Witness appeal following indecent assaults in Cramond
Police are appealing for witnesses after two teenage girls were indecently assaulted last week.
The incident happened around 5pm on Friday 3 July at the Cramond Waterfall.
Both 13-year-old victims were in the area when a male approached and assaulted them before walking off towards Cramond Beach.
The girls then reported the matter to police, who had been following a positive line of investigation but are now asking for the public’s assistance to help trace the suspect.
He is described as being potentially of Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi ethnicity, around 25 years-old with a large build, short dark hair and a full beard. He was wearing a white polo shirt, black dress trousers and black shoes.
Detective Sergeant David Brady of Edinburgh’s Public Protection Unit said: “This was a distressing experience for the young girls and we have been pursuing various lines of investigation over the past week to identify the suspect.
“However, we have so far been unable to establish who he is and I am keen to hear from anyone with information that can assist with our inquiry.
In particular, we would like to speak with anyone who was walking between the Cramond Waterfall and Cramond Beach last Friday evening and may have seen this male.
“Similarly, anyone with any further information in relation to these assaults is also asked to come forward.”
Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Edinburgh business targets babies
Another new business in Edinburgh but this time it is run by a young Edinburgh Mum. The new company is thought to be the only one in Scotland which provides uniquely designed, safe necklaces that can be chewed by teething babies.
Jennifer Downie has launched Num Num Necklaces to provide beautiful, chewable, baby-safe teething necklaces for Mums to wear and little ones to chomp on.
The necklaces are designed and handmade in Scotland and created with mums in mind. Made from food-grade silicone, they act as a teether on-the-go and are safe for babies to chew whilst being kinder on gums than hard plastic or wooden beads. They are also fun for babies to play with during breastfeeding and nursing or when being carried around in Mum’s arms. Most importantly, they are beautiful for Mums to wear and come in a wide range of colours and designs.
The necklaces are perfect for babies to chew on as the beads used are tasteless and will not support the growth of bacteria or mould. They are hard-wearing and easy to keep clean as they can be washed and sterilised. The necklaces also have a breakaway clasp which will safely pop apart if the baby gives it a strong tug and will pop back together just as easily.
Jennifer Downie, Founder of Num Num Necklaces said: “When our little girl, Hannah, was born last year, I looked around for teething necklaces but the only ones I could find were made of wood or plastic that could hurt her teeth and weren’t very attractive for me to wear. I wanted something stylish, like I would have worn before Hannah was born, but that was also safe and fun for her to chew. Eventually I found something online from down south but was surprised there was nothing available in Scotland so I set up Num Num Necklaces.”
“I am just starting out but the response so far has been fantastic around the different baby groups in the Edinburgh and we have had some great interest and sales through our online Etsy and Facebook sales. I have even had inquiries from a shops in Argyll & Bute and Aberdeen asking to stock Num Num Necklaces!”
“It is clear that Mums in Edinburgh enjoy the fact the silicone beads the necklaces are made of come in any Pantone colour, allowing us to create unique designs that are beautiful for Mums who miss pre-baby jewellery which has been put away in a drawer because they aren’t safe.”
Hibs’ winger Martin Boyle says he is progressing well after staying behind at the club’s Training Centre to continue his rehabilitation work.
The 22-year-old underwent surgery to solve a damaged media ligament in his knee in the middle of May and rather than travelling over to the squad’s training camp in La Manga, he remained in sunny Scotland
to ensure he strengthened his knee properly.
Speaking to hibernianfc.co.uk, Boyle said: “I’m progressing well and still on track – the surgeon gave me a 16-week window, although I don’t want to put a date on my return just yet.
“I’ve been working hard – firstly with the physios and now with the strength and conditioning coach – to strengthen my knee and I want to take my time to make sure when I do come back I’m ready to help the team.
“The weather back in East Lothian hasn’t been too bad – obviously not as hot as La Manga, but the main priority was to make sure I continued to recover properly and so far it has gone really well.”
QMU Honorary degrees to be awarded today
Dementia campaigner, Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland Action on Dementia, and children’s charity founder, Laura Young, will both receive an honorary degree from Queen Margaret University later today.
Henry Simmons, from Wishaw, will be awarded a Degree of Doctors of the University, Honoris Causa, in recognition of his work in improving the lives of people living with dementia. Henry has been involved in developing a model which is transforming lives and altering the way we think about people with dementia and their carers. This approach has received much international recognition placing Scotland at the forefront of dementia practice.
Laura Young, Founder of The Teapot Trust charity will be awarded a Degree of Doctors of the University, Honoris Causa, in recognition of her work with the Teapot Trust in its use of art therapy to help children and young people cope with long-term medical conditions.
Both honorary graduates will be acknowledged for the relevance of their work to society, reflecting the university’s own commitment.
New big cat arrives at Edinburgh Zoo
If you go along to Edinburgh Zoo there will be a new animal for you to meet over the next day or two. (And our best tips for going to Edinburgh Zoo are to go by bus and to consider buying a membership as it makes return trips cheaper.)
A new critically endangered tiger has arrived this week. Jambi, a beautiful adult male Sumatran tiger, has arrived to partner the Zoo’s female Baginda in the hope that they will eventually have cubs to increase the numbers of this extremely rare species.
Jambi arrived from the Berlin Tier Park earlier this week and is already settling into his new home at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo.
The Sumatran tiger is a subspecies of tiger found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and it is estimated that fewer than 400 of these majestic tigers are left in the wild. Whilst these tigers are protected by law in Indonesia, increased deforestation and poaching has led to their significant decline and without help the Sumatran tiger now faces the threat of extinction. There is a large market for the use of tiger parts in traditional Asian medicine and increased agricultural growth has led to the fragmentation of the tiger’s habitat, with most of the remaining Sumatran tigers in Indonesia now living in five National Parks and two game reserves.
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of all the tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Their habitat ranges from lowland forest to mountain forest and includes evergreen, swamp and tropical rain forests.
Alison Maclean, Carnivore Team Leader at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Jambi is a beautiful tiger. He is a fairly calm and content big cat, but for the time being he is living next door to our female Baginda. In the future they will be introduced properly, but at the moment they are just getting used to the sight and smell of each other.
“We would be delighted to see the pair produce cubs eventually. As Sumatran tigers are a Critically Endangered species it is vital we do all we can to develop the reserve population of these cats. 97% of wild tigers have already died out in just over a century, so with the help of well-coordinated breeding programmes across the world – such as the European Breeding Programme of which we are a part – it is our hope that we will be able to increase the numbers of this noble species and protect them from a similar fate.”
Jambi, aged 12, was born at Dudley Zoo in the West Midlands and then moved to Berlin when he was a year old. He will be going on show to the public in the next few days.
The resident male Sumatran tiger Tibor has left to go to Barcelona Zoo.
