‘The Sky’s the Limit’ showcase to celebrate “…the power of human potential”.

Humans’ greatest endeavours will be celebrated at next year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, organisers have revealed, tickets for the 2018 show go on sale from tomorrow (Friday, 1 December).

Inspired by Scotland’s Year of Young People, the Tattoo has also unveiled 2018’s theme ‘The Sky’s the Limit’. In a year that will be led by The Royal Air Force (RAF), which marks its 100-year anniversary during 2018, the show will celebrate the breaking of barriers and human potential being infinite.

Tickets for next year’s event go on sale on Friday, 1 December at 10am and range from £25 to £300. This year, the Tattoo sold out for a nineteenth consecutive year.

Taking place against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle to a live audience of 220,000, the military extravaganza will return for 24 performances during August with a 90-minute showcase of music, dance and technical wizardry, including some of the world’s finest military bands and performers.

Acts will be announced ahead of next year’s summer showcase but organisers have confirmed that fan favourites, the Massed Pipes and Drums – drawn from across the Armed Forces, Canada and Australia – and the Highland Dancers will both return to set the Esplanade alight.

Brigadier David Allfrey, Chief Executive and Producer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Scotland’s ‘Year of Young People’ offers a fabulous opportunity to help inspire the up-and-coming generations to reach for the sky. This year too, we are delighted to support The Royal Air Force in celebrating their 100th anniversary and they will be the lead Service at the Tattoo. With these two ingredients, under our own theme of The Sky’s The Limit, we can explore gravity, the history of manned flight – even into space – and explore the power of human potential.

“We are looking forward to exploring all manner of creative possibilities and collaborations in the production, in the international cast, in the music, in the lighting and projection and in special effects. There are some exciting prospects and some of them out of this world! It is all about unleashing human potential, not just in the Show but in life generally.

“We are so proud to have sold out for the last consecutive nineteen years and are constantly working to deliver innovative new dimensions in the Show. While we always stay true to the core with Massed Pipes and Drums, the Massed Military Bands, our Dance Company, Hjaltibonhoga and some sensational international contributions, the Show is new each year and there will always be a twist.

“It is an exciting time when we go on sale and I would encourage everyone to look at their plans for the summer ahead and think about booking their place on this stellar journey. We have ignition!”

Tickets are available to purchase directly from the Tattoo’s official website at http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/ or by calling +44 [0] 131 225 1188

A beautiful and intimate family portrait by one of the greatest of all seventeenth-century artists is now on display at the Scottish National Gallery.

Portrait of the Artist’s Daughter, Clara Serena by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was probably painted about 1623, not long before the sitter’s tragically early death at the age of 12.

The painting was cleaned and was recently unanimously accepted as being a work by Rubens, has never before been shown in the UK.

Rubens was an extraordinarily talented artist, scholar and diplomat, who enjoyed a long, prolific and internationally successful career. He is renowned for painting allegories, Biblical subjects and scenes from classical mythology on a grand scale, employing many assistants to meet the intense demand for his work. However, he also created smaller self-portraits, and portraits of friends and family, sometimes using his wife and children as models for figures that appear in his grand narrative pictures.

Clara Serena was the eldest daughter of Rubens and his first wife Isabella Brant, to whom he was deeply devoted. Little is known about her short life: she was baptised in Antwerp on 21 March 1611, and we can deduce that she must have died in the autumn of 1623, as one of Rubens’ friends wrote a letter of condolence on 25 October of that year.

Until 2013 Portrait of the Artist’s Daughter, Clara Serena was in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it was believed to have been by a follower of Rubens. It was de-accessioned by the Museum and subsequently sold at auction to a private collector. Following the removal of layers of discoloured varnish and overpaint, experts are now convinced that this tender portrait, with its carefully painted head and more sketchily painted chemise and background, is indeed by Rubens.

The artist had painted a famous and very touching portrait of Clara Serena at the age of five (now in the Liechtenstein Collection, Vienna), in which the disarmingly direct gaze of the child suggests a close and loving relationship to her father. Experts now agree that the portrait on show in Edinburgh shows the same child some years older, most likely around the age of twelve. The freshness and immediacy of the girl’s likeness suggests that Rubens painted this deeply personal picture from life, not long before his daughter died.

Isabella Brant survived her daughter by a mere three years. In 1630, Rubens married Helena Fourment. The artist continued to portray his family members and to use them as models for his figure paintings. For the two months of this display, Clara Serena will appear close to an image of her younger, half-brother Frans, who features as a servant-boy in the magnificent ‘Feast of Herod’, hanging nearby.

Portrait of the Artist’s Daughter, Clara Serena was one of the stars of Rubens in Private, an exhibition at the Rubenshuis in Antwerp in 2015, which examined the significance of the artist’s portraits of his family. The painting is currently on long-term loan from a private collection to the Rubenshuis and has been generously loaned to the National Galleries of Scotland for this short while.

Speaking of the display, Tico Seifert, Senior Curator for Northern European Art, said :  “We are delighted to present Portrait of the Artist’s Daughter, Clara Serena, one of the most intimate and enigmatic portraits Rubens painted of a family member.

“This deeply personal picture is likely to have been painted ‘from life’, not too long before Clara Serena died. I am sure this little gem will resonate with our visitors and inspire their imagination. The portrait has never been shown in Scotland before and we are grateful to the owner for generously lending it to the National Galleries.”

The City of Edinburgh Council has said it will consider all the views from parents and school communities about their proposed plans for schools in the west and south west of Edinburgh.

Proposals were published last Friday explaining that part of their considerations include building a new South West Edinburgh School, building a new West Edinburgh High School, refurbishing and expanding Balerno High School and building a new primary school.

Since then petitions have been set up for keeping both Wester Hailes Education Centre and Currie Community High School   open and almost 6,000 people have signed these.

Councillor Ian Perry, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: “We fully appreciate that these proposals would mean changes for parents and school communities however we must prioritise learning needs and focus on our aspirations for all pupils and future generations.

“We’re determined to improve attainment for all and to deliver our ambition to narrow the poverty-related attainment gap in line with the Scottish Government’s stated goals. This has to be achieved within the Council’s own limited financial resources and we will be writing to the Scottish Government to ask for their continued support.

“There has already been a wide range of feedback since we published our proposals. We always ask people to let us know what they thought and if they have alternative proposals to tell us. I’m delighted to say that people have been contacting us with their ideas for changes and we will publicise them ahead of the planned school meetings in the New Year. All options will be considered and we are open to any suggestions that come into us.”

Cllr Alison Dickie said: “It would have been far too easy for us to react to the issues in the west and south west of the city as they arose piece by piece over the coming years. However, this is about our aspirations for future generations so we are taking a strategic approach and laying out what the issues are and how we think they can be tackled.

“With the increased housing in the area and the expected rise in pupil numbers we have to start planning now for the needs and opportunities that lie ahead. Condition surveys have shown that both Currie and WHEC need replaced in the near future.

“Building one new larger school will provide enhanced opportunities to create a wider curricular offer to all pupils.

One thing which is also clear from the early feedback is that the sporting and community facilities in all of the high schools are valued by the community and we will consider all the options for these being protected or improved as we move through the consultation period.

The Council will be holding events between 9 January 2018 and 9 February 2018 at all the affected schools. These events will be organised through the Parent Councils and will allow invited focus groups to discuss the proposals with Council officers.

In March 2018, the Education, Children and Families Committee will be provided with an update on the discussions that have taken place and recommendations about what should happen next.

Full details of the proposals can be found on the Council website.   

There are three open days in December for prospective Edinburgh College students looking to sign up for courses in the New Year.

If that is you then you can meet staff who will be able to help you find your best study options.

