More than £100,000 in grant money which should have been used to benefit communities in East Lothian was not handed out last year.

Common Good Funds across the county had a budget of £199,000 for grants during the last financial year, but only £82, 676 was distributed.

A report to councillors has revealed that more than three quarters of the money issued came from Musselburgh Common Good Fund while Dunbar’s Fund did not hand out anything.

The local authority oversees four common good funds for the towns of Musselburgh, Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar.

The funds represent a substantial portfolio of land, property and investments and exist for the common good of the inhabitants of the former Burghs to which they relate.

Applications for grants are welcomed from individuals, groups or clubs who can  demonstrate a benefit to the people of the area through their activity or
positive promotion of the town and fund committees are made up by ward councillors.

The report on last year’s activities by the funds, revealed that eight grants were made in total over the year.

In Musselburgh the committee awarded £32,000 to The Hollies –  a day centre supporting over 60s, with £23,000 to the town’s annual fireworks display and £9,387 to the Musselburgh Festival. A further £289 was given to St Peters Church.

In Haddington, £5,000 was granted to Blooming Haddington, with a further £1500 to festival Haddstock and £1500 to Lower Impact Living which support sustainable living.

In North Berwick £10,000 was given to North Berwick Kindness Cooperative which supports people struggling financially in its ward.

No grants were made by Dunbar Common Good Fund. It was not reported how many applications were received by the four funds in the course of the year or if any were rejected.

Applications for grants from the funds can be made through East Lothian Council’s website 

by Marie Sharp, Local Democracy Reporter.

An Edinburgh nurse who is a representative of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and who is also a staff nurse at Rachel House, says she was honoured to meet HM King Charles during a visit to the children’s hospice.

Freya Bown lives in Portobello and she joined two families supported by the charity during the royal visit. She presented a gift of a specially designed certificate to His Majesty.

She said: “It was a real honour and privilege to meet King Charles and to represent CHAS in this way. His Majesty was really interested in hearing about my work as a nurse and the work of CHAS in general and also Rachel House and said thank you when I handed him a gift of a framed certificate featuring his name in the CHAS alphabet brand letters and explained to him the letters had been designed by the children we support. 

“It was lovely too that he spent so much time chatting to the children and the families and learning all about them and how they are supported by Rachel House and by CHAS. It was a very special day for us all and a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience.”

PHOTOS below – L-R: CHAS volunteer, Lynda Millar, Freya Bown, the family of Orla Neary from Broughty Ferry and the family of Orla Hughes from Linlithgow at Kinross Day Centre where they met the King.

From Panko Brie, to an Iced Xmas Pudding Parfait – The Dalmore Inn Christmas Menu 2023 might tempt you out of town to Perthshire for your company or family Christmas outing.

With something for everyone, from traditional festive favourites, to more unusual, yet no less decadent choices, The Dalmore Inn & Restaurant in Blairgowrie has it all on its 2023 Festive Menu.

The value for money prices -two courses are on offer for £25.95, with three courses for £29.95 – have been held from last year, meaning that customers looking to get together with family & friends, as well as those in local groups and associations, can take advantage, and once again enjoy celebrating over a lovely meal.

The menu will run every day from Tuesday 5 December until Christmas Eve. 

Enjoy a starter of Chicken Liver Parfait, Panko Breaded Brie, Homemade Soup, or tuck into Hot Smoked Salmon & Prawn Cocktail with Bloody Mary Sauce and crusty bread.

For main, choose from a grilled 8oz Rump Steak, Fish or Scampi with Chips, or a Sweet Potato, Chickpea & Coconut Curry.

Roast Turkey lovers are, of course, not disappointed, with everyone’s festive favourite, Traditional Roast Turkey, on the menu, served with goose fat roasted new potatoes, Stornoway black pudding & shallot stuffing, pigs n blankets, red cabbage and turkey gravy. 

It is Christmas after all so why not opt for a dessert? All are handmade from scratch by Dalmore Inn Head Chef Iain Naysmith and his team. A warm apple and pear crumble tart cleverly combines traditional crumble with a crisp pastry tart. This dessert is accompanied with praline ice cream and creme anglaise – the more decadent the better!

Other dessert choices are Iain’s Iced Christmas Pudding Parfait – a novel take on traditional Christmas Pudding – which has mandarin sorbet, mini shortbread biscuits and a mulled wine syrup as an accompaniment. Or there’s a dark chocolate mousse with warm doughnuts and a salted caramel ice cream – sure to be a popular option. Cheese lovers can tuck into a selection of brie, applewood cheddar and stilton, served with quince jelly and biscuits.

Arnaud Merrouche, General Manager at The Dalmore Inn said: “We are delighted to release this festive menu, which is once again full of delicious invention but also offers all the traditional flavours and tastes of Christmas.

“We’re also very pleased to be offering the same price point as last year which we know our clientele will appreciate. We use locally sourced, high quality ingredients wherever possible, to ensure consistency every time you dine with us.

“We look forward to taking bookings for this menu. We know that many people like to get booked and organised early so they can relax and enjoy the celebrations come the time.”

The Dalmore Inn will also be offering its Daily Specials, Light Lunches, and a choice of a la carte dishes throughout the festive period.

To make a booking at the Dalmore Inn call 01250 871088.

Further details www.dalmoreinn.com

Journalists working at The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News took industrial action on Monday outside the WeWork building at 80 George Street where the titles have their offices.

More than 330 journalists in the UK employed by National World, owner of the two Scottish titles, The Yorkshire Post, Sheffield Star and The News Letter based in Belfast, will also take industrial action. 

Our colleagues at Hold the Front Page reported earlier this month the results of the ballot when more than three quarters of those who voted rejecting the pay offer and voting for strike action.

In July, National World imposed a 4.5 per cent pay award after months of negotiations with the NUJ stalled. The union has previously engaged with the publisher through negotiations with Acas, attempting to reach an agreement that resolves the dispute. Despite best efforts on behalf of members, National World’s refusal to accept proposals means journalists will proceed with strike action on Monday.

Read more here  

Leith Central Community Council meets on Monday evening at McDonald Road Library at 7pm and the agenda under discussion is shown below.

The council is recruiting a new member following the resignation of Ian Mowat. Even if you do not wish to become a member the meetings are open to the public to attend.

Papers from previous meetings are available on the website here.

To find your own community council click on the link here to a map of all community councils in Edinburgh.

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One of the largest gold nuggets ever found in Scotland has fetched over £14,000 at auction in Edinburgh – doubling its estimate.

