Final winter 2017 newspaper

he Edinburgh Reporter www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk We would love to know about any‐ thing you are organising. Do get in touch For those without a roof over their heads Sleep in the Park in early De‐ cember aims to raise vital funds. he Council Leader will be there trying to keep warm but is looking for solu‐ tions to the problem too. Read more inside.

he Edinburgh Reporter Winter 2017

Our print edition will be published monthly from January onwards. he date for copy and advertising will be the 22nd of each month.

If you can, please think of support‐ ing us with advertising or a small donation.

by Phyllis Stephen In this ediiton we have not listed the many things on in the capital at Christmas and New Year. You can ind details on our website, and in any case you only have to walk along George Street to see that something BIG is happening!

It made for some musical interludes at the City Chambers, serving as a reminder that the pupils at the school have enormous talent. We got the story out in a variety of ways with video, photos and articles. It appeared to help so if you are run‐ ning a campaign then tell us about it.

he council has had a difficult time trying to ind £21 million of savings in its revenue budget. One of the cuts could have led to the closure of the City of Edinburgh Music School, but following a ierce campaign by parents and pupils that threat has been removed.

he Edinburgh Reporter is available at libraries across Edinburgh, he Lyceum and he Queen's Hall, hotels and city centre coffee shops. If you would like to stock some copies then let us know.

We wish you a peaceful end to 2017.

he RSA which has a splendid exhibition Ages of Wonder - the largest display of the Academy’s collection in its entire history

FREE

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Winter 2017

POLITICS However one issue stands out: the Edinburgh Airport lightpath pro‐ posals. his issue has caused major con‐ cerns for residents in both Cramond and South Queensferry.

Two Housing Tales Andy Wightman MSP, Housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, led a Holyrood debate on his 'Homes First' campaign, warning that 'a modern day clearance is un‐ derway' as communities are 'torn asunder' by the rapid and unregulat‐ ed growth of short-term lets.

___________________________ A development of 94 affordable, colony-style homes starts a new chapter for the historic Leith Fort site.

Since the process began I have had regular meetings on the issue with Cramond residents, and was in South Queensferry to hear how the prospect of lights over that commu‐ nity for the irst time is raising fears over noise and pollution.

Christine Jardine MP for Edinburgh West

by Christine Jardine Liberal De‐ mocrat MP for Edinburgh West.

up to the need for action to tackle this issue before it is too late and to listen to the concerns of residents whose lives are made intolerable by a market that is out of control and a system of regulation that permits widespread illegality."

he opening ceremony took place at the site of the 18th century Leith Fort which was the irst home of the world famous 'One o'clock gun' now housed at Edinburgh Castle.

I have made representations to the airport, the Civil Aviation Authority and to the National Air Traffic Ser‐ vice against the proposals in behalf in the communities and we are all now waiting on a decision from the CAA.

here are 62 new homes for mid

Gavin Barrie, Convener of the Hous‐ ing & Economy Committee also at‐ tending.

Cllr Barrie said : "I am delighted to be attending the official opening of the development at Leith Fort. his is the latest development to be opened following the Council's coali‐ tion pledge to deliver 20,000 afford‐ able and low-cost homes over the next ten years.

"We are very pleased to have worked with Port of Leith Housing Associa‐ tion to deliver these high-quality, modern homes modelled on the Ed‐ inburgh colonies concept. Of course, housing is so much more than build‐ ings; it's about communities, and this scheme has recognised that from the start. he local community

It has been quite a irst six months for Christine who writes: here has been no shortage of issues to tackle either here in the con‐ stituency or down at Westminster.

One of the biggest at Westminster has been State Pension Inequality for women born in the 1950s. In‐ deed the so-called WASPI women is‐ sue affects thousands of women across the country, and I am now cosponsor of a bill, tabled by an All Party Group, calling for an urgent review of the implementation of pension changes and the cost of compensation.

It's an issue I care deeply about and will also be raising at my party's au‐ tumn conference with my colleague, Alex Cole-Hamilton.

None of us disputes that the demo‐ graphic changes we face demand that we look again at retirement ages designed for a very different age.

But the incompetent and thought‐ less way that pension changes for women born in the 1950s were im‐ plemented was simply unacceptable.

In terms of issues at home there have been many, the Scottish Water roadworks in various areas, prob‐ lems with anti-social behaviour by youngsters and the continuing is‐ sues with GP shortages and the NHS generally across Edinburgh West.

Many of you have written, come to my regular surgeries or popped into the office at 125a St John's Road to draw these to my attention.

In most cases we have worked with either MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton or your local Lib Dem councillors to ind a solution, but there have also been many which demanded direct representations to the Home Office or Department of Work and Pen‐ sions.

he Scottish Government's baby boxes scheme began in August this year, and since then 10,000 boxes have been delivered, and registration for baby boxes has reached 20,000.

Find out more at www.parent‐ club.scot/baby-box

Balfour praises advice centre Jeremy Balfour, Scottish Conserv‐ ative MSP for the Lothian Region raised a motion at Holyrood high‐ lighting the range of services offered by the University of Edinburgh's free Legal Advice Centre. Postgradu‐ ate students at the University are available to offer free legal advice, under the supervision of qualiied solicitors, on a wide range of issues such as family law, employment is‐ sues, landlord and tenant disputes and property law. If they are unable to help with a particular case, they will be able to refer clients to other agencies or legal advice centres.

Jeremy said : "his Centre is an ex‐ cellent source of legal information and advice and is available free of charge to all members of the public who live in and around Edinburgh. I would encourage people to go along to one of their clinics which are available every Monday in No‐ vember, January and February if they wish to discuss any matters such as landlord disputes, separa‐ tion agreements, employee rights or any aspect of buying or selling a property. hey can be contacted on freelegaladvice@ed.ac.uk or call on 0800 073 0150 to book an appoint‐ ment."

People affected are being encour‐ aged to submit their experiences on‐ line at greens.scot/homesirst, where a brieing from Mr Wightman sets out how he Scottish Govern‐ ment could respond, by creating a new Use Class Order to require plan‐ ning permission, or by extending the Landlord Registration scheme to ensure short-term let owners have to pass a 'it and proper person' test.

During the debate Mr Wightman said : "his unregulated market is causing severe distress to the quality of life of my constituents: antisocial behaviour within communal areas, a loss of community as speculators buy up properties, anxiety and stress associated with not knowing who is coming and going, and a tax gap as thousands of properties pay no non-domestic rates.

"On one online advertising website, there are 5,474 whole properties available for let in Edinburgh - al‐ most double the number in July last year. his is despite a City Council presumption against any short term lets in latted property. Title deeds prohibit any business use, yet thou‐ sands of owners lout these condi‐ tions.

market rent by Port of Leith Hous‐ ing Association's subsidiary Perse‐ vere Developments and 32 homes for social rent by he City of Edin‐ burgh Council. he project was funded by Port of Leith Housing As‐ sociation, City of Edinburgh Council and a grant of almost £2.9 million from he Scottish Government. he properties, including a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, are a modern take on the traditional Edinburgh colonies con‐ cept.

have been engaged throughout the process and have been put at the heart of the project. hey've had in‐ put into early designs, through plan‐ ning, architectural work and the street naming process.

"I wish to congratulate everyone at the Council and Port of Leith in‐ volved in the success of the develop‐ ment and I wish residents all the very best in their new homes."

he development was opened by Kevin Stewart MSP, Scottish Gov‐ ernment Minister for Local Govern‐ ment and Housing, with Councillor

"here is an affordable housing cri‐ sis in the city and what residential accommodation that does exist should be used to provide homes for residents in the irst instance. Only through a careful and considered process should any short term lets be allowed. he human rights of my constituents to housing and to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes are being violated.

"A modern day clearance is under‐ way as long-established communi‐ ties are being torn asunder in the face of global market forces. I urge he Scottish Government to wake

3 year old Teddy Livesey plays with one of four newly restored cannons after the opening ceremony. Photo Neil Hanna

Winter 2017

3

easier, women should lighten up, it's just a bit of fun, it's only banter?

world stage as a beacon of knowl‐ edge, research and fur ther education; the University of Edin‐ burgh promotes the city as an in‐ ternational leader for academic ex‐ cellence.

I've seen suggestions that equality training and sensitivity training for men would solve the issue. he real answer, though, is men should be decent human beings who don't re‐ gard women as being worth less than they are. he solution is men policing their own behaviour and considering whether it's appropriate - BEFORE they do it.

Deidre Brock MP for Edinburgh North and Leith writes : Harvey Weinstein is an extreme ex‐ ample of a problem all too pervasive - men considering women to be worth less than the men around them - it's the imbalance in power that has existed for centuries and exists now, still, in spite of the ad‐ vances we have seen in recent decades.

We hear repeated allegations of mis‐ conduct raised by women that are too often treated as minor disagree‐ ments rather than real problems. he reaction is more often the 'nudge-nudge, wink-wink' of the Carry-On ilms rather than the hor‐ ror and disgust that it should gener‐ ate. hat simply isn't good enough.

I have questions for the men who think they're not like that - do you step in when you see the misogyny?

Do you tell your colleagues the com‐ ments about other colleagues are in‐ appropriate? Do you decry sexist jokes? Or do you keep quiet or even go along with it because it makes life

We can change these attitudes. We can harness the underdeveloped and, in many cases, untapped poten‐ tial of women - both societal and economic potential - but we have to change the cultures we operate with‐ in.

Perhaps most of all we need men to start understanding that women are their equals, that a female colleague is not a perk in their employment, and that respecting women is not a weakness. We can do better but we have to believe properly in equality to do it.

he Edinburgh Award Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh Sir Timo‐ thy O'Shea was getting ready to re‐ ceive the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2017 just as we were going to

Scottish Rugby’s points-record holder Chris Paterson MBE and award-winning author Alexander McCall Smith CBE have joined forces ahead of he Eric Liddell Centre’s inaugural fundraising dinner. he pair met ahead of he Going for Gold Fundraising Gala, which is taking place on 5 December at the Sheraton Grand in Edinburgh, in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hold Olympic hero, Eric Liddell’s medals.

Brazilian beauty he Fazenda Bar & Grill brand in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, are set to open a fourth outlet in the Scottish capital in early 2018.

"Driven in large part by Sir Timothy, the institution has expanded over the last 15 years and asserted itself as one of the top 25 academic insti‐ tutions in the world under his watch. After successfully steering it through the challenges of the UK's economic crisis, Sir Timothy has en‐ hanced the proile of the University and, in doing so, the city for which he is thanked. press.

Impressions of the esteemed profes‐ sor's hands have been cast in clay, by Leigh Bradley of the Colin Braid Stone Workshop, ready to be carved into stone. he handprints are gilded and laid outside the City Chambers next to the prints of previous Edinburgh Award recipients including Ken Buchanan, Sir Tom Farmer, J.K Rowling and Sir Chris Hoy. Lord Provost, Frank Ross, said: "Placing Scotland's Capital on the

"Sir Timothy has done much to pro‐ mote Edinburgh to the world and to support close to 10,000 FTE jobs, the education of more than 39,000 students, and invaluable academic research. I hope this award goes some way towards recognising all that he has achieved for and on be‐ half of the city."

A £2m refurbishment of the 7000 sq ft site on George Street will have 175 covers including a bar area of 40 covers, plus a private dining room for 8 guests.

Fazenda's Sales and Marketing Di‐ rector, Tomas Maunier, commented: "Edinburgh is a vibrant city, with a great personality and an amazing food scene. We want to share a unique and authentic dining experience, similar to the best restaurants in São Paulo or Rio, that will transport our guests to South America."

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Winter 2017

Grassmarket Community Project in the news!

and a market garden. Many local people remember it well and some even recall working there. It was in‐ habited till the year 2000. Edin‐ burgh City Council bought it as part of a millennium project to create the new Craigmillar Castle Park.

However, money ran out before the farmhouse could be restored and it fell into disrepair. Until a communi‐ ty group, calling itself Bridgend In‐ spiring Growth (BIG), was set up with the ambition to bring this icon‐ ic building back to life. he Big Lottery has backed the project, so too has the City Council, handing the building over to the lo‐ cal community in an early example of "asset transfer".

