LEITH FESTIVAL 2008
MAY 30th - JUNE 8th
150 Events
50 Venues
GALA DAY - Sat 7th June 11.00am - 6.00pm
Starting with the Leith Festival Parade from Lochend Park at 12.30pm processing down Lochend Road and from Leith Academy to the junction of Restalrig Road and then into Leith Links at Links Place where the event will be opened by this year’s ‘Provost’ Cllr Marjory Thomas @ 13.30pm.
The Gala will include:
11.00 - late Taylors Fun Fair Fun for all the Family at Taylor’s fun fair, suitable for all ages.
11.00 – 17.00 Messenger Sound System Roots, dub and reggae – all day long!
12.00 – 14.00 Golf Nearest the PinExplore the birth of Golf using old Hickory Clubs. Pitch the ball as near to the pin as possible. Prize for winners.
12:30 - 15:30 Eight Leith primary schools battle it out for the Festival Trophy at the Leith Festival Gala Day.
12.30 – 13.30 Streetcar 5 Piece rock, soul, pop and blues covers band with Susie Sue on vocals.
13.30 – 14.30 Opening Ceremony The Festival ' Lord Provost of Leith', Councillor Marjorie Thomas, opens the Festivities after the Parade has arrived.
13.30 – 16.30 Children’s Pony Rides Hard Hats Provided – £2.50 per ride.
14.00 – 16.00 Tug’O’War Competition Annual competition for teams of elite athletes from Leith’s finest drinking establishments.
Have you got it in you? Contact the Leith Festival office for entry forms.
14.15 – 14.45 Country Dancing Come and enjoy a display of country dancing by local school children.
14.45 – 15.15 Poster Competition Prize Giving The Presentation of prizes to the winners of the Leith Festival's annual poster competition.
15.30 – 17.30 Blue Finger Enjoy the sounds of the Big Band!
Enquiries:........ Enquiries, Leith Festival Box Office 0845 458 9709
info@leithfestival.com
Venue: 18 Leith LinksLeith Links
Sunday 1 June 2008
Sunday 2 March 2008
Leith WW! Rolls of Honour
INTRODUCTION:
Leith WW1 Memorial – Leith Hospital Children’s Wing.
During WW1 from a population of 84,000 in Leith 14,200 enlisted for duty.
Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Five of these were to make the eternal sacrifice for their country and town.
Leith Hospital had been used during the war, progressively for the treatment of the war wounded from all sections of the military. Members of the public in need of treatment either had to have this administered at home or at other hospitals less fully occupied by the war wounded.
The staffing of the hospital had also been depleted by the war effort, Surgeons,, Doctors, Nurses and porters alike being used in other ‘more important’ roles.
The finances of the hospital, as with other ‘voluntary’ hospitals was mainly achieved by public subscription, donation or from benefactors acknowledging the work of the hospitals in their local community.
This was further impede by the then Chancellor Lloyd–George, who in 1911 proposed that the means of funding all medical treatments would be by the institution of the National Insurance Act. This act decreed that insurance against sickness and unemployment was to be paid for by contributions from the state, the employer, and employee. This of course meant a large area of voluntary contributions to hospitals and other like charities, were now re-routed to the National Insurance Scheme. The workers, probably most in need of the hospital service could no longer afford to contribute to both and benefactors saw less need to reward a state organisation.
The expected fall in contributions and donations came about to the extent that in 1913 the Treasurer to the Hospital ascribed the fall off in such funds to ’The malign influence of this terrible insurance tax bogy’ The prolonged Dockers’ strike in the port also had a bearing on the donations, but the main factor was the insurance act.
People collecting for the hospital often recalled that on many occasions the response to requests for donations was ‘You had better apply to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’.
Shortly after the end of hostilities thought was being given by the town of a suitable war memorial to those who had died.
At the same time the hospital board, still in financial difficulties formed a committee to further its own interests and in 1919 a committee was formed to consider the way the hospital would develop in the post war years.
Together with all the other facilities the Hospital Board were anxious to install, there was a strong public desire for a children’s ward, and monies were to be raised for that in it’s own right independent of all the other requirements seen to be necessary.
An inspirational, if not audacious scheme thought of by provost Lindsay, who was to become the last Leith Provost on the unwanted amalgamation with Edinburgh, and a member of the hospital Board of Management, that the children’s ward should become the Leith WW1 memorial.
The Board accepted this plan and within a relatively short period of time the people of Leith stood firmly behind it. Funds from the community came in steadily and large sun=ms were donated by businesses and others to a point where early in 1920 plans for the alterations and additions to the hospital were being considered.
It was not until 1922 that detailed plans were produced by a Mr George Simpson and a consultant architect, Colonel McIntosh, appointed.
The eventual cost was to be around £40,000, but such was the generosity of the donations that sufficient funds remained for a endowment to be created for the future needs of what by this time a ‘wing’ rather than a ward.
The construction of and changes to other parts of the hospital to accommodate the ‘wing’ started in 1923 and consisting of: Surgical and medical wards, together with smaller wards for, observation, eye patients and eye, ear and throat patients, with 31 beds or cots ws opened in 1927.
Sir John Gilmour, Secretary of State for Scotland, on the front page of the opening programme emphasised the dual nature of the building as a War Memorial and a Children’s Wing of the hospital itself.
Later that year, Provost Lindsay, by now President of the Board of Management and representing the war memorial committee, formally handed over to the managers a copy of a resolution adopted by the committee including, the children’s wing and equipment thereof, additions to the nurses home and an Endowment of £31, 600 being the balance of the funds raised towards the establishment of such a wing.
The war memorial fund in addition to the building of this tangible memorial included a ‘Roll of Honour’ on which the names etc; of all known members of the Leith township and community were entered. This Roll of Honour was also entrusted to the managers of Leith Hospital.
Leith WW1 Memorial – Leith Hospital Children’s Wing.
During WW1 from a population of 84,000 in Leith 14,200 enlisted for duty.
Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Five of these were to make the eternal sacrifice for their country and town.
Leith Hospital had been used during the war, progressively for the treatment of the war wounded from all sections of the military. Members of the public in need of treatment either had to have this administered at home or at other hospitals less fully occupied by the war wounded.
The staffing of the hospital had also been depleted by the war effort, Surgeons,, Doctors, Nurses and porters alike being used in other ‘more important’ roles.
The finances of the hospital, as with other ‘voluntary’ hospitals was mainly achieved by public subscription, donation or from benefactors acknowledging the work of the hospitals in their local community.
This was further impede by the then Chancellor Lloyd–George, who in 1911 proposed that the means of funding all medical treatments would be by the institution of the National Insurance Act. This act decreed that insurance against sickness and unemployment was to be paid for by contributions from the state, the employer, and employee. This of course meant a large area of voluntary contributions to hospitals and other like charities, were now re-routed to the National Insurance Scheme. The workers, probably most in need of the hospital service could no longer afford to contribute to both and benefactors saw less need to reward a state organisation.
The expected fall in contributions and donations came about to the extent that in 1913 the Treasurer to the Hospital ascribed the fall off in such funds to ’The malign influence of this terrible insurance tax bogy’ The prolonged Dockers’ strike in the port also had a bearing on the donations, but the main factor was the insurance act.
People collecting for the hospital often recalled that on many occasions the response to requests for donations was ‘You had better apply to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’.
Shortly after the end of hostilities thought was being given by the town of a suitable war memorial to those who had died.
At the same time the hospital board, still in financial difficulties formed a committee to further its own interests and in 1919 a committee was formed to consider the way the hospital would develop in the post war years.
Together with all the other facilities the Hospital Board were anxious to install, there was a strong public desire for a children’s ward, and monies were to be raised for that in it’s own right independent of all the other requirements seen to be necessary.
An inspirational, if not audacious scheme thought of by provost Lindsay, who was to become the last Leith Provost on the unwanted amalgamation with Edinburgh, and a member of the hospital Board of Management, that the children’s ward should become the Leith WW1 memorial.
The Board accepted this plan and within a relatively short period of time the people of Leith stood firmly behind it. Funds from the community came in steadily and large sun=ms were donated by businesses and others to a point where early in 1920 plans for the alterations and additions to the hospital were being considered.
It was not until 1922 that detailed plans were produced by a Mr George Simpson and a consultant architect, Colonel McIntosh, appointed.
The eventual cost was to be around £40,000, but such was the generosity of the donations that sufficient funds remained for a endowment to be created for the future needs of what by this time a ‘wing’ rather than a ward.
The construction of and changes to other parts of the hospital to accommodate the ‘wing’ started in 1923 and consisting of: Surgical and medical wards, together with smaller wards for, observation, eye patients and eye, ear and throat patients, with 31 beds or cots ws opened in 1927.
Sir John Gilmour, Secretary of State for Scotland, on the front page of the opening programme emphasised the dual nature of the building as a War Memorial and a Children’s Wing of the hospital itself.
Later that year, Provost Lindsay, by now President of the Board of Management and representing the war memorial committee, formally handed over to the managers a copy of a resolution adopted by the committee including, the children’s wing and equipment thereof, additions to the nurses home and an Endowment of £31, 600 being the balance of the funds raised towards the establishment of such a wing.
The war memorial fund in addition to the building of this tangible memorial included a ‘Roll of Honour’ on which the names etc; of all known members of the Leith township and community were entered. This Roll of Honour was also entrusted to the managers of Leith Hospital.
Friday 11 January 2008
Thursday 10 January 2008
Sunday 6 January 2008
Leith's Living Archives
Leith’s Living Archives
It may appear funny to name a blogsite this but when you think about it surely everyone is. Except that they don’t all live in or come from or love Leith – they are somewhere else’s Living archives.
I can’t remember who said it, but whoever it was is correct:
‘Today’s events are tomorrow’s history’
Someone else said:
‘We only know of what went on in the past because someone took the trouble to record it’ whoever that was should have gone on to say we believe it because no one has recorded it differently and had someone else recorded it and passed it down in a different way who would we believe then.
It has also been said that statistically if all the written records of events since the year one-ad were representative of all that has happened, then today would be something like the year ten-ad.
Why then do some people still crave for the written word. We have at our disposal the largest, most comprehensive Encyclopedia that man could ever had imagined yet still we need more.
One can only explain ones own desires for these needs, I like to think that I am not alone in this because self named historians the world over are still seeking the events of the missing centuries, and, continuing on a personal note I want to do my bit to ensure that today’s events that are tomorrow’s history are recorded if only to be discussed and sought verification of.
Why? – surely there is enough so called media coverage to satisfy this requirement, that may be true but who is to verify it. Today’s media tell you what they think you should know not necessarily what you would like to know.
Many websites existing today try to gather and impart this information. Some relate only to the past, some are topical with an historic bent. Some are chat rooms, some concentrate on Pictorial evidence and there is a need for all of them.
This site will try to be what you, the unknowing historian want it to be.
There will be regular looks backwards, if only to remind us of our heritage and what we have to protect and uphold. There will be questions, some unanswered, views or comments and even the anecdotal stuff that is so LEITH.
Lets start with a couple of current projects around Leith today.
The campaign for a Leith Museum – you will get regular updates from the horse’s mouth.
Leith’s Living Archives, as they were 100 years ago.
We will share with you our current information and if we can’t help with a question – we know someone who can.
It may appear funny to name a blogsite this but when you think about it surely everyone is. Except that they don’t all live in or come from or love Leith – they are somewhere else’s Living archives.
I can’t remember who said it, but whoever it was is correct:
‘Today’s events are tomorrow’s history’
Someone else said:
‘We only know of what went on in the past because someone took the trouble to record it’ whoever that was should have gone on to say we believe it because no one has recorded it differently and had someone else recorded it and passed it down in a different way who would we believe then.
It has also been said that statistically if all the written records of events since the year one-ad were representative of all that has happened, then today would be something like the year ten-ad.
Why then do some people still crave for the written word. We have at our disposal the largest, most comprehensive Encyclopedia that man could ever had imagined yet still we need more.
One can only explain ones own desires for these needs, I like to think that I am not alone in this because self named historians the world over are still seeking the events of the missing centuries, and, continuing on a personal note I want to do my bit to ensure that today’s events that are tomorrow’s history are recorded if only to be discussed and sought verification of.
Why? – surely there is enough so called media coverage to satisfy this requirement, that may be true but who is to verify it. Today’s media tell you what they think you should know not necessarily what you would like to know.
Many websites existing today try to gather and impart this information. Some relate only to the past, some are topical with an historic bent. Some are chat rooms, some concentrate on Pictorial evidence and there is a need for all of them.
This site will try to be what you, the unknowing historian want it to be.
There will be regular looks backwards, if only to remind us of our heritage and what we have to protect and uphold. There will be questions, some unanswered, views or comments and even the anecdotal stuff that is so LEITH.
Lets start with a couple of current projects around Leith today.
The campaign for a Leith Museum – you will get regular updates from the horse’s mouth.
Leith’s Living Archives, as they were 100 years ago.
We will share with you our current information and if we can’t help with a question – we know someone who can.
Leith - 100 Years ago - This.....
LEITH – 100 Years ago – This......
Introduction.
This regular column will it is hoped let you have a taste of not just what was happening in Leith, but what the Leith newspapers were reporting. There were no such things as headlines in those days the newspapers relied largely on Advertising and the front pages were wholly devoted d to that.
On the inside pages there were reports about what was happening not only in Leith but in the country as a whole with columns coming from the colonies, as they were referred to by ex-Leithers.
The local news was derived from reports by the various organisations in the town and snippets of the really local events which everyone had heard about anyway but drew a readership to satisfy the advertisers.
New reporters were a rare breed, probably one or two per newspaper who concentrated on Council business, local debates, national events and points of interest to the more grandiose members of the community. Even then there were ‘freelancers’ who submitted bits and pieces in the hope of recognition and perhaps a free ticket to the Theatre or such if their reports were favourable.
This introduction will not be repeated(except of course if you have access to the internet, whre you will always be able to have a look back at previous entries.
The selection of subject matter is totally random, but at times may be repetitive if there is unfinished business. Should anyone have a desire to see what a particular topic was happening at the time, let us know and if it is there we will try to fit it in.
Just how much was a half a pound of mince in these days? We’ll have a look.
More>>>>>
Introduction.
This regular column will it is hoped let you have a taste of not just what was happening in Leith, but what the Leith newspapers were reporting. There were no such things as headlines in those days the newspapers relied largely on Advertising and the front pages were wholly devoted d to that.
On the inside pages there were reports about what was happening not only in Leith but in the country as a whole with columns coming from the colonies, as they were referred to by ex-Leithers.
The local news was derived from reports by the various organisations in the town and snippets of the really local events which everyone had heard about anyway but drew a readership to satisfy the advertisers.
New reporters were a rare breed, probably one or two per newspaper who concentrated on Council business, local debates, national events and points of interest to the more grandiose members of the community. Even then there were ‘freelancers’ who submitted bits and pieces in the hope of recognition and perhaps a free ticket to the Theatre or such if their reports were favourable.
This introduction will not be repeated(except of course if you have access to the internet, whre you will always be able to have a look back at previous entries.
The selection of subject matter is totally random, but at times may be repetitive if there is unfinished business. Should anyone have a desire to see what a particular topic was happening at the time, let us know and if it is there we will try to fit it in.
Just how much was a half a pound of mince in these days? We’ll have a look.
More>>>>>
Friday 4 January 2008
Campaign for a Leith Museum
Campaign for a Leith Museum
Mark Lazarowicz MP (Edinburgh North & Leith) is heading the steering group which has been established to further promote the campaign for a Leith Museum. Mark says;
There have been numerous calls and campaigns for a Museum in Leith for nigh on sixty years and still one of the most historic communities in Scotland, does not have a permanent full time museum.
