The Scottish Rugby coach chatted with Rav Ravutia about the upcoming Scotland V Fiji match at Murrayfield to be played today – Saturday, November 2 with a 5.40pm KO
Scotland international rugby coach Gregor Townsend enjoyed some friendly rivalry as he chatted with a Fijian veteran, whilst launching the Scottish Poppy Appeal 2024.
The rugby legend was visiting Lady’s Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh when he was introduced to staff member, Fijian national Rav Ravutia, ahead of his side’s Nations Series opener against Fiji on November 2.
Aswell as discussing the upcoming match, Gregor was interested to hear about Rav’s story and how he came to serve in Scotland and later work for Poppyscotland.
Rav, 51, was first introduced to Scotland after visiting the capital with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band who were invited to perform in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1998.
Upon returning to his homeland, the following year Rav resigned from the Fijian Army after eight and a half years service and flew to Scotland to sign up for the British Army.
Serving from 1999 to 2023, Rav was a member of the Royal Scots and later the Adjutant General Corps.
After leaving the Army he was a member of the Royal Scots Regimental Association Fijian branch in Edinburgh but found himself unemployed and with a forces disability was unsure where to turn.
With the help of fellow veteran friends, Rav was introduced to Poppyscotland.
Rav said: “Last year I was introduced to the work of Poppyscotland and very quickly was made extremely welcome. That is when I began my new career here as a veteran poppy and wreath maker.
“It is an absolute honour to work for this charity and goes to show just one of the many ways they can help veterans following service.”
Rav continued: “It was great to meet Scotland international coach Mr Townsend as he launched the Poppy Appeal and in particular ahead of Scotland playing my national team Fiji next month. We spoke about my time in the army and of course had some good chat about the rugby. In fact, I asked him to please go soft on Fiji!”
Gregor said: “It was a real privilege to meet the veterans at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory upon launching the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and great to meet Rav and share some friendly rivalry ahead of our Nations opener with Fiji.
“Every year Poppyscotland supports hundreds of veterans and their families, helping them live life fully after service.
“Show them you care, wear a poppy. Your donation can change lives for our Armed Forces community.”
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising appeal, with more than three million poppies already being distributed around the country.
The money raised from the Appeal has enabled Poppyscotland to help countless men, women and families with issues linked to their time in the Armed Forces or with struggles adjusting from military to civilian life.People can find out more and support the Scottish Poppy Appeal at www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
In October 2004, Edinburgh was designated the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, a permanent title celebrating Edinburgh’s status as a literary capital and pioneer in the UNESCO Creative Cities network.
The concept of a City of Literature was devised in Edinburgh by the Trust’s founding members Jenny Brown OBE, Catherine Lockerbie, James Boyle and Lorraine Fannin, trailblazing the way – there are now 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world.
To mark the occasion, 60 representatives from Cities of Literature destinations across the global network came to Edinburgh for a four day conference as part of The Scottish International Storytelling Festival last week (21-25 Oct 2024).
The conference helped mark the achievements of the past two decades and to make plans for the future – ensuring that Edinburgh continues to stay firmly on the literary map.
As part of this conference the Cities of Literature attending from all over the globe carried on the annual tradition of donating a selection of books to the hosting city. This year’s donations sees a range of diverse and beautifully illustrated children’s books in the original language of each of these UNESCO Cities gifted to the Central Lending Library in Edinburgh.
Keira Brown, Communications and Community Manager for Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, said:‘It’s a wonderful initiative that the Cities of Literature decide to donate picture books from their city, showcasing the range of talent from this global network, giving back to Edinburgh for welcoming these delegates to the city for the week, such a beautiful idea reflecting the international connection that is so beneficial for the sector here in Edinburgh.’
Keira Brown from Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and UNESCO Cities of Literature Coordinator, Hannah Trevarthen, with a selection of the donated books.
Nottingham’s City of Literature Director and UNESCO Cities of Literature Chair, Hannah Trevarthen, said: “It’s a fantastic tradition, donating children’s books to the city hosting the meeting every year, and one we hope will long continue.
“It’s our thank-you to the city for all of the hard work that goes into hosting the Cities of Literature delegates.’We hope that the children of Edinburgh will be inspired by the books from other Cities of Literature from around the world.’’
Within Edinburgh City of Literature Trust’s twenty year span, they have helped grow a global network of international literary cities, for the benefit of writers and literature professionals, bringing opportunities for paid commissions, supporting creative practice and broadening literary networks internationally.
