers a chance to show their talents away from the stress of touring but this may be dying due to the forever growing cost of Edinburgh and the Fringe with accommodation costs being a vital financial factor to artists when planning to attend.
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
New research from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) shows firms are entering the second half of 2026 with business confidence continuing to weaken, reinforcing a cautious outlook for growth.
As a new Prime Minister entered Downing Street today and the Scottish Government undertakes a review of Non-Domestic Rates, SCC urged both governments to take advantage of these opportunities to improve the conditions for investment and growth.
Representing more than 12,000 companies and more than half of Scotland’s private sector workforce, SCC said the findings reinforce the case for governments to introduce a Competitiveness Test at the heart of decision-making, ensuring future policies contribute to a revitalisation of the economy.
Key findings of the latest survey included:
– Confidence weakened further: 40% of firms reported a fall in confidence during the quarter, compared with 25% reporting an increase.
– Inflation is now the leading concern for firms: Nearly seven in ten (69%) cited inflation as a concern, overtaking taxation (57%).
– Investment remains subdued: Around half reported no change to investment levels, while all investment measures recorded negative net balances.
– Recruitment difficulties increased: More than half of firms (53%) reported challenges recruiting staff.
– Cost pressures intensified: Labour costs affected 75% of firms, while fuel costs rose sharply to 65%, one of the largest increases recorded in recent years.
– Further price rises expected: Three-quarters expected to increase prices over the next three months.
Doug Smith, Vice-President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Chair of the Scottish Economic Advisory Group, said:
“Entering the second half of the year, firms are taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach. Confidence has weakened, investment remains subdued, and recruitment challenges continue to grow. Until businesses see meaningful action that unlocks investment, it is difficult to see confidence recovering.
“Perhaps the defining feature of this quarter’s survey is that businesses are protecting today’s operations at the expense of tomorrow’s growth. That cautious approach may help firms weather current pressures, but it also places a hard ceiling on Scotland’s growth potential.
“The persistence of these pressures is forcing difficult decisions across the country. Three quarters of respondents expect to increase prices in the coming months because absorbing further costs is no longer sustainable. That has implications well beyond individual firms, affecting household budgets, supply chains and wider economic confidence.
“The encouraging aspect is that many of these pressures can be influenced through domestic policy. Decisions that improve competitiveness, reduce the cost of doing business and give firms a greater degree of certainty would help unlock investment and support growth across the economy.”
Charandeep Singh BEM, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, added:
“The first half of 2026 has been challenging for Scotland’s businesses. While many of those challenges originate beyond the control of Holyrood and Westminster, recent developments in both governments present genuine opportunities to improve the conditions for investment and growth. Our members across Scotland would urge ministers to seize them.
“Cost pressures are reshaping day-to-day operations across Scotland, making investment decisions harder and holding back opportunities for expansion. Policymakers must take the initiative and introduce a Competitiveness Test at the heart of decision-making. Every major economic decision should be judged against one simple question: will it make it easier or harder for businesses to invest, hire and grow?
“Every step that makes it easier to do business, reduces unnecessary costs, and gives businesses greater certainty, will pay dividends for years to come.”
Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said:
“While global conditions remain unsettled, from trade tensions to geopolitical disruption affecting energy markets, the Scottish economy has so far proved more robust than many had anticipated. However, as has been the case in recent quarters, that resilience should not be mistaken for strength.
“Despite these headwinds, firms continue to demonstrate a degree of resilience. Employment has remained broadly stable overall, even as recruitment challenges persist, and many businesses are continuing to operate in difficult conditions. But the overall picture is one of a fragile equilibrium – where resilience is being maintained, but at the cost of reduced investment, weaker confidence, and a more cautious outlook.”
The paper was led and edited by Dr Wenjuan Song of the University of Glasgow (photo of University of Glasgow by Paulina B)
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Superconducting technologies have the potential to supercharge the decarbonisation of transport, saving gigatonnes of emissions in the future, a landmark new paper suggests.
Leading researchers from academia and industry have contributed to a new ‘roadmap’ paper which examines how the transport industry, which creates around a quarter of energy-related carbon emissions, could accelerate the adoption of electric power at scale by embracing superconducting tech.
