The Edinburgh Reporter October 2019

October 2019

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

Pomp and Protests The Edinburgh Riding of the Marches was revived ten years ago and now each September the streets of the Old Town come alive with horses and riders bringing news from the boundaries or marches of the city to the Lord Provost.

This year it took place on 15 September when hundreds of horses trotted through Holyrood Park and then up the Royal Mile.

This is a typical common riding event marking the city boundaries, but is also a dramatic reenactment of the journey taken by the Captain of the Trained Band (responsible for keeping order in the city) to tell of the tragic news of the defeat at Flodden in 1513. It began again in 2009 when businessman Robert Miller presented the City of Edinburgh banner to the Lord Provost. The Edinburgh Lad and Lass are in our photo right. PHOTO Martin P McAdam.

Read more on page 7.

WHAT'S ON

Topping & Co have finally opened. Read more on Page 17

BUSINESS

Meeting Dennis Jones at Ocean Terminal. Read more on page 13

FOOD

Juliet rounds up the food news for you. Read more on Page 25

FUNDRAISING It was a beautifully sunny September day for the thousands who joine the Scottish Youth Climate Strike Edinburgh march from The Meadows to Holyrood, the weather only adding inspiration for the banner makers. Unusual weather in September said some, Sea Levels are Rising So are We, The Wrong Amazon is Burning. It took an hour for the protesters to pass us by on The Royal Mile. Read more on page 7.

Stay up to scratch with our winter golf membership

Only ÂŁ22 per m onth

Join online or at your nearest course today.

edinburghleisure.co.uk

Terms and conditions apply Registered Scottish Charity No: SC027450

Social enterprise in need of a little help.

Read more on page 23

2

The Edinburgh Reporter

NEWS

ABOUT US Thank you for reading The Edinburgh Reporter newspaper this month. We enjoy producing it and it is a different product from our website. Would you let us know where you read yours? Tweet us a photo or send us an email telling us where you picked up your copy. (There could be a prize for the best…)

You can also have a look at our multimedia content on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well as our podcasts on Anchor.FM and videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

All of this content is brought to you free of charge, but it costs us to produce all of this content.

If you can, then could we ask you to consider making a regular donation? The price of a cup of coffee would help us a lot! www.theedinburghreporter. co.uk/donate/ Scan the QR code below which directs you to the correct page on our website.

Your kind donations help us to maintain all of our content as free to access for the foreseeable future. We are very grateful to all of you who already donate in this way.

Alternatively if you would like to advertise with us and support us that way then do get in touch. editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk You can now read The Edinburgh Reporter on PressReader. This app fallows you to download copies of whole newspapers and magazines from across the world rather than reading stories online. Use your library card - ask at your local library how it works!

And if you have any stories for us please do get in touch.

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, Why are people allowed to smoke outside of the entrances to hospitals in Scotland?

If smoking is such a major contributor to bad health, it seems extremely ironic and contradictory to me that the NHS and the Scottish government cannot afford to hire someone to ensure this behaviour does not happen.

My pregnant wife has to visit the hospital for checkups and the only

way to enter the building is to walk past a crowd of already unhealthy smokers.

If you cannot afford or refuse to pay for someone to ensure this rule is not upheld, can you at least create a non smokers entrance for the majority of patients who do not smoke and which requires a password so that smokers do not linger around this entrance?

I suspect the Scottish Government and the NHS simply

Dear Editor, I am often asked for ideas on ways in which people can offer support to those affected by breast cancer, especially during October, which marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

And my answer is always… take part in wear it pink and raise money for breast cancer research and support.

Wear it pink is the UK’s biggest and boldest pink fundraiser, taking place on Friday 18 October and raises funds for Breast Cancer Now. Not only is taking part fun and easy, in doing so you’ll be raising money which will make a real difference to the lives of those

affected by this devastating disease.

Despite more people surviving the disease than ever before, breast cancer is still the most common cancer in the UK. Around 700 people in Lothian are given the devastating news that they have breast cancer, and around 140 people in the area die from the disease each year.

That’s why fundraising campaigns such as wear it pink are so important.

Since launching in 2002, wear it pink has raised more than £33 million for breast cancer research.

Money which helps Breast Cancer Now get one step closer to achieving our ambition that by 2050, everyone who develops

Helping those in need

Phyllis Stephen Editor

Scan here!

BBC Children in Need have awarded £178,589 to two Edinburgh projects which work with disadvantaged children and young people.

The Junction - Young People

Health and Wellbeing gets a two year grant of £77,116 to support young people with a range of mental and physical wellbeing issues. This will enable one to one support sessions.

do not care about the health of non smokers.

I am getting sick of encountering this when I have to go to hospital.

It is completely unjust and needs addressed ASAP. yours sincerely, Duncan McCafferty

breast cancer will live – and be supported to live well.

Last year alone, over 19,000 people registered to take part in the event, raising more than £1.6 million. So, will readers in Lothian help us to beat this total in 2019?

Everyone and anyone can take part in wear it pink. Some people will choose to hold a cake sale, while others will opt to organise a raffle, and some will arrange a pink fancy dress day at school, work, or in their community.

However you choose to fundraise, you will be helping Breast Cancer Now make a huge impact on the lives of those affected by breast cancer.

We would love to see everyone

in Lothian ditching their everyday colours and digging out their fabulous pink outfits, to help make a difference this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So, what are you waiting for?

Register to claim your free fundraising pack at wearitpink. org mark Friday 18 October in your diaries, and join us in helping to fund life-saving breast cancer research and life-changing support for those affected by breast cancer.

Summer Kendrick Wear it pink Manager, Breast Cancer Now 222/2 Leith Walk Edinburgh EH6 5EQ

Spartans Community Football Academy will get £101,472 to help them with their work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in youth groups and sports sessions. These sessions help build confidence and offer opportunities for the young people to make friends.

Florence Burke, Impact Senior Manager of Scotland at BBC Children in Need said: “We're absolutely delighted to be awarding funding to such brilliant charities and projects like these, and I'm looking forward to seeing the difference that they will make to young lives in the community. I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported BBC Children in Need in 2018. Without your generosity, the amazing work that these charities and projects do in creating a brighter future for disadvantaged children and young people wouldn’t be possible.”

The money comes from the huge £58 million raised last year during the 2018 Appeal.

Across Edinburgh, BBC Children in Need is currently funding 49 projects to a value of more than £2.9million.

Please support our stockists!

All Farmers Autocare outlets across the city at 194 Queensferry Road, 225 St John's Road, 34 Hillhouse Road, 111 Piersfield Place, 19c Strathearn Road and 108B Market Street Musselburgh.

All city libraries.

Bonhams 22 Queen St EH2 1JX Boardwalk Beach Club 50 Marine Drive EH4 5ES Broughton Place Hair & Beauty 2a Broughton Pl EH1 3RX

Editor: Phyllis Stephen editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk 07791 406 498

Café Lowdown 40 George St EH2 2LE Candersons Sweet Shop 102 Leith Walk EH6 5DT Close Gallery 4B Howe St EH3 6TD The Doo’cot

731-733 Ferry Rd EH4 2UA ESPC Showroom 107 George St EH2 3ES Grassmarket Community Project 86 Candlemaker Row EH1 2QA Henderson's 94 Hanover St EH2

1DB and Holyrood Rd The Hideout Cafe 40-42 Queen Charlotte St EH6 6AT Leith Walk Police Box Pop Up Croall Pl EH7 4LT Maialino 34 William St EH3 7LJ Milk & Honey 78 Queen Street EH2 4NF Ocean Terminal Ocean Drive EH6 6JJ Scottish Arts Club 24 Rutland Sq EH1 2BW

We write about news relating to Edinburgh and the immediate area.

We welcome contributions to our website and newspaper.

Volunteering Fair in Leith The Leith Volunteering Fair will be held on 10 October 2019 at Leith Community Centre 12a Newkirkgate EH6 6AD. It begins at 4.00pm and runs until 7.00pm.

There is a volunteering opportunity for everyone and you are invited along to find yours.

There will be many organisations at the event who need one-off, occasional and regular volunteers.

St Bride’s Community Centre 10 Orwell Terrace EH11 2DZ Strumpets 35 William Street EH3 7LW Summerhall 1Summerhall EH9 1PL The Queen's Hall Box Office Clerk St EH8 9JG The Royal Scots Club 29-31 Abercromby Pl EH3 6QE Like to become one of our stockists?

Then get in touch.

@EdinReporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk

/EdinReporter edinburghreporter

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

NEWS

3

Unanimous Supreme Court judgement goes against the government Joanna Cherry QC MP was lead petitioner in the case of Cherry and others v Advocate General for Scotland. This case was decided in favour of the petitioners in the Court of Session in early September.

The UK Government then appealed the decision to the UK Supreme Court.

On 24 September 2019 the UK Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision that the prorogation or suspension of parliament was unlawful. The Prime Minister said he did not agree with the decision and that he would continue to deliver Brexit on 31 October.

Joanna Cherry writes: "I am delighted that the UK Supreme Court has followed the lead of Scotland’s Supreme Court and ruled that Boris Johnson’s shut down of parliament was unlawful. The effect of the ruling is that Parliament should never have been prorogued in the early hours of the morning of Tuesday 10 September 2019. Therefore, parliament is technically still sitting and it could resume immediately and get on with the job of holding this minority Tory Government to account.

The Scottish constitutional

tradition, dating back to the Declaration of Arbroath and the Claim of Right, is that neither the Monarch nor the Government is above the law. This is in line with the modern principles of Constitutional democracy and I am glad that the UK Supreme court agrees.

Some will no doubt persist in the fallacy that by making this ruling the UK Supreme Court has strayed into the field of politics. In the Scottish court, Lord Drummond Young had the perfect riposte to this nonsense when he said: “The courts cannot subject the actings of the executive to political scrutiny, but they can and should ensure that the body charged with performing that task, Parliament, is able to do so.”

The UK Supreme Court has made the ruling necessary to restore democracy and the rule of law.

Now politicians must make sure that ruling is respected.

Boris Johnson’s behaviour is wholly lacking in integrity. It is pretty clear he lied to MPs about the reasons for the prorogation and misled the Queen. He was forced to give documents to the Scottish court, which showed disdain for parliamentary democracy and a desire to lay a

false trail as to the real reasons for the prorogation. No doubt that is why he refused to swear a written statement on oath in support of his position and why no other minister was prepared to do so either. It also explains the Government’s refusal to release the further documentation ordered

by Parliament as it would probably give the game away completely.

MPs must now return so we can scrutinise what this Government is up to and if necessary, hold the Prime Minister and his ministers in contempt of Parliament. I along with my colleagues across Parliament will be tabling Urgent Questions to try to force Ministers to come to the despatch box to answer."

Joanna Cherry outside the Court of Session last month with the court’s decision. PHOTO © 2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

From The UK Supreme Court Decision "It follows that Parliament has not been prorogued and that this court should make declarations to that effect.

We have been told by counsel for the Prime Minister that he will “take all necessary steps to comply with the terms of any declaration made by the court” and we expect him to do so.

However, it appears to us that,

as Parliament is not prorogued, it is for Parliament to decide what to do next.

There is no need for Parliament to be recalled under the Meeting of Parliament Act 1797.

Nor has Parliament voted to adjourn or go into recess.

Unless there is some Parliamentary rule to the

contrary of which we are unaware, the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker can take immediate steps to enable each House to meet as soon as possible to decide upon a way forward.

That would, of course, be a proceeding in Parliament which could not be called in question in this or any other court."

4

The Edinburgh Reporter

NEWS

Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service 2019

Lynne McNicoll MBE who founded It’s Good 2 Give with Marion Donaldson Senior Volunteer Her Majesty the Queen bestowed the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service on two Edinburgh-based charities recently.

At a ceremony in the City Chambers there was a packed house as the Lord Lieutenant, Frank Ross, presented representatives from the charities with the prestigious award in the form of a crystal decanter and a certificate.

The charities are It's Good 2 Give!

which provides a support network for children with cancer and the second is PF Counselling Services which provides a free counselling service.

Established in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee and to recognise the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups of volunteers, the Queen’s Awards are the highest public recognition afforded to UK charities, which the Lord Lieutenant explained is a charity's

Edinburgh is turning purple

Some iconic Edinburgh landmarks will take on a different hue on 24th October, with locations such as Jenners being lit in purple, marking World Polio Day. Why purple? Polio immunisations in vulnerable countries are organised on a mass scale, and children’s little fingers are dipped in purple dye to indicate they have been vaccinated – the “Purple Pinkie”. Edinburgh Rotary Clubs, like most Rotary Clubs in the world, raise money to support this, and you will see many areas where clubs have planted purple crocuses to raise awareness, from the approach to the Forth Crossing through Corstorphine and Currie out to Dalkeith and Musselburgh.

Edinburgh Rotarians have also travelled to help in these National Immunisation Days. Last year a staggering 173 million children were vaccinated in a single day.

Rotary started the campaign to eradicate polio from the world over thirty years ago when, in 1985, there were over 350,000 cases of

polio each year worldwide. With the involvement of Rotary, the World Health Organisation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this year there have been only 71 cases, in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are near our goal of making polio only the second disease to have been completely eradicated from the planet.

If you would like to know more about Rotary or End Polio Now please contact secretary@ rotary1020.org

equivalent to an MBE. The Lord Lieutenant is the Queen's representative in the city.

He said : "It affords you the opportunity not only to feel very proud of what the award recipients have achieved and the national recognition by our Head of State but also that this award is importantly the highest public recognition award provided in the UK." He explained that he had to visit each of the charities in December 2018 and January 2019 and then offer a citation and report of the volunteers involved in the nominated organisations.

The Lord Lieutenant said : "I was highly impressed and indeed in many instances humbled by the work of each of the organisations and the dedication and passion of the volunteers involved. It was clear to me that all the nominations were outstanding contenders for Her Majesty the Queen's recognition.

"Edinburgh continues by far to be Scotland's leading hub for volunteering and active citizenship with 160,000 people regularly volunteering and committing over 600,000 hours every week in a volunteering capacity."

The Lord Lieutenant with two representatives from It’s Good 2 Give

The Lord Lieutenant with Alison Hampton of PF Counselling and John Dickson volunteer psychotherapist

Talking about Climate Change and how to fix it

Daniel Johnson MSP hosted Professor Stephen Salter at Holyrood recently for a discussion about his engineering solutions and how they can prevent the effects of excessive global warming.

His latest project which he has already worked on for twenty years, involves building unmanned ships which would ‘patrol’ the oceans spraying sea water into the air above the sea surface.

The deceptively simple idea would make the clouds whiter and so more reflective, sending the sun’s energy back to space. This will have the effect of cooling the earth beneath, and may lead to complete reversal of the melting polar ice caps and other aspects of global warming.

Professor Salter believes that more commitment is needed from governments everywhere, and demonstrated to MSPs how his unmanned spray vessels could arrest the effects of global

warming across the world.

He asserts that 300 of his unmanned spray vessels could save the Antarctic ice and the Great Barrier Reef.

Daniel Johnson said : “It was a real pleasure to welcome Professor Salter and hear all about his solutions to combat climate change.

“Surely it is now beyond doubt that we are grappling with a climate emergency and need real action from all levels of

government to reduce greenhouse emissions and improve our environment.

“While they are important to raise awareness, the cost of hosting large scale Climate Conferences could easily fund the practical solutions mentioned by Professor Salter. It’s time The Scottish Government looked at following practical solutions.

“Interventions from pioneers like Professor Salter is exactly what we need to pressure The Scottish Government into doing more.”

Professor Stephen Salter with Daniel Johnson MSP at Holyrood PHOTO ©2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

We offer great advertising rates!

Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk for more details!

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

NEWS

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

5

Sign up for The World’s Big Sleep Out Sleep in the Park will take place this year on 7 December 2019 in around 50 places around the world, but it will now be called The World’s Big Sleep Out. Founder of the event Josh Littlejohn MBE aims to raise $50 million to fight homelessness.

It has gone global but here in Edinburgh it will take place in West Princes Street Gardens with live acoustic music performances from musicians to be announced soon.

Social Bite, the charity which

Littlejohn co-founded will receive half of funds raised.

The other half will be given to global homelessness charities for people displaced as a result of conflict or poverty.

