THE EDINBURGH
CYRENIANS
Roger Leslie Paige
Spire Publishing 2010 Copyright © Roger Leslie Paige
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PREFACE
This is the story of a personal journey as much as it is of the early days of the Edinburgh Cyrenians.
I arrived in Edinburgh on St. Patrick’s Day 1977. It happened to be a Thursday. I had travelled up from London to start work for six months as a live-in Community Service Volunteer at the ‘Barony Housing Association’ hostel in Broughton Place. I had been up to Edinburgh only once before, in 1976 for a couple of days whilst on holiday from the U.S.A. where I was then living. I can remember thinking that if ever I had the opportunity to work in this beautiful city I would jump at the chance!
I was picked up at Waverley Station by Val Beaver, my new supervisor, and Mike Harland, then the Director of ‘Barony’. I can remember being driven from the station down Leith Street, past the Catholic Cathedral and the strange tubular sculpture on the roundabout. We headed down Broughton Street. We turned right into Forth Street and then quickly left down Hart Street. Directly ahead of me I saw what looked like a burnt-out building in the terrace. My God, I thought, my stomach flipping; I hope I’m not working there! That was my first sighting of 20 Broughton Place, the Cyrenian hostel. The ‘Barony’ hostel was a couple of doors to the right, at numbers 24 & 26. I can remember my relief as I was driven around the back and into the parking space off the lane.
Never for one minute did I think that I would end up working at the Cyrenian hostel, becoming their first Residential Social Worker in 1981, later still their Treasurer and being married in that very building in 1986!
In these pages I hope to give an idea of the birth and early days of the Cyrenians in Edinburgh. The organisation still exists, having changed much in order to meet the demands of the times. It still caters for the young, single homeless but is no longer based in Broughton Place, the city hostel having been moved to Ferry Road. The office is now at Norton Park, the re-developed old school beside the Hibernian football ground. It still has the same Director (Des Ryan) whom I with others interviewed for the job in 1988. The annual turn-over is now over £2 million and there are about 50 employees! As far as I am aware none of the original people who helped start the organisation are still involved. John Basson went to Australia some years ago and remains there. Many others are sadly dead- Professor John C. Spencer died in 1978; Dr. Affleck died in 1989; Father Anthony Ross died in 1993; Tom Scott died in 1997; Tony Hughes died in 2007; Ann Trotman died in 2008; Peter Yeo died in 2009; and just this May Susan Sinclair, one of the Trustees at the time I was involved, has died. But what is undeniable is that the spirit of those early years lives on, the community being greater than the individual!
Roger Leslie Paige 2010
ONE
Laying the Foundations 1968-1969
1968
This year saw me finishing my second year at London University, where I was studying Theology, and start my final year. Everyone will have different memories of what was happening during this year. Here is my “list” which helps to keep 1968 sent in my memory.
Dubcek became leader of Czechoslovakia, an era of ‘Socialism with a human face’.
The Beatles opened Apple Boutique.
The North Vietnamese begin the Tet offensive.
The Home Secretary James Callaghan introduced legislation to restrict the entry of Kenyan refugees ‘flooding’ into the UK.
Sir Donald Wolfit, the actor, died.
George Brown resigned as Foreign Secretary.
Yuri Gagarin was killed in a ’plane crash.
Martin Luther King was assassinated.
Jim Clark was killed while racing at Hockenheimring in West Germany.
Enoch Powell gave his ‘Tiber foaming with much blood’ speech in Birmingham.
Students rioted in Paris & for 5 weeks occupy the Sorbonne
Ronan Point tower block collapsed.
Manchester United beat Benfica in the European Cup final.
Robert Kennedy was assassinated.
Tony Hancock commits suicide in Australia.
‘Bullitt’ (starring Steve McQueen) and ‘If’ (Malcolm McDowell) are released
De Gaulle is elected President in France.
Alec Rose returns to Portsmouth having completed his round-the-world voyage. He is knighted.
A Papal Encyclical (‘Humanae Vitae’) says ‘No’ to birth control.
Rod Laver wins the first Open Wimbledon men’s title
At the Marquee Club you can hear groups such as The Nice, Jethro Tull, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers & singers like Joe Cocker.
In August the first issue of ‘Time Out’ magazine is published.
Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia and depose Dubcek.
Police brutality at the Chicago Democratic Convention.
Riots in Londonderry.
At the Mexico Olympics Tommie Smith and John Carlos give the ‘Black Power’ salute.
Riots in Grosvenor Square as people protest the war in Vietnam.
Lyndon Johnson halts the bombing of North Vietnam.
Richard Nixon is elected President.
On TV begin ‘Dad’s Army’ and ‘The Morecambe and Wise Show’, as well as ‘The Prisoner’.
Elvis’ “Comeback Special” airs on NBC.
Johnny Cash plays at Folsom Prison.
‘Hair’ opens on Broadway.
