The Edinburgh Reporter August 2019

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August 2019

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Summertime Streets

We have enjoyed three Open Street events in Edinburgh in recent months with streets in the Old Town closed to vehicular traffic. The area was very much open to pedestrians, cyclists and anyone who wanted to try out some yoga or Tai Chi or any of the other treats on offer.

Another Open Streets event is planned for the first Sunday in October, but during the summer months the council has decided that similar restrictions will apply to streets in the Old Town - and all for public safety reasons.

Councillors hope that the package of measures called Summertime Streets will help during the busy month.

Victoria Street, Cockburn Street and parts of the Royal Mile will be vehicle free for part of the day while the High Street between South Gray’s Close and St Mary’s Street and top of Blair Street will be fully closed to vehicles.

There will also be restricted access to the Cowgate and Candlemaker Row. These actions arise from concerns raised in a report to the Council's Culture and Communities Committee, Managing Our Festival City, which highlight challenges posed by increased crowds and narrow pavements, including a lack of pedestrian amenity and the potential for conflict with cars.

Read more on page 2.

WHAT'S ON

Edinburgh Art Festival 2019 has begun already and runs until 25 August Story on Page 16

FEATURE

Wild and Majestic has opened at the National Museum of Scotland Story on Page 15

FOOD

Juliet has been out eating again Stories on Pages 24 and 25

TRAVEL

Viking Jupiter visited Edinburgh for the first time Story on Page 25

Fitness Classes

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Adult and Junior Summer Passes Everything you need for an activity filled summer! edinburghleisure.co.uk Terms and conditions apply. Junior pass only available in venue.

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ABOUT US Thank you for reading the August 2019 issue of The Edinburgh Reporter. As well our newspaper you can read all of our news online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We produce podcasts on Anchor.FM which you can find on your podcast provider of choice as well as videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

All of this content is brought to you free of charge so If you are able to then could we ask you to consider making a regular donation to The Edinburgh Reporter? The price of a cup of coffee helps us a lot! www.theedinburghreporter. co.uk/donate/ Scan the QR code here which directs you to the correct page on our website.

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

Alternatively if you would like to advertise with us and support us that way then do get in touch. editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk You can also read our newspapers on PressReader. This is an app for your phone and you can download copies of whole newspapers from across the world rather than looking at stories online.

You can get free copies of other newspapers this way by using your library card - ask at your local library how it works.

I hope you enjoy Edinburgh in August whether you live here or are a visitor to this our fabulous capital city.

Phyllis Stephen Editor

Scan here!

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1972

This lovely photograph from Edinburgh Collected shows the cast of the 1972 production of Skerryvore at the Church Hill

Theatre during the Fringe.

PHOTO Andrew Wilson Photography Edinburgh Collected is an

online community photo archive managed by Edinburgh Libraries.

You can add your own photos to help preserve the city’s history for

the future. It is also a good way for organisations to preserve their archives in scrapbooks online. www.edinburghcollected.org

Candlemaker Row. Candlemaker Row will be closed to all other vehicles including tour buses and coaches between Merchant Street and George IV Bridge.

The service 6 is not affected by the changes. The service 35 will

be re-routed from Abbey Mount along Regent Road and onto North Bridge. Dial-a taxi will help those who are affected by the rerouting of the number 35 bus. Local residents and businesses will get information leaflets.

Summertime Streets Continued from front page Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “We are very fortunate to live in such a popular, vibrant city, boasting an excellent calendar of events and worldfamous attractions.

“However, with this comes the pressure of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the many residents and visitors who pass through our streets every day.

"These temporary adaptations will reduce pressure on busy pavements making it much easier for local residents to carry on with their daily lives, whilst creating a more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere at a time where Edinburgh is at its busiest.

“This ties in with our broader aims to make Edinburgh a more attractive, people-friendly place, prioritising walking and cycling.

However, we’re also committed to maintaining transport links for the people who live and work

here and have been liaising with residents and businesses to make sure these measures allow them to continue with their usual daily routines.”

Those with blue badges and others with mobility issues can get vehicular access at key locations and businesses will be able to get deliveries during the hours that the streets are open.

The measures will remain in place until 1 September by which time the festivals are over.

Controlled Parking Zones 3 and 4 operate in the Old Town. To park on-street in these zones you need to hold a valid resident's permit, or use pay and display parking bays.

From 10.30am to 6.30pm, parking will be suspended on Cockburn Street zone 3 and Victoria Street zone 4. During these hours, permit holders will be able to park in other streets in the same permit zone.

Service 2 route will continue to operate through Grassmarket and

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Cleaning up after the storm The council had to step in and act when the owners of the Water of Leith Basin refused to clean up debris there after last month’s flooding. Water of Leith 2000 which owns the basin is run by managing director Ron Kitchin, father of chef Tom. A fox was stranded on the floating waste and was rescued by the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service as well as the Scottish SPCA and the community protested that there could be no further delay in the clear up operation.

The council talked to Forth Ports who own the docks and appointed a contractor to do the work at the joint expense of the council and Forth Ports.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I’m sure I speak for the community when I say it’s a massive relief to see the clean-up under way and I’m very glad we and Forth Ports were able to agree a plan to clear away the debris.

"The community and the local wildlife should not have had to put up with this eyesore and potential health hazard for so long, especially at the height of the summer season when this fantastic, iconic area is such a draw.

“The Council has been willing to facilitate the clean-up of the basins but all stakeholders have responsibilities to address the situation.

"We are disappointed that despite being responsible for managing the basin, the owners Water of Leith 2000 have not helped to support our joint efforts to resolve the situation following recent high rainfall.

“We will bring all parties together urgently to agree a permanent solution to this

The Scotsman really is up for sale

After an announcement by Reach plc (formerly Trinity Mirror) about a potential deal to buy parts of JPI Media, the NUJ called the move “alarming” and warned of the potential impact on journalists and media plurality.

Notwithstanding earlier claims to the contrary, David King, the CEO of JPI Media, owner of many titles which includes The Scotsman and The Edinburgh Evening News, confirmed to journalists in the middle of last month that the titles were indeed up for sale.

Daily Business confirmed in May that talks were already underway between the US bondholders who own The Scotsman and the i newspaper to look at a potential sale.

An NUJ spokesperson said: "If parts of JPI Media are sold to Reach there will be an adverse impact on the market and those employed within it.

"A takeover of this kind would limit the scope for future jobs in the entire sector.

"Any deal that includes JPI Media’s flagship regional titles would lead to the market being

dominated by just two companies - Reach and Newsquest.

"Both organisations have been relentless in reducing original content and the provision of local professional journalism.

"The union is concerned that decisions on editorial policy and news gathering and practice will be concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people and so we are calling on parliamentarians to investigate the lack of media plurality in Britain.

"The NUJ has been warning for years about the trend towards growing media monopolies and the reducing number of companies that own all newspaper titles and their associated websites.

"It has a profoundly damaging impact on public debate and democracy.

"This latest move is alarming; the NUJ is calling for meaningful engagement with the company and is seeking specific guarantees on realistic, sustainable staffing levels and job security."

longstanding problem and ensure they meet their environmental responsibilities to the community.”

Custom House Leith tweeted once the work was done : "What a difference!...... the Water of Leith is looking so much better."

Surgeries for carers

The Eric Liddell Centre at Holy Corner in association with VOCAL (Voices of Carers Across Lothian) is hosting health and benefits surgeries for carers in August.

The surgeries will be held at the Eric Liddell Centre at Holy Corner and they are designed to help make sure that carers really know what benefits they are entitled to.

The health surgeries offer an opportunity to speak about carers' own health and wellbeing with an NHS nurse.

The surgeries are all free to attend.

John MacMillan, Chief Executive of the Eric Liddell Centre, said: “We are committed to ensure that unpaid carers within our communities are provided with appropriate support and are proud to be working alongside VOCAL to deliver these advice surgeries.”

The health surgery takes place on Tuesday 6 August 2019.

The benefits surgeries take place on 13 and 17 August.

Call Martha (0131 357 1271) or Sally (0131 357 1270) direct for an appointment time or to discuss options.

Summer Pass

Bus Strikes

If you don't want to commit to a monthly pass or you're just here visiting the city for the many festivals, Edinburgh Leisure's Summer Pass has everything you need for a sport filled summer.

As the biggest club in town, it offers unlimited access to the city’s 14 gyms, 9 swimming pools, over 800 Fitness Classes, saunas, steam rooms, Turkish Baths and climbing at the EICA for £60 only.

The pass lasts six weeks from the date of purchase, with the last day a customer can purchase a pass being 31 August 2019.

The pass is available to buy online on in venue. www. edinburghleisure.co.uk

There could be industrial action

by Lothian bus drivers this month after a recent vote to take strike action.

93% of the 1700 members of Unite the union who turned out to vote supported industrial action in the long running dispute with the management of the bus company.

Most recently the union was conducting a workplace ballot on an offer tabled by the employer just as we went to press.

Lyn Turner of Unite explained : “As well as remuneration a raft of things were proposed and agreed at ACAS including how behaviour will be dealt with. An external organisation will come in to deal with the issue of managerial behaviour if these proposals are accepted. It is time for agreement and action.”

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The Edinburgh Reporter

NEWS

Milestone in project to replace Burnshot Bridge at Kirkliston

Foundations have been laid for the £3 million scheme to replace the Burnshot Bridge on the A90 near Kirkliston.

Motorists using the A90 are reminded of the speed limits put in place to protect the construction workers.

There is a 40mph speed limit in place permanently to the south of where the bridge is being constructed and an additional 50mph speed limit between Dolphington and Burnshot

Junctions. Police Scotland are regularly patrolling the road, but the Transport Convener Lesley Macinnes would like to remind everyone about the people working on the bridge.

She said : “It’s fantastic to see this project progressing, which will see a key route restored to the area, benefiting a range of road users.

“This is an extremely complex scheme, which has involved close communication with local

Planning Matters In one part of the city a property developer has managed to almost clear their property of its tenants. So even though Drum Property Group do not have planning permission to demolish and rebuild (this was refused in January 2019) the likelihood is that the building at Stead’s Place will fall into disrepair and be demolished in the fullness of time.

The last remaining tenant at local music venue Leith Depot now has until the end of October to remain in their premises, and despite their protestations, it is probable that the live music venue will close too.

In the west of the city developers attempted to get planning permission for a student development at Richmond Terrace behind Dalry Colonies.

At the same time Scotmid applied for planning permission for a large student development on Gorgie Road and a housing development on Leven Street.

Local residents got a campaign group together and branded

the proposed development as 'dangerous'.

They raised 96 objections with the council during the consultation period.

Suddenly in July the developers withdrew their application for the student accommodation.

The local councillor Ashley Graczyk is delighted.

She told us: “I’m delighted that the proposed 38 student accommodation at the back of Richmond Terrace has been withdrawn.

"It was a wildly inappropriate development for the local community which caused unnecessary distress to my constituents as the developers tried to cram in a high-profit development in a tiny space with only one access.

"I’m immensely proud of the Gorgie Dalry residents for rallying together in our local community to ensure our voice was heard loud and clear, this planning victory belongs to them.”

residents, businesses and active travel groups, so I know how much its completion means to the community.

“As the bridge begins to take shape, I want to take the opportunity to remind drivers to take workers’ safety into consideration when passing the site, by adhering to the speed limit in place.”

When the bridge is finished there will be a segregated eastbound cycle lane and a shared use path.

New Town planning The City Centre Transformation consultation ran until 7 July. This is one of the council’s big plans and sits alongside the possible introduction of Low Emission Zones and the introduction of a Meadows to George Street pedestrian and cycle route.

The scheme includes proposals to make Waverley Bridge a pedestrian walkway, to prioritise active travel rather than vehicular traffic and suggests ideas such as business deliveries by electric vehicles or cargo bikes.

Anyone could have their say on the plans and community councils are always invited to do so.

The New Town and Broughton Community Council explained their views including a welcome to the ‘integrated strategy and its objectives’. They pointed out that it will only work if residents and visitors make different transport choices.

They regard the number of people who live in the city centre as one of the things that makes Edinburgh unique and believe that it should be ‘valued as a priority’.

They recommend that public transport should be electrically driven as soon as possible so that pollution is not simply moved from one area to the other by reducing the number of vehicles in the city centre.

They also suggest that the council should aim at a better balance between the visitor economy and other economic activities and warn that failure to do so may militate against the standard of public realm and the city’s economic future.

The council's Transport and Environment Committee next meets on 12 September 2019.

Any member of the public can attend these meetings at the City Chambers.

