04/08/2014 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

SFRS marks First World War anniversary

As people commemorate a century since Britain entered the war some basic precautions will ensure candles mark those lost without causing further tragedy.

On the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War senior Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) officers have paid their respects to those who lost their lives in the course of the devastating conflict.

The United Kingdom entered the war on Tuesday 4 August 1914 following Germany’s invasion of Belgium. Around 17 million people were killed during one of the most destructive wars ever fought.

SFRS Chief Officer Alasdair Hay said: “The devastation of the First World War touched every community and it’s right that we pause to mark a century since the beginning of this terrible episode in history.

“Many firefighters were military reservists and so they were called up by the army or the navy, and over the course of the war many others either volunteered or were conscripted into military service.

“Of course, as with their colleagues from all other walks of life, many of these men would never return home to their families.

“The commemorative events taking place around the world today are very significant to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and our thoughts must go to the awful impact the First World War had on everyone involved.”

As a mark of remembrance the Royal British Legion is encouraging people to turn off their lights for an hour tonight, leaving a single light or candle on for a shared moment of reflection.

Lights Out is a national initiative running from 10pm to 11pm – exactly a century since the UK’s ultimatum for Germany to leave Belgium expired.

Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey famously remarked: “The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”

As the First World War progressed the government took steps to ensure communities at home still had the fire cover they needed, with firefighters added to the list of reserved occupations not liable to conscription.

With people throughout the country preparing to commemorate the anniversary by taking part in the Lights Out remembrance campaign, SFRS is reminding everyone to take extra care with their candles.

Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) Lewis Ramsay, director of prevention and protection and chair of the SFRS Heritage Committee, said: “Many of us will be marking the 100th anniversary of World War One tonight by taking part in the Lights Out event.

“Firefighters served throughout the war and the sad fact is many who did were among those killed or seriously injured as a result.

“Our aim as the fire and rescue service isn’t to discourage anyone from taking part in this national moment of reflection, but we do want to remind people to take some simple precautions if they are planning to light a candle.”

ACO Ramsay continued: “Candles do pose a significant fire risk so it’s vital we all use them correctly and safely.

“It’s important to think about where they are placed. They should always be away from curtains and out of the reach of pets and children.

“Most importantly, remember to extinguish your candles if you leave the room – it only takes a moment for a fire to start.

“We urge every household to have working smoke alarms and test them every week. We also provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required.”

More information on candle fire safety is available on the SFRS website www.firescotland.gov.uk

People can join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a free home fire safety visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, texting ‘check’ to 61611 or by contacting their local fire station.

News from EVOC

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum will take place on Wednesday 6 August from 10-12pm at Pilton Community Health Project on Boswall Parkway.

Local Neighbourhood Partnership officers Elaine Lennon and Jim Pattison will attend to discuss community priorities as identified during the recent Local Community Plan consultations. There will also be a presentation by CEC Welfare Manager Alan Sinclair.

Attendees are asked to bring along details of any training available through their organisation to allow the compilation of a list of available training in the area.

For further information (and to confirm your attendance) contact June Dickson on 555 9114 or email june.dickson@evoc.org.uk

Edinburgh Compact – ten years on

Seems hard to believe, but the Edinburgh Compact – the groundbreaking agreement between the voluntary sector and public sector organisations to work in partnership for mutual benefit – is now ten years old, and EVOC wants to know: how’s it been for you?

DURING this Compact 10 year the city’s Third Sector will go through a process of both reflecting on ten years of progress since the Edinburgh Compact Partnership was formed, and looking forward to the next ten years (writes Milind Kolhatkar, Community Planning Officer at EVOC).

This process of reflection and projection will be grounded not only in the experiences of the city’s Third Sector leaders, but also – crucially – on the evidence base that you provide us with.

Compact Voice is the project to gather, assess and share quantitative and qualitative data from across the breadth of Edinburgh’s Third Sector. This bank of information will help shape the futures thinking that sits at the heart of the Compact 10 year.

Through a process of surveys, focus groups, discussion forums and guided projection Third Sector leaders will engage with the rich diversity of Edinburgh’s Third Sector as well as with our Public Sector partners.

The key outputs from this process will include a growing data bank to support futures thinking, a body of evidence to help articulate the value Edinburgh’s Third Sector brings to the city, and increased opportunities for the Third Sector itself to focus on the positive difference it makes each and every day to the lives of people in need in all parts of the city.

The Compact 10 year aims to deliver outcomes including improved understanding and better relationships between the Third Sector and our Public Sector partners, clearer strategic direction to the planning and delivery of Third Sector services, and a shared understanding on the part of all Community Planning Partners that a city with a robust Third Sector is a city where communities have a rich and supportive social fabric.

