Edinburgh Man Faces T In The Park Drugs Charge

By Michael MacLeod

A MAN has been charged over an alleged bid to take over £5,000 worth of drugs into the T in the Park festival.

Robert Stewart Glasgow, 24, is suspected to have been planning to take a range of substances to the weekend’s Balado, Kinross, event.

Police said they seized a quantity of drugs during investigations on Friday in the capital’s Craigmillar area ahead of the music event.

Mr Glasgow was arrested on Friday morning and appeared today(Monday) behind closed doors at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

He was charged with being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

The Edinburgh man made no plea or declaration to the charge and was released on bail.

The case was committed for further enquiry and Mr Glasgow must return to court at a later date.

Police said they had made 64 arrests at the event, compared to 2009’’s total of 59.

T in the park heading for a wash-out

By Cara Sulieman

REVELLERS were put on MUD-alert last night as weather forecaster predicted torrential rain for Scotland’s biggest music festival.

But there was no dampening of excitement yesterday as the first wave of 80,000 ticket holders kicked off this year’s event at Balado near Kinross.

Headliners included Muse, Faithless and the Black Eyed Peas, with hip hop legend Eminem due to play on the Main stage.

Kwaja Mahuh, 32, from Glasgow, had dressed to impress with his homemade Tennent’s hat and said he’d enjoy himself whatever the weather.

At his third T in the Park, Kwaja was still as excited as he was the first time.

Revellers gear up for Scotland’s biggest music festival

Becky Cutler, Lauren Gibson and Zoe Kinnaird arrive at the festival ready to party

By Cara Sulieman

THOUSANDS of excited music fans started to descend on the small town of Kinross today as T in the Park got underway for the 17^th time.

The festival – which grew from a humble 17,000 capacity back in Strathclyde Country Park in 1994 – will see 85,000 people gather to listen to live sets from headliners Eminem, Muse and Kasabian.

And although most of the revellers will congregate from Friday an advance guard of some 30,000 were pitching their tents today for an evening of fun before the full festivities.

Ewan Williamson memorial unveiled

Linda Williamson in front of the plaque remembering her son Ewan

By Cara Sulieman

A LASTING tribute to remember tragic Scots firefighter Ewan Williamson was unveiled by his mother Linda yesterday (Mon).

The 35-year-old had been with Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service for seven years when he died rescuing people from a blaze at the Balmoral Bar on Dalry Road in Edinburgh last July.

Although around 20 people were evacuated from the building, Ewan tragically lost his life – the first Edinburgh based firefighter to die whilst battling a blaze in living memory.

And now the service has dedicated a lasting tribute to a “wonderful individual” and “courageous firefighter”.

Fans queue in the rain for coveted T in the Park tickets

Left to right Mari Bell, 16, Blair Thomson, 17,David Collins, 17, Sophine Myles, 17, Alex Heriot, 17.

By Cara Sulieman

THESE desperate music fans queued for hours in hail and pouring rain today (Fri) to get their lucky hands on the first T in the Park tickets – shortly before Scotland’s biggest music event announced it had SOLD OUT.

All briefs were gone within an hour and a half, making the Thursday night wrapped in blankets and huddled under umbrellas during freezing weather worthwhile for those lucky enough to get them.

But their spirits were raised when Ripping Records on South Bridge – which could easily have been named ‘Dripping’ Records because of the rain – opened half an hour early to start selling the coveted tickets to drenched fans.

With a line up boasting US rapper Eminem alongside British band Muse, around 200 fans didn’t want to risk missing out on the music festival at Balado this year.

Jordan has been dumped

By Cara Sulieman

GLAMOUR model Jordan has been dumped – by fed up readers.

Jordan – real name Katie Price – publicly split with husband Peter Andre in May.

But while he’s riding high in the music charts she has topped the list of the most discarded books at Scots hotels.

The third installment of her life, Pushed to the Limit, is one of more than 7000 discarded books found in Travelodges across Scotland.

Hundreds line rain lashed streets of Edinburgh for funeral of hero fire-fighter Ewan Williamson

By Cara Sulieman, Rory Reynolds, Noelia Martinez & Oliver Farrimond

THE FUNERAL of hero fire-fighter Ewan Williamson took place today in heavy rain and grey skies.

Yet despite the weather hundreds still lined the cobbled streets of Edinburgh to pay their respects to the 35-year-old who died trying to save the lives of others.

A fire engine led by area manager John Dickie took Ewan’s coffin the short journey from Tollcross fire station along past the fire brigade HQ at Lauriston Place.

Second fire to hit Dalry Road in a week

Tragic firefighter Ewan Williamson

By Cara Sulieman

A FIRE has ripped through a British Heart Foundation shop in the capital, just 500 yards from the Balmoral Bar where firefighter Ewan Williamson lost his life.

Exactly a week after his tragic death, firefighters were called out to 56 Dalry Road where smoke was coming out of the roof of the charity’s shop.

Three firefighters were injured whilst trying to put out the inferno and were taken to hospital.

But luckily they were later released from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after being treated for a variety of injuries including smoke inhalation and bumps and bruises.

Hero Ewan’s final journey will be to St Giles Cathedral

By Alexander Lawrie

THE FUNERAL for a hero fire-fighter killed tackling a pub blaze as he helped save 20 people from a burning tenement building is to be held at Edinburgh’s historic St Giles Cathedral.

Ewan Williamson, 35, died after a floor collapsed as he and colleague Oliver Carrigan entered the burning Balmoral Bar in Edinburgh last Sunday morning.

Mr Williamson died at the scene and his partner was taken to the city’s Royal Infirmary suffering from severe smoke inhalation.

Yesterday it was confirmed the hero’s funeral will be preceded by a dignified procession through the capital’s streets to allow the public to pay their last respects.

Police are to close off the route to traffic including the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge and crowd safety barriers erected with thousands of people from all walks of life expected to turn out to pay their respects.

Investigation begins into fatal fire

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

DEVASTATED fire-fighters were finally given the go-ahead to begin probing the cause of a fatal pub fire that robbed them of a heroic colleague yesterday.

Grim faced fire chiefs spent much of yesterday (tues) locked in close discussions with Health and Safety officials outside the burned out shell of the Balmoral Bar in the Dalry area of Edinburgh.

A second separate probe involving specialist teams from colleagues at Lothian and Borders Police is widely expected to begin today (Wed).

Seasoned detectives from L&B’s CID unit were already on scene yesterday as every effort is made to find out what started the huge fire.