Hibs’ Development squad right-back Aaron Dunsmore has extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2017.

The 18-year-old defender and Hibs’ fan’s performances have already earned him a seat on the first team substitutes bench twice so far this season.

Dunsmore told hibernianfc.co.uk, Dunsmore said: “I’m delighted to have agreed the extension to my contract – to be able to play for the team I’ve always supported is a dream come true.

“Hopefully now I can continue working towards making the step up into playing for the first team.

“Being involved as an unused substitute with the first team meant a lot to both me and my family.

“I’m from Musselburgh, which is just down the road from Easter Road and I used to come and watch Hibs play regularly.

“Overall it was a great experience and its one that I would love to taste again sometime soon.

“Watching the likes of Kleton Perntreou, Scott Martin, Lewis Allan and Conner Duthie make their debuts has inspired everybody in the Development Squad to really kick on and try to earn recognition.

“It has been a huge motivational factor and it shows that if you perform consistently well then the manager isn’t afraid to give young players a chance at Hibernian.

“My plan is to continue to work hard, take on board all the advice I receive from the coaching staff and make sure that when I’m given an opportunity that I take it with both hands.”

Development Coach Joe McBride said: “I’m delighted with the progress Aaron has made and happy the club has rewarded him with this extension to his contract.

“Over the past three or four months, Aaron has had a major influence on all the games that he has played in, so he has earned it.”

Head Coach Alan Stubbs said: “We’re delighted that Aaron has signed his extension at the club – he has progressed well and he has shown plenty of promise.

“Traditionally, Hibernian has always developed homegrown talent and that certainly continues to be the case – promising Academy graduates will continue to drive Hibernian forward.”

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust’s Tree Time initiative will be  launched later today.

The major promotional and fundraising campaign aims to celebrate Edinburgh’s trees, and to raise funds for a major tree planting programme over the coming three years.

Around 50 Edinburgh-based businesses will attend the event,  as well as David Knott, Curator of Living Collections at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and Donald Anderson, former leader of City of Edinburgh Council and ELGT Trustee.

David and Donald will speak about about some of the capital’s incredible trees, and how the local business community can support more being planted.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre will be announced as the first local business to sign up in support of the campaign, by financing 150 trees, including two flagship trees to be planted in prominent landmark locations.

Charlie Cumming, ELGT Chief Executive, said: “Edinburgh’s trees are estimated to be worth £348 million to the city’s economy, and make up some of the capitals most famous streets, landmarks and gardens. Many of those trees were planted in Victorian times, so are now reaching the end of their natural lives. For example, 100,000 of Edinburgh’s trees are deemed to be in a critical condition or dying.

 “Tree Time Edinburgh aims to work with partners in order to raise funds to begin planting now, the estimated 6,500 trees per year required to compensate for those we lose. We want to plant large, prominent trees in local streets, parks and other areas, before the existing ones die.

“We’re very grateful to DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh for not only hosting our launch, but also for becoming the first business to support the cause.”

Ronald Little, General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton, Edinburgh City Centre said: “We are proud to support Tree Time Edinburgh and to be able to contribute more trees to be planted in Edinburgh.

“The city’s trees are vital for the ongoing success of Edinburgh as a place to visit, work and live – and, in turn, to the success of the city’s businesses. Many of the impressive trees we see now are thanks to people who planted them sometimes over a century ago – we want to help make sure that the cityscape, its parks and streets, are just as full of trees in years to come.”

Live Music Now: Sirocco Winds. Wind ensemble Sirocco Winds, featuring Matthew Howells on flute, Charlie Sheppard-Vine on clarinet and Thomas Porter on bassoon, follow in the footsteps of artist David Roberts by travelling musically through countries from all across the world. Programme includes Robert Muczynski’s Fragments for Wind Trio and Tatiana Smirnova’s Little Triptych. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

Vicki Jarrett: The Way Out. Edinburgh author Vicki Jarrett launches ‘a remarkable debut collection of stories from an acclaimed new voice…the lives of women at the margins are explored; people living on the edge of relationships, the economy and society….Heart-breaking, tender, devastatingly honest and brimming with black comedy’. Vicki Jarrett’s first novel Nothing is Heavy was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s Scottish First Book of the Year 2013. 6.30pm, Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson’s Loan, Quartermile. Free but please book by emailing info@freightbooks.co.uk.

Rebellious Objects Workshop: work with artist Juliana Capes over 6 weeks to develop your own ideas to transform objects into sculpture and installation art, inspired by the current exhibition Possibilities of the Object. For ages 16-25. 6-8pm, Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street. To book a place please call 07527 927 916 or 0131 226 8186, or email caitlin@fruitmarket.co,uk.

Petticoats and Plants: Scotland’s Gardening Women. A joint spring lecture with the Friends of RBGE and the Garden History Society of Scotland: Deborah Reid (RBGE) talks on the role and influence of gardening women in Scotland 1800-1930. 7.30-9.30pm, Lecture Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row. £6 (members £5) on the door.

Britain’s Relations with Russia and the CIS: the way ahead. Charles Hendry MP will focus on the current state of our relations with Russia, asking such questions as ‘Do we really understand Russia? What is the role of trade and culture in times of stress? To what extent do our attitudes towards Russia affect our relations with other countries in the former Soviet Union? and what do we need to be doing to build better relations for the future? 6-7.30pm, Lecture Theatre 183, School of Law, Old College, University of Edinburgh. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here.

Big Scream: screenings exclusively for parents or carers with babies under the age of 12 months. This week: X + Y (12A): when Nathan, a shy schoolboy on the autistic spectrum, gifted at maths but socially awkward, gets the opportunity to travel to Taiwan and compete in a junior maths contest, he must confront two new scenarios; mixing with other kids far from home, and not always being the smartest person in the room. 10.30am, Cameo, Home Street. Membership of the Big Scream Club costs £5 and lasts until your baby’s first birthday: it enables you to buy tickets at Picturehouse members’ rates (babies admitted free).

Heriot-Watt University and Our Dynamic Earth Present Beyond the Naked Eye: presentations, a talk and discussions over wine and nibbles with Professor Rory Duncan and Dr Paul Dalgarno (both Heriot-Watt). The physics of light can be used to delve deep inside the workings of living nerve cells; in this, the UN International Year of Light, come and find out about new and amazing techniques, melding biology, physics, chemistry and engineering. Explore how optical physics, astronomy, neurobiology and art can answer questions about the workings of the brain and the body, and the very basis of ‘self’, that were previously thought unanswerable.  For ages 14+. This event will also launch Heriot-Watt’s Schools’ Smartphone Microscope Competition, EnLightenment: build it, see it, show it! Schools can apply for free smartphone microscope kits for pupils to build themselves and then submit images to the nationwide competition. 6.45-9pm, Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road.  Tickets cost £4/£2.50; pre-booking is advised as places are limited – reserve your places via eventbrite here.

Staging A Poetic Debut: Nicolini and the Meteoric Rise of Metastasio. A seminar chaired by Dr Anne Desler (Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh). 5.15pm, Lecture Room A, Alison House, 12 Nicolson Square. Free and open to all. Part of the Music Research Seminars Series.

IASH Scottish Enlightenment Lecture: the making of the ‘Hotbed of Genius’. Whom might you meet strolling up Edinburgh’s High Street in the mid-1700s? Possibly one of the critical mass of men and women whose literary works and scientific discoveries propelled humanity into the modern era. The Edinburgh of the Enlightenment – Professor David Daiches’ ‘Hotbed of Genius’ – ranks in impact with Periclean Athens or Renaissance Florence. In this lecture Professor David Purdie charts the political and social conditions underlying the Scottish Enlightenment and highlights some of the ‘Fifty Men of Genius’. 6.30-7.30pm, Institute for the Advanced Study in the Humanities, The University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here.

