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  • Waverley Arches now really open for business
  • Film Fest in the City
  • General Assembly may be held in June
  • Women’s Professional Basketball set to arrive in Scotland
  • RNLI Lifeguards 

Some of the shops at The New Waverley Arches have been open for months, but last night they held a launch party as more units are now occupied than empty.

The C-listed arches house some really novel and individual shops, and they are soon to be joined by the Chop House which will take over the double height unit at one end.

Artisan Real Estate Investors who have developed the space also used the event to mark their exciting developments including the topping out of the Adagio Aparthotel which links to a £2 million public square, and the next construction phase.

The Canongate Venture Building which was built as a Victorian infant school is being transformed into a luxury 21 apartment boutique hotel which will open next year.

Film Fest returns on the weekend of 10-12 June in St Andrew Square. There will be movies for all.

Read more here.

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland might be moved back a month to allow more young people to come along.

Commissioners are looking into plans to change the timing of the meeting to ensure that this would not also interfere with university and college exam times.

The location will remain the same and also the role of Moderator is likely to remain an annual appointment.

A report in the General Assembly Blue Book, which will be discussed on Saturday, states: “Consideration was given to moving the date of the Assembly to different times of the year.

“The Committee recommends that the General Assembly should move to meet in the second week of June and that the implications of such a move be explored more fully.

“This slightly later date would allow some additional weeks for preparation of reports by Councils and Committees.

“It would move the Assembly out of the general exam times at universities and colleges, and the possibility of a wider range of halls of residence accommodation for commissioners becoming available.

“The second week in June is also prior to the major holiday season.

“The Committee seeks permission to explore this possibility further with universities in Edinburgh and with other relevant bodies.”

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basketballscotland and the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) has confirmed that they will take part in a new Scottish franchise for the 2016-17 WBBL season.

The new basketballscotland franchise will join the Oaklands Wolves as league debutantes when the new franchise takes their place alongside eight existing WBBL clubs in October.

The new basketballscotland programme will be based in Edinburgh at Oriam, Scotland’s new National Performance Centre which will become a home for Scottish performance basketball. To find out more about Oriam’s partnership with basketballscotland, click here.

“The purpose of establishing a WBBL team in Scotland is driven by our desire to continue developing opportunities and this will offer the highest standard of female basketball in the UK,” said Basketball Scotland Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Pringle.

“The franchise will also play a key part in Scotland’s preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and we hope it will become a long term part of our pathway, which will help develop Scottish athletes that can represent Great Britain.

“Our vision for the programme is that it will be led by a core of Scottish players and supplemented with some additional talent to make sure the Scottish athletes are pushed every day in practice.

“The focus will be on the development of Scottish talent and while we still want to win games, the opportunity for Scottish players to compete at this level and develop their skills is the prime driver.

“We will also be revealing the team name and logo soon, which will be very exciting.”

Last weekend RNLI lifeguards began their season at Aberdour (Silver Sands) in Fife and this Saturday will see the lifeguards begin patrolling at Coldingham Bay in the Borders.

Last Monday just after 6pm as lifeguards at Silver Sands in Fife were packing up for the day, RNLI lifeguard Lachlan Edwards (20) heard a scream from some children who were sinking into sand by the water’s edge. Lachlan acted quickly and pulled the young children from the quick sand.

Once out of harm’s way, Lachlan and his colleague Lauren Averell (20) returned the children to their family.

Lachlan said ‘We’ve been back on the beach here in Aberdour since Saturday and we’re only too pleased to help anyone in any way we can.

‘Sometimes that involves water rescue, first aid or simply offering a bit of safety advice. We’re looking forward to another busy year down here and fingers crossed the weather will do its bit to help that!’

Tim Doran, RNLI Lifeguard Manager said ‘We’re really pleased to already have lifeguards working on two beaches in Scotland and we’re looking forward to the other five beaches starting next month.

‘Lifeguarding really is Scotland’s best summer job and at the moment we’ve still got the opportunity to take on a few more lifeguards for the 2016 season. As long as candidates have the right attitude, are willing to learn and can meet the fitness standards we can provide all the training they’ll require to do the job.

‘I’d encourage anyone who is interested to have a look at the website or get in touch for more details.’

RNLI lifeguards will now be on duty from 10am until 6pm seven days a week for the rest of the summer.

From 25 June RNLI lifeguards will also be stationed in Burntisland, Leven, Elie Harbour, St Andrews East Sands and St Andrews West Sands.

The RNLI is still recruiting for lifeguards to work on beaches in Fife and the Borders this summer. If you are interested to find out more please visit the website www.rnli.org/lifeguardjobs or contact RNLI Scotland Lifeguard Manager Tim Doran at tim_doran@rnli.org.uk.

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Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.