The roof of the Queen’s Hall led a charmed life as Horse and her band rocked the Edinburgh venue with a five star performance in front of a packed auditorium on Friday evening.

In the penultimate gig before taking her tour to Australia, Horse delivered a songlist charting a career that has earned her a world-wide following over some 25 coveted years. Like a fine wine, this iconic singer/songwriter just seems to get better with age too.

The four piece ensemble belted out timeless classics from yesteryear including Speed of the Beat and You Are whilst delivering a barnstorming rendition of God’s Home Movie that would have made a metaphorical pin-drop be heard as the crowd sat hypnotised by Horse’s ethereal voice.

A trio of anti-bullying songs were introduced by the Stonewall Scotland role model midway through the show that would have gone on long into the night if the audience had their way.

Regarded by many as her signature tune and title of the stage show that premiered at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Careful, was just one of and handful of songs dedicated to several of those sitting around the hall – showing Horse’s ability to retain her personal touch and bond with her followers.

Many save their best for last, but it was the penultimate tune of the night that worked the energetic audience into a frenzy. They were on their feet and dancing in the aisles as Never Not Going To boomed out whilst Horse, microphone in hand, went for a wander amongst her adoring faithful.

After the mayhem, the (figurative) curtain sadly had to come down. Support act Sandra MacBeth, who has just launched a new EP, was invited back on stage to join in a rousing rendition of Wild Mountain Thyme. It was the perfect tonic to round off one of Horse’s finest hours (and a half) on stage yet.

After the gig, Horse stayed back to meet and chat with a sea of her seasoned – and new – fans. Well, who could help but be won over?

Scotland trip over the first hurdle in November Series

Scotland`s women went down 2-0 to Ireland in the first of three test matches to be played in Glasgow as part of both teams’ preparation for International tournaments early next year.

There was little between the teams in terms of possession and balance of play, but Ireland`s opportunism in the circle provided the two goals that were to divide the sides in the end.

Playing under fairly feeble lights, the Scots were almost donated a goal in the opening minutes but neither Amy Brodie nor Becky Merchant, both from Edinburgh University, were able to take advantage.

The first half was fairly evenly matched, but Ireland always looked the more dangerous going forward, with captain Kathryn Mullan and Emma Russell both scoring from open play when the Scottish defence had failed to clear their lines.

The Scots had their opportunities, Nikki Lloyd failing to test the goalkeeper at a penalty corner routine. Merchant then had a chance just before the interval, but Ireland’s keeper slid into the ball first to clear.

The Scots opened the second half the stronger and chances fell to Jen Eadie and Merchant but the Irish goalkeeper was equal to the task.

Early on in the half, ‘Olympic’ Umpire, Sarah Wilson, stopped play to ‘advise’ that she was becoming somewhat irritated by the continual decision questioning and threatened to card the captains. As things stood, she eventually green carded four or five players during the match for a variety of offences.

As the match progressed, the Irish began to dominate, and in  the latter stages, won four penalty corners, but failed to convert and add to their tally.

Near the end Scotland’s Brodie waltzed past three defenders but her eventual shot on goal was ineffectual and the umpire blew for time.

Images from the match will appear here over the next few days

They are shouting this good news from the rooftops at Tanfield Bowling Club!

The club has just secured funding of £20,000 for a new roof from SUEZ Communities Trust formerly known as SITA Trust.

This amazing sum will ensure that they can replace the whole roof.  The fact that the building will now be water tight means the community groups who use it have a warm future ahead!

Carol Munro, Secretary of Tanfield Bowling Club said “The Committee and Members of Tanfield Bowling Club are delighted to receive the funding for a new roof and would like to thank SUEZ Communities Trust for this funding”

Marianne Ivin of SUEZ Communities Trust added “The roof of the Bowling Club was really causing issues for the club so we are delighted to be able to help them replace it and to allow the continued use of the building for the users.”

SUEZ Communities Trust provides funding awards through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund – an important source of funding which came into effect in April 2015.  The scheme is linked to the Scottish Landfill Tax and encourages landfill site operators to provide contributions to approved bodies, who can then pass the funds onto community and environmental projects.

With the help of £15,000 funding from the RAF Charitable Trust the East of Scotland University Air Squadron (UAS) will take a team of 14 to British Columbia on an expedition.

The idea is to test their skills in resilience, awareness and strength, so the squadron will mountaineer to Lake Tuaton, before taking to a canoe for eight days on the Stikine River.

The annual award has been established in honour of Paul Bowen the co-founder of the Royal International Air Tattoo who died in 2004. The funding is set up to provide enriching opportunities for UAS with expeditions such as this.

The expedition leader, Sgt Lee Powles, said: “The entire team are extremely excited about this expedition in one of the world’s last true wildernesses.  Although we do have opportunities to travel overseas to undertake expedition training, we would never be able to access such a remote location without the support we have received from the Trust”.

“There are real-time risks involved throughout this expedition, which emphasises the importance of effective decision making, risk management and self-reliance.  As a result of the extreme isolation the expedition party will be operating in, this experience and the learning opportunity it provides are immeasurable and underpin everything this challenge is about.”

Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson, Chairman of the RAF Charitable Trust, said: “Paul was known for his imaginative, stylish and enterprising spirit, which the Trustees wanted to reflect through this award by encouraging the same spirit in the UAS by challenging them to think bigger and better when planning their adventurous expeditions.”

Tweedbank Station will soon have a shop and a public convenience, no doubt making passengers lives a little more pleasant when using the station.

The shop will sell hot and cold drinks, snacks, sweets and newspaper and there will be an accessible public toilet alongside.

This has been funded by Transport Scotland, ScotRail and the Scottish Government through the Borders Railway Blueprint Partnership.

The lease for the shop has been secured by local company Born in the Borders.

Cathy Craig, Commercial Director at ScotRail said: “The Borders Railway has been an extraordinary success in forging closer links between communities in the Borders and Midlothian, and the rest of Scotland.

“The new customer hub reinforces our commitment to the route and I’m sure will be most welcome by people who are travelling for business or leisure.”

John Henderson, Owner of Born in the Borders said: “After the success of our café in Galashiels, we are delighted to be continuing our exciting adventure along the Borders Railway.

“We have some extremely innovative plans for Tweedbank, including a pre-order coffee App so people can order on the way to the station and just grab and go when they get there.

“As always, local food and drink will be at the heart of our offering.”

Councillor David Parker, Leader of Scottish Borders Council added:  “I am delighted that ScotRail and the Borders Railway Blueprint Partnership are providing toilet and kiosk facilities at Tweedbank Railway station.