You are urged to register now for an official event or to organise your own in your back garden or office car park.

Josh Littlejohn said: “I am blown away by the response to The World’s Big Sleep Out so far and incredibly excited to have 50 cities all over the world taking part. It

doesn’t matter if you are taking part in Times Square or in your back garden with your family, by sleeping out for one night on 7th December we can simultaneously express our compassion for homeless people who have no other choice and raise lifesaving funds to make a difference.

We can also send a message to the world’s political leaders that urgent action is required to address the human suffering that

we each witness on our streets every day”.

Last year there were sleep outs in Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen when 18,000 people slept out and raised almost £8million. This year there may be as many as 50,000 people taking part to help around 1 million people around the world who are displaced or homeless. www.bigsleepout.com

Tinkling the ivories The Centre, Livingston has launched an appeal this month.

They want to find budding musicians who can help showcase their talents by becoming its resident piano player and entertaining shoppers who come from all over the country.

Their recently installed piano has been a huge hit with shoppers of all ages and levels who stop by to play a tune or enjoy the sounds of the keyboard as other shoppers take centre stage.

This has led to the management team appealing for its own resident piano player to entertain shoppers on a regular basis.

Whether your style is classical, jazz, pop or rock and your idol is Ludwig van Beethoven or Lewis Capaldi - this is your big chance.

Send your demos to enquiries@ thecentrelivingston.com to be in with a chance of becoming the mall’s resident piano player.

Open to everyone, all ages and all levels, however under 16s must have parental/carer consent and be accompanied by an adult if chosen.

Ashley Bisland said: “We have had fantastic feedback on some of the great tunes being played on our piano. Many customers say that it really adds to their shopping experience.

"That's why we’ve decided to run an appeal to find our own resident pianist.We are encouraging people to send their demos in to us, with their favourites tunes.We are really looking forward to listening to and picking a rising star who will have a regular platform to perform.”

There’s stIll tIme! The Scottish Government-funded scheme to help you install cavity or internal wall insulation at a reduced cost has been extended for Edinburgh residents*.

CALL US FREE on 0808 808 2282 or email insulation@se.homeenergyscotland.org to register your interest. *Subject to funding and confirmation by technical survey. Eligibility criteria apply.

The Centre Livingston are looking for musicians to use their new piano

6

The Edinburgh Reporter

NEWS

Seeing the light Lighting in the Assembly Rooms has been switched over to LED bulbs to save energy and carbon emissions.

Throughout the building the council has conducted an energy efficiency project with upgrades to heating and water systems too.

It is estimated that around 75,000 kWh of electricity and 50,000 kWh of gas consumption have been saved. That is a whopping 5,000 days of energy.

Council Leader, Councillor Adam McVey, said: “Reducing carbon emissions across the city is a key priority for the Council - we have now cut emissions by nearly 35% as part of our Sustainable Energy Action Plan. Projects like this being carried out by the Assembly Rooms not only show the benefits of reducing carbon in terms of using less energy, but also demonstrate the financial savings that can be made for the venue itself. Building on these projects will be really important as we move to a net zero carbon target by 2030.”

PHOTO © Jane Barlow

By the time we go to press all new community council members will have been nominated.

Now what happens depends on the number of nominees in each ward.

If there are not enough people nominated then there will be no need for a poll.

If there is a need for a poll in any community council area then that will be published on 10 October 2019.

If a poll is required, polling day will be on 31 October 2019. Voting in a contested election will be a combination of e-voting and postal voting.

If the number of nominees is anything between half of members permitted and the maximum number then the candidates will simply be declared as elected. If fewer than half of the number of permitted members are nominated then there will be no community council in that area.

News in Brief

Shaggy dog stories wanted ‘Tell Your Tail’ asks primary school aged children to write a short story (100-200 words) on any topic of their choosing and then submit it to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.

A panel of judges will choose a winning ‘Tail’ each month.

The author will be invited to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home so they can record the winning writer reading it.

This recording will then be played through the sound system installed in the rehoming kennels, as a special bedtime story, to help the dogs relax and become

Community Council Elections 2019

accustomed to multiple human voices while they wait for their new forever home.

Kennels can be a noisy and very busy environment, and human interaction is a key part of the Home’s work with the dogs in their care.

"They think that reading to dogs can help reduce stress and anxiety levels and also hope that reading to dogs could help increase literacy levels in children.

EDCH’s Education Officer, Daniel Tipping, said: “We see ‘Tell Your Tail’ as a great way to connect young people to the animals in our

Editor: Phyllis Stephen editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk 07791 406 498

care, provide a fun challenge for young writers, and enhance even further the enrichment we provide.

“Our sound system has been of enormous benefit to our dogs – and we hope to expand this to our cats in time.

"There’s great research showing some genres of music can be very calming to animals, and we’re excited to add some local storytellers to the mix too.”

Entries are now open to young people across Scotland.

Full details can be found at www. edch.org.uk.

From 12 October Scottish Gas Networks and their contracting firm Kier will start work on a major gas main renewal project which will involve full closure of Bridge Road at Colinton. The roadworks will not finish until May 2020 ending at Dreghorn Link.

Marie Curie, Sue Ryder and Reform Scotland are organising a free event to discuss bereavement and carers will be held in Edinburgh this month.

The conversation will hear from a range of voices on how Scotland can become more bereavementfriendly. It will be an interactive event and hopes to produce further policy and identify research areas so that ultimately people get the support they need and want.

10 October 2019 2.00 to 5.00pm Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High Street EH1 1SR Register on Eventbrite.

The Edinburgh group of The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm. Meetings take place in St John's Church Café, Princes Street, EH2 4BJ and all former civil servants, dependents and all local retired people are very welcome to attend.

A new benefit to support young people starting a new job after a period of unemployment will be introduced next Spring.The Job Start Payment is a new payment to help young people with the cost of starting a new job. The £250 payment, or £400 for people with children, will help towards travel, clothing, lunches or other costs associated with work. In its first year, around 5,000 young people could benefit from this financial support.

The Home Office will send a million text messages to passport holders who may need to renew their passports early.

New passport rules will apply to European travel if there is a no deal Brexit. Text messages will ask

We write about news relating to Edinburgh and the immediate area.

We welcome contributions to our website and newspaper.

people to check that passports meet new rules for travel to Europe after 31 October.

Travellers will need to have at least 6 months left on their passport. Secondly, any extra months on a passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed. A passport may have extra months if the holder renewed their previous passport before it expired.The texts will be sent to those who provided their mobile number when they applied for their current passport.

Niddrie Medical Practice,106 Niddrie Mains Road, host Citizens Advice Bureau every day providing free confidential advice on welfare benefits, money and debt, housing, employment issues and much more. An adviser is available on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings and in Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Just ask at reception for more details to make an appointment or phone 0131 652 2004. The CAB also hold a session at The White House, 70 Niddrie Mains Road every Monday from 9.30am. To book an appointment there, call 0131 652 6320.

A total of 60 life-sized and four mini Oor Wullie sculptures went under the hammer at Prestonfield House last month to help raise vital funds for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), which supports children and young people in hospital.

The sculpture of Tom Gilzean raised a staggering £13,000.

Tom Gilzean was designed by Chris Rutterford and sponsored

by Central Taxis and The Golden Keys.

A replica is to be made for Tom’s family after a crowdfunder was set up.

Further top sellers were Thistle Do Nicely by artist Billy Hutchinson, which sold for £10,000 and Oor Tiger by Donna Forrester which sold for £8,000.

@EdinReporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk

/EdinReporter edinburghreporter

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

7

PHOTO © Greg Macvean

Waving to the crowds on the Royal Mile PHOTO Martin P McAdam

Young people take to the streets

by Adam Zawadzki From 10.00am the relatively small group of protesters had steadily, stealthily grown into hundreds, then thousands in The Meadows. Suddenly, swarms of people had arrived from every direction. Two children held a megaphone, chanting in support of their cause. One marcher arrived armed with a boom box strapped to his back, up-tempo music filling the air with already heightened anticipation.

From the green of Middle Meadow Walk, the front of the march passed at 11.40am. A seemingly endless conveyer belt of passion and purpose, the end could not be seen until an hour later. Peaceful protesters clutching placards, waving flags and beating drums moved as one.

The crowd roared, the piper played, the mass was on a mission. It was truly an impressive sight to behold.

All the young people I spoke to made it clear that while it was important that their age group show initiative, all ages must share the responsibility to help a cause that will affect everyone

NEWS

Take it E-zy with Just Eat Cycles

Riding of the marches continued from front page The Captain Connor Geddes and Lass, Rose Hessell were welcomed at the Mercat Cross by the Rt Hon Lord Provost, Frank Ross and an official party of High Constables, his Bailies and the Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh, the Lord Dean of Guild and the DeaconConvener of Trades.

Upon arrival there,, the Edinburgh Captain dismounted and ascended the Mercat Cross, accompanied by the Edinburgh Lass.The Edinburgh Captain then lowered the City Banner followed by the Blue Blanket, all the flags of the Incorporate Trades of Edinburgh, The Merchants of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Exiles, during which a bugler played the Last Post. The assembled crowd was then invited to observe a one minute silence for the fallen of Flodden and all wars.

To complete the mark of respect, the bugler played 'Reveille', the flags were raised and the Captain delivered a short speech, declaring the boundaries of the City of Edinburgh to be safe and intact. He then presented the Lord Provost with the City Banner, unsullied and unstained.

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

eventually. Police and specially hired security staff darted to and fro among the throng of people.

Wave upon wave of signs and slogans migrated along the leafy walk as audiences assembled on the sidelines watching the spectacle while clapping and cheering them on.

Some messages were inspired.

'Do it for David', with a photograph of Attenborough, was just one among many. The young were politically engaged and socially aware while the older were taking them seriously, guiding and supporting - and some even taking part.

The news we have all been waiting for…

Just Eat Cycles will shortly include some electric bikes at their 75 hire stations across Edinburgh.

The first batch of 30 e-bikes will be tested out in the coming months and then 168 electric bicycles will be offered for public use in the spring.

The electric bikes will have a maximum speed of 15mph with a constant electric assist,. This should allow you to whizz up The Mound or any of the other steep slopes in Edinburgh which may make your cycle route too

daunting.

You will be able to use the same app to unlock the e-bikes and they will be located across the existing hire points with the other 500 ordinary bikes.

They will have a slightly different frame and colour scheme, but otherwise they will be made by Pashley as the existing bikes are.

The slim battery pack and motor is designed by German automotive manufacturer Continental.

The first time you will be able to get your hands on one this month is at the Open Streets event on 6 October 2019.

Calling for action on Climate Change

Thousands of young people took to the streets across Scotland and other cities across the world last month to highlight their call for action on climate change.

Scottish Youth Climate Strike’s demands are: 1) The Government commit to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

2) The national curriculum be reformed to address the climate crisis as an educational priority.

3) The Government communicate the severity of the climate crisis and the necessity to act now to the public.

The Youth Strikers said that

today’s overwhelming public support has reinforced their message, the demands are straightforward and are key to stopping climate breakdown.

Dylan Hamilton who is a member of SYCS said : “We are making history by standing up for our future. The people have protested, we marched and then we rallied.

We have made our position clear; the government needs to act for the future of humanity. Politicians have spent decades sitting around talking, but if your house is burning down you wouldn’t stop to talk about money, you would act.

All those protesting have shown that action has an impact.”

Advertise your business in The Edinburgh Reporter from only

Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk to book your space!

8

The Edinburgh Reporter

POLITICS

Council ‘not doing enough for hockey’ First aid for the future At the recent full council meeting Cllr Phil Doggart raised hockey success in Scotland, and asked the council to admit it had not done enough for the sport. He said there is a lack of investment in top quality pitches.

The administration refused to accept that, saying that there are pitches including one at Meggetland which is of international standard. The matter will be debated later this year at Culture and Communities committee when they set the Physical Activity plan. The Culture Convener agreed to work with Cllr Doggart on this matter.

Cllr Doggart writes : “Summer 2019 has been a bonanza for Scottish hockey. National teams have succeeded at a number of tournaments across Europe. The Caledonian Thistles Under 15 and Under 17 teams performed superbly at the annual Futures

tournament in St Albans with each team winning medals.

Over 50 and 55 teams, male and female, performed highly with pride of place going to the Over 55 Ladies who won a silver medal in the European Cup. The national men’s team has now broken into the top 20 of the world rankings after some excellent results in a tough pool at the European Championships. Both Under 21 teams gained promotion after winning gold in their respective European championships during the summer.

But pride of place must go to the National Ladies team who won Division 2 of the European Championship in Glasgow in August. A massive well done to them.

All these teams require a dedicated team of people to make it happen. The coaches and staff all contribute to the success and

are also deserving of our praise.

Within their numbers are many who have learned to play hockey across the city, or who continue to play or coach their club hockey in the city. They are great examples to all in performing their respective roles.

While we can congratulate all involved, especially those from Edinburgh, we must recognise that the council has done very little in promoting top level hockey.

We have one council-run water based pitch that allows men and women to play top division hockey.

Without the willing co-operation of the University of Edinburgh and Fettes College, clubs in the city would be unable to play premiership hockey in the city.

That is not good enough and if the sport continues to grow as quickly as it has, The City of Edinburgh Council must invest in more of these facilities.”

Sick Kids hospital faces further delays

by Jeremy Balfour MSP Jeane Freeman, health secretary, announced last week that the Sick Kids hospital will not be opened until at least Autumn 2020. This is yet another delay to the opening which was originally planned to take place in 2012. £150 million has been spent on building the hospital facility at Edinburgh’s Little France site, yet further delays mean that it will

remain closed for another year.

It is estimated that it will cost the taxpayer £35 million to compensate for the hospital being out of commission for another year.

As a result of the delayed opening, hundreds of thousands of children have had to go to outdated facilities for accident and emergency treatment and outpatient appointments.

This is fundamentally a result of the SNP's inability to manage the NHS well.

Government ministers have neglected their duty to know if there were issues with construction and timescale and to do everything in their power to solve this.

While the First Minister appears to be aware that this is a catastrophic failure she has refused to let her party take responsibility.

It is time that the SNP take accountability for their failings and ensure that there will not be further delays.

To celebrate World First Aid Day, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP was joined at Holyrood by representatives from the British Red Cross and pupils from Royal Mile Primary School with their newly acquired first aid skills.

Alex and the team at the British Red Cross have been campaigning for the inclusion of

first aid education as a nationally set statutory requirement for all schools in Scotland.

The Edinburgh West MSP told The Edinburgh Reporter : “Skills learned at a young age could save lives twenty or thirty years from now.

"We want every child in Scotland to have that opportunity.”

Jackie Baillie MSP, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman and Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP with children from Royal Mile Primary School. PHOTO ©2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

Stopping Brexit

by Ian Murray MP At the end of this month, we are due to leave the EU. Along with Labour colleagues and other opposition politicians, I have been working hard to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Given the twists and turns in this extraordinary saga, I cannot predict what the situation will be by the time you read this.

But I do know that this mess needs to be resolved.

In September, I addressed the European Movement in Scotland March in Edinburgh. I made the

point that the only way to pull the country back from the brink and end this saga is to put any deal parliament approves back to the people for a final say - with the option to remain in the EU. That has been my long-held view and it has never altered.

I’m delighted it is also now Labour Party policy.

That is the way to cut through the childish games Boris Johnson is playing before it is too late.

We must act in the national interest, not party political interests.

Miles Briggs MSP 0131 348 5946 Miles.Briggs.msp@parliament.scot Milesbriggsedinburgh MilesBriggsMSP www.milesbriggs.scot M2.15, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

@EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

/EdinReporter

The blame for the Sick Kids lies with the SNP

by Miles Briggs MSP The scandal surrounding the construction of the new Sick Kids hospital has come to symbolise this Scottish Government’s incompetence and mismanagement of our Scottish NHS. From the off, the saga that is the construction of the new Sick Kids hospital, has in my view been badly managed by SNP Ministers with the hospital originally scheduled to be opened in Winter 2012. Since then, more than 300,000 children in A&E alone have been denied access to the new hospital they and their parents were promised.

A total of 312,441 local youngsters have received accident and emergency care at the outdated facility in Sciennes in this time. That’s in addition to the estimated 34,000 outpatient appointments which take place at the hospital each year. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the NHS staff who have supported families and who continue to provide the care and love and support to the children and families throughout this

process. I know they feel incredibly let down and disappointed by the mismanagement of the new Sick Kids.

