POLICE are appealing for information to help trace a man missing from Edinburgh.
Christopher Rodger, 53, was last seen in the Gyle area around 9am yesterday (Friday, 29 May, 2026).
He is described as being around 5ft 10in in height, of slim build, with short dark hair. When last seen he was wearing a khaki bucket hat, a khaki jacket, a black t-shirt, black trousers and white trainers.
He is known to frequent the Meadows city centre area.
Inspector George Nisbet said: “It is unusual for Christopher not to be in touch with his family and as time passes concerns are growing.
“I am appealing for anyone who has seen Christopher or who has any information on his whereabouts to contact us.
“I would also ask anyone who was in the area who may have dash cam or private CCTV footage which could assist to get in touch.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 3889 of 29 May, 2026.
Ian Findlay Path Fund celebrates four years transforming 62 communities
A NEW walking and wheeling path connecting Newton and Duntarvie with existing paths in West Lothian has officially opened, one of a number of projects funded by Walking Scotland’s Ian Findlay Path Fund (IFPF).
In response to years of road safety concerns, the new route replaces a dangerous stretch of the B8020 with a safe, accessible off-road connection to the wider Winchburgh path network.
The path is one of 62 community-led projects funded by the IFPF since 2022, a fund supported by Transport Scotland and administered by Walking Scotland that has invested £5.1 million in active travel infrastructure across 16 council areas.
The fund was established in memory of Ian Findlay CBE, the former Chief Executive Officer of Walking Scotland, who spent his career championing accessible paths and everyday walking as the foundation of healthier, more connected communities.
Walking Scotland is a charity that helps make walking and wheeling a part of everyday life, promoting the benefits of walking on our physical, social and mental health. The charity work with partners and local communities to reduce barriers and improve places and spaces to walk and wheel.
Across Scotland, its projects have upgraded more than 69 kilometres of path surfaces, created over 16 kilometres of new link paths, removed 28 accessibility barriers and installed 92 new seats changes that have already given people safer routes to school, work and local green spaces.
For many in the village, the path is already making a noticeable difference. Children can now walk or wheel safely to school, families are spending more time outdoors together and residents are able to travel between communities without relying on busy roads or car journeys.
Julie Brechin, Secretary of Newton Community Council, said: “This path was always about our community and making life easier and safer for local people. Before it was built, residents had to walk along the B8020 with heavy traffic and there was no safe route connecting us to Winchburgh.
“Now children can walk or cycle to school safely, families are out using the path together and people are enjoying being able to spend time outdoors away from traffic and noise. It has quickly become part of daily life here in Newton.”
The route combines existing historic paths with new sections to provide a new route and was designed to be accessible for everyone. Benches and picnic areas along the route have also created new spaces for residents to meet, walk and spend time together outdoors.
Julie continued: “What has been lovely to see is how many different people are using the path already. Young families, older residents, walkers and cyclists are all making use of it every day.
“It is not about attracting visitors from far away. This is a path built by the community, for the community. It is about helping local people stay active, connected and independent.”
The project moved quickly from planning to completion after funding was secured through the Ian Findlay Path Fund, with Walking Scotland providing support and technical guidance. Planning permission was granted in November and construction began in January, with work completed on schedule.
This project represents a truly collaborative partnership, bringing together Walking Scotland, Newton Community Council, Hopetoun Estates, the Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust, West Lothian Council, award-winning environmental consultancy Ironside Farrar, and civil engineering specialists Covanburn Contracts.
Walking Scotland says the Newton project is a strong example of the fund’s impact, showing how community-led investment in local paths can transform everyday life.
Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer of Walking Scotland said: “We’re so pleased to see the impact this path has already had for local people. The Ian Findlay Path Fund has left a legacy that communities across Scotland will benefit from for generations.
“It has strengthened community connections and created safer routes and more vibrant places. We’re incredibly proud of what has been achieved in Ian’s name.”
The route is also expected to support local businesses, with the village shop, garage and pub likely to benefit from increased footfall as more people travel between Newton and neighbouring communities on foot or by bike.
CODE Concepts, the Edinburgh-based boutique hotel and capsule hostel operator, has officially opened The Pend, a new social, events, community and co-working space located on historic Old Fishmarket Close, in the heart of the Old Town.
The launch marks a major step in CODE’s experience-led approach to hospitality, transforming an underused site into a flexible, design-led environment that brings together guests, local creatives and the wider Edinburgh community.
The Pend is the newest addition to the CODE Concepts portfolio, joining CODE The Court, CODE The Loft, and John’s Coffee House and The Lost Close. The portfolio will expand further with The Bindery, a design-led boutique hotel set to open in Edinburgh’s New Town in early 2027.
Andy Landsburgh, CEO of CODE Concepts, said: “The Pend is a project built through listening, partnership and shared ideas. It brings together everything we’ve been working towards at CODE – creating spaces that go beyond accommodation to genuinely connect people.
“From the beginning, this has been shaped by our guests and by Edinburgh’s creative community, and seeing those groups come together on opening night was incredibly special.”
At its heart, The Pend is designed as a social hub, a place to gather, work and create. While enhancing the stay of CODE guests with events just steps from their rooms, it is also open as a shared platform for Edinburgh’s creative and business communities.
The concept was informed by both guest research and direct engagement with the local community. This has already led to a planned diverse programme of activity, including watercolour workshops, floristry classes, work-in-progress theatre, talks and creative meet-ups. The Pend will also serve as a venue during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, further embedding it within the city’s cultural calendar.
In Scotland, a pend refers to a passageway leading somewhere beyond; true to its name, the space acts as both a literal and symbolic gateway, connecting CODE’s international guest community with Edinburgh’s local creative scene. The exposed stonework of the original pend that inspired the name remains a defining feature of the space.
Respecting and reinterpreting the history of each location is a key part of CODE Concepts’ approach. Previous projects include John’s Coffee House, which opened in 2025 and was inspired by 18th-century coffee houses central to Edinburgh’s Enlightenment period; and the discovery of a rare 19th-century Crossley engine during renovations at CODE The Court, which was carefully preserved and relocated to The Lost Close.
Designed in collaboration with SPLINTR, the space has been configured to balance social interaction, creative activity and focused work. A multipurpose cinema room allows for screenings, performances and workshops. A relaxed coworking and social area provides a comfortable setting for both productivity and conversation, complemented by simple, accessible amenities. This includes a bookable studio equipped with a 55-inch screen, suitable for meetings and private events.
The space launched with an opening event attended by local creatives, partners and members of Edinburgh’s hospitality and arts communities. Guests were welcomed with live music by Lynds, drinks from Bellfield Brewery and plants from Seb’s Urban Jungle, while drag performer Mystika Glamoor hosted tarot readings, reflecting the playful and collaborative spirit of the space. The evening concluded with a dram in The Lost Close, CODE Concepts’ historic underground whisky experience.
With its official opening now complete, further announcements on programming and partnerships will follow in the coming months as The Pend continues to establish itself as one of Edinburgh’s most dynamic new social and creative spaces.
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the “RCPE”) is urging Scotland’s MSPs in the new session of Parliament to support a national pilot programme to monitor air pollution around city primary schools, following compelling evidence that Scottish children may be exposed to harmful levels of pollution that are currently going unmeasured.
The proposal, led by the RCPE’s Air Pollution Working Group, calls for a pilot study to look at air quality around schools by installing of air quality monitors around three schools in each of four major Scottish cities — Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen — over a minimum period of one year. This duration is essential to capture seasonal variation and provide reliable, policy-relevant data.
The RCPE is urging MSPs from all of Scotland’s political parties to press Ministers in the new Scottish Government to support the pilot.
Why the pilot is required
Scotland rightly prides itself on having some of the cleanest air in the world and among the strongest air quality standards in Europe. Low Emission Zones and investment in cleaner public transport have delivered real progress.
However, new evidence shows that harmful health effects occur at pollution levels below current Scottish targets, particularly for children — prompting the World Health Organization to issue significantly tighter Global Air Quality Guidelines in 2021.
Despite this, pilot mapping carried out by the RCPE reveals a stark gap: air quality is rarely monitored near schools. Across five Scottish cities, over 60% of primary and secondary schools are more than one kilometre from the nearest air quality monitor. Only one primary school was found to be within 50 metres of a particulate matter monitor. The Air Pollution Working Group’s research has now been published in the BMJ Public Health Journal.
“This is a blind spot in our public health system,” said Professor Jill Belch OBE, Co-chair of the College’s Air Pollution Working Group. “We know that children are more vulnerable than adults to air pollution, yet we are failing to measure what they are breathing during the school day.”
Why schools matter
Schools are often located near busy roads and junctions. Pollution levels are intensified by the ‘school run’, idling vehicles, and congestion during drop-off and pick-up times. Vehicle emissions release nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), pollutants known to damage the lungs, heart, brain, immune system and metabolic health of children.
Robust UK and international evidence links air pollution exposure in childhood to:
impaired lung growth and increased asthma risk
effects on brain development, cognition, behaviour and educational attainment
higher blood pressure and early markers of cardiovascular disease
increased hospital admissions, with over 1,000 excess child admissions per year in Scotland on high-pollution days
These harms are not evenly distributed. Children from more deprived communities are more likely to attend schools in areas with higher pollution, compounding existing health inequalities and environmental injustice.
A practical, affordable pilot with national impact
The proposed pilot would deploy proven Airly air quality monitors within 50 metres of selected schools, measuring NO₂, PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ continuously for 12 months. The project would be delivered in partnership with local authorities and an experienced UK environmental consultancy, ensuring data quality, transparency and independence.
Crucially, the programme includes a citizen science and education component, enabling pupils to engage with real-time data, understand pollution’s health effects, and influence behaviour change such as reducing engine idling and encouraging active travel.
Because the project spans four cities rather than a single neighbourhood, it falls outside traditional community or charity funding models — making political leadership and public investment essential.
Strong professional and workforce backing
The proposal has received full endorsement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the teachers’ union NASUWT.
Mike Corbett, National Official, NASUWT Scotland stated:“Being able to quantify the scale of the problem around our schools is the first step to cleaning up the air our children breathe and moving towards a healthier and safer future.
“NASUWT is therefore very pleased to endorse and support this proposal.”
A clear call to action
The data generated by this pilot would directly inform local and national decision-making, guiding targeted interventions such as no-idling zones, low-traffic streets, cleaner school transport, greening measures and safer routes for walking and cycling. The findings would be reported to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, local councils, schools and the public.
In light of recent European human rights rulings recognising that failure to address environmental pollution can violate the right to life, the case for action is both moral and legal.
“There is overwhelming evidence that air pollution harms children — often permanently,” said: Professor Belch.
“What Scotland currently lacks is the data around schools to act decisively. This pilot programme is a modest, affordable step that could deliver lifelong health benefits for our children and reduce entrenched inequalities.”
Professor Mark Strachan, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Co-chair of the College’s Air Pollution Working Group, said: The College has serious concerns at the lack of data on air quality levels around urban schools and considers that this gap must be addressed as a priority.
“Our Air Pollution Working Group has worked hard to develop a practical and affordable pilot proposal for air quality monitoring around urban schools and I hope that this can be supported by all of our political parties in Scotland.
“It is extremely important that we have an evidence base for mitigation where that is required given the serious impacts poor air quality can have on the health of our children and young people.”
Scotland’s political parties are now being asked to show leadership — and ensure that every child has the right to breathe clean air at school.
Officers from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit have arrested two people after raiding a country estate near Northampton, recovering around 12,000 doses of unlicensed weight loss medicines in the largest ever seizure of such products by the agency.
During the operation, which was carried out last night (28 May 2026) with the support of Northamptonshire Police, two male suspects, both aged 29, were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. Enquiries are ongoing.
The property is believed to have been used as a large-scale facility to manufacture, assemble, and distribute unlicensed weight loss medicines, including retatrutide and tirzepatide, as well as peptide products.
Officers seized substantial quantities of packaging materials and what are believed to be pharmaceutical substances used in the illicit manufacture of the products.
Andy Morling, Head of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, said: “Last night’s hugely successful operation demonstrates, once again, the MHRA’s unwavering commitment to ensuring there is no hiding place for those who cynically put the public’s health at risk for profit. Medicines regulation isn’t discretionary – it exists to protect people.
“That’s why we continue to target the traffickers who seek to bypass that protection – taking down the infrastructure that supports them and creating a hostile environment for their exploitative and harmful trade. In addition to disrupting an organised criminal group, I’m confident that dismantling this illicit production facility will have prevented significant public harm.
“I’m enormously grateful to Northamptonshire Police for their support in this operation.”
This operation is the latest in a series of successful enforcement actions by the MHRA targeting the illegal supply of weight loss medicines. Over recent months, the agency’s Criminal Enforcement Unit has carried out several raids, dismantling criminal networks, and removing significant quantities of unlicensed and potentially dangerous products from circulation.
The MHRA remains committed to pursuing those who seek to exploit public demand for these medicines and will continue to use the full range of its powers to protect the public.
The MHRA #FakeMeds website offers helpful guidance and advice for staying safe when buying medicines online.
Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from a medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
A CELEBRATION OF THE PAST, THE PRESENT & THE FUTURE OF TRAD IN EDINBURGH
Multi-award winning Scottish folk band Session A9 closed this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest with a standout live performance, and multiple encores at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 11 May.
The festival ran from (1-11 May) and included 11 days of live music, talks, workshops, folk film screenings and storytelling, thanks to continued support from Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
This year’s programme of over 60 events, was a tremendous success, with organisers enjoying:
● A 9% increase in ticket sales to music events at the Traverse Theatre.
● Multiple sell-outs including award-winning Connemara singing sensations Séamus and Caoimhe, Kim Carnie, Eilidh Shaw and Ian Carr, The Onlies, Deiseil: Dancing in Time, Nexus Project, Dick Gaughan in conversation and Session A9.
● Standing ovations for multiple performers including: Rajasthani folk trio SAZ; and Ukrainian folk musician and live-looping artist GANNA.
● Free pop up performances from Astro Bloc at Edinburgh Airport, SAZ at the Aroma Restaurant and Bar in Broxburn, and Dauntless at Nobles Bar in Leith.
● An increase in audiences aged under 26 thanks to the festival’s £9 ticket offer for younger audiences. Under 35s up from 21% to 25%
● A more international audience than ever before with 21% of the audience from outside the UK, whilst still being popular in the local area – 73% from Scotland (55% from Edinburgh).
Copyright_Douglas RobertsonEdinburgh
This year’s music commission A’Chiad Litir, (The First Letter) also received 5-star reviews.The piece, inspired by the life of sixteenth-century lesbian love poet Marie Maitland, touched on questions of language, identity and the notion of queerness and was created and performed by renowned singer songwriter and composer Josie Duncan.
Joining Josie was a stellar line-up of musicians including; Charlotte Printer (bass and vocals), Chloë Bryce (fiddle), Eilidh Rogers (percussion), Jenny Clifford (guitar) and Ashley Douglas (spoken word) who read one of Marie Maitland’s poems addressed to another woman she loved.
Other stand-out highlights from this year included trad powerhouse RURA and newcomers Astro Bloc who played to a lively crowd on opening night at Potterrow; The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter – a live vaudeville act, featuring old-time music performed on fiddles, banjos and sousaphone; Isla Ratcliff’s Scottish trad reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons; and award-winning folk singer Fiona Hunter taming toddlers with her interactive music session for under 5s and above.
Further afield, the hugely successful Folk Film Gathering supported by Screen Scotland, drew in the crowds with its popular programme of Scottish and international films, many accompanied by live scores or introductory talks.
In particular, the launch of Faodail | Found Outer Hebrides Film Archive website which featured live music from acclaimed accordionist and composer Pàdruig Morrison with fiddler and Gaelic singer Claire Frances MacNeil; the world premiere of a new documentary exploring the life and work of tradition bearer Jimmy Hutchison; Celtic Utopia which celebrates Ireland’s current folk renaissance and features many bold, funny, and politically outspoken young Irish folk musicians including Lankum and The Mary Wallopers; the UK premiere of Italian documentary Canone Effimero which showcases the raw energy and some of the vibrant folk traditions of Italy; and a curated selection of early, rarely-seen silent films by Scottish legendary film maker Bill Douglas.
Over at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, crowds gathered on Living Heritage Discovery Day to hear Ireland’s folklore aficionado Michael Fortune talk about Intangible Cultural Heritage and tradition-bearing.
Plus, throughout the festival, the Centre’s popular ‘What is…’ series of talks explaining what makes traditional dance, music,crafts, Gaelic, and Scots, truly traditional, drew audiences from all over, keen to hear from the experts about what makes each artform unique.
Lauren Paterson, Head of Programming at the Scottish Storytelling Centre said: “During the year of the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s 20th birthday, it’s been a joy to welcome audiences, performers and tradition-bearers alike to celebrate the richness, liveliness and variety of Scotland’s living heritage as part of Edinburgh Tradfest.
“From hands-on Come and Try sessions and workshops to explorations of traditional culture and identity through conversation and performance, it’s been inspiring to see so many people engaging with traditions and making connections with their own experience.”
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are delighted and encouraged with how Edinburgh Tradfest went this year. To have audiences up by 9% is a real achievement especially in tough economic times.
“We are also extremely happy to see the numbers rising amongst the younger age groups. One of the many highlights for 2026 was the move into other areas of the city with some entertaining (and free) pop up performances.
“We hit Broxburn, Turnhouse and Leith this year, and are already planning to pop up in some other unusual locations for 2027.”
Edinburgh Tradfest will return from 30 April to 10 May 2027.
Schools Construction Skills Taster Event at Edinburgh Castle.
School pupils from across Edinburgh swapped their classroom for the Castle this week to try their hand at construction and traditional skills through a Build Your Future event.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), in partnership with Scottish Traditional Building Forum and The City of Edinburgh Council, held the event for nearly 100 pupils on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 May.
The two-day skills taster event is designed to inspire the next generation of craftspeople, construction professionals, and heritage specialists by giving young people the chance to try a range of practical skills.
Across the two days, pupils rotated through five interactive skills stations with demonstrations and mini masterclasses delivered by industry specialists.
Activities include roof slating, stonemasonry, painting and graining, timber joinery, and technology in construction such as thermal insulation – showcasing both traditional craft skills and modern construction techniques, and demonstrating how they work together to maintain, repair and future-proof Scotland’s historic buildings.
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), who first supported the inaugural Build Your Future skills demonstration at Edinburgh Castle in 2012, returned this year to lead the roof‑slating activities and share their expertise with pupils. There was also insight from industry body Women in Property who were able to share experience and advice with pupils.
HES craftspeople led behind‑the‑scenes tours of Edinburgh Castle, giving pupils rare and unique insight into the conservation and construction work required to care for a world‑famous heritage site.
Schools Construction Skills Taster Event at Edinburgh Castle.
Colin Tennant, Interim Director of Cultural Assets at HES, said: “Seeing young people get hands‑on with these skills is a fantastic reminder of why this work matters. Scotland’s historic environment depends on a strong pipeline of traditional and emerging skills, and inspiring young people to see the opportunities available to them in the sector is essential.
“At HES, we’re committed to playing a leading role in tackling the skills gap – investing in training, supporting innovative programmes like Build Your Future, and working closely with partners across education, industry and local authorities. But we cannot do this alone. Transforming Scotland’s skills landscape needs sustained support and collective effort. With continued engagement across the sector and beyond, we can build the skilled workforce Scotland needs now and for the future.”
Construction apprenticeships currently see a significant drop‑out rate, with just over half of apprentices completing their training each year. Partners believe this is often due to young people entering apprenticeships without a clear understanding of the wide range of roles available.
Build Your Future aims to change this by giving pupils early, practical experience and helping them choose the right pathway from the outset.
Schools Construction Skills Taster Event at Edinburgh Castle.
Joann Russell, Chair, Scottish Traditional Building Forum, said: “We are delighted to return to Edinburgh Castle to deliver a Build Your Future event. This model of school engagement started at Edinburgh Castle in 2012 and has evolved significantly with the feedback from education and industry.
“It is a young person focussed approach to promote the many and varied careers in construction to provide young people with insights to help them in their career choices. This has been done with numerous stakeholders across construction and we look forward to continuing to work with them for the mutual long-term aims of addressing the skills gap in construction.”
This week’s event at Edinburgh Castle, delivered in partnership between Scottish Traditional Building Forum, The City of Edinburgh Council and HES, builds on the success of a wider National 5 pilot programme.
The pilot programme embeds teaching of construction and traditional skills directly into the school timetable to create a clear pathway towards a National 5 qualification and beyond. The pilot, running across several schools in the city, has supported young people to gain early experience in heritage and construction careers, with several pupils progressing into apprenticeships.
Schools Construction Skills Taster Event at Edinburgh Castle.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This event has been a great opportunity for young people to explore and try out a range of specialist and practical skills, all under the supervision of industry experts. Against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, school pupils were given a glimpse into the craftsmanship involved in conserving such a historic landmark too.
“In Edinburgh, we’re focused on improving outcomes for all learners and our innovative pathways work offers tailored routes for all young people – whether further education, an apprenticeship or the world of work.
By partnering with organisations like Historic Environment Scotland and Scottish Traditional Building Forum we want to inspire young people interested in a career in construction or conservation by showing them all that’s on offer.”
More information on traditional skills and training can be found on the HES website. Employers and schools interested in opportunities to participate can contact the team at skills@hes.scot
Festival opens with a free Family Day tomorrow – Saturday 30 May – at the National Museum of Scotland
A spotlight on disabled-led works including new Festival commission Boys Don’t Dance by award-winning Marc Brew
15 productions from 9 different countries unite in a programme that spans circus, dance, music, puppetry and theatre.
Shows for all ages – from immersive experiences for babies in ISLAND (for 0-12 mths), to wonderfully absurd work for teenagers in It Would be Such a Shame if You Missed Out (10-16 yrs)
Festival dates: 30 May to 7 June
Spectra, Aberdeen, 2026
The 36th Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (24 May to 1 June) kicks off this weekend with a packed programme of circus, dance, storytelling and theatre for young people, their schools, and families.
Over the week, the Festival programme explores timely topics such as bullying, our fear of missing out, grief and the search for identity, weaving in humour and excitement to connect with children regardless of their circumstances, access needs or location.
Some of this year’s highlights include:
A poignant dance theatre show for 7-12 year olds, Boys Don’t Dance by Marc Brewreflects on the artist’s journey who defied society’s expectations to embrace his love for dance, first as a boy growing up in rural Australia, and then when he acquired a disability following a car crash in his early twenties.
It Would be Such a Shame if you Missed Out (for 10-16 yrs)hilariously captures our fears about missing out and features 3 hapless performers trying to rehearse a play next to a giant party box, while select audience members join in.
A powerful new play by Tim Crouch, Toto Kerblammo! (for 10-14 yrs)will be experienced wearing headphones through binaural audio technology.
Brrr (for ASN 10 yrs+), anew multi-sensory performance created specially for young audiences with complex needs and set in a unique inflatable dome.
The popular Family Day opens this year’s Festival on Saturday 30 May – a full day of free, pop-up performances and artist interventions at the National Museum of Scotland, which has been programmed in partnership with festivals across the country including Light the Blue festival in Aberdeen, Merchant City Festival in Glasgow and the Paisley Book Festival.
Highlights from the Family Day includes:
Dreich, Drookit and Braw by Julian Chan, Robyn Gray, Michelle Ross and Vee Smith (in partnership with Merchant City Festival) and featured in today’s photocall
Tufts! by Kerry Cleland, Ben Winger, Katy Wilson and Ella Mackay (in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts)
Windbags by Ronan McMahon (in partnership with OneRen)
Spectra, Aberdeen, 2026
Incoming new Festival Director Adjjima Na Patalungsaid: “I am very excited to be opening this year’s Festival as the new director with such a wonderful programme.Imaginate has built a Festival with real clarity of purpose, a deep commitment to children’s rights, grounded in artistic quality, inclusion, and international exchange.
“Many of the shows this year reflect the realities of children growing up today. Questions around mental health, bullying, displacement, belonging, identity, friendship, and resilience run through the programme in very different ways. That is what makes this programme feel so alive and relevant.
“I look forward to witnessing children’s reactions and hearing their voices and different perspectives.
“It is always our hope that for every child who experiences this Festival, something stays with them, big or small. A feeling. A question. A spark of imagination.”
Full programme and booking information: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival. Tickets can be booked online or by calling 0131 226 0019.
on Sunday 31 May, Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express will transfer into public ownership to deliver more reliable, passenger-centred services across the network
passengers will see bread and butter improvements to their services, including doubling trains to Gatwick Airport each hour and recruiting more drivers to reduce cancellations
transfer means publicly-owned operators will deliver 8 in 10 passenger rail journeys that Great British Railways will ultimately be responsible for, making public ownership the backbone of the railway
Millions of passengers will benefit from more accountable and reliable journeys, as the UK’s largest train operating company’s services join the fast-growing family of publicly owned operators from this weekend (31 May 2026).
Responsible for 1 in 6 passenger rail journeys in Britain, GTR keeps the South East moving, delivering one of the UK’s most extensive rail networks and carrying hundreds of millions of passengers each year.
A renationalised GTR will deliver a range of initiatives to improve performance and passenger experience under public ownership, such as doubling the number of services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria every hour and training 110 new Travel Safe Officers to crack down on anti-social behaviour on the network.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “From this Sunday, millions of passengers across the South East and East of England will be travelling on rail services back in public hands – run for the public good, not private profit.
“Bringing Britain’s largest train operator into public ownership is a defining moment in our reform of the railway. It gives us an opportunity to tackle the bread and butter issues people want, like driving down cancellations and improving the frequency of services to Gatwick Airport.
“As we set up Great British Railways, we’re putting passengers first, fixing what’s broken, and delivering a railway people can rely on – one that rebuilds trust, regenerates communities and delivers the high standards passengers expect and deserve.”
GTR’s 100 day plan will focus on getting the basics right, to create a reliable service that delivers better on-board experience.
The plan includes measures to:
Double Gatwick Express services: easier travel for holiday makers with double the number of Gatwick Express trains each hour between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria from December and more early morning services on Saturdays and Mondays from this summer. Additional Great Northern services will also commence in December.
Recruit more drivers to reduce delays: GTR’s ongoing train crew recruitment will deliver an additional 75 drivers across Thameslink and Great Northern this year as drivers complete their training, with an uplift of 40 drivers at Southern and Gatwick Express this year too. The increase in drivers will help improve train crew availability and reduce cancellations.
Create safer, cleaner toilets: Thameslink train toilets are being refreshed to crack down on graffiti and provide a better experience for passengers. GTR will resurface toilet interiors on 2 trains every week with over half the fleet completed by the end of the year. 110 Travel Safe Officers are also being trained to support revenue protection, improve security and combat anti-social behaviour.
Upgrade signalling to reduce cancellations: Secondary signalling system between Farringdon and Blackfriars to reduce delays and boost resilience. Improvements expected to prevent over 1,000 cancellations a year.
Establish better customer communication: passengers will be able to get support when there is disruption from staff directly via a customer support WhatsApp channel. GTR is also adding more online payment options for customers.
The transfer follows the unveiling of the first Great British Railways (GBR) branded train at Brighton station last week and represents a landmark moment in the journey to public ownership. From Sunday, around 8 in 10 passenger rail journeys that GBR will ultimately be responsible for will take place on publicly owned services. It’s the latest step to creating a reliable, accountable and integrated rail network.
Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services bring a strong track record, contributing £3.2 billion to the UK economy and supporting 40,000 jobs in 2025. With government support, Thameslink and Great Northern services will also support the delivery of thousands of new homes, as well as schools and employment space, as they begin stopping at the new Cambridge South station from Sunday 28 June.
John Whitehurst, Chief Operating Officer for GTR, said: “This is a railway that carries millions of people to work, to school, and to see friends and family every single day. From this Sunday every one of them will be on a publicly owned service, which is a responsibility we take seriously and one we have been preparing for.
“We have spent the past year building the foundations, and bringing even deeper integration into our operations with Network Rail, with a single focus on what’s right for our customers and communities.
“That work means customers are already getting a railway that’s been transforming, and public ownership gives us the chance to go further to deliver the railway that millions of people across the South East deserve.”
Ana Christie, CEO of Sussex Chamber of Commerce said: “I was delighted to attend the launch of Great British Railways at Brighton station and to have a discussion with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
“This marks the launch of a greater joined-up railway, working in collaboration with business and other key stakeholders, to ensure challenges are addressed and progress is made to deliver a service fit for the future.
“I look forward to further conversations, ensuring business concerns are captured in fundamentally reforming the railway.”
As the government steams ahead with its bold rail reforms, passengers across Britain are already experiencing a better railway, with publicly owned DfT train operators performing better on punctuality and cancellations on average than those yet to come under DFTO ownership, as well as frozen rail fares for the first time in three decades. Other benefits of public ownership include:
More services for passengers: 76,000 seats per week in the December timetable uplift, with 60,000 coming on LNER services on the East Coast Main Line, and over a million passenger journeys on Northern’s new Northumberland Line.
Strong performance: Publicly owned c2c and Greater Anglia continue to be the top two performing operators for punctuality and reliability, with over 90% of trains arriving within 3 minutes of their scheduled time and under 2% cancellations.
Better onboard experience: Since entering public ownership, SWR has more than quadrupled the number of Arterio trains in service. The new trains are quicker and have more space on board.
Greater flexibility: Passengers can travel with greater confidence knowing that if their train is cancelled, they can use another publicly owned service 2 hours either side of their train to get to their destination at no extra cost.
GTR is the fifth operator to enter public ownership under the government’s Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act, marking another step towards a simpler, more unified railway under GBR.
GBR will be accountable to passengers and will drive a relentless focus on responding to their needs. Responsible for coordinating the whole network: from track and train, to cost and revenue – GBR will deliver lasting change and build a railway fit for Britain’s future, owned by the public, for the public.
GTR joins West Midlands Trains, Greater Anglia, c2c, South Western, Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern and LNER which are currently managed by DfT Operator Limited (DFTO).
Chiltern Railways’ services will be next to transfer on 20 September 2026, followed by Great Western Railways on 13 December 2026, marking another significant step in the government’s plans to bring services into public ownership. We expect the full public ownership programme to be completed by the end of 2027.