It also sets out the challenges which still need to be overcome over the next decade in order to maximise potential climate benefits.
The roadmap, commissioned by the Institute of Physics and published in the Tier one journal in the field, Superconductor Science and Technology, was led and edited by Dr Wenjuan Song of the University of Glasgow.
The roadmap is the result of an international, interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration which brought together more than 60 researchers and engineers from over 40 companies, universities and research institutes worldwide, including transport giant Airbus.
Through 26 expert perspectives, it charts how superconductivity could unlock transformative advances across aviation, rail, marine and space and shape the future of sustainable transport.
Superconductors are a special class of materials which can transport electricity with almost no resistance and zero loss when cooled to cryogenic temperatures near absolute zero to up to 90 degrees Kelvin. Although they were discovered a century ago, their challenging operational requirements have largely restricted them to use in bulky, terrestrial, stationary technologies like MRI scanners.
Recent technological advances, however, are making superconducting devices smaller and lighter. Superconductors could deliver more power and torque in smaller, lighter packages, increasing the efficiency of aircraft motors, ship propulsion, rail transformers and spacecraft magnets in the years to come. In some cases, such as hydrogen-powered aircraft, liquid hydrogen could potentially be used as both fuel and coolant, which could help to maintain the required temperature to maximise the efficiency of some designs.
The James Watt School of Engineering’s Dr Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami is the paper’s second author alongside Dr Song. He said:
“Encouraging the adoption of a new technology by industry is a chicken-and-egg problem, but we’ve seen with the rapid expansion of solar power in recent years that tipping points towards greener energy can and do happen.
“Superconductors need the same three things that solar power had in order to reach that tipping point: better materials, cheaper materials, and a willingness from industry to adopt them. This roadmap makes a convincing case that superconducting tech is already proving its worth for transport, and that the next 10 years of focused advances and further private and public funding will be crucial in enabling us to reach the point where superconductors become practical for use across the transport industry, and beyond.”
Aviation, one of the hardest engineering challenges for decarbonisation, is one of the key focuses of the roadmap. Aircraft account for around 2% of the world’s transport-related carbon emissions today, but if emissions keep rising as projected with the increased of scale up of national and international flights, they could reach between two and four times their 2015 level by 2050.
The main obstacle to electrifying flight has always been weight: today’s electric motors deliver between five and 10 kilowatts per kilogram, which is too heavy for medium/large aircraft. Superconducting machines currently in development, however, are expected to deliver between 20 and 40 kilowatts per kilogram, helping to overcome one of the major barriers for building emission-free electric aircraft.
Dr Wenjuan Song, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, is the paper’s main editor and corresponding author. She said:
“Electric aircraft don’t have to be a dream any more. This roadmap shows the pathway to commercially available aircraft flying with net-zero emissions, setting out the components needed, from the powertrain and motors to cables and fault-current limiters, alongside system level integration.
“Real hardware has already started to approach maturity. Airbus’s ASCEND project powered on a 500-kilowatt superconducting and cryogenic powertrain in late 2023, and their Cryoprop demonstrator is nearing completion. With their ZEROe programme continuing to develop, that future is genuinely coming into view. We expect the next decade will see further advances which will help encourage widespread commercial adoption.”
Maritime shipping is the largest single source of transport carbon in the roadmap’s breakdown, at around 3.5–4% of global emissions. Superconducting motors in development offer lighter, highly efficient propulsion, and the heaviest-duty demonstrator in the entire roadmap is already built: a 36.5-megawatt superconducting ship-propulsion motor tested by the US Navy.
Superconducting cables can knit together all-electric ship power systems exceeding 100 megawatts, and when liquid hydrogen becomes a marine fuel its deep cold can help cool key components of the system, potentially paving the way to the first generation of zero-emission vessels.
Rail, meanwhile, is already among the most efficient and least polluting forms of transport. While it produces around 1% of transport-related carbon today, demand is set to grow steeply, so further gains still matter.
The roadmap highlights real-world examples, including a Chinese high-speed train programme that has demonstrated a superconducting traction transformer operating at over 99% efficiency and half the weight of conventional systems.
