Kidderminster Town Hall improvements are a 'game-changer'
Mr Smith said Kidderminster Town Council originally looked at future-proofing the town hall about six years ago. The town hall secured £8.5m through the government's Levelling Up Fund after proposals were first put forward in 2021.The redevelopment will see a complete refurbishment of the café area, transforming it into an indoor and outdoor space which can be further divided into separate areas for group entertainment.Throughout the building there are upgrades to the mechanical and electrical services, including the installation of a new lift, improved disabled entrances and refurbishment of ground floor toilet areas. The King Charles suite roof is also being restored, with improvements in insulation features to make the room more energy-efficient and welcoming.Mr Smith said: "Hopefully this will regenerate the town, that's what we've got to think. Hopefully people will start coming out into town with more bars open, more cafes open."That's the idea and the plan," he added.
The town hall is also the home to a William Hill organ, which the town hall manager said he was "very proud" of.The organ was built by a renowned Victorian organ builder and Mr Smith said: "It's one of the few surviving William Hill organs that has been preserved to its original form."
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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
New picture of Anne and husband released ahead of her 75th birthday
The Princess Royal's forthcoming 75th birthday has been marked by the release of a new photograph of the King's sister with her husband. Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence have been pictured on the night of a Windsor Castle state banquet, held by the King in July in honour of France's President Emmanuel Macron who was making a state visit to the UK at the time. The princess is shown wearing her banquet gown and regalia, Order of the Garter Sash and Star, Order of the Thistle Star, King's Family Order and Royal Family Order from Queen Elizabeth II. Ahead of her birthday next week, the princess has been hailed for her non-political royal soft power and 'amazing' stamina during her decades of duty. Charity leaders who work closely with the King's sister revealed she cares deeply about the state of Britain amid the current climate of challenges facing the world. As the princess approaches her personal milestone on Friday, the woman often labelled the hardest-working royal is said to be, rather than slowing down, doing more than ever. She has, those who know her recounted in celebration of her birthday, a 'wicked wit', a practical approach to problems, and a flair for 'not always agreeing' with what they say. Save The Children UK chief executive Moazzam Malik praised the 'self-effacing' princess for her influential 'soft support', adding 'you can see that she cares' about the state of the nation and the world, and in particular for children experiencing adversity. Mr Malik told the PA news agency: 'Obviously, as a royal, she's not a political figure, but her soft support for us is very inspiring for us as an organisation and for our collaborators and partners.' He added: 'She's very low key. She's self-effacing. 'She doesn't want to kind of take the limelight, but she's very committed … You can see that she cares about the state of Britain and the state of the world. 'There's a lot of challenges for us as a country, and indeed, a lot of challenges for children at a time of great geopolitical challenge. And she cares.' Anne has been involved with Save the Children UK for 55 years, first becoming its president in 1970 in her first ever charity role in the year she turned 20, then as patron from 2017, taking over from her mother Queen Elizabeth II. Mr Malik said the princess had met some 27,000 of the organisation's supporters and helped raise tens of millions of pounds over the years. She spends a large amount of time visiting Save The Children's projects in the UK where one in three children are growing up in relative poverty, and overseas, having travelled to countries such as Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with one in 11 children globally in need of humanitarian assistance, he said. Mr Malik added: 'She's one of our chief supporters, and it's great to have somebody like that you know who will keep nudging you forward.' Tanya Curry, chief executive of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of which Anne became patron in 2008, suggested the princess had increased her workload ahead of turning 75, rather than reducing it. 