FEBRUARY 2024
CHARITY: CHARITY:
WINE TASTING:
P8
W
elcome to the February issue of Konect, the first one for this year.
We’re delighted to kick off this year’s the Charity of the Month feature with Bipolar Scotland, who offer a wonderful peer support group in Bathgate. In the article on pages 8-9, we hear from West Lothian resident Stef who describes the charity as a “lifeline.” Equally vital in a different way is the work of the Rock Trust, who run their Nightstop service in West Lothian, providing emergency accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness. They are looking for local residents who have a spare room and may be able to host a young person for a few nights. There is an information afternoon on 24th February at Crofthead Community Centre in Livingston. see pages 14-15. 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 eating out. 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
Charity: Bipolar Scotland....................................8 Spotlight: Peterkin & Kidd................................ 10 Charity: Do you have a spare room?............ 14 Life Coaching: Building Positive Habits...... 16 Living Well: Getting home safely from hospital.................................................................. 21 Money Matters: Turbulent times.................... 22 Property Matters: Pro-active Marketing....... 26 Garden Project: Snowdrops........................... 29 Recipe: Wok Star!.............................................. 36 Wine: Pairing across continents.................... 37 Film Review: Mean Girls (2024)..................... 38 Puzzles.................................................................. 39 Walk: Field & River............................................. 40 What’s On:........................................................... 46
COVER IMAGE: Snowdrops: Heralding the approach of spring. See P29.
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Stef attends mon thly support grou ps
An estimated 150,000 people in Scotland are living with bipolar disorder, one of the most severe and enduring mental illnesses. There’s so much stigma around this condition, partly because it can be dangerous and destabilising. People with bipolar experience recurrent episodes of manic highs and depressive lows, and some people may also experience psychosis during these periods. These extreme changes in mood can impact every facet of a person’s life and have a detrimental impact on their relationships, career and physical health. In Scotland right now, it takes an average of 9.8 years to get a correct diagnosis of bipolar and this delay can be life-threatening: people with bipolar are twenty times more at risk of suicide than the general population. That’s why Bipolar Scotland is such a necessary, vital charity. Advocating for and supporting people living with bipolar in Scotland, the organisation works within communities all over the country running support groups, and offering selfmanagement training and one-on-one peer support from trained workers who also live with bipolar themselves. The charity is underpinned by a knowledge and belief that people with bipolar can live fulfilling, happy lives – can even be exceptional in their fields. What helps them achieve this is the right support, and often that support is best coming from someone who really gets it. Peer support, 8 | CALDERS
happening alongside the correct medical care, has been proven to be one of the best ways to treat the condition.
“Bipolar Scotland has been a lifeline,” says Stef Walczynski, who has been attending the West Lothian peer support group, which is based out of the Bathgate Partnership Centre, since just before his final diagnosis in 2015. Like the majority of people with the disorder, Stef’s diagnosis of bipolar took a long time he first presented to his GP with an addiction to painkillers in 2008 and was diagnosed with depression. However, he believes his symptoms had been showing for a lot longer. ‘I was always the last man standing, always wanted to keep the party going when I was younger. [However] every year I would have a real point of dark depression where I would go to my family and say I don’t see the point in going on.. Back then we didn’t talk about mental health. We didn’t know about neurodivergancy; we didn’t have the language. Things are better now.’ After being handed a laminated card with the Bipolar Scotland group dates on it by the facilitator of a Distress Tolerance class who thought he would benefit, Stef has been attending the monthly support group in Bathgate for eight years – “I’ve maybe
