Casa Mia, the family run Italian restaurant on Dunfermline’s Nethertown Broad Street, has announced that Santa Claus is coming to the restaurant, on three dates when children can eat completely free, together with meeting the man in red!
Santa (actually Head Chef/Proprietor, Fabio Teti’s Uncle who resembles Father Christmas with his large white beard) will be present on Wednesday, the 4th of December at 5 o’clock, on Sunday, the 8th of December at 12:30 pm, and Wednesday, the 11th of December at 5 pm.
Head Chef/Proprietor, Fabio Teti, who recently became a father to Jospeh, or Guiseppe, who is named after his grandfather said: “We are delighted to be bringing Father Christmas to Casa Mia on three separate dates.
“As well as meeting Santa, children can enjoy their food for free. These dates are a time for families to enjoy some quality time together, whether it’s grandparents bringing their grandchildren, or mums and dads.”
“We hope this will help families out at this busy and expensive time of the year.
“We look forward to welcoming you to Casa Mia, and hope that everybody, including our regular customers, has a fantastic Christmas.”
DATES WHEN SANTA will visit:
4 December at 5pm Sunday 8 December at 12.30pm and Wednesday 11 December at 5pm 01383 726669 13 Nethertown Broad St, Dunfermline KY12 7DS.
Storytelling on a plate – a literary feast at One Square
The holiday hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s city centre can be overwhelming. Princes Street, George Street, and St Andrew Square buzz with festive energy, but if you’re seeking a tranquil refuge after a day of Christmas shopping and exploration, the Sheraton Grand Hotel’s One Square offers the perfect escape with their Festive Storytellers’ Afternoon Tea.
What sets this experience apart is its unhurried atmosphere. There’s no sense of being rushed or feeling pressure to vacate your table, making it an ideal spot to catch up with friends in a relaxed setting. The Sheraton has truly outdone themselves with this meticulously crafted culinary journey.
Drawing inspiration from beloved Christmas tales like “A Christmas Carol” and “Nightmare Before Christmas” – and cleverly commemorating Edinburgh’s 20th anniversary as a UNESCO City of Literature – each course is a work of art. The presentation is nothing short of theatrical, with savoury items served with a mirror-faced “book” and sweet treats adorning a whimsical birdcage platter. They’ve even given a nod to that perennial Christmas movie debate starter, “Die Hard”!
The savoury selections include A Christmas Carol-inspired roast turkey and cranberry brioche, and a vibrant green sweet pea velouté with truffle crème fraiche inspired by the Nightmare Before Christmas is slurpingly good. The pork and sage stuffing bon bon, accompanied by chestnut crumb and spiced apricot ketchup, demonstrates depth of flavour and texture.
The Die Hard lemon ricotta twinkie – a cheeky reference to Sergeant Al Powell’s cinematic snack obsession – is an intriguing concept. While potentially divisive, it shows the chef’s sense of humour. Personally, I found it could benefit from being served with a zesty lemon curd or herby cream cheese to elevate the dish.
Dessert lovers will be delighted by playful reinventions of classic afternoon tea treats. The Snowman Macaron with lime curd and coconut is a whimsical touch, and the ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas chocolate orange mousse, presented as a miniature Christmas pudding, is pure indulgence.
The festive scones – spiced with brandy and studded with candied fruit – are accompanied by clotted cream, a sublime damson plum and prune jam, and a decadent chestnut and caramel chocolate spread that adds a luxurious textural dimension to the other sour cream plain scone.
The afternoon tea can be enjoyed with a glass of Champagne or one of their JING teas – single originin and single garden teas, selected from Asia’s best tea regions, all served in a unique ‘tea-iere’ – the ultimate modern tea infuser that gives leaves space to infuse with beautiful colour and flavour.
For those seeking a memorable and imaginative festive dining experience that goes beyond the ordinary, One Square’s Festive Storytellers Afternoon Tea is a must-visit culinary destination this holiday season.
· Festive Storytellers Afternoon Tea is available Wednesday to Saturday until January 4, 2025
· Priced at £59 per person
· Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available
Non-league opposition for Edinburgh clubs in Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup fourth round
Former Hearts manager Steven Naismith conducted the draw for the Fourth Round of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup at K-Park last night live on BBC Scotland.
And he selected non-league opposition for both Edinburgh sides.
Hibs have a home tie against West of Scotland League side Clydebank and Naismith’s former employees face an away fixture against Highland League side Brechin City.
Musselburgh Athletic – who have reached the Fourth Round for the first time – will travel to face Championship side Hamilton Academical.
The ties will take place on the weekend of Saturday, 18 January 2025. The television selections will be confirmed in due course.
Speaking after the draw, Naismith reflected on the stand-out ties. He said: “In general the draw was a good mix of everything. Some of the smaller sides got good ties and I think there’s nothing worse as a smaller team than getting a tie not as glamorous.
“Naismith was a late substitute as Rangers defeated Falkirk in the 2009 Scottish Cup Final and the forward also scored his first ever senior goal as an 18-year-old in a 2-2 draw between Kilmarnock and Hearts in the Scottish Cup in 2005. He added: “The Scottish Cup was one of the first trophies I won in my career. It was a brilliant feeling when we won it. It’s an old cliche but it’s so true that they are the things that stay with you in football. Those memories of good occasions where you’re part of a successful team.
“I also scored my first professional goal in a Scottish Cup game at Tynecastle as well for Kilmarnock, which is something I look back on fondly. I just remember getting the last 15 minutes. We were getting beat and the manager decided to change things and I came on. It was just one of those moments where it seemed to happen in slow motion.
“As the ball got knocked down by Kris Boyd, I managed to take a nice touch and I put it into the roof of the net for the equaliser. For my first goal I’m obviously delighted with that milestone but also to keep the team’s cup chances alive was brilliant although we sadly lost in the replay.”
Naismith led Hearts to third last season in his first season in charge but was relieved of his duties in September after a poor start to the season. Reflecting on his time at Hearts and his time out of the game, he said: “I think in my first full year as a manager, I was at a club with a really high demand. The biggest takeaway I have is that a lot of it worked and we were successful but what comes with success is the need to stay at that level – especially with a club the size of Hearts.
“Contending in Europe and then not starting the season well, there was always going to be pressure mounting. I’m the sort of person who – regardless of where I am – always looks to improve and there are things I’ve learned. You want to be in Europe and you want to challenge yourself but unfortunately we just fell short and the change was made.
“I’ve enjoyed the time off. I’ve been very productive with it. Even when I took the job at Hearts, I took the job because I felt I could take the club somewhere and I could see a potential progression.
“You’re not just looking to survive and that’s important for me. In anything I’m doing, I want to enjoy it and the enioyment comes from an end-game of potential success.
“In terms of getting back in, it’s got to be the right situation and the right job but I’m not going to force my way back into the game by making the wrong choice.
“I don’t have any qualms about the level I go back in at. It’s more about what the project is and where the club wants to go. I’m not interested in somewhere where you’re surviving week to week and hoping to get a purple patch.
“I want to go somewhere where I can help bring a club to somewhere it’s not been or back to where a club has been previously. I’m very relaxed about the future and we will see what it may bring.”
Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup Fourth Round Draw
Brechin City v Hearts Broxburn Athletic v Ayr United Celtic v Kilmarnock Cove Rangers v Forfar Athletic Dumbarton v Airdrieonians Dundee v Dundee United Dunfermline Athletic v Stenhousemuir Elgin City v Aberdeen Falkirk v Raith Rovers Hamilton Academical v Musselburgh Athletic Hibernian v Clydebank Queen of the South v St Mirren Queen’s Park v Montrose Rangers v Fraserburgh Ross County v Livingston St Johnstone v Motherwell
Líam’s Twelve Days of Must See Theatre
Panto time is here again, but there’s so much more to savour, there’s Donny Osmond and Lean Jean Silver, Tiny Tim and Robin Hood complete with his quiver. They’re all on capital stages this month, making December a magical month of shows to remember.
Christmas is coming and you might be surprised by the number of shows in the capital this month, there’s a fine collection of traditional pantomime titles, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin and Robin Hood, on offer as well as the odd smash hit musical, magic show, burlesque cabaret and dramatic storytelling. So, staying with the festive theme, here’s my Twelve Days of Must See Theatre.
PANTOMIME | Cinderella
Festival Theatre, 23 November-31 December
Panto favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young are joined by Claire Gray, Gail Watson, as the Ugly Sisters, and Amber Sylvia Edwards in the title role, for a magical new production of the greatest pantomime of them all. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime – Oh, yes it is! – Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses. Will Cinders outwit her very wicked sisters and win her Prince Charming? What do you think?
MUSICAL | Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Edinburgh Playhouse, 3-29 December
Legendary Osmond brother Donny stars as the roof-raising Pharaoh in this production from the London Palladium of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical which returns home to Edinburgh where it premiered in 1972. Featuring classics like Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door and There’s One More Angel In Heaven, so get ready to Go, Go, Go Joseph.