'I think she's probably done a lot more for us actually, and the kind of stamina that she brings to that, mentally and physically, is amazing,' Ms Curry said. She added: 'She's working incredibly hard, and she positions the royal family in such a great way that people really understand and really can see the work that she's doing.' Anne is a key member of her brother the King's slimmed-down working monarchy and played an essential role when she stepped up in support of Charles following his cancer diagnosis. In June 2024, she was rushed to intensive care after she was believed to have been struck by a horse on her Gatcombe Park estate. But the princess, who was back at royal duties less than three weeks later, revealed she has no memory of the incident but now views every day as a 'bonus'. Michael Baker, chief executive of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), said Anne, who has been involved with the organisation since 1971, was determined to attend its national championships for her first return engagement after her admission to hospital. 'She wanted to be there and come what may she was going to be with us, and that was so powerful because it was clearly a determined effort to be there as the first visit back…,' he said. 'That was very deliberate on her part … and even on that day, she stayed well over her time period.' Mr Baker told of the princess's 'great wicked wit', adding: 'She's the first person to put everyone at ease with a quick one-liner or something that really gets to the heart of something.' The princess supports more than 300 charities and organisations, and earlier this year brought many of them together at a special Buckingham Palace forum, insisting this was the only way she wished to mark her forthcoming 75th birthday. Lord Kakkar, chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 of which Anne is president, highlighted the princess's practical approach and likened her to her father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, for her ability to talk in depth about science, engineering and technology. He said the princess was 'very deeply committed' to the commission's values in order to have a 'profound impact on the lives of people in our country', and around the world. The commission, set up by Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert at the time of the Great Exhibition, awards around 35 postgraduate fellowships and scholarships a year for advanced research in science, engineering, the built environment and design. Lord Kakkar said of Albert's vision: 'Her Royal Highness is very, very deeply committed and that is really, ultimately, doing all of this so it has a profound impact on the lives of people in our country, throughout the Commonwealth, indeed, throughout the world.' The princess, known for her forthright manner, does not always agree with other people's conclusions, he suggested. 'That is very much the approach that (the Duke of Edinburgh) took and that Her Royal Highness takes, to be interested,' Lord Kakkar added. 'What one sees in the conversations is a genuine fascination and interest in the issues, not always agreeing with the conclusions, but always being able to, with that demonstration of having prepared properly, having thought carefully, being able to engage in a meaningful conversation.'
The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
From classic quotes to actor anagrams & roles that never were, try our movie quiz to see if you're film buff or bluffer
FROM classic cinema to famous quotes, how much do you really know about the world of feature films? Whether it's Hollywood directors, actor anagrams or movie roles that never were, The Movie Lover's Quiz Book will test your picture house prowess over 20 cine-themed rounds. 22 Here, Laura Stott shares some extracted questions to see how you fare. Check your answers below. Lights, camera, action . . . The Movie Lover's Quiz Book, by Gary Wigglesworth, (Octopus Books, £14.99) is out on September 11. Preorder now at Waterstones. FAMOUS QUOTES 22 22 22 WHAT films are the following quotes from? 1) I FEEL the need . . . the need for speed! a) Top Gun (1986) b) Le Mans (1971) c) Speed (1994) d) Quadrophenia (1979) 2) OH yeah, who's the only one here who knows secret ninja moves from the government? a) Napoleon Dynamite (2004) James Bond actor Rory Kinnear stars as 'Tanner' alongside Daniel Craig in Skyfall b) Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997) c) Iron Man (2008) d) Skyfall (2012) 3) GET busy living, or get busy dying. a) As Good As It Gets (1997) b) The Shawshank Redemption (1994) c) The Color Purple (1985) d) Dawn Of The Dead (1978) 4) HE'S not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! a) South Park (1999) b) Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979) c) Bruce Almighty (2003) d) The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988) 5) THAT'S the way it crumbles, cookie-wise. a) The Maltese Falcon (1941) b) Forrest Gump (1994) c) The Apartment (1960) d) The Menu (2022) 6) AS God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again. a) The Grapes Of Wrath (1940) b) Saltburn (2023) c) Gone With The Wind (1939) d) Pink Flamingos (1972) MULTIPLE CHOICE 22 