‘I’m fortunate to have a team brimming with talent and enthusiasm, making North Edinburgh a safer place to live, work and visit’ – Chief Inspector Richard Horan Continue reading Room for optimism? Reported crime down in North Edinburgh
Category: Silverknowes
Fare play to Spartans Connections!
Central Taxis to sponsor Spartans Connections
Taxi for Spartans! Edinburgh’s Central Taxis are to sponsor local community club Spartans Connections. The Connections squad are delighted with the sponsorship deal and the new partnership is a great result for the Ainslie Park footballers. Continue reading Fare play to Spartans Connections!
Help protect your community from bonfire tragedy
Choosing to attend only organised displays is the best way to keep yourself, your family and your community safe. Continue reading Help protect your community from bonfire tragedy
Then play on … City of Edinburgh Music School Open Day
The City of Edinburgh Music School is holding on Open Day at Broughton High School on Saturday 7 November from 11am – 2pm.
Congratulations to the honneurable Mr Delahoy!
“Thank you for the very great honour today – Vive la France!” – Anthony Delahoy, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur
Silverknowes man Tony Delahoy was among nine Scots veterans to receive France’s highest distinction of honour for their role during the liberation of France during the Second World War.
Eight of the former servicemen received the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur at a presentation ceremony on board the French navy destroyer Aquitaine docked at Leith yesterday.
Servicemen Thomas Cave (91), Cyril Deas (93), Anthony Delahoy (92), Alexander Govan (99), John Greig (90), Hugh Maguire (95) William Pritchard (94), Walter Sharp (101) and Aidan Sprott (96) risked their lives during the D Day landings and the subsequent furious conflict to drive the Nazis back and liberate France – bravery and comradeship that has never been forgotten by the French people.
A spokeswoman for the consul general said: “France will never forget the gallantry and bravery they showed in taking part in the liberation of France 70 years ago.
“The actions and sacrifice of these men, and that of so many who fell on the battlefield, was instrumental in bringing back freedom and peace in France and across Europe.”
Emmanuel Cocher, Consul General of France in Scotland and Rear Admiral Patrick Chevallereau, the French Embassy’s defence attaché presented the medals to the old soldiers.
Gunner Anthony ‘Tony’ Delahoy was a dispatch rider in the Royal Artillery. He undertook vital communication and reconnaissance operations between HQ and Anti-Tank Guns engaging Panzers. He saw action throughout Normandy during the campaign and was involved through the Caen Sector and in the Battle for Le Havre.
A proud Tony (pictured above, third left, back row) said: “On my many returns to Normandy over the years each succeeding generation of the people of France have welcomed Veterans with great kindness, dignity and honour, expressing their heartfelt feelings for the return of their freedom.
“We Veterans owe to the people of France admiration for their courage and
determination to survive the terrible times of the occupation, we pay tribute to them and particularly to the citizens of Normandy for their courage and
sacrifice during the battles for liberation.
“One personal incident I would like to mention, on the way over to France, June 1944, our ship was hit by a large electrically guided bomb but it failed to
explode. I have always believed that somewhere brave resistance workers
sabotaged that bomb. Thank you.
“Thank you for the very great honour today – Vive la France!”
Elderly woman fends off knife-wielding robber in Silverknowes
87 year old sees off attacker with her mobility stick
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man wielding a knife attempted to rob an 87-year-old woman on a Silverknowes footpath yesterday afternoon. The incident happened between 4.30 – 4.45pm as the woman was making her way home.
As the woman walked on the public footpath linking Silverknowes Hill with Silverknowes Road a man approached her from behind. He said something, which the woman was unable to understand – but she turned to find he was wielding a knife.
The assailant demanded the woman’s purse but she refused – and then bravely warded off the would-be robber by waving her mobility stick at him. The man left empty-handed aand made off in the direction of Silverknowes Hill before being lost from sight.
The woman made her way home and raised the alarm with the police, who are now appealing for witnesses to the incident.
The suspect is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a thin face. He was wearing a dark hooded top with the hood up.
Detective Inspector John Kavanagh of Police Scotland said: “I am very keen to hear from anyone who has any information which might help with our ongoing investigation.
“Thankfully, the woman was unhurt but it goes without saying that we take a zero tolerance approach towards such despicable crimes.
“The incident was carried out during daylight hours and I would hope that someone may have seen the suspect in the area and can provide us with important information. Likewise, I would ask anyone who was using public transport in Silverknowes around the time of this crime to come forward if they remember seeing the man.
“We are keen to ensure that he is arrested as quickly as possible and those with relevant information can call police on 101 or, alternatively information can be passed anonymously through the registered charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Do the seaside survey
Please see below for details of a new survey on Marine Tourism and Recreation and details of how you can take part:
Dear member,
The first results of the marine tourism and recreation survey are in and they look promising. In the first four weeks we have had almost 1000 responses across 20 activities. Most people have listed more than one activity and so that means we could have approaching 4000 records of where people use the coast and what for. Great news for tourism and recreation in the new world of marine planning as they can be more confident that their interests and views will be taken into account in future decision making.
This is great news but there is no time to relax!!
Returns on activities vary, we are looking for more responses from niche interests such as long distance swimming but also from more popular activities such as angling, rowing, visiting historical sites, motor boat cruising and windsurfing.
Although we have done a lot to promote the survey, through social media (there is both a Facebook page and a twitter feed), through partner organisations and thousands of direct emails, postcards and letters, the personal touch is without a doubt the best way to spread the word and that is where I ask you to help make this the best survey of the sector ever.
Please can you send on the survey to anyone you can think of who may have been to the coast or used the sea for recreation? They could be a family friend who you only ever see on facebook building sand castles, it could be your daughter whose friends are mad about dinghy racing, it could be your colleagues who get together to go for a walk from time to time and occasionally go to the coast or it could be your organisations core business! Please make sure that everyone you can think of has had a chance to have a look at the survey.
Of course there is also the business survey. Anyone who runs a business which relies in some way on the marine environment should fill this one in. A one man band, a bed and breakfast in a coastal town, a marina, boat yard or tour operator!
All you have to do is click here – http://www.marinerecreationandtourism.scot/survey/
Thank you.
Sarah Brown
Project Manager, Firth of Clyde Forum
07774 160931
STOP PRESS:
Scotland has just been voted the ‘World’s Best Cruising Ground’ in the prestigious Sailing Today Awards
You(th) Decides: seeking bright sparks in Silverknowes and D Mains!
Young people living in the West and Almond areas of Edinburgh are being given the chance to win funding for their very own projects.
Grants of up to £500 are available to win through the You[th] Decides initiative launched this week by the Western Edinburgh and Almond Neighbourhood Partnerships.
Successful projects should meet the criteria of increasing opportunities for children and young people, and could relate to issues such as sports, arts and media, outdoor education, and community participation.
Any groups with members aged between 11 and 18 and living in Drumbrae/Gyle and Corstorphine/Murrayfield areas and any group with members aged between 12 and 18 and living in Cramond, Davidson’s Mains, Silverknowes, South Queensferry, Dalmeny, Kirkliston, Ratho Station and Newbridge can apply.
The funding of a total of £4,000 from the Western Edinburgh and £2,000 from the Almond Neighbourhood Partnerships Community Grants Fund has been allocated to the initiatives.
Successful schemes will be decided on by the students from local schools, members of the Neighbourhood Partnership Boards and Western Edinburgh members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Western Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership Convener, Councillor Robert Aldridge, said: “We’re running this project again because it was so successful last year. Young people are as much part of our community as adults and have come up with some fantastic ideas in the past. This is a chance for them to show off their talents and make a real difference.”
Almond Neighbourhood Partnership Convener, Councillor Alastair Shields, said: “This is a great opportunity for local young people to have a say in how funding is allocated. We are looking for imaginative projects which will engage young people and increase opportunities for them in an exciting way.”
Application forms for the You[th] Decides Initiative are available from schools and youth groups, or by contacting Steven Kipanda at Western Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership:
email Steven.Kipanda@ea.edin.sch.uk
or audrey.primrose@edinburgh.gov.uk
and Steven Stewart at Almond Neighbourhood Partnership:
email steven.stewart@ea.edin.sch.uk
or jim.conner@edinburgh.gov.uk
Closing date for applications? Almond is 23 October and it’s 30 October for Western.
A meander through Muirhouse?
Join Pilton Community Health Project’s walkers for a summer stroll through Muirhouse and Silverknowes this Thursday evening. All welcome – walk leaves Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road at 7pm.
RNLI urges: Respect the Water
Over 200 people die accidentally each year in British and Irish waters – and more than half of those who drowned didn’t even plan to get wet …
The RNLI has launched a drowning prevention campaign which aims to reduce deaths by 50%. The ‘Respect the Water’ campaign coincides with the release of figures showing that 24 people died in Scotland’s coastal waters last year.
Over the past five years, an average of 35 people have drowned in Scotland and RNLI aims to halve the number of drownings by 2024.
Most of the deaths – almost a quarter – occurred when people slipped and fell into the water while walking and running. Other causes include people at work (14%), diving (13%), swimming and/or deliberately jumping into the sea (9%) and angling (6%).
RNLI lifeboat crews in Scotland saved 51 lives in 2014, and the charity has highlighted dangers which can be more common in Scotland.
After falling in, people can experience cold water shock or the effects of strong currents under the surface. There are also problems with slippery rocks, sudden waves or unstable ground.
RNLI coastal safety manager for Scotland Michael Avril said: “We want people to enjoy the water but to make sure they respect it.
“Around 35 lives are lost around Scotland’s coast each year but many of these losses could be avoided if people acknowledge the dangers and follow some basic safety advice.”
RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign includes two films which will be shown in cinemas throughout the UK.
https://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=QhMxynB6
http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=xL1O5RjR