The Gretna Rail Disaster was a devastating blow to both the Battalion and the people of Leith. It was said at the time that there was scarcely a family in the town untouched by the tragedy.
In the hours after the disaster, the nearby city of Carlisle became the main centre for the wounded. Around 180 injured soldiers were taken there, overwhelming local hospitals, Red Cross facilities, and even hotels, which were requisitioned for beds.
On Sunday 23 May 1915, 107 coffins were returned to Edinburgh and placed in the Battalion’s Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street. The following day, 101 were borne in solemn procession to Rosebank Cemetery, Pilrig Street, for burial in a mass grave. Thousands lined the route; shops closed, blinds were drawn, and traffic halted as the city mourned.
The Drill Hall has been chosen for this exhibition due to its history of being the 7th Battalion’s Drill Hall and its association with the people of Leith.
Central to the exhibition will be the Tree of Life which contains the names of all 216 men who were killed in the disaster. This will be supported by display boards featuring the stories of local soldiers and their families.
Come to our European Communities Day, taking place on Saturday 16th May (11am–4pm) at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith.
This is a free, family-friendly event we are supporting as part of the Festival of Europe. It will bring together organisations working with European communities alongside a range of creative activities and workshops for children and families, including art sessions and family ceilidh dancing.
The day celebrates the richness and diversity of Europe – recognising that it is not a homogeneous space, and that identities are shaped by different ethnicities, cultures, languages and migration journeys.
It is open to everyone and aims to create a welcoming space to share experiences, build connections, and celebrate this diversity together.
We recognise that people connect to Europe in different ways, including those who live, work and build their lives here in Scotland.
For more information, and to book a place in the ceilidh and workshops, please visit this link.”
Sign up, and join in the fun at one of the two FREE family-friendly Scottish Ceilidh workshops which are part of the afternoon activities taking place at this year’s Festival of Europe Scotland’s European Communities Day.
Particularly aimed at families with children aged 3-9 years, new Scots and Old Scots can discover and enjoy for the first or 100th time the dances and tap along to the music.
Lead by Caroline from Ceilidhkids each workshop is aimed at families with children aged 3 – 9 years. It’s family dancing, not children’s dancing so children should be accompanied by an adult willing to join in. One adult can dance with two children.
The dance steps are simplified and non-scary. As it is a shoes off dance floor there is a chance for everyone to show off their favourite socks!
But there will be first come spaces saved for those who turn up on the day! Please note: a ticket is required for every person attending (both adults and children), so be sure to book a place for each member of your group.
We hope you can join us!
This Ceilidh Workshop is part of European Communities Day, 16 May, Out of the Blue Drill Hall. It is made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players
The Gretna 111th Anniversary Pop-Up Exhibition commemorates the Gretna train disaster, which killed over 200 men from the 1/7th Royal Scots who were based here at the Dalmeny Street Drill Hall).
Curated by The Royal Scots Regimental Museum, the exhibition is designed to raise awareness of the crash, which took place in May 1915.
The Drill Hall has been chosen for this exhibition due to its history of being the 7th Battalion’s Drill Hall and its association with the people of Leith. 216 members of the 7th Battalion were killed during the disaster on the morning of 22nd May 1915.
Central to the exhibition will be the Tree of Life which contains the names of all 216 men. This will be supported by display boards featuring the stories of local soldiers and their families.
There will also be a diorama of Larbert Station (where the soldiers originally departed from) that captures the time when the soldiers were about to embark on the troop train.
We’ll be sharing more information in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, why not pop the dates in your diary!
LIMINAL: OUT OF THE DRILL HALL until 6 NOVEMBER – FREE EXHIBITION
Liminal, a new exhibition showcasing artwork created by young people who are treated at the city’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, is open for one week in Edinburgh.
Running until Thursday 6 November, the exhibition has been developed through a collaboration between the Mental Health Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), and artist Louise Fraser, as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. Liminal explores the emotional and physical “in-between” spaces that young people often navigate between childhood and adulthood, wellness and illness, comfort and unease.
The exhibition features imaginative and deeply personal work created by young people who have spent time in hospital settings. They participated in a series of workshops to create their artwork and co-produce the exhibition.
