Edinburgh’s newest restaurant promises devilish delights.

Edinburgh is welcoming a new addition to its restaurant scene, with the opening of Pinčiukas – Scotland’s first Lithuanian eatery. 

Occupying the site of the former Daiquiri Bar, on Morrison Street, the new restaurant brings something a little different to the capital, with cuisine from the Baltic country.

The menu features traditional dishes such as Šakotis – a type of towering cake, Čeburėkai –  deep-fried turnovers with a filling of minced beef or beans, Šaltibarščiai – cold beet root soup, Cepelinai – a traditional oval shape potato dish, Kepta Duona – fried bread and a wide range of Lithuanian beer, vodka, mead, liqueurs and cocktails.

The name ‘Pinčiukas’ comes from Lithuanian folklore and refers to a mythical creature, similar to a devil, who tricks people into getting what he wants! Legend also says that he invented vodka.

Pinčiukas’ owners Vaseem and Emilija Shaikh, are looking forward to bringing their unique brand of cuisine and hospitality to the Edinburgh public.

Vaseem said: “We have been in hospitality for more than 25 years and worked for many brands. Our passion for delivering quality food and exceptional service inspired us to open our own Lithuanian restaurant in Edinburgh. We felt like Edinburgh was lacking Lithuanian or Eastern European taste and we decided to take this opportunity to bring something new to the city that we love.”

Emilija continued: “Pinčiukas is the first Lithuanian restaurant in Edinburgh and Scotland. We want to introduce Lithuania to the community and tell the stories through our food and drink. The restaurant’s name was inspired by one of the characters from Lithuanian literature and we aim to bring folk tales, myths and legends to the restaurant too!” 

Pinčiukas is now open at 83 Morrison Street. The restaurant’s opening hours are 12pm until 9.30pm, Monday to Sunday and as a special opening deal, Pinčiukas is  offering its signature cocktails for £6.66 until Halloween.

Edinburgh’s Dusherra Festival returns to Calton Hill on Sunday 29 October, with traditional Indian contemporary music and dance, fireworks and the symbolic setting ablaze of three huge effigies to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Edinburgh’s Dusherra is the flagship event of the Scottish Indian Arts Forum (SIAF) and an important Indian Festival commemorating a ten-day war between the gods and demons and the subsequent triumph of Lord Rama over the 10-headed demon king Ravana, who abducted Rama’s wife Sita.

The impressive effigies of Ravana, Meghnada (Ravana’s son) and Kumbhkarana (Ravana’s brother) have this year been crafted and created by offenders in HMP Edinburgh.

The timetable is for musical and dance performances from Edinburgh Bhangra Crew, Junoon, Bharti Ashram, Cosmic Dance, They Arts Bollyfeat and the Bengali group Ram Lila between 2.30 and 7.00pm.

There will also be performances by children and then at 7.15 the Rt Hon Lord Provost Robert Aldridge will make a speech and after that the effigies will be burned at 7.45pm with a fireworks display to follow.

They travelled from Sunderland, Arbroath and Falkirk, as well as from all over the Lothians, to be part of the first match in the Edinburgh winter shore angling league.

Roads lead to Portobello the beach near Tumbles leisure complex. The air was mild but the sea crashed against the smooth sand as the ebb tide continued.

Rain, which was evident near the town ahead of the start of the match at 7pm, thankfully stayed off early on and anglers cast hopefully into the surf.

Over 30 were there, all keen to tempt flounder, or any other species like whiting or dab, which might be hanging around. The portents were not good as anglers in a match down the coast at North Berwick in midweek failed to hook a fish. We’ll not name the club, but quality anglers were involved and all entrants blanked.

The Edinburgh event is masterminded by Ian Campbell, a well-known sea angler who is manager of the Edinburgh Angling Centre. He kick-started the competition, which is sponsored by Cox and Rawle and the Edinburgh Angling Centre/Fishing Megastore, last year as a trial and it has taken off.

Rounds are held regularly in the run-up to Christmas so check the Scottish Shore Angling Match Group page on Facebook for dates and times.

The next round is scheduled for Newhaven on November 3, fishing 7pm to 10pm, registration 6pm to 6.30pm at Western Harbour Way EH6 6PG

PICTURE: Buffy McAvoy, a member of the Scotland Ladies Sea Fishing squad, on the beach during the match at Portobello. Picture Nigel Duncan

Scottish international Chris Empson on the beach at Portobello. Picture Nigel Duncan

Registraton for the match in the car park. Picture Nigel Duncan

Stewart Falconer from Arbroath checks in one of the anglers. Picture Nigel Duncan

Ian Campbell, the organiser, and another entrant discuss the weather. Picture Nigel Duncan

Baiting up on the beach at Portbello just before dark. Picture Nigel Duncan

Night setting in quickly on the shoreline and the trap is set. Picture Nigel Duncan

When it comes to facing life’s challenges head-on, men who do so with resilience and confidence are the ones who truly shine, not just at work or in their relationships but in every facet of life.

Extensive research conducted over the years has revealed a surprising truth: many men, despite outward appearances, often struggle with feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability when confronted with adversity. This hidden internal battle becomes a breeding ground for conflicts in relationships, silences among friends, and eruptions from bosses or fathers.

Avoiding or mishandling challenges, be it in relationships, work, finances, or health, may offer temporary relief but frequently paves the way for more significant issues down the road. Men who evade or tackle challenges ineffectively, often in reactive ways, not only endure personal suffering but also impact those around them.

If you recognise these tendencies in yourself and are ready to acquire the skills that will change how you navigate challenges from an expert in men’s psychology, relationships, and communication, these workshops are tailored precisely for you.

The inaugural workshop, taking place on the evening of Wednesday, 8 November  at the Fisherrow Centre, is a gateway to discovering how techniques drawn from sports psychology and successful business strategies can be applied to your daily life, making you feel invincible, no matter the challenge.

By participating in these workshops, you’ll gain valuable skills and tools that will not only enrich your role as a father, partner, brother, boss, business owner, and friend but also unlock your potential as a man who can confidently tackle life’s challenges.

Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach to challenges and become the strong, capable man you know you can be.

For more information on how to attend, visit the following link: Workshop Registration

These accessible events for men of all ages, promise to help you break free from unhelpful behaviours and equip yourself with the tools to be the man you aspire to be.

A free community cricket programme is giving young people from disadvantaged communities in Edinburgh a safe space to play the bat-and-ball game while learning life skills.

The Wicketz programme was established to help break down barriers faced by 8 -19-year-olds living in areas with high levels of deprivation, through cricket. 

Founded by the Lord’s Taverners charity, which exists to empower young people facing the challenges of inequality, Wicketz also aims to develop vital life skills by delivering workshops focusing on social issues most relevant to the areas each project is delivered in.

Fettes College provided its sports hall on October 16 and 23 so participants could take part in their first hard ball cricket sessions. Over the two days 33 young people took part in the training. 

The sessions, which are delivered by Cricket Scotland, allow young people of any gender to learn the key skills of cricket and give the game a go. The sessions combine cricket coaching and competition with workshops that are specially designed to improve the participants’ well-being, life skills and social integration.

Mohammad Afzal, Edinburgh Wicketz Development Officer, said: “We are so grateful to Fettes College for loaning us its fantastic sports hall for the Edinburgh sessions. It was amazing to be able to give the participants the opportunity to use the sports facilities Fettes has and to encourage more people to get involved in the sport.

“Cricket can serve as a valuable tool for educating young people on physical fitness, team-work and communications skills, as well as improving character development and allowing for personal growth, helping young people build life skills that will serve them well in various aspects of their lives. The impact of Wicketz has been immense in Edinburgh.”

Mark Appleson, Director of Sport at Fettes College, added: “What the programme does for underprivileged children across the UK is incredible and provides an outlet to learn new skills, make friends and improve well-being.”

Colin Crichton, Chair of the Lord’s Taverners in Scotland, said:

“This has been a wonderful opportunity for Edinburgh’s Wicketz participants to play the game in an environment they would not normally be able to access.”

Wicketz sessions take place weekly in Edinburgh, with the third hub launching in early 2024. To find out how to get involved, visit www.lordstaverners.org/programme-information/edinburgh-wicketz/.

Hibs go into Saturday’s game at Easter Road after a tough defeat at Ibrox and they will be looking to avoid any horrors against the current champions.

Last weekend Montgomery chose to go with the attacking 4-4-2 formation that had resulted in the manager going unbeaten in his first six games. 

