Community News: Pampering event is boost for Maggie's

NEARLY £5000 has been raised for a cancer support centre thanks to an event organised by Edinburgh insurance workers.

Staff at Bright Grey put on a "spa spectacular" which saw 175 people pay to get pampered.

All the proceeds are going to the Maggie's Centre at the Western General, which gives cancer patients and their families emotional support and help.

The charity's fundraising co-ordinator Marion Taylor said: "This is a fantastic amount. Maggie's rely on voluntary donations."

Murphy's will be a not so scruffy pub

City centre pub Scruffy Murphy's is set to be a little less scruffy under plans for a refurbishment.

The owners have asked for listed building consent to re-paint the exterior of the bar, on Melville Place, and install new lamps and "flambeaux torches", as well as replacing four lanterns.

In a statement to planners, the owners said the work was "an endeavour to improve and tidy up the exterior".

Debate on the rise of the radical right in the US

EDINBURGH University will host a public seminar on Friday about the rise of the right in the United States.

Professor Anatol Lieven of Kings College, London, will lead the discussion at the first of the politics and international relations transatlantic seminar series in the Chrystan Macmillan building, George Square, at 1pm. Its title is: "Demons' Eggs: the economic decline of the US middle classes, the pressures on American religion and the rise of the radical right."

Leith clean-up bags rubbish

ENVIRONMENTAL group Greener Leith collected over a dozen bags of rubbish in 90 minutes during a clean-up at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Next Saturday, they will clean up Leith Links and on November 6 they will be at Pilrig Park.

Join in drama workshop

A TWO-day workshop aimed at teachers, drama workers and actors is to take place in the Capital.

Devising Forum Theatre will be held at Pilmeny Youth Centre on Buchanan Street on 23 and 24 October.

The workshop will run from 10am to 4pm and costs 100 or 50 for concessions.

Talks on church anniversaries

AN autumn history series at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh is set to focus on the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland and the 150th anniversary of the opening of Sacred Heart Jesuit church in the city.

Talks are every Wednesday from 27 October to 1 December, from 7.30pm.