Always Time For Cake at the Pavilion

Being a fan of a cake or two I was excited to be asked along to the Pavilion Theatre press call for Beauty & The Beastie, at Auld’s Bakers in the St Enoch Centre. We had the whole cast there, all eating cakes it was fantastic. The stars all attracted second looks as they paraded through St Enoch’s led by Dame Dolly Drumchapel. It was quite a sight to see.

No Mean City

Glasgow always had the name of No Mean City after the book by Herbert Kingsley Long and Alexander McArthur. A lot has changed over the years and Glasgow is a very different place now. With vibe of the past and a Peaky Blinders feel, I was working with Flat White Communications to come up with some images of the brand with its founder Mixologist and Whisky connoisseur T Yildirim. I love adding  real creative freedom to a shoot. 

Alan Wylie A Life in Pictures

One of my old pals from college days had an exhibition at The Glasgow Photographers Gallery. Alan was in my class at college in first year when I was a young 17 year old and we have been pals ever since. Alan being a bit older got to the heady heights of arts photography way before me. He was the official photographer for 1990 City of Culture, Mayfest Arts Festival and was the official photographer for Nelson Mandela, when he came to Glasgow. I arranged to do some pictures of Alan prior to the exhibition opening as a favour.  Alan gave me his negative scanner that he used to copy all his negatives,  so that I can now start doing all my old negatives from the 1980’s & 90’s. I plan to start posting those pictures soon.

History in a Picture

I found myself back at the amazing Barnbougle Castle, South Queensferry with Professor Gerard Carruthers from The University of Glasgow. It was for the news story about Robert Burns and the 18th-century portrait of Robert Fergusson discovered at ‘a Scottish Castle, which has ignited excitement among literary scholars. It makes the hairs stand up in the back of your neck being so close to that kind of history. The painting at Barnbougle Castle, near Edinburgh, is part of the prestigious collection of the 5th Earl of Rosebery.

Young Jazz Talent

I was asked to come along to the finals of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Jazz Musician. It is an event I really look forward to . The talents of these young musicians is out of this world. I liked this year’s winner Timmy Allan as he was a guitar player and I am a bit biased as I love guitars.

Glasgow Taxi up for the Cup

November brings around the Glasgow Taxi Cup photo call. With over 700 students from Caledonia University, Strathclyde University and The University of Glasgow its a huge event. I always remember the star is always the taxi cab. It’s always fun to feature the taxi. Usually its trying to cram as many sports students in as possible. This time we were more sedate gathering everyone around it instead.

A Night of Music

I had another amazing concert with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Sibelius Seven & Nordic Music Days was at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. I loved my shot at the end of the concert with violinist Isabell Faust performance with conductor Thomas Søndergård. It got a great show in The Times and The Herald.

Glasgow Is Glowing

I am a fan of Halloween, although I was never one for going out ‘Trick or Treating’ or guising as we used to call it. I am also not a fan of horror or scary movies. However, I do like a light show. This years GlasGlow at the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow was certainly a magnificent sight for sore eyes. With all the dull grey weather around a bit of colour, light and sound was just the tonic. I can’t believe that is now seven years the event has been going for. Since its launch over 750,000 have visited.

I loved seeing the Kibble Palace, that I used to visit daily when I lived across the road, looking like something I have never seen before.  The scary clowns at Clowntown did make me look twice though.

Coffee Tequila Instead Of My Usual Latté

I like a dram but its usually a traditional whisky, perhaps going really out there with a gin. I have even, in my youth, had a tequila usually as a slammer at the Art School bar. However I got to try a more refined Coffee Tequila. 

I met Stewart Weir and Adam Alzadjally with their new Coffee Tequila Jalisgow at their Glasgow base. It has a lovely warming scent. I did learn a bit too. The coffee infused tequila crafted by the experts at The Hacienda, Casa Reyes D’Barjas, situated in the town of tequila in Mexico, which is the second oldest tequila distillery in the world.

Christmas In Space

I did love the Planetarium. Its fab if you like learning about the stars and seeing space like never before. It also does the amazing Pink Floyd Fulldome experiences for Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You were Here. I was in the planetarium to meet Santa with Éirinn, a Science Learning Coordinator, as the Glasgow Science Centre launched its magical programme of Winter events. Christmas can never come too early.

