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LOCAL PERSONALITY PROFILE Pete Irvine
Pete Irvine is a man with his finger firmly on the pulse of entertainment in
Scotland. The Edinburgh University alumni's not-so humble career beginnings were as a founding partner of Regular Music in the 70s, responsible for the reopening of the Barrowland and producing Glasgow’s Big Day. Since then, Pete is the rock upon which both Unique and U2 Events were founded, and as the Managing Director of Unique Events, has a real hands-on role in Edinburgh’s
Christmas and New Year.
Of the ambitious month-long Capital Christmas programme, Pete is most excited about El Foc Del Mar and the Grand Christmas Parade. 'The Christmas parade is a different sort of parade to what people have seen before — it’s designed, theatrical and choreographed. El Foc Del Mar is a similar street theatre show on the scale of things we've done in Hogmanay, and Leith is a very strong community, there’s lots of bars and restaurants down there, so it’s a good spot to
do this particular show.’
The festivities surrounding Christmas and New Year have intentionally been separated into two programmes: ’Hogmanay is a particularly unique festival and there's nowhere like it in the world, so we don’t want to dilute it by merging it into our long Christmas events. Hogmanay is about hospitality, and light and fire in the winter, so we want to keep its very strong identity, image and brand.’
Anyone visiting the events over the coming weeks will notice a strong charity theme with collections for the ’Give A Little Magic’ campaign reinforcing the giving as well as the receiving aspect of Christmas. Coming up with new ideas to make every year different is fairly simple, as Pete explains: ’Our designer actually came up with the slogan for Hogmanay, ’Now We Are One’, and then I thought well let’s have a baby on the cover, and let’s have a baby party. We just have a
sort of synergy.’
Pete's work on Edinburgh's Hogmanay was recently rewarded an MBE, describing his audience with the Queen as ’like being on a conveyor belt’. Next came the Silver Thistle Award in recognition of his book, Scotland The Best, now in its fourth edition. So how will the man responsible for organising events for hundreds of thousands of people be celebrating Christmas and New Year? ’l’ll just be working, but I will be quite happy in January when it's all done and
dusted.’ (Maureen Ellis)
SPECIAL EVENTS
Festivals
Edinburgh's Capital Christmas Until Sun 24 Dec, Various venues, 473 3800. The city gets its glad rags on for a bumper Christmas programme featuring a parade, ice-skating in Princes Street Gardens, a German market, plus lots of music, pantos, and fireworks.
Shows
World Aids Day Fri 1 Dec, 6pm. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 661 0982. Raising awareness of HIV and AIDS and commemorating the people who have died from the virus. The day’s events begin with Celebration 0fLife, a performance of music, drama and verse, and continue with a Candlelit March from The Traverse to Princes Street where a Vigil will be held in the Ross Bandstand.
Grand Christmas Parade Sun 3 Dec, 5pm. Free. City Centre, 473 3800. A magical Christmas parade from Waverley Bridge via Princes Street and Frederick
94 THE LIST 30 Nov—14 Dec 2000
Street with a Grand Finale on George Street. Father Christmas also makes an
a pearance.
E Foe Del Mar Fri 8 & Sat 9 Dec, 8.30pm. The Shore, Leith, 473 3800. See photo caption.
Talks
Alison King Thu 30 Nov, 12.30pm. Free. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. The chairperson of EDGE discusses the work of the group and textile art in Scotland. Part of the To Boldly Sew exhibition.
Life And How To Create It Thu 30 Nov, 6.30pm. £3 (£2). Royal Museum, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. A talk from Steve Grand, Managing Director of Cyberlife Research Ltd.
Lord Ross Fri 1 Dec, 5.30pm. Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22—26 George Street, 240 5000. Pondering the differences between ‘Human Rights and Responsibilities’, the former Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland looks at the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998.
People Flows And Knowledge Flows: International Students And Public Policy Mon 4 Dec. 5pm. Royal Society of Edinburgh. 22-26 George Street. 240 5000. Discussion led by Professor l.alagc Brown, the chair for the Education in the Commonwealth Working Group on Student Mobility.
Roy Dennis Tue 5 Dec. 6.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). Centre For Human Ecology. 12 Roseneath Place. 624 1972. ‘Bird and Mammal Re-introduction to Scotland‘ is the title of this slide show from the RSPB representative.
Germany Today Wed 6 Dec. 10.30am. Open Door. 420 Morningside Road, 447 9757. An up-to-date look at our continental counterparts from Hans Mondorf, Consol General to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Nature And Nurture: A Biologist's View Of A Human Issue Wed 6 Dec. 6.30pm. £10 includes wine. National Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road. 624 6200. Aubrey Manning. a presenter of BBC2’s Talking Landscapes. gives a talk on the basis for human behaviour. Peter Green's Tasting Series Wed 6 Dec, 7pm. £10 (£20 with dinner). Queen's Hall, Clerk Street, 668 2019. Peter Green talks you through a wine tasting evening, with wines available to buy at retail prices and an optional dinner afterwards.
Meet The Author: David Hopkins Thu 7 Dec, 7—8.30pm. Free. Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, 225 2383. The lecturer in Art History at St Andrews University talks about his guide to post- war art, After Modem/1r! 1945—2000.
I Love Alternative Spaces Sat 9 Dec, 3pm. Free. Collective Gallery, 22—28 Cockburn Street, 220 1260. An informal discussion on alternative gallery spaces hosted by the Collective Gallery. Refreshments provided.
