Day: November 25, 2023

Christmas display opens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

VISITORS to the Palace of Holyroodhouse will see the State Apartments transformed with shimmering Christmas trees, garlands, and a magnificent table display to celebrate the festive season.

Highlights of Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse:

(Thursday, 23 November), visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse will see the State Apartments transformed with shimmering Christmas trees, garlands, and a magnificent table display to celebrate the festive season.Royal Collection Trust staff making final adjustments to the Christmas displays at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which are open today to the public. Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023. Photographer David Cheskin.
  • A magnificent Christmas tree in the wood-panelled Throne Room is the centrepiece for the displays. Another glittering Nordmann Fir tree and two decorated mantelpieces create a festive atmosphere in the storied Great Gallery.
  • Velvet garlands, vibrant berries and seasonal foliage adorn the Great Stair leading to the historic State Apartments, and wreaths are hung in the windows in the enfilade of the King’s Rooms.
  • In the Royal Dining Room, the grand table is laid with a silver service and with sugared fruit and foliage.
  • In the Café at the Palace in the Mews courtyard, visitors can enjoy homemade mince pies, Christmas cake and mulled wine surrounded by wreaths and garlands. Decadent Christmas-themed Afternoon Tea can also be booked in advance.
  • Visitors interested in learning how monarchs have celebrated Christmas over the centuries – from exchanging Christmas cards and personal gifts to holding festive pantomimes – can hear short talks held on Thursdays throughout December.
  • A programme of festive music will be performed in evening Christmas concerts on Sunday, 10 and Monday, 11 December, concluding with a glass of wine and mince pies.
  • On Saturday, 2 December, a festive session of the Abbey Strand art club will allow families to see the beautiful decorations and discover some Christmas stories before decorating their own porcelain Christmas tree decoration.
  • A special version of Royal Rhyme Time on Monday, 4 December will give toddlers and their parents or carers the chance to celebrate through interactive storytelling, festive songs, and rhymes. 
  • On Mary, Queen of Scots’ birthday, Friday, 8 December, a special evening event at the Palace will explore life at Mary’s court. Visitors will have the chance to join an intimate curator-led tour of Mary’s chambers as well as experience the sights and sounds of Mary’s court at Christmas through festive talks, music performances, and activities.
  • The Carols and Crafts: Christmas Activity Day on Saturday, 16 December gives families the chance to try their hand at making either clay decorations, inspired by the Palace’s 17th-century interiors, or Christmas crackers, a Victorian invention. There will also be local choirs performing songs.
  • New Christmas products are available in Royal Collection Trust’s shops, including festive home accessories, charming tree decorations, food hall favourites and luxury hampers: www.rct.uk/shop.

Granton Community Christmas Tree Lighting

Granton’s Community Tree lighting event is on Sunday 3rd December at 5pm.

Once again we will kick off our Christmas season with the Community Tree lighting event.

We are preparing for a great night where the community gathers together to celebrate the start of Advent and the lead up to Christmas.

There will be singing, there will be mince pies, there will be fun and there will be a great gathering of people!

This year we are delighted to welcome the Ukranian Children’s choir who were a massive hit at our Summer Festival back in Juner.

Be part of your community by bringing your voice and your friends. Together we will remind each other why Granton is such a great place to be and this year the tree will be bigger than ever!

https://www.grantonchurch.org.uk/community-tree-lighting…/

Doctor Who theme tops the charts

To mark the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, music royalty organisation PRS for Music has revealed a chart of the UK’s top 20 Most Played Sci-Fi TV Theme Tunes. With its distinctive electronic composition, exploring sound art, the iconic Doctor Who theme tune tops the chart.

Based on data provided by PRS for Music, the organisation which represents the rights of over 165,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, the chart showcases the most popular sci-fi theme tunes that have been streamed, broadcast and publicly performed.

First broadcast on 23 November 1963, the Doctor Who theme has become one of the world’s most recognisable and enduring TV theme tunes.

Originally composed by Ron Grainer and arranged by Delia Derbyshire (both PRS members) at the world-famous BBC Radiophonic Workshop, the work is characterised by its eerie and otherworldly sound. Created using cutting-edge electronic music techniques, the composition was groundbreaking for its time.

The Doctor Who theme has been rearranged and reinterpreted numerous times over the years. Notable composers who have put their own spin on the theme include Dominic Glynn, Peter Howell and Keff McCulloch.

In 2005,award-winning composer Murray Gold captivated audiences with his interpretation by reimagining both the theme and TV series score. Gold became the show’s resident composer for over 12 years, and even filmed a cameo in the 2007 Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned, as a guitarist aboard the Max Capricorn Cruiseliners spaceship, the Titanic.

In 2018, Segun Akinola’s work brought a fresh and modern approach to the show’s musical landscape. Three special anniversary episodes, that are set to be broadcast from Saturday 25 November, see Gold return to score the show alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

PRS for Music’s Most Played Sci-Fi TV Theme Tunes chart includes 20 of the most recognisable and spine-tingling scores on our screens today, from modern cult classics like The Last of Us to animated favourites Rick and Morty, as well as the vintage sounds of Red Dwarf and Star Trek.

PRS for Music: Most Played Sci-Fi TV Theme Tunes

1.       Doctor Who

2.       Red Dwarf

3.       Star Trek

4.       Stargate Atlantis

5.       Rick And Morty

6.       The 100

7.       Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

8.       Heroes

9.       Last Of Us

10.   Fringe

11.   Battlestar Galactica

12.   The Expanse

13.   Smallville

14.   Torchwood

15.   Better Off Ted

16.   Star Wars Rebels

17.   Manifest

18.   Person Of Interest

19.   Killjoys

20.   The Twilight Zone

NB: Chart rank based on UK streams, broadcasts and public performance data provided by PRS for Music for the period 1 January 2023 – 14 November 2023.

Nala the Station Cat’s Christmas anthem aims to take the UK by storm!

Move over, Santa! There’s a new festive sensation in town, and she’s not coming down the chimney. Meet Nala the Station Cat, the four-legged feline viral phenomenon earning millions of views that’s unleashed the catchiest Christmas single for years!

Nala’s Musical Journey

This ginger tabby, whose adventures at Stevenage station have made her a viral sensation, is now gracing our ears with her debut single, “Check Meowt.” Move aside, Mariah, because Nala’s vocal prowess is set to give even the most seasoned divas a run for their money. Co-written and produced by industry heavyweights Danny Kirsch and Joe Killington, this purr-fect melody is guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.

Exclusive First Play on BBC Three Counties Radio!

The cat’s out of the bag! BBC Three Counties Radio’s Justin Dealey gave Nala’s single an exclusive first play, leaving both the presenter and Nala’s owner, Natasha Ambler, momentarily tongue-tied. Forget speechless, they were “slightly lost for words.” Can Nala claw her way to the top of the charts? We’re all on the edge of our scratching posts!

All Aboard the Nala Express!

Nala, the station’s unofficial mascot, has been winning hearts and breaking down barriers faster than a speeding locomotive. She’s not just a cat; she’s a community builder, creating a purr-fectly cheerful atmosphere at Stevenage station. Station manager Shaun Smith says Nala is creating a “paw-sitive” vibe, making staff and customers alike feel part of a purr-fect local community.

Paws for a Cause: Charity at the Heart of Nala’s Mission

LadBaby just announced they’re not doing a number one this year, so there’s a new charity contender for the Christmas number one spot. All proceeds from “Check Meowt” will be generously donated to the RSPCA and Stevenage homelessness charity Feed Up Warm Up. Nala isn’t just winning our hearts; she’s making a difference in the lives of animals and humans alike.

Nala the Station Cat’s music video: Coming Soon to TikTok

Prepare to have your heart melted, one paw at a time. Nala’s viral adventures continue on TikTok, @nala_station_cat. The video is set to drop this week, and we predict it will be more viral than catnip. Get ready for the furriest, funniest, and most festive content of the season!

Join the Christmas Rescue with Nala and the RSPCA!

As we dance to the catchy beats of “Check Meowt” let’s not forget the bigger picture. Nala’s single comes at a time when the RSPCA needs our support more than ever.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “It’s always lovely to see animals we have rescued thriving in their new homes so to see Nala doing so well and touching so many people’s hearts with his train station adventures is amazing to see.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Nala and his owners for releasing their purr-fect single Meow to raise funds for the RSPCA and a homeless charity – and give it our full backing for the Christmas number one spot!

“The launch of Nala’s song comes at a time when animal and neglect calls to the RSPCA have reached a three-year high and our rescue teams are set to be busier than ever this Christmas. That’s why we need people to Join the Christmas Rescue – and support our dedicated frontline teams.

“With the help of Nala, his owners, and other kind animal lovers who raise funds and donate to the RSPCA, we can help transform countless animals’ lives this Christmas.”

Mermaid music at Granton Library

Have you ever met a mermaid? Would you like to?

Mermaid storyteller and singer extraordinaire Siren Cuan is coming to Granton Library and she would love you to join her!

