The latest environmental award has been made to Greenbank Parish Church which now has an Eco-Congregation Scotland gold award.

This has been awarded to Greenbank for the ways that the congregation has been in solved in sustainable practical work, including their move to invite guests to preach on Sunday about a variety of eco topics to encourage discussion and action. In addition, the church now has a hydrogen enabled boiler, and congregation member Karen Young collected 217 bags of rubbish from the roadside during lockdown. Mrs Young also created a nature garden in the Blue Zone at COP26 for the World Leaders’ Summit. Parts of the garden will be displayed at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The church on Braidburn Terrace has Fairtrade status and has run a stall for 10 years which sells teas, coffees and a wide variety of other products to help producers make a sustainable living. 

Fairtrade commitments are linked to the congregation’s concerns for church partners across the world.

Assessors noted that the Eco-Group highlighted the impact of climate change on the world’s poorer nations, explaining the challenges faced by small-scale, low income farmers in particular, during the Fairtrade Foundation’s 2021 ‘Virtual’ Fairtrade Fortnight.

Those attending were encouraged to read a document produced by Fair Trade called “A Climate of Crisis: Farmers, Our Food and the Fight for Justice”.

Assessors also noted that church members participated in the Kilombero Rice Challenge in support of African rice producers to market their product.

Alison Muirson another member of the Greenbank congregation works with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and was part of the collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council and the National Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland who completed the £8 million renovation of Saughton Park.

David Jack, a member of the church’s Eco Group, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised for our efforts to make a difference in the fight against climate change.

“The crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our age and the consequences are severe for those in low income parts of the world who have done the least to cause it.

“We all have a small but crucial part to play to try and prevent or minimise the devastating effects of climate change on our brothers and sisters.”

Recalling the beginnings of the congregation’s journey, Mr Jack said: “A small number of participants built up the range of activity from early Fairtrade commitments to modest green initiatives in the church grounds, awareness raising on lifestyle choices and climate change, and a number of one-off events.

“The momentum grew rapidly to the point where the whole ethos of the congregation is now characterised by eco principles – travel, ethical purchasing, greener energy use, organic and vegetarian food consumption and other themes.

“The starting point for most of Greenbank’s action now is ‘how do we ensure that this initiative demonstrates our commitment to Care for Creation?’”

Judith Macleod, Eco-congregation Scotland programme co-ordinator, said: “We really were very impressed with the Greenbank Eco-group and feel they thoroughly deserve the gold rather than the silver that they applied for.”

The report below is produced by The City of Edinburgh Council’s EdinTravel team and will show you what to look out for on the roads in the capital in the next week.

The BBC reported over the weekend that their Freedom of Information request to the government found that there is a £77 million backlog in road repairs in Edinburgh out of a total bill of £1.7 billion for the whole of Scotland.

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If you see anything on the roads which is not on the list then let the travel team know on Twitter @EdinTravel

Updated versions of the listings are posted to the website most weekday afternoons, these can be found by going to https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edintravel

Hidden Door is more than a music festival with visual art, dance, theatre and spoken word included in the mix. This year’s festival promises more than 200 new and emerging artists all performing in the A listed building and the grounds around it – which has lain empty since 1968.

Taking place from 9 to 18 June Hidden Door have yet again found a unique venue to bring back to life with their individual mix of the arts. As well as stages both indoor and out, Pianodrome will begin its four month stay with a specially built amphitheatre created from upright pianos. The music performed there will be from Sink whose Tim Vincent-Smith is behind the creation which has graced the Botanics, and Pitt Street in recent years, as well as Mike Keaney and Friends Improvathon and producer The Reverse Engineer.

David Martin, Creative Director of Hidden Door, said: “I believe this is the most ambitious programme Hidden Door has put on so far, and reflects the sheer amount of talent and creativity that has been starved of opportunities over the last two years and is raring to go.

“We have designed our programmes by putting out ‘Open Calls’, where we invite artists of all these different disciplines to tell us about their new work, and how they would show it at Hidden Door. We have been completely inundated with submissions and it has been genuinely exciting to read through so many inspiring proposals.

“It is going to be incredible to bring so many of Scotland’s best new emerging artists into the Royal High School building, and see it burst into life. We are privileged to live in a country with so much creative talent and Hidden Door is doing what it can to ensure that talent has an opportunity to announce itself to the world at an early stage. There is going to be so much energy at this year’s Hidden Door Festival.”

On the outdoor stage, 90s indie-dance pioneers Saint Etienne, soul-pop singer Yellow Days, modern instrumental music group Portico Quartet, Edinburgh music collective Tinderbox Orchestra, spoken word post-punk band Dry Cleaning, alternative folk rock collective This is the Kit, and maveric punk electro group Warmduscher will each headline a different night.

Inside, audiences will be able to see electro-punk solo artist LoneLady, London electronic group Real Lies, six piece Alt-rock band The Joy Hotel, Scottish hip-hop rising star Billy Got Waves, and genre-hopping dance band PVA.

Down in the basement, music label Hobbes Music, Edinburgh radio station EHFM and women and non-binary DJ collective Sisu will each host residencies showcasing their roster of talent.

Visual Art

Amy Harrison will create a site-specific piece with mirrors, lights and paintings responding to the Royal High’s architecture. Sax Shaw will also be responding to the space, creating a glass sculpture with light that casts colours onto the surrounding area.

Among the roster of Scotland’s best new artists are a number of international practitioners, with the programme reflecting the contribution they make to Scottish culture. This includes illustration from Jagoda Sadowska, her style combining her Polish background with East Asian aesthetics. Also celebrating her heritage, Soorin Shin will show Four Seasons, a series of architectural metal sculptures representing Korean Norigae charms.

Celebrating deep sea corals found off the coast of Scotland, Jodi Le Bigre will paste lithographic prints onto the walls. Meanwhile, Fraser MacBeath is creating an immersive audiovisual installation exploring the depopulation of the Hebrides.

Work will also be on display from three artists currently undertaking a graduate residency at the Leith School of Art, Molly Kent, Madeleine Wood and Jack Whitelock.

Dance

The central atrium will be transformed into a dance area with a specially constructed stage, where Taylor Han and Simone Seales will perform With Catastrophic Consequences blending dance and live music with audience suggestions to bring a cacophony of joy.

Elelei’s A Ciegas is a two person, immersive performance exploring the concept of sight. And Eowyn Emerald brings Sugared to the chamber, a fun and flirty piece that builds from a solo dancer to an ensemble of five.

Collective Endeavours is a group improvisation of dancers and musicians engaging with each other, the audience and the space.

Elsewhere on site, OCEANALLOVER will present Ecdysis, a boundary-pushing combination of dance, new music, costume and wonky choreography. House of Jack will perform The Unknown, a piece that explores stories of loss, loneliness, social anxiety and passive aggression.

Trio Nomoss will combine Butoh performance, sound art and vocal elements in their performance. And Alan Greig will take audiences with him into the venue’s tiny spaces as part of Within Reach, an intimate character performance.

Theatre

Seven theatre companies have been selected to perform at this year’s festival, with many performining in the Pianodrome.

Mystica Glamoor will be performing Between Revolutions, a cabaret inspired by the book The F*ggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions. Noah Tomson and Sakis Longoretti are staging The Great Pretender, a physical theatre show exploring imposter syndrome.

Sweætshops bring Witches Assembly to the Pianodrome, a multidisciplinary theatre piece exploring the social repercussions of the witch trials. Jess Brodie and Victoria Bianchi are staging Help Yourself, a two-hander based on the concept of a wellness seminar.

Dripping Tap Theatre will use the space to put on an experimental piece featuring buffon ballerinas interacting with the audience.

Elsewhere on site, Adrenalism will be presenting a satirical street theatre show about the climate crisis, toxic masculinity, violence and green washing. And SALTYDOLLS return to Hidden Door with TH4T’S CL4SS, a responsive piece exploring themes of class and meritocracy.

Spoken Word

Among those taking to the Pianodrome stage is Ale de Luis who will perform a collection of English poetic retellings of Spanish and Latin American myths and legends. 

Sean Wai Keung will be making a bit of a mess during KNEAD, where he tells stories of mixed-identity and bread-sharing while mixing, kneading and baking bread in front of the audience.

Imogen Stirling will perform extracts from LOVE THE SINNER, her collection of long-form spoken poetry with sung sections.

Oliver Robertson, who started performing spoken word during lockdown, will perform a selection of his poetry recounting tales from his upbringing in the East End of Glasgow.

And Miss Leading presents Another Universe, a poetic imagining of alternative lives set against the backdrop of lockdown.

Details of programme and tickets are here on the Hidden Door website.

Hidden Door has steadily grown in size and reputation since it began in 2014, when it cleared out the abandoned Market Street vaults to run a 9-day arts festival showcasing local creative talent. In 2015 the festival moved to a hidden courtyard behind Kings’ Stables Road, and returned in 2016, attracting over 12,000 visitors to experience a wealth of art, poetry, theatre, cinema, dance and music. In 2017 the festival breathed new life into the old Leith Theatre, attracting rave reviews and critical praise for resurrecting “Scotland’s best new live music venue”, winning VisitScotland’s Thistle Award for “Best Cultural Event”.

In 2018, the festival returned to Leith Theatre, also taking up residence in the derelict former State Cinema, just around the corner. A farewell weekend event took place at Leith Theatre in 2019.

During the pandemic, Hidden Door put on a series of online events, and returned with a bang to live events for a five-day outdoor event at Granton Gasworks in 2021.

Adam Brady ended Fife Flyers hopes of a weekend win double over fellow-strugglers Manchester Storm with a goal 2min 45sec into sudden death overtime at Kirkcaldy.

Coach Todd Dutiaume guided his men to a confidence-boosting 3-0 victory over Storm at Altrincham in the Premier Sports Elite League on Saturday, but the men from The Fife Ice Arena could not repeat that in front of their own fans despite Carson Stadnyk firing the home side into the lead after only four minutes.

Storm were level 30 seconds later when Tayler Thompson netted and tempers flared for the rest of the period with the scoreline remaining level.

It took Storm five minutes to move ahead 2-1 when Joe Hazeldine scored and Harry Gulliver made it 3-1 for coach Ryan Finnerty’s men ten minutes later.

Kristian Blumenschein pulled one back for the home side 37 seconds into the final session but 24 seconds after that Storm moved 4-2 ahead, Cameron Critchlow providing the finishing touch.

Fife, sponsored by UNISON Fife Helath Branch, dug deep and fought their way back into the game with two goals inside the final ten minutes. Skipper Matthew Carter (pictured) counted after 50min 56sec and Jacob Benson levelled at 4-4 with 2min 12sec left of the game.

Jonas Emmerdahl was called for boarding late in the game leaving Fife down to four skaters for the final two minutes but they survived the power play.

The game went to overtime with 26-year-old Canadian forward Brady taking centre stage after being set-up by Linden Springer and Tyson Fawcett.

Elsewhere, Latvian defenceman Kavils Ozols was the toast of Tayside after a glory double dumped Glasgow Clan, backed by Aspray Glasgow West, and earned revenge for Kitmart Dundee Stars after their 4-3 defeat at Braehead on Saturday.

Stars started on the offensive and opened the scoring after three minutes through Quinn O’Brien but Clan levelled through Colton Yellow Horn eight minutes later.

The visitors edged ahead 2-1 less than four minutes after that when Braylon Shmyr netted but battling Stars equalised six seconds from the end of the first session on the power play, Charlie Combs supplying the finishing touch.

And it took until the 36th minute for the net to bulge again, 28-year-old Ozols counting on the power play in a fiesty clash to edge Stars ahead 3-2.

The home side held the slender lead until the 51st minute when Guillaume Gauthier on the power play to level at 3-3 and set up a nervy finish.

Dundee dug in and Ozols netted his second and Stars’ fourth also on the power play with less than eight minutes left as tempers flared with Clan duo Mathieu Roy and Cody Sol both called for abusing game officials.

And Dundee capitalised when Gabriel Desjardins netted a fifth on 57min 35sec to secure the points and Kyle Haas rubbed salt in the wound with a sixth with three seconds left on the clock.

Elite League: Fife Flyers 4, Manchester Storm 5 (after sudden death overtime); Dundee Stars 6, Glasgow Clan 3

Hearts booked their place in the Scottish Cup Semi Finals at Hampden in fine fashion with a 4-2 victory over St Mirren at Tynecastle. 

The home side were 2-0 up and cruising by the half hour mark after goals from the dynamic midfield duo of Beni Baningime and Peter Haring. 

Eamonn Brophy gave St Mirren a lifeline nine minutes before the interval and when Ronan levelled the tie just after the hour mark, it would take a brave soul to call the winner at that stage. 

Aaron McEneff has not enjoyed much game time for Hearts this season, but he restored the Jambos’ advantage after 67 minutes, before Simms wrapped up the tie five minutes from the end.

All eyes were on the Hearts starting 11 an hour before kick-off to see how many of those injured in Saturday’s draw at Tannadice had recovered in time for the visit of St Mirren. 

The home side were still able to name a strong starting eleven, however could only name seven substitutes. John Souttar, Alex Cochrane, Cammy Devlin, Josh Ginnelly and Gary Mackay-Steven all missed out, joining Michael Smith on the treatment table.

After an early sight at goal for Eamonn Brophy was comfortably held by Craig Gordon, Barrie McKay forced the returning Jak Alnwick into his first save of the evening. The winger cut in from the left before taking aim, but the St Mirren stopper was able to beat it away. 

The deadlock was broken after just 16 minutes, and it was no surprise to see McKay at the heart of it. After driving at Richard Tait, McKay got his cross in, finding Simms at the front post. The Everton loanee couldn’t prod the ball home from a matter of yards, but the rebound fell to Baningime who smashed the ball home to grab his first goal in maroon and put the hosts in front. 

There hadn’t really been much between the sides in the early stages and on the half-hour mark, St Mirren somehow found themselves two goals down after some brilliant play from Hearts. Boyce picked out Woodburn on the right and his first-time pass was perfect for Peter Haring to side foot home Hearts’ second. 

In a first half of few chances, the third goal of the game arrived nine minutes before the break and this time it was for the visitors. Tait bombed down the right and his cross was expertly finished by Brophy to haul his side back into the tie. 

Brophy almost grabbed his second just two minutes later when getting on the end of Jordan Jones cross, before Craig Halkett rattled the underside of the bar for Hearts at the end of a pulsating first half. 

The game was finely poised at this stage with some nerves starting to creep into three quarters of Tynecastle, but the nerves were almost settled by Woodburn, who after a good advantage from referee Bobby Madden, picked up possession and drove towards goal. His effort deflected off Charles Dunne and forced a smart save from Alnwick. 

Hearts were warned on the hour mark that St Mirren were still dangerous and they didn’t learn their lesson. Jones and Kiltie were both denied by Gordon in quick succession, but the Scotland number one could do nothing to deny Connor Ronan after 62 minutes. The midfielder let fly from 25-yards, and his volley flew straight into the top corner to level the scores.

The Buddies weren’t level for long though and seconds after replacing Woodburn, Aaron McEneff put the home side back in front. Nathaniel Atkinson made good progress down the right flank and when his cross was cleared, the ball cannoned off the knee of McEneff and past Alnwick to spark wild celebrations.

Despite only having a slender one goal lead, Hearts were comfortable in the match, and they looked by far the likelier of the two sides to score next and so it transpired. 

Substitute McEneff was again involved, and his near post cross was turned home by Simms to restore Hearts’ two goal lead with five minutes to play and send the Jambos to Hampden. 

An Elias Melkersen double secured a third successive Scottish Cup semi-final appearance for Hibs at Fir Park this afternoon against a Motherwell side reduced to 10-men for almost all of the game.

Matt Macey returned to the starting XI along with midfielder Joe Newell while Norwegian teenager Melkersen made his first start.

Christian Doidge dropped to the bench and Jake Doyle-Hayes and Rocky Bushiri missed out altogether. Garry O’Connor’s  son Josh 17 was listed amongst the substitutes.

Skipper Paul Hanlon, Paul McGinn, Demetri Mitchell, Harry Clarke and Kyle Magennis are still injured along with striker Kevin Nisbet who is set for a long spell on the sidelines after a knee operation.

Hibs brought a massive support to the stadium and they witnessed probably the earliest sending off in the famous old tournament when Bevis Mugabe was rightly shown a red card for a reckless challenge on Josh Doig.

Jordan Roberts then should also have been sent off in the sixth minute for an equally reckless challenge on Drey Wright but Willie Collum decided a yellow card was sufficient.

Doig was then forced to leave the field with the injury picked up by Mugabe’s challenge and was replaced by Chris Mueller.

Well’ keeper then produced a fine save to deny Wright before Melkersen was shown a yellow card in the ninth minute for the use of an arm during a challenge.

Chris Cadden then did well to block a Kevin Van Veen effort and from the result two corners the hosts passed up two great chances to score.

Hibs then countered immediately and Sylvester Jasper did well down the right wing beating his marker then crossing into the danger area and Melkersen headed home at the front post to the delight of the travelling fans.

Hibs dominated possession then Jasper tried his luck from distance but was too high. The on-loan Fulham star then tested Kelly with superb cross from the left which the keeper did well to hold.

Hibs had a penalty claim for handball before Wright set up Lewis Stevenson but his shot was held by Kelly.

Hibs doubled their advantage in the 35^th minute with the same combination that gave them the lead. Jasper long ball found Melkersen who controlled it on his chest and fired a fine left foot strike into the bottom corner of the net.

Liam Donnelly was lucky to escape punishment for a reckless challenge on Jasper then just before the break a Roberts shot deflected off the chest of Joseph Efford in went in off the post.

Shortly after the restart Scott Allan replaced the injured Euan Henderson. Wright then set up Mueller who spun and shot but Kelly saved easily.

A mistake in the Hibs defence saw Donnelly collect that ball in midfield but his powerful long range effort flew just wide.

Hibs seemed content to keep possession but ‘Well looked dangerous on the break.

With 15-minutes remaining Darren McGregor and Christian Doidge replaced Melkersen and Mueller then Doidge got his head to a  Cadden cross but Kelly again managed to save comfortably.

Despite some late pressure from Motherwell Hibs held on to secure a deserved victory and a place in the semi-final.

Motherwell: Kelly, Mugabi, Solholm, Ojala, Lamie, McGinley, Donnelly, Cornelius, Efford, Roberts, Van Veen. Substitutes: Fox, O’Donnell, Carroll, Woolery, Shaw, Slattery, Amaluzor, Grimshaw, Tierney, Goss, Shields.

Hibs: Macey, Cadden, Porteous, Doig, Wright, Campbell, Newell, Stevenson, Henderson, Jasper, Melkersen. Substitutes: Dabrowski, Mitchell, Allan, McGregor, Doidge, Hauge, Mueller, Delferriere, Scott, O’Connor.

Grange let slip a 4-3 lead late in the game but kept their title hopes alive with a battling draw with long-time men’s Premiership pace-setters Western at Fettes College in Edinburgh.

Veteran Johnny Christie slotted the leveller eight eight minutes left after Jacob Tweedie had put the home side in front.

The home side move onto 34 points, five points adrift of the West of Scotland combine who remain unbeaten this season in all competitions.

Elsewhere, third-placed Edinburgh University were beaten 6-2 at Clydesdale who are a place and seven points behind the students who were 4-0 down at one stage.

Coach Hamish Imrie then removed his goalkeeper after scoring two goals but the move back-fired as the Titwood men scored two goals.

In the relegation section, Inverleith moved to the top of the section after a 2-1 win at previous pace-setters Uddingston while second-bottom Dundee Wanderers drew 3-3 with third-placed Hillhead.

Grove Menzieshill, who prop up the relegation group, were held 3-3 at Dundee by fourth-placed Kelburne.

Premiership: Grange 4, Western 4; Dundee Wanderers 3, Hillhead 3; Uddingston 1, Inverleith 2; Clydesdale 6, Edinburgh University 2; Grove Menzieshill 3, Kelburne 3; Dunfermline Carnegie 2, Watsonians 2.

PICTURE: action from earlier this season featuring Inverleith

Nolan LaPorte claimed the game-winner with 44 seconds as Glasgow Clan edged Scottish rivals Kitmart Dundee Stars 4-3 at Braehead in the Premier Sports Elite League despite being outshot 33-24.

Earlier, defenceman Mitch Jones fired Clan, sponsored by Aspray Glasgow West, ahead after 14 minutes and Braylon Shmyr added a second four minutes later.

