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Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Perth and Kinross Council recognises 300th anniversary of Black Watch
The regiment was formed in 1775 and has historic links with Perth and Kinross Perth and Kinross Council has this week recognised "the fearless and renowned reputation" of the Black Watch as it celebrates its 300th anniversary. The regiment has had 151 battle honours since it was first formed in 1775. On Wednesday, May 7 councillors unanimously offered its full support to all veterans, and their families. Armed Forces and Veterans champion Chris Ahern asked councillors to support the motion at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council, on Wednesday, May 7. Tabling the motion, the Perth City Centre Conservative councillor Chris Ahern said: "The 300th anniversary of the Black Watch is something we can be proud of in Perth, given it's historical links to Perth and Perth and Kinross. "Perth was the home of the regimental depot (including the museum) until 1961, and continued to be the home of the regimental headquarters and museum. "In 1947 the regiment received the Freedom of Perth." The regiment's history dates back to General George Wade - who formed watches to patrol the Highlands following the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. The Black Watch went on to be involved in the Battle of Fontenoy, the American War of Independence, the Battle of Waterloo, both World Wars and many historic battles. The regiment also played a key role following JFK's assassination. Bailie Ahern told councillors: "In 1963, the Black Watch pipes and drums and military band toured the USA and were invited to play at the White House. Nine days later, President Kennedy was assassinated and Jacqueline Kennedy requested that the Black Watch pipe major and eight pipers play at the funeral—they led the cortège from the White House to Washington Cathedral." He added: "Many changes and reforms have impacted the Black Watch over the centuries, including the highly controversial merger in 2006 of the distinct Scottish regiments into the Royal Regiment of Scotland. We must never forget the names of those regiments lost in that merger." Conservative group leader John Duff seconded the motion to celebrate the "extraordinary legacy of one of Scotland's most distinguished regiments". He added: "Since its formation in 1725 during a time of instability in the Highlands, it has been synonymous with fierce courage, unfailing discipline and an enduring sense of duty to Crown and country. The Black Watch stands proudly among the roll of famous British and Scottish regiments and takes its name – Am Freiceadan Dubh in Gaelic, or the Black Watch – from its distinctive dark green and black regimental tartan." The Highland Perthshire councillor shared his own special memory of the Black Watch, as a schoolboy in Aberfeldy. Cllr Duff said: "The regiment's connection to Aberfeldy is part of the town's rich and proud heritage and, as a 10-year-old boy, I can vividly remember Saturday, September 5, 1970 when the Freedom of the Burgh of Aberfeldy was conferred on the regiment. A large crowd gathered in the area around the Black Watch monument on a beautiful sunny day to watch the ceremony." He added: "Over the period of 300 years, the Black Watch has gained a reputation for their Highland honour, fearless gallantry, discipline on the battlefield and indisputable loyalty. It is testament to the courage and sacrifice shown by soldiers of the Black Watch that they have been awarded no fewer than 14 Victoria Crosses - Britain's highest military decoration for valour. "The Black Watch has been at the forefront of military service both in the darkest hours of war and in a peacekeeping role, in lands at home and abroad, from the Highlands of Scotland to the fields of Waterloo, from the Western Front to the hills of Korea and the streets of Basra."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I love a challenge and I love a battle'
A runner has spoken of his joy at finishing the London Marathon in his fastest ever time after having only last year being diagnosed with two brain tumours, one the size of a tennis ball. George Wade, 41, from Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, had undergone five operations - one of which left him temporarily unable to walk - before taking part in April's race. Despite initially feeling "hopeless" following his treatment, and amid doctors' warnings that his condition was life-limiting, he was able to take up running again. Mr Wade, who finished last month's London Marathon in three hours and 16 minutes, said: "I was really pleased it all went well and it was my fastest ever marathon." Mr Wade said he started suffering from light sensitivity and stroke-like symptoms in April 2024, as well as weakness down his left side. He was an experienced marathon runner and "super fit", so assumed it was just a hangover or tiredness. But after a "precautionary" MRI scan, it was found that in fact he had two tumours - a grade four astrocytoma tumour the size of a tennis ball on the right side of his brain and another golf ball-sized growth in the middle of his brain. Mr Wade said: "Weirdly, in my head, one would have been OK, but two… "You know, if you've got two brain tumours, surely you just die." Doctors told Mr Wade he might have had the tumours for up to 20 years and his symptoms were caused when his brain "eventually just ran out of space". He was referred to UCL Hospital and in June he underwent an eight-hour surgery, known as a "de-bulking", to remove the larger tumour. When he woke up, he could not open his left hand or walk, so had to work with physiotherapists to regain movement. Mr Wade said re-learning to walk on his own made him feel like running a marathon was a "million miles away", but within two days he was able to walk and within a month he could run. He said: "I love a challenge and I love a battle. I'm 41 and super fit and I'm determined we're going to battle through it." Although Mr Wade is still being treated for a recurring skin infection, he said he still felt "incredibly fit and healthy" now. "I kind of thought I was fit enough to get a Personal Best, but there's no way I would have got through this without the support of my family, friends and particularly my wife Eleanor." Claire Wood Hill, chief executive of The National Brain Appeal charity, said the £19,000 Mr Wade had raised by running the London Marathon would go towards "finding new ways to diagnose, treat and ultimately cure a range of neurological conditions". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