There are currently 19,000 students enrolled in part-time, full-time and evening courses in four sectors: Engineering and Built Environment; Creative Industries; Tourism, Hospitality and Business; and Health, Wellbeing and Social Science. You can sign up for courses starting in January 2018, and get information on the courses beginning later in the year, and will be taken on a tour of the campus at the same time.

Edinburgh College Principal Annette Bruton said: “We look forward to welcoming prospective students to the college and I encourage anyone thinking of studying with us to come along to the open days to find out more about the courses we offer. We have courses to suit everyone, from school leavers, to people wanting to improve their job prospects, boost their qualifications or learn new skills in 2018.”

The open days will be held from 4– 6.30pm on:

7 December 2017 – Granton Campus

12 December 2017 – Milton Road Campus

14 December 2017 – Sighthill Campus

For more information on the open days contact the Edinburgh College Course Information team on [email protected] or 0131 660 1010.

Edinburgh-based Rabbie’s Small Group Tours has just won a gold award in the 2017 British Travel Awards for Best Escorted Tours Holiday Company in the medium-sized section.

Rabbie’s run their tours from Edinburgh to London, Glasgow, Inverness and Dublin.

Their small ethical tours take their guests off the beaten track and onto the back roads in their small 16-seater buses. The numbers mean that their customers get more time off the bus and more freedom to make their trip their own.

Robin Worsnop, CEO and founder of Rabbie’s Small Group Tours, said “Winning this award makes me incredibly proud. Proud of all our employees, and proud to have been recognised by our customers as the best at what we do. Next year is our 25^th birthday, and I can’t think of a better recognition of all the incredible work that the Rabbie’s team that has accomplished over the years.”

Wolverhampton Wolves have agreed terms with Sam Masters to return to the club for a third successive season.

The Australian star will limit his British racing to the SGB Premiership in 2018 having left Championship club Edinburgh in a bid to increase his schedule elsewhere in Europe.

Masters said: “I feel very lucky that my average is under eight and I have managed to keep my place at Wolverhampton, as I know unfortunately that’s been a problem for some riders with the new rules. I guess I have my collarbone (injury) to thank for that.

“I am honoured to be riding for Wolverhampton again for my third consecutive season, as it’s a place I enjoy turning up to every week.

“I feel I can step up my game and show the fans, club and promotion my full potential and hopefully as a team bring back some gold.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh have confirmed returns for four riders as they build their line-up for the 2018 SGB Championship campaign.

Ricky Wells, Erik Riss, Mark Riss and Josh Pickering will all be back and
Wells said: “I didn’t really want to go anywhere else.

“It’s great to be back, and to be fixed up for the first week in December is great as well, it will let me get organised before Christmas.

“I hadn’t actually realised I had put a point on my average and I see no reason why I can’t increase it again. Last season I struggled for a couple of months around World Cup time, but we got that sorted, came back and did OK. I finished up last season at No.1.

“I want to ride at No.1 but whoever fills the other six spots in the team should also be looking at it and saying ‘I want to be No.1.’ It’s good to have that rivalry in the team. We had a bit of that with me and Sam last year.”

Edinburgh Airport has lit up the iconic control tower with Christmas lights for the first time.

There are around 20,000 lights strung on 2,000 metres of cable wound round the tower to help guide Santa into land there during the festive season.

Ryan Rafferty (10) from Ballingry in Fife had won the competition to push the big red button and turn the lights on. His mum Elaine had put forward his name as he had been so helpful at home when she was in hospital for four weeks recovering from serious injury.

We visited the store where all the sports equipment was kept and then handed out just ahead of each event. It has that certain smell that you will recall from any school changing room of old. A mix of sweat and foostiness that is really quite hard to forget.

Earlier this week we visited Meadowbank Stadium just ahead of it closing for good this weekend. It will eventually be demolished and replaced with a new stadium which is due to open in 2020.

We were told that from here, with their javelins or whatever they needed for their chosen sport, the athletes would then proceed out the tunnel in front of us onto the athletics track and the grassy area in the middle.

We walked with former Olympic athlete Peter Hoffmann who had proceeded through this tunnel on a number of occasions and asked him to recall how it felt.

You can listen to our chat with him and with Chief Starter, Barry Craighead here :

[podbean resource=”episode=sqiwc-7de027″ type=”audio-rectangle” height=”100″ skin=”11″ btn-skin=”101″ share=”1″ fonts=”Helvetica” auto=”0″ download=”0″ rtl=”0″]

Peter told us about the tunnel onto the track : “We only used it for special occasions It might have been a UK Championship or a Scottish Championship or if you were competing for Great Britain.

“It was very much like walking out to meet the executioner! Especially if you ran something like the 400 or 800 metres because that event hurts. So there was a double nervousness. You were nervous about the competition and appearing in front of the crowds but you were also nervous because of the fact that you knew that a few minutes later you were going to be in a bit of pain after the race.

“One of my best memories is in 1978 David Jenkins had won the Scottish title twice, Roger Jenkins had won it twice and I had won it twice. 1978 was the only time we raced each other and I was fortunate enough to win that race. So that was a big memory actually for me. It was a wonderful day.

“About a month after that Paul Forbes and myself fancied our chances of beating Seb Coe it still bugs me today. I ran a very negative race I got caught up in the back straight in a group of athletes and by the time I had extricated myself I chased him down the home straight. I got right up and was pretty close to actually beating him. So Coe won that I was second and Paul Forbes third so that was a good memory as well.

“But if I had a Tardis and could go back in time I would run a better tactical race!

Barry Craighead (79) started the first and the last race at Meadowbank. The last race took place on 5 November 2017 at the annual fireworks display. Barry entertained us with some snippets about his life in athletics, although contradicted himself surely when he said that he was not much of a runner, going on to explain that he actually used to take part in the steeplechase!

He explained the procedure for the official start of a race : “The marksmen are important They get the athletes ready for the start line. Then when they were ready, he signalled me and I took over.

“The announcer introduces all the athletes in an international race, and then it is a case of saying ‘On your Marks Set and then Gun!”

Although they are not any longer, Barry explained that ‘recalls’ were then very important. This is when an athlete moves or something happens to interrupt the race. Barry told us he was pretty good at these: “I could recall within 1/100th of a second. So that’s when there is a false start and you have to fire the gun twice to bring the athletes back. The BBC tested me to see how quickly I could do it!

“But now international athletes and senior athletes don’t have any chance there’s no false starts allowed at all I am not entirely in favour of that.”

Councillor Ian Campbell said :”This is a building much in use, but it has been used for a long time. It is in need of a major upgrade. This building was built for the Commonwealth Games and it served that purpose. After the Commonwealth Games the local communities benefited from being able to take it.”

When the stadium was used as the venue for the Elton John concert for 18,000 people the many technicians had to work within the constraints of the site. There is a small bridge at one end and the Marathon Gate at the other, so there is no room for articulated lorries to come in. Everything had to be offloaded at the gate and brought in from there.

The new Meadowbank will be smaller,  with only 500 seats for spectators rather than 7,000, the stand will be more compact but may have room for Edinburgh Leisure to have its offices there, and some of the land will be sold off for housing to pay for the new sports facilities.

June Peebles CEO of Edinburgh Leisure who run the city’s leisure centres was a bit sad when we met up with her, but happy to confirm they have done their best to find everyone who uses the centre a new, if temporary home.

Meadowbank closure – how much will it cost and what will the users do meantime? pic.twitter.com/LG9U7I45fC

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) December 1, 2017

This will be a big change in the area, and as yet the new design is only a blueprint and not yet a planning reality. We began and ended the tour in Hall 6. We met Edith Swanson there whose late husband Jim was an architect with the council.

We met the lovely Edith Swanson the other day at Meadowbank. Her late husband Jim was one of the architects and they were at the opening… @Ed_Leisure pic.twitter.com/kNowzsIPXv

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) December 1, 2017

Of course we have been at a couple of election counts at Meadwobank so it is easy for us to say that we have our own memories too. We just hope they don’t put orange lighting in the new sports halls, as any photos of winning politicians will be so much better!

