Latest news with #BBCRadioCornwall
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Isles of Scilly helicopter service expands fleet
A company which runs a helicopter passenger service between the Isles of Scilly and the mainland is expanding its fleet to meet increased demand. Penzance Helicopters runs up to 11 daily flights between the islands and Penzance, taking up to 10 people per crossing. The company said the addition of another helicopter would increase its fleet to three aircraft and allow up to 17 crossings per day. David Page, Penzance Heliport base manager, said passenger numbers had increased by 30% since helicopter operators Starspeed took over running the service in 2022. "The addition of a third aircraft will make a significant investment in the resilience, reliability and extra flights to the islands which is obviously what we need," Mr Page told BBC Radio Cornwall. He added: "Initially we'll lease it [the aircraft] for a long-term period with the aim, eventually, to purchase it like we've done with the other two. "The two we're running at the moment ranged between about £15m and £20m." Mr Page said the business had connected with the community and held classes for schools and invited the local Women's Institute group for a tour. "It's an ambition of mine to really connect with our neighbours and the community and we have worked hard as a team to do that over the past three years," he said. Penzance Helicopters expect to receive their new aircraft in August and have it in operation for summer 2026. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Two-million pound heliport approved Penzance-Scilly helicopters axed Penzance Helicopters Starspeed
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jethro's J35 TER number plate sells for £30.5k
The famous J35 TER number plate owned by the late Cornish comedy legend Jethro has sold for £30,500 at auction. The personalised plate was the star of the online auction of his vehicles and agricultural machinery which ended on Thursday night. The comedian, who died in 2021, ran a farm and a contracting business from his base at Lewdown, near Okehampton, Devon. He always used the number plate on his personal vehicle and it was even on the Toyota Land Cruiser that carried his coffin to his funeral at Truro Cathedral in 2022. The viewing day for the dispersal sale of vehicles, farm equipment and other machinery attracted a large number of people but it was the number plate that drew the most interest. Speaking before the sale, Harvey Pile from Stags Auctioneers said: "It is one of those iconic pieces where, to some extent, it's worth whatever somebody is willing to pay for it. "It is a cliche thing to say but how do you value a piece of comedic history that in years to come will always be linked to the famous man?" Listen: Remembering Jethro - the man and the legend - on BBC Radio Cornwall Jethro, whose real name was Geoffrey Rowe, was born in St Buryan, Cornwall. His popularity as a comedian grew during the 1980s and he made his first national appearance on the Des O'Connor show in 1990. He later said that performance gave him a national profile and it led to other TV appearances and stage shows across the UK. In 2001, he appeared on the Royal Variety Show and went on to become one of the biggest stars from Cornwall. Jethro had stopped touring in 2020 after more than 50 years on the road - he died in December 2021 at the age of 73 after contracting Covid-19. His funeral at Truro Cathedral in January 2022 was attended by hundreds of people, including fellow comedian and close friend Jim Davidson. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Jethro fans asked to help with statue location Cathedral funeral for Cornish comedian Jethro Cornish comedian Jethro dies aged 73
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Joy for BBC Radio Cornwall after silver Arias award win
The team at BBC Radio Cornwall is celebrating after winning a silver award at the radio industry equivalent of the Cornwall came second in the Local Radio Station Of the Year category at the 2025 Audio and Radio Industry Awards - known as the Arias.A four-strong team from the radio station joined others from the radio and podcast world at a glittering awards ceremony in London on Wednesday editor Emma Clements said: "The whole of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is celebrating today. Ms Clements said: "Local radio is so important to the life of our county and our entry focused on the pride, passion and people of Cornwall who share their stories and lives with us each and every day."Breakfast Presenter James Churchfield added on Thursday: "It's the most fabulous endorsement of what we do for our listeners day in, day out to inform them and celebrate what is great about Cornwall and Scilly." Forth 1, Bauer Media's Edinburgh-based radio station, was crowned winners of the John Myers Local Radio Station of the Year. BBC Radio 3 won the highly coveted UK Radio Station or Radio Network of the Year Three Counties' Coldplay go Orange for Luton won the public-voted Radio Times Moment of the Year, presented by Chesney Hawkes.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Isles of Scilly festival begins as tide retreats
