Latest news with #Kiltwalk


Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
'Forever young': Lasting tribute to murdered Lanarkshire woman unveiled in hometown
A wooden memorial bench designed by local craftspeople in Strathaven pays tribute to popular and beautiful, Phoenix-Spencer Horn. A lasting tribute to a much-loved young Lanarkshire woman who was brutally murdered has been unveiled in her hometown. A beautifully handcrafted memorial bench has been dedicated to 21-year-old Phoenix Spencer-Horn in the grounds of the Strathaven Hotel where she worked. The wooden bench, designed by local craftspeople in the market town, pays tribute to the popular and beautiful young woman with a poignant inscription which reads: "Phe, the girl with the stunning smile. 21 'forever young'". In a nod to her favourite song, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, the lyric 'thunder only happens when it's raining' is featured on the bench along with Phoenix's date of birth and the date she died. The words, 'love you, bye' are also carved inside a red love heart. The close-knit community has been rocked by the tragic events that happened on November 18, 2024 when Phoenix was stabbed, strangled, decapitated and dismembered in the East Kilbride flat she shared with killer boyfriend Ewan Methven. She had suffered a total of 20 stab wounds - the fatal one to the chest. Described in court as "the personification of evil", 27-year-old postman Methven is now carrying out a life sentence after admitting to the gruesome murder when he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow last month. Judge Lord Matthews ordered Methven to spend at least 23 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. Commenting on the lasting memorial one local said: "It's such a lovely memorial to such a special person. "What happened to Phoenix was absolutely horrific and left many people shocked but the bench commemorates her life which was so cruelly cut short. "She loved working in the hotel and was very popular with the customers so it's appropriate the bench will be sitting in the gardens for many years to come. "Phoenix will never be forgotten by the people of Strathaven." A group of her friends and colleagues named 'Phe's Angel Fighters' are taking on the Kiltwalk to raise money for Glasgow Women's Aid in her memory. The 20-mile challenge will take place in September with more than £7000 already raised in Phoenix's name. You can make a donation to the Kiltwalk fundraiser for Phoenix here. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.


Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Memorial bench dedicated to murdered young woman has been unveiled in her hometown
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MEMORIAL bench dedicated to a young woman who was brutally murdered has been unveiled in her hometown. Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, was attacked in a flat she shared with Ewan Methven in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The memorial bench dedicated to the life of Phoenix Spencer-Horn 3 Phoenix Spencer-Horn was murdered in East Kilbride 3 Ewan Methven was jailed for life He admitted murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice and was jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years at the High Court in Glasgow. After her tragic death, local craftspeople in Strathaven created a lasting memorial to Phoenix. The specially designed wooden bench has now been placed in the grounds of the Strathaven Hotel where she had been a much-loved colleague and friend. An inscription along the bench reads: "Phe, the girl with the stunning smile. 21 'forever young'." A side panel features the line 'thunder only happens when it's raining' in a nod to Dreams, her favourite song by Fleetwood Mac while the other side has her date of birth and the day she died. The words 'love you, bye' are also carved on the bench inside the outline of a red love heart. One local said: "It's such a lovely memorial to such a special person. "What happened to Phoenix was absolutely horrific and left many people shocked but the bench commemorates her life which was so cruelly cut short. "She loved working in the hotel and was very popular with the customers so it's appropriate the bench will be sitting in the gardens for many years to come. "Phoenix will never be forgotten by the people of Strathaven." Evil killer butchered girlfriend before severing head & trying to dismember her at Scots flat We told how monster boyfriend Methven strangled and stabbed Phoenix then severed her head at their flat last November. A group of her friends and colleagues are set to take part in the Kiltwalk to raise money for Glasgow Women's Aid in her memory. The 20 mile challenge will take place in September and the group, dubbed Phe's Angel Fighters, have already raised more than £6,100. Glasgow Women's Aid said: "We cannot express our gratitude enough for this. "The money raised will help us to continue to help women and girls in abusive relationships and prevent the loss of other young women to male violence." Methven, 27, choked Phoenix before severing her head and trying to remove her limbs and torso from her body in November last year. He earlier complained her waitress shifts at the Strathaven Hotel made him 'lonely'. Her devastated mum Alison Spencer said her family had been left 'shattered' and would remain 'broken forever' over their loss.

