Murder on Arthur’s Seat: Twenty years minimum for wife killer

A 29-year-old man from Yorkshire has been found guilty of murdering his pregnant wife in Edinburgh in September, 2021.

Kashif Anwar (below) was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday, 6 April, 2023) of murdering 31-year-old Fawziyah Javed at Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park on Thursday, 2 September, 2021.

He will serve a minimum of 20 years.

Image shows Kashif Anwar who was found guilty of murdering Fawziyah Javed

Detective Inspector Bob Williamson, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult and traumatic time for Fawziyah’s family who are understandably devastated by her death.

“Fawziyah was much loved and had her life ahead of her with a new baby on the way. This was all cruelly taken from her and her unborn child at the hands of her own husband – someone who should have loved and protected her. Anwar’s actions were incomprehensible and as an investigation team, we welcome today’s verdict.

“I sincerely hope that the fact that he has now been found guilty will afford Fawziyah’s family and friends some sense of justice.”

Spectacular Samhuinn!

On Halloween eve, the Beltane Fire Society (BFS) welcomed a sold-out audience to Holyrood Park as its Beltane counter-season festival, the Samhuinn Fire Festival, unfolded on stage at full blaze. 

The performances featured large amounts of fire, acrobatics, epic duels between Summer and Winter, and a variety of eccentric, strange character costumes that included a full-winged fire display by our Summer King, Hannah Smith. 

Our 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival would not have been possible without our 200+ volunteers who helped us share a safe and spectacular fire-focused event with the Edinburgh community.

Thank you to all for helping the Society ring in the Celtic new year and honour the new season before us. Happy Samhuinn!

Barratt East Scotland team hikes Edinburgh’s seven hills for St Columba’s Hospice Care

Barratt East Scotland, which includes both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has fundraised £16,000 for their new charity partner, St Columba’s Hospice Care.

Taking on the seven hills challenge to reach the top of Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill, Braid Hill, Blackford Hill, and Arthur’s Seat, 19 Barratt East employees completed the capital city hike in under seven hours as part of their fundraising efforts.

St Columba’s Hospice Care is an independent charity that has been providing vital hospice and end of life care to people with incurable illness and their families for over 40 years. Throughout the pandemic, the Hospice Team has continued to offer their services to those who need it most across Edinburgh and the Lothians – be that at home, in care settings or at the Hospice itself.

The donation from the Barratt East Scotland team will help to ensure the hospice can continue to offer its support to people in local communities across the capital. As well as nursing and medical care, the Hospice offers patients and their families whatever social, practical, emotional and spiritual support they may need, from physiotherapy and counselling, to immersive art and music therapy.

Alison Condie, Managing Director at Barratt East Scotland, said: “St Columba’s Hospice Care carries out incredible work supporting patients and their families. We’re pleased to be able to help with our donation and hope it allows them to continue to provide these crucial and important services.”

Speaking of the donation Amanda Southey, Corporate Development Manager for St Columba’s Hospice Care added: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the employees of Barratt East Scotland for their incredible efforts.

“Challenges like ‘7 Hills’ raise vital funds for the Hospice and help us to deliver high-quality, specialist care and support to those that need it most across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“After what has been a very challenging year for us, we’re delighted to have the support of such an enthusiastic team and can’t wait to see how our new partnership develops over the coming year!”

As part of its community benefits programme, the five-star housebuilder works with a wide range of local causes, and has continued to step up its efforts through the Barratt and David Wilson Community Fund.

Now in its third year, the Community Fund pledges to donate £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation in the east of Scotland. Charities are nominated by and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.

Interested charities can enquire about donation opportunities at charity.eastscotland@barratthomes.co.uk

Visit the Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes websites for more information.