Edinburgh Reporter chats – Fraser Doherty of SuperJam

You may have seen jars of SuperJam in some of the shops and supermarkets around Edinburgh. His story is one of meteoric rise to running his own business while still in his teens.

So what is his own recipe for success?

“I was helped initially by the Prince’s Trust – I got some advice from them and a loan of around £5,000 when I was about 16 or 17. Now I am an ambassador for Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust and I regularly attend events in that capacity.”

How long has your business being going?

“My business has been going for almost 8 years now – since I was about 14. I did go to university for a year, but then everything took off business-wise and it wasn’t really possible to continue studying. ”

Why are you living in Edinburgh?

“Well I was born here and so I didn’t have much choice in the matter! My parents and brother still live in Edinburgh but I have some family in Glasgow too. I have lived here all my life. I was born in a hospital here but don’t really know which one!” (Come on, Fraser’s mum – you might know?!)
What about your jam -  is it Scottish?

“The jam is not made in Scotland.  It was not possible at 16 to build my own jam factory so I had to find one which was willing to work with me. I had to convince them to work with me! There are only about four factories in the UK, and I use one which is situated in the North of England. They make the jam according to my recipe.”
How did it all start?

“My gran taught me to make jam when I was 14 and that really started everything off.  She inspired me to make jam, and also to work with the elderly which is a large part of what I do now. I have had a great deal of support from the local business community in Edinburgh – from those who have already been successful and have been willing to teach me some of the lessons they have learned, amd perhaps some of the mistakes they have made.

It is a small business community in Scotland and everybody is well-connected and willing to help each other out.”

How do you grow your own network of business contacts? Are you now the old man of young entrepreneurs?
“Prince’s Trust is a great way of meeting other young people. I have actually made a lot of friends with people who are going through the same kind of thing as me in setting up a business over the years.

Something I spend a lot of time doing, is that I get invited to speak at events all over the world at universities and conferences.  I kind of share the story of how I set up Super Jam and there are things people can learn from that and the way that I did things.

I go and speak in schools all over Scotland. I love sharing my story with the kids. Lots of the kids there have never met any entrepreneurs before.

I get emails from kids all the time saying that they have read my story or listened to me talking at school and they tell me about starting their own little businesses, maybe by making cakes or something like that.”

How do you do your product research?

“I get support and advice from quite a few people but mainly it is me playing around in the kitchen.

I wrote all the recipes in the SuperJam cookbook which I launched. It took a couple of years to come up with everything and to test all the recipes. I do really enjoy cooking.  I like cooking cakes, puddings jam tarts and jam roly-poly and all those kind of things.  It’s not all jam however! I do enjoy cooking other things too!”

Why do you continue living here in Edinburgh?

“I guess the entrepreneurial community is a big part of it for me.  I have a huge amount of support from people living here, and all my friends who are here. Edinburgh is a fun place to live and quite safe.

I do have time for a social life. I really enjoy the festival which I think is great.”

Where are you on the life-work balance scale?

“My business is not the most important thing in my life. I have lots of friends and family here. I enjoy travelling and the charity work that I do. I make time for all of that.

I do not work at weekends and I make sure I am doing things which I consider fun and which I enjoy.

Most of the people who work for me work are on contracts or part-time, so they are not actually working for the company every day. They could be designing packaging or designing our website. We don’t have an office here as such, and so people who work for me do so on a flexible pattern.

For example the people who designed the brand in the first place I have been loyal to them.

I am particularly proud of Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award. There were 750 students from all over the world who had to go to the US to do a pitch to a panel of about six billionaires. Most of the other students were Dot com and software companies and there I was making jam!

The book is what I am focussing on at the moment. It has gone on to be a best seller. It’s doing really well and I am very pleased with that. I am also working on getting my jam into new countries and also developing lots of new flavours.”

How did the tea dances come about?

“It all began a couple of years ago. My gran always made jam and scones and then visited the elderly people in the area she lived. My brother and I always went with her and I used to tell stories! We were brought up doing this really, so we started running tea dances in Edinburgh in community centres and schools.

In the last year we have organised about 120 tea dances across the UK. They are fantastic events and I try to go to the biggest ones which can attract about 600 people.

The biggest ones we have in Edinburgh are at Meadowbank.

There are also lots of smaller events for example in care homes, or some that kids organise as a school project. But the big ones we try to run ourselves every other month at Meadowbank.

It is a registered charity. The events are free for everyone to come along to. The idea is that we try to encourage people to host tea parties in their school where possible, and especially in remote places that we could never have reached. There are some older people who might otherwise be a bit lonely.”

You appear to embrace social media and you have a lovely website. What do you think of Twitter?

“I think what is exciting about social media is that it is possible for a grocery brand like Super Jam to have a conversation with its customers about new products, which would never have been possible before. People send us suggestiong for little stores that we should try and introduce our jam to.

10,000 people are engaged with us online. It is an amazing way of reaching them all on the website or the blog.

I started off with Waitrose when they opened their first store in Edinburgh about 4 years ago. They had a ‘meet the buyer’ day when they wanted to meet local suppliers who might supply their stores. I went along and pitched SuperJam to them. Ultimately they put the product into their 240 stores across the country.

There was loads of media coverage particularly here in Edinburgh. They sold 1500 jars on the first day in Morningside, which is more than they had expected to sell in the first month!”

What are your favourite places in Edinburgh?

“I often have people visiting from overseas and I like to take them for a walk up Arthur’s Seat. But, I also enjoy Stockbridge and Morningside where it is quite nice to take a walk.”

What do you think about the introduction of 20mph zones in certain parts of Edinburgh?

“I am not often asked about this kind of thing! I am not sure the council has done a great job of the trams and I have friends who have shops which have suffered as a result of some of this stuff. Politics is not really my thing though!”

What does your future hold?

“I enjoy what I do. I have a huge amount of fun doing this and I cannot imagine doing anything else. I have no plans to retire at the moment!”

Which books would you recomment?

“I am interested in all kinds of things but I do read about business. I also like to take an interest in and am inspired by all kinds of things. I try to open my mind up to all kinds of things that might not initially appeal. I used to want to work for Greenpeace or some other big charity. I have always been concerned about the environment and the food industry. I think there is a lot of stuff we are not getting right.

It is worrying the way that there is a disconnect between what people buy in the supermarket and where it has come from.

I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world. Beijing, Puerto Rico, US, Canada, The Caribbean. I find it amazing that people have heard of my story.”

Fraser did not admit to travelling business class or limos. He has a VW camper van which he goes camping in and drives around at the weekend. He said:-”It is not really my thing to travel business class!

I employ my brother from time to time, and my parents helped at the beginning. Everybody pitches in at times like The Royal Highland Show.”

Are you a normal 22 year-old?

“I have managed to find a way to make a career out of doing something that I love.

I get up every day knowing that I am doing what I exactly want to do. I was born to do this.”

What’s on this week in Edinburgh? 27th December – Oh it’s Hogmanay!

This week ends with the celebration of Hogmanay which has become synonymous with the city of Edinburgh itself.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has the celebrations sewn up. The four day festival to welcome in the New Year and a new decade is highly organised and brings acts of huge calibre to our capital city.

There is a lot of information in this article! Make sure you read to the end – there is a copy of the Edinburgh Festivals Autumn Winter 2010 magazine embedded for you at the very bottom. Have a great time. Stay warm and stay safe!

The celebration kicks off on 30th December and takes shape as follows:-

Opening Night in Resolution Square

Stage live 5pm – 9pm
Mound Precinct – by the National Galleries, City Centre
Free unticketed event

Join in the fun in Resolution Square for the all-new launch event for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Enjoy a feast of music, entertainment, fire and fireworks to signal the beginning of the world famous four day festival.

Featuring:

Small Island Sessions – Traditional Scottish and Irish folk music from some of Scotland’s most exciting and critically acclaimed folk musicians, together with the dynamic percussion of Latin America.

No alcohol to be taken into Resolution Square. Hot food outlets and bars are located within the event arena.

Torchlight Procession

Thursday 30 December
Leaves Parliament Square at 6.30pm
Procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill Finale
Free unticketed event. Torches £6

The opening event of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2011 is the spectacular Torchlight Procession. Join tens of thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to the Son et Lumiére and fireworks finale on Calton Hill.

Torches are priced £6 each in advance and will be available on the website soon or buy them on the night for £7 each.

Proceeds from the sale of torches go to both Radio Forth Cash for Kids and Barnardo’s Scotland.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2011 from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on Vimeo.

Son et Lumiere & Firework Finale

Thursday 30 December
7.45pm approx.
Calton Hill
Free unticketed event

The spectacular Son et Lumiére light and firework display, signals the beginning of the four day Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Carnival

Market Street, Edinburgh City Centre
Monday 27 December 2010 – Tuesday 4 January 2011
Open: 11am – 11pm every day

Love film, love edinburgh

Thursday 30 December 2010 – Sunday 2 January 2011
Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
www.filmhousecinema.com

An homage to Edinburgh as the inspirational city behind some of UK cinema’s most loved films.

The Illusionist
Fri 17 Dec to Thu 6 Jan (for screening times check filmhousecinema.com ) Chomet / UK / France 2010 / 1h20m / PG

An over-the-hill magician treks from Paris to the Western Isles to Edinburgh – acquiring, along the way, a young travelling companion who sincerely believes in his magical abilities.

Trainspotting
Thursday 30 December 4pm & 8.45pm Boyle / UK 1996 / 1h33m / 18

Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends. Exhilarating, funny and brutal.

Shallow Grave
Friday 31 December 1.45pm & 7pm Boyle / Britain 1994 / 1h32m / 18

When their mysterious new flatmate overdoses, David, Alex and Juliet find a fortune in bank notes stashed in his room. They decide to keep the cash, but nothing comes for free…

Hallam Foe
Saturday 1 January 1.45pm & 7pm Mackenzie / UK 2007 / 1h36m / 18

After the death of his mother, young, troubled and voyeuristic Hallam Foe sets out for Edinburgh and falls in love on the rooftops of the city.

Restless Natives
Sunday 2 January 1.45pm & 8.45pm Hoffman / UK 1985 / 1h29m / PG

A hugely enjoyable whimsical comedy following two Edinburgh losers, unemployed Will and joke shop assistant Ronnie, as they strive to improve their lifestyle by holding up tourist coaches in the Highlands.

Edinburgh From The Archives
Sunday 2 January 4pm Various / UK / 1h30m / PG

A programme of short archive films of Edinburgh, including ‘Waverley Steps’ (John Eldridge, 1948) and ‘Sean Connery’s Edinburgh’ (Murray Grigor, 1983) (TBC).

For further details contact the Filmhouse Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or visit www.filmhousecinema.com.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
Stages live 9pm – 1am
Edinburgh City Centre
£15 administration fee per ticket
Not recommended for under 16’s

Four stages of incredible live music and entertainment, DJ’s, giant screens, outdoor bars and the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks.

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CONCERT IN THE GARDENS – The music and fireworks spectacular

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
Stage live 9pm – 1am
West Princes Street Gardens
Enclosure tickets SOLD-OUT
Tickets for Gardens £35 + booking fee
Not recommended for under 16’s

BIFFY CLYRO
Plus very special guests THE CHARLATANS and BILLY BRAGG

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are pleased to announce that Scottish rock giants BIFFY CLYRO are set to headline the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens; the music and fireworks spectacular, alongside indie legends THE CHARLATANS. Both will perform at the last gig of 2010 and the first of 2011 set beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, welcoming the New Year with the famous Midnight Fireworks at one of the world’s most stunning New Year events.

THE KEILIDH IN RESOLUTION SQUARE

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
Stage live 9pm – 1am
Mound Precinct
Tickets £30 + booking fee
Not recommended for under 16’s

Welcome 2011 in style as you birl through the bells at the The Keilidh, the outdoor ceilidh experience set within an exclusive area of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. Featuring the very best in traditional Scottish music, a Ceilidh Caller to teach you the moves, exclusive food and drink area and incredible views of the spectacular Midnight Fireworks.

Featuring

HEUCH,  HUGH MACDIARMID’S HAIRCUT,  BRECHIN CITY ROLLERS

MUSIKA – EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY OFFICIAL AFTER SHOW PARTY

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
10pm – 5am
@ The HMV Picture House
Early bird tickets now available priced £28.50

Featuring
BOOKA SHADE – LIVE
TIM GREEN (Cocoon / Get Physical Records)
GARY BECK (Soma)
ALAN DOBSON / DEREK MARTIN / KIRK DOUGLAS

For the 2nd year running, MUSIKA hosts the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Official After Show Party, adding their touch to the program and keeping underground electronic music a key part of the world famous celebrations.

The headline act this year is huge, with German festival headliners BOOKA SHADE performing their renowned full live show exclusive to Musika for NYE with the help of one our favourite guests of 2010, TIM GREEN and Scottish techno success story of the year GARY BECK. Full line-up to follow.

The only club to be at this Hogmanay!

Tickets available now from http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/

Also available from from Ticket Scotland, Rippin Records or no booking fee from the HMV Picture House direct.

candlelit concert

Concert 7.30pm – 9pm
St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile
Tickets £16 plus booking fee
Please note: This event is not suitable for babies or young children

A festive celebration in the candlelit atmosphere of St Giles’ Cathedral.

This year’s concert celebrates the music of J.S. Bach and Mozart. Two seasonal cantatas, ‘Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ’ and ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’, from the Baroque master are partnered
by Mozart’s Coronation Mass.

St Giles’ Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Harris, with the St Giles’ Camerata leader Angus Ramsay, are joined by a stunning array of young soloists.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay this year joined forces with those creative geniuses at Leith Records and Scotland’s largest independent listings and events magazine The Skinny, to find the cream of the crop of unsigned Scottish music to kick start the world’s biggest New Year celebrations.

Hog the Stage was the first new band competition to be held by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the triumphant band who will be opening the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party are KITTY THE LION.

Kitty the Lion fought off competition from over 150 amazing bands from across Scotland and you can catch them opening The Waverley Stage at 9pm on 31st December.

Special thanks to our panel of Scottish music industry stalwarts; including Ed Stack from Ten Tracks, Dave Kerr from The Skinny, Vic Galloway BBC Radio DJ and  special guest judge Dee Bahl, manager of Biffy Clyro.

Midnight
Visible across the skies of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Fireworks are best seen from a distance so it is recommended that you select a suitable vantage point.
Please do not approach the launch sites, which will be cordoned off. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay welcomes 2011 in spectacular fashion as the world famous Midnight Fireworks light up the skies above the city from Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill.

On 1st January 2011 you can take part in

the one o’clock run

Check-in 11am–12.30pm
Warm-up from 12.30pm
Leaves from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at 1pm
Tickets £8 includes event t-shirt
Suitable for all the family

Beginning at the Castle, runners head down the Royal Mile, past the Palace of Holyrood House and on to the finish in Holyrood Park. Families, friends and those looking to blow away the night afore are all welcome. This is a run with the emphasis on fun.

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

USEFUL INFORMATION: Exchange your ticket for an event t-shirt at the Castle Esplanade on 1 January. Event t-shirts must be worn for the event. All runners must check-in between 11am and 12.30pm when registration closes. Warm-up and event briefing will take place from 12.30pm. The run starts at 1pm. Any remaining tickets will be sold on the day at the Castle Esplanade up to 12.30pm.

You can go skiiing here on your own doorstep in Edinburgh at the Midlothian Ski Centre. Open from 9.30 am. More details here.

Hogmanay Hoots is on at The Storytelling Centre. Festive family fun with New Year guises, first and last fits and Robin Hood! Mac-A-Story present tales, songs and panto-esque madness for the daft days between Christmas and Hogmanay. Age 6+ (Family ticket £12 for 4 people). More details here. On Hogmanay itself there is a special ‘Guid Crack’ to start your Hogmanay celebrations in style, with laughter and good company at the Waverley Bar with host raconteur Jack Martin.Details of this event here.

At The Usher Hall they present The Glenn Miller Orchestra  on 28th December at 7.30pm. Legendary bandleader Ray McVay swings into Edinburgh to direct the UK’s most renowned big band for a nostalgic journey back to the forties with chart topping war time hits such as….633 SQUADRON, WE´LL MEET AGAIN, MR. BOJANGLES, THAT´S AMORE, JOY TO THE WORLD, I´VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN, WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR. Tickets available here.

10am on Monday mornings is when the Art Cart starts in the National Museum of Scotland.  Free creative fun for children of all ages. And this Monday the  art competition is back in Hawthornden Court, Level 1! Explore the National Museum of Scotland galleries and the Shining Lights exhibition to find a favourite object to draw or paint. Paper, pencils and drawing boards are provided in this challenge suitable for all ages and abilities.

On Friday 31 December at The National Museum of Scotland at 14:00 and lasts for 1.5hrs. Entry Free. Join the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band for a lively, fun afternoon of traditional music, song and dance to bring in the New Year. It’s enthusiasm not experience that counts! Remember that the Museum is open on 1 January from 12 noon till 5pm.

Master of Mimicry Alistair McGowan leads an all-star cast of Savoyards in a semi-staged concert performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s hilarious masterpiece, Mikado, at The Usher Hall on 29th December at 7.30pm.

Set in the land of Titipu, poking delicious fun at politics and politicians, the bountiful score with its witty lyrics is full of toe-tapping greats.

And again at The Usher Hall on Thursday 30th December at 7.30pm The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra gives a Celebration Concert in the Usher Hall. This year’s celebration will be a truly Scottish family event. The show will be full of the kind of music, song, dancing and humour which we associate with Hogmanay. Two of Scotland’s finest singers, Debra Stuart and James Nicol will be featured, along with the Myra Shuttleworth School of Dance and piper Andrew Brodlie. Special guests, The Craigmount High School Pipe Band, will join with the SFO in “Rose of Galloway” and “Highland Cathedral” (with the Usher Hall organ). Tickets available here.

On Saturday 1st January The Scottish Chamber Orchestra stages the New Year in Vienna concert at 7.00pm. Tickets available here.

Remember there are free buses laid on courtesy of The Royal Bank of Scotland. You can find out more here about the buses which run to 4 am.

Here is the magazine which gives you the low down on a lot of what is on this week…. probably too much for you to go to everything in fact.

What’s on this week? 20th December

Christmas movies today at The Cameo at 17.40. It’s a Wonderful Life with James Stewart is a real (or should that be reel) classic. More details on on the cinema’s website. At The Filmhouse they are showing the wonderful The Illusionist which if you have not already seen it (or even if you have) you should get along to Lothian Road to enjoy one of the best films of the year in our opinion. Also The Filmhouse are showing The Wizard of Oz at 11.00am and 18.00pm. Details here. Cineworld are showing A Christmas Carol in 3D on Tuesday 21st and Thursday 23rd December. More details here. If you need reminding about other great Christmas films then have a look at The Scotsman Screening Room blog which gives you the list.

