50 years ago on 21 – 22nd November a group of students from Ainslie Park High School along with a trainee instructor from Lagganlia sadly lost their lives whilst on an expedition to the Cairngorm mountains.
Recognising the impact this tragedy had on all involved as well as the wider community of North Edinburgh, Granton Parish Church will be holding a memorial service tomorrow – Sunday 21st November – at 2pm in the church.
The tragedy remains the worst peacetime loss of life in a mountaineering accident in the United Kingdom.
Recognising the impact this tragedy had on all involved as well as the wider community of North Edinburgh, Granton Parish Church will be holding a memorial service on Sunday 21st November at 2pm in the church.
The service will be live-streamed for those who cannot physically make it.
Please continue to hold the families of those who lost their lives as well as all those affected in your prayers.
We would appreciate everyone spreading the word, especially if you are in contact or know of families, friends and pupils who were directly affected by the tragedy.
As Covid restictions for churches have been relaxed there is now no need to limit numbers attending. However, bear in mind that if you would be more comfortable following online then that option is available.
Note that it is still a requirement to wear a face-covering in churches unless an exemption card is held.
If you would like to get in touch with the church in relation to the memorial service please telephone Norman of 0131 551 2159 or email info@granton.org.uk.
Police have launched an investigation into a series of fires which took place across Drylaw and Pilton in the early hours of this morning.
The six separate incidents were reported between approximately 2.30am and 4.30am at properties on a number of streets: Wester Drylaw Avenue, Wester Drylaw Drive, Crewe Road North, Groathill Loan and Groathill Road North.
The fires are all being treated as suspicious. Whilst there were no serious injuries reported, a number of people were treated at the scene and one person was taken to hospital.
Detective Inspector Jonny Wright, from Gayfield CID, said: “It is fortunate that these fires were discovered and extinguished when they were, and that we are not investigating a far more serious and tragic set of circumstances.
“Enquiries into each of these incidents are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone with information, or who may have seen any suspicious activity on these streets, to please come forward.
“We will be increasing our patrols in the area and engaging with the local community, to provide reassurance as we work to identify those responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 0675 of 18 September. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”
Morrisons is offering half-price breakfasts from Bank Holiday Monday
Morrisons cafe deal means customers can grab a fry up for less than two quid –
Available in all Morrisons cafes in England, Wales and Scotland until 26th September –
From Monday, Morrisons is halving the price of its much-loved cooked breakfast for four weeks.
This means customers can get a fry up with sausage, bacon, fried egg, grilled tomato, baked beans and toast for just £1.87 – a price hard to beat anywhere else on the high street.
For those customers looking for the full works including mushrooms, black pudding and hashbrowns as well as extra sausages and bacon then Morrisons Full English Breakfast is now just £2.75 along with the Veggie or Vegan Breakfast options.
Morrisons breakfasts are available all day every day and the offer is valid in all 406 Morrisons cafes from Monday 30th August until Sunday 26th September.
Ali Lyons, Head of Cafes at Morrisons, said: “A traditional cooked breakfast has long been a Great British treat. As the nation returns to work and school we wanted to offer our customers a hearty meal, at an unbeatable price, to ensure they are setting themselves up for the day.
“Many of our customers are key workers and don’t work traditional office hours, so we’ve made sure that the discount is valid all day so no matter what time you’re eating breakfast, customers can take advantage of the offer in our cafes.”
Morrisons recently introduced a brand new menu and has invested heavily in coronavirus safety measures including screens and a contactless ‘Order & Pay’ app.
For more information and to see the cafe menu, visit:
In the Frame is a free programme for people living in North Edinburgh to learn documentary filmmaking and make their own short film.
Running from 20th September 2021 to March 2022, the programme will amplify the voices of local people and capture snapshots of life in the community by providing a platform to express themselves through a series of short documentaries.
Participants will learn each stage of documentary filmmaking, from an introduction to the genre via watching films, to learning the key skills in camera, sound, directing, editing, and interview techniques. We will also cover the ethics of documentary and support learners to use these skills to devise and produce a short film.
Many films used as case studies will come from the Pilton Video/SEE archive, which reveal some of the hopes and issues that matter most to the community in North Edinburgh over the past 40 years.
No previous film experience is required and In the Frame is open to people living in North Edinburgh (Crewe, Drylaw, East Pilton, Granton, Pennywell, Muirhouse, Royston, Salvesen, Telford, Wardieburn, Waterfront and West Pilton).
The programme will take place on Tuesday evenings for adults (aged 19 and over)and Wednesday evenings for young people (aged 14 to 18)with films shot throughout November and December and editing in January & February, with the film’s receiving their premiere on the big screen in March.
The programme is funded by Inspiring Scotland’s Creative Communities Programme which is funded jointly by the Scottish Government’s Culture and Justice directorates and aims to extend opportunities for people to take part in creative endeavours throughout their lives.
To find out more and to take part, please complete our short form here and the team will be in touch.
Homeless charity Rowan Alba is appealing for local volunteers to support its CARDS befriending service which works with people across the city, providing vital support and social contact to reduce isolation.
The Community Alcohol Related Damages Service (CARDS) was set up by Rowan Alba in 2010. Those who are referred to CARDS by health care specialists, GPs, hospitals and mental health services have, for various reasons, become isolated and developed a problematic relationship with alcohol. CARDS volunteers are there to provide vital social contact and to listen without judgment.
A team of 60 volunteers deliver 1-1 befriending support to 80 clients across the city, usually meeting once a week to provide emotional support, helping clients build their social skills and confidence to engage with their local community.
Since getting support from CARDS, 69% of clients have reported improved mental health, 77% have reduced their alcohol intake and 80% said life was less chaotic. 69% said they have spent less time in hospital.
As a crucial befriending service for older people with long term alcohol issues and at risk of crisis, CARDSis just one of a number of services delivered by Rowan Alba in supporting some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable, isolated and homeless people. The charity aims to break the cycle of homelessness for people deemed ‘un-houseable’ by other services.
Rowan Alba pioneered the home for life concept with Thorntree Street in Leith, providing permanent homes for older men with a long-term history of rough sleeping and street drinking. The charity’s second home for life property will open in Peffermill in 2022.
Rowan Alba also provides temporary supported accommodation at Stramullion in Pilton, supporting women with complex needs to move out of homelessness and into their own home.
The charity has years of expertise working with older people with alcohol issues; these issues may stem from years of health inequality, trauma, homelessness, family breakdown, mental health issues time spent in prison or abuse. Many have developed Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD), which has left them physically and emotionally damaged and socially isolated.
Tracey Stewart, Volunteer Service Manager at Rowan Alba said; “We have all faced periods of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic but for those who are referred to CARDS, social isolation is something many have lived with for years.
“The 1-1 befriending service provided by our volunteers provides vital emotional support, helping clients to re-learn how to manage a trusting relationship with another person.
“CARDS urgently needs more volunteers to support our clients across Edinburgh, so we are looking for people who can provide compassionate support for individuals who have had a difficult relationship with alcohol now or in the past.
“Ideally you will have had experience in a role where managing relationships is key. Being able to listen without judgment and understand the benefit of human contact is vital.
“Our best volunteers are the kind of people whom you end up chatting to at a bus stop and go away being moved by the interaction. It’s as simple as that. We provide all the support, training and guidance that you need.
“Half of our staff started as volunteers and 85% of people who were looking to get in to social care as a career find themselves within employment within the first year after volunteering Those who come for the experience hang around for much longer. It’s a community in itself.”
Comprehensive training and support are provided and volunteers are asked to make a time commitment of at least 1 year.
Full details of the application process are available at:
