Fife bingo hall closure news blow to staff and customers

Apopular Fife bingo hall is to close permanently with the loss of around 25 jobs.

Staff and devoted customers at Buzz Bingo had breathed a sigh of relief last year when the Glenrothes branch in Flemington Road seemingly avoided the axe during the company’s cull of 26 outlets to cut back on costs.

However, the ongoing impact of coronavirus restrictions and enforced closures has now caught up with the Fife business, with an announcement now confirming the Glenrothes hall will not reopen.

The news comes just a matter of months after Buzz Bingo, which formerly traded as Gala Bingo, launched a rescue restructure via an insolvency procedure known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which would allow it to exit unwanted properties and cut rents.

A spokesperson for Buzz Bingo said: “It’s with a heavy heart we announce Buzz Bingo Glenrothes will not be reopening and is closing permanently.

“The decision to close was not our choice and, despite our best efforts, it was ultimately out of our control.

“We’re devastated to bring you this news as we know this will be a difficult time for our community and our amazing Glenrothes team.

“Our nearest Buzz Bingo club is Buzz Bingo Dundee and the lovely team there will be delighted to welcome you when they’re able to reopen.

“Brilliant teams at Buzz Bingo Meadowbank and Buzz Bingo Falkirk are nearby, too.

“We’d like to thank all our customers and colleagues for their ongoing support and for making our community amazing.”

Buzz Bingo employs around 3,000 people nationwide and has already warned it would take time for bingo halls to return to pre-lockdown performance, if that was at all possible.

Chief executive Chris Matthews admitted: “The ongoing pandemic has had far-reaching consequences for the entire leisure and hospitality sector and an immediate and significant impact on our business.”

Bingo halls at Edinburgh Wester Hailes and Kilmarnock were the only two Scottish casualties during the previous round of closures announced last summer.

“Decision to close was not our choice

Scientists have grown miniature human tear glands capable of crying.

Researchers say the organoids serve as a model to study how certain cells in the human tear gland produce tears or fail to do so.

They hope it may become possible to transplant the lab-grown glands into patients with non-functioning tear glands.

The tear gland is in the upper part of the eye socket, and secretes tear fluid which is essential for lubrication and nutrition of the cornea and has antibacterial components.

Ophthalmologist and researcher on the project Rachel Kalmann, from UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands, said: “Dysfunction of the tear gland, for example in Sjogren’s syndrome, can have serious consequences including dryness of the eye or even ulceration of the cornea.

“This can, in severe cases, lead to blindness.”

Alollipop man who kissed and groped a child in a primary school shed while on duty has dodged a prison sentence.

Harry Buick, 80, repeatedly kissed the 10-year-old girl on the mouth on various occasions between April 19-26 2010.

The pensioner carried out the attacks while he was employed as a school crossing patroller.

Buick, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and requires a walking frame, is now banned from leaving his home after 7pm after previously pleading guilty to the offence at the city’s sheriff court.

Sheriff John Rafferty said Buick’s deteriorating health and his lack of offending were the primary factors in sparing him a prison sentence.

Buick, of Forthill Drive, Broughty Ferry, pleaded guilty to using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the child on various occasions in a shed within the grounds of a primary school in Dundee.

The pensioner admitted cuddling the child, rubbing her arms with his hands, placing his hands on her hips, pulling her between her legs and repeatedly kissing her on the mouth.

Buick returned to the dock for sentencing following the preparation of social work reports.

Defence solicitor Ross Donnelly conceded that Buick had minimised his actions during his social work interview.

However, he urged Sheriff Rafferty to impose a community-based order as an alternative to a prison sentence.

Mr Donnelly said: “I think it’s fair to say there’s an element of minimisation. I think what he was eager to get across was that he did not consider himself to have any sinister intent.

“He was quite clear that he accepts it was completely

unacceptable behaviour towards a child. He understands why the matter is being dealt with as seriously as it is by the court.

“He has no previous history of offending and has not come to the attention of the authorities since this incident.”

Sheriff Rafferty placed Buick on a community payback order with 12 months of supervision and a restriction of liberty order which will keep him indoors between 7pm and 7am for the next nine months.

The sheriff said: “There are a number of reasons why an offence of this nature may result

in a custodial disposal. Perhaps the most significant point is to deter others who may be inclined to behave in this manner – a manner that’s lewd, indecent and libidinous towards a girl aged 10 – and the conduct in this case was by somebody who was in a position of some trust.

“I also take into account that this matter was resolved without evidence being heard and, particularly, I take into account your present ailments including being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”

Buick was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

“The conduct in this case was by somebody who was in a position of some trust

CLOSED FOR GOOD: Buzz Bingo has announced its Glenrothes hall won’t be reopening.

The breakthrough has increased understanding.

INDECENT: School crossing patrolman Harry Buick admitted the offences in court.