“It is very welcome news that Born in the Borders, a growing local business, has been chosen as the operator of the new kiosk and their commitment to quality products and excellent customer service will be welcomed by visitors and regular railway passengers alike.

“The provision of toilet facilities will greatly enhance Tweedbank station and with other improvements planned for the Borders Railway in 2017, it is clear there will continue to be many future positive developments to come.”

Edinburgh-based charity Blackwood run an awards scheme for aspiring designers or established professionals to enter their newest designs to help people with disabilities. They then run a ‘Dragons Den’ style session to decide upon the winner.

This year they are delighted that entries have already come from far and wide, and told us about this one from 5,000 miles away in China.

China based company GlassOuse has entered its pioneering product, Assistive Device, which is made specifically to help those who cannot use a traditional mouse due to an inability to fully use their hands.

The ground-breaking product is worn comfortably on the head like a pair of glasses and connects to Android, Windows, Linux devices and Apple software (Mac) via Bluetooth Signal.

The headpiece has been designed for everyone, but more specifically, to help people who may have suffered traumatic injuries such as, brain bleeds and tumours, strokes, spinal damage and cerebral palsy and has left them needing additional support for everyday tasks.

Biven Chan, Sales Manager at GlassOuse, said: “Everyone at GlassOuse has worked extremely hard to perfect this product. Although the headpiece can be used by anyone we wanted to create something that would also make everyday tasks a lot easier for those who have suffered life changing injuries.

“The Blackwood Design Awards is something we have heard about for years and we’re delighted to finally be in position to be involved.

“Of course we would love to win but ultimately our goal is to raise awareness of our product and be able to help even more people living with disabilities.”

There are two categories Best New Product and Best New Concept and the competition will be judged at Blackwood’s premises on Dundee Street later this month. The winner will be supported by Blackwood to ensure that their design is actually produced. The Best New Concept winner will also get a cash prize of £2,000.

Blackwood has over 1500 homes across the country helping those who are disabled, elderly or who have sensory impairments to live more independently

Colin Foskett, Head of Innovation at Blackwood, believes the competition is a perfect example of the Blackwood ethos, which aims to provide beneficial digital and technological improvements to vulnerable groups of people.

He said: “At Blackwood, our aim is to enable our customers and tenants to live their life to the full and by investing in future technologies and equipment we believe we are successfully able to do this.

“By supporting, and promoting, new design talent we aim to provide a platform for individuals to showcase their designs whilst also providing a helpful innovative technology to those with disabilities, the elderly and those with impairments.

“Some of the designs we have previously seen are revolutionary and have benefited the lives of many others, and the designs by this year’s four shortlisted finalists are no different.

“Many previous entrants have gone on to achieve great things so it is definitely a worthwhile opportunity for all budding designers out there.”

The competition is now open. For details on how to enter click here. 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is one of the main emergency services working hard to keep people in Scotland safe. Sadly on Saturday evening just after 6.30 when they attended to put out a bonfire lit in Bingham, the fire crew was attacked with stones. One firefighter was struck during the incident which involved a load of rubbish set alight.

Fire crews attending another bonfire in Sighthill just fifteen minutes before also came under attack from rockets.

This was not an isolated incident as there were reports of other bonfires across the country being deliberately lit with fireworks being thrown at the fire appliance when they turned up to get the fire under control.

Between 4pm and midnight firefighters across the country had responded to 970 incidents, including 326 bonfires and Operations controls had dealt with hundreds of calls.

On the busiest night of the year for the fire service, there were reports of bonfires in Aberdeen, Dundee, Muir of Ord where a 20 metre hedge was set alight by a stray firework. Crews had to use a high pressure jet to put the fire out. There was a whins fire at Alturlie Quarry at Allanfearn, a bonfire in Stirling where firefighters also came under attack.

SFRS had appealed to the public to choose to attend organised events rather than do-it-yourself fireworks displays or illegal bonfires.

ACO Ramsay, said: “Our crews responded to 970incidents on Bonfire Night and over 300 bonfires.

“Bonfire Night is typically the service’s busiest night of the year, but in addition to numerous bonfires firefighters continue to respond to the full range of emergencies we face on a daily basis.

“Our frontline crews and Operations Control personnel are extremely dedicated and I would like to pay tribute to their professionalism, skill and hard work which enabled them to help protect communities across the country.”

The organised fireworks display at Meadowbank Stadium, one of the key Guy Fawkes events in the city, was cancelled by organisers Edinburgh Leisure due to expected bad weather on Saturday night.

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical MISS SAIGON – a recent smash hit in the West End – is embarking on a major UK Tour and that includes the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from 17 January 2018 for a month.

Standard Life, one of the biggest employers in Edinburgh has been a Living Wage Employer for a couple of years now, and at the end of Living Wage Week they have confirmed that they will pay the new rates ahead of the deadline of 1 May 2017.

The company has announced that they will pay the new rates of £8.45 from 16 November 2016.

Sandy Begbie, Chief People Officer, Standard Life said: “We’ve been a fully accredited Living Wage Employer since 2014 and were the first private sector company to become a Living Wage Friendly Funder in 2015. We know that paying the real Living Wage has a positive impact on the lives of individuals and brings benefits to our business and our wider community. Knowing that we are doing the right thing is something our people can take pride in too. This is both Living Wage Week and Good Money Week here in the UK and our organisation is proud to be supporting both of these important initiatives and the values they underpin.”

John Cowan (19) an intern with Standard Life adds: “My income went up when I started my internship with Standard Life as I’m earning the voluntary Living Wage. I have my car and phone bill to pay for, as well as my clothes – my parents don’t expect to pay for that any more – and having more money is giving me more of my independence. My car insurance isn’t a tight squeeze at the end of the month and I can I can do the small things, like put more petrol in the car. It means I have more opportunity to plan and start to think about the future more too, which is amazing.”

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation said: “Business by business and organisation by organisation our employers are voluntarily choosing to close the pay gap in the UK between what people need to live on and the government minimum that every employer has to pay. The increase in the real Living Wage will mean thousands of employees around the country will get a much needed increase to their pay packet to help them meet the cost of living. That’s the difference paying the real Living Wage makes. During Living Wage Week we celebrate the leadership of those great Living Wage employers who make this possible.”

Hibernian Ladies won the Scottish Cup in dramatic fashion this afternoon, beating Glasgow City in a penalty shoot out after a 1-1 draw at the Superseal Stadium in Hamilton.

Hibs took the lead in the 23rd minute when Lisa Robertson looped a header over Gemma Fay but Glasgow City fought back and equalised in the 68th minute when Hayley Lauder fired home from 15 yards.

Both sides had chances to win the game but the scores remained level after extra time.