Festival Trams will be running late Edinburgh Trams offer you the freedom to stay out till the sun comes up by running an all night service throughout August.

Trams run on Fridays and Saturdays all night long from 3 to 25 August 2019 with services every 20 mins between midnight and 5.30am.

Restrictions at Ingliston Park and Ride have been lifted on Friday and Saturdays so no one need miss a single beat of the drum, side-splitting joke or dramatic dance move.

Sarah Singh, Operations Manager, said: “For three weeks in August we see a huge surge in customers wanting to come into the city, and as festival fever begins to grip Edinburgh Trams is ready to help you enjoy the extravaganza without having to worry about getting home.

"What’s more, the cost of travelling by tram at night will be the same as during the day, with a return ticket in the City Zone costing just £3.20 for adults.”

Brigadier David Allfrey, Chief Executive and Producer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Thank you! It is brilliant that Transport for Edinburgh - our trams and our buses - are making special and extra provision over the summer.

"Whether our guests are coming to The Tattoo or enjoying a hundred and one other things on an evening in our extraordinary Festivals City, it is great to know that getting home at the close will be easy.”

Edinburgh’s Finest Care Home

We offer the highest quality, personalised nursing, dementia and respite care For more information or to arrange a tour, get in touch on 0131 336 1064 | enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk

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NEWS

Edinburgh Seven graduate at last At the graduations last month in Edinburgh there was one with special poignancy. The Edinburgh Seven were seven women who enrolled to study medicine in 1869. Mary Anderson, Emily Bovell, Matilda Chaplin, Helen Evans, Sophia Jex-Blake, Edith Pechey and Isabel Thorne were never allowed to graduate owing to pressure from their male peers.

150 years later the University of Edinburgh awarded the degrees posthumously.

Professor Peter Mathieson,

Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to confer the degrees rightfully owed to this incredible group of women. The segregation and discrimination that the Edinburgh Seven faced might belong to history, but barriers still exist that deter too many talented young people from succeeding at university. We must learn from these women and strive to widen access for all who have the potential to succeed.”

Current medical students

collected the degrees on behalf of the Edinburgh Seven. They are in the photograph here : Megan Cameron, Simran Piya, Professor Lorna Marson (Professor of Transplant Surgery), Ella Crowther, Professor Peter Mathieson (University Vice Chancellor and Principal), Siena Paramananthan, Professor Moira Whyte (Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine), Caitlin Taylor, Mei Yen Liew, Izzie Dighero PHOTO Douglas Robertson

Holiday lets need regulation

by Cliff Hague Chair of Cockburn Association The Scottish Government and our city council here in Edinburgh are trying to play catch-up as they chase the tails of the booming short-term holiday letting industry.

Words like “horse”, “stable door” and “bolted” come to mind.

It was early in 2018 that the Cockburn Association flagged up concerns about some of the negative impacts of the unregulated conversion of whole flats into mini-hotels.

Our report then recognised that short-term letting has a role to play, both for tourism and for business support, but also showed that “the proliferation of ‘AirBnB’ is having a significant impact on resident amenity and community cohesion.” Our conclusion was that effective regulation was urgently needed.

Instead of action we have had consultation and even

equivocation.

Of course, consultation is a good thing and can make decisions better informed.

However, in the case of the business of converting homes in Edinburgh to holiday rentals, a speedy response was needed.

The Scottish Government’s three-month consultation just ending has happened while the number of Edinburgh properties used for short-term lets has been growing exponentially. If there was a problem 18 months ago, it is a much bigger problem now.

In responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation paper, the Cockburn has said that whole property letting is the main issue that needs to be regulated. There should also be a presumption against short-term letting in tenements, where the introduction of commercially let properties can have a disruptive impact on the

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

communal nature of this type of building.

This presumption might be lifted if most individual property owners agreed with such a use.

We are also concerned that, in tenements, insurance cover and Title Deeds might restrict the use of a property for short-term lettings, meaning that in the event of major fire or flood the insurance might be deemed to be null and void, with serious implications for other owners on the stair.

With regard to key safes, we believe that addition regulation for tenement properties is required due to the communal nature of common stairs.

Consent of all owners/occupiers in a stair should be sought before any key safes are fixed to any part of the building.

NEWS IN BRIEF DOORS OPEN DAYS Remember that Edinburgh & East Lothian Doors Open Days 2019 will be held on 28th and 29th September with a series of talks leading up to the weekend itself. It allows you access to some of the buildings across Edinburgh which are not usually open to the public or where a fee would be payable.

It also allows you to find out more about the wonderful architecture that we enjoy every day.

ORGAN DONATION Legislation to introduce an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation for deceased donors will come into force in Autumn 2020. The new law will add to the package of measures already in place which have led to significant increases in donation and transplantation over the last decade.

It will follow a public awareness campaign of at least 12 months which will provide more information about what the changes mean and what choices people will have. Under the new law, if an adult does not opt-in or opt-out of donation they may be deemed to have authorised donation for transplantation. This is subject to the safeguards in the Act which seek to ensure that donation will not go ahead where it would be against the person’s wishes. guitarguitar Until 15th September, customers at the Corstorphine store have a chance to win some music related prizes including a guitar by signed Noel Gallagher and a gift card worth £1500. The shop is at 283-287 St John’s Road EH12 7XF. FAVOURITE DOUGHNUT Since opening their doors the Hermiston Gait and Fort Kinnaird stores have welcomed more than 1,087,044 doughnut-lovers. In that time over 4,252,413 of Krispy Kreme’s a-glaze-ing doughnuts have been purchased – that’s roughly four doughnuts per person. It’s the classic that reigns supreme - the Original Glazed was voted number one by Krispy Kreme

fans at both stores.

TRAINS ON TIME Scotrail tell us that over 90 per cent of trains have run on time during the best four week of performance since September last year.

These trains arrived at their destination within 4 minutes and 59 seconds of their timetabled arrival time. And they called at all their scheduled stations. The new timetable introduced in May has meant 'significantly fewer cancellations and improved capacity every day'.

THE PEOPLE’S STORY MUSEUM IS 30 Thirty years ago The People’s Story opened its doors for the first time. It centres around the story of ordinary people whose lives were lived here. This summer there is a brand new exhibition called The Making of the Museum exploring the story behind the creation of the museum itself. There are some objects you can actually get your hands on and others which are too precious : The Edinburgh Harriers Challenge Cup, a box of shirt collars and two suffragette badges from around 1910.

SAUGHTON PARK Saughton Park will officially open at the end of this month. Events on 31 August for the Saughton Park Grand Opening will include: Guided tours of the beautifully refurbished park by members of the Friends of Saughton Park Kids’ activities like face painting, hula hooping, magician A raffle with prizes Gardener’s Question Time event with George Anderson of The Beechgrove Garden fame and David Knott of RBGE Activities run by The Orchard Project including foraging walks, a bicycle-powered juicer, fruit giveaways Some refreshments/ food demos by the Garden Bistro Fun for all the family guaranteed!

Read the full article by Cliff Hague on our website.

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

We welcome contributions to our website and newspaper.

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Duncan - to Napier and beyond Richard Dixon - now Doctor Doctor!

Dr Richard Dixon, the environmental campaigner, received an honorary degree in science from Edinburgh Napier University last month.

Well known as Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland he got his fourth degree for combining his scientific knowledge with passionate campaigning.

Although he already has a PhD he was made a Doctor of Science in recognition of his contribution to sustainability.

Dublin-born Dr Dixon, who studied astronomy, astrophysics and energy systems and environmental management at university, joined FOE as head of research in 1994, working on

The creative thinker who sent Buzz Lightyear into space received an honorary degree from Edinburgh Napier University last month.

Former Disney executive Duncan Wardle received a Doctor of Business Administration at the Usher Hall.

Wardle graduated from Edinburgh Napier in 1986. He spotted an advert for a job at Disney on a campus noticeboard and went on

to secure a permanent position.

During his 30-year career with The Walt Disney Company, he worked all over the world, masterminding PR for the theme parks and founding the Creative Catalyst Team on his way to becoming Vice President of Innovation and Creativity.

He was involved in sending Buzz Lightyear on NASA’s space shuttle Discovery, from where he took

Operation Summer City

The 'Summer City' initiative, which runs each year, is Police Scotland’s campaign to keep the public safe over the duration of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Each year, the capital's population doubles, as hundreds of thousands of people from across the world visit to enjoy the various events and experiences that take place within the Festival.

A dedicated policing team will be out on patrol within the city centre over the coming weeks to engage with the public, deter criminal activity and respond to any incidents, which may arise.

In addition, the popular 'Unofficial Fringe Venue 999' - a

mobile police station, will once again be situated in Princes Street Gardens, with a further unit based in the Hunter Square area. Anyone wishing to obtain crime prevention and personal safety information, or to report a crime, is welcome to drop in.

Launching this year's campaign at the Radisson Blu Hotel on the High Street, officers wanted to stress that in addition to tackling the usual crime trends such as theft and disorder, particular focus is being given to deterring offences such as hate crime, serious violence and sexual assault.

Chief Inspector Murray Starkey is pictured alongside PS Janie Harman and PC Greig Stephen on the Royal Mile

issues as diverse as fish farming, climate change and bathing beaches.

Dr Dixon said: “I am really delighted to receive this very special honour. As the young people striking for the climate have clearly demonstrated, protecting the environment is particularly vital for them.

“The decisions we make today will fundamentally shape the future world they live in and Edinburgh Napier University is helping with the vital task of creating the next generation of climate-conscious decision makers and innovators. I am proud to be associated with such an important contribution to society.”

part in broadcasts back to earth, to launch the Toy Story Mania attraction.

Dr Wardle said: “I could not be more honoured nor proud to receive this most prestigious award from Edinburgh Napier University. If I could offer one word of inspiration to my fellow graduates, it would come from my mentor, Walt Disney – ‘If you can dream it, you can do it!’”

Plans for Custom House Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) and The City of Edinburgh Council have appointed Richard Murphy Architects to work on Custom House in Leith.

They have asked the firm to conduct a feasibility study to find ways of securing the building’s future for the benefit of the community of Leith and beyond.

This will provide a masterplan for the building to create a sustainable model.

It will be completed by the end of 2019.

Una Richards who is Chief

Executive of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, said:“The work that SHBT has undertaken so far to bring the building to life and draw people to the site has been very successful.

"As a result, Custom House is now a vibrant artistic hub, and we have brought new life to the Shore and to Commercial Street.

"This will continue to grow as the capital project to restore the building is developed.

"The feasibility study will set out the future vision for the Custom House and will see it given its place back in the heart of Leith, for

the community."

Cllr Donald Wilson, Convener of Culture and Communities for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is an important moment for Custom House and the Leith community.

"The building and the surrounding area share a rich history, with Custom House once acting as the main site of imports in Leith.

"The appointment of Richard Murphy Architects is the next step in developing the long-term masterplan for the future of building to the benefit of the Leith Community and beyond.”

8

The Edinburgh Reporter

POLITICS

Sick of waiting Ash Denham MSP

Christine Jardine MP

by Daniel Johnson MSP The indefinitely delayed opening of the New Hospital for Sick Children is the latest in a line of issues affecting hospitals across Scotland.

While a safety review has now been ordered to look at the reasons for the latest delay, staff, parents and children will be left in limbo and that simply isn’t good enough.

This has all followed repeated assurances throughout 2019 by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, that the opening would go ahead as planned on 2 July.

We were previously told the problems affecting the new building were all sorted and there was nothing more to worry about.

Then, just a matter days before the opening the indefinite delay

was announced.

If the problems affecting the new building are so serious to cause an indefinite delay, then how is it that the Cabinet Secretary only knew about them a few days before the planned opening?

Some serious questions need to be asked during the review.

This is technically the third delay to the project.

A project based on the beleaguered Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

A project where unorthodox payments have been made to the contractor, who was also used to construct the Queen Elizabeth.

These are the fundamental questions that Jeane Freeman should be asking.

Keep TV licences free!

Daniel Johnson MSP

by Ash Denham MSP I recently visited Age Scotland's national head office in the capital to learn more about the charity and to add my support to their campaign to retain the TV licence for over-75s.

Despite free TV licences being a key pledge of the Conservative

Gordon Macdonald MSP

Ian Murray MP

Party's election manifesto at the last General Elections, the decision has now been made to only offer free licences to over-75s who receive Pension Credit, with the new system set to be rolled out next year.

I'm supporting their campaign to keep TV licences free for all over 75s as I know that many people in this age group suffer from social isolation and loneliness. A TV can give them comfort and keep them connected to what's going on in the world.

It's vital that we keep TV licences free for over-75s as the cost of buying a TV licence could be a real barrier to many people.

