Detectives in Edinburgh are appealing for information and witnesses following a fire near to a property and a vehicle in Leith.
The incident took place on Jane Street, at around 10.35pm on Sunday, 11 June, 2023.
Officers assisted their partners at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at the scene. Whilst significant damage was caused, no injuries have been reported.
Enquiries to establish the cause of the fire are ongoing.
Detective Sergeant Christina Yeoman, from Gayfield CID, said: “We can be thankful that no one was hurt as a result of this fire.
“As our investigation continues, we are keen to hear from anyone who may have information, or potential CCTV or dashcam footage from the area.
“If you believe you can assist our enquiries, please call police on 101, quoting incident 4183 of 11 June, 2023.”
Aspiring home hunters looking to make one of Edinburgh’s most exciting destinations their home, will be pleased to know about the latest incentive launching at The Engine Yard.
Set within the heart of vibrant Leith where the city’s new tram line launched on Wednesday 7th June, this stunning selection of homes form part of a superb regeneration story and offer the perfect city pad with an outstanding range of amenities and transport links on their doorstep.
Buyers who reserve one of the stylish new apartments before the 30th June 2023, will receive £10,000 cashback, plus an Edinburgh Ridacard for five years free tram and bus travel.*
Elegantly combining old and new in one place, The Engine Yard is set amongst a network of pedestrian pathways and gardens; boasting rich industrial architecture, with tram sheds, a chimney, a boundary wall and gables, all sensitively restored to create a unique development of 377 apartments, duplexes and penthouses, breathing new life into a once neglected area of the city.
The Engine Yard offers buyers an exceptional selection of apartments situated less than a 10-minute walk from St James Centre, and well connected to some of Edinburgh’s popular local highlights and unrivalled transport links.
Enjoying a highly desirable location, the homes at The Engine Yard are ideal for those wanting to reap the rewards of a city lifestyle. All apartments feature thoughtful streamlined layouts, with selected homes benefitting from a private garden or balcony, anchored around landscaped communal gardens with access to secure underground parking.
The contemporary apartments feature a high-quality specification, open plan living and communal bike storage. Ample storage space ensures the home is kept clutter free and a combined heat and power system and efficient utilities aim help keep residents energy bills low.
Additional, selected properties enjoy far reaching cityscape views across Edinburgh’s historic skyline.
Leith’s food and drink scene is a stone’s throw from The Engine Yard; from Michelin-starred restaurants, award-winning street food markets, lively riverside bars, cosy pubs and vegan delicatessens – residents will not be short of places to eat, drink and relax.
Michelin-starred The Kitchin offers a fine dining experience of the highest quality, The Pitt is an independent street food market that serves up an award-winning selection of tasty cuisine.
The popular pubs, Bonnington Leith or The Bullfinch are a great option for after-work drinks, while Teuchters Landing offers a beer garden on Leith’s shoreside, great for a sunny weekend. A string of excellent cafés is also nearby, with a selection of artisan bakeries and vegan coffee shops providing a variety of tasty sweet treats.
Nearby, Green Flag Awarded King George V Park offers a tranquil green space to enjoy some downtime and the Links and the Shore is a lively community with plenty to choose from.
Speaking about the local area, first time buyer Chris purchased a one-bedroom apartment at The Engine Yard after relocating from London says: “It has everything I could ever need on my doorstep.
“Pilrig Park, bars, pubs and restaurants; walkable department stores; Asian, Polish and Turkish supermarkets; good transport links and – for such a busy part of town – a real community feel.”
Allison Sutherland, Regional Sales and Marketing Director – Scotland, Places for People comments: “The Engine Yard is a truly unique development, offering an exceptional choice of homes and amenities all within one place.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this exclusive incentive in celebration of Leith’s new tram line opening. The development has been extremely popular, not just amongst first time buyers but also home movers wanting to live in a location that offers everything on the doorstep.
“We expect there to be high demand for the new homes and encourage prospective purchasers to book a viewing as soon as possible.”
