15 Basics Bank

Just last week, there was a talk in Portobello about food poverty – it was described as ‘Our National Shame’. The speaker talked about the number of people who’re having to resort to food banks – and the fact that many of them are actually in work – but can’t afford to pay all of the bills…and feed themselves as well. It’s a shocking indictment of our society – especially when the organisation that refers most people to food banks is the Department or Work and Pensions. 

There is a food bank in the area – they prefer to call it a ‘Basics Bank’ because it offers more than just food…soap, razors, feminine hygiene products are all part of the mix. It’s very much a community project – Tower Bank Primary and Portobello High School are both involved as are local churches, allotment groups and others. 

It’s backed by the Edinburgh City Mission and helped by a charity called the Cyrenians which supports the homeless and vulnerable by running, amongst other things, a farm growing fruit and vegetables. 

The Basics Bank is based at Wilson Memorial Church at the foot of Portobello Road. One of the volunteers, Patsy Cook, has been there from the start nearly four years ago. So what was the driving force that got the group started?

Basics Bank

14 The Award Winning Skylark

It’s not every day that a local business is recognised as being the best in Scotland. Well, just this week, a Portobello café/bar/restaurant (the exact definition is quite hard, even for the owners) received such an accolade…and it was (cymbals) The Skylark in the High Street. They came top in The Skinny Food & Drink Survey, one of six listed as the best bars in the country. Even better, they were voted for by the readers of the magazine. 

The Skylark in Porty High Street

 The Skylark’s been going successfully for several years now which, as the Skinny’s editorial points out, can feel like “a lifetime in the accelerated world of food and drink, where the hours are long, the drink flows heavily and the whims of the public can set the best laid plans awry.” So what are they doing right? Originally from France, one of the founders, Nina Davidson, settled in Portobello with her architect husband and two small children. Apart from discussing the success of the business, how much warning had the partners had that an award was on its way?

The Award Winning Skylark 

13 The Bellfield Brewery

A Happy New Year to one and all. We’re starting 2017 with a subject dear to the hearts of beer drinkers – especially those who may have wanted to raise a festive glass but couldn’t because they have an allergy to gluten or an intolerance to wheat. You may not realise it but a lot of brewers add wheat to the recipe because it improves the quality of the head. Well, a couple of Portobello residents, Giselle Dye and Alistair Brown, took the matter into their own hands and formed the Bellfield Brewery a couple of years ago, one whose whole purpose was to produce gluten-free beer. 

We’ll be speaking one of those founders in this episode – but first, this podcast is a little different because, as you may have heard, there’s a contest associated with it. The prize – 6 bottles of Bellfield Beers – and, to win, you’ll have to listen to the whole episode because all the answers can be found there. So here’s the interview with Giselle Dye explaining why she and Alistair had formed the brewery in the first place:

Bellfield Brewery

So to the competition – there are six questions, five of which are listed home page for this podcast. Please send you answers to theportypodcast@gmail.com

    1)      What is the name of Giselle’s husband?

    2)      What is the medical condition which means he can’t drink normal beer any longer?

    3)      Name the principle ingredient in their gluten-free beer?

    4)      What is the name of the head brewer?

    5)      How many independent off-licences and shops are selling the beer?

    6)      What is the origin of the name, Bellfield?

Good luck!

And the winner was Malcolm Stewart – well done!

12 Christmas in Portobello 2016

Christmas, for many, is a time for reflection, not just conspicuous consumption. With that in mind, we have handed the bandwidth for this, the last Porty Podcast of 2016, to the faith leaders in our community.
 

St Marks Episcopal Church

The four of them - Sophia Marriage of St Mark's Episcopalian Church, Andy Scarcliffe of Portobello Baptist Church, Stewart Weaver of Portobello and Joppa Parish Church and Fr Jock Dalrymple of St. John the Evangelist RC Church - each took a character from the Christmas story to reflect upon. 

We hope you enjoy their thoughts. Have a Happy Christmas and an excellent New Year. We'll be back in January.

Christmas Eve in Portobello 

11 Tommy Sheppard MP

Tommy Sheppard was elected to serve Edinburgh East at Westminster in the SNP landslide in 2015. His victory came as something of a surprise - the seat had been safely in Labour hands for years. 

He has taken his new responsibilities seriously and his contributions in the Commons have had their impact. He took the decision right from the start to make sure he listened to the voice of local people - indeed, his main constituency office is in Portobello High Street. 

So in this episode, we hear from the man himself to find out a little more about the MP, his experience of the last 18 months and some thoughts about an uncertain future.

 Tommy Sheppard MP

10 Row Porty

Portobello is known as "Edinburgh's Seaside" and one of the great things is the way people make use of the great big water feature right on our doorstep. There's sailing, kayaking and rowing - all under the banner of the Portobello Sailing and Kayaking Club or PSKC. 

Ice Breaker - Row Porty's First Skiff

 The rowing section - RowPorty - is the only one which is a year round activity. It was one of the first members of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and has helped develop the sport into a worldwide activity. 

The great thing about RowPorty - and indeed the whole of PSKC - is that it's a community club set up to encourage people to get out on the water. That's confirmed by the fact that the boats, known as St Ayles Skiffs, were built by members of the club from a kit supplied by Jordan Boats in Fife. In this episode, we hear from some of those who did the hard work.

9 The New Portobello High School

The new Portobello High School was officially opened a few days ago, although the learners and staff have been in since October. It's an attractive, modern, very well equipped building that everyone seems to enjoy using. The school however is about more than a place of learning for young people. It is also designed to be a hub for the community with all sorts of activities taking place there after hours, something that will grow in the New Year.

 

Portobello High School

It’s been a long time in coming. It was a highly controversial  project with many local people objecting to the green field site chosen for the new building. It took an Act of the Scottish Parliament for the land to be acquired. 

Now that it's open, the local community has had the chance to come in and look around. They found facilities that are state of the art. They spoke to staff and learners who feel much more positive and enthusiastic about their future. 

In this episode, we hear from head teacher, Ruth MacKay, as well as some of the students. As they make clear, everyone is still feeling their way and, despite all the planning that went into the building, the staff are still finding out that the planners hadn’t necessarily thought of all eventualities. 

 The New High School

8 Porty Communicators

Many years ago, a book was published called 'And Death Came Third!' It was about people's greatest fears.  So what came first and second? Walking into a roomful of strangers - and speaking in public! 

There’s a global organisation called Toastmasters International which can help. It has been around for almost 100 years and its primary purpose is to make its members more confident when they go out to speak in public. It also provides other development tools such as leadership. It’s a voluntary organisation and there's s a new branch which has just been set up in Portobello – Porty Communicators.

Porty Communicators

 Founded by Eoin McDumphy (Centre in the picture), it will bring the Toastmaster message out of Edinburgh City Centre. In this episode, he explains why the skills being taught are just as important today as they were in the 1920s.

Porty Communicators

7 Community Police

There’s been a significant change in the policing of Portobello and north east Edinburgh as a whole. Over the past 5-6 weeks, two police officers - Matt McPherson and David Love - have been  out and about, speaking to the local community and finding out what the concerns of local people are.

 

PCs David Love (left) and Matt McPherson

 It’s part of what is officially known as Operation Rigoletto. What it means in practice has been, across Edinburgh, putting boots back on the ground and making sure that everyone knows who their local officers are and are therefore more willing to approach them in an easy, relaxed, friendly way.

One part of this is  the new 'Coffee with a Cop' service.  Matt and Davie will be at Portobello Library ready to talk about concerns you have, from bike thefts to antisocial behaviour on the beach. The interviews start with PC McPherson talking about the new policy.

Community Police

6 The Porty Panto 2016

It's becoming a tradition in Portobello - the Porty Panto is one of the highlights of the Festive Season. All the traditional ingredients are there - oh no it isn’t – oh yes it is! Otherwise sane and respectable people don loud, garish, outlandish costumes, tell bawdy jokes and entertain children and adults alike with traditional tales such as Cinderella, Aladdin or Puss in Boots. 

 

The Porty Panto is back again opening on Thursday the 9th of December. This year, it's Jack and the Beanstalk and involved lots of local, community talent - dancers from the Lothian Dance Academy, the Towerbank Primary Choir etc - as well as professional performers such as Billy Kirkwood and Brett Heriot. Produced by impresario Stephen Davidson and directed by the brilliant actor Shauna MacDonald, it will be a whole load of fun!

The Porty Panto