Latest news with #ChurchtownPrimarySchool
Edinburgh Live
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Kate Middleton and Prince William's 'secret' gesture that has heartbreaking meaning
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info In a touching tribute to the young victims of the tragic Southport stabbing, the Prince and Princess of Wales have extended an "incredibly generous" gesture. Following the devastating incident in July, where Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King lost their lives during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, William and Kate visited the town to offer their condolences to the bereaved families and commend the emergency services for their response. In a remarkable show of resilience, David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, fathers of Elsie and Alice respectively, took on the London Marathon to fundraise for initiatives honouring their daughters. Their efforts aim to build a new playground at Churchtown Primary School, which both Alice and Bebe attended. READ MORE - BBC Breakfast's Jon Kay shares 'sad news' following death of 'extraordinary' man READ MORE - 'David Beckham of snooker' died at 27 after suffering one specific symptom Jinnie Payne, the headteacher of the school, joined the fathers in the marathon, united in their cause. Prior to the event, Payne shared on social media that the Royal couple had reached out with a supportive message for the marathon runners and contributed to the playground fund. (Image: INSTAGRAM) (Image: PA) She expressed her gratitude online: "On behalf of Churchtown Primary School, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, for their incredibly generous donation to our Churchtown Playground fund. "Their kindness and thoughtfulness mean so much to our whole community as we come together to honour the memories of Alice and Bebe, two much-loved members of our school family. As Alice's dad Sergio, and I prepare to run the London Marathon today in their memory, we are deeply touched and encouraged by William's and Kate's support.", reports the Mirror. During a heartfelt visit to Southport last October, lasting 90 minutes, the Royal couple, William and Kate, engaged personally with families. This marked their first official joint outing since the conclusion of Kate's cancer treatment. Further reflecting their commitment, William and Kate made their way to the site of the heartbreaking incident, speaking with emergency personnel and healthcare workers to understand their experiences. To the responders, William said: "You're all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don't rush back to work." In response to the day's profound encounters, the couple expressed on their Kensington Royal social media platforms: "Meeting the community today has been a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy." Reports indicate that although the visit was initially planned for William alone, Kate made the decision to accompany him, extending her solidarity with the people of the town. During her visit, the Princess of Wales, Kate, discussed the state of the grieving families, commenting: "They're okay. They're managing it differently. All the families are so different. Individually too they are managing it and processing this tragic event in very different ways, but they're getting support from families and officers and things like that." Following the Royal visit, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's top officer, Phil Garrigan, revealed: "The Princess of Wales broke off and came back into the building to give a hug to the people who responded because she could see the emotion in them and could see it was difficult for them to relay their feelings and to say how impactful events have been. I think that just shows a really caring side and is very very touching for them." After the nefarious acts that led to the loss of three young lives, the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, faced justice when he was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 52 years, his sentence handed down in January following his convictions for murder and attempted murder.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kate Middleton and Prince William's secret gesture in memory of Southport stabbing victims
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Southport last year, weeks after a horrific stabbing attack claimed the lives of three young girls - and now it's emerged they've made an incredible gesture in their memory The Prince and Princess of Wales have made an "incredibly generous" gesture in memory of the young girls killed in the horrific Southport stabbing attack. William and Kate travelled to the town in the weeks after Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July to meet with their families and emergency services who responded to the attack. Yesterday, both Elsie and Alice's dads, David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, ran the London Marathon to raise money for projects in memory of their daughters. This includes creating a new playground at Churchtown Primary School, which was attended by both Alice and Bebe. Running alongside them for the cause was the school's headteacher Jinnie Payne. And before the race, she revealed on social media that the royal couple had been in touch to send a message of support ahead of the marathon - and also made a donation to the playground fund. She said: "On behalf of Churchtown Primary School, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, for their incredibly generous donation to our Churchtown Playground fund. "Their kindness and thoughtfulness mean so much to our whole community as we come together to honour the memories of Alice and Bebe, two much-loved members of our school family. As Alice's