“There’s been a murder”

The words “There’s been a murder”, have echoed through my TV life since I was a youngster. I loved Taggart. I am watching the re runs now on cable. Any detective investigations like Quincy or Silent Witness I am happy to revisit. My work with the forensic service, not on live cases, but their process is fascinating, although they always say to me it is nothing like Quincy or Silent Witness. I now have crossover,  as I was asked by The Glasgow Science Centre to come along and do the photography for a murder mystery crime solving evening, as part of their Halloween season. I  often do pictures at the Science Centre but this is the first time I have done something like this. The event taking place on Saturday 25^th October, adult-only ‘Whodunnit’ includes a scavenger hunt for evidence, fingerprinting, murder weapon analysis and other forensic fun – complete with cocktails and snacks for much-needed brain fuel. The principles of science will be much the same as for the real forensic scientists I’m sure.

Red Telephone Box

I had another interesting visit to the University of Glasgow to photograph student Orla Sonvico. She and  her three colleagues from Scottish tech firm Skyscanner are studying at Glasgow University as part of a new project to bolster the dwindling ranks of computing teachers. Orla is part of a “braided” career project, thought to be a first for Scotland, which is aiming to help reverse that decline. Usually I love the cloisters, but for a change I thought I would use the striking red telephone boxes at the front gate. 

Rugby Memories

I had a great trip to Bishopton Rugby Club this month to photograph Scottish rugby legend Donna Kennedy with the members of Bishopton RFC, to celebrate Scotland at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. The visit was to celebrate over £6 billion of National Lottery investment into grassroots clubs and organisations, changing the game for women and girls’ sport. It was a fantastic day. I had a great time telling the women how my rugby career ended in first year at high school, when I got the ball for the first time and about 10 others landed on me – I left the field nose bleeding, never to return.

4 Nations Ultimate Frisbee Competition 

I love frisbee, it was one of the sports I did quite well in at school. Sadly it wasn’t part of the curriculum. For many years it was a great thing to pass the time and was great fun on beach holidays. I missed my frisbee throwing but it has been replaced by tennis and golf! I was delighted to be asked along to watch the 4 Nations Ultimate Frisbee Competition that was taking place in Glasgow this month.  I thought it was just seeing how far you could send the frisbee but I found out it’s like rugby. Glasgow was to host the first-ever showdown between the national teams of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales in this unique sport. Played with mixed gender teams and under fast, high-pressure rules, the game is at its most intense, unlike my lazy frisbee games of days gone by.

Ride 4 Rita

I met a lovely couple, Liz and Fadi Ghazala who, along with friends and family, were cycling to Glasgow from Aberdeen in memory of their baby daughter. The team traveled 210 miles across Scotland, connecting the neonatal units in Aberdeen and Edinburgh before finishing in Glasgow, at the NICU where Rita was treated for the rare genetic condition Edwards Syndrome, or Trisomy-18. The brave couple with their team are pictured at Crossbasket House on campus at The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The event was called Ride 4 Rita. It is events like these that make me very humble indeed.

Hon Docs

One of my favourite events of the year is the honorary doctorates at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, theinternationally acclaimed trumpeter, composer, bandleader and one of the most influential figures in jazz was receiving his honorary doctorate at from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is a very cool dude indeed.

Also getting an award was Bunny Christie OBE , a multi-award-winning set and costume designer whose creative vision has transformed the world’s most celebrated theatre productions.

She has two Tony Awards and four Olivier Awards and made history as the first woman to win the Olivier Award for Best Design and was also the first woman to receive the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Designer.

It was a treat to accompany her as she toured around the Royal Conservatoire’s  Wallace Studios.

A Walk In The Woods

I had a walk in the tall trees near the University of Glasgow to publicise a new filmed theatre play, which will help explore climate crisis impact on UK forests. Three Words for Forest: Exploring Uncertainty in a Time of Climate Crisis had been developed by the University of Glasgow’s Dr Rachel Clive and Prof Dee Heddon. The theatre production had secured additional funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to expand its reach and spark discussions about the complex challenges facing UK forests. I have always had a love of trees.

London Sail

I do love a trip to London. I have been working with the Tall Ship Glenlee and it really inspired me to check out some other Tall ships. This trip I thought it would be good to take an Uber Boat along the River Thames up to Greenwich to visit the Cutty Sark. It looked great with the rigger working on the ropes with Canary Wharf in the background. It was an interesting visit but The Glenlee is still my favourite.