The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3891 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

EWE’ve got to be joking! Drylaw bench is MOOving out!

Drylaw’s lonesome stone bench is moo-ving on to pastures new. The striking stone bench – which features the heads of a sheep and a bull (or maybe a ram and a cow!) to signify the area’s past use as farmland – will make the short journey east from Drylaw Field to a new home at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre after repeated attacks by vandals.

The stone bench was the centrepiece of an upgrade to Drylaw Field six years ago – the bench was unveiled by then Lord Provost George Grubb in September 2007 (pictured below).

Almost since it’s introduction, however, the sculpture has been the targeted by vandals. It’s been spray-painted, graffiti has been scrawled on it, attempts have been made to set it on fire and it’s been physically attacked with rocks and boulders – it now looks like it has gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson and it’s a sorry sight (below).

Given the punishment the animal seat has taken over the years, Drylaw Telford Community Council has reluctantly decided to find a safer new home for the beast.

“It’s sad that we’re having to do this, but the bench was being slowly but surely destroyed and the community council agreed that this was the only course of action we could take”, said Alex Dale, chair of Drylaw Telford Community Council. “I spoke to Roy Douglas, manager at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and they are happy to take the bench there. The bench won’t be as visible as it was in Drylaw Park, but local residents will still be able to see it when they visit the Centre and at least it will be safer there – the Neighbourhood Centre has CCTV and other security measures so we hope there may be a good few years left yet in the Drylaw bench.”

Staff at the city council’s North Local Office will supervise the move later this month. It’s not known at this stage whether officers from the Scottish SPCA will also be in attendance.

Spartans set for new Lowland League

The Spartans will be among the twelve clubs selected to compete in the new Scottish Lowland Football League, the Scottish Football Association has announced.

Twenty-seven clubs from the East of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues, as well as members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, expressed an initial interest before 17 formal applications were submitted.

The new league is part of the major restructuring of Scottish football which includes plans for play-offs between teams from the Scottish Third Division, the Scottish Lowland Football League and the Scottish Highland Football League from the end of season 2014/15.

Joining Spartans in the new Lowland League are Dalbeattie Star, East Kilbride, Edinburgh City, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Gretna (2008), Preston Athletic, Selkirk, Threave Rovers, University of Stirling, Vale of Leithen and Whitehill Welfare.

The Project Steering Group, made up of the Scottish FA Executive, licensing committee and club representatives, selected the twelve succesful applicants based on their ability to meet Scottish FA club licensing criteria and their decision will be ratified by the Board of the Scottish FA at its meeting on 27th June.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for all 12 clubs, and another step forward for league reconstruction in Scotland. It’s important that ambitious clubs are given opportunities to progress. With the Scottish Lowland Football League running in tandem with the Scottish Highland Football League from next season, we are on track to create a pyramid system feeding into the senior leagues.

“The hard work now continues with the creation of the new league board, appointment of office bearers and detailed planning ahead of the start of the new season in August. On behalf of the Scottish FA, I wish all 12 clubs the very best of luck for the new season and beyond.”

Broken Hearts

It was inevitable. And while the international wrangling over who should administer the process may go on today, be clear – Hearts are going into administration.

The fragile edifice that was the complicated financial world of Vladimir Romanov has finally come crashing down. First Ukio Bankas, then UBIG and now – Heart of Midlothian FC, formed in 1874.

It seems hard to believe now, but when Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov took control at Tynecastle back in 2005 there were some who welcomed him as a saviour. Now, eight years and SIXTEEN managers later, dreams of building a side to challenge the might of the Old Firm at home, and the cream of Europe abroad, lie in tatters. The challenge now is simply to stay alive.

In a game that lives by clichés, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. From the highs of Scottish Cup wins in 2006 and 2012, European adventures – and a 2005/6 season that might even have seen Hearts crowned SPL champions if only Vlad hadn’t started meddling with team selections and sacking managers – to the lows of unpaid bills, unpaid wages and now the ignominy of liquidation, there’s never been a dull moment under Vlad’s reign; for a while he was the man who gave the Hearts fans a dream.

But now, though, the dream is well and truly over. In the cold light of day reality has kicked in and the scale and complicated nature of Hearts’ predicament is truly frightening.

The Club owes £25 million to two of Romanov’s other companies – UBIG and Ukio Bankas, both of which went into liquidation last month, thus bringing the financial woes at Tynecastle to a head. Hearts also owe an undisclosed amount to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, having only partially paid an outstanding tax demand for £50 million, and last week the club’s players and staff found that their wages and salaries would not be paid on time.

Against this background the entire Hearts squad was put up for sale last week and an appeal went out to fans – unsurprisingly, despite Hearts’ fans undoubted loyalty, season ticket sales have been slow.