At a more local level in Scotland, the Trust’s work has ranged from high profile campaigns to community-based Edinburgh projects, with bold, innovative work bringing communities together – connecting readers and writers as well as literary organisations in the Scottish literature scene.
The Trust has also long partnered with Edinburgh Library service, working to advocate the importance of librarians and libraries across the city.
Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: ““Donating children’s books is a wonderful tradition within the UNESCO Cities of Literature Network. Through our ongoing partnership we are thrilled to see this meaningful gesture from such a diverse network of cities.
“As the founding city of this international cohort of UNESCO Cities of Literature, we take immense pride in celebrating our 20th anniversary, and I truly hope this wonderful tradition continues for many years to come.”
Edinburgh City of Literature Trust birthday also contributes to the on-going Edinburgh 900 celebrations; marking the 900 year anniversary of Edinburgh – a city-wide celebration of Edinburgh’s history, culture and future.
More than 3,000 Communicating Indecently with a Child offences have been recorded by Police Scotland during the past five years
NSPCC urges Ofcom to significantly strengthen its approach to child sexual abuse and for the UK Government to ensure the regulator can tackle grooming in private messaging
Over 3,000 online grooming crimes across Scotland have been recorded by Police Scotland during the past five years, new data compiled by the NSPCC has revealed.
The figures provided by Police Scotland show 3,234 Communicating Indecently with a Child offences were recorded since 2019, with 672 offences recorded last year (2023/24) – an increase of 13% from the previous year.
The NSPCC has issued these findings a year on from the Online Safety Act being passed.
The charity is urging Ofcom to significantly strengthen the rules social media platforms must follow to tackle child sexual abuse on their products.
They say the regulator currently puts too much focus on acting after harm has taken place rather than being proactive to ensure the design features of social media apps are not contributing to abuse.
The NSPCC is also calling on the Government to strengthen legislation to ensure child sexual abuse is disrupted in private messages such as on Snapchat and WhatsApp.
The charity’s Voice of Online Youth young people’s group were not surprised at the prevalence of Snapchat in offences.
Liidia, 13 from Glasgow, said: “Snapchat has disappearing messages, and that makes it easier for people to hide things they shouldn’t be doing.
“Another problem is that Snapchat has this feature where you can show your location to everyone. If you’re not careful, you might end up showing where you are to people you don’t know, which is super risky.
“And honestly, not all the rules in Snapchat are strict, so some people take advantage of that to do bad things. Apps should have better ways for us to report bad things, and they should always get updated to protect us better with the latest security tech.”
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said:“One year since the Online Safety Act became law and we are still waiting for tech companies to make their platforms safe for children.
“We need ambitious regulation by Ofcom who must significantly strengthen their current approach to make companies address how their products are being exploited by offenders.
“It is clear that much of this abuse is taking place in private messaging which is why we also need the UK Government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to give Ofcom more legal certainty to tackle child sexual abuse on the likes of Snapchat and WhatsApp.”
National Police Chief’s Council Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigations (CPAI) Becky Riggs said: “The numbers in this NSPCC data are shocking and policing joins partners in urging tech companies and Ofcom to fulfil their legal and moral obligations to keep children safe from harm within the online communities they have created.
“A year on from the Online Safety Act being passed, it is imperative that the responsibility of safeguarding children online is placed with the companies who create spaces for them, and the regulator strengthens rules that social media platforms must follow.
“Policing will not stop in its fight against those who commit these horrific crimes. We cannot do this alone, so while we continue to pursue and prosecute those who abuse and exploit children, we repeat our call for more to be done by companies in this space.”
Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay have revealed the return of the spectacular Torchlight Procession to launch 2024/2025’s Hogmanay celebrations. The event will kick off four days of festivities as a river of fire is weaved through the capital’s streets, with torches carried in aid of local and national charities.
The family-friendly event on 29 December marks the start of New Year celebrations around the world as organisers once again join forces with presenting partner EventScotland to mark four days of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay with the iconic event.
With £2 from each Torch sold and £1.50 from Procession tickets donated directly to charity, and fundraising activity across both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay, organisers aim to raise over £55,000 throughout the Winter Festivals to be split evenly between the charities.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is produced by Unique Assembly, presented on behalf of Principal Funding Partners City of Edinburgh Council.
The Torchlight Procession will see up to 20,000 participants blaze a trail through the Old Town of Scotland’s historic capital, beginning at the Meadows where guests will enjoy a host of entertainment from Edinburgh’s Beltane Society and more.
The family friendly event will welcome locals and tourists alike to a carnival atmosphere in the Meadows from 6pm with live street theatre, fire performers, pipe bands and drummers, before the ceremonial Torchlight Procession embarks on its route through the Old Town at 7.30pm, with a fiery finale underneath Edinburgh Castle between 8.30pm – 9pm.
Thousands of torch carriers will lead the way up Middle Meadow Walk, crossing George IV Bridge and making their way along Johnston Terrace before reaching a picturesque finishing point on Castle Terrace beneath Edinburgh Castle.
The route will see the procession pass some of the capital’s most famous landmarks including the National Museum of Scotland, Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Tolbooth Kirk, the National Library of Scotland and much more.
Leading the procession through Edinburgh’s historic Old Town will be Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad, who previously made history when they appointed the first ever female Jarl.
Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland said: “Lighting up the heart of the city’s streets, the Torchlight Procession has become a time-honoured tradition of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, honouring Scotland’s culture, heritage and spirit while setting the stage for four days of New Year’s festivities across our capital city.
“Uniting both locals and visitors from across the world, the event is a key contributor to the wider visitor economy and shines a spotlight on Scotland’s reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.”
City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “I’m delighted to see the Torchlight Procession returning to the streets of Edinburgh this year.
“It’s a breathtaking sight as thousands make their way through our capital’s historic streets, their torches lighting up the night— it’s a moving symbol of unity and hope for the year ahead.
“It is also raising vital funds for four wonderful charities. This highlight of the Hogmanay programme is always a favourite among residents and visitors alike, and I have no doubt it will be just as popular this year.”
Directors of Unique Assembly who create and produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council said: “The Torchlight Procession is an incredible event, which is much-loved by both locals and visitors to the city, signalling the start of both Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the world’s New Year celebrations.
“We’d like to thank EventScotland for their continued support of the event, and can’t wait to welcome participants to once again light-up the city and help fundraise for this year’s incredible charities.”
Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, President of One City Trust said: “We’re thrilled that proceeds from this incredible event will go to One City Trust. Every penny raised brings us one step closer to a fairer, more inclusive city.
“These funds allow us to support essential initiatives that address poverty, advance equality, and create opportunities for those who need them most – especially those affected by the housing emergency declared in the city.”
The Torchlight Procession marks the beginning of Edinburgh’s world-renowned celebrations, followed by the Night Afore Disco Party on 30 December with the ultimate party night as DJ sensation Hot Dub Time Machine is joined by party animals The Cuban Brothers and Edinburgh funk trio High Fade in West Princes Street Gardens, plus Edinburgh’s own Idlewild will headline a special hometown show at the Assembly Rooms on 30 December.
On Hogmanay itself, there’s a feast of live music and entertainment to choose from: the family-friendly Bairns New Year Revels at Assembly Rooms, a stunning Candlelit Concert at St. Giles’ Cathedral for a tranquil start to the New Year, New Year Revels returns to Assembly Rooms with a night of live music and ceilidh dancing; and 55,000 party-goers will ring in the bells at Edinburgh’s world-famous Street Party and Concert in the Gardens headlined by Scottish music icons Texas and special guest Callum Beattie.
Closing out Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities and starting the New Year with a bang, there’s a host of music as the festival branches out to Portobello and Leith for live music on 1 January for the free First Footin’ Culture Trail, Sprogmanay, and more family Ceilidh events.
Further information and tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2024/25 celebrations are available www.edinburghshogmanay.com.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2024/25 is supported by Principal Funding Partners City of Edinburgh Council and Major Partners the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund, EventScotland part of VisitScotland – the national tourism and events organisation for Scotland, and Essential Edinburgh, all working together to create spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations for Scotland.
Follow Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on social media – Facebook, X and Instagram.
The iconic Lewis chess pieces can now be viewed from a very different angle thanks to a new display at the National Museum of Scotland.
Among the best-known objects in Scotland’s most popular visitor attraction, ten of the medieval gaming pieces have been redisplayed in a new case which allows visitors to view their backs for the first time.
Made from walrus ivory and sperm whale teeth, the pieces range from the wide-eyed ‘Berserker’ who gnaws frantically on his shield, to a Queen who rests her chin in her hand, a rather fed-up look on her face.
The carved figures are famous for their expressions. However, their backs are just as interesting and intricately detailed. The thrones feature complex vine scroll and interlace carvings, while the hair on some figures tumbles down their backs in stylised ringlets.
Redisplayed from yesterday [31 October] with new lighting, a new layout and refreshed interpretation, the chess pieces are now positioned more prominently, at the entrance to the Kingdom of the Scots gallery, and visible from the adjacent Hawthornden Court.
Dr Alice Blackwell, Senior Curator of Medieval Archaeology and History at National Museums Scotland said: “The Lewis chess pieces are much loved thanks in part to their iconic expressions and poses, however these are objects which were designed to be appreciated from all angles.
“After all, each player sees the backs of their own pieces. The carver has really gone to town on the throne backs in particular, with entwined tendrils and knotwork that are really sumptuous compared to the simpler fronts.
“I’m delighted that visitors to the National Museum of Scotland will now have the chance to get to know these charming characters in the round.”
The chess pieces in National Museums Scotland’s collection form part of a large hoard discovered in Lewis in the early 19th century. They offer fascinating insights into the growing popularity of chess in medieval Europe and the international connections of western Scotland during that period.
The hoard contained 93 gaming pieces in total, from at least four chess sets as well as other games. Eleven pieces are in National Museums Scotland’s collection.
The remaining 82 are in the British Museum’s collection, six of which are on loan to Museum nan Eilean in Lewis.
The pieces were probably made around 1200 in Norway. At this time, Lewis was part of the Norse-Gaelic Kingdom of the Isles, encompassing islands and land along the west coast of Scotland as well as the Isle of Man. There was a strong Scandinavian influence in the region and Norway controlled the kingdom at times.
It is not known who buried the pieces or why. They may have been the property of a merchant, sailing from Scandinavia to Scotland, Ireland or the Isle of Man to sell these highly-prized playing sets.
However given that Lewis was home to powerful people with close ties to Norway, the pieces may instead have been the treasured possession of a local prince, bishop or other leader.
A EVENING OF REVELRY AND JOY ON HOLYROOD PARK FOR SAMHUINN FIRE FESTIVAL 2024
Last night, revellers of over 6000 gathered at Holyrood Park to take part in the annual Samhuinn Fire Festival, produced by Beltane Fire Society.
As part of an ancient Celtic tradition, the end of the warmer months were observed, and the winter season was welcomed, inspired by the Celtic tales of the turning of the wheel.
The epic battle between the Summer and Winter Queens unfolded as The Cailleach prepared for the transition into winter.
The festival took place at Holyrood Park in the centre of the city to watch the festivities, and brought together communities to welcome in the colder months. Despite the ever-growing wind, the flames still burned and set the park alight.
Jenny Bloom, Chair of Beltane Fire Society, said: “For thousands of witnesses, and our community of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, last night’s Samhuinn Fire Festival joyfully marked the change of the seasons.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye to the summer – but what better way to welcome the Scottish Winter than a night of crashing drums and clashing swords!”
The modern Samhuinn Fire Festival has been running since 1988 and is the autumn and winter counterpart to Beltane Fire Festival, which is held at Calton Hill on 30th April.
The events are immersive experiences, which involve modern re-imaginings of ancient Celtic festivals to mark the turning seasons, and the turning of the wheel.
The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient Celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.
PICTURES: Crow Mackie, Dan Boyce, Daniel Cass Senior and Braven Davenport.
A new Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) graduate is hoping to make her family proud – thanks to a New York internship that unlocked her passion for her studies.
The 29-year-old from Edinburgh was presented with her degree during a ceremony at the Usher Hall yesterday.
She said: “It feels amazing to graduate. No-one in my family has done it before. I lost my dad in 2019 and a lot of the things I do are in the hope that he would be proud of me.
“I also want to show to my younger cousins that studying is a great way to find something that you enjoy.
“My time at university wasn’t always easy, but the lecturers and support staff were absolutely accommodating and understanding. They just wanted the best for me.”
As part of her studies, Keri was part of a group who completed an internship in New York with counterparts from Farmingdale State College.
It was a trip which helped cement her plan to forge a career in user experience – a term used to describe how people interact with digital technology in their day-to-day life.
“The opportunity to go to the USA helped me navigate what I was wanting to focus on,” Keri added. “We were working with a baseball team out there, making things that fans could use. I helped come up with an app and reward system they could use.
“It was such a great experience being able to make something like that happen from scratch.
“If I hadn’t gone to university, I would never have experienced something like that.”
Techfest, a Scottish charity, is set to launch a worldwide Digital Science Festival to promote STEM access to everyone.
Scotland’s Digital Science Festival (SDSF) is an exciting, virtual event that aims to bring science straight into homes through expert talks, interactive workshops, and an online escape room.
The festival will feature a range of speakers including TV Doctor, Tharaka Gunarthne, YouTuber, Dr Tom Crawford, and BBC Blue Planet’s, Doug Allan.
SDSF is designed to make STEM accessible and inclusive for all ages.
Sarah Chew, Managing Director of Techfest, said: “Scotland’s Digital Science Festival is an opportunity for people of all generations to discover the excitement and possibilities that STEM can offer in today’s digital world. By making these fields more accessible and engaging, we hope to spark a lifelong curiosity that leads to innovation and empowerment.”
Scottish Charity, TechFest, has organised a free Digital Science Festival to take place on the 1-8th November to encourage engagement in STEM for all ages.
The week-long festival will be hosted entirely online including workshops, presentations and interactive sessions, led by professionals across STEM.
The festival will feature a variety of speakers who aim to demonstrate the relevance of STEM subjects in everyday life. One of the speakers, Dr Tom Crawford, also known as Tom Rocks Maths on YouTube, will be combining his passion for mathematics and Pokémon.
Additionally, Doug Allan from BBC’s Blue Planet will be attending the festival to discuss “An Eye Below Zero, a Long-Term Look at the Poles.”
Other speakers at the festival include Scottish Influencer of the Year 2024 and climate activist Laura Young, and Dr Vivienne Ming, a visionary neuroscientist and AI expert who works towards unlocking the human potential.
The festival will close with the unique ‘Universilly Challenged’ pub-style quiz experience, hosted by the one-of-a-kind science troubadour Jonny Berliner and renowned biologist Simon Watt.
TechFest is a charity focused on making STEM more engaging and inclusive for everyone throughout the country and beyond whilst helping to connect STEM to various sectors.
Scotland’s Digital Science Festival has been developed to address the accessibility barriers for rural communities and provide a global platform for participants to join from anywhere in the world.
Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “I’m incredibly proud to launch Scotland’s Digital Science Festival, powered by TechFest, in our efforts to bring fun and engaging STEM discussions to people across the globe.
“It is vital that we have more initiatives like this to inspire the next generation of talent and encourage people of all ages to engage with and rediscover their love for STEM.
“We want to challenge outdated perceptions that STEM subjects aren’t ‘cool’, are male-dominated, or too difficult by showing their relevance to exciting career paths demonstrated by our speakers.
“The power of connectivity allows us to bring these incredible speakers and activities directly into homes around the world free of charge.”
We would love for you are your four legged Friend to come join us for a dog walk at West Pilton Park next Wednesday 6th November.
Come walk your dog with us and other dog owners, to chat about dog life, share walking stories or perhaps you just want to let us know how special your four legged friend is And make them a movie star!
THE DETAILS: 6TH NOVEMBER 2024 WEST PILTON PARK 5:30-6PM
An amendment to the Housing Bill will set out how rent increases will be capped in areas where rent controls apply, subject to the approval of Parliament.
In response to stakeholder feedback, rent increases would be limited to the Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation) plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%. If approved, the rent cap will apply to rent increases both during the term of a tenancy and in between tenancies, and will only apply in areas where rent control is applied.
Where it applies, the rent cap will stabilise rents – supporting tenants and helping to tackle poverty, whilst providing appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supporting investment.
A consultation in Spring 2025 will seek views on how powers that allow exemption from rent controls or rent increases above the cap could be used by Scottish Ministers.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “The Housing (Scotland) Bill includes a package of reforms which will help ensure people have a safe, secure, and affordable place to live.
“Eradicating child poverty remains this government’s priority and having a home can make a direct contribution to achieving this. This is why ensuring families can have secure and affordable homes that meet their needs is part of our approach to tackling the housing emergency.
“There is a consistent view that Scotland needs a thriving private rented sector – one that offers good quality, affordable housing options and values the benefit that investment in rented property delivers. This announcement provides certainty for tenants and continues to encourage investment.
“Setting out the form of the rent cap in this way – with CPI as the basis – allows for a reflection of the costs to landlords of offering a property for rent whilst offering protection for tenants in terms of limiting more significant rent increases.
“We are bringing forward a system of rent control that works for Scotland – a system that supports stabilisation of rents for tenants, whilst ensuring there can be a balanced approach that provides appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supports investment in the development of rented homes.”
And make them a movie star!
THE DETAILS:
