The Edinburgh Reporter November 2021

Type cast Starter’s Orders Carbon crisis Taste of high life In Remembrance

Film superstar Tom Hanks on

tap with letter to bookseller

Gun fired on plan to honour

Meadowbank sporting greats

Edinburgh businesses

supporting COP26 ambitions

Food writer Juliet puts on her

hiking boots to try summit gin

Heartfelt tribute to Tynecastle

club’s war heroes

Page 5 Page 7 Pages 12-15 Page 17 Page 23

November 2021

EDINBURGH’S FREE LOCAL NEWSPAPER...A CAPITAL READ FROM START TO FINISH

The world is

watching

The future of our planet lies in the

hands of world leaders at COP26.

The outcome will have wide

ranging consequences for

all life forms on Earth

FOR ALL OUR SAKES...

CHOOSE to uphold the pledge to limit global

warming to 1.5 degrees. CHOOSE to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. CHOOSE to encourage

countries to mitigate impacts on climate change.

CHOOSE to honour the Paris Agreement and

commit a collective $100 billion per year in

climate finance. CHOOSE to provide developing

countries with financial resources to minimise the

effects of climate change.

It is not too late. But radical action is needed. COP26

leaders – be brave and make the right choices.

Read more on pages 12-15

++ SPECIAL COP26 EDITION...SPECIAL COP26 EDITION...SPECIAL COP26 EDITION...SPECIAL COP26 EDITION ++

2 NEWS

Letters to the editor

Booster red tape adds to patients’ stress

Editorial

AT A TIME when all eyes are on Glasgow and

the environment it seems a good moment to

turn the spotlight onto Edinburgh and see

where real action is being taken to address

the climate emergency. It is heartening that

there are so many people and organisations

which have this issue at the forefront of

their policies and actions. Read more from

Page 12 onwards.

We received so many interesting (and

long!) answers to the question posed “What

are you doing about climate change?” that

the contents of this paper are literally the tip

of the iceberg, and if you can, then you would

be well advised to seek out the long form

articles which will be published on The

Edinburgh Reporter website in the first few

days of the month.

DOING OUR BIT

I try to do my bit with recycling our rubbish,

using LED lightbulbs or using less energy

whether in the form of electricity or driving a

car, as I am sure many of you do too. We have

all been forced to travel less often and it has

been a time to think about our own choices

as they relate to the environment.

The air quality in Edinburgh improved

measurably during lockdown as a result of

the decrease in traffic and there are plans

debated by the council to introduce a

Scottish Government backed Low Emission

Zone in 2022.

With a focus on all things environmental, it

made me ask our printers where the paper

for The Edinburgh Reporter comes from. The

answer is that the paper is sourced from two

suppliers and both produce sustainable and

environmentally friendly paper while

avoiding any use of fossil fuels. Sadly both

companies have also advised a price increase

of 20% in line with every other paper

supplier. Our printing prices will also increase.

If you can support us with a donation or

subscription then please scan the Donate QR

code at the foot of the page.

I very much hope that you and your

families are well and that you enjoy our

monthly look at the news in Edinburgh.

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

Dear Madam,

As a charity representing the 24,000 people in

the UK with the incurable blood cancer

myeloma, we are extremely concerned to see

vulnerable patients being denied life-saving

Covid-19 vaccines and missed off vaccination

lists simply because doctors do not understand

the difference between the third dose and

a booster.

Patient reports show the terms ‘third dose’

and ‘booster’ are being used interchangeably by

GPs and clinicians leading to uncertainty about

which should be given first, if any at all.

On September 1, the Joint Committee on

Vaccination and Immunisation announced that

people with severely weakened immune systems

at the time of their first and/or second

vaccination would receive a third dose of a

Covid-19 vaccine as part of the standard

vaccination schedule. This third dose, the JCVI

said, should be followed by a booster six

months later.

While there is no difference in the

ingredients of the vaccine and booster, it is key

BRINGING THE NEWS TO YOU

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The paper is also distributed at Leith and Stockbridge Markets on

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If you visit any branch of Farmer Autocare then there are also

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If you can, then please subscribe to have your copy delivered to

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ter.ooo/subscribe

GET IN

TOUCH

TODAY!

for medical staff to administer them in the

correct order to make sure immunocompromised

patients get as much protection

from the virus as possible.

Since the JCVI’s announcement, the

Myeloma UK Infoline has been inundated with

queries from concerned patients who have

received conflicting information from their GPs

or been told they only need a booster.

Covid-19: The numbers

NUMBERS OF cases of Covid-19

rose after the summer holidays

when schools returned and have

largely remained steady each day.

The Health Secretary, Humza

Yousaf, has admitted that there is

“absolutely a risk” of Covid cases

rising after the COP26 summit

which may involve around 30,000

people coming to Glasgow.

Meantime letters are going out

to Scots in their sixties inviting

them for a flu vaccine and Covid-19

booster with appointments all the

way through November.

The number of deaths is not just

as high as it was last year going

into winter, but as we went to press

around 140,000 people in the UK

had died of Covid-19 and more

than 9,000 people have died

in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has

decided to continue mask wearing

requirements at schools and the

number of cases in Scotland

For advertising and

editorial enquiries

please email:

editor@the

edinburgh

reporter.co.uk Donate anchor.fm YouTube

In theory, the decision of who is eligible for a

third dose of the vaccine and when they should

receive it is ultimately up to patients’ clinical

specialist team in hospitals. Clinicians should

then contact patients’ GPs and advise them on

who should be offered a third ‘top-up’ dose.

However, in practice, the decision falls to GPs

and vaccination centres.

To support patients with myeloma and other

related conditions gain access to a third primary

dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, we have put

together a letter available to download from

our website (www.myeloma.org.uk/documents/

third-covid-19-vaccine-dose-letter/), which

we encourage them to share with their GP

and haematologist.

Patients should not be made to wade

through red tape to convince doctors they’re

eligible for a third vaccine. The Government

must ensure that NHS systems can swiftly and

accurately identify patients to make sure they

are given the protection they need.

Laura Kerby

Myeloma UK, Chief Executive

remains around 2,000 a day.

There are more than 4.3 million

Scots who have received their first

dose of the vaccine and almost 4

million who have had their second

dose. While vaccination is key,

the winter brings with it some

other factors.

The vaccine certification

programme is criticised by

hospitality groups, and the app did

not work well on its introduction.

Professor Devi Sridhar writing in

The Guardian set out the stall for

following Germany’s lead where

cloth masks are not allowed, only

surgical or medical grade masks

being permitted.

The case numbers in Germany

appear to be under control while in

the UK the government is still

debating if Plan B will really be

necessary. Health leaders have

encouraged The UK Government

to reinstate social distancing

regulations.

About us...

We write about news relating to the Edinburgh area. If you

have any news, or if you would like to submit an article or

photograph for publication then please contact us

Editor: Phyllis Stephen

Designer: Felipe Perez

Photos: Martin P McAdam

/EdinReporter

edinburghreporter

@EdinReporter

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

07791 406 498

editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk

3

Pilgrims’ march

Interior designer,

Jane Adams,

Beach of Dreams art activism will fly the flag at COP26

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

Martin P McAdam

PILGRIMS walking from Dunbar to Glasgow

along the John Muir Way stopped off at St

Mary’s Cathedral on Palmerston Place.

Participants in Pilgrimage for COP26,

carrying silk batik flags made as part of the

Beach of Dreams project and rested for a few

days of contemplation en route to Glasgow.

The purpose of Beach of Dreams was to

explore how we can take care of the

environment, take care of the coast, take care of

the community and ourselves, and the project’s

ambition is that this conversation is adopted

across the country and further afield.

Each flag represents a natural feature on one

mile of the east coast of England - a coastline

which may well disappear.

Artistic Director of the project, Ali Pretty,

said: “Beach of Dreams was a 500 mile walk

along the east coast of England, and it was also

in response to the climate emergency.

“We invited 500 people to walk during

lockdown on their bit of coastline and to take a

photograph - a close up photograph of their

favourite bit on their favourite mile. Then they

did a bit of writing about what connected them

to that mile, and about what their hopes or

fears and dreams were for their great, great,

great grandchildren.

“What would be still left at the coastline in

another century’s time?

“Those designs and writing were translated

into these batik silk pennants.”

Above, Liron

from California

who now lives in

Edinburgh

Left, Beach of

Dreams flags at

St Mary’s

Cathedral

Right, Jack and

Kenny with 10

week-old Harris

Designers pen

new chapter in

sustainability

AUTHOR INTERIORS celebrate and

support British makers and artisans,

including Edinburgh-based Isabelle

Moore. More produces small runs of

unique pieces with an emphasis on

buying less with more consideration.

Showcasing exceptionally well-made

designs in their inspiring collections and

telling the stories and provenance

behind the pieces, AUTHOR was founded

by interior designer Jane Adams,

long-time advocate of slow, sustainable

and ethical design.

Slow Design is a philosophy that

requires a re-evaluation of how we

design and make things. It is a holistic

approach to design that considers the

individual, economic, environmental,

and social impact of design, encouraging

a shift towards sustainability.

Isabelle Moore, whose work is created

at her Edinburgh studio, is one of the

makers to feature at AUTHOR. Isabelle

has created much of her work using

recycled materials such as her Woven

Oak Chair featuring a seat made from

recycled marine line used for catching

tuna and shark. Isabelle’s smaller pieces

such as her Wooden Serving Tray are

made from offcuts in the workshop.

Jane Adams said: “Over recent

decades, it has become the norm to

expect high efficiency in cheapness and

immediacy when it comes to

consumption. Unfortunately, this way of

living has led to fast fashion,

outstripping the world of various natural

resources in a way that has accelerated at

a horribly rapid pace

“We are now thankfully seeing a shift

in attitudes and expectations. An

understanding that this way of living is

not sustainable, and it does not support

people or artisanal skills in the best way

as mass-production can means unfair

treatment and payment of makers and

AUTHOR Interiors will continue to

support and promote these exceptional

British makers.”

www.authorinteriors.com

4 NEWS

Council criticism

Martin P McAdam

Report finds fault with city council’s handling of abuse allegations

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

AN INDEPENDENT inquiry has criticised The

City of Edinburgh Council for their handling of

complaints of abuse by a senior manager and

recommends an overhaul of the council’s

investigations system.

The report prepared by Susanne Tanner QC

and law firm, Pinsent Masons LLP, is also highly

critical of two former members of council staff,

Alistair Gaw, former Director of Education and

Andy Jeffries, former Senior Manager in the

Children and Families Department.

The council began an internal investigation

in summer 2020 when Senior Manager, Sean

Bell, was suspended and allegations of abuse

against him were reported to the police. Bell’s

body was found weeks before he was to appear

in court in what appears to have been suicide.

In June last year an employee disclosed to the

council that Bell had abused her during the

1990s. The employee also said that this was not

the first time she had disclosed the information

to various council employees.

The independent inquiry was charged with

determining whether the council had acted

appropriately in dealing with accusations made

against him over aseveral years.The

investigation, which has cost £654,000 in legal

fees thus far, set out to determine whether Bell

was involved in abuse and whether anyone at

the council knew or suspected.

Bell was well known to many in the city,

working in the Communities and Families

division. The investigation established that it is

probably the case that Mr Bell assaulted a fellow

Stocktaking time

COUNCIL ELECTIONS are coming up

next year and in the run up to such

elections it is time to take stock of

what we want in a local government.

We have to look over the preceding

period and evaluate if we are happy

with the incumbent administration

and decide whether or not we can

trust them with our vote for another

four years.

As proud residents of Edinburgh,

we have to ask ourselves a very

important question. Are we pleased

with SNP led administration’s

stewardship of our city?

Are we satisfied that they are the

best option to lead us?

Are we happy with a social housing

system that the charity Shelter called

“Broken and Biased” and in which the

average wait time for social housing in

Edinburgh for a single person.

Are we happy to live in a city with

the kind chaos on the roads that we

are seeing as a result of the crazy

“Spaces for People” initiative? Traffic,

diversions, and less access to parking

for people who are less mobile in the

city centre.

I would argue that we as proud

citizens of Edinburgh deserve better

than this and it is time to decide

whether we want to remain with the

same tired and failing administration

or look to something better.

We have tried SNP way; I would

argue it is time to try the Conservative

way. The Edinburgh Conservatives

stand ready to provide a fresh and

effective alternative at the upcoming

election.

Jeremy Balfour MSP

colleague sometime after 2010. This was

reported to Andy Jeffries (AJ) who informed

Alistair Gaw(AG) and the council failed to take

any action such as setting up an internal

investigation or making a report to police at

that time. The report reads: “...it is completely

unacceptable that such appropriate action was

not taken”....

