Watermans, the Edinburgh-based solicitor and estate agents, has welcomed its latest cohort of trainees after a record number of applications.

Earlier this year, the company’s innovative recruitment process saw hopeful applicants urged to showcase their personalities, with CVs, presentations and videos welcomed from anyone in possession of a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.

A record number of entries – almost double compared to last year’s inaugural programme – was whittled down to a short list, with four making it through successfully to join the two-year traineeship.

Rachel Durward, Robyn Lynch, Sonya Imtiaz and Bejna Demir (pictured) have now all started their journey in Dispute Resolution, receiving their own caseloads to handle and getting first-hand litigation experience with Watermans, which provides clients with ‘straightforward legal advice’.

The new arrivals will be based at the firm’s office in Leith.

Scott Whyte, Managing Director at Watermans, said: “We are delighted to welcome our 2024 class of Trainee Solicitors to Watermans.

“Supporting and developing the next generation of solicitors remains a key part of our business strategy and we have a very strong track record in this area.  Once again, this year has seen a very competitive recruitment process and I am sure that our new Trainee Solicitors will grasp the opportunities that come their way over the next two years with both hands.

“They will be learning from an experienced and supportive team and get the opportunity for hands-on experience for the duration of their time with us.”

Watermans also has branches in Glasgow and Dundee and last year welcomed a cohort of seven trainees through its doors.

“We love providing an environment where trainees can come and develop their skills and take the first steps on their journey to become a solicitor,” said Scott. “Law firms have a duty to play an active and positive role in ensuring the next generation are well equipped to take the whole profession forward and we take our commitment to developing the legal profession very seriously.”

Remembering Ewan Williamson

Today Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will mark 15 years since Firefighter Ewan Williamson tragically lost his life during firefighting operations at the Balmoral Bar in Edinburgh 2009.  

A commemorative service is being held at the James Braidwood statue in Parliament Square.

SFRS colleagues will attend the service and stand alongside family and close friends to remember him.  Chief Officer Ross Haggart, Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron and Fire Brigades Union (FBU) representative, Colin Brown, will also be in attendance.

A minute’s silence will be observed at 11.00am and wreaths will be laid in Ewan’s honour.

The Commemoration Service serves to ensure that Ewan’s memory continues to be honoured and his bravery and commitment to public service to protect others is recognised.

Another new MP podcast

We called another new MP to catch up with his news – you can listen below. Scott Arthur is the Transport Convener as well as a university lecturer and now an MP.

Listen to this latest episode to find out how he will have to quit two of those roles – and one will mean a by-election later this year in the Colinton/Fairmilehead Ward.

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

The 2024 festival begins today and will continue until 21 July. The programme – and a recommendation for today – are here.

Support local independent journalism

Please support us and buy a copy of our monthly newspaper or book your advertising with us by clicking on the image below.

Burdiehouse goes wild!

The next activity morning organised by Friends of Burdiehouse is on Saturday 13 July – meet at the Friends of Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park at 10am.

Burdiehouse burn goes Wild will be family fun with free activities.

A spokesperson said: “Come and join us this Saturday, 10am – 12 noon, 13-July for family fun with Donald from Wildside Nature.

“There’ll be nature activities, animal identification games, hammocks, fire building, marshmallow toasting and more! Open to all ages. Come along and join the fun. Meet us at the FBBVP Bothy on Gilmerton Dykes Street / beside the burn – from 10am.”

A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland explores Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War.

Cold War Scotland (13 Jul 2024 – 26 Jan 2025), features dozens of objects on display for the first time, including secret intelligence training documents and a map of central Scotland marked to highlight targets under threat of nuclear attack.

Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for NATO military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War.

Opening this Saturday, 13 June, the exhibition tells the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.

For the first time visitors will see an Ordnance Survey map of Scotland hand-painted to highlight areas that were expected to be affected in the event of a nuclear attack, particularly major cities, military bases and dockyards. Created in the 1980s, it is colour coded to indicate the point of explosion and scale of the impact across the central belt and beyond.

Atomic power brought jobs and investment to some of the country’s most remote areas, but as global tensions mounted this threat of attack or nuclear disaster became part of everyday life. Cold War Scotland explores both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland.

The impact of the war still lingers in Scottish politics, culture and memory. Scots played an active role in the global conflict as soldiers, for example, within intelligence services and as part of voluntary civil defences. The exhibition also draws on Scotland’s rich history of Cold War-era protest and activism. Firsthand accounts include a young mother who decorated her daughter’s pram with Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) badges. A rattle made from an old laundry detergent bottle emblazoned with the CND logo was given to them during the Peace Marches of the early 1980s and is on display in the exhibition.

The exhibition also reveals the physical remains of the Cold War; the ruined bases, forgotten bunkers and decommissioned nuclear power stations still evident across the Scottish landscape. This infrastructure became part of the fabric of local communities, none more so than the US-controlled listening and monitoring station at RAF Edzell in Angus, now commemorated with its own bespoke tartan.

Dr Meredith Greiling, Principal Curator of Technology at National Museums Scotland, said: “From nuclear submarines to lively peace protests and observation stations perpetually monitoring for devastating attack, the Cold War permeated every aspect of life in Scotland for decades. This conflict is so often remembered on a global scale, but this thought-provoking exhibition will offer a Scottish perspective of the period, allowing Scots from all walks of life to tell their remarkable stories for the first time.”

Further highlights of the exhibition include artwork from Glasgow’s 1951 Exhibition of Industrial Power and a toy nuclear power station, operated by steam and hot to the touch when played with. Both these examples highlight the spirit of optimism, progress and modernity associated with atomic energy in postwar Britain. In contrast, a Geiger counter used by farmers in East Ayrshire to test for radiation in sheep following the Chernobyl Disaster illustrates the enduring but unseen impact of the Cold War on Scotland’s landscape.

The exhibition will be supported by a book and programme of events including curator tours and talks. Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling. The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future.

Materialising the Cold War is funded by a major grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

SEPA are temporarily advising against bathing and paddling, at Portobello Beach from Pipe Lane to Joppa Rocks, due to the potential risk to human health.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have activated electronic signs and the Council is arranging additional signs to be posted to support this advice.

SEPA say they are working closely with The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Water to investigate and “will continue to monitor the situation”.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “We’re aware of SEPA’s current advice against bathing and paddling at Portobello beach and I’d request that people follow the advice.

“The matter is currently under investigation, and we’ll continue to liaise with SEPA and our partners to monitor the situation.”

Further information on Scotland’s Bathing Waters is available on SEPA’s website. 

One of the first tests for the new UK Government is the redevelopment of Grangemouth oil refinery.

It’s owned by the billionaire industrialist Jim Ratcliffe and he’s announced his intention to close the plant in the spring of next year, with the loss of 400 jobs. It is a huge and immediate challenge to everyone’s avowed intent to transition smoothly out of oil and gas and into renewable energy.

Grangemouth is Scotland’s only oil refinery and it has been belching smoke and flames for a hundred years. It supplies most of the petrol and diesel for the garage forecourts of Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. Now Ratcliffe’s Ineos group (named after the Greek goddess of the dawn) wants to shut it down and use Grangemouth only for importing refined oil and to continue making plastics at its petrochemical plant (jointly owned by the Chinese government).

So can Labour stand by its election promise not to abandon the 400 workers at Grangemouth? It’s only got a few months to come up with a new employer, or at least a clear plan, with finance, for the future of the town with a population of 16,000.

It is all going to be a big change for Grangemouth. The story of oil there begins in the age of coal when a self-made scientist, James Young from Glasgow, discovered a method of making shale-oil (paraffin) and began producing it in 1851. I’ve recently walked part the “Shale Trail” in West Lothian which explains the history of the industry, as you make your way past the huge shale bings it has left behind.

In the heyday of the off-shore oil industry, in the 1970s and 80s, the Forties pipeline brought oil to Grangemouth from 235 oil wells in the North Sea. The refinery employed 1,200 people. We were innocent then and didn’t realise the damage this was all doing to the climate. We are now trying to move on from the age of oil to the age of renewables but our record on such transitions is not great.

The closure of the coal mines 40 years ago ruined a string of towns across central Scotland and left a generation of men out of work. It’s taken nearly 30 years to redevelop the site of the Ravenscraig steel works in Motherwell where 700 men lost their jobs. Is this the fate of Grangemouth?

Hopefully not. Labour has a plan but it’s only written on the back of an envelope. A new “Great British Energy Company” will be based in Scotland and 50,000 “green jobs” will be created here. These will, apparently, replace the 70,000 worn-out jobs in the oil and gas industry. The idea is that with £8.3 billion of government “pump-priming” money, a list of private companies will be attracted to invest in new decarbonised industries.