Songs I remember included: Hey Jude & Lady Madonna (The Beatles); Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding); Jumping Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones); Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel); The Legend of Xanadu (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich); Delilah (Tom Jones); Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf); Fire! (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown); Hello, I Love You (The Doors); Hurdy Gurdy Man & Jennifer Juniper (Donovan); Going Up the Country (Canned Heat); Son of a Preacher Man (Dusty Springfield); This Wheel’s on Fire (Judy Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity); Those were the Days (Mary Hopkins); With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker). And, of course, this was the year that van Morrison recorded ‘Astral Weeks’ which eventually seemed to be coming (along with the smell of cannabis) from every open bed-sit basement window in Notting Hill!
*
Of necessity the story of this first year is told through the records of the meetings held by those involved in setting up the house at 20 Broughton Place. I recall once, when I was living at 25 George Square before getting a student tenancy in Niddrie, Anthony showed me in his adjoining room a suitcase full of papers and documents relating to the Cyrenians. ‘Perhaps one day…’ he said musingly. What became of that suitcase I’ve no idea- I had from it a few papers to help me when I was doing my university thesis on the Cyrenians in Edinburgh (see Chapter Two). Had Anthony not suffered a series of strokes, shortly after he finished a draft of his autobiography ‘The Root of the Matter’, which left his story at the beginning of the Second World War, perhaps he would have written that book about the Cyrenians. In any event, as a member of the Dominican Chaplaincy in Edinburgh between 1959 and 1977, Anthony became the unifying and driving force in that group of individuals who helped to lay the foundations of the Edinburgh Cyrenians. He had contacts with ‘the great & the good’; the Catholic aristocracy and others in the Church of Scotland and Episcopal Church; people in the arts and journalism and all kinds of professional disciplines; and people who lived quite ordinary lives, people who just wanted to help in whatever way they could.
Canon Roland Walls was (and still is) a member of the Episcopalian ‘Community of the Transfiguration’, which was based in Roslin, Midlothian.
Dr. James Whigham Affleck was the former Physician Superintendent of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital from 1967 to 1980, when he retired.
Patty Burgess was (and still is) a Deaconess also in the ‘Community of the Transfiguration’. She is nowadays based in Loanhead.
Ann Trotman, after a career in nursing, became Director of Student Welfare Services at Heriot-Watt from 1968 to 1994.
Professor Richard Scott headed the Department of General Practice in Medicine at Edinburgh University.
Reverend Tom Scott was Chaplain at Heriot-Watt after serving as a Church of Scotland parish minister in Bonnybridge.
Professor John C. Spencer was head of the Department of Social Administration at Edinburgh University.
Dr. A. G. Donald was Regional Advisory in the South of Scotland for the Royal College of General Practitioners (of which he eventually became President). He was a GP in Edinburgh and on the editorial board of the ‘British Journal of General Practice’.
Tony Hughes was a journalist and worked variously as a sub-editor for both the Glasgow and Edinburgh evening papers and the ‘Catholic Herald’. He supported Christian CND and in later life edited ‘Justice and Peace’ magazine.
Elizabeth Elliott was an Associate of the Institute of Medical Social Workers and lived a short distance from the hostel.
Reverend Leonard Small was Minister of St. Cuthbert’s Church from 1956 to 1975, and was the first Chairman of the Parole Board in Scotland from 1967 to 1975. (He died in 1994.)
Dr. C. M. Una Maclean was Lecturer in the Department of Social Medicine at Edinburgh University; Lord Cameron (died 1996) was a senior judge as was Lord Birsay (died 1982).
Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee
held on Saturday, 8th June, 1968
at 12.30 p.m. in the Staff Club
Present: Father Anthony Ross (in the Chair)
Dr. Affleck, Alan Bassett, Miss Coverdale, Mick Morris, Professor Scott, Ann Trotman.
PROPERTY IN BROUGHTON PLACE
Father Anthony said that members of the Committee had been to look at the property that morning. They were highly delighted, and thought it ideal because of its flexibility and good state of repair. It had up till now been a working men’s hostel, run by a Pole; it was “neutral” (not conspicuously middle-class), clean, bright, cheerful and comfortable - and therefore provided good “therapeutic” surroundings. Furnishings would be buyable with the house.
The lay-out and suggested use of it were as follows:-
2nd floor - sleeping accommodation, in single and double rooms, for 6;
1st floor - sleeping accommodation for 8 (workers);
Both these floors have cooking and washing facilities
Ground floor - general, communal space - Kitchen (to be installed), dining-room, common room;
Basement - accommodation for 5/6 sleeping, and storage space.
The house would be the operating base for work at the new Cafe in the West Port. It would be desirable, though, that no worker should be “identified” exclusively with either house or Cafe. Concentration would be upon young people (whom Mr. Hamilton had already agreed to direct to the new cafe, as the night shelter in the Cowgate seemed to be attracting older dossers).
The house’s 18/20 residents would consist of 8 permanent workers and about 10 care cases from the under-thirty age-group.
Finances: the price of the house was £5750; £3000 would be guaranteed at the time of purchase, and a further £1,500 had been promised. A Trust was being approached for an interest-free loan of £2,500. The date of taking possession would be 29th June.