Detail of he Dome by he Edinburgh Sketcher SKETCHING CLASSES Introduction to Speed Sketching at Christmas -Friday 24 November, 10am - 5pm Sketching Edinburgh's Christmas decorations on location in the New Town, before creating a unique mon‐ tage of your drawings in a frame, for an original Christmas decoration you'll be proud of with Arienas Col‐ lective. £95 per person including all materials, refreshments and lunch, and a frame to take home. More in‐ formation https://ter.ooo/EdinS‐ ketcher

Lothian - Always here for You As the main bus operator in Edin‐ burgh, Lothian is dedicated to deliv‐ ering an outstanding customer ex‐ perience offering a city-wide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week network service throughout the year - even on Christmas Day! NightBus runs up until 4.30am to offer a reliable method to make sure you get home safely throughout the party season.

Where roadworks, road diversions and busy city centre may make your usual route tricky to navigate during the festive season, the great value, modern, reliable service Lothian provides makes getting around the city very easy for you, and with the introduction earlier in the year of

Electric Buses, this is even made possible with consideration to the environment. Lothian is 'Always here For You' and this year there are more frequent festive services than ever connecting friends and families to those all-important Christmas dinners.

For those travelling or welcoming guests from further aield, Lothian also have three routes servicing Ed‐ inburgh Airport, connecting it to and from the city - Airlink 100, Skylink 200 and Skylink 300. Airlink is an express service to and from the city centre and Skylink services offer local connections to North Edin‐ burgh and West Edinburgh respec‐ tively.

To see the capital sparkle from a dif‐ ferent view, take an open top bus tour with Edinburgh Bus Tours. he ive-star rated, hop on hop off tours, showcase the best of Edinburgh, with either a multi-lingual commen‐ tary or a specially trained live guide.

For the irst time this year, tours are running on Christmas Day, so wrap up warm and join us on a tour de‐ parting from Waverley Bridge at 1100, 1210, 1320 or 1430 on De‐ cember 25. For full information visit edinburghtour.com or pop into Wa‐ verley Bridge Travel Shop.

With so much on this festive season, download the free app (TfEapp.com) or visit lothianbuses.co.uk to plan your journey.

Our friends at the Grassmarket Community Project have won the Social Enterprise of the Year Award.

Social Enterprise Champion was awarded to Chris Martin of Callan‐ der Youth Project and the One to Watch winner was Projekt 42.

Social Enterprise Scotland issued a call for applications earlier in the year, urging Scotland's innovative social enterprises to demonstrate how they're improving our economy and society.

Fraser Kelly, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Scotland, said: "We're delighted to announce the winners of Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2017. Social enterprises in every corner of Scotland are build‐ ing a better economy and a fairer so‐ ciety. he Social Enterprise Awards Scotland is a unique opportunity for social enterprises to gain serious recognition for their achievements and raise their public proile. A huge congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took the time and effort to enter this year."

hroughout Scotland, these individ‐ uals work tirelessly to improve their communities through the power of social enterprise, reinvesting all proits into social or environmental missions."

Now, seven years later, BIG is about to re-open the farmhouse after a major restoration and the addition of a row of workshops. Volunteers are doing the inishing touches themselves - cladding the work‐ shops, painting and decorating the interiors, tidying up the garden. And already courses are being run in cooking, woodwork, foraging, stonewalling and heritage.

Everyone is welcome to come along to the regular Bridgend drop-ins on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Update on Bridgend Farmhouse

And watch out for the official open‐ ing, and share issue, in the New Year.

See www.bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk

RIP IT UP!

by John Knox

National Museums Scotland and BBC Scotland are collaborating to tell the story of Scottish pop music in a major collaborative project that will explore the musical culture of a nation over more than half a centu‐ ry next summer.

A BUILDING, A PAST & A FUTURE Jonny Kinross, Chief Executive of the Grassmarket Community Project, Winners of Social Enter‐ prise of the Year 2017, said: "We are so delighted to win Social Enter‐ prise of the Year 2017. I'm so proud of our team, our volunteers, our staff but above all the members of our project who inspire and moti‐ vate us. We'd like to congratulate all the winners and inalists tonight together we have created a sector to be proud of and proven time and time again how business can change the lives of our most vulnerable, cre‐ ating a fairer, more inclusive world." he Scottish Government Cabi‐ net Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela Constance MSP, said: "I would like to offer my congratula‐ tions to all the winners of this year's Social Enterprise Scotland Awards.

Having recently launched a ten-year strategy to grow social enterprise in Scotland, it's vital we continue to recognise and celebrate the talent of Scotland's social entrepreneurs.

A 19th century farmhouse on the south side of Edinburgh will re-open in the New Year as a community centre with a difference. Just as this farmstead in days of yore involved a good deal of hands-on labour, pro‐ ducing food for the city, it is now be‐ ing reborn as a place to get stuck into cooking, gardening, wood and metal work, arts and crafts, bicyclerepairing, stone-walling, foraging in the woods and exploring the area's local heritage.

Bridgend farmhouse on the Old Dalkeith Road was a working farm until the 1970s, with cows and pigs

Spanning a period from the 1950s to the present day, Rip it Up will take in diverse movements from dance‐ hall to the emergence of pop in an explosion of colour in the 60s, through the 70s and New Wave, ex‐ ploring inluential record labels like Po s t c a r d , F a s t P r o d u c t a n d Chemikal Underground, and from global stars right up to today's out‐ standing newcomers.

A major exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland next summer will feature clothes, photographs, instruments, memorabilia, props, ilm and, of course, music as well as interviews and archive footage col‐ lated in partnership with BBC Scot‐ land.

Among the wide-ranging artists and bands to be featured in the exhibi‐ tion will be Lonnie Donegan, Gerry Rafferty, the Sensational Alex Har‐ vey Band, Lulu, he Rezillos, Midge Ure, Simple Minds, Garbage, Franz Ferdinand and Young Fathers.

Bridgend Farmhouse

Winter 2017

5

Young refugees in Calais

Evelyn McGregor is a volunteer with Dunkirk Legal Support Team (DLST) and writes for he Edinburgh Reporter about her experience in Calais.

30Jan 2017 : Volunteering with the Auberge Warehouse in Calais his was the last day of my week as a volunteer in the Auberge warehouse in Calais. It was the usual salad chopping this morning, but I was on the hot food run for the irst time, going into the Grande Synthe refugee camp outside Dunkirk to dish up lunch to the camp residents and then help out in the free food shop. First impression was one of extreme bleakness. All residents now have a shelter. No more tents.

But they are rough shacks, built of plywood patched together, with the wood soggy-looking. A few have paint on them, either signs or on a few, bright images. hey all stand on ugly, sharp, grey stones and rocks, rough and uneven to walk over. No grass, soil or trees. Large puddles everywhere. But there seems to be a library, women and children's ce ntre , and fo ur communi t y

kitchens where people can cook for themselves. And a big sign for a gy‐ naecologist. We set up our gazebo and tables and a queue formed at once for the daily event. Four of us, serving rice, veggie curry and chopped salad, plus bread and hum‐ mus. he food is fresh and very good. Our customers were mostly men and some children. Some men took extra - family portions - for their wives and children to eat in their shack. All were polite, some tensely expressionless, some chatty, a few young ones exchanging a bit of banter with the women they recog‐ nised. Where are you from? We asked. Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq; and they asked us too. Scotlan‐ da! Ah! Wales? where Wales? One little girl in a distinctive pink jacket asked for three plates of food which she then carefully carried away. An hour later she was back for three more plates. We pretended not to notice. Hoarding? Sent by parents?

Very conscious of how hard it must be for the adults to queue like this for a simple meal. Bread was an is‐ sue as there is never enough and it is what people want most. he good news is that most people were well dressed, if occasionally a bit incon‐ gruously. I was sure I saw a Rangers scarf.

the specials. he bread and oranges were gone quickly with a few guys snatching the French baguettes from the sacks as we delivered them, angry to wait. But we had plenty of eggs (though not egg boxes). People were very precise about what they wanted and did not want, so a bit of haggling would take place. Single carrots as a snack. When we misun‐ derstood, they burst out laughing good-naturedly. One guy asked for a couple of plastic food bags, which we gave, then two more. We said no, but asked what he wanted them for.

He said they were great insulation over socks. Even if socks were wet, they still kept the feet warm. hen others wanted them. More haggling. hey offer cigarettes in return - and banter. 'What age do you think I am?' (21 apparently). One man wanted more eggs. We said no. He sat his very cute baby on the counter and tried again. We caved. hey have nothing to do. Little control over the basics of life. It reminded me of boarding school, of prisons, of pris‐ oner of war camps. Queues, rations, other people's rules, killing time, hu‐ miliation. I asked what they needed most. My companion said 'legal ad‐ visors'. How to move on. Don't make the camp bearable, make it redun‐ dant.

he free shop runs a ticket system, one ticket per shelter with number of residents, so volunteers can gauge quantities permitted. his is uncom‐ fortable, as it feels wrong to restrict when they press us, but popular and rarer donations must be shared. So today we had eggs and oranges as

Early March 2017. Afternoon tea in the camp For reasons I won't bore you with, I was appointed the snack provider yesterday for some of the camp's mi‐ nors: "black tea, lots of sugar, and sunlower seeds", a passing inter‐ preter had advised. I also bought cashews and fruit mix, plus choco‐ late. Sure enough, the sunlower seeds trumped even the chocolate by a mile. We set it all out on a slightly grubby pink blanket on top of an upturned box in a dusty but d r y r o o m . Wo o d e n b e n c h e s arranged round the 'table', with throws over them for added ele‐ gance. Tea to be served in plastic cups from a malfunctioning hot wa‐ ter dispenser. Someone had un‐ earthed an ornate, cheap, silverplated tea tray from the waterlogged kitchen nearby, thinking it would lend ... what? A certain je ne sais quoi? It did. he boys were very im‐ pressed, and politely appreciative.

Imperfection made it better. he heavy, but broken water dispenser was an opportunity to show me how skilled they were at pouring boiling water squintily through the upend‐ ed dispenser into the limsy cup without burning themselves (much).

I should not try, they said. hey were stronger. Look! A bonding mo‐ ment, trying to protect me, as I hov‐ ered anxiously, visualising a trip to A&E. hen busily taking tea they in‐ terviewed me. Where was I from?

What did I do? Would I like to see a picture of his brother - the one with the UK passport? Why did I come here? What did I think of the watch an uncle sent from UK? (his face lit with such pleasure at this sign of

caring, proof of family). Did I not want some sunlower seeds? Why not?

So sweet, and so mannerly. All eligi‐ ble to come to the UK under EU law, but long delays, intentional or oth‐ erwise, leave them in the camp for up to a year. What is famous about Scotland? What is a castle? It is beautiful but cold, yes? Could they come there and see me? Does Scot‐ land let refugees in more than Eng‐ land? Stories of failed stowaway at‐ tempts on lorries. How about asy‐ lum in France, I say, knowing their chances are better and safer. No. French police very bad. Hitting and tear gas. UK police very nice.

(Really?). Yes! hey found us on a lorry. hey just laughed and said, 'You'll be back!' Young, unformed faces with wispy little ghost mous‐ taches. Table football in the room.

Yes, they like it but there is no ball!

Trying to please them I make a ball out of paper. Trying to please me, they try hard to play but it won't roll, until one boy resorts to blowing it into the goal, laughing at his tri‐ umph over adversity.

What other games do they play?

Football? yes! But there are only two balls for many people. Cricket? Yes! but there is only one bat. Cards? A laughing chorus of Yes!! He (nudg‐ ing his friend) likes to play chil‐ dren's cards. Could I get him some?

What is the money in Scotland pounds or euros? As I ield these questions, I am constructing a list in my head of simple entertainments to fetch for them when I am next home. It is not hard.

10 April 2017 Disaster. We witnessed the ire on the refugee camp, a shocking night spectacle. Outside the camp we saw police and ambulances; ire engines curiously inactive. Families waiting quietly nearby, only a disabled boy enjoying the moment, wrapped in his silver cape. A ight had erupted between Iraqi Kurdish and Afghan men in the overcrowded camp, and spread, peaking with the ire itself.

