Japanese-themed celebration at Coton Orchard
A flower-viewing event is taking place at an historic orchard to celebrate Anglo-Japanese relations.Coton Orchard, near Cambridge, is hosting a hanami - the Japanese tradition of enjoying blossoms in their spring-time bloom.Anna Gazeley, whose family owns the century-old site, said it was "a bit like being in Kyoto" when the flowers emerge.Saturday's event will be attended by representatives from the Sakura Cherry Tree Project - a charity that has donated more than 7,500 cherry trees across the country.
The project, which is supported by the Embassy of Japan in the UK, aims to celebrate friendship between the two countries.Sir Graham Fry, the former British ambassador to Japan, and his wife Lady Toyoko Fry, are set to help plant one of the trees.Ms Gazeley said: "We're going to get some of those trees planted, and dedicate them to some people in Coton and some people from further afield."She said the blossom was particularly vibrant this year thanks to the cold snap over winter, plenty of rainfall and the recent sunshine."It's just the right combination of weather, it's luck," she said.
The orchard will host traditional taiko drumming and there will be music played on the shamisen - a Japanese stringed instrument - along with poetry readings and Japanese arts and crafts.Ms Gazeley said some of Coton Orchard's volunteers would be invited to a picnic afterwards."We're going to do a traditional English picnic of scones and jam from fruit these trees produce – and we're also going to have some sushi," she said.
Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Stephen Graham had emergency operation on a plane to the US
Stephen Graham may be known for his intense on-screen performances, but his recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers showcased a very different side of the acclaimed British actor. A story the Adolescence star, 51, told on the show has gone viral online for good reason: It involves mid-air panic, unexpected medical heroics, and the actor 'dropping his kecks.' Prompted by Meyers' question about a particularly eventful journey to the United States, the A Thousand Blows star chuckled and admitted it had been 'a hell of an experience.' 'I'm of a certain age now,' Graham began. 'You know, once you hit 45, the trips to the loo start to rack up.' That complaint led the actor to seek a medical solution months prior – a non-invasive procedure designed to reduce frequent urination by slightly enlarging the prostate, often aided by a catheter. For a while, everything had been fine. That is, until Graham found himself at 10,000 feet and suddenly unable to urinate. 'It just didn't feel right,' he recalled. He returned to his seat and downed more water, hoping it would work itself out. But the next time he visited the toilet, things took a frightening turn. 'Long story short, I went, but it was just pure blood,' he said. 'It was very scary. I couldn't stop this trajectory of blood and I'm having a slight panic attack. I'm about to cry and I'm having a moment,' Graham added. Earlier that day, Graham had posed for a selfie at the gate with a fan, who, as luck would have it, was a doctor. Even better? The doctor's travel companion was a surgeon. Once the severity of Graham's situation became clear, the cabin crew sprang into action. 'Next minute, the doctor comes around the corner and goes, 'Stephen!' and I'm like, 'Doc! Hello!'' What happened next could rival the drama of any Graham-led series. The space between economy and first class was hastily converted into an operating bay. Curtains were drawn, medical kits opened, and the lounge area sterilized. More Trending 'I dropped me kecks, got on the couch, and they performed a catheter procedure right there,' Graham said. The cause? A blood clot that had lodged behind his urethra. But once it was removed, Graham described the relief in the most Graham way possible: 'It was one of the nicest experiences with me and my penis,' he quipped, grinning. 'I came running out like a kid who'd just learned to use the toilet.' He also made sure to commemorate the surreal incident: 'We took a photo at the end, me, the doctors, and the flight crew. Wonderful people.' What could have been a nightmare turned into a memorable, oddly uplifting tale of mid-air humanity – and one more reason fans continue to love Stephen Graham. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Stephen Graham has an idea of where Adolescence season 2 could go
The Courier
3 hours ago
- The Courier
Perthshire fashion designer's journey to dressing Taylor Swift and £2m turnover
At secondary school in Perth, Jade Robertson was known for customising her uniform. Fast forward two decades and her flair for design caught the eye of one of the world's top pop stars. Orders for Jade's Perthshire-based fashion brand 'skyrocketed' when Taylor Swift was spotted in one of her velvet dresses last year. However, the incredible success of Little Lies is down to far more than just the so-called 'Taylor effect'. Founded in 2015 by Jade and husband Stuart Robertson, the business – which specialises in bohemian, 70s inspired styles – turned over £2 million last year. It began as a small, online boutique operating out of the couple's bedroom. Clothes, while carefully curated, were bought in from wholesalers. However, since 2023, Little Lies, headquartered in Glencarse, has been selling solely its own creations. Jade, 35, will share more about her remarkable story at this month's Courier Business Conference. The event, on Tuesday June 24, is held in partnership with Henderson Loggie and brings together pioneers of gaming, music, fashion, design, media, and digital innovation in Dundee to explore the future Scotland's creative sector. Speaking to The Courier from her Little Lies HQ this week, Jade said: 'So much has changed since we started Little Lies 10 years ago but the ethos remains the same. 'For me, it has always been about helping women of all ages and sizes express their authentic selves and feel comfortable in clothes that are made for their bodies. 'Little Lies isn't a brand that chases trends. 'We are inspired by the music and free spirit of the 70s but want our pieces to feel timeless and be worn again and again. 'The antithesis of fast fashion, we care about quality and fit and use reputable factories.' Perth-born Jade credits her aunt Eve Graham, who sang lead vocals with the New Seekers, with inspiring her love of 70s music and fashion. Jade would dress up in songstress' vintage stage wear and listen intently to tales of parties with the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. She recalls: 'As a young girl my aunt's influence was huge and definitely got me hooked on the music and style of that era. 'I've always had my own unique style. I used to customise my own clothes, including my school uniform, and at one point wore bright pink shoes to school.' Attending Craigie Primary School and Perth High School, Jade excelled in art, music and English and took part in the school drama shows. But despite an impressive haul of Higher results, she decided to leave after fifth year to run a charity fashion show, Rock the Catwalk. Jade immersed herself in the planning and staging of popular event at Perth Concert Hall for four years – even roping her architect dad, Billy, in to be a model. At 21, she decided to apply to the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow to study technical theatre – but the degree wasn't quite what she expected. 'I loved working behind the scenes at the Concert Hall and decided I wanted to learn how to do all the technical jobs. 'I enjoyed much of my time at the Conservatoire but after two years I realised it wasn't for me and I was going to end up a qualified electrician rather than doing something creative.' Never one to be doing just one thing, Jade's 'side hustle' came to her rescue. She continued: 'I had been making tie dye t-shirts so I started to make more of them and sold them to independent shops to cover the remainder of my rent.' After a brief stint with Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance, she began working in a boutique in Dunfermline, which stocked her t-shirts. It was there, she met her now husband, Stuart, 38, who was friends with the owner. The pair immediately clicked and within a matter of months Stuart had persuaded Jade to set up her own business. Jade said: 'I remember the moment we decided to go for it. We were driving back from a gig and Stuart said he would support me all the way. 'I have always been quite spontaneous but I think I needed that push from him to realise I could make it work. 'Little Lies has been a joint project from day one and I'm so grateful for Stuart's support.' Starting small, Jade set up Little Lies as an online boutique in 2015, sourcing garments that both fit her aesthetic and she knew women would feel good in. She bought a small van and attended tattoo conventions and held local pop-up shops at Aviva and SSE's Perth offices. At the start of 2018 she opened a small standalone Little Lies store in Dundee. While Jade loved chatting to customers on the shop floor and helping them chose outfits, running costs and profitability were a struggle and she made the decision not to open again after the pandemic. However as one door closed, another opened and soon after she got the keys to the current Glencarse unit, Little Lies began selling its own designs. There were a number of reasons Jade was keen to start designing, notably to offer better size inclusivity. She explained: 'Our clothes now come in sizes 6 to 24 and in two different lengths. 'It's important to me to cater to everyone and while the average women's size in the UK is a 16, it can be hard to source over a 14. 'Now sizes 14 to 18 are my biggest sellers.' Turnover was steadily increasing year-on-year until January 2024 when Taylor Swift was spotted wearing Little Lies' Sweet Jane olive crushed mini dress on a night out in Brooklyn. Orders and pre-orders flew in from across the globe and Little Lies met its monthly target within 24 hours. Jade said: 'We usually sell 200 to 300 per style but we sold 6,000 Sweet Jane mini dresses. It was incredible. 'Taylor is the perfect ambassador for the brand. She embodies female empowerment, is unapologetically herself and has strong value that she stands up for. 'She didn't just wear our dress, she wore an affordable £58 dress from a tiny, Scottish female owned brand that comes in inclusive sizes. 