In hindsight that decision, amongst other factors, likely contributed to the tough 4-0 loss his team suffered, however post-match Montgomery insisted that he will still stick to his attacking guns moving forward.

He spoke to BBC Scotland and said: “I am not going to change the way we play…the shape is the shape. We defend with 10, we attack with 10, nothing changes.”

Saturday’s game will tell whether Montgomery does persist with the same set up against another member of the Old Firm or whether some lessons were learned following his first defeat as boss.

The match is the first in a busy week for Hibs with Ross County in the Scottish Premiership and Aberdeen in the ViaPlay Cup Semi-Final to come.

Despite it still being early in the campaign it does feel like a potentially season defining seven days as defeat in the next two league games could mean Hibs slip to second from the bottom.

Celtic are off the back off a mid-week draw to Athletic Madrid in the Champions League, a game in which they put a lot of effort into grinding out a result against a top European team.

Hibs may look to take advantage of that and use their possession-based approach to stretch Celtic’s potentially tired legs.

Hibs sent a development squad to the Northeast of England for a mid-season friendly against Sunderland on Monday, the game gave first team players the chance to get some much-needed match action.

Nick Montgomery said to HibsTV: “It’s always good to get minutes in the legs of players that have not been playing, it’s really important that we have everyone ready, we have a busy schedule coming up.”

Looking ahead to Celtic the Head Coach said: “I want to see a little bit of reaction from the game last week’s result.

“There were some basic errors we made as a team in terms of our defensive structure, so we’ve worked hard this week to fix that.”

Montgomery also revealed that whilst Hibs are boosted by Harry McKirdy, Chris Cadden and Jake Doyle-Hayes returning to training this week they will not be available for selection until January at the earliest.

Hibs will look for a similar result to the last time the two sides met back in May where they won 4-2 and on the other hand Celtic seek their sixth league win in a row to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 10 points.

Stage Door Entertainment makes their musical debut with Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the newly-refurbished Portobello Town Hall.

Lionel Bart’s Oliver! will take place at Portobello Town Hall from 8-11 November 2023.

The production is Stage Door Entertainment’s première musical performance, bringing together a cast of 60 children, alongside a talented adult cast from Edinburgh and the Lothians. The show will also be accompanied by a 12 piece live orchestra, bringing the musical to life! 

Oliver! is a timeless classic and a firm family favourite based on the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. With music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, the much-loved score includes songs such as “Consider Yourself”, “Oom-Pah-Pah” and “Pick a Pocket or Two”. 

Tommie Travers and Aidan O’Brien, Creative Directors of Stage Door Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing Oliver! to Portobello Town Hall this November. This show brings back a lot of good memories for us, as we first met doing this show a few years ago, and this is Tommie’s 10th production of the show! When picking our debut show, it seemed fitting to choose Oliver! as it means so much to us both. We have had a great rehearsal period with our talented cast, and can’t wait for audiences to see their interpretations of the characters, impressive vocal skills, and energetic group numbers.”

Stage Door Entertainment is committed to creating opportunities for all, and is proud to offer assisted and funded places, which allows young people from all backgrounds to participate. We are passionate about creating a valuable and inclusive experience, where friendships are made, life skills are learnt, and confidence is grown. We are also delighted that so many of our cast members are Portobello locals, who are thrilled to be a part of the Town Hall’s reopening.

Portobello Town Hall is a historical landmark in the heart of the community. It has undergone extensive renovations, and is now transformed into a vibrant cultural centre that has been handed back to the people of Portobello. The Town Hall provides a hub for community classes, clubs, and events, and offers a theatre space for established and emerging talent. After years of hard work from Portobello Central, the Trustees, and volunteers, the Town Hall can return to being a key player in the life of Portobello and the surrounding area. Oliver! will be the first musical in the Town Hall since its reopening, but also the first fully staged musical in years – possibly decades.

Stage Door Entertainment promises to transport audiences to Dickensian London in their rendition of the musical, with a unique set, vibrant costumes and bold lighting and sound. 

Tickets are selling quickly for the production, with some of the performances nearing a sell out. Get your tickets now, before it’s too late!

OLIVER!

Wednesday 8 November – Saturday 11 November 2023 

Portobello Town Hall

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

www.stagedoorentertainment.co.uk

0131 314 2841

The First Minister Humza Yousaf has written to many UK political leaders supporting a ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.

Mr Yousaf has called upon the UK to stand together to halt the humanitarian disaster which is unfolding in Gaza.

One of those who will receive a copy of the letter is Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader who has backed humanitarian pauses but has refrained from backing a full ceasefire. Many Labour politicians have spoken out and have supported a ceasefire – including the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan who is the latest to break the party line.

The letter reads:

The abhorrent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October must be unequivocally condemned, and I will continue to join you in doing so. Hamas must release immediately and unconditionally all hostages and cease its missile attacks on Israel.

The killing of innocent civilians can never be justified, wherever it occurs. Israel, like every other country, has a right to protect itself from attack, but in doing so it must comply with international law.

Since the tragic events of that day, the loss of life has escalated. More than 1,400 Israelis and 5,700 Palestinians are reported to have been killed. More than 1.4 million Palestinians have been displaced and in excess of 600,000 people are sheltering in UN-run facilities. Many British citizens are trapped in a warzone with nowhere to go, under intense daily bombardment of the Gaza strip.

Food, water, fuel, and medicine are being restricted, with limited humanitarian supplies – nowhere near enough – being allowed in. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) – the largest humanitarian agency working in Gaza – has warned that unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, the agency will be forced to halt all operations as of today.

I am, therefore, writing to ask for your support in helping to stop the staggering humanitarian disaster we are witnessing, which is set to get even worse. We should stand together and united in unequivocally calling on all parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire to allow a humanitarian corridor to be opened, so that lifesaving supplies can get into Gaza and innocent civilians who want to leave be given safe passage out. 

The situation in Gaza is at the point of being cataclysmic. All of us must do everything we can to prevent that. There must be no more dithering, or delay, together we must call for an immediate ceasefire.

Cyclists can now book their bike on board a ScotRail train using the train operator’s mobile app which has a new update. 

As part of The Scottish Government’s 2023 UCI Legacy Cycling Investment Programme, ScotRail has introduced the ability to make cycle reservations directly through the ScotRail app, making it more convenient than ever for cyclists to plan their adventures along Scotland’s Railway. 

Previously, the option to reserve a space for bicycles on ScotRail trains was only available through the ScotRail website. Now, thanks to the update, cyclists can seamlessly make reservations via the ScotRail app, streamlining the process and enhancing the customer experience for cyclists across Scotland.  

The £2million 2023 UCI Legacy Cycling Investment Programme was unveiled ahead of the championships this summer, with the aim of creating a sustainable legacy for cycling and to facilitate its growth across the country.  

ScotRail’s introduction of cycle reservations through its app is a step towards realising this vision. 

Other investments made through the legacy fund include new, eye-catching green signage, being installed throughout ScotRail’s fleet of trains, to guide cyclists to designated areas of the train where they can safely board and secure their bicycles. Similar bright blue signage is also being implemented to highlight accessible carriages, ensuring inclusivity for all users. 

The legacy fund will also fund the creation of a Cycle Hub at both Inverness and Fort William stations, and the Cycle Hub at Glasgow Queen Street will undergo redevelopment work to increase the number of bike spaces available. 

David Lister, ScotRail Safety, Engineering, and Sustainability Director, said: “ScotRail is committed to promoting active and sustainable travel options, whilst delivering the best possible service we can for customers. 

“The introduction of cycle reservations through our app will benefit the whole cycling community, making it easier for customers to navigate and secure their cycle reservations with just a few taps. 

“With this new feature, we’re pedalling in the right direction toward a greener, more cyclist-friendly Scotland.” 

Gleneagles Townhouse restaurant The Spence has partnered with independent sandwich shop and Edinburgh favourite, Alby’s Sandwich Shop, to create the ultimate festive breakfast sandwich, which will be served from 1 November 2023. 

Head chef Jonny Wright loves Alby’s and wanted to introduce some to the upmarket Spence. This variation will be a Christmas cracker with porchetta filled with pork, sage and cranberry stuffing, The Spence brown sauce, matchstick crisps, celeriac and apple remoulade and rocket. It will be served on Alby’s signature focaccia which will be baked in house by the Spence team.

Head chef of The Gleneagles Townhouse, Jonny Wright, said, “The festive period is a time of renewing friendships and gathering for great food and drink, just what we’re all about here at The Spence. Since moving home to Scotland, Alby’s has been a must visit for my family and friends, so we’re delighted to have worked together to create a collaborative sandwich with our neighbours in town.”