The 31.23g chunk was found in a river in the Scottish Borders by a gold hunter using a technique known as sniping, which involves wearing a dry suit and snorkel and lying face-down in the water.

The amorphously shaped piece measures roughly 31 x 22 x 5mm, making it one of the biggest Scottish nuggets ever recorded for size.

It went under the hammer at Bonhams’ Scottish and Celtic Sale in Melville Crescent, where international interest from specimen collectors and others saw the price soar past its £5000-7000 estimate.

A private Scottish collector bought the rare nugget for £14,080, making the successful bid in the auction room against a keen rival on the phone.

Rebecca Bohle, Bonhams’ specialist, said: “At over 31 grams, this gold nugget is one of the largest ever found in Scotland, so I was not surprised to see such strong interest.

“There was very competitive bidding in the room and on the phones, including interest from the UK and Europe.

“The successful bid was made by an individual from Scotland bidding in the room. We are delighted with the price achieved.”

It is understood that the buyer – whose winning bid equates to £450.85 per gram of Scottish gold – intends to use the rare nugget to create a piece of jewellery.

The nugget was consigned by an enthusiast who has panned and sniped for gold for more than 20 years. The seller wishes to remain anonymous, while the exact location where he found the nugget is also being kept secret.

Ms Bohle added: “Gold is not easy to find in Scotland and consequently it is rare to find such a large nugget. The finder is something of an expert.”

Scottish gold has international appeal because of its rarity, and nuggets have the highest value. No two nuggets are the same and any find weighing over a gram is considered “exceptionally lucky”.

Sniping is regarded as the purest method for extracting gold as hunters are not required to move a lot of material and even the tiniest specks, magnified under the water, catch the eye.

Remarkably, the 31.23g piece was part of a larger collection offered from the same finder, including smaller nuggets and dozens of flakes, which also made impressive sums.

One smaller nugget weighing 3.32g fetched £512, while a collection of small nuggets and flakes with a gross weight of 15.4g made £1408.

The finds were all made by the same gold hunter over a number of years by sniping, face down in rivers.

The same individual found one of the biggest nuggets ever found in Britain. The gold, dubbed the Douglas Nugget, weighed 85.7g and is now on display in the Hunterian museum at the University of Glasgow.

Organ and Tissue Donation Week

The City Chambers and the EICC will be lit up pink this week in support of the health campaign raising awareness of the ongoing need for organ donation. People are encouraged to decide whether to opt in or out and to make sure that family members know of their wishes. This is a UK wide campaign but The Scottish Government, NHS Lothiand and the council are all supporting the campaign in different ways.

Read more here.

Governance Risk and Best Value Committee

This council committee meets on Tuesday at 10am.

The papers are published here.

This committee has an important role in the checks and balances of the way the council works and is expected to hear a report on the annual Internal Audit with opinion on the council’s governance framework. SNP councillor Kate Campbell is the Convener – it is usual to have a convener from one of the opposition parties simply to keep tabs on the administration. In this case the administration is currently run by a minority Labour group and so scrutiny is perhaps even more important.

North Edinburgh Community Festival Gathering

A gathering will be held on 21 September at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre to talk about next year’s festival. Some of the funding which the festival has been supported by is not being renewed and meantime there is an opportunity to help by donating from £3 upwards through Ko-Fi at this link. This money will provide free meals at next year’s event.

The North Edinburgh Community Festival is a free, family friendly and community-led event which will be held in West Pilton Park, Edinburgh on Saturday 11 May 2024, from noon until 5.30pm. In 2023, 8000 people attended the festival where there were more than 80 stalls, live music, entertainment, workshops, and sports. Around 2,000 free meals were provided to those who were in need.

Doors Open Days 2023

Visit Edinburgh Chess Club

Established on 4 November 1822 and now celebrating its bicentenary year it is not only the oldest chess club in Scotland and the UK but probably the second-oldest club in the world.

Chess games and demonstrations will be taking place during the day.

On display are chess sets, clocks, trophies and the historic library and archives as well as a number of collections of books and scorebooks.

Find out more here.

Our September issue

Our September newspaper is freshly published and on the streets of the capital.

Our cover story is about the Lord Provost and Council Leader who took riding lessons to allow them to take part in the Riding of the Marches on horseback.

You can now see the suite of photos we took of the event on Facebook and in our articles over the years here.

A JCB and a dump truck were driven from an enclosed area on East Barnton Avenue on Tuesday night and then used to mow down a chestnut tree in Davidson’s Mains Park, planted around 2010.

Diesel was syphoned out of several of the plant vehicles which were on loan to the contractors working on an extension to the cycle path in the park who we understand to be JH Civil Engineering. The company has been asked for comment.

Local residents said this appeared to be the work of a small group of teenagers and was really very sad news.

One person who would prefer not to be named said: “This work has proceeded since the end of June without any major incident except from the general inconvenience to residents.The Chestnut had been planted around 2010 along with a number of other different trees when Douglass Cruikshank was Parks Officer. As far as I am aware these were all funded from CEC and were not memorial or other commemorative trees.

“It is a most unfortunate loss at this stage in the tree’s life since the Barnton Park, in the period before Davidson’s Mains Park was acquired by the City Council, was highly regarded for its Chestnut trees.

“During the past forty five years so many of the trees planted by the Ramsays up to 250 years ago have been lost and only a small proportion have been replaced and survived. In an era when trees are planted for carbon capture it is even more important that we should protect and preserve the trees that are already growing.”

We also asked all four Almond councillors – Cllr Norman Work, Cllr Kevin Lang, Cllr Louise Young and Cllr Lewis Younie, for comment.

Cllr Work said he was not aware of the damage but said: “I am always disappointed with any sort of vandalism, especially if this was a memorial tree. I hope that a full investigation is carried out to find out who was responsible and encourage anyone with information to contact the Police.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 9.45pm on Tuesday, 12 September, 2023, we were called to a report of a disturbance in Davidson’s Mains Park, Edinburgh.

“Officers attended however there was no one present.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

On Friday morning a local man reported on a Facebook group for the local area that he had found 40 litres of red diesel apparently stolen from the site. He confirmed he had reported it to the police.

We asked The City of Edinburgh Council who own and run the park for comment.

Journalists working at The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News will take strike action on Monday outside the WeWork building at 80 George Street where the titles have their offices.

More than 330 journalists in the UK employed by National World, owner of the two Scottish titles, The Yorkshire Post, Sheffield Star and The News Letter based in Belfast, will also take industrial action.

Our colleagues at Hold the Front Page reported earlier this month the results of the ballot when more than three quarters of those who voted rejecting the pay offer and voting for strike action.

