Monday 19 September, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, will be a national bank holiday.
Monday 19 September will be a bank holiday to coincide with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral
bank holiday to mark the last day of the period of national mourning
Monday 19 September, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, will be a national bank holiday.
This will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.
This bank holiday will operate in the same way as other bank holidays, and there is no statutory entitlement to time off. Employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement.
The bank holiday will take place across the United Kingdom.
The bank holiday will be a unique national moment, and the UK Government would encourage employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take time off.
Does this bank holiday mean individuals can have the day off work?
This is a matter for discussion between individuals and their employer. There is no statutory entitlement to time off for bank holidays, but employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement.
The government cannot interfere in existing contractual arrangements between employers and workers. However, we would expect that many workers will be able to take the day off on the bank holiday. We also expect employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take the day of the funeral off work.
Some employment contracts ask individuals to work some Saturdays/bank holidays. Can these individuals take this bank holiday off work?
This is a matter for discussion between individuals and their employer.
If an individual will have to work on the day of the funeral – can they take an additional day’s holiday another day?
This is a matter for discussion between you and your employer.
If an individual will have work on the day of the funeral – will they be paid extra?
This is a matter for discussion between you and your employer. There are no statutory rules regarding extra pay on bank holidays.
If an individual has annual leave booked for the day of the funeral – will they be able to reclaim this leave?
This is a matter for discussion between you and your employer.
Will this bank holiday apply everywhere in the UK?
Yes, this bank holiday will apply in all parts of the UK.
Is this an official bank holiday, or does it have a special status?
This bank holiday is official and applies in the same way as all others.
Was King George VI’s funeral a National Holiday?
No, King George VI’s funeral was not a bank holiday, but the government wants to help give as many people as possible the opportunity on the day of the State Funeral to mark Her Majesty’s passing and commemorate Her reign.
Will there be a bank holiday for the Coronation?
No decision has yet been made. A decision will be made nearer the time.
Will the bank holiday to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral be an annual holiday?
There are currently no plans for an annual holiday.
Will schools be closed on the day of the bank holiday?
Yes, schools will be closed, we are not asking them to remain open on the day of the bank holiday.
Granton’s very own hand carved 9-meter-long Iron Age logboat, Dobhran, will sail again today!
Today’s re-launch is at Granton Harbour between 12.30 – 1pm. All welcome to watch, cheer and clap.
‘Dobhran’ got severely damaged as Storm Arwen washed into Granton Harbour way back in ancient times; November 2021!
Volunteers from both The School of Ancient Crafts and Granton:Hub have worked hard … only teaditional Iron Age skills & techniques have been used in the fixing of ‘Dobhran’ logboat, and, no seals were harmed in the sealant process!
Her Majesty The Queen’s journey to Edinburgh will begin tomorrow, Sunday 11 September, with an official cortege from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Her Majesty’s coffin will leave Balmoral at 10am to be brought by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will remain before Lying at Rest on Monday at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The Princess Royal Princess Anne wil accompany her mother on the journey.
To minimise disruption as the convoy makes the journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh and to allow those who wish to pay their respects to do so safely, there will be designated viewing locations along the route. These will be at Ballater, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh (further details below).
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Her Majesty’s death at Balmoral Castle means Scotland has lost one of its most dedicated and beloved servants. The grief we have seen across the world has been profound and deeply touching. It will be especially poignant to see Her Majesty’s coffin begin its journey from her Aberdeenshire home to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
“This is a chance for people to gather together publicly and begin to mark our country’s shared loss. We anticipate many, many people will be keen to pay their respects and we ask them to observe public safety messaging to ensure the safety of all.”
There will be temporary closures of laybys and access roads along the route the convoy will travel. Transport networks are likely to be busy and delays are expected along the route. Regular traffic reports will be provided via Traffic Scotland and travel bulletins on TV and radio.
For safety reasons, those wishing to leave floral tributes are asked to do so at designated areas along the route and mourners have been requested not to throw flowers at the convoy as it passes.
Edinburgh event
All the pavements along the route in Edinburgh will be lined with barriers to allow the public to view from there. The Edinburgh route will stretch from north of the city to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Public Proclamations will be made in Edinburgh today (Sunday 11 September) to announce the Accession of The King.
The King’s Body Guard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers) and the Guard of Honour will march from the Castle Esplanade to the Mercat Cross.
The main procession will make its way from Parliament House to the Mercat Cross. The party will consist of:
His Majesty’s State Trumpeters
Moderator and Office Bearers of the Society of High Constables of Edinburgh
City Officer
Macer to the Court of the Lord Lyon
Heralds and Pursuivants of Scotland
Lord Lyon King of Arms
City Mace and City Sword
The Lord Lyon King of Arms will then read the Proclamation to the people of Scotland. This will be followed by a 21 gun salute from Edinburgh Castle.
The procession will then make its way to Edinburgh Castle where The Lord Lyon will read the second Proclamation.
Very large crowds will be expected to gather along the Royal Mile to witness the Proclamations and there will be limited space. Those wishing to attend are advised to allow plenty of time. Access may be restricted for safety reasons if numbers exceed capacity.
Events, which are due to start after 11am, will also be televised.
Thousands expected to pay their respects to HM The Queen in Edinburgh
The Queen’s cortege will leave Balmoral this morning (Sunday) and arrive at the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 4pm.
The King and members of the Royal Family will arrive on Monday for the Ceremony of the Keys, followed by a historic procession up the Royal Mile and a service at St Giles’ Cathedral, where the Queen will lie at rest before leaving for London late afternoon on Tuesday.
Her Majesty’s coffin will be guarded by Vigils from The Royal Company of Archers, to allow the people of Scotland to pay their respects.
Members of the public who wish to do so will be able to view the coffin at rest from 5pm on Monday.
Lord Lieutenant Robert Aldridge said: “The news of Her Majesty The Queen’s passing has been met with great sadness around the world and has been greeted with an outpouring of emotion that reflects how highly regarded she was at home and abroad.
“I’m preparing to warmly welcome King Charles and Royal family members and of course to express deepest sympathy on behalf of the city.
“The next few days will be truly historic for Edinburgh, with tens of thousands of people descending to pay their respects and millions more across the world tuning into the broadcast coverage.
“I believe Scotland can take real pride that Her Majesty cherished her time here and now the eyes of the world will be upon the Capital as we unite in national mourning and herald our new King.
“This is a time for our communities to stand together and for people to reflect on our shared history. The outpouring of grief from citizens and visitors is touching and demonstrates the special relationship the city shared with the Queen.
“Edinburgh’s Books of Condolence have been opened online, at Central Library and across the city for citizens and visitors to pay their respects.”
What to expect in Edinburgh
With the city centre already filling up with crowds of mourners, we’re urging people to plan ahead and avoid any non-essential travel on Sunday along the line of the cortege route as people pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen.
Thousands are expected to gather along the route and anyone wishing to come along is being urged to do so safely, plan ahead and allow extra time, taking account of local and city centre road closures, weather conditions and the likelihood of spending many hours at the roadside. The city council will continue to update their dedicated webpages with the latest advice and road closures.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “These are sad and difficult times for us all as we mourn Her Majesty’s passing. I’m proud, however, that Edinburgh will play such a significant part in the ceremonial events taking place in the coming days and have no doubt that our beautiful Capital city will provide the perfect backdrop.
“I want to warn residents that we’re anticipating significant delays along the route as the Queen’s cortege arrives in our city tomorrow but we’re making every effort to minimise disruption. The city centre will be very busy so please plan ahead and follow the latest travel advice on the Council’s website.
“We’re also urging people to please use public transport where possible. If you absolutely have to travel by car, consider using park and rides, allow extra time for your journey and only park within designated areas, respecting the needs of local residents and businesses.
“Please be aware that you may have to sit or stand for a number of hours and with limited facilities, so please prepare accordingly.”
As per mourning guidance shared by the Royal Household, floral tributes are encouraged to be left at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The @edintravel traffic information team will be carefully monitoring the city’s roads, sharing the latest information on disruption and diversions on Twitter.
Countdown is the most popular UK game show with 996,000 annual searches
The Chase comes in second place, with 840,000 searches per year
The UK’s most popular game show gets almost one million searches each year, new research has revealed.
The study, commissioned by gaming experts Mahjong Challenge analysed the average number of yearly Google searches for more than 60 game shows on UK TV to reveal the top 10.
The most popular UK game show is ‘Countdown’ with more than 996,000 annual searches. The words and numbers quiz challenge was the first program to be aired on Channel Four back in 1982, and 40 years later holds the top spot in UK Google searches.
ITV’s ‘The Chase’, presented by Bradley Walsh, is the second most popular game show with 840,000 searches per year – twice the average of the top ten game shows.
The show sees contestants battle against a professional quizzer in an effort to win a cash prize, with individuals walking away with as much as £75,000!
‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ takes third place with 456,000 annual searches. The show, originally hosted by Chris Tarrant and later by Jeremy Clarkson, first aired in the UK in 1998 but has since aired in more than 120 countries in more than 80 languages, making it one of the most successful game shows on TV. As such, it is not surprising to see it in the top 10 most searched for UK game shows.
With 360,000 searches per year, ‘Catchphrase’ sits in the fourth position. The show first aired in 1986 and is currently presented by Steven Mulhern. Contestants try to guess the correct catchphrase with the help of a photo or animation.
The fifth most popular UK game show is ITV’s quiz program ‘Tenable’ hosted by Warwick Davis, where contestants try to find the top ten answers in a given category. Next is BBC’s ‘Mastermind’, which sees players answer challenging questions to collect the most points. In seventh place is ‘Blankety Blank’, a comedy game show where contestants try to match the answers of a celebrity panel guessing the missing word in a statement. All three game shows have more than 300,000 searches per year.
Rank
UK Game Show
Monthly Search Volume
Yearly Search Volume
1
Countdown
83,000
996,000
2
The Chase
70,000
840,000
3
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
38,000
456,000
4
Catchphrase
30,000
360,000
5
Tenable
28,000
336,000
6
Mastermind
26,000
312,000
7
Blankety Blank
25,000
300,000
8
Tipping Point
22,000
264,000
9
Crystal Maze
21,000
252,000
10
Question of Sport
21,000
252,000
A spokesperson for Mahjong Challenge commented on the study: “Game shows have been a staple in many homes across the UK since the 1950s and some of the most successful game shows on TV originated here in Britain.
“It will be interesting to see how the popularity changes over the coming years though, since 75% of Countdown viewers are in the 55 plus age range, whereas The Chase has a wider target audience.
“Game shows face more competition than ever before to capture the attention of younger audiences, since they are used to having access to endless entertainment at the touch of a button through services such as Netflix and Prime Video.”
Foysol Choudhury MSP’s contribution to Ending Institutional Racism in Sport debate at Holyrood following the publication of Plan4Sport report:
“Another investigation, another organisation found to be Institutional Racist and a long list of actions to be taken!
Twenty-three years after the 1999 Macpherson report, racism is still present across society.
Since then, positive moves towards equality have been taken and I applaud the work of campaigns such as Show Racism the Red Card and Kick it Out, which encourage the end of racism within sport.
Institutions that receive Government funding must be held to account and must promote anti-racist equality practices.
Institutions and their boards must not be given awards whilst failing to uphold standards of fairness, equality and accountability for those they serve.
It is unacceptable that Cricket Scotland was winning diversity awards whilst 448 cases of institutional racism were happening.
I commend those who shared their lived experiences of racism within the sport, including former Scotland internationals Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh.
Doing so has helped to expose the realities that racism does still exist in Scotland and that something needs to be done, now!
I hope that in the future, it will be easier for other victims of racism to share their experience and be supported in doing so.
The Plan4Sport report, whilst shocking and extremely disappointing, is a wakeup call about the reality of racism in sport and in Scotland today.
I am a cricket lover and have played the game myself. Sport should be an exciting, enjoyable pursuit for children and adults alike and we should not be allowing a culture where people feel that they cannot succeed in, or enjoy, sport because of institutional barriers against their skin colour, religion or cultural background.
I want to see strict laws, monitoring and methods to ensure change.
Racism in Scotland has gone on long enough. Now is the time to deliver change!”
Lisa Maynard from Care Inspectorate’s improvement team shares a great new initiative that is being rolled out in Fife to combat loneliness among people living in care homes:
During the pandemic Carol Hands, Care Home Liaison Nurse, reflected on how isolated people were feeling so she began a pen pal service called Letters of Friendship, Loneliness is not an option.
The poster has been distributed to care homes across the region and the team of care home liaison nurses to promote it when they are out on their visits or during their support calls.
There has already been a good interest in the scheme with around 50 residents starting to write letters. This communication tool can not only stimulate new conversations with new people but tackle loneliness and improve mental health.
If you would like to find out more about this initiative or share any initiatives of your own with us please contact Lisa Maynard, Interim Senior Improvement Adviser: Lisa.Maynard@careinspectorate.gov.scot
Bring your little ones along to Little Scare-lings at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this Halloween, where they will become certified scarers and enjoy an afternoon of spine-chilling family-friendly activities.
Taking place in Edinburgh between 27 – 30 October, Little Scare-lings is a spooktacular way to get ready for the Halloween festivities, and kids up to age 10 are encouraged to come dressed in their most terrifying costume where their scare-factor will be put to the test.
Children will have the chance to perfect their scare tactics, showcase their monster strut in a group parade, and take part in making their very own monster plant pot to take home. Dobbies will award each child with their very own scare certificate at the end of the session.
In addition to the activities, there’s the chance to enjoy some tasty treats, with fish fingers and tomato pasta on the menu, with gluten free and vegetarian options also available. Children will also receive a Halloween cupcake.
Adults can enjoy Dobbies’ ever-popular Afternoon Tea, with a selection of finger sandwiches, mini cakes and baked slices, plus freshly-made plain and fruit scones with jam and clotted cream. They will also have the option of a pot of tea or small coffee. For those looking for a sweet treat, there’s the option of a cake and drink ticket.
Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager at Dobbies, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming families across Edinburgh to our Halloween event. Taking inspiration from our popular Little Seedlings programme, Little Scare-lings gives children the chance to join in some fantastically-spooky fun.”
Tickets for Little Scare-lings are available now at dobbies.com, and booking is encouraged to avoid disappointment. Activities are aimed at children aged 3 -10, but under 3 can participate with adult supervision. Children’s tickets are great value, priced at £8.99, and adults can join in on the fun from £6.99.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Know Your Numbers, Ladies
September is the launch of our #HERdisease campaign, aimed to raise awareness of the fact that 23,000 women die from coronary heart disease every year in the UK and dispel the myth that heart disease only affects men.
This week is ‘Know Your Numbers! Week’ which runs from 5-11th September and encourages everyone to take ownership of their heart health numbers. Cholesterol levels and blood pressure are two key markers to understanding your risk of heart disease.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the measure of the force that your heart uses to pump blood around your body. It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as 2 figures: 1) Systolic pressure – the pressure when your heart pumps blood out, 2) Diastolic pressure – the pressure when your heart is at rest, between pumps. Systolic pressure is always shown on top, and diastolic pressure is always shown on the bottom. A simple lifestyle step like reducing your salt intake can help reduce your blood pressure. Cholesterol
There are two main types of cholesterol, LDL, sometimes termed ‘bad’ cholesterol, and HDL, sometimes termed as ‘good cholesterol’. The reality is that we do need some of both types of cholesterol, but the incorrect balance can be harmful. When LDL cholesterol builds up in the arteries, it can contribute to plaque formation, whilst HDL cholesterol removes harmful cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Before women go through the menopause they can naturally have a higher HDL cholesterol due to the presence of oestrogen which seems to boost good cholesterol. See our previous healthy tip for ways to reduce bad cholesterol.
Get a Test
The only way to know if your blood pressure or cholesterol is high is to have it checked. Checks are quick and easy, and it could be lifesaving. Adults aged 40 years or over should aim to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
You can ask your GP to check your blood pressure, or you may be able to have your blood pressure checked with your local pharmacy or gym. You could also consider investing in a home blood pressure monitor to keep track of your numbers.
Environmental campaigners have reacted to the appointment of Jacob Rees-Mogg MP as UK Energy Minister and are calling on the Scottish Government to ‘stand up to’ his plans to expand North Sea oil and gas.
The new Prime Minister Liz Truss appointed Rees-Mogg as Secretary of State for Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy this week.
Liz Truss supporters have said that she is expected to hand out more than 130 exploration licences for more oil and gas in UK waters. The Prime Minister also indicated that she would be willing to support fracking in areas where communities supported it. Scotland has a de facto ban on fracking.
Rees-Mogg said in April 2022 “We need to be thinking about exploiting every last cubic inch of gas from the North Sea. We are not going for net zero tomorrow – 2050 is a long way off.” He has also spoken of ‘climate alarmism’ and has been accused of misrepresenting climate science.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opposed the controversial Cambo oil field last year but has failed to speak out against the recently approved Jackdaw field or the Rosebank field which contains over 300 million barrels of oil equivalent – far outstripping the Cambo field’s initial phase of 150 million barrels.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “With his track record of climate denial it should be extremely worrying for anyone concerned about a liveable planet that Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed UK Energy Minister.
“The Scottish Government must be willing to stand up to Rees-Mogg’s reckless plans to expand fossil fuels and hand out more licences for oil and gas companies to explore and drill in the North Sea. Ministers at Holyrood must speak out and use all the tools at their disposal to block any plans to further lock us into the oil and gas that is driving both the climate and cost of living crises.
“In a welcome change of position at COP26 the First Minister stated that she would no longer support drilling for every last drop of oil and gas in the North Sea, and spoke out against the Cambo oil field. But with barely a whimper of opposition from the Scottish Government to new fossil fuel developments such as Jackdaw and Rosebank, promises made at COP26 are starting to ring hollow.
“Renewables are already far more affordable than new fossil fuels. Scaling up home insulation programmes can help bring down bills, create decent green jobs right across the country and ensure that every home is warm this winter.“
Tribute to our Sovereign and Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Royal British Legion Scotland is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our Sovereign and Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth served as our Patron since her accession in 1952, taking over this role from her father, King George VI, and earlier her grandfather, King George V, who had been Patrons of Legion Scotland before her.
The Queen granted us the Royal title in 1971, the year of the Legion’s Golden Jubilee. Legion Scotland then led the organisation of the 20th Annual Conference of the British Commonwealth Ex Services League in Edinburgh in May 1977, where the Queen attended the reception.
In 1981 she carried out the Royal Review where she was joined by 3000 Legionnaires in Holyrood Park to mark our Diamond Jubilee. We have also been honoured annually to receive her greetings and well wishes to our members on the occasion of our Conference, as well as her congratulations last year when Legion Scotland marked our centenary.
Throughout her reign, the Queen has diligently served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. Her relationship with the Armed Forces began before her accession when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945. On doing so, she became the first female member of the Royal Family to serve as a full-time active member of the Armed Forces.
As Head of the Armed Forces, the Queen was also committed to honouring the service and sacrifice of the entire Armed Forces community, leading the nation in moments of Remembrance each November.
Her Majesty had a tireless devotion to our nation and has been an inspiration to us all. We are immensely thankful for her faithful lifetime of service. We join the entire Armed Forces community in mourning her loss and our sincere condolences are with the Royal Family at this time.
