milne media

War reporter Allan Little honoured by Edinburgh University today

WAR reporters are a big thing on the Milne Media bookshelf.

There's accounts from the likes of Sandy Gall, Fergal Keane, John Simpson, William Shawcross and John Pilger to name a few.

Jeremy Bowen who provided days of huge entertainment on one particular trip is up there too, while Chris Ayres' book War Reporting for Cowards remains one of the funniest I've had the pleasure of reading.

But it is a home grown talent who captures the attention today.

Friday 06:03:09 - Notes of Interest

Some bits n bobs that caught my eye......

Masters Of Their Trade

Does this new course suggest that the credit crunch may last a bit longer yet or that financial journalism has become the new 3AM Girls?

WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN

HeadLine: WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN

The Mirror, 25/06/2003, p2
by SHAUN MILNE

SCOTLAND'S nurseries came to a halt yesterday as staff marched in a
claim for better pay.
Around 5000 nurses took to the streets - sending a message to employers
they won't back down.
At the moment they take home an average yearly pay of £13,000 but are
demanding an extra £4,000 they say is deserved for the extra work
heaped upon them.
Many centres were forced to close their doors as nursery workers
travelled to stage a huge demonstration then a rally at Glasgow Green.
Nursery nurses have not had a pay review for 15 years. The Convention
of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) - who employ the nurses - had
proposed a national job evaluation scheme to measure their workload.
Staff could then be graded at the end of the evaluation, taking into
account pay backdated to April 1 this year.
But public sector union Unison are calling for more money now to
address pay "shortfalls".
Unison's Scottish Secretary Matt Smith said: "Unison has been
overwhelmed by the public support for nursery nurses. It's a shame
Cosla is failing to recognise this and moving to end the dispute.
But Frank Russell, of Cosla, said: "The regrading claim has to be
evaluated properly."

**

RESULTS 2003: I was very nervous before the post came... I

HeadLine: RESULTS 2003: I was very nervous before the post came... I
was up for hours

The Mirror, 13/08/2003, p16 & 17
by SHAUN MILNE

ON any other day they'd still be fast asleep.
But it was all so very different yesterday, the Glorious 12th.
Scotland's army of 140,000 plus school pupils who had sat their exams just weeks ago were up and about, offering to make mum and dad a cup of tea.
Their steely silence betrayed the fact they were more terrified that
morning than your average grouse, which really had much more cause.
As the clock ticked away, the youth of today sprang up and down from in
front of the TV to peer out the window and check behind the door.
Just in case they'd missed them.
The posties.
For it was only they who could end their suffering.
As it was, the majority were able to celebrate.
For others, it would be time to turn up the volume as they desperately
hid away from their pals. The English Higher in particular dealt a body
blow to most Scots pupils. Just over half sat it but only 59 per cent
passed, compared with a healthy 64.7 per cent the previous year.
One of the lucky ones was schoolgirl Jennifer Roney, 16, who jumped for
joy as she opened the envelope containing five grade A passes, putting
her on her way to achieving her dream of becoming a lawyer.
Jennifer, who attends St Ninians High School in East Renfrewshire,
said: "I am so relieved just to have passed everything but to get five
As is just brilliant.
"I was so nervous before the postman arrived. I was up for hours. I
couldn't sleep and I have just been getting more and more nervous."
The teenager achieved top marks in Maths, French, History and Physics.
She even walked away with an A grade in Higher English.
She said: "English was the first exam so I was more nervous than I was
with the others. I thought I had mucked it up. And when I read about
all the problems with the English pass marks, I just became more
convinced that I hadn't done too well."
Former Aberdeen Grammar School pupil, seventeen-year-old Andrew
Leighton was one of those left disappointed at his English grade.
He was pleased with a B pass in Geography, C pass in Physics and a B in
Physical Education. However an Intermediate Two A pass in English was
less than he had hoped for.
Andrew said: "I am disappointed because I thought I would pass it.
"Aberdeen University wanted me to get three Highers at B to do civil
engineering, so I'll have to see what they say. Hopefully it will be
okay."
But others were as delirious as Cameron Stewart, 15, from East
Kilbride. The Claremont High pupil, who sat eight Standard Grades, had
hoped for good enough results to study for three highers this year.
He was over the moon with his four credit, three general and one
foundation pass.
He said: "I had butterflies. But when I worked my way down the results
I was really pleased."
The white envelope also brought tears of joy for Edward Snedden. The
18-year-old, headboy at Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen, was hoping for
straight As in his Scottish Advanced Higher Exams to secure him a place
at Cambridge University.
His results revealed he had scored the top grade needed in Maths,
Chemistry, Physics and Music.
He said: "It's fantastic news, it was just what I had hoped for. The
last couple of months have been tense but it has all been made
worthwhile."
Royal Mail pulled out all the stops yesterday when a train drew into
Britain's highest railway station.
Lindsay Vallance, 17, of Corrour, Fort William, normally only receives
mail three times a week because her home is so remote.
But, yesterday, the former Inverurie Academy pupil turned up to meet
the 8.22am train to get her results on the same day as the rest of
Scotland.
Lindsay, who has secured a place studying Children's Nursing at
Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University, was not disappointed with an A in
Advanced Higher Music, a B in Higher Human Biology and a C in Higher
Information Systems.
She said: "I'm pretty pleased. I am glad I got them today. I would have
hated waiting an extra day or two."
Royal Mail Delivery boss, Rab Denholm, said: "This is just one example
of where our postmen and women go that little bit further."
And, as the curtain finally came down on a day of joy and tears, the
posties could go home knowing that today, as they start their rounds
again, they'll be feared no longer.

