A new summer football tournament aimed at amateur teams in the Edinburgh area has been launched to provide competitive matches ahead of the return to league football in August.

The idea was the brainchild of Saughton Sounders manager, Sean Burt, and the event is sponsored by Football Nation, the popular kit supplier.

Sean told The Edinburgh Reporter: “We’ve been doing non-contact training due to the Covid restrictions and it looked as though we would be playing a series of friendly games so I decided to organise a tournament to guarantee that our players would be able to compete for a trophy this summer.

“I expected about eight teams would take part but the response was overwhelming and I had to make 48 teams the cut off but there could have been even more such was the interest.

“The whole purpose was to get teams back to playing games, but of course there are different standards so there will be three trophies to play for. There will be eight groups of six teams with the top two from each group playing for the Championship Cup, the middle two will play for the League Cup and the bottom two will play for the Conference Cup. After that it’s decided on a knockout basis so everyone will play at least six fixtures.

“The tournament is being sponsored by the Football Nation who will provide the trophies, medals and vouchers for the winners and runners-up. The three finals will take place back to back at Albyn Park in Broxburn on 11 July and there will be free admission to fans, Covid restrictions permitting.”

Rising star Leon Flint (pictured) powered to 16 points as Berwick FTS Bandits beat Newcastle GEC Diamonds 51-39 in a rain-delayed meeting at Shielfield Park.

Dany Gappmaier chipped in with a valuable 12 points while Matthew Wethers and James Wright both scored 12 points for the visitors.

The rain left the track damp but raceable. Heat One started 30 minutes late and Flint replaced Jye Etheridge who had touched the tapes. With Gappmaier out in front, Flint shot through between both Ben Barker and James Wright to take a 5-1.

Aaron Summers blitzed heat three for the win, but behind Kyle Bickley powered up and took Max Clegg with metres to spare on the run to the line in a 4-2 which took the score t0 13-5, while Matthew Wethers gave the travelling fans something to shout about, taking Heat Four well from the gate while behind Flint took up the chase and was still in contention to the end in the 3-3 result taking the score to 16-8.

With rain coming down again Heat Five saw Barker take a huge lead to win well ahead of Summers and Wright for a Diamonds’ 2-4 which pulled Newcastle two points closer, at 18-12 while in Heat Six, tactical substitute, Barker ground to a halt from the gate when his chain snapped and caught him on the thigh in a painful whack, Wethers went on to win the heat ahead of Gappmaier to share the race with the score now 21-15.

The following two heats were shared too with wins for Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen and Flint who took Heat Eight with expert skills as the Diamonds stayed within striking distance, the score 27-21, but a solid 1-5 from Wethers and Wright over Summers and Bickley to close the gap to 28-26, and Newcastle’s confidence was visibly on the rise. However, despite Clegg not sitting still at the start, for which he received a warning, he ended up at the back as Gappmaier shot ahead to win well over Mountain as Etheridge took third in a 4-2 to extend the home lead to 32-28.

Barker gated well in the 11th to win ahead of a hard chasing Busk Jakobsen in a Diamonds. 2-4 to again slash the home lead to 34-32, with four heats go, and in the 12th it was Flint, again in blistering form, and Gappmaier who gated well ahead Mountain and Parkinson-Blackburn for a home 5-1 to push the score on to 39-33 while Barker fell in Heat 13 when he lost his steel shoe on the second lap, but with Wethers well ahead of Busk Jakobsen and Etheridge the 3-3 moved the score on to 42-36.

The match was clinched in Heat 14 for the home side won by Summers who weaved his way under Wright in the 4-2 that took the score, with one race left, to 46-38.

Berwick team boss Gary Flint said: “Again it was a team effort, and with Dany Gappmaier looking so fast tonight along with Leon picking up paid 17 at Reserve we have a solid side getting good results, and we can continue to do so.”

Newcastle team manager, Nigel Hinchliffe said: “I think it’s fair to say we did better tonight than most people had expected, but that said with Ben having awful luck, including a painful chain snapping, we know he could have done better than six, while Max Clegg is still struggling for his true form, which we know he has, so again point could have been added and maybe pushed the Bandits even closer. Matty Wethers is always pure class at Berwick, and again he was just that. Satisfying night tonight, the lads did well!”

Berwick FTS Bandits 51: Jye Etheridge E,1*,1,1* = 3+2, Dany Gappmaier 3,2,0,3,2*,2* = 12+2, Coty Garcia – Rider replacement, Aaron Summers 3,2,1,3 = 9, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 1*,3,2,2 = 8+1, Kyle Bickley 1,1,R,0,0,1 = 3, Leon Flint 2*,3,2,3,3,3 = 16+1, No.8 Danny Phillips 0 = 0

Newcastle GEC Diamonds 39: Ben Barker 0,3,R,3,R,R = 6, Adam Roynon – Rider replacement, Connor Mountain 2,2,1*,2,1 = 8+1, Max Clegg 0,1*,0,N = 1+1, Matthew Wethers 3,3,2*,3,1 = 12+1, James Wright 1,2,1,Ts,2,3,1,2 = 12, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 0,0,N,0,0 = 0, No.8 Jack Shimelt – Did not ride

Hibs first team started their 2021-22 pre-season with an impressive 4-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic at Hibernian Training Centre this afternoon.

Head Coach Jack Ross fielded a strong first-half XI and Hibs took the lead after 33 minutes when Daniel Mackay slid through the keeper’s legs on his non-competitive debut.

 First-half XI: Macey, Campbell, Porteous, Brydon, Stevenson, Newell, Doyle-Hayes, Wright, Allan, Mackay, Gullan.

Ross made 11 changes at the break and Hibs doubled their lead when Jamie Murphy cut in from the left and curled the ball into the far corner.

Steven Bradley made it 3-0 just after the hour mark with a low effort which went in off the post.

Dunfermline pulled one back late on when Kevin O’Hara capitalised on a mistake at the back and finished from close range.

In the final minutes 16-year-old Connor Young scored his first goal with the senior team showing strong composure to finish low into the right corner.

Second-half XI: Dabrowski, McGinn McGregor, Hanlon, Magennis, Gogic, Bradley, Mallan, Murphy, McIntyre, Young

The win comes less than 24 hours after our development squad beat Strollers 5-3 on Friday night with Josh O’Connor, son of Gary, scoring a hat-trick at Civil Service Strollers in front of 250 Hibs fans.

Murray Aiken set up Robbie Hamilton for the opener early on in the first-half then the 2020 Academy graduate got his second assist before the break this time setting up 17-year-old striker O’Connor with a quality ball in from the right.

Jonathan Moffat pulled one back with a powerful finish, but Aiken made it 3-1 showing strong composure to beat home keeper Mac Whyte.

In the second-half O’Connor won a penalty which he confidently converted down the middle for 4-1.

Alieay Faye made it 4-2 from the penalty spot then trialist Joao Balde cutting the deficit to just one, but O’Connor wrapped up the victory and completed his hat-trick late on.

Sporting director Graeme Mathie and first-team coach David Gray were also in attendance.

Hibs Squad: Johnson, Blaney, Fairley, MacIntyre, Hamilton, Gallantes, Currie, Laidlaw, O’Connor, Aiken and four trialists.

The first team now travel to England for a four-day training camp including two more behind-closed doors friendlies.

There is a bundle of box office blockbusters coming soon to a cinema near you.

After a delay of 14 months (the same length of time as cinemas themselves have been closed), 9 July 2021 will finally mark the unleashing of ‘Black Widow’, the 24th instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first film in its fourth phase of projects.

Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) portrays the eponymous superhero after the events of the 2016 film ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and must turn to family figures played by David Harbour (Stranger Things), Rachel Weisz (The Favourite) and Florence Pugh (Little Women), all master assassins in their own right to help her fight a new foe. Disney+ will also release ‘Black Widow’ on the same date for Premier Access customers of its streaming platform.

Directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy), ‘The Suicide Squad’ will open on 30 July 2021. A standalone sequel to the 2016 film ‘Suicide Squad’, Margot Robbie (Birds of Prey) and Joel Kinnaman (The Informer) reprise their roles while Idris Elba (Molly’s Game) and Sylvester Stallone (Creed) joining an eclectic ensemble cast for Disney and Marvel Comics’ rival Warner Bros. and DC Comics’ superhero adventure, the 11th release of the DC Extended Universe.

Dwayne Johnson (Central Intelligence) and Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns) lead the fantasy adventure ‘Jungle Cruise’, also opening in cinemas on 30 July 2021 and on Disney+ Premier Access, signalling an end to the once protected 90 days theatrical release window, at least for tentpole features.

Police officers were called out around 1.10am on Saturday to Granton Square, by a report of a disturbance.

Two men, aged 19 and 21, were found with serious injuries and taken to the Royal Infirmary to be treated.

Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg, said: “These men received serious injuries and therefore it is imperative that we establish exactly how they came about them.

“We are currently carrying out enquiries into the matter, however would appeal for anyone with any information to come forward.

“Passing taxis or private hire vehicles that were in the area may also have dash-cam footage that could be vital in our enquiry. We would urge you to get in touch.”

Anyone with any information should contact Police via 101, quoting incident number 0261 of Saturday, 3 July, 2021. Alternatively you can contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111where information can be given in confidence.

Photos courtesy of Live Edinburgh News

Professor Heidi J. Larson, PhD, Professor of Anthropology, Risk and Decision Science and the Founding Director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine was presented with the prestigious Edinburgh Medal as part of Edinburgh Science Festival 2021.

The Medal Address Ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday 4 July at 7pm on the Festival’s website: https://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/event-details/the-edinburgh-medal-2021

Professor Linda Bauld, Bruce and John Usher Professor of Public Health, Edinburgh University delivered the Oration and the Vote of Thanks at the Ceremony.

The Edinburgh Medal is an award presented to women and men of science who are judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and wellbeing of humanity, previous recipients include Jane Goodall, Sunita Narain and David Attenborough.

Prof. Larson said: “I am honoured to receive this year’s Edinburgh Medal. The Medal reflects not only a recognition of my scientific work, for which I am very grateful, but also an important acknowledgement of the challenging information and trust environment, which needs new approaches as we continually renew the relationship between science and society.”

Prof. Linda Bauld said: “Vaccines save lives. History tells us that this is obvious, but the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us. Professor Larson has been a champion for the role of social scientists in infectious disease response. Her research has helped us better understand how to build trust and address misinformation as we emerge from the current crisis.

“We owe her, and the researchers she has mentored, a debt of gratitude for their work on vaccine hesitancy and the social and political factors that affect uptake. I’m delighted to be involved in awarding her the Edinburgh medal. It’s a fitting recognition from a City that established the first University department and first chair in public health in the UK.”

Amanda Tyndall, Creative and Festival Director at Edinburgh Science Festival said: “Vaccines are a vital part of our response to infectious diseases but global uncertainty and misinformation can hamper efforts to combat the challenges these diseases present. At a time like this the work of Prof. Larson and her Vaccine Confidence Project – approaching the issue with empathy and understanding, not condemnation – has never been more important and we are very proud she is receiving the 2021 Edinburgh Medal.”

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross said: “The Edinburgh Medal is awarded to men and women of science and technology who have made significant contributions to humanity. This year vaccinations have come to the forefront of all our minds and it is entirely fitting that Prof Heidi Larson is the recipient of this year’s medal for her work as Founding Director of the Vaccine Confidence Project which evaluates and addresses vaccine hesitancy.

“Prof Larson’s work is vital in recognising the importance of popular and widespread misunderstandings and providing guidance to engage the public early and pre-empting potential disruptions to roll out of vaccines. Congratulations Heidi.”

All images – Credit Chris Scott

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs says he is disappointed that the project to transform the Powderhall Railway path into a green corridor has been delayed due to the Spaces for People initiative.

In a letter to Mr Briggs, from The City of Edinburgh Council, the Active Travel Department said that “Progress on this has been delayed by the need to re-allocate staff resources to develop and deliver temporary Spaces for People (SfP) schemes”.

The feasibility study into transitioning the disused railway line into a green corridor is due later this summer, with Network Rail amenable to the “repurposing of the Powderhall spur line into high-quality urban green corridor for people to walk, cycle and wheel on”.

Network Rail have said the railway line is still classed as operational railway, because the track that leads there is still connected to the wider rail network.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“I am pleased that talks with Network Rail are going well and they are open to transforming the Powderhall spur line into a high quality green corridor.

“It is disappointing that the project team looking at the Green Corridor transformation has been delayed due to working on Spaces for People schemes.

“This is a great opportunity to create a safe green space to connect Powerhall to Meadowbank and beyond.

“The new Powderhall Green Corridor will be excellent for people to walk, cycle and wheel on, as well as fitting in with Edinburgh’s Active Travel strategy.”

The Edinburgh Reporter asked Transport Convener, Cllr Lesley Macinnes about the matter. Cllr Macinnes said: “We’re still at the early stages of exploring the possibility of delivering an active travel corridor here, including engaging with Network Rail about land acquisition and undertaking a feasibility study for the project.

“Like many schemes around the city, Covid has impacted progress here. Over the last year we’ve had to respond to an emergency situation and transport teams have been required to support the introduction of measures to provide much-needed space for physical distancing on our streets – something both the Scottish and UK Governments have encouraged local authorities to do.”

Transport and Environment Vice-Convener Cllr Karen Doran added: “Work on the Spaces for People programme in no way detracts from our aspirations to significantly improve walking and cycling infrastructure across the capital, with work continuing on many permanent schemes around the city.”

The former Royal High School has lain empty for over half a century, been the subject of a thwarted bid to create a six star hotel amid a planning wrangle which lasted for almost five of those years.

A decision by the council’s Finance and Resources Committee in January to put the building on the open market is now being implemented and enquiries are invited.

Any proposals must take into account conclusions drawn by Scottish Ministers following the public inquiry.

The main planning applications proposed a hotel use which would ensure “repair, reinstatement and protection for the principal listed building, Hamilton’s masterpiece of Greek revival architecture for the Athens of the North”, and so contribute to the economy..

But the Scottish Ministers considered that the work to revamp the building inside and out would not preserve the listed building or its setting. They also considered that the character and appearance of the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Area would be “neither preserved nor enhanced”.

The hotel developer had proposed building two wings on the main building which were a major obstacle in granting permission for the hotel. The opposing permission for the Royal High School Preservation Trust to turn the building into a music school was not based on a legal right to occupy the building, and the council decided to return to the open market for new proposals.

Councillor Rob Munn, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “This an important step forward for the future of this iconic site and means we can identify the best value option for the city and our residents in the future. We know there are a number of interested parties and having it back on the market allows them to submit any development proposals.”

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Vice Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, added: “There was unanimous agreement earlier in the year to remarket the old Royal High School and I look forward to seeing the options presented to us at a future committee which could occupy this very important building, so prominent in our World Heritage site.”

Scotland’s senior women’s national team coach, Jen Wilson (pictured), has decided not to renew her contact which expires at the end of August. She leaves as World Cup qualification begins later this year.

Wilson was charge for three years during which the Scotland women won EuroHockey Championship II in Glasgow in 2019, earning the right to compete at the recent EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam where Scotland finished above ranking.

The Tartan Hearts have also won national awards including the Sunday Mail sportscotland Team of the Year Award and the Scottish Women in Sport Team of the Year Award.

She said: “This has been an extremely tough decision for me to make but it has also been an honour to lead the Scotland senior women’s programme and a huge privilege to see the growth from this extremely dedicated group of players.

“Their willingness to challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zones produced some bold, exciting hockey.

“This has only been possible because I’ve been lucky enough to work with not only world-class athletes and inspirational role models, but also a wonderful group of women. It has been an incredible journey to challenge the best in the world.”

Wilson added: “There are exciting things happening in Scottish Hockey and some passionate people involved in driving our game forward.”

Andy Tennant, head of performance, said: “The playing group is definitely on an upward trajectory. That is testament to the work that Jen and her dedicated support staff have put into the programme.”

Berwick FTS Bandits are due to welcome the Newcastle Diamonds to Shielfield Park on Saturday, July 3, weather permitting, and team manager Gary Flint praised their effort of the squad in a narrow 47-43 defeat at Scunthorpe Scorpions in the SGB Championship on Friday.

Bandits travelled without their new Danish racer Kasper Andersen who was unavailable and went with their original line up for 2021 and included Argentinian Coty Garcia as rider-replacement.

Adam Ellis and Simon Lambert were on for a Heat One 5-1 for the home side until Berwick’s Leon Flint went hard up the inside of Lambert to take second spot but had to work hard to keep it with the pair passing and repassing throughout in the Scorpions’ 4-2.

Heat Two levelled things up when Josh MacDonald suffered a tape offence and had to go from the 15-metre handicap and despite making ground on third-placed Kyle Bickley, with Flint out in front ahead of Jordan Palin the 2-4 took the scores to 6-all, however Scunthorpe regained their two point lead in the third as Theo Pijper and Tero Aarnio, two former Bandits shot away to lead, but Dany Gappmaier found a way round Aarnio on the second lap to split the home pairing.

Again, Berwick reversed the score to level the match again after Heat Four which Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen led from gate to flag but come the third bend of the last lap Flint twisted his throttle hard, powered up and flew round the outside of Palin for the Bandits 2-4, moving the scores on to 12-a-piece.

Jye Etheridge pushed hard all though the fifth race, almost passing Pijper on the run to the chequered flag, but the Scorpion held second behind Aarnio for a home maximum 5-1, pushing Scunthorpe into a 17-13 lead while in Heat Six Busk Jakobsen looked set for another win until Lambert dived hard under him on the last lap to take the win in the home 4-2, extending their lead to six points.

Gappmaier and Aaron Summers (pictured) excelled from the gate to lead Heat Seven despite an early challenge from MacDonald in a perfectly timed Bandits’ 1-5, the match score now 22-20, and with five heats to go the score had progressed to 30-30 courtesy of a Heat 10 1-5 from Gappmaier and Summers, the latter passing Ellis on the last lap and in Heat 11, Jorgensen lined up with MacDonald to tackle Etheridge and Flint, with the Berwick number seven flying from the gate to win after a great battle with Jorgensen, and with Etheridge taking third, Berwick’s 2-4 put the visitors ahead by two points, 32-34.

Pijper led Heat 12 well for the three points as Palin passed both Bickley and Summers, but Summers reclaimed his two points on the third lap and nearly swept under Pijper on the final bend, just missing out in the home 4-2 to again level the scores at 36-36, while Busk Jakobsen’s last lap effort in Heat 13 to pass Jorgensen restricted the Scorpions to another 4-2, and with two races to go, Berwick were again two-down at 40-38.

Berwick’s challenge came to an end one heat later after a superb Heat 14 race between Gappmaier and Aarnio behind the leading Palin, but the Scorpion made the decisive move round the outside line to form a match-winning 5-1 taking the score to 45-39.

Team manager Gary Flint said afterwards: “We have had some great matches on the road this year due to the guys really putting the work and effort in to make these home sides work very hard for their wins, so we can’t knock the huge effort these Bandits are bringing to the game. Top class.”

Individual Riders’ Score Chart:

Scunthorpe Scorpions: 47

Adam Ellis 3,1,1,3,0 = 8
Simon Lambert 1,3,1,0 = 5
Theo Pijper 3,2*,0,3 = 8+1
Tero Aarnio 1,3,3,2*,2 = 11+1
Thomas Jorgensen 2,1,2,1 = 6
Josh MacDonald 0,0,0,R = 0
Jordan Palin 2,0,3,1,3 = 9

Berwick FTS Bandits: 43

Jye Etheridge 0,1,1,0 = 2
Coty Garcia – Rider replacement
Aaron Summers 0,2*,2*,2,3 = 9+2
Dany Gappmaier = 2,3,2,3,1 = 11
Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 3,2,1*,2,1 = 9+2
Kyle Bickley 1,0,F,2,R = 3
Leon Flint 2,3,1,0,3,0 = 9

Scotmid has provided a contribution to more than £100,000 of emergency supplies to cooperatives and communities in India during the pandemic.

Today is the International Day of Coops when all kinds of international support is highlighted. The Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) worked with women’s coops in India to make the donations of essential basic supplies. This included paracetamol, masks and critical supplies of oxygen.

Mirai Chatterjee, Chairperson, SEWA Cooperative Federation said: “We would like to thank you for the solidarity of the co-operative spirit in action. We are very happy to be your partners in the rebuild. The situation in India is thankfully slowly improving and we are seeing a reduction in cases in the urban areas, although we are less sure about the rural areas as the data is sparse.

“Our country is now slowly coming out of the health emergency, but we are now staring in the face of a huge livelihood and humanitarian crisis. Workers and families have been busy with the health emergency but now they are extremely anxious about how they can restore their livelihoods and that’s where your contribution and your support to us has been critical.”

During the crisis period, 4,000 household health kits were prepared by the Indian co-operatives that form part of SEWA. These included masks made by an artisan co-operative and soap and immune boosters produced by a health co-operative distributed across eight states across India. Crucially they also provided lifesaving information about the symptoms and spread of Covid to families in rural and low income urban areas – to dispel myths and provide accurate health information.

The support from the UK retail societies will support seven Indian co-operatives to restart their businesses, buying raw materials and re-establish market links. SEWA also used this substantial donation as a bargaining tool to leverage support from corporate donors, securing additional funds for women farmers and a catering co-operative in this way.

The emergency response was co-ordinated by Co-operatives UK and the Co-operative College, who worked together as part of the International Working Group to collect and co-ordinate the donations from The Co-op Group, Midcounties Co-op, Central England Co-op, Scotmid, Lincolnshire Co-op, Southern Co-op, East of England Co-op, Channel Islands Co-op, Chelmsford Star Co-op, Heart of England Co-op and Co-op News.

Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK said: “This is true co-operation in action, with some of the largest co-ops in the UK collaborating to provide financial support and solidarity to co-ops on the other side of the world. Our global co-operative movement is based on values and principles that are as strong today as they ever were. It’s fitting that we are sharing news of the impact of this donation on International Day of Co-operatives, which has a theme of Rebuild Better Together, which is exactly what this support will help to do.”