dad Sergio, and I prepare to run the London Marathon today in their memory, we are deeply touched and encouraged by William's and Kate's support." William and Kate spent 90 minutes chatting with the families during a visit to Southport last October, which was their first official joint engagement since Kate's cancer treatment had ended. They also walked the short distance to the scene of the tragedy, where they met with emergency responders and health practitioners to hear their experiences. William told the responders: "You're all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don't rush back to work." In a post to the couple's Kensington Royal social media accounts, they said: "Meeting the community today has been a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy." It's understood the visit had initially been for William to undertake alone before Kate decided to join as a show of support for the town. During the visit, Kate was asked how the bereaved families were coping, and replied: "They're okay. They're managing it differently. All the families are so different. Individually too they are managing it and processing this tragic event in very different ways, but they're getting support from families and officers and things like that." After the visit, Phil Garrigan, chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The Princess of Wales broke off and came back into the building to give a hug to the people who responded because she could see the emotion in them and could see it was difficult for them to relay their feelings and to say how impactful events have been. I think that just shows a really caring side and is very very touching for them." Killer Axel Rudakubana was jailed for life for the three girls' deaths - alongside the attempted murder of eight other children - and was handed a minimum term of 52 years in January. Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the royals get back to their normal duties after a difficult year, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Middleton and Prince William's 'incredibly generous' donation to Southport school in memory of stabbing victims is revealed
The Prince and Princess of Wales have quietly made a donation to a primary school in Southport to help them fund a new playground in memory of the children killed in a knife attack last July. Prince William and Kate made the emotional pilgrimage to Liverpool last October to meet with the families of the three girls who lost their lives in the attack - in the princess's first public engagement since completing chemotherapy for cancer. Alice Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, were killed along with seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe in an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Teenage killer Axel Rudakubana was jailed for life for their deaths - alongside the attempted murder of eight other children - and was handed a minimum term of 52 years in January. Alice's parents have since been raising money to build a new playground at Churchtown Primary School, attended by Alice and Bebe. The new space is set to be honour the girls' memories and provide an expanded space for children to play in. The donation from the royals was revealed over the weekend by Jinnie Payne, headteacher of Churchtown Primary School. She wrote in a message shared on social media: 'On behalf of Churchtown Primary School, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, for their incredibly generous donation to our Churchtown Playground fund. 'Their kindness and thoughtfulness mean so much to our whole community as we come together to honour the memories of Alice and Bebe, two much-loved members of our school family. 'As Alice's dad Sergio, and I prepare to run the London Marathon today in their memory, we are deeply touched and encouraged by William's and Kate's support.' In October, Kate and William met with the families of Bebe, Elsie and Alice. They also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured as she shielded youngsters as they were attacked by a knifeman during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday class. Afterwards the couple spoke to emergency responders who attended and helped on the day, with the Princess hailing them 'true heroes', while William called them 'true professionals'. In an emotional post following their visit, the couple pledged that they 'continue to stand with everyone in Southport.' They said: 'Meeting the community today has been a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. You will remain in our thoughts and prayers.' Prince William had promised the families and local community he would visit as soon as possible and his visit had long been scheduled in. But the decision by his wife to join him was more recent. It is understood that she wanted to 'show her support, empathy and compassion to the local community'. Headteacher Jinnie Payne shared news of the donation on social media this weekend. At the time of the incident the couple shared a personal message of shock and sympathy for those affected and, like her husband, the princess has kept a keen eye on events since. In a deeply personal statement released in the wake of the attack, the Princess wrote: 'As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through.' On Sunday, Jinnie and Sergio completed the London Marathon, also in memory of Alice and Bebe, and to raise funds for the playground. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Jinnie read a statement on behalf of Bebe's mother last month: 'We are incredibly grateful to anyone who made this playground possible, to the school, to the donors and the entire community. Thank you for your generosity and kindness. Bebe loved this school so much. 