It would indeed be wonderful to see the Grangemouth site covered in industrial units for: electric home-boilers, parts for wind-turbines, insulation materials, re-cycling plants, hydrogen production, carbon-capture technology. And all shielded by trees and herbaceous borders from a sports centre, a garden centre (with café) and even low-cost houses and independent shops. But I fear this is an architect’s dream and the reality will be very different. Let’s see, by the time of the next election.

We were given some hope this week by figures in the annual survey from business advisors EY that showed there were 124 inward investment projects in Scotland in 2023, up 13 per cent on the year before. People too are flooding into Scotland. Figures from the National Records Office show that net migration in the year to June 2022 was 48,800, more than double the number in 2021. It rather undermines the Conservative Party’s narrative that higher income tax in Scotland is putting people off coming here.

What will put people off is the threat of industrial action. The rail unions are balloting on strike action over pay. ScotRail has introduced a reduced service because train drivers are refusing to work at the weekends or on their days off. Council workers are also uneasy about their pay negotiations. Here in Edinburgh there are fears it might mean a repeat of the city centre turning into a rubbish dump, as happened in August 2022, during the International Festival and Fringe.

The SNP, when it recovers from its defeat last week, will soon be arguing that the big new Labour government in London must abandon “Tory austerity” and finally open the gates on public spending or else pay disputes and poor services will continue and the great transition to a low-carbon future will melt away as the climate gets warmer and warmer.

The niece of legendary Scots athlete, Eric Liddell, has paid tribute to his sporting feats and lasting influence one hundred years to the day after his most famous achievement in winning gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Sue Caton, from Edinburgh, said it was important to celebrate not only her uncle’s record-breaking feats on the track but also his values, which earned widespread respect and admiration.

Liddell, a devout Christian, famously withdrew from his favoured 100m sprint event because the heats were held on a Sunday, the Sabbath.

He ran instead in the 400m, despite having rarely competed in the distance, and won the gold medal in a world record time on 11 July 1924.

Liddell, whose extraordinary victory a century ago helped inspire the 1981 Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, is now being celebrated with a series of events running throughout this year, including an exhibition to be unveiled at the Scottish Parliament later this month.

Ms Caton, ambassador for the Eric Liddell 100 campaign, said: “It is both heartwarming and inspiring to see the way communities have come together all over the world to remember and celebrate my uncle.

“For being a world-class athlete in multiple sports, Eric was a family-first man who cared deeply and earned the respect of everyone whose life he touched.

“One hundred years on from his most iconic achievement, it is important to celebrate what he has done in sports as well as learning and taking inspiration from his values and legacy.

“With the Eric Liddell 100 we hope to keep his legacy alive for future generations.”

Born in China to Christian missionary parents, Liddell’s early life was split between China, London and Edinburgh, where he later studied at University.

A keen sprinter, Liddell represented Scotland at rugby seven times, scoring four tries as a winger in the early 1920s before winning the gold medal in Paris that would seal his legacy.

The “Flying Scotsman”, who remains the last British athlete to win gold in the men’s 400m event, later served as a missionary teacher in China until his death in 1945.

The Eric Liddell Community, an Edinburgh-based care charity and community hub founded in the Olympian’s memory, launched The Eric Liddell 100 campaign in 2022, with HRH the Princess Royal as its patron.

The campaign seeks to celebrate Liddell’s life, achievements and legacy, and inspire future generations by emphasising his unshakeable values.

Events marking the centenary include Eric Liddell Sports Days in schools throughout Scotland and The Eric Liddell 100 Olympic Appeal Fundraising Scheme. Last month, a service of celebration and remembrance was held at Edinburgh’s St Giles Cathedral and a path through the city’s Bruntsfield Links was renamed in Liddell’s honour.

The exhibition, “Eric Liddell: Legacy of an Olympic legend”, will open at the Scottish Parliament on July 25 — coinciding with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and run until September 12.

Another event, The Flying Scots Challenge, will run throughout September, encouraging individuals or teams to either walk or run 400m or 1km per day in September or to complete 100km over the month.

John Macmillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, said: “It’s officially 100 years to the day that Eric Liddell shocked the world and won 400m gold in record-breaking time at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

“As much as the world has changed in 100 years, the values that Eric possessed — passion, compassion and integrity — still remain relevant today, now more than ever.

“The Eric Liddell 100 is a campaign working hard to ensure Eric’s memory, legacy and values live on for another 100 years, inspiring generations to come.

“To join us in remembering Eric today, please do consider supporting our Olympic Year Appeal.”

You can donate to the appeal here.

The 46^th Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival tunes up on Friday 12 July and runs until 21 July. 

The Kimberley Tessa Trio officially launch the festival in front of Edinburgh Castle.

Pictured: Kimberley Tessa on Saxophone, Sean Bissett on Guitar and Edward Hetherington on Bass.

The full programme can be viewed here online.

The Soundhouse recommendation for 12 July is to go and see the Ben Shankland Trio. Douglas and Jane-Anne of Soundhouse said: “Any of you who were in the audience for our April gig with Laura Macdonald & Zoe Rahman couldn’t have helped being impressed by this up and coming pianist and his trio. He’s being joined in this very special show by another Soundhouse favourite Helena Kay on sax and Ben Macdonald on guitar.”

Ben Shankland is the winner of the 2023 BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the year.

At George Square Piccolo | 6pm

The festival will feature: 

•    More than 120 events taking place across the city 
•    10 livestreamed and pre-recorded concerts
•    Mardi Gras – a celebration of music live from the Grassmarket
•    Edinburgh Festival Carnival – Edinburgh’s largest multi-cultural event
•    18 concerts supported by the Scottish Government’s EXPO fund
•    Edinburgh Napier University Jazz Summer School

https://www.ejbf.co.uk

An Edinburgh man has lost a bid to demolish his garage and build a plush two-storey ‘ecohouse’ overlooking the Water of Leith.

James Ogilvie lodged plans to bulldoze three lock-ups beside his Saughtonhall property to make way for a three-bedroom property – but following an appeal to the Scottish Government they were thrown out.

It comes despite the proposal originally being backed by council planners.

Councillors refused planning permission over concerns the site would be at risk of flooding, after an objection from an environment watchdog saw the application referred to the development management sub-committee last November.

Plans said Mr Ogilvie, a forestry expert, sought to build “an ecologically sustainable high quality dwelling place for his occupation in the Saughtonhall community area”.

The proposed stylish new home would be built on the banks of the Water of Leith and have a balcony with views of the river and Murrayfield Stadium.

Plans were revised to reduce the size of the balcony after concerns were raised it would overlook neighbouring houses.

The site, just beside Saughtonhall Bridge, sits within a “functional floodplain” which the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) said made it unsuitable for the significant redevelopment.

SEPA’s objection letter raised concerns that in the event of serious flooding where defences were breached there would be “increased numbers of people in residential accommodation put at flood risk”.

It said: “If the defences fail or are overtopped… areas behind them are at greater risk than they would have been otherwise as sudden and rapid inundation can occur, with extremely high velocities and forces”.

Councillors heeded the watchdog’s advice and refused the plans, against the advice of planning officers who praised the building’s “high quality” design and recommended the committee to grant permission.

However Mr Ogilvie refuted the reasons given for not giving the go-ahead to the project.

In his appeal statement it was highlighted a separate flood risk assessment  he had produced proved “the site is not at risk of flooding or in a flood risk area when assessed against the flows associated with a 1 in 200 year + 56% climate change flooding event in the Water of Leith”.

It added: “The Council’s Flood Planning Team, having reviewed the flood risk assessment submitted in support of the application advised that they had no objection to the proposal.”

After an appeal to the Scottish Government, planning reporter Paul Haggin concluded that the decision taken by councillors last year was sound.

“I agree with the appellant that flood capacity is unlikely to be made worse by the building,” Mr Haggin said, “but acknowledge that the appeal site would be surrounded by flood water in a 1:200-year event.

“If this was at maximum depth of 0.6m and continued over a sustained period of time, then this could represent a serious threat to human life particularly if the emergency services were unable to rescue any occupants because of the speed and velocity of the flood waters.

“I have not been provided with evidence to show how quickly it would take for flood waters to recede back to a level that would allow reasonable safe access/ egress. Nor have I confirmation about whether the emergency services would be able to rescue any occupants at times of peak flows.