It’s Christmas Eve and young Jim Hawkins works at North Edinburgh’s finest accommodation for reformed pirates and past-it privateers. Talk of cutlasses, ships and gold can be dangerous in such dodgy company. It’s not long before the story of their greatest voyage takes over… Jim, Ben Gunn and Lean Jean Silver are soon reliving adventures hunting for treasure on the Hispaniola. Sea shanties, adventures and heartfelt fun enliven Jim’s adventure as they follow Billy Bones’ treasure map. Remember, X marks the spot… or does it?
Having taken smashed box office records at this year’s Fringe, everyone’s favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody returns for a Christmas season. Prepare for a night filled with belly laughs, festive surprises, and a touch of the risqué that’s sure to put you on the nice list despite being a fabulously naughty night out. An unforgettable evening of fairy tales and magic for everyone over 16. Includes nudity, strobe lighting, scenes of sexual nature and haze.
Now in their 81st year, this festive season Edinburgh People’s Theatre (EPT) tells the tale of King Nolly and Queen Dottie of Woollyglen, a land of sheep and spinning wheels. Both are excited for the Christening of their beautiful daughter, Princess Aurora. The wicked fairy, Carabosse, however, mightily miffed at not receiving an invite, places a curse on the Princess which will cause her to die on her 18th birthday by a prick from the spindle of a spinning wheel. Will she live happily ever after? Again, what do you think? Get ready to boo the baddies and cheer the goodies.
Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh, 18 December-4 January 2025
Meet Scrooge, Musselburgh’s grumpiest miser and proud owner of Scrooge’s Speedy Cash, who’s in for a rude awakening when three mischievous ghosts turn up to ruin her silent night. With belly laughs, feel-good songs this panto party promises to leave you shouting, ‘Bah humbug!’ all the way home. Features the return of Graham Crammond as Dame Scrooge and Big Brother 14’s Michael Dylan.
Sherwood Forest comes to the Scottish Storytelling Centre for this season’s fun-filled festive Macastory Panto! The dastardly Sir Guy of Grisslebone and his mother, the evil Sheriff of Morningside, are plotting to capture Robin and his band of Merry-Makers – Friar Tuck, Wilma Scarlett and Maid McMarion – and need help to win the contest for the Golden Arrow and outsmart the shifty Sheriff. Sing along and help. And watch out for the Sheriff… She’s behind you! Or could be.
Captivate Theatre is ready to transport audiences to St Bernadette’s School where unlucky in love teacher Mr Maddens is staging the school Nativity and making it a musical! To get one over his rival school (and teaching nemesis Gordon Shakespeare) he has however told a teeny tiny lie… that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show and turn it into a film… Christmas chaos and a whole lot of sparkle ensues.
AMATEUR MUSICAL | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Church Hill Theatre, 4-7 December
Balerno Theatre Company are staging their version of Roald Dahl’s classic tale, with book by David Greig and original score by Marc Shaiman. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory… but only to a lucky few. Join young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners as they embark on a life-changing journey through a world of pure imagination.
Open sesame! St Serf’s Players present Norman Robbin’s ‘Arabian’ pantomime, Aladdin. Expect a magic lamp, ‘flying carpet’ and get ready to cheer Widow Twankie and boo the evil Abanazar as Aladdin tries to win the Princess’ hand.
MAGIC | Kevin Quantum Christmas Special with Guests
Church Hill Theatre, 23-30 December
Magician Kevin Quantum and his special guests are back with new astonishing illusions and big laughs for the festive season in a riotously fun and magical Christmas show for all the family. Trained by Penn & Teller, and having reached the final stages of Britain’s Got Talent, expect a mix of amazement, laughter, audience participation and derring-do from Quantum.
Masterson returns to Edinburgh with his acclaimed performance of Dickens’ festive favourite. Masterson gives Dickens’ original performance text in his own inimitable multi-character style. Scrooge, Marley, the Fezziwigs, the Cratchits and Tiny Tim, one and all, are brought to life in a performance that will linger long in the memory.
Whatever you choose to see, have a great time and here’s wishing each and every one of you a peaceful Christmas and a theatre filled New Year… and remember, you can keep up with all my panto and Christmas reviews at www.mustseetheatre.com
Season greetings, Liam
Grant Stott as the evil stepmother Baroness Hibernia in Cinderella
Five things you need to know today
Anarchy, art and Advent all feature in our news round up today.
The People’s Story reopens
Last month the council closed the museum on the Royal Mile which tells the tale of the ordinary people of Edinburgh citing staff shortages. The museums service has faced increased budget pressures this year, and the council said it was also this which led to a proposal to close the People’s Story Museum during the autumn and winter.
However, based on public protest and outcry, officers identified funding which allowed it to reopen.
One of the exhibits in the People’s Story relates membership of the Coop or “The Store”. And now there is a new Coop about to open.
The brand new 5600 sq ft Co-op store at Shawfair, has created 15 new jobs and will serve fresh, healthy and chilled produce as well as an extensive range of meal ideas and everyday essentials, food-to-go and meal deals, Fairtrade products, award winning beers and wines, ready meals, pizzas, vegan and, plant-based products. All Co-op’s own branded meat is 100% British including in its pies, sandwiches and ready meals.
The new Shawfair Park store will have online home delivery of groceries available through Deliveroo, Just Eat and, Co-op’s own online shop – shop.coop.co.uk – with orders picked fresh in the local store and delivered quickly and conveniently in the local community.
Exterior view
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Church and Parliament
The Church of Scotland presented a special Advent wreath to The Scottish Parliament for the first time to encourage members and staff to reflect on the true meaning of the season.
The idea was conceived by Principal Clerk Rev Fiona Smith and Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, Moderator of the General Assembly, who personally gifted it to Presiding Officer Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP.
Fashioned from pine twigs and pine cones, the wreath has four LED candles which symbolise hope, peace, joy and love.
Rt Rev Dr Shaw J Paterson Moderator of the General Assembly presents Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP with an advent wreath on behalf of the Church of Scoland. 28 November 2024. Pic- Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
Painting by forgotten artist on sale on Thursday at Edinburgh auction
Exactly 150 years after he was born in Leith, Scottish Colourist John Duncan Fergusson is a celebrated artist, with his work fetching increasingly high-figure sums. Earlier, this year, auction house Lyon & Turnbull sold his painting Rose in the Hair for almost a quarter of a million pounds.
In sharp contrast, his American-born partner and muse, Anne Estelle Rice, is remembered as a mere footnote in art history.
Now, 65 years after her death in 1959, a rare, major painting by Rice created in Paris in 1911, has come to light. It is to be sold live in Edinburgh and online by Lyon & Turnbull, as part of its Scottish Paintings & Sculpture sale on Thursday 5 December.
Alice Strang and Chantal de Prez view art in the forthcoming auction at Lyon & Turnbull Painting by forgotten female artist, Anne Estelle Rice, takes centre stage at auction alongside works by her former partner John Duncan Fergusson.
City law firm Burness Paull has announced the appointment of a new partner – Scott Duncan who is moving from lawyers Pinsent Masons.
Mr Duncan is to become a partner in the firm’s construction and projects team where he will advise developers, contractors, consultants and funders on matters including contracts at every stage of property development.
Mark Kirke, head of construction and projects at Burness Paull, commented: “Our construction and projects team continues to see a strong flow of instructions, an increasing number of which are coming from the renewable energy sector as the industry aims to grow capacity and help meet net zero targets.
“Scott’s technical expertise, range of experience and market standing will further enhance our proposition as we support our clients to maximise the opportunities and navigate the risks in delivering projects that bring significant economic and societal benefit.”
Peter Lawson, chair at Burness Paull said: “The scale of investment in energy projects and associated infrastructure required to support the transition is huge.
“Renewable energy projects require cradle-to-grave legal support spanning various specialisms, from inception through to decommissioning. These include a number of areas of strength for our firm, such as finance, real estate, planning, M&A, employment, health and safety, disputes – and, of course, construction.
“We are increasingly seeing a preference among energy developers to use a single firm for an entire project, and we have invested heavily in ensuring our full-service offering evolves to meet that demand.
“The appointment of Scott is the latest example of this investment, and we are confident that he will make a major and positive contribution to both our clients and the firm’s growth strategy.”
Scott Duncan added: “I am excited to be joining Burness Paull. The firm has long had an excellent reputation in the market, and I have had the pleasure of knowing many of the team from various projects along the way.
“Levels of investment in clean energy are going to grow exponentially in the coming years, and I can’t wait to start helping unlock that opportunity for the firm and our clients.”
Leith Victoria museum attracts worldwide interest
A chance discovery of a sports trophy in a Grangemouth second hand shop has helped give further international recognition to Scotland’s oldest boxing club at Leith Victoria.
The trophy was unearthed by Ian Mackintosh, a Commonwealth Games historian, who traced it back to Leith Victoria and one of their most distinguished members.
“We realised it had been won by Alex Ireland, our former Olympic silver medallist from the 1920 Antwerp Games and it was the trigger for my wife, Aileen, and myself to get to work searching through cupboards and drawers for other items we could put on display” says long serving club secretary, Douglas Fraser.
