Local news: Dumfries choir to sing Burns songs

A NIGHT of songs by Robert Burns featuring a renowned Dumfries choir is set to take place later this month.

Fronted by Edinburgh's own Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis, the event will take place at the St Bride's Centre in Dalry on January 29.

The duo will be joined by the Feral Choir.

Organiser Alison Burns said: "We're really pleased to be performing in Edinburgh, strengthening the bond that Burns began with Galloway and the city."

Role of chief nurse filled

A NEW chief nurse has been appointed to look after all of the main Lothians hospitals.

Sarah Ballard-Smith will be divisional nurse director for NHS Lothian's university hospitals division.

Jackie Sansbury, the health board's chief operating officer, said: "Sarah's wealth of experience will be of great value."

Talk to examine work of Munch

A TALK on the work of artist Edvard Munch is to be held in the Capital.

Christina Lodder, Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, will examine some of his works at the Hawthornden Lecture Theatre on Tuesday, January 25.

Cowgate pub under renovation for BrewDog

WORK has started to renovate a new pub for controversial brewery BrewDog. The firm, which has come under fire in the past for producing some of the world's strongest beers, plans to open the pub in Cowgate in April.

It is the second pub for the Fraserburgh-based brewery, after it opened its first in Aberdeen in November.

The bar will be in the building formerly occupied by Chasers bar, and will stock the brewery's own beers, along with other draughts. It will also include an off-licence.

Sign up to run for Macmillan

An Edinburgh-based charity is calling on people to help fund cancer services by signing up for one of the many runs in the Capital this year.

To join Team Macmillan, for Macmillan Cancer Support, visit macmillan.org.uk/running or contact the South of Scotland fundraising team on 0131 260 3720.

Berlin Wall book up for discussion

A BOOK about the Berlin Wall will be discussed at an event in the city.

Pertti Ahonen's book Death at the Berlin Wall will be the topic of conversation at Blackwell's Bookshop on Thursday at 6.30pm.

Mr Ahonen, who is a senior lecturer in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at Edinburgh University, has published extensively on post-1945 Europe, particularly modern Germany.