“In the absence of this information, and bearing in mind, the precautionary principle that applies to flood risk, I can only conclude that the proposal has not demonstrated long term safety and resilience.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

A failure to stop cars entering Calton Hill is attracting anti-social behaviour and having an “unacceptable” impact on pedestrians, the council has been warned

Calton Hill Conservation Trust (CHCT) have “strong concerns” about drivers ignoring ‘authorised vehicles only’ signage and accessing the historic viewpoint “at all hours”.

They are calling on the council to take action by closing a barrier already installed at the gate by October to ensure only authorised vehicles, such as maintenance staff and those with accessibility needs, are granted entry. 

An increase in littering of food packaging and gas cylinders on the hill was blamed on the lack of any functioning barrier “for many years” now.

And some of those who drive up in their cars bring electric generators, set off fireworks and play loud music which disturbs the locals, the Trust’s chair Simon Holledge and vice chair Susan Poupard said in a statement.

It was reported 93 cars were parked on Calton Hill as people descended on the beauty spot to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights when they appeared above the capital in May.

Some online hit out at the rule-breaking drivers for being “parked with engines running and lights on”, which one said made it difficult to properly see the spectacle in the night sky.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, CHCT called the situation “out of control”.

In their latest statement, they pointed out allowing general traffic in parks was against council policy that “our parks should be public spaces for all to enjoy,” and the presence of cars was not consistent with that.

“As indicated by [council] notices at the entrance, Calton Hill Drive is only open to authorised vehicles; yet the barrier at the gate has been let open for many years, and general traffic is free to drive up the hill at all hours,” they said.

“The access barrier entry mechanism dates back to around 2017. As far as we know, it has almost never been operational. It was repaired on 20 February 2024, and we understand that CEC have already costed additional features to ensure maintenance staff, local businesses and people with accessibility needs can access the hill as necessary.

“The current unlimited vehicle access poses an unacceptable danger to pedestrians, particularly children, and wheelers. The lack of a safe footpath and limited space for passing vehicles further compounds these risks.

“Accordingly: The Calton Hill Conservation Trust ask the City of Edinburgh to take action to set a date for closing the barrier to general unauthorised traffic of no later than 1 October 2024.”

Edinburgh Council was contacted for comment.

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The A1 southbound will be closed for carriageway repairs between Old Craighall and Wallyford Junction between 9pm and 5am on the nights of Wednesday 17 July and Thursday 18 July. 

A diversion route will be signposted via the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass to Millerhill Junction, the A68 to Salters Junction and the A6094. This will add approximately 2 miles and 6 minutes to affected journeys. 

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times. 

Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland will carry out the works. Consultation has taken place with all relevant stakeholders to make them aware of the traffic management arrangements. 

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland’s South East Network Manager, said: “We thank motorists and the local community in advance for their patience while we carry out these essential repairs.  

“We’ll do all we can to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible.” 

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead before setting out by checking the Traffic Scotland website www.traffic.gov.scot for up-to-date travel information and allowing extra time for their journey. 

All works are weather dependent and subject to postponement in the event of adverse conditions. 

Scottish Hockey have confirmed the dates for the women’s EuroHockey Championship qualifier in Glasgow in August.

The event runs from August 22 to 25 and the goal is to compete in the EuroHockey Championhips, A Division, in Warsteiner Hockey Park in Monchengladbach.

Last summer, Scotland came close to automatic qualification in the same venue but they must now navigate their way to the top of the tree when they play in the knockout event which also features the Czech Republic, Wales, Austria, Lithuania and Croatia in Glasgow.

Chris Duncan, Scotland’s coach, confirmed that only the tournament winner will move on to compete with the elite of European women’s hockey.

The national side will welcome back their Great Britain athletes into the squad for this key series following the Olympic Games in Paris and the team hope to emulate their predecessors who won gold in the last qualification tournament played in Scotland.

PICTURE: The Scotland squad in training at Peffermill ahead of this summer’s key event in Glasgow. Picture by Nigel Duncan

FOCUSED: More action from the training session. Picture Nigel Duncan

BALL WATCHING: It’s intense during training. Picture Nigel Duncan

Seven players from The University of Edinburgh have been included in Scotland’s under-21 women’s squad for the EuroHockey Championship II-B in Konya, Turkey.

Three players are from The University of Durham and another trio are from Uddingston Hockey Club with Ellie Rutherford appearing for Michigan State University in North America.

Chris Duncan, Scotland’s senior women’s hockey coach, who is travelling with the party, said there is a lot at stake as the winning squad qualifies for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup next year. The venue has not yet been confirmed.

Scotland travel at the weekend for the tournament which takes place from July 16 to 20 and this is a chance to make Scottish Hockey history.

It is nearly two decades since Scotland under-21 women last qualified for the Junior World Cup – 2005 to be exact – and qualification would guarantee Scotland’s third appearance in the women’s world cup.

Ukraine will be Scotland’s first opponents in the qualifying group of the tournament on Day One followed only 24-hours later by Poland before they play hosts Turkey on 19 July. The crossover matches to determined the finishing place are on July 20.

SCOTLAND: Maddie Boyes, Molly Morris, Ava Wadsworth (University of Durham), Katie Brett, Ava Findlay, Neave Halliday, Zara Kennedy, Kirsten Murison, Connie Roxburgh, Ava Smith (The University of Edinburgh), Cara Falconer (Guildford HC), Keira Foster, Mhairi Low (Loughborough University), Lexie McMillan, Anna McWilliams, Caterina Nelli (Uddingston HC), Jess Mitchell (St Andrews University), Ellie Rutherford (Michigan State University)

PICTURE: Chris Duncan coaching at Peffermill and he travels to Turkey with the women’s under-21 squad. Picture Nigel Duncan

Trustees of a charity set up to help the poor increased the number of grants issued last year after they faced criticism over its lack of charitable activity.

The Dr Bruce Fund, which was set up more than 200 years ago to help the poor in Musselburgh, is overseen by East Lothian Council with ward councillors appointed as trustees.

But they have faced criticism in recent years from Audit Scotland for failing to promote it effectively.

Despite having an estimated £20,000 in the bank the charity made only small awards to the same two individual each year between 2016 and 2022 of between £25 to £40 each.

Now a report on its accounts for last year has revealed the trustees increased the amount issued last year to £1,465 with seven individual grants of £40 and £1, 185 granted to an unnamed individual to help with flood damage restoration.

The trustees report said: “The trustees have worked to improve the process for awarding grants to enable the trust to fulfil its intended objectives which has increased the grant awards made.

“The trust intends to continue to make annual awards as funds allow.”

The fund was established by Charles Key Bruce, who studied in Musselburgh before making his fortune in East India.

When he died he bequeathed £2000 to a permanent fund from which the interest was to be used to give poor relief to people in the town.

At its height it was widely used in the town and was mentioned during 19th century hearings into the Poor Law in Scotland.

The trustees said the main aim of the grants was to support those in financial need, in particular, at Christmas time.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to retain the prominent village site of a former hotel as a car sales lot have been backed in an appeal to the Scottish Government. 

It brings to an end almost a decade of wrangling over the Main Street frontage in Winchburgh. 

But conditions have been imposed on the owner to ensure area does not become a scrapyard.  

A Reporter for the Division of Environmental and Planning Appeals (DPEA) found in favour of the owner Andrew Nisbet’s proposed new boundary fencing around the site  at 35-37 Main Street with trees in planters in addition to a new wall and fencing in order to improve the street frontage and aid landscaping and screening of the site. The site will be used to sell vans and commercial vehicles. 

The site is on a prominent point of the road through the village that was occupied by the Star and Garter hotel until its demolition. 

DPEA Reporter Robert Seaton allowed the appeal with added conditions on the types of vehicles to be stored and the finish of boundary wall and tree planting. 

He said: “Winchburgh Community Council objected partly on the basis that car wrecks were stored on the site during the previous temporary use. I can understand that this would have an adverse effect on visual amenity. 

“The site shall not be used for storage of any vehicle awaiting repair or in a condition in which it cannot lawfully be driven on a public road.”   

The DPEA findings added: “The appellant has reduced the number of vehicles to be displayed from 35 to 23. Improvements are proposed to the boundary treatment of the site as it faces onto Main Street and Station Road.  

“The new wall and planters would reduce the starkness of the view of parked vehicles. The vehicles would be parked somewhat further back from the site’s prominent boundaries to south and east and would be contained within the proposed wall. These changes appear to me to be capable in principle of reducing the visual dominance of the use.” 

The Reporter added: “I agree with Winchburgh Developments Limited that the vagueness of the proposal for planters risks a “do-minimum” scheme being implemented. However, it seems to me that the appellant’s proposals would be capable of softening the visual impact of the proposed development if properly designed. 

