Edinburgh-based charity the Sick Kids Friends Foundation has announced it is rebranding under the new name Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

Although the charity – a much-loved Edinburgh institution – is to change its name, its mission to continue to raise money to buy vital equipment and services remains as important as ever.

Roslyn Neely, CEO of the ECHC, said: “Through the amazing support and fundraising of many, many people, we’ve supported the work of the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital for 25 years. But with the hospital changing to a new name, we felt this would be a positive opportunity to also update our own name.

“Aside from our name, nothing will change in terms of the work that we do. We continue to be a grant giving organisation which exists to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital so that they can be a child first and a patient second.

“The clinical work of the hospital is world class and often ground-breaking. However, we rely completely on the public for all our donations and we still need support to help us provide the magical extras to benefit the hundreds of thousands of babies, children and young people who will be patients over future decades.”

For more information on Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, please visit: www.echccharity.org

Widely-experienced valuation professional Roy Hudghton has returned in a full-time role to DM Hall, one of Scotland’s leading firms of Chartered Surveyors, as the firm’s rapid growth continues apace.

The former head of the RICS Valuation Professional Group in Scotland has been appointed as Director in the highly-regarded commercial team as the firm’s East Coast-based operation undergoes a period of unprecedented expansion.

As Head of the four-strong Edinburgh Commercial Valuation team, Roy will work closely with Michael Court, Partner and Head of East Commercial and recently-appointed Ross Wilson, Head of Agency (East of Scotland).

Roy, who qualified in 1982 and specialises in trade-related valuations, particularly in the leisure sector and the licensed trade, was a partner in DM Hall until 2008, when he left to establish his own successful consultancy business.

He re-established links with the firm in 2013 and in 2015 was appointed as head of the Valuation team in a consultant capacity.

He said: “Since the appointment of Michael Court, the firm has been going from strength to strength in the East of Scotland and I am delighted to once again be able to devote all my energies to its continuing success.

“The team has met and exceeded all its targets since 2015 and new and very ambitious targets have been set in terms of client development and margin enhancement.

“We have established much better relationships with banks, lenders and pension funds and we are now in a position where we can promote the commercial department’s undoubted expertise much more rewardingly.”

Michael Court said: “Roy has been a tremendous asset to the team in recent years and we are very pleased now to be able to call on his services on a full-time basis. His contribution as a director will be invaluable.”

Alan Gordon, Principal Commercial Partner of DM Hall based in the Glasgow office, said: “Roy Hudghton has a long and illustrious track record in professional valuation and, of course, was a valued partner in the firm for many years.

“I am sure everyone in the firm will join me in welcoming him back to a full-time role. His expertise, integrity and dedication to the profession is unrivalled and the East team will benefit hugely from his experience.”

DM Hall’s East commercial department, based in Corstorphine Road, has a staff of more than 30, covering Edinburgh, Dundee, Falkirk, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline and including the Property Management Division in Livingston.

For further information, contact DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, 17 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 6DD. T: 0131 477 6000. E: edinburghresidential@dmhall.co.uk. W: www.dmhall.co.uk. T: http://twitter.com/dmhallLLP.

For further information about DM Hall’s Scotland-wide network of offices, please contact Neil McKenzie, Marketing Manager, DM Hall, Unit 3, Cadzow Park, 82 Muir Street, Hamilton, ML3 6BJ. T: 01698 284939. M: 07786 362517. E: neil.mckenzie@dmhall.co.uk. W: www.dmhall.co.uk.