Dear readers, autumn is here, the leaves are beginning to fall, but we’re by no means getting ready for hibernation here at Bell HQ. In fact, we’ve just hit 25,000 subscribers to this humble newsletter. It’s a big milestone for us on our second birthday. We might be a mere toddler, but we’re hitting our stride. And you can give us a wee hand up: if every one of you forwarded this newsletter, or recommended it to even a single pal, we’d be well on our way to the 50k mark before we’re even ready to wear our big boy troosers.
Over the weekend, Beth was sinking pints and reappraising her opinion on Glasgow’s king of comedy. Her review below. Calum went for a pleasant meander around Lenzie. Robbie, meanwhile, was sunning himself in Seville, eating his bodyweight in tapas and strolling its pastel streets. He wasn’t quite prepared for the 16°C temperature change yesterday morning, and is somewhat concerned about the pumpkin spice latte influencers popping up on his social feeds imminently.
Onto your briefing.
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Big Story: Fernhill — bought one week, ablaze the next
Late on Friday night, The Bell’s various inboxes blew up with messages from loyal Bellters informing us that our favourite shuttered private school was on fire. “Not in the least bit surprised. Something very suspicious is going on,” read one sent to Beth’s inbox.
As with all matters Fernhill, which shut and entered liquidation in dramatic fashion in June just as a fun day was kicking off, our phones were abuzz with rumours and suspicion from former staff and parents. All we can do is spell out the facts.
Counting the numbers
Between 2011 and 2014, Kathleen Boswell and her company Retronix loaned the school £1.8 million pounds to keep it going. The school’s land was used as security in the deal, meaning the largest stakeholder in the 3.5 hectare property was Boswell as the school lurched from one financial crisis to another. But now, we’ve uncovered a lot more than that.
Up until 10 days ago, the Catholic school's land was in the hands of liquidators, who’d taken over its previous owner Fernhill School Limited. But then, on 4 September, who should purchase the land, which includes its 1870 C-listed main house, but Kathleen Boswell.
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