The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3785 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Muirhouse Millennium will miss Martha

Martha Docherty 12.6.1929 – 01.08.2014

Sadly, we have to report that one of our community has died at the grand old age of 85. Born 12 June 1929, Martha Docherty was a much loved member of the “Sunshine Club” and also St. Paul’s social club.

A kind and generous spirited lady, much of the old school, Martha loved both clubs and the company and especially looked forward to the trips out that both afforded their members.

Her love of dogs often stopped a gentle stroll through -St Andrews – Pebbles’ and every town north of the borders. This love was only up-staged by the lunch break, which just had to be fish and chips!! This picture (below) is the only one in which Martha was encouraged to break a lifetime habit and elect for “St.Andrew’s style Steak Pie”!

We will all miss you Martha, and our thoughts are for your immediate family and friends, our memories are of you – Thank you for them all.

Martha’s funeral will take place at St. Paul’s in Muirhouse on Friday 8 August at 10.00am and then on to Craigmillar Castle Cemetery for the committal. This will be followed by light refreshments back at St. Pauls Halls in Muirhouse.

We will never forget our Martha.

James McGinty
Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

Glasgow 2014: Johnstone hails ‘inspirational’ Games

‘Investing in sport is money well spent’

As Team Scotland heads toward the magical fifty medal mark Green MSP Alison Johnstone has hailed Glasow’s inspirational Commonwealth Games. The Green MSP for Lothian – and Co-convener of Holyrood’s cross-party group on sport – says the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is sure to inspire a new wave of enthusiasm for sport.

Commenting as the Games enters its closing weekend, Ms Johnstone, a qualified athletics coach and former competitive runner, said: “Glasgow 2014 has brought people from across the globe together. While spectators cheer on their countrymen and women the applause for each and every athlete from all parts of the crowd is testament to the generous and knowledgeable Scottish audience.

“I’ve no doubt that many people, young and old, will be inspired to follow in the footsteps of those they’ve cheered on this week. We need to look at formal links with coaches and educators in our schools.

“Physical education and games aren’t the same thing and we need to invest in physical literacy for our young people as this will pay dividends in terms of long term health and well being. The challenge now, if we’re to deliver a meaningful legacy, is to make sure the facilities and coaches are in place for this to become a reality, and that no one is priced out of a more active lifestyle.

“Investing in sport is money well spent.”

Fringe first for North Edinburgh

The Fringe is back, with it’s eclectic mix of the good, the bad and the downright awful. Last year’s event offered enthusiasts no less than 45,464 performances of 2,871 shows, making it the largest ever arts festival in the world. This year’s could be even bigger – aficionados really are spoiled for choice.

It’s always a bit of a gamble, of course: you pay your money, you take your chances – but art-lovers in North Edinburgh have landed a major cultural coup. Internationally renowned artist Pierre Toblerone is exhibiting his latest collection on the streets of North Edinburgh – for free!

Toblerone is known by some as the French Banksy, and the unconventional young artist from the Left Bank has delighted critics with his bold use of everyday household items in major art installations. Never far from controversy, Toblerone – who changed his name in 2010 in a one-man protest against the exploitation of cocoa beans – steadfastly refuses to exhibit at major galleries and museums but instead brings his work ‘close to the people’.

Toblerone famously refuses to speak to the media – the reclusive artist now only communicates through the medium of artistic expression following some particularly harsh reviews – but his agent said: “Pierre believes that art has the power to move and that all art – if it is honest – must provoke and challenge. These major new works do all of these things. They provoke, they challenge – and I’m sure I saw one of them moving. And even if I didn’t, they will be moving soon”.

“The first creation The Way to the Sea (above) demonstrates the eternal battle of the elements, in this case fire and water, while Armageddon (top) portrays the futility of war. Pierre believes that this is his most complete exhibition to date: it has been nearly four years in the making but Toblerone lovers will appreciate the passion and attention to detail that goes into Pierre’s work.”

Guardian arts correspondent Guy Hyperbole gushed: “Toblerone is an artist very much in demand, and if he chose to exhibit at, say, The Tate Modern, the demand for tickets would be insatiable – art lovers just can’t get enough Toblerone. This latest exhibition by the enfant terrible of the arts movement has been much-anticipated and it was certainly worth the wait. Simply put, it is so powerful one feels almost violated.

