Edinburgh festival to honour 'local legend' Organic Jim with music and memories

The 'local legend' passed away back in June
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Edinburgh residents are set to gather in memory of a "local legend and man of the people".

JimFest is being held in The Meadows on September 29, as locals look to commemorate the life of James Hunter Brown - known as Organic Jim. Residents are urged to bring a "picnic, story, memory or song to share".

On June 1, emergency services were dispatched to Grange Road after Jim was found unresponsive. It was later confirmed that the 64-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A posted for the event reads: "JimFest - Organic Jim memorial celebrating the life of James Hunter Brown.

"Sunday, September 29 - 2pm to 4pm. Pavilion Cafe area, The Meadows.

"Dancer, local legend, man of the people, storyteller. Live ceilidh music, mystery guests, happy memories and of course dancing.

"Feel free to bring a picnic, a story, a memory, a song to share."

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The well-known face in Edinburgh was known for his love of health food, with many having been lectured on the dangers of eating refined sugar by Jim himself. It's believed Jim used to work as a cook, and lived in Edinburgh since the 1980s.

Typically found in the Morningside, Meadows and Tollcross areas - Jim was welcomed into many Edinburgh residents homes, and was known to accumulate large numbers of belongings which would come with him from place to place.

Tributes poured in for the familiar face back in June. One remembered him: "Well he loved to dance. May he continue to dance where he is now."

The festival is being held in The Meadows
The festival is being held in The Meadows

Another said: "RIP Jim. Continue to dance like there's nobody watching. Love like you'll never be hurt. Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth"

A kind-hearted Edinburgh man who was with 'Organic Jim' in his final moments said the well-loved local character died doing something he loved.

The passerby, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke of the dramatic moment he attempted to resuscitate the homeless man after he fell ill earlier this year.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, he said: "My partner and I bumped into him and he wanted us to listen to some music with him, he danced and sang for us and was so happy, then collapsed. I tried to resuscitate him and got the paramedics.

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"It was a sad night, but he was undoubtedly happy in those last moments. He said to me about feeling amazing."

Jim was laid to rest at Mortonhall Crematorium on Saturday, July 30. Loved by many in the local community, a service was organised for the 65-year-old with a large turnout and a musician present too.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said on June 3: “Around 7.35pm on Saturday, 1 June, 2024, police were called to a report of a man found unresponsive in Grange Road, Edinburgh.

“Emergency services attended and a 64-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”