The school’s latest Community Engagement Day, on Friday 08 May, will see students engage in a range of activities across Edinburgh
Fettes College is supporting a host of local community activities and has also invited visitors into the school’s famous 19th Century Bryce Building as part of Open Doors at Fettes.
The independent school’s latest Community Engagement Day, held biannually and this year on Friday 08 May, will see students support environmental improvement projects throughout Edinburgh, visit primary schools and care homes, and work with a range of community organisations.
Fettes will also open its own doors and invite local residents in for morning coffee, learn some Fettes history and enjoy a student-led tour of the school. The school will also host young people from FetLor Youth Club to engage in team-building activities, including its on-campus low ropes course, following their recent charity run that raised over £16,500 for the club.
The community activities, supported by students, will also incorporate various primary school and nursery visits such as Star of the Sea Primary School and Pirniehall Nursery where Fettes students have a long-standing relationship of providing hands-on teaching and support for maintenance projects and their clothes bank.
There are a number of local activities with a key focus on enhancing the city’s environment and open spaces, including planting up a Stockbridge roundabout (collaborating with The Flora Stevenson Primary School and St Ninian’s Church), Water of Leith clean-up (led by the Water of Leith Trust), helping Granton Community Gardeners, plus time spent at both Starbank Park and Inverleith Park.
Further activities involve bringing art and music to the local community through the making and donating of art packs for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and performing at venues including the LifeCare Centre.
Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, said: “Students at Fettes aim high and give back and our Community Engagement Days are a richly rewarding experience for everyone to come together and build on our local partnerships.
“Rooted in Edinburgh, Fettes places community contribution at the heart of these mutually beneficial relationships, supported by a curated and expanding programme.”
Visitor numbers to the ‘Open Doors at Fettes’ are limited. To Register to attend Open Doors at Fettes and view more information, please visit:
Edinburgh community group Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann will be holding a Gaelic community day on Saturday 9th May at the Heart of Newhaven community centre as part of the initiative to develop a Gaelic hub in Edinburgh as a gathering place for Gaelic speakers, learners and supporters.
Wilson McLeod, the group’s chair, said: ‘Over 10,000 people in Edinburgh have Gaelic language skills according to the last census, but they are spread across the city, and there is no single place where Gaelic is the normal and natural language to use.
“A Gaelic hub in Edinburgh would be a real focal point for Gaelic in the city, helping to bring Gaelic speakers together and providing opportunities for everyone to get involved in Gaelic language and culture’.
This is the fourth and final community day under the title Cruinn Còmhla (‘Gathered Together’) over 2025/26. Over 500 people have attended the first three events, but this is the first to take place in North Edinburgh.
The event will offer Gaelic classes, introductory Gaelic workshops, an arts session for under 5s, a Gaelic singing circle, an introduction to the history of Gaelic in Edinburgh, a performance by the Edinburgh Gaelic Choir, a talk on the Gaelic creative process, a session for children to ‘Come & Try’ a traditional musical instrument, reading and conversation groups, and a City of Edinburgh Council session on Gaelic development.
There will also be a café, Gaelic books for sale, games and information on Gaelic activities in Edinburgh.
Development Officer Sarah Scott said: ‘The Cruinn Còmhla community days have been a huge success and we are excited to bring our next event to the Heart of Newhaven.
“We are keen to raise the profile of Gaelic in Edinburgh and bring new opportunities to learn and use Gaelic to people across Edinburgh as we work to develop a permanent hub space’.
Cruinn Còmhla Gaelic Community Day
9 May 2006 | Heart of Newhaven, 4-6 Main Street, Newhaven, (10am – 4pm)
There are no immediate supply issues, but government is preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption
summer holidays to be better protected as government consults on relaxing flight take-off/landing rules, providing certainty for passengers and businesses
lightning consultation launched to provide airlines flexibility to lock in flight schedules early, prevent last-minute disruptions and cancellations
Transport Secretary reiterates passengers are entitled to be re-routed or refunded if their flight is cancelled by the airline
Passengers will have their summer holidays better protected as government sets out plans today (3 May 2026), which will help cut the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations this summer in the event of significant disruption due to ongoing global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.
The contingency preparations are designed to give families greater confidence when travelling this summer by enabling airlines to plan realistically and lock in schedules earlier so that people are less likely to be affected by short‑notice changes at the airport.
While UK airlines say they are not currently facing supply issues, the government will be consulting with the industry in order to act quickly if needs be, before disruption takes hold, giving passengers and the aviation sector the certainty they need to plan ahead.
These temporary measures would allow airlines to, for example, consolidate schedules on routes where there are multiple flights to the same destination on the same day.
Instead of cancelling flights at the last minute, the measures would:
help move passengers onto similar services much earlier, helping avoid stressful delays at the airport
prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets
reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes
The Transport Secretary discussed the plans at a roundtable with key industry figures on 30 April 2026, including representatives from Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet, reaffirming the government’s commitment to keeping Britain flying this summer.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems.
“There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.
“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”
The measures being considered will allow airlines to proactively hand back a limited proportion of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season. ‘Hand backs’ help airlines build realistic schedules and avoid last-minute cancellations rather than flying empty ‘ghost flights’ or cancelling at short notice, putting passengers’ plans at risk.
This will build on the UK’s independent slot coordinators’ (Airport Coordination Limited) decision to update its guidance, ensuring airlines do not permanently lose their take-off and landing slots if they are unable to use them due to jet fuel shortages.
The measures the government is considering go further by allowing airlines to plan ahead and act on the best information they have available on fuel supply or wider impacts of the Middle East conflict, rather than wait for a shortage to occur.
The government continues to plan for a range of contingencies to increase flexibility on jet fuel supply and domestic jet fuel production has increased. The UK imports jet fuel supplies from a range of countries not reliant on the Strait, including the United States.
As part of today’s action, the government is upping awareness of the existing rights available to passengers in the event of disruption. If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you have a legal right to a choice between being re-routed or a refund.
If a flight is subject to a significant delay – at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul - passengers are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink and overnight accommodation where necessary.
Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.
“Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.
“Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.”
Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: “UK airlines continue to operate normally and are not experiencing issues with jet fuel supply. We are planning to take our customers on their well-earned holidays this summer and will always look after them in line with our obligations.
“We welcome the government’s contingency planning, including slot alleviation, which is one measure which enables airlines to adjust schedules responsibly, avoid unnecessary flying and continue operating efficiently while protecting connectivity for passengers.”
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, said: “While our partners across the aviation sector continue to report no shortage of jet fuel supplies, it is sensible for government to consult on possible action if this were to change.
“We will now work closely with our airport members, ministers and officials to examine the proposals and respond on the best way to proceed that will lead to the best outcomes for passengers.”
If notified of changes to their flights by airlines, passengers are advised to speak to their airline, travel agent or tour operator in the first instance.
Host Claudia Winkleman will welcome ‘an exciting and eclectic mix’ of people and personalities to The Traitors castle
The RTS and BAFTA Craft Award winning The Celebrity Traitors will return to BBC One and iPlayer later this year with its biggest celebrity cast to date.
Made by Studio Lambert Scotland, The Celebrity Traitors will see twenty-one famous faces head to The Traitors castle, ready to play the ultimate game of deception and betrayal in the hope of winning a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
Host Claudia Winkleman will welcome an exciting and eclectic mix of people and personalities. Ranging from BAFTA and BRIT award winners, through to social media stars plus some of the UK’s most cherished actors, comedians, presenters and beyond. As celebrities will question who can they trust, who deserves to be banished and who is secretly plotting murder under the cover of darkness?
Heading to the Scottish Highlands are:
Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster
Bella Ramsey – Actor
James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster
James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter
Jerry Hall – Model and Actress
Joanne McNally – Comedian
Joe Lycett – Comedian
Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
King Kenny – Content Creator
Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter
Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter
Miranda Hart – Actor and Author
Myha’la – Actor
Professor Hannah Fry– Broadcaster and Mathematician
Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author
Rob Beckett – Comedian
Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian
Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter
Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor
Sharon Rooney – Actor
Series One of The Celebrity Traitors debuted on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in October 2025 and has been a runaway success with an average audience of 14.9m across the run with a peak of 15.4m for the finale.
The series has seen unprecedented growth, making it the top entertainment episode across the whole market since 2016 and the number one series across all genres and platforms in 2025.
Meanwhile the fourth series of The Traitors, which had the nation hooked in January 2026, achieved a 12.5m 28-day average, this is up +22% on Series Three (10.3m).
The majority of viewing has been driven by BBC iPlayer, making up 6.6m of the audience (53%), and increasing +28% on the third series. This is the second biggest series across the market since the start of 2025, only behind The Celebrity Traitors
The Celebrity Traitors will be coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2026.
The Celebrity Traitors series two (10 x 60) will be produced by Studio Lambert Scotland for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and has been commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC.
The Executive Producers for Studio Lambert Scotland are Mike Cotton, Sarah Fay, Lewis Thurlow and Katy Fox with Production Executives, Lynette Woods-Reynolds, Gemma Scholes and Faye Donaldson. The Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Neil McCallum and Michael Jochnowitz.
The Traitors (Dutch title: De Verraders) was created and developed by IDTV in cooperation with RTL Creative Unit. All3Media International is global partner for The Traitors and handles format and tape sales worldwide. Studio Lambert is part of All3Media
Residents and staff at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh were delighted to welcome back furry friends for their annual dog show.
Residents at the home are all keen animal lovers and were delighted to host the dog show a yearly event in the home.
Canine fans at Strachan House were on the edge of their seat as the winners in each category were announced. Residents and staff joined in judging and couldn’t wait to see who won the award for best in show.
Daisy the beautiful Lhasa Apso won this prize but no one was left out with residents also giving away prizes for the waggiest tail, most perfect pedigree and best trick.
Fran Fisher General Manager at the home, said: “Our residents all love animals, we have lots of visits from different therapy pets which always cause a great deal of excitement.
“The dog show is absolute heaven for our canine-loving residents here, they absolutely love seeing all the different breeds and seeing which one comes out on top!”
Resident, Janet commented: “I have always been a huge fan of all sorts of different animals but these dogs are all just so wonderful.”
Janet even gave up her spot on the judging panel as she just loved them all so much!
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, respite care and dementia nursing care for 83 residents.
Endorsed by big names like George Clooney, Bob Geldof and Rob Brydon, we’re rolling out our village franchise model
We’re calling for the UK’s Local Authorities to franchise the Social Bite Village model, a proven alternative to temporary accommodation for people who are homeless.
Find out more about the villages and get involved – read our village franchise model:
The Indian Council of Scotland/United Kingdom stands in full support with the Jewish community especially with the recent terrorist attack on 2 Jewish men at Golders green in London.
Neil Lal, Chairman and President of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, which is the leading organisation representing the 2 million Indian origin people living in the UK, said: “No matter what one’s faith is there must be mutual respect for everyone’s religious beliefs.
“We are against any form of Anti Semitism, Anti Christianity, Anti Hindu, Sikh, Buddhism or Islamophobia.
We must all unite as one to stamp out this hatred against the Jewish community and we must support each other”
Neil Lal, Chairman and President of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, has also announced a special interfaith prayer vigil in honour of the victims/peace and in solidarity with the Jewish community.
Condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms, Mr. Lal said: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific attack in Golders Green. Our thoughts and prayers are for a speedy recovery for the victims and are with the entire Jewish community.
“We stand with you, united against hatred and violence. No one should live in fear. Everyone must follow and respect the rule of Law.”
The upcoming vigil, which will bring together members of Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and wider interfaith communities, aims to send a clear message of unity and resilience in the face of division and hate.
“This is not just an attack on a single community — it is an attack on all of us who believe in tolerance, peace, and religious freedom,” Mr. Lal added.
“Our vigil/prayers will honour the victims, and reaffirm our shared commitment to harmony, respect, and solidarity across faiths and to stamp out antisemitism.”
Mr. Lal, a prominent leader of the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and a long-standing advocate for interfaith unity, has called on community members and leaders across the UK to stand together in condemning acts of hate and reaffirming the nation’s core values of inclusion and mutual respect.
He is also calling for a continued robust action from the authorities/communities to protect all places of worship and especially Synagogues.
The UK’s Terrorism Threat Level has been raised to Severe – meaning an attack is highly likely.
There is nothing to suggest a specific threat to Scotland. You should be alert, not alarmed, remain vigilant and report anything suspicious.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, said: “Today the Home Secretary announced an increase in the UK’s Terrorism Threat Level to Severe, meaning an attack is now highly likely.
“This decision has been made in response to a series of recent attacks on Jewish communities and a terror attack declared in north London yesterday (29 April). I want to stress that there is no intelligence to suggest any specific threat to Scotland.
“However, I do want to take this opportunity to urge the public to remain alert but not alarmed. You should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police Scotland.”
Police Scotland can be contacted on 101 or in an emergency you should always dial 999.
The previously un-named graves of two officers who gave their lives during World War One have been identified in Belgium. Captain (Capt) Gordon Cuthbert of Sunbury, Middlesex, and Lieutenant (Lt) Leslie Harvey, originally from Windsor, both served with 1/8 Battalion Duke of Cambridge’s Own, Middlesex Regiment and both died near Ypres on 25 April 1915.
Two ‘unknown soldier’ headstones have been replaced with ones bearing the names of the men who lay there after investigation work by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘War Detectives’.
Rededication services for Capt Cuthbert and Lt Harvey were organised by the team, and services were held for Capt. Cuthbert at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Tyne Cot Cemetery and for Lt Harvey at Sanctuary Wood Cemetery yesterday (29 April 2026).
JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark, said: “I am grateful to the independent researcher who put such a lot of effort into discovering the stories of these two men, and the records behind the un-named graves and who ultimatly submitted the cases for their identification.
“Their work has led us to recognise the final resting places of Captain Cuthbert and Lieutenant Harvey, and to restore their names to them.
“It has been a privilege to have contributed to these cases and to have organised the services of rededication today.”
Captain Gordon Cuthbert
14 August 1876 – 25 April 1915
In 1894, Gordon Cuthbert joined the London Rifle Brigade, and he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Volunteer Brigade of the Middlesex Regiment in February 1900. He transferred to the Territorial Reserve in 1908 and was appointed captain in command of the Twickenham Company in 1911.
On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he rejoined the Middlesex Regiment and proceeded to Gibraltar for garrison duty until February 1915 when he was sent to northern Europe. He was killed on 25 April whilst leading a storming party which retook a trench near Ypres. In the chaos of war immediate burial was impossible, and following the war Gordon’s name was added to the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing in Ypres.
In 1920 the body of a Captain of the Middlesex Regiment was recovered on the southern side of the Ypres-Roulers railway line – his rank and regiment were determined from elements of his uniform, but his personal identity was impossible to tell and so he was buried as an unknown Captain at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Detailed research has now allowed the unknown Captain to be identified as Gordon Cuthbert.
Military personnel salute, and Standards are dipped, as Last Post sounds at the service for Captain Cuthbert (Crown Copyright)
Lieutenant Leslie Harvey
3 January 1884 – 25 April 1915
Leslie Harvey joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, and on the outbreak of war volunteered immediately, being given a commission in the Middlesex regiment on 28 August 1914. Leslie was sent to Gibraltar with the regiment in October 1914 and was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1915. Following a short period of leave in England he was sent to France, in late February – early March 1915.
By April 1915 Leslie had reached Belgium and was engaged in fighting in the Zonnebeke area. On 25 April 1915 he was killed whilst leading a bayonet charge. Although he was buried by his men at the time – near a railway crossing – the records of his grave were lost and following the war he was named on the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing at Ypres.
In early 1929, the body of an unknown Lieutenant of the Middlesex Regiment was recovered from a location just south of the Ypres-Roulers railway – identified by a shoulder title, and his badges and buttons. It was impossible to determine his personal identity, and he was buried as an unknown Lieutenant at Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, alongside two other men recovered at the same place and time.
Archival research has now connected this unknown Lieutenant to Leslie Harvey and allowed us to identify his final resting place.
Padre Victoria Day leads the service for Lt Harvey (Crown Copyright)
The services today were supported by serving soldiers from the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and led by Padre Victoria Day of 26 Royal Engineer Regiment.
The headstones were replaced by CWGC.
Polly Brewster, Commemorations Case Officer at CWGC, said: “On the 25th April 1915, Captain Gordon Cuthbert and Lieutenant Leslie Harvey were engaged in fierce fighting near Ypres and made the ultimate sacrifice.
“It feels very poignant that 110 years later, almost to the day, we are now able to commemorate them by name at their final resting places. The Commission will continue to care for their graves in perpetuity, ensuring that they can rest in peace and dignity, their sacrifice remembered.”
“Rejoining EU Single Market only sensible route for UK,”says Scotland’s European Movement Chair
The three arms of the European Union have agreed a timetable towards making the European Single Market more globally competitive. By the end of 2027, the EU aims to have in place legislation that will benefit key economic sectors. They include digital technologies, financial services and supporting the growth of EU city regions. The initiative seeks to reduce bureaucracy and costs for business and stimulate economic growth.
Known as a “roadmap” the agreement to accelerate the reform of the Single Market was announced on 24th April. It followed a meeting between senior representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.
The plan is based on the 2024 report on the EU’s competitiveness by former Italian prime Minister Mario Draghi. Donald Trump’s “America First” policies, the almost total US monopoly of digital communications, the wars in Ukraine and the Gulf and the rise of China’s as a global economic superpower status has driven the EU to accelerate its plans to counter the threats of the new world order.
Chair of the European Movement in Scotland, David Clarke, says: “The world has dramatically changed. The EU is responding with bold ideas and a united sense of purpose.
“The UK can opt to watch from the sidelines as Europe rises to the economic challenges of our time, or it can choose to re-engage by joining the European Single Market. We can join our friends and neighbours and fight our corner, or we can be outsiders at the mercy of the USA, China and Russia. Rejoining the Single Market is the only sensible route for the UK.”
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament said: “This Roadmap reflects what the European Parliament has been calling for: a stronger, more competitive and resilient Europe.
“It is ambitious, it strengthens our capacity to withstand shocks, and it provides predictability to our citizens and businesses. We said we would take bold decisions and we are doing it. This is Europe responding to what it needs.”
Among the key actions are:
Cutting duplicated regulation and inconsistencies in the application of rules. A main ambition here is to help European businesses scale up and be global competitive, most notably in the digital sphere.
Energy market integration, including investment grid in cross-border grid connections.
A savings and investment union, so that the financial services sector has a bigger market, consumers have more choice and there is a more competitive market for business borrowers.
Allowing city regions more say on how EU funds are spent in their localities, particularly in infrastructure, energy and transport.