“Details of the planters and the tree species and sizes to be planted can be made subject to approval under a pre commencement condition. A condition would also be required for retention of the trees and for replacement of trees that fail. “ 

Mr Seaton concluded: “Subject to appropriate design for the boundary treatment, the use of the site as proposed would, in my opinion, improve the appearance of the street when compared with the site remaining vacant and in its present condition.”  

Councillor Tom Conn thanked planning officer Wendy McCorriston for outlining the findings of the appeal. He told the July meeting of  the Development Management Committee this week: “I’m a bit surprised at the Reporter’s decision but if the conditions are stringently applied then hopefully it will maintain or improve the area of Main Street, Winchburgh.” 

Council planners had recommended refusal of the latest plan earlier this year.  

The village community council and Winchburgh Developments Ltd, the company overseeing the development of Winchburgh into a small town had objected to new plans by A. N. Scottish Commercials Ltd to use the Main Street lot to sell commercial vehicles in April. 

Planners had backed 2021 proposals from Mr Nisbet to build four flats on the site which sits at the heart of the old village main street now being upgraded to complement the rapidly expanding community. 

In April planning officers told the Development Management Committee the site’s retention as a vehicle sales lot would have an “adverse impact on the residential and environmental amenity of the area”. 

In a report to that meeting in April planners said: “It is the principle of the development that is unacceptable.  

“The development is incompatible with the surrounding village uses due to the industrial scale and character of the development. The proposed use would not result in a satisfactory visual street scene environment.”  

The Star and Garter was demolished in the 1990s and the site has been used for vehicle storage since 2015. The firm was told to clear the site of vehicles after a planning application failed in 2019. A subsequent appeal to the Scottish Government’s Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals on that application also failed. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

One of two men arrested in connection with an attempted murder in Livingston has been released pending further enquiries. 

Another man who is aged 48 and a 44-year-old woman have now been charged in connection with the offence which happened Clement Rise, Livingston, on Sunday, 7 July, 2024. 

A 43-year-old man sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he remains. 

The man and woman are due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court today Thursday, 11 July, 2024. 

Detective Inspector Lee Beaumont said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our enquiries into this particularly violent attack.” 

Planners have refused to allow a short term holiday let to carry on operating despite both neighbours writing letters of support for the applicant.

Janet Bradbury applied to East Lothian Council for a Certificate of Lawfulness to allow her to carry on using her North Berwick flat as a holiday let.

But while neighbours told planning officers there had never been any issues with guests and there was more noise from the High Street outside than the flat,  the council rejected her application.

Instead they said the decision to rent out the flat to short term visitors was a change of use and planning permission would need to be sought.

Ms Bradbury told the council she bought the flat on the High Street in 2018 as a retirement home but plans had changed and she began letting in two years later.

She said the two bedroom property had a ban on children under the age of 12 and pets staying and pointed to supporting statements from neighbours, one of whom shares a communal entrance, to back her.

One neighbour said: “In all the time the flat has been occupied there have never been any incidences of people coming and going. There is more noise from the High Street than on the stair.”

A certificate of lawfulness can be issued for a short term holiday let if it has been used for that purpose continuously for ten years or it can be proved it is not a material change of use.

Ms Bradbury argued that the flat use was no different to how it would be if it was a long term rental or residential home.

However officers disagreed saying: “The use of the applicant’s flat as a unit of short term holiday let accommodation by a maximum of four guests would not be too dissimilar to the number of residents that could occupy the property in a residential use.

“However, as the flat is advertised on holiday rental platforms, coupled with the frequency of the arrival and departures of guests at various times and the movements associated with the changeovers between guest stays, this would lead to a different movement pattern which is incomparable with long term residential use.

“Based on this information, it is considered that the use of the applicant’s flat for short term holiday let accommodation constitutes a material change of use, requiring planning permission, where a lawful use cannot otherwise be demonstrated.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Stirling Albion have announced the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Harry Wright from Hibs on a one-year deal.  

Wright 18 is the son of Hibs legend Keith Wright. 

He began his career with Tranent Colts before signing his first professional contract with Hibs in the summer of 2022.  

During his time at the Hibs, Wright made appearances in the U18 and Hibs B squads.  

He has also participated in several first-team training sessions under the guidance of former manager Nick Montgomery.  

He was released in the summer. 

Speaking about the new signing, manager Alan Maybury said: “There was a lot of interest in Harry and we are delighted he has come to Stirling.  

“He has a bit more about him that most young players and I am excited to see him progress and develop with us.” 

A man has been jailed for seven years for violent and sexual offences on two women in the Paisley and Edinburgh areas.

Charles Morrison, 27, was found guilty of the offences spanning four years at the High Court in Paisley on Wednesday, 12 June, 2024. He was sentenced to seven years in prison at the same court today, Thursday, 11 July.

He was also given a 15-year Non-Harassment Order in relation to both victims and has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Inspector Cheryl Gebbie said: “Morrison has been found to be a danger to women and will now face the consequences of his actions.

“I hope his conviction and sentencing will bring justice to the women involved, who have shown great strength in reporting what happened to them.

“Police Scotland is committed to tackling all forms of violent and sexual offences, regardless of when they happened. I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of such abuse to come forward and report it to us. We will thoroughly investigate any reports and, working with our partner agencies, you will be supported throughout the process.”

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for the help of the public to trace 14-year-old Tyler McCallum.

Tyler was reported missing on Tuesday 9 July 2024 from the Newtonmore area and may have travelled to Edinburgh.

If you have any information please contact 101, quoting MPR0280580724.

Gus Brindle has won the Scottish coarse fishing canal championship for the third or fourth time, but he had to work hard to claim the title on this occasion.

The Scottish international outfished nine other competitors in the event held in tricky conditions on the Forth & Clyde Canal at Haggs.

Dunfermline-based Brindle hooked into 420g of fish with Mark Llyons second on 305g.

Most of Bridle’s catch came in the first 30 minutes of the match, the chairman of the Scottish Federation for Coarse Anglers (SFCA) finding a pocket of roach. He then hung on by adding a few perch.

Darrin Ferguson, president of the Edinburgh and Lothians Coarse Angling Club (ELCAC) was third with just 90g with Andrew Potts fourth on 60g and Brian Wallace fifth on 20g. Rosalind Cassidy, also a member of the ELCAC, was sixth with 10g.

Brindle (pictured) said: “After a night with single figure temperatures and bright sunshine for most of the match, bites were very hard to come by despite the generous pegging.”

Stellar Omada Monarchs Academy return to action on Friday (July 12, tapes-up 7.30pm) and its been almost three months since their previous home meeting.

They will meet a new side to the National Development League (NDL), Middlesbrough Tigers, who have won their home meetings so far and competed pretty well on their travels.

Jake Mulford leads the way, but the visitors will not have the other Redcar reserve because Ben Trigger is riding in Poland. Ex-Monarch Matt Marson stands in.

Kyran Lyden (pictured by Peter Hill and courtesy of the Stellar Omada Monarchs Academy) is a popular reserve for Monarchs Academy and he comes from the Middlesbrough area. He is expected to be a key man against his local side and the pair clash again on Teesside on Saturday (3pm)

He said: “This weekend is the big one for me. I am a local boy to Middlesbrough so when the fixtures came out this was the one I looked for first. This will be a big one and I have made sure I am ready for these fixtures.

“If you look at our 1-7 then we have riders all the way that can beat anyone in any opposition, we just need to start doing it and build some momentum”.

STELLAR MONARCHS ACADEMY: Connor Coles, Mason Watson, Sam McGurk, Dayle Wood, Max Perry, Kyran Lyden, Mark Parker.

HEAT FLOORS TIGERS: Jake Mulford, Kai Ward, Danny Phillips, Jamie Halder, Matt Marson (guest), Ben Rathbone, William Hocaniuk.

Following the NDL match there will be a Northern Junior League match between Armadale Angels and Redcar Cubs.

PICTURES: Flashback to action at Armadale featuring Edinbugh Monarchs

The Hibs Development Squad will face Albion Rovers in the first round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. 

The tie will take place on Tuesday 30 July; kick-off at 7.45pm at Ainslie Park. 

Managed by former Hearts striker Sandy Clark, Albion Rovers compete in the Lowland League and finished 8th last season. 

Hibs were in the south section of the draw, and here’s a list of the fixtures: 

Berwick Rangers v St Mirren B – Motherwell B v East Stirlingshire – East Kilbride v Celtic B – Hibernian B v Albion Rovers – Cowdenbeath v Kilmarnock B and Rangers B v Bo’ness United 

If the youngsters progress to the second round of the competition, then they will face the winners of Cowdenbeath or Kilmarnock B at home. 

Here’s the full draw: 

Hibernian B or Albion Rovers v Cowdenbeath or Kilmarnock B – Motherwell B or East Stirlingshire v East Kilbride or Celtic B – Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers or St Mirren B – Stranraer v Bonnyrigg Rose and Clyde v Rangers B or Bo’ness United 

Eric Liddell

It is exactly 100 years to the day since Eric Liddell won an Olympic gold medal in Paris on 11 July 1924. The story of Liddell’s victory was the inspiration for the film, Chariots of Fire, but he was not only a sprinter, he was also an international rugby player.

While he studied at the University of Edinburgh Liddell played sport for Scotland, but in 1924 at the Olympics he would not run in the heats for the 100 metre race as they were held on a Sunday. As a committed Christian and later a missionary, he did not play sport on Sundays. He then trained for and competed in the 400 metres as that was held on a weekday, and he won.

To mark the centenary of Eric Liddell winning in Paris, a world-first exhibition will open at The Scottish Parliament on 25 July. 

The exhibition will give visitors the chance to explore the life and legacy of Eric Liddell – the Flying Scotsman and 1924 Olympic champion – alongside other legends from the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame and also Scottish athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics. 

Organised by The Eric Liddell 100 campaign, with its patron Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, this initiative seeks to honour Liddell’s legacy and inspire future generations through a series of events and activities emphasising his core values of passion, compassion, and integrity.

John MacMillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, said: “We are thrilled to see the launch of the Eric Liddell exhibition, as part of our exciting programme of events to celebrate the centenary of Eric Liddell’s gold medal win. All of our partners involved in this initiative spent a significant amount of time considering what Eric Liddell would have wanted and how important it is that we reflect him in our endeavours; we believe that any individual can make a positive impact on the world if they approach the challenges they face with passion, compassion, and integrity, which are our three values for The Eric Liddell 100. We hope everyone who visits the exhibition leaves feeling uplifted, inspired, and motivated to live life with these values in mind.”

Rt. Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of The Scottish Parliament, said: “We are delighted to host this exhibition in the Scottish Parliament, which celebrates the significant achievements of Eric Liddell but also serves as a powerful reminder of his legacy. It seems particularly relevant as Olympians from across the world prepare to compete in Paris. The Scottish Parliament is delighted to provide a platform for sharing his inspiring story with the thousands of people who will visit us this summer.”

Eric Liddell: Legacy of an Olympic legend will remain on show in the main hall at The Scottish Parliament until 12 September. The exhibition is free and no ticket is required.

Tickets for the Film Festival go on sale today at noon

Tickets for the Edinburgh International Film Festival go on sale today at noon – and there is a huge choice even though the programme is still much smaller than in past years.

The Opening Night film is The Outrun starring Saoirse Ronan and the Closing Night film will be the world premiere of Carla J Easton and Blair Young’s new music documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands.

The revealing, funny and enraging documentary tracks the history of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s to the present. This scrapbook panorama view of Scottish pop music explores bands, cliques and movements that emerged in the country across the decades, exposing the challenges faced in a male dominated world.

Co-directed by musician Carla J. Easton (shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year and member of all girl band TeenCanteen) and prominent Scottish director Blair Young; the film is produced by producer/filmmaker Miranda Stern (Scottish Documentary Institute’s New Voices 2020) and the award-winning production company Forest of Black.

Girls On Film will co-present the World Premiere of the film which will screen at EIFF on 21 August at the Cameo Cinema.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd said “I am thrilled by what the team, our collaborators and our supporters have put together these past months for all sections of the programme and across our exciting new festival footprint. Through a spirit of collaboration, passion and above all teamwork, we have worked to fashion something special out of a shared vision for what we want this historic festival to be going forward, and to offer a platform to an enormous range of film work. Since day one, the audience has always been front and centre in our thinking. And I cannot wait to see these formally exciting, thematically rich and unforgettable films to find their audience with us. Bring it on.”

Party at the Palace are looking for volunteers

If you are a music lover and you have some free time over the weekend of 10 or 11 August then Child Bereavement UK are asking for volunteers. The charity wants people to volunteer for four hours at either Party at the Palace or Let’s Rock Scotland (both being held at Linlithgow Palace). The job includes scanning tickets at the gate, selling wristbands and offering charity raffle tickets. And in return the volunteers get free access to the festivals with musicians such as UB40, Ronan Keating and The Skids.

Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. The charity supports children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying. 

Ruth Sanger, Head of Community Fundraising for Child Bereavement UK said: “This year Child Bereavement UK is delighted to be the beneficiary charity of some of the UK’s most anticipated festivals and gigs. Our volunteers tell us they have a great time soaking up the festival atmosphere and seeing their favourite acts, in return for just a few hours of their time helping us raise much-needed funds.  If you’re tempted to join in, please visit our website to find out how you can get involved.”

For more information on volunteering click on the link:https://www.childbereavementuk.org/Event/festivals

Support local independent journalism

Please support us by subscribing to our monthly newspaper or book your advertising with us. Click on the image below.

New MPs at Westminster

The four new Labour MPs who represent city constituencies are somewhere in the group photo below of all the new MPs.

We spoke to Tracy Gilbert MP for Edinburgh North and Leith on Wednesday morning about her week so far. Listen at the link below:

Three people have been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of a 43-year-old man in Livingston. 

The incident took place on Sunday 7^th July in Clement Rise. 

Following an investigation, officers have arrested two men both aged 48 and a 44-year-old woman. 

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing according to officers. 

The victim sustained serious injuries and police have confirmed that he remains in hospital. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Two men, both aged 48, and a 44-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with an attempted murder which happened in Clement Rise, Livingston, on Sunday, 7 July, 2024. 
 
“A 43-year-old man sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he remains. 
 
“Enquiries are ongoing.” 

Festivals Edinburgh, the umbrella body which leads strategic development for all festivals in the city, has appointed a new director to lead the organisation from autumn 2024 when the current director, Julia Amour, will step down.

Lori Anderson will take over the position bringing her experience after leading Culture Counts a Scottish network of arts, heritage and creative industries organisations in Scotland, Collective Gallery, Museums Galleries Scotland and Creative Dundee.

Simon Gage, Chair of Festivals Edinburgh said: “Lori joins us at a moment of significant change in our festivals landscape. We’ve bounced back from the covid pandemic but remain fragile, as does the wider culture eco-system. There are many challenges to be confronted in the coming years, but also many opportunities to be seized, and in Lori we believe we have found an exceptionally authoritative advocate to help shape our collective future.”

The new Director will take up position just as changes are underway in festivals’ strategies and also wider culture and tourism policies, including the planned introduction of a Visitor Levy by The City of Edinburgh Council – the first in the United Kingdom – now that the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill has become law. There is also a groundswell of support for reinvestment in culture, building on The Scottish Government’s promises to increase funding by £100 million over coming years.

Lori Anderson said: “The Edinburgh Festivals are amongst Scotland’s greatest cultural assets, recognised at home and abroad as bringing immense cultural, economic and social value to the country and its people. The fragility of our cultural landscape is all too familiar to me, but the agility of the Edinburgh Festivals in responding to change has always impressed me, and I look forward to taking up this crucial role at the heart of the festivals family.”

The full programme for this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival which runs from 15 to 21 August 2024 is published online.

Complementing the Opening Night film, Nora Fingscheidt’s THE OUTRUN starring Saoirse Ronan, the Festival has a selection of compelling new and established voices in cinema with World and UK premieres to entertain audiences this August.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday at noon for this year’s festival which runs from 15 to 21 August. The programme is here.

The Opening Night film will be Nora Fingscheidt’s (System Crasher) adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir, The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird, Brooklyn) as well as screenings of director Greg Kwedar’s acclaimed film Sing Sing and the UK Premieres of Fede Alverez’s terrifying Alien: Romulus and Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance as opening and closing films respectively of the new Midnight Madness programme. 

Alongside this, EIFF has announced the name of its short film competition as The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence. Thelma Schoonmaker, who will be in attendance at the Festival, is celebrated for her iconic work as an editor on landmark moments in cinema history, collaborating on such films as Killers of the Flower Moon and Goodfellas.

The Closing Night film will be the world premiere of Carla J Easton and Blair Young’s new music documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands.

