Hibs announced their fourth summer signing today in former Manchester United and Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams.

The 29 year-old was introduced at a press conference ahead of today’s game against Rapid Bucharest, even though he will not play due to a lack of match fitness.

Williams said that he has heard good things about the club from former team-mates John Rankin and Darren Fletcher, and is delighted to join Pat Fenlon’s men. Although he was paraded with the number one jersey, he admits that he has not been guaranteed a place in the team, and manager Pat Fenlon confirmed that the offer to out of contract Mark Brown remains on the table.

Williams spent four years at Old Trafford which included several loan spells at Coventry City and Chesterfield and Crewe Alexander. At United, he was third choice behind Tim Howard and Roy Carroll, although his time did overlap with Fabien Barthez and Mark Bosnich which limited his chances.

Although he never made a first team appearance for Manchester United, he was on the bench for two Champion’s League games and several Premier League matches, before deciding to leave to gain more experience.

He then spent four years with Crewe Alexander before moving to Carlisle on a Bosman free transfer. He spent a year with the Cumbria club before signing for Paul Lambert’s Colchester United for a reported £60,000, where he became a fans’ favourite winning three Player of the Season Awards, including both the home and away player of the year awards as voted for by fans and also the Official Player of the Year Award.

The 6ft tall keeper revealed that he chose Hibs despite interest from Championship sides as he wants regular first team football. He said:- “I have friends at Hibs who all said that the training ground and history was geared up for a top four side. I want to be involved in pushing the club to where it should be”

Manager Pat Fenlon said the he was “delighted” with the signing. He said “I’ve been working away at it for a while and it’s great to get another one over the line. It was vitally important that we got a goalkeeper in and an experienced one as well and he fits the bill for what we are looking for. He’s an experienced player and has played a lot of games and the type of character he is as well. He’s a decent goalkeeper who has played at a very good standard. I actually watched him when I was the manager at Bohs and a few times last season.”

Williams’ arrival does not mean the end for Mark Brown who finished last season as first choice goalkeeper, and Fenlon confirmed that he is still hopeful that he will remain at the club.

“We’ve spoken to Mark (Brown) over the last two or three weeks and that’s on-going and it’s now at the stage of the agent talking to the board so we will have to wait and see.”

The manager also revealed that the reason for the departure of last year’s assistant manager Bill Brown was entirely down to finance. He said:- “When I came in Billy was fantastic and was a tremendous help to me last season but it’s just something that we couldn’t do. You work with people day to day and build up a relationship so it (breaking the news) was a hard thing to do. There was nothing personal in it but you have to make the best decisions on behalf of the club.”

He also revealed that he has not watched the Cup Final and has no intention of doing so. For him it was a shame that the season didn’t end with the 4-0 victory in front of a packed Easter Road which ensured SPL survival, and would have left the fans with a feel good factor over the summer months, but the cup final defeat meant that did not happen.

Fenlon is well aware that improvements are required and that another bottom six season is unacceptable.

“Everybody talks about Hibs being a big club, but we have to go and prove that and that’s what I have been working on. We were in the bottom six last year and we’ve got to be in the top six and that’s it.”

He also confirmed that Mark Kerr and Alan Maybury have been training with the club for one week, but both have other options and he is not in a position to make them any offers at the moment although that may change.

Hibs are hoping to play Rapid Bucharest at Grangemouth where the Romanian club have been training, but the game is in doubt due to a waterlogged pitch and an inspection will take place later today.

Extolling the Benefits of Pilates!

As a fitness instructor, I receive lots of enquiries about Pilates, from people who have never tried it and are intrigued to find out more.

They want to know how it works, what the benefits are and whether it would be suitable for them.

So, if you’ve also been contemplating the possibility, but needed to ask a few questions first, here are some of the main facts.

To sum up, Pilates is about posture and alignment. The aim of the exercise is to put your bones in the right place, so your muscles can do the job they’re designed for – rather than the job they’ve learned to do, through imperfect posture.

This can develop stronger back and abdominal muscles, reducing the risk of muscular aches and pains in your back, neck & shoulders. It can also train you to breathe more efficiently and improve your concentration.

Many people who try Pilates notice that they ‘lose’ half a stone instantly, simply by standing taller with their abdominal ‘corset’ pulling them in round the middle. Re-aligning rounded shoulders helps you look and feel better too.

Another benefit of Pilates is that it can provide you with a stronger, more stable centre, improving your balance, flexibility and mobility.

Pilates is suitable for most people, so why not give it a go? You could be very glad you did.

This is the tenth of Jenny’s fitness columns for The Edinburgh Reporter. We hope it helps you to achieve your fitness goals!

You can contact EnergyWise by email or you will find them here:-

EnergyWise Health & Fitness

Holyrood Business Park

146 Duddingston Road West

Edinburgh EH16 4AP

Tel: 07775 621465

A group of men who were caught with the largest haul of drugs ever seized by Lothian and Borders Police have been convicted.  

The three men were caught with almost £2 million worth of heroin at a house in Edinburgh in December 2010. At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Kris Brown (22) was found guilty of being involved in the supply of the drug.  His co-accused, Lee Knott (23) and Ian Hunter (22), had previously pled guilty on Friday, to the same charge.

All three were remanded in custody and will appear for sentence at Glasgow High Court on August 9.

The seizure, which happened at a property in Sighthill View, in the Sighthill area of the Capital, is the biggest drugs seizure ever made by Lothian and Borders Police.

The drugs were seized as part of Operation Congress, an initiative launched in April 2010, which has focused on the activities of serious and organised criminals operating in the Lothians.

The operation has resulted in the arrest of 31 people, a number of whom have been convicted and are currently serving custodial sentences.

Approximately 30 kilos of Class A drugs with a potential street value of approximately £3.5 million have been seized as part of Operation Congress, along with firearms and £53,000 in cash.

Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, Head of CID at Lothian and Borders Police, said:

“The three men who have been convicted today were caught in the act of preparing large amounts of heroin for distribution on the streets of our local communities, however their plans were thwarted as a result of Operation Congress, which has struck a major blow against serious and organised criminals operating in the Lothians.

“Lothian and Borders Police is committed to protecting our communities from serious and organised criminality in all its forms, and we welcome any new information on criminals operating in local communities.

“The Made from Crime? Campaign has encouraged people to come forward to police with any information they have on individuals who they suspect are making money from crime, and we continue to appeal to people to contact police or Crimestoppers in confidence and anonymity with any information they have.”

Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, David Strang, welcomed the conviction:

“Today’s convictions are the result of a significant operation for the Force which represents our biggest ever drugs seizure, and I am pleased the hard work and comprehensive investigation undertaken by my officers has yielded positive results for the communities we serve.

“Drug dealers impact on all of us – whether it be directly through associated criminality, such as housebreakings and thefts, or indirectly through fear and intimidation.

“We are committed to improving the quality of life for people living in the Force area and disrupting serious and organised crime groups is just one way in which we can do this.

“By working with our partners at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service we can continue to deliver our strategy of prevention.”

Equality campaigners lobbying for gay marriage and equality in society yesterday took their petition to Holyrood. There, in front of the parliament building,  they held a staged ceremony for Jay and Ruth Richards-Hill with supporters looking on. Speaking afterwards, the couple said they believed that it was wrong for them to be able to be married in Cape Town,  but that the marriage is not recognised when they stepped off the plane in Edinburgh.

Adding that equality cuts both ways, they said that The Scottish Government should not be swayed by one religion but all voices.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who play a part in educating the LGBT community in safe sex, said that it was about equality recognition.  They maintained that “it is crazy that if someone wants to change their gender and is married, they must get divorced first before remarrying.”

The measures currently before the Scottish Government to introduce gay marriage have broad support, with a ratio of 8 to 1 MSPs promising to vote for it.  Polls suggest a high percentage of the Scottish people are also in favour, although the results of the Scottish Government consultation will not be released until later in the month.

Tom French, Policy Co-ordinator of the Equality Network, said that this was an important time for the Scottish Cabinet about to make a decision. He explained the drive to put together a petition containing 10,000 signatures and also 25,000 signed postcards.

Photos by Thomas Haywood Photography

A retired Baberton Mains man is planning to cycle 4,000 miles across Australia to raise money for The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund and Radio Lollipop.

Andrew Dickson will arrive in Perth on Sunday 19 August and travel alone and unsupported to Brisbane, via Norseman, the Nullabor Plain, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. His return flight is booked for Saturday 27 October although he hopes to complete the gruelling journey well before that deadline.

Last year Andrew cycled across America from the Pacific to the Atlantic in memory of his wife Aileen who passed away in 2006, raising awareness of dementia (especially in younger people). The trip raised £7000 for his chosen charity, Alzheimer Scotland, and left him with many fond memories of the American people.

Taking time out from his training schedule, Andrew spoke to the Edinburgh Reporter about that experience and also his forthcoming adventure.
The 60 year old former policeman said:

“My wife Aileen was diagnosed with MS with added dementia in 1998. Her condition worsened to the extent that she required 24/7 care before she passed away in 2005. After retiring from the police, I helped out at Alzheimer Scotland, working one to one with other families who had a loved one under 65 with dementia. That involved taking the patients out walking, or doing some gardening. I have always enjoyed cycling and last year was the first time I was able to get away for the time required.
“Many people have low opinions about Americans, but I found the opposite to be true. I can honestly say that I never had one negative experience, and found lots of people would take a genuine interest in what I was doing.
“In the two months I was there, seven or eight complete strangers insisted that I stay the night with them, despite the fact that I sometimes went up to a week without showering or shaving. I probably raised about $1000 from people I met on the journey.
“I normally pitched my tent in public parks, although American churches remain open all night and I occasionally slept in them. In one church in Sandy Level, Virginia, Pastor Kendell Smith insisted that I share a meal with him and his family and wrote a cheque for $100 for the charity before I left.

“One day after I left Yellowstone Park, there was snow on the ground and very few places were open for food. I was directed to the Jackson Lake Resort which had bellboys, and despite my appearance, I was welcomed into the restaurant where several diners took an interest in what I was doing and chatted to me.”

This year Andrew has decided to support the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund, set up in the memory of the young Falkirk footballer who was killed when a net catcher he was instructed to move during a training session struck an overhead cable. Last month, the Edinburgh Reporter featured an account of a Hibs / Hearts select beating Hutchison Vale in a charity match at Saughton Enclosure on behalf of the fund.
Andrew chose this charity as he knew Craig’s parents, John and Sheila, and was aware of the heartache they had been going through since the accident. He also knew several volunteers at Radio Lollipop, and decided to share any money raised between the two worthy causes.

“I’m hoping to raise both funds and awareness of two hard working charities connected to The Royal Hospital for Sick Children here in Edinburgh, whose fund-raisers work tirelessly for their respective organisations.”

Whilst he had been in America before his trip, this time it’s a step into the unknown as he has never visited Australia before, although he has researched the weather conditions.  He continued:

“Last year I needed both summer and winter clothes. In the Rockies the weather was below freezing, whilst in Kansas it reached 103 degrees. The worst was Virginia where the humidity was through the roof.

“At least this time there won’t be any snow and the terrain will be flatter, especially through the Nullarbor Plain which is the longest, flattest road in the world and runs over 1000 miles. During this part of the journey, villages are few and far between, so I have to ensure I have an emergency supply of fluid. I had estimated that I would need to carry three litres, but checking online I see that others recommend carrying seven or eight litres which will be very heavy.

“I won’t be carrying a mobile phone, but this year I am taking a laptop with me and I intend to update my blog wherever I can find some Wi-Fi.

“At the moment I am training by cycling about 100 miles a week, although I will be increasing this as the date gets nearer. In America I aimed for about 60 miles per day although it was often more than this, and on one day when I felt good and there was a strong wind behind me I did 117.”

Craig Gowans’ sister Lyndsay paid tribute to Andrew’s efforts. She said:

“We all appreciate the superb efforts and dedication of the venture that Andrew is about to undertake. I look forward to reading his blog.”

