Yesterday was all about Greyfriars Bobby, as Edinburgh’s most famous pooch was remembered on the anniversary of his death. School pupils gathered in Greyfriars Kirkyard to place wreaths on the grave of the Skye terrier and a new song ‘The Tribute to Greyfriars Bobby’ was played for the first time by piper Jennifer Hutcheon.

The legend of Greyfriars Bobby is known the world over, and we’re celebrating the life one of our city’s favourite characters with some very special events. Look out for more details over the coming days…
But before that we’re kicking things off with a fabulous Art Competition for five to twelve year olds.

John Clerk of Eldin was a remarkable man, best known in his day as a naval writer and tactician, he was also friend to the geologist, James Hutton and architect Robert Adam. Today though, it is Clerk the amateur artist, who is more widely recognised. Currently on show at the City Art Centre is an exhibition dedicated to his etchings of Scottish Scenes, from his earliest self-taught efforts to later finely executed works.

A wee while ago we blogged a request for help to locate the artist of a collection of fantastic photographs depicting life in 1950s Greenside.  We’re delighted to say that with a little help from friends on Facebook, we’ve made contact with the photographer’s family who have kindly allowed us to share and publish the pictures online.

A talk at Newington Library traces the origins of the super sleuth.
Despite being a brilliant surgeon and dedicated mentor of nurses, Joseph Bell is best known as the inspiration for the character of Sherlock Homes.

Taken from the library’s metaphorical attic and now Capital Collections newest exhibition is this wonderful album of photographs from the 19th century photographer and publisher, James Valentine.

A top-notch lineup of local and family history professionals are joining us for Central Library’s Local and Family History Day on Saturday 17th November.

“With style and verve Marie Macpherson whirls us into the world of sixteenth-century Scotland: its sights and smells, sexual attraction, childbirth and death, and of course the ever looming threat of religious strife. Few are the known facts of John Knox’s first thirty and more years, but this vivid creation of a fictional life for him not only entertains but raises many questions in the reader’s mind about the character and motives of a dominating figure in Scottish history.” Rosalind K. Marshall

Those lovely folks at the Cameo cinema are offering 2 for 1 entry to showings of Liberal Arts to Edinburgh library card holders.

As the Olympic Parade made its way through Edinburgh on Sunday we were on hand to get a few pictures for our Capital Collections archive.
Despite the rain there was a great turnout of an estimated 30,000 people.  The parade started at the City Chambers where six-time gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy was joined on the golden bus by Olympians David Florence, Lynsey Sharp, Josh Taylor, Euan Burton, Chris Sherrington, Sally Conway and Sarah Clark, and by Paralympians Jim Anderson, Sean Fraser and Sam Ingram.