Alan Bassett pointed out that if all the money referred to were forthcoming, there would be a surplus which would help to cover the cost of installing showers and the ground-floor kitchen.
Father Anthony confirmed that the present “working kitchens” on the 2nd floor and in the basement would be inadequate for 18/20 people, and that the ground floor must have one.
Miss Coverdale suggested that some at least of the small cooking units on the upper floors should be left in use: these would probably be suitable for the cooking of breakfasts etc
Alan Bassett agreed that the gas cookers in the double and bigger rooms should be left.
Father Anthony referred to the problem of “control of supplies”, keeping the household budget economical, etc; pilfering had not been uncommon in similar ventures. The question of the gas supply should be considered: in fact, all the gas meters had been placed in one lockable cupboard, so control of the supplies should not be unduly difficult.
He was also considering the question of cooperation with the medical and psychiatric services, and wishes to discuss this with Dr. Affleck. It might be feasible for post-graduate students in training to give service- to live-in as part of the community, and help to assess the care cases. It would be necessary to select such students; very carefully. There was also the possibility that Dr. John Evans might come in from time to time, with his students, as a visitor at, say, the evening meal.
Mick suggested that such a visit might be felt by the residents as a threat -might be more harmful than helpful.
Father Anthony pointed out that the visit could be highly informal; that if group relationships were good, guests would be readily accepted; and that barriers need not necessarily arise from differences of accent etc. It would, however, be important to ensure that no merely curious droppers-in were admitted; and that those who were invited should help and participate fully.
Alan Bassett asked about catering, especially the cooking of the evening meal.
Father Anthony said that it would be desirable for there to be a “feminine influence”, in this connection. (He also mentioned the matter of residents’ girl-friends, and the need to decide on a policy about rules re: visiting-hours etc.) A woman would be employed to come in and cook the evening meal - a reliable, motherly type,
Dr, Affleck wondered whether it would be possible to arrange a “tie-up” with Martin House, which is near - perhaps helpers could be obtained from there; assistants, and also a second cook, would obviously be necessary if the evening meal were to be cooked every night of the week.
Father Anthony said that the house residents would be able to help, especially as it was likely that some of them would not be in employment, at least to begin with.
Alan Bassett said that it would be important to try to get started in jobs those who were unemployed.
Ann Trotman suggested that such attempts should not be made immediately.
Father Anthony suggested that it would be good policy to say that no-one should be thought ready to leave the house until they were settled in a job.
Dr. Affleck asked whether the residents would be asked to contribute financially.
Father Ross said that at George Square he asked residents to give according to their means. But for some, he felt, who had never before freely received anything, it would be better that they should not be asked to give.
Mick suggested that initially, none of the residents at the Broughton Place house should be asked to contribute; there would be a better feeling of “all being in this together”, if they were not asked.
Dr. Affleck asked about the finances of running the house.
Father Anthony said that it would be necessary to “beg” from fruit and vegetable merchants, butchers, and bakers. Regular financial support might be forthcoming from Church congregations - the Methodist Church in Nicholson Square, St. Columba’s-by-the-Castle, Mayfield, and Rosslyn were already providing regular support of this nature.
Alan Bassett mentioned Ann Trotman’s hopes for raising money by covenant from industry.
Ann Trotman pointed out that it would now be possible to point out to prospective donors a specific plan and property; this should help.
Miss Coverdale pointed out that an important part of the house’s educative work would be the teaching of the place and use and management of money - which should be seen to be well-spent in the running of the house.,
Dr. Affleck suggested that the household, budget should be pinned up publicly.
Father Anthony said that a weekly house meeting would also be important. He also referred to the problem of “knowing when to put the pressure on”.
Professor Scott said that this would be a highly individual matter; some of those in need respond well to unconditional giving, but not all, and prediction of individual responses, is difficult.
Miss Coverdale suggested that there was a danger in giving unconditionally, as an easy immediate answer to a problem, for this could give the house a reputation which would lay it open to too many demands.
Dr, Affleck stressed the importance of winning young people away from the idea that older people are necessarily wealthy enough to provide relief indefinitely. Hence the importance of displaying the budget.
Father Anthony said that the Simon principle was that the bare minimum should be provided, and that anything above that should be raised by the efforts of everyone together. Money and supplies would have to be raised initially by begging; for the rest, one would have to wait and see.
Alan Bassett estimated that the running of the house and cafe would together cost about £100 per week.
Father Anthony referred to the extra expense of carrying out repairs at Broughton Place; and said that it would be necessary to make a careful assessment of regular running costs before firms were approached re: covenants etc.
He went on to mention the need for some control of visiting and visitors at the house; to ensure that no pattern developed of over-night visitors becoming residents.
Professor Scott wondered how many of the young people would be from outside Edinburgh: he had had the impression that many were very mobile, and would have been in the city for a short time only.
Father Anthony said that it was true that many were mobile; but it was also true that many were Edinburgh residents who could not or would not live at home (e.g., drug addicts, illegitimate children, children of divorced parents).
Professor Scott thought that local cases might prove to be those for whom the maximum of rehabilitation was possible,, and that perhaps these should be the ones to be concentrated upon.
