About the Bugle The Bugle is our mouthpiece which alerts readers to matters which we feel need attention, and at the same time allows us to explore our creative skills – whether it be through writing, poetry, artwork, cartoons, and so on. The first edition was let out on an unsuspecting public in November 2005; and at that time it ran to 8 pages only, with limited colours. The first editor would go round the various Bethany units – such as Bethany House in Couper Street, and encourage people to put their thoughts down on paper. It was some time later that the Bugle would have its own dedicated weekly slot in the old Learning Centre in Jane Street – the converted church hall right opposite Rikky’s Music Shop. People come and go, depending on what life has to dish out to them, yet it’s encouraging to note that for a good while now there’s been about a dozen or more regular contributors to the magazine. We gratefully acknowledge all the financial help which has come from several sources We are always learning something new to keep improving. The magazine you now hold in your hand has
Mission Statement We are a creative, welcoming, open-minded and supportive group of people who may have experienced homelessness and are supportive of the issues surrounding homelessness. We aim to promote free and open communication which connects with others through creative writing, journalism and visual art. We hope to encourage others to think about issues which are often hidden. We produce a magazine which reflects real issues but goes deeper than the current trend for ‘reality.’
Interested? If you would like to know more about the Bugle; be that to submit an article, join the team or to support our work in some way, then please contact us at bu-
Some of the Bugle press team reporting on a weekend of Forum 02
ISSUE #31
WELCOME TO THE BUGLE #31 We hope you enjoy this collection of creative talent! EDITORIAL We have worked hard over the past three months to produce the magazine that you now have in your hands. Several of the team are Leithers, some through the generations. Others have taken Leith as their adopted home. Others still simply admire the character, diversity and activity of this singular place. We hope you enjoy our observations of and investigations into Leith life. The Bugle continues to grow in dynamism, talent, cohesion and focus as we evermore seek to look outwards and represent the views and experiences of others whilst still sharing our own creative talents. Over the past few months we have been invited to perform our songs and poems at an Adult Learning Project event and also to report on a Forum theatre weekend event. This has lead to further invitations for the group. All of this is thanks to the hard work of the team and their integrity as they work to uncover hidden issues and challenge stereotypes. Sometimes this is done directly by tackling issues as Cha Maloney and Alex J. Anderson do in their articles. It is also done by simply displaying the creative talent and beauty that can be seen in work such as Monique Van Aalst’s art work or Eddie Klimek’s meticulous investigations. This in itself challenges the ‘striver skiver’ rhetoric so carelessly and frequently used in much of the media. So, we hope you enjoy this edition and do get in touch, Carly Glover
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< CONTENTS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4 Bugle Out and About
14 The People’s Gallery
6 Welfare Reform and Perceptions of
20 Bethany banter
the Poor
22 Working class culture & Puzzles
8 Comedy and Art 9 Poet’s corner 12 Stories of Redemption 13 Our Leith, Your Leith
23 Life Stories 26 Puzzle answers 27 Help page
The views expressed in The Bugle are not necessarily those of Bethany Christian Trust
ISSUE #31
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The Bugle: Out and About ensure management are aware of the importance of prioritising work. One
Divided We Fall Review Over the weekend of the 11th May the Active Enquiry Forum Theatre presented two days of performances, storytelling, exhibitions and wonderful food. My job along with two fellow Buglers, John Stewart and Annette Black, was to review the four performances. First of all we would like to explain a little about this kind of theatre. It was created by the very influential practitioner Augusto Boal as part of what he
lady wanted flexible hours so she could spend more time at home with her son. A young boy from the audience suggested a crèche be formed at work and said “in the words of Dr Barnardos, when kids smile, we all smile”. How wonderful for a youngster in this day and age to have such insight. At one point the audience were almost turning into the cast. The third performance was called “Divided We Fall” and was set in the
calls the “Theatre of the Oppressed”. The performance would be carried out fictional community of Hillstone where two diverse groups of people live, the spots and the stripes. A very sinister looking authoritative character over just ten or twenty minutes and then replayed. At any time during the keeps stealing chairs from both the spots and the stripes. The chairs represent replay the audience could stop the performance and either challenge the actor or take the part of any member of the cast. The object of involving the
‘The cast were vital and energetic’
resources and both groups realise through audience intervention that they are not so different after all. ‘It just made us realise how
change the course of the performance and take it to a completely different
wonderfully quirky (...) eccentric (...) unconventional (...) was much more interna- and beautiful we all are.’
outcome.
tional with theatre
The first performance was called “The Quest”. The main character Mari-
groups from all over the world involved. The play is part of a work in pro-
audience (or ‘spect-actors’) was to
anne is a community activist who sees lots of injustice around her and an
The fourth performance
gress from Theatre of the Oppressed practitioners from Germany, Croatia,
unfair division of space and resources. We see a barrier and whenever this is Spain, Scotland, France, Italy and Portugal. It was called Hotel Europa and the central theme throughout was capitalism. The amazing thing about this challenged Marianne and her community end up with less space and less resources. The audience were then invited during the replay to make some changes to see what Marianne and her community could do differently. Audience members discussed with the group what the space was for and encouraged them to unite and stand together. Some people challenged why the barrier was there in the first place. There were episodes of chaos and anarchy as some people tried to physically break the barrier down. It was interesting to see how different people’s interventions changed things. Sometimes the barrier stayed where it was and sometimes it was moved back. The barrier was eventually breached by guile which was really funny. The second performance was called “Who Cares” and the main character Matt is really feeling the pressure in the workplace, faced with individual’s needs, a manager who never delegates or prioritises work and getting very bogged down with paperwork and office politics. Again there is the request for audience participation and again a call for people to stand together and 04
Stewart Monaghan was our official photographer for the event and took the photos above which were displayed over the weekend
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The ‘wonderful food’ was provided by World Kitchen in Leith. Here is one of their recipes for you to try! Cairo Chickpeas Fry two onions over a low heat for 5 minutes in olive oil Add a clove of garlic, a pinch of cumin and fennel seeds and stir for another 2 minutes Add one tin of chopped tomatoes Peel a lemon and chop the flesh, removing all the seeds Add to the sauce and simmer for 8-10 minutes Add 2 cans of chickpeas and warm through Add half a teaspoon of ground sumac (a spice). If you cannot find it a good squeeze of lemon juice You’ll need to make the Cairo chickpeas to see what they look like but here is a picture of the tasty desserts made by Leith World Kitchen!
The Bugle’s First Gig! On Saturday 4th May, five members of the Bugle Press Team were invited to participate in the May Day Big Gaitherin’ celebrating International Workers' Day at the Tollcross Community Centre, Fountainbridge, which was run by The Adult Learning Project. The ALP have these “Gaitherins” on a regular basis and it's a social and cultural get-together with music, singing, poetry reading and dance. The main theme of the Gaitherin' this time was the Scottish involvement in the Spanish Civil War. Thirty-five thousand International Volunteers joined this conflict between 1936 and 1939 to help the Spanish fight against General Franco. More volunteers proportionately came from Scotland than any other country, and the nation was gripped by the conflict. The event kicked off at 7pm with 'Gallo Rojo', a Spanish styled ‘punk’ group who were vibrant in style and music. Next up were four members of the Adult Learning Project team, who were excellent in both their stories and presentation. We in the Bugle Press Team were on next. Myself and fellow poet Alex recited our two most favourite poems, then Sandra a member of the Women’s Group sang ‘All these things I do’, and to finish off, our team leader Carly Glover read one of her favourite poems.
We all received rapturous applause!
