TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER
WARRISTON CREMATORIUM – LORIMER CHAPEL at 1pm
The funeral service for Billy Fitzpatrick will be held at Warriston Crematorium, Lorimer Chapel, on Tuesday 21st October at 1pm.
All are welcome, family flowers only.
Post service the wake will be held at Tanfield Bowling Club, Inverleith.
The competition to be CAMRA’s cream of the crop in the prestigious National Pub of the Year 2025 competition is hotting up and Staggs in Musselburgh, a previous title holder, has once again reached the final stages.
The Scottish pub has already won the title before in 1998 and was a worthy runner-up in 2018.
Staggs is a superb pub run by the same family since 1858 with a traditional bar and snug, wooden floors, wood panelling and mirrors from now closed local breweries. The pub’s interior is of historic interest with an attractive Victorian era gantry topped with old spirit caskbarrels. It has a range of regularly changing cask beers and has recently featured in the hit Netflix series Department Q.
After months of rigorous judging, just four pubs remain in the competition. They will now battle it out to claim the National Pub of the Year title, the Campaign’s biggest award and one of the highest accolades a UK pub can win.
All the super regional finalists have proved to be exceptional. The final round of judging is now underway with the winner set to be revealed at the start of 2026.
Beating thousands of entries and showcasing their commitment to quality and their communities, the pubs have been judged on their atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and, most importantly, quality cask beer, real cider and perry.
While this is fantastic news, CAMRA is warning pubs need specific support as they continue to face their toughest year yet.
The consumer group is calling on the Scottish Government to radically reform the unfair business rates system which unfairly penalises pubs, and wants the UK Government to take action on VAT, energy bills, employer national insurance costs and duty served on beer and cider served in pubs.
Speaking from Staggs, Katie McKenzie, a co-owner of the pub, said: “Nigel, Hayley and I are absolutely delighted to be in the final four of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition.
“It is a testament to our hard-working staff, the breweries who supply us with fantastic beer and the community who drink and socialise with us. Staggs is a special place to many and we are grateful to everyone who plays a part in making us a community and more than just a pub.”
Stuart McMahon, Director of CAMRA Scotland, said: “Staggs is a fantastic historic pub tucked away in a quiet corner of Musselburgh and has been run by the same family for almost 170 years.
“Nigel Finlay, owner, assisted by his two daughters, is passionate about the quality of the cask beers they serve and customers are always guaranteed a warm welcome, enjoying their beers whilst viewing the many historic mirrors and previous CAMRA awards that are on display.”
Cargilfield School, in Edinburgh, has been named the ‘Best Prep School in the UK’ at the prestigious Tatler Schools’ Awards 2026. The award recognises outstanding commitment to providing a nurturing, vibrant, and academically rigorous environment for students.
It follows the results from the School’s Education Scotland inspection in 2023, where Cargilfield achieved top-tier ratings across all four categories – an accomplishment rarely seen in Scottish education.
Most notably, the school was awarded an ‘Excellent’ for Raising Attainment and Achievement, a distinction reserved for truly exceptional practice. Inspectors described the quality of education as “something you would send someone across the country to observe,” further highlighting Cargilfield’s reputation as Scotland’s leading prep school.
Commenting on this win, Colin MacIntosh, who was appointed as the new Head in March 2025 said, “This award is a recognition of the excellence here at Cargilfield. Every child plays a really important part in the life of the school, and we are so deeply proud of the amazing school and the nurturing community we have created.
“I have been working in prep schools for over 20 years and have been bowled over with the quality of education that I have seen at Cargilfield. The staff and children are so engaged and enthusiastic and throw themselves into every aspect of school life with genuine excitement and passion.”
The Tatler Schools’ Awards are a celebration of excellence in the UK independent school and are based on the extensive research conducted for the Tatler Schools Guide, which aims to provide “insider reviews” of the top Prep and Public schools.
Emma Buchanan, Head of the Pre-Prep at Cargilfield School commented, “We believe in fostering a love for learning and supporting and encouraging our pupils to achieve their full potential.
“We provide them with the essential foundations on which to build as they move through their school years and into adult life. This award from Tatler is a clear endorsement of our philosophy and collective effort”
Colin MacIntosh continues: “We are a school where children are encouraged to excel in every area. We’re ambitious for our children and we encourage them to be ambitious for themselves.
“We are delighted that this award recognises what we have done and we’re committed to maintaining these high standards, making our school a benchmark for excellence across the UK.”
Results published last week from the Scottish Household Survey 2024 show that 83% of households with a two to five year old child (not yet at school) used at least one form of childcare, similar to previous years.
The most common forms of childcare used were local authority nurseries and private nurseries, used by 40% and 32% of households respectively.
Around 5% of households used childminders, a decrease from 10% in 2018.
The survey asks respondents about their satisfaction with any funded early learning and childcare they receive, and 91% of households receiving this provision said they were either very or fairly satisfied with the quality of it.
63% of households with a child aged two to five years stated that all childcare used was either free or funded by the local authority or Scottish Government.
When households with at least one child aged 0 to 11 years were asked about the affordability of childcare, 10% said that they found it difficult and a further 6% said they found it very difficult to afford.
The full statistical publication Scottish Household Survey 2024 Childcare – gov.scot is available with further information on the use of childcare within Scotland, including information on types of childcare used, use of funded early learning and childcare, satisfaction with funded provision, and affordability of childcare.
An innovative funding programme to help make sure residential rehabilitation placements are available where they are most needed has been extended by the Scottish Government.
The £2 million Additional Placement Fund allows Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in areas where demand is high, to more easily access money if their existing funding has run out.
Speaking at Phoenix Futures residential service in Glasgow, during Challenge Poverty Week, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “We know that drug deaths are more likely in the most deprived areas, so it is encouraging that Phoenix Futures is committed to ensuring equality of access to treatment.
“The Scottish Government is also focused on tackling the causes of poverty and deprivation.
“Improving access to residential rehab is a key part of the National Mission to reduce drug deaths and improve lives.
“Public Health Scotland recently confirmed that 984 people started a publicly funded residential rehab placement and that we are on track to reach our target of 1,000 people being publicly funded to go to residential rehab by 2026.
“But we want to go further. We have provided a record £115 million direct to local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships – but have also listened to what residential rehabilitation providers and those with lived experience have told us about improving access.
“This fund ensures that extra – and longer – placements are more readily available. The fund has already helped dozens of people and extending it will provide even more support.”
Phoenix Futures chief executive Karen Biggs said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to improving access to residential rehabilitation through the extension of the Additional Placement Fund.
“At Phoenix Futures, we see every day the life-changing impact that residential treatment has on people, families, and communities across Scotland. This extension will help increase equity of access for those who might otherwise struggle to receive the support they need.
“We are pleased to see the Scottish Government’s recognition of the importance of residential treatment and its efforts to ensure that those in greatest need are not left behind. We look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government and colleagues across the sector to build a sustainable and equitable system that ensures consistent access to residential treatment for everyone who needs it.”
Phoenix Futures Deputy Director of Operations – Scotland Jeanne Rutherford said: “Access to residential treatment can change and often save lives. It gives people the time, space, and support they need to recover, rebuild and start to hope again.
“We’re really pleased to see the Scottish Government extend the Additional Placement Fund. This will help break down barriers such as geography and funding, creating greater equity of access for people across the country.
“Residential treatment is a lifeline for many of the people we support, especially those facing the greatest challenges. The Government’s continued commitment helps ensure that lifeline remains available to everyone who needs it.”
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We would like to thank the Wooden Spoon Charity for their very generous funding towards the upgrade of our kitchen at Pilton Retreat in Ratho (writes LESLEY ROSS).
The kitchen has been well used over the years and was dated and in need of repair. This funding has transformed the kitchen.
It was officially opened on Friday by Roger Baird, former Scotland International rugby player.
What a great afternoon it was meeting members of the Wooden Spoon, talking about the work of MYDG and all the groups that visit and stay at Pilton Retreat.
It was a chance to showcase the facility and talk about the importance of the centre for children, young people and their families in particular those from the North Edinburgh area.
We spoke about the history of Pilton Retreat and we hope this afternoon has raised the profile of the centre – we have grown our contacts and partnership opportunities and the chance of more funding in the future from a range of sources.
What a great afternoon it was !!!.
Lesley Ross (Manager Pilton Retreat)
Migrant social care workers impacted by the UK Government’s changes to immigration policy are to be offered targeted support in Scotland.
In the year ending June 2025, the number of Health and Care Worker visas issued to migrant workers in Caring Personal Service Occupations fell by 88%, following restrictions introduced by the UK Government to the visa route.
The subsequent decision by the UK Home Office in July to close the Social Care Visa Route altogether will have a further impact on the social care sector.
According to a Scottish Care survey, more than a quarter of the social care workforce in Scotland is made up by international workers – with many sector leaders citing concerns with workforce shortages and recruitment.
The Scottish Government is continuing to call on the Home Office to reverse its decision to close the route and is investing £500,000 to fund a tailored offer to help ‘displaced’ international social care workers who have found themselves without sponsored employment elsewhere in the UK at no fault of their own.
The funding will be used to help support international social care workers meet the costs associated with moving to and working in Scotland’s social care sector.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The UK Government’s hostile and restrictive migration policies are damaging Scotland’s health and social care sector.
“In Scotland we need a migration system that works for our NHS, our social care sector, our businesses and third sector. Until we have the full powers over migration that will come with independence, we will do all we can within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament to mitigate the UK Government’s harmful approach to migration.
“I am therefore pleased to confirm today that the Scottish Government will create a bespoke offering to help social care workers who have been displaced to come to Scotland and contribute to our care sector.
“We will provide £500,000 to mitigate the devastating impact of the UK Government’s closure of the care worker visa route and provide targeted support to help displaced social care workers.
“This will support international social care workers already in the UK who have lost their social care jobs as a result of their employer losing their visa sponsor licence, to come to Scotland and contribute their valuable skills to our social care sector.
“It is our intention for this work to begin immediately so that social care workers can settle into new jobs before Christmas.”
Co-op is bringing its special blend of co-operation and community to Edinburgh on Thursday 16th October with the pop up of the Co-op Corner Café.
Hosted at Coffee Saints on Little King Street, the event invites members and the wider public to discover how co-operation can help revitalise local high streets and strengthen community spirit.
Part of Co-op’s On Your Corner, In Your Corner campaign, the event will be packed with fun and engaging activities, designed to spark conversations about the benefits of co-operatives and the role of local businesses in creating thriving neighbourhoods and helping the people that live there thrive too.
Open to both members and non-members, there will be the opportunity to understand more about the wide-ranging social, economic and ownership benefits of membership and how it shapes the future of the Co-op.
Guests can enjoy free Fairtrade tea and coffee, sample and feedback on new food innovations and even enter to win tickets to a hamper.
The event will also spotlight local and community-owned businesses including Scotmid Co-op, West Granton Housing Co-op and West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust, showing how businesses built on shared values can deliver positive change.
Co-op’s own team members will be in attendance, including Jess Clarke, Democratic Services & Engagement Manager. Jess said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting our members and the wider community in Edinburgh.
“Being at the heart of local life is a real privilege and we want to show how co-operation can help address some of the challenges facing high streets today. It’s sure to be a fun and thought-provoking day – and a great chance for members to tell us how we can do even more to support Edinburgh’s communities.”
On Your Corner, In Your Corner is part of Co-op’s Social Value Strategy – a commitment led by 6.9 million active member-owners to stand firm on climate, opportunity and community.
Since 2016, the Co-op Local Community Fund has shared over £480,000 with 216 community projects across the City of Edinburgh, supporting people to connect, access opportunities and thrive together.
Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, with its history dating back 180 years. Its members own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation.
Co-op is on track to its ambition of growing to eight million members by 2030.
Further information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available at coop.co.uk/membership
For more information about the pop-up cafés and to find local events, visit coopmemberevents.uk
