Missing boy – Boost Bingo – Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival – Craigmillar Computer Classes – EdinburghReportage
A three year-old boy went missing from his home at Ferry Gait on Wednesday evening at 9pm. Many people from the local area along with Police Scotland and other agencies were involved in the search for Mikaeel Kular yesterday.
At a press conference earlier this morning, Police Scotland asked locals to search their gardens and sheds again, but said that there have been no positive sightings and they remain ‘deeply concerned’.
The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to Robert Pearson Chair of Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) late last night to find out what TRIM had been doing to try and help yesterday:-“North Edinburgh Time Bank had a meeting at North Edinburgh Arts yesterday morning when the news broke, and after their meeting they initially started walking the streets. They then asked me if I could help organise something a bit more formal. So from one Facebook message we ended up with about a hundred people combing the area.”
“We got 50 residents together at North Edinburgh Arts and Inspector Happs from Police Scotland briefed the residents. We went out under his instructions in groups. There were bigger numbers throughout the day and we had around 100 people by half past seven. Councillors Day and Redpath joined in our search today and the council’s North local office released staff early if they wanted to come and help.
“This evening the police have extended the cordon around the house and there are 20 or 30 forensic officers searching the area.
“For me this proves how the residents of this area rally round. It is amazing. Tomorrow (Friday) residents will be meeting at 10am in the North Team’s offices at West Pilton Gardens to resume searching. Police Scotland will also be there at this time.”
RNLI Queensferry were involved in the search:-“Queensferry lifeboat was paged to launch today at 14:04 to assist in the search for a missing 3 year old child from Edinburgh. The Lifeboat was requested to carry out a detailed shoreline search between Granton and Cramond. We also transported Coastguard search teams to Cramond Island for a search to be carried out there. After approximately 3 hours of searching and with nothing found, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.”
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Sheila Gilmore, MP for Edinburgh East, will help to launch a very special national bingo game at the Gala Bingo Club in Edinburgh tonight.
The MP will be taking part in the launch of Boost Bingo, happening simultaneously in nearly 400 clubs around Britain. Customers at the Gala Bingo Club will be wearing special Boost Bingo T-shirts, as they play a free Boost Bingo game, with a cash prize. Sheila Gilmore will be trying her hand as a bingo caller for the special Boost Bingo game.
Boost Bingo, launched by The Bingo Association, calls on the Government to bring tax on bingo in line with other popular leisure pursuits. Most other gambling activities are taxed at 15%, but the bingo industry has been subjected to bingo duty at 20%. Lowering the duty will lead to investment, modernisation and jobs.
A recent survey found 61% of British adults said they feel bingo clubs provide an important local service, and bring communities together. If you’re there tonight send us a snap or two of Mrs Gilmore in her new role!
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Something for Valentine’s weekend, the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival fills that special weekend in February. The three-day festival is being staged, as always, at George Square Lecture Theatre in Edinburgh. Tickets for the popular festival (from £7) are on sale now at www.emff.co.uk with the organisers reporting the best advance ticket sales in its 11-year history.
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Portobello councillor Maureen Child is a dab hand with her iPad – we’ve seen her in action. So it is not surprising that she supports the computer class being held at Craigmillar Library:-
“Here’s a strong recommendation for a local ‘over 50s’ computer club which I helped promote last year – and will again. Marion from the Christians/Brands neighbourhood told me:- “I just had to write to tell you that a friend and I have just returned from our first session at the Computer Club at Craigmillar Library. We are just so impressed with the excellent help that is available. The tutors are so knowledgeable and friendly (as is the whole group) and have the happy knack of making “students” feel eager to learn and in no way did we feel patronised about the applications etc which we did not know about.” The club is always keen to look for new people to come along. Find out more for you or someone you know. They have a website here.
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The EdinburghReportage cats storyboard is full of snaps of your pets. All different colours and sizes! Today we would like you to take a photo of your coffee or your full English and share that with us.
Coffee photos or videos here.
Breakfast photos here.
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