Prices at The Engine Yard start from £267,500 for a one-bedroom apartment.
For more information or to book a viewing please call 07919 381278 or visit:
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 59-year-old man in the Primrose Street area.
Officers were called to a report of a man injured within a flat around 2.30pm on Tuesday, 6 June, 2023.
Emergency services attended and local man Garry O’Neill was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 54-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death and due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Thursday, 8 June.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr O’Neill at what is a very difficult time for them and they are being provided with support by specialist officers.
“I would like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the wider public. Thank you to those who assisted with our enquiries.”
Mr O’Neill’s family have provided a photograph (above) and the following statement:
“He was a much loved dad and we ask for privacy at this difficult time.”
Creation of new digital platform to provide a space to share this important part of Scottish social history
Over the next two years, the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the South Georgia Museum, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will be working alongside a number of former whaling communities in Scotland to create The Whalers’ Memory Bank.
The Memory Bank will create a living, growing digital time capsule where veterans of the whaling industry, their families and communities can come together to contribute and share their stories with a wider audience.
The story of modern whaling in the Southern Hemisphere is a controversial one with British companies playing a key role in the industry. These companies had a largely Scottish workforce and attracted many working-class men with the promise of adventure and competitive wages.
Now, only a dwindling number of men survive that have first-hand memories of this industry, an integral part of Scottish social history. They are the last generation to be able to share their stories, knowledge and personal collections before they are lost forever.
Kicking off in July 2023, the project will run for two years and throughout this time the project team will work alongside former whaling communities to capture memories that will help create The Whalers’ Memory Bank.
At the heart of this will be a series of community events to gather stories and help shape the Memory Bank that those communities want to see and will value. It will also make the connection between why whaling happened, where it happened (a great deal of it on South Georgia), and where most of the whalers came from in Scotland.
Jayne Pierce, Project Director and Curator at the South Georgia Museumsaid: “Our aim is to create a digital portal that captures memories with photographs, oral histories, film and sounds, alongside a Virtual Reality tour of the whaling station on South Georgia. This work will be done using the existing collections held by the South Georgia Museum and will also link into several Scottish museums that are partners in this project.
“It is really going to be a joint effort, bringing together the former whalers and their communities to hear their stories and let them help shape the Memory Bank they really want to see. We know from the contact we already have with the former whaling communities that families are eager to share their personal collections – artefacts and photographs stored in attics, cupboards and drawers – each with a story to tell.
“We really hope the project will connect communities across local, national and international boundaries and dispel some of the myths around whaling. It will create a richer experience than a simple online database – dynamic rather than static – uplifting and celebratory.”
Gibbie Fraser, Chair of the Shetland ex-Whalers Association(SeA) hasstruggled to access archive material which can be restricted by charges and copyright. On the launch of the Whalers’ Memory Bank, he said: “The idea that the South Georgia Museum has about a shared archive to preserve what we can together is exactly what we were trying to do and welcome it with open arms!”
Caroline Clark, Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: “Thanks to the support of National Lottery players , we are pleased to be able to give funding to former whaling communities to capture their stories and explore this important untold story.
“We look forward to seeing the project develop as communities come together to share their memories and personal collections with each other and the wider world.”
The project is also a great opportunity to work with a small network of partner museums including the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, and Dundee Heritage Trust’s Verdant Works, all of which hold hidden whaling archives and collections that are enlightening, inspiring, and engaging.
As well as supporting with access to collections and stories, some of these organisations will also be involved in the community events the project will be developing for Spring 2024. The Shetland Maritime Heritage Society, Salvesen Ex-Whalers Club and the Shetland ex-Whalers Association will also be collaborating on the project.
Anyone interested in finding out more or getting involved with the project should email memorybank@sght.org
Police are appealing for information following the death of a 30-year-old man in Edinburgh last night.
Around 7.45pm on Friday, 2 June, 2023, officers were called to a report of a disturbance on Leith Street near to the junction with Greenside Row.
Emergency services attended and the victim was taken by ambulance to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died a short time later.