In July, National World imposed a 4.5 per cent pay award after months of negotiations with the NUJ stalled. The union has previously engaged with the publisher through negotiations with Acas, attempting to reach an agreement that resolves the dispute. Despite best efforts on behalf of members, National World’s refusal to accept proposals means journalists will proceed with strike action on Monday. 

Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, said: “Members want National World to reconsider their position and offer a pay package that reflects journalists’ hard work at the company. Instead, they have been met with resistance and left with no option than to strike as they defend their calls for a fair pay rise and efforts to address growing pay disparities. The NUJ remains open to negotiations, keen to reach an agreement that members can accept.”

An NUJ National World group chapel spokesperson said: “This the first time that there’s been this kind of company-wide industrial action on any issue at National World – or its predecessors – and it’s a reflection of just how much many of our members are struggling.

“The real terms pay cut imposed by the company simply doesn’t do enough to recognise the hard work of our members or the impacts of the cost of living crisis.

“It also fails to address pay disparities and low rates of pay that mean some of our trainee reporters – many of whom completed degrees just to get a foot in the door – are now having to take on second jobs to make ends meet.

“Local journalism shouldn’t only be an option for those who can be subsidised by their parents or partners.

“This is a company that says it has healthy cash reserves and is in a position to invest, so why won’t it invest in ensuring its own staff can afford to stay in their jobs?”

Journalists will begin a work to rule on 19 September, with further strike action planned on 22 and 25 September.  

Picket locations and times are  available at www.nuj.org.uk/nationalworldstrike 

Edinburgh falls prevention programme, Steady Steps will continue with more funding from the council and NHS Lothian.

With Falls Awareness Week happening from 18-22 September 2023, Steady Steps, a community-based falls prevention programme which supports local people in Edinburgh to improve their strength and balance and maintain their independence through physical activity, is celebrating its 5,000^th referral.

Delivered by the Active Communities team at Edinburgh Leisure and supported by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB), Steady Steps is a 16-week physical activity referral programme which has been going since 2014 and supports those who take part in reducing their risk of falling.

The programme has recently received additional funding from the EIJB which is the body made up of councillors and representatives from NHS Lothian, as well as appointed members from the third sector and other stakeholders. Its primary role is to plan and coordinate health and social care services within the Edinburgh area.

Physical activity can contribute to a reduction in the number of falls, fractures, hospital admissions and bed days because of a fall. This reduces the cost to NHS Lothian, and offers vulnerable, older adults an opportunity to engage in physical and social activities, sustaining and improving confidence and ability to live independently.  

Edinburgh Leisure delivers 32 Steady Steps classes each week in Edinburgh Leisure and community venues in the city. Participants attend weekly physical activity sessions, which last one and a half hours each week and are followed by a coffee and chat.  Participants are also encouraged to complete home-based exercises twice a week for the duration of the 16-week programme. As a result of participating in these balance exercise sessions, participants have said that they are more able to complete tasks in and out of the house more easily (e.g., housework and doing the shopping), that they felt more confident, and they had an improved social life.

Amy Fastier, Health Development Officer (Falls Prevention) said: “Continued funding from the EIJB will mean that we can continue delivering this important service creating a positive impact on the health, and crucially the confidence, of our participants. Research shows falls are preventable and do not have to be an inevitable part of aging. However, once a fall does happen, the chances of another fall are dramatically increased. Sadly, this can really knock the confidence out of some adults, deterring them from going out and socialising. The methods used by Steady Steps are known to reduce falls by up to 35%, as well as having a hugely positive effect on the overall physical, mental, and social wellbeing of participants.” 

Retired primary school depute headteacher, Katherine Bates, has experienced the project as both a participant and a volunteer, training as a volunteer after completing the 16-week programme in 2017. 

Initially referred by her physiotherapist because of several falls, as well as having osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal issues, she found the programme helped to improve her strength and balance and particularly liked that the exercises in class were designed to be incorporated into daily life. 

On completion of the course, and with the encouragement of her instructor, Michael, she completed the volunteer training and now volunteers at a Steady Steps class at Gracemount Leisure Centre. Katherine’s role involves setting up the room, welcoming people into the class, and carrying out assessments so that Michael can focus on delivering the class without distractions. As Katherine explained: “Some people need a bit of extra support, and I can help them without disrupting the class or drawing attention to them.”

“Volunteering has been such a positive experience for me and it’s helped that I have experienced Steady Steps as a participant as well.  It’s helped me to understand the challenges participants face and what it’s like to go through the programme. Some participants live very rich lives, others have lost their confidence and have become socially isolated because of their falling.  It’s wonderful to see them out, enjoying themselves, and making social connections as well as improving their balance and mobility.”

For more information about Steady Steps please contact Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities team – active@edinburghleisure.co.uk or 0131 458 2260.

This week the focus turns to health matters with the City Chambers and the EICC lighting up pink in support of a campaign to make people decide on opting in or out of donation of their tissue or organs.

This is never an easy topic but it is suggested that by talking to family people’s wishes will be known, taking away at least one barrier to a donation which could be lifesaving.

This is a UK wide campaign supported by The Scottish Government, NHS Lothian and The City of Edinburgh Council.

On Sunday the ‘Transplant Tour’ began in Edinburgh. This is a charity cycle travelling through the UK to raise funds and awareness for the charity Give a Kidney. It will stop at Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, and finish in Oxford. The Rt Hon Lord Provost wrote an official letter of support to the organisers.

On Friday 22 September, some Race for Recipients participants will set off from Murrayfield in Edinburgh and finish at the Kelpies in Falkirk. The race is taking place across the country, with individuals and teams racking up the kilometres through walking, wheeling, running, swimming, and other ways, to raise awareness of the importance of making a donation decision and to recognise those whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation. Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron will be at Murrayfield to meet them and wish them well as they depart. Currently there are over 800 participants registered for the Race across Scotland.  

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “As we celebrate Organ and Tissue Donation Week 2023, we must be mindful of the fact that more than 7,000 people in the UK are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. Only around one per cent of people die in a way that makes organ donation possible, which means every donation opportunity is precious. There are thousands of people who could be given a new lease of life by a donor, however in order to help as many people as possible we all need to play our part by registering our decisions to be a donor or opt out.

“These are conversations that need to be had amongst families, friends, colleagues, and communities as we go forward. We know that families are more likely to support donation when they already know it was what their loved one wanted. I’m encouraged by the fact that over half of people in Scotland have now registered their organ and tissue donation decision however there is still a lot of work to be done. Whatever your choice may be, the important thing is to make it and discuss it. I would urge anyone who is 16 or over and yet to join me and many others who have recorded their decision by visiting the official website.

