Konect Balerno February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

A FAMILY DAY OUT AT

LOCAL HISTORY:

WINE TASTING:

PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, HEALTH, puzzles, CLUBS & CLASSES, and MUCH more inside!

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W

elcome to the February issue of Konect, the first one for this year.

Being up in the hills in the wild weather over the winter put me in mind of a story we published many years ago about a heist that took place here. My son had recounted to me the story of an army Land Rover hijacked in the Pentlands and its occupants shot dead. I had assumed it was the product of his overactive imagination until I looked it up and found it was unfortunately true. We republish it on page 8 this month. I can never go past Loganlea now without thinking about it.

On a cheerier note, we’re delighted that Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh are offering Konect readers the chance to win a family day out at their wonderful planetarium! See the Stargazing column on and competition on page 16, I look forward to receiving your entries!

Many of the local businesses advertising in this magazine have special offers and discounts for Konect readers, to help out with everything from home and garden improvements to health and beauty. Look out for the special offers and mention Konect when you contact them.

Thanks as ever for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638

P40 Local History: Pentlands Heist..........................8 Health: Mental Health & Wellbeing............... 14 Stargazing: Gaze upwards and explore..... 16 WIN!: Family day out at Dynamic Earth....... 16 Real Life................................................................ 22 Wine: Pairing across continents.................... 28 Community: Rotary says ‘thank you’............ 30 Money Matters: End of year tax planning... 38 Local Walk: Field & River................................. 40 Puzzles.................................................................. 43 What’s On............................................................. 44 Clubs & Classes...........................................45-46

COVER IMAGE: Snowdrops: Heralding the approach of spring.

Konect is delivered monthly to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe BALERNO | 3

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LOCAL HISTORY

PENTLAND HEIST

Nearly forty years ago, the Pentland Hills were at the centre of a police investigation when what appeared to be little more than a winter road accident in the Pentlands transpired to be one of the bloodiest heists ever played out on Scottish soil.

On a snowy morning in January 1985, a local farmer discovered an army Land Rover lodged in a ditch just across the Pentland Hills, on a quiet country track near Flotterstone Inn. Its lights were still glowing and window wipers on.

Spotting blood on the front seat and a shattered front window, he reported it to the police, who, unbeknown to him, were already looking for the vehicle. They had been contacted by army officials at the Glencourse Barracks on the back of a chain of events which had aroused suspicion. Police followed a trail of blood in the snow which led to the remote and disused Loganlea Cottage, where they made a gruesome discovery – the bodies of three army personnel, each of whom had been shot dead.

They were Major David Cunningham, Staff Sergeant Terrence Hosker and Private John Thomson.

But it was not so much what they found at the scene which shaped the investigation but rather what was missing. The three army men had been making their way back to base with almost £20,000 – the payroll for their comrades at Glencourse. The sack stuffed full of money, freshly collected from a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Penicuik, was nowhere to be seen; the motive for the killings was seemingly clear.

Today Loganlea Cottage, once used by water workers, still stands empty. The site is enveloped by inviting countryside, and few passers-by are aware that this quaint building has an integral part in Scotland's criminal history. In 1985, it was a crime scene with the police throwing resources at a type of crime which fortunately was at the time and still is today, rare.

The fact that three men had been murdered in cold blood ensured that the subsequent manhunt was one of the biggest and most concerted ever mounted. The fact that all 8 | BALERNO

three were army men intensified the shock that people felt over their deaths and the services' cloak of invincibility seemed to have been thrown to one side. Terrorism (related to the troubles in Northern Ireland) was at the forefront on everyone's mind initially, but the evidence didn't stack up. Scotland had publicly been declared safe from IRA attacks, and as the circumstances were examined further it became clear that robbery, not politics, was the motive. They were dealing with a cash heist.

It transpired that the army guarded the country with more diligence than they did the force's money. As the probe into the missing money began, a familiar routine was revealed, where rather than an armoured security van, a canvas-roofed Land Rover was used to make the payroll journey from the Glencourse Barracks to Penicuick and back. The trusty Land Rover had been part and parcel of army life since they were first developed in the late 1940s. From carrying supplies and troops to serving as field ambulances, their versatility has been a boon for the army for decades, but with no security features it was never designed to be a cash-carrying vehicle. However it was regularly used for the payroll run at Glencourse, manned by three people, and with a nod to the lack of external security features the crew was under strict orders – no stopping, no passengers and no diversions except under police direction.

The payroll run could be anything up to £60,000.

On the day of the shootings, the Land Rover was carrying £19,000.

At base on the day, colleagues became concerned when the three men on the payroll run did not return on schedule, and notified police. And at around 11am officers were alerted by the farmer who found the Land Rover. Focus was directed towards the army as knowledge of the payroll run and

the use of a firearm in the murders pointed towards the sickening realisation that it was an “inside” job.

