The film is shot by BAFTA New Talent (2013) nominated cinematographer, Alan McLaughlin and will feature both English and Finnish.

LOMA tells the story of a Finnish family coming to North Berwick for a peaceful holiday, in the hopes of somewhat restoring family harmony. Little did they know, that the holiday letting agency has accidentally double-booked the cottage they are meant to stay in. So they are forced to share their holiday with the Toulsons, a Scottish family. Squeezed in the tiny cottage, all kinds of problems arise in the already dysfunctional family.

The Toulsons are played by an actual mother-daughter team from Portobello and Finnish actors are flown in specifically from Finland to star in the film.

The film is entirely funded by donations from kind people and company sponsorships.
Director Katri A. Vanhatalo was born and raised in Helsinki but moved to Scotland four years ago to learn the art of filmmaking. In her graduation film she chose to combine her Finnish identity with her experience of Scottish culture.

Living in Scotland has made me very reflective of my own background. The way Finnish people think, how they interact with each other and how that differs from the way Scottish people maintain their relationships.

But in the end, we are all human beings, seeking to be accepted as part of a group. The cultural stereotypes that are addressed in LOMA and have to be overcome by the two families in order for them to make the set-up work is a metaphor for the differences we all have to overcome in every day life in order to not alienate ourselves from other people.

The film will be shot in a holiday let at Tantallon Studios next week.

The film is still accepting donations in order to pay for production costs. More information on the film and how to donate can be found at www.lomathefilm.com

Almost 200 people have been charged with alleged road traffic offences as part of a campaign to reduce road casualties throughout the L & B Police Force area.

On Tuesday 26th February, Lothian and Borders Police launched Operation Oakum and over the past seven days Road Policing Officers have been carrying out enforcement activity on identified roads to detect and deter poor driving behaviour.

As a result, 11 people have been charged with careless driving, while 67 motorists were stopped for speeding.

A total of 55 drivers were charged with seat belt offences and a further 51 people have also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

Police were also monitoring the road network for those driving while under the influence and six people were subsequently charged with alleged drink driving.

During the enforcement activity an almost 30% reduction in serious injury collisions was recorded, in comparison with the previous year.

However, officers remain committed to identifying those who continually ignore the law and will continue to provide a presence across our roads.

Road Policing Inspector Andy Amour said:

While we are delighted to have observed a comparative decrease in serious injury collisions, there are still far too many motorists driving in a manner, which puts themselves and other road users at risk.

Careless driving, speeding and drink driving greatly impair your ability to maintain control of a vehicle, while using a mobile phone or other device increases the likelihood that you will be involved in a collision.

Lothian and Borders Police are committed to casualty reduction on our roads and we will maintain a visible presence across various routes within the Force area. Anyone found to be driving in an unacceptable manner, or driving when they are not legally entitled to do so, will be robustly dealt with.

East Lothian FM have two pairs of tickets for High Society at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre this Thursday (7th March)

Entry is easy. All you have to do is answer the following question:

What is the name of the leading lady in the film ‘High Society’ who played opposite Bing Crosby – and who later became a real princess?

Entries by email to studio@eastlothianfm.co.uk with the subject High Society

Please include:

• Your Answer
• Your Name
• Your Address and Phone Number so we can get in touch

The winners will be drawn during Brunch with Hector on Tuesday Morning.

Announcing the awards, the BBC Performing Arts Fund stated that this year’s successful organisations

were able to demonstrate that a Fellowship placement with them would offer significant professional development opportunities for a Fellow.

Over the next year, Ailie Robertson will spend time on a regular basis with Haddington Pipe Band, both to build up her own expertise and to work on compositions with the band. The range of outcomes of the project will include an ‘end-of-year’ performance by the band of a work specially composed for them by Ailie.

Originally from Edinburgh, Ailie Robertson is a composer, arranger, improviser and multi-instrumentalist, and after seven years working as a professional touring musician, is currently studying for a postgraduate degree in composition at King’s College London. In 2011 she was nominated as Composer of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards; in 2010 she was commissioned by Creative Scotland to write a suite of music, Traditional Spirits (premiered at Glenkinchie Distillery), which was described by one critic as “seamlessly blending traditional, classical and jazz influences to create an exquisitely moving little masterpiece”; while her debut album won a Live Ireland award in 2009.

She has composed for a diverse range of projects, in a variety of styles, but working with a pipe band will be a new experience for her – one which she sees as opening the way for her to broaden her knowledge in this field.

She commented:

I am absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to work with Haddington Pipe Band. I look forward to developing our relationship over the coming year, and am excited to start working with, and composing for, them.

The Fellowship will be a valuable opportunity for the band to stretch their abilities and create a new repertoire, and will allow me to develop my own skills as a composer in a totally new field.

Haddington Pipe Band is a non-competing, community band which was the winner of the Pipe Band of the Year title at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2009. It also set up and runs the annual Trad on the Tyne festival in the town. Its chairman, Alastair Bruce, said:

This is a wonderful opportunity for the band to share a creative partnership with one of Scotland’s top young composers. We are thrilled to have been awarded this very prestigious grant, and working closely with Ailie Robertson over the coming months will be a real delight for us.

We very much appreciate the privilege of being able to build this creative partnership with her, and as well as Ailie learning about the challenges of composing for pipes and drums, we are very much looking forward to being given a real insight into the composing ‘process’ by working with her over our year together.

We are very grateful to the BBC Performing Arts Fund for giving us this opportunity.

Links

• Haddington Pipe Band:  www.haddingtonpipeband.co.uk
  
• Ailie Robertson:  www.ailierobertson.com
• BBC Performing Arts Fund:  www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund

If you have an interest in The Fraser Centre and want to find out more, visit their website at:  http://www.thefrasercentre.com/

2012 Big Pedal Winners (Link to Article)

Dunbar Primary and Grammar Schools are currently preparing for the annual Big Pedal. This is a UK national competition which is a massive cycle and scoot to school event. In 2012 over 890,000 journeys were made by bike and scooter, by pupils at nearly 1,000 schools, representing a combined role of over 310,000 pupils. This year it takes place from 28 February to 20 March.

Dunbar Grammar is aiming to repeat their success from last year when they won the regional event and were awarded with the 1^st prize of cycle accessories. The Primary also has their eye firmly on a prize this year to reflect the great effort that goes on all year round from the pupils who regularly cycle and scoot to school.

Headteacher of Dunbar Primary School, Helen Gillanders, commented:

We are actively encouraging as many of our pupils to ride their bike to school during the Big Pedal. It is a great way to keep healthy, develop independence and look after the environment.

and Tom Fendick, Technologies Teacher from Dunbar Grammar school, said:

A lot of the students are really looking forward to the Big Pedal. With house points at stake and last year’s 1^st place to defend, this is an excellent way to motivate them to cycle or scoot. If we manage a couple of days where as many students as possible drag their bike out of the shed or garage and pedal in, then I will be extremely happy!

Belhaven Bikes has supported the event in previous years and will be repeating their initiatives such as water bottles awarded to the Primary class who pedals the most and a number of free entries to theSPACE skatepark in North Berwick, for the high pedalling Grammar students. This year, free bike checks will also be carried out at both schools during the Big Pedal by Belhaven Bikes.

In addition, hire bikes from Belhaven Bikes will be able to be used free of charge by parents/supporters of Primary aged children who would like to participate in the event as these journeys also contribute greatly to the points awarded to the school. If you are interested in the use of a bike to support the Big Pedal, you can contact Belhaven Bikes on 01368 860300 or email info@belhavenbikes.co.uk

The Primary has a variety of fun events planned around the Big Pedal. Parents and teachers will be rewarded with flapjacks for supporting the event on the first day and there will be a ‘bling your bike’ day. During the event there will also be an opportunity for pupils to dress up as superheroes to pedal or scoot to school. So, watch out Dunbar for a higher number of Supermen and Wonder Women that day!

