Summer holidays sorted: East Lothian’s ultimate summer escape

For nearly 14 years, East Lothian’s Foxlake Adventures has been a must-visit summer holiday destination, and this summer is hotting up to be the site’s best yet.

From Wakeboarding and Ringo rides to the obstacles of the Foxfall and Aqua Park, the site is the perfect place for an adventure with the whole family during the school holidays.

With a range of water-based activities guaranteed to get blood pumping, Foxlake’s updated schedule offers something for everyone this summer.

It’s not all adrenaline-fuelled adventure. The site has also established itself as a wellness hotspot, where visitors can recharge in the popular HotFox sauna, brave a cold plunge or enjoy a wild swim in the lake.

Competitive spirits can put their skills to the test on Foxlake’s Foxfall and Aqua Park obstacle courses, racing friends and family across land and water before the inevitable splash into the lake. For those craving even more speed, Ringo rides deliver an adrenaline-fuelled blast as riders cling on while being towed at high speed across the water.

Foxlake continues to be a local hub for Wakeboarding, and is home to expert instructors and some of the nation’s best riders. As the sport continues to grow, Foxlake champions inclusive participation, creating specialised sessions for beginners, experts, and groups.

In particular, Foxlake is championing the participation of women and children in the sport, creating unique events in partnership with Wakeboarding and Waterski Scotland. This July, Foxlake will play host to a female-only event, ‘She Shreds’, as well as a Wakeboarding day focused on youth involvement called ‘Little Ripples’.

These sessions follow on from June’s Ladies Night, an annual event in the Foxlake calendar, and are an important part in Foxlake’s mission to create opportunities for everyone to enjoy the range of water-based activities on offer.

Foxlake will also be introducing the Wakeboarding RiDE Competition Series for 2026, with riders competing to showcase their skills on the water on Saturday, 15th August.

The series of competitions will take place at Foxlake as well as Wild Shore Dundee, Wild Shore Delamere, and Wild Shore Blackpool.

James Barbour, Director of Foxlake Adventures, said: “Summer is here and we are very excited for our busiest period of the season.

“At Foxlake, we continue to grow the sport of Wakeboarding with some key partnerships that help open the sport to newer audiences, which remains a key goal of ours.”

Megan Hay, Site Manager at Foxlake Adventures, added: “With the school holidays underway and summer in full swing, we are gearing up for one of our busiest seasons yet at Foxlake.

“Our mission has always been to make adventure accessible to all, and our diverse lineup of activities ensures there is truly something for everyone to experience this year.”

To learn more about Foxlake’s array of offerings or to book your session, you can visit https://www.foxlake.co.uk/. 

World Drowning Prevention Day: Follow the Water Safety Code

With the warmer weather, being in or around water often feels inviting.

It is important to stay safe and follow the Water Safety Code:

• stop and think

• stay together

• in an emergency, call 999

Is your little one Britain’s biggest train fan?

THE SEARCH IS ON!

  • As the summer holidays kick off, Hornby is on the lookout for Britain’s biggest little train fan to become “Mini Conductor”
  • Risk of summer boredom and screen time is a real concern but 89% of parents and grandparents saying hands-on hobbies help keep children away from screens
  • With 82% of children saying they love making up stories while playing with toys, Hornby is inviting families to bring rail adventures to life by entering the competition here

THE stress of keeping little ones, curious, creative and away from screens during the school summer holidays can feel like a real challenge. 

New research* from Hornby reveals that (81%) of parents and 86% of grandparents say children today can’t fill their time without a screen. But this year, Hornby has the perfect solution – playing with model trains. 

Parents and grandparents alike also recognise the very real benefits that hands-on hobbies bring: (89%) saying they help keep children away from screens while (84%) say that hobbies help children learn and grow – building the creativity, confidence and practical skills that stay with them for life.

Turns out, that appetite for imagination-led, hands-on play is exactly what makes train travel and model railways so compelling for children. The research** shows that for many kids it’s not just about getting from A to B – it’s the whole story along the way. 

From spotting landmarks through the window (62%) to the thrill of arriving at the station (60%), children see train travel as a rolling adventure, packed with little moments that spark big imaginations. And the imagination doesn’t stop when the journey does. Four out of five children (82%) love making up stories while playing with toys – the same kind of storytelling energy that makes train journeys so magical in the first place. 

This summer holiday, Hornby is inviting kids to bring those experiences to life by entering the Mini Conductor competition. The competition taps into the growing popularity of young railway enthusiasts, with children gaining attention online for their love of all things locomotive, from spotting trains and learning routes to recreating the sounds and theatre of the railway with their own announcements. 

Martyn Weaver, Brand MD at Hornby, said: “The summer holidays are a brilliant opportunity for families to spend quality time together but keeping kids entertained, engaged and away from screens can be a real challenge. 

“Our research shows that children value spending time with friends and family above anything else when they play (49%), and there’s nothing quite like the hands-on magic of model railways to fire up the imagination and banish the holiday boredom.

“The Mini Conductor competition is a brilliant opportunity for families to celebrate curiosity and imagination that train travel inspires, while giving one young rail fan the chance step into the conductor’s shoes for the day.”

Open to children aged 4–10, the competition will see one lucky winner spend a day alongside the LNER team as a ‘Mini Conductor’ visiting the train cab, greeting customers and making announcements, as well as starring in a Hornby video advert. Four runners-up will also receive a Hornby Playtrains prize bundle worth £100.

Parents and guardians can enter by sharing a video of up to 90 seconds explaining what their child loves most about trains and why they should be Hornby’s Mini Conductor, tagging Hornby and using #HornbyMiniConductor, or by uploading their entry at https://hornby.com/miniconductor 

The competition entries close at 11:59pm on 2 August, so there’s still time to get involved before the summer holidays are in full swing.

For more information, visit https://uk.hornby.com/ 

Historic Environment Scotland Archive Talk Delves into Scotland’s Sporting Past

Historic Environment Scotland is marking a summer of sport with a talk exploring Scotland’s sporting heritage 

With Scotland enjoying the Commonwealth Games and World Cup this summer, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is celebrating the nation’s sporting heritage with a special talk exploring its archive collections. 

A Summer of Sport will talk through historic sporting photography and will show the development of Edinburgh and Glasgow as host cities for the Commonwealth Games.  

It will also examine how Scotland’s stadiums grew to host world record attendances and spotlight some of the nation’s star performers from the past. Accompanying original material will be on display before and after the talk. 

Neil Fraser, Public Services Manager at HES, who will lead the talk, said: “Scotland has such a rich sporting past, and it is there to uncover if you know where to look. 

“Through my talk, I am looking forward to exploring Scotland’s sporting history with people who are just as passionate about this history as we are here in HES’s archive team. The archives offer a fascinating insight into the people, places and moments that have shaped Scotland’s sporting story.” 

A Summer of Sport will take place on Monday 27 July at 2pm at John Sinclair House, 16 Bernard Terrace Edinburgh EH8 9NX.

For more information and to book a place, visit historicenvironment.scot/whats-on.

State Pension income tax exemption: Independent Age responds

Responding to the Prime Minister’s commitment to exempt state pensioners with no additional income from income tax, Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said: “Recommitting to exempting the State Pension from income tax is a welcome signal that the new Prime Minister is listening to the concerns of older people on low incomes.

“However, questions remain about how the policy will be implemented across a complex pensions system where one solution does not fit all.

“Different versions of the State Pension mean some older people receiving a lower State Pension and a small private pension would be dragged into the tax system, while others receiving only the State Pension will be exempt, despite the amount they receive being largely the same.

“Clearly, this is a situation that needs to be addressed so no older person on a low income loses out.

“Every day we hear from older people with chronic money worries who are making difficult decisions to make ends meet, from rationing their energy and water use to skipping meals.

“We look forward to receiving clarity from the UK Government on how the State Pension tax exemption will work to protect all pensioners on low incomes.”

Investigation into police officer who is now deceased

POLICE are investigating complaints of serious sexual offending by an officer who died in May this year and appealing for victims to come forward.

Alan Greer, 47, was arrested on 24 April, 2026, after searches of a property in Wishaw. A number of electronic devices were seized during the search and enquiries into the contents of these are continuing.

On Wednesday, 6 May, 2026, officers were called to the same property where Mr Greer was found deceased. There were no suspicious circumstances.

The circumstances of the death following police contact are subject of a Crown-directed investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

A significant investigation was launched at the end of 2025 after a complaint was received relating to a non-recent serious sexual assault being carried out by an unidentified officer.

Extensive enquiries were carried out by detectives from the Anti-Corruption Unit to identify the officer and Alan Greer was arrested.

Further investigations have identified a number of victims of serious sexual offending by Alan Greer, who are now being supported by specialist officers and partner agencies.

Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff, Professionalism and Assurance, said: “My thoughts, firstly, are with the victims in this case who have spoken up and reported these allegations, as well as with Alan Greer’s family, friends and colleagues who have been deeply affected by these reports and his death.

“The investigation into this matter is one of the largest and most complex enquiries ever undertaken by the Anti-Corruption Unit and significant work is ongoing to fully ascertain the extent of offending and identify and support as many victims as possible.

“Clearly Alan Greer cannot stand trial for these allegations of serious violent sexual offending, including attempted murder, but this investigation is about identifying and supporting potential victims, giving them a voice, and establishing the full circumstances.

“It is essential that members of the public, victims, and witnesses, feel confident speaking with the police and know the overwhelming majority of our officers serve with professionalism and integrity to protect people, investigate matters, and bring offenders to justice.

“I would encourage anyone with any information or who may be a victim in this case to please come forward and speak to us. You will be listened to and given the support you need.

“In recent years, and advanced by Lady Elish Angiolini’s review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues published in 2020, there has been a Scotland-wide focus on police ethics, conduct and scrutiny.

“Police Scotland has fully engaged with a range of developments and our commitment to safeguarding policing’s integrity has never been stronger.”

Anyone with information or who thinks they may have been a victim in this case, is asked to please contact the enquiry team.

This can be done via email at OperationSubmarine@scotland.police.uk, or by telephone. A dedicated mobile number with text facility has been established – 07484 438 539. A landline for the enquiry team, with voicemail facility, is also available – 0300 426 6644.

To find out more about police complaints, including how to make a complaint, visit the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, run by Crimestoppers.

Concerns relating to allegations of corruption or serious abuse can be reported to the service by calling 0800 085 00 00 or via the Crimestoppers website.

If you have a mental health need or thoughts of self-harm, help is available:

Brew Magic at Stockbridge Library!

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 Brew Magic with Befana & Midnight! 

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Calling all young witches and wizards!

Have you ever wanted to learn the secrets of the forest and brew your very own magical potion?

Join the legendary Befana and her trusty sidekick, Midnight, for an enchanting 60-minute adventure! In this interactive class, your little ones will:
• Discover the secret powers of foraged herbs and plants 

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• Craft and brew their very own magical tea to drink 

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• Design their very own custom potion recipe page to take home! 

📜

Stockbridge Library
Mon 3rd August at 3 to 4 pm
7 to 10 year olds

Places are limited. Contact the library to book your free space!

New Poverty Alliance report calls for Universal Credit system change

Experiences of young adults claiming Universal Credit in Scotland

Social security should be the foundation for a better life – a system that protects people’s rights, dignity and wellbeing. But what did our research team find when they looked to see if Universal Credit gives young adults the support they need?

The Poverty Alliance research intern Rachel Sowerby created this great infographic to tell the story of young adult parents’ experiences:

You can read the whole report here:

TPA_UC_research_report_v3_200dpiDownload

https://www.povertyalliance.org/…/TPA_UC_research…

#UniversalCredit

#SocialSecurity

#Poverty

#HumanRights

#Scotland

#YoungPeople

Pedestrian dies following crash outside Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

An 85-year-old woman has died after being struck by a car in Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 3.40pm on Monday, 20 July, 2026, outside the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh on Little France Crescent and involved a red Peugeot 208 and two pedestrians.

The woman died in hospital during the morning of Thursday, 23 July, 2026.

An 88-year-old man remains in hospital for treatment to serious injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

Enquiries remain ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2205 of 20 July, 2026.