Join us for the Newhaven Maritime Festival 2026 — a celebration of the rich maritime history, culture, stories, crafts, and coastal ecology of Newhaven.
The Heart of Newhaven Community 4–6 Main Street, Newhaven, Edinburgh
Saturday 16 May 2026 12 noon – 3pm
Step into the past and explore the people, traditions, and heritage that shaped Newhaven through music, storytelling, art, memories, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Festival Activities & Exhibits
Songs from Newhaven Traditional songs and music celebrating the harbour and its people.
Seascape Making and Story Telling with Tortoise in a Nutshell Creative seascape activities and imaginative coastal storytelling.
Married to the Sea – The Fishwives and Women of Newhaven Stories and history of the remarkable women who supported Newhaven’s fishing community.
Tales from the Harbour – Fishermen, Sailors and the Boats of Newhaven Hear fascinating stories from the harbour and the lives lived at sea.
The Newhaven Tapestry Discover the community tapestry celebrating local heritage and identity.
Wave after Wave – Word Chain A collaborative creative word and poetry activity inspired by the sea.
Traditional Knitting Explore maritime knitting traditions and techniques.
Newhaven Coastal Echo – Rephotography Then & Now See Newhaven through time with historical and contemporary photography comparisons.
Talking and Remembering – Reminiscences of Newhaven in Days Gone By Community memories and conversations about old Newhaven.
Newhaven Heritage Learn more about the history and development of the area.
Mapping Maritime Heritage with Wessex Archaeology Interactive exploration of maritime archaeology and local heritage mapping.
Exploring the Ecology of the Firth of Forth with Edinburgh Shoreline Discover the wildlife, coastline, and ecology of the Firth of Forth.
Bring family and friends and celebrate the heritage, creativity, and community spirit of Newhaven!
HEARTS managerDerek McInnes says today’s end of season finale is the perfect last act for Scottish football, adding that it was an eventuality he had always been preparing for.
The Jambos head along the M8 knowing a draw, or victory will be enough to deliver a first Premiership title in 66 years. An incredible opportunity, as the head coach targets that one final big performance to get over the line.
Speaking to the media ahead of today’s match, McInnes said:“We need to go there and perform well, first and foremost.
“I think any time you go to Celtic Park with your team; you’ve got to do so many things right. There’s a consistency, a messaging of what you need to try and do there. And obviously tomorrow, with everything that entails, that just gets amplified, really, because it’s a perfect ending to a season for the league, Scottish football, for drama and excitement. It’s pure box office.
“It’s been a long time, I think, since both teams who could win the title go head-to-head. To be honest, I felt it for a while, obviously, when the fixtures came out. There’s still a lot of football to be played, so you can’t really say that at the time, for obvious reasons, but I genuinely thought it would go the full way, and we’ve kind of been preparing for that.
“In that sense, we knew we’d have to get good wins, and obviously Celtic, in the last wee while, they’ve shown those improvements as well, and consistency of results. Fair play to them, fair play to our boys for making this the situation that’s there now.
“It’s important now that we have that one big performance in us, to try and get over the line and get the title won. The good thing for me is the confidence I feel in the players is so strong. We have to go there with courage; we have to go there with belief and be bullish with our work.
“It’ll be bedlam, it’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere, just because of what’s at stake. But I think that there might be people out there, who think everything’s back on script now, Celtic win their home game, win their league, and that’s what Celtic have done for the last wee while. They’ve been the team that have won more titles, but we’ve ripped the script up so often this season, and we’ve got one more in us I think, and it’s up to us to try and make that happen.”
The eyes of the world will be watching come 12:30pm on Saturday, but the head coach admits he has no concerns regarding nerves, as the Jambos have dealt with various types of pressure all season.
“I’m not nervous about it, but I think dealing with nerves is part of professional sport, particularly when it gets to this stage. Whether it’s the last few holes in a golf tournament, whether it’s the last set in tennis, whether it’s the last round of a boxing match, whether it’s football, where you have to get it all on the line.
“Nerves are a part of that and how you control that sort of situation. There’s been a lot of pressure on our lads for a long time now, and I think that when you play for a club like Hearts, there is pressures, and there should be, there’s an expectation there, but I think the players have dealt with it brilliantly throughout the campaign.
“I’m actually not concerned with that side of it. Of course, the game’s huge and it’ll be different in so many aspects of that, but it’s also exciting. As managers and players, we play in some tough venues, but you have to sometimes celebrate and enjoy playing in what it is on Saturday.
“60,000 fans, live on TV, a brilliant atmosphere, it’s all at stake. I’d rather be playing in it than watching it, and the fact that we’re taking part in it is brilliant for us. We’re having such a brilliant season, breaking all sorts of records.
“At some point, maybe we allowed ourselves to think that 80 points internally might have been enough. Certainly, before the split fixtures, I thought 80 might have been enough to myself, not to the players, but it’s going to be 81 and we need that one more point.”
“We’ve got a team who are hell-bent and who are so used to winning and making things go their way, trying to stop us, so it’s set up brilliantly.”
Martin O’Neill: Atmosphere at Celtic Park will be electric for league title decider
After 37 games, which began with a 1-0 victory over St Mirren back in August last year, the destination of the 2025/26 Premiership title comes down to the final game of the season – a match between Scotland’s top two teams at Celtic Park.
A Celtic victory will see the Hoops crowned champions for the fifth year in a row, while Hearts will secure their first title since 1960 if they can avoid defeat.
It has been a rollercoaster of a campaign for Celtic, with Martin O’Neill enjoying his second spell as manager this season, and the Irishman has the chance to win his first league title since 2004, when he was first manager of the football club.
He is looking forward to the title showdown, as he explained in his pre-match press conference at Lennoxtown.
“It’s been a privilege to come back again,” he said. “I would never have thought it in a million years that this could have happened, and so I should actually enjoy it more than I’m doing.
“We’re really looking forward to it now and why shouldn’t we? It’s a big, big game. Naturally, we have to win it. Hearts don’t, so the advantage is with them in that aspect but we’ll be going out all guns blazing to try and win.
“From the game against Dundee United at Tannadice, we’ve woken up, we’re a better side, we’ve now got a bit more confidence about ourselves.
“And if you’d said to me after Tannadice that we had to win all our games, I would have thought that was a tall order. As it turns out, we’ve had to do that.
“I just think the players are ready for the game. They’ve had things their own way in recent times, but now they’ve had to fight and so far they’ve shown up for it and they’re ready to go.
“But the game’s in the balance. We’re at home, we have to win. Hearts just have to avoid defeat, and it’ll be a tough game for both teams.”
Controversy has raged in the media since Wednesday night’s late penalty award gave Celtic a 3-2 win over Motherwell to set up Saturday’s title shoot-out.
And as well as pointing out that it was a penalty since the ball hit Motherwell player, Sam Nicholson on the hand, the Celtic manager also acknowledged why the decision has generated so many headlines and so much comment.
“I’m not surprised because everybody wants Hearts to win. It’s really as simple as that,” Martin O’Neill said. ‘Everybody outside Celtic and the Celtic diaspora wants Hearts to win. (Not strictly true, Martin – quite a number of Hibs supporters would beg to differ! – Ed.)
“If Hearts win or draw the game, then they will deserve to win the league, and if we can win, somewhere along the way, I think we’ve deserved to win it.
“It’s the number of points you end up with at the end of the season that determines these things, but in terms of the atmosphere, it will be electric.”
THE Scottish FA issued a statement yesterday following Wednesday night’s controversial penalty decision:
(Referee)John Beaton and his family spent last night at home under police surveillance following a leak of personal details online.
The Scottish FA condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to compromise the safety of match officials. Such vigilantism, motivated by decisions perceived to be right or wrong on a field of play, is a scourge on our national game and we are grateful to Police Scotland for their swift intervention.
We are also clear, sadly, that this is the inevitable consequence of the heightening criticism, intolerance and scapegoating demonstrated this season by media pundits, supporters, official supporters’ groups, clubs, players, managers and former match officials.
We do not make that point lightly as the national association. Yet it is an inconvenient truth. Those who have sought to apportion blame and conspiracy towards match officials to deflect from defeats or perceived injustices throughout the season have contributed to an environment that puts the safety of our staff and match officials in jeopardy.
This is the consequence of a hysterical media narrative, fuelled by irresponsible knee-jerk post-match media interviews, commentary and official social media posts. The cumulative effect impacts on our ability to provide enough referees to service our game at all levels. When it compromises the safety and wellbeing of our most senior match officials, enough is enough.
Referees are not infallible. Mistakes will be made on the field, and subjective calls made in front of the VAR monitor, just as managers will pick the wrong team, goalkeepers concede soft goals and strikers miss from five yards out. Yet the reaction to these inevitabilities could not be more contrasting.
What happened yesterday is not an isolated incident. There are many examples of match officials being placed in harmful situations but with individuals fearful of speaking out lest it exacerbates the situation or causes further alarm to friends, family and colleagues.
We will not allow this to become the norm. We will not allow a situation where match officials require special provision to protect their children at school to be considered an occupational hazard. We will not allow a situation where staying at home with the front door locked and avoiding the hazards of public interaction becomes a coping strategy.
The Scottish FA will be seeking to strengthen its rules to better protect those integral to the game and urge those who will doubtless join us in condemning incidents like this to support those proposals, not contribute to their watering-down on the basis of self-preservation.
As we approach what should be an exciting finale to the season, we ask those who have personalised and hyperbolised their opinions, those who have sought the easy way out by attributing defeats to perceived refereeing errors, and those who have approved incendiary statements and posts to reflect on their contribution to creating an environment of intimidation, fear and alarm.
We urge tolerance and perspective to prevent any further, unthinkable escalation.
The game kicks off at 12.30pm.
INCIDENTALLY, Hibs could qualify for European football next season if they can overcome a very good Motherwell side at Easter Road this afternoon. Just saying!
AND THE SUN IS SHINING ON WEST PILTON PARK ONCE AGAIN!!
North Edinburgh Community Festival is back TODAY – Saturday 16 May, taking over West Pilton Park for a full day of music, food, activities, sports, arts and crafts and proper community spirit.
Expect live performances, family fun, local groups showcasing what they do best, and plenty of free things to get stuck into. It’s a celebration made by the community, for the community, and everyone’s invited to come along, get involved and make the park buzz.
The festival parade will set off from North Edinburgh Arts at 1030am and wind its way to West Pilton Park arriving for 12noon. It’ll be led in vibrant style by local groups, organisations, schools and performers – a wonderful colourful collaboration with Edinburgh Carnival.
Expect colour, music and a proper burst of energy as the community walks, dances and drums its way into the heart of the festival.
Seagull Trust Cruises Ratho highlight a new danger in our Canals
As warmer weather approaches and visitor numbers rise, Seagull Trust Cruises Ratho Branch is urging the public to take extra care around Scotland’s canals.
The Union Canal is already seeing increased footfall, cycling, paddle-sports activity, and family visits, and with this seasonal surge comes a heightened risk of accidents and unsafe behaviour near the water.
The charity, which provides free therapeutic cruises for people with additional support needs, relies on a safe and respectful environment to operate.
In previous years concerns were raised about speeding cyclists, unsupervised children close to the water’s edge, dogs off leads near wildlife, and individuals entering the canal in unsuitable locations.
These behaviours not only endanger the public but also disrupt moored boats, wildlife habitats, and the smooth running of accessible cruises. But this year there is another concern – crocodiles!
With water temperatures remaining cold even in spring and early summer, accidental immersion can lead to cold-water shock within seconds. Seagull Trust Cruises is reminding visitors that canals are working waterways, with hidden hazards such as uneven banks, deep silt, submerged objects, and limited space for boats to manoeuvre.
The charity is encouraging everyone to stay alert, avoid risky shortcuts, and keep towpaths clear for all users, including those with mobility aids.
Stuart Rennie, Immediate Past Chair of Seagull Trust Cruises Ratho Branch, emphasised the importance of shared responsibility: “The canal is a wonderful community space, but it only stays safe when everyone treats it with care.
“Our volunteers work hard to provide calm, enjoyable cruises for people who benefit greatly from time on the water. We’re asking the public to help us protect that experience by acting responsibly as the weather improves.
“The crocodiles don’t bite and we thought it would be a fun way to get across a serious message about water safety this summer.”
For information and bookings please contact 07511 055081 or email:
A Scottish charity is using a new delivery model to tackle shortages in access to therapeutic support.
Right There, which works across Scotland to prevent homelessness and support families, has widened its existing counselling provision to help more people access support earlier, before issues reach crisis point.
The approach uses a supervised placement model, with counselling delivered by postgraduate counselling students – initially from the University of Strathclyde, Queen Margaret College, Grounded Learning, and the Centre of Therapy – who are closely supported by an experienced Supervising Counsellor.
The announcement was made to help Right There to mark National Mental Health Awareness Week, 11th to 17th May.
The expanded service builds on Right There’s established counselling work, including its long running service in Orkney, and will offer young people and adults the option of in-person support delivered at hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, or online sessions for people in other parts of the country.
One young woman who accessed counselling through Right There’s service in Orkney, said: “Right There Counselling was the helping hand I needed to pull myself through some immensely difficult situations in my life.
“Having that support a message away, knowing I could talk unfiltered and receive not only strong in-person advice and support, but referrals to practical help for my situation.
“All this really gave me the leg up I needed to rebuild a new safer life for myself, as my true self, when I had few places to turn. This is an invaluable service for young people.”
The counselling service offers a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for young people and adults to talk openly about what is affecting their lives and their mental health. Counselling helps to reduce isolation and prevents symptoms from worsening during lengthy waiting times.
Elvira Kesoglou, Supervising Counsellor at Right There, said: “We know that demand for counselling support has grown significantly across the country, but access has not kept pace.
“For some years now we have been funding a popular counselling service to people accessing our programmes in Orkney, but we are desperate to expand our care out to the rest of Scotland.
“This new model allows us to widen that access safely and affordably, while maintaining the quality, supervision and person-centred care that people deserve. It also helps us support the next generation of counsellors in a structured and ethical way.”
The initial service will only be available for people referred through Right There’s programmes. The charity plans to continue developing the service over the coming year, with scope to introduce additional therapeutic approaches as capacity grows.
Residents talk enthusiastically about settling into their new homes at Western Villages, part of our £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront.
A strong sense of community shines through from the city council’s new tenants in a video released this week.
Western Villages is now largely occupied, with 388 homes for social and mid-market rent providing accommodation for around 1,400 residents. After the Council declared a housing emergency in 2023, these high quality homes provide much needed, affordable and energy efficient accommodation to help respond to the shortage of homes within the city.
Granton Station View, also part of the wider regeneration project is fully occupied with another 75 energy efficient quality homes for social and mid-market rent, delivered in October 2024. Work is also well underway to deliver a further 143 affordable energy efficient and high quality homes at nearby Silverlea.
At the end of last year, the Council approved the business case for the next phase of this ambitious project for the city. It will deliver a further 847 energy efficient quality homes on neighbouring land and will provide residents with a new primary school (to be delivered through a separate contract), shops and leisure facilities, more walking, wheeling and cycling routes and open and green space.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We declared a housing emergency in 2023 and so these energy efficient quality homes are much needed and from what I’ve seen are being greatly enjoyed.
“The video shows how easy it is for residents to access the beach, parks, good transport links, places to walk, cycle and wheel as well as having good local shops and other facilities nearby. I’m absolutely delighted the tenants are pleased that we’re creating communities people feel part of, want to live in and call home.”
Come along and find resources to support you or your loved ones through the dementia journey.
Have a cuppa and a chat. Relax with Elaine from MindTr!p, learning new techniques. Feel soothed by Tally with a hand massage. Come and listen to the NW singers and find out about them. Have a cuddle with a dog, and of course have a cuppa!
If that isn’t enough to pique your interest come along to chose an Izzy doll or ruffle muff hand made by our wonderful knitters!
Founder and CEO of Edinburgh-based The House of Hope, Lisa Fleming and her teenage son Cameron, took on the ultimate fundraising challenge with a 100ft abseil down the Port of Leith Distillery, to raise money for The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated support and wellbeing centre for people impacted by breast cancer and their families.
Lisa, who lives with secondary breast cancer, was joined by a team of ten superheroes and supporters from The House of Hope, to go above, beyond and over the edge to collectively raise a massive £8,500.
All funds raised will go directly towards delivering wellbeing and holistic services and support at the House of Hope, based on Gorgie Road, which opened its doors to the local community in June 2025.
A truly remarkable achievement for Lisa, who when she was first diagnosed, discovered that cancer had already spread from the breast to every bone in her body and she has gone through 19 operations including brain and spine surgery.
Lisa said: “I think I’m still in a bit of disbelief. If you’d have told the girl who sat in the Western General oncology unit, with her life in bits almost nine years ago, that she would still be alive, let alone completed a challenge like that I would never have believed you.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their generosity and all of the hard work that went into making the event happen. For me the hero of the day was my son, Cammy.
“We were up first, together and I will never forget the look of fear in his eyes, but he showed absolute resilience and bravely fought through it and absolutely smashed it! I’m so proud of him and what we’ve achieved together.”
The House of Hope was borne out of Lisa’s vision to create wellbeing and holistic support provision, within her hometown of Edinburgh and she remains dedicated to providing a safe haven for people impacted by breast cancer to access vital services outside of a clinical setting.
The House of Hope celebrates its first anniversary in June 2026 and has delivered support to over 200 people and their families impacted by breast cancer.
To mark the anniversary, a 1k Your Way challenge has been launched to encourage supporters to do 1k every day for 30 days in June any way they like – whether that’s running, walking, cycling or even rowing, whatever gets it done! – to raise money to support people impacted by breast cancer.
The Heart of Newhaven Community
Saturday 16 May 2026
12 noon – 3pm
Songs from Newhaven
