Latest news with #Critchlow
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Chilling future of a UK where women can't carry a pregnancy to term
But that would mean missing out on a novel that's as captivating as it is chilling, a study of a teenage girl coming of age in an utterly changed world that, like her, is still finding its feet. This post-apocalyptic tale from the Aberdeenshire-born Heather Critchlow takes place a few decades in the future, after the outbreak of a disease that isn't just worse than Covid, it's worse than the Black Death, furiously contagious and killing everyone it infects. The government's attempts to speed along production of an effective vaccine have failed. They can only come up with one plan to safeguard the future: gathering up trainloads of children who haven't yet been exposed to the virus and transporting them to secure camps in the countryside. Marianne is the government's press secretary, and also the Prime Minister's secret lover. However, her loyalty falters when she learns in cabinet meetings that the vaccine is ineffective, and she goes completely rogue after being approached by a shadowy stranger who informs her that places in the camps aren't being allocated fairly but going to those whose parents can pay – and that sometimes the trains aren't even full. The Tomorrow Project by H Critchlow (Image: free) Horrified, she takes part in a clandestine effort to smuggle children aboard using her government ID. The very last of them is seven-year-old Maia. So a kid from a tower block in south London is smuggled into a group of privileged children to spend the next ten years in a fenced-off, self-sufficient compound. No one leaves or enters, and the gates are gradually choked with vines as nature reclaims the surrounding land. With no communication with the outside world, they could be the last humans on Earth. Life is geared towards survival at all costs, and after a decade the community's morale is waning. No one has been able to carry a pregnancy to term, and crops are failing due to the soil becoming exhausted. The prospect of this last spark of humanity dying out, combined with Maia's compulsion to return to London and seek out her old home, strengthens her resolve to head out into the unknown. With its echoes of the 1970s TV series Survivors, Critchlow's careful world-building frames Maia's own coming-of-age story. Although the camp is united in its sense of loss, the world they're mourning is one that Maia was wrenched out of when she was still too young to understand it. "Her memories are blurs and half-truths, mythology she spins from the pieces." Read more Her bond with boyfriend Finn, the first friend she made in the camp, and now her first love, isn't enough to fill the void left inside her by the loss of her mother and her childhood home. Critchlow's two crime novels to date have been good, but she really comes into her own here. The undercurrent of bleakness is never quite dispelled, but rays of hope shine through the darkness as Maia soldiers on, determined to make some kind of life for herself. Once she hits the road, Critchlow's immersive depiction of the relationships and politics of an insular, fearful community is left behind, replaced by the sobering imagery of the world outside its gates, where humanity's works are being swallowed up by nature faster than anyone imagined, evoking feelings of terror but also a powerful sense of mystery and wonder.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fears farmers are being forgotten by tech firms
Farmers are being left behind because of the high cost of installing full fibre broadband in rural areas, according to a National Farmers' Union (NFU) representative in Derbyshire. Andrew Critchlow, the NFU's county advisor, said having a fast and reliable internet connection was increasingly important for farmers but there were pockets of farmers who struggled to get online. The latest figures from the NFU, revealed 34% of its members had full fibre broadband - compared to 57% of properties nationally - in a 2023 study. Openreach said 339,000 homes now already had this form of broadband in Derbyshire and it was working with the government and the county council to reach more properties. Full fibre broadband is where fibre optic cables are used rather than traditional copper phone lines, which means providers need to dig trenches to install them individually to each home or business premises. Mr Critchlow said the cost of this meant some remote properties were missing out. "The cost is higher for them (telecoms companies), so installing into one property is no where near as cost effective as when they are doing multiple properties and I think that's why they (remote properties) get dropped off in these schemes," he said. Graham Locker, 66, who has a farm in Boylestone, near Ashbourne, said he can go an entire day without getting a proper internet connection and believes his access has got worse over the past three years. "I think full fibre is the only option. "If they could come and put some full fibre cabling into the farm from the top of the lane and connect the house I will be very happy," he said. Mr Locker said the amount of online administration work in farming had grown over the years and added he had looked into getting the internet via a satellite but this was too expensive. An Openreach spokesperson said: "Openreach is building full fibre to millions of homes and businesses across the UK, and has already reached more than 339,000 across Derbyshire. "We know there is more work to do, and we understand it's frustrating that this property is not yet included in our build plans. "We continue to work closely with Digital Derbyshire (the council led programme) and UK government on reaching more areas." Across the country, there is a move to get more homes onto full fibre broadband. An Ofcom spokesperson said the industry was in the process of replacing the traditional telephone network as part of a broader initiative to modernise the UK's telecoms infrastructure and expected all landline calls to be delivered over a broadband connection by January 2027. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Street split by fibre optic broadband access Excitement at faster rural broadband after delay NFU Survey