(The person behind the mermaid, Catherine Bapty, is a music and ASN teacher with over 10 years’ experience).

We can’t wait for this exciting event. Please note that this is in our usual Friday Bookbug slot but as it’s aimed largely at the same age group we hope that won’t be a problem!

We do ask you to book so we can be sure everyone has the space they need – but the event is free to attend. Places available through Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/mermaid-music-and…

Hidden Door Festive Art Sale

We’ve lined up hundreds of pieces from dozens of past Hidden Door artists for our 2023 Art Sale – the ideal opportunity to grab some wonderful artwork.

Join us at The Hub on Castlehill for our exclusive Preview Night, from 7pm on Friday 8 December for festive drinks and live entertainment, and give yourself the best chance to grab the perfect piece for your wall.

We’ll then be open Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, 12-5pm, for those in town doing their Christmas shopping.

All proceeds from the sale will be split between the artists and Hidden Door, so every purchase will go straight towards supporting the local creative community.


Featured artists include: Olivia Turner, Madeline Mackay, MaryAnne Hunt, Jill Martin Boualaxai, Kat Cutler-MacKenzie and Ben Caro, Kathleen McVey, Evie Rose Thornton, Isabelle Phoebe, Elvey Anna Stedman, Jo Fleming Smith, David McDiarmid, Matthew Storstein, Jagoda Sadowska, Joan Smith and more.

National Tree Week: Future Woodlands Scotland and bp sign contract for £10m Urban Forestry Programme

As tree lovers across the country gather to celebrate National Tree Week, Future Woodlands Scotland (FWS) announces a partnership with bp to help deliver greener cities, towns, and urban areas through an innovative forestry programme.

The charity, which is dedicated to creating and conserving woodlands across Scotland, has signed a contract with bp, whereby the energy major intends to commit funding of a total of £10million to the newly created urban forestry programme as part of the development of its Scottish offshore windfarm, Morven, jointly developed with EnBW. 

A key ambition of the programme is to use new and emerging technologies to target the urban areas where creating greenspace will be of the most benefit to people.

The funding has enabled the charity to recruit its first urban forestry manager who will lead the delivery of the urban forestry programme, which it expects to launch in mid-2024.

FWS chief executive, Shireen Chambers, said: “We’re excited to be working with bp to take this next step in the development of our Urban Forestry Programme for the potential benefit of more than 4.5 million people living in Scotland’s urban areas.

“We are committed to making a positive impact on the urban environment, delivering substantial benefits for people, the environment, and the economy through the creation of a diverse network of trees and woodlands in and around our urban settlements.

“With the appointment of our first programme manager, Des Hackett, who has a wealth of experience in public policy and green space development, we can get down to the detail of developing the programme and look forward to its official launch next year.”

Urban forestry is the management of trees and forest resources in and around community ecosystems for their present and potential contributions to the physiological, sociological, and economic well-being of urban society.

Research shows that, in addition to the health and well-being benefits associated with access to nature, urban forestry can result in economic gains. According to a recent study by Forest Research and Defra, individual trees in the UK’s urban and rural areas are worth up to £3.8 bn per year.

The economic value is based on the role trees and woodlands play in sequestering and storing carbon, regulating temperatures, strengthening flood resilience, and reducing noise and air pollution. 

In Edinburgh, trees and woodlands help remove nearly 200,000 tonnes of airborne pollutants every year, and in Glasgow, research found that the urban forest structure intercepted 812,000 m2 of rainfall each year and removed nearly 300,000 tonnes of air pollution.

Ms Chambers added: “With more than 80% of people in Scotland living in urban areas, it’s important that they can access green networks where they live.

“The purpose of this programme is to create leafier neighbourhoods, including trees in parks, streets, amenity areas and along canals and rivers, which encourages people to spend more time outdoors interacting with their communities, which in turn promotes health and well-being.”

With the UK’s largest annual tree celebration National Tree Week about to start, FWS chief executive, Shireen Chambers and Richard Haydock, bp’s programme director, UK offshore wind, marked the new contract signing by planting an oak tree in the Scottish capital at Hunters Hall Park, located in the south of the city. It will contribute to the nature restoration along the Pentland to Portobello green corridor. 

Richard Haydock, bp’s programme director, UK offshore wind said: “We are proud of bp’s long-established partnership with Future Woodlands Scotland.

“The Urban Forestry Programme agreement marks an important expansion of our support. We look forward to launching the programme in 2024, which will focus on increasing the number of trees and green spaces in Scotland’s cities and towns.”

bp has supported the regeneration of woodlands in Scotland for more than 20 years and is committed to making a positive impact to restore and enhance biodiversity where its people live and work.

Thousands of older people will be alone this Christmas – but a card can make all the difference

Call out for Edinburgh locals to join schools and businesses in sending a card to a chronically isolated, local older person this Christmas through Vintage Vibes

Edinburgh-based charity project, Vintage Vibes today announced the launch of their Christmas Card Campaign to ensure lonely and isolated older people in the city receive a Christmas card this year.

Since 2017, Vintage Vibes has asked thousands of local people to write Christmas cards to isolated older people in the city by sending them a profile of someone who will be lonely this festive season – and this year more than ever they need the public to get involved!

Edinburgh locals are invited to show their support by visiting Vintage Vibes’ website, where they can donate and receive a profile of a local, lonely older person – from Betty who loves cats and crafting, to Edward who puts tomatoes on his cereal!

They can then write a personalised Christmas card to them and send it on to Vintage Vibes in time to distribute for Christmas. All the family can get involved, with Vintage Vibes VIPs loving to receive children’s drawings and crafts as part of the card!

One female VIP who spent Christmas day alone last year told Vintage Vibes: “Sitting here on my own, receiving your cards and letters gives me something to look forward to. It does make such a difference, thank you.”

With new findings from the University of Glasgow and data from a UK Biobank study, showing the devastating impact social isolation can have on older people – the need for inclusion and meaningful connections has never been greater.

Findings showed, those aged over the age of fifty-seven, who experienced more than one form of social isolation, such as often feeling lonely, not seeing friends or family, or living alone for a prolonged period had a 77% higher risk of dying earlier.

As one of The Edinburgh Playhouse’s Charities of the Year, Vintage Vibes teamed up with staff at the theatre to launch this year’s campaign which is designed to make older people, who might be alone over the festive season, feel valued and remembered.

Georgia Artus, Development Manager at Vintage Vibes said: “During the pandemic, we all got a taste isolation many older people suffer daily.

“Sadly, for a great many, that isolation will continue without the support of Vintage Vibes and our wonderful network of volunteers. 

“Edinburgh is one of the loneliest cities in the UK for older people and we know something as simple as receiving a Christmas card can make all the difference to someone who will be alone over the festive period. I would encourage anyone to get involved, it is easy to do and makes such a difference.”

Claire McCarragher, Deputy Customer Experience Manager: “We at The Edinburgh Playhouse are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Vintage Vibes, Christmas Card Campaign.

“The staff are looking forward to connecting with the VIPs and making their festive period a little bit brighter.”

To take part in Vintage Vibes’ Christmas Card Campaign and make this Christmas special for a local lonely older person visit vintagevibes.org.uk.

Up to £600 winter support for pensioners arriving in bank accounts

Payments of up to £600 are landing directly in the bank accounts of around 11.5 million UK pensioners for the second year running

  • Comes as part of extensive Government package helping people of all ages, including recent £300 Cost of Living payments to more than seven million eligible households.
  • After meeting our pledge to halve inflation, the UK Government this week also confirmed an 8.5 percent increase to the State Pension next year.

Pensioners across the country have started to receive up to £600 to help with energy bills this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments – boosted again this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will land in bank accounts over the next two months, the vast majority automatically.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “We have delivered on our promise to halve inflation and will continue to support people right across the country, including pensioners who may be facing particular challenges over the colder months.

“As well as up to £600 to help our pensioners stay warm this winter, we’re boosting pensions through the Triple Lock – increasing the full rate of the New State Pension by over £900 next year.”

The money will appear in bank statements with the payment reference starting with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for people in Great Britain, or ‘DFC WFP’ for people in Northern Ireland.

The overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically but some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment. The payments deliver additional support to pensioners, the majority of whom are on fixed incomes and also are unable to raise their incomes through fixed employment.

The start of the Winter Fuel Payments season comes hot on the heels of the recent £300 Cost of Living payments made by the DWP to more than seven million eligible households across the UK.

This latest payment is the second of up to three Cost of Living Payments being made this financial year. These payments – which are all tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards – demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting low-income families with financial pressures.

Pensioners getting Pension Credit also qualify for this extra support. The average Pension Credit award is now worth £3,900 per year and there is still time for those who are eligible to apply and receive the £300 Cost of Living payment. 

This is because an eligible claim for Pension Credit can be backdated by three months provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.

Including measures announced in the Autumn Statement this week, our total commitment to ease cost of living pressures has risen to £104 billion. That includes paying around half the cost of the average energy bill since last October and amounts to an average of £3,700 per household.