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The Courier
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
28 great photos as Dundee Pride brings colour and cheer to city
Large crowds brought plenty of colour and cheer to Dundee city centre on Saturday for the return of Dundee Pride. Revellers enjoyed a carnival atmosphere as they paraded through the city centre, then enjoyed the Pride Village at Slessor Gardens. Acts and performers, including Cheryl Hole, star of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK, and actor/singer Claire Sweeney, entertained crowds while there were plenty of food, drink and crafts stalls from which to grab a treat. The Courier's photographer was there to capture the best moments from Dundee Pride 2025.
The Courier
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Former Stirling student tipped to be next big thing in crime fiction
A Stirling University graduate is among five authors shortlisted for a prize at the city's Bloody Scotland crime writing festival later this year. Stirling alumnus Natalie Jayne Clark, Foday Mannah, Claire Wilson, Richard Strachan and David Goodman will compete for the festival's Debut Prize, which honours new talent, in September. Guest curator and Scottish crime writing legend Sir Ian Rankin told The Courier: 'The nice thing about Bloody Scotland is it welcomes new authors and emerging authors. 'All the writers who come here are fans – they all like other people's books. So, we all come along here as equals.' Kathy Reichs, Jo Nesbo and The Reverend Richard Coles are among the big names on the bill for the autumn festival. Now based in Perth, former University of Stirling English student Natalie joked: 'I've finally put my degree to good use.' She was living in Stirling when Bloody Scotland first started and went along to some of its earliest events. It was years later when she took part in the festival's Pitch Perfect competition, where writers pitch their crime novel idea to a roomful of agents and publishers, and her book was snapped up. 'I got a pre-emptive book deal and I got an agent within a week of pitching, which is crazy,' she said. Last year, Edinburgh writer David benefitted from another Bloody Scotland initiative designed to boost new authors: Crime in the Spotlight. 'And I actually finished the first draft of this book at Bloody Scotland, before I handed it in to my editor, sitting in the cafe at the Albert Halls,' he revealed. David remembers thinking it would be nice if his novel was stocked on the shelves at the Stirling arts venue one day. A year later, it was. Brought up in Sierra Leone in Africa, Foday now works as a high school teacher in West Lothian. He took part in the Pitch Perfect competition in 2022 but was unsuccessful. However, he stuck by his idea and later won the Mo Siewcharran Prize. Foday told The Courier: 'You rarely see crime novels get the recognition they deserve. 'Bloody Scotland stands out in the sense that it provides a platform and it creates a situation where there's a spotlight on crime fiction.' The Edinburgh-based author who was born in Stirling says he feels like 'a bit of an interloper' at the crime writing festival. 'My book has a mystery element, but the mystery is more something that comes out of legends and landscape and folklore,' he explained. 'But I guess part of what Bloody Scotland is doing is trying to expand the parameters of what counts as crime.' Claire from Stirlingshire has been involved in both the Pitch Perfect and Crime in the Spotlight arms of Bloody Scotland in the past. First and foremost, though, she considers herself a fan. 'I've come to Bloody Scotland for over 10 years,' she said. 'It's my favourite weekend of the year and right on my doorstep. 'People don't think of places outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow. 'I mean, we've got Linwood Barclay in Stirling today – that's amazing.'
The Courier
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Courier
Revealed: The West Fife speed cameras most likely to catch drivers out - and the top speeds recorded
The speed cameras most likely to catch out drivers in West Fife have been revealed. There are six regular safety camera sites in Police Scotland's West Fife command area. This includes Dunfermline, Rosyth, Inverkeithing, Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and the surrounding towns and villages. New data obtained by The Courier through Freedom of Information (FOI) shows nearly 1,600 drivers were caught out in the region since April 2023. The top speeds recorded by officers on each stretch of road have also been revealed. The camera locations are listed below, from the highest to the lowest number of offences. The safety camera is located on the A92 westbound near Westerton Farm. A total of 979 offences were recorded at this location in the last two years. The speed limit on this stretch is 70mph, however, the highest speed recorded was 114mph. Of those caught out, 771 were issued with fines, while 149 were reported to court. Speed cameras operating from the A92 eastbound close to Westerton Farm recorded 265 offences in the same period. The highest speed recorded was 109mph. There were 185 fines issued and 45 drivers were reported to court. Police recorded 135 speeding offences on the A985 near Devilla Forest. The speed limit on the road is 60mph and the highest speed recorded was 85mph. Officers issued 101 fines and reported 16 drivers to court. There were 124 speeding offences recorded on the A985 west of Cairneyhill Roundabout. The highest speed recorded on this 60mph stretch was 85mph. Police handed out 98 fines and reported 17 drivers to court. The speed camera spot on the B981, south of the junction with the B916, caught 45 drivers out in the last two years. One motorist was clocked going at 60mph – the limit is 40mph. There were 38 fines issued and four drivers reported to court. Safety cameras positioned on Halbeath Road, near the junction with Scobie Place, recorded 38 offences. The speed limit here is 30mph and the highest speed recorded was 48mph. Officers handed out 33 fines and reported four drivers to court.
