BOTANICS’ TALLEST TREE IS AMONG 15 LOST – 27 MORE DAMAGED
Botanics staff reported:
‘We’re sad to announce that #StormÉowyn has caused severe damage across our Gardens.
‘At #Edinburgh, 15 trees have been lost – either uprooted or damaged beyond recovery. This includes the Garden’s tallest tree, the 29-metre Cedrus deodara, planted in 1859.
‘A further 27 trees have been heavily damaged, and more than 100 panes of glass have been lost from our glasshouses.’
The Botanics team has initiated a major clearup programme and, despite considerable damage across the site, the popular Gardens reopened yesterday.
At 8pm tonight – 27 January – join us to Light the Darkness for #HMD2025.
On Monday, people will light candles and place them safely in their windows to remember those who were murdered for who they were, and stand against prejudice and hatred today.
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh invites fans to their VIP Big Game Event on Sunday, 9th February 2025, to mark this year’s Super Bowl in style.
Held in the VIP Back Room, the event will feature two Big Game screens, with festivities kicking off at 9:00 PM and running late into the night (alcohol served until 3:00 AM).
Tickets include a carefully curated game-day experience:
Four beers
One Big Game Eat and one side
Half-time Jumbo Soft Pretzel with beer cheese and mustard sauce
A Hard Rock Cafe goody bag
The Big Game menu offers classic favourites such as Classic Nachos, Signature Wings, and Loaded Tater Tots, paired with sides like Twister Mac & Cheese and Cheese & Smoked Bacon Fries.
This special event provides the ultimate setting for sports enthusiasts to enjoy the Super Bowl in a vibrant atmosphere with great food, drinks, and entertainment.
Tickets are available to book on Opentable for both general admission and the VIP event.
On January 27th the UK will observe Holocaust Memorial Day (writes TUC General Secretary PAUL NOWAK).
It is a day we remember the millions murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
We encourage every trade unionist to take part – at home, in workplaces and union branches, and in their communities.
Sculpture by Sir Jacob Epstein
This year – as we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia – everyone is invited to light candles at 8pm in their windows.
Across the country, iconic buildings and landmarks will light up purple during this powerful national moment of commemoration and solidarity.
As part of this, the TUC will illuminate Jacob Epstein’s powerful sculpture at the home of the trade union movement, Congress House. And I will represent the trade union movement at the national commemoration on the 27th.
Holocaust Memorial Day is an occasion for reflection – but it is also a call to action.
The Holocaust was not an inevitable event. It was the result of unchecked prejudice, propaganda, and the dehumanisation of entire groups of people.
By remembering the past we are reminded of our collective responsibility to challenge hatred in all its forms. The atrocities of the Holocaust serve as a stark warning of what can happen when societies remain silent in the face of intolerance and extremist ideologies.
The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘for a better future’.
As I light my candle I will think not only of those who were senselessly killed but of the world we are striving to build. A world rooted in compassion, understanding and justice. And this year, I will think in particular about the need for a lasting peace in the Middle East after more than 15 devastating months of conflict that have seen so much human suffering. That lasting peace will only be built on a two-state solution – a safe and secure Israel and a safe, secure, free Palestine.
By remembering the horrors of the past we can commit ourselves to ensuring that darkness never takes hold again.
We must never forget. We must always strive for peace.
Reminder that this year we will be serving three community lunches a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 2pm, as well as our monthly ‘Pitch to Plate’ multicultural meals with Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society – SABS.
All meals are served out of our new Hibernian Community Hub in the Famous Five Stand at Easter Road Stadium, and have vegetarian and takeaway options.
Please share this news with anyone you think needs to know.
Aldi stores in Edinburgh and the Lothians donated 14,639 meals to those in need over the recent festive period.
The UK’s fourth largest supermarket teamed up with local good causes across the UK to donate a range of fresh and chilled foods from its stores after closing early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Research from Neighbourly, the community giving platform that works with Aldi, found that 78% of the good causes it supports were more concerned about meeting demand this Christmas, compared to the same time last year.
Additionally, 51% felt they would not be able to respond to every request for help due to capacity and funding.
The supermarket has also donated £25,000 to Neighbourly’s GoGive Christmas campaign to further support local charities across UK and Ireland.
Aldi has worked with Neighbourly since 2019 and provides surplus food from all of its UK stores to hundreds of charities across the country throughout the year.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “This Christmas we were proud to support so many incredible charities across the UK who provide essential support to those in need.
“The services provided by food banks are more important than ever over the festive period and we’re committed to ensuring those that rely on them have access to a wide range of high-quality foods.”
Steve Butterworth, CEO at Neighbourly, added: “We’re so grateful to have had Aldi’s support for another year.
“Christmas is one of the busiest periods for our charities and the donations from Aldi mean we can help even more people across the country who need that bit of extra support over the festive period.”
Shoppers can donate food to local charities, food banks and community groups via the community donation points in Aldi stores nationwide.
Aldi also works with Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, to redistribute surplus food from its Regional Distribution Centres. This year, it provided more than 2,000 free Christmas lunches to Company Shop’s award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop.
Forth 1 have announced details of Forth 50 – Live!, a huge celebration to mark the station’s 50th birthday with an epic line up of 90s pop dance acts at The Royal Highland Centre.
Taking place on Saturday 31st May, Forth 50 – Live!, with Eastern Western Motor Group, will welcome dance icons including Whigfield, Robin S, Mary Kiani, Haddaway, Heather Small, Corona and more for a daytime disco party like no other.
Tickets on sale 9am Friday 31st January via forth1.com
Celebrating Forth 1’s first 50 years, the incredible live gig will welcome fans to The Royal Highland Centre from 2pm- 10.30pm for the station’s biggest ever daytime disco. Forth’s most legendary presenters will join in the birthday celebrations with Boogie and Arlene, Marty, Garry Spence, Steven Mill and Callum Gallacher all presenting live on the day.
The one-off gig will have fans dancing throughout the decades with the sound of the 90s dance scene taking to the stage in Ingliston. Filling dance floors around the world from Ibiza to Edinburgh itself, the full line-up includes legends of the scene:
Haddaway, Heather Small (below), Whigfield, Snap, Corona, Robin S, K:Klass, D:Ream, Rozalla, Angie Brown, Alison Limerick, Oceanic and Mary Kiani.
Since Forth 1 first took to the airwaves on 22nd January 1975, the station has proudly represented Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk for five decades, breaking some of the hottest new acts and welcoming legends of the music scene to their shows. Forth 1 has remained at the heart of the community and is currently the number one station for Edinburgh and the East.
The daytime dance extravaganza will include some of the biggest tunes from the 90s with the likes of Whigfield’s ‘Saturday Night’, Haddaway’s ‘What Is Love’, Corona’s ‘The Rhythm of the Night’ and ‘Show Me Love’ from Robin S all sure to get the party started. Familiar faces on Top of the Pops in the 90s, there are countless number 1 hits to choose from as Forth fans can dance the day away to the tracks that defined a generation.
The special birthday gig was unveiled live on air by Boogie and Arlene, with tickets set to go on sale from 31st January.
Angie Brown (above) said, “I am really honoured to be performing at Forth 50 – LIVE this year. I’m incredibly excited and I am actually buzzing, because I know it’ll be a very glamorous and glittering occasion!”
Mary Kiani said,“Wishing everyone at Forth 1 ‘100% Real Love’ on their 50th birthday, thanks for letting the music play and I can’t wait to see you in May!”
Rozalla said,“I so look forward to performing and celebrating Forth 1. It’s a fantastic line-up and celebration to be part of. See you all there!”
Boogie and Arlene said,“It’s an amazing achievement for any radio station to still be going strong after 50 years. One thing Forth has always been well-known for is a good party and this is going to be the biggest one we’ve ever had.”
The Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston will host Forth 50 – Live, with Eastern Western Motor Group, welcoming fans and listeners to the indoor arena for a gig that is sure to kick off summer in Edinburgh and the East.
For a day of timeless tracks, era-defining songs and non-stop dancefloor fillers… don’t miss out – tickets on sale from 9am, 31st January via forth1.com
Tickets – £72 (subject to booking fee)
Over 18s only, photo ID may be required to gain entry.
2025 MEAL CHANGES