Music To My Ears

One of my favourite assignments to come up at this time of year is the BBC Young Traditional Musician semi finals. Hosted by Joy Dunlop, twelve super talented musicians perform at BBC Pacific Quay. My job is to take a studio portrait and then some performance pictures. My favourite part are the performances. It really  puts my guitar strumming firmly in its place. You can see the competition  on the BBC I Player.

He’s Behind You.

The King’s Theatre, Glasgow pantomime photo call is always an event I look forward to. I was delighted to be asked along to photograph panto legends, Elaine C Smith and Johnny Mac for the launch on the Tall Ship Glenlee of the pantomime adventure, Peter Pan. They were joined by the rest of the cast Darren Brownlie ,Blythe Jandoo ,Hannah Jarrett-Scott and Matt Kennedy. It was such a great spot, perfect for the show.

A New Bridge for Glasgow

I was covering the opening of the new £29.5million Glasgow foot bridge linking communities in the West End and Southside across the River Clyde. The crossing is at the heart of the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, a partnership with the city involving the University of Glasgow ,Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise. I was covering the event for the University of Glasgow. It was a super day and I loved the folks crossing from the Govan side all high fiving the folks from the Partick side as the crossed for the first time. Also running at the same time was the Govan Footbridge Festival starring amongst many others was Horse McDonald. What a voice she has.

The other stand out bit for me was the ceilidh on Govan Road. It was a sight to behold. What a good time everyone was having.

Anyone For Tennis

I am a huge tennis fan. I play a couple of times a week, it is such a good game. I was especially please to get asked along to cover the opening of Robertson Park, Renfrew tennis courts for the official  reopening following a £343,000 renovation, managed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and funded by Renfrewshire Council. The kids’ coach, Luke Quigley, and local councillors Lisa Marie Hughes and Michelle Cambell had such a good time. What a laugh we all had.

The renovations were part of the LTA’s Parks Tennis Project – the biggest ever transformation of park facilities across Britain, which has transformed 14 courts across the local area including the old courts from my home town of Johnstone.

May The Force Be With You

I love Start Wars the original movie. I went to see it in 1977 with a broken leg. I have seen them all but the original three with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are my favourites. I was asked along to photograph the Royal Scottish National Orchestra performance of the film score of Star Wars a New Hope (or Star Wars 1 as I call it) The sound is amazing, to hear that introduction music with the film showing on the big screen. All I can say is wow!!! The Force was with them.

Opening Night for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

I was asked along to the Opening Night of the BBC SSO’s new season at the Glasgow City Halls.  It was Mahler’s epic, Fifth Symphony and the premiere of a big new piece for soprano Clare Booth conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth. My favourite shot was at the end when Conductor Ryan and Soprano Claire turned to each other. The joy in their faces. The sound was amazing. 

900th Anniversary , That’s a lot of candles on cake

It really has been a musical time. The High School of Glasgow has been celebrating its 900th year. I was photographing the 900th Anniversary Commemoration and Thanksgiving Service at Glasgow Cathedral. The Glasgow Cathedral is where the school originally began all those years ago. The sound of the school orchestra and the choir rising up to the roof was such a magnificent sound.  It was a quite a spectacle too with all the coloured gowns and blue uniforms.

Kami Bear’s Teddy Trail

Some assignments are real feel good events. I was asked to cover the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Sponsored Walk of Kami’s Bear’s Teddy Trail. Hundreds of walkers all in purple came along to the Riverside Museum for the big starting line up. There was music and dancing too. The big warm up was one by DJ Steve McKenna. Everyone had big smiles on their faces, including me.

Some assignments are real feel good events. I was asked to cover the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Sponsored Walk of Kami’s Bear’s Teddy Trail. Hundreds of walkers all in purple came along to the Riverside Museum for the big starting line up. There was music and dancing too. The big warm up was one by DJ Steve McKenna. Everyone had big smiles on their faces, including me.

Happy 60th Woolfson Halls

I was doing a feature for the University of Glasgow Avenue alumni magazine, for one of the series of “In conversation” features to celebrate the The Wolfson Hall’s of Residence 60 years. I met Dr Barry Evans, a Chemistry alumni who lived at Wolfson from 1964 ( the year I was born) and Reese Kirkpatrick, a recent graduate who’s also the current resident warden at the hall. The magazine had got the two residents together to chat and record their thoughts of now and then. Funnily enough, there were a lot of similar stories. Barry loved being back in the building. He had some good stories about concerts in the main hall where there are both pictured.

