ROBIN Webster has been elected as the new president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

He will take over from Stewart Henderson this week.

After qualifying as an architect in 1967, he partnered with Robin Spence to form their own firm.

During their partnership from 1972 - 1984, the practice won awards for its design of the Belsize Park Gardens residential project in Camden, and closer to home designed a new block for Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow.

In 1984 he was appointed Professor of Architecture at Robert Gordon University’s Scott Sutherland School, in Aberdeen.

He said: "I am honoured to be elected as next president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. I want to thank everyone who voted for me, and especially my supporters, who have challenged the status quo and argued for reform within the Incorporation.

"I expect that from now on we will operate a transparent organisation, fully compliant with the requirements of the byelaws and meet all good governance protocols.

"That said, the problems that face the built environment and the quality of architecture in Scotland will not go away just by reorganising our committees and procedures.

"It is essential that we address how we enable talent and create opportunity, how our work is valued, and how we work ethically to achieve the best possible results."

www.rias.org.uk

VANISHING Point theatre company has announced that Ann Louise Ross, a member of the Dundee Rep Ensemble, Natali McCleary and Ramesh Meyyeppan will be among the cast members for The Dark Carnival.

The Vanishing Point - A New International collaboration, which will premiere at the Citizens’ Theatre at Tramway next February.

The actors will join with already confirmed cast members Elicia Daly, Peter Kelly and Robertson Trust Citizens Theatre Actor Intern, Malcolm Cumming.

The Dark Carnival features sixteen performers and musicians.

Through songs, spoken word and visual imagery, they will "tell the story of newcomers to the afterlife who discover, much to their surprise, that death is not actually the end."

The production opens at the Citizens Theatre at Tramway on 21 February and then it moves to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and Dundee Rep in March.

www.vanishing-point.org

THE writer, poet and actor Angus Peter Campbell is to launch a new book at the Royal National Mod in Dunoon.

Constabal Murdo, a novel in Gaelic, is a "whodunnit", or detective novel, set on the Island of Barra.

The book follows the mystery of a valuable historic gold brooch, which has been stolen from Kismuil Castle.

The author, whoses book Memory and Straw was the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year, said: "The local bobby – Constable Murdo MacDonald from the Isle of Lewis (like an Englishman abroad!) – pursues seven suspects.

"Eventually two detectives from the mainland arrive to help, finding their biggest challenge is Murdo himself."

The book is described as a mix of detective noir "with a dash of Para Handy", and raise questions about the importance of community.

It is being published by Luath Press.

The book will be launched at the Royal National Mod in Dunoon on 17 October.

www.anguspetercampbell.co.uk