So what happens next? There are a number – perhaps as many as four – serious prospective purchasers, but meaningful negotiations have been hampered by the club’s complicated financial setup. What exactly would potential investors be getting for their money – what are the assets, and what potential time bombs may be unearthed within the club’s accounts? Until that becomes clear, it’s unlikely that any bid will be forthcoming.

While fans loyalty has been stretched to the limit they continue to rally to the cause, but they too should think before committing their own hard-earned cash: by donating money are they supporting the survival of and future of the team they love, or are they pouring cash down the drain as lawyers and accountants pick over the carcass of a once great club and argue expensively back and forward between Edinburgh and Vilnius?

While the current situation is bleak, it’s certainly not hopeless and Hearts will surely survive in some form. A fifteen point deduction at the start of the forthcoming season is probably the least of their worries; after all, SPL chiefs will surely at long last restructure the league setup at the end of the season, because the current ‘model’ certainly isn’t working.

For Hibs fans who are revelling in the Jambo’s current plight, I would only ask: what are the games you look forward to most every season, the games that get your pulse racing and your mouth dry with nervous anticipation? No, Kilmarnock or Ross County don’t really do it for me, either. Take away the Edinburgh derbies and the whole season is not quite meaningless, but seriously devalued. Derby games may well be p*sh – and they usually are – but there’s atmosphere and excitement that is lacking at so many other games. So should the unthinkable happen, I for one won’t be gloating.

And for fans of other clubs, beware – given the parlous state of football finances in Scotland, it could well be your lot next.

Good luck, Hearts. Here’s hoping you’ll aye be ‘making your mark’ for a good few years yet.

By the way, those managers were: John Robertson, Steven Pressley/John McGlynn, George Burley, John McGlynn, Graham Rix, Valdas Ivanauskas, Eduard Malofeyev, Riabouas Eugenijus, Valdas Ivanauskas (again), Anotoly Korobochka, Stephen Frail, Csaba Laszlo, Jim Jeffries, Paulo Sergio, John McGlynn (yes, once again!) and Gary Locke.

For one night only: Alice at Craigroyston

Craigroyston Community High School will be staging ‘Alice in Wonderland’ TONIGHT at 7pm.

Marie McGarrol, drama worker at Craigroyston Community High School, said: “Craigroyston Community High School’s senior Drama club is putting on a public performance of Alice in Wonderland at the school tonight at 7pm, adult tickets £2, children’s tickets £1.50. The students involved would really appreciate any external support as the school as not seen a performance of this nature for many years. Please could you pass this email on to your colleagues that work in the area”.

For further information contact Craigroyston Community High School:

Telephone:      0131 477 7801
Email:         Admin@craigroyston.edin.sch.uk
Web Address:      www.craigroyston.edin.sch.uk

Adult Learning Success for North Edinburgh

We’re really pleased to report the success of two local groups during adult learners’ week, an international event celebrating and promoting the benefits of adult learning (write CLD workers Sarah Low and Lynn McCabe).

The highlight of the week is the Adult Education Awards ceremony. Over thirty groups across the city were nominated in eight award categories. Forth councillors Vicki Redpath and Cammy Day were at the City Chambers last month to help present the awards. Of the eight successful groups, two were from North Edinburgh: the ‘Use Your Loaf’ (pictured above) bread making group and the North Edinburgh Social History Project.

The selection panel were ‘inspired’ by the bread making group, who won the ‘Health and Well Being’ award. The ‘Use Your Loaf’ group is a Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) supported group, in partnership with CLD and North Edinburgh Arts.

Every week, the group (and their children!) meet in the Arts Centre with Lisa Arnott from PCHP and Sarah Low from the local CLD team to make loaves of bread (or rolls, naans, pitas, pizzas and deli breads). Whilst the dough was proving and baking, the group planned their own healthy community event: The Yummy Food Festival. The Festival took place in North Edinburgh Arts Centre in March this year and attracted 500 local people who enjoyed amongst many things, cooking demonstrations, workshops and a community ‘bake off’.

Learners from the group are being supported to develop a second bread making course which will run in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre in October, so watch out for more details! Two members of the original group have gone on to volunteer in North Edinburgh Arts Centre café and others have taught bread making in the local nursery. The learners will also be sharing their skills with others during the PCHP supported Food for Thought Forum’s Summer Programme at Forthview’s summer gala and with PCHP’s Women Supporting Women project.

Like to get involved? Call Lisa Arnott at PCHP on 551 1671 for details.

The North Edinburgh Social History Group began two years ago and was set up by community activists who wished to re-engage with the community and re-establish community participation and activism. They meticulously researched the history of the North Edinburgh community, producing a brilliant booklet and exhibition called “Never Give Up”, a record of the community’s fight for social justice.

The social history group won the ‘Political and Social Education’ award. Accepting the award, members of the group were keen to mention the longstanding history of protest in north Edinburgh, and dedicated their award to their friend and fellow activist Brian Robertson, a member of the group and committed community activist who sadly died just a few days before the Awards Ceremony.

