Category: North Edinburgh News

“20,000 voices cannot be ignored”

ARGET OVARIAN CANCER LEAD MARCH TO DOWNING STREET TO DEMAND GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTION ON THE OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS CRISIS

 “Enough is enough.” These are the words etched onto paper by over 20,000 people in an open letter, published by Target Ovarian Cancer, urging the government to take action on the ovarian cancer awareness crisis – a disease which kills 11 women every day. 

Target Ovarian Cancer campaigners marched to Number 10 Downing Street yesterday to amplify the voices of thousands of people who have signed the open letter demanding that the government take urgent action to save lives.  

This momentous milestone – the first time thousands have come together to call on the government in this way – comes following the alarming findings of the charity’s latest research which revealed that four out of five women could not name the key symptom of ovarian cancer, persistent bloating.

This is in addition to the Ovarian Cancer Audit Feasibility Pilot which revealed 14% of women diagnosed in England between 2013 and 2018 died within two months of diagnosis, and 30% died within the first year. 

The open letter has been led by Target Ovarian Cancer – the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity that improves early diagnosis, funds life-saving research and provides much-needed support to everyone affected by ovarian cancer. 

As there is no current effective screening process for ovarian cancer, knowing the symptoms – persistent bloating, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, and needing to wee more urgently – is essential to survival and early diagnosis. 

Annwen Jones OBE, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “At Target Ovarian Cancer, we know that there is a huge crisis in ovarian cancer awareness and diagnosis and are overwhelmed by the strength of support our open letter has received.

“It’s extremely sobering to see over 20,000 people come together to demand that the government take immediate action to save lives. 20,000 voices cannot be ignored.  

“The reality is that too many people are dying as not enough is being done to make the symptoms of ovarian cancer known. The reality is that diagnosis is coming too late because of this. The reality is that we need the government’s support to reach anyone who could be diagnosed early with this disease in order to save lives.  

The open letter tells the government what is needed to combat the crisis: dedicated ovarian cancer symptoms awareness campaigns across the UK. 

One supporter who joined fellow Target Ovarian Cancer’s campaigners is Annie Griffin, who was diagnosed with stage Ia mucinous ovarian cancer – a rare type of ovarian cancer – in 2020.

Annie added: “If we don’t share our ovarian cancer experiences with our MPs how will they know what we go through? How can we expect change if we don’t speak up? 

“The weeks and months that it took to get diagnosed and finally understand what was wrong with me took their toll. I genuinely thought it was middle age, perimenopause, and fibroids. Nothing rang alarm bells, and I don’t want that to happen to other women. That’s why we need more awareness around ovarian cancer, that’s why I’m on a mission to help make that happen.”  

The charity was outside Westminster today on behalf of 20,000 people, demanding the government take urgent action on the ovarian cancer awareness crisis. 

Della Ogunleye, 60 from London, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019, also attended the open letter hand in, added: “Target Ovarian Cancer amplifies our voices.

“Together, we can reach places and have conversations that we may not be able to achieve alone. The saying goes, if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.  

“We need greater awareness of symptoms now. By standing together our voices will be louder.” 

To find out more about Target Ovarian Cancer or access its support line visit:

www.targetovariancancer.org.uk.

First Minister sets out next steps in independence referendum

The next steps on securing a referendum on independence were outlined by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a statement to Parliament yesterday.

She said: “Independence is about equipping ourselves to navigate the future, guided by our own values, aspirations and interests.

“Now is the time – at this critical moment in history – to debate and decide the future of our country. Now is the time to get Scotland on the right path – the path chosen by those who live here. Now is the time for independence.

“This parliament has a clear, democratic mandate to offer Scotland that choice. The UK government, regrettably however, is refusing to respect Scottish democracy.

“The UK and Scottish Governments should be sitting down together, responsibly agreeing a process, including a section 30 order, that allows the Scottish people to decide. That would be the democratic way to proceed.

“The issue of independence cannot be suppressed. It must be resolved democratically. And that must be through a process that is above reproach and commands confidence. 

“That is why I am setting out today the actions the Scottish Government and the Lord Advocate will take, in the absence of a section 30 order, to secure Scotland’s right to choose.

