Latest news with #DroitwichSpa
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa woman runs beauty salon for vulnerable people
As a child, Megan Jones struggled with learning to walk, riding a bike and even holding a 22, she still faces those challenges - but is successfully running her own beauty business catering specifically for people with Beauty Spectrum, in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, specialises in manicures, pedicures, gel nails, and facials."Throughout my life I've always noticed that the world isn't always very accommodating, or an inclusive place," said Ms Jones. "I wanted to have a beauty business that was accommodating and inclusive to everyone." Since launching her business at the start of the year, Ms Jones has treated clients who are - like her - autistic, people with Down's syndrome and visual impairments, and elderly people."I specialise in pampering the vulnerable members of society," she said. "I'm very good at respecting the client's boundaries, so if a client doesn't want part of the treatment being done, I won't do it." Ms Jones said some of her neurodivergent clients usually found salons too "overwhelming", but had discovered a safe space in her treatment had originally planned to work in either nursing, childcare or beauty."I can't be a nurse, simply because I never managed to get maths. My biggest dream in life is to have children, and I have heard that childcare is a bit of a difficult one if you plan on having a family."So I decided to do this instead."There's a bit of medical in it, because you're working with the human body, and there's a bit of childcare as well because I do treatments for children." 'It's a superpower' Ms Jones said she was proof that neurodivergent people, and people with disabilities, could be successful."The teachers in my class used to shout a lot - I thought that the reason I struggled was because I was a naughty child."The kids sometimes were very cruel and unkind, if they didn't get it. Sometimes, the teachers as well."I was told so many times that I wasn't going to do well, and I'm here now."It's not a disability, it's a superpower." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa celebrates Rik Mayall with comedy festival
For an entire generation growing up the 1980s and 1990s, Rik Mayall was one of the most familiar - and fascinating - faces on now, 11 years after his death at the age of 56, his legacy is being celebrated with the first-ever comedy festival in his memory, in his hometown of Droitwich Spa, friend and frequent collaborator - and festival patron - Ben Elton said it was only right that his contribution to comedy was being honoured."What Rik did was so exuberantly, fabulously, gleefully huge, that in the right moment, it was probably about as funny as it's possible to be," he told the BBC. Elton first met Mayall at the University of Manchester, before they went on to collaborate on The Young Ones, Blackadder, and Filthy Rich and Catflap."Rik had an essential star quality which was kind of unique", said Elton. "I've been fortunate enough to work with some great talent."None have had the quality Rik had." The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, which begins on Saturday and runs for eight days, will see stand-up from well-known figures such as Greg Davies, Helen Lederer and Shaparak Khorsandi as well as less-established comedians, alongside music, magic and spoken word epicentre will be the town's Norbury Theatre, where Mayall first performed as a child in a production of Waiting for Godot."Everyone in the town is so pleased with what we're doing," said festival director Stuart Panrucker. "I think it's really given everyone a sense of ownership of Rik and... [the chance to] say he's one of ours and give us something to be proud of." Mayall went on to star in the political satire The New Statesman, as the Thatcherite MP Alan B'stard, and as perennial loser Richard Richard in Bottom, which he created and wrote with another university friend, Ade are still repeated on television to this day. "I think Rik's comedy is timeless," said producer and writer John Lloyd, who worked on Blackadder. "It's unique - there's nobody I can think of who's even close to being like him."Everything Rik did was so full of charisma. It was like magic."There was an aura about him." The festival will give Mayall's prolific output the chance to find a new legion of fans, added Elton."Obviously lots of people don't need alerting to his brilliance, but they can be reminded," he said. "And perhaps some new people can discover it." In a statement, Mayall's family lent their support to the event."We are really touched that Droitwich Spa has chosen to honour Rik with a comedy festival," they said. "His mum and dad would have been so proud and especially pleased that the Norbury Theatre features prominently."Spending a week laughing is the perfect way to remember Rik." The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival runs in Droitwich Spa between 31 May and 7June. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
One of the UK's oldest lidos that is like ‘being by the seaside' to reopen tomorrow
ONE of the UK's oldest lidos is set to reopen tomorrow and you can get seaside vibes without being by the beach. Droitwich Spa Lido will reopen on May 24 having undergone a major refurbishment. 5 The destination includes a heated saltwater pool, children's wet play area, sun terrace and on-site cafe. The lido originally opened on June 10, 1935 and to celebrate its 90th anniversary there will be a wide range of events taking place over the summer. On June 11, for example, there will be a live music evening at Little Al's cafe, featuring acoustic music from a former Spa Lido lifeguard. On June 14, there will also be a special birthday party with a barbeque, pizza ovens and family-friendly entertainment. On July 19, there will be a synchronised swimming display too. In the summer, a memory book will also be launched, featuring historic photos and written memories from local residents. The redevelopment of the lido was announced last year and at the time, was revealed to cost around £8million. In addition, the redevelopment aimed to kickstart regeneration of the area and make the lido less financially reliant on Wychavon District Council. According to the BBC, Matt Nicol, chair of Droitwich Spa Place Board, which has been involved in the plans at the time: "We're committed to supporting Wychavon's vision for enhancing our town for both residents and visitors. "The lido project has been a central focus for over a year and we're thrilled to invite residents to join us as we take this exciting next step. New £4million lido to open in UK next year "The project is a result of significant effort and collaboration from many groups, including Save Our Brine Baths and Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido, to create something we can all truly take pride in." The area the lido is located in sits on vast deposits of salt, which have been extracted there for centuries. The town's natural brine contains two-and-a-half pounds of salt per gallon - which is 10 times stronger than sea water and only rivalled by the Dead Sea. When the lido first opened, diluted brine was pumped from local streams and was used to keep the pool aseptic - without the need for additional chemicals. 5 It was heated to the exact temperature of the Mediterranean Sea and was marketed as the 'seaside of Droitwich Spa', with the press speaking about it's Mediterranean feel. A general swim for one hour costs £7.20 per adult or £9.40 for two hours. Children cost £7.20 each, for both one hour or two hour sessions. The temperature of the water sits at 21C and measures 40 metres by 18 metres. There is also a UK lido that has been compared to Australia with amazing sea views and it is free to visit. Plus, the UK lido that's open all year round has heated swimming pool and outdoor river rapids. 5 5
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'One of the best lidos in the UK' reveals summer opening date
"ONE of the best lidos in the UK" has revealed its opening date for summer. Droitwich Spa Lido will be open rain or shine this summer after it announced it will welcome everyone back into the pool later this month. The open-air pool, which is celebrating 90 years of services this year has been a family favourite for generations. The original Art Deco structure still stands beside the pool, which now boasts a children's wet play area, sunny terraces, and Little Al's at the Lido café. The open-air pool, which officially opened on June 10, 1935, has been a family favourite for generations. Last year, Droitwich Spa Lido was rated amongst the best in the UK according to The Telegraph. It also dubbed it one of Britain's last remaining inland, open-air saltwater pools. The pool will reopen on Saturday, May 24.
