British forces tests readiness to support NATO allies
This is the first time the Essex base has given media access to the operation, despite it being an annual drill.
The 16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army's instant response force.Its commander, Brig Ed Cartwright, 46, was at the barracks overseeing the exercise, which he said applied to both combat and humanitarian missions."In this instance... we're deploying elements of the brigade to Estonia to reinforce the first Estonian Brigade in a deterrent role against Russia, so stopping Russia conducting an act of aggression against Estonia."In a real scenario, the brigade would travel to South Cerney, Gloucestershire, from where it would fly to its destination and deploy.Brig Cartwright said being "ready" was both a physical and mental thing."It's about having your bags packed, your documentation in order. You've had your your jabs, your inoculations, you've had your dental tests in your medical, you're medically fit to deploy."
Maj Aaron Nunkoosing, 37, said: "(The) guys will drop everything, drop what they're doing, wherever they may be."He said the brigade's speed and efficiency was on display during Operation Pitting in 2021, the evacuation from Kabul.Maj Nunkoosing said he was looking after his son at the time of the call to join the operation."We had to drop everything... put him in a cab with my parents and his stepmother and then that was me on the way to the airport," he said."Twenty-four hours later I was in Afghanistan."
L/Cpl Kierin Clark, 28, is in charge of personnel administration."With my job, everybody thinks I'm used to sitting by a computer - I'm not," she said."We are also known as combat clerks as well, so we operate in the field, whether that's by someone's side or sitting in a command post doing who knows what."My step count is around 18,000 a day, so that just shows I'm not just sitting at a computer desk."
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The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
Psychologist who worked with the Radfords reveals early trauma led to brood of 22… & how it became their secret weapon
WITH 22 kids the biggest question many people want to ask the Radfords is, 'why?' The huge brood is an eye-watering thought for most, but Sue and Noel, who were childhood sweethearts, were determined to have as big a family as possible. 10 10 10 And, in a rare twist, both were adopted as babies, leading many to wonder if that was the reasoning behind their decision to create Britain's biggest brood. The couple have always denied that their own adoptions had anything to do with their wish to have two football teams of children. But psychologist Jo Hemmings, who worked with the family on their show 22 Kids and Counting, says that there could be deep-rooted reasons linked to their adoption journeys that may have had a subconscious influence. She says people who have been adopted often feel a great sense of comfort when they have a child of their own, to finally have a connection with a blood relative. 'That is quite important,' she explains. 'Because they are both adopted I think that sense of having their own children together would have had much more significance, but not necessarily 22 of them. 'There isn't any science to back it up and say that either one or both parents that come from adoptive families are more likely each to have more birth children of their own. 'What there is some evidence of is that adopted children tend to be brought up in better socio-economic circumstances by their adoptive parents, so they are given a really stable upbringing, perhaps better education. "A lot is put into their upbringing partly because their parents have chosen them rather than given birth to them. 'So there is something in that. If they both grew up in good, stable adoptive families, they feel they have got as much to give back as they had in their own childhoods.' Despite this, Noel, 54, dismissed links between their adoptions and their huge brood in the couple's book, The Radfords: Making Life Count. Mum-of-22 Sue Radford says she'll NEVER meet her birth mum & it's caused 'disagreements' with Noel, who's also adopted He wrote in one chapter: "A lot of amateur psychologists may think the reason me and Sue have had lots of kids must be linked to the fact we were both adopted, but I don't think there is any connection. "Unless someone comes along and sticks some electrodes on our heads, and says after doing some tests, 'Oh, this is why you've got so many kids,' we're just not going to believe any of those theories.' And wife Sue, 50, agreed, saying: 'No, there is nothing in that - because I don't even think about my birth parents. I don't give the fact that I was adopted any thought at all, and never have.' While Sue has always said she has no desire to find her birth parents, Noel met his birth mother earlier this year, with their reunion televised in the latest series of their TV show. Sense of connection 10 10 Noel and Sue are childhood sweethearts, having met when she was just seven and he was 11. Sue fell pregnant with first child Christopher when she was 13 years old. The couple married three years later and then the children kept on coming. Jo says the couple share a deep bond and work together as a team. 'When you speak to them, they say no it is nothing to do with the psychology of us being adopted, it absolutely is because we felt we have a lot to give, we adore children - Sue especially adores babies," she says. "I don't think their intention was to have so many children, but it worked out for them. 'When I have talked to them one thing that comes across is how incredibly gentle and calm they are. You don't see that in many parents who have three, four or five kids, never mind 22 of them. 'There is just that feeling that they had so much to give, they love bringing up children. "They don't claim benefits. They have made money over the years with Noel's successful bakery business and because their TV series have become so successful they have become influencers, in a way. 'I just think they are a remarkable family who have this presence about them. I'm sure there is chaos at times, but when you see them with their children, you don't see it. "They are good, solid, stable, parents, which is amazing. 'They are very straight-talking, they are very resilient. So when there have been problems, you feel that they are a very strong couple together. "Also they are talkers. They sit down and say, 'What are we going to do about this?' They are very open and candid with their children and will talk everything over with them. "They always bounce back and they have this lovely soft energy about them which makes them work brilliantly together as parents.' Driving force Jo believes the Radfords' incredible parenting skills stem from their own upbringings in their loving, adoptive families. She says: 'Sue was very young when she had her first child. I think their driving force is that they badly wanted to be parents. "I know they are at pains to deny that it is anything to do with the adoptions, and I don't want to go against what they say, but knowing that you can give a large number of children a very stable, productive and healthy upbringing would probably have come from the upbringings they had. 'Often adoptive parents put the extra mile in, they over-compensate for the sadness that they didn't grow up with their birth families. "I think a lot of it comes from the happiness and security that they had when they were growing up.' For years, both Noel and Sue had been adamant that they didn't want to trace their birth families, saying they regarded their adoptive parents as their mums and dads and had idyllic upbringings. But Jo says their background of both being adopted will have made them kindred spirits. 'I don't know how rare it is for two adopted people to get married, but it would have been one of the early conversations they had when they first met,' she explains. 'It would have been one of those bonding things, those shared values, that make relationships solid. "I think having that in common would have been a really important thing for them as they both knew implicitly how the other one might have felt growing up. "I think they were very similar in their views. I think they had all agreed at the time that they had both had such wonderful childhoods, there was no need or drive to seek where they were from.' Meet the Radford children Christopher, 36 The oldest Radford child, Chris works as a glazier and is married to Nicole Spencer. They have three children: Maise-Paige, eight, Jacob, five, and Oakland, three. Sophie Rose, 31 Sophie has her own cleaning company, Time for Sparkle, and shares three children with husband Joseph Bradley: Daisy, 12, Ayprill, 10, and Leo, nine. Chloe Anne, 29 Chloe's a make-up artist and is mum to daughter Milla, two, and son Bodhi, three months, with her boyfriend, Jake Wallace. Jack Richard, 28 Publicity-shy Jack prefers to stay out of the limelight, and hasn't publicly shared his relationship status or career. Daniel Leon, 26 After training to be in the RAF, Daniel had a near-fatal car crash in Bristol, which played out on his parents' TV show. He overcame his subsequent fear of driving in order to emigrate to Australia. Luke James, 24 Luke came out to his parents as bisexual in 2021 - warming viewers' hearts after Sue and Noel attended a Pride festival with him that summer. He works for the family's pie business. Millie Jo, 23 Millie is married to Harley Passmore and is mum to three children: Ophelia, four (from a previous relationship), and Chester, three, and Elodie, one (whom she shares with Harley). Katie Louise, 22 Katie works at a nursery and shares one nine-month-old son, Ronnie, with her boyfriend Connor Carter. James Edward, 21 James is busy working in the family's pie shop and hopes to run it someday. Ellie May, 20 Ellie's training to be a hairdresser, and has also worked part-time in a hotel housekeeping job. Aimee Elizabeth, 19 Aimee's also qualified to be a hairstylist and has famously practised her skills on family members in video clips. Josh Benjamin, 18 According to his parents, Josh was a 'nightmare' at school and he didn't commit to his studies - but that all changed when he found his passion as a sports coach. Max Joseph, 16 Max was diagnosed with autism in 2021, and has since struggled with socialising. Working in the pie shop has apparently helped him. Tillie May, 15 One of Tillie's legs stopped growing when she was just 18 months old, due to an infection. In 2019, she was fitted with a frame to help strengthen the limb, but - last year - it was revealed she'd need further treatment and potential surgery. Oscar Will, 13 Oscar has been described as having 'incredible initiative' at school. Casper Theo, 12 Casper always dreamt of being a footballer, but was gutted on his family's show when he didn't make it into a Premier League club's youth team. Alfie Thomas Alfie would have been the Radfords' 17th child, but he was tragically stillborn at three months. The Radfords refer to him as their 'missing heartbeat'. Hallie Alphia Beau, 10 Hallie's middle name was given in tribute to her late brother, who died just a year before her birth. Phoebe Willow, eight Phoebe has been awarded prizes at school for her achievements, much to her parents' pride. Archie Rowan, seven As the 20th Radford baby, Archie was expected to be the last - marking 'a nice, even number' in Sue's words. Bonnie Raye, six Again, Bonnie was expected to 'finish' the brood, but plans changed. Heidie Rose, five The youngest Radford child, mum Sue has since insisted: 'No, that's it now!' Tragic discovery Things changed for Noel in 2023 when the couple's teenage daughter Ellie was found to have the hereditary liver disorder Gilbert's Syndrome. The couple were tested and Noel was found to be a carrier. He said at the time: 'It's got me thinking, we're both adopted and we know absolutely nothing about our medical history at all. 'I'd quite like to find out more about my family, where I'm from, just anything about myself. 'It might tell me a bit more about who I am, where I'm from, possibly my birth parents. Now, as I'm getting older, I do think about it a bit more often.' Fighting back tears he added: 'I don't even know why I don't like talking about it. I just don't like it. "I have a lot of respect for my mum and dad.' In the opening episode of the latest series of 22 Kids and Counting, Noel reveals he met his birth mother for the first time - and she was shocked by the news of his huge family. He told The Sun: 'It was emotional meeting her and I was nervous beforehand. "You don't know what she is going to look or sound like, and how she will react. "A lot was going through my head, but she was so lovely and so glad to see me. We were with each other for a couple of hours.' His mum, who chose to stay anonymous in the show, told him she was forced to give him up at 17 after she split from his birth father. He added: 'As I have got older, I have been curious to find her,' Noel explains. 'I'm only ever going to have one chance and I've got no regrets that I have.' 10 10 10
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
A spoonful of 89p Aldi bakery staple will fix bald, brown patches on your lawn WITHOUT having to returf
PREPPING for summer activities includes making sure your lawn looks as pristine as it can be. And luckily, you can do just that with just a spoonful of a cheap 89p Aldi bakery staple. 4 Getting the ideal lawn means fighting against moss, fungal infections, and numerous insects determined to leave it looking sparse and uneven. But we have an affordable and easy method to immediately enhance your lawn's appearance whilst deterring nuisances and making your grass look greener. The 89p Hack Gardeners are being urged to sprinkle cinnamon powder on their lawns this summer because it's a cheap and easy way to instantly boost the look of your lawn. Cinnamon isn't just a spice to season food, but it actually contains some properties that make your lawn look better. According to cinnamon is a good eco-friendly alternative to spraying chemicals on a lawn which will repel insects and pests, including ants, aphids and mosquitoes. But it will also stop squirrels from digging in your lawn to bury food too reports The Express. It says: 'Sprinkling cinnamon on your grass isn't just a quirky garden trick; it's a natural defence against a host of unwanted critters from industrious ants to delicate aphids to buzzing mosquitoes. 'Research, like a study featured in Molecules, suggests that cinnamon possesses remarkable properties. "That not only repel pests but can even deter insects from laying their eggs when applied in larger quantities. "This repellent effect can be attributed to the presence of potent compounds like cinnamaldehyde as well as terpenoids, known for their insecticidal properties." Wake up to a weed-free lawn for months thanks to Aldi's £10 gadget that pulls them out without bending or kneeling down Not a one-trick pony 4 Cinnamon isn't just a one-trick pony when it comes to pest control. The company said: "It boasts a versatile repertoire, capable of warding off and even deterring larger nuisances like squirrels and raccoons, making it a comprehensive solution for safeguarding the grass in your garden.' Cinnamon's anti-fungal properties also block the growth of moss, fungus and other harmful bacteria that would mean to do your lawn harm. It adds: 'Cinnamon doesn't just stop at repelling pests; it's also a powerful ally in combating harmful bacteria and fungi that threaten the health of your grass, as shown by a study in Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Gardening tips and hacks How to transform your garden on a cheap budget How to preserve your favourite flowers at home - 5 easy tips explained Which plants should I be wary about my dog being around? When is the best time to prune roses? When should I start planting daffodil bulbs? How high can a garden fence be and can it be taller than my neighbours? What colour of fence paint makes a garden look bigger? Will my garden plants still grow if my backyard doesn't receive any sun? "This aromatic spice has remarkable antimicrobial properties, primarily attributed to compounds like cinnamaldehyde. "When sprinkled onto your grass, cinnamon acts as a natural barrier, inhibiting the growth of detrimental bacteria in the soil.' So there you go - Cinnamon can stop mildew, and also stimulate plant growth for your grass and with Aldi selling it for only 89p - it's an easy gardening solution. Other garden hacks 4 Here are 7 simple hacks to get your garden summer-ready without breaking the bank. An old-wives hack that gets rid of rust from garden furniture for free – it used to be a gypsy secret but we are revealing all. The Queen of Clean's 5p hack that stops wasps & hornets attacking you in your garden – they get 'dizzy' & fly away. A cheap 30p hack that will transform patios and garden paths in seconds & make your outdoor space look very smart.