The Open Eye Gallery is open this week till 23rd December. Currently their exhibition is an RCA portfolio of 48 printed works by artists including Joe Tilson, John Bellany, Patrick Heron, Allen Jones, Terry Frost, Peter Blake, Robyn Denny, Julian Trevelyan, Bert Irvin and Eduardo Paolozzi.

Feeling like getting out of doors today? You can go skiing at Midlothian Ski Centre. Opens around 9.30. Probably best to phone first to check the access road is clear. More details here.

There is a free drop in event this morning starting at 11am at The Scottish Storytelling Centre.  Storyteller Tim Porteus leads special guests from the Bethany Christian Trust in an afternoon of storytelling, music and poetry to celebrate the Christmas season. Drop in for tales, tunes and warming banter. More details here.

On Tuesday 21 December there are two Taffy Thomas sessions at the Storytelling Centre. Enjoy memories and stories with Britain’s storytelling laureate Taffy Thomas. For all the young at heart, gather round the Christmas tree to share some festive fun and magic for all ages. Taffy will be accompanied by traditional singer Aimee Laura Thomas. One session at 2.30 and the ohter at 7pm. More details here.

On Thursday 23rd December at 7.30pm The Usher Hall presents Carols by Candlelight. Carols and seasonal classics performed by the UK’s most elegant ensemble in full 18th Century costume in a candle-lit style setting. Tickets available here.

The story of Scotland’s lighthouses, Shining Lights goes on until Sun 3 April 2011 at the National Museum of Scotland. Entry Free. More than 6,200 miles long and including more than 760 islands, the jagged Scottish coastline is one of the most dangerous in the world. Shining Lights: The Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses tells the story of the people who designed, built and operated Scotland’s lighthouses, lighting a safe passage for mariners for more than 250 years. The exhibition will mark next year’s 200th anniversary of the lighting of the world’s oldest rock lighthouse, the Bell Rock near Arbroath.

Spectacular giant optics, lighthouse models and interactive exhibits will be amongst the objects used within Shining Lights to explore the development of lighthouse technology. This ranges from the Egyptian Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria over 2000 years ago and the towers topped with bonfires that formed the first 17th century Scottish lighthouses, to the fully automated systems that mark the Scotland’s coastline today and are now controlled from a single room in Edinburgh.
Carols by Candelight at The Usher Hall on 23rd December with the Mozart Festival Orchestra. Tickets from £14.50 to £31.50. More information on the website

The Farmer’s Market has a special Mid-week market on 23rd December when they have all sorts of Christmas goodies on sale. Starts at 9.00am. More details from their Facebook page.

Edinburgh Sparkles have come up with a novel idea to bring a little extra festive cheer to shoppers in the run up to Christmas. Their ‘Tweet Treat Bus’ will be out and about be on the 15^th & 16^th and 22^nd & 23^rd, cruising round town, stopping at random to dish out all manner of goodies to lucky people.

Giveaways include designer necklaces from Covet, exclusive discount vouchers from stores like Frontiers and Odyssey Boutique, goody-bags from Arran Aromatics and House of Fraser, Lothian Buses day tickets, and scrumptious samplings from Eteaket, Chocolate Tree, The Royal Yacht Britannia and more.

‘How do we find out where it will stop?’  Well, it’s simple really. All you need to do is follow them on Twitter, where they’ll be sending out advance warning of the secret locations from the @edinburgh_ account. Simply sign up to receive their updates and voila! you could be in line for some ace freebies.

What’s on this week? 13th December

Today at 11am for one day only you can see The Muppet Christmas Carol at The Filmhouse….more details on their website.

From Friday 17 December The Filmhouse are showing what has become the definitive Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life

Tonight at 6pm:-Comedy and Dinner Christmas Specials at Beehive Inn Grassmarket. “Kings of the Free Fringe Laughing Horse bring a seasonal special to the Beehive Inn with a week of fun-filled evenings. The package includes a pre-show three-course dinner in a private dining room, followed by three headline comics (along with coffee and mince pies), access to a private bar during the intervals and queue jump entry to a nearby nightclub.” More details on this website.

Pantomime season is in full swing now:-

The Secret Garden is already under way at The Festival Theatre.

Jack and the Beanstalk has started at The King’s. More details on their website about the possibility of getting tickets.

From 15th December you can see the alternative pantomime at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Leith. More details and tickets by telephone 0131 555 4104

The Snow Queen is playing at The Lyceum. Contact the theatre via their website for tickets. Watch the trailer here………

As long as you are between 8 & 11 you could join the Blackwell Book Group 53-62 South Bridge Edinburgh.

They ask if you have “a love of books and biscuits? Become a member of their book group to enjoy a friendly hour of fiction and judge the 2010 Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books in your category! Come along and decide on your favourite!

Our first book is going to be:-

The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare

Quenelda has always had a magical bond with dragons, and her greatest wish is to fly one and fight alongside her father in the war against the hobgoblins. Root, on the other hand, wishes only to avoid the fearsome creatures, so the role of Quenelda’s esquire is the last thing he needs.

Our second book is

The Secret of the Black Moon Moth by John Fardell

…A painfully shy old man has approached Professors Gadling, Gauntraker and Ampersand with an extraordinary archaeological find: early human remains that don’t fit in with anything known to science. Soon, Sam, Zara, Ben, Marcia and Adam are joining the professors on an expedition to a remote island in South-East Asia to investigate further. But the island contains a secret more astonishing than anything they could have imagined, and a dangerous, deadly enemy is on the trail.”

If you are slightly over 11 then you can still join a bookgroup at Blackwells:-

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Blackwell Book Group

Monday 13th December, 6.00pm
Blackwell, 53-62 South Bridge Edinburgh

Who says reading is a solitary pursuit? Not us! Come and join the Blackwell Book Group for lively, friendly book chatter. No previous experience required! We will meet monthly to discuss a wide range of books; fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary, prizewinners and cult heroes, in short, whatever you fancy!