Police Scotland has announced a zero tolerance policy on drink / drug driving as they enter the annual festive campaign.

Roads Policing Inspector Campbell Moffat said: “The campaign will run from today (Friday 1 December) through until Tuesday 2 January 2018.

“This campaign is about increasing motorists’ awareness of the risks associated with drink driving /drug driving and to reassure the public that drink/drug driving will not be tolerated. Drinking and driving or driving whilst unfit due to the effects of drugs is totally unacceptable and puts lives at risk. It’s as simple as that.

“During the campaign we will combine high visibility patrols and roadside checks throughout Dumfries and Galloway to ensure those who continue to ignore the law by drinking and driving or driving whilst impaired by drugs will face prosecution for doing so.

“If you choose to drink drive or drug drive you run the risk of being caught, reported to the court, disqualified from driving for a minimum period of 12 months, have a criminal record for a lengthy period and in some cases your vehicle maybe subject to forfeiture. Getting caught will no doubt have wider implications in other areas of your life.

So, if you do decide to go out, plan ahead and think about how you are going to get home. The message is quite simple – the best approach is none.

“I would also ask that anyone with information on drink/drug drivers, at anytime, (not just during the campaign) contacts us on the 999 emergency number, or alternatively through Crimestoppers, if you wish to remain anonymous, on 0800 555 111.”

Glasgow Tigers completed their line-up by singing rising teenage star Jack Parkinson-Blackburn.

The ex-British 500cc Youth Champion was a National League winner in 2016.

And Tigers bosses believe that the former Sheffield Tigers racer can achieve big things in the sport.

The 17-year-old from Ossett near Wakefield will partner fellow Yorkshireman James Sarjeant at Reserve.

Fife Flyers entertain misfiring Edinburgh Capitals on Saturday 7.15pm and coach Todd Dutiaume confirmed that the coaching staff would not allow complacency ahead of the game against the Elite League bottom-markers.

Edinburgh let a 2-0 lead slip to go down 5-3 at home to league champions Cardiff Devils in midweek to remain on six points from 19 fixtures.

Fife are eighth with 20 points from 16 starts and go into the clash on a high.
Ian Young stunned pace-setters Nottingham Panthers with an overtime strike as Fife Flyers again came from behind to beat one of the Elite League heavyweights 5-4.

The 25-year-old Canadian was set up by Danick Gauthier to net the game-winner only 36 seconds into the extra session and It’s the second major road win for the Kirkcaldy club so far this season after an 8-6 triumph at league champions Cardiff Devils when they were 5-1 down at one stage.

Dutiaume said nobody would help Edinburgh get out of their current form slump.

And he urged his men to focus on earning two more points to continue their climb up the standings. He added: “You can’t take a night off in this league.”

The experienced Canadian will look for his men to jump on Capitals early and establish a platform.

Second-bottom Dundee Stars are also suffering and they travel to league newcomers Guildford Flames (6pm), who are seventh, looking to snap a depressing four-game losing streak.

The Tayside team, beaten 7-2 at home to Sheffield Steelers, the play-off champions, on Wednesday, also want to complete the game as on they only played one period on their last visit.

Elsewhere, Brendan Brooks has seen in-form Braehead Clan claim five straight Elite League wins.

And the former Fife Flyers star would love to claim a sixth when the Glasgow side host Coventry Blaze tonight (SAT, 7pm).

It’s a key clash as Blaze have hit the skids with five league defeats in a row.

And they have slipped to tenth in the 12-strong table with 19 points from 19 games.

Clan are ninth with 19 wins from 18 starts but one of their early-season defeats came at Coventry when they went down 4-1.

For Fife star Danny Stewart brings success-hungry Blaze to Braehead for the first time this season.

And Brooks, who scored a hat-trick in the big home win over bottom club, Edinburgh, last Saturday, said victory over the Midlands outfit was vital.

He added: “They’re a good team and we’ll have to bring more to this one than we did against Edinburgh on Saturday.

“It’s important for us to keep winning and moving up (the table) and into the play-off places.”

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have told drivers: “The best approach is none.”

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson launched the month-long enforcement and awareness campaign in Edinburgh.

And Police Scotland’s enforcement campaign will see even more patrols on Scotland’s roads.

Last year one in 30 drivers stopped during the festive season was over the legal limit compared with one in 35 motorists over the same period in previous year.

In the eyes of the law it doesn’t matter if you’re only slightly over the limit, you are still a drunk driver and a criminal. There is no grey area.

Mr Matheson, said: “Unfortunately, there is a persistent minority of drivers who continue to ignore the law.

“These people are not only risking their own lives and licences, but are risking the safety of other road users and pedestrians by drinking and driving.

“This campaign reinforces that drink driving is unacceptable and, if you get caught, you will get a minimum 12-month driving ban, a criminal record for a lengthy period and a substantial fine.”

For more information log onto dontriskit.info or check out the Road Safety Scotland Facebook and Twitter @roadsafetyscot pages.

Police have today launched Operation Winter City, their annual festive campaign, aimed at keeping people safe during the holiday season.

Officers will be deployed in the city centre to provide a high-visibility presence in order to engage with the public, offering a range of useful crime prevention advice and personal safety information.

This will include guidance on how to protect your valuables when shopping or partying, helpful tips on protecting yourself online and information on safeguarding your home and its contents.

This year, in addition to crime prevention and public safety police also want to raise awareness of a number of other issues that affect our communities during this time of year, including homelessness, alcohol abuse and domestic violence.

Throughout December, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the city centre and surrounding areas to shop, socialise and take part in the range of events Edinburgh has become famous for, including the Winter Market and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street party.

Edinburgh Division’s specially created social media ‘Countdown to Christmas’ Calendar will also return, allowing the public to view a police safety message on both Facebook and Twitter every day from the 1st-31st December.

In recognition of the different issues that people deal with over the festive period and the fact the Christmas can be a challenging and lonely time for many, Edinburgh’s policing team chose to launch this year’s Winter City campaign at the Salvation Army’s Pleasance Lifehouse for people overcoming homelessness.

Every day, the church and charity, much like the police, take calls from members of the public in relation to alcohol abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues. These can often result in vulnerable people requiring the assistance of police or living rough on our streets, which is where partners like Salvation Army offer such an important service, supporting and helping people when they most need it.

Chief Inspector Helen Harrison, Event Commander for Winter City said: “Without a doubt, over the festive season Edinburgh is one of the most amazing cities to live in, work in or visit as there are so many amazing spectacles and attractions to take in.

“However, it is no coincidence that the increase in people within the city centre coincides with a busier time for police, emergency services and partners such as the Salvation Army.

“The purpose of Winter City is to provide our communities with all the necessary information they need to keep themselves safe, while at the same time deploying additional resources to the busiest areas of Edinburgh to deal with any issues or incidents, which may arise.

“I would urge the public to assist us with our crime prevention and public safety efforts by ensuring their properties are always appropriately secured when left unattended and that any valuables such as gifts are not on display to others.  In addition, people should be mindful of their limits when it comes to alcohol consumption, as this is often the main factor in the various issues that both ourselves, and our partners deal with over the festive season.

“After the popularity of last year’s social media Christmas calendar, we will again utilise Facebook and Twitter to issue festive safety messages over the coming month, look out for BRUCEO who are leading our social media winter campaign this year.

“People can view our messages by liking the Edinburgh Police Division Facebook page and following our @EdinburghPolice Twitter account.”

Iain Wilson, the Salvation Army’s homelessness services manager in Edinburgh, said: “As a church and charity we offer spiritual and practical support to some of the city’s most vulnerable people.

“However, we can only offer that support by working in partnership with the public, businesses and agencies such as the police.

“It goes without saying that we are delighted to be able to support the police with their Christmas campaign.”

