Motherwell Strathclyde Park previously hosted the major Scottish music festival, T in the Park, until 1996, when it was moved to a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire. It has also hosted other music festivals such as Retrofest. Modern authors Des McAnulty and Mark Wilson have written novels of critical acclaim which are based in the town (LIFE IS LOCAL, McAnulty) and neighbouring town Bellshill (BOBBY'S BOY, Wilson). Motherwell is the headquarters for both North Lanarkshire Council, which is one of Scotland's most populous local authority areas, and of Police Scotland "Q" division. These organisations cover an overall population of 327,000 people
Cheltenham Music Festival Cheltenham Music Festival The Cheltenham Music Festival is a British music festival, held annually in Cheltenham in the summer months (June, July) since 1945. The festival is renowned for premieres of contemporary music, hosting over 250 music premieres as of July 2004. John Manduell was the first Programme Director ("de facto" artistic director) of the festival, for 25 seasons from 1969 to 1994. Subsequent artistic directors of the festival have included Michael Berkeley and Martyn Brabbins. During Brabbins' tenure, the Festival Academy ensemble was established. The most recent artistic director of the festival has been Meurig Bowen, since 2007. In