Classic romance films are back on the big screen at city cinemas this Valentine’s night

To mark Valentine’s Day, four classic romance films are returning to the big screen at Vue Edinburgh Omni and Edinburgh Ocean– for one night only. 

To kick things off, the timeless love story of Jack and Rose is back with Titanic. The film is an epic, action-packed romance set against the ill-fated maiden voyage of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic – at the time, the largest moving object ever built. James Cameron’s multi-Academy Award-winner will be on the big screen in 3D 4K HDR and high-frame rate, with a cast headed by Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. 

For those looking for a more uplifting spectacle, 10 Things I Hate About You will also be returning to the big screen for Valentine’s Day. The 90s classic stars Julia Stiles and the late Heath Ledger as they navigate high school dating in this wildly entertaining romcom – as loved now as it was 25 years ago. 

For lovers of musicals, one of the most celebrated productions of all time will be returning to Vue. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells the story of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe), after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Anne Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.  

Finally, one of (if not the) ultimate romcom, Notting Hill will also be returning to the big screen on 14 February. Hugh Grant stars as a London bookstore owner whose humdrum existence is thrown into romantic turmoil when a famous American actress (Julia Roberts) appears in his shop. A chance encounter over spilled orange juice leads to a kiss that blossoms into a full-blown affair. As the average bloke and glamorous movie star draw closer and closer together, they struggle to reconcile their radically different lifestyles in the name of love.  

Toby Bradon, General Manager of Vue UK & Ireland, said:

“We’re thrilled to be showing four classic romance films this Valentine’s Day. No matter who you choose to spend the day with, these titles are sure to bring back fond emotions for lovers of film. 

“There’s nothing quite like the magic of the big screens and Vue is the perfect place to celebrate Valentine’s!”  

Tickets are available online from just £4.99 at select venues at www.myvue.com.     

Edinburgh born artist Andrew Crummy, best known as designer of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, is giving a talk at his exhibition at the Whitespace Gallery, East Crosscauseway, at 2pm today (Tuesday Feb 13).

Andrew will be talking about the relationship between his sunset paintings, drawings and tapestries, including the Great Tapestry of Scotland colouring book. His latest exhibition “Shoreline”, by Liz Fox and Andrew Crummy, on display at the Whitespace Gallery until Thursday 15th February.

Born in Craigmillar, Andrew is well known for large scale, collaborative work, most notably murals and tapestries documenting our diverse lives, heritage and community histories. He recently launched the Dundee tapestry which is having its premiere at the V & A in Dundee until April 28th.

Andrew is also busy working on another major collaborative project, The Cancer Tapestry, bringing people together who have experience living with cancer or been close to someone who has. A documentary film has been made about this project by Jon Gill, entitled “A Good Thing to Do: Andrew Crummy’s Cancer Tapestry”. Sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support, the film was launched online on February 4 (World Cancer Day) and can be viewed on youtube (link below):-

Catch Andrew this afternoon at the Whitespace Gallery if you can, or find out more about his work at andrewcrummy.com

“Sunsets, drawings and tapestries”, Tuesday 13 Feb at 2pm

Whitespace Gallery
76 East Crosscauseway
Edinburgh EH8 9HQ–

Dr. Andrew Crummy MBE http://www.andrewcrummy.com

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s Nu-Age Sounds marks a major celebration of Scotland’s vibrantly exciting young jazz scene in a concert at the Queen’s Hall on Sunday 3 March.

Conceived and produced by the orchestra’s artistic director, saxophonist Tommy Smith, OBE, the project brings together a cast of trailblazing musicians, each of them multiple award winners, with the internationally acclaimed SNJO and visual producer Dillon Barrie.

Scottish Album of the Year 2022 winner and Mercury Music Prize nominee, pianist Fergus McCreadie, BBC Young Jazz Musician 2022, bassist Ewan Hastie, singer kitti, saxophonists Helena Kay and Matt Carmichael and trombonists Noushy and Liam Shortall, who has earned acclaim under the name corto.alto, are all contributing new music to the project. Smith has also orchestrated music by his band KARMA, whose debut album won the Album of the Year title at the Scottish Jazz Awards.

Watching as students from the jazz course he overseas at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland have gone on to make an impression nationally and internationally, Smith decided to showcase this success and bring orchestral jazz, with its long history, to a young audience who might not have experienced this rich tradition before.

“As Fergus, Matt, Peter, Ewan, Noushy, and Liam were students of mine for four years at the RCS, I greatly respect and admire their musicianship and observe with amazement their blossoming careers,” says Smith. “Educating musicians of this calibre in harmony, composition, etc., was a joy, especially sharing my ideas in music business, which I taught throughout their four years. I am very proud of where they have all reached. It’s also great to have kitti and Helena onboard as they are very much part of Scotland’s thriving young jazz scene.”

Noushy and kitti’s music is being arranged by Berlin-based saxophonist-composer-bandleader Fabia Mantwill and Ewan Hastie’s by pianist-composer Florian Ross, from Cologne. However, Fergus McCreadie, Helena Kay, Matt Carmichael and Liam Shortall are rising to the challenge of orchestrating their own work to an international standard.

Each piece of music will be accompanied by a video, created by Dillon Barrie and his team and projected on to the stage backcloth.

“Dillon, who I chose as a visual producer and social media guru of Nu-Age Sounds, is also a current student of mine at the RCS,” says Smith. “I’ve seen him really charge on, producing his successful Supersonic shows over the last three years. Dillon and his team, with Daisy Mulholland, Niki Zaupa, and Connor McGhie, will bring an illuminating vision for our artists and concertgoers.”

For Smith, the concerts are a timely indication of the strength of jazz in Scotland. A scene has grown up around the RCS jazz course in Glasgow and there are talented young musicians emerging across the country.

“I am confident that Nu-Age Sounds will be a standout tour for the SNJO’s ever-growing audience,” says Smith. “It’s also vital for the orchestra to embrace the younger audience and adopt a new focus on future sounds and fusions, widening our musical horizons.”

New mobile CCTV cameras are being rolled out across West Lothian in a bid to target offenders who dump waste in the local area.

