Tag: Ian Rankin

MBE for Spartans’ Douglas Samuel

Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced

The Spartans Chief Executive Douglas Samuel is among Scots to receive an Honour to mark the Queen’s Brthday in Platinum Jubilee year. Dougie is awarded an MBE.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to the recipients in Scotland in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Among those receiving Knighthoods are Professor Sheikh Aziz, for services to COVID-19 research and policy; James Nicol Walker, for services to the food industry and author Ian Rankin, for services to literature and to charity. Professor Sally Mapstone will receive a Damehood for services to higher education.

Jacqui Reilly, Professor of Infection Prevention and Control is among those being awarded a CBE, for services to Healthcare and Public Health.

British Olympic Curling captain Eve Muirhead is amongst those receiving an OBE, while her team members have been honoured with MBEs.

Those receiving MBEs include Julie Young for services to dance, Walter Smith for services to youth enterprise and Chloe Lawson for services to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people

Rhona Gibson and William Dove are among those honoured with a BEM.

Irene Ralston, Superintendent, and Stephen Tanner, Police Constable, will receive The Queen’s Police Medal. The Queen’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Roy Dunsire, Group Commander, John Fraser, Firefighter and Stevie Maybanks, Crew Commander of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Donna Baillie, Resilience Manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service, will receive The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.

The First Minister said: “The Queen’s Birthday Honours list illustrates the outstanding contributions of the people of Scotland who have made a difference to their communities, throughout the country and beyond. It is particularly pleasing to see their work recognised in this year of celebration in honour of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

“From those who contribute to the creative industries, communities and charities, to those who have excelled in the field of science and medicine, the Honours highlight their exceptional service to the people of Scotland. I am delighted to see Scotland’s athletes who were outstanding during both summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, so well represented.

“I am also pleased to see that those individuals who worked against the coronavirus pandemic, its far reaching impact and those working for our recovery, have been recognised. I know we are all incredibly grateful for their selfless actions and it’s right that their outstanding efforts have been acknowledged in this way.

“I also want to extend my congratulations to those personnel who have been awarded The Queen’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals. Our emergency services have displayed incredible fortitude throughout the pandemic, and deserve our continued appreciation for keeping people and communities across Scotland safe, every day of the year.”

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “In the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, my whole-hearted congratulations go to all those across Scotland who have been recognised for their extraordinary public service. They truly exemplify the dedication, ambition and generosity of spirit that has defined the Queen’s 70-year reign.

“We were all gripped by the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, as our curlers swept to gold and we topped the podium in Alpine skiing. Eve Muirhead is awarded an OBE, while the rest of the team get MBEs, along with Alpine skier Neil Simpson and his brother and guide Andrew.

“One of Scottish literature’s most recognisable names, Ian Rankin’s knighthood is richly deserved; his Inspector Rebus novels have kept us in entertained and in suspense for decades.

“It’s great to see recognition of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink. James Walker of Walker’s Shortbread is being knighted, and OBEs are given to Ian and Michael Urquhart from the family-run Gordon and MacPhail whisky company.

Honours also go to those whose dedication and resilience helped make Glasgow’s hosting of COP26 safe and successful, including a well-deserved knighthood for Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.”

Society launches whisky talk podcast series with Vic Galloway

Famous faces of Scottish culture and arts including crime writer Ian Rankin to feature on The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s new podcast series

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has partnered with Vic Galloway for a special podcast series dedicated to great music and stunning whisky.

Since collaborating with the Society in May 2021 to match music with the 12 SMWS flavour profiles, BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway is taking his passion for Society whisky to the next level, with his Whisky Talk: Malts & Music podcast series.

Across the series, Vic will sit down in the Tasting Room at The Vaults, the Society’s spiritual home in Leith, for a whisky-fuelled chat with well-known whisky fans from Scottish cultural life.

Along with a tasting pack of five Society single cask malt whiskies, each of Vic’s guests will explore their creative loves, their passion for whisky and most importantly, how each of the five Society drams has inspired a favourite piece of music.

Whisky Talk: Malts & Music kicks off on Thursday, 7 October with crime writer Ian Rankin, who pairs his Society drams with tunes from John Martyn, James Yorkston, Karine Polwart, The Skids and The Blue Nile.

The podcast series will continue with Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub, writer Val McDermid, Justin Currie from Del Amitri and Stina Tweeddale of Honeyblood.

