Dame Elizabeth Blackadder was awarded the 2012 Edinburgh Award and it was presented to her at the end of March. Arthur Watson who is the President of the Royal Scottish Academy had nominated her and talked to The Edinburgh Reporter about his reasons for doing so.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKNjATBB0Go]

Eric Johnson, the critically acclaimed American electric guitarist, hailed by Joe Bonamassa as “one of the greatest guitar players of all time,” starts his 6-date UK tour at London’s o2 Shepherds Bush Empire tomorrow and will appear in Edinburgh this Friday 5 April 2013.

The UK tour will showcase material from his new album Up Close- Another Look, which is released this week. Eric’s stage time for each of the UK shows is 8.30pm.

Guitar Player magazine describes Johnson as “one of the most respected guitarists on the planet.” His platinum-selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom produced the single Cliffs of Dover, for which he won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In 1996 he teamed up with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai for the original G3 tour that garnered a worldwide audience with the platinum selling CD/DVD. Johnson plays Fender Stratocasters and Gibson ES-335 electric guitars through a triple amp setup, consisting of vintage Fender and Marshall amplifiers.

Edinburgh Queen’s Hall
Friday 5th April
Tickets: £25 / Box Office: 0131 668 2019
85 – 89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
Doors 6.30pm / Stage 7.30pm
www.thequeenshall.net

Essential Edinburgh has been in action for five years, and now a renewal ballot is to be held among business owners in the city centre to allow them to continue to work after the end of June 2013.

So what does Essential Edinburgh actually do?

Business owners in the city centre area pay a levy to the body who then look after a range of services from cleaning chewing gum off the pavements to running events in the city centre designed to bring in more customers. Essential Edinburgh has a budget of around £1m per year to make the city centre attractive and safe, and works separately from the council. This is what is known as a Business Improvement District, and there are others in the city, one in the Grassmarket and the other just starting in South Queensferry, aiming to give local businesses a voice in what goes on around them.

Essential Edinburgh organise a Clean Team to clean up litter on the streets, and have masterminded a facelift for Rose Street including the installation and care of the poetry flower planters. They have also installed new signage in areas of the city centre and they use their collective purchasing ability to save money for all their members. Even if a business in the area has not voted they still have to contribute. It is a majority of the businesses in the area stretching from the West End to the East End who are eligible to decide Essential Edinburgh’s future, beginning next week.

This was the body behind the refurbishment of St Andrew Square Garden, and so if it does not continue to exist then the future of that civic space might be in doubt, as well as all of their other activities in the square and surrounding streets.

Last week The Edinburgh Evening News reported that Essential Edinburgh were to petition the council to have bye-laws passed making begging illegal on Edinburgh streets. A movement has sprung up to counter such a petition and you will find information about it here.  The petition currently has 21 supporters.

The Independent also published an opinion article claiming that getting rid of the beggars does not deal with the problem of the homeless on our streets, and that to try to do so is both ‘naive and heartless’, but the idea behind the proposal was perhaps not as heartless as it first sounded. The Edinburgh Reporter asked Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh about it during an interview with him.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM4pgifh-PE]

This is the document produced by Essential Edinburgh which will tell you all the initiatives they hope to undertake on re-election. They also have more information on their website.

Essential Edinburgh Business Plan

A map of the BID area is here.

TIM HENMAN & GORAN IVANISEVIC CONFIRMED TO PLAY AT BRODIES CHAMPIONS OF TENNIS

Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic are to play at the Brodies Champions of Tennis in Edinburgh, it was confirmed today. The pair, who famously met in the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2001 before the Croat went on to win the title as a wildcard, will reprise their rivalry at the first ever ATP Champions Tour event in Scotland, which is to be held at the home of the Edinburgh Academicals from 20-23 June 2013.’
Tim Henman said:- ‘I’m really looking forward to returning to Edinburgh to compete in the Brodies Champions of Tennis event. The last time I played in Scotland was at the National Junior Championships at Craiglockhart and it will be a real pleasure to come back and play in front of some very knowledgeable supporters.

‘Andy Murray’s success has put Scotland firmly on the tennis map and the level of support he has received demonstrates that there is a great passion for tennis in Scotland. It is fantastic that Brodies LLP has come on board to sponsor the event in its inaugural year and I am looking forward to being a part of what is shaping up to be a first class event.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Goran again,” said Henman. “Our match in 2001 in the semi’s at Wimbledon was such a unique match and such a special match because it was of huge importance to both of us. If there’s one match that people want to talk about with me it’s probably that one.  l look forward to playing him again, and hopefully beating him this time.”

Ivanisevic is equally excited by the prospect of once again playing the man that he beat on his way to that life-changing Wimbledon title. He said:- “Whenever I see Tim I think of that match.  It’s going to be great to play him again, especially in Scotland.  I have always wanted to visit Scotland, home of Andy Murray!  It will be great to see Edinburgh, a city that I have heard so much about, and I am looking forward to competing for the title. I know John McEnroe is going to be there as well so it should be a fun week, it always is when John is around!”

Tournament Director Viki Mendelssohn said:  ‘The quality of the playing field I am bringing together is turning up some mouth-watering rematches. Alongside John McEnroe, to have players as outstanding as Goran and Tim – two of the most popular and passionate players of their time – shows our commitment to producing a highly competitive Tennis event for spectators.’

Bill Drummond, Managing Partner at Brodies LLP said ‘ The calibre of players that are confirmed so far is outstanding. Both Tim and Goran are fantastic ambassadors for the game and still playing great tennis. If drawn together they will provide a real cutting edge to the playing schedule,  I am sure spectators would love to see a rematch of that memorable Wimbledon semi-final.’

Tickets are now on sale at www.championsoftennis.com.

The winner was not at home but his wife, Mary,  was delighted to take the cheque on his behalf.

It was an early Easter treat for one lucky player from Edinburgh over the weekend after scooping £10,000 thanks to charity lottery, People’s Postcode Lottery.

Lucky winner Chris Murray, from East Claremont Street, sadly wasn’t at home to receive his cheque, but his wife Mary was more than happy to discover how much her husband, who has been playing with their postcode EH7 4JR since 2007, had won.

Mary and the couple’s gorgeous dog, Alfie, greeted Street Prize presenter, Judie McCourt, and said:- “I am just so completely surprised,” said Mary. “This is just a fantastic amount for us to win and it really will make such a difference to us.

“I think we will probably use the money to have some renovations done to the house, but we will definitely have to treat ourselves to something a wee bit more exciting. We’ll start the celebrations tonight with a glass or two of champagne.”

Mary, who is a primary school teacher at Leith Walk Primary School, can’t wait to tell her class about her exciting win. “I will definitely have to take in some pictures from today,” said Mary. “I think I will have to frame the cheque and put it up in our caravan.”

Mary also suggested that all of her neighbours should join up to play with People’s Postcode Lottery:- “My neighbours should definitely play and next time they could be the one’s getting a visit!”

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador and Street Prize presenter Judie McCourt, who presented Mary with her cheque said; “This is great news for Mary and Chris. Chris phoned home whilst we were there and Mary was teasing him that they had just won £5. She was so excited to be able to tell him that they had won £10,000.”

Players like Mary and Chris aren’t the only winners with People’s Postcode Lottery. Good causes throughout Great Britain are benefitting every day thanks to the continued support of players who have raised over £23.9 million for charities and good causes. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have funded 72 projects in Edinburgh, totalling £614,763 in support for good causes throughout the city.

Sign up at www.postcodelottery.co.uk  today for your chance to be a lucky winner like Chris and Mary Murray.

Pictures by Cate Gillon for Postcode Lottery, tel: 07894664288, email: photography@categillon.com

Where’s Edinburgh’s newest meeting venue?

Take an educated guess.

If you are looking for a new and alternative setting for your next meeting, the answer might lie within an Edinburgh university. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh now has a new dedicated meeting and conference facility. Whether you’re organising a professional conference, seminar or workshop or are holding a social group gathering or a celebratory event, Queen Margaret University can offer a comfortable, attractive space at its purpose built campus located just off the A1.

Accommodating up to 60 people, the new meeting room, which offers views over the water feature and landscaped grounds, has high-tech facilities including AV, plasma screens, interactive smart board and computer. To ensure the smooth running of your event, the room comes with in-house technical support.

Sarah Whigham, Conferences & Events Manager at Queen Margaret University, said: “We are delighted to now have a dedicated meeting space which is available all year round. The new meeting room overlooks the campus grounds and offers easy access to the outside decking area. The new room opens out onto our piano bar area which offers a private catering space for social gathering space during events”.

The University events’ team can also provide meeting spaces for significantly larger scale events including conferences, networking meetings and weddings. It also has grounds, buildings and specialist clinical and research spaces for film shoots.

To discuss your space and catering needs call Sarah Whigham on T: 0131 474 0000 (say ‘EVENTS’) or E: swhigham@qmu.ac.uk; www.qmu.ac.uk

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after an elderly man was assaulted and robbed over the weekend.

The incident happened on Saturday 30 March 2013, in the South Gyle area.   The victim, a 71-year-old man, was walking on a footpath to the rear of South Gyle Mains around 8am when he was assaulted and robbed of a four-figure sum of cash.

He suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

The suspect is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, in his early 20s, clean-shaven and has an athletic build.  He was wearing a dark blue hooded top and light blue jeans, with a scarf covering his face.

Detective Inspector Neil Spowart said: “The victim is still in hospital receiving treatment for injuries sustained in this assault, and we are appealing for any information that can help us identify the suspect.

“Anyone who witnessed the assault, or who was in the area of South Gyle Mains on Saturday morning and noticed the suspect there, should contact police.

“Enquiries have suggested that the suspect may also have been in the area early last week, and we want anyone who recognises his description, or who has any other information that can assist our enquiries, to get in touch immediately.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

No it is not an April Fool prank. It is really true. We all know that rail fares are decidedly complex, but the fact is that some fares from Edinburgh are to go down next month following a review by Scotrail.

Rail fares for more than a quarter of a million journeys a year are being cut after Transport Scotland and ScotRail worked together to tackle decades-old fare ‘anomalies’. The new pricing structure will get rid of more than 1,500 of these inconsistencies, ensuring customers will find it much easier to access the cheapest fare for their journey.

This will reduce split-ticketing and means it will almost always be cheaper for a customer to buy one end-to-end ticket rather than two separate tickets for the same journey.

And, thanks to £2.28m input from the Scottish Government,  fares will be reduced up to as much as 41 per cent on certain routes  from 19 May 2013. As a general rule of thumb, end to end fares will be at least 50p less than the cheapest ‘two ticket’ option.

Here are some of the fares affected:-

Edinburgh-Aberdeen
Anytime return: Was £80.80. From 19 May £59.50.
Off-peak return: Was £56.50. From 19 May £51.60.

Edinburgh-Inverness
Anytime return: Was £63.60. From 19 May £57.00
Off-peak return: Was £58.10. From 19 May £52.10

Edinburgh-Dundee
Anytime single: Was £23.60. From 19 May £16.80

Edinburgh-Glasgow
Anytime single: Was £13.40. From 19 May £12.80

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:- “We have always been clear on our commitment to getting more people on Scotland’s trains and a major factor in that has been ensuring affordable and easily understood fare structures.

“It became apparent that, due to historic pricing regimes in the franchise specification agreed by the previous administration in 2004, passengers had to navigate their way through a fares database to find the best deal.

“That’s not what we want. We want a fares system which is quick and easy to use and which provides the cheapest fare possible. And that is what we and ScotRail are now delivering.”

Today’s announcement marks the latest in a series of moves by the Scottish Government to  keep fares as low as possible now, as well as ensuring that in the next franchise peak fares can’t rise above inflation and off peak tickets rise by even less to bring an end to the incessant cycle of inflation-busting fares rises and encourage greater rail use in the off-peak.

Transport Minister Keith Brown also announced in December that he had negotiated a cap with FirstScotrail so peak fares in 2014 and 2015 will not go up by any more than inflation and off peak fares could be frozen if inflation stays below 3.5 per cent.

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail said:-“This is another example of us putting the customer first , by tackling the fare inconsistencies that are most prevalent in Scotland. Transport Scotland’s welcome support means we have accelerated our efforts in this area, providing easier access to best value rail fares.”

Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald, who sits on the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, said:

“Today’s announcement will be hugely welcome news, particularly for those passengers who will see their fares fall by as much as 41% – it means cheaper fares across some 275,000 rail journeys.

“Eliminating the loopholes and inconsistencies that have been part of the hugely complicated rail fare system for decades – and was in the franchise specification agreed by the previous Labour/Lib Dem Executive – is a very positive step forward that will save money for rail users across Scotland.

“Today’s announcement ends the unfair fares legacy of the previous Labour/Lib Dem Scottish Executive.

“This new system will ensure that passengers can easily get the best fare available, and help to encourage more people to travel by rail.

“It is excellent news, and underlines the SNP Government’s commitment to ensuring rail passengers get the best deal possible.”

WORK TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER ON NEW PUBLIC PARK FOR THE CITY

Details have been announced of a new park to be created in Edinburgh on the site of the former Drum Brae Primary School playing fields in the west of the city.

Work is set to begin this summer on Buttercup Farm Park, the first public park to be created in Edinburgh since Craigmillar Castle Park at the turn of the millennium.

The new park design will accommodate a mix of uses and includes tree-lined avenues, an outdoor gym, meadow areas and play facilities for children of all ages.

The design was drawn up following extensive local consultation and the name, Buttercup Farm Park, was chosen by the community to reflect the site’s history. In the early 20^th century the site was the location of Buttercup Poultry Farm – the UK’s largest poultry farm at the time with over 200,000 laying hens.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, the city’s Transport and Environment Convener, said: -“This will be a modern, community park with exciting new features to make Drum Brae playing fields a publicly accessible green space again. We received huge, overwhelming local support for naming the new park after Buttercup Poultry Farm and it’s extremely exciting that work will soon begin to transform this area.”

The £235,000 project, of which £35,642 has been contributed by landfill tax distributors WREN, will be completed in two phases. The initial phase of works, to begin in the summer, will see the creation of a number of pathways – including a central avenue and circular path bordering the site.

In addition landscaping works will plant a number of feature trees, including the reinstatement of the Dunblane Memorial trees. Also seating areas and play equipment for toddlers and juniors will be installed.

The second phase of works to the new park is estimated to start in 2014/15 and will include the installation of an outdoor gym, ball court, play facilities for older children and a central art feature.

Save City Park – Moredun – Ceilidh Club – Edinburgh Zoo – Libraries

A planning application was lodged in March to develop the land behind Ferry Road. The plans show 7 flats with car parking. The land has long been used as a football pitch, and the Save City Park campaign has grown up to try and stop the development. You have until tomorrow, 3 April 2013, if you wish to object to the proposal.

The intention was to replace the pitch with the new facilities at Ainslie Park which has been achieved, and as a result of that SportScotland have lodged an email which states that they will not offer any objection to the development, despite the potential loss of the pitch.

The plans are on the Council website here.

Details of how to object are on the Save City Park website here.

***

The spotlight is on Moredun from today and for the rest of the week, with combined efforts from Police and council Neighbourhood Teams to make the area a nicer, safer place to live.

Activities start this morning:-

Residents are invited to attend the following “drop-in” sessions, to hear more and to make their views heard:

• Tuesday 2 April,10am to 2pm: Police and Fire and Rescue Services will provide information on Cycle Safety and fire safety advice at Moredun library.

• Wednesday 3 April, 2pm to 4pm: Staff from the South Neighbourhood local office, CastleRock/Edinvar Housing Association and Neighbourhood Support Service will provide advice and assistance on Welfare Benefit Reform at the Goodtrees Neighbourhood centre.

• Thursday 4 April  10am to 2pm: Police and Fire and Rescue Services will provide information on Driver and Pedestrian Safety and Fire prevention at Moredun library.

• Friday 5 April, 12pm to 2pm: Police will provide cycle safety advice and bike marking at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

• Saturday 6 April, 10am to 4pm: Police and Fire and Rescue Services will provide Crime Prevention information and Fire Safety Advice at Moredun library.

***

On Tuesday we have the ceilidh club @ Summerhall where we have the Matthew MacLennan ceilidh band playing. Tickets are £6 on the door or in advance from the Summerhall website  with everything kicking off at 8:30pm. We have made a slight change to the ticket selling with 70 ticket s available for advanced online sales and the remaining tickets which will be available from the Summerhall box office from around 7:30pm on the night of the ceilidh.

***

Going out for the day to the Zoo? Here is their map of all the attractions, built up over the last 100 years. It does not seem that the pandas are off limits yet but you do need to book a slot to go and see them. They will be secluded from public view when the moment is right for mating….if that ever happens!

October Park Map2012

***

You can also go to the Central Library to see the exhibition of the Zoo over the last 100 years, but the Scottish and Edinburgh collections at the library are closed for the next 12 weeks for refurbishment. If you want old copies of the Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News during this time you can find those in the Reference Library.

The exhibition is described by the Zoo:-

“Edinburgh’s Central Library will be hosting a special exhibition looking back at the last 100 years of Edinburgh Zoo. Packed with photos, memorabilia, stories and clippings, this is a fantastic opportunity to find out how the Zoo has grown and changed over the past century. We will also be taking a look into what the future holds in store for the Zoo.

The exhibition will be open from 3 April to 31 May 2013 at the Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

It is free to view and open during the library’s normal opening hours. Please visit the Central Library’s website for opening times.

The exhibition will move to the zoo from the beginning of June, where you’ll be able to see it during your visit.”

 

Today at Oxgangs Library there is an activity for 11-16 year olds called Canvas Tattoo Art. Call 0131 529 5549 or email oxgangs.library@edinburgh.gov.uk to book your place.

artroom32 is on the move!

artroom32, an inspiring and creative arts & crafts studio has moved premises…and now artroom32 will be based at 44 Ferry Road in Leith.

artroom32 runs arts and crafts classes for children and young people (2 – 15 years) who enjoy being creative, inventive and basically like having arty, messy fun!  Daily weekday classes are split into general age groups but each session can be tailored to meet the needs of all the budding artists with lots of one-to-one tuition and a sneaky bit of art history thrown in…..There are also Saturday classes, holiday workshops and arty parties available on site or in the home.

Established in 2012 by Louise Campbell-Rogers, an artist and mother of two children, she is well equipped to manage the creative spills and splodges of little artists.

Louise is really excited about moving to the new premises:-“artroom32 has been a brilliant adventure so far and I can’t wait to see what kind of masterpieces are produced in this new space.  The children are a constant source of amazement to me and I hope that this new bigger venue will allow them to further explore their creative skills, learn new techniques and have a whole heap of fun!”

FIRST INTERVIEW TIPS

You have applied for the job of your dreams and the good news is that you have been offered an interview.

This could be the turning point of your career – and your life, so what should you do, to make sure you stand out from the rest?

Preparation is crucial, to demonstrate your interest in the company and the role. So, learn as much as possible about the company in advance and plan your questions carefully. This could make all the difference between being selected for a second interview – or not.

For instance, asking the company about its culture and how it is perceived in the market place shows you are seeking a deeper understanding of the business, what it would be like to work there and how you could contribute to its goals.

You might also like to ask what they would expect you to achieve after the first, third and sixth month in the job. This demonstrates that you are already visualising how you could make a success of the role.

It is just as important, though, not to ask questions which could easily create the wrong impression. Asking about holiday entitlement, frequency of salary reviews, the possibility of flexible working hours and whether social media usage would be monitored, are to be avoided, generally speaking.

Another key point to bear in mind for the first interview is to dress appropriately for the job and the company culture. The more you look like someone who already works there, the easier it can be for the interviewer to picture you in the role.

These tips are not guaranteed to get you the job, but knowing you are prepared will boost your confidence levels and put you at ease – which can, in turn, enhance your performance.

Cath Strachan is managing director of MSK Search which specialises in executive search and selection across a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceutical, engineering, oil and gas, sales and medical. MSK Search works with companies in the UK, Scandinavia, the US, Africa, Azerbaijan, Dubai and Singapore. Follow MSK Search on Twitter @msksearch

Hidden medieval corner of the Old Town is to be transformed

A new storytelling garden, designed and created by local young people, is set to be established next to Trinity Apse, a hidden medieval relic in the heart of the Old Town. The new initiative is part of the EWH Green Heritage project funded by the Climate Challenge Fund, with additional support from the City of Edinburgh Council.

EWH will be working with young people from Panmure St Ann’s Centre, the Canongate Youth Project and the Get Ready for Work scheme, which helps people aged 16-18 who are not in training, education or employment. The young people will be attending horticultural training, gardening workshops and biodiversity activities to gain the appropriate skills. There will also be an opportunity for hands-on training in conservation, through work to the decorative stones still on site.

The finished garden will be used as a community space for organic gardening with the help of the Patrick Geddes Gardening Club, but also as an atmospheric setting for storytelling sessions and drama workshops.

Naomi Webster, Green Heritage Youth Officer for Edinburgh World Heritage said: -“This project is a great opportunity to involve young people in regenerating a corner of the World Heritage Site, and to create something that all the community will enjoy. Trinity Apse is also one of the treasures of the city, and its quirky history deserves to be properly told. ”

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture Convener, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The creation of Trinity Apse Garden is a fascinating project, combining education and practical experience with conservation and archaeology to create a brand new and quite unique visitor attraction in the heart of our Old Town. I look forward to enjoying the finished product in the summer.”

An additional part of the project will be to interpret the rich history of Trinity Apse for visitors. It was originally part of Trinity College Kirk, built around 1460 but then taken down in 1848 to make way for Waverley Station. In the 1870s the apse was reconstructed in the Old Town as part of a new church, but in the 1960s this was demolished leaving behind just the medieval building.

The important role that this medieval building plays in Edinburgh’s history will be reflected in the choice of heritage plants for the garden, as well as the incorporation of archaeology currently on the site into the design.

The project is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council and its near neighbours the Scottish Book Trust, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Carrubbers Christian Centre and the Cockburn Association.

One of Britain’s celebrated chefs has turned to the National Library of Scotland (NLS) for inspiration for his new restaurant venture.

This weekend Tom Kitchin has opened a gastropub — The Scran and Scallie — in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge area. The walls of the pub will be adorned with copies of original recipes from the Victorian era, sourced by Tom at NLS.

They were collected in the mid-19th century by Katherine Jane Ellice, wife of Edward Ellice of Invergarry, a wealthy businessman and politician. The recipes include fish balls, chicken jelly, leg of pork a la Barrington and more familiar items such as kedgeree and toasted cheese.

The Ellices lavishly entertained a steady stream of visitors at Glenquoich, their shooting lodge in the Highlands from the 1840s to 1860s. Some of the recipes in this book came from their guests.

The recipes are illustrated with humorous sketches and add to the Scottish character of the new venture. It will feature traditional Scottish dishes — or scran — with a modern twist.

Tom Kitchin recently gave a talk at NLS where he told of the things that have inspired him throughout his career.

Olive Geddes, manuscripts curator at NLS, said: -‘We have been delighted to work with Tom to source original material for his new restaurant. The recipes represent a step back in time and help to show how the wealthy entertained in the mid 19th century.’

WORLD TITLE FOR EDINBURGH’S SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE

Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience has fought off competition from across the globe, to be named Whisky Visitor Attraction of choice at this year’s Icons of Whisky awards.

After winning the Scottish round of the competition last September, the five-star visitor attraction beat Kavalan Distillery in Taiwan and Maker’s Mark Distillery in the United Sates, to be named the world’s top Whisky Visitor Attraction.

Now in its tenth year, the annual awards were introduced by leading industry publication, Whisky Magazine, to recognise and celebrate the people and places behind the greatest Whiskies in the world. Previous winners of the award include Glenfiddich Distillery Visitor Centre, the Speyside Cooperage and Jack Daniel’s Distillery Visitor Centre.

Susan Morrison, Director and General Manager of The Scotch Whisky Experience, commented:- “After winning the Scottish round of the Icons of Whisky award last September, we are thrilled to have been named the world’s top Whisky Visitor Attraction. Since opening our doors 25 years ago, we have welcomed in excess of five million visitors, to share in our passion for Scotland’s national drink.

“We have grown as a business over the years, constantly analysing and reacting to both the experience which we offer and the ever changing profile and expectations of our visitors. Over the last three years, we have invested over £3m in upgrading our facilities, which has seen the visitor experience brought right up-to-date.”

Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Scotch Whisky Experience prides itself on providing an insight into the world of Scotch Whisky and bringing Scotland’s national drink to life. Following its recent refurbishment, the attraction now offers an interactive and educational journey of discovery into the heritage, appreciation and production of Scotch Whisky.

The Icon of Whisky award marks another addition to the attraction’s growing trophy cabinet. The Whisky venue has also been awarded Best Visitor Experience by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), as well as making it to the finals of the Scottish Thistle Awards in the Best Shopping Experience category.

Susan continued: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank our team, whose passion and enthusiasm has made this achievement possible. As we celebrate our 25th year of operation, we will continue to listen to customer feedback, to ensure we maintain our position as the world’s top Whisky attraction.”

Developers breathing new life into Advocate’s Close in Edinburgh’s Old Town have revealed some of the fifteenth and sixteenth century building features which will now take pride of place in new and contemporary serviced apartments for visiting tourists.

Advocate’s Close is a mix of buildings constructed over the centuries which is now undergoing £45m regeneration led by The Chris Stewart Group designed to open up some of the Old Town’s hidden lanes into a thriving leisure and business destination.

A site of great historical significance, at its heart is possibly Edinburgh’s oldest town house, which records show pre-dates 1490. Its solid stone walls, original fireplaces and even painted wall panels and beams are currently being restored and according to local historian, Robin Tait, the result will help form a unique city centre dwelling.

Robin said:-“The oldest structure in Advocate’s Close is the Bertram / Cor House. Andrew Bertram was a wealthy merchant involved in the import-export trade and he was recorded as carrying out his business here and in the town’s nearby Tollbooths in the High Street in 1480 and 1482. So his home put him right at the centre of trading activity of the time.

“It was later, when the property was purchased by the Cor family in 1553, that it received its first real upgrade.  Clement Cor, another merchant, was a very prominent figure in both the burgh and national administration and the re-decoration can be attributed to his desire to have a home equal to his status.

“Clement Cor added two more floors, one since demolished, while internally installed high quality painted ceilings and beams which through tree ring analysis were found to be of Norwegian oak felled between 1589 and 1591. The date corresponds almost precisely with the inscription and armorial dated 1590 above the doors at the top of the Close. One of these inscriptions – loosely “blessed be God and all his gifts” – also bears his merchant’s mark.

“It is fairly unique to have these features still in existence and for them to be part of a thriving new future for the Close is very exciting.”

The Advocate’s Close redevelopment project, which began in 2009, has created a new 208 room hotel, 29 serviced apartments, three restaurant spaces and office accommodation from a mix of 11 different, tightly packed buildings.

Remarkably, the whole redevelopment has been achieved without the disruption of large cranes or heavy plant machinery, making it a model for city centre regeneration.

The new future for the Close follows almost two centuries of decline when in the late 1700s many of the moneyed people moved to the New Town, leaving the Old Town to become increasingly run down. The old buildings were often occupied by workshops, small factories and large families often crowded into single rooms.

At this time Robin explains that the Bertram/Cor house found another use:

“The old house became a small brewery for some years, during which time the old fireplaces probably dating from the late 1400s were bricked up and thus preserved, only to be revealed in the 1980s.”

Chris Stewart is the CEO of The Chris Stewart Group, the property development and investment business behind the project.

He said:- “Advocate’s Close is a labour of love with every detail meticulously planned and executed. We have designed-in open spaces and a new ‘square’ as well as ways to create vistas from the top of the close out and over Princes Street Gardens beyond. The serviced apartments and restaurants emerge from the solid remains of fifteenth century Edinburgh, rising above the rooftops to offer a unique 360 degree aspect of the city using materials that will stand the test of modern times and tastes.

“It is a privilege to develop such a site and an opportunity to make an impact with our ethos for quality construction and design.”

The Chris Stewart Group has grown its reputation for complex transformational developments in city centre locations over the last 16 years.

April fools – Gorgie City Farm – Spa in the City next month – Holyrood Palace out of hours – Jobs at Summerhall

Many very good April fools jokes this morning in the papers and online. The Guardian has its Guardian Goggles which will only allow readers to see the world through The Guardian’s eyes at any time. The North Edinburgh News has Police Scotland launching horse power at Drylaw Police Station, which will be closed and converted into a stable. The Broughton Spurtle meanwhile uses the power of April Fools’ Day to launch another attack on The Edinburgh Evening News. But the Scottish Book Trust perhaps have the winner in our view. They have announced that they are all moving to the Rabbit Islands off the Sutherland coast where they will all live together and read each other bedtime stories…

And then there is this old chestnut from the BBC….

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dfWzp7rYR4]

*** 

Gorgie City Farm have a range of animals to be looked after and they are always on the lookout for help. Some of that help can be in the form of younger 8 to 12 year-olds who can join in the Saturday club, or even join in the Holiday Clubs. More information on the website.

***

Beauty fans can look forward to a bumper weekend as Spa in the City – Edinburgh’s popular free beauty event – returns  on Saturday 4^th and Sunday 5^th May for a sixth consecutive year. Heading once again to St Andrew Square, the Essential Edinburgh extravaganza will feature a new  ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ theme which will be accompanied by a fresh new format, with six of the city’s most prestigious beauty retailers – John Lewis, Jenners, Harvey Nichols, Boots, Debenhams and the Roxburghe Hotel – each taking over their own marquee.

The weekend will offer city centre shoppers the chance to ‘freshen up their look’ with a menu of free treatments, with brands for this year including Shu Uemura from Harvey Nichols, Liz Earle from John Lewis and Clarins which will be in the Jenners marquee.  Luxurious treatments courtesy of the spa team at the city’s Roxburghe Hotel will also be available, alongside Superdrug and Lush Spa.

The event is organised and funded by Essential Edinburgh, the city’s Central Business Improvement District and aims to promote the wealth of beauty and lifestyle retailers on offer in Edinburgh city centre and encourage shoppers into the area.

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: -“We are delighted to be bringing Spa in the City back once again for its sixth year. This has proven to be a really popular event with beauty lovers in Edinburgh and we are confident that this year’s line-up will not disappoint.

“This year, the move to have major retailers hosting their own marquee shows just how far this event has come and how important it has become in the Edinburgh retail calendar. By having this level of involvement in the event, retailers have a prime opportunity to showcase their offerings and brands to thousands of Edinburgh shoppers.

“The Spa in the City event is a great success, driving footfall in the centre and generating valuable follow up business for retailers throughout the city.  As we near our renewal ballot, we would like to thank those who have been fantastic supporters of this event and we hope that local retailers will support Essential Edinburgh’s bid so that we can continue providing this key event in the years to come.”

As well as the large marquees, a selection of smaller marquees around the Melville Monument will house brands such as Molton Brown and Kiehls, as well as jazz band Swing Supreme who will be providing entertainment.