Superconducting power cables have also been installed on railways in Japan and France. Looking further ahead, superconducting maglev trains have reached around 600 km/h in Japan, while China is developing vacuum-tube systems targeting speeds of up to 1,500 km/h.
In space, superconducting magnets can enable more powerful thrusters from smaller, lighter hardware. Frictionless superconducting bearings promise no contact, wear or lubrication, making them fail-safe. They could let satellites spin faster, weigh less and operate reliably for decades. The quantities of material involved are tiny, making space a high-value niche for the technology rather than a mass market.
The potential climate benefits of widespread adoption of superconductors across the transport industry are significant. If 50% of the transport industry adopted superconducting tech, it could help save around 23 gigatonnes of carbon emissions across a 25-year period, according to an article contributed by Faraday Factory Japan, a leading manufacturer of superconducting wire. The same analysis notes that the price of the material required to achieve this already sits below the value of the emissions it could save.
There are still barriers to adoption. Cost, better superconductors, cooling systems, protection schemes, and engineering complexity are the key hurdles to overcome as the technologies outlined in the roadmap work their way up the technology readiness scale and journey from the lab to market.
Dr Song added: “We chose to collect reflections from as wide a range of expertise as we could in order to provide a clear research agenda for the next two decades, and we believe we have created a comprehensive set of guidelines.
“We’ve also delivered a clear message to industry: the technology is viable, several applications are approaching commercial readiness, and the long-standing objection that superconductors are too hard to cool are being overcome at last. It’s time to get on board and set a course to decarbonise the transport industry.”
The paper, titled ‘Roadmap to Electrification of Transportation Systems Enabled by Superconducting Technology’, is published in Superconductor Science and Technology. The research was supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Union’s Horizon programme, and many other national and international funders.
Dr Patrick Gleeson doing some gradiometry survey
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A major prehistoric centre in Ireland was among the first large, organised settlements to develop in Western Europe more than 3,000 years ago, new research reveals.
A study, published in Antiquity on Tuesday 30 June, 2026, identifies Haughey’s Fort, near Armagh in Northern Ireland, as the focal point of a vast and carefully planned landscape where settlement, craft production and ritual were brought together at an unprecedented scale from around 1200 BC.
The Navan prehistoric complex is best known as the Iron Age capital of Ulster and has early medieval literary connections but the research shows that the area was already a thriving and complex hub in the Late Bronze Age.
Led by Dr James O’Driscoll, University of Glasgow and Dr Patrick Gleeson, Queen’s University Belfast, the research combines advanced remote sensing, geophysical survey, targeted excavation and archival reassessment and analysis.
It identifies evidence for more than 200 possible wooden domestic structures at Haughey’s Fort, indicating a dense and structured settlement far exceeding what would be expected of a typical hillfort. Sitting alongside these domestic structures are large circular buildings. Some of these are up to 30 metres in diameter and are highly likely to be institutional or communal spaces reinforcing the idea that this was an “urban” centre.
The paper also says the landscape points to a thriving and well-connected Bronze Age community. There is evidence of specialist bronze and gold-working, large-scale feasting and the presence of high-status artefacts. All of this highlights both economic activity and social organisation, while imported objects indicate long-distance connections to regions as far away as the Iberian Peninsula and Central Europe.
Haughey’s Fort formed part of a much wider complex including the King’s Stables, a unique artificially constructed pool used for ritual deposition, where weapon moulds, animal remains and fragments of human bone were placed; a palisade (or very large wooden fence) lined ceremonial avenue physically and symbolically linked the fort to the pool, likely facilitating formal processions, and the Creeveroe Earthworks, reinterpreted in this study as a vast 109 hectare outer enclosure (the equivalent of 155 football pitches), making the site one of the largest known archaeological monuments in Ireland or Britain.
Dr O’Driscoll, Lecturer in Geospatial Archaeology, at Glasgow’s School of Humanities, says: “Our research demonstrates a level of scale, organisation and connectivity in Bronze Age Ireland that has not been fully recognised until now. The evidence from Haughey’s Fort points to a large, densely occupied settlement where craft production, exchange and communal activity were all closely integrated.