Watching: a new opera for children about sleep. Ada can’t sleep – will the two apothecaries Dewberry and Frostbait have the remedy for her sleeplessness? A promenade performance through the gardens and glasshouses of the Royal Botanic Garden, performed by Music in the Community at Edinburgh College of Art, and children from Leith Walk Primary School. Please note that this is event is partially outdoors: dress warmly. 7pm (entry from 6.45pm), North Gate, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Place. Tickets cost £10/£5 and must be purchased in advance only from Brown Paper Tickets here (transaction fee applies). Also at same time on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March. Funded by The Wellcome Trust.

History of Art Thursday Research Seminar Series: Visions and Revisions – John Duncan’s Celtic Revival. Chaired by Dr Heather Pulliam (Edinburgh College of Art) and Dr Francis Fowle (Edinburgh College of Art and NGS). The seminar will be followed by drinks in the Minto House Common Room. 5.15pm, Lecture Room 1, Minto House, University of Edinburgh, Chambers Street. Free and open to all.

Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church Thursday Club: this week Mavis Bain will talk about Morocco. Visitors of any age very welcome. 2-4pm, Upper Hall, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, 18 West Mayfield. For more information please contact Florence Smith on 0131 663 1234.

The Gondoliers: let Portobello & Joppa Parish Church Drama Group take you away from the Scottish weather to sunny Italy with their production of the Gilbert & Sullivan favourite! 7.30pm, Church Hall, Portobello & Joppa Parish Church, 1 Brunstane Road North. Tickets cost £10/£5 and may be purchased by emailing office@portyjoppachurch.org. Also at same time on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2015.

LGBT Learning Disabilities Social Circle: a group for LGBT people who also identify as having a learning difficulty or disability. This month’s theme is getting on with your family. 2-4pm, Lifecare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street. For more information and to join the group, please contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or email george@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Romina Ressia: Hide & Seek – Exploring Modern Identities. A solo show by award-winning (Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2014) Argentinian photographer Romina Ressia, presenting a body of work from four of her most popular series, How would have been, What do you hide, Renaissance Cubism and Not About Death. Preview tonight 6-9pm, then 10am-5pm Monday to Friday, 1-5pm Sundays, Arusha Gallery, 13a Dundas Street. Ends 10th April 2015.

The Bicycling Elk: soulful folk rock from Sweden in this live acoustic set by singer/songwriter Lucas Kristoffersson. 7pm, Boda’s Bar, 229 Leith Walk

Student housing

Calling foul on the football pitch

Padel Tennis

Road closure 

Libraries closing on Sundays from beginning of April

Another site in Edinburgh has been sold for student housing, but this one is right next to the university. The council has sold a site at Potterrow to Macdonald Estates who will pay £2.92m and will develop the site into 52 student units and a common room.

The sale should be approved later this morning when the Finance and Resources Committee meets. Forgive us we have not read all the papers. There are 459 pages of reports and agenda items.

You can watch the committee meeting live online by clicking here.

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Edinburgh Sports Club, which boasts Scotland’s only Padel Tennis court kickstarts the season with a free family open weekend on 28^th and 29^th March, from 1pm – 5pm and the launch of an Open Schools Rackets Programme.

The Open Weekend at the Club, which is situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End next to the Water of Leith World Heritage site, is designed to raise awareness of Padel Tennis by giving everyone the chance to come down and give it a shot.

Read more here

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Historic Scotland have reported that Holyrood Park road between Duddingston Village and Holyrood Park Road, referred to locally as the Low Road, will be closed to all traffic from Saturday 21 March until Tuesday 24 March for essential resurfacing work.

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Some libraries across the city are changing their opening hours and it seems that most of the changes affect Sunday openings.

Those making changes include the libraries at Corstorphine, Granton, Kirkliston, McDonald Road, Muirhouse, Newington, Oxgangs, Piershill, Portobello, Sighthill and Wester Hailes

How will this affect you? Do you use the library on Sundays?

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Today Fergus Linehan introduced his first programme here in Edinburgh, but the Irishman is far from a novice. His previous roles have included directing the Sydney Festival, the Dublin Theatre Festival and Vivid LIVE.  Today he revealed big international stars across the performing arts, and new areas of programming for the International Festival including more diverse genres of music and family focused shows.

The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to him after the launch:

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Celebrating its role in supporting and commissioning great artists from around the world to create new work, the Festival this year hosts new productions from Robert Lepage and Ex Machina, Complicite and Simon McBurney, Enda Walsh and Donnacha Dennehy, Ivo van Hove and Anne Carson, Scotland’s Citizens Theatre, Akram Khan and Russell Maliphant.

Looking to develop future audiences for the Festival, the introduction of work conceived for young people into the main programme sees incredible experiences being offered in Dragon by Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotlandand Tianjin Children’s Arts Theatre; and in a family concert the day before the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert in which the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Parisian technologists Chevalvert, specialists in creating visual spectacular concerts, join in presenting music from across the Festival.

The Festival continues to offer great value for young ticket buyers (18 or under, or 26 or under and in full time education) with a discount of 50% available on all tickets from the opening of ticket sales.

A new series of late night music events, Hub Sessions sees the Festival debuts of Anna Calvi, Oneohtrix Point Never, Bryce Dessner and Richard Reed Parry. Max Richter and Daniel Hope join the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for a concert at the Playhouse featuring Recomposed and Memoryhouse, Sufjan Stevens kicks off his European tour at the Festival, and Franz Ferdinand & Sparks come together for a rare live performance alongside the launch of their album.

Celebrating great Scottish work and artists, this year’s Festival offers people the world premiere of Alasdair Gray’s Lanark in a production by the Citizens Theatre written and directed by David Greig and Graham Eatough and supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, alongside opportunities for locals and international visitors to see two exisiting, very successful works, Dragon and Untitled Project’s and the National Theatre of Scotland’s Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner directed by Stewart Laing, showcased at the Festival.

Scotland’s three fine orchestras, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and theBBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra are not only playing central roles in the Usher Hall series, but also teaming up with international artists at the Playhouse, Festival Theatre and The Hub. RSNO plays Mahler’s Symphony No 7 for Ballett am Rhein in Seven, choreographed by Martin Schläpfer. The BBC SSO is joined by Max Richter and Daniel Hope in the Playhouse for Recomposed and Memoryhouse. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra performs Wave Movements, composed by Richard Reed Parry and Bryce Dessner with images by Hiroshi Sugimoto in Hub Sessions.

Remaining one of the world’s largest and most diverse curated festivals, as well as one of the most accessible with substantial discounts and a low entry price tickets, the Edinburgh International Festival continues to attract people from across the globe, expecting its audiences to travel from around 70 nations this year to be part of the global cultural celebration in Edinburgh.

A new partnership with BBC Arts online reconceives the Festival’s artists’ conversations to make them available to a wider audience online. The free tickets will be announced and issued on twitter, more information can be found at eif.co.uk/artistsconversations

2015 also marks the realignment of the International Festival with the dates of the other August festivals in Edinburgh, including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Art Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Police in Edinburgh have arrested a 16-year-old man and an 18-year-old man for a series of motor vehicle crimes.

