On Monday 22 July 2013 at 4:24pm Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy, weighing 8lbs 6oz.  The baby’s name was revealed as George Alexander Louis on Wednesday 24 July 2013.

George, the Greek for farmer and ‘earth worker’, is the 12th most popular name in the UK, although this popularity may well rise when the next count is conducted.

We asked some passers-by what they thought of the name ‘George’.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA5uIVxXK-Y]

You can follow The Edinburgh Reporter and George Ward on Twitter.

Photo: ReeSaunders via photopin cc

Edinburgh Trams deadline missed – Charities team up – Comedy – Morrissey – Summer Fayre this weekend

Negotiations between Edinburgh Council and Lothian Buses have failed to meet a deadline for agreement which was set for Monday of this week. The negotiations are to agree strong governance, financial and shareholder controls for the operation of trams and buses in Edinburgh.

Conservative Group Leader Cameron Rose said:-“It is essential that a satisfactory agreement is reached on governance, financial and shareholder controls for the operation of buses and trams.

Knowing the importance of the terms of such an agreement I will be calling for an early meeting of all councillors for no later than 8th August if the delayed negotiations further stall or if the agreement is not considered to be satisfactory.

If we cannot be assured there is a satisfactory agreement by Monday next week, it is essential councillors are fully updated to review and decide on the options on this important issue. Edinburgh Conservatives will push for an urgent meeting of all councillors as soon as possible.

Edinburgh Council is the senior shareholder and councillors must ensure the strategic direction and operation of trams and buses is in the best interests of the people of Edinburgh.”

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Age Scotland and Shelter Scotland have joined forces to ensure older residents in Edinburgh have better access to expert information and advice on housing.  Callers to the Age Scotland Helpline – 0845 125 9732 – whose needs include help with housing problems such as rent or mortgage arrears, will now get assistance for them without additionally having to call Shelter Scotland.

The partnership aims to meet the needs of an increasing number of older people experiencing housing problems: more than 1000 people in Scotland of or above State Pension Age made homeless applications last year.  Age Scotland Helpline advisors will be able to obtain specialist support from Shelter Scotland where necessary to answer enquiries.

Age Scotland Helpline manager Heather Smith said: “Many of the people who contact us, who are very often older people, but can also be their friends, families and carers, do so in the hope that we can help with a wide range of problems.  They may have a housing issue, but perhaps also difficulties around managing on a low income, getting suitable care or feeling lonely and isolated.  Our partnership with Shelter Scotland means that help for homeowners or tenants in Edinburgh with such connected issues is now available through just one phone call.”

Alison Watson, Head of Services at Shelter Scotland, said: “At a time when increasing numbers of older people across Edinburgh are struggling with their household finances, heating and keeping their home, it is vital that advice and support is readily available. Our advisors offer year-round advice in areas such as debt management, the impact of welfare reform and budgeting.

“By working with Age Scotland we believe we can help their advisors to deal with specific housing issues which they may not necessarily have the expertise to deal with, help more people to quickly access the help they need when they need it and support Age Scotland in their aim to improve later life for everyone in Scotland.”

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Following last year’s successful and hilarious Barnardo’s ‘Bairns’ Night’ comedy show for the festival, we return with the Big Comedy Benefit – another great evening of belly-aching laughs in the name of charity.

Award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield returns as our witty and able host on 12 August 2013 at the Assembly Rooms, George Street, with proceeds going to Barnardo’s Scotland children services.

The gig features some of the best and brightest comedic talents of the festival this year, as well as previewing a selection of 2013’s top shows.

Barnardo’s Scotland is pleased to announce the return of Tim Vine to the stage; the king of puns, one-liners and recurrent winner of ‘joke of the year’ is bringing his ten date ‘Tim Vine Chat Show’ to the city and sharing his funny bone wisdom with the world. For those who can’t get enough of one-liners and deadpan delivery, Mock the Week regular and frequenter of the radio waves, Milton Jones is taking time out his On the Road tour to deliver his observations and witticisms for the Comedy Benefit crowds, as only he knows how.

The 2012 Chortle Award winner for Best MC and resident compere of The Stand is none other than Glaswegian comedian and Scottish debate stirrer, Susan Calman. We are delighted to have her humorous highness (at a diminutive 4ft11) take the stage! Susan will also be running a 12 night show titled ‘Always (A Work in Progress)’ during August.

Aisling Bea joins the line-up fresh from her debut stand up show at the Gilded Balloon; the winner of 2012’s Foster’s ‘So You Think You’re Funny?’ Award, Aisling is an Irish comedian and comedy actress who has appeared in Russell Howard’s Good News, Cardinal Burns and more. Catch this fresh talent at our packed show!

Book early for a great night out, and at the same time help Barnardo’s support vulnerable children and young people right here in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians.

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On Saturday 25 August 2013 you need to be at The Cameo if you are a Morrissey fan.  They are screening Morrissey 25 live that evening at 21:00.

The Cameo explain:-“MORRISSEY 25: LIVE is a concert film marking 25 years of Morrissey’s solo career, shot during his most intimate gig in decades at the Hollywood High School in Los Angeles on 2 March 2013.”

Tickets here.

***

Residents at St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex on Ferry Road, which is owned by Port of Leith Housing Association (POLHA), is hosting its annual Summer Fayre this Saturday 27 July 2013 between 12pm and 2pm.

The fayre is an integral part of the social calendar, which has been celebrated for over 15 years, and the money raised goes towards day trips and activities for the elderly residents to enjoy.

Some of the attractions include face painting for children, live music, barbeque, refreshments, book stall, tombola stall and raffle prizes – entry is just 50p.

Maureen Tait Senior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA, said:

“Our Summer Fayre is one of the main highlights in our social calendar for our residents as it’s such a wonderful, fun-filled day. Lots of planning goes into the event and the residents really get on board.

“It is a very important event to us as it helps to raise vital money for our social fund.  It means that we can organise day trips, keep-fit classes and other treats for our residents.”

Tonight at Easter Road, Hibs take on Malmo FF for the right to progress to the first qualifying round of the Europa League. The winners of the tie face English Premiership side Swansea City.

Today the Edinburgh Reporter looks back 43 years to the last time the Swedish side visited the capital.

The sixties were a golden age for Scottish football clubs in Europe.

In season 1960/61 Hibernian reached the semi-final stages of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, having disposed of Barcelona, and would have progressed to the final had the ‘away goals’ rule been in effect after drawing 3-3 in Rome. In addition, Rangers became the first British side to reach a European final, losing the European Cup Winner’s Cup 4-1 on aggregate to Italian side Fiorentina.

The following season, the great Gordon Smith helped Dundee win the league title and they progressed to the European Champion’s Cup semi-final where they lost 5-2 on aggregate to Milan. Dundee’s manager was Bob Shankly who would later take over at Easter Road.

In Season 1966/7  Kilmarnock reached the semi-final of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup where they were eliminated by Leeds United 4-2 on aggregate, Rangers reached the final of the European Cup Winners Cup where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich and Celtic, under former Hibernian manager Jock Stein became the first British club side to win the European Champion’s Cup, beating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon.

Throughout the decade, Hibernian fans had witnessed many glorious nights under the Easter Road floodlights, and European campaigns were almost taken for granted.

Top European sides such as Barcelona and Napoli were eliminated whilst Roma, Hamburg and Leeds United were unable to win in the capital.

By the end of the decade, Hibernian had sold several of their outstanding players such as Colin Stein, Peter Marinello and Peter Cormack for large sums, but they were still able to field a formidable starting XI, containing established professionals such as Gordon Marshall, Pat Stanton, Jim Black, Jim Blair and Joe McBride alongside promising youngsters such as Erich Schaedler, Alex Cropley and Arthur Duncan.

When the draw was announced for the 1970/71 Fairs Cup, Hibernian were paired with Swedish club Malmo. At that time, Swedish club football was not of the standard it is now, although the national team had been beaten by Brazil in the final of the 1958 World Cup, and Willie McFarlane’s men were installed as firm favourites to progress.

On Wednesday 16 September 1970, Malmo arrived at Easter Road with the intention of keeping the tie alive for the second leg, and Hibernian had trouble breaking their stubborn defence down in the first half. The forwards initially looked anxious and the defenders appeared nervous as the blue shirted Swedes looked dangerous on the break.

After 30 minutes however, Hibs took the lead when a Jim Black strike rebounded off Joe McBride in the crowded penalty box and the ball fell to Jim Blair who swept the ball into the net past the helpless Hult in Malmo’s goal.

Two minutes later Hibs doubled their advantage when Arthur Duncan’s shot deflected off Malmo defender Jacobsson into the path of prolific centre forward Joe McBride who made no mistake form close range.

That goal eased the nerves of the 11.165 crowd who always demanded and expected great things from the team playing down the slope in the second half. The fans were not disappointed and within a minute of the restart Hibernian were denied a clear-cut penalty when McBride was impeded in the box, but the referee waved play on, to the fury of the Hibernian supporters.

Alex Cropley then went close with a fine effort before Duncan knocked one just wide, but the crowd knew that it was only a matter of time before Hibs added to their lead and sure enough, three goals in a pulsating 13 minutes put the result of the tie beyond doubt.

Hibs’ third goal was a record breaking effort from Joe McBride who became the club’s all-time top scorer in Europe when he crashed a magnificent header past Hult from an inch perfect Duncan cross in the 57th minute.

Nine minutes later, McBride completed his hat-trick in style, wheeling on the edge of the box before sending a thunderous shot into the net to make it 4-0.