The Scottish National Fly Fishing League (SNFFL) would like to hear from all interested stillwater and river anglers, including previous SNFFL members, who would be keen to compete in top international competitions.

Membership of SNFFL will provide access to fly fishing skills workshops and masterclasses with the goal of preparing anglers for World, European, Masters and Five Nations events.

SNFFL leagues fish five events a year, two on stillwaters (1 bank, 1 boat) and three river venues. All events are catch and release.

The provisional 2018 programme is:
1. Bank stillwater (combined): Sunday, 8 April, Kingennie Trout Fishery (lunch included)

2. Boat stillwater (combined): Saturday, 5 May, Carron Valley Reservoir

3. River (Premier League): Sunday, 17 June, River Don
River (First Division): Sunday, 24 June, River Don

4. River (Premier League): Sunday, 12 August, River Tweed
River (First Division): Sunday, 19 August, River Tweed

5. River (Premier League): Sunday, 2 September, River Tummel
River (First Division): Sunday, 9 September, River Tummel

A spokesman said: “Entrants must be over the age of 18, be a competent fly fisher, must be in a position to supply a controller for each of the three river events, show commitment and willingness to attend team events and improve skills, have a positive and constructive attitude towards teamwork, and be a team player, with disregard for individual gratification.”

New entries for 2018 will be taken on a first come basis and enquiries received after 31 December cannot be guaranteed a place in any 2018 events.

More information is available from David Deane on [email protected]

British Transport Police are appealing for information after receiving a report that two men were shouting racist abuse at another passenger on a train between Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton around 8.50pm to 9.10pm on Thursday 16 November..

A member of train staff asked them to leave the service which they did at Dalmeny station.

The offenders are both white, aged between 40 and 50 years old, one was wearing a high visibility jacket and the other was wearing a high visibility body warmer. One of the men had short hair and the other was bald.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information which could identify the offenders.

Please call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 324 of 30 November.

According to the French newspaper Le Monde the quality of Edinburgh’s restaurants is to be praised.

In a lengthy piece published in its cultural offshoot, M le Mag it debunks popular misconceptions about Scottish cuisine, and the author points out that outside of London, Edinburgh is home to highest number of Michelin-star restaurants in the UK.

Indeed, the city’s growing potential is outlined by French chef Jérome Henry, who has just
opened his own restaurant in the Scottish capital, Le Roi Fou on Forth Street. Henry, who was once head chef at the prestigious Mosimann’s Private Dining Club in London, declares that the city is fast becoming one of the most ‘dynamic’ centres of gastronomy in Europe.

A number of household names are cited, such as Leith’s The Kitchin by Tom Kitchin and Martin Wishart’s eponymous restaurant Martin Wishart. Attention is equally paid to the recent development of St Andrew Square, where The Ivy, Dishoom, Vapiano, Gaucho, and The Refinery all add to the mix.

But it’s not just Edinburgh that’s making waves on the global food scene. Indeed, food and drink has always been an important part of Scotland’s tourist package, with a marked emphasis on the whisky variety of the latter, and the food and drinks industry is worth around £13.5bn per year.

And the development of Scotland’s gastronomical sector, with the development of the so-called ‘gin trail’, the rise in popularity of microbreweries, and the increased sales of Scottish fish to European countries, will please tourism bosses who, since 2007, have highlighted food and drink as a target for growth.

Only last night at the National Museum of Scotland there was a celebration of Scotland Food and Drink which is now ten years old.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us in the last ten years, here is to the next decade #scotfoodTEN pic.twitter.com/oFzT2yZxdK

— Scotland Food&Drink (@scotfooddrink) November 30, 2017

In another endorsement of the importance of food to Scotland, The Scottish Government earlier this week appointed Gary Maclean, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals, as the country’s first National Chef.

Gary Maclean said: “As a passionate advocate for cooking fresh, nutritious and locally sourced food, I am absolutely delighted to be appointed Scotland’s first National Chef. I’m sure my passion for education will also help to promote the benefits that Scottish produce can have on a healthy diet and will help to change our relationship with locally sourced and produced food.”

During a visit to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket Community Café with Minister for Public Health, Aileen Campbell, Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, said: “The appointment of Gary Maclean as our National Chef will play a central role in celebrating the rich larder of produce that we have available and advocate the use of locally sourced, healthy, sustainable and affordable food.

“Scotland’s food and drink sector is a global success story and one of the main contributors to our economy. We want to build upon this success by becoming a world leading Good Food Nation where nutritious, fresh and environmentally sustainable food is a key part of what makes people proud of their country and Gary will play a leading role in delivering this ambition.”

This week we’ve been asking ourselves: is Scotland’s fairly new national police force in crisis ?  Certainly a policeman’s lot is not a happy one at the moment…whether you are one of the five senior officers suspended from duty, or one of the 17,000 officers on the beat.

Police Scotland  – to give it its new-fangled name – has been beset by problems since it was formed from the old eight regional forces in 2013.  The idea was to save money and increase efficiency but soon there were concerns over the cut in back room staff, and 60 local police stations have been closed. A new computer system failed to work, regional control centres were shut down, a number of emergency calls went unanswered for days, and there are constant reports of low morale and stretched resources.

In recent months the supervising body, the Scottish Police Authority, has lost its chairman and its chief executive.  The first chief constable left early. The current chief constable is on special leave pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. And in recent days an assistant chief constable and three other senior officers have been suspended after allegations of misconduct and even criminal behaviour.

And yet the justice secretary Michael Matheson told MSPs there was no crisis. Normal policing was being carried out, which was, he said, “a match for anywhere in the world.”

While it is true that the overall crime figures are at a 43-year low, violent crime has shown a slight rise in the last year. And the police are facing new challenges in the form of terror alerts, cyber-crime and the rise in the number of sexual crimes being reported.

The opposition parties have accused Mr Matheson of complacency but I suppose there is little he can do while so much is falling apart around him. The allegations – all denied by the way – may turn out to be untrue or trivial and the low morale may simply be the teething problems of a new organisation. Meanwhile, he can only hope that the new chair of the SPA, Susan Deacon, and the Acting Chief Constable Iain Livingstone can put the force back on its feet.

Police Scotland is not the only thing to fall apart this week. We were shocked to learn that the new £1.3bn Queensferry Crossing – to give the new bridge its new-fangled name – is to be partially closed for repairs, only two months after it opened.  It appears, though, that we were supposed to know this would happen.

At First Minister’s Questions Nicola Sturgeon was keen to “put it into perspective” when she was asked to explain why the SNP had apparently rushed the job to get the bridge finished on time.  Every large construction project had “snagging issues”, Ms Sturgeon explained, and these would be fixed in the next week. Meanwhile, northbound traffic will continue to use the bridge while southbound traffic will be diverted onto the old Forth Road Bridge. It then emerged that there will be further partial closures next year but these will only be at off-peak times.

There have been other disappointments too. Only four out of Scotland’s regional health boards have met their waiting time targets. It means one in five people are having to wait more than 18 weeks between referral by a GP and actually receiving treatment, the worst result since the targets were introduced six years ago.

Local councils too are feeling the strain of government austerity. The Accounts Commission reported this week that real cuts to council budgets would mean that spending would have to be cut next year by a further £300m and councils would have to use over £100m of their reserves.   Already councils are having to spend an average of 10 per cent of their budgets on debt payments.

As you will have gathered, there has been little to celebrate this week. But we are looking forward to the return of the Argyllshire man Billy Irving who has been held in jail in India for the last four years.  He is one of the so-called Chennai Six, former British soldiers serving as anti-piracy guards on board a ship in the Indian Ocean. They were accused of unlawfully bearing arms, a charge finally quashed this week by an appeal court judge in India.  But why, everyone is asking, did it take so long ?

