Lesley Riddoch

The Big Debate - Choosing Scotland's Future

Lesley was a panelist on the BBC Scotland programme " The Big Debate - Choosing Scotland's Future.". It is now available on the BBC iPlayer - click here.

Scots, Empire, Alyth and History

In this week's 'Lesley Riddoch Podcast', Lesley meets John M MacKenzie, academic, historian and author. In a wide ranging conversation, the topics of Scotland and the Empire, Rae and Livingstone, independence, Alyth and history are all under the microscope. 

This week's podcast demonstrates the beauty of timing

This week's Lesley Riddoch Podcast was recorded at 2.30pm on Friday 10 Feb and one topic was Egypt. At that time, things were still in a state of flux. Within 90 minutes, Mubarak was gone. We also cover off the election arrangements which are starting to come to light as the May election draws closer.

 

Egypt, elections and the Norway trip

 

Just when the internet went quiet...a podcast strolls in

Lesley has been writing a book. In Sweden. You can read all about it here. And now you can hear her again. Here. Talking about Stieg, wolfs, equality and other Nordic things.

The Guardian Podcast

Lesley appeared this week in the Guardian's 'Politics Weekly' podcast in the aftermath of the Glasgow North East by election result. You can listen to it here.

The Dragons Glen...my pitch

There was a very positive response to my “Dragon’s Glen” proposal on Saturday at the Diaspora Forum – so I have posted the proposal in its entirety here to make it easier for people to access – and comment upon.

Scottish Development International and the Clan Donald Trust are amongst those who expressed an interest in taking things further. If you’d like to get involved email me here.

Killing with Kindness - BBC Radio Scotland - today at 9.00am

Killing with kindness

Scottish children record the lowest feelings of wellbeing in Europe. Could that because so many are cooped up indoors without stimulating play because of adult inadequacies and fears over safety?

Lesley went to visit four kindergartens in Norway this March -- every child has a statutory right to a kindergarten place from 1-6 for a maximum of £200 per month.

She filmed kindergartens where the children spend the bulk of the day outdoors in snow showers and temperatures of minus 5 degrees. The kindergartens are often situated near farms where the kids feed and play with animals, watch slaughtered cows being dissected, grow tomatoes and make hay. The Norwegian belief is that children divorced from the whole of nature – the cycles of life and death -- become couch potatoes, estranged from nature and the outdoors and less independent, confident, co-operative and happy as young adults.

UNICEF’s wellbeing index shows the Nordic countries like Norway at the top and Britain bottom of the 17 countries surveyed. Scotland came lower still.

On every indicator – health, drug use, educational attainment and general happiness – Scottish children are doing less well than Nordic children in particular.

Could that be because.......

1. We coop up children indoors and try to insulate them from all risk – ironically making them more susceptible to danger by exposing them to nothing.
2. We are generally spending too little cash money on the early years – and too much trying to “retrofit” skills onto the casualties of poor childhood learning experiences?

Listen in to the programme and for goodness sake call if you’ve something to say.

0500 92 95 00

An Icelandic Saga for Christmas 2008

As we all depart for a festive Christmas and jolly Hogmanay, I thought I would pass on some thoughts about my continuing fascination with all things Nordic, Scandic, Viking and Baltic. I went to Iceland on a number of occasions this year and took my recorder and my camera to record . Here are the results.

Historic Scotland Investigation - BBC Radio Scotland Listen Again

The Investigation into Historic Scotland is available here for Listen Again. Judging from the early feedback, there are still more stories to be told on this one. As ever, I am happy to receive comments on this and also ideas for Riddoch Questions which returns September 12.

Historic Scotland Investigation - BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland has 47 thousand listed buildings – the majority allow Historic Scotland to intervene in repairs. And developers large and small, public and private are complaining about the extra cost, delay and obstruction the agency’s involvement appears to cause. Factor which could be pricing ordinary Scots out of restoring and inhabiting listed buildings.

Sisters Stephanie and Mandy Roxburgh, from Rothesay, bought a tenement to renovate and create 12 affordable flats. But when their bid to fit the highest quality uPVC windows was rejected by Historic Scotland, the sisters took their fight to Holyrood.

The agency’s preferred option -- 42 single glazed wooden sash and case windows -- was £100k more expensive than the uPVC option.

In Benbecula, Phil and Mairi Ladyman who run a heritage centre – the Nunton Steadings -- claim Historic Scotland’s insistence on authentic draughty, solid wooden doors without windows has created a hard-to-heat, unviable building they may have to leave.

And at Rowallan Castle near Kilmarnock, Niall Campbell a stonemason and civil engineer who helped restore Glasgow’s Rotundas has been told by Historic Scotland that he cannot refurbish a thirteenth century castle as the centrepiece of his £60m hotel and golf course.

Is conservation becoming preservation? Does the agency value authentic empty shells more than habitable buildings?

You can hear my investigation including Culture Minister Linda Fabiani, with live studio guest John Graham Historic Scotland’s Chief Executive --  9am-10am Radio Scotland Monday August 4th. If you’ve comments email me here or call on the day 0500 92 95 00