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STARTING XI: Dale Gillespie on title joy with Brora Rangers and the daunting task of facing Georginio Wijnaldum
STARTING XI: Dale Gillespie on title joy with Brora Rangers and the daunting task of facing Georginio Wijnaldum

Press and Journal

time13-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Press and Journal

STARTING XI: Dale Gillespie on title joy with Brora Rangers and the daunting task of facing Georginio Wijnaldum

Former Brora Rangers midfielder Dale Gillespie is the subject of this week's Q&A feature as he looks back on his time in the game. From his early days at Caley Thistle and Elgin City to the Highland League and youth football for Scotland, Gillespie picks out the highlights of his career. It was for Elgin City in a 4-2 loss at Stenhousemuir while I was on loan from Caley Thistle. Honestly, I've tried to forget my Elgin years as I was there for 17 games and lost 11 of them with two draws. Ross Jack was the manager when I went there and it was a really tough time for the club. For me, it wasn't a memorable spell. It has to be the undefeated season we had at Brora in 2014-15. When you are on a run like that the pressure builds to keep it going but to be fair, we handled it well. When we won the league two years in a row, we only lost one league game in those two seasons, and we went the whole calendar year in 2014 without losing a league game, so it was special. David Goodwillie was very good. We must have been 17 or 18 but he was well ahead of everyone his own age up in Scotland at the time. He obviously got his move down to England a couple of years later and he was a great player to be fair. Georginio Wijnaldum. We played against him he was in the Netherlands team which beat Scotland under-19s 2-1 at Broadwood in February 2008. He was at a different level. I remember he had the big dreadlocks in those days, and he was pretty special. This is an easy one – Martin McLean. He's from Stornoway, so they've got a different fashion sense over there. Big, thick woollen jumpers, and colour coordination was a big issue for him. Mental probably. On the park I was pretty calm, but off it I was bad, until I stopped drinking anyway. You can pass the ball from A to B faster than you can run from A to B. That was a classic from my old coach John Beaton. Tynecastle. That was the first time I was ever on the bench for the Caley Thistle first team, and I was just 17. I've never had so much abuse since that day, and I didn't even play. I was petrified. I have to pick one of my own. It was a volley in extra-time for Caley Thistle to win the North of Scotland Cup final against Elgin. The game was at Forres and I scored twice in that game. The winner was a 25 yarder and it's the best goal I ever scored. I'll go for Gavin Morrison because he's more sensible than I am and he'd give me a fighting chance of getting off the island. It's definitely golf. I've got the handicap down to scratch now but my wife complains that she sees me less now than she did when I played football.

Measles-infected newborn baby dies in southwestern Ontario
Measles-infected newborn baby dies in southwestern Ontario

CBC

time05-06-2025

  • General
  • CBC

Measles-infected newborn baby dies in southwestern Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of Health has announced the first recorded death of a measles patient from the current outbreak that started in October. Dr. Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health, issued a statement Thursday saying a southwestern Ontario infant has died after being born prematurely and infected with the highly contagious virus through the mother. Moore offered few other details. Southwestern Public Health, which covers Oxford and Elgin counties, confirmed the child was from a community in their coverage area. "The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine," Moore wrote. "While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus. "Out of respect for the family's privacy, no further personal or medical details will be shared." The death is the first in this outbreak, which at last count, on Tuesday, included up 2009 probable and confirmed cases since it began on Oct. 28, according to the ministry. It's only the second measles-related death the province has seen in decades, after an unvaccinated child from Hamilton who was younger than five years old died in May 2024. Current outbreak traced to wedding Previously, Moore shared that this outbreak in Ontario was traced back to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick, and is spreading primarily in Mennonite and Amish communities where vaccination rates lag. The vast majority of those cases are in southwestern Ontario. The official case count in the current outbreak is likely lower than the actual number as many cases aren't being reported, health officials have said. Case counts have been highest in the areas covered by Southwestern Public Health, Chatham-Kent Public Health, Huron-Perth Public Health, Grand Erie Public Health and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. In May alone, 79 people were diagnosed with measles by Southwestern Public Health, which by far has the largest case count in the province. Seventy-five per cent of patients in that health unit were younger than 18. Those most at risk from the measles virus are unvaccinated children, health officials have warned throughout the outbreak. "Measles poses a serious risk to unvaccinated individuals and to infants in the early stages of life in particular," Moore wrote in the release Thursday. "Anyone who is unvaccinated is at risk and I urge everyone, but especially those who may become pregnant, to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which will protect both a parent and baby. This vaccine has been safely used for over 50 years and is highly effective. Two doses provide nearly 100 per cent protection." Officials in public health areas affected by the outbreak have told reporters they've poured resources into delivering that message to rural communities in different languages and through outreach to faith leaders. Moore said measles is one of the most contagious known diseases. Complications from infection can include pneumonia, brain swelling, premature birth and death. Those seeking vaccination are urged to contact their local health units.

