ScotsinLondon

06/06/2024

We are delighted to be announcing our star-studded, diverse and debut supporting line-up up for our first ever St Andrew's Book Festival

You can read all about the line-up with our media partner The Scotsman here 👇

The new Scottish book festival will be staged across London – and will feature renowned authors of the ilk of Sir Ian Rankin

06/06/2024

The Crown Court choir is currently welcoming singers in all voice parts! We are an amateur, friendly choir, and we rehearse at 7.15pm in the Church Hall on Wednesdays, with a tea-break, of course! If you wish to join the choir, or would like more information, please e-mail our Director of Music, Jacob Collins, at [email protected].

31/05/2024

31/05/2024

The ScotsCare - the charity for Scots in London podcast returns 7 June.

Tune in for the opening episode with footballer and DJ Pat Nevin, plus a whole series of fascinating interviews including Russell Dalgleish from Scottish Business Network and the Head of Scotland House London John Webster.

🎙️ In just over a week the ScotsCare podcast roars back with series 2 and more chat from Scots legends, such as Pat Nevin and The Hebridean Baker. Host Marcus will talk about life journeys, Scots identity and each guests chosen walk of life and expertise. Tune in on 7th June to hear from football great, commentator and DJ Pat Nevin for episode 1! ! 🏴⚽🎙️👂 🎧

30/05/2024

"Getting to Iona"
New play by Tomás Barry
Mon 3 - Thurs 6 June, 7pm
St Columba's Church of Scotland

Tomas’s grandfather, Canon John Barry was a Church of Ireland priest. In 1963 Canon Barry and twelve accomplices sailed to Iona from Northern Ireland in a replica curragh, which they had constructed, to commemorate the original voyage of St Columba to Iona in 563AD. From that expedition Canon Barry wrote and published his personal account, “Joyful Pilgrimage”. Inspired by his grandfather’s book, Tomas has written a one-act play, directed by Graham Butler-Breen, describing it as “a play about leaving home for the unknown. What we seek, what we find, and what we leave behind.”

Info and tickets: https://tinyurl.com/32hj47sw

21/05/2024

The Scottish Business Network welcomes you on board for their first ever Thames river cruise event.

Join them for an exclusive cruise taking in the sights of London whilst enjoying networking opportunities with over 100 members of the Scottish diaspora.

To book visit: https://tinyurl.com/4v9h9h9k

13/05/2024

Iconic character John Rebus is reimagined as a younger Detective Sergeant, played by Richard Rankin, in the brand new series

13/05/2024

This week is by

For any 'Scot in London' who would like support don't forget you can call ScotsCare - the charity for Scots in London and they can refer you to a qualified counsellor

🌟 This week marks , brought to you by Mental Health FoundationHealth Foundation! 🧠💃 The focus is on the power of movement and its positive impact on our mental well-being. We’ll explore the connection between any form of movement and mental health benefits throughout the week.

Need someone to talk to? ScotsCare offers referrals to qualified counsellors ready to support your mental health. Don’t hesitate to reach out at 0800 652 2989. 📞

09/05/2024

This weekend London Scottish RFC will be playing their last match of the season against Bedford. With three wins from their first three April fixtures, London Scottish are finally getting the results their play has merited.

The Bedford match will also feature a special celebration of the five London Scottish players who have received their international cap, and see the capping of Dave Butcher by SRU president Colin Rigby.

Those being celebrated include club CEO Nick Grecian who featured for Scotland against Western Samoa and Tonga on Scotland’s 1983 tour.

Saturday 11 May
3pm, Richmond Athletic Ground
Tickets at: https://londonscottish.com/

07/05/2024

Re-Wilding Scotland

We have been contacted about the London charitable film premiere of Why Not Scotland? by The European Nature Trust

20 June 2024
6pm
Marylebone Theatre
£95pp
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/fkhvbsrz
Trailer: https://tinyurl.com/55vfd7zp

Why Not Scotland? a narrative and personal documentary poses the pressing question: If nature is recovering across Europe, can Scotland undergo a similar revival?

The Evening

The European Nature Trust invites you to the Marylebone Theatre for an inspiring, charitable cinematic event that will raise awareness, inspiration and engagement with Scottish nature.

In many parts of Europe, ‘wild rivers’ still exist, forest cover has grown by 5% since 2000, and traditional practices of coexisting with species like beavers, bears and wolves are being unearthed. While social and political challenges abound, keystone species are making a significant comeback. The EU has recently adopted its ‘Nature Restoration Law’, and collectively, all UN countries must protect 30% of all land and seas by 2030 to meet the “30x30” target. It begs the question, if Europe is making progress, can Scotland meet the challenge posed by the climate and biodiversity crises?