“I can announce, first of all, that the Scottish Government is today publishing the ‘Scottish Independence Referendum Bill’.

“In common with the 2014 referendum – indeed, in common with the Brexit referendum and the referendum to establish this Parliament – the independence referendum proposed in the Bill will be consultative, not self-executing.

“The Bill states that the question on the ballot paper should be – just as it was in 2014 – ‘should Scotland be an independent country’.

“There has been much commentary in recent days to the effect that a consultative referendum would not have the same status as the vote in 2014.

“That is simply wrong, factually and legally.

“The status of the referendum proposed in this Bill is exactly the same as the referendums of 1997, 2014 and 2016.

“The Bill includes the proposed date on which the referendum should be held.

“I can announce that the Scottish Government is proposing that the independence referendum be held on 19 October 2023.

“We must seek now to accelerate to the point when we have legal clarity; legal fact. And crucially, in doing so establish and safeguard the ability of this Parliament to deliver a referendum on the date proposed.

“The Lord Advocate has agreed to make a reference of the provisions in the Bill to the Supreme Court.

“I can confirm that the reference will be filed with the Supreme Court this afternoon.

“Obviously, it is this government’s hope that the question in this Bill, proposing a referendum that is consultative, not self-executing, and which would seek to ascertain the views of the Scottish people for or against independence, will be deemed to be within the legislative competence of this Parliament.

“If that outcome is secured, there will be no doubt whatsoever that the referendum is lawful. And I can confirm that the government will then immediately introduce the Bill and ask Parliament to pass the it on a timescale that allows the referendum to proceed on 19 October 2023.

“It is, of course, possible that the Supreme Court will decide that the Scottish Parliament does not have power to legislate for even a consultative referendum. Obviously, that would not be the clarity we hope for.

“But if that is what the law establishing this Parliament really means, it is better to have that clarity sooner rather than later.

“Because what it will clarify is this: any notion of the UK as a voluntary union of nations is a fiction. Any suggestion that the UK is a partnership of equals is false.

“There would be few stronger or more powerful arguments for independence than that.

“And it would not be the end of the matter. Far from it. Democracy demands that people must have their say.

“I want the process set in train today to lead to a lawful, constitutional referendum and for that to take place on 19 October 2023.

“But if the law says that is not possible, the General Election will be a ‘de facto’ referendum.

“Either way, the people of Scotland will have their say.”

“To believe in Scottish independence is to believe in a better future. It involves an unashamedly optimistic view of the world. The belief that things can be better than they are now.

“The people of Scotland have told us that they want the right to decide.

“Today we have set out the path to deliver it.”

THERE HAS BEEN A PREDICTABLE RESPONSE FROM OPPOSITION PARTIES:

The First Minister[s statement to Parliament.

A letter to the Prime Minister has been sent to inform him of the content of the statement and make clear that the Scottish Government is ready and willing to negotiate the terms of a section 30 order.

Nightmares: Child psychologist uses drawing experiment to help children get a better night’s sleep

Is bedtime a nightmare for you and your child? You’re probably not alone, three quarters (73%) of children aged 4-12 have night-time fears, such as monsters and bad dreams.  

To help combat this, Happy Beds spoke to over 100 young children across the UK to find out what children really want in a ‘good’ monster under the bed to protect them from these fears. 

Educational Child Psychologist, Karen Jones, has unpicked the most common monster characteristics from the experiment and applied them practically, explaining how these tips will help children get a better night’s sleep.  

Five expert tips to help children sleep 

1.     “A monster who plays music to fight off the baddies” 

Tip: Play a lullaby 

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Once your child is in bed, you rely on them feeling relaxed enough to sleep, however, they’re much more likely to enter into a stressed state if they’re sitting in the dark and tuned in to every noise. Playing relaxing music can be key to keeping them calm enough to sleep. 

2.     “My monster smells of my favourite fruit, raspberries and strawberries” 

Tip: Spray familiar scents 

Try spraying a familiar scent, such as mum or dad’s perfume or aftershave in their room or on their bedtime teddy. Smell allows a child to feel calm and protected thanks to the sensory recognition it creates and it can be a great way to soothe a child. 

