Latest news with #Rotunda
The Courier
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Plan for controversial Bannockburn trotting track blocked by Scottish Government
A controversial plan to build a harness racing track near the Battle of Bannockburn site has been rejected by the Scottish Government. The proposal, lodged by Mr H Muirhead of the Scottish Harness Racing Club, hoped to construct a trotting track surface in a Whins of Milton field. A single-storey building housing toilets, a bar and hot takeaway food, and 240 parking spaces, also formed part of the plan. It was greenlit by Stirling Council's Planning and Regulation Panel in July 2024. Due to the type of application, the Scottish Government was to have the final say. While the reporter recommended planning permission should be granted subject to conditions, Scottish ministers disagreed. They said the development would have 'a significant adverse effect on the character of the battlefield, its setting and sense of place'. This was due to new development and urbanisation on one of the few remaining undeveloped parts of the battlefield. Furthermore, it was considered to 'detract' from the prominence of the listed buildings and would therefore have a 'detrimental impact' on their special character and setting. The plan also would not preserve the character or the special architectural or historic interest of the Rotunda and flagpole, according to ministers. Diarmid Hearns, acting director of conservation and policy at The National Trust for Scotland, thanked those who campaigned against the plans. He said: 'Ministers' conclusions closely accord with our stated views that this development was simply in the wrong place and would have badly impacted upon the setting of the battlefield. 'We hope that this decision brings this matter to an end and that the developer withdraws to a new site elsewhere that will not impinge on places of historical importance.' In harness racing, horses compete in a specific gait while pulling a two-wheeled cart called a sulky. Scottish harness racing took place at Corbiewood Stadium for more than five decades. However, the site was demolished in 2022 to make way for housing as part of the South Stirling Gateway development. The Scottish Harness Racing Club is currently using a grass track at Haugh Field. A plan for a new trotting track was submitted in October 2023. It proved controversial with more than 100 responses for and against the proposal. The National Trust for Scotland, which runs the Battle of Bannockburn site, described it as a 'damaging and unsuitable development'. Residents voiced concerns over the influx of vehicles, noise pollution and the historical significance of the site. But supporters said the track was needed for harness racing to 'survive' in Scotland and would bring a 'financial benefit' to the Bannockburn area.
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Rotunda Capital Partners Closes Oversubscribed Fund IV at $735 Million
BETHESDA, Md. & EVANSTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rotunda Capital Partners ("Rotunda"), an operationally oriented private equity firm focused on industrial businesses, is pleased to announce the successful closing of Rotunda Capital Partners Fund IV, L.P. ('Fund IV') with total capital commitments of $735 million. Fund IV was significantly oversubscribed, closing well above its target of $550 million as well as the initial hard cap. The predecessor fund, Rotunda III (2022 vintage), had total commitments of more than $405 million. On behalf of the firm, Managing Partners John Fruehwirth, Dan Lipson, Corey Whisner and Bob Wickham commented: 'We are humbled and proud to see the confidence the investors showed for our investment strategy of sourcing family-founder led companies and then applying our deep data and analytics approach to help them grow while driving operational improvements. We are especially grateful for our existing investors' strong continued support and thankful for the resounding interest from new, high-quality investors, especially given the current market fundraising dynamic. Fund IV investors included US and global institutional investors such as pension funds, asset managers, fund of funds, endowments, foundations, health systems and insurance companies as well as family offices and former RCP portfolio company executives.' Fund IV completed its first investment Capital Machine Technologies, Inc. ('CMT'). CMT was sourced thematically and is a distributor and repair service provider of metal fabrication machinery including press brakes, robotic welders, metal cutting machinery, and other equipment to US manufacturers across the Southeast and Midwest. Campbell Lutyens served as global placement agent and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as fund counsel. About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is an operationally oriented private equity firm focused on transforming family-founder owned companies into dynamic, data-driven platforms able to achieve and manage significant growth. Since its founding in 2009, Rotunda has partnered with management teams to build great businesses within three primary sectors: value-added distribution, asset-light logistics and industrial, business & residential services. Rotunda strives to achieve replicable results by implementing its Rotunda Performance System to create strategic alignment, develop lean processes and create robust, data-driven infrastructures. For more information, visit
