Day: June 11, 2023

Nessie search continues as reimagined Loch Ness Centre opens

Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit.

Visitors to the Highlands and wannabe monster spotters can now walk through 500 million years of history, delve deeper into Scottish myths and legends, and discover the scientific research behind the global phenomena that is the Nessie legend at The Loch Ness Centre. 

Located at the old Drumnadrochit Hotel, where, 90 years ago, Mrs Aldie Mackay hotel manageress reported seeing a ‘water beast’ in Loch Ness, Continuum Attractions has invested £1.5m in creating a modern immersive journey.

During the one-hour experience guests become part of the quest, discovering the real stories and meeting the many real and historic characters associated with the search for the truth about Loch Ness and Nessie.

Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit.

Throughout eight immersive rooms guests delve deeper not just into history of the Loch Ness phenomenon but also the scientific research carried out by Adrian Shine and The Loch Ness Project (based on site), showcasing scientific methodology and real artefacts such as a real mini submarine, real underwater cameras, boats, sonar equipment all used in the quest to uncover the secrets of the 23 miles long Loch.

In ‘People and Stories’, guests will explore some of the most famous sightings and hoax’s linked to Nessie, set in the ‘bar of the old hotel’ guest meet old and young Mrs Aldie Mackay and learn how her one sighting changed history forever; and gave birth to a modern legend.

Guests’ hunt for the truth doesn’t end after the tour, tickets include an optional 12-month membership to The Loch Ness Quest, giving exclusive access to the latest Nessie sightings, events and news.

Guests can go on to explore the depths of the world’s most famous loch for themselves onboard the Centre’s vessel, Deepscan, named after the Operation Deepscan expedition carried out on the loch in 1987.

Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit.

Juliana Delaney, Chief Executive of Continuum, said: “It’s an honour to open the doors to the newly imagined Loch Ness Centre. This must be one of the world’s greatest stories and it deserved a more modern and immersive presentation, which I hope we have delivered. 

“We are very aware we are only temporary guardians of this amazing legend and we want to invest in keeping the search alive. 

“There’s also a surprise for guests too when they hear who our narrator is!”

Pre-booked tickets are available in advance online. Adult tickets start from £13.95 online and Deepscan Cruises tickets start from £19.00.

To book your trip to The Loch Ness Centre or a cruise tour, please visit: 

https://lochness.com

Hamilton & Inches to showcase the 2023 Rolex Collection


Hamilton & Inches, a Scottish luxury jeweller and jewellery designer, is hosting the highly anticipated 2023 Rolex collection at its prestigious showroom in the heart of Edinburgh. This exhibition promises to be a captivating celebration of craftsmanship, presenting the latest iconic creations from Rolex.

The showcase which takes place from June 12th to June 20th, will unveil the brand’s newest additions, including the exquisite Oyster Perpetual 1908. Drawing inspiration from one of Rolex’s first watches with a Perpetual rotor, this completely new timepiece opens the Perpetual collection in a modern and avant-garde fashion, redefining traditional watchmaking through their visionary lens.

Victoria Houghton, CEO of Hamilton & Inches, said: “Our Edinburgh showroom sets the perfect stage to showcase the remarkable 2023 Rolex Collection. This exhibition offers our valued clientele a rare opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the world of luxury watchmaking, granting an unparalleled opportunity to see the newest array of Rolex novelties in person.

“Each visitor’s experience will be tailored to their preferences, ensuring a bespoke exhibition that leaves a lasting impression. It serves as an exceptional opportunity to gain real insight and become knowledgeable about these new pieces.”

Joining the line up is the light and robust, new Yacht-Master 42, an ally of those seeking freedom of movement. Especially suited to the demands and pressures of competitive sailing, it puts watchmaking excellence at the pinnacle of sporting performance.

To mark the watch’s 60th anniversary, Rolex has rejuvenated the iconic Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, to produce a timepiece with enhanced visual harmony and a more modern demeanour.

The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II joins the collection as the ultimate navigation companion whilst embodying Rolex’s dedication to excellence and precision.

These highlights represent just a glimpse into the stunning array of timepieces that will be on display during the exhibition. With its full collection of latest creations, Rolex proudly showcases its perpetual pursuit of excellence. The watches unveiled illustrate the brand’s commitment to reinvention and cutting-edge technology while honouring tradition and timeless artistry.

The 2023 Rolex collection exhibition reinforces Hamilton & Inches’ position as the capital’s premier destination for fine jewellery, luxurious watches, and handcrafted silver. From June 12th to June 20th, the 2023 exhibition will offer customers and watch enthusiasts an opportunity to explore the innovations that Rolex has crafted for this year. Visitors can view the collection without an appointment during the showroom opening hours.

As well as attending the exhibition, customers can also take advantage of Hamilton & Inches high-quality watch service and repairs. As the first accredited Rolex Service Centre in Edinburgh, Hamilton & Inches has a heightened after-sales customer service, offering the ultimate immersive and luxurious experience.

To find out more, visit www.hamiltonandinches.com

Police investigation into SNP funding and finances: NICOLA STURGEON ARRESTED

POLICE SCOTLAND STATEMENT

A 52-year-old woman has today, ​Sunday, 11 June, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.

A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.

As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.

UPDATE @ 17.33

A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.

Are the kids alright?

Throughout 2020 and 2021, Public Health Scotland (PHS) ran three national surveys to hear directly from the parents and carers of younger children about how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated restrictions, had affected their families.

PHS heard how the pandemic had impacted on relationships, behaviour, mood and parental wellbeing, with negative outcomes reported more frequently in low-income households compared to high-income households.

Now, three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, PHS is checking in again to see how young children and their families are doing. Parents and carers of a child aged between 0–11 years old are being asked to complete a new national survey, even if they have taken part in previous surveys or are caring for a child born out with the time of the pandemic restrictions. The survey is running for a fourth time from 8–30 June 2023, and PHS is keen to gauge any ripple effect, as well as any impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Dr Grant Aitken, Public Health Intelligence Adviser at PHS, said:

“It’s important that we find out if the challenges we heard about previously are reducing, or if there are still some families who are struggling to cope with lasting impacts of the pandemic.

“Equally, it could be that some impacts are only becoming apparent now, and it’s important we capture these if so. This includes understanding people’s financial needs, with many families struggling to afford basics like food, housing costs or household bills.”

As with previous surveys, findings will be used by PHS to support practitioners, service providers and policy makers to respond to children and families in need, in areas covering childcare, education and health. Doing so is vital to help create a Scotland where all children and their families are given the chance to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, and to thrive.

Please complete the survey, or help us to promote it by emailing phs.comms@phs.scot for social media assets and a flyer for distribution or display.

Poor children to suffer, as Scotland’s oral health gap set to widen

The British Dental Association has responded to new figures from the Scottish Liberal Democrats warning the oral health gap between rich and poor children will widen, given ongoing access problems, and the growing exodus from a broken NHS system.

Official data from Public Health Scotland has already shown the fall in participation is hitting those in most deprived communities the most. In September 2008, the gap in child participation between the most and least deprived areas was three percentage points; this had increased to seven percentage points by 2010, eighteen percentage points (55.3% compared to 73.1%) in September 2021. The figure now stands at twenty percentage points (55.9% compared with 75.8%).

The BDA has warned that lower levels of participation will inevitably translate into a higher dental disease burden, with deep oral health inequalities expected to widen even further given the cumulative impact of limited access to services, the temporary suspension of public health programmes, and the impact of lockdown diets. Lower participation will reduce the chance of picking up early signs of decay at routine check-ups, and delays in treatment will mean higher costs to the NHS and worse outcomes for young patients. 

The professional body has stressed that reform to the broken low margin/high volume model the service works to are now essential, and that a new model has been pledged for rollout in the autumn. At present certain key treatments can be delivered at a financial loss, accelerating the exodus from the service. A recent BDA survey showed over half (59%) of high street NHS dentist reported having reduced the amount of NHS work they did since lockdown. Over four in five (83%) said they plan to reduce or further reduce their NHS commitment in the year ahead. 

The BDA says that the future of the service hinges on reform providing it with firm foundations, with a decent, sustainable model that can deliver for patients and dentists across Scotland. 

David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said: “The oral health gap between rich and poor kids is set to widen.

“It’s a national scandal. Prevention is better than cure, but dentists are losing the chance to nip problems in the bud. The growing exodus from the NHS may make that permanent.

“Tooth decay is already the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children. It will take real reform to bring this service back from the brink.”

Midsummer Picnic at Granton Castle Walled Garden

Midsummer Picnic at Granton Castle Walled Garden

Saturday 17th June 1pm – 4pm.

All are welcome to join us.

Bring your own picnic and enjoy activities or just relax.

We’ll be there with water play💧and we’ll offer taster yoga sessions 🧘

There will also be a plant sale 🌱🌿🪴 and much more!

Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

Weekend storm warning for motorists

As weather forecasters say we could be in for a weekend of thunderstorms, motorists are being warned to check their insurance policies before venturing out into the elements.

The Met Office says a ‘hotter than normal’ weekend will bring outbreaks of torrential downpours and thunderstorms as temperatures cool after the heatwave.

Quotezone.co.uk, a leading car insurance comparison website, says any damage to cars caused by driving through flash floods might not be covered by insurance policies. It warns motorists to carefully check their policy exclusions, and even if routes are partially blocked, drivers should think twice before using waterlogged roads.

If drivers find themselves stuck in the car during a thunderstorm, official advice from the Met Office is to wind up the window and stay inside the vehicle – the metal frame of the car should act as a conductive Faraday cage, passing the current around the passengers and into the ground, should it be struck by lightning.* 

If motorists have an open or soft top vehicle, they are best to avoid driving if they know thunderstorms are coming.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Motorists who have taken out third party only or third-party, fire and theft insurance wouldn’t be covered for any storm damage to their vehicles – only fully-comprehensive policyholders are likely to be protected in those cases.

“If a storm is predicted look at official flood warnings, avoid roads that are likely to flood and allow more time for your journey, note you may have to pull over and wait it out if the downpour starts to affect your visibility – not forgetting to put on the hazard lights.

“Unfortunately, if motorists do decide to drive through waterlogged roads, there’s a very real risk that they won’t be covered for any resulting water damage to the car – even fully-comprehensive drivers.”

Greg also warns motorists that have to go out, to make sure their cars are roadworthy before setting off, which includes checking tyre tread and windscreen wipers.

Quotezone.co.uk compares prices across all types of car insurance, including breakdown cover,  and niche products such as motor trade insurance – helping around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance. 

Men jailed for sexual offences

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday, 9 June, 59-year-old Rhoderick McGregor was sentenced to 10 years for serious sexual offences.

McGregor was convicted on Tuesday, 16 May, at Edinburgh High Court in connection with the offences that took place in Fife between 2006 and 2014.

Detective Sergeant Mark Brown said: “We acknowledge how difficult this has been for McGregor’s victims. Their commitment and engagement during our investigation helped ensure his conviction. Our thoughts remain with them and I hope that his sentencing gives them some comfort and assists them in moving forward.

“Investigating the abuse of children and young people is a top priority for Police Scotland. I hope this outcome will give confidence to anyone who is experiencing or has experienced abuse to come forward, knowing that we will carry out a robust investigation to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“No matter how much time has passed, please report it. You can be assured that you will be fully supported by our officers and our partner agencies.”

A man responsible for the non-recent sexual abuse of young people in Edinburgh has also been jailed.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, 7 June, 2023, James Grover was sentenced to four years in prison for assaults on three people during the 1990s and 2000s.

The 41-year-old became subject of a Police Scotland public protection investigation in 2019 after the victims, who were aged between 12 and 15 years old at the time of the offences reported their abuse.

Grover was arrested and charged on 6 February 2020 before being found guilty of lewd and libidinous practices, indecent assault and assault on 2 May, 2023.

Detective Inspector Jonny Wright, who led the investigation, said: “Over a number of years, James Grover targeted his victims and subjected them to serious abuse that was both physical and sexual.

“These individuals showed incredible courage to come forward and make us aware of Grover’s offending, allowing us to conduct a thorough investigation, which ultimately led to his conviction and prison sentence.

“I want to thank them for their bravery and support of our inquiries. I hope today’s outcome brings them closure and peace of mind.

“Police Scotland will always take any reports of non-recent sexual crime seriously and investigate robustly. If you wish to report offences of this nature please contact us via 101.”