13/08/2012 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news:

After a record breaking Olympics for Scottish athletes, attention

now turns to the Glasgow Commonwealth games.

Organisers of 2014 have been in London to try to bring some Olympic

glory to Glasgow. Also in the programme - the jury at

the Jenny Methven murder trial sees an apparent suicide note written by

the accused after her death. And can the success of the Olympics

inspire older people to stay active. We have got an exercise bike and a

trampoline. What do people say when they see you on the trampoline?

They think it is hysterical. It's transfixed much of the nation

for the last fortnight but the Olympics has finally drawn to a

close. The curtain has come down on the 2012 London Games, the most

successful ever for Scottish athletes. What will that success

mean for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games? In a moment we'll be live at

the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow where Laura Bicker looks

ahead to what it will mean for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. But

first our Olympics correspondent Kheredine Idessane looks back on

the most memorable moments for Team GB's Scottish competitors. A strong

Scottish theme ran through these Games right from the start, from

pop star Emily Sunday at the opening ceremony, to Sir Chris Hoy

leading in Team GB. Daniel Purvis' team bronze was Scotland's first

ever gymnastics medal. There were more successes, in the rowing.

Heather Stanning 1 Team GB's first rowing medal of the Games before

Katherine Grainger upgraded. Highfield this medal of four of

them is a people's medal because so many people have been behind me.

Spectacular excess in the two-man canoe slalom - gold for Tim Baillie

and sulphur for David Florence. In the pool, a silver medal. I am in

the sport to win major medals. incredible home support in London

lifted Team GB to new Olympic heights, and nowhere was that more

evident than hear it in the Velodrome where Scotland's greatest

Olympian rode his bike into history. That is his sixth gold medal!

is a headline for you - Andy Murray, Wimbledon winner. A gold medal in

the singles and mixed doubles silver medal. The gold-medal

standard was also met by Scott Brash in the team event, and a

silver medal in the sailing. The hockey team took a bronze medal, by

which time it was already Scottish athletes' best-ever Olympics. A

small nation can deliver, can achieve success on the world stage

and if we believe in ourselves this is something we can take forward

for the Commonwealth Games. As the curtain comes down on London 2012,

Scotland's athletes leave the Olympic stage as record-breakers,

winning seven gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze

medals. The challenge now is to maintain the momentum as Glasgow

prepares to host the Commonwealth Games in two years.

Well Laura Bicker is at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in the east end

of Glasgow for us this evening. How can the 2014 Games organisers make

sure that momentum is maintained? The Bar has been set pretty high.

Organisers, speaking to them, seem determined they can keep the

momentum into 2014 but there is a lot of work to be done at the

Velodrome and other venues throughout Glasgow. There is even a

need for more hotels to be built. Such is the determination to keep

that magic that we are not even allowed in the Velodrome tonight.

They want to leave that until the big reveal later in the year, but

organisers have been down in London watching very carefully and seeing

what lessons can be learned. the Scots who just missed out on a

gold medal and those who feel they can do better.... There is a second

chance. Olympians will now be looking towards 2014, where it is

hoped one of our greatest Scots will compete. Officials have been

working behind the scenes to learn lessons from the Olympics on

ticketing and security, but also on engaging an audience. One of the

best lessons is not to underestimate people's enthusiasm

and interest and devotion to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It will be

a life-changing experience for Glasgow and Scotland. This was the

level of enthusiasm that followed the torch relay around Scotland. It

proves how uninspired and spellbound a nation can become, but

could Scotland be missing out on the biggest Olympic legacy -

inspiring a new generation? After this unprecedented Olympic success,

the UK government is poised to introduce a new competitive sports

physical education programme in primary school. Could Scotland

follow suit? A have to be careful not to do this to the disadvantage

of other students. When you talk to athletes, so many of them tried go

different sports before they found the one for them. Preparations for

the next festival of sport are well under way.

Organisers have come away from London 2012 with three main lessons

- ticketing, we do not want empty seats. Secondly, security.

Hopefully the army will not need to step in. Thirdly, when things went

wrong in London, they need to step in quickly to put them right and

they hope if anything does go wrong they will have learnt from 2012 and

they can put things right in 2014. Even if they manage to capture a

tiny essence of what we have seen over the last few weeks, this place

could be a special place to be in two years.

A jury at the trial of a man accused of murdering 80 year old

Jenny Methven at her home in Perthshire has been shown an

apparent suicide note he wrote a month after her death. In the note

William Kean writes of his love for his family but also describes how

he has been feeling low and depressed for two or three months.