Sign the Age Scotland petition to retain the TV licence www.ageuk. org.uk/

Disabled people deserve better

by Christine Jardine MP Many disabled people have negative experiences just trying to get on or off aircraft.

Last month I met representatives from EasyJet and Airlines UK to discuss how to solve this issue, and we agreed that we need to tighten up existing standards and properly enforce them.

Everyone should be able to travel without suffering indignity,

and I’ll be taking my campaign to government ministers once Parliament reconvenes after the summer.

From the welfare system to aircraft accessibility, disabled people have been treated unfairly.

A report published by the charity Scope, The Disability Price Tag, showed that our benefits system has left disabled people four time worse off financially than non-disabled people.

This is shocking and unacceptable.

I agree with the Disability Benefit Consortium, we need urgent reform.

Benefit cuts can mean people are unable to live independently and make their health conditions worse. We should be supporting vulnerable people rather than guiding them into poverty.

Disabled people deserve better.

The inevitable Prime Minister

by Ian Murray MP We all knew it was coming, but still nothing could quite prepare us for the confirmation that Boris Johnson is our new Prime Minister.

This is the man whose campaign bus during the Brexit referendum promoted the downright lie that leaving the EU would fund the NHS

by an extra £350million a week.

If he wants some real facts, this is what the EU means for Edinburgh: 5 per cent of all jobs are filled by workers from EU countries.

Edinburgh University received over £40million in EU research funding in 2017-18 and the financial services industry

provides £5billion for the economy and employs 50,000 people.

Boris Johnson wants to put all that at risk.

I remain firmly opposed to Brexit. It is in the best interests of Edinburgh, Scotland and the UK to work together across nations to solve the pressing issues of the day.

MEP protesting for cleaner air

Newly elected Liberal Democrat MEP Sheila Ritchie organised a protest along with Corstorphine Climate Action on St John's Road to bring the poor air quality to everyone's notice. There are figures from The Scottish Government which were analysed

by Friends of the Earth Scotland showing that St John's Road is one of the country's most polluted routes.

MEP said: “St John’s Road is one of the most highly polluted roads in the whole of Scotland according to Friends of the Earth. Despite pollution causing over 2,500 early deaths in Scotland every year, nitrogen dioxide limits set by the EU continue to be breached.

"There is a financial burden too with estimated costs to the

Scottish economy over £1.1 billion annually. Air pollution from traffic fumes has a major impact on health, especially on children and people with existing health conditions.

"Low emission zones offer a real opportunity but they must be properly designed, apply to the most polluting vehicles and be supported by measures to make public transport, walking and cycling the best choice for everyone."

The limit on nitrogen dioxide emissions that should have been met was set by the European Union. Sheila says this target limit for tiny particles known as PM10s is a Scottish statutory standard that was supposed to have been met by the end of 2010.

Sheila Ritchie MEP (centre) with Christine Jardine MP and clean air campaigners.

Edinburgh should lead against child poverty

by Councillor Scott Arthur Labour councillor for Colinton/ Fairmilehead.

There can be no doubt that child poverty in the UK is rising. Under the Brown/Blair Government it fell dramatically as a result of very significant additional spending on benefits and tax credits.

Since then things have gone backwards. The number of children living in poverty will hit 37% this year – more than 1 in 3 children. This exceeds the previous high of 34% recorded in the ‘90s.

The causes of child poverty are complex and the impact long lasting, but the combined impact of wage stagnation, high rents, unemployment and welfare reform combine to create the perfect storm in Edinburgh.

Recently the Edinburgh Trade Union Council (ETUC) wrote to a cross-party group of councillors

raising concerns about “holiday hunger” in our capital.

The Council is trying to address the issue via income maximisation (making sure families claim what they are entitled to) and via the excellent “Discover!” programme.

This complements the diverse range of work being undertaken across the city by charities, community groups and, no doubt, grandparents. It is estimated that Discover! will reach less than 10% of those eligible for free school meals – and it operates only 3 days a week from just 4 hubs in our capital.

Once the summer recess is over, I hope to again bring a motion to Council which will ask that we learn from Dumfries and Galloway Council, North Lancashire’s “Club 365”, North Ayrshire’s “Wrap, Run and Fun” and “Fife’s “Cafe inc“.

Edinburgh should be leading on fighting child poverty, not following others.

Local Politicians have their say

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Fringe Benefits

by Deidre Brock MP Here’s a good thing, something to cheer you up. A couple of days ago I had a fabulous time down at the Citadel Youth Centre with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

The Society is reaching out and giving children and their families a chance to engage with the huge arts festival that visits us every year.

With a bit of funding from the Scottish Government and Edinburgh Council the Fringe Society has got a new member of staff in place and a community outreach scheme. It wants to spread the benefits of the Fringe to the people who live in Edinburgh, especially children who don’t usually engage with it. It’s a fabulous thing to do.

The Citadel was alive with all kinds of workshops and

activities, street shows, food and excitement. Willy Barr is always the driving force at the Citadel but he was something else entirely when the Fringe visited – and he was obviously enjoying himself as well.

There will be free vouchers and bus tickets for some Citadel participants to get into the Fringe, too, so there might be some young folk getting inspired who might have missed out otherwise. There might even be a new performer or two in years to come – who knows?

This is an excellent thing to do; congratulations to the Fringe Society for getting it going and well done to the Citadel for hosting it so well.

I hope it makes you feel as happy as it made me.

The Drugs Laws Don’t Work

by Tommy Sheppard MP Last year 1187 people died in Scotland from a drug related death. This is a crisis. And the vast majority of these deaths did not need to happen.

Drugs laws are made at Westminster for the whole of the UK. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 hasn’t seriously been reviewed for nearly fifty years. It’s no longer fit for purpose. As a member of the Scottish Affairs Committee – I’m seeing the evidence of that in our current inquiry on drugs.

We’ve been hearing from experts, people with lived experience of addiction and those on the front line about how drugs policies in Scotland have been working – or, more accurately, not working.

People are dying. We can’t keep waging a War on Drugs that we can never win. We need policies and laws based on evidence.

Harm reduction must be our chief aim. Where countries have taken bold action, like decriminalisation and drug-consumption rooms, drugs-related deaths have dropped sharply. And contrary to opponents’ claims, there’s no evidence of more people taking drugs.

Only 10% of users have a problem with drugs. It’s frequently those who’ve already been let down by society who become ‘problem’ users – people who’ve experienced trauma in childhood or mental illness. Stigma is rife.

We need to provide treatment, not punishment. And we need it now.

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in 1988. It is given annually to men and women of science and technology whose professional achievements are judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity.

In April, this year’s winner Christiana Figueres told us that the 0.5 degrees meant the difference between increasing impacts such as water security, forced migration, environmental degradation in our seas and on our land.

But Greta Thunberg tells us, and the science backs this up, that lowering emissions is not enough.

We have to stop now if we are to reach the 1.5/2.0 target, or face the consequences detailed by Figueres.

9

Take up volunteering

by Gordon Lindhurst MSP Lothian MSP Gordon Lindhurst calls on people to volunteer at Cancer Research UK’s Corstorphine Superstore.

I visited the superstore last month where I met with their dedicated staff and volunteers working to support Cancer Research UK’s vital work.

During my visit, I was told about the need for volunteers to ensure fundraising efforts can continue, with even a couple of hours per week going a long way to helping out.

I saw first-hand how staff and volunteers support the work the charity do every day.

The superstore are in need of volunteers to help ensure that vital fundraising efforts which helped to raise £250,000 last year at the store can continue.

I would encourage everyone who

is able to give volunteering a go, even if it is just for a couple of hours a week.

The volunteering experience itself is hugely rewarding and can have many benefits for volunteers themselves.”

You can find out more about the volunteering opportunities by popping into the store at the Corstorphine Retail Park or applying online www. cancerresearchuk.org

Radical move to deal with Child Poverty

by Gordon Macdonald MSP Just before The Scottish Parliament broke up for Summer Recess, I was thrilled to hear the news that a new social benefit is being introduced, designed to lift children across Scotland out of poverty.

It’s a radical and very welcome announcement from The Scottish Government, and it’s been branded by anti-poverty campaigners as a “gamechanger”.

By the end of 2022, eligible families across Edinburgh will receive an extra £10 a week for every child under 16 – low income families with children under the age of six will receive the benefit in early 2021.

This means that eligible families with two children will receive

by Joanna Cherry QC MP It is a shocking fact that in my Constituency of Edinburgh South West 1400 pensioner households in are failing to collect some £4 million pounds. Many are suffering poverty.

This money is available through Pensioner Credit but you must apply for it. In Scotland just six out of every 10 households entitled to Pensioner Credit have claimed it, meaning £332 million a year goes uncollected.

Age Scotland has launched a campaign which allows pensioners to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit by simply phoning their free Helpline on 0800 12 44 222.

Last year, their advisers helped

Jeremy Balfour MSP

Joanna Cherry QC MP

£1,000 a year for day to day essentials from clothing to school equipment.

Once fully rolled out, the payment will benefit up to 410,000 children across Scotland.

This will not only support those in poverty but will also prevent those on the breadline from sliding under.

There is no cap on the number of children in eligible families.

Over 10,000 children and their families are set to be adversely affected in Edinburgh by the UK Government’s Two-Child Limit.

This move is exactly what we need if we are to reduce child poverty in the face of ongoing welfare cuts from the Tory government.

The revolting youth of Helping pensioners today overcome poverty

by Councillor Gordon Munro The youth of today are revolting and they are right to do so.

In her Edinburgh Medal address in April this year, Christiana Figueres, a recognised world leader on global climate change, told her audience that the young are seeking “intergenerational justice.”

Greta Thunberg is leading the way with her school strikes which are happening right here, right now as youth take up her call to get the grown ups to act, well, grown up.

They have a hard task as we don’t appear to be listening and we can’t say we were not told.

It is worth acknowledging here the significance of the Edinburgh Medal award which was instituted by the City of Edinburgh Council

POLITICS

callers claim almost £600,000. But large numbers of older people are missing out on money they are entitled to.

You can help by urging friends and family who are pensioners to find out if they are entitled to the extra benefit by speaking to Age Scotland's friendly helpline advisors.

It's shocking that thousands of pensioners in Edinburgh are missing out on money they deserve. They've worked hard, contributed throughout their lives and are entitled to a decent standard of living in retirement.

I'd encourage anyone who thinks they might be entitled to Pension Credit to call the free Age Scotland helpline for a benefit check.

Tommy Sheppard MP

Deidre Brock MP

Gordon Lindhurst MSP

Get in touch today!

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

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10 BUSINESS

Costume company Award winning travel agent in expands with Amazon Stockbridge

Owen Milloy from MORPHSUITS poses with Alin Popa from Amazon during a recent visit to the Dunfermline distribution centre.

The Edinburgh based company sells spandex costumes and is still growing fast even after a decade in business.

As the company has expanded their original warehousing and shipping arrangements have also had to increase their capacity.

They now use a service called

Fulfilment by Amazon which makes selling internationally a lot easier for smaller companies.

A business sends their products to Amazon who store them and then give the products Amazon Prime listing status.

Amazon deal with all the shipping arrangements making it easier for smaller firms to trade more efficiently.

PHOTO © Andy Buchanan 2019

Jimmy Martin Travel in Stockbridge has scooped the title of Scottish Agency of the Year (small) in the Agent Achievement Awards for the second year in a row.

The awards celebrate achievement in the front-line travel trade and the ceremony took place in London. More than 850 industry professionals attended the prestigious event.

Jimmy Martin Travel is based in Raeburn Place in Stockbridge in the capital and was established in 2001.

The owner himself has more than 30 years’ experience as a travel agent. The firm employs five staff with some having been there since the day the agency opened its doors.

Jimmy Martin, a former president of the Scottish Passenger Agent’s Association, said : “To win this award for the second year in a row is fantastic.

"Being recognised by our peers as the best in Scotland is

Holyrood Distillery now open The newest Edinburgh distillery (and the first single malt whisky distillery in the city for a century) is now open.

You can book a range of daily guided tours with tickets for adults starting at £14.

The last single malt distillery here, The Edinburgh Distillery or

Glen Sciennes, closed in 1925.

Holyrood Distillery will start with gin and move onto whisky in the fullness of time. It has been built within an 1831 railway goods shed on the edge of Holyrood Park.

There will be a shop as well as a distillery making this a new visitor attraction. Canadian Rob

Carpenter is behind the new venture. He established the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society with his wife Kelly and the Holyrood Distillery is a joint venture with David Robertson who has a quarter of a century's experience in the industry. 30 jobs have been created.

