Larry Hutchison has been visiting the Christian Aid Book Sale since it first began in the early 1970s, writes Julia Forsyth, one of the organisers of the event.
He first stumbled upon the sale almost by accident. He remembers Edinburgh back in the ’70s as a city full of second-hand bookshops. He has been a book trader and bibliophile all his working life, so would often come into the city seeking treasures in the form of books and ephemera.
Runs until 31 January at the National Gallery of Scotland on the Mound.
Alternatively, Turner skies available without queuing above Spurtleshire, weather permitting.
The latest version of the Princes St & Waverley Valley Strategy has been put on hold after the Liberal Democrat group's amendment was supported by most members of the Planning Cmte.
Councillors yesterday thanked officials for their hard work on the document. But they acknowledged consultees’ concerns that it lacked the ambition, imagination and vision needed to ensure Princes St and surrounding areas ‘are vibrant and welcoming places’.
Chief Executive Jo Buckley (pictured) gave updates on the Dunard Centre’s progress at May’s New Town & Broughton Community Council meeting. We very briefly summarised them in Issue 351 (p.4).
Interesting points and clarifications for which we didn’t have room in print included:
The Dunard Centre, scheduled to open in 2029, is administered under the name Impact Scotland. It is independently owned and managed.
Here are two upcoming events with local connections which may interest Spurtle readers.
Readings from Donald Smith and Stewart Conn's 'Edinburgh: Our Storied Town', Central Library, 3 Oct, 6.30pm: ticketsource.co.uk/edinburgh-central-library.
Guided tour of Commonwealth War Graves in Rosebank Cemetery, 9 October, 10am: https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/war-graves-tours/.
Since its beginning 30 years ago, Out of the Blue has left an indelible mark on Edinburgh’s cultural scene, writes Charlie Ellis. As well as providing studio space to artists, the organisation has also been a significant host of cultural events and much else.
This wide range of activities has given Out of The Blue a greater reach than many comparable art centres, and its importance is clear at a time when other bodies, such as the Filmhouse and Summerhall, have been under severe threat.
Encouraging how Broughton Pharmacy community library has flourished since modest start in Sept 2019: see p.2 in Issue 289.
Now a well-used local resource with sometimes startling content, including Spurtles.
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Public libraries have been squeezed and under threat for many decades; a manifestation of a long-running assault on the public domain, writes Charlie Ellis. Thankfully, many in this city seem to be in good health. One of Edinburgh’s busiest public libraries, McDonald Road, is currently celebrating its 120th anniversary. They have been commemorating this with exhibitions and a series of talks.
The annual Doors Open Days offer public access to buildings which are not usually accessible. In several senses, they reveal much about the city.
One of the things that appeals to visitors here is that so many museums and galleries are open to the public. In contrast, they are disheartened that so many seemingly ‘public’ places are strictly private: the gardens of the New Town being a classic example. Visitors (and some residents) peer longingly over fences and walls at the forbidden fruits within.
A formal 125-year lease agreement has begun between Edinburgh Council and the Royal High School Preservation Trust. Work will now begin on turning the historic structures and new additions into a home for St Mary’s Music School and a public performance venue.
RHSPT chair Willie Gray Muir said, ‘As we prepare to move ahead into the redevelopment phase, we look forward to collaborating closely with the local community as we keep them up-to-date on progress.’ Work is expected to finish in 2026.