At 11pm a 13-year-old minor texted from inside the camp for help. I was texting 'take the back gate', when his phone died. Next morning, a savvy minor sent us his GPS and we locat‐ ed a dozen boys among 100-odd Afghan males in a ield. I found the 13-year-old beneath blankets, still sleeping. Emotional rush of relief.

Astonishingly, few were injured; but

it began a new era for refugees, po‐ lice and volunteers. All change. he Mayor gave everyone a month's accommodation and terse instruc‐ tions: request asylum in France, the UK if eligible, or go home. Chaos re‐ sulted, as everyone wanted the UK, which for most meant trying the lorries. Minors (most with UK fami‐ ly) were allocated super vised hostels. Some left, fearful of con‐ tainment, preferring the lorries, sowing the seeds for new 'jungles' in Calais and Dunkirk. Few claimed French asylum. he remaining adults became more entrenched, po‐ lice more brutal, volunteers over‐ worked, angry, often distressed. And young children were caught in the cross-ire, as coaches took them back to accommodation, only for parents to return them to the woods in a ghastly vicious circle.

Late October 2017 After the ire, we had continued to support the unaccompanied minors, the majority remaining in their hos‐ tels (though often eyeing the jungle), as they applied for UK asy‐ lum under Dublin III. We could not enter their hostels, but would meet them nearby, perching on walls to chat, explain legal papers they re‐ ceived, supply tee shirts, phone 'topup', and gifts from UK family. As we coaxed them to stay off the lorries, organising sports activities to ill the time, hostel staff joined in and a lit‐ tle community emerged. Most did stay put, and inally, the system be‐ gan to work: To date, the Home Of‐ ice has accepted 15 from our postire count of 70. Every acceptance is a hard-won celebration! Some are still waiting. Some have been re‐ fused: a small mismatch between their papers and their family mem‐ ber's is sufficient for refusal, so they need urgent legal guidance. And some are opting for France. I am back home now, locating lawyers, occasionally visiting the still-waiting boys in France when budget permits - to a rapturous welcome.

Evelyn is a retired lecturer in child psychology. Born in Glasgow she now lives in Edinburgh. Intending to volunteer in France for a month or two, she lived there for 7 months.

She continues to visit the minors she now knows well, and acts as liai‐ son for their UK solicitors as they try to join their families.

6

Winter 2017

Would you like ice with that?

An Edinburgh businessman is help‐ ing to provide an Antarctic explorer and his son with safe drinking water during their zero carbon South Pole Energy Challenge.

Among the high tech kit father and son Robert and Barney Swan will use this winter are solar snow melters designed and built in Scot‐ land - by a new Scotch whisky dis‐ tillery.

Martin McAdam, is CEO of Ard‐ gowan Distillery based at Inverkip.

As a renewable energy expert McAdam rose to the challenge of

Christmas Charity Festival 2017

making something so speciic. He said : "Getting enough fresh water to drink is a constant challenge in the Antarctic, and usually this is done by melting snow and ice with kerosene, which of course burns a lot of carbon.

"We sent a a couple of prototypes to the team which they tested during their trial run in the Antarctic last year, and the feedback was so posi‐ tive we were asked to provide ive for the expedition.

"Our team designed a very simple and robust melter comprising a matt black stainless-steel lask en‐

his fun and festive two day event on 2 & 3 December 2017 is held at Inverleith Park and runs from 9.30 till 5.00pm each day. his year the organisation has had a huge boost with lead sponsorship from Farmer Autocare.

Robert Swan is off to the South Pole cased in super-strong clear Lexan plastic, with inert argon gas as an insulating layer in between. "hey're designed to be strapped on top of Barney and Robert's sledges so they can capture the maximum heat of the sun as they trek along, to provide a continual supply of drink‐ ing water.

"Our new distillery will also incorpo‐ rate a number of design features to reduce the use of energy and water."

"he team have promised to have a dram from one lask on Hogmanay, and to take the other all the way to the South Pole. We then plan to bring it back to Scotland to form part of an exclusive commemorative bottling."

Explorer Robert Swan was the irst man in history to walk unaided to both poles in the 1980s. He has now set off on his last major expedition, an epic 600-mile, 60-day trek on foot to the South Pole. Follow his 60 day trek here www.2041.com/spec

It will be the ninth fundraiser and 100% of the donations go to the charities involved. here is a Carol Service on Saturday afternoon at 3pm, you can meet Santa in his Grotto if you book early and you can enjoy what might be the irst mulled wine and mince pies of the festive season.

Put it in your diary now!

here was a little extra in the pack as McAdam explained: "We did also manage to send two small lasks of a very special 20-year-old single malt which was taken straight from a sin‐ gle cask here in Scotland.

Martin McAdam and Dr Jessica Skelton of Ardgowan Distillery

Sir Tom Farmer has a word with Santa

Winter 2017

7

New Boss at Bonhams

of chartered surveyor on the an‐ tiques side of things. hen I joined a small irm, worked for another in‐ ternational auction house based in Scotland and now work for Bon‐ hams."

We corrected him to say he is in charge now. Very humbly he replied: "And now I am running Bonhams, that's right. I don't necessarily want to give up my day job of doing valua‐ tions, but yes, there is a lot more that I have to think about now. I am responsible for 25 people here on Queen Street where we're based and I am the one looking after them.

"I also work with colleagues who are in London and literally around the world, having meetings with them and talking to them about paintings or whatever it is we are selling and working with."

As Head of Bonhams Valuations team in Scotland for the past 13 years Charles Graham-Campbell is already a member of the company's UK Board. He has conducted valua‐ tions the length and breadth of Scotland and the North of England and is well known as a charity auc‐ tioneer in Scotland. he many outstanding pieces he has uncovered include a yellow jade

carving of a tapir from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor which sold in Hong K ong in 2016 for HK $2,700,000; a pale green jade igure of Buddha which made £482,500 in London in 2014; a painting by William Scott which sold for £197,000 in London in 2016, and a 1923 Bentley that has been in the same family since 1954 and which made £150,000 at the Important Motor Cars sale at Brooklands in

2010.

Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland Charles irst qualiied as a Chartered Surveyor.

He told us : "I have been at Bonhams now for 13 or 14 years nearly. I have always worked in the auctioneering or valuing business. I started at col‐ lege studying auctioneering and valuing, ine arts and became a sort

We asked if shows like the Antiques Roadshow have made people feel as if they know a lot about antiques and Charles replied : "Yes, but peo‐ ple now like to collect certain things. hey are far more educated now than they ever used to be when I irst started in this business 25 or 30 years ago. hen, yes you used to watch the Antiques Roadshow on a Sunday just so that you knew what people were going to bring in on the Monday!

"It was rather a fun way of doing business but that's what used to happen. You would get queues

round the block for teddies or toys or other unusual little bits and pieces, but now I think people are more aware. We have information at our ingertips and it's so easy now to know what a bottle of wine is worth or a ishing reel - maybe not a dia‐ mond as you probably need a bit of expertise to tell you about that and that's why you come to specialist valuers and auctioneers to get the complete picture.

"With the Antiques Roadshow a lot of my colleagues are the specialists on the show, and we see them on a Sunday evening. We also have col‐ leagues here in Scotland who do val‐ uation days and also some of our specialists from elsewhere come here to put on a special valuation day. Coins arms and armour, books we will have a valuation day for it!

"We are open 9 till 5 and are open to the public. We love people to come in and bring their items of jewellery or whatever, and of course for bigger items we will go out and see them at their houses. My job has been very much in other people's homes valu‐ ing their possessions. We can put them in touch with the right place to sell their items."

8

Winter 2017

please add your voice to Amnesty In‐ ternational's growing list of calls for an end to violence use this link https://ter.ooo/LordProvost

Council Leader is sleeping out for charity Adam McVey is the youngest ever council leader in Edinburgh. So who is he? And what is he doing in De‐ cember?

He celebrated his 30th birthday in May and is the SNP group leader, the fourth since the last administra‐ tion took office in 2012, making him council leader too. He was Vice Con‐ vener of Transport and Environ‐ ment in the last administration, but was only elected in 2012 so this has been a meteoric rise.

Looking back over the past six months what is he most pleased about?

"I am actually pleased with every‐ thing. We have a programme that has been approved by the council, despite the fact that it took us about seven weeks after the election to form an administration. In No‐ vember we will get details of how those pledges and wider outcomes are going to be measured, what we deine success as, and how we are going to make sure we can track whether we are achieving against that. "here's loads of things speciically on our programme that we have al‐ ready delivered. We have done a huge amount of work trying to build momentum towards the 20,000 homes that we need to build. City Deal has been a huge part of that, but there are other more individual actions being taken as well.

"We've established now - and it is fully formed - our Homelessness Task Force and that's going to try and draw key service areas together, key points of information, and par‐ ticularly key service users. We are trying to make sure that we get it right, because right now we are spending millions of pounds in the city on outcomes and services that are not delivering what they should for those people who really need that safety net. So we have to re‐ structure it, we have to put more emphasis on prevention. We have to

recognise the challenges that our housing market is causing for people.

"Homelessness charity Shelter are quite vocal about the fact that the number of people from private lets now presenting as homeless is in‐ creasing at a very high rate. We need to understand these issues, get into them and try to ind action points and address them so that people not only when they ind themselves in a position of homelessness - but also way in advance of that, will have access to the information they need to try and make sure that homelessness does not occur in the irst place.

"I am doing the Sleep in the Park in December and I would love people to support me on Virgin Money Giv‐ ing!

"I think this will be helpful. What we are working on now with Josh Lit‐ tlejohn is making sure that it is not just an event that happens after which people feel good about them‐ selves.

"I want to take that goodwill, the in‐ volvement of key organisations and crucially we take the money that is raised through that process to ind a solution that makes a real difference.

"If we can actually use that money in conjunction with housing associa‐ tions, council and everything else to try and make sure that we make big inroads into the problem then with that additional one off level of re‐ source the council's resources will be freed up. "he council can then focus on more intervention, and early intervention, and preventative mea‐ sures that might help us avoid peo‐ ple getting into that situation in the irst place."

For a longer version of this article please visit our website.

Lord Provost calls for action in Myanmar he Lord Provost of Edinburgh has written to the state leader of Burma calling for a peaceful resolution to the Rohingya crisis.

At a meeting of the Full Council in October elected members agreed unanimously to the Lord Provost's request to publicly condemn the cri‐ sis and express the people of Edin‐ burgh's demands for the violence to end.

Writing exclusively for the Edin‐ burgh Reporter, the Lord Provost said: "Attacks in Myanmar's Rakhine state, by the Myanmar armed forces under the command of Senior Gen‐ eral Min Aung Hlaing, have forced hundreds of thousands of Burmese Muslims to lee from their towns and villages. Many have found refuge in Bangladesh, but most are living in temporary shelters without adequate access to food and water, having left their homes, jobs, and communities behind. he horriic images we have seen and stories we have heard of the terror, fear, and violence these innocent families are enduring are truly heart-breaking.

"Burma is a country with longstand‐ ing connections with Scotland, where many Scots served in the Sec‐ ond World War, and I want the peo‐ ple of Burma to know that Edin‐ burgh stands with the victims of this crisis. hat is why I raised a Mo‐ tion at a meeting of the Full Council this week and why I will be writing to Myanmar's State Councillor, echoing the calls for ceaseire from Amnesty International and the many aid agencies who are helping tirelessly on the ground.

"Many people in Scotland do not re‐ alise that the leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is no stranger to the City of Edinburgh or to this Council. In 2005, while she was under house ar‐ rest, the City of Edinburgh Council awarded her 'in absentia' in the pres‐ ence of her son and the Director of Amnesty International with the highest Honour we can give - the Freedom of the City. A magnolia tree was planted in her honour in Princes Street Gardens and a street party rally was held in Parliament Square by Amnesty International, the Burma Educational Scholarship Trust, and the Scottish Refugee Council.

"For while Aung Sang Suu Kyi is widely criticised internationally for her current handling of what has now become a humanitarian aid cri‐ sis, she was presented with the Free‐ dom of the City 12 years ago for her long history of ighting for Burmese equalities. In making this award, the Council took an active decision to raise public awareness about the continuing human rights abuses in Burma. To revoke it would be to turn our back on our original aims.