**

SIR FACES GIRL SEX CHARGES

HeadLine: SIR FACES GIRL SEX CHARGES

The Mirror, 02/10/2002, p1
by SHAUN MILNE & RICHARD GRAY

A MALE teacher has been charged by cops over claims he had underage sex
with a pupil almost 40 years his junior.
The man, a 54-year-old senior member of staff at a popular Edinburgh
secondary school, was arrested by detectives from Lothian and Borders
Police. It has been claimed he was involved in "acts of indecency" with
the 15-year-old girl.
Neither of the two people involved, or the school, can be named to
protect the identity of the child. A spokeswoman for Lothian and
Borders Police said: "We can confirm that a 54-year-old man has been
arrested and charged over allegations that he was involved in acts of
indecency."
She added: "A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal's
department."
It is understood high-ranking officials from Edinburgh City Council
have also spoken to the teacher about the allegation, made within the
past few days.
The parents of the pupil are believed to have reported the claims to
police a few days after first complaining to the education authorities.
Education bosses have suspended the teacher - on full pay - pending
their own inquiry and the outcome of the police investigation.
Edinburgh City Council - who have responsibility for all state run
schools in their area - said they were aware of the allegation.
Sources within the council confirmed the man was spoken to by officials
in the education department, who took action to start their own
inquiries into the claims.
A council spokeswoman said: "Because of the sensitive nature of the
investigation and the police involvement, we cannot really comment at
present."
Neither the teacher or parents of the girl involved in the
investigation were available for comment last night.

**

Blundering exam chiefs can't count

HeadLine: Blundering exam chiefs can't count

The Mirror, 15/08/2001, p2
by SHAUN MILNE

SCOTLAND'S blundering exam bosses bungled again yesterday - this time
getting their sums wrong.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority gave inflated figures showing a
huge increase in the number of passes in the Higher Still exam.
They had claimed a back-slapping seven per cent rise in passes, with a
jump from 65.3 to 72.4 per cent.
But red-faced SQA chiefs were later forced into an embarrassing
retraction when checks revealed they had issued wrong figures.
In fact, the Scots pupils' pass rate was up from 71.1 per cent - an
improvement of just 1.3 per cent.
Jack McConnell, the Scottish Education Minister, put a brave face on in
public, but privately he was said to be "furious" at the SQA boob.
He said: "They made a mistake and I am pleased that they have corrected
it and we should be celebrating the success of young people in Scotland
and their teachers."
The SNP pounced on the blunder. Shadow Education Minister Michael
Russell said: "It's a near farce that a set of statistics trumpeted by
the education minister should within hours turn out to be wholly
false."

**

WILLS UNI HIT BY ANTHRAX SCARE

HeadLine: WILLS UNI HIT BY ANTHRAX SCARE

The Mirror, 21/08/2001, p8
by SHAUN MILNE

PRINCE William was the target of a sick Anthrax scare by Scots
terrorists yesterday.
A letter was delivered to St Andrews University, where the prince will
study history of art, claiming it was packed with the deadly bacteria.
Staff immediately alerted police who called in both fire-brigade
experts and secret police.
It is believed firefighters in chemical suits spent over two hours
inside the press office and were washed down with high- pressure hoses
when they came out.
Last night tests on the sinister package were still being carried out
to trace what was actually contained in the letter and also where it
had originated from.
A senior source told the Scottish Mirror: "A member of staff opened the
package and there was another one wrapped inside with the message:
Anthrax.
"They contacted police immediately."
Fife Police confirmed they had been alerted to the package but said
tests were still being carried out by experts.
A spokesman said: "The package has now been taken away for laboratory
tests. It was not a bomb."
Just days ago the Scottish National Liberation Army vowed to kill the
prince when he arrives in Scotland.
They have been behind a number of threats against both the royal and
the university since he announced he would study there.
The 19-year-old prince is due to arrive next month to begin his studies
following a gap year.
Yesterday a huge security operation involving CCTV cameras and MI5 was
well under way in the east coast golfing town.
The member of admin staff who received the letter was being offered
counselling by the university.
The university itself refused to discuss the incident, despite the
implications for hundreds of students due to attend.
A spokesman said: "We never discuss security issues. We will not be
commenting about this."
A St James's Palace spokesman also refused to comment on the sick
threat, adding: "We never discuss security matters."
No-one has claimed responsibilty for yesterday's scare but last night
the SNLA were thought to be the culprits.
And the anthrax scare was last night linked to an email terror campaign
being investigated by Scotland Yard in London.
The email claimed it would also target a national newspaper and a major
London hotel, although neither has yet reported receiving a package.
But one package arrived at Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) in central London today.
Like the package received at St Andrews, it was understood to contain a
warning saying that it contained the potentially deadly infection.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "This morning's incident at Defra
appears to be linked to a threatening email which has been passed to
police.
"The email indicated that four premises across the UK had been sent
packages containing a substance.
"A second was sent to St Andrews University but none were received by
the two other intended recipients."
The spokesman refused to disclose the identities of the other two
organisations.
But she added: "It said the substance would purport to be anthrax but
would in fact be harmless."

