Ewan Roberts from Uphall Station is with Scotland’s men’s carp team who are driving to compete in the World Championships on Lake Deseda in Kaposvar, Hungary, and it has been some time since the national team made their debut in South Africa when they finished in a respectably in mid table.

The squad put in some hard work following that trip, drawing on the lessons learned from our first attempt on the world stage and the squad believes they can ruffle a few feathers and compete with the best carp anglers in the world.

Kevin McConnell, the team manager, said most other countries competed on this venue in 2017 when competing on the world stage was still a pipe dream for Scotland, but taking part is now a reality and he said: “We aren’t going just to make up the numbers even if we are at a disadvantage.”

The event officially starts on Tuesday with the opening ceremony and the first two draws. The final draw is on Wednesday where our pairs will find out what will be in front of them for the 72-hour event with all in at 12.30 and running straight through until 12.30 on Saturday.

McConnell added: “Over the last month, the boys have worked tirelessly on the preparation finding time between work and family commitments.

“The preparation is complete and the vans are packed. Its now time to go and do you guys proud and represent the flag with the usual Scottish grit and determination.

“Due to being self-funded, we can only take a skeleton squad of seven, but every one of the squad has the ability and the character to take on the best.”

Scotland: Alister Kirkhope from Hamilton (captain), John Sweetland from Sanquhar, David Hearns from Uddingston, Ewan Roberts (Uphall Station), Steve Warwick (Cumbria), Keith Finlay (Catterick), Kevin McConnell from Lanarkshire (manager/ runner/reserve.”

Companies who are supporting the team are West Lothian Angling, SMC leads, Shimano, Free Spirit, Ridge Monkey, Korda and Nash plus Diawa, Cipher International (Trakker, Cygnet, Aqua) and DNA baits.

Steve Norman, co-founder, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist of the world-famous Spandau Ballet has announced the he will celebrate the bands 40^th anniversary of their ground-breaking debut album, ‘Journeys To Glory’ with a full UK tour in 2022.

“Little did I know when I formed a band with my school chums back in 1976, that we would not only reach that Holy Grail of signing a record deal but that the resulting record would play a major part in representing and inspiring a whole new generation.

“Our fellow ‘movers and shakers’ of the Blitz crowd in 1979/1980 had sparked a new youth movement that was now erupting out of clubland and rippling out across the globe – The New Romantics. And my band with ‘Journeys To Glory’ were right there at the front. Our scene was creative, vibrant and powerful. We felt invincible.

“The collective Blitz kids’ wave was unstoppable, and Spandau had all the established bands looking over their shoulders wondering what the hell was coming through, and if they should be moving out of the way. Right there, was when our hopes and visions of the future finally materialised. Back when the saxophone, my future signature instrument, was just a twinkle in my quiff covered eye.”

The charismatic performer, accompanied by his five-piece band ‘The Sleevz’ (that includes his son Jaco on bass), will perform the album in its entirety for the first time. ‘Journeys To Glory’ includes the band’s first hit single, ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’ and other singles, ‘Musclebound’ and ‘The Freeze’. The show will also feature later Spandau classics, including ‘True’, ‘Gold’ and ‘Only When You Leave’, and will showcase Steve’s prowess as a talented vocalist and guitar-player alongside his more well-known sax and percussion duties.

Steve Norman & The Sleevz will be at Edinburgh Liquid Rooms on 27 October

Glasgow Clan and Dundee Stars are both desperately looking to bounce back after defeats when they clash head-on at Braehead in the Challenge Cup on Saturday (7pm).
Malcolm Cameron’s Clan have lost both their opening cup games, a 6-5 reverse at home to injury-hit Fife Flyers and a 4-3 defeat at Dundee.
They come in fresh after a full week of practice and an in-depth scrutiny of game tape following their disappointing result at Dundee.
Dundee’s new coach Jeff Mason saw his previously unblemished Challenge Cup record snapped with a 5-2 home defeat to Fife Flyers in a televised game on Thursday on Tayside but they still lead the four-team section with Fife level on four points in second spot and third-placed Clan pointless after two.
Cameron revealed: “We have really broken down the game in Dundee last Sunday with some good video sessions. We have tightened up in areas we identified.”
He added: “We’ve had a lot of it is repetition in practice as well as letting them (the players) see where they‘ve make their mistakes.”
Fife Flyers travel to Belfast Giants, a team tipped for silverware again this season, also in the Challenge Cup with the Northern Irish combine opening their Challenge Cup campaign.
The Kirkcaldy club’s head coach Todd Dutiaume believes the match in Northern Ireland on Saturday (7pm) and the return at Kirkcaldy on Sunday (6pm) will be a real barometer for their chances of success this term.
The experienced Canadian was pleased with the 5-2 road win at Dundee on Thursday which reversed a disappointing 3-0 home defeat at Kirkcaldy last Saturday to Stars.
And he praised 35-year-old Chris Lawrence, who only arrived from Australia on Tuesday and has not played a competitive game since early this year after breaking an ankle playing for Fife at Kirkcaldy, and top goaltender Shane Owen (pictured).
Dutiaume said: “Chris flew half way across the world to get here after coaching Melbourne Mustangs during the summer. He did a great job for us. Not only his competitiveness but his leadership and experience shines through. His love for the game is infections and the guys get right in behind him.”
Lawrence scored Flyers third on a breakaway and vastly-experienced netminder Owen made 39 saves during the game at Dundee. His opposite number Anton Svensson had 14 to deal with and Dutiaume said: “Shane (Owen) does what he does and he is one of the best in the business. That’s why we wrapped him up on a two-year deal as he is going to go out and win you games like that.” 

Josh Pickering (pictured) with 15 points and skipper Sam Masters with 13 were the spearheads as What The Fork Monarchs grabbed an 18-point advantage in their play-off, quarter-final at Armadale against Redcar Bears.

And Monarchs’ team manager Alex Harkess said: “If you’d offered me an 18-point lead at the start I’d certainly have taken it but, in the end, I feel a little disappointed that we didn’t take a bit more.”

Harkess added: “I thought we rode pretty well, but there were heats we might have done better in.”

There were three multi-rider pile-ups which prolonged the meeting which Monarchs won 54-36 and the sides meet again at Redcar on Saturday (tapes-up 5pm) in the return.

The match was hard-fought throughout. Monarchs were eight up by heat three, with another heat two 5-1 and they added three more 4-2s in heats six, seven and eight. Masters and Pickering looked untouchable and Kye Thomson also took a win over Wright in heat three.

Lasse Fredriksen had an excellent third over Summers in heat one and then succeeded in passing Newman in heat six late in the race with a bold outside sweep. He also got up from the heat eight crash to force his way past Andersen to win the rerun.

At that point Monarchs would be much the happier team and they only had one last place at that point. However they then had four successive last places with heat 12 resulting in a 5-1 for Redcar, bringing the margin down to ten

Masters and Pickering came to the rescue with 5-1 scorelines in heats 13 and 15. Heat 14 was won by Kyle Newman who bounced back from engine problems earlier.

A Monarchs spokesman said: “We don’t generally lose by 18 away from home, but we did on their last Redcar visit, and there is still a lot of work to be done. Adam Roynon guests for Paco Castagna who is in the Italian Championship.”

Edinburgh Monarchs (54): Sam Masters 13+2, Lasse Fredriksen 5+0, Kye Thomson 5+0, Paco Castagna 6+2, Josh Pickering 15+0, James Sarjeant 5+1, Jacob Hook 5+0

Redcar Bears (36): Aaron Summers 5+1, Jason Edwards 0+0, Charles Wright 10+0, Jordan Jenkins 3+1, Lewis Kerr 3+1, Kyle Newman 8+1, Kasper Andersen 7+1

The Rt Hon Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge said on Friday that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has left the capital for the final time – but the city remains in mourning for “a relentless and gentle force for peace and good will”.

Councillors gathered for a special meeting to pay tribute to the late monarch who died at her estate at Balmoral last week.

In the chamber members took the opportunity to reflect on their memories of meeting the Queen, honour her lifelong links with Edinburgh – and to thank council staff for their role in ceremonial events hosted by the city over the last week.

A minute’s silence was followed by a sole item of business to ‘give thanks for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s exceptional 70 years’ service and extend deepest sympathy to the Royal Family at this very difficult time’.

The Lord Provost led the tributes, telling members that the former sovereign’s dedication to service was “unmatched”.

He said: “Her Majesty the Queen has now left Edinburgh for the final time but the city remains in respectful mourning – and rightly so – for a head of state who will be judged by history as one of the most influential world leaders of our time and as a relentless and gentle force for peace and good will nationally and internationally.

“The Queen was a role model, showing that a hugely talented woman in a male dominated world can and did outshine anyone – a true inspiration I hope for women and girls in this city and far beyond.”

Cllr Aldridge added that huge crowds turning out to events held to mark her death, which included a procession up the Royal Mile on Monday, were a “clear demonstration that Edinburgh wished to do the very best for the Queen and her grieving family”.

In a sombre address to members, Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron praised Queen Elizabeth’s “humility and faith”.

She said: “The loss of the former HRH Princess Elizabeth who became on marriage also the Duchess of Edinburgh until her accession as Queen Elizabeth is keenly felt, as events in recent days have shown.

“On becoming Queen in 1952 Her Majesty became patron of the Edinburgh International Festival and remained its patron until December 2016. From its being awarded Royal Patronage in 1977 on her Silver Jubilee, up until her passing the Queen served as patron of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.”

Former Lord Provost Frank Ross said: “It’s not that long ago that we convened a special council meeting to commemorate the life of a member of the Royal Family – the Duke of Edinburgh following his passing. And now we do so again too quickly for our late monarch.

“During my five-year tenure as Lord Provost the Queen visited Edinburgh on many occasions and graced us with her presence at major events, not least on the occasions of the state opening of parliament and to commemorate the opening of the Queensferry Crossing – some 53 years after opening the Forth Road Bridge.”

Cllr Ross said one of his favourite memories was when the Queen visited  Gorgie Community Farm, remembering “the joy that her presence gave to those involved in that much-loved community project”.

As well as offering condolences to the Royal Family, Council Leader Cammy Day, Labour, said the events held in Edinburgh in the aftermath of the monarch’s passing have “seen the city shine across the world and in many of our front rooms”.

“The city has never looked so good and a perfect place for Her Majesty’s final resting place at Westminster Abbey,” Councillor Day added.

“This was a moment in history and Edinburgh’s people did us proud.”

In his tribute, SNP group leader Adam McVey described the Queen’s 70-year tenure as “an attainment that is almost incomprehensible”.

“It is hard to grasp the dedication to someone’s work, someone’s ethos, someone’s commitment to their country and the position that it takes to sustain that level of enthusiasm,” he added.

“I know many in the city will feel the passing of the Queen is like losing what has been a constant in their entire life and regardless of anyone’s constitutional view, today is a day simply to offer condolence for a life of devotion.”

He said the Queen was “devoted” to the city but added he “flinched ever so slightly” when she was referred to as Queen Elizabeth II at the new King’s proclamation in Edinburgh.

“Of course in Scotland she was Queen Elizabeth I, but simply Queen of Scots,” Cllr McVey said. “She carried out, dare I say, a distinctly Scottish tradition of the role and respected the distinctiveness of the distinctive position of being Queen of Scots rather than just Queen of the UK.”

Meanwhile Kevin Lang, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, recalled a meeting with Her Majesty at Holyrood Palace alongside other councillors – and an excited dog.

“I was placed in the line next to Councillor Derek Howie. Now for those who don’t know Derek he is blind so he always attended meetings and events with his guide dog, in this case his guide dog Lloyd.

“When she reached Councillor Howie, Lloyd the dog took something of a liking to Her Majesty and began to intervene in a way that no rehearsal of this ceremony could have been anticipated.

“Her Majesty, of course, found this utterly hilarious and as a dog lover herself, inevitably the memory of that day was not the pomp, was not the ceremony, but was a 10 year-old Labrador.”

Green councillor Alys Mumford offered “love to anybody affected by the death of the Queen”, whilst also sending “our love and solidarity to anyone who has felt alienated by the events in the city over the past week”.

She said: “While we as a party hope one day for a Scotland without a monarchy, we recognise the impact that the Queen has had on our country and the very dear place she held in the hearts of many.

“With the daily struggles that so many in Edinburgh are facing, we know some people have felt disconnected to the ceremonial aspect of the city’s response to the Queen’s passing, and in particular are fearful for the future following the suppression of protest that we have seen outside this very building.”

Iain Whyte, Conservative group leader, said he was nine-years-old when he first saw the Queen on her visit to the capital.

“It was 1977 and she was here for her Silver Jubilee tour. I remember in advance the excitement of preparing jubilee celebrations at school and being given a silver painted London bus,” he said. “But the real highlight was being taken by my parents to join the throngs of people who simply wanted to see her pass as she left the city by car.

“I can tell you that when the Queen waves in your direction when you’re nine, you certainly believe that wave was meant for you.”

Cllr Whyte added: “The Queen’s 70-year reign has proven constant and enduring – she provided the country with a sense of permanence and stability, helping so many through some difficult periods.

“Scotland and Edinburgh always played an important role in the Queen’s life and that of her family.

“Lord Provost I support your motion, God Save the King.”

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Aerospace Engineering company chooses LifeCare Edinburgh as its new charity partner

Leonardo’s Edinburgh employees have voted to make LifeCare Edinburgh the focus of their charitable fundraising for the next two years.

The renowned charity, which turned 80 last year, supports more than 1,000 local older people every year through positive and practical care including registered outreach and day centres, help at home and meals on wheels, carers support and companionship activities.  Through its relationship-based approach the charity supports issues including living with dementia, isolation, reduced mobilities, mental health concerns and those struggling on low-incomes.  Services enable local older people to live well and independently in their own homes for longer.

The support from Leonardo will enable LifeCare to continue to deliver these core services at a critical time.  The charity recently reported unprecedented levels of referrals across all their care services post-pandemic, with the charity’s Help at Home service experiencing a 250% increase in enquiries.  This comes at a time when the cost of running all services is growing significantly.

James Wells, LifeCare’s Chief Executive said “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by Leonardo employees as their charity partner across the next two years.   Sadly, older people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Their health and wellbeing have suffered significantly and we are struggling to cope with demand for care and the rising costs of service delivery. None of our services are fully funded and we rely on our fundraising to support our life-affirming services.

“We look forward to working with the team at Leonardo to help them to raise funds for our positive and practical support that older people need to live their lives with extra zest. Also we can help the staff learn more about living with dementia and how then can actively support their affected family members.

“Over 85% of the people we help across the city live alone and without LifeCare, many older people would be left critically isolated.  Our services provide the earlier help people need to keep them well in body and mind; helping when things are getting more difficult to manage, centred on the unique needs of each individual.  We are extremely grateful for every pound raised.” 

Mark Stead, SVP, Radar and Advanced Targeting for Leonardo in Edinburgh said: “The relationship-based approach taken by LifeCare to offer holistic support to older people is so vital. Our employees will be proud to support their efforts, which deal so attentively not only with each individual’s practical needs, but also with their sense of confidence, independence and quality of life. So many factors are affecting older people and their families in today’s challenging post pandemic climate and we will be striving to raise as much as we can for this important charity.”

LifeCare is a registered charity and relies on the support of its generous funders.  In addition to Leonardo’s support, LifeCare receives funding from The Bank of Scotland Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation and The Stafford Trust. LifeCare also runs a busy community hub and café on Cheyne Street in Stockbridge with all proceeds going towards the organisation’s core services.

https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/

“We will not see her like again.” The words of Nicola Sturgeon as she stood on the tarmac at Edinburgh airport, watching the Queen’s coffin being flown out of Scotland after the nation’s farewell.

On Tuesday a queue 33,000 strong ran from the Royal Mile down George IV Bridge to the Meadows, people waiting up to 12 hours to file past Her Majesty the Queen lying at rest in St Giles Cathdral.  Another 150,000 had lined the route from Balmoral as the funeral cortege slid quietly through the green countryside of Deeside and Perthshire and then through the white cables of the new bridge over the Firth of Forth and on into Edinburgh. 

The service of thanksgiving in St Giles was relayed on loud-speakers to the crowds outside. Thousands waited on the Royal Mile to see the convoy of black cars, carrying the Queen and the royal family, make its way from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the cathedral. Soldiers, a pipe band and the gentlemen of the Queen’s Company of Archers (founded in 1676) marched smartly past. As one of the many royal commentators said, Scotland has shown the rest of the United Kingdom how to honour a Queen.  

This weekend it’s London’s turn, though the royal family has been careful not to forget other parts of their realm, with quick visits to Glasgow, Belfast, and Cardiff.  In each of the nations of the UK, there was a proclamation ceremony declaring loyalty to the new king, Charles. 

It was another chance to see the soldiers and the red-jacketed gentlemen of the Lord Lyon’s Court marching up the Royal Mile to the Mercat Cross.

I wonder what all this ceremony and public mourning means?   Clearly, people admired the Queen and want to thank her for 70 years of careful service.  She came from a generation which believed that the aim of life is to serve, in contrast to the modern idea that the aim of life is to live to the full.

I guess the people who queue for hours also want to be part of history, to say they were there. But I also wonder if people are yearning for leadership at a time when political leaders are letting us down and in the middle of so many troubles: the cost of living, threats of war, climate change.  A good monarch is a reminder that, even in a democracy, we still need leaders and we still need a constitution that protects us from tyranny and chaos.

Some reporters have made the point that during the Queen’s reign Britain has lost its empire abroad while King Charles may see the loss of the United Kingdom at home.  Both Scotland and Northern Ireland are drifting away, and Wales is not far behind.  The Queen replaced her empire with the Commonwealth, a much more gentle partnership, and perhaps Charles can replace the United Kingdom with a federal kingdom.

We shall see.

My own small part in the commemorations last weekend was to climb Lochnagar, the iconic mountain on the southern edge of the Balmoral estate.  My sister and I arranged the expedition to celebrate her 70^th birthday, before we knew of the Queen’s death.

While staying overnight in Ballater on Friday we learned that the road to the usual car park at Loch Muick was closed for security reasons, so my poor sister had to endure a ten mile trek over the hills from Braemar to reach Lochnagar.

It was worth it, she said, and dedicated the climb to the Queen.  

Alternative sites for a Gaelic secondary school in the capital have been ruled out by the council, as the project risks further delays.

Little headway has been made on plans for the city’s first secondary for Gaelic speaking pupils since councillors agreed to halt a consultation earlier this year.

And with no budget or location for the school agreed, council officers have warned more push backs could have a knock-on effect on the growth of primary level Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in the capital.

Proposals drawn up by The City of Edinburgh Council for the new school to be built on either a shared campus with the new Liberton High or as a standalone development on the former Castlebrae Community High School site were met with backlash from parents.

At a meeting held in January, Gaelic parents association Comann nam Pàrant told the education committee the overwhelming majority of its members had ‘little or no confidence’ that the plans before them would ‘meet the needs’ of children.

Parent council for Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce, Edinburgh’s only Gaelic language primary on Bonnington Road, said the facility “needs to be central”, amid concerns about the availability of Gaelic education across Edinburgh and the Lothians being ‘restricted’ if the school was built outside the city centre.

Councillors subsequently voted to delay a statutory consultation on the Liberton High proposal to allow further engagement to take place.

In March they tasked officials to re-investigate sites around the city centre and look at how concerns about transport could be addressed.

The new education committee formed after May’s election will discuss the proposals for the first time next Tuesday.

A report produced for the meeting confirms that five sites mooted for a standalone central building have been deemed either unavailable or unsuitable.

The Lothian Buses depot next to Drummond Community High School was one of the sites looked at, but it was noted this is ‘operational with no current plans to relocate’, and the same was the case for Fettes police HQ, the former Royal Victoria Hospital site and the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion on Chalmers Street.

In addition, the report said a former council fleet depot at Russell Road is ‘not a suitable site for education’ as it is ‘between road and railway’ and there are potential contamination issues.

Officials considered most of the sites too small for a school – but added that all are within a short walking distance to another secondary which would ensure delivery of a full curriculum.

The council has maintained that the option with the “strongest rationale” is a dedicated GME secondary school on a shared site at the new Liberton Community Campus, due to open in 2024.

If those plans get the go-ahead, the council said it would provide a direct bus service between Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pairce to Liberton High for pupils.

But officials have warned that further delays could impact the growth of primary-level Gaelic education.

They said that capping the number of pupils entering primary GME in Edinburgh “need to be considered”, whilst a catchment review may also be necessary for Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pairce and James Gillespies’ High School, which has the city’s only existing secondary age Gaelic unit.

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

TODD FISH TECH EXPANDS EXISTING DALGETY BAY PREMISES FOLLOWING COUNCIL SUPPORT

InvestFife, the collective brand incorporating Fife Council’s Economic Development services, has welcomed the news that its assistance, together with Business Gateway Expert Help support, has enabled an innovative shellfish storage systems business to expand its existing premises in Dalgety Bay.

Established by husband and wife team, Errin and Keith Todd, Todd Fish Tech is a manufacturing business producing the patented, multi award winning Lobster Pod. Employing seven staff, they have been located in Dalgety Bay since 2015. Starting off in one unit at West Way, Dalgety Bay, they have now expanded into a further two units. 

The new units create a spacious and bright office and provide a warehouse and manufacturing workshop facility. They also provide Todd Fish Tech with adequate room to store the multitude of specialist tools, supplies and equipment, much of it from Europe, that it uses to manufacture its award winning shellfish storage systems. 

With its new premises, Todd Fish Tech is now in the position to address what it sees as the greatest challenge to its continued growth – the drive for more staff across all levels of operation.

In 2021 Todd Fish Tech managed to increase its turnover by 50%, and is on course to increase it even more in 2022.

Errin Todd, Director of Todd Fish Tech, commented:  “Economic Development, with support from Business Gateway Fife,  have made our move to these new spacious and well managed units a reality. We can bring in new staff in a range of positions from school leaver to management level, knowing that we have a suitable working environment for everyone. We have our eye firmly on sustainability, with the aim of creating a sustainable shellfish fishery, and these new premises will help us achieve this.” 

“The EU exit has meant for us that many European suppliers are asking for much larger minimum orders than before. A lack of space was a real barrier to us in so many ways in our future ambitions,” added Errin. 

“Lynne Baillie, Business Advisor from Business Gateway Fife, has been invaluable in what has been a journey of assistance over several years. She really understood our business, taking time to identify and deliver the specific help we needed.”

As an ex-teacher, Errin is committed to providing young people with workplace training opportunities. Several school pupils who originally came on work experience placements, are now permanent team members, learning new skills.

The business has a range of positions to fill, including manufacturing technicians, suitable for people who are used to working with tools.

Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council Spokesperson – Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning, said:“It was our pleasure to help Todd Fish Tech make this move to larger premises. We’re delighted that they are already seeing significant benefits as they aim to take their business to the next level.”

Challenge Cup: Dundee Stars 2, Fife Flyers 5

Fife Flyers, coached by Todd Dutiaume (pictured), collected their second win in the Challenge Cup thanks to a 5-2 success at arch rivals Dundee Stars.

The result was revenge for Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by the Tayside team and adds a second road success to the Fife club’s record in the competition having won 6-5 at Glasgow Clan.

Janne Kivilahti scored after 11 and 15 minutes as the visitors got off the a fine start and Chris Lawrence, who only arrived from Australia on Tuesday, added a third a minute later.

Zack Phillips added a fourth after 42 minutes before Dundee opened their account ten minutes later through Ryan Verrier.

Romans Semjonovs added a second for the home side four minutes after that and any hope of a comeback ended when Lucas Sandstrom netted with 1min 48sec left.

A large illuminated advertising display that will also transmit free wi-fi has been approved to replace two old phone boxes outside Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Pool after a successful planning appeal by BT.

The first ‘Street Hub’ in the capital got the go-ahead on Wednesday after councillors narrowly voted to overturn a planning decision taken by officials earlier this year.

Although there have been growing calls for the telecoms giant to rid the city’s streets of disused and often vandalised payphones, BT’s decision to tie applications to remove them with proposals for the new LED screens has been criticised and other applications refused.

Speaking at the council’s Local Review Body (LRB), which reconsiders previously rejected plans, Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron took no issue with the designs and said the new installation would “provide information and guidance in an accessible way to our citizens”.

But Cllr Neil Gardiner called on the company to “remove them and not hold the city to hostage” – and challenged the ‘competency’ of his fellow councillors’ decision after they struggled to offer reasons for reversing the refusal.

As well as generating income from commercial advertising and boosting mobile signals locally, Street Hubs can be used for WiFi, calls and device charging, whilst providing access to information on council services. BT says they are 100 per cent powered by renewable energy. 

Over recent months planners at the city council have refused permission to install 18 throughout Edinburgh, which were proposed to replace 35 phone boxes.

All have since been appealed to The Scottish Government and are awaiting a decision.

The application which went before councillors this week – for a Street Hub by the steps to the Royal Commonwealth Pool on Dalkeith Road – was the only one also appealed directly to the council.

In a design statement submitted to the council, BT said: “The proposed BT Street Hub unit is an advanced, modern development which has been designed following significant improvements in technology and digital content over recent years.

“It can promote the image of the authority as a vibrant place, and we believe it will improve the quality of the immediate streetscape for residents, businesses and visitors.”

In giving reasons for being against the 75-inch screens popping up on streets across the capital, planning officers said they would be detrimental in terms of visual impact, impact neighbouring properties, adding digital adverts “are not supported on street furniture other than on bus shelters in appropriate locations”.

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Her Majesty the Queen who died on 8 September will now lie in state until the State Funeral on Monday 19 September which has been declared a national holiday.

These are photos of the coffin draped with the Royal Standard as it is taken into Westminster Hall at the House of Commons and lying in State.

All photos below © UK Parliament/Andy Bailey, Annabelle Moeller, Jessica Taylor and Roger Harris

Edinburgh artist Andrew Glidden is auctioning off his original sketch, ‘Tulips’ to raise vital money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

In 2017, Design Agency owner Andrew Glidden set himself the challenge of heading out from his George Street studio once a week for a year to undertake a quick sketch of whatever took his fancy, no client, no brief, just for the fun of it. The rules were simple – 15 minutes maximum, no rubbing out!