BBC Scotland DJ, writer and whisky enthusiast, Vic Galloway said: “Good whisky and good music go hand in hand. I had such a great time pairing 12 music genres with the 12 Scotch Malt Whisky Society flavour profiles earlier this year, and that gave us the idea for Whisky Talk: Malts & Music.

“Asking a whisky-loving creative person to match five malts with five pieces of music and chat to our guests about the experience was a huge amount of fun. As the whisky flows, we go off on unexpected tangents about creative work, opinions and life in general.

“I hope the Whisky Talk: Malts & Music interviews give listeners and viewers a new insight into these creative minds and some of the finest whisky on the planet. Join us for a good chinwag and spectacular drams!”

SMWS: Vic Galloway, Radio DJ photographed at The Vaults, Edinburgh. Photograph: Mike Wilkinson…02/04/21. Copyright: Mike Wilkinson. 07768393673 mike@mike-wilkinson.com www.mike-wilkinson.com

Whisky Talk: Malt & Music with Vic Galloway launches on Thursday, 7 October on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Google Podcasts and Stitcher, or simply search for ‘Whisky Talk podcast’.

You can watch the videos of the conversations on the SMWS YouTube channel at: https://cutt.ly/4ERQC4R.

For more information about The Scotch Malt Whisky Society click here.

LUNG cHAts Live with Ian Rankin

Join Nicola Tuxworth and Gavin Yule of Lung Ha Theatre Company in conversation with Ian Rankin, one of the world’s most celebrated crime writers. This special event takes place just days after the re-release of Ian’s 1990 novel, Westwind; and will be followed by a Q&A and book-signing.

Ian Rankin is a highly-celebrated Scottish author based in Edinburgh whose novels are translated in 22 languages and are best-selling on several continents. His latest Rebus novel, In a House of Lies, was published in paperback earlier this year and was a number one bestseller.

Michael Fraser, Company Manager at Lung Ha Theatre Company said: “Lung Ha Theatre Company is absolutely delighted to be working with the brilliant Ian Rankin as part of Book Week Scotland.

“LUNG cHAts is a series of interviews conducted by Lung Ha Theatre Company performers, that, to date, have featured many very important figures from the Scottish cultural and creative scenes; LUNG cHAts Live with Ian Rankin promises to be one of the best interviews yet.”

“We would like to thank our wonderful event partners Six Point Productions as well as Book Week Scotland, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Orion Publishing for their help in making this special event happen.”

Fergus Munro from Six Point Productions said: “We are excited and privileged to be working alongside Lung Ha Theatre Company.

“Six Point is an emerging production company made up of Acting and English students from Edinburgh Napier University. We are united by a passion to elevate the Scottish voice, embrace culture and reinvent tradition.

“We are delighted to be co-producing an event which reflects these values. We have loved working with Lung Ha Theatre Company as co-producers, they are a company who are consistently inventive, inspiring and passionate.”

LUNG cHAts is a series of filmed interviews with prominent Scottish arts figures conducted by members of Lung Ha Theatre Company, Scotland’s leading theatre company working with people with learning disabilities.

Thus far interviewees have included Diane Henderson, Deputy Artistic Director of Edinburgh International Film Festival; award-winning photographer Peter Dibdin; Mark Fisher, leading theatre critic and author writing for The Guardian and The Scotsman; and Jude Docherty, Chief Executive and Co-Artistic Director of Grid Iron Theatre Company.

LUNG cHAts Live with Ian Rankin is the first time an interview will take place in front of a live audience.

Tickets are on sale now on www.lyceum.org.uk/lungha

Ian Rankin meets “phenomenal” Oor Wullie statue he co-created

Crime fiction writer Ian Rankin has hailed the Sherlock Holmes-inspired Oor Wullie sculpture he co-created as “phenomenal”.  

“Oor Sherlock Holmes” is a collaboration between Ian Rankin and Edinburgh-based artist Chris Rutterford which pays tribute to Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character – complete with deer-stalker hat, cape and pipe.   Continue reading Ian Rankin meets “phenomenal” Oor Wullie statue he co-created

Rankin joins the greats at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum

Ian Rankin has joined the ranks of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson today as his work is is celebrated in a new exhibition at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum. A rare selection of personal items, manuscripts and images belonging to the best-selling writer are displayed in a new exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of his much-loved Edinburgh sleuth, Detective Inspector Rebus. Continue reading Rankin joins the greats at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum