Community Gala – it's looking good!

Plans for the West Granton and Muirhouse Gala are progressing nicely, organisers told a meeting of interested parties on Tuesday. Permission to use West Pilton Park was finally granted last week – fortunately! – and with insurance, entertainers, security, caterers, rides, PA system, performers, a stage, marquees, shows and stalls all seemingly now in place all that’s needed on 26 August are punters and hopefully a little sunshine!

More than twenty local groups and organisations were represented at the planning meeting held at Muirhouse St Andrew’s Church, and gala organiser Sean Gardiner told the meeting: “Everything has fallen into place relatively easily – the biggest challenge for fellow organiser Alex and I has been time. We both work full-time and there seems to have been a thousands and one things to be done, but we’re getting there. The aim of this year’s gala is really to try to provide something for everyone – from the smallest kids right up to their grandparents – a real community event that everyone can enjoy and feel part of. We’ll learn from this year’s event when we go on to plan next years’ Gala!”

The list of attractions is very impressive – see the group’s website for details – and the West Pilton Park Gala on 26 August should indeed be a lot of fun. It takes a lot of work to create fun events, though, and organisers would be delighted to hear from any volunteers who would be willing to spend an hour or so helping out on the big day.

If you can lend a hand, contact the gala organisers at www.westpiltonandmuirhousegala.co.uk, where you’ll also find Facebook and Twitter contact details.

PS: Stalls and tables are still available for comunity groups and organisations – more info and booking forms are available through the website.

 

 

Community Gala – it’s looking good!

Plans for the West Granton and Muirhouse Gala are progressing nicely, organisers told a meeting of interested parties on Tuesday. Permission to use West Pilton Park was finally granted last week – fortunately! – and with insurance, entertainers, security, caterers, rides, PA system, performers, a stage, marquees, shows and stalls all seemingly now in place all that’s needed on 26 August are punters and hopefully a little sunshine!

More than twenty local groups and organisations were represented at the planning meeting held at Muirhouse St Andrew’s Church, and gala organiser Sean Gardiner told the meeting: “Everything has fallen into place relatively easily – the biggest challenge for fellow organiser Alex and I has been time. We both work full-time and there seems to have been a thousands and one things to be done, but we’re getting there. The aim of this year’s gala is really to try to provide something for everyone – from the smallest kids right up to their grandparents – a real community event that everyone can enjoy and feel part of. We’ll learn from this year’s event when we go on to plan next years’ Gala!”

The list of attractions is very impressive – see the group’s website for details – and the West Pilton Park Gala on 26 August should indeed be a lot of fun. It takes a lot of work to create fun events, though, and organisers would be delighted to hear from any volunteers who would be willing to spend an hour or so helping out on the big day.

If you can lend a hand, contact the gala organisers at www.westpiltonandmuirhousegala.co.uk, where you’ll also find Facebook and Twitter contact details.

PS: Stalls and tables are still available for comunity groups and organisations – more info and booking forms are available through the website.

 

 

West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala planning day today

The Gala Committee is hosting a planning day at Muirhouse St Andrew’s Church from 11am this morning. The event is for everyone looking to be involved, people looking to find out whats going on is invited.   We hope to see you all there.

The Gala will take place on Sunday 26 August from 12 – 4pm at West Pilton Park. For more info visit the group’s website at www.westpiltonand muirhousegala.co.uk or email wpmcgala@gmail.com

West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala Committee

West Pilton death: next of kin appeal

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for help in tracing relatives of a man who was found dead at his West Pilton home on Thursday 31 May.

65-year-old David Barclay was found dead at his home address in West Pilton. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

It is believed that Mr Barclay has a sister called Paula Dixon, who may stay in the Buckinghamshire area. Police are appealing for any information that can assist them in tracing Paula Dixon, or any other friends or relatives of David Barclay.

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131.

Grassroots Gala gathers pace

There’s a lot to be done, but organisers of this summer’s Community Fun Day at West Pilton Park remain on-course to make it a day to remember.

