activism – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

NHS65 arts activism campaign comes to Edinburgh today

To mark 65 years since the passing of NHS founder Nye Bevan, arts and activism collective Hive Mind Speaks has begun an ambitious UK-wide campaign.

In just 6 days, the group will visit 65 locations, asking the public 3 powerful questions about the future of the NHS — gathering real opinions from real people.

The aim is to provide a platform for the general public to have their say on the future of the NHS,

At the heart of the tour is a striking satirical short film, played on a large mobile screen, drawing crowds and sparking conversation.

Watch here.

The campaign culminates on Saturday 12 April at a Citizens’ Jury hosted at South Bank University, where key figures will respond to the public’s views.

Results will be presented to current Health Minister, Wes Streeting and submitted to the Change NHS 10 year Health Plan for England.

NHS65 is a nationwide arts activism initiative dedicated to providing a platform for the general public to have an impact on the future of the NHS. The showcase will take place across 65 locations in 6 days, via an LED van playing a powerful satirical video on the threat to the future of the NHS.

The project will culminate in a Citizens’ Jury on Saturday 12 April 2025 at London South Bank University (LSBU) in London, England, a leading university for Nursing and Midwifery in the UK. Expert speakers will include Aneira Thomas- the first ever baby born under the NHS, Professor Gwyn Bevan from the London School of Economics and Dr. Bob Gill, producer of the documentary The Great NHS Heist.

EDINBURGH LOCATIONS TODAY:

City Centre 2.30pm

Holyrood 3pm

NHS Scotland 3.30pm

Queen Margaret University 4pm

Murrayfield 5.30pm

Stockbridge 7pm

On the road, 3 key questions will be posed to the general public based on key findings from the recently commissioned Lord Darzi Report, which outlines a proposed 10-year plan for healthcare in the UK:

1) Ensuring adequate funding for the NHS

Should the NHS spending be legally protected with a minimum percentage of GDP?

2) The Long-Term Sustainability of the NHS

Should NHS funding priorities be decided by an independent health body rather than by politicians to ensure long-term stability and prevent short term political influence?

3) Privatisation vs Public ownership

Should the NHS renew or cancel all current privatisation contracts when they next come up for renewal?

From these three, the public will determine the most important issue and question for deliberation at the citizens jury.

How Does the Citizen’s Jury Work?

A diverse, representative panel of jurors will hear from expert speakers on the current state of the NHS. The expert speakers will include Aneira Thomas- the first ever baby born under the NHS, Professor Gwyn Bevan- Emeritus Professor of Policy Analysis at London School of Economics, Dr. Bob Gill- current practicing GP and producer of the documentary The Great NHS Heist. Observers and members of the public are encouraged to attend, ask questions and take part in discussions.

The results of citizens jury deliberation will be fed into the NHS’ very own Change campaign. A campaign to canvas public opinion over the next 10 years for implementing change as part of the 10 year health plan, resulting from the current government’s Lord Darzi report commission.

Hive Mind Speaks will ensure the findings are presented to current Health Minister, Wes Streeting, and the results will be made available on the Hive Mind Speaks platform, as well as being archived at the British Library. Additionally, the results will be presented on the LED van across significant locations in London on Monday 14 April.

The Red Jay NHS Story

A Lifelong Bond with the NHS: A Story of Care, Resilience and Gratitude

Joshua was born on April 12th, 1982, at the Whittington Hospital, North London, arriving into the world with an extremely rare, genetic musculoskeletal condition called Larsen’s Syndrome, a condition so uncommon that, at the time of his birth, only around 500 cases had been documented in the UK. It was a moment filled with uncertainty for his parents, who had no indication of any complications before his arrival and also for the doctors, who had rarely, if ever, encountered anything like this before.

But what could have been an overwhelming ordeal for any family was met with the steadfast hands and compassionate hearts of the NHS. In those early days, as his parents Christine and Terry navigated the fear of the unknown, the doctors, nurses and specialists of the NHS became more than just medical professionals, they became guardians, problem-solvers and beacons of hope.

