17. Tim Bell from Leith Walks

Tim Bell runs Leith Walks, home of the original Trainspotting tours, and is the author of Choose Life. Choose Leith: Trainspotting on Location. Tim’s lived a fascinatingly full life in Leith for the past 40 years. Tim discusses his time working as a Port Chaplin at Leith Docks, meeting seafarers from all over the world. He talks to us about Irvine Welsh’s depiction of Leith’s social issues and the demolition of the old Leith Train Station. He also tells us about Dr Robertson who, in 1986 in Muirhouse, made the discovery that HIV wasn’t a virus that was only shared by gay men; a breakthrough which changed public policy. Dr Robertson issued clean needles to his patients when the Scottish Home and Health Department wouldn’t. Find out more about Tim and the tours he offers at leithwalks.co.uk.