The current Campaign, clearly has huge support from numerous members of the community, including local Councillors and community organisations. And why not! Leith is undergoing massive change and what better a time to establish a Museum showcasing our history so the Old Leith is not forgotten.
Why does Leith deserve a museum? Well according to many, it will strengthen community links at a time of rapid social change, and will highlight Leith's important role in the history of Scotland as a whole. Some would say that a museum will inform, educate and enlighten this and future generations to what is, was and can be the future for Leith.
A recent article in the local press went on:
In May of last year at Leith’s Ocean Terminal there was a stall publicising the upcoming annual Leith Festival. Part of the stall was given over to the Petition for a Leith Museum.
The support was encouraging, but there were also questions asked. The FAQ’s can be paraphrased as:
Where is the Leith Museum? And
Are you campaigning about the closure of the Leith Museum?
Question two is somewhat irrelevant, but question one, needs not an answer but questions, not where but why and why not.
There is simply not a Leith Museum because in the distant past Museums were National Buildings and collections, celebrating the wider aspects of historic and otherwise important events.
Mark comments on the fact that there have been previous attempts to establish a museum for Leith
One of these campaigns got as far as creating a Leith Museum Trust, the ideas (or ideals) came before the Council only to be referred to some sub-committee, and subsequently lost in the mists of time.
These previous attempts were not sponsored by just any old ‘Leithers’ but by Peers of the Realm, MP’s, the Clergy, Academics, Councillors and members of Leith Commerce and Industry. To no avail.
The people of Leith do not think they need a Museum, they think that Leith deserves a Museum.
When you consider the impact of the part the Port and Town of Leith has had on the History of Scotland, let alone Edinburgh, you become to realise why this feeling exists.
The current campaign started on two fronts, both with the same aim. Members of the Leith Local History society approached Mark with their thoughts with which he agreed and decided to test the feelings of the Leith populace by instigating a petition, only a successful showing of support he said would attract the desired interest of the parties in whose hands any decision would lie.
At the same time John Arthur, a Leith historian started another petition aimed directly at the Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh City Council.
Both petitions ran in tandem using different approaches and following the Leith Festival in June 2007, which is the largest gathering of Leith people and visitors to the town in any year, over 3000 signatures had been collected, enough for Mark to confirm that there was in his mind sufficient support to take the matter to the next stage.
A public meeting hosted by Mark, Malcolm Chisholm MSP and town councillor Gordon Munro included on the agenda a discussion re the next steps to be taken. A further meeting of those willing to take an active role in the campaign resulted in the forming of a ‘Steering Group’ to formally promote the more detailed aspects of substantiating the need and consideration of other aspect such as Where, What type of Museum, the Financial details and further support which would allow the campaign to go forward in a professional manner, although still by volunteers.
Meanwhile the Petition to the Scottish Parliament was discussed by the Public Petitions committee at Holyrood where Malcolm Chisholm spoke on behalf of the petitioners.
The matter was referred to various bodies for input and the outcome which will be discussed again by the Committee at Holyrood following which more detailed requirements for the steering group to work against will be known.
Further details about the status of the campaign, comments, views, questions can be found on the following websites or in writing to mark at the address below. It is intended that this newsletter will be published monthly following the Steering Group meetings and will be available in local Libraries, Churches, Organisations etc; If your group would like to be included in the distribution please use the Email or phone No’s below.It will also be published in each monthly edition of the Leith Gazette and on this blogsite.
Contacts:
Mark Lazarovicz MP
86/88 Brunswick Street
Edinburgh EH7 5HU
0131 557 0577
lazarowiczm@parliament.uk/
http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/
http://leithmuseum.blogspot.com/
Steve Mitchell – Press & Public Relations
firstleither@gmail.com
http://firstleither.blogspot.com/
or:
www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk
http://www.persevere.lineages.co.uk/
www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/eh6
www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/leith
http://www.leithfestival.com/
Mark Lazarowicz MP (Edinburgh North & Leith) is heading the steering group which has been established to further promote the campaign for a Leith Museum. Mark says;
There have been numerous calls and campaigns for a Museum in Leith for nigh on sixty years and still one of the most historic communities in Scotland, does not have a permanent full time museum.