The Health Minister has emphasised the point that the new hospital will not open until fully satisfied of patient safety, something that I completely agree with. Patient safety must always come first. However, this does not hide the sheer ineptitude of consecutive Health Ministers in the oversight of NHS Lothian in constructing the new hospital.

From the statement made in Parliament last month it now looks like SNP Ministers are attempting to use NHS Lothian management as a shield for the “catastrophic failings” in the construction of the new hospital, in a desperate attempt to dodge any personal responsibility for the fiasco.

It is also important to remember that is not just the new Sick Kids hospital that is being impacted on, but also the adjacent Department of Clinical Neurosciences, which may not open until spring 2020. All this begs the question as to what impact this will have on finances of NHS Lothian. As things stand today the Board are

Cheering on the team

by Christine Jardine MP On the whole sport is a unifying force. Rugby, perhaps more than any other because of the way it demands respect for your opponents on, and off the pitch.

Our politics could learn so much from it.

So when the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicked off in Japan last month, I saw it as an opportunity for our, let’s say somewhat divided country, to pull together as a

family of nations.

While on a radio panel the other week, we were asked whether any family or friend relationships had been strained or even lost as a result of our stances on the two referenda. We all agreed that we cherished these relationships more than anything, and how important it is to make sure they are protected from political differences. But there cannot surely be anyone in Scotland who

predicting a £29.5 million shortfall this financial year, so are clearly not in a financial position to pay for these significant addiction costs. SNP Ministers will have to use funding that was earmarked for other projects to pay for these failures. What impact will this now have on the funding and delivery of health services for patients across NHS Scotland ?

As I write this it is clear that there is still a long way still to go before we can have confidence in the opening of the Sick Kids what and when SNP Ministers knew, and why we have seen such incredible mismanagement and incompetence must be answered . I know NHS staff and families alike who have been promised – year after year – that new timescales will be adhered to, will be incredibly sceptical about this latest promise having been repeatedly let down.

Children and families across Lothian and the East of Scotland deserve a new Sick Kids hospital we can all be proud of.

I look forward to the day, I hope soon, when that can be realised and we can begin to rebuild trust. has not struggled to maintain at least one friendship or family connection amidst the tension of the two votes. So as the Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland squads continue their fight for glory in Japan, let’s cheer each other on, and hope that one of the home nations brings back that trophy.

Now don’t get me wrong, I want that team to be Scotland. But I’ll also be cheering on my English, Welsh and Irish neighbours because I firmly believe that we are a family, and that their victory is our victory.

Vital inquiry into Sick Kids Daniel Johnson MSP recently challenged the Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, over her handling of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

He cited the findings of the KPMG report and the newly announced review into the new

hospital building process, as evidence of a lack of ministerial responsibility from the Health Secretary.

Mr Johnson said : “The Health Secretary has finally admitted that an inquiry is needed to get to the bottom of the problems affecting

the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. This is a massive U-turn after weeks of pressure from me and fellow Scottish Labour colleagues.

“The need for an inquiry is the clearest sign yet that the Health Secretary has dropped the ball on

POLITICS

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

9

In the doghouse At the end of last month, Ash Denham Edinburgh Eastern MSP was preparing to take part in the annual Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home fundraiser.

This involves being locked up in one of their kennels until you raise enough money for the 136 year-old charity.

The MSP was allowed to have a phone and laptop to help with fundraising.

Ahead of the event Ms Denham said : "I'm delighted to be taking part in this year's In The Dog House event to raise money for one of the capital's longest running charities.I recently visited Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home to see what goes on behind the scenes and they really are a fantastic charity with so many hard-working employees and volunteers providing the

best possible care for the lost or abandoned dogs and cats which are brought in from across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

"The Home has also very recently become a real living wage employer ensuring their staff are paid a salary that has been independently calculated to meet the costs of living, which management said ensured the staff are valued as much as their animals. It's vital more employers follow the charity's example by signing up for this scheme - supported by The Scottish Government - to help us tackle in-work poverty.

"I look forward to the event and would ask constituents to donate what they can to this worthy cause to help the charity meet their annual running costs which exceed £2m."

Golfing from Leith to Culloden

by Deidre Brock MP John Rattray has returned to Leith. Jacobite and one time personal surgeon of one Charles Stuart, he was imprisoned after Culloden and rescued by Culloden!

He was a member of the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith (who later moved to Muirfield), wrote the rules of golf for a competition on Leith Links in 1744, and won the Silver Club under those rules (the first Open?) before following the Blackbird in the ’45.

In prison after the Battle of Culloden he was rescued by his golfing buddy, and noted Hanoverian, Forbes of Culloden who happened to be Lord President of the Court of Session – golf, it seems, trumped politics and the law.

Thanks to The Leith Rules Golf Society and a campaign driven

forward by Pat Denzler and others, there’s now a statue of Rattray on Leith Links where the first hole of the old course was. History lies in great thick layers on our old town.

Here’s Pat with me and Ben Macpherson MSP just after the unveiling of the great man’s statue. Fore!

this.

“Jeane Freeman had previously informed parliament that the recent KMPG and NSS reports were enough and no inquiry was required.

“The KPMG Report begs the question of whether ministers should have known sooner and if

they did, could have stopped the scandal earlier.

“That’s what this inquiry has to answer and what Jeane Freeman has to take responsibility for.

“The conclusions of the inquiry are vital and will determine if people can have confidence in her to look after Scotland’s NHS.”

L-R Ben Macpherson MSP with Pat Denzler Chair of the Leith Rules Golf Society statue of John Rattray and Deidre Brock MP

The Edinburgh Reporter

10 POLITICS

Hospital TV charges to Council to examine be scrapped free parking in quad

by Gordon Lindhurst MSP I warmly welcome the fact that extortionate charges for patients to watch television in the Royal Infirmary are set to be scrapped once the contract with Hospedia ends.

With patients being charged £17.50 for two days use of their services, this was grossly unfair.

Having access to a bedside television can often be helpful to patients staying in our hospitals, yet they were having to pay out huge sums for the privilege.

With Wi-Fi now finally installed at The Royal Infirmary, the timing on this is welcome, with the contract set to end next August.

However, simply saying Wi-Fi is the solution, is far too simplistic especially when many patients do not have access to mobile or tablet devices which would give them access to Wi-Fi. During this period ahead of the Hospedia contract ending, we must ensure that further solutions are looked at so patients can enjoy entertainment services while they are in hospital.

The needs of all patients must be considered in this change and I hope NHS Lothian will explore every option in good time, to ensure patients can access essential services easily and at affordable prices.

Green Councillor Claire Miller demanded a ban on cars in the City Chambers Quadrangle at last month's full council meeting. She pointed out that it was closed during the summer without any apparent difficulty. She thought this arrangement should continue and that all parking should stop.

Cllr Miller said the council had only that day agreed the city centre transformation plans which will remove around a quarter of vehicles from the city.

She suggested this was at odds with the free car park outside the council's own front door where some vehicle drivers use the quad as a personal car park for lengthy periods.

Although supported by elected members across the chamber, it was felt that some legitimate and reasonable use might be acceptable and criteria should be set. Cllr Louise Young proposed that some investigation to find out who is using the quad. She said : "“I am concerned that the Green motion seeks to implement a blanket ban on all motorised vehicles.

“It does seem to me to be a knee-jerk reaction to an issue we don’t actually know the scale or the source of the problem.”

Councillors agreed to an investigation on usage and setting criteria and proposals for future use.

Striking for action on climate change

by Tommy Sheppard MP I write this having just come back from the climate strike.

Huge numbers of school pupils from across our city and beyond have gathered to march. Many adults came, like me, to lend their support. Estimates put the number of protesters at over 15,000.

It’s impossible not to be enthused. So many young people engaged and fired up to make the world a better place. But we have to acknowledge that the situation we’re now facing is very serious. The stakes could not be higher. Those of us who are currently adults need to face up to the reality that we could end up

From the Editor It was exciting to be in Edinburgh in September when the ‘Brexit case’ was heard at the Court of Session.There was a frisson of excitement when the three judges of the Inner House handed down

a judgement in the appeal case in favour of the 70+ politicians who had raised it, asking whether the prorogation of parliament was lawful. Then the caravan moved off to London.

frittering away the futures of the school children marching.

Our Scottish Government is leading the way internationally.

Scotland was the first country in the world to declare a climate emergency. We have the most ambitious statutory targets on emissions reduction in the world.

But we need to do more – and by we, I mean you and me. We need to make changes to our lifestyles and demand as consumers that companies change the way they do business. Every act, no matter how small, makes a difference.

As Edinburgh’s very own Patrick Geddes almost said: Think globally. Act locally.

The case was paid for by crowdfunding through the Good Law Project directed by Jolyon Maugham QC. Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry QC has been at the forefront of the Scottish court action as lead petitioner.

Even as we go to press we only just received Ms Cherry's article to complete the copy in this print issue - and it all depended on the

judgement of the 11 judges of the Supreme Court - a unanimous one!

Led by Lady Hale President of the Supreme Court of the UK, the judges heard evidence in the Scottish case alongside Gina Miller's case over three days, and issued their judgement within days. All this shows that when the legal systems in Scotland and England & Wales are pushed they can actually move fairly quickly..

Get in touch today!

For editorial and advertising enquiries please email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk

New school for Currie

by Gordon Macdonald MSP Currie Community High School is set to be upgraded and modernised in the First Phase of The Scottish Government’s New Learning Estate Investment Programme.

As part of a nationwide £1 billion investment programme, new schools will be built from Aberdeenshire to Ayrshire.

The Scottish Government will contribute funding of between £220 million and £275 million in partnership with local authorities across the country to replace 26 schools, with a further phase of investment to be announced within 12 months.

I am delighted to see that Currie Community High School is going to be part of the first phase of new schools and campuses across Scotland. We need to make sure that our schools are inspirational and nurturing places for learning and this investment will have a real impact on the experience of pupils, teachers, and parents at Currie, as well as the wider communities they serve.

It’s clear that the Scottish Government is committed to improving educational standards and understand of the significant role that quality facilities play in children’s learning and development.

The new Currie Hugh School will be a world-class learning environment – and I look forward to seeing the WHEC, Balerno and other schools across the city being included in the future rounds of expenditure.

The proposals also incorporate measures to tackle climate change.

Lessons have been learned from previous education infrastructure projects and used to develop construction methods to create low carbon, digitally-enabled schools and campuses.

These principles are central to Scotland’s new Learning Estates Strategy, with Scottish Futures Trust will manage the programme on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The first projects in this phase could open as soon as 2022-23.

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

POLITICS 11

Explaining what City Centre Transformation really means

by David Bol Local Democracy Reporter Councillors have agreed a final strategy for a 10-year project to overhaul how people move around the city centre. The city centre transformation project will put more emphasis on walking, cycling and public transport in an attempt to improve air quality and reduce the number of car journeys through the city centre.

What are the plans?

The ambitious strategy includes creating a large pedestrian priority area in the city centre – as well as improving infrastructure on key routes for cyclists.

There are proposals to close Waverley Bridge to traffic and create a car-free plaza, shut off some roads in the Old Town to traffic and build a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting the Old Town and the New Town.

Cars would be treated as “guests” in the city centre, Lothian Road could be turned into a “boulevard”, Princes Street transformed into a more friendly area for pedestrians and six public transport hubs are proposed.

Will roads be closed to cars?

Proposals include closing several roads to cars. Bank Street at the top of The Mound will be closed to traffic, except cars and taxis and Candlemaker Row will only be accessible to buses.

Cockburn Street, Victoria Street, Forrest Road, the High Street between North Bridge and St Mary’s Street and Lawnmarket will also be closed.

As well as Waverley Bridge being turned into a pedestrianised plaza, other streets in the south side of the city in the future, such as West College Street may be

pedestrianised in future.

Traffic lanes will be reallocated on Cowgate, The Bridges corridor, Calton Road, Johnston Terrace, Lothian Road, Morrison Street, Ponton Street, West Approach Road, Princes Street, Charlotte Square, St Andrew Square and Lauriston Place.

Why do the council want to change the city centre?

The case to overhaul the city centre is social, economic and environmental. The authority has already committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 – with transport playing a big role in the transformation.

The proposals will sit alongside the proposed Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to tackle air pollution by reducing the number of car journeys in the city – while chiefs

say a joined-up public transport and active travel network is vital with the Capital’s population expected to increase by 15 per cent by 2041 to around 600,000.

When will the changes happen?

The final strategy includes a draft timetable for delivery. Next year, work will begin to develop an integrated operations and management plan for the city centre – as well as a public transport plan.

Car-free streets in the Old Town could start from 2021, while the closure of Waverley Bridge is expected to happen between 2022 and 2023.

A trial of a free city centre hopper bus could take place in the first half of 2023 – while a new pedestrian bridge could be built over the Waverley Valley by 2023

to 2024.

It is thought that an integrated ticketing system won’t be in place until 2025 or 2026 – while transport hubs and interchanges will not be finished until 2030.

How much will it all cost?

Funding has already been secured for phase one of the project, which includes modernising and improving George Street and other parts of the New Town as well as key cycling routes.

But, the costed proposals will need £314m of funding over the 10-year project for all measures to be implemented in full. Council estimates that the transformation will bring £420m of quantifiable benefits to the city over a 25-year period.

What about the buses?

The Transport Convener insists that buses will be key to the city centre transformation and will be given a positive platform to embrace change – Lothian Buses have raised concerns the project could lead to increased journey times, while the free hopper bus could impact on revenues for the company, which is owned by the council. Lesley Macinnes is also Chair of Transport for Edinburgh and says that the bus company is well able to cope with change.

The number of bus stops, particularly on Princes Street will be reduced in a bid to speed up journeys, while buses are set to benefit from a reduction in car

traffic in the city centre. Proposals are also being drawn up for all bus lanes to be in operation seven days a week from 7am to 7pm – while licence plate cameras could be used for enforcement.

Is everyone happy with the plans?

Despite the SNP-Labour administration and Green and Liberal Democrat councillors backing the final strategy, Conservatives have called for the overall strategy to be put on hold until funded projects, such as the George Street improvements have been successfully delivered.

Lib Dems have also called for more certainly over the viability of buses, a concern also shared by the Tories.

A second round of public consultation, which had more than 3,000 responses, indicated that around 80 per cent of people expressed “slight or strong agreement” for the proposed vehicle-free streets, pedestrian priority zone, public realm enhancements, fully connected central cycle network, city centre hopper bus and public transport interchanges.

David Bol is the Local Democracy Reporter covering Edinburgh.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency : funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners.

Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Advertise your business in The Edinburgh Reporter from only

Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk to book your space!

12 BUSINESS

The Edinburgh Reporter

Back to paper bags in Livingston

Gilson Gray give Coulter Lettings a new home

The Centre Livingston will become the UK’s first mall to launch its own reusable paper carrier bag for shoppers.

The Mall owners hope that this will help reduce plastic pollution. The initiative responds to feedback from customers who want an alternative to plastic shopping bags.

The paper bag is recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, tear and water resistant and holds up to 16kgs in weight. They are also sustainably sourced and manufactured using 100% renewable energy, sending zero waste to landfill.

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston said: “We are really excited to be launching our reusable paper carrier bag to help reduce the amount of plastic in the environment, which is in response to customer demand.

“As plastic pollution continues to be high up on everyone’s agenda

we felt it was important to listen to our customers and offer them an alternative environmentallyfriendly carrier bag.

"Introducing paper bags into the mall not only gives shoppers a choice and a solution if they visit without their own bags but also represents our shopping centre's environmental policies.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the positive feedback we’ve already received from both our shoppers and retailers.”

Centre director Patrick Robbertze and Ashley Bisland, Deputy Centre Director PHOTO Greg Macvean

Legal firm Gilson Gray continue to grow by acquiring the letting company Coulter Lettings.

The firm now adds Sam Paulo and Marcus DiRollo the founders of the letting firm along with their staff to the Gilson Gray family.

Sam Paulo said: “This exciting merger represents the culmination of significant efforts over the last eight months to establish the best partner for our business and clients.

“Joining such an upwardly mobile team will allow us to offer the very best of service and gain greater market share across Scotland.”