CCLASP celebrated by Granton Road pharmacy
Local charity, Children with Cancer and Leukeumia Advice and Support for Parents (CCLASP), has been recognised for its outstanding work at the launch celebration event of local Pharmacy, Well, which is now open on Granton Road.
CCLASP was presented with a £1,000 donation from Well Pharmacy Granton Road, for their outstanding and tireless effort to help children and families in the local area.
CLLASP supports children and teenagers suffering from cancer or leukaemia as well as helping diagnosed families express and share with each other the feelings, anxieties and horror of having a child with a life threatening illness.
Previously The Co-operative Pharmacy, the new Well branch is one of 14 pharmacies in Edinburgh being re-launched under the new name, Well, over the next week, following a change of ownership and £200m investment by new owners, Bestway Group.
Valerie Simpson, from CCLASP, commented: “We were honoured to be invited down the re-brand celebration at Well Pharmacy Granton Road and receive the £1,000 donation. The money will go a long way helping families and children in the local area and we are extremely grateful that they chose us.”
Alan Harrison, regional manager of the Well in Edinburgh said: “We are pleased to have unveiled the new look pharmacy, our aim is to be part of the fabric of Edinburgh’s community and so we’re overjoyed that we were able to celebrate CCLASP’s commitment to the community, giving us a further reason to celebrate. We recognise that many people in the local community are tireless in their efforts to support the locals, which is why we wanted to celebrate their work at our grand opening.”
Over the coming months 780 former Co-operative pharmacies across the UK will rebrand and benefit from a £40m a year investment over the next five years to provide personalised healthcare services and products that meet the needs of every customer in the community.
To find your local Well or to find out more about the personalised healthcare and wellbeing that Well provides to the local community, visit www.pharmacy.co.uk
Photos Ian Georgeson, 07921 567360
Biggest Festival Wheel yet coming to Edinburgh
It is only a couple of years since we have had the Festival Wheel in Princes Street but now we are about to have the biggest yet!
Situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens, the Edinburgh Festival Wheel will stand at 44m tall – 4m taller than the big wheel at last year’s event – offering spectacular views over the city and right across to the Firth of Forth and Fife.
With 27 360 degree rotating gondolas, The Edinburgh Festival Wheel will bring a little bit of culture at a leisurely pace.
The Edinburgh Festival Wheel will be open from Monday 13th July to Sunday 6th September from 10am to 10pm daily.
Douglas Taylor, head of operations for Edinburgh Festival Wheel, said: “We are delighted to be operating the Edinburgh Festival Wheel this year. This year’s wheel is one of the largest self-supporting wheels around and is ultra-lightweight considering its size.
“There is always a fantastic atmosphere during the festival and we are sure that the Edinburgh Festival Wheel will add another dimension of fun.”
Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, Cllr Richard Lewis, said: “The Edinburgh Festival Wheel will offer spectacular views of the city this summer. I’m sure it will prove very popular with both visitors and residents and it is great news that a 20 per cent discount is available to all Edinburgh citizens.
“I am also delighted that monies raised from the Edinburgh Festival Wheel will support future improvements to Princes Street Gardens, allowing everyone to continue to enjoy this unique greenspace in the heart of the city centre.”
Visitors looking to experience the Edinburgh Festival Wheel can book tickets online at www.edinburghfestivalwheel.com or at the ticket booth situated at the ride itself.
Tickets are priced at £8 per person/ £6 for concessions with family tickets available.
Twitter – @EdFestWheel
Instagram – EdFestWheel
Edinburgh Greens choose their Leith Walk candidate
Greens in Edinburgh have announced their candidate for the Leith Walk council by-election in September with a promise that they will continue the work of Green Councillor Maggie Chapman, who is stepping down after moving to Dundee.
The by-election has been called following the resignation of Cllr Deidre Brock, and Cllr Chapman’s standing down means two councillors are to be elected at the same time.
Greens are confident that the transferrable vote system means that they have a really strong chance of securing one of the two seats, and maintaining their six-strong presence on the council.
The Green candidate for Leith Walk is Susan Rae, a Leith Walk resident with a background in local government. She has campaigned on issues including poverty and the impact of debt on those affected by austerity.
Susan Rae said: “I’m delighted to have been selected by members to be the Green candidate in Leith Walk. And I’m committed to working as part of our dynamic team to make sure that the ward retains a Green councillor after the poll date in September.
“With the Lib Dems and Tories out of the race and the SNP already counting on a straight replacement for Deidre Brock, the only real contest is for the second vacancy between the Greens and Labour. If Labour were to take that spot it would give them 3 out of the 4 councillors in Leith Walk, way overstating their support. So I’m confident local voters will see the strong case for keeping a Green councillor as their voice of principled opposition and for investment in decent public services.”
Outgoing Councillor, Maggie Chapman, said: “Leith Walk was one of the first wards in Edinburgh to elect a Green councillor. Green priorities, of affordable housing and rights for tenants, of giving local people a say in how public money is spent in the area and of defending public assets are priorities which many local residents share.
“With not one, but two seats on the council being contested in this by-election, I’m confident that voters in Leith Walk will again choose a Green Councillor, and Susan Rae has my backing as a candidate with the know-how and commitment to make that choice a compelling one.”
Edinburgh footballers break world record to remember Craig Gowans
A group of Edinburgh footballers have broken the world record for the longest 11 a side game.
The match, in commemoration of young Falkirk player Craig Gowans began at 1pm on Saturday and ended at 10pm on Wednesday, a total of 105 hours, beating the previous record by 3 hours. The final score was 774-707.
Eoghan Molloy, a member of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund organising committee, said: “The whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
“There were a lot of mixed emotions as the final whistle blew – from relief and tiredness to joy, happiness and everything in between. It was amazing to hear that final whistle and to finish what we set to achieve.
“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the supporters and volunteers who came down to support us across the four days.
“Playing throughout the night was by far the most difficult part of the challenge, but when the sun came up and the crowd returned this completely lifted our spirits. Being able to finish the match is all down to these supporters.”
Roslyn Neely, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “All of the participants of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund have done a tremendous job in completely this outstanding challenge and we feel extremely privileged to be the beneficiary of their efforts. ”
The money raised will be used to fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, specifically a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name providing a relaxing and stimulating space for children with sensory impairments.
Doug Henderson, chairman of Falkirk FC, said: “I’d like to congratulate the team for their great efforts over a monumental 105 hours, and to thank them also for getting together to deliver this wonderful tribute to Craig Gowans.
“Craig was an upstanding young man with a great future ahead of him, he had enormous promise as a footballer and was a big part of our Falkirk family. We all miss him so much.”
The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation has so far raised incredible £80,000.
