Latest news with #BritishLegion
Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
Neighbours raise concerns plans to breathe new life into a derelict pub site in Elgin will block their driveways
Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals across Moray. Sit back and enjoy all of the most interesting planning news. In this week's edition, plans to transform a toilet block into a cafe at Cooper Park in Elgin have been approved. Neighbours have objected to proposals to breathe new life into a derelict pub site in Elgin which has lain empty for almost six years. And a battery storage facility could be built just outside of Elgin. But first, we look at the arrival of a dog grooming salon at Threaplands Garden Centre. Plans have been approved for a dog grooming unit on the site of the Threaplands Garden Centre on the outskirts of Lhanbryde. The Portakabin-style unit will be behind an existing two-metre fence next to the car park. Owners of the garden centre have agreed to lease the land solely for this purpose. Pooch Pod owner Alison Tewnion is behind the proposals. Meanwhile, there will be a gate in the fence to access the unit and two dedicated parking spaces for people to arrive to drop off or pick up their pets. Opening hours will be 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. The unit will have a small toilet inside for the owner and a wash sink for dog grooming. The dog owners will not be permitted access to stay in the unit while their dogs are being groomed. It is hoped clients will also pop into the garden centre to have a browse or a coffee before picking up their pets again. Now a building warrant has been submitted for £3,000 worth of drainage work to serve the portacabin. In December 2020, Pooch Pod owner Alison Tewnion opened up her business in her garden shed after being made redundant at Evri. Since then her business has been a hit. In 2022, she moved into Moycroft House in Elgin after outgrowing a unit at Pinefield Parade. She previously told the Press and Journal: 'It never crossed my mind to set up this business as I was so used to my job at the delivery firm. 'However, I love it and I wouldn't change it for the world.' The British Legion wants to make alterations to improve the Buckie branch's kitchen. According to a building warrant, the work could cost around £15,000 at the building at 65 High Street. S Reid Design is representing the British Legion in the process. Opdenergy UK wants to build a battery storage facility just outside Elgin. The building is proposed on land near the town's Quarrywood. It comprises of battery storage units, ancillary buildings and equipment and other works. Developers estimate the facility could hold 49.9MW, which is enough to power about 9,000 homes for a year. Planning permission is sought for 30 years. A rundown toilet block in Elgin's Cooper Park will be given a major makeover. Moray Council has been given the go-ahead to transform the loos beside the bowling green in the popular park into a cafe. The proposals are part of the wider regeneration project funded by £18.3m from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund. This transformation will include an extension to the building and alterations to turn it into a cafe. Meanwhile, the facility will also have changing places toilet to support park users. The cafe will have indoor and outdoor seating with improvements to enhance the toilets and the visitor experience at Cooper Park. Now detailed design work and broader procurement is expected to be completed by autumn 2025 with construction in early 2026. In April, we revealed how Springfield Properties wanted to build eight new flats on the former Pinegrove Hotel site in Elgin. The land has been empty for almost six years. Each apartment will have an open plan kitchen and living area, two large bedrooms and plenty of storage. Now four neighbours have objected to the plans. They say the proposals show the development would block access to their driveways. One added: 'The plans also close off access to Balado and Avalon by placing a footpath, bin store and car parking spaces across their driveways. 'How will Springfield guarantee access to the four properties mentioned above during the construction phase?' Another described it as 'not acceptable' with proposals reducing them to what looked to be just a footpath and loss of vehicular access. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised the communal bins could encourage vermin and gulls leading to environmental issues if not properly maintained. The Pinegrove Hotel on Pinefield Crescent was a well-known watering hole for locals before it closed down in 1999. The building played host to countless wedding celebrations and parties over its long history. The former bar was most recently used as a place of worship by the Elgin Community Church. Then in 2019 demolition crews moved in and bulldozed the building. Since then, the land near two takeaways and housing has fallen into disuse. Today it is overgrown with weeds and is used by some as a dumping ground for rubbish.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
UK's oldest WW2 veteran receives freedom honour
The UK's oldest surviving World War Two veteran has been awarded the Freedom of Erewash. Donald Rose, who is also the UK's oldest man aged 110, was honoured by Erewash's youngest ever mayor, 25-year-old Harry Atkinson, at a ceremony at his care home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Atkinson said it was a "privilege" to present the award to the veteran. Receiving the award, Mr Rose said it was "great" and "very nice to see all the people" at the small event. "I want to say thank you very much for coming to see me," he said. "I didn't do anything that anybody else wouldn't have done." His son, David Rose, said he was proud of his dad, adding: "Bearing in mind what he's been through, it's quite something, and he's still here to tell the tale. "You start telling [his] story and you get a lump in your throat. All I can say is I'm extremely proud of the man. "Thank you to the council, greatly appreciated, and he deserves it. He also praised the work of the British Legion for supporting veterans like his father. Paul Scott, John Sewell and Paul Jarvis from the Ilkeston and Long Eaton branches of the Legion attended the ceremony. Harry Atkinson said veterans like Donald "need recognising". "We've had a generation of people that served in WW2," he said. "Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. "This is in recognition of not just Donald but to them as well. They allowed us the freedoms that we have today. "If anything, it's a shame that it's taken us this long. 110 is a bit too long I think!" The leader of the council James Dawson said it was a unanimous decision of the authority to award Donald the freedom of the borough. "It's the highest honour that any local authority can bestow," he said. "It is in recognition of Donald and his service, but also [a] special things in this 80th year of VE day and VJ day. "People who took part, people like Donald, we have to treasure the time we have with them." Mr Rose was born in Westcott in Surrey on 24 December 1914. He joined the Queen's Royal Regiment at the age of 25 and went on to train as a sniper. He served in North Africa and Europe and puts his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rat. Mr Rose, who turned 110 last December, enjoyed a wartime-themed party at the care home where he lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, for VE day anniversary celebrations earlier this month. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. UK's oldest WW2 veteran endorsed for freedom honour UK's oldest WW2 veteran on BBC VE Day 80 special Spitfire flypast for UK's oldest WW2 veteran UK's oldest man to celebrate 110th birthday UK's oldest D-Day veteran to join anniversary event Erewash Borough Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
