Evening News - Scotland back issues from February 2009:
Britain today: Maths conundrum tackled
Feb 02, 2009 ... DAVID CAMERON unveils a package of proposals today aimed atimproving numeracy, including a maths task force headed by CarolVorderman. Vorderman ...
Leader: Roadwork fines: 'Proper planning is vital to keep the city moving'
Feb 02, 2009 ... AT a time when parts of the city are being reduced to virtualgridlock by the ongoing tramworks it is vital to ensure that trafficcontinues to flow unhindered where possible elsewhere. In order forthis to happen there is a need to ensure that non-tram related worksare co-ordinated and ...
Is it crisis time for the Cavalcade?
Feb 02, 2009; ... DON'T rain on his parade. No ordinary parade either. PrincesStreet has been at director/producer David Todd's command these pastfive years, marshalling the Festival Cavalcade. Right now the big event is in limbo. "We find ourselves searchingdesperately for a sponsor. The backer ...
Ten questions: Philippa Cochrane
Feb 02, 2009 ... Philippa Cochrane, 34, is the Scottish Book Trust's learningmanager. She is organising the Creative Sparks conference onFebruary 27 at the Corn Exchange 1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? Playing in the woodsbehind our house. We used to live in Frogston, so the woods ...
Around town: Robin Harper wins Friends of the Earth's MSP Home Energy Challenge Award
Feb 02, 2009 ... LOTHIANS Green MSP Robin Harper was delighted to win Friends ofthe Earth's ...
Going out on limb to save statue
Feb 02, 2009; ... Restoration plan for vandalised sculpture of Burns and Mary IT'S missing two heads and five limbs and has been kept inside apark shed for over three decades. But now a charity is determined to raise the GBP 50,000 needed torestore a three tonne marble statue of Robert Burns ...
City looks to advantage of weak pound
Feb 02, 2009 ... COUNCIL leaders in Edinburgh are investigating how the Capitalcan take advantage of the decline in the value of the pound. Councillor Jenny Dawe, leader of the city council, said aneconomic resilience plan, to be published later this month, willlook at how to "exploit ...
PR agency appoints chairman
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE man who led the management buy-out of PR agency HarrisonCowley has become the new chairman of Paver Smith. David Heal, who transformed Harrison Cowley, which has an officein Edinburgh, into one of the UK's largest independent PR firms,said he has "unfinished business" in the ...
Government men set to take up roles at Lloyds
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE first Government-endorsed appointments to the board of thenew Lloyds Banking Group are set to be announced this week. Tony Watson, former chief executive of Hermes Pension Management,and Tim Ryan, chairman of the Securities Industry and FinancialMarkets Association, are ...
XYZ maps out Africa growth
Feb 02, 2009 ... A DIGITAL mapping company based in the Lothians is achievinggrowth in Africa. Dalkeith-based XYZ Digital Map Company last month completed sixnew posters of aerial views of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa,which have been published by Global Mapping. It has also started ...
Dutch bank eyes up buy-back from RBS
Feb 02, 2009; ... ABN Amro has launched talks with Royal Bank of Scotland aboutbuying back some of its former businesses. A consortium led by the Edinburgh-based bank spent GBP 49 billionon assets of the now-nationalised Dutch lender in 2007 in whatanalysts have since described as "one of the worst ...
Ryanair's wings clipped with GBP 90m third-quarter loss
Feb 02, 2009 ... BUDGET airline Ryanair today reported a loss for the thirdquarter of its year. The Irish company, which now operates an Edinburgh "hub", said itsuffered a GBP 90.3 million loss in the final three months of 2008. It blames rising fuel costs for the decline - although it ...
A coat to cover all your options
Feb 02, 2009; ... LET'S face it, it's hardly the most stylish of months, is it. Bigslouchy socks in bed, a uniform of dressing gowns and Ugg boots athome, and misshapen - albeit cosy - jumpers when the outdoors call.And while the glossy magazines try to entice with all that is new,sheer and flimsy, ...
Mint pain killer could save the NHS millions
Feb 02, 2009 ... RESEARCH being carried out at Edinburgh University has suggestedthat a pain-killing cream containing mint could save the NHSmillions of pounds. Tens of thousands of people across Scotland are believed tosuffer from neuropathic pain which is caused by damage to the nerveendings ....
Quick News: A Valentine X for Leon
Feb 02, 2009 ... FANS of West Lothian singer Leon Jackson plan an officialdownload day for his new song, Stargazing, on Valentine's Day. Supporters of the 2007 X ...
Doctor up for science prize
Feb 02, 2009 ... AN Edinburgh doctor has been shortlisted for a prestigious award. Dr Ian Pollock Sword has been nominated for the ScottishEnterprise Life Sciences Awards 2009 under the category of 'leadingindividual contribution to life sciences in Scotland'. The Awards aim to ...
Heriot-Watt leads multimedia award linking UK and Chinese universities
Feb 02, 2009 ... AN AWARD linking UK universities with Chinese universities andinstitutions is being led by the Capital's Heriot-Watt University. The GBP 1.1 million UK-China Science Bridges will work on newdevelopments in high-speed, secure wireless multimedia connections.The award is funded by ...
City pupils set for star role in film awards
Feb 02, 2009 ... PUPILS at James Gillespie's High School are in the running toachieve a national film award. Third, fourth and fifth-year pupils at the school are up for fourtop awards in FilmG - MG ALBA's innovative Gaelic online digitalshorts competition. The aim of the competition is to ...
Around town: Write a better romantic letter
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE National Library of Scotland is inviting lovers to drawinspiration for St Valentine's Day from some of the romantic work inits ...
Around town: Want to hear why couples row?
Feb 02, 2009 ... A SURVEY of Edinburgh residents has discovered a secret behindbickering couples. The study of 4000 pairs by ...
Curators open a new chapter in Scots stories
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE celebrity curators of a book of Scottish short storiesgathered for its launch. Days Like This is the culmination of a Scottish Books Trustproject organised in conjunction with BBC Radio Scotland and theScottish Arts Council. Celebrity curators, pictured from left, ...
Woman found dead in home
Feb 02, 2009 ... POLICE are investigating the death of a young woman, who wasfound in her flat in Livingston. The 23-year-old, was found dead in Brisbane Street on Friday. A postmortem ...
Quick News: Bone marrow drug call
Feb 02, 2009 ... A CANCER charity has called for a drug to be made available whichcan prolong sufferers' lives for up to three years. Elspeth Atkinson, Macmillan Cancer ...
Charity shops short of stock
Feb 02, 2009 ... CAPABILITY Scotland is urging people in Edinburgh to clear theircupboards and help its shops beat the credit crunch. Shop volunteers have reported a drastic drop in the amount ofstock donated to its shops in Stockbridge, Morningside, Leith andNicolson Street. Nicola ...
New care homes are coming
Feb 02, 2009 ... THREE new purpose-built care homes will help support the growingnumber of older people in East Lothian. The council has proposed building the homes, which will have atotal of 180 beds, to cope with a rapidly ageing population. One will be in Musselburgh, at the former Brunton ...
Quick News: Celtic connections
Feb 02, 2009 ... A CANDLEMAS Supper at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Fridaywill bring together the ancient stories and traditions ...
Quick News: Toast of the school
Feb 02, 2009 ... A WEST Lothian pupil is celebrating after winning a recipecompetition. Katie Campbell, a P6 pupil ...
City U-turn after heads revolt over school cuts
Feb 02, 2009; ... Council pledges to find GBP 3.7m shortfall from other areas CONTROVERSIAL plans to wipe millions of pounds from schoolbudgets in Edinburgh have been dropped following a protest byheadteachers. The city council has pledged to protect both the devolved budgetsheld by ...
Publicity blitzs to aid domestic abuse victims
Feb 02, 2009 ... A PUBLICITY drive has been launched in Edinburgh to encouragewomen to get help if they are victims of domestic abuse. It is thought that more than half of all attacks and harassmentmay go unreported, prompting an advertising campaign highlightingthe support that is available ....
Homecoming cup on show
Feb 02, 2009 ... FOOTBALL fans have a chance to see the oldest trophy in the worldwhen it visits Edinburgh today. The Homecoming Scottish Cup Tour will be at The Gyle ShoppingCentre this afternoon to spread the message about joining in thecelebrations for Homecoming Scotland 2009 ....
Curlers from Canada visit
Feb 02, 2009 ... A TEAM from Canada visited East Lothian to mark the centenary ofa historic curling match The 40 Canadian curlers were welcomed by provost SheenaRichardson when they took time out from their competition schedule.Their tour included a visit to the Museum of Flight at East ...
Around town: Silver challenge for teenage fans of countryside
Feb 02, 2009 ... SCHOOLS and youth groups can take part in the 25th year of anoutdoor adventure contest. Teams of youngsters aged 13-16, with and without disabilities,can enter the 2009 Fieldfare Kielder Challenge. It is run by the Fieldfare Trust, a charity ...
Quick News: Bus gifts for sick kids
Feb 02, 2009 ... BUS operator First joined the Cancer Recovery Foundation UK tohand out gifts to sick children. Directors and drivers delivered the "bear-able" goodie bags topatients at the Royal Hospital for Sick ...