Some members of the group are now part of a course called ‘Power to the People’, which meets in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Tuesday mornings. This ambitious course aims to cover the history of protest in Scotland over the past 300 years! In doing so, the group have been out and about on study visits to the National Gallery, the People’s Palace in Glasgow and the NationalMiningMuseum. If you’d like more information, please call local CLD worker Lynn McCabe, who runs the course, on 552 5700 (see Lynn’s piece on the group below).

The Outstanding Achievement Award went to the Bumpstart Pregnancy Café in Leith (pictured above). The Pregnancy Cafe is a relaxed group in which pregnant women and their partners meet other parents to be to talk about pregnancy and parenting. One learner described the tutors as always being there for her, and the other group members ‘like second mums’. Pregnant women in north Edinburgh are welcome to come along to their very own Pregnancy Café, on Tuesdays from 11 till 12.30 at the Haven (in CraigroystonPrimary School, Muirhouse Place West). Just turn up, or call Jo Aitkenhead on 537 4230 for more details.

Congratulations to all the learners involved on their achievements!

Sarah Low

Award for Power to the People

Having completed their successful project called ‘Never Give Up’, which documented the history of activism in North Edinburgh over the last 70 years, members of North Edinburgh Social History Group came up with a proposal for a new project called ‘Power to the People’. The group were keen to continue their research into activism but this time widened the scope of their research to cover the history of protest in Scotland during the last 300 years! To add to the challenge, the group decided that they wanted to use the arts to explore this hidden history.

The course began on 28 August last year and has proved very successful with fifteen people regularly attending each session in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Some of the topics the group have studied so far include: the Jacobite Rebellion, The Scottish Enlightenment, the Friends of the People, the Radical War, Chartism, The Campaign for the Abolition of Slavery, the Campaign for Land Reform, the Suffragette Movement, the Scottish Hunger Marches and Red Clydeside.

The group’s learning has not been confined to the classroom. They have been out and about and have been on study visits to the National Gallery of Scotland, the NationalMuseum in Chamber Street, the Portrait Gallery, the People’s Palace in Glasgow and the NationalMiningMuseum. During their studies, they also managed to fit in making a short film for the BBC’s learning site called ‘Paintings and Protest’ which is worth a wee look. The course is due to finish at the end of June but there are already plans underway for a new course on issues for the Referendum in the Autumn, a publication on the History of Protest similar to Never Give Up and a community event celebrating the group’s achievements in North Edinburgh Arts Centre. Watch this space!

In recognition of their role in developing this very important course, the organisers of the event gave the award for Social and Political Education to North Edinburgh Social History Group.

Members of the group and participants involved in the Power to the People course have dedicated the award to their friend and fellow activist, Brian (Elvis) Robertson who died a few days before the award ceremony.

Lynn McCabe

Corstorphine Hill murder: do you recognise these rings?

Police Scotland detectives investigating the discovery of a woman’s remains on Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh today released images of four rings belonging to the victim.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie said: “Responses to previous appeals for information on this woman’s identity have been encouraging. And while we are following up calls and information from all over the UK, we have still to make a real breakthrough in identifying the victim.

“As I have previously said, distinctive rings found with the woman may provide a real clue to her identity. Today we are now in a position to release images of those rings. Two are particularly distinctive – one in the shape of a daisy and one in the shape of a heart. Both are gold and are set with precious stones. I would ask anyone who recognises these rings or, who has seen someone they know wearing rings like these, to add that detail to the other things we know about the woman.”

The woman was believed to have been aged between 32 and 60 and had had extensive cosmetic work, in the form of veneers and implants, carried out on her teeth. She was white, slim, of medium build and about 5 feet 2 inches tall.

All of the rings are old but are not thought to have significant value.

One of the items belonging to the victim is a traditional Irish claddagh ring, which police said is also popular within the travelling community – but police are not drawing any conclusions from this. The heart of the claddagh ring was facing towards the body, which traditionally means the wearer has a partner.

DCI Hardie added: “We are committed to identifying this woman. We have followed up more than 80 calls and, while we are extremely grateful for the information provided, we still await that real gateway call. We are keeping an open mind on this woman’s background and history. But I am determined to uncover the information that will enable us to identify the victim and then identify those responsible for her murder.”

Police Scotland have cast their net far and wide in their attempts to identify the victim – they have contacted Europol and have also discussed the murder with colleagues in Ireland. Ten days on from the discovery of the dismembered body, however, the woman’s identity remains a mystery and police still hope that members of the public may yet be able to assist with the investigation.

Chief Inspector Murray Dykes, of Police Scotland Edinburgh Division, said: “High visibility patrols continue on Corstorphine Hill and the surrounding area and members of the public are encouraged to approach these officers if they have any information they want to bring to our attention.”

