Hogmanay and New Year's Day have long been a popular celebration for Dundee's people, with celebrations recorded in newspapers, broadsides, photographs and elsewhere through the years.
Erin shares some seasonal highlights from the Local History Centre's collections.
This online event will run
at www.facebook.com/WestEndChristmas
1pm to 2pm - Magdalen Green community planting event. All welcome!
Join us to plant colourful and pollinator-friendly summer allium bulbs at Magdalen Green.
No experience necessary, please bring a spade/trowel if possible as tools are limited.
3pm to 5pm –
Christmas at The Gate Church.
A community Christmas celebration with carols, sweet treats and Santa Claus.
10am to 11am - Spex Pistols Christmas
Family Workshops at Gallery 48, West Port - Handmade embossed foil
decorations with Cara Findlay and Sooz Gordon. Unfortunately fully booked.
10am to 12 noon - Harris Academy Christmas Fayre – including stalls – Free entry - all welcome!
Fayre will include - at a small fee - barista style
coffee and bacon rolls.
10.30am – 11.30am – Blackness Library -“From Garden to Eden" -a free talk at Blackness Library by Iain Flett on the history of the Eden Project site.
Have a wee break from
the Christmas stress - come along to Blackness Library for this free talk by
retired city archivist Iain Flett.
Take a seat, have a cup
of tea, and enjoy an hour of Dundee history. Starts 10.30am with teas/coffees from
10.15am.
11am to 4pm – Christmas Vintage market at Roseangle Kitchen Café.
Find everything you
need for your sustainable celebrations. Festive tunes on original vinyl,
gorgeous jewels from throughout the decades, classic & kitschy homewares to
brighten the season and that perfect outfit.
If you’re searching for
a unique gift for a loved one or just want to treat yourself, we’re sure to
have just what you’re looking for.
Free entry - Upper Hall
of Roseangle Kitchen Café, Roseangle/Perth Road.
12 noon to 1.30pm – “A space to connect” – at Victoria Gardens, with Eden Project Communities.
If you’re
looking to meet like-minded people, find out a little about community gardening
or have expertise you’d like to share, we’d love you to join us.
Plants
and people have the power to create lasting change so come along to hear from
Victoria Gardens (301 Blackness Road) around food, food waste, recipe, ideas
and much more! They'll be lots of fun activities to get involved in.
An informal opportunity to connect, share and learn and get involved in some
activities all apart our 'a space to connect' roadshow series.
Lunch will be provided.
Full details at https://events.more-human.co.uk/event/1665427825714x856703972895883300
2.30pm – The West End Christmas Fortnight Primary 6 football competition at Harris Academy. With thanks to the schools for all their help with this. P6 teams participating from our local primary schools.
12
noon to 2pm - West End Blethers from Dundee Pensioners’ Forum - at The Friary in Tullideph Road. Aimed at
older people in the West End, enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, cake, scones, and a
bowl of soup.
Dundee Pensioners’ Forum can arrange a taxi for an elderly person to attend -dundeepensionersforum@gmail.com
The Friary café also has a small food larder - and free fruit and vegetables to take away.
1pm to 3pm – Carols at the Corso Street sheltered lounge - for the sheltered tenants at Abbotsford/Corso area. All welcome!
2pm to 3.30pm - Dundee Carers Centre – Dementia Café Christmas Party - Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church. To find out more, call Dundee Carers Centre on 200422. Also the Sinderins Community Hub – a cuppa and warm welcome for all in the community meets at the church 1pm to 3pm.
4pm to 8pm - CHRISTMAS FORTNIGHT HIGHLIGHTS! – West End Christmas Market at the Miller’s Wynd car park and community fridge in Perth Road. Join us to browse Christmas gifts and we'll also have some hot food and drink stalls and music and entertainment for you to enjoy. We will be having a lights switch-on at 7.15pm. There’s also a visit from Santa, who will be distributing Christmas goody bags to the children! Many thanks to Scotmid for sponsoring the goody bags which will thereafter be available at the Community Fridge.
6.15pm
– The West End Christmas Concert at Dundee West Church. Featuring our two secondary schools at Harris Academy and St John’s RC High
School and our five primary schools – St Joseph’s RC PS, Blackness PS, Tayview
PS, Ancrum Road PS and Victoria Park PS – along Cherry Blossom Nursery School,
Girls’ Brigade and the wonderful Scottish singer Sheena Wellington! Mains of Fintry
Pipe Band will lead everyone to the lights switch on after the concert. Our thanks also to Rev Dr Jim Connolly for
hosting the concert.
Shoppers’ night in the West End – many West End shops will have late opening and special offers on Thursday 1st December!
Christmas became a public holiday in Scotland in 1958, though its celebration was growing in popularity long before this official designation.
In Dundee, local publishers and writers marked the season through annuals and postcards, and the Christmas advert became a staple for local businesses.
Erin Farley from Dundee Libraries shares some seasonal highlights from the Local History Centre's collections.
This online event will run at www.facebook.com/WestEndChristmas
Brian Kelly,
LLD’s popular tutor on astronomy and former City Astronomer at the Mills
Observatory on Balgay Hill, will give this 45 minute talk specially for West
End Christmas Fortnight.
For
more information contact lifelonglearningdundee@gmail.com
There a huge load of events - around 50! - taking place during Christmas Fortnight.
You can download the brochure at https://frasermacpherson.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/a3-christmas-flyer-2022.pdf or pick up a brochure in local shops, Blackness Library, West End Community Fridge, Discovery Point, Verdant Works, sheltered lounges and a whole host of other West End locations.
We look forward to seeing you at the many events taking place.
This year’s Dundee West End Christmas Fortnight will be the largest ever in its 22 years, with around 50 events taking place, including a Christmas Concert, Christmas Market and Lights Switch on in Perth Road, competitions including a West End Primary School Art Competition and a Primary 6 schools football competition, a Christmas Cards initiative to all West End care home residents - as well as talks, a walking tour of the West End and an event to celebrate the centenary of the Logie scheme.
During the Fortnight that runs from Saturday 26th November until Saturday 10th December, we will hold around 50 events – easily the most we have ever run. Big thanks go to all the Christmas Committee members, community groups, churches and everyone else who has made this happen – community spirit is alive and well in the wonderful West End!
A list of events is given below (apologies – a rather long list!) Please go to www.facebook.com/WestEndChristmas for full information and any booking details or please call Dundee 459378 if no Facebook access.
10am to 12 noon - Dundee West Church Christmas Coffee Morning – 130/132 Perth Road - with various stalls – all welcome!
10am to 12 noon - Blackness Primary School Christmas Fair – from Friends of Blackness. Stalls include Christmas jumper swap, toy tombola, Christmas crafts, Gingerbread decorating and Luck dip candy canes - All welcome!
Saturday 26th November and Sunday 27th November
11am to 4pm – Christmas Fayre at Verdant Works. A magical Christmas Fayre set within the iconic High Mill – runs both days.
Monday 28th November
Children’s Crafts – from Blackness Library! This week, Blackness Library is producing “craft in a bag” for local children to collect from the library. From today, week one’s craft bag is available – a tiny elf house!
6pm to 8pm - Transition Dundee – Pet Bed Workshop - This workshop involves some basic sewing to turn old duvets/pillows and fabric scraps into a beautiful pet bed. Booking essential.
6.30pm - Christmas in Print - the twentieth century – an online event with Erin Farley of Dundee Libraries. For access information go to the West End Christmas Fortnight Facebook page.
12 noon to 2pm - West End Blethers from Dundee Pensioners’ Forum - at The Friary in Tullideph Road. Aimed at older people in the West End, enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, cake, scones, and a bowl of soup.
2pm to 3.30pm - Dundee Carers Centre – Dementia Café Christmas Party - Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church. To find out more, call Dundee Carers Centre on 200422. Also the Sinderins Community Hub – a cuppa and warm welcome for all in the community meets at the church 1pm to 3pm.
4pm to 8pm - CHRISTMAS FORTNIGHT HIGHLIGHT! – West End Christmas Market at the Miller’s Wynd car park and community fridge in Perth Road. Full details to follow tomorrow!