Marcus DiRollo added: “This move allows us to develop significantly our letting operation and footprint of operations, while affording our clients access to the impressive breadth of Gilson Gray's award winning services.”

Matthew Gray, Managing Director of Gilson Gray Property Services said: “Marcus and Sam are well

known experts in their field and we are delighted to have them come on board with their talented pool of staff.”

Glen Gilson, Managing Partner of Gilson Gray and Chairman of the Group commented: “We identified lettings as a relevant strategic element of a developed property services operation a few years

ago yet it took some time to find a suitable high quality target that would provide a strong enough foundation for further expansion in this field.

“We have already agreed terms to take over further lettings operations across Scotland and will make further announcements as these initiatives develop.”

Matt Gray, Sam Paulo, Marcus DiRollo and Glen Gilson are now in business together

New manager for Hotel Indigo

Howard calls it a day

Kuldeep Badesha has been appointed general manager at Hotel Indigo.

Howard Bridges, Chief Executive at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, has announced he will retire at the end of this year.

He has been in charge at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home for five years, and leaves an

Kuldeep started her career in hospitality in Edinburgh some 15 years ago and has since held senior roles in hotels throughout the UK for the past five years.

This new appointment overseeing the 60-room hotel in the heart of Edinburgh enables her to return to the city following two years in Glasgow.

Kuldeep said : “It is great to be back in the heart of Scotland.

Having started my hospitality journey 15 years ago here in Edinburgh, the city has always held a special place in my heart.

“As the general manager of Hotel Indigo, Edinburgh, I am excited to reconnect with many contacts and collaborate with local businesses which share the same ethos and values as we do. The hotel holds a special place in the heart of the community and the team and I wish for this to continue. With a growing number of hotels in the city, Hotel Indigo, York Place remains a preferred hotel for so many and, in a similar fashion to the skyline of Edinburgh, is evolving to provide wow moments to our guests.”

Kuldeep Badesha is the new General Manager

Leith Walk Police Box Pop up space Saturday mornings from 10:30am Edinburgh Tool Library www.leithwalkpolicebox.com

Thursdays 12noon to 7pm En Elladi Greek honey, olive oil and feta cheese

impressive legacy behind him.

Howard has increased fundraising, improved the life and welfare of the animals in the care of the home and has ensured that thousands of animals are rehomed.

Howard has rehomed thousands of animals.

Wednesdays and Fridays 11am to 6pm ish Tipico Sicilian Confectionery Last Saturday of the month 2pm - 4pm Invisible Edinburgh Street Barber Taking bookings for Christmas now.

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

BUSINESS 13

Meeting Dennis Jones at Ocean Terminal (soon to be PORTA)

With the residential development just beginning to take shape across the road, Centre Manager, Dennis Jones, says this is the best time for Ocean Terminal.

Under new ownership since 2011 when it was bought by Resolution Property from Forth Ports, the new management company KLM is about to rename the shopping and leisure development and change tack just a little.

Some of the developments were in the minds of the original owners right from the start, but it has taken this long to make them gel, and it will cost Resolution around £1 million to make the changes they feel are now just right including changing the name to Porta at the end of this month, and the branding to reflect the Dazzle ships painted in Leith during the First World War. Jones said : "The main thing is the rebrand with a sharper name.

Porta works better - port is Italian for gateway and we are in the Port of Leith. A key part of the mall will now be the outlet shopping offer.

"The hardest business at the moment is the retail. People always need to eat, so companies like Starbucks, Nando's and Wagamama do well here. VUE Cinemas invested over £1 million in new recliner seats throughout

the cinema here and the prices are now £5.99 for every film with an enhanced experience. Our free underground car park works well for Ocean Terminal and all those businesses do well. It is a little harder for retailers.”

Jones who arrived here from the US almost two decades ago now showed me a plan of the area drawn up about then which included housing and retail and The Scottish Office building just a hop across the road, but not a distillery which is the most surprising ingredient in the mix.

Dennis explained : "It is a rare thing for someone to be in a position to start up an £11 million distillery and it is entirely down to the drive and talent of the business partners, Ian and Patrick.

Not many people would be able to create this multi-storey distillery.

It is most exciting, and was never contemplated 18 years ago.”

The distillery plans a tasting room and function area on the ninth floor of their vertical building. This will look out to the Forth and must have one of the best sea views in town, no doubt quickly becoming an iconic sight on the shoreline.

The tram will be a welcome public transport addition, but what Jones finds most interesting and

fulfilling is the fact that the spaces next to Ocean Terminal which have been empty for so long will at last be occupied by new buildings and developments finishing off the big picture always in the back of his mind.

Ocean Terminal may have lost tenants over the years but Jones pointed out that these have often been companies like British Home Stores who have gone into administration, rather than companies set on moving elsewhere. He explained that one of the important features of managing Ocean Terminal is to remain open-minded, and that is why the former BHS store has now become a roller skater's paradise.

Whether that remains in place when new retailers arrive is always open to question, but it is a good holding action for now and Dennis says he will certainly help them out if and when they ever have to move.

Ocean Terminal, Leith, , EH6 6JJ. 0131 475 9400 Mon-Fri 10.00am-8.00pm Bars, restaurants and cinema open later.

Sat 10.00am-7.00pm Sun 11am-6.00pm A longer version of this article is online. www.theedinburghreporter. co.uk

Dennis Jones Centre Manager at Ocean Terminal PHOTO ©2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

Now in Scotland!

6 HOTELS IN 4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

To book, call 0845 3000 165 or visit leonardohotels.co.uk Calls cost 12p per minute from UK landlines. Call charges from mobiles may be higher, based on your plan and service provider.

• Convenient, central locations • Spacious, comfortable bedrooms • Complimentary high-speed WiFi • Meeting & Events Suites • Wedding Venues • Onsite Parking* • Leisure Centre* *Select hotels

The Edinburgh Reporter

14 NEWS

Rotary donation to Multiple Sclerosis Society

Duncan Law, a member of the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno, together with his friend Bob Motion, raised funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society by making and selling nest boxes and planter barrows from scrap timber.

The Rotary Club invited Mark Colley-Davies, Area Fund Raising Manager for the MS Society, to tell the Club about the work of the Society but primarily to receive a cheque for £2000, making a total of £3000 raised by Duncan and Bob over 2 years.

Mark explained that the Society’s primary role was to fund research into MS and to lobby governments to act on that research.

He described MS as a condition affecting the brain and spinal cord causing symptoms ranging from physical mobility, fatigue and pain to memory loss, ability to think and blurred vision. The causes of MS were still unclear - for example why it affects 3 times more women than men.

Extend

2 FREE TICKETS worth £24*

Nor can geographical variation be explained as yet. Scotland has a very high incidence and it gets higher as you go north but there are anomalies.

For example South Queensferry records quite a high rate whilst North Queensferry records very few.

Mike Rowe thanked Mark on behalf of the Club for a fascinating presentation. Mike looked back to an earlier initiative by former Club President Robert Menzies

Improve

Renovate

which raised £25,000 for the MS Society by the production and sale of a cookbook. This, however, had involved the whole Club and partners. Today the Club was offering a donation from one Club member. Duncan Law was then invited to present the cheque for £2000.

Seen below from left to right are Bob Motion, Duncan Law, Mark Colley-Davies and Club President Lindsay Craig. www.cbrotary.org

Self-Build

If you can dream it...you can build it Visit the Edinburgh Homebuilding & Renovating Show

Edinburgh house prices highest

The most expensive place to buy a property in Scotland is Edinburgh according to the provisional figures released in the UK House Price Index (HPI).

Prices in the Capital average £263,894 against the average in Scotland of £153,968 and that is an increase of 1.4 per cent on July 2018.

In contrast, the lowest-priced area to purchase a property was East Ayrshire where the average price was £96,482.

Overall, house prices in Scotland have risen by 0.7 per cent between June 2019 and July 2019.

The UK average house price was £232,710, an increase of 0.7 per cent on July in the previous year and an increase of 0.5 per cent on the previous month.

The volume of residential sales in Scotland in May 2019 was 9,540, an increase of 19 per cent on the original provisional estimate for May 2018.

This compares with an increase of 2.6 per cent in England, 3.7 per cent in Wales and a decrease of 1.8 per cent in Northern Ireland.

Kenny Crawford, business development director, said: “The UK HPI shows that house prices in Scotland grew twice as fast as the UK average in July 2019.

“They have been growing faster than the UK annual rate in all but three months since December 2017.

“On average, Edinburgh is still the most expensive place in Scotland to buy a home and house prices have risen almost £8,000 in the city over the past year.

“Areas such as East Dunbartonshire and Stirling have shown large increases too. By contrast, between July 2018 and July 2019, the average price of residential property in the city of Aberdeen fell by around £10,000.

In Scotland, detached houses showed the largest increase, rising by 3.2 per cent in the year to July 2019 to £266,304.

Flats and maisonettes showed the largest decrease, falling by 0.4 per cent in the year to July 2019 to £110,607.

Worbey and Farrell

“Extremely virtuosic and beyond dazzling” SEAN RAFFERTY - BBC RADIO 3

“Awesome artistry and sheer showmanship” ¬¬¬¬SCOTSMAN

October 19-20 RHC, Edinburgh

MASQUERADE To get your 2 FREE TICKETS worth £24* visit

homebuildingshow.co.uk/pr60 #HBRshow19

*Saving based on one day door ticket price.

Offer expires 18 October 2019. Children 16 and under go free.

A Range of family favourites, including:

Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Bach’s Toccata & Fugue

Thurs 28th Nov. at 7:30pm

usherhall.co.uk : Box Office 0131 228 1155

WHAT’S ON IN SEPTEMBER Theatre Art Music Shows Festivals Re: birth

At Edinburgh Palette ‘re: birth’ is the second annual showcase of work by Spilt Milk members. The exhibition features over 40 artists both local and international, and includes sculpture, photography, painting, video art, performance and installation. It continues until 12 October 2019.

This year’s theme ‘rebirth’ or ‘regarding birth’ has resulted in a diverse collection of artwork exploring in a range of mediums; representations of birth and the maternal body, contemporary narratives of the mother and child relationship, abstract reflections on the domestic realm as well as work exploring adoption, loss, and the cycle of life.

Spilt Milk was founded in early 2018 as a pioneering Scottish not for profit enterprise committed to promoting the work of artists who are mothers. They aim to break down barriers faced by mothers in the arts, increase opportunities for women in the arts, and tackle stigma surrounding artwork which focuses on the maternal experience.

Spilt Milk operates a membership network open to artists who are mothers located anywhere in the world. They promote the work of our members through their online gallery as well as curating regular pop-up exhibitions, events and childcare-supported workshops in Edinburgh throughout the year.

Exhibition Open 29th September - 12th October (Mon-Sun 11-5pm) Free Entry. Gallery One, Edinburgh Palette St Margarets House 151 London Road EH7 6AE

New at The Scottish Arts Club

As a new venture the Club is proposing an evening of French cinema on Tuesday 22 October 2019 at 7.00pm in the Reading Room. Enjoy a drink at the bar before the show and feel free to bring your glass into the show.

"The Beat That My Heart Skipped" - "De Battre Mon Coeur s'est Arrêté" Director Jacques Audiard with Romain Duris, Neils Arestrup.

French with English subtitles.

102 minutes. France 2005

Tom Seyr (Romain Duris), a violent thug with a heart, grows weary of cracking heads for his smarmy, mediocre gangster father, Robert (Niels Arestrup), and longs for a chance at something else.

A fortuitous encounter prompts Tom to renew his classical piano playing, like his mother before him, and he begins to study with piano teacher Miao Lin (Linh Dan Pham).

But when he starts a passionate affair with Aline (Aure Atika), the wife of one of his cronies, his new happiness may be short-lived.

Tel 0131 229 8157 for details

October films with big names

by Adam Zawadzki A harem of scary films are coming to a cinema near you this Halloween.

Released on 4 October 2019, Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line) makes his debut as the eponymous character of ‘Joker’. Following in the footsteps of the Oscar-winning turn by Heath Ledger will certainly be challenging, but the film has already won the Golden Lion, the top honour at the Venice International Film Festival. Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull) provides support to a Joker very much in the leading role.

Swooping onto the silver screen on 18 October 2019 is ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ with Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted) reprising her role as the iconic wicked witch from the 2014 fantasy film Maleficent.

While its predecessor grossed over $750million worldwide, expect big box office for the return of this antagonist, with Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Dangerous Liaisons) joining the cast.

After one decade, Woody Harrelson (The Messenger), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Emma Stone (The Favourite) and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) reprise their roles in the comedy ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’, also released on 18 October 2019.

If you require a reprieve from the other frightening films featured here, this may help you sleep again.

But not for long. On All Hallows’ Eve comes a sequel almost 40 years in the making. Succeeding the 1980 film ‘The Shining’, ‘Doctor Sleep’ follows Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!) as Dan Torrance from the previous film with Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) as the villain of the piece.

Comedy and music on at the Gilded Balloon

This autumn at the Gilded Balloon Basement on Rose Street there is comedy, theatre and music to entertain you.

Every weekend there will be comedy from some up and coming acts including Helen Bauer a nominee in the Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her show Helen Bauer : Little Miss Angel Baby Face.

Fred Macaulay in Conversation on 13 October and 8 December 2019 will feature stars from the worlds of sport, entertainment, business and politics. His past guests have included Craig Ferguson (who made a masterful return to stand up in his one-night only show during the Festival).

Glasgow comedian Scott Gibson will be appearing along with his pals to try out new jokes on real audiences. There is a show especially for parents and

Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2019 Edinburgh Cocktail Week has revealed all the cocktails that you can enjoy for £4 each at over 70 bars, plus a week-long programme of unique events and experiences taking place across the capital, Monday 14th - Sunday 20th October.

Over 70 of the city's top bars are taking part this year, each creating a bespoke signature cocktail, which wristband holders can enjoy exclusively for £4 each with an ECW wristband - £6 for a weekday band (valid Monday

What’s Your Story open for entries Scottish Book Trust has opened applications for their What’s Your Story? programme. Now in its fifth year, the scheme has helped around 30 young Scots to develop writing, illustration and performance projects.

14 – 17 year olds living in Scotland are encouraged to apply for an all expenses paid

opportunity to learn, grow and create as a writer or illustrator.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said : “Nurturing new young talent in the Scottish literary scene is so important and Scottish Book Trust is proud to launch the fifth year of What’s Your Story, focused on supporting young people. The programme

offers a truly unique opportunity and we urge parents and teachers to encourage the teens in their lives with a passion for writing or illustration to apply.” Applications close on 27 November, and can be made online at thestoryis.co.uk/ storyboard

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival At the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival there will be a screening followed by a selection of the best of Spanish wine and tapas.

The film will be Chef’s Diaries: Scotland which shows the renowned and ‘ever-hip’ Roca brothers (Joan, Jordi and Josef).

They are behind the 3 Michelin starred El Celler de Can Roca in Barcelona and are shown travelling around Scotland discovering great cuisine.

After the film tapas created by chef Michael Innes who has worked with the Roca brothers at

El Celler de Can Roca.

Date: 5 October 2019 Venue: University of Edinburgh G4, 50 George Square Time: 5.30pm Price;£30.00 Tickets: edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com

babies in Katie Mulgrew's Mum's the Word. You are invited to get comfortable, feed your baby and enjoy the comedy.

The music includes Rootsbase the resident Trad and Folk night each Tuesday and also a literary rave with poets, rappers, musicians and comics hosted by Cat Hepburn.

Katy and Karen Koren, Directors of Gilded Balloon, said: “You know what they say: there’s no rest for the wicked! We’ve barely had time to put our wee feet up since the Fringe finished and already we can’t wait to bring the residents of Edinburgh the best in live entertainment over the coming autumn months. It may be an old adage, but there really is something for everyone at the Gilded Balloon Basement – so ‘mon down, pals!” 0131 622 6552 gildedballoon.co.uk

Get in touch today!

For editorial and advertising enquiries please email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk @EdinReporter

/EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk

to Friday) and £8 for a weekend band (valid Saturday and Sunday).

New bars taking part this year include Cold Town House, Cask Smugglers, Smoke & Mirrors, The Barologist, Camera, Damm 27 and The Garden, as well as returning favourites The Refinery, Harvey Nichols, Tigerlily, Tonic, Copper Blossom, The Voodoo Rooms and Brewhemia.