“COVID had kicked in so we had time to fill and friends and families of some of our greatest boxers were happy to contribute.”
The club’s first secretary, in 1919, John Proctor, had donated a collection of medals and there are items relating to the likes of Tancy Lee, the club’s first trainer and coach who as a boxer became Scotland’s first ever winner of a Lonsdale Belt.
Others associated with Victoria and recognised include Johnny Hill, Scotland’s first professional world champion, as well as Alex Arthur, Jim Rolland, Jim McKenzie, Alex Bell, Tommy Wells, Jackie Brown, James McLean, Billy Black, Eric Bell, Marshall Bell, Kenny McClorey, Fundu Mahura, Alex Arthur and Bradley Welsh.
One of the joys of creating the museum, according to Dougie was unearthing nuggets of information such as when Alex Ireland reached his Olympic final and judges could not separate him and his opponent so an additional fourth round was decreed.
“So far as I know the only instance of an Olympic bout going to extra time” laughs Douglas Fraser, former international referee who has been part of the fabric of Leith Victoria for 62 years apart from a couple of years away.”
As for the worldwide interest in the museum this is summed up by a family from Winnipeg, Canada, who visited and were so taken with Leith Victoria and its history they cleaned the club out of souvenir merchandise!
*The story of Leith Victoria and its display of boxing memorabilia is told in a new book entitled “The Leith Annual” which chronicles life in the port during 2024 through a range of topics,including sport.
Leith Victoria secretary Douglas Fraser with the trophy linked to their former Olympic silver medallist Alex Ireland which was the trigger for a club museum.
Priced £15, e-mail [email protected] for details of where to purchase.
First Minister says the Scottish Budget will “progress people’s priorities”
Ahead of a visit on Tuesday to Edinburgh charity, Vintage Vibes, – an organisation working to support older people by tackling social isolation and loneliness through the projects they deliver – the First Minister said there had been a £41 million package of Scottish Government support announced this winter.
This includes the introduction of new payments in winter 2025 that will benefit all pensioners – including a £100 payment which is only available in Scotland, and which the Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville announced last week. This will pay at least £100 to all pensioners with others receiving up to £300 depending on other benefits and age.
The First Minister said: “This week we will publish a Budget which delivers progress for Scotland, by Scotland – laying the foundations for our long-term success. We have engaged constructively with organisations and businesses across the country and have listened carefully to the priorities of the people of Scotland – and this is a Budget that will deliver those priorities.
“That is why it is a Budget not just for Scotland, but by Scotland – with the things people care most about at its heart.
“People across the country were saying loudly and clearly that the UK Government’s abandonment of older people on the Winter Fuel Payment was unacceptable. We listened and my Budget will take action to fix the problem in Scotland by delivering a £41 million package of support this winter, and universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payments from next year.
“Unlike the UK Government, we will deliver a Scottish Budget that puts the people of Scotland first, reflecting my determination to deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland.
“It will be a Budget for delivery, showing we have heard the issues people have accessing public services and taking action to address the problems. It will be a Budget for hope, putting in place the investment that will set us up to win big in the years to come – creating more and better jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.”
First Minister, John Swinney, has appointed Dr Peter Mackay as Scotland’s fifth Makar .
The person in this position takes the lead in promoting poetry nationally, as well as producing work relating to significant national events.
Dr Mackay was appointed by the First Minister on the recommendation of an expert panel representing Scotland’s literary sector. He has chosen to serve for a three-year term.
He is the fifth person to hold the role since it was established by the Scottish Parliament in 2004, and has previously been a member of the panel which chose the Makar.
First Minister John Swinney said: “I am very pleased that Scotland’s new Makar is Gaelic-speaking poet, Peter Mackay.
“Peter published his first collection Gu Leor/Galore in 2015. Since then, he has attracted a wide audience, and many accolades, through his originality, playfulness and willingness to take risks with language.
“With his keen understanding of how different languages interact with one another, Peter is well equipped to help forge strong connections between different linguistic communities across both Scotland and the rest of the world.
“I have no doubt that his passion and dynamism will allow him to excel at helping to promote both poetry and our wider cultural heritage.”
Dr Peter Mackay said: “It is an honour and a pleasure to be appointed as Scotland’s new Makar. I’m very grateful to the panel for their faith in me, and to the First Minister for his support, and especially his enthusiasm about a Gaelic poet taking on the role.
“I have grown up reading the work of and learning from the previous holders of this post and it is a privilege to follow in their footsteps. I hope to do justice to their example: their warmth and support for other writers, their gifts for laughter and the right phrase, their advocacy for poetry as being central to Scottish life, as a medium that can tell truths slant, be a shape-shifter, and help us see and come to terms with the world anew.
“I love that Scotland has a ‘Makar’, not a poet laureate: the act of ‘making’ is central to the role, and that the title is in Scots adds a particular distinctive grounding. Part of my task, as I see it, is to encourage people to make things in all the different languages of Scotland, the dozens of languages spoken in this country: to see what kinds of conversations, games, debates can be sparked between them. I can’t wait.”
The previous Makars have included Kathleen Jamie, Edwin Morgan, Liz Lochhead, and Jackie Kay.
Panel members this year who chose the new Makar were:
Anna Feintuck, Team Leader, Access, Arts and Participation Team, Culture & Historic Environment Division, Scottish Government, (Chair)
Henry Bell, Editor, Gutter
Dr David Goldie, President, Association for Scottish Literature
Peggy Hughes, Director, National Centre for Writing, Norwich
Marc Lambert, Chief Executive, Scottish Book Trust
Jill Mackintosh, Head Librarian, Scottish Poetry Library
Harriet Macmillan, Literature Officer, Creative Scotland
Dr Robyn Marsack, Independent Adviser
Niall O’Gallagher, Gaelic Poet and Broadcaster
Amina Shah, National Librarian and Chief Executive, National Library of Scotland
Ryan van Winkle, Director, Stanza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival
Mark Wringe, Senior Lecturer, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands
Edinburgh classic film was written on menu cards
Restless Natives screenwriter Ninian Dunnett has said he wrote the Scottish cult comedy classic film on the back of menu cards.
Dunnett was 24 when he plotted the film about two bored Edinburgh teens who put on Clown and Wolfman masks to hold up tourist coaches in Highland glens on the back of a Suzuki 125 motorbike.
The 1985 comedy crime caper, which featured a soundtrack by Scots rock legends Big Country, has become a cult favourite.
Dunnett has now transformed the story into a stage musical set to make its world premiere next summer, 40 years after it hit cinema screens.
Dunnett, from Edinburgh, told the Restless Natives podcast — named after the film — how he outlined the story on menu cards while working as a local newspaper reporter in Newcastle.
The film became a reality after he sent it off to a competition advertised in his local bank branch.
He said: “I was trying one or two other things and one of them was this wee story. I had a pack of blank menu cards from a restaurant and so I started writing a scene on each card.
“A couple of boys, what are they doing? They’re in a place, a joke shop is kind of interesting. What are they doing then? They’re getting bored and thinking ‘we should do something’.
“They’ll have an idea for a caper — what’s going to be more interesting if one of them wants to do the caper and the other one doesn’t and on it goes.
“That was the start of it and then it was like the three bars turn up on the fruit machine and you’ve not even put in the money.
“I picked up a leaflet in my local bank for a screenwriting competition and I thought about the menu cards and put them together. I typed it up and sent it off and it won the competition.
“That was immediate attention. David Puttnam, the big producer who’d done Local Hero was judging the competition so then it all took off. Then EMI came in and said yeah we want to make it.
“I was 24 by this point.”
The film starred Scots actors Joe Mullaney and the late Vincent Friell as Ronnie and Will, also known as the Clown and the Wolfman, holding up coaches in the Highlands and robbing tourists with their charm and a toy gun.
The characters become folk heroes as they try to keep one step ahead of the law, including holidaying CIA agent Fritz Bender, played in the film by late Hollywood legend Ned Beatty, are in hot pursuit.
Beatty had previously starred in films including Deliverance to Superman and been nominated for an Oscar for his role in 1976 film Network.
Dunnett said the Hollywood great was attracted to the film, which was shot in Scotland, by his Scottish ancestry.
He said: “I always thought if we could get Robert Vaughn — as a wee boy I loved The man from U.N.C.L.E — but Ned Beatty turned out to be just the thing.
“Ned was fantastic as the CIA agent and the way we got him was working on his Scottish roots — Beatty country and all that. It’s possible he was even given a kilt.
“His wife came over after shooting and the two of them went down exploring the ancestral lands.”
Produced on a low budget, Restless Natives — following others like Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero — brought Scotland to a larger audience and helped pave the way for a boom in Scottish cinema.
Dunnett said the film wasn’t universally praised in 1985, and has grown in status over four decades.
He said: “When Restless Natives came out it wasn’t treated as Citizen Kane. Some people didn’t like it and especially the London media were very tough on it.
“It was very mixed. People liked it — it played in three cinemas in Edinburgh at the same time but the reviews were not all great.