The Science of Halloween

Readers of this blog will know how much I love a visit to the Glasgow Science Centre. I was there to photograph the launch of the programme of events for Autumn 2024.  Tickets are now available for special events, including themed Science Lates, Pink Floyd and Queen music experiences in the Planetarium and Glasgow Science Centre’s popular annual family Halloween Party. We has spaceman, a vampire , Batman and lots of pumpkins. I think the Science Centre staff enjoyed dressing up as much as I enjoyed taking the pictures.

Glasgow Times Primary 1’s

This time of year I always have a week or so helping photograph the Glagow Times photograph this year’s new intake of primary one pupils. It is a fun, if fraught job. Making sure everyone is in a line, all smiling at the one time and looking to the front. It’s such a mammoth task. All the schools and nearly all with two classes. I should ask Nicola the organiser exactly how many schools there are. 

A Life on the Ocean Wave

I am a fan of a boat, I used to love the paddle boats at Victoria Park when I visited my grandparents in Partick, I get Cal Mac’s MV Clansman every year to Tiree, I even have my grade 2 sailing certification but the Round The World Clipper Race is a whole new ball game. An amazing multinational crew of 200 plus non-professional sailors set off from Portsmouth and over the next 11 months and 40,000 nautical miles visited Uruguay, Panama South Africa, Australia , China, Vietnam to name a few places. I was on the Washington DC to Oban leg. Based in Oban of course. It was terrific to see the camaraderie and team work together. The bond behind each of the 11 crews was so fantastic. 

This was the first ever visit to Scotland for the Clipper Race and the final stop before heading back to Portsmouth. The boats got so much publicity as the whole thing was such a photogenic and picturesque event. I was there to cover the 11 clippers arriving when meant being out in a speedboat at 11pm in the evening. Its amazing how light it still was at that time. The winning clipper from that race held a giant St Andrew’s Cross.

The sight was one to behold as the 11 clipper crews set off from Oban for the very last race of their eleven-month Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Oban gave a super pipe band parade in front of the sailors as they marched to the boats on their way to set sail from Oban harbour. We did a huge teams group picture on the harbour. It was a big group. I am just glad I was not asked for a left to right of their names.

As I said earlier the publicity was fantastic. Pictures in The Herald, The Scotsman, The National, Daily Record, STV , The Independent  to name a few. It also made the front page of The Oban Times.

Two Glasgow Polymaths

I am a fan of The Beatles and I got the chance to photograph the painting by John Byrne, which was used on the LP cover sleeve of The Beatles Ballads LP.  It was rumoured at the time that the original painting of The Beatles was lost by EMI Records, and makes this a unique work of art to be a surviving early version. It was amazing to see up close and personnel. I loved this image of Jessie Lloyd​​​​, Glasgow Gallery Manager holding it with the another giant John Byrne painting in the background. The work was part of an exhibition,  ‘Two Glasgow Polymaths’  also featuring Alasdair Gray was at Lyon & Turnbull’s  Bath Street office. Alasdair Gray & John Byrne are inarguably two of the most significant figures in 20th century Scottish culture, their work continuing to inspire and stimulate artists practising today.

Into The Limelight

As everyone knows I love photographing theatre. I was asked to come along to the Kings Theatre in Glasgow for the dress Rehersal of ‘’Into The Limelight’’ production by Showworks Theatre and the Creative Learning group at The Kings & Theatre Royal in Glasgow.  “Into the Limelight” is a brand new musical production celebrating 120 Years of the King’s Theatre Glasgow. The show was a culmination of a two week summer school course to rehearse and get to perform it on the iconic stage of the Glasgow Kings Theatre. The lead roles were transported back in time by a mysterious theatre cleaner and saw the theatre in its early victorian days through the two world wars, the 1960’s up to the present day. I loved this scene where the ARP warden was asking the audience to stay in their seats because of an air raid.

Celebrating on the Steps

I was asked once again to come along and photograph the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland honorary graduations. It is a super event. Also all the regular students were graduating too. What a feel good atmosphere in the building. I loved this shot of actor, director and activist Ivan Heng celebrating with acting graduates on the steps of the Conservatoire. It is one of the times I had said to someone, who had called me about another assignment, that I couldn’t speak because the musical theatre students were just out and were singing in full voice.

