Dundee Armed Forces Day Parade Saturday 25 June 2016

Yesterday I attended the Armed Forces' Day Parade in the City Square in Dundee.

The main focus of the event, was a military parade made up of contingents from local reserve forces, veteran associations and cadets, who marched from Dundee High School at 12.30 via Reform Street to City Square.

It was an opportunity to acknowledge, past and current members of the armed forces and to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Dundee Christmas Light Night Friday Evening 15 November 2013

Welcome to Dundee's biggest street party. Christmas Light Night celebrates the start of the city's Christmas festivities and sees the whole of the city centre transformed into a moveable feast, with choirs, music, dance, theatre and art.

The excitement begins with the torchlight procession and this year the lanterns, themed ‘Wings and Things' will mingle. The procession comes from The McManus: Dundee's Museum and Art Gallery then winds it way down Commercial Street, into the High Street then into City Square where the Christmas lights will be switched on.

Stroll around for a couple of hours to see performances drawn from the talent of some of Dundee's community organisations and school groups as they come together to entertain you during the evening.  Amongst the many highlights of this year is the return of One Big Ceilidh in City Square where you are encouraged to join in the dances, The Dundee Nativity which will be performed outside the Steeple Church and the firework finale. 

A first for this year is an ice rink and vintage carousel outside Overgate Shopping Centre and The Christmas Bus. The bus will have presenters from Wave 102 on board to help the event reach out and spread Christmas cheer when it visits the communities of Lochee, Ardler, Douglas and Broughty Ferry.

Why not do a bit of Christmas shopping in the Wellgate Centre and Overgate as well as some of the independent shops, which will be open late especially for this evening?

Get a bite at some of the eateries or visit some of the cultural attractions.

Read or download the programme

Public Support for Improved Control of Sea Gulls

Earlier today, I was campaigning in the City Square, with Jim McGovern MP, Councillor Richard McCready, Jenny Marra MSP and Councillor Norma McGovern. We were inviting members of the public to sign a petition calling for improved control by Dundee City Council over the seagull population.

We found many folk who felt strongly about this issue and were keen to sign the petition.

Two Constructive Meetings

On Friday morning, I attended two meetings which both had constructive outcomes. 

At 09:30, I attended the quarterly meeting of the Education Review Group in one of the Council's Committee Rooms off City Square. This group has a diverse and inclusive membership including Head Teachers, Parents/Carers and Pupils representing their their respective city wide Councils, Education Directorate, Trade Union Representatives and Councillors and is chaired by The Chief Executive, David Dorward. We explored a number of  current issues in our Schools, especially the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence. I can't write anymore about this as I am bound by a restriction on publicising the content of the meeting.

At 12 noon I caught up with a meeting at the Castle Green Leisure Centre in The Ferry which had started at 11:00. This was the first meeting of a group interested in being involved in planning a series of events to mark the centenary of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee in October 1913. This meeting had been convened by Carole Jenkins our Communities Officer. This group identified a long list of possible activities which might be brought together into a year long programme. It sounds as though we might have a diverse range of activities to look forward to in 2013. The only restriction seems to be that we can't call this a celebration as opinion is apparently divided about the wisdom of the Ferry throwing in its lot with Dundee. Further information about this group from:
carole.jenkins@dundeecity.gov.uk

Citizenship Ceremony at City Council on Wednesday

On Wednesday afternoon, I was honoured to be invited to attend the citizenship ceremony of a friend and Broughty Ferry resident who was acquiring her British Citizenship.

The ceremony took place in the ornate setting of Committee Room One in the Council Offices in City Square. The ceremony was directed by a Registrar from the City Council who took the applicants through their oaths of allegiance and pledges to the United Kingdom (see below). Former Leader of the Council, Jill Shimi, was there in her new role as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the City.  In her role as Her Majesty the Queen's representative, she welcomed the applicants and individually presented them with their certificates and a commemorative medal from Dundee City Council.