The Inquiry Team believe that the failure to

take appropriate action was a failing of the

council and in breach of its own policies which

were in force at the time. The report continues:

“In respect of the individuals involved in the

decision to take no further action (AJ and AG)

– it was a dereliction of duty on their part,

compounded by the fact that, as vastly

experienced Social Workers themselves, they

really should have known better.” AG stepped

down in October 2020. AJ was first suspended

last year and then resigned this September

when shown the inquiry’s preliminary report.

Creating connections

in West Lothian

FOR YOUR NOVEMBER diary here are registration

details for a well being day being held in West Lothian.

Embodying Creative Connections will be a three hour

workshop in Bo’ness on 20 November taking you on a

journey to make deeper connections with yourself to

improve a sense of well being. The morning will be

facilitated by qualified hatha yoga teacher and

shiatsu massage practitioner Sara McGuire and

qualified dance teacher, performer and yoga

practitioner Joanna Marshall.

Beginning with introductions, a short meditation and

pranayama (breathwork), followed by yoga in stillness

and some guided intuitive movement with music, the

morning will end with yoga nidra (relaxation and also

known as yogic sleep) No previous experience of yoga,

dance or movement is required. Loose, comfortable

clothing recommended - doors open 10am.

Booking on Eventbrite

Locals lacking

in food waste

awareness

ZERO WASTE Scotland research has

revealed that 80% of Edinburgh locals are

unaware that food waste can be an even

bigger contributor to climate change

than plastic waste.

The body found that sending just a

single kilogram of food waste to landfill

produces the same carbon emissions as

landfilling a 25,000 500ml plastic bottles.

Zero Waste Scotland is now calling on

everyone living in Edinburgh and the

Lothians to take action to reduce food

waste, just as they may already do

for plastic.

Highlighting the hidden carbon cost of

food that goes uneaten, Zero Waste

Scotland is on a mission to do the same

for food waste.

The environmental body has teamed

up with globally renowned, celebrity

photographer, Rankin, for a soon-to-berevealed

food waste photography series

that turns the lens on the scale of

Scotland’s food waste epidemic.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive at Zero

Waste Scotland, said:“The sea change in

attitudes to plastic over the last few years

has been one of the most dramatic shifts

in public consciousness around the

environment we’ve ever seen. The same

shift now needs to happen for food waste.

“Our research shows that most people

in Edinburgh think they are doing what

they can for climate change, but the

majority are unaware of the massive

impact of food waste.

“We know people want to do their bit

for the environment so our message is

this – the easiest way you can fight

climate change is by reducing the amount

of food you waste. It’s as simple as that.”

Calling on people in Edinburgh and the

Lothians to take small actions to reduce

food waste, Zero Waste Scotland’s top

tips include:

· Shop savvy – Over half of the food we

throw away can be eaten so meal

planning will help both your pockets

and the planet.

· Push pause – Freezing your food and

being smarter with storage can help

make the food you buy last longer.

· Love leftovers – Get creative in the

kitchen with leftovers to make the most

of excess ingredients.

www.zerowastescotland.org/cop26

5

A letter from America

Hollywood star clatters out heartfelt

response to city bookshop owner

TOM HODGES, the founder and owner of

Typewronger Books on Haddington Place,

has been just a little excited by a typewritten

letter which he received in the post.

This was not just any old letter, it was a

letter from a fellow Tom - Hollywood actor,

Tom Hanks, revealing that he too has a love of

typewriters - and that he considers our own

Tom as a bit of a hero.

Explaining that he had in fact written to Mr

Hanks first, more or less relating the story of

his own life, Tom is nonetheless delighted that

he received a response - also typewritten. The

letter is headed up with a reproduction of the

letterhead used by Colonel Tom Parker, the

man behind Elvis Presley. Tom Hanks played

Colonel Tom Parker last year and "this came

from the job".

Mr Hanks wrote: "Paris? Madrid?

Edinburgh? Shakespeare & Co? Your life

sounds like something out of Hemingway.

And now you battle the giants to sell the

best of books - and keep typewriters live.

Hollywood heavyweight, Tom Hanks

Did I tell you that you are my hero?"

"I'm glad the McNaughtans and you have

found each other. When I'm next in

Edinburgh I'll seek out the lot of you."

Of course Tom Hanks' book Uncommon

Type is stocked at Typewronger and available

to buy. Of course Tom Hanks' book

Uncommon Type is stocked at Typewronger

and available there to buy. In the film You've

Got Mail Hanks played the owner of Fox

Books a mega store which swamped a little

family owned shop owned by Kathleen

Kelly(Meg Ryan) called The Shop Around the

Corner. There was even a typewriter in the

film as Kelly's boyfriend (Greg Kinnear) used

one to write his newspaper articles.

Tom said: "I would really encourage

everyone to get into letter writing. It's worth

doing. If you write letters people will write

back and it's worth so much more than an

email or a tweet. If you write a letter on a

typewriter to a certain American actor who is

also a typewritten collector then he will write

Tom Hodges with the Hanks letter

back. Tom Hanks is known to reply when

people write to him on a typewriter.

"I told him the story of my shop and that

we have an exhibition on here at the National

Museum of Scotland at the moment called

The Typewriter Revolution.

"I thought it might be a nice idea to say that

if you are in Edinburgh then this exhibition is

on for a year and you might want to come to

it - and to come to the shop. He has written a

collection of short stories - Uncommon Type

- and we sell many copies of it. It has a

typewriter on the cover and it goes down well

here. Mr Hanks wrote back to me on a

typewriter and it is a lovely letter. He was

working on an Elvis bio pic.

"I had told him about running away to Paris

and living in Shakespeare & Company there,

then spending some time in Madrid. I told

him about my life and how I got into all of

this. He said he might drop by. Here's hoping!

I think we would spend a lot of time geeking

out about typewriters.”

Martin P McAdam

COP 26 Green

Power List

SCOTTISHPOWER has announced its COP26

Green Power List, which includes 3 green

champions from Edinburgh. The list honours

inspiring green champions from across the

UK who are going above and beyond in the

fight against climate change.

The 100% green electricity firm called

on communities to share inspiring stories

of people in their area to celebrate

outstanding contributions being made

to the climate action.

The Green Power List includes exceptional

innovators and leaders in business

pioneering positive change through green

initiatives such as:

· Constanza Moreno-Sanchez, 34, based in

Edinburgh, is one of the driving forces

behind Ooni Pizza Oven’s Green Team,

advocating for sustainability across

the industry

· Elspeth Simpson, 24, based in Edinburgh,

is another invaluable member of the Ooni

Pizza Oven’s Green Team. Along with

Constanza, Elspeth has helped the

organisation minimise their environmental

impact and has driven sustainability

forward within the business

· Emma Yule, 28, based in Edinburgh,

is currently completing a PhD in

environmental sciences and volunteers

with the 2050 Climate Group, where

she supports young people in taking

climate action.

The late Sir David

Amess MP

Democracy depends on MPs’ surgeries

THE MURDER of Sir David

Amess MP has shocked us all. A

cheerful man with a

mischievous sense of humour,

he was well-known for his

dedication to the Southend

West constituency so there’s

something particularly

disturbing about him being

targeted while carrying out

one of the most everyday and

yet vital jobs of an MP –

holding a constituency surgery.

Surgeries are a basic and

essential component of our

democracy. Members of the

public have direct, face-to-face

access to a person who was

elected to represent them,

regardless of whether they

voted for them or not. I’ve been

holding regular surgeries since

I was elected to the City of

Edinburgh Council in 2007, so

closing my office for such a

long time has been another of

the many trying side effects of

the pandemic. My team and I

handle all kinds of cases, some

of which are very sensitive, and

contact with constituents

exclusively by phone or email

isn’t always the best or most

accessible option for everyone.

As an MP, you want to know

your constituency inside out,

and be alert to the issues

affecting constituents’ lives.

Not being able to pop into new

businesses to wish them well

or attend community events

for the last 18 months has

meant missing out on an

important part of my job that I

really value and love.

Of course, everyone working

in politics has been shaken by

this and the other terrible

attack on Jo Cox MP. Yes, we

must remain vigilant and yes,

will take every precaution, but

direct access to elected

politicians is an important part

of our democracy and long

may it continue.

Deidre Brock MP

6 NEWS

Million tree city

Greg Macvean

Edinburgh fighting climate change with planting project

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

WITH A SMALL gingko tree planted at

Lauriston Castle, the city threw down the

gauntlet of becoming a Million Tree City.

As part of Edinburgh’s aim to become net zero

carbon by 2030, the council has undertaken a

project to plant one million trees in the next

nine years, in a worldwide scheme with cities all

over the world taking part.

The Edinburgh Million Tree Forum

comprises The City of Edinburgh Council, the

Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, the

Woodland Trust, the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh, Trees of Edinburgh, the Scottish

Wildlife Trust, the Trust for Conservation

Volunteers and the Edinburgh Living

Landscape. All partners in the project are

looking at ways of planting more trees

more quickly.

Before planting the tree, the Rt Hon Lord

Provost, Cllr Frank Ross, said: “We may have

more trees in our city than people but to get

to our city’s 2030 net zero target, we must

plant more.

“Climate change will impact on all of us, and

we all need to play our part to mitigate the

effects. A key aspect of the proposed Climate

Strategy is for us all to build upon our previous

efforts, and Edinburgh Million Tree City Project,

offers us all the opportunity to do just this.

“This is not a project for the council, it is

a project for our city, our communities,

and for us as citizens, with a shared ambition

for Edinburgh to have at least one million

trees by 2030.

“While 75% of our trees are privately

Concerns as historic Cramond Inn is closed again

CRAMOND RESIDENTS are

worried about the future of their

much loved historic inn after its

recent unexpected closure. Now

the Community Council has

stepped in to call for clarity and to

ensure the area does not fall into

disrepair. They are, in particular,

objecting to plans for a razor wire

fence which could be erected

managed, we have a shared responsibility to

manage our trees well, and to act when they get

damaged or require treatment or replacement.

I’m delighted to plant this gingko today and I

am keen that this young tree, symbolises, like a

barometer, the growth of the project, each inch

demonstrating how our stakeholders and

alongside the beach car park.

Community Council Chair John

Loudon said: “I have written to

owners Samuel Smith Brewery

asking what their plans for the

future of the Cramond Inn are but

are still waiting for a response. An

inn has stood on this site since the

early 1700s so deserves protection.

The B-listed building adds to the

visual appeal of Cramond village

and in many ways is the heart of

the Cramond village community.

“We are concerned about plans

to erect a new fence topped with

razor wire around the build. This is

unnecessary and inappropriate in a

setting adjacent to a public car park

used by tourists and recreational

visitors and in a heritage setting.

Cllr Donald Wilson, left, and The

Rt Hon Lord Provost Frank Ross

plant the first tree

communities are coming together to plant more

trees, delivering the millionth tree or more.”

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr

Donald Wilson said: “We’re very proud that

Edinburgh is already one of the UK’s greenest

cities, with more trees than people, more green

space and more green flag parks than any other.”

We’d also like to see hedge or shrub

screening along the verge between

the fence and car park”.

Such is the appeal of the Inn that

Mr Loudon is confident a buyer

could be found if Samuel Smith

Brewery decided to sell.

He said: “We need the Cramond

Inn back open and serving the

community.”

Death junction

to get short

term change

CYCLISTS Heather Stronach and Stuart

Elliot died at the junction of Portobello

High Street with Sir Harry Lauder Road

and Inchview Terrace. Both cyclists were

travelling straight through the junction

and were struck by an HGV turning left in

the slip lane.

The council has - almost a year after the

most recent cyclist death - agreed short

term changes which will make the

junction safer for all road users. One of

five proposed options suggested by

council officers will proceed - the

kerbside lead-in cycle lane and two

existing traffic lanes will be retained. The

left turn slip lane onto Sir Harry Lauder

Road will be closed to all traffic, and there

will also be a temporary ban for up to 18

months on HGVs turning left there.

Non-HGV traffic will be permitted to turn

left by going around the front of the

existing traffic island.

The council’s Green Group demanded

an assurance that the short term

measures are put in place as swiftly as

possible and that more substantive

medium term measures are already being

drafted. The road traffic order process will

probably take around 18 months to

implement with consultations with

stakeholders included in that. The

Scottish Government is being lobbied by

councillors from some parties, including

the Greens, to reduce the process around

traffic orders to shorten the timescale for

introduction of new measures.

Conservative councillors opposed the

planned changes - also opposed by Police

Scotland who say that displaced HGV

traffic will use routes impacting on

children walking or cycling to school.

7

Meadowbank’s Wall of Honour

Legacy of athletic greats and local supporters to share spotlight on sports centre wall

THE SEARCH has begun for names for

the Wall of Honour at the new Meadowbank

Sports Centre.

A space within the atrium in the new building

has been reserved to honour any members of

the public who have made significant

contributions to Meadowbank’s past and legacy

as a sport venue and community facility.

