Astley Ainslie Voices
film series

We are grateful for the support of talented filmmakers Trina McKendrick and Kev Theaker of Written in Film, who have produced a series of short films documenting the stories of people who have lived, recovered, and worked at—or simply enjoyed—the Astley Ainslie site. We will post the films here as they become available.

Alasdair Niven

In 1984, Alasdair Niven suffered profound cranial trauma following a road accident in Edinburgh. A long recuperation followed in the Astley Ainslie hospital, where "everything was mollified by the fact that you were breathing fresh air and you had the green around you. It was a lovely way to brought back into the world".

Dig-In Community Grocer

Dig-in is a community-owned grocery shop in Edinburgh's Morningside neighbourhood. Before coronavirus, Morag Deans and Struan Johnston reflect on local produce, participation and the potential of the Astley Ainslie site for producing fruit and vegetables.

Roksan Hur

Outdoor education helps children to experience the natural world safely, learn to discover their own limits and protect themselves. Here, Roksan Hur, manager of Kidzcare Nursery, teaches children calmness and confidence in the beautiful grounds of Astley Ainslie Hospital.

Sara Stevenson

Dr Sara Stevenson paints a vivid picture of 1000 years of history at the Astley Ainslie hospital site. Strong parallels emerge between Edinburgh's three plagues: the Black Death, tuberculosis and coronavirus impacting on us today.