After posting images of his weekly creations on social media, interest grew and questions about an exhibition were asked. Initially Andrew had no plans for exhibiting or selling the drawings but, nearing the completion of his year-long challenge, an exhibition of all 52 was planned, entitled ’52 in 52 – a year of fifteen-minute sketches of Edinburgh and beyond’ along with a book documenting the sketches and journey.

Andrew generously donated all profits from the sale of the original sketches during the week-long exhibition to Alzheimer’s Research UK, an organisation close to Andrew’s heart.

Andrew’s father, former Hearts 1956 Scottish Cup-winning captain Freddie Glidden, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia a number of years ago and sadly passed away in 2019 at the age of 91. His mother Rosa, now 94, also lives with Alzheimer’s disease.

The sum of £7,014 was donated to Alzheimer’s Research UK, which powers world-class studies focusing on prevention, diagnosis and treatments for dementia. There are now nearly one million people in the UK living with dementia,

On New Year’s Day 2021, Andrew embarked on another year of weekly fifteen-minute sketches, finishing the final one, number 52, on Boxing Day that year. Andrew is calling this ’52 in 52, series 2’.

Another exhibition has been organised, this time in the Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh, 23 Sept – 2 October, featuring all 52 sketches displayed in chronological order

This time Andrew is auctioning off the largest piece of work during the exhibition – sketch no. 19, ‘Tulips’, and will donate 100% of the highest bid received by 12.00 midday on the closing day of the exhibition, 2nd October 2022, to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Andrew said: “I’m hoping the idea of an auction for ‘Tulips’ captures the imagination and that people have a little bit of fun bidding, whilst also doing some good for Alzheimer’s Research UK – I’m really hoping that we can raise a great sum for a great cause”

Bernie Carranza, Regional Fundraising Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are so grateful to Andrew for again supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK. Dementia affects a significant proportion of the population – one in three people over 65 in the UK will die with some form of the condition with 90,000 people in Scotland living with dementia. Fantastic fundraising efforts like this will help us to make life-changing research breakthroughs for people with dementia.”

To see all 52 of the works online, visit Instagram @andrewglidden.art

To submit a bid for ’Tulips’ email andy@gliddendesign.com.

A religious group’s bid to build a new chapel in the garden of its existing place of worship in Edinburgh has failed after the council ruled part of it was poorly designed.

The Christian Community had hoped to get the go-ahead for the contemporary chapel in Merchiston after planning permission in principle was granted back in 2020.

The City of Edinburgh Council praised the proposed new church in the garden of the detached Victorian villa at 21 Napier Road – where the esoteric Christian group is already based – as having a “modern appearance”.

However it said plans for a two-storey building with priest’s accommodation, offices and a community hall attached to it were “jarring and incongruous” with the appearance of a ‘conventional new build dwelling house’.

A refusal by planners led to the applicant lodging an appeal, which was considered by the council’s Local Review Body on Wednesday.

The local authority received no letters of support and 35 objections in response. They ranged from neighbours’ concerns about the existing place of worship being sold-off to an increase in traffic and parking problems in the area.

One said: “The revised plans show the design of the proposed new block to be of poor quality, and completely out of keeping with the remainder of the houses in Napier Road – which are mainly unaltered and retain the integrity of their garden areas.”

Another added: “This land will be sold off to finance the new build and this will undoubtedly lead to more over-development of the site.”

And writing on behalf of Merchiston Community Council, Dr Mairianna Clyde said: “Whilst the proposed church building exemplifies innovation in the local context with its unusual curved and sweeping roof line, timber materials and sedum roof, which blends with the context of the wild, informal, free-form wooded garden of 21 Napier Road, it does not relate sensitively to the Victorian villas in the surrounding streetscape.”

She added: “The design of the accommodation and offices block is poor. The façade facing on to the street pertains to be of a traditional character yet it affords little visual interest and its blandness renders it out of character with surrounding area.

“Neither does it complement the design of the church. There is a visual disjunction in the contrast of styles which does not lend balance or coherence to the overall development.”

In a letter submitted to the council the Christian Community hit back at neighbour’s criticism of ‘cheap looking’ cladding proposed on the building.

The group said it was “strange coming from neighbours who have received planning consent to clad part of their building in charred timber cladding” which it said is “one of the cheaper ways to clad a building.”

It added: “We therefore again ask the Appeals Committee to overturn our refusal and grant permission for the proposal.”

Despite the plea, councillors unanimously voted to uphold planning officers’ original decision.

Cllr Neil Gardiner, former convener of the planning committee, told the LRB: “I agree the design could be improved, it’s not as good as it might be.

“The principle is decided that this garden is big enough to hold a building, but this particular design isn’t the right one and there’s two elements to it: there’s the chapel and the house that has meeting rooms on the ground floor and they did seem to just not work together.

“There’s room to come back again with another application and make it better.”

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Guidance has been issued by The Scottish Government for the bank holiday on Monday 19 September when the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place in London.

The government has stated that schools should close as a mark of respect. This advice also applies to other education settings that would normally be closed on a bank holiday. Most local authority-run early learning and childcare (ELC) services are also expected to close.

Health boards have been given guidance to support their planning for the holiday which underlines the importance of essential healthcare services continuing.

This includes pre-planned treatments, and the winter vaccination programme. Patients should visit their local NHS board website for further information or check about their own appointments.

Most public transport services are currently expected to run as normal. Passengers should contact individual operators for information.

Not everyone is entitled to paid leave on bank holidays, and if you are in any doubt then you are advised to check the position with your employer.

A 75-year-old man has been ordered to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing children more than 40 years ago.

Brian Dailey was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday after carrying out the crimes while employed at a school in the Colinton area of Edinburgh.

He subjected boy and girls, aged between 7 and 12, to sexual abuse over several years between 1969 and 1979, and was convicted in August at the High Court in Glasgow.

Detective Inspector Jim McLauchlan, from the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “I cannot underestimate the courage and patience with which the victims have waited for justice.

“Dailey may have thought he was safe from prosecution but today’s sentencing is the culmination of a lengthy and complicated investigation.

“It does not matter how much time has passed, victims can be reassured that they will be listened to and we will thoroughly investigate any reports to ensure perpetrators are held to account.”

A new West Lothian high school’s catchment area should include part of Edinburgh so that pupils attending a Catholic primary in South Queensferry can continue denominational education, a councillor has said.

Louise Young, who represents the Almond ward, is calling on Edinburgh City Council to enter formal discussions with officials in the neighbouring local authority.

She said more than a third of parents with children at St Margaret’s Primary on Station Road, a Roman Catholic school, want their child to continue in denominational education after P7.

Despite this most pupils end up attending the local non-denominational secondary rather than St Augustine’s on Broomhouse Road, which is the nearest Roman Catholic high school which includes South Queensferry in its catchment area.

The Lib Dem councillor said most parents are put-off by the travel time into Edinburgh “which during morning traffic can take 35-40 mins each way”.

She added that a round trip to the new Sinclair Academy denominational school in Winchburgh is “significantly closer” and would mean a round trip for parents of around half an hour.

Backing a catchment change so that St Margaret’s pupils can attend Sinclair Academy, which opened to pupils last month, Ms Young said this would “give pupils more time to engage in extra-curricular activities, homework, or time with family”.

“Edinburgh Council was approached by West Lothian Council during construction of Sinclair Academy, regarding the option to include West of Edinburgh in their catchment but this was not progressed,” she said.

“While non-catchment requests are considered by West Lothian, this offers no guarantee to St Margaret’s families and with the ongoing housing development in West Lothian, it may become more difficult to secure a place.

“This is of particular concern for families with more than one child if there is no guaranteed place for a sibling.”

Cllr Young said a survey showed that most parents “wish to pursue a catchment change to Sinclair Academy”.

She is set to table a motion at the education committee on Tuesday to instruct officers to enter into formal discussion with West Lothian Council “on the option to realign the catchment and ascertain whether they are willing to accommodate this change”.

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Redcar won the Knockout Cup semi-final against Edinburgh What the Fork Monarchs who need to step things up if they want to dismiss the Teesside club in the quarter-final of the SGB Championship play-offs at Armadale on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm).

And the home side are seeking a substantial cushion to take to Redcar on Saturday (tapes-up 5pm).

The initial expectation was that former Edinburgh captain Erik Riss (pictured) would be fit to return from injury for Bears but he still has injury problems so the guest replacement will be another former Monarchs star, Aaron Summers.

Jason Edwards could miss the tie for Bears with a shoulder injury, in which case rider replacement applies.

Monarchs team manager Alex Harkess who said: “The job on Friday is for everyone to produce their best form, and if they do that I think we will be perfectly OK.”

The club are set to quit the West Lothian track at the end of this season and Harkess said: “We have an incentive because if we are knocked out this weekend, then Friday could be the last Monarchs’ match at Armadale.

“It’s a stadium which has meant so much to all of us over the years. We’ve had so many great nights here and landed a great deal of silverware.”

The British Speedway Network will make their fourth visit of the season as they are streaming all the Championship play-off matches.