“Art lovers simply must see this exciting exhibition before it moves on – it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get close to some truly inspirational work. The juxtapositions are incredibly brave and these installations are Pierre’s message to the world. Just what that message actually is is open to a bewildering range of interpretations, but if you see only one exhibition during the Festival, I urge you to see this – you will never experience primitive urban art in quite the same way again.”

Don’t miss it!

Pierre Toblerone: Les matresses d’amour. Free

Nicola Sturgeon to take questions at Craigmount

Deputy First Minister to take part in public question and answer sesssion at Craigmount High School

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP will attend a public question and answer session at Craigmount High School, Craigs Road, Corstorphine from 7 – 8.30pm on Monday (4 August).

This is one of many public question and answer sessions conducted by the Deputy First Minister across Scotland in recent months.

The public meeting will be chaired by local Edinburgh Western constituency MSP Colin Keir. This event has been arranged in order to allow those who have still to make up their minds on the referendum to ask questions of one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote.

Colin Keir MSP said: “I’m delighted that the Deputy First Minister has accepted the invitation to come and participate in this event at Craigmount High School.

“Although it’s clear that support for a Yes vote on 18 September is steadily growing there are still a fair number who are undecided and want to know more. This is their chance to come along and ask the questions they require answers to before they get to the ballot box. It’s my hope that many locals who are still undecided will take the opportunity to come along and hear from one of Scotland’s leading political figures.”

Inverleith’s BIG Search takes place on Monday

Visit the of wealth of parks, libraries and other landmarks in Inverleith!

Have fun in your area!

Come join The BIG search in Inverleith – for all ages (teams of up to 6 people one of whom must be named responsible adult) to explore the neighbourhood by following clues and questions, then bringing the completed sheets back to King George V Park for an afternoon of fun activities including BBQ, launch of new park play equipment!

Come collect your question sheet and map plus a free tshirt for first 50 participants from 12 at Blackhall Library and bring it back to King George V Park by 2.30pm. Take part in fun activities, BBQ and winners will be announced after launch of new play equipment at 3pm.

This event is part of Inverleith Summer Programme. For more information, or to register your team, contact Callum on 332 6316, email callum.mcleod@ea.edin.sch.uk or Elaine on 07803 454565, email elaine.lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk

Man detained after girl hit by motorcycle

A nineteen year old man has been detained by police following a motorcycle collision with a young girl near Marine Drive. The incident happened at around 5pm last night.

A spokesman said: “Police Scotland was called to an incident in Silverknowes, near to Marine Drive, at around 5pm on Wednesday after a motorcyclist collided with a six-year-old girl. The girl sustained minor injuries and a 19-year-old man has been traced and detained. Inquiries are ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.”

Forth priorities: still time to have your say

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership is currently developing its new Community Plan – but there’s still time to have your say on what the priorities should be in Forth.

Forth’s Partnership Development Officer Jim Pattison said: “We would like to thank all who have already responded and gave comments on the priorities being proposed for the new Forth Neighbourhood Partnership Community Plan – we have received some very helpful responses to date.

“We are now at the stage where we need to begin summarising the responses in a report for consideration by the Neighbourhood Partnership but if you haven’t given us your views yet there is still time, and Scott Donkin will be happy to receive comments (by email or telephone) up until Friday 15 August”.

Scott Donkin, North Neighbourhood’s Partnership and Information manager, said: “We have been receiving some positive feedback and would welcome any thoughts you may have.

“The proposed priorities (see document below) have been developed following an initial engagement exercise with the community and our partners and we are keen to learn if it is felt the proposed priorities reflect this. We are in the process of engaging with as many people as possible and I would be grateful if you could email me with any comments (good or bad) or to highlight any specific areas you feel have been missed.

“It is intended that the proposed priorities will be reported to the Neighbourhood Partnership in August for adoption – so therefore any comments or requested meetings will need to be prior to the NP meeting.”

ForthPriorities Development Doc v 2 (1)

If you have any comments to make or require further information contact Scott Donkin by telephone on 0131 529 5001 or email scott.donkin@edinburgh.gov.uk

Kitchen fire sparks safety warning

Fire chiefs are reminding the public to stay safe while cooking following a kitchen fire in a Dumbiedykes Road flat last night. A man was treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation at the Royal Infirmary following the incident, and firefighters discovered that the flat did not have a working smoke alarm.

Station Manager Steve Harkins said: “Many kitchen fires happen when people are not paying attention or they leave things unattended but there are several things you can do to prevent fires in the kitchen.

“Don’t leave pans unattended. Take them off the heat if you have to leave the room. Fire starts when your attention stops. When you have finished cooking, make sure the cooker or oven is turned off.

“The kitchen can be the most dangerous place in the home. Fire can cause damage not just to your property, but more seriously can put family and loved ones at risk.

“The property did not have a working smoke alarm. We would encourage anyone who doesn’t have a smoke alarm to have one fitted immediately. Smoke alarms save lives. If you don’t have one then call Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit and we will provide you with a smoke alarm free of charge. It could save your life.

“Home fire safety visits only take around half an hour and are delivered by firefighters from your local community. If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, by texting ‘check’ to 61611 or by contacting their local fire station.”

Kitchen Safety

More fires start in the kitchen than in any other room in the house. Here’s some advice to help you stay safe.

General cooking

Make sure your home has working smoke alarms. Consider fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen

Make sure your cooker is or has been fitted properly by a qualified fitter

Keep your oven, cooker and grill clean and make sure there’s no fat on it

Keep tea towels, cloths and kitchen paper away from the cooker

Keep fats and oils away from the cooker

Cook with handles turned to the side to avoid them spilling

Use a flameless lighter on gas cookers instead of matches or a lighter

You should never:

Hang or dry clothing and towels on or near the cooker

Leave your cooker, grill or oven on when you go out – even on a timer

Leave electrical wires or cords near the cooker

Keep anything on top of an eye-level grill

Put anything metal in your microwave – even tin foil.

Chip pans and deep-frying

Modern electric deep fat fryers are much safer than traditional chip pans as they have a safety switch that cuts them off to stop them overheating and catching fire.

Try not to use a traditional chip pan if you can because there’s always a high risk of fire. If you do use a traditional chip pan, follow our safety advice:

Only ever fill one third full

Turn the handle to the side – but not over any of the other cooker rings

Fry in small amounts – overfilling could cause spills

Make sure food going in it is dry, not dripping wet or covered in ice.

You should never:

Deep fry when you’ve been drinking alcohol or taking drugs or if you are feeling tired

Leave the pan alone – It only takes a second for a fire to start.

Other kitchen appliances

Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers have powerful parts that heat up, any of which could start a fire if something goes wrong. Follow our safety advice:

Always switch appliances off at the wall before going to bed or going out

Always plug straight into a wall socket and avoid adaptors for lots of plugs as they can result in electricity overloads

Never Leave them running when going out or to bed.

Open fires and stoves

Keep all furniture at least three feet away from your fire

Put the fire guard up if you feel sleepy

Let fires burn down before going to bed – and don’t forget to put the guard up

Keep the guard up at all times if you have children or pets

Have your chimney swept at least once a year – twice if you use it lots

Check your hearth regularly – if it’s cracked, have it fixed professionally

You should never:

Leave a lit fire unattended without a fireguard

Use flammable liquids like barbecue lighter fuel to light a fire

Throw flammable liquids or spray cans onto the fire

Use building or packing timber as firewood – it’s very sparky

Dry clothes over or in front of the fire – they could catch light

Place mirrors over the fire – people stand too close and risk setting clothes on fire

For stoves, you should also:

Replace any cracked door glass or casings immediately

Always use certified fire glass in stove doors

Use the right type of fuel (using coal in wood stoves can damage them)

Be careful not to leave flammable items like clothes and paper on top of the stove.

recipe_for_safe_cooking

A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk

Westminster and Holyrood pledge more aid to Gaza

Greening: ‘the situation in Gaza is dire’

Police Scotland calls for demonstrators to protest ‘within the law’

Both the UK and the Scottish governments are to increase their aid to Gaza, it hsa been announced. The UK has announced £3 million in new funding so the World Food Programme can get emergency food to more than 300,000 people in Gaza, while Holyrood will provide a further £500,000 to aid stricken civilians there.