Shmyr added a third 1min 03sec into the middle session but Stars hit back 11 seconds later from Seb Bengtsson.

Gabriel Desjardins claimed a second for the visitors in the 39th minute and the same player levelled with less than 11 minutes left .

Clan found a way to claim the two points and move Glasgow into fifth place in the ten-strong division.

Bottom club Fife Flyers sponsored by UNISON Fife Health Branch edged to within a point of second-bottom Manchester Storm with a 3-0 victory in the North-West thanks to two goals in the final seven minutes from Chris Lawrence (pictured) and Jacob Benson.

Earlier, Lawrence netted three seconds from the second break to edge the visitors ahead in a tense game in which Flyers were outshot 34-23.

The new exhibition at Birch Tree Gallery at 23a Dundas Street is called rather fittingly Awakening.

Gallery owner, Jurgita Galbraith said: “It is not just an awakening from a long winter, but an awakening from the hardships that Covid has brought us, things that should give us an uplifting feeling. Then why do I not feel that way? Sadly, there is also another awareness, that of a “Rude Awakening”. This rude awakening is of course caused by the horrors of the war in Ukraine. The images that come to us through the media are deeply disturbing. There is that feeling of helplessness, watching how a drama unfolds itself and feeling powerless to do anything.

“The very least we can do is expressing our solidarity which is why our white tree in front of the gallery is sprouting blue and yellow blossoms. 300 hundred flowers were lovingly installed by Monique, who is attending the gallery this week. It is our way of showing how much we care, showing moral support and expressing that the people of the Ukraine are in our hearts and minds.”

The exhibition “Awakening” has new uplifting work, it is bright and full of hope for the future. It brings together a variety of artists working in a variety of media. Oil painting is represented by Brenda Martin and Monique Dick. There are watercolours by Peter Davis, watercolour and ink by Pamela Grace and Susan Macintosh and mixed media by Glynnis Carter.
Ceramicist Janene Waudby smoke fires her vessels with sawdust, moss, seaweed and bracken, common to the Highlands. Printmaking is represented by Joshua Miles (reduction linocut and monotype) and last, but not least, glass artists Alison Jardine (glass vessels) and Samantha Yates (stained glass) show a colourful range of stunning pieces.

Click on the image below to see some images of the exhibition.

Over 75s, immunosuppressed individuals and those living in care home are now able to receive an additional Covid-19 booster vaccination as part of its efforts to protect those at highest risk from Covid-19.

People in these groups will be invited as they become eligible from at least 24 weeks after their last booster, with the first groups receiving appointments from this week.

Jane McNulty, Director of Nursing for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “We are delighted to offer this further vaccination to the most vulnerable to people in our society.

“The degree of protection the vaccine offers wanes over time, which is why booster vaccination is needed to maintain the best protection against Covid-19 for those at highest risk of severe effects of the virus.

“The spring booster will improve your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect your health and those around you.”

NHS Lothian will also start offering vaccinations to all children aged 5-11 in Lothian on Saturday 19 March, following its initial offering of the childhood vaccine to children most at risk from Covid-19 and children living with an immunosuppressed person.

Letters will be sent out to parents and carers in the coming weeks inviting them to bring their child to a child vaccination clinic in the Lothian area.

Paediatric vaccinators will be available at the clinics to answer any questions people may have about the Covid-19 childhood vaccine.

Parents and carers to do not need to contact NHS Lothian proactively to arrange an appointment.

Ms McNulty added: “The primary aim of our vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease, hospitalisation and mortality, arising from Covid-19.

“I encourage anyone who is still to have any dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.”

Established vaccination clinics for over 12s will continue to operate separately from these clinics, with NHS Lothian still encouraging all over 12s to get any outstanding vaccinations.

Over 18s can receive their first, second and booster vaccinations at all drop-in clinics. Those aged 12-17 can also attend for their second dose if it has been at least 12 weeks since their first dose and they have not tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 12 weeks.

More information on the 5-11 vaccination programme is available on NHS Inform.

https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/the-vaccines/vaccinating-children-aged-5-to-11-years/

Information on clinic locations and opening times for over 12s is also available on NHS Lothian’s website – https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx

When The City of Edinburgh Council meets on Thursday it will be the final meeting of the current administration and councillors will use the platform to send their support to Ukrainians and condemnation to Russia.

The all party proposal is to grant the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh to the Mayor of our twin city Kyiv, and to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, recognising the Russian invasion in to the country, and the heroic response from both men and the Ukraine.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We all stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people in fighting this oppressive Russian regime and we will do everything we possibly can to support them.

“Following the city summit I hosted with the Depute Leader last week, with the Acting Consul General for Ukraine and local community leaders, we are now setting out a series of steps we can take together as a city.

“As part of this, we’re bringing forward Motions to ask Councillors to stand with us in condemning Putin’s tyranny, and intend to offer the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh to the President of Ukraine and Mayor of Kyiv. By remaining in Kyiv, they are fighting side-by-side with their citizens against the Russian invasion, in a true defence of their nation. This is not just in recognition of their own leadership and bravery, but the bravery of all Ukrainians battling for their nation.

“With members’ agreement, we will write to the Home Office encouraging unrestricted refugee visas and local working to source host families to house refugees, with a focus on those with cultural and language understanding to best support unaccompanied children.

“The experiences of those fleeing their homes and their country is heart-breaking and we are looking at how we can help those who seek refuge, but we also need the Home Office to outline a plan.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh has a strong Scottish-Ukrainian population and many of us have heard stories from local friends and family members about the atrocities people in Kyiv and across Ukraine are facing. We pride ourselves on the warm welcome we offer to those in desperate need of our help and I hope we can drive forward support for refugees.

“The outpouring of grief and support from Edinburgh people has been incredible and we won’t stop flying the Ukrainian flag until the war is brought to an end. The Granton gasholder being lit up is yet another symbol of our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

“We want to show our admiration for the outstanding leadership of the President and of the Mayor of our twin city, Kyiv. They are standing by their constituents and their country and heroically leading Ukraine’s response to invasion.

“Parties of all colours have already told us they agree – the Freedom of the City is the highest civic honour we can offer Mr Zelensky and Mr Klitschko – and if confirmed with a formal vote next week we will be able to take this forward.”

Both Motions will be raised by the Council Leaders on Thursday, following a City Summit held last week with the Acting Consul General of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Church in Edinburgh, Police, ETAG and the University of Edinburgh to drive forward Edinburgh’s efforts.

The Council has already supported the Gas holder in Granton to be lit up blue and yellow and is flying the Ukrainian flag from the City Chambers. The Lord Provost has also written to the Mayor of Kyiv outlining Edinburgh’s deepest sorrow for events, and the Council is reviewing all investments and contracts for Russian ties.

The motions will read as follows:

“Joint award of Freedom of the City of Edinburgh on the Mayor of Kyiv and President of Ukraine:

“Commend the outstanding leadership of the Mayor of our twin City, Kyiv and the President of Ukraine who has remained in Kyiv to fight against the Russian invasion.

“Notes the heroism of the Ukrainian people, led by their President, members of parliament and Mayors from across the Country in fighting side-by-side to defend their nation.

“Agrees to confer the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh on Vitali Klitschko and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recognition of the above.”

The second motion reads:

Council condemns the horrific and illegal attacks on the Independence of Ukraine, their people, and their homes. Council also commends the Ukrainian people for their heroic defence of their land in fighting the illegal invasion.

Council agrees to withdraw all support and cooperation and any future invitations to the Russian Consulate with immediate effect. 

Council agrees to write to the Russian Ambassador, advising that the Russian Consul is no longer welcome in our city and wrote to the UK Foreign Office to requests the expulsion of Russian diplomatic staff from the City of Edinburgh.

Notes the Lord Provost has written to the Mayor of Kyiv, expressing our support and further meetings have taken place between the Council Leader, Deputy Leader and Lord Provost, City partnership and the Ukrainian acting Consul, along with local Ukrainian community leaders.

Further agrees to:

Ban all Russian arts and cultural events and performances in the City in Council-owned venues and encourage other venues in the City to do the same.

Write to the Home Office encouraging unrestricted refugee visas and locally working to source host families to house refugees, with a focus on those with cultural and language understanding to best support unaccompanied children, families and individuals.

Agrees to allocate up to £100,000 to help coordinate local efforts of humanitarian aid with the Edinburgh Partnership to maximise supplies to Ukraine and local infrastructure to facilitate donations and transport supplies to distributions centres in Poland and other locations.

Agrees to write to the MOD to request access to unused temporary accommodation for those travelling to Edinburgh from Kyiv and wider Ukraine in the knowledge that those people will overwhelmingly want to return to their Country when the war is over. 

Agrees officers will continue preparations to make sure that schools are prepared to continue children’s education who are coming to Edinburgh.

As she celebrated International Women’s Day earlier this week, one Edinburgh businesswoman is also marking 15 years of running one of the city’s most established self-catering holiday home providers.

With 77 exclusive properties available to rent through The Edinburgh Address, founder Anna Morris and her small team have carefully hand-picked each and every home to feature in the portfolio over the last 15 years. 

The Edinburgh Address’s homes have featured in publications such as Elle, Scottish Field Magazine and Homes & Interiors Magazine, and the team have picked up several awards, including the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award in 2022.

Not only did Anna establish The Edinburgh Address 15 years ago, she and her team launched Adore Scotland in 2020, offering some of the finest holiday accommodation all over the country. In 2015, Anna was part of a collective of women in Scotland who created Women in Tourism, with the aim to “inspire, motivate, encourage and support women across the sector; while advocating for greater gender balance across leadership roles within industry.”

Susan Russell, Founder & Chair of Women In Tourism said: “Anna’s passion and dedication to the industry was as evident when we founded Women in Tourism as it is now and I’m delighted that The Edinburgh Address has reached this milestone celebration. Anna’s leadership has driven not just the organisation, but the sector as a whole. It’s been my privilege to work with Anna over the years and my heartfelt congratulations to her and the full team on this fantastic achievement.” 

Years before AirBnb began dominating the self-catering holiday let world, Anna Morris founded her business which carefully hand-picks unique and luxury holiday homes around the city and markets on behalf of private owners and welcomes guests from all over the world.

But she points out that in recent years, while Edinburgh residents have spoken out about the rise in the number of holiday let homes around the city, the team at The Edinburgh Address has always believed in taking extra steps to ensure the neighbours of the holiday homes are always considered.