Father Anthony said that he could think at once of about 30 or 40 such cases -those who would achieve stability after a relatively short stay at the Broughton Place house, and who would have a good influence there.
Miss Coverdale wondered how far it would be possible to rehabilitate parents at the same time as their children.
Father Anthony said that one might find “playing off against each other” occurring. Many parents, on the other hand, would wish to take no part at all; others would find it helpful to be able to meet their children on “neutral” ground, and new beginnings for relationships might be possible. But care would be needed if the children were still officially living at home, and using the Broughton Place house as a source of defiance of their parents.
Alan Bassett suggested that all this emphasised the need for great care to be exercised in the scrutiny of new cases for admission, and for knowledge of their backgrounds.
Dr. Affleck asked what sort of relationship there would be with the night shelter in the West Port.
Father Anthony said that emergency cases from the cafe would be admitted to the basement of the house, and put on the waiting-list for accommodation there if necessary.
Dr. Affleck thought that it might be preferable for the workers to live in the basement, so that they should not get too “mixed up” with the residents upstairs.
Miss Coverdale felt that the workers would be too isolated if they kept to the basement.
Father Anthony agreed.
Dr. Affleck suggested that cases from the cafe should have priority for vacancies in the house, unless places were being specifically kept for those away in detention.
Father Anthony referred to the problem of deciding which cases should be allowed to return after detention, and of maintaining contact with them during their absence.
Alan Bassett mentioned the question of rules for the admission of friends of residents. He suggested that visiting restrictions might prove an incentive -they might, i. e. induce a desire to do well enough to be able to move on elsewhere, to a place where one could have one’s friends to stay.
He enquired about the time-span envisaged for residents’ stays at the house,
Father Anthony said that experience suggested that “up to 2 years” was a realistic estimate. Progress with some cases - especially offenders and the unemployed - might be very slow.
Mike said that flexibility in the use of rooms would be important; a “dormitory atmosphere” was to be avoided.
Father Anthony agreed that it might be desirable for some residents to have single rooms which they could clean and decorate and make their own - possibly a completely new experience for them. He mentioned the need for links with other hostels, places to which ex-residents could be recommended to go; he also mentioned the possibility of finding families with whom ex-residents might be boarded.
Dr. Affleck asked whether 20 or 80 possible residents for the house had already been found-
Father Anthony said that they had more than enough.
Dr. Affleck asked how waiting-list priorities would be decided.
Father Anthony said that new admissions would have to be considered in relation to the group as then constituted: a straightforwardly rigid waiting-list order would be most undesirable,
Ann Trotman asked how the group would be started.
Father Anthony said that a small group would be chosen initially, a bigger one being built up gradually. One of the house’s present inhabitants, a Pole waiting for his wife to come over and join him, might still be in residence when the house was taken over on 29th June, but would be moving out eventually.
He referred to the question of the choice of workers: as before, disturbed students, not really suitable for the work, might be attracted to the house as a “refuge”. Careful selection would be necessary and a “probation” could be served at the cafe first. Scrutiny of volunteers, recruitment, and training, must be thoroughly attended to.
Mike suggested that it would be wise to focus attention on the cafe rather than the house.
Alan Bassett agreed, and said that the cafe should be as “permissive” as was feasible. He also referred to the problem of deciding when the police or other authorities should be given information.
Father Anthony mentioned that Mr. Hopkins, of “The Scotsman”, had been seeking news of his plans, and said that it would be good policy if the press were to hear more about the cafe than the house.
Alan Bassett felt that the Broughton Place project should be kept secret until the first group had been installed.
Dr. Affleck agreed that secrecy was very important.
Mike suggested that the links between café and house should be kept tenuous and vague at least in public.
It was agreed that the next Meeting would be arranged by Father Anthony Ross and communicated to all concerned.
*
Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee
held at 20 Broughton Place
at 8.00 p.m. on Sunday, 30th June 1968
Present
Father Anthony Ross (in the Chair)
Alan Bassett
Elizabeth Elliott
Tony Hughes
Mick Morris
Sandy Murray
Tom Scott
Elizabeth Henderson (Secretary)
Donations Received
Father Anthony announced donations of £1,000 from the Earl and Countess of Eldon, and £120 from the Catholic Students Union. He handed over cheques to Alan Bassett, who said thet this would leave a balance of about £500 after paying off the bank loan.
Residents’ “rents’’ at Broughton Place
After Father Anthony had outlined the case histories of the two care-cases now at Broughton Place, John Brady and Colin Thomson, there was considerable discussion about the rents to be asked from them and from future care-cases.
The Committee noted that at Martin House a direct payment is received from the Ministry of Social Security, so that residents do not hand over any money direct. The weekly payment to Martin House is £.2:15s
The Committee also noted that the average payment from the Ministry varied between £4: 6s and £4:14 per week, but that some residents would not be drawing this, being “voluntarily unemployed”.
