Ahead of his upcoming show at Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock, comedian Chris Forbes chats to us about his upbringing in Bridge of Weir, moving to America at 16 and more Although he may be hurtling towards Aberdeen for a run of shows that weekend, Bridge of Weir-born comedian Chris Forbes remains an engaging...
Read MoreBrian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new crime novel, The Thief Takers by Patrick Pringle Notions of freedom proved an almost insuperable barrier to Britain having a competent police force for hundreds of years. In Europe, the land-based armies required to be maintained in case of war with a...
Read MoreBrian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new crime novel, A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton Every now and then a crime novel hits the bulls-eye. Until now Glasgow writer Douglas Skelton has been better known for non-fiction and his contemporary crime series featuring journalist Rebecca Connolly. That’s going to...
Read MoreReunited – the original Slab Boys and Girls remember the inspiration behind John Byrne’s iconic play It took Paisley to Broadway and has had Hollywood heavyweights including Sean Penn, Robbie Coltrane and Kevin Bacon playing its much-loved characters – but now, some of the original Slab Boys and Girls who worked with renowned Scottish...
Read MoreAhead of the Abbey Books Summer Book Festival, organiser Brian Hannan interviews historical crime novelist Steven Veerapen What attracted you to the period of Henry VIII – the setting for Of Judgement Fallen? I’ve loved reading about this period since childhood – from Horrible Histories to the old 70s drama series on Henry and his...
Read MoreBrian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews 16 Incle Street by Jeff Holmes Few Paisley addresses are as notorious as 16 Incle Street. For it was there in 1924 that Joe Gallacher. Aged 29, slashed his wife’s throat with a razor. Ordinarily, he would have been an automatic candidate...
Read MoreRegarded as one of the world’s finest DJs, Judge Jules is bringing his 10-piece band to Ingliston Estate & Country Club for an evening of spellbinding dance classics. In an exclusive interview with Mill, he discusses the show, his lifelong love of music, changes in the industry and more… Since his teenage years, Judge...
Read MorePaisley Museum team uncovers links to Scotland’s Victorian lost world champion runner, William Cummings The team behind the £45 million refurbishment of Paisley Museum have unearthed the story behind a Paisley distance runner who was the Mo Farah of his time. William Cummings, was born in 1858 in Paisley, to a family of shoemakers....
Read MoreBrian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new book, The Renfrewshire Victoria Crosses by Graham Fulton Paisley poet Graham Fulton has commemorated the actions of the five Paisley men awarded the country’s highest wartime honour – the Victoria Cross – in battles from the Crimean War to World Two. These...
Read MoreBrian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley reviews another fantastic book, The Earth Is Weeping by Peter Cozzens This award-winning history of the Indian Wars in America is so even-handed you won’t find a single mention of the word “genocide”. That’s about the only flaw in this magnificent history of a war that lasted nearly...
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