Paul Brownlie replaces Willie Kirk at SFA National Performance Centre for Women’s Football
Former Celtic Women’s & Girls’ Academy boss Paul Brownlie has been appointed High Performance Football Manager at the Scottish FA National Performance Centre for Women’s Football.
Brownlie will look to build on the success of the academy and help develop the next batch of Scotland stars from its headquarters at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
He will replace Willie Kirk who has left for a new post in England.
Paul said: “I am delighted to take up the role as the new High Performance Football Manager at Heriot-Watt University.
“My philosophy has always been about the player and the person, using a very holistic approach both on and off the pitch. I have always been a huge fan of the programme, we have real talent within the National Performance Centre. It’s my job now to support the players to ensure that each player can reach their full potential.”
“We are already seeing players make the transition into National Women’s A Squad which will be one of the goals for each player and with Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, opening at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Campus in Autumn 2016 it will be an exciting time for everyone connected to the Centre.
“I would like to thank Willie Kirk for the job he has previously done at the Centre, it’s now down to myself and fellow staff members to continue to take the programme from strength to strength.”
The Scottish FA Women’s Performance Centre structure provides players with the opportunity to combine football with their studies. There is currently one National Performance Centre based at Heriot-Watt University, plus regional centres around the country.
The aim is to help young players to achieve or maintain a place in Scotland’s national squads, whilst encouraging them to continue their studies in Scotland.
Scotland National Coach Anna Signeul is looking forward to seeing the benefits that Paul’s input will have on the National Women’s team:
“Paul has fantastic pedigree in the women’s game, particularly when it comes to developing young players, and we’re delighted to welcome him aboard.
“This is a very exciting time for the Women’s National Performance Centre. The programme is already starting to bear fruit, with a number of students having established themselves within the Scotland women’s national teams. The opening of Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, at Heriot Watt University next year will build on the already fantastic facilities, training and support programmes available to the players and staff.
“I look forward to working with Paul, and all of the staff and partners within the programme, to continue to shape the future of the women’s game in Scotland.”
Three men arrested following drugs seizure in Prestonfield
Three men have been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act after police in Edinburgh recovered quantities of Class A and B drugs.
Officers carried out searches at two properties on Wednesday 8th July as part of ongoing enforcement activity to tackle serious organised crime.
During the activity at the addresses within the Prestonfield area, approximately 1/2 a kilo of crack cocaine; 3/4 of a kilo of heroin; 14 ounces of cannabis and around 10,000 diazepam tablets were seized along with a personal quantity of amphetamine.
The total value of the recovered drugs is around £140,000.
A 55-year-old, 30-year-old and 45-year-old will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday).
Detective Superintendent David Gordon said: “As part of Wednesday’s activity we have recovered significant quantities of drugs before they could be distributed within our communities.
“We will continue to act on intelligence from the public and I would urge anyone wishing to report criminal activity in their area to do so by calling Police Scotland on 101 or by making an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Friday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today
Emergence 2015: an exhibition of work from last year’s Sculpture Courses programme, which included Stone Carving, Clay Portrait and Figure, Metal Sculpture, Sculptural Ceramics, Glass Pate de Verre, Lino Prints, Mould Making and Paper Casting, and Wood Carving. Preview tonight 6-8pm (with refreshments), then 12 noon-4pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 21 Hawthornvale. On Sunday there will be a range of demonstration workshops (in Wood Carving, Lino Cuts and Prints and Clay Modelling) with tutors from the ESW Courses programme demonstrating processes, and the opportunity for visitors to have a go.
#artcore Fanzine Day: a day of free Riso printing for anyone aged 13-25 years to produce their own zines, comics, prints and posters. If you’re a budding author, keen comic designer or emerging artist or illustrator, bring in your own work, get help if you need it – or start from scratch on the day: no experience necessary! 2-5pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free, no booking required, just drop in. Organised by Out of the Blueprint, #artcore’s new enterprise set up to support you in self-publishing your own creative projects.
Tiger Shaking: image (c) Tim Flach
The Retina Scottish International Photography Festival: Retina 2015 puts emerging and established international talent firmly in the frame, showcasing the best from the world of photography in a range of venues across Edinburgh throughout July. At Gayfield, renowned UK photographer Tim Flach will exhibit a series of his animal portraits; crossing the divide between a commercial photographer and a fine artist, his work often examines the anthropomorphism of creatures in an abstract way. Opens today, Gayfield Creative Spaces, 11 Gayfield Square; please contact the venue for times. Ends 30th July 2015.
Sun Juice: Edinburgh-based legend Dave Ellis and ex-NZ sax player Doug Tiplady’s 5-piece band, playing fresh, original material, with ‘funky, groovy, swing and bouncy, appealing Balkan/Klezmer sounds, featuring Rich Harrold (keys), blues guitar ace Neil Warden and and ‘driving funky drums’ from Willy Molleson. 9pm-12 midnight (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.
David Roberts: Dunkeld Cathedral
Joseph McGlennan: Skyestag 2
Scottish Paintings 1660-1860: a summer exhibition of Scottish art from the 17th to the 19th century, featuring works by William Gouw Ferguson, Henry Ferguson, James Norie Senior, Archibald Skirving, Rev John Thomson of Duddingston, David Roberts, James Giles, Horatio McCulloch and David Scott. The gallery will also show a collection of eight photographs by Australian contemporary artist Joseph McGlennon,Skyestags. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, The Fine Art Society in Edinburgh, 6 Dundas Street.
Summer Yoga: 10.30am-12 noon today and every Friday until 14th August, Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road. £6/£5 (mats provided). For more information please contact fiona@ericliddell.org or call 0131 446 3321.
France-Lise McGurn: acid face (girl) 2015
France-Lise McGurn: 3am. France-Lise’s works, often depicting a cast of rebel characters, explore the potential connotations of gender and sexuality in the written word, letter or drawn line. Open preview tonight 6-8pm, then 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday (also 10am-6pm Mondays in August only), Collective, City Observatory and City Dome, 38 Calton Hill. Ends 30th August 2015. This exhibition forms part of Edinburgh Art Festival.
Union Gallery Summer Cocktail: an annual mixed exhibition offering gallery artists the chance to showcase their talents. New work from Sophie McKay Knight, Joyce Gunn Cairns MBE, Jenny Matthews, Lucy Jones, Frank McNab, Drummond Mayo and Graham Flack. Preview tonight 6-8pm, then 10.30am-6pm Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am-5.30pm Saturdays and 12 noon-6pm Sundays, Union Gallery, 45 Broughton Street. Ends 2nd August 2015.
