Scientist turned artist mounts his biggest ever exhibition in Edinburgh
From our archives 5 years ago
A MAN who quit a career as a leading research scientist to become a painter is to have his biggest solo exhibition to date during the Edinburgh Festival. Henry Jabbour’s A Life More Human opens at Edinburgh’s Union Gallery on Drumsheugh Place tomorrow. Mr Jabbour, 57, left his job as a senior scientist at Edinburgh University’s Medical School in 2010 to learn to paint – and the risk paid off. Now, his richly-coloured figurative paintings, often inspired by people he knows, have won prizes and are being sought out by art collectors around the world. Mr Jabbour admits the decision to walk out on a career as a respected scientist was tough but says once he had immersed himself in art, he “didn’t look back”.
10 years ago
CELTIC could be handed a route back into the Champions League this season after Uefa opened an investigation into whether Legia Warsaw fielded an ineligible player in the teams’ third qualifying round tie. The Polish champions progressed comfortably to today’s draw for the play-off round by beating Ronny Deila’s side 4-1 in Warsaw then 2-0 at Murrayfield in Wednesday’s return leg. The 6-1 aggregate loss equalled the worst two-legged scoreline in Celtic’s history. That left the Scottish champions awaiting today’s Europa League play-off round draw but they could yet find themselves back in the Champions League after Legia released a statement revealing that Uefa were looking into the appearance of Bartosz Bereszynski in the second leg in Edinburgh.
25 years ago
PLANS for a multi-millionpound redevelopment of the run-down Ardrossan harbourside to include an improved ferry terminal and waterfront housing are about to be unveiled. The master plan for the 100- acre site has been drawn up by Clydeport. Discussions between project partners, including Enterprise Ayrshire and North Ayrshire Council, are nearing completion. Proposals may also include a change of ownership of the dilapidated, B-listed Eglinton Hotel, currently owned by one-time Scots singing legend Calum Kennedy. A £2.5 million blueprint for the project has already been drawn up by Clydeport. The company has been working with the local authority since 1996 in an effort to improve the economy of this part of North Ayrshire.
50 years ago
A COOL bank robber, smartly dressed and wearing sunglasses, escaped with £7,000 after threatening staff yesterday at the 536 Springburn Road branch of Royal Bank of Scotland, Glasgow. The man walked into the bank and pushed a note through the grille to Mrs Alexandra Wallis, aged 23, a teller. The note demanded cash, and said the man was armed. While she read the note, the raider stood patiently, one hand threateningly poised inside his jacket. As staff put £5 notes into a plastic bag provided by the man, customers only feet away were completely unaware a robbery was taking place.
100 years ago
THE East Lothian police wish to establish the identity of a woman’s body found floating in Aberlady Bay on Monday last. There is a supposition the woman belonged to Glasgow. The police supply the following description: Age, between 50 and 60; five feet three inches in height; grey hair; stout build; full set of false teeth in upper jaw; no teeth in lower jaw; blue serge skirt, pleat in front, pocket at each side; two woollen cardigans, one of fawn colour with pink and white stripe, print blouse.