Through drawing, painting, and mixed media, they reflect on identity, transition, and the complexity of growing up while managing health challenges.
Poppy Porteous, age 13 from Linlithgow, is one of the young artists whose work is on display. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when she was 7 years old and has been attending medical appointments at the hospital since.
Poppy said: “Living with a long-term health condition can be scary and frustrating sometimes, so doing art like this really helped me feel better. I got involved in the Liminal project after taking part in a teddy photography activity through the hospital and ECHC.
“I loved being part of Liminal. It was so much fun and everyone was really kind. My artwork shows the creative and messy side of me, especially the wooden block paintings. It felt great to be allowed to try everything and I love seeing my artwork on display”.
Ilayda Balkan,age 15 from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with Polyarthritic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)in April 2024. Her rheumatology nurse at the hospital introduced her to the arts project.
Ilayda said: “My nurse told me about the Liminal project before she retired, it felt like a gift she left me. Taking part was a lovely experience. I met kind, creative people and felt a real sense of empathy, even though we didn’t know each other’s stories.
“The project gave me space to express myself freely, and my artwork reflects that – especially my sunset paintings, which remind me of my family’s home in Turkey. Living with a long-term health condition can be really tough, but projects like this show that your illness doesn’t define you. It’s your kindness and strength that truly shine.”
The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, led by the Mental Health Foundation, is one of Scotland’s most diverse cultural festivals, and the biggest festival of its kind in the world. It celebrates and encourages using the arts to explore mental health, challenge stigma, and promote wellbeing.
Gill Means, Project Manager at Mental Health Foundation said:“Liminal has been a powerful and moving project to be part of.
“The young people involved have shared their experiences with honesty, creativity and courage, and their artwork speaks volumes about what it means to live with a long-term health condition.
“This exhibition is a celebration of their voices, their imagination, and the strength they’ve shown in expressing themselves through art.”
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) works to transform the hospital experience for children and young people by supporting their health and wellbeing through creativity, play and connection.
Creative projects offer a vital outlet for imagination and emotional resilience and help make hospital a place where children can still be children.
ECHC works in partnership with NHS Lothian to help seriously ill children and their families have a positive hospital experience.
Tonya McMullan, Arts Officer at ECHC, said: “We see firsthand, every day, how creativity gives children in hospital a way to express themselves, have fun and just be children again.
“Art can help them cope with tough days and give them some choice and control at a time when they have very little. “We’re so inspired by all the young people who took part in Liminal. Their artwork is powerful, moving and so inspiring.”
Liminal is on display at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG until Thursday 6 November 2025. The gallery is open daily, 10am–5pm
HARBOUR Homes’ North Edinburgh Awards are all about celebrating what makes Leith and north Edinburgh an amazing place to live.
The inaugural awards night, organised by Harbour Homes, took place at Out of the Blue Drill Hall on Thursday 23 October 2025. The evening kicked off with a magic show and community get-together before the winners were revealed.
Tenants of Harbour Homes and members of the local community nominated neighbours, volunteers, local businesses and community groups who they felt deserved a big thank you.
The categories were: Good Neighbour, Community Champion, Community Group, and Favourite Local Business.
Heather Kiteley, Chief Executive at Harbour Homes said: “We created this event to bring the community together as part of our 50th celebrations.
“It was a much-needed celebration of the people who make our communities great. All those nominated were deserving of the recognition on the night, and I am immensely grateful for the positive impact they have on the lives of our tenants and the wider community.”
The winners announced on the night were:
Good Neighbour: Dana Hunter
Community Champion: Daniel Ndlovu
Community Group: The Citadel
Favourite Local Business: Quirkys
Nominations were encouraged to shine a spotlight on the everyday heroes around us. Dana Hunter received several nominations for looking out for her neighbours and being a kind and caring member of the community.
Dana said: “I didn’t expect to be nominated or to win, a big thank you to my neighbours.”
Daniel Ndlovu participates as a youth volunteer with YMCA Edinburgh and was nominated for his fantastic attitude and commitment to improving his local community. He plays an important role in the Friday Night Lights project which has been linked with a 25% reduction in anti social behaviour on the evening it runs.
The Community Group Award went to The Citadel whose nominations highlighted the excellent work they do with young people and families of Leith.
