Second Arrest in Hamilton and Inches robbery
Play Day
Street performers needed!
Johnny is a fundraising hero
Creative Industries Open Day
A second man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Hamilton and Inches robbery on 6th June.
The 28 year-old will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.
***
Today the council is having a play day. Nothing to do with councillors but it is all to do with children.
Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket will be transformed into a giant children’s play area to promote play in the city. This notable part of the Old Town will be transformed from 12.30pm, with lots of family-friendly activities on offer including junk drumming, giant weaving, magic potions, a giant sand pit, water play, and a cardboard city.
The event hopes to build on the successes of previous years where thousands of people have came along to join in with Playdayactivities.
Playday is the national day for play, which is being celebrated next week. On Playday thousands of children and their families get out to play at hundreds of community events across the UK.
As well as a celebration of children’s right to play, Playday is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives. It’s all about learning for life and showing that play is fun not just for the child but for adults as well.
Councillor Keith Robson, Play Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Play is a massively important part of a child’s development and makes a tremendous contribution to happy and healthy childhoods. Our very popular Playday in the Grassmarket provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate play and promote its many benefits.
“One of our objectives is that we want to ensure that communities recognise the importance of play for children especially outdoor play. Not only are there significant health benefits from being out in the open air, but also exposure to a range of different activities can help a child’s development.
“Here in Edinburgh we’re very lucky to have some fantastic outdoor spaces and I would encourage all parents to get outdoors with their children during these lovely summer months. The great park at west end of Princes Street Gardens has been a family favourite these holidays when friends have been visiting from around the UK.”
Edinburgh’s Playday event will be held in the Grassmarket from 12.30pm – 4.30pm. On offer will be a giant sand pit, water play, magic potions, cardboard city, play pod, mud kitchen, giant weaving, play for babies, junk drumming and much more!
Access is free but children should be accompanied by an adult. For more information contact cf.play@edinburgh.gov.uk
There have already been two meetings of the Edinburgh Play Forum which is made up of various community groups, schools and other organisations with an interest in promoting play in the city. The aim is to make Edinburgh a playful city where children can enjoy their childhood.
The Council is currently updating its Play Strategy which will be discussed at the Education, Children & Families Committee later in the year.
***
The Post Office is celebrating Sundays and wants to make a big song and dance about it. They are calling all street performers in Edinburgh who want to showcase their talent to perform ‘Easy Like a Sunday Morning’ on Sunday 10th August 2014 in Edinburgh to raise awareness of the fact that many of The Post Office branches are open on a Sunday.
They would love for all UK licenced street performers in Edinburgh to be a part of this through a simple application process. Entrants will need to have a partner record their performance and then send the footage to The Post Office HQ. The best 50 performances will then be picked and will all receive £30 as a thank you for their involvement in the campaign. Each piece of selected footage will be edited into a montage video to be shared online, on social and with the media.
The Post Office are looking for a variety of talent; be it singing, dancing, or playing an instrument – they want to hear and see a whole range of versions of this Commodores/Lionel Ritchie classic.
If you are a street performer and like the sound of this, just email streetperformers@speedcomms.com with the full names and contact details of everyone in your act. You will need to be free on Sunday 10th August to perform and record your performance. Terms and conditions apply. Email to find out more – Good Luck!
***
A pensioner who gives up his time every weekend to raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, is about to hit a grand total of £20,000 collected, in just two years.
Mr Johnny Jenkins, a 78 year old from Penicuik, started to raise funds for The Soldiers’ Charity in 2012, and is set to reach the figure next weekend.
A retired professional musician who still works as a part time piano tuner, Johnny has no connection to the Army, although his home is close to Glencorse Barracks, where 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland are sited.
“My grandfather was gassed in Loos in 1914 and he spoke with a husky voice for the rest of his life. I’ve always had a feeling for soldiers. If I wasn’t playing here I’d be playing somewhere else.”
“I play a lot of Scottish pieces – pipe tunes go down well. I’m surrounded with pipers after all! It’s a cause that’s close to everyone’s hearts here. I’m resolved to carry on as long as I can.”
Supported by his wife Edna, Johnny plays his keyboard every Saturday and occasionally on Sundays, entertaining families and children in the restaurant at Dobbies, Lasswade where he is welcomed by the store manager, Mr Elliot Johnston. He sometimes gets permission to play in other local stores which have included Tesco, Morrisons and ASDA.
Claire Heyes, from the Edinburgh office of The Soldiers’ Charity said; ‘this is a whopping total, we are so grateful to Johnny and to Edna, for their dedication. Without people like them, we couldn’t help soldiers, veterans and families who need a hand up in times of hardship.’
To find out more about fundraising for The Soldiers’ Charity, visit www.soldierscharity.org
***
Thinking of a career in Creative Industries? Edinburgh College are holding an open day on 13 August 2014 to tell you all about the courses they are offering. They have two campuses where they run courses in different aspects of the industry. More details here.
Sighthill Campus
Music & Sound Production
Broadcast Media & Photography
Granton Campus
Performing Arts
Computing
Art & Design
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
