The Edinburgh Reporter September 2025

Wars Marching On Splashback! Shine a Light

After the Fringe

Liam Rudden ponders the future Page 18

September ����

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

EDINBURGH’S NEW TRIAL bike hire scheme will be delivered by Swedish company Voi, and everyone with the app will be able to use the city’s new scheme of dockless e-bikes from Wednesday 3 September.

A typical 20-minute journey will cost around £2.20. There are several discounts and concessions for many groups including those over 60 and apprentices. Voi also offer day passes and multi-day passes.

At first 50 e-bikes will be placed in geo-fenced locations in the city centre for hire and the council hopes to have around 800 available soon afterwards.

The contract between Voi and the Council runs for a period of two years at no cost to the council, and includes data sharing to assess feedback.

Transport and Environment

Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson (far left) said: “I’m really pleased we’ve returned a cycle hire scheme to Edinburgh. The new scheme will allow everyone to be able to move around our city in a healthier and more sustainable way.

“We know that the demand and appetite for cycling is already strong, and getting stronger. The scheme will complement our existing active travel and transport infrastructure and enhance connectivity, while also cutting congestion and reducing emissions. I look forward to seeing the benefits the scheme will bring to the city and our residents.”

James Bolton, of Voi UK (left), said:

“We’re excited to set up in Scotland, starting in the capital. We are working closely with the council to make an affordable scheme that is sensitive to, and learns lessons from, the previous scheme. At Voi we see massive amounts of untapped potential in Scotland, where people are really looking for affordable, quick and convenient ways to get around.”

Editorial

THIS LAST MONTH has passed by in a whirl of people, drama, music and comedy in theatres big and small, eating (expensively) outdoors between Fringe and festival shows and travelling on packed buses and streets. It has been a lot of fun, but Líam

Rudden o ers his personal take on the future of the Fringe as a producer and director on pages 18-19.

Among the month’s madness were the capacity concerts at Scottish Gas Murray eld. At any other point in the year these would have been welcome additions to the cultural calendar, but many have commented on the “Oasis e ect” on hotel and other prices in the city. Whatever your view, it is di cult to ignore the Gallagher brothers who stormed the Murray eld stage with a foul-mouthed rant against Edinburgh Council. This came in response to a leak over the safety assessment and related to the number of fans who would be in the stadium and their likely behaviour. However badly it was misinterpreted by the supergroup is nothing to the way it was mishandled by the local authority who waited until afterwards to issue a mealy mouthed welcome from the council leader.

Any PR moment of inviting Noel and Liam in for tea with the Lord Provost was by then lost – and it is claimed the group were still raging against Edinburgh on a live recording when appearing in Dublin.

Our centre pages this month are devoted to the creation largely in uenced by former Lord Provost Sir William J Thomson and the City Treasurer Louis Gumley. Local historian Andy Arthur laments the loss of Portobello Pool. Bringing back the pool may be a forlorn hope but the city has reinstated the tram –and is now looking further down the track with a North-South extension. Read more on Page 7 With the introduction of a new bike hire scheme this month, there is a feeling of déjà vu, but the new bikes are said to be tted with better technology to deter vandalism and theft. The coral coloured bikes will soon be seen on the streets with around 800 to come soon. However you get about this month I hope you enjoy reading our tour of the city’s news.

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

Planning News

COMMUNITY HUB PLANNED

In Wester Hailes permission is sought for a new community facility in Murrayburn Gardens for Wester Hailes Growing Communities on land owned by The City of Edinburgh Council which will include a makers’ workshop when the main hub building is completed. In the short term the building will serve as a micro hub with exible community space. 25/03958/FUL

PLATFORM PROPOSAL

An application has been lodged by 7N Architects to refurbish the platforms at the former Granton Station, adjoining the Granton Station Creative Works building in Station Square, that has a tall stone wall as its backdrop. The building and surrounding public realm have been newly refurbished, but the platforms were not refurbished as part of these works. The proposals transform the platforms into planters which accommodate soft andscape, planting, gravel and public artwork /sculptures. This application is open for comments until September 12. 25/04063/FUL

AI DATA CENTRE

A Proposal of Application Notice has been

lodged by Apatura DC Project 11 Ltd to construct a huge data centre campus with a 200 MW demand utility capacity on the green belt. The site will be developed with o ces, an electricity substation, cycle and car parking and landscaping on a 24-hectare site north of the Riccarton Campus at Heriot-Watt University. There will be a second public consultation event at The National Robotarium EH14 4AS on 2 October from 3pm to 8pm. The company says that Wester Hermiston AI Data Centre Campus, will be “a signi cant new digital infrastructure

development for The City of Edinburgh”.

NORTH

MOLE EXTENSION

A proposal has been made to extend the North Mole, part of the listed Western Breakwater. The new stone wall would be adjacent to the existing. Where new meets existing, the new stone lays on top of the existing slope. No change to the existing structure is proposed and the existing North Mole would remain in place at Granton Harbour. 25/04078/LBC

Care home gets on board

RESIDENTS IN A BRUNTSFIELD care home threw their weight behind three Scottish brothers rowing the Paci c as they closed in on a world record-breaking row which was due to end just as we went to press.

and

to access. The QR code below on the left and will take you to our subscription page. ter.ooo/subscribe

Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean, who used to visit their grandmother at Chamberlain Care Home, have rowed for around 140 days on an unsupported, non-stop journey from Peru to Australia to raise £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar.

The brothers were expected to complete their 9,000-mile crossing around 28 August.

In solidarity, residents at the Edinburgh care home joined them on “The Home Strait” with physio-led rowing sessions three days per week – and they did so in a homemade replica of the brothers’ boat, the Rose Emily.

The campaign which has captured the imagination of the entire care home community included a bake

sale and concert event and watching the brothers arrive in Cairns on a live stream.

Speaking from the boat, middle brother Jamie Maclean (31) said:

“We’ve faced storms, exhaustion and days when the ocean feels endless – but hearing about Chamberlain Care Home rowing along with us makes all the di erence.

“We have very fond memories of

visiting our granny in the care home and meeting everyone who lived there. It’s humbling to know that people back home are putting their energy into supporting us. When things get tough, we picture them rowing in the lounge and it gives us a huge lift.

“The pictures they sent through made a very tough day much lighter.”

A SECOND TEST of the UK’s national Emergency Alert

will be conducted on Sunday 7 September at around 3pm.

This is the system which would be used during major emergencies and it works by sending a loud siren-like sound to mobile phones for up to 10 seconds.

The sound will be accompanied by vibration on 4G and 5G networks and a text message which will read:

“This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK Government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

“You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.”

The message will include links to further information.

The alert was used successfully during Storm Éowyn earlier this year, issuing a warning about the 100mph winds.

Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said: “It is absolutely vital that people get prompt and accurate information in any emergency. Earlier this year, millions of Scots received a UK Government emergency alert that provided a clear warning about the threat from Storm Éowyn.

“This will be one of the biggest public safety exercises in our nation’s history, and testing it now is about making sure it works for everyone, right across Scotland and the whole of the UK.”

current location in Balerno High School but attendances vary between 180 and 350. Christmas events can draw a bigger congregation and attendees are between 60 and 70 per cent from the local area and 30 per cent from outwith Balerno. St Mungo’s use a school in Livingston for services there and the intention is to be able to bring both groups together in Balerno under one roof for one-o services and special occasions.

Preliminary planning talks are, he said, underway with City of Edinburgh Council planners and he stressed that the church is fully aware that the site is in a conservation area.

A decision on whether to go ahead with the project is, he said, likely to be taken in the Spring of 2026.

Historical note: St Mungo’s Church in Balerno was originally established as a school in the early 19th century and it later became an Episcopal church, sharing the name with the patron saint of Glasgow. The existing church was built in 1869 and is a listed building.

220 attend services at the

End this war on trade!

Shore business owners feel abandoned as roadworks keep customers away

BUSINESSES IN LEITH’S HISTORIC Shore area have accused council chiefs of neglect and waging a “war on business” during council-led infrastructure works which they say has devastated footfall and cut o local shops, cafés and restaurants during peak visitor season.

Ashley Harley, spokesperson for the 50-strong Shore Business Collective, said businesses feel abandoned and ignored as pavement and bike lane projects turn the oncevibrant Shore into what one trader called “a dead end”.

Ms Harley, Chief Operating O cer of Mimi’s Bakehouse chain, (above second left) said: “It feels like a war on business. The council just don’t give two hoots and they’ve created a car park, a dead zone, which nobody wants to come to any more.”

The Collective, which includes businesses such as Victor Hugo, the award winning Roseleaf bar and Lime & Lind distillery, claims that council works have slashed customer numbers, disrupted operations and been carried out with next-to-no consultation or warning.

One major business, which described the area as a “ghost town” said it was considering pulling out of The Shore and relocating, saying the district “has all but been abandoned by the local council”.

Graham Parsons, owner of The Roseleaf, said the bar has been forced to close early, made sta cutbacks and increased some prices to remain competitive, but added: “There really are only so many rabbits we can pull out of the hat to reduce the impact of a building site directly outside your door.”

Daniel Shearon, co owner of Tapa restaurant which has traded on The Shore for 16 years, blasted the closure of Coburg Street at Dock Place, as “completely nonsensical”

saying: “Lind & Lime are a huge draw to the area and limiting access to a business of their magnitude and importance, when added to all the other actions, is beginning to feel neglectful, verging on vindictive, to trade and businesses in this area.”

An initial meeting with senior council gures, including Gareth Barwell (Head of Place), Gavin Brown (Interim Director of Operational Services) and Ellen Williamson (Business Development), o ered a glimmer of hope but failed to provide any tangible solutions.

“The meeting felt positive, but what came after was frankly pitiful. It’s a complete failure to grasp the importance of a thriving business community. The Sunday Times and Condé Nast wax lyrical about The Shore as a destination but our own council acts like it’s a back alley they can tear up without consequence.”

Ms Harley said there had been “zero business consultation” ahead of the current works – part of the council’s Low Tra c Neighbourhood (LTN) and active travel programmes. Lea ets were delivered to homes, but many businesses directly a ected were left in the dark until days before pavements were dug up. The timing has only added fuel to the re with work continuing through August with the Edinburgh festivals

in full swing and considered the most important trading month of the year, when many businesses had counted on outdoor seating and tourist trade to boost revenue after the tough years of COVID recovery, in ation and rising costs.

Ashley’s own business, Mimi’s, has traded on The Shore for 15 years. She said: “The line hear over and over again is ‘too hard to get there, used to come now don’t, can’t get parked’.

On one day we took less than £200, a new low which doesn’t even cover our overheads to open.

“The way it’s being done is killing our trade and our trust. Running a business is hard enough - and they’re making it ten times harder. We need the Council to work with us to make the Shore the destination it deserves to be.”

Edinburgh Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m conscious that the pavement widening and public realm improvement work we’re carrying out will cause some disruption for local residents and businesses – they have my continued thanks for their patience and understanding.

“Unfortunately, by delaying these works until after August, we would only increase the overall duration of the project and cause wider disruption to all within the project area. We’re working closely with our contractor, Balfour Beatty, to ensure sure that the works are completed as quickly as possible.” The work is scheduled to nish by early September, he added.

“We’re also committed to minimising the impact on local businesses. The project team have been in touch with representatives of Shore Business Collective since before construction commenced, along with other key stakeholders, and site teams are in regular discussion with local businesses and will continue to support them in every way possible. We’ll continue to promote the Shore alongside Leith and the north of Edinburgh more widely as a fantastic place to live, work, visit and do business in.”

Fantasy

£6m

empire of former ‘rising star’

By STEPHEN RAFFERTY

CONVICTED DOMESTIC ABUSER

Alexander Galpin claims to run a £6m-a-year business empire but an investigation by The Edinburgh Reporter has revealed that there is no record of the so-called “Galpin Group” at Companies House.

The Edinburgh restaurateur is or was a director of six registered companies but the only one which lodged annual accounts of any signi cance was Secure Kitchens Ltd – which was placed into liquidation in January with debts of around £120,000.

It appears his claims to run a “hospitality management business that owns and operates a portfolio of restaurants across the UK, with a combined gross turnover of £6m+ per annum” are more fantasy than fact.

Ironically, Luxford Burgers owner Galpin – due to be sentenced in court on September 2 for domestic abuse against the mother of his two-year-old daughter – was lauded by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and his business remains a member of the prestigious business organisation.

Galpin is listed at Companies House as the owner or past owner of six hospitality sector enterprises: Galpin Holdings Ltd, Secure Kitchens Ltd, The UK’s Best Bao Buns Ltd, Ozen Bao Ltd, ALG Restaurants Ltd and Got Buns Ltd. However, four of those have been struck o the register or wound up, and while the latter the two companies are still trading they have yet to le annual accounts.

In addition to his £6m plus portfolio claim on LinkedIn (now deleted), Galpin said he was an investor and consultant and that he had launched, acquired and scaled a number of hospitality businesses and that he was a pioneer in “dark kitchens and ghost kitchens models”.

His brash claims appear to have duped the Chamber of Commerce who awarded Galpin its “Rising Star” award in 2024. In January his Luxford Burgers business was shortlisted for the Chamber’s prestigious High Growth Business of the Year Award, despite just weeks earlier crashing the parent company

and placing it into liquidation. In his short but chequered business career, the 24-year-old has also been ordered by an Employment Tribunal to pay former employee Aanchal Barnabas who took legal action to recover £1,200 in unpaid wages and holiday pay. And international legal rm Cli ord Chance withdrew the o er of a legal traineeship after his conviction for domestic abuse was made public.

At Edinburgh Sheri Court on June 23, he pleaded guilty to domestic abuse and aggressive behaviour toward his ex partner and mother of his young daughter, which included sending her hundreds of text messages and repeated phone calls. He repeatedly urged the woman to have an abortion – against her wishes – and in one text seen by The Edinburgh Reporter, he wrote: “You’ve had no right to hold this over me every day and watch me squirm, you had no right to force me to look at pictures of a scan of kid that view as a cancer, nothing more nothing less.”

We asked Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce if Galpin was a and proper person to be a member of the organisation and if in the light of his business record that he was an appropriate nominee for its High Growth Business of the Year Award.

In a statement, they said: “The Chamber deplores domestic abuse and supports action taken to hold perpetrators to account through the legal process, and to support victims.

“As a business organisation, our membership is held by companies and organisations and not by individuals.

“We do not comment on matters relating to employees or directors of member organisations, nor will we comment publicly on any actions we may or may not take regarding member organisations.

“The Chamber is entering its 15th year of consecutive growth in our Annual Business awards, which are independently evaluated and judged, and we continue to review all aspects to support continuous improvement.”

We contacted Alexander Galpin for comment but he failed to respond.

AN EDINBURGH BUSINESSMAN caught running a brothel from inside a notorious city sauna has been spared a jail sentence.

Ian Douglas Haig operated the illegal sex business from the Scorpio Leisure premises in the Leith area of the capital between 2016 and 2022.

Haig, 82, made a living from the brothel by charging patrons an entry fee and being paid a at rate by the sex workers for renting out one of the sauna’s ve bedrooms.

A woman died within the premises leading to a police investigation into the circumstances of the death in April 2022. O cers interviewed sta and clients who had attended the sauna and discovered the business was also being used for prostitution purposes.

Haig was arrested and charged and pleaded guilty to allowing the sauna to be used as a brothel between March 1, 2016 and April 30, 2022, when he appeared on indictment at the Sheri Court.

Sheri Fergus Thomson issued a restriction of liberty order to Haig.

The OAP was ordered to wear an electronic tag on his ankle and stay within his home address between 7pm and 7am for the next 90 days.

A Crown motion for a proceeds of crime order was continued to October.

Lawyer Nigel Bruce, defending, said: “Everyone in Edinburgh knew this place was run as a brothel including the police, the Crown authorities and social workers.”

The solicitor added there had been “no coercion or exploitation involved” of the women working at the sauna.

Haig, a former merchant navy seaman, was the sole shareholder of Darrock Ltd before the company was dissolved earlier this year.

■ A CHARITY WORKER has admitted embezzling thousands of pounds from vulnerable and disabled victims by using their bank cards to withdraw cash from their accounts.

Margaret Burnett was employed with the Leonard Cheshire charity when she began pilfering funds from clients who su ered conditions including cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

Burnett, 69, was a team leader with the organisation and worked at a supported accommodation premises in Edinburgh where seven adults with physical and learning di culties reside. She used bank cards belonging to ve residents to make numerous withdrawals from their accounts and helped herself to a total of £29,900 between January 2014

and August 2016. Burnett, from Granton, was eventually caught when alert bank sta noticed unusual activity on one of the disabled customer’s account and contacted the charity.

Burnett pleaded guilty to embezzling the cash when she appeared at the sheri court.

Prosecutor Xander van der Scheer told the court Burnett was employed as a support worker and was later promoted to team leader when she worked at the residential unit between 2003 and 2016.

Sheri Charles Walls told Burnett: “You were responsible for the care of vulnerable adults and this has been a grave breach of trust. It seems to me there has been a signi cant amount of planning on your part and this is a serious matter.”

Burnett was granted bail and sentence was deferred for reports to be prepared until this month.

A spokesperson for Leonard Cheshire said: “This was a despicable abuse of trust by Ms Burnett.” The organisation has reimbursed all of the stolen money.

■ THE FORMER HEAD teacher of physical education at an Edinburgh private school has been found to have carried out a 27-year campaign of abuse against pupils.

John Young indecently assaulted three children by pulling their shorts aside and exposing their genitals while he was in charge of the PE department at the Edinburgh Academy.

Young, a former international rugby referee, also assaulted pupils in his care by punching and slapping them and beat them with implements including a cricket bat and a megaphone.

Young, now aged 91, was also found to have used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards several children by striking their genitals with a towel, seizing one child’s genitals and compressing and grabbing pupils’ hands to wash their genitals.

All the o ences were committed at Edinburgh Academy, between August 1966 and December 1993.

One witness told how he had su ered a spinal injury during a rugby match but was forced by the teacher to participate in a PE class where he had to pick up heavy weights.

The man, now in his 50s, said he was aged between 12 and 15 at the time and had been caused “substantial pain” and the activity had caused his injury to worsen.

Young was due to stand trial in front of a jury to face 54 charges including using lewd, indecent and

libidinous practices, indecent assault, assault and committing a breach of the peace at Edinburgh Sheri Court this month. But the court determined he was physically un t to stand trial and an Examination of Facts hearing was been held in his absence. Young, from Edinburgh, denied all the allegations against him that involved pupils aged between seven and 18-years-old. The hearing heard evidence from Crown witnesses who detailed the abuse they had su ered at the hands of Young while they were pupils at the private school.

Prosecutor Joanna Waller told the court Young had committed “a serious abuse of trust” and had “deliberately targeted pupils to cause emotional and physical pain” during her 75 minute closing submission to the court. The scal depute added: “These are not acts of legitimate discipline and are simply assault.

“The course of conduct relating to the abuse and violence was intended to frighten, intimidate and humiliate the children that John Young did not like.” Sheri Iain Nicol gave his deliberations to the court on August 11 when he said the facts relating to a total of 26 charges had been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The sheri acquitted Young on the remaining 28 allegations. ■ A BIN LORRY DRIVER who caused the death of a young boy who was cycling to school by failing to keep a proper lookout as he pulled out of a golf club car park has been sentenced to an unpaid work order and a driving ban.

Ross Wallace was driving the large refuse truck when he struck 11-year-old Thomas Wong at the exit of the Cramond car park last year. Wallace, 29, continued to drive on following the collision but soon pulled over after hearing colleagues shouting when they found the schoolboy lying in the roadway.

Thomas was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. Wallace, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, was in the dock for sentencing after he had previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of Thomas Wong by driving without due care and attention. Defence advocate Emma Toner said Wallace has shown “very clear remorse” and that he “accepts responsibility” for the accident. Wallace was sentenced to 133 hours of unpaid community work and a driving ban of 12 months.

Life & Work magazine

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND magazine Life & Work, which was read by a huge proportion of Scots over the years, and which was editorially independent from the Church, has ceased publication.

Churches and religion go hand in hand with funerals and the Deputy Editor Thomas Baldwin said that like all the best funerals “This is an occasion for mourning but also celebration.”

He also opined in his editorial that “Magazines and newspapers have nearly had their day but communicating the message to a mass audience goes on.” He expressed the view that the Church of Scotland “may have had its day” at least in its current form. At a Book Festival event last month when journalism and news were under discussion the demise of the publication was lamented, but few concrete answers were obvious.

The Scottish Government and other funders are being asked to provide at least some funding for a new Scottish Public Interest Journalism Institute, (SPIJI) but have shown little real enthusiasm for it.

Freelance journalist Joyce Macmillan told the audience that when writing the o cial SPIJI report for the Scottish Government it was discovered that other similar sized countries all have journalism institutes – so why not Scotland?

Given that local journalism is the “building block of democracy” she said we should at least try to set one up here. She said: “If we can achieve a decent level of funding from various sources, not just government, then we might be able to support some of the areas of journalism that are fading away.”

The nal issue of Life & Work was published in August with a cover harking back to issue number 1. It is available digitally on the Church of Scotland website. Proposals for alternative arrangements for communications from the Church of Scotland will be discussed at the General Assembly in 2026. From this month a regular compilation of news around Ministries and Eldership will be found on the Life & Work page of the Church of Scotland website and will be updated every two months.

Funding success gives green light for playground

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of planning work, Wester Hailes Growing Communities (WHGC) has received a large grant of £234,588 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which it will use to build a playground at Murrayburn/Hailesland. Due to constraints of time, the project has to be completed by March 2026. The group say that the adventure playground will be built on land owned by The City of Edinburgh Council who will then adopt it when complete and will maintain it. But separately WHGC say that Wester Hailes Growers might be contracted to repair and improve the facility.

A consultation was carried out in 2019-20 and this will be the basis for the design which the group (along with willing volunteers) will work alongside contractor Robin Wood to produce.

The intention is for the playground to be open for everyone to use 24/7, but play workers may be hired to support activities for children.

A masterplan was produced in 2019 by City of Play architects for the greenway between Murrayburn and Hailesland and the plan identi ed a need for a playground similar to the “Venchie” which was build in Wester Hailes decades ago when new homes were built.

Get ready to Shine

Fundraisers will light up streets as night walk gets under way

THE ANNUAL 10K SHINE NIGHT WALK will take place on 27 September and everyone is asked to get their glowsticks and glitter ready.

Lisa Adams, CRUK spokeswoman for Scotland, said there is an amazing atmosphere on this fundraiser which has helped to double cancer survival in the last 50 years. But with more than 34,600 people diagnosed with cancer in Scotland annually there is a need to keep going.“

She said: “We need as many supporters as possible to step up and sign up now.

“September 27 is Edinburgh’s moment to shine and help beat cancer one stride at a time.

“Our scientists have led the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, paved the way for targeted treatments and improved the way we use surgery to tackle cancer. That all adds up to millions more precious moments for people a ected by this devastating disease and their families. But, we want to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

“By taking part in Shine Night

Walk, people across Edinburgh could help power more progress.

It’s not about being rst over the nish line, it’s about helping our researchers to go further and faster.”

CRUK spent £5 million in Scotland last year funding researchers at the CRUK Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence.

Shine participants can choose to

raise money for the cancer type closest to their hearts, such as prostate, bowel, lung or breast cancer – among other types of the disease – or simply give to where the need is greatest. It takes around 1.5 to 3 hours to walk 10k – which is just over six miles – with participants free to go at their own pace, whether it’s a leisurely stroll or a lively stride.

People can also shine a light for those a ected by cancer by volunteering on the night. From helping to set up the course to guiding participants around the city, there are lots of opportunities to get involved, meet new people and learn new skills. To enter or volunteer visit shinewalk.org

Have your say on tram plans

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

A 12-WEEK PUBLIC CONSULTATION has begun on the city council’s multi-billion-pound proposals to extend the tram system to Granton in the north and the Royal In rmary and Edinburgh Bioquarter in the south.

The nal cost will be between £2bn £2.9bn depending on which route is chosen for the northern section – one using the Orchard Brae corridor which is on-road, and the other using the Roseburn Path, which is an o -road path.

Granton is being developed as a low car and sustainable development area and current plans suggest the tram will use a route there including West Harbour Road, Waterfront Avenue and West Granton Access. Tram stops would potentially be installed at Granton Square, Saltire Square, Caroline Park and West Pilton.

When the full route is open it is estimated that passenger numbers will increase on the network from 12.1 million passengers at present to 34 million by 2032. Edinburgh's population will increase from 523,000 to 564,000 in the same period.

Transport Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said the tram system would address many of the transport issues facing the city.

He said: “If we can reduce the number of of car kilometres travelled, if we can encourage modal shift, and get people out of their own vehicles into more kind of sustainable modes of transport, then that will really go a long way to helping us reduce our net zero carbon targets and our global targets that we have advertised as a city."

What is not up for discsssion, said Cllr Jenkinson, is whether or not the extension will go ahead. He is clear that the consultation is not a referendum. He said: "That is not really the purpose of the process. The purpose is to gather people's thoughts positive, negative and neutral to help nesse the project going forward. This is not a referendum on whether or not we have the tram. What we are trying to do is develop the future in Edinburgh."

A 2023 survey conducted by the council showed that 65% of respondents wanted the tram network extended, and 83% want general improvements made to the city's pubic transport.

The proposal is to extend the tramline south to the Bioquarter using Princes Street, North Bridge, South Bridge, Clerk Street, Newington Road, Cameron Toll and Old Dalkeith Road to the Royal In rmary of Edinburgh. Battery operated trams would be used here to minimise disruption on city centre streets up

The line would be built from the West End along Queensferry Street, over the Dean Bridge using Queensferry Road and then north down Orchard Brae onwards to Ferry Road and Crewe Toll.

The council says it is unlikely there would be separate space for cycle ways and so existing cycling lanes on Crewe Road South, Queensferry Road and Queensferry Street would have to be removed. Cyclists would have to share the space with other vehicles, including the tram.

But one advantage would be that the Western General would have better access from the tram as the track could pass closer to the building. Journey times on the Orchard Brae corridor would be longer due to other vehicles being on the road, and this would also add to the cost of running the service. Bus service times could be a ected. The service could be battery operated between Queensferry Road and Princes Street if needed to minimise the visual impact of the tram.

A potential challenge on this route includes accommodating a left hand turn at the top of Orchard Brae, and the impact on the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Dean Village Conservation Area would be a consideration. There would however be two tracks for the length of the tramline.

The cost is estimated at between £650-850 million. The tram would carry 3.75 million passengers by 2042.

to Newington. A new junction at Princes Street and South St Andrew Street will connect to the southern part of the network.

A new tram stop on North Bridge will link into Waverley Station by means of a lift improving access for those with reduced mobility. There would also be a connection to buses from here - perhaps the busiest stop on the network. Pavements on North and South Bridge will be widened and this would be a public transport corridor.

Segregated cycle lanes will be installed on adjacent streets, and some existing lanes may

The Roseburn Path connects to the line west of Haymarket then over the former railway line from Roseburn to Craigleith, and then to Ferry Road and Crewe Toll arriving in Granton. This option will cut the journey time by eight minutes at peak times in the morning. The route would incorporate a dedicated walking, wheeling and cycling corridor - completely separate from tram tracks. On most of the path the minimum width available for active travel will be three metres the same as it is at present and at some points it would widen to 4.2m. The active travel path would be separated by fencing. A section of single tram track is proposed between Craigleith and Roseburn tram stops to make more space for walking, wheeling and cycling and to reduce ecological impact. This route would incorporate improvements to cycling routes on Crewe Road South, Queensferry Road and Queensferry Street. A new cycling option from Crewe Toll to Roseburn and Murray eld is also included. The pantographs on trams will be lowered here and vehicles battery operated on sections to minimise ecological damage.

The council estimatesit can retain 70% of the 3,100 trees which professional ecologists have counted on this section. The cost is estimated at £350 million to £480 million, and the tram is forecast to carry 4.25 million passengers on the route by 2042.

be moved onto side streets as part of the tram project. After moving through Cameron Toll roundabout the tram would be largely on street, and so any threat of felling trees around Bridgend Farm is removed.

The next stage of development, as set out by Transport Scotland, is the Outline Business Case when more detail will be added to the proposals.

■ Residents can o er their views until 17 November online on the council's Consultation Hub or at in person drop-in sessions. During September, sessions are being held at the

By CHARLIE ELLIS

H OLY CROSS CRICKET CLUB are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year in style. Their 1st XI have clinched promotion from East League Division 4 and their 2nd XI has also performed well.

Holy Cross held an anniversary match at the end of June, at a sun-soaked Arboretum, the club’s home since 1950. The match pitted a team of present day “Crossers” against a “Legends and Friends” XI. The contest ended in an entertaining draw.

The club is the last surviving remnant of Holy Cross Academy which, founded in 1907, closed its doors in 1969. Since 1950, Holy Cross Academicals have forged a reputation for fair play, an eclectic membership, as well as for “playing in conditions that the more fastidious would spurn”. After a rocky few years, the club has revived in recent seasons. They currently put out two Saturday elevens in the East League and play midweek cup ties and friendlies.

Renowned Crosser

Probably the most famous Crosser is the prominent cultural progenitor and artist Richard Demarco CBE. Demarco, now 95 not out, is delighted that the cricket club persists.

In a review of Nora Carlin’s history of Holy Cross Academy, Demarco stated that the cricket club “deserves to have a history all to itself”.

Long-time club secretary, Jonathan Bates, is putting out choice selections from the club’s archives on Holy Cross’s X/ Twitter feed. Bates is making use of rich and detailed club records maintained by founding member Hugh Kilpatrick (1933-2020) and others. The club archive includes a handwritten diary of the club’s rst season by George Balfour, later 1st XI captain. Balfour opened the batting when Holy Cross played their rst match at Colinton Mains on May 27th 1950. Another club member, John McPartlin, has also recently penned an account of his days with the club. Breakthrough

In its early years, Holy Cross struggled to break into the closed shop of the East of Scotland League, largely playing friendly matches and in cup competitions.

The club began playing regular league matches in the 1970s, winning the East League 3rd Division in 1976 and the 2nd Division in 1979 and again in 1984. The bowling feats of Roddy Regan were an important fact of these successes.

During the 1980s, Holy Cross often played in the top East League division, taking on the cream of Edinburgh cricket. In this era, the Holy Cross First XI generally ‘yo-yoed’ between Division 1 and 2. Highlights of this era included swashbuckling innings by Javed Khan, a cousin of Imran Khan, and Fraser Buchanan. The bowling of Geo Barratt (457 1st XI wickets between 1977 and 1991) was also signi cant. The club were consistent performers in the 1990s. A key player in the early 1990s was Mark Oldham (1st XI captain 1993-1994), who set the club record 1st XI league score of 132, against a St. Modans’ side including Indian international Robin Singh. Opening the bowling for the 1st XI at that time was Robin Worsnop, founder of the tour company Rabbies. These days, Worsnop captains the 2nd XI, encouraging newcomers to the club. Near misses and victories

After league reorganisation in 1996, the 1st XI under the captaincy of Chris Barker and then Mark Robertson competed near the top of East League Division 1. They were narrowly

75 NOT OUT!

beaten to the league title by Cupar in 1997.

An infamous match in the club’s history was their low scoring encounter away to St. Modans in 1996. On a tricky pitch with a very thick out eld, Holy Cross dismissed their opponents for a mere 37 runs. Agonisingly, Holy Cross fell 1 run short in their chase!

A further reorganisation saw the club in East League Division 2, which they won in the club’s 50th anniversary of 2000. The nal match against Freuchie saw Robin Worsnop take 8 wickets for just 18 runs with high class swing bowling. The 50th year was celebrated with a memorable tour of Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset, led by Brian Palmer and John Brown, President of the club till his early death in 2011. The tour included a match versus Hambledon at Broadhalfpenny Down, a beautiful cricket ground in Hampshire which hosted the inaugural First Class cricket match in 1752.

Preceded by the loss of several key players (including batsman and club secretary James Bradley), the 1st XI su ered a disastrous 2001 season, nishing at the foot of East League Division 1. A period of recovery followed the arrival of Australian bowling all-rounder Shannon Bon eld, and batsman Keith Fraser. Under Fraser’s captaincy, the 1st XI had a run of good seasons. Highlights of this era included victory in 2003 in Cricket Scotland’s Small Clubs’ Cup. They defeated Dollar in the nal with Bon eld the man of the match.

Stabilisation

The club went through a drastic dip in fortunes between 2016-2020, losing most of its 1st XI squad (including captain Simon

Holy Cross reaches landmark jubilee

McOscar) in the space of two seasons and plunging down the leagues. They struggled for numbers and were forced to drop their 3rd XI. More recently, the club has stabilised, drawing in a new generation of Crossers.

The club’s ground at Arboretum Road improved during the 1970’s when it was tended by groundsman Eddie Watson. In the 1990s, the cricket square was turned round and moved in the early 1990s; a response to too many balls struck into the retirement home on Arboretum Road! It took years of hard e ort by the club, led by Colin Smith (head groundsman at Edinburgh University) and Colin McGill to get the cricket square back up to standard. Since 2013, the ground has been managed by Stewart’s Melville, who use the ground during the week, with Holy Cross Academicals (and Inverleith Rugby Club) holding protected rights to use the ground. The pavilion, badly damaged by re in 2003, was restored in 2014. Arboretum has, once again, become a quality cricket facility.

Club legends

In 2020, the club lost two signi cant gures. In the January, the club lost founder member and Honorary President Hugh Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick was dedicated to Holy Cross Academicals and to East League cricket (serving as league president). After a very successful playing career (including a period as rst team captain) he continued to be involved with the club untll his nal months.

The club also lost Colin McGill who contributed massively to the club from the mid 1970s. As Jonathan Bates put it, he was “a Crosser for over 40 years, a swing bowler of

Porty Art Walk goes back to its roots

THE ANNUAL PORTY ART WALK celebrates its 10th anniversary with a focus on the town’s seaside variety entertainment era and travelling showpeople culture.

participatory work taking place along the Promenade and beach.

guile, captain of the 2nds and 3rds, long-time match secretary, club statistician, umpire, groundsman, raconteur. A erce competitor but a sporting man”. Movingly, at the end of a memorial match for McGill in 2021, his ashes were spread across the cricket square, re ecting his many hours preparing wickets there. In 2021, the club lost its President, Mahmood Din, who had recruited a substantial number of players for the club.

Ken Lawrie, who captained the clubs’ 4th XI in the 1980s, is the current President.

Club spirit

Though geographically close to the former pupils’ clubs of the big private schools (Fettes, Heriots, Stewart’s Melville), Holy Cross has had a di erent identity. When Holy Cross Academy closed in 1969, it lost one source of players.

The club had a junior section in the 1980s but no longer has such a feeder. For some time, it was a more open club than others in the city, drawing to it a range of newcomers to Edinburgh, including several who worked in further and higher education. Players recruited from Edinburgh University have historically added depth to the playing resources. In recent decades, the club has also recruited well from the wealth management company Baillie Gi ord. Those who arrive at Arboretum come from a range of backgrounds and geographic locations. The eccentric and friendly spirit of the club has attracted and retained players over the decades. The club will hope that the 75th anniversary celebrations will help propel the club towards future success and its next target; a century.

Almost 50 venues involving 60 artists spread over four di erent art walks, will take part in the popular festival over the weekends of September 6-7 and 13-14, hosted in a mix of artists’ studios and homes and local shops.

A programme entitled Showground, places an emphasis on Porty’s public spaces, performance and play, with the central strand Arcade including site-speci c performances and interactive events embracing a seaside sideshow, acrobatics, puppetry, theatre, dance and lm.

Created in partnership with local Nobles Amusements, Arcade involves ve artists and collectives with performance and

A lm programme, Super Slide, curated in collaboration with Moving Images Cinema Caravan, hosts a series of 15 short artist lms, and is named after the helter skelter ride once in operation at the much-loved Fun City fairground site.

And Flowering Porty opens on August 30 across 35 front garden locations and community growing spaces which celebrate biodiversity, wildlife and colour around Portobello and Joppa, with visitors asked to vote on the Best Seaside Retro Garden.

Rosy Naylor, Director/Founder of Art Walk Projects, said: “To reach this point of ten years of consistent activity feels like a real milestone. After ten years of multiple projects, many near and afar, this year to bring the focus back to Portobello, to its

public spaces as a showground for activity, encounter and engagement, to consider how we use and interact with public space, is about returning to where the idea for this festival rst began, and from where we continue to create projects resonating from.”

Writer Tom Je reys, added: “In borrowing conventions from circus, theatre and other modes of formal or informal performance, and bringing them into public space, this year’s Art Walk contributes to recalibrating – even if only for a short time – not only how we see the city but how our bodies move in relation to the built environment, dancing new paths or retreating existing ones as we do so.”

For more information visit the Porty Art Walk website https://www.artwalkporty.co.uk/

THE SEPTEMBER EQUINOX heralds the start of astronomical autumn plus we have a total Lunar eclipse that may be tricky to see!

The Sun begins the month in Leo and passes into Virgo on September 16. The highlight of the month, though, is the Autumnal Equinox which occurs on 22 September. On that day, night and day are equal everywhere on Earth and we enter the new season of astronomical autumn.

Across the month, daylight shortens from 13:49 (13.818 hours) to 11:36 (11.601 hours) and we gain two hours and 13 minutes of night time. Lunar phases for September include the full Harvest Moon on September 7, last quarter on September 14, the new Moon on September 21 and the rst quarter ofthe next cycle on September 30. There is a total

Lunar eclipse on September 7 but viewing is di cult due to civil twilight and the low altitude of the Moon. The maximum for Edinburgh and Lothian occurs within minutes of moonrise and the eclipse will formally end (after partial and penumbral phases) at 9:55 pm. The total duration will be two hours and seven minutes in our location.

On September 12, the rising Moon will occult and conjunct with the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, (M45) in Taurus. On September 27, the Moon will occult Antares in Scorpio but it will appear in Edinburgh and Lothian as a conjunction at low altitude.

For the inferior planets: Mercury begins the month in Leo and ends in Virgo but recedes by 21,793,072 km. The Swift Planet reaches superior conjunction on September 13 and, so,

Edinburgh Riding of the Marches will be the nale to the city’s Edinburgh 900 celebrations with a People’s Procession due to take place on Sunday 14 September. The procession will celebrate Edinburgh and all those who live here. The organisers are now looking for groups and communities in the Edinburgh area who would like to join the procession. The aim is to have 900 local people processing up the Royal Mile following the pageant of riders in the Riding of the Marches to the Mercat Cross. There, the Lord Provost salutes the riders and receives a ceremonial ag for safe-keeping.

If your community or group could bring colour, noise and interesting pageantry to the procession, then you are invited to register now. Each group may have up to 15 participants.

Fill in the online form of Edinburgh Riding of the Marches’ website to note your interest and they will then get in touch with you.

Anyone who wishes to take part must be available from 1.45pm to 3pm on 14 September. The group will gather on Queens Drive in Holyrood Park, and The People’s Procession will then follow the participants in the Riding of the Marches up the Royal Mile to the High Street at West Parliament Square.

Everyone can watch the procession and the Riding, joining residents and visitors from across the world who come to watch the historic reenactment which commemorates Randolph Murray’s return with the ancient Blue Blanket and the tragic news of the defeat of the Scottish Army at the Battle of Flodden.

Sky above Edinburgh and Lothian for September 2025

is lost in the Sun’s glare. Mercury will be furthest from Earth on September 20. Venus begins the month in Cancer and ends in Leo and, also, recedes by 22,283,948 km. Venus is, very much, still the Morning Star planet in September.

For the superior planets: Mars remains in Virgo all month but recedes by 14,010,156 km. Jupiter remains in Gemini but comes closer by 61,024,864 km. Saturn remains in Pisces but comes closer by 7,164,590 km. The Ringed Planetcwill be four degrees south of the waning gibbous Moon on September 8 in the evening with Neptune between the two. Saturn will reach opposition on September 21 and be closest to Earth all year. Around and after midnight is an excellent time to view the rings which are re-emerging from edge-on.

■ In 1611 the council ordered the burgh treasurer to plan the construction of a school for Mr Patrik Henrysoun, master of the song school. And in 1808 Edinburgh-based John Home, Scottish playwright, historian and kirk minister, died; among his most famous works is

■ On September 5th 1513 preparations for battle against the English were made; the provost, bailies, and council ordered all combatants to rejoin the King’s army and all inhabitants due to bear arms to present themselves in order to ensure King James IV’s victory and safe return; of course there was no victory – you can read an article about the Flodden Campaign free online in the Book of the Old Edinburgh https://t.co/N4yUyZy2ej. And in 1750, poet Robert Fergusson was born in Edinburgh.

September 22nd

■ In 1745, the Battle of Prestonpans took place where the Jacobite army of just over 3,000 under Bonnie Prince Charlie heavily defeated the Hanoverian

Douglas, a verse tragedy which enjoyed such a successful run in the city that it was transferred south to Covent Garden. Also in 1964 the Forth Road Bridge was opened by the Queen; at 6,156 feet long and a centre span of 3300 feet, it was the longest in Europe at that time.

■ On September 7th 1900, the Glenogle Road Public Baths were formally opened by Bailie Telfer, Convener of the Plans and Works Committee of the Town Council.

September 17th

7th

In 1736 John Porteous was lynched by a mob in Edinburgh; people protesting the execution of smuggler Andrew Wilson the previous April were red upon by troops commanded by Captain of the City Guard, John Porteous; he was sentenced to death but was reprieved following an appeal; a furious crowd stormed the jail where Porteous was held and dragged him to the Grassmarket, where he was hanged. In 1782

Susan Edmonstone Ferrier, Scottish novelist (Scotland’s “Jane Austen”), was born in Edinburgh. Also in 1842, Queen Victoria visited Edinburgh for the rst time.

■ On September 26th in 1357, a Council held in Edinburgh con rmed the obligation of the three estates to provide a ransom for King David II. And in 1506 the provost and council ruled that no pigs should be kept within the burgh under pain of slaughter and con scation. Also in 1857 the extensive cabinet and upholstery works of Mr R. Sandeman, situated at Greenside, were entirely destroyed by re; the premises, consisting of four ats, and a wood yard, were situated at the north-west corner of the Calton Hill, and behind Blenheim Place; in addition to Sandeman’s property at Nos 8–9 Greenside St, 13 other tenements were destroyed and 60 families displaced – it was the worst re in Edinburgh since 1824. Finally in 1950 the Sun over Edinburgh turned blue.https://articles.adsabs. harvard.edu//full/1951MNRAS.111..478W/0000478I001.html

■ On September 22nd 1497, the King (James IV) proclaimed measures to prevent imminent danger of infection of the community by syphilis (known as grandgore); this involved removing all those infected to Incholm Island in the Forth. And in 1896 Czar Nikolai Aleksandrovich of Russia and Czarina Alexandra of Hesse disembarked at Leith en route to Balmoral to visit her grandmother, Queen Victoria.

September 24th

■ In 1959, the top coat of tanny grit was put over the wires of the Mound electric blanket.

Andy Arthur looks back at the creation of the mighty Portobello Pool and ... regrets its demise in 1988

PORTOBELLO HAS LONG BEEN a place of recreational swimming and was a summer resort dating back to the 18th century. As the popularity of the seaside holiday increased in Victorian times so did that of Portobello, especially after 1871 when the ultimate in tourist attractions was added: Scotland’s only promenade pier.

Edinburgh Corporation opened public baths on the Prom in 1901 which featured a heated seawater pool and Turkish baths, but these never had the capacity to meet the seasonal demand and the idea for an open-air pool was discussed.

After the First World War, hopes for improving Portobello’s fortunes were pinned on rebuilding the pier and the provision of the open-air pool. The latter began to be seriously discussed again in 1922 after the “mixed sex bathing controversy” brought the popularity of sea swimming – to the fore. Additional impetus came from increasing pollution in the waters of the Forth from the discharge of an ever increasing volume of the city’s untreated raw sewage along it.

Cllr Gerard W. Crawford took it upon himself to get things moving and in September 1928 made a concrete proposal (pun intended!) for a pool at the Joppa (eastern) end of the Prom, where it would avoid obstructing the sandy beach and could use the outcrop of rocks there as foundations.

He put forward a private proposal in February 1933 that would use the 1927 powers to reclaim land for a new pier, boating ponds and a 240ft (73m) long open-air pool. The Town Council, as ever, remained unmoved.

Mr Donald Renton, the Communist candidate for Portobello Ward, compared their tight- stedness to that of an Aberdonian!

The Moscow Soviet had spent £50 million improving their city he said, why couldn’t Edinburgh Town Council spend £50,000 improving theirs?

Crawford’s persistence nally won over the support of the City Treasurer, Louis Gumley, and Lord Provost Sir William J. Thomson, which at last forced the Town Council to action. In November 1933 new plans were published for the open-air pool at Rosebank, further to the west.

This was land on the bank of the Figgate Burn, adjacent to the city’s electric power station and a “black spot” of old industries including a pottery, a bottleworks and a papermill reservoir. Gumley had found this whole plot could be purchased for a relatively small sum and, if cleared away, made into “a thing of beauty and great utility“.

Treasurer Gumley was authorised to purchase the site for £7,250 (c. £450k in 2025) in December 1933. Construction would use the latest techniques of piled foundations and reinforced concrete.

The Lord Provost’s Sub-Committee expressed approval for proceeding “without delay” and the demolition gangs moved in to clear the site. Opening was targeted for summer 1935.

Foundation piling was started in November 1934 by the primary contractor, Arnott McLeod & Company, but it was soon found these piles had to be signi cantly increased in their depth and as a result work proceeded far more slowly than intended.

Inspired by a new pool under construction by Kilmarnock Corporation, councillors were urged to alter the plan for Portobello in January 1935 to include what the Evening News called “Sham Sea Waves“; a wave machine. It was felt that the additional costs and delays of this late change would more than pay for themselves by making the attraction more popular to the public.

When Portobello really made a splash

In order to convince councillors to approve it, a model wavemaking machine was brought to the City Chambers on the back of a lorry by hydraulic engineers Messrs Glen eld & Kennedy of Kilmarnock, who demonstrated it to them. This e ort obviously worked as the new feature was approved, although it would be local marine engineers Brown Brothers who would get the contract for building it.

OPENING WAS FINALLY SET for Saturday May 30, 1936, and the pool was lled for the rst time on May 11, before being drained, inspected and re lled.

The “most up-to-date open-air swimming pool in the world” had cost the city £80,000 (c. £5 million in 2025) and at 300ft by 130ft (90 x 39m) it was almost twice Olympic size and was second in the UK only to Lymington Open Air Baths in Hampshire. Its basin was clad in white tiles with a white concrete oor, lled with 1,500,000 gallons of ltered seawater that was constantly ltered and recirculated such that the contents were entirely replaced every 12 hours. They were to be heated to a pleasant 68°F (20°C ) at no additional cost to the ratepayer by using the warm seawater coolant discharging from the neighbouring power station, which was otherwise dumped into the Forth.

The changing cubicles for 250 swimmers were clad in pale blue tiles, with teak doors, and lockers – split equally between male and female changing areas, with mirrors and hair dryers for the women and coin-operated hair cream dispensers for the men.

Cork walkways led swimmers to the poolside where, on its eastern side, they found an elegant reinforced concrete diving tower over a 15ft (4.5m) deep plunge section. This supported ve separate boards at di erent heights and was accessed by an internal staircase. The highest board was set at 33ft (9.9m) above the water and tales of surviving a jump from it were a popular source of bragging rights.

Two further springboards were alongside at a lower level and on the south side of the pool at the deep end were two slides, set above the wave machine. This machinery was sat behind a series of metal grilles and comprised four 24ft-wide (7.2m) ba es that were apped slowly back and forth by a 140hp electric motor to generate waves up to a height of ve feet (1.5m).

THE GRANDSTAND HAD TWO SODA FOUNTAIN kiosks so that spectators did not have to go far for refreshments. The main pavilion had a “wet” snack bar for swimmers, accessed directly from poolside, a public restaurant upstairs and two concession shops. Around £1,500 was spent on catering equipment “equal to that found in many of the best hotels“, capable of preparing everything from “a hearty meal to a light snack… with the minimum of delay“.

The dining room of the café had a ooring suitable for holding dances once the tables and chairs had been pushed to one side.

On the promenade side of the pavilion there were public shelters for those strolling along the Promenade.

On opening day a crowd of 10,000 “from far and wide” squeezed in to watch and listen to a ceremony and gala that made full use of the pool’s PA system, claimed to be “one of the most e cient… in the country” and which could pick up the BBC radio, play gramophone records or relay performances from the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens.

Coincidentally Councillor Crawford, who had done so much to ensure the success of the scheme, happened to be a band-leader and often performed at that bandstand.

Microphones were located in the o ce of Pondmaster Dick M. Hogg (late of Stonehaven open air pool) and another was at the top of the diving tower so that divers could announce to the crowds what feat they were about to perform.

At 2.45pm that day a short ceremony by local dignitaries was led by Lord Provost Louis Gumley, who as City Treasurer played a key hand in bringing things to fruition.

General opening commenced the following day, a Sunday, and despite the overcast weather some 2,500 swimmers and 8,000 spectators passed through the turnstiles. Sunday next a massive 6,000 swimmers and 12,000 spectators came out.

But the nal nail in the co n for the pool came in March 1977 when the South of Scotland Electricity Board closed the ageing

power station, ending the supply of warm coolant water which notionally heated it. It was estimated that if the pool were to reopen that season it would lose £72,000 and emergency funding of £100,000 was voted for by the District Council to keep it open. This resulted in four bowling greens, two tennis courts, South Queensferry Museum,

Raise a glass to finer moments

■ THE CHAMPAGNE Bar at The Scotsman has just opened in partnership with Moët & Chandon.

The new outdoor bar invites guest to enjoy zz by the glass or in a selection of classic cocktails or spritz drinks.

The food menu o ers small bites which paired with champagne mean “an afternoon or evening of indulgence”.

Afternoon Tea will now be served daily from 12pm –5pm in the tranquil surroundings of The Scotsman’s Secret Garden - a hidden haven. Then after 5pm Scottish tapas will be served until 10pm.

Jan Coskun, General Manager at The Scotsman Hotel said: “Edinburgh is a city that blends heritage with contemporary elegance, and The Champagne Bar re ects just that.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Moët & Chandon to create a destination where locals and visitors alike can pause, sip, and celebrate life’s ner moments.”

Perfect blend of work and play

By BUSINESS REPORTER

THE LIGHTHOUSE AT Edinburgh

International Climbing Arena (EICA) – a exible workspace – has just opened.

This is another idea from Andy Hadden who founded the Lost Shore Surf Resort nearby.

The space is intended for use by 90 professionals working independently but alongside one another in a co-working environment near the leisure areas in the EICA and at Lost Shore.

Within minutes of logging o members can be sur ng world-class waves at Lost Shore, climbing in Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena, or cycling and running along the scenic Union Canal. The launch taps into a fastgrowing trend for lifestyle-led working, as professionals seek out environments that combine productivity with wellbeing.

Andy Hadden, Founder of Tartan

Commercial and Lost Shore, said: “When set up Lost Shore Surf Resort, I wanted to create more than just a place to surf, it was about building a destination where lifestyle, sport and community could thrive together.

The Lighthouse at the EICA is the next stage of that vision.

“It’s a workspace that o ers the best of both worlds: a fully equipped, professional environment where people can focus and collaborate, alongside instant access to activities that energise and inspire.

“You can surf in the morning, work through the day, then go climbing or cycling before heading home, all without leaving the area.”

Nick Watson, Managing Director and co-owner of Tartan Commercial, added: “The world of work has changed. People don’t just want a desk, they want a lifestyle.

“At The Lighthouse at the EICA, you can nish a meeting and be sur ng, climbing or

cycling within minutes. It’s a world-class workspace, surrounded by world-class sport, and a ready-made community of people who value productivity and wellbeing in equal measure - all on the doorstep of two of Europe’s largest sporting destinations.

“There is nothing like it in the UK.”

The Lighthouse at the EICA o ers options for occasional users through to dedicated desks, with further discounts for local residents and free parking:

Co-working day rate: £25, or £20 for Ratho or Newbridge locals.

Annual co-working membership: £125 (£100 for locals), reducing the day rate to just £15.

Fixed/dedicated desks: £250 per month with extended access hours of up to 9pm.

The rm already opened The Lighthouse in North Berwick and is planning a Lighthouse in Leith.

Pinsent Masons mark another year of continued growth

MULTINATIONAL LAW FIRM Pinsent Masons delivered a revenue increase of 4.7% after a year of continued growth within the rm’s core sectors and across its jurisdictions, its latest results show. Firmwide revenue increased 4.7% to £680 million, while pro t per equity partner reached £797,000, an increase of 0.5%.

In Scotland, where the rm employs approximately 550 sta in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow, the corporate and employment teams were bolstered with the appointment of ex EnQuest general counsel Chris Sawyer as Partner, and seasoned employment specialist Gillian Harrington as Partner.

In Edinburgh nancial services expert Walter Clark was appointed Partner, joining from Burness Paull, while Gillian Frew was appointed Head of O ce, and

in the most recent round of promotions four Scottish lawyers joined the Partnership while seven were promoted to Legal Director. A strong commitment to the rm’s presence in Glasgow was made with securing 31,000 sq ft of Grade A o ce space at the city’s agship Aurora building in Bothwell Street, with occupation anticipated to be in early 2026. Transactions involving Scottish lawyers included advising Ithaca Energy on its £754 million combination with Italian operator Eni; advising Motor Fuel Group on the £2.5 billion acquisition of petrol courts and EV charging sites from supermarket giant Morrisons; acting for National Westminster Bank Plc in relation to the acquisition of a circa £2.5 billion prime residential mortgage portfolio from Metro Bank plc; and

ongoing support for Winchburgh Development’s £1 billion residential project in West Lothian.

Katharine Hardie, Partner and Chair of Pinsent Masons in Scotland, said: “It has been another strong year for the rm in Scotland in which we have acted for global corporates on some of the largest transactions of their kind, while recruiting highly experienced lawyers to the Partnership and promoting young talent which will form the backbone of our next generation of leaders.

“Our move to Aurora in Glasgow in early 2026 underlines the importance we place on being highly visible and positioned at the centre of Glasgow and Scotland’s corporate and civic life and solidi es our reputation as an innovative leader in legal and professional services.”

THE 11TH SCOTTISH IBERO-American Documentary Film Festival (IberoDocs) takes place from 10 to 28 September with six Scottish premieres, two UK premieres and one international premier taking place in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.

The Opening Night Premiere is Home is Somewhere Else, the multi-award winning animated documentary about deportation and displacement told from the viewpoint of young immigrants.

The Scottish premiere of The Boy and the Suit of Lights will be shown at the Filmhouse, while Voco – Edinburgh Royal Terrace – will host networking drinks with IberoDocs and the Scottish Documentary Institute, accompanied by a special live soundtrack performance by Noelia Blanca Basilio.

The international premiere of María la Portuguesa will be accompanied by live music, Spanish wines, and a celebration of the “Iberian hug” between Spain and Portugal. It will take place at Edinburgh’s French Institute with the support of the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh, the Cervantes Chair at the University of Edinburgh, and Camões –Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua in partnership with the University of Edinburgh. This year the lms are connected by themes

Immigrants’ story kicks off IberoDocs

of searching and the sea, identity, belonging, uidity and transformation. There is a new environmental strand, The Sea, bringing together four short lms by female lmmakers in a collaboration with DocNomads.

The organisers say this is the most ambitious edition of the festival yet and invite Scottish audiences to engage with the programme and meet the directors at Q&A events. The festival has moved from spring to autumn in an e ort to engage even more with young audiences.

The festival features more than simply lms, and includes live music, parties, a director masterclass and an art exhibition at McDonald Road Library and Fountainbridge Library featuring work by Pilar Garcia de Leániz. Mar Felices, Director of IberoDocs, said: “We look to the sea in search of peace, of answers – to gather our thoughts and uncover what lies deep within us. We dive into the sea to shed

the weight of our bodies, to cleanse ourselves, to transform. This is something that all the characters in the selected lms do at some point, they encounter the sea in their personal search. We are all on a journey of continuous searching – especially if you're an immigrant, or if you don't quite t into prede ned boxes.

“I’m truly excited about the new doors that will open as these 15 talented Ibero-American artists, invited to this edition of the festival, come together in Scotland. They will inspire and be inspired by our audiences in the cities where IberoDocs is now rooted – Edinburgh and Glasgow – as well as in the new citieswe’re expanding into.

"There is meaning in our journey of continuous search as immigrants – and that purpose has become clearer. Scotland has become our home.”

Visit iberodocs.org for more details.

set up in capital for new season of Dept Q

Frank. I cannot wait to read what comes from his magic quill!”

RSA looks back on 200 artistic years

THE ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY (RSA) will celebrate its bicentenary in 2026 and will share some of their plans at 2026 First Look.

The Seagull takes flight for the Lyceum

By Olivia Thomas

AT THE ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE next month a darkly comic reimagining of Anton Chehov’s widely loved masterpiece, The Seagull, will grace the stage.

This version is adapted by Tony and Olivier award-nominated writer Mike Poulton (Fortune’s Fool, Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies, Imperium), and will be the rst production to be directed by the award-winning James Brining since taking up the position as The Royal Lyceum’s artistic director (A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, Into the Woods, (the fall of) The Master Builder).

Stage and screen star Caroline Quentin (The Provoked Wife for Royal Shakespeare Company, Jack Absolute Flies Again for the National Theatre, Men Behaving Badly, The Life of Riley, Jonathan Creek, Strictly Come Dancing and Bridgerton for TV), will lead the production with “biting wit and deeply felt drama”, and will be joined by an ensemble still to be announced.

Quentin takes on the pivotal role of Arkadina, a once-celebrated actress who dominates every room

she enters. Her son, the tormented young playwright Konstantin, yearns to escape her shadow, revolutionise theatre, and win the heart of Nina, a luminous young woman with dreams of the stage. But when Nina’s gaze turns to Arkadina’s lover, the celebrated writer Trigorin, egos and passions collide with truly devastating consequences.

The Seagull blends sharp-edged comedy and emotionally rich drama into a timeless story of vanity, creative hunger, and the cost of dreams.

Artistic Director of The Lyceum James Brining commented: “I am delighted to bring this exciting new version of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull to the Lyceum stage - my rst as Artistic Director.

“To work with the incredible Caroline Quentin and a great cast of Scottish actors on such a theatrical classic is thrilling. The play is an examination of theatre itself, which is why it felt like such a perfect introduction for myself as a director in this new role.”

RSA director Colin Greenslade will reveal the year-long programme of exhibitions which will take place at The Mound, and Sandy Wood Head of Collections will share an update on Celebrating Together. Head of Programme Flora La Thangue will end the event in conversation with a surprise guest.

The event takes place on September 25 at 6.30pm and tickets are free on the RSA website. The programme will include exhibitions, talks, performances and special events all over Scotland. This is an independent charity which does not receive government funding and so they have set up a range of donation packages on their site. For example for £1,000 you can secure a seat at the table at the Varnishing Day Lunch on 6 May 2026. A donation – ranging from £20 – allows you to join the Academicians and Honorary Academicians for lunch.

Visit royalscottishacademy.org for details.

CROSSWORD

Down with the Kul kids

KUL COFFEE at 15 Elm Row is an impressive new co ee spot on the fringes of the city centre.

My initial impressions of the co ee and the general vibe of the place were very positive. What drew me in was the abundant sense of energy and the airy spaciousness of the place. The volume of the chatter reminded me of a bar on a Saturday evening, rather than a café. This is in line with Kul's motto: “Where co ee brews community”.

GENEROUS SEATING

One common criticism made of specialty co ee places is their small scale. With fewer than a dozen customers, many are pretty much full. This can help create a nice intimate atmosphere but can also mean that tables are hard to secure at busy times, causing customers to move on elsewhere, disappointed.

Kul, with space for about 40 customers, has the scale of a chain with the minimalist aesthetics and seriousness about co ee of the best specialty places.

Kul, which has taken over the shop unit from Thirsty Pallet café and sandwich bar, is certainly larger than most specialty co ee places in the city. In that sense, it’s representative of a mainstreaming of specialty co ee, no longer the preserve of the co ee geek.

It could be compared with Cairngorm with their spacious café in the West End.

WELL OILED

It was packed on the bright Saturday morning ventured into Kul. Fearing might have to settle for a takeaway, the barista told me I could use the last ‘solo’ table in the back corner.

Kul has a variety of setting options; for groups, pairs/ couples and a couple of small solo tables. The back corner gave me a good view of the action. After a few minutes observing the baristas in action, was pretty sure they'd be serving top notch co ee. could also pursue the menu.

This o ered a range of interesting co ees for ‘pour over’, for the real co ee geeks, for whom espresso is a little passé.

Notable was that, though the place has only been going for a matter of weeks, the team running it is well oiled (in the sense of operating smoothly, not drunk!). recognised a couple of the sta members from other specialty co ee places. This gave me a sense that was in good hands.

The co ee that arrived on my table con rmed this. Though a 'mere' decaf, it was brimming with avour. The barista had promised that they had ‘an excellent decaf’; she was not wrong. A testament to the skill of the baristas, as well as the seriousness with which decaf co ees are now treated. Until relatively recently, they were considered something of an afterthought. No longer.

COMPLEX AND FRUITY

Keen to hear the views of others with a keen interest in specialty co ee, recommended Kul to a contact. They reported back noting the ‘excellent co ee’ and ‘very e cient’ sta As he noted: “They have to be, it's hectically busy.” As to the co ee, he mentioned the “delicious“ house Colombian which was “complex and fruity”. He also remarked favourably on the guest Indonesian which was “completely di erent; much softer, almost like a tasty pour over”. His conclusion tallied with my own: “For me, they've added a lot to the Edinburgh co ee scene. hope they can keep their team.”

My contact’s succinct report encapsulates several key aspects. Notably, you need a substantial team of capable people to keep such places going smoothly. Often, café work is considered low level employment. This overlooks the highly skilled nature of making good co ee.

PROFESSIONALISM

While there are plenty of places in Edinburgh serving 'artisan' or 'speciality' co ee, having good quality beans and a good co ee machine are necessary but not su cient conditions for good co ee. What actually ends up in the cup depends so much on the skill of the barista. Initial impressions suggest that Kul's team is a skilled and experienced one. As noted

7 Across is a feature of Edinburgh.

ACROSS

7 STAG MARKERS

(anagram) (11)

9 Story with symbolic meaning (8)

10 Brave, bold (6)

11 Topic, subject (5)

12 Part, piece (9)

14 Party snacks (7)

16 City in Washington state (7)

18 Gamebird (9)

20 Unre ned (5)

21 Gentle (6)

22 Rude (8)

24 Surroundings, milieu (11)

DOWN

2 Snubbed (10)

By Aldhelm

1 Complicated knot (6)

3 Candle substance (3)

4 Tulsa’s US state (8)

5 Pace, step (6)

6 Not expected (13)

7 Large sailing vessel (7)

8 Senior cleric’s title (5, 8)

13 Boss, head (10)

15 Feel, sense (8)

17 Holidaymaker, visitor (7)

19 Park worker (6)

20 Meadow plant (6)

23 Weep, sob (3)

Right Reverend, 13 Mastermind, 15 Perceive, 17 Tourist, 19 Ranger, 20 Clover, 23 Cry.

DOWN: 1 Tangle, 2 Ostracised, 3 Wax, 4 Oklahoma, 5 Stride, 6 Unanticipated, 7 Galleon, 8

ACROSS: 7 Grassmarket, 9 Allegory, 10 Daring, 11 Theme, 12 Component, 14 Canap és, 16 Seattle, 18 Partridge, 20 Crude, 21 Tender, 22 Impolite, 24 Environment.

earlier, a number of the baristas at Kul have previously worked at other highly rated places. This is common. Baristas often move around, keen to soak up up new knowledge. In short, such baristas are professionals who take their work and their development seriously.

The team at Kul is also sizeable. spotted at least nine, with the manager acting as they should; managing the seating, spotting issues as they arise and stepping in to assist their colleagues during intense waves. These are common at Kul. Being able to produce the goods consistently when under pressure is a sign of a top barista. To produce good co ee consistently in busy places, you need a team. The type of large team saw operating at Kul was reminiscent of some of the

places saw in London (such as Origin, Shoreditch), which had high volumes throughout the day, not just the typical 11am wave.

WORTH THE PRICE

One aspect that needs to be mentioned is price. Kul is not, by any means, inexpensive. Most espresso-based drinks hover just below the four quid mark. In their defence, and good speciality co ee places more generally, this is not that much more than the chains and other places which usually serve mediocre (at best) co ee. The average price of a co ee in the UK is £3.35. At least in Kul and other high calibre co ee places, you can be assured that what you drink will be good.

Kul Co ee, 15 Elm Row, EH7 4AA

Lunching well as nights draw in

NOW THAT THE MADNESS of Festival frenzy is over, having spent a small fortune on dining out and fringe tickets, there’s a need to tighten the purse strings, but that doesn’t mean having to curb my lifestyle. I’m still planning to eat out, but will probably limit my dining to restaurants o ering lunchtime set menus.

With September’s here and as the nights draw in, if truth be known, I’m a fan of a lunchtime meet-up as it means I can be tucked up nice and early. It’s also a fantastic way to experience some of the city’s best restaurants at a more achievable price point. And throw in restaurants that o er a BYOB into the deal, and you’re laughing. Here's a selection of my favourite places for lunchtime deals in various areas of the city.

Stockbridge

Stockbridge Eating House A very a ordable weekday set lunch menu at £14.95 per person for an ever-changing lineup that always includes Company sourdough & butter, saucisse sèche, a main dish with sides of bistro salad and beef dripping chips, and a sweet & co ee to nish. https:// stockbridgeeatinghouse.co.uk/

Sotto – Opened in October 2024, Sotto doubles as an enoteca (wine bar) on the ground oor and downstairs a 36-seat trattoria, headed up by wine expert James Clark and Calabrian head chef Francesco Ascrizzi. Sotto runs its set lunch Wednesday–Saturday, 12–2pm: £16 for one course, £22 for two, £26 for three. Don’t miss their Italian wine list. https://www.sottoedinburgh.com/

West End

La P'tite Folie – 'The Little Madness' – occupies the charming Tudor House on Randolph Place, where owner Virginie has created a cosy haven for traditional French cuisine. Their two-course lunch at £21.95 has long been a well-guarded secret among discerning locals who appreciate exceptional value. https://www.laptitefolie. co.uk/

The Palmerston deserves recognition for their commitment to ingredient provenance, working directly with Scottish farmers, growers, and shermen. Their daily-changing, European-style menu showcases seasonal variation beautifully. With their own butchery and bakery on-site, they minimise waste while maximising avour. Set lunch runs TuesdayFriday: two courses £21, three courses £26. https://www.thepalmerstonedinburgh.co.uk

Leith

Bistro Coco on Broughton Street o ers family-run warmth with two courses at £25 or three at £31. Their location, just ve minutes from major city centre attractions and shopping at St James Quarter, makes it

perfectly positioned for a leisurely lunch.

https://bistro-coco.co.uk/

The Walnut my neighbourhood gem near Macdonald Road tram stop, serves avourful dishes using local, seasonal ingredients in their delightful 22-seat space. Do save room for their legendary Walnut Whip dessert. Two courses £30, three courses £34. https:// thewalnutedinburgh.co.uk