1) WHICH of these 'Last' films was released first? a) The Last Of The Mohicans b) Last Tango In Paris c) Last Exit To Brooklyn 2) WHICH of these child stars was born first? a) Haley Joel Osment b) Daniel Radcliffe c) Macaulay Culkin 3) WHICH of these cartoon characters appeared on cinema screens first? a) Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story) b) Remy (Ratatouille) c) Shrek 4) WHICH of these actors was first to win an Oscar? a) Michael Caine b) Anthony Hopkins c) Meryl Streep 5) WHICH of these actors named Tom was born first? a) Tom Hardy b) Tom Cruise c) Tom Hanks 6) WHICH school-based film was released first? a) The Breakfast Club b) Napoleon Dynamite c) Heathers ODD ONE OUT 22 22 22 1) WHICH of these films was not directed by Spike Lee? a) He Got Game (1998) b) She's Gotta Have it (1986) c) They Live (1988) 2) WHICH of these films was not directed by Alfred Hitchcock? a) The Lady Vanishes (1938) b) Woman Of The Year (1942) c) The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) 3) Which of these films was not directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu? a) Babylon (2022) b) Birdman (2014) c) Babel (2006) 4) WHICH of these films was not directed by Denis Villeneuve? a) Dune (2021) b) Arrival (2016) c) Interstellar (2014) 5) WHICH film was not directed by Sofia Coppola? a) Frida (2002) b) Priscilla (2023) c) Marie-Antoinette (2006) 6) WHICH film was not directed by David Lynch? a) Mulholland Drive (2001) b) Lost Highway (1997) c) The Road (2009) WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 22 1) WHICH of these roles did Sean Connery turn down? a) Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in The French Connection (1971) b) Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001- 2003) c) Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971) 2) WHICH of these roles did Daniel Day-Lewis turn down? a) Withnail in Withnail And I (1987) b) Francis 'Franco' Begbie in Trainspotting (1996) c) Edward Scissorhands (1990) 3) WHICH of these roles did Russell Crowe turn down? a) Judge Dredd in Dredd (2012) b) Wolverine in X-Men (2000) c) Iron Man (2008) 4) WHICH of these roles did Will Smith turn down? a) Blade (1998) b) Jack Ryan in Patriot Games (1992) c) Neo in The Matrix (1999) 5) WHICH of these roles did Doris Day turn down? a) Mrs Robinson in The Graduate (1967) b) Marion Crane in Psycho (1960) c) Baby Jane Hudson in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane (1962) 6) WHICH of these roles did Michael Keaton turn down? A) Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters (1984) b) Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels in Tootsie (1982) c) Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop (1984) GUESS THE YEAR 22 22 IN what year did the following events occur? 1) THE Bourne Identity, Ice Age, Die Another Day and Catch Me If You Can were released. A Beautiful Mind won Best Picture Oscar. Dudley Moore, Rosemary Clooney and Richard Harris passed away. Amelie became the highest-grossing French-language film in the US ever. 2) SEVEN, Toy Story, Bad Boys and GoldenEye were released. Forrest Gump won Best Picture Oscar. Lana Turner and Peter Cook passed away. Die Hard With A Vengeance was the top-grossing film worldwide. 3) TOOTSIE, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial and First Blood were released. Chariots Of Fire won Best Picture Oscar. Ingrid Bergman, Henry Fonda and Marty Feldman passed away. Eddie Redmayne and Kirsten Dunst were born. 4) DIAMONDS Are Forever, Get Carter, Dirty Harry and Bedknobs And Broomsticks were released. Ewan McGregor, Winona Ryder and Mark Wahlberg were born. Silent film legend Harold Lloyd passed away. 5) HOME Alone, Pretty Woman, Ghost and Total Recall were released. Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence and Dev Patel were born. Ava Gardner and Greta Garbo passed away. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman got married and released Days Of Thunder. 6) AVATAR, Up and The Hangover were released. Star Trek was rebooted with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk. Patrick Swayze passed away. BRAINSTORMING 22 1) WHICH singer and actor appeared in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Spice World (1997) and Fight Club (1999)? 2) WHAT comes next in this list of Bourne films? Legacy (2012), Ultimatum (2007) and Supremacy (2004)? 3) WHICH historical figure was played by Gerard Depardieu, Georges Corraface and Jim Dale in the same year? 4) WHAT colour appears in the title of films for Seth Rogen in 2011, Tom Hanks in 1999 and Dev Patel in 2021? 5) WHAT film was the first to be nominated for both Best Picture and Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards? 6) WHICH French cabaret connects films made by Sidney Lanfield, John Huston and Baz Luhrmann? 7) WHICH 1999 film has a 2001 sequel with the word 'Returns' in it? 8) IN a 1988 film, Steve Martin and Michael Caine were Dirty Rotten what? ACTOR ANAGRAMS UNSCRAMBLE these actors' names . . . 1) IT SCOWLED A TON 2) A NOMINAL PET RAT 3) WALTZ NEEDS HONING 4) LOP THE CHERRIES 5) FINDS A HORROR 6) ENTERS LOST VALLEYS MISSING WORDS FILL in the missing word to make a movie title. Each one has a theme. 1) THEME is weather a) Little Miss --- (2006) b) --- And Lightfoot (1974) c) A Mighty --- (2003) d) Black --- (1989) e) ---, Caesar! (2016) 2) THEME is bands with single-word names a) The African --- (1951) b) Punch-Drunk --- (2002) c) The Trial Of The --- 7 (2020) d) --- Of The Spider Woman (1985) e) --- Guy (2021) 3) THEME is birds a) Black --- (2010) b) Hudson --- (1991) c) The --- Kid (1984) d) Red --- (2018) e) The --- Has Landed (1976) 4) THEME is ice cream flavours a) --- Sky (2001) b) Like Water For --- (1992) c) --- Falls (1999) d) The --- Blonde (1941) e) --- And Cigarettes (2003) 5) THEME is relatives a) In The Name Of The --- (1993) b) Our Idiot --- (2011) c) All About My --- (1999) d) Coal Miner's --- (1980) e) --- Buck (1989) 6) THEME is shapes a) --- Of Sadness (2022) b) Dark --- (1974) c) --- Of Friends (1995) d) --- Of Iron (1977) e) Blood --- (2006) ANSWERS FAMOUS QUOTES: 1) A, Top Gun 2) A, Napoleon Dynamite 3) B, The Shawshank Redemption 4) B, Monty Python's Life Of Brian 5) C, The Apartment 6) C, Gone With The Wind. MULTIPLE CHOICE: 1) A, Last Tango In Paris 2) C, Macaulay Culkin 3) A, Buzz Lightyear 4) C, Meryl Streep 5) C, Tom Hanks 6) A, The Breakfast Club. ODD ONE OUT: 1) C, They Live 2) B, Woman Of The Year 3) A, Babylon 4) C, Interstellar 5) A, Frida 6) C, The Road. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: 1) B, Gandalf 2) A, Withnail 3) B, Wolverine 4) C, Neo 5) A, Mrs Robinson 6) A, Peter Venkman. GUESS THE YEAR: 1) 2002 2) 1995 3) 1982 4) 1971 5) 1990 6) 2009. BRAINSTORMING: 1) Meatloaf 2) Identity (2002) 3) Christopher Columbus 4) Green 5) Up (2009) 6) Moulin Rouge 7) The Mummy 8) Scoundrels. ACTOR ANAGRAMS: 1) Clint Eastwood 2) Natalie Portman 3) Denzel Washington 4) Christopher Lee 5) Harrison Ford 6) Sylvester Stallone. MISSING WORDS: 1) a) Sunshine b) Thunderbolt c) Wind d) Rain e) Hail 2) a) Queen b) Love c) Chicago d) Kiss e) Free 3) a) Swan b) Hawk c) Flamingo d) Sparrow e) Eagle 4) a) Vanilla b) Chocolate c) Cherry d) Strawberry e) Coffee 5) a) Father b) Brother c) Mother d) Daughter e) Uncle 6) a) Triangle b) Star c) Circle d) Cross e) Diamond.
The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
Clarkson's Farm star Harriet Cowan admits she is ‘not making any money from farming' despite show appearance
CLARKSON'S Farm star Harriet Cowen has opened up on how little the farming industry earns – revealing she makes no money. The 24-year-old made her debut on the latest season of Jeremy Clarkson' s beloved Prime Video documentary as a helping hand at Diddly Squat farm. 5 5 5 A social media star thanks to her TikToks dancing on her tractor, Harriet's main livelihood comes from farming, having grown up on her granddad's livestock farm. But Harriet revealed that the industry has little financial gain for the family, explaining it's a lifestyle more than a business. Speaking on BBC's Farmwatch, she explained: "We cannot reiterate how important this is for us, that we don't do this because it's going to make us money. Because probably 90% of farms do not make money from the farm, I know I don't." The Great British Bake Off's Mike Wilkins added it was because farmers don't pay themselves, with any money being fed back into the farm. Agreeing, Harriet added: "We just work for free seven days a week, and it becomes such a lonely, lonely place." "Profitability is so under pressure," added Mike. "Most farms aren't making any money, and people really are doing it because it's their lifestyle." Harriet joined the team at Diddly Squat Farm when regular face Kaleb Cooper was on tour promoting his book. Away from the series, Harriet is a full-time nurse as well as helping on her family's farm. A new series of Clarkson's Farm is currently being filmed, and promises to show the most brutal side of the farming world yet with Diddly Squat suffering due to weather and illness outbreaks including an outbreak of Bovine Tuberculosis. Earlier today, Jeremy shared they're preparing for a 'disastrous' harvest as a result of the issues they've faced. Jeremy Clarkson suffers another blow as he reveals beloved dog died as Diddly Squat closed for 2 MONTHS over TB outbreak "It looks like this year's harvest will be catastrophic," he wrote on X. "That should be a worry for anyone who eats food. "If a disaster on this scale had befallen any other industry, there would be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth." When one fan told him that this particular 'drama' will make 'good TV' in a future episode of Clarkson's Farm, the former Top Gear star replied: 'Yes. But most farms don't have TV shows to keep them going.' 5 5