Operation Quarterlight officers arrested and charged both men on Friday afternoon.  They have been charged with over 20 offences, all related to motor vehicle crime.

They appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, March 16.  The 18-year-old has been remanded to custody while the 16-year-old has been released subject of further proceedings.

Operation Quarterlight is a Scotland-wide police operation aimed at reducing motor vehicle crime. Officers in Edinburgh recognise this as an area of concern and dedicated resources have been identified to tackle these offences.

Superintendent Matt Richards, who leads Operation Quarterlight in Edinburgh, said:  “This is excellent work by officers who undertook extensive enquiries to trace these two men.

“By having dedicated Operation Quarterlight officers, we have been able to target those individuals who engage in motor vehicle crime.  It demonstrates to offenders that this type behaviour will not be tolerated.

“We continue to work hard to stop the theft of motor vehicles in Edinburgh and bring those who commit these crimes to justice.”
 

The City of Edinburgh Council spends £2.3m on the Edinburgh International Festival and there are many council-owned buildings which are used during the month long cultural event.

The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to Culture & Sport Convener and Festivals Champion, Councillor Richard Lewis about this year’s programme and why the council remains committed to the arts event.

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This year the Harmonium Project will use the outside of the Usher Hall which is owned and run by the council for an event on 7 August 2015 at 10.30pm.

This will be a free public event and we are promised a huge sound and light spectacular created by 59 Productions combining art and technology to stunning effect.

A recording of John Adams’ choral work Harmonium made by the RSNO and Edinburgh Festival Chorus conducted by Peter Oundjian will be played out on speakers across Festival Square.  Animated graphics will be shown on the outside of the hall gifted to the city by the Usher family 101 years ago.

The visualisation will be produced by University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics and Edinburgh College of Art working alongside the Edinburgh Festival Chorus. They will combine data and design showing what happens when people and music interact. The data will be drawn from EEG machines measuring brain activity.

The Edinburgh Festival Chorus celebrates its 50th anniversary this year a fact that was obvious from the footwear worn by their Chorus Master, Christopher Bell at today’s launch! He is a brand new Twitter user tweeting under the name @bellman143 Go on tell him you like his shoes…..

The Scottish Government has awarded £200,000 to the Edinburgh International Festival to present the world premiere of a new stage adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s classic novel ‘Lanark’, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop announced today.

The adaptation by David Greig, directed by Graham Eatough, will take place as part of a celebration of Alasdair Gray’s 80th birthday year, and will be delivered in collaboration with the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow.

Lanark is set in the disintegrating cities of Unthank and Glasgow, and tells the interwoven stories of Lanark and Duncan Thaw. A work of extraordinary imagination and wide range, its playful narrative techniques convey a profound message, both personal and political, about humankind’s inability to love, and yet our compulsion to go on trying.

Ms Hyslop said:

“Through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the Scottish Government has directly invested more than £15 million in the Edinburgh festivals since 2008/09, including more than £1.5 million for projects delivered as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. I am delighted to announce today that this fund will provide £200,000 in 2015 to enable the EIF to present the world premiere of a new stage adaptation of Lanark.

“Our ongoing investment in Edinburgh’s festivals underlines this government’s commitment to creating long term benefits for Scottish artists, the economy and Scotland’s international reputation. The Edinburgh festivals contribute more than £250m in tourism revenue to Scotland’s economy but just as important is their international profile.

“Edinburgh’s festivals have been defining and promoting Scotland’s identity as a confident, creative, welcoming nation for over 65 years. We are supporting their work through the Expo Fund to fund innovation, collaboration and artist development, all vital for future success of our festivals.”

Festival Director, Fergus Linehan said,

“The Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund has enabled us to present new work from many wonderful Scottish artists and companies on the Festival’s international stage. The support for Lanark, which opens at the Edinburgh International Festival and then continues at the Citizens Theatre in the autumn, helps make it possible to stage this enormous Scottish literary landmark. I am truly excited about the creative team behind this endeavour and look forward to seeing the results of their work on stage. We would like to thank the Scottish Government for its farsightedness in establishing this fund and for its continuing strategic support for Scottish artists and work at the Festival.”

With eight different versions of its cover page (each having a different portrait) the 2015 Festival Programme was launched this morning at The Hub.

Festival 2015 runs from Friday 7 August to Monday 31 August and welcomes over 2,300 artists from 39 nations to perform in Scotland’s magnificent capital city.

The Irishman, who previously headed up the Sydney Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival and Vivid LIVE, revealed big international stars across the performing arts, and new areas of programming for the International Festival including more diverse genres of music and family focused shows.

This year’s Festival opens with a large, free, public outdoor event which sees a spectacular digitally animated artwork projected onto the front of the Usher Hall, set to music. The Harmonium Project, outside the Usher Hall celebrates Edinburgh’s relationship with architecture, learning, music and its role in developing technology. 59 Productions, which combines technology and art to amazing effect will create an event which celebrates 50 years of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, setting a recording of the Chorus, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and principal conductor Peter Oundjian performing John Adams’s Harmonium to stunning visuals projected onto the outside of the Hall. The images are formed by data gathered at the University of Edinburgh as part of its research into wearable technologies and facial mapping as well as its work with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus on the physical impact of singing.

Over the last 50 years the Festival Chorus has demonstrated the levels of excellence that can be achieved by joining in a creative community. Each member enjoys singing as an amateur but the Chorus has been recognised by conductors from Herbert von Karajan to Donald Runnicles as one of the best in the world. In its 50th anniversary season it sings major works by Brahms, Sibelius, Mozart, Berlioz, Beethoven and Adams with all of Scotland’s orchestras and principal conductors as well as the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

At the end of the Festival there will be another large public event.

One of the world’s largest fireworks concerts continues to bring the season to a close. On Monday 31 August the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert will launch over 400,000 fireworks into the sky above Edinburgh Castle, choreographed to live music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, an unmissable evening. Virgin Money has recently confirmed its support of the event for a further three years.

Remaining one of the world’s largest and most diverse curated festivals, as well as one of the most accessible with substantial discounts and a low entry price tickets, the Edinburgh International Festival continues to attract people from across the globe, expecting itsaudiences to travel from around 70 nations this year to be part of the global cultural celebration in Edinburgh.

A new partnership with BBC Arts online reconceives the Festival’s artists’ conversations to make them available to a wider audience online. The free tickets will be announced and issued on twitter, more information can be found at eif.co.uk/artistsconversations

2015 also marks the realignment of the International Festival with the dates of the other August festivals in Edinburgh, including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Art Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Police in Edinburgh are seeking the public’s help in tracing a man following an incident in the south of the city at the weekend.

At around 6.15am on Sunday 15 March, the man approached a woman walking alone on Leamington Walk, Bruntsfield Links. He spoke to her, committing a breach of the peace, but she ignored him and walked off.

The man is described as white with a pale complexion, between 25 and 35 years old, 6 foot tall, of slim build and was wearing a hooded top with the hood up, tan coloured tights, and a scarf or similar which he used to conceal his face.

Police believe that the same man may be responsible for a number of indecent exposure incidents in the Grange and Blackford areas and are keen to speak to any witnesses.

Detective Sergeant Barry Murphy said: “Police have been carrying out active inquiries following the previous incidents that have happened, but these have now been exhausted. The man who exposed himself is described as wearing womens’ tights or leggings and concealed his face, so we believe he is the same man who spoke to the woman at the weekend.