only ever missed one or two meetings” – accompanied by his mum. “She wouldn’t call herself a carer, just a supporter. She comes along and she learns, from the group, too.” In fact, it was a few words from a visiting psychiatrist speaking at the group that really helped Stef realise the truth of his bipolar disorder. “He said that doctors should be asking people who have depressive symptoms,whether they’ve also had moments of elation, hypomanic or manic states. That was never asked of me at the time.” The two-hour sessions are run by a trained facilitator and are open, welcoming spaces. “There’s a sense of community, a sense of camaraderie. Everybody’s different, everybody’s got different experiences, but nobody’s judging you. It’s a safe environment. The ability to be in the presence of other people that may understand you, to have the ability to get things off your chest, you know? It’s important.” Stef has also benefited from Bipolar Scotland’s one-to-one peer support, and their selfmanagement training courses, all of which are delivered by people who also live with bipolar. “I found it difficult when I was in a depression cycle, but because it was peer support I was working with someone who also had bipolar, so they were very understanding.” How would he characterise the support he’s received from Bipolar Scotland, in a few words? He pauses. “Insightful, meaningful, respect, understanding, caring, supportive, and enjoyable.” For more information on the support offered by Bipolar Scotland, or to donate to help their work please visit www.bipolarscotland.org.uk. The West Lothian support group meets between 7.00pm - 9.00pm on the second Thursday of every month, in Bathgate Community Centre, Lindsay House, South Bridge Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 1TS. Their next meeting dates are Thursday 8th February,14th March and 11th April. This article was contributed by Bipolar Scotland. Charity registered in Scotland number SC021705 CALDERS | 9
The long established law firms of Peterkin and Kidd, and KW Law, recently merged to form the new firm of P&KW. Still trading as Peterkin and Kidd in Linlithgow and as KW Law elsewhere in the county, we ask David Vause of Peterkin and Kidd and Carol Reid of KW Law how it came about and what it means for clients.
Q. How did it begin?
David: We’ve found over recent years that it has become increasingly difficult as High Street lawyers to provide the full range of services our clients now require. We found ourselves in such a position last year with a piece of business we couldn’t deal with. Our client wanted to keep things local, so after speaking with my partner Stewart Robertson, we decided to call Carol. We had always got on well, respected her firm and were fairly sure that they did the type of business in question. So I picked up the phone. Carol: I was more than happy to take the call and more than happy when I knew that we could help. This led to a more general chat with David and we discovered that we were facing the same challenges. We decided to explore whether we could help each other in a more general way.
Q.
So was merger always on the cards? Carol: I wouldn’t have said “always” but we got to discussing that very quickly. David and I met 10 | CALDERS
up and realised straight away that our firms complemented each other. At KW Law we had a large court department mainly dealing with family law, whist Peterkin and Kidd dealt more with employment law and other matters. David: I agree, and while KW Law were also offering conveyancing, estate agency and private client services such as executries, their departments were much smaller than the Peterkin and Kidd equivalents and offered a narrower range. It just made sense to look further into it.
Q. When did the merger take place?
David: P&KW came into being on 1 July 2023. We both knew when we started talking that we wanted this to happen as the two businesses complemented each other so well. Carol: Yes, negotiations didn’t take long. We made sure that we did our due diligence on each other, got regulatory consent and, most importantly, the partners of both firms met up to make sure we all got on. David: All passed with flying colours, I might add!
Q. And was it a merger or really a
takeover by one firm of the other? Carol: Merger pure and simple. Both firms were in a good place but facing increasing concerns about whether they could cope with the range of client demand. Our firm sizes were almost identical, and what had seemed obvious as soon as we started talking became even more obvious. David: Both of us were keen on the merger and both went into it from a position of strength. When we saw the similarities of how the two firms were run and that they were in more or less the same place it seemed an ideal fit.
Q. How has it worked so far?
Carol: Very well. As David said, we both went in from a position of strength but we’ve already seen the benefits of being able to do work that the individual firms couldn’t do but which the combined firm can. David: We can safely say both of us are delighted with how it has worked out.
Q. What does it mean for clients
especially here in Mid Calder? David: I hope that all our clients, over both former firms, see the advantages. P&KW can offer more services than Peterkin and Kidd or KW alone ever could. Everyone who was a Peterkin and Kidd client before the merger can rest assured that we’re still here, same people as before doing the same things that we did before but with added value. If we’re marketing your home for example, we still have the same Rightmove and ESPC access but our client lists are now much more extensive. Additionally, we now offer a far wider range of services such as divorces, adoption, child protection and other family law matters as well as in other areas such as compromise agreements in employment situations. Carol: And I would add that these services are available from all of our offices. We’re very much in the business of taking on new clients in the best location for them.