3.     “A monster with blue fur and red paws” 

Tip: Utilise primary colours 

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Whilst we tend to feel like pastel colours are always best as they are calming, when you’re decorating your child’s bedroom, consider brighter, primary colours – such as those that their favourite superhero wears or that they would recognise from a playground. 

4.     “My monster has a special glitter cape when I get scared” 

Tip: Make a calming glitter jar 

Using an old bottle or jar, create a calming jar with glitter, glue and hot water. Watching the swirls of glitter slowly glide from one end of the jar to the other, has a relaxing soothing effect on children and is proven to help with anxiety  

5.     “He has a soft tummy, fluffy arms and velvet legs” 

Tip: Ensure their bed is cosy 

Children love to cuddle – fill their bed with different textured soft items so they can self-soothe. This will help make a secure, safe space for a child to relax in.  

Happy Beds, challenged children to design a new Happy Monster mascot to win a brand-new child’s bed worth £500, as well as have their monster properly designed into a real-life soft toy.  

After hundreds of imaginative and exciting entries, a winner has been chosen, with Educational Child Psychologist, Karen Jones, giving her insight into the designs. 

The winner… Superhugs, designed by Logan, aged 3 from Scotland. 

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This hairy blue and red monster, named Superhugs, was declared the winner.

Logan’s mum, who designed him said: “Superhugs monster senses tell him when bad dreams are coming, his blue fur tingles and sends a forcefield to banish all bad dreams away from the bedroom, then a warm hugging red glow appears and comforts the little one through the night.

“He smells of raspberries and strawberries and is super soft to touch, with a bright furry red face & paws.” 

Karen Jones commented: “As children’s senses are much more sensitive than those of adults, this also makes them the best way to go from stressed to calm.

“Logan has given Superhugs certain sensory cues, such as bright, primary colours and a unique smell, which can be the quickest way to soothe a child.” 

For tips on helping children sleep with night terrors, click here. 

PRENTICE CENTRE TO CLOSE

West Granton Community Trust is to close The Prentice Centre, it has been confirmed. The management committee made the heartbreaking decision at a board meeting on Monday evening, citing impossible economic challenges.

The popular community centre in Granton Mains will cease programme activities from this Friday and the building will close in three months. Three members of staff are affected.

The Prentice Centre was one of three new community centres built across North Edinburgh in the late 1990s thanks to European Poverty and Urban Aid funding through local agency The Pilton Partnership.

The others were Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and Muirhouse Millennium Centre, and the new centres could offer new facilities and local programmes to complement those being provided by Craigroyston Community Centre (now closed), West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

The Prentice Centre, which was named after longstanding local activist Walter Prentice, housed the local Community Education team and has been the base for a wide range of local groups with activities for local residents of all ages since it opened. Thousands of local folk have attended activities there.

External organisations have also used facilities at the Prentice Centre. Granton Information Centre currently has a satellite office there and the building was also home for North West Carers, among others. Dads Rock held Saturday sessions there and Tragic Carpet Theatre Company has also been running an over-50s drama group at the Centre.

Like other community organisations across the city, The Prentice Centre has found it difficult to attract sufficient external funding to compensate for shrinking council grants over recent years.

Finance, in particular or the lack of it, has always been a concern. I lost count of the number of AGMs I attended where former manager Elizabeth Campbell would catalogue the financial challenges. It was a running joke – we had a wee laugh about it every year. It doesn’t seem quite so funny now.

But this was the case year after year, and despite everything, the Centre worked minor miracles and managed to put on a pretty decent programme.

The Prentice Centre last fought a spirited – and ultimately successful – campaign back in 2016 to fight closure following savage funding cuts by the city council. Once again the Centre survived to fight again another day … then there was Covid.

The Covid pandemic hit the Centre particularly hard over the last two years, forcing shutdowns which meant that no income could be generated.

Costs have been cut to the bone, and staff have gone above and beyond to continue to provide a service, but now the soaring price of overheads – over which the Prentice Centre has no control – have finally made the Centre’s future untenable.