The Committee finally agreed the following;-
a) that in cases where residents were drawing allowances from the Ministry, they should be asked to contribute 30/- per week.
b) that if anyone was in a job, he should be asked to contribute an economic rent, which would be not less than £2:10s per week.
c) that the actual rent should be decided upon in each case by the Community Leader, who could refer to the Committee or Father Anthony if in any doubt.
d) that every opportunity should first be given to each resident to make his contribution voluntarily, before any approach is made to the Ministry for a direct contribution on “Martin House” lines.
Former Prisoners
Father Anthony mentioned that various after-care organisations had shown interest in the possibility of our including some former prisoners among our residents. The Secretary of the Prison After-Care Service had suggested that if a quota of beds could be made available, a grant could be obtained of £100 or more per bed. This official appreciated the need for us to be able to select anyone whom we accepted into Broughton Place.
It was agreed that another meeting be held with this Secretary, after Broughton Place had had time to settle down further.
Work Outstanding at the West Port Cafe
Tom Scott reported the requirements of the Public Health Department (Mr. Orr, Johnston Terrace) for:-
a) Means of keeping soup hot
b) A sink with hot and cold water
c) Two toilets
Alan Bassett said he could supply a cooker and a sink, and it was agreed to approach James Miller Jnr. for two toilets and a basin. A brick wall would have to be built for the toilets.
With regard to the timing of the opening of the cafe, it was agreed that priority should be given to building up a community at Broughton Place, but that work should proceed as urgently as possible with the cafe, with a view to opening it at first for restricted periods of about three hours per night.
In later discussion it was agreed that tables and chairs should be installed - Tom Scott undertook to investigate the possibility of any being available from Heriot-Watt, and Tony Hughes promised to make enquiries also. It was further agreed to approach one of the Building Department staff at Heriot-Watt for advice on any further work that might be necessary.
Any emergency cases who presented themselves at night at Broughton Place could meanwhile be taken in at the Community Leader’s discretion, provide it was made clear that they should leave the following morning.
Position re. Workers
Mick Morris and Sandy Murray are now in residence at Broughton Place but Sandy will be returning to University in the autumn.
It was agreed that Andrew Davenport should be approached, as he had already offered to return to Edinburgh, and that Chris Parnell should also be approached. It was also agreed that Donald Coutts might be free in September to replace Sandy.
With regard to recruitment and training, it was agreed that as far a possible any new recruits should serve a probationary period in the cafe, to test their commitment.
Work Outstanding at Broughton Place
All the furniture and equipment now in Jenners store, formerly at the Peoples Palace flat, will be delivered on 11th July. This will include some cutlery and cooking implements, but further supplies of these are urgently required.
A television set has already been installed from John Basson’s flat. Mick Morris agreed to check the licence position.
Alan Bassett agreed to investigate insurance with the Commercial Union with whom he has an agency, and to pass on any commission to which he might be entitled. It was agreed to insure the house for £6,000 and contents for £500. Elizabeth Elliott agreed to investigate the National Insurance position re. Workers.
The Committee agreed, after discussion, that the Workers Allowance should remain at £1 per week, plus tobacco money.
Mick Morris agreed to draw up sketch plans for conversion of the small ground floor room into a kitchen.
With regard to the admission of care-cases to the house, it was agreed that each application should be decided upon by the Committee, or if this is not possible by Mick Morris and Father Anthony together.
Father Anthony suggested regular visiting of Broughton Place by members of the Committee, to arrive in time for the evening meal and possibly to stay overnight.
It was agreed that locks should be left on each room door, but keys should be removed for the present. Front door keys would not be provided, to prevent copying, and the mortice lock on the front door would be fastened at midnight.
It was agreed that female visitors should be allowed in the house up to 11 p.m., but definitely no later so that they could not plead the excuse they had missed their last bus. Female visitors would be allowed into the common rooms only, but not the bedrooms. It might be necessary for Mick Morris to restrict the number of visitors on any one occasion.
With regard to drink and drugs, it was agreed that a policy for the former could be left to emerge from discussion among the residents themselves. Prohibition of drugs on the premises, however, would have to be absolute.
It was agreed that Mick should approach the Gas Board to see about installing a master gas meter, which perhaps could be locked off between midnight and 6 a.m.
There was some discussion about Workers’ time off, and it was finally agreed that once Broughton Place and the cafe are both operational, with eight workers available between the two, we should aim at giving each worker 36 hours, two nights and a day, off duty each week.
Further Items on the Agenda
It was agreed to leave further items on the agenda for discussion at an adjournment of this meeting to be held the following Sunday, 7th July, at the same time and place.
*
Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee
held at 20 Broughton Place
at 8.00 p.m. on Sunday, 7th July 1968
This meeting was the continuation of that on Sunday 30th June, reported above. The same members were present, -with the exception of Tom Scott who was absent.
Reports on Items Discussed at Previous Meeting
(a) Insurance
Subject to installation of fire extinguishers, which Mick Morris promised to investigate, the Commercial Union would insure us as follows in respect of Broughton Place :-
Fire
Special Perils
Employers’ Liability
Public Liability
Temporary cover had already been arranged. The annual cost would therefore be about £25, allowing for Alan Bassett passing on his commission to the Trust.
