Book Week Scotland has opened applications for Pitch It!, which lets community groups, organisations or individuals pitch to host an event with a brilliant writer. We’ll provide up to £500 to help with event costs for the successful pitches, as well as tailored support to help make your event the best it can be.
This year’s Pitch It! line-up comprises:
· Kiran Millwood Hargrave, for an event on Friday 17 November
Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award-winning poet, playwright, and bestselling novelist writing for both children and adults. Her books include The Girl of Ink and Stars, Julia and the Shark and The Mercies. Kiran is particularly interested in events relating to the environment, conservation and nature.
· Nooruddean Choudry, for an event on Saturday 18 November
Nooruddean Choudry, also known as @BeardedGenius, is best known for his football writing. His new book Inshallah United is a humorous look at faith, football and growing up in a working-class immigrant family.
Book Week Scotland (13–19 November 2023) is a week-long celebration of books and reading, with hundreds of events taking place online and in communities all over Scotland. This year’s theme is ‘adventure’.
The deadline to pitch your event by is Monday 25 September at midday, and further info and the application form can be found at bookweekscotland.com.
The Royal Highland Show is gearing up for the 2023 event taking place this week from Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th June at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
The country’s largest agricultural event returns for a four-day celebration of the very best in food, farming and rural life. Visitors can expect to get nose-to-nose with prize animals, taste an astounding array of artisan food & drink and experience Scotland’s rural life at its most vibrant.
What’s new this year
The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championships is an exciting addition to the show schedule for this year. Competitors from 30 countries from around the world including New Zealand, South Africa and Chile will battle it out on the stage to claim the championship – this thrilling display of skill is a must-watch on the Saturday and Sunday of the Show.
The Royal Highland Show will also see the culmination of the popular ‘Flock to the Show’ campaign, which saw 38 hand-painted fibreglass sheep travel around Scotland over the last couple of months.
Come and find our flock at the Show, starting at the Macklin Motors stand in the Lifestyle Area, and travel around the Showground to see if you can find all the Flock and the clues attached to them. Enter the competition once you know the winning phrase and you could be in with a chance of winning a year’s supply of Taylor’s Crisps.
The colourful Flock will be auctioned off in September this year to raise funds for the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland’s (RHASS) Bicentennial Fund. The bidding process will be launched at this year’s Royal Highland Show, so make sure if you want to purchase one of the Flock you keep a look out for more information.
Register your interest in an individual flock member here:
The new Agri Innovation Arena, located within the Agricultural Zone, will showcase some of the newest and most innovative products and machinery close up, with live demos and industry talks from leaders across all sectors of the agricultural industry.
We have brand-new poles for this year’s Pole Climbing Championships. These have been donated in kind by Kirkennan Estate, Palnackie which is managed by Scottish Woodlands. In May this year, these 90ft poles were transported from Dumfries & Galloway to our Forestry Arena by Cadzow Heavy Haulage Ltd. Make sure you check out our new poles in action at this year’s Show.
Fantastic food & drink
The Royal Highland Show is a haven for food lovers – from the tasty delights of Scotland’s Larder food area to the huge range of takeaway options throughout the showground, visitors are spoiled for choice.
Scotland’s Larder will be brimming with delicious food and drinks. Some are brand new to the market in Scotland, while others, like Glenkinchie, are global brands. Take the chance to meet the producers and hear first-hand from them why they love their products as much as we do. Don’t forget to check out The Bothy situated in the centre of Scotland’s Larder, with all produce supplied by Mimi’s Bakehouse.
The Show’s Food Charter ensures that only locally produced and ethically sourced food is served at the Show – from delicious venison burgers and tasty fish and chips to a bowl of Scottish strawberries bursting with flavour.
The Food for Thought theatre also offers an interesting schedule of events to attend, including chef demonstrations from names including ‘The Kilted Chef’ Craig Wilson, MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, award-winning development chef Paul Terris, and head chef of The Crown Hotel in Peebles, Kirsty Elliot. Celebrating how Scottish food & drink has been enjoyed over the last 200 years is a key theme this year, alongside how science has helped develop and progress this industry.
If learning speciality techniques is more your thing, then don’t miss out on Innis & Gunn’s Masterclass with Master Brewer & Founder, Dougal Sharp, and masterclasses in all things meat and butchery from the experts at Quality Meat Scotland.
Innis & Gunn remains the Show’s official brewery partner and principal beer supplier and official sponsor of the Royal Highland Hoolie. This year you can hear from some of the Innis & Gunn team themselves in their beer and brewing masterclass in the Food for Thought Theatre.
This year the Royal Highland Show has launched its own special ‘Golden Shears’ lager with Caledonian Brewing. This will be available in bars across the Showground.
