Yes, the North Edinburgh Community Festival has been cancelled, but September doesn’t have to be festival-free – here’s a timely reminder that Broughton High School will be staging their very own Septemberfest later this month! The big event takes place on Saturday 22 September.
Category: North Edinburgh News
Muirhouse Housing Association celebrates twenty years in North Edinburgh
Muirhouse Housing Association marked an important milestone when they celebrated their twentieth birthday in style at Muirhouse Millennium Centre on Saturday. With loads of fun things to do for the kids and presentations to longest tenants and management committee members, the day was a great success.
Happy birthday MHA – here’s to the next twenty years! 
MHA Chair Roy Douglas with Management Board members
Chair Roy Douglas with oldest tenant – who’s 88! 
Brenda Tonner with her MHA staff team 
Happy birthday MHA!
Forthquarter Festival cancelled
The North Edinburgh Community Festival has been cancelled. The event was due to take place on 29 September, but organisers say that the annual event must be cancelled due to ‘unforeseen and insurmountable circumstances’. The decision comes just a week after a succesful community gala was held at West Pilton Park.
National Grid hosted the first new community festival at Forthquarter Park in 2008, attempting to join the established North Edinburgh and new Waterfront communities together by recapturing the community spirit of former gala days. The festival was popular and well-attended, particularly in the early years, but organisers have now made the tough decision to cancel the 2012 event. A meeting will be held later this year to determine the future of the Forthquarter Park event.
In an email yesterday, Granton Parish Church Minister Norman Smith, who chairs the North Edinburgh Festival Committee, explained: “I am sorry to have to inform you that due to a combination of unforeseen and insurmountable circumstances, the North Edinburgh Festival Committee is left with no choice but to cancel the community gala planned for Saturday 29 September. We realise that, given the success of previous years’ festivals, this will be a big disappointment to everyone who has attended in the past. We wish to thank each and every one of you for all you have done to ensure the event went ahead, however the combination of uncertainties has mean we have little option at this time but to cancel. While any one issue would not have given the need to cancel the event – the combination of issues outwith the committee’s control or influence has left us in an insecure position. We will be convening a meeting later this year, around November, to discuss next year’s event and how we can avoid this situation reoccurring. Thank you for your support.”
NEN man grilled by Forthview P5s!
I paid a visit to Forthview Primary yesterday to meet the P5 children and talk about the NEN and how North Edinburgh has changed over the years. It’s usually me who asks the questions when I’m out and about, but the tables were well and truly turned yesterday! It was great fun, though, and I promised to post the childrens’ comments on the visit on the NEN blog (see below). ‘Super duper smart and cool?’ – that’ll do me!
In P5A Dave came into talk about a newspaper called the NEN. He was very nice and all the information was outstanding. It taught me a lot. I was very happy. I think he has done a good job and thank you for letting us keep the amazing newspaper.
Demi
When Dave came to visit from NEN, he told everybody a lot of interesting information, like about before there were any speed bumps. We also learnt about a nursery that got set on fire. Dave was super duper smart and cool. We had a great time.
Louise
This morning Dave from the NEN news came into our class and told us about himself and why he wanted his job. He wanted his job because he said it would be good working at a place about where he lives. After he gave us all a newspaper each and everybody had a look at it. I learned that he did more than one job.
Natalie.
Thanks, P5!
Man found in Pilton street with stab wounds
An investigation is underway after a man in his 20’s was found lying in West Pilton Bank earlier today with stab wounds. The man was found by two members of the public who called the emergency services and the man was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.
His injuries are not throughout to be life threatening.
Lothian and Borders Police are investigating the incident and the road was closed while forensic officers searched the area.
A spokesman for the force said: “Police responded to West Pilton Bank around 11.25am today after a man in his 20s was found with a number of significant cuts to his neck and arms.
“The man was taken to hospital for treatment, however his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
“Enquiries are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident and anyone who can assist police with their investigation is asked to call immediately.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on0131 311 3131.
Muirhouse Housing Association marks milestone with Fun Day
Muirhouse Housing Associaiton will welcome tenants old and new when they celebrate their 20th anniverary with a fun day at Muirhouse Millennium Centre this afternoon.
With acrobats and magicians, face painting and balloon modelling there’s all the fun of the fair, and for the more energetic there’s a bouncy castle, inflatable assualt course, Zumba or an opportunity to take part in fun exercise classes using hulahoops!
The fun gets under way at 1pm – happy birthday, MHA!