Edinburgh’s new Meadowbank will be one of

the country’s top community sports centres

when it opens and will feature some of the most

state-of-the-art fitness facilities in the United

Kingdom. The Centre is on track to open to the

public before the end of the year with the Wall of

Honour being added in the New Year.

Nominations must have a connection

with Meadowbank and can be made in

four categories:

Competitive Achievements – individuals who

have medalled at a major senior championship

within their sport. This includes

Commonwealth, European, World or Olympic

level events.

Community Service – individuals who

have made significant contributions to sports,

clubs and the Meadowbank community

in a voluntary capacity.

Professional Service –individuals who were

employed to work at Meadowbank Sports

Centre for a significant period and contributed

to the operation and development of the venue

as a major training, sports, events, health and

wellbeing, physical activity and community

destination.

Special Contribution – individuals who do

not meet elements of the above criteria but you

feel are an outstanding individual who should be

recognised on the Wall of Honour.

Communities, teams and individuals across

Edinburgh have eight weeks to submit

nominationsfor the Wall before the deadline of

Friday 26 November. Final decisions will then be

made by a selection panel.

Cllr Donald Wilson, Culture and

Communities Convener for the City of

Edinburgh Council, said: “As we prepare to open

the brand new Meadowbank Sports Centre this

is a wonderful way for the Capital’s citizens to

pay a lasting tribute to the Meadowbank legacy

and to outstanding individuals who have made a

positive impact on sport in the city and gained

national and international recognition for

Edinburgh. Please help us celebrate the people of

Edinburgh’s achievements by proposing a

nominee now.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture

and Communities Vice Convener for the City of

Edinburgh Council, said: “Meadowbank has

been an important part of Scotland’s sporting

history for many years and the new development

will build on this legacy. The Wall of Honour is

an excellent opportunity to highlight what has

gone before and will be added to over the years

as the new sports centre takes its place as an

important venue for Edinburgh’s sporting future.

We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh

on who has inspired them over the years and

deserves to be recognised and celebrated for

years to come.”

Nominations can be made online through the

Council's Consultation Hub and must be

received no later than Friday 26 November 2021.

Nearly forty Edinburgh

parks win Green Flags

Phil Wilkinson

Recognition for

fundraiser Chris

Chris with ????? and xyyy

xyyy xyyyyy xyyyy xyyyy

EDINBURGH RUNNER, Chris Sellar, pictured with his wife, Nicola, and son, Max, has

been honoured by Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton. Chris ran 280km to raise funds

for mental health charities. He won a 2021 National Lottery Award recognising his

fundraising efforts which have gathered more than £20,000 in sponsorship.

KEEP SCOTLAND Beautiful

has awarded green flag status

to a record-breaking 38 capital

parks - including 35 managed

by the council.

There are only 77 flags

awarded in Scotland, and more

than half of them recognised

parks in the capital as high

quality green spaces.

One park, Bloomiehall at

Juniper Green, was a first time

winner joining the list of 34

others run by the council.

Harrison Park and Braidburn

Valley Park were both awarded

Green Flags for the 15th year in

a row, and Friends of

Corstorphine Hill received a

Green Flag Community Award

for Corstorphine Walled Garden.

Culture and Communities

Convener, Cllr Donald Wilson,

said: "We’re incredibly proud of

our beautiful parks in

Edinburgh and it’s wonderful

that we’re once again the proud

holders of more Green Flags

than anywhere else in Scotland

(more than half of the awards

granted).

"Green Flags are given to

those parks that give everyone

Bloomiehall at

Juniper Green

access to a safe, clean and

pleasant green space where

they can relax, play and exercise

and I’m delighted that so many

of our parks have achieved this

important and much soughtafter

recognition which is

well deserved.

"Despite the challenging

times we’re all still facing and

with increased investment, the

quality of Edinburgh’s parks

continues to improve. I want to

pay tribute to everyone, staff,

friends of parks and volunteers,

who work so hard all year

round, and in all-weathers to

keep our award-winning parks

so beautiful. These public

spaces have been a source of

comfort, solace, fun and

relaxation for residents over the

difficult last 18 months and are

essential to our wellbeing.

There’s always more to discover,

though, so I’d encourage

everyone to get out and

explore our parks this Autumn."

Culture and Communities

Vice Convener, Cllr Amy

McNeese-Mechan, said: "This is

fantastic news, parks have

proved to be real havens in

recent times and my thanks to

our skilled and dedicated parks

staff for their continued care

and hard work. I also want to

thank all our Friends of Parks

groups for everything they do.

The parks belong to the people

of Edinburgh and we’re so

grateful for the support from

our citizens. Since we first

started taking part in the Green

Flag scheme in 2007, we’ve

gone from just two flags to 38,

which is more than half of all

Green Flags given out in the

whole country – this is a

tremendous achievement.”

8 NEWS

Easy as riding a bike

Active travel journeys make a real difference for everyone

THERE IS A FAMOUS climate change cartoon

by the American cartoonist Joel Pett for USA

Today. The cartoon is of a climate summit.

There’s a man on the stage, and behind him

there’s a list of things on a presentation.

The list includes liveable cities, clean air and

water, and healthy children. One member of the

audience turns to the other and says, ‘What if it’s

a big hoax and we create a better world for

nothing?’ Luckily, we have largely moved on

from the hoax accusations, but the point remains

salient. So many of the things that we can do to

reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions have

other benefits. Cycling is one of these. Every time

you swap a trip in the city from a vehicle to a

cycle, you’ll make a difference – contributing to

your own health, and everyone else’s.

If you aren’t already cycling you may worry

that you aren’t fit enough, you are too old, or it

isn’t cool, or people will laugh at you. You

might be anxious about heavy traffic, or where

to store your cycle, or that you’ll sweat, or get

wet. You might not be able to ride a bicycle

because you didn’t learn as a child. Perhaps you

are disabled, a standard two-wheeler isn’t

appropriate for you, and you haven’t had the

opportunity to try something that works for

you, for example a non-standard cycle such as a

handcycle or trike. These are natural concerns

to have, but help is at hand.

Edinburgh is undergoing a transformation in

terms of cycle infrastructure, services, and the

types of cycles that are now available. We are

lucky to have fantastic local bike shops across

the city. The owners of these shops know their

neighbourhoods well. Don’t be nervous about

going in to ask questions whether it be about

bikes, clothing, or routes. Many of these

businesses sell electric cycles and can point you

in the direction of e-bike interest-free loans or

the Cycle to Work scheme. And if you want to

buy a refurbished bike, head to The Bike Station

in Causewayside. Not only will you get a great

bike, you’ll also be part of a movement that

prevents 10,000 bikes a year going to landfill.

There are also shops, businesses and

organisations that can assist with specialised

services. Parents taking their children out in

cargo bikes is now a common and lovely sight

across the city. Pop into the Cargo Bike

Movement Hub in Tollcross to get advice, and

even get a loan of a cargo bike yourself to try out.

Or use a company such as Farr Out Deliveries to

deliver your stuff by cargo bike. You’ll be

surprised at what they can carry! And if you’re

looking to buy a trike or recumbent bike, check

out Laid Back Bikes in St Peter’s Place.

For those of you that want to start cycling on

off-road paths to build your confidence, you have

a wealth of choice, including the North

Edinburgh Path Network, many parks, and the

promenades. To find the routes, buy a Spokes

Lothian map from a local bike shop, or

download Cyclestreets or another app, or try the

Council’s QuietRoutes maps, and look out for the

blue signs around the city with the cycle icons.

Adult cycling lessons are available in the city

in various settings. Log on to Cycling Scotland’s

web page on Essential Cycling Skills for details.

Organisations such as SCOREscotland, that

works on social justice and race equality,

provides child and adult training as well as free

Spokes sell maps to keep you on the right track

bike repairs through its Dr Bike service.

People who don’t cycle often refer to

Edinburgh’s hills, or the weather. It doesn’t rain as

often as you think, and good waterproofs are

available that don’t cost the earth. And it’s not the

hills that put most people off cycling, it’s the fear

of traffic. The installation of safe practical

inclusive cycle infrastructure means many more

of us will be able to experience the joys of cycling.

The world’s eyes are on Scotland this month,

as COP26 takes place in Glasgow. This global

annual summit on climate change is what many

believe to be the world’s best last chance to get

runaway climate change under control. Cities

that replace a significant number of their

vehicle trips with cycling and walking will be

an important part of the solution. We can all

play our part in turning Edinburgh into a

cycling city, a city that will be better for all of

us, whether we as individuals cycle or or not.

Kirsty Lewin of Spokes Porty

Edinburgh Collected

GAIL FEATHERSTONEHAUGH submitted this image to Edinburgh

Collected. It shows her with her sister Avril, and Mum up the Coddy below the

Belford Bridge. It was taken in 1950 and the Bell’s Mill building is visible in

the background.

Edinburgh Collected is a place to share, explore and discuss your memories

of Edinburgh.

Everyone can browse, or you can sign up to Upload your own memories and

save your favourite memories in a scrapbook.

Edinburgh Collected is managed and maintained by Edinburgh Libraries, part

of the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). All the material added will expand the

City’s digital heritage collections, adding to the material held in the Central

Library, already the most extensive collection about Edinburgh in existence.

edinburghcollected.org

Student wins

climate change

competition

AN EDINBURGH Napier University law

student has won a competition for his

views on the law and climate change.

Lewis Hay won The Law Society of

Scotland competition which challenged

law students to put forward their views

on climate change and the law for the

competition held to mark COP26 taking

place in Glasgow this November.

Lewis received £100 and a place at the

Law Society’s COP26 conference in

Edinburgh, which he could attend either

in person or online.

Two runners up Oliver Rolph and

Fabrizio Palmucci, both students at the

University of Dundee, received online

access to the conference.

Ken Dalling, President of the Law

Society of Scotland, said: “Many

congratulations to Lewis on his win and

to our runners up Oliver and Fabrizio.

“Lewis is a deserving winner

for his persuasive essay on why a

universal definition of Ecocide could

have the potential to be an effective

legal instrument in addressing

climate change.

“COP26 is being held at a time when

the effect of climate change globally is

all too evident. There is no doubt the

legal profession will increasingly be

called upon to advise our clients on

climate crisis issues, and of course

we each have a personal interest in

doing what we can to help meet the

Paris Agreement aims of limiting

global warming.

“The effects of climate change will

have a longer lasting impact on our

young people and in the run up to

COP26 it is important that they can be

part of the discussions on climate

change and the law.”

Read Lewis Hay’s essay and more

about the Law Society’s work relating

to COP26 in Glasgow in November on

their website.

www.lawscot.org.uk

9

Learning is key to

children’s future

Duddingston Primary pupils

on Portobello Beach

Drum Major George Blair and Tattoo dancer, Louise Barton, help reveal The Royal Edinburgh

Military Tattoo’s bold and exciting new brand proposition, Performance in a New Light

New approach for

Tattoo in 2022

Year off spent improving the tech behind

the Tattoo with new lighting and projections

THE ROYAL Edinburgh Military Tattoo

will have a new approach as it works

towards its return to the Castle

Esplanade in 2022.

The performances will be set on the

theme of Performance in a New Light,

signalling the Tattoo’s commitment to

the best entertainment. There have

been changes made over the last few

months with increased investment in

certain elements of the show such as

new lighting by Woodroffe Basset

Design, projection and staging.

Tickets will be available on a new

platform with mobile ticketing and a

new viewfinder allowing everyone to

choose their seats. New membership

packages will keep members up to date

with news all year long and allow access

to an early bird booking window.

New members of senior staff include:

Chief Executive Buster Howes and

Creative Director Michael Braithwaite

who are joined by Jason Barrett, in the

role of Chief Operating Officer, while

Andrew Kerr OBE, Chief Executive of The

City of Edinburgh Council, Tricia Bey,

founder of Barwheys Dairy, Chris

Edmonds, Chair and UK Executive Vice

President of Ticketmaster and Lee

Roberts, Managing Director of Canvas

Partnerships, all join the Board.

Chief Executive, Buster Howes, said:

“Performance in a New Light marks a

new era for The Royal Edinburgh

Military Tattoo, and I greatly look

forward to the hard work of the past

many months finally finding tangible

and musical expression in the Show

in 2022.

“We have, whilst the Esplanade has

been dark, set out to reinvigorate who

and what we are, and to develop a fresh,

bold and dynamic brand that will

deliver an even more thrilling event for

our audiences.

“Whilst preserving that which makes

the Tattoo iconic and unique, we will be

increasingly innovative with the Show.

We are investing more in its production

and have recruited new Board members

and world-class appointments to our

Management team to imaginatively

enable these exciting developments.”

Protecting Scotland’s Seas roadshow is

lapped up by schools and youth groups

THE MARINE Conservation Society is to

bring ocean education to thousands of children

across Scotland.

