Latest news with #BBCThreeCountiesRadio
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Coldplay's Luton Town song awarded 'Moment of the Year'
The moment when Coldplay performed a song dedicated to Luton Town at Radio 1's Big Weekend following a radio station campaign has been marked at an awards ceremony. BBC Three Counties Radio had lobbied for singer Chris Martin to change the lyrics of the British band's song Yellow to reflect the Hatters' orange football performing in Luton last May, the singer instead performed a song called Orange that he had written the night before, dedicated to the club and the station won Moment of the Year at The Radio Academy's Audio and Radio Industry Awards (Arias). On stage, presenter Justin Dealey dedicated the win to his listener Bex Jones, who first suggested the lyric change. He also accepted it in memory of his father John Dealey, a lifelong Luton Town fan, and his father-in-law Colin Berry, the broadcaster and Eurovision spokesperson who died in April. Ms Jones had suggested switching the band's song to Orange as Luton Town's arch rivals Watford play in performing at the Big Weekend, Martin explained to the crowd he was warned he might never make it out of Luton alive if he sang fans in the audience, several wearing Luton Town shirts, cheered as he introduced the new song he said he had finished in his hotel room the night ode to the town included the lyrics: "We didn't win all our matches, we didn't win the cup. But when you get knocked down in Luton, you always get back up."After leading a sing-along of the chorus of "I love you Luton", he added there was "no disrespect to Watford". Mr Dealey insisted the prize - voted for by the public - was "a massive team effort" and thanked those who cast their admitted some of his colleagues and listeners told him the campaign to change the lyrics was never going to work."Everyone burst out laughing," he recalled."Next time you have an idea and somebody laughs at you - keep going. Because that's how we got the biggest band in the world to write a song about a town I love."The radio station also picked up a silver award for its overall coverage of Radio 1's Big Weekend. Brett Spencer, co-executive editor of BBC Three Counties Radio and BBC Radio Northampton, said: "It's an award that belongs to everyone at the station. We broadcast 21 hours of live radio from the event over the weekend. "It's also a great tribute to the people of Luton who are so passionate about their town." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Both sides defended well' - Dodds on Charlton draw
Wycombe manager Mike Dodds says he cannot criticise his players for failing to break Charlton down in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final at Adams sides played out a goalless draw on Sunday and will meet again at The Valley on admitted he expected a tight game and said both sides deserved credit for their defensive resilience."The game panned out exactly how I thought," he told BBC Three Counties Radio. "I was hoping for a moment of quality from someone on the pitch. We've got some quality, particularly in the front half of the pitch."That is not me having a go at anyone. You've got to give the opposition credit, they defended really well. Their backline dealt with our movements in trying to get in behind quicker."We defended really well and cancelled them out. I can't criticise our players."Dodds warned his players not to be concerned by a tough environment in the away leg and said they should focus on how they approach the game."I just said to the players, the style won't change but the occasion will be different. We have to separate the two and concentrate on the style instead of the atmosphere," he said.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Great Brickhill runner's London Marathon cash rockets after video
A runner who is training for the London Marathon has smashed his fundraising target after his son posted a video of him on social Ryan, 56, from Great Brickhill in Buckinghamshire, is raising money for Willen Hospice in Milton 22-year-old son, OIly, filmed him running around the village wearing a T-shirt that showed a QR code for said reaction to the video had been "crazy" and it had now had more than two million views. Olly Ryan told BBC Three Counties Radio he decided to publicise his dad's efforts because he was not getting much of a response said: "Dad created this T-shirt and went out four times a week around the village wearing this QR code on the back."One frosty morning, I woke up and I thought 'You know what? This is actually really sweet - he's not had one person stop him in the village', so I thought I would film him going out the house and just tell everyone online what he's doing."He said the video's reception was "just crazy and it's now on about 2.6 million viewers and counting". Donations have come in from all over the world, taking Mr Ryan's fundraising total from just £620 to a whopping £16,000 with more than three weeks to go until the big original target was £2,500. Mr Ryan, who will be running the marathon with his other son, Callum, 24, said: "It's the fact that people are commenting - not just giving money, they're actually saying how wonderful this is - from Canada, from the US. It's phenomenal."We hear a lot of negative press about social media. It's put it in a completely different light; the positivity and support."I've not had one negative message." Olly Ryan said that, in response to worldwide demand, there would be more videos of Mr Ryan's journey to come, including one of a fundraising event taking place this Hospice said: "We're reliant on the determination of local supporters, like Darren and Callum, to help raise around £8.7m each year, so our expert teams can continue caring for the community completely free of charge." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minister disappointed after council scraps prayers
