The proposed priority parking scheme in Telford and an update on Drylaw skate park feature on next week’s Drylaw Telford Community Council meeting agenda.
The meeting will be held in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesday 25 February at 7pm. All welcome.
A five year old boy has been hit by a vehicle near Ferryhill Primary School on Groathill Road North.
The accident happened at around 2.45pm this afternoon. The boy was treated by medical staff at the scene before being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. His condition is not thought to be serious.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh attended a road traffic collision involving a five-year-old child outside Ferryhill Primary School this afternoon. The child was taken to the Sick Kids Hospital to be treated for a minor injury.”
A similar accident involving a child happened close to the same spot in 2012 and Easter Drylaw Residents Association has campaigned on the issue of local road safety for over three years.
Witnesses should contact Police Scotland on 101
Police seek information following sickening attack on chickens
Intruders have killed a family pet, seriously injured another and traumatised a third during a break-in in Drylaw earlier this week. A young family has been left ‘shocked and very distressed’ after the malicious attack on their pet chickens in Wester Drylaw Place.
The incident occurred overnight on Wednesday/Thursday when intruders first tried to break into a garden shed. They were unsuccessful but then turned their attentions to the family’s chicken coop, which they opened and killed one of the chickens.
A second chicken was also badly injured in the attack and a third was later found – fortunately unharmed – in a neighbour’s garden.
Police Scotland is conducting a joint investigation with the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA), who plan to carry out a post mortem.
Police Sergeant Stuart Mitchell said: “This was a horrifying crime, which has left the family, and their children, in a state of shock. We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen people loitering in the Wester Drylaw area last night to contact us. This type of incident is completely unacceptable and we are conducting active enquiries in the area.”
Scottish SPCA Inspector June Chalcroft said: “This appears to have been a malicious attack, resulting in the death of one of the chickens and the injury of another. Hopefully the results of the post-mortem will explain the cause of death.
“Thankfully a third chicken, which was missing, has been found safe and well. We believe someone may have heard something as the chickens would have made a lot of noise during the incident.”
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Police Scotland immediately on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The public can also contact SSPCA on 03000 999 999.
At least six cars had windows broken during a half-hour wrecking spree in Drylaw last night. Vehicles on Ferry Road and Easter Drylaw View and Drive were damaged in what one victim described as ‘senseless vandalism’.
The vandalism started at around 7.30pm last night. One Easter Drylaw resident said: “We were putting the kids to bed when a neighbour turned up at the door to tell us our car had been damaged – the back window had been put in”.
He went on: “There was nothing on show in our car, there was nothing to take so this wasn’t breaking in to steal, it was an act of senseless vandalism. While I was outside trying to make some temporary repairs there were car alarms going off all over the place, and when I walked up the road into Easter Drylaw Drive there were more people out inspecting the damage to their vehicles. All told I saw five or six but there could be more.
“It’s not just the cost of repairing the damage, although that’s bad enough – especially at this time of year. It’s the inconvenience it causes – we have a hospital appointment with one of the children on Monday but the child seat is totally covered in shards of broken glass so we are going to have to make other arrangements.
“Then there are the calls to the police and the insurance, the calls to arrange a day and time to get your car window replaced and all the stuff that goes along with that. It’s all totally unnecessary stress we could all do without – I can’t say what I’d like to do if they were to catch the people who do things like this.”
Similar attacks happened in Drylaw in October and there has been a recent spate of vehicle damage and thefts in Granton Mill.
Police investigations are ongoing – if you have any information telephone Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Drylaw’s White Church welcomes new Minister
Drylaw Parish Church has been without their own for over a year so they were delighted to welcome new Minster Jayne Scott last month. Jane brings considerable community experience to Drylaw and she’s quickly settling in to her new surroundings.
Jayne, who was born in Stockport and brought up in Port Seton, has been an ordained Minister for 26 years but she has worked in a number of roles – she’s been Principal of a theological college, chief executive of Safe Space, a Fife charity that supports victims of sexual abuse and the Director of Community Development Network. She was also parish minister at Culross and Torryburn in Fife. That wide experience will be valuable as Drylaw church faces an uncertain future.
“I have a great interest in community learning and exploring possibilities for communities to get better and stronger. The threshold between church and community should be an easy one to cross – church shouldn’t feel like an alien environment”, she said. “I have been appointed as transitional Minister for five years. It’s fair to say the future of this church is very uncertain – clearly, it’s an open-ended future and my role is to uncover the potential we have here. Our church is right at the heart of the community and communities need facilities that can bring people together. Church, when it is done well, is where you have that intergenerational intersection.”
“Drylaw only has three public buildings – the church, the school and the neighbourhood centre – and what happens in those three buildings is key to helping Drylaw thrive. I have already had very positive discussions at Ferryhill and look forward to meeting Roy Douglas, the manager at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. I hope the connections we can make will benefit the local population as a whole: initial conversations suggest there is a lot of scope to look at working in a collaborative way.”
Jayne has made some changes already – the church sanctuary (above) has been reorganised to become a more welcoming space – the regimented rows of pews have gone, replaced by a warmer, more informal circular seating arrangement, and a ‘junk room’ is being cleaned out, painted and converted into an office. You get the distinct impression that this won’t be the last of the changes to life at Drylaw Parish Church.
“I’ve been here a month now and that’s really been getting to know folk and settling in, but I have a lot of plans and ideas. I’m very much looking forward to my time here,” Jayne continued. “We have a number of activities planned in the run up to Christmas (see below) and I’ve arrived at a very busy time, which is really good. I’m looking forward to meeting more people: offering support when life is difficult and welcoming people to Drylaw church – a safe and welcoming place”.
Good luck, Jayne – and Pepper the dog!
Coming up at Drylaw Church:
Sunday 7 December
Vigil time in the Sanctuary from 4 – 5pm. A quiet time to reflect and remember loved ones.
Sunday 7 and Sunday 14 December
How would you like to sing in the church choir on 21 December? Now’s your chance – practice and rehearse from 10 – 10.30am for the performance during 11am Sunday service on 21 December. Open to all!
Tuesday 23 December
Christingle from 11 – 11.30am
Christmas Eve – Wednesday 24 December
Watch Night Service 11.30pm. All welcome.
Christmas Day – Thursday 25 December
Morning Service 10.30am. All welcome.
Easter Drylaw Residents Association (EDRA) are holding their annual general meeting next Monday 10 November at 7pm in Drylaw Parish Church, Groathill Road North.
All welcome – come along and support your local tenants and residents association. New members particularly welcome!
Experimental Edinburgh hip-hop trio Young Fathers have scooped this year’s Mercury music prize.
The band, described as a ‘Liberian/Nigerian/Scottish psychedelic hip-hop electro boy band’, saw off competition from R&B artist FKA Twigs, former Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s first solo album and singer/ poet Kate Tempest to win the prestigious music prize for their album, Dead.
They formed in 2008, clocked up appearances at numerous festivals and have been described as a ‘psychedelic hip hop boy band’. The trio first met at an under-16s hip-hop night and have developed a reputation for making a unique blend of music, utilising diverse influences that reflect their different backgrounds.
Alloysius Massaquoi is from Liberia and Scots-born Kayus Bankole has Nigerian parents, while Graham ‘G’ Hastings’ origins are closer to home – he comes from Drylaw!
The winner of the £20,000 prize was announced by DJ Nick Grimshaw at north London’s Roundhouse.
Accepting the award, Alloysious Massaquoi said: “”We go out and do what we do. Thank you, we love you, we love you all.”
Graham ‘G’ Hastings told reporters: “We’ll take it in our stride. We always wanted to make something bigger than the city we were living in.””
The Young Fathers album Dead was acclaimed by judges as ‘a startlingly original take on hip-hop. Brimming with ideas, a potent mix of pop, rap, rhymes and rhythms. Ominous and exciting.’
Chair of this year’s judging panel Simon Frith said: “Young Fathers have a unique take on urban British music, brimming with ideas – forceful, unexpected and moving.”
Organisers of this weekend’s Fun Days and Galas will be keeping an anxious eye on the weather forecast. Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Fun Day takes place tomorrow and West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala is on Sunday.
Fingers crossed – it might just be okay!
Tomorrow’s forecast: A chilly start then a mainly dry day with sunny spells. Cloud will bubble up in the afternoon with isolated showers developing across Lothian and Borders.
And Sunday? A chilly start but dry with sunny spells.
Here’s hoping …
DRYLAW’S NAN IS ONE HUNDRED
Born before the outbreak of the First World War, Drylaw woman Nan Macdonald celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at Drylaw Parish Church yesterday. Guests were entertained with jazz and traditional Scottish music and shared lots and lots of stories and happy memories.
Nan is quite fragile these days and she is currently in an Inverleith nursing home, but as ever Nan’s husband of 73 years Harry was never far from his wife’s side – looking particular dapper in his maroon jacket and proudly sporting his Foundation of Hearts tie!
The pair met in the late 1930s when Harry was a butcher boy and Nan was helping to look after her father’s house. They shared many interests, particularly cycling and spent many happy weekends together on bike rides up to the north of Scotland.
The Second World War intervened but didn’t end the couple’s courtship – Harry got leave during naval service and he and Nan were married in Stockbridge Church on February 22 1941.