Garry Miller & Sandra Taylor
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The Adult Learning Project is a democratic learning community based at Tollcross Community centre. They run courses in women’s studies, politics, culture and community, literacies, the arts and community development. For more info. phone John Player on 0131 221 5800 or email john.player@ea.edin.sch.uk
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Welfare Reform and Perceptions of the Poor these places. They opener . The workshop lasted three days,
God's Food by Cha Maloney
would see what and again all the information was being
I would just like to thank all the people out
they are doing by passed to Parliament.
there who are feeding society’s poor, hungry and homeless. For without these people, who give their time and love and understanding to the most vulnerable people in our society, it would certainly be doomed. Is it not great that these people do
cutting the rates of benefits we are paid, and see how the most needy are now having to survive on charities and churches, stretching them to capacity. Many of those I talk to are suffering in
So why isn’t the problem being sorted? Seems there is a lot of talking and not much action. Over the last month or so I have also noticed an increase in the number of men
Interview with Tom – a volunteer at a local soup kitchen By Ryan Sutherland Q: So, how did you become homeless Tom? Well, I split up with my partner and had nowhere to turn, so I went to the housing at Cockburn St and they put me in a B&B. Q: Was this your first time homeless?
No, I was homeless in 2010 and in B&B’s glory? As it says in Matthew chapter 6 which is run by the YMCA and Bethany at for a couple of months. I got bored and speak about how Jesus changed me and started working voluntarily at a soup kitch‘giving to the needy’. the Acorn Centre in Leith. The numbers en. saved my life, and I try to encourage are as high as 70 plus., and the workers The individuals who are doing this kind of and volunteers are run off their feet. Q: What made you volunteer? work are actually stopping people from ‘I am sickened by the At the Men’s Group there are a lot Well, it gave me something to do and if I'd starving. The simple truth is that I, like way we treat our most got a job when I was homeless I wouldn’t be of activities put on, as well as many, have been out there using soup others to use their local church for help support and advice related to health, work, able to afford the B&B. Working at the kitchens and basic food banks when times and support. On many occasions I have training and other related issues. However, soup kitchen gave me something construchave been hard for me. When talking with tive to do, it basically kept my mind active directed those I meet to the Church, not some of the men who are now coming others who use these places, they have all and it meant that I stayed away from troujust one church but all the Christian alone are only coming for the meal and got sad stories of how they have ended up ble. churches I know. I have been to most of food that is available. I feel this problem in these places. What annoys me most is Q: Sounds good, so what do you think the churches within Edinburgh of many of people in our society is only going to about the way the council deals with the the lack of compassion out there and denominations, for I believe it doesn’t get worse, so what is to be done? homeless? people's ignorance of the wider problem, matter which one, whether it’s a Baptist or labelling them as 'junkies' and 'alkies', and I am currently on Job Seeker's Allowance I think once the council finds you a hostel Free Church, as long as it's the true word 'mental cases'. These are just people in myself, not yet receiving the full amount or a B&B they just wash their hands of you. of God. Edinburgh’s streets are really our need. Due to cuts and changes, as well as as I was working part-time a while back. I'm also on 'Silver Priority' and still no sign church. I know many churches out there of a house even though I've been bidding sanctions on people's benefits, they can't As usual, the Job Centre take so long in for a year. really do want to help, but with the govafford a decent meal a day. I’m sickened doing anything I’m on a reduced payment ernment not accepting responsibility for by the way we treat our most needy people (since February!) til they update their Q: So, long waits aside, what do you think their people, churches and other places are of the hostels and their staff’s approach? in society. We are actually making things system. This means I’m struggling to stretched to their limits, so what’s to be worse and forgetting about why the welmake it last the two weeks. So I go to the Well, the AAA at Leith Links is probably done? fare state was set up in the first place. Yes, Methodist Church up at Nicholson’s the best one I’ve been in. I was there for there are those who exploit the welfare I have met people on my journey who are Square who have been a great support in eight months. I found that the hostel staff were more than helpful definitely more system, but I can assure you the majority really interested. Last year I met an MSP giving me food and spiritual help in my helpful than the council anyway. are genuine. And they know the meal at Edinburgh City Mission. She was time of need. Q: So what about the soup kitchen, are you won’t be five stars for the food is donated asking myself and others questions about I have been to other places in the past. At still working there? from various places, but it’s all they have what it's like to be homeless and hungry in one I was recently turned away, as I had Yes, I’ve been helping out there for three for that day and they appreciate it. As it Edinburgh. She was also interested in what apparently had enough help from them! years now. It’s more than likely that I’ll still says in Proverbs 27:07 'even bitter food it was like staying in hostels and B&Bs. (services like these often have to have a help out when I get my own flat. tastes sweet to the hungry'. This was seemingly going to be put in a limit on the number of times they can help Q: That’s a long time, so how hard do you report to the Scottish Parliament. In 2011 I I think it would be great for our Members an individual – editor) I can understand feel it is to get a house in Edinburgh? was given the chance to take part in some of Parliament, Government officials and the stress these places are in, but at the Almost impossible. I can get a PSL, a research on homelessness. Talking to all the others who say that people choose same time it can’t be helped when you end 'Private Sector Let', but they're too high in young people about what it was like for to live on benefits, to eat out in one of up in a struggle needing them more than rent. When I'm bidding on Edindex I have them being homeless was a real eye this in the name of Christ and for God’s
silence, and if the opportunity arises I
06
who are going alone to the Men’s Group
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The effects of Welfare Reform on the Voluntary Sector Last edition we heard from Andy McAleavy, at the Homeless Outreach Project. This edition we have an Interview with Willy Barr, Manager at the Citadel Youth Centre, 175 Commercial Street, Leith. Who are you and what do you do? I have responsibility for overseeing the running and development of everything to do with the Citadel. Basically I do three things. I make sure all the services are meeting the needs of the children, young people and families we work with. I look after the staff, volunteers and the Citadel building and I find and organise the money to pay for everything! This is the tricky bit! It continually upsets me to hear
stories where folk have no or very Have you seen an increase in traffic since the benefit changes? little money and are struggling to buy the ‘basics’ If by ‘traffic’ you mean service users – then yes. I first came to It is the best job in Edinburgh!
work at the Citadel in 1995 and I can honestly say the place is at its busiest since then. The current range of services include our evening youth clubs for all ages from 6-21 years, that continue to give generations of local youngsters a chance to have fun, make new friends and try loads of different activities (everything from beat boxing to the bouncy castle!). We’re just as busy during the day with a Careers Café for unemployed young people, a very busy Young Mum’s Group (with crèche), a Young Volunteer Training Project, and our award winning intergenerational café ‘New Spin’ which brings the young and young at heart together on a Friday afternoon. And when young people are having a hard time at school or at home, our youth workers are on hand to listen and offer 1:1 support. Do you think people are more fearful about their situation? I’m not sure ‘fearful’ is the word I’d use, but yes, people are concerned about where they live, their jobs and how they are going to pay the bills. Some families are really struggling financially and it continually upsets me to hear stories where folk have no or very little money and are struggling to buy the ‘basics’ that everyone should have such as food and clothes. Have the changes affected your funding? Again, yes. Each year we are continually trying to deliver the same or more services against a backdrop of standstill budgets. Our council grant was actually higher (£ to £) back in 2005, yet we are continually being squeezed to provide the same service. We also rely on receiving grants from other charities that fund youth work but this is always getting harder due to the current financial climate. What is truly amazing, and always appreciated is the support we receive from the local Leith community. They are always very generous even though they are often ‘skint’ themselves. Am I being paranoid? Alex Anderson writes on the state pensions debate I think TV programmes which say pensioners are well off and should not be paid pensions or be given cold weather payments and free bus passes are just another example of the ‘divide and conquer’ ploy that lets the government penalise some with the approval of those who are more trusting than me. Yes, there are millions of pensioners who have no need of state pensions, maybe people who were owners of businesses, or top level executives who have retired but are still either directors of companies or are being paid by the company they worked for. A business owner may be retired, but the firm could still be working and paying him for the right to continue to trade and use his name. That is a private form of pension which is not available to retired shop floor workers. A restaurant owner may have retired, but if the restaurant still
ISSUE #31
makes profits for its owner and if that lets the retired owner live in comfort then perhaps his state pension should be a whole lot less. Those same restaurant or business owners are also very unlikely to travel by public transport (when Rolls Royce, Mercedes, BMW’s and Bentleys are their norm) so a bus pass might reasonably be denied to them. It is the shopfloor worker who worked for a weekly wage and paid income tax that is in need of a real pension, help with heating costs and travel assistance. Wake up to the devious activities of our supposedly democratic government. Stop letting them make a mess of the country by that 'divide and conquer' mind set. Democracy is government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is NOT the shafting of a portion of the people by officialdom seeking to penalise some, while using devious thinking to lead better off people to agree with their divisive methods. Shouldn't supposedly democratic governments be making laws that deny exorbitant bonuses and over the top golden hand-
07
Comedy Corner! Not in the mood. I ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Pand ering to your need s.