UnstFest: your first chance to get out of the city this weekend may require a bit of advance planning – it’s the most northerly festival in Britain! This is a real family affair, with 10 day programme that includes everything from sandcastle competitions and pool parties to traditional music and rock concerts – in between there are arts, crafts, stories, games, a Casino & Cocktail night, circus acts, guided walks, the Where’s Wally UnstFest Half Marathon – and lots, lots more. Begins at 7am (!) today, ends at 7pm on Sunday 19th July, Unst, Shetland. For full details of the programme and travel and accommodation information, see UnstFest’s website here.
Five things you need to know today Edinburgh
Leith Market
St Cuthberts Colinton to get a new stained glass window
Council closing public toilets in Joppa
Best independent businesses in Edinburgh
Calling all volunteers
A new market has emerged and will take place today at Dock Place Leith from 10am till 4pm. The people who organise Stockbridge Market are branching out and we wish them well with their new endeavour!
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St Cuthberts Church in Colinton have commissioned a new stained glass window following a donation made by the late Robert Elliot in his will. The idea behind the design is that it will be a celebration of peace and you can see lovely photos and illustrations, as well as photos of the artist Emma Butler-Cole Aiken who is making the dream a reality over here on the St Cuthbert’s website.
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The council explained in its budget set earlier this year that it could save around £300,000 by closing public toilets outwith the city centre. While that initial proposal was not agreed in full, there are ten facilities which will be closed. The council is also to work with some partners to arrange for other toilet facilities to be opened to the public. Those situated at Joppa are to be closed at the end of August.
The council explain on their website what their survey on the proposed closures revealed:
The results of the survey and feedback provided by members of the public, community groups and businesses have been considered. In order to achieve the £300,000 saving that was agreed in 2011, a decision has been taken to close the following toilets: Ardmillan; Canaan Lane; Canonmills; Currie; Granton Square; Joppa; Juniper Green; London Road; St John’s Road and Tollcross.
The toilets at Hawes Pier and Middle Meadow Walk will not be closed at this time, while the options for these sites are reviewed.
To lessen the impact of the closures, the Council is establishing a Community Toilet Scheme with interested businesses across the city. This would result in participating businesses allowing members of the public to use their toilet facilities without expecting them to make a purchase, in exchange for an annual payment from the Council. A number of businesses have already expressed an interest in participating through the public toilets survey and some businesses in identified areas have also been approached with information about the Scheme. The decision to close these toilets has been a difficult one and it is appreciated that there will be some impact following these closures. To help mitigate this, there have been over 60 additional toilet facilities identified in Council buildings around the city that are available for the public to use. These are located in various Libraries, Community Centres, Edinburgh Leisure facilities and Neighbourhood Offices, and information about these toilet facilities is available here . Nearly 20 public toilets will remain open.
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Do tell us about the best independent businesses that you know and love in Edinburgh. We would really like our EdinburghReportage storyboard here to become a go to place for happy customer recommendations. Do you use a particular coffee shop? Do you have a favourite dry cleaners? Who do you buy your flowers from? Do tell us – click here!
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Are you a volunteer? Volunteer Centre Edinburgh (VCE) are working to try and capture the scope and scale of volunteering in the city – and to identify emerging opportunities and challenges facing the sector as it moves forward.
The information collected will be shared with other voluntary organisations and with the City of Edinburgh Council, and will be very helpful in helping shape the strategy of, and the support for, volunteering in the city over the next few years.
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Caroline Weir reunited with Willie Kirk at Bristol Academy
Former Hibs and Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir has signed for Bristol Academy from Arsenal Ladies.
This move sees her reunited with manager Willie Kirk, for whom she played under at Hibs before moving to the Gunners in 2013.
The 20 year-old who has represented her country on 18 occasions at senior level said: “I’m really excited to have joined the club and I’m excited for the second half of the season. Hopefully I can help the team pick up some more points and climb the league table.”
Kirk added: “Caroline is a player that I know very well. I gave her a first-team debut at Hibernian when she was 15 and she quickly became a first pick in the team before moving to Arsenal at only 18.
“I have become increasingly frustrated seeing her mostly sit on the bench for two years and as soon as I took the Bristol job, she was my number one target.
“I am really excited to work with her again and I know that over the next two or three years, the WSL will see a top player emerge.
“She will give us another creative spark in midfield. She can do things with a ball and see things on a park that some players can only dream about. Everyone at Bristol will be raving about her very soon. She is very level headed and will continue to work hard to achieve her ambitions.”
Stephen Dunn appointed to the Hibs’ Board
Stephen Dunn has been appointed to the Hibs’ Board as a Non-executive Director.
Dunn, a lifelong Hibernian supporter, was Human Resources and Communications Director at the Miller Group, and previously, Corporate Services Director at ScottishPower. He is also the Vice Chair at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. He previously served on the Board of Hibernian during the era that spanned from Alex McLeish to Tony Mowbray.
He is a Director of Hibernian Supporters Limited, a Company set up to raise funds and buy shares in Hibernian for the benefit of all supporters.
Chairman, Rod Petrie said: “It is great to welcome Stephen back to the Club as a Non-executive Director. Whilst older, his energy is undiminished and his love for the Club stronger than ever. We look forward to the contribution he will make in the coming years.”
Stephen said: “I am delighted to accept a position of Non-executive Director and be directly involved with our Club again. I have been really impressed with the way in which Alan Stubbs and Leeann Dempster have gone about the overhaul of the Club. I see a bright future ahead for Hibernian both on the park, and off, and that now the time is right for all supporters to come together and help take the Club forward.
“In December the Board outlined their plans for wider supporter ownership and made shares available to supporters to buy-in and own our Club. I see one of my key roles is to help drive that process towards greater supporter ownership with my role at the Club and as a Director of HSL.”
Leeann Dempster, Chief Executive, welcomed Stephen’s appointment. She said: “Stephen brings with him great commitment, energy and ability. He will have a real role to play in helping us through this period of change and I am delighted to have his support in this task.”
Edinburgh Napier student to open new legal business
Edinburgh Napier student Daniel Donaldson found that some people simply fall outside legal aid entitlement categories and during his studies decided to do something about it.
The young entrepreneur plans to open a new legal practice with stakeholder and community membership to ensure high quality legal services are available for everyone in Scotland, regardless of cost and access barriers.
Qualified solicitor, Daniel Donaldson will open ‘Legal Spark’in Glasgow, together with his original base at Bright Red Triangle Craiglockhart, and hopes to be operational within the next 12 months.
Daniel is one winner of 38 from this year’s Young Innovators Challenge, an entrepreneurial competition which rewards students who have business ideas which have a positive impact on society. The Young Innovators challenge is run by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise through the Scottish Funding Council, on behalf of the Scottish Government and is part of the Scotland CAN DO approach.
As part of his prize Daniel was awarded £2,000 of funding to help develop Legal Spark and will attend intensive workshops over the summer to help take his business to the next stage.