Group member Sean Gardiner told NEN:  “We have now submitted all our applications for funding, the park and the neighbourhood centre and we are still recruiting volunteers. We’re also looking for traders to book stalls and we ask anyone who wishes to contact us to use wpmcgala@gmail.com. We are also still looking for any pictures taken by the public of  previous gala days.”

You can keep up to date with the group’s activities through their website at www.westpiltonandmuirhousegala.co.uk

Weekend fire in West Pilton flat

Fire crews were called out to a fire in the kitchen of a flat in West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh on Saturday evening.

Two fire engines and a height appliance attended the incident, caused by a cooker catching fire, after the call came in at 8.22pm. Two firefighters entered the ground floor flat in the three-storey block and extinguished the fire using a CO2 extinguisher and a high-pressure hose reel.

An ambulance attended and paramedics checked over a 20-year-old male, 19-year-old female and a 10-month-old baby, but none of the occupants required hospital treatment.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service

West Pilton Gardeners planting this weekend

No plans for the weekend? Like to get out in the fresh air and enjoy some gardening? Why not support the West Pilton gardeners?

The group will be planting tatties,  strawberries and wildflowers over the weekend and all ‘budding’ gardeners are welcome to help with the planting. Sessions are taking place today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) from 1 – 3pm.

Green-fingered Kirsty Sutherland explained: “All are welcome to come along and get involved. The garden is being created on part of the grassland behind the youth centre at West Pilton Brae. It was started this spring by a handful of women and their children from the streets beside Pilton Youth and Children’s Project as a place to grow fruit and vegetables and get together for barbeques in the summer. Volunteers from around Pilton, Granton and Muirhouse have also helped with the work. We are forming a gardening group to take care of the garden and build it together. Please come along and join in or just blether with everyone, find out what has been happening and how you can join in.”

For further information contact Kirsty – email kirsty@piltonresidents.org.uk

 

A warm welcome to Living Well’s Shazia

Living Well’s Chair, Jackie Brash, says “We are delighted to announce that Shazia Majid has joined as our new Mental Health Support Worker. Some people may remember her from when she worked before at PROP & Pilton Community Health Project, as a Volunteer Coordinator, leaving in January 2010 when the funding for the volunteering work came to an end.   Shazia is based at our Pilton Centre at 5 West Pilton Park. We know she’ll make a great contribution here and I and all the Members are so pleased that Shazia is back on our team!”

Shazia says: “I am looking forward very much to working with the Living Well Team and having worked in Pilton before, I know just how important the Centre is to its members and how hard staff and volunteers work in providing an excellent service”.

Shazia is particularly looking forward to celebrating the Centre’s work at the Mental Health Arts Festival which will take place later on in the year.

Our services are for people 18+ who have mental health concerns and live in North Edinburgh.  Activities we offer include Relaxation, Support Groups, Tai Chi, Crafts, Pottery and Drop-In sessions.

If you’d like a copy of our programme or some more information about our services, give us a ring on 0131 343 6375 or email us at: livingwellnorthedinburgh.org.uk

Living Well North Edinburgh

5 West Pilton Park

Edinburgh EH4 4EL

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 9am to 4pm

Witness appeal after Pilton theft

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after a Royal Mail employee had items stolen from his car. The incident happened on Tuesday, sometime between 11.30am and 12.45am in West Pilton Avenue. A 34-year-old postman parked his car in the area and returned to find the vehicle had been broken into and two Royal Mail jackets and a bag of mail were stolen from inside.

Officers have carried out local enquiries to trace the stolen property and have urged anyone who can assist with their investigation to come forward.

A police spokesman said: “These items have no significant financial value. However, the mail could be of a personal nature and the clothing may allow the suspect to pose as a Royal Mail employee. Anyone who witnessed this incident or who saw anything suspicious in the West Pilton Avenue area yesterday morning is asked to contact police immediately. The public is also reminded to ask for identification from anyone requesting access to your property. Always check with the company they claim to represent if you are uncertain and if you’re still not satisfied, then call the police.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.