LETS TALK ABOUT CORSTORPHINE 1A magazine produced by St Ninian’s Church, Corstorphine ISS

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A BIT OF NOSTALGIA!

BELGRAVE HALLS

NEW TO CORSTORPHINE

aboutcorstorphine“ ”Let’s Talk

2 WINTER

Welcome to Corstorphine ChurchesCarrick Knowe Parish ChurchChurch of Scotland Saughton Road Northwww.ckchurch.org.ukMain Sunday Service: 11amJuly-August: 10.30amEvening Services as intimatedMinister: Rev. Fiona Mathieson

Corstorphine Old Parish ChurchChurch of Scotland Kirk Loanwww.corstorphineoldparish.org.ukMain Sunday Service: 10.30amMinister: Rev. Moira McDonald Corstorphine Craigsbank Parish ChurchChurch of Scotland (One Church 2 centres)www.craigsbankchurch.org.ukAt East Craigs Church Centre(Bughtlin Market)Main Sunday Service: 9.45amCraigsbank Church(North of Glasgow Road)Main Sunday Service: 11.30amMinister: Rev. Stewart McPherson

Corstorphine Community ChurchGlebe RoadSunday Service: 10.30amPastor: Duncan Whitty

St Andrew’s ChurchChurch of ScotlandClermiston Viewwww.edinburghstandrewsclermiston.org.ukMain Sunday Service: 10.30amMinister: Rev. Alistair Keil

St Anne’s ChurchChurch of ScotlandKaimes Roadwww.stannescorstorphine.org.ukMain Sunday Service: 11amJuly-August 10.30amMinister: Rev. James Griggs

St John the BaptistRoman CatholicSt Ninian’s Roadwww.stjohnthebaptist.rcstanded.org.ukSaturday Mass: 6pmSunday Mass: 11.30amHoly Days of Obligation:As announcedParish Priest: Fr. Jeremy Milne

St Ninian’s ChurchChurch of ScotlandSt John’s Roadwww.corstorphinestninians.org.ukMain Sunday Service: 10.30amEvening Services as intimatedMinister: Rev. James Aitken

St Thomas’ ChurchScottish EpiscopalGlasgow Roadwww.saintthomas.org.ukMain Sunday Service: 10.30amRector: Rev. David McCarthy

St Kentigern’s Roman CatholicParkgrove Avenuewww.stkentigernsedinburgh.co.ukSunday Morning Mass: 9.30amHoly Days of Obligation:As announcedWeekday Mass:As announcedParish Priest: Fr. Jeremy Milne

Carrick Knowe Parish Church Sun 3 Dec 11am Gift Service Sun 10 Dec 11am Lessons and CarolsSun 17 Dec 11am Worship 6.30pm Communion by CandlelightSun 24 Dec 11am Worship 6.30pm Christingle 11.15pm Carol Singing 11.30pm Watchnight Service Sun 31 Dec 11am Worship Sun 7 Jan 11am Worship in Hall Corstorphine Community Church Sun 24 Dec 10.30am Christmas Service

Corstorphine Craigsbank Parish Church (One church, Two Centres)

East Craigs Church CentreSun 3 Dec 9.30am Advent Worship 7pm Advent Candlelit Communion Sun 10 Dec Joint event at CraigsbankSun 17 Dec 9.30am Nativity SundaySun 24 Dec 9.30am Joint Service of Readings and CarolsSun 31 Dec 9.30am Morning Worship

Craigsbank ChurchSun 3 Dec 11am Advent WorshipSun 10 Dec 10am Christian Aid Breakfast 11am Gift ServiceSun 17 Dec 11am Nativity SunSun 24 Dec 9.30am Joint Service in East Craigs 6pm Family Christingle Service 11pm Mulled Wine 11.30pm Watchnight ServiceSun 31 Dec 11am Morning Worship

Corstorphine Old Parish Church Sun 10 Dec 9.40am ‘Wee Service’ in Church Hall

for families with young children 10.30am Morning Service and

Gift Service Wed 13 Dec 7pm Torchlight Procession from St. Margaret’s Park 7.30pm Carols and StoriesSun 17 Dec 9.40am ‘Wee Service’ in Church Hall

for families with young children 10.30am Festival of Nine

Lessons and Carols (followed by mince pies and coffee) Sun 24 Dec 10.30am Children’s Nativity Service 6pm Family Service 11pm Carols in Church 11.30pm Watchnight Service Mon 25 Dec 10.30am Family Worship

St. Andrew’s ChurchSun 17 Dec 6pm Brass Band Carol ServiceTues 19 Dec 6.30pm Community Carol Service Sun 24 Dec 11.30pm Watchnight Service Mon 25 Dec 10.30am Christmas Day Service Sun 31 Dec 10.30am End of Year Service

St. Anne’s ChurchSun 3 Dec 11am Advent SundaySun 10 Dec 11am Advent 2Sun 17 Dec 11am Advent 3 Sunday Club Nativity 7pm Lessons & Carols ServiceThurs 21 Dec 7.30pm Longest Night Service Sun 24 Dec 11am Advent 4 4pm Christingle Service 11.30pm Watchnight Service Mon 25 Dec 11am All-Age Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church To be announced

St. Kentigern’s Roman Catholic ChurchTo be announced

St. Ninian’s Church Sun 10 Dec 10.30am Sunday School Gift Service Sat 16 Dec 10.30am-3.30pm Quiet Day - Church open for prayer and

meditationSun 17 Dec 10.30am Family Service 6.30pm Lessons & Carols Sun 24 Dec 10.30am Family Service 8pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Mon 25 Dec 10.30am Christmas Day Service St. Thomas’ Episcopal ChurchSun 3 Dec 10.30am Advent Sun with

CommunionSun 10 Dec 10.30am Morning PraiseSun 17 Dec 10.30am Café Church All Age Service

followed by Children’s Party 12 noon to 4pm 6.30pm Carols by Candelight Service Sun 24 Dec 10.30am All Age Service with

Communion 11.15pm Christmas Eve Communion Service Mon 25 Dec 10.30am All Age Christmas Day

Service Sun 31 Dec 10.30am All Age Communion Service

SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES FOR ADVENT, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

LETS TALK ABOUT CORSTORPHINE 3

CorstorphineLet’s talk about

Welcome to the fortieth issue of ‘Let’s Talk’- the magazine produced by the Enterprise Committee of St. Ninian’s Church. The magazine is distributed to over 7,000 homes in the area.

The magazine contains stories of local interest and articles on clubs and organisations. Please regard it as your local magazine. Contributions and suggestions for articles are welcome. The next issue of this magazine will be distributed in June 2018 for which the copy date is 15 April.

We are a small group of volunteers from St. Ninian’s Church, and accept advertisements and feature material in good faith. The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers may not be those of the Enterprise Committee of St. Ninian’s Church.

Many thanks to our advertisers, to those who contribute articles and photographs and to

the volunteers who produce and distribute the magazine.

Should you wish to enquire about advertising in ‘Let’s Talk’, please contact the number below.

Best wishes.

Ian Kirkpatrick,The Convener,Enterprise Committee,St. Ninian’s Church,St. John’s Road,Edinburgh,EH12 8AYTel – 0131-316 4777 (Tuesday – Friday mornings only)

(Cover picture – Belgrave Halls)

Halls and rooms available

Childrens birthday parties, etc at St. Ninian’s Church

Contact Gaynor Beames

Tel: 0131 316 4777 Email: office@st-ninians.co.uk

4 WINTER

A Bit of Nostalgia!Undoubtedly 4th September 2017 was a day to celebrate. Another century, and another feat of engineering to bridge the Firth of Forth at Queensferry. The Queen would officially open the Queensferry Crossing, exactly 53 years after she had opened the Forth Road Bridge. But as we crossed the Forth Road Bridge early that morning it was with a sense of sadness and of loss. This would be the last time, our return would be over the ‘New Bridge’. Fifty-three years ago, I was 10!! Being born and brought up in Aberdeen, Edinburgh was far away – too far to visit, the journey too long. But the new bridge made that much easier. My father was very excited about this wonderful new construction, so in October 1964 we travelled down to see it.

I remember we parked at the south side and walked across and back. It was a wild, wet, dreich day. I have a vague memory that we then went on to visit the castle but the highlight of the day was definitely crossing the Road Bridge! It would be another sixteen years before I crossed it again, to live in Edinburgh, and then it became a lifeline back to Aberdeen to see family. It also made our trips to the hills much easier. In those days, of course, we had to pay a toll – it was important to have the correct money ready to allow as slick a passage as possible!

Brother, Mum, Me on Forth Road Bridge 1964!

There has been a crossing at Queensferry since the 1000s. Queen Margaret established a ferry here to take her and King Malcolm to the Royal Palace in Dunfermline and to St Andrews. It was used by travellers, monarchs and pilgrims for centuries. Indeed, the ferry was still used for passengers and cars until 1964! Though a road crossing had been mooted since the 1740s the first bridge crossing was the iconic Rail Bridge. It is indeed sturdy, a magnificent feat of C19th engineering. But so too is the Road Bridge. Graceful and elegant, it brought the North of Scotland closer to the central belt; it has been crucial to Scotland’s road network and economy; and it became vital to the daily commuters. We just have to remember the havoc caused in December 2015 when it was closed for 3 weeks due to a serious crack. I had arranged a trip to Aberdeen and this added an hour to the journey each way. It was one of the most heavily used crossings in the UK. Indeed, it was so popular it exceeded its weight bearing capacity. Originally no more than 11 million vehicles were expected to use it annually; now it’s over 26 million. Not only that, the maximum lorry weight was raised from 22 to 40 tonnes. So, it is really not surprising that it did not last its predicted working life.

In February 1982, I had a job for a few weeks in Dunfermline. Of course, the bridge allowed this to happen – and I went against the flow of traffic so no long delays! However, one day it was windy with thick fog, a real pea-souper! There was a hold-up and I was stuck in the car on the bridge for 15 minutes. This was an interesting experience! The bridge shook in a quite disconcerting manner. This incident made me realise just how much the weather causes delays and disruptions to schedules and it came to mind again recently with the delays to the building of the new bridge. No wonder!

Traffic crossing below!

I had the privilege of climbing the south-east tower in October 2010. 10 of us arrived at the Operations Building and were given white boiler suits, fluorescent waistcoats and hard hats. And we had to wear harnesses in case

LETS TALK ABOUT CORSTORPHINE 5

we had to be lowered down from the tower! A mini bus took us to the north side of the bridge along one of the footways – closed to pedestrians! Underneath the bridge we were taken into the anchorage chamber on the east side where the main cable enters the ground. The two main cables, which hold the bridge up, are each 60cm in diameter and are made up of 11618 individual high tensile steel wires tightly packed together. Inside the chamber we could see, and touch, the individual wires. They entered the ground at an angle and were anchored deep in tunnels bored into the rock and filled with concrete. This was an impressive sight.

It was these wires which were found to be corroding in 2005 meaning that the cables had lost 8-10% of their strength. Thus, they were fitted with a dehumidification system whereby dry air was blown into the cable. Acoustic monitoring systems were also installed to listen for ‘pings’ if any new wires broke. Our guide told us that, though they could not fix the broken wires, the drying process had been successful and had prevented further corrosion.

Back in the vehicle we returned across the bridge to the south-east tower. This we went up! Inside there is a lift with room for 3 people standing straight one behind the other. Cosy! A bridge worker took us up 2 at a time. Out of the lift but still inside we then had to manoeuvre round and over bits of the structure, then climb a vertical steel ladder and out a small opening on to the gantry. What a view! The cars below looked like Dinky toy motors. One couldn’t help but marvel and be awe-struck at the bridge’s beauty and of those who had built it and those who still maintained it. We looked across to the Rail Bridge but, being rather misty, we didn’t get views to the hills of Perthshire and the Trossachs.

On the gantry of SE Tower

Over 70 employees worked in maintenance, traffic operations and doing inspections. Day-to-day maintenance was generally done at night or early in the morning; road works were also necessary; wide vehicles meant the bridge had to close to other traffic so this was done at a time to cause least disruption to traffic; motorists broke down or ran out of petrol on a daily basis; sudden gusts of wind blew over high sided vehicles, motorbikes and caravans. All these had to be controlled

by the Operations Team. Driving over we tend to take the Bridge for granted, we get annoyed at hold-ups, we find the dede, dede as we cross the expansion joints irritating but, standing up there on the gantry, one appreciated just how important this bridge was and understood the efforts that went in to maintaining it and the flow of traffic. I vowed never to moan about it again!!!

Everybody I have spoken to thinks the Queensferry Crossing is beautiful. However, all I see are 3 very tall concrete pillars – nothing majestic about them! Maybe I’ll come to appreciate its beauty the more I use it but I will miss that noise of the expansion joints - there was something quite comforting about them!

RMC

6 WINTER

Conservatories • Windows • Porches • DoorsGarage Conversations • Garden Rooms • BathroomsGeneral Joinery • Kitchens • Extensions • RoofingSealed Unit Replacements • Loft Conversions • Orangeries • Atriums

It’s Good 2 GiveThe 12th May 2017 marked a very important day for everyone at Scottish charity, “It’s Good 2 Give”. It was the official opening of the beautiful Ripple Retreat in Callander – a purpose-built, restful and safe place for families who have a child affected by cancer to enjoy a short break together. “It’s Good 2 Give” is a charity which came to life in April 2010, founded by Lynne and Ian McNicoll. On a daily basis, “It’s Good 2 Give” provides support for families whether it’s providing parent packs while their child is in hospital or bringing nutritional snacks to Ward 2 at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. The Ripple Retreat was the ultimate goal and after planning consent was received back in May 2014, the charity had been working harder than ever to make their dream come to life.

The Ripple Retreat is situated on the banks of Loch Venachar near Callander which is a truly beautiful setting and the piece of land was kindly donated by David and Jean Ferguson. Architect Tony Kettle, who previously designed the Falkirk wheel, wanted to design the retreat on a pro bono basis. The design he came back with was absolutely breath-taking – He was inspired by the ripples on the loch and the rolling hills behind and so it was called the Ripple Retreat.

Inside the Retreat is equally as breath-taking – with its practicality intertwined with a thoughtful and homely feel, it is a spectacular building. A lot of the furnishings, including the stunning modern kitchen, were kindly donated to the charity and many other supporters purchased furnishings from the charity’s John Lewis Gift List. The retreat has 3 bedrooms – one double, one single and one twin – with every feature thoughtfully suited to the room. The single bedroom contains an electric adjustable bed and a wet room which is suitable for wheelchair access. The living space and kitchen is a spacious open plan design, filled with lots of light and colour, and it opens onto a patio where children can play and families can dine. The kitchen is fully equipped with extra features such as an adjustable kitchen counter with a separate hob – this allows a child in a wheelchair to easily take part in cooking and baking so all the family can enjoy it together.

The artwork at the retreat is another spectacular feature. Co-Founder of the charity, Lynne, wanted to make the hallway

into a gallery of art which meant something to the charity – so all the artwork is very special. From a collaboration with the charities Young Ambassadors and Edinburgh artist Wendy Helliwell to the beautiful bench designed by Scottish Parliament furniture designer Ben Dawson, there is something for everyone at the Retreat. Blacksmith Kev Paxton of ArtFe designed some beautiful sculptures for the outside space – he created “Bill the Bull”, a bird feeder station and a spectacular gate with lots of wonderful features on it.

Further generosity has come from Callander’s nearby attractions offering complementary vouchers for Ripple Retreat guests to use on their stay. Families can enjoy a day out to Blair Drummond Safari Park, lunch at Venachar Lochside Restaurant and a trip on the Sir Walter Scott Steamship – to name a few!

The Ripple Retreat is a result of years of fundraising and hard work from so many dedicated supporters of “It’s Good 2 Give” and it is incredible to see how it has come together – it is more spectacular than anyone could imagine. From all of us at “It’s Good 2 Give”, we wish every family who stays at the Ripple Retreat a wonderful experience and we hope they have the time to relax, reflect and make memories.

www.itsgood2give.co.uk Facebook: itsgood2giveTwitter: itsgood2giveInstagram: itsgood2give

It’s Good 2 Give will be one of the beneficiaries of St. Ninian’s Church Christmas Fair on 11 November

LETS TALK ABOUT CORSTORPHINE 7

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Red Letter Day for Corstorphine LadiesScotland’s only Hospice for children with life-shortening illnesses celebrates a milestone anniversary this year. Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) marks 25 years of changing lives in 2017 – but few people know that Scottish Women’s Institutes was right there at the very beginning.

Ladies from Corstorphine Institute in the Midlothian Federation gave CHAS its first ever donation – a fact that was only discovered after staff from the Charity found some paperwork during a recent office reshuffle.

A crinkled envelope hidden at the back of a desk turned out to be a note from the ladies wishing CHAS well with its fund raising for Rachel House. The letter – which was penned in 1991 – has now been framed for posterity.

Margaret Mackay was president of Corstorphine Institute at the time and the discovery was brought to her attention after CHAS posted a photograph of the note on social media. It came as a huge surprise to members that their £50 gift had been the charity’s first ever donation.

She explained: “In June 1991 members were made aware of a local youth, Marc Dickson, who had the life-limiting disease Hunter Syndrome. It was agreed that a donation from the proceeds of the annual coffee morning be sent to Hunter Syndrome Association.

“In conversation with Mark’s mother, she explained to me that she was one of the group which was fundraising for a children’s respite care centre in Scotland. Subsequently, a letter and a cheque for £50 made out to the Hospice Appeal were sent to her.

“The item on Facebook was brought to my attention and I contacted CHAS headquarters in Edinburgh. Maria McGill, the chief executive, was delighted to hear from me and kindly invited myself and Corstorphine president, Carol Elliot, to the office to meet with her and have a photograph taken with the framed letter.”

They were invited to a parliamentary reception to recognise the work of CHAS, which opened doors in 1996. SWI members have been staunch supporters of CHAS over the years, and Federations were asked to raise funds for a special project in 1998.

According to SWI minutes, the proposal was to have a sensory garden installed at the hospice as a memorial to the children and their teacher who had died in the Dunblane Primary School tragedy two years previously.

The idea was that the garden would have as its central aim the provision of sight, smell and sound perceptions in a fun and stimulating context, suitable to the needs of disabled children.

Surfaces were to have different textures, plants with various perfumes which would feel different. Braille signs, the sounds of water, rustling plants, wind chimes and outdoor games.

There would also be wooden animals for the children to touch. There would be involvement from the Botanical Gardens, national garden chain Dobbies and the BBC television show, The Beechgrove Garden.

The then chairman of SWI, Shirley Wallace, visited Rachel House to meet with officials of CHAS and discussed the proposal which was expected to cost £6,000. A symbol of the organisation’s involvement was to be placed in the garden, such as a wooden badge, and SWI would be involved in the opening of the garden.

Margaret added: “By November 1998, it was reported that a total of £6,245.46 was collected by SWI members and that the Sensory Garden was progressing and in November 1999, it was reported that the Sensory Garden was flourishing. It has been a great success and is being used by the children and their families.

“Over the intervening years, SWI Institutes and individual members throughout Scotland have supported CHAS through volunteering and fundraising.”

8 WINTER

ArmeniaArriving yesterday after dark, all I did was take a taxi to my hotel and go to sleep. Smoke. That was the first thought that entered my head when I woke. I could smell the stench of cigarette smoke even in a non-smoking room. The sheets and duvet were heavy with it and I must have been too tired last night to notice or care.

I opened the curtains and could see Mount Ararat, snow-covered, in the distance. Going down to breakfast the landings in the former Soviet style hotel were still covered with plastic sheeting to save the near thread-bare carpets from the workers trudging dirty feet back and forth whilst busying themselves on lift repairs.

Breakfast was a strange affair as I sat alone in the cavernous restaurant being waited upon by bored and overly attentive waiters. Having lived in Russia meant I could read some of the menu and be able to order food that I enjoyed rather than taking a chance and being served what the waiters thought a Westerner might want instead.

Immediately I finished breakfast I collected my bag from my room and settled my bill at reception. I then sat in the foyer writing postcards and waiting for my dear friend, Evgeny, to arrive. Armenia is not a country visited by many tourists from outside the former Soviet Union yet over the coming days it was to show me many wondrous sights and tantalise my taste buds with all manner of delicious foods.

Evgeny arrived with his uncle and they drove me to his antique shop for tea. Up an old staircase with broken steps that would put off most inquisitive tourists who otherwise might venture in to see his carpets and other items for sale. I was shown some rare carpets, old Soviet photos, bayonets, swords, medals and so on. We drank tea on the balcony overlooking the street below. How many people could even place Yerevan on a map? A bustling capital city steeped in history and brimming full of restaurants, cafes and museums just waiting to be ‘discovered’ by mass tourism. The thing that puts people off is their inability to communicate coupled with widely held misconceptions about almost all of the former Soviet Union countries. To me this is precisely what makes it so special and worth visiting.

During the following days, I was made welcome at the family home and fed extensive meals of delicious food usually washed down with copious glasses of neat vodka. At one of the most memorable meals I was dished out four large pieces of lamb complete with vertebrae and spinal cord, green leaves and bread – all to be eaten by hand. Then glasses of neat vodka and brandy were laid out in front of me. The brandy was 20 years old when bottled in 1978 and still bore the Soviet markings on the label. A really generous gesture. This was followed up by beer and more beer. It was still only midday!

Immediately after lunch, half drunk and in need of sleep I was told that I should get myself ready and was shoe-horned into a cramped old taxi. With the sun shining brightly, and with windows fully open we left the town behind us and drove out to Garni Temple. The only standing Greco-Roman

structure in the whole of the former Soviet Union. Perched, impressively on a promontory surrounded by vertical drop-offs into the gorge below. Hard to believe that this lone building has been here for 2,000 years and is so little-known outside of Armenia. In the bottom of the gorge a river meandered between the basalt cliffs. It was utterly spectacular.

Beside it were the remains of an old Roman bath house and lots of Christian gravestones. The nearby vendors hoping to sell you anything from jars of home-made pickles, strings of dried apricots to grim looking animal pelts. Evgeny got me to taste some traditional pomegranate wine and I was just about to buy it but was told it was of poor quality. That was then end of that and I was ushered away. I felt a bit sorry for the toothless old lady who probably longed to make a sale.

We went on along a lumpy road to Geghard Monastery which would not have looked out of place as a backdrop in Game of Thrones or in a King Arthur film. At the end of a small valley surrounded by high cliffs on all sides there’s a large white cross on one of the cliff faces which probably served as a marker for those travelling here in years gone by. Perhaps the more cynical might suggest it is a more recent addition that provides a good tale to tell to visiting tourists.

We walked up a wide, steep path and before going through the main arch we stopped to throw stones at some small hollows in the rocks. It’s said that if one of your stones lands in one of the hollows your wishes will come true. I cast five small stones and none of mine made it so I guess my wishes are doomed.

The main archway was topped with intricate Christian crosses carved into the stonework. It surely would have been an amazing site for monks and pilgrims to see after a lengthy and arduous journey. As you enter the main courtyard you are immediately struck by the quality of masonry and carving that surrounds you. But the best is yet to come. As you enter into the main building you will note that the majority of it is carved into a solid rock face, much like Petra in southern Jordan and the great churches at Lalibela in Ethiopia. One side of the monastery though seems to have been built in cut stones and joined on. The place is staggeringly beautiful.

We travelled on to Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus. My hosts had hired a private dining room and the food, including locally caught trout was lavish to say the least. Beetroot salad, delicious potato dishes, vegetables and fruits I had never before seen, various breads and Smetana – the staple accompaniment to most meals here. It is like sour cream.

