Latest news with #BEM
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Thameslink's oldest station worker, 85, honoured with song
An 85-year-old railway worker from north London has been honoured with a folk song to mark his long service. Siggy Cragwell, from Hampstead, works as an assistant at Elstree and Borehamwood station, and is Thameslink's oldest special track about Mr Cragwell was one of five commissioned by BBC Radio 2 to tell the stories of people whose lives have been influenced – or changed irrevocably – by was written by award-winning singer-songwriter Richard Thompson, and featured Mr Cragwell's cricketing colleagues on backing vocals at their club, Holtwhites-Trinibis, near Gordon Hill railway station. "It's such an honour to have this song written about me," said Mr Cragwell. Mr Cragwell came to Britain as part of the Windrush generation in 1962 and started work the day after his ship docked in Thameslink Railway said he had been delivering excellent customer service on the railway non-stop ever since. Mr Cragwell did try to retire once but said he found life so boring that he came back to work. He has received two lifetime achievement awards – one by popular vote in his north London community – and a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the railway. He previously played cricket for the England over-70s, and still takes wickets from players in their 20s."I could never have dreamed when I came to this country that I'd still be working for the railway 63 years later and be receiving all these accolades," Mr Cragwell added.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Parking fines generate millions for Glasgow City Council
The eye-watering figure, uncovered by the Glasgow Times through a Freedom of Information request, shows that tickets totalling £25,314,060 were paid by motorists since 2020. The money going into the council's coffers has steadily increased year on year, with the £1.9 million brought in during 2020/21 soaring to a staggering £8.9 million in 2024/25. A sum of just over £3.1m was collected in 2021/22, with just under £4.9m stumped up by drivers the following financial year. This figure rose again in 2023/24 to £6.3m. The figures for 2020/21 include periods of lockdown imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic while the numbers for 2024/25 reflect the increase to the penalty notice charge from £60 to £100, introduced on September 4 2024. The money was generated by council wardens issuing almost 700,000 penalty charge notices across the city since 2020. Again, the data uncovered through the FOI request, shows that more tickets have been dished out by the council in each consecutive 12 month period. The 46,703 issued in 2020/21 rose to 109,297 the following year, before increasing again to 145,081 in 2022/23. Wardens then slapped drivers with 183,957 tickets in 2023/24 before issuing 204,001 fines in 2024/25. In Glasgow, parking penalties, officially known as Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), are generally £100, but this is reduced to £50 if paid within the first 14 days. These fines apply to violations of any parking regulations, including bus lane restrictions. If a fine remains unpaid for 28 days or after an appeal is rejected, a charge certificate may be issued, increasing the penalty by 50 per cent of the original charge. Anniesland and Drumchapel councillor Paul Carey BEM says the cash brought in through the enforcement process should improve the city's roads. Paul Carey (Image: Supplied) He added: 'This is a massive amount of money and legally has to be reinvested directly into transport infrastructure. 'A sum of £25m could certainly go a long way to making Glasgow a better place to drive." Parking fines have cost Glasgow drivers £25m (Image: NQ) Motorists in Glasgow also now face a £100 fine for parking on pavements after the introduction of controversial new rules earlier this year designed to protect pedestrians, people in wheelchairs and those pushing buggies from being forced onto roads by vehicles left on kerbs. Drivers hit with fines are also currently unable to appeal them through the council's website after a provider's servers were impacted by an attempted cyber attack. READ NEXT: Parking charges to be extended to 10pm in all city zones A statement on Glasgow City Council's website says: 'Experts have investigated a cyber security incident which has affected [[Glasgow City Council]] services. 'Although the incident has disrupted council services, the loss of some web-based services was caused by the isolation of the affected servers, rather than the cyber incident itself. As a result there is currently a fault with our online appeals form. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible. 'Wherever possible, the council put in place alternative ways to access services on a temporary basis and, in parallel, began safely restoring the affected services. 'Many of the highest priority services are now back online, with temporary workarounds in place for others. A recovery plan is in place to restore each of the affected services, with all but a handful of applications, which are dependent on external support, expected back online by mid-August. 'The council is sorry for the continued inconvenience this will cause customers. Parking appeals can be made by email.' A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said parking enforcement is vital to make sure the system is not abused. They added: 'On-street parking schemes are only introduced where it is clear there is a need to manage parking in those places. 'On-street parking schemes help to address the difficulties parking can cause in communities and improve road safety, particularly for pedestrians. 'Parking zones ensure there is a turnover in pay-as-you-go spaces and also provide easier access to streets for vehicles from the emergency and cleansing services. 'Residents are prioritised with our parking schemes and this helps to ensure residents can park close to home. 'Enforcement is essential to the effective operation of a parking zone, which helps to protect the use of the parking zone for permit holders and free-up spaces for pay-as-you-go parking. 'In line with the relevant road traffic legislation, all revenue raised by on-street parking charges must support the operation of the parking system and the wider roads and transportation system.'
South Wales Argus
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Risca Male Choir to perform in Newport this August
Risca Male Choir, winners of the 2024 National Eisteddfod, will perform at St Woolos Cathedral on Saturday, August 2, at 7pm. The event will feature guest soloist Clara Greening and organist and pianist Jeffrey Howard BEM. The choir, known for its innovative approach to choral music, has been a significant part of the cultural scene since its founding in 1970. From themed concerts to international tours across Europe and the United States, the Risca Male Choir has consistently pushed boundaries while maintaining the traditions of Welsh male choral singing. Their performances in California are particularly noteworthy. The concert will also feature members of the Men United in Song South Wales initiative. This project, led by award-winning music director Matthew James Harrison, brings together men from across the region to raise funds for Prostate Cymru, a leading prostate health charity in Wales. The initiative involves a nine-week singing programme, culminating in a major performance at the Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. The Risca Male Choir's annual concert is a highlight in the South Wales cultural calendar, offering a chance to experience the passion and sound of one of Wales's most dynamic male choirs. The concert provides an opportunity to hear the inspiring voices of the Men United in Song South Wales initiative live. Tickets for the concert are available through TicketSource or by calling 0333 666 3366.
