Auld Reekie Roller Girls ready for the Grand Final
Book Club for younger children
Eyre Place
VisitScotland publish coffee table book for Christmas
Twelve Closes
Tickets are £6 in advance, £8 on the door, available on Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2252540
ARRG has introduced new prices for unwaged and Senior (over 65’s) fans at £5 per ticket, as well as free entry for disability leisure card holders and a carer.
Literary Littles Free bookclub for ages 2–9
The Fruitmarket Gallery Bookshop is collaborating with Tate Publishing, Walker Books, and Bloomsbury press to present three Saturday mornings of book readings.
Lesley Barnes: Jill & Dragon
Sat 28 Nov, 10.30am. Free
Ages 2–8 Book now
Glaswegian author and illustrator Lesley Barnes reads her sumptuously illustrated book Jill & Dragon.
Vivian French: The Most Wonderful Thing in The World
Sat 5 Dec, 10.30am. Free
Ages 3–9. Book now
Author and Edinburgh resident Vivian French reads her most recent book The Most Wonderful Thing in The World. Illustrated by Angela Barret, this is a classic tale of a king, a queen, a princess, legions of suitors, and a treasure hidden in plain sight.
Debi Gliori: Alfie in …
Sat 12 Dec, 10.30am. Free
For toddlers. Book now
Author and illustrator Debi Gliori from East Lothian reads books from her Alfie series and draws the sweet bunny and his adventures. Alfie the rabbit is a delightful character created for toddlers that celebrates their irrepressible imagination.
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Watch out on Eyre Place , today Friday 27 November 2015 where the council is undertaking remedial works to the lines on the street.
A galaxy of Scottish stars are featured in a glossy new coffee-table book, celebrating their homeland in words and pictures.
With imagery and research provided by VisitScotland, My Scotland by its Famous Sons and Daughters has been released just in time for Christmas.
It showcases interviews with 58 celebrities who talk about how their nation has shaped their lives and careers. These run alongside full-colour photos of their favourite places in Scotland.
Rory Bremner, Irvine Welsh, Sir Jackie Stewart, Nicola Benedetti, Denis Law, Billy McNeill, Judy Murray, Donovan, Katherine Grainger and Midge Ure are just a few of the celebrities to share their memories of Scotland.
Two of Hollywood’s biggest Scottish stars, Brian Cox and Dougray Scott, also share their favourite places.
Brian Cox said: “When you’re from Dundee the first thing you become aware of is water – the sea, the River Tay and what they both represent. To me they opened up the rest of the world. The river was something to be crossed, to see what’s on the other side, to get away and to explore – but always to come back.
Dougray Scott said: “My travels with my father gave me a great early love of Scotland. My favourite place is the Mull of Kintyre – so good Paul McCartney wrote a song about it! It’s a great journey from Glasgow to get there, past Loch Fyne and down the peninsula with beautiful views of Gigha and Jura. I love it.”
Two of the most poignant sections centre on music hero Jack Bruce and legendary singer Jean Redpath in last major interviews about the place they called home before both passed away in 2014.
And fabulous views of the Highlands, islands, mountains, lochs and urban landscapes from Shetland down to the Borders are also featured.
Ninety per cent of the book’s profits will be donated to Scottish charities, chiefly the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, as well as some hand-picked charities close to the hearts of some of the sons and daughters taking part.
The book was produced by writers Anne Graham and Michael Hamilton whose affection for Scotland spurred them on to compile the 240-page hardback.
Anne said: “We’ve always loved Scotland and its people and we recently moved to an island near the Scottish Borders so the time seemed right to write about it.
“We were delighted that so many great names gave us their time and took part with such enthusiasm.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “This is a wonderful publication in which some of our best-loved celebrities share treasured memories of their favourite Scottish places. These tales of our bustling cities and hidden gems will inspire potential visitors from all over the world to discover the locations that make Scotland a hit with its famous sons and daughters.”
Donovan, who is celebrating his 50 years in the music business this year, is one of the celebrities featured. He said: “It’s a lovely piece of work – I approve of it wholeheartedly.”
And, inspired by the book, he even wrote a short verse:
“My Scotland will always be ours,
“Wherever we roam,
“Scotia, she is always our home”
My Scotland by its Famous Sons and Daughters is published by Kingfisher Reach Publishing and is available in bookstores and online at www.my-scotland.org
Edinburgh World Heritage has announced a major initiative to transform twelve Old Town Closes, with a demonstration lighting event in Bakehouse Close.
The initiative will see a series of bespoke improvements to the selected closes, including new artwork, lighting and interpretation, to encourage greater use by the public. Local communities will play a crucial role in the project, researching the history of the closes to provide ideas and design inspiration for their presentation. The EWH project aims to change perceptions, transforming closes that currently feel under-used, unloved or unsafe. The project will reveal the closes’ atmospheric charm, share their rich history and reclaim them as useful pedestrian links across the city.
The demonstration event is being run in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University, with the aim of showcasing a range of alternative lighting approaches, demonstrating how artistic and architectural lighting can have a dramatic effect in Old Town closes. The views of residents, businesses and the wider public will be gathered, and hopefully the demonstration event will inspire people to become involved with the project.
The Old Town’s network of closes and wynds are a key element of the city’s World Heritage status, and date back to the medieval beginnings of the city. Today there are still 74 closes, forming an integral part of the fabric of the Old Town, and home to residents, businesses and many city institutions.
Adam Wilkinson, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage said: “Historically the closes were the secondary routes through the medieval city, however they have long been underused and in some cases neglected spaces. We hope that with the help of residents, students, artists, local businesses and the City of Edinburgh’s street lighting and neighbourhood teams we will be able to create something of beauty and enchantment in the closes. We hope to encourage people to explore these neglected historical spaces, improving the quality of the spaces for the residents, and supporting businesses by encouraging footfall”.
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