Aileen Clarke reports. The first witness this morning was Kathleen

Macpherson. She told the court she is the neighbour of an elderly man

whom the accused William Kean did some work for. On 19th March, that

neighbour telephoned her and said he was concerned about the note

William Kean left in the greenhouse. She was so concerned she called the

police. Another neighbour found a knife covered in blood nearby. In

Dr Amy Bingham assessed William Kean when he was admitted to a

psychiatric hospital in Perth. She said he had told her he had been

feeling low for several months. This afternoon constable Stuart

Ramsay took the jury through CCTV which he said placed the car

William Kean was using at the time near Jenny Methven's cottage on the

day she died. William Kean denies murdering Jenny Methven and he has

lodged a special defence, blaming her son David.

You're watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on the

programme: Ministers from around the world gather in festival-

focussed Edinburgh for the first international cultural summit. And

can our athletes' medal haul inspire our older people to stay

active? In sport, a place for Black in the

Scotland squad despite now plying his trade in the third division.

And the pioneers of the women's game who blazed the trail allowing

success for today's players. The former Prime Minister Gordon

Brown has used Sir Chris Hoy's success at the Olympics to support

his argument that Scotland is better off as part of the union.

He's been giving the Donald Dewar Lecture memorial lecture at the

Edinburgh book festival. Perhaps that is one of the lessons I take

from the Olympics and Chris Hoy has made the point for me. When we

share resources for the common good, it is often the case that the

benefit is far greater than would have occurred if we had just added

up the parts. Glen Campbell is in Edinburgh for us tonight. What else

did he say? He lectured on British values as prime minister, today he

was lecturing on Scottish values. Distinctive values of community and

justice, which in his view have helped to build the United Kingdom

and underpin the principle that we share resources across the UK.

Without that he suggested Scottish taxes what have to go up, otherwise

spending would need to be cut, but there would be a race to the bottom

across these islands in wages, in social security benefits and other

areas as well. As you have heard, suggesting that even the Olympic

performance would not be as good. That is heavily disputed by

nationalists. An independent Scotland would do fantastically

well. Sports stars like Andy Murray and Chris Hoy would be extremely

successful. Andy Murray affected his skills in Spain alongside

Rafael Nadal, and any sports person would go to any country they could

to perfect their skills. On another matter tonight, news about an

inter-governmental arrangement about the independence referendum

perhaps? The UK and Scottish government have been talking about

the referendum today. The UK government indicating that they are

nearer to agreeing the timetable for reaching an agreement on what

referendum will have, what form it will take, and when it will be held.

The Scottish government don't seem quite as convinced that as much

progress has been made. They aim to hold the vote in 2014. It will be a

long campaign, and it is clear tonight that Gordon Brown will be

making another speech in 10 days offering a critique of saw the

alternatives being offered to independence. He is very clear he

believes in more devolution, but not full tax and spend powers for

Holyrood. A child from South Ayrshire has

died in hospital after contracting the bacterial infection, e coli

0157. A public health consultant said it was not part of a wider

outbreak and there was no particular risk to the general

public. The child, thought to be a girl aged eight, died in the Royal

Hospital for Sick Children in A drug for a men with prostate

cancer has been approved for use in Scotland. The move was welcomed by

the Prostate Cancer Charity. It is not available elsewhere in the UK.

Two people have been taken to hospital after their vintage Moth

their plane crashed last night at this airfield. There will not be a

compromise designed for Union Terrace Gardens, a tycoon has

pledged money towards the scheme. A 50-year-old from air will who died

on Sunday morning has prompted a police appeal. Home sellers are

having to settle for prices around 10% lower than the asking price. In

Edinburgh the average property is being sold for slightly more than

the asking price. Knox Academy in Haddington have scooped top prizes

at an awards ceremony in London. There are more stories from your

area or on BBC Scotland's website. Have you been inspired by what

you've seen at the Olympics, but feel you're too old to take up

competitive sport? A conference in Glasgow this week is being told

that it's never too late. The organisers say that people aged 70

and over should, instead of slowing down, make more of an effort to

keep fit. Our health correspondent Eleanor Bradford has been finding

out more. This is the world over 80s table tennis championships. It

is the subject of a new film. Then you're 70s, 80s and even 90s and

One hundreds, it is important to keep fit. So why do so many over

70s feel like this? I have a bad hip so I am not sure that I want to

take part in physical activity. There comes a time when you just

cannot take part in these things. The recommended exercise for over

70s is 30 minutes per day but research suggests that only 7% of

elderly people actually get that. A conference in Glasgow this week

wants to change attitudes. When you are younger you have extra strength

and capacity so can get away with being a little bit unfit but when

you get to 60 you use as much as you can of your fitness, you

probably get problems walking at six or seven mph, that is not

illness it is just a UN fitness. This man took up rowing at the age

of 78. He has come from his home in Switzerland to explain how to get

the perfect beach body over 70. used to be a row were and watching

them in the Olympics inspired me. We have got a trample lean. What do

people say when the sea you one you're Tamburlaine? They think it

is hysterical! The perfect exercise to begin with his walking. It is

easy, natural and you do not need to wear like her. -- lycra.

