Gran’s dog ban after Andrew’s face is bitten open

By Michael MacLeod

A GRANDMOTHER whose Lakeland Terrier ripped open a five year-old boy’s face has been ordered to pay him £350 compensation.

SCARRED: Youngster Andrew Osborne was bitten by a dog

Little Andrew Osborne was playing with his twin brother outside his Midlothian house when he was savagely attacked in May.

The tot was knocked over as the dog leapt up and sunk its teeth through his right cheek, leaving him streaming with blood.

He needed three operations and 34 stitches after the horror attack, and is expected to be scarred for life.

Dog owner Frieda Lang said she knew nothing of the attack until police arrived at her door.

As cops questioned her, the 67 year-old realised the gate to her home had been left open and accepted that her eight year-old dog, Pip, was to blame.

She told police she wanted the dog “put to sleep” immediately.

Today (Thurs) Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard she was “considerably contrite and remorseful” over the attack.

Administrators spark Kenmore Property Group job fears

by Shaun Milne

AN EDINBURGH based property group with a £1 billion investment portfolio has called in the receivers.

Fifty jobs are now understood to be at risk at Kenmore Property Group after administrator Grant Thornton was appointed today(thurs).

Tonight it was understood the group had managed to secure short term backing from Lloyds Banking Group to allow it continue trading meanwhile.

It was thought the breathing space will allow administrators to pore over options for potential restructuring.

Rob Caven, a partner at the administrators, confirmed that 21 companies within the group’s set up had been affected by the move.

He added: “While the insolvency of part of the Kenmore Group will create uncertainty for a number of parties, we will ensure that we liaise with all affected parties in order to minimise disruption to the funds that are owned and managed by the group.”

Hollywood supremo composer picks up degree from Edinburgh Napier

By Rory Reynolds

HOLYWOOD composer Craig Armstrong enjoyed a degree of success when he was given an honourary doctorate at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh yesterday.

The Glasgow-born soundtrack writer – who has penned scores for blockbuster hits Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge – accepted the award from Edinburgh Napier University for an outstanding career in the music industry.

The two-time BAFTA award-winner took some time out from working on the score of Michael Douglas thriller Wall Street 2 to congratulate music students for graduating.

He said: “I would like to thank the university for this honourary degree.

“I have received a number of awards over my lifetime but this one is particularly meaningful, as it has its roots embedded in education and learning.

Family of nurses graduate on same day

By Rory Reynolds

MEET the trio of angels who are keeping it in the family – by graduating into the NHS on the SAME DAY.

Mum Angela Mackenzie and her two daughters all qualified for work yesterday after receiving their Bachelor of Nursing from Edinburgh Napier University.

Angela, 45, graduated with a BN in Mental Health Nursing, along with daughter Lauren, 22, while Lisa, 21, graduated with a BN in Adult General Nursing.

Proud mum Angela said: “I’m very excited to be graduating with my two girls and delighted that they decided to follow in my footsteps.

“We’ve all thoroughly enjoyed our time at Edinburgh Napier.

Edinburgh business group launch Apprentice-style search for new boss

By Rory Reynolds

A SCOTTISH business group has launched its own Apprentice-style competition to find a new boss to head up its operation.

Edinburgh-based Winning Entrepreneurs are appealing to young business minded hopefuls to bid for the position as head of the group, who meet to share business experience and ideas.

Applicants will be thankful that they don’t have fiery self-made multi-millionaire and government business tsar Alan Sugar to impress.

But they will have to win over seasoned Scots businesswoman Belinda Roberts, along with BBC Online Dragon and Shaf Rasul.

The winning applicant – who will have to have impressed judges with their business acumen and present a campaign – will become an apprentice managing director, before taking over the group’s mantle.

Dog guides blind owner to a Napier degree

By Rory Reynolds

A LOYAL guide dog has stuck with her owner through years of studying and commuting 60 miles every day to help her graduate with a degree from a Scots university.

Four-year-old Jules helped visually impaired Jodie Renton to achieve a BA Honours degree in Human Resources – and learn two languages.

Now the duo – who graduated together from Edinburgh Napier yesterday – are heading for a place on the Civil Service’s Fast Stream programme.

And the 22-year-old said she’ll stick with her Labrador Spaniel all the way to a top government post.

Jodie said: “I’m delighted to be graduating today, I’ve worked really hard to get here today and have loved studying at Edinburgh Napier.

Sir Sean Connery chooses an award-winning personal piper

By Oliver Farrimond

A TALENTED young Scot has seen his bagpipe dreams realised after impressing both First Minister Alex Salmond AND screen legend Sir Sean Connery.

Connor Sinclair, 13, has been appointed the official piper to the First Minister after winning a host of top awards for his piping skills.

And Bahamas-based screen legend Connery has asked Connor, who attends The City of Edinburgh Music School at Broughton High School, to be his official piper for his next visit to Scotland.

The burly former James Bond asked the youngster, who travels every day to the Edinburgh school from his home in Crieff in Perthshire, to accompany him after hearing him perform in the Black Watch play during the Edinburgh Festival.

Connor said: “I love piping and playing for the First Minister and Sean Connery, it’s really exciting.

Medal-winning Olympian to break world record after second hip replacement

By Oliver Farrimond

A VETERAN Olympic hammer thrower is set to smash a British record – just weeks after a SECOND hip replacement operation.

Chris Black, 59, has battled back to full fitness after the procedure, which is his second in just over a decade.

And now Chris, from Edinburgh, is confident he can reach a new milestone – especially because he set a world record after undergoing his first operation.

He said: “I am living proof that life does go on even after a hip replacement – people can and do continue to do virtually all of the things that they used to.

“I’ve always been a really active person and I couldn’t bear to sit about and do nothing.

Newspaper Round-Up Tuesday 12th November