Allington Castle to open gardens to help Heart of Kent Hospice
At the events, people will be able to explore the grounds and there will be a children's treasure trail.Allington Castle is a medieval 12th Century castle, set in 42 acres of woodland on the banks of the River Medway.
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BBC News
27 minutes ago
- BBC News
Streeting invites doctors for fresh talks next week
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has invited resident doctors' leaders for fresh talks next week in a bid to end the long-running pay comes after the doctors' union, the BMA, wrote to Streeting on Tuesday evening asking for response, Streeting said he would not negotiate on pay, but was willing to continue the talks that broke down last week looking at working conditions, including career progression, exam fees and he warned the union it had lost the government's goodwill because of the latest strike, which finished on British Medical Association has yet to respond to the invite, but the BBC understands its letter asked for talks on pay. Streeting's letter said it was "ironic" the BMA was asking for talks, pointing out he had never left the negotiating talks ended last Tuesday when the union confirmed its five-day walkout was going was the twelfth strike since spring 2023, but the first under Labour. 'Squandered goodwill' Shortly after the election, Streeting reached a deal with resident doctors that saw a pause to industrial led to a 22% increase in pay over a two-year period. They have been given another 5.4% average rise this year, but the BMA renewed strike action arguing that was not enough since pay was still a fifth lower than it was in his letter on Wednesday, Streeting said the latest strike action was "deeply disappointing" and "entirely unnecessary" given talks that had started could have made substantive improvements to the working lives of said the strike had had a detrimental impact on Streeting added: "Your action has also been self-defeating, because you have squandered the considerable goodwill you had with me and this government."But he said his door remained open, adding he was happy to meet early next is not yet clear the scale of disruption to health services caused by the latest NHS has attempted to keep most of the non-urgent work going, such as knee and hip hospitals reported they were able to do more than 80% of their normal activity – previously it had been as low as 50%.Resident doctors represent nearly half the medical workforce and range from doctors fresh out of university through to those with up to a decade of experience.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
New collection tells story of love at Doncaster stately home
As the clouds of war gathered over Europe, a "below stairs" love story was beginning at a country servants at Brodsworth Hall, near Doncaster, bonded over an interest in photography and married in maid Caroline Palmer was warned that her love for valet Alf Edwards was likely to end in early widowhood, but the pair had two sons during a union that lasted three the house's owners, English Heritage, have been gifted a treasure trove of photographs, letters and documents about their life together after they were donated by the couple's grandson. Caroline went into service at Brodsworth, the seat of the Thellusson family, in 1906, leaving her home in Northamptonshire. Seven years later Alf moved from London to take up a post as estate owner Charles Thellusson's personal met when Alf began to use the hall's kitchens as a makeshift studio in which to develop photographs he had taken. Many were scenes of life on the estate and the large number of staff who worked there at the poor health meant he was unable to join the forces when war broke out in 1914, and Caroline was cautioned that their marriage could be a short one. They had their wedding in 1916, by which time Caroline had become cook at the house, although she had to leave her position as a married other male servants left for the war, Alf took on other duties, including taking charge of the estate's shoots and gunroom and acting as sons John and Harold were born before Alf died from tuberculosis in 1919. Despite being servants, the couple were liked and respected by the Thellussons - Charles, who died in the same year, was John's godfather and his wife Constance wrote a letter consoling Caroline when both were widowed. After Alf's death, Caroline returned to Northamptonshire with some financial help from the Thellussons towards her sons' struck again when John died aged 15 from an infected insect bite. Caroline became a cook in one of the boarding houses at Oundle School, and in later life moved in with her younger son Harold and his wife. They recorded many of her memories in note form before her death in 1968. Her grandson, Gordon Edwards, contacted English Heritage to offer them the collection of items telling the story of Alf and Caroline's lives at Brodsworth said: "We're so pleased to be able to donate these objects so they can continue to be cared for, shared with the public, and help to tell the important stories of those people below stairs who lived and worked at Brodsworth Hall."Eleanor Matthews, English Heritage's curator of collections and interiors, said it was extremely rare to have a collection relating to the lives of servants survive."Alf's photographs are incredibly important to the history of the site and have provided us with the earliest image of staff at the estate - hopefully in time we will be able identify them all. "These beautiful, poignant items tell a story largely unknown to us until now and, thanks to this donation, we are able to add another layer of understanding to the rich fabric of Brodsworth's history."While the bulk of the collection is being catalogued, a number of items have gone on public display at the hall, including Alf's camera, pipes, wartime registration cards, postcards, and Caroline's watch. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Wes Streeting rules out pay rises for striking resident doctors saying they have 'squandered goodwill'
Resident doctors have "squandered the considerable goodwill" they had with the government by going on strike, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told them. The medics - formerly known as junior doctors - finished a five-day strike over pay on Wednesday morning. The group were awarded a close to 30% raise last year but say they want more in an attempt to bring their pay back in line with what they had in 2008. Mr Streeting previously said he would not negotiate further on pay but would consider taking steps on working conditions. He has reiterated that stance - and continued to put pressure on negotiations to start again on the government's terms. The British Medical Association Resident Doctors Committee, which represents the doctors, have not ruled out further action. In a letter sent today to the co-chairs of the committee, Mr Streeting thanked them for an invitation to "get back to the negotiating table" - but added the barb that it was "ironic because I never left". "I am ready to continue the conversation from where you left it," he added. He went on to say the strikes was "deeply disappointing and entirely unnecessary" - adding that there were "seemingly promising discussions" about improving doctors' working lives. 3:13 'We cannot move on pay' Mr Streeting criticised the committee, saying they "rushed to strike". His letter added: "The consequences of your strike action have been a detrimental impact on patients, your members, your colleagues and the NHS, which might have been worse were it not for the considerable efforts of NHS leaders and front-line staff who stepped up. "Your action has also been self-defeating, because you have squandered the considerable goodwill you had with me and this government. I cannot in good conscience let patients, or other NHS staff, pay the price for the costs of your decision." The health secretary said he wanted to "reset the relationship" between the government and young doctors following the previous industrial action. Mr Streeting went on to say he is "serious about improving working conditions" but has been clear "we cannot move on pay". "This government is prepared to negotiate on areas related to your conditions at work, career progression and tangible measures which would put money in your members' pockets," he added. Mr Streeting concluded: "I was critical of my predecessors when they closed the door to the Junior Doctors Committee. "My door remains open to the hope that we can still build the partnership with resident doctors I aspired to when I came in a year ago and, in that spirit, I am happy to meet with you early next week."
