Tag: 125th anniversary celebrations

CATCH ME IF YOU GRAN!

IRN-BRU UNLEASH GIRDER-POWERED GETAWAY GRANNIES IN EDINBURGH FOR 125TH ANNIVERSARY

  • Granny Tourismo will see the public hunt down pensioners on mobility scooters in three secret locations across Edinburgh next week (Wednesday 16 September). 
  • Fans will have to be quick to find the getaway gran, with cryptic clues shared on social media revealing where to find her. 
  • National Treasure and ‘the nation’s granny’ Amanda Barrie has helped launch the huge giveaway, which takes place across the UK. 

EDINBURGH punters are being challenged to chase down a getaway granny on a mobility scooter, with twelve wads of £125 up for grabs.

A top-secret, balaclava-clad pensioner will hit the streets of the capital on Wednesday, September 16, as part of IRN-BRU’s  “Granny Tourismo” challenge.

The mystery gran will be hiding at three secret locations somewhere in Edinburgh aboard a souped-up mobility scooter complete with blue flame racing stripes.

And the first four people to track her down in each location before she makes her escape will each pocket £125.

Cryptic clues revealing her whereabouts will be dropped on IRN-BRU’s social media channels on the day, meaning Edinburgh fans will have to move fast if they want to get their hands on the cash.

The stunt is part of the fizzy drink giant’s 125th anniversary celebrations and is inspired by its infamous granny adverts.

Coronation Street and Carry On legend Amanda Barrie is leading the charge after admitting she knows a thing or two about “causing chaos”.

The 91-year-old national treasure is fronting the UK-wide “Catch Me If You Gran” campaign, which will see a crew of nimble nans descend on Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and London.

But Edinburgh gets its chance to catch a cash-carrying gran on Wednesday, just 24 hours after the challenge kicks off in Glasgow.

Amanda played Alma Baldwin – previously Halliwell and Sedgewick – for more than 20 years in Coronation Street and starred as Cleo in the classic Carry On Cleo. She said: “After all those years in the UK’s top soap and my Carry On capers, I know a thing or two about causing chaos.

“Then there was my time reeking havoc in Larkhill Prison, not to mention taking a swipe at Gordon Ramsay on national TV. But even I struggle to keep up with these BRU grannies.

“They’ve traded shopping trolleys for mobility scooters and they’re determined not to be caught. If you do manage to stop one, you’ve definitely earned your £125.”

The stunt brings IRN-BRU’s iconic shoplifting granny to life more than two decades after she first caused havoc on TV screens.

The brand’s classic 2001 “Electric Lady” advert featured a sweet-looking elderly woman cruising through town on a mobility scooter before pulling down her tea-cosy hat like a balaclava and raiding a shop for cans of IRN-BRU.

Now the getaway gran is being unleashed for real, and Edinburgh residents have the chance to catch her.

The Scottish capital is the second stop on the four-city tour, following Glasgow on Tuesday, September 15.

Liverpool gets its turn on Thursday, September 17, before the grannies make their final getaway in London on Friday, September 18.

Kenny Nicholson, Director of Brand at IRN-BRU, said: “To celebrate our anniversary, we’ve brought to life one of our greatest characters.

“The IRN-BRU grannies are out in force next week, revving their scooters and ready to hit the road.

“Fans will need to be quick as they won’t be in each of the four cities for long before they make a speedy getaway to the next one.

“This is one of the many ways we’re giving back to the nation as we mark 125 years of Made in Scotland from Girders.”

Leith Victoria Swim Centre is calling out for keen bakers to help them celebrate turning 125 years

One of Edinburgh Leisure’s five Victorian pools, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, will be celebrating 125-years of ‘serving’ the city of Edinburgh and is calling on any keen bakers to join in the festivities.

The venue will be holding a Bake-Off event to celebrate the occasion on Friday, 28th June and is asking local businesses, staff and customers to embrace their inner Mary Berry to create some delicious cakes and tray bakes to raise funds for their Active Communities programmes.

Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities supports 12,500 people annually who face the greatest barriers to get active – people affected by health conditions, inequalities, and poverty.  As a venue, they hold 23 Active Community classes each week, and Leith Victoria is one of Edinburgh Leisure’s busiest venues supporting hundreds of people in the local community.

The Bake-Off judging will take place at 11.20 – 11.30am following a busy Aqua and yoga class that takes place earlier in the building, when participants often congregate for a coffee and a blether after. Prizes will be awarded to the best bakes.

June Peebles, Edinburgh Leisure’s previous Chief Executive, who retired in March 2024 after 38 years’ service with Edinburgh Leisure, will be Chief Judge, along with Jen Holland, their new CEO and one of Leith Victoria’s regular customers Christine, 71 years, who attends 19 classes a week at the Leith Viccies, as it is affectionately known locally.

The original Victoria Leith Baths were opened in 1899 by Provost John Bennet. The original plaque is still on display at Leith Victoria Swim Centre.   A plaque is also still on display on the exterior of the building which says, ‘Leith School Board, Swimming Baths, 1896’ and there is still the old red and white ‘Baths’ sign on the exterior of the building. 

Leith Swimming Baths (now restored) linked to the ‘Public Baths’ (i.e. rows of enamel baths) and Laundry (both now demolished to create the Victoria Swim Centre).  The baths were in use until the late 1970s, due to the high number of Leith dwellings lacking bathrooms up to that time.  In the good old days, men got changed on one side of the pool, and ladies on the other.   Obviously that no longer happens but the baths do have individual changing cubicles around the outside of the pool.

Louise Bathgate, Manager at Leith Victoria explained: “At 125 years old, Leith Viccies is rich in history, and we also know it holds a special place in so many people’s hearts locally, with customers of a certain vintage telling us how they learnt to swim here many years ago and have carried the tradition on with their children and grandchildren learning to swim here too.  

“So, if there are any keen bakers locally for whom Leith Viccies holds a special place in their memory bank and would like to get involved, please get in touch. It’s all a bit of fun but will hopefully raise much needed funds for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme, which supports so many different groups of people.”

If there are any keen bakers who would like to contribute a traybake, biscuits, cookies or cake for the event, the team at Leith Victoria would love to have your support.  Please get in touch with:

susanmcintosh@edinburghleisure.co.uk or juliaadams@edinburghleisure.co.uk .