You cannot be serious! SuperBrat’s in Stockbridge!

Stockbridge will resound to cries of ‘the ball was in!’ and ‘you cannot be serious!’ when the Brodies Champions of Tennis tour comes to Scotland for the first time later this week. Part of the ATP Champions Tour, former champions and other favourites will turn back the clock in the round-robin tournament.

‘Superbrat’ John McEnroe will be joined by tennis legends including Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Goran Isanisevich in the event at Edinburgh Accies’ Portgower Place ground from Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 June.

For ticket information call 0845 859 1006 or visit www.championsoftennis.com

Corstorphine Hill murder inquiry update

Detectives investigating the murder of a middle-aged woman whose remains were found in an Edinburgh nature reserve are still looking for help to identify her, ten days after the woman’s dismembered body was discovered on Corstorphine Hill.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie, who is leading the inquiry, said: “I am really pleased with the response from the public and we have received a lot of useful information. However I am still awaiting that one elusive phone call which will provide the vital clue which will assist us to put a name to this woman.

“We are receiving calls and information from across the UK and it is all being assessed and followed up. However, as yet, we have not been given the crucial piece of information which will tell us who she is. “

The woman was believed to have been aged between 32 and 60 and had had extensive cosmetic work, in the form of veneers, carried out on her teeth. She was white, slim and of medium build and about 5ft 2ins tall.

Forensic examination of four rings belonging to the woman continues. Two of the rings stand out – one in the shape of a daisy and one in the shape of a love heart. Both are made of gold and are set with precious stones. It’s hoped that pictures of the distinctive rings worn by the victim will be made available on Monday.

DCI Hardie added: “I hope that a combination of the description of the woman, her rings and an appeal for any woman who has not been seen anytime in the past six months will strike a chord with people.”

The inquiry team has also received a lot of useful information about people seen on Corstorphine Hill with big rucksacks and carriers in which the dismembered remains may have been transported and implements which could be used for digging.

Festival of Cycling gets underway today

The first ever Edinburgh Festival of Cycling – the UK’s biggest cycling festival – gets underway today. Running until 23 June, the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling boasts a packed calendar of events from exhibitions, films and talks, to rides and races, workshops and the world’s first cycling poetry slam, Bike Slam.

Heels on Wheels, a ‘Ladies day’ of cycling, will be held at The Meadows next Saturday (22 June) from 11am to 3pm and aims to be a fun and educational event for the whole family. This event is free and all are welcome.

Copenhagen’s bicycle ambassador, Mikael Colville-Andersen, will give a talk on “Bicycle Culture by Design” this evening in the Assembly Hall, Mound Place at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 (£13 concessions).

In ‘The Fastest Woman to Cycle Around the World’, Juliana Buhring will give a talk about setting the first women’s world record for fastest circumnavigation of the world by bicycle, which she achieved in just 152 days, finishing in December 2012. This talk will be at 7.30pm on Saturday 22 June at George Square Lecture Theatre – tickets are £12 (£10 concessions).

The city council has provided £8,000 in funding, as well as advice and support, to the organisers of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling. Councillor Jim Orr, Vice Convener of Transport and Environment, said: “There is so much to do, see and hear in this exciting festival programme – I would encourage anyone with an interest in bikes to check it out, you never know what you’ll discover. It’s not just for cycling enthusiasts, either – there are plenty of events for families and for people who don’t already cycle but are keen to take it up.

“Having just been on an inspirational visit to Amsterdam, where cycling is such an intrinsic part of urban life (half of all journeys in the city centre are by bike), I’m very keen to build on Edinburgh’s already-established reputation as a cycling city. Events like this terrific Festival of Cycling are exactly the kind of collaborative, forward-looking initiatives which will help us do just that.”

Kim Harding, Festival Director, said: “We set out with the aim of creating a real Edinburgh-style festival, something that would act as a showcase for all aspects of bicycle culture and the host city. From rides (sporty and otherwise) to family activities to a range of cultural events, we hope that the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will truly have something for everyone. Let the fun begin!”

The Council has committed 6% of its Transport budget to cycling, with current projects including the A90 cycle route from Haymarket to Forth Bridge and the resurfacing and widening of North Meadow Walk.

Arise, Sir Baldrick!

At last, a ‘cunning plan’ has come together – and in British honours system hierarchy Baldrick now outranks his master Blackadder! Blackadder actor Tony Robinson has been knighted while his co-star Rowan Atkinson receives a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Among the other well-known names to receive honours are Adele, Rob Brydon, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, Clare Balding, golfer Paul Lawrie and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, but the majority of recipients are unsung heroes – of the 1,180 people who appear on the Birthday Honours list, almost three-quarters are people who are actively engaged in charitable or voluntary work within their local communities.

BirthdayHonoursList2013