Month: April 2024

Queen Margaret University annual open event this week

WEDNESDAY 17th APRIL from 4.30 – 7pm

Queen Margaret University is set to welcome representatives from business, industry and voluntary organisations, along with members of the local community and alumni, to its  annual open event to learn about the fascinating range of work that is going on at the University.

People from across Edinburgh and the Lothians are invited to the campus in Musselburgh to find out about a variety of the University’s initiatives and build links with its staff. The event will provide an insight into QMU’s research and innovation work, educational and community engagement initiatives, and its economic impact both locally and internationally. 

Visitors can expect an insight into the use of immersive virtual reality to help paramedic students navigate real life emergencies; portable ultrasound technology to help detect swallowing difficulty in acute and community settings, community arts projects, and QMU’s impressive international education partnerships. 

For those interested in the great outdoors, this will be a chance to tour the newly opened Outdoor Learning Hub and Discovery Trail, located in campus grounds, and to hear about QMU’s focus on outdoor learning. 

In a brief presentation and Q&A session, those attending will hear directly from the University’s Principal, Sir Paul Grice, and Chair of Court, Pamela Woodburn, who will discuss the institution’s recent developments and ambitions for the future, as well as how QMU’s work makes a difference to people’s lives locally, nationally and globally. 

Visitors will be invited to chat to researchers and academic staff at an informal fair in the University’s atrium, where they can learn about research projects and academic work being delivered by the School of Health Sciences and the School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management. 

Pamela Woodburn, Chair of the University Court, said: “We look forward to welcoming people from across the Lothians.

“The evening will provide a great way for people involved in the business community, arts and cultural organisations, charitable and third sector organisations, food businesses, healthcare providers and local QMU graduates to find out how Queen Margaret University might benefit their organisation, or them individually. 

“The evening will provide an excellent platform to support informal networking, and to make new connections with visitors and university staff which could be of mutual benefit.”

A presentation, stallholder event, Outdoor Learning Hub tours, virtual reality demo, light refreshments; and networking opportunities will all be part of this friendly, interactive evening event, which will run on Wednesday 17th April from 4.30pm – 7pm. 

Attendance at QMU’s Annual Open Event titled ‘Local Impact and Global Reach’ is free. Book your place at Eventbrite (QMU’s open event). 

Event Timings:  

  • 4.30-5.30pm, Registration and opportunity to explore exhibits, speak with University representatives, including Court members, and tour the Outdoor Learning Hub.  
  • 5.30-6.10pm – formal presentation  
  • 6.10-7pm – exhibition continues, along with tours 
  • Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available in the atrium tiers along with the informal exhibition. 

OPEN EVENT EXHIBITION STALLS 2024

As part of our 2024 open event, there will be an informal exhibition and fair showcasing a range of projects and developments from across the University.

See list of stalls.

Muirhouse Parkway hit and run: Man to appear in court

Around 4.10pm yesterday (Sunday, 14 April), police received a report of a crash involving a 63-year-old female pedestrian and a car on Muirhouse Parkway.

“The woman was taken to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

“The car left the scene before officers arrived.

“A 61-year-old man was later traced and arrested. Enquiries are ongoing.”

UPDATE @5pm:

THE man was was subsequently charged and he is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Tuesday, 16 April, 2024).

Scottish dessert sauce business competes for spot on Aldi’s shelves in Channel 4 series

  • Mairi Hawkes, founder of Lismore business Slainte Sauces, beat hundreds of hopefuls to appear on the show with her ‘adult dessert sauces’
  • Six-part series sees food and drink suppliers compete to be listed in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide
  • Aldi’s Next Big Thing, ‘Party’ episode, will air on Channel 4, Tuesday 16 April at 8pm 
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Self-proclaimed islander, Mairi MacFadyen, from Isle of Lismore, will appear on the Channel 4 series Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Tuesday, 16th April, 8pm. 

Mairi is the founder of Slainte, a boozy dessert and savoury sauce company for grown-ups. Sauces include Rum & Salted Caramel, Whisky with Raspberry & Vanilla and White Chocolate & Raspberry Martini – all containing 25% alcohol. 

Hosted by Anita Rani, of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Chris Bavin, of BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series will see suppliers compete in a range of categories including dinners and baked goods, as well as exciting new category additions: party, world, and confectionery. 

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Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, who deliberates on factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before shortlisting contestants down to just two.   

The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, with a follow-up home visit from Anita or Chris who will report back their findings to Julie. The three then taste test the improved products, before Julie decides the winner which will appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 stores.   

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “Gone are the days of simple cheese and pineapple sticks, as people are opting for more exciting, extravagant party foods. It’s certainly a category that invites experimentation!”  

Translating to ‘cheers’ in Scottish Gaelic, Slainte, pronounced ‘Slan-cha’, is Mairi’s pride and joy, and she is now looking to claim a spot on Aldi’s shelves.  

Mairi, who makes all the sauces herself, says: “There are no words to describe how big this is for me. I keep pinching myself – is this real? I really want a big contract, I can actually see my sauces in Aldi. I can see myself going in there, taking photos of them. It would really change my life.“ 

The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to support British suppliers. Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores. 

The supermarket has also introduced a ‘Best of British’ section to its website, which includes a wide selection of groceries from meat to dairy products and everyday essentials, in a bid to help shoppers support British businesses. 

To find out if Slainte’s Boozy Dessert Sauces made it on to Aldi’s shelves, watch Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4 on 16th April. The series will air every Tuesday at 8pm until 7th May.  

Tommy Sheppard MP calls for immediate action on district heating bills

Tommy Sheppard, MP for Edinburgh East, is calling on the UK Government to take urgent action to extend energy price caps for residents whose homes are heated through district heating.

Residents in Edinburgh East who receive their heat and hot water from district heating have seen eye-watering energy bill increases of more than 500% on unit charges following the UK Government’s Energy Bills Discount Scheme ending at the end of March.

Residents in one newbuild development built in 2019 in Greendykes, built by Places for People, are reporting bills having skyrocketed with some experiencing overnight price increases well in excess of £1200 a year for heat and hot water alone.

The UK Government has repeatedly ignored SNP calls to close a loophole meaning residents getting their heat from district heating sources are not covered by the energy price cap that most households benefit from. The result has been that, following the ending of temporary UK Government support, energy bills for residents and businesses have skyrocketed since April 1st.

Tommy Sheppard MP has written to the UK Government to seek an urgent update on district heating systems being charged at commercial, rather than domestic rates. This has meant residents who are part of district heating schemes fall into a loophole of the UK Government’s energy price cap, meaning price rises for them are not subject to the same controls.

Commenting, Tommy Sheppard MP said: “Residents are worried and rightly angry about the impact of these eye-watering rises. It’s farcical that having done everything right, these residents now face bills well in excess of what they would be paying if they had an individual gas boiler.

“This defeats the entire point of low carbon energy schemes which are essential if we’re to continue to make progress on tackling climate change.

“The UK Government need to urgently bring district heating schemes under the same price protections as the rest of the energy market. It’s not right that energy companies continue to make a killing out of residents purely because of a technicality that the UK Government have been aware of for years and have done nothing to resolve.

“I’m demanding action from UK Ministers. They’ve been asleep at the wheel while residents in my constituency are suffering, they need to fix this now. What’s happening isn’t fair.”

Local resident Claire who has lived in the development for the last 4 years said: “As of the 1st of April my provider has implemented a 500% increase in the price I pay per kWh from 5p to 26p – with no notice to myself or my neighbours.

“I am now facing bills in excess of £200 a month for simple heating and hot water requirements. This has put a huge financial strain on my budgeting, alongside the many other cost of living increases faced today.  

“As our home is served by district heating not only are we not protected by any price cap or regulations, we are also trapped to one provider with no option to shop around or swap tariffs, leaving myself and my neighbours forced to find 5 times the money to simply have warm showers and heat our homes.”

G7 statement on Iran’s attack against Israel

G7 Leaders joined a call on Sunday following Iran’s attack the previous evening

We, the Leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel. Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel. Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack. We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security. 

With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided. We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation. In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives. 

We will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need.

FCDO statement on the summoning of the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires

THE Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office yesterday.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: “The Foreign Secretary summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy today.

“The UK condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel, as well as their violation of Jordan and Iraq’s airspace. At a time of great tension in the Middle East, this was a profoundly dangerous and unnecessary escalation by Iran.

“The UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the civilian ship “MSC Aries” and its crew, which was seized by Iranian armed forces yesterday in international waters.

“The Iranian authorities must take meaningful and immediate action to de-escalate and halt its reckless and unlawful behaviour.  

“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and the security of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq. We will also continue to work with our international partners to protect and uphold stability in the region.”

Concern over missing Silverknowes man

HAVE YOU SEEN WILLIAM?

POLICE are appealing for help to trace William Budge, 61, who is missing from the Silverknows Gardens area of Edinburgh but may be in the Fife area.

