West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala cancelled

The West Pilton & Muirhouse Community Gala, which was due to take place this weekend, has been cancelled.

In a statement on their Facebook page today, the Gala organising committee said:

‘The committee would regrettably like to inform everyone that due to some supplier issues the gala due to be held this coming Sunday will not be going ahead , this is obviously disappointing and we assure everyone it will proceed next year, bigger than ever..

We would like to thank , Julie at MYDG , the Centipede Project and North Edinburgh Arts for their continued help and support in the planning this year …

Our committee will be meeting next month to start 2014 planning , anyone wishing to come along to this meeting is more than welcome , details will follow …

Sorry once again , and we hope everyone has a great end to the summer … ‘

Last year’s community event, hosted by Forth One’s Grant Stott, was a big success – particularly as the longer-established Waterfront Festival in Forthquarter Park was cancelled – and organisers had hoped to build on that this summer.

It wasn’t to be, but there’s always next year!

30 June date for West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala

This year’s West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala, which takes place on Sunday 30 June, will feature a procession and gala court.

The procession will include local groups, schools, nurseries, a marching band plus much more. The procession will start leave Craigroyston Primary School at 11:45am and parade through the streets of Muirhouse and West Pilton to arrive at West Pilton Park at 12pm.

For more information on all things Gala email wpmcgala@gmail.com

Award for Gala organisers

West Pilton and Muirhouse Community Gala’s committee have received an award for their achievements. The group, which managed to plan, organise and deliver a very succesful Gala in just a few short weeks (an even arranged some sunshine!), was highly commended at this week’s Children and Families Achievement Awards at the Assembly Rooms.

Committee chair Sean Gardiner said: “We were nominated for the award by Edinburgh Council’s local Community Learning and Development team and, out of 8000 entries, we were selected as finalists. The event was hosted by Grant Stott (pictured below at the Gala) from Forth One who was extremely happy to see an event he had been involved in had gone so far!”

Gala reflections

Following the inaugural West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala and the disappointing cancellation of this month’s North Edinburgh Community Festival at Forthquarter Park, NEN caught up with SEAN GARDINER, chair of the West Pilton event’s organising committee, to reflect on the gala:

“The committee has yet to meet, but as it stands we have reviewed feedback and the few things we have picked up on for next year is more bins, more ticket stands to avoid queues and perhaps something for older kids like archery, a paintball area or laser quest. All in all the event was a great success; there were a few people felt that some things were a bit pricey, but for everything that cost money there was a free activity too so in the Galas opinion, things that cost money are the individuals’ choice. Hearing feedback from the gala day suppliers I will say it seems that, even with prices not being suited to everyone, all our suppliers had a very successful day.

“With regards to the Forthquarter event , we were never and will never run in competition with ANY event in Edinburgh; our aim from the start was to host a community event for local people, by local people. I must say I was very disappointed to hear it had been cancelled, and with no real explanation either. Areas like West Pilton and Muirhouse have long had this reputation for being a rundown area, events like our gala and the Forthquarter festival prove ten-fold that the area is only as bad as some people make it. There are certain groups operating within the West Pilton and Muirhouse area that promote how bad the place is and how bad the way of life is, when in my opinion, all that really does is brings people down. A little bit of hard work and organisation for something like the gala lifts heads and spirits and gets people in this area – who would otherwise be walking round thinking how bad the place is – walking round with a buzz, talking about how great the gala was or what there kids dance group done, etc.

“I spoke to a man who lives in Pilton Drive North just yesterday and was told about a couple of locals from Pilton and Royston looking into the possibility of a gala in their area next year, so from what started as a fun idea, it has not only been a huge success , it has also inspired other areas to do the same thing. It can only get better …!”

Did you attend the West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala? What could be improved? Let us know!

Potty Planter Winners

The Muirhouse Centipede Project is pleased to announce that the winners of the recent Potty Planters competition at West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala were:

1. Pre school: Abbi Smith (aged 4).

Planter was an Irn Bru Glass with a colourful flower in it.

Story: ‘Abbi thought these were pretty!’

2. Lower primary: Amelia and Julia Dorozynska (aged 8 & 3)

Planter was a welly boot with a colourful flower in it.

Story: “This planter used to be Amelia’s welly which she really liked but it got some holes so it doesn’t work well, but makes a very nice planter. Now we can all enjoy it”

3. Upper primary: Chelsea Diamond (aged 10).

Planter was a pair of welly boots, with strawberries growing in them.

Story: “My favourite Welles that grow my favourite fruit – strawberries!”

4. Adult: Pearl Dunbar (aged 73).

Planter was a child’s push along wooden block trolley.

Story: “Porta-garden: everywhere you go, your garden goes with you!”

The Champion was Pre school.

Winner 1 got box of sand toys, modelling clay, and a money bank. Winners 2 and 3 got a game and a money box and winner 4 received a £10 Asda voucher. The Judge was Colin Douglas, assistant minister at Cramond, who is a Wes Piltont resident.

Muirhouse St Andrews Parish Church is holding a Table Sale on Saturday 15 September from 10am to 1pm. To book a table (price £10) telephone 07914 538 189, 07714 958 987 or email: lindsayatmuirhouse@virginmedia.com

Centipede project’s gone potty about planters!

