Heavenly music rang out of Strachan House Care Home as the community celebrated Christmas with The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland.
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Strachan House Care Home, in Blackhall, got in the Christmas spirit by inviting the community to come and join us in listening to the wonderful band playing some festive Christmas favourites.
General Manager, Francis Fisher said: “We are so lucky to have such a fantastic community here at Strachan House Care Home.
“We were delighted to welcome the Royal Marine Band to our home. The residents and staff loved it.”
A resident at Strachan House said, “I love to sing Christmas carols, so it was wonderful to hear all of my favourites played so beautifully by the Royal Marine Band, there really is nothing better than a good old singalong!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House Care Home on Craigcrook Road is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential and dementia care, for long-term and respite.
The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge has visited Barchester’s Strachan House Care Home in Edinburgh to launch ‘The Big Lunch’ for Children and Carers during the Mid-term break.
Robert joined staff and residents of the home for the week-long ‘Big Lunch’. Strachan House has invited all local schools and nurseries to join residents all this week for a FREE lunch.
Freshly made sandwiches, quiches and fruit with refreshments. Lord Provost said ‘what a wonderful initiative for the local community’.
General Manager at Strachan House, Fran Fisher, said: “It was lovely to have Robert here for the day. The residents were delighted that he was able to visit us and join in on the day.
“We all had a wonderful day, we hope that Robert will come to see us again soon!”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for residents, from respite care to long-term stays.
Strachan House and Queens Manor in Edinburgh will be opening their doors to the local community for an day of coffee and cakes on Saturday 9th November.
Taking place between 10.00 am – 4.00 pm guests will be able to enjoy home-made cakes prepared by the home’s Head Chef, and will have the chance to meet the team and take a tour of the home.
Frances Fisher, General Manager at Strachan House, says: “I’m excited about welcoming new visitors and existing friends of the home to our open day.
“Looking for care can be a little bit daunting, but our team here at Strachan House will do all we can to provide all of our guests with the guidance and support they may need, and answer all of their questions, big or small.
“Our open day is a great chance to enjoy some delightful entertainment in a homely and friendly setting- hope to see you all there!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides nursing care and dementia care from respite care to long term stays.
TWO-way temporary traffic lights at the top of Groathill Avenue from 7am on Tuesday 24 September for ongoing power cable renewal works – expected until 11 October.
Closures on Groathill Avenue and Groathill Road South remain in place for a few more weeks.
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are calling on the City of Edinburgh Council to clarify how the funds allocated for improving the junction of Telford Road, Hillhouse Road, and Strachan Road will enhance pedestrian safety.
Labelled ‘Deathtrap Junction,’ this is one of the busiest junctions in the capital, yet its pedestrian crossing facilities are woefully inadequate. The complex layout, coupled with fast-moving traffic, makes it dangerous and inaccessible for all pedestrians and nearly impossible to navigate for most blind and partially sighted individuals.
The pedestrian crossings lack audible signals and revolving cones, with many in need of basic repairs. The limited protective barriers at the junction increase the vulnerability of all pedestrians, while Strachan Road is particularly hazardous, as it has no pedestrian crossing facilities at all despite the constant flow of fast-moving traffic.
The charities, along with local Inverleith Ward Councillors, are concerned that the limited budget allocated for improvements will do nothing to enhance pedestrian safety.
Caroline Hedley, a Rehabilitation and Mobility Worker with Sight Scotland, expressed her concerns: “While we appreciate the Council’s acknowledgment that the junction needs upgrading, I am left very disappointed by the limited funding being allocated.
“I struggle to see how this will significantly improve safety for pedestrians, especially those with vision impairments. We’re talking about people’s lives here. This is a densely populated area where residents need to cross these roads to reach the only local doctor’s and then again to get to the chemist for prescriptions.
“With schools and a mosque nearby, it’s clear that upgrading this junction is essential, even if it’s costly and causes traffic congestion.
“People’s safety should never be compromised, and I worry that the Council is prioritising traffic flow over pedestrian safety. I have clients living close to this junction and I need to explain to them that it’s just not safe for them to cross on their own, which is unacceptable.”
Local Inverleith Cllr Hal Osler (Lib Dem) expressed appreciation to Sight Scotland for bringing attention to the well-documented issues at the Farmers junction: “The Council must do better and prioritise projects like this, as providing safe, accessible crossings for the most vulnerable benefits everyone in our society.
“The funding allocated for this upgrade is far too low, and more must be done. While the Council claims to prioritise pedestrians over traffic, their actions don’t reflect this commitment.
“Ensuring that everyone can safely navigate this junction shouldn’t be up for debate—it’s a necessity. It’s great the Sight Scotland campaign has made the Council start listening, but it’s not enough, and once again, the most vulnerable are being overlooked.”
Fellow local councillor Cllr Max Mitchell (Conservative) adds: “I have been proud to support Sight Scotland’s campaign, and while the inclusion of this junction among the prioritised projects is a step in the right direction, it’s also a clear acknowledgment of the significant safety issues here.
“Although I welcome the funding allocated to address some aspects of Strachan Road, I am deeply concerned that the £40-50k budget will barely make a difference given the numerous dangers across the entire junction.
“People with vision impairments cannot cross this junction safely, and by failing to address these issues adequately, we are once again excluding them from our community. Safety must be our top priority, and it cannot be compromised.”
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, adds: “We recognise that a full upgrade of the junction will require more funding in the long term, but immediate interim measures—such as installing tactile paving, cones, audible signals, and light boxes, particularly at Strachan Road—are essential and must be implemented as soon as possible.