Hibernian won the penalty shoot out 6-5 despite missing the first kick, sparking wild celebrations amongst the players and staff.

After the game manager Chris Roberts said: ” They have been exceptional today. They came through a couple of tough periods but showed determination.

“I thought we were unlucky not to win it in 90 minutes then unlucky not to win it in extra time and to come back after missing the first penalty to win it shows the character and resilience of the squad.

“We were pushing in the last few minutes of the 90 trying to get a win. Extra time is tough because both teams are tired but both teams had chances.

“We wanted to win the game, we didn’t want it to go to the lottery of penalties as it’s never a nice way to lose the game but what a feeling to go and win it in that manner as well was great.

“I am so proud of them and so happy that they have achieved their goal of winning this cup tonight.

“It’s huge for us and winning two out of the three titles this year is there for everyone to see and you could see tonight that we are one of the best teams in this country and we want to be there for a long time to come.”

Rachael McLauchlan said: “The team are buzzing. We played the ball well and we got the goal but obviously they equalised but we kept our composure and we got the result in the end.

Goal scorer Lisa Robertson said: “I thought the girls were great. Everyone worked really hard and stuck to the game plan which won us the game. what now? Rest up and move on to next season. I don’t normally score, never mind in a final but the ball came over my head and I just tried to hit it on target and it just went in. It’s amazing.”

Skipper Joelle Murray said: ” I can’t put it into words. you play the 90 minutes then you play the extra time then it goes to penalties  and it’s just the luck of the draw. I’m so proud of the team and proud of the coaching staff. It’s absolutely amazing.

“It’s been a long hard season but an enjoyable one. we are League Cup winners and Scottish Cup winners now we just have to have a break and go again next season. Hopefully we will keep the team together and build on it next season.

Goalkeeper Gemma Fife said: “It’s massive. That’s two cups we have won this season and that’s the most I have won at Hibs. It’s an amazing feeling to win both and we can push on from this next season and go for the league as well.

“We will be going for the treble next year without a doubt. We are capable of doing that and I am just buzzing for next season after that.”

Photo by John Preece

The sports performance centre at Heriot-Watt University has actually been open for a while, but the First Minister visited on Friday to mark the official opening of the £33 million building known as Oriam.

The funding was provided partly by The City of Edinburgh Council (£5million), The Scottish Government (£24 million and the remainder from sportscotland and Heriot-Watt University.

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: “I’m delighted to officially open the new Oriam National Performance Centre which is a fitting home for our current sporting heroes and for generations of future stars.

“Our top sportsmen and women deserve the facilities, programmes and services that will help them excel. That’s why, in recent years, we have invested heavily in our sports infrastructure – including the £26 million we and sportscotland have invested towards Oriam.

“It’s fantastic that as well as elite athletes, these world class facilities can also be used by people in the local community. Scotland’s sporting facilities are now the best they have ever been and Oriam is the jewel in the crown of a range of new sports facilities up and down the country.”

Chair of sportscotland, Mel Young: “At sportscotland we are building a world-class sporting facility for everyone and Oriam has a huge role to play in delivering on our ambition to make Scotland a more active nation.

“Oriam was designed to inspire everyone to be the best that they can be, at every level.  Scotland’s top athletes will benefit from the incredible facilities and expertise, giving them the best possible platform for success on the world stage.  For the students here at Heriot-Watt University and the wider community, what better inspiration could there be to become more active than to train alongside their sporting heroes.

“Sports facilities in Scotland are now the best that they have ever been and what we have collectively delivered here at Oriam is simply outstanding.  I am immensely proud that Scotland now has a sports performance centre that is, without doubt, world class.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Sport convener: “Oriam will provide an excellent national home to the next generation of top athletes and those involved in helping them achieve their aims, but crucially it will also support local rising stars and those who are still developing a passion for sport. The Edinburgh community and local sport groups will be able to take advantage of Oriam’s world-class facilities, which I am sure will support and develop our aspiring athletes for generations to come.”

The facility will provide training areas for a wide variety of sports such as football, rugby, basketball, netball, handball, squash and racquetball. This is for elite athletes and came from the Mcleish report into football which demanded training facilities for top athletes with all the support services needed for success on the international stage. It is hoped that this centre for sporting excellence will inspire generations for years to come.

The South-West Community Sport Hub hosts many local sporting clubs in the building too.

Facilities include an outdoor synthetic pitch; five outdoor natural football and two rugby pitches; twelve-court sports hall; a full size indoor 3G pitch; fitness suite, and world class facilities for sports science and medicine including a hydrotherapy facility. The new facilities complement the current facilities based at Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Campus, which includes eight squash courts; two new exercise studios; a four-court sports hall; sports performance laboratory and a 60 x 40 indoor 3G synthetic pitch. The centre is also home to world-class facilities for sports science and medicine, a fitness suite, as well as conferencing, changing facilities and a bistro kitchen.

One of Edinburgh’s universities Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh has made the Living Wage commitment and they are now a Living Wage Employer.

The Scottish Government’s Higher and Further Education Minister, Shirley-Anne Somerville, came to the campus last week to celebrate the move during Living Wage Week.

There is a new UK rate of £8.45 while the London rate is £9.75. Employers who have already gained accreditation must pay the new rates no later than 1 May 2017.

Dee Denholm, Head of Human Resources at QMU, said: “We believe that paying at least the real Living Wage to all QMU staff is the right thing to do. Paying each member of our team fairly is at the core of our values, and the Living Wage accreditation offers formal recognition for this”.

Higher and Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “I’m delighted that Queen Margaret University is now accredited as a Living Wage Employer, which is a key part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to making our country a fairer place for everyone to live, work and study.

“Paying the Living Wage is an investment in people and the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover. I look forward to more universities and colleges following QMU’s lead.”

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance which runs the accreditation initiative in Scotland said: “Congratulations to Queen Margaret University on becoming an accredited Living Wage employer”.

“With two-thirds of children in poverty in Scotland living in a household where someone works, paying the real Living Wage is more important than ever.

“Not only does paying the real Living Wage ensure that everyone takes home a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, it has benefits to businesses too. These include increased productivity, increased staff retention and lower rates of absenteeism.”

Everyone working at QMU, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors will now receive a real Living Wage, which is significantly higher than the government minimum wage of £6.70 and the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.20 per hour introduced this April.

The real Living Wage rates are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in the UK. The real Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and re-calculated annually based on what people need to meet their basic everyday needs.

VisitScotland has discovered that some key areas in the capital’s Old Town feature many times over on their social media channels.