The cameras will be mounted at various known fly tipping hot spots and used to gather evidence to support prosecutions of anyone who dumps material on public land. Images will be recorded and will be checked on a regular basis.
News of the cameras follows the most recent reports into fly tipping in the region, where it was found even cemeteries had become a target for illegal dumping.
Sites will be prioritised based on the historical prevalence of fly tipping in that location with one of the first set to be the Birdsmill area which sits just off the A89 at the railway viaduct on the border between West Lothian and Edinburgh.
Executive councillor for environment Tom Conn joined operatives from the councils Cleaner Communities Team on a visit to the area to see the issue first hand.
Councillor Conn said: “It is clear to see that sadly there are those with no regard for our local environment who think that the dumping of waste is acceptable. Fly tipping and littering are both equally unacceptable and cannot be tolerated under any circumstance.
“These new cameras will be deployed in known areas of concern and will act both as a deterrent to those who are contemplating fly tipping and will help the evidence gathering process to help prosecute those who break the law.
“I was disappointed with the fly tipping dumped at Birdsmill, near Broxburn, which was a mixture of commercial builders’ rubble, and tyres which the Council doesn’t collect at our Community Recycling Centre sites.
“Businesses will be well aware of the options available to them to dispose of these items appropriately and their legal responsibility to do so. It was also disappointing to see a large amount of discarded soft drink cans and bottles which can be recycled in households’ green bins. We need to stop making excuses for those who desecrate our countryside and point the finger at those who make a fast buck, while council taxpayers then have to pay to clear up their mess.”
The council believes that the vast majority of fly tipping is commercial in nature, rather than caused by households. Often the type and volume of items left, such as large amounts of tyres, builders rubble and discarded bathrooms, would clearly appear to have been generated by business activities, although this is often impossible to prove conclusively.
Businesses are legally required to make their own arrangements to make sure any waste they produce is disposed of responsibly. The council’s community recycling centres are for households only, so do not accept any business waste.
A council spokesman said that if you are having work done in your house or if you are hiring a company to take waste away, households must make sure the company has a SEPA waste carrier licence – otherwise householders, as well as the company, could end up being fined if it is found to have been fly-tipped.
If you do have large items at home that need disposed of then there are plenty of options available to you when it comes to disposal. Visit the Don’t Waste West Lothian web page for more information on the local campaign to tackle fly tipping and waste disposal options available.
Fly tipping can be reported via an online form on the West Lothian Council website.

by Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporting Service

Neighbours of a public park in West Lothian are demanding tighter rules for licensing circus events and fairs after facing years of trouble.

Residents around Livingston’s Howden Park say they have suffered for years from noise and public disturbance from events in the park, as well as dog fouling, broken glass and even human waste tossed into their gardens. They say regular complaints to the council have fallen on deaf ears.
Now local councillor Maria MacAualy has won support for a motion which calls on the council to listen to local people before issuing licences for fairs.
Vice chair of the  Howden Community Council, Anne Paton  said: “The dates advertised for the fair are never the only days involved.  Normally a week before we have the gates open then overnight huge lorries arrive.  
“Then we have the noise of set up over however many days that takes.  Then the fair starts.  The noise is deafening and it’s all day at weekends and every evening during the week- the relentless ‘boom boom boom’ of music   
She added: “There are so many users of the park that cannot use it because of the disruption and the groups of youths that hang around the park at this time.
 “Inevitably there is smashed glass and rubbish all over the park not to mention the damage that is done to the park itself. Then we wait for it to pass, putting up with this day and night.  Then they go and we put up with the mess.”
Mrs Paton added: “It used to be that we knew the fair was coming to the area because the notice boards appeared telling everyone about it – however given the complaints from the area in the last two years any adverts for events in the park have stopped and the only notice we receive is when the park gates are suddenly left open and the grass is spray painted blue to indicate where each ride is being placed.  
“Council guidelines state that a council officer should be present at set up to ensure that larger and noisier rides are placed as far away from residents as possible.  It’s never ever happened.”
Chair of the community council Colin Williamson said that, at its worst, neighbours of the park had human waste dumped in their gardens. Mrs Paton said a neighbour’s dog had died after drinking outflow from a chemical toilet 
Mr Williamson said the problem was that the council didn’t have to consult the local people or community councils, and he said it was time local government laws were updated to give local people a bit more say in licensing of events.
“We’re not against the shows or the circus,  but can somewhere else not take a turn?”

Councillor MacAualy’s motion was passed without comment at the last meeting of the full council.
It  highlighted “the absence of adequate policies safeguarding neighbours during events  such as circuses and fairs, which often result in excessive noise and antisocial behaviour.” It called for clear guidelines  “to protect the well‐being and tranquility of residents in proximity to such events”.
The motion urged the council to conduct a review of existing policies related to events generating noise and antisocial behaviour; collaborate with relevant  stakeholders, including event organisers and local law enforcement, to establish effective guidelines for noise control and crowd management. It also called for more effective communication with neighbours.
The motion also called on the council to explore the possibility of designated event zones or time restrictions to mitigate the impact on residential areas and to strengthen enforcement.

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Representatives from the council’s Operational Services have met with the local community council to discuss their concerns.
“Environmental Health needs to consider noise in terms of statutory noise nuisance legislation. Environmental health may also propose noise conditions as part of the licence application process to help ensure noise nuisance is mitigated and minimised.
“Given the transient and short-term nature of most events it is not always possible to pursue concerns using this route. It is not possible to monitor all events and concerns in real-time. The council’s Safer Neighbourhood Team can assist with witnessing any noise concerns and advising Environmental Health, or the Licensing Team of potential breaches of licence conditions.
“Any data on noise complaints received would be considered in terms of responding to future event applications. There have been two individual complaints about noise at this site made directly to Environmental Health in 2019 and 2021. Anti-social behaviour concerns associated with events would be pursued by Police Scotland.”
Persistent noise issues can be reported to the contact centre on 01506 280000 or the police on 101.

by Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter

Parliament celebrates 25 years

The Scottish Parliament has set out plans for a year-long programme of engagement designed to involve everyone in Scotland in a conversation that both reflects on devolution and considers how to shape the Parliament in future.  

A special event will take place on Saturday 29 June at The Scottish Parliament which people across Scotland will be invited to join. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Presiding Officer will also visit regions all over Scotland, meeting people from all walks of life to hear their views and ideas for the future. These activities, together with other events to be announced, will enable communities up and down the country to help shape the Parliament of the future.

The Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “This year we will reflect on the Parliament’s record and the significant political events during 25 years of devolution.  While that reflection is welcome, I also want the Parliament’s focus to be firmly on the future.

“I want to use this milestone as an opportunity to engage people all over country about their aspirations for their Parliament.

“I want to continue to build on and strengthen that relationship between people and Parliament and modernise Holyrood to ensure it meets Scotland’s needs for the coming years.”

Further details for our 25th anniversary will be announced throughout the year.

A special 25th anniversary themed Festival of Politics will take place in the Scottish Parliament in August.

New supermarket

The new Lidl Store at Meadowbank opens this week on Thursday. It will be in the unit where TK Maxx traded until last year and will have an in-store bakery.

The new store has created 40 new jobs.

Filmhouse raise the ceiling on fundraising

Filmhouse Edinburgh continues to apply for grant funding while the new company seeks to reopen the doors. The fundraiser has so far raised almost £250,000 but the target has now been raised to £300,000.

The explanation from the company is simple: “We set an initial amount of £250,000 for this Crowdfunder but the evidence is that we can raise this target in line with the level of giving. We’re so pleased that people are giving what they can – from £3 to £2000. Some give regularly and we haven’t had a day without a donation! So we will increase the target to match the level of giving. And we will let everyone know when we are reaching the final deadline.

We now have a number of funding applications submitted / in train and we will know the outcomes by April so we have moved the deadline to the end of April. This Crowdfunder is a huge success story and it is a brilliant mechanism for people to show their support for the goal to re-open Filmhouse. All the money raised here is needed – it will form a really important part of the overall funds we need and are seeking.”