It was agreed that Alan Bassett should complete the proposal forms to arrange insurance on the above lines.
b) Television
Mick Morris reported that the tube in the set brought over from John Basson’s flat had now packed up.
It was agreed, that Alan Bassett should investigate the possibility of renting a second hand set on an annual basis.
c) Cafe in West Port
Father Anthony, Alan Bassett and Tom Scott had visited the cafe during the week, with Mr. Valentine of Heriot-Watt Building Department, who had given helpful advice. There was more work to be done than had been anticipated. Tom Scott would contact the City Engineer about the location of the soil pipe.
The toilets had already been received from James Millar Jnr.
Father Anthony agreed to make contact with a contractor at Polmont, to discuss installing toilets, building a breeze block wall, etc.
d) 20 Broughton Place
Mick Morris had arranged for an inspector from the Gas Board to visit next week.
lt was agreed that gas cookers should be removed from all rooms except those one or two to be used as kitchens. Mick Morris would investigate the possibility of selling these.
It was agreed to ask the Gas Board to check the entire system in the house and to seal off all unwanted pipes.
Following discussion on conversion of the kitchen, Father Anthony agreed to contact John Kidney & Co., who for a fee would probably prepare plan and carry out the work. The Committee noted that a sum of about £200 might be available for this.
e) Workers for the House
So far no reply had been received to Mick’s letter to Chris Parnell. Father Anthony had still to write to Andrew Davenport.
Offer of Transport
Donald Coutts had offered use of a car, which he in turn had been given the use of by the owner, a girl student away in America.
It was agreed not to take this up, as there would be complications with registration and insurance, and we should be able to call on sufficient transport as necessary from Committee members.
Other offers of Support
a) Father Anthony reported meeting a Mrs. Buffie Fender, a lecturer in Anatomy with a diploma in Psychiatric medicine. She had shown interest in the house and had already visited it - she was prepared to act informally as a Psychiatric consultant.
b) Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Maxwell had offered material for curtains and Mrs. Fender had offered to make these up.
c) Mrs. Davidson had also offered paint for decorating and some other items.
The Committee warmly welcomed all these offers.
College Missionary Society
Father Anthony reported on a meeting with Professor Blackie, himself and Canon Walls, from which it is obvious that any capital grant from this Society is unlikely in the near future. The Society now appears keen to arrange liaison between the various communities in Edinburgh conducting this sort of work - Allermuir, Cephas House, George Square, Martin House and ourselves. The Society would probably support such a multi-tier system, particularly if there were common training schemes for workers and volunteers,
These ideas fitted with those recently expressed by the Edinburgh Council of Social Service and the Scottish Home and Health department.
Alan Bassett felt that all this was encouraging, but that Broughton Place should be firmly established before any approaches are made to the other communities for any sort of “federation”.
Miss Jones, the new Director of Social Services for Scotland, had already expressed interest in our work, and would probably be a moving force behind any co-operative venture.
The Committee agreed that Father Anthony would meanwhile keep a watching brief on the situation, and that Professor Blackie might be invited to become more involved with our work, especially in connection with his course in pastoral studies. It was also agreed that links with other organisations were desirable, but they should be formed gradually rather than immediately.
Links with Glasgow Cyrenians
Tony Hughes reported a meeting with John Jennings (from Liverpool) in Glasgow - John had offered to send some volunteers. The Committee agreed that this offer should at this stage be turned down, as we wish to avoid difficulties arising from lack of proper selection.
Tony Hughes also mentioned that the Glasgow Cyrenians had expressed desire to co-operate closely with us. It was agreed that Tony Hughes would write to explain our present situation and our immediate need to concentrate on the building up of the community at Broughton Place. At the same time we should keep open the possibility of closer co-operation in the future, particularly on publicity, recruitment and training.
Recruitment of workers
The Committee agreed that any prospective new worker should fill in an application form, a supply of which would shortly be available. He should serve a probationary period of at least two weeks (including two weekends) in Broughton Place and the cafe, and that his full appointment should be agreed jointly by the community and the Executive Committee.
New Care-Case
On the recommendation of Father Anthony, the community agreed to admit Bill Davidson, who has been at Allermuir for 8 months, and has been at work for the past 6 months. It was thought that he would become a useful link between the workers and other care-cases. There was general discussion about length of residence, and Father Anthony pointed out that some people, for example Colin Henderson, might have to stay on at Broughton Place for a matter of years.
Membership of the Local Advisory Committee, and of the Cyrenians
1. Those who are members both of the Executive Committee and of the L.A.C.
Father Anthony Ross Dr. Malcolm Ruel Alan Harding
Alan Bassett Professor Scott
Elizabeth Elliott Rev Tom Scott
Elizabeth Henderson Ann Trotman
Mick Morris Canon Walls
Tony Hughes Hans Wirz
2. Those who are members of the L.A.C. only
Dr. Affleck Rev. Andrew Morton
Miss Coverdale Mrs. Redpath
3. Those who are recommended as additional members of the L.A.C.
The Bishop of Edinburgh
Professor Blackie
The Minister of Broughton Place Church
Professor Spencer
Dr. Una Maclean
Dr. Leonard Small
Lord Cameron
Lord Kilbrandon
Lord Birsay
Rev. Richard Holloway
Rev. Tanner
Mrs. Davidson
4. Those who are tentatively recommended as additional members of the L.A.C.
A representative of the Probation Service
A representative of the Prison Service
A representative of the Scottish Home and Health Department.
