St Andrews pier to reopen with iconic Guadie torchlit procession
St Andrews storm-hit pier will finally reopen next week, with the university's iconic Gaudie Procession.
The medieval structure has been closed since Storm Babet caused £3 million of damage in October 2023.
However, months of repairs mean students in red gowns will be able to take part in their annual torchlit parade along the pier on the evening of April 30.
It will then reopen to the public the following morning.
The Gaudie Procession, which commemorates a student who rescued the crew of a stricken vessel in 1800, was cancelled last year due to the closure.
This year, a piper will lead students along the pier at 7.30pm.
And they will then lay a wreath at the site of the shipwreck.
The Storm Babet damage sparked a major fundraising drive and repairs are ongoing.
So far, the sea wall breach has been restored and walkways relaid.
The bulk of repairs so far were funded by a £360,000 Scottish Government grant.
Donations were also provided by several trusts, with St Andrews University students and alumni handing over £20,000.
And the public donated £18,700 through online fundraisers.
However, another £2m is needed for major engineering works to restore the pier's connection to the cliffs.
While grant applications have been submitted, it is thought there will still be a £500,000 shortfall.
And an appeal has gone out to the public to dig deep to help bridge the gap.
St Andrews Harbour Trust chairman Ken Sweeney says the pier reopening is a significant milestone.
He added: 'Reopening in time for the Gaudie Procession feels especially meaningful.
'This beloved and iconic tradition, where students and townspeople gather as night falls, has long symbolised the close bond between town and gown.'
Guy Nichols, Gaudie convenor, added, 'We are absolutely thrilled our event will return to its former glory with the pier reopening.
'However, if pier walks are to continue for generations, we need to ensure this beautiful part of Scotland remains protected from further storm damage
'So we'll be doing all we can to encourage more donations to the repair fund as the year goes on. '
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Scotsman
Waters of Life: A Fight for Scotland's Beavers by Tom Bowser review: 'a story of hope'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Family is a running theme in Tom Bowser's new book Waters of Life: A Fight for Scotland's Beavers. The families of beavers on his land, his family's involvement with them and the conservation family he formed when bringing the rodents to his farm in Perthshire. These personal references and relationships are part of an emotive and raw account of the author's experience of being the first landowner in Scotland to legally relocate beavers to spare some of the animals the bullet, which sounds to have been desperately challenging at times. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Going for a swim. Once Bowser had decided he wanted the rodents living in the suitable habitat he could provide, just a few kilometres from where they were causing upset in farming territory, you would think it would have been fairly straightforward to move them, especially given they would likely move there anyway. But no, not with the Scottish Government, where, as many in both the food production and conservation worlds know, the level of bureaucracy sometimes seems to know no bounds. Perhaps we need a few hypothetical dams in the never-ending river of red tape to help trickle through clearer solutions. READ MORE: Watch the first beaver kits in 400 years born in the wild in Scottish national park While a proportion of the book focuses on the lengthy legislative nightmare Bowser had to go through in order to complete what seemed like a pretty logical move, the story also brings into sharp focus the dark underbelly of conservation on the ground and some of the infighting that goes on. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bowser's dedication to his cause is admirable, and his devotion to the rodents only seems to grow with every page, to the point where the book really becomes an ode to the beaver. Tom Bowser, right, with James Nairne of the Scottish Wild Beaver Group The reputation of these animals being ecosystem engineers is brought to life with the author's almost fairy-tale-like descriptions of how his land is transformed by them, boasting ponds teeming with insect life and birdsong filling the air. The sense of wonder is added to with anecdotes of people's 'first beaver experiences', including his young daughter's. With the author being a former farmer, I was looking forward to there being a bit more of a measured voice in what is now a highly polarised debate. However, I was a little disappointed to find out that this was not the case - indeed, a fair chunk of the book plays to the predictable 'angry farmer' vs 'save the day conservationists' narrative. Judging by the author's account it certainly sounds as if these stereotypes played out in this case, from the disproportionately high cull numbers despite 'last resort' rules, to the fraught village hall meetings. But the sympathetic tone he deploys when talking about rewilder Derek Gow's 'f*** it' attitude when it comes to releasing wild animals, plus the absence of some voices from the farming community who are working hard on nature-friendly solutions, doesn't help encourage resolution. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There are some sound ecological points made, and Bowser's story is certainly one of hope for the species to find homes in other parts of Scotland, with translocations a solution over culls. But there's an elephant in the room: what happens when numbers increase? When beavers were last in Britain before being driven to extinction, which the book also gives an interesting history lesson on, research shows there was a population of about 4 million people. Now, there are about 70 million of us. Rural Scotland is also seeing a major industrial revolution in the race for Net Zero with pylons, windfarms, hydro schemes, plans for hydrogen plants near rivers and commercial forestry, on top of the development that happened in the last industrial revolution and since. It's a very different world to the one beavers were initially pushed out of. Bavaria is helpfully mentioned as a place for Scotland to look to for its beaver situation. But while the book mentions they have more than a thousand beaver officers to help with mitigation, which would be great here, the narrative appears to leave out discussions on how the German region culls about eight per cent of the population every year, too. Bowser's story seems to shy away from some of these hard truths. Waters of Life: A Fight for Scotland's Beavers, by Tom Bowser, Birlinn, £14.99