Our current book – The Fall by Simon Mawer.
Rob and Jamie are great friends from childhood. They have grown up together and become top climbers, but have since become estranged. Rob is nevertheless grief-stricken when he hears of Jamie’s death after a fall on a relatively easy Welsh rockface. The past, though, hides the secret clues behind the tragedy.

Buy your Christmas Holly on Saturday morning from the East Gate of Queen Street Gardens East which is the gate on Abercromby Place near Dublin Street from 10am till noon – or until sold out!

Phil Jupitus is in conversation with Ian Rankin at Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register St, EH2 2AA Comedian and former 6 Music Breakfast host, Phil Jupitus will be in conversation with Ian Rankin about his career, his love of music and his new book, Good Morning Nantwich: Adventures in Breakfast Radio.You can get more information from The Edinburgh Bookshop. Tickets are £5, which is redeemable against the book on 16th December.

Also at Voodoo Rooms on 18th December….The Vegas Christmas Party! featuring Frankie Sumatra, Bugsy Seagull, The Cat in the Red Suit, Dino Martini, Sam Jose plus Nikki Nevada, The Vegas Showgirls, The Fabulous Scott Brothers & Miss Dixiebelle’s Vintage Popup Parlour

It’s Christmas in Vegas, the sleigh bells are ringin’ and the cats and kittens are swingin’. The Vegas gang are getting together for a festive fiesta of vivaciousness and va-va-voom at the Voodoo Rooms!

Don’t miss the debut of Miss Dixiebelle’s Vintage Parlour at Vegas! The hair stylists from Miss Dixiebelle will be available for hairstyling in their very own popup parlour in the Speakeasy. Specialising in vintage ‘do’s’ from the ’20s – ’60s, Miss Dixiebelle’s girls will be able to help finish off your fabulous Vegas look and they’re offering all guests a reduced rate of £15.00 per person. This is open to guys and dolls so if it’s’ a ‘Marilyn’ or an ‘Elvis’ they’ll be there to help!

From 10.30pm – 3am (subject to licence) at The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register St, Edinburgh. Advance tickets are £9 stbf from Ripping Records, Tickets Scotland, 0131 220 324 or buy online

The 8th Annual Freedom of Information conference is taking place at The Sheraton Hotel on 15th December. More details here of the programme and how to book a place.

Independent Scottish poetry publishing is going from strength to strength. Now held in The National Library’s George IV Bridge Building, this festive fair is always a popular event. Come along for a glass of wine, meet the publishers, hear the poems and buy the pamphlets! A Callum Macdonald Memorial Award event, supported by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust. The event takes place onWednesday 15 December at 18.00 Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.

V for Vintage Christmas Fayre takes place on Saturday the 18th December, the debating chamber @ Teviot Row House. An array of stalls providing vintage goodies, clothing, kitsch jewellery and crafts plus a fashion show . 12 noon till 4pm. £3.00 entry. More details on their facebook page.

And on Wednesday 15th December the Edinburgh Lectures series continues at The Royal Society Edinburgh 22-26 George Street. An innovative leader in the field of urban policy, Bruce J. Katz regularly advises the US government and other leading policy makers on improving the prosperity of cities and urban areas. The Great Recession has been a wakeup call. It unveiled an economy dangerously out of whack: frenzied with consumption, wasteful in its use of energy, more adept at increasing inequity than sharing prosperity, more successful at exacerbating rather than easing divisions between Wall Street and Main Street…….Tickets available here.

On 15th December you can attend the annual Christmas Concert at the Usher Hall in aid of CLIC Sargent. Performed by Lothian Hospitals Choir, Conductor Tim Dean RSAMD. Soloists All Angels, Thistle Brass and Humbie Primary School. Tickets Grand Circle £18, Stalls £16 and Upper Circle 10 – All concessions £2 off Stalls and Grand Circle, only concessions available in the Upper Circle are for children at £5. Starts at 7.30pm.

The Bootleg Beatles are appearing at the Usher Hall on Thursday 16th December at 8.00pm. Tickets £23.50 from the box office. Enjoy all your favourite Beatles’ hits from the UK’s number one tribute band. The Fab Four are back to entertain with songs from the superb Beatles’ back catalogue!

Friday 17th December the RSNO give their Christmas Concert at 8.00pm at the Usher Hall. You are invited to “Join us for a family celebration of your favourite Christmas carols and music. Conducted and presented by the irrepressible Christopher Bell, the concert will include the magical film The Snowman shown on the big screen and accompanied by Howard Blake’s timeless music.”

Saturday 18th December there is a German Christmas at Old St Pauls, Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh at 7:30pm. Frohe Weihnachten – A German Christmas in music and readings.

What’s on this week? 29th November

As a result of the inclement weather there may not be very much on so you should definitely check before you leave the house!

You can buy tickets online for next year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo from 1st December. You will have to be quick though!

Here is a wee flavour of what The Reporter saw in August 2010 at The Tattoo.

At Piershill Library on Friday 3rd December, from 3.00 – 4.00 pm you can make your own Christmas cards. For ages 7 – 12 years. Please note children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over 12. For more information call 0131 529 5685 or e-mail piershill.library@edinburgh.gov.uk

On Friday 3rd December at The Usher Hall Bernstein’s timeless West Side Story dances are the centrepiece of this showcase from across the pond. Ginastera’s scintillating dances end the programme, but before that we’ll hear Copland’s evocation of a Mexican dance hall and Peruvian born conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya throws in a jazzy showcase for the RSNO’s superb Principal Trombone Dávur Juul Magnussen too. More details on the Usher Hall website.

And on Sunday 5th December you can enjoy the Childline Concert at The Usher Hall. It starts at 1.30pm. Details on the website.

And on the 7th December at The Usher Hall at 1.10pm you can Get Organised!  at the Christmas Special with John Kitchen and the Edinburgh University Singers – a chance to hear and to join in singing your favourite carols! More details on the website.

The final seminar in the Autumn Series organised by the David Hume Institue will take place on Monday 29th November and will be held jointly with the European Movement on the topic of ‘Scotland in Europe’.  Sir John Grant, former British Ambassador to the EU, is coming to Edinburgh to give this talk. He will be joined by Professor Drew Scott of Edinburgh University, who will have co-authored a paper on this topic to be published in advance by the DHI. Sir David Edward will chair. More details on the David Hume Institute website.

