Latest news with #AaronSanderson
BBC News
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Piel Island: Life on a island with three residents and a king
A tiny island half a mile off the Cumbrian coast draws visitors with its quirky set-up and rich history. Only three people live permanently on Piel Island, including its king - who runs the only pub there. There is one way on and off Piel Island and that is a 12-passenger open boat operated by Steve has been the ferryman for the last five years and describes the role as his semi-retirement present."I'm never the last ferry, if there's 13 [passengers], I'll take 12 and go back for the one," he view from the island spans from Yorkshire to the Lake District, even taking in the Blackpool Tower and the Pleasure Beach's The Big One rollercoaster. "It's the best office in the world. I can't complain - but I always do," jokes Aaron Sanderson, the king of Piel was crowned three years ago at the age of 33, in a ceremony which included having a jug of beer poured over his head."It's a bit of an unusual title, to be quite honest," he says. Mr Sanderson, from Barrow, left his job at nuclear submarine manufacturer BAE to take on the role of landlord at the Ship Inn, which also made him king."From shipyard employee to king of an island - it's definitely a step up," he island holds happy childhood memories for him, spent with the children of his now colleague Paul Bibby, who is in charge of the food at the to The Secrets of Piel Island on BBC Sounds"It's just a beautiful, unique place," Mr Bibby is even a seal sanctuary, with 550 seals which live off the end of the nearby Walney Island."They come up and watch you when you're out here - I don't know what they're looking for, they're coming up doing people-watching tours," jokes Mr Bibby. The only buildings on the small island, aside from the 300-year-old pub, are the pilot houses, built for the island's defence, and the 14th Century ruin of a fortified custom post, referred to as "Piel castle" by was built in 1253 under order of King Stephen. He was at war with his cousin Empress Matilda, and he wanted Piel to be fortified in case she invaded from Wales, just across the water."It was run by the monks of Furness Abbey for a long time and then in 1487 this was the last place in Britain that was ever invaded by foreign troops," explains Mr Wilcock. Pretender-to-the-throne Lambert Simnel was said to have arrived at Piel Island aged 10 and, despite being of humble origins, became part of a plot to overthrow Henry VII and replace him as conquered the outpost, his armies headed to the mainland, where he was defeated by Henry VII in one of the final battles of the War of the instead of being punished for being a traitor, he was allowed to work in the royal kitchens, Mr Wilcock drew on his story, and Mr Sanderson is now the 24th recorded king of Piel Island. "It's a great tradition and it's part and parcel of the role, but you do get a lot of attention because of it," he is the custodian of a now rusty crown and sword and a 17th Century throne, which, if someone sits on, they must pay a round of drinks for all the pub customers, tradition for any actual royal credibility, Mr Sanderson is a little doubtful it gives him any powers beyond the running of his pub."I don't even think I'm on their radar - I have no intention of overthrowing the throne anyway," he laughs."Unfortunately, I'm governed by the same laws as everybody else." But Mr Sanderson is one of only three people to have permission to drive to the island - a feat only possible at low tide."You have to know where you're going, you have to have at least a four-wheel drive or a tractor - it's quite dangerous," says Mr Bibby."There are a whole lot of wrecks buried in the sand out there where people used to drive across, you can see some of them on the beach [at low tide]."The beach access is now gated. Because the area sits within a Site of Special Scientific Interest and within a marine conservation zone, vehicles must drive through a set route to avoid any disruption to the environment. Organised walks can get you to the island within 20 minutes, but the drive can take 45 due to the for the Ship Inn, it is the only way of getting supplies in. "It's definitely a unique role and difficult to do, but enjoyable at the same time," Mr Sanderson was chosen as the landlord from a list of dozens of applicants by the now defunct Barrow Borough Council, now replaced with Westmorland and Furness Council, which is the custodian of the 50-acre (20 hectare) landlords' time on Piel has varied from just a few years to up to Sanderson says it would be great to beat that record, but he will "definitely do my 10 years" and take he is no doubt that life on Piel is good, albeit unique."I think it's probably one of the best beer gardens in the world." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
BMO Walks for Good: BMO Employees Step Up, Raising almost $2.4 million for Mental Health Services
TORONTO and CHICAGO, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - BMO today announced the successful conclusion of its inaugural North American BMO Walks for Good campaign, raising almost $2.4 million CAD and counting in support of mental health organizations across Canada and the United States. Nearly 13,000 members of Team BMO, friends, families, and community members took part in walks held throughout May, including the BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk in support of Kids Help Phone (KHP) in 16 communities across Canada, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walks in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. KHP in Canada and NAMI in the U.S. are leading mental health organizations providing essential community services and support. The funds raised through the BMO Walks for Good campaign will help these organizations continue to provide inclusive and equitable e-mental health support across North America. 'We are inspired by another powerful demonstration of community, compassion, and commitment by Team BMO who continues to come together in Canada and the U.S. to raise awareness and funds for mental health,' said Helen Seibel, Head, Employee and Community Giving at BMO. 'These strong results are declarative: mental health matters and Team BMO is committed to the cause. Thank you to the many organizers, volunteers and participants who helped make this campaign a success.' BMO has been a partner of KHP since its founding in 1989 and continues to support its mission to transform Canada's youth mental health ecosystem. In 2018, KHP launched its ambitious Feel Out Loud campaign, to which BMO has committed more than $21.4 million CAD. 'For 36 years, Kids Help Phone has been a trusted space for any feeling or issue, big or small— empowering young people to feel out loud,' said Aaron Sanderson, Group Head and Executive Vice President, Advancement and Donor Experience at Kids Help Phone. 'BMO's continued commitment helps us reach even more youth across Canada with accessible mental health support. We're incredibly grateful for the compassion and leadership demonstrated through BMO Walk so Kids can Talk. Together, we ensure help is always there when it's needed most.' In the U.S., BMO expanded its industry-leading mental health campaign through its new partnership with NAMI. Since 2024, BMO and its employees have donated over $320,000 USD towards local NAMIWalk events across the country. 