THE news that elder sister Joy from the singing trio The Beverley Sisters has died reminds us of the unlikely fact that the winsome girls had not one, but two, records banned by the BBC. The first was their version of the old folk song Greensleeves. Some folk actually claimed the ban was because the song was too racy - because the Greensleeves of the lady in the song referred to her getting grass stains while lying down with her boyfriend. Not true alas. It was simply that the Beeb did not like the way the girls had jazzed up the song and thought it might offend purists.

The sisters then brought out a song entitled We Have To Be So Careful which gently mocked the BBC's ban - and yes it got banned too.

SOME killjoys are demanding that the summer concerts at Bellahouston Park should be banned because they are a bit of a ned-fest. But surely neds should have a night out too? Anyway, we liked the comment of radio presenter Cat Harvey during the Paolo Nutini concert who said: "Thoroughly enjoying Paulo singing Iron Sky! He's performing at Bellahouston Park. I'm in my flat in Partick."

WE forget sometimes how quickly things change. Still Game actor Sanjeev Kohli pointed out yesterday: "Watching an episode of Friends with the kids, and Ross has a pager. It inspired the same reaction as a Victorian mangle on a school trip."

A FEW single women will no doubt identify with a Glasgow woman who was heard telling her pals yesterday: "I was listening in to a conversation between two men on the train. About guinea pigs. For 30 minutes. I now know everything there is to know about guinea pigs. They then moved on to golf. And people wonder why I never married."

GORDON Matheson steps down as Glasgow City Council leader next week. We remember when Gordon was being shown round the Hydro performance hall before it opened with a 12,000 crowd at a Rod Stewart concert. Gordon commented: "On Monday it will be full of screaming, roaring, sweaty Glaswegians.

"But enough about my council colleagues."

SPECULATION continues about whether that fine black actor Idris Elba will be the next James Bond on screen. Having a go at our British police forces, David Hughes remarks: "A black James Bond? Wouldn't work. He'd be pulled over every 15 minutes for driving an Aston Martin."

TRANSFER deadline day yesterday although there was little signing action in Scotland. It was reported that curly-haired Reading player Aaron Kuhl was heading to Dundee United on loan. At least three United fans phoned us to ask if he was bringing his gang with him.

WE see a colleague approaching, but too late - he caught our eye. "My doctor," he tells us, "said I need to do something that gets me out the pub.

"So I've started smoking."

SO farewell then, Edinburgh Festival, for another year. A reader feels the need to pass on the line from comedian Al Murray in his role as the sexist character The Pub Landlord, who denied that he was biased. “I’m not sexist – I’m not!" landlord Al told his audience. "That’s why I let my female workers work longer than the men so they can make the same money.”