A study at Heriot-Watt University has unearthed details of counterfeit alcoholic spirit production.

Scientists from the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) at Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, working alongside Dr John Edwards of Process NMR Associates, based in New York, are compiling a database to test, compare and log alcoholic spirits.

The research has featured in a paper, titled, Worldwide Illicit and Counterfeit Alcoholic Spirits: Problem, Detection, and Prevention, published in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists.

The team have spent the last six months using lab-based analytical techniques to detect the chemical fingerprint of hundreds of authentic international spirits, including whisky, tequila, mezcal, and bourbon.

Michael Bryan of the ICBD at Heriot-Watt, is leading the research as part of his PhD project. He said: “Once complete, this database will provide in-depth analysis of hundreds of legitimate spirits, becoming an information source to determine the authenticity of a product.

“At present, testing apparatus, methodology and human resource is ridiculously expensive, costing up to half a million or more pounds. And the analysis machinery is huge, they can be size of a car or bigger. So, it’s a very difficult process and what I want to do is to take a different approach. 

“Let’s transfer the heavy lifting from analytical services to comparative mathematics.”

While counterfeit spirit production is sizeable, the paper acknowledges there is no single solution with tougher legislation and increased fines not proven to be significant deterrents. It highlights the need for the development of low-cost methods to determine the authenticity of a product without the need to physically open a bottle.

Working with Process NMR Associates, the scientists are using a variety of analytical tools including near infrared spectroscopy (NIR), ultra-violet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to determine the chemistry of sample spirits.

Michael continued: “By having a database of hundreds of spirits, outlining the legitimacy of a product, we can use less expensive techniques to sample a product. If it doesn’t meet those benchmarks, then we can quickly determine that it requires further analysis.

“This will ultimately save time and resources and ensure that we focus efforts on products that we suspect of being counterfeit.”

The true scale of counterfeit spirit production is unknown however the World Health Organisation estimates that at least 25% of all spirits consumed are illicit. Many other authorities including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development place this figure at over 40% in some areas.

Counterfeit spirits are commonly sold through online marketplaces, social media, and black-market websites, making them difficult to regulate and allowing sellers to hide their identity. In many cases the buyer of counterfeit spirits does so willingly, often due to affordability.

A major impact of illicit spirit production relates to public health. Some counterfeit spirits can contain harmful ingredients including, in extreme cases, aviation fuel or embalming fluid to increase the alcoholic concentration. Consequently, cases of liver damage, blindness, and death result.

Last year, there was a rise in fatalities in Iran linked to counterfeit alcohol and poisoning in the Alborz region in the north of the country with 14 deaths and at least 120 additional poisonings.

The economic impact of this illegal trade is significant, with up to 23,400 jobs said to be lost and eroding the trust of reputable manufacturers. It costs the EU, each year, around €3B in lost revenue.

As much as 33% of tested old and collected Scotch whisky is said to be counterfeit. A figure underlined in 2018 when the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre tested 55 bottles of Scotch Whisky that were old and considered rare. These were obtained from private collectors, auctions, and retail. The test concluded 21 bottles (38%) were faked, and every bottle from before 1900 found to be counterfeit.

Professor Annie Hill from Heriot-Watt University is the academic supervisor for the project. She said: “The Scotch Whisky Association drives the fight against counterfeit Scotch, and The Scotch Whisky Research Institute is a world leader in the detection of counterfeit spirits.

“This paper defines the problems and highlights potential solutions and our continuing research aims to further increase awareness, and to develop accessible and affordable methods to enable wider detection and identification of illicit distilled spirit products.”

An Edinburgh developer has been accused of trying to “wriggle out” of a commitment to build affordable homes after it claimed doing so was no longer “financially viable”.

Councillors overwhelmingly refused a bid by developer, Henderson Place LLP, to abandon allocating 10 flats in a new block of 42 as social housing.

The company was told that making the properties affordable enough for registered social landlords to buy would “eat into the potential profitability” and would reduce income on the deal by £1.3 million.

It was proposed that just under £600,000 would be paid to the council instead for affordable homes to be delivered “in the vicinity” of the Henderson Place Lane site.

But councillors have rejected the move, saying they would be “lucky to get two” or “possibly three” built – down from a previously-agreed 10 in line with the local authority’s 25 per cent affordable housing policy.

One councillor remarked: “The developer is trying to wriggle out of the obligations for this which I’m not happy about.”

Planners said the overall cost of the project had risen from £7.9 million in 2020 to £10.6 million, while the estimated income from property sales had “plummeted”.

Developers required to provide affordable housing on small sites were facing a “perfect storm” of difficult market conditions,” said Cllr Hal Osler, Convener of the Development Management Sub-Committee when the application was heard on Wednesday.

Planning officer John Maciver said the cost of taking on the units to a registered social landlord (RSL) “would be an amount of monies well above anything that could be afforded by any of them”.

Planner Alex Blyth added that figures provided to the council “prove the developer could not afford to reduce the price of the units to a level that would be affordable to an RSL”.

The pair were quizzed by councillors on whether there were any “exceptional circumstances,” which justified waiving the developer’s obligation to deliver affordable homes on site.

Cllr Chas Booth said: “In the past we’ve had arguments from developers that they have needed to do pile driving, which they had not anticipated beforehand and that had added costs.

“As far as I understand it, the reason for this developer saying they can’t afford the affordable housing is inflation in terms of the significantly increased build costs.”

He added: “Their argument for asking for this to be changed from on-site to a commuted sum is around construction price inflation. That is not unique to this specific site.

“I think it was reasonable to take into account some sort of expectation that inflation might increase.”

Cllr Booth was also concerned that approving this application would send a “message” to developers that on site affordable housing was “an optional extra”.

He said: “On site affordable housing is really, really important. We should be holding quite a firm line to developers, I believe.”

Cllr Osler, who backed granting permission to the developer, said: “This is not something we like to see coming before us.

“We do seem to have a bit of a perfect storm. I know there’s been much mentioned about the increase of costs of construction.

“We seem to have applications coming in front of us where they are small scale and so the build costs are more expensive for small builders, in particular areas which are expensive to build in.

“I would pretty much say a perfect storm of having three things in front of you is quite exceptional.

“I would with a heavy heart obviously go with what planners have recommended. I don’t believe the planners would have recommended this if they didn’t feel there was a different option.”

Cllr Jo Mowat urged the committee to reject the bid. She said a subsequent appeal to The Scottish Government would be a “test for our policy”.

She said: “I am highly concerned about what is being brought forward.

“Development is a risky business, it comes – we have determined that – with a high level of risk.

“I do not accept there are exceptional circumstances. I think this is purely a question of testing viability.”

She said issues affecting construction costs “apply to every single site being developed” and “unless we want a rash of these applications to come in and lose all the affordable housing this committee has fought very hard for over the years, we need to test this”.

Cllr Alan Beal said: “From what should be 10 affordable housing units, we’re going to be lucky to get two somewhere, possibly three.

“The developer is trying to wriggle out of the obligations for this which I’m not happy about. I think they’ve got a responsibility to meet this obligation.”

The committee voted 8-2 to refuse modifying the planning obligation.

by Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Reservations are now live for The Leddie in Aberlady, opening in summer 2024.

The Leddie – a boutique retreat nestled in the heart of Aberlady, East Lothian, the epicentre of Scotland’s famous golf coast will open this summer.

The former Ducks Inn was acquired by Wirefox,a Northern Irish investment company, in September 2023. Since then, a refurbishment and design project has been carried out.  The hotel will officially open to the public this summer and is set to add to East Lothian’s food and drink scene.

The Leddie, a nod to the original name of the river that runs through the town, will be home to a luxury 27 bed hotel, a bar and 70 cover restaurant – complete with a cosy lounge area with a roaring fire and inviting nooks. In addition, guests and visitors alike will be able to enjoy a refreshing drink in The Leddie’s spacious front and rear terraces, the perfect place to lounge and linger from noon until night.     