Anyone wishing to contribute can do so at virginmoneygiving.com/bikingacrossaustralia
Andrew was keen to stress that he is treating this trip as his holiday and all expenses are met by him. Every penny donated will go to the charities, which was the same as his American adventure.
Although Andrew talks highly of the American people, there was actually one incident which still rankles. In Norfolk where the Pilgrim Fathers landed, a bedraggled Andrew used a ferry and was given a pensioners ticket by the ticket collector who did not even ask for identification. Such tickets are only for people over 60 years – and at the time Andrew was only 59!
The Edinburgh Reporter will provide regular updates on his journey, but anyone wishing to follow his progress more frequently can do so at http://bikingacrossaustralia.blogspot.co.uk/

Edinburgh Reporter Radio – New era begins for Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop by bobertd

Edinburgh Reporter Radio visited the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s new Bill Scott Centre to find out more about this new space, who can use it and what lies ahead for the organisation.

Assistant Director Gordon Munro told us that he hoped Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop in its new form would be something that “Leith, Edinburgh and Scotland will be proud of”.

You can find out more about the new facilities on the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop website.

Artist Laura Gill brings her debut solo show to Coburg House Art Studios with the preview night opening on Thursday (12th). Her unique use of line and pattern to create a sense of movement has already seen her work sell out at previous outings as well as receiving widespread acclaim at the 2011 ECA Degree Show.

The exhibition opening runs from 18:00-20:00 with prices beginning at £100

laura-gill.com

A housing association has launched a new campaign to help young people and homeless adults in Edinburgh break cycle of unemployment and poverty – through sport.

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association and Street Soccer Scotland have joined forces in the Changing Lives campaign, a bid to give hundreds of youngsters and excluded adults in the Capital the confidence to move into employment or education. The Edinburgh based social landlord says Changing Lives will help build the self confidence and motivation of hundreds of youngsters and adults, including the homeless and those with addictions or mental health difficulties, by plugging gaps in existing employability services.

To kick off the campaign, Dunedin announced it will major sponsor of the Scottish Homeless World Cup Team. Dunedin will provide a £10,000 boost to support the team, trained and managed by Street Soccer Scotland, as they head to the prestigious annual tournament in Mexico this August. Changing Lives is already delivering a raft of community projects, including personal development courses and healthy living events for communities around Edinburgh offering advice on mental health, sexual health, housing, employment and training. Under the partnership Dunedin will provide specialist accredited training as part of Street Soccer Scotland personal development and training programmes – and plans to open up volunteering, training and job opportunities to people coming through Street Soccer Scotland programmes.
Dunedin Canmore and Street Soccer Scotland are also bidding for funding to set up programmes throughout Edinburgh as part of Football Works which will be aimed at young people aged 14 – 19 who are deemed to be going into a negative destination when leaving school.

 We spoke to Peter, a volunteer with Street Soccer Scotland. Peter was homeless for a few years, however he has turned his life around dramatically.   He explained what he went through when he was homeless and also how he got to a point in his life where he can use his experience to help others.

Listen to our interview with Peter:  

http://www.mixcloud.com/basher1969/inteview-with-peter-from-street-soccer-scotland/

For more information on Street Soccer Scotland call: 0131-652-8191 or info@streetsoccerscotland.org 

Hibs fans finally said a fond farewell to former captain Ian Murray last night at his testimonial dinner at The Corn Exchange. This was the last in a series of events over the past twelve months to commemorate the service that Ian has given to the club that he and his family have always supported, and as the venue was filling up, Ian took time out from welcoming guests to talk exclusively to the Edinburgh Reporter about his memories, plans for the future and give a message to the Hibs fans for the forthcoming season.

He said: “It’s fair to say I have mixed emotions, I’ve played for the club for over ten years over two spell and been a supporter and I am immensely proud to have, achieved that but I have to get on with my life and I’ll give the same effort to my new team as I gave the Hibs, wherever that may be, I’m not sure at this moment in time.

“America is a big possibility for us. I’ve been out there for the last ten days training with a team. It’s gone well and hopefully we can reach some sort of a deal, but if not, I’m open to offers and could continue my career in the UK.

With a career in management or coaching in mind, Ian was asked specifically whether he would like to return to Easter Road one day.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Easter Road and had great support from my family and fans and the board and various managers and assistant managers, but I would give ant team at any level my 100%. Dedication, but of course you would love to manage the team you have supported all your life, that would be the pinnacle of your career, but equally I understand that even if you want to be the manager of a certain club doesn’t mean you will.

When asked about the highlights, Ian responded:- “There’s been a few highlight, I’ve had good bad and indifferent times, but obviously the dinnertonight is a highlight for me personally, I played in the cup final at nineteen years of age. Derby games, even getting beat, they are all special moments, certain goals, but if I had to pick one highlight it would probably be my debut. To play one game or to play 100 games, at that stage no-one can tell, but to get that chance was fantastic.”

When asked to provide a message for the Hibs fans, he said: “It’s difficult; the whole country’s going through a hard time. I always believe that you should support your team through good, bad and indifferent times. It’s obviously set the club back a wee bit getting beat in the cup final by your rivals 5-1 but I would just say keep supporting, the team. If you can afford to go to the games and support the local community please do.”

In an emotional night for the thirty one year-old utility player, a ‘who’s who’ of past heroes lined up to pay tribute to his footballing skills and attitude which made him such a favourite with the Easter Road faithful.

First up was arguably the greatest ever Hibs player and the sole survivor of the legendry Famous Five; Lawrie Reilly. The great man didn’t mince his words when asked for his assessment of Ian. He told the Edinburgh Reporter: “Ian Murray has been the best player on Hibs books since he returned the club and I’m not just saying that because this is his night. I tell anyone who will listen that, and I only wish we had more like him.”

