THE LIST
RDS
THE WITCH HUNT BEGINS
Robert Dawson Scott reports
Clause 28 has now become section 28 — the 1988 Local Government Act came into force last Tuesday. The hysteria wasn‘t far behind. There are people in local government now who seem to think that even whispering the word gay is likely to get them clapped in irons. First there was the news that Strathclyde Region had warned further education college councils that grants to any student associations with homosexual orientations (something that would presumably include things like Gay Helplines) would probably be illegal. Now we hear that a major educational publisher is havering about whether or not to publish the text ofa play already broadcast by Radio Clyde in case Education Authorities refuse to allow it to be circulated.
Elephant Dances. by Nick McCarty. is really about a nurse in an AIDS ward. One of her charges happens to be a homosexual suffering from AIDS and because the play was intended to get across some basic information on AIDS the character gets some sensible and sympathetic treatment. When the play was broadcast in January it received wide acclaim (even from that well-known gay paper the Daily Telegraph). not least for its positive portrayal of this particular character.
LETTERS
Dear Sir,
The List Issue 65 Glory Glory Days by Peter Brougham
On reading the above article in issue 65. my first item of astonishment was that Peter Brougham is, indeed, a Celtic Fan. I don’t pretend to have insider knowledge of the financial position or future plans of the Celtic Board, unlike Mr Brougham, who gives the impression that he has intimate knowledge of the Board’s ability to finance ground improvements and new player acquisition.
I, myself, work in the East End of Glasgow and can admit only to being an admirer of good football as an entertainment, be it on the Club or international stage, and have attended several matches at Celtic Park over the last two years only.
and was rebroadcast on most of the Scottish ILR stations as well as a few in England.
The publishers have yet to decide whether or not to publish pending legal advice. Ifthey decide it’s too risky. we will have the ludicrous situation ofa play which four months ago was to all intents and purposes brought into being by a government department withdrawn for fear of hostile action from another government department. Because the original production of Elephant Dances was in part commissioned and paid for by the Scottish Health Education Group. a creature of the Socttish Office.
TO BE QUITE CANDIDE. . .
The thing is. you can never be sure what’s going to happen when you introduce people to something new. The STUC bought themselves a preview performance of Scottish Opera’s new production ofCandide two days before the official opening. Tickets were distributed among their friends and supporters. union members. unemployed workers centres. community organisations and so on. Apart from the philanthropic element it also gave the composer Leonard Bernstein a chance to see his show with an audience: he wasn‘t going to be able to stay for the official opening. Guest of honour for this unusual evening was the Duchess ofGloucester. Scottish Opera‘s Royal patron. When she arrived. accompanied by Mr Bernstein and Scottish Opera’s high heidyins the assembled company duly rose to their feet to greet her. Or at least most ofthem did. Mary Lockhart. Mayfest‘s community events organiser who is not impressed by such things
OFF SIDE?
In that time, I have witnessed improvements to the ground, including the new West Terrace Cover, Toilets, and Refreshment facilities and the impressive new Restaurant and Multi-Lounge. complex to the South Stand frontage, which I view as a bold and imaginative step away from the rather, drab, traditional stadium facade.
I understand from the media that these developments have cost the Club somehwere in the region of £4 million since 1985, and one can see that further developments are in progress at the Park at the moment. Taken with the level ofexpenditure on new players, I fail to appreciate
the language used by Mr Brougham when referring to the Board as ‘Having for once invested heavily’ in something of direct benefit to the Club's support. He refers here to the
remained resolutely in her seat. Her next door neighbour was one of those from an unemployed workers' centre for whom grand opera. not to mention the Theatre Royal. was something new. ‘Get up. Mary. get up‘ he hissed. entering into the spirit of the occasion. ‘I'm not standing up for the Duchess of Gloucester‘. says
she. ‘Aw Christ‘. says her neighbour.
sitting down sharply. ‘I thought we were standing for Lenny Bernstein.‘
THE GOVERNMENT ROCKS
No sooner is Mayfest over than the run-up to the Edinburgh Festival begins. Despite Frank Dunlop's protestations ofpenury. the programme for this year's event looks to be the most interesting for some time. full ofthe sort of happenings for which you usually have to look to the Fringe. Michael Clark’s new ballet [Am Curious. Orange. a celebration of the ascent to the throne of William and Mary. for example. will have his regular band The Fall playing live which should ensure full houses at the King's even if. as Frank said. ‘I shudder to think what the government will think ofit‘.