We’re into August – wasn’t July wonderful? – and it’s less than four weeks until the West Pilton and Muirhouse community gala. There will be a host of great things to enjoy at the big event on 26 August, but one of the more unusual will undoubtedly be Muirhouse Centipede Project’s Peculiar Planter Competition.

The idea behind the competition is quite simple – but simply nuts, too! Take along a plant in a planter – the dafter container the better – along with a postcard telling your container’s story. Your planter will be judged on its creativity, its ingenuity and its ridiculousness for the purpose! You will also gain points for the “story” you tell on your postcard about why you chose this particular planter. So the Centipede team is looking not only for crazy planters but also looking for stories about the planters that amuse, touch, move or inspire!

Muirhouse St Andrews locum minister Linda Dunbar explained: “We are busy visiting community groups with promotional material garnering support for the competition. Folk should look out for the posters, and pick up entry postcards from the North Edinburgh Arts, Muirhouse Library and Muirhouse St Andrew’s Church. On the competition day we will be videoing all the entries – as well as soaking up the Gala atmosphere, all in preparation of producing a commemorative DVD of all the various Centipede Project activities taking place between now and Easter 2013.”

Participants should bring entries to the Centipede Project stall, ensuring your precious planter is accompanied by a postcard – blank postcards will be available on the day, or in advance through various participating community groups. Everyone is welcome to enter – all entries should be on the stall by 1pm. Judging takes place at 2pm and the grand prizegiving ceremony will be held at 3.30pm.

Twenty-six days, and counting down – it’s time to roll the sleeves up and get planting!

For more information on Muirhouse Centipede Project their website – www.centipedeproject.co.uk

Latest West Pilton Community Gala news can be found at www.westpiltonandmuirhousegala.co.uk

Centipede project's gone potty about planters!

Twenty-six days, and counting down – it’s time to roll the sleeves up and get planting!

For more information on Muirhouse Centipede Project their website – www.centipedeproject.co.uk

Latest West Pilton Community Gala news can be found at www.westpiltonandmuirhousegala.co.uk

Muirhouse Centipede’s going green!

From potty planters and community barbeques to picture competitions and labyrinth mazes … Linda Dunbar gives an update on the Centipede Project …

A multi agency Steering Group has been formed which includes representatives from St Paul’s RC, North Edinburgh Arts, Fable Vision (Govan) and Link Up – and we are hopeful the representation will get wider.

We now have a plan of activities for the next nine months, kicking off with a Peculiar Planter Competition! We are looking for folk to bring along a potted plant (or plants) to the West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala on 26 August – but for the planters to be more than your bog standard terracotta pot – as the title suggests – the dafter the better! We want folk to write a few lines on a postcard, explaining their planter, or naming their planter, or telling up why they chose it. We will be working with local schools, nursing homes and community groups to ensure a big entry to the competition.

For those who are struggling for ideas, there will also be a chance to ‘plant up’ at the free Community BBQ and Summer Fair that will be held in Muirhouse St Andrew’s Parish Church the day before, Saturday 25th from 11am – 1pm. This will be the third year that Muirhouse have hosted a FREE community BBQ, but this year it will be enhanced by peculiar planters and summer fair stalls! Judging of the planters will take place during the Gala Day and prizes will be announced at 3.30pm.

This is just the start of a big programme of events – all made possible through Pilot Project Funding from the Parish Development Fund of the Church of Scotland. Also in the pipeline are:

‘A Time for Peace’ – a chance to step back and reflect on the peaceful sites within the Muirhouse and west Pilton Area – hosted by North Edinburgh Arts some time in October/November – date to be confirmed

12/12/12 Photo competition – take a digital photograph some time during the 24 hours of 12/12/12 that depicts one of the Advent themes of ‘love’, ‘joy’, hope’ or ‘peace’. In mid-late January there will be a display of the winning entries, again hosted by North Edinburgh Arts – date to be confirmed

Running over autumn and winter we will be engaging a community artist to design something ‘big and beautiful and spectacular’ in flowers or bulbs which we hope to work with the council in identifying one of the brown field sites within the Muirhouse area, to plant up (with the help of the community) and wait and watch for the grand display blooming in the spring.

In the church gardens, and elsewhere if we can identify suitable sites, we are going to install a labyrinth maze – we also hope to install small sensory/peace gardens at two or three sites in the area.

So – you can see the Centipede has got its boots on!

Folks can check out updates on Facebook’s Marvellous Muirhouse Page, and on www.centipedeproject.co.uk

Linda Dunbar

Muirhouse Centipede's going green!

From potty planters and community barbeques to picture competitions and labyrinth mazes … Linda Dunbar gives an update on the Centipede Project …

This is just the start of a big programme of events – all made possible through Pilot Project Funding from the Parish Development Fund of the Church of Scotland. Also in the pipeline are:

So – you can see the Centipede has got its boots on!

Folks can check out updates on Facebook’s Marvellous Muirhouse Page, and on www.centipedeproject.co.uk

Linda Dunbar