Among them, a South African doctor, Dr. Patent, affectionately nicknamed “Dr. Pavement” by a young Joshua, who would become a guiding force in his early medical journey. With a calm presence and a determined strategy, Dr. Patent led the way in understanding and addressing the complex web of muscle and tendon abnormalities that accompanied Joshua’s condition.

The first two surgeries on Joshua’s thighs were purely exploratory, a leap into the unknown, guided only by expertise and an unwavering commitment to care.

From there, the next three operations on his legs and left hip took place before he was even six months old, carefully correcting what was discovered. The NHS didn’t just offer treatment, it offered trust, patience and reassurance to a family learning to navigate a condition they had never expected.

At 14 years old, Joshua’s journey with the NHS continued after a sledging accident resulted in another two surgeries, this time due to the unique structural challenges of Larsen’s Syndrome. Though these operations left him with a leg length discrepancy, they were a testament to the NHS’s ongoing commitment to ensuring he could lead as full and active a life as possible.

Throughout his childhood, Joshua was acutely aware that his nose was different, the result of missing nasal cartilage, a depressed nasal bridge and a prominent forehead. He remembers sitting with NHS doctors, flipping through a book of noses, contemplating facial reconstruction surgery. Though advised to wait until adulthood, he carried the thought with him for years.

At UCL Hospital in 2013, he finally underwent a LaFort II Osteotomy, a groundbreaking facial reconstruction procedure that realigned his upper jaw. This was combined with a rhinoplasty procedure, where they took Joshua’s lower right-hand rib to replace the missing nasal cartilage.

For the NHS, it was complex but routine surgery. For Joshua, it was transformational. It gave him ownership over his face, removing a lifetime of self-consciousness and allowing him to walk through the world without shielding himself from it.

The Future and Family Planning

Most recently, Joshua’s journey with the NHS came full circle through genome sequencing at Great Ormond Street Hospital, revealing that he had a 50% chance of passing Larsen’s Syndrome to future offspring. While this news carried its own emotional weight, the NHS was there once again, not just as a provider of answers, but as a partner in finding solutions. It opened the doors to NHS funded IVF treatment, offering the possibility of building a future family without the fear of passing on his condition.

A New Diagnosis and a Disturbing Reality

In 2024, Joshua received another life-altering piece of news, one that shifted his perspective on the NHS and deepened his urgency to take action.

Concerned about memory loss, he underwent a brain scan, which revealed atrophy of the cerebellar vermis, a degenerative condition with a life expectancy often cutting short in the 50s or 60s. The news was deeply troubling, a future he had never considered was suddenly placed in front of him.

Yet, in the midst of grappling with this deeply concerning revelation, Joshua was given a one-year wait to see an NHS neurologist. The NHS, the very institution that had always been his safety net was now buckling under strain.

Faced with this uncertainty and while abroad in Canada, where he holds dual citizenship, Joshua made the difficult decision to seek a private consultation to gain some reassurance. There, a specialist was able to put his mind at ease, stating that this was not an actively degenerative condition, but something he was born with. Had it been a new, progressive disorder, the reality would have been vastly different.

The experience shook Joshua, not just because of his personal health scare, but because it highlighted, in the most painful way possible, the crisis the NHS is facing.

For the first time in his life, he had to use a private doctor. He described it as feeling like he was cheating on the NHS. But it felt he did it not out of choice, but out of necessity.

Why This Project Matters

This moment became a key driver in Joshua realising we can no longer all just be supporters of the NHS, we had to actively fight for its future.

The NHS isn’t failing by accident, it’s being failed and Joshua, through NHS65, is putting the future of the NHS on trial.

From the very moment of his birth to the milestones of surgery, transformation and family planning, Joshua’s life has been woven into the fabric of the NHS. It is not just an institution, it is a lifeline, a source of unwavering support and a testament to the best of humanity.

His story is one of gratitude, resilience and love for a service that has given so much to so many. A service that must not be left to collapse.

The NHS is in crisis.

The future of the NHS is on trial.

And the people must deliver the verdict.

This is why NHS65 exists.

