5
A wheelchair users' review
I am a full time powered wheelchair user. I initially had difficulty booking tickets as it turns out you can't book wheelchair accessible spaces online and I had to go to the Hub at Castlehill, at the busiest time of year, during the fringe. I could have booked them by telephone but, I have aphasia that affects my speech I have difficulty with speaking on the phone. My friend and I went on Thursday 22nd August and the whole experience was fantastic. My powered wheelchair broke down at the top of Johnson Terrace. The stewards were great. They stowed my wheelchair safely in the stewards office. They used one of their own manual wheelchairs to get me to my seat. They put a seat for me to transfer into in what would've been a wheelchair space. Our seats were in Section 12, Row B, seat 11 and 12. We were at the very front and we could almost touch the performers. I've lived in Edinburgh all my life (I'm 55) and I've never been to the Tattoo. I love the sound of bagpipes and a full troupe is a sight and sound everyone should experience. Once the performance finished the steward came back for me and took us to the stewards office to collect my chair which, thankfully, was at least turning on and let us sit in the office until my husband could come to collect me. I have had new batteries fitted and my chair is back to normal. The two stewards who mainly helped us were Eric and Cameron but other stewards were involved - Eleanor, Susan and (I think his name was Graham or Gordon). I'll be back next year (with a warmer coat on!).
I am a full time powered wheelchair user. I initially had difficulty booking tickets as it turns out you can't book wheelchair accessible spaces online and I had to go to the Hub at Castlehill, at the busiest time of year, during the fringe. I could have booked them by telephone but, I have aphasia that affects my speech I have difficulty with speaking on the phone. My friend and I went on Thursday 22nd August and the whole experience was fantastic. My powered wheelchair broke down at the top of Johnson Terrace. The stewards were great. They stowed my wheelchair safely in the stewards office. They used one of their own manual wheelchairs to get me to my seat. They put a seat for me to transfer into in what would've been a wheelchair space. Our seats were in Section 12, Row B, seat 11 and 12. We were at the very front and we could almost touch the performers. I've lived in Edinburgh all my life (I'm 55) and I've never been to the Tattoo. I love the sound of bagpipes and a full troupe is a sight and sound everyone should experience. Once the performance finished the steward came back for me and took us to the stewards office to collect my chair which, thankfully, was at least turning on and let us sit in the office until my husband could come to collect me. I have had new batteries fitted and my chair is back to normal. The two stewards who mainly helped us were Eric and Cameron but other stewards were involved - Eleanor, Susan and (I think his name was Graham or Gordon). I'll be back next year (with a warmer coat on!).
