How trips to Lourdes help Britons reveal their emotions in a ‘safe’ space

From our archives 5 years ago

FRUSTRATED Britons are increasingly turning to “emotional tourism” so they can let out their pent-up feelings in a “safe” space, according to a study. Men benefit most from visiting shrines such as Lourdes, which are a “safe space to break down” away from their emotionally “strait-jacketed” everyday lives, according to academics who identified the trend. The findings of their three-year study suggest the UK’S

“stiff upper lip” culture has pushed people to search out such sanctuaries. But the trend could lead to the hijacking of pilgrimages and the commercialisation of religious gatherings, warned the researchers.

10 years ago

TELEVISION presenter and journalist Victoria Coren Mitchell went all-in to scoop nearly £400,000 and make poker history. She became the first two-time winner of the European Poker Tour (EPT) by winning the latest season of the tournament in Sanremo, Italy. She beat 556 other competitors to win a cash prize of £391,000 (€476,100) and a watch worth more than £4,000. The BBC4 Only Connect presenter knocked out fellow competitor Jordan Westmorland and was left at the table with Italian Giacomo Fundaro. Coren Mitchell produced a hand to make poker history at the 98th EPT main event.

25 years ago

SCOTLAND’S newest and largest book prize, worth £6,000, yesterday went to Andrew Scott, a Dundee writer, for his mystery Tumulus, set in the “bohemian Dundee of the sixties and seventies”. Dundee City Council and the University of Dundee established the Dundee Book Prize for unpublished novels set in the city. Eighty-two entries were received and the winning entry is to be published by Polygon, whose editorial director Marion Sinclair was on the judging panel along with poet Liz Lochhead and English lecturer Dr David Robb. They described Scott’s novel as “the work of an extremely talented, confident, sophisticated and imaginative writer.”

50 years ago

SUCCESS in the import of products ranging from naval ships and marine drilling technology to malt whisky, game, and poultry has gained for Scotland seven of a total of 78 Queen’s Awards to Industry announced yesterday, the Queen’s birthday. In a roll of honour representing varied industrial and commercial activity and size of company, Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, win the Queen’s Award for the second time in five years. A second firm, WS Unkles (Seafoods), Ltd, also Glasgow, also received an award for exports. Of the 78 awards throughout Britain, 59 are for export achievements and 19 for technical innovation.

100 years ago

THE first competition for the Walker Cup between teams drawn from the sections of the St Andrew’s Ambulance Corps in the county of Ayr was held in the Drill Hall of the Royal Field Artillery at Ayr. The arbiters were Dr Sloan, Ayr, general knowledge: Dr Macrae, Drongan, practical; and Dr Brand, Ayr, transport of injured. The results and marks gained out of a possible of 300 were:-newton-on-ayr, 286: Troon, 282: Ardronnan, 269: Girvan, 257: Hurlford, 256: Annbank, 232: Prestwick, 219.