Our AGM will be held online on Wednesday, 25^th October at 7:30pm on Zoom.

The meeting should last about an hour.

If you would like to attend, please email  friendsofroseburnmembership@gmail.com and you will be sent the link for the meeting.

FoRP members have been emailed with an invitation. If you are not a member, please join for free at Join for Free! | Friends of Roseburn Park (SCIO)

You can see the papers for the meeting at http://www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/files/2023/10/FORP_2023_AGM_Papers.pdf 

(This comprises the agenda, last year’s AGM minutes, the chairperson’s report and the annual accounts.)

**OFFICIAL** – OPENING DATE FOR NEW ROSEBEAN CAFE – THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER – the operators tells us it will be open 8am to 4pm every day, but not Mon and Tues.

Note the toilet is there for public use. Card payments only.

If you want to stay up to date, please “like” the Rosebean Cafe page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550738500601&notif_id=1693831206620238&notif_t=follow_profile&ref=notif

Thanks to builder James Purves and co at All Aspects Building & Construction for a beautiful job

We held our launch event on Sunday 2nd July- and we’re also hoping to find out what park users would like us to focus on next in our survey.

The video showing all the work carried out lasts 10 minutes can be viewed below:

The full story behind the conversion project can be found at All Cisterns Go!! | Friends of Roseburn Park (SCIO)

The 2023 Survey results can be downloaded here http://www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/files/2023/10/2023_Roseburn_Park_Survey_Results.pdf

Here are the photos from the launch:

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RAFFLE PRIZES

The event was covered in the Evening News at https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-roseburn-park-years-of-work-by-volunteers-transfom-derelict-toilet-block-into-community-cafe-4203889 and in the Edinburgh Reporter at https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/07/grand-opening-of-rosebean-cafe/

SURVEY

Friends of Roseburn Park (FoRP) asked residents in 2016 what they’d like to see in the park. Since then we’ve helped deliver some of the things residents wanted– the toilet block conversion to a café, the log bench, a better new play park, a new mural, new trees, BBQ slabs and benches and so on. We now want to refresh that vision. For that we need your help! 

We are distributing 2,500 paper survey forms to the homes around Roseburn Park. We are also collecting views on the same questions online at  tinyurl.com/roseburnparksurvey .

Can you let us know what you think of the ideas we’ve put forward– and add any you think we need to consider? We’ll use your feedback as the basis for grant applications.

We look forward to answering your questions at the launch, to which we’d like you to bring your completed forms to. If you can’t make it, please drop your forms through the Armoury door letterbox opposite, at 13c Riversdale Crescent before 13th August, please.

We’ll email out the survey results to FoRP members– it’s free to join us; do so on our website at www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/join-for-free

You can also comment or “like” FoRP’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/roseburnpark . Please email any questions you have to FriendsOfRoseburnMembership@gmail.com or quiz us at the Murrayfield Community Council meetings.

PARK FLOODS- AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO! We think the snowmelt from the Pentlands has contributed to this. It’s good to know the flood defences in Roseburn Park are doing their bit. This is the highest it has been since the flood of April 2000. It would need to get 2 or 3 feet higher to reach the new cafe, thank goodness!

Friends of Roseburn Park are promoting two events this Christmas:

We hope you will join us!

AGM

Our AGM took place on Zoom on Wednesday 12^th October at 7:30pm. The meeting was over by 9pm. Here are the papers that were discussed – our Annual Report, etc. Please click on this link http://www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/files/2022/10/AGM-2022-ALL-PAPERS.pdf

At the AGM, the Board of Trustees was re-elected, hearing from the Chairperson with an annual report of the past year’s activities and reviewing the annual accounts.

We were able to answer members questions about our activities and review progress on the café conversion (see the photos documenting progress at http://www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/2022/03/22/all-cisterns-go/ )

We showed this 7-minute video showing progress on the block to date

https://youtu.be/a0H3c9T829E 

If you missed the AGM, but want to discuss matters, please email FriendsOfRoseburnMembership@gmail.com. 