“It’s one of the amazing, very nice, things that have happened — the film has got better as the years have gone by. More people have liked it and critics have liked it more. It’s a very strange thing.
“In 2021 we were asked to go to the Edinburgh Film Festival — they had not asked us in 1985 — and we did a screening. It was still covid and we were outdoors in St Andrew Square — and it was fabulous.
“You look out into the audience and there’s people in Clown and Wolfman masks.”
The musical is being produced and directed by the same team who made the film, alongside co-producers Perth Theatre
Dunnett, who wrote the film, director Michael Hoffman and the movie’s co producer Andy Paterson are all involved, with music inspired by songs and themes of Big Country.
Dunnett said: “The old team is back together. We’ve been working very hard with the cast and we’ve got such a great little ensemble together.”
The musical will premiere at Perth Theatre, where it will run from April 24 until May 10 before touring venues in Stirling, Aberdeen and Inverness before rounding off at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow.
Photos feature director Michael Hoffman, actor Rachel Boyd (Isla), screenwriter Ninian Dunnett and producer Andy Paterson and actor Teri Lally (Margaret) attended a screening of Restless Natives as part of Film Fest in the City in summer 2021
Clockwise from top left: Andy Paterson, Ninian Dunnett, Michael Hoffman, Rachel Boyd and Teri Lally.
Credit Pako Mera
“Rebel racer” Rachel steps up from karts to cars
Rachel Robertson, a promising 17-year-old karting talent who attends Edinburgh’s Trinity Academy, has been selected to join the new Radical Racing Rebels team for the 2025 Radical Cup UK season.
Rachel, whose karting prowess was highlighted in the Edinburgh Reporter last April including a meeting with three times F1 world champion Max Verstappen. was chosen from a competitive pool of over 50 talented applicants from the Wera Tools British Kart Championships.
At a selection day held at Bedford Autodrome, Rachel was hailed as a standout candidate among six finalists, impressing the judging panel with her racing abilities, commitment and attitude.
“We are delighted to welcome Rachel to the Radical Racing Rebels Team for 2025” said Martin Fallon of Wera Tools, UK, adding:
“It is a real pleasure to see young drivers progress from the Wera Tools British Kart Championship and continue their trajectory to the highest level. Rachel will also be welcomed into the Wera Alliance Racing Academy and join an impressive pool of the UK’s fastest young racing and rally drivers.”
While karting is recognized as an affordable entry point into
motorsport, the transition from karts to racing cars can often be a challenging leap—both financially and technically. Radical Racing Rebels, together with Wera Tools UK, aims to address these challenges, creating a pathway.
The Radical Cup UK serves as an ideal platform for racers seeking a pathway into GT, single-seater, or prototype sports car racing.
Rachel said: “It’s a dream come true to have this opportunity. I’m incredibly grateful.
“I can’t wait to get started and make the most of every lap!”
The People’s Story reopens to the public
The doors at the People’s Story Museum have reopened to the public on Monday after a temporary closure instructed by council officers, and based on staff shortages.
There was a short ribbon cutting event today organised by the campaigners, led by Jim Slaven who lives locally.
Jim said: “Today is a good day for Edinburgh. I think one of the issues that we’ve identified over the course of this campaign is that, by the council’s own admission, this building and the museum has been neglected for 35 years. There’s a lot of low hanging fruit and changes can be made really quickly and easily that can begin to turn this round.”
The museum was very busy at lunchtime on Monday with visitors examining the exhibits on all three floors. It is a fascinating place, and even if you have already visited, it is well worth spending a few minutes in the former Tolbooth building on The Royal Mile.
Cllr Katrina Faccenda (below) said: “This is a really big win for campaigners. It was an excellent campaign that they ran, they put a lot of pressure on and got lots of influential people to support them. The councillors moves and realised this was important and now the museum has been reopened.” She explained her favourite part of the museum is on the first floor where exhibitions show 20th century stories. She said: “It’s very much a step back in time to a lot of us and how we started in politics.”
The People’s Story tells the story of ordinary people living in Edinburgh through the ages. It promotes the history of trades, culture and crafts and charts the journey fighting for fairness and political rights. Some of the placards from the January 2017 protests in Edinburgh against the inauguration of US president, Donald Trump, have found a place in the history of Edinburgh related here.
The museum was opened on 14 July 1989 by John Smith leader of the Labour Party and Campbell Christie who was the General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
Cllr Finlay McFarlane attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. He said: “I am absolutely delighted that the community campaign to save the People’s Story has won through and the museum is now open. It was a busy day. Even in the middle of Jim’s opening ceremony speech, people were coming out of museum who had been in to see it as soon as the doors were open.
“So it just shows that there is absolutely a need for this kind of thing and for the People’s Story to be told in this city. It speaks volumes that there needed to be a campaign to reopen the only working class history museum in the city. It speaks volumes about the priorities of this Labour council administration. However now is a time to look forward. There have been many offers of help to revitalise and reimagine and update the People’s Story’s content to make it sustainable and fit for the next ten or 20 years. I will be 100% behind those efforts behind the trade union movement, of working class people, of city centre residents and people from all over the city to help them tell their story on the Canongate. I am right behind them and really looking forward to seeing what the next steps are now that we have the doors back open which was the first step.”
The City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day and Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker visited the museum this morning to meet with staff as final touches were made and doors reopened.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day, said: “The People’s Story is a valuable part of Edinburgh’s cultural heritage. Earlier this year, facing increased budget challenges, the museum was temporarily closed and it was proposed that it would remain so during the autumn and winter months. However, thanks to the incredible support and feedback from the public for the museum, we worked to secure the necessary funding and resources to reopen and to be able to offer this museum to residents and visitors.
“Whether you’ve never visited before or it’s been a while since your last trip, now is the perfect time to rediscover the museum. Explore the exhibits that bring to life the authentic voices of Edinburgh’s people through oral histories and written accounts. Some of the many highlights include displays of Friendly Society regalia, banners, and materials that reflect the city’s rich, diverse communities. We look forward to welcoming you back to experience these powerful stories first-hand.”
Displays include tableaux, original objects, images and personal stories that reveal a fascinating history of the city. The collection focuses on the history, culture, crafts and trades, and the people of Edinburgh but also as a place to explore more contemporary issues, events and opinions. All of the displays in the museum are based around the words of Edinburgh’s people, taken from oral history reminiscences and written sources to tell real stories. The collections reflect this with objects ranging from Friendly Society regalia, banners and material relating to Edinburgh’s diverse communities.
The council’s Culture committee meets on Thursday to discuss the forecast overspend of £0.455m for Culture and Wellbeing services, £0.058 million for Parks and Greenspaces and £0.180million for Bereavement Services. The papers for the meeting which will be webcast online are here.
Jim Slaven campaignerEdinburgh local Willie Black, who is a veteran campaigner for many different causes, brought along his banner for one of his latest campaigns.
Review – Treasure Island ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Duncan McLean’s reimagining of Treasure Island by Edinburgh-born author and lover of the sea Robert Louis Stevenson keeps the original spirit of the epic adventure intact for new fans of the story as well as old.
While this Christmas adaptation makes some changes; the original essence of a swashbuckling masterpiece and battle between good and evil remains.
Instead of Long John we have Lean Jean Silver played by Amy Conachan who brings much guile to the role. The parrot is dispensed for her sidekick in the form of a puffin (operated by Dylan Read) who had my seven-year-old nephew mesmerised.
This pirate story begins in Leith where Jim Hawkins, (Jade Chan), is charmed by Lean Jean. Soon it’s a case of getting the gang back together and a motley crew of reformed pirates spirit us away from Leith to Orkney. The stage becomes a ship and soon trap doors, the dreaded black spot and ropes give the sense of a real boat and adventure.
The sea shanties and songs summon a magical pirate world and the versatile TJ Holmes as The Laird of Leith (and pirate) can’t half rock a black Rickenbacker bass, perhaps the perfect instrument for a pirate. Ben Gunn is a manic presence and Tim Dalling brings that insanity to life but there are times when it’s hammed up too much.
Ultimately it’s an enjoyable Christmas night out for families to experience the magic of the season.
Treasure Island at The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh until 4 January 2025. Tickets here.
West Lothian High school pioneers mobile free classroom
A West Lothian High school which banned the use of mobile phones in the classroom has been given the support of parents – and said it has made a huge difference.
Linlithgow Academy has had mobile-free classrooms since the spring. And Head teacher Grant Abbot recently told local councillors: “It’s made a huge difference.”
The issue of mobile phones in school is one which education bosses are facing up and down the UK, with the issue set to hit TV screens next week with the Channel 4 documentary Swiped: The school that banned smartphones.
That features a school in in Essex which is banning mobile phones in the class – and in West Lothian that has been shown to get results.
At a meeting of the Linlithgow Local Area Committee he said: “We have been mobile free in classrooms since May. After extensive surveys we had 95% of families responding- the first time I have had that, I never get that level of response to surveys.
“I have staff telling me that change in classrooms is transformational. Students are back cognitively into lessons, there’s more dialogue, more discussion.”
