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STV News
02-07-2025
- General
- STV News
Worshippers rally to save historic church from sale
A Highland community is rallying to save a church on what is believed to be Scotland's longest continuous Christian worship site. Worshippers at Loch Insh Old Kirk near Kingussie in the Highlands hope to purchase the building and preserve its religious heritage after the Church of Scotland announced it was to be sold in 2023. The church is situated on a historically significant Christian site, with roots dating back to the sixth century. The grounds have been linked to Columba's missionary monks, who played a vital role in spreading Christianity throughout Scotland. Members of the tiny lochside church's congregation attended a special event at Kincraig to celebrate its long history and debate its possible future. STV News Merryn Glover Appleby Merryn Glover Appleby of the Loch Insh Old Kirk Community Group told STV News: 'The understanding is that it was probably originally established as a cell by one of Columba's early missionary monks. 'So, you're looking back to the seventh, if not even the sixth century – and they would have come down here and begun to share the faith which spread very quickly across the Picts at the time. 'People are acutely feeling a loss. For many folks, it's because this has been part of their family's story for a long time. 'Babies have been brought here for christenings, people have had their weddings here and they've laid loved ones to rest, so it means a lot. There's a lot of strong emotional roots, sometimes going back generations.' The strength of faith was demonstrated by a big turnout to discuss options for the future on Sunday, June 29. STV News Locals attended an event to discuss the future of the church The present building is believed to have been erected in 1792, with later renovations in 1912 and 1963. With no running water and a roof in need of repair, much could hinge on a structural survey and meeting the price. Local conservation architect Alan Marshall said: 'It's in quite good condition for its age which means you can always find bits and pieces you want to do. 'The roof is one exception – which I feel is 'nail sick'. 'A lot of the old iron rusting nails are still in place and it's quite obvious that slates slip out, but they've been doing a very good job of keeping it waterproof.' A new charity created by the congregation has until the end of 2026 to meet the Church of Scotland's deadline for selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of the property. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
From front yards to school zones, signs send a summer warning
A Windsor-Essex-based community group is once again urging drivers to slow down as children head into summer break. Fantastic Fathers Community Group has relaunched its seasonal 'Slow Down, Children Playing!' sign initiative, aiming to raise awareness as more kids spend time outdoors in neighbourhoods across Windsor-Essex. 'We try to get these signs out just so drivers are more aware,' said Steve Brown, founder of Fantastic Fathers. 'Kids are out in the yard more often now and on their bikes and then down the street playing ball and stuff. So, just want to make people aware.' Slow down, children playing signs windsor Steve Brown, Fantastic Fathers founder, holding a 'Slow down! Children playing' sign in Windsor, Ont. on June 26, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) The group sells the bright and vibrant lawn signs for $10 each, with proceeds going back into the campaign. Brown said they also donate signs to areas where they're needed most. 'We also donate many, like we put them where we feel they're necessary, school zones and places like that,' he said. 'We also try to sell a few, but we're just getting our money back. We're not making a profit or anything like that.' With school set to let out this week, Brown said this is one of the most critical times of year to remind drivers to stay alert. 'This is the time of year where everything's busier and more cars are on the road because there's motorcycles, there's everything, there's all kinds of things to look out for,' he explained. 'But obviously we want to make sure our kids are number one priority.' The signs are already popping up in front yards in Tecumseh, including near St. Pius X Catholic School, where several families said they've noticed drivers rushing through residential streets. Slow down, children playing signs windsor A 'Slow down! Children playing' sign seen in Windsor, Ont. on June 26, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) 'Oh, yes,' said Russel Carang, a relatively new dad with an 11-month-old. 'Especially for those teenagers who are on their phone, like texting and driving, and sometimes also the teenagers that are always in a hurry.' Carang said he recently saw a child nearly caught in a dangerous situation. 'Especially the other day, a kid was walking with this ball, like a volleyball. It went over on the street and the guy just drives over it,' he said. Phil Laurie, a Tecumseh resident and grandfather, said the signs serve as an important reminder to watch out for unpredictable situations. 'Being alert on the roads, I mean, it's top of mind nowadays with the young kids that are out, and they're so unpredictable how they get around the yards and ride their bicycles and things,' he said. 'Just don't want to be one of the statistics out there. And so, we watch, encourage the kids to watch out for cars. And we're encouraging the cars to watch out for kids.' Brown said the campaign is rooted in one common value. 'As parents, there's nothing more of a concern than your kids. Right?' he said. Anyone interested in purchasing a sign can reach out by emailing FantasticFathers2016@ or by contacting the group on Facebook.
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
Residents' group accuses outreach organization of helping people set up encampment
A group dedicated to helping end homelessness is being accused of helping people set up a riverside encampment. It comes after a Point Douglas resident says he watched outreach workers haul supplies to the waterfront.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ilkley Lido celebrates 90th anniversary with birthday picnic
An open-air swimming pool is celebrating its 90th year as it reopens for the summer Lido, which opened in 1935 as part of King George V's Silver Jubilee celebrations, is holding an anniversary birthday picnic on part of the event, local swimmers have shared their memories of taking a dip at the architect Simon Cape, a member of The Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group, describes the site as the town's "riviera". 'I was first in' An indoor swimming pool was added to the site in 1974, and Mr Cape remembers being the first person to jump said: "I was 10, me and my brothers, and a few friends, were the first to get let in and I was barging my brothers out of the way to dive in, so I was the first person in."Mr Cape also remembers the time his father got the indoor pool closed down. "My dad was collecting us from the pool one evening and everyone used to flick the fluffy substance from the ceiling, which would come down like snow, and my dad asked the then pool manager what that substance was, and he said it was fireproofing."My dad said 'do you mean asbestos?' It turned out it was blue asbestos which we had been flicking down with our towels. So my dad rang environmental health that night and it got closed down."The resulting shut down meant the swimming team had to move training to the outdoor pool in March."We had to train at night in the darkness," says Mr Cape. "I remember one night, the coach had us running around the outdoor pool in the cold and the rain to get warm and then dive in. One of my mates had to drag my brother out to save him from drowning." 'Lido months are ones to treasure' The site was designed by architect Percy D Tempest in an Art Deco design and unique mushroom outdoor swimming pool, cafe and changing rooms were Grade II listed in 2009. Last year Bradford Council almost closed the pool as part of budget cut but the plans were axed after objections from the Malby, chair of Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group, says swimming in the lido is a "unique experience"."The lido months are ones to treasure. When we were worried about the future of the pool, hundreds of people got in touch to tell us how important it is, and to offer to help the lido to continue to be a fantastic experience for so many," she Cape says the group is now looking at ways the site can bring Ilkley's many sporting clubs together."Ilkley is a remarkable town for the amount of sports facilities it has. It's an incredibly sporty place and we see the lido site as central to that," he says."We're now looking to the whole site and thinking about how we can improve it and get it back to its former glory of the 1940s." 'You can't top it' Jay Robinson has worked as a lifeguard and duty manager at the pool for nine is excited for it to open for the summer season."When we get weather like this, it's a good atmosphere to be around. It gets really busy but working in the sun feels like a holiday," he says."This is the main tourist attraction for Ilkley especially with the health benefits of the cold water. "For the older generation, it's meant to be good for dementia, and for younger ones, the fitness side of it. Temperatures vary from 11 to 20 degrees if you're lucky."You can't top it. The weather, the water, it all comes together." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