Streaming Details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk or via the BSN section of the SGB website.

What The Fork Monarchs: Sam Masters (capt ain), Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering, James Sarjeant, Jacob Hook.

Agilia Bears: Aaron Summers (guest), Jason Edwards, Charles Wright, Jordan Jenkins, Lewis Kerr (captain) Kyle Newman, Kasper Andersen.

Saturday 17th September: Redcar Bears v Edinburgh Monarchs (Championship Playoff second leg), Ecco Arena, 5pm

His Grace,Archbishop Leo Cushley will celebrate the annual Red Mass at noon on Sunday 18 September 2022 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Broughton Street.

Members of Scotland’s legal fraternity will come together for the Mass, marking the start of the new legal year.

Shawn Cameron made himself an instant hero with Fife Flyers fans for his hat-trick at Glasgow Clan which helped claim two welcome Challenge Cup points in a 6-5 win at Braehead.

And the 27-year-old Canadian confirmed there is much more to come as he settles into a new life in British ice hockey.

The 5ft 11in right wing could now be a marked man when he travels with the squad to the Dundee Ice Arena on Thursday (7.30pm) for a televised Challenge Cup clash with arch rivals Dundee Stars.

And the former college star, who developed his game further in the round-tough East Coast and American Hockey League in North America, confirmed that there is a great mood in the camp.

Fife are desperate to erase their 3-0 home defeat by Stars last Saturday, 24-hours after the 6-5 success at Glasgow Clan.

Cameron, who joined the Fifers from Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he scored three goals in 36 appearances last term, said: “There is a lot more to come from me. 

“People that saw the game (in Glasgow) will have seen that the guys set it up for me to tap it home so I think my shooting and skating and all round play will develop.

“This is a solid team going forward and I think we are going to be very dangerous on the power play as well this season.”  

Cameron believes that not playing since last Saturday has been a positive as it has allowed the guys to gel more and he said: “It is nice that we have another game (against Dundee) this week so we can show them what we can do. 

“Last Saturday was not our best game. We were a little tired. Friday was sapping physically, especially as we went in without some players, and Dundee did not play the night before so went in fresh, but we do not want to make excuses. 

“We have a good group of guys here and we have had a few days away from playing so we will be fresh for the game.”

Dundee, he said, are a good team, they are fast and they transition really well. They also have speed but he added: “We don’t want to make it into a track meet and we have to contain them and we want to control the game a little more.

Cameron acknowledged that Dundee are a good team with a fine goaltender in 6ft-tall, Swedish stopper Anton Svensson and he said: “We did not really press him that much but we have got a great goaltender in Shane Owen and we have got some great defenceman and we players coming back after injury.

“We will have even more transition and we have a lot of speed this year. I believe we can match them (Dundee) for speed.”

Looking longer-term, the Quebec-born forward said: “I have not played in this league before and I do not know much about the other teams and how much of a challenge they will be, but all I know is that we have a hard working team here and making the play-offs is mandatory for us this year.”

Switching to Britain had, he said, been a big change but added: “At the end of the day it is hockey and some of the guys in the locker room have played where I have played before and that has helped

“The transition has not been too hard. Also, training in the morning as we do here (in Kirkcaldy) is the same back home. We trained in the morning, we were out and I like it as you have the rest of the day to enjoy other things.”

Meanwhile, experienced forward Chris Lawrence (picture courtesy of Fife Flyers) looks set to ice in the televised clash on Tayside. The 35-year-old jetted in from Australia on Tuesday after coaching Melbourne Mustangs, but Flyers’ coach Todd Dutiaume confirmed the former Dundee Stars player iced with the squad on Wednesday morning at training.

The inclusion of the 6ft 4in right wing or centre ice is a major boost and Dutiaume knows exactly what he will get from the former Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick who played 16 games for the Kirkcaldy club last term, scoring three goals and setting up two other strikes, before breaking an ankle.

However, 30-year-old Swedish defenceman Jonas Emmerdahl who was a key player last season icing in 51 games, will be sidelined because of an upper body injury.

Dutiaume said: “It is disappointing to be minus Jonas, but we earned two points at Glasgow in a 6-5 win last Friday without him and that showed the character of the team as we were also without two other players.

“I don’t believe we showed what we can do in our 3-0 defeat by Dundee at Kirkcaldy on Saturday. Every competition we enter we want to do well in and so we travel to Dundee looking for two points.”

Edinburgh man Calum White is proving the real deal in Dubai after a successful Scottish recruitment drive helped him establish his Dubai estate agency as one of the emirate’s most successful brokerages.

The capital-born entrepreneur set up White & Co Real Estate in January 2021, seven years after first moving to the UAE after becoming disillusioned with life in the UK.

Keen to encourage more ambitious Scots to try a life abroad, Calum focused on his homeland for agents to help get the business up and running. Casting his net far and wide, he soon had interest from people the length and breadth of the country interested to sample the Dubai lifestyle.

Formerly with McEwan Fraser Legal in Edinburgh, Calum opened the doors to an office in Control Tower, Motor City, close to the exclusive marina district, at the beginning of last year.

There were initially eight employees running the start-up which turned over £4 million in its first year. Fast forward 18 months and 29-year-old Calum now has over 130 staff, 50 per cent of whom are Scottish, with his company racing up the rankings.

“There is something about the Scots, a bit like folk from Liverpool and Manchester to be fair, who have a certain understanding of hard work, know how to conduct themselves and how to respect other people’s cultures,” he said.

“I wanted to encourage people aged between 20-30 to come out here and try the Dubai life. I wanted focused young sales people in that bracket to come over as they have the potential to change their lives.

“The opportunity for people here is huge, particularly in real estate. It’s a performance-based industry which I love, there is uncapped commission so people can make genuinely life-changing money.

“50 per cent of my staff are Scottish, the most of any local real estate firm here, and some of my top performing agents are from Scotland. If you work hard, the sky is the limit.

“We generated £4m of business in our first year and are already beating that this year. We couldn’t have accomplished it without everyone’s efforts, which is evidence of their hard work.”

Operating in both the residential and commercial markets, White & Co. Real Estate continues to go from strength to strength and was recently named Dubai’s second-highest lead-generating agency for buying, selling and renting.

In addition, the firm recently won the title of agency of the month, defeating 1100 brokerages in the process. One of their brokers was chosen as the agent of the month, a significant honour given that Dubai has 6000 agents.

The firm has sold properties ranging in price from £400,000 to £1.1 million, with the most costly selling for £17 million.

“I have always worked hard and wanted to make money,” said Calum, who spent two years with McEwan Fraser Legal before the opportunity came to move to Dubai in 2014.

“I joined McEwan Fraser Legal in 2012, with my first role there scheduling property viewings for clients. I eventually worked my way up to managing up to 120 homes, and I loved it before I got the chance to move to Dubai.

 “I spent some time working for local real estate companies before deciding I wanted to launch my firm. Although I’m delighted at where we are now and just how far we’ve come, I’m always looking to achieve more. There is much work ahead to catch up with the big boys!

“The fact I took a 16,000 square feet office on a five-year lease in the middle of the pandemic shows my belief in what I was doing was justified. I knew we would grow rapidly.”

Former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Lord Jim Wallace, has paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen in the House of Lords in a poignant speech, ahead of the service and ceremony on the arrival of The Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall at which he attended as a House of Lords representative today.

As a member of the Privy Council, Lord Wallace was also in attendance at the Accession Council last Saturday when King Charles III was formally proclaimed King. Signing an historic oath to uphold the Presbyterian system of Church governance in Scotland was His Royal Highness’s first act.

Speaking last week, just a day after Her Majesty The Queen died at Balmoral, Lord Wallace addressed the House of Lords with his own personal memories of The Queen.

“My Lords, I was born two and a half years after Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ascended the Throne,” he said.

“Until yesterday, in common with the majority of people in this country, I had known only one monarch. For so many of us, the Queen alone represented what we think of as and understand by the concept of monarchy. She was ‘The Queen’. Her reign was one of exemplary, selfless and faithful service, sustained by a profound Christian faith — a life of service inspired by following the way of Jesus, the Servant King.

“However, it was not a slavish adherence to duty. Many people have commented on the late Queen’s pertinent comments on visits, her informed observations and the real interest she showed in people and communities. She engaged with these people and their communities on visits for 70 years and more, and invariably left them feeling much better for having met her. It is testimony to the gracious manner in which she fulfilled her role as our Queen.

“Comments have been made today and in many of the commentaries over the past 24 hours about the dramatic changes that have taken place in our country, across the world and in society since the Queen ascended the Throne in 1952 — things that almost certainly would have been unimaginable in that year.

“I recall reading somewhere that, at the age of 50, she was the first head of state ever to send what we now call an email. The Scottish Parliament was probably only a twinkle in the eye of some political activists, but the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, recalled her visit to the Scottish Parliament’s Sitting in Aberdeen on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. She gave so much encouragement to those of us who had been in there from the beginning and had taken some brickbats from the press for what we were doing.

