Police officers tackling rural crime across Scotland have taken part in new training as part of nation-wide crime crackdown.

Officers working within rural and acquisitive crime have been trained on VIN Chip technology to prevent and tackle thefts of agricultural machinery and equipment from farms.

This year alone, 34 quad bikes, 13 trailers and 10 agricultural vehicles and plant worth a total of £536,500 have been stolen from farms and rural premises across the country.

The most targeted areas being The Lothians and Scottish Borders.

Officers are encouraging farmers to take preventative steps to discourage criminals who prey on the rural communities.

Sergeant Laurent Semple, Rural, Acquisitive and Business Preventions Team, said: “We know that the theft of farming vehicles and machinery can have a significant financial impact.

“Quad bikes are one of the most depended on pieces of equipment on a farm and are often an attractive target for criminals, as they are easy to move and of high value when selling on. 

“Often site or vehicle security is breached during hours of darkness when there are very few potential witnesses, making it easier to make off with these items.

“The VIN Chip system provides an individual forensic footprint to a piece of equipment or vehicle which can be scanned from distance using devices carried by Police patrols and checks against registration databases to identify owner and if reported stolen. This allows roadside checks to be carried out quickly and stolen equipment recovered.

“Another preventative measure is by signing up to the Farm Watch scheme, which allows those involved to quickly be advised of offences or suspicious activity in their area, while recommending specific prevention measures that could be taken.

“Not only do we hope this will enhance our intelligence picture when investigating these incidents, but we are also looking to reduce the number of crimes occurring, with our ability to share information and make farms as uninviting as possible to serve as a deterrent.”

John Lally, CEO of VIN Chip, said: “We are proud to support Police Scotland in their efforts to tackle rural crime through the use of our VIN Chip technology. 

“Agricultural theft is not just a financial loss, it’s a disruption to livelihoods and communities. 

“By giving officers the tools to identify stolen machinery quickly and accurately, we’re helping to make rural areas less attractive to criminals and more resilient against organised theft. 

“Collaboration like this is vital in keeping our farms and countryside secure.”

Further prevention advice –

Thieves are becoming more determined and bolder in their pursuit of equipment and overcoming security such as padlocked buildings. They are increasingly well equipped with grinders and tools.

We advise multiple levels of security, following principles of Deter, Delay and Detect.

Deter – Forensic marking, vehicle decals, security lighting.

Delay – Secure farm gates, limit access, robust locks.

Detect – Trackers, CCTV, alarms.

Report suspicious, or out of the ordinary activity.

Sergeant Lauren Semple added: “I also want to send a clear message to organised crime groups that our rural communities are not a soft touches, and we will continue to work with key partners and the farming industry to explore new ways of reducing this kind of crime.

“By providing communities with advice on deterring criminality and increasing prevention methods, we can reduce opportunities for criminals.”

Following the recent Supreme Court judgment that ‘sex’ means biological sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the Scottish FA will update its policy on gender participation in domestic football to reflect this outcome. 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued the following guidance – 

“Under the Act: 

A ‘woman’ is a biological woman or girl (a person born female). 

A ‘man’ is a biological man or boy (a person born male).”  

As a gender-affected sport, the Scottish FA board has determined that from the start of season 2025/26 only biological females will be permitted to play in competitive girls’ and women’s football which is governed by the Scottish FA.  

Under the Scottish FA Player Journey, players move to competitive football at Under-13 level. 

The Scottish FA will provide guidance on the implementation of the updated policy, including appropriate participation opportunities for transgender people, ahead of the policy taking effect from the start of the new season. 

In the meantime, the Scottish FA will consult with relevant stakeholders to ensure consistent application of the updated policy. 

Hibernian Women welcomed Motherwell to a very sunny Meadowbank last night for the first of their final five ScottishPower Women’s Premier League split fixtures.

First half goals from Kathleen McGovern and Kirsten Reilly extended Hibs lead at the top of the table to three points.

Head coach Grant Scott said: “It was a difficult game, I think we done well to come through that with another clean sheet.

“It was feisty and physical. Motherwell also played some nice, direct football at times. It wasn’t without some scares and that’s credit to Motherwell. It was a good game tonight.

“A lot of players left a lot out on the pitch there tonight, but I’m delighted to get through it. It was a tough one and we’ve come away with the win, which is great.

“Kathleen has scored so many goals for us now, she’s entitled to miss a few. She’ll be frustrated with herself, I know what she’s like.

“She’s in the right spot and the right places, and the girls linking up with her have been good today too.”

Next up for Scott’s side is a trip across the capital to face city rivals Hearts.

The Edinburgh Derby at Oriam on Sunday gives the Hibees another chance to put points on the table heading into a vital four-game stretch to finish off the league season. 

“I said it before the last game to their manager and staff. I don’t think either team has played particularly well in any of the matches apart from the first one at Easter Road. Hearts did very well on that night. F

“For us, we’ve just got to hope that we turn up and give a better performance than we’ve done before.

“We’ve got a target on our back right now because of the position we are in the league. We’re accepting of that. It’s just something else we’ve got to deal with.

“It’s a tough game, but we need to go in with a positive belief that we can win.”

Former Hibs legend Mixu Paatelainen is back in Scottish football.

The striker, who is fondly remembered for his hat trick in Hibs 6-2 victory over Hearts has been appointed as The Spartans new Sporting Director, supporting the Men’s and Women’s senior teams and the Men’s Under 20 team.

70 times capped for his native Finland, Paatelainen will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise courtesy of a playing career spanning two decades, followed up by eighteen years in managerial roles on both a domestic and national arena.

Speaking of his decision to join The Spartans, Paatelainen said, “I’ve been very impressed how people go about things, how organised they are, how good the people who are in charge are, and their ambition.

“Everybody knows that Spartans is a community club who do a lot for the kids – boys and girls – which is fabulous. The facilities are fantastic and what struck me straight away is that people are very ambitious, they don’t want to be a League 2 club all the way, they want to go forward and do better, and it’s a wonderful club, wonderful people, so I want to be part of that.

“I will step on nobody’s toes, that’s for sure I want to be a sounding board. I know some head coaches, when there’s a sporting director coming to a club for the first time, they might be alarmed and worry that people think they are not doing a good enough job.

“That is not the case here.  Dougie has done a fantastic job, there’s no question, and this is just another piece in the jigsaw. It’s as simple as that. We want to  try to make us stronger and hopefully improve us enough to take the next step.”

Chairman Craig Graham added, “Mixu’s appointment brings us so much expertise.  He will support me, my fellow Directors and all our coaches as we continue to grow and develop our club.  It’s a brilliant appointment for us.

“We are an ambitious club and the Mixu will help us drive forward all aspects of our strategic agenda.  After a hugely successful playing and managerial career Mixu now has a senior role in the UEFA Technical team and with the SFA in coach education.

“He is so passionate about football and to helping others develop, it’s such an exciting move for us.” 

Around 7,000 people celebrated Beltane on Wednesday night after dark on Calton Hill.

Everyone was immersing themselves in a “vivid, elemental journey of fire, rhythm, and transformation”. The night was filled with drumming, hundreds of performers and plenty of fire – illuminating the hill with a fierce and joyful energy. An unseasonably hot day with the clearest of skies made Beltane night a night to remember!

Jenny Bloom, Beltane Fire Society’s Chair said: “Another year, another magical Beltane. As we roll into summer and carry the May Queen’s message of renewal with us, a huge thank you to the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of witnesses who made it all happen. What a night! See you at Samhuinn!”

“The modern Beltane Fire Festival has been running since 1988 and is the spring and summer counterpart to Samhuinn Fire Festival, which is held at Holyrood Park on 31 October. The events are immersive experiences, which involve modern re-imaginings of ancient celtic festivals to mark the turning seasons.

The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient celtic

calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.

When was the last time you discovered a new cuisine that completely surprised your taste buds? For me, it was my recent adventure at Muna’s, a vibrant Ethiopian restaurant in Tollcross that’s rapidly becoming the talk of Edinburgh’s food scene.

But before I tell you about my experience there, I need to share my long-standing love affair with a particular spice company.

