A 28-year-old woman and her three-month-old baby girl were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for a check-up after a deliberate fire in Granton this morning.
Firefighters from McDonald Road and Crewe Toll fire stations responded shortly before 11.30am after a report of a building alight in Royston Mains Gardens.
When crews arrived, they discovered the back door and rubbish to the rear of the three-storey property well alight and the common stair filled with smoke.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze and checked out all the neighbouring flats to ensure no one was unaccounted for.
The woman and her baby were lead to safety by firefighters before being taken by ambulance to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Crews left the scene at 1pm.
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “Initial investigations suggest that rubbish which had been stored at the back door was deliberately set alight. This led to the door catching fire and the common stair filling with smoke.
“This would have been a very frightening experience for householders. Fortunately, firefighters were on site quickly and were able to help residents out of the building before extinguishing the blaze.
“We can’t stress enough the importance of keeping common areas free from junk and rubbish. It’s an attractive target for firesetters and can put people at risk of deliberate set fires.”
Billy Anderson’s funeral service will be held at Mortonhall (Main Chapel) on Wednesday 22 August at 11am. The service will be followed by refreshments at Muirhouse Millennium Centre.
Transport may be available from the Millennium Centre – please call 467 3564 for information.
Having taken over from long-serving co-managers Sam Lynch and Mike Lawson, Spartans boss Douglas Samuel is keen to re-claim the league title for the club as well as go on another famous Scottish Cup run (writes Alan Clark). In this exclusive interview with North Edinburgh News, Samuel also discusses the young element of the new Spartans squad and entering the SFL in the future.
Stirling University, who have recruited ex-Falkirk manager Eddie May as boss, pipped Spartans to the league championship on goal difference on the last day of the season and Samuel has admitted wrestling the title back is one of the priorities he has as manager.
He said: “The short term goal is to win the title back. I believe we are capable of doing so. However, two or three other club managers will be thinking and feeling exactly the same way.”
The Ainslie Park side are going through a transition and have started blooding more youngsters in the first-team. Samuel explained: “I believe our new squad has a good combination of established players with a great pedigree and proven track record mixed with younger players with great potential; however, it’s also fair to say that it’s a work in progress.
“It’s a new squad and the start of a new era of major transition for the football club on and off the park. From last year’s squad, five experienced players have moved on. Everyone in the group has a real desire to do well, to restore the club to its former glories.
“The immediate test is to integrate our new signings, to create a real sense of togetherness and understanding around how we would like to play throughout the group. I know from past experience that both of these things take time to develop and achieve.”
After a trophy-less season Samuel is desperate to win silverware in his debut in the Spartans’ dugout, and sees a huge benefit from a Scottish Cup run. He added: “Success for us will come in various shapes and forms. Clearly after a season when the team didn’t win a single trophy we are desperate to win something this coming season. A Scottish Cup run would give everyone a huge lift at the start of our journey.”
Samuel, who is also Development Manager at the club’s Community Football Academy, is looking at his squad’s development as well as the obvious craving for success through silverware. He commented: “If, by the end of the season, we have improved as a group and each player has developed and improved as a player then that would represent real progress and success. Crucially, it’s also something we can control. Whether or not that results in silverware, time will tell.”
The former Edinburgh University boss, who spent nine years with the club, believes the proposed Highland and Lowland league – which would create a route into senior league football – would be a great thing for the game and his club.
He said: “A pyramid system would be great for Scottish football. As a club we would relish the opportunity of playing our way into the Scottish Football League. Our current focus is on meeting short term goals but with one eye on the future too.
“For example, the majority of our new signings are young players starting off their careers with what we hope will be their best years in front of them. This season is the start of a transition, however, the goal remains to win football matches and see where that takes us in terms of winning silverware.”
The BBC also aired a fascinating documentary, ‘My Lives and Times’, by Muirhouse filmmaker Garry Fraser (pictured below)last month. If you missed it, you’ll find it at:
A team of local men are set to complete a 150 mile cycling challenge this weekend to raise £5000 for charity. Michael Pratt, who lives in Cramond, and seven of his friends aim to complete the ambitious challenge in just 15 hours for Macmillan Cancer Support. The challenge starts this morning in the Cairngorms , and will take them through Rothiemurchus and Perthshire before finishing in Aberfoyle tomorrow.
Michael, a married father of two, has previously walked 54 miles with friends in the 2010 Caledonia Challenge and took part in the Rob Roy Challenge last year. However, the challenge this time round has greater personal significance as he has been closely affected by cancer. His mother, Kate Pratt, 67, who currently has secondary cancer, has influenced Michael’s decision to raise funds for Macmillan due to the support they provide at Edinburgh’s Western General.
Michael, who is a Project Manager, said: “When someone close to you tells you they have cancer, you feel helpless. Something I feel I can do is support a charity that provides the help people affected by cancer need.”
A team of local men are set to complete a 150 mile cycling challenge this weekend to raise £5000 for charity. Michael Pratt, who lives in Cramond, and seven of his friends aim to complete the ambitious challenge in just 15 hours for Macmillan Cancer Support. The challenge starts this morning in the Cairngorms , and will take them through Rothiemurchus and Perthshire before finishing in Aberfoyle tomorrow.
Michael, a married father of two, has previously walked 54 miles with friends in the 2010 Caledonia Challenge and took part in the Rob Roy Challenge last year. However, the challenge this time round has greater personal significance as he has been closely affected by cancer. His mother, Kate Pratt, 67, who currently has secondary cancer, has influenced Michael’s decision to raise funds for Macmillan due to the support they provide at Edinburgh’s Western General.
Michael, who is a Project Manager, said: “When someone close to you tells you they have cancer, you feel helpless. Something I feel I can do is support a charity that provides the help people affected by cancer need.”
North Edinburgh News’ (NEN) annual general meeting will be held on Thursday 27 September at 7pm in Drylaw Parish Church, Groathill Road North. All welcome.
Pilton Community Health Project’s Healthy Lifestyles coordinator Lisa Arnott has news of two opportunities to step out next month:
WALKING at WORK WEEK
Monday 17 September to Friday 21 September
On 17 September Pilton Community Health Project will be launching its new physical activity event ‘Walking at Work Week’. Walking is free and is the simplest way to becoming fit. ‘‘Walkin at Work Week’ is a great way to encouraging us to think about the way we get too work, school or shops. Can I walk there and leave the car or bus?
Do we take a car to a meeting or shops when I can walk? This week we are hoping as may local business, schools and local organisations will join us in ‘Walkin at Work Week’ wear a pedometer for that week and show just how far we all walk.
All the steps made during ‘Walking at Work Week’ will contribute to the Muirhouse Million Steps which takes place on Friday 28 September from 10am.
MUIRHOUSE MILLION STEPS 2012
Friday 28 September 2012
10am -12.30 from North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court Muirhouse
After the success of previous years the Muirhouse Million Steps 2012 is currently being planned. This year’s event will take place on Friday 28 September, 10am to 12.30am. The fun family walking event has proven to be popular in previous years and a way of encouraging local people to take those steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
This year Muirhouse Million Steps will have three walks, a long, short and toddlers walk. For every registered walker they will receive an amazing goody bag and vouchers for swimming at Craigroyston Community High School and a free Zumba class at PCHP .
To register for the walk, or for more information about Walking at Work Week, contact Lisa Arnott at Pilton Community Health Project, telephone 551 1671.
The Prentice Centre and Alzheimer Scotland are jointly running a two-day course on Person-Centred Care and there are still a limited number of places available.
The course is being run over two sessions (tomorrow and Friday 17 August) at The Prentice Centre in Granton Mains Avenue from 10am – 3pm, and the course trainers are Alan Midwinter and Janet Campbell.
For further information or to book your place contact Mary Rae at The Prentice Centre, telephone 552 0485, email prenticecentre@hotmail.com or Debbie Rae at Alzheimer Scotland, telephone 551 9350, email leosproject@alzscot.org
All local teddy bears and their families are invited to Teddy’s Rhyme Time at Muirhouse Library on Monday (13 August) from 11 – 3pm.
Part of the Total Craigroyston initiative, Teddy’s Rhyme Time is a fun event that children aged 3 – 6 years old and their families – and teddies, of course – can enjoy.
Among the fun activities on offer are Rhyme Time, finger-puppet making, face painting, Fingernotes Music, PEEP for babies, badge making and Lickety Spit. The Play Talk Read bus will be there too, and bring along a packed lunch for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic!