Building planned for the green belt

Builders Barratt and David Wilson Homes and the Catchelraw Trust have lodged a pre-planning application for land on the green belt which the Frogston Road Greenbelt Protection Group say is not zoned for housing in the City Plan. A public exhibition between 3pm and 7pm will be held on 20 February at the Toby Carvery 41 Howdenhall Road EH16 6PG where representatives of the house builders will be present to discuss the proposals. See also www.holderplanning.com from 20 February. There will be eight days to lodge comments.

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Former Davidson’s Mains Primary School pupil, Simon Fanshawe, OBE, has been named the Rector of the University of Edinburgh following an uncontested election. 

One of the original founders of Stonewall which “stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere” Mr Fanshawe was more recently critical of the organisation. He will take up office on 4 March 2024. 

He is a consultant and practitioner in the field of diversity, author, broadcaster and activist.  

He was formerly Chair of the Governing Council of the University of Sussex from 2007 – 2013, and will replace Debora Kayembe, who has served as Rector since 2021. 

Simon said: “Being named Rector of the University of Edinburgh is a great honour. It is a university with a great legacy and current practice of stellar research and wonderful teaching. The role of Rector offers great opportunity to convene discussions on the most effective ways of advancing the University, its staff and students and to promote mutual understanding in the exchange of ideas.”

The Rector is a member of the University’s governing body, University Court, championing the views of students and staff. In recent times, Rectors have served as a point of contact for the University community, seeking to assist with difficulties or issues where they arise. 

The Rector is nominated and elected by students and staff and is not an appointment of the executive or governing body of the University. Only one valid nomination was received, and Simon has been named as Rector uncontested.

The position of Rector has a long and prestigious lineage and was originally created in the 19th century by the Universities Scotland Act 1858. 

Ms Leigh Chalmers,Vice-Principal and Secretary of the University of Edinburgh said: “We look forward to working with Simon as the next Rector of the University of Edinburgh and we thank Debora for her service.

Simon was one of the six original co-founders of Stonewall in 1989. In 2011, he co-founded the international charity Kaleidoscope, which campaigns for the human rights of LGBTI+ people around the world. 

In 1989 Simon won the Perrier Award for Comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe and he served on the Board of the Fringe Society from 1986 – 2012.  

Simon spent much of his early childhood living in Edinburgh and Stirling. His father was a career soldier in The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He went to Davidson’s Mains Primary School and still has family connections to Edinburgh. 

Footballers are often accused of being play actors on the pitch. Now it seems that Scotland’s first international women’s football team was in fact made up of actors and dancers plucked out of Edinburgh theatres.

The first international football match between Scotland and England was played at Hibernian’s original home ground at Easter Road, Edinburgh, in May 1881.

The little-known match was attended by more than 1,000 fans and resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Scots.

Now it has been revealed the Scots team, who wore blue jerseys, white knickerbockers, red stockings, a red belt and even high heeled boots, was made up of actors and dancers assembled by theatrical agents.

The historic “unofficial international” is revealed in the one-hour BBC Scotland documentary Dougray Scott: Bringing Football Home, now available on iPlayer.

Historian Professor Fiona Skillen, from Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “The first unofficial international match was held in May 1881 at Hibernian Park.

“We think the players were drawn from the local theatres so they were actresses and dancers and they were brought together by theatrical agents to put on this spectacular.

“This was very much seen as an entertainment rather than a sporting activity.”

Prof Skillen said a second match between the nations, played a week later in Glasgow, ended up with crowd violence.

She said there were threats against the players as the women were seen to challenge social norms, and had to be rescued from the pitch in a horse-drawn cart.

Prof Skillen said: “A riot breaks out (in Glasgow). It wasn’t something that they thought was fun or entertaining.

“They saw it as sort of immoral that these women were on the pitch, that they were showing their ankles and going against society.

“They try to attack the women and they tear up the stakes at the side of the pitch and they’re chasing them.

“Eventually they have to bring this horse drawn cart onto the pitch to load the women into it to help them get away safely.”

She added: “Women’s place was seen as being in the home. Their roles were nurturing so they were therefore supposed to be looking after children, looking after their menfolk.

“Their focus was on the home and those roles, it wasn’t supposed to be about going out into the wider world and pursuing their own interests and passions.”

Prof Skillen said women’s football increased during the First World War when there was a huge rise in women in the workforce, filling jobs vacated by men on the front line.

Women’s football teams came out of munitions factories and fixtures played for charity were attended by thousands.

But the women’s game was suppressed again after the war ended when women were expected to return to “wifely duties”.

Prof Skillen tells the programme’s presenter, Hollywood actor and football fan Dougray Scott: “We don’t have a formal ban until 1948 but what we have in an informal ban and there are notes in the records of the FA where they are actively discouraging their association members from giving facilities to women’s games.

“That means that women who want to play have to find spaces that are not associated with the Football Association. So they are playing in public parks and there’s obviously not quite that legitimacy because you don’t have officially sanctioned referees.

“UEFA sent a memo to all of the associations and asked them if the women’s game was growing in their area if they would be willing to lift any sanctions that were in place and support the women’s game.

“Thirty one countries came back and said absolutely we will lift any sanctions, there is interest and growth in the game and the only one that came back and said no was Scotland.”

It would take almost a century after that 1881 fixture for the first official international to be played as the Scottish FA continued to resist women’s football.

The SFA did not recognise women’s football and when the first international match was played between Scotland and England in 1972 it was not sanctioned by the governing body.

The historic match had to be played at Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock, which belonged to the local council.

Prof Skillen added: “I think we are quite a misogynistic country. I think that’s changing but I think in that period we definitely were. I think there was an element of ‘football is for men and we have to protect that space’.

“Ultimately the SFA do back down and do recognise women’s football but not until 1974.

“We have this odd situation where the first international match is played in 1972, our team is not recognised, they have no support, they have to take out provident loans to get the shirts. They tried to hire a bus, but it didn’t turn up and they had to go in a furniture van.

“They had to sew the names and numbers onto their kits themselves, so it really was a very kind of home-knitted affair from our side, but it didn’t hold them back, they did it.”

Edinburgh’s councillors called for clarification of the support being offered to pupils with additional needs after a “significant number” were refused places in school learning hubs. 

Some families of children with additional support needs have been left worried about their child’s transition to secondary school after applications to attend Enhanced Support Bases (ESBs) were turned down. Instead, families were told their support needs – often complex and varied – would be met through “enhanced support provision”. 
Councillor Kate Campbell, SNP, said elected members had not been offered an explanation on “the difference between the two” during a full council meeting on Thursday last week (February 8). 
She said: “We had enhanced support bases in schools and we’re being told this is going to be called enhanced support provision.” 

The bases exist within nine city secondary schools to help pupils with disabilities, such as Autism and Down’s Syndrome, to thrive in mainstream education settings. Parents who have seen placements rejected ahead of their child starting S1 after summer said the impact of not having access to the spaces would be significant. One said their son “would not be safe” in school “without having a full time one to one support assistant”. 