Leith Walk Police Box Pop up space Tuesdays & Thursdays - Moo pie Gelato - small batch ice cream produced in Leith.

Please check social media for times and dates. www.leithwalkpolicebox.com

great for our team and for our clients. In a world of value for money, increasing solo travel and concerns around traveling post Brexit, travel agents are

undergoing a renaissance and a resurgence in business. People value independent advice from experts and the safety net which a travel agent provides.

Edinburgh St James sign up new tenants

Edinburgh St James now has four brands from global retail group Inditex, including fashion powerhouse Zara, as tenants in the 1.7m square feet mixed-use destination at the heart of Edinburgh.

Zara will have a 37,000 sq ft store over three floors at Edinburgh St James, and Bershka, Stradivarius and Pull&Bear will take individual stores under 10,000 square feet all located within the main multilevel shopping galleria.

Next a five-screen Everyman Cinema, the city’s first W Hotel – W Edinburgh – and a luxury Roomzzz aparthotel.

Due to open its retail and restaurant element in 2020, the £1bn development is one of the most significant regeneration projects currently underway in the UK, and certainly the biggest in Edinburgh.

Martin Perry, Director of Development at Edinburgh St James, commented: “Edinburgh St James is being created to reflect Edinburgh’s position as

a pan-European opportunity city with a thriving economy and unique appeal. The signing of four Inditex brands to take prime locations within Edinburgh St James reinforces the development’s significance and highlights its appeal to leading international brands. Our vision is to deliver a destination that builds on Edinburgh’s famous calendar of events with our nine events spaces, and delivering a collection of handpicked brand partners in order to curate a world-class offering.”

Wednesdays & Fridays and selected Sundays 11.00am to 6.00pm - Tipico quality nuts, dried fruits plus delicious Sicilian confectionery Saturday mornings - Edinburgh Tool Library 10.30am to 12.30pm Join up and borrow tools. Workshop space and classes.

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New hotel is a capital bloomer The hotel group which is renowned for its passionate staff and thoughtful service, the Red Carnation Hotel Collection will open a hotel in Scotland for the first time.

Red Carnation aim to turn the former Royal Overseas League into the number one hotel in Edinburgh. The luxury hotel collection has plans to renovate 100 Princes Street, transforming it into a highly exclusive retreat.

With uninterrupted views of Edinburgh Castle, 100 Princes Street will have the boutique atmosphere of Forbes Five Star-rated sister property Hotel 41, which has retained the position of TripAdvisor’s number one hotel

in London for over ten years as well as the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Best Hotel in the UK for the last three.

The award-winning hotel company behind the loving restoration of Ireland’s Ashford Castle, once home to the Guinness family, will bring the same meticulous care and attention to the listed building’s interior, embracing its history and heritage and using the finest local artisans and suppliers. 100 Princes Street will reopen in 2020 as Red Carnation Hotels’ 19th property worldwide.

The hotel group is run by the Tollman family, principally by Mrs Bea Tollman who opened

the first Red Carnation Hotel the Chesterfield in London in 1984 with her husband Stanley.

Although she is now in her eighties, she is very hands on receiving reports on all of her hotels each day. She is also reputed to be a generous giver of Christmas presents to each one of her 4,000+ staff, so this hotel may be a good place to work when it opens next year.

Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director of Red Carnation Hotels, the award-winning hotel company which restored Ireland’s Ashford Castle, said: “It has been a dream of ours to open a hotel in Edinburgh for some time, and with the best address in the city, it was well worth the wait."

BUSINESS 11

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New garage at the Gyle

D&G Autocare, Scotland’s leading independent garage group, with sixteen locations across Fife, Tayside, the Lothians and the Central Belt, has increased its presence in the capital with a new £100.000 garage facility at South Gyle Crescent.

The multi award winning garage group, launched in Dunfermline

fifteen years ago by George Simpson and David Hunter, already has a garage in Edinburgh, based at Stevenson Road.

The new South Gyle garage, headed up by experienced autocare professional, Kenneth Miller, offers a full servicing provision, and includes an MOT station for both Classes 4 and 7.

YOTEL Edinburgh YOTEL Edinburgh, the tech-inspired hotel group’s first city centre hotel in Europe, officially opened its doors on Queen Street just before the festivals started.

To celebrate its opening it has launched One Night Stand-Up , an incredible city first initiative – offering free hotel rooms to Edinburgh Festival Fringe performers throughout the festival.

The 276-room property will offer 10 complimentary cabins (YOTEL speak for rooms) per night, with a total of 240 throughout August.

YOTEL Edinburgh will give both up-and-coming and established Fringe performers looking for much needed accommodation, the chance to enjoy a night in Edinburgh’s newest and perhaps smartest hotel.

Now in Scotland!

6 HOTELS IN 4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

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

The initiative invites accredited Fringe performers to take part in a series of open-mic sessions, from 12 noon – 1.00pm each day for the entire Festival (2 – 26 August), for a chance to win a free night’s accommodation.

Those who receive the best reception from hotel guests will be rewarded with a complimentary stay that night in the hotel, becoming some of the first guests to experience YOTEL Edinburgh.

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

The Edinburgh Reporter

12 NEWS

Dignity Boxes scrub up their own look

Charity Dignity Boxes got a new look after collaborating with graphic design student Emily Geraghty and Myles Robertson, Business Management and Entrepreneurship student, from Edinburgh Napier University.

They have both worked with Isabel Dosser who is founder of the charity to produce a new look including a new logo, posters and other graphics and a website to help spread the word.

Isabel is a lecturer in palliative care within the University’s School of Health and Social Care. She launched Dignity Boxes last year to provide free basic toiletries to those who need them.

The first box was presented at

leading homeless charity Social Bite’s Shandwick Place shop in September last year and in the last 10 months it has been joined by 22 other boxes across Edinburgh and West Lothian.

These boxes supply products such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, shower gel, toothpaste and toothbrushes free of charge to those who cannot afford them.

After 15 years of service at Edinburgh Napier and 30 years in nursing practice prior to joining the University, she is getting set to go full-time with Dignity Boxes as

she looks ahead to helping even more people live their lives with dignity.

No Families!

by David Bol Local Democracy Reporter Bus bosses have been accused of “discriminating against families” after it emerged a long-delayed contactless payment method can only be used to buy adult tickets.

Scottish Water on the beat

Police officers on the beat during the summer months have been issued with a new piece of kit to help them top up from the tap.

The 150 officers who will patrol Edinburgh’s city centre streets in August have all been issued with new water refill bottles.

Scottish Water has gifted the blue metal bottles to the all members of Police Scotland’s Operation Summer City to encourage them to stay hydrated and to top up from the tap while on duty.

Some of the team came along to fill up their new bottles at the utility’s water refill point outside the Scottish Parliament – and said the lightweight bottles would help them stay hydrated on the go.

Chief Inspector Murray Starkey,

silver command for the operation, said: “I know all too well how tiring foot patrol can be when you are a police officer and having ready access to free and clean drinking water and a refill bottle can make all the difference, particularly during the summer months.

"We are extremely grateful to Scottish Water for supplying refill bottles to our officers who will be deployed as part of Operation Summer City when the population of the city doubles as visitors come to see shows and enjoy the party atmosphere.

"With the addition of the top-up tap outside the Scottish Parliament – which is part of our festival route - we can ensure our policing teams stay hydrated while they serve the community."

Lothian Buses launched a new contactless payment service on Wednesday – but parents have been left fuming after it was confirmed that child and family tickets cannot be paid for with the contactless technology.

In other cities including Glasgow, contact payments can be used to purchase all tickets, including for families.

Mother of two, Jane Bushell, said the failure to allow child and family

tickets was “very disappointing”.

She added: “It’s completely useless to me if I cannot pay for myself and a child.

"They have missed a great opportunity to make life easier for parents.Sometimes if you are out with your child and they are tired, you just want to hop on a bus.

"We’ve ended up walking home instead because I haven’t had the right change.”

Buying in Edinburgh? A mortgage from the Scottish could be right up your street At the Scottish, we’ve been helping people in Edinburgh and the Lothians buy their homes since 1848. As Scotland’s only independent building society and a mutual organisation, we’re committed to giving all our customers a more personalised service. We underwrite every case individually and offer a wide range of mortgages so you can get the one that’s right for you.

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YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

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14 NEWS

On the shortlist for Kelpies Prizes Floris Books just announced the shortlists for the Kelpies Prize and Kelpies Illustration Prize 2019. These awards aim to recognise new Scottish writing and illustration for children.

Entrants were asked to provide a selection of writing or illustrations suitable for a children’s book. A spokesman said : “We’ve been delighted to receive more entries than ever before - there was so much skill and talent on display.

The winners will be announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday 15th August.

Each winner will receive a year of mentoring with Floris Books, a publishing deal and £1,000 cash.”

We met a couple of the finalists one writer and one illustrator.

Christopher Mackie a dentist from Edinburgh who tells stories to his young patients to put them at their ease. He met with us and told us of his motivation for writing.

"I started writing books about four years ago. I was working at a practice down in England when I first started and it was getting renovated so we had a lot of free time while that was happening. So I originally started writing books for children and then the book I was writing became something more appropriate for young adults and teenagers.

"It was just to put put patients at ease and relaxing them. As I

wrote a bit more I was getting more interested in mental health so the book that I submitted for the competition is about mental health in teenage boys and young men. A lot of it is based around the rise of young male suicides in recent years and how the family who are left behind deal with this.

This includes a younger boy who is the younger sibling.

"I became interested as a result of a personal experience when I knew of a family in England.

The older brother had committed suicide and I became aware that the family were dealing with the fall out from that. I started looking into the suicide rates and decided to write about it from the point of view of a young teenager and how they might deal with it."

Far from being a depressing read this is a book with comedy and light heartedness in it. But Christopher admits it has a grim opening. He continued : "The book opens with that event and from there it becomes a bit more of a mystery or adventure where the teenage boy who has mental health issues of his own is trying to understand his older brother and what happened and why his older brother took his own life.”

Aimée Ferrier is a teacher and often uses hand made textures in her work. She is from Portobello and has always loved drawing.

She did not start illustrating until

three years ago when she decided to take a break from teaching and study for an illustration HND at Edinburgh College. At present she is in Japan teaching English.

She explained : "I'm a big fan of creating lots of messy textures and then manipulating them digitally, a bit like collage work. I also teach English in high school and to young learners from abroad so I've always loved using picture books and illustration to help foster literacy.

"I submitted illustrations from a picturebook I've been writing and designing since college which is called 'King Ott'. It's about a gigantic otter who is discovered living in a loch in the Highlands, pretending to be a crannog, so my illustrations show him erupting from the water and holding a little girl in a tiny wee boat to show just how massive he is. I wanted to express not just interesting human and animal characters but to reflect the natural beauty of the places I used to visit as a child up on the West Coast like Arisaig, Glen Coe and Morar.

"Winning would mean a lot to me because I've always been inspired by the power picturebooks have to connect not just with children but with the adults reading them too. As a teacher and auntie, I love reading stories to my students and nieces and being able to see how a book is making them feel

and sharing their emotions as we read together. To be able to see my own stories, these little pieces of my imagination being shared and enjoyed by others would be a dream come true.

"I'm currently in Japan teaching English to young women who are aiming to become teachers themselves. I've been using picturebooks in my lessons and showing them how to create

Henning Wehn

Aug 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-25 7pm £16.50 (1 Aug preview £13.50)

Phamie Gow & Phriends Blue Rose Code The Singing Sixties Anais Mitchell Scottish Jazz & Beyond Blazin' Fiddles + Emily Smith

activities and crafts using the stories to engage young learners in using English. I've been creating pop-up monster cards with them and showing them how to 'perform' when reading a picturebook, so it's been giving me some great ideas for future projects!

"I'm coming home soon though: I love Japan but I miss Scotland too much!"

WHAT’S ON IN JULY Theatre Art Music Shows Festivals

At the Galleries

This month there is a lot of art and culture in Edinburgh some of which is part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

There are major international surveys and retrospectives on Bridget Riley and Cut and Paste 400 Years of Collage, both presented by National Galleries of Scotland, Trisha Brown:Time Space Gravity at Jupiter Artland; Russia : Royalty and the Romanovs at The Queen’s Gallery and Wild and Majestic : Romantic Visions of Scotland at National Museum of Scotland We are looking forward to

November when the new exhibition Classical Edinburgh opens at City Art Centre. It will connect the work of architectural photographers Edwin Smith and Colin McLean whose images - created half a century apart - celebrate all of our beautiful buildings in the capital.

There will also be an accompanying photography competition.