Five overlooked Moray beaches that 'should have been included' after annual beach awards snub for region
Five overlooked Moray beaches that 'should have been included' after annual beach awards snub for region

Press and Journal

time03-06-2025

  • General
  • Press and Journal

Five overlooked Moray beaches that 'should have been included' after annual beach awards snub for region

While beaches across the north and north-east were recently recognised by Keep Scotland Beautiful – one area was conspicuously absent. The organisation's annual list of the best beaches included locations such as Nairn, Dornoch, Aberdeen and Balmedie. Eight beaches were recognised in Aberdeenshire, four in the Highlands and two in Shetland. But the stunning stretches of sands along the Moray coast were nowhere to be seen. Each beach on the list has to meet certain criteria, including sustainability, facilities and conservation, which means some of Scotland's favourites miss out. We asked Moray residents in The P&J's Elgin group about it and. And they had some strong opinions about which ones should make the list. Trev Vennard said: 'A lot of the Moray beaches should be included. Most are glorious.' Another reader commented: 'We are so lucky having so many beautiful beaches on our doorstep.' Cullen Beach is known for its fine sand and picturesque setting against the backdrop of the famous Cullen Viaduct and Cullen Golf Course. The beach has some shelter, making it a good spot for swimming and snorkelling in the summer months. There are plenty of coastal walks dotted around and facilities can be accessed via a short walk into town – where ice creams can be had. There is free car parking under the viaduct. Toilets are accessible down by Cullen Harbour and dogs are allowed on the beach. The larger of the two beaches in Hopeman, Hopeman East is mostly sandy with some rocky areas and rock pools. The geography ensures the beach gets large waves, making it ideal for surfers – in fact it's one of the top-rated spots in the north-east. There are also great views out to the Moray Firth. Hopeman East beach also benefits from nearby amenities including a skate park, public toilets and a number of beach huts as well as free parking. And if you need to cool down, you can always pop into Stew 'n' Drew's for a locally-made ice cream. Dogs are allowed on the beach. There is no lifeguard service available. This lengthy stretch of sandy coastline is a great spot for casual strolls and bird and dolphin watching. Located close to the village of Findhorn as well as the mouth of the River Findhorn, Findhorn Beach benefits from a range of facilities including pubs, shops and a caravan park. Findhorn is also a popular spot for those looking to try out watersports. There are toilets nearby as well as plenty of free parking at the east beach. A string of brightly-painted beach huts line the beach, providing a dry and wind-free retreat. At low tide Burghead Beach is expansive, offering plenty of space for dogs to roam around. If you're lucky, this area is also good for whale and dolphin spotting. The closest parking to the beach is along Station Road, where there used to be a train station. Burghead has a few places to eat including the Cable Cafe which opened last year and has been a hit with tourists and locals alike. There are also toilet facilities at Burghead Harbour. Readers John Stewart, Morag Whitelaw and Steven Mullen were among those who said Burghead Beach 'should have been included'. Perhaps one of the most well-known beaches in Moray, Lossiemouth East Beach is hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. A new bridge opened in 2022 to offer easy access – replacing a crumbling wooden bridge. The beach is located at the mouth of the River Lossie and is backed by grassy dunes. It also attracts watersports enthusiasts, dog walkers and birdwatchers. Its close proximity to RAF Lossiemouth offers the chance of an added thrill as powerful aircraft fly overhead. The beach is serviced by car parks and on-street parking nearby, while toilets are available on the Esplanade. And there plenty of places for refreshments and ice creams just a brief stroll away. Wallace Stewart said Lossiemouth East was 'stunning and clean'.

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