England match sees electricity use jump 1400MW

  • England v Denmark responsible for one of the biggest electricity pick-ups in modern times.
  • The Euro 2020 semi-final match saw a surge of 1400MW at half-time and 1300MW at full-time.
  • Pick-up for England-Germany round of 16 match was on a par with the 2011 Royal Wedding of William and Kate (1600MW)
  • England v West Germany 1990 (2,800MW) required just 200MW less than the 1999 Solar Eclipse.
  • OLBG reveals the top TV moments for electricity pick-up.

While football is on the brink of coming home (we’ll see! – Ed.), it is also producing record-breaking surges in electricity demand.

As the nation collectively sat down to watch England’s Euro 2020 semi-final match-up with Denmark on Wednesday night, demand for power skyrocketed by 1400MW at half-time and 1300MW at the end of 90 minutes, making it one of the biggest TV moments in terms of electricity pick-up in modern times.

Forecasts prior to the match suggested pick-up in the region of 1200MW, with millions of litres of water (via pumped storage) standing ready at Dinorwig, ready to be deployed in order for people to make their half-time cup of tea. And according to the grid’s control centre, ITV ad breaks only served to fuel movement at half-time.

Wednesday night’s pick-up was the same as the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia (also 1400MW), but on this occasion Gareth Southgate’s side went one step further. 

Research by OLBG shows the England-West Germany match-up at the 1990 World Cup still accounts for the biggest sports-related pick-up, falling just 200MW short of the 1999 Solar Eclipse.

RankTV MomentDatePick-up in MW
1Solar Eclipse 199911/08/19993,000
2England v West Germany – World Cup Semi-Final04/07/19902,800
3The Thorn Birds22/01/19842,600
4England v Brazil – World Cup quarter-final21/06/20022,570
5Nigeria v England – group match12/06/20022,340
6Eastenders: Lisa admits shooting Phil05/04/20012,290
7The Darling Buds Of May12/05/19912,200
8England v Australia – Rugby World Cup Final22/11/20032,110
9Argentina v England – FIFA World Cup round of 1630/06/19982,100
10Italy v Argentina – World Cup semi-final03/07/19902,000
11England v Portugal – World Cup quarter-final01/07/20061,960
12Sweden v England – World Cup group stage20/06/20061,830
13Juventus v Man Utd – UCL semi-final21/04/19991,820
14Wedding of Charles and Diana29/07/19811,800
15England v Ecuador – World Cup round of 1625/06/20061,700
16England v Germany – Euro 202029/06/20211,600
17Royal Wedding – William & Kate29/04/20111,600
18England v Croatia – World Cup semi-final11/07/20181,400
19England v Sweden – World Cup quarter-final07/07/20181,400
20Rugby World Cup Final – England v South Africa02/11/20191,300
21England v Colombia – World Cup round of 1603/07/20181,200
22England v Ukraine – Euro 2020 quarter-final03/07/2021960
23Clap for CarersVarious800
24England v West Germany – World Cup 196630/07/2021600

The Three Lions’ quarter-final thrashing of Ukraine registered a 960MW pick-up at half-time, which was good enough for 22nd in our rankings – the equivalent of 190 million light bulbs, or 530,000 kettles. Demand waned as the result became clear, with 450MW required at full-time with fans drifting off.

Prior to that, a 55-year wait for a win over Germany at a major tournament ended with a 2-0 win for England in their round of 16 tie, with the national control room confirming a 1GW pick-up at half-time and 1.6GW at full-time, surpassing the grid operator’s best guess of 900MW beforehand. That is the equivalent of 320 million light bulbs, or 888,000 simultaneously boiling kettles.

Demand for electricity during England’s last 16 tie against Germany at Euro 2020

Geoff Hurst’s infamous hat-trick goal and the famous words “They think it’s all over … It is now!” in England’s last major tournament win in 1966 – a 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley – accounted for a modest 600MW spike, while the regular Thursday night ‘Clap for Carers’ last year saw peak pick-up of 800MW.

Graph plotting demand during the infamous 1996 World Cup final

Britain’s electricity system operator – National Grid ESO – is tasked with matching the country’s supply and demand, second-by-second, making sure the lights – and televisions – stay on!

In fact record viewing figures for the four-hours-and-five-minutes broadcast on ITV were recorded, and those, along with the electricity pick-up are set to be surpassed for Sunday’s showpiece final when England take on Italy at Wembley.

Cars that hit the target in 1966

England is about to play in its first major football final since lifting the World Cup trophy in 1966 (Really? I hadn’t heard!- Ed.) Some may even remember those who took to the field for the legendary match, but who can remember the automotive stars of that year?

Newspress runs down the perfect starting 11 that cornered the market 55 years ago:

Goalkeeper – Ford Cortina Mk2

Did defending jobs get any bigger? Tasked with protecting the fastest-selling legacy of the original Mk1 Cortina, the Mk2 debuted in 1966 with a sharper, wider exterior and an all-new 1,300cc engine.

It did indeed prove to be a perfect match for car buyers, becoming Britain’s most popular car in 1967 and offering everything from a spartan four-door version right up to the later 1600E and Lotus-powered version.

Want to score your own?: 1970 Ford Cortina MK2 1600 Super For Sale | Car and Classic

Left back – Renault 16

Strictly speaking, the Renault 16 first hit the roads in 1965, but it made its biggest impact in 1966 when it lifted the European Car of the Year trophy.

It outgunned its competition with its forward-thinking design that, most notably, included the addition of a practicality-enhancing hatchback. Under its new-fangled sheet-metal there was a 1,500cc engine and a front-wheel drive layout, the latter also contributing to its spacious interior.

Stirling Moss was said to be a fan and almost 16 million were made during its 15-year production run.

Want to score your own? Renault 16 TS Automatic – 1974 For Sale | Car and Classic

Centre back – Jaguar 420

Okay, it didn’t have the girth of the full-fat 420G, but Jaguar’s 1966-launched 420 would not have been a bad shout as an automotive goalie.

Being based on the S-Type, it was still a decent size and, perhaps more importantly, was a pretty nimble mover thanks to the 4.2-litre straight-six, twin-carburettor XK motor under its new forward-hinged bonnet.

Road tests at the time reported it to be good for 0-60mph in under 10 seconds and a top speed in the region of 125mph. Production ceased in 1968 so owning a survivor means you’re certainly winning in the rarity stakes.

Want to score your own? JAGUAR 420 1968 MAN/OVERDRIVE STUNNING Wire Wheels For Sale | Car and Classic

Centre back – Volvo 140 (Surely ‘Centre-Half’, chaps? – Ed.)

The 140 series gave birth to the concept of the boxy Volvo. Although mechanically it borrowed much from its predecessor, the Amazon, its styling was a radical departure.

Named Car of the Year in Sweden, it was available in both two- and four-door saloon variants (named 142 and 144 respectively), while the incredibly practical 5-door estate, the 145, arrived soon after.

Not surprisingly, it won many fans, and by the time it was replaced by the 240 series in 1974, Volvo had found homes for more than a million of them.

Want to score your own? 1973 Volvo 144 DL Auto for sale | Car and Classic 

Right back – Toyota Corolla

Launched in 1966, the Corolla would go on to become the world’s best-selling car, even eclipsing the venerable Volkswagen Beetle.

It had distinctly humble beginnings, having been influenced by the company’s experience with the Toyota Publica, an air-cooled, two-cylinder car itself inspired by the 2CV.

But with rising competition from the Datsun 1000, Toyota upped the stakes with an 1,100c engine. Exciting it might not have been, but it was dependable, a winning formula the company continues today.

Want to score your own? 1969 TOYOTA COROLLA SPRINTER TRUENO KE15 FOR SALE | Car and Classic

Left half – Alfa Romeo ‘Duetto’ Spider

The last project founder Battista Pininfarina was involved with, the Spider was based on the mechanicals from the Giulia, including its suspension and twin-cam four-cylinder engines.

From the moment it launched at the Geneva Motor Show, the Spider looked like a film star, and only a year later it found itself a starring role in The Graduate alongside Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.

Its appeal was considerable and, with a few styling tweaks and the occasional new engine, the Spider remained in production until 1993.
Want to score your own? 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 (Duetto) – authentic classic For Sale | Car and Classic

Holding midfield – Audi 80

Based on the DKW F102, the Audi 80 took the Auto Union-derived underpinnings and updated the concept with a range of four-stroke, four-cylinder engines developed in conjunction with Daimler-Benz. With the thirsty and troublesome two-strokes abandoned, the 80 began to prove not just itself, but also the idea of front-wheel-drive to a previously sceptical Volkswagen.
Want to score your own? https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1358491

Right half – BMW 02

When originally wheeled out at Geneva, this entry-level BMW wore a 1600-2 badge depicting, in typically Germanic logical fashion, a 1,600cc car with two doors.

A souped-up version, the 1600 TI, followed a year later, but the model is perhaps most recognisable when wearing a 2002 badge and sporting a 2.0-litre powerplant.
Want to score your own? 1968 BMW 1600-2 FOR SALE | Car and Classic

Left wing – Jensen Interceptor

Italian styling, a torque-laden 6.3-litre V8 engine, and a name to die for meant this Birmingham-built grand tourer is forever etched into this country’s conscience.

The Interceptor’s FF stablemate can arguably claim the crown as the first production car equipped with both all-wheel-drive and anti-lock braking. As a testament to the impact the Jensen had on car buyers in the Sixties, it also inspired one parent to name their famous son after it.
Want to score your own? 1969 Jensen Interceptor 7.2lt Auto – stunning restoration For Sale | Car and Classic

Striker – Lamborghini Miura

Variously described as the prettiest car ever designed or, more simply, ‘the one with the eyelashes’, the Miura could also be branded the original skunkworks car.

Largely the product of Lamborghini’s engineering team working in their spare time, legend has it that company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini was against the idea of a rear mid-engined, two-seat sports car.

All doubts would have quickly faded away, however, when the first concepts were shown to a breathless public in 1965. One year later, the car made its debut wearing the name of a Spanish fighting bull, a new badge to match, and a 3.9-litre transverse V12 and transaxle. Football fans might be more likely to remember it as the car that sets the scene for The Italian Job.
Want to score your own? Lamborghini Miura for sale – Pistonheads

Right wing – Lotus Europa

A cutting-edge slice of high-tech engineering, when the Lotus Europa arrived in 1966 it combined Grand Prix engineering principles with sports car sensibilities.

Taking the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive concept that Colin Chapman and his team had championed through F1, it was designed to bring racing tech to production cars, but had the Lotus mantra of ‘added lightness’ written all over it.

Strictly a two-seater, despite its size, the Europa used a boxed-steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass moulded body, à la the Lotus Elan, but was powered by a choice of Renault engines as well as Hethel’s famous Twin Cam unit. These were not that powerful but, with kerbweights from just 660kg, every little helped.

Like many Lotus models of that era, it enjoyed a long life in production, yet was never a big seller. It finally disappearing in 1975 with just over 9,200 examples built.
Want to score your own? 1971 Lotus Europa S2 For Sale | Car And Classic

Some Information for our younger readers:

The formation in those good old days was 2-3-5

1 Goalkeeper

2 Right Back

3 Left Back

4 Right Half

5 Centre Half

6 Left Half

7 Right winger

8 Inside right

9 Centre Forward

10 Inside Left

11 Outside Left

England played West Germany in the final of the 1966 World Cup, which was held in England. I won’t spoil things by telling you who won … !

HMRC: National Minimum Wage rate reminder for summer staff

Students and seasonal staff working in Scotland are being reminded by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check that they are being paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

All workers are legally entitled to be paid the NMW. This includes temporary seasonal staff, who often work short-term contracts in bars, hotels, shops and warehouses over the summer.

Last year (2020-21) HMRC helped 155,000 workers across the UK to recover more than £16 million in pay which was due to them. HMRC is reminding workers to check their hourly rate of pay, and to also check any deductions or unpaid working time.

One person who has benefitted from HMRC’s enforcement of the NMW is Amber, a marketing apprentice. She was concerned that she was not being paid correctly, so contacted HMRC online. HMRC looked into Amber’s concerns and spoke with her employer. Amber was being underpaid and she received £1,900 in back pay.

The National Minimum Wage hourly rates are currently:

  • £8.91 – Age 23 or over (National Living Wage)
  • £8.36 – Age 21 to 22
  • £6.56 – Age 18 to 20
  • £4.62 – Age under 18
  • £4.30 – Apprentice.

Steve Timewell, Director Individuals and Small Business Compliance, HMRC, said: “We want to ensure that Scotland’s seasonal workers and students are being paid what they are entitled to and, as the economy reopens, help employers if they are unsure of the rules.

“Workers should check their hourly rate and look out for any deductions or unpaid working time which would reduce their pay. It could take them below the minimum wage.

“HMRC investigates every complaint made about the minimum wage, so whether you are selling sun cream, giving a hotel room a clean, or serving a strawberry smoothie, if you think you are being short-changed you should get in touch.”

Anyone not being paid what they are entitled to can complain online at https://www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-complaint.

If they want to speak with someone they should phone the Acas Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0300 123 1100, who may transfer the call to HMRC.  

Employers can also contact the Acas Helpline for free help and advice or visit GOV.UK to find out more.

Plant Sale and Scrapstore Open Day at granton:hub this afternoon

granton:hub are having a Plant Sale and the Edinburgh Scrapstore Open Day today (Sunday 11th July) from 2.00 – 4.30pm.

Not heard of The Edinburgh Scrapstore? This is the repurposed blue shipping container in our community garden which is a unique resource where scrap materials can be donated, stored and collected by members to be re-used.  Some of the materials include textiles, paper, paint and tiles.  Come along and see what resources and gems you can find for your next project.

We will be running a plant sale which will feature young plants grown organically in our community garden by our volunteer garden group. We want our plants to be affordable for all, with most plants costing £2 from our nursery. Come see the selection of Scottish plants we have grown and ask our garden team advice for your gardening needs.

RCEM: We have a serious problem in Urgent & Emergency Care

Emergency Department performance figures published by NHS England for June 2021 show the highest number of Type 1 attendances ever recorded, the worst four-hour performance for the month of June, and the highest ever number of total emergency admissions for the month of June.

The data show that in June 2021 1,436,613 patients attended Type 1 Emergency Departments, the highest ever figure since records began.

A total of 400,826 patients were admitted via Type 1 Emergency Departments, the highest ever recorded figure for the month of June.

Four-hour performance in Type 1 departments was 73.2% which is by far the lowest June percentage on record.

1,289 patients were delayed by 12-hours or more in an Emergency Department – almost double the figure of the previous month. It is also the highest ever recorded figure for the month of June, and almost triple the previous highest figure for June recorded in 2019.

Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “We have a serious problem in urgent and emergency care. We are deeply concerned. We are facing record breaking figures in the high summer. We can only begin to imagine what this winter may bring.

“We are facing record breaking attendances with a tired workforce and fewer beds; it is seriously challenging. Busy departments are a threat to patient safety, it increases the chance of crowding and corridor care, this risk is significantly increased if covid and non-covid patients are sharing the space for long periods of time.

“We ask that there is a transparent discussion about how the whole of the health service deals with the current levels of demand. Emergency care does not happen in a vacuum but is often the canary of the system. Managing demand in Primary care, the elective backlog and what is happening at the front doors of hospitals is all connected and there is urgent need for a plan that balances these needs in a way everyone can understand.

“The data show what is happening on the ground, and it is likely that things will worsen in the coming months, especially as we enter the winter. The government must realize there is a looming crisis and take swift and urgent action – this is critical ahead of Winter.

“Hospitals can only do all they can to boost capacity, in the face of serious resourcing constraints. And we would ask patients to only attend Emergency Department if they need urgent and emergency care, and seek alternative care, like from their GP or NHS 111, if they have a minor injury or mild condition.

“Despite now being in the middle of summer, our Summer to Recover: Winter-Proofing Urgent and Emergency Care for 2021 contains the necessary actions the government and the NHS can take ahead of Winter.

“If no action is taken, we may soon be in the middle of a crisis worse than any previous winter.”

The Avenue in Balerno welcomes first buyers

SOON-TO-BE newlyweds have snapped up their “dream home” in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable new postcodes.

As the first-footers in “The Avenue”, part of the final phase of homes at Ravelrig Heights by CALA Homes (East), Craig and Alise are the first to enjoy life in one of the eight impressive five-bedroom homes on the crescent shaped The Avenue.

As well as some showcase interiors, each home at The Avenue features a large driveway with electric gate entrance, a double garage with self-contained accommodation above and gardens up to a third of an acre in size.

The Avenue features two house types, the Waverley, the house type purchased by Craig and Alise which spans 3726 square feet, and the Roxburgh which spans 3252 square feet. 

Craig, a portfolio manager, said: “We weren’t planning to move so soon but because of everything that happened during the pandemic, we spent a lot of time at home and wanted a bit more space.

“After looking at a few developments, we still weren’t set on buying a new home, but when we looked at The Avenue it just made sense. It’s amazing coming somewhere where our money can go a lot further.

“We wanted some place quieter, but still reasonably close to Edinburgh city centre and close to my parents. Alise used to live in Balerno so we always talked about starting a family here as the schools and community are really great. After seeing The Avenue, we were like ‘yeah this is it’.”

Welcomed by a statement double staircase, upper galleried landing with an upper balcony and large rear garden, the development stood out to Chris and Alise for its family-friendly charm.

Alise, an events coordinator said: “When we walked in and saw that staircase that was it for me, I was like I need to live here. Every part of the house just had that wow factor.

“We knew there was a garden but when we stepped out we were in shock. I had never seen a home with a garden this big. From the kitchen you can slide the doors open and step right out which is perfect especially for the summer.

Designed with light and spacious living in mind, The Avenue’s homes benefit from designs equipped with an open planned kitchen, built-in appliances, bi-folding doors and under floor heating.

Alise added: “We knew CALA had a great reputation and were going to look after us but they truly do go above and beyond.

“The journey doesn’t end when you move in. We have the development manager checking in regularly to make sure everything is alright and that we’ve settled in well. We can’t speak highly enough about CALA.”

Craig added: “We are both very active people so the space above the garage has been amazing as we’ve been able to convert it into a home gym.”

With a separate home office, The Avenue offers buyers an ideal place to work from home with a range of outdoor networks into the countryside and excellent transport links into the capital.

Homes at Ravelrig Heights start from £795,000 with homes on The Avenue ranging from £1,095,000 – £1,215,000.

For more information on The Avenue, Ravelrig Heights, Balerno, please visit: https://www.cala.co.uk/theavenue or call 0131 516 6832.

UK Government launches Rediscover Summer campaign

  • The campaign highlights a range of activities and opportunities for families, children and young people such as exploring a local museum or discovering a National Cycling Network Trail
  • Families encouraged to get back out and Rediscover Summer after a year of missed opportunities

The government’s Rediscover Summer campaign has launched to help inspire families to get out and about safely and make the most out of summer.

Whether it’s visiting the places that inspired your favourite books, trying out a new sport or even learning how to code, the campaign will show families that there are plenty of new activities to try wherever they live. Throughout the duration of the campaign, each week of the summer holidays will promote a separate theme from sport and creativity to nature and heritage.

A Save The Children survey has shown how the pandemic has negatively impacted the social lives of our children and young people, with a third of children playing alone more, and a quarter having played less sport since the pandemic, raising concerns about the impact on their well-being.

To help combat this, the government is encouraging families to Rediscover Summer and enjoy the range of leisure activities on offer after a year of missed opportunities.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Our young people deserve a summer filled with exciting and enriching activities after everything they’ve missed out on as we’ve fought to control the virus.

“We want families to get out there and enjoy what’s on offer, and our Rediscover Summer campaign will help them do that. The summer has been given the best possible start with a terrific England run in the Euros.”

Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford said: “Rediscover Summer will provide families with some fantastic opportunities to get back to the activities they may have missed out on over the last year.

“Our Summer Home Activities list will offer up more free ideas and options for children to stay active and have fun, and our expanded Holiday Activities and Food programme will also help families access opportunities both indoors and outdoors.

“Parents have worked so hard to keep their children entertained so I hope they can take advantage of these to use the holidays creatively, helping to boost children’s wellbeing after what has been a really difficult time.

Launching today, a gov.uk page features a taste of the activities available over the summer to inspire parents and families and help young people get involved in their local communities. The activities suggested range from the Summer Reading Challenge to Chance to Shine cricket sessions and from trips to the Imperial War Museum to Mercury Theatre’s Family sing-a-long.

No matter where you live, the campaign will show there is something for everyone.

Visit the Rediscover Summer guide

Working closely with our partners, including Arts Council England, Sport England and National Museums Greenwich to help promote the breadth of summer activities on offer, this campaign will help get young people out and about this summer and make a difference in their communities.

This campaign will also be supported by the Summer Home Activities List due to be published online in the coming weeks which will inspire activities for families to do in and around their home this summer.

Surgeon’s Quarter hospitality team commit to massive training programme during pandemic

FURLOUGHED staff for a hospitality business in the heart of the Scottish capital have amassed more than 2600 hours of recorded training in the past year, securing a combined 169 industry-recognised qualifications.

Surgeons Quarter, which operates the city’s largest independent hotel alongside a host of venues and outlets owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), reinforced its culture of learning prior to the pandemic, with the appointment of a Business and Talent Manager.

It meant that as Covid-19 hit, it was able to work with employees, furloughed and working, to devise a training plan to boost their prospects and career ambitions – in keeping with government recommendations to encourage and facilitate professional development.

Sarah Williamson, who took on the newly created role and managed just a few short weeks with her team before working from home, has helped more than 60 workers achieve new accreditations.

Sarah, from Linlithgow in West Lothian, said: “Multiskilling is going to be the biggest aspiration in the hospitality industry after Covid-19 as many venues will have a smaller team, so staff will be required to do a bit of everything.

“There was a lot of amazing training happening within the industry whilst many were furloughed and we encouraged all 60 members of staff to take part and get full advantage of the opportunities.

“We have supplied laptops and tablets for individuals to complete training to ensure the opportunities were available and accessible to all staff.”

Staff have been encouraged to take part in courses available with industry bodies including, HIT Scotland and Hospitality Action, on top of the £3,400 investment which was made to FLOW – the company’s online training facility.

FLOW includes lots of Covid-19 health and safety modules as well as the statutory training requirements.

Nine employees were also successful with an application to the HIT Scotland scholarship, a 10-week virtual learning leadership course.

Further training has been made available through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in partnership with the Scottish Government which is worth £5000 and will include online training courses with Edinburgh College.

Certificated courses on offer through Edinburgh College include Social Media and Content Creation, Sales Skills and IOSH Managing Safely.

Sarah added: “Some may think with our team returning to work from furlough the training opportunities will stop, however it’s actually the complete opposite – we have more to come and a calendar of training planned up until November.

“I feel very lucky to be part of a company who care about their staff and individual development, with the opportunity to get involved in areas of the business that are of interest.”

Prior to joining Surgeons Quarter, Sarah was Human Resource Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Westerwood Spa & Golf Resort and before that worked with Holiday Inn Edinburgh.

Surgeons Quarter’s profits go towards the College’s charitable objectives of improving surgical standards and patient outcomes worldwide.

Ten Hill Place accommodated frontline NHS workers for 2137 nights, at a cost of £100,000 and provided thousands of free meals to workers.

Bookings for Ten Hill Place can be made at www.tenhillplace.com, by calling 0131 662 2080 or by emailing reservations@tenhillplace.com.