Latest news with #BBCMidlandsToday
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Staffordshire pottery industry is viable, says Emma Bridgewater
Emma Bridgewater, the eponymous Stoke-on-Trent pottery firm boss, has said she still sees a future for the industry despite recent cost year marks the 40th since Dame Emma's company began production, when she was still in her early had been "ups and downs" in the industry over the years, she said, citing recessions as well as a number of closures happening shortly before her firm recently, bosses have been complaining a lack of support with energy bills as the pottery industry is heavily dependant on gas-powered kilns for its products. "We can't get to a stage where we can't make our own plates in this country," she told BBC Midlands Today."We're unnecessarily scrabbling around to pay bills that shouldn't be this big, they're out of proportion."Dame Emma added it was "crucial" that her products were made in the city, due to the skilled local workforce."It wouldn't have happened anywhere else," she said. "We have a highly evolved ceramics expertise here."She added: "The community of Stoke matters enormously to me, it is integral to the health of the business so I've got to believe this is an industry with a future."She conceded she did not have a solution to its current struggles, but felt the government ought to look to other countries to understand why bills are lower abroad. Dame Emma added she wanted to invest more and train more young people, but this required growth."There isn't a sort of feeling of growth being possible, or wanting to be able to do the lovely things," she she said Stoke-on-Trent was a city that gave her "enormous faith in the future", despite all the "really hard knocks" suffered there."I knew when I first came here I wanted to make one of these factories come alive again and having done it, is an amazing feeling," she said."The minute I stepped off the train here I did have a strong sense that I was going to work here, and I had no interest whatsoever in going abroad, I never did."She said although there were worries, there had been positive developments in the industry more return of Cornishware, and Moorcroft being brought back into family ownership were among the bright spots, she said."We're definitely a viable industry," she said. "Yes, we're struggling at the moment."She said she believed the fact the products were made and decorated by hand was integral to their value. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Coventry big baby trial gives pregnant women choice
Big baby trial gives pregnant women more choice 10 minutes ago Share Save Shannen Headley BBC News, West Midlands Amy Cole BBC Midlands Today Share Save BBC Eve Morgan took part in the 'Big Baby' trial in 2018, giving birth to her son 10 days early Women pregnant with larger babies have been given the option to choose how and when to give birth in a bid to lessen the risk of injury to the child. The "big baby" trial aimed to find out if starting labour earlier than 38 weeks made it less likely for infants who appeared large in the womb to be born with shoulder dystocia, where the shoulder becomes stuck during delivery. Study findings from between 2018 and 2022 showed giving birth a week to 10 days earlier reduced the risk, researchers said. It is hoped the data from the £2.5m Coventry-based trial will give doctors and midwives more confidence in facilitating natural births. Coventry nurse Eve Morgan took part in the study 2018 after monitoring found her baby could reach 9lb (4kg). Ms Morgan, who developed gestational diabetes when she was pregnant, had a cervical sweep to help bring on her choice of a natural labour. As a result, she safely delivered her 7lbs 8oz boy (3.4kg) 10 days early. "They said [the] baby grows so much in the last kind of week or so," she said. "I'm quite petite myself. They said he would have been big for me." The trial was led by Siobhan Quenby, a professor of obstetrics at the University of Warwick and consultant at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, in partnership with the Perinatal Institute, Birmingham. Results were gathered from 2,893 women in 106 hospitals in the UK, who consented to be randomly allocated to induction or standard delivery. What is shoulder dystocia? Shoulder dystocia occurs in 1 in 150 vaginal deliveries, delaying birth and leading to possible complications, including a stretching in the nerves of the infant's neck. The NHS says the condition occurs more often in bigger babies but there is uncertainty over how often. It is estimated it could affect 1 in 25 women with a big baby who have a vaginal delivery. Large babies are defined as those who weigh more than 90% of other babies the same age, the NHS said. Professor Siobhan Quenby said the trial gave women choices over how and when to have larger babies Prof Quenby said the trial findings empowered women to decide "how and when they want to deliver their baby". Trial data crucially revealed babies did not suffer more harm if they were delivered later. It also showed earlier delivery reduced the need for emergency Caesarean section and did not increase the risk of tearing. "Whether you're induced at 38 weeks or whether you choose to wait for a natural labour, in both groups the baby's outcomes were the same," Prof Quenby said. "Both groups had a risk of shoulder dystocia, it was actually slightly higher if you waited for labour naturally - but babies didn't do