Soldiers stationed at Glencourse and the nearby Ritchie Camp at Kirknewton were interviewed immediately. The discipline at the heart of the army lent a sense of order and protocol during those crucial early stages, which gave a significant head start to the officers detailed to deal with the colleagues of the murdered soldiers. They knew where everyone was and had access to well-kept logs of people's movements and other aspects of life at the base. Ledgers pertaining to use of the weaponry held on site were being carefully examined within hours.

In tandem, police were gathering forensic and ballistic data from the scene. What the man who fired those fatal bullets would not have bargained on was that not only can the type of gun used be identified, but the exact one, thanks to the ballistic “fingerprint” - the mark each gun leaves on every round it fires. Nine cartridges from the same weapon were retrieved and cross-referenced with the weaponry logs at Ritchie Camp. The results were available on the evening after the payroll robbery.

At 8am on 17th January, a soldier called

Andrew Walker had

signed out a

sub-machine gun with the apparent intention of using it for weapons training with a young soldier at Glencourse. He returned it at 2pm with no concerns raised. He was 31 and his address was Kaimes Avenue, Kirknewton. As soon as the results of the ballistics investigation confirmed that the gun he had had in his possession was the one that had fired the deadly shots, he was charged with the murder of his three colleagues.

At his High Court trial in Edinburgh in May 1985, evidence from 125 witnesses painted a picture of desperate actions by a desperate man. He was due to depart for a tour of duty in West Germany, leaving behind his wife and two young children and he had debts to settle.

He had hitched a lift in the payroll Land Rover in November and December 1984, testing his ability to breach security procedures. The problem was – and Walker was well aware of it – that by using his uniform to gain a seat on the return journey from the bank on that January morning, he would be easily identifiable to his colleagues which meant the only way of escaping with the money was for him to kill those men.

After persuading the crew to give him a lift back to base, he presumably chose an opportune moment to produce the gun he had concealed within his uniform. A

Continued on page 42 >>> @KonectMagazines

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HEALTH

Our mental health and wellbeing are important – they are things we need to value and look after. Statistics tell us that 1 in 4 or us will have a problem with our mental health this year.

This may be problems with sleeplessness due to the worry of a work deadline. It may be Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Dementia or Bipolar-disorder. There are many conditions that can affect our mental health and yet we remain reluctant to talk about them, such is the stigma attached. This means that many people with mental health issues do not get the information and help that they need and that their families do not get support either.

There are moves to change the way Society views mental ill health to encourage us to be more open and honest about the way we feel. Charities such as MIND do a great job at raising awareness of various conditions and how to get help, as they are determined that no-one should face mental ill health alone (www.mind.org.uk).

The statistics published by the National Records of Scotland show that in 2022 there were 762 probable deaths by suicide. Of these, 556 were men and 206 were women. Each one is a tragedy. The biggest threat to the life of a man under the age of 35 is himself. If you are concerned, please do

speak to someone. The Samaritans are always available to speak to on 116 123 – calls to this number are free or see their website www.

Samaritans.org.

Employers are now being encouraged to have a mental health first aider available in the same way as they are expected to have a trained first aider available for physical ill health problems or accidents in the workplace. Raising the awareness of mental health issues is a good thing.

Self-care is never selfish. You cannot continue to give your best to your work, family and friends if you do not consider what you need for yourself. One way of thinking about your well being is to think about yourself as a tank.

On the positive side, what fills your tank with joy and energy? On the negative side, what drains your tank? By writing this down, you may be able to see which activities such as walking your dog, singing in a choir, cooking or reading help your mental health. The negative things that add to your stress levels could be excessive work deadlines, caring duties, relationship issues or the feeling that you never have enough time to do things properly – that there never is an end to your “to do” list.

Once you can see what contributes to your own good mental health and what detracts from it, you can try to make sure that you keep your tank topped up – make the time to sleep well, eat regularly, exercise, meet friends and do the activities that give you joy. Remember, never be afraid to seek information and help for your mental health if you have any concerns. There is help and information out there – looking after your mental health and wellbeing is always worth it.

The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk

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STARGAZING

COMPETITION

GAZE UPWARDS & EXPLORE OUR STARRY NIGHT SKY

After the festivities and frivolity have passed, February and March are a great opportunity for exploring our wonderful night sky. That glorious starry curtain is all too often hidden by clouds, or competing with bright city lights, but here’s hoping that you manage to find time to go Milky Way surfing this year.

Very prominent in the south is the wonderful constellation of Orion, the hunter.