Mr Abbot told the meeting that the school had opted for a very “black and white “approach.
“There’s no phones in the classroom. It should be in a bag or the wall holder in the classroom.”
If a phone is seen in class the teacher calls the office and another teacher comes to the classroom and asks the pupil to come to the office, where the pupil has to place the phone in a pouch. It can be retrieved at the end of the school day. The walk to the office also gives the chance for conversation with the pupil.
Mr Abbot said it was a process which de-escalated the potential for disruption from the start. It’s not “a suit and tie demanding a phone” from a pupil, it could be any teacher coming to class to escort the pupil to the office.
“It is the support of all teaching staff in a school of 1,300 which has made the scheme work,” said the headteacher.
Pupils are allowed to use their phones at break times and lunchtimes.
Chairing the meeting, councillor Sally Pattle said “That’s fantastic. I’ve spoken to young people who have said ‘I can’t focus in class because someone next to me is watching a film on their phone.’”
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Linlithgow Academy has adopted a new mobile phone policy with the aim for regulating mobile use to reduce distractions and improve learning.
“West Lothian secondary schools set their own mobile phone policy, with the majority asking pupils to ensure phones are in bags or pouches during class, unless the teacher indicates they are being used for the lesson or are required for medical reasons.
“In response to feedback from parents, teachers and students, Linlithgow Academy has implemented a new policy which formalises this approach and sets clear boundaries to help pupils stay engaged in lessons.
“Pupils are reminded of the policy at the start of each lesson, communication is ongoing with parents/carers to make sure they are onboard with the approach, and respectful enforcement of the policy is carried out, all with the aim of creating an environment where students and teachers can engage without unnecessary interruptions.”
Swiped: The school that banned smartphones is a Channel 4 documentary featuring students at The Stanway School which tackles the timely issue of the impact of smartphones on children’s behaviour with a pioneering social experiment.
TV hosts Emma and Matt Willis front the TV show that will see them give up their smartphones alongside students from Essex. The pair work with Year 8 pupils at the Colchester school, as they hand in their devices for 21 days.
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
Football For A Fiver is back at Easter Road for last home game of season
The popular initiative returns this Christmas – which will see all match tickets within the Stadium sold for just £5 for Hibs William Hill Premiership fixture with Kilmarnock on Sunday 29 December; kick-off at 3pm at Easter Road.
In what will be Hibs final match of 2024, the club is aiming for a capacity crowd inside Easter Road – with the discounted ticket campaign focussed on making football more affordable for supporters around Christmas.
As part of the campaign, all travelling supporters will benefit too – with all Kilmarnock away tickets priced at £5.
This will be the second time in recent years that Hibs have offered tickets for just £5, the first of which was back in March 2022.
Further initiatives have followed including ‘Friday Night Football for £10’ and discounted tickets on Halloween as we continue our effort to make football as affordable as possible for our supporters.
Ticket Prices; Adult – £5, Over 65s – £5, Under 18s – £5, Under 13s – £5
All accessible tickets are as per the price classes above with a complimentary Personal Assistant included if in receipt of a higher/enhanced DLA/PIP.
Please email [email protected] or call 0131 656 7066 to book tickets!
As part of the campaign, the club is offering Season Ticket Holders the opportunity to book into our ‘Behind The Goals’ matchday sports bar for a discounted rate of just £5.
Non-Season Ticket Holders can also purchase a ‘Behind The Goals’ Executive Ticket for £20 which includes an executive padded seat and access to the Behind The Goals sports bar pre-match, post-match and at half-time.
Any Half Season Tickets purchased after midday on Monday 2 December will not be valid for the Kilmarnock game, and will be valid from the home match with Rangers on Sunday 5 January.
Country park lodges plan will support future
A plan to build up to 200 holiday lodges within Dalkeith Country Park will help sustain the estate for the future and boost the local economy, its operators say.
The proposals are set to have a first look from Midlothian councillors at a meeting of their planning committee next week.
Buccleuch Estates says the move into holiday accommodation will provide ‘vital income’ towards its continued stewardship of the country park.
In their design statement for the lodges they say more investment is needed in the commercial side of the park to attract people all year round and ensure its future.
They say: “Holiday lodge accommodation offers an important commercial opportunity for the estate, given the natural beauty and accessibility of its parkland.
“Developed sympathetically within the landscape at an appropriate scale, it would contribute vital income to Buccleuch’s stewardship programme and provide a valuable economic benefit to the local economy, through employment and visitor spend.”
The proposed site for the lodges lies between Salters Road on the East and the River South Esk on the west over nearly 42 hectares of land.
In their proposal the applicants say the lodges will be designed to blend in to the natural landscape and will be energy efficient and use eco-friendly material.
There are also plans to reduce their footprint by off site construction to deliver them in sections to reduce onsite work and environmental impact.
They include an image of a lodge retreat cabin at Blenheim Palace as an example of the type proposed.
The Pre Application Notice will go before planning committee next week for councillors to comment on ahead of any plans being formally submitted.
They are available to view on the Midlothian Planning Portal.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
Police seek help to trace missing 32-year-old man last seen over a week ago
Police Scotland is anxious to trace Blair Davidson who has been reported missing from the Granton area of Edinburgh since around 11pm on Sunday 24 November 2024.
He is 32 years of age and is described as white, 6 feet tall, medium build, dark cropped hair, and stubble.
Anyone with information is asked to phone 101 or Crimestoppers on 0500 555 111. Quote incident 0177of 26/11/2024.
Bin sheds ordered to be removed after appeal
Residents in an East Lothian street have lost their fight to keep their bin sheds after building them on shrubbery beds outside their garden gates.
Home owners living in Pithead Heights, Prestonpans, created the wooden covers after arguing that the council’s decision to only empty household waste every three weeks left them with stinking bins in their small gardens.
And they pointed out there was nothing to stop them putting the bins themselves out on the street, adding the wooden covers simply made them look more tidy.
East Lothian planners ordered the sheds to be removed after a single complaint. Two residents who appealed an enforcement notice to Scottish Ministers have now lost their battle after the Scottish Government Reporter backed council planners saying the land the bins are on must be returned to communal space.
At least four home owners in Pithead Heights, in Prestonpans, installed the wooden storage units over the last four years.
However the single complaint from another residents led to years of wrangling with the local authority with the householders ordered to apply for planning permission for the shed, which was then refused.
Residents Christine Klien and Susan Ralston both appealed the order from the council to remove their bin sheds.
A third resident Debbie Gray had her appeal dismissed as being submitted a day too late for consideration by the Reporter.
At the time Debbie, a nurse, criticised the council for wasting money pursuing the enforcement notices when there was nothing to stop the residents just putting their bins out on the strip of land.
She said: “There is nothing to stop us putting our bins outside our gates all the time. All we have done is put up a storage unit which makes it look tidy and stops recycling from being swept all over the street in windy weather.
“East Lothian Council is always banging on that it has no money, so why is it wasting public funds pursuing enforcement action, It is a huge waste of time and money over something which received a single complaint and is doing no harm.”
Christine Klien, a business operations manager, said she was stunned when the council told her she had unlawfully “extended her garden”.
She said: “They have no problem with the bins being left on the same strip of land all the time, other residents have put slabs down over the shrubbery to create a neat spot for them and not faced action.
“I have a dog and if I keep the household bin in the garden he goes straight to it because the three weekly collections mean it can smell. It ruins the garden for us.”
The Reporter dismissed both appeals saying the plans for the housing clearly showed no planning permission was in place for the sheds and they did breach planning rules.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
West Lothian Council backs plea for unpaid carers to qualify for Covid 19 booster jabs
West Lothian Council has backed a plea for unpaid carers to qualify for Covid 19 booster jabs this winter.
Those under 65 were excluded from the latest booster programme UK wide advice from clinicians who believed that the risk of illness had now fallen significantly.
Tabling a motion to write to the Scottish health minister the Depute Provost Peter Heggie asking him to reinstate booster jobs for unpaid carers he spoke of widespread fears among carers of falling ill and being unable to care for loved ones.
Councillor Heggie said some of the testimony he had heard speaking to constituents was upsetting: “They asked me ‘what if I take ill, who is going to care for my partner. Who is going to care for my son?’”
He added: “People started to contact me when this decision was made. I’ve spoken to individuals who will not be offered the Covid 19 booster this winter and their only option is to pay for it. For many in these times that is not something they can do.
“A recent report in West Lothian showed that 26% of carers really struggle with their own health and well- being in their role, who would step up.”
Raising an amendment against the Conservative motion the SNP group leader Councillor Janet Campbell said: “The Scottish Government has consistently followed the best and most up to date advice regarding all vaccination programmes including booster programmes for Covid. That is why both NHS Scotland and NHS England are following this advice as set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The amendment added: “As currently available Covid-19 vaccines provide limited protection against mild and asymptomatic disease, the focus of the programme is on offering vaccination to those most likely to directly benefit from vaccination, particularly those with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of hospitalisation following infection.