They have found that with 22,609 likes, shares, retweets and comments the Grassmarket, The Vennel and White Horse Close just off Canongate are very popular with people accessing the tourism organisation’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

White Horse Close, Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/31SwLHgKH5

— Lady o’ the Hill (@IreneHutchison) October 22, 2016

Overall, posts about Edinburgh and the Lothians across all VisitScotland media channels led to more than 716,400 likes, shares, retweets and comments between April and September 2016.

But it was White Horse Close which got the most attention out of the posts about Edinburgh. This is  a picturesque collection of buildings at the foot of the Canongate with 18,850 likes, shares and comments on Facebook.

The close takes its name from an inn which used to stand at its north end. The White Horse Inn on the Canongate closed its doors in the late 1700s, but in its day it was one of the best known coaching inns in Edinburgh. One historian has described it as “…a Hollywood dream of the seventeenth century”.

VisitScotland’s social media channels have some of the largest followings and engagement of any other destination marketing organisation globally. They have 229,000 followers on Twitter and all of the channels provide inspirational images and information about Scotland to inspire people worldwide to visit the country every year.

With more than 2.3 billion people around the world (30% of the total population) using social networking sites, VisitScotland has a dedicated social media team to ensure destination information about every region of Scotland is represented across different channels to different audiences.

The Douglas Stewart Monument on Calton Hill – it might be a famous shot of #Edinburgh but it never gets old ❤ 📷 FB/Jonathan Cruickshank pic.twitter.com/nlXVZ9KjbR

— VisitScotland (@VisitScotland) October 29, 2016

The majority of images posted on VisitScotland channels are provided by visitors to and lovers of Scotland, with user-generated content of great importance to the national tourism organisation.

The top post overall for the summer was a group of images posted on Facebook of the beaches on the Isle of Harris basking in the sunshine, inspiring more than 310,000 shares, likes and comments.

VisitScotland launched its first ever global campaign – the Spirit of Scotland – in February 2016, with a large emphasis on creating a social movement to help promote the country to the world. The #ScotSpirit social campaign has been VisitScotland’s most successful social media campaign to date with nearly 200,000 uses of the hashtag across all platforms (average 1000 per day) and more than 63 million views of the Spirit of Scotland advert and mini documentaries.

Manuela Calchini, Regional Director of VisitScotland said:

“The way that visitors access information about Scotland has changed dramatically over the past five years and our ambition is to reach more people than ever before with inspirational and exciting information about Scotland. We regard our social network followers very much as a community and we enjoy engaging with both our regular contributors as much as those who communicate with us for the first time.

“We’re delighted that Edinburgh’s Old Town has topped the list of social media engagement and we hope that many more people will share their own treasured stories and images of the city with us, so we can continue inspiring visitors for many years to come.”

The statistics outlined above were counted between 1 April – 14 September 2016.  Figures refer to VisitScotland Facebook, Twitter and Instagram only.

The community council in Colinton will meet this Tuesday 8 November 2016 to discuss the matters on the agenda below, including the possibility of Christmas lights on village thoroughfares.

If you live in the area then you are welcome to attend the meeting which is held in Colinton Bowling Club beginning at 7.30pm.

The minutes of the last meeting in October are still in draft form but they show that the office bearers were appointed last month as follows:

Chair Dr David Houston

Vice-Chair Tom McDonald

Secretary David Bewsey

Treasurer Gordon Neill

Peatlands Neighbourhood Partnership – Tom McDonald

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils representative – David Bewsey

PNP Funding Panel representative – Gordon Neill

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Police have confirmed that missing teenager Alanis Kyle (19) has been traced safe and well in Edinburgh.

She left her home in Rockcliffe Path, Chapelhall, around 0700 hrs on Thursday morning, got into a taxi which took her to Airdrie Train Station, where she boarded the 7.20am train bound for Edinburgh.

Enquiries established that she got off the train at Waverley Train Station around 0815 hours on Thursday morning.

The public have been thanked for their assistance.

Police are investigating following a serious road traffic collision in Gorgie Road which took place around 7.10pm last night at the junction with Wardlaw Place.

A 74-year-old male pedestrian was involved in a collision with a blue Suzuki SX4 and sustained serious injuries.  He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by the Scottish Ambulance Service for treatment, where is remains in a serious condition.

Gorgie Road was temporarily closed while police conducted inquiries and was later reopened.

Officers are now investigating and are appealing for information.

Inspector Richard Latto of Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit said:  “This was a serious collision and we are eager to speak to anyone who may have information.

“I would asked anyone who was in the Gorgie Road area around 7.10pm on Saturday, November 5, and witnessed this collision, to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dundee hold on at Inverleith.

From the sublime of Friday night to the less sublime of Saturday afternoon saw Stewarts-Melville battle back from a 21-point deficit to gain a losing bonus point against Dundee. Eleventeen early penalties in the five metre zone saw two of Stew-Mel’s side confined to the bin as the referee flourished his yellow card within the first ten minutes of Saturday’s match starting.

Despite early dominance, it took nine minutes against 14, then 13, men for Dundee to open the scoring with a well worked try for wing, Isoa Matacagi, to score under the posts. No. 10, Fraser McKay then added the extras for 7-0.

Stew-Mel then won turnover ball soon after the restart and forced the visitors to defend in their 22, giving away a couple of their own penalties, which eventually lead to the home side’s Mike Hanning scoring with a kick from out in front for 7-3.

Two minutes later, and the gap had opened again as Dundee used their personnel advantage and fired straight back up the pitch, creating an overlap which McKay used to slot a grubber through for Matacagi to run on to and score his second try. McKay missed the conversion so the score remained at 12-3 with around 20 minutes remaining

It was 20 minutes dominated both possession- and territory-wise by Stew-Mel, but, despite a couple of near misses through being held-up and knocking on centimetres short as well as a, locally popular, yellow for one of their players, somehow, Dundee survived to stay ahead 12-3 at the break.

The visitors started the second half as they had started the first, with an early try. Working the ball up into the far left corner, the forwards set to work and managed to overcome the defence to put prop, Darrel Russell through for the touch down. McKay then scored the conversion to open the gap further to 19-3.

Once again, Dundee had to weather another storm of Stew-Mel attacking play, but once again, they came out the other side with another try, this one down the right for their 15, Blair Cochrane. McKay missed this attempt but the score was 24-3 going into the final quarter.

The hosts then hammered away for the remainder of the match, but they couldn’t quite get the break required until, with six minutes to go, a series of rucks and mauls across the face of the goal area moved the ball from the left corner to the right where lock, Sami Paulsson fired himself through the bodies for Stew-Mel’s first try of the match. Hanning then kicked a successful, if somewhat difficult kick to put a bit of cheer back in the home support.