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Plan revealed for land trageted by flytippers in Glasgow's Milton
Over £650,000 of funding to develop vacant and derelict land in Scotland is set to be used on a 'woodland enhancement' project on land next to Birsay Road. Almost £2m has also been allocated to a scheme which will see 42 flats developed on the former Tureen Street school in Calton — and plans have already been sent to Glasgow City Council. Cash for the two projects is coming from the Scottish Government. Glasgow councillors will be asked to accept the money on Thursday. Glasgow has the highest concentration of urban vacant land in Scotland, although it has been decreasing. The most recent figures show there were 781 hectares across 574 sites in 2024, down from 834 hectares over 599 sites in 2023. Green Action Trust, an environmental regeneration charity, is set to deliver the 'Milton Discovery Wood' scheme on behalf of the council. The land, which has a history of shallow coal mining, has been empty for at least 45 years. A council report states it is 'prone to flytipping and anti-social behaviour' and the funding will help to provide a 'parkland environment for community benefit'. Waste will be removed from the site and entrance ways improved to make it safer. Outdoor classroom spaces are planned to give 'nature play and education opportunities' to nearby schools. Construction is expected to start in February next year and be completed by June. The trust has said the wood will become a 'safe and accessible community resource' in an area which 'currently has little usable, attractive greenspace'. Planting, including trees, hedging and wildflower, is proposed as well as active travel routes. Community consultation is planned over the summer. In Calton, Thenue Housing Association is set to redevelop the former Tureen Street school, which has been derelict for at least 18 years and is on Historic Environment Scotland's building at risk register. Plans include partial demolition, stabilisation and façade retention of the B-listed former school buildings. The council report adds the site has become 'known for anti-social behaviour in the Calton area'. The housing association has already requested planning permission from the council and, if approved, work could start in December. A council report states vacant and derelict land 'constrains the economic potential of the city in addition to blighting local communities'. In Glasgow, development is hindered by 'a combination of poor ground condition, fragmented ownership and inadequate infrastructure'. This year is the final year of vacant and derelict land investment programme funding from the Scottish Government. In future, applications for support will come under its regeneration capital grant fund.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Hard work and dedication' at the heart of Edinburgh schools
A softball to kick things off: what are the strengths of city education? How are schools able to use the unique resources available in Edinburgh– the universities and colleges, the proximity of the Scottish Government, major industry partners–to expand offerings to students? We are incredibly lucky to have the rich cultural and historical resources that Edinburgh offers available to us and encourage our primary and secondary schools to access the unique learning experiences the city provides, to support the school curriculum. Schools are actively encouraged to make the most of the unique resources on their doorsteps, including visits to the various museums and galleries. Schools also make the most of Edinburgh being a festival city, with many or our young people experiencing visits to world-class performances and experiences. Edinburgh is home to many prominent education institutions, and we partner with a number of the cities Universities and Colleges to support our learners in both their everyday learning and through a number of partnerships that provide our young people with access to college courses and career opportunities. What is the biggest challenge facing Edinburgh schools? In line with the national trend in this area, we are seeing a growth in need across our schools and settings. We support staff in our schools to address the ever-changing societal challenges that teachers and school staff encounter, including poverty, mental health, the role of technology, and meeting the individual needs of learners. In tandem with this, we are continuing to improve outcomes for learners across the board, and this remains a key priority for us. We want to sustain the positive improvements we're already seeing across our schools and settings. How is the city addressing capacity in its schools, and how will new build and expansion projects affect students and families? We have a team of officers who monitor and review capacity in our schools, with primary and secondary school roll projections reported every year to the Education, Children and Families Committee. This includes details of any school building projects underway or being planned to manage any projected increases in capacity. At present we don't have concerns around capacity in our primary or secondary schools. Compared to 2024, there has been no significant change to the number of s1 or p1 learners registered to start