Open Information Day for older people – Bogus Caller incident – Light Night – Late night shopping in Portobello – St David’s Tower
Today at the Assembly Rooms the council is running an event aimed at providing information for older people or those who take care of them. The session is running all day from 11am and you can drop by if you feel you would like to know more about your own or indeed someone else’s situation and what the council, the NHS or other voluntary services can do for you.
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Police in Edinburgh are investigating a bogus caller incident where the victim was pick-pocketed in his own home.
The incident happened around 12.30pm on Friday 23 November 2012 at an address in Swanston Place.
The main suspect called at the door and told the elderly homeowner he was there to carry out maintenance work on the roof of the property.
Following a short discussion the victim became aware of a second man emerging from behind him, from within his home.
After the suspects had left he realised that his wallet, which had been in his back pocket, had been stolen.
The first suspect is described as white, in his 30s, clean-shaven, 5ft 10ins tall, stocky build, and with a ‘beer belly’. He was wearing a grey pullover and green trousers, with a Scottish accent.
The second suspect is described as white, in his 30s, 5ft 6ins tall, with medium length dark hair and stubble. He was wearing a dark coloured raincoat.
Detective Sergeant Ben Leathes, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: “The two suspects called at the property with the deliberate intention of robbing the homeowner, and we are appealing for any information that can assist us in tracing them.
“Anyone who received an unsolicited call at their home on Friday by two men matching the descriptions of the suspects should call police immediately.
“Likewise, anyone else who recognises their descriptions, or who has any other information that can assist our enquiries, should also get in touch.
“At this time we are urging homeowners to take steps to guard against falling victim to bogus callers, and I would urge people to visit the crime prevention section of the Lothian and Borders Police website, where advice and information is available.”
Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or report information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Edinburgh’s Christmas 2012 will once more get off to a spectacular start this Thursday. A five metre high giant Santa Claus will lead an assortment of characters up from Princes Street to Mound Place, where the central event – a bespoke show called the Christmas Dream Machine – will take place. The performance will include illuminations, aerial performances, flying Christmas presents and pyrotechnics, culminating with the traditional lighting of Edinburgh’s Christmas Tree and a short burst of fireworks from the Castle Esplanade.
Afterwards, a Christmas Brazilian Samba band will make its way along Princes Street at 6 pm, as action moves to St Andrew Square Garden for an after show, featuring acts including finalists of Edinburgh’s Got Talent, the cast of Dirty Dancing, the drums of Clanadonia and a fire spectacular from Flame Oz.
5 pm Giant Santa and procession through the crowds on The Mound, followed by Civic Ceremony
5.30 pm Performance on The Mound starts
5.55 pm approx Tree lighting and fireworks from the Castle
6.15 pm St Andrew Square Stage Show
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Shoppers in Portobello can expect a lot of sparkle as local businesses celebrate the start of the festive season by opening late on Thursday 29 November 2012.
This November marks one hundred years since David’s Tower, a rare surviving fragment of Edinburgh Castle’s medieval history, was rediscovered during excavation work by the Ministry of Works.
David’s Tower, built in the 1380s, stood 100 feet tall and was the first ever ‘Tower House’, dominating Edinburgh’s skyline for 200 years. It was the Royal residence in the rebuilt castle and was as high as a ten storey block of flats.
The Tower was built by King David II, after whom the Tower is named, as part of the great reconstruction programme of the Castle following its earlier destruction by David’s father King Robert Bruce, who ordered its demolition to render it useless to the ‘auld enemy’ – the English.
The Tower also witnessed the infamous ‘Black Dinner’ of 1440, during which the Earl of Douglas and his younger brother were accused of treason (signified by them being served a black bull’s head on a platter) in the presence of the 10 year old King James II. Rough justice followed immediately – they were dragged out into the palace yard, (now Crown Square) and beheaded.
During his youth James V was kept a virtual prisoner in the Tower, by Regent Albany, with no access to his mother, Mary of Guise.
Nick Finnigan, Executive Manager of Edinburgh Castle said:- “David’s Tower is a fascinating part of Edinburgh Castle’s history.
“It provided a secret hiding place for Scotland’s Crown Jewels during World War II due to fear of invasion and also witnessed the infamous Black Dinner of 1440 after which the Earl of Douglas and his younger brother were accused of treason and then beheaded.
“I am pleased to say that recent access improvements to David’s Tower have made it possible for us to consider taking small escorted groups to see the tower for themselves and learn about its intriguing past.”
The Tower is now completely hidden from view, situated behind the great curved front of the Half Moon Battery located on the South East corner of the Castle overlooking the current Esplanade.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
