Caister-on-Sea house fire owners receive support from community
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Beach Road home at 11:30 BST on Wednesday 6 August, extinguishing it about an hour later.Norfolk Police said the cause was not thought to be suspicious.
The couple's son Garry Berger organised the online crowd-funder with a family friend, which described his parents as "the first to lend a hand, offer a meal or open their door to someone in need".The 28-year-old said the home and everything inside it had gone, and that he wanted to raise funds for essentials including clothing, temporary housing and food.Mr Berger acknowledged many people had been generous towards his parents, including the owner of a holiday chalet in nearby Scratby who offered a week's free accommodation.However, he said some had left critical comments online because the couple had not renewed their insurance cover."I know you're going to get those people - but there's just no understanding; no sympathy," said Mr Berger, who explained that he and his aunt Ms Steele were trying to protect his parents from the negative response.Ms Steele, 44, added: "I have to say, 99% have been absolutely amazing and I can't thank them enough."
The British Red Cross is among the organisations which offers support during the aftermath of a fire.The charity has staff and volunteers trained to offer emotional support and advice on next steps, advising that those without insurance would need to contact their local council for housing support.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
What your bouquet says about you: Secret meanings behind flowers and the variety you should NEVER send
There are few gifts more universally perfect than a bouquet of flowers - whether it be for romance, an apology, or just a thoughtful gesture. But the art of perfecting it is far more complex than many may realise - and you could unknowingly be sending a message far from what's intended. Floriography, the 'language of flowers', was a common method of communication used in the Victorian era, used to send messages through the secret meanings behind the individual flowers chosen. But even in 2025, it's just as easy to commit a floral faux pas by choosing the wrong blooms for the wrong occasion. It could be the colour of the flowers - red, for example, is commonly associated with romance, while white is associated with grief and purity. And it's just as important to consider the type of flower selected, as common flowers such as lilies, roses and chrysanthemums all have vastly different meanings. According to data from Tesco, the aster flower, native to Japan, has seen sales boom by nearly 350 per cent in recent years, thanks to its symbolism of love, patience and wisdom. Of course, the flipside of flowers laden with so much meaning, there's huge potential for a faux pas if you make the wrong choice. Here's what experts say about choosing the right sort of bloom to convey your message. Asters Demand for asters in bouquets has more than quadrupled in the last two years - and it's easy to see why. The flower, which is native to Japan, is associated with love, patience, elegance, grace and wisdom - making it a simple but effective bouquet option, without any risk of causing offence. Tesco has reported that sales have grown nearly 350 per cent over the last two years, after first being listed in 2022. The asters' success has been credited to their cheap price point, bright colour and long vase life. At Tesco, asters sell for just £3 and are a member of the Asteraceae family - the same as sunflowers and dahlias. Sandra Varley, expert at Flying Flowers, told Daily Mail: 'While the more common flower known for love is a rose, the aster shares this symbolism and is steadily growing in popularity. 'Rooted in Greek mythology, asters were said to have bloomed from the tears of the goddess Astraea and were offered to show love and respect to the Greek gods. With such a romantic history, the aster flower symbolises admiration but also wisdom and faith, making a thoughtful gift to wish someone good fortune in the future. 'Asters are also the September birth flower so why not add it to a birthday bouquet.' Roses Red roses are commonly seen as a symbol of romance - associated with love, dating and Valentine's Day. But if you're looking to give roses without that romantic intention, you could try for pink - which is said to represent gratitude - or yellow - which symbolise friendship. White roses symbolise innocence and purity, making them a common choice for weddings. Sandra explained: 'Universally known as a symbol of love, red roses can be the perfect option for a loved one. However, pink hues of the flower can soften this message, adding layers of meaning such as gratitude and appreciation, making them a thoughtful choice for showing love and thanks beyond romance. 'Yellow roses also represent similar feelings of jealousy and betrayal. While more recently known as the 'flower of friendship', in Victorian times the bloom would be sent to accuse someone of betraying you.' Meanwhile etiquette expert Jo Hayes added: 'Long known as the bloom of love, florists are run off their feet for this lovers' favourite on February 14. 'But there are a few different meanings within the rose family that one should definitely consider.' Jo says that red roses are 'absolute perfection' for Valentine's Day, or in general to let a romantic partner know you're feeling enamoured. Pink is just as apt for a 'friend, your mum or celebration of a birthday' - as Jo says they're the perfect message to imply 'you're awesome'. Crysanthemums With hundreds of varieties available, Chrysanthemums are a quick and easy choice to put in a bouquet. They're also the birth month flower for those born in November - meaning they can be the perfect gift especially around winter time. In Italy, Chrysanthemums are commonly bought around November 2 - for Il Giorno dei Morti - 'the day of the dead', or All Souls' Day. During the weeks prior, people will leave them at cemeteries to commemorate the dead. Say it with lesser-known blooms Monique Kemperman, from Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland revealed some lesser-known flowers to consider, if you're trying to convey the right message. Alstroemeria The alstroemeria symbolises a long-lasting friendship, and it's therefore the perfect gift to celebrate a beautiful friendship with. All six petals of the alstroemeria stand for a valuable quality: understanding, humour, patience, compassion, decisiveness and respect. Which petal represents which meaning is up to you to choose. It is a flower that says, 'I am here for you, always'. Callicarpa Purple flowers stand for dignity, preparation, seriousness and mourning. That makes this a fitting flower to give to close relatives who are arranging a funeral, to let them know you are there for them. But it is also a fitting flower for many other situations where words fail to come up with the appropriate response. Cymbidium In China, this flower is a gift for friends, a symbol of a valued and respected friendship, and even more beautiful when combined with alstroemeria. This means that the flowers are strictly reserved to funerals and graves - and, according to Flying Flowers, gifting them in a bouquet could imply wishing the receiver 'wasn't alive'. In most other countries however, chrysanthemums are generally a safe bet - representing joy, friendship and honesty. Lilies Famously, white lilies are believed to symbolise rebirth and purity - meaning they often feature at funerals in association with grief. These associations mean they may also be present at weddings. And though they're less common, it's important not to underestimate the significance of other colours. Like roses, red lilies can symbolise love and passion, while pink is perfect to gift to a loved one or close friend due to their associations with femininity. In some cultures, white lilies are associated with death - and therefore should be avoided for events such as baby showers. Lilies are also extremely toxic to cats and if pets lick or eat one of the plants, they could even develop kidney damage. According to the PDSA, all parts of the lily are dangerous, including the leaves, flowers and pollen - meaning pet owners should avoid the plants where possible. 'There are many species of lilies, all with different meanings,' Sandra said. 'Stargazer lilies symbolise determination, drive, good fortune and new beginnings, which are perfect to include in a bouquet for students, those starting a new chapter, or well wishes. 'Whereas, white lilies are often associated with sympathy and loss, so it is important to know which species you are sending as you could give off the wrong message.' Carnations Carnations are some of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world, dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where they were used in crowns and garlands due to associations with love, admiration and celebration. The flowers were discovered by Theophrastus, one of the first known botanists. Despite having conflicting meanings in different cultures today, they are generally associated with devotion and love. 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Meanwhile old Celtic legends state that when an infant died, daisies were gods' gift to bring comfort - hence their appearance scattered over fields. In Norse mythology, the daisy was the sacred flower of Freya, goddess of love and fertility - and even today are still used for welcoming a new baby. Event and tablescaping expert Lavinia Stewart-Brown said: 'Daisies, often associated with spring, represent innocence and new beginnings, making them a popular choice for baby showers.' Meanwhile Jo Hayes added: 'This flower represents innocence, purity, loyal love, new beginnings, and "I'll never tell". 'Perhaps, in generations past, the daisy was sent from lover to lover, engaged in a secret romance? 'Perfect for a romantic expression, or simply, embracing the 'innocence' meaning, gifting to a friend.' Sunflowers First originating around 1000 BC in the Americas, sunflowers were used as a food source, with their seeds crushed to make flour to make bread. 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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
ROBERT HARDMAN: On VJ Day how can we claim 'we will remember them' when the remains of UK war heroes are still in plastic boxes in Malaysia?
As the very last of the 'Forgotten Army' gather today, it will be with the same bitter-sweet emotions which come flooding back every August 15. Now, as then, the veterans of the Far East can't help the feeling that they are something of an afterthought. They had felt it all through the war, and especially through the summer of 1945 – as they fought on for three more hellish months long after Victory in Europe and those wild VE Day parties back home. And can we really blame them? Today's commemoration of Victory in Japan – VJ Day – at the National Memorial Arboretum, attended by the King and the Prime Minister, will be a poignant occasion, of course. Yet, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, can we truly say that 'we will remember them' when it transpires that the mortal remains of several British heroes continue to languish in a plastic box in Malaysia – while the British authorities twiddle their thumbs? For proof that the war in the Far East still sits in the dimmer recesses of our collective national memory, look no further than the tragic tale of two mighty Royal Navy warships, the battle cruiser, HMS Repulse, and the battleship, HMS Prince of Wales. On December 10, 1941, less than three days after its attack on the US fleet in Pearl Harbour, Japan came after the pride of the Royal Navy's Eastern Pacific fleet off the coast of what was then Malaya. Both ships were hit by bombs and torpedoes and went down within hours of each other, taking 842 men with them. 'In all the war, I never received a more direct shock,' Winston Churchill said later. 'As I turned over and twisted in bed the full horror of the news sank in upon me... Across this vast expanse of waters, Japan was supreme.' Even for those who survived, salvation was short-lived. Most were taken ashore to the naval base in Singapore. Within weeks, the colony had fallen to Japan in one of the greatest humiliations of the war. Thousands of servicemen, along with the civilian population, were marched to a brutal captivity from which many would not emerge. After the war, passing British ships would conduct memorial services over the wrecks and, for a while, send divers down to ensure that the White Ensign of the Royal Navy was still attached to the hulls. In due course, they were designated as war graves while the bell of the Prince of Wales was recovered in 2002 and returned to Britain. However, over the years came grim reports of looting by salvage operators plundering the wreck for scrap metal. When the subject surfaced periodically in Parliament, ministers would pledge to keep an eye on things. It was only thanks to the British charity, the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST), that the true extent of this desecration has since come to light. In 2022, it discovered that a Chinese salvage barge had spent 92 days ransacking the sites – which lie in international waters. Then, in 2023, it tracked the loot to a Malaysian breakers' yard. Police duly seized a huge quantity of stolen property, including the giant anchors of HMS Prince of Wales, and arrests were made. Veterans and the next of kin were dismayed, even more so when it emerged that the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had told the Malaysians they could keep the stuff. No one in the Foreign Office or the Ministry of Defence, it seems, had seen it fit to consult the families. Further bad news was to follow, however. Last year, the Malaysian authorities confirmed to the team from MAST their worst suspicions: the loot not only included sailors' possessions but human remains. These were being carefully preserved by the Malaysians yet the British authorities had made no effort to reclaim them. It was now beyond doubt that the final resting places of hundreds of British war heroes have been plundered by Chinese grave-robbers and the bodies of the dead have not just been disturbed but dumped ashore while British diplomats failed to act. 'I find it utterly extraordinary. I just don't know how we can simply stand by while this goes on,' says the former First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord West. Two months ago, in the House of Lords, he asked the Government 'what steps they are taking to ensure that human remains found among the scrap of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse are given a fitting burial by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission'. The defence minister, Lord Coaker, said the Government 'is unable to provide a response regarding the presence of human remains' until 'investigations have concluded'. The MoD will only say: 'We strongly condemn any desecration of any maritime military grave. We will take appropriate action, including working with regional governments and partners to prevent inappropriate activity.' At least MAST, led by marine and military luminaries, including former Desert Rats commander Major General Patrick Cordingley, are on the case. 'It's only thanks to them we have had any idea of what's going on. We've heard nothing from the Government,' says Hannah Rickard, chair of the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse Survivors Association. This week, MAST's chief operating officer has reported back from Malaysia where he has been shown human bones included in the official catalogue of material seized from the scrapyard. These, he says, are being treated 'with professionalism and respect' and the Malaysians are more than ready to assist the British in identifying them through DNA tests. Once that has happened, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is ready to give these brave men a proper burial. This cannot come soon enough for the last survivor of the sinkings. This week, former Royal Marine Jim Wren, 105, received a royal visit when the Duchess of Edinburgh came to his Salisbury care home as part of the VJ Day commemorations. He still recalls the moment a bomb landed behind his mess in HMS Repulse and exploded several decks below. He rushed to man an anti-aircraft gun until the ship keeled on her side, whereupon 'it was every man for himself' and he was hauled out of the sea two hours later, vomiting oil. Returned to Singapore, he fought the Japanese on land before being taken prisoner. For the next three years, his family and his sweetheart, Margaret, thought he was dead until word came through that an emaciated Jim was on his way home in October 1945. Now the oldest Royal Marine alive, Mr Wren has had his portrait painted at the behest of the King and also featured on this week's BBC film, VJ Day: We Were There. 'I can't forget the men in that ship,' he said this week. 'Let them rest in peace.' He wants all the looted remains buried properly. For good measure, he would love to see the main anchor of the Prince of Wales returned to Britain and installed at the National Memorial Arboretum as a monument to all 842. It is, surely, not much to ask – unless the heroes of VJ Day really are the 'forgotten' ones?
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Veteran says horrors of war ‘should never be forgotten' on anniversary of VJ Day
A 99-year-old veteran who served in the Second World War and helped evacuate prisoners of war after VJ Day has said the horrors of war 'should never be forgotten', on the 80th anniversary of the Japanese surrender. Albert Lamond took part in D-Day in 1944 as an 18-year-old seaman, a year after joining the Royal Navy, and also served in the Pacific in the lead up to VJ Day on August 15, 1945 when Japan announced its surrender to the Allied forces. Mr Lamond was involved in D-Day as a signalman on HMS Rowley, part of the 3rd Escort Group, when it was deployed to rendezvous with battleship HMS Warspite as it travelled to Normandy to shell German troops. HMS Rowley's role was to act as a first line of defence by circling HMS Warspite and it was expected that the sailors would sacrifice their lives. Mr Lamond survived and a year later, on VJ Day, his role was to evacuate Allied prisoners of war from remote islands and transport them to Australia. Mr Lamond, who was 19 at the time, described the PoWs as 'living skeletons' but said they were still able to smile when they were rescued. He had a career on the railways after leaving the Navy, and now lives in McKellar House at Erskine Veterans Village in Renfrewshire. Mr Lamond said: 'Sometimes it feels like yesterday. I can still see it so clearly – from D-Day to the long months that followed in the Pacific in the run-up to VJ Day. Those memories never leave you. 'By the time VJ Day came, I was heading towards the Philippines. We were preparing for more fighting when the news came through about the surrender. After years of horror, that was it, the war was finally over. 'I remember feeling an enormous sense of relief, but also a deep sadness for those who didn't make it home. We had seen the cost of war up close, the lives lost, the suffering endured, and I knew that for many families, the relief of peace was mixed with grief that would never fade. 'Our job wasn't over though, and orders changed. Instead of heading into battle, we were sent to evacuate Allied prisoners of war from remote islands and transport them to Australia for medical treatment. 'I will never forget the sight of those men we brought home – they were living skeletons. The sight of them moved the entire crew. Those men had been through unimaginable suffering, but still managed the courage to smile, to shake our hands, and to thank us. It was a humbling experience that I remember clear as day. 'For me, VJ Day will always be about more than the end of the war in the Pacific, it was the final chapter in a war that had shaped my young life. 'You never forget the war, never mind VJ Day, and you never forget the people you served with. The horrors should never be forgotten.' His nephew Richard Copeland said: 'I grew up hearing these stories of danger, bravery, and moments that shaped the world. 'Albert didn't just serve in one part of the war, he saw it all, from the Arctic convoys to D-Day, and then on to the Pacific and VJ Day. To me, he's the embodiment of courage. When he would tell us all about those days, you could feel the weight of history in his voice. 'Although we were captivated, we also knew the harsh realities of what he had been through. Hearing him continue to speak about these moments keeps the war alive and not just confining them to pages of a history book. 'It's real, it's human, and it happened to someone I love. His memories shine a light on parts of the conflict people rarely hear about but should be remembered. 'Places like Erskine Veterans Charity do a wonderful job caring for veterans of all ages and conflicts, but they also carry the responsibility of making sure stories like Albert's are never lost. 'I'm so proud of him, not only for what he experienced but for also reliving the hardest moments of his life so that others can understand the true cost of war.'