Anna reflects on her 15 years in business and what the future may hold for the self catering industry in Edinburgh:

“Celebrating this 15 year anniversary in 2022 is bittersweet for me, as my lovely wee award winning business, our employees and, the many local businesses we work with are threatened due to Edinburgh council’s short term let control zone.

“These are very difficult times for small local businesses involved in self catering in Edinburgh, of which there are many. We have been operating in harmony for decades with our neighbours and communities. I totally understand residents’ worries and indeed I recognise that there are examples of terribly bad experiences, but it is possible for good landlords and agencies to operate self catering across the city as a force for good for everyone. 

“I have dedicated most of my professional life to Edinburgh and Scotland’s tourism industry, I have completed the Destination Leadership Programme alongside some of the cities most well known tourism leaders, and was a founding board member of Women in Tourism. Covid-19 dealt a devastating blow to those of us in Tourism and Hospitality and many business owners have made personal sacrifices to get through and are still recovering. On top of this I am so sad that over recent months self catering has been so misunderstood and maligned.

“It breaks my heart that my team and peers who have passionately welcomed guests to our city and worked 24/7 to provide them with memorable experiences could be left jobless and have their livelihoods shattered. Caring and responsible owners will not be able to share their wonderful holiday lets with the public; owners for example who have their own artwork on the wall or who provide freshly made scones or hand picked Christmas decorations. These homes will sit empty.

“As self catering operators we are part of that diverse business offering. Our visitors crave authentic and unique experiences. Personally, my most memorable experiences on holiday have been being picked up by the charming owner of the self catering property we were renting in Verona – what a lovely welcome that was for two weary travelers. My most memorable dining experiences have been without fail in local small restaurants or cafes. 

“Our city needs a diverse offering of accomodation to cater for our diverse set of visitors and indeed our own Edinburgh residents who require accommodation if work is being done to their house or the corporate companies who need to place their employees in an apartment for a few weeks. 

“It will be a devastating blow to Scotland, Edinburgh, its visitors, residents and business owners if we are not allowed to continue operating. All we ask, as self catering agents, is to be treated fairly and for our owners who have been operating for many years in sensitivity with residents, even within tenements, to be allowed to carry on offering unique accommodation to guests who seek us out and come back year after year.”

Short Term Let Control Area

The City of Edinburgh Council set out in its Business Plan in 2017, when the SNP/Labour coalition came into power, that one of their 52 commitments would be to review short term temporary lets.

Last year the council ran a consultation asking what residents thought of their plans to change the way that properties let out on this basis are controlled by the planning system. The results showed that 88& of those who responded supported the principle of the designation of a Short Term Let area.

And in February the council approved the proposal which will make the city of Edinburgh a short term let area of control.

In future (and all of this is subject to government approval) any properties will require change of use from residential to a short term let.

Grange clash with long-time men’s Premiership leaders Western at Fettes College on Saturday (noon) in a must-win game for the Edinburgh side who are second in the table with 33 points, five points adrift of Western with both teams having played 14 games.

Grange lost 5-2 in the West of Scotland to Western earlier in the season, Andrew McConnell netting a treble, and were beaten 4-2 in last Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final also at Auchenhowie.

Unbeaten Western have scored 84 goals, the best total in the division, and let in 25, the second best behind Edinburgh University, in winning 12 games and drawing two.

Grange have scored 77 and let in 26 in their ten wins and three draws. They have lost once but a real danger man for the Edinburgh side is Fraser Heigh who has netted 34 goals in 14 league games.

He said: “The style of hockey we play and the calibre of players around me allows me to get good scoring opportunities every game.”

McConnell is also on form with 19 goals in ten games, missing the rest through injury.

Edinburgh University are third on 28 points having won eight and drawn four of their 14 games and they travel to Titwood to face sixth-placed Clydesdale who have 18 points from five wins, three draws and six defeats.

Watsonians, who are fourth, travel to former league leaders, Dunfermline Carnegie, one place and two points adrift of the Edinburgh side.

In the relegation section, leaders Uddingston host third-placed Inverleith, who are two points adrift of the Lanarkshire side, while bottom club Grove Menzieshill, who have four points, entertain Kelburne who are on 12 points, five ahead of second-bottom Dundee Wanderers.

Premiership: Grove Menzieshill v Kelburne (no time specified); Grange v Western (noon, Fettes College); Dunfermline v Watsonians (Woodmill High School, Dunfermline, 13.30); Dundee Wanderers v Hillhead (Dalnacraig, 13.30); Uddingston v Invereleith (Uddingston Cricket and Sports Club, 14.45); Clydesdale v Edinburgh University (Titwood, 15.00)

Picture from our library

GET YOUR SKATES ON AND CELEBRATE MOTHERS DAY IN PERTHSHIRE!

• A trip to Littles Restaurant in Blairgowrie could be a memorable event for mum.  

Having discovered the delights of Tik Tok Videos as a means of showing off its stunning location in a converted Church in Blairgowrie, along with its delicious food, Littles Restaurant is getting ready to look after mums and mother figures for Mothers Day.   

“Mothers Day this year is a very big event for the hospitality trade,” said Chef Proprietor, Willie Little.  “We have not been able to mark this most important date in the restaurant calendar for the past two years due to the pandemic. Mums and Grans were simply not able to celebrate with family members, it was really tough, as it’s always a highlight for many people, and in many ways heralds the end of the Winter and start of Spring.”

“Now we can plan a proper celebration, and we’d say to anyone why not bring your mum to Littles Restaurant?” continued Willie.  “We have a breath-taking interior with a simply beautiful stained glass window to admire whilst you are dining with us in our converted Church. We have a special Mothers Day menu offering two courses for £27.95, and three for £34.95.”

Featured choices include some of Littles most popular signature dishes – Whole Megrim Sole with sautéed potatoes, almonds and nut brown butter, Chicken Breast with Rosti potatoes, smoked bacon & Savoy cabbage and red wine gravy , and a fried fillet of lemon sole with chips and homemade tartar sauce. Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding is also available.

Willie loves to put a new spin on the food of yesteryear, and has a Mutton Broth as a starter, along with “Old Fashioned Prawn Cocktail”, plus his take on a much loved dessert – Mothers Day Sherry Trifle.       

“Since we re-opened after the last lockdown, we have been making tik tok videos of the inside and out of the church, plus certain dishes being prepared and served. It’s really fun – food can be theatre – and videos always receive good engagement. We’d like to thank all our regular customers who have supported us over the last two years,” said Willie. 

Willie finished by saying that his former Littles Restaurant at Wellmeadow in Blairgowrie was now his second fishmongers, Fish In Blair.

“This all came about due to the pandemic when we were doing a lot of fresh fish deliveries to the door from Fish in Crieff, our original fishmongers, and realised that demand was really strong here in Blair too. We started selling fish out of the old restaurant a couple of days a week so that local people here could access it, and word spread.”

“Fish in Blair is now a permanent fixture and continues to be well supported locally,” said Willie. “It’s the place to go if you want the freshest of fish to cook for yourself, or if you’d like to just sit back, come in to Littles Restaurant where myself, or one of my brigade of chefs will cook it for you – to perfection of course!”

www.littlesrestaurant.com.

Book for Mothers Day 12 noon til 6pm (last sit down) on 01250 875358. £10 deposit per table required (redeemed against booking).

According to new figures released today by The City of Edinburgh Council, only two Category ‘A’ listed buildings will remain ‘at risk’ in the World Heritage Site once current or planned restoration work is complete – down 14 from a decade ago.

In 2012, there were 16 Category ‘A’ listed buildings on the Buildings at Risk Register (BARR), which has been maintained by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) since 1990.

The buildings, which are deemed to be of ‘international significance’ and include Riddle’s Court, Acheson House and the former Donaldson’s School for the Deaf, have been repaired, refurbished and brought back into public use, following long periods lying vacant.

The Virgin Hotels development in the Old Town, which is due for completion in the spring, will remove four buildings from the register, including the landmark India Buildings and the 160 year old Cowgatehead Free Church, while the globally renowned Old Royal High School on Regent Terrace has planning permission in place to bring it back into use as a music school, saving five buildings in the process.

Planning Convener Neil Gardiner said: “We work extremely hard with our partners, including Edinburgh World Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland to protect our historic built environment, and with owners to support them to find the best outcome for their properties.

“Over the last ten years, we’ve helped developers make the best and most sympathetic use of many of our globally significant and architecturally stunning buildings so they can be enjoyed now and for future generations to come. 

“You only have to walk around the centre of our beautiful Capital city to see the progress being made and restoration works completed on the ground to breathe new life into these historic and iconic buildings.

“The plan for the Old Royal High School is a fantastic example of this, restoring it to its original glory as a place of learning for our young people. And, I’ve been very impressed by work on the upper floors of 30 Princes Street as a hotel with restoration of the gilded globe roof sculpture on the corner of the former Forsyth’s department store.

“It’s also good to see several properties in central Edinburgh restored to residential use and that Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is using the picturesque Category ‘A’ listed merchant’s tenement, Riddle’s Court, in the Lawnmarket as their headquarters.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “The significant progress in bringing these iconic buildings back to life and returning them to public use demonstrates the value of development in our wonderful World Heritage site – but if it’s the right kind of development. It’s also a massive endorsement of the city’s economic buoyancy and resilience that, despite the recession and the current impacts of the Covid pandemic, these developments remain viable.

“I’ve seen first-hand the impressive progress being made by Virgin Hotels on the site of the old India Buildings on Victoria Street – and the care and attention being devoted to preserving the original features in a building that had sadly fallen into disrepair.

“It’s thanks also to close working between our planners, Edinburgh World Heritage and the developer, that we were able to save the Cowgatehead Free Church, which is set to be restored as an events space and a central part of the local community once more.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh World Heritage said: “It is welcome news that so many of the city’s ‘at risk’ buildings have been conserved and given a new lease of life in order to benefit Edinburgh’s people, institutions and economy. This all supports our goal of protecting what makes the World Heritage Site special, while also ensuring that the site works for everyone in the city.

“We have first-hand experience of the value of repurposing Edinburgh’s historic properties. In 2011 we moved our offices into the wonderful 17th century Acheson House, following a major programme of conservation work to take this building off the ‘at risk’ register; it had lain empty for years but is now a busy office and library space.