The Courier
7 days ago
- The Courier
Police probe hit-and-run on Dundee street
Police have launched an investigation after a motorist deliberately tried to run over two men in a Dundee street. The driver of a black Vauxhall Corsa appeared to target the pair on Balmoral Place in the city's Douglas area. The incident took place near the community centre and library just after 3.15pm on Tuesday. Footage – seen by The Courier – shows three men on foot before the car enters the street via Balmoral Avenue. The vehicle then accelerates towards one shirtless man, who rolls over the bumper but remains on his feet. The driver then turns the car towards a second man standing at nearby flats, striking him at speed and propelling him into the air before fleeing towards Balmoral Terrace. Despite the impact, neither man required medical treatment, and neighbours said the pair remained in the area following the incident. One woman said: 'It was scary seeing the footage of what happened. 'The lads who got hit didn't even leave the street, and then the uniformed police arrived. 'There were three or four officers on the street, and CID came back the next day to carry out door-to-door enquiries. 'All they told us was that an incident had happened. 'It's absolutely mental what's going on in Dundee just now.' Police confirmed the hit-and-run is believed to have been targeted. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: 'Police are appealing for witnesses following a hit-and-run in Dundee. 'Around 3.15pm on Tuesday, 10 June, officers were called to Balmoral Place after two men were deliberately struck by a black Vauxhall Corsa. 'They did not require medical treatment. 'The incident is believed to have been targeted and inquiries are ongoing.' Detective Inspector Craig Kelly said: 'We have been carrying out extensive inquiries, including reviewing CCTV. 'At this stage, I am asking the public if they witnessed this incident to please come forward.' 'Similarly, anyone with private CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist is urged to contact us.' Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2070 of 10 June, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Courier
7 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Inside the new Blairgowrie boutique selling new and preloved affordable wedding dresses
A new wedding dress shop is opening in Blairgowrie tomorrow. Bonnie Rose Bridal and Boutique, on the High Street, claims to be the first boutique of its kind in the Perthshire town. The shop sells affordable new and pre-loved wedding, prom and formal dresses, plus Ladies' Day outfits and accessories and gowns for children. The owner, Diane, is local to Blairgowrie and was her son's full-time carer before taking the leap to open the shop. She told The Courier she's dreamed of owning a dress boutique since 2017. 'I've had some stock for many years now, and I was going to sell it. 'My husband went, why are you selling it? Go for it. 'You want to do it, you know what you're doing, and you know your market. 'I used to love dressing my daughter and granddaughter up when they were little! 'There's also a loophole in the wedding industry, people are being ripped off and paying between £3,000 and £4,000 for a dress. 'I've got designer dresses here, but they're not three to four grand. 'My dresses are affordable, and most of them you don't need to pay upfront. 'My designer dresses are from a company called Phoenix Gowns – they're a big name down in London.' Diane said she will assess what items are the most popular and tailor her stock towards that. She added: 'People say to me, Why here? Why Blairgowrie? 'Perth and Kinross has several wedding venues. 'We have Scone Palace, Kinettles Castle, and Fingask Castle, for example. 'We've got the venues, so why not the bridal shops. 'Also, if you've got the right prices, people will travel – hopefully!' Bonnie Rose Bridal and Boutique will be open six days a week from Monday to Saturday. Elsewhere in Blairgowrie, The Courier was invited for a first look at a new wine bar and restaurant on the High Street.