Dundas Street galleries have got together to create a series of breakfast events this month on a Thursday morning at 8.30.

Booking essential - details below

The Big Yin’ brings stand-up comedy tour to the Big Screen

Legendary Scottish comedian, Sir Billy Connolly, is bringing a snapshot of his career in comedy to the big screen, with an exclusive film performance of Billy Connolly: The Sex Life of Bandages.

Hailed as the UK’s most influential comedian of all time, Connolly’s final stand-up tour will be shown in Vue Edinburgh Ocean and Vue Edinburgh Omni on 10 October 2019, as part of a one-night-only screening.

The brilliantly witty routine from his Australian tour in 2015, dictates a riotous journey filled with outrageous tales and blistering observations of everyday absurdities.

The whip-smart screening will muse upon Connolly’s

career in comedy, which was filmed exclusively for cinema audiences prior to his Billy’s retirement in 2016 following his diagnosis with Parkinsons Disease.

Johnny Carr, Event Cinema Manager at Vue commented: “We are delighted to bring this exclusive screening to venues across the UK. “The Sex Life of Bandages is a big screen tribute to an iconic funny-man whose sharp wit and anarchic storytelling is still as hilarious as ever.”

Tickets are available now at www. myvue.com or at your local venue.

Wild and Majestic : Romantic Visions of Scotland

This brand new exhibition tells the story about tartan, bagpipes and rugged, wild landscapes now established as enduring, internationally recognised symbols of Scottish identity.

Scotland has become established as a land of wilderness, heroism and history, and after a visit to NMS you will understand why.

Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland covers the timeline from the final defeat of the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 to the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

Efforts were made to preserve and revive Highland traditions after that time. Scotland’s relationship with the European Romantic movement transformed what people thought about the Highlands and allowed he birth of Scottish tourism.

Over 300 objects are on display, drawn from the collections of National Museums Scotland and

38 lenders across the UK. The objects tell a story with a stellar cast, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It was Victoria who loved the Highlands and made a home at Balmoral where she retreated to after the death of the Prince Consort.

Dr Patrick Watt, exhibition curator, said: “This is a contested, complex history, and also a fascinating one. There are competing claims, still, over the extent to which those symbols of Scotland we see today are Romantic inventions, or authentic expressions of an ancient cultural identity.

"Using material evidence, we will examine the origins and development of the dress, music, and art which made up the Highland image. We will show how cultural traditions were preserved, idealised and reshaped to suit contemporary tastes against a background of political agendas, and economic and social change.”

Until 10 November 2019 at National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street nms.ac.uk/wildandmajestic #wildandmajestic

Edinburgh Book Fringe 2019

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Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk

by Rosemary Kaye Edinburgh is a reader's paradise.

Few other cities can beat it for the variety and quality of its bookshops; new, old, specialist, weird – you can browse them all here.

This August two of the very best, Golden Hare Bookshop, Stockbridge and Lighthouse Books, West Nicolson Street, are getting together to offer you the Edinburgh Book Fringe.

The Book Fringe was started in 2009 by Elaine Henry, owner of

Word Power Books (Lighthouse Books’ previous incarnation) to bring together readers and writers, some of whom would not get a platform elsewhere, in a comfortable and intimate setting, and to encourage a real exchange of ideas and information. Early speakers included Mark Thomas, Blake Morrison, Tom Leonard, Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett.

Accessibility was and remains key. Admission to all events is free.

Events take two forms: Golden Hare hosts panels and conversations in early-evening slots, while Lighthouse offers lunchtime events at 1.00pm. The programme reflects the character of each shop, with this year’s topics set to cover everything from exile literature and queer writing to translated fiction, polemic, poetry, politics and history. Speakers will include Deborah Levy, Rawan Yaghi, Derek Owusu, Elif Shafak, Bedtime Stories Collective, Mia Violet, Marina Warner, Dan Richards and James Meek.

16 WHAT'S ON

Theatre Art Music Shows Festivals

Our Pick of the Fringe THE DOTS Helen has an unhealthy obsession with her group. After a traumatic break-up a few years ago, she focused all of her energy into The Dots. The stakes are VERY high and this Edinburgh show means EVERYTHING to her. Not only does it have the potential to make The Dots a household name, but Helen’s happiness depends on it! It CANNOT be cancelled. So who will these replacements be?

Literally who is available? Are you?

Regardless, the show MUST go on!

Come join The Dots for old fashioned slapstick with a modern twist, an assortment of musical genres and a good dollop of The Play That Goes Wrong. Will they strike the right chord? Will they B flat? Can Helen stave the day? Venue 119 - The George Hotel - Princes Suite 3-25 August 2019 8.00pm

BRICE: BIN WONDERING Brice is back but he’s not the same. Still silly, but not the same…

After a turbulent year of choices that couldn’t be unmade, and drinks that couldn’t be undrunk.

Ali Brice decided to start living the life he wanted, to be the change he wanted to see in his world, but 6 months later Ali is in his pants and in a bin. He’s on his own, but Ali’s rarely stumped for company.

Join him for his sixth show of whip-sharp crowd work, charming storytelling with his trademark absurd characters.

Directed by Jonny Freeman who is returning to the Fringe having previously co-written and directed The Kagools first smash-hit Edinburgh shows Kagoolio. Star of

stage and screen, his recent credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Midsomer Murders and he is also the man in a kaftan (current Monzo advert).

“This is my tenth fringe. I’ve finally done some soul searching, so I got in a bin… where I found all my flyers.”

Venue 327 Heroes@The SpiegelYurt at 5.00pm 1-25 August (not 13th)

THE KAGOOLS CIRQUE DU KAGOOL Multi award-winning UK physical comedy duo, The Kagools, bring their exciting new show 'Cirque du Kagool' to Edinburgh.

Roll up! Roll up! And step into a fantastical world of ridiculous circus stunts, inspired illusions and impromptu strong woman competitions. How will they get over their vertigo for the trapeze?

What are we going to do now the ringmaster has passed out? Why is there a darts competition in a circus?

Join The Kagools as they continue to propel silent comedy into the 21st Century with their trademark anarchic antics. It's a circus, but not as you know it.

The Kagools said: “Brand new show Cirque du Kagool is our fourth, most ambitious and idiotic show yet. We learnt hula-hoop, chin balancing and forward rolls for this circus extravaganza, it's deathdefying stuff. Better see it before one of us gets a blister.”

31 July – 26 August 6.15pm (1hr) Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Downstairs (Venue 24) 3 Chambers Street, EH1 1HT

DAVE BIBBY: CRAZY CAT LAD-y Critically acclaimed comedian

Dave Bibby (Channel 4, Netflix and Comedy Central) is back with a one-man variety show with a conveyor belt of comedy characters, stand up, sketches, storytelling, cat stories and sick ass rhymes.

A comedy show about LAD culture, millennial masculinity and how it affects mental health... but funny. Dave said: “I think this show sums up what the Free Fringe is all about. It's the most heartfelt and ambitious thing I've ever written yet completely and unashamedly silly. “ 3 – 25 August (not 13) 4.45pm PBH Free Fringe – The Globe Bar (venue 161) Niddry Street, EH1 1LG MIGRANT’S SON While enjoying a traditional Greek feast you’ll traverse 100 years from Russia to the Australian outback

– following the hardship, ingenuity, tragedy and triumph present in all migrants’ stories. Michaela Burger was the recipient of the award for Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe 2016, Best Cabaret weekly Adelaide Fringe 2019, inaugural Frank Ford Award 2019 and a Helpmann Award-nominee for Best Cabaret Performer 2016 and 2019.

She is the co-writer and star of the hit show Exposing Edith - which has appeared to sell out audiences throughout Australia, New Zealand

Edinburgh Art Festival 2019 - our top choices

Deer Dancer is a project by Finnish-English artist, vocalist and musician Hanna Tuulikki presented by Edinburgh Printmakers from their fabulous new building previously the North British Rubber Company in Fountainbridge.

The project investigates deer mimesis within traditional dance and is an audio-visual installation.

It is presented alongside a new series of prints Collective presents Migratory Motor Complex by 2014 Turner Prize nominee James Richards in the newest contemporary art gallery on Calton Hill.

Richards’ exhibition features Migratory Motor Complex (2017), a six-channel electro-acoustic installation that explores the

capacity of sound to render artificial spaces and locate sonic and melodic events within them.

The work is tuned in situ to create a cinematic and multi-sensory experience.

Gateway by Portuguese sculptor Joana Vasconcelos is a new addition to Jupiter Artland’s landscape. It is an intricately designed pool set within a landscaped formal garden and accompanied by a delicate glass dome space. Expect 11,500 hand-painted and glazed tiles traditionally manufactured in her native Portugal with swathes of brightly coloured motifs.

Intimate at The Fine Art Society is a group exhibition of portraiture, depicting sitters with whom the artist is close. Works from the early 20th century through to

pieces by contemporary artists including John Byrne, Jennifer McRae, Norman McBeath, Niall McDiarmid, Ishbel Myerscough, Eduardo Paolozzi feature Sculptor Nicole Farhi presents Writing Heads, a sculpted and painted series of 25 busts of 20th century novelists and playwrights, from Françoise Sagan to Muriel Spark and Samuel Beckett.

The City Art Centre presents an exhibition devoted to the work of one of Scotland’s most celebrated artists, Victoria Crowe.

Embracing every aspect of her practice, Victoria Crowe:50 Years of Painting includes over 150 paintings, covering her whole career to date with student paintings to the more recent landscapes and portraits.

and the UK. Other career highlights include Rumpelstiltskin (Southbank Centre London, Windmill & State Theatre of SA), The Merry Widow (State Opera of SA), Can You Hear Colour?

(Adelaide Festival/Patch Theatre), Brel (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) and Cranky Bear (Patch Theatre).

Venue 119 : Imagination Workshop – The George 19-21 George Street EH2 2PB Dates: 14 to 26 August 2019 Time: 5.30pm (7.00pm) Box office: 0131 507 0669 COMFORT FOOD CABARET Yes it really has food in it!

Michelle sings, she cooks and

now Australia's singing cook is set to return to Edinburgh with her award-winning musical cooking sensation Imagination Workshop - v119 | The George Hotel, 19-21 George Street, EH2 2PB 4-13 August (not 5 or 10) 5:15PM (90 minutes) Includes 3-course dinner.

After a sold out 2018 Fringe debut the popular cabaret cooking sensation will be performed as a three-course dinner Pearson’s unique musicalfoodie experience merges home style dining with cooking demonstrations and traditional musical cabaret. The Aussie songstress weaves together her heartfelt and hilarious tales as well as her personal recipes which are served to the audience over three courses as they enjoy live music and song.

festival in a brand new show: ‘Cherie – My Struggle’ Barrister, mother, prime ministerial consort and all-round superwoman, Cherie has never received the appreciation she deserves. She was the most talented ‘other half’ ever to occupy Number 10, and yet she was constantly vilified in the press.

Cherie puts the record straight.

‘Cherie – My Struggle’ is an intimate, gossipy memoir recounting Cherie’s amazing journey from an obscure Liverpool convent to the epicentre of power in Westminster.

She spills the beans on the New Labour years, and delivers her uncensored thoughts about Alistair Campbell, Carole Caplin, John Smith, Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, the Queen, Princess Anne, Margaret Thatcher, Gordon Brown, and of course her dad, the TV star, Tony Booth.

The show is lightly comedic but it’s not a satire or a spoof. The gossip and the historical details are drawn from verifiable sources.

Cherie herself would enjoy the show. (Gordon wouldn’t).

Imagination Workshop George Hotel 19-21 George Street EH2 2PB 10.30am 2-25 August (not 9 or 19)

CHERIE MY STRUGGLE Cherie comes to the Edinburgh

August at the cinema

by Adam Zawadzki In August expect a feast of both small arthouse features and action packed big hitters.

Inspired by the music of Bruce Springsteen, ‘Blinded by the Light’ opens on 9 August 2019. Directed

by Gurinder Chadha (Viceroy’s House), this coming-of-age musical comedy takes inspiration from the life of British journalist Sarfraz Manzoor who co-wrote the screenplay.

It tells the story of how the music of Springsteen changes the life of a British-Pakistani Muslim teenager forever.

With Jacob Tremblay (Room) in the main role, you could be forgiven for believing ‘Good Boys’, released on 16 August 2019, to be a nice little film that is suitable for children but with Seth Rogan (Pineapple Express) co-producing, it is anything but.

Rated R in the United States, it

means 12-year-old Tremblay won’t be old enough to watch it. I predict a riot!

