14 BUSINESS NEWS 15
By STAFF REPORTERTHE EDINBURGH BUTTER
COMPANY is running Scotland’s
first-ever croissant competition, open
to bakers in Scotland.
From home-based micro bakers to
professional pâtissiers - the
competition seeks people who will put
their skills to the test as they compete
for the title of Scotland’s best croissant.
The competition will take place in
Edinburgh and is open to all bakeries
with a passion for croissants. The sole
requirement is that each croissant
must be crafted using the Edinburgh
Butter Company’s sheet butter, which
has been specially formulated for
pastry lamination, the technique used
to make croissants.
Judging will take place on Monday,
28 October in the Esk Suite at The
Balmoral Hotel.
Entrants must present six plain
croissants to the panel of judges which
includes leading pastry chefs, Executive
Pastry Chef at The Balmoral Hotel, Ross
Sneddon, owner of Lannan Bakery,
Darcie Maher, Head Pastry Chef at two
Michelin starred restaurant, The
Glenturret, Kayleigh Turner, owner of
Ruff Puff & previous winner of The Great
British Bake Off, John Whaite, food and
travel writer, Milly Kenny-Ryder and
Director of Edinburgh Butter Company,
Chloe Black. The judging criteria will
focus on the shape, colour, pastry
development, texture, and taste,
ensuring that the best croissant wins.
Chloe Black, director at The
Edinburgh Butter Company said: “At
the Edinburgh Butter Company we feel
our cultured butter has long been the
secret ingredient behind Scotland’s
finest viennoiserie. After hearing from
our talented network of bakers, we
realised there was a strong desire for a
competition that truly celebrates the
craftsmanship of croissant-making. We
saw an opportunity to create an event
that focuses on the quality of
individual creations, ensuring that
every bakery in Scotland has a fair
chance to shine. This competition is
our way of honouring their passion
and dedication.”By PHYLLIS STEPHEN
SAVILLS are marketing Lansdowne House in
Murrayfield as a site for a private housing
development.
The 2.2 acre site was originally built as a
private home, and the property for sale
includes the main house along with a range of
other school buildings and a lodge house.
Lansdowne House is the distinctive building
in Murrayfield with the turret, and was
formerly a school in its own right. It was
bought by St George’s School for Girls in 1976,
and is now to be sold. The sale proceeds will
fund a new building on the Ravelston campus
at the private school and will take all facilities
back onto one footprint.
Danielle Corker of Savills said: “This must
be one of the most attractive residential
development opportunities on the market in
Scotland, with the Water of Leith, Murrayfield
Stadium and the National Galleries on the
doorstep, along with all of the sough-after
aspects of a capital city including leading
schools and universities.
“While we anticipate Lansdowne will be
hotly contested, we will prioritise finding the
right buyer who will respect the history and
legacy of the site and the wider local
community. Savills Planning has submitted a
pre-application enquiry to Edinburgh City
Council but necessary permissions will be
required to be met in respect of listed status,
design, amenity, open space and parking.”
Lansdowne House sale to
fund school development
By STAFF REPORTERLEITH-BASED CHARITY Strange
Town uses theatre and the arts as a
way of giving children and young
people the chance to develop their
creative talent.
The organisation was founded by
local Directors, Steve Small and Ruth
Hollyman, who set it up to increase
access to experience of the arts for
everyone. They put on accessible
activities, offer a range of bursaries
and funding help for young actors at
an early stage in their careers, but
who find it difficult financially.
The organisation has expanded in
the last 15 years, now reaching more
than 2,000 local young people every
year. Activities include youth theatre
classes, holiday programmes, a
touring company and agency
support for young actors.
Strange Town says it “creates work
of the highest quality that is both
daring and entertaining, tackling
subjects of importance to young
people’s lives, such as consent,
climate change anxiety and knife
crime, vitally involving and
commissioning emerging writers”.The charity will mark their 15th
year with a special three-night run
of their acclaimed play “HER”, written
by award-winning playwright
Jennifer Adam.
Initially touring secondary schools
across the city, HER is an important
play about the damaging effects of
gender inequality, the truth about
consent and asks: “How can you be
the change you want to see in the
world when you feel like the world is
fighting against you?”
Steve Small said: “We are so proud
of the activities and support we
have delivered across the last fifteen
years. Edinburgh is well-known as
an epicentre for creative talent and
opportunity. We have just had one
of the busiest ever Fringe festivals
where our city comes alive with
performance and celebration of the
arts, yet for many young people
living here all year round these
opportunities just do not exist.
“Arts organisations are struggling
to sustain their support. We are
seriously under-funded in this
country and without programmes
like ours, young people, especially
those from socio-economicallydeprived backgrounds would be
unable to benefit from the life-
enriching experiences of
participating in youth theatre.
When young people join Strange
Town, they are given the
opportunity to connect with others
in-person, to have fun, build key life
skills, grow in confidence and feel a
sense of belonging.
“Many would never contemplate
a career in the arts without our
support.
“Our touring company
productions are carefully created to
engage to spark discussion and
debate around difficult subject
matter. We are delighted that we’ve
been given the opportunity to
revive ‘HER’ this October and
encourage all local people,
theatre-goers and those keen to
learn more about us, to come to a
show and help support our work
across the next 15 years.” HER at the Tech Cube in Summerhall
for three-nights only 8-10 October.
All proceeds go towards the charity’s
vital work with young people living in
Edinburgh.Strange Town stage HER next month
By BUSINESS REPORTERFOR THE FIRST TIME NHS
laboratory specimens have been
delivered by drone from
Edinburgh Bioquarter to the
Borders General Hospital in
Melrose during a pilot project.
While this is still part of a trial
it would mean saving hours on
deliveries as NHS Lothian say
that sending lab samples by
road can take up to five hours.
Project CAELUS led by AGS
Airports in collaboration with
NHS Scotland say the delivery
from Edinburgh to the Borders
took 35 minutes. This is hoped to
be the first of a national drone
network transporting medicines,
bloods and supplies all over
Scotland.
Fiona Smith, Project Director
for Project CAELUS said: “Our
consortium has been working
extremely hard to get to this
stage and we are delighted weDrone deliveries
have been able to test this
important use case for the NHS.
“Transporting laboratory
specimens by drone could
speed up the clinical decision
making allowing for same day
diagnosis and treatment.
“It is also one of the first times
in the UK that there has been a
demonstration of beyond the
visual line of sight medical
drone operations transiting
between controlled and
uncontrolled airspace.
“This is an important
milestone for our project and
we now look forward to testing
more potential use cases by
drone across Scotland in the
coming months.”
Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical
Director and Executive Lead for
Innovation, NHS Lothian said:
“Across NHS Lothian, we are
continually exploring ways to
innovate and enhance our
patient experience.“Lothian and the surrounding
areas are very diverse, from city
to country and coastal living.
Drones could play an important
role in helping to transport
samples for testing or speed up
the delivery of critical medical
supplies.
“These exciting trial flights
have been a collaborative effort
between our clinical leads,South East Innovation Hub and
partner organisations and I look
forward to seeing further
developments with this project.”
The project team has
designed drone landing stations
at NHS sites in Scotland and
developed a virtual model. The
Scottish Ambulance Service is
also working on a plan to deliver
defibrillators with drones.Lansdowne House in Murrayfield built as a private homeHERFinding the
best croissant
Porty Art fest
THE ART WALK PORTY 2024 FESTIVAL
“UnderCurrent” offers visitors a chance to
experience the creative community of
Portobello and Joppa. It will be a chance to
chat with artists, adding to an understanding
and appreciation of their work, as well as to
seeing inside the spaces where they live and
work.This year the festival will be focused on
the weekends of 7-8 and 14-15 September.
Art Houses is a curated programme that
shows a range of work and disciplines in
artists houses, studios and gardens. The Art
Houses venues have been gathered around
four walking routes – North, South, East and
West – giving visitors the option of choosing
one or more locations within Portobello, and
divide their Art Walk Porty experience into
more than one visit should they wish. This
year’s theme, UnderCurrent, is framed
around marine health and the natural
heritage of Edinburgh’s coast.Simply the best?Oktoberfest and Superheroes
AN EAST LOTHIAN RACECOURSE is
bringing a touch of Munich to Musselburgh in
hosting its first Oktoberfest Raceday.
Bavarian beer steins will clink to the tunes of
one of the UK’s top oompah bands at the
raceday on Saturday 14 September, which also
features seven top Flat races, including the
Musselburgh Gold Cup.
Taking its lead from the famous Munich
Oktoberfest, now in its 189th year and which
runs from September into October, a Bavarian
marquee will be the focal point for the East
Lothian track’s festivities.
Stein holding and keg rolling competitions
are planned and Oktoberfest themed street
food vans will offer a range of bratwurst,
pretzels and German beer, and following the
last race the celebrations continue with an After
Racing Party.
The Jager Maestros - a German Oompah
Band - features seven of the country’s finest
brass players and will get the afternoon
underway with a mesmerising journey through
Oktoberfest songs and games. A past
sell-out act at the Edinburgh Fringe, they are
in demand at Oktoberfests throughout Europe
and have been a hit with audiences across
the UK.
And the next day, Sunday 15 September, a
host of Superheroes including Batman,
Spiderman, Captain America and Bumblebee,
will descend on Musselburgh in support of
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
(ECHC).The family favourites will welcome children
to Musselburgh’s Clip Clop kids zone and
there will be prizes for the best dressed
superhero or character, as well as free kids
funfair rides, face painting and a disco.
There will be bucket collection at the
entrances and exits on behalf of ECHC and
the racecourse will donate £1 for every child
that dresses up as superhero, and oncourse
promotions celebrating the work done by the
charity. A group of children from the SickKids will also be given special access to the
race day and enjoy a one-on-one meeting
with the Superheroes.
All children aged 17 and under are
admitted free when accompanied by a paying
adult and once inside the course all
entertainments are free. A saving of £5 on
admission tickets is available for a limited
period.http://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.ukMusselburgh Racecourse aids Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
Musselburgh RacecourseTest flightWork by Paul McPhail