“I also recall that, when she opened the new Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999, she referred to the ‘pragmatic balance between continuity and change’.

“Truly, it was her ability to achieve and maintain that pragmatic balance over seven decades, not least in political and constitutional relationships, that was one of the key hallmarks of her reign.

“I first met the Queen in Kirkwall in 1987 when she unveiled a new stained glass window in St Magnus Cathedral on the 850th anniversary of the cathedral’s foundation. When I last met her, less than three weeks ago, she referred to that visit.

“As a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, a Church in which she always showed a keen interest, I had been asked to preach the sermon at the Sunday morning worship in Crathie Church.

“The Queen graciously invited me to spend two nights at Balmoral Castle on her beloved Deeside — but no barbeques. It was a privilege to have had such quality time talking to her. Her mind was sharp. She had a keen interest in what was going on. I experienced the warmth of her personality, which so many people have talked about. She so readily put me at my ease.

“It was also a privilege to engage with close members of her family over those two days, who also did so much to make me feel welcome. It is them — the family to whom the Queen was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law — I have particularly been thinking about over the past 24 hours.

“As we give thanks for the life of the Queen — a remarkable life of humble leadership and service — I know that we will want to keep in our thoughts and prayers her close family, especially His Majesty King Charles, for whom her death is so very real and personal.

“May they know the comfort that Jesus promised to those who mourn.”

You can watch Lord Wallace’s speech in full on the ParliamentLive.TV website

Following its purchase by Karma Group, a collection of worldwide luxury resorts established by British entrepreneur John Spence, Karma Lake of Menteith is able to offer its guests the opportunity to taste a very special red wine created and blended by John Spence himself, together with his 90-year-old father, Mike.

A 2019 Bordeaux, the wine, which John has named Père et Fils, is made with a higher percentage of Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon, with a split of 70% Cabernet, 15% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc.

John and his father are depicted enjoying the wine on the label of this very special wine, having commissioned a fantastic illustration which shows them in a beautiful vineyard.

Since 2016, wine connoisseur John has curated his own collection of fine wines, a handpicked list offering vintages and boutique wines from some of the world’s most renowned labels. He has been assisted by some of the world leading wine experts, such as the Australian Sommelier, John Jens. Recent additions include a rosé from France’s Carcassonne, home to Karma Chateau de Samary. A new Sauvignon Blanc, from Pascal Jolivet, will be joining the portfolio in the next couple of months.

Other Karma Group wines include a Chianti from Tuscany, rosés from both Provence and Australia, a Beaujolais from France, and a Burgundy, also from France.

As part of Karma Group’s ethos of creating experiences for guests, the wines are available to sample and enjoy across all resorts. Karma Group also hosts numerous wine tasting events through its exclusive member’s benefits scheme, Karma Club.   

And it does not end with wine. Karma Group is additionally involved in the world of fine spirits.  A signature handcrafted small batch gin has also been added to the Karma cellar, a spirit crafted from botanicals sourced from the destinations where the group’s resorts, hotels, and retreats are located. The most recent addition to the Karma spirits repertoire is Coachbuilt Whisky, developed by Formula One legend Jenson Button. Karma Group is the official resort partner for this premium blended single malt which is being rolled out initially across the resorts in the UK and Europe. 

“Whisky is particularly apt for Karma Lake of Menteith as we have our own Whisky “Malt Vault” here in the Hotel,” said General Manager, Chris Diplock. “This cosy nook, just off the main bar, offers a top notch selection of quality single Malt whiskies from all over Scotland, including rarer varieties, Campbeltown whiskies, and bottles from the local distillery, Deanston, which is just along the road.”

“Making sure our guests have access to exceptional wines and spirits of all types is all part and parcel of the Karma Group experience,” added Chris. “We want them to feel special the whole time they are with us. Many of our products are unique to us and certainly inspire conversation and debate.”

“Our founder and Group Chairman, John Spence, is very passionate about his curated collections, whether it’s a fine wine, such as the Bordeaux blended with his father, or collaborating with a local artisan producer to bring the Karma Group name to a special cheese, a local preserve, or some other delicious foodstuff.”

Chris ended by saying that the new ‘Père et Fils’ wine had certainly raised a smile amongst guests as John has said on the back of the bottle that guests are to thank his father if they think the wine is good, and to blame him if they think that it is bad!

“Everyone who has tried it thinks it’s fantastic,” said Chris. “2019 was an exceptional year for Bordeaux wine, hence why John chose to add one to his collection, so I don’t think he has anything at all to worry about!”

“He told us all it was a very special and treasured experience for him to blend the wine with this father, I know they had an amazing time.”

The popular Red Door music promotions at St Michael’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Linlithgow High Street return on Friday 30 September when the widely acclaimed singer-songwriter-guitarist Rory Butler showcases songs from a new recording.

Butler, who released his first album, Window Shopping on the leading folk music label Vertical Records in 2020, has been likened to an amalgam of John Martyn, Nick Drake and Jackson Brown. He was also cited as a highlight when he took part in a star-studded John Martyn tribute concert at Celtic Connections a few months before Window Shopping’s release.

Red Door spokesman Robin Connelly is delighted to bring music back to St Michael’s after an enforced two-and-a-half-year break and to have Butler open the new series of concerts.

“Before the Covid pandemic we’d built up considerable momentum in terms of audiences and people knew that they could expect high quality concerts,” he says. “St Michael’s has a modest capacity but we were able to attract top line musicians including Martin & Eliza Carthy and Chris Wood from the folk side and jazz musicians such as the great singer Tina May. Rory played a superb gig for us early on, so it’s great to have him reopening our programme.”

Instrumental duo Holm will support Butler and the concert will be followed by others featuring Glasgow-based saxophonist Brian Molley and pianist Tom Gibbs, on Friday 28th October, and fiddle and harp duo Chris Stout & Catriona McKay on Friday 18^th November.

“Brian Molley’s latest album, Intercontinental, has been praised from Canada to Australia and we’re really pleased to welcome him, with Tom, a superb pianist, to Red Door for the first time,” says Robin Connelly. “Chris and Catriona have appeared for us before, in a really sensational concert that stands out as a high point in our programme, so we’re excited to have them play for us again.”

Tickets for Red Door concerts are available online through Eventbrite.

Launching its 2022 festival theme – Keep It Lit – on Wednesday The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) invites audiences to join them round the hearth of storytelling this autumn, a symbolic fire where experiences and memories are shared, and the torch of oral storytelling is passed on.

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories, the 2022 festival programme is the largest to date, inviting everyone to the ceilidh – locally, nationally and globally. From 14 to 31 October, more than 240 events will form the world’s largest celebration of storytelling, anchored at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, and spreading tales across the city and wider Scotland, and around the world online.

During this difficult year, a story shared is a trouble eased, and the festival will host 145 free events so everyone can find a seat round the hearth.

^{Shona Cowie and Neil Sutcliffe © 2022 J.L. Preece}

The festival opens on Friday 14 October with its Opening Concert: ‘Speak Out the Other’; a blend of voice and music navigating the belonging, becoming, and ‘otherness’ of queer identities that permeate Scottish myth. Performed by the Young Edinburgh Storytellers (YES), members Mark Borthwick, Ailsa Dixon, and David Hughes will perform for their freedom from the fictional Fey court, where the fair folk in the audience decide their fate.

The festival’s Opening Concert leads a series of commissioned events around Interpreting Scotland, which invite creatives from within and beyond the storytelling community to create new work around contemporary discussion points through stories past, present, and future. Examining how Scotland shapes its sense of self during this period of change.

^{Donald Smith, Festival Director of SISF. © 2022 J.L. Preece}

Other highlights in the series include -:

• ‘Fàilte Gu BSL | Welcome to BSL’ (Sun 16 Oct), exploring the relationship in Scottish culture between Gaelic and BSL through a collaborative performance led by Gaelic speaker, and d/Deaf musician, Evie Waddell.
• ‘A Fairie Tale’ (Tue 18 Oct), which explores Scottish race and gender identities through a mediaeval inspired landscape, reimagining the folk classic Thomas the Rhymer, through a brand-new piece of storytelling and live music.
• ‘Scotia Botanica: Workshops and Seed Stories’ (Sat 22 & Thu 27 Oct), reflecting on Scotland’s evolving culture to revalue natural habitats, and exploring how we adapt to climate change and recognise diversity.

Elsewhere in the programme, SISF celebrates language, landscape and identities with its ‘Map of Stories’ events (Sat 15 Oct – Sun 6 Nov); an ambitious new project from Transgressive North for Scotland’s Year of Stories. Supported by EventScotland, the ‘Map of Stories’ film ceilidhs, acknowledge the rich and diverse oral storytelling heritage of Scotland with multimedia performances from some of the country’s leading storytellers.

Performed as part of SISF’s Edinburgh programme, each performance will then tour to its region of focus – Dumfries & Galloway, the North East, Perth & Kinross, the Outer Hebrides, and Orkney respectively – and explore the distinctive stories, memories and folklore arising from that particular community and landscape.