Tian, Tian, Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we just have a family?
More news on the pandas from Edinburgh made famous by the media. Yang Guang and Tian Tian are exhibiting signs of withdrawal from being taken from their natural habitat, as they adjust to a new climate, environment and social setting. These show in manifestations such as catching colds, which meant that they had to be quarantined as the Zoo did not want a Pandemic on their hands. Also another negative conclusion to bringing them
Art Corner -
08
here from China was that the Pandas hid from their captors and could not face all the people as they had bearly seen a human being in the wild before. In fact the Zoo thought they had escaped as they had not seen them for a while, and cordoned the area off as they did not want Pandemonium in the city of Edinburgh. These issues are never black and white and are sometimes bamboozling so watch this space for more
Monique Van Aalst produced these beautiful images
ISSUE #31
Poet’s Corner Lover’s Paradise
the unknown female has a strange and compelling
Lovers love to love and love is enjoyed
acceptability to an admiring male,
Everywhere and romance too.
and always remains a winner with him in memory the
In ghettos, concrete jungles, in the
feline in any way does not fail,
country, near lakes, and at the zoo.
the actress may not like wearing masks to act but
On mountains and hills, villages and
it’s forever something the people savour,
valleys, and by the sea and sands.
and the player should always be reassured by the
Canyons and gardens and rivers
audience that they are a point in favour,
and fields.
love is at its height when felt to someone who
In forests and jungles of
wears a mask and is not known,
faraway lands.
it is pure and perfect not made wrong by
Though there’s nowhere like Edinburgh
human relations a love that isn’t grown,
love is made better in a better place.
so take a bow all you masked ladies of all your
And there’s better places in the Royal
plays when in town,
Town than in places of any other race.
for the service you give being masquerettes and
It is the lovely site that royalty chose
don’t just let the curtain go down
to make exceptional ground.
Andrew Watt
How many have disagreed their choice was sound, - who alone can be found.
Where did you get.....?
For loving couples living anywhere else it’s a pity.
Where did you get two little teeth like that from? Where did you get two little teeth like that from? Not one bit like Mummy or Dad Mum's and Dad's teeth all went bad So where did you get two little teeth Two little teeth like yours? &
Because love and romance is better in the best city. Andrew Watt
Masquerettes Mystery adds to the female a fascination that is truly great she is at her best, to a male admirer she is all things good when not known we can all put this to the test, the mask adds a curious interest to a lady’s beauty in theatre in a play, when one doesn’t know her she is mysterious stranger
a
Where did you get a sticky little face like that from? Where did you get a sticky little face like that from? The stickiest face I've ever seen Mummy's and Dad's are nice and clean So where did you get a sticky little face A sticky little face like yours?
that makes you want to know always,
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09
Stories of redemption A Confession of a Reformed Alcoholic Once upon a time phase in my alcohol-fuelled life I became despondent and homeless; nae job, nae family, nae hope.
at the hospital where I was sectioned, and attended in my pyjamas and dressing gown.
I wis a hopeless case and-a-half drifting aimlessly from pub to hosWhit a sicht fir sair eyes. tel, Hostel to pub, spiralling down the lonely road to doom and despair.
Things changed when I got sober. My family started to visit me.
I used to call myself a 'Professional Drinker'. After three months I was discharged. I went to live with my folks. I stole, I cheated, I overdosed, I got sectioned. I got the electric shock treatment.
I got a job on a building site as a labourer. I started going to AA meetings regularly.
I was knockin' at Mr Death’s door but he never answered it. I now I learned the Serenity Praythank The Lord for that. er: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, I was introduced to the wonderful fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous
Restoration You have awakened me with the lips of the morning sun. Our bedspread is of peacock feathers and our bed of emerald. Our couch is filled with ostrich down. You rescued me from the slave market where I was bound. Wicked men humiliated me and tore my veil. I lay in the dust bleeding and naked. I thought I was about to die. When you arrived and heard my cry. You spoke tenderly to me and poured oil onto my wounds and bound them with strips of cloth torn from your own clothes. Then you placed me onto your donkey and took me to your home. There you gave me a drink. I had never tasted anything sweeter. You said it was living water. “You’re beautiful my love. I have dressed you in a gown of pearls encrusted with opals. I have crowned you with rubies and sapphires shaped into roses and stars. From your headdress flows a train of silk as white as snow. How beautiful you are my love. I have adorned your neck with diamonds from which hangs an amethyst heart within a heart. I have shod your feet with red satin from Asia embroidered with palm leaves and fruits. Your skin shines like the sunlight speckling the flowers of the field. I have anointed your head my love with fragrance of myrth, rose and sandalwood. Your hair is as gold as saffron and flows like a ribbon of sun-drenched sand. Your bouquet is of lilies of the valley of Sharon.” “My love. My love. Come with me to the secret place. Come and eat at my banquet and taste my fruit. There under the honey- drenched moon and dazzling stars I will woo you. I will embrace you and feed you bread from heaven. 10
‘’Life’
by Cha Maloney ISSUE #31
Sahara Stars
ly they can
Sahara has the largest moon of anywhere
and give every place a real meaning with
else on earth by far,
love, by the love of a woman and a man.
for the fewer romances that are there,
Andrew Watt
for love is ‘neath stars or just a star throughout the ages and from east to east caravans have crossed the endless sands with Kings and Queens and slaves having secret affairs from the most ancient lands. Because of the camel a strange and
Brothers and Sisters Are we not brothers in the same boat? All trying to stay afloat, wanting to make a sister safe in the park, bring the frightened in from the dark and assist in times of dire need.
original creature that’s really the jewel of the east apart from this fine animal the sun is unfriendly to every man and every other beast the desert never changes the passing of time means nothing to the people living there and the people and the creatures live
What kind of brother am I? If all I do is sigh, seeing a brother or sister hurting, and walk away insisting there really is nothing I can do.
lonely and peaceful lives without a care many have found it
It doesn’t help being a gentle soul
unfriendly and have
who would, on the whole,
forsaken its empty and
quietly curse the hurting of life-kin
barren place
and go indoors, safe within,
burning sands have
to rant alone over the wrongs we’ve seen.
always forbade the desert from having a nation it has no race strange a place like this can have its uses are romances only mirages here in a land that always tests and tires with a sun that will always scorch
What if we are victims of offence? Would we not want some help, a defence offered by some other, a more active sister or brother? Remember evil wins when we do nothing.
and seer though stars of film love in the
Alex J. Anderson
desert and made it a place of romance as onISSUE #31
11
Dayspring
I’m rebellious and wayward – angry and torn.
Hush! Hush! Feel the stillness in the air –
Oh come. Peace, be still. He has calm for your storm.
Expectancy is everywhere. See heaven’s gift of a Saviour’s birth;
I’m doubting and fearful – can’t make a new start.
Descent of Godhead Joy to earth.
Oh come. He is gentle and lowly in heart. I’m bereaved and broken – death cuts like a knife.
This Christ Child left His heaven’s glory
Oh come, come. He is resurrection and life.
To birth for us redemption’s story: Creator hands in swaddling found,
Those yet unborn will rejoice at this morn.
While gentle oxen stand around.
Hurting hearts mended, the weary befriended, Outcasts drawn in, souls saved from sin.
Hush! Let stony hearts be broken.
The day of our darkness is ended.