Legal Spark will address a growing problem in Scotland where groups who require legal support simply can’t afford it. This might include:
Families and individuals where legal aid is unavailable
Musicians and other Creatives
Social enterprises, charities and other third sector organisations
Community groups
Small businesses and start-ups
The practice will primarily operate under a regular “law centre” model in order to build a client base and engage stakeholders and community groups. At the point it becomes established, community and other stakeholder groups will be invited to take a stake in the business*. Although the service won’t be free, through shared ownership these third parties will have the option to determine their own legal service needs, contribute to costs involved and receive a proportionate discounting of legal fees. Any profits generated from the practice will also be reinvested into causes which help promote access to justice such as offering a complimentary system of legal aid to individuals.
Edinburgh Napier University student, Daniel, already offers free legal advice to communities in Edinburgh and recently provided legal representation for the People and Planet Group who were protesting against the University of Edinburgh’s investment portfolio which included fossil fuel companies. Legal Spark was also appointed as the official legal services partner to Pride Edinburgh, which runs the annual Gay Pride festival.
Daniel first identified the lack of high quality legal services in Scotland when he was studying a masters in commercial law. He said:
“There has been no increase in the level of civil legal aid since 1994 and as a result, in 2015, many firms no longer undertake civil legal work as it is not viable to do so. Likewise, certain areas of law such as intellectual property protection, equality and employment law are only available to those who can afford to pay privately, which can cost upwards of £250 per hour. Thus, there are lots of groups who are therefore unable to access legal advice or representation.
“Legal Spark will help address this issue, providing high quality legal services under a community owned scheme to ensure people who need access to justice but can’t afford to go private get the best service possible.
“The Young Innovators Challenge recognises my aims and has been extremely supportive in building my confidence and business skills to take Legal Spark forward.”
Fiona Godsman, chief executive of competition organisers, Scottish Institute for Enterprise, said:
“Legal Spark is a prime example of a business which can make money while also giving back to the community and have a positive impact on society. We will continue to provide business support and advice to Daniel over the summer, and as with all winners, he is invited to pitch for a further £5,000 in funding from the Young Innovators Challenge in August.”
Daniel is also currently crowd funding to support the launch of Legal Spark. More info can be found at www.gofundme.com/legalspark. He is also looking to recruit potential partners, including other likeminded lawyers who can contact him on: contact@legalspark.co.uk.
Coding school setting up in Edinburgh
We all know that coding is the thing to learn these days. But how do you even start? Well it may become easier to get a new skill now as Scotland’s first dedicated software skills academy is to be set up. The aim is to produce wave after wave of software developers ready for work every 10 weeks, with the first cohort graduating in February 2016.
CodeClan, a coding school for web and mobile software development, is based on the success of the new breed of immersive academies around the world including Flatiron School in New York, Makers in London and Stackademy in Berlin.
The aim is to create a new generation of software developers that will allow Scotland’s vibrant digital sector to flourish and drive the economy. CodeClan will draw on an untapped resource of talented individuals who have an aptitude for coding but need a route into the industry.
The academy is being launched amid a global shortage of digital skills affecting businesses in many different sectors of the economy. Forecasts suggest Scotland alone could offer up to 11,000 job opportunities a year in the digital sector, rising by 2000 every year. Skills-starved employers are currently offering upwards of £23,000 to £25,000 to recruit entry-level developers.
Industry led and Government backed, the academy’s curriculum has been tailored to fit real time market demands in Scotland and is working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), to offer its graduates ‘Professional Development Awards’ in Software Development.
Rebecca Heaney from CodeClan explains: “Digital is part of every day life and CodeClan will fast track access into shaping that world. A CodeClan qualification will create countless career paths and give students skills they can take anywhere.”
Digital Industries Trade Body, ScotlandIS has championed the need to grow the talent pool in Scotland for many years and is one of the principal architects of CodeClan. Polly Purvis, CEO of ScotlandIS explains: “It is a phenomenally exciting time to be working in the digital technologies in Scotland with companies like Skyscanner and Fanduel taking the world by storm. CodeClan is a ‘way in’ for people who want to be part of that story.”
SQA Chief Executive, Dr Janet Brown, said, “SQA is committed to helping people realise their potential and achieve their ambitions by providing a wide range of high quality, internationally recognised qualifications and associated services. We work with employers and industry to ensure that SQA qualifications accurately reflect learners’ knowledge and skills and provide routes to jobs or further study as well as enable organisations to succeed in meeting a wide range of educational and workforce development challenges.
“We are delighted to be working with ScotlandIS in the development of Professional Development Awards in Software Development, which will upskill employees in the digital technology industry and support the sector in addressing the current skills shortages.”
CodeClan is looking for people who are natural problem solvers and the students will need to hit the ground running. Long hours are an inevitable part of immersive education, so there will also be a focus on student wellbeing to ensure students are given the support needed to cope with the demands of the course.
The first cohort of students will be drawn from a variety of backgrounds from STEM graduates and coding hobbyists to people changing career or returning to work. Although a tech background is not needed a rigorous selection process, including mandatory pre-qualification course, will help determine aptitude and fit.
Industry leaders in Scotland agree that coding education is needed to safeguard future growth. According to Nigel Eccles CEO of FanDuel, the global leader in daily fantasy sports which was founded and has its engineering team based here in Scotland said: “We need developers in the tech talent pipeline not just in Edinburgh but throughout Scotland. The growth of any company correlates precisely to the skills and experience of its people. We have found great talent here and we are looking forward to seeing the next generation emerge.”
Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “I greatly welcome today’s launch of CodeClan, the industry-led digital skills academy. CodeClan will provide new opportunities for people from many walks of life to meet pressing skills shortages in this growing and vibrant digital sector. The Scottish Government is very pleased to support this initiative as part of our commitment to make Scotland a world class digital economy by 2020.”
The launch of CodeClan was also welcomed by John McClelland, Chair of Skills of Development Scotland, whose career in the industry spanned global firms including Philips and IBM.
He said: “Scotland is ideally-placed to take advantage of the global growth in the ICT and Digital Technologies sector, and the launch of CodeClan will offer many people the opportunity to be a part of that.
As well as helping people forge an exciting career, it’s also a key development for industry, who need cutting-edge software skills if they are to thrive in this competitive marketplace.”
The immersive education model marks a new approach to software education in Scotland, supplementing and complementing what is already on offer and opening it up to new talent
Critically, staff-student ratios will be unusually high with one tutor for every five students. Blended courses focus on software development with a short intensive course lasting 16 weeks following a mandatory three week pre-course programme to be accepted onto the course.
The academy also forms part of a co-ordinated response to the digital skills shortage, with other strands including a marketing campaign showcasing the opportunities available in the digital sector, and giving more school pupils the skills and knowledge to pursue digital careers.
Heaney adds: “CodeClan needs people who share our passion for software and who want to learn the craft of coding so they can build and design digital products for the real world. Applicants don’t need any prior experience to apply to CodeClan but we do demand an intense desire to learn.”
The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund World Record Breaking Football Match came to a dramatic close last night as the final whistle blew at 10pm, after a gruelling 105 hours of football.
Friends and family of the late football Craig Gowans took on the longest ever 11-a-side football match between the 4th and 8th July, with the final goal score reaching an astounding 774 – 707.
After five days of football played at Ainslie Park, the online and offline fundraising total for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, sits at more than £80,000 and Guinness World Records are expected to approve the record itself in the coming days.
Eoghan Molloy, a member of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund organising committee, said: “The whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. There were a lot of mixed emotions as the final whistle blew – from relief and tiredness to joy, happiness and everything in between. It was amazing to hear that final whistle and to finish what we set to achieve.
“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the supporters and volunteers who came down to support us across the four days. Playing throughout the night was by far the most difficult part of the challenge, but when the sun came up and the crowd returned this completely lifted our spirits. Being able to finish the match is all down to these supporters.”
Roslyn Neely, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “All of the participants of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund have done a tremendous job in completely this outstanding challenge and we feel extremely privileged to be the beneficiary of their efforts.
“The team has smashed its fundraising target in great style and I’d like to congratulate all of them on this wonderful achievement. Not only have they etched Craig’s name into the history books, the money raised will help The Sick Kids Friends Foundation transform the experience of the children and young people who will visit Edinburgh’s new children’s hospital when it opens its doors in 2017.”
We’re going to a #Zomatoparty!
This Friday Waverley Station is to be transformed into a food-lovers’ paradise.
Foodies will get the chance to sample the best food and drink at Waverley Station tomorrow, to mark restaurant app Zomato’s 7th birthday.
The birthday party, in partnership with Network Rail and Localmotive Markets, takes place on Waverley Station’s Platform 2 from 5-7 pm, featuring street food and drinks from local favourites including Thistly Cross Cider, Hula Juice bar and Leith’s Punjabi Junction.
One lucky reveller will also win a return ticket to London and a meal for two at the luxury St. James’ Court Hotel.
Zomato, whose Scotland team is based in Old Town’s CodeBase, launched in Edinburgh in April 2014, and boasts a network of local bloggers and foodies visiting and reviewing restaurants across the city.
Zomato Scotland’s Claudio Colarossi said: “It’s amazing that we’ve been able to partner with Network Rail and Waverley Station to put on a party with a difference for our users. Over the past year we’ve seen just how much the people of Edinburgh really appreciate good food, so we can’t wait to share the celebrate with foodies from Edinburgh and beyond.”
The celebrations will be mirrored by other Zomato parties including ones in London and Auckland, New Zealand.
Britannia visits the Forth
Our colleagues at North Edinburgh Community News got a great shot of P & O’s Britannia yesterday from Newhaven. (Thanks to them for the photo above!)
There were also some good photos posted on Twitter and it seems that the Evening News sent someone out to the ship to have a look round.
At 12noon, the P&O Cruises Britannia took part in a “ships’ horn” welcome which could be heard across the city with the cruise liner and other ships in Newhaven and the Port of Leith sounding their horns to mark the occasion.
In a ceremony on board the new Britannia, Captain Paul Brown was presented with a gift from the City of Edinburgh by the Deputy Lord Provost Steve Cardownie who welcomed the ship and her passengers to Scotland’s beautiful capital city.
Edinburgh’s Deputy Lord Provost, Steve Cardownie, said: “The two Britannia’s – one with 5,000 passengers and crew on board and the other with 300,000 visitors a year in Edinburgh and indeed the UK’s number one attraction – is great news for the Capital’s ports. The new deep water anchorage that has been opened at the site is a positive step towards further reinvigorating the Newhaven and Leith area, and the city will certainly benefit from the increase in visitor footfall. It really is a spectacle to see them sitting side-by-side in Edinburgh’s waters.”
Did you get any good shots? Do share them here on our News page!
Police continue campaign against drug dealers
Police officers have continued their targeted campaign against the supply of controlled drugs, with over £90,000 worth taken off the streets in the past few days.
On Sunday 5 July officers searched an address in Argyle Street where they recovered Diamorphine with a potential street value of £85,000.
A 51-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were charged and appeared at court in relation to that recovery.
On Monday 6 July, officers searched addresses in Cheyne Street and Dean Terrace where they recovered quantities of Diamorphine, Cannabis and LSD with a potential value of £2,670 along with a four-figure sum of money.
Three men aged 21, 27 and 31 were subsequently charged for court.
Officers then targeted a series of addresses in the north of the city on Tuesday 7 July resulting in the recovery of drugs to the value of £2,850 plus a four-figure sum of money.
A number of people have been charged in relation to the recovery, with two in court today and the others being reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Inspector Stuart Harkness said: “This sustained effort should send a message to those who are involved in the supply of drugs that we will not tolerate it and it may be your door we come to next.
“I would appeal to members of the public who have information about serious and organised crime to get in touch with the police. Information provided by the public leads to these kind of operations, and it can be given through your local community officer or by calling Police Scotland on 101, or in complete anonymity via Crimestoppers either through their website or by calling 0800 555 111.
“The dealing and misuse of drugs, and the associated criminality and anti-social behaviour that accompanies it, blights communities and affects quality of life. Even the smallest piece of information can contribute to a larger picture and could be the detail we need to be able to rid neighbourhoods of these substances and put before the courts the people who supply them.”
Thursday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today
Old Town Acoustic Festival: a full day of acoustic, showcasing local artists. Aspiring song writers are invited to come and perform at an open mic session from 3-7pm, after which Bannermans Live Hall will host sets from Tom Coyne, Annie Booth, Ekobirds, Maisie Hutt and Bleys Dunlop. For over 18s only. 3pm onwards, Bannermans Bar, 212 Cowgate. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Tickets Scotland here (transaction fee applies).
Queen Margaret University Degree Show: ten short films made by QMU’s Film & Media students, covering a diverse range of subjects and genres. The documentaries profile an award winning artist, take you on a musical journey to the streets of Morocco and show you how to build an Earthship; the dramas feature characters dealing with the effects of grief, poverty, illness…and junk mail. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here: prices vary.
Opening Lecture: The Brilliant and Eccentric M Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-1789). Mary-Ann Stevens, art historian and curator, will introduce the work of the Genevois artist. Travelling across Europe to Constantinople, patronised by rulers, aristocrats and the professional middle class, Liotard was internationally acclaimed for his mastery of pastel and his unflinching observation of reality, which he brought to his portraits, genre scenes and exceptional trompe-l’oeil compositions. 6-7pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. The Jean-Etienne Liotard exhibition opened at the National Gallery on 4th July 2015.