The design has been developed in collaboration between Wirefox’s in-house design team and Studio Terry, incorporating inspirations from the local surroundings and Scotland itself. The distinctive interiors create an escapist and cosy space that both celebrates and transcends the area’s rich history. 

Robert Clark has been appointed as General Manager bringing his 16 years of hospitality experience to the role. Robert has worked in some of the best front of house roles in the country including General Manager of The Scran & Scallie in Edinburgh and the Bonnie Badger in Gullane. His local experience and knowledge will offer guests a personal touch like no other and a welcoming, familiar face for locals. 

He said:“I am delighted to have joined Wirefox at the early stages of the Marram collection and cannot wait to launch this beautiful property after all the hard work that has gone into it, from everyone involved. It is an exciting time and we are focussed on providing great hospitality for all of our guests, and we can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you this summer.”

Reservations are now live at www.theleddie.com 

New openings this month include the long-awaited The Spanish Butcher, by independent Scottish restaurant group, RUSK & RUSK, which officially opens in Edinburgh on Friday 10 May on North Castle Street.

The restaurant is famed for its distinctive Galicia meets Brooklyn proposition – unique in Scotland. The new 90-cover addition to the capital’s dining scene, will encompass vibrant Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired flavours, showcasing some of the finest dry-aged beef in the world on an à la carte menu, married with the best homegrown produce from Scotland’s larder.

Edinburgh Uncorked Wine Fair To Book – Ticket Offer

Book tickets now for the Edinburgh Uncorked Wine Fair with Susy Atkins on Saturday 1 June at The Assembly Rooms on George Street. It promises to be an incredible tasting with hundreds of wines to try from all over the world. Discover more unusual wines from the likes of Ukraine or taste the classics of Burgundy or St Joseph in the Rhône, with many New World favourites also available. There are two sessions to choose from, either 12-3 pm or 4-7 pm. The Edinburgh Reporter has a 15% discount code off the full-price ticket, normally £30. Quote EDUNCORK#REPORTER15 when booking. bit.ly/EdUncork24

MasterChef entrant has a book out

Over the years I’ve entered the odd food or cooking competition including Masterchef, but that was more than 20 years ago, when Lloyd Grossman, (him with the strange accent) was still the presenter.

I reached the regional selection process and a cook-off at Edinburgh Napier University when I cooked herb crusted rack of lamb but I didn’t make the TV round, unlike Highlander Sarah Rankin, who reached the Finals Week on the BBC’s Masterchef in 2022.

Although she didn’t clinch the title, she’s certainly winning at life, epitomised by the launch of her debut cookbook, ‘Kith’, (a word which refers to family, friends and other close relationships), by Edinburgh-based publisher Birlinn.

Since her Masterchef stint, Sarah’s culinary adventures have extended beyond the kitchen. She hosts Supper Clubs, caters for events, writes about food, and shares her expertise on the food festival circuit throughout the UK. Remarkably, she still finds time to lend her marketing skills to a select group of clients.

Sarah’s passion is seasonal Scottish food, and her recipes celebrate Scotland’s larder and the wonderful producers who nurture it. At the heart of Kith’s theme of food at the heart of family and community, Sarah also extends this love to the environment through her focus on sustainable cooking.

“Food is love,” Sarah says. From researching and planning a new dish to all the effort that goes into its creation, serving food to the ones you love is a meaningful way to form bonds and nurture relationships. Sarah explains that ‘the act of cooking and serving something delicious to someone brings her so much joy. And sitting together to share even the simplest of dishes always lifts her spirits.’

She said: “Being a food lover encompasses all. Loving the ingredients, of course, but also the seasons – the weather that brought them to you – and the people who tend, harvest and prepare them for you.”

Divided into four seasonal sections, her cookbook, a treasure trove of 100 sensational recipes, features a blend of traditional and contemporary recipes, celebrating the remarkable diversity of Scotland’s larder. Each recipe reflects Sarah’s unwavering passion for quality ingredients and thoughtful cooking techniques. The book also features a selection of tempting drinks and canapes, along with a section titled “Firm Foundations”, designed to empower novice cooks with essential culinary skills and a repertoire of sauces, stocks, pastry, bread and pasta, and butter and creams.

During an exclusive dinner party at Birlinn’s historic venue in Newington, I had the privilege of experiencing Sarah’s culinary magic firsthand. With her infectious enthusiasm and attention to detail, she crafted a memorable six-course meal, each dish infused with stories of its origin and inspiration from the potted-pigeon shot by her friend Jerry to her pre-dessert palate cleanser, a delightful seabuckthorn (sourced from her dear friend Kirsty) and blood orange ice lolly.

But what sets Sarah’s recipes apart is their accessibility. Even novice cooks will find joy in recreating her dishes. Personally, I’ve savoured her Lemon, Basil, and White Chocolate Fudge and the exquisite Lemon Posset with Caramelised White Chocolate and Oat Crumble, both of which are easy to reproduce, and which elicited rave reviews from those fortunate enough to taste them.

Kith is more than just a cookbook. It’s a celebration of food, community, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice cook, this cookbook is a must-have for anyone looking to embark on a flavourful journey through Scotland’s gastronomic delights.

Kith, £25 – Hardback – ISBN 9781780278360

A bid by Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) to continue to caretake Convention Edinburgh with a three year funding deal from the council was rejected by the council’s Finance committee on Tuesday.

Instead of a three year funding model, involving the EICC also putting forward funds from its cash reserves of almost £1 million to be set against loan stock, the council will instead offer £150,000 to the EICC for one year only (and this subject to full council approval).

Cllr Watt, the Finance Convener, said that she was disappointed this funding request had not come before the council during the budget process in February, and said the proposal to write this “funding” off against loan stock is “not the way we do things”. She said: “This is actually real money that could be spent on other priorities”. And she criticised the plan to try and forward borrow against any income which the council might receive from the proposed Tourist Tax or Transient Visitor Levy (TVL). She said: “If we open the door to people putting in bids on TVL money there would be an absolute landslide of requests. It is too remote and it is completely unfair to start making commitments for money that we don’t have.”

Rejecting claims that the council was not committed to the business tourism sector, she put forward a medium term solution which was passed by six votes to five against the competing SNP amendment which rejected a call for £300,000 per annum in funding, saying it would pre-judge next year’s budget and would inevitably result in reducing funding elsewhere.

Marketing Edinburgh

It was a real déjà vu moment for anyone who had listened to the lengthy discussions at the council some years ago about Marketing Edinburgh, the council-owned destination marketing company which the council binned, spending around £2 million in the process.

The EICC is an arms length external organisation wholly owned by the council, but set up as a limited company. The organisation has been “caretaking” the Convention Bureau booking in conferences and events and inviting organisers to “choose Edinburgh”. EICC, in a report to the council, said that business event visitors spend around £447 per day – more than any other kind of visitor to Scotland.

These events have benefitted not only the EICC but also other businesses such as hotels and restaurants in the city, since the “caretaking” began in May 2022. The cost to the EICC has been £150,000 in each of the two years, and the body said they have “worked hard to seek out opportunities for funding and support at a local and national level”. So far they have had a contribution of £5,000 from Edinburgh Airport and a £10,000 grant from VisitBritain. As well as this the EICC reported they have received more than £100,000 of “in kind” benefit.

The way forward which they propose is a subscription model (also suggested by Marketing Edinburgh) asking businesses to pay to run the Bureau. But as a first step the EICC Board asked for funding of £250,000 for the first year, regardless of any external funding raised.

Marshall Dallas CEO of EICC, the Chair, Cllr Marion Lezley Cameron, and John Dalley a member of the EICC board addressed the meeting and Cllr Cathy Fullerton another member of the board was present during the agenda item.

Cllr Cameron said that the first year contribution was necessary to show the commitment by the city and “a signal to the business community that we’re serious about this, that we’re serious about our reputation as a city and how we hold ourselves out to the world”.

Marshall Dallas explained that in November last year the Board had approved payment of £925,000 from EICC cash reserves to run Convention Edinburgh for the period from January 2024 to January 2026. He also said that following discussions with CEC Holdings, a company in which Cllrs Beal, Cameron and Doggart are Directors, it was agreed the contribution would be offset against loan stock (monies borrowed from the council).