'The dedication and generosity that we have seen through the support and fundraising efforts of Team BMO for our NAMIWalks program has been inspiring,' said Jessica Edwards, Chief Development Officer for NAMI National. 'We are grateful for the way BMO employees have championed mental health as a cause and rallied around this opportunity to bring us one step closer to our vision of Mental Health for All.' BMO Walks for Good is part of BMO's larger commitment to supporting mental health and wellbeing within the communities we serve and for our employees. The campaign also encourages ongoing conversations around mental health, aiming to reduce stigma and foster meaningful connection. About Kids Help Phone Kids Help Phone (KHP) is Canada's only 24/7, free, confidential, and multilingual e-mental health solution. Whether through professional counselling, crisis response, or self-directed mental health resources, KHP has been a trusted space for youth for over 35 years. No matter the feeling or issue, big or small, KHP empowers young people to Feel Out Loud and access support whenever they need it most. KHP knows that young people and the issues they are facing are changing faster than ever. That's why innovation is more than what we do – it's who we are: a global leader in youth mental health that blends technology with empathy to better serve youth. KHP gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to unlock the hope young people need to thrive in their worlds. Join us at About NAMI NAMI National, located in Arlington, VA, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMIWalks is the largest, most vibrant mental health event series in the country with walks taking place in more than 200 locations. For more information, visit BMO Gives. Good grows here. Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO's Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2024, we directed more than $108 million to drive progress for communities, which included $101 million in philanthropic contributions to hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across North America. Our colleagues spent over 54,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $39 million of donations through employee-driven giving in our annual campaigns. For more information, please visit View original content: SOURCE BMO Financial Group
Cision Canada
02-06-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
BMO Walks for Good: BMO Employees Step Up, Raising almost $2.4 million for Mental Health Services Français
TORONTO and CHICAGO, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - BMO today announced the successful conclusion of its inaugural North American BMO Walks for Good campaign, raising almost $2.4 million CAD and counting in support of mental health organizations across Canada and the United States. Nearly 13,000 members of Team BMO, friends, families, and community members took part in walks held throughout May, including the BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk in support of Kids Help Phone (KHP) in 16 communities across Canada, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walks in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. KHP in Canada and NAMI in the U.S. are leading mental health organizations providing essential community services and support. The funds raised through the BMO Walks for Good campaign will help these organizations continue to provide inclusive and equitable e-mental health support across North America. "We are inspired by another powerful demonstration of community, compassion, and commitment by Team BMO who continues to come together in Canada and the U.S. to raise awareness and funds for mental health," said Helen Seibel, Head, Employee and Community Giving at BMO. "These strong results are declarative: mental health matters and Team BMO is committed to the cause. Thank you to the many organizers, volunteers and participants who helped make this campaign a success." BMO has been a partner of KHP since its founding in 1989 and continues to support its mission to transform Canada's youth mental health ecosystem. In 2018, KHP launched its ambitious Feel Out Loud campaign, to which BMO has committed more than $21.4 million CAD. "For 36 years, Kids Help Phone has been a trusted space for any feeling or issue, big or small— empowering young people to feel out loud," said Aaron Sanderson, Group Head and Executive Vice President, Advancement and Donor Experience at Kids Help Phone. "BMO's continued commitment helps us reach even more youth across Canada with accessible mental health support. We're incredibly grateful for the compassion and leadership demonstrated through BMO Walk so Kids can Talk. Together, we ensure help is always there when it's needed most." In the U.S., BMO expanded its industry-leading mental health campaign through its new partnership with NAMI. Since 2024, BMO and its employees have donated over $320,000 USD towards local NAMIWalk events across the country. "The dedication and generosity that we have seen through the support and fundraising efforts of Team BMO for our NAMIWalks program has been inspiring," said Jessica Edwards, Chief Development Officer for NAMI National. "We are grateful for the way BMO employees have championed mental health as a cause and rallied around this opportunity to bring us one step closer to our vision of Mental Health for All." BMO Walks for Good is part of BMO's larger commitment to supporting mental health and wellbeing within the communities we serve and for our employees. The campaign also encourages ongoing conversations around mental health, aiming to reduce stigma and foster meaningful connection. About Kids Help Phone Kids Help Phone (KHP) is Canada's only 24/7, free, confidential, and multilingual e-mental health solution. Whether through professional counselling, crisis response, or self-directed mental health resources, KHP has been a trusted space for youth for over 35 years. No matter the feeling or issue, big or small, KHP empowers young people to Feel Out Loud and access support whenever they need it most. KHP knows that young people and the issues they are facing are changing faster than ever. That's why innovation is more than what we do – it's who we are: a global leader in youth mental health that blends technology with empathy to better serve youth. KHP gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to unlock the hope young people need to thrive in their worlds. Join us at About NAMI NAMI National, located in Arlington, VA, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMIWalks is the largest, most vibrant mental health event series in the country with walks taking place in more than 200 locations. For more information, visit BMO Gives. Good grows here. Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO's Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2024, we directed more than $108 million to drive progress for communities, which included $101 million in philanthropic contributions to hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across North America. Our colleagues spent over 54,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $39 million of donations through employee-driven giving in our annual campaigns. For more information, please visit