Local derby tomorrow
Tomorrow sees the start of the East of Scotland Football League and the first game of the league campaign sees a local derby in North Edinburgh. Spartans will make the short trip to Marine Drive to play Civil Service Strollers. Civil will still be on a high following their victory last week in the first round of the Sottish Cup and their manager Chic McAleavy will be delighted that influential player Michael Somerville will return for tomorrows game.
Spartans will be hoping to bounce back after their defeat last week in the Scottish Cup, the new management team of Dougie Samuel and Neil Irvine will be keen to get their league campaign of to a flyer.
All the action kicks off tomorrow at Telford College playing fields at Marine Drive and kick off is at 2.30pm and the best part is there is no entry fee, so pop along and see what should be an excellent game.
Locals learn the art of Blogging
Well last night I went along to our first NENgage session at Stockbridge Library. On approach to the session I was excited but also a little nervous. I was worried that local people who had booked onto the session wouldn’t turn up and we would be left with just a few of us.
I arrived just in time to watch Tom run through his presentation with Emily and then the participants started to arrive.
I was delighted when local residents and staff from local projects started turning up and very quickly the room was full and everyone who registered had turned up.
Tom and Emily started their training session and before we knew it was time for the participants to have a go at writing a Blog.
Everyone really enjoyed the training session and then we retired to a nearby watering hole who had agreed to put on a buffet for us. This was a perfect time for people to chat and share tales. For me it was an opportunity to catch up with former NEN board member Tina who attended the training.
Thanks to everyone who came along and we look forward to seeing at the next training session.
Community award for Malcolm Chisholm
Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm was awarded Pilton Central Association’s Rose Bowl at the community organisation’s annual general meeting this evening. The Rose Bowl is awarded annually to people who have made a major contribution to community life in North Edinburgh, and Malcolm Chisholm is the first politician to receive the award since it’s introduction in 1990.
PCA chairperson Betty McVay said: “The Rose Bowl was donated to the PCA by one of my predecessors, Agnes Laidlaw, who was a tremendous example to community activists. The Rose Bowl is presented to individuals who we feel have made a contribution to making this community a better place to live. Malcolm certainly falls into that category, and has done for a number of years. I know Malcolm has to declare all gifts and presents, so I should point out that this rose bowl is only his to keep for a year – we’ll be wanting it back!”
Malcolm, who has represented North and Leith at both Westminster and then Holyrood since 1992, was genuinely surprised to receive the award. “This is a huge shock, but I’m very honoured and feel very humble to have been considered for a community award like this, particularly here in North Edinburgh. Truly, I’m overwhelmed.”
The Rose Bowl presentation was the highlight of a very successful night for the PCA in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre. The meeting was very well attended and the PCA managed to attract a full complement of sixteen committee members, including a number of new faces … and, would you believe it, a young person!
There were two guest speakers at the meeting. North Edinburgh Social History Group’s Roberta Blaikie gave an entertaining history of the succesful community project which has been running for almost four years – and shows no sign of stopping yet! PCA’s financial support enabled the Social History Group to publish their acclaimed ‘Never Give Up’ book.
Jimmy Butler has been a friend of the PCA since ‘being dragged into Ferry Road Drive in 1974 and painting the back shop!’ Most recently Jimmy has been working on a business plan for the PCA and he gave a brief introduction to the draft Community Enterprise Operational Plan. The plan will be discussed in detail at forthcoming committee meetings, but Jimmy said the plan will help PCA to ‘move forward and remain relevant’. He added: “The PCA has been here, well, forever and let’s hope we can make sure it will be here forever!”
Happy birthday Stockbridge Market!
Stockbridge Market’s Beth Berry extends an invitation to a birthday party …
Stockbridge Market celebrates its first birthday on Sunday 9 September. Opening day last year saw 17 traders set their stalls and hope the public would arrive – now Sundays are regularly packed with happy shoppers and we average 40 traders covering everything from the basics – meat, fish, bread, veg, cheese – to the exotic – olives, jams, chutneys, cured meats, French wines, cupcakes, sweets and lots of homebakes. Most traders are producers and you can discuss your purchase and get advice on how best to enjoy it. Most traders also offer tasters so you can go home secure that you will like what you’ve bought – a very different experience than the supermarket!!
Dont forget the eclectic mix of crafts, even featuring vinyls and CDs!! The market also offers lots of hot tasty treats and fantastic coffee to enjoy as you walk round and provides tables and chairs so you can rest and chat to your pals while the kids run round. Buskers and even choirs have started to turn up and the result is a fun, relaxed, social – even continental – feel for your Sunday. Come and help us celebrate our birthday – we are offering a free raffle with a packed market hamper as prize, and there will be balloons and free activities for the kids.
Come and see us … we are waiting for you!
