Five things you need to know today

The Edinburgh Award will be presented today

Tonight Ali Bowden the former Chief Executive of The City of Literature Trust will be given the Loving Cup as part of the official ceremony related to The Edinburgh Award.

Impressions of Ali’s hands have been cast in clay by Leigh Bradley of the Colin Braid Stone Workshop, ready to be carved into stone.

The handprints will be gilded and laid outside the City Chambers next to the prints of previous Edinburgh Award recipients including Doddie Weir, Ann Budge, Sir Chris Hoy, Elizabeth Blackadder and Sir Geoff Palmer.

Ali Bowden became Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature in 2006, following a ten-year career in publishing, and was in the role for most of its 20-year history. Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and in the following years Ali helped to welcome new Cities of Literature as they joined, recruiting others from around the world in a bid to diversify the network. There are now 53 literary cities and more than 350 creative cities in seven artforms.

Ali’s name will be inscribed onto the Edinburgh Award honour panel in the City Chambers.

Pic Greg Macvean 03/10/2025
Edinburgh Council – Ali Bowden gets her handprints taken ahead of being presented with The Edinburgh Award

Kit Nugent – Lego building

Edinburgh teenager Kit Nugent has built some Lego figures which are now on display at LEGO® House in Denmark. He said: “My interest in playing with and building LEGO started as I expect it does with the majority of children – a gift of a LEGO set. The feeling of accomplishment after finishing a set kept me building, and before long I was disassembling models to create my
own builds. When my neighbours emigrated, they left behind their son’s LEGO bricks, but crucially without the instructions, and there were endless possibilities that truly established my MOC (My Own Creation) journey. I love the problem-solving process of
building MOCs, and I am fascinated by the endless possible combinations of bricks and colours, as well as the way that aesthetics and novelty influence the final outcome. LEGO has taught me resilience, patience, and determination, and initiatives such as LEGO
Ideas and Iron Builder have given builders of all ages an outlet for their creativity.”

New shuttle bus to Lost Shore

A new all-electric bus service will begin on Wednesday taking passengers to the Lost Shore Surf Resort from the city centre in Edinburgh.

The bus company, Ember, has teamed up with the resort to offer three return journeys a day, seven days a week which will increase to six per day from the end of November. The bus will stop at George Street, Haymarket and Corstorphine (pick up only) on the way to the final stop in Ratho.

More details of the new service for surfers (and those who want to have a spa treatment or a coffee at the Canteen looking out to those braving the waves are here.

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Deacon Blue

Legendary 1980s Glasgow band, Deacon Blue, will come along the M8 to play at Edinburgh Castle on 17 July 2026.

Castle Concerts presented by Seat Unique has secured the third date in its concert series, and this is the third time that the band has appeared on the Esplanade.

Formed in Glasgow in 1985, Deacon Blue are one of Scotland’s most enduring bands. Led by Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, they first captured the nation’s heart with their debut album Raintown – a poignant love letter to Glasgow that became a cornerstone of Scottish pop music.

Five things you need to know today

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