Useful Links

The Big Pedal Website:  www.bigpedal.org.uk

Dunbar Primary School:  http://edubuzz.org/dunbarprimary

Dunbar Grammar School:  http://edubuzz.org/dunbargrammar

Belhaven Bikes:  www.belhavenbikes.co.uk

Photo Credit: East Lothian News (www.eastlothiannews.co.uk)

The new website and interactive Virtual Support Service has been developed by PACE, London’s leading charity promoting the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBT community to enable PACE to reach out to more people in distress.

Research has shown that levels of suicide, deliberate self-harm and drug and alcohol abuse amongst LGBT people are significantly higher than in their heterosexual counterparts.  Gay and bisexual men are five times as likely to have self-harmed[1] and lesbians and bisexual women are four times as likely to be at risk of substance abuse as straight women[2].

Poorer mental health amongst LGBT people is linked to discrimination, bullying, homophobia, pressure to conform and poor self-esteem.

Chief Executive, Margaret Unwin said:

We see our new online platform as a key service for the LGBT community.  Our own practice and research shows that LGBT people are isolated and may feel afraid to seek professional help or access mental health care.  Unfortunately mainstream services don’t always understand their issues.

Virtual Support Project Manager Rachel Booles said:

The Virtual Support Project will provide an easily accessible, free and anonymous source of support for many vulnerable LGBT individuals out there. This service expands our services beyond London to give us a national reach.  There will be expert advice provided which service users can access and an assessment tool so they can monitor their progress. Peer support will be offered through message boards and chat, moderated by a team of highly trained volunteers.

A volunteer taking part in the project said:

We want to establish that taking care of individual wellbeing is an unselfish notion, and something we can all take part in. Mental wellbeing is possible if we allow ourselves to use the tools available.

You can find the Pace Health Website at http://pacehealth.org.uk

Mad Hatter’s Ball

First off is a Disco Ball in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Mad Hatter’s Disco Ball is being organised by friends of Rachel Laird. She was one of the first young presenters to join East Lothian FM so when we found out she had Leukaemia we were keen to help out in any way we could. She told us that the Teenage Cancer Trust have been offering her loads of support so she hoped this Ball would raise some money for their funds.

The Mad Hatter’s Ball is listed on our Calendar, so click this link to find out more. If you’d like to know more about Rachel and her experiences so far, check out her blog at http//:www.rachelbouncingback.blogspot.co.uk

Tony Bradford Runs

In May this year, our very own Tony Bradford has given himself the challenge of running the Edinburgh Half Marathon. He’ll be running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. We’ll give you news of his progress as we get closer to the starter’s gun but in the meantime, show him your support by popping over to his Just Giving Page and adding a pound or two to the pot.

Kilimanjaro

Michele Duck from Aberlady sent us an email to tell us all about her planned climb of Kilimanjaro. Michele told us that the highest hill she’s climbed so far is Arthur’s Seat so she’s expecting this to be quite a challenge!

Michele is raising money for Childreach an amazing hands on charity who help young people in the UK make a difference. Participants not only get the chance to experience life changing activities but they also get involved with school projects in over 6 developing companies including Tanzania. This gives thousands of children the opportunity to gain education, health knowledge and the political rights that can be pivotal in bringing them out of poverty.

Michele leaves on the 9th of June 2013. If you’d like to show your support go to her My Donate Page. She says that:

While a small percentage of the money I raise will be spent on shirpas, tents and plane fare, we are traveling with a african airline, staying in a locally run hotel etc so all money still goes into the local economy to help boost it!

Doing Something Special?

Let us know! Send info on your project via our Contact Page.

For one week only, “Love in the Afternoon” will air between 3 & 6pm on Thursday afternoon.

The request and dedication line is now open, so email your messages to loved ones by Clicking Here.

Andy will broadcast all (suitable) messages during the show. Enjoy

Liz has enjoyed a long career both locally and further afield. She is currently promoting a charity event in aid of St Columba’s Hospice and will be singing live in the studio during Ron’s show.

Find out more about Liz on her website at http://www.lizmacewan.com