Latest news with #HelenHarrison
Edinburgh Reporter
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Six of the best: Fettes team in adventure challenge win
Six Fettes College students have won the Youth Class at the prestigious Scottish Islands Peaks Race, a tough sea and land adventure challenge. Team Fettes took on what is known as one of the UK's toughest endurance challenges, sailing over 160 nautical miles from Oban and running up and down mountains on the islands of Mull, Jura and Arran, totalling almost 60 miles, crossing the finish line in Troon at 3:30am. The team was made up of six Lower Sixth students and four staff who put their teamwork to the test throughout the demanding multi-day event. They were led by skipper Roger Pim aboard the yacht Luskentyre. Students had been training for the event since September, with regular weekend runs in the Pentland Hills and a sail training weekend on the west coast of Scotland earlier in May. The Scottish Islands Peaks Race, first held in 1983, combines offshore sailing with mountain running, drawing competitors from across the country and internationally. The Youth Class offers a unique opportunity for young people to push themselves in one of the UK's most challenging adventure races. Helen Harrison, head of Fettes College, said: 'We are so proud of our Scottish Islands Peaks Race team and how well they worked together in supporting and encouraging one another throughout the race, and in their preparations for it. An amazing effort!' Best foot forward: two of the winning Fettes College adventure race group Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh students triumph in one of UK's toughest endurance challenges
Six Fettes College students have won the Youth Class at the prestigious Scottish Islands Peaks Race, a tough sea and land adventure challenge. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... Team Fettes took on what is known as one of the UK's toughest endurance challenges, sailing over 160 nautical miles from Oban and running up and down mountains on the islands of Mull, Jura and Arran, totalling almost 60 miles, crossing the finish line in Troon at 3:30am on Monday 19 May. The team was made up of six Lower Sixth students and four staff who put their teamwork to the test throughout the demanding multi-day event. They were led by skipper Roger Pim aboard the yacht Luskentyre. Students had been training for the event since September, with regular weekend runs in the Pentland Hills outside of Edinburgh, and a sail training weekend on the west coast of Scotland earlier in May. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Islands Peaks Race, first held in 1983, combines offshore sailing with mountain running, drawing competitors from across the country and internationally. The Youth Class offers a unique opportunity for young people to push themselves in one of the UK's most challenging adventure races. Edinburgh students triumph in one of UK's toughest endurance challenges Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, said: 'We are so proud of our SIPR team and how well they worked together in supporting and encouraging one another throughout the race, and in their preparations for it. An amazing effort!' One of the participating students, Seth J, said: 'The race was tough but unforgettable; the hardest thing I've ever done, but I feel a huge sense of achievement now it is over. Our training really paid off as we felt well-prepared for both the sailing and the running that were involved. The support from the team and the guidance from staff kept us going. Reaching Troon was a moment of pure relief and joy, knowing all our effort was worth it.' To find out more about the various activities on offer at Fettes College, go to:
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- News.com.au
William Tyrrell ‘person of interest' Frank Abbott has previously been acquitted of murder in a disturbing 1968 case
A 'person of interest' in the William Tyrrell disappearance has previously been acquitted of murder in a disturbing 1968 case involving a missing girl. The disappearance of a teenager found buried in a shallow grave in 1968 is allegedly linked to a former William Tyrrell 'person of interest', according to three new witnesses. Two of the three come forward in today's new episode of the podcast investigation Witness: William Tyrrell, talking about the death of 17-year-old Helen Harrison. The person of interest, Frank Abbott, once allegedly confessed that he 'did have sex with her and then … she was going to tell on him', according to one of these two witnesses. The second new witness alleged she was told the Abbott brothers 'took her out into the scrub and they all had sex with her and then she ended up dead but no one knows how'. A third witness gave evidence to the inquest into William's disappearance in 2020, although Helen's family said police never contacted them to say new information had come to light. Abbott, who is currently in prison for multiple child sex offences, was found not guilty of Helen's murder during a trial during the 1990s. We are not suggesting these new allegations are true, just that they have been made and have not been investigated by police. Asked if he would like to see police pay more attention to Abbott, Helen's brother Peter Harrison said, 'Certainly. Yes. It's a very old case, but there's a lot of unsolved … questions. 