“As a city partner, Edinburgh World Heritage has been delighted to lend our expertise when working with the Council to conserve and protect the city’s most important historic buildings, and we hope that our partnership will continue to benefit Edinburgh’s buildings and people for many years to come.”

Iain Anderson, Deputy Head of Survey and Recording at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said:

“We actively encourage the reuse of historic buildings and work closely with the City of Edinburgh Council to identify pressures and opportunities within the historic environment.

“The Buildings at Risk Register is used to raise awareness of the regeneration of historic buildings through the promotion of their repair and reuse. The Register helps us understand the pressures on Scotland’s built heritage and acts as a catalyst to link potential restorers and redevelopers with suitable buildings and sites, as well as raising awareness and encouraging sustainable end use.

“We hope that the number of at-risk buildings on the Register will continue to be reduced.”

Full list of buildings in the World Heritage Site currently being worked on and those restored and brought back to life in the last ten years:

The Old Royal High School is to become a music school

India Buildings on Victoria Street will shortly reopen as a hotel

The City Observatory is now an art gallery for contemporary art

The former Donaldson’s School for the Deaf, including the gate lodges, has been restored and transformed into housing

Riddle’s Court in the Lawnmarket is now the headquarters of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust

Acheson House is home to Edinburgh World Heritage

Panmure House is now Heriot Watt’s Edinburgh Business school

Upper floors of 30 Princes Street, including the gilded globe roof sculpture of the former Forsyth’s department store, are now a hotel

27 and 29-31 Melville Street has been turned into offices

9 Rutland Square has been brought back into residential use

26 Heriot Row has been brought back into residential use

8 Blenheim Place has been brought back into residential use

1-3 Baxter’s Place is now a hotel

42 St Andrew Square is now the Edinburgh Grand, a luxury all-apartment residence.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) presents: ‘Imagine Online’, 11 world-class storytelling performances available on demand in celebration of World Storytelling Day.

This World Storytelling Day, 20 March 2022, SISF celebrates the traditional art of oral storytelling with the release of 11 world-class storytelling performances, available to watch on demand for a limited period. Audiences can purchase an all-access pass now for the launch on Sun 20 March 2022, including fully BSL interpreted versions.  

In 2021 SISF extended an open invitation to storytellers, based or working in Scotland, to join the festival’s creative process by submitting a proposal on the theme of Imagine. The result is a series of new works developed by storytellers and musicians from Scotland and beyond, supported by the Scottish Government Festival Expo Fund. Audiences are asked to imagine something different. To imagine pasts, futures, or a timeless other. Festival visitors will be invited to dip into dreams and desires, old and new, lost worlds and worlds still to become.

Highlights in the Imagine programme include:

• From Floor Sweeper to Climate Pioneer tells the little-known story of James Croll the Scottish janitor born into poverty and dogged by ill health who became the self-taught father of climate science. Using storytelling, props, film animation and historical interpretation, storyteller Nicola Wright will present Croll’s theories – which inform today`s study of climate change – and tell the story of his remarkable life to a family audience. 

• Mohan: A Partition Story is a moving, visceral and emotive storytelling performance by Niall Moorjani, which retells their Grampa’s experiences of the Partitioning of India. With first-person telling from ‘Mohan’s’ perspective, the story is interwoven with fascinating and, at times, haunting historical insight. An evocative and thought-provoking evening of oral storytelling, with accompanying live music.

• In Oracles, Millennial woman, Sarah Grant, struggles to live up the legacy of her Grandmother, the “Oracle of Glasgow”: she who sees all, hears all, tells all. As a modern storyteller, Sarah tries (and fails) to translate traditional storytelling to see how it might work in places such as the family WhatsApp group chat, on TikTok, marketing adverts and many many more. How can the lessons learned at our ancestors’ knees survive in the digital world? Does the legacy of women passing down stories end with the current generation? Oracles is a story about family, legacy, womanhood and traditional storytelling, grounded in a mix of traditional storytelling and spoken word. 

• In Ladies Who Like it, storytellers Marie Louise Cochrane and Heidi Docherty imagine a world where women could tell and hear each other’s joyful, life- affirming stories about sexuality, shared with warmth, compassion and knowing laughter. With musical accompaniment and original songs from Suzanne Fivey they will host an evening of humorous, inspiring and informative contemporary collected tales about sex, presented for the wellbeing and inspiration of other women, and for those who care about them.

• Legendary conservationist John Muir is celebrated in a new show by Richard Medrington and Rick Conte from The Man Who Planted Trees and storyteller Andy Cannon. They invite us to follow Muir from a window ledge in Dunbar to the brink of a crevasse in Alaska to find out what connects this conservation pioneer, a remarkable dog and an indigenous tribe clinging on to their culture and their land. 

• In Wolf Girl Storyteller Daiva Ivanauskaitė and singer Agnė Čepaitytė present the true story of Ingrid Ramm from Königsberg, a city that no longer exists. After WWII thousands of orphans from East Prussia travelled to Lithuania in search of food and shelter. These children are known as Wolfskinder. Ingrid Ramm was one of them, a lonely young refugee who fought for survival with the help of imagination, determination and luck. Daiva’s family opened their doors to the Wolf Girl. This storytelling performance combines fragile memories, fantastic tales and classical German songs – the ones Ingrid’s mother used to sing.

The above is just a small selection of the shows that are included in the ‘Imagine Online’ series, which will be available online this spring as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.

Donald Smith, Director of TRACS said: “Stories and songs are vital for human survival. They carry our emotions, memories and values. They bind us together as families, communities and a nation, especially through tough times. On World Storytelling Day, we are proud to showcase the variety of storytelling talent that Scotland has to offer.  

“Our series of festival commissions invite us to imagine different pasts, futures, or timeless others, to challenge what we know and create the images of what we are yet to discover.”

The festival celebrates and supports a wide range of cultures, ethnicities, gender diversity and abilities all underpinned by creative collaboration that is integral to the traditional arts. 

SISF Associate Director Daniel Abercrombie explains: “The Imagine performances were researched and developed with a lot of love and care over many months, so it was important to make these available to audiences who were unable to see the initial live shows. These online versions offer the chance to enjoy these stories regardless of where you are in the world. 

“Thanks to some additional funding we were also able to increase the scale of our digital production and were delighted to work with a team of incredible BSL interpreters to ensure each Imagine performance is presented to d/Deaf audiences, which is an important step in making our festival more inclusive.”

The ticket pass for ‘Imagine Online’ is on sale now, with performances available to watch on demand from 20 March 2022. SISF will return in the autumn from 14-31 October 2022, showcasing both live and online events exploring ‘Scotland’s Stories’.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival 

Live on demand from 20 March 2022

For tickets and more info visit www.sisf.org.uk

Tickets: 

Imagine Online Pass

Imagine Online: BSL Versions Pass

The Scottish Parliament not only flies the Ukrainian flag, it is constantly condemning Putin’s invasion and expressing its support for the Ukrainian people.  The government has added £2million to the £10million already donated to the aid agencies by the public and it has pledged a welcome to any Ukrainian refugees who manage to reach Scotland.

At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon again appealed to the UK Home Office to take down what she calls its “wall of bureaucracy,” insisting on visas before refugees arrive, instead of when they are already here.  She has also caused some controversy by saying NATO should keep an open mind on imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.  Earlier in the week, MSPs unanimously backed the measures taken by the UK Government against Russian “dirty money.”

Out in the streets, people have continued to stage demonstrations in support of Ukraine. The Edinburgh Ukrainian Club has been overwhelmed with donated goods. In Glasgow, a long queue formed outside a Ukrainian bakery which promised to give all its profits to the aid effort.  There have been several independent aid missions from Scotland making their way to the Polish border to offer assistance, one aiming for Ukraine itself. Prominent Scottish companies have stopped exporting to Russia including: whisky producers Diageo, Chivas and Edrington, and Walkers’ shortbread, Tunnocks biscuits and Irn-Bru.

Although Scotland only imports two per cent of its gas from Russia, the issue of rising energy prices has major implications for Scotland.  It has opened up the debate about continuing to drill for oil and gas around our coast. The Conservatives have been pressing for new oil fields to be developed in the short term to plug the gap till renewable sources are able to heat all our homes and buildings, power our electric cars, and run our industry.  But so far The Scottish Government is sticking to its policy of no new oil fields and no new nuclear power stations, saying the money should be invested instead in off-shore wind, tidal and solar power.

I’ve had letters in the post this week informing me that my gas bill will be rising by 54 per cent and my electricity bill by a third. And that’s before the effects of the Ukraine invasion are taken into account. It is said the price of foodstuffs is also set to rise as one of the great bread-baskets of the world is destroyed. Our farmers are wondering whether to plant more wheat this year to make up for the crop due to be lost in Ukraine. The calculation is not easy because the price of fertiliser and fuel is rising too.

As if the war and the soaring cost of living were not enough, Covid has been adding to our woes this week. The number of cases has risen to its highest level since January. On Thursday, there were over 14,000 cases, 1636 people in hospital and 41 deaths. And, sure enough, several of my friends have gone down with Covid in the last week or two, though they all report just “cold-like” symptoms. However, it does put in jeopardy our freedom day, 21 March, when it’s hoped all legal restrictions will be lifted.

This week we finally got the official accident report from The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) into the train crash south of Aberdeen in August 2020 in which the driver, the conductor and one of the passengers were killed, the conductor, Donald Dinnie, the train driver, Brett McCullough, and a passenger, Christopher Stuchbury.  One of the main causes was a faulty drain which, after several days of rain, caused debris to flow onto the track. The RAIB report found that rail managers were told of the danger, but had failed to act.

Sometimes, I suppose, accidents just happen. At sea, a fishing trawler from Lerwick capsized off the Norwegian coast. The crew of eight were rescued  standing on the upturned keel but one of them died later in hospital. And in the hills, six people have died in climbing accidents in the last two weeks of snowy weather. On Tuesday, one man was killed on Ben Nevis and 23 others had be rescued. 

After a week like this, when all the news is depressing, the word “endurance” made an eerie appearance on our television screens.  It was written across the stern of Shackleton’s ship which has been found at the bottom of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. It was famously crushed by the ice and sank in 1915, just as the war “to end all wars” was going on in Europe. But somehow civilisation endured, to fight another day, and Shackleston (who had several connections to Scotland) led his men, all of them, to safety.  Let us hope we all endure for another week and Ukrainians are led to safety.  

The battling point Hearts secured at Tannadice on Saturday came at a cost with the Jambos having to use the newly introduced five-sub rule due to a number of injuries.

As a result of this, they are now struggling for numbers for Saturday night’s Scottish Cup Quarter-Final tie at Tynecastle against St Mirren. 

Gary Mackay-Steven suffered a broken hand, meanwhile Cameron Devlin (hamstring) and Alex Cochrane (concussion) were all replaced in the opening 45 minutes. 

Nathaniel Atkinson did not return for the second half but has since recovered, before John Souttar damaged his ankle and was replaced after an hour. Josh Ginnelly also appeared to be hobbling off at the end of a game it was hard not to watch.

The Hearts boss said afterwards that he had never been involved in anything like that in his 25 years in football. 

Hearts’ summer recruitment was a quality over quantity strategy and now having received a number of injuries they find themselves a bit stretched ahead of a huge game.

Neilson defended the idea to build a smaller squad, which focussed on quality and remains hopeful that some of his injured players will be fit for Saturday. 

“We’ve had a really good fitness percentage throughout the season then we have a wee period where we have got a number of injuries,” he explained. 

“The benefits of that are the 11 that start on Saturday will all be top three, top four players in Scotland. We don’t have a 24-man squad where we have ten really good players and ten ones that are miles off it. I don’t have any worries about it.

“There are still a few that are borderline. Some will train today, some tomorrow. Some will come in on Saturday morning and we’ll get that test for them, we’re hoping those extra days recovery will be fine. 

“We’ll have a strong 11, how many we have on the bench will be a different story. It might be three, it might be six.”

There is added emphasis on the Scottish Cup for teams out with the Old Firm this season as it guarantees European Football until December, which will bring significant financial revenue. 

After an embarrassing exit to Brora Rangers last season, Hearts will be looking to bounce back by seeing off St Mirren and securing a trip to Hampden. 

Neilson played down the European aspect, adding that Hearts want to win the Scottish Cup regardless of the European benefits it brings.

“I’m not interested in how it gets you into Europe or what it does with Europe. Most managers and players will be the same, it’s about winning the Scottish Cup,” he added. 

“To win that you need to win on Saturday then the semi-final then the final. This is part of becoming a winner.

“The season is about qualifying for Europe, brilliant. But you want to win something. You want to win the Scottish Cup. For me it’s not got any influence on European football. It’s about winning.”

Hearts have got the better of St Mirren on all three occasions this season including two victories in Paisley, so they’ll fancy their chances at home, despite their injury troubles. 

The Buddies scored a last-minute winner against Dundee on Wednesday night, to keep their fourth place hopes alive and Neilson expects them to be full of confidence after that result. 

“They got a great result on Wednesday,” he said. 

“I watched the game and to score right at the end they have that lift of having got that. The 4-2-3-1 probably suits most of their players and that front three, four are very dangerous. It’s similar to us, do they focus on the league or focus on the cup. The same with us they probably want to focus on the cup and get as far as they can.”

THE NEW 10 CLASS GYM IS ABOUT TO OPEN

• Pilmuir Fitness 10 sets sights on April 2022 Launch 

With Covid-19 restrictions having eased, and with its 10 innovative class formats now revealed, the new Gym at The Linen Quarter development in Dunfermline’s Pilmuir Street, is planning an April 2022 opening.

Pilmuir Fitness, or PF10 as it will be more commonly known, had hoped to open last year, but further lockdown put paid to the plans of business partners behind the venture, Jason McEvoy and Colin Woods.

The gym will form part of a 10,000 sq ft area of commercial space in the refurbished building, formerly a factory for Duracord.  This ambitious redevelopment by local firm Byzantine, of what had become a well-known eye sore in the town, sees the creation of an exciting new lifestyle hub, a mix of contemporary new housing, alongside retail and leisure, enhanced by an impressive architectural design.

While having to wait a little longer to open the doors to their new fitness concept, Jason and Colin, who have been friends for many years, believe that the delay has actually given them extra time to finely hone their offering. The launch of PF10’s new website has resulted in a significant amount of people pre-registering for monthly membership, whilst frequent social media posts have kept interest high.

“We’re really excited to be finally opening, with something new and fresh to bring to fitness in Dunfermline,” said Jason, who will enhance PF10’s portfolio of classes with his military fitness background.  “We’re confident that fitness aficionados of all levels and interests will want to try our new concept which is the result of myself and Colin’s twenty years plus of experience delivering motivational classes.”

“It’s a fantastic building to be part of,” he added. “Design wise, we wanted to do justice to the amazing space, so the gym has an industrial edge which fits with our concept, which is not a “shiny” gym.  We believe they can be a bit impersonal and ‘samey’, whereas our ethos is to build a feeling of community, and offer something that is a bit different.”

Jason said that, whilst PF10 would have members known to one another from classes he’s run previously in the town, the style of training at PF10 would quickly ensure that new members got to know other people quickly.

“The teaching is through the classes, no one trains on their own, and we have music and lights to get everyone going in a group. There’s no complicated equipment to put beginners off either. Some classes see participants use only their own bodyweight to train, so it couldn’t be simpler.”

“We hope our communal style will particularly appeal to Linen Quarter residents, who may be new to the area, and won’t want to feel that they are coming in from the cold to a daunting situation. They’ll make friends here, and be very much welcomed. We’re a brand new facility right on their doorstep, which we hope they will make use of.”

Those interested can register for a tour of PF10. “Just go onto our website,” said Colin, whose background in Judo has seen him most recently running Destination Judo Classes across Fife.

“We’re staging an official launch event on Thursday 28 April 2022, which will showcase the gym, offering some special deals, and perhaps having some Judo athletes from Team GB, where I have some contacts, making a guest appearance. Classes will kick off on Friday 29th April,” he said.

“We’re engaging with fitness journalists and bloggers. We’re keen to get their feedback on our proposed classes.”

The hotly anticipated 10 classes referenced in PF10 offer something for everyone, from weight lifting and kettle bells, to power circuits, military style bootcamps, and core strength boosting blasts. There’s BOXRapid, a high intensity workout which combines boxing with cardio and strength endurance exercises, there’s Escalate, sounding like a game in a TV show, The Cube, but actually a station-based workout with sprints and circuits in a lane format, and there’s Rehab, a “re-set” stretching & mobility class to ensure optimum body maintenance.

“We’ve tried to cover every type of class that is enjoyable, makes you push yourself, and ensures you do everything necessary to stay in shape,” said Jason. “But to keep things fresh, which is just as important, the tenth class making up the list is PF10 Rotate, an additional “mystery” class which will be announced every eight weeks and rotated into the existing schedule.”

“Initially, we will use this class for technique, to make sure all our clients use their body and equipment safely and effectively.”

“It’s a USP Colin and I have come up with, another aspect of PF10 that gives us an exciting edge,” finished Jason. “It’s been a long wait for two friends who have always wanted to have a gym together, but we are very nearly there now!”

PF10 doesn’t require a joining fee or contract. Find out more at www.PF10.co.uk

Martin Whitfield MSP for South Scotland paid a visit to East Lothian business, McMillan Coppersmiths and Fabricators in Prestonpans this week to meet their apprentices.

The craft of coppersmith is one of the oldest and the apprentices hope to become the next generation.

The company has 23 employees and almost half are apprentices, showing the company’s commitment to passing on the old skills so much in demand by distilled spirits producers. The company has manufactured copper distilling equipment on an industrial scale since 1867.

David Allan, Operations Manager at McMillan said it was so important that traditional coppersmithing was passed on through apprenticeship programmes and welcomed the visit from their local MSP in recognising the support to the industry.

He said: “McMillan has a long history and has been operating for over 150 years, 60 years at their current site in Prestonpans. My family took ownership of the business in the 1980’s and more recently we are now part of Briggs Group which has been welcomed by the team here”.

“Copper distillation equipment, especially the copper pot stills are a key part of producing many global distilled spirits. The growth in the industry has gone from strength to strength and if we are to continue to support this growth then it is important that we upskill and grow our workforce now.

“These skills and techniques have been practised and perfected at Prestonpans over many years and our team recognise how important it is that these skills are passed on to grow the next generation of workers in the industry. As they were once taught during their apprenticeship.

“It was an honour to be able to showcase the business and its importance to young people here in Scotland.”

McMillan have run an apprenticeship scheme on the site since 1982 with the business actively recruiting an average of 2 apprentices a year. However, since joining global turnkey engineering firm Briggs of Burton PLC in April 2020 the number of apprentices recruited has grown and are all working towards their Level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering: Fabrication and Welding.

The visit by MSP Martin Whitfield marks Scottish Apprenticeship Week which is held annually in March to promote and celebrate apprenticeship opportunities.

Martin Whitfield, MSP for the South of Scotland, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to visit McMillan and find out about how our longstanding businesses here in Prestonpans are supporting the next generation of workers. The copper stills handcrafted at this site are part of our heritage and have been crafted here since the 19th century. It is so important that companies embrace apprenticeships like McMillan have so that these core skills remain in Scotland and aren’t lost.”

McMillan Coppersmiths and Fabricators specialise in traditional handcrafted Scottish Copper pot stills and columns for the Distilled Spirits industry. Located in Prestonpans, Scotland they have designed and built distilling equipment for many notable spirit producers around the world. McMillan use traditional coppersmithing techniques to shape and form the copper pot still bodies, necks and lyne arms. Their craftsman take great pride in turning copper sheet into beautiful pot stills.

Apprentices have been trained in Prestonpans, continuing the heritage skills, for 40 years. The scheme has been managed inhouse by David Allan and George Meharry with the Edinburgh and District Employers’ Training Association (EDETA). Each apprentice not only learns the theory but puts this into practice by learning how to fabricate, weld and form copper distillation equipment with the support of experienced craftsmen. The programme receives valuable funding and support from Skills Development Scotland.

All photos Duncan McGlynn

Welcome to Your Vote Day – new Scots are urged to register to vote in May elections

The Electoral Commission is running a Welcome to Your Vote Day, on Thursday to raise awareness amongst new Scots about their right to vote ahead of the upcoming council elections.

In 2020 The Scottish Parliament voted to extend the franchise for Scottish Parliament and council elections to include anyone aged 16 or over who is resident in Scotland, regardless of their nationality. This means that the upcoming elections will be the first opportunity for many New Scots to vote in Scottish council elections. 