“I want to hear from anyone who may have seen this man in the Bruntsfield area early on Sunday morning, or anyone who may recognise his description. The exposure incidents all took place in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings in nearby Blackford and The Grange. It may be that people returning home from nights out, shift workers, or early dog walkers, may have seen this man before and could have information which could assist our inquiries.”

Contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Danny Handling (pictured) celebrated his Scotland Under-21 call up with two goals in Hibs’ Development Squad’s 2-0 victory over Dundee United’s Development Squad in Forfar yesterday.

First teamers Farid El Alagui, Jordon Forster, Sam Stanton and Martin Boyle all featured in the victory, which Hibs dominated from start to finish.

After the game Joe McBride, Hibernian U20 Development Coach, told the club website: “It was a game where we had loads of possession, United made it really difficult sitting back and that is absolutely their prerogative. We had to show a lot of patience, we had some chances in the first half but we weren’t as clinical.

“But we are really delighted with the way we kept making the right decisions. Sometimes when you have so much of the ball you tend to start making poor decisions but they never and they kept at it and deserved to win the game.

“I was really pleased with the way we kept possession and the second goal was a fabulous goal and the first was a little bit of luck. I thought that we deserved the win.”

The Hibernian Development Squad are next in action away to St Johnstone on Friday at the Excelsior Stadium, 2pm kick-off.

Hibernian Development Squad: Perntreou, Dunsmore, Crane, Martyniuk, Forster, Scott, Martin, Handling, El Alagui (Hendry, 64), Boyle (Sinclair, 64), Stanton. Unused substitutes: Combe, McGregor, Duthie, Stirling.

Photo by John Preece

The City of Edinburgh Council carry out a survey each year (which is the biggest in the whole of the UK) called the Edinburgh People’s Survey. We have a copy of the council report on it which runs to a couple of hundred pages and have not yet had time to digest it all, but here are some headline findings:

An increased number of people in the sample were happy with public transport. This is up by 10% year on year.

Slightly fewer people feel safe after dark and are lower among several groups such as females, unemployed people, over 65s and people with disability or long term illness. 

Fewer people are happy with the library service than last year. A significant drop of 10%. Why is this? What do you think of your local library? Do you know that some are closing on Sundays from 1 April onwards?

While the number of those who are happy with the council’s management of the city is lower than in the two previous years, it is a massive improvement on 2009 when the number of those who said they were happy with the council was 35%.

The Council Leader Andrew Burns said that he felt there were more positives to be taken out of this report than negatives, but that as usual he is not complacent about those areas where satisfaction has dropped for one reason or another.

Council Leader Cllr Andrew Burns said: “The top line figures continue to offer encouragement and reassurance that, broadly speaking, residents believe we are managing their city well.

“That said, given a backdrop of falling budgets and greater demand for our services, it is hardly surprising that some are performing less well – particularly those areas, such as refuse collection and recycling, currently undergoing significant changes to delivery.

“But through this survey, and our extensive budget consultation, we are listening to what residents are telling us – and acting on their feedback.

“We revised our budget for the coming financial year to reflect this, committing major investment to roads and pavements and school infrastructure while continuing to work towards the redevelopment of Meadowbank.

“We are ambitious for the city and there is much work yet to be done, so we simply need to continue delivering the pledges we made to Edinburgh residents and look for that to be reflected in future surveys.”

SPFL Championship, Tuesday 17 March 2015 – Starks Park

Relentless is a word that seems to have attached itself to the good ship Heart of Midlothian as it sails inexorably towards the top flight of Scottish football after a year’s absence. The SPFL Premiership port is not only in sight but within distance of setting down anchor as Hearts recorded yet another league win, this time at Kirkcaldy on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Kevin McHattie – back in the team for the first time since being injured back in November – Jamie Walker and Billy King gave Robbie Neilson’s men another three points and extended their lead at the top of the SPFL Championship table to 20 points – with just eight games and 24 points left to play.

Neilson hinted at changing the team that put four goals past Dumbarton on Saturday and as well as the welcome sight of McHattie back in a maroon shirt, there were starting places for Billy King and James Keatings, who scored a hat-trick on his last appearance in Kirkcaldy.

It was Keatings who had the game’s first chance after just five minutes. Sam Nicholson’s pass found the former Hamilton Accies man inside the penalty area and his shot on goal was well saved by home keeper McGurn who was to have a busy evening.

McGurn denied Keatings again just after 20 minutes as Hearts increased the pressure as they looked to get in front. Keatings then turned provider for Zeefuik whose effort was saved by the overworked home keeper.

It seemed only a matter of time until the visitors took the lead and they duly did in the 27^th minute. Keatings delivered a fine cross which found McHattie and, with the home defenders appealing in vain for offside, the young full back poked the ball past McGurn to put Hearts ahead.

Hearts continued to press and Billy King was proving a real handful for the home defence. The youngster almost doubled Hearts lead with an effort from 25 yards which just went wide. We were all sure a second goal would arrive and it duly did two minutes before half-time – but not at the end expected. A corner from Raith’s Conroy was headed home by Barr to draw unexpected parity at the break. Half-time Raith Rovers 1 Hearts 1 

Hearts began the second half in the same fashion they ended the first one. Sam Nicholson fired in an ambitious effort from fully 25 yards which scraped the crossbar before Alim Ozturk’s now trademark free-kick was brilliantly saved by McGurn. Then Zeefuik had a chance to put Hearts in front but his shot was well wide of the goal.

Despite constant Hearts pressure the score was still level and the game began to take on a feel of ‘one of those nights’. However, midway through the second half came arguably the game’s turning point. Former Hearts striker Christian Nade, now filling the Raith Rovers shirt, lunged into Kevin McHattie with a ferocity that left the youngster sprawling. Given McHattie had just returned from serious injury there was understandable anger among the Hearts contingent, a feeling shared by referee George Salmond who showed Nade a red card.

Thankfully, McHattie was able to continue and Hearts pressed even harder for the winner. Callum Paterson and Sam Nicholson came close but home keeper McGurn was almost proving to be one-man opposition. It needed a moment of magic to beat the Starks Park number one and this was duly provided with ten minutes to go by Jamie Walker. The youngster collected a pass from Gomis and from 25 yards produced a sublime curling effort which went beyond the heroic home keeper to put Hearts ahead to the joy of the huge travelling support.

With five minutes to go it was game over. Walker was involved again as he pounced on a shoddy pass from the home side. He squared the ball to Billy King who fired past the helpless McGurn to make it 3-1 to the champions-elect.

Hearts now need just two more wins from their final eight games to clinch the Championship title and secure automatic promotion. Indeed, they may not even need that if they defeat Falkirk this Saturday and Hibernian fail to defeat Rangers on Sunday.

However, Robbie Neilson isn’t looking for favours from anyone else.

“I would really like to win the league before our own fans at Tynecastle” he said after Tuesday night’s victory. “The players feel the same way. We want to give the fans something. They’ve been absolutely magnificent all season. If we win the title before then, fair enough, but we would love to make our next home game against Queen of the South a day to remember.”

For Hearts, it has certainly been a season to remember.

Raith Rovers: McGurn, Thomson, Watson, Fox, G. Anderson, Callachan, Conroy, Vaughan, McKeown, Nade, Barr.

Hearts: Alexander, Paterson, McHattie, Wilson, Ozturk, Gomis, Nicholson, King, Pallardo, Keatings, Zeefuik 

Referee: George Salmond

Att: 4,760

Top man: Billy King

The new Festival Director Fergus Linehan will today announce the full programme for 2015.

