Latest news with #BBCPointsWest
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
EMF: 90s heroes 'overwhelmed' by hometown blue plaque
A blue plaque honouring the achievements of a cult 90s band has been unveiled in their from Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, is best known for its hit single Unbelievable, which sold millions of copies of the band were there on Tuesday to see the plaque unveiled on Cinderford's town centre clock also told fans who had travelled from around the country they will perform a free gig in Cinderford in July as a "homecoming". "It's a long time since we've played in Cinderford," lead singer James Atkin told BBC Points West at the unveiling."Probably over three decades.""In fact," added guitarist Ian Dench, "the last time we played here, there was a stage invasion and my 1959 Les Paul got broken in half, so Cinderford is always wild."Mr Atkin said the blue plaque unveiling had been overwhelming. "I'm going to need a sit down after that but it was brilliant." "It's wonderful," added Mr Dench."As I drove in last night to Cinderford, I got the same sense of excitement I used to get when I came to visit James from Gloucester."We'd go out and party a bit too hard, go swimming in the lakes, in the forest and we'd write songs, practice and rehearse and I think the songs caught a bit of that excitement."He added: "It was so lovely feeling that again and it's been so great being here." EMF fans from across the UK travelled to see the plaque unveiled and meet the band MacDonald drove from London for the event."I've been a fan of EMF since I was 15," she explained."They represent quite a happy time in my life, in my teens, and I just think they're brilliant."It's a special occasion - quite an emotional occasion - and they deserve it," she said.
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'My dad's still the boss' - Twiston-Davies on 'special' family yard
Trainer Willy Twiston-Davies can remember taking the day off school to watch the 2010 Cheltenham Festival when Imperial Commander, trained by his father Nigel, won the Gold Cup. Along with older brother Sam, who is one of the top jockeys in the country, the Festival is a full-on family affair for the Twiston-Davies clan. "I remember it like it was yesterday," Willy told BBC Points West of the 2010 Gold Cup win. "I took the day off school, Sam won the Fox Hunters then Pigeon Island winning the Grand Annual - just a tremendously special day for the yard. Beating Kauto [Star] and Denman being an underdog. He [Imperial Commander] was a very special horse in his day, a bit underlooked, but we were very happy to have him."Former jockey Willy - who won more than 200 races during his career - has been working alongside his father at their yard in Gloucestershire. "Training's always been in the back of my mind since I was a kid, I've watched dad do it for so long," Willy said."Everyone says we're very similar so we don't seem to have many arguments because we usually agree on pretty much everything."My dad is more my best friend, so as we go on he let's me do more and more what I like and we do everything together. Obviously he's still the boss but it's been nothing but brilliant." Willy's involvement has helped the yard grow - they have already broken last year's prize money pot with weeks of the season still to go. "We've had two very good seasons so far, we're lucky we haven't really had a slump," Willy said."I think there's probably been a little bit more pushing to trying to get some horses in. We've already run 60, 70 horses and now we're hoping to get up to the 100, 90 mark," Willy said. Sam added: "It's adding an extra element of hunger because Willie's young and really wanting to stamp his name on it."It helps with dad having Willy there to keep reminding him - 'right, we've got to grow and keep moving' - as so many of these big yards are doing now with social media and getting videos across to owners and that's what Willy's now really helping with."The Twiston-Davies yard will have 10 or 12 horses racing at Cheltenham, including Broadway Boy - ridden by Sam - on Tuesday's opening day of the Festival, Potters Charm and Push the Button. "Families that work together are very special. So hopefully the Twiston-Davies family will be in racing for a long time," Willy said.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bath have 'hunger' to win three trophies in 2025
Bath have a "hunger" to win three trophies this season says assistant coach Andy Robinson ahead of the team's Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final. The Premiership leaders travel to Newcastle on Friday, looking to book a place in their first cup final of the campaign. Bath are also still in European competition having exited the Champions Cup in January but dropped into the Challenge Cup, which returns next month. "There's a hunger but there's an understanding of what the process is and an understanding that yes, that's our goal, and it's a goal to win three trophies still and to make sure that we keep winning," Robinson told BBC Points West. "That's the goal but it's about the performance." Bath have never progressed this far in the Premiership Rugby Cup before and only lost one of their six games in the pool stages of the competition to reach to the knockout stage top of their group. They beat Harlequins 39-28 in the quarter-final last Friday. Robinson said he valued that the players are focussed entirely on their next performance rather than thinking further ahead. "You've got to get through Friday and you've got to win this game. In the end, you only get your hands on the trophy after winning two games from now," Robinson said. "It's about understanding how to win this week. If we're lucky enough to do that it's about how we go and perform next week," he said. "I never really thought about winning trophies ever as a player, it was all about the next performance and that's what I like about this group, it's all about the next performance." Reaching final would give Newcastle 'ray of hope' Bath captain Spencer signs new three-year deal Bath have used the competition to field a large number of players from their academy, blended with first-team players. Back row Arthur Green, who is on Bath's senior academy, has featured in all their games in the competition. The 21-year-old said the team have had the mindset of winning the tournament from the start. "Before we had our group stages Kieran Verden our tight-head prop said we want to win this competition from the outset," Green said. "Going into every day's training with that mindset that we do want to win this competition means hopefully we can get the result on Friday night and come back in on Monday and look towards the final."
BBC News
28-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Charlton Adam aid worker makes 10th trip to Ukraine amid war
A British aid worker has returned to Ukraine for the10th time, saying it is vital to keep supporting people there as the war with Russia Allen, an architect from Charlton Adam, Somerset, first went out to the country back in 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale told BBC Points West the need for aid in the country was greater than ever. "Last year, we were in Vovchansk distributing aid, and only six weeks later, it was invaded by Russian forces," he said. "Some of the people we helped are now dead. It makes you wonder if it was all pointless. "But I think it's still important for Ukrainians to see support from the Western world."Ben's work takes him to vulnerable towns and villages where he delivers everything from food and sanitary products to pet supplies for animal also brings toys and treats for children, delivers vehicles and supports rehabilitation centres for said his latest trip was not just about delivering aid but also about showing people in Ukraine they had not been forgotten. Although he is not involved in the fighting, Ben said delivering aid in a war zone comes with risks."I've got warm weather gear," Ben said. "Then obviously torches for power cuts and, really importantly, body armour. We are close to the front line, and there is shelling and drones."He added: "They love badges in Ukraine, so we pick them up and swap them for money."Being in a war zone has left a lasting impact on Ben, he he is back home in Somerset, he sometimes has to take "a double take" at the sound of helicopters from nearby Yeovilton flying overhead. "Everything you hear, you think, is that a bomb? Is it an air-raid siren? What do we do?" he said. Despite the dangers, Ben said he would continue making the aid trips to Ukraine for as long as they were needed.
