Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a man was assaulted and robbed of his motorcycle. The incident happened around 6pm, on Saturday 28th May on Meuse Lane (between Princes Street and St Andrew Square.)
The 18-year-old man was assaulted by a group of men and had his motorcycle and mobile phone stolen. A 17-year-old male has been arrested and charged – however further enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Constable Melissa Silva said: “Our enquiries into the incident are ongoing and we would be keen to speak to anyone with information.
“We know a number of members of the public were in the area at the time and some may have filmed the incident so we would be particularly keen to speak to any of them.
“Anyone with information can call 101, quoting 2975 of 28th May 2022, or call Crimestoppers anonymously 0n 0800 555 111.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has led parliamentary tributes to Her Majesty The Queen’s service to Scotland, ahead of Platinum Jubilee celebrations this weekend.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, the First Minister said that The Queen had played an integral role in the story of modern Scotland, and it was no surprise that the occasion would be celebrated so widely.
Jubilee beacons will be lit across the country tomorrow night and a national thanksgiving service will be held at Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday, in addition to the many community lunches, street parties and afternoon teas planned for the weekend.
The First Minister confirmed that on behalf of the people of Scotland, the Scottish Government will present The Queen with a limited edition Johnnie Walker whisky, with a special design to celebrate the beauty of Scotland’s plants and wildlife, and a throw made from the tartan commissioned in honour of the three bridges across the Forth.
A ‘Jubilee Wood’ of 70 native trees is planned for planting in Holyrood Park, within sight of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The First Minister said this was a historically appropriate gesture, as The Queen’s first duty in Scotland following her accession to the throne had been to plant a cherry tree that still stands by the entrance to the Canongate Kirk.
The First Minister said: “The occasion of the Platinum Jubilee is not just about an institution. It is, above all, about the life and service of an extraordinary woman.
“We should all pay tribute to that. So it is absolutely right that we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Let us congratulate her warmly on a reign of unprecedented length, and let us acknowledge with deep gratitude and respect, her dedication to duty.”
The First Minister will be attending a number of events in London to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – including the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 3 June, and the Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace.
Floral clock will bloom in honour of HM the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Work has finished to complete this year’s design on the world’s oldest Floral Clock in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens. For 2022, the hugely popular landmark will celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
A team of five gardeners took just four weeks to plant over 35,000 flowers and plants used to create the clock, which will be in bloom until October. There are nine different plants included in this year’s design such as Agaves, Echeveria, Sedums, Pyrethrum, Crassula, Kleenia, Antenaria, Geraniums and Begonias.
To be ready for this celebratory weekend, the team at Inch Nursery brought the plants on earlier than previous years and the gardeners worked quickly to complete this in time. They will be in full bloom in the coming weeks and throughout the summer.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “I am delighted to once again see the city’s beautiful floral clock completed, and in perfect time for the Jubilee weekend.
“Each year the iconic clock marks special occasions and events in the heart of the Capital and this year it is a unique tribute coinciding with celebrations taking place around the country as the nation marks the Queen’s 70-year reign.
“My thanks and congratulations to the dedicated and creative parks team who have put together the design that I’m sure will be enjoyed by everyone who passes by it this summer.”
The Floral Clock was first created in 1903 by then Edinburgh Parks Superintendent, John McHattie, and is the oldest of its kind in the world. It initially operated with just an hour hand, with a minute hand added in 1904, followed by a cuckoo clock in 1952. Until 1972 the clock was operated mechanically and had to be wound daily.
Since 1946 it has been designed in honour of various organisations and individuals, including the Girl Guides Association, Robert Louis Stevenson and the Queen, for her Golden Jubilee. In the clock’s centenary year in 2003 it won a Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
QAVS recognition for Edinburgh’s Care Van volunteers
Those who have provided community support and empowered others receive highest number of awards
Awardees include volunteers working in food banks, hospices and fundraising
The highest award given to local volunteer groups, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, is being awarded to 244 organisations across the UK today in recognition of their outstanding community service.