The revealing, funny and enraging documentary tracks the history of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s to the present. This scrapbook panorama view of Scottish pop music explores bands, cliques and movements that emerged in the country across the decades, exposing the challenges faced in a male dominated world.

Co-directed by musician Carla J. Easton (shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year and member of all girl band TeenCanteen) and prominent Scottish director Blair Young, the film is produced by producer/filmmaker Miranda Stern (Scottish Documentary Institute’s New Voices 2020) and the award-winning production company Forest of Black.

Girls On Film will co-present the World Premiere of the film which will screen at EIFF on 21 August at the Cameo Cinema.

The EIFF, Black Bear and the film exhibition company We Are Parable have partnered up to present the European premier of Greg Kwedar’s prison drama Sing Sing.

In Sing Sing, a small group of incarcerated people inside the infamous maximum security correctional facility find purpose by acting together in a theatre group. When a wary outsider joins the group, the men decide to stage their first original comedy entitled ‘Breakin’ The Mummy’s Code’ from inception to opening night.

Sing Sing stars Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin, Euphoria), newcomer Clarence Maclin, Academy Award nominee Paul Raci, and an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors in a stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.

We Are Parable will present screenings of the film at EIFF with extended intros, talent Q&As and audience outreach. The European premiere of Sing Sing will screen at EIFF on 16 August at the Cameo Cinema and will be released by Black Bear, who also produced the film, in the UK and Ireland on 30 August. The film will be released by A24 in the US on 12 July.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd, said: “I am fortunate enough to have seen first hand the incredible work Anthony and Teanne have been doing with We Are Parable these past years across audience engagement and distribution in the UK. Their tireless work and profound passion for cinema and growing audiences for it is a source of immense inspiration and I am just totally delighted we get to work with them and Black Bear on the European premiere of the extraordinarily moving film Sing Sing from filmmaker Greg Kwedar in August.”

We Are Parable Co-Founders, Anthony Andrews and Teanne Andrews said: “We’re honoured to present the European premiere of Sing Sing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. This new partnership with the festival and Black Bear reflects our dedication to transformative stories that resonate with audiences around the UK.”

UK Managing Director Black Bear, Llewellyn Radley said: “Sing Sing tells a powerful, emotional story in a wholly original way, with wonderful performances from a cast that includes many formerly incarcerated actors, alongside professionals, Colman Domingo and Paul Raci. We’re thrilled to partner with the Edinburgh International Film Festival and We Are Parable to share this special film with UK audiences.”

This year’s festival includes more than forty feature films, five shorts programmes and various talks and events across its dates. Concession pricing is available and Pay What You Can tickets will be available across select screenings.

Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by an expanding Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Amy Jackson, producer of last year’s BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun.

EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland and the Industry Programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland.

