Christmas tree tweets again from new home

5 years ago

A CHRISTMAS tree that acquired fame and its own Twitter account after it was “caged” last year has started tweeting again from its new home. This year the tree in Shawlands, Glasgow, has been “freed” and moved from a traffic island to a spot outside The Granary pub. It has a white picket fence instead of the metal barriers that drew criticism in 2016. Locals felt the fencing marred the festive spirit last year, with some saying the tree looked “caged” and others branding it “hideous”. The council insisted the barriers were necessary in case someone came in contact with the electricity powering the lights.

10 years ago

ELGIN City have been fined £25,000 by the Scottish Football League – £5000 of which will go to a charity of Rangers’ choice – and ordered to pay all costs incurred by the Ibrox club in the lead-up to their postponed Irn-bru third division match on Sunday. The match was cancelled by police on safety grounds after it emerged the club had oversold their Borough Briggs ground by approximately 1.000 tickets. Meanwhile, Rangers chief executive Charles Green has re-iterated the Ibrox club will not be rejoining the SPL while the threat of titles won by the oldco continues to hang over the club’s head.

25 years ago

THE Scottish Office yesterday announced plans to introduce closer inspection of teacher training. Scottish Education Minister Brian Wilson said the Government planned to reinstate the power of HM Inspectorate in Scotland to inspect teachers’ education, dropped under the 1992 Further and Higher Education (Scotland)

Act. He said: “Improving standards and quality in education is our top priority. We have previously stated we want every teacher to be effective and that we aim to improve teacher education. I have already begun that process by putting in hand a review of the department’s guidelines for teacher education courses.”

50 years ago

A PLAN to stimulate community spirit in Glasgow’s big perimeter housing schemes of Easterhouse, Drumchapel, Pollok, and Castlemilk would mean the disappearance of these names and their replacement by up to 40 names for smaller units. The first scheme to be dealt with will be Easterhouse, for which a draft outline has been prepared for the consideration of Glasgow Corporation housing committee. It is likely to be split into 10 smaller units, each with its own name. Among the names being considered are Rogerfield, Earlybraes, Blairtummock, and Lochend. Proposals for Castlemilk are being prepared. ”

100 years ago

EARLY yesterday morning an alarming explosion occurred in Middleby Street, Newington, Edinburgh, where implements and material have been stored in connection with tramway track repair work. About four o’clock the contents of a tar-boiler overflowed and, catching fire, spread over the roadway to an extent of 14 yards. The flames were about 3ft high, and so serious was the situation the Fire Brigade were called out. Soon after they arrived and had set to work a hissing sound was heard, and immediately afterwards an oxy-acetylene twin cylinder exploded. A sheet of flame was thrown 30ft into the air and the shrubbery on both sides of the road was set on fire.