'This playground is a beautiful tribute to Bebe and Alice and their light will live in the joy of the children who will enjoy it for years to come. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.' The project reached its £250,000 target in March, while any additional funds are being donated to local charities helping those affected by the tragedy, according to the GoFundMe page. Head teacher Jinnie Payne said they had been 'overwhelmed' after receiving over 9,000 donations, with the total now standing at more than £350,000. 'This has been an incredibly difficult time for the whole of the Southport community,' she said. Plans for the new playground (pictured), which is due to be completed in September, include a performance stage and a library 'This project is testament to the love that surrounds Alice and Bebe and their memory.' The project was established after speaking to the families of the three girls and building is set to be finished in September, according to the BBC. Featuring a performance stage and library, the playground is set to be 'inclusive' and will offer opportunities to more than 700 children. Kate and William's visit to Southport marked the first public engagement for the princess since she announced that she had complete treatment for cancer and would undertake a carefully calibrated return to public duties. Apart from a small media contingency, the visit was kept deliberately low key as both the prince and princess wanted it to remain as discreet as possible out of respect to those involved. Their meeting with the victims' families was held completely in private and not announced publicly until they had left. The prince and princess spent half an hour in private with each of the girls' families. The couple then walked from their last meeting, with dancer teacher Leanne Lucas, to the nearby community centre to speak to the first responders. They were met by Peter Oliver, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside at Southport Community Centre. William was dressed in jacket and tie while Catherine wore a brown coat and heels and looked visibly moved as they spoke, gesturing with her hands. However, the couple then went on to meet with emergency responders who were involved in the aftermath of the attack at a local community centre to hear about their experiences and speak to mental health practitioners who have been working to deliver long term support to the blue light community in Southport. While speaking to the emergency personnel, Kate was asked how the families of the three girls killed in the attack were doing. She said: 'They're OK. They're managing it differently. All the families are so different. Individually too they are managing it and processing this tragic event in very different ways but they're getting support from families and officers and things like that. 'I think being able to have opportunities to be able to speak to different people in the community about the experience and drawing that together and sharing their experience I think is massively helpful.' Referencing the earlier meeting with the families of those who died in the attack, the Princess of Wales said: 'I can't underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day. 'On behalf of them, thank you.' The Prince of Wales told the personnel: 'You're all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don't rush back to work.' Kate added: 'Support in general has really improved for first responders across the board [but] there are still gaps there. It could be better?' 'You can speak honestly,' William said, which caused ripples of laughter. Told they could always do with more time to digest what had happened, the Princess nodded, adding: 'Just sit and reflect.' The couple shook hands with the emergency workers after the conversation. Kate rested a hand on William's back as she joined him to speak to a member of air ambulance crew. William called the emergency workers 'true professionals' and said they had a 'bumpy few months' ahead but would get through it together. He said: 'The first thing we thought about was actually how on earth you guys are going to handle having seen what you've seen. So, please take your time, don't rush back to work, do whatever you need to, talk about it, give your superiors a hard time if they not letting you have that time to decompress because it's so important you have those moments.' The couple posted on social media that the visit had been a 'powerful' reminder of the need to support one another 'in the wake of unimaginable tragedy'. Chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Phil Garrigan said he had a 'really lovely fleeting conversation' with William and Kate after they had spoken to the group of emergency personnel. He said: 'The Princess of Wales broke off and came back into the building to give a hug to the people who responded because she could see the emotion in them and could see it was difficult for them to relay their feelings and to say how impactful events have been. 'I think that just shows a really caring side and is very, very touching for them.' William and Catherine's Royal Foundation also made a donation to the the National Police and Wellbeing Service's fundraiser to help fast track psychological and physical rehabilitation for police and ambulance personnel who were involved in the attack and the subsequent riots. In January, Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years for carrying out the Southport attacks with a judge admitting he will likely remain in prison until he dies. Rudakubana was handed 13 sentences including the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and the attempted murder of eight other children in Southport. Mr Justice Goose passed his sentence on a day of high drama and emotion as the teenager was twice removed from the dock for interrupting proceedings. here.