William is described as medium build and has short, grey hair. When last seen he was wearing a black jumper, dark green t-shirt, dark blue jeans and dark coloured shoes.

We are concerned for William’s welfare and urge anyone who may have seen him to contact us.

Inspector Craig Sandbach said: “We are carrying out searches to try and trace William and I’d urge anyone who may have information about his whereabouts to contact us.”

Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 2620 of 14 April, 2024.

UPDATE

Monday 15/4 7.30am

William Budge, 61, who was missing from the Silverknowes Gardens area, has now been traced.

The Botanist launches Live Music Event every Friday & Saturday

After a cold, grey winter, the sun is finally making an appearance, nights are getting lighter and there’s blossom on the trees; the season of days with friends turning into nights dancing until the small hours is here, and The Botanist is helping everyone celebrate summer with free live music every weekend at The Botanist LIVE. 

Supplying the soundtrack to your weekend every Friday and Saturday night, The Botanist’s talented artists are set to play live from 8pm until late. Guests can expect a vibrant party atmosphere and sounds of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco and blues.

 The events are not ticketed and are free to attend, so all you need to do is turn up at the bar, order one of The Botanist’s refreshing botanical cocktails and wait for its house band get the party started. 

Out for the night? Showcasing what it does best, the Botanist team will be serving up signature feel-good food and shaking cocktails as usual throughout the evening, for those looking to book a table in the restaurant before letting the good times roll until the early hours. 

To find your nearest The Botanist and book your spot, visit:

https://thebotanist.uk.com/book-online 

Hearts & Minds welcome their new Artistic Directors

Hearts & Minds are delighted to welcome Diane Thornton and Lucy McGreal as their new Joint Artistic Directors as the charity celebrates 25 years of delivering their therapeutic clown programme.

Diane and Lucy have been artists with the charity for several years and both are trained as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers. The charity is delighted that they are now going to lead the Artistic Programme. They will be working alongside Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles who will now become joint Programme Engagement Managers.

Fiona and Rachel have been Interim Co Artistic Leads for the last two years and will remain an integral part of the team that co-ordinates the programmes in hospitals, hospices, schools, and residential healthcare units.

All four artists will still practise as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers and continue to deliver therapeutic clowning visits to young people and ladies and gents with dementia.

Diane and Lucy commented on their new appointment: “We are delighted to become co-Artistic Directors of Hearts & Minds. It feels extra special to take on this role when the organisation is celebrating 25 years of the Clowndoctors.

“We are stepping forward to lead an artistic team we’ve been part of for a long time. Diane started as a Clowndoctor 18 years ago and Lucy started as an Elderflower 13 years ago.

“We have huge respect for our multi-skilled colleagues. We are grateful for the excellent work of interim co-Artistic Leads Fiona and Rachel. We will always be inspired by our former Artistic Directors Suzie Ferguson and Magdalena Schamberger.

“Therapeutic clowning is not unique to Scotland. It is an internationally recognised performing arts in health practice. It’s not just for laughs! Our therapeutic clowns offer authentic emotional engagement with each person they visit, creating connections which have lasting positive impacts on well-being.

“We look forward to developing our programmes in healthcare, education, and social settings. Our aim is for Clowndoctors and Elderflowers to be further integrated in units across Scotland, consistently offering work of the highest quality and fostering strong collaborations with staff.

“We are passionate about equality and access. At the heart of our work is the experience of the children, young people, and adults we visit.”

Sean Donnelly, CEO, Hearts & Minds commented: “I am thrilled to welcome Diane and Lucy into their new roles as Joint Artistic Directors of Hearts & Minds.

“Their dedication and long-standing commitment to our organisation, coupled with their extensive experience as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers, make them invaluable leaders for our artistic programmes.

“I am confident that under their guidance, Hearts & Minds will continue to flourish and positively impact the lives of those we serve. I also want to extend my gratitude to Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles for their exceptional leadership as interim Co-Artistic Leads and their ongoing contributions to the ongoing development of Hearts & Minds. 

“This is a significant year for Hearts & Minds as we celebrate 25 years of the Clowndoctors, and I look forward to working together to support even more people when they need it most.”

Students prove they’re a cut above the rest in surgical skills competition

A talented medical student from the University of Newcastle has come out on top in a prestigious national surgical competition.

It is the 2nd year running that a student from the University of Newcastle has taken home the top prize.

The acclaimed competition, run by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) in partnership with Medtronic and now in its seventh year, sees medical students from across the UK and Ireland demonstrate their surgical talents in a series of challenges.

Tom Adamson, a keen climber and violinist, came first in RCSEd’s celebrated competition, which saw over 1300 students apply to take part, with 40 qualifying for the Grand Final.

Tom said: “I think all those hours of bouldering and violin have finally paid off.”

“I was thrilled to take home the top prize on the day, especially when considering I’m amongst some incredibly impressive peers from across the country’s top medical colleges.

“The RCSEd reps were incredibly insightful and patient with us on the day. I learned a lot throughout the process, and it has really got me considering surgery as a specialism. I’d strongly urge any medical students to give next year’s competition a go.”

Eric Dos Santos a final year Venezuelan student at the University of Liverpool, finished in second place, while Natalie Mojica, fourth year Canadian student at the University of Birmingham, finished in third. 

Professor Angus Watson, Member of the RSCEd Council and organiser of the Surgical Skills competition, has taken inspiration from his recent deployments to the Ukraine and Gaza, introducing two new humanitarian surgical skills tests, with the aim of inspiring the students to consider humanitarian healthcare as a profession.

The competition comprised three stages, with the first round consisting of an online quiz and virtual surgery challenge, which whittled down the top performers from each medical school to move onto the next stage.

In the second round of the competition, organisers decided to keep the innovative virtual stage that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, when RCSEd partnered with artificial body part manufacturer OrganLike and medical technology leader Medtronic to create a special “surgical theatre in a box” which students used to carry out a variety of surgical challenges.

The final was held in RCSEd’s distinguished grounds on Nicholson St in the Scottish Capital’s Old Town, where the 40 finalists competed in a series of challenges such as suturing bananas, anatomy tests, laparoscopic skills, and opportunity to practice with a combat tourniquet and orthopaedic trauma.

Professor Angus Watson commented: “Another thrilling final – the response we received from students across the UK last year was incredibly heartwarming.

“This past year, our primary aim was to widen the competition’s horizon to welcome all medical students, fostering a keen interest in the surgical field. Our goal was to highlight the critical role of basic surgical skills, not just for those on a surgical path but for a broad spectrum of medical careers.

“The enthusiasm and calibre of entries we received was truly inspiring. It’s my hope that we’ve encouraged numerous students to contemplate surgery as a viable and rewarding career option. Considering the exceptional quality of submissions, our winners have every reason to be exceptionally proud of what they’ve achieved. I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in making this event a success.”

First homes released at landmark Edinburgh development

Phase one at Royal Meadows sees 22 homes come to market

THE FIRST homes have been released at one of Scotland’s most high-profile developments, that is transforming Edinburgh’s former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into a range of luxury homes.

Featuring 83 homes in total, a mixture of apartments, penthouses and townhouses, Royal Meadows is the most ambitious project to date by the renowned Edinburgh developer, Square & Crescent.

Included in the first phase of homes released to market are five-bedroom, three-storey townhouses on Millerfield Place starting from £1.55m.

Six stylish apartments have been released within the east wing of the main red sandstone Sciennes building, as well as eight Millerfield apartments, which look directly on to The Meadows.

Simon Cook, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director with Square & Crescent, said: “We recognise just how significant these buildings are to people in and around Edinburgh and the responsibility for ensuring a fitting next chapter.

“The talented teams involved in bringing our early vision to life are successfully transforming and revitalising these historic buildings using real craftsmanship to create beautiful, well-appointed homes.

“We trust that they will be well received by homebuyers and urge anyone interested to get in touch.”

Occupying an outstanding location on the edge of The Meadows, one of Edinburgh’s most famous parks, the luxury homes sit on a four-acre site and lie between Sciennes Road and Rillbank Crescent.  

The Royal Meadows sales suite and show apartment is now open by appointment for potential buyers. Construction on the residential development is set to be fully completed in early-mid 2026, with the first clients set to get their keys this Summer.

Nestled in the heart of Marchmont and The Grange area of Edinburgh, the Royal Meadows development is well-connected – just one mile from Princes Street and a short walk from Lothian Road.

The premium residential developer supports Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) – which helps seriously ill babies, children and young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians by supporting their medical care, mental health and family’s wellbeing. ECHC’s former headquarters is one of the buildings being converted as part of the major Royal Meadows development.

Square & Crescent is a widely regarded residential developer with a primary focus on the acquisition and development of historic buildings into beautiful homes.

Available homes within the first phase at Royal Meadows start from £520,000.

For more information on Royal Meadows, or to register interest, visit the development website www.royalmeadows.co.uk or call 0131 225 2155 and select option two.