Latest news with #BurnsNight
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Erskine launches £330,000 home support scheme for aging vets
Speaking to The Herald, retired Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE, who heads up the charity, said the new programme will provide veterans with much-needed companionship and assistance with shopping and getting to doctors' appointments. He said: 'I'm acutely aware of how vital home services are - but they are too often under-resourced and rushed. 'It's become clear to me that the bond staff have with service users goes beyond personal care and extends to the time they spend together. 'It's about having a friendly face to talk to, get fresh air with, and go shopping together.' Scotland marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day earlier this spring. (Image: Gordon Terris/The Herald) Each veteran enrolled in the scheme receives a weekly visit lasting at least 90 minutes, and support varies on individual circumstances and needs. Cumming says it is important that veterans are cared for by people who empathise with their experience. 'On the whole, most veterans thrive in the community once they've left the service,' he said. 'Most do not have sensory impairments or PTSD, but when issues like bereavement, divorce, or the early symptoms of dementia crop up, it can be difficult to deal with. 'That's why it is important that veterans are supported by people who know how they tick.' A successful £250,000 pilot programme was trialled in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, and is now being rolled out more widely in conjunction with Erskine's Veteran Activity Centres, located in Forres and Bishopton. A third centre is set to open next year in Fife. Read more: Cash for Charities: Veterans' charity Erskine in bid for funds for life-saving tests Celebrate Burns Night and Support Scotland's Veterans at the Erskine Burns Supper Agenda: Working to improve the care given to our veterans Cumming added: 'This service will be delivered free of charge. We don't want anyone who needs help not to get in touch because of money. 'We need to fundraise around £10m over the course of the year to ensure public support, and we are grateful for the public's support of our work thus far. We'd encourage people to donate and remember us in their wills. 'This scheme is not intended to replace home care services,' Cumming noted. 'Rather, it will complement it with regular visits and support.' 'I'd encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch.' Founded in 1916, Erskine provides a range of support for veterans outwith the home support programme; including nursing facilities, end of life care, and a 44-cottage 'Veterans Village'.
Powys County Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Scottish troops set for relocation with high-readiness posting in Cyprus
A Scottish Army battalion is gearing up to relocate to Cyprus for two years, where it will take on a new role as a high-readiness standby formation. The soldiers of 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) have been based at Bourlon Barracks at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire for the last 10 years. During that time they have been able to 'put down roots' – building families and friendships, and continuing 'proud' Scottish traditions including the Highland games. The new posting will see them relocate to the British Sovereign Base Area in Dhekelia, Cyprus, with the first flights scheduled for Saturday. Once there the battalion will stand ready to respond at short notice to emerging situations across the Middle East and North Africa. At the same time they will be tasked with supporting peacekeeping efforts and protecting key military infrastructure on the island. Captain Craig Taylor, who has been with the battalion throughout its time at Bourlon Barracks, said the move will be a 'big change' for the troops. 'We've had 10 solid years of stability here in Catterick. It's been a place where soldiers could put down roots, raise families, and grow professionally,' he said. 'Moving to Cyprus will be a big change for us, not just in terms of the climate. 'This is an exciting opportunity that soldiers have been training hard for. It's not a short-term tour or exercise – it's a full overseas posting which gives us the chance to experience new cultures and ways of life. 'Professionally, it sharpens our edge. We'll be held at high readiness to deploy anywhere in the region, and beyond which is of real strategic importance to the UK.' It is not the first overseas posting for the battalion, which has been involved in operations in the likes of Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo since its formation in 2006. Closer to home, 4 SCOTS also provided security support for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, provided emergency aid during the 2018 Saddleworth Moor wildfires, and took part in the national Covid-19 response. Despite being more than 2,000 miles from Scotland, the battalion intends to take its traditions with it, with events including regimental competitions and Burns Night celebrations remaining 'firm fixtures' in the calendar. Capt Taylor added: 'We're proud of everything we've achieved here. 'But now it's time to pack up, push forward, and embed our Scottish identity into a new location.'
