Remembering our friend - Charles Peter Kennedy (25 November 1959 – 1 June 2015) President Glasgow University Union - Alumnus, Honorary graduate & twice elected Rector @UofGlasgow.bsky.social One of the kindest, most gifted & personable politicians of his generation - who is very much missed 💙

Tonight’s movie choice - First Blood, the action classic from 1982. Starring among others - Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, and Brian Dennehy. Directed by Ted Kotcheff - with a wonderful musical score from Jerry Goldsmith.

Born on this day - Thomas Reid (26 April 1710 - 7 October 1796) Professor of Moral Philosophy @UofGlasgow.bsky.social He was buried at Blackfriars Church in the grounds of the Old College & his tombstone was later inserted into the Main Building when the university relocated to Gilmorehill.

Born on this day - James McCune Smith M.D (18 April 1813 -17 November 1865) American physician, apothecary, and abolitionist. He was the first African American to earn a medical degree - which was awarded to him by @UofGlasgow.bsky.social Our state of the art Learning Hub is named for him

Born on this day - Joseph Black (16 April 1728 - 6 December 1799) Alumnus & Professor of Anatomy and Chemistry @UofGlasgow.bsky.social Known for his discoveries of Magnesium, Latent heat, Specific heat and Carbon dioxide. Our Chemistry building is named for him.

HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021)

Did you know that the 2 chairs that sit at the side of the Chancel in our @UofGlasgow.bsky.social Memorial Chapel were gifted to us by Glasgow Cathedral in 1840. They are made from oak timbers from the Cathedral roof. They are used at wedding ceremonies & by our clergy during services.

Tonight’s movie choice - The Departed, the crime thriller from 2006. Starring among others - Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin. Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Wide awake, so watching a real favourite - McQ, the neo-noir crime action thriller from 1974. Starring among others - John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, Colleen Dewhurst, and Clu Gulager. Directed by John Sturges. Music by Elmer Bernstein.

This morning we are at Glasgow Cathedral for our annual service of thanksgiving - where in 1451 @UofGlasgow.bsky.social held its first teaching classes. Glasgow is 850 years old & for 574 years, the university has been at the forefront in educating & changing our world for the better.

Tonight’s movie choice - The Presidio. The crime thriller from 1988, starring among others - Sean Connery, Mark Harmon, Meg Ryan, and Jack Warden. Directed by Peter Hyams. I love the cinematography of Hyams movies - always edgy with the most wonderful music scores.

Our iconic Main building @[email protected] bathed in the colours of the rainbow for LGBT History Month. We will have these colours in place for a week.

At the moment, the world seems to grow ever more darker as the days pass. Let us always remember those perfect & happy days, and forget about those not so. For every dark day, there is a brighter tomorrow.

Traditionally, the second term of the academic year in Scotland's Ancient Universities was called Candlemas (Feb 2) the other dates are - Whitsunday, Martinmas, and Lammas. A tradition that we still observe, is changing the Pulpit fall cover at our Memorial Chapel to mark this.

Sitting with a fine malt & rewatching one of my absolute favourites - The Pelican Brief, the 1993 legal thriller. Starring among others - Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, and John Heard. Directed by Alan J. Pakula.

It is the start of Chinese New Year, so the South facade of our iconic Main building @UofGlasgow.bsky.social is bathed in red. Wishing all of our Chinese students, alumni & colleagues - good health, prosperity and happiness for the coming year.

Tomorrow, January 7th - is the 574th anniversary, since King James II of Scotland asked Pope Nicholas V to grant a Papal bull, authorising Bishop William Turnbull of Glasgow to set up a university. @uofglasgow.bky.social is the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world. Via Veritas Vita 💙

Today, on BBCTwo at 14:50 - Where Eagles Dare, the 1968 War action classic. Starring among others - Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, and Michael Hordern. Based on @uofglasgow.bsky.social alumnus - Alistair MacLean’s novel.

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” - President Jimmy Carter

Now watching - The Return of the Pink Panther, the comedy classic from 1975. Starring among others - Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom, and Burt Kwouk. Directed by Blake Edwards, another cheerful escape into the bungling world of Inspector Clouseau.