I’ve been smitten with Seasoned Pioneers, a Wirral-based spice company, ever since they sent me some recipe box spices nearly seven years ago under the guise of the Spice Pioneer.

Though these particular kits are no longer available, the company itself has become a trusted brand among leading food writers and chefs – Delia Smith and Nick Nairn count themselves as fans, and I’m certainly in that club too.

The company was founded by Mark Steene, whose worldwide travels sparked a fascination with international seasonings. Today, the small team at Seasoned Pioneers offers an impressive range of over 300 authentic spices, chillies, herbs, seasonings, and spice blends, including organic options.

Each blend in their renowned collection is handmade to traditional recipes, crafted in small batches using up to fifteen carefully selected ingredients. The spices are dry-roasted, ground, and blended, resulting in convenient packages of authentic flavour that capture cuisines from across the globe.

As Delia wisely points out, there are two enemies of spice flavour: light and air. Many spices sold in glass jars sit under harsh store lighting, and once opened, they’re increasingly exposed to air.

Seasoned Pioneers cleverly packages their seasonings in resealable foil packs that shield them from light and eliminate air exposure when properly closed. Their compact size means they don’t monopolise precious cupboard space – unless, like me, you’ve been generously gifted their ‘World Spice Blends, The Definitive Selection’ Collection of 40 packets!

Recently, I reached out to Seasoned Pioneers hoping they might send me their African Berbere Spice Blend (a complex mix of red chillies, fenugreek seeds, ginger, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cardamom, and ajowran). To my delight, they responded with overwhelming generosity, sending four boxes containing 10 packets each of their worldwide seasonings – an array of masalas, curry powders, and spices. With each pouch containing enough for about 20 servings, I’ll be eating curries for months to come!

My interest in berbere spice was sparked after spotting Muna’s restaurant in Tollcross. Having never experienced Ethiopian cuisine before, some girlfriends and I decided to venture there for dinner.

Before our visit, I did a bit of homework and learned that Ethiopian food is typically shared communally, with dishes served on large platters of injera (a spongy sourdough flatbread), where diners tear off pieces to scoop up the food. The cuisine is known for its fragrant and often spicy flavours, with berbere spice being the cornerstone ingredient in many dishes.

Muna’s is a lively 40-seater restaurant run by its namesake, who commands her establishment with warm authority. Word has clearly spread about the generous portions and fair prices, as most tables were booked even for our early 6pm Friday dinner.

The interior is cheerfully decorated, giving it more of a casual café vibe than a formal dining establishment. The food arrives on huge dishes presented atop beautiful woven rattan baskets – though if you’re a group of four sharing combo plates, you might find your table a bit overwhelmed!

The meat and vegetable combo that I shared certainly packed a punch with explosive flavours and spicy heat – and won’t be for the faint-hearted! I personally preferred the boiled rice accompaniment to the traditional injera bread, which wasn’t quite to my taste. The homemade honey wine also wasn’t my cup of tea, served in a long-necked vase-like carafe, which you’ve to swig out of, but a night off the usual libations didn’t hurt.

Muna’s offers a fun and different dining experience, with the vivacious Muna herself ensuring you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try something new, it’s definitely worth a visit – though perhaps best suited to smaller groups of two or four who enjoy sharing their food.

As for making my own berbere-spiced Wot (stew) at home? You’ll have to wait while I perfect my version. It’s unlikely to rival Muna’s authentic creation, but I’m going to have great fun experimenting with this and the 39 other spice blends I’ve been gifted. In fact, I’m heading to the kitchen right now to get creative!

Hearts travel to Dingwall on Saturday (15.00) with the pressure really on to claim a win to help secure their slot in next season’s William Hill Premiership.

They go there with Liam Fox (pictured) in interim charge after Neil Critchley was sacked following last Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Dundee.

The Jambos are now seeking their third manager this season after Critchley lasted only six months.

Former Hearts midfielder Don Cowie is in charge of The Staggies and he is confident he has the backing of the club’s board despite suffering their fifth straight defeat last weekend.

The 2-0 reverse at Kilmarnock saw them drop into the relegation play-off spot with only four games left.

County have 35 points from 34 games and are six points ahead of bottom club, St Johnstone. They have scored 33 goals and lost 58 so far this term.

Hearts are second in the relegation group with 40 points from their 34 starts. The Jambos have scored 43 goals and let in 45.

It’s tight in the basement area as Kilmarnock are third with 38 points from 34 outings with Dundee fourth on 37 points. Motherwell top the group with 42 points.

Saturday’s other fixtures see Dundee hosting Motherwell and St Johnstone at home to Kilmarnock.

In the top six, third-placed Hibs entertain Dundee United, who are fifth, and sixth-placed St Mirren play Aberdeen, who are fourth. That game is in Paisley.

Increased prize money, record attendances at its New Year’s Day and Edinburgh Cup meetings, and a boost in hospitality guests underlined a successful 2024 for Musselburgh Racecourse.

An annual report on the East Lothian track’s performance showed prize money at the East Lothian course totalled £2,429,600 – up by 6.3% on the previous year – and an 14.6% increase on prize money in 2022.

Musselburgh also attracted more hospitality guests – 3,938 last year compared to 3,587 in 2023 – and Annual Membership grew by 16% from 263 in 2023 to 306 in 2024.

The racecourse would have recorded an increase in total attendance for the year if it had not been forced to abandon its hugely popular Easter Saturday fixture due to weather and which usually attracts a 5,000 strong crowd.

With two less meetings run in 2024 (25) compared to 2023 (27), total attendance was a healthy 58,744, down from 60,294 in 2023, but average attendance at meetings run was up from 2,319 to 2,448.

Across its premium race days, Musselburgh enjoyed significant crowd increases with a 11.5% jump and an extra 653 racegoers on New Year’s Day (6,289 compared to 5,636 in 2023) and almost a 20% boost at the Edinburgh Cup fixture (5,966 compared to 5,048 in 2023).

Musselburgh’s annual Friday Night at the Races fixture in early August enjoyed it’s largest crowd to date of 4,375, while Ladies Day was an 8,000 capacity sell-out – an increase of almost 600 on the previous year – and the 20^th year in succession that Ladies Day has sold out.

A new Oktoberfest themed race day in September was a huge hit with racegoers and compared to the 2023 meeting held on the same date there as a 1,600 bump in attendance.

Aisling Johnston, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “The figures show a strong performance with significant increases in attendance at our key meetings and it could have been even better if we had not lost our Easter Saturday meeting, which was very disappointing.

“Our ground staff worked exceptionally hard in 2024, often in adverse conditions, to keep the track and facilities in tip-top condition, and the commercial team achieved outstanding results by increasing like-for-like attendances, which bucked the national trend.

“With family budgets under pressure and lots of competing sporting and entertainment options, we are constantly upping our game to ensure that Musselburgh Racecourse remains a compelling offering for those looking for an exciting and enjoyable day, afternoon or evening out.”

Musselburgh’s next meeting is The Weatherbys Race Day on Friday 2 May. For more information and to book tickets visit here.

Beware dangers at Cramond this weekend

The RNLI warn of the extra dangers at Cramond this weekend as due to the tides the time slots available for safe crossing are much shorter. Data from the official Cramond crossing timetable confirms that safe crossing times are limited over the upcoming weekend, particularly between 3–5 May, increasing the likelihood of people becoming stranded.

Cramond Island is accessible only during certain states the tide via the causeway, meaning the path is quickly submerged by the tide and visitors who are unaware of, or misjudge the timings, may find themselves trapped.  

• Saturday 3 May: The safe crossing period is between 10.55am until 3.50pm. 

•  Sunday 4 May: The safe crossing period is between 12.15pm until 5.05pm.  

Monday 5 May: The safe crossing period is between 1.50pm until 6.25pm. 

https://rnli.org/video-player/E42D68E2-997E-44A0-B6D459DE5F24F47B

North Edinburgh Arts event on Saturday

The new North Edinburgh Arts building in MacMillan Square is now occupied. You can go along to an event there this Saturday evening to see for yourself.

Skulls repatriated to Japan

A Scottish university has repatriated the skulls of three Indigenous Ainu people back to their community in Japan.

The skulls were in the possession of the University of Edinburgh’s Anatomical Museum for more than one hundred years. ON Wednesday the Ainu Association of Hokkaido welcomed the return of their ancestors’ remains during a formal ceremony in Edinburgh.

Before the formal transfer, members of the Ainu community, an indigenous group who predominantly inhabit the island of Hokkaido, held a traditional ceremony

Read more here.

The Most Wuthering Heights Day

On 7 June you can no longer be assured of a ticket – but you can join the waitlist – for the Most Wuthering Heights Day ever which is part of The Meadows Festival.

When we looked the programme is yet to be finalised but there are still opportunities to take a place as a stallholder.

The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is one of the most joyful days of the year.

It was an idea founded by Shambush, a British performance group in Brighton in 2013.

Since then, it has become a worldwide phenomenon brought together by a global collective of amateur and professional event organisers internationally. We run the event with the aim of spreading joy and celebrating the music of Kate Bush by a choreographed dance to the music of Wuthering Heights. The event is one about movement, dance, and celebration. A chance to recreate one of the most iconic pieces of musical art in a mass group setting.

Details here in case any tickets become available.

The Meadows Festival

This is the 50th anniversary year of the Meadows Festival in Edinburgh – so mark your diaries for 7 and 8 June 2025.

A treatment best known for smoothing wrinkles is quietly changing lives for people living with overactive bladder, a condition that causes urgency, frequency, and incontinence.

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects around 12% of the UK population, equivalent to more than five million people, yet many suffer in silence due to embarrassment or lack of awareness about treatment options.

While Botox is widely associated with cosmetic enhancements, it has long been used in urology and is now available at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh under the care of Consultant Urological Surgeon Mr Ammar Alhasso.

Mr Alhasso, one of Scotland’s leading experts in reconstructive and functional urology, has joined the Waterfront team to deliver specialist care for patients with bladder dysfunction.

He said: “Bladder Botox is a well-established treatment, but still not widely known by the public. It offers relief for people whose symptoms haven’t improved with medication and can make a real difference to quality of life.

“Many patients are surprised to learn this kind of treatment exists. It helps people regain confidence and get back to doing the things they enjoy, without constantly worrying about where the nearest toilet is.

“This is an excellent treatment option that can play a vital role in restoring what many of us take for granted, independence. It helps ease the anxiety that often accompanies bladder problems.”

Symptoms of OAB include the sudden urge to urinate, frequent bathroom visits, and urinary leakage. For some, it can be caused or worsened by underlying neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Typical treatment for overactive bladder can include pelvic floor muscle training, bladder retraining, or medication to relax the bladder muscle. However, many patients either don’t respond to medication or stop taking it due to side effects such as dry mouth, constipation and drowsiness.

Botox offers an alternative, administered directly into the bladder wall, it works by relaxing the muscle to reduce urgency and leakage, without the systemic side effects associated with oral medication. It is typically carried out under local anaesthetic and can relieve symptoms for six to twelve months.

Around 70–75% of patients report significant improvement after treatment. While a small number may require self-catheterisation afterwards, most find the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Waterfront Private Hospital provides patients with direct access to experienced consultants and personalised care in a calm, purpose-built setting.

Founded by Omar and Awf Quaba, the hospital is home to specialists across a range of surgical and medical fields.

Its growing urology service offers assessment and treatment for conditions including urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, blood in the urine and male genital issues. Bladder Botox is now available following specialist consultation.

Among its most innovative services is a one-stop clinic for skin cancer, providing same-day consultations, biopsies, and surgeries, a significant development in reducing long NHS waiting times.

In addition, the hospital now offers a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatments, including Botox, fillers, tummy tucks, and breast augmentations.

The hospital provides a luxury healthcare experience, ensuring every patient receives personalised treatment and dedicated aftercare directly from their surgical team.

www.waterfronthospital.co.uk

The City of Edinburgh Council has granted Leith Bottle Shop permission to add a seating area to their shop, after what the shopowners describe as a “fourteen month long battle” with the Licensing Board.

The Licensing Board unanimously granted the licence on Monday at the third session requiring the shopowners to appear before them.

On social media, the shop owners confirmed that they hope to start pouring pints as a pop-up in just a few weeks’ time. They will then install a full cellar in early 2026, offering a taste of the best craft beer produced in the neighbourhood.

Alex Harriss, Owner of Leith Bottle Shop said: “We’re thrilled to have finally been given the go ahead to allow our customers to sit in for a drink as well as offering takeaway. Leith has a fantastic range of craft beer on offer, and we hope we can play just a small part in helping make Leith the place to go for beer lovers in Scotland.

“We’re confident that this change will help financially sustain the business so we can continue to offer a place for people to try the incredible beer coming from Leith. We’re so grateful for our loyal customers for supporting us along the way, in particular those who submitted letters of support to the Licensing Board. We’re also thankful for the support offered by Cllr Adam Nols-McVey and Ben Macpherson MSP who supported through this long process – Licensing in Edinburgh certainly isn’t easy!”

Leith Bottle Shop opened at 30 Great Junction Street in May 2022 and sells more than 450 different craft beers, wines and local spirits, with a continually rotating range.

Leith has the densest concentration of breweries of anywhere in Scotland with nationally renowned breweries including Newbarns, Pilot and Campervan.

A Scottish university has repatriated the skulls of three Indigenous Ainu people back to their community in Japan.

The skulls were in the possession of the University of Edinburgh’s Anatomical Museum for more than one hundred years. ON Wednesday the Ainu Association of Hokkaido welcomed the return of their ancestors’ remains during a formal ceremony in Edinburgh.

Before the formal transfer, members of the Ainu community, an indigenous group who predominantly inhabit the island of Hokkaido, held a traditional ceremony

For centuries the Ainu lived in self-governing villages across northern Japan, maintaining a separate language and distinctive culture from the rest of the Japanese population.

Once returned to Japan, the ancestral remains will be interred at the Memorial Site that has been established in the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park, Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony – UPOPOY – in accordance with the Japanese Government’s guidelines for the repatriation of Ainu remains.

The Ainu remains were donated to the University in 1913 by anthropologist, Dr Neil Gordon Munro, a Scottish-born physician and Edinburgh graduate.

Dr Munro worked as director of the General Hospital in Yokohama for much of his career and lived in Japan until his death in 1942.

He was said to be one of the first Westerners to extensively write and make records of Ainu culture. In the years before his death, Dr Munro stayed and lived in Hokkaido, providing free medical care to the Ainu community.

In 2001, the late Japanese senator Kayano Shigeru – a prominent Ainu activist – visited the home of the Munro clan in Scotland and posthumously thanked Dr Munro for his support of the Ainu people.

The Ainu were marginalised and subjected to studies in the late 19^th and early 20th Century, with remains and cultural artifacts taken from Ainu land and displayed or used for research in Japan and further afield.

Often, remains taken from ethnic groups, such as the Ainu, were used to explore anatomy and anthropology, including the now discredited idea of phrenology – a theory of inferiority based on the shape and dimensions of skulls. 

The traditional language spoken by the Ainu is now recognised by UNESCO as a ‘critically endangered’ language, with only a small number of Ainu remaining fluent.

After years of lobbying by Ainu leaders, in 2007 Japan supported the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A year later, the Ainu were officially recognised by the government as an indigenous group in Japan.

As an institution significantly influenced by the colonial era, the University of Edinburgh continues to examine ways to address its legacy and the contemporary impact of its past.

The University has a long history of repatriating remains and items from its anatomical collections, with the first repatriation taking place more than 75 years ago. This is widely considered to represent the first such activity in Scotland.

Most recently, in 2023, the skulls of four Mudan warriors were returned to Taiwan.

Alongside repatriations, the University is undertaking a range of activities to review its past associations with the Transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and other aspects of race.

Masaru Okawa, Executive Director of the Hokkaido Ainu Association, said: “Since it became clear that Ainu remains were taken both domestically and internationally for research purposes, our Association has been advocating for the return of these remains to their respective regions and for respectful memorialization. We can only imagine the feelings of our ancestors who spent many years in foreign lands, but we believe they are pleased to return home. We are committed to continuing to honour the spirits of our ancestors with dignity, following the traditions handed down through generations.”

Professor Tom Gillingwater, Chair of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Repatriations are an important part of the University’s efforts to care for, and address, its historical collections. Rather than being viewed as a diminishment of the University’s collections, they represent an important opportunity for the University to work with communities across the world in order to build new relationships and friendships. We are honoured to have been able to play a part in returning these remains to the Ainu community.”

University of Edinburgh Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said: “It has been a privilege to welcome representatives from the Ainu community and to work with them during this process. Repatriations are part of the University’s important ongoing work to review its colonial past and we are committed to returning remains in our care to their rightful descendants.”

Edinburgh-based developer AMA has concluded missives to secure the site at Summerhall, and say the development will include housing in the mix.

The luxury house developer have now confirmed they bought the site at the closing date subject to planning consent. When that is obtained, AMA will purchase the Summerhall complex from the current owner, Oesselmann Estate Limited, and say they will “sensitively develop it for the future”.

A representative from Oesselmann Estate Limited, said: “We are continuing to work closely with AMA to hand over ownership of Summerhall following a successful planning outcome. AMA has committed to creating a mixed-use space with a continued arts use that will truly enliven the fabric of the local community.”

Stephen Kay, Director of Capital Markets at CuthbertWhite, the independent commercial property consultants managing the transaction, said: “We are pleased to have secured agreement with Scot Art to manage the iconic Summerhall arts and entertainment venue. Within this process, Scot Art, alongside subtenant Summerhall Arts, have signed leases for the continued use of Summerhall for a minimum of three years.”

AMA will now embark on the necessary consultations which are part of the planning process to determine the future use of the site. The developer says it hopes to lodge a planning application within the next twelve months.

Dr Ali Afshar, Co-Founder and Managing Director of AMA, said: “As a family owned, Edinburgh based company, we understand how deeply valued Summerhall is to the community here, and as its future custodian we will protect its historic legacy and forge a bright future for the estate. Having now formally entered a contract to acquire Summerhall, we will begin to consider the next steps to shape its plans for the future. In the coming months, we will begin to undertake consultations with the local community and The City of Edinburgh Council.

“We anticipate that this consultation period will take a considerable time as we prepare to lodge a planning application, given Summerhall is a highly sensitive site. This lengthy period will enable us all to agree a way forward. The redevelopment will be critical to maintaining the integrity of Summerhall and the fabric of its buildings, many of which are significantly underused, protecting them for the long term.

“We foresee that the result will be a mixed-use development, including both living and commercial space, while providing a facility to sustainably continue the provision of the arts. Our aim is to build a legacy that we can all be proud of, and we want to assure all parties that our guiding principle will be a commitment to creating a high-quality redevelopment for the benefit of all.”

Anyone can ask to be updated about the future plans for Summerhall by registering at AMA@building-relations.co.uk.

www.amanewtown.co.uk

Controversial plans to expand a major quarry in Edinburgh have been approved despite the concerns local residents.

The Ravelrig quarry, located west of Balerno, has been granted planning permission to start mining the rock under a parcel of land to the south of its current site.

It came after a debate which raised concerns about the long-term impact on local residents –  with councillors ultimately saying they felt the material in the quarry was vital to helping solve the housing crisis..

Opened in 1984, the quarry has almost exhausted the rock under its current location, with the site’s manager saying that mining would have to cease within a couple years if the new planning permission was not granted.

Stephen Cowan, a manager at Tarmac, which owns the quarry, told councillors: “This is very much a resource question we have here at Ravelrig. We’ll run out in two or three years, and then the site will then be restored.

“There will be little chance of going back once the site is restored. It’s almost infeasible. The time is now to say, ‘is there any more we can get out?’

“That’s not to say that you should just permit anything at any quarry. The extension we’ve designed makes sure that the blasting doesn’t come any closer to Balerno.”

He said that the expansion to the quarry would keep it running for up to 24 years. Under the planning permission for the site, the quarry would then be rewilded over a period of two years.

Tarmac produced an animated video for councillors, which showed how the site would be expanded and later restored.

During the expansion, a treeline adjacent to the A70 will be widened and a temporary earth berm will be built, in order to hide the sight of construction equipment from the surrounding area.

Once the quarry is deep enough for construction equipment to be out of site, the berm will be removed.

The restored quarry will be turned into a small lake, with lookouts, circular paths and bike trails around it. Cowan said informational signs could be produced to help explain the history of the site.

Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat, who represents the city centre, said: “I think the need for aggregate, the need for materials to build in a city with a growing economy, a housing crisis and an identified need for 40,000 new homes is still there.

“If we have quarries that are local, that can provide that material, it’s very good principle that we provide that material as close to the point of use as possible.

David Key, SNP councillor for Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart, said: “This is clearly a relatively small expansion in a very deep well to provide 24 years of mining.

“And it’s also a great community engagement as well. The restoration plan is feasible. I’m very happy to support this.”

Councillors approved the planning permission, which officers recommended, unanimously.

Some locals in Balerno have raised concerns over the expansion, citing worries that the expansion will make the blasting more perceptible.

Edinburgh Live reported that one local, John Watson, said: “For people here, if they hit the wrong rock seam then it could start giving people issues.

“You’re just as well giving in to it because you’re not going to stop it. Nobody wants it but I can’t see you being able to stop it.”

Cowan told councillors that the expansion to the quarrying site had been designed to make sure blasting did not come closer to Balerno than it already was, demonstrating this to them with a map.

At the same council meeting, planning permission for an expansion of the Bonnington Mains quarry, which officers also recommended approving, was denied.

Councillors cited local concerns and a lack of confidence over restoration plans in denying the expansion planning permission.

Also earlier in the meeting, the Ravelrig quarry was given permission to amend parts of its earlier planning permission to increase the power of the blasts used in mining.

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter

Hibernian Community Foundation announced today that Katie Stewart is their new Head of Community & Deputy CEO.

She brings with her a wealth of experience across numerous sectors, primarily in project delivery within charitable organisations.

Starting her career as a Community Project Officer with BTCV Scotland,she then worked for the Prince’s Trust for 12 years in numerous guises within employability, education, digital, and health and social care programmes.

Finishing her time at the Prince’s Trust as Head of Delivery for Health and Social Care in 2024, she most recently worked with SSE as an Early Careers and Employability Consultant but is thrilled to start with HCF; eager to make a difference.

“I really enjoy working on projects that make a difference to people”, she said upon beginning with HCF.

“There is so much potential for this role, we are at the heart of the community and people gravitate towards the Foundation. We can collaborate with the club and a large range of partners to grow our current offerings and create new ones in the future.”

As Head of Community & Deputy CEO she will lead on the strategic development and delivery of programmes and projects that meet the needs of the community surrounding Easter Road.

She will also be responsible for leading the Community Development Team and will lead on developing partnerships to expand HCF’s programme delivery and offering.

“We are really excited to have Katie join our team and are confident she will bring success to our team”, added Steve Smith, HCF Board Chair.

“Katie brings a wealth of experience in the third-sector in managing and delivering programmes. We are really looking forward to what she will add to the Foundation at large and the impact she can have on the entire Hibernian community.”

If you have any ideas about Community Development or would like to hear more about the work Katie will be doing, please get in contact via katie@hiberniancf.org.

Eight schools in Midlothian face having to change their toilets in the wake of recent court rulings over gender rights.

Midlothian Council said it is awaiting national guidance following a ruling at the Court of Session in Scotland which ordered another local authority to install single sex toilets for pupils while the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that a woman is defined by biological sex under the Equalities Act, leading to the European Court of Human Rights to issue interim guidance that trans women should not be permitted to use women’s facilities.

East Lothian Council has already said two of its primary schools which were unisex only are having new signs put up to designated boy and girl facilities with disabled toilets also available for use.

In Midlothian a spokesperson said eight schools were fully unisex alongside disabled toilets and it said they, and future projects, would now be reviewed in light of the rulings..

A spokesperson said: “Eight schools have fully unisex toilets. We currently have no projects ‘under construction’.

“All projects that are being planned will now be reviewed, and any necessary amendments as a result of the Supreme Court ruling will be considered and action taken where necessary.

“We are taking cognisance of the legal ruling and are awaiting national guidance on next steps to address the ruling.”

They added all public buildings and council facilities would also be reviewed to “ensure compliance with the Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court ruling came after a challenge by campaign group For Women Scotland over Scottish Government claims that a trans woman who has a gender recognition certificate (GRC) should be treated as a woman by the Equality Act.

However For Women Scotland argued protections provided by the act should  only apply to people that are born female.

Following the Supreme Court ruling the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued guidance that pupils should use toilet facilities corresponding with their biological sex.

Last month council leader Kelly Parry moved to address concerns raised over a new £120million high school replacing Beeslack in the county, amid claims it would have unisex toilets.

She told a meeting of elected members: “I want to clear up one issue that is the email campaign claiming there is only unisex toilets in the new Beeslack school.

“I want to assure people that the new building will include open plan, full height, closed individual cubicles, separate toilets and accessible toilets and are therefore not unisex only. Additionally if people prefer a more private toilet facility these will be available and positioned around the school.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

The Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) has a cycling club which is transforming the way people in Edinburgh and the Lothians engage with cycling according to Lothians MSP, Foysol Choudhury.

Mr Choudhury is Chair of ELREC and he explained that the club offers a range of fun and engaging classes and workshops, and has become a vital community resource for those looking to improve their fitness, learn new skills, and embrace a more sustainable mode of transport.

The club’s activities include led rides through scenic routes, weekly cycling classes at both beginner and intermediate levels, and a drop-in bike repair service known as ‘Mr Bike’.

He said: “Regular bike maintenance workshops also ensure that participants gain the confidence and knowledge to keep their bicycles in top condition. Best of all, the club is completely free and open to everyone, making cycling an accessible option for all members of the community.

“The Edinburgh Cycling Club surpassed all their key targets for 2023/2024, having taught 80+ how to ride a bicycle for the first time. Their annual report for 2023/204 indicates that all participants “are more confident cycling or maintaining their own bikes, with many now undertaking additional journeys by bike, reducing car use and therefore carbon emissions.”

“Beyond just being a recreational initiative, the Edinburgh Cycling Club has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of its participants. Many individuals join the group because public transport is either too expensive or takes too long, and cycling provides a cost- effective and efficient alternative. By encouraging more people to take up cycling, the project is breaking down transportation barriers while promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. With cycling becoming an increasingly essential part of sustainable urban mobility, initiatives like this club play a crucial role in fostering a culture of active travel.

“By supporting this project, ELREC is ensuring that more people have access to affordable, healthy,and environmentally friendly transportation options. Whether you are a beginner looking to build confidence or an experienced cyclist eager to connect with like-minded riders, the club has something for everyone.

“Organisations like these need to be celebrated. Community-led initiatives like this lead to greater connections within the community, all the while increasing sustainable transport and promoting active travel.

“For 2024/2025 ELREC hopes to expand their services and upgrade their fleet, providing female-only rides, lessons, and maintenance classes. Join the movement today, get a cycle in, and be part of Edinburgh and Lothians’ community that is pedalling towards a healthier and more accessible future.”

The closure of nine nurseries in West Lothian has been backed by the `Scottish Government. 

Despite noting that there were “concerns about errors and inaccuracies” in the council’s consultation over the plans, it will not contest the decision to shutter the nurseries in June. 

Ministers had eight weeks to consider the decisions made by the Education Executive in March and in letters issued this week confirmed they will not use their “call-in” powers  to stop the closures. 

The nurseries set to close are: Deans North Nursery School, Livingston; Fauldhouse Nursery Class; Ladywell Nursery School, Livingston; Linlithgow Bridge Nursery Class; St Anthony’s Nursery Class, Armadale; St Joseph’s Nursery Class, Whitburn. 

Bathgate West Nursery School and Our Lady’s Nursery Class, Stoneyburn are both currently inactive and will also close. 

The SNP’s Pauline Orr wrote on her social media page: “I am terribly saddened that following an appeal, the decision has been made to close Linlithgow Bridge Primary School Nursery. 

“This is not the news that the parent Council and so many people in our community had hoped for. 

“The Parent Council worked incredibly hard to fight for the nursery to remain open and I commend each and every one of them for their commitment to making their views heard.” 

Councillor Orr praised parent Neil Brady-Campbell who addressed the Education Executive. 

She said: “I am very proud of Neil who led a tireless effort to take a very detailed appeal to Scottish Government.  Not only that, he supported other parent councils in the constituency with theirs. 

 “This is not a good decision, and it will be remembered by the community for a very long time to come.” 

Mr Brady-Campbell, stressing that he was speaking solely for himself, told Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I am greatly disappointed with the decision to not call-in West Lothian Council’s decision, which will close numerous thriving nurseries across Linlithgow, Whitburn, Armadale and Livingston.  

“Parent groups across West Lothian have spent the last eight months campaigning for our voice to be heard. 

“Today is an example of how the consultation process, and the use of it by West Lothian Council, has failed children, parents and the wider community.  

“The claim by the council that this is an example of them forward planning is worrying for the future of education settings in the area, given the lack of care and attention to detail that we have experienced in this process. 

” I witnessed the community of Linlithgow come out to fill the school hall to clearly show the community’s rejection of the proposal. The community then turned its attention to providing responses to the formal consultation, with 140 people responding which stretched over 100 pages of feedback and rejection. We drew cross party support for our case. 

“Unfortunately, the Labour Party, who run West Lothian Council, progressed with a decision that has no educational benefit, is a poor long-term decision for children education in the area and works against reducing car congestion and pollution in our town. 

“I would just like to say sorry to parents and teaching staff affected, that we couldn’t save some of our most valuable centres for educational development. I and many others greatly value the work that the staff have put in since this flawed proposal was set in motion. I hope they can enjoy the final months they have in the nurseries and with the children.” 

In a letter to Dr Elaine Cook, the  deputy  chief executive   for Education at West Lothian, Orlando Mason, the Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital Learning Directorate said: “Ministers consider that West Lothian Council has fulfilled its obligations… and do not intend to issue a call-in notice for this proposal. 

“West Lothian Council may now implement its decision to close Linlithgow Bridge Nursery School in line with the timescales set out in its proposal paper.” 

Referring to criticism   on the way the consultation was carried out  at Linlithgow Bridge, and other nurseries, Mr Mason said: “ I note concerns expressed during the consultation and in representations about errors and inaccuracies in some of the published documents, which, while not amounting to a significant failure to comply with the 2010 Act, may have inhibited engagement.” 

The SNP opposition group on the council had opposed all closures and was contacted for a statement. 

West Lothian Council declined to comment but stressed that the nurseries could re-open in future if there is greater demand in specific communities. 

Writing on the council’s website Andrew McGuire the executive councillor for Education said: “We recognise that many of the parents who have contacted us would have liked their children to attend the nurseries that, locally, feed into the schools their children would later attend. 

“West Lothian Council understands that desire from parents, and officers have made this point consistently to the Scottish Government and included it in our response to their consultation as far back as 2016. 

 The council has capacity for 6,814 nursery children but has over 2,000 more places available than is required to meet demand, which is nearly 30% more than is needed.  

The decline in council run nurseries is a direct result of changes to Scottish Government national policy made in 2019 – where the Government introduced ‘funding follows the child’. This means that parental choices have changed with many parents now choosing to use their funded nursery provision at private nursery providers and childminders in West Lothian. This has significantly reduced the demand for council run nurseries. 

When the national policy was introduced, there were seven private partner providers in West Lothian for 4,290 eligible children, and 88% of those came to council settings. There are now 32 private partner providers in the county for 4,084 eligible children, and 78% of those come to council settings. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

West Lothian Council has said it is “reviewing current practice” on toilets for trans people in light of the response from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to the Supreme Court. 

The review comes after the Scottish Trades Union Congress branded the Supreme Court’s ruling that sex is defined by biology as “hugely problematic”.  

The EHRC guidance says “trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use women’s facilities” in places like hospitals, shops and restaurants – but they should not be left with no facilities to use. 

But Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said she did not agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling, and questioned which facilities trans people should use. 

A spokesperson for the council said they would ensure there are facilities for trans people but did not envisage huge changes and were awaiting further guidance from the Scottish Government.  

 They said: “We are aware of the recent court ruling and we are reviewing our current practice. 

The spokesperson added: “As with any legal or policy developments, we will consider where our services need to be updated or amended to ensure we fully comply with guidance and legal obligations. 

 “However, we understand that any required alterations within our buildings following the recent legal update will be minor.”    

Broxburn Conservative councillor Angela Doran-Timson raised a motion at the last meeting of the full council calling on the council to protect safe spaces for women. She called on the council to ensure safe spaces “without delay”. 

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I am delighted that the Supreme court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.  I and the vast majority of the population of the UK agree with this common-sense decision.   

“I have long campaigned for safe spaces for women and young girls, and this decision makes this so.   

“The safety, the well-being, and the security of women and young girls is beyond the measure of costs; therefore I trust West Lothian Council will, without delay ensure women and young girls in West Lothian have their safe spaces.”  

At the weekend, the Scottish government said it was seeking a meeting with the EHRC to make sure inclusive and consistent guidance was in place. 

A government spokesperson said: “We note the interim update from the EHRC, and that they intend to hold a consultation with stakeholders on their forthcoming guidance. 

“We are keen to work with EHRC to ensure consistent, inclusive and comprehensive guidance is in place following the Supreme Court judgement and, following the postponement of last week’s meeting at their request, have asked to meet with them as soon as possible to discuss further.” 

By Stuart Sommerville. Local Democracy Reporter 

The motorcyclist who died following a collision between Lauder and Galashiels on Saturday, 26 April, 2025, has been named as Stuart Brandon Donald from Tranent.

The 26-year-old was involved in a crash with a Nissan X-Trail being driven on an unclassified road, known locally as Langshaw Road, around 3.45pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car was not injured.

The road was closed to allow for investigations to be carried out and reopened around 9.40pm.

Road Policing Sergeant Michael Shillington said: “Our thoughts are with Stuart’s family and friends at this very difficult time. We continue to keep them updated while our enquiries continue.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has come forward with information so far and would urge anyone who witnessed the crash, or has dash-cam footage of the area at the time, and has not already spoken to us, to contact police.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 2156 of 26 April.

A 24-year-old man has been jailed following the death of a pedestrian in a crash in Stevenson Drive in Edinburgh in 2023.

Washe Manyatelo was sentenced to three years and seven months for death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Edinburgh, on Wednesday, 30 April, 2025.

He was also sentenced for a road traffic offence and a drugs offence having pled guilty at a previous hearing.

The incident happened around 3.30pm on Saturday, 26 August, 2023, when a 70-year-old woman was seriously injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where she died a short time later.

Road Policing Sergeant Grant Hastie said: “I hope this sentencing brings closure and some comfort for the family and friends of the woman who died.

“This kind of driving is not tolerated. Manyatelo showed complete disregard for the law and his reckless actions highlight the devastating consequences of dangerous driving and the lasting impact it has on those involved.”

Each month Jerry Ozaniec, Membership Secretary of the Old Edinburgh Club, compiles a list of significant dates in the history of the capital. These are the important dates from history to know about this May.

1st In 1589, the King (James VI) and the Queen (Anne of Denmark) landed at Leith. And in 1612, the council instructed the treasurer to build and equip a song school in the Over Kirk yard in the same place where there was one many years before. Also in 1644, the burgh council renewed the order forbidding the wearing of plaids around and over the heads of women which was a custom adopted by strumpets, whores, and other indecent women to appear respectable.

2nd In 1597, bonfires lit up the night sky above Holyrood on the arrival in Leith of King James VI and his new Queen, Anne, daughter of the King of Denmark.

3rd In 1544, major hostilities in what Walter Scott later named ‘The Rough Wooing’ began with an attack on Edinburgh led by the Earl of Hertford and Viscount Lisle pictured below.

5th In 1508, the provost, bailies, and council ruled that Fleshers should have their stalls and stands protected by stout canvas awning and the meat on sale covered with proper wrapping; also, that those selling the meat should be appropriately dressed with clean aprons.

6th In 1544, a letter sent to Lord Russel, Lord Privy Seal of England, the writer stated that “It was determined … utterly to ruin and destroy Edinburgh with fire. This we did not fully achieve … However we set fire to three or four parts of the town.” And in 1870, Sir James Young Simpson, who pioneered the use of chloroform in childbirth, died in Edinburgh. Also in 1941, a 1,000-pound bomb was dropped on Milton Crescent and 100 incendiaries at Jewel Cottages; four were killed and two injured.

7th In 1589, Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen of Scotland at Holyroodhouse. And in 1674, following an agreement with the town council, Mr Peter Braus, a Dutch engineer, began work on a project to bring water from Tod’s Well at Comiston in a three-inch-diameter pipe. Also in 1711, philosopher and historian David Hume was born in an Edinburgh tenement; he attended Edinburgh University from the age of twelve. Finally in 1890, James Nasmyth, engineer and inventor of the steam hammer (who was born at 47 York Place, Edinburgh), died.

8th In 1366, at Holyrood Abbey, a Council was held in which discussion over a peace with England took place; it was agreed that the assessment to raise money for the King’s ransom should be voluntary; the Scottish Mint was also ordered to strike new coins for this purpose. And in 1826, Sir Henry Duncan Littlejohn, surgeon, forensic scientist, and public health official, was born in Edinburgh.

9th In 1911, the famous illusionist The Great Lafayette died in a devastating fire at the Empire Palace Theatre in Edinburgh on Nicolson Street (now the site of the Festival Theatre). https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1620 And in 1957, a massive fire at Bell’s Brae in the Dean Village destroyed the premises of the largest theatrical costumiers outside London.

10th In 1506, King James IV issued letters ordering proclamations to be made at the Mercat Cross prohibiting the packing and parcelling of goods or merchandise in Leith and in the Canongate, or the shipment of goods until the same were examined in Edinburgh and Customs duty paid to the burgh. And in 1562, the marriage of John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, to Elizabeth Ross, one of Mary’s Ladies-in-waiting, took place; the celebration took place in part on an artificial loch specially constructed for this in the area in Holyrood Park known as Hunter’s Bog. Also in 1809, Andrew Bell, who was born in Edinburgh and co-founded the Encyclopaedia Britannica, died. Finally in 1843, Robert Adamson established his photographic studio at Rock House, Calton Hill Stairs in Edinburgh; he later teamed up with David Octavius Hill to form one of the most famous photographic duos ever.

11th In 1660, a report delivered to the council on St Paul’s Work recommended that a seat be provided for the children in the community loft; that there should be five residents and the children sent there be divided among them; that beds and other necessities should be provided for the children; and that the boys should be apprentices for seven years and the girls for five.

12th In 1905, a notice from the public health office outlines what measures were taken at the port of Leith in the wake of the first cases of bubonic plague being discovered as they scrambled to stop rats from getting onto vessels; it was established the family had the dreaded bubonic plague and officials wasted no time in taking measures to stop it from spreading further; tragically, the man (named as John Hughes) died but his wife and children survived; remarkably, not one of the 30 other residents in the tenement contracted the disease.

13th In 1870, Sir James Young Simpson, the West Lothian physician who pioneered the use of chloroform in childbirth, was buried in Warriston cemetery; the day had been declared a holiday in Scotland, and more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Edinburgh to see the funeral cortege pass by.

15th In 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots married James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, her third husband; the marriage took place according to Protestant rites in the Great Hall at Holyrood.

16th In 1402, at a Council-General held in Edinburgh, King Robert III (whose Christian name was John) officially pardoned the Duke of Albany (Robert, the king’s next younger brother) and the Earl of Douglas for the death of David Stuart, Duke of Rothesay (the king’s son and heir apparent); N.B. Since the troubled reign of King John Balliol, the name John was considered unlucky for a King of Scots.

17th In 1532, King James V established paid judges to sit as the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland. And in 1590, Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen of Scotland in the Abbey Church at Holyrood. Also in 1617, King James VI returned to Edinburgh for the first time since 5 April 1603. Finally in 1870, pioneering photographer David Octavius Hill died; he is buried in Dean Cemetery beneath a sculpture of him created by his wife Amelia Paton.

