Latest news with #CharlesSmith
Lebanese Army
6 days ago
- Politics
- Lebanese Army
The British Ambassador Visits the Third Border Regiment
Saturday, 24 May 2025 The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, accompanied by Military Attaché Major Charles Smith, visited the Third Border Regiment. During the visit, they were briefed on the regiment's missions within the framework of the LAF's efforts to monitor and secure the borders, as well as to prevent infiltration and smuggling activities. They also learned about the challenges faced by the regiment and the essential needs to enhance its capabilities.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Miner's George Cross bought by council at auction
A George Cross awarded to a miner for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery has been bought by a council at auction. Charles Smith was honoured for helping save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January 1940. The medal was bought for £12,000 by City of Doncaster Council and is now set to go on display at the city's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum later this year. Mayor Ros Jones said: "As the daughter of a miner, I am delighted that this important medal recognising a life-saving achievement at a Doncaster pit, is coming back to the city." The medal was sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 May. The council said the purchase was made possible through a private donation. Jones added: "This is an important part of our heritage and even more so, given these are so rarely awarded. "I hope people come and see this medal and read its story." Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners received the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971. "Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross," said Mr Pepys. "Exchanging the medal makes it a much rarer award, which attracted substantial interest." Following his Edward Medal exploits, Mr Smith entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War Two. For his wartime services he was awarded the 1939-45 Star; the Burma Star; the Defence Medal; and the War Medal 1939-45. Following demobilisation in 1945, he returned to the coal industry and was employed at Stargate Colliery in Ryton until 1961. He later worked in the coking industry at Derwenthaugh, County Durham until his retirement in 1973. He died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Miner's George Cross to be sold at auction City of Doncaster Council
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Miner's auctioned George Cross to return to Doncaster
A George Cross awarded to a miner for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery has been bought by a council at Smith was honoured for helping save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January medal was bought for £12,000 by City of Doncaster Council and is now set to go on display at the city's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum later this Ros Jones said: "As the daughter of a miner, I am delighted that this important medal recognising a life-saving achievement at a Doncaster pit, is coming back to the city." The medal was sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 council said the purchase was made possible through a private added: "This is an important part of our heritage and even more so, given these are so rarely awarded."I hope people come and see this medal and read its story." Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners received the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971."Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross," said Mr Pepys."Exchanging the medal makes it a much rarer award, which attracted substantial interest."Following his Edward Medal exploits, Mr Smith entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War his wartime services he was awarded the 1939-45 Star; the Burma Star; the Defence Medal; and the War Medal 1939-45. Following demobilisation in 1945, he returned to the coal industry and was employed at Stargate Colliery in Ryton until later worked in the coking industry at Derwenthaugh, County Durham until his retirement in died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Fashion United
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Shoe Zone trims profit forecast amid tough trading conditions
Shoe Zone has reported its interim results for the 26 weeks ending March 29, 2025 with revenues down by 6.5 percent to 71.5 million pounds, largely due to trading out of 31 fewer stores compared to the same period last year. Looking ahead, Shoe Zone has revised its full-year profit before tax forecast from an original 10 million pounds down to 5 million pounds. This adjustment considers the difficult trading conditions experienced in the first quarter and additional national insurance and National Living Wage costs in the second half. The Board did not propose an interim dividend. Chairman Charles Smith said in a statement, 'The second quarter has shown improvement, but the trading environment continues to be difficult as consumer confidence continues to be low. During the second quarter, we have seen more stability/reduction in the price of containers, and a strengthening of sterling against the dollar, both of which will start to benefit in the second half of this financial year.' Store revenue of 53.3 million pounds declined by 10.3 percent. However, digital revenue showed strong growth, increasing by 6.4 percent to 18.2 million pounds, buoyed by initiatives like the introduction of free next-day delivery on all orders. The company reported an adjusted loss before tax of 2.6 million pounds. The decline is attributed to challenging trading conditions, particularly in the first quarter, impacted by dampened consumer confidence and unseasonal weather. Shoe Zone continued its strategic store transformation, ending the period with 278 stores, a reduction of 31 year-on-year. The company's focus remains on relocating and refitting more stores in the second half of the year, with a long-term goal of operating approximately 260 stores in total.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge shoe chain with 297 shops to close seaside store in hours as shoppers fear ‘will be left a ghost town'
A MAJOR shoe chain with nearly 300 shops is pulling the plug on its beloved seaside branch in just HOURS and shoppers are gutted. Shoe Zone is set to close its Bexhill town centre store later today, leaving locals heartbroken as yet another high street name disappears. 1 The discount footwear giant, which has 297 stores across the UK, confirmed the Devonshire Road branch will shut its doors for good at the end of the day. It marks the latest blow to Britain's struggling high streets, with the retailer blaming rising costs and 'challenging trading conditions' for axing under performing sites. The Bexhill community has taken to social media to share their disappointment. A local fumed: "Bexhill is turning into a ghost town." Another added: 'This is so sad, soon we'll have nothing left.' While a third shopper wrote: 'Wow, I used to visit this store for the kids' shoes, sad to lose another high street name.' Many shared their concerns over for Bexhill town centre, worried it could become a "ghost town" as the high street continues to suffer. The branch had already been advertising its closure since November, and the property is already up for rent with commercial agents Dyer & Hobbis asking £29,500 a year. Shoe Zone previously said that soaring business rates, wage hikes, and poor weather had made some stores no longer financially viable. In 2023, the company saw a 40% drop in pre-tax profits, with chairman Charles Smith pointing to an 'unseasonably wet summer' as a major factor in lost sales. The Bexhill closure follows a string of others across the UK, including shutdowns in Boscombe, Bournemouth and Burgess Hill, West Sussex. Stores in Watford, Stoke-on-Trent and Inverness also shut last year. Despite the downturn, Shoe Zone has continued to refit and relocate shops, opening new sites in towns like Maidstone and Bristol as part of its strategy to shift focus to larger, more profitable locations. Other shops leaving the high street Huttons in London is set to shut its store in the Putney Exchange due to excessive energy costs. The gift shop became a local icon after it opened in the 1990s. Meanwhile, high street fashion chain New Look has begun to close stores as it scales back its UK footprint. It is understood to be shutting nearly 100 stores - equivalent to around a quarter of its 364 shops. Stores in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, St Austell, Cornwall and Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf have launched closing down sales. Reports suggest that the company has been forced to accelerate the pace of store closures due to tax changes in the Autumn Budget. And its not the only high street legend to close its doors. Beales, one of Britain's oldest department stores, has launched a closing down sale before it shuts its last remaining shop after more than 140 years. The company will shut its branch in Poole's Dolphin Centre on May 31. The sale includes fashion, furniture, gifts and cosmetics, being sold for up to 70% off. Beales chief executive Tony Brown blamed the "devastating impact" of the rise in national insurance contributions and the higher minimum wage for the store closure. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
