Category: North Edinburgh News

New exhibition unveils history of the Trinity Stones

A FREE exhibition, exploring the story of Edinburgh’s long-lost Trinity Collegiate Church, is now open at the Museum of Edinburgh.

Reviving the Trinity Stones marks the culmination of a two-year project led by Jill Harrison, founder of the Trinity Network. The project has sought to trace, identify and catalogue medieval stones dispersed after the demolition of the once-magnificent 15th-century Trinity Collegiate Church in 1848, which made way for the construction of Waverley Station.

Founded more than 560 years ago by Queen Mary of Guelders, the Trinity Collegiate Church was among the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Scotland. Despite its former grandeur and royal significance, much of its physical legacy was scattered and largely forgotten until now.

The exhibition brings this remarkable story back to life, exploring who built the church, how it was used, why it was demolished, and how parts of it were later reconstructed. Visitors will also discover how the search for these lost stones has evolved into a modern-day treasure hunt, piecing together fragments of Edinburgh’s medieval past.

Featuring rare images, archival material and newly uncovered insights, the exhibition highlights the importance of preserving these fragile remnants before they are lost forever.  It also aims to inspire renewed public interest and support for their protection.

A programme of free talks and guided walks will accompany the exhibition, offering visitors further opportunities to engage with the history and ongoing discoveries.

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “I’m delighted that the Museum of Edinburgh is hosting another outstanding exhibition. Reviving the Trinity Stones tells the fascinating story of the Trinity Collegiate Church – one of medieval Edinburgh’s forgotten royal masterpieces.

“This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore how the church was celebrated, demolished and rediscovered. With an excellent programme of free talks alongside it, there truly is something for everyone, and I would encourage people of all ages to visit.”

Jill Harrison, Founder of the Trinity Network, said: “The story of the trinity stones continues to capture the imagination of heritage organisations, community groups, residents and visitors alike.

“This project has already contributed valuable new knowledge about one of Edinburgh’s oldest medieval buildings, and I hope it will spark further interest, research, and discussion.

“It is an especially exciting time, as new stones continue to be discovered, and more people become involved in uncovering this hidden history.”

The City of Edinburgh Council Archaeologist John Lawson said: “It has been fantastic working and supporting Jill and her colleagues on this project over the last few years.

“Her research and investigations have brought to light the fate of what happened to parts of this medieval church after it was taken with pieces scattered across Edinburgh.

“We are delighted that the project has allowed us to receive, as a donation from NHS Lothian, of three important stone bosses which ended up in the Astley Ainslie Hospital.

“This includes the unique ‘Passion Stone’ carved with the marks of the Passion the last surviving of six. This is on show as part of this exhibition.”

The project has been funded through a Jean Guild Grant from the Old Edinburgh Club. The exhibition and its accompanying outreach programme are supported by the City Council.

Heartfelt! Lord Provost sends best wishes to Hearts

Ahead of Saturday’s football match, the Lord Provost has issued the following statement:

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “On behalf of the city, I want to wish Heart of Midlothian the very best of luck against Celtic on Saturday.

“It really is incredible that it’s come down to this final showdown between the top two. Hearts have had such a great season, bringing so much joy, excitement and inspiration to their fans and to the wider community. They really have been the ‘talk of the toon’ and you can literally feel the buzz in and around Gorgie.

“Should they go on to win the title, it would be huge moment for the club and for the city. Not only would it be their first league triumph since 1960, they would also be the first club outside the Old Firm to do so for over 40 years.

“How wonderful if would be if the team ending that run and bringing the trophy home was an Edinburgh club. Go on the Jam Tarts!”

Kenneth Gibson elected as Holyrood’s Presiding Officer

Kenneth Gibson MSP has been elected as the Scottish Parliament’s seventh Presiding Officer.

Upon election, the new Presiding Officer said: “It is a huge privilege to be elected as the Parliament’s Presiding Officer, and I want to thank MSPs for placing their trust in me.

“As Presiding Officer I will be bold, innovative and imaginative and will work in the interests of all Members.

“It’s clear that Parliament needs to reform and to renew its relationship with the people. Scotland needs a Parliament that is vibrant, relevant and trusted.

“I will play my part in delivering that.”

In his acceptance speech, Kenneth Gibson MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament added: “I’m looking forward to working with every single Member in this Chamber to take this Parliament forward.

“I think there is so much more we can be as a Parliament than we have been in the past and I will certainly do my utmost in taking us forward.”

The election took place following a secret ballot of newly elected Members. Other nominees included Clare Haughey MSP, Liam McArthur MSP and Stuart McMillan MSP.

Kenneth Gibson MSP has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cunninghame North since 2007, having previously represented the Glasgow electoral region from 1999 to 2003, as a Scottish National Party MSP.

He was Convenor of the Finance and Public Administration Committee in the fourth and sixth sessions of Parliament and was the first MSP to lodge plans for a ban of smoking in public places.

The outgoing Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP, presided over the Presiding Officer election.

European Communities Day at Out of the Blue Drill Hall

SATURDAY 16 MAY 11am – 4pm

The FREE European Communities Day takes place this Saturday (11am – 4pm) at the Drill Hall. It’s part of Festival of Europe Scotland.

Come to our European Communities Day, taking place on Saturday 16th May (11am–4pm) at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith.

This is a free, family-friendly event we are supporting as part of the Festival of Europe. It will bring together organisations working with European communities alongside a range of creative activities and workshops for children and families, including art sessions and family ceilidh dancing.

The day celebrates the richness and diversity of Europe – recognising that it is not a homogeneous space, and that identities are shaped by different ethnicities, cultures, languages and migration journeys.

It is open to everyone and aims to create a welcoming space to share experiences, build connections, and celebrate this diversity together.

We recognise that people connect to Europe in different ways, including those who live, work and build their lives here in Scotland.

For more information, and to book a place in the ceilidh and workshops, please visit this link.”

https://festivalofeuropescotland.org/…/european…

North Edinburgh Community Festival: Could you be a Casual Interpreter?

Do you have a tent or activity at the North Edinburgh Community Festival on Saturday? Do you speak an additional language to English?

This year, we’re continuing our testing of an initiative to to expand access and the sense of belonging at the festival.

If you don’t mind being a “casual interpreter” and helping our friends who may not speak much English navigate the festival (or even chatting with those who just want to speak their heart language! ❤ ), reach out to elizabeth.hampson@mcfb.org.uk and let me know what language(s) you speak!

We’ll make you a lovely lanyard and hopefully we can build up some community through shared languages.

Streeting resigns as Health Secretary

‘Where we need vision, we have a vacuum’

WES Streeting has resigned as UK Health Secretary, clearing the way for his leadership bid.

STREETING’s RESIGNATION LETTER:

Funding boost to help Scotland’s school libraries inspire a new generation of readers

School libraries across Scotland are being invited to bid for a share of £150,000 in Scottish Government funding to deliver innovative projects that inspire reading for pleasure, widen access to books and help children and young people build vital digital skills.

The 2026/27 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF), administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), will support creative initiatives that widen engagement with reading, foster whole-school reading cultures and help pupils develop the literacy, wellbeing and digital skills needed to thrive in modern life.

SLIF supports projects aligned with the ambitions of Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools — the national strategy for school libraries in Scotland. Open to all state-run nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools in Scotland, this year’s fund will prioritise applications focused on:

  • promoting reading for pleasure and developing whole-school reading cultures
  • improving equity of access to books, libraries and reading experiences
  • strengthening digital and information literacy, and
  • supporting wellbeing, creativity and partnership working to widen engagement with reading

Projects funded through previous rounds of SLIF have demonstrated the powerful role school libraries play in supporting attainment, confidence, inclusion and wellbeing. From transforming unused spaces into vibrant reading hubs to creating intergenerational storytelling projects, digital media initiatives and community reading programmes, SLIC is encouraging schools and library services to submit bold, creative ideas that reflect the needs and aspirations of their local communities.

Last year 17 trailblazing projects were awarded a share of the SLIF. Successful initiatives included inclusive reading projects using assistive technology in Aberdeen, podcasting and digital storytelling programmes in Renfrewshire, a football-inspired emotional literacy project in East Renfrewshire delivered in partnership with Police Scotland, and large-scale family and community reading initiatives spanning schools in Inverclyde, the Highlands and East Lothian.

Other funded initiatives explored themes including myths and legends and empathy through reading, while a range of projects also focused on digital literacy and accessibility to ensure every child can experience the joy of reading.

Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “The School Library Improvement Fund continues to highlight the innovation and ambition within school libraries across the country.

“Every year, we see inspiring projects that make a tangible difference, helping children and young people discover a love of reading, build confidence, strengthen digital skills and feel more connected to their school communities.

“This year’s priorities place reading and equitable access at the heart of the programme, while also recognising the ever-growing importance of wellbeing, creativity and digital literacy. We are encouraging schools and library staff to think boldly about what their library can achieve and to develop ideas that deliver real impact for learners and their families.”

Schools can submit either individual or collaborative applications, with SLIC accepting up to two individual applications per local authority and an unlimited number of collaborative applications, helping ensure opportunities are shared fairly across Scotland.

The School Library Improvement Fund 2026-27 is now open. Applications will close at 12pm on 8 June 2026. To find out more and apply, visit: 

The School Library Improvement Fund – The Scottish Library and Information Council.

Mental Health Foundation: Acting early is key to building a mentally healthier society

Mental health in the UK is moving in the wrong direction. More people are experiencing distress, services are overwhelmed and demand continues to rise.

The need for action is clear. But what should that look like?

At the Mental Health Foundation, we believe that lasting change depends on acting earlier – we call it prevention.

Treatment and crisis services are vital and always will be, but they can’t carry the full weight of the mental health crisis.

If we want fewer people to reach crisis point, we have to address the conditions that harm mental health in the first place and strengthen those that protect it.

Read our vision of how to build a mentally healthier society: https://bit.ly/4cStwDC

Join us this #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek as we call for action to improve mental health across the UK.

Because everyone deserves good mental health💜

Out of the Blue: Youth Summer Camp

The summer holidays just got a whole lot more creative! 🎭

Drill Hall artists All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre and Strange Town are joining forces for a brand-new 5-day summer camp, and it’s going to be something special. ✨

Aerial skills, movement, storytelling, character work, theatre-making… and it all ends in a LIVE SHOW for friends and family! 🎭

🎭 Ages 12–18 | All levels welcome | No experience needed

📅 Monday 20th – Friday 24th July

⏲️ 10am – 4pm

📍The Out of the Blue Drill Hall

🎫 £200 | Subsidised places available

Give your teenager a summer they’ll never forget.

To find out more, just head over to our website.

https://outoftheblue.pulse.ly/micamjumax

Lorne Primary School celebrates 150th anniversary with series of community events

This year marks 150 years since Lorne Primary School first opened its doors. To mark the milestone pupils, families and the local community are invited to join a programme of special events to celebrate learning, community and resilience:

  • Heritage Exhibitions featuring historic photographs and memories from alumni and community archives
  • Community performances and pupil showcases highlighting arts, music, and storytelling
  • Involvement in Leith Festival Pageant showcasing the brilliant work of pupils and teachers
  • Collaborative projects with local partners exploring the school’s role in Leith’s history and future
  • In-School Events such as a ‘Back in the Day’ Disco, a time travelling film that explores Lorne pupil experiences over the last 150 years and a celebratory tea party for staff, alumni, dignitaries and pupil representatives

Officially opened in February 1876, the first headmaster, the Reverend James Forsyth, welcomed pupils into the newly completed school building in late 1876, laying the foundations for a legacy of learning that continues today.

The much-loved Victorian school has played a vital role in shaping the lives of generations of Leith’s learners and their families.

Built on land secured from the Governors of George Heriot’s Hospital, the school was originally designed to accommodate up to 500 children. The school grew alongside its community and in 1898 a third storey was added to meet the needs of the increasing pupil numbers, and by 1901 the roll had risen to 900 pupils.

During the Second World War, the school building was temporarily repurposed as a civic restaurant, offering meals to local people affected by wartime disruption, while many pupils continued their studies in temporary settings around the city.

In 1962, a fire in the roof of the building led to the closure of the school for a decade. The school reopened in 1973 with 282 pupils. Today the school is a vibrant, multicultural learning community with over 150 pupils representing over 25 home languages.

Education, Children and Families Convenor, Cllr James Dalgleish said: “It is incredible to see Lorne Primary School celebrating its 150th anniversary.

“This important milestone provides a great opportunity to reflect and celebrate the impact that the school has had on the lives of many learners over the years as well as on the wider Leith community.

“While a lot has changed over the past 150 years, the school remains deeply rooted in the heart of the community, and today Lorne Primary School is a vibrant, modern, nurturing and inclusive school.”

Commenting on the milestone, Lorne Primary School Head Teacher, Lindsay Kennedy said: “We are incredibly proud to celebrate 150 years of learning at Lorne Primary.

“This anniversary is a tribute to every pupil, family, and staff member who has been part of our journey. We look forward to continuing our legacy of nurturing curiosity, compassion, and achievement for many generations to come.”