Dedicated staff Moira, Mary and Stuart are understandably devastated, but not surprised, by the news. Mary has been with The Prentice Centre for more than 24 years and Stuart has been there since it opened in 1997.

There’s no doubt that the centre’s closure will be a huge blow to the local area and it’s particularly cruel given that facilities are now slowly beginning to open up again after pandemic lockdowns.

A community event at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre last week saw large numbers of activists getting together once again after two years of virtual shutdown. The recovery has come just too late for the Prentice Centre, however.

Council leader Labour’s Cammy Day is a Forth councillor and he held surgeries in The Prentice Centre. In a statement, his office responded: “Cammy has met with the board and asked officers to engage with them to see if there is any support or advice we can provide.”

Manager Moira Fanning explained: “All avenues for accessing alternative funding have been explored, but there is just no money out there. We deeply regret that we will no longer be able to serve the West Granton community. We thank all our members for their support over the years”.

Thank you, too, Moira, Mary and Stuart. You really couldn’t have done any more.

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Rowanbank Gardens: Low carbon homes deliver low energy bills

Hot Water & Heating Bills at Rowanbank Gardens, Edinburgh, Could Cost Less Than £65 Per Month** 

Smart, No Fossil-fuel Design of New Apartment Development Helps Tackle Soaring Energy Costs 

Energy bills at Artisan Real Estate’s Rowanbank Gardens development in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, have been estimated to cost up to 60% less than other new build apartments in the surrounding area* 

 Latest research on the fossil-fuel free homes shows that average annual hot water and space heating costs for a two-bedroom apartment at the development could be as low as £775 per year, or less than £65 per month** – providing significant long-term cost savings for first-time buyers or purchasers wanting to downsize for more energy efficient living.   

Described as a ‘spectacular blueprint for low carbon living’, Rowanbank Gardens will deliver 93 high quality apartments for private sale set around a large open garden space filled with fruit trees and communal planting beds . Work began in summer 2021 and with construction now continuing apace, the first move-ins are expected in spring next year.   

Rowanbank Gardens has been designed to set new industry standards for sustainable, low-carbon development challenging many of the norms associated with the construction and delivery of traditional apartment buildings. 

It is one of the first large residential developments in Scotland to employ individual Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) providing both heat and domestic water – moving away from large, complex fossil-fuel heat sources.  

With additional insulation, larger windows and improved air circulation, the heat reclamation system allows internal heat to be reclaimed through the ventilation system, forming a closed energy loop with almost all useful heat being retained within the apartments. 

David Westwater, Artisan’s Development Director for Scotland, welcomed the low energy cost forecast as more evidence of Rowanbank Gardens’ immaculate environmental credentials which can provide significant financial benefit for homeowners feeling the pinch of soaring energy bills and the rising cost of living.

He explains: “Rowanbank Gardens provides smart, energy-efficient design geared to achieving low to zero carbon ratings, with the added benefits of significantly lower home-running costs. 

“This demonstrates Artisan’s stated commitment to move away from using any fossil fuels to heat homes within our developments as part of our pledge to reduce carbon nationally. Instead, Artisan is leading the way in introducing energy-efficient technology, such as individual air-source heat pumps which capture the warm air within the home and then uses it to provide cheap and efficient heating, as well as piping hot water. 

He adds: “We also make each home or apartment as energy efficient as possible by using the very latest in energy efficient technology to encourage low carbon and energy efficient living.  

“As well as innovations like individual heat pumps, we also provide A-rated appliances for all of our homes and are introducing cutting-edge environmental technologies such as spray taps and stone-showers which have been proven to reduce water consumption by up to one-third.” 

The construction of Rowanbank Gardens follows Artisan’s design framework geared to achieving low to zero carbon city living, which starts with ‘use less, first’.  

The building is designed to make the absolute most of its natural environment, positioning it in such a way to maximise natural energy and warmth from the sun whilst providing management of, and protection from, external elements like wind and rain. 

Artisan has also championed the use of turfed green roofs at Rowanbank Gardens, which are natural insulators being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They also provide a natural drainage facility with rainwater evaporating in sunlight, providing the simplest form of a short-term carbon cycle and reducing the impact on the existing drainage system.