It was a long drive back and more apricot brandy and beer were provided in the car. I’d really had enough alcohol for today so I pretended to sleep which would avoid causing offence. My bed was the sofa, uncomfortable and too short. When the lights in the kitchen went out I put my bedding on the floor and slept there.

When we drove out today we skirted the Turkish border. We stopped and bought apples and delicious honey from some vendors at the roadside. In total, we drove more than 75 miles to get to Noravank Monastery to see the stunning 13th century Surb Astvatsatsin church. Nestled, as most places here seem to be, amongst towering red cliffs it was a sight of great beauty.

LETS TALK ABOUT CORSTORPHINE 9

Belgrave Halls, Belgrave Road, Corstorphine

Following recent speculation as to what is going to be built on the site of Belgrave Halls, I thought I would share some memories before the Halls disappear.

These Halls formed The Scottish Episcopal Church of St. Margaret. I remember worshipping in the church as a child with my family during the 50s and 60s.

The interior was simple. The altar and lectern were at the east wall. There was a font at the west end and all the windows were leaded panes of small rectangles of coloured glass with a few scattered diamond shapes. The walls were white painted clap board. There was a colourful heraldic banner depicting St. Margaret. Two slender wooden Angels adorned opposite walls. The Organ was simple affair consisting of an air pumped organ at the west end of the church near the entrance porch and a cube sound box supported on the apse joists above the organ. At Christmas, a Nativity tableau was placed in the church.

According to Corstorphine Trust archives, the Church was established in 1913 as an offshoot of the Scottish Episcopalian Cathedral of St. Mary, fi rst temporarily in Mr. Sidney Salmon’s Photographic studio in Manse Road then in Corstorphine Freemason Hall before its present location. The stone Hall was built in 1930 in ground gifted up from the wooden church. The services were taken by Rev. Canon A.W. Stevenson who lived with his wife in a semi-detached villa at 38 St. Ninian’s Road.

The congregation was quite small and most lived locally. To name a few – Mrs Shepherd and Miss Herdman lived in villas on Clermiston Road, Miss Betty Balfour (a music teacher and church organist) lived opposite in Belgrave Road.

Others attending included Hugh Walpole and his sister Dr Dorothea (two of the children of a Bishop of Edinburgh at The Scottish Episcopalian Cathedral of St. Mary in Palmerston Place). Dr Dorothea had a surgery at the foot of Templeland Road. The church received a new font in 1959 dedicated to the memory of Dorothea.

There were also the Crossfords who lived at the junction of Templeland Road and Corstorphine Bank Drive – No. 17. They were related to the Eyre-Todds whose son Forbes ran the former Duchess Café as a Newsagent.

The Church Hall was used for all the usual church activities such as Sunday School and its stage for the annual Nativity Plays. I suppose you could say it was a right-of-passage that you were fi rst an angel then a shepherd or king.

The stage was also used for musical concerts organised by Betty Balfour - I am seen here with Betty. Valerie Mann was the star pupil. She went on to teach music and married Alan Walker of Forrester Road; their son is the musician and conductor Garry Walker.

Other activities included Sales of Work, Beetle and Whist Drives and on Friday nights Cubs and Scouts. Oh, the local gardens that were weeded in the name of “Bob a Job” week; probably today it would be seen as child slave labour.

There were Sunday School Picnics and they generally took place at Lady Greg’s Estate down at Barnton Avenue West – the House reputedly built from the remains of the House of Shaws. The gardens were brilliant for the games with sweeping lawns, two ponds with a connecting rill, a Wendy Tree House in a wooded area and tennis courts in a walled garden with herbaceous borders of tall bearded irises. (Much of this land has now been

developed for housing.)

When Canon Stevenson retired in 1968 the Church was sadly closed down and the congregation was invited to worship at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Murrayfi eld. The wooden angels can still be seen as they fl ew to pillars in St. Mary’s Cathedral and the dedicated font is nearby. The Church and Hall were bought by the nearby St. Anne’s Parish Church of Scotland and hosted dance and fi tness classes till 2014 when they were sold off due to being surplus to requirements.

David J. Currie 2017

Lunch today was had at Vorskan in an unusual wooden stilt house over a river. It was rather odd having the river fl owing under us as we ate and ducks freely roaming around. Some of the food was similar to yesterday but we were also treated here to potatoes with blue mushrooms, fabulous goat stew in pastry parcels, meat and pork, and fruit compote. Needless to say an abundance of beer, wine, vodka was on offer and I, as the guest, was expected (almost forced) to drink a great amount of each.

That evening we drove slowly on to Jermuk and stayed in a hotel that was a former asylum in Soviet days. In a beautiful setting, surrounded by forests dusted in snow and with part frozen rivers just beginning to thaw. The following day I started my own journey home as Evgeny returned to Moscow and I left my new-found friends in Yerevan with the promise that I would return to see them soon.