Former Edinburgh lawyer Gerard Butler (The Phantom of the Opera) returns to our screens as the eponymous character of American Secret Service agent Mike Banning in ‘Angel Has Fallen’, which hits the silver screen on 21 August 2019. In this third installment of the Olympus Has Fallen film series, he is framed for a failed assassination of President Allan Trumbull played by Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption).

With a high pedigree of talent that includes Rosamund Pike (A Private War), Clive Owen (Closer), Joel Kinnaman (Robocop) and Common (Selma), ‘The Informer’ will arrive on 30 August 2019 with the thrilling promise of crime, power and undercover operations that will hopefully match the quality of its ensemble cast.

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Pick of the Fringe - Army @ The Fringe Army @ The Fringe is at Hepburn House Reserve Centre at 89 East Claremont Street Venue 210. As well as the shows there is the Mess Bar and Field Kitchen for you to enjoy. When the weather is good you can sit out in the courtyard bar - how perfect!

Here is a selection of what you might go and see : Unicorns Almost Unicorns Almost will celebrate the life and poetry of Keith Douglas who is widely regarded as the best poet of the Second World War. He had four engagements and died just three days after the Normandy D-Day landings.

This play tells the story of his desperate race to get his poems printed.

Written by Welsh poet, playwright and novelist Owen Sheers, this has had a successful run in Hay-onWye and in Normandy during the 75th anniversary celebrations.

Dead Equal In an innovative move this Fringe show uses opera to give the unsung heroes of the British Army, the women, their voice.

Dead Equal is a pioneering production brought to the Fringe

by Palmer & Hall.

The story weaves together testimonies from servicewomen of today with the untold story of Flora Sandes and Emily Simmonds. They were volunteer nurses who saved thousands of lives on the Balkan Front during the First World War.

Bomb Happy Bomb Happy marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day and brings to life first hand accounts of five Normandy veterans. It toured in 2017 and generated many excellent reviews

These are ordinary lads who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Veterans who are now in their nineties, Ken Smith, Ken Cooke and Bert Barritt will come to Edinburgh with the cast.

Hallowed Ground We are very familiar with Dr Elsie Inglis here in Edinburgh. She founded the Scottish Women's Hospitals and was so eminent during her lifetime that her funeral was held in St Giles Cathedral.

Now Army@TheFringe bring her story back to Edinburgh.

One of the women who worked in the hospitals was Australian surgeon Lilian Violet Cooper.

Her story as well as those of others who showed courage and endurance features in Hallowed Ground.

The Happiness Project This play relates the stories of five people. The cast is from Creative Electric who originally performed it at the Biscuit Factory. The idea is to explore the fact that the majority of 16-30 year-olds only experience physical contact when they are having sex. There is no platonic handholding or cuddling up to your pals watching TV. Expect moments of awkwardness need and violence! www.armyatthefringe.org

The staff of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society celebrated World Fringe Edinburgh hosts the world’s oldest Fringe Festival and on the same day each year there are celebrations for all of the 200 festivals which take place from New Zealand to Hawaii. Here the fringe is an open access festival allowing anyone with a story to tell and a venue to host them to come here in August. Do you have a tale about your Fringe experience? Get in touch! Tweet us your story @EdinReporter.

WHAT'S ON 17

At The Queen’s Hall

Henning Wehn 7.00pm (1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-25) Henning is a stalwart of Live At the Apollo and Have I Got News For You. He is the German Comedy Ambassador and you must not miss this show.

7 August 8.00pm Phamie Gow & Phriends is billed as classical Celtic and African/Jazz Twist.

She is one of the most gifted and versatile composer-performers who has played in many cities around the world including New York's Carnegie Hall. One night only.

12 August 8.00pm The Singing Sixties: Featuring Ian McCalman and Barbara Dickson. Possibly this will be beyond your own memory but 40 Scottish folk stars remember singing in Sandy Bell's and will be performing the same songs they sang then.

13 August 8.00pm Scottish Jazz & Beyond (Parts 1/2/3) Graeme Stephen's The River, The Fergus McCreadie Trio and Tom Bancroft's In Common. Jazz and Blues. Simple.

14 and 21 August 8.00pm Blazin’ Fiddles with Emily Smith. A special Fringe night with the Scots Singer of the Year.

19 August 9.00pm Blue Rose Code: This is Caledonian Soul. We have said before that The Queen's Hall has some of the best gigs.

Well that is never more true than tonight. Ross Wilson who is BRC will be helped out on stage by a 14-piece band and some special guests - oh like Julie Fowlis....

20 August 8.00pm Anais Mitchell from Vermont is steeped in narrative folksong, poetry and balladry. She is the writer behind the simply magnificent and prophetic Hadestown. The musical was staged at the National Theatre in London before it transferred to Broadway to win no fewer than 8 Tony Awards. If you are headed for New York it has to be on your list.

Mitchell is an award winning singer who has headlined all over the world.

18 WHAT'S ON

Theatre Art Music Shows Festivals

The Trojan Women at EICC The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has an open door policy - anyone can put on a show here.

And this was never more appropriate than for the cast of the play The Trojan Women.

The women are Syrian refugees

and got together through theatre workshops.

The workshops helped them forge new relationships, learn English and get through bouts of depression and loneliness.

They have already staged the play

in Glasgow to standing ovations and now they are bringing it to Edinburgh for one performance only.

You can donate to a crowfunder to help with costs.

7 August 2019 EICC at 4.30pm

Edinburgh Art Festival 2019 The Future is Inside Us, It’s not Somewhere Else by artist Nathan Coley is displayed in Parliament Hall as part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2019 Commissions Programme Stories for an Uncertain World The 16th edition of Edinburgh Art Festival is officially underway, running from 25 July – 25 August 2019.

The major platform for the visual arts as part of Edinburgh’s worldfamous summer festival season, EAF 2019 features the work of

over 300 artists from Scotland and across the world, presenting over 50 exhibitions.

There are more than 140 events across a hugely diverse range of galleries, venues and historic and unexpected spaces throughout the city, includng the interior of St Bernard's Well.

Sorcha Carery EAF Director said she was excited to be opening up new parts of the city such as Parliament Hall and the French Institute which is home to EAF. (Pick up a useful map there!)

Summer Fair Party Join Edinburgh Leisure on 8 August 2019 for two hours of all the fun of a summer fair plus soft play at Clambers, where little ones can climb their walls and burn off all the pent-up energy, plus a disco plus a free healthy slush to keep cool.

As well as the usual fun, there’ll be all the summer fair favourites including hook a duck, coconut shy, wet sponge throwing and much more.

At Royal Commonwealth Pool, Dalkeith Road, EH16 5BB To book:call 0131 667 7211 or in person at the venue Cost: Non-members - £10; Soft play members - £7.50; 0-11 months - £5.00

At Topping & Company

The newest bookshop in town will be Topping & Company Booksellers on Blenheim Place which will open this month. Before then you can buy tickets for some literary events.

On 16 August Sir Max Hastings will talk about the Dambusters at Ps and Gs Church 10 Broughton Street EH1 3RH. Doors will open at 7.30pm This event begins at the bookshop at 2 Blenheim Place at 6.00pm when you may get a tour of the finished bookshop.

Then the event continues at the church in Broughton Street where Hastings will offer a fresh account of the Dambusters raid during the Second World War in his latest book Chastise:The Dambusters Story 1943.

On 29 August 2019 there will be an event with the Queen of Crime, Val McDermid.

At 6.00pm you are invited for a ‘glass of something’ and a tour of the bookshop. Then the audience will gather at Greenside Church just up the hill on Royal Terrace for an evening in the company of the author of the new book How the Dead Speak. Val will talk about the story involving her characters Tony Hill and Carol Jordan who make a shocking discovery…

You can buy a ticket for the event which includes a copy of the book for £18.99, but an early bird ticket for £8 can be redeemed against a copy of the book. And the scholar ticket for students and school pupils at £5.00 each is also redeemable against a copy of the book. In September they welcome Gyles Brandreth, David Stafford, William Dalrymple, Robert Harris, Nikita Gill, Ambrose Parry, Chris Ryan and Shamil Thakrar one of the founders of Dishoom.

Phew what a line-up!

Topping & Company have shops in Ely, St Andrews and Bath with the opening at Blenheim Place of their latest shop. edinburgh@toppingbooks.co.uk

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20 NEWS

Out and about in Edinburgh During the last month we have been out taking photos as ever, Here are some of the things we have seen (and in admiration and remembrance of Rutger Hauer who died just as we were going to press “Chew, if only you could see what I have seen with your eyes.�)

On Page 20 there are photos taken during the Open Streets event in the city centre on 7 July.

The bottom photo on this page shows Craig and Charlie Reid on stage at one of the Concerts at the Castle. We also welcomed Kylie and Paul Weller who got warm welcomes on the esplanade.

The photo on Page 21 of two ladies holding a kimono aloft features Lorna MacGregor and

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editor@ theedinburghreporter.co.uk @EdinReporter

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Charlotte Canby of Bonhams showing off Lot 45, one of the items to be included in the Asian Auction in July at Bonhams Edinburgh showroom.

This is a furisode silk kimono and obi (sash) and it is the most formal style of kimono.

Made of very fine, brightly coloured silk, it is worn by young unmarried women in Japan, most commonly when celebrating Coming of Age Day the year they turn 20.

So these are some of the places we have been - do share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter. And have a look at this month's Reader's Photo for inspiration!

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NEWS 21

The Edinburgh Reporter

22 FEATURE

Cityfibre - digital advice and cultural support The company behind the city's fibre rollout not only teaches people about the digital age, but it also enables cultural inclusion by paying for free tickets to Fringe events.

People of all ages from across the Capital have learned the essentials of the modern digital world and how to stay safe online – thanks to CityFibre’s partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

CityFibre – which is investing more than £100m to bring full fibre digital connectivity to Edinburgh as part of its strategic partnership with Vodafone – has given its backing to the ‘Fringe Days Out’ scheme.

More than 30 community groups and charities from across Edinburgh benefit from the scheme, which provides Fringe

vouchers and Lothian Bus tickets to participants, giving them an authentic festival experience.

LGBT Youth and Citadel Youth are two groups involved with the scheme and CityFibre is providing them with financial support to attend Fringe events, the means to travel and access to workshops to promote digital skills and confidence.

The workshops, delivered as part of the ‘Get Online’ initiative from the City of Edinburgh Council’s libraries team, provides participants with the means to stay safe online and build the skills they need for the future.

Citadel Youth workshop participants were taught how to use and navigate online and mobile apps, including that for the Fringe so they can find events to

attend and book tickets. Those at LGBT Youth focused on learning tips to stay safe online, digital security and their digital data trail or “footprint”.

Elaine Doherty, CityFibre’s City Manager for Edinburgh, said: “Our world is becoming an increasingly digital one, both at work and at home.

"Full fibre connectivity is the digital foundation for today and tomorrow and it’s critical that everyone can benefit from it.

“Full fibre will be a hugely positive force in all areas of day-to-day life, including education and employment.

"We are proud to partner with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and The City of Edinburgh Council to provide these workshops to ensure that those of all ages have

the skills they need to succeed.”

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “We are delighted to be working with CityFibre in supporting our Fringe Days Out scheme, which enables community groups across Edinburgh to experience the wonders of the Fringe.

“The digital workshops with Citadel Youth and LGBT Youth are a welcome addition to the work we are doing in ensuring that people from all backgrounds have access to everything the festival has to offer.”

Citadel Youth Centre, which provided an ideal venue for the day’s activities, is situated in Leith – one of the first build areas in CityFibre’s roll-out. Ultimately, the project will extend Edinburgh’s

existing full fibre network and put it within reach of almost every home and business in the city.

Willy Barr, Manager at Citadel Youth Centre, added: "We are really excited to be involved in the partnership between CityFibre and the Edinburgh Fringe. We have had the CityFibre team down to the Citadel to run digital media workshops and they helped support a book launch by our young mums.

“We are now gearing up for the 'Fringe Days Out' scheme, where children and their parents and carers can enjoy Fringe Acts here in Leith. We have also been given huge support with tickets and travel to ensure local families can enjoy performances in the main Edinburgh Fringe without being excluded for financial reasons."

Photo by Ian Georgeson Kenny Sharkey (CEC libraries) and Elaine Doherty (CityFibre) with Callum Ronald 14 and Rhianyn Ross 12 from Citadel

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

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

We welcome contributions to our website and newspaper.

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FEATURE 23

Arctic Tern - amazing and old!

Scottish National Heritage confirmed last month that they found the remains of the oldest Arctic tern ever recorded. They had ringed the bird as a chick at Buddon Ness in Angus and 32 years later discovered the bird at the SNH nature reserve in Aberdeenshire.