Lovely livestock and competitions
Of course, the stars of the Show are the animals, and there will be over 5,000 of the finest animals competing over the four days. Sheep, cattle, goats, horses – there’s so much to see!
From the adorable Shetland Pony to the majestic Clydesdale, there is so much to delight equine lovers. The showjumping Grand Prix is always a spectacle, as are the exciting Pony Club Games, as well as the incredible sight of the harness, grooming & decoration classes.
The Show offers a unique chance to see top-quality livestock up close, including the iconic Highland Cattle and ‘the world’s cutest sheep’, the Valais Blacknose. Over 5,000 animals will be competing – including 1,044 cattle, 2,089 sheep, 2,087 horses & ponies, and 140 goats.
This year at the Royal Highland Show, 57 Horse of the Year Qualifiers will take place, offering a variety of opportunities to qualify for the prestigious event held in Birmingham.
Alongside the livestock and equine classes, there are numerous other competitions to witness. New for this year, the Scottish Dairy Championships display will be situated in the Food for Thought Theatre.
Step inside the Handcraft Marquee and witness some of Scotland’s finest handcrafts with this year’s competition theme being ‘Rainbow’. The Honey Marquee, located in the Countryside Area is not to be missed, as well as hosting a range of honey and bee related competitions.
Entertainment for the whole family
There is truly something for everyone at the Royal Highland Show. Away from the animal stalls and food tent, there’s plenty to catch your attention – from the thrilling heights of the Pole Climbing Championships, Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations, Axe Throwing and fingernail-biting mountain bike skills in the Forestry Arena.
To the more relaxed Countryside Area, where kids can try out circus skills, take Annie the Alpaca for a walk, get their face painted, learn some traditional woodcraft and wildlife tracking skills and let off steam on the play equipment.
The Agri Innovation Arena is a new addition for 2023 and is designed as a platform for showcasing the innovative machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture. Visitors will see the very latest tech on display and in action – a must for machinery enthusiasts!
Meanwhile, qualifiers for Britain’s Fittest Farmer competition will be taking place on the Sunday of the Show in the Agri Innovation Arena. Launched by Farmers Weekly in 2018, it is a fun way of sparking a vital discussion about the physical and mental health of the nation’s farmers.
Prepare for off-road fun with the Land Rover Experience Scotland, with an adventurous driving experience at the Show. Strap in and be ready for a bumpy ride as expert drivers demonstrate to you just what these fantastic vehicles are capable of.
One of the many hubs for kids at the Show is the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Discovery Centre, where kids can learn all about the production of food, explore the life of the soil, plant some seeds, bake some scones and even milk Mable, the fibreglass cow all in an interactive and fun environment.
If you can’t visit the Show this year, then luckily the Show can still come to you through the RHS TV, available to watch on the Royal Highland Show website all four days of the Show – with a special Golden Shears channel on Saturday and Sunday. With cameras streaming videos live from the showground, you can tune in wherever you are in the world to join in the action and experience a taste of the Show.
Visitors are also encouraged to make use of the Royal Highland Show App to make the most of their day out – through it, you can view the Show programme, competition schedules and access a handy interactive map of the showground. New for this year, you can search for your favourite trade stand using the search bar in the app, explore the entire Showground at the click of a button, and don’t forget to check out RHS merchandise in the online store as well.
Music & fashion
The Royal Highland Hoolie, hosted in partnership with Farmer’s Bash, is an exciting addition to evening entertainment this year.
Taking place on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the Show, it will showcase some of Scotland and Ireland’s best homegrown music talent.
Skippinish, Derek Ryan, Skerryvore and Lisa McHugh feature in the line-up for what is shaping up to be a fantastic couple of nights. Tickets to the Royal Highland Hoolie are still available and can be purchased on the day or in addition to your Show ticket.
Tickets for the Royal Highland Hoolie can only be purchased by those already attending the Royal Highland Show and have purchased a ticket for Friday 23 or Saturday 24th June. The Hoolie is only for those aged 12 and over, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult over 21.
Fashion lovers are in for a treat with a fashion show by British Wool taking place this year. It will showcase the best of British wool across a wide range of brands including Harris Tweed and Lochcarron of Scotland. There will also be exclusive discounts at the Show across a range of British wool brands.
Across the four days of the Show, we will have a fantastic line-up of traditional ceilidh bands, pipe bands and choirs, including Ian Muir Ceilidh Band who is a frequent visitor to RHS and guest on BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor as well as Pipe Bands from West Lothian, Perth & Kinross and South Queensferry and the wonderful Farmers Choir. Head over to the West Stage where you can hear all of this and more from some of Scotland’s best jazz, folk-rock and bagpipes.
Getting there
A comprehensive travel plan is in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Royal Highland Show as efficiently as possible.
Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. You can travel by Edinburgh Trams all the way from Leith, through the City Centre to Ingliston Park and Ride where a shuttle bus will take you straight to the Showground.
Travelling by bus, Lothian Buses will have the 97 and 98 services running from Central Edinburgh direct to the Showground. It is best to book your ticket in advance, services for the bus and tram start at 6am.
If visitors do want to take the car, booking your parking tickets in advance is required – there will be no parking tickets available on the day.
The Royal Highland Show is the flagship fundraising event for organisers the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
RHASS Head of Show, David Tennant, commented: “More than just a fantastic day out, the Royal Highland Show offers an invaluable insight into the story of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life.
“There is truly something for everyone, whether you are interested in animals, machinery, food, or music – and you’re always sure to discover something that you’ve never seen before.
“With Friday and Saturday tickets selling out last year and the very last few remaining for this year’s event, we’d recommend purchasing soon if you haven’t already to avoid last-minute disappointment!
Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 22-25 June 2023.
Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online, with no tickets available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number and it is advised to purchase early – especially with the new addition of the Royal Highland Hoolie music event on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th this year.
Friday and Saturday tickets for the Royal Highland Show have now sold out following huge demand for the event taking place later this week at Ingliston (22-25 June).
On 8th June, World Ocean Day, 7pm-late, please come and celebrate the Wardie Bay Bathing Water designation.
Bring a costume, friends and something to drink or nibble and we’ll hopefully sing to the sea with gratitude to everyone involved in making this finally happen.
Glasgow locals and Celtic supporters came together on Friday 17thMarch 2023 to remember and celebrate the life of football legend Frank McGarvey, raising £11,050 for Pancreatic Cancer Action.
Frank’s close friend Bernie Vallely, who runs ‘Fitba Greats’, teamed up with Robert and Mary from Elders Bar in Tollcross to organise a special St Patrick’s Day gathering. They wanted to create a memorable evening that would honour Frank’s legacy whilst also supporting a worthy cause.
Tickets for the event sold out in record time, with family, friends, and fans of Frank all eager to show their support. Ninety guests attended the evening, which was hosted by Tommy Sheridan, another of Frank’s close friends. Former Celtic Football players Tosh McKinlay and Joe Miller were also in attendance, sharing football memories and stories.
Guests were provided with an opportunity to win a raffle prize of a framed Celtic Football Club shirt, signed by the squad and a very kind guest then offered a very generous donation for a second version to be sourced by ‘Fitba Greats’.
The auction was the main driver of achieving such a fantastic total, with exclusive prizes creating a bidding battle across the packed room!
Prizes included:
Signed framed print of Frank McGarvey
Framed Bertie Ault print
Framed Danny McGrain signed shirt.
Framed Lisbon Lions print signed by 8 Lions.
Framed & signed Celtic double winners’ shirt – Ange’s first season.
1985 Cup Final Shirt signed by the scorer of the winning goal – Frank McGarvey
Signed by the Boss Ange signed shirt.
Framed & signed Jersey – Captain Callum McGregor
Franks’ son Sean also brought along an additional prize of a signed Celtic shirt kindly donated by Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson.
Fiona Brown, Scottish Development Manager for Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: “I was privileged to meet Frank and his family last year, and it has been heart-warming to see the incredible outpouring of support from across the football community.
“It was lovely to hear people share memories of Frank event, and a wonderful video played on the night showcasing some of Frank’s many footballing highlights certainly triggered a few tears!
“We are very grateful to everyone involved in making the event such a huge success, raising a phenomenal amount of money, and indeed helping raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.”
Bernie Vallely, who runs ‘Fitba Greats’, said: “This was a real team effort, and we are all hopeful that raising the funds we did will massively help Fiona and her team.
“I’m glad we could celebrate Franks’ 67th birthday in such a positive way. Everyone played their part, and a great night was had.”
Jennifer Kane (Frank McGarvey’s daughter) said: “I was so flat on St Patrick’s Day with it being my dad’s birthday and have been missing him so much, but I got such a lift from people’s generosity and stories.
“My dad was so lucky to have pals like Bernie, Robert and Tommy and everyone coming together to raise that much money for a charity now so close to my heart is unbelievable, I know my dad will want us to continue to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, it was an amazing night my dad would have loved it. I can’t wait for next years!”
For Celtic supporters, 67 represents a special number, and this fundraiser was a fitting way to remember and celebrate Frank McGarvey’s life. It’s heart-warming to see how the Glasgow community has come together to support this cause, and we hope that this event will help raise awareness and support for pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the 5th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with over 10,000 people diagnosed each year. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving survival rates, yet under 8% of those diagnosed will survive for five years or more.