The current Campaign, clearly has huge support from numerous members of the community, including local Councillors and community organisations. And why not! Leith is undergoing massive change and what better a time to establish a Museum showcasing our history so the Old Leith is not forgotten.
Why does Leith deserve a museum? Well according to many, it will strengthen community links at a time of rapid social change, and will highlight Leith's important role in the history of Scotland as a whole. Some would say that a museum will inform, educate and enlighten this and future generations to what is, was and can be the future for Leith.
A recent article in the local press went on:
In May of last year at Leith’s Ocean Terminal there was a stall publicising the upcoming annual Leith Festival. Part of the stall was given over to the Petition for a Leith Museum.
The support was encouraging, but there were also questions asked. The FAQ’s can be paraphrased as:
Where is the Leith Museum? And
Are you campaigning about the closure of the Leith Museum?
Question two is somewhat irrelevant, but question one, needs not an answer but questions, not where but why and why not.
There is simply not a Leith Museum because in the distant past Museums were National Buildings and collections, celebrating the wider aspects of historic and otherwise important events.
Mark comments on the fact that there have been previous attempts to establish a museum for Leith
One of these campaigns got as far as creating a Leith Museum Trust, the ideas (or ideals) came before the Council only to be referred to some sub-committee, and subsequently lost in the mists of time.
These previous attempts were not sponsored by just any old ‘Leithers’ but by Peers of the Realm, MP’s, the Clergy, Academics, Councillors and members of Leith Commerce and Industry. To no avail.
The people of Leith do not think they need a Museum, they think that Leith deserves a Museum.
When you consider the impact of the part the Port and Town of Leith has had on the History of Scotland, let alone Edinburgh, you become to realise why this feeling exists.
The current campaign started on two fronts, both with the same aim. Members of the Leith Local History society approached Mark with their thoughts with which he agreed and decided to test the feelings of the Leith populace by instigating a petition, only a successful showing of support he said would attract the desired interest of the parties in whose hands any decision would lie.
At the same time John Arthur, a Leith historian started another petition aimed directly at the Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh City Council.
Both petitions ran in tandem using different approaches and following the Leith Festival in June 2007, which is the largest gathering of Leith people and visitors to the town in any year, over 3000 signatures had been collected, enough for Mark to confirm that there was in his mind sufficient support to take the matter to the next stage.
A public meeting hosted by Mark, Malcolm Chisholm MSP and town councillor Gordon Munro included on the agenda a discussion re the next steps to be taken. A further meeting of those willing to take an active role in the campaign resulted in the forming of a ‘Steering Group’ to formally promote the more detailed aspects of substantiating the need and consideration of other aspect such as Where, What type of Museum, the Financial details and further support which would allow the campaign to go forward in a professional manner, although still by volunteers.
Meanwhile the Petition to the Scottish Parliament was discussed by the Public Petitions committee at Holyrood where Malcolm Chisholm spoke on behalf of the petitioners.
The matter was referred to various bodies for input and the outcome which will be discussed again by the Committee at Holyrood following which more detailed requirements for the steering group to work against will be known.
Further details about the status of the campaign, comments, views, questions can be found on the following websites or in writing to mark at the address below. It is intended that this newsletter will be published monthly following the Steering Group meetings and will be available in local Libraries, Churches, Organisations etc; If your group would like to be included in the distribution please use the Email or phone No’s below.It will also be published in each monthly edition of the Leith Gazette and on this blogsite.
Contacts:
Mark Lazarovicz MP
86/88 Brunswick Street
Edinburgh EH7 5HU
0131 557 0577
lazarowiczm@parliament.uk/
http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/
http://leithmuseum.blogspot.com/
Steve Mitchell – Press & Public Relations
firstleither@gmail.com
http://firstleither.blogspot.com/
or:
www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk
http://www.persevere.lineages.co.uk/
www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/eh6
www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/leith
http://www.leithfestival.com/
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