“In a wider Western European context, this places Haughey’s Fort among the clearest examples of a proto-urban centre, showing that large, organised settlements were beginning to take shape around 3,000 years ago. This fundamentally changes how we understand the site and highlights the extent to which communities in Ireland were connected to broader developments across Bronze Age Europe.”
Dr Patrick Gleeson, Senior Lecturer in Early Medieval Archaeology, at Queen’s School of the Natural and Built Environment, comments: “The study makes it clear that we are not looking at isolated monuments, but at a single, highly organised landscape. Our work shows that Haughey’s Fort, the King’s Stables, and the Creeveroe Earthworks were all part of an interconnected system, carefully structured to bring together settlement, production and ritual.
“This allows us to reinterpret the entire complex on a new scale. It represents one of the most extensive and coherent Late Bronze Age landscapes in Western Europe, and shows how communities actively organised movement, belief and authority across a monumental setting.”
The study also shows there is a clear functional zoning across the landscape, with production, feasting and settlement focused at Haughey’s Fort, while ritual deposition and ideological practices were concentrated at the King’s Stables. Together, these elements reveal a highly organised system and engineered landscape.
Dr O’Driscoll and Dr Gleeson in their paper conclude: “Individually, Haughey’s Fort, the King’s Stables and The Creeveroe Earthworks are unique and important monuments. Collectively, they constitute an unparallelled interconnected monumental landscape, serving as a regional hub of power, production, and ritual in the Late Bronze Age. The scale and uniqueness of this landscape offer valuable insight into the complexity and influence of Late Bronze Age communities, significantly contributing to our broader understanding of social organisation, economic activity, and ritual practice within European prehistory.”
Fred Whitehead, aged 76, resident at Cumbrae House
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Residents from across Oakminster Healthcare care homes enjoyed a nostalgic trip down memory lane during a special visit to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust bus garage in Bridgeton.
Led by the wellbeing team at Chester Park Care Home in Kinning Park, the outing brought together residents and staff from Chester Park, Florence House in Govan, Oakbridge in Glasgow’s west end, Oakview Manor in the Pollokshields and Cumbrae House at St George’s Cross – all part of the Oakminster Healthcare group.
The group toured the historic Bridgeton garage, home to a collection of lovingly restored vintage Glasgow buses maintained by a dedicated team of Bridgeton Bus Garage volunteers.
Many residents shared memories sparked by the iconic vehicles, with conversations flowing about old routes, family outings and working lives connected to the city’s transport history.
One particularly moving moment came when Fred Whitehead 76, a resident from Cumbrae House’s and former member of Blue Watch at the North West Fire Station in Maryhill, discovered an engine identical to one he had worked on during his 16 years of service.
Fred Whitehead, aged 76, resident at Cumbrae House, said: “It brought back a lot of memories for me. Seeing the engine again was really special and I enjoyed sharing stories from my time in the fire service with everyone.”
The visit forms part of Oakminster’s wider commitment to delivering engaging, stimulating and varied experiences for residents through its dedicated teams of wellbeing enablers.
Alongside external visits, residents across the homes regularly enjoy activities including baking groups, yoga sessions, arts programmes and cultural events designed to support wellbeing, social connection and meaningful engagement.
Catherine Mackie, Wellbeing Enabler at Chester Park Care Home, said: “We wanted to organise something that would bring residents from across the care homes together while also creating opportunities for conversation, reminiscence and fun. The vintage buses sparked so many happy memories and stories from residents, and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the experience together.
“At Oakminster, we’re always looking for creative and meaningful ways to enrich daily life for residents, whether that’s through community visits, arts activities, gentle exercise or shared social experiences.”
Sunita Poddar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oakminster Healthcare, added: “Providing quality social care is about so much more than meeting physical needs – it is about supporting emotional wellbeing, maintaining connections to personal histories and creating moments of joy and purpose every day.
“Our wellbeing teams work incredibly hard to ensure residents continue to enjoy rich, fulfilling experiences and remain active members of their communities. Activities like this are invaluable in supporting memory, confidence, companionship and overall quality of life for our loved ones.”
The Bridgeton visit is one of a number of wellbeing-focused initiatives currently taking place across Oakminster Healthcare as the organisation continues to prioritise person-led care and meaningful resident experiences.
Glasgow College student Rachel Kerr
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
During a Higher Biology exam in Glasgow, 23-year-old Sports Therapy student Rachel Kerr found herself responding to a medical emergency, relying on the training she had built up over years of study.
Two students ran from a room asking for help, after a man had collapsed inside. While many people froze in shock, Rachel says her focus immediately turned to the CPR and emergency response training she had practised throughout her studies at City of Glasgow College.
“I just remember thinking: what do I need to do first?” she said.
Rachel began CPR while others gathered around and emergency services were contacted. A defibrillator was brought in, and the person became responsive again before paramedics arrived. Rachel was keen to stress that several other women in the room also stayed to help throughout the emergency, assisting where they could and helping ensure the defibrillator was brought quickly to the scene.
Now reflecting on the experience, Rachel doesn’t see herself as a hero. Instead, she believes the incident shows how important it is for ordinary people to learn basic first aid and trust themselves to step forward when somebody needs help.
“Most people were frozen, they didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I think seeing that made me realise I needed to do something.”
For Rachel, the experience reinforced something her lecturers had emphasised throughout her Sports Therapy course: confidence in an emergency comes from preparation and repetition, not from being fearless.
“It shows how important first aid training is,” she said. “Even basic knowledge can make a difference.”
Across the UK, more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year, yet fewer than one in 10 people survive. Although bystander CPR is attempted more often than in previous years, many people still lack the confidence to intervene in an emergency.
Rachel believes that confidence gap can be changed through education.
“If you’ve done your training, trust it,” she said. “And if you haven’t, learn it. It doesn’t take long, and one day it could help save somebody’s life.”
She credits the Sports Therapy department at City of Glasgow College for preparing students not just physically, but mentally, for high-pressure situations. CPR and first aid training are built throughout the course, with students repeatedly practising chest compressions, defibrillator use and realistic emergency scenarios.
“CPR is something the lecturers really care about because they know how important it is,” Rachel said.
She particularly praised lecturer Liam Smyth and the wider teaching team for the emphasis they place on staying calm and responding quickly.
“You might be the only person there who can help,” she explained. “You have to be ready for that.”
Rachel says the practical nature of the training helped her most. Students are taught how physically demanding CPR can be and practise repeatedly on mannequins designed to simulate real emergencies.
“It’s not just theory; it’s knowledge that allows you to act in an emergency.”
The incident also strengthened her belief in the importance of publicly accessible defibrillators, which are still used in only a small percentage of cardiac arrest cases in the UK despite their proven ability to improve survival chances.
“Defibrillators save lives,” Rachel said. “They’re absolutely worth having.”
Despite the emotional impact of the day, Rachel later returned to finish her exam. She now hopes to continue her studies and eventually progress into Physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University.
More than anything, she hopes people take one lesson from her experience: helping in an emergency is not about being extraordinary, just about having the confidence to act.
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde volunteer who spends her time singing for older patients in hospital has performed for a national television audience.
Pat McCamley, 71, appeared on Channel 4’s Your Song, and performed Ae Fond Kiss, written by Robert Burns.
Pat took to the stage on The Mound in Edinburgh in an episode hosted by Alison Hammond, with mentorship from Paloma Faith and Sam Ryder.
And as she sang, members of the audience were visibly moved, with Sam Ryder describing her voice as “so pure”.
Pat’s performance was inspired by a moment from her volunteering at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow, where she gives up one morning a week to sing for and with older patients on the ward.
The song holds special meaning for Pat, having sung it to a former patient, Jimmy, a D‑Day veteran who celebrated his 100th birthday in hospital.
Explaining her choice to the audience, Pat said the song had unlocked a powerful memory.
She said: “I sang it for Jimmy and he had a tear in his eye. When I asked him why he said it was because his mother used to sing it for him.
“If you all think about a song that brings a memory to you, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
“That’s what songs do. This song is Ae Fond Kiss and as far as I’m concerned, it’s Jimmy’s song.”
After the performance, Paloma Faith simply said: “That was beautiful,” while Sam Ryder added: “I found that really moving actually.”
Pat, who lives in the west end of Glasgow, was invited to audition for Your Song after being featured in an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde series promoting Volunteers’ Week, which highlighted the vital contribution volunteers make across local hospitals and services.
For Pat, music has always been about connection, something she sees every week during her time on the ward.
She said: “Everybody has a song. It’s your life – it’s your soundtrack.”
Speaking about her experience on the programme, Pat said it had been both joyful and affirming, and a reminder of the power of volunteering.
Pat said: “It was an absolutely fantastic and very positive experience. I never imagined that volunteering would open doors like this for me.
“I truly believe music brings people together. A song can mean something completely different and deeply personal to each individual, and when you see that happen – whether it’s on a hospital ward or on a stage – it’s incredibly special.
“Volunteering has given me the chance to share that, and I’m so grateful for it.”
Pat continues to volunteer at Gartnavel General Hospital, where her singing remains a highlight for patients, staff and visitors alike.
Fiona Smith, NHSGGC Strategic Lead for Volunteering, said: “The contribution volunteers make is immeasurable, and we are so pleased that Pat’s dedication has been recognised and celebrated in this way.
“Gartnavel General Hospital has a number of elderly medicine wards where some patients can have multiple and lengthy stays and our volunteers make a real difference to their time in hospital by providing non-clinical support.
“Pat is the most incredible person. She has a unique way of putting music and conversations together that resonate and help to spark special memories.
“It’s heartwarming seeing patients’ faces light up when they hear Pat’s voice. She always puts the patient at the heart of everything she does.”
Motoring expert urges drivers not to overlook five visible defects that could cost an MOT pass
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
With an estimated 2.5 million MOTs set to take place across the UK in March[1] – typically one of the busiest months of the year for the legally-required annual check, drivers are being urged by a motoring expert to not overlook five defects that are often simple to spot, and quick and cost effective to fix before their vehicle goes on the ramp for the mandatory test.
The latest guidance comes as many of the nation’s repairers report that a growing number of motorists may struggle to afford routine maintenance this year against a backdrop of strained household budgets, resulting in easily preventable faults turning into more costly repairs and heavy fines if left to linger.
To help drivers prepare ahead of the MOT, which applies to cars once they reach three years of age, The Motor Ombudsman is highlighting five key areas that shouldn’t be ignored:
1. Tyres in poor condition
Tyres are often one of the biggest causes of MOT failures. Bulges, cuts, or tears, as well as sidewall damage and a tread depth below the legal limit of 1.6mm, are all frowned upon in the eyes of testers, meaning a fail is on the cards.
It’s not just the MOT that’s at risk, because driving on illegal tyres can also cost motorists up to £2,500 per wheel, and add three points to a licence if their vehicle is found to have defective rubber.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: From 30 minutes / Around £60 and upwards per new tyre.
2. A daytime running light not working
Daytime running lights (DRLs) found on the front of a car are another valuable safety feature, as they’re designed to make a vehicle stand out more during daylight hours. Cars fitted with DRLs from 1st March 2018 are the ones testers will look out for. If one of the two lamps isn’t working, and the light is not white in colour, this will be classed as a reason to fail the MOT. In fact, cars will also forfeit a pass for any other headlight or rear bulbs that have blown.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: Up to around 30 minutes / from about £60 for an investigation into a faulty daytime running light.
3. Damaged front wiper blades
Wiper blades performing at their very best are vital to keeping the windscreen clean and unobstructed. If testers see blades that are missing or not clearing the screen that a driver cannot see out of safely, this will be classed as a major defect.
Typical time and cost to replace by a garage: Around two minutes / From about £30 per pair of blades.
4. Cracks and chips in the front windscreen
Windscreens are divided into distinct ‘Zones’, and Zone ‘A’ is one of the most critical, as this is the area directly in the driver’s line of sight. If damage or a chip larger than just a centimetre is found in this section of the front screen, the chance of a pass quickly disappears, and a repair and retest will be needed to see the car be classed as roadworthy. A damaged windscreen can equally see owners incur a penalty of £2,500 and three points due to poor visibility.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: Around 45 minutes and about £60 for a chip repair, extending to in the region of 90 minutes / from about £250 for a full windscreen replacement.
5. A faulty windscreen washer system
A quick look under the bonnet before going for an MOT can quickly reveal whether the windscreen washer reservoir (often filled with a blue-coloured liquid) is topped up – essential for clearing away dirt and grime. Washer systems not working or providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, will result in an instant failure, and can also lead to a fine of £100 and three points if caught on the road.
Typical time and cost to top up windscreen washer fluid: Around five minutes and from £2.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: Around one hour, and from about £130 for a new windscreen washer pump.
“Spending just a few minutes walking around the car in advance of an MOT can help drivers quickly identify if something doesn’t look quite right”, says Rebecca Pullan, owner at The Motor Ombudsman-accredited Carmaster Garage and MOT station.
“Nipping any issues in the bud is vital to preventing simple problems from becoming more serious and costly later on, and it can be the difference between a straightforward pass and an unexpected MOT failure, meaning unforeseen time off the road for drivers.”
To view the businesses that are accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Service and Repair Code, visit www.TheMotorOmbudsman.org/Business-Finder.
Notre Dame High School, West End, pupil Matthew believes youth representation is “a really important cornerstone of Scottish democracy”.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Education, climate change and the cost of living are among the issues on the minds of Glasgow pupils as a Scottish Parliament election looms.
Ahead of May’s poll, the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Notre Dame High School in the city’s west end to hear from first-time voters.
The school’s ‘Spotlight’ group, which meets to talk about the week’s news stories, was holding a discussion about democracy as part of the Electoral Commission’s ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’ — running from March 9 to 15.
Students from S1 to S5 shared their views on the commission’s theme for 2026, which is ‘why voting matters’, before we asked some of those who will be 16 or over on May 7 — and therefore able to cast a ballot — about what the key issues are for them.
Discussions on democracy were taking place in modern and social studies classes across the city during ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’, a Glasgow City Council spokesperson said.
At Notre Dame, Luella, 16, said: “Me and my peers all collectively feel very passionate about what is going on in the world right now, what’s going on in our country.
“For me, voting is one of the essential ways to have a say in these things, especially as a young person.”
She understands why people “feel frustrated in the way politicians are behaving and the way the government is legislating”, but voting “gives you a direct stake in what happens in the country, and if you are unhappy with the way things are going, vote about it”.
Young people, through climate change campaigns and movements like Black Lives Matter, have shown they “care about the world”, she added. “They are not afraid to challenge authority in order to protect people.
“To think that we wouldn’t want to vote or that we are not intelligent or capable enough to vote is pretty laughable.”
Notre Dame High School pupils
Luella said climate change is “the issue of our time” and “any time that we are not talking about it is time that we are losing realistically”. She also wants to see increased funding in education and highlighted the cost of living as a key issue ahead of May’s vote.
Rachel, 17, added: “I really care about education, definitely the environment and, more generally, immigrant status, things like that.”
She wants schools to be adequately staffed as that “really impacts kids’ learning”. “I feel that’s something I would like to see a big change in, especially for when I’m older and I have my own kids because I want them to feel the benefit of that as well,” she explained.
Rachel added: “I’m voting because I think it’s really, really important for younger groups to vote because it’s our future. I feel like getting your priorities heard and reflected back onto your life is really important for all people.”
Matthew, 15, will miss out on being able to vote in May’s election by a matter of days. He is currently a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Glasgow Kelvin and believes youth representation is “a really important cornerstone of Scottish democracy”.
“Young Scots are Scots just as everyone is,” he said. “Our experiences, while we’ve maybe not had as many as older people, are still really valid.
“We have witnessed crippling austerity, we have witnessed education cuts and so many sectors falling away, like youth work and transport.
“We need the opportunity to fight for a fairer Scotland, just like everyone else does.”
The “main goals” of his youth parliament campaign were “around youth work and transportation so that everyone can get around and do the things that they want to do and need to do in Scotland,” Matthew said.
“It feels too often like young people get forced out onto the streets. Even when we are on the streets, we get shouted away from shops and things like that, but we have nowhere else to go, so there needs to be change in Scotland for young people.”
Jack Conlon, modern studies and English teacher at Notre Dame, set up the ‘Spotlight’ group, a “mixture of people who were always asking questions about current affairs”. It meets every Friday lunchtime to give students an extra curricular opportunity to discuss what’s going on in the world.
“If I think back to when I was in school, obviously me being a modern studies teacher, I felt like I was in a community of one with an interest in politics,” Mr Conlon said.
“So it’s really inspiring to see them super interested in it and they’ve got such amazing care and compassion for other people across the world.
“It really fills you with a lot of hope for the future.”
Helen Morrison and Provost Kenneth Duffy with the album
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A story of friendship between Scotland and Russia during the Second World War is being celebrated once again, now that an historic album of messages and signatures from Airdrie and Coatbridge women to the women of Leningrad has been donated to a North Lanarkshire library.
During the war, the city of Leningrad endured one of the longest and most devastating sieges in modern history. Lasting nearly 900 days from 1941 to 1944, the blockade brought extreme hunger, bitter winters and constant bombardment to more than two million people trapped in the city.
Despite these hardships, the people of Leningrad never surrendered.
People across the UK, including those in Airdrie and Coatbridge, were moved by their struggle. Local members of the Airdrie branch of the Russia Today Society decided to collect and send messages of support to the women in the besieged city.
In autumn 1941, volunteers approached women’s groups, factories, churches and co-operatives in Airdrie and Coatbridge.
In just two weeks they gathered thousands of signatures and messages of support from across the towns. And local art teacher Margaret Plant suggested turning the lists into a beautifully bound album, which would become known as the Scottish Album.
A copy of this album is now available for visitors and residents to view at Airdrie Library after it was donated by local Burns enthusiast Helen Morrison.
“The album is covered in Buchanan tartan silk, decorated with a thistle, and included illustrations alongside poetry by Robert Burns and Coatbridge poet Janet Hamilton,” explained Helen.
“It carried a simple but powerful message of friendship and admiration from the women of Airdrie and Coatbridge for the courage of Leningrad’s women.
“I thought it was important for people in Airdrie, as well as visitors to the library, to be able to see this album. It now sits proudly beside the facsimile of the Leningrad Album, which the women of Leningrad sent to Scotland in return.
“And I really hope that it will continue to inspire young people in here in North Lanarkshire and beyond, keeping alive a powerful example of friendship, culture and kindness across borders.”
In December 1941, Agnes Maxwell presented the album at the Soviet Embassy in London on behalf of thousands of Scottish women. Against all the odds, it was transported along limited wartime supply routes and eventually reached Leningrad.
Despite the terrible conditions in the city, the album was received with great enthusiasm. It was read aloud at meetings attended by workers, teachers, scientists and housewives, offering a powerful reminder that people far away were thinking of them.
The gesture inspired an extraordinary response. Women in Leningrad created their own album for Scotland, filled with letters, watercolours and prints. The work was overseen by renowned artist Anna Petrovna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, with poetry contributed by Vera Inber.
Even during the siege, culture remained a source of strength and community in the city, and the album reflected that spirit. Like the Scottish one before it, the Leningrad album was secretly transported out of the city, flown to Moscow and then sent on to Britain.
In 1943 it arrived in Glasgow and became the centrepiece of a “Russia Week” exhibition in Airdrie, celebrating the courage and resilience of the people of Leningrad.
Today the original Leningrad Album is cared for by The Mitchell Library in Glasgow, while the original Scottish album remains in St Petersburg.
Provost Kenneth Duffy said: “It’s such a powerful story of how small acts of kindness and creativity can build powerful connections across borders. I feel it provides such a strong message of hope, especially when you reflect on our own troubled times.”
In 2017 a facsimile copy of the Leningrad Album was acquired by North Lanarkshire Council and now copies of both the Scottish and Russian albums are available for the public to view by appointment at the first-floor Airdrie Local Studies room within Airdrie Library, open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm. To make an appointment call 01236 758073 or email heritagecentre@northlan.gov.uk.