The council did not provide an explanation for why the placing requests had been refused, but insisted there was no “planned reduction in resource for these services”, provision of which it had rather “actively increased”.

Education convener Cllr Joan Griffiths said ESBs “have not been suspended” and added: “We keep these levels of need and models of provision under review, to ensure we can continue to provide quality support for all.”

Speaking at the meeting, Lib Dem councillor Euan Davidson said he had been contacted by a “significant number” of “stressed” families regarding the situation. He said: “Transition to secondary can be an incredibly difficult time for all children and families. This is even more so the case for those dealing with the complexities of additional support needs, which is why the need for enhanced transition is recognised in legislation. 
“Confirmation that these support bases are not only not being closed but more provision is planned is very welcome indeed. However, it’s clear we’ve still got a communications job to do here to answer the many many questions these parents are rightly asking.”

The Greens’ Steve Burgess said councillors were owed an “urgent explanation” by officers. 
He said: “Reports about young people being denied support they need in school through enhanced support bases are very concerning. The council should be doing what we can to support people to thrive in the education setting which is right for them and we’d like to thank the concerned parents who have raised this issue with us and set out what a reduction in support would mean for them. 

“We’re hopeful that reassurances we’ve heard so far from council officers that there’s no change to the level of provision will be confirmed. The current uncertainty is having an impact on young people and families.”

An emergency motion, passed unanimously, ordered officials to give an update to councillors “including details of communication with providers and parents, and any relevant financial information about funding”. 

It also called for a report with a comparison of the number and outcome of applications to enhanced support bases and other alternative provisions between this year and last – and for officers to make “urgent contact with families rejected for ESBs or other alternative provisions to discuss their concerns”. 

Councillors asked that the report, which will go to the next education committee in April, includes details of “how additional safe, supported space will be provided within existing school footprints” and whether support staff will be “additional, specialist trained or contained within existing school staffing levels” as well as confirmation there will be no cap on places available.

by Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Six The University of Edinburgh players and four from Watsonians are included in the 20-strong Scotland squad for a triple-header Test series against Spain in Benalmadena this week as coach Chris Duncan kick-starts his build-up to the EuroHockey qualifiers this summer.  

Scotland face Spain, who recently qualified for the Olympics in Paris, on Wednesday, February 14 (10.30am), Thursday, February 15 (17.00), Friday, February 16 (13.00). All local times.

Edinburgh-based Duncan revealed that the squad has been working since September and added: “These games come at a great time as we look to launch into a big year.”

The Tartan Hearts play their EuroHockey qualifiers at the Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre from August 22 to 25 against Wales, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Lithuania. The tournament winner qualifies for the EuroHockey Championships in 2025.

Duncan said: “Spain have recently sealed their place in Paris at the Olympics so these games will be a great test for us. We are looking forward to giving a number of players their first taste of competition against opposition of this level after a good block of training and we are also looking to develop some new technical skill sets.”

Scotland travel minus their Great Britain squad members who are preparing Paris 2024, but Duncan said: “This is a great opportunity for others to step up and become leaders within the group. There is a real energy and vibrancy around the group and we are all excited to get out there and kick off 2024 with some positive performances.”

Squad: Amber Murray, Emily Dark, Katherine Holdgate, Sarah Jamieson (Watsonians HC), Ava Wadsworth, Katherine Birch (Durham University), Bronwyn Shields, Millie Steiger (Clydesdale Western), Ellie Mackenzie (Loughborough University), Eve Pearson (Grossflottbeker THGC, Germany), Frances Lonergan (Western Wildcats), Georgia Jones (Berliner HC, Germany), Heather McEwan (Royal Victory, Belgium), Jessica Buchanan (Exeter University), Jessica Ross, Katie Swanson, Lunjika Nyirenda, Ruth Blaikie, Sophie Hinds, Zara Kennedy (The University of Edinburgh)

PICTURE: Heather McEwan on the bawl during Scotland training at Peffermill, The University of Edinburgh Playing Fields. Picture Nigel Duncan

The Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society EHRSS) is returning to the Queen’s Hall to present another varied programme of traditional Scottish fiddle music in March.

The concert will feature the orchestra under the baton of well known Scottish Fiddle player Yla Steven BEM playing a selection of marches, strathspeys, reels, jigs and slow airs.

In addition, EHRSS welcomes the up and coming Scottish tenor Christopher Haggerty. Christopher is developing the singing of glorious Scottish songs in his father’s footsteps.

Piper, Martin Duncan, will start the concert off in the traditional manner with his expert skill on the bagpipes. This year we will also welcome a choir from the Edinburgh Young Musicians who will delight us with their singing of Scottish songs.

• An afternoon of traditional Scottish Fiddle Music presented by the Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society will be held at The Queens Hall 85-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JG at 2.30 pm on Sunday 24 March 2024
• Tickets from www.thequeenshall.net or at the door
• Musical Director: Yla Steven BEM
• Tenor: Christopher Haggerty
• Piper: Martin Duncan
• Choir: Edinburgh Young Musicians Choir

Scottish screenwriter Nicole Taylor has revealed that it took her three years to make the hit Netflix series One Day.

Taylor, originally from Glasgow, was lead writer on the new series, based on David Nicholls’ 2009 bestselling novel of the same name.

The Bafta-winner said she was approached to work on the romantic drama just after the birth of her daughter four years ago, and has worked on nothing else for the last three years.

The 14 part series, which has received rave reviews, features English actors Leo Woodall, who starred in The White Lotus, and Ambika Mod, of BBC series This is Going to Hurt, as Dexter and Emma who meet for the first time on their last day at Edinburgh University.

The story, shot partly on location in Edinburgh, follows their lives and relationship over 20 years with episodes finding them on the same date, July 15, each year.

Taylor, who was a fan of Nicholls’ book and also executive produced the Netflix series, told the Restless Natives podcast: “It’s about this guy and girl who meet on the last night of Edinburgh University in 1988.

“They’ve got nothing in common — she’s a working class northerner, he’s an English posho — but there’s just something between them.

“Every subsequent episode of the series is the same date, the fifteenth of July one year hence, one year hence, one year hence.

“It’s a kind of love story and the story of a kind of cosmic friendship over 20 years. But gosh it was hard work. I wrote nine or ten (episodes). It was a lot of work. They are different lengths depending on what story’s going on that year.

“I was EPing (executive producing) it and I kind of overwrote some of the other episodes so basically I’ve done nothing but this for the last three years.

“My wee girl was one when I started this and now she’s four and about to go to school.”

Taylor has won widespread acclaim in recent years. She won a BAFTA for her three-part BBC series Three Girls about the Rochdale child sex abuse ring.

She also wrote the BBC drama series The Nest, starring Martin Compston and the award winning movie Wild Rose, which starred Jessie Buckley as a Scottish country singer.

She added: “Some writers are really prolific and do loads of things at the same time. I can only do one thing at a time and it takes me many many drafts… For me I have to be obsessed with something.”