“For autumn 2024, JCVI advises that a Covid-19 vaccine should be offered to:-
adults aged 65 years and over
residents in a care home for older adults
those aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk from Covid group.
“This information renders this motion baseless.”
The amendment said the council should: “ask for the epidemiological evidence which led to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation making this decision and to further request that the Scottish Government considers providing the Covid vaccine to unpaid carers.”
Depute group leader Pauline Satfford added: “It would have much easier to get behind this motion if it had just stuck to the facts instead of politicising the health and well-being of our most vulnerable constituents and their carers.
“NHS Scotland has not gone out on a limb here with a rogue decision. NHS England have also followed the same advice. There’s an implication that unpaid carers are worse off under the Scottish Government.
“An unpaid carer is £3,000 better off in Scotland than anywhere else.To suggest the Scottish Government is an outlier is not correct and not constructive.”
Conservative group leader Damian Doran-Timson slated SNP assertions of how much better the Scottish Government had reposnded to the Covid crisis, pointing to the number of care home deaths.
Independent councillor Andrew McGuire congratulated Councillor Heggie on his motion and expressed surprise that it had met with opposition. Describing unpaid carers as a very vulnerable group, he added: “We should be immunising as many people as possible.”
Lib Dem Councillor Sally Pattle told the meeting she was confused as to why the motion was deemed controversial and added that she would support the motion. She said: “Unpaid carers are the backbone of our society.”
The motion was passed by 18 votes to 15.
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
Bangkok meets brunch – a Thai twist on Edinburgh’s breakfast scene
Located on the third floor of an unimposing office building on North Castle Street, Chaophraya (pronounced chow-pry-a) offers more than just another breakfast spot in Edinburgh’s crowded dining scene.
Named after Thailand’s vital waterway that sustains Bangkok’s vibrant culture, this restaurant delivers on both ambience and culinary creativity.
While the restaurant is renowned for its regional Thai dinner menu, their new breakfast offering (served Friday through Sunday, 9:30-11:30 am) brings an exciting East-meets-West fusion to Edinburgh’s morning dining options. The setting alone with its golden Buddhas and opulent décor makes it worth the visit – and if you’re lucky enough to secure a table in the glass-enclosed dining area, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of both the Kingdom of Fife and Edinburgh Castle.
The breakfast menu ingeniously reimagines morning classics through a Thai lens. The hot smoked salmon pad ka prao eggs benedict arrived perfectly executed, featuring a sriracha-spiced hollandaise that adds just the right kick to start your day. The dish comes served on a pillowy muffin, accompanied by crispy sweet chilli and maple-glazed bacon, and I ordered a side of Thai-style smashed avocado that elevates the entire plate. The presentation on their distinctive teal blue pottery plates adds an extra touch of elegance.
While flavourful, my companion’s maple bacon buttermilk pancakes with chilli sauce didn’t quite hit the mark temperature-wise and seemed to lack that fresh-off-the-griddle quality she’d hoped for. However, the innovative beverage selection more than made up for any shortcomings. The turmeric and ginger shots, while intimidating at first with their promised chilli kick, proved to be a refreshing start to the morning without being overwhelming. The hot Thai tea deserves special mention – its smoky notes perfectly balanced with cream and sweetness, while a well-crafted cappuccino satisfied traditional coffee cravings. Service, as demonstrated by our waitress Ming, was both professional and engaging, matching the restaurant’s upscale atmosphere.
Verdict: While Edinburgh isn’t short on breakfast options, Chaophraya’s unique Thai interpretation of morning classics, with its stunning views and luxurious setting, makes it a worthy addition to your weekend brunch rotation. It’s an ideal spot for those seeking something beyond the usual eggs and bacon, offering a genuine fusion experience where Eastern flavours seamlessly blend with Western breakfast traditions.
Critchley praises players after Dons draw
Neil Critchley praised his players for their efforts in the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Tynecastle with Musa Drammeh, making his first start, Cammy Devlin, Beni Baningime and substitutes Adam Forrester and Craig Halkett, among the names highlighted at the post-match press conference.
The head coach said: “I thought we were fantastic, particularly in the second half, I also felt that we started well, we were the better team, making two changes disrupts the rhythm and they scored with their first shot on goal.
“It would be easy for us to feel sorry for ourselves, but I said to the players at half time. One is moan or talk about it we fight and we certainly fought in the second half.”
The former Blackpool boss added that to lose two players in the back line (Kent and Kingsley) was not ideal, as they are big players, but Critchley felt Craig Halkett, who had a back problem before the game, was “brilliant” and Forrester “was fantastic as well”, particularly as Hearts’ rearguard were playing against which the coach called “a really dangerous front line”.
He added: “That is one of Aberdeen’s strengths, they can change off the bench and, when you are pushing for the game and leaving them space you know you are rolling the dice a little bit, but we went for the game, the crowd was incredible and we nearly won it at the end.”
The up-beat playcaller said Hearts were not even half way through the season and there are still plenty of points to play for and he added: “I said to the players before the game, be committed to being us and the team we want to be. I thought we did that today and we got our just rewards.”
On Drammeh, the coach felt he was “brilliant” and he really enjoyed watching him play. He added: “He brought something different to the front line. He has physicality, he has size and strength and he tired, obviously, but that was another problem.
“Generally, his all round performance and his contribution to the team was fantastic.”
If he keeps playing as he did against Aberdeen then he could claim a regular starting slot and Critchley said: “The players do their talking on the pitch. They make their decisions for me. He has come on he has scored, he has done well in training and Musa is making my job easier at this moment in time.”
Aussie-born Devlin and Congolese footballer Baningime have been excellent recently, he said, and the plan is to rotate in the midfield. You could not, said Critchley, have detected that Hearts had played in Europe in midweek by the end of the game. The energy and commitment was, he added, outstanding as Hearts drove forward in a bid to capture all three points.
His counterpart, Jimmy Thelin, incidentally, fielded a number of fringe players and, overall, felt it was a fair result. His men now host pace-setting Celtic on Wednesday.
PICTURE: Beni Baningime (left) and Adam Forrester, who players mentioned by Neil Critchley for their contributions against Aberdeen. Picture by Nigel Duncan
Police Scotland launch festive drink and drug driving campaign
Police officers will be working with communities and patrolling roads across Scotland as the festive period brings a focus to preventing drink and drug driving.
This year’s festive drink and drug driving campaign is happening from 1 December 2024 until 19 January 2025.
Officers will be using an intelligence-led approach and road safety data to target key areas with patrols, respond to concerns and arrest offenders. Road checks will be organised in towns and cities, and prevention messaging issued in pubs.
Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of Road Policing, said: “Our officers will be working hard to relentlessly target drivers who choose to drink alcohol or take drugs.
“It doesn’t matter how good a driver you think you are, alcohol or drugs will affect your reactions and your judgement.
“It’s easy to catch drug drivers because we have drug testing kits that can be used at the roadside. We will be doing everything we can to protect the public and support crucial road safety partnerships to encourage behaviour change, but we also need your help.
“The influence people can have on their family and friends can be lifesaving.
“If you know someone is going to drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, please speak to them.
“We all have a responsibility to improve road safety.”
New petanque league ready to bowl along
Petanque has grown in the Lothians and beyond to the extent that a league of ten clubs is due to be launched next Spring.
One of the driving forces behind a sport also known as French boule is Sandy Howden who has likewise helped establish the latest club in Dalkeith.
Sandy and his wife, Margaret, are chair/secretary of a group responsible for ensuring the success of a twin town arrangement involving Dalkeith and Jarnac, South-West France.
The idea of strengthening relations through pétanque seemed an obvious one and is on track but the initial challenge has been to create a piste in Dalkeith.
Sandy was motivated to go around the area photographing pétanque facilities including Dunbar, Haddington, Leith Links (unused), Portobello (unused), Inverleith, Penicuik and Roslin.
The Dalkeith petanque piste opened in August. Driving force Sandy Howden is on the left of the group in the grey jacket.
The results were printed in an eight page brochure on why Dalkeith should have a petanque piste and it has proved central to much successful political lobbying at local level.
Considerable funds were unlocked from councillors’ environmental funds not only for Dalkeith but firstly from nearby Newtongrange.
Soon after the piste in Newtongrange opened membership reached over 100 and nine players are representing Scotland.
Two years later members of the Midlothian Indoor bowling Club in Dalkeith asked Sandy to replicate the Newtongrange venture and in August this year a grand opening took place.
After three months there are now 43 members playing three times each week.
Sandy said: “The Mental Health group in Kings Park use this facility every day. We have a 16-year-old potential star who is autistic with ADHD and an 80 per cent blind veteran playing.
”We raised money for a wheelchair accessible bench so we can now accommodate players in wheelchairs and the whole piste is community funded.
“We are having friendly winter meetings between clubs till the proper league starts comprising Selkirk, Walkerburn, Dunbar, Haddington, Dalkeith, Newtongrange, Roslin, Penicuik and Inverleith Edinburgh and possibly Musselburgh if ready.”
As for the link with Jarnac?
