Sectarianism - 'First step in dropping the old baggage'

IF Alex Salmond is looking for inspiration as he attempts to tackle Scotland's sectarian blight, he could do far worse than pay a visit to Broomhouse.

There have, in the recent past, been some ugly scenes at the joint campus shared by St Joseph's RC and the non-denominational Broomhouse primaries at least partly fuelled by sectarian prejudices.

But the pupils and their parents have managed to bury their differences and thrown themselves into a highly successful fund-raising campaign making 14,000 for new playground equipment.

It would be all too easy to draw glib conclusions about how open-minded children can put bigoted adults to shame, although that is a truth that should not be forgotten.

The genuine success story at Broomhouse has been achieved through a well-thought-out and sensitively implemented plan.

Children who once abused each other across the school fence have been drawn together through, among other things, their love of sport and games.

Much of the First Minister's concentration so far appears to have been on tackling the headline-grabbing actions of a poisonous minority of football fans.

The debate over whether to officially blacklist the offensive chants heard at games involving the Old Firm and make singing them a criminal offence - something Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has ruled out - shows just one of the pitfalls and limitations in this approach.

Action is certainly needed in and around some football grounds and the legislation planned by the Scottish Government may yet have a significant impact.

But, as former First Minister Jack McConnell knew well, there are no quick solutions when it comes to eradicating sectarianism.

Whatever we do in the courts and at sports stadiums, the longer-term work of educating the next generation has to remain the main goal.

Pip pip, Pippa!

The Middleton magic is unmistakable even in the 20-year-old student strutting her stuff on the catwalk to help raise 40,000 for Maggie's Centre.

With these photographs from the Evening News archives, Pippa has left us a great reminder of her time in Edinburgh, during which she was one of the stars of the Edinburgh University Charity Fashion Show.

We only hope that she has just as good memories of her stay in the Capital, long before she became sister-in-law to the heir to the throne.