Community radio station torn apart by email fiasco

By Alexander Lawrie

A FURIOUS e-mail rant directed at bosses of a community radio station ended up in the in-boxes of hundreds of stunned listeners – sparking chaos at their Edinburgh based HQ.

Leith FM bosses were accused of overworking volunteers, ignoring alleged death threats from staff and trying to sweep claimed bust-ups between presenters under the carpet in the astonishing message.

And in an attack on station boss John Paul McGroarty, former presenter Dave Woods savaged him, saying: “I’d rather have Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper and Hitler as friends before you”.

Actor and writer Woods, 41, who no longer works at Leith FM, sent the 3,500 word e-mail to McGroarty on August 14.

But someone subsequently forwarded the e-mail from McGroarty’s private e-mail account to around 500 addresses on the station’s mailing list on August 26.

Two days later the board at Leith FM was forced to send out a reply message to all the e-mail recipients saying the “malicious message” did not originate from them.

Ex-Hibs keeper boozed at the wheel

By Michael MacLeod

A HIBS reject who “drowned his sorrows” by drink driving has been fined £1,000 and banned from the roads for four years.

Hungarian goalkeeper David Groff, 20, lost his £30,000 per-year contract with the SPL side earlier this year after failing to make an impact.

He had featured on the fringes of the first team during his three year spell at Easter Road, but was released into unemployment in March.

A few weeks later police found him slumped drunk at the wheel of his Audi A3 in an Asda car park close to the Easter Road stadium where he played in front of thousands of fans.

Police said Groff and a friend were sleeping in the car with the engine running.

Patients willing to get fillings under hypnosis

By Michael MacLeod

A HYPNOTIST has been hired by a Scots dentist to help patients overcome their biggest fear – the dreaded filling.

Instead of suffering the traditional painful needle, patients will have the recesses of their subconscious probed by mind-control guru Peter Davies.

Edinburgh-based Lubiju’s unique approach to painless treatment is thought to be the first time a hypnotist has been used by a dentist in Scotland.

The recently-opened £750,000 practice in Leith has already attracted top medical consultants in anaesthetics, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery and implantology.

Smelly bus stops hit the capital

Scratch and sniff bus stop

By Cara Sulieman

NOT for nothing was Edinburgh once dubbed Auld Reekie.

With the ongoing bin strikes seeing stinking rubbish littering the streets, and rush-hour traffic clogging the roads and filling the air with fumes, a chance of a minute’s solace would sure come as a breath of fresh air.

Now commuters can do just that after two busy stops in Edinburgh were both fitted with unique push and sniff advertising boards, allowing them to enjoy a waft of the countryside on their way to work.

The new ads have been installed by Scotch Whisky Experience who are promoting a new sense room attraction at the museum.

Former TA soldier jailed for Leith OAP blade attacks

By Paul Thornton

A SCHIZOPHRENIC ex paratrooper has been jailed for an unprovoked knife attack on two pensioners during broad daylight in a busy street in Edinburgh.

The random assaults on two OAPs aged 79 and 82 happened within minutes of each other in Easter Road in Leith on February 4.

Francis McGeachie, 82, was left with a 15cm slash and will be scarred for the rest of her life while 79-year-old Elizabeth Essien is now afraid to go outside on her own and now forced to take taxis everywhere.

New hotel to transform Leith

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

AN UNUSUALLY shaped hotel is to help kick-start the regeneration surrounding Edinburgh’s historic Leith Harbour.

The striking triangle-fronted, nine-storey, 25-bedroomed building is to built close to Ocean Terminal and has been specifically designed to fit the irregular shape of the site.

The as-yet unnamed hotel would be the first of five hotels expected to be built in the area as part of a £700 million redevelopment package.

Included in the plans are a bar and a restaurant which will boast stunning views over the Firth of Forth as well being positioned just yards from the newly-constructed tram line.

Andy Murray inspires new ‘Perfect Serve’ cocktail

By SHAUN MILNE

A SCOTS pub has created a cocktail inspired by tennis star Andy Murray.

Pub Bond 9, on Commercial Street in Leith are mixing their ‘Perfect Serve’ in celebration of the Scot reaching the final four.

The ingredients include Wimbledon-sponsor Lanson NV Champagne, Hendrick’s Gin, basil, syrup and of course – strawberries.

Manager Chris Flint said: “We wanted to create something to show our support for Andy – the name seemed appropriate after his strong service.”

Andy Murray fans will be able to watch their hero in action on a giant 25 square metre television set in Edinburgh city centre.

The huge screen – sited on Festival Square – was installed in preparation of the Olympics in 2012.

But councillors have given the go-ahead to show the tennis action live tonight.

Culture leader councillor Deirdre Brock said: “I’m sure everyone in Edinburgh is rooting for Andy Murray to go all the way at Wimbledon.”

Richard E Grant spotted in capital

By Cara Sulieman

ACTOR Richard E Grant returned to the scene of his directorial debut screening yesterday when he was spotted out and about in Edinburgh.

He was strolling around the city under cloudy skies yesterday looking as dapper as usual in a corduroy jacket and chinos.

The Whithnail and I star wasn’t scheduled to appear at any of the film festival events, and wouldn’t say why he was in the city.

But the actor is no stranger to Edinburgh – the world premiere of his directorial debut, ‘Wah-Wah’, was at the Film Festival in 2005.

Originally from Swaziland, he moved to the UK in 1982 to concentrate on his acting career, spending most of his time in theatre until the breakthrough cult hit of Withnail and I.

Since then he has starred in numerous movies, both in the UK and America, and written two books.

He wears two watches at all times – one of which belonged to his father and is always kept on Swaziland time.

The star was out spotted yesterday for a walk near the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh before ambling down Leith Street towards the Omni centre – which houses one of the city’s biggest cinemas.

Do you know what Richard was doing in Edinburgh? Drop me a line at cara@deadlinescotland.co.uk

Leith dentist lets patients watch Wimbledon

By Craig McGill

MURRAYMANIA is even reaching Scottish dentists with a posh Edinburgh dentist getting TVs in so people can watch Andy Murray’s Wimbledon progress while having their teeth out.

Cosmetic dentists Lubiju in Leith has had £3,000 worth of 26” flatscreen Samsung TV’s installed in five suites just as Wimbledon begins helping to make sure tennis fans needing treatment don’t miss a shot.

But the TVs aren’t in reception – they are ABOVE the dentist chairs.

The TVs were the idea of pioneering cosmetic dentist Dr Biju Krishnan, who co-founded Lubiju with dental partner Doctor Lubino do Rego.

Biju said: ““Even in this day and age, there are people who still have nerves over the dentist, so watching the TV can help take their mind off of things – it’s about distracting them from the work at hand and watching TV is great for that.

Edinburgh Playhouse could be put up for sale

By CARA SULIEMAN

ONE of Scotland’s most famous theatres is up for sale after its owners decided to sell all their venues in the UK.

The Edinburgh Playhouse is owned by a US company, Live Nation, who are looking to offload their 17 properties across the country.

But the future still looks bright for the iconic venue at the top of Leith around 20 theatre operators are interested in the building.