On 70 minutes, the roles were reversed and this time Duncan got on the end of a McBride cross to head the ball past the keeper, and the former Partick Thistle winger grabbed his second and Hibernian’s sixth with 15 minutes remaining when he hammered a right foot shot into the corner of the net, to send the fans home happy.

The Hibernian team that historic night was Gordon Marshall, Chris Shevlane, Erich Schaedler, Pat Stanton, Jim Black, Willie McEwan, Joe McBride, Alex Cropley, Arthur Duncan, Jim Blair and Johnny Hamilton. The subs were John Brownlie, Thompson Allan, Johnny Graham, Jimmy O’Rourke and Mervyn Jones.

Elsewhere that night, Rangers lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Germany, thanks to a Franz Bechanbaur goal, whilst Eddie Turnbull’s Aberdeen beat Honved 3-1 with a goal from Joe Harper, and Celtic beat Finnish side Kokkola 9-0.

The return leg was a formality and Hibernian ran out 3-2 winners in Sweden, with goals from Bobby Duncan, Pat Stanton and Willie McEwan, then, in the next round beat Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-0 win at Easter Road.

The European campaign ended with a 3-0 aggregate defeat to Bill Shankly’s Liverpool.

Police in West Lothian are appealing for information following the theft of lead from the roof of a nursery in Livingston in the early hours of Tuesday.

Around 05.40am on Tuesday morning, three men were observed pushing three shopping trolleys along Ladywell East Road, Livingston.

When officers attended the area, they recovered the three shopping trolleys which contained a quantity of lead believed to be that stolen from the roof of the Livingston Family Centre. The suspects have not yet been traced.

Detective Inspector David Pinkey said: “As a consequence of the theft of lead and vandalism to the roof of the building, heavy rainfall caused significant damage to the interior of the Livingston Family Centre.

“The impact on the community is severe as the nursery will be unable to provide a full service to families over the summer holidays. Inquiries are continuing and we are seeking to trace those involved in this theft.”

Danny Logue, the West Lothian Council’s Executive Councillor for Social Policy said: “The Livingston Family Centre offers invaluable assistance to families in need of support. It is absolutely appalling that anyone would steal from this facility.

“The theft of the lead has resulted in severe damage to the internal building which has affected toys, children’s cots and other items. The impact, therefore, on parents, children and staff is enormous, especially given that this is the centre’s busiest time of the year during the school summer break.

“Our staff are working hard to ensure that alternative provisions are put in place as quickly as possible, but that may take some time.

“We would urge anyone with any information to contact the police.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following an assault and robbery of two teenagers in the Corstorphine area of the capital at around 7.20pm last night.

A 14-year-old boy and 15-year-old boy were waiting at a bus stop on the east pavement on Clermiston Road North, near to the junction with Queensferry Road, when they saw two male youths walking towards them. When they were a couple of feet away from the victims, the two suspects ran at them, assaulted the victims and robbed them of their iPhones.

The suspects then headed towards Queensferry Road while the victims ran to a nearby house and the police were called.

The first suspect is described as white, around 17 years old, 5ft 7ins tall, with a local accent, a tanned complexion, chubby face, and possibly a mole on the right side of his chin. He was wearing a black hooded top, dark jogging bottoms and black plimsolls.

The second suspect is described as white, around 17 years old, 5ft 11ins with a local accent, short brown hair and wearing a red Adidas hoodie without stripes down the side, and black tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Sergeant Mike Leask, from Police Scotland, said: “This was an unprovoked attack on two boys who were just waiting for their bus home. They received minor injuries and were quite shaken by the incident.

“Inquiries are continuing and we are appealing for any witnesses to this attack.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Hibs skipper James McPake hopes that the emotion involved following the death of Lawrie Reilly can help the club progress in Europe, and believes that the fans’ backing will be a major factor.

Speaking after training on the Easter Road pitch yesterday, the 29-year-old said: “Lawrie’s death is probably more important than the game. People will be turning up for him because he was a great man.

“I only met him maybe two or three times but every time I did he was such a genuine person.

“Everyone at the club loves him and people who have followed Hibs all their years say how great a player he was.

“I did a few things with Lawrie and met him at awards ceremonies and stuff. The fans are great with us when we turn up to these events but it was different with him, you could see the huge respect everyone had for him.

“That was even the case with the younger fans, who had been told by their parents and grandparents how good a player he was. My dad told me the same when I asked him.”

“There will be emotion against Malmo but that is maybe something we can use to our advantage.What better way to go out and win the tie than for Lawrie and his family as well.

“When the Hibs fans are behind us and create a brilliant atmosphere, it does help us. It makes a real difference and a couple of games come to mind – Dunfermline when we had to win last year. We got off to a flier that night.

“Celtic last season was the same; we were 1-0 up and hanging on. It seemed as if they were willing us to get the ball up the park that day.

“If they can create that type of atmosphere again, it will definitely be an advantage for us. We want them right behind us, backing us from the off.

“I don’t know what the other grounds are like in Sweden and if we can make it hostile and uncomfortable for them when they have the ball, and the crowd can get right behind us, it will only help us.”

The big defender however warns that the players won’t be going for the jugular from kick off as losing a goal would potentially end the tie as a contest.

He continued: “A Malmo goal would take it from hard to almost impossible. That’s not to say we would give up if we concede after five minutes – we won’t. Regardless of whether it takes us 10, 30, 60 or 80 minutes, as long we score the first goal then that would be great. As long as we are not conceding, getting a goal will give Malmo a bit of a fright, no matter how late it might be.”

Meanwhile, manager Pat Fenlon revealed that Northern Ireland international Ryan McGivern will be missing after failing to recover from a knee injury although teenage winger Alex Harris is fit and will play of selected.

“Ryan is struggling and he won’t make it but Alex will be okay. He trained all week and came through the game against Malmo as a substitute. There was no recurrence and he has had a couple of really good days training.

“Alex gives us a completely different dimension to what we have, he can play on both sides and he is a real threat for us. It is up to us to get him enough of the ball to cause problems.

“He added pace last week that we maybe lacked up until that point. Liam Craig is a really good player but is completely different to Alex, so if we can get the two of them on the park then it will be a real attacking threat for us.”

The club have announced that over 13,000 tickets have been sold with the East Stand full. Tickets are available right up until kick off time.

Demonstrators against the Zimmerman acquital on the Trayvon Martin trial have been marching on Federal court houses in many American major cities, including here in Boston.  Calling for ‘Justice for Trayvon’, feelings are running high about the murder of the seventeen-year old High School Student in 2012 yet the demonstrations are peaceful.  The grieving yet dignified parents of Trayvon Martin articulate the issues and in doing so set the tone for the demonstrations.  In Miami, his father Tracy Martin told the crowd that, following the acquital, he had “come to realise George Zimmerman wasn’t on trial – Trayvon was on trial.”   Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, stifled sobs as she told a crowd in Harlem: – ““Today it was my son.  Tomorrow it might be yours…Not only I vow to do what I have to do for Trayvon Martin, I promise I’m going to work hard for your children as well.”

The similarities with Stephen Lawrence’s murder in 1993 are undeniable.  The determination of the parents of eighteen year old A’level student Lawrence to seek justice, including bringing an unfunded private prosecution when murder charges against two of the five suspects were dropped, not only shone a light into the English justice system but eventually triggered an investigation into London policing.  Almost twenty years after Lawrence’s murder, following a cold case review and new forensic evidence coming to light, Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted.  Last month, in an interview with former undercover police officer Peter Francis The Guardian revealed that pressure had allegedly been brought to bear on Francis to smear the credibility of Lawrence’s parents.  In response Doreen Lawrence has called for an inquiry commenting: “I don’t know what to believe any more”.

Importantly there is also significant difference between the two cases, and not just the duration of time to bring suspects to trial. The political context.  Civil rights discourse here points to the neoslavery of the early twentieth century and the ‘New Jim Crow’ of a caste-like system currently establishing in the US, taking its name from the bestseller by civil Rights lawyer Michelle Alexander. This weekend Reverend Al Sharpton has called for a civil rights case to be brought by the Department of Justice against George Zimmerman.  When President Obama declared on Friday “Trayvon Martin could have been me“, he ignited the ongoing debate about racial profiling and cultural assumptions of conflating race and crime.

Overall there seems to be consensus amongst the American media and commentariat on the significant political impact of Obama’s briefing. Slate.com commented: “Obama spoke as President, an African-American, and as a former law professor. The task he set for himself, according to sources close to him, was to be a bridge builder: explaining the hurt and anguish so many African-Americans feel in the wake of the verdict to those who don’t understand it or who might misunderstand it.”  As Obama called for national soul-searching and the media declared the need for a new consciousness and awareness, I thought of the UK.  Of the unending struggle of Stephen Lawrence’s parents for justice for their son, which confronted institutional racism and corruption.  Trayvon’s parents are probably only at the foothills of their colossal fight for justice and in the different political dynamics of the US it may lead to cultural change.  But fighting for justice piecemeal through a legal, political and enforcement system shouldn’t fall to parents beset by grief who have already lost everything.   Like their lost sons, they should not be on trial, an ordeal which reproduces the discrimination.  In the UK and the US equality is a legal right.  Now it needs to be fact.

Kate Smith is Nieman Foundation Fellow 2013 at Harvard University, Boston. She is Programme Leader for the BA Journalism in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University.  Prior to joining the University Kate worked at Stirling and Sheffield Hallam Universities and was a freelance journalist and columnist writing regularly for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, the Sunday Herald, the Herald, The Guardian and a wide range of magazines.  Before that Kate ran her own international magazine publishing company with offices in Edinburgh and Moscow.  Kate was nominated for a British Press award in 2008 for an article on the 2008 Global Food Crisis.

