The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 29 January 2026
Fettes College 'failed to protect' abused children for four decades, Napier staff planning ten days of strikes, Meadows residents plea for bins to be moved + a controversial map of Edinburgh
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's another busy one! If you've got a weekend event to share please send it in here and I'll include it in tomorrow's weekend guide. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.
🚔 Concerns are growing for missing 60-year-old Alison Gibbens, who was last seen in North Gyle on Monday. - Police Scotland Edinburgh published this update last night, saying there was a new possible sighting.
🏫 Former Fettes College staff failed to protect pupils from sexual and physical abuse between the 1950s and 1980s the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has found. The school has apologised 'unreservedly'. - Benjamin Russell, BBC Scotland News.
- 'Top private school allowed sexual and physical abuse to 'flourish for four decades.'' - Holly Lennon, STV News.
🎓 Edinburgh Napier University staff are planning ten days of strikes in February and March. - Jamie Calder, The National.
- ⮑ "Any move to strike action is taken as a last resort, but our members at Edinburgh Napier University have been left with no alternative as they seek to fend off the University’s cuts agenda." - Andrea Bradley of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association published this statement.
- Napier Uni said last month it was 'operating in an increasingly challenging and uncertain environment' and said it was 'committed to supporting' staff.
🏫 Education support staff at special schools say pupil attacks caused injuries that left them 'unable to work'. - Lee Dalgetty & Ryan Carroll, Daily Record.
🗑️ Residents around the Meadows who are campaigning against bin hubs directly outside their homes say they are still awaiting action. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
- ⮑ South Meadows Action Group will discuss the situation with councillors at today's council Transport and Environment Committee. - You can tune-in live on the council website and find the agenda papers here.
- Also at today's TEC meeting: Tory councillor Graeme Bruce claims the proposed cost of new Pentlands parking permits will put people off visiting the park. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
- Edinburgh Bus Users Group will make two deputations to councillors, focusing on tourist tax income spending ideas and bus journey times.
🔐 A licence for a new short-term let in the Stockbridge Colonies has been approved by councillors, despite 31 local objections. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.
🇨🇳 Staff from National Galleries Scotland and the Edinburgh International Book Festival arrived in Beijing with Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday. NGS Director General Anne Lynden and Book Fest Director Jenny Niven are part of a 60-strong delegation on 'a diplomatic mission to engage with the Chinese government', reports Jane Bradley in The Scotsman.
🎭 George Heriot’s School at Lauriston Place will host new tented venues at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. More details on this, and local creative industries jobs and events listings, in this week's Edinburgh Culture Minute.
Michael MacLeod
📍 A bit of fun: a hand-drawn map of Edinburgh went viral on social media, with hundreds of replies. As a result, 'Gorgie' was trending on Twitter for a while yesterday.
I am getting responses to this from people trying to explain what is and isn’t Gorgie.
— Fattus Prickus (@FattusPrickus) January 27, 2026
To save replying to them all, I’ve drawn a handy map of Edinburgh.
If you’re a taxi driver and would like to print this off for inside your taxi, I can sell it to you for £9.00, just DM me. https://t.co/qB01c8d2aM pic.twitter.com/sJDmbFfjwl
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter.
📌 “The Leith Chooses online public vote is now open! Anyone over 8 years old who lives, works, studies or volunteers in Leith can vote for the community projects they’d like to see funded. Thanks to those who joined the in person voting day - you can also vote online! Voting is open until 10th Feb.” - Thanks to Leith Chooses steering group for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 29th January - join us at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh for Daughters of Donbas, a unique concert that combining art and journalism. With Ukrainian singer Marichka, string quartet, and bandura. All proceeds to Save Ukraine.” - Thanks to St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 30th January - Elph - Linear Velocity - Exhibition opens at Boro Gallery. Join us as we look back at the work of one of Edinburgh's most influential urban artists, Elph! Known for his graffiti, club flyers and uniquely Scottish characters. Doors open at 7pm with DJ Colin Millar on vinyl.” - Thanks to Rob Swain for sharing this.
📌 “Still Flow C.I.C. Yoga and Movement classes - 4 week blocks starting February 1st. Sunday - Ashtanga Vinyasa 11am & Tuesday - Yoga flow and Animal movement 6pm at North Merchiston club. Inclusive payment options.” - Thanks to Aimee - Still Flow C.I.C. for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 31st January - CATALYST: Art as Activism, a series of 4 solo exhibitions by artists whose work advocates for social, political, environmental, or cultural change, opens at Summerhall this weekend, alongside free artist workshops. Open Wed - Sun (11am - 5pm) until 29th March.” - Thanks to Summerhalll Arts for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 31 January (10.00 - 16.00) - Interested in finding out more about Gaelic? Join us for our community day on Saturday, with activities for all ages, and all levels of Gaelic - cafe, games, singing, stories, books, arts and crafts, and Gaelic place names in Edinburgh. All welcome!” - Thanks to Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 1st of Feb: Amanda Hursy 'one of the best rising stars in Scottish comedy 'brings her hit debut show to the Monkey Barrell Comedy club. A show about arrests and getting back up again and again.” - Thanks to Amanda for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 5 February '26: Adventures in Marketing is Scotland’s most (in)credible business & marketing event. Join the UK's most talented speakers & experts for an unforgettable day in Edinburgh. Get inspired, learn new skills & make the connections that will make 2026 your best year in business yet.” - Thanks to Niki Hutchison, Marketing Strategist & Co-Founder of Adventures in Marketing, for sharing this.
📌 “New to Iyengar Yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Centre in Bruntsfield to introduce you to the fundamentals of yoga in a small group of complete beginners. You are welcome to move at your own pace and drop in for individual sessions. £10 per session on Thursdays at 7pm.” - Thanks to The Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre for sharing this.
📌 “28th February at Prestonfield House - Jak’s 2026 Ball is a glamorous Gatsby theme, promising a dazzling night. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal, welcome drinks, live music, entertainment, auction and prize draw. This event raises vital funds to support children and young people with cancer, and their families.” - Thanks to Jak's Den for sharing this. - More details in this Instagram post.
📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and weekend events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🛣️ Impatient drivers make DIY lane at Sheriffhall.
- 🏋️♀️ Wester Hailes gym owner caught opening 24-hours a day.
- ⚓️ The 'resurgence' of Leith highlighted in The Guardian.
- 🏗️ Living Rent members disrupt Fountainbridge student flats event.
- 🛟 Urgent search for 60 year old woman at Cramond.
Don’t want to subscribe but still keen to show your support? Please like this post or put a coin/note into the tip jar below. It all helps keep the Minute ticking over. Thanks!
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 826.
📬 Free subscribers: 28,000+.
📲 Visits generated for local news sources: 2,000,000+.