His death is being treated as unexplained and a post mortem examination will take place in due course.
His relatives are aware and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
Extensive enquiries carried out have revealed a number of people were involved in the disturbance and a 41-year-old man was also taken to hospital for treatment.
A 46-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a minor assault.
Detective Chief Inspector John Morrison said: “Our thoughts are very much with the man’s family and friends at this very difficult time.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and officers will be in the area working on this investigation.
“The area would have been busy at the time of the incident and we are encouraging anyone who may have seen or heard a disturbance to get in touch.
“I am also keen to speak to anyone with any CCTV, dashcam or any other footage that they think would assist the enquiry.
“We will have a continued police presence in the area and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident number 4094 of 2 June, 2023.
Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given completely anonymously.
UPDATE: POLICE SET UP ONLINE PORTAL
Officers investigating the death of a 30-year-old man in Edinburgh have set up an online portal for members of the public to submit information.
Extensive enquiries are continuing and we have set up a link to our Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) that allows members of the public to send information directly to officers.
Citadel’s Arts Group’s 12th foray into Leith Festival is an exploration of the atmospheric North Leith Burial Ground. Their playwrights workshop wondered what lies beneath Coburg Street and found a number of big characters interred in this small cemetery.
Seven members of Citadel’s group of older writers each chose to research the story behind one of the graves.
There are people whose achievements and eccentricities will be dramatized in a play, The Ghosts of North Leith. Using music, humour and poetry, the drama will raise awareness of this fascinating area of Leith history.
In the Coburg Street Burial Ground lies Lady Anne Mackintosh nicknamed the ‘Colonel’. Playwright Rhona McAdam explains she was drawn to her ‘as she seemed a strong, independent woman, taking part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.
“Her husband, Sir Angus, chief of Clan Mackintosh, was a Captain in the government troops. Since he was unable, or unwilling, to raise the clan to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie, Lady Anne did it instead.
“When the Jacobites won the Battle of Prestonpans, Sir Angus surrendered to his wife. After the Battle of Culloden, when the Jacobites were defeated, Lady Anne surrendered to her husband.’
Jim Brown took on the poet, Robert NicolI, heralded as the next Robert Burns. Jim said: ‘I became fascinated by Robert Nicoll because he was a poet, writer and radical newspaper man born in 1814, who packed so much into his short life. He died aged 23.’
No stone marks the burial place of 12-year-old Matilda Molesworth, but burial records indicate the spot. She features in the real-life story of the Trinity poltergeist. One of the collection of unexplained happenings in Catherine Crowe’s 1848 book “The Night Side of Nature“, it has popped up in anthologies of uncanny happenings ever since.
Another member of Citadel’s playwrights’ workshop, novelist Hilary Spiers explains: ” I’ve long been interested in the history of slavery in Scotland.
“While John Gladstones (buried in North Leith graveyard) and his grandson William Gladstone are better known, I felt John’s wife Nellie (who was known to be a very capable woman) might well have held views at odds with the men in her family. Women were a strong if largely unsung force in the abolitionist movement’.
Elaine Campbell came across the North Leith gravestone of three children and told us: ‘I was intrigued. Who were these three bairns so lovingly remembered?
“In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when the Millar children lived and died, infant mortality was ferociously high. Sadly all attempts to locate the children in church records proved fruitless.
“There were Millars living in Leith at the time. I have assumed Peter, John and Archibald were part of this extended, prosperous family of merchants. Although the “Three Cherubs” is my fictional account, I drew on historical material to describe their short lives and untimely deaths.
“By telling their story I hope to have given voice to the countless children who lie long forgotten in North Leith Graveyard’.
Was it chance or Divine intervention that led writers Carolyn and Brian Lincoln to the gravestone of the Rev. Dr. David Johnston? Previous attempts at finding the grave of this pillar of the North Leith community had proved fruitless.
The Lincolns were paying one last visit to the Coburg Street churchyard, when they noticed the letters D.D. poking through the moss. D.D. Doctor of Divinity. They scraped away some moss and there was the name. David Johnston (1735-1824) served the parish for nearly 60 years, a strong leader when Leith was seriously threatened by the ships of John Paul Jones, who supported the breakaway American colonies.
The play, which includes all these stories, and more, will be given a trial performed reading in North Leith Parish Church on 15 June. Citadel Arts Group seeks feedback from this first audience at Leith Festival with a view to staging a full performance of the play later in the year in the same venue.
North Leith Parish Church in Madeira Street welcomes Citadel Arts Group’s interest in the burial ground, and the church building which was to have been the keystone of Leith’s ‘New Town’.
Tim Bell told us: ‘I welcome the play as a chance for local and Edinburgh people to see this beautiful Georgian Church before it is released from the Church of Scotland estate in 2024’.
Venue: North Leith Parish Church, 51 Madeira Street EH6 4AU
Associated event: Hilary Spiers will lead a free guided tour of North Leith Burial Ground in Coburg Street on Monday June 12th at 2pm. Places are limited. Book from Liz Hare
Writers: Carolyn and Brian Lincoln, Jim Brown, John Lamb, Hilary Spiers, Elaine Campbell and Rhona McAdam.
Cast: Mark Kydd, Deborah Whyte, Chelsea Grace, Gregor Davidson, Dale McQueen.
Director: Liz Hare
Sound: Stewart Emm
Citadel Arts Group (SC 034687) is a Leith-based theatre company which specialises in creating new plays based on local stories, memories, and history.
Ocean Terminal has agreed a long-term lease with Club 3000 Bingo, the UK’s largest independent bingo operator, which will see a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art club open at the centre next year.
Once the new club is built, Club 3000 Bingo will move from its current Edinburgh venue in Manderston Street to the new 27,500 sq ft unit on the ground floor of the Leith waterfront shopping centre.
The family-run business is investing an estimated £5m in the new club to create a modern and luxurious environment that will complement Ocean Terminal’s existing mix of retail, leisure and hospitality outlets.
Following the extension of the Edinburgh Tram network to Newhaven, and at the heart of Leith’s regeneration, Club 3000 Bingo forms a part of Ocean Terminal’s major redevelopment as a ‘town centre’ for the local community.
The £250m masterplan will see the centre reconfigured, alongside new homes and public realm to maximise its unique waterfront location and fulfil local aspirations for 20-minute neighbourhoods.
Brian Fraser, Founder of Fraser Capital Management Ltd/Club 3000 Bingo, which operate 23 bingo clubs across the UK said: “We are really excited to be involved in this new project and look forward to opening our new club next year to add to our growing portfolio.
“It promises to be one of the best clubs ever developed in the UK.”
Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Ambassador Investments Ltd, the Scottish owner of Ocean Terminal, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Club 3000 Bingo to Ocean Terminal.
“Its modern approach to creating an environment for a great night out fits seamlessly with our wider leisure offering and we look forward to the club opening its doors next year. We have ambitious plans for the centre and Club 3000’s long-term commitment to Ocean Terminal is a tremendous seal of approval for what lies ahead.”
Donald Syme who acted for the landlord added: “Leith is undergoing a huge regeneration, with more housing, transport links and businesses opening up. In its new location at Ocean Terminal, Club 3000 Bingo will enjoy a growing and thriving community.
“We’re looking forward to working with Brian and his team to make this one of the best bingo clubs in Scotland.”
A murder inquiry has been launched following the death of a 33-year-old woman in Constitution Street, Leith..
Around 7.55pm on Thursday, 18 May, 2023, officers were called to a report of a disturbance.
The woman was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment where she died a short time later.
A post mortem examination is being carried out to establish the exact cause of death, however, police are currently treating the death as suspicious and a murder inquiry has been launched.
Her next of kin have been made aware.
A 16-year-old male youth has been arrested and charged in connection with the death.
Detective Inspector Bob Williamson of the Major Investigation Team (East) said: “I want to reassure the community that we are treating this as an isolated incident.