Co-founders of Alby’s, Natasha Ferguson & Matt Belcher said, “We’re super excited to collaborate with such an iconic Scottish company and we had a lot of fun creating this festive breakfast sanger with Jonny. As a family business ourselves we were thrilled to include his wife’s delicious brown sauce recipe and great to see the final result served in a space as stunning as The Spence.”

Reservations for The Spence can now be made here, with The Spence X Alby’s breakfast sarnie available from 1 November – 30 December, Monday – Sunday, £12, with 50p from each sandwich donated to Social Bite.

Timings:

Monday – Friday: 7am – 10.30am

Saturday – Sunday: 8am – 10.30am

albysleith.co.uk

Linlithgow Loch has re-opened after seven weeks following an algae bloom, but the official end of their season is the end of October.

That’s why bosses of the Forth Area Federation of Anglers (FAFoA), who run the fishery, confirm they have asked for an extension until the end of November and they hope that they have a decision from Historic Scotland soon.

Secretary Tom Lambert said that they closed on September 7 but the water is now clear and he is hopeful of an extension as one was granted last year.

Then, the FAFoA opened on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and he said that the extension proved really worth while.

Nearby, Jordan Faulds had a great day at Bowden Springs where he landed ten trout on an egg suspended under a bung.

And at Polmont, S Pozzi returned 17 fish during his session at Millhall with S Harper hooking into 14 and B McCracken and W Brownlie returning 12 fish each. M Hays had nine fish and L Fisher and R Roden returned eight fish each.  

A spokesman said: “As the end of our season draws near, and the weather gets cold and wet, the loch rebuts this by continuing in fine form, with plenty of quality fish coming to the net.  

“It was noticeable this week that the shallows at the golf club end of the loch were holding large quantities of fish which were making their presence known by showing frequently on the surface.  

“This was borne out on the catch returns of successful anglers who reported lots of activity in this area.”

Floating and midge-tip lines were the order of the day in the shallower water, with a variety of flies, from buzzer, cormorant, diawl bach and bloodworm to blob, egg, damsel and small rabbits all accounting for fish. 

Intermediate and sinking lines also worked well in the deeper parts, sharing the same assortment of flies.

A proud angler holds a prize specimen hooked in Linlithgow Loch. Contributed by Forth Area Federation of Anglers

Part of the extensive boat pontoon at Linlithgow Loch. Picture Nigel Duncan

Maximise business potential at the 14th annual Meet the Buyer event where contract opportunities are on offer.

Fife Council Economic Development and the Supplier Development Programme have announced their flagship annual Meet the Buyer event which will take place on 9 November 2023, from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline. It is billed as a highlight of Fife Business Week. The Meet the Buyer event aims to help local businesses find out what contract opportunities are available within the public and private sectors.

• What’s New for 2023: The Construction Zone
• Notably, the 2023 event introduces the Construction Zone for the first time, bringing together key construction related businesses including Fife Council Construction Procurement, BAM UK & Ireland, and Balfour Beatty for valuable networking opportunities in this sector.
• Who’s Exhibiting?
• In addition to the Construction Zone exhibitors will include prominent buyers including NHS Fife and Scotland Excel. Fife Council’s Economic Development Team and Business Gateway Fife will be on hand to highlight the range of business support services available to local businesses.
• Why Attend?
• Meet the Buyer offers a variety of benefits for businesses of all sizes and sectors:
• Networking Opportunities: Engage with a wide selection of buyers and suppliers to establish valuable connections
• Business Insights: Gain valuable insights into public and private contract and framework opportunities, Fife Council’s tender schemes, Quick Quote/Supplier Finder processes and the Build Fife Construction Programme
• Tendering Expertise: Discover top tendering tips and learn how to become “tender ready” through the Supplier Development Programme
• Who Should Attend?
• This event is open to businesses of all sizes and sectors for small local businesses looking to expand and grow or a well-established company seeking new opportunities.

More details here.

Tickets go on sale from Friday 3 November 2023 at 10am for JLS Live at Edinburgh Castle on 9 July 2024

Exactly 15 years since mega UK boy band, JLS, first shot to No1 with their debut single ‘Beat Again’, in July 2009, the London boys announce that they’ll be celebrating their decade and a half of success with a special one-off mega summer outdoor show at Edinburgh Castle.

Currently wowing audiences on their 18-date UK Arena tour this autumn, Brit Award winning phenomenons of pop, JLS,  today announce they’ll be bringing all the JLS hits, energy and charisma  to Edinburgh Castle this summer as part of their Summer Hits Tour.

Choosing Edinburgh Castle as their backdrop, the mighty JLS invites audiences to revel in the atmosphere of thus truly unique setting, whilst revisiting the chart-busting hits and dynamism that saw the boys dominate the pop industry for over 5 years, after shooting to instant mega-stardom on X-Factor. 

With an enviable five No1 chart hits including ‘Beat Again’, ‘Everybody In Love’, ‘She Makes Me Wanna’, ‘One Shot’ and ‘Love You More’, this special show will bring all the live excitement,  acrobatic vivacity and’ JLS sparkle that’s become the band’s signature performance.

You’ll only get one shot to celebrate this special 15^th anniversary moment with JLS at Edinburgh Castle – and you are invited to make it count!

JLS Live at Edinburgh Castle Tuesday 9^th July

Tickets on sale from Friday  3 November 2023 at 10am

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Scottish Group Young Fathers have won the prestigious Scottish Album of the Year Award (SAY) with their album Heavy Heavy victorious for the third time ahead of a very strong shortlist.

The award comes with a financial prize of £20,000, and this is the first time that any artist has won the award more than twice. Young Fathers won in 2014 and in 2018. This year the eligible album list totalled 437 albums cut down to the shortlist of just 10.

These Streets by Paolo Nutini was awarded the Modern Scottish Classic Award celebrating an album which still inspires. Sadly Paolo himself is in the US and was unable to attend the ceremony to pick up the award personally.

No Windows was named The Sound of Young Scotland, winning a £10,000 funding package including cash and in kind assistance to create their debut album at The Old Tollbooth recording studio in Stirling.The prize also includes 500 vinyl pressings from Seabass Vinyl.

The nine runners up received £1,000 as well as the low carbon statuesque concrete totems created by local artist Brutal Concrete Workshop to a commission by the SAY Award, and each winner received a unique concrete and terrazzo bowl.

This award handed over at one of the biggest events in the Scottish music calendar has now distributed more than £350,000 to Scottish musicians. Vic Galloway and Nicola Meighan hosted the event at The Albert Halls in Stirling where the ceremony was held for the second year in a row.

Alloysious Massaquoi, Young Fathers winners of The Scottish Album of the Year Award 2023 said: “Thank you to the judges, and all the nominees and everybody that’s turned up tonight – it’s a bit radge! The album is called ‘Heavy Heavy’ for a reason, it’s the trials and tribulations of everybody. It’s one of those things where we sort of had to start from scratch, it had been 4 or 5 years since we put something out since Cocoa Sugar. For us to get back together and get excited again with each other, all the ideas that everybody else brings – it’s great and this is topping off a great year.

“We did two shows at the Barras and I think the Scottish crowd is one of the best – it’s always nice to come to these places because it feels very homely! So it’s mad, it’s topping off a great year for the guys and I. One has responsibilities – he’s got two bairns so he’s not allowed out. I want to take a whole bunch of shots but I’m a lightweight so I just want to watch myself!

“Watching the young folk coming up there – it’s inspiring. I don’t think the guys and I will ever lose that – we look at stuff right across the board. There’s a lot of room for inspiration here and we gain a lot of inspiration right across the board. Thank you to everybody. Thank you, we love you all and appreciate it. ”

Robert Kilpatrick, Interim CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said: “In 2018, Young Fathers made history by becoming the first artist to win the Scottish Album of the Year Award twice. As the band continued on a meteoric rise; defying definitions with their sound and bringing a level of energy and power that’s uniquely theirs, tonight sees them claim Scotland’s national music prize for the third time with their strongest and most mesmerising body of work to date.

“Their win signifies the importance of recognising and investing in outstanding Scottish talent, and through the support of The SAY Award (and many other well-deserved accolades), Young Fathers continue to capture the magic and bring it into the lives of music fans worldwide.

“Tonight’s win further cements their world-class status, and through doing so, Scotland’s global reputation as a country overflowing with outstanding and idiosyncratic creative talent. They’re a band we can be proud of, a band we can be inspired by and a band who, quite simply, keep astounding, delighting and enthralling us.