Among them is Edinburgh’s Care Van volunteers, a project run by Edinburgh City Mission in partnership with Bethany Christian Trust and 40 local churches.
The van is an important source of care and support for people who are homeless and vulnerable in the capital.
Relying on volunteers, it goes out almost every day of the year providing soup, food, hot drinks, blankets and clothes, friendship, encouragement and advice to up to 60 people a night who are rough sleeping or housed in homeless B&B accommodation by Edinburgh Council.
Edinburgh City Mission co-ordinates rotas for over 40 teams that are drawn from local churches across the Lothians and includes over 750 volunteers.
Last year organisers celebrated 30 years since the Care Van first took to the streets of Edinburgh to provide food and comfort to people in need. Throughout Edinburgh’s Covid-19 lockdown, the evening and lunchtime teams have served over 20,000 meals.
Charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland receive the prestigious award for their volunteer-led work across a wide range of fields including mental health, youth, community, arts and heritage.
This year 204 organisations from England, 22 from Scotland, five from Wales and 13 from Northern Ireland will receive The Queen’s Award, highlighting the continued breadth and depth of voluntary service undertaken each and every day across the United Kingdom.
The awardees have all enhanced the lives of others through their work with the highest number of awards this year going to the community support sector, which includes food banks, village shops, fundraising events and men’s sheds.
Minister for Civil Society and Youth Nigel Huddleston said: “Our volunteers give up their time to help others and The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises their selfless acts of generosity and kindness.
“I congratulate all the awardees whose hard work and dedication is rightly recognised in this milestone year of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”
Sir Martyn Lewis, QAVS Chair said: “I warmly congratulate all the outstanding voluntary groups who have been rewarded with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year.
“The level of commitment and innovation shown by these volunteers is truly impressive. We owe a debt of gratitude to them, and the countless others who give up their free time regularly to improve the lives of others in their community.”
Empowering others is also an area well represented in this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service with confidence building, training opportunities, educational support and sports all highly recognised. Volunteers working in hospices, cancer support, long-term illness, search and rescue and first aid also feature prominently.
Coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises that volunteers continue to provide a vital social function and improve access to services across the country.
As well asThis year’s recipients also include:
Knockmany Running Club in County Tyrone which utilises an unused forest to provide a space for all ages to run, walk and ramble through accessible trails.
Cymru Creations in Gwent is a team of professionals who give their time to run an award-winning film academy, helping young people to create their own films and develop skills.
Bright Minds Big Futures which is a youth led movement in Stockton-on-Tees providing social action opportunities for young people and working very positively with the council to make Stockton a better place to live.
The Buddy Bag Foundation is providing support bags to children arriving in refuges which include toiletries, pyjamas, socks and underwear, in addition to comfort items such as a book and a teddy bear. It creates and supplies over 10,000 each year which helps to restore a sense of safety to the children in the West Midlands.
1st Buckie Company Boys’ Brigade is challenging young people from 6 to18 years old through physical and skills-based activities, community involvement and spiritual development in Banffshire.
The Oasis Centre which is creating communities in four parishes in Cornwall with multiple economic, health and well-being needs through food provision, social events and practical advice.
A new portrait of The Queen has been released mark the beginning of the #PlatinumJubilee Celebration Weekend.
The photograph was taken by Ranald Mackechnie at Windsor Castle on 25 May. Captured in the background are the Castle’s Round Tower, and the statue of King Charles II which stands in the Quadrangle of the Castle.
HM Queen Elizabeth II issued a statement:
“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
“I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions. I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”
The Spartans Chief Executive Douglas Samuel is among Scots to receive an Honour to mark the Queen’s Brthday in Platinum Jubilee year.Dougie is awarded an MBE.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to the recipients in Scotland in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
Among those receiving Knighthoods are Professor Sheikh Aziz, for services to COVID-19 research and policy; James Nicol Walker, for services to the food industry and author Ian Rankin, for services to literature and to charity. Professor Sally Mapstone will receive a Damehood for services to higher education.
Jacqui Reilly, Professor of Infection Prevention and Control is among those being awarded a CBE, for services to Healthcare and Public Health.
British Olympic Curling captain Eve Muirhead is amongst those receiving an OBE, while her team members have been honoured with MBEs.
Those receiving MBEs include Julie Young for services to dance, Walter Smith for services to youth enterprise and Chloe Lawson for services to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people
Rhona Gibson and William Dove are among those honoured with a BEM.
Irene Ralston, Superintendent, and Stephen Tanner, Police Constable, will receive The Queen’s Police Medal. The Queen’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Roy Dunsire, Group Commander, John Fraser, Firefighter and Stevie Maybanks, Crew Commander of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Donna Baillie, Resilience Manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service, will receive The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.
The First Minister said: “The Queen’s Birthday Honours list illustrates the outstanding contributions of the people of Scotland who have made a difference to their communities, throughout the country and beyond. It is particularly pleasing to see their work recognised in this year of celebration in honour of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
“From those who contribute to the creative industries, communities and charities, to those who have excelled in the field of science and medicine, the Honours highlight their exceptional service to the people of Scotland. I am delighted to see Scotland’s athletes who were outstanding during both summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, so well represented.
“I am also pleased to see that those individuals who worked against the coronavirus pandemic, its far reaching impact and those working for our recovery, have been recognised. I know we are all incredibly grateful for their selfless actions and it’s right that their outstanding efforts have been acknowledged in this way.
“I also want to extend my congratulations to those personnel who have been awarded The Queen’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals. Our emergency services have displayed incredible fortitude throughout the pandemic, and deserve our continued appreciation for keeping people and communities across Scotland safe, every day of the year.”
Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “In the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, my whole-hearted congratulations go to all those across Scotland who have been recognised for their extraordinary public service. They truly exemplify the dedication, ambition and generosity of spirit that has defined the Queen’s 70-year reign.
“We were all gripped by the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, as our curlers swept to gold and we topped the podium in Alpine skiing. Eve Muirhead is awarded an OBE, while the rest of the team get MBEs, along with Alpine skier Neil Simpson and his brother and guide Andrew.
“One of Scottish literature’s most recognisable names, Ian Rankin’s knighthood is richly deserved; his Inspector Rebus novels have kept us in entertained and in suspense for decades.
“It’s great to see recognition of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink. James Walker of Walker’s Shortbread is being knighted, and OBEs are given to Ian and Michael Urquhart from the family-run Gordon and MacPhail whisky company.
Honours also go to those whose dedication and resilience helped make Glasgow’s hosting of COP26 safe and successful, including a well-deserved knighthood for Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.”
As the country gets ready to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years of service, gaming experts Solitaired share their pick of games to make your street party or family gathering fit for a royal over the bank holiday weekend.
Royal Guess Who?
Both players start with a board each, filled with royal family members face-up, and select a mystery character card, of which only they can see. Players take turns asking yes or no questions in order to guess which mystery card their opponent has, for example, did they marry a royal? Are they wearing glasses? Do they have children? Those that do not apply are flipped face-down, leaving the remaining characters face-up. Once a player thinks they know which card their opponent has, they have one chance to guess who it is. If a player guesses the card incorrectly, they lose.
Ibble Dibble
As seen in The Crown. It’s typically a drinking game, but if there are children, the rule can be changed so that players perform a forfeit instead of drinking. Players form a circle and are assigned a number. Players are known as “ibble-dibble”, followed by their number. Traditionally a bottle cork is blackened, but a marker or face paint can also be used to make a mark on the player, known as a “dibble-ibble”.
The rules are simple, whoever’s turn it is must identify themselves by their number, for example, saying the number of black marks on their face, before calling on the next player of choice, identified by their assigned number, followed by how many marks are on their face. For example the first round would go something like: “Number one ibble-dibble with no dibble-ibbles calling number five ibble-dibble with no dibble-ibbles.” Player number five would go next. Players that hesitate or mess up the sentence must apply a black mark to their face and drink (or perform a forfeit). The longer the game goes on, the harder it gets! The winner is the player with the least amount of marks at the end.
Charades
Parlour games have been a tradition of the royal family since Queen Victoria’s era, and the Queen is known to love a game of charades. Players write down a film, book, song, play, TV show, or phrase which are then put into a hat. Players are split into two teams and individually, players take an item from the hat, which must then be acted out silently for their team to guess. The player who is trying to act can use hand signals and miming to try and lead their team to the answer.
Royal Rules
Deal a deck of cards out equally to players; whoever has a Queen card gets to make a rule that all the guests must follow for the day. Any rule-breakers must take a drink or do a forfeit.
Football
As the country’s favourite sport, football has a long history associated with England, and the royal family are reportedly fans of the game too. The Queen had apparently revealed to Buckingham Palace staff that her favourite team is West Ham. Prince Charles once shared his support for Burnley. Prince William has been President of the Football Association (FA) since 2006 and has supported Aston Villa since age 11. Kate is allegedly a Chelsea supporter, according to an eight-year-old fan who revealed the information after speaking with the Duchess of Cambridge. Prince George has also been spotted cheering enthusiastically at football matches with his parents and playing for his school team. The royal family hosts an annual football match at Sandringham against household staff. Families organising a kickabout over the jubilee weekend can do so with the royal seal of approval.
Monopoly
It is known that the royal family used to enjoy playing a game of monopoly, before the Queen banned it from being played at family events after it got out of hand. Just because the game is now banned from royal functions, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy playing, if you are still on speaking terms after the last time you played.
Royal bake-off
Host your own ‘Great British Bake Off’ style competition with easy to bake royal-themed treats that kids can get involved with. Assign a panel of impartial and hungry judges. The winner with the best bake is crowned King or Queen of baking.
Wacky royal portrait
Dial up the creativity with an unconventional royal portrait. Starting with a blank piece of paper, players have five minutes to collect unconventional materials found in the house/garden. Without using pens and pencils, create a royal portrait fit for a Queen.
Castle building
Enough to bring the inner child out of any adult, and a great way of having fun with the kids while engaging their creative side. Build a castle hideout using items around the home (blankets, cardboard boxes, chairs etc.), and enjoy your own DIY royal residence.
Craft a crown competition
Put your arts and craft skills to the test by using craft materials such as paper, pens, glitter etc. to make and decorate the best paper crown. It’s a group activity that lets kids add their own personality to their crown.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
A small quantity of fat is an important part of a healthy diet, but not all fats are the same. Saturated and trans fats can raise ‘bad’ cholesterol in your blood, increasing your risk of heart disease.
Here are some tips to help you manage the amount and type of fat in your diet:
Choose products with a lower total fat content
All fats are high in energy and too much can lead to weight gain. By reading the fat content on food labels you can choose products that are lower in fat. For example, you could switch from cheddar cheese (34g fat per 100g) to low-fat cheese spread (11g fat per 100g) or cottage cheese (5g per 100g).
Switch from saturated and trans fats to unsaturated fat
Foods high in saturated fat include fatty meats, hard cheeses, coconut oil, palm oil, butter, ghee, lard and cream. Trans fat is present in hard margarine, fried food, biscuits, cakes and pastries.
Saturated and trans fats can increase the ‘bad’ cholesterol in your body, increasing your risk of heart disease. Look after your heart by switching to unsaturated fats, such as oily fish such (e.g. salmon, mackerel and sardines), rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, unsalted nuts, seeds and avocados.
Find healthier cooking methods
If you fry your food, why not try baking, grilling, boiling or steaming instead? Rather than roasting potatoes in fat, switch to boiled new potatoes or a baked potato. Cut away visible fat from fatty meats, such as bacon and lamb. Use a small amount of unsaturated oil for cooking, such as rapeseed oil, rather than butter, ghee, lard or goose fat.
By cutting down on the amount of fat in your diet and switching from saturated or trans fats to unsaturated fats, you will take an important step towards reducing your risk of heart disease.
Of 25,000 beds taken out of active service across the UK since 2010, 4,227 have been lost in Scotland
A new report by The Royal College of Emergency Medicine ‘Beds in the NHS’ shows that 13,000 staffed beds are required in the NHS across the UK to drive meaningful change and improvement.
Meaningful change and improvement would constitute a significant improvement in A&E waiting times, ambulance response times, ambulance handover delays, and a return to safe bed occupancy levels.
The report details that since 2010/2011 the NHS has lost almost 25,000 beds across the United Kingdom, and since then the health service and its staff have faced accumulating pressures resulting in a sharp increase in long-waiting times, ambulance handover delays, delayed ambulance response times, cancelled elective care operations, and unsafe bed occupancy levels. This has also had severe consequences on mental health care provision.
The College has stated that the current crisis is both a patient safety crisis and a workforce crisis. The fall in bed numbers and deteriorating metrics have a real terms impact on patient care. The health service is not functioning as it should, the challenging circumstances mean that staff are unable to provide the quick and effective high-quality care they are trained to provide. Patients are distressed by long-waiting times, as are staff who face increasing levels of burnout, exhaustion, and moral injury.
Dr Adrian Boyle, Vice President of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:
“The Urgent and Emergency Care system is in crisis. The situation is dire and demands meaningful action. Ultimately, there are widespread staffing shortages leading to a shortage of staffed beds in the system. Our latest report “Beds in the NHS” shows that 13,000 staffed beds are required in the NHS across the UK to drive actual change and meaningful improvement.
“Since 2010/11 the NHS has lost 25,000 beds across the UK, as a result bed occupancy has risen, ambulance response times have risen, A&E waiting times have increased, cancelled elective care operations have increased. All evidenced by the fall in four-hour performance, the increase in 12 hour waits, the increase in delayed ambulance response times and rise in ambulance handover delays.
“In April 2022 in England, 24,000 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more (from decision to admit to admission), in April in Scotland, 4,000 patients faced a 12 hour wait (from time of arrival), in Wales, 11,000 patients faced a 12 hour wait (from time of arrival), and in March 2022 in Northern Ireland, 8,581 patients faced a 12 hour wait (from time of arrival).
“These numbers are grim; they should shock all health and political leaders. These numbers translate to real patient harm and a serious patient safety crisis. The health service is not functioning as it should and the UK government must take the steps to prevent further deterioration in performance and drive meaningful improvement, especially ahead of next winter.”
Scotland continues to “set the pace” when it comes to students from deprived areas getting into university, the Commissioner for Fair Access has said.
The Commissioner’s latest annual report said the Scottish Government’s approach has been an “unambiguous success” and that “all the fair access indicators are flashing green”, despite the impact of COVID-19. It marks Sir Peter Scott’s last report as Commissioner for Fair Access before stepping down.
A record 16.7% of students from Scotland’s most deprived 20% of communities were entrants on full-time first-year degree courses in 2020/21, an increase of 545 students compared with the previous year. This represents an increase of around 1,550 entrants (39%), during Sir Peter’s time as Commissioner.
Higher Education minister Jamie Hepburn said: “The Commissioner for Fair Access makes it clear that Scotland continues to set the pace in the UK in terms of fair access to higher education, with a record number of Scottish students from deprived areas enrolling in university for the first time.
“I would like to thank Sir Peter Scott for his contribution as Scotland’s first Fair Access Commissioner and pay tribute to the lasting legacy he will leave. We will consider the recommendations of the report carefully.
“While excellent progress has been made by our institutions, we cannot let up on the momentum in the face of the challenges that lie ahead.
“We believe every young person should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter their circumstances.”