6.15pm to 7.05pm - CHRISTMAS FORTNIGHT HIGHLIGHT! – The West End Christmas Concert at Dundee West Church. Further details to follow tomorrow!
Shoppers’ night in the West End – many West End shops will have late opening and special offers on Thursday 1st December.
7pm to 9pm - Harris Education and Recreation Association Christmas Night - At the Vine, all welcome!
10am to 12 noon - Harris Academy Christmas Fayre – including stalls – Free entry all welcome!
11am to 4pm – Christmas Vintage market at Roseangle Kitchen Café. Free entry – all welcome!
12 noon to 1.30pm – “A space to connect” – at Victoria Gardens, with Eden Project Communities.
12.30pm – The West End Christmas Fortnight Primary 6 football competition at Harris Academy. With thanks to the schools for all their help with this. P6 teams participating from our local primary schools.
1pm to 2pm - Magdalen Green – community planting event. All welcome!
Children’s Crafts – from Blackness Library! This week, Blackness Library is again producing “craft in a bag” for local children to collect from the library. From today, week two’s craft bag is available – a tiny snowman!
12 noon to 4pm - Christmas Party at the Queen’s Hotel – for sheltered tenants in Corso/Abbotsford area.
6pm to 8pm – Family Scalextric/Hotwheels Night – Dundee West Church (Upper Hall) - The biggest digital slot car layout you’ve seen – open to all ages (teams of 4). To book your place, please call 07711 177655.
6pm to 8pm - Transition Dundee – Sustainable Gifting Workshop – This will be a fun and sociable evening covering how to gift more sustainably this Christmas, with some crafts to take home with you.
12 noon to 2pm - ‘Easy Willow Christmas Decorations’ Workshop at Ninewells Community Garden
2pm – Public Art West End walking tour – Join Matthew Jarron from the University of Dundee.
12 noon to 2pm - West End Blethers from Dundee Pensioners’ Forum - at The Friary in Tullideph Road.
7pm to 9pm – West End Community & Business Awards night – The Vine. All welcome!
12 noon to 2.30pm - Logie Centenary event. Lime Street Sheltered Lounge – for Logie residents – includes sandwich lunch and a talk on the history of the scheme from Sarah Aitken of City Archives.
2pm to 4pm - St Joseph’s RC Primary School Christmas Fayre – All pupils, parents and carers welcome!
6.30pm to 7.30pm - Louisiana Fairytale Riverboat Jazz Band Concert - at The Gate, 158 Perth Road. Free concert with this hugely talented jazz band - all welcome – no booking required.
10am and 11am - Children’s Craft events. For young school age children, these 2 one hour free workshops are led by Lisa Earl of ‘Create … Kids Create Crafts’. Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church Hall. Booking essential at www.tiny.cc/Crafts-booking
12 noon to 2pm and also 2pm to 4pm - Transition Dundee – Make your own lamp workshop - Join tutor Davie to turn an old bottle into a lamp, a perfect Christmas Gift for a loved one. You will learn some basic wiring skills and take your lamp home with you - bring your own bottle if they/you have a favourite tipple, or take one of ours donated by a local bar!
11am to 5pm – Charity Cushion Sale - Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church Hall – proceeds to Dundee Foodbank.
At the Wighton Centre, Central Library this Saturday - 26th November - at 11am.
Chloe Matharu, singer, songwriter, harpist, sailor
Chloe Matharu is a singer songwriter and harpist from the West Coast of Scotland. A Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy, she offers an authentic voice for the female seafarer in the folk scene. Her ethereal and innovative music gives a glimpse into the modern mariner's life, and is truly unique.
Small Voyages is an eight track album of original songs inspired by Chloe's time at sea as a deck cadet, sailing around the world on oil tankers. The songs are set to an evocative backdrop of Celtic harp music and field recordings of the natural world.
All welcome - Tickets £5 at the
door.
In advance of that, we'd like to highlight this excellent initiative as part of the fortnight, with thanks to Antonia Burnett who writes :
"I have an interior design business based in the West End of Dundee and I have teamed up with another interior designer to organise a cushion sale to raise money for Dundee & Angus Foodbank.