Willy Barr, Manager, The Citadel, said: “Winning the North Edinburgh Community Group Award was a real boost to everyone involved at The Citadel.
“We love being in the heart of the Community in Leith and we have so many stories of bringing people together, trying new things, facing challenges together but most important of all, having fun!
“Well done to the other finalists and winners – we are all part of what makes Leith a great place to be.”
Quirkys won Favourite Local Business and received multiple nominations for their helpfulness and for uplifting the appearance of the local area.
Stuart Wright, owner of Quirkys plants said: “Thank you so much for this massively encouraging award.
“I am really grateful to my fantastic customers who continue to support me and other small businesses.”
Edinburgh College’s Photography Graduates Unveil Their Vision.
Prepare to be captivated. Prepare to be challenged. Prepare to be EXPOSED.
This June, Edinburgh College’s graduating photography class invites you to witness the culmination of years of dedication, passion, and artistic exploration. EXPOSED 25 is a vibrant testament to the raw talent and innovative perspectives emerging from the heart of Scotland’s creative capital.
EXPOSED 25 is more than just a display of technical skill; it’s a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the power of visual storytelling. Each photograph represents a unique journey, a personal vision, and a bold step into the professional world.
Join us for a night of art, inspiration, and celebration.
Event Details:
Location: Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG
Dates: 3rd June – 12th
10am – 5pm, closed Sunday
Admission: Free
Don’t miss this opportunity to be EXPOSED to the next generation of photographic visionaries.
Follow us on Insta @edinburghcollegephotography for updates and sneak peeks!
The Royal Scots Regimental Museum will host its annual week-long community outreach exhibition, this year entitled GRETNA 110, at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG between 1000 – 1630 from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 May 2025.
GRETNA 110 commemorates the 110th anniversary of Britain’s worst rail disaster at Quintinshill, near Gretna, on 22 May 1915. The exhibition raises awareness of the 227 people killed in the crash, including the 216 Royal Scots officers and soldiers of the 1st/7th (Leith) Battalion who were on the first leg of their journey to fight at Gallipoli, and the impact it had on Leith and the wider Lothians community.
The exhibition, being staged at what was the Battalion’s Drill Hall in 1915, will be officially opened at 10:00, Monday 19 May, by Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Susie Hamilton, and Depute Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Councillor Lezley Cameron. There will be a media preview immediately prior to the opening, between 09:30 – 10:00.
The terrible disaster left an indelible scar on the close-knit Leith and Musselburgh communities, with several families losing both fathers and sons. Many of the dead were taken to a temporary mortuary that had been established in the Battalion’s Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street before the majority were buried in the nearby Rosebank Cemetery, Pilrig Street.
A Memorial Service will take place at the cemetery on 24 May. A separate Service will take place at Gretna on the anniversary of the crash.
The GRETNA 110 exhibition includes:
· A short film, ‘Leith’s Darkest Dawn’, explaining the Crash and the aftermath, including a 1983 interview with a survivor and two direct descendants
· Displays, including artefacts recovered from the crash (a molten rifle and bugle) and a paper knife made from the wood of one of the carriages
· A dedicated Research Room with access to The Royal Scots records with genealogy and medals experts
· Moving illustrated stories from some of the soldiers involved and their families
· The important role played by the people of Gretna and Carlise after the Crash
· Long lasting sporting connections including football, boxing and swimming
· Leith Academy’s GRETNA 110 researched creative exhibits display
Brigadier George Lowder MBE, Chair The Royal Scots Trust said: “We should never forget those who lost their lives, and the impact on their families, who were at the beginning of their journey to fight for their country”
Robin Bell: “My father Ian was a platoon commander, of 45 men.
“He survived the Crash, but at the sad roll call afterwards only four of his platoon answered their names.”
Susie Hamilton, Scottish Veterans Commissioner, said: “This exhibition, commemorating the country’s worst-ever rail disaster 110 years ago, honours the young men who lost their lives while on their way to serve their country.
“It speaks to the heartbreak endured by local families and preserves the memory of a deeply poignant chapter in our nation’s history – one that must never be forgotten.”
Monday 18th – Saturday 23th May
10am – 4.30pm
The Out of the Blue Drill Hall
Free entry
Curated by 
10am – 4.30pm