18th In 1843, after intense debate, 121 ministers and 73 elders led by Dr David Welsh, the retiring Moderator, quit the Church of Scotland General Assembly at Edinburgh’s Church of St Andrew in George Street, to form the Free Church of Scotland.

19th In 1589, Anne of Denmark, Queen of Scotland, made her formal entry into Edinburgh with great pomp and joy. And in 1815, Catherine Thomson “Kate” Hogarth, later wife of English novelist Charles Dickens and mother of his ten children, was born at 8 Hart Street, Edinburgh.

20th In 1747, Edinburgh-born James Lind began a controlled experiment which demonstrated that citrus fruits could prevent scurvy, a disease contracted by sailors on long voyages; the lime juice which eventually became standard issue to British sailors gave rise to the term “limey” as a name for a Brit overseas. And in 1856, Helen Hopekirk, pianist and composer, was born in Portobello.

21st In 1650, James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, was executed by hanging at the Mercat Cross; his head was removed and stood on the “prick on the highest stone” of the Old Tolbooth outside St Giles Cathedral until the beginning of 1661. And in 1874, the foundation stone of St Mary’s Cathedral was laid by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry; inside the stone was placed a bottle containing a copy of the Trust Deed, the Edinburgh Post Office Directory, Oliver and Boyd’s Almanac, newspapers, and coins.

22nd In 1691, the council granted permission to Mr Mathias Fase, a Dutchman, to exhibit 3 Turkish people (a man, a woman, and a little boy) at any location in the Canongate. And in 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, was born in Edinburgh at 11 Picardy Place.

24th In 1853, the Adelphi Theatre in Broughton Street was completely destroyed by fire.

25th In 1726, the first circulating library opened in Edinburgh. And in 1859, the last performance at the Theatre Royal in Shakespeare Square was staged. Also in 1896, the Foundation Stone of the New North Bridge was laid.

27th In 1661, Archibald Campbell, 8th Earl and 1st Marquis of Argyll, was beheaded on the Maiden at the Mercat Cross; his head replaced that of Montrose, his royalist enemy, on the Tolbooth. And in 1928, Thea Musgrave, composer of opera and classical music, was born in Barnton.

28th In 1573, the siege of Edinburgh Castle finally ended. And in 1811, Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, died in Edinburgh at the age of 69; Dundas was a lawyer and politician whose professional career led him into disrepute, ending with him becoming the last ever person to be impeached in the House of Lords; his deft and almost total control of Scottish politics during a long period when no monarch visited the country, led to him being pejoratively nicknamed King Harry the Ninth; he became infamous for obstructing moves to bring about an end to the slave trade in the 1790s. Also in 1905, construction of the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh commenced.

29th In 1687, the Order of the Thistle was founded by King James VII; he directed that the Abbey Church at the Palace of Holyroodhouse be converted to a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle; however, he was deposed in 1688 and the Chapel had been destroyed during riots; the Order did not have a Chapel until 1911, when one was added onto St Giles High Kirk in Edinburgh.

30th In 1936, Portobello Open Air Pool was opened at a cost of £90,000.

31st In 1878, Eugene Chantrelle, a Frenchman, was executed by hanging within Calton Jail for poisoning his wife, Elizabeth. And in 1962, the Gaumont cinema in Edinburgh was destroyed by fire. Also in 2014, Trams formally returned to Edinburgh streets.

Find out about joining the club by emailing membership@oldedinburghclub.org.uk 

Plans to expand Straiton Retail Park onto derelict land once earmarked for a visitors’ centre for a historic glass firm have been given the go ahead. 

The application by Lansdowne Investment will see two new buildings built on the land behind the Asda store at the site. 

Midlothian council’s planning committee heard the new premises will include a mixed use with shops, businesses and even a large leisure space along with nearly 300 car parking spaces. 

A report on the proposal said the land involved was once home to an Edinburgh Crystal warehouse and the firm had been granted planning permission to build a visitors’ centre and offices on it 20 years ago. 

However within a year of permission being granted the firm, which operated from the 19th century had gone into administration. 

The new plans were recommended for approval by council planners despite objections from Loanhead Community Council who raised concerns about road safety and the addition of more retail stores to the already packed park. 

However the community council was happy to support part of the proposals which involved business units and a leisure facility adding that they would ” support a DIY store with garden centre”, a report by planners said. 

Planners recommended approval saying: “The proposed development is situated within the allocated area of the Straiton Commercial Hub and will be in keeping with the scale, character and appearance of the surrounding area.” 

It was approved unanimously. 

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

A martial arts charity has been formed in Edinburgh and is assisting youngsters and adults alike come to terms with physical and mental health difficulties.

The Edinburgh Combat Project, which has a major fund raising gala dinner arranged for the Capital next month, actually has its roots in a small Polish town where Pawel Zakrzewski grew up struggling to cope with the tragic death of his father before moving to Scotland with his family.

Aged just five and too young to understand grief Pawel’s pain turned to anger. He lashed out, got into fights and struggled to contain his emotions.

Then Pawel discovered martial arts and the lessons it provided are being channelled into helping others with similar experiences.

Now 33-year-old Pawel has gone from angry teen to mentor, coach and founder of a charity launched in collaborated with Daniel, his brother.

So far they have impacted the lives of over 50 young people and adults and this is only the beginning for a charity operating out of shared car wash premises in Slateford.

Pawel hopes to broaden out into satellite stations around the country with the help of the dinner set for the Balmoral Hotel on Friday, 30 May.

The sad fact is, he says, that there is no shortage of potential recruits.

Some 168 hours of free training are currently provided each week.

Pawel says:

“In a class of 25 only about three participants are not receiving complimentary membership but I don’t want anybody to be suffering stigma.”

“I know how bad it made me feel taking all the benefits (of martial arts training) especially in the small town of Waltz (pop. 24,000) where everybody seemed to know everybody.

“Among the disciplines we offer are boxing, Thai boxing and Brazilian ju-jitsu and it is a seven day-a-week operation.

“Depending on the success of the dinner we would hope to provide more for the participants.

“Already 145 tickets have been sold which means there are 65 left.”

For more information go to https://theecpcharity.com  or to register your interest in the Gala dinner see – pawel@theecpcharity.com

Hibs head coach David Gray and Hibernian Women’s head coach Grant Scott have been nominated for their respective PFA Manager of the Year awards.

Gray has been nominated for the SPFL Manager of the Year award after his side’s excellent turnaround in form.

Gray equalled the Club’s longest post-war unbeaten run in the Scottish top-flight, and in the process picked up three Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month awards.

Hibs currently sit third in the William Hill Premiership with just four games remaining.

Gray has been nominated alongside Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and John McGlynn at Falkirk for the award.

Scott has been nominated for the SWPL Manager of the Year award.

Scott’s side have been in magnificent form throughout the 2024/25 campaign and are currently top of the SWPL table, two points ahead of second-placed Rangers.

Over the course of the year, they have produced a string of eye-catching performances, including wins over fellow title challengers Rangers, Celtic, and Glasgow City – as well as reaching Sky Sports Cup Final in March.

Scott has been nominated for the SWPL award alongside Rangers Women’s Head Coach Jo Potter, Glasgow City Head Coach Leanne Ross, and Motherwell Women Head Coach Paul Brownlie. 

The overall winners will be announced on Sunday 4 May, at the PFA Scotland Awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow.

A man who threatened to kill and burn the home of an employee who asked for extra Covid furlough payments has been granted permission to run a business in Edinburgh.

Keith Pham, owner of Saigon Memoire at 14 South St Andrew Street, was granted a personal licence at an Edinburgh Council committee meeting on Monday.

Pham, 58, pled guilty to breach of the peace at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in 2023 after threatening a furloughed employee at a business in the city he used to run.

According to a representative of Police Scotland, the employee had come to him asking for 100% of his pay to be compensated, rather than the 80% offered by the Covid furlough scheme.

In response, Pham pushed the employee against the wall, and told him “I will kill you” and “I will burn your house to the ground”.

