Latest news with #Cartwrights
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
'It was devastating' - Longbridge MG Rover closure 20 years on
"For a woman 20 years ago, a young woman, to stand up for your community against people in suits, was quite a challenge, but I knew if we didn't do it we wouldn't have what we've got today."April 2005 was a life-altering month for thousands of people living and working around Longbridge in carmaker MG Rover collapsed, and as a major part of the local economy underpinning some 18,000 jobs in the area, the impact was enormous. Gemma Cartwright, whose husband worked at the plant, became the face of a campaign to try and save 6,000 factory jobs. Now, 20 years on, Mrs Cartwright, 48, has been reflecting on the long-term effects of the closure on the area, and how resilient her community was. "It was devastating all of a sudden to find out the gates were shutting, it was ripped out of the heart," she husband added that he had other jobs after Rover's demise, but "it wasn't the same".At the time of the closure, the Cartwrights had four young children aged between four and 11 to support. Mrs Cartwright told the BBC in 2005 that her fight was about protecting manufacturing in the UK, and creating a future that children could look forward to. Her campaign went national, and she even took her children to a meeting with then prime minister Tony Blair in the hope of a government bailout. Ultimately, the company did go into administration and has never existed in the same way since. In 2007, new Chinese owners opened a production line at the factory with most of the components being manufactured in announced it would stop making cars at the site in Lowhill Lane in 2016. But, Mrs Cartwright's efforts ensured the surrounding area was redeveloped, employing local residents along the way. "We all of a sudden had to think, we can't go on the past, we have got to move forward," she said."This is where we live, this is where I choose to live, I want to live here, I am proud of everything that's been achieved."The Cartwrights say they learnt a huge amount from what happened in 2005, one of the main things being the importance of education."Get an education and get the qualifications so you can grab the world to what you can do. That's what we learnt from the collapse," she said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brittany Cartwright Reveals the One Thing She'll 'Never Forgive' Ex Jax Taylor for Doing (Exclusive)
Brittany Cartwright says Jax Taylor would not leave their Los Angeles home for seven months after they split in February 2024 Cartwright says the home is a "safe space" for their 4-year-old son Cruz, who was diagnosed with autism in the fall Their separation will be explored on season 2 of premiering on April 15 At the front entrance of Brittany Cartwright's Los Angeles home that she shares with her 4-year-old son Cruz is a welcome mat that says 'The Cartwrights.' 'It used to say the Cauchis,' says The Valley star, 36, who filed for divorce from her ex Jax Taylor (né Jason Cauchi) in August. 'I changed that immediately.' The mat is a reminder of Cartwright's fight to move back into the home, as she says Taylor, 45, refused to leave it for months when they first separated after 10 years in February 2024. 'Jax would not leave for seven months, while I had to move to different rental houses,' says Cartwright, who has primary physical custody of Cruz. 'I even said that he could move into the rental houses that I paid for. He still wouldn't do it. No matter what.' 'I didn't know if I was going to get a chance to come back here,' she continues. 'I went looking for houses, and I did all these different things. But I wanted to be here. I feel like I made this house a home. Cruz was born here. This is his house. He's got his pool outside; he's got his swing set. He's got his playroom. He's got everything here.' Cartwright says the house is a 'safe space' for Cruz, who was diagnosed with autism in the fall, and Taylor's refusal to leave is something she won't forget. 'I'll never forgive him for doing that to us,' she says. 'When you're dealing with a child with autism, we shouldn't be the ones moving around. That should have never happened. But that's just how Jax is.' Related: Brittany Cartwright Reveals the Words Son Cruz, 3, Said That Made Her Cry After His Autism Diagnosis (Exclusive) Cartwright says Taylor finally moved out of the home when he bought his condo."I think, eventually, when the cameras got turned on [for The Valley season 2], he realized, 'Oh God, everybody's going to see that I made her move out of the house,'' she says. 'That's probably the only reason he finally moved out, I'm not even going to lie.' Now that Cartwright and Cruz are back in the home, 'we're not going anywhere,' she says. "I'm not putting her for sale,' she says. 'This is my house. I'm proud of myself, that I could do it by myself. I'm a girl from Kentucky, and I never even thought I would have a house like this. He don't [sic] help me, at all. Let me make that clear. He does not help me at all, with any of my bills. So I'm just proud of myself that I'm able to do it." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Brittany Cartwright Reveals Son Cruz, 3, Was Diagnosed with Autism 6 Months Ago: 'I'm His Voice Now' (Exclusive) Cartwright's relationship with Taylor — who said in March that he's sober after a 20 year struggle with cocaine addiction — remains touch and go. 'He's done so much damage, and me and Cruz weren't enough for him to get help for a very long time,' she says. 'I want his dad to be in his life, but it's just really hard when you can't trust somebody. It's going to take me a long time to regain trust in him. I can just hope and pray that one day he will completely knock this, because I'm not sure yet." The Valley premieres April 15 at 9:15 p.m. ET on Bravo. Read the original article on People
