DIVERSITY throughout Haddington and the surrounding villages will be celebrated at a special event this evening (Thursday).

Knox Academy is hosting the diversity evening, which will be attended by Scottish mountaineer Jamie Andrew, who has no hands or feet, and scientist and human rights activist Sir Geoff Palmer.

The evening will focus on a range of topics – from an international food market to cultural celebrations – and is open to the public.

Sue Cook, headteacher at the Haddington secondary school, was confident it would be “a memorable evening”.

Ms Cook, who has held a similar event at Leith Academy, said: “Our diversity evening follows on from a focus, throughout this session at Knox Academy, on our cultural heritage, Black Lives Matter, additional support needs, neurodiversity and our work in achieving our LGBTQ Silver Charter award.

“This evening offers a time for our community to come together to celebrate our diversity through workshops, a marketplace and tasting foods from around the world at our food court.

“The evening will culminate in a show featuring acts with a diverse theme and words of wisdom from our guest speakers, Jamie Andrew and Sir Geoff Palmer.

“A very enjoyable and educational night is in store and I hope as many of our community as possible can attend.”

Tickets for the evening show, which gets under way at 7pm, are £5/£3.

Acts include the Chinese Lion – celebrating Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit – as well as the school’s Gospel choir, jazz band and other acts with diverse themes, and an act from each of the school’s associated primary schools.

Jamie Andrew almost died after he and his climbing partner, Jamie Fisher, were caught for five days in a terrible storm after completing the north face of Les Droites in the French Alps.

Tragically, Jamie Fisher died, while Jamie Andrew survived despite severe frostbite and hypothermia.

Later in hospital, his hands and feet had to be amputated.

Since then, he has taken part in skiing, snowboarding and paragliding, as well as returning to mountaineering and walking up Ben Nevis to raise £15,000 for charity.

Meanwhile, Sir Geoff is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University.

He previously highlighted the county’s links to slavery, including James Wedderburn, a plantation and slave owner, who lived in Inveresk Lodge, near Musselburgh.

The evening starts at 5pm with a series of free workshops, ranging from Chinese calligraphy, British Sign Language and samba drumming to yoga, aromatherapy and mindfulness.

Ms Cook said: “Many of our local businesses will support this venture and we are expecting Caffe Luca and East Lothian Deli Box to be present, along with other eateries, and we will also be serving our famous Scottish dish of haggis, neeps and tatties.

“Love Ice Cream will also be present for those with a sweet tooth.

“This will allow everyone to taste a variety of foods from countries around the world and also to come and enjoy your evening meal.

“There will also be an opportunity to buy products from some of the stalls (jewellery, nature oils and other produce grown or developed locally), take part in games and purchase raffle tickets to win fantastic prizes.

“A number of charities will also be present to talk about their work, such as Water Aid and Guide Dogs for the Blind (and a chance to meet some of the puppies and dogs who are being trained or are trained for this role).”

People are urged to bring along cash to the event for any purchases, with money raised on the night going towards a variety of charitable causes and the school’s inclusion fund.