Lawrie’s views were echoed by former fans’ favourite Jackie McNamara, who can be seen every second Saturday in the East Stand. He said:” Ian was Lawrie’s favourite player and mine as well. I liked him very much and am sorry to see him leave the club. I think it’s a wonderful gesture from Craig and Charlie (Reid) and all the Hibs supporters who have turned out tonight, who hold him in such high regard, I really hope he does well with his next club.”

Former Hibs goalkeeper Jim McArthur who is Ian’s agent described why he was adored by the fans. “Ian is a good wholehearted player who wears his heart on his sleeve. There’s always a place for a player like him in any team and I believe that he would have made it in any era he played in.”

Two legends who were part of the 1991 Skol Cup victory also praised Ian and claimed that he was good enough to have made that team although the competition in midfield would be stiff.

Micky Weir, who is currently weighing up options for coaching roles in the East of Scotland League said: “Ian was a good player. He was wholehearted and what you see is what you get.”

Keith Wright said: “Ian would have been a great addition to our squad when we played although he would have had to fight for his place with Murdo (McLeod) and Pat McGinley. I liked watching him in the Sauzee team and it was good that he progressed to a higher level with Scotland, Rangers and Norwich. It’s an honour to be at this event to pay my respect to a good Hibs man.”

Chairman Rod Petrie said: “Ian has been a tremendous servant to the club and sets an example that others would do well to follow. I wish him all the best in his future career,”

The evening was hosted by Hibs fan Grant Stott, and a raffle with prizes including Madonna tickets, Liam Gallagher tickets and signed football strips by World Cup winners Patrick Viera and Robert Pires, as well as ex-Hibs star Merouane Zemmama. A massive cheer went up when Lawrie Reilly won signed Mark Brown goalkeeper’s jersey from last season.

Comedian Russ Williams then entertained the fans with his stand-up routine before running the auction which raised over £4500.

Tickets for Curtis Stiger went for £240, a framed Ian Murray strip from his last ever Hibs game went for £400. A golf four-ball at Archerfield reached £250 and Manchester United tickets went for £650. Overnight accommodation with dinner for two at Le Monde went for £240 and the chance to play against Hibs legends made £300. Memorabilia from Ian’s testimonial match including signed Patrick Vierra boots fetched £700.

Table 18, sponsored by Edinburgh Lock Centre, Radcliffe Terrace took the award for the most generous of the night when Max Preston from the Southside bid £800 for framed tennis shirts worn and signed by the Murray brothers, Andy and Jamie, whilst father and son Lionel and Fraser Wilson paid £1000 for two tickets to The Proclaimers sell out show on Thursday 22 November at Edinburgh’s Playhouse including VIP backstage passes , two signed copies of their latest CD and Hibs home and away tops signed by Craig and Charlie.

The evening continued with an on-stage interview of Ian by Grant Stott, before The Proclaimers raised the roof with a mixture of new songs and old favourites such as Letter from America, Let’s get Married, Cap in Hand, I’m on my way, and of course Sunshine on Leith which brought many a tear to the eyes of those present.

They finished up with 500 Miles which brought everyone, including 83 year old Lawrie Reilly to his feet in appreciation.

Afterwards in the bar, Grant Stott said: “It’s been a great night. Graeme and the committee have done a brilliant job with a variety of events, but to top it off with The Proclaimers is just a great tribute to Ian and his family.”

Ian made 284 appearances for Hibs, scoring 17 goals in two spells.

With four SEPA flood warnings currently in force, the Council’s flood prevention team is operating 24-hour standby, monitoring all areas at risk and taking appropriate action as necessary.

Five friends who met when they did a charity bike ride through the Rocky Mountains in Canada have teamed up for another challenge by cycling unsupported from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Fifty two year-old painter and decorator Gordon Smith who was born and brought up in Wester Drylaw will join Roy Munro from Edinburgh, Linlithgow couple Scott and Louisa Cockburn and Liisa Chadburn from Lincolnshire, for the one thousand mile journey to raise money for the Marie Curie Hospice.

Gordon has done work periodically at the hospice over the past fifteen years, and during that time he has always been impressed by the work of staff there, so when his lifelong pal Stevie Inglis died of cancer, he decided to help raise much needed funds.

As he was a keen cyclist, he decided to ride the 400km (249 miles) route which involved climbing 6785 feet in the Canadian Rockies. Whilst doing this, he became friendly with the others who will accompany him on the current venture.

Since then, he has continued to raise money organising various charity events at Easter Road, home of Stevie’s beloved Hibs, but after watching record breaking long distance cyclist Mark Beaumont’s recent escapades on television, he was inspired to get back on his bike.

Gordon told the Edinburgh Reporter:- “I was brought up in Wester Drylaw Drive and Stevie was from Wester Drylaw Place. We’ve mucked about together since we were 14 or 15. Two year ago Stevie lost his fight with stomach cancer and I lost a very dear friend at an age that was just too young. It was a very sad experience and a reminder that sometimes we can take so much for granted

“I’ve worked as a painter and decorator at the Marie Curie Hospice, on and off for 15 years, and I have always admired the work done by the doctors and nurses there. When Stevie died, it prompted me to try and raise money for the hospice. I don’t have the wonderful skills of the nurses doctors and other staff that make a place like Marie Curie tick, but I can ride a bike.

“I’ve always admired Mark Beaumont and followed his career so I decided to do Lands End to John O’Groats, which is a must for serious UK cyclists. I intended to do it alone unsupported, but when Roy heard about it, he wanted to do it as well then the others did likewise.”

Roy (35) is a caretaker / photographer at George Heriot’s School, and is originally from Kinross, but now lives in Leith. He also has a good reason for supporting the charity, as he explained:- “I became involved in fundraising following the death of my big sister sister Lynn three years ago from cancer. Lynn was only 37 when she passed away in the Marie Curie Hospice. I haven’t done anything on this scale before. The Rockies was the biggest to date but I am confident that we will manage in ten days no problem.”

Liisa (37) a fitness instructor from Lincolnshire was keen to get on the road. She said:- “I can’t wait. I’m excited and nervous, but it will be OK when we get the first couple of days over with. People think it will be no problem as I am a fitness instructor, but we usually just tell people what to do and we don’t have to do it ourselves.”

