Firefighters hold emotional memorial for Ewan Williamson

Chief Fire Officer Jimmy Campbell and Convener Mike Bridgman place a wreath in memory of Ewan

By Cara Sulieman

FIRE-FIGHTERS paid tribute to fallen hero Ewan Williamson at an emotional service to mark the first anniversary of their colleague’s death in Edinburgh yesterday.

Lothian & Borders Fire & Rescue Service chief fire officer Jimmy Campbell – in his first day in the job – led tributes to the 35-year-old who died rescuing people from a blaze at the Balmoral Bar on Dalry Road last July.

Joined in laying a wreath outside the brigade’s HQ by Convener of the Fire Board Mike Bridgman, Mr Campbell said:  “It’s been a difficult year for the service.

“This wreath is being laid in memory of Ewan – it’s to remember Ewan’s family, his friends and his work colleagues.

“This was a very emotional day for the service. It’s a year on since we lost Ewan Williamson and it was a time for us to come together.

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”.

Scottish police to use spy planes

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTTISH police forces could soon be using unmanned spy planes to keep tabs on citizens in a bid to crack down on crime.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have already been trialled by Strathclyde Police who used one in rescue operations in rural Argyll.

And Scotland’s largest police force is keen to be at the forefront of the new technology, which is being looked at by all forces in the UK.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has joined forces with their English counterpart to form the Unmanned Aerial Systems Steering Group, who meets regularly to discuss the use of the planes, and report to the Home Office.

Crimewatch appeal leds to hopeful leads

 

 

By Cara Sulieman

POLICE say they have had 20-calls into cold-case murder of call-girl Sheila Anderson in 1983 following a reconstruction of the crime scene on BBC TV’s Crimewatch.

Sheila was brutally murdered at Gypsy Brae in the Granton area of Edinburgh just before midnight on April 7 1983.

A reconstruction of her last moments were finally broadcast on Crimewatch on Monday night after an attempt last month failed due to technical issues.

And since the show, officers say they have received 20 calls from members of the public offering information that might help them crack the case.

Sex workers

The appeal combined touching words from Sheila’s family with a gruesome reconstruction of the sex worker’s last known movements.

Her murderer ran her over at least once and dragged her body under the car for a “considerable distance” before driving off and leaving her for dead.

It was a CB radio enthusiast who discovered Sheila’s body after seeing headlights on the shore and going to investigate.

The clip also showed crime scene evidence of her shoes, clothes and watch, strewn across the ground

Sheila’s handbag was later discovered in a car park in East Lothian, not far from the A1.

“Funny and witty”

During the appeal, Sheila’s brave family spoke of how she was “funny, intelligent and witty,” but ended up working the streets as a prostitute.

Sister June said: “She just fell into the wrong crowd and got into drugs and these things escalate.

“It’s difficult to comprehend that she actually was working the streets and it’s so devastating to know she went down that road and did what she did.”

And her two sons, Alan and Michael, told how her murder, when they were just two and seven, had affected their lives.

“Heinous crime”

Alan said: “How somebody could do such a heinous crime to such a beautiful person in such a lovely spot is beyond me.

“I’ve always felt robbed about my mum getting taken away from me.

“I would have loved to have known her better and I would have loved even more for her to still be here today.”

Michael added: “To think about how I would be with a mum is a dream; you can only dream of that, and I’ll never find out and it’s because of one person out there.

“It’s pretty much screwed me over.”

DNA profile

The investigation into Sheila’s murder was reopened last year when advances in technology meant that police could profile the DNA of her killer.

One of the most important leads that the police hammered home in the BBC programme was the presence of a sexually transmitted disease.

There is a 50 per cent chance that the killer contracted a disease and would have had to have treatment not long after the crime.

They are asking any suspicious girlfriends or wives to come forward.

Police are hopeful

And with such a strong response already, officers are hopeful that they will finally catch Sheila’s murderer.

A spokesperson for Lothian and Borders Police said: “Monday night’s reconstruction has prompted a great response from the public.

“There is now a lot of investigation to be done, and we are hoping these calls could provide some positive leads for the investigation.

“We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to get in touch, and try to help us provide some answer’s for Sheila’s family.”

Anyone with any information can contact the incident room direct on 0131 221 2028, or can talk to Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Woman fell down open manhole

By Cara Sulieman
A WOMAN has been badly injured after she slipped and fell ten feet down an open manhole.

The 58-year-old was walking along a busy city centre street on Saturday evening when she tumbled down the hole.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in Edinburgh’s west end before taking her to hospital for treatment.

She is understood to have suffered a dislocated hip and knee in the fall.

Scottish Water had been carrying out sewerage work along Queensferry Road and workers were trying to locate the site of a blockage when the incident occurred.

A spokesperson for the company said: “A contractor working on behalf of Scottish Water was conducting a CCTV camera survey of the waste water network in Queensferry Road when the incident occurred.

“We are currently conducting a full investigation in co-operation with our contractors to ascertain exactly what took place.”

The City of Edinburgh Council also sent an investigator to the scene to make sure that the area has been cordoned off at the time of the accident. They found that an area of cones had been put in place around the manhole and are not investigating further.

Passers by commented that it was a miracle that the women survived after falling so far, mainly due to the amount of water that was in the area at the time.

Although shop and restaurant workers from nearby businesses were aware that something was going on, they couldn’t see past the emergency services.

Jay Morris, 32, works in Watch, a shop across the road from where the accident happened.

She said: “I was on the bus home when we drove past the manhole. There were police cars blocking off Randolph Place and an ambulance and fire engine.

“I tried to see what was going on but all I could see was a giant puddle stretching out from the corner onto the road. I assumed that someone had fallen face-down into the puddle, but wondered why the fire brigade had been called.”

A member of staff from La P’tite Folie on Randolph Place also noticed the commotion as he walked past on his way to work.

Louis was surprised to see the emergency services blocking off the road.

He said: “They were all over the road. I had to edge past to work. I heard later that a woman had fallen into the manhole.”