"We instead ask Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as a recipient of the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh, to use her in‐ luence and moral courage to inter‐ vene to stop the violence, to allow UN and international scrutiny and mediation to commence immediate‐ ly, and to ensure a safe, democratic, and peaceful solution for the people of the region."

Amnesty International's Scotland Programme Director, Kate Nevens, told us: "Aung San Suu Kyi has re‐ peatedly denied the true extent of the horrors being suffered by people across Myanmar's Rakhine State, despite overwhelming evidence that security forces are engaged in a cam‐ paign of ethnic cleansing.

"Rohingya eyewitnesses inside Rakhine State, and refugees in Banglades, told our researchers on the ground in the region about the security forces' systematic approach to ethnic cleansing: Soldiers, police, and vigilante groups sometimes en‐ circle a village and ire into the air before entering, but often just storm in and start iring in all direc‐ tions, with people leeing in panic.

As surviving villagers desperately try to leave the area, security forces torch houses using petrol or shoul‐ der-ired rocket launchers. "hese indiscriminate attacks, have forced more than 530,000 Rohingya to lee northern Rakhine State and seek asylum in Bangladesh, where they squat in rice ields or live in ap‐ palling conditions in makeshift camps. We will continue to call on the Myanmar government to end the violent attacks and other human rights violations against the Ro‐ hingya."

Many organisations are supporting those in need on the ground. If you would like to show your support,

he delicate art of balancing the council budget

by Phyllis Stephen Finance Convener Alasdair Rankin had a bit of a rough ride during the irst few days of November when his draft revenue budget framework came under intense scrutiny. It be‐ came apparent that the administra‐ tion proposal to close the City of Ed‐ inburgh Music School save around £363,000 was not going to work.

First there was the fact that the mu‐ sic school is funded by the Scottish Government and so the council would have lost over half a million pounds of government funding, sec‐ ondly the council would have had to consult with the government and thirdly there was a huge public out‐ cry, not least from the parents and pupils of the school.

We met with him to ind out how hard his job is just after he had chaired a lengthy Finance & Re‐ sources Committee meeting which approved remitting proposals to cut the revenue budget by £21 million to public consultation.

One of the recommendations of the administration included a proposal that the budget process will be re‐ viewed before next year. We asked if Cllr Rankin already had any ideas how it could be improved, but it be‐ came obvious that he considered this year to be exceptional in several ways.

Cllr Rankin told us : "One of the is‐ sues this year was the fact that it took a while to form the administra‐ tion, some time well into June of this year. If there hadn't been an election then the process would

Winter 2017

have worked out much as it has in previous years. We would have had more time for members of the ad‐ ministration to consider a range of proposals coming forward from offi‐ cers, and more time to 'to and fro' with them about options which offi‐ cers themselves might not have oth‐ erwise brought forward."

Once the budget is set in February 2018 the process begins again im‐ mediately, working towards setting the spending for the following year.

9

He said : "Well I feel that is only rea‐ sonable when you consider that if we were to put out proposals we didn't think should be considered as part of what is necessary to balance our budget, then I think that would confuse people. We would get people spending a lot of time and energy looking at proposals which they re‐ ally didn't like. hat would distract people from the proposals that the council is actually putting forward.

"It would also cause a lot of concern

much like you to have your say.

"It is entirely open to everybody as an individual, a resident of the city , a small business or a residents asso‐ ciation or the voluntary sector. Any‐ body within or outside the council can put forward any proposal. hat is what we would like to see happen.

"We would like to see a good re‐ sponse to our consultation. As in previous years we will take into ac‐ count everything that people say and we will, as in the past, make changes to our budget in light of new information we get from the Scottish and UK Governments on the one hand and from the consulta‐ tion on the other.

Born and educated in Scotland, Alasdair is a graduate of Dundee, Strathclyde and Glasgow universi‐ ties. He worked for the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall for 15 years where he specialised in the defence economies of non-NATO countries.

Cllr Rankin explained : "It will begin the week after the budget debate in February." he council has around £1.3 billion to spend on all the services that it provides. here is a public consulta‐ tion now live and you can have your say on what the council should spend its money on.

Cllr Rankin continued : "We would have hoped to have longer. Without the election we would have been out to consultation at the end of Sep‐ tember. But for various reasons to do with the election and to do with some discussion in the committee and members wanting more detail about some of the proposals, there was a delay. We had originally hoped that we would originally be able to get committee approval on 27 Octo‐ ber but in the event that turned out to be 7 November and that gives us now around 5 or 6 weeks or so to consult.

"We have done our best to take ac‐ count of that in the way we have shaped the consultation proposals. I don't think there is any particular part of the proposals that won't go ahead. he timing will obviously be a bit shorter but there is a great deal of consultation which will be able to take place. "his will be done partly through so‐ cial media, the council's website and also through public meetings. here will also be a Question Time event where senior members of the ad‐ ministration will take questions from a live audience and people can also follow on a live webcast and submit questions through Twitter."

Some newer councillors asked for a full disclosure of the measures which the administration had con‐ sidered but discounted from the public consultation. We asked Coun‐ cillor Rankin what he felt about that.

which wouldn't be justiied. I think it is only reasonable that the admin‐ istration is able to put forward the proposals that it considers feasible and I stress feasible at this time. As I have mentioned in committee we will have the Chancellor of the Ex‐ chequer who will come out with his Autumn Statement on 22 November and the Finance Secretary will pro‐ duce his local government settle‐ ment on 15 December. hat could change our calculations quite a lot.

"What we have done is put together what we consider to be a prudent budget. We haven't, for example, taken into account the extra £10mil‐ lion that we received last year cour‐ tesy of a negotiation and agreement between the Greens and the Scot‐ tish Government in the Parliament. hat may or may not be repeated.

I am obviously keen that it is.

But that is a matter for the Scottish Government and of course we have made our representations to them.

If we don't get that £10million in additional funding that we got last year, then the shape of our propos‐ als has already taken account of that. I think that is not an easy thing to have done, but it is a pru‐ dent thing to have done. If things turn out to be better towards Christmas and the New Year then nobody will be more pleased than me.

Given the headaches of the past cou‐ ple of months we ventured to ask what is the best thing about his job.

Cllr Rankin replied : "hat is a good question! Probably the sheer breadth of it and the fact that being Finance Convener gives you a really good overview of all parts of the council. Also it keeps me busy and it means that every day is different. I welcome that." he budget consultation is now live and Councillor Rankin would very

From 2007 he worked in the private sector in public affairs, advising companies and third sector organi‐ sations on their work with govern‐ ment.

He was an SNP Lothians list candi‐ date in the May 2011 Scottish Par‐ liamentary election and election agent for Marco Biagi who was an MSP for one term. Elected at a byelection in 2011 he had a rapid rise to the front benches as Finance Con‐ vener in the last administration last well as this. he six-week engagement campaign is now live to ask you through a vari‐ ety of forums including an online survey to consider the impact of the changes outlined in the proposals the council has published, on you, your family and your community as well as asking you to highlight op‐ portunities or challenges that you can see. he proposals include charging for garden waste and im‐ proving the service, increasing park‐ ing charges and looking at changing the opening hours of recycling cen‐ tres. he council will also be working closely with communities, equality groups and partners over the com‐ ing months by running workshops to look at reshaping services as well as working with communities to agree how local budgets should be spent.

In addition, a Question Time event on 27 November will be webcast live from the City Chambers, giving you the chance to quiz senior councillors in person.

Cllr Rankin concluded : "We want to hear as many views as possible on how we can deliver services more ef‐ iciently before the budget is set ear‐ ly next year. hey are your services so it's essential that we involve you at the heart of the process.

Our plans to deliver Council services more efficiently will enable us to give priority to the services that mean the most to people.

Ways to give your views Phone on 0131 200 2305 (8.30am to 5pm Monday to hursday, 8.30am to 3.40pm Friday) email -playyourpart@edinburgh.gov‐ .uk Write to Freepost, RSJC-SLXCYTJY, Budget, Council Leader, City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh EH1 1YJ

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Winter 2017

NEWS Christmas at the Botanics Christmas at the Botanics, Edin‐ burgh's brand new festive event will take place at the Royal Botanic Gar‐ den Edinburgh between Friday 24th November - Saturday 30th Decem‐ ber, allowing visitors the opportuni‐ ty to explore the garden after dark and experience the festive spirit.

Edinburgh-based lighting designers, Simon Hayes and Kate Bonney, are responsible for the site design and show creation and will bring several irst-time lighting installations to Scotland, including Squidsoup's Bloom, a thousand spheres of light, each on a stalk, bobbing gently in front of Inverleith House. Special outdoor lighting technology allows each spherical unit to know where it is, and has the ability to listen, re‐ spond and communicate together to form a spatialised audiovisual sym‐ phony.

With a range of home-grown and in‐ ternational artists, designers and composers working together to cre‐ ate a trail that combines the won‐ derment of Christmas and the majesty of the natural landscape, Christmas at the Botanics will put Edinburgh on a par with other cities like London and Berlin which both enjoy 'must-see' Christmas lighting shows.

French artist studio, TILT, will also make its inaugural visit to Scotland this November with Echinodermus, an 11m high structure inspired by the echinocactus family. he massive tree-like sculpture will be transport‐ ed from France and built, piece by piece, in front of the famous Palm House.

Heather Jackson, Director of Enter‐ prise at RBGE says: "Christmas at the Botanics will be our most ambi‐ tious event of the year. his is such a magical time for everyone we look forward to welcoming visitors in af‐ ter dark to delight in the magic of Christmas at the Garden."

Visitors can follow the path through the enchanting Crystal Lawn, enjoy the mesmerising scented Fire Gar‐ den and listen to the sounds of the Choir of the Trees. here will also be spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate and other traditional fare available throughout the Garden. his event is organised by concerts and events promoter, Raymond Gubbay Ltd. he company has a suc‐ cessful track record of producing

well received Christmas light trails at Kew Gardens, Blenheim Palace and the Berlin Botanic Gardens.

Jonathan Marks, Chief Develop‐ ment Officer at Raymond Gubbay Ltd says: "Raymond Gubby is thrilled to be involved in the irst Christmas at the Botanics event. he Botanics is one of Edinburgh's most iconic venues, but getting to create a new, magical trail through the Gardens is incredible and we're really looking forward to welcoming everyone this Christmas."

Tickets for Christmas at the Botan‐ ics are now on-sale and audiences are advised to book early to secure their chosen slot. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visithttp://www.rbge.org.uk/ whats-on/home/christmas.

Edinburgh's Christmas tree his year's Christmas tree towers over Princes Street Gardens. he delivery of the 60 feet tall 2.3 tonne Sitka Spruce, sourced from a

forest in Lennoxtown, required the generous support of Bernard Hunter Cranes who hoisted it into place above the Mound on Saturday. he tree is now decorated with 3,000 fairy lights by Field and Lawn, which will sparkle all the way through the Christmas period.

Edinburgh's Lord Provost, Frank Ross said: "Edinburgh's famous Christmas tree is a ixture on the Mound every winter.

"While the tree has been grown in Scotland, it is gifted to the city by Hordaland County Council to mark the assistance provided by the Scots to Norway during WWII. Upon the fall of Norway in 1940, more than 7,000 exiles were based in Scotland as the Norwegian Brigade, ighting to free their country. he help and support they received from the Scots has never been forgotten. "his year's tree towers slightly taller than last year's at 60-foot and I am delighted that a delegation from Hordaland, including the County Convener, will celebrate lighting our 31st tree atop the Mound." he tree will be lit during Light Night which takes place on 19 No‐ vember 2017 from 3pm across the city centre, principally on George Street.

Big Hair Do Edinburgh based Dean Jones Hair held a Big Hair Do event at their Elm Row Salon recently to raise funds for the Little Princess Trust. he evening is originally the idea of Creative HEAD Magazine and Lay‐ ered Online's Big Hair Do and is the biggest UK-wide party in hair salons.

At Dean Jones Hair local company Gin Queen on hand with cocktails, delicious canapes and personalised cupcakes along with glasses of izz.