Scott (27) and Louisa (31) actually got engaged during the Rocky Mountains adventure two years ago, and were married last year. They will spend their first wedding anniversary on the road. The couple are both secondary school teachers, Scott in Larbert and Louisa in Dunfermline. Scott said:- “The Marie Curie is a fantastic charity. I have been at coffee mornings there and we are more than happy to contribute.” Louisa added:- “It wasn’t quite the way I thought I’d be spending my wedding anniversary, but it’s an adventure and I am looking forward to it, apart from sleeping in the tent!”

The group hope to do the journey in 10 days, averaging 90-100miles per day. They start tomorrow, Sunday 8 July 2012, and hope to reach Edinburgh on Friday 13 July before finishing four days later.

Although the group will carry everything they need themselves, Gordon was quick to thank others who have provided logistical help. He said: “So far we have raised £7748.68 but we hope to reach £10k although I appreciate that money’s tight for everyone these days. I would like to thank Short Garage in Dalkeith who have provided us with the use of a minibus to transport our bikes and equipment to Land’s End and also Pendrich Steeplejacks of Rosewell who provided us with a driver. We would not have been able to do the trip without their help.”

Anyone wishing to donate money to this worthwhile cause can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/thecycle

Should you wish to follow the group, you can check their current location by clicking on http://gps.motionx.com/iphone/liveupdates/ and entering 12021 in the channel box.

All the money raised will be spent locally, mostly on nursing hours for patients in the hospice, and also those who need treatment at home.

A planned protest by right-wing groups against Kentucky Fried Chicken’s policy of selling halal food at Meadowbank Shopping Centre failed to materialise today.

In response to the proposed demonstration, over twenty members of assorted groups under the banner of Unite Against Fascism handed out leaflets outside the front door. The leaflets read ‘Scotland says NAE NAZIS’ and ‘Racists not welcome in Scotland’ and several people carried banners reading

Many customers accepted the leaflets, although a small number refused. Representatives of Public and Commercial Services Union and the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign were present and the demonstration passed peacefully.

Police spoke briefly to various protestors before leaving and maintaining a low profile in the distance. A marked police car gave the matter passing attention, and the group eventually disbanded when it became clear that the far right groups were not attending, and various members continued to leaflet the remainder of the park.

Mike Cowley, Branch Convenor of the Educational Institute of Scotland at Telford College told the Edinburgh Reporter: -“We are here today as part of ‘Unite Against Fascism’, because we know that the BNP and SDL intend stirring up anti-Islamic feeling by protesting against KFC selling halal meet on the basis that it’s cruel to animals. Whilst animal rights is a serious issue, it’s comical that they are targeting Colonel Sanders as Islamist and it shows how desperate the far right have become. It’s also ironic when the leader of the English Defence League was recently convicted of cruelty to animals, after letting five llamas starve to death. I don’t know what happened to their protest; perhaps the rain put them off.”

The Meadowbank branch of KFC has become a target since they announced that they would be selling halal chicken, and minor protests have already taken place outside the premises.

A blog on the Scottish BNP website specifically identifies the premises and reads:-“We as British people believe strongly in good animal care. We defend the right to eat meat. We do not believe in animal cruelty. However, the Halal practise of animal slaughter is still allowed by Mr Cameron`s government.

“We say, enough is enough. No more animal slaughter by Halal method. This is Britain, not a Middle Eastern country.”

Staff at the shop declined to comment, but a statement on the company website reads:- “At KFC we listen to our customers to help us to evolve our menu and the choices we offer. For some time, we have received requests to provide halal food in parts of the UK and as a result of this; we are running a halal trial within communities where we anticipate a strong demand for halal products.”

FREE EVENING PARKING FOR CITY CENTRE DRIVERS DURING FESTIVAL

Parking in Edinburgh city centre is to be free from 5pm during the festivals season in a drive to support businesses and keep the heart of the capital thriving over the summer.

The ‘alive after 5’ campaign, run by the City of Edinburgh Council, Marketing Edinburgh and Essential Edinburgh, will also see many shops extending their opening hours until 7pm. It will run from 6 August until 1 September and could be repeated during December for the winter festivals. Roads in the city centre, west end and east end will all benefit from the scheme, which is also being supported by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Cllr Lesley Hinds, the city’s Transport leader said: “This is a fantastic initiative that will make it more attractive for people to come into the city centre in the August evenings or for workers to stay longer at the end of their day. Edinburgh has a superb range of shops, restaurants and festival venues, and this is all about helping people to spend more time enjoying them during a period which is so important to businesses. While the free parking should encourage visitors to the city centre, there’s also great public transport available, including frequent buses and trains, and several park and ride sites.

Cllr Hinds added: “We know there is pressure on Edinburgh businesses and we are committed to various initiatives that will support them. I’m also delighted that so many firms have put their backing to this campaign, ranging from small independent traders to household names such as John Lewis, Harvey Nichols and Primark.”

Lucy Bird, Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh said: “Businesses and shoppers have welcomed similar initiatives before, and recent experience in Manchester and Newcastle shows that it can make a real difference. We could see up to an extra 20% footfall in the city centre and we’re really confident that this will help the shops that are extending their hours as well other traders. Overall, it’s a great partnership between ourselves, the Council, Essential Edinburgh, the Chamber of Commerce and the business community which should benefit everyone involved as well as the public.”

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: “We are fully behind this pilot and anticipate that it will help bridge that gap between when shops normally close and when people begin to visit restaurants and cafes. Given experiences elsewhere, we expect the additional opening time to help trading, in particular to be busier than early morning. Anything which helps retailers gain access to more trading opportunities has to be welcomed, particularly when it also aids the general ambience of the city centre.”

The lost income from the free parking is expected to be around £55,000 which will be met by the three partners.