Running until September next year, the

Protecting Scotland’s Seas education roadshow

is a marine-themed experience with a selection

of options for schools and youth groups to

engage with both the marine and outdoor

environment.

The programme has funding from Crown

Estate Scotland, The Britford Bridge Trust and

Scottish Fishermen’s Trust.

There will be online sessions, hands-on

workshops, school assemblies and immersive

outdoor experiences, and a range of ways for

schools and youth groups to get involved.

The roadshow is intended to reach 6,000

children in 50 schools and youth groups

across Scotland.

During this important year for the UK and

Scotland the educational roadshow will help

young voices be heard on issues around climate

change and environmental action.

The workshop will cover topics including

climate science, blue carbon and ocean

acidification, and will offer a chance to get to

know some of the marine creatures which call

Scotland their home.

The Marine Conservation Society hopes to

stimulate youth-led action in citizen science

programmes such as the Great British Beach

Clean and the Big Seaweed Search, to gather

vital data on the health of the ocean and help

build on the charity’s work in changing policy

to protect the ocean.

Schools will receive support to further their

environmental learning skills and visit Scotland’s

coast for outdoor ocean learning.

Kirsty Crawford, Volunteer and Community

Engagement Manager for Scotland at the

Marine Conservation Society, said: “This is a

wonderful opportunity for us to speak directly

to the young people in Scotland about our ocean

and the wider issues around climate change.

“We hope the practical experiments, trips to

the beach and interactive workshops will inspire

children to think more about our Scottish seas

and what we can do to protect them.

“No matter where we live, either beside the

sea or far from it, we can all play our part in

protecting our ocean for the future.”

Campbell Gerrard, Senior Policy Manager at

Crown Estate Scotland said: “As an organisation

with responsibility for managing much of

Scotland’s coasts and seas, we are keen to

support young people to experience, learn about

and look after the marine environment,

instilling values that can be carried into later life.

With Scotland hosting COP26, there is no

better time to launch the programme and start

engaging with and inspiring young people

across the country.”

A reader’s take on climate change

WE ASKED READERS about

the many ways they are

dealing with the effects of

climate change in their

daily lives.

Chartered Forester, Andrew

Heald, told The Edinburgh

Reporter: “We try to take all

the personal steps that we can

in terms of shopping, diet,

travel etc, but we are aware

that we need systemic change

at a national and city level.

“So we try to support

politicians that are committed

to long term real change.

“Professionally I work to

develop and finance large

scale forest landscape

restoration projects that work

with local communities,

restore biodiversity and grow

the timber fibre that we all

use every day.”

10 NEWS

Gardeners charged

up on green delivery

By OLIVIA THOMAS

Carbon footprint van-ishing at New Hopetoun Gardens

MORE THAN just a garden centre, New

Hopetoun Gardens to the west of Edinburgh

was established over 40 years ago and is one

of Edinburgh’s best stocked garden centres

with a focus on quality, variety, choice and

sustainability!

At New Hopetoun Eco-friendly thinking

is encouraged before you even set foot

inside the employee-owned garden

centre. Green fingered visitors can drop

off their unwanted plastic pots to be

recycled into reusable plastics or other

gardeners can help themselves to give

the pots new life, if they wish.

With the world’s eyes on sustainability,

New Hopetoun Gardens ethos of Reduce,

Reuse, Recycle is stronger than ever and have

recently invested in a new all-electric,

zero-emissions delivery van to reducing their

carbon footprint further while helping

Scottish gardeners keep their homes and

gardens green.

New Hopetoun Gardens are driven by a

passion to help their visitors get the most of

their gardens throughout the year and have a

mammoth selection of “Purple Piglet

Projects” offering practical advice and

inspiration such as turning your garden into

a haven for bees or providing a sanctuary for

birds during the winter months.

Although New Hopetoun Gardens are

striving to become even greener, some of

their recycling initiatives have been up and

running for many years. They have been

collecting broken and unwanted hand tools

at the garden centre since 2012. These tools

will be repaired at prison workshops in

Edinburgh and given a new lease of life in

community gardening projects.

New Hopetoun Gardens is open 7 days a

week from 10am to 5pm

www.newhopetoungardens.co.uk

Airport moving

away from

fossil fuels

A PARTNERSHIP between Edinburgh Airport

and the Danish renewable energy company,

Ørsted, will cut the airport's emissions, making

it one of the most sustainable in the world.

The two companies are working on a way for

the airport to reach its target of net zero carbon

by 2040. This will include the use of green

technologies, new hydrogen fuels produced at

scale from offshore wind farms, all intended to

eliminate emissions from the airport and the

aircraft using it.

The focus will be on the energy used in the

airport, by vehicles used in the operation

of the airport, by vehicles going to and from

the airport and fuel used by aircraft coming

to Edinburgh.

The plan is to identify the most effective and

affordable options and then work with

government to make changes to regulations

and policy to introduce them. A framework will

be needed to incentivise private investment in

large-scale sustainable fuel production.

Minister for Transport, Graeme Dey said:" Our

recent report into decarbonising the transport

sector makes it clear that all modes need to

reduce emissions in order for Scotland to meet

our ambitious climate change targets, so we

welcome this partnership between Edinburgh

Airport and Ørsted.

"Despite the current challenges faced by the

aviation sector it is good to see Edinburgh

Airport preparing for a sustainable future. It is

critical that businesses and other organisations

at least match Scotland's statutory targets and

our ambition to create a net zero economy. This

project has real potential in that regard and I

look forward to hearing more about it and

seeing it develop."

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh

Airport, said: “The aviation industry realises the

part it plays in emissions and the need to move

towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.

“We have made huge advances in technology

and we want to continue to innovate and ensure

aviation’s future is one that is decarbonised and

contributes positively to our economy and

Scotland's net zero ambitions. Although

aviation emissions derive in the main from

aircraft in flight, we can play our part within our

estate and fuel for aircraft at Edinburgh and we

are confident this exciting partnership will help

us on our way to a sustainable travel future and

see Edinburgh Airport helping to develop and

support sustainable fuels and their use.”

Skyrora prepares for 2022 blast off with eco rocket fuel

SPACE JUNK is becoming one of

the biggest problems threatening

the space industry.

To address this issue, Edinburghbased

rocket company, Skyrora,

successfully completed trials of the

third stage of the Skyrora XL rocket,

including its orbital transfer vehicle

(OTV), a vehicle that once in orbit

can refire its engines around 15

times to complete tasks such as

acting as a space tug, maintenance,

or de-orbiting of defunct satellites.

The OTV is just part of Skyrora’s

efforts to focus on sustainability.

The company has just announced

an agreement for a multi-launch

deal with the SaxaVord spaceport

on Unst, the most northerly of the

Shetland Islands, as it moves closer

to launching its XL rocket next year.

The move brings the supply chain of

the sector all within Scotland,

providing huge environmental

benefits by addressing the

sustainability and administrative

issues involved in exporting to

different launch sites across Europe.

Skyrora plans to fuel Skyrora XL

with its own sustainable alternative

to conventional rocket fuel,

Ecosene. Made from waste plastic

such as polystyrene, Ecosene could

prevent more than 3,000 tons of

unrecyclable plastic going to landfill

by 2030.

11

CANDERSONS SWEET SHOP

NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION

LEITH WALK POLICE BOX

LOVE YOUR BUSINESS

NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS

Debbie Anderson invites you to take

yourself back to your childhood with

all the traditional jars of sweets in her

shop. Chewits and fudge will take you

back a decade or two. Open from

10am except Mondays.

102 Leith Walk EH16 5DT

0131 554 1401

Subscribe today and have your own

copy of The Edinburgh Reporter

delivered in a compostable envelope

to your front door from next month.

Pay just £2.50 a month or £30 a year

and help to support local

independent news.

ter.ooo.subscribe

Very reasonable rates allow start-ups

to use this small pop-up space as the

first rung on the ladder. From food to

political parties and all manner of

organisations in between. Have a look

at their pop-up garden when you visit.

Croall Place EH7 4LT

hello@leithwalkpolicebox.com

Love Your Business networking club is

relaxed, informal and good fun, and is

now online on the last Thursday of the

month with a host of inspiring

speakers sharing their entrepreneurial

journeys and invaluable business tips.

www.lybnetworking.com

Facebook/howtolyb







independent news.

ter.ooo.subscribe


DI GIORGIO’S CAFFE & BAR

SCHOP

CRAIG BANKS TAILORING

FOODS FACTS FRIENDS



delivered to your front door from next

month. - in a compostable envelope. A

payment of £30 a year will help to

support local independent news.

ter.ooo.subscribe

Di Giorgio’s have lots of cakes and

slices, coffee with a smile and pasta

and lasagne to go. Morning rolls and

ciabattas are also available, but this is

brownie heaven and do ask about

their birthday cakes.

Open 7 days 10-4pm

1 Brandon Terrace EH3 5EA

This is an easy, convenient and

eco-friendly alternative to a supermarket

shop. Working in partnership

with independent retailers, Tim at

Schop offers to deliver a huge range of

great quality food and drink straight to

your door - saving you the journey.

schop.co

Bespoke tailoring for men. Craig’s

focus is on making the highest quality

personally tailored attire that others

will aspire to. His pyjamas and dressing

gowns will make your video calls or

working from home very stylish.

0131 226 7775 • 45 Thistle Street

EH2 1DY • craigbankstailoring.com

This Midlothian charity is urgently in

need of supplies to keep their food

bank going as well as a new van to

collect much-needed supplies. A

Christmas toy appeal has also just

been launched to help those who

have been most affected by Covid-19.

www.foodfactsfriends.org.uk

SOMETHING FISHY

INDEPENDENT WINE COMPANY


ART & CRAFT COLLECTIVE

JOHNNIE WALKER PRINCES ST

Independent fishmonger, Daniel,

provides quality fresh and cured fish.

Last year there was some question

over availability - but this wee shop

has kept going. Use Schop to have

your fish delivered.

16a Broughton Street EH1 3RH

0131 556 7614

A specialist importer of boutique fine

wines from Italy. Carefully hand-picked

award-winning wines of premium

quality sourced direct from the

winemakers. Oleg and Elvira visit every

vineyard personally. Free UK delivery

- same day delivery to Edinburgh

available. www.independent.wine

Subscribe today and have your very

own copy of The Edinburgh Reporter

delivered by Royal Mail in a

compostable envelope to your front

door from next month.

Pay just £2.50 a month to support

local independent news.

ter.ooo.subscribe

A unique gallery and gift shop in

Edinburgh’s Southside - a cornucopia

of all forms of art. Buy handmade art

and craft from independent artists.

Linsay says: “If we don’t have it, we can

probably find it for you.”

artcraftcollective.co.uk

0131 629 9123

Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s

beautiful rooftop bars, the 1820 Bar

and the Explorers’ Bothy, offer

delicious dishes seven days a week.

Choose from Breakfast & Brunch, the

All Day Menu or Canapes & Small

Bites”

johnniewalker.com

ARDGOWAN DISTILLERY

BROUGHTON PLACE HAIR

THE WATERSHED

STOCKBRIDGE MARKET


Ardgowan Distillery has launched

Shipwright, its second whisky in the

Clydebuilt series. Whiskymaker, Max

McFarlane: “It is a truly sumptuous

dram, made to ignite your

imagination of far-off lands”. Free

shipping and branded nosing glass.

shop.ardgowandistillery.com

A luxurious, elegant salon with a very

happy and friendly atmosphere where

the aim is to make your experience

relaxing, enjoyable and glamorous.

Appointment essential.

0131 556 4478

2a Broughton Place EH1 3RX

www.broughtonplacehair.com

The floating café with outdoor seating

is owned and run by Lindsay and sits

just next to the Leamington Lift Bridge

on the canal. With their range of

smoothies and coffees accompanied

by macarons and a host of other treats,

it is not to be missed.

EH3 9PD

You may know about Leith (Saturdays)

and Stockbridge (Sundays) Markets

but did you know that you can order

online and pick up all of your shopping

at once? Using the NeighbourFood

site you simply choose what you want,

pay and then collect your shopping.

www.neighbourfood.co.uk/markets







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12

FEATURE COP26

Clock ticking on

climate change

As COP26 takes place in Glasgow Phyllis Stephen takes the

temperature of organisations and individuals in Edinburgh to

find out what they are doing to address the global crisis

W

ith the world looking

towards Glasgow

during the UN

Climate Change

Conference COP26,

it is clear to many

that the time to do

something about

climate change, no matter how small, is now.

All over Scotland there are some fabulous examples

of people and communities attacking the climate

emergency head on.

The Scottish Government declared a climate

emergency in 2019 saying that they agreed with the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report

warning that by 2030 it will be too late to limit global

warming to 1.5 degrees. Damage to the planet is

accelerating and climate change is one of the top

three reasons.

In posing the simple question “What are you doing

about climate change?” we received some very

interesting answers.