UK's oldest WW2 veteran awarded Freedom of Erewash
The UK's oldest surviving World War Two veteran has been awarded the Freedom of Rose, who is also the UK's oldest man aged 110, was honoured by Erewash's youngest ever mayor, 25-year-old Harry Atkinson, at a ceremony at his care home in Ilkeston, said it was a "privilege" to present the award to the the award, Mr Rose said it was "great" and "very nice to see all the people" at the small event. "I want to say thank you very much for coming to see me," he said."I didn't do anything that anybody else wouldn't have done." His son, David Rose, said he was proud of his dad, adding: "Bearing in mind what he's been through, it's quite something, and he's still here to tell the tale."You start telling [his] story and you get a lump in your throat. All I can say is I'm extremely proud of the man."Thank you to the council, greatly appreciated, and he deserves also praised the work of the British Legion for supporting veterans like his father. Paul Scott, John Sewell and Paul Jarvis from the Ilkeston and Long Eaton branches of the Legion attended the Atkinson said veterans like Donald "need recognising". "We've had a generation of people that served in WW2," he said. "Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. "This is in recognition of not just Donald but to them as well. They allowed us the freedoms that we have today."If anything, it's a shame that it's taken us this long. 110 is a bit too long I think!" The leader of the council James Dawson said it was a unanimous decision of the authority to award Donald the freedom of the borough."It's the highest honour that any local authority can bestow," he said."It is in recognition of Donald and his service, but also [a] special things in this 80th year of VE day and VJ day."People who took part, people like Donald, we have to treasure the time we have with them."Mr Rose was born in Westcott in Surrey on 24 December joined the Queen's Royal Regiment at the age of 25 and went on to train as a served in North Africa and Europe and puts his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rose, who turned 110 last December, enjoyed a wartime-themed party at the care home where he lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, for VE day anniversary celebrations earlier this month.
Western Telegraph
08-05-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
VE Day 80th anniversary ceremonies held across Pembrokeshire
VE Day services have been held throughout the county with two minute silence held at 11am to honour all those who gave their lives to bring peace in Europe. On May 8,1945, the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day, as church bells rang out across the country and people gathered to revel in the end of hostilities. (Image: Western Telegraph) After almost six years of fighting against Hitler's Nazi regime, peace was declared, with only the conflict against Japan to be concluded. In Haverfordwest a service took place at the war memorial at Salutation Square at 9am followed by a remembrance service at 11am. This afternoon there will be a an afternoon tea at 4pm at Picton Playing Fields, the bells ringing out in celebration of peace and a beacon lighting at 9.30pm. (Image: Western Telegraph) Other events are planned throughout the weekend including free outdoor cinema at Picton playing fields tomorrow (Friday) evening and exhibitions and concerts at St Mary's Church and Albany Church. In the twin towns of Fishguard and Goodwick services took place at both war memorials an hour apart. Prayers were said for peace and the British Legion flag was lowered prior to a two minute silence. (Image: Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council.) The reveille and the Last Post was played by Rhys Osborne. Both services were attended by Deputy Lord Lietenant of Dyfed, Professor Patricia Mawuli Porter OBE. (Image: Western Telegraph) The twin town's VE Day celebrations will continue with a beacon lighting at 6pm this evening in Harbour Village, Goodwick and a free concert in FFwrn on Saturday night featuring singer Tarish Matthews, the Fishguard Rugby Club Male Voice Choir. Don't forget to share pictures of your Pembrokeshire VE Day celebrations in the comments below.
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
World War II veteran, 101, tucked Queen Camilla into her blanket during VE Day celebrations
CHIVALROUS veteran Jack Mortimer tucked the Queen into her blanket in the royal box outside Buckingham Palace. And the 101-year-old then gave Camilla a kiss on the hand as she left the VIP stand where 31 British Legion veterans had sat with royalty and politicians to mark 3 Jack Mortimer tucked the Queen into her blanket in the royal box outside Buckingham Palace Credit: EPA 3 31 British Legion veterans sat with royalty and politicians to mark VE Day 80 Credit: Getty Cheeky Jack, who landed on Sword Beach, Normandy, under fire on D-Day, said: 'I have a nice chat-up line when I meet new girls — but I didn't try it on the Queen. 'As a matter of fact, I did kiss her hand. "She's a lovely, lovely lady.' He also confessed to keeping the Queen warm when a chilly north wind began to blow. read more on ve day Jack, who served as a despatch rider in the war, said: 'I tucked the blanket around her.' Along the front row, Bernard Morgan, 101, from Crewe Cheshire, sat beside the Princess of Wales. As they waiting for the procession to begin Bernard showed Catherine a photo of himself age 18 when he volunteered for the RAF. After the ceremony, Jack said: 'It was exciting and inspiring. Most read in Royals 'There's only one country in the world can put on a show like that and it's Britain.' King Charles, Kate & family showed raw emotion in historic balcony appearance for VE Day flypast, royal expert says 3 Bernard Morgan sat beside the Princess of Wales and showed her a photo of himself age 18 when he volunteered for the RAF Credit: PA