John Dalley, was asked by Cllr Alys Mumford what would happen if the funding was not agreed but did not directly address that point. However, in the report the EICC had said that if a third party was engaged to run the Convention Bureau (one of the alternative suggestions to EICC continuing to run it for the council) it could lead to redundancies at EICC.

Cllr Phil Doggart criticised the council’s Executive Director of Place, Paul Lawrence reminding him that Mr Lawrence had said a year ago that a solution for Convention Edinburgh would be in place by the end of 2023. There was no funding request made in time for the council’s budget discussion earlier this year. Cllr Doggart picked up that Mr Dallas claimed that he was told it would be “too late” for it to be included in that round of finance talks. Cllr Doggart asked Paul Lawrence: “Can you tell me what went wrong?”

The reply offered was that it had taken council officers a significant amount of time to scrutinise and discuss the options submitted and reach a “mutually acceptable proposal”.

Opposition councillors Lesley Macinnes of the SNP Group and Neil Ross the LibDem Finance spokesperson agreed in asking why public money should be put forward for something which benefits private companies and organisations.

Later in the meeting Cllr Doggart referred to the past when he said: “I’m also taken by those who were quite willing to vote for the abolition of marketing Edinburgh, now backtracking, recognising that something has to be done and not recognising that it was the EICC that baled the council out in terms of what was required. I’m also struggling with the overt socialism that says private sector bad but public sector good and there’s no in between.

“I think people forget that the private sector pays a significant amount of tax to fund the public sector and all those people who work in the city who work for private sector organisations paying their council tax to this organisation so that we can pontificate on whatever we wish to pontificate if they didn’t have those jobs, the money wouldn’t come in. So let’s think about that as well.”

Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) had backed the request for funding by EICC saying: “ETAG believes that there is a very clear need, and strong business case, for ensuring that the current ‘guardianship model’ evolves into a more formalised, longer term structure with the resources required to ensure that Edinburgh can deliver the convention bureau services required in order for the city to effectively compete in the highly competitive, global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market, also referred to as Business Events, and deliver the ambitions of the Edinburgh 2030 Tourism Strategy.”

The board of the EICC have been asked for comment, but it is not clear what the rejection will mean for the organisation.

Grace McGuigan is pictured with Heart of Midlothian B team coach Liam Fox after gaining the “Camper of the Week” accolade at the Hutchison Vale community sports club Easter football camp.

Liam took part in a question and answer session with the participants as well as presenting awards including a white skill badge to Grace.

The full roll of honour for the Easter week two camp included:

Camper of the week – Grace McGuigan, runner-up – Danny Kenmure, Older skill award – Mason Hogarth, Younger skill award – Jenson Duke.

Skill badges – Mason Hogarth (blue and green); Mason James (blue and white); Jenson Duke (blue and white), Andrew Power, Ellis Bell, Alfie Bell, Grace McGuigan (all white).

The next set of weekly camps begin on July 1 and run through to August 9.

Edinburgh Northern rugby president Neil Hardman is pictured with the winning teams after the Inverleith club hosted their 70th seven-a-side tournament sponsored by Blyth & Blyth, consulting engineers.

In a thrilling climax to the main event Heriot’s defeated holders Currie 26-24 with a score in the final play. Linlithgow captured the Northern Bowl while the Pond Plate went across town to Inch Park with Lismore.

The company behind Six by Nico is opening a new restaurant as well as a cocktail bar next month called Somewhere by Nico in Edinburgh’s West End.

Chief Executive and founder, Nico Simeone, has confirmed the two new Edinburgh venues in a £2 million investment in the capital. Somewhere with its elegant surroundings will combine the traditional bar experience with storytelling and mixology, and the second Six by Nico restaurant will join its sister restaurant which is on Hanover Street in changing up the menu every six weeks with a new theme.

The new Queensferry Street location with its mystical decor will be an innovative cocktail experience offering a six-stage cocktail experience every six weeks inspired by a “themed world” which will become Somewhere – opened first in Glasgow in January this year and inspired by Six by Nico.

Guests will be invited to become adventurers and mixologists the storytellers, with stories in every drink in a carefully curated two hour cocktail experience for £65pp.

Six Company Chief Executive and founder Nico Simeone said: “Our team is driven daily by the challenge to constantly create and reinvent. We are dedicated to being different, never resting on our laurels, and continuously striving to create the best customer experiences. Our second Six by Nico site in Edinburgh City Centre underlines our commitments to the city and provides our guests with more dining options, as well as the introduction of Somewhere by Nico, our latest brand that reinvents the conventional cocktail experience.” 
 

Somewhere by Nico Edinburgh will open in early June 2024 directly beside the new Six by Nico Edinburgh West End on Queensferry Street in the former Foundry 39 building at 39A Queensferry Rd, Edinburgh EH2 4RA. 

An Edinburgh boy from Blackhall, Charlie Waller, is following in his big sister’s footsteps by winning a place at The Royal Ballet School in London.

Charlie is not yet 11 – he has his birthday this month – but will join Year 7 at the Lower School at White Lodge in Richmond Park. There are only a dozen places available to boys of his age and he is the only Scot to join the school – apart from big sister Emily aged 12 who was invited to join last year.

As a pupil of Edinburgh Dance Academy since he was just three he is currently attending 14 classes there every week in ballet and other dance styles. He is a Junior Associate with Scottish Ballet and was cast as Young Cinders in their production of Cinders.

Charlie said: “I’m so excited to be going to such a great school with so many other boys and girls who love dancing. I’ll miss my mum and dad and especially my little brother, Arty (aged 3), but I’m looking forward to being at school with Emily, doing ballet in a class full of boys every day and hopefully getting to perform with The Royal Ballet company at some point.”

His mum, Morag, said: “We’re so pleased that Charlie has been given this opportunity to follow his dream of becoming a professional dancer. Since he was a toddler, he has always loved dance and EDA has been crucial in helping him progress to this current level.  Joining The Royal Ballet School will now enable Charlie to further develop and maximise his talent. 

“While it will feel very strange not having him here under our roof and we will, of course, miss him terribly, we know how much this means to him. We’re also reassured that he and Emily will be together in London.”

Julie Mitchell, Principal and Founder at EDA, said: “Charlie is a lovely boy who has been with EDA for most of his young life. He’s got incredible drive and real talent as a dancer so we couldn’t be more pleased about him securing a place at The Royal Ballet School. We are very proud of his progress to date and we look forward to seeing him further develop his dance skills through this new and exciting chapter.”

Alumni of the school include Margot Fonteyn, Darcey Bussell and Wayne Sleep.

The SNP group have a new leader

Cllr Simita Kumar who was first elected as a councillor in 2022 is the new leader of the SNP Group after the resignation of Adam Nois-McVey who is happy to retreat to the backbenches.

Read more here.

The new Edinburgh Reporter May issue is out today

Our May issue is out today and is in our usual stockists. Your support by buying a subscription would be very much appreciated as it helps us to continue bringing the news to you on this site and in the monthly paper at no cost.

Sign up for a subscription or for advertising here.

Plans for the new book festival venue lodged

The Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) moved from Charlotte Square where it had put down roots, and audiences became used to muddy grass and interruptions from the fireworks at the end of the Tattoo each night.
Now that the former Royal infirmary on Lauriston Place has been refurbished and has become the Edinburgh Futures Institute – part of the University of Edinburgh – it will become the new home in August for the EIBF and you can see the new layout below as tweeted by the fabulous SSC_Edinburgh.

New cygnets spotted

Young birds and fledglings are a sure sign that spring is moving into summer. This family of swans with their cygnets were enjoying the sunshine yesterday.

More photos here.

Edinburgh Art Festival – new trustees

Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF) has recruited five new trustees to its board as it prepares to celebrate its 20th birthday this year from 9 to 25 August.