Q.
And finally the future? Carol: Very positive. We have already expanded the private client team and we see room for expansion all over the firm. David: Absolutely. Business has increased as a result of the merger and we’re confident that all of our clients will see the benefits as we offer a wider range of advice.
ESTATE AGENCY CONVEYANCING WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY GUARDIANSHIPS EXECUTRIES FAMILY LAW COMPROMISE AGREEMENTS AND MUCH MORE Contact us at: Peterkin & Kidd 8 High Street, Linlithgow EH49 7AF - (01506) 845191 Further offices at: Torridon House, Almondvale Boulevard, Livingston - (01506) 415333 & 12 Whitburn Road, Bathgate - (01506) 635533 (Trading as KW Law)
This feature was supplied by P & KW Solicitors. CALDERS | 11
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LIFE COACHING
By the time we get to the end of January, Christmas is a distant memory and most people are more than happy to restore everything to so-called ‘normal’ and to pack away all that glitter and shine. But, some of us thrive on glitz and enjoy that season and those short months, more than any other time of year, and we find ourselves feeling sad when everything is packed away. Moving out of the festive season doesn’t have to mean packing away all that seasonal joy and sparkle doesn’t have to be restricted to those few weeks of the year. The positive impact on our mental health of wearing something bright and sparkly every day can’t be underestimated and there is absolutely no reason why we can’t decide to shine all year round. Continuing to celebrate in January and February by scheduling in some fun activities throughout the year can give us a real boost, this doesn’t have to be costly and can be something as simple as a trip to the cinema or a coffee with friends. Spacing out our treats throughout the winter months somehow feels like we always have little things to look forward There are so many tiny moments in the average year that we can mark with a mini or maxi celebration. Making a pact with ourselves to seize any and all of those moments whenever and wherever we can, will support us all through these dark nights and set the scene for a happier and healthier winter. The Life Coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr, NLP coach, hypnotherapist & reiki practitioner. Francine is based within Linlithgow Chiropractic on Wednesday afternoons and is also available online. See www.orrganise.co.uk 16 | CALDERS
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Advertisement Feature
Join Care UK’s nationwide ‘Big Dementia Conversation’ Did you know that more than 920,000 people in the UK live with Dementia, yet 77% of people feel there are still misconceptions surrounding the condition*?
Despite our increased knowledge of dementia in recent years, many feel in the dark about what to expect following a diagnosis, and what’s more, many still feel uncomfortable, or even embarrassed, talking about the lesser-known symptoms. Let’s get talking ‘The Big Dementia Conversation’ is all about encouraging people to talk about some of the most difficult topics associated with dementia. Our online advice hub takes a closer look at some of the less-talkedabout symptoms of dementia, with expert advice from our dementia specialists on how to navigate them.
We’re here for you At Care UK, our dementia specialists continue to work with academic partners and respected leaders in the field, to develop a holistic and forwardthinking approach to the delivery of dementia care. We’re always looking for new ways to support families caring for a loved one with dementia, and we recognise the importance of helping you to navigate through some of the more challenging stages. Visit our website for further information by scanning the QR code. If you’re considering care call 0131 516 7418 or visit careuk.com/edinburgh
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LIVING WELL
As we get older, a hospital stay can be all too common. It’s a great sense of relief being discharged. It’s important to have a sound discharge plan to ensure a safe return home to prevent any further hospital admissions.
• Short-term needs: the discharge team should work with family or friends to ensure the patient doesn’t go home to an empty fridge or without the relevant medication. • Care assessment: The discharge team may assess for care at home if they believe a little extra help might be needed with day-to-day tasks. • Onward referrals: the further support considered should include referrals to any other relevant services. • Transport home: it’s the hospital’s responsibility to organise transport home if family can’t do so.
