Every day, tourists in Glasgow pass several locations that represent a story so nightmarish it feels like Halloween-inspired fiction. However, it's true.
The bizarre tale of the Gorbals Vampire is outlandish to the extent that it forced me to pause in the middle of a Scottish street to try and verify it.
I had just spotted a huge mural of this mercurial beast in central Glasgow. After some research, I discovered how in the 1950s, gangs of children roamed the city’s cemeteries hunting a supernatural creature terrorising the city.
While the world brims with stories of infamous monsters – from America's Big Foot and Romania's Dracula to the Himalayan yeti – few people outside of Glasgow would know of the Gorbals Vampire. My unexpected discovery of it was fitting given the curious and eerie experiences I’d been having up until that point in Scotland’s biggest city.
My day had revolved around a controversial skeleton and a miraculous witch's son. The latter is St Mungo, Glasgow’s founder and patron saint, who was thrown from a cliff as a baby but survived to become a revered monk. After visiting historical sites linked to Mungo, I sought out the skeletal remains of St Valentine, though they have never been verified, on display at the Duns Scotus Friary church.
The Gorbals Vampire only leapt into my life because I couldn’t find a taxi after leaving the church. As I walked west along Ballater Street, I saw a big, pale hand stretching towards me. It belonged to a six-metre-tall vampire spray-painted on a railway overpass.
My first thought was to dismiss it as another generic piece of street art. With veiny skin, glowing red eyes and menacing fangs, this figure standing in a graveyard was a classic depiction of a vampire. I wouldn’t even have stopped to ponder it if not for the text beneath.
This explained how, in 1954, Glasgow was spooked by reports of a ghostly figure in the city’s Gorbals district. Some witnesses claimed it was two metres tall. Others described it as having shiny, metallic teeth. More still believed it to be a creature not of this world.
All that wild speculation triggered fear and panic among residents who'd long heard of vampires and stories as part of Scotland's centuries-old mythology. They include the notorious Baobhan Sith, said to haunt the Scottish Highlands, where beautiful women with hooves for feet would prey on nomads and drink their blood.
In the current internet-filtered era, such legends are easily debunked. However, only a few decades ago superstitions and folklore had far greater influence. Glasgow of the 1950s is a case in point. Perhaps out of terror, maybe motivated by fun, or even seeking mischief, Glaswegians circulated the Gorbals Vampire tale so widely that even the city’s children became gripped by it.
Had I heard of such a roaming ghoul when I was a boy growing up in Perth, Australia, I would have been scared to head outdoors at night. The children of Glasgow, however, decided to go on the attack. When word spread that two students had allegedly been devoured by the Gorbals Vampire, children reacted with fury.
News reports from September 1954 state hundreds swarmed out of their homes to seek revenge. Wary of the supposedly lethal powers of this towering beast, they armed themselves. Some wielded sticks, others had knives or rocks. If the vampire showed its head, it would be met with the force of an army of angry boys and girls.
This impromptu child infantry swarmed cemeteries, which they believed to be the home of this shadowy being. Their patrols spread as far as one of the city’s landmarks and tourist sites, the Glasgow Necropolis. While cemeteries aren’t typically attractions, this sprawling burial ground lures many visitors due to being decorated by beautiful gardens and an array of magnificent 19th-century tombs.
It also attracts tourists thanks to being next to the spectacular Glasgow Cathedral, where St Mungo is buried. Eventually, after three nights of furiously searching, this city’s children gave up their hunt. Many adult Glaswegians, meanwhile, were so shocked by what had happened, they began their own hunt.
They pinned the blame on the corrupting influence of eerie tales being told in popular comic books, which ended with the UK enshrining laws restricting the sale of horror-themed material to children.
The strange incident eventually faded from view and became a distant memory, until recently. It has experienced a resurgence in attention on the back of several stage plays based on its story – and a certain wall mural. Now, as Halloween approaches, the Gorbals Vampire may once more haunt the city’s streets.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
UAE SQUAD
UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards
Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
More on animal trafficking
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Honeymoonish
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MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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Available: Now
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
PRISCILLA
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LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