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The olives in your kitchen cupboard are FAKE: Expert reveals the unsettling truth about black olives sold in UK supermarkets
Sometimes nothing satisfies a salt craving quite like some olives. But next time you reach for a can at the shops, you might want to look a bit closer at the ingredients list. Sophia Smith Galer, a British TikTok influencer and writer, warns that black olives are not quite what they seem. In her viral video, she explains that black olives are packed with additives to remove their bitterness and change their colour. It means olives marketed as black might not be naturally black at all. 'You're probably buying fake black olives from the supermarket,' she said in the clip, which has more than 119,000 views and 6,000 likes. Typically, in a cheap can of supermarket black olives, all the individual olives 'taste and look very similar', she explains. But that's because they're 'all turned the exact same black colour' with 'one particular ingredient'. It's a little-known fact that green olives are the ones that have been picked before they're fully ripe, whereas black olives have been left to ripen fully. Whether green or black, supermarket olives are often soaked in sodium hydroxide, which softens them and removes their bitterness. Professor Gunter Kuhnle, food scientist at the University of Reading, said sodium hydroxide is 'quite commonly used in food processing'. 'It's used for the processing of many grains such as maize, peeling of foods, but it's not that often on the label,' he told MailOnline. Lactic acid is also added to olives in brine, as it lowers their pH, acting as a natural preservative against the growth of unwanted pathogens. But there's another additive that you'll commonly find on the ingredients list of black olives – ferrous gluconate. Ferrous gluconate, an iron compound used in the olive industry, imparts a uniform jet black colour to the little round fruits. It means that black olives are often actually green ones that have had the black compound added to make them darker, the TikToker explains. 'Its job is to bind to compounds in the olives to oxidise them and turn them all into this uniform black colour,' explained Smith Galer, who is also a former fellow with Brown University's Information Futures Lab. 'Just because they're called black olives, doesn't mean they were naturally black – they weren't, they were green.' Ferrous gluconate (E579) is approved as a food additive by the Food Standards Agency in the UK and the Food and Drug Administration in the US. It is also used as a supplement to combat iron deficiency, but side effects can include nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. 'Proper' black olives without the additive will often be a little bit softer than green ones simply because they were left to ripen before being picked and processed. Although the influencer shows us a can of Waitrose black olives, other British big grocery giants sell black olives containing the additive too. MailOnline found Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco are selling their own brand of black olives containing the 'stabiliser' ferrous gluconate. MailOnline has contacted all four of the supermarkets for comment. MailOnline found ferrous gluconate in supermarket-brand black olives sold by Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda Not all black olives from these supermarkets will contain ferrous gluconate, however. Many black olives of a good enough quality will have been properly left to ripen before picking, packing and shipping. Naturally black olives (those left to ripen) tend to be sweeter and slightly softer, with less bitterness compared to green olives. For example, at the end of the video clip, Smith Galer eats Beldi olives from Morocco, a naturally-wrinkly variety served cured in salt. 'You can if you want buy real black olives in the supermarket,' she adds. 'Those are the real things.' Herby fraud: One in four samples of sage contain the leaves of other plants, study finds Sage is known as one of the most versatile herbs in the kitchen, adding a punch of flavour to sauces, meats and puddings. But when you purchase a jar of sage at the supermarket, you might not be getting your money's worth. More than a quarter of samples of the popular herb contain leaves from other plants, according to a 2020 analysis. Lab tests have shown that just over 25 per cent of analysed sage samples were heavily adulterated with leaves from other trees. One of the 'sage' samples was made up of just 42 per cent sage and an astonishing 58 per cent other leaves, some unknown.