Dean created different stations within the salon to show clients how to recreate their favourite looks at home, from Dean's famous 'Hair Up in a Hurry' to stylist Claire's 'Waving and Curling' Tutorials.

he star of the show was the raffle station and guests were able to pur‐ chase strips at just £2 each, prizes included luxury perfumes and after‐ shaves as well as champagne and all donations went to he Little Princess Trust.

Salon owner Dean Jones matched the funds raised on the night and a total of £320 has been donated to Little Princess Trust.

Dean commented : "It was a wonder‐ ful evening and the sort of event we are deinitely keen to do more of in future. I love the work the charity does, and really believe in their cause so doubling the funds raised by my guests was a real honour. We had so much fun and being able to help such a brilliant charity was the cherry on top."

Winter 2017

Street barber

11

what is often an unwanted life situa‐ tion.

Tours run every Wednesday hurs‐ day and Friday after 3pm and all day Saturday.

Invisible Edinburgh is offering free haircuts are to homeless men at the Leith Walk Police Box on the last Saturday of each month.

heir friendly walking tours show off the sights and visit social projects in the capital .

Founder Zakia said; "Invisible (Edin‐ burgh) is all about bringing people dignity and making our guides and the wider homeless community feel like they are worthy.

he social enterprise partners with CRISIS to deliver the required train‐ ing about the city's history as well as building up self conidence and pub‐ lic speaking skills.

"I believe the Street Barber Edin‐

You can volunteer with Invisible Ed‐ inburgh. If you feel that you could help them get in touch via alice@in‐ visible-cities.org

Homeshare setting up with lottery funding burgh is another way of doing just that. We will start with male hair cuts and if things go well, do women, make up and much more! hese are exciting times for us!" hey train homeless people as tour guides thus giving them a way out of

Edinburgh Development Group have received funding from the Big Lot‐ tery to set up Scotland's irst Home‐ share service. Homeshare matches householders with learning disabili‐ ties and older people who require a little extra support and companion‐ ship, with homesharers looking for affordable living.

he scheme is based on mutual ex‐ change, companionship and pro‐ motes being connected in the com‐ munity. We are currently looking for students or individuals who are looking for free accommodation in exchange for providing some sup‐ port. his support will be agreed and may include a combination of as‐ sistance with meal preparation, cooking, household tasks and com‐ panionship. Edinburgh Develop‐ ment Group Homeshare staff will work to ensure a suitable and com‐ patible match is made and provide the ongoing support and supervi‐ sion.

For more information please contact Andrew Millar or Helen Wright on 0131 476 0522 or e mail andrew@edg-sco.org A new irm created out of two UK-wide success stories has proved its commitment to the interests of its staff by winning a major award at a ceremony hosted by SELECT, the campaigning trade body for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland. Facilities management service provider Servest, which took over building services contractor Arthur Mackay last year, won the Best Use of Training award, sponsored by Ross Electrical, in recognition of its irst class training programmes. It was also named as Electrical Contractor of the Year.

Photo shows Mike Stark Operations Director Servest Arthur Mckay Ltd,with both awards

Delicious curry at Castlebrae!

Can you help Castlebrae?

Castlebrae Community High School Food Dept have a wish list. We en‐ joyed a lovely curry at Castlebrae earlier in the year but they need some gear! Can you help? his is what teacher Rosie Ali tells us they need • A new washing machine (this is a high priority) • A new dishwasher for castle Kitchen, we wash all dishes by hand after each weekly event

• New chopping boards, white for vegetables and red for meat.

• Some basic cutler y and kitchen tools.

• 3 working cookers in Castle Kitchen. he cookers we have do not work and we do all the cooking in the teaching room, transporting it to the restau‐ rant, which is not ideal. It would be fab for the students to work in the restaurant and heat and serve food in front of guests.

• Coffee machine for Castle Kitchen.

• Pots and pans - these are now very well used and in a very poor state.

• Support with fundraising. It would be fantastic to have an amount of money that we can add to our Castle Kitchen ac‐ count so we can be self-suffi‐ cient and make the money grow. We would also use that money to. support students in the BGE courses so we can grow the courses on offer. I would be looking to raise a minimum of £2000

12

Winter 2017

CULTURE

Arabian Nights

Muriel Spark centenary It will be the centenary of Dame Muriel Spark's birth on 1 February 2018 when her life and work will be celebrated as one of Scotland's inest authors. Perhaps best known for he Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, she also wrote poetry and biography.

by John Kennedy

Gay Men's Chorus Edinburgh Gay Men's chorus, the only gay male singing group in Scot‐ land, is celebrating its 10th anniver‐ sary with two special performances on Saturday 2nd December and the release of a Greatest Hits CD. he chorus usually performs one main concert in the summer and an‐ other in December, though given the popularity of recent shows, an additional matinee has been added this year to cope with demand. he chorus formed late in 2007 with just ive members, under the musi‐ cal directorship of James Wilkinson, who arranges almost every song for EGMC himself. Now the group has over 50 singing members taking to the stage for this landmark perfor‐ mance. he concert will feature a range of songs performed by the group over the years, including their favourite musical theatre classics, golden oldies, modern pop songs, mashups, and even a Eurovision Song Contest winning belter. Having performed over 200 original arrangements across past concerts, this anniver‐ sary special really will showcase the best of the best, including the irst song the group ever learnt.

EGMC's purpose is simple: to enter‐ tain audiences; provide a fun, inclu‐ sive environment for its members; and lend support to charitable or‐ ganisations. his year EGMC is proud to support Positive Help.

EARLY SYMPHONIES Pre-Concert Insights, 6.30pm: Com‐ poser Tom Harrold introduces his new work with a visual presentation on hursday 23 November, 7.30pm he Queen's Hall BACH CHRISTMAS ORATORIO with the SCO CHORUS Pre-Concert Insights, 6.30pm: Dr John Kitchen (City of Edinburgh Organist) discusses Bach's Christ‐ mas Oratorio. hursday 30 No‐ vember, 7.30pm he Queen's Hall DVOŘÁK PIANO CONCERTO Edinburgh Pre-Concert Connect In‐ sights, 6.30pm: Connect Insights: St Mary's Music School performance. hursday 7 December, 7.30pm Ush‐ er Hall BARBER VIOLIN CONCERTO Pre-Concert Insights, 6.30pm: Con‐ ductor Karina Canellakis in conver‐ sation with Sub-Principal Bassoon Alison Green. hursday 14 December, 7.30pm he Queen's Hall SCO CHORUS CHRISTMAS CON‐ CERT Wednesday 20 December 7.30pm Greyfriars Kirk

CHAMBER SUNDAY Side by side with Students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Sunday19 November, 3pm at he Queen's Hall IMMORTAL BEETHOVEN: THE

he market square of old Baghdad is a place of wonders. Treasures from all over the world ind their way to the ancient city, as do the people.

Charming pickpockets and penniless writers, carpet makers, coffee ven‐ dors, and fortune tellers all vie for business in this cosmopolitan whirl.

Rich with suspense, enchantment, romance, and hilarity, the ancient tales of he Arabian Nights are irre‐ sistible for all ages, and a great op‐ portunity to bring families together, transporting them to the glittering heat of a faraway magical and musi‐ cal world, this Christmas.

hursday 11 January, 7.30pm he Queens Hall

Box office 0131 668 2019

Adapted by Suhayla El-Bushra ,

NEW YEAR GALA CONCERT

CHAOS AND CREATION

he National Library of Scotland and Creative Scotland announced that a special post would be estab‐ lished to organise a programme of literary events, and recruitment has already begun. he Muriel Spark Centenary Co-or‐ dinator is at the centre of the cele‐ brations which begin this December.

Centenary events will include

Starring Natalie Arle Toyne, Nebli Basani, Tar yam Boyd, Neshla Caplan, Nick Karimi, Tim Licata, Re‐ hanna Macdonald, Brian James O'‐ Sullivan, Patricia Panther, and Humera Syed. he production will feature the collection's most famous, magical, and exciting sto‐ ries, featuring the familiar faces of Sinbad and Ali Baba, along with mysterious genies, a chess-playing monkey, scruffy dogs, and a whole host of heroes and villains.

he Lyceum's irst Relaxed Perfor‐ mance will take place during he Arabian Night's run, on hursday 4 January at 7pm. his Relaxed Per‐ formance, speciically adapted for individuals with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, sensory and communi‐ cation disorder, or learning disabili‐ ties, or for those who would beneit from a more relaxed environment, has been created and organised with support from he National Autistic Society Scotland.

Monday 1 January 2018 3pm he Usher Hall

SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

he Royal Lyceum heatre Edin‐ burgh announces that this year's festive production will be a world premiere of the resplendent, musical, and very magical he Arabi‐ an Nights, written by Suhayla ElBushra and directed by award-win‐ ning Scottish director Joe Douglas, Associate Artistic Director of Dundee Rep.

Directed by Joe Douglas, 25 November 2017 - 7 January 2018

• a major exhibition of Spark's work at the National Library of Scotland which holds her voluminous archive, • documentaries for BBC Two Scotland and BBC Four TV, • an international academic conference at the University of Glasgow, • publication of new editions of key texts, • a special edition of Scottish Review of Books • an exhibition from the Muriel Spark Society • a large scale public event pre‐ sented by the Edinburgh In‐ ternational Book Festival Funded by Creative Scotland and the National Library of Scotland, this exciting and rewarding role is testament to the collective will to raise Dame Muriel's proile, her work, and her legacy. he Muriel Spark Centenary Co-ordinator will play a crucial part in making the centenary celebrations something truly memorable.

Colin McIlroy, Muriel Spark Project Curator, National Library of Scot‐ land commented: "Dame Muriel Spark was a Scots born writer with a huge international reputation and it is very itting that Scotland should honour her achievements in her cen‐ tenary year. We are very fortunate to hold her archive which is one of the most comprehensive records of a writer's life ever assembled. High‐ lights from it will be able to be seen in our forthcoming exhibition."

Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Cre‐ ative Scotland said: "he centenary of Dame Muriel Spark's is both a landmark moment and an unparal‐ leled opportunity to permanently inluence the way in which this lead‐ ing igure of Scotland's cultural his‐ tory features in the public imagina‐ tion."

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOT‐ LAND -THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE OF MURIEL SPARK Fri 8 Dec 2017 - Sun 13 May 2018 National Library of Scotland,| George IV Bridge | EH1 1EW | www.nls.uk/exhibitions A major new exhibition revealing unique insights into Muriel Spark's extraordinary life and work. Featur‐ ing personal artefacts never before seen by the public heInternational Style of Muriel Spark will showcase the National Library of Scotland's Muriel Spark Archive which is one of the most comprehensive personal records of a writer's life ever assem‐ bled. he writer's boxed archive covers the period from the 1940s until her death in 2006, taking up some 46 metres of shelving - just short of the height of Edinburgh's famous Scott monument. he early records of wartime poverty that chart the struggles of an un‐ known author are joined by scores of diaries, fascinating letters includ‐ ing those with literary giants, world leaders and ilm stars, diaries, pho‐ tographs, newspaper cuttings and school magazines all of which illumi‐ nate the inspirations behind Spark's literary style, her love of fashion, and the signiicance of the places where she lived.

Colin McIlroy, Muriel Spark project curator, National Library of Scotland said: "Muriel Spark was a self-confessed hoarder. She kept everything from school maga‐ zines to shopping receipts, pho‐ tographs, desk diaries and letters from some of the biggest names in 20th century literature. his is what makes her archive so fascinating. he exhibition will allow us to show‐ case items never before seen by the public and, in the process, shed new light on an incredible life. It will illu‐ minate her literary style, her love of fashion and the signiicance of the many places around the world in which she lived." he Muriel Spark exhibition will take a virtual journey to the loca‐ tions Muriel called home - from Ed‐ inburgh to Africa, London, New York, Rome and Tuscany.

If you would like your event listed in our print edition or online then get in touch with us.

Email any details to editor@theedin‐ burghreporter.co.uk Please also send any photos for use alongside your news.

Winter 2017

13

At the Clocktower though her work is held in the col‐ lections of the Bank of Scotland, Leeds City Art Gallery and the Duke of Buccleuch. Sheila's marvelously expressive pictures have not to date received the widespread promotion they deserve.