“The response from the co-operative community was really quite phenomenal and it meant that we were able to get funds directly through this female network of co-operators to provide support on the ground, where it was needed, at speed with minimal red tape or admin fees,” she added.

John Brodie, CEO of Scotmid, said: “This worthwhile initiative, which came through the co-operative national buying group, demonstrates the strength of co-operation.

“We’re pleased to see this donation is having an impact on the ground in India, helping co-ops to restart their businesses after the lockdowns. Working with SEWA as our overseas partner, we can ensure we are truly collaborating with co-ops in India. It’s not just handouts, its sustainable support through solidarity and self responsibility.”

The weather in West Lothian turned unpleasant at just the wrong time on Friday night and the intriguing National Development League clash between the Dale Devils and defending champions Leicester Cubs had to be abandoned after only two completed races.

Riders came out for Heat One without a parade because of the dark clouds over the stadium and wit proved a cracking opening race.

In-form Dan Thompson, who has recorded three successive double-figure scores at SGB Championship level, gated confidently.

He led the way, but Nathan Greaves wasn’t settling for second. Thompson blocked two attempts to burst through but Greaves cut back and stormed through to the front.

The next heat saw Archie Freeman make his debut for Devils after signing from Newcastle and he raced ahead.

Team-mate Lewis Millar, attempting an inside pass on the opening lap, brought down himself and Mickie Simpson. Freeman led all the way in the rerun, Simpson took second.

It was Heat Three when the rain started and after a delay the match was abandoned with the score at 7-4.

A spokesman said: “It would be hard to imagine anyone arguing.”

All customers either at the track or on the Live Stream will be contacted shortly.

Midlothian Council revoked the licence for Tough Mudder at Dalkeith Country Park on Friday evening.

The event was supposed to take place on Saturday and Sunday, and crews have been in the park for the last fortnight making preparations for the endurance challenge.

The council had issued the licence, including an alcohol sales licence, earlier in the week having reviewed all the safety measures put in place by organisers. The announcement of the licence being revoked was sent to organisers just after 6pm on Friday. Tough Mudder say that they will challenge the decision, referring to the Lions match at Murrayfield last weekend when 16,000 fans gathered to watch rugby.

Tough Mudder is a challenge with a series of obstacle and mud runs designed to push the physical and mental limits of those taking part without the pressure of competition.

But Covid-19 cases in Midlothian are the second highest in Scotland at 686.8 per 100,000 reported yesterday.

A spokesperson from Tough Mudder said: “It’s a maelstrom of emotions right now: We’re grateful to the team for the months of work they put in with the Council, accommodating every request made and consistently demonstrating we could deliver a safe event. We’re deeply frustrated with this last-minute revocation. And we’re devastated not to be able to celebrate a return to in-person events with you, our Mudder community.

“We know you’re also devastated. Together we’ve waited over 600 long days to get back in the mud. And we’ve worked really hard to ensure our Scotland Mud Revival would be an unforgettable reunion. Over 75 crew members working around the clock to build the event. 7,000 finisher drinks on ice. 1,500 tonnes of dirt. 37 obstacles constructed. A team of our Mudder Volunteers already on site. Instead of having a lot of dirty, tough fun with you all this weekend, we’ll be dismantling the fully constructed site. And longing for the day we get to give you, our Scotland Mudders, your long-awaited Tough Mudder experience.” 

Anyone with a ticket can either swap it to another UK event or to the 2022 Scotland event. Details are on the website.

Participants are advised not to go to Dalkeith Country Park.

The new Gleneagles in town will open later in the year in St Andrew Square.

Until then if you want to experience the five star treatment then it involves a trip to the Perthshire hills where a Beatrix Potter themed afternoon tea awaits.

The Glendevon Afternoon Tea is inspired by the story of the children’s author who spent her summers in Perthshire where she may have developed her love of botany. The menu pays tribute to Potter’s characters including Little Pig Robinson, Mr McGregor, Squirrel Nutkin and Peter Rabbit.

The afternoon tea includes sweet and savoury treats baked fresh daily by Executive Pastry Chef, Phil Skinazi and his team.

Highlights include a greenhouse gazpacho amuse bouche, Johnny Town Mouse’s pea and potato croquettes, Little Pig Robinson’s Crumpet and Crab, Herdwick lamb sausage roll with Mr. McGregor’s cabbage followed by classic Gleneagles buttermilk scones and delicious sweets like Squirrel Nutkin’s fruit and nut slice and ‘hiding behind the blackcurrant bush’ currant buns. 

A donation of £0.50 will be made by Gleneagles to Perthshire Big Tree Country Scheme  for every afternoon tea sold.

The Beatrix Potter-inspired afternoon tea will be served Friday to Monday from 12:30 to 15:30 in the Glendevon, where guests can relax and unwind in one of the hotel’s most serene spaces.

Children at King’s Park Primary School in Dalkeith made signs to try and slow down speeding motorists near their school.

The local community council teamed up with local house builder Dandara and put up the winning designs on Lasswade Road, where the developer says they hope to create a parking position for a mobile speed camera.

The Eskbank and Newbattle Community Council (ENCC) set up a campaign to remind drivers of the 30moh speed limit. In collaboration with the Safety Camera Unit the “Street Lights Means 30” campaign is directed at drivers on Lasswade Road and routes meeting at Eskbank Toll roundabout.

The developer funded the traffic calming on Lasswade Road and provided season passes for Dalkeith Country Park to the pupils who created the winning designs.

Brian Farrell from ENCC said “Speeding motorists are a real concern in our community. ENCC have been taking steps to mitigate the issue and are delighted to have the support of Dandara with the speed awareness signs campaign. Local children at Kings Park Primary School have risen brilliantly to the task of designing signs and it was a challenge to help pick the winning entries. The campaign will encourage motorists to improve their driver behaviour and comply with the speed limit and also supports local community officers conducting regular speed checks in the area.”

Iain Innes, Managing Director for Dandara East Scotland, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with Eskbank & Newbattle Community Council and help encourage drivers to slow down on this stretch of road – and we remain committed to help in whichever way is required.

“There were so many fantastic poster designs from King’s Park Primary pupils – we were really impressed and a big well done to everyone. Initially we had four winners but there were so many lovely designs we added in one extra. We plan to get the winning designs made into real signs near Eskbank Gardens and hope these will serve as a reminder to reduce speed.”

A summer musical of this calibre, much like the cinema-going experience itself, is both a spectacular return to a bygone era and a ground-breaking triumph of cultural celebration.

A winner of four Tony Awards from 13 nominations for its 2008 Broadway production, “In the Heights” hasn’t only survived intact, but thrived beautifully in its transition from those hallowed American stages (still shuttered due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic) to the global silver screen (open, at least here). 

Based on the book by Quiara Alegría Hudes from a concept by Lin-Manuel Miranda, also the mastermind of the extraordinary music and lyrics (a unique fusion of Latin American music, hip-hop, soul and freestyle rap), rest assured that the magic of this original stage musical has never burned brighter. Miranda would go on to achieve even greater genre mashing, and creating, success with his other Tony Awards winner “Hamilton” eight years later. Miranda plays a small role here as Piragüero, the Piragua Guy, while there is a nice nod to “Hamilton” over the telephone but that’s all I’m going to tell you.

A towering testament to the hopes and dreams of an immigrant community in a city of immigrants, in this case Washington Heights in New York City, this film is a miracle of musical storytelling. Its acting, writing, directing and choreography of music and lyrics, singing and dancing sequences sow themselves together seamlessly, each supports the other equally without one of these individually essential elements becoming overpowering or underwhelming. By creating one cohesive narrative comprised of multiple distinct character arcs, “In the Heights” makes the difficulty of juggling all of these tectonic plates simultaneously appear effortless. Of course, that’s how it’s supposed to appear, after all.

Set in the majority over the course of one hot, auspicious day, “In the Heights” dazzles from its opening overture of the same name and the other energetic company performances ‘96,000’, ‘Alabanza’ and ‘Carnaval del Barrio’ to the ‘Finale’. Usnavi de la Vega (a charismatic Anthony Ramos) dreams of reviving his late father’s business in the Dominican Republic but currently owns a bodega where his cousin Sonny (a spirited Gregory Diaz IV) also works. He yearns, however, for Vanessa Morales (a luminous Melissa Barrera), who hopes to become a fashion designer; her want shines through the piercing ‘It Won’t Be Long Now’, but presently works in a salon owned by Daniela (an electric Daphne Rubin-Vega) who is being priced out of her neighbourhood due to rising rents and will have to move her business.

Vega’s friend Benny (a charming Corey Hawkins) pines for Nina Rosario (a vibrant Leslie Grace) who returns from an Ivy League University between semesters but feels the pressure of representing her community there while trying to fit in. She is undecided on whether to return at all due to the financial expense placed on her father (a subtle Jimmy Smits) while  “Abuela” Claudia (a heart-breaking Olga Mereditz) is the unofficial matriarch who adopted the neighbourhood as her children; her journey is illustrated through the haunting ‘Paciencia y Fe’, just one highlight among too many to choose from.  

Exploring the theme of sacrifice (a career for the sake of family, your cultural identity for want of outside acceptance and your dreams due to the improbability of achieving them in the face of racial discrimination), ‘In the Heights’ describes a conventionally impoverished neighbourhood of New York City that is actually culturally wealthy beyond its outsiders’ understanding. By using the best of Broadway in Hollywood (Ramos performed a supporting duel role in ‘Hamilton’ while Rubin-Vega, Hawkins and Merediz, reprising her supporting role here from the stage, are Tony nominees), this most demanding of film musicals benefits from actors whom can actually sing; theatre vocal prowess wins hands down every single time. More of this, please!

An encapsulating extravaganza of life and death, love and passion, fantasy and reality, “In the Heights” is an emotional embrace of home, be it a place, a community and/or a family, as well as the trials and tribulations of bridging these troubled waters that hold the past in one hand the future in the other. From the streets of Washington Heights to the businesses that line them, the film is a kaleidoscopic colour palette of dreams waiting to come true if the means were only there. Watching the planes fly high through a cloudless sky overhead from the sidewalk hammers home the seemingly impossibility of those dreams, as does the ‘Blackout’ sequence where the voices of the neighbourhood blend and weave in song as they are literally and figuratively “powerless” as immigrants in a country of immigrants.

Indeed, while the film has heralded another major step forward for the mainstream entertainment industry with regard to the representation of Latin Americans, nevertheless, the film has been met with accusations of colourism. Although this is a valid point (the casting decisions to exclude Black Hispanic and Latino Americans, a predominant demographic of Washington Heights, from leading roles in a film that will immortalise the area appears questionable at best) this shouldn’t detract from what has been achieved here but give another major Hollywood studio (Warner Bros. distributed the film) reason enough to tell their story too.

An ensemble production paced to perfection, this film stands tall among its predecessors in the long and illustrious history of film musicals, a rare genre whose successful entrants make up an even more exclusive club, for all of the reasons above but most of all for its ambition in originality. While these ideas weren’t made solely for film from its inception, instead being tried and tested, over years of workshopping on stage, until proven successful before being adapted into the film before us now, this is arguably a harder hill to climb: a repeat success. What works well on stage doesn’t always on film. 

Although it’s pure originality comes in the form of the stage musical, its film adaptation is just as ambitious due to the very fact that it works. Without doubt, “In the Heights” will go down in history as one of the greatest film musicals ever made.

“In the Heights” is in cinemas now.

★★★★★

The community organisation behind the Community Hub with its café and food bank in Penicuik needs to raise £10,000 to buy their own van.

Food Facts Friends (FFF) provides a range of services to local people in the community, particularly helping those experiencing food poverty.

The charity provides food packs to feed a family three meals a day for three days each week. In addition FFF have a community fridge and table stocked with surplus food from supermarkets.

Their workload has grown during the pandemic and collecting the surplus food from supermarkets has become a logistical challenge. To support their work they now need their own van. It would mean that pick ups and deliveries could be done without using volunteers’ cars. It would also mean that the charity can transport more supplies. It would be a great asset for the charity and would be hired out to other organisations if needed.

Click here to access the crowdfunder where the charity hopes to gather sufficient funds in the next few weeks.

HRH The Princess Royal, paid a return visit to Harmeny Education Trust in Balerno on Thursday.

The children were eager to show the bird boxes which they have made as part of the Edinburgh Swift City Project, all part of the outdoor and therapeutic facilities the charity has developed at Harmeny. And the children gifted a bird box to Her Royal Highness on departure.

Accompanied by The Rt Hon Lord Provost, The Princess Royal met the Chair of Harmeny’s Trustees, Jennifer Scott, who shared the plans for a new learning hub and services designed to help more young people who live at Harmeny to rebuild their lives and shape their futures.

The school is now an independent charitable body but was originally run by Save the Children and The Princess Royal has been associated with that charity for half a century.

The report below is produced by The City of Edinburgh Council’s EdinTravel team and will show you what to look out for on the roads in the capital in the next week.

If you see anything that is not on the list then let the travel team know on Twitter.

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MND Scotland will be shown on the front of the new Hearts home shirt for the 2021/22 season after a two-year agreement was made with Dell Technologies.

The news comes after the club’s successful six-year sponsorship agreement with Save the Children ended last month. 

The new sponsorship deal is structured in a similar way, with Dell Technologies donating on behalf of MND Scotland and Hearts donating a percentage of each shirt sold to the charity.

The deal is seen as a tribute to the legendary Hearts captain Marius Žaliūkas, who lost his fight to the disease in October of last year. Žaliūkas played over 150 times for Hearts across six seasons, but he will be most fondly remembered for lifting the Scottish Cup in 2012, after beating their Edinburgh rivals Hibs. 

A club spokesman said: “This landmark sponsorship deal will help to raise awareness of the work undertaken by MND charities throughout the UK and support those living with MND in Scotland. Funds raised will also enable pioneering research into MND, such as the projects taking place at the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research at University of Edinburgh. Once again, the Club has sought out an innovative way of securing sponsorship funding whilst providing a platform for a cause that is dear to supporters’ hearts.

“In a pioneering approach, Dell Technologies will work with Hearts over the next 2 years on a programme that will transform the Club’s digital estate in the long term. As part of this new partnership, Dell Technologies funded the front of the home shirt on behalf of MND Scotland. Hearts will, in turn, make a contribution to MND Scotland and MND Association for every home shirt sold in the season ahead.”

Iain McWhirter, MND Scotland’s Interim Chief Executive, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Heart of Midlothian FC this season. This fantastic opportunity will honour the memory of former captain Marius Žaliūkas who passed away last year after a brave struggle against motor neurone disease.

“Dell Technologies has supported our sister charity, MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for 2 years, and we are thrilled to now be working with them to raise funds and awareness here in Scotland. 

“We hope this boost will enable us to speak to even more people about our cause, and that the funds donated through sales will help us reach our ultimate goal of finding a cure. Until that day we will continue supporting families affected by MND in Scotland, so they do not have to go through the devastation alone.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing the new strips out on the pitch very soon and hope fans will join our movement to end MND.”

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has now reopened Craigmillar Castle.

Although the grounds reopened at the end of April, ongoing conservation work has meant a delay in reopening the historic building used by Mary Queen of Scots in 1566 as a safe haven.

The Scottish Government’s Get Into Summer campaign allows children and young people under 16 to get in free. There is a programme of living history presentations with costumed performers taking place on site every weekend.

Stephen Duncan, Director of Commercial and Tourism at HES, said: “We’re delighted that Craigmillar Castle is reopening its doors once more and know how keen our visitors and members have been to get back to enjoying the castle and its spectacular history. 

“As part of the reopening of the castle, we’ve got a packed programme of entertainment to coincide with the start of many school holidays and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming visitors back into the castle.” 

Timed visitor slots have been introduced to manage capacity, with new opening times introduced and visitors are encouraged to check the website for opening details. There is also a one way system and masks are required while inside in line with government guidance. 

The number of cases of Covid-19 in Scotland were announced by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing on Friday. Parliament remains in recess.

For all that this is now described as a race between the virus and the vaccine the number of people who had either their first or second dose yesterday was again low. Yesterday was the third day in a row that the number of vaccinations has been less than 30,000, and the fourth day out of five that it had not exceeded that figure. Today the total of those vaccinated is just more than 30,000.

Ms Sturgeon said that today’s vaccination figures mean that more than 50% of the population is now fully vaccinated. Yesterday’s case numbers was the highest ever since the start of the pandemic.

Additional money will be given to the health boards in the country to pay for Covid-related costs, including vaccinations, Test and Protect and PPE.

The next review point will be 19 July by which time three weeks will have elapsed from the point when all over 50s should have been offered the vaccine. At that point the government hopes that all of Scotland can move to Level 0 and physical distancing can be reduced from two metres to one.

After that the next significant date is 9 August when the vast majority of over 40s will have a significant level of protection. At that time it might be possible to move beyond Level 0, but it will depend on the data at the time. But in any case the government will not advise an immediate return to full offices working from 9 August. All of these measures will take time to put back in place.

Statistics

As at 27 June, 10,168 deaths have been registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) on Wednesday.

In the week 21 – 27 June, 17 deaths were registered that mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, an increase of four deaths from the previous week. 

There were two deaths in each of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Ayrshire and Midlothian. 

Dundee City, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire all recorded one death each.

The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland in this week was 1,043, 24, or 2%, more than the five year average. 

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “The latest figures show that last week there were 17 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

“The number of deaths has risen slightly in recent weeks but is still very low relative to the number of Covid-19 cases.

“Two deaths were aged under 65, five were aged 65-74 and there were ten deaths in people aged 75 or over. Four were female and thirteen were male. 

“Fourteen deaths were in hospitals, three deaths were at home or in a non-institutional setting. No care home deaths were registered in week 25.”

The publication Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland is available on the NRS website.

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Pamela Cormack and her business partner Karen Grieve have set up a solution to buy families a little more quality time with less hassle.

Family Payroll Ltd is a personalised and affordable service supporting families who employ anyone in their home as a nanny, PA, cleaner or carer.

The two women know only too well the pressure of juggling work and home life and have created a bespoke service for anyone who may need staff to help them in their home.

The company offers a full suite of help with things like registering as an employer with HMRC, with pension providers or payroll processing.

Pamela said: “It is a time-consuming process and can be a little daunting for someone who is not used to dealing with payroll.

“We’re aiming to offer a friendly, approachable alternative that will make life a little easier for time-pressured families. Hopefully, we can help them improve their work-life balance by removing the burden of the administration that goes with being an employer and giving them just one less thing to worry about.”  

Pamela, a single mum to her nine-year-old son, has more than 20 years’ experience in the care sector. Before starting Lothian Childcare Solutions in 2018, she worked in nurseries, as a deputy project leader in a children and families project and then as an inspector with the Care Commission (now Care Inspectorate) inspecting early years services across Scotland.  

Karen, mother of two grown up sons , was previously a payroll administrator. With over 15 years’ experience in HR Administration, Finance and Operations, she recently gained an accountancy qualification and is committed to furthering her studies .    

“We’ve both been juggling family and our careers over the years,” said Karen, “so we know the value of finding something that can make life just that little bit easier. Our aim is not only a successful business but one that also makes a difference to family life.”  

For more information visit the  Family Payroll website  or follow them on  Facebook.   

Civil Service Strollers Under-14s celebrated a double cup success this week after picking up the Paladin Cup days after being crowned league champions. 

The north Edinburgh club had to wait until the last day of the season to clinch the league title and on Tuesday they came from 4-1 down at half-time to win the Paladin Cup on penalties against Cramond.

Coach, Ryan McIntyre, said “With everything that has been going on it is great that our players worked hard and brought in two trophies this season. 

“We have played well and the boys deserved to win the league and cup double. 

“They are a really great bunch of lads and have potential play at a really high level when they get older. 

“All the hard work has paid off.  

“The club has been buzzing the past few days and it’s been great for the team and the other coaches. 

“We will now have some time off before we start pre-season.”  

The country is in festival mood.  Not just because we think we can see the end of the Covid pandemic but it’s holiday time. There’s football and tennis to watch on the television and the sun has been shining. And, glory be, the Edinburgh festivals – International, Fringe, Film and Book – are all due to go ahead in August.

Not quite as normal, of course, but at least they are happening, and some of it will be in person, unlike last year.  This week, tickets went on sale for around a hundred Fringe Shows in venues ranging from the beach at Silverknowes and the racecourse at Musselburgh to the gardens in George Square.

In the official International Festival, classical concerts will be staged under canvas in school and university quads. Overall, the festivals will be a third of the size of what we are used to and there won’t be anything like the usual half million visitors.  

The Lockdown has shown us how important the arts are to our way of life and to our economy. The “arts, entertainment and recreation” sector employs 78,000 people, more than the financial services sector or agriculture and fishing.  The government, indeed all of us, should do more to encourage arts and sports. They, like education and health, have no limits to production and do not put an undue burden on the earth’s resources. They are the jobs of the future.

As to the pandemic itself, we’ve been watching with some alarm as the number of Covid-19 cases rises to over 4,000 a day. There are various explanations. One is that we are testing more people. Another is that the economy is being allowed to re-open. Another is that the test and trace system is struggling to keep up. Still another is that young men are ignoring the rules during the European football matches and the virus is spreading among them in stadiums, “fan zones” pubs and private homes. Nearly two thousand cases were found among people who had been at football events in the last week.

But at her Covid-19 briefing on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon told us not to panic. She remains committed to 19 July for most of Scotland to come down to Level 0 rules and 9 August for all legal restrictions to be lifted. 

She told us the link between the number of cases and the number of people ending up in hospital is being broken by the vaccination programme.  There are around 270 people in hospital with Covid. There were 17 deaths in the week to 30 June, which brought the overall total to 10,168.  

Covid deaths have added considerably to our population decline.  A National Records Office report out this week showed there were just over 64,000 deaths in Scotland in 2020, the highest “excess deaths” figure since 1940. Meanwhile, there were only 46,800 births, the lowest number since records began in 1855.  

One man who wants to re-populate at least the Highlands is Jeremy Leggett, a former director of Greenpeace and solar energy magnate.  He’s bought the 800-acre Beldorney Estate near Huntly where he wants to create green jobs in alternative energy and build affordable eco-homes.  He’s already started a similar project at Bunloit near Drumnadrochit.

