A city developer brought Christmas cheer to an Edinburgh school when he announced he would double the £5000 donation he had already made to assist with playground improvements.

Friends of Tollcross Primary welcomed the festive generosity from George Stevenson, chairman of GSS Developments Ltd, when he visited the project with Cinderella panto stars from the nearby King’s Theatre.

GSS Developments are currently onsite a short distance from the school constructing the 38,600 sq ft office building 2 Semple Street which will help alleviate Edinburgh’s chronic shortage of Grade A office space.

The company earlier donated £5000 to help start phase one of playground improvements after an appeal from Mairi Bannerman of the Friends of Tollcross Primary School.

During the visit Mr Stevenson announced that to mark 50 years in business in 2018 he will donate £50,000 to various charities and has earmarked another £5000 for the playground project.

Mairi Bannerman said: “In such a built-up area this playground is an important asset to youngsters in the Tollcross area and it is used by approximately 400 local children of all ages.

“It was badly in need of some love and attention so we approached local businesses to gather support and we were delighted when GSS Developments answered the call.

“Their generous donation ensured we could get the ball rolling with phase one and it also encouraged other businesses to get on board. This second donation of £5000 was unexpected and we are thrilled as it means we can go ahead much quicker than expected with the second round of improvements.”

Mr Stevenson said he was delighted to see the progress made at the playground and that his company’s contribution was making a difference.

He said: “Since we started the 2 Semple Street project we have become increasingly aware of the vibrant community on our doorstep and we are delighted our donation will have a meaningful impact on youngsters living locally and attending Tollcross Primary.

“On reaching 50 years in the construction and commercial property business it seemed appropriate to donate £50,000 to charity over the next year and £5000 of that will help Friends of Tollcross Primary go forward with their very worthy improvement programme.”

The 2 Semple Street development is due to complete in July and will be the only Grade A office building to complete in Edinburgh in 2018.

Pictured (L-R): James Darch (Prince Charming), Gillian Parkhouse (Cinderella), GSS Developments chairman George Stevenson and Andrew Keay (Dandini)

Two students from Hungary have become the first to study at QMU as part of a new scholarship exchange programme between Edinburgh and Budapest.

The Queen Margaret Legacy Programme has been developed by the Hungarian Embassy and Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh to celebrate the legacy of Saint Margaret, one of the most loved women from Scottish and Hungarian history.

Petra Kata and Anna Patziger, who are both students from Corvinus University of Budapest, are spending three months studying Public Relations and Media at QMU.

Petra and Anna will not only benefit from studying at QMU, but they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Scottish culture and life in Edinburgh, which will undoubtedly add to their overall learning experience.

The official partnership between QMU and the Hungarian Embassy was formed in recognition of the fact that QMU takes its name from Margaret, Queen Consort of King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland, who was born in Hungary in the 11th century.

She was known to be a fine scholar with a formidable intellectual capacity, who often debated the affairs of state with the King’s noble and clerical advisers. As a deeply religious woman, Queen Margaret was concerned with works of mercy and giving and particularly with the care of the poor. As a result, she was canonised as saint in 1250.

The name Queen Margaret was incorporated into QMU’s title in 1972 because she was seen to personify the institution’s key values of serving the community, enhancing the quality of life, and taking practical action. Queen Margaret’s philosophy of social justice and her ability to identify what changes were required in society still resonates today and her name is reflected in the titles of a number of organisations with social purposes, including QMU.

Dr Richard Butt, Deputy Principal of QMU, said: “We’re delighted welcome Petra and Anna to QMU and wish them well as they embark on this exciting study opportunity through the Queen Margaret Legacy Programme.

“This educational exchange programme, and the transcultural learning it is now enabling, are entirely consistent with the life and values of Queen Margaret herself. Not only is this partnership creating a culturally rich and career enhancing learning experience for students, it is also creating a further link between Scotland and Hungary.”

Commenting on the opportunities that the Queen Margaret Legacy Programme is providing her with, Anna said: “The opportunity to live and study in Edinburgh really appealed to me. The history, culture and diversity of the city, combined with the stunning natural beauty, makes it an ideal environment to learn and broaden your horizons.

“I’m already building my practical knowledge of public relations and media, which will definitely help my CV stand out in the crowd.”

Petra added: “I’ve found everyone so welcoming and friendly since moving to Edinburgh and studying at QMU, which has helped me feel at home. The friendly size of Edinburgh makes it easy to explore, including Arthur’s Seat with its amazing views of the city.

“My hope is that studying public relations and media at QMU will give me the knowledge and experience I need to pursue a career in this sector back in my home city of Budapest.”

The exchange programme also allows QMU students to study in Hungary and experience life in Budapest. Earlier this year, QMU public sociology students, Caitlin McDowell and Ellen Rahm, spent three months studying at Corvinus University of Budapest and living in the city.

For more information on the Queen Margaret Legacy Programme, E: development@qmu.ac.uk