Joining Chair Gemma Cairney, Co-Chair Beth Bate and Trustees Lucy Askew, Sheila Irvine and Rachel Maclean are writer, facilitator and radical Jj Fadaka, artist, poet and author Tanatsei Gambura, London Gallery Weekend Managing Director Emily Lennox, communications director Rachel Mapplebeck and Design Museum Head of Philanthropy Rosheen Murray.

Hibs put on a dominant display at McDiarmid Park, beating relegation contenders St Johnstone 3-1, to grab their first away league win of 2024.

Goals from Emiliano Marcondes, Dylan Vente and club captain Paul Hanlon, in what could be his final season with Hibs, saw the Leith side to three points, leaving the Saints peering over their shoulder at the prospect of the relegation play-off.

With Hibs narrowly missing out on the top six, they approached the first post-split game safe from relegation and with the prospect of five relatively meaningless games.

But for Nick Montgomery, that is far from the case following the board’s recent statement saying that the season has been unacceptable, the head coach must prove that he is the man for the job in the remaining fixtures.

He made just one change for the trip to Perth, Adam Le-Fondre replaced the injured Elie Youan up front.

Hibs couldn’t have asked for a better start after Martin Boyle was fouled by Saints’ skipper Dan Phillips, Marcondes placed the ball down from 35 yards out and unleashed one of the strikes of the season.

The on-loan Bournemouth man whipped the ball from right to left, and despite Dimitar Mitov’s best efforts, it sailed into the top corner in the 6^th minute.

Just moments later, Marcondes was involved again, he set up Myziane Maolida, who unleashed a powerful strike, this time Mitov could get a finger to it and tipped it onto the bar.

With 24 minutes on the clock, Nick Montgomery was forced to make a change, after a tussle with Nicky Clark, Will Fish went down with a back injury, and he was replaced by Paul Hanlon, who made his first appearance in over a month.

For all the superlatives used to describe Hanlon throughout his career, super-sub has likely never been one of them, but it was the defender who doubled Hibs’ lead.

St Johnstone failed to deal with a long Joe Newell throw in the 44^th minute, and with the ball bouncing around the box, it was Hanlon who was quickest to react, he finished well into the bottom right-hand corner to send Hibs into the break with a two-goal advantage.

The away side started the second half strongly too, Marcondes slipped in Martin Boyle down the right who cut it back to Maolida, and he would have scored if not for a superb goal-line clearance by Phillips.

Midway through the second half, with Hibs dominating proceedings, they sealed the game as two substitutes combined.

Josh Campbell looped a header over the St Johnstone defence for Dylan Vente to chase, and the Dutchman emphatically finished past Mitov to put Hibs 3-0 up in the 76^th minute.

10 minutes later, the two combined again, this time, Vente returned the favour and set up Campbell who was driving into the penalty box, his effort was well kept out by Mitov, who was outstanding, not for the first time against Hibs this season.

As the game approached the 90^th minute St Johnstone grabbed a consolation goal, Luke Robinson set up Mbunga Kimpioka to tap into the net, as he snatched away Hibs’ clean sheet.

It meant nothing though, an impressive, confidence-boosting performance from Hibs saw them to their first win at McDiarmid Park since 2022.

It was a much-needed three points from Nick Montgomery’s point of view, who will look to build on the result for the remaining games, he said: “I thought the performance was good and the result was what we deserved. That’s not always been the case this season.”

Mitov, a standout performer for St Johnstone this season, kept out Hibs on numerous occasions, Montgomery said: “If we’re honest, we weren’t as clinical as we should have been because we could have scored another four goals minimum, but their goalkeeper pulled off some great saves.”

Hibs will travel North again for their next game, away to Ross County on Saturday, the Hibees next home fixture is against Aberdeen on Sunday 12 May.

St Andrews Timber & Building Supplies is increasing its stock options at its Stenhouse base after significantly modifying the Edinburgh facility.

Work has been completed on a ‘slap through’ which will expand the site by linking two separate warehouses which had previously been used for deliveries and customer collections.

It is the biggest change to the branch which the company has undertaken since opening it 2016, when it became the third addition to the firm’s chain after Prestonfield and Paisley.

Offering a greater selection of stock including a wider range of bespoke skirtings and mouldings such as old Victorian profiles for listed buildings and old-style townhouses often found in the centre of Edinburgh, St Andrews hopes the change will appeal to the bespoke and specialised joining trade while filling a gap in the market for customers.

A range of metal and insulation has also been introduced, these having been previously unattainable at Stenhouse due to the logistics of the restricted space.

Stenhouse branch manager Tam Whitehead said: “We had noticed in recent years that it was becoming harder and harder for joiners to source the old-style finishing pieces, skirtings and facings.

“If we couldn’t help them, we would often send them on to other merchants.

“Now that we have completed the ‘knock through’, we are able to stock all this and more, such as

more metal, specialised insulation and a wider range of sizes of items such as marine, hardwood and finished plywoods.

“The new arrangement will not only allow a greater variety of stock options from our smallest branch, it will also reduce waiting times for our customers as the logistics and layout of the yard have been drastically improved.

“Previously, if a customer needed an item that was housed in our other warehouse, they would have to be sent out of the estate and around the corner to reach the other area. Now the items can be loaded straight through into the main yard without the customer moving.

“The improvements complement the existing Stenhouse offering which includes a cutting service and a rapid response pick-up for same day deliveries.”

A sure sign of better weather is when young birds emerge from nests to take to the water in the case of these young cygnets.

Cygnets stay with their parents until around the spring of the following year after hatching.

The SNP group of councillors in Edinburgh have elected Simita Kumar, who is still in her first term as a councillor, as their new leader at their group’s AGM on Tuesday.

Cllr Kumar was elected ahead of the group’s deputy leader Lesley Macinnes in an internal vote among the 18 SNP councillors.

Cllr Kumar was first elected to represent the Southside/Newington ward in 2022 and has been serving as the SNP’s education spokesperson, having previously held the fair work and economy brief. Cllr Kumar has broad experience working in public health in Scotland prior to entering politics. This is the first time the SNP group on Edinburgh’s council has elected a female leader at an AGM. Cllr Kumar is also the first person from a minority ethnic background to lead any council group in Edinburgh.

Cllr Macinnes, the group’s finance spokesperson and formerly Convener of Transport and Environment, will continue to act as the SNP’s deputy leader. She was first elected in 2017 and represents Liberton/Gilmerton ward and sits as a member of the Scottish Government’s Mobility and Access Committee.

The contest was triggered by the decision to stand down of Adam Nols-McVey, who had led SNP councillors for seven years and served as Council Leader 2017-2022.

The new SNP group leader Cllr Kumar said: “It is an immense privilege and honour to earn the trust and confidence of my SNP colleagues as I assume the leadership of the largest party in the City of Edinburgh Council.

“I’m deeply grateful to have the opportunity to build upon a strong foundation laid by Cllr Nols-McVey and I extend my sincere appreciation for his dedicated service – not only to our group but for all Edinburgh residents. I would also like to pay tribute to Cllr Macinnes who is a friend and valued colleague and I look forward to working with her to take our team from strength to strength.

“I am fully committed to deliver the best possible outcomes for Edinburgh residents against the backdrop of a unionist administration of Labour, Tories and Liberal Democrats. The lack of leadership and strategic vision from Labour councillors is very concerning and the SNP group will hold this administration to account. However, I am also determined to work collegiately across all political parties on issues where our values and policies align.

“Today also marks a significant milestone toward equalities in our city, and I am humbled to be the first woman to lead the SNP group and the first person of colour to lead any group in Edinburgh. I hope to inspire and pave the way for more diverse voices in our political landscape.”

Cllr Macinnes commented: “I wholeheartedly congratulate my colleague Cllr Kumar on being elected as leader of our very strong SNP group on the City of Edinburgh Council. Not only is this the first time the group will be led by a woman but also by a woman of colour. That is a significant and very welcome step towards greater diversity in our city’s political representation. Simita hit the ground running when she became a councillor and she will continue to bring that energy, thoughtfulness and leadership as Leader of the SNP council group. She will have the full support of the SNP group and myself in helping to reinforce the SNP’s priorities for our city – poverty reduction, attaining net zero and reducing inequality.