“This year’s Ceremony also saw us shine a spotlight on Scottish music’s bright future and rich past, with dream-pop Edinburgh duo No Windows winning the Sound of Young Scotland Award and now set to make their debut record. Paolo Nutini’s iconic 2006 debut ‘These Streets’ was also recognised as 2023’s Modern Scottish Classic Award winner; celebrated through a specially curated performance featuring some of this year’s SAY Award Nominees who chose it as the winner.

“Past, present and future, Scottish music is the stories and soundtrack of our lives. The SMIA is proud of its ongoing commitment to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry, and The SAY Award once again highlights the cultural impact and contribution of outstanding Scottish music.”

Head of Music at Creative Scotland, Alan Morrison, said: “Young Fathers’ stunning SAY Award hattrick crowns a magnificent year that saw the Edinburgh trio reach the UK Top Ten Album Chart for the first time and deliver the summer’s most talked-about set at Glastonbury. One of the foundation stones of this success was Creative Scotland’s funding of Heavy Heavy’s recording costs, proof that public funding keeps artistic excellence and cultural diversity at the forefront of Scotland’s boundless music scene. Congratulations too to No Windows whose edgy but ethereal dream-pop puts the future of our music in adventurous hands.”

Paolo Nutini, winner of 2023’s Modern Scottish Classic Award for ‘These Streets’ said: “It was nice to hear that ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’ was being recognised and that means a lot and hearing the news about ‘These Streets’ was a surprise to say the least. Mental news that I never expected for a minute!
“All I can say is thank you so much to those who the music means something and for listening to the songs. It’s nice to be mentioned in the same breath as these people who I have a lot of respect for.
I really appreciate it and I’m proud to be a part of it all. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there on the night to say thanks in person but please know that it means a lot. Thank you.”

No Windows, winners of The Sound of Young Scotland Award said: “Thanks so much to The SAY Award for this award. If you couldn’t tell, we didn’t write anything – it’s such an honour to just be here. We were just happy for the day out. Thank you to everyone here. Scotland right now is such an exciting time and place for music and it feels like a complete honour to be a part of that and be part of such an incredible group of musicians.”

The ceremony opened with music by previous winner Fergus McCreadie and closed with a live set by electronic DJ and producer TAAHLIAH. A special set celebrating Paolo Nutini’s album was performed by the SAY Award house band led by former SAY nominee Joe Rattray of Admiral Fallow and featuring vocalist Becky Sikasa.

The SAY Award Shortlist for 2023 in alphabetical order was: 

Andrew Wasylyk Hearing the Water before Seeing the Falls

Becky Sikasa Twelve Wooden Boxes

Bemz Nova’s Dad

Brìghde Chaimbeul Carry Them With Us

Brooke Combe Black Is the New Gold

Cloth Secret Measure

Hamish Hawk Angel Numbers

Joesef Permanent Damage

Paolo Nutini Last Night In The Bittersweet

Young Fathers Heavy Heavy

Now in its twelfth year, previous winners of The SAY Award are: Fergus McCreadie ‘Forest Floor’ (2022), Mogwai ‘As The Love Continues‘ (2021), Nova ‘Re-Up’ (2020), Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).

Western Wildcats kept up the pressure on Grange in the men’s hockey Premiership with a 5-3 victory in a scrappy game against Glasgow rivals Hillhead.

Five Western players claimed goals against a side who sat deep but countered well.

Rob Harwood, a Scotland international who has recently returned from playing in Australia, was one of the marksmen on the night and the other scorers were recent recruit Iain McFadden, who joined from Edinburgh University, Nikki Homfray, Euan Cowan and Scotland player Callum Duke.

Coach Steven Percy said: “It was a poor performance from us. We missed chances and were misfiring but it was still positive to get three points and jump above Edinburgh University in the table.”

Wildcats now have 18 points from seven games and are only three points behind pace-setting Grange, who have also played seven fixtures, with the students now third on 15 points. Hillhead remain fourth with nine points from their seven fixtures.

LIBRARY FLASHBACK: Western Wildcats v Grange at Auchenhowie by Nigel Duncan

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency which covers many areas of the BBC. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

The Cairncross Review recommended that “direct financial support for local news should be expanded and that government should encourage the refinement and extension of the Local Democracy Reporting Service currently managed by the BBC”.

• The core purpose of the LDRS is to provide impartial coverage of the regular business and workings of local authorities in the UK, and other relevant democratic institutions such as mayoralties, combined authority areas, P&CCs, quangos, etc.
• The Local Democracy Reporters’ (LDRs) brief is to report on the decision-making process: what decisions are made in the public’s name and how they are arrived at, what evidence is presented to the council, etc.
• In two-tier council areas the LDRs should cover district council affairs sufficiently to ensure that significant decisions (eg planning) are reported.
• LDRs may provide other stories which are focused on local democracy and which are in the public interest so long as that does not detract from the core purpose of the service.
• All their work must be available to all qualifying partners (The Edinburgh Reporter is a qualifying partner)
• National politics is out of scope, but election campaigns and constituency work of MPs and MSPs that specifically relates to relevant local audiences may be covered so long as it does not detract from the core purpose of the LDRS.

This is where you can read all of the recent articles by the LDRS in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

One recent article centres on the now rewilded land at Western Harbour which was to be developed for housing more than a decade ago. Due to the hiatus in building the land has become a haven for wildlife. The LDRS has reported that a planning application for housing will be lodged soon amid a campaign to stop any building.

Read more here.

At Bridgend Farmhouse

Some cycling centred activities are taking place at Bridgend Farmhouse. Booking is essential.

WHEELY FUN FRIDAYS with A Wee Pedal! All at, or starting at Bridgend Farmhouse! Supported by Cycling Scotland, Paths for All and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Suggested donation per activity in brackets
Booking essential via admin@bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk

* Guided rides 2-4pm – most Fridays until 27 October. Pace is gentle and social on mostly flat, off main road, routes. Hire an e-bike [[£5] for the ride or borrow a pedal bike for free [Helmets included]
* E-bike familiarisation sessions available 1:20-1:50pm [£5] most ride days!

* Basic Bike Maintenance Sessions 10 –noon [£5]. These are available on 27th October. Borrow a bike or bring your own.

And there is some family friendly Halloween fun on Saturday.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bridgend-farmhouse-terroriffic-halloween-party-tickets-731403396247?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwAR15C9FnwPbB0DCfDruf2d9B_LhrrDGOcivhe6HugKqB8YQ0m5JHUD8U65I

At Portobello Town Hall

On Saturday there will be a fundraising ceilidh for the Portobello Town Hall. Tickets here. You are invited to wear tartan, a Halloween outfit or your baffles.

Destress by learning origami on 5 November at Portobello Town Hall with Support the Makers. More details below.

And on 8 to 11 November get along to Portobello Town Hall for Oliver performed by Stage Door Entertainments.

Get your tickets here.

The Christmas Tipi

At Archerfield Walled Garden in December The Christmas Tipi is a new theatrical experience in a magical tipi in the garden. Turning Christmas upside down Rogue Village will put on a show with beatboxing, dance and freestyle rap.

An event for the whole family. More details here.

Subscribe to The Edinburgh Reporter

Here are our last six issues of The Edinburgh Reporter – you can have twelve handcrafted newspapers delivered to your door for an annual subscription of £36.

Sign up here.

In Scotland, Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhuinn, marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter and the spiritual transition from light to darkness.  It begins with this weekend’s Halloween parties and the clocks going back an hour as they struggle to keep the last of the daylight.

The Beltane Society has revived the Samhuinn Fire Festival with a parade beneath Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh on 31 October, followed by acrobatic performances, drumming, storytelling, visits by other-worldly creatures, and a battle re-enactment between summer and winter. (Tickets are sold out unfortunately.)

It’s a time when the misty wall between the real world and the world of fantasy is particularly thin. Witches and Warlocks fly between them. You can be persuaded to believe strange things. In the 16^th and 17^th centuries Scotland went through a spell of witch-hunting, worse than in many other countries, when over 2,000 people (mainly women) were burned to death or strangled because they were believed to be possessed by the Devil.  They could be blamed for every sort of calamity – crop failure, floods and heat-waves, pestilence, wars, or simple bad luck.   