Marcello Ventisei, General Manager at Roxburghe Hotel, said:- “Spa in the City is a fantastic event for us and having our own marquee this year is great in terms of driving our brand’s presence to the thousands of people passing through the event and the hundreds checking in for their complimentary treatments. The Roxburghe is rebranding to become a Crowne Plaza and this is an amazing opportunity to showcase our spa to the people of Edinburgh”

Spaces for treatments, which are limited to one per person, are secured at the registration desk on the event days from 9.30am until 4pm on a first come first served basis. Some pre-booking will be available through facebook and will be announced at a later date. For more information visit www.essentialedinburgh.co.uk or www.facebook.com/edsitc

***

Did you know that there are special early and evening slots for groups to go and see the exhibitions in Holyrood Palace? The Royal Collection advise that this is possible – and ends with tea in the cafe….Here is what they say on their website:-

08:30-10:30

2 hours

Palace of Holyroodhouse

This very special tour of Scotland’s official residence of The Queen highlights both Holyrood’s dramatic past and the Palace’s important role today.

In the company of an expert guide, groups may enjoy a private tour of the State Apartments before the Palace opens to visitors for the day.  Tours offer a unique opportunity to go ‘behind the ropes’ in selected rooms and the West Drawing Room, used by members of the Royal Family as a private sitting room and not normally open to the public, is included in the tour.  It is among the most beautiful rooms in the palace and boasts one of the finest 17th-century plasterwork ceilings.

Morning tours finish in the Café at the Palace with light refreshments.

Price includes a copy of the official guidebook and tea, coffee and pastries. Minimum number 25 or booking value £625.00, maximum number 60.

£25.00 per person

specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk

+44 (0)20 7766 7322

//
http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

This week, the Edinburgh Reporter sends congratulations to Edinburgh who beat Italian club Zebre, Spartans for reaching the semi-final of the Kings Cup, and Hibernian Ladies for a sensational result against their rivals Spartans.

We also send our best wishes to Sir Chris Hoy who has been caught up in an earthquake in Taiwan, and commiserations to the Bainfield Bowling Club trio who lost out in the final of the Scottish Indoors Bowling Championships Triples in Fraserburgh.

There was no joy for either capital club on Saturday with Hibs losing 2-1 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Easter Road whilst Hearts went down 2-0 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie, results that are likely to see both clubs in the bottom six after the split.

Rugby by John Preece

A fairly good news week for Edinburgh this week with the announcement of the signing, on a two year deal, of winger Nicky Walker from Worcester Warriors. Plying the majority of his trade in Southern climes – well, Wales and England – Walker has also amassed 24 Scotland caps. This signing gives Edinburgh the option of two huge wingers in Walker and Visser, who, respectively, lie fourth and equal top in the all-time ‘Celtic League’ try scoring table.

This was followed up by the news of Nick de Luca’s 13-week suspension for a dangerous tackle being reduced to eight weeks – arrived at by some complicated maths, it would appear. This means that de Luca will be available for selection from the 15th April, so should play a further role in this year’s RaboDirect league.

Final ‘good news’ news was Edinburgh’s win in Italy over bottom club, Zebre. The match was a bit of a slog in the wet, muddy conditions, which proved to be a great leveller in the end. Edinburgh opened and closed the first half with two penalties from Greg Laidlaw, but this was overshadowed by Zebre’s try midway through the half. Ben Atiga, at last, showed a bit of ‘All Black-ness’ with a 50 metre break up the centre, followed by a neat round-the-back pass to the following Talei, but again the conditions got in the way and the play broke down,

With the first half proving to be a bit error-ridden, the teams came out for the second expecting more of the same. However, Edinburgh’s experience and fitness came to the fore and they had the majority of the ball and territory. Laidlaw scored another penalty and both he and Tonks were held up in the process of scoring a try. The only real scare for the visitors was in the last five minutes when an attempted drop kick from Orquera hit the cross bar, which if it had gone over, would probably have sealed the match. It didn’t and Edinburgh held on to win, an agonisingly close, nine points to seven.

Given the condition of the pitch and consequent lack of great rugby, the highlight of the BBC Alba coverage must have been when the Zebre hooker went to collect the ball from the ball boy and proceeded to wipe his great, big muddy paws all over the youngster instead of using the proffered towel!  Classy…

The only match of note involving Edinburgh clubs this weekend was the rescheduled game at Malleny Park between Currie and Heriots in the second last regular weekend of the RBS Premiership. With Currie second bottom, it was a match they really had to win to have a chance of avoiding the play-offs for a relegation spot to accompany Boroughmuir down to the National League.

Heriots for their part, were not only playing for a British and Irish Cup place, but were, as the only First Division/Premiership/etc. team who have never been relegated. playing their 600th Senior League match.

However, for long periods of the first half, on another fairly muddy pitch, it looked like Heriots were the team at the bottom as Currie went into half time 13-3 ahead via a converted try and two penalties. Heriots staged a massive comeback in the second half with the majority of possession and territory, scoring a converted and a non-converted try, but Currie scored with another two penalties and went on to win the match 19-15.

SPL Football

Hibs hopes of a top six finish are virtually gone after a 2-1 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Easter Road. After an evenly fought first half, the Highlanders took the lead in the 48^th minute when Ross Draper latched onto a long ball, and lobbed Ben Williams. Referee Craig Thompson denies Hibs a penalty when Ross Meekings handled the ball in the box, before Pat Fenlon’s men equalised when Leigh Griffiths deflected a Gary Deegan shot, wrong footing the Caley keeper. The scores were level for only five minutes before Andrew Shinnie grabbed the winner with another deflected shot.

Other results mean that Kilmarnock could officially end Hibs’ chances when they play St Mirren in midweek, but in any case, Hibs now have to beat Celtic at Parkhead next weekend and hope that several other results go in their favour.

At Pittodrie, two goals by Niall McGinn gave Aberdeen a 2-0 win over Hearts. The first came in 10 minutes when Gavin Rae’s pass set  Hayes free down the right and he ran towards goal before rolling the ball inside for McGinn to stroke into the empty net. His second came in the 55^th minute when he curled the ball into the top corner from a tight angle.

Hearts created a number of first-half opportunities, with John Sutton hitting the post, and the travelling fans had the bonus of seeing the return of long term injury victim Jamie Hamill who came on as a second half substitute for his first appearance since damaging a cruciate ligament almost a year ago.

Off the field, the club announced that shirt sponsors Wonga had extended their deal for another season.

East of Scotland Football

In midweek, in the Central Taxis Premier Division, Edinburgh City lost 5-1 away to Gretna 2008, after goalkeeper Andrew Stobie was sent off  with defender Ross MacNamara taking over in goal, whilst in the first division, Craigroyston beat Berwick Rangers Reserves 3-2 at Shielfield, thanks to goals from Paul Lynch, Craig Dickson and Mark Hendrie.

There was an Edinburgh derby in the third round of the Kings Cup when Spartans played Leith Athletic at Ainslie Park. Leith took the lead in the 9th minute with striker Craig Hume scoring from 25 yards. They held the lead until half time, but Spartans equalised two minutes after the break through Donal Henretty.

Keith McLeod gave Spartans the lead 10 minutes later, before Jason Steven made it 2-2 in the 64^th minute.  With 15 minutes remaining, former Leith player Willie Bremner scored the winner for Spartans who will now meet either Gretna or Whitehill Welfare in the semi-final.

Donal Henretty won the Malt & Hops Man of the Match award.

Elsewhere Civil Service Strollers lost 4-0 away to Berwick Rangers Reserves.

In the First Division, Craigroyston travelled to the Borders and returned with all three points thanks to a 1-0 win over Kelso.

Women’s Football

Hibs thrashed Spartans 7-1 at Albyn Park Broxburn in an all Edinburgh derby.

Hibs took an early lead when Kirsty Smith lobbed the keeper from 40 yards, but Spartans equalised through Marshall. The scores were level for only a minute before Smith gave Hibs a 2-1 lead, then Susan Fairlie added a third and then a fourth to give Hibs a 4-1 lead at the break.

Hibs continued to dominate in the second half and added Fairlie scored another two before Katie Turner completed the rout near the end.

Speedway

The Scotwaste Monarchs started slowly at Berwick, going ten down after seven heats, but the Armadale based team finished strongly to lose by just two points in the first leg of the Cock o’ the North trophy.

The Monarchs’ fans were encouraged by the display, particularly the form of Claus Vissing who made an impressive debut. Plus marks also go to the ever impressive Craig Cook, Theo Pijper and Jozsef Tabaka.

Boxing

Meadowbank hosted a fantastic night of boxing  at the 2013 ABS Scottish Championship finals on Saturday in front of a sizeable crowd. The results were as follows.

Bout 1 – Senior 52kg – Ryan McCutcheon (Clovenstone) beat Liban Elmi (Glasgow Phoenix) 13-8

Bout 2 – Senior 56kg – Joe Ham (Hayfield) beat Kevin Skey (Lochend) 18-11

Bout 3 – Senior 60kg – Charlie Flynn (Glasgow Phoenix) beat Robbie McKechnie (Greenock) RSC3

Bout 4 – Senior 64kg – Lewis Benson (Lochend) beat Jason Easton (Craigmillar) 16-14

Bout 5 – Senior 69kg – Connor Law (Glenrothes) beat Don Brown (Greenock) 17-5

Bout 6 – Senior 75kg – Aston Brown (Lochend) beat Kieran Smith (Springhill) 12-11

Bout 7 – Senior 81kg – Scott Forrest (Springhill) beat Jack Knorz (Byron) RSC3

Bout 8 – Senior 91kg – Stephen Lavelle (Hayfield) beat Michael Warner (Springhill) 9-8

Bout 9 – Senior 91+kg – Ross Henderson (Springhill) beat Daniel Gollan (Heriot Watt) 17-11

Ice Hockey

The Edinburgh Capitals’ hopes of reaching the Rapid Solicitors Elite League Play Off Finals in Nottingham next weekend have ended after the team lost both legs against Belfast Giants.

On Saturday, the Capitals travelled to Belfast for the first leg of the Play Offs against the Giants, and took the lead through Peter Holecko, before Peacock equalised in the 30^th minute. Daymen Rycroft gave the Northern Irish team in the 44^th minute, and Dave Phillips added third near the end to take a 3-1 lead into the second leg.

Last night, despite a brave performance, the Caps lost 4-3 in the second leg at Murrayfield.

Basketball

City of Edinburgh Basketball Club, currently based at Portobello High School, may be forced to move to a new home after 20 years as the new downgraded facilities at the proposed new High School will not have enough space for spectator stands which is an important source of income for the club.

After the designs were released, club representatives asked that the new gym hall be extended to accommodate fans, but council bosses refused, saying the redesign would cost nearly £260,000 and was not affordable.