We will hold
the sale at Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church Hall on Saturday 10th
December from 11am to 5pm. We will be selling new cushions, second hand
cushions and also fabric remnants for people that might want to make their own
cushions.
We have already been receiving donations from curtain makers and local businesses but we are now putting out a call to the general public to ask for donations of good quality second hand cushions. The Fabric Mill Dundee has kindly offered to act as a drop off point for donations."
Please support this excellent initiative - you can read more at :
This covers the industrial area north of the Hawkhill
by-pass to Lochee Road running from West Marketgait in the east to Lower Pleasance
in the west.
The framework was subject to a six week consultation, including
a drop-in event at Verdant Works that Fraser attended, in the heart of the area.
The concept was to unlock the potential of the area to bring
vacant, derelict or underused land and buildings back into productive use, as
well as improving employment opportunities and productivity.
We recently asked for an update on progress since the adoption
of the Design Framework as we are anxious to see progress with this.
The council’s Head of Planning and Economic Development has responded
as follows :
“When approved in 2019, the Blackness Business Place Plan
sought to encourage new development opportunities to help regenerate this
industrial area. The Plan facilitated more use diversification and generated
positive discussions with building owners, developers and architects regarding
the redevelopment of several buildings.
Unfortunately, Covid19 did impact on development interest.
However, you will be aware that some mixed-use student accommodation projects
did progress and were granted planning permission during April 2021 for 63
Brown Street and November 2021 for 56 Brown Street). Whilst no building
works have commenced so for, the 63 Brown Street project has recently applied
to discharge their planning conditions, which is a sign that development may
proceed.
In addition, we have a planning application for no.9 Guthrie
Street as well as several proposals that are pre-application discussion stage.
Significant progress has also been made with the City Centre
Strategic Investment Plan, which was recently reported to City Development Committee. A
major aim of the plan is to strengthen links between the city centre and
surrounding areas by improving pedestrian connectivity and active travel
routes.
These medium to long-term interventions will take time to
design and deliver, but should make further improvements to the Blackness area
by making it more integrated with the city centre, particularly via the Guthrie
Street/Ward Road axis.”
At the council's City Development Committee recently, councillors unanimously agreed to alter the long-standing pv2 pedestrian crossing assessment for the provision of pedestrian crossings to better take account of pedestrian movements including those of young people, people with mobility difficulties, etc.
At committee :
👉 Michael asked if this would improve the chances of getting a crossing in Riverside Approach.
👉 Fraser asked if the chances of a proper crossing on Blackness Road at the Kelso steps would be improved. This is another location where many residents have highlighted the need for a crossing given the number of folk crossing to get to Royal Victoria Hospital and also the significant number of Harris Academy and Blackness Primary School pupils crossing.
We were assured that all historic pv2 pedestrian crossing assessments will be reassessed using the new criteria and we hope this will result in more pedestrian crossings being provided including at Riverside Approach and Blackness Road.
.jpg)
.jpg)
REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2022
Miller's Wynd – closed until 26 December 2022 at its junction
with Hawkhill for major construction works.
Guthrie Street (Brown Street to West Marketgait) – closed for 2 weeks for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Milnbank Road – closed westbound from junction of Bankmill Road for 4 days from 15 November for ground investigation works.
Brown Street (at Douglas Street) – temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 22 November for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.
NOTE : This week’s planned works for Dunmore Gardens and Dunmore Drive are slightly delayed. We contacted the Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager about this and have been advised :
“Unfortunately due to significant drainage issues at Torridon Road and Morlich Gardens this week which necessitated the removal of squads from this scheme while a complete redesign was undertaken, Dunmore Gardens has required to be delayed.
Due to the works at Torridon Road and Morlich Gardens having had all bituminous materials removed before issues were discovered with the drainage, the Roads Maintenance Partnership has had no choice to return to these works W/C the 7th of November which unfortunately does mean Dunmore Gardens requires to be reprogrammed due to the road space booked for these works (and other schemes) not allowing the RMP to return late next week or the week after.
While I know this is far from ideal, I can assure you these
works will be undertaken at a later date, which is yet to be determined.”
