The journalist and author of the bestselling Ruskin Park delivers a moving and hopeful account of how he and his family, after losing their beloved Collie Cross, opened their hearts and home to a Romanian rescue dog.
How do you welcome someone new into your home and heart? A week before Christmas 2022, former BBC journalist and award-nominated podcaster Rory Cellan-Jones received a special delivery that changed the course of his life. This is the story of #SophieFromRomania, told in full for the first time.
In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie Cross, Cabbage. Newly retired, Rory had become inseparable from her during daily pandemic walks which alleviated his Parkinson’s Disease symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane contemplated opening up their hearts again and came across a dog listing for ‘a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home’.
Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London in a van from Central Europe on 17th December. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together – unaware it is more than a year ahead. Sophie From Romania follows the journey of her adoption – from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first foray outside – as Roryand Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie’s trust, and navigate Rory’s Parkinson’s diagnosis.
This is a moving story of growing together through love, kindness and a lot of patience, revealing how adopting pets can be challenging but also full of rewarding moments. It’s also a celebration of rescue dogs, and community, as Rory uplifts fellow Romanian dog owners and his new friends from the #SophieFromRomania hashtag.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Glasgow's Book Fair, Books at the Botanics, is held every month in the Hopkirk building at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens!
READ MOREGlasgow Mitchell Library Classics Book Group runs on the first Thursday of each month with the library kindly providing books for all members, so there is no cost involved!
READ MOREAs Part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2025, Story Garden, join Glasgow Libraries for a storytelling workshop for children and families led by prizewinning author Janis MacKay!
READ MOREBGCP Comic Con returns to Loch Lomond Shores on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July for a family-friendly weekend suitable for heroes of all ages!
READ MOREAward-winning crime author Liam McIlvanney in conversation with Scottish literature expert Dr Valentina Bold in a unique discussion of Scottish Gothic inspired by Liam's new psychological thriller.
READ MORESequential Scotland is a brand new comic convention coming to Glasgow in August which will spotlight the amazing comic creators and micro-publishers from across Scotland and the UK!
READ MOREThis short course from the University of Glasgow offers you the chance to explore some of Glasgow's impressive libraries and their part in local civic history.
READ MOREJoin Bookface for sipping and swapping and celebrating Sophie Gravia's hilarious new novel in an afternoon of fun on Sunday 17th August!
READ MOREGet ready for an EPIC Glasgow Comic Con on 6 & 7th of September, featuring hundreds of exhibitors, comic creators from across the globe and artist and writer panel events!
READ MORE