The Things They Say

A contributor to this blog (who shall remain nameless) relayed to me a description he’d recently heard of the Dunbartonshire village of Renton:
“It’s quite like Romania but without the gymnasts!”

Dumbarton – All Human Life is Here!

This comes fromthe  Metro Newspaper via my friend John O’Hare.

Just Another Saturday

How does one explain an Orange walk to someone from outwith Ireland or Scotland?. Here goes with a brief synopsis:
On July 1st 1690 at the River Boyne near Drogheda in what is now the Irish Republic, Prince William of Orange and his army (William the third of England and second of Scotland) defeated his father [...]

Knowetop Community Farm RIP

I missed this story as it appeared while I was on holiday.
The Herald reported here that Knowetop Community Farm in Dumbarton is a victim of the current financial climate and is set to close.
I am very saddened by this. The farm has provided a focus and sense of pride for many of the less [...]

Dumbarton in Black and White

Wonderful just doesn’t cover this adequately. Tommy Crockett’s photo montage set to the superb music of  Michael Marra.

Optimal Size. When Big Isn’t Beautiful.

What is the optimal size for…………….a country, a government, a business? How about a football club?
Eh? I hear you say.
Bear with me here.
On Saturday, around 800 folk from Dumbarton made the trip to Annan to witness the success of the local football club in lifting the third division championship. This is unusual. Normally a hundred [...]

A First for Scottish Football

I received an email from a friend of mine this morning pointing out that Dumbarton seem to be the first club to win championships at four different levels of Scottish football
1st level 1890-91, 1891-92
2nd level 1910-11, 1971-72
3rd level 1991-92
4th level 2008-09
I have contacted the BBC, the local MP, MSP and leader [...]

When Being Proved Right is Bitter Sweet

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a shop in Dumbarton. I have traded there for twenty four years, the last seventeen of which have been from the town’s High Street.
When I initially took a shop there there was 100% occupancy of shops.
There were butchers, fishmongers, fruit shops, gift shops, electrical stores, general stores [...]

Well Done!

To organiser Allan Sneddon, compere Tom Russell and the bands who provided such quality entertainment on Saturday night at Castlerocks 2009. Even in the midst of the current financial constraints a healthy crowd turned out and Erskine Hospital were presented with a cheque for £775.

Castle Rocks 2009

Concert Promoter, Publisher and BLFP contributor Sneddy has organised another Castle Rocks concert to follow on from the very succesful event last year which raised over £4,000 for Bobath Scotland. I’m not involved as a performer this year due to my current non involvement with a band but there are some great acts lined up.

It [...]