We have also been celebrating the life of one of those feisty Edinburgh Suffragettes, Dr Elsie Inglis, who died exactly 100 years ago.

Her services as a doctor were refused by the British Army at the outbreak of the First World War, so she went off to France and set up the Scottish Women’s Hospitals which cared for wounded soldiers in no fewer than 17 war zones across Europe.

She also founded a medical collage for women in Edinburgh and a maternity hospital.  The quad in today’s Edinburgh University medical school has been named in her honour.

Why is it that all our heroes live in the past ?

Fifteen Lothian employees were recognised in the 2017 Lothian People Awards for their exceptional contribution to the company.

 The annual ceremony was set up by the company to celebrate all of its employees who go above and beyond for the business.

This year’s ceremony took place on Thursday 24 November at the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton Hotel.

Duty Allocation Manager, Margaret McDowall took home the award for Lothian ‘Top Employee’, while Mark Steven scooped the coveted Lothian ‘Top Driver’ award.

Suzanne Hildersley, who recently celebrated twenty years’ service took home the ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ award and Connor Lawrie’s development as an Apprentice Mechanic was recognised in the ‘Top Young Apprentice’ category.

The ‘Lothian People’s Champion’ award in association with the Edinburgh Evening News was presented to Raul Campos-Folgado, whose love for the city and his job as a driver at Lothian’s Central Garage has made him incredibly popular with colleagues and customers alike and a great ambassador for the leading transport operator.

Other winners included:

• Tammie Carey – Top Employee, Edinburgh Bus Tours
• Jake Sheridan – Top Employee, East Coast Buses
• Gary Muir – Top Frontline Employee
• Brian Fraser – Top Driver, Edinburgh Bus Tours
• Paul Martin – Top Driver, East Coast Buses
• Gordon Mackay – Outstanding Manager
• Steven Tait – Safety Champion
• Jonathan Robertson – Top Technician
• Conan Turnbull – Top Mature Apprentice
• Colin Barclay – Unsung Hero
• Seafield garage – Top Team
• Longstone garage – Top Garage

Richard Hall, Managing Director from Lothian said: “Our Lothian People awards allow us the opportunity to recognise the exceptional individuals across our business who go above and beyond, both out on the frontline and behind the scenes, to deliver an exceptional service for the hundreds of thousands of customers who travel with us each and every day. A huge well done to all our winners and nominees.”

Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games but it has now reached the end of its run and will close its doors this Sunday 3 December 2017 for the last time.

The building will now be demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art sports centre fit for the 21st century.

The stadium was used by many clubs and was the training and performing home to many sporting celebrities over the decades. This has prompted a degree of nostalgia among the sporting community, some of whom we met earlier in the week.

Councillor Ian Campbell, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It is the end of an era for Meadowbank and the start of a major redevelopment to support physical activity, health and wellbeing in Edinburgh.

“The old Meadowbank has been at the heart of sport in Edinburgh for almost half a century. It has been used by millions over the decades and I am sure that many people from all around the world who have passed through its doors will treasure memories of great sporting moments created within its walls. I am delighted, however, that we can now look forward to bringing ours plans to life to create a new sporting great to be used by people in Edinburgh and beyond for generations to come.”

June Peebles, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Leisure, said:  “It is with mixed emotions that we say goodbye to Meadowbank – a venue that has served Edinburgh well since it’s opening in 1970. It will be strange closing the doors on a building that, for so long, has played a central role in developing and supporting participation in a variety of sports and physical activity.

“So many sporting memories for so many people. However, the prospect of a new Meadowbank in 2020 does counteract our sadness. The new venue will undoubtedly pick up where the old Meadowbank left off; it will provide countless opportunities for generations to come to participate in physical activity and sport. New sporting memories will be created.

“In the meantime, we hope Edinburgh Leisure will continue to inspire individuals to get active and healthy at the biggest club in town.”

Architect designs of the new Meadowbank were released in September revealing the planned look and feel for the new Meadowbank, which is due to be operational by 2020.

Further information will be made available prior to the submission of a planning application in the next couple of months, featuring a masterplan for the wider site development. Officers are continuing to work with Edinburgh Leisure to assist clubs and groups to find alternative sport facilities following the closure.

With the Christmas party season almost upon us, are you trying to lose a bit of weight? Are your thoughts along the lines of ‘Well, I was good, but I’ve not got any willpower’?

Dealing with weight management issues and trying to maintain a healthy diet can be difficult. So many people give up after a week or two and they cite so many reasons which are, in reality, an all-too handy convenience to go back to the old ways of overeating.

Snacking is a real issue for many people. And, like so many other things we are told we shouldn’t do, it’s a habit. If you’re really serious about wanting to lose weight then it’s an unwanted habit.

Hypnotherapy can help replace your unwanted habits with healthier ones. And the great thing is, you are in charge! You are fully awake, completely in control. All you have to do is sit back and listen to me putting suggestions to your subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy is a relaxing, calm process which can bring about the necessary behavioural changes to help you achieve your goals.

One of my clients has lost nearly two stones in just four months. He told me he loves the hypnotherapy process and has now cut out snacking on crisps, chocolate and bread rolls.

The cost of a session of hypnotherapy at Mind Generating Success is just £60. The number of sessions depends on how well it works but many of my clients have stopped their unwanted habits after just four sessions. And think how much slimmer, healthier and fitter you will feel. As well as the money saved by no longer buying ‘snacking’ food!

It’s not only weight loss that hypnotherapy can help with. It can help you quit smoking and deal with other addictions. One of my clients told me he has tried everything from nicotine gum, to patches to going cold turkey. Nothing worked – until hypnotherapy.

Now, there can be many reasons why you smoke. And you may think nothing works and you’ll never be able to give up the ciggies. However once an assessment has been made – and, crucially, you really want to give up smoking, one session may be all you need.

Someone smoking 20 cigarettes a day can spend an astonishing £3,000 a year on tobacco. Think what you could do with that money? And you’ll be healthier to boot! One session of smoking cessation hypnotherapy costs just £95 – and it’s a method that works!
Hypnotherapy can also help people who have anxiety. Anxious feelings can in some cases be accompanied by acute stress, physical symptoms or panic attacks.

Although anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations – family concerns, pressure of work etc. – its impact on your day-to-day living can become severe and the effect on the quality of life overwhelming. Hypnotherapy can help you reduce anxiety and reduce the stress in your life.
Okay, you’re keen to find out more. So, what should you do?

If you interested in losing weight, stopping smoking, reducing anxiety or have a phobia such as a fear of spiders, mice, insects, dogs or cats – or you have a fear of flying – take the first step to changing your life by contacting me today for an initial consultation.
Evening appointments available. Home visits by arrangement.

Mike Smith Hyp CS
Mind Generating Success
Craiglockhart
Edinburgh EH14 1DJ
Tel: 07521 353 787
Email: [email protected]
www.mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk

Edinburgh charity Dads Rock was awarded £50,000 by The Scottish Government yesterday in a bid to secure its future, but the need for long term funding continues.

The Edinburgh-based organisation had to scale back services following a number of unsuccessful funding applications.

Now, Dads Rock will receive £35,000 in government funding which will allow all playgroups, antenatal classes and work with young fathers to continue.

In addition, the organisation will receive a further £15,000 to evaluate the benefits of its work, which will help it apply for funding in future.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I hugely value the important support Dads Rock provides to parents, particularly fathers, and I was very concerned to hear it was in jeopardy because of a funding shortfall.

“I am pleased that this £50,000 will enable services to resume, as well as helping to secure the long-term future of the organisation.”

Thomas from Dads Rock said to The Edinburgh Reporter this morning: “The support we have had since announcing our funding situation has been overwhelming. We have had offers of help as well as donations. It’s been quite a week. This award from the Scottish Government is fantastic.