A bright hourglass of stars with three stars in a line making up Orion’s belt. Trace a line down using the belt and you’ll get to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Trace up and you’ll get to the prominent ‘V’ of Taurus, the bull. A little further leads you to the Pleiades, a wonderful open cluster of stars. Directly below the belt is the amazing Orion nebula, a star forming region visible as just a faint smudge.

Jupiter is still shining high and bright for us in the evening sky towards the SW. Some binoculars and a steady hand can reveal the four bright Galilean Moons in their orbital dance around their gassy host. Telescopes reward you with the ‘tiger stripes’, bands of fast-moving winds in Jupiter’s atmosphere.

On the evenings of the 14th/15th February, you’ll have a new crescent Moon, Jupiter and the Pleiades lined up nicely on the sky. Between Jupiter and the Pleiades lurks Uranus too, but you’ll need binoculars to observe this elusive planet. Happy stargazing!

The stargazing column is contributed by Dr Alistair Bruce, astronomer and planetarium manager at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s world class science centre and planetarium, and the UK’s leading earth science engagement charity. dynamicearth.org.uk 16 | BALERNO

We’ve teamed up with Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, www.dynamicearth.org.uk, who are offering Konect readers the chance to win a family ticket. Valid for 2 adults, with up to 2 accompanying children, RRP £63.00.

Dynamic Earth is Edinburgh’s world-class Science Centre and Planetarium, situated at the foot of Arthur’s seat and telling the epic story of planet earth.

For the chance to win, simply answer the following question: WHAT IS THE CLOSEST PLANET TO THE SUN? A) Mercury B) Earth C) Jupiter

Closing date for entries 23rd February 2024 Head to www.konect.scot/win or scan the QR code to enter your answer. The prize must be used within six months of the competition.

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I could clip on my walkman and listen to some great tunes!

Fast forward 12 or 15 years and I’m living in Balerno, Scotland – having moved from USA – and have a husband and two little girls. I know I need to get fit, but still have no interest in group exercise. I decide I must learn to swim, even though it means joining a class. Why? Because I’ve had a startling realisation: I live in Britain. It’s an island. And I can’t swim!

SUZANN E GREEN

F

or years I’ve avoided joining any sort of organised exercise class. I think this is because I remember doing a ladies’ aerobics class when I was younger.

I’d go there straight from work – a quick change from business suit to leotards. And then I’d try desperately to keep up, while the instructor screeched (yes, screeched) at us from the front: “Come on, ladies!

Ladies!” It was a kind of torture, and I only did it because my friend invited me, and I wanted to have some level of fitness.

It wasn’t just that I disliked organised exercise. It was that plus the screaming instructor, plus the fact that I’m not very coordinated. So I was always worried I wouldn’t do something correctly. It seemed to me that most of the time the rest of the class was moving smoothly into the next instruction, while I was still pondering what Screechy Lady had asked us to do.

Eventually I left that class, and started jogging. I was happy that I didn’t have to go to a class or join a gym, and

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With a lot of encouragement I learned to do the breast stroke, sort of – I’m still not sure if I do it correctly. Then I joined a friend once a week to do laps at the high school pool. (Actually, we did lengths, but she never managed to train me not to say laps.)

I felt good about the exercise, but then I started getting pain in my right knee. “Oh,” said the doctor, shaking his head, “Sounds like Breast Stroke Knee”. So I stopped swimming.

Fast forward again to today. Back and knee pain compelled me to sign up for a Pilates class. The instructor is encouraging, and she doesn’t screech at all. So far I’ve not done myself any major damage. The first week was kind of embarrassing, though.

I’d gone in with long, shaped nails that I’d managed to maintain for a couple of weeks.

As I lowered myself to the mat, one of them snapped! Looking down, I noticed blood filling in the area all around my cuticle! I tried to slip out as quietly as possible, and then had to do the rest of the lesson with a wet paper towel wrapped round my finger.

I’m still not very coordinated. I still think too hard about what exactly the instructor is asking us to do, and which body parts are involved. But hopefully one day the class will vote me “Most Likely to Improve”. real LIFE is contributed by Suzanne Green.

Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect.

She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters.

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WINE TASTING

When we are in a restaurant in Italy or France, you usually find that the local food and local wine pair perfectly! This makes sense, it’s no coincidence that white wine and seafood from the same region are the perfect partner, or sauvignon from the Loire works incredibly well with goats’ cheese from that area.

Generations of trial and error, knowledge and experience make these combinations a no brainer. But what of food from regions without the western wine growing tradition?

Asian food, food from north Africa, or perhaps dishes from the islands of Barbados? How do you select a wine that pairs with food from these places? What wine pairs with Peking duck?

