THE LIST
An invitation to the Lord High Commissioner’s garden party during the Church oi Scotland General Assembly has been received by someone at our acquaintance. The invitation originates in the oiiice oi Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Ms Eleanor McLaughlin, and says ‘The Lord Provost has been asked to submit a list oi names oi ladies and gentlemen residing in Edinburgh, and he has asked me to invite your association to nominate one person as a representative.’ (The letter continues, ‘Il married, this lady or gentleman may be accompanied by his/her
wile/husband and unmarried daughters
born in 1971 or beiore,’ but that is not strictly germane to the issue.) Regarding the apparent contusion over the Lord Provost’s gender however, does some minion in her oiiice know something we don't, is the Lord (or Lady) Provost classed as an honorary
man lor the purpose oi issuing invitations, or is there some darker and altogether more sinister explanation?
Wallace Mercer‘s cup of notoriety runneth ever more over-full. An acquaintance ofours was at a dinner for footballing types last week where the Heart ofMidlothian chairman. who is not exactly famous for reticence on the topic of his own prowess. was the subject of a little affectionate ribbing from John Greig. former Rangers and Scotland player and now much in demand. for some reason. as a commentator on Radio Scotland. Mercer. Greig began. had recently been to Jerusalem and had been met at the
airport by the mayor of that city who.
much gratified to have so important a visitor in his midst. had solicitously enquired whether there was
him. ‘Actually.‘ Mercer says. ‘I do
have one ambition left —— I would like.
when I die. to be buried in the same
tomb as Christ.‘ ‘Well.’ the mayor
replies. ‘I think we might arrange
i that for you. but we would have to
charge you for it — shall we say a
thousand pounds'." ‘A thousand
pounds'." comes the indignant reply. 3 ‘for three nights?‘
I anything which could be done for
The annual Sony Radio Awards, a very welcome event in the creative calendar encouraging, as they do, people who work in the iield to aspire to ever higher , standards, are coming around again. 1 Every year an illustrious panel oi judges is appointed to decide who gets the prizes, this year's panel including i . drama critic Joyce MacMillan and .f comedy-writer Simon Brett. Whilst we ' l are not in a position to reveal the names at the winners, we can tell you that, uniortunately, the two aiorementioned judges were a tad disappointed by the tact that the lreebie personal stereos with which they had generously been issued by the Sony l Walkperson people both developed serious laults within a month. The Walkperson spokesperson was, as we went to press, unavailable ior comment, but is thought to be sullering irom some slight embarrassment.
Thank you British Rail for your very worthy attempts to cheer up a rabble ofdisgruntled passengers on the London to Edinburgh train last Monday. The train was about an hour late in arriving at its destination. but the explanation for the delay offered by the guard. ‘We are running late due to a failed overhead power cable .‘ caused some of the passengers to smile. wryly. into their styrofoam teacups when they realised that the train was diesel powered. To top this. however. the buffet steward later announced that the buffet car would be closing in fifteen minutes and that those passengers who kept asking him for sandwiches were requested to bear in mind the fact that ‘sandwiches are not available. due to lack of demand.‘ To say that it was a merry and jovial band of travellers who arrived late at Waverley station would be to overstate the case. but
their wrath had surely lost its venom in the gales of mirth consequent upon these bon mots. Congratulations to all concerned.
A publication which cannot be recommended too highly is the Scottish Borders Tourist Board’s excellent little pamphlet ‘What's On In The Scottish Borders April-May1989.' One of its highlights is an exploration oi the possibilities ior equestrian exploration altered in the Borders entitled
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think The List has ever run an editorial before. It's just not the sort of thing we've gone in for.
The excuse to start now - and it's not much of an excuse — is that this is my last issue. After 91 editions I'm going to become a List reader rather than a List editor.
'Ihere is much I will regret about leaving, but the thing that will give me most pride will be that the team who have put the magazine together over the past three and a half years have created an entity that will last. There seems no doubt now that The List is here to stay.
Maybe it is no coincidence that The List hasn’t run editorials. From the start the maga7jne was intended to be a focus for the energy and activity of Glasgow and Edinburgh. We never worried that there wouldn't be enough to fill the magazine, we worried about how we'd fit it all in. Since that first issue, the magazine has developed, publishing in Scotland has developed,
‘Bordering 0n Horstness.’ The article ends with the exhortation ‘Now we're back to Spring again - it’s like a merry-go-round — quick, grab your horse and don't iall oil!’ but also has a word or two to say about pony-trekking, a pursuit it recommends to the ‘tyro who's never set toot (or should I say seat) on a horse beiore.‘ Pony-trekking is, it says, ‘A marvellous way to see the countryside, and also to get to grips with whether or not you're going to make it to the Olympics on a horse!‘
EDITORIAL
the arts world has developed, but in essence The List's raison d'etre remains the same. To respond with as high a standard of joumalsim as possible to the flourishing artistic and creative activity around us.
The lifetime of The List has seen a dramatically increased level of interest from all parts of the country in what is going on in Scotland. I'm glad we have been here to help show the way, but as we'll tell them, you haven't seen anything yet.
The List, if it is in any way to reflect the cities it covers, will be, as we approach 1990 and beyond, far and away Britain's most exciting magazine. (Nigel Billen)
The List will continue to be editied by Sarah Hemming, co-editor since the launch oi the magazine in 1985. Alastair Mabbott and Simon Bayly have been appointed to stall positions on The List’s expanding editorial team. As The List prepares its coverage ior 1990, further key appointments will be made.
CONTRIBUTORS.
Publisher Robin l lodge. Editors Nigel Billen.Sarah l llemming. Associate ; EditorAllan llunter. Editorial Assistants Stuart Bathgate. Andrew ' Burnet. lain (irant.
Design Simon listerson. Advertising / Circulation
Jess Barrow. Rhobat Bryn. Sheila Maclean. Classiiied Advertising Paul Kinnes. Accounts Georgette Renwick. Typesetting Jo Kennedy.
l lewer Text Production l
Editor Paul Keir. Production Co-ordinator
l Markl"islier.Art.»\licc Bain. Mark liisher Books Kristina Woolnough. Classical Music ( ‘nml Main. Dance Alice Bain. Diary lain (irant. Film Allan llunter. 'l'reior Johnston. Andrew Burnet. Folk/Jazz Norman Chalmers. Food Julie Morricc. Sally Stewart. Kids Rene ’l‘aylor.
Music Preview Kenny Mathieson. Nightliie Stuart Raiker. And} (‘rabb. (‘olin Ste\en. I
Open Andrew Burnet. Radio Allan Brown. Rock (Edinburgh) Alastair Mabbott. Rock (Glasgow) John Williamson. Sport Stuart Bathgate. Television Nigel Billen. Theatre Sarah l lemming. Travel Kristina \N'oolnough Competitions Mark liishcr. Camera Edinburgh Make-up Services. COVE! Peter Brook. director of
I (‘urmi'n Cover Design
; Nigel Billen. l’aul Keir.
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