A Summer of Resistance at the National Galleries of Scotland

Artist and Filmmaker Steve McQueen takes over Modern Two

Resistance: How Protest Shaped Britain and Photography Shaped Protest

National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two

21 June 2025 – 4 January 2026

Tickets £4-£14 Friends go free

Resistance | National Galleries of Scotland

National Galleries of Scotland announces the unmissable summer 2025 exhibition Resistance, conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen. Taking over the whole of Modern Two from 21 June 2025, the exhibition will explore how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change. Tickets are on sale now.

Presenting around 200 photographs from a century of activism, Resistance gives a voice to the stories and images from history which have been buried in UK archives until now.

Throughout the exhibition McQueen amplifies underrepresented voices to present a compelling exploration of overlooked histories, shedding light on the forgotten stories that have helped define the course of Britain’s history. Resistance tours to Modern Two from Turner Contemporary, Margate.

This exhibition will bring together works by renowned photographers such as Vanley Burke, John Deakin, Fay Godwin, Edith Tudor-Hart, David Hurn, Tish Murtha, Humphrey Spender, and Paul Trevor, alongside lesser-known photographers who documented these powerful stories.

Drawing photographs from various archives, collections and image libraries, McQueen has deliberately focused on moments captured before digital cameras became commonplace.

Spanning both floors of Modern Two, Resistance spans from the radical suffrage movement in 1903 to the largest-ever protest in Britain’s history—the Anti-Iraq War Protest in 2003.

The exhibition will also highlight lesser-known events including the hunger marches of the 1930s where thousands of protesters from Scotland and across Britain marched to London, protesting unemployment and poverty. As well as the Blind March of 1920, a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights.

Visitors will encounter poignant images from demonstrations against environmental destruction, anti-nuclear campaigns and actions advocating for peace.

The exhibition will trace the evolution of environmental movements and highlight a shift from single-issue demonstrations to broader anti-capitalist efforts that paved the way for today’s climate change action.

Including powerful photographs from the 1000-mile march from Faslane Naval Base to Greenham Common in protest against American nuclear weapons being stationed in the UK in 1983.

From Janine Wiedel’s photographs capturing life at Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp to Andrew Testa’s striking depictions of the 1996 protests against the proposed Newbury Bypass in Berkshire, England, Resistance will serve as a testament to the empowering impact of collective action.

It will explore the intersections between movements such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Women’s Liberation Movement, where protests against Section 28 of the Local Government Act brought the LGBTQ+ community together. Connectinghistoric struggles, the exhibition will also examine the fight against fascism in the 1930s and 1940s.

The exhibition will underscore the ongoing struggle against racism, showing how grassroots movements have consistently confronted oppression throughout history. A pivotal moment was the Black People’s Day of Action on 2 March 1981, following the house fire at 439 New Cross Road in South East London, that claimed 13 lives.

The photographs that captured the protest powerfully depict this landmark for Britain’s civil rights movement. Paul Trevor’s series on the Bengali community will further illustrate how the emerging concept of community photography became a form of activism, amplifying the voices of marginalised groups.

Steve McQueen said: “Within the 5 years of developing the exhibition and book with the Turner Contemporary team, it has been an ambition for Resistance to travel to Scotland to be shared with audiences there.

“Resistance explores how people have challenged the status quo—a mission that feels especially urgent in today’s political climate.”

Leila Riszko, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at National Galleries of Scotland said: “We’re enormously proud to platform this compelling selection of works curated by Steve McQueen.

“This is an exciting opportunity to explore the power of photography in documenting the significant yet underrepresented stories of people who’ve helped shape the world we live in today.

“In these divisive times, many of the themes, moments and narratives highlighted in the exhibition continue to have resonance now.

“As a show about resilience, collective power, galvanising for positive change, and inspiring reaction, we hope that Resistance will stimulate discussion with our visitors and invite deeper reflection on those contemporary issues.”

Resistance is curated by Steve McQueen and Clarrie Wallis, with Emma Lewis. Political research is by Sarah Harrison.

The exhibition is produced by Tessa Pierce, with assistance from Brittany Crombie. Organised by and originated at Turner Contemporary, Margate, and adapted for presentation at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two.

A major new publication by Steve McQueen was also recently released to coincide with the exhibition. The book was compiled by Steve McQueen and edited by Clarrie Wallis and Sarah Harrison.

