Performers putting finishing touches on spectacular Tattoo performance

By Daniel Maguire

A SECRET weapon was unveiled in the rehearsals for this year’s Edinburgh Military Tattoo yesterday – chocolate teacakes.

Hundreds of pipers, drummers and dancers from around the globe are spending the week going through their drills for the three-week Festival spectacular.

They are under more scrutiny than ever with this year marking the 60th anniversary of the world famous show.

So ringmaster Major General Euan Loudon brought along his brother Fergus – who happens to be the boss of Tunnock’s Teacakes – to offer up a sweet reward for their hard work.

Fergus dished out an assortment of cakes and caramel wafers to performers and pipers alike between drills at the show’s headquarters, Redford Barracks.

Among the show’s many ambassadors, Lord Provost, George Grubb was in attendance, meeting performers and taking stock of the ongoing preparations.

Ming vase expected to fetch quarter of a million

By Cara Sulieman

A MING vase with connections to an old biscuit company is expected to fetch a quarter of a million when it goes under the hammer tomorrow.

The delicate 500-year-old Chinese creation is from a collection owned by Reginald Palmer, the chairman of the Huntley and Palmer biscuit company.

Still in the family, the vase is now going under the hammer for the first time since 1935.

A spokesman for Bonhams, who are selling the vase as a part of their Asia Week Chinese art auction sales, said that there were high hopes the owner would make good money on his original investment of just £55.