Boroughmuir Blaze lost their Scottish League play-off quarter-final second leg 77-70 to Glasgow University at the Crags Sports Centre on Tuesday. Glasgow will meet Edinburgh Kings in the semi-final while Troon Tornadoes, will play Falkirk Fury.

Edinburgh University will host the 4 Nations Basketball Championships for men and women, from next Tuesday to Thursday at the Centre for Sport and Exercise in the Pleasance.

The Scottish men open against Wales on Tuesday (10am), play the Irish on Wednesday (12 noon) and wind up against England on Wednesday (1pm).

Scotland’s women play Wales on Tuesday (12 noon), Northern Ireland on Wednesday (2pm) and England on Wednesday (3pm).

Scottish Universities men beat a Scottish League Select 74-69 on a friendly at the Peak Centre, Stirling.

Cycling

Edinburgh’s Sir Chris Hoy was involved in a 6.1-magnitude earthquake which killed a 72 year-old woman and left at least 19 others injured in central Taiwan.

Staying 40 miles from the epicentre, Hoy said on Twitter: “In Taichung, just experienced my first proper earthquake! Building shaking and swaying, light fittings & pictures falling off the walls!” adding “Wow, it felt pretty scary here on the 15th floor of our hotel!”

His wife Sara also tweeted: “The earthquake has stopped but I’m still shaking.”

Bowls

Bainfield’s trio:- chartered accountant Kathryn O’Donnell, legal secretary Mandy O’Donnell and medical receptionist Anna Anderson, all from Edinburgh, narrowly lost in the final of the Triples event  at the Scottish Championship at Fraserburgh

The trio beat Cumbernauld 22-17 in the semi-final on Saturday but lost the final 15-11 to Garioch the following day, despite having been 5-0 up in the early stages.

Gaelic Football

Leading timber processing firm, Glennon Brothers has announced a three year sponsorship of the brand new Edinburgh-based Gaelic football school league.

The company will provide financial backing to fund new kits and equipment to support the newly named ‘Glennon Brothers School League.’

The announcement was made at the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh in an event attended by VIP guests including the Irish Minister of State for Small Business, John Perry and Consul General of Ireland to Scotland, Susan Conlon, as well as industry bodies Enterprise Ireland and Scottish Enterprise.

Mike Glennon, joint Managing Director at Glennon Brothers, said: -“We are delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the Edinburgh school league for Gaelic Football. We all know that involvement in sport is enormously positive for young people. Without the time, commitment, and patience of countless volunteers, and the team at Dunedin Og, many young people would miss out on the wonderful opportunities that sport can provide, and we are delighted that we can support this venture and give back to the Scottish community which is so important to the success of our business.”

“This sponsorship is a key part of our celebration of 100 years in business in 2013 and clearly marks the significance of Scotland to Glennon Brothers today. We wish the Edinburgh school league every success.”

Peter Dillon, Dunedin Connollys Chairman said: “We are very grateful to Glennon Brothers for their kind and generous financial support of the Gaelic school league. It makes a huge difference for the families and children involved in the league, creating a solid foundation for us to build upon following the clubs inception last year.

“We are excited about spreading the word about Gaelic football to the Edinburgh youth community and are hopeful that the club will now go from strength to strength!”

Dunedin Connollys Gaelic football club was founded in 1988 taking the name Dunedin, which is the Gaelic translation of Edinburgh and Connolly’s, named after James Connolly, famous Irish politician and patriot who was born in Edinburgh. In 1998, a ladies team was formed and in 2012 the school league was launched.

Dunedin Connollys Men’s team has won nine Scottish Championship Titles and the Ladies team won the Ladies University Championship three years in a row.

Queensferry RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were called out today  to rescue 9 people including a 3 year old child who had become trapped by the incoming tide at Cramond Island.

Queensferry RNLI lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross was launched at 15:20 and arrived at Cramond Island six minutes later. All 9 people, who were uninjured, were taken on board the lifeboat and landed safely at Cramond harbour.

The Coastguard rescue team from Queensferry had also been called out and gave assistance to help the casualties on to dry land and offer safety advice. Also in attendance at Cramond harbour were several Fire engines, Ambulances and Police.

A Queensferry RNLI spokesman said:- ‘If anyone finds themselves trapped on Cramond Island by the incoming tide, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. The Coastguard will alert the lifeboat. Never attempt to wade or swim ashore. We advise to check the tide tables for safe crossing times before attempting to cross to Cramond Island’.

SOMETHING FOR ALL FOR THE FAMILY AND ALL WEATHERS THIS EASTER

Here are some ideas for amusing all ages at council-owned attractions across the city.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture & Sport Convener, said: “The challenge of filling a child’s holidays, particularly at this time of year is not to be underestimated, which is why I would encourage parents to try something different during the Easter break.

“Between the Council and our partners, we can offer children of all ages and interests a wealth of exciting and rewarding activities, many of which are free.”

The Museum of Childhood is a fun day out for the whole family. Young people can learn about the children of the past and see a fantastic range of toys and games, while adults enjoy a trip down memory lane. Admission is free.

Meanwhile, just down the hill is the Museum of Edinburgh. Housed in the beautifully restored 16^th Century buildings on the Canongate, it is the city’s principle museum of local history. Again, admission is free.

The museum’s newest attraction is Foundation Edinburgh. Watch the City’s dramatic history unfold in only 17 minutes – from the volcanic creation of Arthur’s Seat in prehistoric times to events today. Ticket prices are £4 (adults), £3 (concessions) and £2 (children).

The City’s 28 community libraries are, of course, open for borrowing – and much more besides. Visit the libraries’ website for further details or contact your local library for details of special holiday events.

But what if spring finally arrives? Where better to enjoy the breathtaking views of Edinburgh than from atop the tallest tribute to a writer in the world, the Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens? And at 287 steps high, it’s not bad for the calves either. Equally impressive is the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill. Admission for both is £3.

Edinburgh has another 140 parks aside from Princes Street Gardens and the new digital service Edinburgh Outdoors provides a unique way of exploring each and every one of them.

Here is our video report about the Edinburgh Outdoors app:-

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PLFlGkRTX0]

The beautiful grounds of Lauriston Castle, laid out by William Henry Playfair in the 1840s, are also well worth a wander – especially this Saturday and Sunday (from 10am) when the cheery Castle staff host their annual Easter egg hunt. Further details of this and other Family Workshop Programmes are available from the website.

In case you haven’t noticed, the terrific Britain from the Air exhibition is now taking pride of place in our streets and parks – where it will remain until 20 May. Featuring 111 breathtaking aerial photographs, including 11 of the capital, the exhibition is situated across 15 sites on a three-mile long and winding trail through Edinburgh’s historic city centre.

Finally, Edinburgh Leisure has a range of dedicated holiday activities for ages 3-13 years running throughout next fortnight at venues across the city including Ainslie Park, Craiglockhart, Drumbrae, EICA Ratho, Gracemount and the Royal Commonwealth Pool. Visit www.edinburghleisure.co.uk for further details.

Staff at the Chester Residence are getting a helping hand from a kilt-clad Easter Bunny this weekend. The ‘new team member’ will help welcome guests, carry bags and deliver room service.

World-renowned New York artist, Jason Hackenwerth, unveiled his latest creation at the Edinburgh International Science Festival this weekend.  Pisces, a work specially commissioned by the Science Festival, has been created with more than 10,000 coloured balloons and hangs over 40 feet tall from the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland.  The installation represents the artist’s interpretation of the legend of Aphrodite and Eros.

The Edinburgh Reporter went to see it yesterday and our chief photographer has made a slideshow of  images of the large balloon sculpture:-

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984

Born in St Louis, Jason now lives and works in New York and has exhibited his work around the world at galleries and museums including the Guggenheim in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and at the 51^st Venice Biennale as well as in Hong Kong and Mexico.  Pisces is the first artwork that he has created in Scotland.

Jason said:- “I am very excited to be working here at the Edinburgh International Science Festival.  We have had such a wonderful response from everyone who has come to see us this week while we have been creating Pisces, and it’s a privilege to be working in such an extraordinary city.  I have always been inspired by the intricate structures in nature, and the connectivity of environments and ecosystems and it’s very exciting to be able to combine art and science in this way.”

Amanda Tyndall, Deputy Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival said:- “I have wanted to bring Jason to the Science Festival for a number of years as I have always found his work inspirational.  We commissioned this piece of artwork to tie In with some of the Festival’s key themes in this, our 25 year – patterns in nature, the future of life, and with the advent of synthetic biology, our ability to build life from the ground up and Jason has met this challenge admirably.  From the reaction of our audiences over the last few days, and as Pisces was revealed this morning, I know that they have been equally impressed with his work.”

It has taken three members of Science Festival staff six days to blow up the 10,000 balloons which have been woven into an intricate three dimensional structure by Jason and his assistant Leah Blair.   It has not only proved to be backbreaking work, but Jason and his team have also to wear ear defenders to protect their hearing from the constant popping and squeaking of balloons, and protective tape on their fingers.

Pisces will hang in the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland until Sunday 14 April.  Jason will be creating more sea creatures, on a somewhat smaller scale, in the Science Festival’s Secret Life of Coral Workshop in the Hawthornden Court of the National Museum.

Now for something a bit more scientific. Download the Aurasma Lite App to your phone. Here for Android phones. Here for iPhones.

Open the app, go to menu and search (using the magnifier symbol) for The Edinburgh Reporter’s channel or using your phone go to this address here http://auras.ma/s/QUiOz to subscriibe to the channel.

Now train the camera on this image below which is the Edinburgh International Science Festival logo:-

You will as if by magic be watching our video of the balloons……And you can use your phone to access the video whenever you see the logo. We have other auras too which you will be able to see from the app on your phone. Let us know what you think of them!

The Edinburgh International Science Festival continues until Sunday 7 April with events, activities, workshops and sensational science for all ages every day throughout the week.  Full details of the programme, and all tickets, can be found at www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Botanic Cottage – Modern Apprenticeships – Ziggy Stardust – Easter Play – Edinburgh International Science Festival

Exciting news from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh RBGE  that they now have the funding needed to rebuild the Botanic Cottage within the garden. RBGE has been awarded £708,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Botanic Cottage is one of five significant natural heritage projects to benefit from £2.78million HLF funding, bringing HLF’s total support for Scotland’s natural environment to over £50million.

From 1764 to 1821, the Botanic Cottage was the “gateway” to the previous RBGE site on Leith Walk. Here, Professor John Hope, a botanist of international renown and a leading character in the Scottish Enlightenment, taught students about the emerging science of botany. The vision of RBGE is for the building, designed by John Adam, to be rebuilt and used once more as an educational facility.