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Union fears high costs delaying farmers' rural broadband
Farmers are being left behind because of the high cost of installing full fibre broadband in rural areas, according to a National Farmers' Union (NFU) representative in Critchlow, the NFU's county advisor, said having a fast and reliable internet connection was increasingly important for farmers but there were pockets of farmers who struggled to get latest figures from the NFU, revealed 34% of its members had full fibre broadband - compared to 57% of properties nationally - in a 2023 said 339,000 homes now already had this form of broadband in Derbyshire and it was working with the government and the county council to reach more properties. Full fibre broadband is where fibre optic cables are used rather than traditional copper phone lines, which means providers need to dig trenches to install them individually to each home or business Critchlow said the cost of this meant some remote properties were missing out."The cost is higher for them (telecoms companies), so installing into one property is no where near as cost effective as when they are doing multiple properties and I think that's why they (remote properties) get dropped off in these schemes," he Locker, 66, who has a farm in Boylestone, near Ashbourne, said he can go an entire day without getting a proper internet connection and believes his access has got worse over the past three years. "I think full fibre is the only option."If they could come and put some full fibre cabling into the farm from the top of the lane and connect the house I will be very happy," he Locker said the amount of online administration work in farming had grown over the years and added he had looked into getting the internet via a satellite but this was too expensive. Understand frustration An Openreach spokesperson said: "Openreach is building full fibre to millions of homes and businesses across the UK, and has already reached more than 339,000 across Derbyshire. "We know there is more work to do, and we understand it's frustrating that this property is not yet included in our build plans. "We continue to work closely with Digital Derbyshire (the council led programme) and UK government on reaching more areas."Across the country, there is a move to get more homes onto full fibre Ofcom spokesperson said the industry was in the process of replacing the traditional telephone network as part of a broader initiative to modernise the UK's telecoms infrastructure and expected all landline calls to be delivered over a broadband connection by January 2027.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man jailed for sexual assault of stranger
A man who sexually assaulted a stranger after forcing his way into her Ashington home has been jailed. Devon Critchlow punched and forced his hands around his victim's neck in the late-night attack in September. The 21-year-old, of Ashington, was later arrested and appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he admitted assault, non-fatal strangulation, and sexual assault. He has been sentenced to five years and three months' imprisonment with a further five years on licence upon his release. Critchlow was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register and was handed a restraining order to protect the victim. The court was told the victim was attacked after she answered the door thinking he was someone else. He had been spotted on CCTV following her home. Following an appeal by Northumbria Police, he was identified as a suspect by a number of members of the public. After his sentencing, Det Sgt Steven Gibson said: "This was a truly shocking and awful incident for the victim, who appeared to be targeted for the sole reason that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. "We won't tolerate the type of predatory behaviour exhibited by Critchlow that night – and I'm glad to see he's now behind bars." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Stranger attacks woman after forcing way into home HM Courts Service
BBC News
17-04-2025
- BBC News
Ashington man jailed for sexual assault of stranger
A man who sexually assaulted a stranger after forcing his way into her Ashington home has been Critchlow punched and forced his hands around his victim's neck in the late-night attack in 21-year-old, of Ashington, was later arrested and appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he admitted assault, non-fatal strangulation, and sexual has been sentenced to five years and three months' imprisonment with a further five years on licence upon his release. Critchlow was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register and was handed a restraining order to protect the court was told the victim was attacked after she answered the door thinking he was someone had been spotted on CCTV following her home. Following an appeal by Northumbria Police, he was identified as a suspect by a number of members of the public. After his sentencing, Det Sgt Steven Gibson said: "This was a truly shocking and awful incident for the victim, who appeared to be targeted for the sole reason that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."We won't tolerate the type of predatory behaviour exhibited by Critchlow that night – and I'm glad to see he's now behind bars." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