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'Paediatricians, GPs, and schools don't understand childhood long covid'
Jack Lambert, consultant in infectious diseases at the Mater, Rotunda, and University College Dublin, recalls seeing 'long covid coming' in March 2020. Researching the SARS and MERS viruses, he found that some people — infected a decade or two earlier —were still sick years later. 'I set up a long-covid clinic in summer 2020. I started seeing adults then, and adolescents were arriving by early 2021. I started seeing some children — under-12s — in 2022, 2023.' Lambert, a consultant in paediatric infectious disease at Great Ormond Children's Hospital for six years, before arriving in Dublin in 2005, started seeing children and adolescents at the long-covid clinic out of necessity. 'Families were going to GPs, trying to be seen by paediatric infectious disease clinics,' Lambert says. 'They were being declined; these clinics don't see long-covid cases. 'Since the start, I've seen a couple of dozen children: Fewer than 20 under-12s, about 50 adolescents. But covid is still around, cases continue to accumulate. And [as a private clinic], I'm only seeing those who can afford it. Lots of families don't have the resources.' Between 5% and 10% of children and adolescents who get covid develop long covid. To the best of Lambert's understanding, no dedicated long-covid paediatric service exists in Ireland. Young patients are frequently told by medics to 'just exercise', or 'push through it', or 'give it time and you'll get better'. 'Children who used to be athletes, who used to run around for hours a day, now they're barely able to walk to school,' Lambert says, yet recommendations to 'push through' represent 'the worst advice'. Christina Doyle: "I knew within weeks this was something serious. He could barely leave his bed, except to go to the toilet or to vomit. He had serious nose bleeds, 20 minutes long, huge clots of blood. His joints burned like fire." Picture: Moya Nolan 'Conditions like long covid are energy-limiting. Children with long covid suffer post-exertional malaise: When they try to push too far, they crash. Their symptoms flare up. They're totally exhausted; end up having to go to bed.' Children are more likely than adults to be told to get on with it. 'Very often, children's symptoms are attributed to behavioural problems, to 'faking it'. They're made to believe it's 'all psychological', not a 'real' physical condition.' Long covid is associated with 300 symptoms and each sufferer typically has 10 or 15. Common symptoms include: Exhaustion, brain fog, cognitive problems, palpitations, autonomic dysregulation, energy depletion, neuro-inflammation and mood problems, headaches, and sleep disturbance. Lambert says: 'Children, adolescents, can just get exhausted looking at a computer. They are sensitive to noise, sound, and light. And they're told, 'You're just anxious'. They're not: They have autonomic dysregulation. Their para-sympathetic nervous system is imbalanced, so they're on edge. This is adrenalin-driven rather than psychologically-driven.' Paediatricians, GPs, and schools don't understand childhood long covid, Lambert says. He sees 'no effort' by the HSE to educate about it. 'So how can GPs or schools know about it?' The 'flu' for four years Wicklow-based Christina Doyle's three children have had seven confirmed covid infections between them. Conor, 18, and Holly, 15, were diagnosed in December 2023. By then, they had suffered debilitating symptoms, and many medics had dismissed Doyle's concerns. In March 2020, Conor was one of the first locally to be diagnosed with covid. Doyle says: 'I knew within weeks this was something serious. He could barely leave his bed, except to go to the toilet or to vomit. He had serious nose bleeds, 20 minutes long, huge clots of blood. His joints burned like fire. 'Profound fatigue continued. It meant if he made it downstairs, he'd have to lie on the couch; he couldn't stand for more than a minute. He was sleeping 18 hours a day.' Holly also had joint burning sensations, as well as severe migraine, which she'd never had before covid. 'She was very rarely sick before. She doesn't complain, so I knew there was something seriously wrong. She was crying, saying, 'Are we ever going to get better?' Dr Jack Lambert: 'Teach pacing rather than pushing, only doing in the day what their energy allows. Breathing exercises and meditative techniques help retrain their parasympathetic system. Melatonin helps regulate sleep." 'Her main symptoms were fatigue and muscle weakness. She'd always been very active, bubbly. Now, she needed to sleep during the day. I'd say to doctors, nurses, 'They still aren't better'. I was told it's a new virus, the children are just anxious. 'I remember sitting in my living room, the two of them in bed, thinking, 'They're both sick and nobody's listening'.' Mother of three Natalie Kilbane says her 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter never recovered after their first covid infection in October 2020. 'They hadn't been to a GP in five years. They were very active, healthy, happy kids, with no underlying issues. Our whole family is very active: We all played sports, went kayaking, hiking.' At first, Kilbane expected their complete recovery. 'It's the narrative we were told back then: Children don't get very sick from covid.' Instead, she saw them suffer from severe headaches, dizziness, difficulty standing, joint pain, noise and light intolerance, intermittent sore throat, nausea, and abdominal pain for years. 