Category: Leith

Can you help us shape one of the biggest untold stories in Scottish social history?

General public and former whalers and their families sought to help co-design new online Whalers’ Memory Bank

In June 2023 the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the South Georgia Museum launched a project called The Whalers’ Memory Bank.

Supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project is about creating 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. 

Since then, the South Georgia Museum has been busy collecting hundreds of stories, photographs and memorabilia from the former whaling communities – the response has been amazing. 

But we want to make sure we tell these stories in a way that captures everyone’s imagination. Presenting stories in a way the former whaling communities want to see, but also in a way that appeals to a wider audience so they can understand this important slice of Scottish social history.

That is why we are putting out a call for anyone who wants to join us either for a short workshop or just drop in and find out more and give us your thoughts.

Over the weekend of 22 and 23 June there are a number of opportunities to join in and help us through a range of workshops and drop-in sessions that are taking place.

Saturday 22 June – we will be at The Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine. We will be running a workshop from 10.30am until 12.00 which we are encouraging people to book onto. We will also be running a drop-in session for general visitors to the museum from 2-4pm. 

Sunday 23 June – we will be at The Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. We will be running a workshop from 11.00am until 12.30 which we are encouraging people to book onto. We will also be running a drop-in session for general visitors to the museum from 1.30-3.30pm. 

Each workshop will last about an hour and a half and we would welcome any former whalers and their families to come along, bring any memories or stories you want to share but, most importantly, be happy to help us shape our early thoughts and ideas on the Memory Bank.

But you don’t need to have had any association with whaling to join in. We are really looking forward to getting input and feedback from the general public so you can also either book onto one of the workshops or come and join us anytime during the drop-in sessions over the weekend should you be at either of the museums.

To book onto a workshop on either Saturday 22 or Sunday 23 May email memorybank@sght.org or just drop in if you want to join us for a more casual chat at the drop-in sessions.

Please note there is an entrance fee for both museums. Workshop attendance is free, but if you wish to visit the rest of the museum once it is ended there will be a reduced entrance fee of £4 for the Scottish Maritime Museum and £5 for the Scottish Fisheries Museum.  

Helen Balfour, Community Engagement Officer for the Memory Bank said: “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, with many from Shetland. Now, only a dwindling number of men survive that have first-hand memories of this industry, an integral part of Scottish and Shetland’s social history. 

“As someone from a family with many connections to whaling, I am conscious that this is story well known to some but not one that is more widely understood or discussed. We don’t only want to delve into the stories of whalers, we want to explore questions such as: why was whaling so important? how did it help power the world between the wars, and what was it like to live, and work from the remote island of South Georgia in the Southern Ocean?

“We have already done some workshops in Shetland in May where we really learnt a lot from whalers, their families and the community. We want to continue that work and hope to see as many people as possible over the weekend of 22 and 23 June to help us shape and tell this hidden piece of Scotland’s social history.”

Linda Fitzpatrick, Head Curator at the Scottish Fisheries Museum who is also helping with the wider collections management of the project said: “This unique project has many features that resonate with the work we do at the Scottish Fisheries Museum to engage audiences with topics relating to the heritage and development of fishing technologies, including whaling. 

“There is no doubt that reflecting on whaling is problematic: it was brutal and exploitative, and few would welcome its return.  Nevertheless, the industry was an important feature of Scotland’s industrial development and generated a distinct and vibrant culture.  

“This is an important moment, therefore, to reach out to ex-whalers and their communities to capture the living memories of those who took part in the industry and to preserve them for the future.  

“We warmly invite anyone with an interest in the subject to come along over the weekend to either museum over the weekend of the 22 and 23 June.”

Friends of Pilrig Park: Summer’s Here!

We love to see folk out enjoying the lovely weather, but please remember not to BBQ directly on the grass, and to dispose of any BBQs and other waste responsibly.

There are BBQ bins and general waste bins at the park exits. Please use them! If they’re full, then don’t just dump it – take your rubbish home or use the next available public bin. Thanks!!