Pancreatic Cancer Action is dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and funding research into early detection and treatment. To find out more about their work, visit their website at www.panact.org
Residents at Strachan House in Blackhall marked International Women’s Day yesterday by spending the day celebrating the achievements of wonderful trail-blazing women throughout history.
This special day takes place on March 8th every year to celebrate women’s rights and inspire people to fight for gender equality. A United Nations-sanctioned global holiday, it celebrates women’s contributions to society, raises awareness about the fight for gender parity and inspires support for organisations that support women globally.
Residents afterwards enjoyed complete pamper sessions and makeover to inspire others that you’re never too old to look your best. The afternoon saw many of the home’s women get together over an afternoon tea specially put on to mark the day and their life achievements.
Gordon Philp General Manager at Strachan House said: “We’ve all had a really interesting day thinking about the very many brilliant women who have had such an impact on our lives, whether that was an historic figure or people in our own family.
“It was good to share our experiences, take stock and reflect on how much society has changed over the years.”
Christine Miller is celebrating her 102nd birthday in style this week at Mathieson House Care Home in Edinburgh.
All the stops have been pulled out to ensure Christine and all her friends in the home can enjoy her special day, including balloons, music, singing and, at Christine’s request, lots of cake!
A special guest is also on the invite list, as Christine’s only son Robin flies in from America to mark the special occasion with her.
Christine celebrated her Centurian birthday in 2020, receiving a treasured letter from the late Queen Elizabeth to mark the occasion.
When asked about what receiving her letter meant to her, Christine said: “It was a great honour to receive a letter from our late, great Queen. She worked tirelessly to serve our country over her rein and was someone I admired greatly. I treasure my letter from her dearly.
“I know there are others out there keenly awaiting their letters from our new King. For me it was very exciting to receive the letter, especially as COVID restrictions had put a rain check on my party plans. ”
Christine, originally from Windygates and Methil, Fyfe, was born on the 12th of October 1920. Her 102 years have been packed with adventure, moving to Malaysia in 1956 and living within the Sarawak for the next sixteen years
One of Christine’s great loves in her life has been travel, extensively exploring America and Asia in her youth.
When asked the secret to a long and happy life, Christine responded: “Travel the world with people you love and see as much as you can – while you can. I have had many adventures across Malaysia and the USA in my time.
“Experiencing new cultures keeps you young at heart. I have made so many happy memories to look back on now.
“Thank you to all the staff at Renaissance Care for ensuring that I can spend this day having fun with my loved ones. It has been a birthday party to be remember!”
TODAY –Monday 12 September at 3pm – there will be a Service to celebrate the life of The Queen and her connection to Scotland at St Giles Cathedral.
Those represented at the service include members of the public, friends, family members and representatives of the charities and organisations The Queen was affiliated to in Scotland.
The service will be led by the Reverend Calum MacLeod.
There will be limited space along the Royal Mile. Those wishing to attend are advised to allow plenty of time. Access may be restricted for safety reasons.
Her Majesty The Queen will then lie at rest at St Giles’ Cathedral following the service. Members of the public are anticipated to begin arriving to pay their respects from 5pm until tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 13 September).
This is expected to cause further delays and road closures and Lothian advises customers to plan ahead.
Travellers should check Lothian’s service alerts page here or the app for the latest information.
Guidance has also been issued for how public can attend Her Majesty The Queen’s Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall:
Lying-in-State will take place from Wednesday 14 September until Monday 19 September
Public will be able to walk past The Queen’s coffin to pay respects
A ceremonial procession which precedes the Lying-in State will convey Her Majesty The Queen from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall
Members of the public will be able to pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen at the Lying-in-State at The Palace of Westminster in London from Wednesday evening.
Ahead of that a ceremonial procession will take place on Wednesday afternoon that will see The Queen’s coffin travel from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster for the Lying-in-State.
Members of the public can watch the procession in person at the ceremonial viewing areas along the processional route, or at a screening site in Hyde Park.
At the Lying-in-State, The Queen’s closed coffin will rest on a raised platform, called a catafalque, in Westminster Hall and will be draped in the Royal Standard with the Orb and Sceptre placed on top.
Each corner of the platform will be guarded around the clock by a vigil of units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division, or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
The public will be able to file past the coffin 24 hours a day from 5pm on Wednesday 14 September until 6.30am on the day of the funeral – Monday 19 September.
Those wishing to attend will be required to queue for many hours, possibly overnight. Large crowds are expected and people are encouraged to check ahead, plan accordingly and be prepared for long wait times.
All those attending the Lying-in-State will go through airport-style security and there are tight restrictions on what you can take in, with only small bags permitted. Step-free access will be available for those who need it.
For those unable to travel, key moments of the ceremonial procession and the Lying-in-State will be broadcast on the BBC, Sky News and ITV.