At present, the restaurant is operating under the personal license of a friend of Pham’s, who his solicitor Alistair Macdonald said was a “temporary” measure.

Macdonald said that, at the time Pham’s legal action was underway, he was living in Vietnam, having moved back there after a divorce and the loss of his businesses.

Pham used to run several different businesses in the city, including one at the current location of Saigon Memoire.

Macdonald said Pham had not intended to return to the running of businesses in the city at the time, which influenced his decision to plead guilty.

Pham also told councillors that his guilty plea was in part due to the expense of travelling from Vietnam to attend court hearings rather than an admission of guilt.

He said the cost of travelling back to Edinburgh for court hearings cost £1,000 each time, while he was told the fine he would face for the charge if he pled would be in the area of £400.

Macdonald said Pham had attended court on three different occasions, but that forward progress was not being made in the case due to either the claimant not being present or an interpreter not being available.

He also said Pham denies that the physical element of the altercation took place, but accepted some kind of argument took place.

He was fined £360 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after his plea.

Liberal Democrat councillor Louise Young told Pham: “To know that a person can retain their composure under stressful situations and not rise to abusive behaviour is an important characteristic of a person who is in charge of a licensed premises. It is not insignificant.

“However, I also do recognise that Keith has had a clean record apart from this one incident, and that this incident was not actually alcohol related, but a matter of disagreement during this Covid salary situation.

“It was now some time in the past. I feel that those points for me more than balance out the concern.”

The council’s licensing board proceeded to agree Pham should be granted a licence by a vote of four to two.

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter

Feedback from the grassroots community around Scotland will help shape the direction of the male adult domestic rugby season going forward. 

Scottish Rugby received more than 600 feedback submissions over the course of February and March and has committed to engaging with key stakeholders in the club game to review the male adult season structure on an annual basis going forward. 

A number of key themes have emerged loud and clear throughout the engagement: 

Start dates matter: There’s a growing appetite to review when the club season begins. The majority of the feedback suggests earlier starts — potentially in late summer — to make the most of better weather and lighter evenings, while still maintaining a proper off-season for recovery. 

Breaks in the calendar: Many expressed support for planned breaks during the season. Structured non-rugby weekends were seen as vital — not just for physical recovery, but also for maintaining long-term engagement in the game. 

International windows: The question of playing through these periods drew opinions on both sides. While some welcomed uninterrupted league flow, others highlighted reduced availability and split focus during these international weekends. It’s clear there’s a need for balance — and flexibility — when it comes to managing the domestic calendar alongside the international stage. 

Public holidays: Almost universally, players and volunteers supported a proper festive break in December and early January. A scheduled pause over the holidays isn’t just sensible from a player welfare point of view — it also gives everyone involved in the game a chance to step back and recharge. 

Regional league redraws: Travel remains a major talking point, particularly for clubs in rural or remote areas. Long journeys week after week can stretch squads, budgets, and commitment. Many voiced support for redrawing regional leagues to better reflect geography and reduce unnecessary strain. 

What’s next? 

This review is only the beginning. Feedback will inform the next phase of discussions and planning, with the goal of making practical, player-friendly, and sustainable changes to Scottish Rugby’s male adult season structure in season 2025/26, but also to future seasons. 

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Competitions and Compliance, Vicky Cox said: “Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone for their insights, which have been honest, thoughtful, and above all, passionate about the future of our game. This feedback is shaping meaningful discussions about how we design a season that not only supports player welfare but strengthens rugby at every level. 

“We’ve seen some key themes emerge from this engagement, and we’ll look to get confirmation on addressing some of these as we go forward with this process.” 

On Friday, 25 April, 2025, police officers in Edinburgh carried out a targeted initiative aimed at cracking down on the illegal use of off-road and electric bikes.

Uniformed and officers in plain clothes, road policing officers and specialist support officers, carried out patrols in the Roseburn Park, Crammond and Pilton areas in response to community concerns.

Officers received several reports of a bike being ridden by youths in and around the Marine Drive area. Officers attended and carried out enquiries, resulting in a 15-year-old male being arrested and charged in connection with theft and road traffic offences. The bike, which had previously been reported stolen from Albert Street in Edinburgh, was recovered.

During this initiative a 23-year-old man driving a van in Pilton was issued with a fixed penalty notice for a road traffic offence.

Detective Sergeant Will Dickson, of the Community Investigation Unit, said: “We continue to respond to community concerns regarding antisocial behaviour and the illegal use of vehicles.

“Patrols using both uniform and plain clothes officers are ongoing to enforce road traffic laws, keep the public safe and deter those intent on causing damage or annoyance through the use of bikes.

“I would ask anyone who uses an off-road motorbike to use it safely and within the law.”

Anyone with concerns or information regarding this type of anti-social behaviour should contact Police Scotland via 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

In addition Community Officers seized an off road bike at the Pentland Hills.

Voting is now open for the Hibernian FC End of Season Awards night which takes place on Sunday 11 May.

Hibs supporters can vote for three Men’s First Team awards that will be handed out on the night.

Fans can vote for the following categories:

• Men’s Player of the Year
• Men’s Young Player of the Year
• Men’s Goal of the Season

Watch our ten nominations for Men’s Goal of the Season on the club’s website:

Supporters can also vote for our Men’s Player and Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 campaign.

Please note, voting closes on Friday 2 May at 23:59. 

In total, there will be ten awards handed out on the evening at Easter Road as we look back on some of the best moments of the 2024/25 campaign. 

The full list of awards can be found below.

Men’s Player of the Year – sponsored by Caledonian Heating & Plumbing 

Women’s Player of the Year – sponsored by Linn Botanic Gardens

Men’s Young Player of the Year – sponsored by JB Contracts 

Men’s Players’ Player of the Year – sponsored by Redpath and McLean

Special Recognition Award – sponsored by AAA Coaches 

Men’s Goal of the Season – sponsored by Owen Gibb & Sons Ltd

Women’s Goal of the Season – sponsored by MGM Timber

Staff Member of the Year – sponsored by The Gordon Family 

Moment of the Season – sponsored by LNER 

Academy Player of the Season – sponsored by The Gordon Family 

Please note, tickets for the event are sold out

Scottish fine art photographer, Soo Burnell, has turned her focus to Japanese culture for a new exhibition, building on her acclaimed poolside collections – which included historic Edinburgh swimming pools.

At the Onsen, A Journey Into Stillness, takes place at Edinburgh’s Saorsa Gallery from 3-11 May, and is an opportunity to see 40 new pieces by an artist who is highly praised for her “striking images” (Stephanie Wade, Editor, IGNANT).

Soo has long had a fascination with the atmosphere and beauty of the places we create for bathing as well as the rituals and traditions they embody. Her photography has a sense of mystery, drawing viewers into mesmerising parallel worlds.

Soo said: “I’ve been desperate to visit Japan for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fascinated by Japanese culture and the beautiful architecture, shrines and gardens.

“After shooting so many Victorian baths in Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe, I was fascinated to dive deeper into the Japanese tradition of bathing and the importance of these warm healing waters.”

Last September’s trip to Japan aimed to explore the country’s onsens, bathhouses fed by natural hot springs, often volcanic, and which much-loved placed for leisure and relaxation.

These are places for healing the body and the mind (a therapeutic practice called toji). Hot spring towns (akin to spa towns in Europe) flourished in the Edo period 1603-1868.

Soo also visited sentos, traditional bathhouses, which are communal but with separate areas for men and women.

The onsen and sento are architectural opposites: one white and calm with arched windows and natural light, the other of dark wood. The create very different moods yet both are calm and peaceful with the constant sound of running water.

The trip took a year of planning and research with Soo eventually selecting seven locations that she wanted to visit.

The photography itself required time, and care, with Soo collaborating closely with her models so they were perfectly posed and presented to catch the calm and stillness of the bathhouses.

While the new collection stands in contrast to her poolside collections, there are common threads and themes.

Soo said: “I loved the pastel colour palette of the sentos, and the stories told through the murals, which were incredibly detailed.

“Also, they feel central to the communities they serve, reminding me of the historic swimming pools from my poolside collections – spaces that encouraged gathering, whether as families going to swim together or with people from the wider community.”