What physical designs should 21st-century libraries have, and what role? With immediately accessible information online, do libraries remain important? The orthodoxies, role and value of libraries, and the place of paper in an increasingly digital age, will be discussed by experts Martyn Wade FRSA (National Librarian), Chris Banks FRSA (University Librarian, Aberdeen University) and Karen Cunningham (Head of Libraries, Glasgow City Council) at a joint NLS event with RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network The event is being held on Thursday 2 December at 18.00 Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.

St Andrew’s Day on Tuesday 30th November will be celebrated at The Scottish Storytelling Centre by and afternoon event at Cafe Ceilidh starting at 2pm. This is a free event when Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group will offer music and song.

The Marchmont & Sciennes Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will be on Saturday 4th December 2010. 4:30pm at the tree (outside Scotmid at Warrender Park Road and Marchmont Crescent) and then afterwards at the German-speaking church on Chalmers Crescent.

Also on 4th December at Brighton Park Portobello there will be a Market for organic, local food and arts and crafts, organised by Portobello Transition Town (PEDAL) More information here.

And on 4th December you can hear Steve Forbert in concert at The Queen’s Hall. at 8pm. He is, in the view of The Reporter, simply a great singer.  Melodic with punchy lyrics, and just as good now as he has always been. Certainly more entertaining at his last concert than the last Bob Dylan concert – which was pretty dire stuff. Why do we tell you this? – Steve Forbert is often compared to Dylan. More details here.

Edinburgh Reporter Chats #2 Fiona Campbell

Fiona Campbell is a young woman with her roots firmly in Edinburgh. She lives in the capital and runs her  furniture business from here too.

Why are you working in Edinburgh

I was born and brought up in Edinburgh and my parents now live in North Berwick.  I have actually lived away – a year in Australia, and I lived in Dundee and also Aberdeen. It is where I started my business when I was in 21. I have built up a clientele here and if I moved it would be like starting over really. I absolutely love Edinburgh.

Do you think it is the best place to be?

Yes definitely in Scotland this is the place to be. Everyone designing furniture in Edinburgh is never short of work. It is much cheaper than living and working in London but you still have the centre of the arts world feeling. For small businesses it is a good place to be.

Person of major influence in your career?

On a one to one basis it is Anselm Fraser who runs a furniture school in Gifford. He is so passionate about furniture and design. I went to the school with no experience whatsoever and he is so passionate it rubs off on all the students. He would be the one person who I would say has had the most influence. He is not like a normal lecturer or teacher – but in a good way!

What would make a huge difference to your business now?

My business is in a state of change at the moment. I am doing more design work at the moment. I have recently brought out a range of trays for catering, so I have to learn sales skills now. I have not had to do any sales at all in the past. I have brought out the range of champagne trays which I am selling myself by going round stores to publicise them.

I am also consulting with the Chamber of Commerce to see what I can get from them – things like mentoring etc. The trays are selling really well on their own without me doing too much, but I have decided to set some time aside to promote them for a time.

I make everything apart from the perspex champagne trays. If it is a big job then I take on casual labour. For instance, I had to make 22 bunk beds and some single beds for Stornoway and I employed a couple of people in the workshop for about six months to help me with that. I also have a couple of girls in London who may become sales people for me for the champagne trays. The champagne trays are being sold in Vino, the latest chain of wine shops and they are being sold by Miriam Fogarty who has an online store called Gulp as well as a shop in North Berwick.

What do you do to keep your work/life balance?

I love to get out to the Pentlands. On Sundays I like to go for a big walk in the Pentlands. I am a big fan of hill-walking and sometimes manage to get up north. I like skiing in Scotland and do that in the winter as much as possible. I like theatre, cinema and all the things I can access in the centre of the city. Oh and shopping! I also have good mates in Edinburgh and go out with them too.

There is always more that can be done. I went through Princes Trust when I first started up and they were great. Although I did not go in for any of their awards, I did show some of my work at a huge exhibition that they organised for people starting up in new businesses. Networking events were good when I first started to swop ideas with other people and get advice from people who were just a little further ahead than me. I did basic book-keeping and marketing courses with them too which was really useful.

But The Chamber of Commerce have lots of experience and I am consulting them to see what is available to me now. I have a new branch of my business now, and need a different kind of help at the moment.

What do you do about networking now?

The Young Professionals Networking Event takes place on the first Thursday of each month and I have just started going to that. It is really good for meeting younger people in business and I will definitely be going back to that. But it is just speaking to everyone I meet about my business as much as possible! Online networking I am now into Twitter and blogging. I find that my website works really well to get new business. I got some help to set up my new website which I am pretty pleased with. I work hard at keeping my blog up to date. I have only been blogging for the last year and I have met a few people through that who have asked me to exhibit my furniture in different places.

So do you think you’re there yet?

I feel that I am teetering on the edge. The furniture has always been a good steady business. Anselm Fraser always told us that you should concentrate on one product or one style and that has stuck in my mind. That is why I am concentrating so much on the trays. They are now selling really well and I feel they are just taking off.

What’s on this week? 22nd November 2010

At The Usher Hall there are some great things to come in the following weeks.

On Monday 22nd November The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland appear with The Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society at 7:30 pm. The wonderfully versatile musicians of the Royal Marines Band Scotland together with the exuberant singers of the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society are back in combination for the 2010 concert. In addition to the traditional RM Band martial tunes and the splendid Corps of Drums, there will be light classical, music from the shows, exquisite solo pieces and of course plenty of Gilbert & Sullivan. A colourful show with 45 Royal Marine Bandsmen on stage backed up by the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society singers, this event has always been a highlight of the Usher Hall programme. More details on the website.

On Thursday 25th there is a performance of Handel’s Messiah by The Scottish Chamber Orchestra  joined by the SCO Chorus and ‘as delectable a line-up of soloists as anyone could wish for’ in Handel’s seasonal masterpiece. Hallelujah! Stephen Layton replaces the late Sir Charles Mackerras in this performance. More details about booking on the website.

Really don’t miss this concert at The Usher Hall if you are in any danger of collecting your bus pass.  The Manfreds with Paul Jones and special guest Alan Price are appearing there on Sunday 28th November at 7.30 pm. More details on their website. And if that is not your cup of tea then try the comedian Mark Watson on Friday 26th at 7.30pm.  Britain’s funny man takes to the stage to give you an evening you’ll never forget. Mark Watson describes himself as a comedian, author, sports pundit and husband. He was born in 1980 and according to life expectancy for his socio-economic group and Body Mass Index, will die in 2056. Also often seen on Mock The Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and so on. Again more details on the website.