• Equipment aids: if given equipment to aid with recovery, it’s important that both the patient and their carer are confident using it. • Supplies: regular access might be needed to products that were rarely or never required before, e.g. incontinence products. Discharge plans should include this. Discharging patients is a win-win: hospitals can get access to beds taken up unnecessarily by medically fit patients, while people can get back to the home they love.
If the hospital is struggling to access the required state funded care, it’s important to know what you might be eligible for funding provided by the council to meet social care needs. This can be put towards alternative community care that is available, which could help speed up the discharge process. The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead West Lothian. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 346046, email info. westlothian@homeinstead.co.uk or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/west-lothian
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SPONSORED CONTENT
MONEY MATTERS
When geopolitical tensions are high, it’s hard to ignore the fact that our world is a volatile place. The images, videos and sounds of war can affect us deeply, no matter how far removed we are from it physically.
At such times, the movements of financial markets may seem trivial, nevertheless it is understandable that investors will be searching for answers and solutions. There is no clear precedent for predicting the impact of war on markets. There are many examples from history where the impact has been localised or short lived, and, over the longterm, markets are resilient.
Markets often fall during times of conflict and uncertainty, but data shows that they have bounced back significantly. Stock market falls of more than 10% happen in more years than they don’t. It’s important to remember that global equities have returned an average of 10% a year over the last 50 years – a period which has seen a number of geopolitical and economic jolts. Despite short-term fluctuations caused by events, including conflict, history shows that investing in assets such as equities has proved the best way to grow capital and protect it from inflation over the long-term. Past performance is not a guide to the future and may not be repeated. The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the fund selected. The Money Matters column is contributed by Lucy Logan. Lucy lives in Calderwood and is the Principal of Calderwood Financial, an Associate Partner Practice of St. James’s Place.
Calderwood Financial is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising soley on the groups wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out in the groups website www.sjp.co.uk/products. ‘The St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to described St. James’s Place Representatives.
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PROPERTY MATTERS
How pro-active marketing can put your property in front of the most likely buyers It’s easy for Estate Agents to overlook the fact that the majority of the population are not actively searching online property portals (such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and so on) and often only hear of certain properties being for sale (or sold) through word of mouth, when it’s too late to take action. A multi-channel approach to marketing a property is essential for matching the right purchasers with the right properties. Whilst property portals and social media promotions are a prerequisite, regular digital and printed newsletters and magazines sent out to a highly qualified subscriber list offer huge value in terms of additional marketing channels. A good quality newsletter puts clients’ properties in front of a very tailored and qualified audience in a way that not even the social media channels can. It does this through presenting not only properties for sale, but by encompassing a range of content that is interesting and relevant to readers so that they engage with it - whether they are actively looking for a property or not. Our company newsletter “Coffee Talk” has been running for almost 15 years and has more than 12,000 subscribers. Besides 26 | CALDERS
showcasing properties for sale, it contains local news and information curated to be engaging for the audience. The readers we have attracted over this period, and through the content we publish, are specifically tailored to be a good match for our clients. “Coffee Talk” covers unique and exclusive properties, new build developments, land and building plots, market updates and insights. It includes access to off-market private properties that are not available on the open market and are visible to our subscribers and registered clients only. We have recently introduced a new online newsletter to the range titled “Coffee Talk – Extra Shot” which is produced monthly and showcases a selection of the most current properties available on the market. ‘Extra shot’ is interactive and links directly to the listing on our website, social media platforms and directly to the Property Manager for any particular property. In addition to this, our printed magazine ‘In-house’ is produced every 8 weeks and includes ‘hints & tips’ for buyers
and sellers, home features and lifestyle articles as well as showcasing our clients properties. As a commitment to our clients, we deliver copies of In-house magazine to carefully selected homes in their area plus sellers who have a property on the market to ensure that their property is exposed to people who are most likely to have an interest in it. In-house magazine also comes in a digital ‘page-turner’ format online and printed copies are available from our office and various outlets locally. Every one of our clients’ properties is featured in all of our digital and printed newsletters and magazines. The benefits to our clients of this suite of publications are measurable and tangible. Not only does it put their property in front of the most highly qualified audience in the local area, it also presents opportunities for any of the 12,000 subscribers to see a property that might be of interest to a friend, relative or colleague and easily forward an online copy to them. The nature of these publications also allows instant and direct feedback to our property managers,
showing them which featured properties or articles were most popular. This valuable market intelligence means we can adjust a campaign if, for example, the initial marketing images are not connecting with the audience in the same way that others might be. Properties featured in previous editions have resulted in successful sales to people who were not actively in the market looking for a house move. A unique or particular property may catch the attention of someone (they may have coveted or have some history with the property) which in turn results in them enquiring, viewing and purchasing simply due to the fact the property was put in front of them via a newsletter or magazine. If you’re a buyer or seller, or if you have an interest in the property market, take a look at the recent editions of our newsletters and magazines via the QR codes above. To receive our monthly online newsletter, please email ‘SUBSCRIBE’ to info@turpies.com. Add the word ‘INHOUSE’ if you would like a printed or digital copy of our company magazine too.
