Exams – McEnroe coming to Edinburgh – Edinburgh artist’s work heading for Rome -Bluebird Acoustic -Andy McNab
It’s exam season beginning on Tuesday.
Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I want to wish the pupils sitting their National and Higher exams over the coming weeks the best of luck. We want our young people to reach their full potential and achieving good results can give them plenty of options for the future education decisions that lie ahead.
“This year has been particularly important for pupils and teachers as they have had to prepare for the new Nationals. I know that everyone has put in a tremendous amount of hard work preparing for these and other exams as have the parents who will have been encouraging them to do their best.
“Last year Edinburgh achieved some great results and I am sure this success will continue.”
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It was announced earlier in the week that John McEnroe will be back in Edinburgh this summer, the week before Andy Murray defends his Wimbledon title.
McEnroe, one of the most iconic legends in world sport enjoyed his first visit back to Scotland after 24 years last year and is looking forward to returning back to Edinburgh for Brodies Champions of Tennis. All of Scotland are hoping his prophecies pre-Wimbledon this year will again ring true.
‘Last year when I arrived into Scotland I said I think it very well could be Murray’s year – and look how that worked out. I will wait to see how the next few months go pre-Wimbledon before I make my predictions.’
‘I had a great experience in Edinburgh and enjoyed playing in front of a Scottish crowd who were great fun and we had some good banter. On the ATP Champions Tour we want to show we can still play, and I think people will be surprised at the level of tennis they see here. I love to play still, I love to get out on the court. I work out regularly and I like to try and show people that it can still be done’.
The final 3 places at Brodies Champions of Tennis are confirmed as John McEnroe, Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Ferreira and the little magician Fabrice Santoro. They will play alongside Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Henri Leconte, Wayne Ferreira, Thomas Enqvist, Mansour Bahrami.
Santoro or the ‘Little Magician’, as he became known during his career due to his varied and innovative style of play, set a number of records throughout his 21-year career, many of which still stand to this day.
Most notably perhaps, Fabrice achieved the incredible feat of being the only male player to have competed in Grand Slams events in four different decades, from the 1989 French Open to the 2010 Australian Open. The Frenchman also holds the record for the most appearances in singles competition at Grand Slam events (70) and is the oldest player to have successfully defended an ATP singles title (Newport, 2007 & 2008).
Viki Mendelssohn, Tournament Director said:- ‘It is an absolute honour and pleasure to have John return to Edinburgh. He is one of the most recognisable figures in global sport and it is a rare chance for tennis fans in Scotland to get the opportunity to watch him and the other players. The event schedule has some great clashes such as McEnroe v Leconte, Ivanisevic v Santoro, Henman v Enqvist. And it is great to finalise our schedule and promote the event in full. ’
Tickets for Brodies Champions of Tennis are now on sale at www.championsof tennis.com
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The first Scot ever to be appointed a Major Canon of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is to be presented with a mosaic created by emerging Edinburgh artist, Freya Levy.
Monsignor Charles Burns of Paisley Diocese, who is the Ecclesiastical advisor to the British Embassy to the Holy See and a former archivist in the Vatican Secret Archives is being given the work by Monsignor Michael Regan of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh.
The mosaic depicts a cockerel, and in the Christian tradition, the cockerel is the symbol of St Peter, hence also of the Vatican Basilica of St Peter’s in Rome, so the gift is quite symbolic.
Freya Levy is an artist in a range of different media. She is particularly inspired by animals, which feature widely in her mosaic exhibition, which is currently on show at the Glass and Thompson Cafe in Edinburgh until Sunday 15th June 2014.
Monsignor Regan of St Mary’s Cathedral, commenting on the work and Frey’s exhibition, said of the current exhibition:-“A delightful collection and a great destination for one piece.”
Freya Levy, the artist, added:-“I didn’t have any biblical connotations in mind when I created this piece. I was simply inspired by the beauty and colours of cockerels. I am truly honoured and excited that it is destined for the Vatican.”
This gift echoes a similar presentation 45 years ago, when a relic of St Andrew was given by Pope Paul VI to the newly created Scottish Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, in St Peter’s Rome in 1969, with the words ‘Peter greets his brother Andrew’. Cardinal Gray was the first Scottish Cardinal in four hundred years.
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Edinburgh’s live music scene is set for a welcome shake up with some of the most exciting musical talent the capital has on offer lined up to play The Blackbird Acoustic, from this Sunday 27 April.
The series of live music sets will see a host of up and coming singer-songwriters take to the stage for an eight week run of acoustic sessions. Duo Danny and Steven from IndiePostPunk outfit the 10:04s will bring their inimitable sound to the The Blackbird on Leven Street.
Hot on the heels of a UK tour not to mention a main stage slot at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Danny Scrimshaw and Steven Bolton will be playing an intimate set for the launch of The Blackbird Acoustic, promising a really special Sunday session.
In the coming weeks Sunday’s at The Blackbird will be a regular diary date for live music fans, with the likes of Jack Rowberry bringing his blues-tinged rock sound in early June and melodic upbeat pop from Kirsten Adamson seeing in the summer.
Colin Church, Managing Director, said: “The line-up for The Blackbird Acoustic sessions is really diverse and over the next few weeks we’re excited to be hosting some of the best up and coming talent in the Scottish music industry.
“From the boys from the 10:04s to the dulcet tones of Kirsten Adamson and the electro rock genius that is PJ Dourley, it’s a pretty eclectic line up that will offer something for all tastes.”
The Blackbird Acoustic sessions supported by Innis & Gunn will take place every Sunday from 7-9pm at The Blackbird, 37-39 Leven Street, Edinburgh. For more information follow @TBBedin or call 0131 228 2280.
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Andy McNab is a name well known to many readers. He is a former SAS soldier and a bestselling author. He has now written a book which is designed for those adults who are less confident with their reading skills, and he is coming to Oxgangs Library to talk about it.
He will be at Oxgangs Library on 21 May 2014 from 11am to 12.30pm. Book now on 0131 529 5549.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
