Home named in honour of Scottish musician

Home news

Feb 20, 2017

Members of the Portobello Amenity Society have put their heads together to come up with a name for a new care home in Edinburgh.

The new home, which opens later this year, sought the help of local community groups to come up with a name that has historical significance in the local area.

The Portobello Amenity Society came up with the winning name, ‘Lauder Lodge’, in honour of Sir Harry Lauder, a famous Scottish entertainer and music hall artiste. Sir Harry was born on 4 August 1870 near Bridge Street, just off Portobello High Street.

He wrote most of his own songs, performed them on stage and had a successful recording career that lasted over three decades. A road near the new care home is named ‘The Sir Harry Lauder Road’ in his honour, but no building currently celebrates the fact that Portobello was his birth place.

To thank them for their help, Care UK presented the Portobello Amenity Society with a £250 donation to support their work. The society will put the donation towards covering printing costs for the Portobello Architecture Heritage Trail leaflet. The free guide outlines a 1.7 mile trail around Portobello, earmarking locations of historical significance, including Sir Harry Lauder’s birthplace.

Construction project manager, Gary Renton, said: “The home naming process is one of the most important parts of the project, so it was important to involve the community in the decision. All of the names put forward were of a very high quality, but we felt ‘Lauder Lodge’ really rooted the home in the local area.

“We’re so grateful to the Portobello Amenity Society for their help, and hope to work with them again in the future.”

John Stewart of Portobello Amenity Society said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to get involved with naming the care home. It is hugely important to us to preserve the heritage of the local area, and celebrate its history. Sir Henry Lauder was a very significant figure in Portobello, so it is great to name the home after his legacy.”

The Portobello Amenity Society started in 1979, and was formed by residents who lived around Abercorn. The society’s initial aim was to protect areas of special architectural merit in Portobello, however eventually they expanded to become the Portobello Amenity Society in 1981, as they are known today. The society is made up from households and local businesses and has over 250 members.

Care UK is a leading independent provider of care homes in the UK. The new home on Wakefield Avenue will have 60 en-suite bedrooms and include communal dining and socialising areas, such as a cinema, cafe and hair salon.