GD Jam at St Bride’s Make music on a Monday on 7 and 28 October 2019 with an open community music group from 7.00pm to 9.30pm. Join Tinderbox Collective, Edinburgh’s premier youth music project, & composer, arranger and band leader Mike Kearney (The Katet) as they lead a brand new, all ages,all abilities band.

Learn new skills, improve your playing Monday in this open, welcoming and most importantly have fun every community ensemble in the stunning auditorium of St Bride’s Centre, Dalry. £2 a session on the door.

16 WHAT'S ON

Theatre Art Music Shows Festivals

What’s happening?

African Connections CIC presents the newest event on Edinburgh’s festival calendar - the Edinburgh Multicultural Festival from 4-6 October 2019 Music, dance, storytelling, films and audio visual celebration of Edinburgh’s multicultural communities African Connections CIC (an Edinburgh-based community interest company promoting diversity through performing arts) is delighted to announce the very first Edinburgh Multicultural Festival, on 4-6 October 2019.The Bristo Community Concert Band will be leading a special Songs of Praise service at St Nicholas Church Sighthill on Sunday 5 October from 7.00pm. This is part of the church’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

The Scottish Album of the Year shortlisted Fergus McCreadie Trio will play at Jazz at St James in Leith on Saturday 26 October 2019.

The series of concerts will feature award winning musicians in a venue which allows the audience to see the music being created up close and personal.

And in November pianist Euan Stevenson and saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski reprise their Classical Connection presentation on Saturday 16 November 2019.

Tickets for the Jazz at St James concerts cost £12 each, with a reduced price of £8 for under 16s, and are available from 07849 509407 or from jazzatstjames18@ gmail.com

Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Simone ten Hompel 10 October 2019 19:00 – 20:15 £7, £6 Members, £5 Students Silversmith Simone ten Hompel discusses her commission from National Museums Scotland and The Glenmorangie Company to create a new piece of contemporary metal artwork inspired by the museum’s early medieval collections. nms.ac.uk/glenmorangielecture The Luxury of Time: Clocks from 1550 – 1750 Opens 4 Oct 2019 until Sun 26 Jan 2020 Exhibition Gallery, Level 1 Free Explore the history of early British clock making in this small display. Featuring beautiful objects from the golden age of British clock making in the 17th century, these exquisitely decorated pieces were at the cutting edge of technology and many were the ultimate status symbol of their day. nms.ac.uk/ clocks Through the Shortbread Tin: An Ossianic Journey 11 October 2019 19:00 – 20:30 £7, £6 Members, £5 Students A new work inspired by the poems of Ossian and by the story of James Macpherson who ‘discovered’ the poems in the early 1760s. Join theatre maker, poet and Gaelic learner Martin O'Connor for a performance of spoken word and song, which explores the

relevance – past and present – of these epic tales. nms.ac.uk/ossian Spotlight On: Pompeo Batoni Portrait 12 October 2019 14:00 – 15:00 FREE ticketed Discover the stories behind one of the key paintings featured in the Wild and Majestic exhibition with speakers Professor Viccy Coltman, Georgia Vullinghs chaired by curator Stuart Allan. nms.ac.uk/pompeoportrait October Half Term at the National Museum of Scotland 14 – 19 October 2019 12:00 – 16:00 Free Taking inspiration from our museum collections, join us for some weird and wonderful daily activities themed around gods, myths and legends. nms.ac.uk/ halfterm At the Church Hill Theatre, Morningside, on 5 October 2019, for one night and One Night Only, come and count with the Edinburgh Gay Men's Chorus through songs with numbers!

Forget about working 9 to 5, don't you wish there could be One Fine Day that you can make A Million Dreams come true? Marching with Seventy Six Trombones and singing in One Voice, they will give you that One singular sensation with every step you take. In this Season of Love, come along and enjoy a night of fabulous music.

You can COUNT on them!

The Sunday Classics season at Usher Hall begins again this month. The concerts take place

Halloween at Edinburgh Leisure Little monsters can actively enjoy Halloween this year and have a frightfully good fun at Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft-play centres across the city.

Where: Clambers at Royal Commonwealth Pool, 21 Dalkeith Road EH16 5BB When: 4.00-6.00pm – Thursday, 24 October 2019 What: Soft play, games, face painting arts and crafts, disco and a fancy-dress competition.

Cost: £10.00 – non-members; £7.50 – members; £5 - 0 – 11 months To book: 0131 667 7211 / enquiries@edinburghleisure.co.uk

Where: Tumbles at Portobello, 20 Westbank Street EH15 1DR When: 4.30 - 6.30pm, Monday, 28th October 2019 What: Soft play, magic show, face painting, games, prizes, spooky transfers Cost: £10.00 – non-members; £7.50 – members; £5 – 0 – 11 months To book: 0131 669 0878 / info. tumbles@edinburghleisure.co.uk Where: Scrambles at EICA: Ratho, South Platt Hill, Newbridge EH28 8AA When: 3.30 – 5.30pm, Friday, 25th October 2019

What: Soft play, disco, games, face painting, prizes, making spooky biscuits.

Cost: £10.00 – non-members; £7.50 – members; £5 - 0-11 months To book: 0131 333 6333 / info. ratho@edinburghleisure.co.uk Tickets are now on sale. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Entry is for ticket holders only.

Please present tickets at the venue’s welcome desk. Each venue will close to ‘pay as you play’ entry half an hour before the start of the party. Children are under the supervision of their parent/carer at all times.

in the afternoon beginning on 13 October 2019 with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra when you can enjoy some Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich The second concert is on 27th October 2019 with the Flanders Symphony Orchestra featuring guitarist Miloš Karadaglić and young Spanish conductor José Luis Gomez. The programme includes Rossini’s Barber of Seville overture and Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto Aranjuez. www.usherhall.co.uk/sundayclassics This autumn Blackhall Library has a series of free author events with two chances to join acclaimed local author Ricky Monahan Brown on Wednesday, 9 October at 2:30pm and again on Tuesday 15th at 6.30pm. Ricky's book "Stroke: a 5% chance of survival" describes his journey

when the day after losing his job, Ricky suffered a catastrophic stroke aged just 38. Unconscious, he was wheeled into hospital with his girlfriend Beth by his side. The book details the story of their love, his recovery and their return home.

The Edinburgh Dungeon dials up the seasonal scares with a host of new experiences from 5th October – 3rd November becoming the official Home of Halloween™ with a packed programme of scary fun including a new ghost show, a new ‘Dungeon Lates’ adultsonly experience and partner competitions.

‘The White Lady – Bloody Revenge’ is a new ghost show running as part of the standard actor-led Dungeon tour exclusively during Halloween. Sightings of her blood-spattered ghost at Corstorphine dovecot continue to this day (so we are told!).

Advertise your business in The Edinburgh Reporter from only

Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk to book your space!

@EdinReporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

edinburghreporter

/EdinReporter

WHAT'S ON 17

October events at Topping & Co

It's all about books in Craigmillar in October

The Craigmillar Book Festival is an annual event that takes place in nurseries, schools, Craigmillar Library and other public spaces around Craigmillar.

The Craigmillar Book Festival aims to inspire everyone in Craigmillar to enjoy the pleasures and benefits of reading, writing and other literacy activities. They foster and support a lifelong love of reading, writing and sharing stories to help establish and strengthen these essential life skills.

The Book Festival is brought to you by The Craigmillar Literacy Trust and is operated through the Creating and Learning Together project which works with children,

young people and families aged 4+, building upon the strength of their long established ‘Books For Babies’ programme. This crossgenerational learning project delivers stimulating and fun informal learning opportunities that will increase enthusiasm for ‘reading for pleasure’ and strengthen literacy practices in everyday lives.

The 2019 Book Festival will take place from 6 – 16 November 2019.

Full details of the programme, including visiting authors and events will be available from early October 2019 at http://craigmillar. org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/ craigmillar-book-festival/.

Topping & Co is the newest independent bookshop in town. It opened without too much fanfare at the end of last month, and the events list for October is already looking pretty good!

Author Event: From the Lion's Mouth Launch Party Tuesday, 1 October, 7.30pm Topping and Company Booksellers of Edinburgh £9.99 including book Celebrate Edinburgh author Iain Campbell's fascinating account of his journey following the course of the Indus River, from its mouth in Karachi through to its source in Ladakh, where it springs from the 'Lion's Mouth' on Mount Kailash.

Engrossing and eye-opening, this will appeal to travellers, trekkers, wilderness enthusiasts, anyone interested in the culture and history of Pakistan, and fans of great travel writing.

Author Event: Launch Party for The Coorie Home Thursday, 3 October, 6.30pm Topping and Company Booksellers of Edinburgh £8 or £14.99 includes book The Coorie Home is a celebration of authentic Scottish home life, and the age old Scottish concept of coorie (or còsagach in Gaelic) – the feeling of warmth and home comfort.

Author Event: Kate Kirkpatrick on Simone de Beauvoir Thursday, 10 October, 8.00pm Topping and Company Booksellers of Edinburgh £8 or £20 including book In Becoming Beauvoir, the first biography of Simone de Beauvoir since publication of her letters and early diaries, Kate Kirkpatrick draws on previously unavailable sources. The new personal details

about her life revealed can only deepen our fascination with this great thinker.

Author Event: Dan Jones on the Crusaders Monday, 14 October, 8.00pm Greenside Church, 1b Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB £8 or £25 including book Dan Jones has the priceless ability to write page-turning narrative history underpinned by authoritative scholarship. Never before has the era of the Crusades been depicted in such bright and striking colours, or their story told with such gusto.

Author Event: Shaun Bythell, Confessions of a Bookseller Thursday, 17th October, 8.00pm Greenside Church, 1b Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB £10 or £16.99 including book Shaun Bythell introduced us to the joys and frustrations of a life lived in bookselling in his best-selling Diary of a Bookseller (soon to be a major television series). Now he reunites us with the characters we came to know and love. Confessions of a Bookseller will reunite readers with the characters they’ve come to know and love.

Author Event: Performance Poet Olivia Gatwood Monday, 21st October, 8.00pm Greenside Church, 1b Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB £9.99 At times blistering and riotous, at times soulful and exuberant, Olivia Gatwood’s new book, Life of the Party is about what it means to be a girl and a woman in today’s world and the challenge of briefly being both. Don't miss the only Scottish event in her UK tour this autumn.

Author Event: Jung Chang Tuesday, 22 October 8.00pm Greenside Church, 1b Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB £10 or £25 including book Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister is a gripping story of love, war, exile, intrigue, glamour and betrayal, which takes us on a monumental journey. In a group biography that is by turns intimate and epic, Jung Chang reveals the lives of three extraordinary women who helped shape the history of twentieth-century China.

Author Event: Kim-Joy from the Great British Bake Off Monday, 28th October, 8.00pm Greenside Church, 1b Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB £8 or £18 including book Everyone’s favourite Great British Bake Off finalist, Kim-Joy, is coming to Edinburgh! Infuse your baking with a sprinkle of glitter, a rainbow of colours and a menagerie of woodland creatures with the help of this unique baking book.

Author Event: A C Grayling on The History of Philosophy Tuesday, 29th October, 8.00pm Greenside Church, 1b Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB £8 or £26 including book With his characteristic clarity and elegance, A. C. Grayling takes the reader on a comprehensive and entertaining journey through the history of philosophy. Remarkable for its range and accessibility, this is a landmark work.

Topping & Co 2 Blenheim Place EH7 5JH t 0131 546 4202 edinburgh@toppingbooks.co.uk

We’re social! @EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

18 WHAT'S ON

Theatre Art Music Shows Festivals

Fruitmarket pops up at Waverley Mall

The Fruitmarket Gallery on Market Street is now closed for full refurbishment and extension and will re-open in 2020.

Instead the gallery has taken space in Waverley Mall which is accessed through Williams and Johnson Coffee Co. just at the top of the Waverley Steps.

The opening at Waverley Mall is another welcome addition to the mix of shopping there.

The Fruitmarket Gallery has

exhibitions with some of the best Scottish and international artists and runs a wide variety of cultural and educational events throughout the year. Aiming to 'create a welcoming space for people to think with art in ways that are meaningful to them', the gallery believes that engaging with art in this way is enjoyable, leads to an improved quality of life, and revitalises our understanding of ourselves as individuals and as part of society.

Good reason to get down to Portobello

by Rosemary Kaye This October, take the bus down to Portobello and enjoy a weekend of wonderful words (and pictures).

Some highlights will be Michael Faber, James Robertson,Catherine Simpson, Lisa Ballantyne, Michael Pedersen and Sandra Ireland. Oh, and Ian Rankin…

Books by participating authors will be on sale from Blackwell’s Bookshop book stalls.

And remember, events may be free but donations are much appreciated to help with the costs of this excellent event.

The Portobello Book Festival will run 3-6 October 2019.

There are sessions at Portobello Library, Portobello Baptist Church, Jameson Gate, Dalraida and The Portobello Bookshop.

Gallus - the Scottish Jazz Weekend He said: “To simply be a part of Offering a snapshot of the state this scene is an absolute privilege, of jazz in Scotland though the so I’m sure you’ll understand the lens of guest programmer: Fergus great joy I’ve had in selecting a McCreadie. Pianist McCreadie is line-up that broadly represents the shooting star of Scottish jazz.

Scottish Jazz as it stands today Still aged only 22, he has won … a wide array of angles are numerous awards, massive presented in this programme, from criticial TG010672 and audience acclaim and 259x156mm V1_ PRINTFILE.pdf 1 19/09/2019 17:01 new innovations to established is in demand for concerts all over projects, a younger vanguard of Europe.

players rising up to sit alongside some of Scotland’s finest jazz exports”.

Tickets are available from www. edinburghjazzfestival.com or 0131 467 5200 Full Programme is online or available at St Bride's on Orwell Terrace.

Scan here!

Tickets are available from the library (14 Rosefield Avenue) during opening hours.

Scan the QR code on the right hand side here to read the full version of this article with lots of suggestions for what you might see and do! www.portobellobookfestival. wordpress.com.

Enlightenment at National Library

Northern Lights: The Scottish Enlightenment 18th-century Scotland was a place with many remarkable individuals, but the conditions that helped create the Scottish Enlightenment were the social and professional networks that allowed these great thinkers to share and develop their ideas.

Intellectual Scots in the 18th century lived active and sociable lives with frequent opportunities to debate with their peers: at universities, churches, debating societies, libraries and laboratories to coffee shops, taverns, town

houses and printers' workshops.

The Enlightenment was a phenomenon that operated across different levels of Scottish society.

Northern Lights features books and manuscripts produced by the leading figures of the age including: David Hume, Adam Smith, William Robertson, Robert Adam and Robert Burns.

Runs until Saturday 18 April 2020 National Library of Scotland George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EW Admission free

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

WHAT'S ON 19

October at The Queen’s Hall Tickets & Information: www. thequeenshall.net | 0131 668 2019 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JG Thurs 3 at 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra with director/violin Pekka Kuusisto £6-£37 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 3, BWV 1048 Hillborg: Bach Materia Bach: Partita in E major, BWV 1006 Sibelius: Symphony No 5 Fri 4 / Sat 5 at 7.30pm Ben Elton £31.50 Now, after a 15 year absence, the Godfather of modern stand-up returns to the medium he did so much to define. Back on the road with an all new stand-up show, Ben promises to try and make sense of a world which appears to have gone stark raving mad.

Sun 6 at 7.30pm Lubomyr Melnyk: The Prophet of the Piano £20 In the mid-1970s, while living in Paris, Lubomyr created Continuous Music - a totally new language for the piano, one that requires amazing technical abilities that use the full natural voice of the piano. Support is a rare solo set from award winning

experimental composer, sound artist and musician Michael Begg.

Mon 7 at 7.30pm Jojo Moyes £17 - £25 A love letter to the power of books, words and friendship to change lives for the better, Jojo Moyes’ new book ‘The Giver of Stars’ is being described as her best yet. Copies of her book will be on sale after the event, and Jojo will be doing a book signing.

Thu 10 at 7.30pm Armistead Maupin £18 - £28 Don’t miss the chance to join America’s ultimate storyteller and author of ‘Tales of the City’, as he recounts his favourite tales from the past 4 decades, offering his own engaging observations on society and the world we inhabit.