Scotsman
6 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Dundee families walk together for a more inclusive future
A group of Dundee parents and children are playing their way to fitness as they prepare for next month's Kiltwalk. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... The group of 40, including parents and children who attend The Yard, alongside dedicated staff, are raising funds for the refurbishment of the Dundee service, which supports families, children and young people with disabilities and additional needs. The inclusive play centre, which also provides wraparound family support, is currently being transformed into a fully accessible, year-round community hub, set to open in the Autumn. In the meantime, Yard continues to operate out of temporary premises at Dundee East Community Sports Club, with summer holiday sessions at Kingspark School. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ambitious, £1.5M upgrade includes a new roof, sensory room, Changing Places toilet, expanded play areas, meeting and office space, and a large communal kitchen and dining area. The outdoor garden and play zones are also taking shape, with NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation contributing £100,000 to the outdoor space and donating two spaces to the Kiltwalk. The Yard Kiltwalkers Most of the group are embarking on the four-mile Wee Wander, including Dundee Mum Cheryl Ferguson and daughter Rio who are returning for their second year and inspiring others to get involved. A few brave walkers are tackling the full 20-mile Mighty Stride. As Sunday 17 August approaches, the team have already raised almost £1,000. Gill Thomson, Service Development Manager at The Yard Dundee, who is walking alongside her two sons, said, 'The fact that so many mums, dads and children have signed up is a real testament to how much The Yard means to them. Our families really are our best ambassadors, and everyone is super-excited for the reopening, but we still need more money to get the doors open, and every pound raised brings us a step closer. 'Four miles may feel like a big ask but we're a strong and resilient community and are determined to do our best. All the summer fun at The Yard is keeping us fit and fired up for the big day!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gill will be joined by Dundee mum Pamela Donaldson, whose nine-year-old daughter attends The Yard. She said, 'I've been coming to The Yard every Sunday with my daughter since she was three years old. She absolutely loves it. It's a place she can just be herself, and feel free, and we're so excited about the reopening and the opportunities the new building will bring. I don't normally ask for sponsorship but this is a cause I'm so passionate about. I don't know what we would do without The Yard, or how we would have managed over the years without their support.' To donate, visit

Scotsman
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Walk The Walk - Change lives with every step
Edinburgh Leisure is calling on the public to lace up their walking shoes, don their tartan and join them for a cause that truly matters - helping older adults in Edinburgh stay active, connected, and happy. 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... On Saturday, September 14, a team from Edinburgh Leisure will be taking part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, walking to raise vital funds to support older adults across the city, and they want you to join them. Every step taken and every pound raised will go directly towards improving the lives of older people - not just funding a project but making a real difference to real people. The money raised will support participants of Ageing Well, one of Edinburgh Leisure's Active Communities programmes, which offers a lifeline of physical activity and social connection to older adults across the city. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last year, almost 80 participants joined the Edinburgh Leisure Kiltwalk Team and raised £17,500, enabling the delivery of the 2024-25 project. This year they're aiming for £15,00 to keep this life-changing work going. Every penny (plus gift aid) goes directly to Ageing Well. Join Edinburgh Leisure and Walk the Walk to raise vital funds to help older adults in Edinburgh stay active, connected and happy. All those signing up to the Kiltwalk to raise funds for Edinburgh Leisure will receive a 50% discount on the registration fee and an Edinburgh Leisure T-shirt and a tartan-themed snood. Rachael McCrae, Head of Funding for Edinburgh Leisure explained: 'Many people don't realise we're a charity. Ageing Well supports older adults in Edinburgh to stay active and stay connected. It's led by a fantastic team which includes many older adult volunteers and offers walking, cycling, gardening, buddy swimming and more. Like many charities with reduced funding, we're feeling the pinch! Every pound raised will help keep this going – and with your Kiltwalk steps, you'll get active too!' The Kiltwalk has three walk lengths, which can be signed up for, inclusive of the 50% discount: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad •The Mighty Stride (approx. 21 miles) - £10 registration fee •The Big Stroll (approx. 11 miles) - £10 registration fee •The Wee Wander (approx. 5 miles) - £6.50 for adults, £7.00 £3.50 for children Edinburgh Leisure's Active Communities programme supports 14,700 people annually who face the greatest barriers to getting active– people affected by health conditions, inequalities, and poverty. Your participation in the Kiltwalk will raise crucial funds to promote health, happiness, and connectedness among older adults in Edinburgh whilst contributing to a fantastic and enjoyable event. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To find out more about signing up with Edinburgh Leisure to walk the Kiltwalk, and to get your 50% discount, click here - To find out more about the Kiltwalk, click here -


Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Daily Record
Colleagues of woman murdered and decapitated by evil boyfriend were shocked by her death
Theo Giameos employed tragic Phoenix-Spencer-Horn at his cafe in Strathven. The former boss of a woman who was brutally murdered by her boyfriend has told how her shocking death stunned her friends and colleagues. Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, was savagely attacked in a flat she shared with Ewan Methven in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire. She was strangled and repeatedly stabbed before evil Methven severed her head and attempted to dismember her body. He admitted murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice and was jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 23 years at the High Court in Glasgow. Theo Giameos, who employed Phoenix at his Roasted cafe in her hometown of Strathaven, told of his horror at her murder and said there was no indication Methven would subject her to violence. Theo, 52, said: "Letting girls know that if they are in a situation like that then they can seek help and in regard to Phoenix's situation, there was no evidence or writing on the wall that indicated that this would be the outcome or this would happen. "It was a horrific, horrific incident and it has affected everyone differently and the current fundraiser for the Kiltwalk is sitting at just over £5,000. "You can see that there's a lot of people who are prepared to get behind it and it is more just sending that message that you are not alone and if you need help reach out and there are people there who are prepared to help." He added: "She worked on the Thursday and on the Friday. I was outside and little did I know that the last time she walked past me while she was drinking her iced latte, glanced over her shoulder and looked back at me, that was the last time that I'd see her. "Phoenix was in the prime of her life, she had the rest of her life to look forward to and she has been taken far too soon. "It's one of those things, if it was cancer you could live with it, if it was a car accident you could live with it but it is not what you expect and you don't want to ever hear that again or wish that upon anybody." Theo is part of a group who are taking part in the Kiltwalk to raise money for Glasgow Women's Aid in memory of Phoenix. Speaking to local station Avondale Radio, he added: "A lot of the time people do the Kiltwalk and raise awareness for various charities and this particular one is going towards Glasgow Women's Aid and it is in memory of our lost soldier Phoenix who was a friend, a colleague and a daughter and she was killed under horrific circumstances. "This is just to raise awareness and hopefully let people know that there is hope out there and if they need to seek help and seek advice then there's avenues they can go down and lean on for support. "It is quite personal to a lot of the girls to make sure that we do it. She was one of the hardest workers that I've ever met and at the same time she was very firm and strong and opinionated. "She was hands down the hardest worker I've known." The 20 mile Kiltwalk will take place in September and the group, dubbed Phe's Angel Fighters, have already raised more than £6,000. Glasgow Women's Aid said: "We cannot express our gratitude enough for this. "The money raised will help us to continue to help women and girls in abusive relationships and prevent the loss of other young women to male violence." Methven, 27, choked Phoenix before severing her head and trying to remove her limbs and torso from her body in November last year.