Complete the online survey (below)

HTTPS://WWW.SURVEYMONKEY.COM/S/COMPACTVOICEONE

LIGHTS OUT tonight

Today is the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and to mark this we are inviting everyone (from large-scale organisations like Blackpool Illuminations, Tower Bridge and Piccadilly Circus to thousands of people at home) to turn out their lights, leaving on a single light or candle for a shared moment of reflection.

You can also get involved by tweeting a LIGHTS OUT selfie or an image of your moment using the hashtag #LIGHTSOUT. And you can download the free LIGHTS OUT Jeremy Deller app and watch Deller’s short film, available for just one hour from 10pm tonight. At 11pm, the film will disappear.

Jeremy Deller is one of a number of artworks commissioned across the UK as part of LIGHTS OUT.

It’s also your last chance to write your LETTER TO AN UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Almost 20,000 letters have been sent to the Unknown Soldier since the project began in June.

Letters have arrived from all over the United Kingdom and beyond, and many well-known writers and personalities have contributed. Stephen Fry, Malorie Blackman, Andrew Motion, Dawn French, Joanna Lumley and more.

Submissions will close at 11pm tonight. Don’t miss your chance to add your voice to this new war memorial.

For further information visit www.1418now.org.uk

Botanic Garden remembers …

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has created a special place of reflection …

At the heart of the Edinburgh Garden this month, a wild poppy meadow stands as a poignant and transitory memorial to those who fought and died in World War One. Marking the centenary of Britain’s entry into the conflict, RBGE has created the display as a place of reflection, where visitors can pause and remember those from around the world who fell then and in subsequent wars. The colourful memorial planting is a direct act of public commemoration to the Garden’s 73 men who signed-up after war was declared in August 1914, 20 of whom lost their lives.

Heroes of the Garden

Workers at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh who lost their lives in the Great War:

James Christopher Adam • Thomas Adam • Thomas Aird • William Frederick Bennett • George Blackmore • John Mathieson Brown • Andrew Ewing Calder • Duncan Coutts • William Gordon Dickson • James Maxwell Hampson • John Hatley • David Hume • Arthur Henry Jones • Henry McBeath • Alan Menzies • Walter Henry Morland • Duncan Smith • John Stewart • Samuel Stewart • George Hugh Stuart

RBGE’s own First World War story

The plaque at the RBGE Library serves as a lasting memorial to the staff who gave their lives in the Great War. While the Library holds a War Service Roll, published in 1921 to ‘preserve for all time the story of the loyalty of our Garden Staff’, we are appealing to people around Britain who believe members of their families could have been among our staff who went to war or who came here to work in their place. Any further details we can collect would be a welcome addition to our Archives and would provide us with a deeper understanding of the Garden’s own First World War story.

RBGE’s War Service Roll can be viewed online and any members of the public who believe they may have a family or friend connection can send their contributions to commemorate@rbge.org.uk

“The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time”

“It was seeing the picture of Kitchener and his finger pointing at you – any position that you took up the finger was always pointing at you – it was a wonderful poster really.

I was always a tall and fairly fit lad. When I confronted the recruiting officer he said that I was too young, although I had said that I was eighteen years of age. He said: “Well, I think you are too young , son. Come back in another year or so.’

I returned home and never said anything to my parents. I picked up my bowler hat, which my mother had bought me and which was only to wear on Sundays, and I donned that thinking it would make me look older.

I presented myself to the recruiting officer again, and this time there was no queries. I was accepted. My mother was very hurt when I arrived home that night and told her that I had to report to Mill Hill next morning. I was 16 in the June.”

Private Thomas McIndoe

12 Batallion, Middlesex Regiment

Circle’s storytellers ‘writely’ pleased with new book!

‘No-one really knew what it was. People walking past stopped and stared …’

Children and parents from Circle’s Haven project created their own book, ‘The Sandpit Volcano’, during Haven’s Storytelling Week project, which ran from 28 July – 2 August.

The Sandpit Volcano tells the tale of brave kangaroos, crabbit crustaceans and creepy castles with flags made from used underpants – delightful! Children who were involved in the creation of the story read it in public for the first time on Friday and it really is a fantastic tale!

The Haven Project group was assisted by Edinburgh-based author Mike Nicholson (pictured below with ten-month old ‘helper’ Caleb!), who writes children’s fiction. He has two novels published; mystery adventures packed with past secrets, colourful characters and fiendish plots! Based on his writing experience, Mike runs events for all ages in schools and at book festivals, often based on encouraging children to create their own story ideas. Mike worked with the Circle project on a similar project last year – a swashbuckling tale of pirates on the seven seas – and he was delighted to return for what it’s hoped may become an annual event.