“We would like to thank deputy first minister John Swinney, as well as Jeremy Balfour MSP and everyone else who has helped. We’re not out of the woods yet, and would ask people to continue to support us to #savedadsrock.”

Last week at First Minister’s Questions Jeremy Balfour raised the issue of Dads Rock :

• Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): 

  Will the First Minister join me in expressing concern that Dads Rock, a charity based here in Lothian that is well known to the Scottish Government for the good work that it does in helping dads to develop better relationships with their children, is having to reduce services, including play groups and counselling, following recent funding cuts? Will she ask her officials to meet me and Dads Rock to see what help can be given in the short term and long term to support that worthy cause?

• The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon): 

  First, I thank Jeremy Balfour for raising the issue of Dads Rock, which is an organisation that I know of, having seen at first hand the excellent work that it does to help fathers develop better relationships with their children; for the good of society overall, that is a very worthwhile cause. I will have my officials look into the particular issue that Jeremy Balfour raises and write to him once they have had the opportunity to do so.

  The final point that I would make, which is not intended to have a go at Jeremy Balfour, who is legitimately raising an important constituency issue, is that here we are seeing one of just many of the real-life implications of what I was saying to Ruth Davidson earlier: next year, we face a £200 million real-terms cut in our day-to-day budget and these are the kind of implications that we will have to face as a result. I am afraid that that is bringing the Tories face to face with the real consequences of the budget decisions that they make.

   

Images courtesy of Dads Rock

BP PORTRAIT AWARD
16 December 2017 – 11 March 2018
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
1 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JD
Free admission | 0131 624 6200
#BPPortrait

An Edinburgh College of Art graduate’s prize-winning entry in a prestigious, worldwide portrait competition will go on show in Scotland for the first time this winter.

The 2017 BP Portrait Award exhibition, which opens at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on 18 December, will feature 53 stand-out works selected from 2,580 entries, by artists from 87 countries, including Breech! by Benjamin Sullivan which took this year’s first prize.

BP Portrait Award is one of the most important platforms for new and established portrait painters alike. Its first prize of £30,000 makes it one of the largest global arts competitions.

The 2017 first prize winner of BP Portrait Award is Benjamin Sullivan (b. 1977), whose painting Breech! is a tender depiction of his wife Virginia breastfeeding their eight-month-old daughter. It took Sullivan less than five weeks to create the intimate painting, which reflects on the worrisome time the parents faced during Edith’s birth, and celebrates their love for their new child.

The prize judges, including broadcaster Kirsty Wark and artist Michael Landy, were particularly struck by the warmth and emotion present in Sullivan’s composition, which evokes Madonna and Child paintings through the ages and the depth of the maternal bond. The artist was presented with a £30,000 prize and a commission, at the National Portrait Gallery Trustees’ discretion, worth £5,000.

Grimsby-born, Suffolk-based Sullivan holds a BA (Hons) in Drawing and Painting from Edinburgh College of Art. Sullivan was previously awarded the third prize for Hugo in 2016, a portrait of the poet Hugo Williams. Sullivan’s work has been selected for display 12 times for BP Portrait Award, in 2002 and every year from 2006 to 2015.

The French artist Thomas Ehretsmann (b. 1974) won the second prize of £10,000 for Double Portrait, a painting of his wife Caroline. Ehretsmann was inspired by a walk the couple was taking in a park and the way the light shone on Caroline’s face, which he said reminded him of the work of French naturalist painters. In order to infuse the ephemeral moment with something more timeless, the artist used multiple layers of semi-transparent acrylic paint, a technique which he often employs in his work. The title suggests the passage from one state of being to another, and hints at Caroline’s pregnancy.

Born in Mulhouse, France, Ehretsmann gained a degree in illustration from the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs, Strasbourg. His work as an illustrator has been featured in the New Yorker, Rolling Stone and Elle Magazine. His portrait Vacuum 2 was selected for the BP Portrait Award 2016 exhibition.

The third prize of £8,000 went to Antony Williams (b. 1964) for Emma. The painting is named after the sitter, Emma Bruce, who modelled for Williams almost continuously for over a decade, during which the relationship between the two developed into friendship. Although Emma is shown naked, her crossed arms prevent the viewer from seeing her directly; Williams wanted to portray both her vulnerability and determination.

Williams studied at Farnham College and Portsmouth University. An established portrait artist, his work has been seen in solo exhibitions in London and Madrid and included in the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibitions and previously in BP Portrait Award exhibitions in 1995, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2014 and 2015.

The £7,000 BP Young Artist Award, which goes to a selected entrant aged between 18 and 30, was won by New Zealander Henry Christian-Slane (b. 1990) for Gabi, a portrait of his wife. Christian-Slane studied graphic design at Auckland University of Technology; this is the first time the artist and illustrator has been selected for the BP Portrait Award exhibition.

Also on display in the exhibition is the work of Lithuanian artist Laura Guoke, the winner of the BP Travel Award 2016, a £6,000 annual prize enabling artists to work in a different environment. Guoke travelled to refugee camps in Ritsona, Greece where she sketched, photographed and filmed some of the most vulnerable refugees from Syria, as well as the volunteers helping them. Guoke’s powerful, large-scale portrait shows migrants as individuals with names and faces, and conveys their unique stories.

Casper White won the BP Travel Award 2017 for his proposal to portray music fans in clubs and concert venues in Berlin and Mallorca. White aims to represent an often youth-related subculture that is not traditionally recorded in portrait paintings. White’s work will be displayed in BP Portrait Award in 2018.

2017 marks the Portrait Award’s 38^th year at the National Portrait Gallery, London and the 28^th year of sponsorship by BP. This extremely popular annual exhibition which always proves to be a great success when shown in Scotland aims to encourage artists over the age of 18 to focus upon and develop the skills of portraiture in their work.

Other works on show in BP Portrait Award range from informal depictions of friends and family, to revealing images of famous faces, with a broad variety of styles and approaches to contemporary painted portraiture. As well as first prize-winner Sullivan, Scottish-based artists include Fiona Graham-Mackay, Ross McAuley and Angela Repping.

Scots-born Fiona Graham-Mackay was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to paint the British writer, poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay. Graham-Mackay is known for her portraits of the British royal family; her portrait of Sir Andrew Motion was included in the BP Portrait Award 2016.

Canadian artist Ross McAuley, now based in Glasgow, has had works featured in group exhibitions in Toronto, Glasgow and London including the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, 2017. His brightly coloured painting Self-Portrait with Pear shows the artist wearing a vintage sports jacket.

Dutch artist Angela Repping gained a BA (Hons) in fine art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and lives in Scotland. Her work has been seen in exhibitions at the Royal Glasgow Institute, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Paisley Art Institute. Her work Profile is a portrait of her friend Kim.

Christopher Baker, Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, commented: “We are delighted to welcome back to Edinburgh and the National Galleries of Scotland the BP Portrait Award. It encompasses a wealth of artistic talent and demonstrates in such an inspiring way the vitality and variety of contemporary painted portraiture. The exhibition and programmes around it will I am sure once again prove to be immensely popular.” 

The biggest change to the private rental sector in a generation will mean tenants have more security and stability coupled with better safeguards for landlords, lenders and investors.

The new Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) will have no end date and can only be terminated by a tenant giving written notice to their landlord or by the landlord using one of 18 grounds for eviction. Tenants will have the right to challenge a wrongful termination.

Landlords can only increase rent once a year and are required to give tenants three months’ written notice of any rise. Tenants can challenge this rise if they think it is unfair.

Landlords will also benefit from a more accessible repossession process and a simplified way to give notice.

On a visit to see Shelter’s new online enquiry system and meet with tenants, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said : “The private rental sector has grown substantially in recent years and now provides a place to call home for 760,000 people.

“This is the biggest change to the sector for a generation and will bring about significant improvements in private renting, benefiting both tenants and landlords.