'I would like to see a resolution.' Helen was an outgoing teenager with dark hair, and a bright smile when she left work at a store in Pitt Town in northwest Sydney around 12.45pm on 16 March 1968. She used to sing while cycling the few kilometres home, her brother said, but a storm rolled in that afternoon and the family believe she may have stopped and accepted a lift. 'We were waiting and waiting … but she didn't come home,' Mr Harrison continued, choking with emotion at the memory. His family went out searching for Helen, 'just driving around and talking to people. 'Some said they'd seen a blue utility and three people in it – I think it was three – and Helen in the middle,' he said. 'Someone had seen a bike in the back of a blue utility – that was the rumour.' Helen's basket was discovered by a roadside a week later. Soon after, her half-naked body was found in a shallow grave in East Kurrajong, about 20 kilometres from Pitt Town. At the time, Frank Abbott was in his mid-20s, living nearby and working around Pitt Town, according to his sister, Elaine Abbott. He would talk to Helen while buying lunch from the store she worked at, Ms Abbott said, although she does not believe he was involved in the teenager's death. In the decades that followed, several witnesses told police Abbott confessed to being involved in Helen's killing and allegedly even showed them her underwear and watch. Abbott was eventually charged and put on trial in 1991. In court, his lawyers argued two female witnesses who claimed Abbott confessed to them had an axe to grind due to a family dispute. Another witness who separately alleged Abbott admitted to being involved was a prison informant who stood to gain by giving evidence, the lawyers said. Abbott's first trial ended when the jury were unable to reach a verdict. A second trial found he was not guilty of Helen's murder. In March 2020, an unidentified witness gave evidence at the inquest investigating William Tyrrell's disappearance and suspected death, during which Abbott was identified as a person of interest. Abbott had said, 'a couple of blokes borrowed his car, raped a girl and she had an epileptic fit and died', this witness told the inquest. This allegedly happened in 1968 – the year of Helen's death, the witness said. He separately claimed Abbott said he had been charged with murder over the same incident. During our investigation, a former neighbour of Abbott's called Brian Collier said he ' virtually admitted to me that he did kill that girl up at Windsor'. Mr Collier did not name the girl, saying 'I think she was about 14. He went to court for that but the jury on three occasions, I think it was, they couldn't reach a verdict.' Helen was last seen at Pitt Town, which is a 10-minute drive from Windsor, she was 17 not 14, and Frank was put on trial over her murder twice with one jury unable to reach a verdict. Following the trial, Abbott stopped drinking, Mr Collier said, until 'I talked him into having a couple of beers. 'He started to loosen up a bit and he virtually admitted to me that he did kill her to shut her up.' Mr Collier alleged Abbott said the girl had been riding a push bike when he picked her up and put it in the back of the ute he was driving in. Mr Collier did not allege Abbott was directly involved in Helen's death, only that he had sex with her. 'He did have sex with her and she was going to tell on him,' Mr Collier continued. 'Then he just clammed up because I think he realised he said a fair bit.' We also spoke to Abbott's niece, Di Smith, who said her father – Frank Abbott's brother, David – once told her a story about Helen. 'I can just see where I am right now in the shed with him there telling me this story of this young girl they picked up who was on a push bike,' Ms Smith said. 'They put the bike in the back of the ute and … took her out (into) the bush and they, yeah, all had sex with her. 'And then she ended up dead but no one knows how.' Ms Smith did not suggest her father was involved in the incident, but was instead relaying an account of what he understood had happened. Ms Smith said she told detectives in Queensland about this, and there is a reference to the claim in a written witness statement we have seen from an unrelated investigation, dated 21 November 2022. This evidence was provided to the News South Wales Police Force, Ms Smith said, but no officer has contacted her to ask about Helen. We attempted to ask David Abbott about his daughter's allegation but he declined to answer questions. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by him. Elaine Abbott, Frank's sister, said she did not believe he was involved in Helen's death but she did remember the incident being discussed among the family. Ms Abbott raised the possibility Helen was epileptic, which was also confirmed in court evidence during her brother's prosecution, which ended with him being acquitted. This medical condition could mean Helen died of natural causes, suggesting no one was directly responsible for her murder, although it appears no one sought medical help and she was subsequently buried in a shallow grave. Abbott, the NSW Police Force and the Coroner's Court of NSW, which is investigating William Tyrrell's disappearance, all declined to answer questions.