**

JO WINS RIGHT FOR BOYS TO WEAR SKIRTS INTO SCHOOL

HeadLine: JO WINS RIGHT FOR BOYS TO WEAR SKIRTS INTO SCHOOL

Daily Record, 24/02/2000, p19
by SHAUN MILNE

A SCOTS mother has won the right for her daughter to wear trousers to
school.
And the outcome of the legal battle means schoolboys there can now wear
skirts - if they want to.
University professor Claire Hale took daughter Jo's school - Whickham
comprehensive in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear - to court after staff banned
her from wearing trousers in class.
Yesterday, she won an out of court settlement in a landmark case backed
by the Equal Opportunities Commission - who said they would help anyone
tacklesimilar dress issues in future.
Last night, Professor Hale, originally from Irvine, Ayrshire, said:
"We're delighted.
"It means that on any day a child can decide what they want to wear to
school without discrimination.
"We don't know what the future holds, who knows if a boy will want to
wear skirts - and why not?
"You have David Beckham wearing a sarong and all those posh boarding
schools in Scotland where they wear kilts."
Thrilled Jo, 14, added: "I am delighted. Now I will be glad to put this
behind me.
"After all, if you're in class and doing your work then what does it
matter if you're wearing trousers?"
Last night, the school insisted that they only backed down over costs.
Peter Maughan, chairman of the school governors, said: "We were
prepared to foot a bill of between £1000 and £3000 if we lost.
"But the EOC decided to hire the most expensive lawyers in the land and
forced the costs up.
"If we had lost we were looking at a bill of up to pounds 50,000. We
have 1700 children to educate and we couldn't take that risk. We have
been forced into this by chequebook litigation."
An EOC spokeswoman said: "We are really pleased by the result and would
be happy to assist any other parties to negotiate uniform dress codes."
Under the Sex Discrimination Act different dress codes for males and
females are allowed - but it is illegal if the dress code of one sex
disadvantages the other.
Ann Hill, of the Scottish School Boards Association, said: "If boys
wanted to wear skirts at school they would just look stupid. You have
to get a balance between what is practical and what is common sense."

**

CADET RACISM PROBE

HeadLine: CADET RACISM PROBE

The Mirror, 24/11/2000, p27
by SHAUN MILNE

A GRAMMAR school is investigating claims student cadets were subjected
to bullying and racial abuse during a camping trip.
Up to 14 younger boys were forced to view pornography, dance
suggestively and commit inappropriate acts, it is claimed. At least one
was allegedly beaten.
A 17-year-old boy serving as an NCO has been expelled.
The claims came to light after staff at Maidstone Grammar School in
Kent saw bruising on a pupil.
The boy admitted he had been bullied after his parents were called in.
The school has since suspended all activities involving the combined
cadet force.
A source said: "No-one is quite sure about all the details, but it's
alleged that some of the children were abused, both racially and
physically."
Teachers, MoD officials and the Cadet Force are investigating.
The exercise at Shornecliffe Garrison was the first time new cadets,
aged 14 to 17, had gone on a weekend trip with the combined force.
The 54 pupils were accompanied by four teachers.
A spokesman for Kent County Council said: "The school is taking these
allegations very seriously."
Maidstone Grammar was named the top school in its area in the
Government league tables. Former pupils include Red Arrows leader
Anthony Whiteman while "Lord of the Flies" author William Golding was
once on the staff.
A source close to head Neil Turrell said: "I know the headteacher is
deeply shocked and concerned.
"It's a very good school, he doesn't allow threatening behaviour at the
school in any shape or form."
A spokesman for the Combined Cadet Force confirmed it was aware of the
allegations.
He said: "We would fully support the actions of the headmaster.
"We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour."

**