“Another great way to get involved is the Race for Recipients challenge. Our Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron will be meeting some of the participants on Friday (September 22) as they head off cycling towards the Kelpies in Falkirk. Find out more and join online at their website.

“I’m proud of everything that we’re doing to mark this important week here in Edinburgh. From lighting up buildings around the city, to supporting our colleagues in government and the NHS, to lending a hand to fundraisers I’m sure this will be a week to remember.”

Fife Flyers beat Dutch tourists Tilburg Trappers 3-1 at The Fife Ice Arena on Saturday but they found Romanian side CSM Brasov much tougher opposition 24 hours later.

The home side opened the scoring after only two minutes through Troy Lajeunesse but ten minutes after that and Brasov were level when Judd Blackwater netted.

Chase Schaber, who spent four seasons at Kirkcaldy, fired the visitors ahead four minutes later and the scoreline stayed the same until the end of the session.

Brasov moved 3-1 ahead when Schaber netted four minutes into the middle session but Aleksi Makela, playing only his second game for the Kirkcaldy side after his equipment was delayed in arriving, netted to make it 3-2 after 31 minutes.

But Brasov scored a fourth through Connor Sills, who played 53 games for Dundee Stars in the 2021-22 season, six minutes after that and Matyas Kovacs added a fifth 24 seconds from the end of the period.

Fife hit back on the power play when Collin Shirley netted for 5-3 but the home side could not find another strike and the visitors skated to victory.

Schaber was Brasov’s Man of the Match and Anthon Eriksson was the top man for Flyers.

In Dundee, Trade-Mart Stars were beaten 2-1 by Tilburg in their pre-season challenge with Johnny Walker judged the home side’s top player on the night.

Stellar Monarchs have work to do if they want to move forward in the Cab Direct Championship play-offs after the Armadale-based combine skidded to defeat in their opening fixture at Scunthorpe Scorpions. 

The Lincolnshire side picked up a valuable point in a 45-45 draw at Poole Pirates in midweek despite the Dorset side winning the Superheat.

And they backed that up with a 59-31 victory over Monarchs in their first outing on their home shale in the play-offs to put themselves in a strong position.

Ryan Douglas and Michael Palm Toft both earned 12 points and a bonus in the comfortable win. Edinburgh’s top rider was skipper Josh Pickering (pictured) with 15 points.

Scunthorpe top play-off Group A with three points from their two fixtures with Poole in second place with one point from their opening fixture and Edinburgh prop-up the three-team table with zero points.

In Group B, Oxford Cheetas have two points from their one fixture so far with Redcar Bears second and Glasgow Tigers third, both with zero points.

Finlay Halton captained the East of Scotland under-19 squash team to the inter-regional title at Oriam in the first representative event of the 2023-24 season. 

Finlay led from the front, not dropping a point in four gruelling matches. 

Photograph shows the East U19 team of Sam Shannon (Waverley Squash Club), Murray Richmond (ESC), Isla Hamilton (Tyne) and Finlay Halton (Grange) after the medal presentation. 

The East under-13’s were also successful in their inter-regional event spearheaded by Eunice Li who arrived from Hong Kong a year ago and proved unbeaten against the other four regions.

Photograph shows Fergus MacDonald, Angus Richmond, Thomas Myers, Kamraan Shamoo and Eunice Li after the medal presentation. 

Novel holistic courses offered to Edinburgh students.

A distinctive course is set to start in Edinburgh to give students the unique opportunity of gaining rare qualifications in complementary therapy.

The Complementary Therapy School is the first and sole private training provider authorised to offer University endorsed Clinical Reflexology and Swedish Massage Therapy qualifications.

The courses undergo a rigorous and thorough process of quality assurance, which is overseen by UWS and underpinned by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) principles.

The two unique part-time courses offer students the highest possible qualification levels in the UK through its credit rating partnership with the University of the West of Scotland, with students able to achieve qualifications at SCQF level 8.

The course has been spearheaded by one of the best-known names in the complementary therapy industry. Melanie Bell founded The Complementary Therapy School in 2006 and has since opened seven branches across the UK, training up therapists from Inverness to London.

Melanie said: “This a huge milestone for us and all of our trainers at The Complementary Therapy School. Teaching unique, valuable skills as part of the high-quality course across the UK is certainly a rewarding feeling.

“We’re very passionate about what we do here, and we not only want to offer students the opportunity to learn this skill but also the opportunity to follow a new career pathway at the highest level. “People from across the country are due to start the course in September and we see a mix of backgrounds on our courses – with students like full-time athletes, nurses and lawyers looking towards a career in complementary therapy.

“The partnership with the University of the West of Scotland is extremely exciting and highlights the powerful nature of holistic treatments and how much they are growing across the UK.”

The Complementary Therapy School has been delivering university credit rated courses for 11 years, and now has credit rated provision endorsed by the University of the West of Scotland.

Complementary therapies take a holistic approach to care, and look at supporting patients as a whole person, incorporating physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

With an extensive 28-year background as a qualified massage therapist and 26 years as a reflexology practitioner, Melanie is a multi-award winning teacher who brings a wealth of expertise to the classroom.

University-educated in Biomedical Science, Melanie’s unique blend of skills and insights sets a new standard for holistic therapy education.

Designed to cater to anyone with an interest in Clinical Reflexology or Swedish Massage, the courses encompass not only the core therapies but essential subjects like Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology.

The courses span one academic year, and are designed to accommodate a range of schedules and preferences.

The Complementary Therapy School has six trainers working across the UK, with venues as far north as Inverness and as far south as London.

Founded in 2006, The Complementary Therapy School also provides courses in Indian Head Massage, Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, Sport and Remedial Massage and Diploma in Complementary Therapies.

https://www.thects.co.uk/

Developer set to lead with Scotland’s most advanced complex-needs project

A charity with ambitious plans to create a flagship £28 million complex-needs facility has signed an exclusivity agreement for land at Bertha Park Village, delivered by leading home builder, Springfield.

Disability charity, Capability Scotland, has moved a step closer in building its new Bertha Park facility, replacing the existing Upper Springland development in Perth.

The agreement sets out a joint responsibility to negotiate a development plan to construct the facility.

It marks a key milestone in the venture – which has been named Our Inclusive Community Project (OICP). The development will look beyond simply building new housing but will develop facilities and initiatives that give residents and wider service users greater opportunities to participate and flourish as part of a growing, new community.

Springfield– which recently became the first UK housebuilder to complete the Next Generation Core Sustainability Benchmarking Initiative – has grand ambitions for the site.