Now a man down, Dundee were forced to defend for their lives – Hanning crossed for a ‘virtual’ try, but the referee had already blown up for ‘something’ – and as the clock reached 80 minutes, Paulsson scored his and Stew-Mel’s second try with a battling charge in from five metres. Hanning knocked over the kick, but it was – as they say – too little, too late and the home side just failed with their second come-back in two weekends, so had to settle for that losing bonus point and 11^th in the BT National League, Div. 1 table.

Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.

Police are seeking the assistance of the public in trying to locate a teenager missing from her home in Airdrie since Thursday 3 November 2016.

Alanis Kyle (19) left her home in Rockcliffe Path, Chapelhall, around 0700 hrs on Thursday morning, got into a taxi which took her to Airdrie Train Station, where she boarded the 7.20am train bound for Edinburgh.  Alanis hasn’t been seen since and her family is growing increasingly concerned and reported her missing to police on Friday afternoon.

Alanis is white, around 5 ft. 6 inches in height, with a medium build and short brown hair.  It’s not known what she is wearing but she favours wearing dark coloured jeans and hooded tops.  She also tends to carry a grey coloured Vans rucksack.

Enquiries have revealed that she got off the train at Waverley Train Station around 0815 hours on Thursday morning.

Officers continue to liaise with colleagues at British Transport Police and are linking in with family members and friends of Alanis in an effort to establish where she may have gone.  CCTV footage continues to be gathered for review.

Sergeant Ross Aitken said:  “It’s out of character for Alanis not to be in touch with her family and they just want to know she is safe and well.  If anyone has seen Alanis or has any information or knowledge as to her whereabouts, then please contact us and speak to officers at Coatbridge Police Office via the 101 number.”

Hibernian Ladies face Glasgow City in the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup Final today (4pm kick-off) at the Superseal Stadium in Hamilton.

This will be the first final since SSE became the title sponsor of the cup and the first time in its history that prize money will be presented to the winners, with a prize money pot to be extended to the earlier rounds next season.

John Stewart, SSE Director of Human Resources, said: “SSE is incredibly proud to support women’s football and be an integral part of the huge progress the game is making. We are also delighted that Under-17 Scotland star and SSE Next Gen athlete Elena Santoyo-Brown will present The SSE Scottish Women’s Cup trophy at the Final, a reward for the commitment the young footballer has shown to women’s football over the past 12 months. Elena’s role is another first for the competition and will hopefully inspire the thousands of girls watching around the country to become involved in the game”.

Hibernian Captain Joelle Murray is looking forward to the game despite the recent defeat against Glasgow City in the SWPL.

Speaking ahead of the game Joelle told Hibernian TV: “It’s a huge test. We obviously just played them in the league which didn’t go to plan, but mid-season we beat them in the League Cup Final.

“I’ll just do what I always do on a matchday – give them encouragement and helping them before the game and during the game.

“Although I am the captain, we’ve got a lot of leaders on and off the pitch, so it certainly doesn’t just come down to myself.”

Teammate Abi Harrison said that she is hoping to replicate the performance in the SWPL Cup Final victory over Sunday’s opponents back in June.

The striker, who scored a hat-trick against Celtic en route to the showpiece final said: “It’s just about playing our game and really giving it our all, giving 100%. We did it last time, so we just have to do it again.

“Unfortunately we’ve not been able to do it in the league but hopefully we can do what we did in the League Cup.

“It was amazing to win the League Cup, especially the manner that we did it in with the last minute goal. It was something that we all wanted to do, a lot of the girls in the team hadn’t won trophies.

“It was really big and to overcome Glasgow City was a great achievement for all of us. It was a great moment.”

Photographs courtesy of Colin Hattersley Photography – colinhattersley@btinternet.com – www.colinhattersley.com – 07974 957 388

Two goals from on form Martin Boyle and a ‘wonder goal from John McGinn secured a valuable three points for Hibs at Somerset Park this afternoon, consolidating the club’s position at the top of the Championship.

Head Coach Neil Lennon kept faith in the starting XI that beat St Mirren last Saturday at Easter Road with ‘man of the match’ Boyle retaining his place up front, ahead of top scorer Jason Cummings.

Ayr United played the same team that took all three points against Hibs earlier in the season.

A well observed minute’s silence was held before kick off in memory of Armistice day.

Hibs stared brightly with Boyle being a constant threat to the Ayr defence however his speed seemed to fool the linesman who constantly flagged him for being offside, much to Lennon’s annoyance.

He did beat the offside trap in the 17th minute however, latching onto a fine through ball from Fraser Fyvie, but his shot from the edge of the area was tipped round the post by Greg Fleming.

Hibs deservedly took the lead in the 28th minute when Boyle once again used his blistering pace to good advantage and timing his run perfectly before firing a low hard strike past Fleming into the net to the delight of the large travelling support.

Five minutes later, the fans’ mood changed when referee Kevin Clancy failed to award a clear cup penalty. Grant Holt managed to get in front of Conrad Balatoni and had control of the ball before the United defender clearly pushed him in the back with both hands.

Once again Lennon was livid on the touchline however there was nothing he could do about the decision.

Hibs continued to push forward in search of a second goal but United held out to half time.

Andrew Shinnie almost added a second just after the break but his strike from 12 yards struck the post then Ofir Marciano produced a fantastic point black save to prevent Adam Forrest equalising.

Holt then showed some great anticipation following a mix up in the Ayr defence but his lob over Fleming went just past the post.

Both Fyvie and Shinnie were booked for mistimed challenges before Boyle made it 2-0 to the visitors in the 77th minute.

John McGinn picked up the ball in midfield, strode forward and picked out Boyle on the edge of the area and the striker fired a powerful low strike from the edge of the area which flew past Fleming into the net.

Brian Graham replaced Holt with ten minutes remaining.

Moments later, Hibs won a free kick 35 yards out. Fyvie played a short pass to McGinn who fired a sensational strike into the net off the inside of the post to wrap things up and secure the three points.

McGinn and Shinnie were replaced by Marvin Bartley and Cummings and Hibs held on for the valuable victory.

Elsewhere Dundee United comfortably beat Queen of the South to remain three points behind Hibs at the top of the table.

Ayr United: Fleming, Devlin, Boyle, Gilmour, Forrest, Harkins, Cairney, Adams, Meggatt, Balatoni, Docherty. Subs: Hart, Murphy, O’Connell, Crawford, Donald, Nisbet, McGuffie

Hibs: Marciano, Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, McGinn, Fyvie, Holt, Stevenson, Shinnie, McGregor, Boyle. Subs: Laidlaw, Forster, Graham, Harris, Cummings, Bartley, Martin

Referee Kevin Clancy

Attendance 3100

Edinburgh bounce back with a fine win over Ulster

After a fair amount of soul-searching leading up to Friday night’s match, Edinburgh youngsters stepped up to the plate and, at least in the first half, laid Ulster’s defence to waste on their way to a 28-17 win at BT Murrayfield.