Healing, herald words are spoken: Peace on earth, heaven’s angels sing.
Come then to His cradle and sing in accord.
Come, oh come and see your King.
Kneel and give glory, for Jesus is Lord.
Old Simeon waits his Messiah to bless.
The Trip
Old Anna’s arms croon tenderness.
The Social Work provided a toilet seat with frame,
Emmanuel, light for revelation –
But the one I had installed has a special claim to fame,
Come at the Saviour’s invitation.
For I tripped up on its feet; you really have to laugh, It catapulted me head first, straight into the bath.
Hush! Hush! There are whispers in the air, Burning whispers, yearning whispers, Whispering sorrow, Whispering fear:
Blood was on the carpet floor, but the cause of my distress, Was awareness of the staining on my pretty new nightdress. Then my bad arm heralded a gory new disaster;
I am lost, alone, forlorn. Blood was oozing out of my Royal Infirmary plaster. Come – for you the Good Shepherd is born. But praise the Lord and Romans 8*– a blessed quirky twist: I am sick and bruised – can’t take any more.
My plaster saved me break-
Come – He has balm for your wounds; the power to re-
ing my already broken wrist.
store.
Poetry by Margaret Rushton 12
ISSUE #31
Our Leith, your Leith Leith fascinates: whether you are born and bred here, consider it your adopted home or feel more like an admiring onlooker. The Bugle has its base and many of its sister projects in the Leith area. Here are our observations and investigations.
Perseverance: the pride and passion of Leithers Leithers should hold their heads up high, living in what was one of Scotland’s principal ports for trading with the world over the centuries. Hard working Leithers built thousands of ships that sailed the seven seas and ventured to far-flung parts. They fished and whaled, milled, made rope and sails, and exported enough whisky to give the whole world a hangover. Leith has a tradition of innovation and contributed many firsts to the world, including the classic wine bottle design. The first steamship to cross the Atlantic was built here, the original rules for the game of golf started in Leith, and in Bernard Street it has the only statue of our national bard Robbie Burns. Gary Miller Scotland versus the Netherlands In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries Scotland and the Netherlands were solid trading partners in shipping and in the exchange of products. The export of Juniper from the Port of Leith went to Holland and Belgium to make Genever or ‘Jenever’ in Dutch. Other export products were wool, salmon and coal. In return, Scotland received a range of luxury goods such as spices (brought in by the Dutch East India Company), tea and coffee, tobacco, brandy and of course genever. Leith has got so much to offer and since the 1980s a lot of the run-down areas in Leith have been upgraded with good quality housing. I am glad to say that some of the characteristics of the buildings have been preserved well like the buildings on the Shore. I like to hang out in ‘Sofi’s Bar ‘, in Henderson Street, where I meet with friends every now and then for a good blether. I like the cosiness of the separate room inside the bar, a bit hidden away and it looks like you are entering someone’s living room. ‘Popeye ‘on Great Junction Street is another of my favourite bistros with nice rolls and drinks for a good price. I used to be a big fan of Popeye the Sailorman and even had a Popeye radio exactly the same as in the picture below. So this bistro caught my ‘pop-eye’ immediately. Leith Library on Ferry Road is a place I regularly visit as I like the building and its impressive interior. I have seen a lot of interesting exhibitions in there, the most recent one about Robert Louis Stevenson’s travels and of course our own Garry Miller’s lovely paintings. I am still planning to do an exhibition there myself. Watch this space. Famous Leithers: Novelist Irvine Welsh is originally from Leith and some of you may know him for his book ‘Trainspotting’, or for his undying support to the ‘Hibs’. I saw the Trainspotting movie with Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlisle and was quite impressed with the story line but less so with all the abuse of language. The actors played their characters as drug addicts living in the housing schemes very convincingly. The characters are real and there is always someone you know that reminds you of a ‘Begbie’ or ‘Spud’, although I’d rather not meet them in a dark, dingy close. No thanks. If you are into the Arts like I am, you have probably heard of Eduardo Paolozzi, the ScottishItalian Sculptor and artist who was born in Leith. You can find his studio in the Dean Gallery (see picture below). I am a great admirer of his sculptures and wish I had a studio like that. His work is very versatile and inspirational. Cont. overleaf
Believe in yourself – not just now but forever till you meet your master ISSUE #31
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CHARCOAL ART BY The Men’s Group
CHARCOAL ART BY The Men’s Group
My Favourite Places in Leith cont.... Another impressive building is ‘Out of the Blue’ in the former Military Drill Hall. It is a nice space to go to make and display arts and to meet like-minded creative people. The history is quite compelling too with the drill hall being built in 1901 for the Royal Scots (Lothian regiment). In particular it is significant for the Gretna disaster in 1915, one of Britain’s worst railway crashes in which nearly 500 people were killed or injured. Prior to burial in Rosebank Cemetery, the soldiers were laid out in the Drill Hall. (Read on to John A. Stewart’s article to hear more about this) Monique van Aalst
The Quintinshill Rail Disaster & the role of station to return home, when they were mistaken for GerLeith Drill Hall (Out of the Blue)
man Prisoners of War and were pelted with rocks and mud by local people.
This tragedy happened at 6.50am on the 22nd May 1915 near Gretna Green in Scotland. The train crash was caused by two signalmen, Meakin and Tinsley. They had made an unofficial arrangement with regard to the changeover from the nightshift to the dayshift taking place at the official time of 6.00am. The dayshift signalman would travel on the 6.17am local train from Carlisle, to save him having to walk a mile and a half to work, and the nightshift signalman
The bodies of the soldiers who perished were returned to the Leith Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street where, ironically, they would have carried out most of their training. The Battalion consisted of the 1st and the 7th Royal Scots Territorial Army. As nearly all of them were unidentifiable their remains were laid to rest in a mass burial plot in Rosebank cemetery in Pilrig.
would cover for the extra half hour. The train log between An inquiry into this disaster found that both signalmen 6.00am and 6.30am would be written on a piece of paper, were negligent in their duty; and the dayshift signalman would enter this in the official log in his own writing, so that this discrepancy would not be discovered by the rail company.
“This disastrous collision was thus due to want of discipline on the part of the signalmen, first by changing duty at an unauthorised hour, which caused Tinsley to be occupied in writing up the
A local train was transferred onto the other line to allow the Train Register Book, and so diverted his attention from his proper express train travelling northbound to Glasgow to pass by. work, secondly by Meakin handing over the duty in a very lax Unfortunately, a troop train travelling south from Falkirk to manner; and, thirdly by both signalmen neglecting to carry out Carlisle crashed into the local train which was stationery on various rules specially framed for preventing accidents due to the wrong line. Because the signalmen had not kept proper forgetfulness on the part of signalmen.” train logs this was not spotted by either of them. The troop train thundered into the local train causing both trains to derail. Then, as the express approached on the opposite line ten minutes later it collided with the wreckage.