Lothian MSP hosts roundtable to tackle the issue of Social Isolation across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the rest of Scotland

Miles Briggs hosted a roundtable at The Scottish Parliament to bring communities, charities and organisations together to bring an end to the loneliness and isolation that is causing a public health and well-being crisis across the country. 

Changing Britain research found that 33 per cent of Edinburgh citizens do not feel that they are involved or feel part of the community.

The cost-of-living crisis is adding to the awful knock-on effects of loneliness and isolation particularly in older people, where it has been shown to increase the risks of dementia by 50%, and heart attacks and stroke by 30%. 

The roundtable was attended by a range of charities who are leaders in the field of social isolation and measures to reduce it’s impact on individuals in communities across the country.

Also speaking was Dr Jane Morris, Head of the Royal College of Psychiatry, to talk on the effects on mental health. As well as Dr Morris, Police Scotland’s specialist on scammers and fraudsters who target the elderly and isolated, DCI Steven Trim, spoke at the roundtable.

The MSP has previously called on SNP Ministers to provide great funding to tackle loneliness and social isolation in Scotland.

Mr Briggs said: “I am pleased that we have had the opportunity to discuss measures to reduce loneliness and social isolation across Lothian and the rest of Scotland.

“From the roundtable it was clear that people are passionate about tackling loneliness in Scotland.

“Feeling lonely is a horrible feeling and I am optimistic that we can take forward actions that will prevent people in communities up and down the country from feeling lonely.

“This was a very productive roundtable and there is plenty of work to be getting on with to make people feel more connected across Scotland.”

Half-term at the National Museum of Flight

Looking for things to occupy young people over the next week or so? Then the whole family may like going to the Museum of Flight.

Set on one of the best-preserved Second World War airfields in the UK, half-term activities will bring this extraordinary history to life with costumed interpreters and genuine military flying equipment from the period. Families can also explore the site with the new Family Satchels containing puzzles and activities to enjoy together, before discovering the Museum’s historic hangars filled with fascinating aircraft and interactive displays. 

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “As one of Scotland’s best days out, the National Museum of Flight is the perfect destination for families this half-term. We are delighted to be able to offer these free activities thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery and I hope our young visitors will enjoy learning about life at East Fortune during the Second World War.”

Valentine’s Day suggestions

We have a few suggestions for you to show your love how much they mean to you. Just follow this search here – be sure that it is the 2024 articles you read however as there are many other suggestions from previous years.

Valentine’s Day here.

New restaurant has opened at Assembly Rooms

Read more about the newest restaurant in town here.

Fancy being a volunteer at Pleasance this summer?

Pleasance are looking for 200 people to join them and help out on a voluntary basis from Friday 26th July to Wednesday 28th August.

The Pleasance explain that their Festival Volunteer Programme “provides a platform for people of all backgrounds and ages to hone their skills in the creative industries by playing a key role in the daily operation of the Pleasance’s Fringe venues, at the centre of the largest arts festival in the world”. 

Volunteers are crucial to the daily operations at Pleasance’s three venues with 33 performance spaces.

Roles are available in Technical, Guest, Industry and Marketing departments; each role involves genuine responsibilities with support from team members already working in the industry. 

Apply here.

Our February issue

Our February issue is out now. With more on Stephen Rafferty’s exclusive story about Chief Constable Jo Farrell revealed in our centre spread and our new columnist to entertain you with news of all the theatre you must see, we are pleased with this month’s issue. We hope you like it too.

If you would like to make sure that you don’t miss any of our monthly newspapers then sign up here. 

Capital sport has another couple of world record holders following the inaugural European ice swimming championships in Oradea, Romania.

For ex-Olympic medallist and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Dan Wallace there was a record double – in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly to set him up for a solo attempt at an English Channel crossing this summer.

And, in the same 30-34 age category, Dan’s Warrender club-mate Connor Mollison marked his reinvigorated competitive campaign with a world best in the 50m backstroke.

That left Connor fifth overall and for good measure he added bronze in the 100m butterfly while joining with Dan in two medal (bronze) winning relays – the 4 x 50m freestyle and the 4x50m medley.

Other Scots who were part of a 30 strong Team GB were veterans Brian Bain, Euan Stewart and James Leitch.

According to Connor, once a Scotland squad member, breaking into ice swimming this year has sharpened his competitive sporting instincts.

“Coming out of British Championships I felt I had a world record swim in me but with the pool temperature 3 degrees lower than at Cheltenham Lido at 3.8 degrees I had to ensure I did not seize up in the water.

“The next goal for me will be world championships in Italy next year and I’ll try to push up my distances from the sprints I currently compete it.

“I’ve always felt a need to work towards something and I’ll maybe try some Masters events now in giving purpose to the training I do.”

Controversy and discussion of the try that wasn’t a try in the final moments of the home match at Murrayfield will continue.

For now here are some of the action shots from Saturday.

Leith Athletic Football Club girls team netted a visit to Paolozzi at 100 at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two.

Celebrating the 100th birthday of Leith artist Eduardo Paolozzi the free exhibition has taken over two rooms on the ground floor of the gallery on Belford Road, and offered an opportunity for the team to bring a bit of Leith to the exhibition.

All kitted out in their brand-new Paolozzi shirts, a tribute to the man himself, the Leith team marvelled at the 60 works including prints, tapestries, collages and sculptures.

There’s no substitute for Paolozzi! 

Leith Athletic is a community club with over 600 players offering a player pathway from age 5 to adults. As the club continues to grow, we are looking to develop our girls section which has around 30 players. The Paolozzi strip is a special limited edition, endorsed by the Paolozzi Foundation to help us fund the growth of the girls section and provide a sustainable and safe environment for the girls to thrive. The strip is available to pre-order using the link below.

• National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two 
• Open now till 21 April 2024 
• Admission Free  

Paolozzi at 100 | National Galleries of Scotland 

Round Nine of the Bass Rock Shore Angling League’s winter series will be held on Wednesday, February 14, and it will be a Dunbar Rover.

Registration is at Dunbar Harbour between 6pm and 6.30pm with fishing from 7pm to 10pm. Only sizeable fish to be brought to the scales which close at 10.20pm.

Elsewhere, Rab Gallagher from Glenrothes won Mike and Chris’s annual heaviest cod league with a fish of 8lb 14.8oz landed in the final leg of the five-match series.

He also won the final leg and overall edged Dundee angler David Cargill into second spot. Cargill led with a fish of 8lb 6oz hooked in leg four.

Keith Galloway was second in leg five with four fish for 8lb 3oz and Gary Rezin was third with a bag of two fish for 7lb 3oz.

Kirkcaldy-based Chris Horn, one of the organisers, said that the league had its second biggest entry of 39 anglers and he added: “This is a no-nonsense group of lads who turn up every weekend, come rain or shine.”

In the Capital, Mike Kyle from Easthouses in Midlothian won the fourth leg of the Edinburgh New Year Shore League, which features anglers from Fife, with eight fish for 245 points. Stevie Souter was second with four fish for 121 points and Kevin McNeish third with three fish for 82 points.