ITV News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Tens-of-Thousands of runners, celebrities and campaigners cross the London Marathon finish line
Tens-of-thousands of people crossed the finish line of the London Marathon on Sunday including celebrities, MPs and campaigners. More than 56,000 participants were expected on the 26.2-mile course as temperatures in the capital hit 22.2C. Among them were David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, whose daughters Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were murdered in the Southport mass stabbing last summer. The pair are raising money for projects in memory of their daughters and Bebe King, six, who was also killed in the July attack. In a video message posted on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wished the pair 'the very best of luck', adding, 'the entire nation is in awe of your courage and your resilience'. The Prince and Princess of Wales also sent the family a "special message" and had also donated to Elsie's Story, a charity that supports young people in Southport. Running alongside them was Junnie Payne the headteacher of Churchtown Primary School where Alice and Bebe attended. Celebrities Some familiar faces were also seen crossing the finish line and collecting their medals including radio presenter Adele Roberts who said she hopes her world record-breaking marathon runs show people with cancer they can 'achieve anything'. Roberts, who was previously treated for bowel cancer, broke the record for the fastest aggregate time to complete all World Marathon Major races with a stoma (female), upon completing the London Marathon. She added: 'I've been through much, in terms of recovering from cancer, and with every step even though it hurt, I just thought 'you're alive, you're lucky to be experiencing this', so it was lovely.' Other famous faces included comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan, McFly drummer Harry Judd, former England footballer John Terry, actor Stephen Mangan, singer Alexandra Burke, TV presenter Helen Skelton, and fitness coach Joe Wicks also finished the race. The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett, who was running to raise money and awareness for Brain Tumour Support, said he fainted before reaching the finish line. He wrote on Instagram: 'Not the race I expected! I fainted at mile 17 – don't really remember much but I woke up in an ambulance!" "Proud of myself for finishing." Emmerdale star Tony Audenshaw, who last ran the London Marathon in 2015, returned to support Pancreatic Cancer UK, the event's charity of the year, after the death of his wife Ruth in April 2017 aged 43. While fellow soap actor, Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale in EastEnders also finished the race. 16 MPs also took part in the race including shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and Labour's Josh Fenton-Glyn. Fancy Dress If the challenge of running a marathon alone wasn't enough, some runners completed the race wearing fancy dress in the 22 degree heat. Costumes spotted racing down the Mall included a group dressed as a colourful caterpillar, a pair dressed as shower gel bottles, a t-rex costume and Big Ben. A man who has run 113 marathons dressed as a rhino said people were a 'little bit shocked' by him in costume on the Tube on the way to the start line. Chris Green, who is known as Rhino Boy Chris and is an ambassador for charity Save the Rhinos, holds the world record for the most marathons run in the same three-dimensional costume (male). The costume, a large grey rhino outfit complete with large horn, was adorned on Sunday with a Union flag and hat. He added: 'You know what the best thing about wearing this costume is it brings out the big kid in everybody – if ever you're feeling cynical about the world, put on a rhino costume and I guarantee you'll see the best in people.' Also hoping to have achieved a Guinness World Record today is Ali Young, 51, who was attempting to break the world record for the fastest woman to run a marathon dressed as a bird. The runner, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, completed the race dressed as a penguin and said the atmosphere at the event was 'absolutely amazing'. Ms Young is fundraising on behalf of Maggie's Cancer Care in memory of her late father. The Winners Setting off before the crowds was the elite runners and wheelchair races. Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa won the women's elite race, setting a new women-only world record with a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds. Sebastian Sawe, from Kenya, came first in the men's elite race with a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds. During the men's elite race, two activists jumped the barrier and threw red paint onto Tower Bridge in protest of the Israel-Gaza war. Team GB Olympic triathlon-winner, Alex Yee, 27, finished in 14th place in his first attempt at the distance., with a time of two hours, 11 minutes and eight seconds. Swiss six-time Paralympic champion Catherine Debrunner successfully defended her 2024 title in the elite women's wheelchair race, and her compatriot Marcel Hug did the same in the men's. Crowds of supports lined the streets of London cheering on the runners and waving to their loved ones. As runners crossed the finish line along the Mall, emotions ran high with a mixture of jubilance and exhaustion with some becoming emotional and shedding tears as they collected their medals. London could set a new record for the world's biggest marathon, which is currently held by the TCS New York Marathon in November when there were 55,646 finishers.