Roads included:

City Centre (normally 6.30pm finish)

• Charlotte Square
• Frederick Street
• George Street
• Glenfinlas Street
• Hill Street
• North Castle Street
• North St Andrew Street
• Queen Street
• St Andrew Square
• St Colme Street
• Thistle Street
• Young Street

West End (normally 6.30pm finish)

• Ainslie Place
• Alva Street
• Atholl Crescent
• Chester Street
• Coates Crescent
• Drumsheugh Gardens
• Great Stuart Street
• Manor Place
• Melville Crescent
• Melville Street
• Palmerston Place
• Randolph Lane
• Randolph Place
• Rothesay Place
• Rothesay Terrace
• Rutland Square
• Rutland Street
• Stafford Street
• Walker Street
• William Street

East End (normally 6.30pm finish)

• Forth Street
• Little King Street
• Picardy Place
• Register Place
• Union Street
• Waterloo Place

East End (normally 5.30pm finish)

• Annandale Street
• Barony Place
• Barony Street
• Broughton Place
• Brunswick Road
• Brunswick Street
• Elm Row
• Gayfield Square
• Gayfield Street
• Hart Street
• Hopetoun Crescent
• McDonald Road
• Montgomery Street
• New Broughton
• Windsor Street

Roads within the area not included:

• Broughton Street (peak hour loading prohibitions; bays not available between 4.00pm and 6.30pm)
• Leith Walk (“Greenway” parking bays, no charge)
• North of McDonald Road in the east end (there are no parking charges there).

Ice Cold Costa to your door this summer……..

Costa is taking its specially pimped ice-cream van on a tour around the country, visiting cities between Glasgow and Brighton.  The Ice Cold Costa (ICC) tour will be giving people a chance to try complimentary drinks from Costa’s mouth-watering new Ice Cold Costa range, as well as giving the people of Edinburgh the opportunity to request ICC deliveries directly to their homes or workplaces.

Ice Cold Costa offers a glorious taste of summer in delicious mouth-watering flavours. Among the varieties available on the ICC tour will be the fresh fruity fun of the iced strawberry lemonade, the fresh breeze of the Mango and Passion fruit Cooler and the satisfying refreshment of the Vanilla Latte. These and many other thirst-quenching flavours of ICC are already available in Costa stores around the country.

People in the Edinburgh area can contact the ICC request line at www.facebook.com/costacoffee to request deliveries on Wednesday 11th July.

Kevin Hydes, Costa UK’s Marketing Director said:-

‘At Costa we already pride ourselves on the experience our customers have in store. But we’re so excited by our summer range of drinks, this year we wanted to do something different and take ICC out and about to refresh the nation. We’re using an ice-cream van as it is a recognisable vehicle for a summer treat and now all we need is some glorious weather!’

You can’t have an ice-cream van without a theme tune of course and the ICC van will be accompanied by a winning original ICC tune, a competition Costa ran on its Facebook page. The winning song, ‘Costa’s there for you’, was created by 30 year old Norma-Jean Torrance who is originally from Florida but has been living in Wishaw, Scotland for the last three years.

The ICC van’s journey will be documented on both Costa’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/costacoffee and Ice Cold Costa fans can also follow the ICC tour on Twitter @costacoffee

Meanwhile Costa have lodged a planning application for a drive thru coffee shop in Corstorphine according to the BBC. 

Eddie Robb is the managing director of Edinburgh based As You Like It holidays. Despite the tough economic climate, Robb started the venture at the beginning of the year and, now six months on, things are looking up for the young entrepreneur.

Who are you and where do you come from?

My name is Eddie Robb, I’m 23 and I’m originally from Ireland but I grew up in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. I studied Economics and Business at the University of Newcastle and, having done some bar work for a bit back home, I moved to the capital to set up my new business which launched at the start of this year.

How would you describe As You Like It Holidays in one sentence?

Providing exciting holidays to share with your friends, hassle free.

Where did the idea for As You Like It come from?

After secondary school I tried to organise a trip to Croatia with school friends, but it was a real hassle finding a company that took people there. We had to hunt out our own flights, accommodation and transfers. It turned out to be a challenge trying to make our own package with ease. I was fed up with the ‘same-old package holiday’ and, looking back at the travelling I have done, I now want people to see that there is much more to the world than Magaluf. There are countless destinations that many never consider. Europe has a lot to offer in terms of festivals and sports events so for all the great holidays that are missed I wanted to make the whole process hassle-free and to make them easier to enjoy with friends.

What has been one of the highlights as the business has developed?

It’s been great to see the business gradually grow over the past few months and I was proud that we were chosen to be the official travel partners for the Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium which has won massive awards and has one of the best dance line-ups this year. We listed a combined travel and ticket package online which sold out within about 60 seconds which was incredible! We’d never had a sale on such a scale.

What happened on Monday 25th June 2012?

To enhance the buzz surrounding our upcoming website re-launch, we wanted to do something a bit different – namely, the As You Limpic Games! To kick start the event, which will eventually take place in Edinburgh in August, we made a promotional video. We called it the ‘Commuter Slalom’ and at 5pm at Haymarket train station, 8 skiers battled their way through commuters, getting a lot of strange looks.

We’re looking for teams of 4 to film themselves taking part in their own made-up sport, and to upload the footage on our site. The people in the videos that generate the most ‘likes’ will win an all expenses paid trip to compete in their chosen sport at the As You Limpic Games. The winners will receive any holiday from our brand new site, everything they need to ensure their holiday is ‘as they like it’.

What businesses are you working alongside with and how are you promoting the event?

The creators of Morphsuits, Brew Dog and over a dozen other companies have been interested in the As You Like It ethos. Social media is a very important platform to spread the word and we regularly post offers, discounts and entertaining content on Facebook and Twitter.

What does the rest of the year have in store for you and the business?

We will soon be announcing details on our winter packages and aim to put together some exciting Hogmanay holidays. The Himalayas have a lot to offer when it comes to skiing and we’re currently looking at other great locations.

How does being Managing Director of As You Like It compare to the spell of bar work you did?

It’s incredible, I feel like I have the best job in the world!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I hope to make As You Like It the biggest and best place to go for a package holiday – that’s the aim.