Finished early tonight, so my Christmas movie choice is a real favourite - L.A. Confidential, the neo-noir thriller from 1997. Starring a cornucopia of the best, including - Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kevin Spacey, David Strathairn, Danny DeVito, and Kim Basinger

Tonight’s Christmas movie choice - The Omen, the 1976 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner. Starring among others - Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Spencer Stephens, Billie Whitelaw, and Patrick Troughton.

44 years ago today - the world got a little bit darker. “All we are saying is give peace a chance” - John Lennon

This afternoon’s movie choice - Kiss the Girls, the neo-noir thriller from 1997. Starring among others - Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Brian Cox, Tony Goldwyn, and Cary Elwes. Based on James Patterson’s best selling thriller novel.

The Pink Panther Strikes Again - has just started. This comedy classic from 1976, is a real favourite of mine. Starring among others - Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Colin Blakely, Leonard Rossiter, and Lesley-Anne Down. This wonderful movie always makes me laugh ❤️

Tonight’s movie choice - Juror #2, the legal thriller from 2024. Directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring among others - Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J. K. Simmons, Chris Messina, and Kiefer Sutherland. Really looking forward to this one.

A photograph of all of the amazing workers who have spent the last 5 years restoring - Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. Merci 🇫🇷

Tonight’s Christmas movie choice - Die Hard, the action thriller from 1988, Directed by John McTiernan. Starring among others - Bruce Willis, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, William Atherton, Paul Gleason, Hart Bochner, and Alan Rickman in his film debut!

Tonight’s early evening movie choice - Poltergeist, the supernatural horror classic from 1982. Starring among others - JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, and Heather O'Rourke. Directed by Tobe Hooper & written by Steven Spielberg. “They’re Here”

Today, Charles Kennedy (1959-2015) would have turned 65. One of the most remarkable, kindest & compassionate of people to have walked through the gates at Gilmorehill. Graduate, Honorary Graduate & twice elected Rector @uofglasgow.bsky.social One of UofG’s greatest & very much missed 💙

Special Ops: Lioness - is one of those TV shows that grips you from the very beginning. Each episode draws you further into the frontline war on terror & what it takes to get the job done. The strong female cast is perfect - after all, the lioness is the most fiercest of all!

Wishing Sir Billy Connolly a very happy 82nd birthday. @UofGlasgow.bsky.social was one of the very first to recognise his contribution to the arts & culture - awarding him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2001, during our 550th anniversary celebrations

For the rest of this week we will have the South facade of our Main building @UofGlasgow.bsky.social lit up purple to show support for - Children’s Grief Awareness Week. Many of our amazing Students & Colleagues are part of a team #BuildingHope for bereaved children and young people 💜

Columbo, is officially the most globally watched detective TV series of all time. Every single day, around the world - there are still episodes being shown & attracting younger fans. 69 episodes over 35 years!

Now watching one of my favourites - McQ, the neo-noir crime thriller from 1974. Starring among others - John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, Al Lettieri, Colleen Dewhurst, and Clu Gulager. Directed by John Sturges - this was Wayne’s 1st venture into the world of Dirty Harry.

It’s the start of Christmas movie season, so tonight’s choice is - Lethal Weapon, the action classic from 1987. Starring among others - Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, and Mitchell Ryan. Directed by Richard Donner & one of my firm favourites.

Tonight’s movie choice - Sleeping With The Enemy, the psychological thriller from 1991. Starring among others - Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, and Kevin Anderson. A woman is forced to change her looks & her identity, to escape the most dangerous man she's ever known, her husband.

Really enjoying - The Day of the Jackal, the 2024 TV series. Starring among others - Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Úrsula Corberó, and Charles Dance. It’s a classy political spy thriller - wonderfully casted & great storyline. If you like Bond & Bourne, you’ll enjoy this.

Sunday mornings movie choice - Irwin Allen’s ‘The Poseidon Adventure’, the 1972 disaster classic. Starring among others - Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, and Jack Albertson. Directed by Ronald Neame.

Tonight’s movie choice - American Gangster, the biographical crime thriller from 2007. Starring among others - Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Ruby Dee. Directed by Ridley Scott.

“You're not drunk - if you can lie on the floor without holding on” - Dean Martin

A big thank you to our amazing window glazing company for coming in on a Saturday morning to repair some broken windows at our Main building. The grand old lady of Gilmorehill is over 150 years old & deserves only the very best! @uofglasgow.bsky.social