Kahani on Antigua Street o ers remarkable value with their BYOB policy and lunchtime specials: one course (wraps or choice of seven curries with rice or naan) for £12.95 (noon-2 pm), or two courses for £14.95 (noon-3 pm). https://kahanirestaurant.co.uk/

The Bonnington refurbished as a cocktail bar which serves small and large plates by Carlo Carrozzi, known for his award-winning 'The Peruvian' street food venture, the ‘kitchen is under the helm of Chef Elliot. His Sunday lunch focuses on "big avour, proper tasty

sides and plates made to share" – think roast chicken or sea bream with pommes boulangère, Swiss chard, and creamed leeks. Chicken for four costs £40, sea bream for two £30. Book ahead; they sell out fast. https:// www.thebonningtonleith.com

City Centre

Chez Jules remains an old faithful where consistency trumps innovation. Their unchanging menu of French bistro staples –onion soup, steak frites, chocolate mousse –represents exceptional value: £9.90 for one course, £12.90 for two, or £15.90 for three. Fair warning: noise levels can be challenging, so I'd recommend keeping parties to a maximum of four for meaningful conversation. https://www. chezjulesbistro.com/

Dine, with four city locations (Murray eld, The Tollhouse, Craiglockhart, and above the Traverse Theatre), o ers Michelin-starred Chef Stuart Muir's acclaimed midweek lunch menus from £23.50 for two

or £30.50 for three (including tea or co ee). Their Weekend Wine Lunch provides three courses from their monthly Market Menu plus house wine for £59.50 per couple – exceptional value for this calibre of cooking. https://dineedinburgh.co. uk/

The Bottom Line: These restaurants prove that post-Festival nancial recovery needn't mean culinary compromise. Whether you're seeking French bistro classics, Italian sophistication, or modern Scottish cuisine, Edinburgh's lunch scene o ers remarkable value for those who know where to look.

For additional budget-friendly options, my guide to Edinburgh's BYOB restaurants provides even more wallet-friendly dining adventures. https://shorturl.at/8aT27

As we look back on another August of festival, the question that arises is: Has the Fringe run its course?

WITH ANOTHER FRINGE done and dusted, it’s time look ahead as three iconic characters head to the capital’s stages in September Edinburgh Fringe is dead. Long live the Fringe. Walking the streets of the city centre last month, it was almost impossible to recall just how all encompassing the Festival Fringe had become in the years leading to the pandemic. Gridlocked tra c, crowded pavements, packed venues and bustling bars, it was widely agreed that the draw of the world’s largest arts festival and the overtourism it attracted had strained every aspect of the capital’s infrastructure.

Even before then, however, the tide had been turning. The greed of larger venue producers ensured many smaller companies, some of which had been regular xtures at the Fringe for years, could no longer a ord to make the annual trip north.

Then came the pandemic and lock down, It should have been a time for the Fringe to regroup, for the bigger producers and the Council to have a rethink, to x the model… but money talks. Nothing happened. The grants provided by the Scottish Government could have been used for the ‘greater good’, to ease the burden on the companies who are the beating heart of the event. It was loudly suggested those grants allowed registration fees to be waived, but in the end they were allocated to venue producers, mostly bigger venues. Smaller venues expressed their frustration at the time as their bids were turned down.

And so the Fringe returned with no real x’ in place. Little had changed except the economy and that change wasn’t for the better as we all know. Consequently, post lockdown the Fringe as we came to know it, despite the usual spin, has been in its death throes. This year many companies watched it die with dire audience numbers and empty streets.

Edinburgh in August is unrecognisable these days. The crowds are hugely diminished, tickets sales all around are dramatically low - there will always be the exceptions of course - but the simple fact is the demand is no longer there. That people are not coming to Edinburgh for the Fringe may be partly down to the cost of accommodation, but it’s more than that. For companies it’s the eye-watering cost of venue hire, the cost of advertising on the paid for billboards that litter the city, not to mention the cost of staging the production itself.

Having been a part of the Fringe for 42 consecutive years, it saddens me to say 2025

was likely my last. It’s something I’m hearing from a number of Edinburgh-based professional creatives. It’s just not worth the e ort anymore. The playing eld is no longer viable for the artists and work it was originally set up to champion. Which is sad.

Anyway, rant over, we’re into September now, so time to look ahead, although as always, the month following Edinburgh’s Festivals is usually a quiet a air, there are two or three must see shows, not to be missed.

FIRST UP is the new stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley (16-20 September) at the Festival Theatre. Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller invites you into a world of deception, desire, and deadly ambition.

Tom Ripley is a nobody, scraping by in New York, forging signatures, telling little white lies – until a chance encounter changes everything. When a wealthy stranger o ers him an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy to bring home his wayward son, Dickie Greenleaf, Tom leaps at the opportunity.

But in the sun-drenched glamour of 1950s

Italy, surrounded by shimmering waters and whispered secrets, Tom is seduced by the life Dickie leads – the freedom, the wealth, the e ortless charm. Fascination turns to obsession, and as his grip tightens on Dickie’s world, the lines between truth and deception begin to blur. What starts as an innocent opportunity spirals into a chilling game of lies, identity theft, and murder.

Starring The Crown’s Ed McVey as Tom Ripley, the cast also includes Bruce HerbelinEarle from Net ix’s Free Rein as Dickie Greenleaf and EastEnders regular and Strictly Come Dancing nalist Maisie Smith stars as Marge Sherwood.

Running time 2 hours, including interval. Tickets from £22.50 https://www. capitaltheatres.com/shows/the-talented-mrripley/

STAYING AT the Festival Theatre, a week later it’s the epic adventures of Percy Jackson that unfold on the Nicolson Street stage. Hailed, ‘a thrilling tale for gods and mortals of all ages’,

The Lightning Thief (23-27 September) proves that being ‘normal’ is anything but.

When 16-year-old Percy Jackson discovers he is the half-blood son of the Greek God, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined. With newlydiscovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want and a whole mythology textbook’s worth of mythical monsters on his tail, Percy must learn what it means to be a hero.

The future of the world hangs in the balance as Percy and his friends embark on the epic adventure that over the past 20 years has seen Percy Jackson become a worldwide phenomenon. First there was the best-selling series of books, then two incredible lms and a Disney TV series. Get ready for the adventures of Percy Jackson bursting onto the stage in Edinburgh.

Running time 2 hours and 10 minutes, including interval. Tickets from £25, https:// www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/thelightning-thief/

JUST SNEAKING into September schedules by the skin o their teeth, The Playhouse brings Top Hat (30 September-4 October) to Edinburgh

Described as ‘the musical equivalent of the nest vintage champagne – e ervescent, elegant and exhilarating – Top Hat is a heady romantic musical laced with sparkling dialogue, stunning choreography, lavish sets and gorgeous costumes.

And let’s not forget Irving Berlin’s irresistible score, including Hollywood classics such as Cheek to Cheek, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat White Tie and Tails and Puttin’ on the Ritz.

Top Hat is the story of Broadway star Jerry Travers. Arriving in London to open a new show, he crosses paths with model Dale Tremont, whose beauty sleep is rudely interrupted by Jerry tap dancing in the hotel suite above hers. Instantly smitten, Jerry vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her - but the path of true love never does run smooth. Especially as Dale has mistaken Jerry for his hapless producer Horace, who’s trying to avoid

the wrath of his formidable wife Madge. And just to make things worse, Dale’s own ery Italian admirer is planning a trip to Venice for her to showcase his couture gowns…

Based on the 1935 lm starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this stage adaptation’s

West End premiere won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It’s time to face the music…

Running time TBC, Tickets from £15 https:// www.atgtickets.com/shows/top-hat/ edinburgh-playhouse/

FINALLY if you fancy a theatre break this month, let me suggest Chichester Festival Theatre’s new production of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (19 September-11 October).

This compelling adventure takes us into the heart of darkness. A modern classic, Lord of the Flies has lost none of its riveting power since its publication in 1954 and is frequently ranked high in lists of iconic novels.

A plane crash on a desert island abandons a group of young survivors to fend for themselves. Quickly, tribal loyalties start to form. Despite attempts by Ralph and Piggy to keep order, school rules are shed along with their uniforms, and friendly alliances fast become ferocious divisions.

As the children threaten to turn feral, a deadly struggle ensues between Ralph and his leadership rival, Jack. Will chaos overcome humanity – or, with a world at war beyond the island, can rescue come in time to save them? Running time TBC, tickets from £10, cft.org.uk Until next month, happy theatre-going, Liam

THE VOICE OF SPORT

EDINBURGH NAPIER KNIGHTS under-19 American Football team will be playing not only for silverware but to put the sport on a stronger footing north of the border when they face London Blitz in the national Britbowl Final at Coventry’s Butts Park Arena on Saturday September 6.

The capital out booked their place with a commanding 57-14 win over Chorley Buccaneers at Meggetland in mid-August and immediately manager/coach Sam Stoddart-Dunn started to dream … and plan.

“We are not in this nal by accident” says Sam, adding: “we’ve beaten every team we have played to become Northern champions and to bring the trophy home would mean putting down a marker for American Football in Scotland. So, our hopes are high.

“But we are so far removed from mainstream that it would be a massive achievement to showcase the talent we have here.”

Now in his ninth season running the team, Sam has built the team up from just ve youngsters to their current level of 100 players, some of whom will be moving on to the full Napier Knights team later this year.

“Ages range from seven years old upwards and the majority of our squad are local lads, some of whom attend Napier University.

“They all got the bug from watching NFL and it is noticeable that after their annual London game our numbers increased,” adds Sam.

All this comes at a cost.

“To kit out an individual player can be around £500 with helmet, padding, etc and we don’t want anybody missing out. So we have established a GoFundMe page to try to assist with travel and overnight accommodation to give ourselves the best chance.

“Our target gure is £5,000 so nobody misses out on travelling but £2,500 would cover our bus travel.

STEWART’S MELVILLE women captured the Beyond Boundaries Scottish T20 cricket cup with an emphatic win over a combined Watsonian/Dumfries side at New William eld, Stirling. Batting rst, the combined side struggled to make 66 primarily in the face of strong bowling from Mariam Akram (3-18) and Faatima Gardee (3-12).

In the reply Emma Walsingham (34no) and Lucy Pillinger (29no) helped Stew

Mel cruise to victory, Earlier in the day, Stewart’s Melville had seen o Grange to reach the nal.

After restricting their opponents to 64-7 the Inverleith-based side saw Lois Wilkinson (26) and Lucy Pillinger (23) compile unbeaten innings in an eight wicket win.

Pictured above left are: Back Row Lucy Pillinger, Emily Duguid, Emma Walsingham, Katie Hay, Faatima Gardee,

Megan Hay & Iris Conlin. Front Row: Lois Wilkinson, Lara Chowdhury, Lucy Forrester Smith, Mariam Akram & Izzy Armstrong.

Meanwhile, adding to the feelgood factor at Inverleith is the success of the Stewart’s Melville under-16 girls in winning their Scottish Cup by beating Capital rivals, Watsonians. Pictured above right are the winning team.

Watsonians aim for a milestone season

East of Scotland women storm through to gain promotion

EAST OF SCOTLAND tennis teams excelled at the British over-35 inter-county tennis championships.

