Oaklands brings Christmas cheer to cancer charity

Oaklands School’s fantastic festive show ‘A Magical Christmas Dream ‘ has brought some Christmas cheer to Macmillan Cancer Support.  Money raised through admission and the sale of refreshments was donated to the cancer charity and Macmillan Fundraising Manager Jayne Forbes called in at the school on Ferry Road this morning to pick up a cheque for £317.

Oaklands Head Teacher Maureen Mathieson explained:  “The show was a huge success – the school hall was packed and it was great to see so many people coming along to support our event.  We had talked about which charity we would like to donate to and our staff chose Macmillan Cancer Support.  Visitors to our show were very generous so we are really pleased with the total we are able to give Macmillan Cancer Support”.

Macmillan’s Jayne Forbes enjoyed a school assembly where senior kids performing their own version of an Eminem rap, first performed at the Christmas show.  She told the children:  “We are really grateful for your support – we couldn’t do our work without your help.  Thank you so much”.

TRIP to the Doocot anybody?

Tenants and Residents in Pilton (TRIP) are holding their annual general meeting in The Doocot tonight at 7pm.  The AGM will be followed by a Christmas dinner.

TRIP’s Jon Black said:  “It would be great to see residents of West Pilton/West Granton there for the AGM, and you will get a Xmas dinner. Anyone from further afield is most welcome to join us after the AGM part of the evening for food and a drink!”

For further information give Jon a call on 0790 191 4829.

Could you be a Volunteer Snow Warden?

The Council has sent out the following advert:

Join the snow clearing effort

During severe weather the Council will do all it can to keep the city moving.  However, our focus has to be on priority routes for buses and emergency vehicles and giving access to hospitals, health centres and schools.

The Council want local people to help clear snow. (Picture: Thomas brown)

In previous years, we have been encouraged by the number of residents who contact us to see how they can help.  There is a lot you can do by clearing pavements in your area and checking on neighbours.

We are enlisting some volunteer snow wardens to be our eyes and ears in their community.  They can tell us about specific problems and help residents with the local effort to clear snow and ice from pavements.

 

To find out if you could be a Volunteer Snow Warden call 0131 529 3687 or email winter.maintenance@edinburgh.gov.uk

Spartans Woman's FC celebrate excellent season

Spartans FC Women’ Premier League side gathered at the Academy on Saturday night to celebrate the 2011 season. Finishing in runners up spot to worthy champions Glasgow City was a great achievement and full credit must go to the full squad of  players, coaching staff and volunteers for their hard work and determination throughout the season. 

Hayley Lauder collecting both awards. (Picture: www.spartanswfc.com)

It was time for the Spartan players to recognise there team mates contributions and the Players Player of the year awards were as follows: –

In 3rd place was central midfielder Kirsty McLaughlin who has really excelled in her first season at the club with terrific performances, 2nd Place went to striker Sarah Ewens who has blossomed as a player this season and is fulfilling the potential she displayed when she joined the club in 2009 scoring 21 goals in 2011. 

Spartans Players Player of the year and also the Coaches Player of the Year was awarded to Hayley Lauder for a fantastic season for both Spartans and Scotland, the young midfielder played a huge part in Spartans success and all involved at the club are extremely proud of her individual achievements and we are all excited for her future. 

To honour the contribution made to Spartans and acknowledge the achievement of scoring 100 goals during the 2011 season the final award of the evening was made to Diana Barry, a special award to a special player. Diana has now scored 118 goals in 94 games for the club and as she continues to score goals she will continue to set records that will be very difficult to match. 

All the players receiving awards also received a generous gift from our fantastic sponsors Scott + Co and all pass on their gratitude for such a kind gesture. 

www.spartanswfc.com

Pensioners attacked in Davidsons Mains

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after a couple were assaulted and robbed in Davidsons Mains over the weekend.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the attack.

The incident happened around 2.10am on Sunday 18 December. A 71-year-old man and his 68-year-old wife had just left the Maitland Bowling Club in Davidsons Mains and were walking along the High Street when a man approached and grabbed at the woman’s bag.

A struggle ensued and the woman’s bag strap snapped causing her purse to fall out, which was then stolen by the suspect who made off from the area.

