Welcome to 2024 and to your January Newsletter.
Happy New Year to you all. We hope you celebrated in style.
Hear About…
We’re kicking off this year with a series of talks at the Heart.
“Hear About…” all sorts of things, will begin on Friday 26th January and run into the spring at 3pm on Friday afternoons. Come along, have a cup of tea or coffee, chat with old friends and make some new ones. The talks will be free but donations would be welcome for the tea/coffee.
They may take place in different areas of the Heart depending on how many people are interested and what the topic is. Some for example, might take place in the hall, others in the Anchor Building and others upstairs in the Heritage Suite.
All we ask is that you register your interest in attending in advance with admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk to give us an idea of numbers, and check with reception when you arrive to find out exactly where the talk will be.
Here are the first five talks, each starting at 3pm:
Friday 26th January – our very own Chair, Judy Crabb will explain the ups and downs of how the Heart has come about and what we hope for from the future.
Friday 2nd February – John Lawson, Museums & Galleries Edinburgh’s archaeologist will talk about what came to light while the Newhaven tram extension was being built.
Friday 9th February – Heart volunteer, researcher and writer Jane Evans will tell us about the, perhaps not so famous, Newhaven witches.
Friday 16th February – From the Heart to hearts, Gillian Gray, Heart volunteer and recently retired Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, will talk about what the heart does, what commonly goes wrong and how current drugs are used to prevent and treat disease.
23rd February – Archaeologist Rob Engl of AOCArchaeology will tell us all about the excavation that took place in the school playground before the Anchor Building was built. Although the schoolchildren of the time like to refer to the skeleton found as a pirate, the reality may be a little more prosaic, but exciting nevertheless.
See you there, and watch out for more talks to be announced soon. If you would like to give a talk or have a topic to suggest for which we could find a speaker, then contact gillian.bannantyne@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
Keep the dates free
Watchout for our two forthcoming Coorie-in for Winter events, coming up on the evening of Tuesday, January 16th from 7- 8.30 and again on the afternoon of Monday 5th February from 2- 3.30. More details nearer the time.
The Evening event will include some Ukrainian food tasting and a chance to meet and speak to some of our building creatives.
The afternoon will allow visitors into the different spaces and find out more about what is on at the Heart for you.
Keeping green and beautiful
Hot on the heels of our Lottery funding for greening the Heart, announced in our December newsletter, we are proud to present our new certificate from Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Really great news!
We’re also thrilled to announce that we have secured a major new National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.
The £200,000 will be divided between further renovation and conservation work on the old Victoria building and an intergenerational community heritage project: Our schooldays – memories and legacies, Heritage tales from Newhaven, Trinity and Leith Harbour.
The project will involve some of our Heart Partners as well as the schools in our area of benefit and will leave a lasting legacy for the future. The news of the award arrived immediately before Christmas – what a great Christmas present!
Watch this space for more details in the coming months.
Dementia Meeting Centre
We have also secured 12 months funding for the further development of our Dementia Meeting Centre from Age Scotland.
From February, this will take place every Wednesday from 1.30 – 3.30 in the kitchen/lounge.
email: meetingcentre@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
Restoration Forth
has had an incredible year! You can watch a few special moments along the way, in their new Youtube video. Together with other participating hubs, we at The Heart are excited to share the highlights of 2023.
Thanks to everyone who has been involved so far in this truly important project. If you’d like to play a part in restoring marine habitats and coastal environments in the Firth of Forth, find out more and sign up to the Restoration Forth newsletter HERE.
Reminiscence
Remember when? Our reminiscence volunteers will be ready to welcome all-comers at their first session of the new year, on Thursday 18th January,10.30 – 11.30. Themes change at each meeting so what will it be this time? Come along and find out.
New logo
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that a new logo has appeared on our website. This is to signify that we are registered members of the recently formed Edinburgh Local Heritage Network.
This is an umbrella organisation for all local heritage groups who can use it to exchange ideas, advice, information and even exhibitions and events.
| There’s so much coming up this year. Why don’t you get involved? It’s your community, your Heart. Remember to watch our website and social media for news of events and classes. |
| WHAT’S ON AT THE HEART |