‘ James Watt(1736—1819),Thomas Telford (1757—1834), James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), Alexander Graham Bell (1847—1922), John Logie Baird (1888—1946) and Sir Robert Watson-Watt (1892-1973). The Post Office has taken the trouble to have the potted biographies translated into Gaelic from the English version. The pack of six is available from main Post Offices in Scotland price 22. (Alice Bain)
modest for a project such as this, but the prestige and public exposure are valuable indeed, particularly to Conroy who has been underthe blast of publicity focusing on issues other than his painting. There must be great satisfaction that while the question of ownership still hangs over his work, these exciting portraits are winging their way round the world making communications all on their own.
The six Scots communicators are
BELTANE FIRE
Last Mayday‘s Beltane Fire was the first such bonfire to have been lit on Edinburgh‘s Calton Hill in more than a century. A ritual to celebrate the end of winter. the pagan symbolism involved upset Victorian sensibilities. but the revived ceremony is now into its second year. without
uproar.
' ‘The rituals of the druids were held on a hillside. because you could not contain the
in GETTING l ‘ THEM l ouuc;
With Festival Season truly under way. yet another has been announced. 'l‘lie Scottish International (‘hildrcn’s Festival will join the increasing symptoms —- Science. Spring. International. Fringe. Alive and Kicking (for pensioners) — of festivalitis.
The first (‘hildren‘s Festival will run from 2‘) May to 3 June 1990. The programme for the six day bonanza is already shaping up. 'l'en performing companies. five of whom are to be home-based. and five of whom will be foreign. will provide what Lord Provost Eleanor McLaughlin described as ‘very high quality entertainment for children'.
As well as set performances in «lull—seat tents. there will be on site workshops and free shows throughout each day. "life Festival will be heavily linked with the education authorities — we‘re hoping to get school parties~ said Festival (‘o-ordinator. Duncan Low.
Low is the driving force behind the venture. although financial and moral support is being supplied by several Edinburgh theatres. by the District and Regional (‘ouncils and by the Scottish and the British Arts Councils. Low. since he visited Vancouver‘s (‘hildren‘s Festival with the Edinburgh Puppet (‘ompany and was inspired by the success of that Festival. has been pushing for one in Edinburgh. Apart from funding through grants. sponsorship will be the main source of income. A site has not yet been chosen. but Inverleith Park. Leith Links and the Meadows have all been mentioned. The final programme ofevents will be announced at Christmas. so pocket money should be saved as ofnow.
beauty ofcreation in a church.‘ explains Angus Farquhar ofthe group Test Department which. along with the Edinburgh organiser Kevin Anderson. has been involved in the Beltane revival. ‘There's a history of similar festivals. about people in a locality celebrating their rights to that land — it becomes the focus of a common vision. It‘s quite important for most people to feel they own the land they live on and no one else. Scots in general haven't lost the sense of being inspired by their environment.‘
Like last year a procession of drummers will make a circuit ofthe hill. led by the May Queen. before reaching the site offhe bonfire. and a special Beltane rhythm for drums and bagpipes has been composed for the occasion. E
An invitation is extended to drummers. or anyone who feels they have sufficient sense of rhythm. to take part. Rehearsals/workshops are being held on Thursday 13 and 2t). and 26—29 April. at a venue to be confirmed. Aspiring participants are asked. however. that they attend at least one of the Thursday sessions before turning up at the final week‘s rehearsal. The Beltane Fire itselfwill be held on the night of3() April and the early hours of 1 May. Phone Kevin Anderson on 031 229 4047.
Then on Wednesday 3 May Test Department will themselves appear at Edinburgh Queen‘s Hall in their first UK show for two years. Although their reputation as post-industrial metal-bashers still haunts them. Test Department spend the greater part of their time investigating (and in Beltane Fire‘s case helping to revive) traditional festivals in Britain and Europe. and recently collaborated with Welsh theatre group Brith Gofon the Gododdin. one of the earliest heroic laments. (Mab) . I
THE LIST LISTS
To mark the birth of Edinburgh Zoo's polar bear Wee Sweetie. The List presents a selection of animals who have also hit the headlines:
I Able and Baker: these two female monkeys were the first animalsto survive being launched into space bythe United States in 1959. The latter became known by NASA as ‘Miss Baker. America’s first lady of space'.
I Barry: born in 1800. Barry the St Bernard saved more than 40 people on the mountains of Switzerland. lie was put out to pasture aftera young man. thinking he was being attacked not rescued. slashed Barry with a knife.
I Chi-Chi: London Zoo's infamous giant panda was notorious for his efforts to reproduce. When sentto Washington Zoo to mate with Ling-Ling. Chi-Chi entered into fisticuffs with his prospective partnerfor an hour and a half. They were finally separated with a hose and he came home in disgrace.
I Gargantua: overdo million people went to gawp at the gorilla star of Barnum and Bailey's circus between 1938 and 1949. Billed as “the World‘s Most Terrifying Creature'. Gargantua was famedforhisfeats of strength and his ugliness. I Jumbo: the world's most famous elephant wentto London Zoo in 1865. He stayed there for 17 years. In 1882. PT Barnum bought him for $10,000. There was a public uproar. to which Queen Victoria added her voice. When Jumbo arrived in New York. he received a hero's welcome.
I Koko: trainer Francine Patterson taught Koko the gorilla sign language to the tune of400 signs. When asked by Dr Patterson ‘Are you an animal are person7'. Koko replied ‘Fine animal gorilla'.
I Sheila: Edinburgh Zoo's wallaby went walkabout in the summer of 1988. The public saw more wallabies in more places than dead Elvises. Sheila was at last spotted. waiting at a bus-stop on Corstorphine Hill. Later. when a photo-call was fixed to announce herrecapture, and when all cameras were in place, Sheila was found to be missing again.
I Shasta: born in 1948 in Salt Lake City. Shasta represents one of the sicker human experiments Shasta was a Iiger—a cross-breed of a lion father and a tiger mother. Such offspring are sterile, and cross-breeding of this kind does not happen to the wild, where territories don't coincide.
The List 7 — 20 April 1989 3