“We want to ensure everyone has a safe and warm place to call home. The new tenancy sits alongside our wider ambitions for housing in Scotland- not least our ambitious commitment to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes during this Parliament, including that for rent.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Today represents a new dawn for all private renters in Scotland and these new laws bring unprecedented security of tenure to private renters with landlords now needing a good reason to evict tenants.

“We have campaigned passionately for 10 years now for reform of private renting, ending with our Make Renting Right campaign, which had extensive support from the public and local and national politicians. We are delighted that all those voices were listened to and we support today’s changes in the law.

“Shelter Scotland is pleased to be working with the Scottish Government on a major awareness raising campaign to ensure everyone involved in private renting- from tenants and landlords to letting agents and housing professionals- understand their new rights and responsibilities.”

John Blackwood, Chief Executive for Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), said: “We have worked closely with the Scottish Government, tenants groups and charities for a number of years on this new tenancy agreement and believe the final outcome will make life considerably easier for landlords.  The improved and clarified grounds for eviction, alongside a clearly defined process which we campaigned for will further help streamline the sector.

“The new clauses will make it easier for landlords to ensure contracts are fully compliant with the law as well as being easier for both them and tenants to understand, hopefully reducing tension and unnecessary disagreements.

“We also hope this will make it easier to identify rogue landlords and drive them out of the sector whilst encouraging the overwhelming number of landlords who act responsibly to play their part in increasing the supply of housing available in Scotland.”

Unique ‘energy’ of Scottish community foundation captured by art installation

A new art installation was unveiled on Tuesday (29th November) at a special event in Edinburgh marking the culmination of an ‘artist in residency’ programme designed to embed creativity into business and encourage skills sharing between the sectors.

Over the last six months, Dumfriesshire-born artist Natasha Russell has been in residence at the Edinburgh office of independent charity Foundation Scotland learning about its people, the projects it funds, and its ambitions and priorities with the aim of creating a holistic and permanent visual representation of the organisation as part of Scottish charity Arts & Business Scotland’s ‘Creativity at Work – Artist in Residency Programme’.

The unique installation, entitled ‘Murmurations’, has transformed a neutral room into an inspirational and stimulating event space by bringing together snippets of imagery which reflect various aspects of Foundation Scotland and the projects it supports. Supported by The Gateway Exchange Trust and William Grant Foundation, the installation has been created through linocut printing onto thin, strong Japanese paper, which is then printed in tiles of various sizes and mounted directly on the wall.

The ‘Creativity at Work – Artist in Residency Programme’ is managed by Arts & Business Scotland and funded via Creative Scotland. Natasha’s installation is the final project to be completed as part of the initial Creativity at Work programme, which has now ended. Due to its success and the positive impacts the residencies have had on those businesses and staff engaged, Arts & Business Scotland plans to launch a renewed Creativity at Work programme in January 2018.

The Creativity at Work programme seeks to encourage creative thinking in business at a time when creativity is rising quickly up the agenda of business board rooms in this country and internationally. Published last year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Future of Jobs report predicts that creativity is set to become the third most important skill for businesses by 2020.

Images courtesy of Alex Bruce (Orbit)

Kevin Doolan has re-signed for a sixth season with Berwick Bandits and the 37-year-old has a passion for the club.

Scott Courtney, Bandits’ co-owner and promoter, said: “Kevin is a massive part of Berwick Bandits Speedway Club and his ability to encourage and inspire others around him is second to none.”

Meanwhile, Glasgow Tigers have signed Claus Vissing, a former Bandits star.

He is Glasgow’s sixth confirmed rider and Vissing has also previously ridden for Edinburgh Monarchs.

He said the Glasgow track is one of his favourites and the experienced rider was sold on a move to the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium by fellow Dane Rene Bach, a former Tiger.
.

Police Scotland has renewed its support for an initiative to reduce harm and exploitation of people involved in prostitution.

Every day, hundreds of online adverts are in place with men and women being advertised for sexual services.

National Ugly Mugs (NUM) provides greater access to justice and protection for those involved in prostitution, who are often targeted by dangerous individuals but are frequently reluctant to report these incidents to the police.

Police Scotland is now in its third year of supporting the initiative in order to help encourage reporting and improve safety. NUM is part of Police Scotland’s commitment to end violence against women in all its forms. Earlier this week Police Scotland’s executive team, signed the pledge on White Ribbon Day and marked the start of 16 Days of Action to tackle violence against women.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, Police Scotland, said, “While some people may be involved in prostitution by choice, others are not but may be victims of coercion or exploitation. Every one of those people is exposed to the risk of violence and abuse. And while prostitution affects individuals, it also affects communities across Scotland.

“National Ugly Mugs supports action across our divisions to tackle violence against those involved in prostitution. It allows us to identify perpetrators and reduce the threat of harm at the earliest opportunity.

“Our approach to tackling prostitution remains focused on the welfare of those involved and identifying either individual perpetrators or organised crime groups who may have trafficked or be exploiting individuals. Working with partners and community representatives, we hope to identify victims who may be involved in both ‘on’ and ‘off’ street prostitution, to raise awareness of the impact of the criminality associated with their exploitation, and to reduce the threat, risk and harm to those involved.”

Dr Rosie Campbell OBE the Chair for National Ugly Mugs said, “Sex workers are disproportionately targeted by offenders through harassment, rape, robbery, stalking and murder. For many reasons the majority of sex workers do not report to the police. This is an issue for public protection, evidence shows that offenders target sex workers and become emboldened because they think they won’t be reported, or if they are sex workers won’t be taken seriously, their offending can escalate further in severity –and is indiscriminate in terms of victims.

“Sex workers have a right to public protection and access to the criminal justice system, NUM is there to support this right. NUM gives sex workers throughout Scotland an option; for reporting crimes against them and to warn other sex workers, it gets information about offenders targeting sex workers to the police, aiding investigations and allowing the prosecution of dangerous individuals.”

NUM offers a third party reporting scheme which connects local projects, individuals, forums and advertising sites to share information about individuals who commit crimes against people involved in prostitution. Warnings are sent out which allow people working in prostitution to avoid dangerous individuals and, with the consent of the individuals involved, NUM shares information with the police.

NUM works to ensure that all people who have been victims of crime, whether they sell sexual services in the online, indoor or street based sectors have an option for reporting and access to professional support services.

Cllr Mary Campbell is Green councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar and is the Green Group educaiton spokesperson.

Here she writes about the announcement that the council is planning to consult on the possible closure of some schools and replacement of others in the west and south west of the city.

The controversy around the schools review in west and south west Edinburgh could, and should, have been avoided argues Mary Campbell.

Even in the seven months since being elected as Green councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar, it seems to me that many disputes in which the council finds itself are a consequence of really poor engagement with people affected by changes.

Take the current schools review in west and south west Edinburgh, for example. It has dominated social media and local press in the week since it was unveiled, with most attention being focused on the proposal to close both high schools in Currie and Wester Hailes (WHEC) to be replaced with one new school, along with some changes to catchment for other high schools. Quite understandably, many people in both communities, having grown up with a local high school, have reacted with dismay to this unheralded news.

In all of the debate so far I have not heard anyone question the need to increase high school capacity – indeed, it has been well-trailed in recent years with lots of additional building at primary schools to cope with rising P1 intakes. And seven years later, well, it is hardly a surprise, is it? Edinburgh is a fast growing city and schools – both primary and secondary – have to evolve to keep up.

The figures are stark. In September 2016 the number of secondary school students was 18,145. By 2026 it is projected to increase to over 24,000, outstripping the absolute capacity of the secondary schools at just over 22,000. Crucially, unlike earlier population cycles this is not expected to ebb and flow – the pattern of growth is projected to continue.

Nor have I heard anyone claim that the buildings at Currie and WHEC have indefinite shelf-life. Like far too many postwar buildings the decades have not been kind to them. Having been a pupil at one such building – Portobello High – and now seeing the new school there I can vouch for the difference a new school building can make.