“I will continue as Deputy Leader of the group and we will be working closely together to make progress in holding this administration to account and finding the best solutions for all the people we represent and the city we love.”

Outgoing leader Cllr Nols-McVey said: “I’d like to thank my colleagues for their support of the last 7 years and congratulate Cllr Kumar on becoming the new Leader of our group.

“I know Simita has the whole group behind her and has proven herself as an outstanding public servant and has already shown an incredible level of leadership since she joined the Council. She has made history with her election as the first woman to lead the SNP, the city’s largest party, and I’m excited to see how she drives us forward. She’ll have my steadfast support as she does.”

The council have agreed to award the contract for Christmas and Hogmanay for the next three years to Unique Assembly Limited (UA), the consortium which has produced the winter entertainment in the capital for the last couple of years.

The contract covers the production and delivery of Edinburgh’s Christmas for 2024/25 and then for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals until 2026/27, with the opportunity for two optional twelve-month extensions.

The delivery of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay for 2024/25 was already agreed in June 2022 and will also be undertaken by Unique Assembly. Two bids were received by the council.

The way the new Christmas contract will work is that UA will pay to “rent” the space in the city centre which could mean they pay anything between £405,000 and £1.5million over the three years, whereas the Hogmanay contract will be paid for out of the council’s revenue budget.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’d like to congratulate Unique Assembly following today’s unanimous decision by councillors. They bring decades of experience in delivering major events, including our own Winter Festivals, and I’m confident that they’ll provide a fantastic service to the city over the next three years.  

“The festivals occupy a central element in the cultural calendar of our city and delivering them well for our residents and visitors remains a key priority for us – not least given the huge enjoyment they bring each year. They also deliver substantial economic benefit for the city and for Scotland more widely, supporting jobs and businesses in many sectors most notably tourism, hospitality, and leisure.” 

Due to earlier difficulties with these contracts when a previous contract partner stepped back without notice. There are many “lessons learned” referred to in the council report identified in 2022 when UA stepped in to “save” the Christmas festival.

These lessons have governed the competitive bidding procedure to ensure for example there is opportunity for clarification after initial bids are submitted, and that there are clearer instructions in regard to “securing permissions”. A separate producer, Underbelly, had failed to obtain planning permission for the events in Princes Street Gardens for at least two years.

There are also more stringent regulations which the producer will have to comply with in regard to sustainability and environment. For example council officers confirmed that rules around Tree Protection Zones have been updated and made much clearer. Waste must be reduced with no single use plastics allowed.

In addition, financial assessments of those bidding for the contract were checked by officers in the finance and legal teams, and UA will pay any workers the Real Living Wage.

Councillors were also assured that the All Party Oversight Group will receive regular updates, something which was lacking and noted during the failure of the 2022 Christmas contract.

The Christmas festival will run for four to six weeks from mid November and Hogmanay for at least three days at the end of each year.

The procurement for the contract has been conducted by council officers through what the council calls the Light Touch procedure with procurement costs of up to £35,000 incurred.

It was evident during the meeting that a decision had to be made today to allow for contracts and procurement to follow as it gets “extremely tight in reality” according to the Executive Director of Place, Paul Lawrence

Some of the discussion about specifics, including the threat of a legal challenge by another bidder, followed on the B Agenda behind closed doors and without any press or members of the public present.

Hogmanay will be funded from the council revenue budget – as before the maximum budget available for each year is £812,456.

Some 8,614 individuals replied to a public consultation (which we think is a record) conducted to find out what locals really want from the winter festivals.

This new contract will run from 27 May 2024 until 26 May 2029 with two options to extend after the three years has elapsed.

Looking back in history at events which have taken place in May in years gone by with the Old Edinburgh Club

• Compiled by Jerry Ozaniec, Membership Secretary of the Old Edinburgh Club, membership@oldedinburghclub.org.uk 

ICR Vets Pentland recently held a pets first aid evening at their Pentland Clinic.

The interactive session was led by the practice’s vets and nurses with more than 50 members of the public in attendance. The attendees learned about first aid for dogs and cats, and practical bandaging and CPR.

The vets wanted to ensure that everyone learned basic skills to recognise an emergency, how to keep the pet calm and life saving techniques.

Dr Rachel Roper MRCVS, Branch Manager of ICR Vets Pentland & Balerno said: “Emergencies can happen at any time, so we need to ask ourselves ‘Could I cope in a pet medical emergency?’ The aim of the first aid session was to provide pet owners with knowledge and skills to manage pet emergencies while they seek veterinary help for their pet. We aimed to ensure that as well as being fun, the session was also very informative to ensure that participants left feeling confident and able to cope, should they find their pet in an emergency situation. The whole team has really enjoyed the evening, and the support from the local community has been outstanding. We wish to thank everyone who came along, and hope to run future similar events for the pet owners of Currie & Balerno.” 

The decision to push the start of this season’s Eastern Cricket Premiership back a week until Saturday, 4 May, due to the recent inclement weather, has afforded a longer settling in period for new players at various clubs.

And few have been busier over the winter than defending champions and Scottish Grand Final winners, Grange.

Not only have they recruited new sponsors, more of which later, but also a string of recruits one of whom, Jamie Crawley, has already made a mark by hitting 119 for Scottish Saltires in a win over the MCC at Lord’s last month.

Crawley, one imagines, will be champing at the bit to get into league action for the club his internationalist dad, Steve, served well when the curtain goes up for Grange at Watsonians.

Watching on as Jamie compiled his Lord’s century were his new club-mates – Finlay McCreath, Jack Jarvis and Jasper Davidson. a trio of all rounders.

Davidson, a Scotland under-19 cap in 2020, joined this season after learning much of his cricket in South Africa and having also played for Stirling County.

From further afield comes batter Liam Smith, an Australian who has represented Queensland at age group level. He is also a Cricket Australia level 2 coach.

Captaining Grange men will be Angus Brown while Catherine Edwards, a Scotland cap, takes the helm of the women’s team who have recruited Scotland star Ellen Watson (pictured above).

Sponsoring Grange this season will be Cold Town Beer and Murray Capital whose names will appear on the men’s and women’s kit with Rathbones sponsoring the Grange junior team.

The Scholar Hotel won the top prize Winner of Best 4 Star Hotel East Scotland category and placed Highly Recommended for Best Hotel Team and Best City Hotel categories at the 2024 Scottish Hotel Awards (Prestige).

The hotel, part of The University of Edinburgh’s Hospitality & Events Collection, won top honours in three categories, showcasing its commitment to excellence in the hospitality sector.

The Edinburgh-based hotel impressed a judging panel of hospitality professionals with its dedication to exceeding guest expectations and championing sustainable practices.
The hotel has invested in supporting local businesses, furthering its community engagement and ethical sourcing: from the curation of artwork in partnership with ArtPistol and a wine list selected by Dalgety Bay’s l’Art du Vin, to the luxury toiletries and scent diffusers by a North Berwick business, Laura Thomas Co.

There was also recognition for the newly refreshed hotel restaurant, The Brasserie, and its newly appointed Executive Chef, Ed Fortune, for his fresh take on a modern Scottish menu. The seasonal menus blend traditional local favourites with innovative flavours, drawing from Scotland’s very own larder of ingredients sourced from local suppliers.

The seventh annual awards were presented at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow on Monday night and exist to ‘showcase and reward outstanding service within the hotel industry in Scotland’.

Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager – Operations, The University of Edinburgh Hospitality and Events Collection, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the title of Best 4 Star Hotel in East of Scotland and be Highly Recommended Best City Hotel and Best Team. This is not just recognition of our fantastic team’s hard work, but also a celebration of their incredible dedication and passion. These achievements are particularly heartening given we have just experienced a major rebrand and relaunch of the hotel over the past year.

“We are extremely proud to be recognised by the judging panel of hospitality professionals who are looking for the absolute best in the industry, and we are also immensely grateful for all of the continued support from our guests this year.”

http://www.uoecollection.com/hotels/the-scholar

Edinburgh Castle has been crowned Scotland’s “most Instagrammable” tourist destination, according to a new study.