A Big Gig

One of my highlights of the year had to be this year’s RSNO Finale concert. They joined forces with students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the RSNO Chorus to perform Berlioz’ requiem ‘Grande messe des morts’. Conducted by RSNO Music Director Thomas Søndergård with guest tenor Magnus Walker, the concert  included 165 musicians, 132 singers, 18 timpani and four brass bands. That is nearly 300 musicians on stage. The thing that blew me away was the brass sections in the audience. What a sound. The whole thing was amazing. I love the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for sound but the concert at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall I am sure would have sounded just as good.

Piping Live Stopping The Traffic

I had a super morning at Articulate Lab Art Studios for The Piping Live photo call to announce the news that The Big Band event will return for its seventh showcase at this year’s Piping Live Festival and pipers of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in the iconic event, which takes place in Glasgow’s west end. At the photocall were  Eona Craig, Chief Executive of Articulate with Michael Archibald, Creative Change maker with pipers Robert Morton , Andrew Bova and  young piper Flo Brayley.

Young Classics

Another musical talent I met was Royal Conservatoire student accordionist Melia Simonot  who was named as BBC Young Classical Musician at the City Halls in Glasgow. The other talented finalists were quite magnificent playing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. I could not have picked a winner.

Good Food Shopping In Govan

I had a visit to my dad’s old stomping ground, Linthouse in Govan. I was covering the opening of a of a community shop. It was such a good idea. The new development has come from Linthouse Housing Association in association with Good Food Scotland, which is part of the Feeding Britain network. The trail-blazing development aims to offer affordable items exclusively for residents in the G51 postcode area, which covers Govan. 

Chair of LHA was delighted to tell how  membership costing just £1 a month, shoppers can access a wide range of food and household products at lower prices than can be found in supermarkets. Also its prime location at 1121 Govan Road.

We even had Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes along to check out the shelves.

JoJo Gnome takes a Trip up North

I had a great trip up to Benderloch just outside Oban recently. Oban always seems to get the good weather when I am there. I don’t know why. It just does. I was with writer and producer of JoJo Gnome’s Story Podcast, Jo Hall, who is continuing a Scottish Eco Story Schools tour by visiting local Lochnell Primary pupils  The tour was made possible with funding from Creative Scotland.  The pupils enjoyed JoJo Gnome stories about recycling objects to make hats and talked about what they will do to make our planet a greener place. The children also worked with Jo on their own recycling story, which will be made into a video and can be seen at here.

Its Time….

I am fascinated with time capsules. I have been on site a few times when workers have dug one up and you see what was important to people over 100 years ago. I remember the one that was found when the Piping Centre in Glasgow was being converted from Old Cowcaddens Church in 1995. It had a copy of my old papers The Glasgow Herald and Evening Times too. The capsule was a glass jar cemented closed and filled with sand. This  month the Wasps Studio artists were preparing a time capsule to put in their newly redeveloped area of the Briggait, which was built in 1873. In their time capsule were items from Wasps Artists and some pieces of artwork by Blackfriars’ Primary pupils, who were working with artist Kayleigh McGuinness. One really nice addition was a copy of that day’s Herald and the Glasgow Times. Perhaps to be rediscovered in another 100 years.

Looking Up and In at St Giles Cathedral

I was through at the capital for a visit to St Giles’ Cathedral with the University of Glasgow’s Games and Gaming Lab. For over 900 years, St Giles’ Cathedral has stood as an iconic landmark in the heart of Edinburgh. In a collaboration for its 900th year, the world-famous cathedral has joined forces with the University of Glasgow’s Games and Gaming Lab for Project HeritAIge.

The resulting project has Unravelled the mysteries of its construction and bringing its rich history to life is now possible thanks to the University of Glasgow team. I met minister Rev Dr George Whyte who was trying out the program on his laptop. He was very impressed. I am sure there are not many more qualified than him to judge.

Absolutely Fabulous

I had the pleasure of photographing the BBC Comedy Festival at the very cool venue SWG3 in Glasgow. One of the comics I photographed was Jennifer Saunders. She was being interviewed on stage by Muriel Grey. They are old pals and it was great to see them in full flow.

Buzzin’ Around

I did not think we would have mosquitos in Glasgow. I found out how wrong I was when I joined Dr Georgia Kirby and Meshach Lee with their mosquito trap. The University of Glasgow researchers launched a citizen science tool to research mosquitos in Scotland. The were taking their mosquito trap out in the university grounds to show me what exactly it is they do. What surprised me was there was so many to be found in Kelvingrove Park. Now I found that a bit scary as I have been on holiday and been freaked out by them as they buzz around me.

