Five things you need to know today

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  • MEP lodges nomination papers for Deputy leader position 
  • The Fringe has begun!
  • Pickering’s are the official gin for the Tattoo
  • Scottish Heritage Angel Awards
  • The Edinburgh Sketcher West End walks

Alyn Smith MEP has been a member of the SNP for 12 years, and he hopes to bring that experience to the fore during his campaign to become the Deputy Leader of the party.

He has just lodged nomination papers for Depute Leader at the Edinburgh HQ. Nominations for the position close this Friday, although the vote will not take place until 21 September and the result will be announced at the SNP conference on 13 October.

Alyn said: “I’ve been blown away by the response I have had, there have been folk from all points of the compass getting in touch to lend their support, I’m delighted and hugely grateful.

“We have a unique opportunity in the SNP.  Now is not the time for politics as usual, the Brexit vote has changed everything.  We can choose Europe as our future, and underline that Westminster is our past.

“At a time when Westminster parties would rather we just shut up and let them speak for us, we can prove to ourselves, the wider world and the UK government that we will not be silent bystanders, and that Scotland expects something different from the next months and years.

“We need to prepare the soil across Europe for whatever is to come.  I can do that.  I’ve shown what I can deliver in Brussels, I was doing Europe before it was cool!  One of the big lessons from 2014 for me is that we relied too much on speaking to the world via London, and the London diplomats and London correspondents viewed us with London’s baggage.  We can do better selling Scotland to Europe, in Europe, from Brussels.  We also need to reach out to member state capitals directly, I can do that, I already have the network of MEPs to make the introductions.

“We also need a Depute with the time and the locus to be out and about in Scotland, and I have already proven that I get about my constituency, the whole of the country.  There are things we need to do to prepare the Party for the challenges ahead, and I have ideas I look forward to sharing over the campaign.

“We’re in good shape, but we have a lot to do.  I am in an all but unique position in Scottish politics, at the confluence of Europe, and Scotland, and close to but not part of both Holyrood and Westminster, but with Holyrood and Scotland the centre of my universe.  I look forward to the campaign ahead.”

Yesterday was just a blur of previews of shows which will form part of this year’s Festival Fringe at Greenside, Underbelly and Assembly.

We met The Amazing Bubbleman…..

We met the lovely French Canadian group who are performing with ‘puppets’.

We saw the incredibly talented Abandoman at Underbelly. He is very funny indeed and has a great act which includes the audience (whether you like it or not!)

But perhaps the most innovative act that we saw all day was the final act at Assembly. Briefs involved a trapeze, feathers, striptease and a birdbath and was an absolute sensation!

DSC_0007 Pickering's Tattoo Bottles 2016 RT HiRes copy

 

Tonight it is the turn of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo who invite press, camera crews and photographers to take up positions on the esplanade during the preview show.

And Pickering’s Gin who are the Official Gin for the tattoo have just celebrated by producing a 500 bottle limited run. The gin is made at Summerhall Distillery just a mile away from the Castle.

This year’s Tattoo pays tribute to Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday while celebrating ‘Tunes of Glory’. The team at Pickering’s is inviting you to join them in raising a toast. Each bottle comes with a royal blue wax seal, row of medals and a commemorative neck tag. Only 500 bottles will be produced, so just like tickets for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, they’re expected to sell out.

Matt Gammell, co-founder said, “It’s an honour to be associated with such an iconic event”. Marcus Pickering, co-founder continues, “We love the Tattoo and everything it represents. It’s always great fun coming up with a new edition for the event and I hope everyone enjoys it!”.

Nicola Thomson, Head of Strategic Marketing, Branding and Communications for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: “We’ve been on a wonderful journey with Pickering’s Gin and it’s a real delight to see yet another fantastic product released, just in time for this year’s event. We’re two well-loved brands in the city of Edinburgh, attracting supporters of both. We look forward to seeing what’s next for our partnership”.

The bottle sells at £29.50 for 70cl at Summerhall Distillery and online at www.pickeringsgin.com . The gin will be served to guests from home and abroad in the Tattoo’s VIP areas.

Community Councils in Scotland are invited to nominate heritage volunteers and voluntary groups for the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards.   The deadline is Friday 12 August 2016.  The Awards are free to enter.

Now in its second year, the awards scheme, funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, celebrates the important efforts of volunteers or ‘Angels’ in helping to better understand, protect and value Scotland’s heritage and history.

Last year’s inaugural awards saw over 80 nominations being received for heritage volunteers across the length and breadth of the country. The initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland, highlighted a range of worthwhile voluntary projects, activities and individuals. It celebrated everything from the recording of 3,500 gravestones and memorials in a garden cemetery to an individual’s commitment to archaeology, which spanned more than 20 years.

This year’s awards will also take the opportunity to recognise the valuable contributions that young people make to the wider historic environment, with a new category for 2016. Entries are now being welcomed for the Young Heritage Angel Award, along with the returning categories.

The five Scottish Heritage Angel Awards categories are:

  • Investigating and Recording
  •          Caring and Protecting
  • Sharing and Celebrating
  • Young Heritage Angel Award
  • Lifetime Contribution to the Historic Environment

For full details of the Awards, including application form, guidelines and films of last year’s shortlisted nominations visit the website.

If you want to get an insight into how to sketch then you could do no worse than book a place on one of these West End sketch walks with The Edinburgh Sketcher, Mark Kirkham. More details here.

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