Armistead will be interviewed by Lee Randall.

Fri 11, doors 6.30pm Walter Trout plus special guest Dan Patlansky £27 Five decades in the making; it is equal parts thriller, romance, suspense and horror; the veteran bluesman has seen and done it all - plays earth shattering blues rock music. Joining Walter is Dan Patlansky who has become one of the busiest and most respected blues artists to ever come out of South Africa.

Art Gallery news Ingleby Gallery in Barony Street will be closed from 2 October - 11 October whilst they install their upcoming show and a series of autumn events celebrating the recent work of the internationally renowned, camera-less photographer Garry Fabian Miller.

A new book BLAZE, introduced by internationally acclaimed artist and writer Edmund De Waal and closed with a new poem by Alice Oswald (published by Ingleby this month) will document the end of an era as the artist battles with the extinction of the analogue materials in a digital age.

Dwindling supplies of paper and chemistry and the increasingly fugitive nature of his life-learnt methods see Miller embracing the perversity of his position in a final blaze of picturemaking glory. The exhibition is at Ingleby, from 12 October – 20 December 2019. Garry Fabian Miller will give the annual lecture of the

Scottish Society for the History of Photography on Friday 15 November 2019 at the National Galleries of Scotland.

At The Scottish Gallery from 2 October to 26 October 2019 Notes from the West - Hannah Mooney. This is the first solo exhibition at the gallery for Mooney who has a studio in Glasgow but splits her time between Co Mayo and Donegal.

Her subject matter is principally the landscape. Growing Forms

by Kate Downie. She has recently built a new studio and put it to good use during the build, finding it an irresistible subject. Beastly

by Claudia Rankin will introduce visitors to an array of ceramic creatures with sculptures and functional works such as animal candelabras and platters. Rankin is back after the success of her first solo exhibition here in October 2017. Constructing in Colour is a new collection of work by jeweller

Sat 12, doors 7.00pm Lloyd Cole £22 - £27 Lloyd Cole returns to The Queen's Hall as part of a 5-night Scottish tour. 'From Rattlesnakes to Guesswork' will present music from Lloyd's back catalogue, starting with ‘Rattlesnakes’ in 1984, right up to his forthcoming album ‘Guesswork’ released in July 2019.

Sun 13 at 8.00pm Cavern Beatles £26 - £28 This show is a Magical History Tour through the works of the greatest pop music phenomenon, The Beatles. Replicating, in both sight and sound, the excitement and energy of Beatlemania, the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper, and the creative masterpieces of The White Album and Abbey Road.

Thu 17 at 7.30pm Tommy Smith Quartet: Embodying the Light £17 Saxophonist Tommy Smith pays tribute to his greatest inspiration, jazz icon John Coltrane with the quartet he formed in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of Coltrane’s death and his own 50th birthday.

Support is from the Alan Benzie Trio.

Fri 18 at 8.00pm London African Gospel Choir: Paul Simon’s Graceland £27 Emily Kidson who uses silver gold wood inlay and hand painted detail along with her colourful laminates.

At &Gallery they will show work by Scottish artist Andrew Mackenzie who graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1993 and lives in the Scottish Borders.

He is the current President of Visual Arts Scotland. (they have moved up the street!)

The Torrance Gallery will feature works by Dronma, Peter Foyle & Ian Elliot who they describe as three well-known and long established Scottish stalwarts from 12 - 26 October 2019.

At The Union Gallery until 12 October their exhibition is Out of India with a mixed and vibrant selection of works by Carol Read, Richard Ballantyne, Jenny Matthews, Sally Johns and a couple of artists new to them, Jackie Cartwright and Fiona Wilson. Then from 19 October they will feature the playful and distinctive work of wood sculptor Michael McManus.

The London African Gospel Choir was co-founded by Crystal Kassi to help London’s African community to promote the gospel, create a platform of excellence for African gospel singers and musicians, and popularise the African interpretations of gospel music. Tonight they will perform the classic Paul Simon album 'Graceland' in full live on stage.

Sat 19, doors 7.00pm St Etienne: Tiger Bay 25th Anniversary £28.50 The 'Tiger Bay' album will be followed by a set of hits and fan favourites also featuring orchestration, with 8-piece live band and 5-piece string section.

Saint Etienne as you’ve never heard them before.

Sun 20, doors 7.00pm The Unthanks: Emily Brontë Song Cycle £22 - £24.50 The Unthanks invite us into the darkly passionate world of Emily Brontë, with a song cycle bearing all the quiet beauty they are known and loved for.

Mon 21 at 8.00pm Hello Again, The Story of Neil Diamond £26 - £28 Evocative imagery, video and narration enhance the magic, as the show takes you on a musical journey through Neil Diamond’s glittering 50 year career.

Performed by Brooklyn Creed and his band.

Thu 24 at 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra £6 - £37 Mozart: Symphony No 36 ‘Linz’, K425 Haydn: Keyboard Concerto in D, Hob XVIII Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor Piotr Anderszewski: Director / Piano Alexander Janiczek: Director /

Violin Sat 26, 7.30pm Big, Big Train £22 - £32 Four times Progressive Music Award winning band, Big Big Train, reached No1 in the UK Official rock album charts with their 2017 album, 'Grimspound' and No2 with their recent live album, 'Merchants of Light'. This is their first ever UK tour showcasing their forthcoming album. Support comes from Sweet Billy Pilgrim.

Sun 27, doors 7.00pm Lissie £19.50 - £26.50 American singer-songwriter Lissie returns to The Queen's Hall this autumn, showcasing her new album ‘When I’m Alone: The Piano Retrospective’.

Thu 31, 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra £6 - £37 Suk: Serenade for Strings in E-Flat Janáček: The Fiddler’s Child Dvořák: Symphony No 5 Joseph Swensen: Conductor Stephanie Gonley: Violin

Got an event to share?

Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk with the details!

The Edinburgh Reporter

20 PHOTOS

Out and about in Edinburgh This month there have almost been too many photo opportunities.

There were 300 horses and riders on the Royal Mile in September to celebrate the Riding of the Marches.

Then the Scottish Youth Climate Strike meant that Edinburgh joined global protests demanding action on climate change. There was a sea of young people (and slightly older people too!) who joined the march from The Meadows to The Scottish Parliament on a gloriously sunshiny day. At the

end of September the Scottish Parliament was about to debate the Climate Bill for the final time.

Colony of Artists 2019 took place with art, music and Campervan Brewery beer to enjoy down at Abbeyhill Colonies. Their murals are still there for all to see.

In another artistic quarter of the city Art Walk Porty took place over a whole week, opening up the historic kilns on one of the routes.

Have you seen the Roseburn mural which shows Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens and the cycle messengers in WWII?

Riding of the Marches 2019 - the Rt Hon Lord Provost Frank Ross and dignitaries on top of the Mercat Cross

Nick Gardner offered tarot readings at Colony of Artists Riding of the Marches 2019 - The Edinburgh Lad and Lass on The Royal Mile Colony of Artists - Lauren Bowman shows off her highly decorated miniatures

This lovely mural is on the side wall at Cherry’s CafÊ

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

PHOTOS 21

Colony of Artists 2019 - Eddscape is a Graphic Artist Painter & Designer and a Twitter friend!

John Rattray statue in Leith Links was unveiled recently

The Singing Children of Africa visited Holyrood and sang for MSPs in the Garden Lobby

The stars of the King and I which is coming to the Playhouse in October PHOTO© The Edinburgh Reporter

The new mural in Roseburn Park was paid for by a £3,000 grant from the council

Rosy Naylor top left with artists and organisers involved with Art Walk Porty 2019 inside Portobello Kilns

ArtWalkPortyJenny Pope’s Material Land which flew from the lampposts ©2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

The Edinburgh Reporter

22 FEATURE

Fundraising Lunch with an Old Bag 2019

The organising committee with Fiona Donaldson Chair second from right

This year’s Lunch with an Old Bag at Prestonfield House raised £760,000 for The Prince’s Trust Scotland.

'Girl about town' Charlie Nicholsby was invited to go and she promised to tell all....

by Charlie Nicholsby Fridays usually consist of me doing the school run and all sorts of activities afterwards so it was great to get the glam on and attend the infamous Lunch With An Old Bag 2019 at the stunning Prestonfield House Hotel.

It’s a fabulous fun-filled day of fundraising for The Prince’s Trust

to help them transform the lives of young people in Scotland.

And the glam was out as the fizz flowed , followed by a delicious lunch. (Thanks to James Thomson without whose wonderful generosity this event would not be possible.)

Over 330 fabulous ladies (and a few brave men) took to their seats, and the afternoon really got going. Des Clarke and Grant Stott got the party started along with four Moulin Rouge dancers who were all from Scotland. With more entertainment to follow it was time to get serious and begin the auction .

Starting with designer bags, donations came from Alexander McQueen, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, Valentino and even a rare Hermes Birkin Bag! Other spectacular auction prizes included holidays in Spain, France, NYC and the Norwegian Fjords.

Acclaimed Scottish artist Gerard Burns offered a portrait. He is known for his realistic paintings of the likes of Brian Cox, Ewan McGregor and Elaine C Smith so this was a prize worth having.

Fiona Donaldson, Chair of LWAOB, related the fabulous success that the charity has provided in Scotland.

Helping vulnerable young people to believe in themselves and to live, learn and earn.

After listening to some emotional stories from those whose lives had been dramatically changed by the Trust, an audio message appeared from non other than the man himself HRH The Duke of Rothesay!

With the afternoon going up an octave and a staggering sum of over three quarters of a million pounds raised it was time to hit the dance floor and get a cheeky selfie with the legend that is Christopher BIggins. (I couldn’t resist).

A huge thanks to Fiona and her committee for all that goes into an event like this - and probably the only time I didn’t mind being called an old bag!

Chair Fiona said afterwards : “Every year we’re astounded by the generosity of our guests, and this year’s support has been exceptional. And it simply wouldn’t

Charlie Nicholsby and Kathleen O’Sullivan

October at Gallery and gift shop

Open Monday – Saturday • 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Fifty artists in one gorgeous space: art, jewellery, fashion, homewares, gifts, candles, cards...

93 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1QG 0131 629 9123

www.artcraftcollective.co.uk

happen without the incredible support of so many extraordinary people, including our loyal and enthusiastic sponsors. It just shows the difference a room full of “Old Bags” can make.”

Founder James Thomson OBE, who has hosted the invitation-only event at Prestonfield every year, said : “Every young person should have the chance to succeed, and with the right support and understanding, this generation of young people, who face challenges which simply couldn’t have been imagined when LWOB was launched in 2009, will fulfil their potential..”

Elaine Duguid centre committee member since the first LWOB lunch with her friends Helen Wallace and Michele Stewart

Rob Hussey left and Johnny Bacigalupo

Ben Elton Lubomyr Melnyk Scottish Chamber Orchestra Jojo Moyes Armistead Maupin Walter Trout Tommy Smith Quartet The Unthanks Liminal Nights Lloyd Cole Big Big Train and much more

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

Give a little to the Potter of Leith

The Leith Community Pottery is a social enterprise which will give free access to working in clay and all the 'feel good' benefits that go with it. There will be

classes and workshops on offer to those who have mental health issues, dementia, isolation and other physical health conditions.

A crowdfunding page has been

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

edinburghreporter

set up to raise £25,000 which is needed to buy all the tools and equipment such as a kiln and half a dozen potters' wheels.

Andy Lang is the Potter of Leith and he is behind the project.

Lang is a graduate of Jordanstone College in Dundee and has taught pottery at night classes for around thirty years.

He has had his own mental health problems over the years and says that by combining all of his experiences he hopes to help others, and himself, at the same time.

Contribute if you can at www. crowfunder.co.uk search for Leith Community Pottery Watch our video interview with Andy by scanning the QR code here.

Scan here!

FEATURE 23

Art & Craft Collective are two years old!

Recently Art & Craft Collective on Causewayside celebrated their 2nd birthday. There was cake (of course there was!) and fizz and a lot of chat among the invited guests.

The gallery and workshop venue on Causewayside opened in August 2017 with around 20 artists and crafters displaying and selling their work.

Now they have expanded to over 60 artists and the work on display is extensive, from watercolours to jewellery, pottery and handmade leather along with cards and wrapping paper.

Their newest venture is to join artsy.net where you can buy online. On their birthday Lindsay of Art & Craft Collective invited local MP Ian Murray to join her in cutting the cake.

Space saving ideas for small homes If you’re purchasing a flat or house for the first time, the likelihood is it’s not going to have bags of space to spare, so we’ve pulled together five easy to implement ideas to allow you to make the most of your smaller property.

1. Use the walls Easy to fit wall space savers are easy to get hold of and are particularly useful in the kitchen.

Why not try adding a magnetic strip to your kitchen wall for your chopping knives to stick to?

2. Use racks Whether you’re trying to save space in the kitchen, hallway or bedroom, racks are fantastic for storage. Shelved shoe racks can keep a front porch or bedroom neat and tidy, saving on valuable wardrobe space and avoiding trip hazards.

3. Create attractive displays on shelves

If you have bright white or neutral walls in your kitchen, this can be treated as a blank canvas and used creatively to bring objects together as attractive shelf displays. Why not bring together colourful coffee, sugar and tea containers with a house plant?

4. Use folding or multi-purpose furniture Collapsible tables can make a great desk in a living area, which can then be neatly folded away into a cupboard for when visitors are coming round. Ottomans are also a fantastic space saver, functioning as a seat, table or bench, as well as a storage container.

5. Underneath the bed An obvious, but often underutilised, storage space is under the bed. There are many bedframe options that come with in-built drawers (called divans) that won’t break the bank or you could purchase inexpensive

storage boxes that fit under the bed.

For more ideas head to espc. com to search their whole range of houses and flats and get advice on buying a property.

Get in touch today!

For editorial and advertising enquiries please email editor@ theedinburghreporter.co.uk @EdinReporter

/EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk

The Edinburgh Reporter

24 FOOD

Recipe of the month Sundried Tomato & Duck Leg Risotto, Poached Duck Egg, Truffle This week’s recipe is by Glenn Roach, Executive Chef of the Surf & Turf Restaurants in Macdonald Hotels & Resorts.

Chef Roach introduced the Surf & Turf concept to Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews and Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh.

Risotto Base Ingredients: 1.1 litres organic stock, such as chicken, fish, vegetable 1 large onion 2 cloves of garlic ½ a head of celery 90 g Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons olive oil unsalted butter 400 g risotto rice 2 wine glasses of dry white vermouth 50g sundried tomato Method: Heat the stock. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic, trim and finely chop the celery. Finely grate the Parmesan.

In a separate pan, heat the oil and 1 small knob of butter over a low heat, add the onions, garlic and celery, and fry gently for about 15 minutes, or until softened but not coloured. Add the rice and turn up the heat – the rice will

now begin to lightly fry, so keep stirring it. After 1 minute it will look slightly translucent. Add the vermouth or wine and keep stirring — it will smell fantastic. Any harsh alcohol flavours will evaporate and leave the rice with a tasty essence.

Once the vermouth or wine has cooked into the rice add your first ladle of hot stock and a good pinch of sea salt. Turn the heat down to a simmer so the rice doesn’t cook too quickly on the outside.

Keep adding another ladleful of stock, stirring and almost massaging the creamy starch out of the rice, allowing each one to be absorbed before adding the next.

This will take around 15 minutes.

Taste the rice — is it cooked? Carry on adding stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite. Don’t forget to check the seasoning carefully. If you run out of stock

before the rice is cooked, add some boiling water.

Remove the pan from the heat, add 1 knob of butter, sundried tomatos and the Parmesan, then stir well.

Place a lid on the pan and allow to sit for 2 minutes – this is the most important part of making the perfect risotto, as this is when it becomes outrageously creamy and oozy like it should be.

Eat it as soon as possible, while the risotto retains its beautiful texture.

(The recipes for the other parts of this dish are online.

Once risotto is ready flake the duck leg through the risotto In a bowl add the risotto then place a soft poached duck egg on top, Place shavings on top of the egg and add some wild herbs for garnish.

Sit down and enjoy your meal!

Boost your business here Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk for advertising details!

Eating out on Princes Street

by Juliet Lawrence Wilson With the new fandangled St James development galloping on a pace, talk has turned to what will happen to sad old Princes Street?

