Ian Moore guest speaker at Drylaw Telford AGM

The history of Drylaw in fifteen minutes! Local historian Ian Moore is making a quick return to Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre as guest speaker at Drylaw Telford Community Council’s annual general meeting tomorrow evening.

An enthusiastic member of North Edinburgh Social History Group, Ian was presented with DTCC’s annual Thomas Tierney Award just last month. He’s a real character and his contribution should make a refreshing change from the usual old balance sheets and dull reports!

The annual general meeting starts at 7pm – all welcome.

Fire crews tackle Muirhouse blaze

Firefighters spent two hours battling a fire in a derelict building in Muirhouse Avenue last night.

Three fire appliances from Crewe Toll attended the incident after the alarm was raised at 9.20pm. Crews discovered a fire in the ground floor of the derelict domestic property and two firefighters in breathing apparatus used high-pressure hose reels to tackle the blaze.

The fire spread to the first floor, but was put out with a high-pressure hose reel and crews using a short extension ladder. Following further safety inspections and damping down fire crews  left at 11pm.

The Muirhouse Avenue building is one of two due for demolition as part of the Muirhouse Pennywell regeneration programme.

Royal Victoria Building Open Day today

The new Royal Victoria Building is holding an open day this afternoon to give local people, patients and relatives the chance to look around the new building at the Western General Hospital. It’s an opportunity to see Edinburgh’s state-of-the-art facility before it swings into operation next month.

The RVB, which has been built on the Western General Hospital site, has been designed to provide the highest quality healthcare services in a modern setting for older people, dermatology and rheumatology patients. It will become a landmark in healthcare history when it opens, as the first of its kind in Scotland to 100 per cent single en-suite rooms.

Along with the rest of the team, project director Dave King will be on hand to take guided tours of the building and point out some of the innovative features and designs. He said: “We are really proud of this facility and we are looking forward to taking people around the building and letting them see it for themselves. The open day will give our neighbours, locals, patients and relatives the chance to see the future of healthcare services for the elderly on Scotland”.

You can see the future for yourself today from 1 – 4pm.

The open day follows the recent handover ceremony from the contractor to NHS Lothian, when NHS Lothian Chairman Dr Charles Winstanley, joined by children from St David’s Primary School, sunk a time capsule in the grounds of the new facility to mark the occasion.

The new Royal Victoria Building was commissioned following a review of older people’s services in January 2002 and an extensive public consultation two years later. Approval was granted in early 2010 for medical services for patients over 65 years of age to be moved and provided in a new facility.

Dianne seeks sponsors for Diabetes walk

West Granton Road woman Dianne Vanderster is taking part in a sponsored walk on behalf of Diabetes UK on 17 June and she’s looking for NEN readers to sponsor her.

Dianne, who is 73, has had diabetes for ‘eight or nine’ years and believes that the charity’s ‘Walk for Diabetes’ events are worth supporting, so she’s decided to take part in the Edinburgh and Lothians event which starts from Linlithgow Palace on 17 June.

Although Dianne and husband Jack have lived in West Granton Road for many years, many of her friends and neighbours have moved on and it’s not quite so easy for Dianne to get round the doors to look for sponsors – so she’s asked the NEN to help.

No sooner said than done – if you’d like to support Dianne in her sponsored walk to raise funds for Diabetes UK, contact Scottish organiser Susan Williamson on 0141 245 6380 or email Scotland@diabetes.org.uk

Good luck with the walk, Dianne!

North Edinburgh hosts 'International' sports carnival

Forthview and Granton Primary Schools became Australia and China for the day when they took part in a Sports Carnival organised by facilities management giant ISS at The Spartans Community Football Academy yesterday.

The local schools were joined by Bannockburn’s St Mary’s School and each took part in three different elements on the day – the themes being education, fun and competition.

The event was supported by a wide range of agencies: British Heart Foundation and Coca Cola sponsored the event, while Lothian and Borders Police, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and Lothian Buses were all there, providing information and advice at the education section. SELEX Galileo apprentices were among the volunteers who staffed the popular fun section which included inflatables and mini-football.

Highlight of the day was a series of sports challenges and competitive races – sprints, hurdles, relays and fun runs – all enthusiastically supported by cheering supporters.

And continuing the theme in the finest Olympic tradition there were also award presentations and a closing ceremony to bring a memorable day to perfect end.

Some images:

North Edinburgh hosts ‘International’ sports carnival

Forthview and Granton Primary Schools became Australia and China for the day when they took part in a Sports Carnival organised by facilities management giant ISS at The Spartans Community Football Academy yesterday.

The local schools were joined by Bannockburn’s St Mary’s School and each took part in three different elements on the day – the themes being education, fun and competition.

The event was supported by a wide range of agencies: British Heart Foundation and Coca Cola sponsored the event, while Lothian and Borders Police, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and Lothian Buses were all there, providing information and advice at the education section. SELEX Galileo apprentices were among the volunteers who staffed the popular fun section which included inflatables and mini-football.

Highlight of the day was a series of sports challenges and competitive races – sprints, hurdles, relays and fun runs – all enthusiastically supported by cheering supporters.

And continuing the theme in the finest Olympic tradition there were also award presentations and a closing ceremony to bring a memorable day to perfect end.

Some images:

Scottish Opera comes to Oaklands

Come with us to a magical, night-time world – take a train ride through the jungle and meet a friendly lion who sleeps under the stars …

Scottish Opera came to Oaklands yesterday – in their pyjamas! The singers were performing SensoryO, a brand new interactive performance rich in sound, rhythm and music – and just ideal for the Oaklands children.

SensoryO’s warm and inviting set introduces young people to live music in a relaxed and intimate environment. The performance features a mix of live and recorded vocal music with percussive sounds, and uses smells, textures and actions along with striking visuals to inspire the imagination and bring the adventure to life.

The performances were hugely enjoyed by Oaklands children, carers and staff, and the SensoryO tour ’s now moved on. As Scottish Opera celebrates it’s 50th birthday this year, here’s hoping that the talented company performs to many more appreciative and enthusiastic audiences over the coming months.

Sainsburys to cook up a treat

Local supermarket Sainsburys is cooking up a treat tonight at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. A chef from the Supermarket giant will be doing cooking demonstrations tonight starting at 7pm.

If you would like to go along please contact the centre on 315 4989.

Happy eating.

Gala Committee to hold open planning session

Organisers of the West Pilton and Muirhouse community gala are to hold an open day next month. The gala committee is inviting local groups along to a two-hour session on 19 June to meet with local groups and organisations, establish what they require for this summer’s gala at West Pilton Park and an opportunity to sign up for the big day.

West Pilton and Muirhouse Community Gala chairperson Sean Gardiner explained: “The gala committee are holding an open day at Muirhouse St Andrews Parish Church on Tuesday 19 June at 11am, when the church has kindly given us use of the hall for a couple of hours. What we aim to do is gather all local groups and organisations into one room and establish what involvement you as a group would like in the upcoming gala – this could be in the form of a free information table inside one of the marquees, or perhaps an activity; really anything that promotes what you do in the West Pilton and Muirhouse areas.”

He added: “Getting everyone in the one place not only provides the gala committee with great feedback but also gives you the chance to fill out any of the relevant paperwork there and then, getting your place in the new gala confirmed.”

To confirm your attendance at the 19 June meeting, or for further information about the Gala, email wpmcgala@gmail.com