The King and Parliament encouraged such madness, with the Witchcraft Act of 1649 and James VI’s book “Demonology” published in 1597.  It’s strange indeed that the land of the Reformation and the Enlightenment, when reason and science were re-discovered, should have fallen into the ditch of witch-hunting. And thereby hangs a warning, we can tilt into collective madness rather easily.

We are seeing it just now in the Middle East where vengeance has taken possession of both the Israeli government and the Hamas government in Gaza. In the hunt for the Devil, innocent people are being killed.  It’s odd that Celtic supporters at their match against Athletico Madrid on Wednesday night were flying only Palestinians flags when the lessons of reconcilliation nearer home, in Northern Ireland, have so recently been learned, or nearly learned.

There were examples of other-worldliness here in Scotland this week.  We’ve been clearing up after the floods of Storm Babet but at the same time wishing that climate change would just go away of its own accord. We’ve seen fire brigade officers lining up outside parliament saying their service is being starved of resources.  Local councils are complaining they cannot maintain services or pay their workers a decent wage. The health boards are saying that they are facing another tough winter without adequate numbers of staff. But none of the main political parties are proposing to raise taxes or cut services. They are relying on some sort of Halloween magic to cross the wall between fantasy and reality.

Scotland’s Covid inquisition began its first public sessions this week, with relatives telling the judge how their loved-ones died lonely deaths in the course of pandemic.  Indeed, the effects of Covid are still with us, as the lawyer for “Long Covid Kids Scotland” pointed out.  One effect it has had, according to experts from “Reform Scotland”, is that school absence rates have soared since the Covid lockdowns. Their research has shown that 12 per cent of pupils are missing one day a week, compared with 7 per cent before Covid.  

Finally, on these Halloween nights, have some sympathy for the Man in the Moon.  We learned this week that he is 40 million years older than he looks. Scientists at the University of California have finally been able to establish the exact age of the Moon by using “atom probe technology” on some of the Moon dust brought back by Apollo astronauts 51 years ago. The Man in the Moon is thus older than previously thought and is officially 4.46 billion years old.  Luckily, age has not wearied him and he will keep us company through the long winter nights to come.

The descendant of Henry Dundas who has admitted to being the person behind the removal of a plaque linking Lord Dundas to slowing down the abolition of slavery has said he will not return it to the council after being threatened with legal action – but he agreed to repair damage to the Melville Monument.

Bobby Dundas, the seven times great-grandson of the controversial 18th century politician, said the Melville Monument Committee (MMC) – a group he leads which claimed responsibility for the brass plate’s disappearance last month – was “in discussions with the city”.

He added that the local authority have “no ownership rights” over the plaque and that it belonged to the owners of St Andrew Square square “who we are in communication with on that matter”.

But council leader Cammy Day hit back saying it “belongs to the council and has been removed without our permission”. He added an official report had now been filed with the police “following the refusal of our request to return the plaque”. 

Attached to the base of a 150ft column which a statue of Dundas sits on, it states the Viscount was “a contentious figure, provoking controversies that resonate to this day”.

It adds: “While Home Secretary in 1792 and first Secretary of State for War in 1796 he was instrumental in deferring the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade…as a result of this delay, more than half a million enslaved Africans crossed the Atlantic.”

It was added by the council following Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 – during which the monument was vandalised – to provide “a more representative story of Henry Dundas”.

The wording was described as “misleading,” “cartoonishly inaccurate” and “hurtful to our family” by his living relatives who took it upon themselves to remove it on September 20.

Police were then asked to investigate by a city councillor but said “no criminality was established” following an initial investigation.

In a statement issued last week Edinburgh Council said it was “in legal correspondence” with Bobby Dundas and the Melville Monument Committee who had “been instructed to return the plaque and present a proposal to make good any damage to the monument caused by removal”.

The council said it “may consider legal action or further involving Police Scotland” if their demands were not met.

In response, Mr Dundas told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The MMC have taken senior expert legal advice and are confident that we took all proper steps before removing the plaque. The MMC intends to continue to honour its legal obligations.”

He said the group was waiting to see if the authority “honours its own legal obligations,” including removing ‘temporary’ signs installed near the Melville Monument, which the council said at the time would “be in place whilst the permanent plaque is being created” but still remain in St Andrew Square.

He added: “The city gave an undertaking to Planning to remove them nearly three years ago, but is now treating them as a permanent installation, contrary to planning requirements.

“The plaque was affixed to heritable property by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), on the faith of an improperly obtained Planning Permission. By being affixed, it became part of the heritable property. It is accordingly not the property of CEC.”

In March the MMC was granted listed building consent to take the plaque down, with the council clarifying soon after that it was approved “on a technicality” and that as the application wasn’t from the owner of the statue it couldn’t be removed.

Mr Dundas continued: “MMC has planning permission, properly obtained, to remove the plaque, which it has done. 

“The four small holes in the monument were caused by CEC, but it is a condition of MMC’s Planning Permission that MMC repairs them. MMC is happy to do that. It is ten minutes work.”

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The plaque belongs to the Council and has been removed without our permission. 

“Following the refusal of our request to return the plaque, we’ve now filed an official report with Police Scotland and will leave them to investigate fully.”

by Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Fife Flyers’ head coach Tom Coolen has been suspended for one game, fined and warned by ice hockey disciplinary chiefs.

The 69-year-old (pictured) received the ban after tape of Wednesday night’s Elite League clash between Nottingham Panthers and Flyers was reviewed.

The ban is effective immediately so Coolen from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a former assistant coach to the Polish national team, misses the club’s visit to Manchester Storm on Friday (19.30).

The Department of Player Safety issued a statement which read: “The Elite Ice Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety has automatically reviewed an incident involving Fife Flyers’ head coach Tom Coolen at 59min 49sec during Game 28, Nottingham Panthers v Fife Flyers on 25.10.2023.

“Effective immediately, Fife Flyers’ head coach Tom Coolen is fined and suspended for one game.” The size of the fine was not specified.

And there was a note at the bottom of the statement. It read: “Should any further incidents of this nature occur during the 2023/24 EIHL season, further sanctions will be imposed.” 

In Craigmillar emergency services were called together by charity Crimestoppers on Thursday to join their campaign against attacks on emergency personnel or vehicles this Bonfire Night.

Representatives from Police Scotland Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service attended with their own response vehicles. Last year in Craigmillar there were several attacks with fireworks and other devices thrown at vehicles, including an ambulance which was standing by in case it was required.

Two officers in Edinburgh were treated in hospital for head injuries after youths threw bricks at their vehicle.

In another incident in the capital 100 youths threw fireworks at members of the public and vehicles.

Crimestoppers reminded the public that they can report any information about planned attacks or indeed any which are carried out against police, fire service and ambulance crews. The 0800 555 111 telephone number and website crimestoppers-uk.org gives people the power to speak up and pass on information about crime 100% anonymously.

Angela Parker National Manager of Crimestoppers in Scotland said: “Our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe, no more so than Scotland’s emergency services who risk their lives to keep us safe. Bonfire night should be safe and fun for everyone, but unfortunately, last year we saw serious attacks on crews. That’s why we are asking anyone with information on those planning attacks to get in touch with our charity 100% anonymously. No-one will ever know you contacted us, and your information could be preventing serious injury or harm or even loss of life for emergency workers.”

Police Scotland will be deploying Public Order officers in support of community policing teams throughout the Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night period.

Since 2018, specialist resources have supported local officers across the country as part of Operation Moonbeam, following significant disorder and antisocial behaviour in 2017, which saw members of the emergency services, including police officers, attacked.

In 2022, parts of the country were subjected to unacceptable levels of firework-related criminality, which caused considerable distress to communities and resulted in high-value damage to property.

In response to this, an enhanced level of Public Order resource is being deployed during Operation Moonbeam 2023 to provide further support and protection to police officers, other emergency service workers and the general public.

In October last year, new legislation was introduced under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act This legislation makesthe proxy purchasing of fireworks for anyone under the age of 18 a criminal offence.

Those in breach of this legislation will be subject to a fine of £5,000, a six-month prison term, or both.

From this year, additional legislation under the Act has been introduced, which prohibits the carriage or use of a pyrotechnic article within a public place and allows officers to conduct stop and search activity on anyone they believe may be in possession of such items.

Operation Moonbeam was today launched at a joint event in Edinburgh, alongside Crimestoppers, who launched their own campaign encouraging the public to report any intelligence they have on potential emergency service attacks, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “The overwhelming majority of the public wish to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly, but it is a small minority who intentionally use the festivities to cause fear and alarm within our communities and commit acts of damage and violence.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that such reckless behaviour, including targeting my officers and other emergency service personnel will not be tolerated and we will use all the powers at our disposal to bring offenders to justice.