Quick News: Hot air at post meeting
Feb 02, 2009 ... A CONFERENCE on hydrogen technology developments with a specialfocus on the Royal Mail's building and transport initiatives is tobe held in the Capital ....
Homes set to get go-ahead
Feb 02, 2009 ... DOZENS of new homes are set to get the go-ahead on a gap site inCraigmillar. Planning officers have recommended granting permission for adevelopment of 46 flats and 11 townhouses on a gap site atGreendykes Road. Councillors will make a decision at a ...
A treat for the rugby fanatics
Feb 02, 2009 ... A FREE map to some of the city's renowned rugby bars will be oneof the features of the whisky sampling tent at this year's Rugby SixNations championships. Rugby sponsors The Famous Grouse aims to give fans the experienceas though they were entering Murrayfield Stadium ...
Around town: Plant expert mounts lecture
Feb 02, 2009 ... AN Alpine plant specialist will give a free talk to gardeners atthe Hollies Main Hall, Musselburgh High Street at 7.30pm ...
Around town: Clash with the Titans leads to Hotscots win
Feb 02, 2009 ... SCOTLAND'S gay footballers have seen off English rivals to win aplace in the semi-final of a national competition. Edinburgh-based Hotscots FC beat the London Titans six-three inthe match at Peffermill. They are now just one ...
Spice world is at Tipu's feat
Feb 02, 2009 ... AN INTERNATIONAL Indian cookery competition was hosted by TelfordCollege on Friday. The finalists had two-and-a-half hours to cook their ideal mealof four dishes in the college's training kitchens. Judges monitored the cooking and sampled all the dishes ...
Irn-Bru to increase drive across UK with rugby league sponsorship deals
Feb 02, 2009; ... IRN-Bru is intensifying its UK-wide marketing drive after todayannouncing that it has secured two lucrative sponsorship deals whichwill see it reach at least 600 million more consumers this year. The iconic Scottish soft drink giant today revealed it is tobecome the new official ...
Flat-head boy comes to aid of fellow sufferer
Feb 02, 2009 ... A LITTLE boy born with a condition that distorts the shape of hisskull has now helped another child in a similar situation. The family of 13-month-old Keegan Penrice, from Livingston, aredelighted his treatment has been successful. His parents, Theresa and James, started ...
Honey bunny killer cracks at prospect of 17 years in jail
Feb 02, 2009; ... Lawyers advising Stockdale on appeal can't get through BRUTAL murderer Douglas Stockdale has cracked after being orderedto spend at least 17 years behind bars. The 38-year-old - dubbed the 'honey bunny killer' - is refusingto see visitors in Saughton prison. His ...
Horse event rides wave of nostalgia
Feb 02, 2009; ... HUNDREDS of horses and riders will parade through the citystreets in the revival of a centuries-old tradition. The Edinburgh Riding of the Marches will take place in Septemberafter an absence of more than 60 years. Around 300 people will ride around the south and centre of ...
Forth lifeboat crew top rescue league after hectic year at sea
Feb 02, 2009; ... THE RNLI crew at South Queensferry have been named the busiestinshore lifeboat team in Scotland. Queensferry Lifeboat was launched 54 times in 2008, rescuing 75people - the highest of any lifeboat in the country. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's annual rescue ...
A look at Muir and Burns
Feb 02, 2009 ... AN exhibition is celebrating the lives of two famous Scots - JohnMuir and Robert Burns - and comparing their backgrounds and writingstyles. Staff at the John Muir Birthplace Museum in Dunbar have unveiledthe display, entitled "Wherever a Scotsman Goes". It is part of a ...
East Coast train franchise fears
Feb 02, 2009 ... TRAIN operator National Express may have to hand back its GBP 1.4billion East Coast franchise due to a slowdown in passenger growth. Warnings have been issued from industry experts includingDresdner Kleinwort, JPMorgan and Panmure Gordon stressing that arenegotiation may also be ...
Macgregor is collared at city dog show
Feb 02, 2009 ... THOUSANDS of dog fans arrived in the Capital on Saturday toshowcase their prize pooches to the public. The pedigree dogs, including Macgregor, a four-year-old miniatureschnauzer, posed for judges and photographers at The CaledonianCanine Society show, which was held at the ...
Rap and rats in new show
Feb 02, 2009 ... YOUNG dancers could win the chance to perform on stage in a hip-hop version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The award-winning show, which has been performed around theworld, is coming to the Festival Theatre in March. Boy Blue Entertainment are looking for 18 dancers, aged ...