So in Currie the school condition surveys earlier in 2017 have identified that a new building is needed. In WHEC (and Balerno High) improvements to the buildings are recommended.

So if the twin drivers of rising numbers of secondary school-aged children and the need to modernise the school buildings are accepted why is there now such a controversy?

The answer lies in the process, I believe. As the Green spokesperson on Education and member of Education Committee, I approved, as did all political parties, a paper back in August 2017 which set out a number of challenges for secondary schools, including Castlebrae, Trinity, Boroughmuir and Gaelic medium education.

In the west of the city, the paper highlights that the new Queensferry High, scheduled for 2020, cannot cope with the scale of population growth so a new high school in west Edinburgh is needed. In south west Edinburgh the scale of growth is much less pronounced – by 2026 only another 77 secondary school pupils are projected (just under 4 standard classes worth) – so it is school condition that seems to loom largest.

That paper in August promised an informal consultation on options with a report and possible full statutory consultation being kicked off in December.

This was largely repeated at the October Education Committee. Councillor workshops were scheduled for the October school holidays and workshops with school communities were to be set up.

In neither report was the option of closing two schools to be replaced by a single school even hinted at.

Given the above description imagine my surprise when the next news I received was a phone call from The Evening News on Friday 24 November asking for a comment on the schools review as just published on the council website. That is despite being the Education lead for my group and a member of Education Committee. The other Green councillor on the committee, Gavin Corbett, only found out about it at the same time as he is a parent at Tynecastle High School, which is affected by some knock-on catchment changes.

So much for keeping councillors in the loop. The same seems to be the case with consultation with school communities which is now promised between 9 January and 9 February rather than in advance of any ideas being published.

So forgive me if claims by the SNP-Labour council that this is “informal consultation only” ring a little hollow. Proper consultation does not involve issuing (with no prior warning) a detailed blueprint, with only some minor variations. It means setting out the challenges faced (outlined above) in front of school communities and walking through with them all of the possible ways they might be addressed. My instinct is that they’ll get the issues of rising rolls, of improvements needed and even that budgets are limited. And those will inform the options that are then put out formally. That is what the best consultations – real consultations – do.

So where does this this leave the review issued a week ago? It already looks to be a non-starter, given the reaction and given the failings outlined above. In some ways that is frustrating because doing nothing is an option no one wants and, in a large package of proposals, there are some ideas that many parents will welcome.

And this is just the start. The west and south west of the city is just the first of a number of reviews that need to consider secondary school capacity. The quality of buildings, the need for more capacity, the need for catchment areas to flex with changing populations all need to be in the mix.

But the council needs to learn and learn fast from this botched process.

Pupils of Scotland’s national music school will be performing their annual Christmas concert in Edinburgh on 11 December 2017.

St Mary’s Music School’s A Symphony of Carols will take place at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road at 7.30 pm.

There will be music from St Mary’s Music School Choir, the School Orchestra, The Choristers of St Mary’s Cathedral, the Senior String Ensemble and the Senior Jazz Ensemble.

The evening will feature works by Benjamin Britten, George Frideric Handel, Jean Sibelius, Nat Adderley and Richard Ingham.

Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher, St Mary’s Music School, said: “Everyone at St Mary’s Music School is looking forward to the Christmas Concert which is always a highlight of the school year.  It is important for our young musicians to have the opportunity to perform in public and we are delighted to extend a warm welcome to all those who come along to the concert and support them.

“The varied programme for A Symphony of Carols gives an opportunity to demonstrate an excellent standard of musical performance across several genres. I am grateful to the staff and pupils, led by our Director of Music, Paul Stubbings, who make this concert happen.

“The second half of the concert will consist of a very special celebration of the spirit of Christmas, with a performance of “A Symphony of Carols” which has been composed specially for the occasion by our resident composer, Tom David Wilson, who will conduct tonight’s performance. “

Tickets (£8, concessions £5, schoolchildren free) are available from St Mary’s Music School (Telephone: 0131 538 7766) or on the door on the evening.

http://www.st-marys-music-school.co.uk/

VisitScotland has begun a new social media campaign today. It includes parkour athletes in Edinburgh and a scallop diver in Mull, bringing Scotland to the notice of those who might then be attracted to come here for a holiday.

The global campaign will run for the next 18 months and will involve up to 25 global vloggers and Instagrammers matched with a diverse range of local people across Scotland who have interesting jobs, hobbies or skills. Each social media influencer spends 1-2 days with their Scottish local and is encouraged to shadow them in their activities. The rest of the time they are here they are free to explore their own interests across the country.

In this way, social media influencers will be able to gain a true insight into what it is really like to live, work, study and play in Scotland and then communicate this to their audiences. Some of the so-called influencers have many thousands of followers on social media, and the combined total runs into millions.

Recent research has shown the strength of social media influencers and their power to drive conversations and engagement as well as deliver inspiring content, with many millennials trusting influencers nearly as much as they trust their friends and family.

The campaign, entitled Scotland: Life launched officially last weekend with the release of a film by the popular US YouTube channel DevinSupertramp. The American videographers, who have over 4.5 million subscribers, were paired with four extreme athletes from Scotland to create a fast-paced film showcasing parkour and street trial bike stunts in Edinburgh.

The athletes are parkour stars Robbie Griffith and Johnstone Macpherson Stewart and street trial bike riders Duncan Shaw and Ali Clarkson, known for their riding with YouTube sensation Danny Macaskill.

The film was shot over three days and shows the athletes racing from Edinburgh Castle to Arthur’s Seat performing a variety of stunts, acrobatics and tricks on their route.

The video has been a hit amongst audiences globally with a reach of over 7 million already across Facebook and YouTube, with many admiring the city showcased through the eyes of urban sport athletes.

DevinSupertramp will be releasing a more laid-back film tomorrow Friday 1 December featuring the Highlands of Scotland filmed in ultra-high-definition 8k.

Other matches that have been made so far in the project include:

• US YouTuber Mike Corey who was paired with Scallop Diver Guy Grieve on the Isle of Mull
• Canadian YouTubers Samuel and Audrey who were paired with Highland Games official Alan Pettigrew
• YouTuber and Outlander fan Sasha Alsberg who was paired with Herbalist and adviser to the Outlander series,Claire Mackay (local film coming soon)
• YouTuber and ‘Potterhead’ Tessa Netting who was paired with an Edinburgh University student and member of theHarry Potter Society (coming soon)

Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive said: “Our #ScotSpirit campaign has been one of our most successful to date with millions of people embracing the hashtag and content we have created globally and understanding the true meaning of what the spirit of Scotland is – whether it is felt through experiencing our landscapes, meeting our people or visiting any of our amazing and unique events and attractions.

“With Scotland: Life, we wanted to extend that feeling further and give YouTubers and Instagrammers a never-seen-before insight into what it is really like to live, work and study in Scotland.

“We look forward to welcoming many more social media influencers over the coming months to meet our inspirational locals and showcase the rich assets, hidden gems and local stories in every region of Scotland”

To find out more about VisitScotland’s Scotland:Life project and discover films and itineraries click here. 

Use the hashtag #ScotLife and #ScotSpirit to encounter more across social media channels.

A 38-year-old man has been arrested after police officers executed a warrant in Cakemuir Gardens yesterday and seized approximately £44,000 worth of heroin, cannabis and crack cocaine along with a large sum of money.

The man has been charged and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

Local Area Commander, Chief Inspector Kevin McLean said: “Yesterday’s warrant and drugs recovery continues the good work of Operation Eagle, which has now seen over £300,000 of illicit substances seized by local officers.

“The misuse and supply of drugs has a huge impact on our communities, and we couldn’t achieve this without their support and the information they provide. Anyone with information about such activity in their area should contact police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”