Latest news with #Gertrude
Wales Online
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The 10 'old lady' vintage baby names that are making a major comeback
The 10 'old lady' vintage baby names that are making a major comeback Vintage baby names are making a comeback, with many parents opting for unique names that have fallen out of popularity - here are the top 10 'old lady' monikers Some "old lady names" are making a comeback as people want look for unique names (Image: JW LTD via Getty Images) Many new parents are seeking out unique and uncommon names for their little ones. In order to do this, some parents are turning towards older names which had fallen out of favours, leading to a resurgence in these vintage 'old-lady' names. QR Code Generator analysed data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) comparing the top 100 baby girl names from 1924 with the most recent ONS data to identify which nearly century-old names are currently the most and least popular. The most popular vintage name for girls is Lily, with 2,290 baby girls named Lily in 2023, making it the top choice among vintage names. While some hundred year old names have made a comeback, some have gone extinct (Image: Cecile Lavabre via Getty Images) Following the nature-inspired trend, Ivy was the second most popular, with 1,997 girls given this name in 2023. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here In third place, departing from the floral theme, was Florence, chosen by parents for 1,899 girls. However, some vintage names have completely fallen out of favour. Phyllis, Pauline and Gertrude have become extinct in the UK, with no babies receiving these names. Doreen, Muriel and Brenda are also rare, each being chosen for just three baby girls in 2023, reports the Express. Top 10 most popular 100 year old baby girl names, and the number of baby girls born with name in 2023: Lily: 2,290 Ivy: 1,997 Florence: 1,899 Evelyn: 1,673 Elsie: 1,662 Daisy: 1,585 Grace: 1,541 Emily: 1,280 Ada: 1,089 Ruby: 1,059 Top 10 rarest 100 year old baby girl names, and the number of baby girls born with name in 2023: Phyllis, Pauline, Gertrude: 0 Doreen, Muriel, Brenda: 3 Sheila: 4 Beryl: 5 Marjorie, Thelma: 6 Maureen: 7 Gladys, Hilda, Marion: 8 Doris, Edna, Pamela, Mildred: 9 Gwendoline: 10 Article continues below
BBC News
31-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Zoo in Birmingham announces death of three capybaras
A city zoo has announced the death of its three capybaras due to "age-related challenges".On Wednesday, Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park shared the news of the death of Katherine, Gertrude, and zoo said "all three girls" had been under close observation and care from their dedicated veterinary team due to ongoing health concerns."Now in their later years — at 13 years old — they had begun to face age-related challenges, and after thorough assessments, it was determined that the kindest and most compassionate course of action was to say goodbye," the zoo said. "This decision was made with deep care and compassion, with their wellbeing at the heart of every process."Capybaras are native to South America and are the largest living rodents in the the wild, their life expectancy is around seven to 10 Wildlife Conservation Park said: "Katherine, Gertrude, and Esmeralda were truly special members of our community. "Gentle, curious, and full of character, they were adored by visitors and held a very special place in the hearts of our staff and volunteers. "Whether you were lucky enough to see them lounging by the water or sharing quiet moments with each other, it was clear how much joy they brought to so many."They added: "We'll miss them greatly — as individuals and as a trio — and we know many of you will too." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Belfast Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Co Tyrone man on crusade to solve brutal murder of his aunt at height of war: ‘It was a taboo subject growing up'
Gertrude Canning, originally from Co Donegal, moved to Britain for work and later joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens) when World War II broke out. Thousands of Allied troops trained at the base where she was stationed for the disastrous Dieppe raid. Gertrude was shot dead in 1942 in a 'sexually motivated attack', her body found on the shore of Loch Fyne in Inveraray. Liam Canning (68), a retired social worker, has spent years investigating his aunt's death. He described his book — Gertrude Canning: A Wren for 99 Days — as a 'labour of love'. Her death had a profound impact on his grandfather, who became reclusive. Liam believes the mental toll would have been compounded by the scarcity of information in wartime. Liam was able to uncover letters sent by his grandfather, which painted a picture of a polite man who 'thanked police for their help'. He added: 'It makes you wonder how much he was physically told back then — I suspect very little.' Because of the war, military censorship was in effect, and as Gertrude was based at a secret training facility there were restrictions on what could be reported by the media. Liam told the Belfast Telegraph: 'Growing up, it was a taboo subject in the house. 'My father wouldn't have talked about what happened to his sister, it played on his mind.' A conversation between Liam's son and a barman, where a tabloid clipping about Gertrude was shared, was the catalyst for 15 years of research that involved meeting historians, submitting Freedom of Information requests, and reviewing the original case files held by Scottish police. He explained: 'I had two goals when I started out: firstly to discover what happened to Gertrude in detail, and secondly to make sure this lady would be remembered.' Having seen police files, Liam does believe a thorough investigation was carried out, but is critical of some 'errors of judgment'. He said the difference in law between Scotland and other parts of the UK, whereby corroboration is a legal principle requiring essential facts of a crime be proven by evidence from at least two independent sources, hampered the prospects of a prosecution. The book challenges the conclusions reached at the time, raising the unsettling question: did the authorities allow Gertrude's killer to escape justice? Working on it not only taught Liam about his aunt's death, but also shed light on this 'beautiful young 20-year-old woman'. He added: 'She was full of life and adventure... she had really good working conditions. 'She was happy, very sociable and enjoyed dancing and music — traits that are in our family today.' A commemoration for Gertrude was hosted by the Royal British Legion's Inveraray branch in 2012, where a memorial stone was unveiled at North Cromalt Woods, the location where she was murdered and left in a ditch. Later a bench dedicated to her memory was placed close to Inveraray War Memorial at Front Green. Liam is 'full of praise' for the Royal British Legion and people of Inveraray, who view Gertrude as 'one of their own' and treat the family 'like royalty' every time they visit. He said: 'Carrying out the research for my book to unravel exactly what happened to my Aunt Gertrude and to uncover the circumstances associated with her murder and the police investigations that followed has been a journey of discovery, not only for myself, but also for the wider Canning family. 'This book is more than just an investigation, it is a tribute to my aunt and will ensure that her memory will not be forgotten despite the decades that have passed. 'Gertrude may have been forgotten by the justice system, but she will not be forgotten by her family. 'I would also like to put on record that myself and the other Canning Family members will be eternally grateful to the members of the Inveraray Royal British Legion Branch and the wider Inveraray community for their help and support down the years since I first visited in 2010.' Asked if he believes the book exposes the killer, he is convinced the man responsible served in the Army, and readers will be able to piece together the evidence contained in the book.
