Category: Uncategorized

Guard of Honour for world’s most prestigious penguin!

A Guard of Honour for Sir Nils Olav – the most famous king penguin in the world – as he is promoted at a prestigious award ceremony at Edinburgh Zoo 

His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway, who are performing at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this year, visited the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo to promote and bestow a unique honour upon the resident king penguin, Sir Nils Olav.  

The world-famous King penguin, who is already a Brigadier, now has the grand title of Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands and official mascot of His Majesty the King’s Guard of Norway. 

Following a carefully choreographed parade past His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway, Sir Nils was awarded his new badge of honour at a special ceremony at the wildlife conservation charity’s Penguins Rock. The ceremony was attended by over 160 uniformed soldiers of His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard who are taking part in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Show, Stories. 

Jason Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “The theme for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this year is Stories and what better connection to our Show than the story of Sir Nils Olav and his rise through the ranks.

“His Majesty’s Kings Guard of Norway bring a rich history, honour, and tradition to our cast and have been a fan favourite for years. Having acts like the Kings Guard showcases the cross-cultural component found within the Tattoo and is what makes it so unique among entertainment offerings. On behalf of the entire cast and crew of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, I am delighted to congratulate Sir Nils Olav III on his promotion to Major General.” 

David Field, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “We are honoured to host His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway once again as they return to Edinburgh Zoo to bestow this prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav.

“It is a very proud moment and represents the ongoing close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland, and Norway.” 

Staff Sergeant Fredrik Gresseth from His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway added: “Sir Nils Olav is the mascot of His Majesty the King’s Guard and was adopted during one of the Band and Drill team’s participation at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

“Te tradition of sending Nils Olav and his family fish, Christmas cards and visiting him during the unit’s participation at the Tattoo have been an important part of the Battalion’s history.

“His promotion this August, for good conduct and for being a superb example for the rest of the penguins at the Edinburgh Zoo, is a milestone in his career as mascot for the guard. The guardsmen of the Drill team look forward to this rare occasion of being inspected by their own mascot, while the band will set the atmosphere worthy of a knighted King Penguin!” 

The regal, black, white and yellow bird is the mascot of His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard, and his very own story dates back as far as 1972, when a king penguin at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo was named after two people: Major Nils Egelien, who organised his adoption by RZSS Edinburgh Zoo in 1972, and the then-King of Norway, King Olav.  

The Guardsmen visit Sir Nils at the zoo every few years while they are in the city performing at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and give him a promotion.

Since his adoption in 1972, he has worked his way up the ranks, starting at Mascot, before being promoted to Corporal in 1982, Sergeant in 1987, Regimental Sergeant Major in 1993, Honourable Regimental Sergeant Major in 2001, Colonel-in-Chief in 2005, Knighthood in 2008, Brigadier Sir in 2016 and now General Major in 2023.  

Tickets are still available for the Tattoo, that runs until 26 August 2023 and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188. Tickets for the 2024 Show, Journeys, will be on general sale from 28 August 2023.  

Craigmillar Park incident: Police urge Good Samaritan to come forward

POLICE are appealing for a man who took an injured man to hospital in Edinburgh on Saturday (19 August 2023), to contact them.

Around 6.20 pm, a 17-year-old seriously injured youth was assisted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by the man who left before any details were taken by staff.

The man is described as white, in his 50s, had receding hair and was wearing glasses, a blue Adidas top and was carrying a rucksack.

Detective Sergeant Keith Morrison said: “At this time, we don’t know how the young man sustained his injuries, so it is imperative that we trace the man who took him to hospital so we can find out what he knows.

“From our enquiries, the injured man was at an event in Craigmillar Park the previous evening and had become separated from his friends. They were unable to get a hold of him, and it was only when he was admitted to hospital that his family were made aware of where he was.

“If you are the man described, or have any information that may assist our investigation, please call officers at Gayfield CID via 101, quoting incident number 2960 of Saturday, 19 August 2023. Alternatively, details can be given in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Other Worlds: Citizen stories

CITIZEN ADULT WRITERS’ FINAL PERFORMANCE AT BOOK FESTIVAL TONIGHT

As a charitable non-profit making organisation, the work of the Book Festival stretches far beyond the month of August. Indeed, our Communities Programme runs year-round, focused on inspiring and empowering people of all ages and backgrounds.

Our City, Our Stories is an outpouring of this year-round work: an event created both for and by those taking part in the Communities Programme.

This inspiring, recurring, and FREE event showcases new writing from both professional and non-professional writers across our Citizen project (and other community-based groups including Intercultural Youth Scotland and Open Book).

The stories performed make up a collective love letter to Edinburgh.

The final Our City, Our Stories session of this year’s Book Festival takes place this evening at 6.15. We’d love to see you there!

#EdBookFest23

#Charity

#NewWriting

#CreativeEdinburgh

#EdinburghInternationalBookFestival

#EdinburghBookFestival

#BookFestival

#Community

#CharityWork

#Outreach

#AmWriting

Sunday: Lewis Leap Fun Dog Show at Cammo Estate

Tails will be wagging this weekend when the ‘Lewis Leap’ Dog Show takes place at the Cammo Estate on Sunday 20th August, between 2 and 5 pm. 

The annual show, now in its second year, celebrates all kinds of canine capers – with judging categories including ‘waggiest tail’ to ‘cutest puppy’ and the ‘most fabulous costume for both dog and owner.’

As well as nine judging categories – which culminate in the prestigious ‘Best on Show’ award – there is also a host of other fun attractions including food stalls (hotdogs, naturally), tombola and doggy merchandise.  There is even a special ‘Dog Bar’ catering for the stars of the show serving ‘Puppuccinos’ and various dog treats.

The show aims to raise awareness and funds for the Lewis Leap charity which was set up to honour the memory and spirit of Cammo schoolboy Lewis Johnson, who died suddenly whilst on a family holiday aged just 13.  

The charity’s vision is to introduce a new service later this year to offer early support to local families who have suddenly and traumatically lost a child, sibling or parent. They are partnering with national bereavement support group Cruse Scotland and the new service will support family members collectively and individually in the early stages of grief.

The Lewis Leap Dog Show costs just £3 to enter each category online before the 19th August – or £3.50 on the day of the show. For more information and to enter online, visit: www.lewisleap.com/cammo-dog-show

Edinburgh Leisure seeks new Chief Executive

Edinburgh Leisure, the largest provider of sport and leisure facilities across the city, has begun the search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following the announcement of the retirement of their current CEO, June Peebles (who was part of the original team that helped establish Edinburgh Leisure in 1998).

June led the organisation through the unprecedented period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the various lockdowns and venue closures, leading with unflappability and transparency.

Although venues were closed, some projects were fast-tracked including staffing reviews, and building projects continued where possible, including retiling the Royal Commonwealth diving pool, upgrading the front façade at Portobello Swim Centre and the refurbishment of Warrender Swim Centre (one of Edinburgh Leisure’s five much-loved Victorian pools). 

June Peebles, Edinburgh Leisure’s current CEO said: “I reached the conclusion that, for me, there is no ‘right’ time to leave Edinburgh Leisure.

“I love my work, irrespective of how challenging or less challenging things are, and hardly a day goes by when I don’t experience a proud moment, whether that’s because of the performance of a colleague or from seeing and/ or hearing about the impact of our work on people’s lives. I feel very fortunate to work in an industry and for an organisation I feel passionate about. But there comes a time…and after 38 years, now feels like the right time to retire.

“I leave whoever picks up the baton with an organisation that is mature and certain of its purpose, the value it brings to the city of Edinburgh and, importantly, with the ambition to do more.  This is a great opportunity for someone to put their own stamp on how Edinburgh Leisure continues to thrive.

June Pebbles Chief Executive Edinburgh Leisure

June continues:  “A charity with one clear purpose – to make a positive difference by creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more, the new CEO will be required to ensure that Edinburgh Leisure continues to deliver on its purpose in a sustainable way.

“Leading an experienced, enthusiastic and committed team – all of whom are focused on making a positive difference through physical activity, working effectively with our  many partners (especially the elected members and officials at the City of Edinburgh Council), and providing all our customers with a great experience.”

Eden Scott is handling the recruitment and interested applicants should contact Sarah Gracie, Associate Director on 07999 421 314

Bringing Edinburgh’s LGBTQ+ stories into the light

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh has recently completed a partnership project which aims to share Edinburgh’s unique stories of LGBTQ+ history with digital and real-life visitors.

Curators have been working with Rowan Rush-Morgan, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, to make digital object records more accessible for audiences and to share key objects in a digital exhibition.

The project, hosted by Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, and funded by the Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities, focuses on the Remember When? Project, which collected objects from 2004 to 2006.

The collection includes posters, magazines, t-shirts, badges, and larger items including the distinctive hand painted sign of Lavender Menace, the first LGBT bookshop in Scotland. The collections are stored at the Museum Collections Centre in Broughton.

The exhibition – Our Rainbow Past: LGBTQ+ objects from Edinburgh – launched this week on the Our Town Stories platform.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker, said: “Museums & Galleries Edinburgh is proud to reflect our diverse communities in our venues, events, and exhibitions.

“Partnership projects like Rowan’s enable us to access expertise which helps us and our visitors to see our collections in a new light.

“The important contribution of the LGBTQ+ community to Edinburgh is showcased brilliantly in the new digital exhibition. We plan to keep collecting objects which tell the story of LGBTQ+ Edinburgh, and to keep sharing them with our visitors.

“We’re so excited to be able to share some of the most iconic objects from our LGBTQ+ collection online. New photography has really brought the objects to life, while Rowan’s research has added depth to the stories. Anyone with an interest in the LGBTQ+ life of Edinburgh and how far we’ve come in the journey towards equality and inclusion will love the exhibition.”

Rowan Rush-Morgan, Project Lead and PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The Remember When? Project was groundbreaking at the time, bringing together objects, archives, and interviews to give a complete picture of LGBTQ+ life in Edinburgh.

“My placement was designed to make sure the collections database uses the correct terminology to allow researchers and the public to search for the stories from the collection important to them. We also wanted to highlight some of the star objects in an online exhibition, which was great fun to put together.”

You can visit the Our Town Stories exhibition here.

The Remember When? Project was an oral and community history project carried out between July 2004 and July 2006. The project was run jointly by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Living Memory Association and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council and Lesbian & Gay Switchboard.

The project documented the lives and achievements of Edinburgh’s LGBT people, past and present. It involved over 60 volunteers, culminating in the 2006 exhibition Rainbow City, shown at the City Art Centre, and a book of the same name. Part of the project involved collecting LGBT memorabilia, which was then added to the collections of Museums & Galleries Edinburgh.

ELREC: Pedal’n’Pick this Saturday

SATURDAY 19th AUGUST 10am – 3pm

Bored and tired of the same old Saturday routine ? Why not join us for a sunny cycle to Craigie Farm to pick your own Fruit!

The rides are fun, social and inclusive. Participants will ideally need their own bike although we have a small selection of adult and kids bikes we can rent for free.

Booking is essential.

There is also the opportunity to get your bike checked for free on the Friday afternoon prior to the ride. All details in the poster.

#activetravel

#cycleride

#cycling

#SustainableLiving

HMRC: Do you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return this year?

If someone has had a change in circumstances, then they might need to complete their first ever Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding people.  

Taxpayers can use the quick and easy free online checking tool on GOV.UK and register with HMRC by 5 October if they do need to self-assess. Taxpayers can also use it if they think they may not need to complete one this year too.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:  “It is important that taxpayers check if they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return so they can pay the right amount of tax owed and avoid penalties for not filing a return.

“It is quick and easy to check by using the interactive tool on GOV.UK – there is no need to ring us.” 

Taxpayers may need to complete a tax return if they:

  • are newly self-employed and have earned more than £1,000  
  • have multiple sources of income  
  • have received any untaxed income, for example earning money for creating online content  
  • earn more than £100,000 a year 
  • earn income from property that they own and rent out 
  • are a new partner in a business partnership 
  • are claiming Child Benefit and they or their partner have an income above £50,000
  • receive interest from banks and building societies (more than £10,000) 
  • receive dividends in excess of £10,000 
  • need to pay Capital Gains Tax  
  • are self-employed and earn less than £1,000 but wish to pay Class 2 NICs voluntarily to protect their entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits 

The online checking tool can also be used by those who may no longer need to do Self Assessment, including if they: 

·         gave up work or retired 

·         are no longer self-employed 

·         earn below the minimum income thresholds 

If taxpayers no longer think they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, they should tell HMRC before the deadline on 31 January 2024 to avoid any penalties. 

Taxpayers can register for Self Assessment on GOV.UK. Once registered, they will receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference, which they will need when completing their tax return. 

HMRC has wide range of resources to help taxpayers file a tax return including a series of video tutorials on YouTube and a new  step by step guide. for anyone that is filing for the first time.   

Taxpayers need to be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.  

Gyle knife robbery: Witness appeal

POLICE are appealing following a robbery on a footpath in the Gyle area.

The incident happened between 5.50pm and 6pm on Monday (14 August), on the path between the Gyle shopping centre and Gogarloch Syke.

A man was walking on the path from the shopping centre towards Gogarloch Syke when he came across a man lying on the ground. On approaching, the man on the ground has produced a knife and demanded money, before making off into a wooded area towards Gogarloch Syke with a four-figure sum of cash.

The man is described as white, aged late 20s, of slim build and around 5ft 11ins to 6ft. He was wearing a burgundy/maroon hoodie with the hood up, light grey tracksuit bottoms and grey trainers.

Detective Constable Peter Lyons said: “Fortunately no one was injured but the man who was robbed was left extremely upset and shaken by what happened.

“The area was likely busy with dog walkers and pedestrians at the time and we are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened.

“We are also keen to speak to the man described and would like anyone who saw him before or after the incident to get in touch.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3269 of Monday, 14 August, 2023.