Will we continue to dredge through the rain to Zara when a shiny shopping emporium will house all the brands we desire and more? Unlikely, it seems, and what an opportunity it would be to turn such a stunning street into a neighbourhood: prime real estate with restaurants, bars and a terrific view. Sign me up.

For a taste of future Edinburgh living I met my chum Susie for lunch at Twenty Princes Street, a dramatic and elegant restaurant adjacent to the popular cocktail bar, Juniper and part of Indigo Hotel. Directly opposite Waverley station this was the perfect location for us as my chum was travelling in from Fife and we needed as much time as possible for wine and food before the dreaded school pick up.

At a window seat soaking in the breathtaking views and sumptuous surroundings, we had a delightfully relaxing afternoon.

We began with a glass of vino for me and a beautifully served G&T for Susie in a glass that we noted had a low centre of gravity.

They must have form with boozy

school mums. We opted for the three course at £20 set menu with Susie choosing the super fresh and zingy Asparagus Soup and me being mildly more adventurous with a Chicken and Whisky Brulée.

Who had the brilliant idea to brulée super soft pate?

The burnt caramel gave a punch to the soft creamy richness and I was delighted to see some melba toast on the plate. You can keep your sourdough loaf. Melba toast to pâté is Anthony to Cleopatra.

Whilst I enjoyed my main dish of Sun Dried Tomato Tagliatelle, Susie hit the jackpot with 12 Hour Slow Braised Pork Belly. “Melts in the mouth!” she declares.

But what’s this I see, Madame Susie, left on your plate? I’m ashamed to say my dear and lovely friend had left the crackling on her plate. Untouched. She may be the kindest, most thoughtful woman in the world but here I have reasons to question her character.

(Ach, not really!)

Tasting the spice of life, You don’t have to cross continents to find superb indian cooking.

Winners of The Best Takeaway of the Year The Chef of the Year

0131 334 4488

St John’s Curry Club, 100 St John’s Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12 8AT

@EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

FOOD 25

Juliet's Food Diary

“It all comes out as it’s ready.”

A prize for how many profanities the innocent waiting staff’s words induce.

The Silver Fox boyfriend and I decided our regular Tuesday night date, where we indulge in amazing cooking (mine) and fine wines (his) was getting a tad passé. So we opted to go to the pictures. Eating at the next door noodle chain, where serving dishes at the same time isn’t a given, is a very popular Deliveroo outlet. While one of us was eating, the other was waiting for their main to arrive for twenty hungry minutes. In that time the Deliveroo cyclists picked up at least five orders. (“It all comes out as it’s ready.” ) - Were they all going to the same destination?

Apparently in London there are many ‘dark kitchens’. Sounds dodgy, but what’s wrong with people setting up remote outlets for takeaway businesses? Some of them might be offering amazing food by people who can’t afford

to set up a shop front business or a restaurant. I hear there are one or two listed on Deliveroo in Edinburgh who offer great food and perhaps every dish is delivered at the same time. It’s an odd world where takeaways behave more professionally than restaurants.

Hair brushed and parted, I headed off to the anniversary party of Malmaison. The love story of boutique hotels began in Edinburgh, don’t you know? We're all agreed that Mals are delightful.

However when the M.D. gave a speech declaring all small hotels resembled Fawlty Towers before The Mal showed them how to do it, that seemed a tad Trumpish. But credit where it’s due, Malmaison do their remit of modern luxury splendidly. He also declared The Mal buffet was the best ever.

He was right there, they fed and watered us most luxuriously.

“We’re off to Dunfermline for the night,” I told the Silver Fox. Baffled, he was, knowing no golf course he desired conquering was nearby.

“Dunfermline? Seriously?” The SF has recently been on a family trip to Monterey, Santa Barbara and L.A. and returned mildly snobbish about the restaurants of his homeland.

Yet on driving into Garvock House Hotel, he declared: ” Wow, this is insane! Like, we're

in the middle of the countryside!

Gorgeous!” Almost like he thought of it himself… we both agreed we couldn’t have found a more cosy, comfortable and friendly place and felt immediately relaxed. Although the Garvock is owned and run by husband and wife duo Rui and Pamela Fernandes, Fawlty Towers it certainly isn’t.

Dinner was an exceptionally traditional and civilised affair. You enjoy a drink at the bar while you peruse the menu. They then take your order there and escort your to your table when your food is ready.

I don’t think I’ve experienced that in years so it was like going back in time in a very pleasant way.

The menu was also a welcome

surprise as there was plenty on it that sounded good. The kitchen definitely know how to please any palate and the top dish of the

evening was a perfectly presented venison fillet.

Full review on the website www. edinburghreporter.co.uk

St John’s Curry Club is the best takeaway in town

This small Corstorphine restaurant team won two awards recently at the annual Scotland Asian Restaurant Awards.

At a glitzy ceremony in Edinburgh last month, boss Sadiqur Rahman was really delighted to pick up the

awards for both Best Chef and Best Takeaway in Edinburgh.

Mr Rahman invited The Edinburgh Reporter along to St John's Road to find out what made the restaurant a winner.

He said : "Our staff make an

effort to make a difference. We have the best chef, who works with fresh top quality ingredients.

"Apart from his outstanding cooking everything ordered, whether for sit in or takeaway, is cooked fresh.

L-R Masud Ahsan, Anor Ali, Sadiq Rahman, Vahir Islan and Vewer Ahmed PHOTO ©2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

"We celebrated with a party for the staff and to allow our customers to celebrate with us we have been running a Facebook competition."

Restaurants were judged by a panel of chefs and Asian cuisine

experts, including Michelin Star chef and Chinese Masterchef winner Bill Poon; award-winning author and food critic Ria Amber Tesia; former restaurant inspector for the Good Food Guide George Shaw; and chaired by founder of the Curry Club and editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide Pat Chapman.

Asian Catering Federation, (ACF) Chairman Yawar Khan said : “The Scottish Asian Restaurant Awards recognises the excellence of Asian and Oriental restaurants in Scotland,” said , who added, “They allow us to celebrate the many different cultures and cuisines that contribute so much to our economy.”

The awards were presented by Samantha Simmonds who is a journalist and broadcaster.

She has covered all the main programmes for BBC World News including The Briefing on BBC1.

Over 70 Asian restaurants across Scotland were shortlisted through a series of public votes, to be narrowed down to just 16 winners, recognising the best Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Malaysian, and Nepalese restaurants and takeaways in the country.

The Asian Restaurant Awards are organised by ACF, the trade body which represents the nation’s 30,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants.

The Edinburgh Reporter

26 FEATURE

Edinburgh Collected Edinburgh Collected is an online community photo archive managed by Edinburgh Libraries.

You can add your own photos to help preserve the city’s history for the future. It is also a good way for organisations to preserve their archives in scrapbooks online. www.edinburghcollected.org

Here Ludovic Farine explains his photo : "I had the chance for a walking photo tour with Dark Edinburgh, a renowned poet in the city.

"We had a spooky Plague doctor to take into dark alleys of Old Town."

Beauty news - Skin Deep

popular anti -ageing and results driven facials on the market today.

Guinots new upgraded machine uses dynamic ionisation, thermal energy and lower frequency to receive ultimate results .

In the safe hands of Lisa-and taking a scary before selfie - the treatment began. I’m always a little sceptical about one off procedures but l can honestly say within an hour the results were instant!

My skin was visibly firmer , tighter and smoother ( even the husband noticed ) .

I’m delighted to have been introduced to this little gem of a salon. Run by Lisa Vastano and Heather Rafferty, the girls first worked together in the late nineties, both going on to open their own beauty businesses.

Lisa at the Caledonian hotel and Heather taking on a busy salon in Corstophine.

Almost 20 years later, they have come together again at Skin and Beauty Therapy, 25 Hamilton Place, Stockbridge where they specialise in anti-ageing treatments, skincare, intimate waxing. nails and LVL lashes.

Currently offering 20% off the Hydradermie Youth Facial £75, please call 0131 332 1099 to book an appointment.

October Crossword Across 7. Mere vibes lasting for 2 minims (9) 8. Rag us about returning sweetener (5) 10. So, import a fraudulent

character (8) 11. Innate way to create red bin (6) 12. Sliding window-frame made from part of this ash-tree (4) 13. Each clip relates to part of the head (8) 15. Ungrateful person in great torment (7) 17. Sanction from electorate to provide meat and cocktail (7) 20. Curt poem about this piece of equipment (8) 22. Number in some of our pages (4) 25. Edit an unusual book and hold it back (6) 26. Copies us in plausibly deceptive manner (8) 27. Measure, in some terrible way (5) 28. Speech went wrong, so I cursed (9)

Down 1. Mates form organised groups (5) 2. Upset mom as I pluck this plant (6) 3. Technocrat without an inkling of musical note (8) 4. Greed for exotic caviare (7) 5. Do up crab and place it in this small storeroom (8) 6. Stiff ? Alec suggests course of cosmetic surgery (4, 5) 9. Walk unevenly in small, imperceptible manner (4) 14. Rook needs to be moved, or it will be thwarted (9) 16. Peered at various objects over and over again (8) 18. Calf rose and moved into the cool air (2, 6) 19. Playing cards ? It might appear extreme (7) 21. Quality of sound affects note (4) 23. In Cameroun I queue for something very special (6) 24. Super sort of money container (5)

Crossword by David Albury Answers on page 29

PHOTO - Edinburgh Collected

STR8TS

SUDOKU

Medium

2

8

4

5 6 7

5 3 8 6 5 6 1 9 9

2

7 3

3

4

1

5 3 2 2 1 1 5 4

5

4 8 7

6 8 5 3 2 6

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.

If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

6

8

10

Get in touch today!

11

12

13

14 16

17

18

19 21

22

23 24

25

27

8

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

9

20

7 5

© 2019 Syndicated Puzzles

5 9

2

7

15

4 2 9 1

2

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. 2 1 4 Each compartment must form a straight 6 4 5 a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be 4 5 in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells 4 3 6 2 remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight.

3 5 2 1 Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ 2 1 3 are formed.

1

Medium

5 7 3 2 6 8 6

© 2019 Syndicated Puzzles

by Charlie Nicholsby With the seasons changing and my skin feeling it needed a make over (and another birthday recently passed), l was delighted to be invited to receive the new Guinot Hydradermie Cellular Energy Facial at Skin and Beauty Therapy in Stockbridge.

This award winning electrical facial, with pulsing double ionisation, is one of the most

26

28

For editorial and advertising enquiries please email editor@ theedinburghreporter.co.uk @EdinReporter

/EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk

UNIQUE MODERN OFFICES TO LET

WITHIN A STUNNING HISTORIC SETTING SPACE TO SUIT ONE PERSON OR OVER ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE Whether you’re just getting underway or have a team in excess of 100 people, we have competitively priced space to suit. From single desks, to small offices from 250 sq ft, to suites in excess of 10,000 sq ft, our flexible space options mean that as your business grows you can grow within Eskmills.

WE CREATED ESKMILLS TO HELP TEAMS OF SMART PEOPLE SUCCEED IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD Eskmills provides, in beautifully restored historic buildings, the basis for a dynamic working lifestyle. You will find modern workspaces, friendly 5-star service, the flexibility to grow, fantastic local amenities and an inspiring community with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Our management team is onsite to take care of everything so that you’re able to focus on running your business.

The Eskmills community is made up of 400 people, across more than 50 companies, from a diverse range of sectors including technology, creative, finance, charity, education and more.

We’d be delighted to introduce you to some of the organisations that have chosen to make Eskmills their home and give you a flavour of all that Eskmills can offer.

FURTHER INFORMATION Gavin G Scott 07982 716 633 gavin@cuthbertwhite.com

Neil McConnachie 07818 062 736 nmcconnnachie@eyco.co.uk

Donald Gillies 0131 285 5566 donald.gillies@eskmills.com @eskmills @eskmillsbusiness eskmills.com

The Agents for themselves and for the vendors and lessors of this property whose agents they are, give notice that: 1. The particulars are produced in good faith, are set out as a general guide only and do not constitute part of a contract, 2. No person in the employment of The Agents has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to this property, 3. The images are correct as at the date of publication and 4. All floor areas and site areas quoted will be subject to final verification upon completion. Date of publication October 2017.

28 READER'S PHOTO

The Edinburgh Reporter

Reader's Photo

The new HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier woke up to its first morning outside of Rosyth shipyard shrouded in a blanket of mist that had gathered around it during the night. As the sun rose and warmed the air the mist began to dissipate allowing Tom to capture the magical moment when he could see the full profile of the ship, but with the Forth bridges still mostly under wraps. Photographer Tom Duffin has a portfolio of images of Edinburgh, all of which are available as giclée prints, canvas, aluminium or even a full wall print. www.tomduffin.com

Crossword Answers Across: 7 Semibreve, 8 Sugar, 10 Impostor, 11 Inbred, 12 Sash, 13 Cephalic, 15 Ingrate, 17 Mandate, 20 Computer, 22 Four, 25 Detain, 26 Specious, 27 Meter, 28 Discourse.

Down: 1 Teams, 2 Mimosa, 3 Crotchet, 4 Avarice, 5 Cupboard, 6 Face lifts, 9 Limp, 14 Snookered, 16 Repeated, 18 Al fresco, 19 Drastic, 21 Tone, 23 Unique, 24 Purse.

Get in touch today!

For editorial and advertising enquiries please email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk @EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

The Edinburgh Sketcher would like to attend your wedding!

Here Mark Kirkham explains why he would be worth the invitation….

Planning a wedding for 2020? I can capture your day in ink and watercolour sketches 'As a wedding sketcher I attend the event and move around in the background drawing the details which catch my eye, like the flower arrangements, personal decorations, architectural details and colourful guests! Soon I have a sketch book full of original pen and watercolour illustrations which capture the day perfectly.

A Wedding Sketcher package creates a personal, original memory of your special day, and also can be a perfect present for the bride and groom who have everything!'

To discuss booking Mark to capture your day email contact@edinburghsketcher.com

@EdinReporter

Angling - Les wins in Norway

Dione just misses!

by Nigel Duncan Dione Roberts will fish in the Commonwealth team in New Zealand after just missing out on claiming the Scottish Ladies fly fishing title by only 5cms.

The Edinburgh-based angler told friends and colleagues she would retire from international fly fishing if she won the Scottish Ladies Championship.

It’s the only major prize in the sport that has eluded her, but Dione is still on the international scene after being pipped by the smallest of margins.

Ayrshire angler Jean Ferguson won the title for the third time at the Lake of Menteith by only 5cms after both women landed the same number of fish.

The experienced Scottish international said: “Jean and I both had 11 fish and there was 5cms between us. That’s how it goes.”

She added: “It’s the only trophy I have not won and I told people before the Scottish that I would retire if I won and when I didn’t win they all cheered.”

Dione has, however, also secured her place in Scotland’s team for the Home International on May 28 next year at the Lake of Menteith after two trials.

She said: “I am not thinking of the Home International at the moment. having qualified for the Commonwealth team.

“I’m going to one of the places I’ve never been to before and always wanted to go. It’s in New Zealand in March next year.”

Dione Roberts in foreground on platform fishing during the Scottish Ladies fly fishing team fund-raiser at Bangour Fishery near Livingston. Picture by Nigel Duncan Media

Bobby Prentice 1953-2019

by Mike Smith The news that Hearts legend of the 1970s, Bobby Prentice had passed away last month at the age of 65 saddened many Hearts fans of my generation.

There are a couple of YouTube clips showing Rab terrorising the Dundee defence in a game at Tynecastle.

Both show him leaving Dundee players trailing in his wake and while the second clip shows Rab dancing into the Dundee penalty box before ballooning his shot into the School End terracing, the fans knew what he was capable of and they appreciated him all the more for it.

Prentice was on Celtic’s books as a youngster but he couldn’t displace the legendary winger

SPORT 29

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

edinburghreporter

/EdinReporter

by Nigel Duncan Edinburgh angler Les McBride and his English partner Kris Johnsen won the two man team prize during the Sandland Brygge UK event in Norway.

They scored 1,846 points to beat English duo David Wright and Mark Ansel who accumulated 1,491.5 points.

Another Scot, Tony Voss from Lundin Links, who was a team-mate of McBride in the recent Mull of Galloway Sea Angling Festival event, was third with English angler Peter Muir.