THE MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

THE RT HON LORD WALLACE OF TANKERNESS, QC

THERE ARE 362 registered Eco-Congregations in the

Church of Scotland, all working towards impressive

environmental targets set by Eco-Congregation Scotland.

More than 70% of our congregations use a 100% green

electricity tariff sourced from renewables. On the islands

of Westray and Papa Westray, two of the most northerly

in Orkney there are two good examples. In Westray, the

church has used their exposed position between the

Atlantic and North Sea to install a wind-turbinepowered

heating system, which combined with a ground

source pump has transformed their building into a

cutting-edge, environmentally friendly place of worship.

The manse is powered by another wind turbine, as is

the church building in Papa Westray. Further upgrades

are planned. Despite a 7,500 miles distance, they also

partnered with churches in Malawi’s Thyolo Highlands

Presbytery and are working to highlight the difficulties

such as drought, floods, and poor harvests that they are

now facing. In 2021 we also disinvested from fossil fuels

and have laid out a policy of carefully considering the

environmental impact of future investments.

With COP26 in Glasgow we hope and pray for urgent

action. The world can’t afford anything less.

LORNA SLATER MSP

MINISTER FOR GREEN SKILLS, CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND

BIODIVERSITY

LEADERS from around the world have gathered

in Glasgow to discuss the climate crisis and how it can be

addressed. A lot of these leaders are talking a good game,

but, if the conference is to have the impact it needs

to, then their words need to be turned into actions and

fast. The UN has said it is “code red for humanity” and

averting climate catastrophe must be the single

biggest priority for every single government. There are

things we can all do, but it’s not individuals who

are responsible for climate change, it is polluters and

governments. And it is the governments represented at

COP who have the power to make the biggest difference.

In Scotland we are setting a strong example. With

Greens in government, we are working together to build

a greener, fairer and independent Scotland. Over this

parliamentary term we will be investing

in affordable transport that is safe and accessible

for all, with free bus travel for young people, £5 billion

for our rail network and £320 million for active

travel infrastructure.

Before I was elected to Holyrood, I was an engineer in

the renewable energy sector. I have seen first-hand

We divested from fossil fuels. We

hope and pray for urgent action in

Glasgow. The world cannot afford

anything less

MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

Scotland’s potential to lead the renewables charge. With

less than 1% of the population of Europe, Scotland has

25% of Europe’s entire offshore wind power resources

and 25% of Europe’s tidal energy resources.

We will double Scotland’s onshore

wind capacity and ensure a just transition to renewable

energy which protects the planet and the economy.

We will support our communities. No home will be

left behind, with £1.8 billion to ensure warmer and

greener homes.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH

RBGE

ICE CAPS MELTING in the Arctic. Fires in California.

Deforestation in Asia. It is easy to think that the climate

emergency is someone else’s problem, but the reality is

that changes to our environment are as much an issue in

Scotland – and Edinburgh - as they are elsewhere.

From rises in temperature pushing vulnerable plants

to the margins, to the flooding of our homes and streets

caused by less predictable rainfall, the effects of climate

change can be witnessed all over the country.

At RBGE expert teams are leading the way in

understanding and finding innovative solutions to some

of these problems. In an area previously prone to

becoming waterlogged, an experimental Rain Garden,

developed with Heriot-Watt University, is proving to be a

natural and sustainable solution to flooding. By lowering

the ground to create a shallow basin, then using gravel

Rt Hon Lord

Wallace

13

and grit to change the profile of the soil and improve

drainage, it catches and retains rainwater, allowing it to

be reabsorbed by the planted vegetation.

EMMA COOPER

SCOTTISH LAND COMMISSION

LAND IS AT THE HEART of Scotland’s action on

climate change. To achieve its ambitious climate targets,

there will be a land use transformation over the next

decade. In making this change, communities need to feel

not just engaged in the decisions, but feel the benefits of

it in their own places and communities. As well as acting

at scale and quickly, this transformation must be done in

a socially just and responsible way which reduces

inequalities rather than exacerbates them. The Land

Commission provides guidance on how this can be done,

using the Scottish Government’s Land Rights and

Responsibilities Statement to ensure responsible

approaches are at the heart of land ownership and use.

Climate action on land is not just about rural

communities. The Land Commission has led

collaboration to transform the way Scotland reuses

vacant and derelict sites in the heart of our towns

and cities.

There are many inspiring examples now of sites being

brought back into use in ways that help deliver climate

action, creating green space, nature networks, renewable

energy generation or active travel use. Many of these are

led by communities, demonstrating the benefits for

Going forward we will work with

developers asking them to rise to

the challenge of rapid climate

change and finite resources

climate, economy and quality of place that can be

delivered through community-led regeneration.

CLLR NEIL GARDINER

PLANNING CONVENER THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL

THE CITY PLAN 2030 is the next step to ensuring new

development in Edinburgh over the next ten years is

sustainable and contributes positively to our capital city.

This builds on the 2020 consultation where we asked for

views about our future direction, which have been

incorporated into the proposed plan.

Making best use of land we have available to

sustainably accommodate Edinburgh’s growing

population, our proposed plan uses ‘brownfield’ land to

build new low energy vibrant communities, supporting

Scottish Government’s national “20-minute walkable

neighbourhood” approach. These new communities will

be built on brownfield land around existing transport

networks with plenty of active travel options so people

can move around easily and live in affordable highquality

homes, with great culture and leisure activities

and educational and health facilities nearby.

Recalibrating how our city grows is appropriate, rather

than forever spreading continually outwards into

precious greenfield land. We need to protect Edinburgh’s

beautiful green setting from Pentlands Hills

Steph Bowring of The

Edinburgh Remakery

CLLR NEIL GARDINER

to the Forth, increase biodiversity, helping to address

physical and mental well-being, reduce flooding and

other climate impacts, as well as improving air quality.

A new sustainable neighbourhood in the west will

utilise the excellent existing transport infrastructure,

with the tram line running through and nearby network

rail station. Land for this new quarter was previously

designated largely for business development in the 2016

plan, together with the disused airport runway. Going

forward, we will work with developers asking them to

rise to the challenges of rapid climate change and finite

resources. Developers need to think more carefully about

location, using the land we have available effectively,

through sustainable design.

THE EDINBURGH REMAKERY

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

THE EDINBURGH REMAKERY is based on a Circular

Economy model – where as many materials and items as

possible are reused, repaired, re-purposed and recycled

to ensure as little as possible goes to waste – and says

it is an essential part of turning the tide against

climate disaster which they fear is a phrase which

has lost its meaning.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Remakery said: “We

teach people how to sew, repair and remake their

clothing, encouraging them to reuse or pass on garments

instead of throwing them away and buying new. This

reduces carbon emissions, whilst also saving people

money and giving them a brand new creative skill to

enjoy. We also take in donations of old electronics, such

as laptops, tablets, smart phones, computers, and more,

which we repair and refurbish, and sell on or gift to

vulnerable groups facing financial hardship. This stops

these electronics from ending up in landfill where they

can pollute soil and waterways, and also means that

valuable materials and precious metals that are found in

these devices can be reused, which means less of these

finite materials need to be mined for production.

“These very simple actions – donating a laptop for

refurbishment or learning to repair your clothes or other

belongings – may seem small and insignificant but added

up they can have a huge positive impact on our climate.

Aerial pic of Rain Garden

courtesy of RBGE

14

FEATURE COP26

By repairing, reusing, valuing, and sharing what we

already have, we can prevent pollution, reduce carbon

emissions, and create a greener Scotland with circular

economy at its heart.”

Activism in

Balerno

JEREMY BALFOUR MSP

CONSERVATIVE MSP FOR LOTHIAN

THERE IS an old Scottish saying “Mony a mickle

maks a muckle”. This of course translates to “Many

small things make a big thing” which is the approach

that I believe we should model our climate strategy on.

An accumulation of small decisions that are made by

individuals will add up to large scale societal change. If

each individual does what they are able to lower their

carbon footprint and cut back on waste, that can

translate into a huge global effort.

These small-scale actions have been brought to

the forefront of our minds in the run up to COP26.

Any time a conference like this comes up it should

lead us all to search ourselves and consider changes

that we can make in our life in order to lessen our

carbon footprint.

For me as a disabled person who cannot drive, I

have been taking the bus all over Edinburgh my whole

life which is a lower carbon mode of transport than

cars. However, I have been trying to be more

thoughtful about the bus journeys I take.

On shorter journeys I will now often walk which

is a small way that I can control my footprint. It is

definitely inconvenient at times, but it is an individual

choice that when added up across the whole

community will make a large difference. Even though

a seemingly small sacrifice, if everyone in Edinburgh

committed to walking for all small journeys, it would

make a giant difference.

BETSY WILLIAMSON

FOUNDER CORE-ASSET CONSULTING

I HAVE SEEN first-hand the cumulative effect of

individuals taking a principled stance to force the

hand of some of the world’s most powerful

organisations.

As a major recruiter for Scotland’s investment

sector, we have continually reported that job hunters

are seeking out organisations who place

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors

at the centre of their processes, with a commitment to

climate change, not just to words.

ESG is no longer a box ticking exercise where

investors can take the path of least resistance. Clients

expect green, renewable and climate-based issues to be

addressed throughout the stock selection process.

The days of only questioning the CFO on the

company’s financial considerations have passed. ESG

is expected to be an integral part of the investment

process and business leaders at board level and

below are expected to be accountable for their

corporate footprint.

Responsibility for the climate lies with all of us,

both individually and collectively. Ultimately the

power to keep the tide turning at pace lies with the

mammoth global investors who have trillions of assets

under management. These businesses are too big to let

the planet fail. Global asset managers are collectively

invested in multiple asset classes, across

numerous sectors and regions. A global

failure would be catastrophic on

investment portfolios, surely

this alone instils panic into the

heart of the most hardened

fund manager.

There is no hedge for the polar

icecaps melting overnight, or the

temperature in Australia rising to

50 degrees at the coast, while

America and Asia are being

ravaged by forest fires and

Betsy Williamson

hurricanes. We have to hope that,

COP26 should lead us all to

consider changes we can make

to lessen our carbon footprint

as reality bites, investment giants will be able to

achieve what governments, scientists and campaigners

have so far failed to do.Turn the tide.

PESTICIDE FREE BALERNO

COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP

Starbank Park blooms

throughout the year

JEREMY BALFOUR MSP

IN 2015 the World Health Organisation named

Glyphosate, the main ingredient of most weed killers,

as a ‘probable carcinogen’, linking it to many serious

human and animal health issues. Concerned

individuals in Balerno began petitioning for Balerno

to become pesticide-free for weed control.

In 2020 Balerno became Pesticide Free, we

launched our volunteer weeding group to manually

remove the weeds on the streets and pavements

involving the whole community, keeping the

harmful unnecessary chemicals out of Balerno to

support health and well-being. We hope that by

sparking a passion for protecting biodiversity and

the environment in young generations, it will open

up conversation and instil confidence in their

abilities for proactive change. In 2020 when Balerno

became Pesticide Free more than 80% of

Balerno residents reported seeing an

increase in the number of bees and

butterflies and many other kinds of

biodiversity. The biodiversity crisis

is a crucial component in climate

change and ecosystem collapse

threatens human existence. The

catastrophic decline in insect

numbers - an 80% drop in 30

years is almost certainly in a

large part due to pesticide

use. Biodiversity are

fundamental to the planet.

Mammals could disappear and little would change.

Without invertebrates, all life is threatened. It’s no

exaggeration to say that Glyphosate, if continued to be

used in this irresponsible way, is helping to destroy the

natural world.

EDIBLE ESTATES

COMMUNITY FOOD GROWING PARTNERSHIP

WORKING IN many communities but especially in

social housing estates, Edible Estates (EE) is a

partnership of organisations which promotes

community food growing projects. Food growing is a

tool for urban regeneration and EE has established

projects at Magdalene Neighbourhood Garden,

Lochend Secret Garden, Sunshine on Leith Garden,

Clovenstone, Bingham, Murrayburn and Hailesland

and Calders. This core activity brings people together

in a common place with a common purpose. EE

explain the many ways in which their projects tackle

climate change, and that Nature-based Solutions such

as theirs will be a key focus for COP26. EE say that

their projects enable effective management and

development of green spaces, focus on disadvantaged

communities reducing health inequalities caused by

inadequate access to the outdoors, facilitate active

Stunning Starbank

15

travel and outdoor recreation in communities,

deliver outdoor learning, and connect local people

with nature.

JANET MCARTHUR

FRIENDS OF STARBANK PARK CHAIR

AS INDIVIDUALS, as members of our communities

and as a small part of our complex and clearly

changing Earth system, we all need to do something.

The good news is that we are all environmentalists

as we need to breathe and live on a beautiful planet

and we can all make a change even if it’s only a small

change. Whether it’s buying less or recycling more.

We are lucky to have a group of individuals who are

all committed to greener living and we all love our

walled garden. As gardeners we are naturally Wombles

- making use of the things that we find, things that

everyday folks leave behind - repairing our tools,

making new plants and trees by collecting our own

seeds, taking cuttings and splitting herbaceous plants.

We recycle plant pots, filling them with young plants

and donated house plants in exchange for donations

from our local community.

Our summers are definitely warmer and drier and

for the last few years in early spring it has hardly

rained as all. This has made us consider, sometimes

not knowingly, planting more draught tolerant plants

in the park such as lavenders, calendula, sedums,

eryngiums and the late season flowering rudbeckias.

We have fig trees (variety Brown Turkey) in the park

that are growing extremely well in these changing

climate conditions.

Ready for lift off!

EWEN MACLEAN

BLACKFORD SAFE ROUTES

OUR local community group concentrates on

addressing local transport choices of young people,

hoping to enable changes allowing them to travel more

actively and sustainably. Government figures indicate

that domestic transport accounts for 42% of CO2

emissions. The bi-weekly bike buses enable children

from James Gillespie’s Primary School to ride together

on the roads in a group with parents and ride leaders

to get to school safely. It is beneficial, not least for the

mental and physical well-being of the children, but

also in demonstrating to many parents that active

travel to school is possible. Many parents find the

roads too scary to cycle or walk to school, finding that

they feel that their only safe option is to drive their

children to school. To break this cycle what we

desperately need is infrastructure to facilitate the

modal shift from driving to travelling more actively.

SpACE project launched

to debate Edinburgh’s

built environment

By OLIVIA THOMAS

SPACE - the Space for Architecture +

Carbon + Environment - is a platform for

architecture, carbon and the environment

and it opens on 1 November just in time

for COP26.

It is regarded as a long-needed public

forum with a clear focus on how the built

environment is critical in addressing the

climate emergency.

There is a public pop-up exhibition,

event space and online venue open until

4 December in the former Fire Station at

Edinburgh College of Art – a highly visible

and publicly accessible venue in central

Edinburgh, and a great example of

re-using an existing building.

Other major cities including

Amsterdam, Bologna, Hamburg and

London already have established

architecture centres, and Edinburgh’s

SpACE has a unique focus on facilitating

public engagement with the role of design

excellence, place-making, heritage,

landscape and construction in the pursuit

of net zero carbon.

SpACE will enhance Edinburgh’s and

Scotland’s high level climate policies by

bringing them to life through talks,

workshops and displays about the

practical measures and behavioural

changes needed on the ground.

Rab Bennetts, architect and founder of

Bennetts Associates and Chair of SpACE

said: “There could hardly be a more

appropriate moment to engage with the

public about the impact of our buildings

and places on climate change. As the

world’s eyes are on COP26 in Glasgow, our

parallel event in Edinburgh can show how

the changes that are essential to our

homes, workplaces and public buildings

are not only possible but can also result in

a cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable

built environment.”

The exhibition will include inspiring

design and construction case studies

illustrating the journey to net zero carbon

in the existing building stock, new

buildings and neighbourhoods.

Backed up by carbon data,

these case studies will

illustrate where the industry

is and how far it has to go.

A daily events

programme will include

workshops by Historic

Environment Scotland

and Edinburgh

World Heritage

Trust to

presentations

of new

techniques in

commercial

Maverick

property, debates about existing building

upgrades, exploration of digital city

mapping, the work of the UK Green

Building Council, films by community

groups and consultations on The City of

Edinburgh Council policies.

The initial programme is intended as a

pilot for a proposed longer-term facility in

the capital and has been made possible

thanks to support from The Scottish

Government and organisations including

the Royal Incorporation of Architects

in Scotland.

Funding has been secured from the

National Lottery through Creative

Scotland, the Scottish Government,

Historic Environment Scotland, City of

Edinburgh Council, a wide range of

private sector companies representing

architecture, engineering, surveying

and construction, and several

individuals.

SpACE is a registered Scottish

charity and its steering committee

reflects its pan-sector ambitions,

comprising architects, engineers and

surveyors, and organisations

including the RIAS, Edinburgh

World Heritage Trust, City of

Edinburgh Council,

Architecture & Design

Rab Bennetts Scotland and the University

of Edinburgh.

16 FOOD AND DRINK

Review: ARGYLE PLACE

CROSSWORD

Compiled by David Albury

Full of beans

Argyle Place adds to Marchmont connoisseur coffee scene

By CHARLIE ELLIS

ARGYLE PLACE’S long, sweeping

bar immediately indicates that you

are in a special venue.

The stylish interior maintains its

links to the specialist coffee scene

with its industrial vibe but with a

very classy feel.

Leading roaster Mr Eion are

using Argyle Place as one of its

bases. Given the twin focus on

specialist coffee and contemporary

Scottish cuisine, it’s clearly a place

with the potential to become a real

hotspot for Edinburgh’s foodies and

coffee lovers.

For Ali McFarlane, the man in

charge, Argyle Place is the fruition of

more than 20 years in the food and

drink industry. For most of that time

he’s worked for others but is now

setting out on his own.

He has had a long association with

Edinburgh’s specialist coffee scene.

This includes the Counter set of

coffee boxes that he ran with his wife

Sally. Those boxes used Mr Eion

coffee and this latest venture builds

on that relationship.

The idea of a high-end food

and coffee venue came to him

during “a late evening drink” with

friends and business partners at

The Counter on the Canal.

That dream is now a reality.

He admits it’s been “more than a

bit of a project”, taking at least 18

months of concerted effort to get the

place up and running. Covid-19 put

things on hold for a while and “has

thrown our timeline out the

window”. In recent weeks Argyle

Place has started serving a full food

menu in its elegant dining area. The

menu offers “the best of Scottish

produce”, with everything made

in-house.

The venue is being run in

conjunction with Mr Eion coffee.

Mr Eion have a roastery set up in

the spacious basement area-using

a gleaming Loring roaster. Argyle

Place already serve Mr Eion coffees.

Ali said: “We are currently

working our way through their

excellent range.”

On offer on the day of our visit

was their Brazil Daterra Sunrise and

their fine Brazil Swiss Water Decaf,

while their Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

Beloya was being served as their

batch brew. The cortardo we had was

beautifully made, rich and creamy

- the work of one of their skilled

baristas. With Mr Eion roasting on

site they will clearly continue their

close relationship, but McFarlane

plans for Argyle Place to be a

“multi-roaster café”. He intends

to use beans from Cairngorm,

Cult Espresso and other local

roasters to supplement the range

of coffee on offer.

Ali feels that “with hindsight” he

couldn’t have selected a better area to

start the business. The Covid-19

pandemic has had a particularly

negative impact on cafés and eateries

in city centres. As working patterns

change and more people work from

home, the main hot spots for foodies

may emerge in more residential

areas. Ali feels that while upmarket

areas such as Bruntsfield,

Morningside and Stockbridge are

“already well served” in terms of

good quality restaurants and

specialist coffee places, Marchmont

still has potential for growth.

He believes that successful recent

arrivals such as 27 Elliots and Detour

Espresso indicate that there’s a

growing market in the area for top

class food and coffee.

Ali said: “I feel Marchmont has a

particularly diverse community,

from the well-heeled community in

the Grange, and families and

students in Marchmont to those who

spend time in The Meadows. Argyle

Place is within two minutes walk of

the green space and I expect a

reasonable amount of takeaway trade

from those who go there.

“I admit it’s a weird time to be

doing this though.”

The passion Ali has for the project

is clear as we chat. Everything is now

in place for Argyle Place to become a

leading destination for Edinburgh’s

foodies and coffee lovers.

ACROSS

1 Arched middle section

of the foot (6)

5 Hot seasonings, espcially

English or French (8)

9 Marine mammals with large

flippers (3-5)

10 Foolish person (5)

11 Not functioning (11)

13 Musical instrument that is

struck with a padded mallet (4)

14 Sources of petroleum from

underground (3-5)

17 Educated students (8)

18 Male offspring (4)

20 Very keen to obtain and

posses objects (11)

23 Act reluctantly and in a

haughty manner (5)

24 In these times (8)

25 Competition held on a

river (4,4)

26 Kill (6)

DOWN

2 Require (4)

3 Reprimand, a ticking-off (7-2)

4 Positively charged subatomic

particle (6)

5 Degree abbreviated to MSc (6,2,7)

6 Appropriate (8)

7 Legal plea of being elsewhere at

the time of a crime (5)

8 Traditionally where one signs at

the foot of a document (6,4)

12 A close thing, uncertain and

risky (5-3-2)

15 A cockney (4,5)

16 Large ranch or house in Spain (8)

19 Traditional native American

tent (6)

21 Padded bedcover (5)

22 Rubber ring around a wheel on

a car (4)

ANSWERS

Across: 1 Instep, 5 Mustards, 9 Sea-lions, 10 Idiot, 11 Inoperative, 13 Gong, 14 Oil-wells, 17

Scholars, 18 Sons, 20 Acquisitive, 23 Deign, 24 Nowadays, 25 Boat race, 26 Murder.

Down: 2 Need, 3 Talking-to, 4 Proton, 5 Master of Science, 6 Suitable, 7 Alibi, 8 Dotted line, 12

Touch-and-go, 15 East Ender, 16 Hacienda, 19 Wigwam, 21 Quilt, 22 Tyre.

Six of the best

NAIRN’S, the Edinburgh firm which is the

number one producer of oatcakes and one of

the UK's biggest gluten-free brands won with six

of their products at the 2021 Great Taste Awards.

Emma Heath, Head of Marketing at Nairn’s,

said: “Making the best quality, healthy products

that taste great is our top priority at Nairn’s, and has been for 125

years. Winning six Great Taste Awards this year is not only a great

boost for our teams at the bakery, but important recognition that

experts and customers alike found our products to be delicious and

enjoyable. We look forward to entering some of our new products

into the 2022 awards.”

17

Juliet’s food diary

Left, Smokin’ cocktails

at The Alchemist

Above, plating up at

Ed’s Supper Club

Above right, Chef

Ed Janusz

Top right, sumptious

supper on Leith Links

Right, latest addition

to Antigua Street

All in good taste

New foodie arrivals complement well-established old city faithfuls

I’VE GOT A SOFT spot for couple-owned

businesses, partly because people must be so in

love to consider the prospect of working together

and ruining it all. However, in the case of Ed’s

Supper Club, Ed and Alan are less Basil and Sybil

and more “couple goals”.

Chef Ed Janusz has worked in some of

Edinburgh’s top restaurants but has certainly

found his niche cooking his expertly executed

menus in the intimate and cosy setting of Bijou

Bistro on Leith Links. Although they present

tasting menus, often the most dull form of

dining, he and the delightful Alan make the

whole experience fun and relaxed, and have the

old school charm and friendliness of treating you

like a regular on your first visit.

I tasted beetroot carpaccio with home-made

goat cheese, apple gel and hazelnut, haggis with

raisins, grilled grapes and yeast sauce, with a few

other delights. But the raunchy main - pork belly

slow cooked in peanut butter, pan fried pork loin,

pea puree, pumpkin puree and morel

mushrooms sauce - was the star of the show, and

a testament to Ed’s skill and passion. Ed also sells

his exquisite sweetmeats in some of the

Edinburgh markets, so follow @pmedinburgh

and @edssupperclub. You will not regret it.

If you’re on a strict diet, look away. If you’re

nursing an epic hangover, read on! We told our

charming and understanding server Chris that

we were somewhat worse for wear. He replied:

“Brilliant, you’ve come to the right place...”

The American-Canadian Down the Hatch on

Antigua Street is my new home for filthy, sexy

food. My chum and I tucked into sticky chicken

wings, so finger licking I praise the heavens for

hand sanitiser. Followed with a beef melt

sandwich that comes with a pot of gravy for

dipping and poutine, a staple Canadian bar

snack of chips, cheese curds and gravy.

Sounds terrible, tasted amazing.

We also sampled some Tennessee Whiskey

Daddy Rack cocktails, the Popcorn Old

Fashioned and a boozy Luca’s ice cream

milkshake being two of the best revivers. The

food here is plentiful and they offered to box it

up before we even had to ask for it to go. Like a

good workout where you could do it all again, we

did, and went for a large glass of vino.

Gin hits new heights on Arthur’s Seat

MANY WOMEN will testify, the worst

thing about being on Tinder is that most

men have photos of themselves atop

Munros. Although hill walking isn’t my

thing, I changed my mind when Holyrood

Distillery promised me a stonker of a

cocktail at the top.