The victim’s husband tried to pursue the man and suffered minor facial injuries after being struck to the face.

Police are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

The suspect is described as white, 20-25-years-old, 6ft 2ins tall with a slim build and wearing a patterned woolen hat with earflaps.

A police spokesman said: “This incident has left both victims incredibly shaken, although neither required treatment in hospital.

“Anyone who was in or around Davidson Mains High Street in the early hours of Sunday morning and witnessed the robbery or can help identify the suspect is asked to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

The NEN Christmas Quiz

Shopping all done?  Presents wrapped?  Then it’s time to put your feet up, relax and enjoy the NEN’s Twelve Days of Christmas Quiz!

Below you’ll find the first letters of words in the first lines of twelve classic Christmas songs.  Can you name them all?

1.  TTIAHTNAH

2.  AIAMNCFAB

3.  WSGSUTC

4.  OTFDOC

5.  IDOAWC

6.  AYHUYSOYW

7.  AROHFITS

8.  WWITA

9.  CTTMPRPPP

10. WWYAMC

11. OCAYFJAT

12.  IWCEB

 

Send your answers to the NEN blog or email: northedinnews@gmail.com

There’s no prize – just a bit of festive fun – but we’ll give an honourable mention to all correct entries received before 31 December.  Good luck!

Local kids love Lickety Spit!

Licketyspit

Craigroyston Nursery and Primary 1 children are taking part in Lickety Leap – an exciting new interactive theatre project for Early years Children.

Licketyspit Theatre Company is based at North Edinburgh Arts and the group has performed shows including Molly Whuppie, Magic Spaghetti and Wee Witches at the arts centre. Lickety Leap is their first totally interactive show and is performed with small groups of children. It is a really memorable and enjoyable experience for the children and it has shown to have a big impact on their developing confidence, social skills, ability to work together and to problem solve.

Licketyspit has been funded to deliver Lickety Leap across Scotland and it’s all beginning here  in North Edinburgh’s Craigroyston Primary School!

“This group was great for the kids. My daughter loved it and when we went to see everything the kids had done their faces showed just how much they loved it. It is really good how it gets the kid’s imagination going so well with the simplest of thing” – Caitlin’s mum

“Lickey Leap has been a fun-filled, exciting and entertaining project which children, parents and staff have enjoyed; it allows children to be actively involved in a fun adventure to find their ‘heart’s desire’” – (Craigroyston PS Staff)

Waterfront Festival is Christmas cracker!

The Festival staged by North Edinburgh Waterfront Community at The Hub in Edinburgh’s Telford College last night proved to be a real Christmas cracker.  A bit like opening those Christmas presents you never know what you’re going to get next, and so it proved at Telford.

With songs by Granton Primary School and Pilrig Church choir, films, quizzes and international music from the Rongong family – and some truly awful Christmas cracker jokes too! – there was something for everyone.  With free refreshments, face painting and Christmas crafts and decoration-making, laid on by members of local churches, the evening was the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of last-minute Christmas shopping.

For more information on North Edinburgh Waterfront Community go to info@new-community.org.uk

New Community Creche for North Edinburgh?

New Year, new community crèche for North Edinburgh?  Local organisation Stepping Stones has held discussions with Community Learning and Development staff at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to explore the possibility of setting up a new community crèche when the new Centre opens next year.

Stepping Stones’ Marilyn Keilloh explained:  “The ‘new’ Royston Wardieburn Community Centre will be opening to the public in the New Year.  Lydia Markham (Community Learning and Development) and I have had a very brief meeting about the possibility of developing a community crèche facility in the Centre.  We have arranged a meeting for Thursday 12 January from 1 – 3pm in the new centre and would like to invite anyone who is interested in developing a facility like this in the area to come along”.

For further information call Marilyn at Stepping Stones North Edinburgh on 551 1632 or Lydia at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 552 5700.

 

Easter Drylaw Park 'very good'

Alex Dale, Drylaw Telford Community Council’s representative on Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnersip’s Clean, Green and Safe Action Group, has reported that Easter DrylawPark has been uprated from ‘good’ to ‘very good’ in the city council’s latest  2011 Parks Survey.