It is published by Monument Books, a new imprint from Harper Collins.

Royston Wardieburn’s creative writers celebrate Windows To Our Past

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s social history group launched their new publication, ‘Windows To Our Past’, at the Centre on Thursday.

Windows to our Past: A Collection of Stories from North Edinburgh remembers times long gone and also pays tribute to the local people – activists, volunteers, class mates and good friends – lost in recent years.

The group worked with creative writing tutor Jim Aitken to produce Windows To Our Past and members read a selection of their stories to an appreciative audience.

There were lots of laughs – the event opened with a comical This Is Our Lives sketch performed by the group – but there was time for reflection, too.

Some We Remember, a slide show created for the event, brought back a wealth of poignant memories of fondly-remembered activists no longer with us – men and women who each in their own way dedicated much of their lives to making the North Edinburgh community a better place to live.

The perennial challenge of fighting for adequate resources goes on, of course, and the latest round of funding cuts has seen North Edinburgh’s community centres and local projects fearing for their futures once again. In a discussion following the launch, however, it was clear that the appetite to campaign to challenge cuts to local resources remains as strong as ever.

The fight goes on – and, as a previous publication produced by activists urged: NEVER GIVE UP!

THE QUIET REVOLUTION

by SANDRA MARSHALL (2009)

And what about the quiet revolution

A circle of people

Growing with every breath

Spinning ever wider

Living in peace and harmony

A family

A community

Sharing good and bad

No more war, loneliness, anger or greed

A family of humanity

Starting from a whsiper

Growing steadily brighter and brighter

Louder and louder

Until

No darkness remains.

BETTY McVAY MBE

I AM VERY SAD TO PASS ON THE NEWS THAT CELEBRATED NORTH EDINBURGH COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNER BETTY McVAY PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY (10.1.25)

Betty’s family broke the news in a Facebook post last night:

It’s with a heavy heart that the McVay family share that our much loved Mum, Grandma, and Great Grandma, Betty, passed away peacefully this morning after a short illness. We will all miss her very much.

‘LEGEND’ is an over-used word, but I can’t think of a better one to sum up the remarkable wee wifey from West Pilton.

I will add further comment later, but for the moment I pass on my heartfelt condolences to Betty’s family and friends.

Young climate activist reunited with her protest artwork ahead of major exhibition

nms.ac.uk
perthmuseum.co.uk/watersrising

A placard created by an eight-year-old climate activist during the School Strike for Climate in 2019, will go on display for the first time in a major new exhibition at Perth Museum.

Bridget, now 14, from Edinburgh has been reunited with her artwork at the National Museums Collection Centre before it goes on loan to Perth Museum for Waters Rising, opening 8 November 2024.

The placard depicts the Earth as a melting ice cream cone, drawn in felt tip pen on a used cardboard box with a tree branch from Bridget’s garden as a handle. It was created for the School Strike for Climate, or Fridays for Future, demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on 15 February 2019.

This youth-led protest movement was started by Greta Thunberg in 2018 and has since involved millions of young people around the world who skip Friday classes to demand action against climate change.

Bridget said: “My design was inspired by School Strike for Climate protests around the world, thinking about the climate emergency I could imagine the Earth melting like an ice cream.

“When I took part in the protest I was 8 –years old and I felt involved in a really big thing, but I never imagined my artwork would end up in a museum collection or part of an exhibition. It’s a really lovely thought that future generations might see this movement and hopefully know that we made a difference.”

Waters Rising is an exploration of the impact of flooding and climate breakdown on local Scottish communities and around the world. Bridget’s placard is one of a collection of objects going on loan from National Museums Scotland to the exhibition with the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Highlights include a medallion and passport for citizens of the ‘Govan Free State’ produced by GalGael Trust to coincide with COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow in 2021.

Ashleigh Hibbins, Head of Audiences and Learning at Culture Perth and Kinross said: “We are so excited to be able to include this important piece of modern Scottish history in the Waters Rising exhibition at Perth Museum.

“Young people are the least responsible yet most impacted by the climate crisis, so it is critical that their voices and perspectives are heard. We hope visitors to the exhibition will be inspired by Bridget’s piece and others to take action against environmental breakdown.”