To launch their Height of Arrows Gin

they invited some hacks on a Gibson

discovery trail, acclimatising in a mini

Panda and Sons bar at the top where the

most delectable Gibsons were expertly

made for us. Their new spirit is named

Height of Arrows because at 251m the

height of Arthur’s Seat is the furthest

The Alchemist at St James Quarter have opened

their doors. I was invited to sample some of their

theatrical concoctions and they certainly had the

wow factor. Let’s just say this establishment is no

stranger to dry ice. Despite it being the opening

night, the staff were super friendly and clearly

enjoying the reactions of the somewhat insane

and fun potions they presented us with. The

manager tells me they’d had two weeks of

intensive training, and it must have worked

because their infectious sense of bonhomie was

certainly the flambé on the cocktail. The food

was lovely and tasty too - best prawn tempura

I’ve had in many a moon. I also enjoyed having

my tarot cards read by Kat Wojdyla from the

Arthur Conan Doyle Centre. She gave me some

positive news so I’m a (slight) convert.

Would you like to munch on the best nachos

in Edinburgh? Then pay a lunchtime visit to Gail

at the Cask and Barrel at the bottom of

Broughton Street. For a mere £4 my dad and I

shared a small portion and had we not been full

we’d have been eyeing up her other fabulous

offerings. The other reason to go to The Cask in

the evenings is that it doesn’t have food, so is a

proper, well run, traditional boozer with very

nice bar staff. And that’s the way a pub should be.

For Juliet’s full reviews please visit

theedinburghreporter.co.uk and follow Juliet

on Instagram @juliet.l.wilson

distance an archer could fire a bow.

For those not in the know, a Gibson is a

dry gin martini with a cocktail onion

replacing the olive. It’s my favourite

version and Height of Arrows Gin’s classic

juniper focussed spirit, depth of flavour

and utter smoothness made for a

delectable and delicate serve. Gazing at

the views, martini glass in hand, I begun

to think hiking might be for me after all.

I’d highly recommend a visit to this

modern and innovative distillery in St

Leonard’s Lane. They have a great tour,

tasting experience and a cool little bar.

Cin cin - to the top!

18 WHAT’S ON

CULTURE • LITERATURE • EVENTS • MUSIC • MUSEUMS...

You get the picture?

National Galleries shine a light on artistic brilliance during the winter season

(Left) Ray Harryhausen

(1920-2013) on set

with Model of the

Kraken from Clash of

the Titans, c1980

(Above) Joan Eardley’s

Catterline in Winter

Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation

(Above right) Ruined

with Mercurius MC

(Right) Alison Watt,

self-portrait

JOAN EARDLEY & CATTERLINE

Open daily, 10am-5pm

Admission free, advance booking recommended

This two-room display marks 100 years since the

birth of Eardley, who is widely regarded as one

of the most influential painters of her

generation. It offers an insight into her working

practice and focuses on works produced in

Catterline, the coastal village in Kincardineshire,

where she worked from the early 1950s.

The works featured are all drawn from the

National Galleries of Scotland’s collection and

include some of her most iconic paintings, 11

works on paper, and a selection of photographs

and archival materials.

ALISON WATT | A PORTRAIT

WITHOUT LIKENESS

Until Sunday 9 January 2022


Admission free, advance booking

recommended

Alison Watt (born 1965) is widely regarded as

one of the leading painters working in the UK

today. This significant body of new work consists

of paintings made in response to the practice of

the celebrated eighteenth-century portrait artist

Allan Ramsay (1713-84) and are on show for the

first time.

The exhibition explores the artist’s continuing

fascination with Ramsay’s portraits. Watt has

long been an admirer of Ramsay’s portraits of

women, in particular the intensely personal

images of his first and second wives, Anne

Bayne and Margaret Lindsay of Evelick.

RAY HARRYHAUSEN | TITAN OF CINEMA

Until Sunday 20 February 2022


£14-12 (concessions available), booking

recommended. Free to Friends

Film special effects superstar Ray Harryhausen

helped elevate stop motion animation to an art.

His innovative and inspiring films, from the

1950s onwards, changed the face of modern

movie making forever.

RUINED | REINVENTING SCOTTISH

HISTORY

Until Sunday 9 February 2022


Admission free

Ruined was created over the last four years by

young Scots re-inventing Scottish history -

imaginatively mashing-up works from the

national collection. In the exhibition, visitors

will enter an immersive time-machine where

multiple video projections flicker across a set of

ruins showing shocking events and ghosts from

Scotland’s past. Subjects covered include

disputed territories, false heroes and heroines,

wicked tyrants and bloodied martyrs.

Multi-venue

arts and

music festival

will showcase

talent this

winter

THE GREAT Eastern will be a

full day of music at

Summerhall and Queen’s Hall

on 27 November.

It follows in the footsteps

of The Great Western Festival

in 2019 in Glasgow’s West

End, and has been

rescheduled from its original

date with all tickets

remaining valid.

There will be 40 acts

performing in several rooms

at Summerhall, the Queen’s

Hall and King’s Hall,

Including...

• Field Music showcasing their

new album Flat White Moon.

• Tracyanne and Danny

- featuring Tracyanne

Campbell of indie band,

Camera Obscura

• Sacred Paws - described as

Glasgow joy peddlers

• Soccer96 - dynamic synth

and drums duo - two thirds

of jazz rock chaos engine

The Comet is Coming

• Anna B Savage - a new voice

• Beak, from Bristol featuring

Portishead’s Geoff Barrow

• Free Love a Glasgow

electro-spiritual power

couple

• B.C. Camplight with his

recently released fifth album

Shortly After Takeoff

• The Ninth Wave Scottish

synth-goth stormers

• Broken Records folk group

• Wrest and a list including

BABii, Calva Louise, Junior

Brother, Emma McGrath,

Marina Allen, Junodream,

Bikini Body, Swim School,

Super Inuit, The Joy Hotel,

Russell Stewart, and last but

not least Hamish Hawk who

opened the recent Hidden

Door Festival in Granton to

huge acclaim.

thegreateastern.org

19

Curl up with

a good book

Join in the celebrations with your library memories

Denise Mina at the Book Week

Scotland programme launch

BOOK WEEK Scotland, the country’s biggest

celebration of reading and writing will take place

between 15 and 21 November 2021.

This will be the tenth year of all things literary and

the award-winning author Denise Mina will begin the

celebrations at Glasgow Women’s Library where she

filmed a new documentary: The Women Writers of

Garnethill. The film with tour guide Melody House

explores the contribution women writers have made to

the area and Glasgow. The film will premiere on

YouTube on 15 November at 12.30pm.

A social media campaign will also begin on the

same date asking the public to join with their

memories of a favourite or local library. Libraries

will take part along with other partners including

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. There will be

events throughout the week with the Damian Barr

Literary Salon on Thursday 18 November

featuring Alan Cumming and poetry from

Lennie Pennie and Courtney Stoddart.

During the week, 50,000 free copies of the

Celebration book, which includes real life

stories from people around the country, will be

available from libraries and other community

venues. The book includes 22 stories selected by a

panel, plus commissioned pieces from Courtney

Stoddart, Elle McNicoll, Eòghan Stewart, Mòrag Law

and Ross Sayers.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:

“2021 marks a decade of Book Week Scotland, a

massive milestone that all of us at Scottish Book Trust

are extremely proud of. Last year alone, we reached

292,000 people through free Book Week Scotland

events. Book Week Scotland would not be possible

without the many libraries, bookshops, community

groups and schools that take part.

“Over the last ten years, Book Week Scotland has

become a highlight of Scotland’s literary calendar, the

national event where a huge range of partners celebrate

the connective power of reading and writing. It is where

communities all over Scotland gather together to have

conversations with writers and other readers, and where

individuals all over the country share their love of books

and the books they love. We look forward to celebrating

ten years of Book Week Scotland with a fantastic

line-up, with events both online and in person.”

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at

Creative Scotland, said: “For a decade now, Book Week

Scotland has provided the perfect opportunity for

readers across the nation to come together in

community groups, bookshops, libraries and at home to

share and explore a love of reading. With an exciting

and diverse line-up of emergent and established names

and forms of writing, from live poetry to comics, the

centenary year programme is a true celebration of

literature.”

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of The Scottish

Library & Information Council (SLIC) said: “Libraries

will be hosting events from Shetland to the Borders,

connecting communities and ensuring everyone across

the country can meet like-minded individuals, and

enjoy all that the week has to offer. We will also be

celebrating Mobile Libraries Day as part of Book Week

Scotland, which allows us to recognise the vital role that

our mobile libraries play in some of the remotest parts

of Scotland, as well as for those who are not able to visit

their own local library. Reading is Scotland’s favourite

pastime, and we look forward to sharing in the country’s

love of books.”

Discover

textile

innovations

from the

Far East

JOIN THE Dovecot Director for an

early morning talk and viewing of

MAKING NUNO: Japanese Textile

Innovation from Sudō Reiko.

Discover how the exhibition has

developed, from Dovecot’s

collaboration with NUNO in 2012

through conversations with the

Centre for Heritage Art and

Textiles (CHAT) Hong Kong in

2019 and through collaboration

with Japan House London

throughout lockdown. The talk

will encompass not only Sudō

Reiko’s innovative vision but also

Dovecot’s ambition to bring world

textiles to Scotland and to take

Scottish textiles to the world.

Tickets cost £12 (+ booking fee)

and include entry to the

exhibition on the day of the event.

Every ticket sold supports the

work of The Dovecot Foundation

to advance visual art, tapestry,

craft and design in all its forms.

www.dovecotstudios.com

Edinburgh Santa Run

THE EDINBURGH Santa Run

will take place on 5 December

in West Princes Street

Gardens and registration is

open now. It is a day out for

everyone to raise funds for

the charity, When You Wish

Upon a Star which grants

magical wishes to children

aged 4-16 who are living with

a life threatening illness.

Every participant in the run

or walk is asked to raise a

minimum of £15 and those

taking part will have the

chance of winning a holiday

in Cornwall.

www.thesantarun.org.uk

20 NEWS

Leafing a legacy

Celebrating Occupational Therapy at Edinburgh’s Astley Ainslie hospital

By MAGGIE CARSON

Astley Ainslie Community Trust (AACT)

Executive Committee: Tree Group Chair

THIS YEAR World Occupational Therapy Day

was marked with the theme “Belong. Be You”.

The aim is to promote the power of diversity and

inclusion by encouraging people to work

together to build community and resilience.

This struck me as the perfect date to hold a

small ceremony in the grounds of the Astley

Ainslie hospital to bring together past and

present Heads of Occupational Therapy

education in Edinburgh and beyond, retired

Occupational Therapists who trained and who

work or who have worked at the hospital,

Occupational Therapists currently working on

site and members of the AACT, a community

group looking to work with NHS Lothian to

protect the historic green space and in particular

the trees, when the NHS eventually moves their

services off site.

The Astley Ainslie hospital is an important site

for a number of reasons: one being that it was

here in 1937 that the first School of Occupational

Therapy in Scotland was established in what was

then the Astley Ainslie Institution. This came

about because of the interest and foresight

shown by the hospital’s first Medical

Superintendent, Lt. Colonel John Cunningham,

who in the early 1930s had been concerned his

patients were not getting enough rehabilitation

Maggie Carson

(left)

Astley Ainslie

Fiona’s tree (right)

Astley Ainslie

Dawn redwood

(bottom, left)

Unveiling cherry

tree plaque

(bottom, right)

as part of their convalescence. Speaking to

another doctor at an international conference he

learned about the impact Occupational Therapy

was having on patients’ recovery in Canada. He

soon made arrangements for a Canadian

Occupational Therapist, Miss Amy de Brisay to

come across and work at the Astley Ainslie with

significant results. Realising that they couldn’t

continue to rely on visiting Canadian

Occupational Therapists, an Occupational

Therapy Training Centre was officially opened

in 1937.

The purpose of the event was to

commemorate the planting in 1997 of a

Canadian Dawn Redwood tree in front of what

is the first ever purpose built Occupational

Therapy Building. This tree was planted to mark

sixty years of Occupational Therapy education in

Scotland as part of a three day event coordinated

by Queen Margaret University where

the School of Occupational Therapy eventually

moved to. Another tree, a wild cherry, had been

planted in 1994 to commemorate the 21st

Council meeting in Edinburgh of the World

Federation of Occupational Therapists.

But there is nothing in the Astley Ainslie

grounds to evidence why these trees are here.

On speaking with some of the current and

former staff it seemed a great pity that the

significant role the hospital has played in the

development of Occupational Therapy across

Scotland and indeed the world may eventually

be lost. It also struck me that publicly marking

the significance of these trees might help to

protect them from being felled in the future

unlike some of the trees around them.

For that reason and through specific donations

to the ACCT, we have raised money to purchase

and install two plaques to commemorate the

significance of these two trees. Some of those

attending the ceremony were also present when

the Dawn Redwood was planted and include

Professor Averil Stewart, former Head of

Occupational Therapy at Queen Margaret

University and Sheena Glen who was then an

Occupational Therapy student but has recently

retired from her post as Occupational Therapy

Lead Clinician for Neurorehabilitation Services

at the hospital. It was lovely to be able to invite

them back.