First, let’s think about the elements common in all food, regardless of where it’s from. You will find salt, sour notes, hot (heat), textured umami character and sweetness. In Asian food, these elements often conflated together, for example, sweet and sour, hot and salty. In addition, there many different plates of food on the table at the same time, lots of opportunity to try different foods each with different flavours and degrees of heat, spice or sweetness but this makes its hard to find the perfect wine pairing.

If you’d like a white wine with your meal, select a wine with less than 12% alcohol.

You don’t add alcohol to fire so avoid adding it to heat! Oaked wine exacerbates the saltiness of food so select an unoaked wine with a bright high acidity. A slightly sweet white wine or rose wine is often a good option with Asian foods too. I really enjoy a sparkling white wine with Asian food as the bubbles are very refreshing.

Perhaps you prefer a red wine. My advice is to avoid big full bodied, high alcohol wines. Again, avoid oaked wine and look for fruity, low tannin, lower alcohol, lighter styles of red wine like an unoaked Tempranillo, Pinot Noir or Dolcetto.

There are several dishes where wine just won’t work, these dishes are just too hot. When it comes to a vindaloo…… a refreshing yogurt Lassi might help!

The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com 28 | BALERNO

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ROTARY SAYS “THANK YOU” Currie Balerno Rotary received over £6,000 in donations over the Christmas period. We are grateful to those who supported us.

Every penny will go to charities or good causes, most notably to local food banks and to the Pentland Community Chest, which provides grants to projects of value to our local communities.

We started December with the lighting up of our Tree of Life in the grounds of Balerno Parish Church. People are invited to sponsor lights on the Tree of Life in memory of loved ones or to mark special occasions. Donations accompanying these sponsorships totalled £1,150.

Then came our stall at the Balerno Christmas market, where we sold wooden Christmas trees and snowmen hand-made by Rotarians Colin Aspinall and Don MacLeod. This brought in a further £1,400.

And finally we offered our traditional giftwrapping service at the Gyle Shopping Centre - pictured here on a busy Christmas Eve. We invited people to make donations to the charities we support and they did so to the sum of £3,250.

In addition to all of this a further £800 was donated to our Lend with Care account, from which we make loans to budding entrepreneurs in developing countries. These loans are repaid and the moneys re-invested.

Once again, we want to thank all those people who gave so generously and we offer our best wishes to all the Konect readers for a good 2024.

If you are interested to know more about Currie Balerno Rotary – what we do both locally and internationally - go to our website at: www.cbrotary.org or follow us on: facebook.com/cbrotary1020 and twitter.com/cbrotary1020 30 | BALERNO

Balerno & District Schools Pipe Band Fundraising Concert

Come and enjoy a Scottish evening with our talented young pipe band and other performers Balerno High School Concourse Wednesday 28 February at 7-9 pm Doors open 6.30 audience to be seated by 6.55 pm Tickets £10 Children and teens free

Refreshments available

Tickets can be bought from anyone from the pipe band, on the door or by emailing bdspbconcert@gmail.com

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MONEY MATTERS

From a tax point of view March is the most important month of the year as it offers many tax opportunities which if not taken will be lost.

INDEPENDENT TAX PLANNING: If one spouse is a non-taxpayer and the other is a basic taxpayer then the non-taxpayer can transfer 10% of their personal allowance to their spouse.

TAX EFFICIENT INVESTMENTS: It is important for people to invest in the most tax efficient way. An Individual Savings Account (ISA) is the best method of investing resulting in no Capital Gains or Income Tax been payable but still have instant access. For this tax year the annual ISA limit £20,000. You can now transfer from an existing cash ISA to an investment ISA.

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PENSIONS: If you pay tax at 40%, any pension contribution will attract tax relief at 40% i.e. if you put in £60 the government will add another £40 giving you a 67% return. Even for a basic taxpayer the government will add £10 for every £40 you contribute, a return of 25%.

EIS and VCT: These are higher risk investments than an ISA but the Government gives massive tax concession to compensate for the higher risk.

With a VCT you get a 30% tax credit i.e. if you invest £10,000 you can reduce your tax bill by £3,000.

With the EIS you also get the 30% tax credit but you can also defer any Capital Gains Tax. In addition, if you hold an EIS at death there is no 40% IHT to pay.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Management. This month’s article is by Dr Peter M Marshall.

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THE LYMPHOY ROAD WATER OF LEITH LOOP Mid-winter. It’s time to shake off some of that January lethargy as we set-off on our walk – heading up the drive past the National Trust for Scotland’s Malleny Gardens and stepping onto the rough road at the top running east.

There is an air of dormancy over the world this afternoon to match our own of the past couple of weeks, and with a passive, overcast sky above it is cold yet not bitter. Fields on the high side of the road are ploughed and sown, ready and waiting for a new season.

