I will feel like I’m walking on air on night I meet these kids.. at least it’s not Arthur’s Seat
DJ to host awards after fall last year
DJ Gemma Cairney is keeping everything crossed she won’t “break a leg” ahead of the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards after a fall on Arthur’s Seat forced her to pull out of last year’s ceremony.
The Scottish-Jamaican broadcaster moved to Edinburgh last year and can’t wait to host this year’s young people’s Oscars. Gemma, 37, said: “I am so full of joy about hosting this year’s event and will be avoiding all mishaps ahead ead of the ceremony. “Three days after moving to Scotland last year I fell and broke oke my leg in three places. I was as walking up Arthur’s Seat in the he rain. I slipped, tried to get up too oo quickly and it became a bit of a crunchy disaster. “I broke it in three places s and ended up in Edinburgh h Royal Infirmary needing surgery. I was in a moon boot for months – I couldn’t quite bel ieve it. I have climbed up Mount Kenya, cycled from London to Paris, travelled all round the worldrld and I end up snapping my leg during a little dander up a hill – you could not write it.” Gemma, whose mum Hazel was the daughter of Glaswegians Jim Cairney and Martha Cowie, said: “Being able to get back in the Young Scot Awards saddle is just brilliant. It’s extra-special as there hasn’t been a live event for two years. I can’t wait to see people’s faces and be a rou nd the inspirational next generation.
“I look forward to hearing individual stories as they are always very galvanising. It will be brilliant to celebrate their acts of heroism, community action and activism in person. I’m going to have to f ind something outrageous and ridiculous to wear to help spread the joy.” Gemma, who has won critical acclaim for her frank approach to tackling difficult issues affecting young people, loves Edinburgh. The BBC RadioRad 6 Music presenter, who wh s e boy f r i end Cameron Ca McAllister is also of Scottish descent, said: said “How could I not enjoy enjo living in Edinburgh? It is endlessly delightful and ppleasing on the eye. I get to do wild swimming in PoPortobello and take walks up a mini-mountain in the middle of a city.
“We live in the Meadows so therthere is always so much going oon right outside our windowwindow. My dream is to set up lots oof street parties and turn MarchmontMa into the Notting Hill Carnival.”
Gemma added: “It makes my mum emotional that I am back in Scotland. I just wish my grandad was still around. I spent my childhood visiting my grandparents in Glasgow and holidaying in Millport and, from the age of 19, I came up to Edinburgh every summer for the festival.
“In a dream world I would love to live off-grid in a shepherd’s hut in the Highlands but I am too busy to do that just now but one day…”
Gemma is writing a book about influential but forgotten women of history. She said: “I wanted to celebrate incredible strong female icons, including nurse Mary Seacole, who was Scottish-Jamaican like me. She was known for her medical work during the Crimean War.
“Life is too short and we need to make the most of it – that’s why the Young Scot Awards are so important. I can’t wait to be a part of them.”