“We have written to the Mayor’s office in Jarnac where there is a huge petanque piste to see if we can come over in May to play a tournament. When they were here earlier this year they were delighted at our intention to visit.”
Concerns growing for welfare of 65-year-old man last seen in Parkgrove area
UPDATE: Police Scotland: “Gary Coyle, reported missing in Edinburgh, has been traced safe and well.
“Thank you to all who shared our appeal.”
Police are are appealing for help to trace Gary Coyle, 65, who has been reported missing from Corstorphine, Edinburgh.
He was last seen around 9.20am on Saturday, 30 November in the Parkgrove area.
He is described as around 5ft 4, of slim build and has long thinning grey hair. It is not known what clothing he is wearing.
Inspector Alison Lawrie said: “Concerns are growing for Gary’s welfare. I am appealing to anyone who might have seen him, knows where he may be, or if Gary himself sees this appeal, to please get in touch with officers.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting reference number 3163 of Sunday, 1 December 2024.
Police arrest 51-year-old man following fatal crash in Fountainbridge
Police are appealing for information following a fatal crash on Dundee Street, which took place around 5.30pm yesterday, Sunday, 1 December, 2024.
The incident involved a grey Volvo XC60 and a 20-year-old male pedestrian who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the car, a 51-year-old man, was arrested and released pending further enquiries.
An investigation to establish the full circumstances of the crash is ongoing and officers are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Sergeant Dave Waddell said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased at this tragic time.
“As our enquiries continue, we ask anyone who was in the area and either witnessed the crash, or has potential dashcam footage from around that time, to please contact police.”
Anyone with information should call officers on 101, quoting incident 2556 of 1 December, 2024.
Colinton stories – the history of Davidson House Care Home
The history of Davidson House Care Home on Colinton Road.
The Salvation Army’s Davidson House Care Home on Colinton Road, opposite Dreghorn Cavalry Barracks, came into being in 1950 as “Davidson House for old folks” under the National Assistance Act. That however was only another chapter in its use as a home for old soldiers, which opened at the beginning of the first World War.
In 1899 a lady from Banchory, Miss W S Davidson, was in Glasgow seeing off The Royal Scots Greys who were heading to Africa. In response to a request from their Commanding Officer she vowed that “wherever and whenever Barracks were erected for the Scottish Cavalry I would endeavour to build a Soldiers’ Home for them“.
In 1908 after already having had a Home built near Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow and one in the planning stage at Barry Buddon near Carnoustie (opened in 1910) she turned her attention to Colinton.
Although the Cavalry Barracks were not yet completed she feud land opposite from Col. Trotter of Colinton House, where she planned to build a Soldiers Home. Miss Davidson was a very determined lady and demonstrating this we have in our archives a letter which she sent to the head of the Colinton Tramway Company, who were building a line to carry the stones to be used to build the Barracks.
Their line was going to skirt her property to the west, involving the removal of a belt of tall trees. In her letter she asked them “could you please change your route to avoid having to remove the belt of trees, as they will give us privacy and shelter for our Home to the west “….. and this they did! By 1912 her plans were in place and thanks to Provost Balfour’s support contributions rolled in, in sufficient quantities to allow the building works to start; tenders were sought and one of £15000 was settled on …. But then WAR broke out !
By this time the Barracks were still unfinished, no heating system, no recreational facilities and the stables were being used for sleeping accommodation, so a call went out to Miss Davidson, who was still the Superintendent at the Maryhill Home in Glasgow “For God’s sake can you please help!” Whilst being totally unprepared she rose to the occasion and within three days she raised £700 from friends which enabled her to plan a temporary Home. The Lord Provost agreed that she could have several “Flag Days” allowing her to raise more funds. Work on the Home then started.
The only building on her Feu was Oriel Cottage, which was extended to the rear and westwards towards Colinton to form the temporary Home. The sleeping accommodation only allowed for the three permanent staff to stay, whereas the invaluable five volunteer ladies had to travel over a mile every day to get there, which they did for the next six years!
The building was completed in double quick time and opened by Christmas 1914. Very quickly it was attracting huge numbers of troops, up to 1000 each night !so much so that it had two further extensions during the next three years. The three very large main rooms were a Temperence Dining room, a Recreation Room and a Reading Room. These facilities gave the troops a great “out of Barracks” venue to meet, chat, read and play games in a more relaxed and casual atmosphere. Every Sunday at 3.30 there was a Bible Class followed by tea and cakes (for which everyone paid 6d) and at 7pm there was a short service, both of which were very well attended. Its founder Miss Davidson, who had been made an Honorary Serving-Sister 0f the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem ran the Temperance Home.
After the Armistice in 1918 new quotes were sought to build the permanent Home, which off course was going to be far more expensive and in order to keep these costs as low as possible Miss Davidson did much of the planning herself. She engaged Messrs Cowiesons of Glasgow, whom she had previously employed at both Maryhill and Barry Buddon, for a price of £43,000.
The first sod was cut on the 6th August 1919 and the new Soldiers’ Home was opened on the 26th May 1920 by the Duke of Atholl, the Lord High Commissioner.
As a result of the Great War, immediately after the Home opened many old soldiers became residents and to everyone’s delight HM King George V and Queen Mary together with Princess Mary visited the Home on 9th July 1920. Following on from the visit His Majesty granted the Home permission to use the prefix “Royal”, making it THE ROYAL SOLDIERS HOME, the first time that this had been granted to any Soldiers Home.
In 1923 after running the Home for nine years, due to family reasons in Banchory, Miss Davidson retired, leaving her close friend and long time assistant Mrs Ellis to continue the good work. In the ensuing years, although continuing to be an invaluable facility for troops stationed at Redford, due to the Great War, the Home was now taking in more residents.
As a result of there being far fewer troops stationed at Redford the attendance during evenings or weekends dropped dramatically, averaging only around 50 per day by 1935. The emphasis now being more on helping to rehabilitate old soldiers put increased pressure on the Home’s finances, however the Salvation Army came to the rescue and in 1937 they took over the running of the Home, by which time it had been greatly extended.
Although she had fulfilled the promise that she made to the Royal Scots Greys in 1899 Miss Davidson continued to take a great interest in the Home through her regular contact with Mrs Ellis. She died peacefully at her home in Banchory on the 20th December 1937.
The final chapter in the Home that we see today was in 1950, when Edinburgh Welfare Committee approved the registration under the National Assistance Act of Davidson House for old folks, which is now a care home housing 40 residents.
On Friday there was a ceremony held at the White House in Craigmillar – the art-deco building originally created as a roadhouse when drinking and driving was still socially acceptable. This was one of a number of roadhouses built on arterial routes around the city.
They were designed by architect William Innes Thomson of the firm W N Thomson and Co for Jemima Hood Gair. Gair’s fifteen-year-old daughter convinced her to request a Moderne design.
Our new paper is on the streets. You can read it online – but it is not too late to add it to your Christmas list and buy a subscription for yourself or someone else as a gift
And the prices are at Black Friday rates until midnight tonight…
The Scottish Budget
The Scottish Budget will be announced by Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, on Wednesday afternoon just after 2 o’clock. There is no traditional holding the briefcase aloft staged photo ahead of Scottish budgets, but most local authorities are looking for some more money from The Scottish Government this time. The UK Government increased the block grant paid to Holyrood by £3.4 billion. How that will now be divided up by The Scottish Government on the devolved areas will be made clear on Wednesday.
First Minister, John Swinney, said that improving Scotland’s NHS will be a top priority.
He said: “All of us have used Scotland’s National Health Service at different points in our lives, and we all know what a precious institution it is.
“Under this government, Scotland has had the best-performing core Accident & Emergency Units in the UK for nine years, we have more GPs per head than anywhere else in the UK and we have prevented the disruption of strike action by settling fair pay deals for frontline NHS workers.
“But we know that health services everywhere face huge pressure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic – and ours is no exception.
“When I became First Minister, I made clear that one of my top priorities was improving public services like the NHS. Since then, I have thrown the weight of the Scottish Government behind tackling some of the key challenges it faces – whether that is increasing capacity in hospitals or making it easier for people to see a GP.
“Our budget this week will be a budget which has improving the NHS at its heart. We have listened carefully to suggestions from patients and staff – as well as engaging constructively with organisations and political parties across the parliament.
“I want to make progress on improving our NHS, but to do that, Parliament must approve our Budget Bill in order to unlock investment which will drive the long-term and lasting improvements – and the healthier population – that we all want to see.”
Scottish Labour advise the SNP not to waste an opportunity “this time”.
Michael Marra MSP and Scottish Labour finance spokesperson said “For 14 years, the Tories have provided cover for the SNP’s financial failures and reckless waste – but that ends here.
“Now that Labour has turned the page on Tory austerity and delivered record levels of funding for Scotland, the SNP has to stop the blame game and own its decisions.
“Right now almost 1 in 6 Scots are on an NHS waiting list, exam results are declining, our justice system is at breaking point and countless Scots are suffering as a result of the housing emergency.
