International Centre for Energy Arbitration – Lord Hodge sworn in at the UK Supreme Court – MSP seeks meeting over fire closures – Festival Chorus auditioning now – Dame Joan Stringer appointed chair of Festival City Theatres Trust
The First Minister, The Right Honourable Alex Salmond MSP, will launch the International Centre for Energy Arbitration this morning.
The launch will take place within the Law Society of Scotland, 26 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7YR.
The Centre is a joint venture between the Scottish Arbitration Centre and the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee which aims to work with the energy sector to allow Scotland to become an international specialist in international energy dispute resolution.
***
Lord Hodge took his oath and was sworn in as a judge in the UK Supreme Court just yesterday and the whole ceremony can be seen below.
Following training with Edinburgh legal firm, Brodies LLP, Patrick Hodge was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice in 2005, and regularly sat in both the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh.
***
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has written to the chair of the Fire Service board asking for a meeting to discuss controversial proposals to close the Edinburgh control room.
Alison said:-“Having met with affected staff at the control room at Tollcross I’m determined to hold the Fire Board to account on this. The plans were not discussed in advance with these highly skilled workers and I have concerns that a promise of consultation will have little effect on the direction the board has agreed.
“It’s a bad start for the new single service and it has its work cut out to reassure those of us who want to see an Edinburgh control room retained.”
***
Festival Chorus are auditioning now:-
“We are currently auditioning for new singers to join the Edinburgh Festival Chorus. The Chorus was founded in 1965 and has been at the heart of the Edinburgh International Festival ever since. Appearing annually with internationally renowned orchestras, soloists and conductors, the Chorus has performed virtually all the great standard works, continuously broadening its repertoire under the Festival Director’s programming. As an amateur Chorus setting extremely high standards, it rehearses every Tuesday night throughout the year for the four or five concerts it performs in during the Festival” Find out more here.
***
The Festival City Theatres Trust has announced the appointment of Professor Dame Joan K Stringer DBE FRSE as the new Chair of the Board.
Dame Joan follows Dr Chris Masters and his predecessor, Sir George Younger, as the third Chair of the FCTT Board since the Trust was set up in 1991 to manage the Festival Theatre and then later the King’s Theatre. Dr Masters announced his intention to retire from the role in April of this year and formally stood down earlier this week.
Dame Joan was Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University until June of this year, leading its financial transformation and before that led Queen Margaret University College as its Principal and Vice-Patron. She is currently a Board member of the National Theatre of Scotland and a former Board member of the Edinburgh International Festival. She has throughout her career been a strong supporter of the third sector, having Chaired the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations for six years. Dame Joan’s extensive experience in higher education and governance of arts organisations and her passionate interest in the performing arts made her an outstanding candidate for the role.
On her appointment as Chair she says: ‘I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Festival City Theatres Trust. The Festival and King’s Theatres are historically important cultural resources and a valuable part of Edinburgh – and Scotland’s – performing arts community. I very much look forward to working with the Trust and building on the contribution of my predecessor Dr Chris Masters, to its current success.’
Commenting on her appointment, Duncan Hendry, Chief Executive, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted that Dame Joan has accepted the role as Chair of the Festival and King’s Theatres. She brings an exceptional level of experience and expertise to the role, and a great personal interest in the arts and its development in Scotland. We look forward to working with her and having her lead the Trust in the years ahead.’
Our photo today shows David Hume’s foot from the statue outside the High Court © 2013 Martin McAdam
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
