AHEAD of this year’s Small Business Saturday, which took place on December 6, I visited some of the businesses now located at the Longniddry South development.
They included the Yarrow Cookery School, Fern Bothy, In Bloom, Margiotta and the Perk Coffee Shop.
Local businesses like these are at the centre of East Lothian’s economy and character, and their talent, passion and dedication to customer service was impressive. With only days until Christmas, it also underlines the constant importance of the ‘shop local’ message.
Before those visits, I was pleased to address Longniddry Probus Club, following an invitation made not long after I was first elected. I spoke to the club members about some of the global challenges we are currently facing, including the conflict in Ukraine and the climate crisis, and why I believe there are reasons to be optimistic about the outcomes.
On St Andrew's Day, I joined First Minister John Swinney and other guests at Athelstaneford Parish Church for a special Saltire service which marked the Saltire Memorial’s 60th anniversary. It was a timely and important reminder of the historic and cultural significance of the Saltire, and the fact that it belongs to all of Scotland’s people and communities, as well as the Scottish diaspora.
As the Courier reported last week, the event also marked the launch of a fundraising campaign for a new monument. I have joined those backing the campaign and urge anyone who is interested in supporting the plans or finding out more about them to visit saltire.scot
Last week, I visited the First Step Community Project in Musselburgh to catch up on some of its current work and impact with local families. This much-loved community service has been providing vital support for local families with young children for more than 30 years and I appreciated them taking time out to update me on their activity. Find out more about First Step at firststepmusselburgh.co.uk
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