Pagan Osborne staff launch CHAS campaign with Choccie Bakeathon!

The staff of legal, financial and property services company Pagan Osborne launched their fundraising campaign for Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) this month with a hugely successful Choccie Bakeathon.

The company, which was founded in Fife over 250 years ago, has made CHAS its partner charity for the next year and staff and colleagues across its Cupar, Anstruther, St Andrew’s and Edinburgh offices will be raising money through a constant stream of cake sales, raffles and social events.

The Choccie Bakethon challenged staff to come up with cakes and bakes using left over Easter Eggs, with prizes awarded for the best creations. At the end of the day, the event raised nearly £200 getting the campaign off to a flying start.

CHAS, which runs Rachel House and Robin House and the CHAS at Home service is the only charity in Scotland to provide vital hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions, was chosen through a staff ballot. During the process it became clear that a number of Pagan Osborne staff have a personal connection to the children’s hospices in Kinross and Balloch, with some very inspiring stories coming forward.

Sue Calder for Pagan Osborne, said:- “The overwhelming feeling was that we wanted to help make the most of the short lives of these terminally ill children and support their families. Our aim is to build fundraising events into our weekly routines so that there is always something going on and we are working closely with CHAS to come up with lots of imaginative ideas.”

Criona Knight, CHAS Corporate and Events Fundraiser said: “We’re very excited about the opportunity of working with Pagan Osborne staff over the next year and thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate treats from the bakeathon. It’s fantastic to see how passionate the team are about fundraising to help support the children, young people and families we work with. We’ve already had the opportunity to show some of the staff around Rachel House Children’s Hospice in Kinross where they’ve seen for themselves the support their fundraising can help provide.

“It costs over £7 million each year to provide CHAS services for the families across Scotland that need them and we simply could not achieve that without the support of businesses like Pagan Osborne.”

Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended St Giles Cathedral today when Prince William was installed as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.

Thomas Haywood Photography
25 Polwarth Crescent 2F1
Edinburgh
EH11 1HR

Tel 07968 085609
Twitter: thaywoodphoto
www.thomashaywood.com

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) today announced the continuation of Artistic Director Chris Fujiwara’s tenure, initially for a further three years. The appointment was announced following 2012’s successful EIFF that saw admissions of just over 40,000 across the 12-day event.

The 66th EIFF, Fujiwara’s first Festival as Artistic Director, hosted an international programme with 120 diverse new feature films, alongside two retrospectives, shorts programmes, a full industry programme, talent development labs, education initiatives and special events. Fujiwara also oversaw the return of the Michael Powell and International Awards to the Festival, as well as high-profile red carpet premieres at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.

Commenting on his future at EIFF, Chris Fujiwara said: “Working on this year’s EIFF has been one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences of my career. The interest and enthusiasm of the Festival audience and the dedication and professionalism of the Festival staff and volunteers have transformed my view of the importance cinema can hold in people’s lives. I’m deeply grateful to the Board for their confidence in me, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our relationships with our audiences and with international filmmakers, distributors and sales agents. I’m very excited about working to shape the future of EIFF.”

On behalf of the EIFF Board which confirmed the appointment, Chair, Leslie Hills said: “EIFF is an institution with a reputation for reinvention over decades. Chris Fujiwara gave us a superb reinvention in EIFF 2012. Chris, along with the excellent support of staff and volunteers delivered, with his signature intelligence, knowledge and humour, a multi-faceted programme which engaged filmgoers and professionals, students and critics alike. We are utterly delighted that he has accepted our offer to build on this very promising first edition. “

Royal ceremony at St Giles – Higgs Boson – HMO landlord censured by council – Book Festival competition – Shorts for breakfast at the Traverse

Prince William will be installed as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle today at the Thistle Chapel in St Giles Cathedral. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will also be in attendance. A march by 400 pipers down the Royal Mile is also planned.

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Scientists at CERN yesterday confirmed their most exciting news yet, that they are almost not quite but very nearly certain that they have discovered the Higgs Boson particle. What they have said is that they have discovered something that looks very like what they think the Higgs Boson would look like. Edinburgh’s Professor Peter Higgs who first suggested the existence of the particle in the 1970s, was at CERN in Switzerland yesterday, and was quite emotional at the announcement according to reports. Does this make any sense to you at all? Well the BBC have a good go at explaining it all here, The Telegraph have an article here and The Guardian has its own take here. Do you have an explanation? Then please add it in our comments section below.

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A landlord has been removed from the landlord register which makes it a criminal offence for him to rent out property – the first time this power has been used in Edinburgh.

Exciting plans to electrify Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley train route – which would cut journey times by 10 minutes – have been unveiled by The Scottish Government.

Glasgow MSP Sandra White welcomed Transport Minister Keith Brown’s announcement of a £650 million upgrade which will deliver longer, electric trains equipped with wi-fi. Passenger capacity will be increased thanks to the investment and the reliability of train services will be improved.

Additionally, a significant upgrade to Queen Street Station has been announced which will see the station connected to Buchanan Galleries.

Ms White said:-“These are exciting plans that will see journey times cut, free wi-fi by 2013 and higher capacity as a result of longer trains. People using the Glasgow to Edinburgh line will benefit from these enhancements which are a huge boost for both cities. Connecting Queen Street station to Buchanan Galleries will make it quicker and easier for people to get access to the shops and station. Not only that, the Scottish Government’s plan will benefit Scotland’s economy by supporting additional jobs and investment.”

Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, welcomed Mr Brown’s announcement that the first stage of improvements will be delivered in time for the Commonwealth Games with electrification of rail services to Cumbernauld.

Mr Hepburn said:-“It is fantastic the SNP Government has committed to delivering the electrification of the rail services to Cumbernauld in time for the Commonwealth Games.

“This means more reliable, greener and faster trains for my constituents and those travelling to Cumbernauld.

“The SNP is committed to delivering the most modern and reliable train services for Scotland and this latest announcement follows a £5 billion funding and investment package of measures aimed at improving the quality of that service.

