A rare embroidery dating from the early seventeenth century has been acquired by National Museums Scotland. The exquisite textile has been acquired with the support of textile collector and philanthropist Leslie B. Durst and coincides with the announcement of three Leslie B. Durst Textile Conservation Internships.
The embroidered Crucifixion is a unique surviving example of textiles associated with Catholic devotion. Few such objects survive in Britain as most were destroyed due to fears of idolatrous worship.
At the time, the practice of Catholicism was punishable by imprisonment or worse. Created by skilled artisans, the Crucifixion is illustrated in coloured silks and surrounded by a Latin prayer embroidered with gold and silver thread.
The textile was originally owned by Elizabeth Stuart, a member of the Scottish nobility, who married into one of the most prominent Catholic families in Britain.
It has remained in the collection of the Howards, Earls of Arundel and Dukes of Norfolk, since the 17th century. An inscription on the reverse of the piece suggests that the family once believed it belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots, but this connection has since been disproven.
Helen Wyld, Senior Curator of Historic Textiles at National Museums Scotland said: “It is very unusual for textiles of this kind and quality to survive in the UK, and even more so with such a compelling provenance.
“The Crucifixion can help us better understand the role of textiles in Catholic devotion in England and Scotland. Its history in the collections of Elizabeth Stuart and the Howard family sheds light on a forgotten aspect of Scotland’s past and provides insight into the lives of those who treasured it for centuries.
“Thanks to the generosity and support of Leslie B. Durst, this remarkable object will be secured for the nation for years to come.”
The exceptional condition of the piece suggests that it was treasured by successive generations. National Museums Scotland is now undertaking minor conservation work to ensure that it is ready for display, as well as technical analysis to learn more about its construction.
Starting this autumn, the Leslie B. Durst Textile Conservation Internships in partnership with the Clothworkers Company, have been created for early career textile conservators.
Based within the National Museums Scotland’s state of the art Collection Centre, three paid interns will be supported by a dedicated team of highly skilled experts working on a varied programme of high-profile conservation projects.
These new roles represent a critical investment in the future of the sector, ensuring specialist skills and knowledge are passed on to future generations.
Lynn McClean, Principal Conservator at National Museums Scotland, said: “These internships will help safeguard Scotland’s irreplaceable textile heritage and the highly skilled profession of textile conservation.
“The support of Leslie B. Durst and the Clothworkers Company have allowed us to offer these career-defining opportunities and we are delighted to welcome three new conservators to our team.”
Recruitment for the first paid, one-year internship will start this summer with an anticipated start date in October 2022. Further one-year positions will begin in 2023 and 2024.
Continuing to support people in adult care homes to connect with others
New guidance reinforcing the expectation that people in adult care homes should be able to see their friends and family without restrictions has been published.
The refreshed Open with Care guidelines say that people in care homes should be able to see their friends and family without restrictions such as limits on how often visits can take place or on how many different visitors a person can have.
Booking systems for families should only be required when a home is managing a COVID-19 outbreak. Where there is an outbreak, residents should still be supported to see one of their three named visitors.
To reinforce the guidance, the Care Inspectorate will receive an additional £186,000 this year and £90,000 in 2023 to support visiting rights, including dedicated resources for care homes.
Minister for Social Care Kevin Stewart met staff, residents and relatives at the Erskine Park Home in Bishopton to see how easing restrictions has made it easier for residents to have contact with loved ones, both in and out of the home.
Mr Stewart said: “The restrictions on visiting introduced early on in the pandemic were necessary to protect staff and residents and curb the spread of the virus, but I am under no illusions as to just how difficult and painful it has been for staff, residents and their loved ones.
“We are pleased to be in the position to move to a ‘new normal’, with the latests Open With Care guidance setting out much less restrictive measures in care homes.
“As we move towards seeing visiting rights embedded in legislation through Anne’s Law, our recent strengthening of rights within the Health and Social Care standards means the right to visit loved ones is already in place.
“I am also happy to confirm a total of £276,000 additional funding to the Care Inspectorate over the next two years to further its work supporting care homes to get back to a more normal footing and protect visiting rights.
“I am very pleased to be here to thank the staff and hear from them, the residents and their loved ones about how they have managed over the last two years and the difference that it is making now we have been able to open up care homes more.”
Erskine Director of Care Derek Barron said: “Care homes have been at the forefront of the country’s provision of excellent care to our most vulnerable citizens during the pandemic, a fact often missed by many.
“The Minister is the first minister to have ‘social care’ in his job title, coming to visit us helps to visually underline the integral part we play in delivering health and social care in this country.
“We were very pleased that the Minister chose to visit Erskine for his announcement. He took the opportunity to meet our amazing staff, who have worked quietly and relentlessly through the pandemic.
“They have not only delivered compassionate and quality care, but fundraised to support that care – whilst adapting the charity and its services to the economic, demographic and policy changes, which we anticipate.”
Edith Macintosh, interim Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “For residents who live in a care home, having contact with loved ones in what is fundamentally their own home is essential for good mental health and wellbeing.
“The release of today’s revised guidance highlights the importance of people experiencing care having face-to-face contact with their loved ones and provides the framework to support them to do so.
“We welcome the additional funding for the Care Inspectorate to support the implementation of this guidance and to support visiting.
“I want to also thank care services and their dedicated staff for their commitment and professionalism in supporting people through the most challenging of circumstances.”
As millions plan their jubilee parties, research reveals the average Briton has not cleaned their grill in 8 months
A new study has revealed as many as six in ten of us are planning to have friends and family over for a BBQ this Bank Holiday weekend – yet many are unaware that guests could end up with food poisoning, due to poor hygiene and dirty equipment.
38 per cent of Brits admit the grill on their BBQ is dirty, with almost a fifth (19 per cent) describing it as absolutely filthy – yet one in ten (11 per cent) have no plans to clean it before they use it next.
In fact on average, it’s been eight months since Brits took the grill off the BBQ and gave it a good clean, despite Britons cleaning their indoor oven every six and a half weeks on average.
16 per cent of the 1,500 Britons polled admit they’ve left the BBQ dirty over winter and then instead of cleaning it as recommended, have simply wiped at the mould or leftover burnt bits before starting to cook.
One in ten (12 per cent) admit the cleanliness of their BBQ equipment hasn’t been given a second thought, despite the Food Standard Agency advising that warm weather and outdoor cooking create the perfect storm for food poisoning.
GP and TV doctor, Dr Sarah Jarvis, comments:“When the sun is shining there’s nothing better than firing up the BBQ with family and friends, but food poisoning can easily become an unwelcome guest.
“Leaving grills unwashed could lead to harmful bacteria such as campylobacter, salmonella, listeria and some types of E. coli to form so it’s imperative to make sure that you clean down your BBQ each time you use it.
“Even if you’ve used your grill recently, it’s good hygiene practice to clean and dry your grill regularly before every time you use it. We all know that barbecued food can be a source of food poisoning – that’s why it’s so important to store it in the fridge until just before cooking, keep raw meat away from other foods and consider cooking pork and chicken in the oven first, to ensure they’re cooked right through. But if you’ve cleaned your hands and then put the food onto a dirty barbecue, you can completely defeat the object.”
When it comes to the reasons why people put off cleaning the grill on their BBQ, 34 per cent admit it takes so long, while 34 per cent say it’s a total nightmare cleaning between all the bars.
31 per cent claim it’s the messiest household task, while 27 per cent hate it so much that they describe it as the worst job ever. Almost a fifth polled confessed to having thrown a BBQ away and buying a new one instead of cleaning it.
The research by Kärcher further reveals that a third of the nation admits they have no idea what the temperature of their BBQ should be before they begin cooking – despite a high temperature being essential for killing off bacteria. One in ten admit they’ve often undercooked sausages and burgers, while eight per cent are guilty of undercooking chicken.
And food hygiene standards drop even lower when it comes to preparing a typical British BBQ, with over a quarter (26 per cent) confessing to leaving food that needs to be kept cool – like butter, mayo and cheese, to bake in the sun all afternoon.
14 per cent don’t wash their hands after putting raw meat on the grill and cook their veggie and vegan dishes in the same spot they used for meat products. More than one in ten (12 per cent) have kept tongs or accessories stored on the BBQ without ever washing them.
So it’s no surprise that almost a fifth of Britons (18 per cent) have been unlucky and suffered from food poisoning at a BBQ – whether at a friend or family’s house or at their own. One in two Brits (51 per cent) think many people are completely unaware of the potential health dangers of not BBQing safely.
However, 80 per cent say they would be racked with guilt if they made one of their guests ill – although 15 per cent claim that “these things happen”.
Harry Turner, Product Manager atKärcherwho commissioned the poll, said: “We know that cleaning the BBQ is never anyone’s favourite task however, we were surprised that so many Brits were unaware of the health dangers that can come from leaving their grills grimy.
“We wanted to put together this handy guide to help the nation clean their BBQs as quickly as possible so they can get on with enjoying the bank holiday weekend.”
The research also reveals that over a quarter of couples (27 per cent) fall out over the BBQ, with nine per cent admitting to bickering about it all the time. One third admit these rows are about who should be manning the BBQ, while 31 per cent clash around how much time they are taking to cook.
Three in ten fall out over who should clean the grill once guests have left, while 29 per cent can’t resist having a dig at their other half about how much of a mess they’re making.
To help the nation make light work of cleaning their BBQ and avoid potential health hazards over the Platinum Jubilee Weekend, Harry and Dr Sarah Jarvis have put together their top tips to make light work of cleaning the BBQ:
Up the pressure – Once you’ve emptied the leftover charcoal ash from your BBQ, use a pressure washer to spray it down using sweeping motions. When using a Kärcher pressure washer choose the vario lance and set it to a medium – this should remove any ash and sticky substances leftover at the bottom. Set your grills up against a flat surface, like a sturdy wally and turn the pressure up to hard to dislodge any stubborn sticky leftovers. Give the BBQ a final rinse down, working from top to bottom ensuring water doesn’t get trapped, to get the best results. Sarah says, “this is such a fast way of effectively cleaning a BBQ, you can get it done in under ten minutes and leave it to dry in the sunshine.”
Get steamy – For an intense deep clean use a steam cleaner on the grill, such as Kärcher’s SC 2 Easyfix – this also has the added benefit of getting rid of any bacteria. Sarah says: “Steam cleaners are such a versatile piece of equipment to keep around the house. They make light work of grease, and dirt, delivering deep cleaning results with no chemicals or scrubbing. They also penetrate into nooks and crannies in barbecues that cloths and brushes won’t reach. Kärcher’s steam cleaners are independently tested and proven to kill 99.99% of bacteria, making them perfect for cleaning both inside and outside the home.”
Grease up – Use sunflower oil every time you cook to prevent burnt food from getting stuck on the BBQ. Once finished cooking and rub vegetable oil on the grills to prevent them from going rusty. Sarah says: “This is one of my tried and trusted hacks, and it works every time.”
Try a household remedy – Don’t let leftover beer from Jubilee celebrations go to waste, pour it onto the grill while it’s still warm and tackle with a wire brush for sparkling results. If you don’t have stainless steel cleaner, try using white vinegar. Use a left-over spray bottle and fill it with half white vinegar, and half water. Spray it all over the grill, wait 5 minutes, then wipe it off with a clean, dry cloth. This also works well to get the outside of your BBQ shining.
Don’t forget to cover up – Now that you’ve got your BBQ looking spotless keep it covered throughout the summer to reduce cleaning time before each use.
Kärcher pressure washers are currently available with up to £100 off and customers can claim up to an additional £50 cashback on selected models.
UK GOVERNMENT ‘POURING FUEL ON THE FIRE’ AS JACKDAW FIELD APPROVED
Environmental campaigners have slammed the UK Government’s approval of Shell’s plans to develop the Jackdaw gas field as ignoring climate science and entrenching reliance on gas despite the energy price crisis and need to move away from fossil fuels.
The proposal for the Jackdaw field, which holds gas with an unusually high CO2 content, was previously rejected by the environmental regulator on climate grounds, however Shell resubmitted the application earlier this year with only minimal changes.
In 2020, the International Energy Agency said that there should be “no new oil and gas fields approved for development” anywhere in the world to keep within the 1.5C limit of dangerous climate warming. UCL research found that new oil and gas licences were incompatible with the UK’s international climate commitments, while peer-reviewed analysis by Oil Change International has found that 40% of existing developed reserves of fossil fuels cannot be extracted to have a 50% chance of staying within 1.5C.
Activists organised a protest outside the UK Government building in Edinburgh yesterday to demand the UK Government reverses its decision to approve Shell’s Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea. Over 3,600 people signed a petition by Friends of the Earth Scotland, Greenpeace and Uplift opposing the field.
Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “The decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field exposes Boris Johnson’s climate leadership rhetoric at COP26 last year as pure greenwash. The UK Government is pouring fuel on the fire of the social and climate crises by deepening our reliance on fossil fuels.
“Approving the Jackdaw field will do nothing to help people who face higher bills in the UK or to tackle the climate crisis. The only people who benefit are executives and shareholders at Shell who are hellbent on destroying the planet for their own profit.
“The UK Government must reverse this approval, stop issuing any new fossil fuel licences and start planning for a managed phase-out of production, with a just transition for workers and communities. It must also do much more to alleviate the suffering of households as the energy price crisis bites, and urgently ramp up retrofits to keep homes warm while helping end reliance on expensive gas.”
Maciej Walczuk, an activist with Stop Jackdaw, said: “The UK Government is using people’s rising bills as an excuse to allow Shell to continue profiteering from the climate crisis.
“We need investments into insulation and a planned transition away from fossil fuels to tackle the climate crisis, not to increase our dependence on them.”
The crucial 1.5C climate limit was enshrined in the Paris Agreement. A growing consensus is emerging on the future of fossil fuels, with the UN General Secretary describing their expansion as ‘economic and moral madness’ and the IEA and UKCCC calling for production to be limited.
Inverleith Green councillor Julie Bandel attended the rally. She tweeted: “Quick lunchtime rally to protest the absolute madness that is approving a new oil field in the middle of a climate crisis and giving Shell a tax rebate for it.
“Scotland desperately needs a just transition to protect livelihoods and the planet.”
The Pilton Equalities Project is a voluntary organisation based in North Edinburgh since 1989, providing a range of services to older and other vulnerable adults.
We are looking for a part-time driver who holds a D1 category license and who is over 25 years old (for insurance purposes).
Must be physically fit as there will be moving and handling involved.
Hours to be agreed, but flexible working is a requirement as holiday cover will be required.
The main duties include transporting groups to venues in and around Edinburgh, picking up surplus food donations, maintenance checks, bus washing etc.
Experience of working with the elderly and disabled is essential. Knowledge of driving minibuses and operating wheelchair restraints is desirable but full training can be given.
PEP are seeking to employ a skilled Mental Health Worker to be responsible for the daily running and further development of PEP’s Mental Health Service.
The purpose will be to support older and other vulnerable adults, whose wellbeing has been negatively affected by the pandemic.
This will include, but not be limited to, older and other vulnerable people who have experienced bereavement, social isolation or mental health issues.
To enhance the quality of life for older and other vulnerable adults in North Edinburgh by continuing to develop services that enable active community participation, which encourage independence and which measurably reduce isolation.
The Firth of Tay area, covering north Fife and Dundee, has seen the risk of water scarcity increase to alert from early warning stage.
Businesses abstracting water in affected areas urged to be more water efficient to protect environment and business operations.
SEPA’s latest water situation report shows dry conditions impacting river flows and soil moisture.
Most of the south and east of Scotland remains at early warning.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published its first water scarcity alert of the year with business operators and farmers in the Firth of Tay area urged to efficiently manage their water use.
The risk of water scarcity in north Fife and Dundee has increased to alert from early warning and SEPA is monitoring the area closely, coordinating steps to manage water resources in line with Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan. Businesses which abstract water in affected areas are being urged to consider how they can be more efficient to protect both the environment and their own operations.
SEPA is responsible for the forecasting, monitoring, and reporting of the situation facing Scotland’s water resources and will produce weekly water scarcity reports from May to September.
Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, Nathan Critchlow-Watton, said: “It is vital that water abstractors in north Fife and Dundee, who are licensed by SEPA, have a plan to deal with water scarcity. We would encourage businesses to abstract at different times, reduce the volume/rate where possible and consider alternative sources of water.
“Climate change is already having an impact with a decrease in rainfall expected over the summer, and we have to be ready for more pressure on Scotland’s water resources, perhaps in places that have not had to deal with water scarcity before.
“SEPA aims to work with businesses to do the right thing and protect Scotland’s water environment. We can provide advice and guidance on ways to reduce pressure on rivers at risk of drought. Taking action now will reduce the likelihood of SEPA resorting to regulatory action.”
Businesses can find more information about water scarcity and ways to prepare on SEPA’s website.
Although Scotland is generally considered a wet country, we are continuing to see the effects of long periods of dry weather. The Scottish Government has this week highlighted the need to be prepared for the continued effects of climate change in Scotland, highlighting SEPA’s water scarcity reports.
People needing urgent and unplanned hospital care will benefit from a new national improvement programme aimed at reducing waiting times.
The Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative will see health boards adopt a number of measures to reduce A&E waiting times and improve patient experience, including offering alternatives to hospital–based treatment.
People will also be offered scheduled urgent appointments to avoid long waits in A&E. The programme will also determine how the discharge process can be simplified to ensure patients don’t face unnecessary delays in leaving hospital. Health boards will share more than £50 million of funding this year (2022-23) to support this national integrated approach with work already underway in some areas.
Earlier this week the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review was published, setting out priorities for the next five years, including investment and 2reform of health and social care services.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is absolutely crucial we ensure people are receiving the right care at the right time and in the right place. That’s why I’m pleased to confirm today’s £50 million investment to help achieve our national urgent and unscheduled care priorities.
“Our twin approach of investment and reform in urgent and unscheduled care will help boards see people who need urgent attention more quickly. For many, A&E may not be the best place for their healthcare needs and our £50 million improvement programme will offer patients alternative routes to urgent care.
“Last year 4,500 patients received care from a Hospital at Home service – without this these patients would have experienced an acute hospital stay, we are determined to build on this success.”
Police are appealing for information following a serious assault in Princes Street that happened around 1pm on Friday, 20 May, 2022.
A 31-year-old man was on or near the pedestrian crossing when he was punched in the face by the driver of a van at the junction with Hanover Street.
He was treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for a serious facial injury.
The driver, who made off in a white van, is described as white, of stocky build, balding with a beard. He was wearing grey work trousers, a blue Nike top and boots.
Police Constable Mihaela Hristova said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened or who may have made a note of the registration of the van which the suspect used.
“If you can help please contact us on 101, quoting incident number 1746 of Friday, 20 May, 2022, or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Tourists visiting UK seaside towns this Bank Holiday are being warned to do their research on parking charges – as research reveals the potential costs of leaving your vehicle when visiting the seaside.
As the cost-of-living crisis drives more of us towards Summer staycations, several popular private seaside car parks appear to be cashing in according to research by leading vehicle breakdown provider Start Rescue.
The worst offender was found in Newquay – a destination which welcomed over 5.9m tourists in 2021 – with one private parking location charging £35 for a stay of just eight hours.
Newquay, which has been described as Cornwall’s ‘favourite holiday destination’, is one of several popular seaside towns to scrap free parking facilities in favour of new pricey tariffs, removing its free facilities in June 2020.
Start Rescue has advised that it pays to shop around before ditching the car this Bank Holiday, warning visitors to vote with their feet when it comes to rip-off parking providers.
The great seaside spend: Rates to park your vehicle for eight hours:
Newquay – £35
Brighton – £31.50
Blackpool – £18
Bournemouth – £15.95
Weymouth – £15.50
Llandudno – £12
Durdle Door – £10
Polzeath – £10
Scarborough – £9.95
Southend on Sea – £9.30
Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue, said: “Parking our vehicle is something many of us take for granted and it’s the last thing we should be worrying about when taking a break at the seaside. We often find a parking space at the seaside, see the high cost to park, but are wary of moving in case we can’t find a cheaper space elsewhere.
“We recommend doing your research before your trip, because the cost of parking up by the beach can mount up, especially if you’re visiting for a few days, with prices varying greatly within one area.
“If you are able to walk a little further, first try the less expensive parking which is normally a little further away from the main beach area. Choose wisely and you’ll have more money to spend on the things that matter most.”
Meanwhile, in EDINBURGH – Please note, today and tomorrow (3 June) are NOT parking holidays. The usual parking charges will apply!