Greggs to relocate in Ocean Terminal

The owners of Ocean Terminal (OT) have confirmed that Greggs will be a long-term fixture in the redevelopment. The food on the go retailer will be relocated within the ground floor, remaining in a prime spot close to the main entrance.

The new store will open later in the year, with the existing shop continuing to trade until then.

Concerns were raised earlier this year that the chain would close, as plans for the regeneration of the site included proposals for new toilet facilities on the existing Greggs unit. However, a relocation agreement has been reached with the food outlet remaining a permanent fixture of the waterfront development.

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Ambassador Investment Management, the Scottish owners of Ocean Terminal, said: “Greggs has over time become a national institution and one which is much-loved by our existing customers so we are delighted to have reached an agreement to relocate the store to a new prime spot within the redevelopment.

“The repurposing journey of OT is part of a larger regeneration project to develop Leith waterfront, delivering a more sustainable development for the local and wider community, and we are committed to delivery of that long term goal.

“Securing the future of Greggs at OT is part of that commitment and we look forward to opening the newly fitted store later this year, until then customers can continue to visit the existing store within OT.”

The new store will be 1,500 sq ft, double the size of the existing unit, with a new seating area as part of the modern fit-out.

Tony Rowson, Greggs Property Director, said: ““Our mission is simple – we want Greggs to be accessible, wherever, whenever, and however our customers need us. And by ensuring our shops are the best they can be, our customers have a brilliant experience when they visit us.

“We are pleased to be relocating our existing shop in Ocean Terminal into a new unit, where the shop design will allow us to maximise space and increase our capabilities in food preparation – enabling us to realise the potential of both our delivery and Click + Collect digital channels, whilst also offering the best experience for walk-in customers.”

This is just one of many positive developments recently announced as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment of the site, including a new Tesco Express, and the relocation and upgrade of the 24/7 PureGym to a brand new unit last month.

Last year Ocean Terminal revealed it had agreed a long-term lease with Level X, the gaming and immersive entertainment provider, which will see a new purpose-built, 30,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art leisure venue open at the centre adjacent to a brand new Club 3000 Bingo venue which promises to be one of the best clubs ever developed in the UK, enhancing the leisure offering at the new look centre.

The Leith Collective aims to help the ‘cut-back kids’with free school uniform exchange

The kids may be counting down the days until school’s out for summer, but many parents are worried about making their money stretch in the coming months.

Whether it’s the cost of essential childcare or activities to keep the kids entertained, many are concerned they just won’t have enough to pay for school uniforms when the new academic year finally rolls around in August, so are having to make cut-backs in response.

And it’s understandable. The latest research shows parents spend an average of almost £300 per year on primary school uniforms and more than £400 per year on secondary school uniforms. And so, to help ease the pressure,

The Leith Collective is launching its free school uniform exchange on Saturday 1st June. 

The exchange will take place at all four of The Leith Collective stores – at Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird, Glasgow Fort and their brand new store at Dundee’s Overgate. The Community Interest Company is calling on locals to donate good quality uniforms, shoes, schoolbags and lunchboxes to those in need. Items will be available for anyone to collect completely free of charge, no questions asked. 

The initiative is the brainchild of The Leith Collective founder, Sara Thomson, who has just returned from 10 Downing Street after receiving a personal invitation from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

This was Sara’s third visit to Downing Street, having previously been invited by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the positive impact of The Leith Collective’s important work on the community. 

Speaking ahead of the launch of the free school uniform exchange, Sara said; “The cost of living crisis is seemingly relentless, and there is now a generation of children growing up who have never known anything other than cut-backs and stressed out parents struggling to make ends meet.

“So, we’re taking action to help lighten the parent’s load by removing the expense of buying a new school uniform and helping the ‘cut-back kids’ get the best possible start to their education.”

Lloyds Bank’s BTR arm Citra expands Edinburgh’s rental offering with latest Barratt deal

Citra Living, part of Lloyds Banking Group, is to bring 87 new, high-quality homes to the rental market in Edinburgh following its latest deal with Barratt Developments.