Tiree Sunsets & More

I love my annual trips to Tiree. Every year I try and get a sunset from Balevoulin beach. However I was late heading over and thought I am going to miss the opportunity this year. The route we took passed a different beach… and that reflection made up for it.  My other favourite shot of the trip was the guy carrying his wind surfing gear. He looked like a giant insect. It did make me laugh.

Too Cute

I was going outside the back door to take my tea and noticed two of the big Greylag Geese outside. Oh I thought I will go around the front.

I sneaked a look to see if they were still there. What a surprise I got when I met the whole family. They were out there all day. The wee ones were just tiny balls of fluff.

A Walk In the Park

The National Autistic Society Scotland Spectrum Colour Walk took place last month. I was asked to come along and record the event at Glasgow Green.  It was a great success and it raised over £600. It was a super day despite snow in the morning and sporadic sideways rain, the feel good atmosphere and good vibes throughout the whole walk was brill. I had to keep moving quickly to stay in front of everyone. 

Music in the Chambers

I love a visit to the City Chambers in Glasgow. I especially like the Italian marble staircase. On my latest visit I was photographing a civic reception for The High School of Glasgow to mark its 900th anniversary. The event was hosted by the Lord Provost Councillor Jacqueline McLaren. Around 200 current and former pupils and parents, staff and friends of The High School of Glasgow gathered at the City Chambers to attend the reception hosted by Glasgow City Council to celebrate the School’s 900th anniversary. Founded around 1124, the High School is Scotland’s oldest school, starting out as a ‘Sang School’ or choir school for boys at Glasgow Cathedral.

As I climbed the stairs I saw Maya, a talented s4 pupil playing the clarsach on the marble staircase as the guests were arriving.  I knew that would be a perfect picture for The Herald newspaper and was delighted when a huge picture was used in the Saturday edition.

The Old Quad

I recently visited the stunning Old Quad of The University of Edinburgh. I was there for the signing of A £20 million 10-year funding agreement to support the work of Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, based at the University of Edinburgh. We started in the Playfair Library and then went outside to the Old Quad. I had walked past the university so many times and had no idea what was behind the walls. What a delight to see it. Pictured in the Quad are Kim Graham, Provost of University of Edinburgh , John Climax, chair and founder of the Human Dignity Foundation and Childlight CEO Paul Stanfield pictured in the University’s Old College Quad. Childlight, a research unit at the University of Edinburgh, works with partners around the world to understand the prevalence, nature and scale of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Art in the Library

A few friends of mine are having an art  exhibition in the local library in Strathbane. The Thomas Graham library, which opened last year has this event as its first ever art exhibition. Three local artists Chris Mumford, Amy Ricketts and George Thom will exhibit their work including ceramics, watercolours, oils and prints. Inspired by Chris Mumford in aid of Strathcarron Hospice, the free exhibition runs from Saturday 11th of May until Sunday 12th of May from 11am until 5pm. The exhibition will donate 50% of everything sold to the hospice based in Denny. 

Ice Cream at the Castle

I have been keen to see inside the National Museum of Scotland. It did not disappoint but I was told to have a look at the viewing gallery on the top floor. I could not believe my eyes at all the sights I could see of the Edinburgh rooftops. My favourite shot was a picture of the castle with an ice cream van in the car park. It made me laugh.

Happy Birthday Kelpies

Every time I drive past the Kelpies they take my breath away. I remember years ago photographing sculptor Andy Scott in his studio in Maryhill with Baron, one of the model horses for the Kelpies. As he was explaining to me the size and scale, I was thinking how is this possible? This year was the 10th anniversary of the Kelpies and Andy and his partner where coming over from Los Angeles, where they are now based, for the big event. He had got in touch and asked me to cover the day for them. I was so pleased.  I go back even further with him. When I was at college I worked in the Glasgow Art School bar when he was a student. I was delighted to be part of the day. The plan was to have a mass gathering of Clydesdale horses on site. What magnificent creatures. The owners were having as much fun as Andy. I loved the scale and seeing all the horses walking towards the iconic giant sculptures.