Scotsman
25-04-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's Fettes College begins search for new headteacher
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now A recruitment process has begun for a new headteacher at Fettes College in Edinburgh, with Helen Harrison announcing her retirement from the role next year. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... The school has commissioned a specialist firm, Perrett Laver, to help identify candidates, with applications due by May 15. Helen Harrison has been Head of Fettes College since June 2019. The departing headteacher said: 'This place; the students and our staff mean the world to me, and it will always be the honour of my life to have led Fettes College and this community. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I am immensely proud of our achievements, of seeing my vision for Fettes come to life, ground-breaking facilities under construction; and most importantly our students fulfilling their potential. 'However, by Founder's Day next year it will be the right time to pass on this privilege to the next head. Until that time it is business as usual and I will continue to give this job my absolute all.' Named after its founder, Sir William Fettes, the school opened in 1870 and has around 720 students with over 300 staff. It is the only school in Scotland to offer the option of A-Levels or International Baccalaureate in the Sixth Form and a top ten IB School in the UK. Outgoing Fettes College headteacher Helen Harrison. | Big Partnership Click here to sign up 👇 Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Rt Hon Lady Morag Wise, chair of the Governors, said: 'Helen has selflessly devoted herself to Fettes for over 30 years – 19 in a senior leadership role and latterly seven as headteacher. 'She has made a significant contribution to the success of this place and her vision for Fettes has steered a path that ensures our students leave Fettes knowing themselves, looking out for others and ready to make a positive mark on their rapidly changing world. 'We are now beginning the work of securing a new headteacher in partnership with Perrett Laver to ensure we have someone worthy of leading this great school. 'The Governing Body is seeking a visionary educationalist who will bring energy and experience to the role of head from September 2026. This is a rare and career-defining opportunity for an outstanding leader.' Although it currently serves young people aged 7 – 18, from next academic year Fettes will also open a Pre-Prep school and offer places to children from the age of five.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community handed fruit trees from Coronation fund
Community groups, schools and parish councils have received hundreds of fruit trees, so they can plant their own orchards this winter. The trees will be put on publicly accessible land across the North Northamptonshire Council area, ranging in size of five to 100 trees in each location. It comes after the council was awarded a grant from the Coronation Living Heritage Fund - part of a government initiative celebrating the King's Coronation. "It is a way of providing important habitats for wildlife, and creating green spaces where our communities can connect with nature for years come," said Helen Harrison, the council's executive member for climate and green environment. Last week, community representatives went to Coronation Park in Corby to collect their fruit trees and planting kits. Each tree was provided with stakes, mesh guards and mulch mats to support healthy growth. In total, 720 fruit trees were handed over. They included a variety of traditional and local apple, pear, cherry, plum, quince and medlar trees. Jason Smithers, leader of the Conservative-run council, said: "The community orchards will make such a huge difference to the area. "They will offer valuable opportunities for education and engagement, and leave a lasting legacy for our communities and wildlife." The new orchards are due to be planted by the following groups, schools and parish councils: Brigstock Parish Council Coronation Park Growing Project Cottingham Parish Council Deene and Deenethorpe Parish Council Fletton Field Association - Oundle Friends of Sywell Country Park Gretton Parish Council Isebrook SEN School Kettering Buccleuch Academy King's Cliffe Endowed School Laxton Junior School Little Stanion Primary School Lowick Village Hall – Germain Education Foundation Oundle School Oundle Town Council Raunds Town Council Stanion C of E School Wilbarston Primary School Wren Spinney School Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Hundreds of trees to transform town's open space North Northamptonshire Council