'It's like they've had flu every day for four and a half years.' At A&E, they had the standard blood, pulse, and temperature checks. 'They were all fine. There was nothing they could do. Yet my son couldn't sleep, lie down; he was in so much pain with headaches. My daughter's racing heart meant she had to hold on to the wall as she walked.' Nobody seemed able to help: A private paediatric consultant discharged them after one visit. A request for referral to an infectious disease consultant yielded nothing, because 'they didn't treat long covid'. The GP referred them to the public system. 'We waited months. It seemed to us that the public system had little understanding that long covid is a multi-system disease. We felt they weren't keeping pace with international trials and treatments,' says Kilbane. She gave up her job as a nurse to care for her children. Both were recently diagnosed with long covid. 'They're starting to get a little more stable. On a good day, they go to school for two hours. They're resilient, happy kids. They love school; it's where they see their friends. They just want normality.' Sick and stigmatised Lambert says long-covid symptoms can be improved. 'Teach pacing rather than pushing, only doing in the day what their energy allows. Breathing exercises and meditative techniques help retrain their parasympathetic system. Melatonin helps regulate sleep. 'Low-dose Naltrexone — shown in seven pilot studies, including an Irish one, to help 80% of patients — improves brain inflammation and immune dysregulation.' Having her children diagnosed with long covid meant 'relief, validation, finally somebody listening to me, to the children', says Doyle. Things are looking brighter now. Since being diagnosed, practices such as 'learning their limits, knowing when to stop and rest' have helped, as have medications. Asked about supports offered to children with long covid, the HSE referred to children specifically only in the following context: 'Long covid in children and young people can present in many different ways. However, evidence suggests [most] children and young people recover, with symptoms improving after six months.' Sarah O'Connell of Long Covid Advocacy Ireland Sarah O'Connell's two children suffer from long covid. Co-founder of Long Covid Advocacy Ireland, she along with other LCAI members, is part of a HSE working group, formed last December. One of their tasks is to review the September 2021 interim model of care for long covid. 'LCAI hopes the HSE will treat the issue with urgency. A huge amount of research on long covid has been published since 2021. This needs to be factored in to the model of care.' O'Connell says care for under-16s with long covid is not included in the current/interim version of the model of care. 'Nor are there currently any services dedicated to managing children with long covid. Discussions [about this] are ongoing within the working group.' Meanwhile, she urges against labelling children as school-avoidant. 'We're not saying covid, long covid are the only reasons for increased school absence. But we do know significant numbers of children, affected by long covid, are missing school.' Recalling a young patient describing his gym teacher putting his locker further away so as to 'push him', Lambert says. 'Something equally difficult as having this condition is not having it believed.' Read More Baby Sam from Cork is making waves after open heart surgery
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Cocktails At Afternoon Tea? This London Hotel Is Leading The Change
In partnership with renowned East End baker Lily Vanilli, Four Seasons Hotel at Tower Bridge has ... More launched Aperi-Tea, an evening rendition of afternoon tea with Aperitivo-inspired service. When you think about afternoon tea, chances are you imagine meeting friends sometime in the mid or early afternoon. However, the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge is looking to reinvent the typical afternoon tea experience. In partnership with renowned East End baker Lily Vanilli, the hotel has launched Aperi-Tea, an evening rendition of afternoon tea with Aperitivo-inspired service. Vanilli is known for her incredible cake designs and other colorful baking creations, so it only makes sense that the service will feature some of her signature creations. As a Londoner, Vanilli wanted to create a tea that went beyond typical tea and scones, which is where the decision to incorporate evening service and cocktails came into play. 'I've always felt afternoon tea needed reinventing —it's such a fun concept and there's so much scope for creativity, but it always felt stuck in this pantomime of the past,' says Lily Vanilli in an interview with Forbes. 'I wanted to update the menu to suit a modern palate, and create something myself and my friends would go to often - vs just a tourist spot or for special occasions.' During the day, the afternoon tea will be just as one expects—think scones, cakes, teas and more. However, once the evening draws in, the lights in the Rotunda Bar and Lounge will dim and the service will feature accompanying mini cocktails. Lily Vanilli wanted to create a tea that went beyond typical tea and scones, which is where the ... More decision to incorporate evening service and cocktails came into play. 