Seeking information on RAF Sergeant George Lyon Mitchell (Last known address: 35 Ferry Road Avenue, West Pilton).
I am writing to you from Drammen, Norway, near where Sergeant Mitchell is buried.
On December 28, 1944, Sgt. Mitchell was aboard a Short Stirling bomber flying a mission to drop supplies to the Norwegian Resistance. Tragically, the plane was shot down and crashed near the church in the village of Sande, just outside Oslo. Seven young men (5 British, 2 Australian) lost their lives that night helping our country.
While their graves are tended to and honoured, the local community today knows little of their story. We are working to change that by erecting a permanent information memorial at the site, to be unveiled on May 17, 2026.
We need your help. I have found photos of 6 of the crew members, but I am missing a photo of George Lyon Mitchell. We desperately want to include his face on the memorial to properly honour his sacrifice.
His parents were William K. and Elizabeth Mitchell.
Do you have any information, or know of surviving family members who might have a photograph? A picture puts a face to the history and ensures he is fully remembered.
All information is valuable. Please contact me.
On behalf of Guardians of History, Ben Lonrusten
NOTE: The appeal was shared by West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.Please pass on any info you may have to me here at NEN or contact West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre directly – hope you can help! -Ed.
As some of you are aware, almost all of our much loved PEP buses were vandalised over last weekend, having their fuel tanks drilled and emptied.
This sadly resulted in having to cancel our transport commitments, which we are extremely sorry and sad about. Thank you to those individuals, family members and organisations for understanding the need to cancel, which has resulted in many of your vital services being cancelled or delayed and additional pressures experienced.
We will stay in touch with all of those involved as things move forward.
Our amazing team here at PEP sprung into action to create our action plan to get us back up and running, which hopefully won’t be too much longer. We will also be looking for more secure, long term parking facilities, if you know or anywhere, please share!
This vandalism has of course been reported to the police, but if anyone knows any information about who may have done this please do get in touch.
I don’t think they realise the conquences and impact of their actions, after all we are a Charity delivering vital services to many vulnerable people, not to mention the financial impact this has caused.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to support PEP, offering help in many ways. The local community are amazing and we are proud to serve you.
We appreciate that Christmas is just around the corner and wish we were not asking, however any donations to help us recover from the recent vandalism to our buses would be massively appreciated by ourselves as well as the organisations we work alongside
We should decide what happens in West Pilton/West Granton come along to learn more.
This event is being put on by myself (Jessica Fenn) and Chris Cullen – we live here, we aren’t an outside organisation, and we want other locals to join us
Screen Education Edinburgh is now accepting applications for Through the Lens, our free, hands-on filmmaking course for adults (18+, no upper age limit) living in North Edinburgh – but applications close THIS WEDNESDAY.
Open to beginners, the course offers practical training in screenwriting, directing, producing, camera and sound operation, production design, and editing. Participants will work as a crew to create a short film, which will premiere at the North Edinburgh Film Festival in March 2026.
The programme also includes guest sessions with film and TV professionals, cinema outings, and tailored support for those exploring creative careers. Sessions take place here at Screen Education Edinburgh (30 Ferry Rd Ave, EH4 4BA) every Tuesday, 6–8pm, from 28th October 2025 to 25th February 2026.
It’s FREE to attend, with travel bursaries available for those who require financial assistance.
Screen Education Edinburgh is now accepting applications for Through the Lens, our free, hands-on filmmaking course for adults (18+, no upper age limit) living in North Edinburgh.
Open to beginners, the course offers practical training in screenwriting, directing, producing, camera and sound operation, production design, and editing.
Participants will work as a crew to create a short film, which will premiere at the North Edinburgh Film Festival in March 2026.
The programme also includes guest sessions with film and TV professionals, cinema outings, and tailored support for those exploring creative careers. Sessions take place here at Screen Education Edinburgh (30 Ferry Rd Ave, EH4 4BA) every Tuesday, 6–8pm, from 28th October 2025 to 25th February 2026.
It’s FREE to attend, with travel bursaries available for those who require financial assistance.
CRAIGROYSTON HIGH SCHOOL’S GARDEN ALSO HIT BY VANDALISM
Community Garden Vandalism
We’re really saddened and frustrated to share that nearly all of our garden beds have been damaged. The wood has been broken, and many of the plants and vegetables that young people and volunteers worked so hard to grow have been pulled out.
This garden means a lot to our community, and it’s disheartening to see so much hard work destroyed. If anyone saw anything or knows who was involved, please get in touch.