The meeting at The Hub is always long awaited by all the journalists who attend as they serve the best bacon rolls and coffee. That, and the anticipation of what will be on offer this year at one of the world’s most acclaimed festivals, causes much excitement.

Now you can follow what happens here live. We will be tweeting and Instagramming and all the content we and others produce on whatever medium will end up here. The hashtag is #EdintFest

//

The Gretna Disaster of 22nd May 1915: a talk on the effect on the people of Leith of the worst train crash in British rail history. One of the trains involved was carrying 500 men from the Leith Battalion, Royal Scots; over 200 died, and their bodies were brought back to the Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street. Many more were injured. 2-3pm, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. Free but please book by calling 0131 529 5517 or emailing leith.library@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Chatterbooks: a reading group for children aged 8-12 years. If you like books and reading, come along to meet new friends, chat about books and join in games and competitions. 3.45-4.45pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. For more information please ask at the counter, call 0131 529 5617 or email Mohammed.boussabou@edinburgh.gov.uk

Broth: an honest exploration of the experience of elders in 21st century Scotland, told by artist Donna Rutherford through the tradition of soup making. The show will explore the rituals and revelations that trace changes in people’s lives, families and wider communities through a series of personal storytelling conversations. Share a cup of soup on stage afterwards for an informal post-show discussion. Broth is an original performance commissioned by Seannachies, a research network supported by the Scottish Universities Insight Institute and led by the Institute of Design Innovation, Glasgow School of Art. 6pm (drinks reception), 7pm (performance), 8pm (post-show discussion and soup), Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£3 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.

Edinburgh University Singers Present ‘Classical Beauty, Baroque Effervescence and Contemporary Grace’ featuring Mozart Vespers (K339), Bach Lobet den Herrn and Claire McCue Kneeling – an exciting new piece for clarinet and choir. 7.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Tickets cost £10/£5 and can be purchased on the door or by calling 0131 668 2019.

Watching: a new opera for children about sleep. Ada can’t sleep – will the two apothecaries Dewberry and Frostbait have the remedy for her sleeplessness? A promenade performance through the gardens and glasshouses of the Royal Botanic Garden, performed by Music in the Community at Edinburgh College of Art and children from Leith Walk Primary School. Please note that this is event is partially outdoors: dress warmly. 7pm (entry from 6.45pm), North Gate, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Place. Tickets cost £10/£5 and must be purchased in advance only from Brown Paper Tickets here (transaction fee applies). Also at same time on Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March. Funded by The Wellcome Trust.

The James Young High School Science Fair: a showcase of science projects led by P7, S1 and S2 pupils who will be presenting their findings from their own experiments made at home. Prizes will be awarded, and there will be a short presentation by the former head of the Royal Society of Chemistry during the judging process. Part of British Science Week. 6.30-8.30pm, The James Young High School, Quentin Rise, Livingston.

Botanic Cottage Update and Stories: an informal talk about the cottage as it is rebuilt stone by stone. For ages 10+. 1-1.30pm, Blue Shed, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free and unticketed.

LGBT Bi & Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual or non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information  email biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.

The Gondoliers: let Portobello & Joppa Parish Church Drama Group take you away from the Scottish weather to sunny Italy with their production of the Gilbert & Sullivan favourite! 7.30pm, Church Hall, Portobello & Joppa Parish Church, 1 Brunstane Road North. Tickets cost £10/£5 and may be purchased by emailing office@portyjoppachurch.org. Also at same time on Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2015.

Greens leading debate at Holyrood today

Solar eclipse on Friday

Traffic Scotland

The Variety of Life at Summerhall

Council breaking down barriers for deaf customers

The Scottish Greens will lead a Holyrood debate on the need to end in-work poverty, and will put to a vote the case for all those working or in training to get £10 an hour by 2020 later today.

The Greens are highlighting the fact that the apprenticeship wage is currently only £2.73 an hour for those in their first year, which means that some young people up to the age of 25 are working 30 hours a week for a monthly wage packet of just £327.60.

They will invite other political parties to vote on a motion which calls for a £10 minimum wage for all by 2020, and other measures such as a tax to redistribute the wealth of the richest one per cent in society.

Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie, a member of Holyrood’s economy committee, said:

“Hundreds of thousands of working age adults in Scotland are living in poverty. They have been let down by an economic policy pursued by successive governments, wrongly assuming that if we make the rich richer some of that money will trickle down.

“At the same time we’ve seen the welfare system being used to subsidise poverty wages when we should be putting real money in people’s pockets for them to live decent lives. It’s simply unacceptable that someone in their mid-twenties can be in an apprenticeship earning less than £3 an hour. What sort of message does this send about the value we place on our young people?

“By making sure everyone’s wage meets their basic needs we can get to grips with the inequality that is doing so much damage in our country.”

***

This Friday morning drivers are being warned that there will be a partial solar eclipse which may mean twilight just at the end of the morning rush hour.

In fact there will be a Supermoon on Thursday evening, it is the spring equinox and there is a solar eclipse all at once! This is the last eclipse for about ten years according to the scientists.

The Super Moon means that the moon is closer to the earth than normal.

In Edinburgh you should see around 95% of the sun being obscured at 9.35 am. But do remember not to look directly at the sun when it is visible!

***

The team at Traffic Scotland have launched new video which explains the service and how information is received, monitored and distributed to road users all over Scotland.

Traffic Scotland collects and distributes real time information relating to incidents, congestion and events currently happening throughout the network on behalf of Transport Scotland. This video shows the public the systems we have in place and details how these are utilised to reach a wide audience.

Traffic Scotland’s aim is to provide drivers with information which will allow them to make an informed decision about their journey before they travel. Details are provided to ensure the best use is made of the network but also to improve the safety and efficiency of the roads.

The video has been created to show the public some of the faces behind the service and how these teams work to ensure the network runs as smoothly as possible.

Watch them in the control room here:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FpRGsohd3o]

***

At Summerhall next month there will be an evening of entertainment featuring music, comedy, aerial acrobatics, performance, magic and more. There will be a pay bar with all the usual offerings including of course Summerhall-brewed Barney’s beer and Pickering’s gin.

The fundraiser is in aid of two children’s charities – Hope and Play for the Children of Gaza who build safe recreation areas for traumatised children in Gaza and Orkidstudio’s project to build a girls’ school in Sierra Leone.

 On the night there will be an art auction with work from some of Scotland’s most exciting artists and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

The event will have a dedicated Facebook page very soon – but meantime tickets are on sale at the Summerhall website: http://www.summerhall.co.uk/2015/the-variety-of-life/

***

An innovative new service that will make it easier for deaf people to access City of Edinburgh Council services has been welcomed.

The hard of hearing will be able to access public services independently via Contact SCOTLAND, the online video relay interpreting service, which is the first of its kind in the UK.

Launched this month by the Scottish Government, Contact SCOTLAND will allow people to get in touch with local authorities using a video link so that they can use sign language, which is then interpreted to public service staff.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Health, Social Care and Housing Convener, said that the project will help to break down barriers.

He said: “This project is very welcome. It’s important that the services many people take for granted are equally accessible to the deaf community.

“The video interpreting service will mean that they won’t have to rely on someone calling the Council on their behalf any more. It will help many to overcome these communication barriers and will, in turn, lead to an improved quality of life.”

Contact SCOTLAND can be accessed at www.contactscotland-bsl.org

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Tom Gilzean BEM is out on the High Street or outside Jenners in all weathers raising funds for his favourite charities – every day.

One of the charities he supports is the Sick Kids and he reckons he has raised about £250,000 for that and others.