• FULL PROGRAMME DETAILS
• Opening Films
• THE OUTRUN (Nora Fingscheidt, UK) UK Premiere
• A powerfully honest drama about addiction, survival, and the power of nature to renew hope. With an extraordinary central performance from Saoirse Ronan, striking use of Orkney locations and an evocative sense of mood, place and time, Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir  is vividly adapted for the screen.
• ALIEN: ROMULUS (Fede Álvarez, US) UK Premiere | Midnight Madness.
• A spectacular new entry in the iconic franchise. Whilst exploring a derelict space station a group of young people encounter the most terrifying life force in the universe in this ferociously entertaining new vision for Alien.
• Closing Films
• SINCE YESTERDAY: THE UNTOLD STORY OF SCOTLAND’S GIRL BANDS (Blair Young,
• Carla J Easton, UK) World Premiere presented by Girls on Film and EIFF
• A revealing, funny and enraging documentary tracking the history of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s to the present. This scrapbook panorama view of Scottish pop music explores bands, cliques and movements that emerged in the country across decades, exposing the challenges faced in a male dominated world.
• THE SUBSTANCE (Coralie Fargeat, US) UK Premiere
• Starring a superb Demi Moore, get set for high-style gore in this dark and bloody comedy. A Hollywood superstar facing the ageism and sexism of an industry that is swiftly forgetting her is faced with an intriguing proposition.
• The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence
• ALL THE MOUNTAINS GIVE (Arash Rakhsha, Iran) World Premiere
• A powerful documentary about the Kolbari covert goods trades between the Kurdish cities and towns of Iran and borders of Iraq, the film follows friends Hamid and Yasser as they balance fragile work and family lives.
• THE CEREMONY (Jack King, UK) World Premiere
• A fight over stolen property – and a tragic death – brings together two migrant workers as they search for a suitable burial place. Shot in black and white against a rolling Yorkshire landscape, this drama packs a powerful punch.
• FUGA (Mary Jiménez, Bénédicte Liénard, Belgium) World Premiere
• A richly poetic journey to the heart of the Peruvian jungle, where a lover must be laid to rest. This drama – where we uncover lives of intimidation and violence – has a unique visual and sonic style.
• LILIES NOT FOR ME (Will Seefried, US) World Premiere
• Told through elegant flashbacks, two men wrestle with their sexuality in the repressive English society of the 1920s. Exploring a neglected period in queer history, this drama is defined by a haunting mix of romanticism and unflinching honesty.
• LOLLIPOP (Daisy-May Hudson, UK) World Premiere
• A stirring drama about a mother desperate to maintain custody of her children, following her release from prison. When things seem dark for Molly (Posy Sterling), an encounter with an old friend may spark something new.
• A SHRINE (Abdolreza Kahani, Canada) World Premiere
• A mobile religious shrine acts as a get-rich-quick scheme for an ambitious man. But there may be consequences… This subversive comedy drama also offers an intriguing and offbeat window into the diasporic Iranian community in Montreal. 
• SMILES AND KISSES YOU (Bryan Carberry, US) World Premiere
• The relationship between a man and his life-size AI-animated doll is explored in this moving documentary. A clear eyed and open hearted take on machine learning and loneliness, in an age of algorithmic dating apps.
• SUNLIGHT (Nina Conti, UK) World Premiere
• An absurd, original and darkly comic road movie about a monkey, a man and a dead man’s watch. Written, produced and directed by EdFringe favourite Nina Conti, the comedian stars as a life-size iteration of her stand-up sidekick.
• TO KILL A WOLF (Kelsey Taylor, US) World Premiere 
• Reimagining the classic fable Little Red Riding Hood, a young girl is discovered in the snowy Oregon landscapes by a social pariah. This dark psychological drama interrogates trauma, grief and redemption in a dangerous world.
• XIBALBA MONSTER (Manuela Irene, Mexico) World Premiere
• A young boy forms an unlikely friendship with an ageing hermit while struggling to make sense of the death of his parents. This delicately moving film explores the circle of life, the human experience and the order of the natural world.
• Out Of Competition Features
• ACTING (Sophie Fiennes, UK) World Premiere
• In an old castle, a dozen young actors work on Shakespeare’s Scottish Play (Macbeth) with an insightful theatre director. This immersive documentary looks behind the scenes at the acting process, and is a celebration of artistic collaboration.
• AND MRS (Daniel Reisinger, UK) World Premiere
• When Gemma’s (Aisling Bea) fiancé (Colin Hanks) dies shortly before their wedding day, she decides to marry him anyway. An unconventional romantic comedy which explores fidelity, strength and the lengths we go to honour our commitments.
• ARMAND (Halfdan Ullmann Tønde, Norway) UK Premiere
• Camera D’Or Winner, Cannes 2024
• Elizabeth (Renate Reinsve) is shocked to discover that her son has been accused of crossing boundaries at school. A tightly wound and exhilarating drama examining the assumptions that adults can make when trying to uncover the truth.
• BETWEEN THE TEMPLES (Nathan Silver, US) UK Premiere
• A cantor having a crisis of faith is reunited with his high school music teacher, who is intent on having a late life Bat Mitzvah. This elegantly observed comedy drama delicately balances farce and romance.
• BLACK DOG (Guan Hu, Taiwan) UK Premiere
• Un Certain Regard Main Prize Winner,Cannes 2024
• Returning to his hometown following time in prison, a young man befriends a stray whippet in this tale of companionship and redemption. This profound and moving drama is a soulful delight for dog lovers everywhere.
• BLUE SUN PALACE (Constance Tsang, US) UK Premiere
• Far from home, Amy and Didi have built new lives for themselves in Flushing, Queens. But tragedy will break the world they have created. A beautiful drama about absence, grief and the human need for connection.
• BOGANCLOCH (Ben Rivers, UK) UK Premiere
• Observing a solitary soul at the edge of the world, this mesmerising documentary follows forest-dwelling hermit Jake Williams as he lives a self-contained existence in the Scottish wilderness. The director revisits his subject after Two Years at Sea (2011).
• JOY DANCER (Suzanne Smith, Sylvia Solf, US) World Premiere
• A dance-filled documentary about South African choreographer and activist Gregory Maqoma and composer Thuthuka Sibisi, and their creation of a dance theatre piece based on the true story of the first Black South African choir travelling to the UK.
• MONGREL (Wei Liang Chiang, You Qiao Yin, Taiwan) UK Premiere
• An undocumented Thai careworker in a remote region of Taiwan navigates a lack of status and currency alongside the people he looks after. This compassionate drama observes people disenfranchised by a system that barely acknowledges them.
• MY FAVOURITE CAKE (Maryam Moghadam, Behtash Sanaeeha) UK Premiere
• An elderly Iranian widow befriends a lonely taxi driver in Tehran, railing against strict social structures. A profoundly moving meditation on ageing, loneliness and love in unexpected places – and a reflection on societal repression of both men and women.
• A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS (Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, Norway)
• Grand Jury Prize & World Cinema Documentary Winner, Sundance 2024
• When a tragic event shatters the world of the Payne family, they are forced to give up their idyllic, off-the-grid lifestyle in the Norwegian wilderness. An ode to nature and resilience, this documentary is warm, potent and deeply moving.
• SCHIRKOA: IN LIES WE TRUST (Ishan Shukla, India) UK Premiere
• Animation NETPAC Award Winner, Rotterdam 2024
• In a dystopian world where differences are erased, pressures mount towards revolution. Spectacularly animated using video game technology, our societal fears about social control and liberation are confronted in this unique and timely nightmare.
• SING SING (Greg Kwedar, US) European Premiere Presented by We Are Parable and EIFF
• With a career-best performance from Colman Domingo, this poignant drama unfolds in the walls of the notorious Sing Sing prison in upstate New York. A story of resilience and the restorative impact of art, it offers us pieces of hope in even the darkest places.
• STEPPENWOLF (Adilkhan Yerzhanov, Kazakhstan) UK Premiere
• A woman searching for her son encounters a corrupt sociopathic investigator who will stop at nothing to carve the way forward for them both. This is a dystopian, modern and brutal take on classic Western and Samurai films, with an unlikely female heart.
• A SUDDEN GLIMPSE TO DEEPER THINGS (Mark Cousins, UK) UK Premiere
• This riveting documentary focuses on the life and work of Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, 20 years after her death. Exploring the artist’s life and her wordless language of colour, new ways of seeing are found.
• THE MOUNTAIN WITHIN ME (Polly Steele, UK) World Premiere
• Following an almost fatal injury, rugby player Ed Jackson’s recovery is charted through a new-found love for mountaineering. This courageous documentary is starkly honest and unsentimental in its examination of a life forever changed.
• THE RADLEYS (Euros Lyn UK) World Premiere
• A bloodthirsty, dark comedy about a suppressed family of vampires. Adapted from Matt Haig’s (The Midnight Library) titular novel by comedian Jo Brand and writer Talitha Stevenson, this is a fresh, inventive reimagining of the vampire genre.
• TIMESTALKER  (Alice Lowe, UK) UK Premiere.
• Screening with short film DON’T HATE ME (Grace Campbell, UK)
• Would you chase true love across centuries? With a reincarnation twist, this romantic comedy is full of big hair and a big heart. Emotionally insightful and entertaining, and with a terrific supporting cast, this hilarious and moving film is truly unique.
• Midnight Madness
• BIRDEATER (Jack Clark, Jim Weir, Australia) UK Premiere (M/M)
• Screening with short film MAKE ME A PIZZA (Talia Shea Levin, US) UK Premiere
• When Irene joins fiancé Louis on his stag-do in the remote Australian bush, the night slowly devolves into chaos. Blending psychological horror with an exploration of toxic masculinity,  audiences will be on the edge of their seats.
• KING BABY (Kit Redstone, Arran Shearing, UK) UK Premiere
• Screening with short film DUCK (Rachel Maclean, Scotland)
• Prompted by a royal vision, a king and his servant carve themselves a queen. A surreal comedy about serving others, arrogance, and the slippery nature of power. Enigmatic performances make for a royally unexpected watch.
• ODDITY (Damian Mc Carthy, Ireland) UK Premiere
• Screening with short film ONE MORE ROUND (Zach Magid, Andrew Tyrell, US) UK Premiere
• A medium is determined to find her sister’s murderer with the support of an unnerving wooden mannequin. Set in rural Ireland, this ghoulish haunted house horror is a dread-inducing thrill ride from start to finish.
• SUNRAY: FALLEN SOLDIER (James Clarke, Daniel Shephard, UK) World Premiere
• Screening with short film MEAT PUPPET (Eros V, UK) UK Premiere
• Created by and starring former Royal Marines Commandos, this adrenaline fuelled thriller follows a war veteran seeking justice in a violent criminal world. The film also offers a hard-hitting portrayal of PTSD.
• Lynda Myles Celebrates…
• GALA AND KIWI (Axel Cheb Terrab, Argentina) World Premiere
• Screening with short film SIESTA (Gustavo Rene Sanabria, Argentina)
• During a wild drunken night, two women face hard truths about their friendship. This gritty and emotional drama is a dazzling showcase for new talent, and will be introduced by producer, screenwriter and former EIFF Director, Lynda Myles.
• Special Events and Retrospectives
• I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING! (Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell, 1945 UK)
• Iconic editor Thelma Schoonmaker delivers an extended intro to Powell and Pressburger’s 1945 romantic masterpiece. Moving, funny and deeply serious in its exploration of love, history and the secrets buried in the remote Mull landscape.
• IN CONVERSATION: GASPAR NOÉ
• We are joined by the iconic filmmaker and master provocateur for a wide-ranging discussion of his career and filmmaking.
• SUSPIRIA (Dario Argento, 1977 Italy)
• Director Gaspar Noé presents a cult classic. An American newcomer to a prestigious ballet academy comes to realise that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.
• THE UNTOUCHABLES (Brian De Palma, 1987 US)
• The Festival welcomes The Connery Foundation and members of the Connery family to present a special screening of Brian De Palma’s iconic gangland thriller.
• PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (Brian De Palma, 1974 US)
• Featuring a knockout soundtrack, spectacular production design and standout performances from Paul Williams, William Finley and Jessica Harper, prepare for a sensory delight.
• Competition Shorts
• PATERNAL ADVICE (Lisa Clarkson, Scotland) World Premiere
• A starkly realist short from Scottish director Lisa Clarkson exploring tough love and masculinity passed down the generations.
• HOMEWORK (Jamie di Spirito, UK) World Premiere
• A powerful film about the secrets kept between a mother and her daughters from British director Jamie di Spirito. Director: Jamie di Spirito.
• MY DAD AND THE VOLCANO (Gavin Reid, Scotland) World Premiere
• Scottish director Gavin Reid explores his relationship with his father and his art in this quirky and poignant documentary short.
• MY EXPLODING HOUSE (Liberty Smith, UK) World Premiere
• An experimental documentary by British director Liberty Smith investigating her mother’s thirty-year-old memory of their old house being blown up for a television film.
• NICO (Max Olson, US) World Premiere
• American director Max Olson debuts their unique visual style, in this bold and haunting short about a trans man who reminds an elderly widow of her late husband.
• MANNY WOLFE (Trevor Neuhoff, US) World Premiere
• A funny and moving spin on classic noir featuring a werewolf actor who can’t catch a break in Hollywood, directed by Trevor Neuhoff.
• SHOAL (Cardumen) (Inés Villanueva) World Premiere
• Given the task of writing a song about molluscs and existentialism, a young singer works on her entry during a birthday party in this beautiful Argentine comedy from Inés Villanueva.
• THE JUBILEE (Wilma Smith, Scotland) World Premiere
• Blending live-action with napkin-based stop-motion animation, this Scottish short directed by Wilma Smith explores dementia through a new and potent lens.
• Out Of Competition Shorts In Association With Screen Academy Scotland
• ANALOG MEDIUM (Tom Campbell, Australia) InternationalPremiere
• ALWAYS RETURN (Paulina Urreta, Mexico) International Premiere
• AUTISM PLAYS ITSELF (Janet Harbord, UK) UK Premiere
• MOTHER TONGUE (Vea Mafile’o, New Zealand) European Premiere
• WHERE MY MEMORY BEGAN (Priscilla Kounkou Hoveyda, Sierra Leone) UK Premiere
• THE WATERGAW (Lewis Cranston, Scotland) World Premiere
• FRATER (Valentin Guiod, France) International Premiere
• STEPMOTHER (Negar Naghavi, France, Turkey) International Premiere
• Animation Shorts
• BUG DINER (Phoebe Jane Hart, US) UK Premiere
• Short Film Jury Award for Animation winner at Sundance, 2024
• BUNNYHOOD (Mansi Maheshwari, UK) UK Premiere
• La Cinef Prize Winner at Cannes, 2024
• EXTREMELY SHORT (Koji Yamamura, Japan) UK Premiere
• FAIRGROUND FEVER (Linda Hughes, Scotland) World Premiere
• LIMINAL ROOTS (Aliyah Harfoot, UK) UK Premiere
• ON HOLD (Delia Hess, Switzerland) UK Premiere
• PLUNGE (Ellie Land, UK) World Premiere
• SILENT PANORAMA (Nicolas Piret, Belgium) International Premiere
• TAKO TSUBO (Sorgo Fanny, Pedroza Eva, Austria/Germany) UK Premiere
• THE BLEACHER (Adam Wilder, Nicole Daddona, United States) UK Premiere
• THREE BIRDS (Zarja Menart, Slovenia, Croatia) UK Premiere
• Experimental Shorts
• KYKLOP (Telemach Wiesinger, Germany) UK Premiere
• FRIEDL (Christiana Perschon, Austria) UK Premiere
• I DON’T WANT TO BE FILMED BUT RATHER SHOOT MYSELF (Friedl vom Gröller, Austria) UK Premiere
• OUR CAVE (Heehyun Choi, South Korea) International Premiere
• DESIRE PATH (Sofia Theodore-Pierce) UK Premiere
• TERMINAL ISLAND (Sam Drake, US) UK Premiere
• HOLOGRAPHIC WILL (Mike Stoltz, US) UK Premiere
• LIGHT, NOISE, SMOKE AND LIGHT, NOISE, SMOKE (Tomonari Nishikawa, Japan) UK
• Premiere
• BOSCO (Stefano Canapa, Lucie Leszez, France) UK Premiere
• ADRIFT POTENTIALS (Leonardo Pirondi, Brazil, United States) UK Premiere
• Bridging The Gap: Scottish Documentary Institute Shorts
• HEADLAND (Mariana Duarte, UK) World Premiere
• ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW (Lipa Hussain, UK) World Premiere
• SEEKING (Ciara Fint, UK) World Premiere
• THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY, WITNESSING (Theo Panagopoulos, UK) World
• Premiere
• Tickets
• Standard: £11 
• Concession: £8
• This ticketing applies to most screenings across EIFF venues.
• Spotlight tickets
• Standard: £14
• Concession: £11
• EIFF Spotlight tickets are available for Opening and Closing Night, and for select screenings where there may be introductions or Q&As with actors and directors who are in attendance. 
• Pay what you can tickets are also available across our screenings at £6 and £3.
• Essential companions go free. 
• EIFF concessions support:
• Arts workers.
• Filmmakers and EIFF Industry and Press passholders.
• D/deaf and Disabled people.
• EH postcode area residents.
• People in receipt of benefits.
• Students.
• Under 18s.

