The first decade of devolution
Emma Seith spoke to young people on their thoughts on Scotland, the Parliament and Her Majesty Last October, the Scottish Parliament began the hunt for the 163 babies born on July 1, 1999 - the day it was `reconvened’. Its quest appeared on the national news, appeals were launched in local newspapers and schools were contacted. On Wednesday, more than 100 children attended a party with the Queen at Holyrood to celebrate. Emma Seith spoke to a few to find out the sort of young people they had become, their thoughts on Scotland, the Parliament and Her Majesty Quiet. Gym, then maths and writing. I most like my friends and dislike language. They ask questions and you have to answer in sentences. It’s hard to make the words into sentences. A picture of me and my dad on a roller coaster in Disneyland Paris. It goes upside down and my dad had to take his glasses off. A football player. In a warm country like Spain. It’s quite rainy here. Darren Fletcher - he’s a footballer (mid-fielder) who plays with Manchester United. And Robert the Bruce - we are doing a project on him. He killed John Comyn in a church. I like him because he killed people. . play football and eat chocolate. . leave me alone. Good. Rich, fancy, old. Just normal. Haggis. I had it once, but I don’t think I touched it. It looked really horrible. My favourite is chicken and beans. I thought it was cool. I told people at school. Yes. They are in charge of Scotland. They make rules up and stuff like that. It’s a cool shape. Alex Salmond. I have heard of it, but our school hasn’t been doing anything about it. It’s about Scottish people coming back to Scotland. Happy, outgoing and funny. My teacher said I was funny. At Halloween, you have to say jokes or poems, so I told her two jokes. I like a lot - reading, drama, art, music and maths. My medal I got because I was born on July 1. Only 150-odd children got them, so it’s very special to me. I’d like to be a teacher or a designer. I’d like to design outfits but I’d probably prefer to be a teacher. I think I’d like that job and hopefully I’d be good at it because I like all the subjects at school. I’d want to stay in Scotland because I’m Scottish and proud. Andy Murray and Alexander Fleming. . try and make it a better place to live. I would stop knife crime and gangs and all the bad things people do. On the news you hear things about people stabbing each other and gangs attacking people and I hate seeing about it. That puts me in a bad mood. They just do it for no reason. . take the views of children into consideration I think it will be very exciting and memorable. I am extremely excited. I know what I’m going to wear but I don’t want to tell about it. But it’s lovely. Polite, a great ruler and very powerful. Very polite and nice. Haggis. I’ve never tried it, but I hear it’s spicy and I don’t like spicy food. I feel honoured and very excited. Very. They control things like schools and roads and hospitals. Stuff like that - it’s very powerful. It’s spectacular. Alex Salmond. Some of my friends tell me that I’m funny, but I’m also kind of shy. Now it’s maths, but most of the time it’s art. That would have to be a book. You should see the stack I have in my room. I’ve got about nine boxes full of books, but my favourite is probably Oor Wullie and the Broons. I would like to be an actress and a singer. I’ve always wanted to act because you have to have a good memory to act. I remember the words for songs and sometimes when we’re doing plays. I’d like to live in Helmsdale, up north. You can catch good fish there, they’ve got a good fishing spot, and the villagers are friendly. William Wallace because he tried to free Scotland. I don’t know much about him, though, because I did Egypt and the other class did him. . go to one of my favourite places, China Buffet King. I went with my friend and we had two starters, two full meals and five puddings. My friend never gets full but after five puddings she went: “I can’t eat any more.” I said: “Pardon, am I hearing right?” because she was once here and finished two full plates and said she was still hungry. I’m looking forward to it because I’ve got a camera to take pictures. I went shopping and Aunty Carol bought a different coloured orange flowery dress. I’m going to wear that - the only problem is I don’t have shoes to wear. I know she likes a kind of dog but I can’t remember the name. Yorkie or corkie, but yorkie is chocolate. And there’s the Queen’s birthday. I can’t remember the month. She might be quite good, to be honest, because on TV I’ve seen her on the news and she’s not really strict or anything. Haggis. I’ve had it but I didn’t like it. I can’t remember why. They handed the letter into the school and people in the office phoned my mum and told her all about it but when she got the letter she ripped it up and put it in the bin, because she thought: “Right, we’re on holiday”. Then they said in the news they were looking for two people - one in Johnstone and one in Paisley - so we’re going. Yes, but I can’t think why. No. Gordon Brown. I am happy. Reading Golden time when we just play with toys on Fridays. I like the Playmobil garage. I dislike maths. It’s just really hard and boring. I have three. My cars, my bike and my tools. My tools are just for helping my dad sometimes on tractors, sometimes on vans and sometimes on cars. When he’s at home, he’s a mechanic. He was a fisherman but he left. A Land Rover or tractor mechanic. Tong. William Wallace, Greyfriars Bobby and Chris Hoy. William Wallace fought for Scotland. I know about him because I watched Braveheart. We read about Greyfriars Bobby in class once. I’ve got a dog and a rabbit. I was watching the Olympics when Hoy won, it was fantastic. . stop moaning . organise the biggest rally in Scotland with quadbikes, tractors, mopeds and cars and all nine year olds would be allowed to have driving licences for the day. It’ll be fun and exciting and I will be happy I’m famous for a day. I don’t really mind. Black cabs, horses and jewels. Happy, quiet and friendly. Haggis - cooked. I didn’t really like it. It was minty. Yes. Don’t they organise everything that’s happening in Scotland? Alex Salmond. Very funny. I tell lots of jokes and I make my friends laugh a lot. I get my jokes off my dad or out of books. Art. I dislike learning the language German. We are learning the alphabet and days of the week. My mum and dad. A singer and an actress. You would be really famous and get lots of money. In the United States of America. It’s always sunny. Gordon Brown. He is the prime minister and he is Scottish. And Robert Burns. He was a poet. I have been to his house in Ayr. It is really interesting and historical, and you can go into the museum and there are cafes and shops.Ewan Carmichael, Kirkcaldy West Primary, Fife
Megan Malfredini, St Anthony’s Primary, North Ayrshire
Rowan Houston, Thorn Primary, Renfrewshire
Ross Beaton, Tong Primary, Lewis
Amy Carmichael, Balmuildy, Primary, East Dunbartonshire