We’re determined to repair the damage and keep this space thriving
Awful We’re about to post the same thing about our garden in the SfL department. It’s so disheartening when we try so hard to keep it good and our young people are working in it
STEPPING STONES NORTH EDINBURGH and HOME-START EDINBURGH AWARDED £226,000 TO EXTEND EARLY YEARS SUPPORT SERVICE
The 1001 Critical Days Foundation has awarded its first £1m in grants to charities supporting babies and families across the UK.
Following a rigorous application process, six charities have been awarded a combined total of £1m in multi-year funding to deliver frontline services to families in community-based family hubs or similar settings. Up to 1,800 babies and their families are expected to benefit from this support.
Home-Start Edinburgh and Stepping Stones North Edinburgh have been awarded £226k over three years, and are the only Scottish recipeints of the fund. The funding will support and extend a collaborative support service, Bump Start.
Bump Start provides holistic, relationship-based support from pregnancy throughout early childhood, with the aim of reducing isolation, improving parental confidence, increasing capacity to provide nurturing care, and supporting positive mental health.
Eliza Waye, CEO of Home-Start Edinburgh, said: “We know the time from conception onwards is critical. With this funding, we can extend our partnership to deliver Bump Start with Stepping Stones North Edinburgh and reach even more families.”
The funding is expected to support around 320 babies through the project.
Morag Wilson, CEO of Stepping Stones North Edinburgh, said: “Bump Start has been a vital part of our organisation for over a decade, making a real difference in the lives of babies and their families.
“With support from the 1001 Critical Days Fund and a strengthened partnership with Home-Start Edinburgh, we’re excited to expand our reach and deepen our impact where it’s needed most.”
Founder of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation and Executive Chair of the Trustees, the Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for the 1001 Critical Days Foundation.
“These are our very first grant awards, and each of the six charities chosen has shown outstanding commitment to supporting babies and their families.
“Their applications were impressive, their impact is tangible, and I cannot wait to see the difference they will make in communities across the country. Together, we are determined that every baby should experience the best start in life.”
Speaking at the recent launch of the Foundation, its Patron, Lord David Blunkett, highlighted the integral role played by community-based charities.
Lord Blunkett said: “We’re not talking about professionals coming in and offering support – important as this is. But rather, mobilising the talent and strength of the community, no matter how deprived, to become part of the solution, not the problem.”
The six charities awarded funding represent geographies across the whole of the UK and offer a full spectrum of services to help give every baby the best start in life.
Home-Start Edinburgh will celebrate it’s 40th year as charity next year. It’s needs-based preventative work is delivered by highly skilled volunteers, supporting families with children under five years old.
Stepping Stones North Edinburgh is a voluntary organisation that provides support services to young parent families and pregnant women living in the north Edinburgh area.
The two organisations began partnering on the Bump Start programme in 2024.
The five other charities that received funding are:
Literacy Volunteers
Nottinghamshire-based Literacy Volunteers delivers early language and literacy programmes in deprived communities, helping babies and young children build confidence, communication skills and a love of books alongside their parents.
They will use the grant funding to expand their “Learning to Love Books” programme in two family hubs based in communities where around 75% of families speak English as an additional language.
The For Baby’s Sake Trust
London-based charity, The For Baby’s Sake Trust, works with families to break the cycle of domestic abuse through long-term therapeutic, trauma-informed support, ensuring babies grow up in safe and nurturing environments.
The Oxford Parent Infant Project (OXPIP)
Based in Oxfordshire, OXPIP offers specialist parent-infant psychotherapy to strengthen the bond between parents and babies, supporting families facing trauma, postnatal depression, or disrupted attachment.
Thrive at Five
Thrive at Five is a national charity working to improve outcomes for children under five, ensuring they have the strong foundations needed for life and learning.
As a place-based charity working with communities facing hardship, Thrive at Five has been working alongside families and partners in Stoke-on Trent for just under five years. They will be using their funding to roll-out a pilot for Video Interaction Guidance with the goal of improving school readiness and long-term outcomes.
come along to learn more.
Community Garden Vandalism 
We’re about to post the same thing about our garden in the SfL department. It’s so disheartening when we try so hard to keep it good and our young people are working in it 
**Calling All Volunteers young and old!** 
**Where?** The Arena Basketball Court, Ferry Road Drive
**When?** Monday 22nd September
**Time?** 4:30PM – 6:30PM (Clean-Up)
6:30PM – 7:30PM (Refreshments at PYCP – come relax and chat!)
**Free refreshments afterwards** at PYCP – everyone welcome!
**Tag a friend, share this post, and let’s build a cleaner, greener, more welcoming community together!**