Citra, which owns and operates a growing portfolio of more than 2,000 homes across the UK, has acquired 66 apartments and 21 colony-style houses from the UK’s largest housebuilder at its Heron Bank scheme in the north of the city.

The deal sees Citra take on a range of one, two and three-bed homes at the 115-home development which is nearing completion in the city’s Bonnington area. The homes are a short walk to the many shops, cafes and restaurants of Leith and the open spaces of a number of local parks, including the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The first phase of homes will be available to rent from next month.

Heron Bank is located on South Fort Street near the Water of Leith and represents the successful regeneration of a previously disused steel works and builder’s yard. The former brownfield site is also less than two miles from Edinburgh city centre, including the capital’s UNESCO-recognised Old and New Towns and nationally connected Waverley train station.

The acquisition is part of the strategic partnership formed between Citra and Barratt Developments in 2021 with the aim of improving access to high quality homes for UK renters. To date, the partnership has contracted to deliver more than 1,500 homes across the UK, with this latest deal following Citra’s acquisition of 156 new family homes at Barratt’s Winnycroft scheme near Gloucester last month.

Andy Hutchinson, chief executive officer of Citra Living, said: “Our focus continues to be bringing forward high quality new homes and delivering a positive rental experience in places where people want to live.

“Brownfield regeneration has a huge part to play in the UK’s housing mix, and this scheme highlights how new life can be breathed into a disused site to grow the residential offering in what is already a thriving and well-connected area.

“It’s pleasing to see the continued success of our partnership with Barratt, which has consistently created high-quality homes for our customers. Anticipating our first customers arriving this summer, we look forward to the new residential community at Heron Bank taking shape.”

Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt Developments East Scotland, said: “Barratt Developments is proud to be continuing its partnership with Citra Living by providing much-needed rented accommodation in one of Edinburgh’s most vibrant areas.

“With current conditions in the market, it’s more important than ever that we look at a spectrum of options when it comes to the development of homes. By transforming brownfield sites such as Heron Bank, we’re unlocking land that would otherwise lie dormant, providing further investment into the Leith community.”

Gretna Rail Disaster Memorial Service

Commemorating those Royal Scots who perished in Britain’s worst rail disaster

On Saturday 25 May 2024, The Royal Scots Regimental Association will hold its annual Memorial Service at Rosebank Cemetery, Pilrig Street, Edinburgh, to remember all those who lost their lives in the Gretna Rail Disaster in May 1915, the worst rail disaster in the country’s history.

At approximately 06:49 on the morning of Saturday 22 May 1915 a troop-train carrying half (498 all ranks) of the 7th (Leith) Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment) (7RS), who had been deployed to Gallipoli and were heading south, collided head on with a local passenger train.  

The passenger train had been ‘parked’, facing north, on the south-bound main line at Quintinshill, just North of Gretna, to allow a following express to overtake it. The troop train overturned, mostly onto the neighbouring north-bound mainline track and, a minute later, the Glasgow-bound express ploughed into the wreckage causing the troop train to burst into flames.

16. (7.16) The funeral procession of the 7th Battalion passing through Leith, 1915.

Three officers, 31 NCOs and 182 soldiers of 7th Battalion The Royal Scots, the driver and fireman on the troop-train, and 10 others, mostly from the express train, died and many more were injured in what was the worst rail disaster in the country’s history.

Led by their Pipe Band and the Association Standard Party, The Royal Scots Regimental Association will parade from the cemetery entrance on Pilrig Street at 10:45 on Saturday 25 May 2024.  

The service will be conducted by Rev Stephen Blakey, formerly padre of 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots, commencing at 10:55 at the Gretna Memorial which stands in the western corner of the cemetery.  All are most welcome to attend.

Brigadier George Lowder, President of The Royal Scots Regimental Association, said: “Amidst all the sacrifices and loss of The First World War, the tragic loss of 216 Members of 7 RS in the Quintinshill Rail Disaster in the early morning of 22 May 2015 en route to embarking for Gallipoli was a huge blow to The Regiment, to Leith, and to Edinburgh. 