Innes Smith Springfield Chief Executive, said: “Our vision for Bertha Park has always been to include everything a community needs to thrive. It is already home to around 500 houses, across a range of tenures, a Microsoft flagship high school, a local shop and destination playpark. The village has been recognised for a prestigious national sustainability award and has been named the best development in Scotland.

“Now, working with the great team at Capability Scotland, it’s our shared plan to introduce one of the most sophisticated care sites in the entire country to the Bertha Park community.

“Already we have had a number of ideas for the care facility, and we hope to secure an agreement very soon to take this project to the next step.”

It’s hoped that once a development plan has been successfully negotiated, ownership of the site will transfer to Capability Scotland upon handover of the completed site by Springfield.

The partnership aims to submit a planning application to the local council by the end of this year.

Brian Logan, Capability Scotland Chief Executive, said: “Agreeing to sign this land exclusivity agreement is a significant milestone in making OICP at Bertha Park a reality for Capability Scotland and the people we support.

“There is much work ahead of us as we move towards a detailed planning application, but it is great to have this piece of the jigsaw in place.

“Such opportunities to develop services and facilities from a blank canvas are rare, and we look forward to the next steps, working with the people we support, their families, our colleagues and our strategic partners to bring about an exemplar facility which will deliver first-class care and support for disabled people.”

Residents from Capability Scotland’s existing facility at Upper Springland – all of whom will be relocated to the new site at Bertha Park – attended workshops alongside family members, staff and the wider community to co-produce how the facility will look, and what it will offer to its service users.

Aside from integrating disabled people into their local communities, other strong concepts identified in the workshops included: accessibility, greater deployment of assistive technologies to enhance people’s lives, more training and staff development, creating useable outdoor spaces and the importance of good natural light, air quality and temperature.

Renowned Scottish architects Anderson Bell + Christie launched their vision for Bertha Park last month, sharing the progress made to date and unveiling the masterplan for the exciting new facility.

The Upper Springland campus, on Isla Road, has three registered care homes and offers residential and respite care to 60 adults with physical disabilities and learning disabilities. There is also a day service – as well as a hydrotherapy pool, theatre and walled gardens.

Located just over four miles from Upper Springland, Bertha Park is a major expansion of Perth, with new homes, community facilities, workplaces, landscaped open ground and integrated infrastructure including footpaths and cycle routes.

Capability Scotland is a charity delivering care, support, and education for disabled children and adults across Scotland. It has a range of facilities and services across the country which helps its customers achieve the best outcomes in their lives, no matter their needs.

Springfield recently picked up two accolades at The WhatHouse? Awards for its flagship villages in Perth and Dundee.

https://oicp.capability.scot/

https://www.springfield.co.uk/

Tom Coolen, Fife Flyers’ new coach, stood on the terracing and watched as his new players skated with the fans after the club’s 3-1 home victory over Dutch touring side, Tilburg Trappers, at The Fife Ice Arena.

He was delighted that the club organised a Skate with Flyers session after Saturday’s game and Coolen believes these events are really important for the supporters who are getting to know an entirely new group of players.

He said: “The association and connection with the fans and the young kids is so important and we can’t do this alone. We just be successful without the management, without a good team and without the support of the fans.

“We need everybody. Everybody needs each other and that’s what it takes to be successful here and that is what we have got to have.” 

Canadian-born Coolen also said it was good to get a first win at home.” The Canadian playcaller, who once iced in The Netherlands, recalled that his men lost 3-2 in overtime in what he called “a great game against Dundee last weekend”.

The clash with Tilburg had a different twist, he added, as it was not a game against a domestic competitor. He added: “They (Tilburg) have some quality players. This was not a cakewalk. Some guys may have expected it to be a little easier than it was, but hockey is never easy.

“I thought we controlled the pace of the game and I thought we controlled the puck more and thought we had a lot more chances. We just did not take them. We also had great possession time and we won the game, which was great.”

Coolen is continuing to evaluate the squad and he confirmed they have 17 imports. He added: “I am keeping my evaluation to myself right now but I saw things that I liked (against Tilburg) and some things I didn’t like but, all in all, I am positive and it was great to see a first win at home. We just keep going forward.”

PICTURE: Action from Flyers v Trappers courtesy of the Elite League

Nick Montgomery, Hibs’ new manager, looked back on the side’s 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock and admitted: “It feels like two lost points.”

The Easter Road men led 2-0 in the cinch Premiership at Rugby Park thanks to an own goal after eight minutes and a Dylan Vente strike on 59 minutes and Montgomery told Hibs TV that he was proud of the determination and effort shown by the men who were on the park.

Killie netted after 61 and 79 minutes and Montgomery added: “It was a real competitive game at a difficult place to come on a difficult pitch that they (Kilmarnock) used to their advantage.”

He felt that Hibs had opportunities in the first half and the opposition goalkeeper made several telling stops but added: “2-0 is a dangerous score-line. We had a couple of half chances to kill the game off, but you can’t switch off.

“At 2-0 up, David (Marshall) made a great save, we didn’t react to the second phase and it was a good finish. At 2-1 we had more chances to put the game to bed, but we didn’t do it.

“They put balls in the box and played for corners as they are very good in those situations. They have good delivery, some big players.” From a set-piece, Killie levelled.

Montgomery said: “I want to credit the boys, though. It was a good performance and the boys stuck to what we worked on in the week. We’ve got disappointed boys in there (the dressing-room) but that’s good, it shows me that the mindset is what I asked them.”

LIBRARY PICTURE

March in Edinburgh calls for a transition away from fossil fuels.

Climate campaigners marched through Edinburgh today to demand that the UK and Scottish Governments develop a plan for a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels. 

The protestors demand action to phase out oil and gas in the UK including a halt to controversial projects like the Rosebank oil field and a new gas-fired power station in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. 

Organisers say that there must be a fair and fast transition for the workers and the communities most affected by the move away from fossil fuels and these people should be at the heart of planning this transition to ensure it meets their needs.  

Craig Gordon aims to take part in a full training session with Hearts this week as he continues to recover from the double leg break he suffered against Dundee United last December.

The Scottish international goalkeeper (pictured at The Oriam by Nigel Duncan) provided the update on Hearts TV and the veteran stopper said that he had the gloves on last week.

He added that he now looks forward to saving some shots and added: “We’ll see what reaction there is to that.”

Gordon, the club’s captain, watched the 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle in the cinch Premiership, a result which head coach, Steven Naismith, said was “very, very pleasing”.

He added that the team needed to provide something for the supporters to cheer and they provided that.