With a number of players away on International duty, it was expected that Ulster’s more experienced ‘remainers’ would have the edge over Edinburgh’s side as the teams lined up for kick off.

However, it took around two minutes for them to score the opener. An early turnover put the home side in command and a swift advance had the match ten metres out from the Ulster line. Quick recycled ball then had the defence scrambling and the ball ended up in the hands of No. 6, Viliame Mata, who crashed through a couple of ineffectual tackles to score the first points. Jason Tovey brought his ‘good’ boots for this match and easily kicked the conversion to take Edinburgh into a 7-0 lead.

Just over five minutes from the restart, the hosts crossed the whitewash again. Edinburgh had forced Ulster back to their five-metre line, then a clearing kick from centre, Luke Marshall, failed to find touch and Tom Brown started the process over again. Tovey and lock, Fraser McKenzie then combined to pressurise the opposition and, once again, quick recycle had No. 15, Blair Kinghorn galloping down the right wing. He was stopped, but Damien Hoyland was there to pick up from the ruck and dive over in the corner for the second home try. Tovey’s kick just missed, but it was 12-0 for Edinburgh with just over ten minutes played.

The game was fairly evenly matched for the next five, or so, minutes, albeit mostly played at Ulster’s end of the pitch, before a penalty on half way was sent over by Kinghorn to give Edinburgh a 15-0 lead.

The following ten minutes were again fairly evenly distributed – although Ulster’s Sam Windsor gave the visitors a bit of a scare when he slid past a bobbling ball just outside his five metre line. He just managed to scramble and collect before Brown descended on him like a ton of bricks.

Proceeding were held up for a collision injury, which saw Tovey lead of for a check up, before No. 9, Ruan Pienaar, slotted a penalty home for Ulster’s first points and 15-3.

That penalty was wiped out a couple of minutes later as Tovey’s, temporary, replacement, Duncan Weir responded with a successful kick for 18-3.

Edinburgh were now enjoying the majority of territory and possession and another Weir kick six minutes from the break lead to a half time score of 21-3 to the hosts. Could they hang on, though?

Ulster came out for the second half all guns blazing and took the game to the home side, only a well organised defence keeping the Irish side at bay for the first few minutes.

Then, more than hanging on, Edinburgh put the first second half points on the board with their third try. Having weathered the storm, scrum-half, Sean Kennedy broke clear down the left wing and got his pass away under pressure from Pienaar to sub, Chris Dean. Dean then made ground before releasing the ball to back-row, Magnus Bradbury, putting the No. 8 in the clear for a run in and another Edinburgh try. Tovey knocked the kick over and Edinburgh were comfortably ahead, 28-3.

That was their final score, however, as Ulster ‘decided’ to come late to the party. Pressure on the Edinburgh line saw wing Tommy Bowe, stopped just short, but Ulster were now on the front foot and a neat kick over the defence from Pienaar, landed just short, but ‘appeared’ to be collected and grounded by full back, Charles Piutau, but the TMO ruled it out.

Not to be foiled, the visitors continued to press and, on 66 minutes, they scored their first try from another lob over the defence, sub, Aaron Cairns collecting and grounding with Pienaar adding the extras for 28-10.

Ulster were now looking dangerous and another try on 71 minutes from sub, Jason Stockdale – converted by Pienaar – gave us 28-17 and the hosts were looking a bit nervous.

However, they held out and scored a hugely significant win against strong opposition and went some way toward making amends for their defeat to Zebre the week before.

Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.

I was invited along to have my hair blow dried at Hair by JFK a little while ago. This is a really quirky hair salon in Bruntsfield on the main road and close to all the main bus routes there.

First things first – they have dogs! Yes there are dogs who welcome the customers into the salon and who then retreat to their beds in the salon. You are welcome to take your own well-behaved pooch with you while you have your hair done!

James who did my hair for me was lovely and we are now Instagram buddies. He has travelled far and wide, but loves working at JFK and has no intentions of moving on. (In my experience that is always a good thing when you are looking to develop a new relationship with a hairdresser!)

Faruk Mohammed and Karen Brown opened the first salon in 1995. Karen had thought long and hard about creating a unique hairdressing experience, and she developed her own skills for avant grade hairdressing leading her to building the impressive reputation she has today.

Her husband Farouk has the business head so they decided to open a salon in Bruntsfield. Salon designer Charlie Hearn worked on the design of the salon which has many interesting features including a mezzanine floor. There is a deep red curtain between the hairdressing area and the sinks where your locks first get the attention they need, ensuring that your first five or ten minutes are very relaxing!

The hairdressers in this salon have won many awards for their hairstyling but they have also won a gong for  Website of the Year at The British Hairdressing Business Awards.

Downstairs there is a sitting area with art on display and clients often get together there to meet friends and have a glass of bubbly. This is a community hub where the experience is very different from other hairdressers in town.

Now you can experience that for yourself with the added bonus of a 10% discount courtesy of The Edinburgh Reporter. Just mention us when making your appointment and you will be given money off your hair do!

T 0131 221 9554

Meet the “Shoes Brothers”, the dancing clergy for Ayrshire.  Rev Neil Urqhart and Father Willie Boyd come from different sides of the religious divide in Scotland but they have joined forces to defeat sectarianism.  In a series of zany videos, they have inspired football teams, groups of supporters, classes of school children, and anyone else who would watch and listen, to join in their dance routine and bridge the tribal gap between Catholicism and Presbyterianism which has plagued Scotland for 500 years.

They have just won the latest “Champions for Change Award” from the anti-sectarian campaign organisation “Nil by Mouth”. And it comes as the Scottish  Parliament wrestles again with what to do about sectarianism. This week the opposition parties narrowly won a vote calling for the repeal of the Scottish Government’s Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.   It was passed in the immediate aftermath of a particularly troublesome Rangers-Celtic game in 2011.  Unfortunately it has not worked out well in practice.

The law forbids “offensive and threatening behaviour” specifically at football matches and includes a ban on singing sectarian songs. But which songs? And what constitutes “offensive” behaviour ? One Sheriff, in Dundee, branded the new law “badly drafted” and “mince” and others have argued that sectarian behaviour can already be prosecuted under the existing law of “breach of the peace”.  In 2014/15 there were only 79 convictions under the new law, less than one per cent of total “breach of the peace” convictions.

Football fans and opposition politicians say the SNP was guilty of a knee-jerk reaction in 2011,  grandstanding in order to be seen doing something about Scotland’s “shame”.  The SNP argued that the law was sending out a clear  message that sectarian behaviour is unacceptable.