inAugust 2025. In our primary schools, our school rolls projections suggest a gradual citywide decline in school rolls until around 2029, this is consistent with birth rate data for the city. At some schools where capacity issues have been highlighted, we have renewal works underway or planned including at Newcraighall and Frogston primary schools. Some of our secondary schools are already undergoing major renewal projects including Wester Hailes High School, Liberton High School and Trinity Academy. A brand new Currie High School is nearing completion. Officers are monitoring the impact that the change in VAT status of independent schools might have, but the data currently available does not suggest that a high number of pupils have or intend to transfer from the independent sector to the Council's schools. The attainment gap is a major policy talking point nationally, and I know that local authorities are taking steps to address inequalities locally. What is your assessment of the attainment gap in Edinburgh schools and how are you working to close it? We are committed to offering the highest quality education, starting in our early years settings and continuing through the Broad General Education curriculum phase, which runs from early years at age 3 through primary school and up to S3, and into the senior phase. From the very start of a child's education, we aim to develop successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors We are focused on narrowing the gap between the most and least disadvantaged learners in Edinburgh and recent figures show that the attainment of leavers has improved across most measures in the national benchmarks. One of the ways we are narrowing the gap in Edinburgh is through our curriculum pathways work, which, in line with themes emerging from various education reform papers, is to provide inclusive, relevant and equitable learning opportunities using a place-based approach. We are doing this by offering learners the opportunity to experience a varied, dynamic, and engaging school day, where they see the relevance of their learning in relation to real-world career opportunities. We are optimising partnerships with colleges, universities and local employers to offer a curriculum that meets the needs of learners today. This includes our roofing, construction and stone carving pathway designed for senior phase learners to develop workplace-ready skills, enabling them to gain qualifications and to make informed choices about life beyond school. Read more Analysis of recent SQA exam results has shown a narrowing in the attainment gap between the most and least advantaged pupils in our schools. We also saw the number of passes in National Progression Awards increased by 17%, the measures of performance for pupils taking National 5 and Higher courses either increased or maintained when compared to both 2023 and 2019 performance. In the Broad General Education, the performance in numeracy is improving and the gap is narrowing, in literacy, the performance is in line with that of 2022-23. This is all down to the hard work of our young people, the dedication of our staff, and the support of parents and carers. Edinburgh is home to the first school to implement a strict mobile phone policy. Do you support the approach and have any plans or guidance for other headteachers across the city? I am pleased that two Edinburgh secondary schools have led the way in introducing a fully mobile-phone-free school environment. Research shows the positive impact that a phone-free environment can have on children and young people and the learning environment, both in the immediate and medium to long term. It has been widely reported that a reduction in phone use for a young person can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, in school and at home, and encourages a healthier approach to managing screen time. With mobile phones in classroom settings increasingly competing with teachers for the attention of learners, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day is only a positive step forward. Scottish Government guidance empowers head teachers to make a decision on the mobile phone policy that is right for their learners and their school community as a whole. Two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, are a few weeks into piloting a phone-free approach to the school, with young people required to store their phone in a lockable pouch during the school day. The leadership teams at these two high school made the decision to pilot this policy following extensive research and engagement with their school community, with research showing that families in their communities broadly welcomed the introduction of this policy. Both schools will pilot and evaluate over the next two-year period. Implementing a pilot of this nature is requires work and not every school in the city is in a position to do this. The market for private schools in Edinburgh is famous, and from the outside, education is often seen through the lens of how many young people attend private schools in the city. What is the impact of this on City schools? Edinburgh is unique, with a higher proportion of children attending an independent school compared to other areas. From the initial point of hearing about the introduction of VAT on independent school fees, we have been strategically planning for any potential impact, including monitoring enquiries and applications for places in our schools. We have always and continue to work closely with colleagues in the private school sector in Edinburgh. We have capacity in our primary and secondary schools to accommodate learners in Edinburgh moving from the independent sector into our schools. We are ready to give all children and young people living in Edinburgh the very best start in life, regardless of where a child's school journey may have started or what part of their school journey they are approach to placing requests remains the same as it was before. We will continue to apply existing placing policy to all placing requests.