The Herald Scotland
29-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Gertrude Canning murder in 1942 'solved' in nephew's new book
The murder has gone unsolved ever since and is one of Scotland's oldest cold cases, but her nephew Liam believes he has found the answers to what happened and has detailed them in his new book. Gertrude was born in Donegal, Republic of Ireland and like many people from that area, she moved to England for work. When war broke out, she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service – known as the Wrens. She was dispatched to serve on a training base in Inveraray and that is where her life came to a tragic end. The murder weapon, a standard British Army .38 revolver, was only issued to non-commissioned officers and officers holding the rank of second lieutenant or higher. The death was so difficult that it was never spoken about in Liam's family. He was born 15 years after his aunt's death but it was decades later before he discovered his family history, and he then set out to find out exactly what happened. Liam Canning has released a book about his aunt's murder (Image: Liam Canning) It resulted in him writing this book, Gertrude Canning: A Wren for 99 days, and telling her story as well as raising questions over the handling of the case in the 1940s – and whether the Scottish legal system let her and his family down when it came to getting the answers that were wanted. 'I wanted to find out what happened to my aunt', Liam said. 'We only knew briefly about her being murdered, we were never told anything about it as children or as young people growing up. It was never talked about within the family circles. 'It was never discussed and it was only about 20 years ago my son was presented with an old tattered paper telling her story and when he brought it to me, I was automatically compelled to look into this and I did and that was the start and now we're here today with a book published and telling the whole story from inside out. 'Carrying out the research for my book to unravel exactly what happened to my Aunt Gertrude and to uncover the circumstances associated with her murder and the police investigations that followed has been a journey of discovery not only for myself, but also for the wider Canning Family network. 'For me, writing this book, whilst at times has been challenging, but it has also been a labour of love and I am delighted that I have completed it. 'This book is more than just an investigation, it is a tribute to my aunt and will ensure that her memory will not be forgotten despite the decades that have past. 'Gertrude may have been forgotten by the justice system but she will not be forgotten by her family. 'I would also like to put on record that myself and the other Canning Family members will be forever eternally grateful to the Royal British Legion at Inveraray and the wider Inveraray Community for their help and support down the years since I first visited Inveraray back in 2010.' He knows it is unlikely that the case will ever be closed with the person responsible now likely to be dead given the length of time it has been since the murder, and the fact they would already have been in their 20s when the crime took place in 1942. Read More: But he does raise questions over whether the need for corroboration in Scots Law, as well as the secrecy around the army base in Inveraray played a part in the case going cold. He continued: 'Everyone will have their own opinion but there were errors of judgement in the original investigation back in the 40s. 'In Scotland you have the corroboration rule and in Northern Ireland, England or Wales it isn't a requirement but in Scotland you need two independent references and it was one of the reasons why nobody was ever charged. 'They had evidence but it was never corroborated. All of this is written in the book in a very detailed and structured fashion. 'We were immune from it for so long but it was only when we went to Scotland after our freedom of information request was rejected because it wasn't viewed as being in the public interest that they agreed to let us read the files in the Pitt Street headquarters. It gave us a clear indication what happened to her, which we didn't know about before. 'It showed us witness statements and reports and my book is based on what we read that day. 'It also gave us an insight into the young lady she grew up into, joining the navy. It's split into three parts of her early years and going to England before being posted to Scotland as a wren and the second part digs into the police investigation and asks the question of did they get it right and it also asks whether the Scottish legal system failed Gertrude. 'We had to have some kind of happy ending I suppose, and we ended up doing the commemoration service in Inveraray, where she was murdered, in 2012. We run with that every year in a small scale to remember her. That set me on the road to writing the book.' Liam is keen for people to come to their own conclusions upon reading the book, which was officially launched in Inveraray on Thursday night. He added: 'I'm a retired social worker so I felt well-equipped to write the book. I can be clinical and objective. The book isn't subjective at all. 'She was a young girl from Donegal who went seeking employment and entertainment. She ended up in Birmingham with her father's blessing and when she was in England she worked in a hotel and from there when the war broke out her and her friends joined the women's navy or women's air force. 