CALUM MACDONALD OF RUNRIG TALKING ABOUT LAUREL CLARK - RUNNING TO THE LIGHT -

A RUNRIG CD which survived the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster is to go on display in an exhibition about the band. Astronaut Laurel Clark, 41, played their album Stamping Ground in orbit days before all seven crew were killed when the shuttle broke up on re-entry. The CD was found by NASA investigators in a field in Texas after the disaster on February 1, 2003.
Then in an emotional encounter, it was handed to the Gaelic rockers by Laurel's husband Jon and son Iain, eight, at Glasgow City Chambers. Now it is to go on display at a Runrig exhibition at the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre in Lochmaddy in North Uist. US navy commander Laurel had discovered Runrig while stationed at the US submarine base at the Holy Loch.
Days before re-entry, she spoke of Runrig to Mission Control in Houston. She told them: "Runrig is one of my favourite bands, from Scotland, which is where my husband and I got engaged and where my family came from. I'm sending out love to my husband, who has been a great dad, and to my son, Iain. "I can't wait to see you guys in a few days - and my entire family."
Former Runrig band member Pete Wishart, now an SNP MP, said: "We are extremely proud of our connection to someone like Laurel Clark. "To think that she chose to take our music into space on such an adventure is something for us all to cherish."
By Keith McLeod,