“We are delivering all this at a time when Scotland’s budget is being cut by a third – which demontrates the commitment of The Scottish Government to investing in rail services.”

The first of a series of meetings took place at Tynecastle High School Community Wing today, to discuss how the communities of Gorgie and Dalry might recover following the recent outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease.

It was arranged before yesterday’s tragic news that a man in his 60s from south-west Edinburgh had become the third fatality due to the disease, which he was believed to have contracted during the suspected exposure period.

The event was organised by local community worker, Pol Steele, who provided a presentation entitled ‘Beyond the Outbreak – Getting on in Gorgie Dalry’ which explained how the area’s reputation had been severely damaged as a place to live, work and visit.

A number of ideas were discussed, including forming a community response team made up of local residents, businesses, politicians and community organisations seeking to provide focus of community activities and develop methods of improving the image of the area, such as producing a digital leaflet which would include stories and pictures from residents, adverts from businesses and comments from politicians.

This leaflet would be freely distributed as a PDF and be available via other websites such as The City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure and Visit Scotland.

Another option which would require some funding, would be the creation of a Gorgie / Dalry website to promote businesses as well as educating the visitors to the history of the area.

Other discussions related to a potential minute’s silence to mark the three month anniversary of the outbreak, to give people a chance to pay their respects, and the possibility of some type of memorial.

Initial pre-meeting discussions suggest that local MP Alastair Darling and MSPs Sarah Boyack and Marco Biagi were behind this idea.

SNP Councillor for the Sighthill / Gorgie ward, Denis Dixon, who attended the meeting, offered his support and later told the Edinburgh Reporter:-“The meeting went very well and was a good platform to take things forward. It’s a bit early at the moment as we have to allow the Legionnaire’s outbreak to run its course, and there are still a lot of people who are ill.

“Gorgie Dalry does suffer from some bad publicity and we want to change this. This is a great community and I know it well. We just have to build up the community spirit and take things forward. There is still a lot of work to be done and it’s great to have someone like Pol.”

Pol Steele praised the ‘Blitz’ spirit in the community, but claimed that Gorgie / Dalry still had a poor reputation as being dirty with a poor crime record, and that much of this was undeserved claiming that the area had improved considerably in the last 10 years.

After the meeting, he told the Edinburgh Reporter:- “This is just a starting point, and hopefully things will kick off when everyone’s out of intensive care, but I am aware that for three families, the tragedy will never end. We have to remember to be respectful. I have been a community worker in the area for over 20 years, and I have a real sense of how close we came to a disaster, and it would be a good thing if something positive could come out of this. The next stage is to find a committee, possibly numbering fifteen and mainly made up from local residents and businesses with some politicians and community groups. Today’s meeting brought out some excellent ideas.

A follow up meeting due to take place at 6.30pm on Thursday 5 July has been postponed due to power problems, but  a new date will be circulated in due course.

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for help in tracing an elderly lady who is missing from her home in Edinburgh.

Seventy-four-year-old Anne Shields was last seen in Craiglockart Road around 3.30pm this afternoon 3 July 3012 and has not been seen since.

She is described as being white, around 5ft 5ins tall, slim build with short grey hair. She was wearing a cardigan (possibly red), light brown tweed trousers and brown sandals when she was last seen.

Inspector Stephen Sutherland said: “We are growing increasingly concerned for Anne’s safety as she suffers from dementia.

“Her clothing is quite distinctive, and we don’t believe she had a handbag or purse with her when she left, so we are appealing for anyone who may have seen her since 3.30pm this afternoon to contact us on 0131 311 3131.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in complete confidence and anonymity on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE:- Lothian and Borders Police confirmed on 4 July that Anne Shields has been traced safe and well.

A spokesman said:-“We would like to thank the media for their support with this appeal.”

Royal Garden Party at Holyrood – Rock n Roll on Forth Bridge – Road works – Council team nominated for award – Computers for over 50s!

Arrangements for the Royal Garden Party today have had to be changed a little owing to the amount of rain we have had recently. Guests attending the Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyrood House, in Edinburgh, today are being urged to review their arrangements for getting to the venue.

Due to inclement weather the normal parking facility at the playing fields to the east of Holyrood House has had to be closed to all parking except for the dedicated disabled parking area.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “We are supporting the Royal Household by looking at alternatives for their guests but our message to those attending is consider using public transport or arrange for someone to drop you off.

“The normal parking area is out of commission due to the ground being saturated after days of heavy rain and only the area set aside for disabled parking will be available.

“We are working with our colleagues at City Of Edinburgh Council to look at alternatives but those who had been intending taking their own vehicles should be advised that there will be limited space for parking in other locations.”

It is intended that Regent Road will be closed to the public for the day and some parking will be available there. Access will be available at both ends of Regent Road, however people are encouraged to access it via  Montrose Terrace which will be closed to all but garden party traffic. Shuttle buses will be running from Regent Road to the Palace of Holyrood House.

The police spokesman added: “We will have additional officers in Regent Road and the surrounding area to assist people. We would urge people to heed their advice and they will do their best to assist.”

Check the following websites for traffic updates www.lbp.police.uk, http://trafficscotland.org/ and follow the police on twitter @LBP_Police

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Edinburgh’s Bwani Junction have played three songs on the very very top of the Forth Bridge according to the BBC. Network Rail allowed them permission to play there following months of discussions… Anyone hear them?

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Today our main photograph shows you some of the many road works that are taking place in the city at the moment. This time the road crews were removing paint yesterday on Queen Street Gardens which had been put there to delineate a bus stand. You can find out more about the roads which are closed at any time by looking at this page of the council website. They also have Clarence where you can report potholes. Today our pothole photograph is on a pavement in Dublin Street.

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A team from the City of Edinburgh Council is in the running for a prestigious national award for supporting the city’s town centres. Edinburgh has been short listed by the Association of Town Centre Management for the ‘Best UK Town Centre Team / Town Centre Partnership’ award. The team has been recognised for their support driving up footfall and increasing spend in the city’s designated nine town centres. This has been achieved through a series of low cost, high impact promotional activities.