Councillor Steve Cardownie recounted the tale of Tom requiring a licence to be a permanent fundraiser. The council by-laws only allow someone to be a fundraiser for a certain number of days but an exception was made for Tom who is now 94.

A former ‘sapper’ he faced Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma and Hitler’s Wehrmacht in France and Belgium.

Tonight he was surrounded by his family and many friends to receive the prestigious award from the Lord Provost who had already bestowed the British Empire Medal on the champion fundraiser in 2013.

Scotland will welcome two stages of the Friends Life Tour of Britain this September, as British Cycling’s premier road cycling event comes to the country on two separate days for the first time ever.

Stage Three will take place on 8 September starting in Cumbria and  concluding at Floors Castle, Kelso in the Scottish Borders, before the UK’s biggest professional cycle race resumes a day later from Edinburgh, the first visit to Scotland’s capital for the modern race

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Departing from Holyrood Park, Stage Four will pass through the centre of Edinburgh before heading into East Lothian and then through the Scottish Borders to Northumberland, where the stage will finish in Blyth.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “The Friends Life Tour of Britain is the country’s top bike race and we are proud to host two stages in Scotland this year. With stunning scenery throughout the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, and East Lothian, Scotland will undoubtedly provide the perfect stage for the action. The Edinburgh start in particular will be of particular interest to Scottish cycling fans as we see the peloton ride through the capital for the very first time.

“With excitement and passion for cycling at a record high following the hugely successful road race at the Commonwealth Games last year, we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s top riders to Scotland once again.”

Stage Three, which begins in Cockermouth, will cross into Scotland at Gretna, first heading through Dumfries & Galloway before the Scottish Borders, where the world’s top riders will race through Hawick, Selkirk and Melrose before the final kilometres through Kelso and the finish in the grounds of Floors Castle.

Councillor Stuart Bell, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Borders will host a stage finish of Friends Life Tour of Britain and that more visitors and local residents than ever before will be able to take in this fantastic event at close quarters with the following day’s stage also passing through the area.

“The return of such a prestigious event emphasises our ability to host high profile events here in the Borders and is further recognition of the fact that the Scottish Borders is Scotland’s leading cycling destination.

Wednesday 9^th September will be the first ever visit for the modern Friends Life Tour of Britain to Edinburgh, and the first visit for a national cycling Tour since the final stage of the PruTour in May 1999.

After taking in the world famous city centre during the neutralised start, the stage will depart via Musselburgh and East Lothian and into Berwickshire, both firsts for the event, visiting Duns and Coldstream before crossing into Northumberland for the run to the finish in Blyth.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s new Festivals and Events Champion, said: “This will be an exciting event for the city and a highlight for 2015. Elite cyclists from all over the world will descend on the Capital and the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh’s winding streets will make for a spectacular sight. This is going to be a must-see event for both local people and visitors to the city.”

Commenting on the announcement, Mick Bennett, Race Director of Friends Life Tour of Britain organisers SweetSpot said;

“This year’s route gives us the fantastic opportunity to have two days of racing in Scotland and to make first visits to the east of the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh.  I am sure many cycling fans will be excited, just like we are, at the prospect of seeing the world’s top riders on the streets of the Scottish capital, and will hopefully use the race as an opportunity to visit the areas we pass through”.

Further details of both stages, including Ordnance Survey stage maps, will be announced in the Summer, along with details of the 20 competing teams.

Stages Three and Four will mark the second and third chances to see top-level professional road cycling in Scotland this Summer, following February’s announcement that Motherwell would again host a round of the televised Pearl Izumi Tour Series on Thursday 26^th May.

The 2015 Friends Life Tour of Britain will start in Wales for the first time in the modern race’s history, with Anglesey hosting the start of the opening stage to Wrexham, finishing eight days later in the heart of London with an iconic new circuit taking in many of the capital’s world famous sights.

Once again ITV will screen three-hours of live coverage of every stage, starting on ITV for the opening Wales stage before reverting to ITV4 for Stages Two to Eight.  ITV4 will also screen a one-hour highlights programme each evening during the race.

The Friends Life Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their door step. The two stages in Scotland will once again be supported by Scottish Cycling.

Stage One        Sunday 6 September                 Beaumaris, Anglesey to Wrexham

Stage Two        Monday 7 September                Clitheroe to Colne

Stage Three      Tuesday 8 September                Cockermouth to Floors Castle, Kelso

Stage Four        Wednesday 9 September           Edinburgh to Blyth

Stage Five        Thursday 10 September             Prudhoe to Hartside Fell

Stage Six          Friday 11 September                 Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham

Stage Seven     Saturday 12 Septmber               Fakenham to Ipswich

Stage Eight       Saturday 13 September             London stage presented by TfL

Following their story published earlier this month North Edinburgh Community News have announced that the Council have agreed to take action and improve the street lights in the north of the city

North Edinburgh Community News were inundated with emails and messages on social media about the poor lighting the new LED lights offer.

By the number of comments on the story it was clearly an issue that was affecting thousands of people all across the city.

Speaking today Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’ve been closely monitoring lighting levels in streets where we’ve had a number of complaints about the new LED lights not being bright enough.”

Read more here

We were invited along to Summerhall Distillery recently to taste the new gin distilled there and which has been specially crafted for One Square at The Sheraton.

The invitation said wear warm clothes – but we did not really understand why till after the presentation by Marcus Pickering about the making of the new gin with its 15 botanicals (that’s what makes it taste nice!) was over. We, and the other Edinburgh press and bloggers,  went outside into the courtyard at Summerhall where a fleet of rickshaws was ready to take us across The Meadows to the warm and cosy One Square gin bar. What fun to speed along the cycle path there and then, using the back entrance to The Sheraton from Morrison Street with bells a-tinkling, we arrived in real style and cheeks glowing from the cold!

You can see our little Steller report of the evening here:

https://steller.co/site/static/js/steller.js

There are 60 premium gins behind the gin bar at the Sheraton and they have conducted over 1000 personal gin tastings over the years with customers. Now three of you can win a personal gin tasting experience in our competition here for you and a friend.

At the launch General Manager Tristan Nesbitt explained: “Tonight is a culmination of the process of all the passion and expertise built up over three years which we have now gathered together and bottled. I think we have come up with something quite special!”

Marcus Pickering presented the bottle to the assembled audience and commented: “We were approached by One Square to make their gin but we did not realise that they wanted to be so involved. They gave us the list of 15 botanicals they wanted included in it and they described the style they wanted too.

“They have been up to the distillery to taste the gin on several occasions during this time. We worked very closely with them and now we have it spot on. We made the gin in our still which is called ‘Gert’. This is a still with a bain marie around it to heat up the gin to 79 degrees creating some gas with goes off into a condenser cooled with constant cold water. We have a 25,000 litre well under Summerhall which is where we get our water from!

“The gin is eventually collected in a tank where we measure temperature and density. Once the gin is perfect the gin is then bottled by hand in screen printed bottles made just around the corner. The tops are then all waxed by hand to seal them and the bottles are then delivered to the Sheraton!”

The evening proceeded with a tasting of some gin and also the Signature Cocktail made with One Square Gin, pink grapefruit juice, heather syrup Galliano L’Autentico and what are called ‘muddled fennel seeds’. Served with a gold coated lime leaf this is a lovely refreshing way to enjoy the new spirit, although you may of course prefer the regular old gin and tonic. (that’s not just any old tonic but Fever Tree tonic which the Gin Concierge favour)

Pickering’s Gin at Summerhall Distillery, Edinburgh’s is the first gin distillery to set up in the city in over 150 years.