And there was more good news for the climate on Wednesday when the bus company Stagecoach announced it’s planning a totally zero-emissions bus fleet by 2035.  The company, headquartered in Perth, has had a difficult Covid year, profits fell from £90m to £17m, but it’s hoping that business will pick up this year, with more people travelling for leisure here at home.

The Queen has been in Scotland this week, valiantly carrying on with her duties, despite the pandemic.  On a visit to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute she said “we will have to change the way we do things.” To set an example, she arrived in a hybrid vehicle.

Among her other engagements were a trip to Stirling to open a new military museum at Stirling Castle, a tour of the AG Barr factory in Cumbernauld to taste Scotland’s “other national drink” Irn-Bru, and a visit to a community garden in Glasgow where she remarked on the fine quality of the strawberries.

I wonder if she has been watching the tennis at Wimbledon and the ups and downs of Andy Murray.  And, for sure, she’ll be watching England in the football finals, while observing all the Covid rules, of course. 

A new augmented reality exhibition will open at the Botanics in September at exactly the same time as it will be displayed at 11 other gardens all over the world.

The contemporary artworks in Seeing the Invisible will be created with augmented reality(AR) and will be shown at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and 12 other gardens in six countries.

The works will be created by more than a dozen international artists – including Ai Weiwei – and for some it will be their first venture into the world of AR. Visitors will download an app to smartphone or tablet and will engage with the exhibition through it.

The hope is that the exhibitions will show the power of art in connecting people around the world. Seeing the Invisible was initiated by the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens and Outset Contemporary Art Fund, and is co-curated by Hadas Maor and Tal Michael Haring. 

Artists providing work for the exhibition include Ai Weiwei, Refik Anadol, El Anatsui, Isaac Julien CBE, Mohammed Kazem, Sigalit Landau, Sarah Meyohas, Pamela Rosenkranz, and Timur Si-Qin.

The dozen outdoor gardens are located in different biomes which will highlight the contrasts and similarities between them, when visitors see the same work in different locations. these will be expansive, immersive works engaging with the landscape.

Head of Creative Programming at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Emma Nicolson said: “Seeing the Invisible has found a way to transform the experience of visiting the Gardens and how we engage with public artworks by bringing together the real world and the virtual world. The opportunity to host such ambitious works of art whilst minimising the environmental impact closely aligns with our vision for the Climate House programme which explores the potential of art and science working hand in hand to further our appreciation and understanding of the natural world. I’m excited to see how this groundbreaking exhibition will encourage new visitors to the Gardens and showcase this beautiful setting in a new light.”

“This exhibition allows artists who have not previously worked in AR to expand on ideas that are central to their practice in entirely new ways,” said Seeing the Invisible Co-Curator Hadas Maor. “In doing so, the exhibition engages a wide range of visitors with contemporary artworks, including a number that address critical issues around the environment, through this exciting new medium. 

“Coming out of the pandemic when outdoor experiences and nature have taken on a new meaning and gravity in our lives, this exhibition represents a fresh way for people to engage with art and nature simultaneously,” added Seeing the Invisible Co-Curator Tal Michael Haring. “The interplay of these augmented reality works in vibrant natural settings breaks down the binary between what is often considered ‘natural’ versus ‘digital’, and in this way provides an exhibition experience that is much more connected to the way we live today.

“Seeing the Invisible was born out of a collaboration during the pandemic with the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens that opened our eyes to the incredible opportunities for creating an entirely new kind of contemporary art experience within the setting of a botanical garden,” said Outset Contemporary Art Fund Co-Founder Candida Gertler OBE and Outset Contemporary Art Fund Israel Director Mirav Katri. “We are thrilled to be partnering with exceptional gardens from all across the world on this exhibition bridging the physical and digital worlds to create a new phygital model, bringing their expert knowledge of their field together with the most cutting-edge technology in contemporary art to develop a new exhibition format beyond the typical museum or gallery space.

“There is exceptional potential for botanical gardens, with their deep expertise in engaging diverse audiences in their complex work, to lead the way in creating new models for visitor experiences of contemporary art,” added Jerusalem Botanical Gardens Executive Director Hannah Rendell. “We are deeply gratified for the opportunity to forge new connections with partner gardens all across the globe, paving the way for what we hope will be many future collaborations.” 

Seeing the Invisible will simultaneously premiere at: 

• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland)
• Eden Project (Cornwall, England)
• Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, Colorado, USA)
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Cape Town, South Africa)
• Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
• Massachusetts Horticultural Society (Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA)
• Royal Botanical Gardens (Ontario, Canada)
• Jerusalem Botanical Gardens (Jerusalem, Israel) 
• Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens (Cranbourne, Australia)
• Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens (Melbourne, Australia)
• San Diego Botanic Garden (San Diego, California, USA)
• Tucson Botanical Gardens (Tucson, Arizona, USA) 

This project has been made possible in partnership with The Jerusalem Foundation. Seeing the Invisible is co-curated by Hadas Maor and Tal Michael Haring, and organised by Jerusalem Botanical Gardens and Outset Contemporary Art Fund.

For additional information and to book entry for the exhibition at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, click on these links www.rbge.org.uk  or seeingtheinvisible.art 

About coming to terms with grief, ‘Kill Me Now’ is a dark comedy by critically acclaimed Welsh new writing theatre company Dirty Protest and award-winning playwright Rhiannon Boyle. This funny and heart-wrenching piece is created specifically for a Zoom audience and will be livestreamed by Summerhall for the Edinburgh Fringe 2021.

Welcome to undertaker Anna Morgan-Jones’ live Zoom webinar. Her goal? To sell you the lucrative franchise model of her “end-of-life celebration” funeral business. But, can the self-confessed Grief Guru make it through her PowerPoint presentation – full of rainbow coffins, leopard print hearses and beer-can shaped scatter tubs – or will secrets, accidental truths and internet trolls cause her to unravel right before our eyes? After a year when many lost loved ones and many were touched by grief, Kill Me Now is about the healing power of connection.

This gently interactive piece gives audience members the autonomy to participate as much or as little as they wish throughout the Zoom. Created using and for the platform, ‘Kill Me Now’ offers a more holistic approach to digital theatre. It ensures a live experience which communicates directly with the audience; it is empowered by its format and contributes to the development of a new, increasingly accessible, forum for performance.

Writer Rhiannon Boyle comments, “Dealing with grief, ‘Kill Me Now’ is a dark comedy set in Covid times which will offer audiences some much needed fun and relief. The story and the themes of the play are very close to my heart having lost my father after years of him suffering with a long-term degenerative disease.

“I want to bring honesty to a subject many people are afraid to talk about. We’re living in a time where we’re collectively grieving – whether that be grieving loved ones, grieving theatrical experiences or grieving our old lives.

“Connecting with others and making sense of it all whilst finding the light and humour can be a very powerful healing process.”

Dates – Tuesday 17th August – Saturday 21st August 2021

Tuesday and Thursday, 8pm
Wednesday and Saturday, 11am
Friday, 6pm
Running time 45 minutes
Writer Rhiannon Boyle
Director Catherine Paskell

Box Office Tickets are available from https://www.edfringe.com/ and https://www.summerhall.co.uk
Standard: £8
Concession: £5

Twitter @DirtyProtest, @summerhallery
Instagram @DirtyProtestTheatre
Facebook @DirtyProtestTheatre
Website http://www.dirtyprotesttheatre.co.uk/
Age Guidance 12+ adult themes including death and grief

I love going to the hairdresser and was delighted to have the opportunity to visit MarkDavid.  As I walked along Henderson Row I knew instantly where I was going by the wonderful floral welcoming arch over the door at No 83.  