Anyone who wants to vote in the Scottish council elections on 5 May must be registered by midnight on 18 April. 

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland said: “Welcome to Your Vote Day aims to raise awareness that New Scots have the right to register to vote and have their say on 5 May. We have information to help new voters understand the voting process in various languages on our website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter.

“You can’t have your say in the council elections taking place this May unless you are registered to vote, which you can do online now at www.gov.uk/registertovote.”    

The Electoral Commission is also working with organisations across Scotland to ensure that recently-enfranchised voters have the tools they need to confidently cast their vote on issues that affect their day to day lives. This includes providing resources which community groups and other organisations can use to raise awareness amongst New Scots they work with and run their own registration events.

Luis, who is a member of JustRight Scotland’s JustCitizens Panel and came to Scotland from Mexico in 2014, said: “This year I am going to vote, after living here for a couple of years. I feel like I belong and I would like to think that I have the power to shape the society I live in.” 

Mira from the Just Citizens Panel, who is originally from Poland, said: “I voted in Scotland for the first time in 2017 at the local council elections and, emotionally speaking, it was quite an emotive and powerful event. It felt like, even though I had already lived in Scotland for seven years at that point, it really felt like I was part of the society and like I was taking an active role in what was happening to the city that I live in.” 

Edinburgh’s HIM has won the prestigious Men’s Stylist Award at the Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards 2021.

Wendy Brown, owner of the brand which is based on Lynedoch Place at the West End was thrilled to win the title.  She said: ‘After such a challenging year this feels truly special.  It would be true to say that it is the loyal and constant support of my clients that got me through.  This award is testament to that support.  I am so grateful to them all.’

The Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards 2021, which were postponed from December due to Covid-19, provided a platform to acknowledge everyone that works tirelessly to keep clients looking and feeling incredible.

The beauty industry is a fast-growing sector and these awards were an exclusive celebration of the talented specialists that work hard to make clients feel pampered and give them that glow from within.

A spokesperson for The Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards, said: “A lot has changed in recent years however one thing remains – the talent and dedication our finalists show to their industry.

“The Awards showcased those who promote excellence, set the trends and turn any dream look into reality. These specialists inspire others when it comes to the big and competitive world of hair and beauty.

“We congratulate all our finalists.’”

Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Festival returns as a live, in-person event on Saturday 30 April organisers have announced.  Tickets for the event, which takes place on the city’s Calton Hill, are now on sale.

The Beltane Fire Festival is a dynamic reinterpretation of an ancient Celtic celebration of the return of summer and has been taking place in Edinburgh since 1988.   Centred around the lighting of the Beltane bonfire – symbolic of purification, healing and new life – and the story of the Green Man and the May Queen, Edinburgh’s Beltane celebrations are the largest of their kind in the world and have traditionally attracted around 10,000 revellers from across the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA.

Tom Watton, Chair of the Beltane Society Board, said “Beltane is a living, breathing festival, and we are very much looking forward to bringing our community back together in person to celebrate this year, having been forced online by Covid restrictions for the last two years.  Beltane 2022 will be a wild, vibrant, exciting, fiery celebration involving performers from Scotland, the UK and across Europe.  And we can’t wait.”

Tickets for the Beltane Fire Festival are available from Citizen Tickets on https://bit.ly/beltane-2022-pr-1.

Full details of the 2022 Beltane Fire Festival can be found at https://beltane.org/  

The Scottish Gallery celebrates the life and work of one of Scotland’s most-loved artists this June, in a major retrospective show James Morrison ‘A Celebration 1932 – 2020’. The exhibition, held two years after his death, will take over both floors of The Gallery and will present works from the entirety of his artistic career which spanned seven decades. The exhibition will focus on his iconic Scottish landscapes of Angus and the West Coast, alongside rare early Glasgow scenes and views of France, the Arctic and Canada.

Over an eminent career, landscape painter James Morrison enjoyed a remarkable and lengthy association with The Scottish Gallery from 1959 to 2020, holding an astonishing 25 solo exhibitions. The successful relationship between artist and gallery allowed Morrison to retire from teaching at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee, in 1987, and concentrate on painting full-time.

This exhibition will coincide with the release of two new publications. ‘Land and Landscape’ is a revised and updated monograph written by the artist’s son professor John Morrison and published by Sansom & Co. The second is a fully illustrated exhibition catalogue, featuring over 100 works, celebrating the artist’s long and influential exhibiting career.

Gallery Director Guy Peploe commented, “Jim was a great painter, and a huge part of The Scottish Gallery for more than 60 years, with twenty-five solo exhibitions – Jim was never content to rest on current success – it was always the next picture which mattered. He worked tirelessly, travelling to Paris, Greece, Canada, Greenland, Botswana, The Alps, and many locations in the UK from Ely to Traquair. This curiosity to see another landscape fed into how he saw his own, familiar, country, from Angus to Argyll and Assynt – he had been a much-loved tutor in Dundee – keeping painting at the centre of his teaching.”

The 2021 release, and subsequent BBC broadcast of the film Eye of the Storm by the award winning director Anthony Baxter, has generated an astonishing outpouring of love and interest, and has introduced the artist to a new audience. The film follows Morrison as he struggles with the loss of his sight. It is a poignant account of a creative mind dealing with the physical frailties that await us all. After its initial release on Easter Sunday 2021, The Scottish Gallery website crashed as thousands of individuals visited to discover more about the artist.

Morrison’s distinctive technique and vision made him one of the most recognisable Scottish artists of the last fifty years, credited with helping to reinvigorate landscape painting in Scotland. His works are included in many important public collections including National Galleries of Scotland and the Government Art Collection. Morrison’s interpretations of the landscape and skies, at home in Angus, on the West Coast, and on his travels have inspired collectors and artists worldwide.

James Morrison ‘A Celebration 1932 – 2020’
Exhibition Dates Monday 6th- Saturday 25th June 2022
The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6HZ

Cash-conscious and choosy diners are continuing to shun eating out in restaurants in favour of home delivery and takeaway meals.

Research from hospitality technology specialist ePOS Hybrid has shown a clear trend towards people turning their backs on returning to restaurants, despite the end of lockdown restrictions.

Shorter delivery times, big improvements in the quality of food options and worries over rising household bills are all factoring in the move.

ePOS Hybrid, which offers a suite of fully connected point-of-sale and business management solutions to a wide range of takeaways, bars, restaurants and other hospitality businesses across the UK, reviewed data from nearly three million customers interactions (people who bought food and drink) at the 1000+ sites who use its products.

In December 2021, takeaway and home delivery accounted for 50.73% of all orders placed through the ePOS Hybrid platform compared to 45.66% for eat-in. In August 2021, eat in orders accounted for 51% of all orders.

ePOS Hybrid Head of Growth, Andrew Gibbon, said takeaway and home delivery continues to eat into market share, while there is a clear decline from the highs in eat-in activity seen in August 2021 as Covid restrictions eased.

Andrew said: “The quality of our data allows us to provide this fascinating insight into how consumer behaviour is changing – and perhaps changing for good. This is vital intelligence that the hospitality sector needs to be on top of as it looks to recover from the pandemic.

“Online ordering and home delivery have been emerging trends in the last few years, but they have exponentially grown during Covid – and show no signs of slowing.

“Between September 2021 and December 2021, the takeaway and home delivery market increased by 4%, while eat-in experienced a small decline.

“In January 2022, we continued to see online ordering and home deliveries outstrip eat-in orders. We predict that we will see continued and substantial growth within online ordering and home delivery throughout 2022 and beyond while eat in will stagnate, even with eat-in options returning back to pre-pandemic operations.”

Andrew added that while more hospitality operators were offering online options, the home delivery market had expanded as availability of menus, cuisines and dietary-related meals had increased – marched by the continued popularity of delivery platforms such as Just Eat and Deliveroo.

Andrew said: “The choice and quality of food available for home delivery is almost unrecognisable compared to a few years ago, when only your local chip shop, Chinese or Indian takeaway would likely be the only ones to offer this service.

“Likewise, any food type is now available at consumer’s fingertips with ever shorter delivery times, with delivery promises as little as 15 minutes.

“Compare this to retail consumers. They want convenience. They don’t want the hassle of checking when a shop is open, arranging to go into town, parking the car, browsing products on a Saturday when stores are really busy – they want their product delivered to their house, hassle free and on demand.

“This resonates with home delivery consumers, particularly the on-demand element when you can get a quality meal on your doorstep within the hour.

“And when you factor in the current economic climate with ever-rising living costs, home delivery is now clearly established as a cost effective way for a couple or family to have an enjoyable treat.”

ePOS Hybrid has pioneered market leading disruptive technology that can automate a takeaway, bar       or restaurant’s operations, streamline processes and enhance efficiency for both staff and customers.

With Covid lockdowns, there has been a massive switch to hospitality-tech as operators react to market trends and greater emphasis on online and take away transactions, which has seen ePOS Hybrid’s product usage rocket by 300% in the last year, while its client portfolio has risen by more than 290%.

Since its launch in January 2020, ePOS Hybrid’s tech has processed in excess of £90 million in transactions and 6.5 million people have used the firm’s products to buy a food or drink item.

ePOS Hybrid – which has operations at two sites in Edinburgh and one in London – already has an extensive portfolio of clients throughout the UK and Ireland with aggressive growth plans to scale internationally in 2022.

Two of Scotland’s most historic and prestigious surgical institutions are collaborating to support the work of leading global healthcare charity Kids Operating Room (KidsOR).

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow have come together to raise funds to support a first-ever paediatric surgeon in South Sudan.

The Colleges, which boast a combined membership of more than 45,000 from all around the world, have joined forces to raise funding for KidsOR’s scholarship programme in South Sudan, which aims to support the scholarship and training of the country’s first paediatric surgeon and for a period of at least five years.

Each College will be looking to raise £6,500 given that £13,000 supports a trainee surgeon through one year of training.

Michael Stitt, Director of Partnerships at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said: “The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Global Surgery Foundation exists in order to help to build sustainable surgical capacity in communities suffering from a chronic shortage of care.

“We are funding our share of the donation through the Global Surgery Foundation and KidsOR is a fantastic example of the very reason we have the initiative in place. It provides vital services to children who might not have otherwise had access to the healthcare they need.

