TRAGIC: Archie Dunbar – ‘A smile that would light up when he saw you’

By Cara Sulieman

A FIVE year old boy killed when he was hit by a lorry while cycling just yards from his house died “doing his favourite thing in the world” his parents said tonight (wed).

Jonathan and Michaela Dunbar, from Muirfield Drive in Gullane, East Lothian, said this had been his first summer of being allowed to ride his bike fully.

And they paid tribute to their caring, helpful child, Archie.

In a statement released through Lothian & Borders Police, they said: “Archie was a free little spirit with a mischievous nature, with big brown eyes and a smile that would light up when he saw you.

“He was meant to start Primary Two tomorrow (thurs), and was really looking forward to it. He always received glowing reports, and was very popular with his classmates and teachers.

“His caring nature meant that he would always try to help his classmates if they were having difficulty understanding something that he understood himself.

“He loved reading and playing on his computer, and he loved riding his bike. This was the first summer where he was able to have full use of his bike, and he was taken from us doing his favourite thing in the world.

“Archie was also fascinated by trains, and was so knowledgeable that he could recognise trains in the same way that people recognise cars.

“One of the best days of his life was a couple of years ago when we took the steam train from Drem to Waverley Station.

“He absolutely loved it that day.”

Pensioner fights off car jacker

By Cara Sulieman

A PLUCKY pensioner fought off an attempted car jacker after he tried to steal her motor in the middle of a busy street.

The 60-year-old woman was sitting in her blue Peugeot 207 when the man opened the driver’s door and tried to grab her keys just before 5pm on Tuesday.

But she struggled against the attacker, who threatened to hurt her unless she got out the car on Citadel Court in Edinburgh.

The quick witted woman screamed, attracting the attention of her sister who ran over to help chase the man off.

Vettriano unveils new work – an elephant

The Singing Butler Rides Again - Vettriano's new creation

By Cara Sulieman

POPULAR Scots artist Jack Vettriano has designed a special elephant for a charity auction featuring his most famous creation – the Singing Butler.

Dubbed The Singing Butler Rides Again, the work is one of 250 created for the auction by British artists and designers.

The auction is raising money for charity the Elephant Family, who work to protect Asian elephants and their habitat.

As well as the Elephant Mela – where 30 specially created figures will be sold under the hammer – The Singing Butler Rides Again is part of the Elephant Parade, with the models on display throughout London.

Director of New Pyjamas suspended ahead of finance investigation

Elaine McGonigle (left) with Jack McConnell and George Foulkes at a New Pyjama event at the Parliament last November

By Cara Sulieman

THE director of a fundraising campaign has been suspended while the chairman has resigned amid concerns about how much money the initiative has raised.

Elaine McGonigle has been suspended from the New Pyjamas Campaign for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh ahead of crisis talks with NHS Lothian due to take place tomorrow (Wednesday).

Chairman Graeme Millar has also stepped down from his position.

NHS Lothian Chairman, Dr Charles Winstanley, said the health board called an emergency summit after expressing their “deep concern” when brought up to date on how much had been raised.

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation said they were beginning an “urgent review” of the fundraising campaign.

Scotland’s popular baby names revealed

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTLAND’S most popular baby names have been revealed, with Jack topping the boys’ list for the seventh time in the last 11 years.

And for girls Sophie is still a firm favourite after five years at the top spot.

In second place for the boys is Lewis, which has been in the top two with Jack for the last 11 years – Lewis reaching number one for four of those.

James climbed two places to third, with Liam staying in fourth place and Logan going up three places to fifth.

The second most popular name with baby girls this year was Olivia, followed by Ava, Emily and Lucy.

And some names have seen an upshot in popularity, with Owen climbing 26 places to 32 and Miley shooting up a whopping 190 places to 95.

New exhibition opens celebrating 100 years of polar exploration

David Hempleman-Adams

 

By Cara Sulieman

AN EXHIBITION celebrating the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott’s journey to the South Pole opens tomorrow (Fri).

Photographs on display include those taken by Herbert George Ponting during the tragic expedition in 1910-13 and Frank Hurley’s snaps from Ernest Shackleton’s expedition in 1914-16.

Also on display are the flag given to Scott by Queen Alexandra in 1910, the Union Jack given to Shackleton by King George V and books from the Royal Library, including a copy of ‘Aurora Australis’, the first book to be printed in the Antarctic.

The show, being held at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, was opened by explorer David Hempleman-Adams who was the first man to reach the four geographical and magnetic poles.

Tragic Scots schoolgirl Kelly falls victim to adult cot death

Kelly Blair

By Alexander Lawrie and Cara Sulieman

A TRAGIC Scots schoolgirl has been found dead in her bed after falling victim to suspected adult cot death.

Pretty Kelly Louise Blair, 16, from Musselburgh, East Lothian, was discovered by her family after they went to wake her.

Paramedics were called to the family home at around 8am last Thursday after being called by distraught relatives.

Two ambulances and a doctor attended the scene, but were unable to save the schoolgirl.

“Serena Williams stole my pen”

Zak Scott, nine, and his special sweatband

By Cara Sulieman

A SCOTS schoolboy who went to Wimbledon to watch his heroes play was left gobsmacked when tennis champion Serena Williams stole his pen.

Zak Scott, nine, was first in line to get his tennis ball signed by the tennis star, but was shocked when she continued down the queue with his marker.

So he patiently followed her and waited to get his pen back.

When the Wimbledon champion realised what she had done, she embarrassingly asked if she could swap it for a signed wristband.

Hero dog Jack’s barking saves owner from blazing flat

By MICHAEL MacLEOD

A TINY Jack Russell dog has been hailed a hero after saving his owner from a fire – by biting him on the nose.

John Crossan, 43, dozed off while cooking up a late night snack and his gas hob burst into flames.

Luckily his feisty little pet dog, Jack, sniffed out the smoke and woke his owner.

With his home engulfed in flames, John scooped up his dog and managed to feel his way outside to safety.

A relieved John says he owes his life to his 14-month old pooch, who he describes as his “best friend.”

He said: “Jack deserves a big bone as a treat for saving me – I’d be a goner without him.

“I had taken the batteries out the fire alarm earlier in the day when I was painting the ceiling, and stupidly forgot to put them back in.

“Luckily the dog has been my four-legged fire alarm and woken me up.

“He nipped me on the nose and I wok with a start.

“The flames were absolutely jumping out of the kitchen and the whole place is wrecked because of the smoke.

“I’m just lucky to be alive thanks to this wee guy.”

Schoolboy tipped as next Apprentice

By Cara Sulieman

A SCHOOLBOY is being tipped as a new Alan Sugar style ‘Apprentice’ after he started a successful business selling exam papers.

Along with a group of friends, he developed a website where pupils across the country can buy and sell their old past papers.

Sold in the shops for an average of £8 – past papers can be a hefty investment for pupils studying for their Standard Grades and Highers.

But thanks to Pursuit UK, they can now grab themselves a bargain by buying used books from older students.