One Square Gin is based on a unique recipe that has been exclusively created by One Square’s team of gin experts, known as the Gin Concierge, working hand-in-hand with Matthew Gammell and Marcus Pickering, founders of Pickering’s Gin at Summerhall Distillery.

The process is far more complicated than you would ever believe, and we were told it took about two years to get it right! The joint team perfected the recipe to create a small batch London dry gin that contains the carefully-considered botanicals including juniper, bog myrtle, pink grapefruit and Scottish heather. Mediterranean liquorice and orris root were added to produce a heady kick, while notes of lemon, lime and anise were combined to create a citrusy, easy-drinking gin. The gin has been distilled by hand and packaged in a stunning square bottle by Pickering’s Gin.

One Square, which launched three years ago, was one of the original bars in Edinburgh to develop its team with an expert knowledge of gin, ahead of the city’s gin renaissance. The bar offers more than 60 premium varieties of gin and hosts tutored tastings, with its coveted weekend and evening spots in high demand.

Tristan Nesbitt, General Manager of the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa said: “The One Square Concierge team boasts an exceptional knowledge of gin so the creation of our own One Square Gin seemed the natural next step. We are very excited about introducing this special new gin experience to our regular guests and local customers who share the bar team’s passion for gin.”

The Gin Concierge has captured the essence of One Square Gin with its Perfect Serve (£10.50) which is served over ice in a frozen balloon glass with delicious Fever Tree tonic and garnished with pink grapefruit peel and thyme. The distinctive One Square Gin Cocktail (£9.00) highlights the Scottish heather botanical with the addition of heather syrup which is served with Galliano L’Autentico in an old fashioned glass with a square ice cube and a gold-coated lime leaf.

Marcus Pickering, who worked alongside his co-founder Matthew Gammell of Pickering’s Gin and the One Square Concierge team to create and distil the gin at Summerhall Distillery, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with One Square to create this bespoke gin and to welcome guests to the distillery to experience first-hand the distillation process. It’s a truly exciting time in the gin world and the more gin brands that are around, the more offerings are available for consumers. The popularity of the product continues to increase and we are thrilled to be part of producing traditional high quality Scottish dry gin that has an amazing taste.”

For more information on One Square Gin please visit www.OneSquareEdinburgh.co.uk/one-square-gin. To book the Gin Package please call 0131 229 9131 or email grandedinburgh@sheraton.com

Police are appealing for the public’s assistance after a community garden was vandalised at the weekend.

The incident occurred at the Lochend Secret Garden on Restalrig Square sometime between 12noon on Friday, March 13, and 11am on Saturday, March 14.

A polytunnel was damaged and salt was poured over plants and soil resulting in hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Police want to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area.

PC Tania Edmond said: “Anyone with information that can assist with our enquiries is asked to call police on 101 or, alternatively the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The City of Edinburgh Council are looking for a group of community gardeners to take on a small space next to the Nelson Monument.

The former garden is currently in a poor state, and is need of some TLC, but has great potential and fantastic views across the city.

If you’re interested, get in touch with David Patterson from the City Museums Service on 0131 557 4165 or David.Patterson@edinburgh.gov.uk

Edinburgh artist presents East Lothian Seascapes

Edinburgh artist Julia McNairn White presents a new exhibition of East Lothian coastal scenes

A new exhibition of oil paintings and pastels “Scottish Seascapes” by the artist Julia McNairn White is set to open on Saturday 28 March at The Sutton Gallery on Dundas Street.

Focusing on the rugged and windswept landscape of the East Lothian coast, McNairn White has produced a dramatic and exciting body of vibrant and colourful works that exude a contemplative and peaceful stillness. Known for her handling of colour and shape in particular, this new series of paintings includes such landmarks as Craigleith Island, the bass rock and the open water swimming baths at North Berwick.

Julia McNairn White was born in Selkirk in 1962 into a family with generations of artistic talent, counting among her ancestors painters (including an ancestor who built a successful career painting seascapes) and photographers. Her mother Stella McNairn and father John McNairn were both artists, the latter represented across many public collections and an associate of Julian Trevelyan and Stanley William Hayter. Her sister, Caroline McNairn was also a celebrated artist who enjoyed significant acclaim in the USA as well as at home.

McNairn White attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1984 to 1988 at a time when the school was enjoying a particularly strong period for painting. Her tutors included the artist John Houston. In her final year, McNairn White was awarded the Daler Rowney Prize and went on to have a number of highly successful exhibitions throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, including at Compass Gallery, the 369 Gallery, the Dick Institute, The Edinburgh Gallery, The Leith Gallery and the Buchanan Gallery. Her work was increasingly sought after by collectors and she also received many commissions, including for United Distillers, Erskine House and various contracts for Inhouse, Edinburgh.

From the 1999 until 2014, McNairn White focused on another career and neither painted or exhibited during this period. However, her sensitivity and skillful technique only distilled in this period and in 2014, McNairn White returned to her career as an artist after a gap of 15 years. With a sell-out solo exhibition held at The Sutton Gallery in 2014. Following this success, her work was also featured at the Buy Art Fair in Manchester in September 2014 and the artist embarked on her next series, the paintings and pastels of the east Lothian coast that make up this exhibition.

Gallery director Colin Herd comments: “It is a great privilege to be showing McNairn White’s work at The Sutton Gallery. The elegance and perspicacity of her vision is exceptionally moving. In the New Yorker, Peter Schjeldahl once wrote that Edward Hopper “bets everything on composition, which in his work is as tautly considered as in Mondrian”. The same is very much true of McNairn White’s work. The interaction of every shape and above all light is what animates her pictures, what gives them their capacity to convey emotion and feeling.”

Submitted by Colin Herd

One Square is the new(ish) go to bar for the discerning gin drinker.

They now have their own gin made a short distance away at Summerhall Distillery. The spirit has 15 botanicals in it especially chosen and now distilled to order by Pickerings Gin.

The bottle is screen printed just around the corner from the distillery, and this gin has all the hallmarks of the care and attention that you will enjoy when you visit the bar. Each bottle is filled by hand and the wax seal on the top is also applied individually.

Just to the right of the front door of the hotel entering from Festival Square this is an oasis of calm in the city centre. Here you can try out the new One Square Gin in a simple gin and tonic or in a cocktail. Try the Signature Cocktail which features grapefruit juice and honey!

The prizes on offer to Edinburgh Reporter readers are three vouchers, each voucher valid for a Gin Tasting for two people (three premium gins with matched tonic per person). This is a great prize and you will learn a lot about gin from the Gin Concierge. These are the team of gin experts behind the bar who will take you through the tasting.

Each voucher for two people is worth £50 and you may enter here until 5pm on 30 March 2015.

[COMPETITION NOW CLOSED]

For more information on One Square Gin please visit www.OneSquareEdinburgh.co.uk/one-square-gin.

A man who killed an 85 year old woman in her own home in Edinburgh has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years today.

Robert Buczek, 24, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty of killing Eleanor Whitelaw at her home in Morningside Grove on the afternoon of Friday 11 July.

After Mrs Whitelaw was found seriously injured at her home, a major investigation was launched by Police Scotland to find the perpetrator.

Following extensive work by the Major Investigation Team, including the gathering of hundreds of witness statements and detailed forensic examination, Robert Buczek was arrested and charged.