“Last year saw an escalation in incidents in specific parts of the country and we are increasing the level of public order resource available to communities this year to deter and respond to any offences.

“The new powers we have in relation to proxy purchasing and stop and search capabilities for anyone suspected to be in possession of pyrotechnics in a public place are yet another tool at our disposal to address fireworks-related crime.

“We want Bonfire Night to be a safe and enjoyable experience for anyone who choses to participate in it and a peaceful occasion for those who don’t. Please help us achieve this by ensuring your behaviour does not put yourself or others at risk.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Officer Andy Watt said: “Attacks on emergency services are completely unacceptable and are carried out by a small minority.

“It’s one of the busiest nights of the year for our staff who are working hard to keep communities safe, and they should be able to carry out their role without being hurt or having appliances and equipment damaged by anti-social behaviour.

“We want to bring any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, so please respect our staff and all emergency services.”

Scottish Ambulance Service Chief Executive Michael Dickson said: “Those on the frontline should never have to fear for their safety. Despite our best efforts we still have ambulance crews experiencing physical assault and verbal abuse from the public often fuelled by excessive drinking. They deserve respect for their dedication to patient care, often working in the most challenging of situations. We understand the Fireworks season is a chance for people to enjoy themselves but we ask them to act responsibly.”

Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater visited the Pentland to Portobello Greening Project to see works completed with support from the Nature Restoration Fund.

The project received a grant of £201,556.42 to improve, connect and expand existing green spaces in mostly deprived areas of Edinburgh.

Around 150 projects across Scotland have received support from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund since its launch in 2021. More than £30 million has been invested to date, either directly to projects and community groups or through Scotland’s 32 local authorities and two National Parks.The flagship fund, administered by NatureScot, aims to restore species and habitats, protect marine and coastal areas, eradicate invasive, non-native species, and improve the health and wellbeing of local communities.

Ms Slater said: “I’m proud that since establishing the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund at COP26 in Glasgow we’ve already invested £30 million in projects large and small to protect and enhance our rivers, land and seas. This is making an important contribution to the goals established in Scotland’s new Biodiversity Strategy to be nature positive and to reverse the declines in nature.

“Right now, we’re consulting on the first 5-year Delivery Plan to implement our Biodiversity strategy – along with proposals for new targets for nature restoration that could be put into law, in line with those for climate change. Biodiversity can help mitigate against flooding, improve access to greenspace in our urban areas: it is our best chance to adapt to climate change and ensure a legacy for future generations.”

NatureScot Chair Professor Colin Galbraith said: “The Nature Restoration Fund is vital in tackling the nature and climate crises, with significant work taking place across the country to help put nature back on the road to recovery. Flower meadows, hedgerows and wetlands are being restored, creating habitats for wildlife. Rivers are being returned to their natural courses to reduce flooding, whilst large areas of Scotland’s rainforest are being enhanced. We are incredibly proud to support the work that individuals, communities, and organisations are doing to help Scotland become a nature-rich, net-zero nation.”

Pace-setting Grange aim to secure win No 8 and retain their unblemished record when they travel to lowly Erskine Stewart’s Melville (ESM) on Saturday (15.30). 

ESM are tenth in the table with five points from six fixtures while Grange are in pole position with a maximum 21 points having scored 26 goals and let in seven.

Their opposition this weekend have scored seven goals and let in 16 and Grange are in no mood to leave the pitch near Ferry Road without another three points.

Coach Stevie Grubb confirms no injury worries apart from David Nairn who has a foot problem and the competition for places is pushing the intensity in training. He said: “Selection is my headache, a nice headache to have.”

Grubb expects a tough game v ESM and said: “They are well-coached and it looks as if they have progressed this season. They will be organised on the pitch. Those are the challenges we are looking for in our games.”

Edinburgh University are second with 15 points from their five starts and they remain the division’s leading scorers with 29 and only three against. They host sixth-placed FSEG Clydesdale who have seven points from five games.

Calum Douglas is in Malaysia with Great Britain under-21 and misses out for the students and James Pitchford in unavailable.

Coach Hamish Imrie confirmed that Declan Bradley is still on the sidelines and will hopefully be ready to make his comeback soon and it is touch and go whether Luca Muller, who missed last weekend’s match, will be fit.

Clemens Probst is back training with the squad but Imrie said: “It was a disappointing result last weekend when we lost 3-1 to Watsonians but that has refocused us ahead of some exciting and tough games ahead starting with Clydesdale at home on Saturday.” 

Third are Western Wildcats who entertain Watsonians. Western are third on 15 points with Watsonians fifth on seven points. Both have played six games.

Eighth-placed Inverleith who have six points from seven games host Glasgow outfit Hillhead, a side sitting in fourth position on nine points from their six games.     

Inverleith have netted 17 goals but shipped 28 while Hillhead have scored 13 and let in 21.

Fixtures: Scottish Premiership: men: Thursday: Hillhead v Western (19.30). Saturday: Edinburgh University v FSEG Clydesdale (13.30); Erskine Stewart’s Melville v Grange (15.30); Grove Menzieshill v Dundee Wanderers; Inverleith v Hillhead; Western Wildcats v Watsonians; Kelburne v Uddingston (12.20).

Women: University of St Andrews v Hillhead (13.30); GHK v Gordonians (14.15).

PICTURE: Action from Edinburgh University v ESM. Picture Nigel Duncan

Outline Hair in the Old Town, was recognised by Cycling Scotland’s Cycling Champion Awards for owner Kay Corbett’s efforts to support staff and customers to cycle, including by installing cycle parking inside the hair salon.

• The salon based in Edinburgh’s Old Town, and has been announced today as winner of Business Champion of the Year.

Having experienced difficulty with storing her bike at previous workplaces, owner Kay Corbett was determined to make her new salon as cycling friendly a space as possible when opening the business in 2020.

In providing dedicated indoor space for cycle parking for both customers and staff, Kay has helped foster a welcoming environment for anyone choosing to travel by bike, with nominations commending her proactive and positive support for the wider health benefits of cycling.

Kay said : “It feels so great to be recognised for the choices we’re making as a business. Having always cycled to work, I know how much of a problem it can be to not have anywhere to keep your bike. So, it’s important to me to do anything we can to help staff or clients who want to get to the salon by bike to be able to do that easily.”

A spokesperson for the awards panel said: “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate each of these worthy award winners, who have each worked incredibly hard to support cycling in their local communities and to champion the many benefits that cycling can bring.”

The Cycling Champion Awards are Scotland’s national cycling awards. They recognise the people and organisations that have made the largest impact on cycling in the past year. The awards were first presented in 2017, making 2023 the seventh time they have been presented.

The awards are presented in partnership by Cycling Scotland, Cycling UK, Scottish Cycling and Sustrans Scotland.

Plans have been lodged to build homes in north Edinburgh on a plot of land which locals are fighting to stop from being redeveloped as it has become rewilded in the meantime.

The Western Harbour site was abandoned by developers around 15 years ago and has since become woodland and natural ponds which are now home to a diverse range of wildlife.

After being put up for sale by its British Virgin Islands-based owner last year, it has been the focus of a community campaign to keep it as a nature spot – arguing it is a “wonderful example of urban rewilding” and a “haven for insects, bats and waterfowl” including breeding swans and moorhens, goldeneye, herons and kingfisher.

Early proposals for a ‘residential development’ on one of the four parcels of land submitted this month have intensified concern over the future of the area which the government and city council are being urged to “recognise the value of”. 

But obstacles could stand in the way of FM Developments, which is behind the new plans, including the protection of trees which the council say “contribute to the attractiveness and character of the locality”.

Officials have drawn up temporary tree preservation orders (TTPOs) which if made permanent could make building on the plot more difficult.

Save Western Harbour Ponds campaign founder Ida Maspero said she hoped the TTPOs would “raise awareness of the biodiversity of the site, and help us in our fight to secure the future of the ponds as a precious greenspace for nature and people”.

And although the site remains allocated for housing by the authority, its planning blueprint for Edinburgh over the next decade, City Plan 2030, noted that “further assessment of these ponds is required given the nature of the ponds has progressed over time”.

Scottish Government planning officers who are currently reviewing the Plan have visited the woodland and ponds as they consider whether the space should be officially designated as greenspace.

Local Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda said there was a “mad rush” from some developers to get plans approved in advance of the draft City Plan 2030 being finalised.