Glasgow Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
How much did Glasgow City Council make from brown bin permits?
Data from a Freedom of Information request has revealed that 86,295 households across the city have paid the £50 charge to have their garden waste collected. Over the last two years, the local authority has pocketed £4,314,750 while paying out just £12,800 to residents who claimed for refunds. Now a Glasgow councillor is calling for more transparency over where the cash has gone since the charge was brought into effect in 2023. Drumchapel and Anniesland councillor Paul Carey BEM says that people are right to demand to know where their money has been invested. Paul Carey BEM (Image: supplied) He exclusively told the Glasgow Times: 'We were told when the permits were being rolled out that money generated would be reinvested in communities, so the question is what specifically has been done and where are future monies going? 'This was a new revenue stream, and we were told that the benefits would be seen across the city. This is a sizeable sum of money and Glaswegians who are paying this permit charge deserve to know exactly what has it been spent on? 'We're not just talking pennies this is a total that could make a huge difference to a lot of struggling services and tired community centres in many areas. There are so many parts of the city crying out for investment, so the council ought to be providing a breakdown of where it has gone. People want, and are right to expect, value for the money.' Bosses at Glasgow City Council sparked anger when they decided to introduce the charge across the city 21 months ago. The data shows that its first year, from October 1 to September 30 2024, the scheme brought in £2,031,600. The following 12 months it generated £2,283,150. Local authorities in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde also decided to hit households in the pocket for the kerbside collection of their garden refuse, but at a 20 per cent lower charge of £40 per address. READ NEXT: Shock Glasgow brown bin permit uptake is revealed by probe We previously told how residents in Whitburn Street in Carntyne were calling on local authority bosses to introduce a reduced rate for the elderly and vulnerable unable to afford the one-off fee. Ann Ayre, chair of the area's Winget Residents' Association, told the Glasgow Times that her members had decided to take a stand against the move – and called on senior citizens across the city to follow suit. Ann Ayre (Image: NQ) Ann said: 'A lot of pensioners don't have the cash to fork out for something that should be covered by their council tax. 'We need a payment plan to spread the cost, or better still axe the permit altogether. This is a charge on top of our council tax that, in my mind, can't be justified. People are struggling right now through a cost-of-living crisis, paying to have your grass cuttings taken away is unacceptable, especially at a time when some households are having to decide between energy bills or eating.' A one-off payment of £50 currently applies per brown bin, so if a household has two, the total cost is £100. Permits are provided within 21 days of purchase A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: 'As with all such schemes, the funds raised will be reinvested in council services. The council approved £2million per year from brown bin permit income as one of its budget options to balance the budget a couple of years ago. 'The council has to come up with a list of budget options every year, including income generating and cost-reducing options that are approved as part of the budget.' Councillor Carey added: 'The council's response to the question of where the money has specifically gone is just not transparent. 'It is time this money was ring-fenced and allocated to the type of community projects people care about instead of going into some budget black hole
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'World's oldest marathon runner' who lived in UK killed in road accident aged 114
British runner Fauja Singh, who is believed to be the oldest marathon finisher, has been tragically killed in a road traffic accident in his home village of Beas Pind in India at the age of 114 British-Indian man Fauja Singh, who was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died in a road accident aged 114. The centenarian Sikh continued running marathons past the age of 100. Singh, born in Punjab in April 1911, was walking in the village of his birth, Beas Pind, when he was struck by an unidentified vehicle, local reports state. He was then taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His London-based running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, confirmed his passing, with his coach Harmander Singh announcing that all of its events will be dedicated to the late runner into 2026. Singh had been an Ilford resident since 1992 and ran his first marathon in London in 2000, with his personal best time of five hours and 40 minutes coming three years later. On 16 October 2011, in Toronto, it is believed that he became the first centenarian to finish a marathon. However, Guinness World Records does not recognise this, as Singh could not produce a birth certificate despite his passport indicating his birthdate and him having received a letter from the Queen to commemorate his 100th birthday. Singh would later serve as a torchbearer at London 2012 and retire from marathon running at the age of 101. He inspired many, having only started running at the age of 89. He was awarded a BEM in 2015. On social media, Singh's coach released a devastating statement: "Dearest runners. It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India. Aged 114 years old. "He succumbed to injuries caused by a vehicle accident while crossing the road close to his home. His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, will be devoting all of its events until the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge on Sunday March 29 2026 to celebrate his life of success and achievements. "We will be doubling the efforts to raise funds to building the Fauja Singh Clubhouse on the route in Ilford where he used to train. In lieu of flowers, please donate to his Clubhouse Appeal so we can carry on his legacy to encourage the world to keep fit and stay positive." Others have paid tribute to Singh, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who dubbed him an "exceptional athlete with incredible determination." MP Preet Kaur Gill also paid her respects, posting: "Saddened to hear about the passing of Fauja Singh. I had the honour of meeting him. A truly inspiring man. "His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me. A reminder that age is just a number, but attitude is everything. Rest in power, legend." MP Jas Athwal added: "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sardar Fauja Singh Ji. He was legendary – a man who continued running until he was 101. He was a global Sikh icon, that inspired millions across the world. His spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever. My heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends. We will miss him. RIP." Local police say that Singh was crossing the road when he was struck, and that a search is underway to apprehend the accused.