The fortress has a staggering 723,165 posts featuring its hashtag on the social media platform, ahead of Glencoe with 607,634 and Loch Lomond with 596,695.

Private Tours Scotland analysed Instagram data for popular Scottish tourist destinations, to uncover which have been tagged the most on the platform by users.

Loch Ness (527,939) and Cairngorms National Park (331,923) make up Scotland’s top five, ahead of Arthur’s Seat (305,598), Ben Nevis (276,055), the Isle of Arran (149,863), Eilean Donan Castle (108,495) and Stirling Castle (92,983).

Edinburgh’s Castle Rock has been a stronghold for more than 3,000 years. The castle itself was constructed in the 12th century and is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, amongst the oldest regalia in Europe.

It also hosts events including rock concerts and spectacular firework displays at the end of the Edinburgh Festival and at New Year.

The One O’Clock Gun has been fired almost every day from Edinburgh Castle since 1861 and St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh, is one of the most romantic places to get married.

Scotland’s top paid-for visitor attraction, it attracted nearly two million visitors last year.

Glencoe, famed for its mountainous landscapes and rich history, is described as “a perfect destination for explorers”, while Loch Lomond is world renowned for its beauty, surrounded by “charming villages, rolling countryside and hills”.

Struan Baird, Co-founder of Private Tours Scotland, said: “Discovering the most Instagrammable destinations in Scotland offers a unique insight into the country’s most popular and picture-perfect spots for tourists.

“From spectacular lochs and mountains to fascinating castles rich with history, this data showcases the appreciation of Scotland’s beauty from tourists and locals, hopefully providing inspiration for your next trip.”

Edinburgh Festival of Cycling

The programmes for the eighth festival are out now. It will run from 31 May to 9 June 2024.

Full details of the programme here.

Sea Rising festival

Porty Energy are holding the Sea Rising Festival on 22 June but they have a crowdfunder running here which you may like to donate to. A spokesperson said: “The festival will include a music stage and stalls near the Seafield end of the Promenade with bike demos and family activities. It will be during the day and there is a full moon that day so we expect a High Spring Tide (so if you are performing you may have the waves lapping at your ankles and the audience will be in the Sea at some point).”

The organisers are looking for musicians and performers.

More information here.

Support The Edinburgh Reporter

The May edition of The Edinburgh Reporter newspaper will be in stockists from tomorrow but if you would like to support us and ensure your copy is sent to you please sign up here. Click the image below.

The Crannie

There is an art exhibition at The Crannie (on Cranston Street) and the opening event is being held on Friday 10 May from 4pm to 6pm. If you would like to have your work included in the exhibition then you are invited to send some in.

Contact a member of staff at the Crannie.

Consultation on designs for St Margaret’s Park bowling greens

The Thriving Green Spaces team at The City of Edinburgh Council are currently developing proposals for unused Bowling Greens in parks throughout the city. This includes St Margaret’s Park’s bowling green. 

The team has delivered several consultation sessions. Drawing from this feedback, the council have developed several ideas for ways these spaces could be improved and re-integrated back into the park. The landscape architects have visually developed these ideas further, and at this stage the council is asking for feedback on these ideas to help refine future proposals.  

The re-opening and improvements of these spaces will provide significant value to the local community, benefitting people who live in or work in the area, as well as those travelling through. 

The link to the consultation is here.

Postal Bowling Club held an inaugural Invitation Triples Competition at the weekend with sixteen triples from local clubs playing a round robin in four sections.

The winners were Hillside with (from left to right) John Newall, Colin Bell and Graham Laidlaw.

Edinburgh’s Playtime jazz sessions have announced a new season of concerts. Beginning with the house quartet of saxophonist Martin Kershaw, guitarist Graeme Stephen, bassist Mario Caribe and drummer Tom Bancroft playing the music of Miles Davis on Thursday 2nd May, the concerts run fortnightly into July.

Violinist Greg Lawson and accordionist Phil Alexander, of Moishe’s Bagel and the new trio Triptic, join the house quartet to play the music of new tango creator Astor Piazzolla on 16^th May. They’re followed by a celebration of Chicago-born saxophonist-composer Henry Threadgill, with guests, trumpeter Robert Henderson, trombonist Anoushka Nanguy and drummer Chun-Wei Kang.

Guitarist and founder of the Celtic jazz band Lammas, Don Paterson appears on 13^th June and singer and songwriter Michelle Willis follows on 27^th June, with saxophonist Rachel Duns completing the series on 11^th July.

Now in its tenth year, Playtime was founded by Kershaw and Stephen to create opportunities to play new music, with sessions initially taking place weekly. Joined by Caribe and Bancroft they have gone on to play tributes to most of the major figures in jazz as well as performing new compositions by all four musicians and on occasion playing completely improvised music.

“The loft space in the Outhouse has proved very conducive to sharing music in intimate sessions,” says Tom Bancroft. “As a group we’ve played in other venues, and in other towns and cities, and we’d like to do more of that. But the familiarity of the Outhouse is a big plus for us and audiences seem to enjoy it, too.”

Keith Smith saw Watsonians women claim four late goals to win Scottish Hockey’s Grand Final by beating Clydesdale Western and declared: “It was a really mature performance.”

Katie Stott netted late in the third quarter and Gen Hussell claimed the second a minute into the final session.

Her strike was followed by two more, one from Milly Berndes-Cade and the fourth and final goal came from Scottish international striker Sarah Jamieson soon after.

Coach Smith now eyes Sunday’s Scottish Cup Final against Western Wildcats at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre (16.00) to claim a domestic treble having already won the Premiership crown.

He praised Clydesdale for their efforts and said: “They did a great job of nullifying the threat of The University of Edinburgh in their semi-final on Saturday. They really frustrated them.

“We knew how difficult they would make the Grand Final but we also recognised how much the win over the students could have taken out of them.

“Our plan for the Grand Final was to be really patient, not to chase the game and move them around until we created quality chances.”

Smith feels his side were unlucky not to score at least two goals in the first half and he added: “We could have easily let that impact on our mindset, but the players were calm and composed and stuck to doing the things we knew would get the results we wanted.”

WATCHING BRIEF: Keith Smith (with glasses) and his assistant David Knipe in the dugout at George Watson’s College as Watsonians played Western Wildcats in a recent Premiership game. Picture Nigel Duncan

Dalmeny Estate Golf Club opened their season with a match between a team representing the club’s captain against one hosted by the vice-captain.

Vice-captain Ricky Simpson celebrated with his squad after they beat a team led by captain Ian Bell in the match played in calm conditions.

The teams competed in a Texas Scramble over nine holes and 27.8 was the winning score on the night. 

The club then held their first competition of the season and it was Andy Allan who emerged victorious with a net 64 playing off a handicap of seven.

Second was Ricky Simpson who edged Willie Ruffle into third place. Simpson had a better inward half as both men recorded net 65 on the testing parkland course near South Queensferry.

The match was played in a gentle breeze coming in off the sea and Allan collected the Simon F Carruthers Memorial Salver. Carruthers was the 6th Earl’s factor and a former Dalmeny Estate Golf Club convenor.

TOP PICTURE (left to right): Graham Alston, Mark Cottle, Ricky Simpson, Ian Bell, Colin Campbell and Andy Allan after the captain v vice-captain event. Contributed by Willie Ruffle, secretary of Dalmeny Estate Golf Club

PRIZE GUY: Andy Allan (right) receives the Simon F Carruthers Memorial Salver from Dalmeny Estate Golf Club vice-captain, Ricky Simpson. Contributed by Willie Ruffle, secretary of Dalmeny Estate Golf Club

The Eric Liddell Way on Bruntsfield Links has been officially opened at a renaming ceremony, celebrating the achievements of sportsman Eric Liddell at the 1924 Paris Olympics when he won gold in the 400 metres.

The Eric Liddell Community led the celebrations honouring Liddell’s remarkable life, sporting achievements, and community service. The Eric Liddell Way will highlight his Scottish legacy and will allow locals to walk in Eric Liddell’s footsteps as he would have used this path when walking to work, to church, and back to his home.