The monthly Property Matters column is contributed by Craig Turpie. Craig is a director at Turpie & Co Estate Agents and Letting Agents with extensive knowledge of the West Lothian Property Market and over 20 years experience in bespoke sales and marketing. CALDERS | 27
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FEBRUARY MARKS THE SNOWDROP FESTIVAL! This month there is nothing to beat a garden visit to admire displays of snowdrops on a crisp, sunny day. Let’s hope we get plenty of these days like the afternoon we visited House of the Binns last year to admire this carpet of blooms.
The appearance of these delightful wee flowers heralds the approach of Spring, cheering us in the same way as the longer days do. They are naturalised in Britain now having been introduced many hundreds of years ago. They start flowering in the far west of Scotland and flowering later as you move to the east so check the websites below for snowdrop garden opening times near you. There are many stories about snowdrops and we were reminded on the website of FloraQueen.com of this charming German
folklore. At the beginning of time Snow searched for a colour to borrow. When Snow asked and pleaded for one of the colours of the flowers, the flowers turned away denying Snow a colour as they felt Snow was too cold and unpleasant. The snowdrop felt sorry for Snow and offered its colour. Snow accepted the gift and became white from that point. To show its gratitude Snow allowed snowdrops to bloom at the end of winter with Snow’s protection against ice and snow. Scotland’s Gardens Scheme – scotlandsgardens.org
Discover Scottish Gardens – discoverscottishgardens.org The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.
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^^^ Sudoku solution on page 45
FEBRUARY SUDOKU
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).
HALF-PAGE Hz ADD SOLUTION DETAILS 34 | CALDERS
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FOOD & DRINK
Who better than award-winning TV chef and cookery book author Ching-He Huang to help you celebrate Chinese New Year – which this year falls on 10 February, starting a Year of the Dragon – with one of her favourite dishes for feasting?
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp rapeseed oil • 1 clove garlic, crushed and finely chopped • 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped • ¼ red onion, sliced • 100g mini chicken fillets, sliced into strips • 1 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry • 2-3 raw or cooked tiger prawns, shelled and deveined, sliced in half down the middle • 30g bacon lardons, finely diced • 1 tsp dark soy sauce • 6 canned water chestnuts or 10 canned bamboo shoots, drained • 1 small handful of beansprouts • 1 tbsp oyster sauce • ¼ tsp chilli bean sauce • 1 tbsp low-sodium light soy sauce • 2 spring onions, trimmed and sliced on the diagonal To serve • Cooked rice
Serves 1
Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 6-7 minutes
Method:
1. Heat a wok over a high heat until smoking. Add the rapeseed oil and give it a swirl. Add the garlic, chilli and red onion and stir-fry for 5 seconds. Add the chicken strips and let them settle for 5 seconds, then cook, stirring, for 10 seconds. 2. Add the Shaohsing rice wine or sherry, and then add the prawns and bacon. Toss for a further 5 seconds. Season with the dark soy sauce and stir to coat all the ingredients. 3. Add the water chestnuts or bamboo shoots plus the beansprouts. Season with oyster sauce, chilli bean sauce and light soy sauce. Toss and mix well until well combined and the chicken is completely cooked through. 4. Sprinkle over the spring onions. Serve with cooked rice of your choice.