And as tension rises Police Scotland today warned protestors that while peaceful demonstrations are acceptable, illegal actions will not be tolerated.

News of the increased aid comes after reports of further bloodshed in Gaza – the UN says that Israel has attacked a UN-run school housing refugees in Gaza despite warnings that civilians were there, killing fifteen people and injuring many more.

The UK is stepping up its humanitarian response to the Gaza crisis with an additional £3 million for the World Food Programme’s emergency appeal to help deal with food shortages, Prime Minister David Cameron announced today.

This £3 million boost will provide emergency food for more than 300,000 people for one month, and the latest commitment from the UK brings to £10 million the amount released to help Gaza since the latest crisis began.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:”After more than three weeks of fighting, the death toll in Gaza is rising and more than 200,000 people, many of them children, have been displaced from their homes. We urgently need to stop the bloodshed: we continue to call for an unconditional and immediate humanitarian ceasefire to prevent any more needless suffering.

“The situation in Gaza is dire. The UK is helping to meet immediate needs, including with this latest contribution of £3 million which will get food to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.

“All sides must adhere to International Humanitarian Law, all feasible precautions must be taken to avoid harm to civilians, and all sides must allow aid agencies unimpeded access to get to those in desperate need.”

Displacement of families from their homes is a huge problem that is affecting more than 200,000 people at the latest count. This has a significant impact on all aspects of day-to-day life as people rely on UN shelters and aid agencies for all their needs.

Access to food is an increasing issue of concern in Gaza. The latest reports from the UN show that food shortages are being reported in Gaza, with sharp increases in the prices of certain products.

To address the humanitarian needs in Gaza the UK government is pushing for better humanitarian access so that aid agencies can get supplies and personnel into and out of Gaza and a sustainable political solution, which must include the gradual lifting of the economic restrictions.

The UK is the third biggest donor to UNRWA’s General Fund, contributing £107 million between 2011 and 2015. UNRWA is a crucial service provider to the 70 per cent of the Gazan population who are Palestinian refugees. Our support is enabling UNRWA to continue providing basic health services during this conflict through 19 of its 21 clinics.

The Scottish Government has also pledged more support for the beleaguered people of Gaza – it is providing half a million pounds to help people affected by the crisis, External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf announced today.

The funding, which will be routed through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Gaza Flash Appeal, will help support the immediate needs of people in Gaza.

Mr Yousaf also reiterated his backing for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and called on the UK Government to take more urgent action with international partners to bring a cessation in violence. He also highlighted that the Scottish Government is continuing to work with relevant governments and local agencies to help some of those injured in the current conflict who might benefit most from treatment in Scotland.

Mr Yousaf said: “The escalating violence in Gaza has already caused far too many lives to be lost and people to be injured. The UN has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and it is crucial that this is delivered.

“Rocket attacks being fired by militants in Gaza is wrong, and must stop, however, the Israeli response has been heavily disproportionate as demonstrated by the unacceptable and mounting loss of civilian life.

“There is also increasing evidence that the humanitarian situation is continuing to deteriorate and that is why the Scottish Government is providing £500,000 funding to help the United Nations provide the water, food shelter and medical assistance people in Gaza need.

“The Prime Minister has described Gaza as “an open air prison”. He and the international community must do more in order to stop any further loss of innocent lives. There must be an immediate lifting of the blockade and siege of Gaza which is tantamount to collective punishment.

“The Scottish Government has already made clear to the UK Government that we stand ready to help where we can and we have offered medical treatment in the Scottish NHS for those who would benefit from that, as well as offering to house refugees from Gaza in Scotland.

“We will continue to work with others and support efforts to help people affected, however an immediate end to the violence and lifting of the blockade are needed to resolve the situation and we will continue to press the UK Government to do more to try to achieve this.”

Senior police officers understand the anger caused by the conflict, but they have asked those members of the public who choose to demonstrate to keep their protests within the law.

Police Scotland’s Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, who is Edinburgh’s Divisional Commander, said today: “We are aware that ongoing issues with the Gaza conflict have understandably raised concerns within our community. There have been a number of incidents reported to Police Scotland involving people using legal and illegal means to show their frustration at the humanitarian crisis.