“Leith marked their passing in a way that highlighted the close links between the Battalion and the Community. It was believed that every family in Leith was touched by the disaster and the Community continued to suffer as others injured in the crash subsequently died of their injuries.

“Our commemoration remembers not only those of 7RS who lost their lives but also the close tie between The Regiment and Leith that still endures today”.

£150k funding boost announced for Scotland’s school library services

School libraries across Scotland are set to benefit from a £150,000 funding boost for projects supporting literacy, numeracy and mental health support, as part of the 2024/25 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF).

The national funding programme, administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, supports creative and innovative projects within the school library sector.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, announced the launch of the fund during a visit to Leith Primary School on Wednesday (22 May) where she officially opened the newly refurbished school library.

Ms Gilruth said: “School libraries have an important role in inspiring children and young people to read for pleasure, while providing vital access to resources that support learning and helps to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

“I’m very grateful to the staff here at Leith Primary School for showing me around their new refurbished library, which I have no doubt will be of huge benefits to the pupils here.

“The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that our school libraries continue to grow and thrive, which is why I am delighted to announce £150,000 of investment from the Scottish Government through the School Library Improvement Fund.

“This year’s fund will support more creative and innovative projects that align with our commitment to improve both literacy and numeracy across Scotland’s schools.”

Available to all state-run nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools in Scotland, the 2024-25 fund will prioritise project applications which support the key aims of ‘Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools’ – the national strategy for the development of school libraries in Scotland.

A particular focus will be put on three key priorities of the strategy:

  • promoting literacy and numeracy (especially targeting 4-8 year olds)
  • information and media literacy
  • mental health support

The 2024/25 SLIF brings the total investment from the Scottish Government to £1.85m over the lifetime of the funding scheme.

Last year, SLIF supported anti-racism and racial equality projects, including the creation of a ‘Holistic Inclusion Hub’ to help parents and pupils from diverse backgrounds feel more included in the school community in Edinburgh; changes to the curriculum in Inverclyde to teach pupils Black, Asian and minority ethnic history as part of learning on local, historical links to slavery; and a new ‘Lending Library’ scheme in East Ayrshire designed to support families who have recently arrived from Ukraine, Poland and Russia.

Grants were also awarded to a series of initiatives specifically aimed at English as an Additional Language (EAL) school communities, including the ‘Traditional Tales – Story Gathering with Roma Communities’ project in Glasgow, created in partnership with local community organisation Romano Lav, to improve the literacy skills of children from the Roma community.

Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of SLIC, said: “School libraries play a central role in helping children and young people gain the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for learning, life and work. They ensure every young person has the chance to fulfil their full potential with equal access for all.

“From physical and digital resources to collaborative workshops and initiatives, SLIF grants can help school libraries improve and expand the services they offer to empower their pupils, staff and the community around them.

“We would encourage every nursery, primary and secondary school to consider how they can help lead the way in developing our school library services and apply for a SLIF grant today.”

Schools can apply as an individual or collaborative application, with SLIC accepting up to two individual applications per local authority and an unlimited number of collaborative applications, to ensure equal opportunities across Scotland.

The School Library Improvement Fund 2024-25 is now open. Applications will close on Wednesday 4 September 2024.

For more information on how to apply, visit: https://scottishlibraries.org/funding/the-school-library-improvement-fund/.

Pitch to Plate Community Meal

Hibernian Community Foundation is delighted to be hosting a multi-cultural meal on Tuesday 28th May! 🍲

In partnership with Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society – SABS – we will be opening the doors to the Hibernian Supporters Club for a warm and welcoming multi-cultural meal 🌍

You can contact info@hiberniancf.org for further details 💚

Lib Dems select Mike Andersen for Edinburgh North and Leith

The Scottish Liberal Democrats formally announce the selection of Mike Andersen as their candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith in the upcoming general election. Originally hailing from South Africa, where he practiced as a litigation attorney, Mike now lives in Canonmills with his husband and their dog.

Mike’s passion for his chosen country and his commitment to community service led him to join the Liberal Democrats, where he has become an active and engaged member.