The cottage had been threatened with demolition but as a result of tireless campaigning by the community, led by the Botanic Cottage Trust, it was painstakingly dismantled stone by stone in 2008.

RBGE’s Regius Keeper, Professor Stephen Blackmore welcomed news of the funding and commented: “The support of the HLF, with that of many generous individuals and a number of other foundations, will breathe new life into a building with a remarkable and important history. When the Botanic Cottage follows us to Inverleith, almost two centuries after we moved from Leith Walk, it will become the centrepiece of our rapidly expanding programme of voluntary and education activities helping to transform out public engagement. The award is wonderful news for the Botanics.’’

The HLF award will now allow RBGE to move forward with the final stage of planning and fundraising, to close the final funding gap, before the official project start date in July. Construction work for the rebuild is anticipated to start in spring 2014.

Other projects to receive HLF funding include the woodland regeneration project at The Great Trossachs Forest, heritage skills training on the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals, the preservation of Castle Lachlan and interpretation if its wild landscape, and a new gallery at Our Dynamic Earth celebrating Scotland’s central role in the development of modern geology.

Commenting on the awards, Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “This year, the Year of Natural Scotland, brings into focus the natural beauty and biodiversity that surrounds us. It is one of our greatest national assets, attracting visitors from home and abroad and making a valuable contribution to our tourist economy.

“However it’s not just visitors that benefit. With a bit of innovative thinking, we can protect our natural heritage in a way that helps people and communities. We want people to have the opportunity to get involved, to have a say in how the environment is managed, to learn new skills and apply new technologies. We want to help ignite passion for our natural world and its long-term conservation.’’

Since its inception, the Heritage Lottery Fund has invested £52.12million in over 310 projects which conserve Scotland’s landscape and biodiversity, from the Flows of Caithness to the valleys of the Tweed.

***

***

While we are talking about the Botanics, there are two modern apprenticeships available for applicants between 16 and 19 years-old. More details here. 

***

An Easter treat if ever there was one. The Filmhouse is showing Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars tonight at 20:30. Get your tickets here.

***

***

// In Duddingston this afternoon a group is staging an Easter play.

Duddingston Kirk and Theatre Alba

invite you to this major outdoor performance of the Easter Play
To The Cross
at 2 p.m. on Easter Day, Sunday 31 March 2013
in the church gardens at Duddingston Village in Edinburgh.The event is FREE, but booking is desirable.

Edinburgh Science Festival 2013 Brochure

Currie v Heriots, RBS Premiership, 30th March 2013

Heriots travelled across the capital to Malleny Park in Balerno to play Currie in the final match of the regular league season for both clubs. Heriots were playing their 600th consecutive Senior League match as a member of the current Premiership division – and all it’s previous incarnations – making them the only side in the division who have never been relegated. A remarkable feat indeed. They were also playing to secure their position in third to ensure British and Irish Cup involvement next season. Currie, on the other hand, were lying ninth in the table and they were trying to avoid the play-off to decide which club would accompany Boroughmuir into the National League, although it’s now not quite as clear cut as all that.

Currie started well and played better than their relative league positions would suggest and were quickly on the scoreboard with an early penalty. Heriots soon wiped the three point margin out with one of their own just over a minute later. With the muddy pitch ruling out fast, open rugby, the match see-sawed back and forth until Currie got a foothold in the visitors half and were soon on the scoreboard again with another successful penalty. 20 minutes gone and with Currie 6-3 ahead, the home side started to play Heriots off the park. Pinning the visitors back into their own half for long periods, Currie encamped themselves on the Heriots line.

The forwards hammered away with pick-and-drive after pick-and-drive, but just couldn’t get the ball over the line. Heriots regained possession and played the match downfield for a time, but the home side were soon back on the Heriots line. Regaining the ball from a missed penalty restart, this time the hammering succeeded and the ball was forced over the line for the opening try (pictured). The conversion was scored and Currie were into a 13-3 lead, which they took into the break, having dominated territory and possession, despite losing a player to a controversial yellow card.

The second half started well for Currie and although Heriots kept the ball, it was in their own half and another penalty took the score to 16-3 for the home side. At this point, Heriots turned on the class and broke through for their first try, which they unfortunately failed to convert. The next 15 or so minutes were all Heriots, with the Goldenacre side attacking from all angles and coming close to crossing the line on a couple of occasions. Only desperate tackling or the slippery ball coming to Currie’s aid. Currie did, however manage to convert another penalty to go three points further ahead, but the writing looked on the wall. Coming back strongly, Heriots scored their second try, which, this time, was converted, to lie four points in arrears at 19-15.

 
The final quarter of the match was again dominated by the visitors, but, again, they failed to break through the defence. The final play was a Heriot’s line-out ten metres out, but they lost the ball in the ensuing maul and the grateful Currie full back punted the ball into the trees to bring the game to a close, 19-15 in favour of the home side.

This was a match which looked, on paper, to be a foregone conclusion in that Heriots would win to secure third and Currie would be consigned to the relegation play-offs. However, Currie came out to play and in spite of almost overwhelming pressure for the majority of the second half, they held their opponents at bay in, what turned out to be, a very entertaining match. Both team’s final division positions now rely on the results from the final two games to be played next weekend. Heriots, having landed in fourth place, can still lose out on a B and I Cup place to Aberdeen (5th), Stirling (6th) or Melrose (8th). And Currie (7th) can end up in ninth and play-off bound if Melrose and Dundee (9th) both win. The permutations are endless and much breath will remain bated until 4:30-ish next Saturday!
Web – http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

Edinburgh College Breeds BAFTA Success

Two former Edinburgh College students have proved they are the cream of the film making crop at the prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts New Talent awards.

Garry Fraser took home the top gong in the factual film category for his acclaimed autobiographical short Everybody’s Child, which details the hardships of growing up with a life of drugs and crime in Scotland through the gritty lens of reality.

Fellow student John Campbell was also celebrating after learning the lead actress in his film Aurora, Sophie Gane was nominated in the category Best Acting Performance, for her performance as Bailie, one of only two survivors on a mission to reach Earth to save the human race.

John, now 27, first attended Edinburgh College at the age of 18 to study NC in Dramatic Arts and returned in 2010 to begin a HND course in Creative Industries: Television.

When asked about the nomination John said:  “Although it’s disappointing not to win the BAFTA, the fact that we were nominated is a fantastic honour in itself and I am delighted that my film has gained the recognition it has.

“I have to attribute some of this success to Edinburgh College who provided unique opportunities for me to gain vital practical experience. Aurora was actually made for my final end of year project in 2012, so with out support from the college and lecturers I wouldn’t have had the idea let alone be able to make the film.

“In particular I would like to thank my lecturer, Fraser Mansell, who provided an abundance of inspiration and motivation not to mention reminded me about the awards and encouraged me to enter.”

Aurora which was filmed in just over 24 hours and made with virtually no budget indicates the skill of John as a writer, actor, producer and director. Aurora won the Audience Award for Best Film at Edinburgh College’s degree show last year and in 2011 John also picked up the Best Film award for his first year project film entitled, Claire.

The film, set in space, tells the story of a fleet of 50 transports that are travelling back to Earth with a life saving vaccine. Aurora stars Sophie Gane and John Campbell as Bailie and Sam, crew members of the cargo ship, the USCSS Aurora. The Aurora is the last one and the last chance but when tragedy hits the ship, it’s not a question of when they’ll make it back to earth, but if they’ll make it back at all.

An Edinburgh College representative said: “We were delighted to hear of Aurora’s nomination and although the guys did not come away with the top award, the sheer fact that their talent has been recognised is reward enough in itself.

“John and the team did a fantastic job on the film, creating something which was both professional and very real at the same time. Directing can be a tricky job, as you have to communicate and work closely with your actors to get the possible performance and through Aurora John certainly does that.

“Visually, it is a very striking film, set in the future and in space, with a vast amount of special effects needed to realize it.

“Along with the staff and students at Edinburgh College, I would like to congratulate John on his nomination and of course Garry Fraser for his award win and hope that these are the first of many bright new talents to come out of Edinburgh College.”

The HND Creative Industries Television course is a 2 year course designed to develop the technical, practical and critical skills required by the film and television industries. Students on the course develop a broad range of skills from directing, lighting and camerawork to editing and post production.

More information the Creative Industries course and all other courses at Edinburgh College can be found at www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Scale the UK’s highest peak this September for the NSPCC

Edinburgh people with a sense of adventure are being invited to relive yesterday’s childhood feeling of being on top of the world, by climbing the UK’s highest mountain to help protect today’s children.

The NSPCC is looking for a team of over 100 people from across the UK to climb Ben Nevis and raise £60,000 in sponsorship to support the charity’s vital work with vulnerable children and families in Scotland and across the UK.

Situated in the heart of Scotland’s stunning western Highlands, Ben Nevis is the UK’s highest peak, standing at 1,343 metres – more than 4,400 feet.

The Ben Nevis Challenge takes place from 27-29 September and will see participants complete a full day’s trek along rough terrain towards the summit and breath-taking panoramic views.

Nadia Whitmore, NSPCC community fundraising manager, said: “As children, we’re always scaling new heights as we accomplish things for the first time. We’re looking for adults who want to relive that feeling, to sign up and join our team of intrepid trekkers who will conquer Ben Nevis. Training for the challenge is the perfect motivation to start a keep fit campaign, and taking part will provide you with a wonderful sense of personal achievement, as well as being a fantastic opportunity to do something amazing for children. The Ben Nevis Challenge is sure to be a fabulous weekend in the great outdoors and a great way to help the NSPCC raise money to support its services in Scotland and across the UK. Why not sign up with a group of friends or colleagues and make it a real team challenge?”

As well as being good fun, the trek is designed to be challenging for those of good health and fitness. The NSPCC recommends that everyone who registers undertakes some training beforehand. The trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure leaders, so participants can rest assured that they will be well taken care of. The terrain is very varied and the weather conditions can change quickly, particularly at the summit where it can get very chilly, so suitable walking boots, clothing and accessories are recommended.

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

Registration is now open to anyone over the age of 18. Each participant will pay a £75 registration fee and is encouraged to raise at least £500 sponsorship. The tour cost includes all transfers, accommodation, meals and experienced Discover Adventure leaders and back-up support.

For registration details visit www.nspcc.org.uk/bennevis or contact the NSPCC events team on 0844 892 1119 or email challenges@nspcc.org.uk

Red Bull Hill Chasers – Penguins – Pisces Balloon Sculpture – Peppa Pig at Musselburgh tomorrow – Learn to bid at auctions!