National Museums Scotland is committed to positively engaging audiences with themes of climate change and biodiversity loss through public programmes, research, and by collecting contemporary material associated with these themes.

Mhairi Maxwell, Curator of Modern & Contemporary History at National Museums Scotland said: “I am delighted that Bridget’s protest artwork is going on display for the first time. The placard perfectly captures a young Scot’s perspective on the climate crisis.

“I am so pleased we can work with Perth Museum to share our contemporary collections and highlight the experiences of Scottish people in the face of this global emergency. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their support of our national partnership programme.”

This loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland.

Over 2500 objects are currently on loan to Scottish organisations, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country.

LINDA GARCIA: A Tribute

Despite leaving North Edinburgh for the bright lights in London when she was only 17, Linda never forgot where she came from and was very proud of North Edinburgh , its people and the community’s long history of fighting injustice (writes LYNN McCABE).

She felt very strongly about inequality and social justice and although she had a comfortable life and could have spent her retirement years with her feet up, she chose to get involved in her old community and do what she could to try to improve things.

She was passionate about education and was a great advocate for lifelong learning and signed up for a variety of courses which covered some of the topics she was interested in including Scottish history, politics, the Scots language and the arts. Even when she wasn’t attending a class, she was always researching something and was keen to share her learning with others.

She joined the Power to the People group in 2012, a new project developed by local activists who wanted to study the history of protest in Scotland through the arts. It was a perfect fit for Linda with her passion for politics, Scottish history and the arts.

The class ran for a number of years and brought together people who were new to activism as well as people who had been involved in community politics and the trade unions.

Linda was really interested in listening to everyone’s views but was more than capable of holding her own during the many heated debates that took place each week!

Through the years, the focus of the class moved from studying the history of protest to actually taking part in protests! Members of the Power to the People group got involved in many local issues including cuts to local services and the campaign to stop the eviction of local families from their homes.

Linda was at the heart of these protests helping to design placards and banners and was actively involved in a sit-in at the local housing office and a protest that ended up taking over Ruth Davidson’s constituency office. She also took part in numerous protests outside the city chambers every year in response to proposals to cut vital local services.

Having exhausted the subject of the history of protest in Scotland over a 2 year period, Linda and her class mates from the Power to the People group decided it was time to undertake another research project where the focus was closer to home.

This project was going to focus on North Edinburgh’s history and would cover some of the big industrial, housing and political changes in the area over the last century. It turned out that there was too many interesting things which they felt could not be missed out so the history timeline began with the Roman encampment in Cramond!

The information the group unearthed was fascinating and highlighted how central North Edinburgh was to Scotland’s history.

On the completion of this research, Linda and a few other folk from the group decided their next priority would be to promote North Edinburgh’s hidden history and over a number of years they developed heritage walks, a history hub down at Madelvic and led a successful campaign to protect and restore the Granton Castle Walled Garden.

Linda remained actively involved in all these projects even as her health deteriorated and was instrumental in helping to preserve the area’s cultural heritage.

Another passion of Linda’s was arts and culture. She felt strongly about the need for the arts to be accessible to everyone. She was a regular visitor at the city’s art galleries and kept her eye out for new exhibitions and cultural events which were heading to Edinburgh.

She was quick to share this information with all the groups and projects she was connected with which ensured that local folk from didn’t miss out.

Linda was very good with her hands and was one of the stitchers involved in creating the Prestonpans tapestry, The Diaspora Tapestry for the Homecoming and the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

She almost succeeded in convincing her friends from North Edinburgh to embark on a new project called the Great Tapestry of North Edinburgh which was going to cover key historical events and famous people associated with North Edinburgh. Everyone was really excited about the idea of this project, until they realised that they were going to have to be involved in doing the stitching!

Despite a really positive meeting with Andrew Crummy who had designed the other tapestries, the consensus amongst the group was that it was a good idea but none of them were likely to be alive to see the tapestry completed so sadly that project didn’t come to pass!

Another passion of Linda’s was womens’ rights and so on Wednesday afternoons she would catch up with her pals from the Women’s International Group (WIG) who ran a programme of informal learning opportunities for local women.

