Today (22nd May) marks the anniversary of the worst rail disaster in British history, the Quintinhsill Rail Disaster, which will be marked at an annual Memorial Service at Rosebank Cemetery in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Taking place on 22nd May, 1915, at the height of the First World War, the event occurred at the Quintinshill signal box near Gretna Green. A train packed with nearly 500 members of the Leith Battalion of the Royal Scots, travelling from Larbert, collided with a local passenger service at Quintinshill.
Straight afterwards, a Glasgow-bound express train smashed into the wreckage at Quintinshill, setting off a devastating fire which engulfed the troop train. In total, around 226 people were killed (215 of whom were soldiers) and a further 246 people were injured.
Some bodies were never recovered, having been wholly consumed by the fire, and when the bodies of the men of the Royal Scots were returned to Leith, they were buried together in a mass grave in Rosebank Cemetery.
As we mark the 111th anniversary of this disaster, it is heartening to see continued recognition of this event, which I suspect few are aware of.
Fearless, the youth service of Crimestoppers, has launched its earliest ever summer campaign across Scotland to help young people stay safe from the very start of the holidays.
Supported by Network Rail Scotland, the campaign launches today, weeks before schools break up – so young people hear these messages before summer reaches its peak. It focuses on making positive choices, staying safe online, violence prevention, looking out for each other and knowing how to speak up 100% anonymously if they are worried about crime.
It also comes ahead of key moments in the summer calendar, including the end of exams and major events and festivals across Scotland, when more young people are out and about, travelling and spending time in new places with friends.
Throughout the summer, Fearless will be out in communities, transport hubs and at major events including Youth Beatz and TRNSMT, speaking directly with young people. The campaign offers practical, non-judgemental support wherever young people spend their time. It will also run across TikTok and Snapchat, with content shaped by young people themselves and grounded in the reality of their lives.
Through fearless.org, young people can share information about crime 100% anonymously. No names. No contact details. No way of tracing where potentially lifesaving information came from.
Lyndsay McDade, Fearless National Manager for Scotland, said:“As a mum to teenagers, I’m very aware that children only get 18 summers before adulthood. I want this to be a great one for young people right across Scotland.
“I want all young people to enjoy themselves, get home safely every day and feel supported to make good choices. That’s what summer should be.
“That’s why we’re launching our campaign earlier than ever, with more visibility and more time spent where young people are, giving them the information and conversations they need to navigate the holidays.
“If you work with or look after young people, please tell them about our charity. They can follow us on our new Scotland TikTok @Fearless_Scot and use our website fearless.org to get the information they need to keep them safe.
“We all need to be there for young people this summer. We need to be present. We need to recognise that they belong in our communities and show them that we believe in them.”
Innis Keith, Health, Safety and Environment Director at Network Rail Scotland, said:“Thousands of journeys are made safely every day on Scotland’s Railway.
“The real risk comes from poor decisions like trespassing, taking shortcuts, or trying to take photos or videos near the tracks. Moments like these can have life‑changing or fatal consequences.
“Through Fearless, we want young people to understand that their choices in those moments really matter.
“The campaign gives them the confidence to look out for themselves and their friends, to speak up when something feels wrong, and to make better decisions around the railway.
“When they feel informed and supported, it’s more likely they’ll make choices that get them home safely.”
A family-run property developer has broken ground on a new residential development in the West of Edinburgh, supported by a £20m funding package from Bank of Scotland.
The New Village, led by Edinburgh-based S1 Developments, will form part of real estate investment group Parabola’s wider multi-million-pound regeneration of Edinburgh Park, creating a new urban neighbourhood alongside commercial and leisure space.
Bank of Scotland’s funding has enabled the commencement of the first phase of properties at The New Village, comprising 146 private homes for sale. The all-electric homes include studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments and mews houses, with views across either a landscaped courtyard or the Pentland Hills.
Residents will have access to the wider amenities and cultural attractions planned for Edinburgh Park, including a multi-sport recreation area, a square with cafes, a children’s play area, offices, an art trail featuring works by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, hotels and Edinburgh’s first indoor arena, the 8,500-capacity AEG Arena. The development is well connected to the city centre and airport by public transport, and is already home to leading independent bakery, Patina
Once complete, S1 Developments will deliver 397 new homes at The New Village, with a further 160 affordable units being delivered in tandem by social enterprise, Places for People. The development will supplement Edinburgh Park’s wider delivery of a further 864 rental properties, including more than 200 proposed mid-market rent homes.
Founded in 2007 by brothers Dan and Shane Teague, S1 Developments has led on several high-profile, mixed-use sites across Scotland’s central belt, including the Ropeworks, Ellersly Road and Temple Park Crescent in Edinburgh.
Dan Teague at S1 Developments, said: “The New Village will be a neighbourhood that places connectivity and quality of life at its heart.
“Every element, from the landscaped green spaces and access to amenities and cultrual attraction, has been carefully considered to create a place where people can feel part of a community.
“Breaking ground on the first homes marks an exciting moment in our collaboration with Parabola to create a vibrant new future for Edinburgh Park.”
Graeme Steel, Relationship Director at Bank of Scotland, added: “This is an important milestone in the transformation of Edinburgh Park.
“The New Village is shaping a new era of residential-led regeneration, delivering quality, sustainable homes alongside the amenities and public spaces needed to support building a thriving community where people want to put down roots.
“We look forward to continuing our support for S1 Developments on a project that will unlock and deliver significant long-term economic and social value for the city, contributing towards much needed housing stock and cementing our ambitions to unlock scalable financial models for regeneration and housing delivery.”
Dementia Action Week (18–24 May) is a time to focus on understanding dementia and supporting the people affected by it across Scotland.
Around 90,000 people in Scotland are currently living with dementia, and that number is expected to grow in the years ahead. However, many people continue to live well with the right information, support and environment around them.
This week is about taking practical action. Small, everyday changes can make a positive difference – from learning more about dementia, to showing patience and understanding, and helping to create communities where people feel supported and included.
Across Scotland, organisations are working together to strengthen support. NHS 24 works in partnership with Dementia Friendly Communities and local groups, such as the Dementia Heroes, offering welcoming, accessible spaces for people living with dementia and their carers to connect and access support.
If you’d like to learn more about dementia, support someone, or find practical advice on living well, visit NHS inform for trusted information on:
A World Cup-themed blood donation event has brought together representatives from Scotland, Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in a show of solidarity, highlighting the urgent need for donors ahead of a busy summer.
Glasgow Blood Donor Centre saw supporters come together to donate blood side by side as Scotland prepares to face these nations on the world stage. The event used football’s global appeal to spotlight falling donor numbers and the importance of maintaining blood supplies during major national moments.
— SNBTS-Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (@givebloodscot) May 21, 2026
Pauline Stewart of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service said: “‘Today’s session had a fun theme but a serious message. Blood donation attendance fell by over 20% following Scotland’s World Cup qualification, and fewer than 2% of the population are active donors.
‘With demand expected to increase over the summer, we need people to step forward now. While these nations will meet on the pitch, today we’re coming together for something far more important – saving lives.
‘We hope this shows how football can unite communities in a different way – with a shared goal of helping others.’
Members of the band Scratchcard Wednesday lending their support
Among those taking part was Leilani Taneus-Miller (Haiti), an Edinburgh-based writer, who attended with her children Dashiell, a footballer, and Oceane, a nurse.
Leilani said: ‘The World Cup is a global reminder of the joy, passion and progress we can achieve when we come together. I encourage as many people in Scotland and Haiti to give blood.’
Fernanda Dal Piaz (Brazil), Deputy Consul at the Consulate General of Brazil in Edinburgh, also took part alongside Glasgow-based barber Allison Rodrigues.
Fernanda said: ‘I can’t wait for the World Cup. Football means so much to us Brazilians, and we know it means as much to the Scots too after 28 years of not being at the World Cup.
“Our two nations also have a proud belief in the importance of giving blood.’
Taoufik Mohdit (Morocco), a software engineer, joined the event and highlighted the importance of donation within his community.
Taoufik said: ‘Donating blood is something very important to the Moroccan community. I’m happy to join with my Scottish friends in saving lives, even though I will be supporting Morocco on the pitch!’
Duncan Sloan (Scotland), a taxi driver representing the Tartan Army, also attended alongside members of the band Scratchcard Wednesday, including Dexter Brady and Tyrese Ojo.
Duncan said: ‘This is a fantastic event. The Tartan Army have always been all about sticking together and looking after each other.
“I’m proud to donate blood with my new friends from Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.’
Scratchcard Wednesday member Dexter Brady said: ‘It’s really important that young people sign up as only two percent of Scotland currently donate. Blood donation is such an important cause. Mon out this summer and save lives!’
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is continuing to encourage anyone eligible to support Team Scotland by booking an appointment to give blood.
Scotland needs donations from 450 people every day to meet hospital demand, with fewer than 2% of the population currently active donors.
We note the contents of Heart of Midlothian’s statement yesterday and accompanying letter signed by the club Chair, Calum Paterson. In the interests of transparency, we are happy to set out the facts.
Regarding references to a ‘premature ending of the match’, the Scottish FA’s Chief Governance Officer, Gary Booth, the Head of Refereeing, William Collum, and VAR Manager Martin Atkinson reviewed the audio-visual footage of the period in question on Monday at the club’s request, with Mr Paterson in attendance.
While it was the agreed intention for this meeting to be conducted privately, recent statements have compelled us to consider the public interest in providing clarification and chronology.
To that end, we are happy to publish the relevant audio-visual footage:
It was made clear at that meeting that the match official, Don Robertson, took the correct action in ending the game.
We note there has been speculation regarding the blowing of a final whistle. The Laws of the Game require the referee to signal the end of the match, but do not prescribe the method of that signal.
In the context of what unfolded – which is verified by the footage and the Match Incident Report submitted to the Scottish FA – the match official clearly communicated that the match was ended and not abandoned.
In addition, the match clock does not stop when a goal is scored. The footage shows that when the match official confirms the game has ended, the clock is at 53.07 [98.07], more than the minimum additional time of eight minutes signalled.
It was also apparent from the audio that this decision was taken following dialogue with the Hearts Head Coach, who had intimated concerns over player safety.
For the avoidance of doubt, Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game state that ‘the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final’.
We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game.
The Scottish FA was responding to Wednesday’s statement from Hearts, who requested a prompt response:
Heart of Midlothian Football Club would once again like to thank our incredible supporters for their magnificent backing throughout this season, and to provide an update in relation to the events which unfolded at Celtic Park on Saturday.
As previously noted, the Club is investigating events before, during and after the match, and will offer Police Scotland our full support as they continue with their enquiries.
We have also written to the SFA and SPFL setting out our observations and questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the premature ending of the match, and expressing our concern that a troubling precedent has been set whereby a pitch invasion can effectively determine the duration of a football match, rather than the match officials. We have asked them for a prompt response to the points we have raised.
The incursion of spectators onto the field of play must never be condoned under any circumstances, and the seriousness of the potential consequences must be fully understood by supporters and clubs alike.
We are aware of highly irresponsible comments made publicly this week, which appear to seek to defend those who entered the pitch on Saturday and undermine the gravity of the situation.
Those remarks carry dangerous implications, and we call upon the football authorities to ensure that this matter is addressed with the seriousness it demands, and with the full cooperation of all involved.
This has been an excellent season for Heart of Midlothian. However, it represents only the very beginning of our plans for long-term sustained success. We look ahead to next season with confidence, supported as ever by the exceptional backing of our fans, sponsors and partners.
In a report today the Commons’ Business and Trade Committee says Ofcom has failed to change Royal Mail’s “unacceptable” performance amid fears it is “not up to the job” of regulating a postal market that is growing in competition and complexity.
Despite incurring Ofcom fines every year since 2022, Royal Mail continues to fail to meet both the public’s expectations and its own regulated targets.
Overall letter volumes have dropped dramatically, and parcel competitors like Amazon are able to “hive off profits” using the universal postal service: delivering parcels to harder to reach addresses without contributing to the cost of the Royal Mail infrastructure that serves them.
From April 2025 to January 2026, just 74.9% of First Class mail was delivered the next day (18.1 percentage points below the target). The Committee estimates that this translates into approximately 126 million First Class letters arriving late over the year.
In 2025, 16 million people (29% of UK adults) experienced letter delays over Christmas, a 50% increase since 2024. 5.7 million people (10% of UK adults) missed vital letters, including those about health appointments, fines and benefit decisions.
Ofcom has failed to provide Parliament with the concrete numbers of letters being delivered late, saying Royal Mail refused them on the grounds of commercial confidentiality. The Committee says if such a prohibition actually exists, it should be changed.
When asked to conduct a proper investigation into whether Royal Mail letter deliveries are being deprioritised in favour of more profitable parcels, Ofcom appears to have satisfied itself with obtaining copies of the relevant policy documents and meeting minutes.
The Committee says Ofcom must deliver better regulation of the postal market, including Access mail and services delivered by Royal Mail’s competitors.
If it fails to do so within six months of this Report, the Secretary of State should consult on statutory changes “to ensure it is fit for the 21st-century postal market”.
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “Millions of people are paying the price for a postal service that is simply not delivering.
“Hospital appointments missed, benefit decision notices delayed, fines arriving too late to challenge: these are not minor inconveniences, and they are the consequences of a national service failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect.
“Despite years of fines and missed targets, Royal Mail’s performance remains unacceptable and Ofcom has failed to drive the change that is needed at the pace that is needed. We were deeply concerned by the apparent lack of any serious investigation into whether letters are being deprioritised in favour of more profitable parcels.
“We recognise that the postal market has changed beyond recognition. Major logistics firms are effectively hiving off profits while relying on Royal Mail’s universal service network to reach harder-to-serve parts of the country.
“The universal service remains one of Britain’s great civic guarantees. But confidence in it is ebbing away, and Ofcom now has six months to prove it has the power and drive to regulate the 21st-century postal market.”