Green roofs also encourage a huge amount of ecological biodiversity for buildings – attracting plant, insect and bird life which are encouraged with natural inducements such as wild-flower planting, beehives and roosting sites. 

Since it launched late last year, sales at Rowanbank Gardens have been buoyant, with 13 of the first phase already sold. Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at £245,000 – making the development a perfect destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, bustling community just minutes from the city centre.  

To register interest In Rowanbank Gardens and book an appointment at the on-site sales and marketing suite, visit the development website at www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302. 

* Compared to equivalent new build apartment at Artisan Real Estate’s Canonmills Garden, Edinburgh, completed 2022. 

** Figure based on Building Regulation compliance energy consumption and measured against average electrical process from June 2022 of £0.278/kWh. Final performance subject to user operation preferences.  

Kids prepare for a Tomtastic summer!

Over 5000 children in Edinburgh are on a journey to ‘Grow Strong’, a pilot project from social enterprise and charity Edinburgh Community Food and not-for-profit Veg Power, to help children learn about where food comes from and to encourage them to grow fruit and vegetables.

38 Edinburgh primary schools and local families received their Grow Packs earlier this year and have been carefully raising Cherry Tomatoes. The packs included propagators, seeds and compost kindly donated by Unwins Seeds.

The P2 Class at Liberton Primary School have been repotting their tomato plants ready to take home for the summer holidays with the help of Gracemount Community Garden and the new Deputy Lord Provost, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron (top).

Over the school holidays, if our little growers are having trouble with their crop, children and families will be able to attend ‘Tomato Plant Surgeries’ taking place weekly at Broomhouse and Murrayburn & Hailesland Community Gardens.

Once the cherry tomatoes are ready to harvest the children will head to the kitchen to turn their tomatoes into a delicious pasta sauce.

The learning will continue throughout the Summer with a number of exciting events for children taking place at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which will help them on their Grow Strong journey and ensure the cherry tomatoes make a tasty pasta sauce.

Share your Tomato Adventure using #TOMTASTIC.

Cost of Living Crisis: New report by One Parent Families Scotland

Out of the COVID pandemic and straight into a #costoflivingcrisis …

One Parent Familes Scotland asked single parents accessing their services about the main issues affecting their lives and what needs to be done to tackle them.

Read OPFS’s cost of living impact report: https://bit.ly/39N9i0e

Impact_Report_Key_themes_AprMay22Download

One in twenty Scots has the virus … but Covid helpline to close down

Planned closure of COVID special helpline

After helping three quarters of a million Scots during the pandemic the COVID special helpline service will formally close at 4pm on Thursday 30th June 2022.

This reflects changes in national guidance on testing and isolation advice. All information will continue to be available at www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus.

NHS 24 Medical Director, Dr Laura Ryan said: “The formal closure of the non-clinical Covid 19 special helpline reflects how life is returning to a more normal or familiar pattern.

“Covid-19 has not gone away. We still need continue to follow the current guidelines and advice to keep everyone safe. This includes getting your vaccines, staying at home if unwell with Covid -19 symptoms, and simple but effective measures such as washing hands frequently.

“There is an extensive range of information on NHS Inform including symptom checkers for Coronavirus which provide advice and suggest what to do if your condition worsens.

“Remember, if you are unwell or concerned about your symptoms, please continue to access care as normal.”

Winner Winner, Weekday Dinner

Morrisons Introduces Evening Meals for Under a Fiver in its Cafés

– Customers can get an evening meal and a drink for just £4.99 –

– Menu rotates each day and includes roast chicken, a British beef burger and the ultimate fish & chips –

– Kids eat free so a family of four can enjoy a meal for under £10 –

Morrisons is introducing a ‘meal of the day’ for under a fiver to its cafés nationwide. Every weekday from 3pm, a ‘Daily Special’ will be discounted, offering a saving of up to £3.89 on the individual product price.

The meal on offer will rotate each day and customers can choose from British roast chicken served with chips and coleslaw, a hearty chicken tikka masala, a 9-piece breakfast brunch, a succulent British cheeseburger served with chips and coleslaw and the ultimate beer-battered fish and chips. The offer includes a drink and vegetarian alternatives are also available.