Live Music Now: Erskine String Quartet. One of Scotland’s leading string groups will play the ‘Biscay’ Quartet (1913), a musical portrait of the South of France by Scottish composer JB McEwen, and Thomas Alexander Erskine’s Quartet in A Major. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Play a Library Game with Carson and Miller: the artists present their current collaboration with the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Archive, ‘Archive Games’ in the Keiller Library. Drop-in and play along! 10.30am-12.30pm, Keiller Library, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.
Portrait Gallery Curator’s Talk: Lee Miller and Picasso. A chance to discuss the current exhibition with Dr Anne Lydon, NGS International Curator of Photography. 5.30-6pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.
The Drawing Room: image (c) Emma Bowen
The Drawing Room – July: informal, artist-led drawing sessions developed by contemporary artists and reflecting concerns within each artist’s work. The sessions seek to examine the range of possibilities within contemporary drawing practice. All materials are supplied and no experience is necessary. 5.30-6.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free but booking is required: please call the Education Department on 0131 624 6410 or email education@nationalgalleries.org.
Spotlight on Photography: A Victorian Sensation. Curator Dr Alison Morrison Low will introduce the pioneers of photography and discuss the influence of this Victorian craze on photography today. For ages 14+. 2-3pm, Auditorium, Level One, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free but booking is required and may be made in person at the reception desk, by calling 0300 123 6789 or online here.
Portraiture. Bragela Hornel invites you to try out a range of fun portraiture, taking inspiration from pictures in the gallery; learn all about expression and how to create your own unique self-portrait. 2.30-4pm, City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. £4 per person: advance booking is essential and must be made via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Please note that these workshops are for families working together: all children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult, and children must not be booked into workshops alone.
Pop-Up Cities: Lauren Wayland invites you to choose from a selection of famous Edinburgh landmarks to make your own pop-up city in a card. You might choose the Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle or even Greyfriars Bobby! 2.30-4pm, Museum of Edinburgh, 142 Canongate. £4 per person: advance booking is essential and must be made via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Please note that these workshops are for families working together: all children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult, and children must not be booked into workshops alone.
Cafe Voices: (In)humanity. Join storyteller Sarah Agnew for stories of courage in the face of persecution, execution and war. ‘We tell stories to keep moving from fear towards love, from inhumanity towards humanity’. This is the Centre’s monthly storytelling session, with an open-floor section for storytellers to tell their own tales. 7pm, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 and are available from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here.
Golden Hare Books Presents Cathy Rentzenbrink:The Last Act of Love. The author launches her new ‘powerful, timely and incredibly moving’ memoir, in conversation with Peggy Hughes. In the summer of 1990, Cathy’s brother Matty was knocked down by a car on his way home from a night out…Cathy and her parents willed him to survive. They did not know then that there are many and various fates worse than death. ‘A triumph of love’ (Matt Haig), ‘This lovely, painful, tender books speaks for anyone who has suffered loss…’ (Deborah Moggach). 7pm, St Stephen’s Centre, St Stephen Street. Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite here.
Derek Smith Blues Duo: a night of acoustic blues. 9pm, Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.
Five things you need to know today Edinburgh
Consultation event in South Queensferry
New homes for North Sighthill
Your neighbourhood
Edinburgh at Dusk
Work on Willowbrae Road means lane closure00
There is a consultation event in South Queensferry Library today as part of the council’s work to measure quality in Edinburgh’s built environment in the North and West of the city. This is a project to assess both the quality of new and changed buildings in the area.
There are other consultations running in other parts of the city, but today is all about the North and West when the consultation comes to South Queensferry. There are six short video clips and it will take about ten minutes to complete the survey.
You can read about this and the surveys of other areas in the city here where you can also complete the survey.
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A display of the plans for the development at North Sighthill will take place at Sighthill Library until Monday, 13 July.
The council says that around 314 new homes will be built on the site. These will be for council rent, mid market rent and private sale.
Once detailed planning consent is in place, tenders will be invited from developers to design and build affordable housing and develop housing for sale. Following the appointment of a developer it will take around 9 months to complete the detailed design work, obtain building warrants and other statutory consents. A site start is anticipated in early 2017.
The council undertook in 2011 to build up to 1400 homes for sale and rent across Edinburgh and the first three sites to be redeveloped are Gracemount, Pennywell and North Sighthill. The Edinburgh Reporter was on the roof of what is now part of Edinburgh College when the former council homes in Sighthill were demolished. It was an exciting day!
What is the iconic image that represents the area that you consider your neighbourhood? Do add it to our storyboard here! Or you can add a short video if that suits…. but do share your thoughts!
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Edinburgh at Dusk is the new time lapse film made by Walid Salhab of Queen Margaret University’s Kinetic film project. He has a drone now which he uses to wonderful effect in this new film which you can watch below. Mr Salhab did confess to us that while filming an earlier project of the Kelpies he did lose a camera in the canal….!
Work will begin tomorrow on Willowbrae Road to upgrade the local gas network between the entrance to the Lady Nairne Hotel and the junction with Ulster Crescent.
Scottish Gas Network (SGN) say that this work will take about five weeks and for safety it will be necessary to close a city bound section of Willowbrae Road while they carry out the work. There will be a contraflow but southbound traffic will not be allowed to turn right into the Tesco garage or the Lady Nairne Hotel. Traffic coming out of the garage and hotel will be forced to turn right.
Pedestrian access will be maintained and all businesses will remain open as usual. The work will be carried out five days per week between 8 am and 4.15pm with extra hours and weekends as needed. SGN say they will keep all noise to a minimum.
BT Murrayfield to host its ‘largest ever medical conference’
BT Murrayfield will host its largest ever medical conference and welcome medical delegates from across the world for The Association for The Study of Medical Education’s (ASME) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on 15- 17 July 2015.
ASME’s ASM is a forum for all medical/healthcare educators and undergraduate, postgraduate students to get together and discuss innovations in medical and healthcare education. There will be a mix of workshops, award presentations and lectures from keynote speakers over the three days including:
Professor Steve Peters, consultant psychiatrist at the University of Sheffield, will discuss optimising the performance of the human mind.
Dr James Robson, chief medical officer and head of anti-doping at The Scottish Rugby Union, will present on scoring with education – reflective practice in international sports medicine.
Professor Wendy Reid, director of education and quality, at Health Education England, will discuss how medical education needs to adapt to changing population needs and technology advances across the UK.
Lynne Geary, director of sales and marketing at BT Murrayfield, said: “BT Murrayfield is delighted to welcome guests and delegates attending the ASME conference this July. This conference is one of the largest events to take place at BT Murrayfield this year and the largest medical conference we have ever hosted. The venue is ideal to host such a popular event due to its ideal central location, connectivity to local transport links and wide variety and sizes of its conference facilities.”
Nicky Pender, CEO of ASME, said: “ASME is proud to be organising the largest medical education conference BT Murrayfield has hosted. We look forward to welcoming more than 600 delegates to Edinburgh. The conference is a fantastic opportunity for those involved in medical/healthcare education and training to report and discuss topical medical themes and research with colleagues from the UK and abroad. We have a great number of speakers lined up over the three days who will no doubt leave delegates inspired and wanting to know even more about their respective subjects.”
The world’s greatest showcase of Scottish beer returns to Edinburgh this week as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) turns the Edinburgh Corn Exchange into Scotland’s biggest pub for the Scottish Real Ale Festival.
With over 170 real ales, beer lovers will have the chance to enjoy the hoppy, malty and tasty offerings from our nation’s finest brewers the the four-day event, which runs from 9 – 12 July.
Edinburgh-based CAMRA national chairman Colin Valentine said: “Real ale is undoubtedly craft beer at its best and the Scottish Real Ale Festival is a unique, once-a-year, opportunity to sample the very best from across the country under one roof. The festival is run by CAMRA volunteers and we have selected what we believe are the finest golden ales, bitters, stouts, porters, India pale ales and speciality beers available in Scotland today.”
Entry to the festival is just £6 (£4 for card-carrying CAMRA members), which customers pay only once as entry for all subsequent visits is free. Customers receive a free souvenir glass which acts as a ticket for the remainder of the weekend.
As well as the wonderful beer, other attractions include real cider, gourmet food and traditional pub games. Entertainment will be provided on the Thursday evening by modern Scottish folk singer and guitarist Andrew Gordon, on Saturday afternoon by the Caledonian Brewery Pipe Band and on Saturday night by the Rab Howat Band, Edinburgh’s top rock, pop and blues cover band.
Colin Valentine added: “The Scottish Real Ale Festival offers beautiful beer and cider, fantastic food and top quality entertainment making it the best day or night out in Scotland.”
Edinburgh based, food industry risk services and compliance specialists Acoura have further strengthened their service offering through the purchase of market leading consultancy, training and e-learning experts Hygiene Audit Systems in what is described as ‘a significant seven figure deal’.
For over 25 years the St Albans based company, led by Dr Lisa Ackerley, has been offering customers a wide range of environmental health services and food safety solutions. These services include food safety advice, expert witness support, health and safety training and e-learning. Operating across the UK, key clients include John Lewis, Bourne Leisure, McMullen Pub Co and Mitchells and Butler.
Dr Lisa Ackerley, who will continue with the business as Strategic Adviser to the Acoura Board, said;
“I am really excited by the opportunity that this combination brings. The enlarged Group will be able to provide a full service offering to clients throughout the food supply chain creating a truly viable alternative for clients who, until now, have had very few providers with the scale and expertise to do so. There is a great cultural fit between the two businesses and Acoura impressed me with their innovative solutions, flexibility and customer focused approach”.
Stuart Kelly, Managing Director of Acoura’s Food Service and Hospitality division said of the move:
“HAS is a perfect fit for Acoura. Its services perfectly complement the work we are already doing and its experienced team is well respected by those working in the industry. In addition, its e-learning platform gives us another innovative tool which can help our customers across the group with flexible training and blended learning solutions.
“We’ve seen a lot of growth as a business over the last three years and additions such as HAS will let us further improve our operational capacity and allow our teams to focus on delivering the exact service offering our customers need.
The food and drink supply chain is becoming increasingly complicated and our ability to offer innovative and commercially viable risk management services from field to fork puts us in a unique position within the market – HAS only strengthens this position and I’m sure there will be a real benefit for everyone involved.”
All of HAS’s employees will be retained and will join Acoura’s existing team.
Over the coming month the Hygiene Audit System brand will be phased out as the company is further integrated into the Acoura Group.
Acoura claim the acquisition will help maintain their position as the fastest growing business of its kind operating in the UK. It also comes in the same week their specialist fisheries and aquaculture team, previously based in Inverness, have relocated to the Edinburgh office.
Email addresses from the City of Edinburgh Council’s database have been subjected to a cyber attack.
A council spokesperson said: “This was a malicious cyber attack on the council’s website which is hosted in a UK data centre. It was dealt with swiftly and at no point were any council services affected.
“We are contacting everyone who has been affected to inform them of the incident and offer them advice and support. We have reassured individuals that the only details that have been accessed are their email addresses.
“The Information Commissioner’s Office has been informed and preventative measures have been taken by the web service providers.
“We want to reassure the public the ongoing security of our website is critically important, and we continue to work with our service providers to ensure that the risks associated with attacks are dealt with.”
If you have received an email from us confirming your address has been attacked, and you would like to speak to someone at the Council about any concerns you might have, please call 0131 200 2000 or email Responsive.Teamleaders[at]edinburgh.gov.uk with your contact details and we will call you back within the next 48hrs with a response to your queries or concerns.
Witness appeal following serious assault in Leith
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked around 1am on Monday morning in a lane off Wellington Place in Leith.
The victim was approached from behind and struck several times to the head.
The suspect is described as white and in his 30’s. He was wearing a grey hooded top, grey jogging trousers with a navy ‘Adidas’ style stripe down the legs and white trainers.
Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson said: “This was an unprovoked attack on an innocent man going about his business and we are keen to trace his attacker.
“Anyone with information that can help us with this inquiry is asked to contact police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Milk and Honey? Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show
Art has long been a source of joy and comfort, both for creator and viewer. This is reflected in the title of this year’s exhibition, Milk and Honey? A wide and exciting range of work by both recognised and emerging artists will be on show and for sale along with unique designer jewellery.
The Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show is an annual event to raise vital funds for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
27-30 August 2015, Bonhams, 22 Queen Street, EH2 1JX
West Lothian horse owner convicted following a Scottish SPCA investigation
SONY DSC
A West Lothian horse owner has been convicted following a Scottish SPCA investigation.
Julie Aitken, 23, of Raeburn Rig, Livingston, was sentenced at the town’s sheriff court on Tuesday (7 July).
At a previous appearance, Aitken pled guilty to failing to provide veterinary attention and adequate nutrition for her 18 year old horse named Zack.
Aitken was ordered to pay a £1,000 compensation order to cover veterinary fees and given an 80 hour Community Payback Order, to be completed within five months.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, Inspector Tracy McNaughton said, “An independent veterinary examination revealed Zack was in extremely poor body condition, with a body score of one out of five.
“Zack had a high heart rate, rain scald over his body, bleeding heels and withers and was severely lame.
“He was taken into our care where his condition greatly improved.
“While we are pleased Aitken has admitted this offence, we are disappointed she has not been banned from owning animals and that Zack will be returned to her.
“We have agreed to monitor Zack to ensure his welfare.”