“You will see a significant police presence in the area whilst we carry out investigations. Officers will be carrying out door-to-door enquiries and gathering CCTV footage which could provide the inquiry team with additional information.
“Through our investigation so far, we are aware that a number of members of the public were in the area at the time, some of whom witnessed the incident and others who came to her aid and we are asking them to come forward.
“I would asked anyone who was in the area of Constitution Street between 7.45pm and 8pm to get in touch.”
Detectives have set up an online portal to encourage members of the public to submit information, including any recorded footage.
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form so they can send information directly to the major investigation team and can be accessed here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT23S22-PO1
Police can also be contacted by calling 101 and quoting incident number 3555 of Thursday, 18 May, 2023. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Brian Eddington died last month at the age of 74 years. A North Edinburgh man through and through, he was born in Leith but spent most of his childhood and early years in West Pilton after his family were rehoused there (writes LYNN McCABE).
Brian lived in Drylaw for a number of years and then moved down to Muirhouse where he lived for more than 2 decades. He returned to Leith a few years ago when he was unable to return to his flat in Muirhouse after having part of his leg amputated.
Brian loved his community and was involved in many different groups, classes and local initiatives over the years. He was a creative person and found a second home in Muirhouse Festival Association (MFAC) where he developed a passion for community arts.
He was a member of the local drama group and was actively involved in the annual panto and gala. Brian was also involved in the Greater Pilton Print Resource (GPPR) (later Greater Pilton Design Resource/Source) and North Edinburgh News (the NEN), which provided so much rich source material for the Never Give Up project which Brian helped to produce along with fellow activists.
Brian had a passion for photography and history and he was able to bring together his local knowledge and his skills to document the ongoing changes and developments in Muirhouse which he witnessed first hand as a local resident. His photographs tell their own story about the process of regeneration and the impact this has had on his community.
In 2009, Brian joined North Edinburgh Social History Group along with Roberta Blaikie, Anna Hutchison, Brian Robertson and Ian Moore with a mission to record the history of activism in North Edinburgh.
Brian was a great person to have on board and relished trawling through 40 years worth of back copies of the Commune and the NEN and long forgotten photos, leaflets and posters which had been stored in dusty store cupboards and filing cabinets in local projects waiting for someone to find a use for them.
During the project, Brian was sufficiently movitated to get over his aversion to computers and managed to pick up some IT skills along the way which enabled him to access photographs of the area which had been digitalised by the Scotsman.
The project was a long hard slog and took 2 years to complete but the Never Give Up publication, exhibition and film gave Brian, the group and the wider community a great deal of pride in seeing their community accurately represented for a change.
It is an important piece of work documenting the rich history of North Edinburgh and the important role played by local people in their fight for social justice – a fight which continues until this day.
Following the launch of the Never Give Up project, Brian was involved in helping to establish a new adult education class called Power to the People : an introduction to the history of Protest in Scotland.
The class ran for a number of years and brought together new activists alongside people who had been involved in local and national politics. Inevitably perhaps, the focus of the class moved from studying politics and protest to actually doing it!
The Power to the People group were involved in many local issues over the years including cuts to local services and the campaign to stop the eviction of local families from their homes.
Brian’s love of history and politics continued until the end with his daily blog on facebook about important Scottish figures and events.
I’ll finish with a wee quote from Brian from the Never Give Up publication where he is talking about his time in Muirhouse drama group:
“We used to do street theatre about different issues. We did a thing about the poll tax where someone got arrested for not paying their poll tax. They got sent to a privatised jail.
“We basically done it any place where we could find people standing about. Folk thought it was hilarious. We handed out leaflets about the poll tax at the same time – that was the serious part of it. It was a good way to get across a serious message”.
Brian’s funeral service takes place this morning at 11.30 at Warriston Crematorium’s small chapel.
In-person event: Thursday 15th June, 6pm-7.30pm, Duncan Place Community Hub
Online event: Tuesday 20th June, 6pm-7.30pm – this will be on Microsoft Teams (link sent to attendees)
Booking is essential: email 