A member of Edinburgh City Council (Councillor Mrs. Donaldson? The Liberal Councillor for Morningside?)
5. Those who are recommended as members of Edinburgh Cyrenians
Louise Bagshaw, Catherine Brown, Mrs. Patty Burgess, Mr. & Mrs. Carswell, Mrs. D.K. Dickie, Robert Haslam, David Johnstone, Madge Maclean, Elizabeth Owens, Peter Stevens, Mrs. Lutz, Julie-Ann Macqueen, Alistair Moodie, Bill Jamieson, Andrew Barrie, Peter Jocelyn, George Martineau, Brian Cavanagh, Cathy Williams, Keith Arnold, Gordon McVee, Ian Laing, John Basson, Mrs. Parker
Those in list No. 3 are to be written to by Father Anthony; those in list No. 5 are to be written to by Alan Bassett. Prospective members of the L.A.C. will receive a copy of the Constitution, and recommended members of the Cyrenians will be told of the present situation. After the hoped for expansion of the L.A.C., the names of its more distinguished members will be printed on the note-paper used (if and as appropriate) by the Trust. (It was agreed that the address of the house should remain unchanged: “20 Broughton Place”.)
It was also agreed, that John Casey should be invited to become the Trust’s “Honorary Legal Advisor”.
Next Meeting
The next meeting was arranged for 12.30 p.m. on Friday 12th July, and is to be held as usual at 20 Broughton Place.
*
Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee
hold at 20 Broughton Place at 12.30 pm.
on Friday, 12th July, 1968
Present: Father Anthony Ross (in the Chair)
Alan Bassett, Elisabeth Elliott, Tony Hughes, Mick Morris, Tom Scott, Ann Trotman,
Elizabeth Henderson (Secretary)
Also present: Mr. Harry Richmond (Prison After-Care Inspector but present at the meeting in an unofficial capacity)
Donation received:
Father Anthony reported that £100 had been received from the Church of Old St. Paul’s; the Trust’s balance now consists of about £680 in the bank, and £10 in cash.
Reports and comments, on matters referred_to in the Minutes of the last tvro Meetings
(a) The West Port Café: Father Anthony reported that a plumber, Martin Harvey, is to inspect the premises and make recommendations.
Tom Scott said a second soil pipe was now known to exist, also Sink / Basin exit pipes; these would facilitate the plumbing which needed to be done. He reported that chairs would not after all be available from Heriot-Watt. Tony Hughes had not yet obtained any chairs, but some were available now that the furniture had been brought out of storages
Father Anthony recommended that any surplus arm-chairs, if not wanted in the house, be got rid of: they should not be used in the cafe. (See reference below to sale of furniture).
Alan Bassett reported that his cooker and sink (for the cafe) and fridge (for the house) would be available in the following week. Tom Scott said that he might be able to provide a washing-machine for the house. He referred to Mr. Valentine’s recommendations for the cafe- breeze blocks for the toilet walls, and a passage to the toilets containing a basin. Father Anthony said that Martin Harvey, the plumber, would undertake these jobs.
(b) Workers for the house: Father Anthony had not yet written to Andrew Davenport, and Mick had so far received no reply from Chris Parnell. Donald Coutts would definitely be available in September.
Father Anthony had received a letter from Anthony Morris, a New Zealander who had been a student in South Africa and had been put in touch with Father Anthony by the Chaplain at Nottingham University; he would like to visit Edinburgh in August to find out about the possibility of his being enrolled as a worker. It was agreed that he should be invited to spend a week in Edinburgh in August.
(c) 20 Broughton Place; Father Anthony referred again to furniture. Mick reported that the furniture was now out of store; most was usable in the house, but some upright chairs would not be needed. There were at least 20 beds. It was agreed that Mick should sell any surplus furniture.
After some discussion about the television set, it was agreed that Alan Bassett should go ahead with the renting of a 3-year-old, 19-inch-screen television set, plus aerial (£10 extra) making all three channels available. The annual rent would be £28, and a 24-hour repair service would be guaranteed.
Mick said that the Inspector from the Gas Board had refused to scrutinize the system until a plumber had switched it off. He thought the pipes very dangerous, and suspected a slow leak by the cooker.
Father Anthony said that he would get Martin Harvey to look at the Gas system on Sunday.
It was agreed that the requisite £40 should be spent on the two fire extinguishers (powder, not water) and self-closing mechanisms for fire doors recommended for the house, and that Mick should try to obtain asbestos cladding for the doors.
Mick reported that painting and re-decoration were in progress in the House.
The new care-case, Bill Davidson, is now in residence, and has a single room in the basement.
Edinburgh Council of Social Service Conference on 11th September.