As you have probably heard. the main theme ofthis year’s jamboree is Italian and Frank was keen to give the Italian government credit for the quarter million pounds they have put into sending over their artistic finest. So he should; Signor Alberto di Mauro. the delightful cultural attache at the Italian Consulate in Edinburgh. is still wondering how to explain to his bosses why his phone bill was three times more than usual last quarter and. he suspects. even more in the current one. all calls on behalfofthe Festival.
NAME THAT TUNE
It doesn’t matter how hard she tries. every time Mrs Thatcher comes to Scotland she just makes matters worse. In the Sermon on the Mound. as it has immediately been dubbed. she thundered. ‘I always think that the whole debate about the Church and the State has never yielded anything comparable in insight to that beautiful hymn “I Vow to Thee. My Country‘". She probably didn‘t notice the blank looks around the Assembly Hall but the fact is. Mags. that ‘I Vow to Thee. My Country‘ is not now and never has been in the hymnary of the Church of Scotland.
CONTRIBUTORS
Publisher Robin Hodge. Editors Nigel Billcn. Sarah Hemming. Associate Editor Allan Hunter, Design Simon Esterson. Advertising Jcss Barrow. Sheila Maclean. Accounts Georgette Renwick. Typesetting Jo Kennedy and Hewer Text. Production Editor Paul Keir. Production Assistants
£170,000 or thereby that the media claim has been invested by the Board in the ‘Celtic Story’, against £4 million on improvements and £2 million plus on new players.
If he consequently regards £170,000 as a ‘heavy investment’. he must surely be suppressing his appreciation of the Club‘s multi- million pound investments at the Park, which are obviously geared to improve the fans‘ facilities and to generate income for future player acquisition and stadium developments.
As for fan dissatisfaction, he must have been out ofthe country on May 7th when the League trophy was displayed at Celtic Park. in a stadium which can still offer the high standard of football entertainment to 60,000 fans, and potentially more, exhibiting the traditional Stadium layout so much enjoyed at both
Mark FisherfAndrew Young. Art Alice Bain, Books Alan Taylor. Classical Music Carol Main, Dance Alice Bain. Film Allan Hunter. Trevor Johnston. Polk/Jazz Norman Chalmers, Food Rosemary Goring and Marina O‘Loughlin. Kids Sally Kinnes. Media Nigel Billen. Sally Kinnes, Nightlife Stuart Raiker. Andy Crabb. Colin
Steven, Open Sarah Hemming, Rock (Edinburgh) Mab. Bock (Glasgow) John Williamson, Sport Kenny Mathieson, Theatre Sarah Hemming, Camera Edinburgh Make-up Services Cover Glasgow Garden Festival: illus by Simon Gooch Cover Design Nigel Billen. Paul Keir.
' Celtic Park and Hampden, where all
the action is visible to all the fans. Indeed, the new West Terrace Cover may well be part of a more ambitious plan to link both the East and West covers with a new North Stand, as indicated by the Club in 1986. The design concept adopted by Ibrox Park has to be admired, but is not by any means the answer for all football stadiums, particularly with the effect fixed seating has in reducing crowd capacity - an issue that must pray on the minds of the Rangers Board with the level of attendance they have enjoyed this season.
I feel, in conclusion, that Mr Brougham should get back to the terracing at Celtic Park, and get behind the Club in all its endeavours on and off the park, especially in this their Centenary Year.
Yours faithfully
.I. G. Lewis Hamilton
4 The List 27 May - 9 June 1988