But whatever happens over this particular law, we cannot get away from the fact that Scotland is still mired in religious prejudice. The Shoes Brothers say “Faith should not be something that divides people.” But I’m afraid it still does. And I have personal reasons for sharing that “shame” – coming, as I do, from Northern Irish Presbyterian stock.

The Scottish Parliament was divided over yet another weighty matter this week – council tax.  All political parties have been dancing around this issue for years, shying away from revaluing properties and increasing the tax in line with inflation to such an extent that it now only brings in only 18 per cent of what councils actually spend.  For the last eight years it’s been frozen by the SNP, with the connivance of the other parties.  All are keen to argue in public that it’s a bad tax but less willing to suggest a replacement.  The SNP and the Liberal Democrats have flirted with the idea of a local income tax but that was quietly  abandoned when it was realised that a tax on property is less easily avoidable and is actually a simple and useful way of raising public revenue.

So the SNP have come up with a plan to retain the council tax but change the rates to make the owners of higher-valued properties pay more, in some cases £500 a year more. The Tories, of course, don’t like this tax on the rich, but the SNP hope to raise £100m which they say will be given to head-teachers in deprived areas to “close the attainment gap in schools.”   That, say the other opposition parties, is interfering with local councils who should be allowed to decide their own priorities.   In the end, SNP members had to vote for an amended motion, criticising their own government, in order to get the tax changes through.

The city of Glasgow made dark history this week by becoming the first city in Britain to agree to open so-called “injecting rooms” for drug addicts.  The idea is that NHS staff and social workers would be able to help drug addicts more easily and it would take addicts and their needles off the streets and underpasses.  But critics say injecting rooms would only help addicts to manage their destructive habit rather than conquer it.  I’m inclined to the view that drug addiction is an illness and these new-fangled injecting rooms are part of the cure.

I’m proud of the fact that the Scottish and English football teams are going to wear the poppy at their World Cup game at Wembley on Armistice Day, 11^th November.  I’m particularly glad they are standing up to Fifa, the governing body of world football, who have banned the wearing of poppy armbands on the grounds that they are a political statement.  Not for the first time have Fifa misjudged the public mood.  Wars are still with us. Soldiers are still dying. Only this week, a British soldier in training was killed in a tragic accident at a shooting range in the Highlands. He was named as Lance-Corporal Joe Spencer of 3rd Battalion, The Rifles which are stationed at Dreghorn Barracks in the capital.

Finally, one of the iconic images of Scotland has been put up for sale.  “Monarch of the Glen” by Sir Edwin Landseer captures Queen Victoria’s somewhat detached view of Scotland –  wild, proud, all conquering.

How we have changed, and mostly for the better.  The painting belongs the whisky giant Diageo – having been acquired by John Dewar and Sons back in 1916.

For the past 20 years it’s been on loan to National Museums Scotland.

National Galleries of Scotland explained their position to The Edinburgh Reporter : “National Galleries of Scotland always carefully considers any paintings with a strong Scottish dimension that come on to the market but for obvious reasons we never comment on our potential interest ahead of a sale.”

We’re told it’s worth some £10m, a lot to pay for a bygone image. But then Scotland does value its past, perhaps too much. I wonder which painting captures the modern Scotland ?

Photo of the Clergymen by kind permission of Nil By Mouth 

Hibs’  midfielder John McGinn, who was called into Gordon Strachan’s side for the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against England next week, insists that his focus is on today’s game against Ayr United at Somerset Park.

The fans’ favourite claims that he and his teammates will be travelling south looking for revenge against the only team to have beaten Hibs in the league this season but he knows that everyone will have to be on their ‘A’ game to maintain or even extend their lead at the top of the Championship.

Speaking to Hibs TV ahead of the game, McGinn said: “ We are on a good run at the moment. The games are coming thick and fast and we are looking forward to Saturday to hopefully extend our lead at the top.

“It’s really important to pick up three points. When you are one of the main sides in the division there’s always people trying to catch you.

“We need to make sure that we’re on our game and we can’t get complacent because it’s a really important run of games that’s coming up now.

“We were really disappointed that Ayr United beat us the last time and we feel as if we are going down there with a point to prove.

“We thought we were the better team on the day but credit to them they came back in the second half and performed really well so we know we are not going down for an easy three points.

“They have some good players and we are aware of that so it will be tough but hopefully we get a more positive result than we got at Easter road.

“It’s brilliant to be on top of the table. It’s something I have not experienced before. It comes with certain pressure and expectation but at a club like Hibs that’s expected.

“Hopefully we can stay there till the end of the season and not get shifted. It’s not an easy league and there are no easy games.

“Dundee United are on our heels and so are Falkirk and another couple of teams and we know that we have to be on our ‘A’ game every week.”

Jonny Awsum, the guitar wielding comedy whirlwind, heads to Scotland

Armed with an impressive arsenal of jokes and his trusty guitar, the comedy whirlwind Jonny Awsum will bring his special feel-good brand of musical comedy to Gilded Balloon Comedy at The Studio at The Festival Theatre, tomorrow 5 November 2016.

The guitar-playing comic rabble-rouser, blessed with gangly comic features and an old-fashioned, slightly surprised looking face that radiates bonhomie, is irresistibly infectious.  His endlessly entertaining sets of satirical songs and warm comedic musings will have Scottish audiences laughing, singing and maybe even performing on stage!

Jonny Awsum will be joined on stage by the multi-award winning Australian comedian, writer and actor, Felicity Ward and the 2014 finalist of The Gilded Balloon’s So You Think You’re Funny competition, Jim Smith.  The ’ballistic ranter – not to be missed’ (The List), Raymond Mearns, will be keeping the comedians in check and the audience on their toes.

Croydon based Jonny Awsum’s dead simple, but sure-fire crowd-pleasing sets are full of original songs, parodied popular tunes, sing-a-longs, raps and silly jingles; and he’s not beyond deploying a classic track just to keep the party moving along at lightning speed. The crowd are an integral part of his gigs, and because Awsum exudes a powerful feelgood vibe when he playfully engages with them, both individually and as a group, they not only leave entertained they also leave as true fans.

The tremendously entertaining and charmingly funny Felicity Ward brings her heart warming comedy back to Scotland after a fantastic run at the Edinburgh Fringe. The uplifting Aussie storyteller is an inspired clown, daft and enthusiastic with a nervy, quirky energy on stage. Her sets are gregarious, frank and unflinchingly honest. Her whirlwind delivery fizzes and flashes and bangs like an untethered Catherine Wheel, showering white-hot sparks everywhere, all to hilarious effect; making the audience adore her right from the off.