It was an intensive week for all involved – from a day of ideas and discussions following a trip to Cramond, working with Mike to develop story ideas and then producing artwork and storyboards – but it was both interesting and fun for all involved.

One mum said: “It really was good fun and we’re all looking forward to seeing the book when it’s printed – oh, and the bairns enjoyed it all too!”

North Edinburgh Arts Angela Austin worked on the artwork with the group. “This was a great group to work with – everyone was really enthusiastic and there was lots of energy and ideas”, she said. “Lots of people are really good at art and being creative without realizing the talent they have, and I think this project has shown that”.

The artwork is now off to the printers and it’s hoped the Circle storytellers will see the The Sandpit Volcano in book form within the next 2-3 weeks.

First Minister: ‘our journey of commemoration starts today’

The First Minister Alex Salmond will attend the Glasgow Cathedral WWI Commonwealth Service and lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Scotland at the Cenotaph in George Square today.

Speaking before the service, the First Minister said: ““No home, no school, no community in Scotland was left untouched by the devastating impact of the Great War, which remains one of the most brutal conflicts the world has ever seen. Scotland’s losses were, per capita, among the highest of any combatant nation, and the war’s effects on our nation were profound and long-lasting.

“Between 1914 and 1918, the First World War claimed the lives of around 145,000 Scots, leaving many more thousands injured or disabled and forcing friends and loved ones across the country to come to terms with the terrible consequences.

“As the curtain falls on 2014 Commonwealth Games, we acknowledge the countries of the Commonwealth we fought alongside during the Great War and it is fitting that this service in Glasgow Cathedral should focus on the contribution of these nations.

“From now until the start of 2019, we want people of all ages from all corners of Scotland, and those with Scottish connections around the world, to ask themselves and each other what can be learned from the Great War.

“Legion Scotland’s ‘Voice of Veterans’ is a special campaign to help preserve stories of Military life passed down through generations and create a lasting legacy for Scotland. I would encourage everyone who remembers hearing stories from those who experienced life during the Great War to contact Legion Scotland to be a part of this important project.

“Our journey of commemoration starts today in Glasgow with the Commonwealth-themed service at Glasgow Cathedral and Cenotaph as part of the UK Commemorations Programme, and it will continue on August 10 when we start the Scottish Commemorations Programme with a Drumhead Service, procession and memorial in Edinburgh.”

Kevin Gray MM, CEO of Legion Scotland said: ““Legion Scotland is very proud to support and be involved in the Glasgow Service that will commence four years of events around Scotland commemorating those who paid with their lives in WW1. We will join together and support local communities in taking the opportunity to get involved and show their respects to our fallen. And we would encourage any ex-servicemen or women to share their story with us as part of our Voices of Veterans campaign this year to help pay tribute to our Armed Forces and Veterans community and to share their truly unique stories with the remainder of society so that their experience’s will never be forgotten and that valuable lessons can be passed from generation to generation.”

Wales Office Minister Baroness Jenny Randerson will also pay her respects to the servicemen and women who served in the First World War as part of the nationwide centenary commemoration.

Baroness Randerson will attend the first of a series of national events to remember the start of the war 100 years ago when she attends the national service of commemoration for the Commonwealth at Glasgow Cathedral this morning, to reflect the particular contribution the Commonwealth nations made during the First World War.

She will then attend the national service and candlelight vigil at Llandaff Cathedral in the evening. The service, which is being held jointly by the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council, will also be attended by the First Minister and the Leader of Cardiff Council.

Baroness Randerson said: “We are privileged to have a long and proud military history in Wales. The centenary offers a unique opportunity for us as a nation to reflect, remember and give thanks to all those who served in the First World War with such remarkable courage – both in the military and on the home front.

“We want to deliver a truly national commemoration that not only pays tribute to the brave servicemen and women who fought in the war – but which also lays the foundation for the future to help our young people understand the war’s scale and significance and how it has helped shape our country today.

“I would urge people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to mark and remember the lives of those who lived, fought and died in the First World War.”

Marking the centenary, the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond said: “In services today in Liege, Glasgow and London, I – and my Ministerial colleagues – remember the men and women of World War 1. They worked and fought together, regardless of nationality, beliefs or upbringing in a war which reached the farthest corners of the globe. We owe a great deal to them. They showed immense courage and made great sacrifices. Today, we remember.”