The Map of Stories live events form part of SISF’s Tales, Tongues and Trails strand; with other highlights from the programme including -:

• Hungarian storytellers Lily Asch and Csenge Virág Zalka connecting continents and traditions in ‘Lost Stories’ (Tue 18 Oct); tracing movement between tradition and transformation, and how such stories are still active through who we are today.
• Stories and traditions from the Mi’kmaq and Gaelic speaking cultures in ‘A’ lorg Sruthan Falaichte | Finding Hidden Streams’ (Sat 22 Oct), examining how North America’s First Nations and Gaelic speaking emigrants handed on their culture through oral tradition.
• A magical interlude of ancient ballads and stories from folk music duo Pictism and storyteller Stuart McHardy with ‘Female Powers: Fairy Queens and Witches’ (Sun 30 Oct), focusing on Halloween and its feminine themes.
• An epic retelling of ‘Sgiath: Warrior Queen of Skye’ (Mon 31 Oct), from storyteller Marion Kenny, and musician John Kenny.

As events in Edinburgh explore traditions and stories from around the world, SISF will invite audiences from further afield to join them at the fireside with its Global Platform, a series of digital storytelling and development sessions. Hosted by Festival Director, Donald Smith, the Global Platform will cover the ‘Art of the Storyteller’ (Mon 17 – Fri 21 Oct), as well as guide discussion around the history of oral storytelling and its contemporary renaissance worldwide through its Global Labs (Mon 24 – Fri 28 Oct), held in association with The Earth Stories Collection and Earth Charter International.

^{Daniel Abercrombie, Associate Director of SISF. © 2022 J.L. Preece}

There’s plenty for young budding storytellers at SISF, with tales old and new to enjoy. Celebrate the new children’s storybook ‘Silver Unicorns & Golden Birds: Scottish Traveller Tales for Children’ (Sat 15 Oct); an interactive, sing-along eco adventure, ‘Plop! In the Ocean’ (Mon 17 Oct), based on an ancient Greek slapstick comedy all about friendship; and prepare to become a Viking poet in School for ‘Skalds with Macastory’ (Sun 23 Oct), where families can create their own mini-saga and learn to tell it in the style of the ancient Viking Skalds.

Alongside these events, this year’s Festival Exhibition will be hosted at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. John Slavin: ‘Land of the Ravens (Thu 6 – Mon 31 Oct) is a multiform exhibition, inspired by the international folk tale Jack and the Two Ravens. Plus ‘The Big Scottish Story Ripple’ (Wed 12 Oct – Wed 30 Nov) returns, pairing local storytellers with schools and community groups to start a ripple of stories and kindness across Scotland.

Looking ahead to this year’s event, Scottish International Storytelling Festival Director, Donald Smith said: “This is the biggest Storytelling Festival since it began in 1989. It is our widest reach culturally, socially and geographically, marking Scotland’s Year of Stories.

“We are responding to the cost-of-living crisis with 145 free events, reducing ticket prices, offering a uniquely generous Festival Pass and keeping a specially commissioned digital programme to provide worldwide reach for those who cannot or choose not to travel. Everyone is welcome at our hearthside.”

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival will take place from 14 – 31 October. This year, when people’s lives are under pressure on all sides, SISF says it is striving to make it affordable for everyone. Tickets to each event cost a maximum of £10, with family events costing £5 per ticket.

For those planning on attending multiple events, the Festival Pass offers discounted tickets to many live festival events, online and at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, as well as a discount at the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s bookshop and Haggis Box Café.
To purchase tickets and browse the full programme, click here.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival
14 – 31 October 2022
In person in Edinburgh and across Scotland, and online
For tickets and more info visit www.sisf.org.uk

Helen Bauer is basic, well, basic-plus, because she is aware of it.

2019’s Best Newcomer nominee has announced her first UK tour and is bringing it back to Edinburgh following a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Pleasance Courtyard where it made the list of Best Reviewed comedy shows of the Fringe.

Her new show, ‘Madam Good Tit’, is about self-confidence, self-esteem and self-care.  

After the sell-out success of her debut hour, ‘Little Miss Baby Angel Face’, at the Fringe and a prestigious Soho Theatre run that followed, Helen’s star has truly risen during the past year with laugh out loud appearances on Live at The Apollo (BBC 2) and The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2).

This comedy powerhouse also had her own BBC Three show, ‘Small Doses’, released at the end of March on BBCiPlayer, made by the producers of ‘Feel Good’. Helen also co-hosts two critically acclaimed hit podcasts: ‘Trusty Hogs’ with Catherine Bohart and ‘Daddy Look At Me’ with Rosie Jones.

Catch Helen at The Stand on Wednesday 28 September 2022.

Popular Edinburgh hockey club boosted by sponsorship backing from city law firm.

A Scottish law firm is sponsoring Edinburgh University Men’s Hockey Club (EUMHC) following one of the most successful seasons in the club’s 120-year history.

The firm’s sponsorship of EUMHC will help the club with general admin and running costs that are crucial to its continued success.

With a commitment to the development of its players and the aim of encouraging more students to play sport, long-established Gibson Kerr was keen to support the growing club which is now the biggest men’s university sports club in the UK.

Current Sponsorship Secretary of the EUMHC, Ben Wilson, said: “The whole team feel really privileged to receive Gibson Kerr’s sponsorship.

“As a club, we have considerable expenses. We now have four teams training a night and we require good equipment. Last year, we spent a lot of money on balls, bibs, cones and other kit that is crucial for the club and we expect that this year, that outgoing might be even more.

“In addition, we have umpires to pay, goal keeping kit to invest in, more bibs to purchase and with the introduction of our 8^th team this year, another training session to fund.

“As you might imagine, we’re absolutely thrilled with the sponsorship from Gibson Kerr. The money will go a long way in helping us pay a massive chunk of our expenses and it will really help take the weight off and provide much needed security.”

The newly Gibson Kerr branded kit made its first appearance at the hockey club’s first game this season at Peffermill Playing Fields on the 11^th September following one of its most successful seasons to date.

The club added to its list of growing accolades last year which now includes becoming two-time Scottish League and Scottish Cup champions and four-time British Universities and College Sport champions. The club was also the first Scottish men’s side to gain promotion to the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier National since the formation of BUCS in 2008.

Ben added: “After such a strong last season, we are hoping to build upon this success next year. At the moment we have 190 members and we are looking forward to another great year ahead as we continue to nurture some of Scotland’s future hockey stars.”

The legal firm has also been invited to meet the club members and present to the teams, sharing some information on Gibson Kerr and the work that they do, as well as joining them for a spot of hockey.

Donald Towsey, solicitor in Gibson Kerr’s property team and keen hockey player, said: “The club plays a huge part of the university’s sporting community and Gibson Kerr are delighted to support it.

“We are also hoping we might be able to inspire some budding lawyers in the team by telling them about the work we do.”

Gibson Kerr dates back more than 100 years and was acquired by Partners Scott and Fiona Rasmusen in 2005. Fiona is Head of Family Law, Partner Lindsay Maclean, who joined the firm in 2007, is Head of Personal Law, and the Property team is headed by Beverley Cottrell.

Now it is time to get back to normal for everyone involved in Operation Unicorn, a well-rehearsed exercise involving Police Scotland, The Scottish Government and The City of Edinburgh Council.

A great deal of effort is now being put in to get the city moving again following the departure of the Queen’s cortège from St Giles Cathedral to Edinburgh Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

Workers will be out on the streets to rapidly remove temporary traffic management infrastructure and provide waste and cleansing services across the city centre.Teams are also reopening key routes to minimise disruption to residents and visitors as quickly as possible.

Important north to south corridors will be the first to reopen to vehicle traffic this evening, including Princes Street, Lothian Road and the Bridges.

The Royal Mile will remain closed, with George IV Bridge and The Mound expected to reopen on Wednesday.

This work follows an unparalleled few days for the city, with thousands lining the streets and the eyes of the world watching significant ceremonial events to mark the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. 

The Queen’s cortège arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Sunday afternoon, with The King and members of the Royal Family following on Monday to participate in the Ceremony of the Keys. They then joined a historic procession up the Royal Mile and a service at St Giles’ Cathedral, where the Queen lay at rest until her final departure for London.

There were also two public Proclamations in Edinburgh on Sunday, one at the Mercat Cross and one at Edinburgh Castle, to announce the Accession of The King.

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the city to pay their respects and millions more across the world tuned into the broadcast coverage.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “First of all, I would like to thank everyone in Edinburgh for their patience, support and positivity over what has been both an incredibly challenging and hugely rewarding few days for us all.”

“The eyes of the world were upon us and our capital city looked her beautiful best throughout. This is due in no small part to the incredible efforts of an army of volunteers, partners and council workers, who have gone far above and beyond to deliver an incredibly complex series of ceremonial events almost overnight – and all while keeping the city running. They are now doing everything they can to focus on busy areas and get everything back to normal.”

