THE theatrical Sir Donald Sinden who died on Thursday, had a rich voice which was difficult to describe.

The Herald's Willie Hunter once had a stab at it, saying it was like "warm syrup, stirred into thick dark chocolate which had been enriched with rum - but even that does not come close."

Donald, who was a great raconteur of stories from the theatre, told Willie of English actor Ralph Richardson stopping someone in the street he thought he recognised and booming out: "My dear Robertson! You've changed! You look so much younger shaving off your moustache."

The puzzled chap replied: "I'm not Mr Robertson."

"What!" declared Ralph. "You've changed your name too?"

Cash and carry

YES, that referendum, and a touching moment when a Glasgow chap, out on Saturday morning for the rolls and milk after a heavy session the night before, bumped into the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon at the cashpoint, wished her the best of luck, and told her they would win on Thursday. "For that heartfelt sentiment, I earned a smile that almost cancelled out my hangover," he later told pals.

The moment was only slightly spoiled by his mate who replied: "She was probably just clearing out her account before the banks move south."

Bannockburn omen

ON a whimsical note, Tom Dowds wonders: "On Friday afternoon a group of former rugby players announced they favoured a No vote on the 18th. Friday night's rugby: Edinburgh is defeated by Connacht, the score 13:14. Is this an omen?"

No brainer, maw

MEANWHILE in the Borders, Dr Ian Hall in Heriot passes on a vignette from the campaigning: "A friend was door-stopped in Earlston. 'You'll be voting no then.' 'Sorry, I'm a yes.' 'What about your partner then?' 'No, I live with my maw.' To which he was told: 'Fine, she should tak her stick and caw some sense intae that heid o yours'."

TV or not TV

BIG protest at the BBC headquarters in Glasgow yesterday about alleged bias in the coverage of the Yes and No campaigns in favour of No, and failing to cover Yes rallies. It explains why one of the protesters was holding up a home-made sign which stated: ""Mum. I'm probably not on TV!!"

Well I never etc

THE death of tub-thumping Ulster politician Ian Paisley reminds us of Ian, on one of his many speaking engagements in Glasgow, visiting the great Voltaire and Rousseau second-hand bookshop in the west end where, after sifting through the theology section, he bought An Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans - written by himself. An irreverent reader told us Dr Paisley was excited, as apparently unsigned copies of the book were so rare.

Paisley patter

THERE was also the time that the late, great Scots folk singer Danny Kyle bounded on stage at the Ballyshannon Folk Festival in County Donegal, and announced: "Hi, I'm Danny Kyle and I'm a Paisley man!" He was met with utter silence which he milked for a few seconds before adding: "Let me rephrase that. I'm Danny Kyle from Paisley!" Rapturous applause ensued.