Vegan Option Use smoked tofu instead of the chicken, prawns and bacon, and add sliced shiitake mushrooms.
Recipe extracted from Wok For Less by Ching-He Huang, published by Kyle Books, £25, with photography by Jamie Cho. 36 | CALDERS
CREDIT: Image by Bruna Branco, Unsplash
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 CALDERS | 37
LOCAL HISTORY
PENTLAND HEIST
Nearly forty years ago, Kirknewton was 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 38 | CALDERS
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 40 | CALDERS
SATURDAY 3RD FEBRUARY Winter Wildlife Wander - Come along on a guided walk to learn more about Linlithgow Loch and Peel. Discover what calls the loch its home, how it was created and what makes Linlithgow Peel a special place. 1.00pm – 3.00pm. Free, but booking in advance required. To book please contact the Historic Environment Ranger Ranger Service on 0131 652 8150 or rangers@hes.scot SATURDAY 3RD FEBRUARY AND SATURDAY 2ND MARCH Friends of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park Volunteering session - The Friends of Almondell's monthly practical project meeting. Volunteer group helping to conserve and maintain the 220 acre Almondell & Calderwood Country Park including the Oakbank extension. Please get in touch by contacting the Ranger Service on 01506 882254, or email almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk to find out more about getting involved. Facebook: Friends of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park SATURDAY 10TH TO MONDAY 19TH FEBRUARY First Tingles of Spring at Almond Valley Heritage Centre - Spring is in the air, so we’ll be searching for the first signs of new life, colouring flowers and looking forward to a brilliant year to come. Included in admission at Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, EH54 7AR. See www.almondvalley.co.uk
SATURDAY 24TH FEBRUARY The UK Rock Show - At Howden Park Centre, Livingston. Get ready to be transported back to the 80s heyday of classic rock, combining the feel of a rock festival with the atmosphere of a top end rock arena tour. Expect fireworks, flames, amazing lighting and exacting attention to detail as this amazing 5-piece band, who have numerous recording credits and having travelled the Globe extensively, recreate hits from rock gods such as Journey, Aerosmith, Def Lep-pard, Bon Jovi, Kiss, AC/DC, Van Halen and many more! Howden Park Centre, 7.30pm, tickets £25. Booking and information at howdenparkcentre.co.uk WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH FOR FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE. CALDERS | 41
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
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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. CALDERS | 43
SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... WOMEN'S 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL - A fun and friendly group meeting on Thursday evenings to play recreational football in East Calder. All ages abilities welcome. A great way to keep fit and meet new people. For more information text Tracey 07708 700235. EAST CALDER PENSIONERS CLUB - Held in The Dave King Partnership Centre, Main Street, East Calder on the last Thursday of every month from 1.00pm to 3.30pm (September-April). New members welcome. Contact Carole on 07821 699332 for further details. SOUND THERAPY, MEDITATION AND YOGA - Monthly sound baths and candlelit Yin yoga classes to calm and relax body and mind. Workshops, 1:1 therapies and retreats throughout the year. Classes in Kirknewton Village Hall www.ocean-flow.co.uk MID CALDER BABY & TODDLER GROUP - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am 11.30 am in The Institute Hall Mid Calder. We have a huge toy selection, offer arts and crafts and supply a small snack. Adults can have a hot drink and a chat whilst the children play happily. Session costs are £1 for under 1s and £2 for over 1s. Follow us on Facebook or email: midcalderbabygroup@gmail. com for further details EAST CALDER PLAYGROUP - Mon-Fri 9-11am for 2-3 year olds @ The Dave King Partnership Centre. Lots of fun activities while learning through play. Stories, songs, craft, small world, sand, water, outdoor fun & lots more. For more information call /text 07748053340 or pop in and see us. SINGERGIE CHOIR - Singergie is a totally free, singing for fun 44 | CALDERS
choir with 2 locations in West Lothian. MONDAYS: 7.009.00pm, The Village, Oakbank Road, East Calder. FRIDAYS: 10.00am – 12noon, East Calder Bowling Club. No auditions, no fees, no stress. Good songs, easy harmonies, friendship and fun. And you get a cuppa thrown in too. Won’t cost you a penny. No need to book, just turn up and you’ll be made very welcome. SUKHA YOGA - Getting back on your mat with real yoga every Wednesday 7.00 –8.30pm, Dave King Partnership Centre, East Calder. Feel the benefit from strengthening practice and regular relaxation. £6 per session or book 5 sessions for £25. All Covid-safe measures are in place. Bring your own mat and any other yoga equipment you need. Please confirm booking by pre-paying for your class. any further information, please contact me on 07767 777044. Everyone welcome. WEST LOTHIAN LITTER PICKERS - We’re a group of over 3000 West Lothian residents, so if you want to help clean up your community, like we do, come join the group on Facebook “West Lothian Litter Pickers(Act Local Think Global)”. We organise group litter picks or put you in touch with a buddy in your area to get you started. We can even provide you with equipment at no cost to you. EAST CALDER NEEDLECRAFT CLUB - We are back….We meet every Thursday evening from 6.30pm - 9pm at the Dave King Partnership Centre, East Calder. All crafts are catered for whether you are a beginner or experienced in your favourite craft, we want to welcome you to our group. Why not give us a try? Call 01506 882699 for more information.
EAST CALDER OVER 50s CLUB - Held in The Dave King Community Centre, Main Street, East Calder every Wednesday from 1.30-3.30pm (SeptemberMay) Please contact Gillian on 07415309886 for further details. POTTER AROUND AT POTTER AROUND - Potter Around is a local pottery and ceramic painting studio based in Kirknewton. We offer taster sessions on the potter’s wheel for ages 5+. We also do clay imprints – a great memento to keep forever and we have a huge range of pre-made ceramics which are great for handprints, but also for people of all ages to paint. Our shop sells gorgeous handmade gifts including pottery and jewellery. Check our website for details: www.potteraround.co.uk EAST CALDER SCOUT GROUP - Providing fun and exciting scouting programmes for children in the local area, from age 6 upwards. We meet on a Monday or Tuesday, depending on the child’s age. Adults interested in becoming leaders will be made very welcome. We also hire the scout hall for one off occasions or for other groups to use, to benefit the local community. Find out more at our website: www.eastcalderscouts.uk SLIMMING WORLD - East Calder Bowling Club, 255 Main Street, East Calder. Tuesdays 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30pm, Wednesdays 9.30 & 11.30am and at Geddes House, Livingston, EH54 6GU on Thursdays 9.30. New and returning members always welcome. Contact Sue: 07803 520781 CHORAL HIGHLIGHTS LADIES' CHOIR - Would you like to join in with some fun at our friendly community choir? We meet in Mid Calder at @KonectMagazines
dance and song classes. 7.30 pm on a Wednesday. Our music consists of a Creative activity and learning wide range of materials from can unlock memories and skills musicals, traditional, pop that have been lost and creates favourites and TO lots more. We’d a spark of joy for all. Contact SOLUTION DECEMBER love to welcome singers from generationarts.coordinator@ CROSSWORD across West Lothian. To find out more or to join us please contact gmail.com or phone 07521 358 239 for further information. John Rankine at john.rankine@ lineone.net MACMILLAN CANCER INFORMATION & SUPPORT CHOOSE YOU YOGA - A free, confidential service STUDIO & WELLNESS HUB - Dedicated yoga studio in providing a ‘listening ear’, Carmondean, Livingston. Build emotional and practical support, strength, flexibility and resilience, help to access benefits/financial and support mental health, advice and other local services. joint pain/illness/injury recovery. Expert information for anyone Iyengar yoga 6.00-7.15 & 7.30affected by cancer – yourself, 8.45pm Monday. Ante-natal a relative, friend or carer. yoga 5.45-6.45 and Vinyasa Face to face appointments at Flow 7.00-8.00pm Tuesday. Partnership Centres in Bathgate, Seasonal yoga 5.30-6.30 and ACROSS: 1. Easy, 3. Phantoms, 9. Execute, Livingston North, Broxburn, Yoga Basics 6.45-7.45pm 10. Visor, 11. Contemporary, 14. Ski, Wednesday. yoga 6.00Fauldhouse and Blackburn. 16. Match, 17. Ear,Iyengar 18. Overwhelming, 7.