There are several memorials to these brave soldiers who died before they had a chance to fight for their country. The one in Rosebank is in the form of a Celtic cross and name plaques on the North Wall. May Their Souls Rest In Peace
With gas leaking from cylinders used to supply the lighting on the coaches and hot coals from the three engines, all the coaches burst into flames. This resulted in 246 passengers being seriously injured and approximately 226 being killed. The exact number will never be known because most of the fatalities were engulfed in the burning coaches along with the roll list for the soldiers. The fire took over twenty hours to bring under control due to the scarcity of water at this location. Eventually, the surviving soldiers were transferred onto another train to Liverpool en route to Gallipoli. Upon arriving there they were subjected to a medical and declared unfit for action. These poor bedraggled men were
John A. Stewart
travelling through the streets from the port to the railway 16
ISSUE #31
Let’s Have More Friendly and Welcoming Places for Like-minded People There is a church in the Leith area near the Bethany hostel (South Leith Baptist Church) that holds a free coffee event where people can go to sit have snacks, as well as soft drinks and friendly easy going chats. Most, if not all who go there, go with the attitude to make it be a friendly and welcoming place even one where people feel they can’t wait to go back. For many it may be the only place like that for them but there can be more. It’s all to do with attitude. People don’t go bringing all negative attitudes etc. with them. Everyone is like one big, close, easy going, non-judgemental family. All of the downsides of the world stay outside. If only there could be more places like this. The point is there can be. I have known of some that sadly have closed down but that doesn’t have to mean the end. It’s hard to say that the people who went there can move on someplace else, but again more places like that can be made possible. We have the buildings, the people but all we need is the correct sort of attitude to go with them. It can help all to forget their worries or anything else that might bother them to a point. It’s a morale and confidence booster in many ways to many people even lonely individuals and others who feel cut off etc. Maybe they may meet others who are in the same boat which could be a good
Men’s Group: What are your memories of Leith? Bethany Men’s Group share their thoughts, feel free to write in with yours
Born in Leith 1964 Duke Street. Seen a lot of changes. Remember my first football match HIBS v. Rangers Easter Road Stadium. I was 7 years old. Remember the old Lothian Buses when you could jump on and off buses, bus conductors on buses. The swimming pool which I went as a kid is still here to this day. Leith was a good place to be, you cannot forget your past. Remember next door from the Acorn centre used to be a fire station. (TOM)
Vague – Very Vague! (Eddie Klimek)
It’s Sunny Swimming at Dr Bells Youth Club at St Mary’s and Leith Academy School, Victoria Registrar Office at Junction Place next to the
Foot of Leith Walk, 1912
Victoria Baths. Going for a bag of chips after swimming (Ivor) Sunny Leith – a thinking community and lively. ‘I
love Leith’ - from an OAP
Shipbuilders, Great Junction St, 1915 Note to Men’s Group—I know none of you are knocking on a hundred (Eddie might be close...) but these were some of the best photos I could find—Editor ISSUE #31
Leith Harbour, 1912
Images courtesy of Edinburgh Libraries: www.ourstories.co.uk
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A BRIEF LOOK AT LEITH’S OLD POORHOUSES Back in May of this year – Wednesday 24th, to be precise – the Bugle team was graced with a visit of “yin o’ the High-Heid-Yins” – Andy Murray, no less! He’d come to see how the Bugle was faring, have a blether with the team, and to tell us about an interest of his: Ragged Education and Schools. To put you in the picture, this refers back to the age and times of Thomas Guthrie. Who he? I hear you ask. Well, Thomas Guthrie D.D. (1803–1873) was a Scottish divine and philanthropist, born at Brechin in Angus (at that time also called Forfarshire). He was one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, and was associated with many forms of philanthropy - especially temperance and Ragged Schools, of which he was a founder. You can read up about him in your local library (remember them?), or via the internet. To get a flavour of the period I recommend you read “The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists”, a novel by Robert Tressell, first published 1914. Basically it was the time of the “dark satanic mills” of Lancashire and elsewhere - the period where the “lunatics had taken over the asylum”, and so on. But I digress - enough of Bethany Head Office and it’s inmates. Yet there is a connection between what Andy spoke about the particular project I’ve been working on this past year: Leith’s Poorhouses, and (can you believe it?) Female Asylum – which is now Gladstone House, right next to Rose Garden Surgery in Mill Lane (behind Taylor Gardens) – just go along Great Junction Street towards Junction Bridge, opposite Bangor Road. The original Edinburgh Asylum was in Craig House (built 1565). In the late 19th century it was purchased by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, and the site was developed as Craig House Hospital, a psychiatric hospital, including substantial new buildings. It’s interesting to note that even today in the 21 st century we still see poverty, homelessness, vagrants and high unemployment in the Leith area. In spite of all the reforms, best laid plans and empty promises - generation after generation – are we really any further forward? Today we have homelessness units, B&Bs for the overspill due to a lack of so-called “affordable” housing; and to rub it in, the Private Sector Leasing schemes are laughing all the way to the bank, because a high number of tenants receive proportionately high (disability) benefits - that’s why the landlords prefer these clients – it’s a guaranteed income. So let’s have a look back in time – 250 years – and see what was on offer for the destitute. North Leith erected its own poorhouse in 1763 in the Citadel area. After 1845, the parishes of North Leith and South Leith, separated by the Water of Leith, were administered by separate Parochial Boards and operated their own poorhouses which stood within a few hundred yards of each other. If you can focus your attention on that part of Great Junction Street – just before the bridge where the small Taylor Gardens Park is, we can progress from there.
South Leith Poorhouse 1876
South Leith (=Taylor Gardens) According to the 1848/9 Edinburgh and Leith Post Directory, South Leith appears to have briefly operated a poorhouse at 97 Giles Street. However, a new poorhouse was built in 1850 at the east side of North Junction Street. See the 1908 map. The entrance at the south-west was flanked by the Parochial Offices. In the main building to the rear, males were accommodated in the north-western portion, and females in the south-eastern. Separate school rooms for boys and girls lay at the outer ends of the male and female wards. The governor's quarters lay at the centre, with a chapel to the rear. A further range to the rear contained workshops on the men's side, kitchens and storerooms at the centre, and laundry on the women's side.
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ISSUE #31
the late Mr. Peter Hamilton, architect, Edinburgh, and they have now been satisfactorily completed. The Poorhouse, situated in the centre of the ground, with the front to the south, is plain, substantial, and commodious. The principal portion of it is two storeys high, 140 feet long and 45 feet broad; and the height from the floor to the ceiling on the ground-floor is 12 feet, and, in the upper flat, 13 feet. The whole arrangements for ventilation have been completed by Mr. William Cunning, ironmonger, Queen Street, Edinburgh, after a plan of which he is the inventor. The grounds, enclosed with high stone walls, are laid out in a tasteful and useful manner. The late Mr James Hume, builder, Leith, was the contractor for the mason work; Mr. Andrew Cunningham, wright, Leith, for the joiner work; Mr Peter Innes, plasterer, Edinburgh, for the plaster work; Mr. Fortune, slater, Leith, for the slater work; and Mr Law, plumber, Edinburgh, for the plumber work. Some consider the house a model poorhouse, and already several deputations from distant parochial boards have come to inspect it. The cost of the house and furnishings amounts to about £7,000. The new poorhouse was intended to accommodate up to 120 inmates. The design comprised two long parallel ranges, each two storeys in height. Male wards were placed in the north-eastern wing, and females in the south-western. The Governors’ quarters were located at the centre, with a dining-room cum chapel to the rear joining the two ranges. The smaller north range contained laundry and workshops and sick-wards, with a small dead-room (mortuary) at the north of the site. No school-rooms were included. The entrance to the site was at the east side beside the Parochial Offices on North Junction Street.
Seafield Road Poorhouse In around 1906, North and South Leith became united for poor law purposes. A new poorhouse was erected in 1906-8 on Seafield Street at the south side of Seafield Road to accommodate about 650 inmates. It was the last poorhouse to be built in Scotland. A lodge stood at the entrance to the site at the north. The main administration and accommodation blocks were at the northern part of the site. During the First World War, the site was taken over for use as a military hospital and nurses' home with a separate nurses' dining room and wooden operating theatre being added. In August 1918, it was transferred to the use of the United States Navy. From 1930 it became known as the Eastern General Hospital. [Guess what? – I was born there in 1954!!] By 2001, the site was operating only as a day hospital, and finally closed in 2007. Later that year, large parts of the buildings were destroyed by fire, with the remainder likely to be demolished. I’m still going through and examining records kept by these institutions – names, occupations, number of residents; staff records and duties, etc.
In a later article, I’ll be looking more closely at South Leith Poorhouse 1908 unemployment in old Leith; although we still have a high percentage of peoFrom 1894, the North and ple out of work today, the conditions attached to reSouth poorhouses were brought into common more work by Monique management under Leith Parish Council and there seems to have been some rationalisation of the use of the two sites. By South Leith Poorhouse site 2001 1900 the North Leith building was being referred to as 'Leith Parish Hospital'. It would probably have been rather quieter for the sick than the South Leith building which was located next to an engineering works.
Art Corner—
The South Leith site was acquired by the managers of Leith Hospital (a voluntary hospital) and the poorhouse demolished in 1911 to let more light into their premises.
ISSUE #31
19
Other Bethany Groups: What’s been happening? The Men’s Group Secret Bunker Trip It was all fantastic, we had the problem of the broken down car, and snow drifts beside the road, but we eventually got there. The Bunker was a command bunker not a survival bunker. The main control room was like being in a film set, you felt like Biggles, ‘come on up Biggles!’
They watched missiles arriving into Britain. The dormitories were also good, bunk beds and lockers were just like I remembered them. It was very packed; ‘Hot bunks’, one person out of bed, the next one in. The water apparently used to be a problem for drinking and showers. There was a canteen which was a very small feeding station so meals must have
The SAM missile outside the bunker
been served
was incredible as it was a Russian
in a rota. In
rocket used in Vietnam and still used
1993 the bun-
today. I enjoyed seeing the AK-47
ker was
(Russian Rifle) still used in Afghani-
closed.
stan, killing UK and US troops. It is an excellent weapon, reliable and hardly ever jams.
This is definitely a trip I would recom-
The Radar Control room named by
mend (see
RAF women was very interesting.
http://www.secretbunker.co.uk or call them on 01333
Bethany Community Education have been running an informal art workshop under the expert instruction of volunteer Mike. In a relaxed environment and with friendly guidance, the group have made their own canvas. Here Garry Miller displays the fruits of his work:
Oblivion Review When you go to see films, it can take you away from what your worries are in general, it can help you relax, it can help you put things in perspective. I recently went to see Oblivion, I hadn’t been to the pictures in a while and I hadn't heard about the film. I discovered it starred Tom Cruise as Jack. It’s all about a disaster that happened many years before, a kind of nuclear war, and the human race was nearly made extinct. It’s all futuristic and computers run what’s left of the human race. The Droids are a species of their own, with a human-like mind and a robot body and they’ve captured Jack who is admirably looking for a way to bring civilisation back. Because there is no-one around and Jack is stranded, nearly alone, it's similar to the film 'I Am Legend'. I enjoyed it but it was a very long film. I would probably watch it again when it’s released on DVD.
Joe Appleby
Look at life with an open mind, a free spirit and a happy smile 20
ISSUE #31
Douglas Forbes writes on the Cup Final On May 26th Hibs were in the Cup final . They got beat 3-0. I got on the wrong bus coming back after losing my friend and leaving at half-time. Leigh Griffiths was one of the good players who scored a goal. I like him because he throws away his shirt at the end of the game.
For Douglas Baptism On Easter Sunday my friend William got baptised. Before he went in he said ‘Father, Son and Holy Spirit,’ and the minister said ‘In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit I baptise you.’ William says that his faith has helped him with his health.
Name that door by Cha Maloney Cha’s article on page six looked into the significance of ‘soup kitchens’ for many people. He has photographed the entrances to two of these and invites you to write or email in if you recognise them and/or have any stories of your own about them or about people’s need to use them.
If you cannot be good, be silent and think about it ISSUE #31
21
Working Class Culture 1970-2013 By
was to hit 20% plus in the 70s.
leaders began to exercise their power and the
George MacAndrew
Car workers at Ford’s factory in Dagenham
Conservative press started to refer to them as
We will serialise this over a few editions so
were to test the company's resolve by putting in ‘barons’.
please write in to add any comments or ask any a big wage demand, and the company were
Although the Labour Party had won its second
questions. The author is a football, politics and duly to capitulate in settling.
election of 1974, it did not have a ‘workable’
music buff, so questions and comments on these topics especially welcome!
In seeing this the NUM leader Joe Gormley saw majority over all other parties, and had to find his miners' wages lag well behind those of oth- partners in a coalition. Much like the Conservaer nationalised industries, and his members
tive Party of today, they hoped that with a discredited outgoing Prime Minister it would be
As the Wilson government struggled on after
become more militant as a result of this. With
trade union opposition to Barbara Castle’s re-
its members feeling a
port ‘In Place of Strife’, the election was soon
sense of grievance, the
upon it. Labour under Harold Wilson were
NUM decided on an ini-
The Liberal Party at the time was led by the
confident of victory, but a ‘rogue’ set of GDP
tial overtime ban, which
eccentrically-dressed Jeremy Thorpe, who was
figures was to prove the catalyst for the fall of
was to accomplish its aim as it deprived coal-
to be embroiled in an unsavoury court case
his government, as
fired power stations of fuel.
regarding a male model called Norman Scott.
Edward Heath and
With this, Heath was to declare yet another
He had to resign as leader of the Liberal Party,
party were to
‘State of Emergency’ measure, so that television to be replaced by the Scottish MP for Roxburgh ceased at 10.30pm and the country was now and Selkirkshire, David Steel.
achieve victory at the polls, and not Labour.
declared to be on a three-day week. With the
The Labour Party had not only to keep the Lib-
This unexpected result was to have serious
miners' overtime ban and the situation in
eral Party on their side, but had also to
consequences for the Tory party, but more
Northern Ireland getting more fraught by the
‘appease’ not only the Unionists of Ulster but
importantly for the country at large. Union
day, Heath was under intense pressure from all also the Scottish Nationalists.
the Conservative
simple, and were even trickier in the 70s.
leaders who felt betrayed by the previous gov- sides. ernment began to flex their muscles, as their
As inflation began to reach unprecedented
members began to ask more and more for high- levels, the public mood was of impending er wages just to keep abreast of inflation, which doom, as more and more union
Puzzle Corner
easy to get one. But things are not always that
To add to all this, union strife was still endemic in the country at large, so that on the continent and further afield the United Kingdom was to be called the ‘sick man of Europe’.
Which word does not belong?
brought to you by Eddie Klimek
Bugle oku X: Put each of the numbers 1-6 once in every row, column, diagonal (highlighted to form an X) and 3 * 2 box.
1 a. core b. seeds c. pulp d. slice 2 a. unique b. beautiful c. rare d. exceptional 3 a. biology b. chemistry c. theology d. zoology
3 6
4 a. Triangle b. circle c. oval d. sphere 5 a. excite b. flourish c. prosper d. thrive
4
6 a. scythe b. knife c. pliers d. saw
3 22
1
2
Answers can be found on page 26 ISSUE #31
Life Stories What about my Questions?