After the war the couple set up home in Drylaw where the Macdonalds had three children – George, Henry and Evelyn. Since then clan has continued to grow and grow, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren came from near and far to join yesterday’s celebrations.
Harry, incidentally, has a wee while to wait for his telegram from the Queen – he claims he’s Nan’s ‘toy boy’ – he’s only 98!
Archaeological dig unearths ‘treasures’ at heart of housing estate
World Heritage Site status following Drylaw discovery?
The ring of Brodgar, the standing stones of Callanish, Stonehenge – these world famous ancient sites have aroused wonder and speculation for centuries. Why were they built? Were they religious temples, astronomical navigation sites, burial grounds or even fantastic art creations by intelligent creatures from another world?
Channel Four’s ‘Time Team’ believe they may have unearthed some answers following an archaeological dig in North Edinburgh.
Late last year, scientists were alerted to some unusual ground activity following a prolonged period of torrential rain in the Drylaw housing estate in North Edinburgh.
Historic Scotland’s Barnaby Welton-Trowell explained: “The heavy rain had washed away layers of topsoil on a small roundabout, revealing a primitive stone circle which we believe may be thousands of years old. It’s a remarkable find, and it appears that the stone structure was built as a repository for important relics that span the ages. Drylaw’s standing stones will undoubtedly become as well known as any of the world’s most famous sites”.
A preliminary examination unearthed some fascinating artefacts.
Mr Welton-Trowell continued: “We first came upon ancient plans for a tram network, which we believe could date back to Roman times. Etched on a stone tablet, they were drafted by a man called David the Begg – we are currently researching him and believe he may have been one of a group of wise seers who once lived in the Lothians. The Begg’s blueprint even included a cost – five magic beans, which must be around £25 billion in today’s money – so you can see that transport and infrastructure schemes were just as expensive way back in antiquity. However the stone tablet was only the beginning – you can imagine our excitement as we had literally only really scratched the surface. What other treasures could we find?”
The stone tablet – an early forerunner of today’s hi-tech iPad – was sent for carbon dating, but Channel Four’s Time Team got wind of the discovery and rushed to Edinburgh. Now working with Historic Scotland and the local city council, the TV archaeologists have already made some startling discoveries on the Drylaw dig – and expect many more.
Tony ‘Baldrick’ Robinson (pictured above) said: “We are always amazed at the things our investigations can throw up and our Edinburgh visit has been particularly rewarding. Among the artefacts unearthed so far are an antiquated scrap of parchment which we believe may be Saxon or even earlier – clearly it is very difficult to decipher the hieroglyphics on the ancient manuscript, but one of our experts believes it may refer to the victory of ancient Hibernians in a battle in the West, where they won a momentous victory at something called the Scottish Cup. It is clearly very old and may well be very significant – it was always believed that this was the stuff of legend, a fairy tale, but it may actually have really happened after all”.
A tray of modern-day bridies
Also discovered was a fossilised piece of foodstuff. Tony Baldrick continued: “We had always imagined our forefathers were farmers, living on a fairly basic diet of grain and vegetables. However we have dug up what we believe may be an early Pictish bridie. If it really is – and we are very hopeful, as it was placed in a Gregg’s bag, perhaps as part of a religious ceremony as an offering to the gods – we may have to rethink the diets of our ancestors. Perhaps the pie, bridie and sausage roll were just as popular with the Stone Age Scot as they remain today. Carbon dating will reveal all – it will certainly give the scientists something to get their teeth into!”
VisitScotland senior marketing executive Ruaridh Culloden said the find offers a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ for the area. He said: “After a series of top level brainstorm and focus group sessions our team has come up with some wonderful ideas to really put the site on the tourist map.
“We’ve yet to visit the site, but we would envisage a Visitor Centre – probably on the site of one of the local pubs, either the Dew Pot or the Furry Boat, and a gift shop on the site of the current Drylaw church. We’d also like to flatten Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and use the space to develop a fun theme park there.
Mr Culloden added: “It’s also very important that the Standing Stones are easily accessible so we would like to establish a big coach and car park where Ferryhill School is currently located, perhaps with any overspill directed to Easter Drylaw Park, where was also plan to build a hotel. So as you can see, we’re certainly not short of great ideas on how we can build on Drylaw’s heritage – quite literally”.
A spokesperson for Drylaw Telford Community Council said: “The interest generated has been amazing – we’ve had communications and inquiries from as far away as Trinity and Cramond. The roundabout was really just a bit of an eyesore, to be honest, so the events of recent weeks have taken us all completely by surprise. The stones have certainly put Drylaw on the map and it seems that our neighbourhood is going to be transformed. It’s simply unbelievable.”