Edinburgh Reporter
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Call for a special day for Wallace
A new campaign has been launched to create a national day to celebrate Sir William Wallace. An online petition calls for The Scottish Government to officially recognise August 23 each year as 'Wallace Day'. The date marks the anniversary of the freedom fighter's gruesome death in London in 1305. The campaign is being led by the Society of William Wallace, which commemorates 'Scotland's national hero'. It calls for 'a national day of remembrance and celebration in honour of Sir William Wallace, one of Scotland's most iconic figures'. The petition, on the platform, has already attracted hundreds of signatures. It states: 'His courage, sacrifice, and unyielding commitment to Scottish sovereignty have echoed through centuries and remain an enduring symbol of national pride and resilience. 'While monuments, books and films have kept his memory alive, there is no formal day set aside to honour the man who became a cornerstone of Scotland's national identity.' David Reid, convener of the Society of William Wallace, said Wallace Day would not have to be an official bank holiday like St Andrew's Day on November 30, but could be similar to Burns Night, held each year on the poet Robert Burns' birthday, January 25. He added: 'Wallace is pivotal in Scotland's history and many other countries around the world would recognise such a figure. 'We have a national saint and a national bard, who are both celebrated with a special day, but the national hero Wallace is not. I think it sends out the wrong message.' Campaigners say an annual Wallace Day would 'encourage historical education and civic pride, particularly among young Scots'. They say it would also provide 'a focal point for cultural events, heritage tourism, and local community gatherings'. Wallace rose from relative insignificance to become a key figure in Scottish history. He won his most famous victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and was made Guardian of Scotland the following year. Defeated by an English army led by King Edward I at Falkirk in the summer of 1298, he evaded capture until 1305 when he was betrayed and dragged to London to be tried for treason in Westminster Hall. Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield in London on 23 August 1305, in an event believed to have formed the opening spectacle of Bartholomew Fair, the largest medieval market in England. His head was put on a spike on London Bridge and his body sent in pieces to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth as a warning to others. The National Wallace Monument near Stirling, which first opened to the public in 1869, pays tribute to the freedom fighter and is now one of Scotland's most popular landmarks. Awareness of Scotland's national hero was boosted by Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning 1995 epic Braveheart, which introduced the legendary figure to a global audience of millions. Wallace Monument Photo by Clément Proust on Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Hilarious moment Colin the Caterpillar cake piped into wedding in viral clip
Jo and Will Dale decided to give their guests a laugh as they planned a Burns Night-style 'Address to Colin' with the cake carried in on an upcycled kitchen shelf. This is the hilarious moment when a Colin the Caterpillar cake was piped into a wedding in a clip that has now been viewed over 1.5million times. Jo and Will Dale, both 33, decided to give their guests a laugh as they planned a Burns Night style 'Address to Colin' with the cake carried in on an upcycled kitchen shelf. The pair weren't fussed about have a traditional wedding cake at the ceremony on Friday, June 6 - so they instead had Colin carried in to the sound of bagpipes, before a friend read out a Scots poem written especially for the occasion. Friends and family were left in hysterics - but the couple had no idea their idea was soon to be viewed by more than a million people around the world. Jo, a vet who is originally from Montrose, told the Record: "I didn't really want to do a wedding cake but Will wanted to have something, so we decided just to have a Colin. "A friend of ours does all of the Burns Nights and addresses the Haggis back home in Fife. He was coming to the wedding anyway so we thought it would be quite funny if we got him to address the caterpillar cake. "We knew the Scottish guests would like it and we thought it would be funny to have it piped in. "We just thought it would be funny and totally ridiculous - but we have America friends and half the party was English so I don't think they quite understood what was happening." Will, who works as a contracts manager, says Colin has always featured at birthday parties since he was a child - and he didn't want the iconic caterpillar to miss out at his wedding. "Colin is just a kind of institution", he said. "We've always had one at birthday parties when we were kids so we just thought, let's mix the two. I knocked up a plinth from an old kitchen shelf a couple of days before the wedding and we had it spray-painted it gold. "I got my groomsmen to put their sunglasses on to try and look cool - and they totally pulled it off." The couple, who live in Morpeth in Northumberland, said the cake went down so well at the wedding - at nearby venue Wildings - they didn't even manage to get a slice for themselves. Speaking from her honeymoon in St Andrews, Jo added: "Our friend did a personalised ode to the caterpillar Scots poem, addressing the cake. It was really good and it went down well with the guests. "I don't think anyone was bothered that there wasn't a proper wedding cake. We didn't get a slice of Colin, it went down that well. There were lucky guests going round telling people they got a slice with a Smartie on it." Speaking of their new found fame, she added: "We are not really on social media but our DJ took a video and posted it on his TikTok page but we have been told it's been viewed over 1.5million times on TikTok. "It's absolutely crazy. We never expected it to go anywhere other than the wedding." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Herald Scotland
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
This cocktail bar has one of the best views in Edinburgh
My first visit to the bar was actually for Burns Night two years ago when I discovered it through an event they were hosting alongside the Bacardi portfolio Scotch whisky brands: Craigellachie, Aberfeldy and Royal Brackla. The selected drams were paired with different small plates, and it was a lovely way to spend Burns Night. Perhaps not your traditional Burns Night celebration with tartan and haggis, but a great chance to showcase scotch whisky in a modern and fun way. João's Place is continuing their celebration of flavour by pairing food and drinks together as they are just launching their "Taste of João's" menu which includes an aperitivo cocktail and six different dishes where the Brazilian and Japanese influences are combined. Guests also have the option of adding on a drinks package of either paired wines or cocktails. It is definitely bound to be a great night out for those seeking something new and a bit different from their food and drinks. There always seems to be something fun and a bit different to be found on the menu. On this most recent visit, I tried a cocktail that combined the flavours of mint, cinnamon and pineapple, which certainly was unlike anything I have ever tried before, but it had such a refreshing and invigorating taste. Elsewhere, a fun feature on the menu is the "design your own highball" section, which involves picking your Japanese spirit - whisky, gin or vodka -, your season and your mixer. I am definitely coming back to João's Place just to try this out as I'm a big fan of highballs, and especially in the warmer months of the year. I think it is going to be the Japanese whisky paired with the autumn flavours of jasmine, plum and apricot with tonic water for me, but if I am in a different mood, I will let that decide my choices in the moment. If you fancy a small bite with your drinks, there are sushi plates available on the menu from Sushisamba, which is located on the same floor. I can tell you from personal research that sushi goes incredibly well with whisky, but I might be slightly biased, considering these are two of my top favourites in the food and drink world. My whisky of the week is Nikka Coffey Malt, which was one of the very first whiskies I tried from a Japanese whisky company. This whisky is made from 100% malted barley but has been distilled through a Coffey still. This might be the whisky I need to thank for my interest in grain whisky, but compared to many of the single grains I have tried from Scotland, the Coffey Malt has a lovely mix of spices like cloves and cinnamon, rather than a vanilla ice cream note. The spices are balanced out with a soft grassiness and elegant sandalwood.