The Herald Scotland
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Fathers of two girls killed in Southport attack among London marathon finishers
Among them were David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, whose daughters Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were murdered in the Southport mass stabbing last summer. David Stancombe, the father of Southport attack victim Elsie Dot, completed the race (John Walton/PA) The pair are raising money for projects in memory of their daughters and Bebe King, six, who was also killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July, and were pictured smiling and smiling with their medals after finishing the race. In a video message posted on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wished the pair 'the very best of luck', adding, 'the entire nation is in awe of your courage and your resilience'. Wishing the very best of luck to David and Sergio today — what an incredible way to honour the memory of your daughters. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 27, 2025 In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Mr Stancombe said: 'Even now it still blows me away that so many people know about it and you're getting messages from the Prime Minister.' Elsie's mother, Jenni Stancombe, told the programme that the Prince and Princess of Wales had donated to Elsie's Story, a charitable trust that distributes grants to support young people in the Southport area, and had sent the family a 'special message' before the race. Running alongside Mr Aguiar was Jinnie Payne, the headteacher of Churchtown Primary School where Alice and Bebe attended. Actor Stephen Mangan took part in the race through the capital (John Walton/PA) Among this year's celebrity participants was radio presenter Adele Roberts who said she hopes her world record-breaking marathon runs show people with cancer they can 'achieve anything'. Roberts, who was previously treated for bowel cancer, broke the record for the fastest aggregate time to complete all World Marathon Major races with a stoma (female), upon completing the London Marathon. She added: 'I've been through much, in terms of recovering from cancer, and with every step even though it hurt, I just thought 'you're alive, you're lucky to be experiencing this', so it was lovely.' Many runners competed wearing fancy dress, hoping their quirky outfits may boost their fundraising efforts. Costumes on Sunday included a group dressed as a colourful caterpillar, a pair dressed as shower gel bottles and a participant dressed as t-rex, while some carried items including a fridge and large teddy bears. Body Coach Joe Wicks was among those running on Sunday (John Walton/PA) Ali Young, 51, who was attempting to break the world record of the fastest woman to run a marathon dressed as a bird, said her jaw 'hurt from smiling' the whole way around the course. The runner, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, completed the race dressed as a penguin and said the atmosphere at the event was 'absolutely amazing'. Ms Young is fundraising on behalf of Maggie's Cancer Care in memory of her late father and is waiting for the Guinness World Record team to verify her attempt. A doctor from the Wirral in Merseyside also praised the 'incredible' support from spectators, saying he felt like he was 'floating on air' throughout the race. Martin Pritchard-Howarth, 56, who was running in aid of disability charity Scope said: ''Thank you to the people of London that got us around – I felt like floating on air at some points, wall-to-wall support, fantastic noise that kept us all going.' A man who has run 113 marathons dressed as a rhino said people were a 'little bit shocked' by him in costume on the Tube on the way to the start line. Chris Green, who is known as Rhino Boy Chris and is an ambassador for charity Save the Rhinos, holds the world record for the most marathons run in the same three-dimensional costume (male). The costume, a large grey rhino outfit complete with large horn, was adorned on Sunday with a Union flag and hat. He added: 'You know what the best thing about wearing this costume is it brings out the big kid in everybody – if ever you're feeling cynical about the world, put on a rhino costume and I guarantee you'll see the best in people.' More than 56,000 people are taking part on Sunday (Jonathan Brady/PA) Other fundraisers included Emmerdale star Tony Audenshaw, who last ran the London Marathon in 2015 but has returned to support Pancreatic Cancer UK, the event's charity of the year, after the death of his wife Ruth in April 2017 aged 43. Comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan, McFly drummer Harry Judd, former England footballer John Terry, actor Stephen Mangan and singer Alexandra Burke also finished the race. Two pro-Palestine activists jumped over the barriers separating spectators from the race course and threw red powder paint on to Tower Bridge in front of the men's elite race, the group Youth Demand said. An image shared by the group showed two people standing in the middle of the road wearing T-shirts bearing the words 'Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel.' The pair were quickly arrested by police, the group said, while marathon organisers said the event 'was not impacted in any way'. Crowds of supporters, many holding banners, lined the streets of the city to cheer on the runners and wave to their loved ones. Many supporters chose light-hearted slogans for their signs, including one that bore the words 'whine now, wine later'. Runners appeared a mixture of jubilant and exhausted as they cross the finish line, with some becoming emotional and shedding tears after they collected their medals along the Mall. Eilish McColgan is among the competitors in the women's elite London Marathon (Jonathan Brady/PA) London could set a new record for the world's biggest marathon, which is currently held by the TCS New York Marathon in November when there were 55,646 finishers. Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa won the women's elite race, setting a new women-only world record with a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds. Sebastian Sawe, from Kenya, came first in the men's elite race with a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds. Sixteen MPs were also among those running, including Labour's Josh Fenton-Glyn, Conservative Harriet Cross, Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon and shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. Last year, TCS London Marathon raised a record-breaking £73.5 million, bringing the cumulative total raised since the first race in 1981 to more than £1.3 billion, according to organisers.