The ceremony was concluded with the National Anthem.

It was truly a suitable occasion for individuals, their families and friends, to properly mark the acquisition of British Citizenship.

The oath is - I, [name], [swear by Almighty God] [do solemnly and truly declare and affirm] that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law.

The pledge is - I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.

Dare ProtoPlay 2012 Games Dundee 10-12 August in City Square and the Caird Hall 10:00 - 18:00 each day

The free Dare ProtoPlay computer games festival opened on Friday morning 9 August in City Square and the Caird Hall and continues through Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August 10:00 - 18:00 each day. The organisers invite us to come to Dare ProtoPlay to play and vote for the Dare to be Digital 2012 games.

When I visited yesterday, there was a real buzz in City Square with a linked series of tents stretching between the edge of City Square up to the steps of the Caird Hall. Inside the tunnel of tents, in subdued lighting, were numerous computer screens and gaming consoles displaying the games which have been selected as finalists in this years Dare to be Digital video games competition. Visitors were studiously playing each of these games and then could vote for which they think is best. 

Its a great day out for folk who enjoy computer games and a really fine demonstration of the creative and commercial opportunities arising from developing computer games. 

I hope in subsequent years it might be possible to include an additional schools category in the Dare to be Digital competition. I have written to the Director of Education, Michael Wood and the organisers of the competition at the University of Abertay Dundee, to make that proposal.

Dundee Welcomes the Olympic Torch Tonight - Tuesday 12 May 2012

At 18:14 tonight the Olympic Torch will begin its journey through the streets of Dundee from Commercial Street to Baxter Park via City Square. 
Leaving from Commercial Street at 18:14, it will call in at City Square around 4 minutes later. The relay and torchbearers will then move along Murraygate and Cowgate, up Princes Street onto Arbroath Road, then onto Baxter Park for 18:47. 


There will be nine nine torch bearers tonight ranging in age from 95 to 12 years old. Click on this link for further details of each of the torch bearers.


Amongst the three young people from our city who will be carrying the torch tonight, the nomination story of Kian Steel, one of our pupils from Kingspark School captured my attention:
Kian Steel Aged 12 Nomination story
"Kian has moved areas and schools a number of times in previous years but since coming to Kingspark he has settled in well and has shown good skills in a variety of sports. He is good working with the other pupils in his class with less ability than him. It is hoped in the future he will be an asset to the school in swimming and athletics events."
The other two young torch bearers from our city are
Michael Robb aged 18 from Baldragon Academy and
Shanon Davis aged 15 an Olympic figure skater.


I think they will all be assets to our city and their schools when they take their turn to carry the Olympic Torch proudly through our city streets. I hope they enjoy their 'moment to shine'.

Free Tickets Last Night of the Proms - Outdoor Video Screen City Square

Superstar violinist Nicola Benedetti and presenter Kaye Adams help bring the curtain down on the world's largest music festival on Saturday 11 September, as they complete the line-up for the Scottish finale of this year's BBC Proms.

Broadcast live from the Caird Hall, in Dundee, they join soprano Lesley Garrett, guitarist Paul Galbraith, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Garry Walker, and the specially assembled Dundee Proms Chorus.

This annual gala concert marks the conclusion of the annual BBC Proms season and visits Dundee for the first time.

All the tickets for the concert have now been allocated, but those unlucky enough to miss out will still have the chance to join in via a giant screen located just outside the Caird Hall, in City Square. The live BBC TV broadcast of the concert will be relayed to the screen, provided by Dundee City Council.

Tickets for the outdoor Screen event are free of charge and, in keeping with the spirit of the Proms, there are standing "promenade" tickets with very limited seating capacity, which will be available on the night on a first come first served basis.

Tickets are limited to four per application, and are available by email: citybox@dundeecity.gov.uk, and in person at Dundee City Box Office 6, City Square, Dundee.