A "surreal" festival is bringing 90 minutes of merriment to hundreds of people gathering on a sandbar in the Isles of channel between Tresco and Bryher is usually under 20ft (6m) of water, but when the sea level subsides, the Low Tide Event begins. Tom Matthews, co-organiser, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "If you can imagine a few hundred people gathering in the middle of the sea."We do have a klaxon because we have to say at some point, 'You really do need to go now'." 'It's surreal' The celebration began at about 11:40 BST and features picnic benches, bars on the back of tractors and food served straight from a boat at high tide."The start is great," said Mr Matthews."You look out from the hillside and it's like a load of ants crawling out on to the sandbar."It's surreal - a couple of hours ago there was 20ft (6m) of water, we're about to party, and in a couple of hours' time there will be 20ft of seawater again." Mr Matthews said "super low tides" affect the two islands, which are about 200m (656ft) apart, twice a year."It's probably the only festival that's dependent on air pressure, which dictates how far the tide goes out and how long we can stay on the sandbar," he said."It's a really spectacular event."Mr Matthews said they always spent the build-up "peeking at the weather forecast", adding: "We've got it down a fine art now, basically we take everything we need out there." 'Incredible event' The first Low Tide Event was held in 2015 and Mr Matthews said organisers wanted to do "something you can't do anywhere else in the world"."Then we found ourselves in the position that we couldn't stop if we wanted to because people plan their holidays around it now."It must be the world's shortest pop-up festival." Issy Tibbs, who lives in Bryher, said seeing "everybody come together in the middle of the channel" made it an "incredible event".
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cornwall Council elections: where the different parties stand
Elections for all 87 seats on Cornwall Council are being contested on Thursday 1 council, which is a unitary authority, was won by the Conservatives at the previous election in 2021. It is responsible for all public services locally - including fixing potholes, waste collections, caring for vulnerable adults and children, planning, and housing. Speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall, the seven major parties vying for votes have outlined their priorities if elected. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order of surname.A full list of candidates standing in all divisions for Cornwall Council can be found here. Conservative cabinet member Martin Alvey defended his party's record - including the introduction of 20mph said they wanted to build four thousand council houses a year during the next administration. Discussing how to boost town centres, he said they would freeze car park charges for four years and improve footfall by converting empty space above shops into housing. Green candidate Drew Creek claimed expensive parking was impacting town centres and they supported reducing fees during the off-season for local admitted they would like government permission to raise additional income through the introduction of a 'tourist tax' to copy what has been done elsewhere in the country. He also said affordable housing should be built first in any new developments. Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole said the party would push for extra powers to be devolved from Westminster so more decisions on providing affordable housing could be made in insisted town centres had received some financial support - and wanted to see villages and rural communities also catered for. He said cuts in government funding over recent years meant a 'tourist tax' could be a valuable source of extra income. Liberal Democrat group leader Leigh Frost vowed to get "back to basics" and deliver key services properly instead of being distracted by issues like the future of Newquay said town centres needed support to evolve as places for socialising and some discounted parking for residents might wanted the council's arms-length developer Treveth to build more affordable housing and to incentivise developers and landlords to provide more homes for private rent. Labour candidate Laurie Magowan said they would encourage more community-led housing schemes and focus on bringing empty homes into use and making them more wanted to work with local traders to put on more events like markets and live music to encourage more footfall in towns - but would not commit to lowering tariffs in car cautioned against a 'tourist tax' being too punitive and harming visitor numbers at quieter times of the year. Rowland O'Connor, from Reform UK, said the party would freeze council tax bills and look at how the authority spends its money. He wanted powers from the government to offer tax incentives to encourage developers to renovate old buildings to provide more housing and protect greenfield sites. He said lowering parking charges would help ailing town centres - but the party did not support increasing the cost of holidays to Cornwall with a 'tourist tax'. Independent group deputy leader Adam Paynter promised they would build 10,000 extra social homes over the course of the next said they would re-introduce more frequent clearing of drains and gullies to keep water off roads and reduce potholes group also supported the idea of a residents parking card where local people could use car parks for a discounted price.
