Conferences – Chinese New Year – Dundas Street hotel to be altered to house – Chinese Warrior Lanterns – Arctic Convoy exhibition
Edinburgh’s economy is boosted by conference income. A conference being held at the Corn Exchange next week aims to focus on the role of transport in the Scottish economy and how Scotland prepares for growth. The Scottish Transport Conference 2014 which is organised by Mackay Hannah, will hear a keynote speech from the Transport Minister, Keith Brown MSP and will discuss all forms of transport:- rail, road,maritime and air.
More details here.
In May, Lothian Buses is hosting the Bus company conference at Murrayfield Stadium over 2 days.
The company says on its website:-“This year, we are very excited to be hosting the event which expects to see around 250 bus industry professionals and bus company suppliers come to Edinburgh to network and exchange ideas to help provide the best service for their customers.
As well as a two day conference at Murrayfield Stadium, delegates will also be able to enjoy social activities showing off the best of Edinburgh and our bus network.”
Who knows by then the trams might be up and running – we saw one on Princes Street late on Wednesday night. Have you seen any on the streets? Send us your photos here. We have a whole storyboard just waiting for your photos of trams!
***
2014 is the Year of the Horse. Kung Hei Phat Choy!
In this Year of the Horse we urge  you to upload some of your equine photos to our sister site EdinburghReportage. We will share the best with you! Are there many horses kept within the city boundaries? There used to be a large stable on Grove Street owned by St Cuthbert’s who kept their heavy horses which pulled the milk floats there. Our photos of the stable have been provided by our good friends at RCAHMS. Did you ever go in there to see the horses?
***
Plans have been lodged to change a former hotel on the ground and basement floors at 79 Dundas Street back to a house. All plans have been lodged with the council for a development in what is already mainly a residential street.
You can see the planning papers here.
***
In the quad at Old College there is a magnificent light installation of Chinese warrior lanterns to mark the Chinese New Year. We went to visit after dark and took some photos to show them to you. We recommend a visit!
The lanterns are inspired by the army of terracotta soldiers, discovered in 1974 when the tomb of the 3rd Century BC First Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang was unearthed in the Xi’an province of China.
The figures were found in an underground vault of 12,000 square meters and comprised of more than 8,000 terracotta sculptures depicting warriors and horses arranged in battle formation. It is thought that they were created to defend the emperor’s immortal soul.
Chinese artist Xia Nan who first created this colourful display for the Olympic Games in Beijing has used traditional Chinese lantern designs to re-imagine this awe-inspiring historic discovery. The figures are up to 2.5m tall and will be on show from 4.00pm till 9.00pm until 7 February 2014.
Take a look at our other photos here.
***
National War Museum
Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG
Arctic Convoys
Display until 13 March 2014
Free with admission to Edinburgh Castle
Sailing from Scotland, Iceland and North America to ports in northern Russia, the Arctic convoys carried vital supplies to the Russian allies. As well as facing the constant possibility of attack from German U-boats, the men who sailed on these ships faced some of the toughest conditions of the war: freezing cold, storms and treacherous fog. Thousands of British merchant and naval seamen lost their lives in this operation. Through photographs, letters, interviews and personal possessions, this exhibition tells the story of the courage and determination of these wartime heroes.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