During the evening, the Why Not Scotland? film will address this challenging question through personal narrative storytelling, auguring hope, inspiration, and practical solutions for nature recovery. A panel discussion will review the state of the rewilding debate in Scotland, and assess the obstacles that Scotland’s communities, climate and biodiversity must overcome.

The Film

Produced by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, shot across multiple locations in Europe, this feature-length documentary accompanies Flo, a young Scot, who is concerned by the state of nature and fearful about an uncertain future. During her travels Flo discovers places where nature is making a spectacular comeback, breathing life back into the landscape and revitalising communities. Encouraged by these stories of hope, she is prompted to wonder: Why Not Scotland?

https://lnkd.in/eU3UuFwP

01/05/2024

Our May newsletter is coming out tomorrow.

If you haven't already you can sign up here:
tinyurl.com/2nbs3fja

With
The Burns Club of London

The Caledonian Club

Crown Court Church, London WC2

The London Scottish Pipes and Drums

St Columba's Church of Scotland

London Scottish Rugby

St Andrew's Book Festival

Ceilidh Club

ScotsCare - the charity for Scots in London

30/04/2024

Today is International and we have been delving into the history of Jazz in Scotland, the story of which is closely tied to London.

Most early Scottish jazz musicians in the 1930s and 1940s headed down to London to develop their careers, having begun playing in the three main types of Scottish music of the early 20thC - pipe bands, country dance bands and brass bands in urban areas.

George Chisholm, regarded by the 1950s as Britain's top mainstream trombonist, was born in Scotland where he played the piano and trombone before heading to London. Specialising in the trombone he played with Benny Carter as well as Waller, Bert and Ambrose and with the RAF Squadronaires in WWII. By the 1950s he was recording with Kenny Baker and Jack Parnell.

Johnny Keating, trombonist and arranger for Ted Heath was born in Edinburgh in 1927. In 1957 he was commissioned to feature many of his fellow Scots big band players in a collection called 'Swinging Scots'

You can enjoy his Thistle Song from the Swinging Scots album here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmSdRyFv2q0

Today the world of Scottish Jazz is growing again. In 2009 the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland established the first and only full time jazz course in Scotland.

Sources: https://www.jazzwise.com/features/article/a-guide-to-scottish-jazz-past-present-and-future

https://scottishjazzarchive.org/histories/ Swinging Scots: An Outline of Jazz in Scotland (Craik 2017)

Provided to YouTube by The state51 ConspiracyThistle Swing · Johnny Keating and His All-StarsSwinging Scots℗ 2015 TP4 MusicReleased on: 2015-01-01Auto-genera...

26/04/2024

Latest event from Scottish Business Network

7 May
Zinc Offices, Euston House
'Going Global - Supporting Scottish Innovation in Climate and Life Sciences
5:30pm

A collaborative event by Scottish Business Network, Accountech Solutions Limited and ZINC looking at some incredible Scottish businesses within the Climate and Life Sciences space.

This will also be the first of 3 amazing showcase events the Scottish Business Network in London will be supporting in the lead up to the summer to help provide a broader platform for growth, innovation and networking.

Join SBN as we showcase 4 companies in the fields of Climate Tech and Life Sciences

25/04/2024

Happy World Penguin Day 2024 from Scots in London!

Although there are no penguins living in the wild in the UK there are a number of species cared for in zoos and wildlife parks including Edinburgh Zoo

You can enjoy watching their penguins from the comfort of your own home with Edinburgh Zoo's live penguin web cam https://lnkd.in/eMdhZFRx

Edinburgh Zoo was the first zoo in the Northern Hemisphere to breed king penguins, and the first in world to breed macaroni and gentoo penguins.

World Penguin Day was first established in the 1970s by the McMurdo Station, an American research facility located on Ross Island. The date was set as 25 April as this is when the Adiele penguins begin their annual migration towards Antarctica.

As well as a celebration day, today is used to raise awareness of the threats many penguin species face. Numerous penguin species face endangerment due to threats including climate change, habitat loss from glacier melting, oil spills, and by-catch from commercial fishing.

Interesting Penguin Facts:

- They possess a gland that filters saltwater, enabling them to drink it.

- They eat pebbles and stones. Scientists believe that the stones may help them break and up and digest their food, and may also add extra weight to help them dive deeper underwater.

- Penguins cannot breath underwater but can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes before coming up to breathe.

- Female penguins can gauge a male’s body fat through their sound, predicting their ability to care for offspring.

[Sources: [Sources - https://insideecology.com/2024/04/17/preserving-our-precious-penguins-a-celebration-of-world-penguin-awareness-day/

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/world-penguin-day-2024-history-significance-interesting-facts-and-more/articleshow/109581815.cms]

23/04/2024

🧠 Mental Health Matters 🧠

Did you know that one in four of us will experience a form of mental illness in our lifetime? It's okay to seek support, and we're here to help. Our referral to counselling therapy services are available for both adults and children, providing the assistance you and your family need, when you need it (through our partnership with the Brent Centre for Young People we offer specialized therapy for children).