Mike Laird

10 WINTER

New to CorstorphineIt has changed the way I see the city, my move to Corstorphine. Before I came here I lived on the south side of the city, but the south side of what? There, I was the minister at St. Michael’s on Slateford Road, a wedge of Edinburgh caught between better known Gorgie and leafy Merchiston, where I lived. In Merchiston I was

conscious of hills and canals. The land on that part of the south side slopes up from Gorgie Road, over Slateford Road, across the Union Canal and up Craiglockart Hill with Morningside falling away on the other side.

Now, in Corstorphine, I live again on the side of a hill. It’s a hike up from St. John’s Road, on which St. Ninian’s stands, to my new home. Corstorphine Hill continues to rise above me. I knew when I moved that it would take some time to settle into a new community especially when the work of a minister is so community focused, and so geographically precise. The parish of St. Michael’s stretched away from the church towards the Hutchison development, a narrow strip of land, and I lived on the edge of it. Here, at St. Ninian’s where I am now the minister, the parish is a square block, and I live in the middle of it. But, it was the move itself that reoriented my understanding of Edinburgh’s geography. I spent days moving belongings by driving down and away from Merchiston by way of Ardmillan, Gorgie and Balgreen, and then up to Corstorphine.

It is the Water of Leith and the flat plain through which the river meanders that divides the city here in the south side and the north side. Spread across that flatness there are all sorts of developments that tell a story of the city: a rugby stadium, a prison, and broad housing developments that are overshadowed by their neighbours on the hillsides on both sides. I live on the north side of the Water of Leith now, on the slope of Corstorphine Hill, Drum Brae Bank it was called when it was farmland. And I have moved not just geographically, but also forward in time from the 1880s tenement house I used to live in to the 1920s detached house I now do.

I have moved ecclesiastically as well. There are more churches in Corstorphine than anywhere else in the city, it seems. I’m the minister of St. Ninian’s, but there’s a church right next door, St. John’s. And, then there are Clermiston and Craigsbank and the Old Parish and St. Anne’s and Corstorphine Community Church and St. Thomas’. It is reminiscent of a time when churches populated the whole city in great number.

I’ve moved back in time somewhat too. My father’s family came from Corstorphine. My father moved to Fife in 1969, but his brother was an elder at the Old Parish and lived on Corstorphine High Street all his life. Another of his brothers

was married in St. Ninian’s itself, to a local Corstorphine woman. As a child my family would often across the first Forth Road Bridge for a visit to Edinburgh. In my young mind Edinburgh was the big city, full of excitement and possibility. Corstorphine was often the first part of the city that I would see on these trips, as we drove in along St. John’s Road. To a boy not yet in his teens, Edinburgh was a city of bungalows, and bungalows were Edinburgh.

When I lived in Merchiston I was within easy walk of the city centre. Merchiston wasn’t really a place, more a part of the city. But, here in Corstorphine, on the north side of the Water of Leith, surrounded by members of my congregation, with family history all around me, I feel I live in a place, an identifiable location - there is even a road sign, Welcome to Corstorphine, and of course the Zoo, which my son loves, feels like it’s mine.

Moving to Corstorphine feels new and different and familiar and old all at the same time. I’m looking forward to finding out what that means, and of working and living here, in this place.

Rev. James Aitken

What’s happened so far?As many local people around Corstorphine will have noticed, the demolition of much of the old Corstorphine Public Hall building has now taken place, the remaining walls having been stabilised with retention scaffolding.

As depicted on the Public Hall website, and displayed at public meetings, the plans for the rebuild show the building occupying much the same footprint as before and with reconstruction taking place in keeping with the style of the old building. For example the front façade facing on to Kirk Loan would be retained in full. A small area of extension is planned in order to provide better facilities at the new main entrance, which would be moved to the side but which would be accessible from Kirk Loan via a new path.

The Public Hall Company has obtained planning permission and a Building Control warrant based on these plans, so we are in a good position to move forward.

ABOUT THE CORSTORPHINE PUBLIC HALL REBUILD

LETS TALK ABOUT CORSTORPHINE 11

How are we going to pay for it?As readers may be aware, there has always been a shortfall between the amount received from the building insurance, which only allowed for the building to be reconstructed exactly as it was over a hundred years ago when it was first built, and the amount it will cost to rebuild it using modern materials and with improved facilities which will be suitable for modern community needs. We have been pursuing various avenues to obtain funding to close the gap, but so far we have been unsuccessful at attracting major funders, although we are still pursuing this option. The CPH Rebuild Campaign committee has a written fundraising strategy to back up funding applications. However we are extremely grateful for donations already received from local individual and corporate donors

Our most recent newsletter (14,000 copies distributed locally – thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the delivery) gave the Rebuild Campaign a bit of a boost from this point of view.

The remaining target to complete the rebuild is approximately £500k.

