The picturethis £50 CHRONICLE voucher to be won MAY 2007 Issue No. 82 Free See page 10 for competition details Reward offered for information on local post office robbery POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED the Royal Mail are offering a £5,000 incentive to the public for information about a robbery at Craigmillar office. It comes as detectives from Lothian and Borders Police con- tinue investigations into the armed robbery on February 22. The reward is offered to anyone who comes forward with infor- mation leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for the crime. At around 10.30am a man walked into the post office, pre- sented what appeared to be a firearm at the female shop assis- tant and demanded money. She handed over several thou- sand pounds worth of cash and the man fled in a blue Fiat Punto. The car was seen driving off along Craigmillar Castle Loan then along Craigmillar Castle Avenue. The culprit is white, aged Maasai warrior dances wow between 30 and 35 years, stocky build, wearing a cream thigh length jacket, dark hooded top underneath, brown shoes and a purple cap. the children of St. Francis A police spokeswoman said: “Our enquiries so far have not led ST. FRANCIS PRIMARY tourists. The English headmaster Their main source of income is fascinating. It is great that they to the identify of the culprit. We school had its hall turned into was asked if his school would from grazing cattle and goats in have been able to come here and hope that the offer of a reward a scene from an African vil- sponsor a tour for the troupe. areas of extreme drought. Fresh raise some money as they really will create new leads and an lage last month with the In 2004 the troupe visited water is scarce and access to edu- are living in desperate conditions arrest. arrival of the Osiligi Maasai Suffolk, England and performed at cation is limited and basic. in Kenya.” “We would appeal to anyone Dance Troupe. primary and secondary schools as The financial benefits of such After the dance performance, the who was in the vicinity of the In their first visit to Scotland, the well as agricultural shows. tours are improving the lives of troupe encouraged lots of ques- Craigmillar post office on Niddrie Osiligi Maasai Warriors were vis- They were such a success that it the Osiligi Warrior dancers help- tions from the pupils. Mains Road on the morning of iting the school as part of a spon- was hoped touring would become ing them to build new homes to One pupil wanted to know how February 22, and may have seen sored tour enabling them to make a regular event. They toured accommodate their families and they managed to jump so high and anything suspicious but, not yet money to take back home to sup- England again in 2005. send their children to school as whistle so loudly! The Kenyans spoken to police, to come for- port their families. This year, with the help of the well as enabling key health servic- were only too happy to demon- ward. The journey began for the City of Edinburgh Council and St es such as a maternity clinic. strate and encourage the children Anyone with information can Troupe when parents from a Francis Primary, the Troupe came St. Francis headteacher, to have a go themselves. contact Lothian and Borders school in England had seen them to Scotland. Margaret Duff told the Others were fascinated by the police on 0131 311 3131 or perform in their Kenyan village In Kenya, the nine members of Chronicle: “We are delighted to costumes and tribal jewellery Crimestoppers in complete trying to raise money from the Troupe struggle to survive. have the group here - they are on sale after the performance. anonymity on 0800 555 111. 2 The Chronicle...May 2007 The Chronicle is an independent newspaper published by Craigmillar Sweet smell of success for eco Community Newspaper Limited (CCN Ltd.) for the people of Greater Craigmillar. perfume Enterprise winners CCN Ltd. is a Private Limited AN IDEA FOR AN eco-con- pupils to think; when they walk Company funded by the City scious perfume was enough to into a shop they’re not just going of Edinburgh Council sway a panel of judges from in to buy something but, they’re through the Craigmillar the world of business recently thinking about the process of how as some of the Craigmillar’s it got to the shop.” Partnership and the youngest entrepreneurs Winning team member Danielle Edinburgh Community faced-off in the annual Mearns explained their successful Newspaper Trust. Castlebrae High Enterprise formula, saying: “We combined Challenge. the idea of a perfume with the The team contest involved S3 environment and saving the plan- students aged 14-15 years