'The London by Lily Vanilli promises a feast for the senses with delicious bites, perfectly paired cocktails and a stylish vibe,' explains Victoria Lebedeva, director of food and beverage at the Four Seasons Hotel Tower Bridge. "Whether it's a mid-afternoon graze, late-night tipple or a special occasion, this is the only afternoon tea date you need in your diary. The Rotunda bar will ooze Lily's signature style all year round as the menu evolves with the seasons, bringing Londoners trending tastes and flavors from spring to winter.' Featuring mini cocktails like the Lily Royale, a blend of Beluga Noble Vodka, cacao blanc, raspberry cordial and Champagne garnished with a fresh raspberry dipped in white chocolate, and the Salted Espresso (a twist on an espresso martini with Patron tequila, mezcal, espresso, Pedro Ximénex and salted caramel syrup), the Aperi-Tea is perfect for a girls get together or date night. Changing seasonally, the first menu will play ode to spring. Changing seasonally, the first menu will play ode to spring. It will include one of Vanilli's extravagant Celebration Cakes decorated with an elaborate icing pattern, alongside a Creme Brulée Basque Cheesecake and a Tiramisu Tart with a coffee and brandy-soaked sponge, custard mascarpone cream and coffee caramel. The service will also feature Vanilli's beloved scones with clotted cream and changing seasonal jam. For savory bites, expect dishes like the house Gilda (featuring anchovies, green olives and pickled chili), cheddar, feta and spinach scones, salty confit potatoes topped with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and lime, and Parmesan goujères (a nod to Samuel Pepys who previously lived around the corner and buried his wheel of parmesan under the building during the Great Fire of London). 'The Rotunda Bar and Lounge is a truly special backdrop to our menu of sweet and savory delights,' says Vanilli. "The aspect I'm most looking forward to seeing come to life is how the vibe evolves over the course of the day, with the evenings bringing great music, dimming lights and a fabulous menu of sweet and savory bites that perfectly pair with champagne and cocktails. We will also offer a mini version of the menu for anyone who wants a smaller selection - this is an afternoon tea for Londoners - somewhere you can come for drinks after work - or even after dinner!'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Youngkin fires Bert Ellis from University of Virginia Board of Visitors
The Rotunda at the University of Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Vogelsong/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Glenn Youngkin fired businessman Bert Ellis from the University of Virginia's Board of Visitors on Wednesday and announced plans to appoint former state senator and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to replace him. 'It is with sadness that I remove you as a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors,' the governor wrote in a Wednesday letter to Ellis, who has a history of making controversial statements and whose 2022 appointment to the board was protested by UVA 'faculty senate, student council and campus newspaper, the Cavalier Daily,' according to VPM News. Youngkin thanked Ellis for his 'hard work,' but also wrote that Ellis' conduct 'on many occasions' has violated the state's Code of Conduct for state boards and commissions, and the Board of Visitors Statement of Visitor Responsibilities. Youngkin's letter stopped short of expanding on Ellis' alleged violations. Ellis' future on the board came into question after the Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the governor wanted to remove his appointee, despite the two sharing a common goal to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. On March 8, the board voted to dissolve UVA's DEI office to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order that threatened to strip federal funding from colleges and universities that didn't comply. DEI opponents believe that hiring and promoting people should be based on merit and not on someone's race or gender, while supporters say DEI initiatives are meant to address systematic bias that historically stalled the progress of Americans of color and women. 'This board unanimously voted to rip out the entire DEI infrastructure and everybody who works in the DEI infrastructure,' Ellis told The Daily Progress March 20. 'Absolutely every aspect of it, every aspect of every program. Every aspect of DEI is to be ripped out, shredded and terminated.' But that wasn't the first time the outspoken Ellis has expressed his opinion on other controversial matters, including social issues and pro-Gaza demonstrations. He has been recorded criticizing law enforcement for how they do their jobs on UVA's campus and reportedly confronted a student about a sign posted on her dorm room door referencing the university's ties to slavery. Ellis is a 1975 UVA graduate and the former president of the Jefferson Council. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor who has founded and operated numerous companies including Ellis Capital, a consulting and investment firm focused on media, technology, healthcare, and fintech. He also serves as the Lead Director of Johnson Energy Storage in Atlanta, which is developing next-generation solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. Shortly after dismissing Ellis, the governor announced that Cuccinelli, a 1991 UVA graduate, would join the board. 'Ken's legal and policy expertise will be incredibly valuable to ensure swift action with the ongoing changes and challenges in higher education,' Youngkin said in a statement. 'I have full confidence he will help ensure Mr. Jefferson's University remains a place of opportunity, merit, and academic freedom.'