Other retired Occupational Therapists who

had a key role to play on the day were retired

Occupational Therapists Clephane Hume who

has befriended the Dawn Redwood and Fiona

Brownlee who befriended the wild cherry tree as

part of AACT’s “Befriend a tree campaign”.

You can read more about their tree stories and

others on the AACT website: www.aact.scot/

tree-posters

If you would be interested in befriending a tree

yourself please see our web pages for more

information at: www.aact.scot/treebefriending

Lifetime award

for Ken Knowles

EDINBURGH LOCAL, Ken Knowles,

has been honoured with a Lifetime

Achievement Award by The Scottish

Wildlife Trust for which he has

volunteered since 1976.

He recently stepped down as Convener

of the nature conservation charity's

Pepper Wood and Bawsinch &

Duddingston Loch Wildlife Reserves,

and was also Chair of the Trust's Lothian

Group for several years.

Julian Warman Reserves Manager

Scottish Wildlife Trust hands the award

to Ken Knowles PHOTO Scottish

Wildlife Trust

Bawsinch & Duddingston Loch Wildlife

Reserve is Edinburgh’s only remaining

natural loch and features a range of

habitats including woodland, scrub,

grassland and reedbeds. Over the past

ten years Ken has led groups of fellow

volunteers in helping to ensure it is a

haven for wildlife. One of their most

significant achievements is a long-term

effort to remove huge areas of invasive

red-osier dogwood, which in turn has

allowed native species to recover

and thrive.

Ken Knowles said: “The main thing I

get from volunteering is pleasure. I’ve

always loved practical work. My

grandfather was a farmer and I used to

work on the farm. I enjoyed working with

balers, pitchforks, all of the equipment. I

just get a buzz from it.

“I also love nature. We moved to

Edinburgh in 1967 and went on holiday

to Orkney shortly after. I was bowled

away by the seabirds and all of the

wildlife that we saw. That sparked an

interest that has lasted ever since.

“Since retirement, Bawsinch has

become a real centre of my life. The past

ten years as Convenor has been magical.

I’ve worked with so many different

groups, literally hundreds of volunteers

over the years. We’re getting to the point

where we’ve done most of the big tasks.

Now it’s just a case of keeping on top of

things, like keeping the reedbeds clear

of trees.

“I’d encourage anyone to get involved

in conservation. It’s immensely

satisfying, particularly when you make

strong friendships.”

GET IN TOUCH

TODAY!

For advertising and editorial

enquiries please email:

editor@theedinburgh

reporter.co.uk

21

22 SPORT

Hampden dreams

As Hibs take another step closer to the League Cup final, John

Hislop looks back to the 2007 semi-final with Andy McNeil

Green energy is

priority for Hibs

By JOHN HISLOP

By JOHN HISLOP

HIBS FACE another League Cup semi-final

this month when they face Rangers at

Hampden Park, but rather than look forward,

we are looking back to the 2007 tournament.

As was the case last season neither of the

Glasgow giants made the last four where Hibs

were drawn against First Division St

Johnstone at Tynecastle.

Ahead of kick-off manager John Collins

surprised the fans by naming goalkeeper

Andy McNeil, who had only turned 20 two

weeks before, in the starting line-up rather

than the more experience Simon Brown.

Collins though had faith in the youngster

who had signed from Southampton where his

team-mates in the Youth team included Theo

Walcott, Gareth Bale, Adam Lallana and

Nathan Dyer.

Andy had been highly rated by manager

By NIGEL DUNCAN

THREE COARSE fishing ponds

will open at Drumtassie early

next year in a picturesque

woodland near Blackridge and

bosses aim to make them the

"best in Scotland". It has taken

two years to construct and the

finishing touches are being

made to the ponds - roughly

five acres, four acres and two

acres - with one exclusive

to members.

The other two will be for day

Harry Redknapp at Southampton where he

learned his trade alongside former Hearts’

keeper Antti Niemi and rubbed shoulders

with the likes of James Beattie, Jamie

Redknapp, Peter Crouch and Kevin Philips,

but left after George Burley took over and

brought in another goalkeeper.

Last week Andy McNeil took time out

from his current role as a goalkeeper coach

for Borussia Mönchengladbach in Shanghai

to reminisce about those glorious times to

be a Hibby.

He told The Edinburgh Reporter:

“That semi-final definitely feels like a

long time ago now. Looking back, I can

remember two things that stand out to me.

The atmosphere was brilliant, Tynecastle is a

great place to play football when it is full, and

it was an amazing feeling once the full-time

whistle went.

“I also remember Derek McInnes was

permits and all are already full

of water. Naturally, this has to

settle before fish are put in and

bosses are currently waiting for

a licence for Drumtassie Coarse

Fishery from Marine Scotland.

Drumtassie’s Leeanne Aitchison

said: "We aim to make this the

best coarse fishery in Scotland.

This will be one fantastic venue."

This news will come as

another boost to coarse anglers

in Central Scotland who already

enjoy sport at Magiscroft near

Cumbernauld, which has seven

ponds, Eliburn at Livingston and

Selmwood near Mid Calder.

After two years of work to get

the coarse ponds to where they

are now the plan is to stock the

members’ pond with carp.

Members will be allowed to fish

for 24-hours a day.

The other two will be filled

with a mixture of species

including roach, perch, bream,

tench and ide and these ponds

are likely to be open from dawn

to dusk. Fishing will be off

specially-constructed pontoons

trying to intimidate me in the tunnel before

the game. We were waiting to go out and he

just started shouting at me. I had no idea

what was going on, I had never met him

before and was totally confused. I actually

started laughing.

“Rob Jones got in between us and told him

to ‘do one’. I later found out that St Johnstone

thought that I could be got at because I was

young and had only played a handful of

games at that point. If you watch the game

back you can see that they try to put me

under a lot of pressure from corners, free

kicks, and long throws. It is the only time that

has ever happened to me.”

Andy produced a fine performance and

Hibs won 3-1 after extra time thanks to goals

from Steven Fletcher, David Murphy and

Abdessalam Benjelloun. Andy retained his

place for the final which Hibs won 5-1

against Kilmarnock.

Drumtassie coarse fishing ponds will be “best in Scotland”

and there will be a well-stocked

tackle shop onsite near the

spacious car park.

The coarse fishing location is

around 400 yards from the

popular, three-pond, four-yearold

trout fishery run by Leanne

which regularly produces

quality fish. She said: "We've put

a lot of work into this and we

aim to make this a fabulous

place to fish. The woodland

surroundings are ideal and we

are convinced anglers will love

this place."

HIBS HAVE joined Manchester United and

Forest Green Rovers as the top three greenest

clubs in the UK.

Currently 100% of Hibs’ energy is from

renewable sources and the club are currently

investigating biomass and ground source heat

pump options at the Hibernian High

Performance Centre with the potential for a solar

PV farm on the campus.

Photo courtesy of Hibernian FC

All matchday waste is recycled and vegan

options are available in stadiums kiosks. Further

plant-based options are being added.

Hibs have also removed all single use plastics

across catering including; straws, sauce sachets,

stirrers and food containers.

They will also electrify the current club fleet to

electric vehicles will save around 3% of the club’s

current CO2 output.

Hibs are also aligned to the integrated travel

plan launched by Edinburgh City Council and

aim to reduce the current 48% of attendees who

travel by car to matches through travel partners.

Electric charging points to be installed around

Easter Road Stadium with free parking initiatives

for EV’s on match days.

Social and environmental activations are now

at the heart of all commercial conversations and

Hibs will be adopting sustainable procurement

policies working with club partners to develop

improved products and services.

Football provides a global platform to

promote sustainable and responsible

consumption. This provides the club and their

partners with a unique opportunity to be

leading advocates of climate action.

Hibs have a proud history of innovation. They

were the first club in Scotland to build the iconic

pylon style floodlights, the first British club to

take part in the European Cup, the first to allow

shirt sponsorship on their jersey, the first to

install undersoil heating and now as ‘The

Greenest Club in Scotland’ they aim provide

leadership and collaborate with others to

encourage them to follow suit.

Other initiatives include moving toward

becoming a cashless stadium, becoming the

first club in the UK to launch a ‘Thank You NHS’

strip then arranging an NHS Day where staff get

free tickets.

Hibs has also joined forces with cancer charity,

Cahonas Scotland, pledging to encourage every

male player and supporter to perform regular

self-checks.

23

Hearts tribute to fallen

Remembrance Day marks Tynecastle club’s Great War sacrifice

By DUNCAN ROBERTSON

NOVEMBER ALWAYS marks a poignant

moment in the calendar as the nation once

again comes together to remember and

commemorate those who served in conflict.

It’s a time of particular significance for many

football fans in Edinburgh as, given the social

role played by the sport, many men signed up to

serve in the Great War direct from recruitment

drives held at matches. McCrae’s Battalion was

born, the first of the so-called “footballers’

battalions” – including players from Hearts,

Hibs, Dunfermline, Raith Rovers, St Bernards,

East Fife and Falkirk – and many young men

from Edinburgh and nearby.

Indeed, Hearts will again this year – after

the pandemic interruption - hold a formal

service at the memorial at Haymarket. It’s a

time that always lends itself to looking at the

history books and learning about those who

gave everything.

One organisation that takes part in the

annual ceremony at the invite of the club is

Lodge Heart of Midlothian, a Freemasons lodge

from Gorgie and Dalry dating back to 1896 with

strong links to the football club – which endure

today with their partnership with local charity,

Big Hearts.

Meeting originally, and up until 2008, at

Murieston Crescent, esteemed lodge members

include Hearts greats such as Alex Massie,

Charlie Thomson, Tom Purdie and the

legendary Bobby Walker. The organisation’s

roots go even deeper with the community and

the social history of the area - albeit now

meeting the short distance awat at Roseburn

Gardens – with the sacrifice many members

made in the war a prime example.

In 2013, a commemorative bronze plaque,

based on the iconic photograph of the Hearts

team who went to war, was unveiled at the rear

of the new main stand at Tynecastle Park.

That image, now etched to the Tynecastle and

Gorgie fabric on Foundation Plaza, features four

members of Lodge Heart of Midlothian – John

McCartney, Bobby Preston, Alfie Briggs and

Jimmy Frew.

Alex Lyon, the assistant trainer, who,

although not enlisted went out on the route

marches and looked after the team during their

army training was also a member. As were

many fans and local residents who signed up

and headed to France.

Martin P McAdam

Featuring prominently in the McCrae's

Battalion story was John McCartney - manager

and secretary of the team at the time - and a

father figure and confidant to many of those

brave men. A lodge member, he was responsible

for introducing many of the players to the lodge.

In April 1916, the Edinburgh Evening News

reported that 100 wounded soldiers and their

nurses attended a game at Tynecastle Park as

guests of Heart of Midlothian Football Club and

thereafter retired for refreshment and

entertainment to the premises of Lodge Heart of

Midlothian at Murieston Crescent. In

attendance were Lord Provost Sir R. K. Inches,

Cllr Harkess, John McCartney (all Freemasons)

and Elias H Furst - the then chairman of the

football club. A rousing speech was given by the

lodge chair (Master) Davidson Scott and

afterwards they each received a small gift.

As again we reach Remembrance Sunday and

join together again to commemorate those who

have served in conflict, we recall with fondness

and warmth the sense of duty and community

felt across Edinburgh.

Special thanks to David Baird from

Lodge Heart of Midlothian

Sliding out of the fast lane

By NIGEL DUNCAN

RORY SCHLEIN started his

British speedway career with

Edinburgh Monarchs in 2001

and now he has hung up his

crash helmet.

A number of Edinburgh

fans made the journey south

to Wolverhampton for

Schlein's Farewell Meeting

and the 37-year-old racer is

now set to retire back to his

native Australia with his

young family after a 20-year

career in British racing, the

last four of which have been

with Wolverhampton in the

Premiership.

Schlein assembled an

impressive field of 16 riders

for his meeting including

Rory

Schlein

Rory Schlein celebrating

with Monarchs

former Edinburgh and

Glasgow Tigers star Dan

Bewley and current Tigers

racer Tom Brennan who were

in the Great Britain team

which won the gold medal in

the recent Speedway of

Nations in Manchester.

Schlein said: “I’ve

thoroughly enjoyed working

with Chris (Van Straaten) and

Pete (Adams). We’ve had a

great working relationship.

“I was one of the last ones

in the changing room (after

the defeat by Peterborough

in the Premiership play-off)

and I was trying to take it

all in.

"Knowing that that was it,

that I’d never race for Wolves

again, never ride in the

top-flight again, I was choked

up inside.

“I drove home with a bit of

a lump in my throat knowing

that it was almost that for

everything.

“So, it is sinking in mentally,

but also my body is

reminding me that I am

making the right call too.”

The Edinburgh Reporter November 2021

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