It’s town meets country when Jim Smith, a Perthshire sheep and beef farmer turned talented comedian hits the stage.  Using a varied range of characters, regional accents and impressions, including amongst other things an inspired parochial take on Die Hard and a Fife-made porno film, he gives his audience an insight into how this north country boy sees the outside world.  It will be no holds barred with controversial views on many taboo subjects such as attending young farmer dances, tractor envy and the village hall beetle drive doping scandal of 1998.

The evening will be compered by one of the most trusted comperes and respected headliners on the Scottish circuit, Raymond Mearns.  Larger than life and twice as much fun, Mearns is a quick with his brain as he is with his tongue.  This Glaswegian is always ready to dish out a bellyful of laughs to hungry audiences everywhere.

Gilded Balloon Comedy at The Studio at the Festival Theatre

Venue: The Studio at the Festival Theatre, 22 Potterrow, Edinburgh EH8 9BL

Dates: Saturday 05 November 2016

Time: 20:00 – 22:00 (doors open 19:30)

Tickets: £12.50 (£10.50 conc)

Box Office:  Festival Theatre – +44 (0)131 529 6000 | http://www.edtheatres.com/festival

In person at The Festival Theatre – 13/29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT

For further information on Gilded Balloon Comedy at The Studio at The Festival Theatre go to: http://www.gildedballoon.co.uk

At the end of this month Historic Environment Scotland have golden tickets to some of its heritage attractions all for free.

This giveaway weekend on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November, visitors will get the chance to explore centuries of history – from a Neolithic Village in the Orkney Isles to a trio of abbeys in the Scottish Borders, and they include our very own iconic Edinburgh Castle.

Thousands of tickets are now released here and visitors have until Friday, 25 November 2016 to register now.

You can apply for a maximum of two adult and three family tickets (up to three children) to each historic property of your choosing.  Early registration is recommended so that you get the journey of your choice.

Stephen Duncan, Director of Commercial and Tourism for Historic Environment Scotland, said: ”As Scotland’s largest operator of paid for tourist attractions, we’ve got a lot to offer the public. 32 historic sites will be opening their doors this Ticket Giveaway weekend, giving visitors the unique chance to get a taste of what’s available in their area for free.”

”Our hope is that this will encourage communities to explore and discover more about some of their local sites, helping foster interest in and passion for Scotland’s iconic castles, abbeys and palaces.”

The two day event is part of the lead-in to wider St Andrew’s celebrations this year, and is part of the Scottish Government’s Winter Festivals initiative. This sees a number of events take place across Scotland, through Christmas and Hogmanay right up until Burns Night. To mark the celebrations, simply use the dedicated hashtag #ourstandrews on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

For a full list of sites participating in Historic Environment Scotland’s Ticket Giveaway weekend, and to apply for tickets click here

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

CARDS FROM THE IAN FLEMING COLLECTION
5 November 2016 – 29 January 2017
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two)
73 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DS
Admission FREE | 0131 624 6200
#ScotModern

At The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art – Happy Christmas! from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

We went along to The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art this morning to have a look at a small exhibition which will run over the Christmas period. The display is free and includes Christmas cards from the personal collection of Scottish artist and lecturer Ian Fleming (1906-1994).

We were delighted to meet Alisdair Fleming and Elspeth Fleming-Sutton whose father Ian made and sent some of the cards, and whose mother collected them together in a cardboard box!

It is a fascinating collection in the Gabriele Keiller Library on the ground floor, and the exhibition is free to enter.

Happy Christmas! Cards from the Ian Fleming Collection has bold, decorative and often amusing original cards which embody the variety and creativity of the Scottish art scene in the mid-20th century, with artists including Anne Redpath, William MacTaggart and Ainslie Yule, as well as Fleming himself.

A key figure in the Scottish arts scene from the 1930s until his death in 1994, Fleming was a celebrated artist and lecturer who established long-lasting relationships with fellow artists and art institutions over the course of his career. This very personal collection of cards, which Fleming meticulously accumulated over the course of 40 years, highlights the significant connection between Scottish artists and art educators.

Born in Glasgow, Fleming studied painting, drawing and print-making at the Glasgow School of Art; Glasgow Art Gallery bought two of his prints while he was still a student. He taught at Glasgow School of Art and became Principal of Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen in 1954. He notably painted the portrait of two of his students who later became known as ‘The Two Roberts’: Colquhoun and McBryde, stars of the art world in the 1940s and friends with the likes of Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon.

Fleming also produced detailed paintings, etchings and engravings of Glasgow, the Scottish Highlands and the Continent. During World War Two he served as a reserve policeman, witnessing and depicting the extensive bombing of Glasgow by German forces in a memorable series of prints and paintings. He later became Chairman of the Peacock Printmakers’ Workshop in Aberdeen; his influence throughout Scotland led to an honorary LLD from Aberdeen University and an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the Robert Gordon University, of which Gray’s School of Art is a component part.

Some of the designs on show include colourful flowers from Anne Redpath OBE (1895-1965), the Edinburgh College of Art alumni and one of the great figures in 20th century Scottish painting; a luminous scenery by renowned Scottish landscape and still life painter Sir William George Gillies (1898–1973); and a robin and holly card by Alastair Flattely (1922 – 2009) who was known primarily as a landscape painter as well as principal of Gray’s School of Art from 1972 to 1987.

The display will include a detailed self-portrait etching from 1937, when Fleming was 31 and a Senior Lecturer at Glasgow School of Art. Portrait of the Artist shows Fleming at work in his studio, surrounded by his etching equipment and drawing tools, a Degas reproduction and works from artist friends.

Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “The People’s Postcode Lottery is delighted to welcome the festive season with the National Galleries of Scotland and the ‘Happy Christmas! Cards from the Ian Fleming Collection’ display at the Keiller Library. Thanks to the support of Players of the Postcode Lottery, visitors can now complement the Christmas period by viewing this intimate display of exceptional festive drawings by many great Scottish artists, including William McTaggart and Anne Redpath”.

Police are appealing for information to help trace a 23-year-old woman reported missing.

Ashley Forster was last seen in the Gardner’s Crescent area around 1.10am on Friday 4 November.

Ashley has not been seen since and there is growing concern for her welfare.

She is described as white, 5ft 2ins tall, slightly built, with straight shoulder-length dark-blonde hair.

She has a North-East English accent and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a brown jacket.

Ashley is known to frequent the city centre area.

Sergeant Stuart Byron of Wester Hailes said:  “We’re growing increasingly concerned for Ashley’s welfare and are appealing for the public’s help as part of our enquiries.

“Anyone who may have seen Ashley since this time, or has information about her current whereabouts, is urged to get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101.