Paisley born-and-bred, Seán Batty may have become a staple of our screens but he has never forgotten the places and experiences that made him. Here, he talks about his career journey and his plans to give back by educating the younger generations Just as he is on television, Seán Batty immediately comes across as...
Read MoreSet the Controls for the Heart of The Club Bar in Paisley, a poem by Graham Fulton Scotland have just beaten Croatia 1-0 in Zagreb when we least expect it, and to add to the amplified wash of unreality the pub is now playing back to back songs by Pink Floyd beginning with ‘Set...
Read MoreCaledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan, reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes Caledonian Road, penned by three times Booker Prize-nominated Andrew O’Hagan, is a literary giant destined to become a classic. Campbell Flynn is a middle-aged celebrity commentator and art historian. Coming from humble beginnings in Glasgow, he rises to the upper echelons of the...
Read MoreThe beloved Abbey Books is still going strong four decades into its existence, we find out more from shop manager Brian Hannan The phrase hidden gem is bandied about a lot in popular culture. It can be applicable to anything from a deep cut on a record to a little eatery that’s flown under...
Read MoreChristopher Priest, the author who is best-known for providing the source novel for The Prestige by Christopher Nolan donates 2,000 books Abbey Books manager Brian Hannan was astonished to see a giant delivery truck draw up outside the premises in Wellmeadow Street last week. He was even more surprised when the contents were unloaded....
Read MoreThe Deceit by Bobby Motherwell They rise from the scrapes like windblown leaves, a deceit of sixty plus Lapwings. From white to black they flicker in flight. Pages of flip art motion. Escapees against a smothering sky. They mesmerise. Daring me to distraction to Goosander and Widgeon and Great Crested Grebe bobbing nearby. Spiralling...
Read MoreBrian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, takes a look at the work of Paisley’s Thomas Barbour Thomas Barbour achieved local fame in unusual fashion. His poems were exclusively published during his lifetime by the Paisley Daily Express. And he wasn’t living in Paisley at the time, so his works...
Read MoreGaining renown for her role as Jane Seymour in the hit musical Six, Paisley’s Erin Caldwell talks us through her journey to theatre’s most prestigious stages There’s a lot to be said for never relinquishing your dreams even when external forces threaten to derail it and the current career trajectory of Erin Caldwell epitomises...
Read MoreAt a time of exciting transition for the region, Future Paisley are positioning themselves at the forefront of innovation and growth You might not have heard of Future Paisley, but it’s likely you’ve come across an event, community project or service that’s been supported by it. The partnership programme, led by Renfrewshire Council, has...
Read MoreFrom Still Game to Tutti Frutti and beyond, Gavin Mitchell discusses Boaby, John Byrne and a whole lot more ahead of his show at The Bungalow in May Gavin Mitchell, your current tour is a retrospective of thirty years on stage and screen. Did you ever think you’d reach this milestone? Well, actually it’s...
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