Month: November 2015

Milestone reached as Penumbra wins health award

Penumbra Milestone wins innovation award

penumbra

An Edinburgh service for people with Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) has been recognised for its innovative approach at this year’s Scottish Health Awards, held in the capital this week. Continue reading Milestone reached as Penumbra wins health award

Police release images of Davidson’s Mains assault

Ye Olde Inn, Saturday 22 August: do you know this woman?

suspect2

 Police Scotland has released CCTV images of a woman they wish to trace as part of an investigation into a serious assault earlier this year. The incident happened at around 9pm on Saturday 22 August at the Ye Olde Inn, Davidson’s Mains. Continue reading Police release images of Davidson’s Mains assault

Lest We Forget

We will remember them

poppy-day

Captain Alfred ‘Bill’ Bland of the 22nd Battalion Manchester Regiment (7th Manchester Pals) wrote to his wife on 26 June 1916: 

It’s a marvellous war, with these thousands of miles of trench system. If only we can smash it all in, and get out in the open, the war might suddenly collapse this year. I am afraid this is too optimistic, though at the present time I am outwardly blatantly optimistic. The true English spirit of deliberate self-depression and self-deprecation has to be countered.

We are a most happy family, everybody doing his best to help everybody else, none of us expecting too much but all ready to do our part of the job, minimising the obstacles to the men, but considering them carefully enough in our thoughts and conversation.

By the time this reaches you, the sun out to be rising a fraction earlier upon us – a new vista, one hopes, fresh woods and pastures new, a slaughtered dragon, a monster laid low. Our Manchester lads are in good form today; burnt brown, eager and keen. I love ’em.

The Manchesters fought on the first day of the battle of the Somme on 1 July. Sgt R.H. Tawney saw Bland just before zero hour and wrote later: “My captain, a brave man and a good officer, came along and borrowed a spare watch from me. It was the last time I saw him.”

The 22nd Manchesters suffered almost 500 casualties that fateful day; eighteen officers and 472 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. The battalion ‘ceased to exist in any recognisable form’.

Captain Bland is buried in the Danzig Alley military cemetary, Mametz (below). His widow never remarried.

danzig alley

 

Growing confidence in housing market

Homes selling more quickly as confidence grows

sold (3)

The property market in east central Scotland is growing in confidence, with an increased number of homes being sold and more properties achieving their Home Report valuation, according to the latest analysis by ESPC.

The number of new homes brought to market between the months of August and October 2015 increased by 1.6% annually, reversing the trend of year-on-year decreases seen since the House Price Report in May.

This follows a surge at the start of the year, then a dip over the summer in the number of homes being brought to market following the introduction of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

‘Offers over’ is becoming the most popular as a way to market property, with 72% of properties brought to market with this pricing strategy, compared with 55% for the same period in 2014. Properties sold as ‘offers over’ are achieving an average of 6.2% over the asking price, up from 5.4% last year.

Maria Botha-Lopez, business analyst for ESPC, said: “This month’s House Price Report is continuing to demonstrate steady growth in the housing market in east central Scotland.

“As we have seen in previous reports, conditions are favourable for sellers with more homes being sold, which are taking less time to sell and are increasingly achieving their Home Report valuation.” 

Average prices across east central Scotland are also continuing to remain steady, with a 1.5% increase between August and October 2015 compared with the same period last year.  However, as with previous reports, there has been fluctuations in different areas of the region.

This time last year, the areas and property types that were showing the largest year-on-year increases in selling prices were three bedroom houses in Liberton and Gilmerton and properties in West Fife and Kinross. 

Now, three bedroom homes in South Queensferry and Dalmeny are showing a 3.3% growth, while the average selling price of three bedroom homes in Liberton and Gilmerton has increased 1%.

Two bedroom flats in Portobello and Joppa are once again among the areas and property types showing the largest year-on-year increases in selling prices, as are one bedroom flats in Dalry, Gorgie, Slateford and Chesser, which are becoming popular areas for first time buyers.

podcast discussing the report in detail:  

https://youtu.be/I0RTOXlywXg

Key points 

  • There has been a healthy 15.2% increase in the number of homes sold in east central Scotland between August and October 2015, compared with the same period last year
  • Average selling prices have increased by 1.5%, compared with the same three month period last year.
  • 58.9% of sales are now achieving their Home Report valuation.
  • Sellers are achieving an average of 0.4% over their Home Report valuation.
  • It’s taking less time to sell a property, with the median selling time now 33 days, seven days less than this time last year.

On the moo-ve!

Edinburgh vet nursing students moving to top new facilities at Scotland’s Rural College

vets

Edinburgh College’s Veterinary Nursing courses are transferring to new custom-built facilities at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), giving students an improved learning experience to get the best possible start to their careers. Students and staff will get access to excellent new facilities and resources, including working more with live animals to boost their skills and knowledge.

From August 2016, SRUC will run the two full-time courses at its Oatridge Campus in West Lothian, in a building newly converted into a specialist veterinary nursing facility.

At SRUC Oatridge, the students will get to work regularly with live animals. Currently, students only get to work with animals when they go on placements outside the college, and use simulations of animals on the campus.

SRUC will take on up to 170 students on the two-and-a-half year Level 3 Diploma Veterinary Nursing and the one-year Level 2 Diploma Veterinary Care Assistant. Veterinary Nursing students transferring partway through their course will continue their studies as normal.

It is proposed that all nine Edinburgh College staff members on the programmes – including lecturers and support staff – will transfer to SRUC Oatridge.

Arrangements are being made to make the transition for staff and students as smooth as possible, including transport laid on for students and compensation for staff travel costs.

To ensure staff, students and partners are closely involved in the process and the new facilities meet their needs, Edinburgh College is carrying out a consultation with them.
 campus

Edinburgh College’s vice principal for curriculum and quality, Ray McCowan, said: “Our veterinary courses at Edinburgh College are really successful, with excellent completion and employment rates, and they’re oversubscribed. But with our partners at SRUC we identified an opportunity to give students an even better learning experience than they receive at the moment.

“Working with live animals more regularly in great facilities at the college itself will give them greater insight and practical skills, which will make sure the veterinary industry is supported to deliver what it needs to our communities.

“We appreciate that this is a change but we’re doing everything we can to make it as seamless as possible, and we believe the significant improvement in training makes the switch a really positive move.”

SRUC acting chief executive Janet Swadling said: “Bringing together the veterinary nursing provision from Edinburgh College and SRUC is a key part of the Scottish Strategy for Land-based Education, which aims to encourage greater engagement with industry to ensure employment needs are met. The enhanced provision run by SRUC as Scotland’s specialist land-based higher and further education provider, will help meet that need.

“SRUC is delighted to be working with our partner Edinburgh College, in the transfer of students and staff, and we look forward to welcoming them for the next academic year.”