The future of Gorgie City Farm will be debated by councillors on 8 August at a meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee.

It is now 16 months since the farm closed its gates after the charity running it handed back the keys, but Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) which has been caretaking the site and looking into ways to make it sustainable in future says that four options – which are fully costed – will be laid before councillors later this summer.

Some delays have been caused by the condition of the farm buildings, frozen pipes and flooding, and damage to the barn roof which was partially blown off. The site remains closed to the public for safety reasons.

The farm site manager, Suzanne Campbell said she is pleased to see ideas for the future of the farm taking shape. She said: “The Farm has a very special place in the hearts of the people of Gorgie, Dalry and the wider city, and the input of local people to what the site might look like in the future has been outstanding. It’s taken longer than we hoped to start to put together options for its future, but we are now in the process of preparing a report which will be presented to the Council in August.”

A consultation was conducted asking locals for their views led by project partner Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership which attracted hundreds of responses.

In February this year Green councillor Dan Heap asked for progress saying to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: ““Gorgie Farm is a much-loved institution both in Gorgie and across the city and considerable public funds have been used so far to develop a new vision.
“The public rightly expect that new vision to include a plan to re-open the farm as soon as possible. £141,000 has been spent and it’s stil closed – we can’t spend the best part of 150 grand and still have the doors closed.”

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced at the High Court in Kilmarnock to 12 years imprisonment for serious sexual and violent offences at various locations including Edinburgh and West Lothian. 

He has also been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. 

Christopher Harkins plead guilty to financial abuse offences on Tuesday, 16 January, 2024, and was found guilty of violent and sexual offences by a jury on Monday, 20 May, 2024. 

His offences, which took place between 2013 and 2019, involved a number of women across Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, Edinburgh, Stirling, Paisley and West Lothian. 

A proactive investigation into Harkins commenced in October 2019 by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force. 

Detective Chief Inspector Lyndsay Laird, Police Scotland said: “Christopher Harkins is a violent and contemptable individual who preyed on woman looking for love and companionship. He made them believe they were in a loving and exclusive relationship but that was nowhere near the truth. 

“His only motive was money. Harkins met the woman through a dating app and once he had formed relationships with them he turned to manipulation, threats, coercive control and violence to obtain thousands of pounds which he used to fund his very lavish lifestyle. 

“The fact that he was convicted is a tremendous credit to the women who came forward to police. 

“This case highlights that domestic abuse is not just physical or sexual, it includes abusive behaviours or financial abuse. It is often about power and control and can have life changing consequences for victims. 

“We sincerely hope this result gives confidence to others who may experience anything similar to come forward, safe in the knowledge that police will investigate.” 

The owners of an historic East Lothian house have been given the go ahead to build a log cabin in their woods as long as it is only used by residents.

Yester House owners applied for permission to build the two storey cabin in the woods of the 17th century Category A listed property for use by themselves and guests at ‘informal family events’.

East Lothian Council planners agreed  to permit the additional accommodation at the estate, which is at Gifford,  but included a condition barring it from being used commercially in the future.

In their report on the application, planning officers said: “The application is accompanied by a supporting statement which states that the log cabin
building would be for the private use of the owners of the estate and also used for guest accommodation and informal family events.  It states that the log cabin building is not for commercial use.”

They go on to add: “The applicant’s agent has confirmed, in writing, that the proposed log cabin building would be used for domestic use only and that it will not form a separate dwelling or be used for any trade or commercial use.

“It is on these terms that the application stands to be determined and thus in the interests of safeguarding the character and amenity of the locality, it should be made a condition of a grant of planning permission that the log cabin building be used solely for purposes incidental to the use and enjoyment of the house of Yester House and that it shall not at any time be used as a
separate dwelling or for any business, trade or other commercial use.”

Yester House dates back to in the late 17th century and its gardens listed in the Inventory of Garden and Designed Landscapes in Scotland as of national significance.

Past owners include the Marquesses of Tweeddale and world-renowned Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti. In recent years it was taken over by a new family who have worked restoring the house and grounds.

It is now a weddings venue as well as hosting community events and education trips on its 550-acre estate.

Planners approved the application for the log cabin, which will be built in the woodlands on an area of land with no trees on it.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Former Hibs striker Simon Murray has signed for Dundee on a three-year deal from Ross County for an undisclosed fee. 

Murray joins the club he supported as a boy for the second time after being with The Dee in 2018. 

Hibs were also reported to also have been interested in bringing Murray who scored 23 goals for The Staggies in the Scottish top flight last season back to Easter Road. 

Murray who is the son of former Hibs striker Gary Murray has made 318 appearances and scored 132 goals in all competitions in a fine career. 

He started his career with Montrose and then had a few seasons in the Juniors, before returning to professional football with Arbroath.  

It was then onto Dundee United, then Hibs where he scored 14 goals in 29-games before he spent half a season on loan at Dens scoring three goals in 14 games. 

He then moved to South Africa with Bidvest Wits, he then returned to Scotland with Queen’s Park before moving to Ross County in January 2023. 

Speaking after signing for the Dark Blues Murray said, “It’s amazing. It’s taken a while and it’s something I’ve just wanted to get done and to now be here permanently feels amazing.  

“It’s good to be back. After speaking with the manager it just feels right for me. My family are based in Dundee, I grew up here, I grew up watching the club and the club are going places and I wanted to be part of that. I just felt at this time in my career with family and the way the club is I felt it was the right time to come back. 

“ This is the club I support and to live that dream is amazing and I can’t wait to get started.”