“There are blind and partially sighted people in the local area who we support who are currently not able to get about independently because of this junction. It is simply too dangerous to cross. Without basic upgrades, we’re risking people being left housebound.”
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are urging people to join their campaign to push the City of Edinburgh Council to upgrade the crossing at Strachan Road, Hillhouse Road, and Telford Road.
You can support this campaign by writing to your local Councillor and calling for urgent action to fix this dangerous junction.
Strachan House care home, in Blackhall, has celebrated the launch of Carers Week in style. Carers week celebrates carers both paid and unpaid for the amazing work that they do and raises awareness of the benefits and challenges of carers nationally.
Staff began their week with a celebratory breakfast provided to all carers with something delicious to start the day. Day shift and night shift came together to celebrate each other.
Staff were then treated to a range of Holistic therapies provided by the wonderful Lisa from Positive flow therapies. Staff and residents alike were given head massages, hand massages and reflexology where they felt this would be beneficial.
Strachan House has built up a great relationship with Lisa following her support assisting the loved ones of residents during difficult times and can’t wait to utilise her services throughout the home.
General Manager, Fran Fisher said: “It is important to recognise the hard work of our staff here at Strachan House.
“The staff here work tirelessly to ensure all the residents are cared for to the highest possible standard, they take everything in their stride and deserve the very best rewards from us”.
Lisa from Positive Flow therapies provides a range of holistic therapy and believes that massage is not a luxury but Self-care.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides nursing and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA) performer Charlie Waller is about to follow in the footsteps of his elder sister after being offered a place at one of the world’s leading ballet training institutions, The Royal Ballet School in London.
The P6 pupil from Blackhall celebrates his 11th birthday later this month. From September, he will enter Year 7 at the Royal Ballet’s Lower School at White Lodge, in London’s Richmond Park.
With around 1400 people applying to join The Royal Ballet School every year, Charlie has secured one of only 10-12 places available to new Year 7 boys. He will become the only Scottish male currently at the School joining his 12-year-old sister Emily, who was invited to attend last year. The pair will also become the only Scottish siblings amongst the international student ranks.
Admission to The Royal Ballet School, which attracts the highest calibre young dancers from across the globe, is based purely on talent and potential. Its alumni include Margot Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, Antoinette Sibley, Wayne Sleep, and Darcey Bussell. Along with a daily routine of classical ballet training, the Lower School also provides a strong focus on academic qualifications with its students studying core GCSE subjects.
A pupil of the highly-regarded EDA since the age of three, Charlie currently attends 14 classes with the Edinburgh-based school every week participating in ballet and other styles of dance. He is also a Junior Associate with Scottish Ballet and was recently cast as Young Cinders in its production of Cinders.
Commenting on his forthcoming move to London to take up his place at The Royal Ballet School, Charlie said: “I’m so excited to be going to such a great school with so many other boys and girls who love dancing.
“I’ll miss my mum and dad and especially my little brother, Arty (3), but I’m looking forward to being at school with Emily, doing ballet in a class full of boys every day and hopefully getting to perform with The Royal Ballet company at some point.”
Charlie’s mum, Morag, said: “We’re so pleased that Charlie has been given this opportunity to follow his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
“Since he was a toddler, he has always loved dance and EDA has been crucial in helping him progress to this current level. Joining The Royal Ballet School will now enable Charlie to further develop and maximise his talent.
“While it will feel very strange not having him here under our roof and we will, of course, miss him terribly, we know how much this means to him. We’re also reassured that he and Emily will be together in London.”
Julie Mitchell, Principal and Founder at EDA, said: “Charlie is a lovely boy who has been with EDA for most of his young life.
“He’s got incredible drive and real talent as a dancer so we couldn’t be more pleased about him securing a place at The Royal Ballet School.
“We are very proud of his progress to date and we look forward to seeing him further develop his dance skills through this new and exciting chapter.”
Residents and guests at Strachan House care home in Blackhallenjoyed a morning of quizzing and a classic English High tea as they hosted a virtual quiz with Goodson Lodge care centre in Trowbridge.
Residents in the Goodson Lodge Care centre were treated to irn bru, whisky and shortbread as both teams battled it out to see who would be crowned quiz master champion.
Teams from both the English and Scottish homes provided quiz questions about their country whilst the other side aimed to guess the answers with mouthfuls of their countries’ finest fare.
General Manager, Fran Fishersaid, “Our residents had a wonderful morning and were really excited to meet new people and learn lots of amazing new things.
“It’s always great to connect with others in the care industry and we hope we can continue for many years to come”.
The quiz held on Earth Day was a true celebration of community and coming together. The Scottish team took the win this year but, with this now being an annual event, we will see if the English team can make it a draw next year!
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides Nursing and Dementia carefor 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Road Policing officers are appealing for information after a pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash on South Groathill Avenue at Queensferry Road South.
The incident, which happened around 7.10am on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, involved a red and white DAF truck and a pedestrian.
Emergency services attended and a 58-year-old woman, the pedestrian, was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Her condition has been described as critical but stable.
The road was closed for around two hours to allow for investigations to take place.
Sergeant Louise Birrell said: “Our enquiries into this collision are ongoing and we would like to ask anyone that was in the area at the time who has not already spoken to us to please get in touch.
“We would also be keen to see any dashcam or private CCTV footage from the area around the time of the crash. In particular, there was a blue BMW X2 which was stationary at the time and may have information which could assist.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0487 of 17 April.
South Groathill Avenue has re-opened following a report of a crash involving a lorry and a female pedestrian made around 7.10am this morning (Wednesday, 17 April).
Emergency services attended and a 58-year-old woman was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to serious injuries.
Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information or dash cam footage is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 0487 of 17 April, 2024.