“The collective farewell that Edinburgh has given to Her Majesty has been an impeccable and fitting representation of our city as its very best. We should all feel incredibly proud of our communities today.”

The Rt Hon Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge said: “The last four days have marked a significant, historic occasion globally, and it is with immense pride that we look back on Edinburgh’s contribution. It’s thanks to the monumental efforts of all those involved that we, along with the public, were able to say a heartfelt farewell to Her Majesty, whose strong connection to the capital and Scotland was widely known.

“This has been the result of a very detailed and successful planning operation that has been delivered flawlessly by a community of partners and is a shining example of the power of coming together in difficult circumstances.

“I know many will remember this for a lifetime, and we’re honoured to have played such an important role in this moment.”

Residents and visitors are still being advised to plan ahead and regularly check the Council website for the latest advice, any ongoing road closures and public transport information.

The @edintravel traffic information team are continuing to carefully monitor the city’s roads, sharing the latest information on disruption and diversions on Twitter.

The travelling public should also follow Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams to stay informed about their services.

After a restorative break following the end of the Festival, Edinburgh again became the focus of national and international attention this week.

The city centre swarmed with visitors and locals drawn into town to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II’s cortege, following its 180 mile journey from Balmoral. On Monday, The Queen’s coffin was taken to St Giles, allowing those in Edinburgh to pay their respects as she ‘lay in rest’.  

It is often said that queuing is a national sport in the UK. The walk to St Giles was certainly an experience that required patience. Periods of momentum and steady treading forward, were followed by others standing still.

As we arrived at The Meadows, there was a sense of energy and excitement with the queue lengthening rapidly. At 5.15pm  it was clear many had come straight from work. Others had travelled to Edinburgh specifically for the event “I thought of going to Balmoral. But Edinburgh’s set up for this sort of thing”, said one. Indeed it is.

There was a clear sense of being part of something significant. The long hours it would take to reach the destination were only in the back of people’s minds. Even at the start, the extent of the queue was worthy of remark. “Holy Moses, where’s the end of it?!”. Many were already committing to the long haul, with one lady near us saying “I’ll stay here all night if I need to”. There was also an awareness that the experience of seeing the coffin would be fairly fleeting but that this was not the main point. As one gentleman near us put it, “it’s more what you feel than what you see”. The lovely evening light which bathed the queuers at this point helped keep spirits up, as awareness grew of the long hours ahead. As forward progress became somewhat glacial, one of the stewards admitted that “you’re in for a late night”.

Comradeship had built in the queue. Snacks were beginning to be shared, as were snippets of information. This conjecture all added to the slight sense of confusion and uncertainty. It slowly dawned on people that this initial queue in the Meadows was something of a preliminary.  We were merely waiting to be given the wristbands that would allow us to join the main queue from George Square to the High Kirk – “then the real queue starts”. Concern spread that it would take more than two hours in the ‘real queue’. 

As we passed the public tennis courts, many were struggling to emulate Swiatek and Alcaraz in the cooling breeze and darkening sky. Returning errant tennis balls gave those in the queue something to do, something to loosen their tiring limbs. We walked along Archers Walk into a stiffening breeze. The Royal Company of Archers, who have their headquarters nearby at 66 Buccleuch Street, have been thrust into the limelight over the last few days. They have played a leading role in the various ceremonies this week.

At the East End, opposite Summerhall, some entered the Meadows blinking. Blinking in the low sun and in amazement at the length of the queue stretching out before them. At 7 o’clock, with the sun dipping and an autumnal chill in the breeze, the mood became a little bit more fractious, especially when a few grumpy cyclists struggled to get past “you’re taking over the whole path!”. Some entrepreneurial students were deliberately emphasising the length of the queue in order to drum up sales for the ‘kit kats, water and cupcakes’ they were offering for sale. Business picked up as peckishess took hold. 

The density of the trees next to The University Library added to the darkness. A few jolly stewards tried to inject some optimism and a sense of momentum: “you’re nearly at the wristbands…wristbands are good!!”. The process of having the wrist bands affixed jumbled up the order of the queue somewhat, and new chatting partners were formed. How long was it now until we reached St. Giles? “How long is a piece of string?” became a common response. Thoughts went to those near the rear of the queue, who still had many hours ahead merely to reach ‘the wristbands’. The street lights around George Square created a dreamlike feel.

In the underpass at Potterow Port, the chatter became loud, echoing through this ‘retrofuturist’ spot. On West College Street, there was a cinematic feel, the street lights creating atmospheric noirish shadows. However, the rather uneven setts were starting to bring aches and pains to the fore “I’m not sure how I’ll get out of bed in the morning”, “my knees are killing me”. The bottleneck on Chambers Street was significant. At 9.30 progress stalled as we peered into the empty museum beside us. The lack of momentum was really testing: “if only we could just keep walking, we’d be okay”. For those who lived outwith Edinburgh, there were encroaching fears about how they would get home. When were the last trains and buses?. Some used humour as a coping mechanism. “Long live the King” was called out, as a black taxi passed. 

Finally, we reached George IV Bridge, the final leg. However, the massed ranks ahead of us had a dispiriting effect. “This is the worst part”, said one of those close to us, aware that we were past the point of no return. There was no point leaving the queue now and wasting four and a half hours. A firm reminder from the security staff. that no food or drink was allowed to be taken in, led to a rapid bit of scoffing. Some items were chucked away, flooding the bins. It was all too reminiscent of the bin strike at the end of the Fringe. Around the National Library, the intensity rose, the area flooded with yellow jackets and police officers. One stated that though they had expected very large numbers, this was “more than expected”. The airport style security checks were conducted thoroughly but fairly swiftly.  Clearly this was the main source of the delays further down the line.

 Finally, into West Parliament Square at 10.20pm, and our first view of S. Giles, looking beautiful in the light with a near full moon behind. The mood quietened and final photos were taken.

The whole reason behind our patience was sometimes forgotten along the route. Here, the full solemnity of the situation finally dawned on people. Into St. Giles at 10.31. in single file. Immediately, we were struck by the warm glow inside. There was a great stillness and calmness as we neared the coffin. It felt like we were gliding along not walking.

Members of the Royal Archers, clearly there for some time, stood impressively still. Solemn heads were bowed towards the coffin which, significantly, had the Scottish crown on top of it. There was patience as people stopped for reflection, with several wiping away tears. As we stepped quietly towards the exit, necks were craned to catch one final glimpse. Slowly we filed out, back into the darkness though the chill had gone. Passing the Mercat Cross, there was a quiet stillness as people absorbed what they had witnessed, trying to capture memories they would carry for years. 

The next morning, I walked across the sunlit Meadows. The chilliness of the preceding evening had disappeared, as had the large queues. These again were to build as others (around 26,000 people in total) were about to start their long journey to ‘the wristbands’ and then to S. Giles for their own glimpse of history.

In time, the convoluted journey to St. Giles will be forgotten, but the memories of St Giles and the lying in rest will surely linger.

Her Majesty The Queen left Scotland on Tuesday afternoon and has been flown to London where the coffin will Lie in State ahead of Monday’s State Funeral.

People across the country have paid their respects, attending remembrance events and reflected fondly on a life of service to Scotland.

The departure this evening from Edinburgh Airport concludes the ceremonial events programme in Scotland, known as Operation Unicorn, as the whole nation continues to mourn The Queen’s passing.

Around 33,000 people filed past Her Majesty The Queen’s Coffin, Lying at Rest in St Giles Cathedral to pay their respects.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Scotland has bid a final and poignant farewell to our much loved Elizabeth, Queen of Scots.

“Over these past few days we have seen just how much Her Majesty meant to the people of Scotland.

“As anticipated, people from all walks of life gathered across the country and in our capital city to pay tribute to the only Monarch most of us have ever known.

“The scenes on Sunday as Her Majesty’s cortege made the journey from Balmoral Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and then yesterday and today as thousands gathered along the Royal Mile and queued to enter St Giles to see the Queen’s Coffin, will forevermore form a very special part of the history of Scotland.

“The sympathy and good wishes of Scotland for The King and Royal Family has also been evident in these last few days, and on behalf of the Parliament and people of Scotland, I continue to offer my heartfelt condolences to all of Her Majesty’s Family.

“I also want to record my sincere thanks to, and admiration for the many public servants who have worked tirelessly in recent days and over many years to develop and, when the time sadly came, implement Operation Unicorn. 

“Thousands across the emergency services, local authorities, armed forces, volunteer networks, transport and government agencies have helped ensure that Scotland paid fitting tribute to The Queen, and that Scots from all walks of life could celebrate the unparalleled contribution She made in her 70-year reign. The events of recent days have provided a sincere, solemn and fitting tribute from the people of Scotland to Her Majesty The Queen.

“Scotland has now bid our Queen of Scots a sad, but fond farewell. We will not see her like again.”