Your mental health matters, and we're committed to providing the care and resources you deserve. Reach out to our office at 0800 652 2989 or email us for more information. You're not alone.

https://scotscare.com/our-services-details/

🌼🌟🧠💬

23/04/2024

16/04/2024

Today is the 278th anniversary of the Battle of when we remember the huge number of Jacobite troops that were killed.

In November we are pleased to welcome Alistair Moffat to our festival to discuss his history of the Highlands due out in June.

'The Highlands and Islands of Scotland - a New History' begins millions of years ago with the geological events that formed the landscapes, then takes us through pre-history right through to the present day, including arguably this most famous moment as the key battleground in Bonnie Prince Charlie’s doomed attempt to restore the Stuart monarchy and its dreadful aftermath, which saw the suppression of the clans and the whole of Highland culture.

While this is an epic history of a fascinating subject, Moffat also features the stories of individuals, the telling moments and the crucial details which enrich the human story and add context and colour to the saga of Scotland.

Subscribe to the latest festival news at https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/

16/04/2024

We have been offered a discount for all our ScotsinLondon followers to a Scottish production running 18 - 27 April at King's Head Theatre

https://tinyurl.com/3he44nx8

Beats
King's Head Theatre
18-27 April

Written by Scottish playwright Kieran Hurley's Beats is an iconic piece which is a response to the 1994 Criminal Justice Act, which effectively outlawed all raves in the United Kingdom.

Johnno McCreadie is a teenager living in a small, suburban working class Scottish town. Tonight, with his best mate Spanner, he’s going to his first illegal rave. Maybe his last, if the Criminal Justice Act has anything to do with it. Conflicted Policeman Robert Dunlop is on his way to break things up, as he reflects on his own troubled past in a town left devastated by the closing of the mines and the steel mills.

Part theatre production, part rave, Beats is a pulsating and magnetic celebration of rebellion and resistance; centred on the power of gathered youth, and the power of protest - something each generation must discover for themselves.

Beats returns to the brand new King’s Head Theatre after a sell-out performances at The Rosemary Branch Theatre and at the new Kings Head Theatre in February 2024.

Previous Praise
“Campbell clearly has an affinity for Hurley’s lyricism…his stage presence highly magnetic…his easy charisma perfect” - There Ought to be Clowns
“Ned Campbell bring[s] the various characters brilliantly to life” - British Theatre Guide

To claim your discount please use code: YOUTH20 https://tinyurl.com/3he44nx8

Established in 1970, King's Head Theatre in Islington, north London is passionate about new & emerging artists.

12/04/2024

TONIGHT - a great line up of 2 different Scottish folk performances for at Kings Place

Last few tickets available for award winning Scottish/Irish/Manx folk quintet Ímar - 7.30pm (2 hours with interval)

Or you can choose to see a debut live performance of Stuart MacRae’s acclaimed new Delphian Records album ‘Earth, thy cold is keen’, featuring mezzo soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and string duo Sequoia - 8pm

Spoilt for choice!

About Ímar

With a wide-reaching fanbase throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, the quintet have fast become one of the trad scene’s most talked about group – thanks in no small part to their debut video, L’Air Mignonne, becoming a viral smash in 2016, catapulting the group to the attention of audiences and media worldwide.

Adam Brown (bodhrán), Adam Rhodes (bouzouki), Mohsen Amini (concertina), Ryan Murphy (uilleann pipes) and Tomás Callister (fiddle) share a strong background in Irish music; a grounding that underpins many of Ímar’s distinctive qualities, in both instrumentation and material.

Their two albums – Afterlight and Avalanche – have since amassed a devoted listenership, whilst live audiences are transfixed by Ímar’s collective and individual technical prowess.

Tickets are £20 (£8.50 for under 30s)

To book visit: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/folk/imar-4/

About Betts-Dean, MacRae and Sequoia

Weaving together Scottish folk, medieval and modern influences with texts from the middle ages to the present day, Stuart MacRae’s recent album Earth, thy cold is keen released on Delphian Records, has been universally praised by critics and audiences for its beguiling, intimate exploration of themes of life, death and nature. Featuring mesmerising singing from Australian mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean, striking and delicate playing from Scottish string duo Sequoia, and harmonium from the composer, in this concert music from the album will be heard live for the very first time, interspersed with Scottish folk music from Sequoia.

Tickets £19.50 (£8.50 under 30s). To book visit https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/lotte-betts-dean-sequoia/

After a sell-out show in Hall One in 2022, Kings Place welcomes back Glasgow-based BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners Ímar - the city’s hottest folk property – as part of its Scotland Unwrapped series.