How you can help – a few ideasFiona Grieve decided to turn her birthday celebrations into a fundraising opportunity. She set up a ‘mydonate’ fundraising page associated with the Corstorphine Public Hall Rebuild. Fiona turned 40 in August and said “to celebrate… I’ve signed up with 11 lovely friends to run a 5k obstacle course based on gladiators and total wipe out! Should be fun!?! We are called the Rough Mothers”.

Why not attend an event in aid of the CPH Rebuild? Thanks to the Corstorphine Trust for organising a music event on 14th October – look out for further events over the next few months. Or you could organise one yourself.

Eat a meal at the recently refurbished Torfin, on St John’s Road – if you get hold of one of their cards and take it along, they will make a donation to the Rebuild fund. The cards may be obtained from the CYCC Hub at 191 St John’s Road.

To keep up with news on the rebuild and to see the fundraising opportunities available, please have a look at the following online resources:CPH website: http://www.corstorphinepublichall.org.uk/Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ CorstorphinePublicHallRebuildTwitter: @CPHRebuild

ABOUT THE CORSTORPHINE PUBLIC HALL REBUILD

VISIT TO St KILDA MONDAY 5th JUNEAn early start was essential from Tarbert to get to Leverburgh to embark on MV ORCA for an 8:15am departure for the 40 mile crossing to St Kilda. The boat, purpose built for a mere £500,000, twin engines with a capacity of 12 passengers and cruising speed 21 knots!

Skipper Seamus welcomed us and gave a full briefing of the programme for the trip as well as safety including use of life jackets if outside the saloon. Out of the Sound of Harris we were soon running in an 8 to 10 feet swell that resulted in quite sustained ‘smashing’ of the bow - not very comfortable over the 2+ hours.

The steering was linked to a computer programme. The skipper spending his time on his mobile phone conducting his business!

Once in the bay at St K anchor went down and we were transferred ashore in a small inflatable. We were greeted by a National Trust Warden who gave an interesting description of the island including the buildings, animal and bird life, walks, shop and option of a guided tour. We were given three and a half hours on the island. In warm and balmy weather we were able to explore the village and climb to the Gap, wondering at the resilience and tenacity of the inhabitants until their evacuation in 1930.

Back on board we were offered a cup of tea and gingerbread! Anchor up and a most interesting slow speed cruise round several of the stacks and Boreray, viewing the amazing mass of gannets

and puffins on the sheer rocks and the deep caves.

At this point I was aware that Seamus was speaking to the skippers of two other boats also from Leverburgh regarding an engine problem and a spare part. As a result there was a passing over a spare from these boats requiring considerable skill in getting close enough to pass over, by hand, a package to our crew man --this in a 5 to 6 foot swell!

Skipper Seamus informed us that there was a problem with one of the engines and that the spares he had received from the other boats were not the correct size so he had to shut down this engine. The result at least a 5 hour return journey in an increasing wind. However, if we were willing we could be transferred to the two other boats that were standing by. All agreed to transfer and, again with great skill, the catamaran and HIRTA managed to ‘raft up’ for the transfer. This was more than interesting if not rather scary!

We finished up on HIRTA with speed a mere 18 knots for the return. The swell was still considerable now with a cross wind increasing-- not the most pleasant of conditions involving considerable crashing and twisting. The three passengers who sat outside in the stern were drenched by spray! It was well after 7:00pm before we arrived back at Leverburgh – the crewman offered the passengers a welcome dram just prior to berthing!

Overall a most interesting, enjoyable, amazing but tiring day as considerable energy was required to counter the boat movements.

David Mieras

12 WINTER

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Now taking Christmas bookingsXMAS DAY SPECIAL

FESTIVE DINNER3 Course Banquet £15.95. Open 1pm-8pm

Bring Your Own Bottle(Except 15th December to 1st January)

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New Years EveNORMAL A LA CARTE MENU

CHRISTMAS FAIR AT ST. NINIAN,S CHURCH

There will be a Christmas Fair at St. Ninian’s Church on Saturday 11 November

from 11.30am to 2.30pm.Enter from St. John’s Road or St. Ninian’s Road.

Christmas Hampers – draws will be made at intervals throughout the Fair. Draw tickets will cost £1.

There will be Stalls for Home Bakery and Jams, Crafts, Jewellery, Toiletries, Flower Arrangements, Books and

Water or Wine.

There will be a Minister’s Stall and a Children’s Lucky Dip.

Music will be played in the Church. A donation may be made for a request.

Lunches will be served till 2.30pm.

Admission will be £1 for adults and 50p for children.

Half the proceeds will go towards Church Funds and half will be divided equally between two local charities – It’s

Good 2 Give and the rebuild of Corstorphine Public Hall.

Why go to India to fi nd yourself?

You might be in your community!

Corstorphine Community ChurchMeets Sundays 10.30, 7 Glebe Terrace

www.corstorphinefaith.org.uk

INDIAN & THAICURRY

RESTAURANT& TAKEAWAY