Unveiled by Scotland rugby cap, Darcy Graham, local councillors, pupils from neighbouring schools and representatives from local businesses attended the event with a performance from the George Watson’s College pipe band.

Edinburgh’s family-run ice cream business, S.Luca’s, also donated free ice cream to all in attendance from their 101-year-old Rolls-Royce.

Eric Liddell won seven caps for Scotland in 1922 and 1923, losing only once, and scored back-to-back tries in four of his international caps as a winger. He was inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame in 2022, to mark 100 years since his first international cap. 100 years on, Darcy Graham is on track to create Scottish sporting legacy of his own, with his 24 tries leaving him just three behind Stuart Hogg’s record of 27.

Darcy Graham, said: “It was an honour to come along and be a part of an amazing event, getting to unveil ‘The Eric Liddell Way’. Many won’t know that as well as his athletic heroics, Eric Liddell won seven caps for Scotland playing rugby.
“With small-sided rugby games taking place, and a 400m track set out for all to get involved in, we really did live life like Eric did – even just for a few hours. Eric is one of Scotland’s sporting greats, and it is important that we do our best to share his
story and recognise his legacy.”

John MacMillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community said: “We are incredibly excited and proud to see that the local community have come together to celebrate Eric’s legacy as we continue to share his story 100 years on from his famous gold medal victory. The path being renamed is made even more special since it was a route that Eric often walked over 100 years ago and is so close to The Eric Liddell Community in Bruntsfield.”

This Eric Liddell 100 event was attended by the local Councillor for the Morningside Constituency, Marie-Clair Munro.
She said: “We knew that something special had to be done to commemorate the incredible achievements of Eric Liddell in such a historic year, and we wanted to bring together the local community in doing so. The path being renamed to ‘The Eric Liddell Way’ signifies a community effort to appreciate the achievements of Eric Liddell, build on his legacy, and showcase the values that he is still remembered by to this day.”

As part of this ceremony, 10-year-old Seb Jellema, and his brother Max Jellema – local pupils at South Morningside Primary – were recognised with The Eric Liddell 100 medals for their running. Seb started his journey in 2023, as he aimed to run at least 3km every day of the year, raising money for charities such as Kids Love Clothes, and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
His brother Max has this year embarked on his own running challenge. The brothers were identified by the local schools in attendance as children who have shown Eric Liddell’s values, passion, compassion, and integrity.

Mr Grant Gillies, Head Teacher at South Morningside Primary School enthusiastically spoke about Seb, Eric and the event saying:
“South Morningside Primary is very proud to be part of this event; Eric Liddell’s legacy continues to inspire generations of students. One of our own pupils, Seb, embodies this spirit and has been in the news recently as he committed to running at least 3km every day. Rain or shine, Seb managed a year of running every day and has decided to continue, setting himself the goal of beating Ron Hill, the award-winning athlete by running every day until 2075. All goals start with small steps, and runners like Eric, Ron and Seb motivate us all to do whatever we can and achieve success. Whether it’s running its length or walking part of it on the way home from school, I hope
we can all be inspired to get outside and make those small steps towards bigger goals.”

Tony Segall, Active Schools Coordinator for Edinburgh, said: “Active Schools Edinburgh is excited to be part of this event to honour the life and achievements of Eric Liddell. The aim of Active Schools is to get ‘More Children, More Active, More Often’ and therefore we are delighted to help celebrate Eric’s dedication to encouraging and inspiring young people to take part in sports.”

https://ericliddell.org/the-eric-liddell-100/

On a day when there was enough political news the dogs were competing for the annual title of top dog at Holyrood.

Heidi, a Biewer Terrier, was crowned winner.

Heidi, who entered the event with MSP Marie McNair, Scottish National Party MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, impressed the judges with her loveable character as well as her strong bond with MSP Marie McNair. 

The sixth Holyrood Dog of the Year competition, organised by The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, took place today in the Scottish Parliament Member’s Garden, Edinburgh. Heidi showed dogged determination as she battled it out to defeat eight other ‘paw-litical’ opponents to win the coveted title of Holyrood Dog of the Year, arguably the most sought-after accolade in Scottish politics.

Winning MSP, Marie McNair said of their winning moment: “Absolutely shocked to win today, it’s really really great!

“Heidi is owned by one of my staffers, so I’m really pleased for her owner as well!” 

This year’s competition was all about celebrating the unique bond between humans and their canine companions and the positive impact that dog ownership can bring into our lives. The event encourages an open dialogue on dog welfare issues, as well as providing an opportunity for MSPs to meet with experts to discuss all aspects of the canine world.

The judging panel – Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club; Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust Chief Executive; and David Torrance MSP, 2023 winner of Holyrood Dog of the Year – spent the morning with dogs from different political persuasions and ambitions.

Commenting on the reason Heidi was selected as the 2024 Holyrood Dog of the Year, judge Bill Lambert said: “Congratulations to Heidi and Marie for being crowned the sixth winners of Holyrood Dog of the Year!  It was a well-deserved win and the bond between the pair was clear to see today. 

“There was strong competition from all the competing MSPs and their dogs and we’d like to thank all those who took part. Holyrood Dog of the Year is a fantastic way to raise awareness of the issues currently affecting the nation’s dogs.”  

Owen Sharp added: “It’s always a pleasure to visit Edinburgh to witness the wonderful bonds MSPs have with their canine companions and the instant connections that are forged with MSPs who enter with one of our fantastic rescue dogs.  

“Dogs are devoted members of the family, who shower us with unconditional love, joy and laughter, and Holyrood Dog of the Year is all about celebrating these special relationships.  Congratulations to Heidi and Marie who won today due to their unique bond which was evident for all to see.”

Leading the opposition in second place was Alfie, a Hungarian Vizsla, owned by Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP for Central Scotland, while third place was awarded to Bramble, a Cockapoo, owned by Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrats MSP for Edinburgh Western.

Prior to the event, MSPs entering the competition campaigned hard, canvassing for votes from the public via an online vote before meeting the expert judges to share their dog’s heroic deeds and acts of devotion. Winner of the ‘pawblic’ vote was announced as Oscar, a Cockapoo, owned by Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish National Party MSP for Dunfermline.

Shirley-Anne MSP, winner of the public vote said of their win: “Oscar has been such a brilliant addition to the family since we got him just after lockdown, so to have him recognised by the public is just fantastic!”

Its origins have been shrouded in mystery, with legends linking it to Biblical heroes and ancient Egyptian royalty. Now, a new exhibition celebrating the Stone of Destiny has revealed it may originally have been a doorstep.

The new theory comes after the Stone underwent scientific analysis prior to being moved from Edinburgh Castle to its new permanent home at Perth Museum, which opened last month.

Wear on the top of the historic artefact appears to have been caused by footsteps prior to its being used as the crowning stone of Scotland’s monarchs at Scone, near Perth, in medieval times.

The first detailed account of the Stone being used in the crowning of a monarch was that of the young King Alexander III in 1249.

Analysis carried out in preparation for its transportation to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of King Charles III last year determined that the Stone was quarried from the Scone area.

Together with the wear, this suggests it may originally have been used in a nearby church or possibly a Roman building.

One legend of the Stone’s origin held that it was “Jacob’s pillow”, the stone on which the Biblical figure was shown by angels a vision of a stairway to heaven.

The 152kg Stone was said to have been transported from ancient Egypt by Scota, the daughter of a pharaoh, to the Hill of Tara in Ireland and later taken to Scone by Kenneth MacAlpin, traditionally considered the first King of Alba.

Visitors to the new exhibition at Perth Museum are told: “As compelling as these and other myths are, recent scientific research shows the Stone was quarried near Scone and may originally have formed part of a step or threshold, perhaps from an earlier church at Scone or possibly a nearby Roman ruin.”

According to Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the level of wear on the top surface identified as the result of the use of the Stone as a step must have been caused before England’s King Edward I took it to England in 1296, and also predates its role in inauguration ceremonies.