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Thursday. Short health walks leaving 21. Pulse, 22. Easiest, 23. Treasure, 24. Plan. Iyengar 9.45-11.00am DOWN: 1. yoga Exercise, 2. Stern, 4. Hoe, 5. Bathgate Partnership Centre Friday. Carmondean, Livingston. call to book a place. Phone and Nevertheless, 6. Observe, 7. Sure, T: 07810 82412. 195 8. Supermarkets, Pitch, 13.Frighten, email support also available. E: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk 15. Involve, 19. Ideal, 20. Spot, 22. Err. Please call 01506 283053 or W: chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on email MacmillanWestLothian@ SOLUTION TO SUDOKU Facebook westlothian.gov.uk ON PAGE XX CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS - Support and social activities for Carers, Young Carers and NETWORK - Social activities Disabled Adults. All our carers for the over fifties. Run largely groups are offered blended – by volunteers we offer a wide both in person and face to face, range of interest groups to help as are our social groups: weekly you stay fit and healthy in both Coffee Morning; monthly Mental mind and body, whilst socialising Health Support Group, Evening with others. Something for Support Group & Bereaved everyone, but, more importantly, Carer Support Group as well as the chance to meet up and groups for Young Carers and join in with old friends or make Young Adult Carers. Regular Social Groups for Adults with new friends along the way. disabilities. Power of Attorney Annual joining fee £24. Follow Clinic (face to face) & Benefits our Facebook page, visit www. Advice (phone or face to face). westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept or call 01506 635510. For information: responsibility for loss or damage caused T: 448000, by 01506 error in the printing of an advertisement. TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB E:office@carers-westlothian. We do not endorse any advertisers in OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL this publication. All material is accepted com for publication on the understanding it is DETAILS, UP TO 75 WORDS, W: www.carers-westlothian.com copyright free. No part of this publication TO EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT may be reproduced ARTS without prior consent of GENERATION - Creative the publisher. activities for people aged 50 and NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS over, either living at homeLtd. or in Publisher: Lothian Publications ARE FREE. THERE IS care with complex Online A SMALL CHARGE Geddes House, Kirkton needs. North, Livingston, West Lothian 6GU. in West and offlineEH54 activities Lothian as a dance dvd, art FOR BUSINESSES. SEE Magazinesuch Design: WWW.KONECT.SCOT FOR demos, reminiscence, recipes, Alan Stewart Design music song playlists, INFORMATION. T: 07729and 911858 @KonectMagazines
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 34
Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. 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
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Based on the stage musical, which is based on the film of the same name. Mean Girls is a massive film. Similar to other films like Heathers, it got the musical theatre treatment. Mean Girls’ plot has not changed from the original and neither has its overall message. This, to be honest, isn’t a huge issue if we ignore the fact that the original was released in 2004 - some 20 years ago - and while what it says still has meaning in 2024, I also feel that there is so much more that could and should have been said. We live in a day and age where social media affects people on a physical and mental level, and while social media is present in the film, It rarely plays a part in the story and there is no commentary on the negative impact it has on women. But what doesn’t help the film is the dialogue. It feels like it was written by adults who have no idea how teenagers of today speak, act, or look. Maybe I’m jaded but no teenager is making Cloverfield references. Unlike Heathers the musical, Mean Girls has no music number that I truly remember or love. While it was catchy in the moment, nothing had me like Dead Girl Walking in Heathers where I have it pumping loudly through my speaker. The film honestly does not justify its existence and if you want to experience the story just watch the 2004 original instead. Mean Girls is in cinemas from January 17 th The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton.
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