She said: “Since the land was designated for housing, our approach to the importance of greenspace in the city has changed a lot and if you look across that part of Leith and North Edinburgh there is a real lack of greenspaces, especially wilded greenspaces, and it would just be an absolute crime to not take the advantage of the fact that nature has re-wilded that and that we actually look after it and allow it to flourish.”

Meanwhile, David Adamson from Edinburgh Natural History Society visited the plots in July. He wrote a guest blog for the Cockburn Association which you will find here.

He said that he found “a thriving population of Cream-streaked ladybirds which are scarce in Scotland, a colony of Leafcutter bees, and some dragonflies,” he wrote for the Cockburn Association website this month.

“A pair of swans had raised six cygnets. The orchids were over but Sickle Medick, a plant I had never seen before, was still in flower,” he said.

by Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Save Western Harbour Ponds are running a petition to save the ponds from development which has been signed by 2,808 people. On the petition webpage the group said: “We are an emerging community campaign working to try and secure the future of the Western Harbour Ponds by some means or other. We call on Edinburgh City Council and the Scottish Government to recognise the value of this self-willed wetland habitat for nature and for people, and to help save it from development. 

“We call on the landowner, too, to consider and recognise the value of this rewilded land beyond simply being ‘plots for development’, and to enter into dialogue with the community about its future. FACEBOOK GROUP: www.facebook.com/groups/westernharbourponds“

The co-founder of world-renowned contemporary art attraction Jupiter Artland has spoken of her pride after being awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh Napier University.

Nicky Wilson was given the honour during the University’s graduation ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, in recognition of her work to inspire the next generation of artists.

An accomplished artist in her own right, Nicky set up Jupiter Artland on the outskirts of Edinburgh in 2009, with the park’s distinctive sculptured grass landscape and permanent works quickly establishing it as one of Scotland’s most significant artistic projects.

Nicky said: “It means so much to me to have the work of Jupiter Artland and the team over the last 20 years recognised by the University.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be given a graduation, when I didn’t have one right at the beginning. I did get my degree, but I didn’t go to it.

“It’s with regret that I didn’t go because I now know how much it feels like you’re at the beginning of another chapter of your life. And funnily enough, this feels like the beginning of another chapter of my life.

“The recognition from the work that’s been done so far is just spurring me on to do more.”

Born in Edinburgh, Nicky graduated with a BA, then an MA in sculpture – continuing to practice it alongside a career in marketing and PR.

Since the creation of Jupiter Artland, it was nominated for ArtFund’s Museum of the Year in 2016. It has also become a powerful learning space for young people, offering free school visits throughout the year. 

In 2017, Nicky founded Jupiter Rising, a festival of avant-garde music, art and film for young artists and performers from diverse backgrounds, and in 2018 she set up the ORBIT Youth Council, a creative collective for 16 to 18-year-olds from all over Scotland. Most recently, Jupiter+ was established as an offsite commissioning programme designed to inspire the next generation of artists. 

There have also been several examples of collaboration between Jupiter Artland and Edinburgh Napier University. One project involved replicating the entire park in Minecraft – which was used to connect with young people across the world during lockdown – while a recentimmersive installation to a formerly vacant shop on Ayr’s high street included a learning experience put together with the help of ENU.

Giving the laureation speech to award Nicky with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University, Dr Tom Flint, Associate Professor in Edinburgh Napier’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, said: “It is hard to imagine anyone with more passion for art, artists and the opportunities creative practice affords than Nicky.

“Working with Nicky and her team has opened a world of radical engagement and inclusivity. The resulting knowledge generated from our collaborations has been presented at conferences around the world. 

“Nicky’s generosity and outlook have augmented my own practice as well that of as numerous colleagues and students.  As a university we have immense gratitude for all she has achieved.”

Steven Naismith said Rangers move to change their manager means that Hearts are having to change their approach to Sunday’s trip to Ibrox (15.00) in the cinch Premiership.

Part of that process will be watching the Glasgow club in Europe on Thursday night when they visit Sparta Prague in the Europa League (17.45).

Head coach Naismith admitted that Hearts’ record away to the Old Firm has not been good enough but said: “We need to change that at some point and we need to manage the game properly to give ourselves the best chance.” 

The Irvine-born former international acknowledged that there is pressure on him and the manner of defeat by Celtic in the 4-1 reverse last Sunday at Tynecastle was a concern.

Hearts, he admitted, have slipped from defensively being very solid and being at the top end of the league matrix for a lot of stats. 

If you are not winning games and the play is not as picture perfect as it can be then he understands fans frustration but added: “The way to relieve that is to start winning games and we need to try and do that.”

Naismith said that when Hearts have the ball they have to make Rangers work hard and the defense needs to be more secure than they were last Sunday against Brendan Rodgers’ men. He said: “As much as some of the finishes were good, the goals were avoidable from our point of view.”

This, he acknowledged, is a key period for the Tynecastle club with a lot on offer. After Ibrox, the Jambos are at home to Livingston on Wednesday (19.45) before facing Rangers again in the Scottish League Cup, semi-final, at Hampden on Sunday, November 5 (15.00).

The Gorgie boss has looked at Rangers’ win over Hibs last weekend, the first game in charge for new manager, 49-year-old Philippe Clement, who is a proven winner with Genk and Club Brugge and was also capped on 39 occasions by Belgium.

The Jambos boss said: “They want to put you under pressure, they want to play on the front foot, they want to be aggressive, but it is not as if they are going from one extreme to the other, there are loads of things they do which are the same or similar to what they have been in the past.”

Naismith stressed: “They are a good team, they have good players and if you let them play and let them dominate the ball they will cause you problems.”

PICTURE: Steven Naismith along with his thoughts ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ibrox. Picture Nigel Duncan

Asda Cafés bring back £1 ‘Winter Warmer’ initiative for over 60s

The supermarket is bringing back soup, roll and unlimited tea and coffee for just £1 this winter.

From 1 November until the end of February, Asda will serve everyone aged 60 and over soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffee for just £1 in any of Asda’s 205 cafés. The retailer first launched Winter Warmers in November 2022 for two months in a bid to support older customers who were badly affected by rising costs, with 65- to 74-year-olds experiencing a £163 year-on-year drop in disposable income in August 2022. More than 650,000 £1 soup meals were served, and the retailer then extended the deal until 28 February 2023. 

The offer is available all day, every day and will run alongside the Kids Eat for £1’ offer which continues to be hugely popular, with more than 2.6 million meals served since its launch in June 2022, and more than 180,000 in the last four weeks alone.  

The latest figures from Asda’s income tracker reveal that 40% of the lowest earning households are still experiencing negative disposable income in September, meaning that their income does not cover what they need to spend on bills and other essentials. 

Kris Comerford, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer said:“We know winter is set to be incredibly hard for thousands of pensioners as they continue to worry about how to keep themselves warm in the face of rising living costs and on a fixed income.

“Last year we served over 650,000 meals to the over 60s in two months, by bringing the initiative back for 2023 and extending it until February we hope it will prove just as impactful across the winter months for those who need it most.”

In addition to the Winter Warmer deal, the Kids Eat for £1 meal deal continues to be popular with families, now serving over 2.6 million meals million meals since its launch back in June 2022.

Selected Asda stores also run a ‘Community Cuppa’ campaign in its cafés by creating space for community groups who may otherwise struggle to meet due to rental costs or high energy costs. Spaces will be available on weekdays in November and December from 2pm to 6pm and all community group members who visit will receive unlimited free tea or coffee.

The City of Edinburgh Council is set to cut an “invaluable” service which helps to get some of the city’s most vulnerable children back into school.

Teaching unions have criticised the proposal to get rid of Education Welfare Officers (EWOs) as part of a £600,000 budget cut – and have warned the local authority it could leave struggling families “without adequate support” and mean that more youngsters “slip through the net”. 

A local teacher said without them remaining in post “some kids would end up just disappearing”. 

The council claimed that no final decision will be taken on the future of the service until the end of an ongoing review, and that any loss of the pupil support workers would be covered by the creation of new roles within a “reshaped service” which current EWOs could apply for.

Education Convener Cllr Joan Griffiths said work was under-way to “minimise negative impacts” and “ensure the most vulnerable families continue to receive support”.

However trade union representatives say it is clear the intention is to “delete” the scheme entirely by the end of this month, with the capital’s 12 EWOs to be offered voluntary redundancy or put on the redeployment list. And they fear there are no plans in place to ensure other council staff will be available to pick up the work they do.