Angry Bairds Productions Presents

POLE FACTOR
Written and Directed by Nazish Khan
@ theSpace on The Mile. Venue 39
12-24 August : 20.05 (50mins)

Writer Nazish Khan debuts her new play Pole Factor at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Pole Factor explores the tenets of blind obsession be it with faith or fame. The play also speaks to society’s general tendency of disengagement and the modern appetite for immediate self-gratification and instant fame.

Pole Factor: A 50 minute four hander play centres around the beautiful Sameera Mohammed aka Coco a reality celebrity on TV’s newest reality show Pole Factor. Actively rejecting Islam, her controversial anti-mosque campaign has gone viral. The Muslims are outraged at the betrayal but she is only saying what everyone else is too scared to voice. The media and the masses are on her side. But a shock tragedy, as a result of her viral campaign, changes everything. Her mental frailty and disturbing reality starts to unravel dangerously on camera. But after all this is reality television!

Long listed for the Verity Bargate 2011 Award, Pole Factor highlights Naz’s interest in mental illness, Islamaphobia, the culture of reality celebrities, social media and internet gossip. It also justifies her odd penchant for trashy magazines as ‘research.’

Angry Bairds is a new theatre company, founded by fellow City University MA graduates Sophie Foster and Nazish Khan. Sophie and Nazish set up the company in order to create theatre, designed to make you a feel a bit uncomfortable and “sleep like you have a pea under your mattress that night”.

Angry Bairds is also debuting Project Lolita at the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

Submitted by Ann-Marie Baptiste

Contributed Article

Angry Bairds Productions presents

PROJECT LOLITA
Written and Directed by Sophie Foster
@ theSpace on The Mile. Venue 39
12-24 August : 21.05 (50mins)

Debuting at Edinburgh Fringe 2013, Project Lolita, a new play written and Directed by Sophie Foster, takes a satirical look at society’s biggest taboo, paedophilia. Motivated by the recent surge in sex abuse allegations, the media reporting of abuse cases and the influence this has over public opinion, Project Lolita will undoubtedly challenge thoughts and attitudes.

Set in the year 2020, child pornography has become a widespread problem in Britain and the government has resorted to a zero tolerance policy in order to protect and prevent child abuse. Katie and Joe meet online, and form a friendship, which quickly develops into something deeper. So what’s the problem? Joe is twenty-eight, and Katie is fourteen.

Immersed in their virtual world, Katie and Joe ignore the elephant in the room; their relationship is not as clear cut as it appears on the surface. As they dive further and deeper into their relationship, secrets gradually unfold uncovering something sinister lurking beneath their virtual world.

A writer who is not afraid to toe the line of “safe”, Sophie Foster says “In writing Project Lolita I wanted to delve into the seen and unseen of a difficult taboo conversation. There is no doubt that Project Lolita will challenge audiences, but I hope I have written a piece of theatre that audience’s will not only ‘enjoy’ but more importantly talk about and reflect on after they leave the theatre”.

Angry Bairds is a new theatre company founded by fellow City University MA graduates Sophie Foster and Nazish Khan. Sophie and Nazish set up the company in order to create theatre designed to make you a feel a bit uncomfortable and sleep like you have a pea under your mattress that night.

Submitted by Ann-Marie Baptiste

Contributed Article

You’ve seen female comedy double act ‘LetLuce’ skyping each other about the new Teasers bar on the telly, now watch them in World Premiere of LIVE BAIT; their devised, clown-inspired, dark comedy sketch show directed by Matt Peover .

LIVE BAIT presents an extraordinary view of an ordinary world; think Withnail & I meet The League of Gentlemen somewhere in Angela Carter’s Magic Toyshop when someone accidentally rubs an old lamp! Described as the new French & Saunders for this generation, writers and actors Letty Butler and Lucy Pearman introduces audiences to a number of memorable characters including two hapless heroines Linda and Linda who both dream of being better at life. Linda would like to become a Historical Dance Olympian whilst Other Linda just wants to forget about the dead bodies buried underneath their wedding dress shop Dressage Bridal Solutions Along the way we meet; A clueless events team in charge of the Queen’s funeral; A badly behaved sex therapist and two disgruntled elves working in Santa’s grotto sorting office in Liverpool.

Letty and Lucy met and trained together at LAMDA seven years ago. They are currently writing a comedy short for BAFTA, to be directed by prolific comedy director James Griffiths, who has just finished directing feature film CUBAN FURY, starring Olivia Coleman, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.

Listings
Show: Live Bait
Dates: 1-25th August (excluding 12th & 13th)
Time: 16.30 (50m)
Venue: The Free Sisters (The Yurt Locker)
Add: 139 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1JS
Admission: FREE!

Submitted by Ann-Marie Baptiste

IS THIS FAMILY INSANE?

Think it’s hard to get your family out the door on a normal day? Consider doing it with a toddler, a baby, props, costumes, musical equipment, flyers, posters, badges and CD’s for two separate shows. Oh and you’re not just popping down the road but flying 27 hours from Australia to the other side of the world….. thank god for grandma!

Fringe Veteran Melissa Western and musican-extraordinaire partner Tnee Dyer will be presenting two brand new shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2013. Inspired by their recent foray into parenthood the couple will play their children’s show, Lissa & Nee Nee’s Riverside Adventures, most mornings at 10am at Paradise in the Kirkhouse and child-free they’ll perform their 50s talk-back love radio inspired, jazz cabaret Sweet, Sour and Saucy at The Jazz Bar.

Lucky for Melissa and Tnee they will also be joined by grandma ”Roma” (Rowenna Western) who is herself no stranger to the spotlight having been crowned Miss Max Factor 1961 back in the day when people like Marlon Brando, Ginger Rogers and Rock Hudson sent you telegrams of congratulations. Food for thought for a new show in 2014….!

https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/childrens-shows/lissa-and-neenee-s-riverside-adventure

https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/music/sweet-sour-and-saucy

Submitted by Leanne Butterworth

Contributed article

New campaign aims to combat the decline of Edinburgh’s local shops.

The initiative, announced last June which aims to help revive Edinburgh’s high streets and reward local shopping, is now being piloted in Leith and Broughton.

Local Edge is a new series of free apps which encourage both shoppers and businesses to work together to support the local economy.

With research from the New Economics Foundation finding that more than twice as much money stays in the local community when people shop at local businesses instead of larger chains; the Local Edge apps – which have been developed by Greener Leith and the Broughton Spurtle and funded by a grant of £44,750 from NESTA – help users save money by collecting virtual stamps every time they make a purchase in a participating shop. When they have enough qualifying stamps, they can access a range of unique offers being promoted by local stores.

The project has also been designed so both businesses and shoppers can control their local news agenda by posting updates to the apps’ newsfeeds about what’s going on nearby.

“Our apps aim to get shoppers closer to the independent businesses in their neighbourhood and reward them for helping to keep their high streets alive,” said Charlotte Encombe, chair of Greener Leith.

“We’re currently in the process of signing up local businesses – and from there we’ll be encouraging people to sign up for the free smartphone app, and start saving on purchases they make.

“And not only that, we’re actively encouraging citizen journalism, so if they know of local news that might be of interest to others, then they can post it to our newsfeed. It’s a truly local service for shoppers – with the aim of increasing footfall in both Leith and Broughton and helping local shops and services prosper.”

If the initial roll out of the project, which is supported by NESTA, is a success, it’s hoped Local Edge apps can be extended to other areas of the city in the near future.

Charlotte Encombe concluded: “With experts predicting sweeping changes across our high streets in the next few years, it’s important that we encourage people to support local businesses – which is essential to safeguarding jobs and improving local areas.

“These two apps will get shoppers closer to independent businesses, offer them an incentive to buy locally, and keep them up to date with everything that’s going on in the area – whether that be news, events or in-store offers,” she said.

 Submitted by Natasha Lobley

KPS Productions Presents
DESPERATELY SEEKING THE EXIT
Madonna /Debbie Harry Musical Disaster Dissected
Returns with new material and more outrageous stories
Directed by John Clancy
@ The Counting House
1 – 25 August 2013 18:15pm (60mins)

Following a successful run of the show this year in London’s West End, American writer and performer Peter Michael Marino returns to Edinburgh Festival Fringe at The Counting House 2 – 25 August 2013, with his International hit solo show Desperately Seeking The Exit – a comedic autopsy about his flop West End show Desperately Seeking Susan – The Musical.

In this high energy show Peter Michael Marino tells the crazy but true story of how the much anticipated stage musical of the film starring Madonna and Rosanna Arquette, featuring the music of Blondie, opened on London’s West End stage in 2007… and closed a month later. Featuring footage from the original show, a Q&A after each performance, the unscripted asides and jokes more ribald by the minute, this hit show about a sh*t show remains as fresh as ever.

For a show about a West End flop, American writer Peter Michael Marino delivers a success. — Three Weeks

Directed by award winning director John Clancy, Desperately Seeking The Exit offers a front row behind-the-scenes peek into how Marino’s £4m musical was made and unmade: The 70-minute solo comedy monologue offers audiences a humorous, insightful, peep into the collective cock-ups along Peter Marino’s painfully funny journey from page to stage. From hatching the idea, to the deals with MGM, Debbie Harry and even Madonna; right up to the workshops, the previews, the scathing reviews, closing night and beyond.

Of the show, Peter Michael Marino said “If this New Yorker were in a relationship with the UK, our Facebook status would read: ’It’s complicated.’ We’ve been through hell together, but with the success of Exit first in Edinburgh, then in Adelaide, London and Brighton, I’m eager to return to Ed Fringe to do it all over again.”

Web: http://www.seekingtheexit.com
Submitted by Ann-Marie Baptiste

The iconic Caledonian Hotel at the west end of Princes Street has renamed one of their fifth floor suites in tribute to former concierge Billy Garioch who retired in March after 50 years of loyal service.

Billy 65 joined the hotel as a fifteen year old straight from school, and has witnessed almost half of the building’s 110 year history, including numerous VIP guests from the political and showbiz world.

Ironically, Billy only intended to stay for a few months as he explained: “I had planned to start an apprenticeship at Ferranti when I was 16 and my time at the Caley was intended to fill the few months until I was old enough. I stayed for 50 years.

“At that time it was the Princes Street railway station hotel. I started as a page boy and the hotel was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was the epitome of luxury then and with the recent £24m refurbishment, The Caledonian, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel as it is now, is still the most luxurious in Edinburgh.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the hotel. I met some amazing people and have some cherished memories. I am touched and delighted that the hotel has done this for me and now I wish future guests an enjoyable stay in my suite. In fact to tell you a secret, I stayed in the suite last night.”

The fifth floor suite with panoramic views of the Castle and Princes Street was formally unveiled by General Manager Dale MacPhee who said: “I have to say that I wasn’t born whan Billy started at the Caley, but during his time here, he became one of the most memorable parts of the hotel. Many of our guests have told us how much they will miss his welcome on arrival. We are delighted to be able to rename one of our suites in recognition of his loyal service and to ensure that his association with ‘The Caley’ continues.

Over a glass of champaign, Sky Television presenter David Tanner conducted a question and answer session in front of a number of invited guests including Helen,  Billy’s wife of 43 years.

Recalling his first day, Billy said: “When I walked in here it was like walking into Buckingham Palace. I didn’t even know what a page boy did then my boss Mr Pringle came in to interview me but only said three words to me which were ‘Get a Haircut.’  I went home and my father put a bowl round my head and cut it.

“When I returned the next day there were four of us with the pillbox hats and uniforms with shiny buttons. Mr Pringle was like a sergeant major and every time he wanted you he would tap his pencil on the desk. He demanded that we call him sir.

“All the staff were like a big family and my wife Helen’s mother and grandmother worked in the hotel and I got called down one day by her grandmother and we have been married 42 years.”

At that point Helen interrupted and pointed out that it was actually 43 years to the amusement of the guests.

Billy then continued: “We used to have a contract with EMI Records and all the pop stars came here. There was an incident with the Bay City Rollers who were young scallywags and they would sit in the lounge and look round the corner causing the young girls waiting outside to scream.

“They didn’t go out to sign autographs and asked to be let out of the back door so they were pretty unpopular as far as I was concerned. And then you had Cliff Richard who was playing at the cinema up the road. The Shadows were with him and there were two girls from Glasgow who waited outside all night for his autograph. I actually told him this and he asked me to bring them in so I did and he gave them tea and coffee and signed records for them and that is probably why he is still a star.

“I was also here when President Gorbachev visited and also Nelson Mandela. It touches my heart to see Nelson Mandela in his current condition. He was fantastic, He didn’t have the security that other world leader had and he wanted the staff to line up and he thanked us all for his stay here. It was a gesture that not many people did at that time.

Billy’s former colleague at the hotel Thomas Stewart said: “The 18^th March this year was probably a day Billy was looking forward to, but for us it was a sad day.  We had over 250 year of experience in the one department, so to lose such an icon from the team was sad. There’s a saying in Edinburgh ‘Billy from the Caley’ and this is him. It’s been an honour to be part of his life and he is just a phone call away of we need him. He had everything indexed in his head and we constantly relied on him to keep us right. To be able to share in Billy’s time at the Caley for me and my colleagues is just tremendous.

“I can’t believe that I am standing here with my colleague and his name is on that door. What a story I have to tell when I come up to the fifth floor and people ask who was Billy Garioch.

“We have the Robert Louis Stevenson suite  on the first floor and also the Sir Walter Scott suite, but now we have the Billy Garioch suite. It’s just tremendous.”

Police in Edinburgh seized large quantities of alcohol from local youths over the weekend as part of an on-going campaign to tackle underage and antisocial drinking in the East of the city.

As part of Police Scotland’s work under the East Edinburgh Community Alcohol Partnership, officers were out within Portobello Promenade and High Street, as well as in Joppa Road on Saturday 20th July.

The activity followed reports of youth-related antisocial behaviour the previous evening and so high-visibility patrols were carried out to deter further criminal activity.

As a result, over 60 young people were stopped and searched, with around 20 being found in possession of alcohol.

Between 30-40 litres of beers, ciders and spirits was subsequently seized and disposed of and all youths spoken to will now be subject to antisocial behaviour warning letters from police and City of Edinburgh Council.

A number of people aged 18 and over were within the company of the minors during police patrols and these individuals also had their alcohol taken to ensure against proxy supply.

Officers then visited various licensed stores in the area and spoke with staff to remind them of their licensing responsibilities.

Further patrols and inspections will continue as part of the East Edinburgh CAP and the public are urged to assist police and their partners in addressing the issue of underage drinking.

Sergeant Steven Bisset said: “Members of the public in the Portobello area reported incidents of youth-related disturbances on Friday 19th July and so local officers undertook increased patrols the following evening to address these problems and offer reassurance to the communities.

“As part of our on-going work with the East Edinburgh CAP, we are committed to tackling underage drinking and associated offences and were able to seize large quantities of drink from those under the age of 18.

“While we are delighted with the support we are receiving from local retailers in preventing youths buying alcohol, we believe a number of adults continue to assist underage drinking through the proxy purchase of alcohol.

“Friends, family members and other persons over the age of 18 are reminded that it is an offence to buy or supply anyone underage with alcohol. Anyone found to be responsible will be dealt with appropriately.”

The Scots juniper bush – one of three native evergreen trees to Scotland – is currently under threat from a deadly new fungal disease.

Environmental charity, Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT), is calling for West Lothian residents to help to determine the extent of the risk to juniper populations in Scotland, either in their local area or if they are on holiday elsewhere across the country this summer.

The Phytophtora austrocedrae disease is related to sudden oak death and is a new strain of fungus originating in South America. The disease presents a new health threat to the juniper bush, which has already disappeared from over one third of Britain where it was previously found.

As well as being an important flavouring ingredient to the gin industry, juniper also offers environmental and biodiversity value, is a significant part of Scotland’s landscape and culture, and contains valuable medicinal properties.

A campaign has been launched by Plantlife Scotland, in conjunction with Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, urging the public to complete a survey whenever they see a juniper in Scotland to help track its health and conserve it for generations to come.

West Lothian locals can easily identify the juniper by its distinctive blue-green needles. When in bloom, delicate yellow flowers can also be seen which are then followed by ‘berries’ (in reality fleshy cones) which turn from green to black. However, if the spiky needles are orange or brown in colour, they may be infected with Phytophtora austrocedrae.

Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of CSFT, said:- “The juniper bush is famously used in the Scottish gin industry as a key ingredient, but it also has an important role to play in the Scottish landscape and ecosystem of woodland areas.

“We’re asking local communities in West Lothian to keep an eye out for the species in their local area and if out and about across Scotland during the summer holidays, and to complete the Plantlife Scotland survey if they do spot it.”

To complete the survey, please visit http://www.plantlife.org.uk/

For more information about CSFT, please visit http://www.csft.org.uk

Follow CSFT on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook

Submitted by CENTRAL SCOTLAND FOREST TRUST

An online project to encourage people to get out and about in Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces, and Edinburgh Libraries digital services have been shortlisted for two top awards at the prestigious EUROCITIES awards.

‘Your Library, Your Edinburgh’ and ‘Edinburgh Outdoors’ have both been recognised for outstanding achievement by EUROCITIES members in the delivery of local activities or practices which improve the quality of life for citizens.

Entries are judged by an independent jury of five members from the thematic sector, academia, EU institutions, media and NGO.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, the city’s Transport and Environment Convener, said:- “These projects demonstrate how the Council is using digital and online platforms to engage with the people of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Outdoors makes use of the Council’s vast wealth of data on parks and green spaces and gives users access to it – allowing them to find out more about what Edinburgh’s outdoors has to offer. This has proved really popular and engaging, with over 1000 downloads of the app since we launched earlier this year.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “As increasing numbers of people carry out more of their day-to-day activities online, it is vital the Council continues to develop our technology to ensure our services keep pace with the modern world. Giving libraries services an extra dimension online has completely revolutionised how people borrow books and has refuelled an interest in local libraries that has seen a steady increase in visitor numbers over the last few years.”

EUROCITIES is the network of major European cities. Their members are the elected local and municipal governments of major European cities.

Your Library Your Edinburgh – Shortlisted in the Smart Governance Category

Edinburgh’s library services have gone digital. Responding to the growing demand for seamless 24/7 mobile and online access, ‘Your Library’ is a digital one-stop-shop bringing together the city’s library facilities with local information, services and activities. Aiming to become ‘the Google of Edinburgh’, citizens can use the site to search for anything from an eBook download to a local music group. Developing continually in cooperation with citizens and community groups, and complemented by a mobile app, the site draws in new library users, both electronically and physically, and helps bridge the digital divide by attracting traditional library users online with a growing range of innovative and interactive multimedia tools.

Edinburgh Outdoors – Shortlisted in the Smart Living Category

Getting out and about in Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces just got easier. At the end of 2012, the city launched an interactive website and mobile app to help citizens explore and make the most of the city’s green areas. They can use the service to record wildlife sightings, report problems and find out about local events and park information. For the council’s parks department, which hadn’t previously been engaged in new media, the exercise has paid off: it now boasts 16,500 page views, 700 android and iPhone downloads and 1000 Twitter followers. Citizens and community groups were involved from the outset to ensure the service was user-friendly and would achieve its goal of getting more citizens into local parks, promoting the city’s green heritage and protecting its biodiversity.

Edinburgh pupils collaborate in new fusion band  – Cycling classes – HMS Edinburgh- Edinburgh Zoo – Edinburgh Trams

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s education and outreach department, SCO Connect, has started a new initiative, SCO VIBE, an exciting fusion orchestra open to young musicians aged 11-18 years old living in Edinburgh.

Influenced by the group members and the musical styles that they love, SCO VIBE opens up what a conventional orchestra looks like, providing a forum where young people can engage in collaborative music-making, and inspiring them to have a life-long relationship with music.

Participation is free and open to all abilities and instruments, but centres around young people who may not traditionally engage with the work of the SCO or who may not have had opportunities to take part in other musical ensembles offered in the city.

Meeting during school holidays throughout the year, young people will write and perform their own music with the help of SCO players, Instrumental Music Instructors from the City of Edinburgh Council and students from Napier University and Edinburgh College.

The current summer course is taking place until 25 July and will involve 70 primary and secondary pupils from schools across the city including, Tynecastle, Drummond, Broughton, Trinity, Forrester, Leith, Wester Hailes Education Centre and Holy Rood clusters as well as Craigmount, Firhill and Currie clusters.

Lucy Forde, SCO Connect  Director said: “SCO Connect is thrilled to be providing young people of all backgrounds and abilities in Edinburgh with the opportunity to experience the excitement of making and performing music together.  We welcome all instruments at SCO VIBE from clarinets to keyboards, cellos to sitars, clarsachs to bass guitars and vocals.”

SCO VIBE is delivered in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and is supported by CashBack for Creativity with an award of £30,000. Creative Scotland’s CashBack for Creativity programme re-invests the monies seized from criminals back into cultural activities for young people across Scotland. The programme is supported by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities Initiative. The project has also received £15,500 from the Young Start Programme run by the Big Lottery Fund Scotland.

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Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative are running cycling classes in August. This is what their website says:-

“Do you know anyone who likes the idea of cycling but lacks the confidence to take to the road on two wheels?

We might be able to help. We are running Essential Cycling Skills Classes from our Bruntsfield shop. To encourage people to attend, we are only charging £15 for two hours of hands-on tuition.

Class Dates

9:00-11:00am Friday 16 August 2013

9:00-11:00am Sunday 18 August 2013

These classes will be especially tailored for beginner and returnee adult cyclists. Although they have a serious aim – to help make you a more self-confident cyclist – we do our best to make these courses engaging, enjoyable and fun.”

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HMS Edinburgh was decommissioned earlier this year and a petition to the UK government to ensure that the destroyer is berthed in Edinburgh as a museum piece has grown in strength. 1381 people have now signed in support of the bid to save the ship for the capital, and the petition remains open.

The organisers of the petition and Facebook group state that it might cost £700,000 to do all of this. It appears that the council will be expected to foot at least some of the bill.

The Lord Provost  announced a feasibility study  in June this year, although there has been no update as yet.

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Edinburgh Zoo is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. The website Our Town Stories which was created by Edinburgh’s Library Service has the whole story of how it was started by Thomas Gillespie and grew to be the home of the pandas 100 years later. Whether or not you agree with the role that zoos play in conservation and animal welfare, the zoo at Corstorphine is an important asset to our city, and the story is worth reading.

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The Transport Convenor Lesley Hinds has been to Dublin to have a look at the trams. Her article in The Edinburgh Evening News (sparkly new website EEN!) is fairly similar in its findings to one written by The Edinburgh Reporter for Guardian Edinburgh a couple of years back, but was accompanied by our own photographs and audio interview with the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The Dublin tram system is now being extended even further as there are signs all over the city that works will begin soon to link up the two individual tram lines so that they become a cross city route. They have set up a dedicated website to advise of the disruption which is inevitable during construction of the €368 project.

In Edinburgh there has been a stop start web presence for our tram project, with months when any news was very rare. But there is now a page on the council website here and a Twitter account which aims to keep you up to date. There are tours of the tram available to groups. Have you been yet? What did you think?

Today’s photo is of Ramsay Garden where the long-suffering residents are about to begin their month long front row seat position of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which begins next week.

This week’s photo is a lovely atmospheric shot of the Meadows, and comes from Helen Shardlow. Photography is Helen’s way of relaxing after the a hard day at work in financial services. ”It gets me out and about in Edinburgh”, said Helen, ”The Meadows (where this shot was taken) is one of my favourite places to photograph all year round”.

The Stockbridge Photography Club is a non-profit photography club that aims to operate in a different way from the traditional photography club mold.
Sadly, after the closure of our venue, our regular meetings are somewhat nomadic, but regardless of where we are, we discuss our photos over a cup of coffee and learn about the month’s theme.

Outside of this, we arrange photowalks and trips to various locations and landmarks in and around Edinburgh, providing our members with something interesting to photograph, whilst always having someone on hand to answer any questions.

More info about the club is at http://www.facebook.com/stockbridgephotoclub or follow us on Twitter @stockbridgepics

Submitted by Stockbridge Photography Club

Venue: Hunt & Darton Cafe (Venue 172)
Dates/Times: Starts 10.00 9 Aug, ends 16.00 10 Aug (30 hours)
Bedside conversations: Aug 9 13.00, 17.00, 21.00, Aug 10 14.00 (all 45 mins)
Liz Crow/Hix Productions /Escalator East to Edinburgh present:
BEDDING OUT

Exhibited beyond a red rope barrier, a woman lies in her bed for 30 hours in Hunt & Darton Cafe

Bedding Out is a 30-hour durational piece that has emerged from the current welfare benefits overhaul that threatens many with poverty. A propagandist campaign that has seen disability hate crime leap by 50%.

At set times on both days audience members of the public are invited to gather round the bed to talk about the work, its backdrop and its politics.

‘Bedding Out is a performance in which I take my private self and make it public, something I have not done in over 30 years’ says artist Liz Crow. ‘In a gallery, over a period of two days, I will perform the other side of my fractured self, my bed-life. Since the public me is so carefully constructed, this will be a kind of un-performing of myself. I want to make a twilight existence visible. But more, I want to show that what many people see as contradiction, what they call fraud, is only the complexity of real life.’

Bedding Out has also been performed at SPILL festival and Salisbury Arts Centre where the piece was set over 48 hours. A live feed was viewed in over 50 countries, generating further interest and sparking debate around the current welfare system for people with disabilities.

Liz Crow is a writer-director working with film, performance audio and text. Interested in drama, life stories and experimental work, she is drawn to the potential of storytelling to trigger change. Through a four-year NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) fellowship, she explored ways to combine her creative practice and political activism.

Liz’s work has been shown at Tate Modern and the British Film Institute as well as on television and at festivals internationally. In 2009 Liz appeared on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth with her controversial and celebrated work, Resistance. Bedding Out has been commissioned as part of Disability Arts Online’s Diverse Perspectives project which is commissioning eight disabled artists across the UK to make a new artwork. Working closely with host organisations, artists will produce work that sparks conversations and debate about the Creative Case for Diversity.

‘Dear Liz, Bravo! Your spirit shines’ Yoko Ono

Bedding Out has been selected for Escalator East To Edinburgh. Each year Escalator, East to Edinburgh helps artists and arts organisations to raise their profile and perform to new audiences as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Submitted by Simon Franklin

Royal baby – Edinburgh libraries and Malawi – Upgrading of public loos – Legionnaire’s outbreak – New Bishop to be announced tomorrow

So the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had their baby boy.  The new Royal family left the London hospital this evening where the, as yet unnamed baby, was born at 16.24 yesterday afternoon. The baby is third in line for the throne meaning that there will be a line of three kings, with Charles and William ascending to the throne before the newborn baby.

We all know this of course since the news has been awash with Royal baby trivia.

What we want to know is this. Who else was born yesterday? Did you have a baby or is there a new baby in your family? Then tell us about it! And of course you might send us photos and tell us any names you have chosen ….

theedinburghreporter@gmail.com

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An innovative partnership between Edinburgh Libraries and APSTAR has seen over fifty boxes of withdrawn library stock donated to establish the first community library in the Mzimba District of Malawi.

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The Council is to refurbish seven public toilets in Edinburgh’s city centre to bring them up to modern standards.

Hibs have announced that a minute’s applause to mark the passing of all-time great Lawrie Reilly will take place ahead of Thursday’s Europa League second qualifying round tie against Malmo.

A statement published on the club’s website said: “Everybody associated with the club was saddened by the news that Lawrie, a passionate supporter and universally popular former player had passed away on Monday morning.

“After consulting UEFA, the club is pleased to confirm that there will be a minute’s applause scheduled to take place before kick-off – an opportunity for the Easter Road crowd to praise the contribution made by our greatest ever centre forward.

In addition, the players will wear black armbands in respect to the one-club man, who graduated from the Easter Road Terraces to become Hibernian’s number nine.

A further celebration of Lawrie’s life will take place at the opening SPL fixture against Motherwell on Sunday 4 August, kick off 1.15pm.

Meanwhile tributes continue to flood in, and Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, fittingly speaking ahead Scotland’s friendly against England at Wembley, said:  “I used to see Lawrie regularly when I went to Easter Road. He was a big hero of my father and it’s not great news. But he has left us with some fantastic memories.

“He scored five times against England but, even though I met him so many times, he never mentioned that. It’s a measure of how much a gentleman he was that he never mentioned that.

“Great players never tell you what they did – people already know. And he was a great player, that’s for sure.”

Former captain Pat Stanton used to sit next to Lawrie behind the directors box at Easter Road for the home games said: “Lawrie did great things for Scotland but he was above all a Hibs man who played football to the best of his ability, for the club he loved,” adding “Even the Hearts fans all greatly respected him.”

Pat’s belief was confirmed on the Hearts’ Fans’ Forum ‘Jambo Kickback’ where a thread entitled ‘Lawrie Reilly passes away’ has over 130 comments, all without exception showing respect and offering their condolences.

Many had met him at the annual Willie Bauld dinner where he was a regular attender, and some fans even called for a minute’s applause before the next Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle.

On Hibs-net, over 300 comments were posted on the thread entitled RIP Lawrie Reilly, with around 70 on a post entitled ‘Tribute to Lawrie Reilly.’ Many Hibs’ fans are calling for a statue of the Famous Five to be situated outside the stadium and the club say that they will look at this further down the line.

Over 100 comments were left on the ‘Lawrie Reilly Rest In Peace’ thread on the Hibees Bounce Forum.

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following an indecent assault at a business premises last week.

The incident happened around 11.30am on Thursday 18th July at the Lava store on Cockburn Street.

A 22-year-old woman was working inside alone when a man entered.  After spending a few minutes within the shop, he approached the woman from behind and touched her inappropriately before she challenged him and he made off down Cockburn Street and into Craig’s Close.

The victim reported the matter to police yesterday (Monday) and officers are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward,

The suspect is described as having a tanned complexion, 40-50-years-old, 6ft tall with an average build but with a beer belly and dark shaved hair. He was wearing a white shirt, dark trousers, smart black shoes and spoke with a Scottish accent.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The woman was not injured as a result of this incident, but was understandably shaken.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who was in or around Cockburn Street on Thursday morning and remembers seeing anything suspicious.

“Similarly, anyone who recognises the description of the suspect, or who has any other information relevant to this investigation is also asked to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Contributed article

Two doctors, two professors, a book buyer, a toy salesman and a statistician walk into a bar … and will charm Edinburgh Festival Fringe audiences with their rich harmonies and rockin’ repertoire of tunes about love and loss, bar fights and breakups.

Twangdogs, a band of citizen-musicians from Chicago, bring their unique blend of ”country, rock ’n’ roll — and everything in between” to the Jazz Bar on 6-7 August. The band will perform at 10 pm both nights.

Their music is a satisfying stew of old-time rock ’n’ roll (Buddy Holly, Creedence Clearwater Revival), contemporary country (Little Big Town and Pistol Annies) and twang-inflected songs drawn from artists as diverse as Warren Zevon, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones.

Just don’t ask the Twangdogs to describe their music in a word or two. Guitarist/vocalist Rich Gordon might use the term ”alt-country,” while bandmate Merrie Viscarra (originally from Oklahoma, the country music heartland) thinks anything with the word ”country” in it doesn’t do justice to the diversity of the band’s material. Guitarist/vocalist Quincy Stringham describes Twangdogs’ repertoire as ”a rich blend of Americana over the past 50 years – folk, country, alt-country, good old rock ’n’ roll.”

If there’s a musical thread that ties Twangdogs’ show together, it runs through the many places where American country music crossed paths with rock ’n’ roll — whether that’s Lubbock, Texas (Buddy Holly), El Cerrito, California (CCR), Nashville, Tennessee (Little Big Town) or Cincinnati, Ohio (Pure Prairie League). The band also reaches beyond the U.S. to incorporate tunes from artists such as Kathleen Edwards (Canada) and Richard Thompson (the UK).

Twangdogs met in ensembles at Chicago’s historic Old Town School of Folk Music, where John Prine and Roger McGuinn (Byrds) once studied. An ensemble is basically a band that lasts for eight weeks — long enough for the students to learn nine or 10 songs, figure out how to play them as a group, and perform them live.

Three of the Twangdogs are long-time members of the school’s Grateful Dead Ensemble; the rest met in ensembles organized around themes such as brother acts (Bee Gees, the Kinks, Everly Brothers, Avett Brothers), Canadians (Barenaked Ladies, Leonard Cohen, Blue Rodeo, the Arcade Fire) and duets (Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner, Sonny & Cher, Johnny Cash/June Carter, Steve Earle/Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks). Keyboardist Jenny Macagba noticed how well her classmates’ voices, instruments and musical tastes complemented one another and suggested they try to make a band.

Since early 2012, Twangdogs have been playing regularly around Chicago, impressing audiences with their muscular sound and harmonious vocals. Every one of the Twangdogs has a demanding, more-than-full-time professional career outside of music, but they have found such pleasure in making music together that they have made the time to practice regularly and perform frequently.

Twangdogs are:
* Jack Garon (guitar, banjo, bass)
* Janna Henning (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass, vocals)
* Jenny Macagba (keyboards, guitar, vocals)
* Merrie Viscarra (guitar, vocals)
* Quincy Stringham (guitar, bass, vocals)
* Rich Gordon (guitar, bass, vocals)
* Steve Alspach (drums)

On their musical journey together, Twangdogs have become fast friends. They love to share their music and camaraderie with their fans.

“The whole Twangdog experience makes me happy and joyful,” Viscarra says.

Audiences at the Fringe will agree.

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SHOW DETAILS:

Twangdogs Country!
* 10-11:30 p.m., 6 August, The Jazz Bar
* 10-11:30 p.m., 7 August, The Jazz Bar

Tickets (edfringe.com): http://www.bit.ly/Tdogs

FOR MORE ABOUT TWANGDOGS:
* Fringe programme: http://www.bit.ly/Tdogs
* Band website: http://www.twangdogs.com
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/twangdogs
* Twitter: @twangdogs (http://www.twitter.com/twangdogs)
* YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/twangdogs
* Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/twangdogs

Press contact: Rich Gordon, richgor@gmail.com

Submitted by Rich Gordon

The whole of Scottish football is in mourning today with the sad news that the great Lawrie Reilly passed away overnight in hospital.

One of the finest footballers ever to play the beautiful game, Lawrie was born in Edinburgh on 26th October 1928, and grew up in a Hibs supporting family in Bryson Road on the west side of the city.

His father worked on the railways and as a schoolboy, Lawrie travelled by train to follow his beloved Hibs throughout the country.

As a youngster, he caught the attention of scouts whilst playing with Edinburgh Thistle where he once scored 106 goals in the team’s unbeaten run of 55 games, including a Scottish Juvenile Cup win.

Lawrie signed for Hibs in 1944 and made his first team debut in a 4-3 away victory against Kilmarnock in October 1945 at inside right to Gordon Smith.

Although failing to make the required number of appearances to qualify for a championship medal in the club’s title winning season of 1947-48, he had begun to make a reputation for himself and won the first of his 38 full appearances for Scotland against Wales in November 1948. He scored in Scotland’s famous 3-1 victory against England in 1949, the first of five goals in four consecutive appearances at the same venue, the first player to perform such a feat. His second goal in the final seconds of Scotland’s 2-2 draw in 1953 earned him the nickname ‘Last Minute Reilly’.

As a member of the legendary Famous Five attack, considered by many to be the countries best ever forward line, he won League Championship medals in 1951 and 1952, and was the club’s top goal-scorer in the seven consecutive seasons between 1950 and 1957.

During his career with the Famous Five whenever the team kicked off, a supporter; Charlie Anderson would roar’ Gie the ba’ tae Reilly’ and that famous phrase was included in the Hibs song by Hector Nichol. Years later, Lawrie attended Charlie’s 90^th birthday party at the Dockers’ Club in Leith.

A cartilage injury in 1957 failed to respond completely to treatment, leading to his premature retiral from the game, aged just 29, the following year. His last ever game was perhaps fittingly against old adversaries Rangers and he captained the  Hibs to a 3-1 victory at Easter Road only days before the 1958 Scottish Cup final.

After hanging up his boots, Lawrie wrote for the Scottish Sunday Express and Scottish Daily Express commenting on schoolboy football in the capital. He also ran The Bowlers Rest public house although pouring pints was the closest he ever came to alcohol, and eventually after 36 years in the licensing trade, he sold the popular bar, which became better known as ‘Reilly’s’ in 1992.

Much of his free time was taken up on the golf course where he enjoyed a fair amount of success, winning a number of tournaments, including the Broomieknowe championship twice and the Longniddy honours once. He also achieved an incredible six holes in one.

In 2005, Lawrie was inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame, and  also became a trustee of the Hibernian Historical Trust.

For the last few years of his life, Lawrie took his seat behind the director’s box in the upper west stand at Easter Road, before every home game and happily chatted to fans at half time, giving his informed opinion of the Hibs performance.

In his 253 league appearances for the club Lawrie scored 185 goals and 47 others in cup-ties.

Lawrie was the last surviving member of the Famous Five, and was idolised by the Hibs’ supporters, not only for his strength, bravery and endless energy on the field, along with his incredible alertness to any goal-scoring opportunity, but also his modesty, kindness, humour, and ability to make people feel at ease in his presence.

Club historian Tom Wright who has known Lawrie for almost 50 years told the Edinburgh Reporter: “This is a sad loss for Hibernian supporters to lose such a legendry player, but even more so to lose him as a person. He was an out and out gentleman who always had time to spend with the fans. He was popular to the end and a product of a bygone age where players played for the jersey. He played in the post war years which was the golden era for Scottish football.

“Lawrie was a modest man and always maintained that the defenders behind the Famous Five didn’t get the credit they deserved. He will be sadly missed.”

Club chairman Rod Petrie issued a statement on the official website: “”We all feel the loss of a true Hibernian great, but our hearts must go out first to Lawrie’s widow Iris and to his family. Our thoughts are with them at this sad time. The term legend gets bandied about, perhaps too easily, but Lawrie was a genuine legend.

“He grew up as a Hibernian fan and he spent his entire career with the Club he loved. He was undoubtedly one of the Club’s greatest ever players, revered by all who loved attacking and entertaining football. He was also one of Scotland’s greatest ever strikers.

“Lawrie retained his lifelong passion for the Club he graced as a player and was a regular attender at matches, a match day host and was one of the Club’s Champions. He will be sadly missed.”

On the 15th of October 2010 in association with the Hibernian Historical Trust, the Hibernian Former Players Association and the Hibernian Supporters Trust, Hibernian Football Club held its inaugural Hall of Fame Dinner officially recognising, celebrating and commemorating the players, managers and other worthy individuals who have made Hibernian FC what it is today.

All members of the Famous Five; Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond were inducted, along with Michael Whelahan, James McGhee, Harry Rennie, Hugh Shaw, Joe Baker, Pat Stanton, Arthur Duncan, Jackie McNamara, Harry Swan and Sir Tom Farmer.

During a question and answer session at the dinner, alongside his friend for former team-mate Eddie Turnbull, Lawrie uttered the famous quote which will never be forgotten by those present. “I was born a Hibs supporter and I’ll die a Hibs supporter.”

Sadly that day has arrived, but the memory of the great man will live on forever among those fortunate enough to have met him.

He is survived by wife Iris, son Lawrance and six grandchildren, Laura, Sam, Emma, Emma, Clare and Stuart.

The Edinburgh Reporter sends our deepest condolences to Lawrie’s family.

Councillor Norma Austin Hart, Vice-Convener of Culture and Sport, and Tamara Nyirenda from North Edinburgh charity, APSTAR, will be at Granton Library today packing up donated library stock to send to the Mzimba District in Malawi to establish their first community library.

Edinburgh Libraries have been working closely with APSTAR, an Edinburgh charity working to support people in the Mzimba District of Malawi, and are providing them with over fifty boxes of withdrawn library stock to help set up a library in the district.

Councillor Austin Hart said: “We were delighted to be approached by APSTAR about providing books to help establish the first community library in the Mzimba District. Our libraries service has been only too happy to help this worthwhile cause. The joy of reading and the benefits it can bring are universal and is something that unites people from all over the world.”

The books will be shipped out on Monday and sent with clothes and bedding provided by APSTAR.

APSTAR is a charitable organisation which was formed in 2004 after seeing so much suffering amongst the elderly and other vulnerable members of the community in Mzimba District extreme poverty, illness, hunger, malnutrition were prevalent in this section of the community.

Contributed article

Bethesda, Maryland USA-June 26, 2013- Ophiuchus Rising, a traveling theatre company from the greater DC area, will take their production of SPRING AWAKENING to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with performances on August 6th through 11th at 7:55pm at Paradise in Augustine’s the Sanctuary, venue 152.

Under the Direction of Christopher Gerken, the student cast and crew will perform the controversial hit musical SPRING AWAKENING, a show that delves into the societal and sexual tribulations of the adolescent experience. Among those troubled are: Moritz Steiffel, a young man who faces the pressures of academia full on; Melchior Gabor, a brilliant student upset with the society he was born into; and Wendla Bergman, an innocent girl who finds out that ignorance is not always bliss. The story celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy, and passion difficult to forget.

The company will perform SPRINGAWAKENING at the festival on the 6th to the 11th of August at 7:55pm at Paradise in Augustine’s venue 152. Located on George IV Bridge, only a minute away from the Royal Mile, at 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL. Tickets for festival performances are available online for £ 9.00 full price and £ 7.00 for concession. Stateside, Ophiuchus Rising will perform at the Daryl Shaw Auditorium July 26th and 27th in Bethesda Maryland.

SPRING AWAKENING is directed by Christopher Gerken, with music direction by Vince Lorusso, vocal direction by Haruka Nakagawa, and choreography by Debbie Clark. It is produced by Sara Wright.

Ophiuchus Rising is a semiprofessional theatre company comprised of over 30 student actors and staff. Director Christopher Gerken founded the company upon its first trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011, and since then has been focused on giving talented students the chance to experience theatre in a new and engaging way.

Submitted by Harry Cash

Ghost Bikes – Christmas Jumper – Tennis Tournament at Meadows Tennis Club – Wikileaks at The Filmhouse – Andrew Graham Dixon at the Fringe

Angered and shocked by the deaths of two people on bikes in the space of a week, a group of Edinburgh cyclists took action this morning on behalf of all cyclists in Scotland to draw attention to the latest tragedies. Two ‘ghost bikes’ – white-painted bikes which represent a fallen bike rider – were left outside the Scottish Parliament representing not just the two latest deaths, but the eight people, two of them children, killed on bikes already this year in Scotland. A memorial to all the fallen in the last five years is also being created.

Last month, figures were released showing that the number of cyclists killed on Scotland’s roads last year had risen, from seven in 2011 to nine in 2012 and, shockingly, looks set to rise again even more in 2013. This year, there have already been eight deaths, including 14-year-old Connor Shields and 79-year-old Douglas Brown. The Scottish Government has rejected calls made by Pedal on Parliament, public health experts and MSPs to increase the amount spent on cycling infrastructure, including safe, separated cycle tracks, to £20 per head. The recent Cycling Action Plan for Scotland also rejected calls for the implementation of ‘strict liability’ laws in civil cases where vulnerable road users are injured, claiming that, as road casualty figures were falling overall, there was no case to be made for it.

Ghost bikes have been used around the world to mark places where a fatal accident occurred, acting as both a memorial and a warning. Andy Arthur, who was one of the cyclists involved explained why theses ones were being installed at Holyrood instead, “the bikes are being brought to Parliament because we feel that the blame for these avoidable deaths must lie as much with the inaction of the Scottish government as with the drivers concerned. It is the political leadership in Holyrood who have the power and the budgets to do something about the safety of cycling, yet they seem to lack political will. By leaving the memorial in full view of Parliament we hope it will stir some our elected representatives to action, or else shame them for their inaction. It emerged spontaneously out of the real anger and hurt we felt at the news of yet another death this week – coming on top of the loss of two members of the Edinburgh Triathletes club in separate crashes this year”.

Sara Dorman, one of the organisers of Pedal on Parliament, said:- “Only two months ago 4,000 people pedalled on the Scottish Parliament to ask for just £100 million a year to make Scotland’s roads safer for everyone – from 8 to 80 – to cycle. Sadly, this year we’ve seen the death of an eight-year-old and someone who’s almost 80. Unfortunately, the state of our roads means that deaths are inevitable as bikes are regularly brought into conflict with fast-moving traffic. Despite the government finding £3bn to dual the A9 – supposedly on safety grounds – they’ve told us there’s no money to increase investment into safer cycling and all they’ve suggested is an information campaign urging mutual respect, the sort of campaign which has failed over and over in the past. It seems that there’s no sum too large to make the roads safer for driving, but when it comes to the safety of people on bikes, even children, then even the smallest sum is begrudged. We hope that Scotland’s politicians will see these memorials and show real leadership in making cycling safer for everyone.”

The bike(s) and monument will be installed this morning at 8am, by a delegation of Edinburgh’s cyclists outside the Parliament building.

This photo shows a ghost bike outside King’s Cross Station in memory of a cyclist killed there. Our main photo is courtesy of Chris Hill.

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During the hottest period that Scotland has seen for years, Save the Children is making a plea for donations of Christmas jumpers for their Edinburgh charity shops – in return for a free ice cream.

The charity are in their second year of their annual Christmas jumper day fundraiser – this year held on Friday December 13^th – and are desperate for festive wear for their shops.

Susie Dunstan, Save the Children’s Retail Manager for the East of Scotland said:-

“Whilst Scotland basks in temperatures of up to 32c, charity shops are already planning for the months ahead and at Save the Children, our Christmas preparation starts during the hottest months of the summer. We want to have plenty of Christmas jumpers to sell to our customers throughout Scotland to encourage them to take part this December. What better time to get rid of your woolly jumpers than right now when it’s just too hot to wear anything but a t-shirt?

“We don’t mind what they look like – decorated with snowflakes, reindeers or Santa Claus, adorned with tinsel or a more tasteful Fair Isle pattern, we simply love them all.

“Christmas Jumper Day is a simple concept – we’re asking people up and down the country to make the world better with a sweater by wearing a festive looking jumper and giving £1 to Save the Children. We hope that by offering the incentive of ice cream, we can get people to clear out their wardrobes and unload their bulky jumpers. Every jumper donated will win you an ice cream, create space in your closet, raise money for a vulnerable child, and in some months to come, will be spreading some festive cheer to someone else – everyone’s a winner!

Save the Children’s designer charity store, Mary’s Living and Giving shop, in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, will reward all jumper donations with a token that can be exchanged for an ice cream or ice lolly at any Margiotta store throughout the city. Mary’s Living and Giving, fronted by Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, opened in December 2010 and is one of Edinburgh’s busiest charity shops. The jumpers will be stored in their colossal safe downstairs – a relic of the former bank that was previously at the shop’s premises – and unveiled for sale in November. The appeal is being supported by a special Christmas Jumper display in their window during the months of July and August, complete with decorated trees and tinsel.

Local grocers Margiotta has supported Save the Children for years with coin collections and bag sales and bosses there have already confirmed that they’ll be taking part in Christmas Jumper day on December 13^th this year.

Christmas Jumper Day was held for the first time in December 2012 and saw the UK go Christmas Jumper crazy, with over 600,000 people taking part, including celebrities and politicians, which raised over £360k.

For more information about Christmas Jumper Day, please visit:

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day

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On Saturday 27 July from 1400-1630 Meadows City Tennis Club’s annual round robin singles event will take place – open to all members and non-members, male and female – also (aimed at players of reasonable standard, not complete beginners!)

Entry fee £4 to cover court hire costs, balls, prizes etc.
Great chance for non-members to come along and meet club members and learn more about the club.
www.meadowstennis.co.uk

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We Steal Secrets is on at the Filmhouse this afternoon just in case you need some diversion from the Royal baby saga.

This is the story of Wikileaks and Julian Assange who is still living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London more than a year after taking up residence there.

Tomorrow after the 5.45pm screening of the film, there will be an open discussion on the issues raised by the film, led by a representative of the Humanist Society of Scotland. Humanism is an ethical stance which asserts that we can lead good lives guided by compassion and reason, rather than religion or superstition. Humanists are vitally concerned with issues that affect our world.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdezJrNaL70]

***

This week we send our congratulations to Open Champion Phil Mickelson for a fantastic performance at Muirfield and also Edinburgh and Leith Bowling Association for winning the coveted Andrew Hamilton Trophy. Well done to Spartans for reaching the Ramsden Cup with an aggregate win over Threave Rovers.

We look forward to Hibs’ Europa League qualifying tie with Malmo on Thursday, and  look at the behind the scenes activity at Tynecastle.

Golf

Phil Mickelson came from five strokes back to clinch his first Open title at Muirfield. The 43-year-old triumphed by three shots from Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, with English pair Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood four back, alongside Australia’s Masters champion Adam Scott

The American, who won the Scottish Open, last week, birdied four of the last six holes. Afterwards he said: “This is such an accomplishment because I never knew whether I’d be able to develop my game to play links golf. I played arguably the best round of my career, and shot the round of my life. It’s such a difficult six-hole finish, I putted so good. It feels amazing. The range of emotions I feel are as far apart as possible after losing the US Open. But you have to be resilient in this game. These last couple of weeks, these last couple of months, I’ve played some of the best golf of my career.”

The final scoreboard read:

3: Mickelson (US) Par: Stenson (Swe)+1: Scott (Aus), Poulter (Eng), Westwood (Eng)+2: Matsuyama (Jpn), Z Johnson (US), Woods (US)Selected: +3: Mahan (US)+4: Cabrera (Spa)+5: Jimenez (Spa)+7: Garcia (Spa), Clarke (NI)

Football

Hibs face an uphill struggle to progress to the Europa League group stages after a two goal defeat to Malmo in Sweden on Thursday.

Hibs started brightly, and summer signing Owain Tudur Jones, making his competitive debut, went close with a header from a Liam Craig free kick in the sixth minute. The Swedish club went ahead three minutes later, when James McPake was booked for a foul just outside the box and Malmo’s captain Jiloan Hamed sent the resultant free kick into the top corner of the net, leaving Ben William helpless.

Malmo doubled their advantage a minute later when Emil Forsberg cut the ball back from the left flank and found Magnus Eriksson who slotted the ball home.

Hibs fought back and continued to create chances, with Tudur Jones going close with a header from a corner while fellow debutant Rowan Vine saw his well struck effort cannon off the inside of the post.

The return leg is on Thursday at Easter Road, and the winners of the tie will play Premiership side Swansea City.

Hearts

Hearts administrators BDO have emailed the three interested parties, Foundation of Hearts, Bob Jamieson’s HMFC Limited and Angelo Massone’s Five Stars Football Limited – requesting proof of funding.

The Foundation of Hearts will submit financial documents to BDO by the middle of next week, which demonstrate that an initial £2m cash is available from investors for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).  Converted monthly pledges from supporters will provide the remaining £3.75m in working capital to run the club for the next three years.

HMFC Limited and Five Stars Football Limited have offered £1.8m for control of the club plus £3.2m in working capital for three years.

Bob Jamieson has denied being in dispute with his American backers, Club 9 Sports, over funding for his £5m offer for Hearts.

Massone’s bid is around £4m; however it is debatable whether he would be considered a “fit and proper person” to run a football club under Scottish Football Association guidelines on owners.

His offer does not include a plan for working capital.

Any party which is unable to provide proof of funding will no longer be considered a serious bidder by BDO, who hope to name a preferred bidder within the next three to four weeks.

Meanwhile, the disciplinary hearing for Hearts entering administration has been postponed until August 1 due to unforeseen circumstances.

On the field goals from Kevin McHattie, Billy King, Jamie Walker, Ryan Stevenson and Gary Oliver helped Hearts to a 5-0 victory over Raith Rovers at Starks Park In Saturday Hearts drew 0-0 with Queen of the South..

Ramsden Cup

Congratulations go to Spartans after their 4-3 aggregate win against Threave Rovers sets up a 1st Round tie against Ramsdens Cup holders Queen of the South in Dumfries next Saturday.

The Ainslie Park side travelled to Meadows Park with a 4-2 advantage from the first leg. The game was played in very hot conditions, but both teams gave 100%.

After a goalless first half, Spartans almost grabbed the lead when a Motion free-kick was floated into the Threave penalty box, with MacKinnon inches away from connecting with his head.

Robbie Ross then went close after good work from Jack Beesley as Spartans looked to be in control however it was Threave Rovers who scored against the run of play in the 72^nd minute with a well taken strike from Fyfe.

Scott Bennett then made a fantastic save from a Wilby free kick as Rovers fought hard for a second goal, but Spartans almost wrapped it up on the break when Beacher’s shot was well saved by the Rovers’ keeper and when the final whistle sounded, the Spartan Army who had made the journey from the capital cheered on loudly from around the ground, knowing they’d be making another road trip next Saturday.

Spartans Team: Bennett, Main, Blaikie (Anderson 72), Sivewright, MacKinnon, Cenerrazzo, Motion, Whatley, Ross, Beacher & Beesley.  Subs: Anderson, O’Donnell, Gray & Jackson (GK).

Speedway

Newcastle Diamonds managed to get revenge for being knocked out of the cup earlier in the season by beating The Scotwaste Monarchs 41-52 on Friday night at Armadale.

The pair meet again in Newcastle on Sunday.

Boxing

Lochend’s Lewis Benson, 69kg Stephen Tiffney 56kg and Tommy Philbin 81kg along with Craigmillar’s Jason Easton (64kg) flew out to the Russian capital with their Scottish team-mates to compete in the Valeri Popenchenko Memorial tournament, a knock-out event which will see some of the best amateur boxers in Europe go head to head.

The first day’s action saw Jason Easton take on Maksim Akopov (Russia). Jason won the first round, however his opponent won the next two to secure the victory.

In addition, Tommy Philbin fought Sergii Litvinov (Russia), but the Russian proved to be too strong and took all three rounds.

The tournament is still on-going and a roundup of the results will appear next week.

Bowls

Huge congratulations to Edinburgh and Leith Bowling Association for winning the coveted Andrew Hamilton Trophy for the first time since 2001, beating Ayrshire North127-100 in the final at West Kilbride.

Police Scotland has praised the public for their good behaviour during the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield.

Many thousands of spectators visited East Lothian over the four days of The Open, and police were called to deal with only a handful of incidents in that time.

A total of nine people were arrested for a variety of offences, including fraudulent ticket sales and shoplifting.

A joint transport management operation undertaken by Police Scotland in partnership with East Lothian Council ensured that local roads ran smoothly, and allowed for the safe transportation of spectators to and from Muirfield.

Superintendent Phil O’Kane from Police Scotland has led the policing operation at The Open.

He said: “Our officers have enjoyed a fantastic response from the public as they carried out their duties, and I want to thank people for their good behaviour and co-operation, which has enhanced what has been a memorable event for East Lothian.

“The policing operation has been focused on keeping people safe, and I am glad to say that our officers have only had to deal with a small number of incidents during The Open, mostly for minor offences.

“In addition, the transport management plan put in place to allow for travel to and from the course has worked very well, and this is in large part thanks to the co-operation we have enjoyed from the public, as well as assistance from partner agencies.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many partner agencies who undertook a variety of roles, both during the many months of planning that was undertaken to prepare for The Open, and during the Championship itself.”

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A said: “We would like to thank the public for their co-operation and understanding during The Open Championship. They have arrived in large numbers each day and have been well behaved throughout the week.

“We have worked closely with a number of agencies including Police Scotland and East Lothian Council and this has helped ensure the smooth running of the Championship.”

The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council, Angela Leitch, also highlighted the success of the multi-agency partnership approach: “Preparing for an international sporting event on this scale was a huge task and I am delighted that it has been such a great success.

“The Council has worked with the R&A, the Police, transport providers and a range of other partners over many months to ensure that operationally, everything went as smoothly as possible. Special thanks are due however, to the numerous local businesses and residents who did so much to ensure that our visitors had such a great time here and will be left with memories of a superb event, held in the very best of weather on Scotland’s outstandingly beautiful Golf Coast.”