Tag: celebrations

Happy Harry celebrates in style

Trebles all round for Muirhouse Library Link member

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Drylaw centenarian Harry Macdonald doesn’t do things by halves. He’s already celebrated his birthday with a party at Drylaw Church, then followed that up with a family meal in Davidson’s Mains – and now there’s been a third celebration as Harry marked his milestone event with staff and friends from Muirhouse Library’s Link service earlier today!

Muirhouse Library’s Declan McCann said: “Harry has been coming to library link since July 2015, and he has been a lively addition to the group. The Hearts top he is wearing was gifted by the club, has the number 100 on the back and is signed by the players. Today we shared cake, coffee and non-alcoholic bubbly!”

 

Diwali 2015: Prime Minister’s greetings

The Prime Minister sends his best wishes to all those in the UK and across the world celebrating Diwali

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David Cameron said:

Families are coming together, lights are being strung up, the food is going in the oven, Diwali is upon us once again.

As the celebrations get underway, from London to Leicester, Glasgow to Gwent, Bristol to Birmingham, I want to send out my very best wishes to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights.

This is a great moment in our national calendar and an opportunity to shine a light on the communities who do so much to make Britain great. In every walk of life, in every corner of our country, you can see the immense contribution of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Treating patients in our NHS, teaching children in our schools, building the businesses that boost our economy, keeping our streets safe in the police and armed forces and all the while helping to make Britain what we are so proud to be: the greatest multi-racial democracy on earth.

Day in day out, these communities put into practice the very best of British values like generosity, responsibility, enterprise, family. Nowhere are those values more evident than in people’s religious beliefs.

I think of the people of Neasden Mandir or those at Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick, demonstrating every day the devotion and dedication they derive from their faith by helping others.

I want to thank all of them for their incredible contribution to Britain. We are better and stronger for it.

And to everyone celebrating, let me wish you a happy and peaceful Diwali and a prosperous New Year.

Shubh Diwali!

https://youtu.be/OrjSGo0qVEM

Pohela Boishakh পহেলা বৈশাখ,

North Edinburgh’s Bangladeshis celebrate New Year

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North Edinburgh’s Bangladeshi residents held an event to celebrate the Bengali New Year 1422 at Granton Parish Church on Boswall Parkway this afternoon.

Edinburgh & Lothian Regional Equality Council (ELREC) is supporting the local residents group and they are plan to initiate various engagement activities with the local services and the wider community over the coming months.

More and more centenarians get card from the Queen

More than 7500 received card from The Queen this year

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The team at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that traces those about to have their 100th, 105th and each birthday afterwards forwarded details of 7,517 people on to the Palace to issue a Centenarian card this year. 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates a total of 13,780 people are aged 100 or more in the UK – a rise of 70% in a decade. This compares with 8,060 centenarians in 2003.

Most recent estimates show of the 797,000 babies less than 1 year old living in the UK in 2013, 123,000 boys and 151,000 girls are expected to live until their 100th birthday in 2113.

Women reaching 100 this year will have started receiving the State Pension in 1974 – when the basic State Pension was £10 a week.

Men reaching 100 in 2014 will have hit State Pension age in 1979 – when the basic State Pension was £23.30.

The basic State Pension now stands at £113.10 and will rise to £115.95 from April 2015.

Minister for Pensions Steve Webb said: “It is a massive source of celebration that more of us are living longer fuller lives and thousands of centenarians have celebrated their 100th birthday with a very special card.

Our reforms will ensure the State Pension remains strong for future generations and I am proud we are protecting today’s pensioners with the Triple Lock meaning the basic State Pension is at the highest percentage of earnings since 1992.

Centenarian team leader Margaret Wilberforce-Eke said: “Every day we help families mark amazing celebrations. Reaching 100 might be becoming more common, but it is still very special for all those involved.

It is a privilege to be involved in just a small part of these birthdays – but we hear back that receiving a card is the perfect finishing touch for a great day.”

Throughout their lives, these centenarians born in 1914 have lived through 2 world wars, the Cold War and the rise of the information age.

They turned 21 in 1935, when:

  • the board game Monopoly was released in the United States
  • Porky Pig made his debut
  • Stanley Baldwin became Prime Minister

They turned 40 in 1954, when:

  • Hancock’s Half Hour debuted on BBC radio
  • Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to visit Australia
  • Roger Bannister ran the first 4 minute mile

They hit 60 in 1974, when:

  • Richard Nixon announced his resignation
  • Ceefax started
  • the Rubik’s Cube was invented

They hit 80 in 1994, when:

  • Labour party leader John Smith died suddenly
  • Four Weddings and a Funeral was released
  • First UK National Lottery draw took place.

British citizens receive cards on their 100th, 105th and every subsequent birthday from the Queen and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Only British Nationals receive a card from the Queen, other nationalities receive a card from the Secretary of State.

Good Lord – Provost to join Loony Dookers!

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Councillor Donald Wilson is preparing to plunge into the Forth’s icy waters for charity when he takes on the New Year’s Day Loony Dook challenge in South Queensferry.

LoonyDookPart of the three day festival for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, the event will see over 1,000 ‘Dookers’ cheered on by 4,000 spectators start 2015 with a dip in the River Forth in the shadow of the world-famous Forth Bridges.

The Lord Provost has signed up to take part to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution RNLI, which provides a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service across the UK.

He commented: “The event is great fun and will be raising money for a fantastic charity. The South Queensferrry branch of the RNLI will receive a 10 per cent donation from each registration fee for the event this year. I’m either brave or barmy to sign up, but I’m very glad to lend my support. I wish everyone taking part the best of luck and a happy – albeit chilly – start to the New Year!”

The Loony Dook is organised by Unique Events, who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Earlier this month, organisers confirmed that M&D’s, who operate Scotland’s Theme Park in Strathclyde Country Park and also run the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay carnival, will be supporting the event. It is also funded by EventScotland and Scotland’s Winter Festivals.

This year’s event has been a sell out and no more spaces are available. It will start with a Dookers’ Parade, led by the Beastie Drummers, at 1.20pm followed by the Dook itself at 1.30pm on Thursday 1st January. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the Dookers from various vantage points along the route.

Find out more at the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay website

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme

Happy birthday, Tony!

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It was standing room only at North Edinburgh Arts yesterday when local man – and regular NEN contributor – Tony Delahoy celebrated his ninetieth birthday.

Tony, who is originally from London, was joined by friends, family and community colleagues for an afternoon of live music, food and conversation at the Arts Centre. The star of the show remains in good health and has promised to keep those letters coming in for years to come! Speaking of which ….

Dear Editor

According to the Tory/Lib government, because I am now old I am a drain on the economy – a burden on the nation.

Their solution to ease that burden is to restrict what I can buy, by allowing drastic price rises of most items needed, particularly gas and electricity. This continuous lowering of the quality of life will lead to an earlier death for many.

It would seem whatever hardship is imposed, little is being done or can be done; this is wrong thinking – by adding my voice to yours and yours and yours we can, together, change things. Of all people, the elderly know this is a basic truth – it is only through a collective voice that any progress will be made.

This collective voice can be expressed in many ways: through pensioners organisations, forums, trade unions to councillors, MPs and MSPs, demonstrating on issues of concern –  even calling for a boycott of stores that are pushing up prices too steeply. There are so many ways of protesting.

As the numbers of elderly people are growing, so is the power of their vote – and it is essential we use it. All politicians, councillors and officials must be made aware they cannot ignore or sideline our serious concerns.

Tony Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

Happy birthday, Tony!

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