The longest fish was hooked by Ian Campbell, the series organiser, and that was a 31cm cod. The match was at Newhaven and fished in an easterly gale with constant rain. League sponsors are The Edinburgh Angling Centre, The Fishing Megastore and Cox and Rawle.  

Battling Fife Flyers completed a four-point weekend to move into the top eight in the ten-strong Elite League table thanks to a third-period strike from American Max Humitz.  

The 28-year-old scored with 44 minutes on the clock as the Kirkcaldy club came from 2-0 down at Guildford Flames to back-up their 9-7 victory over Nottingham Panthers at The Fie Ice Arena on Saturday.

Fife were outshot 41-31 and were 2-0 down after just over 16 minutes. Matt Tugnutt opened the scoring after seven minutes and nine minutes later Matt Alvaro netted unassisted for No 2.

Tom Collen’s battling side opened their account after 24 minutes when Lucas Chiodo was set up by Humitz and Brady Pouteau.

And ten minutes later the teams were level at 2-2 when Johan Eriksson latched onto a Chiodo pass after Lucas was fed by Aleksi Makela.

The scoreline stayed that way until a move initiated by Sean Giles and involving Eriksson found American-born Humitz and he slotted at 44min 25sec. The Fifers held out for a memorable win against a side who have qualified for the Challenge Cup Final.

The two points means Fife move onto 33 points from 38 games. Results elsewhere assisted with Glasgow Clan skidding to a 3-2 defeat at Nottingham which sees them slip to ninth position with 32 points from 36 games. Nottingham have 27 points from 33 outings and continue to prop up the rest.

Manchester Storm are seventh with 34 points from 36 starts after skidding to a 6-1 home reverse to second-placed Cardiff Devils. 

PICTURE: Fife v Nottingham by Jillian MacFarlane courtesy of the Elite League

Hearts claimed a magnificent seven straight wins with a 4-1 victory over well-organised Airdrie in the fifth round of the Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup, and earn a quarter-final tie against Morton at Cappielow.

It was a thoroughly professional performance topped off by three goals in a devastating ten-minute spell in the first-half, but hard-working Airdrie made this a contest in front of the BBC Television cameras.  

Calem Nieuwenhof was one of the marksmen and he told BBC Sport Scotland: “We started well. I am just trying to get consistency in this team and we are in a really good spot just now in the league. The team is gelling and we are starting to play together. I am really happy.”

Man of the Match, Lawrence Shankland, commenting on the draw, said: “It will be difficult going there as it is a tight pitch.”

Airdrie, fifth in the cinch Championship, and a side who had knocked out St Johnstone in the last round, made it tough for the cinch Premiership outfit, and they made their intentions clear from the first whistle, forcing the play and they earned a corner in first minute. It came to nothing but, Hearts soon threatened.

Alex Cochrane sent in a teasing ball from a free-kick and Lawrence Shankland made contact but failed to test the goalkeeper.

The visitors controlled possession with Beni Baningime picking up loose balls in midfield and Jorge Grant busy, but Airdrie broke and Craig Halkett made a hash of a clearance putting the Jambos defence under threat. 

They survived and broke to the other end. Shankland started the flowing move in midfield and the ball was fed to Cochrane on the left wing. He sent an inch-perfect pass square into the penalty box and Shankland stole in to send the ball into the net for his 23rd goal of the season so far. Time: 11 minutes.

It was not all one-way and Airdrie’s Arron Lyall chipped the ball towards goal and Craig Gordon had to backpedal as the ball flew inches over. Hearts had another scare after 14 minutes when Nikolay Todorov raced in to prod the ball towards the Hearts goal from close range, but Gordon got down to block.

Airdrie hit the bar after 17 minutes through Mason Hancock following a Charlie Telfer corner which is flicked on, but Hearts pounced seconds later. Kenneth Vargas took off down the right and Halkett found him with an inch-perfect pass. The Costa Rican-born striker took a fine first touch and bundled the ball into the net for 2-0. Time 18mins.

Three minutes later Hearts went further in front. Nieuwenhof picked up the ball just inside the Airdrie half. He advanced then cut inside as he reached the penalty box before losing a defender with a dummy before fifiring home with his weaker left foot.

Hearts suffered a blow when Halkett had to leave the field after 25 minutes and Kye Rowles, who has been on Asian Cup duty with Australia, came on. Vargas threatened again, lifting the ball over a defender, but he could not find a colleague, then Forrest forced a great save from Joshua Rae, catching the ball first-time.

Airdrie kept trying to play their way into the game and home captain Adam Frizzell drifted into the box to latch onto a wonderful ball from Mason Hancock on the left wing to head the ball wide of a diving Gordon to signal that the home side were not a spent force. Time 34 minutes.

It was his first goal this season and Shankland became agitated as Airdrie were back in the tie. He urged his men to up the pace and Cochrane and Shankland worked an opening from the left which again threatened the Airdrie goal and minutes later Forrest let fly and Rae palmed the ball over the bar,

The scoreline stayed that way to the break but Hearts introduced Kyoshuke Tagawa, celebrating his 25th birthday, for Vargas at the restart. Airdrie pressed hard and Charlie Telfer tested Gordon from the right.

But, Hearts were always threatening and Shankland fed Forrest in the box with a cute backheel but Forrest blasted over. It should have been No 4. Forrest tested Rae with a shot from the left flank before Steven Naismith, Hearts’ head coach, introduced teenager Macaulay Tait.

The home side continued to probe as Hearts brought in former Dundee United player Scott Fraser, on loan from Charlton Athletic, and goal machine Shankland slotted his second after 72 minutes. Fraser fed Shankland and he cooly slotted the ball over Rae for 4-1. Game over.

On-loan Dexter Lembikisa left the field to be replaced by Nathaniel Atkinson as the clock ticked down and Forrest tested Rae with a shot from the left hand side of the box near the final whistle.  

PICTURE: Lawrence Shankland scored twice against Airdrie. Picture by David Mollison

Hibs will play Rangers, who won the Viaplay Cup earlier this season, in the plum tie of the quarter-final of the Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup and the clash will be at Easter Road.

Hearts are on their travels for the third round in a row after beating Spartans and Airdrie. Morton, who knocked out Motherwell, will prove tough opposition, according to Hearts’ head coach, Steven Naismith.

He knows how tough having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup with Kilmarnock on the tight Cappielow surface.

Morton’s manager, Dougie Imrie, told BBC Scotland Sport they wanted a home draw and they plan to make Cappielow a fortress. 

The draw for the 150th anniversary of the tournament, undertaken by Steven MacLean, who scored the second goal for St Johnstone in the 2014 Cup Final, also saw Celtic, the holders, against Livingston while Neil Warnock’s Aberdeen entertain Kilmarnock, managed by former Dons boss, Derek McInnes.

The ties are on the weekend of Saturday, March 9.