“We are aware that people may wish to demonstrate and we will facilitate peaceful demonstrations, balancing the needs and rights of protesters with those impacted by the event in Edinburgh and beyond. Our communities will rightly expect that we will not tolerate criminal activity and deal appropriately with anyone engaged in such acts.

“Police Scotland are committed to keeping all communities safe and will continue to work with partners to uphold the law, maintain public order and protect life and property, maintaining confidence and the high reputation of policing in Scotland.

“Police Scotland are proud of the strong links we have with our communities, our local officers will be available to communicate with businesses and community groups in order to pass on any relevant information and help alleviate any concerns.”

Yesterday marked the start of Eid,but instead of the usual day of celebration Gaza’s children woke up to an Eid marked by death and destruction, with no apparent end in sight.

Twenty one days into this conflict, children in Gaza are still paying the highest price. One in four Palestinians killed in the conflict are children, and a child is killed on average almost every hour. Instead of playing in the streets as they normally do when celebrating the end of Ramadan, thousands of children in Gaza are mourning their parents at the graveyards, hundreds are buried with their families. Instead of experiencing the joy of Eid, these children are now facing uncertainty and despair.

At least 194,000 children in Gaza now need specialised psychological support, many having witnessed family deaths, injuries and displacement.

More than 100,000 children have been displaced with their families, the majority of them in schools. A total of 130 schools have been damaged and 22 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed. For Gaza’s estimated 45,000 pregnant women of whom 5,000 have been displaced, access to maternity care is extremely restricted. Local organisations report premature births doubling because of the women’s trauma.

Thousands of explosive remnants of war are left in civilian areas in Gaza, posing a further major threat to children and their families. Save the Children and local partners are taking every opportunity to reach as many of the affected families as possible, but with no clear commitment for a ceasefire, distributing aid on the ground puts our staff at serious risk.

“Children in Gaza and Israel are paying the price of political failure,” said Save the Children’s country director David Hassell. “The international community has so far failed these children, through its inability to use all its diplomatic influence to bring about an immediate end to the bloodshed. Ending the violence, as called for by the UN Security Council, is the first and immediate priority. A sustainable solution, ensuring the wellbeing of both Palestinians and Israelis, will require agreement by the parties to long-term measures that address the legitimate grievances of Palestinians, including an end to the blockade.

“Children never start wars, yet they are the ones that are killed, maimed, traumatised and left homeless, terrified and permanently scarred.”

“Save the children will not stop until innocent children are no longer under fire and the root causes of this conflict are addressed. If the international community does not take action now, the violence against children in Gaza will haunt our generation forever.”

Top student Martin’s a health and safety gem!

An Edinburgh College student has beaten more than 1,300 others to be named one of the country’s top occupational health and safety students.

Martin Diamond received the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health’s (NEBOSH) Phil Hughes Award, which is presented annually to the best candidate in Unit A of the Diploma. Martin, who studied the National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, received his accolade at Warwick University, where the international NEBOSH graduation ceremony was held.

The NEBOSH National Diploma qualification is recognised globally by professional bodies such as the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health for professional membership.

Martin, who is 35 years old and studied the part-time qualification while working as an environmental health officer at West Lothian Council, said: “I didn’t expect to win the best candidate award so it was a big surprise. I felt very proud of my achievements, to have obtained the top mark from more than 1,300 candidates. The graduation was a great day and meant I could celebrate my success with my tutor and my family.”

Martin added: “The most interesting part of the course was finding out about major catastrophes such as Piper Alpha and Chernobyl. We learned why accidents like these occur and how to prevent them happening again in the future.

“I also enjoyed the teaching style at the college, with a mixture of lectures, quizzes, class competitions and practical demonstrations, which made the course a lot more interesting. In particular, the lab sessions with the exploding custard tin and burning jelly babies was lots of fun whilst also teaching us practical skills.”

NEBOSH chief executive Teresa Budworth said: “We congratulate Martin on being the top candidate for Unit A this year. This is a massive achievement, which will have taken a great deal of hard work and dedication to achieve.”

With this extra qualification under his belt as well as the NEBOSH Best Candidate Award, Martin plans to take his newly acquired skills and knowledge back to West Lothian Council, where he assists local businesses with occupational health and safety as environmental health officer.

A diamond geezer, indeed!