Dundee

:For other uses see Dundee (disambiguation)

Modern Dundee

Employment

Dundee has never regained its status as a major manufacturing centre. In the 1960s and 70s the arrival in the city of three major companies — Michelin, NCR (the NCR plant being nicknamed "The Cash" among Dundonians), and Timex — went some way to alleviating unemployment. Timex closed their Dundee plant in early 90s, reflecting the industrial mood of the time. The development of a number of 'enterprise zones' and 'technology parks', and in particular the arrival of a number of call centres led to a period of economic optimism. At present, however, the employment picture is not good (outwith the specialised fields of medicine, science and technology). The city has in fact experienced a drop in population in recent years.

Related Topics:
1960 - 70s - Michelin - NCR - Timex - 90s - Call centre

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Universities

In 1967, the ancient University of Dundee was independently established, following 70 years as a college of the University of Saint Andrews. It is currently at the forefront of biomedical research and oncology, and incorporates the Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art and Design. The University's Rector is television presenter Lorraine Kelly.

Related Topics:
1967 - University of Dundee - University of Saint Andrews - Oncology - Rector - Lorraine Kelly

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The University of Abertay Dundee is a 'new university'. It was created in 1994, under government legislation granting the title 'University' to Dundee Institute of Technology (which was itself founded in 1888 and gained independent degree-giving authority in the 1970s).

Related Topics:
University of Abertay Dundee - 'new university' - 1994 - Legislation - 1888 - 1970s

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Today, the University of Abertay is a world leader in computer games technology and design and is also home to the Dundee Business School.

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Dundee has a student population of approximately 15,000.

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Immigration & multiculturalism

Dundee's most significant influx occurred in the mid-1800s: Irish workers, driven from their native country by potato blight made no small contribution to the city's industrial success. The city also attracted immigrants from Italy and Poland in the 19th and 20th Centuries. However, Dundee did not experience post-war immigration on the same scale as some other cities. Its status as a declining industrial centre meant that it was not a major destination for the waves of immigrants who were to have such an important impact on the colour and culture of the British Isles in the 1950s and 60s. Nevertheless, the city does now have a sizable ethnic minority population. (Incidentally, Dundee continues to attract a particularly large number of Irish students; the reasons for this are unclear.)

Related Topics:
1800s - Irish - Potato blight - Italy - Poland - Post-war - British Isles - 1950s - 60s

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There are two cathedrals in the city — St. Paul's (Scottish Episcopal) and St. Andrew's (Roman Catholic). The historic City Churches — home to two separate congregations (Dundee Parish Church (also known as St Mary's) and The Steeple Church) — is the most prominent Church of Scotland building in Dundee. The Church of Scotland has a Presbytery of Dundee currently consisting of 45 congregations, though many now share a minister. Robert Murray M'Cheyne was the minister of St Peter's Church from 1838 until his death in 1843. During his ministry, there was something of a religious revival in Dundee.

Related Topics:
Cathedral - Scottish Episcopal - Roman Catholic - Church of Scotland - Robert Murray M'Cheyne - 1838 - 1843

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A Jewish community has existed in the city for more than a century. The present synagogue was built in the 1970s. Muslims are served by a large, brand new mosque (opened in 2000). Dundee is also home to a school for Muslim girls — one of only two such schools in Scotland. The city also has a Hindu temple and Sikh gurdwara.

Related Topics:
Jewish - Synagogue - 1970s - Muslim - Mosque - 2000 - School - Hindu - Temple - Sikh - Gurdwara

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Theatre & the arts

Dundee is home to Scotland's only full-time repertory ensemble, established in the 1930s. Hollywood actor Brian Cox, a native of the city, is its most famous alumnus. The Rep Theatre, built in 1982, is also the base for Scottish Dance Theatre. Dundee's principal concert auditorium, the Caird Hall (named for its benefactor, the jute baron James Caird), regularly plays host to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. A number of smaller venues also host local and international musicians during Dundee's annual Jazz, Guitar and Blues Festivals. Dundee Contemporary Arts — hub of the city's cultural quarter — was opened in 1999.

Related Topics:
Repertory - 1930s - Brian Cox - 1982 - Scottish Dance Theatre - Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Jazz - Guitar - Blues - 1999

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Football

Dundee has two professional football teams (Dundee F.C. and Dundee United F.C.). Their stadia (Dens Park and Tannadice Park) are closer together than any other pair in Britain, making them a frequent subject of football trivia quizzes.

Related Topics:
Football - Dundee F.C. - Dundee United F.C. - Dens Park - Tannadice Park

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Pop music

Dundee has a true claim to pop fame, having produced one of the defining soul-funk bands of the 1970s — the Average White Band. 1980s pop outfits The Associates and Danny Wilson were also Dundonian. Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue trained at Dundee College of Education and taught briefly at a high school in the city. Current pop festival-headliners and Mercury Music Prize nominees Snow Patrol are Irish but have been adopted by the city because they were formed at the University of Dundee. The Dundee band Spare Snare were recently voted one of the fifty best Scottish bands of all time in a recent poll for The List magazine.

Related Topics:
1970s - Average White Band - 1980s - The Associates - Danny Wilson - Ricky Ross - Deacon Blue - Mercury Music Prize - Snow Patrol

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Twinning

Dundee maintains cultural, economic and educational ties with six twin cities:

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• Orleans, France (1946)
• Alexandria, Virginia, USA (1974)
• Nablus, Palestine (????)
• Zadar, Croatia (????)
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates (????)
• Würzburg, Germany (1962)
• The diocese of Brechin (centred on St. Paul's Cathedral in Dundee) is twinned with the diocese of Iowa, USA and with the diocese of Swaziland.