Father Anthony said that representatives would go to this Conference, at which members from all bodies running hostels of any kind in Edinburgh are to be present. Proposals for co-ordination of effort will be made.
Membership of the Local Advisory Committee and of the Cyrenians.
Father Anthony reported that the Bishop of Edinburgh, Dr. Maclean, Dr. Small, and Mrs. Davidson, were all ready to become members of the L.A.C; he also read out a very cordial letter from Lord Cameron, which had crossed with Father Anthony’s more recent one to him. Lord Birsay had indicated that he was favourable; the others approached had not yet replied.
Tom Scott read out a letter sent to him by one of the organisers of Student voluntary work at the University Settlement. It was agreed that a reply should be sent, describing the present situation and welcoming the suggestion that students, especially mature ones, should be directed to work in the cafe.
Corrections were made to lists nos. 1 and 5 which contained several omissions. Father Anthony recommended that the names of Mr. Holloway (to become Rector of Old St. Paul’s in September) and Mr. Tanner (new Minister of the Methodist Church in Nicolson Square) be added to list no. 3. List no. 5 was recognised to be incomplete; Tom Scott said that he would provide Alan Bassett with the names of those whom he knew to be missing from it, so that they too could be notified of the present situation.
Alan Bassett produced copies of the letter which he proposed to send to those recommended as members of Edinburgh Cyrenians; the draft was discussed, and Father Anthony suggested that a reference to financial matters (the need to repay the loan of £3000 +, and to organise fund-raising activities) be added. It was agreed that the letter, thus amended, should now be sent out by Alan Bassett.
Father Anthony also referred to the stirring-up of interest and support among the student population. Tom Scott said that he and Andrew Morton would work together on a campaign for publicity and fund-raising, involving both Universities.
Alan Bassett mentioned that John Casey had accepted his “Honorary” position.
Mr. Harry Richmond.
Mr. Richmond said that he would be unable to join the L.A.C. in an official capacity, except as “adviser” or “assessor”, but agreed to maintain contact by regular informal visits to the house, and to do anything which he could to help.
Father Anthony said that he would make an approach “higher up”, in connection with the appointment of an assessor.
Secretariat, Publicity and Treasury.
It was agreed that:-
Elizabeth Henderson will continue to take Minutes at Meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Trustees; Mrs. Temple will be Rota Secretary when the new cafe is opened; Alan Bassett will continue to acknowledge donations, but will forward the addresses of all donors, well-wishers etc. to Tom Scott’s office, from which the quarterly newsletter, which now goes to over 100 people, will be sent out; Tony Hughes will draft the newsletter, and deal generally with publicity matters; mail is to continue to be directed to Tom Scott’s office, Magdalen Chapel, and will be re-directed if and as necessary from there,
Tony Hughes then mentioned the need to decide on policy concerning the press at the time of the cafe’s opening. Elizabeth Elliott recommended a press conference, and Father Anthony a press hand-out. It was agreed that Tony Hughes should draft this hand-out and have it approved informally by Father Anthony, and also that he should provide the B.B.C. and / or S.T.V. with suitable information.
Further possible care-cases
Father Anthony mentioned Mr, Meikle, an Episcopalian who runs a hostel nearby and is hoping for “co-operation” with 20 Broughton Place; he has already suggested that one of his teenagers be moved in here. Father Anthony also said that a social worker had approached him about the possibility of the house taking in an eighteen-year-old boy at present staying with an over-strict grandmother. It was agreed that Father Anthony and Mick should see this boy, perhaps suggesting that he stay first for a week or so at Allermuir.
Future Plans.
Father Anthony said that he was already being asked about the Cyrenians’ proposed next move; he felt that work which would involve women volunteer workers should have priority. Alan Bassett mentioned older dossers and pointed out that the Church of Scotland Shelter was now selective - which indicated a need for the housing of its “rejects’’.
Father Anthony then referred to enuretics, who were those most frequently rejected; and it was agreed that it was they who should have priority when new work was being planned.
Simon Community case-sheets.
Specimen copies of case-note sheets were circulated: one type was designed for reports of individual care-cases, to be completed monthly and sent to the headquarters at Liverpool and another type was for the daily recording of those sleeping overnight at shelters. Strong scepticism was expressed about the desirability of keeping, and forwarding to Liverpool records of this sort, and it was agreed that the forms provided should be ignored. Mick and Father Anthony would together devise and use whatever system of case-note-keeping seemed to them most suitable.
Liverpool Conferences in August.
Father Anthony said that Jimmy from Glasgow, would be attending the Community Leaders’ Conference on 2nd August; he and Mick would be going to the general one on 17th - 18th Augusts and would like a third representative to accompany them if anyone were available.
The next Meeting was arranged for 8 pm, on Sunday 11th August and is to be held as usual at 20 Broughton Place.
*
Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee
held at 20 Broughton Place
at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 11th August, 1968.
Present: Father Anthony Ross (in the Chair)
Alan Bassett, Alan Harding, Anthony Morris, Mick Morris, Sandy Murray, Ann Trotman, Canon Walls. Hans Wirz.