Latest news with #EdwardJohnston
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Londoners urged to give blood with help from a classic Jamaican dish
With urgent calls for more Black heritage blood donors - a new initiative hopes to get more Londoners donating, one patty at a time While a Jamaican patty might not seem like a lifesaving tool, for thousands of Londoners, it could be the very reason they finally roll up their sleeves to donate blood. As part of a new campaign for National Blood Week, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has teamed up with Jamaican food brand Port Royal Patties. With demand for blood donations rising, the two have come up with a powerful way to spotlight the issue by printing QR codes on 180,000 patty wrappers. The 'food for thought' initiative aims to encourage more Londoners, especially those from Black Caribbean and Black African heritage, to donate blood. For many, blood isn't just needed - it's a lifeline. Jeannine Joseph, 28, knows this first hand. Diagnosed with sickle cell before birth, she receives eight units of blood every five and a half weeks to stay alive. 'If regular blood transfusions weren't an option for people with sickle cell, our lives would be unbearable,' she said. 'In May I was hospitalised for almost three weeks. My doctors couldn't get my crisis under control with pain meds. It wasn't until I had a blood transfusion that I instantly felt better and was able to go home.' That need is exactly what moved Port Royal's MD, Edward Johnston, to act. After stumbling across an NHSBT blood drive years ago, he learned about the urgent need for Black heritage donors and signed up himself. 'We're a London company with Jamaican heritage, and we believe it's vital to support initiatives that help the community thrive,' he said. 'I'm proud we're part of the drive to encourage more Black people to give blood. I hope other businesses follow our lead and support NHSBT's lifesaving work.' Black heritage donors are ten times more likely to have the Ro blood type - the one most needed to treat sickle cell patients and reduce the risk of complications. But despite this, they still only make up 2% of UK blood donors. Almost half of the country's 20,000 Black heritage donors are based in London, and numbers have been steadily rising since June 2024. But NHSBT still needs to recruit an extra 16,000 Black donors this year alone to keep up with demand. 'London's Black communities have stepped up in a big way,' said Iroro Agba, Assistant Director at NHSBT. 'But with sickle cell cases rising, we urgently need more people to come forward, especially those with the Ro blood type. If we can keep building partnerships and showing up in our communities, I'm confident we'll get there.' Wembley-based Port Royal's patties now carry NHSBT's 'Blood Saves Lives' message and a scannable QR code that links straight to the blood donation sign-up page - making it as easy as possible to get involved. Many people still hold back from donating whether it's down to fear of needles, not knowing they're eligible, or simply not realising how urgent the need really is. But NHSBT is working hard to challenge those misconceptions and make giving blood part of everyday community culture. And this campaign is far from a one-off. NHSBT continues to build a culture of blood donation through events, outreach, and partnerships that challenge misconceptions and raise awareness of health conditions that disproportionately impact the Black community. 'If you've got the Ro type, chances are your sibling or parent does too,' Iroro added. 'So why not go together? Bring a friend or family member - it takes just an hour and can truly change someone's life.'
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
London Underground station has completely different signs to all the others
The London Underground roundel is a symbol recognised across the world, but one central London Tube station has a unique design that sets it apart from all the others The iconic blue bar and red circle logo of the London Underground, also known as the roundel, is a symbol recognised not just across the UK but globally. It's the beacon people search for when navigating their way around the capital. This emblematic logo graces popular souvenirs such as mugs, t-shirts and keyrings, purchased by both locals and tourists, and has even influenced the design of logos for other subway systems worldwide. However, the evolution of the roundel into its current form has been a gradual process, and in one central London Tube station, the modern-day design with the red circle is yet to fully take hold. READ MORE: Claudia Winkleman-loved brand launches Bank holiday sale including 'holy grail' spray Regular users of Moorgate station, served by the Northern, Metropolitan, Hammersmith and City and Circle lines, may have noticed that the station hasn't fully embraced the famous logo typically associated with the Tube. Instead, the station sports a unique, diamond-shaped roundel behind the blue bar, rather than the customary red circle. While this might seem unusual, this sign actually predates the circular version, reports MyLondon. The diamond-shaped sign harks back to the era of the Metropolitan Railway, the precursor to the London Underground, which operated London's underground rail network from 1863 to 1933. In fact, it was the world's first subway system. The Metropolitan Railway fittingly used a diamond-shaped roundel in its logo to artistically portray its significance to global public transport. However, when the Metropolitan Railway joined the London Passenger Transport Board and was renamed the Metropolitan line, the diamond logos started being replaced by round ones designed by Edward Johnston in the 1920s. But in 2013, the diamond-shaped logos were put back up at Moorgate station to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Metropolitan Railway. The diamond-shaped roundels were left at Moorgate to remind commuters of the history of the Tube, and to this day, Moorgate remains the only Underground station in London to have them.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
Man convicted after crashing car, killing child in New Jersey: "It was an act with intent"
It was an emotional day in court in New Jersey on Tuesday, where a drunk driver learned his fate, nearly two years after he killed an 8-year-old boy. Javier Velez was on a fishing trip with his family when the driver, speeding more than 100 mph, crashed into their parked car. Velez's parents brought their son's ashes into the courtroom as they read impact statements to the judge and spoke directly to the man who killed their son. "My son was loved, he is loved, whether he's gone or not, and his name is always going to be remembered," said Kaylah Smith, Javier's mother, after sentencing. Smith said she fought tooth and nail to give her son the best life possible, and for the past year and nine months, while grieving, she has also been fighting to spark change. CBS Philadelphia "I know that if someone ever takes a kid's life the way they took Javier's, that they're going to jail and no family is going to have to fight as hard as I fought to get justice," she said. It was July 2023 when Javier was with his father and brother on a fishing trip in Absecon. Javi was sleeping in the backseat of the family's car on Absecon Boulevard, and his dad was only steps away. Investigators say 25-year-old Edward Johnston was drunk, distracted and driving 107 mph when he veered off the road and crashed into the parked car. Javi did not survive. CBS Philadelphia On Tuesday, as part of a plea deal, Johnston was sentenced to 15 years in prison. "It was an act with intent. It was a decision and a series of decisions that were made that cost Javi's life, that's not an accident," said William Reynolds, the Atlantic County prosecutor. Johnston was charged with aggravated manslaughter and DUI, but was released from custody and was home awaiting trial, which drew public outcry. Led by Javi's mom, state Sen. Vince Polistina has since sponsored legislation focused on detaining people with similar charges and suspending their license and impounding their vehicle if convicted. "That person should be incarcerated. They get their day in court, but they must remain in jail until the time they get their day in court," Polistina said. CBS Philadelphia "We are always going to say Javier's name, we are never going to let this little boy be forgotten, and this law is going to also make that happen," Smith said. According to Polistina, Javi's Law has bipartisan support. It was unanimously advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Polistina hopes it can get to the governor's desk next January.