sis, until the guilt and shame start to creep back, and all the hard work we have done in our life hangs in the Does anyone really forgive? They certainly don’t forbalance? What are we to do? We cry out to the Lord get! But at what point do you stop caring what others our God! We use his wisdom and understanding. think and say about you? Then what do you do when There is nothing wrong with falling your past won't leave your future, to the point it's ‘By God’s grace all can to your knees and crying out to God impossible to move on and have a life? Can you be wiped clean.’ to let him know you can't take any truly be forgiven then, and make a life for yourmore pain and heartache. God self that isn’t dictated by your past? won't ask us to prove ourselves to him; he is not like I believe the answer is YES! By God's grace all can the people of this world. We are his children, our Fabe wiped clean, your life can be fuller, richer and even ther in heaven wants only the best for us. There are happier than ever. What about those who don’t think no tests or hoops to jump through, all he asks is that people can change, that habits of a lifetime can't dis- we trust him and let him guide us to a better way of appear overnight by the miracle of God? We need to life. pray for these people, as when you can pray for the So the mess we have left over from our sins? The people who have hurt you, and you can forgive them hurt we have caused people? The people who want due to the grace of God, then you know you are on to punish you? What do we do about all that? We rethe true path of recovery. How though do we deal with pent and move on with the Lord. It may seem selfish those who have the authority to keep your children to others , but nobody away from you? Being deemed a monster, which has to keep living a hurts deep by the way! When you accept God into nightmare once they your life He will forgive you of your sins and carry your have asked for forburdens when you need him to. It is hard at first, but giveness. It won’t be after a while you become used to having God with easy living a new life you to take the hurt for you, then soon people will see without the drugs or the the change in you. But how do we deal with the mess drink or the daily gamyou have made? bling, whatever your demon was, but when God is The sheer devastation and consequence of our sins? with you everyday things are far more manageable! Does anyone really have the right to continue punish- So what’s it all about? For me it's about continuing ing us, beating us down into the ground on a daily ba- with my journey with the Lord Jesus by my side and My Walk With Jesus and my Lasting Faith When I was born there were problems before and during my birth. In the 1960s it was said to be a risk for a woman over 40 to have a child. My dear late Mum was 41 when she had me. Lack of air and other complications resulted in me not being able to walk or talk until I was five years old. The doctor said I would not live past age three. But by the grace of God I did. Then they said I would never walk or talk. Being a single parent is never easy. There were times when we ISSUE #31
had to take walks to forget hunger when hope I don’t have to come back again my mum's money did not come through, tomorrow”. I was hungry too and scared and tired. I knew my mum could have or sometimes took longer than usual. got into trouble. On the way walking There were times when by the grace of back we stopped off at my half-sister's, now my only surviving one, who gave us God a neighbour above gave us pots of food to eat. One time when I was twelve tuppence and sent us on our way. years old we walked ten miles. That was There are other stories like this, but that to the Castle Terrace DSS and they said one should say it all. We started stealing maybe tomorrow my mum would get potatoes from a nearby farm. One day her money. My mum got up and said to we were seen by the farmer and police other people waiting “Where we live is passing by in their car. They pulled over what you call the concrete jungle and all and took us to what was then the you need is feathers and a wigwam and Dalkeith police station, and that added you do the Indian war dance”. Then she to my fear for my mum. They were did it all around the waiting area. Securi- about to charge her just as another ty put her out but she said “You'd better 23
police officer came in who knew our situation and got us off the hook, handing us seven pounds on the way out to help us. That was out at Mayfield, Dalkeith where we lived then. As time went on since my childhood I have lost most of my family and friends by death, and some in other ways too. From infancy, I used to suffer from brain hemorrhages causing unexpected nose bleeds at any time. They seemed to stop when I was thirteen. I used to get electric shock treatment to bring on my speech. I went to special schools and we were forever moving house for one reason or another. This affected my schooling, and friend-making too. When I was three years old my mum had a friend called Frank who was like a dad to me and when I was able to talk I used to call him dad, not knowing that my own dad was dead. When I was seven, my mum told me what happened.
crushed to death by the buffers of a train. She told me lots about him and it was all good. She taught me about Jesus and said my dad is there but he can still see and hear me. Nothing and no-one can harm him now. Frank went through the hard times with us, and for us too, but he had only one lung and he drank a lot to forget it. He left when I was thirteen, and I cried as I watched him go. He died soon after.
too complex a story to tell here. It has not been any different hardship-wise since my mum’s death. This should give you some idea of things we have been through. We never lost our faith in God and we always knew he was with us in every way. I got my Mum baptized at Mayfield Salisbury Church not too long before her sad death. She died of a brain tumor. I dealt with the funeral. I knew and said I can still make her ‘By God’s Grace I’m proud of me, by living my My Mum and I used to life as best I can. go for wood to an old sawmill a mile away in all weathers, before and after In September this year my flat was my school time. Some time passed and burned. I was in intensive care in hospiwe got back into Edinburgh. But in 1988 tal for three days. Mike my present I was knocked off my bicycle by a car in friend saved my life by stopping me reYork Place. I ended up in hospital with a entering the flat to fight the fire. I’m still broken leg, but I told them I would be here. Emotionally and psychologically out of hospital within three weeks and who knows how I am? But by God’s back on a bike soon after that. By the grace, I’m here and He has reasons for grace of Jesus it happened. that I know.
There was times when we were close to He used to work for British Rail and was being homeless, but that's too long and
A Boy and His Dog Hi everybody out there, thought I would share this story wae you all: about this young guy called Ryan and his dug Cheeko, a four-year-old cross who has been by his side through thick and thin. At the young age of twenty-two, Ryan has been through what some people go through in a lifetime: drug addiction, house fires, mental health issues, death, loss and homelessness. With gangs after him and his house being set on fire, it’s no surprise to hear he stays in a tent when he can!! But with that all behind him, he is now looking to the future as he has learnt from his mistakes and has the life experience to move forward and help others. Here is his story - and Cheeko’s too - in his own words. Well, where to begin? Growing up was pretty hard what with having to deal with ADHD, a frontal lobe disorder and Aspergers syndrome. Because of this, family life was hard and school was a constant struggle: I was easily distracted and very easily led. When I reached high school I started drinking at thirteen. I remember my first time drinking, well what my mum told me anyway. I was going to the under18s mission at Studio 24, me and my friend Polly had bought a bottle of vodka, and all I can remember is walking 24
Graham Forrester
to the club and getting kicked back. Then it all went blank from there! Next minute I woke up with a banging headache in pure darkness on my mum's couch. First thing I heard was my mum’s voice saying, “Who got you the drink?” And all I could remember was Polly! My mum asked various questions and all I kept saying was “Polly, Polly”. Seemingly I had been found outside the Omni Centre in the middle of the road, barely conscious, choking on my own sick. The police carried me to my mum’s door. I found it hilarious but my mum thought different. That’s when my drinking problem began. As I progressed through school I got into a lot of trouble. This ranged from hitting teachers to blowing up allotments. You see, growing up, I was the kind of person that people just asked to do things for a laugh. For example: “Ryan, hit the dinner lady with that orange”. I didn’t say “Right OK”, or “I’ll think about it”, I’d just throw, no second thoughts and, in the blink of an eye, the dinner lady was covered in vitamin C. Because of my antics, I got chucked out of high school at fifteen, but was allowed to come back for exams. I had a few jobs for a bit like delivering leaflets, but I smoked a lot of grass at the time, and had a dependency when I reached seventeen. I got into cocaine and ecstasy and it was all downhill from there. My face was doing so many facial expressions because of the amounts I was taking, I was known locally as 'the gurner'. You see, I ended up hooked for about three years, with a weekly habit amount-
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when I saw heroin being injected for the first time. I then watched as the effects kicked in. Within minutes, the two of them were just about out for the count. At this point I was still bad on uppers, travelling from the hostel to Lochend to get full of it. I ended up moving around hostels and B&Bs for about a year. You name the hos- ‘I thought I was going to die’ tel, and it’s more than likely I’ve been there. Anyway, I ended up coming off the homeless list, and started staying between friends’ couches for a bit, and that’s when I met Cheeko. At my friend’s house, I was on the worst come-down from drugs I’ve ever had. I thought I was going to die. I was sat on the same chair for a day and a half, just lifeless, but all of a sudden my friend came in with his dog and two puppies. Everyone was shouting on the two puppies. They were only five weeks old. The white one just ran about happy to see everyone, but the brown one came walking in, ignored everyone else, and came straight to me. He jumped on my lap and sat with me on the chair for two whole days. Instantly, I fell in love with him and ended up taking him. I paid him up over three months as I moved about, and Cheeko continued growing. He cost £300.
cause I was having heart palpitations. My left arm was sore every morning. This was when I purchased a tent. It only cost fifteen quid from a pound store, but it done me. I stayed at the abandoned beach where the coal comes in at Seafield for six months, walking with Cheeko from free food place to free food place every day. That kept me fit. You see, I’m an outdoors person anyway, so I actually enjoyed most of it. If I woke early enough in the morning, I used to see quite a lot of seals swimming. I tried to make seal noises one morning to coax one over. That just failed miserably, ha, worth a try, eh? After my stay in the tent, I moved to Dunedin Hostel in Leith. A lot of strange things happened in there, but it was probably the best one I’ve stayed in. Eventually, after moving through another couple of hostels, I got offered a house in South Edinburgh that made me fill up with happiness. All started well up in my new house, but I started to get in with the wrong crowd again. Within a couple of weeks, I was back to the old me and worse than ever before. The neighbours soon started to hate me. My house was jumping, day in, day out, windows wide open, music blaring. One Sunday afternoon, I had a house full of people from all over Edinburgh. It was about four o’clock. We decided to go to the local Scotmid for more drink. There were about ten to fifteen people with me. When we got outside my stair, there was a party bus outside. Everyone ran onto the bus, completely out of it, including Cheeko. I ran on at the back of everyone, but when I boarded, I realised that it wasn’t your average party bus; it was equipped with a chute and a ball pit. At this point, I tried to get everyone off, and say sorry to the mums and dads, because there was a group of really young children on the bus, but this was just the beginning of the trouble.