'The Taylor effect was a flash in the pan moment in terms of long-term sales but it increased brand visibility and has given me new opportunities to share my story, such as the Courier Business Conference.' Jade, who was recently asked to design St Johnstone FCs third kit, is excited about the future of Little Lies but is also enjoying the 'stability' that 10 years in business brings. Mum to two-year-old Naila, her work/life balance is more than important than ever and her weekends now involve more soft play trips than gigs. She added: 'I used to hate the 9-5 but am now glad to be able to have my evenings and weekends free to be with my family. 'Running your own brand can be stressful so I am happy to be in a stable place right now and work on slow growth and releasing collections I really love.' The Courier Business Conference will also hear from Dundee games boss Chris van der Kuyl who will demonstrate a new virtual design studio and his company, 4J Studios' new game. Held at The Big Real at Water's Edge in Dundee, the keynote speaker will be Geoff Ellis, chief executive of DF Concerts, who will reflect on his career putting on high profile music events including T in the Park and TRNSMT. Tickets are available from
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I was on the X Factor - nothing was real and the judges were actors'
The X Factor has been a staple of British television since it launched in 2004, and now a former contestant has spoken out on what really goes on behind the scenes of the show The X Factor has been on our screens for many years, showcasing fresh talent every year. For many Brits, it's a yearly tradition - that one show we can all get behind when it returns. But one former contestant has now broken his silence, and what he says about the show might just make you see it in a different way. Wagner, who became a wildcard favourite back in 2010, didn't quite make the final - but he still managed to leave his mark until he was booted out of the quarter final. That season saw Matt Cardle crowned as the winner and One Direction launching into stardom. READ MORE: 'Saviour in a bottle' Elizabeth Arden anti-ageing cream slashed to £44 in deal stack More than a decade on, Wagner has come forward with bold claims about what really went on behind the scenes and according to him, it wasn't the mentors calling the shots - it was all in the hand of the producers. ''The judges are actors', he claimed. 'It was a reality TV show but nothing is real... Everything is planned in advance and my contact with Louis was just for cameras.' He also went on to reveal his vocal coach felt more of a mentor than his mentor Louis. During his time on the show, critics launched an internet campaign for him to win the show, just as a way to 'p*ss off Simon'. But his journey came to an end, when he was voted out in sixth place after a sing off with Mary Byrne. He went on to say that his vocal coach felt more like a mentor than Louis Walsh and he's not even convinced the judges even picked the songs. 'I'm sure the producers would pick the songs for us,' he said And the critique is allegedly just as scripted. Wagner claimed producers would ask the vocal coaches for feedback and then hand it over to the judges to deliver on air. 'They would look at the camera, but every now and then they would look away and read the script. Some would look more than others!' he said He also suggested the panel - once made up of Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh - slowly changed into "anyone can be a judge". 'The script was to make sure the entertainment would keep going because they couldn't rely on the judges to be witty or quick thinking.' At the time, Simon claimed an the attempt to derail the show had failed. 'There were people out there trying to derail this show, we've put this show back in the hands of the public.' But Wagner says otherwise 'It's not democracy, it's showbusiness', he said. 'They knew that they wanted to promote One Direction and everybody else were just extras in the play.' He claimed that on the day he was sent home, a merchandising staff member told him he'd sold out of his official merchandise and had been leading the vote; however there is no suggestion the votes were rigged. Wagner also revealed that Louis faked interactions between the pair. In every episode, Louis kept mispronouncing his name, saying it like Wag-nah rather than the correct Vawg-ner. 'It was a joke that Louis agreed with me!" Wagner explained. "He said 'I'm gonna call you Wagner all the time and you're gonna say Louis, my name is Vawg-ner'". He said: 'That was fun and it was Louis' idea. It was smart.' However despite his claims, it is clear The X Factor helped to launch household names like Little Mix, Olly Murs and Alexandra Burke. But over the years, stories emerged about the show's darker side - with some former stars alleging scenes were staged to boost ratings. Despite missing out on the top spot, Wagner made the most of his fame - raking in cash from personalised video messages for fans. 'From the videos I would get £100,000 a year', he said. But when the money started to dry up, he switched careers - trying his hand at running a hair transplant in Brazil. It wasn't for him, and he eventually returned to the UK to launch his band - Kings with Wings: The Wagner Rock Band - a name inspired by his love of birdwatching. 'I got lots of bookings', he said, 'but I felt so awkward singing She Bangs, because my God, that is a stupid song but people love it.' Now, Wagner is writing his own setlist performing great songs by legends like The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Marley.