A church minister has said he is disappointed by a council's decision to scrap prayers before meetings. The Reverend Peter Crumpler from St Paul's Church in St Albans said the decision was "a shame". St Albans City and District Council voted to go ahead with the move last month. Liberal Democrat Sinead Howland, who proposed the motion, has said it means no councillor will "feel like an outsider in their own chamber". Mr Crumpler said he was "very disappointed", as the prayers said in meetings had not always been Christian. "This isn't a decision taken against the Christian community, it's a decision to make the council meetings no-go areas for religion," said Mr Crumpler, speaking to the BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday. "Although many people in St Albans would have a faith, and many people in St Albans would be sympathetic to faith, the council is saying 'No, we want no overt space for this in our council meetings', and I think that's a shame." Like many councils across England, St Albans has had a tradition of inviting a local religious leader - often the mayor's chaplain - to say prayers before meetings of the full council. A motion was brought to council to cease the practice and allow for a minute's silence to be held instead, for those councillors who wished to reflect before making decisions. Twenty-five members agreed and 20 voted against. Sinead Howland, who proposed the motion, said: "It ensures that our council meetings mirror the diversity of our community, allowing no councillor to feel like an outsider in their own chamber. "Numerous councils have already implemented this change, recognising the necessity for a neutral and professional environment where all members can begin their work on equal footing." The National Secular Society said: "We congratulate the council on its decision to remove prayers from the beginning of meetings, to ensure no-one in attendance feels alienated or excluded. "The motion allows the council to hold a moment of silence instead, offering everyone the chance to pray or reflect silently if they wish. "We urge all councils across the country which still hold prayers to take heed and follow St Albans's example." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Councils hold fast on prayers stance Call to end prayers before council meetings St Albans City and District Council St Peter's Church, St Albans National Secular Society
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
St Albans council prayer decision disappoints vicar
A church minister has said he is disappointed by a council's decision to scrap prayers before Reverend Peter Crumpler from St Paul's Church in St Albans said the decision was "a shame".St Albans City and District Council voted to go ahead with the move last Democrat Sinead Howland, who proposed the motion, has said it means no councillor will "feel like an outsider in their own chamber". Mr Crumpler said he was "very disappointed", as the prayers said in meetings had not always been Christian."This isn't a decision taken against the Christian community, it's a decision to make the council meetings no-go areas for religion," said Mr Crumpler, speaking to the BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday."Although many people in St Albans would have a faith, and many people in St Albans would be sympathetic to faith, the council is saying 'No, we want no overt space for this in our council meetings', and I think that's a shame." 'Equal footing' Like many councils across England, St Albans has had a tradition of inviting a local religious leader - often the mayor's chaplain - to say prayers before meetings of the full council.A motion was brought to council to cease the practice and allow for a minute's silence to be held instead, for those councillors who wished to reflect before making members agreed and 20 voted Howland, who proposed the motion, said: "It ensures that our council meetings mirror the diversity of our community, allowing no councillor to feel like an outsider in their own chamber. "Numerous councils have already implemented this change, recognising the necessity for a neutral and professional environment where all members can begin their work on equal footing." The National Secular Society said: "We congratulate the council on its decision to remove prayers from the beginning of meetings, to ensure no-one in attendance feels alienated or excluded."The motion allows the council to hold a moment of silence instead, offering everyone the chance to pray or reflect silently if they wish."We urge all councils across the country which still hold prayers to take heed and follow St Albans's example." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