“We are delighted to help fund the first paediatric surgeon in South Sudan and are looking forward to seeing the positive impact it has on children in the area.”

Mrs Alison Lannigan, Chair at HOPE Foundation, said: “The fellows and members of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and those of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have contributed successfully for many years  to the training and education of surgeons both in the UK and overseas. We are delighted to have the opportunity through Kids OR to take this further and collaborate in the funding of the Paediatric Surgical Scholarship Programme in South Sudan. At RCPSG, our members recognise the need to improve surgical care on a global scale and are delighted to award funding from the Hope Foundation to this worthy endeavour.”

Prof George Youngson, CBE trustee of Kids OR said: “Developing surgical services for children in a difficult part of the world, needs careful planning, commitment and resources particularly at a time when health services in our own country are being greatly stretched. However, in a characteristically Scottish visionary way, the two surgical colleges in Scotland have come together and looked beyond our own immediate challenges and taken an initiative that will provide treatment for a huge number of children in need of care elsewhere in the world. This support will not just be life changing for some, it will change many lives.”

Whilst the pandemic has a global perspective, so does the lack of access to surgical treatment for children particularly in those parts of the world like South Sedan where external aid is hard to penetrate. This makes the investment in assisting and developing local solutions provided by local surgeons and carers all the more precious.

David Cunningham, CEO of KidsOR, said: “We would like to thank the Royal Colleges for supporting our work in South Sudan. Despite being a country of 11 million – over half of whom are children – South Sudan lacks a single paediatric surgeon.

“The country also lacks the infrastructure with no paediatric Operating Room. This is reflected in the fact the country has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world (58.6 per 1,000 live births) and an alarmingly high under-fives mortality rate (89.8/1,000).”

Mr Cunningham added: “By coming together to fund the paediatric surgeon program, both of Scotland’s ancient Surgical Colleges will symbolise the power of partnership and the global reach of both Colleges, and would be celebrated across the diverse memberships of both institutions.”

Since 2018, the KidsOR Scholarship Program has worked with a number of partners to both fund the scholarships programme and to develop the infrastructure and networks needed to train paediatric surgeons across Africa. The first of the 120 KidOR surgical scholars are just now beginning to graduate.

One such graduate surgeon is Dr Alicia Messenga, who is based at Bugando Medical Centre, in Mwanza, Tanzania – a hospital that provides services to a population of almost 17 million (one third of the total population of the country).

Dr Messenga said: “Successful completion of my studies has benefitted our community as paediatric patients get the specialist care they need. As Bugando Medical Centre is also a university teaching hospital, surgical students get exposure to paediatric surgery now that we have a paediatric surgery unit in the hospital thanks to KidsOR and Smile Train.”

Later this year, KidsOR will begin training South Sudan’s first paediatric surgeons. The two scholars are Dr Betty Arkangalo Yuggu Phillimona and Dr Bidali James Sebit Nzira. The Royal Colleges’ funding will be supporting the training of Dr Betty Arkangalo Yuggu Phillimona.

Sunflower Scotland – help British-Ukrainians to send aid directly to war zones in Ukraine.

Natasha Barczuk and her sister Tonya, both Scottish Ukrainians, have set up a grassroots movement in Edinburgh to gather aid for families who are living through the Russian invasion in Ukraine. 

They used their contacts to deliver help right into Ukraine, rather than to Poland.

Many other Scottish Ukrainians with families in cities devastated by war, such as Kyiv, Kharkov and Sumy, have joined them.

The organisation has sent several lorries bringing aid from Edinburgh to Ukraine.Only a couple of days ago they formed “Sunflower Scotland” – a Volunteer Association registered under the rules of The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

There are updates on the Facebook page here

sunflower.soniashnyk@gmail.com

The group say that if anyone in Edinburgh wishes to help then this is important information:

Ukraine needs dry food (pasta, flour, yeast), canned food, sterile gloves and sterile bandages, baby formula, nappies of all sizes.

Please do not donate any clothes, shoes or toys.

Two of Scotland’s oldest legal firms have announced a merger strengthening the fourth-largest independent legal business in Scotland.

Edinburgh firm Stuart & Stuart WS has joined forces with leading Scottish firm Thorntons Solicitors. Both firms can trace their roots back to the 19th century and will now create a new, expanded business of 564 people, of whom 71 are partners.

Stuart & Stuart senior partner, Chris Anderson, described the merger, which takes effect on 1 April, as “a fantastic move for two firms which share a remarkably similar outlook”.

He said: “In a career which has seen its fair share of deals, this was one of the simplest and most positive transactions. Both firms have a long and proud pedigree of client service and I have no doubt the newly enlarged firm will continue to forge ahead.”

Under the terms of the merger, Stuart & Stuart’s entire team of 31 based at their Rutland Street offices will transfer to Thorntons. Chris Anderson will become a consultant to the new firm and John MacKenzie, Fergus Macmillan, Andrew Bertram and Emma Horne will be appointed partners at Thorntons, with Ken Lauder appointed a legal director.

Thorntons recently posted a record turnover for last year of £31.2million, and has grown in recent years into one of the country’s leading full-service law firms, with offices in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and in Angus and Fife.

Thorntons managing partner, Lesley Larg, emphasised the importance of ensuring its expansion aligns with the values it brings to clients and the communities it serves.

She said: “It is incredibly encouraging, having received many, many approaches over the years, that Stuart & Stuart have chosen Thorntons as a trusted home for their clients and their people. I’m looking forward to welcoming Stuart & Stuart’s people to Thorntons and am excited about the significant benefits arising from this deal. There are many similarities in terms of the services the firms provide, our shared values which drive how we operate for our people and our communities, and our mutual focus on excellent client care.

“Stuart & Stuart is a venerable private client firm in the broadest sense, offering residential conveyancing, estate agency, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, executries and family law. It is central to our strategic plan that we remain a full-service law firm and accelerate our growth in the Central Belt, and therefore Stuart & Stuart is a superb, complementary fit, given its culture, history and commitment to outstanding client service.

“We look forward to providing a wide range of opportunities for the Stuart & Stuart team as we welcome them into the Thorntons family.”

Specsavers’ Scottish stores have collectively raised £73,000 to help the country’s premature and sick babies.

The funds have been donated to Simpsons Special Care Babies to buy a cutting-edge piece of equipment called a PanoCam Pro for the Simpson Neonatal Unit in Edinburgh.

Premature babies need their eyes checked regularly due to rapid changes in organ development, in what would have been the last three months of pregnancy, which can put them under a lot of stress – the PanoCam provides a much quicker and safer way to examine them.

Specsavers was encouraged to launch the ambitious fundraiser by Edinburgh optometrist Michael O’Kane whose daughter Sophie (now 7) was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 15oz.  Colleagues rallied round, donating a £2 from optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans and earwax removals, making donations and holding a raffle.

Michael, a partner at the Morningside and Cameron Toll stores, said: “The support from colleagues across Scotland, with help from our customers, has been overwhelming and we are extremely proud to have raised this impressive sum. 

“It will make a huge difference to the neonatal unit, which helps premature and sick babies across the country. When my daughter was born, I learned first-hand how incredibly supportive everyone at the unit is and will be forever indebted to them.”

When Specsavers Scotland launched the fundraiser in autumn 2021, it was part of a dual announcement which saw Bliss Scotland designated as the opticians’ Charity of the Year, to generate additional funds to support Scotland’s premature babies and their families.

Lending support at the launch announcement was Bliss ambassador Lady Sarra Hoy, a lawyer by profession and wife of cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, whose son Callum was born at 29 weeks back in 2014.

Reflecting on the success of the PanoCam fundraiser initiative, she said: “I want to thank Specsavers and all of their customers who have made this possible.  What a fantastic achievement!  It’s so rewarding for everyone involved to be able to see the reality of their donation, which will have a direct impact and positive outcome on babies and their families.”

MED Surgical, who supply the Visunex PanoCam Pro, usually charge £113,000 but generously contributed £40,000 to make the fundraising target of £73k more attainable.

A musician who is due to appear in Leith in May has made a high-level musical tribute to the people of Ukraine.

Pianist Euan Stevenson, of the New Focus duo, who play at Jazz at St James on Leith Links on 21 May, was contacted at short notice by the English Chamber Orchestra and commissioned to arrange the Ukrainian national anthem for them.

The orchestra wanted to play the anthem, which translates as “The glory and Freedom of Ukraine has not yet perished”, at their concert at Cadogan Hall in London last Sunday. Not only that but it was to feature the legendary virtuoso violinist Pinchas Zukerman and renowned cellist Amanda Forsyth.

Falkirk-born Euan, who studied composition at Birmingham Conservatoire and has had pieces premiered on both sides of the Atlantic, was more than happy to oblige.

“To write for someone as accomplished and respected internationally as Pinchas Zukerman is an incredible honour,” said Euan, who recently moved from Glasgow to Surrey. “It was also an honour to be able to pay tribute to the people of Ukraine in such a way. I went along to the concert and Pinchas and the orchestra played the piece beautifully. It was a very moving way to open the evening in the current circumstances.”

Music runs in Euan’s family. His grandmother, on whose Steinway piano Euan composes, was the first woman to graduate from the Royal Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Glasgow. One of her cousins was the film soundtrack conductor Muir Mathieson, who conducted the music from Brief Encounter among more than a thousand other films, and another was the composer Cedric Thorpe Davie, who studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Zoltán Kodály and designed St Andrews University’s music course.

The programme Euan will be playing in Leith with his musical partner, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s star saxophonist, Konrad Wiszniewski, combines his love of classical music and the duo’s expertise in jazz.

“I’ve believed for a long time that there are many links between the two musical styles,” says Euan. “Classical composers and jazz composers often tend to favour the same keys and the influence of composers such as Debussy and Satie on jazz musicians including Miles Davis and Bill Evans is quite marked.”

He points out these connections in an informative but entertaining way in the duo’s Classical Connection programme, which was awarded five stars by The Herald when they presented it at Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival in 2019.

They’ve yet to decide if they’ll play the Ukrainian national anthem at Jazz at St James, however.

“We wouldn’t want to appear to be jumping on a bandwagon or taking advantage of a situation that’s obviously horrendous for everyone caught up in it,” says Euan. “But if we can find a way of playing the music that’s sympathetic to the Ukrainian’s plight, it would be good to show support, even if we are a long way away.”