Naismith felt his men started the game well and caused Aberdeen more problems that the Dons did to them and he added: “It was a competitive game. We get the first goal which was really good and throughout the game we managed it very well.

“We made brave passes that we need to play. This was a collective and the boys who came on as subs did really well so overall pleasing.”

Director celebrates making a positive impact on tenants’ lives.

From trainee to Director of Customer Experience, Tracey Howatt looks back on a career spanning almost four decades.

Beginning her career with Bield at the age of 17, Tracey has amassed an impressive 37 years with the housing and care provider.

Joining the organisation as a housing trainee in 1986, her vast experience covers all aspects of supporting applicants and tenants, from Housing Officer to Housing Services Manager for regions across Scotland.

Appointed as Director of Customer Experience in early 2022, Tracey is now responsible for implementing Bield’s customer portal, as part of their digital strategy, as well as working with communities to transform how the 5000+ tenants interact with and access Bield’s services.

Tracey said: “This year’s theme for Scottish Housing Day is celebrating housing as a career, and I know first-hand how rewarding that can be. Working at Bield has given me so many fantastic opportunities for personal and professional growth.

“When I joined Bield after leaving high school, I didn’t know what to expect. I had the choice between a trainee role in support services or housing, choosing housing is a decision I’ve not regretted.

“I’ve helped hundreds of people across Scotland access suitable housing, there is nothing better than the joy on people’s faces when you’ve helped someone to find housing which can allow them to live the life they want.”

The Edinburgh based charity facilitates independent living with around 180 developments across Scotland. In her time as Housing Services Manager, Tracey worked with developments in Fife, Tayside, Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Lothian, the Borders and North and South Lanarkshire.

Tracey continued: “Working with tenants is, and always has been, my favourite part of my job. Listening to how our services impact their lives is vital to ensuring we provide the best possible experience.

“Bield has transformed significantly since I first joined. In the 90s we implemented Bield’s first computerised system, which was so new and exciting back then.

“Now we’re working to launch our new online customer portal, My Bield, and using innovative technology in our digital hub in Linlithgow.”

Last year, Bield secured £75k of funding from the Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) project which aims to improve the way technology is used in housing and care for older people. Bield has used some of this funding to open the digital hub at its West Port development.

Dr Lynne Douglas, CEO at Bield, added: “Tracey has been an indispensable member of the Bield team for years and it is no surprise that she has risen through the ranks and is continuing to innovate and add value to us as an organisation.

“We truly believe in providing opportunities for our colleagues to develop their personal and professional skills.

“A career in housing is so rewarding, and has a positive impact on so many people; Tracey is living proof of that. She has played a pivotal role in delivering a number of exciting projects, and we’re excited to see what the future brings.”

Scottish Housing Day is celebrated across Scotland on 13 September, and this year celebrates housing as a career, raising awareness of the different routes into the sector and why it is such an impactful profession.

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible and high-quality housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care is one of the largest housing and support providers in Scotland, has around 180 developments.

https://www.bield.co.uk/ 

Nicola Lamb (19) will lead out a 50-strong team raising funds for Edinburgh cancer charity It’s good 2 give at this year’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk.

Nicola’s older sister Joanna Lamb died in 2019 aged 18, and the cancer charity created The Joanna Lamb Award for Outstanding Volunteering in her memory and all the work she did as a volunteer.

The charity explain why they named the award in her honour: “Joanna’s bright and friendly personality and love of sport will always be remembered by us and her family are still a huge part of the It’s good 2 give. They are very much involved in lots of our projects and her dad, Alan plays a big part in the presentation of this award.”

Nicola, who works with the charity as a fundraiser and volunteer recruitment adviser, will be joined on the walk by her mother Angela who works for the headline sponsor Royal Bank of Scotland.

It’s good 2 give supports the physical and mental well-being of young cancer patients and their families in Scotland. The charity delivers vital work in communities across Edinburgh and Glasgow, having recently raised more than £1m to provide specialist psychologists, available through NHS services, to help cancer patients and their families navigate the mental-health challenges presented by a diagnosis.

The charity provides practical assistance through parent and patient packs containing essential supplies for hospital stays such as clothing and personal hygiene products. Recently, the charity introduced a provision of dolls featuring no head hair so that children undergoing cancer treatment can play with a toy that they feel represented by.

The charity also operates the ‘Ripple Retreat’ which offers young cancer patients and their families a chance to unwind during the most challenging of times, in soothing natural surroundings on the shores of Loch Venachar in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Stays at the Ripple Retreat are entirely free, backed by fundraising efforts from volunteers such as Nicola.

Nicolasaid: “The Kiltwalk events are such a brilliant opportunity each year for us to raise money at It’s good 2 give.

“Every good idea needs a name, so I started Nic’s Nifty Fifty to try and get 50 volunteers together to represent the charity at this year’s Kiltwalk. I’m delighted to say we are making great progress and we’re well on track to hit more than double the target! I’d like to welcome anybody who would like to join the team to sign-up. It’s really easy and you just need to put ‘Nic’s Nifty Fifty’ as your organisation at sign-up.

All of our walks are of course dedicated in memory of my sister Joanna. The Kiltwalk provides a wonderful opportunity to get active, spend time with friends and family and raise money for some brilliant causes. I can’t think of a more fitting way to honour my sister’s legacy.”

A 26-strong team from Johnston Carmichael, including ten graduates from the Audit team, will lace up their boots for Scotland’s favourite mass participation charity event this Sunday, raising funds for Children’s 1^st. 

With a culture of investing in its people, and inspiring leaders and future leaders, the firm is also committed to supporting the communities in which its 850-plus people work and live and through Kiltwalk it has raised over £45,000 to date for numerous charities across Scotland.  

The accountancy and business advisory firm has been a gold sponsor of the Kiltwalk, which takes place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen, for seven years. In addition to each office nominating a local charity, the firm encourages its people to select a charity close to their hearts.  

Audit Partner Grant Roger and his family have chosen to support LGBT Youth Scotland as they take on the 15-mile Big Stroll from Musselburgh to Murrayfield Stadium at Sunday’s event. 

Grant has completed the walk every year since joining the firm in 2017 and has supported different local charities each year, including STV Children’s Appeal, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and Maggie’s Edinburgh. He believes it is important to give back to those less fortunate than himself and this year his three children, Ailsa, Katy, and Maeve, chose the charity. 

He explained: “My kids have supported me over the years, coming along to cheer me on during the walk, and this year all three are old enough to take part in the longer walk.They’ve been learning about equality in school, and they recognise thatdiscrimination still exists toward young people within the LGBTQ+ community sothey’ve decided that we should walk in aid of LGBT Youth Scotland.