Dr Nicki Scott, Senior Cultural Significance Advisor at HES, said: “While we know some inauguration rituals did involve the individual being inaugurated to step onto the stone, such as at Dunadd Hillfort, the level of wear on the Stone of Destiny doesn’t support such use.

“Even several hundred years of such a ritual wouldn’t create the level of wear we see. It’s more likely that the stone had earlier served as a step, although we don’t know the context for this.”

Professor Dauvit Broun, Chair of Scottish History at the University of Glasgow, who contributed to the new interpretation at Perth Museum, said: “The evidence is quite compelling. It means that, at some point, the Stone was repurposed as an inaugural throne.

“The earliest detailed account of a royal inauguration that we have is Alexander III’s in 1249, where the Stone is referred to as covered by ‘silk cloths woven in gold’, which means that its rather bare and worn appearance would not have been visible.”

Prof Broun added: “Once it became the inaugural throne it would be understandable if new legends were fashioned to ‘explain’ its association with the kingship as an ancient one — legends which, unfortunately, have obliterated whatever tales were told about its original significance before it became the inaugural Stone.”

The Stone of Destiny — also known as the Stone of Scone — was used during the coronations of the Kings of Scotland until 1296 when it was seized from Scone in Perthshire by King Edward I of England.

Edward had the stone built into a new oak throne at Westminster, where it was used in the inaugurations of the monarchs of England and later of Great Britain.

It was officially returned to Scotland on St Andrew’s Day in 1996 and was housed alongside the Honours of Scotland in the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle, only leaving Scotland again for the coronation of King Charles in Westminster Abbey in May last year.

A “health check” carried out prior to the crowning allowed researchers to look at the object in greater detail than ever before.

Experts were able to verify that the stone was quarried near Scone, while cutting-edge digital technology including the first ever 3D scan of the historic object revealed surface details previously unseen.

These discoveries offered new clues to the history of the Stone, how it was quarried and then worked over time as well as evidence of wear and human interactions over the centuries.

Although still the property of the Crown, the Stone’s return to Perth last month — as the centrepiece of the new Perth Museum — marked the end of a 728 year absence.

Recent analysis showed that the stone on display in Perth was quarried near Scone and appeared to prove that it was the same rectangular block of red sandstone seized from Scone Abbey by King Edward I in 1296.

However, for centuries, rumours have abounded that replicas of the Stone of Destiny were created at different times to fool various authorities.

According to one legend, the monks at Scone Abbey hid Scotland’s precious inauguration stone as King Edward I approached, and that the king took a copy back to England.

Another tale suggests the real Stone of Destiny may actually be on display in a pub in Glasgow.

Signage displayed over the stone in The Arlington Bar in Glasgow’s Woodlands district suggests that it is the one taken from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950, and that the stone that resurfaced on the altar of Arbroath Abbey, draped in a Scottish flag, in April 1951, may have been a fake.

According to this story, the four daring Glasgow University students Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson, and Alan Stuart who smuggled the stone over the Border, stopped at The Arlington for a pint, and placed the Stone on the bar.

The sign reads: “Within two weeks the game was up and the police were tipped off that the Stone could be found at ‘The Arlington’.

“Under pressure the students decided to hand it back… Or did they? Stories abound across Scotland that the students handed a replica to the police and that the ‘real’ Stone is here in ‘The Arlington Bar’.”

Passengers using Edinburgh Airport’s popular Twilight bag drop service should note that opening hours have increased as more people are encouraged to drop off their bags the night before.

Passengers with a car parking booking in official Edinburgh Airport car parks can also access the 1 hour parking area for free the night before travel, making the Twilight bag drop service even easier and more convenient to use.

The trial of the free use of the 1 hour parking area for customers with official Edinburgh Airport car park bookings will be assessed throughout the summer schedule to determine next steps.

The trial will begin on May 1 2024 and customers with existing bookings will be able to take advantage of the free area, while customers yet to make bookings will be informed of the free parking area in their confirmation emails.

The Twilight offering means passengers on early morning flights can come to the airport the night before to check in bags, heading straight to security on the day of travel.

Four airlines currently offer the service:

Adam Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at Edinburgh Airport said: “The Twilight service was very popular last summer, so much so that it continued into the winter months, so we know there is a demand for the service and that passengers like to use it where possible.

“We’ve worked with airlines to extend days and hours of operation where possible, and we hope that benefits passengers who have those early morning flights and want to head straight to security on the morning of their flight.

“We’re also trialling free Twilight parking for customers with official Edinburgh Airport car park bookings to encourage more people to use the service. That will be kept under constant evaluation to judge the effectiveness of it and to determine the next steps for the Twilight bag drop service.”

Tardiest with a packed programme of music, film and storytelling begins this weekend, running from 3 May to 13 May.

Organisers say that it is due to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation that the festival is secure this year.

The eleven day Festival opens with electro-trad supergroup VALTOS one of Scotland’s best live bands, who are performing with folk trio Assynt and award-winning singer Josie Duncan at the Queen’s Hall. Over the weekend the music programme continues with folk legend Martin Simpson whose latest solo album Skydancers has just been released; Americana, rock, folk and blues icon Alice Howe and legendary bassist Freebo and late night sessions in the Traverse Bar.

Plus, folk musicians playing at any level, can take part in #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay on Saturday by uploading a strathspey tune online using the hashtag, or by joining fiddlers Eryn Rae, Matt Tighe, accordionist Megan Macdonald and pianist extraordinaire Rory Matheson for a live afternoon concert to celebrate the humble Strathspey.

This year the festival boasts an incredible line-up of master musicians including Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis who closes this year’s festival in concert with special guests Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr whose debut album Vent will launch later this year. Other masters of traditional music playing this festival include singer, harpist and composer Rachel Newton, stalwart of the 1990s Edinburgh session scene Simon Bradley trio-ing with Anna-Wendy Stevenson and Michael Bryan, the newly formed Triptic featuring three musicians of peerless pedigree – Phil Alexander, Greg Lawson and Mario Caribe, dazzling instrumentalists Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan, legend Archie Fisher and West Highland high energy supergroup, Dàimh.

Also playing this festival are a host of hugely talented Nordic musicians including Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, and raucous fiddler Lena Jonsson from Northern Sweden who duos with the legendary Brittany Haas from Northern California. Other highlights include the incredible Malin Lewis who launches their new album Halocine at this year’s festival; soulful electro-trad tunes from Frankie Archer whose music is shaking up genres and traditions and championing women, challenging perspectives and calling for a fairer future, BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2024 Evie Waddell and sixth generational fiddle player Clare Sands.

For film goers there is this year’s Folk Film Gatherin’ which includes on-screen highlights – Journey to the Isles: Marjory Kennedy Fraser an archive film with live accompaniment from storyteller Marion Kenny and multi-instrumentalist Mairi Campbell; and two films from Ukraine – the silent masterpiece Earth (1930) directed by Alexander Dovzhenko and accompanied by Scottish musicians Luke Sutherland and Semay Lu; and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors – a tale of crossed lovers introduced with a short concert from Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Choir.

This year’s May Day Parade also takes place during the festival on Sunday 5 May setting off down the Royal Mile at mid-day and finishing with a rally, music and speeches. Plus fans of traditional storytelling can enjoy events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre including old tales from Lithuania and around the world brought to life by Daiva Ivanauskaite and musician Gaynor Barradell in Fire from the Woods (Her Father Has Nothing to Say) a new production exploring the silence between generations and life growing up without hearing stories from your ancestors; and Welsh storyteller Milly Jackdaw presenting Mochyn Mryddin / Merlin’s Pig a fusion of traditional storytelling, physical theatre, music and ceremony based on the life of Myrddin, the inspiration for Merlin in Arthurian legend.

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are beyond excited to present our biggest and best Edinburgh Tradfest ever. Every single show has been curated with care by our team, so you can book with absolute confidence. As usual we’ll be at every gig enjoying the music. See you soon!”

Edinburgh Tradfest runs from Friday 3 May to Monday 13 May.

www.edinburghtradfest.com