Lauriston Castle is in danger from it’s Trustees who have mismanaged Lauriston Castle over many years, say Friends campaigners.
The castle and grounds were left to the Nation in 1926 by Mr & Mrs Reid. There are rooms in the Castle that the public have not been allowed to see contrary to Mr & Mrs Reid’s Will and Trust Deed.
There are treasures that the Trustees have allowed to significantly deteriorate/be damaged and not restored.
· why there is only £42,000 in the endowment fund when the Trustees were left the equivalent of over £2,000,000 and the potential to increase that amount?
· why over £190,000 of Council Taxpayers money is not recorded in the Lauriston Castle Trust Accounts?
· when are the Trustees going to restore Lauriston Castle Glasshouse (above) and other historic monuments?
· when are the Trustees going to restore the grounds to their former glory envisaged by the donors, Mr & Mrs Reid?
A stand needs to be made to restore Lauriston Castle to it’s rightful glory.
To this end you may wish to join Friends of Lauriston Castle where you can have your say and hear of action that needs to be taken:
Police in Edinburgh have received reports of malicious calls being made purporting to be from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Fraudsters are spoofing genuine HMRC phone numbers to deceive victims stating that as a result of non-payment of tax, they are liable for prosecution.
The fraudsters suggest victims can avoid this by arranging a payment to be made immediately.
In genuine cases, HMRC will initially make contact via letter and potentially follow up with a call later. HMRC will not discuss something you are not already aware of and will not demand immediate payment.
• Be cautious and listen to your instincts. Don’t be afraid to hang up. • Legitimate organisations wouldn’t ask you to pay taxes, bills or fees using an iTunes gift card, or any other type of voucher. • Know who you’re dealing with – if you are unsure or need help, talk to someone you know or get in touch with trading standards at Trading.Standards@edinburgh.gov.uk • Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision. • Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information.
If you think you’ve been scammed report it via 101 and also contact your bank. As always, if you are in immediate danger call 999.
For further advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or visit our website http://ow.ly/hJnD50CcULF
For advice and guidance on suspicious emails or ‘phishing’ emails or text messages, please visit http://ow.ly/Uc2M50CcULE
Take advantage of the free online training at http://ow.ly/70ry50CcULD to learn more about different types of scams and how to protect yourself and others
Although there will be no March Past the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday, a National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph will still take place.
The closed ceremony will be broacast live on BBC One and you can tune in from 10.15am as representatives of the Royal Family, the Government and the Armed Forces lay wreaths at the Cenotaph.
In 2020 we pay tribute to the men and women of the Second World War generation, and to those of today’s, who have served and sacrificed to defend our nation.
We remember the collaboration of the Commonwealth and Allied nations who stood shoulder to shoulder then to secure our freedom and the communities coming together today to protect us all.
With many unable to take part in Remembrance services and events this year, you can still play your part from home and take part in a moment of Remembrance by observing the Two Minute Silence at 11am from your doorstep.
Remembrance Sunday service held online to honour the fallen
The British High Commission Singapore, in partnership with the Singapore Armed Forces Veterans’ League (SAFVL), held a virtual service to mark Remembrance Sunday today (8 November 2020).
The ceremony, broadcast at 10.40am (Singapore time) on the High Commission’s UK in Singapore Facebook page, paid tribute to all who had laid down their lives so that the generations after them could live in peace.
In the UK, Remembrance Sunday is held on the Sunday nearest to Remembrance Day on 11 November; the date marks the official end of the First World War in 1918.
As part of the pre-recorded service, senior representatives from the British High Commission Singapore, the Singapore Armed Forces and its Veterans’ League, and UK defence forces laid poppy wreaths at the Singapore Memorial in the Kranji War Cemetery.
The wreath laying was accompanied by a lamentation delivered remotely by bagpipers from the Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police Force.
At 11am, online viewers observed a two-minute silence, in memory of the fallen.
Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Defence Advisers from various nations later joined remotely in pledging ‘We Will Remember Them’, in response to a reading of an excerpt from Robert Laurence Binyon’s ‘For the Fallen’.
A joint choir made up of students from Dover Court International, Dulwich College Singapore, Marlborough College Malaysia and Tanglin Trust School performed the hymns ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’.
In the segment ‘Reflections from Singapore Youth’, members of the Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band – Swiss Cottage Secondary School shared their personal thoughts on peace and conflict. A bugler from the Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band also sounded the Last Post and the Reveille.
British High Commissioner to Singapore, Her Excellency Kara Owen, said in her speech: “Normally, we mark Remembrance Sunday together, at a morning service at Kranji War Cemetery. We can’t do so in-person this year. We have to meet virtually instead. But our method of meeting does not dilute our purpose, nor our sincerity.
“Today, we are paying our respects to the fallen and in doing so, we are living out our promise to remember the sacrifices of those – from all nations – who fought and died. A promise to remember their service and re-affirm the values that they fought to preserve.
“And to acknowledge both the courage of those who served their country and our responsibility to work for the peace they fought so hard to achieve.”
Leith Library has opened as Edinburgh’s newest Covid-19 testing centre as part of the UK Government’s drive to make testing more accessible to local people.
This will be the third City of Edinburgh Council building to operate as a test centre following the Usher Hall and Gate 55 Community Hub in Wester Hailes.
The building, also home to the Registrar’s Office, will provide an additional and safe centre for anyone showing symptoms.
Anyone attending an appointment will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the centre safely, with additional support for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities.
Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: “Our top priority is keeping Edinburgh’s residents safe and the best way to do that is by encouraging people to follow the latest guidance and get tested if they have any Covid-19 symptoms.
“Our two other sites in the city centre and west Edinburgh have been helping hundreds of people every week to get tested so it’s really welcome that we now have a third site open in the north of the city.
“We’ll keep the use of Leith Library under review and if we’re in a position to safely reopen the library in the New Year we’ll work with the government to find alternatives.”
Cammy Day, Depute Leader, said: “It’s important we play our part by providing the government with buildings to carry out the testing which has been going really well. We now have three centres open in different parts of the city and I urge anyone with symptoms to follow the guidance and make sure they get checked out.”
The Leith Library testing site is open now between 8am and 8pm and can be found at 28 – 30 Ferry Road.
Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout, including while travelling to and from the testing centre.
Anyone who tests positive will be contacted by contact tracers to help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with and protect others from further transmission.
Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from contact tracers, asking them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book at test if they develop symptoms.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has defeated President Trump in the 2020 presidential election as he secured the 270 electoral college votes required to win the race, according to projections by Associated Press, NBC News and other trusted news outlets including our own BBC and ITV.
With four states yet to declare, the Democrats have 279 votes while the Republicans have 214.
In a victory speech on Saturday (early hours of this morning in the UK), President Elect Biden said: “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States.”
While Mr Biden called for national unity, it’s unlikely to be a smooth transition for the President Elect.
President Trump is not known for losing gracefully and, while he has made no public appearances since the polls closed, he has released a barrage of tweets claiming widespread election fraud – so far without producing any evidence of corruption or voting irregularities.
Among them:
THE OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTING ROOMS. I WON THE ELECTION, GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES. BAD THINGS HAPPENED WHICH OUR OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE SENT TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER ASKED FOR THEM!
Trump also released a statement: “The simple fact is this election is far from over.”
The Trump campaign team now plan to challenge the election result in the US courts.
FM @NicolaSturgeon has warmly congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their success:
“Scotland and America share deep and longstanding bonds of friendship, and I look forward to these being renewed and strengthened in the years ahead”
The UK Government has also conveyed good wishes to the President-elect.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has congratulated Joe Biden on his US election victory.
Mr Johnson said he looked forward to “working closely” with the new president-elect.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also commented on result of the US Presidential Election.
Dominic Raab, said: “My congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on winning this election, with more votes than any candidate in US history. President Trump fought hard in what proved a close contest.
“We’re looking forward to working with the new administration on all of our shared interests, from tackling Covid-19 to counter-terrorism, and collaborating closely through our Presidencies of COP26 and the G7 next year.
“The friendship between the UK and US has always been a force for good in the world.”
Placing food out for animals to eat without needing to hunt or scavenge is a simple but effective way to look after local wildlife. Place fat balls or blocks out for birds along with grain and nuts to keep them going through the winter months.
2. Bonfires
Although big community bonfires won’t be happening this year, if you’re planning one at home it’s important to check for all animals and wildlife before setting it alight. These can include hedgehogs, toads and frogs. Prod underneath the bonfire with a stick to encourage the animals to move before you strike a match.
3. Compost Heap
Compost heaps are a great place for hibernating animals to live due to the warmth it can provide. Take caution when turning your heap, or if you’re able to try and avoid turning it at all, or as much as normal, during the cold winter months.
4. Ponds
If you have a pond and see it frozen over, try and melt a hole in the middle so that the animals can still find a source of water. Do this by using a saucepan full of hot water. Don’t hit or crack the ice as this can cause shockwaves causing potential damage to the animals in the pond. If you don’t have a pond, a little dish of water at ground level will be a great source of water.
5. Berries
If you have any berry or fruit trees in your garden, ensure you leave some fallen fruit and berries untouched. By doing so, birds such as thrushes and blackbirds can enjoy food before winter hits. Traditional hedgerow berries such as blackberries, sloes and rosehips will provide food for birds during the colder months.
6. Bug hotels
Building a bug hotel with pieces of wood and leftover bricks and other materials will provide a safe place for bugs to call home. It can be as small or as big as you like and can be as simple as a pile of logs.
SCOTTISH student Stewart Morgan has launched an online charity event, in partnership with Bo’ness-based online auction house John Pye Auctions, to support Movember following his cancer diagnosis.
Stewart, 22, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with testicular cancer just four days after his 21st birthday. However, since being given the ‘all clear’ he is campaigning to not only raise money but also to educate high school boys on the genetic disease and to speak up if they think something is wrong.
The auction – which is now live until 12 noon on Monday 30 November – has an incredible range of items available. There are currently 28 lots up for grabs – with more due to be added – all generously donated by local businesses and individuals, including sporting experiences, luxury overnight breaks and selfcare products.
Highlights include:
Gleneagles 4 Ball on your personal choice of world-renowned courses
Macallan 18-year Double Cask
Overnight stay and afternoon tea at the Pine Trees Hotel, Pitlochry
Stewart said: “This is my first charity auction, so I’m thrilled that John Pye decided to support my cause. As a fit and healthy young guy, being diagnosed with testicular cancer came as a huge shock – I always thought I was invincible.
“From the initial shock of finding out I had cancer, to telling my family and friends, countless appointments and finally undergoing surgery in October 2019, it was a terrifying experience.
“However, since becoming cancer free I’ve tried to turn it into something positive. I’m constantly encouraging people to just check – even once a month in the shower, look out for any pain, swelling, firmness or lumps and call your GP if you are unsure. I was amazed at the number of guys, of all ages, who had no idea what symptoms to look out for!
“This happens to brothers, dads, sons, grandads, friends, uncles, cousins and more. If you notice something you aren’t sure about; ASK!”
All funds raised will be added to Stewart’s Movember fundraising total in addition to his work educating local high schools and completing a number of outrageous challenges. He has also organized a number of bus adverts in collaboration with his university Heriot-Watt.
Adam Pye, managing director at John Pye Auctions, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to help Stewart raise money for Movember. It’s such a worthy cause and after hearing about his personal experience we were more than happy to offer our assistance.
“We hope the money raised will go a long way in supporting testicular cancer, but more importantly we hope this campaign encourages men of all ages to be more aware of the symptoms and to get checked out if something doesn’t seem right.”
Since January this year, John Pye Auctions has helped to raise more than £70,000 through its online charity auctions and has smashed its aim of raising £50,000 for the entire year.
The impressive total has been donated following each auction to a wide range of charities across the UK, each with the purpose of making a difference to the local community.
To see the full auction list and place a bid, please visit:
To find out more about John Pye Auctions and the comprehensive services it offers please visit: www.johnpye.co.uk or join the conversation on Twitter @John_Pye.
Military Wives Choirs pay homage to the Unknown Warrior with a new recording of ‘Abide with me’
This year marks the centenary of one of the most poignant events following the First World War: the burial of the Unknown Warrior.
As a result of the war, nearly a million servicemen and women from Britain and the Commonwealth lost their lives. It was decided early in the war that, to ensure equality of treatment in death, no bodies would be repatriated.
This meant that hundreds of thousands of those that fell would never receive a proper burial or a grave at which their family could grieve. Many were left in unmarked graves on the battlefields where they lost their lives, and 165 000 were simply never found.
The immense grief felt by the families who were never be able to bury their loved ones moved Reverend David Railton, a chaplain who had himself served on the Western Front, to write to the Dean of Westminster, Herbert Ryle, with an idea for a single Unknown Warrior to be brought home to be the focus of national mourning.
So on 11 November 1920, a single body, name, rank, and regiment all unknown, was returned from the battlefields of Europe and buried in Westminster Abbey with full State honours. He had an honour guard of 100 Victoria Cross winners, as well as 100 nurses who had been wounded at the front.
As part of the same Service, the Cenotaph on Whitehall was unveiled by the King. Over the days that followed, millions filed past the grave to mark their respects before it was finally filled with soil brought back from the battlefields.
The hymns sung in the funeral service were recorded using experimental equipment by 2 sound engineers, one of them an officer in the newly formed Royal Air Force. They became the first electrical recordings ever sold to the public.
In this centenary year, members of the Military Wives Choirs from across the UK have come together to record a new version of one of those songs: ‘Abide with Me’. Among them are members of the North London Choir who are primarily made up of family members from the Northwood area.
The single ‘Abide with me’ is available now via Spotify, iTunes and Amazon. A short documentary with some original footage is available on the Westminster City Council website and on YouTube.
Ocean Terminal had a surprise visitor last night when Santa was caught on CCTV!
He’ll be back in residence again at the centre this festive season. More info and dates to come but rest assured Santa’s back … and Christmas is not cancelled at Ocean Terminal!
A LIFELINE charity will continue to support children and families across Scotland through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic thanks to a £100k funding boost.
Children 1st – which works with families across Scotland to protect children from harm and to help them to recover from trauma and abuse – has received £100,000 from the Barclays 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme.
Scotland’s national children’s charity will use the funding to continue to provide practical, emotional and financial ‘whole family’ support and to help families recover from the impact of the pandemic over the coming months and years.
Children 1st chief executive Mary Glasgow said: “We can’t thank Barclays enough for their support.
“Right now, families are telling us that they feel at the end of their tether. After so long living with restrictions, they’re exhausted. Many families are struggling to make ends meet and are looking for support to keep the gas running, put food on the table and to manage the emotional toll that the pandemic has taken.
“Families facing the most desperate circumstances need to know they don’t need to go through this alone – we are here for them.”
Over the coming months and years, the charity will focus its efforts on supporting children and families to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
With frontline services delivering direct support in 12 different communities across Scotland, the Children 1st team have seen at first hand the devastating impact the coronavirus has had on vulnerable families already living in very stressful situations.
Thanks to the funding from Barclays, the charity will continue to respond quickly to families’ needs by providing emergency support including food and care parcels, vouchers and digital devices to help with loneliness and isolation.
The financial support package from Barclays will also ensure that families will continue to be supported through Children 1st Parentline – a lifeline service which helps families with emotional, financial and practical support, over the phone and online.
Children 1st Parentline can also put families in touch with Children 1st Money Advisors, who help parents and carers deal with money worries and take control of their finances, while also offering emotional support.
Scott Stewart, Head of Barclays Scotland, said: “This crisis has had an unprecedented impact across Scotland and we know this is an incredibly challenging time for many families and young people.
“By reaching those most in need of support, local charities, such as Children 1st, have played a vital role in this crisis, and continue to do so. With a long and growing presence in Scotland Barclays is doing all it can for customers, clients and colleagues to help them through this pandemic.
“We hope that the donations we are making to charities in Scotland, including Children 1st, will allow them to amplify their vital work as the crisis develops.”
In April, Barclays announced a £100m Community Aid Package to support charities that are helping people and communities most impacted by COVID-19.
