Best of the rest

Voice choices and flick picks

BEST DAY OUT

Denny ship experiment tank, Scottish Maritime Museum, Castle Street, Dumbarton 01389 763 444 www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/dumbart.htm

I would recommend a great day out at the Maritime Museum’s Denny tank experience – a 100-metre long test tank for ship models. Anne, the guide, is full of information and has a lot of good humour. After that, have a wander or drive to the ancient Dumbarton Castle on its famous rock, and see super views of the Clyde and the surrounding hills and mountains. The new “Sons of the Rock” football stadium is between the tank and the castle, and built on the site of the Denny shipyard slipways.

Jim Jarvie, Dunfermline

BEST ACTIVITY BREAK

Inversnaid Photographic Centre, Inversnaid Lodge, nr Aberfoyle, 01877 386 254 www.inversnaidphoto.com

If you want to brush up on photography, I would highly recommend the Inversnaid Photographic Centre, in Stirlingshire. A truly wonderful location with everything from wildlife to scenery to be captured on film. And you can expect first-class hospitality. Magic!

Steve Evans, Malta

BEST RESTAURANT

Palumbo’s, Balloch Rd, Balloch 01389 753 501.

Here they do delicious fish and chips, with either soup or ice-cream, bread and butter and a pot of tea for senior citizens at £5.40. Very good value.

Jim Jarvie, Dunfermline

BEST TASTE OF SPAIN

You’ll have a mighty long wait for a table at the Tapas Tree these days (Recommends last week) as it’s gone! The food may have been divine at one time but it’s now another branch of Urban Angel in this part of Forth Street – let’s hope any visitors don’t follow this particular “recommendation”.

Alan R, Edinburgh

BEST ICONIC EDINBURGH BUILDING

Surely the National Portrait Gallery in Queen Street has to be in there. A remarkable building, with a wonderful entrance hall and a mosaic frieze by William Hole of Scotland’s historic past.

Steve Evans, Malta

BEST ILLOGICAL LYRIC

In response to Harry Hunter’s choices of 11 June: “There is a green hill far away without a city wall”. Without is the archaic English equivalent of outwith. It just means that the hill is outside of the city. He also cites: “The lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want”, but Harry missed the comma – which is important! It means He will not leave me wanting.

Andrew Ashbridge

BEST STEVE MCQUEEN FILM

The Magnificent Seven would always be on my best Steve McQueen list.

Ancient Hibee, Edinburgh

BEST HORSE SONG

One of my all-time favourites is America’s Horse with no Name.

I have waited for Roy Rogers’ A Four Legged Friend to appear. It is good for a sing-song when coupled with Max Bygraves’ You’re a Pink Toothbrush. Anyone for best toothbrush songs?

Ancient Hibee, Edinburgh

BEST GOLF HOLE

The best hole in Scotland is the 8th at Gairloch golf course. A must to be played from the back tee.

George Burns, Larkhall

BEST MELLIFLUOUS SCOTS VOICE

1 Ruth Wishart, 2 Isabel Fraser, 3 George Rosie, 4 Margo MacDonald, 5 Sir Sean Connery, 6 Robbie Shepherd, 7 Iain Anderson (DJ), 8 Cathy MacDonald, 9 John Milne, 10 Viv Lumsden, 11 Ken Bruce. All of my choices are broadcasters and maybe their voices helped them up the career ladder. Also, I prefer women’s voices that are darker in tone. Overall, I think what attracts me most is the warmth of personality that is reflected in the depth of timbre. I expect there are books on the subject – the powers of vocal seduction!

Fiona Ross, Stirling

BEST COMIC ACTOR

Surely there was a mistake in David Paul’s top five Scottish comedy actors when no place was found for Jimmy Logan, who appeared in many plays including at least one season at Pitlochry Theatre. He was a fine comedian, but that did not prevent him from being a good actor too. What about John Laurie also? He may have become identified later with television’s Dad’s Army, but he gave a good performance in plays and films. I would recommend Laughter in Paradise, which also starred Alastair Sim. Will there be a Recommends on female actors? For I would nominate Una McLean as one of the best.

Peter Elston