“Walking for six or seven hours is not a lot in the grand scheme of things and the money I have raised over the years goes towards helping peoplewho may be struggling or those who are in a less fortunate position than we are as a family.” 

LGBT Youth Scotland is Scotland’s national charity for LGBTQ+ young people and works with 13–25-year-olds across the country to support them to flourish and thrive in all aspects of their lives through the provision of youth work and supporting LGBTQ+ young people to use their voice and create change. 

Nurturing, celebrating, and developing the individuality of its people, is integral to the culture at Johnston Carmichael and this goes beyond the company and intothe communities where it works. The firm aims to raise the aspirations and achievements of young people and it recently announced a partnership with Netball Scotland, to strengthen the reach and profile of netball in Scotland and engage a lost generation of players, particularly girls, who missed out on the sport due to the pandemic. 

Supporting Netball Scotland and sponsoring Kiltwalk is part of the firm’s ambition to leave a legacy for future generations and this goes beyond fundraising. Events like Kiltwalk bring people from different stages of their careers together, which helps build camaraderie.

Grant said: “Since I joined Johnston Carmichael, I’ve always felt it was important to take part because the Kiltwalk is great for team building and I encourage our young graduates to get involved too. It’s a good way to meet and bring many people from across the company together at different levels of seniority, allowing junior andmore experienced team members to do something challenging together.” 

To sponsor Grant and his family and support LGBT Youth Scotland click here. 

Former Lord Provost Frank Ross is taking part in the Kiltwalk this year.

He explained his motivation for taking part in the fundraiser. He said : “I am taking part in this years Kiltwalk (26 miles) for Leuchie House National Respite Centre because the centre offers a great service for my wife Hannah and others.”

Hannah suffers from MS and attends Leuchie House which is based in North Berwick and has lovely grounds four times a year for a respite break for her and the family. Leuchie House is dedicated to supporting people living with the long-term effects of conditions such as MS, MND, Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions through individualised respite breaks, and by providing an essential break for carers. With their specialist team, an enabling approach, the stunning location in the East Lothian countryside and the beautiful house, for short breaks with 24 hour care, Leuchie House really is one of a kind.

Frank said: “The quality of care that Hannah receives there is fantastic and that, combined with fine dining, a range of activities and trips out to the local area makes it a truly invigorating experience. 

In order to help support Leuchie I have entered the Edinburgh Kiltwalk and will complete the Big Stride (21 miles) on Sunday 27Sept.. the route commences at Bingham and finishes at Murrayfield Stadium. To date I have received tremendous support from friends, family and colleagues, past and present, but there is always time for more donations.

Make your donation to Frank’s cause here.

‘Edinburgh Style’ is back at St James Quarter this month for its third season, focusing on fashion in Edinburgh’s lifestyle district in partnership with Grazia magazine.  

From Friday 29 September to Sunday 1 October, St James Quarter will play host to an array of must-attend events, curated for the fashion lovers and beauty aficionados of Edinburgh. 

Across the stylish weekend, guests can attend an exciting lineup of free fashion talks, styling workshops, and beauty masterclasses featuring world renowned brands. For those prepping their wardrobe for Autumn / Winter, the fashion team at Grazia will be hosting a series of intimate styling sessions, sharing their fashion and accessory must-haves for the season ahead.  

There will be two catwalk shows on Saturday 30 September at 4pm and 6pm on Level 3 in the Galleria. Models will be taking to the runway, showcasing the newest looks fresh off the rails from retailers including John Lewis, H&M, & Other Stories and BOSS, as well as Harvey Nichols on Multrees Walk. For those seeking a truly VIP experience, the closing show, which will be styled by the Grazia team also offers live entertainment. While tickets are not essential, guests can reserve their free spot via the St James Quarter app.  

John Lewis will have its own fashion and beauty events as part of its MYJL Members’ Week in collaboration with top influencers Nadine Baggott, Clarissa Rae and Nicole Ocran.  

H Beauty is bringing back its H Beauty Carnival, including everything from expert sessions on how to perfect the ultimate glowing look with the Charlotte Tilbury team to how to get runway ready with the experts from Pat McGrath.  

The H Beauty Carnival will also feature special appearances from social media it girl Emily Shak and celebrity makeup artist Neil Young who will be revealing their ultimate style and beauty tips. For more information and to book a free ticket, visit the H Beauty website here.  

Don’t forget to download the St James Quarter app to stay in the loop with all things Style.  

Susan Hewlett, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “This year, we’re bringing some of the most trusted voices in the fashion and beauty world straight to St James Quarter with the return of Edinburgh Style. Over the course of the weekend, we will be hosting an array of exclusive fashion workshops, beauty masterclasses, immersive in-store experiences, and not one, but two runway presentations.  

“This is the second year we’ve partnered with Grazia, and we can’t wait to show the fashion team all that the stylish city of Edinburgh has to offer. We’re inviting everyone to enjoy our packed schedule of unmissable events and celebrate their own unique style. Make sure you clear your diaries!”

A monumental mural depicting Sir William Wallace and his Scottish army in a medieval battle has been unveiled.

The 36 x 13 ft mural commemorates the 1298 Battle of Falkirk in which Wallace was defeated by England’s King Edward I.

Falkirk’s own hero, Sir John de Graeme, is said to have been carried slain from the battlefield by Wallace, who vowed to avenge his death.

The vast scene was painted by Chris Rutterford — the artist responsible for numerous Edinburgh murals including the spectacular Colinton Tunnel. It took over six months to complete and depicts a Scottish schiltron (a body of troops) in the moments before battle.

It features the faces of over 100 people from around Scotland who helped crowdfund the project in return for appearing as combatants alongside Wallace and de Graeme.

The colourful artwork forms a new backdrop to the recently refurbished Sir John De Graeme memorial fountain in Falkirk’s Victoria Park, erected in 1912.

The mural will also form part of an official trail to celebrate Wallace in Falkirk, due to open next year.

David Reid, convener of The Society of John de Graeme, said it was important to mark the battle fought 725 years ago, despite Wallace’s defeat on 22 July 1298.

Mr Reid, who appears as De Graeme in a battle pose in the mural, said: “The Battle of Falkirk is often overlooked because Wallace and the Scots were defeated, but the battle and its outcome played a pivotal role in Scottish history.

“The mural will help draw attention to the story of the battle.

“When I look at this new mural I see not only the faces of those who helped crowdfund this project but also those who fought and died for Scotland’s cause in 1298. It’s as if they have given faces to those people, whose sacrifice should never be forgotten.”