08/04/2024

Did you celebrate this weekend?

Taking place on Saturday 6 April is a unique moment for people around the world to celebrate their Scottish Connections and showcase what these flourishing relationships are helping to achieve today.

Founded in Nova Scotia in 1987 it is now a global event. Whatever your connection to Scotland - whether family heritage, business, studying or a favoured travel destination - we hope you enjoyed celebrating the day.

You can find out more about Tartan Day here:
https://tinyurl.com/3fn6bypk

The Scottish tartan industry is a significant contributor to the country's economy, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year. According to a report by the Scottish Tartan Authority, the tartan industry contributes an estimated £350 million ($487 million USD) to the Scottish economy annually. This includes tartan production, plus the associated tourism and cultural industries. The industry provides a wide range of employment, from skilled weavers to designers, sales and marketing. [Source:https://tinyurl.com/4rpxsasy]

05/04/2024

Our April newsletter came out yesterday, packed full of upcoming events and news from across our membership.

If you have not already signed up you can read the newsletter here:

https://tinyurl.com/mspjdwuw

You can also sign up to receive our monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.scotsinlondon.org/newsletter

Thank you to everyone who came along to our first Scots in London Ceilidh on 9 March at St Columba’s Church. It was a joyous evening that brought London’s Scottish diaspora and the dancing community together.

05/04/2024

Our April newsletter came out yesterday, packed full of upcoming events and news from across our membership.

If you have not already signed up you can read the newsletter here:

https://tinyurl.com/mspjdwuw

You can also sign up to receive our monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.scotsinlondon.org/newsletter

Our newsletter is designed to keep you informed about the events and activities of Scots in London and our member organisations, and shine a spotlight on work to promote and conserve Scottish culture and heritage across London.

04/04/2024

04/04/2024

28/03/2024

New listings are up on our popular Events Calendar - featuring a wide range of events from across our member organisations do check it out to make sure you don't miss out on the April and May programmes.

As we head into the Easter bank holiday weekend we would like to wish all our followers a happy bank holiday break.

https://www.scotsinlondon.org/events

20/03/2024

A busy networking day for our St Andrew's Book Festival today with our media partner The Scotsman

We are delighted to have The Scotsman as our media partner for the ScotsinLondon St Andrew’s Book Festival.

Today we are busy networking at The Scotsman Investment Conference in Edinburgh. Thank you to everyone who has come over to talk about our new and exciting venture!

Opportunities are still available for corporate sponsorship, do get in touch with us at [email protected]

19/03/2024

We are pleased to announce that the Facebook home of our new exciting St Andrew's Book Festival coming November 2024 is now live!

Follow us to keep up to date with all the latest festival news.

Celebrating Scotland in the heart of London the Festival will see a whole range of events, from best-selling authors to debut novelists, and events for schools and families.

www.standrewsbookfestival.org

Welcome to the Facebook home of the new, exciting St Andrew's Book Festival, brought to you by ScotsinLondon

This St Andrew's tide from 25 - 30 November 2024 locations across central London will host an exciting mix of Scottish bestselling authors, debut novelists and events for schools and families.

Headline names already confirmed include bestselling authors Sir Alexander McCall Smith and Sir Ian Rankin, Judy Murray and Andrew O'Hagan.

The Festival will make a dynamic range of Scottish talent accessible to a London audience, from novelists and poets to historians, politicians and a whole host of non-fiction genres. As well as household names the Festival is pleased to be able to support up and coming talent through events with debut authors. Free events for schools will also be at the centre of the weekday programme.

Follow us to keep up to date with the latest Festival news www.standrewsbookfestival.org

14/03/2024

Thank you to Gaelic in London for sharing a great selection of photos from our on X. We are pleased to say that they have won 2 tickets for Ceilidh Club in May. We hope they have a great night then too!

12/03/2024

Don't forget to share your photos, videos and comments on our evening last Saturday for the chance to win more Ceilidh tickets!

Tag us on social media at Scots in London . Two tickets for the Ceilidh Club on 3 May are up for grabs.

Last submissions are tomorrow, a winner will be picked this Thursday 14 March.

With thanks to Ceilidh Club for the tickets and to all the organisations who made our Ceilidh such a success, including:

The Burns Club of London

ScotsCare - the charity for Scots in London

St Columba's Church of Scotland

Tartan Thistle Dancers

Còisir Lunnainn - London Gaelic Choir

The London Scottish Pipes and Drums

09/03/2024

Competition Time! 2 tickets for the Ceilidh Club event on 3 May up for grabs.

Thank you to everyone who came along to our tonight. Share your photos, videos and favourite moments with us for the chance to win these tickets.

Make sure you tag us at

Winners will be randomly selected and announced this Thursday (14 March)