Ministers from 30 countries have been gathering in Edinburgh for the

first International Cultural Summit. The event at the Scottish

Parliament includes delegates from Brazil, Japan and Russia as well as

from developing countries like Malawi, Bangladesh and Tanzania.

Our arts correspondent Pauline McLean reports. A traditional

welcome in the Scottish Parliament but this is no ordinary session.

Delegates from 30 nations are gathered here for the UK's first

cultural summit. Politicians and ministers get together from around

the world, why not culture. There is a strong sense in which culture

is moving up the political agenda so we thought now was the right

time. In Edinburgh, in the midst of festival season it seemed the

obvious occasion. These Irish artists were on display. The Irish

Minister was keen to come along. a time of banking collapse we

thought it was important to get together here in the UK and across

Europe. Edinburgh's many festivals are worth millions to the local

economy and even more to the international profile. If we are

going to have dialogues at difficult times between nations,

culture is a very good way of building Trust and we hope that

happens at this summit. To Moro there will be discussions and

debate about funding, how to raise it and maintain it in tough times.

To sport now, Dougie, and something called football? Or culture as we

call it in sport! The Scotland assistant manager Peter Houston has

insisted no player will be overlooked for the national squad,

regardless of the division in which they play. Ian Black, playing in

the Third Division with Rangers, has been brought into the squad to

face Australia. By Ian Black will this week make the transition from

the Third Division player to international player. It is not an

easy transition said the manager last week. But the door is closed

to No 1. The door is always open to any player, whatever division the

RN. If they are playing well it means we have got a decision to

make. It has been misconstrued what was said last week. -- whatever

division they are in. The World Cup qualifiers are only one month away.

People from lower divisions have got a chance to play at an

international level. We have some tough decisions to making the next

month. A good start is absolutely crucial if Scotland are to get back

to a major finals for the first time in 16 years. For now the

challenge is to beat Australia and they go into the qualifying

campaign with the hope of a good result. In the last few minutes,

Glasgow City football club beat Noroc Nimoreni of Moldova to go top

of group 8 in the UEFA Women's Champions League. City were

Scotland's most successful team in Europe last season reaching the

last 16 of the competition. But achievement in the women's game is

not something that's happened overnight, as David Currie explains.

This is the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park. And new

exhibition shows that the woman's game has an equally long, if no

less well known, St. -- history. The first game was as Scotland

versus England match. In the early 20th century when suffragettes were

marching for equal rights the popularity of women's football was

growing. Even towards the end of the 20th century it was not easy

for women to play the game They laughed. I had to play in the boys'

club saw I had to get a short back and sides and the local barbers to

get a chance to play. She was then the winning side in Italy in the

1980s. This woman took a team on a tour of Scotland in 1896. She

caught scarlet fever but if you want to find out how the story ends

you might have to visit the exhibition. As we heard earlier in

the programme, it has been the most successful Olympic games ever for

Scotland's Athletes. But for one, it ended in bitter disappointment.

Modern pentathlete, Mhari Spence, arrived in London as a firm

favourite to win a medal but the world champion struggled to recover

after knocking down four fences and incurring time penalties during the

show jumping phase. I have had a really good year. The last two

years actually have been really great. This is what I wanted. Yeah.

It is hard. Yes, it is obviously quite emotional. And tomorrow night

Rhona McLeod and John Beattie are presenting a special Sport Nation

with highlights from the Olympics reflecting the record medal total

achieved by Scottish athletes. And that is all the sport for this

evening. I am going to miss it. The Olympics are over and so it seems

this summer. Yes, London 2012 might be over but we are back to talking

about summer 2012 and that might be over. We swap high pressure for a

low pressure. That will bring in rain and at times strengthening

winds. There could be trained and there will be some brightness in

between the unsettled spells. This evening there will be some rain,

heavy at times particularly up the east coast. Elsewhere it will be

drier, still one or two showers. Certainly not a cold night. Very

mild in fact. No worse than 13 degrees. The showers will push

northwards tomorrow, there is a mixture of the showers and bright

skies. Feeling quite pleasant in the sunshine but rather humid and

some showers could be heavy and thundery. Further north it will be

a wet day. Rather it different in Shetland from what we saw today.

Into the evening the showers will fade away from the mainland. On

Wednesday we will see another area of low pressure starting to work

its way end but it should stay away from our shores for much of the day.

Wednesday should be OK for us. In the brightness feeling warm and

humid. The rain may work its way northwards overnight leaving a

cleaner and brighter day on Thursday. Rather unsettled but that

is par for the course in this bronze-medal winning summer. Now a

summary of the main stories. Thousands of officials, athletes

and spectators are heading home from the London Olympics. They have

been the most successful ever for Scottish athletes. The look ahead

now is to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. The man accused of

murdering t a sharp has appeared before magistrates. An official