Introducing Professor O Hagen

I admire writers. It’s something I wish I could do. Whether they are newspaper reporters  authors or playwrights. They have a talent, the words make the characters come to life. One of my favourite assignments used to be Aye Write where I would photograph a different writer every night from William McIlvanny to Kathleen Turner.
You can imagine my delight when I was asked to photograph Andrew O’Hagan who had been appointed as an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow.
His title is Honorary Professor of the University of Glasgow’s College of Arts & Humanities.
How cool is that. The University announced that he had accepted the invitation for a five-year honorary professorship based in Scottish Literature. The university’s unit is the only academic unit in the world exclusively dedicated to the teaching and research of Scottish Literature. We had great fun in the famous cloisters. He was a delight to photograph. I was so pleased to see my picture make the front page of The Herald.

Head To Head

I had a visit to auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull this month .I used to be there quite a lot for The Herald. This visit was for the 150th anniversary of the birth of John Duncan Fergusson (1874-1961), the longest-lived and most international of the pioneering group of artists known as the Scottish Colourists.To mark the occasion, the fine art auctioneers curated a special touring exhibition of Fergusson’s paintings and sculptures,  A Scottish Colourist at 150: J.D. Fergusson, in partnership with the London-based Fleming Wyfold Art Foundation. It was a grand affair. I loved my picture of Gallery Manager Jessie Lloyd as she had a close look at  bronze Eástre. Definitely a Head To Head picture.

It was the University of Strathclyde celebrating this year as they won the Glasgow Taxis Cup. Strathclyde were crowned winners of Scotland’s largest student varsity sporting competition after edging out city rivals Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian Universities. The competition, saw over 800 students participating across 15+ different sporting disciplines including badminton, hockey and netball in a day of intense competition before coming to a conclusion at Scotstoun Sports Campus. The Strathclyde audience could not hide their delight. They have not won for the last couple of years. They played a blinder this year.

Hats Off To Jojo

It was ‘hats off ‘to JoJo Gnome with the new ‘Eco Superhero Story Workshop’ at Blackfriars primary school in Glasgow’s Gorbals. The youngsters were delighted to try on the story hats made by writer and producer of JoJo Gnome’s Story Podcast, Jo Hall. This was the first date of the Scottish Eco Story Schools working with their primary 1 classes.  The tour has been made possible with funding from Creative Scotland. 
It was great to be at the first date in the tour which travels to travels to various schools including Cupar in Fife , Oban and Benderloch in Argyll & Bute, Gourock & Greenock in Inverclyde then finishing at The Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. I am lucky enough to be along on some of the dates doing the photographs. This shot looked fantastic in The Herald.

Royal Smiles

I had the good fortune to be asked along to photograph HRH Princess Anne at the evening reception for the TS Queen Mary at The Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. She was presented with a picture of the TS Queen Mary in her hay day. I have photographed her so many times over the years and I am sure she is enjoying these occasions more and more. 

Suits You Sir

He’s Behind You

I always feel a bit sad when pantomime season is over for another year so you can imagine my delight when I was asked to photograph stage star and panto legend Johnny McKnight. Johnny was giving The Cameron Lecture at the University of Glasgow’s Bute Hall. The lecture, The Panto Dame (She’s Behind You), celebrated the magic of Scottish theatre. Johnny was certainly  ‘dame for a laugh’ dressed dressed in full panto dame costume and as one of his favourite characters, Dorothy Blawna-Gale. The audience were in stitches I had tears in my eyes trying to take the photos.

The Cameron Lecture is delivered through a partnership between the University of Glasgow and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It was established in 2019 by John Tiffany, the multi-award-winning theatre director and University of Glasgow alumnus, to honour his life-changing tutor, Dr Alasdair Cameron. I photographed Johnny and John and the pair were in great form. It was a packed hall.

Running Up That Hill

I was at the top of North Portland Street in Glasgow, which is a huge hill on the  Strathclyde University campus for the annual Glasgow Taxis Cup photo call. Glasgow Taxis Cup is an event, which has more than 700 student athletes from Glasgow Caledonian, Strathclyde, and Glasgow universities competing across 15 sports in the biggest one-day student inter-varsity competition across Scotland. It’s huge competition. The students alway pick the venue for the picture from the Peoples Palace to The Riverside Museum. The year we had Rottenrow Park on the sight of the old Rottenrow maternity hospital. Its a great space but unfortunately we could not get the taxi into the park so we thought we would have picture of the students racing up the hill past the taxi stopped at the top with the team captains holding the trophy. We had to do it a couple of times and the students where getting a bit out of breath as it is a pretty steep hill. I was out of breath watching them.