You are invited to the beautiful (and officially haunted) Cameo Cinema to watch a stunning selection of absolute stonewall classic cult 70s and 80s horror movies on the big screen. From 11.15pm onwards, through the entire night!…

Featuring 80s zombie party classic THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD…70s proto-slasher landmark BLACK CHRISTMAS…Frank Henenlotter’s bizarre 80s grime-gore epic BASKET CASE..Dario Argento’s stunning 70′s gothic masterpiece SUSPIRIA…And Stuart Gordon’s mind-melting 1986 gorefest FROM BEYOND…. 5 ultra-rare screenings of the goriest, scariest, funniest and craziest films in horror movie history (3 of them screening on vintage 35mm prints).  Plus vintage horror film trailers screening between films.

Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th November : ‘The Present Event’, at Hopetoun House. Billed as an Exclusive Christmas Shopping Fair. Opening times:10am – 4.30pm, Admission £6 There will be over 60 stands selling a wide range of quality and unusual gifts for Christmas. This year’s nominated charity is St Columba’s Hospice. More details on the website

Walter Scott’s name and image are everywhere, from monuments to bank notes. Stuart Kelly’s book is not a conventional biography, nor is it a critical study. Through examining Scott’s legacy, ouvre and character Stuart has changed his thoughts on writing, reviewing, being Scottish and being human. An event at The National Library of Scotland on Wednesday 24 November at
18.00 Booking fee £4 (includes refreshments) Book online or phone 0131 623 3918. The event will be followed by a book signing. Books will be on sale in the NLS shop.

Queensferry & District Community Council meet tonight at the Council Office on High Street at 7.30pm. More details of their meetings on their website.

Join Edinburgh Businesswomen’s Club for their November Business Bites with Robin Tatler of the Homeless World Cup. Be inspired by the difference they are making to the lives of young girls and women in Scotland today. More details here.

Historic Scotland offer  a great opportunity to enjoy a FREE family day out on either Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 November in honour of St Andrew’s Day – so you can get into Edinburgh Castle for free!

The Santa Dook takes place at Cramond on 28th November. The cost is £10 and you could raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. More details on their website.

Guid Crack on Friday 26th November at The Scottish Storytelling Centre centres round St Andrew’s Day when there will be an evening of story and song. The evening starts at 7.30pm and lasts for 2 hours. There is no entry fee but a donation of about £3 is suggested.

Cafe Ceilidh takes place there on Tuesday 30th November. Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for a special Café Ceilidh to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day.

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland with The Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society 7:30 pm Monday 22 November 2010 in The Usher Hall Edinburgh.

The musicians of the Royal Marines Band Scotland together with the singers of the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society are back in combination for the 2010 concert. In addition to the traditional RM Band martial tunes and the Corps of Drums, there will be light classical, music from the shows, exquisite solo pieces and of course plenty of Gilbert & Sullivan. A wonderfully colourful show with 45 Royal Marine Bandsmen on stage backed up by the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society singers, this event has always been a highlight of the Usher Hall programme. Tickets £16, £14 and £12 Box Office: 0131 228 1155

Do you know of anything else which is on in Edinburgh this week? Then please tell us! theedinburghreporter@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital

What’s on this week – 15th November

The Book Group II meets on 18th November at 7.30pm at The Edinburgh Bookshop to discuss the book they have just read by Adam Foulds called The Quickening Maze. They welcome new members anytime. More details on their website.

Chris Stout (fiddle) and Catriona McKay (harp) are both acclaimed as leaders in their chosen instrumental fields and for their work together in Shetland’s legendary Fiddlers’ Bid. Together they undertake a dynamic and adventurous exploration of traditional Scottish music, challenging boundaries while still remaining true to their original roots. They are playing at The Queen’s Hall on Wednesday 17th November at 8pm – and there is a money back guarantee on tickets! If you don’t like the concert then you get your £12 back – if you walk out within the first fifteen minutes. More details on the website.

At The Queen’s Hall on Tuesday 16 November at 7.30pm. Widely accepted as one of the most accurate mediums in the world, Gordon Smith’s ‘Beyond Belief’ tour offers the opportunity to meet the man who has captivated audiences worldwide.

Renowned for his ability to give exact names of people and places rather than vague sweeping statements, Gordon is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been featured in numerous television documentaries. Tickets £20 + £1.50 booking fee from The Queen’s Hall Website www.thepsychicbarber.co.uk

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is back at The Playhouse from Tuesday 16th to Sunday 21st. More details either by phoning the Box Office on 0844 847 1661 or from the website

And finally the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Queen’s Hall on Saturday 20th November at 7.30pm. Playing W Schuman Symphony No 5 (Symphony for Strings) Schnelzer Oboe Concerto ‘The Enchanter’ (UK premiere, SCO co-commission with Swedish Chamber Orchestra) Beethoven Symphony No 7 John Storgårds – conductor
François Leleux – oboe

Fashion Show on 17th November for Children in Need at The Rutland Hotel. More details from Imogene Deery telephone 0131 221 9978 or email: imogene@therutlandhotel.com

At The Usher Hall on Friday 19th November don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of the UK’s greatest pianists performing Mozart’s powerful 20th Piano Concerto. Plus the Scottish premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s sensational choral work Graffiti; a colourful, spectacular musical portrayal of life and love in ancient Pompeii. More details on the venue’s website.

Morningside Community Council meet at The Open Door 42 Morningside Road on 17th November at 7.30pm. Further details on their website.

Learn how to access hundreds of quality reference books online at The National Library. For more information, see the readers’ workshops page on the library website. The event will be held on Tuesday 16 November at 18:00 Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.

And find out how NLS can help you develop your business in one of their two workshops. For more information, see the readers’ workshops page on the NLS website. This event is being held on Wednesday 17 November at 18.00-19.30

To support Women’s Enterprise Day this year, the RBS Women in Business Team is delighted to invite you to our first Scotland wide Business Conference  on Thursday 18 November in Edinburgh. More details here.