“I love having the opportunity to get out on the streets of Edinburgh North and Leith to connect with constituents, listen to their views, and understand their concerns.

“I am additionally immensely proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the committed Liberal Democrat Councillors of Edinburgh North and Leith. Their relentless dedication mirrors our party’s steadfast commitment to serving the community and driving real, positive change.”

Raised in a household where service and community were paramount values, Mike’s upbringing instilled in him a profound sense of duty and accountability.

“From a young age, with my father serving in the military, I can remember being taught to do the right thing and not only the easy thing. I resolutely believe that ethics and accountability in public service are non-negotiables. Ethics should not only be talked about but should be seen and shown in action.”

Mike’s decision to stand as a candidate reflects his desire to enact meaningful change, placing the needs of Edinburgh North and Leith front and centre. He envisages a future where promises are kept, voices are heard, and every individual has an opportunity to reach their potential, embodying the core principles of the Liberal Democrats.

“Scotland is filled with talented, good, hardworking people. People who are simply seeking a fair deal in life, the deal they were promised through their hard work. The Liberal Democrats are the only party working to fulfil this promise of a fair deal.”

As the candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, Mike presents a vision of a United Kingdom that embraces a role as a global leader in human rights and culture, while fostering an environment where both individuals and businesses can flourish.

“We can have a UK that is again proud to hold its head high on the global stage, as both a voice for Human Rights and a cultural superpower. We can have a UK which helps the vulnerable in society while providing the space for people and businesses to flourish.

“We can have a UK where voices are heard and Scotland sits as an equal partner. It is this vision I am fighting for and it is a vision which can become a reality but only if we vote for actual change”

Mike Andersen embodies the spirit of change, offering a fresh perspective and a steadfast commitment to Edinburgh North and Leith, Scotland and the United Kingdom, say the Lib-Dems.

Pupils from Leith Walk Primary School become beekeepers to celebrate World Bee Day

As part of their sustainability and biodiversity initiative, Multrees Walk is home to four thriving beehives hosting over 250,000 honeybees. 

Urban beekeeping, as it’s known, aims to address the decline in bee populations while encouraging environmental regeneration within city setting communities. Multrees Walk, alongside Scottish sustainable honey business, Webster Honey, is not only contributing to this bee conservation but also creating educational opportunities for schools to learn more about the importance of urban bee keeping.

Leigh Aitchison, Centre Manager from Multrees Walk said: “We are obviously well known for being home to some of the world’s most famous designer brands, but we are also proud to be home to over 250,000 honeybees.

Perched high on the roof, Multrees Walk provides the perfect setting and a safe environment for the bees. The bees can fly up to three miles, with Princes Street Gardens, Holyrood Park, Inverleith Park and the Meadows all easily accessible from the roof of Multrees Walk.”

To celebrate World Bee Day, (today, 20 May) Multrees Walk invited pupils from nearby Leith Walk Primary School to find out more about urban bee keeping from Webster Honey.  The school children started with a short talk about the importance of bees to our ecology, the threats they face, their life cycle and a bit about how beekeepers care for them.

The pupils then donned beekeeping suits to get up and close personal to the bees, trying to spot the queen bee and learning how much work a worker bee has to do to make one jar of honey. 

Meik Molitor, Head Beekeeper at Webster Honey said: “I absolutely love getting to teach children about honeybees – how important they are to our ecology and how much we need them for our food.

“But the best thing is seeing their reaction when I open the hive and how they get really engaged and involved with actually tending the hive.

“Bees thrive in a number of areas and do just as well in urban settings as they do in rural locations. By integrating rooftop apiaries into our shopping centres, we are building a deeper connection between people and the natural world.”

Honey from the hives is collected once or twice a year (after the summer months) to make delicious jars of honey.

Each hive can produce on average 20-25kg of honey (90 – 110 jars) each year but Webster Honey nly take the extra honey, leaving enough to feed the bees through the winter months.

For further information on Multrees Walk retailers, please visit:

www.multreeswalk.co.uk/whats-happening/

For further information of Webster Honey please visit:

https://www.websterhoney.com

Photo credit: Julie Howden