Artist Rutterford, whose previous crowd murals have included Edinburgh’s Hogmanay in the heart of the capital and a stunning crowd scene at Reading Football Club, said the Battle of Falkirk was his “most spectacular mural yet”.

He added: “The mural shows a moment of optimism before the battle, going in with hope and expectation.

“I really wanted to get a feeling of poignancy because the Scots who turned up to the Battle of Falkirk over 700 years ago, did so because it was a cause that mattered to them.

“I think it’s my best crowd mural yet.”

The Battle of Falkirk was fought less than a year after Wallace’s famous victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

King Edward I assembled a massive army of more than 20,000 men and destroyed the Scots ranks with arrows from their longbows.

De Graeme — Wallace’s right hand man at Falkirk — is said to have been killed by an enemy who struck from behind through a gap in his armour.

His body was laid to rest in Falkirk Kirkyard, where his tomb can still be seen. Others killed included Sir John Stewart and the ‘Men of Bute’, 600 archers who came from Bute and fought under Stewart’s command but were wiped out.

Wallace was captured in 1305, dragged to London and hanged, drawn and quartered.

A call for bold, sustained action from international partners to deliver on climate pledges and support Global South nations hit hardest by climate change will be First Minister Humza Yousaf’s focus as he arrives in New York on Sunday for Climate Week NYC.

The First Minister will meet with Under2 Coalition Co-Chairs for the first time on Sunday, ahead of giving a keynote speech at the Climate Week NYC Hub on Monday.

He will use the speech to call on other governments and cross-sector organisations to not only pledge, but mobilise loss and damage funding.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “For communities across the world, new climate shocks often arrive before there is time to recover from the last – and the recent UN stocktake of global climate action emphasises that loss and damage risks are still growing.

“It’s clear that Scotland can play a significant role in calling for greater international action as an outward-looking nation which has already shown global leadership. We have already put people at the heart of our international climate action, and will be calling on others to join us.

“Scotland has demonstrated that we are prepared to walk the walk where many others, to this point, have merely talked the talk. Collective action is needed to tackle the climate emergency and address the devastating effects of climate change, in particular loss and damage.

“Eleven years ago, we launched the world’s first dedicated Climate Justice Fund, which remains the only government-led climate justice fund in the world – something we’d like to help change.”

Under-strength Fife Flyers, minus Jonas Emmerdahl, Johan Eriksson and James Spence, earned a 3-1 victory over Dutch tourists Tilburg Trappers at The Fife Ice Arena.

The sides were deadlocked after the first session but coach Tom Coolen’s (pictured) men then skated to a 2-0 lead. Anthon Eriksson opened the home side’s account only 44 seconds into the middle session and Max Humitz made it 2-0 in the 36th minute.

Tilburg pulled one back on the power play with less than two minutes remaining, Giovanni Vogelaar providing the finishing touch to heap pressure on the home side.

And the outfit from The Netherlands gambled by withdrawing their netminder in a bid to salvage a draw but it backfired when Reece Harsch hit the empty net with 34 seconds remaining.

Elsewhere, Glasgow Clan, beaten 5-2 by Belfast Giants at Braehead on Friday, earned revenge with a 3-1 victory against Giants in Northern Ireland on Saturday, Jake Bolton with a double and Darien Craighead scoring for the Glasgow side.

On Sunday, Fife entertain CSM Brasov from Romania (18.00) and Dundee Stars host Tilburg (17.00) and the Tayside team beat CSM Brasov 7-3 on Saturday at the Dundee Ice Aena.

Grange opened the defence of the men’s Scottish Hockey Premiership with a 3-1 victory over Dundee Wanderers at Fettes, but Western Wildcats signalled their intentions on the opening day of the domestic campaign.

Stevie Grubb, Grange’s coach, said: We had a slow day in front of goal. Our build-up play was, at times, very good but the combinations up-front took time to settle into the game. The second-half saw us gain control and dominate possession.”

Dundee Wanderers arrived with a plan and made life difficult, said Grubb, who added: “They made a few opportunities for themselves and we have a few things to work on at training, but we definitely have strong platform to build on.”

Western travelled along the M8 to The Mary Erskine School and came away with a 6-2 win against Inverleith thanks to doubles from Fraser Moran and Cammy Moran and singles from Luc Hermsen and Jack McKenzie.

Experienced goalkeeper, Gavin Sommerville, said they created a lot of chances in the first-half and added: “We were quite comfortably on top, but a combination of wasted opportunities and excellent goalkeeping kept the score to 3-0 going into the break.

“Quarter three continued in a similar vein with Western adding two more goals but both teams tired in the fourth quarter and it was a frenetic period characterised by more space to play in.

“Cammy Moran finished an excellent flowing move for Western before Inverleith scored twice in quick succession, the first an excellent strike from the top of the D by Charlie Jack.”

He added: “We are pleased to get the season off to a winning start and it is a much-changed team that starts the season compared to the one that finished the last.

“It’s been brilliant to see our young players developing and stepping up to the task and we look forward to welcoming more players back over the coming weeks to bring us to full strength.”

Uddingston, under new coach Tom Hyndman, a club stalwart, lost 1-0 at Clydesdale.

In the women’s Premiership, Lexie McMillan made a real impression on her debut for Uddingston, the teenager, who is just starting university, netting twice.

She has already made her mark at under-age international level for Scotland and her first goal here came after two minutes.

The teenager netted again later, scoring Uddingston’s third, and her double goals helped the Lanarkshire side to an encouraging 5-3 win at Gordonians.

There were some anxious moments for new head coach Gareth Ikin (pictured right with other Uddingston coaches, Anna McWilliams, Tom Hyndman and Simone Upman) as the Aberdeen team, 4-1 down at one stage, battled back to 4-3 with just over seven minutes remaining.

Elsewhere, The University v Glasgow University and the University of St Andrews v Hillhead fixtures were both postponed and Grange thrashed Inverleith 6-0 and Western Wildcats beat Glasgow rivals GHK 2-0.

Under-strength Watsonians edged rivals Clydesdale Western 2-1 with goals from Scottish international Sarah Jamieson in the first quarter and Ailsa Small at the end of quarter three.

Anna Hoolaghan pulled one back for the home side with a corner deflection in the last few minutes and Keith Smith, Watsonians coach, admitted his side were “a bit nervy”.

It was, he added, a scrappy first half but the Edinburgh side were more composed in the second and he said: “The game should probably have been out of sight by the time they scored as we had three or four big chances that we couldn’t convert.

“I’m happy with the points especially as we were missing eight of the squad through injury and unavailability.”