Words and Photos by Roddy Martine Sheila Mullen at the Clock Tower Gallery, Glen House 12 No‐ vember 2017 to 28 February 2018.

Surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills of the Tweed Valley, the Clock Tower Gallery at Glen House in Pee‐ blesshire is Scotland's latest contem‐ porary arts venue. he initiative of Tessa Tennent and her husband Bill Staempli, this imaginative space provides a unique and rather won‐ derful showcase for some of Scot‐ land's outstanding creative talent.

Exhibitions will be curated by the artist and former 369 Gallery direc‐ tor Andrew Brown.

Glen House, close to Innerleithen, is one of Scotland's inest baronial houses within easy reach of Edin‐ burgh and Glasgow. he renovated Clock Tower provides an ideal back‐ drop for displaying art and the in‐ tention in the immediate future is to feature a series of shows for women artists his season's exhibition features the work of the painter and Glasgow Art School graduate Sheila Mullen,de‐ picting the magical landscape of the Kennel Valley near her remote farm‐ house studio in Dumfriesshire. Al‐

Celebrate St Cecilia at BP Portrait Award the Hall

Working in the out-of-doors tradi‐ tion of Joan Eardley, her lyrical can‐ vases triumph in capturing the com‐ plex woodland and hidden places to be found in the rich folklore and po‐ etic traditions that surround her.

Both vibrant and vivid, her brush strokes penetrate into the very es‐ sence of the countryside that she loves. he Clock Tower Gallery is open by appointment only. Telephone: +44(0) 7913 025022. www.glen‐ house.com. Glen, near Innerleithen, EH44 6PX.

St Cecilia's Hall Wednesday 22nd November 2017 11am - 6.30pm he World's irst ever St Cecilia's BIG CELEBRATION Day will take place at the oldest concert room in Scot‐ land - St Cecilia's Hall. his will be a celebration of all the wonderful music-making that goes on across our brilliantly passionate and talented city with performers of all ages, all abilities and all genres.

Participants include the Let's Sing Dementia Friendly Choir, a Samba Band, a Jazz Duo, the University of Edinburgh Savoy Group, a Neo-Soul Band and many many more. he Hall's generous and supportive neighbours, he Larder, on Blackfri‐ ars Street and Leo's Beanery at the Dovecot on Inirmary Street have come on board this celebratory event with some special offers for all.

To keep up-to-date with the evolv‐ ing programme of performances please go to http://www.stcecil‐ ias.ed.ac.uk/whats-on/concerts/ A full day of free, live music in Scot‐ land's oldest purpose-built Concert Room by a lively and diverse range of soloists, choirs, ensembles and bands from across Edinburgh.

Take a 'lucky dip' into music on a day that will certainly not fail to en‐ gage and entertain.

FREE Admission - non-ticketed - un‐ reserved seating.

Originally opened in 1763 , St Cecil‐ ia's Hall is the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. It is the only place in the world where it is possible to hear eighteenth century music in an eighteenth century con‐ cert hall played on eighteenth centu‐ ry instruments. Owned by he Uni‐ versity of Edinburgh, it contains one of the world's most important col‐ lections of historic musical instru‐ ments, many of which remain playable in a concert setting. he new St Cecilia's Hall museum brings this collection under one roof, allowing the story of the collec‐ tion as a whole to be presented and enabling visitors to truly engage with the objects and their stories. he elegant oval concert hall on the irst loor of the building has been in continuous use since it opened in the eighteenth century and remains at the heart of the Georgian build‐ ing, but is now complemented by four galleries on both ground and irst loor. he museum re-opened its doors to the public in May 2017.

BP PORTRAIT AWARD 16 December 2017 - 11 March 2018 SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY | 1 Queen Street | EH2 1JDFree admission | 0131 624 6200 | #BPPortrait

An Edinburgh College of Art graduate's prize-winning entry in a prestigious, worldwide portrait competition will go on show in Scotland for the irst time this winter. he 2017 BP Portrait Award exhibition, which opens at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on 18 December, will feature 53 stand-out works selected from 2,580 entries, by artists from 87 countries, including Breech! by Benjamin Sullivan which took this year's irst prize.

BP Portrait Award is one of the most important platforms for new and es‐ tablished portrait painters alike. Its irst prize of £30,000 makes it one of the largest global arts competi‐ tions. he 2017 irst prize winner of BP Portrait Award is Benjamin Sullivan (b. 1977), whose painting Breech! is a tender depiction of his wife Vir‐ ginia breastfeeding their eightmonth-old daughter. It took Sulli‐ van less than ive weeks to create the intimate painting, which relects on the worrisome time the parents faced during Edith's birth, and cele‐ brates their love for their new child.

he Edinburgh Samba School

14

Winter 2017

Needing more willpower? day can spend an astonishing £3,000 a year on tobacco. hink what you could do with that money?

And you'll be healthier to boot! One session of smoking cessation hyp‐ notherapy costs just £95 - and it's a method that works!

by Mike Smith With Christmas almost upon us, are you trying to lose a bit of weight?

Are your thoughts along the lines of 'Well, I was good, but I've not got any willpower'?

Dealing with weight management issues and trying to maintain a healthy diet can be difficult. So many people give up after a week or two and they cite so many reasons which are, in reality, an all-too handy convenience to go back to the old ways of overeating.

Snacking is a real issue for many people. And, like so many other things we are told we shouldn't do, it's a habit. If you're really serious about wanting to lose weight then it's an unwanted habit.

Hypnotherapy can help replace your unwanted habits with healthier ones. And the great thing is, you are in charge! You are fully awake, com‐ pletely in control. All you have to do is sit back and listen to me putting suggestions to your subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy is a relaxing, calm process which can bring about the necessary behavioural changes to help you achieve your goals.

One of my clients has lost nearly two stones in just four months. He told me he loves the hypnotherapy process and has now cut out snack‐ ing on crisps, chocolate and bread rolls. he cost of a session of hypnothera‐ py at Mind Generating Success is just £60. he number of sessions de‐ pends on how well it works but many of my clients have stopped their unwanted habits after just four sessions. And think how much slim‐ mer, healthier and itter you will feel. As well as the money saved by no longer buying 'snacking' food!

It's not only weight loss that hyp‐ notherapy can help with. It can help you quit smoking and deal with oth‐ er addictions. One of my clients told me he has tried everything from nicotine gum, to patches to going cold turkey. Nothing worked - until hypnotherapy.

Now, there can be many reasons why you smoke. And you may think nothing works and you'll never be able to give up the ciggies. However once an assessment has been made and, crucially, you really want to give up smoking, one session may be all you need.

Someone smoking 20 cigarettes a

Hypnotherapy can also help people who have anxiety. Anxious feelings can in some cases be accompanied by acute stress, physical symptoms or panic attacks.

Although anxiety is a normal reac‐ tion to stressful situations - family concerns, pressure of work etc. - its impact on your day-to-day living can become severe and the effect on the quality of life overwhelming. Hyp‐ notherapy can help you reduce anxi‐ ety and reduce the stress in your life.

Okay, you're keen to ind out more.

So, what should you do?

If you're interested in losing weight, stopping smoking, reducing anxiety or have a phobia such as a fear of spiders, mice, insects, dogs or cats or you have a fear of lying - take the irst step to changing your life by contacting me today for an initial consultation. Evening appointments available. Home visits by arrange‐ ment.

Royal sights Edinburgh Castle Towering over Princes Street and affording great views of the city to the north the Castle is really worth a visit. It is such an iconic sight on summer days and winter nights when it becomes the focus for the Midnight Moment at Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Even if you don't want to pay the entrance fee you can still get as far as the Cas‐ tle Esplanade to enjoy the spectacu‐ lar views over the city.

If you do make it all the way to the Castle then you will be royally enter‐ tained by the history on display there.

Our Scottish Crown Jewels or Scot‐ tish Honours are a must see, there are two places to stop and have a cup of tea as well as gift shops. here is something different on every day - except 25 & 26 Decem‐ ber when the Castle is closed.

During the summer when the es‐ planade is taken over for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this is a bit difficult to get on to, but for the rest of the year the castle is accessi‐ ble to the able-bodied and the not so able-bodied.

One of the more fascinating facts about the castle is that on during the night in early April 1916 two German airships the L14 and L22 dropped 23 bombs on Edinburgh and Leith. 13 people died and 24

Christmas Decorations at Holyrood were injured. All lights in the city were dimmed and traffic stopped with all lights on road vehicles ex‐ tinguished as soon as the warning of the air raid was given.

It is probably the case that the real target was the Forth Bridge, but in the event the airships followed the course of the Water of Leith from Leith Docks to Edinburgh. A bomb landed on the roadway about 400 yards away from Edinburgh Castle. he Regalia of Scotland were re‐ moved from the Crown Room in Ed‐ inburgh Castle to one of the vaults to keep them safe. he Keeper of the Great Seal the Rt Hon T McKinnon Wood wrote to he Secretary of State for Scotland advising that the roof of the Crown Room could not be made bombproof without 'con‐ siderable expenditure'. he Crown Room was then closed to the public

until the end of the war. Historic Scotland run the castle and offer an Explorer Pass which may help to keep your costs down. he Palace of Holyroodhouse Here you get two for the price of one as there is also Holyrood Abbey tucked behind the Palace. If you keep your entrance ticket then it can be reused for a year as long as you register it before you leave the palace. he Café at the Palace is one of our favourite hangouts with great soups and scones. he Queen's Gallery in the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon's School right at the gate to the palace was opened in 2002 and the exhibi‐ tions there change regularly.

And at Christmas the decorations at Holyrood are worth seeing!

Winter 2017

15

BOOKS Blackwells pick your new books CRIME: he Long Drop by Denise Mina Winner of the 2017 McIlvanney Price for Scottish Crime Book of the Year,Based on true events, he Long Drop is an extraordinarily unset‐ tling, evocative and compelling nov‐ el about one December night in 1957, when businessman William Watt meets famous criminal Peter Manuel in a Glasgow bar to ind out what he knows about the murder of his family ...

woman who, though a highly re‐ spected writer in the 1930s, is now best-know for her 1977 masterpiece he Living Mountain. hanks to ac‐ cess to Nan's archive and her re‐ maining friends and acquaintances, biographer Charlotte Peacock brings this enigmatic writer vividly to life.

roads and rail roads, turnpikes and even sea roads. Walk down forgot‐ ten paths in the footsteps of the Scottish people of the past and re‐ discover the beauty and magic of the Scottish landscape.

Blackwells 53-59 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1YS

EDINBURGH: A Sketchbook of Ed‐ inburgh by Iain Fraser and Anne Fraser Sim

BIOGRAPHY: Into he Mountain : A Life of Nan Shepherd. by Char‐ lotte Peacock he irst biography of one of Scot‐ land's best-know writers tells the story of the intensely private

REVIEW - Brian Catling he Erstwhile

by Eris Young of Blackwell's Edin‐ burgh

With a foreword by Alexander Mc‐ Call Smith and illustrations by Irina Cucu, Cat Outram, Keli Clark and Catherine SimpsonDiscover Scot‐ land's Capital City in 150 beautiful illustrations and accompanying text - a delight to locals and visitors alike.

Brian Catling isn't a newcomer to the literary scene-he's been writing poetry since the late nineties and creating unnerving, esoteric visual art for far longer-but with the publi‐ cation of his newest novel, he Erst‐ while (9 March, 2017, Coronet), anx‐ iously-awaited sequel to he Vorrh, he's seen a resurgence in popularity.

While two years isn't a long time to wait for a second book, to Catling's fans it has felt like much longer, and indeed to some the emergence of a sequel is even a surprise; for a book as original and self-sufficient as he Vorrh, is a sequel even necessary?