taking a et, and I think that’s what made us product from inception to shop stand out. None of us argued, we floor, whilst focusing on costs, worked as a team, and we’re all so overheads and marketing strate- happy.” gies. She went on to add: “I love doing The pupils worked in groups the Challenge every year because with invited business profession- it’s good for team building, being The views expressed in the als, plotting a product campaign more patient, and finding out Chronicle are not necessari- and delivering a presentation to other people’s points of view.” ly those of the Editor or the the judging panel. According to Castlebrae’s Board of Directors. The event was co-sponsored by Scarlett Johnson, the Enterprise Editor: Sally Fraser the Craigmillar District Business Challenge has a key role in devel- Association (CDBA) and Fort oping the next generation of local Reporters: Fergus Grierson Kinnaird Retail Park, with support businessmen and women. It also Anne Glover from the local business communi- introduces key notions about the ty and beyond. work environment that will stand The Chronicle After a keenly fought contest, the participants in good stead when Unit 9A Castlebrae Business winning team was announced and they come to join the employment Centre, Peffer Place rewarded with a trophy and sector. Edinburgh EH16 4BB vouchers for their environmental- She said: “They were asked to ly friendly, refillable perfume deal with concepts they don’t Tel: 0131 661 0791 campaign. always deal with, and we mix e-mail: Awarding the prizes was Fort them up to allow them to see what Danielle Meams from the S3 winning team collects the Enterprise [email protected] k Kinnaird Centre Manager Liam it’s like in the real world when Challenge award from Fort Kinnaird’s Liam Smith Smith, who told the Chronicle: “It you’re working with colleagues Printed by: was a fine line between the final- that you didn’t choose. I’m to being very encouraged by the adding: “I really enjoyed it and it Scottish County Press ists but, the winning group really delighted with them because by- talent and creativity on display will continue, because the Delivered by: stood out because of their innova- and-large they were magnificent.” from the pupils taking part. CDBA need a presence in the Premier Delivery tion and the way they pitched the CDBA’s Linda Fenwick has been “They were enthusiastic, they community - and I hope to see product.” involved with the Challenge for were bubbly and the team dynam- some of these kids in the next Registered in Scotland He added: “The overall view of the last three years, and was on the ics were fantastic; they’d really couple of years when they want Registration No. 205722 the challenge was really to get the 2007 judging panel. She admitted thought it through,” she said, to start up their own businesses.” ADVERTISEMENT Deacon appointed COPY FOR QMU Professor INCLUSION QUEEN Margaret University (QMU) last month appointed Susan Deacon as Professor of IN THE Social Change. The former Minister and local JUNE MSP will lead plans for the devel- opment of a Forum for Social ISSUE MUST Change to be launched in the autumn when the University moves to its new purpose-built REACH US campus at Craighall. Professor Deacon will also con- BY: tribute to the University’s teaching and research across a range of areas. FRIDAY Professor Deacon said: “I look for- ward to my challenging new role with QMU and to developing plans 11th MAY for the new Forum for Social Change. I consider it a great privilege 2007 to have this opportunity to work with Queen Margaret at such an excit- ing stage in their development.” The Chronicle...May 2007 3 GRANTS UP Bingham residents take FOR GRABS FOR GREEN to the streets for spring GROUP INITIATIVES clean Scotland campaign COMMUNITY GROUPS looking to improve the envi- the hedges, they don’t care. I think ronment in their local park, the council wait too long to uplift woodland or green space in bulky things - sometimes three or the city are being offered the four weeks. opportunity to apply for She added: “The kids see things grants of up to £5,000 to help in gardens and take them and with their projects. smash them up in the street. The City of Edinburgh Council People just throw litter wherever has allocated £50,000 through the they want. We should definitely Parks and Gardens Capital have litter bins in the street. The Programme to be distributed to clean-up is a good idea though projects that will improve the and, I would like to see it happen appearance, facilities or conserva- on a regular basis as it would tion value of a local park or open show that the council and the resi- space.