Ian Pearson Mon 11 Dec, 6pm. Heriot Watt University. James Watt Centre 1, 228 1155. BT’s Futurologist asks whether machines should be given rights in ‘A Glim se OfThe Future’.
The entral Scotland Forest: Transforming Perceptions And Realities Thu 14 Dec, 6.30pm. £3 (£2). Royal Museum, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Explore the myths of the forest with Dr Campbell Gemmell, the Chief Executive of Central Scotland Countryside Trust.
Sport
Edinburgh Capitals Sat 2 Dec, 6pm. Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, 313 2977. £8 (£4). The Capitals turn their attention to Hull Thunder. Hearts v Rangers Sun 3 Dec, 2.35pm. £19 (£10). Tynecastle Stadium, Gorgie Road, 200 7200.
Edinburgh Capitals Sun 3 Dec, 6pm. Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, 313 2977. £8 (£4). Coventry Blaze travel north for some ‘Capital punishment’.
Edinburgh Rocks Tue 5 Dec, 5pm. £7 (£5). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. Edinburgh’s premier basketball troupe take on Birmin ham.
Hibernian v Dunfermline Sat 9 Dec, 3pm. £15-£18(£10). Easter Road, 12 Albion Place, 661 2159.
Edinburgh Capitals Sun 10 Dec, 6pm. Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, 313 2977. £8 (£4). The Capitals chase after some championship points against the Fife Flyers.
Edinburgh Reivers v Cardiff Sun 10 Dec, 2pm. Myrcside, 226 6262. Edinburgh Rocks Mon 11 Dec, 6pm. £7 (£5). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. The Rocks continue their championship run against the might of Manchester.
Seasonal Events
The Edinburgh Wheel Until 2 Jan, noon—8pm; Fri & Sat 10am-10pm. Princes Street Gardens East, Princes
Street. 4 , 3 3800. Eat your heart out London! See the sights of Edinburgh from a giant ferris wheel located next to the Scott Monument.
The Traditional German Christmas Market L’ntil Thu 21 Dec. 10am-8pm. Mound Square. off Princes Street, 473
3800. Frankfurt's Christmas present to
Edinburgh is a traditional market selling
authentic German produce.
'Give A Little Magic’ Launch Thu 30 Nov, 6.15pm. Free. Parliament Square. 473 3800. Edinburgh‘s Christmas charity gets underway with the help of a few celebs and some surprise entertainment.
Lighting Of The Christmas Tree Thu 30 Nov. 5.30pm. Free. The Mound, 473
3800. Join in the festive fun starting with the tree lighting. followed by a
procession to Parliament Square with family entertainment. rounded off by an
Advent carol concert in St Giles’ Cathedral.
Christmas Party Cruises on the Union Canal Fri l—Sun 24 Dec. 7.30—11pm. £28 (£14). Edinburgh Canal Centre. 27 Baird Road, Ratho, 333 1320. Dine and cruise on the canal to the Almond Aqueduct. The return journey provides the party opportunity with dancing to the resident disco.
Tollcross Christmas Lights Switch-On Thu 30 Nov, 6pm. Free. Festival Square, Lothian Road, 473 3800. Tollcross gets a touch of Christmas magic with the lights switch-on.
The Present Event Fri l—Sun 3 Dec, 10am~5pm. £4.50 (£2.50); under 5s free. Hopetoun House, Shore Road, South Queensferry, 331 2451. Christmas shopping event with a variety of quality stylish gift ideas.
Santa Cruises on the Union Canal Sat 2—Sun 24 Dec, £5.50. Edinburgh Canal Centre, 27 Baird Road, Ratho, 333 1320. One hour cruise on the Union canal to find Santa‘s enchanted castle. Santa will come on board to visit children. sing carols and distribute gifts from his sack. Christmas Craft Fair Sat 2 8; Sun 3 Dec, 10.30am—5pm. £1.30 (90p). Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, 226 2428. Local crafts and festive hand-made gifts.
Christmas Lights Switch-0n Sun 3 Dec, George Street, 473 3800. The lights of George Street are turned on in ceremonious style.
Bruntsfield Christmas Lights Switch- On Wed 6 Dec, 6pm. Bruntsfield Place, 473 3800. Bruntsfield gets into the festive spirit for the lights switch-on. Angel Eye Thu 7 Dec, Angel Eye. Princes Street Gardens East, 473 3800. Capital Christmas’ showcase venue opens its doors. Entertaining families during the day with interactive arts activities, it also plays host to cabaret, DJs and ceilidhs by night.
Winter Wonderland Preview Night Thu 7 Dec, 6.30pm. Free. Princes Street Gardens East, Princes Street, 473 3800. Get your skates for the opening night of Winter Wonderland featuring a spectacular ice show, free skating and mulled wine.
Corstorphine Christmas Lights Switch-0n 8: Carol Service Thu 7 Dec, 6.30pm. Free. St Ninian’s Church, St John’s Road, Corstorphine. 473 3800. Brightening up the streets of Corstorphine with a ceremony and carol service.
Portobello Christmas Lights Switch- On Fri 8 Dec, 7pm. Free. St Phillip’s Church, Abercorn Terrace, Portobello, 473 3800. Entertainment and competitions herald the start of Portobello’s Christmas celebrations. . Grassmarket Christmas Street Fair Sat 9 & Sun 10 Dec, 10am—6pm. Grassmarket, 473 3800. Storytelling, Christmas music, and fun for all the family in the historic Grassmarket setting. _ .
Gorgie 8: Dalry Christmas Lights Switch-0n Sun 10 Dec, 6.30pm. Free. Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road, 473