They scored 1,091 points.

McBride, an Edinburgh cobbler with a shop in Gorgie Road, was seventh in the overall event with 930 points.

He was the third best Scot in the field behind fourth-placed Jason Nicol (1048.5 points) from Barrhead and Graham Paisley from Paisley, who was sixth, with 985.5 points.

Voss, incidentally, was ninth with 899.5 points and he also was joint top of the list in the coalfish category with a fish of 90.5cm.

And Voss topped the wolfish section with a specimen of 83cm.

This is the second similar event in three years and lures and fish bait were used.

Winter golf

Jimmy Johnstone, so Hearts manager Bobby Seith snapped up the former Newtongrange Star player in the summer of 1973. In a struggling Hearts team, Prentice and Drew Busby were the stars.

When Prentice left Hearts towards the end of season 1978/79 for a new life in Canada it was another blow for the Gorgie supporters already devastated by the club’s relegation from the Premier Division.

Prentice lit up the field when he was on song, and those of us who had the pleasure of seeing him play will never forget him.

The Edinburgh Reporter sends its condolences to the family of Bobby Prentice - a man forever in the Hearts of everyone at Tynecastle.

Wrap up warm, fill up your thermos and grab your clubs.

Winter golf at the largest club in town returns on 1 October. And with the unpredictable Scottish weather, you won’t have to rely on one course.

For die-hard golf fans, who want to keep in the swing of it, even during the winter months, buying Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘winter golf membership’ can be bought online for just £22 per month. With minimal use of winter greens and

Les said: “The event was fished over five days with competitors starting at 7am and fishing for 12 hours.

“There was a stiff, east to

north-east wind in the mid-teens which made it tough going for the 28 men in the field who had to catch six species including cod, haddock, plaice and wolfish.”

no mats, it’s the ideal opportunity to keep your golf on par until the summer returns.The winter pass is valid from 1 October 2019 – 31 March 2020 and allows access to Edinburgh Leisure’s six golf courses which iinclude Braid Hills, Carrick Knowe, Craigentinny, Silverknowes, Portobello, Braid Hills and The Wee Braids. The 9-hole course has some closures over the winter and some of its holes are incorporated into the main Braid Hills Course then.

Payable monthly by direct debit until March 2020, different

membership options are available including access to all the courses, seven days a week; and a five-day membership with access to all courses Monday to Friday. The membership also gives 20% off other Edinburgh Leisure activities including the gym, swimming, racquet sports and climbing, at the various Edinburgh Leisure venues across the city.

The Golf Membership is available to buy at any Edinburgh Leisure site and online - www. edinburghleisure.co.uk/ memberships/golf.

Ice Skating Open Day Murrayfield Ice Rink is holding a FREE open day on Monday 14 October to introduce a new generation to the joy of ice skating.

Offering FREE admission and skate hire, this all-day event running from 10.00am through to 6.00pm, will be punctuated by showcases from figure skaters, junior hockey players, Murrayfield

Racers and their mascot, qualified coaches and much more.

You can just turn up on the day or book your place online.

Open Day Breakdown: 9:50am - Doors open 10am to 11:30am Public skating session.

11:30am to 12noon -

Figure skating and ice hockey showcase.

12noon to 1:30pm - Public skating session.

1:30pm to 2pm - Figure skating and ice hockey showcase.

2pm to 4pm - Public skating session.

4pm to 4:30pm - Figure skating and Racers showcase.

4:30pm to 6pm Public skating session.

We’re social! @EdinReporter

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

The Edinburgh Reporter

30 SPORT

Murray coached to success sportscotland reported that their flagship school sport programme is doing really well with 7.3 million visits to Active Schools sessions across the country.

They also report great results for performance sport with 44 medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year.

Double Olympian Murray Buchan is a freestyle skier from Colinton who has added to those great results. Now he has made the move from competitor to coach with the help of sportscotland’s institute of sport.

Murray, who is now national performance coach (free ski) at Snowsport Scotland (SS), admitted it was inevitable that he would remain in the sport he loves.

He said: “There was no real moment when I said, ‘I’m going to go and pursue coaching’.

Throughout my whole career, I’d picked up little bits and pieces of coaching. I always kept my foot in the door with it because I enjoyed it.”

Murray often helped at practice sessions at Bearsden Ski and Snowboard Centre in East Dunbartonshire when he was competing, and becoming a coach seemed a natural step to take.

He explained: “I used to travel through [to Bearsden] once a week to ski. One of the guys who ran the freestyle nights also worked at Snowsport Scotland, so if there were ever any camps he would ask me to come along and help.

Murray in action photo credit Team GB

Bowling - Baigrie wins title

by Nigel Duncan Balerno Bowling Club stalwart Maxie Baigrie is celebrating after coming from 13 shots down to win the Water of Leith seniors title for the first time.

The Balerno-based bowler beat Brian Dingle 21-16 who was playing on his home rink at Gorgie Mills.

And the former painter and decorator, who has been a senior bowler for two years, was 15-2 behind early on.

The 68-year-old said: “I was getting frustrated as I was playing well, but Brian had the weight and was getting results at each end.

“However, I kept on playing the way I had been and he seemed to lose his weight and I capitalised.”

“It was a case of getting a bit of experience and seeing what happened further down the line.”

Murray’s role is jointly funded by sportscotland and GB Snowsports and he works with both the GB Park & Pipe athletes and the SS performance squad at home and abroad. The pathway promotes snowboarding and freeskiing alongside cross-training disciplines such as gymnastics, skateboarding and strength-andconditioning work.

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “The progress we have made over the past 12 months is a source of great pride.

In school sport, our collaboration with all 32 local authorities and leisure trusts resulted in another record-breaking year for Active Schools.

“We also launched the £1million Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity Fund, with the Robertson Trust, Spirit of 2012 and the Scottish Government. These projects are already changing lives in neighbourhoods across the country – all thanks to effective partnerships and our commitment to people.”

Never too early to get fit Inspire kids to get the active habit. With Edinburgh Leisure’s soft-play membership, children get to sample the world of sport and fitness from an early age.

For those signing up to become a member in October, November is completely free.

From only £16.00* per month, the membership offers incredible value, fantastic flexibility and of course will keep little ones entertained and burning off energy as they explore the amazing soft plays.

Little adventurers can visit as many times as they wish, enjoying unlimited fun at any of Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues across the city at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Tumbles at Portobello and the recently refurbished Scrambles at EICA: Ratho.

And children visiting Clambers at the Commie on a Thursday between 13:00-14:00hrs, have the added benefit of joining in the new Messy Play sessions, which have recently been introduced. The product is free to members and is an additional activity as part of your soft-play membership.

Balerno beat Bainfield

by Nigel Duncan Balerno shocked overwhelming favourites Bainfield to claim the Top Ten title in the Water of Leith Bowling Association for the second time in five years just recently.

They won the final 6-2 thanks to wins in the singles, pairs and triples but failed to claim a full house by a narrow margin when the rink was edged by one shot.

The match was played in changing conditions on a tricky green at the neutral venue of Gorgie Mills.

In-form Maxie Baigrie, who recently came from 13 shots down to win the Water of Leith seniors title for the first time, cruised to a comfortable 21-13 success over his opponent.

Hugh Gibson and Hugh Watt were successful in the pairs by 18-12 while John Miller, Charlie Husband and Charles Dalton won the triples.

The rink of skip Fergie McBeath, Bill Stark, Paddy Welsh and Gordon Cameron battled hard but the game went to the wire and they just lost out.

Messy Play is an opportunity for children to get involved in sensory activities that lets them get messy.

The benefit is that Edinburgh Leisure’s staff will clean up the mess after. Children will be given the chance to play with things they can’t normally get their hands on.

There will be a different activity or theme each week and children will get the chance to do some arts and crafts with their parent/ guardian. The kids will be given an apron to keep their clothes clean.

Edinburgh Leisure’s play frames are suitable for children up to ten years old and there are frames for babies, toddlers and juniors. Each venue has a café where healthy snacks and tasty treats can be enjoyed.

With great member benefits including special offers, members’ events and free birthday party places, The Young Explorer is only available to buy in person at your nearest Edinburgh Leisure soft-play venue. www. edinburghleisure.co.uk *Costs for additional children *£16.00 for one child, £27.00 for two children, £32.50 for three children

Called up for Scotland

by Thomas Brown Hibs Ladies striker, Lauren Davidson, has been named in the Scotland U19 squad for next months UEFA Championship Qualifying Round.

The squad will travel to Poland play Bulgaria on Wednesday 2nd October before playing Croatia a few days later. The groups stages will finish when the play hosts, Poland, on Tuesday October 8th.

PHOTO Thomas Brown

Photo of Max Baigrie in action by Nigel Duncan

Photo of the Balerno team by Nigel Duncan

Advertise your business in The Edinburgh Reporter from only

Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk to book your space!

@EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

/EdinReporter

Civil crash out at Buckie

by Thomas Brown Civil Service Strollers are out of the William Hill Scottish Cup after a 4-1 defeat at Buckie.

The home side, who are sitting top of the Highland League took the lead in the opening minutes when a free kick from the edge of the box was whipped and Hamish Munro stroked the ball beyond Josh Donaldson in the Civil goal.

Strollers new signing, Ryan Shanley, then forced a save from the Buckie keeper when Strollers made a quick attack, the loan player’s first time effort was saved well by Lee Herbert in the Buckie goal.

Minutes later the home side doubled their lead when Andrew MacAskill picked up the ball and his stunning strike from a full twenty-five yards out nestled in the top corner.

Before the interval Buckie got their third goal of the afternoon after Kevin Fraser pounced on the all after a terrific save from Donaldson, the keeper managed

to get back on his feet but couldn’t get enough on the ball to stop it finding the net.

Cammy Muirhead came on for Gary Jardine’s men in the second half and pulled one back for Civil

from the penalty spot after Jack Hodge was fouled in the box.

With fifteen minutes to go Craig Cowie sealed the win for the home side with a header from close range.

Cammy Muirhead scored from the penalty spot for Civil Service Strollers during the First Round Scottish Cup tie between Buckie Thistle and Civil Service Strollers on 21 September 2019 at Victoria Park, Buckie. PHOTO Thomas Brown

Bowling - Balerno Bowling Club Invitational

by Nigel Duncan East Calder came through nearly 11 hours of sport to win the annual Balerno Bowling Club Invitation rink competition.

They edged a mixed Craigentinny and Mayfield team in a tense final watched by a large crowd as darkness began to descend on the green.

And the rink took home a sizeable cheque (£800) in the popular tournament which raised £410 to help buy a defibrillator.

The cash will also help towards setting up a memorial event for popular Slateford bowler David Ross who sadly passed away this year.

The field included Castle Park from Prestonpans, Craigentinny, West End and Slateford from Edinburgh, plus East Calder, Ratho and Currie.

Final stages of the event at Balerno Bowling Club PHOTO by Nigel Duncan And teams battled from 9.30am.

There were blustery showers early on but the sun broke through the clouds and the event enjoyed good conditions leading into the tight semi-finals.

The 12-year-old tournament is Balerno’s biggest event of the season and the home club, who had several teams involved and have won it on several occasions,

Mens hockey update

by Nigel Duncan Stevie Grubb from Juniper Green and Callum Milne, originally from Ratho, make their debuts as co-coaches to Grand Slam winners Grange this season.

The pair admitted it has been a hectic pre-season with a number of changes.

However, Dan Coultas, a former Great Britain squad player and set-piece specialist, and experienced Scottish international Duncan Riddell remain.

Will Shepherdson has returned from university and Scottish international goalkeeper David Forrester is included.

However, stalwarts Cammy Fraser, Frank Ryan, Todd Mills and Greg Hopkinson, and the return of Dylan Bean to Australia, plus youngsters Ritchie McCluskey and Ralph Wiessen moving to university, have weakened the roster.Australian import Josh McRae, a forward, has joined and is fitting in well.

The coaching staff expect talented juniors such as Jamie Croll, Cameron Ede and Joel Davenport to be pushing for places in the squad.

Milne is pleased to get the Premiership campaign under way and he said: “The team has worked hard and have pulled together to

had to sit on the sidelines as the final stages were played.

Organisers Stevie Watson and Stevie Wightman said it had been a tremendous success and the event raised £410.

They thanked all those who attended and they will get first shout on places for next year.

get through a difficult time at the club.”

And Milne admitted: “I have no doubt the clubs will be gunning for us but we will take each game as it comes and not get ahead of ourselves as it's going to be a tough year.

“All teams have been improving in the past few years so will be an open league this year which can only be great for Scottish hockey.”

Grubb added: “We’ve trained well and we move forward with a philosophy that things are not broken so we don’t need to fix much.

“We’ll develop as a team during the season and everybody is excited to get started in the league.”

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

SPORT 31

Conference for young volunteers

by John Hislop Hibs are holding their second Young Volunteers Football Coaching Conference at Easter Road Stadium on Thursday 17 October and Friday 18 October 2019.

The course is tailored toward High School pupils and was developed by the club’s Community Foundation who hope to nurture young talent as well as promoting healthier and more active lifestyles.

The conference aims to cover a number of relevant and stimulating topics pertinent to coaches looking to jumpstart their passion for football into a career and create an environment where

young people can learn and be relaxed as well as developing their CVs. On the first day those attending will go on a tour of Easter Road and will get to see behind the scenes of the stadium.

This will be followed by practical sessions and workshops plus an opportunity to network and the chance to get involved in volunteer coaching.

Day two will be especially beneficial for the attendees aged 16 and over as they complete an SFA Level 1 Coach education Course.

The inaugural event last year attracted nearly 100 Young Leaders and Sports Ambassadors from 19 High Schools throughout the community.

Return to Easter Road

by John Hislop Hibs’ fans were touched by the story of Rena Gardiner’s recent visit to the capital. Rena and her husband Alex emigrated to New Zealand in 1967 before settling in Australia, but they never lost their love for the club.

Daughter Rachel and granddaughters Maddy and Ava were brought up in the Hibs’ tradition.

Married for 54 years, Alex and Rena had been planning a family visit to Edinburgh and top of their agenda was a trip to Easter Road. Sadly, Alex passed away unexpectedly last year before that dream could become a reality.

Undeterred, Rena, Rachel, Maddy and Ava made the long trek in his honour. Alex’s ashes were scattered at Edinburgh Castle in a poignant family service and when Hibs learned of the trip, staff went above and beyond to help make their stay even more memorable.

Rena told The Edinburgh Reporter: “Hibs went beyond 100%, and everyone was marvellous.

I only thought we were visiting Easter Road to collect tickets, but

we were given a tour including the dressing rooms and Hall of Fame.

We were taken to the side of the pitch and had photos taken in the dugouts and Maddy and Ava were given Hibs’ strips with their nicknames ‘Crackerjack 1’ and ‘Crackerjack 2’ on the back.

“We all enjoyed the Hearts’ game and the atmosphere was fantastic despite the result. I thought Hibs were the better team and Daryl Horgan was brilliant. I had hoped to see the fans sing ‘Sunshine on Leith’ at the end but it was not to be.

“The family would like to thank everyone at Hibs for making us feel so welcome.”

Rena on her recent visit to Easter Road

Sutherland on the move

by Nigel Duncan Scott Sutherland, a former Scotland international hockey player has joined Edinburgh University as a player/coach.

Also included this season are Scotland under-21 player John Stephen plus two Scotland under-18 squad member, Ritchie McCluskey, and Guy Rowson, a former Scotland under-18 player.

The students have, however, lost six players from their first team squad but head coach Graham Moodie believes that he has recruited strongly.

Players who have left the team are Sam Robertson, Nigel Lucas,

Leo Meinhold, George Simonds, Jock Breckenridge and Jack Henderson.

Moodie, who is a former Olympian, said: “Although we have lost six players from our first team squad, we are very pleased with our new recruits and have a strong group of returning players.

“Pre-season is always a bit of a challenge, but we have managed to get some games under our belt and our domestic aim for this season is to improve on last year.

“We are also targeting promotion from the BUCS North Premier League which is very strong this season.”

The Report Back Page OCT 19.pdf

1

20/09/2019

12:50

GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

F A M I LY

£22.50

U P T O 2 A D U LT S & 3 C H I L D R E N

Buy your ticket online at edinburghticket.com