Abiding by the covid guidelines, I waited at the entrance until invited in.  The welcome inside was every bit as lovely – and the stunning interior design definitely creates a ‘wow’ factor.  There is no doubt that considerable thought has gone into creating a unique client experience, from the fresh colour scheme and House of Hackney wallpaper, Japanese kimono (for female clients) and head massage to the luxury products, mini-cupcakes and the display of fresh flowers.

As part of my hair wash, while lying on the relaxing massage chair, I was treated to a head massage by assistant Marina who had begun by asking about any special hair concerns I may have before selecting just the right shampoo and conditioner for me.  

Then it was over to salon owner, Mark, for my blow dry.  Again, he selected just the right products for my style as he told me about his thought process behind this unique salon.  MarkDavid was opened at the end of 2019 and he used the lockdown to bring his own creative vision to life blending his passion for hairdressing with that of interior design.  He explained that he wanted the salon to function like a hair salon and feel like an opulent, comforting and relaxing space. Something he has definitely achieved.

Alongside the extensive hair treatment menu which includes luxury treatments to spoil yourself such as Hair Treatment Comfort (£55) and Hair Treatment Purity (£65) there is a beauty treatment menu offered by Holly Rox Beauty.  Holly shares the same ethos of customer care and quality treatments.  Most recently she has added the medical grade Elim pedicure (£50) which is described as a ‘facial for the feet’ and which clients enjoy while lying on the relaxing massage chair.

As I left the salon with my fresh blow dry (£35), and feeling very glam, heading to drinks with a friend in town, I reflected on a lovely experience and one that I’ll definitely do again.

For further information or book please visit the salon’s website or call 0131 285 0991.

‘Ithaca’ is an autobiographical feminist one-woman adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey from writer and performer Phoebe Angeni. Exploring contemporary social issues, ‘Ithaca’ follows the journey of Nobody, a feminine aspect of Odysseus, as she re-defines her relationship with self and home. Fantasy and reality merge in this new dynamic and darkly comic production about

Nobody’s journey to find home, while creating space and a voice for herself within a world and body, which seem to forcefully reject her.

‘Ithaca’ is a stage-for-screen production where black box theatre meets experimental film. While the play draws heavily from Homer’s work, Angeni has taken its broad themes and used them to tell her own story, having always related to the obstacles Odysseus faces. By playing a female version of Odysseus as well as embodying the invisible monsters, she is able to represent her authentic experience and place the fuller figured female body in a position of heroism.

Through the lens of an unconventional heroine, ‘Ithaca’ examines crucial social issues such as fat phobia, bullying, domestic harassment, mental health, chronic illness and immigration. Sadly these are all things Angeni has experienced herself having had to go to court to get a lifetime restraining order for domestic harassment against her biological father, her experience of immigration difficulties between the UK and US and her anxiety issues and depression no doubt exacerbated by her class at school forming the ‘I Hate Fat Phoebe’ club.

Angeni has been able to move through her traumas and aims for this work to be a positive portrayal of what is possible when you overcome obstacles!

Writer and performer Phoebe Angeni comments, “No one expects a certain type of woman to play a Classical male role like Odysseus, much less 14 Homeric characters within an hour, so the possibilities for this show have been limitless. My aim with Ithaca is to not only create something innovative and thought provoking, but to raise awareness for important and often invisible social issues – to spark hope, connect, and empower fellow unconventional heroines to show up in life authentically and to advocate for themselves.”

Running alongside ‘Ithaca’ will be four post-show talks dealing with the issues in the production and offering further resources for support. 10% of ticket sales will be donated to Women’s Aid and The Loveland Foundation in order to help affect positive change for women and children’s safety and support valuable work around mental health.

Performance Dates Friday 6th – Monday 30th August 2021
Available on demand

Running Time 60 minutes
Box Office Tickets are available from www.edfringe.com priced £9 (£5)

Instagram @phoebe.angeni, @offrecordangeni, #IthacaEdinburgh Twitter @PhoebeAngeni, #IthacaEdinburgh
Website www.phoebeangeni.com/ithaca

Guidance – Please note that the show incorporates strobe lighting. The production contains themes that some may find triggering. Topics Include: Fat Phobia, Bullying, Domestic Harassment, Mental Health, Chronic Illness, and Immigration.

Presenting over 200 digital and in-person events for sci-curious minds of all ages with the theme of One World: Science Connects Us and Cirrus Logic as its Headline Sponsor, the 33rd Edinburgh Science Festival is currently underway. Programming for the Planet as Scotland prepares for COP26, celebrating women in STEM and the fight against the global pandemic are this year’s main topics but as always there’s science of all sorts for all ages.

The Festival is very pleased to be back in the live game (alongside an extensive online programme) and able to present a variety of in-person exhibitions, installations and trails, using Edinburgh as a science playground, allowing audiences to safely get their science fix this summer and delivering plenty of fun family activities to kick-start the summer holidays.

Some of the 2021 in-person family highlights include:

Oscillation in Light & Sound sponsored by CityFibre takes over Edinburgh’s iconic St Andrew Square as it invites audiences of all ages to play with giant crystal blocks that come alive through movement, creating a unique light and sound show.

Pale Blue Dot exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, celebrating all things marine and Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21. This multi-sensory exploration takes audiences through every layer of the ocean, exploring the vastness, majesty and mystery of our seas. From curious species to amazing ecosystems, oceans bounties and intriguing research, the exhibition sheds light on the marine landscape that is so special and how we can protect one of the most precious habitats on Earth.

For those keen to venture out of Edinburgh, the Festival’s closing weekend will see the European Stone Stacking Championships returning to the beautiful Dunbar beach for the fourth time. Filled with competitions and demonstrations – and offering a chance to see stone stacking professionals in action! – the weekend is a perfect opportunity to connect to nature for people of all ages.

Back in Edinburgh city centre, audiences can take part in a wide range of walks, tours and trails.

Walking Through the Covid-19 Vaccine is a family-friendly treasure trail offering a unique insight into the science behind the vaccines and answers to some of the most common questions.

Focused on mental health, My Depression – Your Depression. Same Name, Different Story showcases stories from adults and young people, their relatives and researchers, all with a lived experience of depression. Each story is so different yet it is given the same name. Taking the form of a walking trail around George Square and the Meadows, the project encourages more openness about mental health and highlights the benefits of walking and greenspaces.

Seashore Nature Detectives in Musselburgh (and in North Berwick!) is back with naturalist and wildlife tracker Dan Puplett guiding young detectives looking for clues the nature left behind.

Celebrating Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020/21, Coastal Knowledge aims to showcase the diverse forms of coastal knowledge, varying from local history to coastal science and art, highlighting the importance of coastal communities in Scotland, resilient in the face of climate crisis.

Audiences are invited to take a virtual tour of Scottish coasts, explore Edinburgh’s coastal community of Granton with the Curious Edinburgh walking tour showcasing Granton’s industrial and fishing history or make a stop at granton:hub, the arts and community centre showcasing the works of local artists.

University of Edinburgh presents a self-led walk Road to COP26 which allows audiences to discover how climate change is affecting our wildlife, from plants to parasites to Scotland’s

With the younger environmentalists in mind, Heriot-Watt University shares its campus with Climate Detectives who will be getting hands-on with nature during a picturesque walk.

For the full list of in-person events for families, visit the Festival website.

www.sciencefestival.co.uk

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