PICTURE: Hibs manager Nick Montgomery by Ian Jacobs

Still looking for ways to show your love this week on Valentine’s Day? Here is another suggestion or two for you:

Valentine’s Day in the Explorer Bothy Bar – £128 for two

They say the stomach is the way to the heart, and this is certainly the case at Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s Explorer Bothy Bar which is hosting a special three-course food and whisky cocktail menu on Valentine’s Day (14^th February). Couples will enjoy dishes designed to tantalize taste buds and ignite the language of love from a decadent duck confit to Johnnie Walker Gold Label cured salmon, all the while being serenaded by award-winning Scottish jazz artist, Kitti, who will be there to soundtrack the most romantic evening of the year. 

Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavour – £30 per person

Experience a captivating twist to your Valentine’s Day date night with Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s 90-minute multi-sensory adventure, Journey of Flavour. Watch as colourful light shows, captivating storytelling, and whisky tastings bring the world-famous Johnnie Walker brand to life. With personalised whisky cocktails and non-alcoholic options available, this adventure is perfect for those in the midst, or at the start of their romance with Scotch whisky.

STIR 

Defy the expectations of the usual Valentine’s Day gift and experience a refreshed edition of STIR at The Explorer’s Bothy, Johnnie Walker Princes Street (every Friday and Saturday 6-9pm). Shake things up a bit with a menu of carefully curated nibbles and matching whisky cocktails, created in collaboration with renowned chefs James and Maria Close of the two Michelin Star restaurant, Raby Hunt. Creating the mood and adding even more excitement to this unique tasting experience, guests will be treated to the sultry sounds of jazz artist Kitti as well as a selection of other Scottish jazz talent on a weekly basis (Friday and Saturday, 7-10pm).

1820 Rooftop Bar 

Elevate your Valentine’s Day experience at the 1820 Rooftop Bar which crowns Johnnie Walker Princes Street. With stunning views of the Edinburgh skyline and historic Old Town, it’s the perfect place to snap that romantic selfie in the heart of Scotland’s capital. Enjoy inventive drinks from the diverse menu and delight in freshly sourced cuisine, including pulled brisket on charred sourdough and saffron risotto with wild mushrooms. Complete your evening with delectable dessert options, such as the whisky caramel tart or pear espresso panna cotta.

Pick up a perfect gift at Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s retail area

Treat your loved one and capture your experience with a memento from the Johnnie Walker Princes Street retail space – from fabulous fashion to treasured trinkets and wonderful whiskies at a range of prices, there’s something for everyone. Choose from a selection of rare and limited-edition whiskies or fill and engrave your own exclusive bottles, only available at the venue, with a special message commemorating the Valentine’s Day celebrations.

www.johnniewalkerprincesstreet.com

Preston Lodge rugby club (PL) have set their sights on winning a national knock out trophy as an encore to title success.

The Prestonpans based club bounced back from relegation caused by league re-construction to win National League Division Three with a match to spare.

And in a bid to ensure the foot remains firmly on the pedal both captain Jack Gordon and coach Mark Steedman have highlighted the upcoming National League Cup which gets underway with a trip to Whitecraigs, from the league below, on 9 March.

PL had lost only one league fixture by the time they routed Orkney at The Pennypit 51-12 to clinch the title.

And while, coincidentally, the return fixture up north was their only defeat (24-18) it was also a catalyst for success according to skipper Gordon, a back row forward.

Says Jack: “It was a long day having set off at 4am then seen our flight delayed.

“But after the game we stayed over in Orkney and recognised we had just received the kick up the backside we needed.

“In what proved to be a bit of a bonding session we resolved to take whatever chances came our way for the rest of the season.”

And so it proved with coach Steedman crediting a more close knit feel to the squad helped by the arrival from Currie Chieftains of centre Josh O’Brien whose dad, Alan, had represented the club alongside Jack Gordon’s dad, David.

Also, there was delight that centre Paul Glynn and back row/hooker Pete Johnson were able to give a regular commitment while recent colts Scott Brown, Harris Weir and Fraser Falgate have been able to step up.

“We haven’t had to use as many players but training attendance has increased and we have been able to integrate some of our under-18s may get their chance in any cup run particularly as No 8 Andy Horne and winger Gus Hillhouse are off to New Zealand shortly for a spell where they are hoping to pick up some games.

“Another factor in our success has been the support with 580 turning up for the Orkney match” said Mark.

That might not seem earth-shattering but compare it to the bottom tier of Scottish League football where, on the same day, there were 607 fans at Bonnyrigg Rose, 559 at Clyde, 605 at Elgin, 657 at Stenhousemuir and 501 at Forfar.

Preston Lodge are due to complete their league programme with a visit next week (17^th) to Dumfries Saints and once again coach Steedman is setting targets.

“I’ve never won at Dumfries so a massive priority will be to end the league season on a high.”

A family has raised more than a million pounds for research into the most aggressive type of brain tumours in memory of a daughter who died aged just 31.

The Emily Morris Fund was established in 2017 in memory of the young woman from London. Now her family has unveiled a plaque at the University of Edinburgh where research takes place into the disease.

Emily’s father Jack is Chair of Trustees at the Fund which collaborates with The Brain Tumour Charity. He and his family have visited Edinburgh to see for themselves how their fundraising is helping to screen thousands of drugs to find even one to treat glioblastoma. The project is co-funded by Cancer Research UK and is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world: an unbiased screening of drugs in human glioblastoma cell models. 

Emily first became unwell with headaches and what doctors thought was a flu virus in 2015 when she was 29. Then her heart rate rocketed for no apparent reason and a cardiac specialist prescribed her medication but couldn’t find the underlying cause. 

When she began to experience a strange smell and taste up to 20 times a day, she was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist who sent Emily for an MRI scan. Expecting nothing out of the ordinary, Emily went to find out the results on her own and was shocked when a consultant told her she had a brain tumour and needed urgent surgery. 

A craniotomy removed much of the tumour and confirmed it was a glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat brain cancers. Emily’s treatment included 30 sessions of radiotherapy and nine rounds of chemotherapy, but the tumour returned. 

Emily’s father Jack said: “Emily had six months after her initial treatment where she did pretty well. Following that it was then a process of, as I used to say, trying hold back a tsunami.” 

In November/December 2016 Emily’s oncologist said she was fighting an uphill battle, and her family agreed that she should come home. 

Jack said: “I had a moment that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life with Emily before she died. I was just sitting with her and at this time she couldn’t speak and I did a little wave and said ‘I love you’ and she just said to me ‘love you’. I don’t know how she found the words but they were the last words she ever said to me.” 

Emily died on 3 January 2017 and as she had been such a colourful character who loved jewellery, her mum Susan started making bracelets to sell in her memory. 

Friends and family far and wide organised marathons, bike rides and numerous other challenge events to raise money in Emily’s memory. Her family used these proceeds to set up The Emily Morris Fund and sought advice from The Brain Tumour Charity.  

The Charity told them about Professor Neil Carragher’s research at the University of Edinburgh and they were “absolutely blown away” by his efforts to find treatments for glioblastoma and decided to support his work. 

Jack said: “Funding research through The Brain Tumour Charity, wherever it needs to be in the world, by the best practitioners, by the best institutions, is the lifeblood of finding a cure for this awful disease.” 