The group also organised numerous events including womens’ health and well-being days, hustings, and public meetings on local issues and made history when they became the first singing deputation at a full council meeting.

Being local women, the Women’s International Group were well aware of all the strong North Edinburgh women who had came before them and made a point of celebrating their achievements and the achievements of inspirational women from around the world at their annual international womens day events.

Linda was always at the heart of these gatherings and did presentations, took her turn at chairing the event, read poetry but was equally happy to do the register or make the tea and coffee.

Linda’s passion for her community continued through the last few years of her life. She would regularly email me funding information or links to materials which she thought would be useful.

Despite her health issues, she remained interested in what was happening in North Edinburgh and regularly shared words of support and encouragement to the friends she had made in the community over the years.

Linda was most definitely a North Edinburgh ‘wummin’ through and through and will be missed by all who knew her.

Lynn McCabe

Community Learning and Development Worker

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Critical Mass: Gearing up for Corstorphine Cracker this afternoon

Our monthly ride is heading out from Middle Meadow Walk at 2pm today – going West towards Corstorphine and back with a wee stop at Saughton!

Hope to see you there – going to be excellent!

Edinburgh Women’s Aid marks 50th Anniversary with ‘Changing the Landscape’ seminar

Edinburgh Women’s Aid, (EWA), is marking its 50^th anniversary this year with a series of events, including its latest seminar, ‘Changing the Landscape: 50 years of activism and action against domestic abuse’, attended by over 80 guests at Edinburgh University, including Councillor Cammy Day, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council.

The seminar explored the role of research in changing the policy landscape around domestic abuse and looking back on the development of EWA, which has supported tens of thousands of women and children for the past 50yrs who have been able to access the safe accommodation and support, including legal advice and help securing employment.

Guest speakers at the event, which was co-hosted by the School of Social and Political Science at Edinburgh University, in partnership with genderED, included Professors Rebecca and Russell Dobash who began researching domestic abuse in Scotland, shortly after the first refuge in the city opened in 1973 and unveiled a map of refuges which have opened around the world over the past 50 years.

Over the years, they have published 11 books and numerous articles on violence, gender and murder, including their ‘Violence Against Wives’ study into the incidence and nature of domestic abuse in Scotland, later published as Violence Against Wives: the case against the patriarchy (1979).

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Nobody should have to suffer abuse, whatever form it takes.

“Over the last 50 years, Edinburgh Women’s Aid has been unwavering in their commitment to help and support victims and survivors of domestic abuse. We know that there is still a way to go before we live in a world where domestic abuse is history. Our policies, such as the Multi-Agency Domestic Abuse Policy, is designed to provide an understanding and supportive service to those affected by this issue and to those who work to help them stay safe.

“We know that there is more that we can do to offer support, as an organisation and as individuals. As a Council we’re part of the Equally Safe Edinburgh Committee which is working to make the city safe for women, children and young people and recently I became an ambassador for White Ribbon Scotland to encourage men to play their part and stand up and speak out against violence against women. Working together we can make sure we provide the very best safeguards that we can to anyone at risk of harm.”

Professor John Devaney, Head of School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, whose research interests relate to domestic abuse and family violence, said: “Our understanding about what causes and sustains domestic abuse has improved significantly over the past fifty years.

“While the range of effective support available to child and adult victims has improved significantly in that time, unfortunately the level and nature of funding of support services is still too little given the scale and consequences of the issue.

“Edinburgh Women’s Aid are to be commended for the high quality of support they offer to child and adult survivors, and the University of Edinburgh remains committed to working in partnership regarding placement opportunities for students, joint research, and support for students and staff who experience domestic abuse.”

Fran Wasoff, one of the founding members of Edinburgh Women’s Aid, and also a senior lecturer and a Professor of Family Policies in the subject area of Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh, where her research interests were in family law and policy, also attended the event, reflecting on 50 years of domestic abuse in Scotland and how we change the landscape going forward.

The seminar also provided an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have provided support for women and their families over the past five decades in the city.

Linda Rodgers, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Women’s Aid, said: “It felt like a moment in history, bringing together these amazing people who have changed the research landscape and as a result improved policy and practice in relation to domestic abuse.