TRAVEL/HISTORY: he Hidden Ways by Alastair Moffat Broadcaster and historian Alistair Moffat invites you along as he ex‐ plores Scotland's lost roads - down Roman roads tramped by armies, warpaths and pilgrim routes, drove

he Vorrh built up a world, drawing from ancient history and modern myth to spin a web of strikingly original and often downright strange objects, places and people. he Erstwhile, to an extent, does the opposite: it de-mythologises the for‐ est and its inhabitants, explaining further the effects of the Vorrh on the human psyche, and giving the Erstwhile themselves a voice, so that they may explain their own painful displacement. he book also humanises many of the characters, whether they are ful‐ ly human or not. For the most part, this is a good thing: the heroes and villains which were glamorised and demonised in he Vorrh are given re‐ latable laws, greed and vengeance and jealousy, in its sequel. But this humanisation can at times verge on banality, for example reducing one character in particular to an arche‐ type of devoted motherhood, at the expense of her previous, dynamic, characterisation. In any case, de‐ spite hints at a greater mystery which will no doubt culminate in the third book, there is to my mind less of the alien in he Erstwhile, less of that threatening strangeness (for example the chilling section, one of my favourite parts, told from the perspective of the anthropophagus

SCOTTISH HISTORY: Telling Scot‐ land's Story To commemorate its 200th Anniver‐ sary, former Scotsman editor Ian Stewart explores the archive and re‐ veals the story of modern Scotland through the eyes of the newspaper.

genre.

Catling's devotees need not have worried. Like he Vorrh, he Erst‐ while seems to have been created with that same winning formula, imbuing them with an originality and freshness that deies the pass‐ ing of time. For a trilogy so rooted in time and place, though-colonial Africa, Europe between World Wars, the sanatorium commonly known as Bedlam-the books themselves stand apart in the landscape of the fantasy

disconcertingly dubbed 'Loverboy') that typiied he Vorrh. Whether these changes are good or bad, nec‐ essary or not, however, is for the reader to decide.

Catling spoke recently at Blackwell Bookshop in Edinburgh, about he Erstwhile and its predecessor, but also about the craft of writing (Catling is more of a gardener than an architect, for those who sub‐ scribe to that dichotomy), and the importance of the visual in his cre‐ ative process. Indeed the language of Catling's books, the motifs which igure as prominently in his art as they do in his writing, are powerful‐ ly visual: the reader is transported forcefully from African forests and deserts and seaside cliffs to remote German townships to the dark banks of the river hames, and haunted by the Cyclopean eye, the arrow ired out of time, long after they've inished the book.

With he Erstwhile, Catling manages to maintain the wild originality that typiied he Vorrh: if this book is a herald of things to come then the Vorrh trilogy is sure to take its place among the enduring classics of its genre.

16

Winter 2017

THREE SCOTS ABROAD - Con‐ tinued from Page 17 opposite CR - I'm hoping that, with my club LMRCV, I improve as a player and individual and I aspire to win the Top 8 Championship and lift the trophy alongside a great group of girls. On Scotland international side of things I'm hoping that we can im‐ prove on last year and get more wins and place better in the six nations.

We're working hard on and off the pitch to strive towards this.

LT - Looking to push on with Scot‐

land and back up last year's perfor‐ mances in the 6 Nations and better ourselves as a team and individuals.

I am looking to improve individually as a player out in France and em‐ brace their style of play and bring back what I can to the National team, as well as aspiring to win the Top 8 with LMRCV. hey are all great bunch of players and were run‐ ners-up last season and winners of the competition two seasons ago.

Speaking with the three women and from their interviews, it is apparent that we have three female In‐ ternational rugby players who have set out to play a sport at the highest level that they can achieve and have, via hard work, endeavour and - not a little - sacriice on both their, and their family and friends, parts, have gone on to achieve their goal and are, as we speak, living their particu‐ lar dream in France.

It is also reassuring to see that women's rugby in Scotland is now being taken seriously and, if the cur‐ rent level of support continues to grow, who knows what may be achieved in future.

Our trip over to France was made so much easier with help from Scottish Rugby's Michael James and LMR‐ CV's Laurent Vitoux who 'set up' the communications channel to make our job that bit easier. *'Sent' is not completely accurate as the editor was informed that a photogra‐ phy colleague and I had had an idea for a trip abroad so off we went......

Winter 2017

17

SPORT their intrepid rugby reporter, to France at the end of September to catch up with the threesome, report on one of their matches and arrange interviews.

hree Scots Abroad

Since the arrangements were made, and just prior to travelling, another female player, Murrayield Wander‐ ers' Sarah Law, has also been elevat‐ ed to BT Stage 3 status, but is re‐ maining in Scotland for the time be‐ ing.

What follows are excerpts from the full interviews which you will ind online.

by John Preece R e c e n t l y, t h re e S c o t t i s h I n‐ ternational Rugby players were pro‐ moted to Scottish Rugby's BT Acad‐ emy (Stage 3) status. hese were the irst female players to be awarded Stage 3, and so full professional, sta‐ tus in Scotland.

Hillhead-Jordanhill's Jade Konkel was the irst of our three, preceding Chloe Rollie (Murrayield Wanderers) and Lisa homson (Ed‐ inburgh University) by a full year or so.

All three now ply their trade in Northern France, playing for Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois (LRMCV) as the club's only full time players, and are supported as part of Scottish Rugby's partnership agree‐ ment with the French Top 8 club. he Edinburgh Reporter 'sent'* me,

he Edinburgh Reporter (TER) Tell us a little about yourselves.

Jade Konkel (JK) - I grew up on the Black Isle near Inverness in the countryside. I've always been a big fan of sport and my main sports were basketball and a martial art called Kempo. I was also in the army cadets for 5 years where I competed in various sports such as football, hockey, athletics, tug of war etc. I at‐ tended Munlochy Primary School and Fortrose Academy, then moved to Glasgow when I was 18 to study Social Work in 2012 and to be closer to play for Hillhead-Jordanhill as I used to drive Inverness-Glasgow and back every Sunday to play. I studied and graduated after 3 years so I could focus on rugby.

Chloe Rollie (CR) - I was born in Edinburgh, but grew up in Jedburgh and attended Parkside Primary

school and Jedburgh Grammar. I then went on to study sport and ex‐ ercise at Borders College followed by working for an excavation company as a labourer and then a dump truck driver. During this time, I played rugby for Melrose Ladies RFC. I caught the travelling bug and left the excavation company and took a break from rugby to explore Aus‐ tralia. Returned early to get my irst cap for Scotland, moved to Edin‐ burgh and Murrayield Wanderers and then attended Edinburgh Col‐ lege to study Sports herapy.

Lisa homson (LR) - I grew up in Hawick attending Trinity Primary School and Hawick High School leaving in 6th year in 2015. I then went onto study Applied Sport Sci‐ ence at Edinburgh University while still playing at Melrose whilst in my irst year as well as for EULRFC. I then gained my irst cap in the 6N in 2016 against England at home.

TER - All three of you have ended up playing rugby via a variety of other sports.

JK - My parents were involved in rugby as were my brothers. I loved the game. he physicality aspect es‐ pecially; the thumping tackles and the big ball carries. It is a sport like no other. One where you have to re‐ ally depend on your team mates to be there to support from a carry, or you need to protect your team mates, run dummy lines, protect the ball, latch on for a powerful carry, one goes high one low in a tackle etc. - it is so team orientated and when you're are on the pitch you have a purpose - a family to look out for and to play for just like you do off the pitch.

CR - From the age of 6, I was playing football irst with boys at Jed Legion FC and then I joined rugby and played alongside boys at the age of 8 to 11 at Jedburgh mini rugby. When I was 13 I joined Gala U15s RFC and played for Gala Fairydean Ladies.

When I was 15 I decided to stop playing rugby and solely focused on football where I joined Hearts Ladies FC and played a few seasons.

I left Hearts and went back to rugby where I joined Melrose Ladies RFC and played 3 seasons before moving to Edinburgh and signing for Mur‐ rayield Wanderers. hroughout that whole period I was also a sprinter at Jedforest Athletics and raced mo‐ tocross bikes.

Lisa homson

LT - I always played football as well and started to play it properly for Hawick youth when I began High School. Going on to play for Hearts U15/17s and development team. I never gave up rugby, it was always priority but, when I was growing up,

Chloe Rollie at U15 and U18 level there weren't many games throughout the season for us, maybe 3/4 a season so, on weekends off from rugby, I played football so I was still playing sport and keeping active.

TER - International Caps and now a Professional Contract.

Dream come true?

JK (27 Caps) - Dream come true 100%! But on saying that… it was a very far away dream in the back of my mind. I hadn't ever thought it was possible so I guess you couldn't fully set your sights on that being the initial dream but it shows the power of commitment and hard work. It gives you a belief that you can keep going, keep improving and also build a pathway for others fol‐ lowing in your footsteps.

CR (17 caps) - his really is a dream come true! It's everything I've al‐ ways wanted from a young age. I can remember thinking and dreaming what it would be like to focus solely on rugby. I never thought it would happen to me so when it did I was overwhelmed, I couldn't believe it. I felt like everything I had worked to‐ wards and all of the hard work over the years had inally paid off. Also I felt like all of the hard work my par‐ ents and all of the missed time with friends had paid off.

LT (12 Caps) - It is a dream come true! A few months ago I couldn't

Jade Konkel

even imagine this happening and, now I am here, it still doesn't seem real. I have taken an interruption of studies from my degree at Edin‐ burgh just now whilst I am in France, as I wanted to solely focus on rugby. It is difficult to do both as I found out in my irst year at uni‐ versity. Trying to juggle the high de‐ mands of work from both lecturers and coaches proves tiring and leaves little time for a life outside of this but, it's doable if you apply yourself to both.

TER -How do you see the coming year unfolding? What are your aspirations?

JK - Being a part of LMRCV so far has been brilliant. he intensity is high and the game pace is fast. I'd love if we, as a team, won the Top 8 Championship. It will be a lot of hard work but certainly a great goal to have in mind for the season with the understanding of taking each game at a time. When I ly back for Scotland duty, I want to be in best position I've been in with my career to date. I want to make a big impact for the histle and to build on our success as a team from the 6 Na‐ tions 2017 4th place inish.

(Continued opposite)

18

Winter 2017

SPORT Aw - Referee!

by Mike Smith To say being a referee has never been an easy profession would quali‐ fy that assertion as a leading con‐ tender for understatement of the year. My late father was a referee back in the early 1960s. Not at pro‐ fessional level but at amateur league games in Aberdeen. Being a referee stuck with him long after he stopped officiating. Whenever he and I went to games he would in‐ evitably analyse and criticise the ref‐ eree's performance. I used to think if my father was being critical of his contemporaries what chance had the poor refs?

Over the years football fans have written about so many decisions that have gone against their team if you printed them all it would de‐ stroy a fair percentage of a Brazilian rain forest.

We all like to have a go at referees but no one can seriously believe that officials in this country act with any‐ thing other than integrity.

In years gone by, I hurled verbal abuse towards the likes of Hugh Dal‐ las, Willie Young and Brian McGin‐ lay. It's only now that - and I never thought I would say this - I appreci‐ ate Dallas and co. for the qualities they had.

I have a fair degree of sympathy for the man (and, in these diverse times, woman) in the middle. Fifa bring in so many changes - for ex‐ ample does anyone totally under‐ stand the offside rule nowadays? and there are phrases used such as 'active' and 'inactive' meaning there is far more probability of refs get‐ ting things wrong than was the case in years gone by.

photo by John Preece

A couple of other things have changed since the days when my fa‐ ther refereed in the early 1960s.

Firstly, players are now far more likely to try and con the referee to gain an advantage. Behaviour such as diving, faking injury and over re‐ acting to challenges are common‐ place no matter where you go. he waving of an imaginary card from some players really irritates me.

Sadly, this behaviour is a sad relec‐ tion on society in general. Young‐ sters watch players feigning injury etc. and think it's acceptable.

Another sad relection on society is when referees get abusive messages, threatened and see their family tar‐ geted for verbal abuse just because they give decisions some fans don't like. At the risk of sounding like an old-timer from days gone by, there seems to be a lack of respect throughout society these days. Offi‐ cialdom seems to be a prime target.

We hear more and more stories of ire ighters being attacked on their way to incidents, of nurses being at‐ tacked at hospitals and police also coming under attack. It is said foot‐ ball relects society. We may be dis‐ mayed by the lack of respect by some footballers to referees and their assistants, the haranguing of the men/women in the middle and the verbal attacks after the game, particularly through the media - but should we really be surprised?