A new drug had arrived on the scene: Methadrone. This had a massive impact on me. I ended up hooked. At this point I had moved to my Gran’s, but one day I was completely out of it on Methadrone. I came back to my Gran’s house and went suicidal. My Granny phoned my Mum and she phoned Leith police station. She told them to send a policeman up to try and calm me down, but not to threaten me with a charge. They replied “Well he’s got mental health issues and that’s a job for the Paramedics”. My mum then said, “Well I don’t know how he’ll react to that, but it won’t I ended up getting lifted one night, and the couple down go down well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” And it didn’t go stairs watched Cheeko while I was away. I had taken a well. Two of them came to the door dose of Valium tablets and overdosed, but and I completely blacked out and ‘I tried to make seal noises to became violent when the paramedics reended up taking them down the stair coax one over. That just failed suscitated me. When I got out of court, my to their van brandishing a hammer. mum dropped me off at my house, and I miserably, worth a try, eh? My Dad tried to stop me, but I took a tapped the neighbour’s door but they wereswing at him, and at that point he knew I was serious. n’t answering. I could clearly see them through the frosted glass on the door, and still I told the Paramedics to get down the road, and they left. I disorientated from the Valithen locked myself in the house for five-and-a-half hours, um and not in the right but eventually the armed response broke down the door mind I ended up smashing and I ended up in Saint Leonard’s police station. At this the window of their house point, I thought I was getting a long jail sentence but to my and getting into a fight and amazement I got let out the court cells due to lack of evilifted again. When I got out, dence.This was because they never listened to my Mum’s I noticed a cut on my midadvice. At this point I was more than relieved. I then went dle finger and my finger back to my Gran’s, but my Auntie answered the door and had swelled to about twice its size. My Mum said it probahanded me Cheeko and a blanket. My granny wouldn’t let bly happened when I hit the guy, so I thought nothing of it me speak to her for eight months, which broke me. I started and went to my girlfriend’s house for a sleep. But in the staying at a 'party house', but after a few weeks decided early hours of the morning, she rolled over onto my hand that I needed to get clean and get my head cleared, beISSUE #31
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still barking in the house. At this point the fire brigade had arrived, but were still getting their equipment ready. One fireman was on a ladder. I ran up the ladder and told the guy, “What are you doing looking in the window? Jump in”. The fireman was shouting, “Someone get him down.” I was trying to climb over him and back into the house. My friend pulled me off the ladder and I then said, “I can hear my dog barking. “Mate, you’re not coming in with me to get him”. He said, “It’s too dangerous”.
extinguish the fire. I grabbed Cheeko and passed him to my friend. We were shaking Cheeko’s head as we ran down the smoke filled stair, but he was just dead weight. We ran to the ambulance and they gave Cheeko gas and air for about fifteen minutes. We thought he wasn’t going to make it. That was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. After twenty minutes, he was remarkably alive.
For a whole two weeks after the incident, Cheeko couldn’t open his eyes and I had to bathe them every morning, but But I didn’t care. I would do anything for my dog, so I now he’s fighting fit and still a happy healthy dog, but I’m pushed past the firemen and proceeded up the stair, duck- still homeless for the third time running. I also still have a ing low and covering my face with a jumper. As I reached three year ASBO on me because of the stupid things I’ve the top of the stair, there were a lot of flames between me done, but it’s been eight months since the fire, and I’m and the door; maybe about a metre to the door, but I knew clean and looking to the future. I feel I’ve grown up quite a the door would be weak bit now, and I’ve had ‘ due to fire damage, so I enough of my past. I’ve took a run up and threw left everyone behind, myself through it. I landed in the house and it was mayhem. started guitar lessons. I’m doing volunteer work and helping I could barely see. Every wall was in flames and the ceiling out at Lochend Community Garden. I remember a hostel was completely gone. I looked about in panic and seen that worker said to me once, “Ryan I don’t see you as an alcothe Labrador was burning alive. There was no saving it; the holic, or a guy with a drinking problem. I see a nice guy who poor thing was gone. The puppy that had jumped in my just doesn’t mix well with drink”. And I’ve noticed that now, bath ran out. I then looked around and found Cheeko dead and I've learned how to do things in moderation, and that in the corner of the living room. By this point, my friend was drugs can seriously affect your mind and make you do in the house with me and the fire brigade were starting to things you wouldn’t dream of doing without them. It’s more
They gave Cheeko gas and air’
Puzzle Answers ANSWERS— Which word does not belong? 1. d. The core, seeds, and pulp are all parts of an apple. A slice would be a piece taken out of an apple. 2. b. Unique, rare, and exceptional are all synonyms. Beautiful has a different meaning. 3. c. Biology, chemistry, and zoology are all branches of science. Theology is the study of religion. 4. a. Circle, oval, and sphere are all circular shapes with no angles. A triangle’s a different kind of shape with angles and three straight sides. 5. a. Flourish, prosper, and thrive all synonyms; excite does not mean the same thing.
ANSWERS—Bugle Oku X
6. c. The scythe, knife, and saw are all cutting tools. Pliers are tools, they are not used for cutting.
3 2 6 5 4 1
1 5 3 4 6 2
6 4 1 2 5 3
2 1 4 6 3 5
4 3 5 1 2 6
5 6 2 3 1 4
are
but
That is all for now folks! We hope you have enjoyed reading this edition of the Bugle as much as we have enjoyed creating it. We will see you again in three months time! 26
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FEELING LOST? NOWHERE TO TURN? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. HERE ARE SOME PHONE NUMBERS THAT MAY HELP The Access Point (TAP) 17 & 18 Leith Street, (0131) 529 7438 Anyone 18+, without children and homeless in Edinburgh should register here. Advice about entitlement, eligibility for temporary accommodation and benefits.
Housing Options Team 1 Cockburn Street, (0131) 529 7368 - For under 18s or those with children.
Edinburgh Housing Advice Partnership (EHAP) 0845 302 4607 Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Council Out of Hours Service 0800 032 5968
Streetwork Crisis Service 22 Holyrood Road (0131) 557 655, 24/7 free phone 0808 178 2323 advice and support. Food, laundry, showers & lockers available for those accessing support.
24 hour provision of
Salvation Army Regenr8+ 25 Niddrie Street (0131) 523 1060 A drop-in that provides food for a small charge (ÂŁ1 for 3 courses), a clothing store, shower, an advice service and run various events.
The Advice Shop 85-87 South Bridge (0131) 200 260 benefits and debt advice
Social Work Services Call if concerned about vulnerable adults or children. Adults (0131) 200 2324 6969
Children (0131) 200 2327
Out of Hours 0800 731
Support for Young People The Rock Trust, 55 Albany Street, (0131) 557 4059
Medical Help NHS 24, 08454 24 24 24 - Edinburgh Access Practice, 17 Leith Street (0131) 240 2810
HELPLINES Shelter (housing) 0808 800 4444 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
National Debt Line 0808 808 4000 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm
Domestic Abuse 0800 027 1234 (24hr)
Runaway Helpline 0808 800 7070 (24hr) Help for U18s who have left home
Loan Parent Helpline 0808 801 0323 Mon-Thur 9.30am4pm For general information all other times ISSUE #31
Samaritans (Edinburgh) 0131 221 9999
Action on Depression 0845 123 23 20
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