“The SNP is out of excuses – they have a budget of nearly £60 billion at their disposal. The whole of that budget must deliver for the people of Scotland and address the challenges our country faces.
“Scottish Labour has engaged in good faith at every point in this budget process, but the SNP has failed to answer our calls to rescue our public services which can only be achieved with a new direction for Scotland.
“The SNP is still failing to be transparent about the state of public finances or honest about how things reached this point.
“This week is an opportunity to end the decline and take our country in a new direction – the SNP must not squander it.”
Scottish Greens want to press their influence on the SNP with a demand for a £2 cap on bus fares and the rollout of free school meals to all P6 and P7 pupils..
Ross Greer MSP said: “This budget is John Swinney’s chance to show the kind of Scotland he wants to build. If it is a fairer and greener Scotland, Green MSPs will be willing to work constructively with him to see it passed.
“Scotland is one of the richest countries in the history of our planet. It’s shocking and entirely avoidable that so many children still live in poverty and come to school hungry. The Scottish Greens have already secured the rollout of universal free school meals to all P4 and P5 pupils, and a wipeout of all school meal debt held by struggling families. Now we want to go further. In September the SNP dropped our previous shared commitment to expand free school meals to P6 and P7. We want to see that decision reversed and a commitment in the budget to deliver those meals.
“One of the most important schemes already delivered by the Scottish Greens is free bus travel for everyone under 22. It has seen 730,000 young people taking 140 million free bus journeys since it was introduced two years ago.
“To protect the planet and help families with the cost of living, we need to make buses more affordable. That is why we have proposed trialling a £2 bus fare cap for services across Scotland from next year.
“When the Scottish Greens removed peak rail fares we got more people onto our trains and saved commuters hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Sadly the SNP have since reintroduced those peak fares. We will argue for their removal once again but we also want to see a bus fare cap, making Scotland’s most popular form of public transport much more affordable.
“These are the kind of bold, ambitious and practical changes that the First Minister could make to undo the damage being inflicted by Westminster and build a fairer, greener Scotland. If he takes these steps on Wednesday, the Scottish Greens will work with him to agree a final budget proposal early in the new year.”
At the council this week
The business this week includes a meeting of the Housing committee. Journalists attended a briefing by the Convener but the whole hour was given up to discussing the impending deadline for temporary accommodation.
The housing convener explained that since the pandemic the council had been placing people in temporary accommodation which was unlawful. The advice from officers was to stop using any accommodation which did not have an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) licence and advise the landlords they would not use their B&B or hotel premises any longer until they held the necessary licence.
A mega meeting of the Licensing Board on Friday heard more than a dozen such applications for premises which are a temporary home for 484 residents. We are not yet sure whether residents had to be moved out of any unlicensed accommodation over the weekend but we do know that all applications heard on Friday were approved.
The landlords only acted when forced to do so, something commented upon at the Licensing Board meeting. We will have a fuller report on that meeting shortly.
Otherwise the Housing meeting will deal with matters such as winding up the council’s property development arm, EDI Group, (which it has been doing for seven years). In the report council officers advise there will be a smaller dividend paid to the council:
“The projected special dividend to the Council from closing EDI is currently forecast to be £7.847m. This is a reduction on the original forecast figure of £8.5m, reflecting the loss sustained by EDI on the Market Street hotel development, write-downs on property valuations associated with COVID-19, higher than anticipated tax liabilities on the sale of land at Brunstane East, and other costs arising such as contributions to remedial works on unadopted roads and costs associated with the South Park and the leased land at West Shore Road.”
Join Carina Contini owner of The Scottish Café invites booklovers to join her and two other wise women on 7 December at The Scottish Café for a book signing.
She will have Sue Lawrence (New Scottish Baking) and Sara Sheridan (The Secrets of Blythswood Square) in the restaurant to sign copies of their books and she will also sign copies of her latest cookbook.
Carina was snowed off last time and is hoping for better weather next weekend!
Max Hamilton, a self employed builder, has completed the latest in a series of gruelling challenges aimed at improving life quality for a friend’s young son stricken by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
For his latest fund raiser in aid of Blake Boath, aged four, Edinburgh-based Max scaled Edinburgh’s Seven Hills 10 times in 77 hours.
He is now seeking to have the challenge he calls the Edinburgh 7×77 officially recognised as a world first.
Earlier in the year Max along with former Edinburgh Eagles rugby league captain Lewis Clarke, Hamish Lothian, Lewis Turkington and Blake’s dad Sean ascended the three highest peaks in each of Scotland, Wales and England in 23 hours and 40 minutes.
And then there was the Southern Upland Way solo examination …
“Didn’t quite go according to plan” admitted Max. “It’s 214 miles from Stranraer to Dunbar but I got a bit lost in some hills!
“My GPS tracker stopped working and with a yellow weather warning in operation it actually became quite dangerous.”
Nevertheless the intrepid Max prevailed and by Christmas he intends to have completed a 24 hour treadmill run with the sum raised on the “Battling Duchenne Disease” GoFundMe pages currently standing at almost £7,000.
Max (right) with Blake and his dad, Sean Boath.
Critchley: ‘we showed hunger and desire’
Neil Critchley felt his men showed hunger, desire and passion to come from behind, despite losing two key members of the squad through injury, to secure a 1-1 draw with much-changed Aberdeen in a bruising battle at a packed Tynecastle.
Stephen Kingsley (pictured by Nigel Duncan) is said to have hamstring problems and was carried off while his defensive colleague, Frankie Kent, hobbled from the pitch. He had quad muscle issues.
Craig Halkett slotted into a reshuffled back four despite suffering from back problems pre-match and Critchley believes that the least the Jambos deserved was a point.
It still leaves the Men in Maroon propping up the rest in the 12-strong William Hill Premiership with ten points from 15 fixtures, two adrift of Capital rivals Hibs and three behind fellow-strugglers, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone.
Ross County are in eighth position with 15 points and they are one behind Dundee who visit Tynecastle next Saturday.
Critchley, however, remained up-beat when talking to the media post-game and said: “I’ve only come in the last seven weeks and I’ve been really encouraged by our performances.”
The English-born head coach said his squad started the game well and were the better team, creating “good moments”, but the injuries to Kingsley and Kent, within minutes of each other in the first half, disrupted the squad.
Hearts ended up with a makeshift back four and, to compound the agony, Aberdeen, who had been second best, scored against the run of play and with their first shot, Leighton Clarkson ghosting between defenders, to glance the ball behind Craig Gordon from six yards after a cross from the right. Time: 37 minutes.
Hearts levelled through a Nicky Devlin own goal after 62 minutes, the ball being scrambled home. It was announced as a goal for summer recruit, Musa Drammeh, but the goal counted, whoever got the final touch.
The well-earned point followed a tough midweek encounter in Belgium in the UEFA Europa Conference League for the Jambos, but the draw means Aberdeen early-season title challenge has faltered, the Dons taking only two points from a possible nine after being edged at St Mirren and drawing 3-3 at Easter Road against Hibs in midweek.
Manager Jimmy Thelin made six changes from Easter Road, trying to keep the team fresh ahead of their home clash with pace-setting Celtic on Wednesday, and the Swedish-born coach was able to see how some of his fringe players performed at a tough venue.
The 46-year-old said: “We need to find the rhythm again. We have the quality.”
“Budminton” hosting Open Day
Budminton, a social badminton club that meets on Wednesdays in Meadowbank Sports Centre and Saturdays in Leith Community Centre, is holding an Open Day on Saturday, 21 December at the latter venue.
The group is the brainchild of Graeme Kennedy and has its roots in the fact on moving to Edinburgh from Aberdeen in 2017 he found – on his own admission – it was difficult to meet new people partly due to working anti-social hours.
So, in 2019, Graeme decided to take the bull by the horns, recalling:“I only had two friends living locally and … decided enough was enough. I joined a running group and badminton group and formed many friendships that are still going strong to this day. At one point is was co-organiser of the running group and the community spirit we had was something I wanted more of, especially when everything came to a halt during the Covid pandemic.
“I decided to start my own group and Budminton was born. The struggle of making friends as an adult is clearly a common theme for many because the club has been growing ever since!”
The club focuses on creating a space for adults of all ages to make lasting friendships in a friendly, active environment and making it affordable to do so. Although most members are beginner and intermediate level, anyone can join – the community are great at making newcomers feel welcome. There’s also an ever-expanding social calendar.
“Badminton is such a friendly and social sport it’s no surprise that Budminton has attracted such lovely people. It helps that it’s a pressure-free environment as it doesn’t matter how well you play and we have fun regardless of ability.
“It’s also nice to see those same faces off of the court too, be it at our annual birthday BBQ, our board game and pizza evenings at Ancient Robot Games in Leith, or elsewhere. Budminton has also raised over £1600 for various local charities from our annual charity tournament in February.“
Fifty per cent always goes to Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home and the other half is a community choice – LGBT Youth Scotland and Edinburgh Food Project have benefitted in the two years that it’s been held.
“Budminton is big on promoting positive mental health and to encourage new faces there will be an Open Day on 21 December.“