any worse if you wait for labour naturally." She added all the babies were born in an NHS hospital, where staff were trained on delivering natural births. Komal Mehmood, who is 38-weeks pregnant with a baby that appears larger in the womb, said data from the trial offered her reassurance Komal Mehmood, from Coventry, is 38-weeks pregnant with her second child, which is measuring as large. She said she found the results of the trial helpful when deciding her birth plan. "I mean it's a natural process at the end of the day," she said. "I understand the baby's big, but I'm confident that waiting for a normal birth shouldn't be a problem." Asked if the data had offered her reassurance she said: "Definitely it does." The trial was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the results published in the medical journal, The Lancet. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Anger as swastika scratched on town war memorial
A town's war memorial has been defaced with a Nazi symbol, sparking anger among residents. This year marks the centenary of the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek and its desecration with a swastika has been widely condemned by people in the Staffordshire market town. The monument bears the names of more than 500 men and woman whose lives were sacrificed in conflict. "It's part of the town, and to desecrate it sacrilegiously in that way is outrageous," said Derek Hilyer, chair of the Leek War Memorial Committee. The vandalism came to light over the weekend, but it is unclear precisely when it happened. One woman speaking to BBC Midlands Today described the people responsible as "disgusting". She said: "They've got no respect for the fallen, no respect for the people that are serving our country now." Another resident described vandalism which had no respect for those who fought for their country as "extremely sad". "That monument's been there for a long, long time. I think it's awful," another woman added. The monument has since been cleaned and the incident is being investigated by police. The Staffordshire force said officers were keen to speak to anyone who might have CCTV footage of the vandalism taking place. The memorial was privately funded by Sir Arthur Nicholson, a prominent figure in the town. He said last century that he hoped it would be cherished and prized for all time. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Probe launched into Nazi graffiti attack Staffordshire Police
BBC News
01-04-2025
- BBC News
Anger as Swastika scratched on Leek's Nicholson War Memorial
A town's war memorial has been defaced with a Nazi symbol, sparking anger among year marks the centenary of the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek and its desecration with a swastika has been widely condemned by people in the Staffordshire market monument bears the names of more than 500 men and woman whose lives were sacrificed in conflict."It's part of the town, and to desecrate it sacrilegiously in that way is outrageous," said Derek Hilyer, chair of the Leek War Memorial Committee. The vandalism came to light over the weekend, but it is unclear precisely when it woman speaking to BBC Midlands Today described the people responsible as "disgusting".She said: "They've got no respect for the fallen, no respect for the people that are serving our country now." Another resident described vandalism which had no respect for those who fought for their country as "extremely sad"."That monument's been there for a long, long time. I think it's awful," another woman monument has since been cleaned and the incident is being investigated by Staffordshire force said officers were keen to speak to anyone who might have CCTV footage of the vandalism taking memorial was privately funded by Sir Arthur Nicholson, a prominent figure in the town. He said last century that he hoped it would be cherished and prized for all time. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
03-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Midlands Arts Centre marks Ramadan with community Iftar
People from across Birmingham who are celebrating Ramadan have been invited to gather to break their fast at a community multi-faith event will be held at the Midlands Art Centre (MAC) on Monday from 17:15 evening of sharing food and prayers will be free to invited guests and their families. The art centre has also commissioned local artist and printmaker Haseebah Ali to create a mural inside the building for visitors to enjoy throughout the month. Ramadan is the most important time in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking between dawn and also believe it is a time for self-reflection and renewing their faith to Allah, with giving charity, also known as zakat and reciting special evening prayers known as Taraweeh, being an important aspect of the will be the second year that the MAC has hosted an Iftar to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The community dinner will be broadcast live on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30 GMT. During the fast, two meals are eaten - one before the fast begins at dawn known as suhoor and another at sunset known as iftar where families sit together and break their fasts with dates and adults who are well and fit are obligated to fast during Ramadan, with young children, pregnant woman, elderly and sick people the holy month, mosques open their doors for iftars most days. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