It is not long, however, before we tune into signs of life. Blue tits are singing ‘si-si-chuwewewe’ in the bare boughs above and a pair of wrens alight, tails erect and twitching, on fence wire to our right before disappearing back, mouse-like, into the undergrowth.

Green shoots of new crops push through in the furrows and - easily missed at first glance – woodpigeons, hundreds upon hundreds – forage, cryptically camouflaged, among them. A couple of squadrons take to the air we pass, wings slapping loudly upon take off.

The steeper, less regular, fields which slope down towards the Water of Leith on the north side of the road are given over to pasture.

Here, horses and sheep munch hay from bales. They move little, other than the side-toside motion of their jaws, conserving precious energy. By one gate, a small black pony stands beneath a holly bush, peering dolefully through a long, bedraggled fringe. A sprightly robin appears, hopping through the mud from clod to clod before perching in the holly next to its equine friend, enchanting yet a little melancholy, like a Christmas card someone forgot to take down.

A slate grey cloud base hangs just clear of the Fife hills, but beyond, farther north and west, the sun is shining, illuminating the tops of snow-capped mountains as far as Schiehallion and the Ben Lawers group. As this inspiring view opens out, with the city spread out below, it feels an appropriate spot to ruminate upon the old year past - and to contemplate a new one now begun.

After half an hour or so walking through the fields, we emerge onto Currie’s Kirkgate.

We turn left and almost immediately leave the road again, taking a short access path between houses to join the Water of Leith walkway, which tracks the route of the former Balerno Railway line, for the second half of this needle’s-eye loop. From field to

40 | BALERNO

river we go, the water’s chatter now our constant companion.

In contrast to the stony Lymphoy Road, the walkway is newly surfaced, and we pick up our stride. I have reached that stage of my walk where, after a while, the slight friction of my feet within my boots has generated a gentle warmth and, for a minute or two, I simply savour this comfortable, comforting sensation and the meditative, metronomic rhythm of my steps beneath me. After a while I look up and see a cock pheasant, resplendent in racing green and bronze, on a grassy bank to my left. As if showing off that he can outdo my pedestrian effort, he suddenly breaks into a roadrunner-like sprint, making off down-slope. There are more birds here too, goldfinches twitter ‘tippit-tit tippit-tit

tiuu’ in the tops of trees river-side and we spot a delightful grey wagtail on the moss-covered bank by the water’s edge.

As we near Balerno again, at a meander where the river arcs close to Lanark Road, a wall of concrete reinforcements runs along by the path. I am transfixed by a group of small trees which have successfully taken root in cavities therein, trunks moulded around the hard edges of the concrete for maximum purchase. It is a reminder that, whether it is coping with the season’s extremes or the vagaries of human activity, life – as ever – finds a way.

With cafes at Balerno and Currie offering a half-way stop should you need it this walk can be started at either end and is a great way to help achieve your 10,000 daily steps.

This article was contributed by William Weir. William is a scientist and amateur writer/photographer who lives locally. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the trails and wild spaces of West Lothian and the Pentland Hills.

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>>> Continued from page 9 witness reported hearing a shot near to the Mauricewood housing estate, on the approach to Flotterstone, and it is believed that Major Cunningham may have been the first victim at this point. Hosker is thought to have been the next to suffer, with Thomson, the driver, spared only until they had reached their destination at Loganlea Cottage. The plan began to unravel as Walker made his escape in the Land Rover with blood dripping from it. Fresh snowfall and ice on the track, coupled with his hasty retreat, led to the vehicle careering off course and into a ditch. From there, his plan for an exit on four wheels was replaced by one on two feet.

He hitched a lift first in the direction of Edinburgh and then back towards Penicuik, where he retrieved a distinctive Fiat Mirafiori that he had borrowed from a fellow soldier. He undertook various activities in order to establish his alibi, but it quickly fell to pieces in the public arena of the investigation.

He was known to his army colleagues as Billy Liar - a nod to his tall stories and boasts.

Beneath that was a steely aggression, something he had demonstrated from a young age by reaching the semi-finals of the national amateur boxing championships while representing his Edinburgh club Sparta.

In the build up to the murderous heist, he had fallen foul of army superiors – fined at first for failing to return to his unit after leave and then again for failing to appear for duty and lying to his commanding officer. Eventually, just a week before the robbery, he was dismissed from his job as a firearms instructor at Glencourse and was returned to his battalion at Kirknewton. In the words of his military record, Walker had become “quite unreliable and was losing the confidence of his comrades and superiors.” In hindsight, that assessment was an incredible understatement of the character of the man under investigation for one of the greatest crimes in modern-day Scottish military history.

Intriguingly, the £19,000 has never been found.

Walker always maintained his innocence and never revealed what he did with the money. It remains one of the few remaining mysteries yet to be solved, three decades on from one of Scotland's most shocking criminal episodes.

Walker suffered a stroke whilst in prison in 2009 which left him severely disabled; he was released on compassionate grounds in 2011 and died in a care home in North Lanarkshire 10 years later.

This article is extracted from “Heist” by Paul Smith, published by Birlinn, 2014.

Abridged by Helen-Jane Gisbourne with permission of the publisher. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines.

42 | BALERNO

58mm Vertical [LEFT]

FEBRUARY CROSSWORD

^^^ Solution in the March edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. Maybe (7), 5. Bike (5), 8. Cleaning liquid (7), 9. Precise (5), 10. Additional (5), 11. Cooking area (7), 12. Truthful (6), 14. Moves smoothly (6), 17. Dried grapes (7), 19. Aristocratic (5), 22. A small fruit (5), 23. Graceful (7), 24. Countryside (5), 25. Large jug (7).

DOWN: 1. Ski run (5), 2. Cook in a hot oven (5), 3. Becomes visible (7), 4. Scares (6), 5. Trunk (5), 6. Collided (7), 7. Makes larger (7), 12. Marina (7), 13. Louder (7), 15. Tolerant (7), 16. Not awake (6), 18. Perfect (5), 20. Overbearing (5), 21. Go into (5).

^^^ Sudoku solution on page XX 46

FEBRUARY SUDOKU

ADD SOLUTION DETAILS BALERNO | 43

SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY Farmers Market - Main St, Balerno, 9am to 1pm WEDNESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY Balerno & District Schools Pipe Band Fundraising Concert - Come and enjoy a

Scottish evening with our talented young pipe band and other performers. Balerno High School Concourse, 7pm -9pm. Doors open 6.30pm. Tickets £10. children and teens free. Tickets on the door or by email to bdspbconcert@gmail.com

EVENTS AT THE HUB@531 Book at hub531.appointedd.com or by email hub531lanarkroad@gmail.com The Hub@531 531 Lanark Road, Juniper Green, EH14 5DJ. Please email the Hub for more details or if you’re interested to hire the hub or start a new group. We’re here for the community!

WEDNESDAY 21ST FEB (7.30 - 10.00pm) - APPLIQUÉ: Make a simple design on a plain tote bag by cutting fabric shapes to attach using hot glue and/or hand stitching.

Bags and basic materials will be provided, but you might like to bring along some old fabric / clothing to use in your design - making this an upcycle project! Our evening crafting are aimed at adults only, offering a chance to get out for an enjoyable social evening, leaving the children at home! This event is free of charge but we welcome your optional donation. Please book to reserve your space.

THURSDAY 22ND FEB (1.30 - 3.30pm) - APPLIQUÉ: Make a simple design on a plain tote bag by cutting fabric shapes to attach using hot glue and/or hand stitching. Bags and basic materials will be provided, but you might like to bring along some old fabric / clothing to use in your design - making this an upcycle project! This event is free of charge but we welcome your optional donation. Please book to reserve your space.

FRIDAY 23RD FEB (2.30 - 4.30pm) - APPLIQUÉ FOR TEENS: Make a simple design on a plain tote bag by cutting fabric shapes to attach using hot glue and/ or hand stitching. Bags and basic materials will be provided, but you might like to bring along some old fabric / clothing to use in your design - making this an upcycle project! Our Friday afternoon crafting sessions are aimed at high school age / teens, offering a chance to come along to enjoy the Hub space with others your own age who like crafting. These sessions will be supervised and are free of charge but we welcome your optional donation. Please book to reserve your space.

SATURDAY 9TH MARCH (1.00 - 5.00pm) - MINI FIGURE PAINTING: Drop in and join Juniper Green Board Gamers who will be running an afternoon of mini figure painting at the Hub. This requires a delicate touch and is ideal for high school age and older. This event is free of charge but you are welcome to make a donation to support the Hub..

PENTLAND PROBUS CLUB EVENTS All meets are in Juniper Green Parish Church Hall, Lanark Road 10.00am 12noon. New members welcome. Further details from our Club Secretary Leslie Hannaford 0131 453 3012 or lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk

WED 7TH FEB - “The Shetland Bus”, an illustrated talk by Kay Hay WED 21ST FEB - “Dr. Wallace’s Casebook”, an illustrated talk by Norman Wallace.

WED 6TH MAR - “The Nelson Monument and Calton Hill Curiosities”, an illustrated talk

by Jackie Sangster.

44 | BALERNO

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE...

FLAGGY FRIDAYS - Does your child have an interest in flags of the world? Come and join us for Flaggy Fridays!

Each week we will focus on a different flag of the world. In just 30 minutes we’ll learn a brief summary of the flag’s history, why a flag has its colours, layout, its old flag(s) then end with a fun quiz! First class FREE trial. Online Zoom club. Email flaggyfridays@gmail.com to join ADULT ART CLASSES & SOCIAL - Free taster class! Learn Art in a relaxed, friendly environment. Based on the drawing theories of Betty Edwards - this class is appropriate for all levels. Our teacher Jane holds a BA from Hallam University with over 25 years experience teaching art, design and photography.

Come develop your core skills and have a cuppa with others who share a love of Art. Thursdays 10.00am-12.00pm, Currie Community Centre 280 Lanark Road West.

W: justvillagesocialevents.co.uk E: nicole@ justvillagesocialevents.co.uk THE HUB@531 - Community space in the heart of Juniper Green village, offering regular groups and events and hireable meeting / small event space. Social activities and clubs for all ages, including Come for a Cuppa, Book Bug, Knitting, Yoga and much more.

531 Lanark Road, Juniper Green, EH14 5DE. See hub531. appointedd.com for information and to book activities.

Facebook: “The Hub at 531” BALERNO SWI - We meet on the first Tuesday each month from September to May in Balerno Community Centre at 7:30pm, when we have speakers or demonstrations followed by a cuppa and time to chat. Anyone interested

can see more about us on our Facebook page, “Balerno SWI” PENTLAND BRIDGE CLUB - Come and play duplicate bridge in a friendly atmosphere.

We meet in St Margaret’s Court, Juniper Green on Thursdays at 7pm. Table money £3.

Less experienced players made very welcome. For further information see www. bridgewebs.com/pentland/ or email mthjkb@gmail.com ST CUTHBERT’S BADMINTON CLUB - St Cuthbert’s Badminton Club was created about 1946. It meets in the Church Hall in Westgarth Avenue, Colinton. It is non-competitive and meets on Monday evenings at 8.00pm between September and Easter. For details, call Archie Clark on 0131 449 4703.

THE MEETING PLACE - A community cafe for those 65 and over and all unpaid carers. Every Monday 10am - 4pm. Lunch £5 if you wish and ALL refreshments free.

Free exercise classes, bingo, dominoes, crafting and much more. 99 Forthview Crescent, 42nd Pentland Scout Hall. For info contact themeetingplacejcb@gmail.com BALERNO RAMBLERS WEEKEND GROUP - A busy walking group with a programme of interesting walks in a variety of locations. Some walks may be more challenging than the mid-week programme.

W: www.ramblers.org.uk/balerno; or, www.facebook/BalernoRamblers E:enquiries@balernoramblers.org.uk BALERNO RAMBLERS MIDWEEK GROUP - Meet for walks in Lothians, Fife, Borders and further afield. For walk details contact M.Timmins on 07917878955. Follow Balerno Ramblers on Facebook.

BARREFusion - A Barre class with a twist! Elements of Ballet & Yoga. Includes signature Fuse moves, Cardio bursts & Strength work. Drop-in (contactless payments taken) or pre-book at www.bookwhen. com/heidimacdonaldfitness.

Fridays 9:15am Juniper Green Scout Hall (nr Sainsburys). For further details: M: 07982205111 E: heidi.instructor@gmail.com KNIT ‘N’ KNATTER - Ratho Library, Ratho Commuity Centre, Thursdays 2pm to 4pm.

Tea & coffee provided. Bring along your wooly creations.

Ratho Library 0131 333 5297.

JUNIPER GREEN NURSERY PLAYGROUP - Juniper Green Community Centre. We are a small friendly playgroup with very experienced staff. We take children who are from 2 to 3 years old for morning sessions (9.15-11.15) cost £13 which includes a snack. No parent duties required. For more information: W: www.junipergreenplaygroup. vpweb.co.uk E: junipergreenplaygroup@ hotmail.co.uk T: 07308 033386 PENTLAND SINGERS COMMUNITY CHOIR Rehearsals every Tuesday at 7.30pm in Balerno Parish Church. Singing a wide range of choral music, with local concerts twice a year, no previous experience required and new members always warmly welcomed. Actively seeking new members.

Further information: W: www.pentlandsingers.org.uk E: pentland_singers@yahoo.co.uk PENTLAND JUNIOR SINGERS - Rehearsals every Tuesday 6-7pm, Balerno Parish Church. For young people aged 8 to 14. Come and sing a wide array of choral BALERNO | 45

music in a fun and supportive environment.

More information: www. pentlandjuniors.org or email: pentlandjuniors@gmail.com

a monthly class membership as well as individual class bookings. Please visit: www.primesportsphysio.co.uk SOLUTION TO DECEMBER to book classes. Email: hello@ primesportsphysio.co.uk for CURRIE 65TH BOYS CROSSWORD more info.

BRIGADE - Anchor Boys (P2-3) and Junior Section PiYo - A fusion of Yoga & (P4-6) Thurs 6.00-7.30pm.

Pilates & Non-stop movement.

Company Section (P7-S6) A total body workout. Muscle Sun 6.30- 8.30pm sculpting, Core firming, Gibson Craig Hall, Currie.

Strength, Flexibility. Working Contact 65edinburghbb@ gmail.com or 07730 414371. towards a stronger you. Drop-in (contactless payments taken) RATHO COMMUNITY or pre-book at bookwhen.

CENTRE com/heidimacdonaldfitness • Gentle Exercise Group, Tuesdays 9am Balerno Scout every Thurs from 10am-12 Hall - bring a mat & water. For noon further details call Heidi on • Gentle Exercise Group, 07982 205111 every Thurs from 10am-12 ACROSS: noon1. Easy, 3. Phantoms, 9. Execute, PARACISE - Gentle to 10.•Visor, Contemporary, 14. Ski, 50+11.Group alternate Wed moderate exercise to music 16. Match, Ear, 18. Overwhelming, from17.

2pm-4pm you’ll love. Working on balance, 21.•Pulse, 22.

Easiest, 23.

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Plan.

Book Group alternate Wed mobility, flexibility & posture.

DOWN: 1. Exercise, 2. Stern, 4. Hoe, 5. from 2pm-4pm Nevertheless, 6. Observe, 7. Sure, • Knit and Natter Group Thurs All STANDING. Drop-in 8. Supermarkets, 12. Pitch, 13.Frighten, (contactless payments taken) from 2pm-4pm 15. Involve, 19. Ideal, 20. Spot, 22. Err. or pre-book at bookwhen.

Tel: Ratho Community Centre com/heidimacdonaldfitness SOLUTION TO SUDOKU 0131 333 1055.

Wednesdays 10:45am Balerno ON PAGE XX BOARDJUNIPER GREEN Scout Hall - bring water. For GAMERS - Family and kids further details call Heidi on friendly board-game group 07982 205111. open to all. Come join us to play all sorts of board-games.

ART CLUB - This club suits Children are free with any adult children who thrive by being (£3/adut) Meetings every 2nd creative and individual.

Friday 6pm to 9pm see boardjg. Online learning will focus on co.uk for details of contact eric@ technique, pencil work and boardjg.co.uk colour. Outdoor classes will be PENTLAND CALEDONIA a visual appreciation of colour, PIPES AND DRUMS - Pentland depth and nature through pencil Caledonia Pipes and Drums and other mixed media like are looking for new members, watercolours. We encourage players or learners. We teach individuality and celebrating pipes and drums free. We meet being your own true artist. First in Balerno Community Centre class is a FREE trial. every Friday - 9.30pm.

Disclaimer: The7pm publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused E: balernoartclub@gmail.com You can find us on Facebook. by in the printing of Deeanne an advertisement.

Forerror information call on T: 07591990020 We do not endorse any advertisers in 07885 612583.

Insta: @everychildisanartist_ this publication. All material is accepted PILATES, STRENGTH for publicationYOGA, on the understanding it is To include your Club or copyright free. No part of this publication & FITNESS CLASSES - at may be reproduced without prior Prime Sports Physio & consent of Class, please email details, the publisher. up to 75 words, to Pilates Studio & Gym - Our editor@konect.scot expert physios, Pilates & yoga Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, instructors and personal trainers Not-for-profit groups are West EH54 6GU.of 22 classes offerLothian a programme FREE. There is a small per weekDesign: to promote wellbeing, Magazine charge for businesses. See health, strength Alan Stewart Designand fitness. konect.scot for information.

T: 07729delighted 911858 We’re to now offer 46 | BALERNO

SOLUTION TO DECEMBER CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Easy, 3. Phantoms, 9. Execute, 10. Visor, 11. Contemporary, 14. Ski, 16. Match, 17. Ear, 18. Overwhelming, 21. Pulse, 22. Easiest, 23. Treasure, 24. Plan.

DOWN: 1. Exercise, 2. Stern, 4. Hoe, 5.

Nevertheless, 6. Observe, 7. Sure, 8. Supermarkets, 12. Pitch, 13.Frighten, 15. Involve, 19. Ideal, 20. Spot, 22. Err.

SOLUTIONTO TOSUDOKU SUDOKU SOLUTION XX ON PAGE 43

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We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.

Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU. Magazine Design: Alan Stewart Design T: 07729 911858