Emily’s brother, Bobby, added: “We will always keep Emily’s memory alive because we talk about her a lot. Whenever we’re at a family dinner or a birthday, we’ll always do a little toast to her and just make sure that she’s remembered…. Our family will always be a family of five people, we’re not a family of four.” 

You can find out more about Professor Carragher’s research here: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/news/research-news/finding-new-drugs-for-treating-glioblastoma/ 

Vaccine ‘fatigue’ may be reason for up to 40 per cent of people failing to take up appointments in Midlothian for an important jab.

Midlothian health bosses said the pneumococcal vaccine which prevents serious illnesses including pneumonia and meningitis was not taken up as much as they hoped.
And the county’s head of services for primary care said it may be that people were being put off by the number of vaccines they were being asked to have at the same time.
Grace Cowan told a meeting of Midlothian Integration Joint Board that while there had been a ‘huge push’ for seasonal Covid and flu vaccines, the pneumococcal programme had seen a large number of people not attending.
She said people were also being offered a shingles vaccine which has been taken up  by nearly 2,000 eligible residents.
Ms Cowan said: “There has been a huge push of Covid and flu vaccines and people are coming and getting those, they’re possibly not wanting four vaccines at the same time so we will need to follow that up.”
The Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership vaccination team relocated to Midlothian Community Hospital to consolidate service delivery onto one site for the winter flu and Covid 19 vaccination programme.
It was suggested this may have had an impact on people turning up for appointments for the other vaccines.
A report to the board said housebound patients had received their vaccinations and the shingles campaign, to have people take it up, will continue until the end of August this year.
However it said: “The Pneumococcal Vaccine programme has seen 35%-40% “Did not Attend rate”. Work is ongoing to promote this through GP practices and primary care teams.”
The pneumococcal vaccine is offered to over 65s and people who are considered vulnerable.  People only require one dose in their lifetime.
The board was told people who had not attended appointments were being contacted again.

by Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Birthlink, the Edinburgh based charity which offers support and advice to people affected by adoption, is Southside gallery Art & Craft Collective’s charity partner for 2024.

The charity operates the Scotland-wide Adoption Contact Register which invites adopted people, birth parents and other birth relatives to register their details in the hope that there will be a link allowing future contact. This year is the Register’s fortieth birthday.

“The charity does wonderful, often life-changing work and it deserves to be much better known and supported,” says gallery director Linsay Given Black.  “We hope to help that happen.”

A member of Birthlink’s staff will be in the gallery regularly to answer questions and provide information to those interested in adoption and perhaps finding out more about volunteering.

Drivers and bus passengers face a summer of disruption as East Lothian Council begins work creating new cycle paths at Wallyford Toll.

The introduction of the new walkways and cycle paths at the roundabout which lies to the east of Musselburgh, where it merges with traffic from Wallyford and Prestonpans, is likely to take around three months and will see roads closed to through traffic and bus route changes.
The work, which is expected to be funded by Scottish Government grants,  is part of a wider plan to introduce an active travel freeway from Dunbar to Edinburgh with a network of new cycle routes and footpaths.
Among the new design proposals for the roundabout are four new toucan crossings, improved facilities to allow people to walk, wheel and cycle safely
around and across the roundabout and narrowing of the space for motorised traffic on the roundabout.
A report lodged in the council’s members library reveals the Wallyford Toll work will begin in the summer and warns it will create disruption for road users.
It said: “Unfortunately such extensive changes will have an unavoidable impact on traffic in the area during the construction phase, and particularly on the
viability of bus services.
“We engaged specifically with bus operators to devise a construction framework which will minimise periods of disruption for buses.”
The first stage of the work, which  officers said will take at least ten weeks to complete, will see the carriageway space reduced while normal traffic is maintained.
The second stage will see four way temporary traffic lights introduced for up to a month with two of the main roads off the roundabout closed to through traffic. The roads towards Prestonpans and Wallyford will be access only during the work.
The final stage which is expected to last two weeks will return traffic movement to normal.
The report on the work said the design was drawn up in “full consultation with the surrounding communities and local elected members”.
It added: “The changes will have significant local benefits in making it easier to walk and cycle between Prestonpans, Wallyford, Musselburgh and Tranent.
“Once the work is complete, many more people will feel able to choose to walk or cycle, knowing that they can reach their destination easily and quickly.”
Plans to create the East Lothian Active Freeway are still in the design phase but will see cycle and walking corridors create throughout the county with national funding in the next few years.

by Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

One of the largest Citroen owners’ clubs in the world which currently has more than 2,000 members in the UK brought their French made cars to Edinburgh on the Auld Alliance Rugby Run.

Edinburgh Council’s plans to bulldoze a village leisure centre to make way for a school have been halted after councillors called for alternative sites on the greenbelt to be explored. 

A new high school for Kirkliston is needed to cope with hundreds of new homes being built in the area. 
Officials had recommended the authority press on with the controversial project despite local objections, however a knife-edge vote in the City Chambers – which was rerun after an initial miscount – has now seen it put on hold. 
The option to extend Queensferry High, alongside a slew of other ideas, were previously rejected in consultations, leaving the site of the village’s leisure centre as the proposed location. 
But raising concerns over the site being too small, the impact on local traffic and the school’s single feeder status, nearly two thirds of Kirkliston residents who responded to the latest survey opposed the plan. 
Local councillor Kevin Lang told councillors on Thursday (February 8) there was “at least one land owner” who was open to discussing selling nearby land “for the sole purpose of a new high school”. 
He said: “We think that needs to be explored and pursued.
“There are of course significant planning issues. All the land around Kirkliston is designated greenbelt – it’s why we wrote to the Scottish Government to ask for a change to national planning framework so schools were included on the list of essential infrastructure which can be built on greenbelt land. 
“The minister made no firm commitment to change the framework but did say this is ultimately a matter for the council. That’s why it would be wrong to agree to the leisure centre site at this stage today.”
Cllr Lang’s Lib Dem group tabled an amendment not to proceed with officers’ recommendations, instead calling for a report to be brought forward detailing the potential cost of building on protected greenbelt sites previously mooted and the implications of submitting a pre-planning application. 
Going up against a move by the Labour administration to agree the school “could be established on the site of the existing Kirkliston Leisure Centre” while continuing to explore other options, councillors were told the Labour amendment narrowly passed by 29 votes to 28. 
However shortly after it emerged council clerks had incorrectly tallied the votes cast.
A recount by roll call saw proposals tied 29 to 29, with the casting vote falling to Lord Provost Robert Aldridge who backed fellow Lib Dem councillors. 
Labour councillor Tim Pogson said: “We should consider other sites that would allow for a bigger school and that would help with better educational outcomes and deal with any further and much needed housebuilding growth. 
“It should certainly not be discouraged at this stage.”

Ahead of what has become a controversial victory at Murrayfield the French fans were a colourful sight in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Scotland was denied a last minute try by the Television Match Official TMO as it proved impossible for the TMO Brian MacNeice to find any good angle to award the points. The on pitch referee Nic Berry first decided that the ball had not touched the ground.
The match result was Scotland 16 – France 20.