On average these birds live for 13 years, although previously a bird was recaptured on the Farne Islands at 30 years old.

Arctic terns migrate pole to pole which is the longest known annual journey by any animal. They fly around 44,000 miles each year.

Daryl Short, Reserve Officer at Forvie, found the bird. Daryl said: “It’s incredible to think that the bird I found flew the equivalent of to the moon and back, and then back to the moon and some way home again!

“Arctic terns are amazing animals. The birds are currently protecting their chicks at Forvie

and other nature reserves around the country and they’re not afraid to give you a bump on the back of the head if you get too close to their nests. But unfortunately for them, terns are prey for some other seabirds, such as falcons and large gulls. So there was certainly an element of luck to this bird’s long life.”

Stuart MacQuarrie, Head of Nature Reserves for SNH, said: “This incredible little bird was first ringed on a Special Area of Conservation and found again 32 years later, not too far away, on one of our national nature reserves. As well as evidence that the bird regularly returned to this part of Scotland to rear its chicks, this shows the importance of our protected areas and nature reserves for wildlife.

“Scotland’s nature reserves are beautiful places for people to visit.

They are also carefully managed for conservation and important places for research, making a

real contribution to tackling biodiversity loss. Our reserves constantly surprise and delight in equal measure and this little bird captures something of what makes them so special.”

Pandas are movin' on up the hill Edinburgh Zoo’s male giant panda, Yang Guang, took his first steps outside in his new home last month.

The new enclosure is being opened to the public gradually, allowing time for both pandas to settle in so if you plan a visit then check with the zoo if you can see the pandas.

Darren McGarry, Head of Living Collections at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It was fantastic to see Yang Guang out for the first time and exploring his new home. He was very excited to take a good look around, climb up the nearest tree and get up on the climbing frame.

“Both our pandas need some time to get used to their new

Top decorating tips for landlords

Decorating a rental property is different from decorating your own home.

You’re trying to create something that suits everyone and anyone, while being hardwearing and durable enough to be cost-effective.

Nicky Lloyd, Head of ESPC Lettings, offers her top tips : surroundings, so we are gradually opening outdoor viewing to the public over the next few weeks as they become more confident.

“Moving the pandas gave us an opportunity to apply what we have learned over the past eight

years and make the most of the fantastic natural setting at the top of the hill.”

You can see female giant panda Tian Tian on the Zoo’s Pandacam.

Photos of Yang Guang by Stewart Attwood

Stick with neutral paint colours Go for white or the alternative of light grey throughout.

This allows tenants to easily add their own colourful touches with items such as cushions and rugs to make it feel like home.

Install good lighting If the property is a bit dark, install good lighting to counter that.

Bright and airy properties tend to let quickly. Good lighting is particularly important in the kitchen and living room.

Affordable kitchen upgrade ideas Before you decide to rip out a dated kitchen and start again, consider replacing the cupboard doors and work surfaces.

That might be enough to make

it look new and attractive to prospective tenants.

Bathroom tips Install a shower over the bath, rather than a shower tray.

Shower trays can be leaky, and leaks are expensive to deal with.

Get an electric shower so that if something goes wrong with the boiler your tenants will still be able to have a hot shower.

Flooring ideas If your preference is for carpets, opt a darker neutral colour, which should hide spills and stains better than lighter colours.

Choose laminate flooring for the kitchen, bathroom and hallways.

It’s easy to clean and, provided you get good quality laminate, shouldn't rip or wear.

And remember...

Don’t overindulge in decorating the property. A rental property is different from your own home. You want to make sure it’s clean and presentable but there’s no reason for lavish fixtures and fittings.

It won’t make that much difference to the rent you can charge.

The Edinburgh Reporter

24 FOOD

Recipe of the month This month’s recipe is by Glenn Roach, Regional Executive Chef of the Surf & Turf restaurants situated in Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews & Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh.

The Surf & Turf concept will also be launching soon in the Macdonald Marine Hotel in North Berwick.

Monkfish with Asparagus, Morel Mushrooms & Wild Garlic Wild Garlic Oil Ingredients: 500g wild garlic 500g vegetable oil Method: Place picked wild garlic and vegetable oil in to a high-powered food processor and blend until it splits Pass through a fine sieve and allow to hang in the fridge until oil the oil has drained through.

the woody end off.

• Blanch in boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes. Blanching is a cooking process whereby a food is scalded in boiling water or oil, removed after a brief, timed interval, and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water to halt the cooking process.

• Place asparagus in colander.

Monkfish Ingredients: 110g fillet of monkfish 50g unsalted butter 10ml vegetable oil Method: In a hot non stick pan add 10 ml of vegetable oil once the oil is hot Place the fillet in to the oil and fry

Once complete transfer the oil into a squeezy bottle and always keep in the fridge.

Morel mushroom Pick and wash fresh morel mushrooms and be very gentle as they are delicate.

Wash morel in water and leave to dry out on a j-cloth Asparagus • Wash asparagus in cold water • Trim the asparagus by snapping

on one side until golden.

Add 50g of unsalted butter and base the fillet for 2 minutes add lemon juice and Maldon salt to the pan and remove and plate on a resting tray.

Dish assembly Place asparagus on the bottom of the plate creating a bed, slowly cook mushroom is butter and season and place on resting tray with fresh wild garlic, Place mushroom and garlic onto the bed of asparagus leaving a small amount back on the tray, The cooked fish is placed on top of asparagus and mushrooms and drizzle the wild garlic oil on top and around the plate.

Place the rest of the mushroom and wild garlic on top of the fish and serve For the full recipe with more top tips read this article online!

Clippety Clop!

by Juliet Lawrence Wilson You could say my Silver Fox boyfriend is ungrateful for small mercies. Reaching the modest, but hair defining, age of 41 he feels his silver thatch might age him somewhat. How many 41 year old men would do cartwheels down the Royal Mile to have a full head of any colour of hair?

Ah well, small mercies aside, he’s always grateful for the petit indulgence of little ol' moi.

Any amount of turns round the sun is due a celebration in my book, so I took SF to The White Horse and Oyster Bar for his birthday tea.

At a prime (but not the naff) part of the Royal Mile, this restaurant is popular and oh so Instagrammable, such are the prettiness of the sharing dishes.

Yes, one day someone’s going to come up with the novel concept of having a whole meal to oneself.

Did we enjoy the food? Oh yes, baby! It was all delicious, particularly the octopus, so tasty that we ordered another. The oysters were fab, the side of seaweed seasoned fries crispy and the Champers and wine on point. In all we must have tried eight plates and were impressed by every one.

The restaurant has a buzz but not where you’d go to have a multi

course relaxing dinner, certainly not on a busy Saturday.

When I return it will be for oysters, a couple of plates and a light supper. Its a lively place: the tables are tight and the music on the higher bpm side. Perfect for an exceptional and interesting meal on the way to a Festival show but not for gazing into the eyes of the birthday boy.

SF was in the mood for stopping out and we repaired to Monteiths for a couple of nightcap cocktails, the cosiness and intimate atmosphere being just what was desired.

Not only did I purchase SF a golf top for his birthday I also recently took him to a bar to watch the UK Open.

It’s like it’s his birthday every day.

New look at Brown's Brown’s on George Street has just reopened after an extensive and impressive remodel, giving the city centre dining location a stylish new look, including an art deco themed bar taking inspiration from the 1920s.

Open all day, from breakfast through to dinner, visitors to the newly refurbished Browns will be able to enjoy classic British dishes and fresh seasonal delights, as

well as a delicious afternoon tea that’s the perfect treat for any day of the week.

Diners can also choose from fresh market fish and Scottish mussels delivered daily, and an ever-changing daily specials menu including fresh lobster on Thursdays, oysters on Fridays, Chateaubriand on Saturdays and comforting traditional Sunday Roasts at the weekend.

Gallery and gift shop

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

93 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1QG 0131 629 9123

www.artcraftcollective.co.uk

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Juliet's Food Diary

Having once owned and cooked in one myself you’d think I’d know how to behave in restaurants.

Arriving at The Ivy for their new fandangled Butterfly Afternoon Tea with my chum, Jing Jing, it might have occurred to me in advance that she’s lactose intolerant.

To be fair to myself I’d completely forgotten, possibly because every restaurant seems to cater for veganism and every other millennial food intolerance, whether diners need a refined menu or not.

I’m happy to report that The Ivy do not do a vegan, dairy free afternoon tea as standard: go Ivy! Yet the staff here are indeed the best in the business and went out of their way to give my chum a great three tiered selection of loveliness. My dairy-do tea was delightful, especially the scones which were almost as good as my dear old grans.

But Ivy, may we please have raspberry jam rather than strawberry compote? We're in Scotland, after all. The Ivy on St Andrew Square is a glam experience and I love the maximalist decor. In honour of their butterfly theme they even have a large butterfly you can

stand in the middle of to create an Instagram worthy pic. The original Ivy was a restaurant where the famous went to be discreet and the new where we take selfies.

Is that progress? However the service is of the top tier here and if the brand can hold onto such a standard that’s something to be proud of. A Dublin branch recently opened too.

To the Waldorf and Mark Greenaway’s latest restaurant, ‘Grazing'. A table of four, we decided to order one of each of the sharing plates. I’ve noticed that chefs have a wheeze to make their life easier by presenting the dishes ‘as they are ready’, but here Mark goes old school, bless him, and gets the whole lot out at once. The beef tartare was the biggest hit for me, there was something about the texture. There’s no denying that Greenaway is a brilliant chef although he has had a reputation for mucking about with perfection: deconstructed lemon meringue pie, for example. The only food I’d like to see off this menu is the duck fat butter. Imagine taking possibly the best tasting food known to humanity and adding duck fat to it? Its like giving a 20 year old Brigitte Bardot botox.

When the food is great and the menu clever you need to know when to stop.

On the subject of getting the balance right, I’m quite a fan of the Nauticus on Leith's Duke Street, an old boozer turned cocktail bar but still with a pub feel. Ok, some of the bar staff would appear to have waxed moustaches but they’ve kept the hipster element in check.

My perfect Manhattan was indeed so.

“I hope you’re going on somewhere because you're a bit over dressed for us.” said no Glaswegian Maitre ‘D ever. Yet this was my welcome into one of the smarter Edinburgh restaurants.

He wasn’t joking either. Edinburgh residents have never been known for their glamour but I’ve recently noticed a celebration of scruffiness. Wearing shorts to a restaurant is never acceptable, even on holiday.

I long for a restaurant where gentlemen are denied entry without a tie and the sight of utility bra straps a thing of the past.

Viking Jupiter comes to Edinburgh for the first time

by Robin Gauldie Viking Cruises' brand new cruise ship dropped anchor in the Firth of Forth last month on its maiden voyage from Norway, where Viking Jupiter was officially named by star Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebo.

The ship is the sixth oceangoing vessel to join Viking's fleet.

Jupiter is a 'small ship' by cruise line standards (that means she has space for 930 guests in 456 staterooms) but with her vast central atrium and huge glassed-in lounges, bars and restaurants she never feels crowded.

All staterooms have exterior balconies and cruise fares include all meals and perks that Viking claims are worth more than $200 per person per day, including beer and wine with meals, WiFi, spa access and shore excursion in each port of call. Most rival cruise lines charge for such extras, Viking claims.

Viking's ocean cruise programme for 2020-2021 ranges from shorter seagoing cruises such as an 11-day Greek Odyssey itinerary

starting and ending in Athens, an Iconic Adriatic Antiquities voyage from Venice to Rome, a threeweek West Indies and Western Mediterranean transatlantic crossing and an epic 140-day Viking World Discoveries odyssey.

New highlights of Viking's popular river cruise programme for 2020 will include a Danube cruise featuring the once-a-decade Oberammergau Passion Play, a Black Sea and River Dnieper itinerary including Kiev, Odessa, Bucharest and Istanbul.

Prices start at an affordable £1,195 per person for a sevennight Danube Waltz river cruise and £1,940 for the Iberian Explorer ocean cruise.

You'll need a lottery win (or at least a new mortgage), though, for the 161-day 2020-21 Viking World Cruise, featuring 75 ports in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Asia, the Middle East and the Med. It starts in Miami, finishes in London – and starts at £45,995 per person.

For more information on Viking Cruises call 0800 458 6900 or go to www.vikingcruises.co.uk

FOOD 25

The Edinburgh Reporter

26 FEATURE

Time to curl up with a book and a cup of tea

The Scottish Book Trust have a great section on their website where they suggest books for you to read. One of the lists puts forward some to read with a cup of tea. So brew yourself your favourite drink and have a read of this!

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea.

There is ritual and routine, and it has been ever thus for generations. Then one day a jeep appears at the village gate--the first automobile any of them have seen--and a stranger arrives.

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith It is a troublesome fact on which even Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi agree: there are things that men know

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and ladies do not, and vice versa.

It is unfortunate, for example, when Mma Ramotswe's newest client is the big-shot owner of the ailing Kalahari Swoopers, that one thing lady detectives know very little about is football.

And when the glamorous Violet Sephotho sets her sights on Mma Makutsi's unsuspecting fiancé, it becomes exasperatingly clear that some men do not know how to recognise a ruthless Jezebel even when she is bouncing up and down on the best bed in the Double Comfort Furniture Shop.

Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs When a man is poisoned by tea, Theo is the prime suspect. Now she has to prove her innocence and track down the real killerbefore someone else takes their last sip. Just the right blend of cozy fun and clever plotting.

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August Crossword Across 1. Distraught about new set-up (5) 4. Straightens out snare made from undergarments (6) 9. Raced me round and round and created a froth (7) 10. Ill-feeling about raconteurs set to disappear (7) 11. In the middle of humid street (5) 12.Wearing this skimpy garment might direct chill on to other parts (4-5) 13. Rarer heat might create such oxides of metal (4-5) 14. Wear a puzzled look, but be conscious of it (5) 15. A smug sort of sorcerer (5) 17. Western junction in a tangle ? (9) 20. Slight son, like David perhaps, might make use of such a weapon (5-4) 22. Reduplicated, but not updated, ancient object (5) 23. Nude elf somehow lacks

something that is required (7) 24. Make a great deal of money out of ECU plan (5,2) 25. Badly erased then burnt (6) 26.Citadel - not in EC - affected by waves (5)

Down 1. Common uprising is completely inflexible (14) 2. Red lens makes one appear thin and willowy (7) 3. Tests perm out - she is hard to resist ! (9) 4. Trail of dirt led to little fish (7) 5. Sharing out the embellishment (7) 6. In Brighton I can find a nice pick-me-up (5) 7. Racoon moves into a ring of light (6) 8. Charcoal pipe is appropriate for a high cleric (14) 14. Hot, barren surroundings are extremely disliked (9) 16. Tie rag round leg, like this covering (6) 17. Chorals composed by a learned person (7) 18. I act and use this to settle my stomach, (7) 19. Lead not badly clawed (7) 21. Flag officer not involved in frolic ?

What a mistake ! (5)

Crossword by David Albury Answers on page 29

Book review - Greyfriars Bobby

by David Albury “Greyfriars Bobby A Puppy’s Tale” by Michelle Sloan with illustrations by Elena Bia The wee statue of Bobby atop a drinking fountain at the junction of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row is undoubtedly the smallest and most-visited of Edinburgh’s many statues, and is our smallest listed building! The story of the faithful Skye Terrier who sat by his master’s grave for many years is widely-known.This sweet book, with many delightful illustrations, tells the story, developing from Bobby’s early days to his final resting place near John Gray’s grave. This will be a delight for young children, and would be an ideal present.

Published by Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books paperback £7.99 ISBN 978 – 178250 – 590 – 7

Praising our digital library service by the Rt Hon Lord Provost Frank Ross Edinburgh’s public libraries may have been serving the capital since 1890, but things have moved on dramatically since then!

The city now has one of the best downloadable library services in the UK with ebooks, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines all available for free to library members.

Library2go is Edinburgh’s Digital Library Service and it has thousands of ebooks for adults, teens and children accessible through OverDrive on your tablet, phone or computer. These cover a range of books from fiction by best-selling authors to non-fiction

such as travel, self-help and cookery books. This is perfect for holidays as you can borrow ten at a time and while you are abroad you can download even more.

There’s something for everyone with Edinburgh’s four audiobook services. Whatever task you are doing, audiobooks will help make it more enjoyable, and if you have eyesight problems, they will also enable you to continue enjoying books.

Access daily news on PressReader with over 6000 newspapers and magazines on the app. Get papers such as The Edinburgh Evening News, The Scotsman and Herald before they have even reached the newsagents (and of course The Edinburgh Reporter!).

There are over 150 UK newspapers on the app and publications from 100 countries. There is a great selection of best-selling British magazines on RBdigital, with titles ranging from Hello!, Auto Express to Amateur Photographer and New Scientist you’ll be spoilt for choice.

All you need to access the Library2go services is an Edinburgh Libraries membership.

If you are not yet a member, then join online.

Full information at the Your Library website. Get further help at weekly drop-in sessions in Central Library or contact the Digital Team on 0131 242 8047 or informationdigital@edinburgh. gov.uk.

UNIQUE MODERN OFFICES TO LET

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28 EDINBURGH POLITICIANS

The Edinburgh Reporter

Scottish Canals closed the Leamington Lift Bridge in March and has now completed the works to the listed structure and has reopened the bridge. A temporary footbridge was put in place to maintain access. The repairs were funded by an award of ÂŁ350,000 from Sustrans and the Scottish Government. PHOTO Thomas Haywood

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READER'S PHOTO 29

Reader's Photo

50 Years after the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon, photographer Tom Duffin says he thought it would be fitting to capture the moon rising from behind Edinburgh Castle. He daid : " Ipositioned myself about 2 miles away in Inverleith to the North of the city centre. Using a 500mm (telephoto) lens I captured shots with great detail of the moon's surface right above the castle, which you can see on my social media channels, but I think I prefer the atmosphere of this wider shot with the dome of West Register House in Charlotte Square." Tom Duffin is an Edinburgh professional photographer who also teaches workshops and One-to-One sessions for budding photographers - www.tomduffin.com

Crossword Answers Across: 1 Upset, 4 Tights, 9 Creamed, 10 Rancour, 11 Midst, 12 Loin-cloth, 13 Rare-earth, 14 Aware, 15 Magus, 17 Spaghetti, 20 Sling-shot, 22 Relic, 23 Needful, 24 Clean up, 25 Seared, 26 Tidal.

Down: 1 Uncompromising, 2 Slender, 3 Temptress, 4 Tiddler, 5 Garnish, 6 Tonic, 7 Corona, 8 Archiepiscopal, 14 Abhorrent, 16 Gaiter, 17 Scholar, 18 Antacid, 19 Taloned, 21 Gaffe.

Get in touch today!

For editorial and advertising enquiries please email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk Buying an anniversary gift? The Edinburgh Sketcher's distinctive sketches of city locations can be personalised as high quality prints for that unique gift. Available in a number of sizes, each one comes signed, mounted and in a clear envelope. Prices start at just £25. Contact Mark at contact@edinburghsketcher.com for more information

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The Edinburgh Reporter

30 SPORT

Iconic Victorian pool closing for major investment Leith Victoria Swim Centre at Junction Place will be partially closed for refurbishment from 12 August 2019.

Edinburgh Leisure plan to phase the works so the pool and studio 2 will be closed until February 2020.

The gym, cycle studio and studio 1 will all remain open until then.

Access will be by the Bonnington Road entrance and car parking will be reduced while the work is being carried out.

Nicola Duffy, Leisure Manager at Leith Victoria Swim Centre said: ‘We’re unique in having five B-listed Victorian pools in our portfolio but from time to time, these historic venues need some ‘tlc’. The investment will future-proof the building so that customers can continue to enjoy its facilities for many years to come, as they have done for previous generations. We will, however, still maintain certain characteristics of ‘Viccie Baths’ to ensure they keep their charm, which is so loved by the people of Leith and, indeed Edinburgh.”

Duffy continued: ‘The part closure will obviously mean disruption to many of our customers. We have plans in place to provide customers with alternatives and we do hope our customers stay active with us here at ‘Viccies’ or at another Edinburgh Leisure venue.

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Vice Convener for Finance and Resources at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re delighted to be investing in this

major work at the much-loved Leith Victoria Swim Centre. The work will secure the safety and sustainability of the building for years to come and, importantly,

Hibernian lend players to Strollers Words by John Hislop Photos by Thomas Brown Loan agreements were confirmed last month for three Hibs’ Development Squad prospects.

Seventeen-year-old left-back Callum Yeats, who has also featured in midfield, and 18-yearold central midfielder Jack Hodge both moved on loan last month to Lowland League outfit Civil Service Strollers for the season ahead.

The two young players both made an impression in a Development Squad friendly against Newcastle United’s Under-23s . Importantly, they also both remain eligible to feature in these specially arranged games.

They will continue to train day in, day out at the Hibernian Training Centre along with 18-year-old central midfielder Gregor Woods who has sealed a similar loan switch to Spartans. They will also compete in this season’s Lowland League.

The two young players tested themselves against Stirling Albion, Huddersfield’s Under-23s, Middlesbrough’s Under-23s and Newcastle’s Under-23s in recent times.

The Hibs Development Squad will be back in action this month against Tranent on 20 August 2019.

will continue to provide opportunities for the people of Leith, Edinburgh and the many visitors to be active.”

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SPORT 31

Hibs Football Memories

by John Hislop Members and volunteers at the Hibernian Historic Trust Football Memories meeting enjoyed a very special treat last month.

Hibs, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Scotland legend Alex Cropley brought a jersey with him. This was not just any piece of random clothing but it was the jersey he wore when Villa won the League Cup in 1977. He brought it

especially to show to the group.

Alex, who was inducted into the Hibernian FC Hall of Fame two years ago was a member of the great 'Turnbull's Tornadoes' side of the early 1970s that won two Drybrough Cups and a League Cup, beating Jock Stein's Celtic in each final, beat Sporting Lisbon 6-1 and Hearts 7-0 at Tynecastle.

His performances brought him to the attention of English giants

Arsenal and subsequently Aston Villa.

There he was a hugely popular member of a highly entertaining team that won silverware, beating Everton in the final after two replays.

Due to an increase in popularity, the Trust now hold two meetings each month at Easter Road, on the first and third Monday of each month between 10.45pm and 12 noon.

The project has run for a number of years.

Volunteers spend time with people living with dementia who have an interest in football, and memories of past players and matches are shared.

It is a partnership between the HHT, Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum.

There are quizzes, films, and Q&A sessions with former players.

Refreshments are also provided and those attending can have a free lunch provided by Edinburgh charity Cyrenians.

Founder member and club historian Tom Wright is keen to point out that the meetings are not restricted to Hibs' fans, but supporters of every team are made welcome.

Spartans lose to Liverpool

by Thomas Brown Liverpool u23s lifted the Ronnie Swan Trophy at Ainslie Park after beating Spartans 1-0 in front of a packed crowd last month.

The visitors enjoyed most of

the possession in the first half but didn't really trouble Blair Atkinson's goal.

Into the second half and Dougie Samuel's men had chances to score but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Jack Bearne snuck a winner for the Merseyside men with just five minutes to play after slotting the ball beyond Carswell and into the net.

After the match Spartans manager Dougie Samuel said: "I

thought we acquitted ourselves well. In the first ten minutes when they were zipping it about and the right-back was getting high, I was thinking it was going to be a long night, but once we settled, I think the players backed themselves.

"When they had the chance to pass it they did, and they kept and it managed to get in behind once or twice.

“It was disappointing to lose the nature of the goal that we did, because it was our own making really, especially when Blair had played really well all night.

"We've got a tough one up straight away. Like ourselves we've

had a few changes. I think it will be our most difficult season in the Lowland League since it started.

"There are teams who have invested a lot of money. We'll be doing our best to stay competitive and hope to surprise a few people."

Edinburgh Dodgeball need new players

The new Edinburgh Dodgeball team, fresh from their fourth place finish at their first ever Scottish Championships, are looking to build for the future. So if you know your five D’s, can think on your feet or always hit your targets Edinburgh Dodgeball want to see you at training!

This is a newly founded community Dodgeball club based in Leith. The club is gearing up for the new Scottish Dodgeball season over the summer break.

Head coach Danny Carroll commented “Players will need to know the famous five D’s of dodgeball Dodge, dip, dive, duck and dodge as well as being ready

to work as a team to take on the best of the rest of Scotland this season.”

This is the first Dodgeball club in Edinburgh and the members want to develop and grow further so they are in a position to claim the crown as Scotland’s best dodgeball club.

Dodgeball is an inclusive sport and everyone is welcome to come along and give it a go. The adult team (16+) trains Wednesdays from 6 pm at Leith Community Education Centre and the first session is completely free.

Edinburgh Dodgeball are looking to field male, female and mixed teams for next season.

Reporter Back Page All Night Trams 2019.pdf

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all night

trams Every Friday & Saturday night during Edinburgh’s Festivals in August C

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From every 20 minutes between midnight & 5am.

Normal fares apply.