Red Bull Hill Chasers, a dual uphill bike challenge race series, is scheduled to take place across the Grassmarket and into Victoria Street today and these streets may be restricted between 6:00 am and 10:00pm.

The event is an uphill sprint over a 170-metre course and will be open to both elite riders and enthusiasts on BMX bikes, mountain bikes, road racing and fixed-gear bicycles. Up to 500 cyclists will take part in a morning time trial, with the 30 best competitors expected to race in the final, alongside 10 elite cyclists, taking place in the evening.

Previous events in the annual series have been held in Malaysia and Bristol. The event is expected to be free for spectators.

***

Here are the penguins on parade at Edinburgh Zoo yesterday…

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

***

As part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival there is a big balloon sculpture in the Museum. It is free to go and see it and you can find out more about it here. Have you been? What did you think?

The National Museum of Scotland interviewed the balloon sculptor Jason Hackenwerth here

[vimeo 62065321 w=400 h=300]

***

Children’s favourite Peppa Pig will be making a special Easter Sunday appearance at Musselburgh Racecourse’s Betfred Easter Festival.

Peppa is one of large number of free attractions at the East Lothian course which hosts one of the region’s largest family friendly Easter Sunday events.

A Children’s Zone includes a ball pool, magic show, fairground rides, bouncy castle, kiddies roundabout, face painters, trampolines and stilt walkers and the Easter Bunny will be giving away a free Easter Egg to every child.

All children aged 18 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. The racecourse opens at 11.30am with racing starting at 2.20pm and including the Musselburgh Gold Cup.

Online discounts are available when booking in advance. For more information visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk

***

Lyon & Turnbull want to teach you how to bid at an auction. Learn the techniques of nodding in the right way!

This is what they are planning for 4 April 2013.

Buying at auction can be exciting and rewarding, but to the uninitiated, the whole process can be at best nerve-wracking, if not downright terrifying! To celebrate the launch of our new ‘Interiors’ auctions, we will answer all your questions and show you how the whole process works.

So why not join us for a glass of wine, a bit of a chat, a detailed explanation of the auction process and terminology, and a mock auction to try out your new skills without  cost or risk?

Everything you wanted to know about auctions (but were afraid to ask)  Thursday 4th April, 6-8pm
at 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh EH1 3RR

If you think this could be useful or fun, please click here to book a place. If you are a seasoned buyer or just thinking about giving it a go, please come along for a friendly chat and remember there is no such thing as a silly question!

If you choose to come to this event you can also enjoy a look around our latest Interiors auction. As a final incentive, anyone registering to bid in the Interiors auction will receive a complimentary beverage from our in-house cafe.

More details on their website.

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

A baker behind some of Edinburgh’s quirkiest cupcakes is set to crack her 70,000th  egg as she prepares to bake up a storm this Easter.

Suzanne Burns, who is the head baker at Cuckoo’s Bakery on Dundas Street, will reach the cracking milestone after working at the bakery for two years, cooking up a variety of cupcake creations which include Creme Egg and Lemon and Strawberry Cheesecake.

During a busy day in the kitchen starting at 2am Suzanne can crack up to 180 eggs, which all go into the mixing pot to create over 700 handmade and individually designed cupcakes for sweet toothed customers every day.

Suzanne, said: “It’s almost unbelievable to think that I have cracked so many eggs since starting working here – especially when you think of the amount of chickens it would have taken to lay them!

“You don’t really think too much about the ingredients which go into your cupcakes and many people forget that there is so much involved. For everyone here at Cuckoo’s it is important to get the right balance and quality of ingredients which is why all our eggs are free range and locally sourced.

“Eggs are one of the main ingredients of our cupcakes, but they are also used for a whole host of other treats on our menu such as our delicious layer cakes, scones and even our homemade pastry items – you can certainly get a lot of a humble egg.

“The number of eggs we go through is incredible and a real testament to the strength and popularity of the bakery, thanks to our quirky flavours, quality baking and of course stellar service from the front of house team.”

Suzanne, who is originally from Limerick in Ireland, has been working at Cuckoo’s Bakery for the past two years. She had her first job in a bakery at the age of 16, before going on to work in different industries but her interest and talent for baking was prominent and she went back to her baking roots taking up the position at Cuckoo’s Bakery two years ago.

But Suzanne says it’s all worth it though: “The early starts can sometimes be hard but it’s definitely worth it knowing that each and every one of the cakes we sell is freshly and handmade every day.

“As the old cliché goes it’s a tough job but someone has to do it and I for one don’t mind especially when it comes to the taste testing!”

All of the eggs used at Cuckoo’s Bakery are free range and are sourced locally from Dalkeith and wherever possible the bakery uses local products when making their cupcakes.

Graham Savage owner of Cuckoo’s Bakery said: “The quality of our ingredients is important to use, which is why we use locally sourced ingredients whenever we can. As well as the free range eggs we use Scottish butter and flour milled in Fife.

“We believe that knowing where our ingredients have come from adds to the quality of the cupcakes we make.”

The 70,000^th egg will be used to bake an eggstravaganza of Easter treats including flavours such as; Creme Egg, Coconut and Lime, Caramel Egg Hunt, Sticky Toffee Apple, Eggsplosion and Lemon and Strawberry Cheesecake.

Cuckoo’s Easter cupcakes start at £2.70 each with gift boxes from £19.50 and are available until Sunday 31st March from 150 Dundas Street. Advance orders can be placed online at www.cuckoosbakery.co.uk or over the phone on 0131 556 6224. Delivery is available for orders of a minimum of six cupcakes within the Edinburgh city bypass.

To find out more about Cuckoo’s Bakery visit http://www.cuckoosbakery.co.uk

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

Monday marks the end of Lothian and Borders Police after an eventful 38 years serving the citizens of Edinburgh, East, West and Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, as every police officer in the country will become members of a single force known as Police Scotland.

Today, The Edinburgh Reporter looks back at the history of the Lothian and Borders Police since its inception on 16 May 1975 following the amalgamation of three separate forces:- Edinburgh City Police, Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk Constabulary and Lothians and Peebles Constabulary.

The new HQ which had been opened by the Queen the previous year was situated in Fettes Avenue. Coincidentally this was a short distance from the world famous Danube Street Brothel owned and run by Dora Noyce ,however Stockbridge  wasn’t ‘big enough for the both of them’ so the house of ill repute eventually closed down.

During its existence, only five men have had held the post of chief constable, the first being John Orr, a larger than life character who had run Lothian and Peebles for the previous seven years. His father died from the great flu epidemic in 1918 when he was three months old, and John was educated as a Foundationer (a non-paying scholar) at the ancient George Heriot’s School where he was a keen sportsman who excelled at rugby, playing as a wing forward.  He would have been in line for many international caps but for the war, although he did twice play rugby for Scotland against Wales and France in 1947. One of his Scotland jerseys was framed and hung in his office at Fettes.

Orr had joined the Edinburgh City Police as a boy clerk in 1937, before becoming a regular constable. During the war he was a navigator with Bomber Command, becoming a flying officer He returned to the Edinburgh City Police, rising through the ranks to become Chief Constable of Dundee at the age of 42 in 1960. Eight years later he became Chief Constable of the Lothians and Peebles.

Orr served for eight years before being replaced by William Sutherland, who, although Scottish, had spent his entire police service south of the border, where he had been the divisional commander covering Guilford when the IRA pub bombings had taken place in 1974.

Sutherland held the top job for 13 years, and was in charge at the time of the infamous ‘Fettesgate’ break in, where an Edinburgh criminal entered the building through an insecure window and stole a number of sensitive documents.

He retired in 1996 and was replaced by Roy Cameron, the Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway who had completed the majority of his service in Strathclyde.  He spent eight years in charge, before the police board once again looked to England for his replacement, appointing Paddy Tomkins from the Metropolitan Police.

Like Sutherland, Tomkins had also been involved in a major terrorist atrocity, being the first supervisor at the scene of the Brighton bombings on 1984. He spent five years at the helm, before moving to become Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland. His replacement was another Scot, David Strang who had also spent the majority of his service in England, but had previously been an assistant chief constable at Fettes before taking over at Dumfries and Galloway.

On day one, the authorised strength of the new Lothian and Borders Police was 2367 officers, making it the second largest force in Scotland, although that actual strength was 193 less than this and stood at 2174, of which 5.56% were female. (Currently there are 3066 of which 25.54% are female)

To demonstrate the forward thinking of the police service at the time, an early decision was made to allow female police officers to share the same mess room as their male colleagues, and also permitted them to wear trousers in inclement weather.

Every constable was issued with two pairs of trousers, two tunics, a ganex raincoat, two hats, two ties, one pair of epaulettes, a pair of leather gloves and a pair of white cotton gloves for points duty. They also received a standard police baton, a torch, a ‘box key’ which opened every police box in the city centre and a whistle to summon assistance.

The Force was divided into seven territorial divisions in addition to the Criminal Investigation Department, the Traffic Department and Headquarters. Four of the divisions were located within the city of Edinburgh whilst the other three covered East, Mid and West Lothian plus the Borders. This would change to six in the nineties then four in 2003, when the whole city became ‘A’ Divison.

In the first year, 97,277 crimes were reported to the police which was a 2.3% rise from the previous year, mainly attributed to minor thefts and malicious damage.  Last year the total crimes reported stood at 57,466, a drop of just under 40% and although there are differences in recording protocols, there is no doubt that crime has dropped significantly.

Another major success has been in the area of road safety. In 1975/6, 85 People were killed as a result of road accidents, which was a decrease of 20 from the previous year. Last year the figure had dropped to 21.

The vast majority of officers were uniformed beatmen and women, who paraded at the various police boxes throughout the city, and only visited the police station if they made an arrest, or for a meal break which lasted 45 minutes. These officers spent their time walking the city street with the stated objective to ‘guard, watch and patrol to protect life and property, preserve order and apprehend offenders.’

The wages were poor and discipline was strict, with officers needing permission to marry or buy their own house, as it was felt at the time that most should live in local authority owned property alongside those they policed. Day shift started at 6am and anyone late for duty could be subject to disciplinary proceedings which potentially involved a reduction in pay.

During the night shift, officers were obliged to check all commercial property to ensure  security, and this meant checking the front and back of every shop. If a break in was discovered the following morning, the beatman would be telephoned and woken up at home and asked to explain when he last visited the premises so that detectives could narrow down when the crime took place.