As in any other profession, referees can make mistakes. With the huge sums of money in the game, one can argue that such mistakes can prove costly, the difference between win‐ ning and losing, relegation and stay‐ ing up, winning trophies and not winning trophies.

However, decision-making is what makes football the game it is. So, a referee makes an error. Does it really need to be replayed again and again on television, analysed by pundits who have never refereed a game in their life, and dissected by feverish tabloid newspapers eager to sell copy? If so, what about the player who misses an open goal, misses a crucial penalty or the manager who selects the wrong team? his hap‐ pens every week and is mentioned in dispatches but is generally consid‐ ered part of the 'win as a team, lose as a team' philosophy.

It's also been stated that some refer‐ ees lack a sense of humour. Perhaps, but that can be said of anyone in any profession. Doubtless there are many football players who are seri‐ ously lacking in the humour stakes.

photo by John Preece In any case, I have seen some refer‐ ees display their humourous side. I recall a game at Tynecastle last sea‐ son when Hearts impressive full back Callum Paterson voiced his dis‐ agreement with the referee (if mem‐ ory serves me well it was Bobby Madden) 'Yer ***in joking, ref!' exclaimed young Mr Paterson. 'hat wis a cor‐ ner!'

'Do I look like I'm ***in joking?' replied the official. 'It's a goal kick.'

Paterson beat a hasty retreat with a smile on his face and I couldn't help thinking 'Can we have more of this?'

Some say referees know the rules of the game but don't understand the nature of how it's played. hey argue a common-sense approach is often superseded by the need to apply the rules diligently. However, I have wit‐ nessed numerous occasions where the ref has shown common sense.

For example, at the Hearts v St Johnstone game at the end of Octo‐ ber, Hearts young full back Jamie Brandon was booked early on by ref‐ eree Nick Walsh and for a while after was in danger of letting his inexperi‐ ence result in him being shown a second yellow card and, therefore, being ordered off. But, after another indiscretion from the young defend‐ er, Mr Walsh took the player aside and had a word in his young ear.

While we weren't party to what was said, it was clear the referee was telling the Hearts youngster to calm down or he would receive a second fatal booking. Sound judgement by Mr Walsh which wasn't particularly pointed out at the time. he authority of the referee has nev‐ er been questioned as much as it is at present. Perhaps players, man‐ agers and fans should think back to the days of Tom 'Tiny' Wharton, a larger than life referee who stood no nonsense from the footballers of the 1960s and early 1970s. Celtic's Bob‐

by Lennox once chased after Tiny during an Old Firm game after the ref awarded Rangers a penalty kick.

Lennox insisted vehemently it was never a penalty.

'I think you'll ind, Mr Lennox' Tiny Wharton said irmly' 'if you check the newspapers tomorrow that it was…'

Grayling for great sport

"It is important, therefore, to check your beads and make sure they are hitting the bottom."

Lee, who also works in the Orvis shop in central Edinburgh, added: "It is fantastic sport and you can get great enjoyment from it."

Lee also ishes dry ly for grayling and enjoyed a spell on he Annan at the weekend doing just that.

He added: "Grayling ishing is thor‐ oughly recommended."

Meanwhile, Loganlea trout ishery in the Pentlands is offering anglers the chance to hook into some hardighting ish with a special deal in November.

by Nigel Duncan Many ishermen have hung up their rods after the end of the trout sea‐ son.

But Edinburgh-based guide Lee Cur‐ rie urges you to seek out grayling which, he says, can provide wonder‐ ful winter sport.

Lee said: "here are excellent oppor‐ tunities to catch grayling up and down Scotland. "here are good grayling to be found on the United Clyde Angling Protec‐ tive Association (UCAPA) water on he Clyde and on he Annan and lo‐ cally grayling are on the River Esk. "I predominantly ish for them on ny m p h s , a t r i o o f ny m p hy s normally, or two nymphs and a spi‐ der and with jig hooks. "hey love pink and they love orange colours and there are not many rules to it. It is all about presentation.

"It vitally is important to read the water and if your tungsten beads are not scratched up then you are not ishing deep enough for grayling in my opinion.

You can use any method to seek out the quality ish in the popular reser‐ voir. he cost is £25 and it is bank ishing only.

Anglers who also want to continue with ly ishing are also welcome but there are no boats in the water.

Opening time is 9am and closing is 5pm and you enter the reservoir road at the Flotterstone Inn off the Biggar Road.

Neabry Glencorse reservoir is closed for the winter but other isheries are open.

Morton Fishings near the Lizzy Bryce roundabout at Livingston con‐ tinues to produce quality ish and is open every day.

Nearby, Allandale Tarn at West Calder is also open during the win‐ ter but remember it is closed on a Tuesday.

In East Lothian, Markle remains open but check their website for opening hours and Tweedale near Gifford remains open depending on the weather. Again, check with them irst.

Winter 2017

19

SPORT Magniicent Hibs drive from 35 yards which lew high into the corner of the net.

by John Hislop November marks the 50th anniver‐ sary of arguably the greatest Eu‐ ropean night in the history of Hi‐ bernian Football Club. he Inter Cities Fairs Cup was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst hommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy and English FA Secretary Stan‐ ley Rouss to promote international trade fairs.

Hibs were drawn against Italian gi‐ ants Naples who at the time of the game were domestic league leaders. they also had two world class players in their ranks, goalkeeper Dino Zoff who would later captain is country to a World Cup victory and Brazilian genius Jose Altaini.

Despite losing 4-1 in the irst leg in Naples, Hibs had been far from out‐ classed and had been the better side for large parts of the opening period.

To add insult to injury however when Hibs were in Italy, sterling was devalued by 14% and they were un‐ able to pay their hotel bill.

Not even the most optimistic fan gave Hibs any chance of overturning the scoreline in Edinburgh apart from manager Bob Shankly who was convinced that not only would his team win the return leg but that they would go through to the next round Just before the second leg, Hibs re‐ ceived a huge conidence boost with the news that the Altaini would not be travelling to Edinburgh due to a minor injury picked up the previous weekend.

Because of what was thought to be an unassailable lead, the Naples manager decided not to risk his star striker.

21,037 fans paid to watch the game and within ive minutes Hibs took the lead when right back Bobby Duncan collected the ball on the half way line, evaded a couple of tackles and ired in a sensational left foot

Hibs mounted attack after attack and Peter Cormack was brought down inside the penalty box but the referee inexplicably awarded an indi‐ rect free kick. Zoff produced a su‐ perb save from a Pat Stanton header and Blanchi cleared an overhead kick from Colin Stein off the line.

Just before the break however Hibs added a second when Zoff was un‐ able to hold a Stein strike and Pat Quinn was on hand to stroke the ball into the empty net. he second half was played at a pul‐ sating pace with the home side play‐ ing down the famous old slope to‐ ward the Cowshed which was packed with expectant Hibs fans.

In the 67th minute, Peter Cormack met an Alex Scott corner to increase Hibs lead to send the home support‐ ers in the huge crowd into a frenzy.

While the celebrations were in full swing Scott sent over a cross to the far post and Stanton was on hand to head the ball into the net. he Hibs fans were singing 'Easy Easy' which infuriated the Naples players and with 15 minutes re‐ maining, full back Gerardo was sent off after a reckless tackle on Eric Stevenson.

A few minutes later the Italian's misery was complete when Stein in‐ tercepted a clearance before going through to score a ifth goal to give his side a famous victory and the Hibs players a well deserved lap of honour at the end before their ecsta‐ tic supporters.

Alan McGraw who played in both legs told he Edinburgh Reporter: "In Italy the heat was unbelievable.

Before the game we were all given a bunch of lowers by our opponents.

None of us knew what to do with them so someone told us to throw them to the crowd but there was a moat round the pitch so they all ended up in the water. "hey beat us 4-1 but the score lat‐ tered them. he only difference be‐ tween the teams was their striker Altiini who had unbelievable speed.

Naples presented us with silver mu‐ sical cigarette boxes afterwards.

"Bob Shankly told the press that the

tie wasn't over but no-one believed him although when we found out they had left Altiini at home we were conident of progressing and we did, winning 5-0. "hat night was the highlight of my time at the club. Bobby Duncan scored early with a great goal and we were 3-0 up at half time leaving the Naples players shocked. We just kept going and never eased up. I don't imagine Dino Zoff conceded ive goals very often but there was nothing he could do about any of them. After the game I remember one of their players kicking the dressing room door." he teams that day were as follows: Hibernian: Wilson; Duncan, Davis, Stanton, Madsen, McGraw, Scott, Quinn, Stein, Cormack and Steven‐ son

year.

'Habitat for Humanity' is a humani‐ tarian organisation focused on longterm development, aid and poverty alleviation, whose mission is to build a safe environment where fam‐ ilies and communities can thrive.

A spokesman for the charity said: "Access to decent housing is the foundation to achieving essential human rights such as: education, property, food and privacy. Home is the irst step toward a future of op‐ portunities and prosperity.

"We have been tackling housing poverty in Trinidad and Tobago since 1997. We have served 355 families with direct housing solu‐ tions and more than 1800 with cred‐ it, management and construction training.

Napoli: Zoff; Narota, Fagliana, Zu‐ ritini, Fanzanato, Bianchi, Cane, Ju‐ liano, Orlando, Montefusco (Substi‐ tute: Girardo) and Barison

Walking Football

Marvin Bartley fundraiser

Playing at Loanhead and Penicuik, the team has gone from strength to strength culminating with winning the Scottish Walking Football Festi‐ val at Glasgow Green earlier this

"I know someone who actually lived in there through a friend of a friend.

It has been difficult, families have been uprooted, kids have had to move schools. It has been such a sad state of affairs.

"Harry Arter at Bournemouth has helped, Charlie Austin's helped me, Kevin Long's helped me. Brandon Barker here has got me a signed Manchester City shirt and Anthony Joshua has donated signed gloves.

"I'll try and go down as close to Christmas as possible. It's a time of year when people should be happy and this will be the irst Christmas since it happened, so I'll try and help. We are trying to make things better for the kids.

he Midlothian Ageing Well project was established 20-years ago and the group started playing walking football in 2012 in a bid to offer more activities for men.

"We are hopeful that walking foot‐ ball will catch on over there and if they set up their own league?

Wouldn't that be great?"

"If life had turned out differently I could have been living in one of the high rise lats as an adult. I'm quite lucky that I have played football.

"No-one I asked to sign something said no. Everyone has pulled togeth‐ er. For them it's a small thing, sign‐ ing something but if we can auction it and get some money we can make someone else happy. hat's what we are aiming to do.

A group of volunteers from Midloth‐ ian are traveling to Trinidad and To‐ bago in November to help charity 'Habitat for Humanity' and also take part in a walking football tourna‐ ment.

"We will be the irst British party to take up the opportunity to work for the charity so we are all looking for‐ ward to the experience.

"You go to bed thinking everything is ine and you wake up in the morn‐ ing and your house has gone and you have lost a family member. Peo‐ ple's lives there will never be the same and they are still struggling now.

"A lot of my friends in sport have helped me by signing stuff.

by John Hislop

he project is managed by Vivian Wallace who said: " he seed was sown some time ago that we should go there and introduce walking foot‐ ball to the Trinidadians and do some charity work assisting a community to build a new home and a better life for a family.

the ire that happened at Grenfell Tower. For me it's a very touching story. I watched it all on the news and a guy came on who had lost his home and one of his children. It just made me think it could have been any one of us in that position.

Photo courtesy of Hibernian FC

by John Hislop Hibs' midielder Marvin Bartley will raffle off several items of sporting memorabilia in the weeks leading up to Christmas in aid of the victims of the tragic Grenfell Tower.

Fans will be able to enter the draw by donating a minimum of £5 to‐ wards the campaign.

Items include autographed boxing gloves from Anthony Joshua, a signed Hibs jersey from the testimo‐ nial of Hibs legend Lewis Stevenson and a signed Manchester City jersey, courtesy of on-loan winger Brandon Barker.

Bartley said: "Everyone knows about

"It's not too far away from where I grew up. I just wanted to help. If we can make just one person smile who has been affected by this then job done.

You can donate to Marvin Bartley's campaign online here https:// ter.ooo/MarvinBartley