Education Welfare Officers work with schools and families to get pupils who are repeatedly absent back into school by visiting them at home and discussing issues to find solutions. Critics of the move toward getting rid of them say that loss of personal interaction would be detrimental to efforts to improve attendance and help struggling households, as a more remotely-run service would not yield the same results.

At the council’s annual budget meeting in February councillors approved a £600,000 cut to the service, although a report tabled at the meeting said it was “intrinsically punitive and does not support the child-centred vision for improving attendance or inclusion” as part of the EWO’s remit is to “refer to the Children’s Reporter where no improvement has been made”. 

The report stated: “We cannot reduce support for our most vulnerable families so this project would need to be seen as part of an overall improvement in service delivery.”

Addressing the Finance and Resources Committee on Monday Graham Neal, Education and Children’s Services steward for Unison’s Edinburgh Council branch said the union was “concerned that the plan to delete the EWO service deeply flawed and based on a misunderstanding of their role”. 

He told councillors: “Unison questions why the council is prepared to delete an invaluable service and lose vital skills and experience due to this misunderstanding.

“Unison believes the deletion of this service will impact City of Edinburgh Council’s ability to meet statutory commitments and leave some of the city’s most vulnerable children and families without adequate support.”

‘Some kids would end up just disappearing’

Neil, a teacher in Edinburgh who has worked alongside EWOs, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that without the service “some kids would end up just disappearing”. 

He said the specialist support staff regularly visit families who often “don’t have good opinions of schools,” adding: “Sometimes the Education Welfare Officers are the only link between the school and the family. 

“The school might try their best phoning, but a lot of the time that doesn’t happen so the EWOs go out and actually knock on the door and start speaking and building relationships with families. 

“There was one example where EWOs visited a family and there were concerns about the mother having an inappropriate male in the house. The school would have had no way of knowing that unless they were making regular visits. 

“It ended up where the pupil went from zero attendance and there was concerns about what was happening in the home, the girl got placed with a foster family and absolutely loved it and her attendance went up to over 80 per cent.  

“There’s no way the school would have known about any of this because what you get told over the phone, you’ve got to believe the parents a lot of the time.

“Since Covid we’ve seen a lot more kids that are anxious going to school and are refusing school more. I definitely think this cut would make things worse.”

Early intervention 

At Monday’s meeting Graeme Smith from Unite said social workers have “great belief” in EWOs due to their early intervention with youngsters before their situation deteriorates to the point they need to be referred to social services. 

“They’re able to provide welfare support to families who don’t meet the social work threshold to make sure they don’t eventually lead down that way,” he said. 

“The notion that the EWOs will still remain and we’ll keep them in the service is flawed based on the process we’re going through at the minute.

“Whatever roles are created as a result of the support worker consultation will not be done within the input of the EWOs.”

Speaking on behalf of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Edinburgh branch secretary Alison Murphy said she had received a lot of correspondence from local head teachers who “massively value the service”. 

She said there was “no capacity” in schools to “take on the work that is done by the EWOs”. 

She added: “It’s really important that this is retained, it’s really important this is retained as a centrally managed service so there’s support and challenge for schools around managing attendance, because frankly there’s going to be huge long-term saving. The costs of even a few children who slip through the net, and then you have major child protection issues or you have major long term issues around criminality, whatever it might be, the £600,000 this is talking about is nothing compared with that.” 

Finance and Resources convener Mandy Watt, Labour, responded by saying the budget saving was part of a review of the “whole service” which EWOs were “not scared of”. She added: “They think it’ll show what they do and how valuable they are and how they could remain in a reshaped service.”

The council’s Human Resources Director Nareen Turnbull said that “no decision been made on this,” adding: “If it does move to where there are posts that are surplus then the redeployment process and voluntary redundancy process would be applied.”

At the meeting a Labour administration amendment said the council was committed to “inclusion and high attendance in our schools” and that the “skills and experience of our EWOs should be retained within our inclusion work”.

An SNP amendment proposed taking £150,000 from last year’s underspend to fund the service for another year, however this was defeated as councillors voted to divert the full £13.7million left over from 2022/23 to cash-strapped health and social care services on the recommendation of council bosses.

Responding to the concerns raised by unions afterwards, the Education Convener said: “The current organisational consultation on methods to improve attendance is helping us to investigate the best ways of doing this within the current, post-Covid context.

“Schools already have a variety of measures in place to improve attendance, from clearer policies, improved management systems and effective inclusion as well as the use of Pupil Support Officers to build relationships and support families to improve attendance.

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter.

THINK TANK RESEARCH

On Thursday, The Commission on School Reform set up by think tank Reform Scotland issued the results of their research which found that more than 210,000 children and young people miss a day of schooling every fortnight. The problem is said to be worse at high school where 40% of pupils miss a day a fortnight.

The research is based on Freedom of Information requests to Scottish local authorities. In Edinburgh a quarter of pupils in P1 to P4 have attendance of less than 90% which rises to 34% for pupils at High School.

Absent Minds – A Discussion, will be held online on Thursday 26th October at 1pm, with a panel including Kate Forbes MSP.

Cricket Scotland have appointed Trudy Lindblade as their new Chief Executive Officer, a role she currently occupies on behalf of the 2023 UCI Cycle World Championships which took place in Glasgow recently.

Trudy will commence work with Cricket Scotland early in 2024.

Pete Fitzboydon, current Interim Chief Executive, will remain in place until then.

A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland said today: “Trudy Lindblade brings more than 25 years’ experience working on complex, large-scale major sporting projects across the world, in partnership with governments, local organising committees and international and national sports federations.

“Trudy has a strong background in cricket which spans more than eight years working in Australian and international cricket. This includes heading up the Event Management Department at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, and being part of the team delivering the first T20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2007.

“She worked in the Cricket Australia Marketing and Events team for over five years and was seconded to the International Cricket Council in 2002 and 2003 to support the delivery of the 2002 ICC Champions’ Trophy and 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup.”

An English angler dropped to his knees and held his head in his hands after dropping a fish inches from his landing net.

Seconds later two Scots hooked into fish on opposite sides of the lake on their way to the gold medal. The contrast was stark.

Some of Britain’s best bank anglers had toiled all day, casting long and short, trying to tempt elusive trout at Newhaylie Fishery near Largs during the Home International.

It was flat calm in the morning session with gin clear water, most unusual for Newhaylie, perched on a hill 400ft above the seaside resort. The fish could see everything.

Then the wind got up in the post-lunch session, making it difficult to cast and to find the right tactics. Rolly polly in one section of the lake, slow retrieve in others. Even fast retrieve was tried as the clock ticked down.

The fickle wind, which kept changing direction, also made it difficult. Finding the right pattern was crucial to find fish who were generally thought to be around 5ft under the surface.

Slow glass lines and floating lines were used as was the controversial bung. It brought results for some.

The Dam Wall area, the deepest part of the lake, produced and the ripple edge in the mid-point of the lake was also favoured, but even the best, and there were some famous names on the bank, found it tough going.

They had practiced at the water for several days before the hooter blew to signal the start of the one-day competition. They had tied flies in their rooms until midnight and talked tactics, meeting bankside and in their accommodation.

Such is fishing and in a tense situation like a Home International, numbers are crucial.

The records say Scotland triumphed, winning with 112 points. Ireland were second on 135 points with Wales third on 170 points and England fourth with 176 points.

Scotland’s captain, Graeme Lynch, is a regular at Newhaylie and lives around ten miles away at Beith in Ayrshire. He knows how to fish the water and that helped but the six-strong Tartan team certainly upped their game on the day and the loss of a fish through a hole in the net near the end of the contest did not matter in the overall scores.

Lynch was beaten into second place by Irish angler Sean Kirwan who netted 13 fish, seven in the morning and six in the afternoon, and that was a notable achievement. Lynch also had seven in the morning and three in the pm session.

Debutant David Harrington from Uphall Station was fourth in the individual standings with eight fish during the two sessions with anglers moving around the lake to different pegs in 40-minute spells.

The focus was intense. The casting prodigious but one angler dropped his pattern into shallow water in a margin near one of the concrete walls in the 3.8 acre water.

He was winding in excess line when a fish took the pattern. He looked shocked and frantically tugged on his line, playing the hard-fighting trout. It escaped just before the net. He was gutted.

That’s how much these anglers cared and that is why the victory was so sweet for Scotland who fielded an inexperienced team but still won gold.

PICTURE: General view of Newhaylie. Picture Nigel Duncan

Scotland’s top rod, Graeme Lynch, at Newhaylie. Picture Nigel Duncan