Mrs Whitelaw passed away in hospital on Monday 28th July and Buczek was subsequently charged with murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie said: “I acknowledge the sentence handed down to Robert Buczek for what was a brutal attack on an elderly woman in her own home. Only he can explain his actions that day in which Eleanor Whitelaw lost her life.

My thoughts are with Mrs Whitelaw’s family, who I hope can find some closure after such a devastating act.

“I would like to praise the police officers who worked tirelessly to bring Buczek to justice, as well as the local community for their support throughout this police investigation.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received a call to a fire in a semi-detached cottage in Gifford just after 8pm last night.  At the time of the call it was thought that the occupant was still inside the property.

Operations Control Edinburgh immediately despatched appliances from Haddington, East Linton and Tranent community fire stations to the house where, on arrival, they were met with a fully developed fire. Additional appliances were then requested by the Incident Commander which attended from Newcraighall and Musselburgh. A large number of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the cottage to carry out search and rescue procedures. Fortunately it was confirmed shortly thereafter that the occupant had left the property earlier and was safe.

Firefighters continued to fight the fire using three main firefighting jets and a number of breathing apparatus teams. Through their efforts they managed to extinguish the fire and prevent further fire spread to the adjoining property.

At its height there was over 30 firefighting staff, including officers in attendance. The cause of the fires is currently being investigated by the Fire Investigation team.

Edinburgh Sports Club, which boasts Scotland’s only Padel Tennis court kickstarts the season with a free family open weekend on 28th and 29th March, from 1pm – 5pm and the launch of an Open Schools Rackets Programme.

The Open Weekend at the Club, which is situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End next to the Water of Leith World Heritage site, is designed to raise awareness of Padel Tennis by giving everyone the chance to come down and give it a shot.

All other racket sports will also be available to try out over the weekend at the Club, which has seven squash courts, three floodlit tennis courts, a hardball doubles court, table-tennis facility, snooker table and a gym. There will also be a chance to watch demonstrations and talk to some of the best Padel players in Scotland in the Club’s ‘Hidden Gem’ Bar and Restaurant.

Padel Tennis, the world’s fastest growing sport, founded over 100yrs ago, is a mixture of tennis and squash played outdoors, and primarily a doubles sport. It is fast, fun, easy to learn and hugely popular in Spain and South America.

The court is two thirds the size of a tennis court and enclosed with wire mesh. The walls at either ends are glass which you can play off as and when required and scoring is the same as in tennis but with underarm serving.

Jonathan Tait, Club Manager at Edinburgh Sports Club, said: “We are really looking forward to hosting this open weekend for people to drop by and not only give Padel a try but also squash, tennis, racketball and table tennis.

“Padel is new and not a lot of people know about it – it’s easily accessible, you can learn to rally very quickly so it is very rewarding and there is a reason it is showing unbelievable growth – it really is great fun!”

Additionally, Edinburgh Sports Club has launched the first Open Schools Rackets Programme in the city. This initiative offers all schools the chance to take part in free rackets sessions, which promotes excellent hand-to-eye coordination, for up to 40 pupils at a time.

Students are given the chance to try not just Padel but also tennis, squash and table tennis. Following these sessions pupils are invited to attend two free coaching sessions and given further information on how to access various racket coaching programmes at the Club.

Each sport is delivered by fully qualified coaching staff and in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council’s Sports Development Team.

Ryan Harrower, Racquets Development Officer, Sports and Outdoor Learning Unit at Edinburgh City Council, who helped develop the new schools programme with Edinburgh Sports Club, said: “We are delighted to be working with Edinburgh Sports Club in developing the schools rackets programme. Each of the sports on offer are great fun and provide players with fundamental skills that are essential for an active lifestyle.

“It is an exciting time for racket sports and great to be involved in the first junior Padel programme in Scotland.”

Primary schools who have already jumped at this initiative include, Crammond, Flora Stevenson, Stockbridge and Ferryhill.

Neil Russell, Active Schools Co-ordinator at Blackhall Primary School, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity and the kids just loved it. We can’t thank Edinburgh Sports Club enough for hosting us. Having the chance to try lots of different sports in one fantastic setting has seen many of them want to get further involved.  This kind of club/school partnership is a very strong model for encouraging lifelong participation in sport and activity.”

Following the success of the Open Schools Rackets Programme, Edinburgh Sports Club has also launched Padel Tennis coaching sessions to complement their extensive Junior Programme. Coaching starts on the 24th April from 1.30pm – 5pm and will run for 10 weeks. Introductory cost is £40 for the block.

Easter Camps, incorporating Padel, will run from 6-17 April.
Summer coaching sessions are also available.

For further information on the open day, schools programme, Padel coaching or the Easter Sports Camp call Edinburgh Sports Club on 0131 539 7071.

Judy Murray was on the Royal Yacht Britannia accompanied by two serving soldiers Sergeant Stephanie Sanderson and Lance Corporal AMy Sutherland from 2 SCOTS to launch the new summertime fundraising campaign for PoppyScotland

The charity would like the public to organise Tea and Toast events with family friends and communities on and around Armed Forces Day on 27 June 2015.

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The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

Hibs’ striker Jason Cummings is delighted to be handed a call-up into Danny Lennon’s Scotland under-21 squad for the forthcoming friendly match against Hungary in Budapest on Thursday 26 March.

The 19-year-old has scored 15 goals overall so far this season and is currently top of the Scottish Championship’s goal chart with 13.

Speaking  to hibernianfc.co.uk, Cummings said: “When I found out I’d been selected for the under-21s I was both surprised and delighted – it’s a real honour and privilege to be picked for Scotland.

“I’m really excited about being involved with the squad and hopefully I can play well and score goals for the under-21s.

“I believe I’ve learned a massive amount so far this season working with the coaching staff here at Hibs, but I know there is still a lot of room for improvement.

“I want to continue to learn and mature into becoming a better all-round player – hopefully this call-up to the under-21s will help me to experience something different and help to make me improve.”

Photo by John Preece

Craig Kidd has been appointed to the newly created role of Finance Director for the growing specialist regeneration company Urban Union.

Taking up post this month, he brings over 15 years’ experience in the building and construction industry, specifically for companies who specialise in mixed-tenure development.

Previously Craig held various senior finance positions with developers such as Morrison Homes Ltd, Gladedale Group Holdings and latterly Robertson Homes Ltd. He also spent time in the retail industry working in financial planning.

Craig will now lead Urban Union’s finance department as the company continues to deliver on-going large-scale regeneration projects across Scotland, including significant award-winning housing developments currently underway at Laurieston in Glasgow and Pennywell in Edinburgh.

Urban Union – which is a partnership of two renowned Scottish companies McTaggart Construction and Robertson Group Holdings –  has undergone major expansion since its formation in 2011.

Graeme Nicol, managing director, Urban Union said: “Craig is a significant hire for us as we continue to grow and expand our portfolio. He has extensive experience in the industry – specifically in mixed used developments.

“I have no doubt Craig will be a valuable asset to the Urban Union team as we continue to deliver great quality homes and stronger communities in Scotland.”

This new appointment marks another stage of growth for the company as it continues to create quality developments, building homes for both mid-market rent and for social housing, with the overarching goal of building stronger communities throughout Scotland.

Commenting on his new role, Craig said: “This is an exciting time to be joining Urban Union with two large-scale developments already well underway in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and a clear vision to grow the business further over the coming months.

“Working with a company that focuses on the complete regeneration package – developing a community as well as quality housing – is an exciting opportunity. I look forward to joining the team as it continues to grow and bring my previous sector experience to help develop the business further across Scotland.”