There is always room for more volunteers to help on the Board; if you’d like to put your name forward, please let us know by emailing FriendsOfRoseburnMembership@gmail.com. We have Board meetings on Zoom every six weeks, on a Wednesday night.

Xmas Disco

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! We are planning a Xmas disco- the Platinum Jubilee one was such a success that we want to do a re-run. The date will be Thursday 15^th December, cost £5, with kids half-price. It is likely to be held at the Masonic lodge, Roseburn Gardens. Tickets from Art et Facts in Roseburn Terrace or come on the night at 7pm.  There is a bar – and playing the platters that matter will be our DJ Jeremy Thoms. Dancing for all ages – until 11pm.

Adopt a Tree; Plant some Bulbs

New baby trees will be planted in Roseburn Park and along the Water of Leith to replace the ones which were planted by the flood prevention works, but have since died (they were not staked or planted properly). Would you like to adopt one of these trees to help ensure its survival, just by watering it when it’s dry? See our poster at: http://www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/files/2022/09/tree-watering-poster.pdf

If you’d like to help, please email the FoRP Secretary at barbara.knowles1@outlook.com

We also need volunteers for our Roseburn Park Task Force, which would mean a couple of hours on the odd weekend; our next task is in planting bulbs in the grass to make it look pretty in the spring. Again, if you are interested in helping, please contact the secretary.

PHOTOS FROM THE CELEBRATIONS

From the Masonic Disco on 2nd June- the masons at Caledonian Lodge No 392 donated buck’s fizz and chocolate:

Prepping the site:

Key volunteers Sheila, Sandie and Alex

Putting up the bunting

And on the Day of the Party:

Around 600 people attended

Event co-ordinator Pete Gregson

Val Forbes’s Memorial Rose

John Yellowlees announces the Roseburn Park Walking Guide by Rosie Bell, assisted by John Riddoch

Andrew Sharpe of Edinburgh City Star Majorettes wowed the crowd with his virtuoso juggling

Volunteer Alex as Queen Elizabeth II

The 150th Craigalmond Scouts tea stall, with the bouncy castle behind

Laura Dunbar with more buck’s fizz from the Mason’s- for the raffle- at the FoRP Information stall

Osman from the Village Cafe in Corstorphine sold coffee and cake

Ping Pong tournament with Murrayfield Memorial Table Tennis Club

Learning croquet with Balgreen Croquet Club

Beat the Goalie- with Mackenzie Martin

Best Outfit prize awarded by Margaret Smith, winner of the 1953 fancy dress competition as the Bisto Girl

Best fancy dress prize awarded by Foysol Chowdhury MSP, assisted by Councillor Frank Ross

Most beautiful dog prize awarded by Christine Jardine MP

Cathie from Ruby Rose with the Jubilee table she has upcycled, then auctioned in support of breast cancer charity

Cathie with her Ruby Rose stall

Jurgen’s burgers (made to Pete’s secret recipe) went down a storm- we sold over 200

We estimated 500 to 600 attended

Exhibition of photos from 1954 Coronation fancy dress party in the park

Dogs Trust – helped run doggie events, like the Waggiest Tail, Best Biscuit Catcher, Best Lookalike .. 31 dogs attended and the dogs got the certificates- NOT the owners!

Doggie dash #1

Doggie dash #2

Doggie Dash #3

Walking rugby….

.. with Murrayfield Wanderers RFC

Bunting made by pupils at Roseburn Primary School

Sheila and Sandie from the organising committee

The following Roseburn and Western Corner shops donated prizes for the competitions and raffle:

ID Hair & Murrayfield Skin Clinic
Chapman Property Management
Brendan Haddock Jewellers
Dine
Roseburn Shoe Repairs
Ruby Rose
Roseburn Café
Vigo Delicatessen
Hui- Chinese Takeaway
Delta Curry Takeaway
Steven Henderson Hair
Anita Glasby Opticians
U beaty Therapy
Art et Facts
House of hound
PC Doctor & Moving Pictures
Thallon Soulis
PC Doctor
Murrayfield Bar
Claire Doig Hairdressing
Roseburn Bar
Ikina studio
Tescos

Sassy Dog
Glitz n Glamour hairdresser
Galaxy nail spa
Salon La Greca
and
Scottish Rugby

PARTY IN THE PARK FRIDAY 3rd JUNE 1-5pm

The Party harked back to the 1953 Coronation Party in the Park- with a fancy dress competition, open to young and old, one judge being the winner of that competition – Bisto Girl Margaret Smith; the other being Ward Cllr Frank Ross. …  Prizes for the best outfits (donated by the Roseburn shops)  …  Exhibition of photos from the 1953 Coronation Party   (see them at Park History | Friends of Roseburn Park (SCIO))

THE PROGRAMME

For those who want to pay their respects to Val Forbes, we unveiled her shrub rose by the old playpark at 1pm.

The programme was roughly:

1.00 – Val’s Rose

1.15 – at the stage, by the Armoury: launch of Roseburn Park walking guide ( see Park History | Friends of Roseburn Park (SCIO) )

1.15 – Croquet lessons and games start

1.15 – Ping-pong tournament starts

1.30 – Doggie events: Best Trick; Best Lookalike; Waggiest Tail; Best Biscuit Catcher; Musical Statues (sit and stay); Doggie Dash – all with the Dog’s Trust; prizes and certificates awarded throughout afternoon as winners were announced.

1.30 – Doggie Beauty (by mystery judge)- onwards- prize awarded at 3pm by Christine Jardine MP

2.00 –  Edinburgh City Star Majorette performance with Andrew Sharpe

2.30 – Daft games for kids start

2.45 – Auction of Queen Liz table by Ruby Rose with Faisal Choudhury MSP, 50% proceeds to Breast Cancer (Jeremy Balfour MSP had to call in sick)

3.00 – announcement of Fancy Dress prizewinners with judges Cllr Frank Ross and Bisto Girl Margaret Smith

3.15 – more Majorette magic with Andrew

4.00 – announcement of Raffle prize winners with FoRP Chair Jim McDonaugh

5.00 – ends

Ongoing throughout the afternoon was the Exhibition of 1953 Fancy Dress photos, Bouncy Castle, Treasure Hunt, Photostall – yourself as QE2, 150^th Craigalmond Scout Group tea Stall; portaloos by Balfour Beatty,  Beat the Goalie, Balgreen Croquet classes, over-50s Walking Rugby with Murrayfield Wanderers.

On sale were home-made hamburgers, Teas & Biscuits, Osmans’s Coffee and Cakes (Village Café, Costorphine), Ruby Rose upcycled furniture

… and the night before – DISCO PARTY THURSDAY 2nd JUNE 7pm – 11pm

DJ Jeremy Thom played the platters that matter on the wheels of steel
.. bar…  kids were welcome…. 57 folk came

Note the actual venue is called Caledonian Lodge No 392  (Lodge of Brotherly Love only rent space there)
Tickets were £5 on door or in advance from Art et Facts, Roseburn Terrace.

The event was linked on Facebook https://fb.me/e/1iaJ71Lft

If you ever need to hire the hall, or get in touch for any reason, the correct lodge to contact is The Caledonian Lodge No392 at secretary@thecaledonianlodgeno392.co.uk or on 0131 539 4412

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Those who want to help out for an hour (or two!) on future events, please email the organiser, Pete Gregson, at friendsofroseburnmembership@gmail.com

Log Bench – Consultation

The Council recently removed several mature trees that were diseased. We are thinking of using the trunks (if we can get them) for new log benches- please indicate if you’d like this and what style you’d like.  Please complete this form to indicate your preference: https://forms.gle/is3obUj6FE2hwXV47

Park Party for Queens Platinum Jubilee Day- Consultation

We plan on running a Party in the Park to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee on Friday 3^rd June- would you like to attend? And do you want to help- either on the day, or in the planning group?  This event will hopefully receive some cash from the Lord Provost’s Platinum Jubilee Street Party Fund 2022. Please complete the form https://forms.gle/is3obUj6FE2hwXV47

Please respond by 20th April. We’ll post the results here and on Facebook