Former Scottish Office minister Allan Stewart attends the funeral of broadcast journalist Gillian Strickland IMAG0041

Former Scottish Office minister Allan Stewart attends the funeral of broadcast journalist Gillian Strickland IMAG0041, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Aspiring Tory politician Kevin Newton (centre), photographed by Ninian Reid at the funeral of broadcast journalist Gillian Strickland

Aspiring Tory politician Kevin Newton (centre), photographed by Ninian Reid at the funeral of broadcast journalist Gillian Strickland, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

The BBC's Kevin Mackenzie and his legal eagle wife Rhona, Edinburgh, September, 2011

The BBC's Kevin Mackenzie and his legal eagle wife Rhona, Edinburgh, September, 2011, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

The BBC's Kevin Mackenzie and his legal eagle wife Rhona, Edinburgh, September, 2011

The BBC's Kevin Mackenzie and his legal eagle wife Rhona, Edinburgh, September, 2011, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

The sparkling wit of Spylaw Street: Mr Eric Gillies

The sparkling wit of Spylaw Street: Mr Eric Gillies, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Between byte-sized bursts of cerebral activity:Eric Gillies , Spylaw Street , Colinton , Edinburgh DSCF0059

Between byte-sized bursts of cerebral activity:Eric Gillies , Spylaw Street , Colinton , Edinburgh DSCF0059, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Between byte-sized bursts of cerebral activity:Eric Gillies , Spylaw Street , Colinton , Edinburgh DSCF0059

Between byte-sized bursts of cerebral activity:Eric Gillies , Spylaw Street , Colinton , Edinburgh DSCF0059, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Between byte-sized bursts of cerebral activity:Eric Gillies , Spylaw Street , Colinton , Edinburgh DSCF0059

Between byte-sized bursts of cerebral activity:Eric Gillies , Spylaw Street , Colinton , Edinburgh DSCF0059, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Colinton's Eric Gillies, Scottish Nationalist & scholar

Colinton's Eric Gillies, Scottish Nationalist & scholar, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Colinton's Eric Gillies, Scottish Nationalist & scholar

Colinton's Eric Gillies, Scottish Nationalist & scholar, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

For lovers...of the English language; a timely article by respected wordsmith Eric Gillies in the Colinton News.

For lovers...of the English language; a timely article by respected wordsmith Eric Gillies in the Colinton News., a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Colinton's kindly Eric Gillies comes to a neighbour's aid

Colinton's kindly Eric Gillies comes to a neighbour's aid, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

The sparkling wit of Spylaw Street: Mr Eric Gillies (arguably the funniest man in Colinton)

The sparkling wit of Spylaw Street: Mr Eric Gillies (arguably the funniest man in Colinton), a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Eric Gillies gets to grips with another Colinton blizzard

Eric Gillies gets to grips with another Colinton blizzard, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Derek Dobbie, The Sage of Carluke

Derek Dobbie, The Sage of Carluke, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.

Good Lord, I'm sure that's Councillor Bill Smith from Melrose - unless my eyes deceive me

Good Lord, I'm sure that's Councillor Bill Smith from Melrose - unless my eyes deceive me, a photo by Ninian Reid on Flickr.