Each of these Morrisons classics will be priced at just £4.99, making them cheaper than the same evening meals at Wetherspoons, Harvester and Beefeater.

What’s more, kids can now eat free all day with the purchase of any adult meal meaning a family of four can enjoy a meal out together for just £9.98.

Ali Lyons, Head of Morrisons Cafés, says: “We know how hard it is for our customers at the moment and we want to make sure they are still able to enjoy a meal out, even on a budget.

“We’ve handpicked these favourites so that no matter what day it is, our customers can enjoy a saving.”

Morrisons £4.99 offer will be available in its 406 cafés nationwide after 3pm every weekday.

The ‘Daily Specials’ on offer are:

Monday·       Roast Chicken served with Chips & Coleslaw or·       Cheese & Onion Quiche served with Chips & Coleslaw 
Tuesday·       Chicken Tikka Masala or·       Mac ‘n’ Cheese 
Wednesday·       Breakfast Brunch or·       Full Vegetarian Breakfast 
Thursday·       Cheeseburger served with Chips & Coleslaw  or·       Vegetarian burger served with Chips & Coleslaw 
Friday ·       Ultimate Fish & Chips

Pride takes centre stage at Musselburgh Racecourse

Specially designed Racing With Pride jockey silks appeared for the first time at a Scottish racecourse yesterday as Musselburgh celebrates Pride Month.

Leading racehorse owner, Gerry McGladery, swapped his normal blue and yellow colours for the distinctive Pride colours for all his horses competing at the Racing TV raceday (Mon 27 June) at the East Lothian track, as will The Musselburgh Lunch Club syndicate.

The silks were created by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to increase visibility of LGBT+ support within racing and after a public vote the winning design was brought to life by racing silks supplier Allertons. 

Musselburgh will also fly the Pride flag from its historic grandstand this week, racecourse staff will wear Pride ribbons, and promotional activity around the course will mark the global event held each June to mark the 1969 Stonewall riots in the US which changed gay rights history.

The racecourse is also marking its support for the LGBT+ community with two specially named races – The Musselburgh Racecourse Celebrates Pride 2022 race over five furlongs, which took place last night, and again on Wednesday over 1m 1f at 3.50pm.

Musselburgh also received a vote of confidence as an LGBT+ welcoming venue from Edinburgh hairdresser Leo Gourlay who attended a recent race meeting.

Leo said: “I was really anxious, as a flamboyant gay man, to go racing for the first time. Being a member of the LGBT+ community I was really apprehensive before I got to Musselburgh Racecourse and going into such a traditional sporting environment.

“The whole racecourse staff, especially Jane Walker, were very gracious and welcoming. They made the whole race day enjoyable and inclusive and I will definitely be back.”

Musselburgh Racecourse Senior Operations and Commercial Manager, Sarah Montgomery said: “We are delighted to hear that Leo enjoyed his first experience at Musselburgh and look forward to welcoming him back. We also really appreciate the support of Gerry McGladery in helping us to celebrate Pride Month with his adoption of the Racing With Pride silks for his runners.

“Our aim is to be a fully inclusive, friendly and accessible racecourse and it is only right that we take these symbolic but important steps in recognising and supporting the LGBT+ community during Pride Month. We fully support Racing With Pride and hope the community get a taste for the joy of racing during Pride Month and become frequent visitors to Musselburgh.”

The BHA has been a long-time supporter of diversity in the industry and in 2020 launched Racing With Pride, the official LGBT+ network for British racing.

The network is designed for British racing’s participants, workforce and fans who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other sexual orientations and gender identities as well as allies of the LGBT+ community, who want to demonstrate their support, regardless of their own identity.

The network offers a safe space for LGBT+ people and allies to meet, receive support, have fun and enjoy racing online and in person and promotes a better understanding of LGBT+ inclusion to ensure racing is everyone’s sport, encouraging all to step up as allies.

Gates open at noon tomorrow (Wedneday) and the first race is off at 1.40pm.

For further information and to book tickets please visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk