GETTING ALONG WITH GRAN comes to LEITH DOCKERS CLUB
Citadel Arts Group is thrilled to be reviving its 4-star show, Getting Along with Gran, for two performances only, at Leith Dockers Club where the group has its base.
The North Edinburgh Arts audience loved the show in June, and the company are confident Gran will go down a bomb with their regular Leith supporters. Citadel Arts are looking forward to bringing the play to their Leith venue and Gran (Laverne Edmonds) has already met some of the locals although she was disappointed the Dockers bar didn’t seem to stock Babycham, her favourite tipple!
The play is scripted by Rhona McAdam, Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally and Pamela Hanlon, all members of Citadel Arts Group’s playwrights’ workshop.
They meet every week in Leith Dockers Club to develop new plays often based on local heritage and living memories. Getting Along with Gran is inspired by the powerful stories of the Social History Group based in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
Both groups of older people collaborated to create the play. The script emerged from the life stories of Winifred Burke, Pat Gilhooley, Anna Hutchison, Bill and Greta McPhail, Helen McRae, David Norcliffe, Karen Soso, and Cathie Umobi.
They were thrilled to see their memories on stage in North Edinburgh Arts. Local audiences told us: ‘It was excellent . . . funny and thought provoking . . . I love that it was local history . . . loved how it was intergenerational’. Jim Aitken assured Citadel, ‘Having a play performed that came out of our social history project was wonderful.’
The stories range from a Silverknowes beach romance to anti-Thatcher demos in the 1970s. The play combines humour, nostalgia and a few slightly scary moments. It’s a show for all the family with a truly intergenerational cast.
The only change from the original line-up is in the roles of the children. In this new production they will be played by members of the Be Happy Performing Arts Company from Gorebridge.
Six wee thespians from the group coached by Mairi Jayne Weir, are keen to take part alongside the Citadel professionals.
Mairi Jayne Weir plays Em, the girl who learns to get along with her annoyingly forgetful and chatty Gran when she gets caught up in some of Gran’s funny and troubling memories.
Mairi Jayne told Citadel: ‘Taking part in Getting Along with Gran, performing beside professional actors is a wonderful opportunity for the young people.’
The company are delighted to have a real-life retired janitor, David Norcliffe in the cast again – playing a sympathetic Craigroyston jani!
Performance dates: Nov 12th 2.30 and 7pm
Venue: Leith Dockers, 17 Academy Street EH6 7EE
Cast and creatives:
DIRECTOR: Mark Kydd
Cast:
Jim Bryce, Laverne Edmonds, Chelsea Grace, Mairi Jayne Weir and Deborah Whyte
Community cast:
David Norcliffe and young people for the Be Happy Performing Arts Company, teacher Mairi Jayne Weir
Stage Manager: Maggie Brown
Light and Sound Design: Roddy Simpson
Props: Stewart Emm
Creative Producer: Liz Hare
Playwrights: Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally, Pamela Hanlon, and Rhona McAdam
Citadel Arts Group is a charity (SC 034687) dedicated to giving a voice to older people by preserving their stories and producing their plays in a variety of community venues including schools, care homes, Leith Custom House, churches, libraries, a moving barge, and recently the bar of the King’s Theatre.
As the long, light-filled days give way to shorter evenings, it’s natural to feel the change. But autumn has so much to offer if we take a moment to notice it. Golden light, spectacular sunsets, crisp mornings, crunchy leaves underfoot, and cosy evenings by candlelight. There’s beauty everywhere, even as we welcome the darker months.
If you’re looking for a way to connect, slow down and embrace the season, why not join us at our Women’s Outdoor Cook Club tomorrow morning?
Meet Nathalie, Sibar and Noor from 10.30am at Granton Community Garden and help create a delicious feast for the community to enjoy from 1pm until the food runs out.
Step outdoors, breathe in the fresh autumn air and connect with your senses.
Enjoy the simple pleasure of being immersed in nature and sharing good food with good company.
If you would like to help shape the future of the centre, maybe you would like to join the Management Committee. Or maybe you have a skill that you can share?
Free family circus skills session! with Think Circus
“Cirque Du Cycle is bringing circus to your community this October
We bring circus skills and creative play to parks and community spaces around Edinburgh using our custom built e-Cargo bike.
Our experienced team of tutors and volunteers make circus skills accessible to people of all ages through skill sharing, play and a little bit of circus magic.
So come along and throw, catch, twist, twirl and have fun with us!
Everyone is welcome, no experience needed, just come ready to play.”
The North Edinburgh community said goodbye to one of the area’s most recognisable figures on Friday. Donald McDonald was a community stalwart for as long as anyone can remember, and his passing leaves the community a poorer place.
Donald was born in Pilton Crescent and lived there for almost all of his life.
He lost his mother at a young age and was brought up by his father and grandmother. Young Donald and his dad were inseparable and went everywhere together.
A shy boy, Donald did not excel at school but loved music, and the bond with his Ainslie Park music teachers Mr and Mrs McIntosh endured for many years after Donald left the local school.
He went on to work with Scottish Ominibuses, later SMT and Eastern Scottish and it was there he developed a deep love for transport, particularly buses and ferries.
He was made redundant during the Thatcher years and never worked again, but put his energy and enthusiasm to good use as a volunteer across his beloved North Edinburgh.
Donald served on a wide range of boards and management committees across North Edinburgh over many years, showing a rare commitment.
During the week, Donald would call in to visit many of his favourite projects, spending time talking to staff. He was a diligent board member, too, often turning up hours early for his own wee pre-meeeting session!
Invariably Donald would be carrying his trademark shopping bag, which was filled with a cornucopia of papers, articles, photographs and a wealth of material he was always keen to share. Sometimes during meetings he would delve into his bag and produce an item of interest; often interesting, certainly, although not always relevant to that particular meeting!
As well as being a North Edinburgh Edinburgh News board member Donald also distributed the free newspaper every month, and he often went far and beyond his own patch to share the NEN.
Weekends would see Donald attending his local Granton Parish Church, where he was a faithful member of the congregation all of his life, and also touring the length and breadth of the country, using public transport to visit far flung places to attend exhibitions, displays and shows.
Dunoon, Arbroath, Melrose, Stirling … Donald visited them all, and he made sure the North Edinburgh News was distributed in some places far outwith the Greater Pilton borders!
I remember fondly, too, his unlikely partnership with another local legend, ‘salty sea dog’ George Scammell. For some years the pair were a double act; North Edinburgh’s own Little and Large. They were doughty supporters of the campaign to save the SS Explorer, which languished, rusting and unloved, in a quite corner of Leith Docks. It took many years, but the campaign was ultimately successful,
Donald would be involved in so many campaigns and could be always be counted on to support his community when it mattered. Deputations, protests, public meetings, Donald would be there. For Donald, it was always community first.
He was an active member of many groups over the years: Granton History Group and Pilton Environment Group (PEG) are just two and in more recent years he enjoyed the debate, discussion and visits with Royston Wardieburn’s Spring Chickens and Power to the People groups.
Despite his years of commitment and dedication to his community it was absolutely no surprise that Donald was aghast when Royston Wardieburn’s management committee proposed to name a community room in his honour. Donald didn’t want any fuss, didn’t want to be in the limelight: community first.
I for one am very happy that Donald finally relented, and a plaque now bears his name in the Centre where he played such an active role and participated in so many activities over the years. I hope he was quietly proud.
Goodbye, then, dear Donald. You will be fondly remembered with great affection by all who knew you across our community.
We’re looking forward to celebrating, and you’re all invited! Free event.
Contact us if you’d like to help out, or to contribute a song or other performance..
All apple dessert entries should be delivered by 3.30pm. We can provide local apples on the two Wednesday afternoons before, come to the garden to collect. First prize is a £20 gift voucher for Granton Garden Bakery.
GATHER is a brand new exhibition showcasing work by artists and community members from across Edinburgh, coming together for the very first time.
As well as artwork from the other hubs, the exhibition features 21 Art for Grown Ups members showing their work, plus our community banner (still a work in progress but almost complete!) on display alongside artwork created by NEA and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre members.
This is a truly special exhibition, and we’d love for you to join us!
GATHER EXHIBITION
Opening: Friday 11 September 2026, from 4:30pm
Main Exhibition: 12 – 26 September 2026
St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AE
Free. No need to book.
The Creative Community Hubs Network consists of eight partner organisations based across Edinburgh: WHALE Arts, The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Granton:hub, North Edinburgh Arts, Duncan Place Leith, The Crannie, Lyra and Craigmillar Now.
Tracy Gilbert MP has written to councillors ahead of the City of Edinburgh Council Transport and Environment Committee considering the city’s future tram network, warning Councillors that any moves to scrap tram proposals to Granton would entrench inequality and poverty in North Edinburgh.
Tomorrow (Thursday 10 September), Councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee will consider the Strategic Business Case for the Trams to Granton, the BioQuarter and beyond. The officer recommendations are to prioritise the southern section of the proposed tram extension.
Tracy Gilbert is concerned that communities in North Edinburgh, including some of the poorest areas of the city, could once again be left waiting for investment in public transport.
In her letter to councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee, she sets out the case for North Edinburgh to remain firmly within the city’s transport priorities and that a failure to progress trams to Granton could entrench inequality and poverty.
Tracy Gilbert MP said: “In part of my constituency the economic and social benefits of the trams are realised every day. That lived experience and the Strategic Business Case being considered by the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee this week makes the strong case for investment in both the South and North to spread these benefits further.
“Trams to Granton would directly serve three of the 5% most deprived communities in Scotland and six of the 10% most deprived. We are talking about communities that already face significant inequalities, where access to reliable, affordable public transport can open opportunities for training education and employment.
“That is why I have written to councillors ahead of this week’s committee meeting. I am very clear that a failure to realise the ambition of the trams that has been shared by a number of political parties over the last three decades will entrench inequality and poverty in Granton, Pilton and Muirhouse.
“I hope that Councillors will make the ambitious decision this week. Either way I will continue making the case for the strategic investment needed in Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton because our communities deserve better.”
Ms Gilbert’s letter reads:
Since July 2024, I have had the privilege of representing Edinburgh North and Leith. In one part of the constituency the benefits of the trams to local people and businesses are being realised every day, in another part of the constituency the potential benefits of the tram are well known but need political support to become a reality.
Success of Trams to Newhaven
In and around Leith, Leith Walk and Newhaven local people and businesses have enjoyed the benefits of the tram since the extension to Newhaven was opened in June 2023. The recent closure of the line between the City Centre and Newhaven has perversely demonstrated the importance of the trams for connectivity and trade.
Over the tram closure I received a number of e-mails from residents on the increased difficulty they had in travelling to work and into the city centre generally. Most residents experienced severe delays on buses running through Newhaven, Ferry Road, the Shore, Easter Road and Leith Walk. In addition to delays, many buses were full before going up to the City Centre or leaving the City Centre before going along Leith Walk.
Similarly, although the deployment of an additional 200 Voi Bikes was welcome in the wake of the fire there was a tram to bike shift from constituents travelling to and from work which meant many Voi Bike stops were empty across Leith during the day.
In terms of the economic impact there was a visible decrease in the number of people visiting cafes, pubs and restaurants around the Shore and Leith Walk. I am aware that at least one pub and one restaurant have decided to close following the impact of poor summer sales for a second year in a row following Leith Connections project delays and now the impact of the trams.
Argonaut Books have shared data on their Instagram page which shows that in every August since 2022 their sales from July to August have increased. In August 2025, they had a 30% increase in sales compared to July 2025. However, the impact of the tram closure meant in August 2026 they saw a 5% decrease in sales compared to July 2026.
Over the last two months I have repeatedly heard from businesses and residents on the positive impact the trams have had on them. Many of those businesses and residents were sceptical in the past. This lived experience of the trams over the last few years for communities in Leith, Leith Walk, Newhaven and the Shore demonstrate the opportunity of following through on the vision that was developed through the early 2000s for trams in Edinburgh for the other side of my constituency in Edinburgh North and Leith
The Case for Trams to Granton
The Strategic Business Case for consideration by the Transport and Environment Committee makes the case for progressing the whole of the route. Due to my constituency interest, I will focus on the route to Granton.
The proposed routes through Roseburn and Orchard Brae meet the Transport Planning Objectives (TPOs) set in accordance with Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG).
TPO1 – To support inclusive and sustainable economic growth
The route between the City Centre and Granton would increase connectivity of major centres of employment such as Craigleith Retail Park, Leonardos and the Western General to the City Centre and beyond. In reverse the increased connectivity would open up employment opportunities for residents in Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton.
A number of major employers in Edinburgh have informed me of the difficulty they have in recruiting people in this area due to the lack of direct public transport connections especially to accommodate shift work.
TPO2 – To respond to climate change, delivering net zero
The route between the City Centre and Granton would increase public transport connectivity between Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton and the West of the city. At present only one bus route serves these communities and the West to the Airport.
The tram extension would help provide the option for residents to use public transport rather than private cars for intra-city and airport journeys. The option would be extended to new residents in the community through the Granton Waterfront Development.
TPO3 – To promote equality and inclusion and help tackle the city’s housing emergency The route between the City Centre and Granton would drastically increase connectivity between the rest of the city and Edinburgh College (Granton Campus). The Campus delivers over 70 qualifications in hospitality, construction, travel operations and the arts with many of the qualifications essential for key growth areas for the city and not delivered at alternative campuses.
The route to Granton would directly service three communities in the 5% most deprived areas of Scotland according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) (Muirhouse – SO1008929 and SO1008930 and Granton South and Wardieburn – SO1008919) and directly service 6 communities in the 10% most deprived areas (adding Muirhouse SO1008933, Granton and Royston Mains – SO1008921 and Granton South and Wardieburn – SO1008918).
Furthermore, the route would directly serve 12 communities which are in the 20% most deprived communities in Scotland.
TPO4 – To improve health, wellbeing and safety and TPO5 – To protect and enhance our environment The route between the City Centre and Granton would improve connectivity for the whole city to the Western General which provides a range of medical specialisms including geriatric, infectious diseases, diabetes, stroke medicine and breast surgery for the whole of Edinburgh and is the regional cancer centre for the whole of the South East of Scotland.
The route could also see a major upgrade to the Roseburn Path which at present is poorly lit and unsafe during the dark.
In addition, there is considerable development planned across the area. The Granton Waterfront Development which will deliver 3,500 new homes and the Art Works which will help open up Scotland’s National Collection. Ensuring that the trams are extended to Granton will help the public transport network to cope with the increase in demand from these developments alone. A number of these public and private investments have been made on the understanding over the last two decades that the tram network would extend to Granton in one form or another.
Current Position
Despite widespread political support for the trams at various points over the last three decades, it is clear that political will for the route to Granton is falling. I also suspect that there will be calls at the Transport and Environment Committee to only proceed with the South route for trams to the Bioquarter.
Taking such a decision would entrench the inequality and poverty experienced by too many in Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton. Such a decision would be based on political will, not the facts. The Strategic Business Case sets out the performance of both the North route to Granton and the South route to the Bioquarter against the TPOs and the STAG criteria. The appraisals were favourable for both routes and is demonstrated by the analysis below.
Table 1: Analysis of Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework Scoring Framework for each route (Section 4.5.6 of Strategic Business Case)
Benefit/ Impact
Roseburn
Orchard Brae
South East Corridor
Major Benefit (+++)
2
0
2
Moderate Benefit (++)
9
6
10
Minor Benefit (+)
2
4
2
No benefit or impact (0)
1
6
1
Minor cost or negative impact (-)
1
2
3
Moderate cost or negative impact (–)
3
0
0
Major cost or negative impact (—)
0
0
0
Table 2: Analysis performance against STAG Criteria (Section 4.5.7 of Strategic Business Case)
Benefit/ Impact
Roseburn
Orchard Brae
South East Corridor
Major Benefit (+++)
3
2
3
Moderate Benefit (++)
8
7
7
Minor Benefit (+)
4
4
5
No benefit or impact (0)
5
3
3
Minor cost or negative impact (-)
1
6
5
Moderate cost or negative impact (–)
2
1
0
Major cost or negative impact (—)
0
0
0
Next Steps
At the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday 10th September, I encourage Elected Members to proceed with the officer recommendations on Agenda Item 6.
For the past three decades there has been wide spread support for the vision and ambition for trams to run between the City Centre and Granton in one form or another. Councillors of many groups have championed the route over the past three decades because of the transformative benefits it can have for Granton, Pilton and Muirhouse. The legacy of those Councillors is a legacy of ambition, proceeding
with the officer recommendations allows that ambition to take a further step in being realised. Tearing up that ambition would entrench inequality and poverty, particularly in Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton and would be a dereliction of responsibility by Councillors.
I hope you will take the ambitious decision for Granton, Pilton and Muirhouse and the whole of Edinburgh on Thursday.
Yours sincerely,
Tracy Gilbert MP
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith
Cirque Du Cycle is bringing circus to your community this October 