All officers were trained nationally at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle and also locally at Fettes, where they learned the local bye-laws, and in particular the Edinburgh Corporation Order which dealt with such matters as beating carpets, women cleaning windows above a certain height, cutting hair as a business on a Sunday, putting buckets out too early and allowing your chimney to catch fire.

Known thieves found in suspicious circumstances were arrested under the Vagrancy Act of 1824 and held overnight at the Central Charge Office in the High Street.

Pubs opened from 11am till 2.30pm then 5pm till 10pm through the week, but only hotels were allowed to sell alcohol on a Sunday with a later opening time of 12.30; and only for bona-fide travellers ancillary to a meal.

Edinburgh is second only to London in the number of VIP attended events, and during its existence, Lothian and Borders Police officers have had to deal with numerous high profile visits to the capital, including two Papal visits, a European Summit Meeting, a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the G8 Summit which attracted the largest march ever seen in the capital under the banner of ‘Make Poverty History.’ Visits from Russian Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and Vladimir Putin also instigated massive security operations.

Every year, members of the Royal Family stay at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and undertake public engagements throughout the country, while the Edinburgh Festival and Hogmanay celebrations have grown enormously over the years, requiring meticulous planning and high manpower commitments to ensure public safety.

Officers have had to police many demonstrations, including the large protests when the South African rugby team toured the country during the apartheid era of the seventies, and also during the building of Torness Nuclear Power Station when buses full of officers descended on East Lothian every day for months. The miners’ strike was a particularly trying period for staff, many of whom had friends and family involved in the dispute.

In the early eighties, a heroin epidemic struck and Edinburgh gained the unenviable reputation as the drugs and Aids capital of Europe, with an estimated 1500 people hooked on the Class ‘A’ drug, as depicted in Irvine Welsh’s book ‘Trainspotting.’. As a result, Milestone House, a residential care home for people with HIV or Hepatitis C/B was opened in Oxgangs, and the late Princess Diana was a regular visitor.

Another institution which will come to an end on Monday will be the Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band who have been performing since 1883, with some great success.

The band was probably at its best under Iain Mcleod in the early 1970s, recording back to back wins at the World Championships in 1971 and 1972 and also in 1975 when they won world title at Corby, Northamptonshire, narrowly beating Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band from Grangemouth.

On a sporting note, the force successfully policed the 1986 Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank, and the open topped bus parades following Hearts’ three Scottish Cup wins and Hibs two Scottish League Cup wins. Unfortunately many other planned parades were cancelled at the last minute following Hampden defeats. Scotland have won two Grand Slams in that period, and Murrayfield has hosted a World Cup semi-final and also the World Sevens. Several Edinburgh Marathons have also passed without incident.

Music legends such as Elton John, Oasis and Madonna have played to packed stadiums at Murrayfield and Easter Road, and one of the most unusual events involved the arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang (the giant pandas) to Edinburgh Zoo in December 2011. The eyes and ears of the world were focused on the Capital; with over one billion people watching as police motorcycles escorted the lorry carrying the animals from Edinburgh Airport to their new home at Edinburgh Zoo.

As technology improved, a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art Force Communications Centre was built  in Bilston Midlothian, and this facility currently handles over one million telephone calls, including about 140,000 999s each year.

Sadly, the force has witnessed many high profile murders, including the infamous World’s End case which took place in 1977 and which remarkably is still on-going, whilst the abduction and murder of five year old Caroline Hogg in 1983 still holds painful memories for everyone involved.

Others include the murder of three soldiers during a payroll robbery in 1985, the abduction and murder Vicky Hamilton in 1990, the murder of grandfather David Dunn during a bank robbery in Bonnyrigg in 1994, the murder of Dalkeith schoolgirl Jodi Jones ten years later and many others.

Although the vast majority of murders have been solved, Lothian and Borders will hand over a few investigations to Police Scotland’s new cold case unit,  including the murders of Sheila Anderson in Granton in 1983, Ralph McIntosh in Gullane in 1984, Ann Ballantyne in Edinburgh in 1987, baby Craig Millar in 1991 and Edinburgh publican Billy Sibbald on 2002. None of these cases are closed and detectives remain hopeful that with the advances in DNA testing, the culprits will be brought to justice.

Thousands of officers have worn the Lothian and Borders Police uniform, many for the full thirty years, but a few tragically died in service before completing their ‘tour of duty.’

These include PC Jack Harvey who was fatally injured on 5 December 1981, when his police patrol car crashed into a wall, PC David Adamson who  died 28 February 1983 in a road accident on route to collect urgent medical samples, Sergeant Robert Lumsden who collapsed and  died 8 August 1986 during a violent struggle with a man while on patrol, PCs Martin Joyce and Ian Gray who died 10 April 1990 in a road accident, PC Karen Balfour who died 5 January 2006 following a road accident, PC Alan McMurray who died 4 February 2006, when struck by a passing van while assisting at an accident scene, PC David  McPherson who died 23 February 2011 of a brain haemorrhage suffered while returning home from duty and PC Stephen Cully who died 9 September 2011, of heart failure whilst at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan.

All of these officers are sorely missed by family and colleagues alike and their details are recorded on the Police Memorial at Tulliallan, which carries the names of all Scottish police officers to have died in the line of duty. The walls of the memorial are engraved with names reaching as far back as 1770, in a fitting tribute to the price that officers have paid for protecting society.

The new Chief Constable of Police Scotland will be Stephen House who transferred from the Metropolitan Police to Strathclyde in 2007, and a number of former Lothian and Borders officers will be part of the new force executive. Deputy Chief Constable Neil Richardson will be his designated deputy, DCC Iain Livingstone will be responsible for Crime and Operational Support, and DCC Steve Allan will be responsible for the Commonwealth Games. Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormick has responsibility for local policing (East) and ACC Malcolm Graham will be in charge of serious crime and public protection. The executive will be based at the new headquarters in Stirling.

Uniforms, equipment and logos will change, but the one constant in the new force is the dedication of the men and women of the Scottish Police Service who have sworn an oath to serve the public to the best of their ability.

Elsewhere

On 16 May 1975, Mud were top of the charts with ‘Oh Boy’ a cover version of Buddy Holly’s hit having replaced  Edinburgh group, The Bay City Rollers at number one spot with the bestselling single of the year Bye Bye Baby. They would be replaced the next day by Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand by your Man.

Rangers had just won the Scottish League Division One ending Celtic’s world record sequence of nine titles in a row after a one all draw against Hibs at Easter Road.

Hibs, who were celebrating their centenary year, finished second, seven points behind the Ibrox team while Edinburgh’s other club Hearts finished eighth with 35 points. Morton and Arbroath were relegated and Celtic won both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

The Scottish football team lost 5-1 at Wembley, whilst the Scottish Rugby team were in the middle of their tour of New Zealand, winning four games and losing three, including a 24-0 loss to the All Blacks.

Muhammad Ali retained his world championship belt with a technical knockout against Ron Lyle in the eleventh round.

A Labour government was in power and Jim Callaghan was Prime Minister. Margaret Thatcher took over from Ted Heath as the leader of the opposition to become the first woman in that role, although she never wore trousers, even in inclement weather.

And so to Sunday. Much like the weather outside, Sunday at Bootleg Edinburgh was a day of dark drama with light occasionally breaking through. The highlights for me included Irish short Kara, directed by Traolach O Murchu with a captivating Laura Erangey in the lead. The French film Lapse by Gilles Guerraz had shades of Jason Bourne as an amnesiac discovered his life to be much more complicated and morally dubious than he had imagined, while Edward Andrews’ revenge drama Darker Shade of Green built a fantastic sense of dread as an old man tried to atone for the guilt in his past. My top feature of the day was Brett Harvey’s Weekend Retreat, a tense flick about a husband and wife who go away to try and fix their marriage only to become hostages to a pair of brothers desperate for money.

The light among this darkness was ably supplied by Jim Hickey’s hilarious The Download Horror. Inspired by cult US series Mystery Science Theatre 3000, this flick featured the voices of producers Robin Mitchell and Keith Bradley as Robbo and Dougie, two typical Scottish guys passing comments as they watched the latest movie their pal Big Al had downloaded for them. The source of this merriment was Sacrificed, a film Bradley himself had directed a few years ago but had been ultimately disappointed with. Personally, I really hope these three turn this into a regular series. I can’t wait for the further adventures of Dougie and Robbo and their big bag of crisps.

The final film of the weekend was the latest from Bootleg founder Tom Wilton. Pale Horses is a New York-set tale of friendship, love and loss that manages to be both life-affirming and heartbreaking at the same time. The movie is even more remarkable for the fact that its debut screening was less than fifty days after Tom first put pen to paper on the script. When it comes to the Bootleg spirit of “just get out and do it” filmmaking, it’s clear that Tom Wilton leads by example.

Due to the high quality of submitted films and the three-day time constraint, there were two screening rooms set up in Banshee Labyrinth throughout the whole Bootleg weekend. Unfortunately this meant that I was unable to see all the movies that were playing, but even though my selections were mostly random, I was never disappointed. As fate would have it, I missed several of the festival’s award winning films but hopefully I (and you) will get another chance to catch them in future.

Here’s a list of all the awards from Sunday night’s ceremony:

Best Cinematography (Feature) – Autumn Wanderer
Best Cinematography (Short) – Postcard From 1952
Jeff Goldsmith presents Best Screenplay (Short) – Pro Kopf
Jeff Goldsmith presents Best Screenplay (Feature) – Kenneth

The Masques Agency presents Best Actor Female (Short) – Laura Erangey for Kara
The Masques Agency presents Best Actor Male (Short) – Harry Macqueen for Plastic Love
Best Actor Female (Feature) – Esther Hall for Weekend Retreat
Best Actor Male (Feature) – Duncan Casey for Kenneth
Best Scottish Film – Notes

Distrify presents Best Directer (Short) – Fabrice Bracq for Time 2 Split
Distrify presents Best Director (Feature) – George Kane for Discoverdale
Philip Curran presents Best Film (Short) – Plastic Love
Edinburgh International Film Festival presents Best Film (Feature) – Weekend Retreat
Write Shoot Cut presents the Audience Award (voted for via Twitter) – Discoverdale

After all that, there was only one thing left to do: rock out at the now-traditional karaoke Closing Party. And what happens at the karaoke party stays at the karaoke party.

Bootleg Edinburgh was a huge success, with every film playing to a packed house of appreciative fans. For those of you who missed it, I am reliably informed that Edinburgh is likely to become a regular destination for this travelling festival, so you’ll have no excuse for missing it next time. I’ll see you there.

You can find out more about the Bootleg Film Festival at their official website.