“I am so proud that Edinburgh Women’s Aid continues to lead the way in supporting research, improving policy and changing societal attitudes to domestic abuse.”

FIX OUR HOMES!

NORTH EDINBURGH COST OF LIVING CAMPAIGN GROUP MEETING

The Cost of Living Campaign Group for North Edinburgh are meeting on Tuesday 20th June, 10.30am until 1pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre:

“We are the Cost of Living Campaign Group, we are residents of North Edinburgh concerned with the cost of living. A major issue contributing to the cost of living is the state of housing. Our homes are filled with damp and aren’t well insulated. Reporting repairs to Repair Direct and other services doesn’t seem to solve the issues.

“Structural lack of investment in the existing housing stock is undermining the human rights of residents, impacting on health, wellbeing and our personal finances.

“We invite you to listen to our stories and contribute to our campaign to improve homes across North Edinburgh and demand Repair Direct be made fit for purpose and a comprehensive response to dampness.”

Brian Eddington: 1949 – 2023

Brian Eddington died last month at the age of 74 years. A North Edinburgh man through and through, he was born in Leith but spent most of his childhood and early years in West Pilton after his family were rehoused there (writes LYNN McCABE).

Brian lived in Drylaw for a number of years and then moved down to Muirhouse where he lived for more than 2 decades. He returned to Leith a few years ago when he was unable to return to his flat in Muirhouse after having part of his leg amputated.

Brian loved his community and was involved in many different groups, classes and local initiatives over the years. He was a creative person and found a second home in Muirhouse Festival Association (MFAC) where he developed a passion for community arts.

He was a member of the local drama group and was actively involved in the annual panto and gala. Brian was also involved in the Greater Pilton Print Resource (GPPR) (later Greater Pilton Design Resource/Source) and North Edinburgh News (the NEN), which provided so much rich source material for the Never Give Up project which Brian helped to produce along with fellow activists.

Brian had a passion for photography and history and he was able to bring together his local knowledge and his skills to document the ongoing changes and developments in Muirhouse which he witnessed first hand as a local resident. His photographs tell their own story about the process of regeneration and the impact this has had on his community.

In 2009, Brian joined North Edinburgh Social History Group along with Roberta Blaikie, Anna Hutchison, Brian Robertson and Ian Moore with a mission to record the history of activism in North Edinburgh.

Brian was a great person to have on board and relished trawling through 40 years worth of back copies of the Commune and the NEN and long forgotten photos, leaflets and posters which had been stored in dusty store cupboards and filing cabinets in local projects waiting for someone to find a use for them.

During the project, Brian was sufficiently movitated to get over his aversion to computers and managed to pick up some IT skills along the way which enabled him to access photographs of the area which had been digitalised by the Scotsman.

The project was a long hard slog and took 2 years to complete but the Never Give Up publication, exhibition and film gave Brian, the group and the wider community a great deal of pride in seeing their community accurately represented for a change.

It is an important piece of work documenting the rich history of North Edinburgh and the important role played by local people in their fight for social justice – a fight which continues until this day.

Following the launch of the Never Give Up project, Brian was involved in helping to establish a new adult education class called Power to the People : an introduction to the history of Protest in Scotland.

The class ran for a number of years and brought together new activists alongside people who had been involved in local and national politics. Inevitably perhaps, the focus of the class moved from studying politics and protest to actually doing it!

The Power to the People group were involved in many local issues over the years including cuts to local services and the campaign to stop the eviction of local families from their homes.

Brian’s love of history and politics continued until the end with his daily blog on facebook about important Scottish figures and events.

I’ll finish with a wee quote from Brian from the Never Give Up publication where he is talking about his time in Muirhouse drama group:

“We used to do street theatre about different issues. We did a thing about the poll tax where someone got arrested for not paying their poll tax. They got sent to a privatised jail.

“We basically done it any place where we could find people standing about. Folk thought it was hilarious. We handed out leaflets about the poll tax at the same time – that was the serious part of it. It was a good way to get across a serious message”.

Brian’s funeral service takes place this morning at 11.30 at Warriston Crematorium’s small chapel.