City bank in fraud probe
Feb 02, 2009; ... Claims of staff plot to double-sell insurance and boost bonuses THE Royal Bank of Scotland is investigating an alleged insurancemis-selling plot at one of its Edinburgh branches. Six members of staff, including the branch manager, areunderstood to have been suspended following ...
No flagging in Homecoming promotion
Feb 02, 2009 ... SIGNS celebrating the "birthplace of Scotland's flag" are goingup on roads into East Lothian. The council has designed the new logo to raise the county'sprofile during Homecoming 2009. It is putting up 20 new signs at acost of GBP 15,000. The village of Athelstaneford is ...
Around town: Community in search of a new secretary
Feb 02, 2009 ... A COMMUNITY council has launched a search for a new secretary,after the current one announced he is moving to New Zealand. New Town and Broughton community council chairman Ian Mowat saidmembers ...
Profit share at law firm falls
Feb 02, 2009 ... MEMBERS' profit share at Scottish law firm Semple Fraser hasdropped by more than one third. The company, which has an office on George Street, has been hitby the economic downturn, with turnover falling 2.4 per cent to ...
Jack receives award for his social work achievements
Feb 02, 2009 ... A SOCIAL worker will be presented with an award at the ScottishParliament after being named one of the best in the country. Jack Blaik, 60,was runner-up in the British Association of SocialWorkers' Social Worker of the Year Award. He has been invited to thespecial ceremony on ...
Volunteers can now sort of help Oxfam
Feb 02, 2009 ... OXFAM is looking for someone who knows their Prada from theirPrimark to join the busy team at a city charity shop. The charity's shop in Nicolson Street is desperate for buddingstylists to help sort through deliveries, which arrive three days aweek. Shop manager Sharon ...
GBP 50m secures Titian painting for the nation
Feb 02, 2009 ... A TITIAN masterpiece has been bought for the nation following afive-month campaign to raise GBP 50 million. The successful appeal to buy Diana and Actaeon for the NationalGallery of Scotland is expected to be formally announced today. John Leighton, director-general of the ...
Two hurt in 20ft car plunge
Feb 02, 2009 ... A DRIVER and passenger were seriously injured when their carplunged 20 feet down an embankment in East Lothian. Two men were in the car when it lost control on the A1 nearDunbar on Saturday morning. The car left the road near Torness PowerStation, and ended up on its roof ....
Quick News: Vetting the contenders
Feb 02, 2009 ... PET owners in Edinburgh are being urged to nominate their localvet for a national award. Now in its 10th year, the Petplan Veterinary Awards honours theUK's top veterinary professionals in ...
Rare bronze plaques show ERI has made its mark on history
Feb 02, 2009; ... DOZENS of rare bronze plaques charting the history of the ERIover more than 150 years have been dusted off and will go on displayat the hospital. In the unique exhibition to be launched this week documentsshowing donations made as far back as 1860 will be on show,alongside ...
Housing slump sees number of home auctions going, going up
Feb 02, 2009; ... Buyers able to snap up huge bargains as property prices fall THE economic downturn is leading to soaring numbers of Edinburghhomes being sold at auction. Auctioneers say they are receiving more enquiries than everbefore from homeowners desperate to sell their properties ....
Baby discos ready to strut their stuff
Feb 02, 2009; ... IT might not be the only club in the world where the revellerscrawl on to the dancefloor, but it's one where the police won't beinterested. Because Baby Loves Disco is the latest craze for parents lookingfor something a little different to do with their pre-schoolers. Since ...
Bank staff in fraud probe
Feb 02, 2009 ... Six workers in one city branch accused of duping customers intobuying extra insurance SIX staff members at the Royal Bank of Scotland are understood tohave been suspended ...
Quick News: Car club conference call
Feb 02, 2009 ... EDINBURGH is to host an international conference looking at howcar clubs can be used to promote sustainable transport. The Capital has the largest and best integrated car club ...
Correction: Hilda Fleming
Feb 02, 2009 ... IN Saturday's Real Lives article on Hilda Fleming we incorrectlystated that Miss ...
Craig tells of his devastation after mum dies in hospital
Feb 02, 2009 ... ANY Dream Will Do star Craig Chalmers has spoken of hisdevastation after the death of his mother whose life support machinewas turned off at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The Edinburgh-born singer reportedly said his mother Elizabethdied of pneumonia on Friday aged 51. She had been ...
Three dead as car veers off road into wall
Feb 02, 2009 ... THREE men have died after a 4x4 vehicle they were travelling incareered off the road and crashed into a wall beside a cottage inWest Lothian. Gregor Crocker, 25, from Winchburgh, was rushed to EdinburghRoyal Infirmary, but later died from his injuries. Two 25-year-old men ...