Pride of place went to the women who gained promotion to Division Four while the men were runners-up in their Group Four. Pictured above

WHEN EMMA RADUCANU

pulled o her amazing US Open tennis victory as a quali er in 2021 and without dropping a set it couldn’t have been envisaged how the ripples would have carried all the way to Livingston, West Lothian.

the victorious women, left to right: Alice Drysdale, Sarah McFadyen, Katie Rowley, Mhairi Beattie and Suzie Provan.

the women’s team came from the Braid club with the exception of Katie Rowley who plays for the Avenue Club,

and Jamie Hunter

Hasiika’s inspiration comes from very top

“We need a squad of about 50 players to compete against London who will have similar numbers and there is no doubt they are a well organised opponent” said the 29-year-old former Ayr and Boroughmuir rugby union player who works as a solicitor in Edinburgh.

Sam added:“Our under-16’s reached the semi- nal of their competitionthis year and just missed out on going further; we are determined to go one further and reach our rst BritBowl Final at a time when our sport is looking forward to a further boost from debuting in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”

You can help the team at their GoFundMe page – Edinburgh Napier Knights under-19 Finals Transport.

MARCUS DI ROLLO is back in the front line at his old club, Watsonians, having taken on the Director of Rugby role prior to the new season getting underway. And compared to his two stints as club coach, the 21-cap former centre, now 47, will have a much wider responsibility according to Richard Kelly, who is starting out on his fourth year as president having served a ve-year stint as vice-president.

“Our ambition is to be one of the leading clubs in Scotland but beyond that we want to have the second team players pushing those higher up.

“And part of Marcus’ responsibilities will be with the third XV who have a role to play broadening our playing base.”

On the dista side of the club, Hannah Crispe will be ful lling a similar role to Marcus with a remit including getting a second women’s team out regularly.

It can be argued that ‘Sonians, who will be celebrating their 150th season and have a gala dinner planned for November 21 as the centrepiece, have long ful lled their ambition to be a leading club,

especially having nished runners-up in the Premiership last season.

But president Kelly makes it clear the drive to go one better under head coach

of medical matters, the need to sell the game through social media, things we didn’t think about 10-20 years ago.

David Wilson, supported by Finlay Gillies, Michael Ker and Richard Snedden is undiminished.

“We have lost the likes of Neil IrvineHess and Jason Baggott but we have recruited Harry Clarke, a Scottish under-18 centre and Harry Jackaman, the Scotland under-18 No 8 and captain who has joined from Boroughmuir in order to play in the Premiership – but there is so much we continue to take forward from playing in that competition.

“Examples include increased awareness

“From my point of view it is about giving the likes of the Head of Medicine, Communications and Finance etc responsibility.

“For the 150th celebrations planning started 18 months ago with a focus group from which Ken Cameron and Scott Hastings have emerged as key participants.”

Meanwhile, the milestone was initially marked by a golf outing at Mortonhall GC with next up a Family Day at Myreside on 6 September when Glasgow Hawks are the visitors.

Waking up the morning after watching that nal victory at Flushing Meadow on television Sandeep Pasupulati, an IT worker, thought “I wonder if my daughter, Hasiika, would like to try tennis?”

Wheels were set in motion and today Hasiika, 8, a pupil at St John Ogilvy Primary School, is Scotland’s No 1 player at under-9s and No 4 at under10s. She is also ranked No 15 in GB as an under-9.

What’s more, during a competition at the LTA’s national training centre in Roehampton Hasiika actually had a meeting with Raducanu who, at the time, was practising for Wimbledon.

They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes but according to Sandeep, who admits to being

more of a cricket enthusiast, the encounter has given Hasiika fresh impetus.

“She has really taken encouragement from meeting Emma. It was a big moment for her as she tries to go as far as she can.”

The problem is that being competitive in any age-group means plenty of travelling.

Firstly it’s important to stress that keeping calm and playing with a smile is always what Hasiika has been encouraged to do. Enjoyment is more important than winning, but Hasiika also wants to be the best she can be which means not sitting at home in Scotland thinking about being No 1 here. Rather, like others before, she has to reach out and go around the country seeking

out better opposition.

“This is proving expensive and anyone who can assist with sponsorship should contact me +447918 137 260”

said Sandeep.

Hasiika’s coach at Hatton Tennis Club, Michael Robson, sees considerable potential, saying: “I have been coaching Hasiika since she was aged six and is a great talent.

“Racket companies are reluctant to sponsor players so young but travelling is essential to test herself. Hopefully she can attract the backing she needs.”

By NIGEL DUNCAN

RYAN McGOWAN hopes Livingston’s recent promotion to the Wiliam Hill Premiership will encourage more locals to support The Lions.

The Aussie-born defender is fully aware that Livingston is in a particular location, not far from Glasgow with Celtic and Rangers dominating, and not far from Edinburgh with Hearts and Hibs who both have a signi cant fan base.

He also appreciated that Livingston was a new town and a lot of people moved there from somewhere else. Therefore, they tend to have a loyalty with a particular club, so it is di cult for The Lions to attract new fans.

McGowan argued: “The club, as a whole, does really good work in the community and in the surrounding areas to get kids and families along to games.

“Last season we did reasonably well and the season tickets [sales] are up.

“Sometimes a re-set back down a league where you win more games can be good. Fans want to see a good performance and a Livingston side win.”

The 35-year-old, recruited after 57 games for St Johnstone, added: “Fingers crossed that we can get them through the gates. We are playing against bigger clubs, kids will want to come and see the better players of the league coming here.

“Hopefully, they enjoy the experience and can highly recommend it if anyone is struggling to do anything with the kids on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday or whenever we play. Hopefully you enjoy it and come back week on week.”

Overall, there is, said McGowan, who hails from Adelaide, optimism in the dressing room that Livingston can compete in the top ight this season and the signing of versatile, 23-year-old Adam Montgomery on loan from Celtic and 36-year-old, Irish-born, attacking mid elder Graham Carey, formerly of St Johnstone, underline that.

He added: “We want to play the way we want to play and dominate the ball as much as we can. have been around the game long enough, and we are under no illusions that there are times when we are going to su er losing streaks, lack of form or a bad run.

“At the end of the season, we will take our celebration or take our medicine wherever we end up.”

Even a Jambo had to admit that strike against Naples was spectacular

By JOHN HISLOP

NEARLY 60 YEARS AGO my Hearts-

supporting next door neighbour took me to Easter Road to watch Hibs play Naples in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup.

Hibs were 4-1 down from the rst-leg and only manager Bob Shankly gave them any chance of progressing to the next round.

But up stepped full-back Bobby Duncan who opened the scoring with a sensational 40-yard strike which ew into the top corner past arguably the world’s nest goalkeeper

Dino Zo

Hibs went on to win 5-0 and as we were leaving the old stadium, my neighbour told me that I’d never see a better goal than Bobby’s.

And he was correct... until August 14 2025 when Kieron Bowie scored a goal that was at least its equal.

Many years later had the privilege of speaking to Bobby and of course asked about his goal.

He told me: “Bob’s (Shankly) plan was for Joe Davis to win the toss and we would play down the slope in the rst half as an early goal

By NIGEL DUNCAN

Bowie’s goal must surely rival Duncan’s

was vital. Joe lost the toss but we did manage to get the early goal at the Dunbar end.

“They were attacking and won the ball o their left winger. Normally would have ran down the wing and put a cross in but decided to come inside and kicked the ball too far ahead of me.

“ reached the ball just before a defender and hit a cracking shot with my left foot which ew into the top corner of the net.

“People ask all the time how far out was but don’t know. It was over 20 yards but less than 40. I’ve never even seen the goal as the footage was destroyed in a ood.

“That night could have gone home to watch the highlights or go out for a few ‘shandies’ to celebrate so chose the pub.”

Last month from the Upper West Stand I saw Kieron Bowie, above, re an unstoppable left-foot strike from around the same distance.

That goal subsequently helped Hibs defeat Partizan Belgrade on aggregate to reach the Conference League Play-O s.

Thankfully that goal was recorded on TV and online calls have already been made for the ‘Puskas Award’ for the player judged to have scored the most aesthetically signi cant,

or “most beautiful”, goal of the calendar year.

Bowie said: “It was just split-second. Jack (Iredale) got an assist for it, don’t know how.

“I’ve just shielded it past two of them, and it’s sat up nicely. I’ve just hit it and it’s gone right in the top corner. It took the cobwebs out the top corner.

“Honestly, it was unreal. I genuinely have never scored a goal like that in my life.

“When the con dence is owing, you try stu like that. Thankfully it paid o .”

So which goal was better? Both were scored during second–legs against top-class European opposition.

Both helped Hibs qualify for the next round.

Bobby’s was ‘up the slope’ toward the Dunbar end and ew into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Kieron’s was toward the other end and ew into the top right hand corner.

So, if forced to choose I’d say this.

Bobby’s goal was the greatest Hibs goal of the 20th century. The best ever at the Dunbar end and the nest rst-half strike.

Kieron’s the best of the 21st century (so far).

The best second-half goal and the nest at the ‘Shed’ end.

Cammy: It’s all about wins

CAMMY DEVLIN put his nger on the reality of being with a top football club, in his case, Heart of Midlothian FC and the popular defensive mid elder declared: “If you don’t get a result on a Saturday then nothing else matters.”

Picture: Nigel Duncan

That includes, of course, all the media chat and the preparatory work on the training ground in the build-up to xtures.

The Jambos enjoyed a positive start under new head coach Derek McInnes, with a lot of hard work put in at a pre-season camp in Spain before the Premier Sports Cup group games, but Devlin, pictured right, stressed that there is a real hunger in the dressing-room to be back in Europe.

The 27-year-old admitted he is missing the exposure to Continental teams and watching others play in Europe has been tough.

But, on the positive side, the new players and management team recruited by Hearts have brought a fresh energy to the ambitious club and Devlin explained that McInnes, a former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock boss, has simpli ed the message to the team and himself.

McInnes wants Devlin to be aggressive, to play on the front foot, which undoubtedly suits his game, and he added: “He [the head coach] wants

us to go after teams and wants us to be dominant, make Tynecastle the fortress we know it can be, and to go and express ourselves.”

The Sydney-born player, who has logged over 100 appearances for the Men in Maroon added: “I’ve really enjoyed working under him [McInnes] and his sta .”

At a club like Hearts, he explained, you have to perform on the pitch and Devlin said: “We are doing the basics of football. If we do that our quality should come through.”

The Premier Sports Cup. coupled with the glamour friendly against Sunderland in the Craig Gordon Testimonial, were, he said, good preparation for the club’s opening xture against Aberdeen, the Scottish Cup holders, in the William Hill Premiership.

The game ended with a 2-0 scoreline in favour of the Men in Maroon, and Hearts, said Devlin, were really professional on the night. He naturally wants that to continue.

It’s Devlin’s fth season at Gorgie after joining from Newcastle Jets in 2021.

He said: “It has own by. probably came here as a boy and have really enjoyed it.

“All the sta have looked after me since day one and have made some really good friends.

“I love coming into work every day and have really been welcomed into the club and the city

since have been here.”

Focusing on himself, Devlin, who has four caps for his native country, and three for the under-20 and under-23 sides, feels his overall game has matured.

He added: “I am 27 now and I feel really lucky to have been here this long. My game has de nitely changed and I have become a better player.”

Overall, there is a lot of excitement around Hearts with the new coach, the near £10m investment by businessman Tony Bloom, and the arrival of new players, but Devlin said that winning football games is the goal.

He continues to work on his game and admitted: “There are so many parts of it can improve, so come in every day, work as hard as can and the rest takes care of itself.”

Download the et app now

Purchase your 3, 5 and 10-Day Tram City Zone Ticket bundles on the et app and save on your commute

Activate your ticket before boarding, or you may be charged the onboard fare of £10