Remembering Roberta

Tree planted at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to celebrate activism

It’s been a long time but community activities are, slowy but surely, starting up again at last.

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre opened it’s doors to forty guests yesterday who came together to celebrate the life of local activist Roberta Blaikie and to carry out one of Roberta’s last wishes: to have a tree planted in the grounds of the centre to celebrate community local activism.

Royston Wardieburn chair Mizan Rahman welcomed families, friends, colleagues and local activists to the community event and introduced the superb Nevis Ensemble, Scotland’s unique pop-up orchestra. The quartet played a thoughful selection of music which ended with a resounding rendition of that favourite anthem ‘Bella Ciao’

Guests then moved outside and heard a succession of tributes to Roberta. I was honoured to make the opening address (see below) and I was followed by fine contributions from Lydia Markham, Lynn McCabe, Jane Jones, Linda Garcia and Mary Mbae.

Following the speeches, poems and personal reflections, Roberta’s daughter Donna and her family went on to plant a young cherry blossom tree in front the Centre and guests were also invited to participate in the planting ceremony.

Yes, this was a celebration but it was a also a very poignant afternoon; the sense of loss remembering those who are no longer with us, and missing those others who could not be there on the day.

Roberta herself has been gone for five years now, and so much has changed. This crazy last eighteen months of pandemic, lockdown and restrictions has been particularly cruel – taking away loved ones, keeping friends and families apart and stealing precious time.

So it was day of mixed emotions: joy and melancholy all jumbled up together – but I was honoured to be part of it.

ROBERTA BLAIKIE – A TRIBUTE

Hi everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, my name’s Dave – for those of you who DO know me, my name’s still Dave!

Thanks for coming along today. I know there are many more people who can’t be with us on this special afternoon and my thoughts are with them too

I’ve been asked to say a few words about Roberta and her community activism and I’m very proud and honoured to do so.

I can’t say for certain the first time I met Roberta, but it was maybe during the campaign to Save A & E and maternity services at the Western General.

But if I can’t quite remember our first meeting, I can recall many, many more meetings over the years that followed. She was one of those people – usually women -who were always there when their community needed them: one of North Edinburgh’s magnificent, mighty band of Strong Women, some of whom I’m delighted to say are here with us today.

Roberta first got involved in community activism in the mid-1970s when she got up at a public meeting to complain about a lack of activities for young mothers in this local community centre. You’ll know that it takes quite a lot of courage to speak at a public meeting, but Roberta stood up, spoke up and spoke out … and that’s something she did and continued to do for the rest of her life.

Like everyone who gets involved in activism, Roberta was driven by a sense of social justice. She cared about people, she cared about her community and she was willing to work hard to change things for the better.

Yes, she could talk – Roberta loved to talk! – but that talk was backed up by action. She didn’t just talk about things, she DID things. And she got things done.

Roberta poured her energies into so many community campaigns: there health campaigns, housing tenants campaigns and she was at the heart of so many of the key agencies in North Edinburgh over the years – Pilton Elderly Project, Pilton Health Hut (now Pilton Community Health Project), Granton Information Centre and The Pilton Partnership to name just a few.

Throughout, Roberta was always a strong supporter of Royston Wardieburn Community Centre – community is the key word here – both as a member and an active Chairperson and she worked hard with others to ensure that the centre was at the heart of the community, offering activities for the whole community.

The centre was also the venue for the Womens International Group (WIG). Roberta was a founder member and an enthusiastic participant – and I feel privileged to have attended a number of WIG events here as the token bloke!

Whenever, wherever Roberta was involved, her enthusiasm was infectious. She didn’t seek praise or reward or pats on the back – and I do wonder how she would have responded to having a street named after her! – but her hard work, her dedication and her humour inspired others and encouraged them to get involved.

And that, I think, is the true reward for genuine, committed community activists – that others will be inspired to follow in your footsteps to campaign, to challenge, to fight to make their communities better places to live.

The planting of the cherry blossom tree symbolises this today.

Roberta was a key member of the Social History Group that produced the wonderful Never Give Up book and film and exhibition that detailed the history of community activism in North Edinburgh.

It was a real labour of love – the group met every week for two years to produce Never Give Up and it’s hard to believe that launch was over ten years ago – and it’s particularly sobering to note that so many of those involved are no longer with us. On a lighter note I know the project put years on Lynn McCabe – but it really was worth it in the end!

Roberta explained back then: “Local people have always had to fight for the services they have. It hasn’t always been the way it is now. People don’t realise that. We wanted to show people all the things that people like ourselves had achieved, all the battles we had won to give us the projects and the services we have today“

And that fight goes on to this day. Just this week the UK Government cut Universal Credit payments by £20 a week, plunging tens of thousands of families into poverty. There will always be fights – and we will always need people like Roberta to be leading the campaign.

Only exceptional people inspire others, but Roberta was one of that rare breed. Inspirational. She would never have said it herself, but Roberta was inspirational.

And if I can’t remember our first meeting, I can certainly remember one of our last – and of course it was here in this very community centre! I don’t think she always really enjoyed being centre stage, but Roberta was in her element that day, beaming with laughter, surrounded by friends and having a great time. I will never forget the love there was in that room that day – it was so powerful, you could almost touch it.

And that will be my lasting memory: The laughter, the warmth and the love for Roberta Blaikie, an inspirational woman.

And I know I speak for many when I say: Thanks for everything you did, Roberta; I am so glad to have known you.