York runner's joy at marathon success after brain tumour surgery
A runner has spoken of his joy at finishing the London Marathon in his fastest ever time after having only last year being diagnosed with two brain tumours, one the size of a tennis Wade, 41, from Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, had undergone five operations - one of which left him temporarily unable to walk - before taking part in April's initially feeling "hopeless" following his treatment, and amid doctors' warnings that his condition was life-limiting, he was able to take up running Wade, who finished last month's London Marathon in three hours and 16 minutes, said: "I was really pleased it all went well and it was my fastest ever marathon." Mr Wade said he started suffering from light sensitivity and stroke-like symptoms in April 2024, as well as weakness down his left side. He was an experienced marathon runner and "super fit", so assumed it was just a hangover or tiredness. But after a "precautionary" MRI scan, it was found that in fact he had two tumours - a grade four astrocytoma tumour the size of a tennis ball on the right side of his brain and another golf ball-sized growth in the middle of his Wade said: "Weirdly, in my head, one would have been OK, but two…"You know, if you've got two brain tumours, surely you just die." Doctors told Mr Wade he might have had the tumours for up to 20 years and his symptoms were caused when his brain "eventually just ran out of space".He was referred to UCL Hospital and in June he underwent an eight-hour surgery, known as a "de-bulking", to remove the larger he woke up, he could not open his left hand or walk, so had to work with physiotherapists to regain Wade said re-learning to walk on his own made him feel like running a marathon was a "million miles away", but within two days he was able to walk and within a month he could said: "I love a challenge and I love a battle. I'm 41 and super fit and I'm determined we're going to battle through it."Although Mr Wade is still being treated for a recurring skin infection, he said he still felt "incredibly fit and healthy" now."I kind of thought I was fit enough to get a Personal Best, but there's no way I would have got through this without the support of my family, friends and particularly my wife Eleanor."Claire Wood Hill, chief executive of The National Brain Appeal charity, said the £19,000 Mr Wade had raised by running the London Marathon would go towards "finding new ways to diagnose, treat and ultimately cure a range of neurological conditions". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I thought I had a common hangover symptom - it was actually TWO deadly brain tumours
A Yorkshire man who is terminally ill with two brain tumours completed the London Marathon in an astonishing three hours and 16 minutes, less than a year after he lost the ability to walk. George Wade, 41, from Thirsk in Yorkshire, was diagnosed with two cancerous growths in April last year, after suffering a series of symptoms which he initially ignored. The first sign was a severe headache, which came on one morning while driving back from a boozy weekend in Cheltenham. Oddly, he found that looking at the car headlights made him feel sick. 'I just thought it was like a huge hangover from Cheltenham and knackering myself out,' he said. But within a month, Mr Wade began experiencing stroke-like symptoms, such as the left side of his face and body becoming weak and drooping. He phoned his GP brother-in-law who reassured him about the episode and arranged for him to have blood and eye tests, which came back clear. He was booked in for a precautionary MRI scan on April 18, three days before he was due to run the Blackpool Marathon. There are more than 120 different types of brain tumours meaning the symptoms vary a lot. Hearing voices, losing interest in hobbies, forgetfulness, blurry vision and growth spurts especially in the hands and feet are all warning signs of a brain tumour 'As soon as they pulled me out at the end, the whole body language of the nurses seemed different,' he said. He was told a consultant would see him, and during the five-minute wait he began accepting the idea of being diagnosed with a brain tumour. But when he found out he had two tumours he felt hopeless. Mr Wade was diagnosed with two astrocytoma tumours, which are often aggressive. One was classified as grade four—the size of a tennis ball—and another was a golf ball-sized growth in the middle of his brain. 'Weirdly in my head, one would have been OK,' he said. 'But two … I just thought, I'm done. You know, if you've got two brain tumours, surely you just die.' Doctors told Mr Wade he might have had the tumours for up to 20 years and his symptoms were caused when his brain 'eventually just ran out of space'. He was referred to UCL Hospital in London's Queen's Square and started having video calls about treatment by the end of the week. Leading up to his surgery, doctors prescribed steroids to reduce inflammation in his brain, but they caused him to experience mania and paranoia when he was in hospital, resulting in him being held on a psychiatric ward for four days. In June, Mr Wade underwent an eight-hour surgery to remove his larger tumour and subsequently had to undergo another two-hour procedure to treat a bleed on the brain. When he woke up from surgery, Mr Wade said he could not open his left hand or walk properly, so had to work with physiotherapists to regain his movement. Re-learning to walk on his own made Mr Wade feel like running a marathon was a 'million miles away,' but he was able to walk within two days and run within a month. In July he started chemotherapy, taking temozolomide pills once a month for six months. But in the same month he developed an eye infection due to fluid leaking from his head, and underwent yet more surgery to treat it, as well as eight rounds of antibiotics. Today, he still being treated for a recurring skin infection and month have scans every three months. While doctors say his condition is 'life-limiting', they aren't sure on a firm prognosis. Despite this, he feels 'incredibly fit and healthy'. So much so that Mr Wade completed the London Marathon this year in record time, in aid of the National Brain Appeal, just two months after his final surgery. He said: 'I kind of thought I was fit enough to get a personal best. So I was really pleased that it all went well and was my fastest ever marathon.' 'I love a challenge, and I love a battle. One: I'm 41 and super fit, and two: I'm determined and we're going to battle through it,' he added.