The Matchmaker is being staged by Splinters Theatre at The Scottish Storytelling Centre on 19th & 20th November. When Richard O’Connor finds he has the knack, his love life in Ireland and beyond starts to look up. But as Miss Crust approaches her third wedding things begin to get choppy. Splinters Theatre present their own version of the extraordinary letters of John B. Keane. More details on The Scottish Storytelling Centre website here.

Michael Bolton is playing at The Usher Hall on 17th November 2010. More details here.

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland with The Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society 7:30 pm Monday 22 November 2010 in The Usher Hall Edinburgh. The musicians of the Royal Marines Band Scotland together with the singers of the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society are back in combination for the 2010 concert. In addition to the traditional RM Band martial tunes and the Corps of Drums, there will be light classical, music from the shows, exquisite solo pieces and of course plenty of Gilbert & Sullivan. A wonderfully colourful show with 45 Royal Marine Bandsmen on stage backed up by the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society singers, this event has always been a highlight of the Usher Hall programme. Tickets £16, £14 and £12 Box Office: 0131 228 1155

And on Saturday 20th November – Hopetoun Green Volunteers are holding 2 Year Birthday Sausage Sizzle

Assist the Ranger with practical conservation tasks within the Grounds of Hopetoun’s stunning Designed Landscape.  The session runs from 10am – 1pm and is FREE.  All tools, gloves, teas and coffees are provided.  Booking is required.  Please book your places by telephoning 0131 319 3956 or email ranger@hopetoun.co.uk

What’s on this week – 8th November 2010

The South Central Neighbourhood Partnership will meet in public on Monday 8 November 2010 at 7pm (till 9pm) in the Business Centre, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh.

Covet Shopping Evening Thursday 11th November 6pm~8pm 20 Thistle Street Edinburgh EH2 1EN 0131 220 0266

“Come and soak up this season’s accessories trends whilst getting some ideas for your Christmas wish list. As usual there will be a cascade of fizz aflowing and that all important Covet buzz in the air.” Covet will have a new website soon but you can access their current site here.

Southside Community Council meet at 7pm at Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh EH8 9QZ on the second Wednesday of each month so they will meet on 10th November. More details from their website.

Edinburgh Businesswomen’s Club is hosting a lunch on 10th November. You can get further details here.

Institute of Directors organising an evening event on 10th November 2010. Ideal opportunity to listen to a range of business experts talk about the huge importance of innovation – especially in difficult economic times. Keynote speaker Jack Perry, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise 2004-2009, will explain why innovation has to permeate all areas of a business and underpin all key decisions. Details from the IOD website.

A public lecture will be presented by Professor Jamie Davies on Thursday 11 November 2010. This is the final lecture in the 2010 Medical Detectives lecture series. The lecture is entitles ‘Cracking the Cell Code. How we build vital organs.” Jamie Davies is Professor of Experimental Anatomy at the University. More details here.

Find out what resources The National Library holds to help you with your family history research. For more information, see the readers’ workshops page. Tuesday 9 November at 14:00 Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.

The origins of golf are a matter of mystery and controversy. Only by piecing together evidence from documents and texts is it possible to gain an insight into the early days of the game. Scotland dominated golf until about 1900, giving the game its distinctive rules, language and courses. In this talk, NLS curator Olive Geddes explores the written sources for the history of golf in Scotland. An Edinburgh Bibliographical Society event. Thursday 11 November at 17.45 Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.

Such and Such are having a month of Pop-ups at Brunswick Street.

On Saturday 13th/Sunday 14th November they host work by Judy R Clark. Working mainly with Scottish wools, Harris Tweed and lace embellishments, Judy R Clark, nominated designer of the year 2009, will showcase her finished garments as well as giving us an insight into her research and design processes. A bespoke tailoring service will be available throughout the weekend.

10th November there is a Storytelling Cafe at The Scottish Storytelling Centre entitled ‘The Luck of the Irish’. Starts at 7pm lasts for 2 hours and tickets are £4. Also on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th November Brian Friel’s play ‘Faith Healer’ is being staged. This is billed as a classic and is a story of three lives and explores the power of faith. “In the heart of the Healer’s performance, is there mystery or darkness? Is theatrical agent Teddy an incorrigible performer or the real storyteller? It all builds to an inevitable yet shocking climax. Part of November Nights. A classic of storytelling theatre.”

Fiddle 2010 is on at The Assembly Rooms from 12th to 14th November. More details on their website

The University of Edinburgh is holding an Open Day on 12th November. Postgraduate Open Day is an opportunity to learn about the University and meet staff and current students and decide upon your further course of study.  More details here.

Watch out Tony Blackburn’s back!

Tony Blackburn is to join BBC Radio 2 to present the iconic Saturday afternoon chart run-down show Pick Of The Pops from this Saturday 6 November 2010.

Each week Pick Of The Pops takes a look at the music releases from that week in a particular year ranging from 1960 to the present day, and can be heard on Radio 2 on Saturdays from 1-3.00pm.

Pick Of The Pops, based on the Top 20 UK singles chart, was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1955, transferring to BBC Radio 1 from 1967 (and simulcast on Radio 2). Its last edition in its original form was in September 1972.

The legendary show returned to Radio 2 in 1997 under the auspices of its equally legendary host, Alan Freeman, who continued to present the programme until his retirement three years later. Since 2000 the show has been hosted by Dale Winton, who has continued to make the show one of the most popular programmes on Radio 2.

Commenting on his return, Tony says: “I’m delighted to be taking up the reins of one of radio’s most iconic and famous shows at the UK’s most listened to radio station. I’m very much looking forward to indulging in two hours of fantastic, rarely heard music from across the decades each week.”

Since launching Radio 1 in 1967 Tony Blackburn has long been associated with BBC Radio. Most recently he presented the UK’s Million Sellers Chart on Radio 2 over August Bank Holiday weekend, and he continues to present The Best Of Soul & Motown on BBC London 94.9FM – where he’s been presenting for more than 20 years – on Sundays.

Lewis Carnie, Head of Programmes, Radio 2, says: “I’m delighted to welcome Tony Blackburn to Radio 2 on a permanent basis. He is one of this country’s legendary broadcasters and brings a wealth of knowledge of popular music spanning the years. I’d like to thank Dale for being such a tremendous host of Pick Of The Pops for the last decade, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with him on future Radio 2 projects.”

Dale’s last edition of Pick Of The Pops will be broadcast on Saturday 30 October 2010.

Pick Of The Pops is a Unique production for BBC Radio 2.

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