'She became a Wren and was posted to Scotland to Inveraray and that's where she met her demise sadly. Read More: 'The book will act as a memoir to know what did happen. Not a lot of people knew about it, it was war time as well so there wasn't a lot of information as well because where she died was a secret army base so there is a lot of history around it. 'Gertrude worked at the headquarters, and she went to post a letter home to her father and five days later she was found dead. She had posted her letter and because it was a nice sunny day she had gone for stroll around the back of the woods which circumnavigated the army camps and she was attacked about five-minute walk away. 'If she had taken the short road she would have been home but because she went through the woods, she was attacked and shot, and her body was dumped. 'It could have been so much different. She was a young girl with a world at her feet. 'Anyone who reads the book will come to their own conclusion with the evidence presented. I think they'd come to the same conclusion as myself, I'm not telling people what conclusion to reach. There's no speculation, it's all facts and I'm putting the question out there of who was responsible for her death but my answer to that is totally unravelled in the book but I'm not going to tell people outright.' The case does remain open despite the fact is unlikely to be officially solved due to the length of time it has been since the crime took place. Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Docherty said: 'The murder of Gertrude Canning remains unresolved but, as with all such cases, it is subject to review. 'Should any new information be received, it will be thoroughly assessed to determine whether it could assist the inquiry. If so, it will be appropriately acted upon by dedicated officers. "If you believe you have information relevant to Gertrude's murder, but have never spoken to police, then please contact police immediately via 101. Alternatively, you could contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111." You can buy the book, and find out more about the story by visiting
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seattle's JP Patches clown statue vandalized in Fremont, fans hope to make repairs
The Brief After the beloved J.P. Patches statue was recently vandalized in Fremont, the Seattle community is rallying for repairs. Someone inked out J.P. Patches and his sidekick Gertrude in black paint, discoloring the facial features that made the characters come to life. SEATTLE - Community leaders in Fremont are hoping to repair the statue of Seattle's most famous clown after it was defaced by a vandal within the past few weeks. J.P. Patches was the star of a long-running show from 1958-1981, with many members of the community appearing on the program over the years. The statue was unveiled in 2008 with a street later named after the iconic clown. The picture below shows what the statue used to look like before and after the vandalism. What they're saying "I am a long-time Seattleite and I know who J.P. Patches is and Gertrude," said superfan Suzie Burke, a J.P. Patches statue supporter. Burke says during his three decades on TV, J.P. Patches worked to make people happy. But, things took a sad turn after the statue honoring J.P. Patches and his sidekick, Gertrude, was vandalized with black paint. Someone inked out the facial features that made the characters come to life. "J.P. Patches was our clown," she said, pictured below looking at the damage. "We have to fix it!," said Burke, pointing to the statue. "His face is supposed to be white, with the red lips and the red nose." Fans of the late clown and the statue say the person who was responsible for defacing the statue wasn't just clowning around, as the vandalism disrespects the memory of both the clown and the man behind him, Chris Wedes. "J.P. Patches is a Seattle icon. Any kid that grew up from the 60s and 70s grew up watching JP Patches," said Curt Hanks, webmeister of After Chris passed away in 2012, FOX 13 interviewed his co-star Bob Newman during a 2013 street-naming celebration in his honor. "We could do crazy dumb stuff, you know, and people loved it," said Newman. "They just loved to be talked to, you know, and we just had a great time. As for who is responsible for the damage, that's unclear. For now, Hanks with says "Patches Pals," as fans are called, will likely rally to make repairs. A restoration fund for the statue is now live on the J.P. Patches website. "I raised funds for the last restoration of the statue about three years ago, and we raised funds for these pavers at the base of the statue," said Hanks. "We take that pretty seriously, even when it's a clown," said Ryan Reiter, managing director for the Fremont Sunday Market, in reference to the vandalism. Reiter is also hoping to host a parade in Fremont to raise money for the cause. "We've just been spit-balling. We want to find a way to help fix J.P. Patches," said Reiter. He's hoping to host that parade at the Fremont Sunday Market location. He said he could host the event as early as May 25. He plans to make an announcement on social media soon. FOX 13 reached out to Seattle Police to see if officers are investigating the vandalism incident, and we are waiting to hear back. The Source Information in this story came from the J.P. Patches website and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews. Social media says Seattle ports are empty — but data shows growth Irish woman returning from visiting sick father detained at Tacoma ICE facility 'Violated, degraded, dehumanized': Ex-Seattle police official Jamie Tompkins demands $3M Idaho judge slams Bryan Kohberger's 'hollow' attempt to dodge death penalty First confirmed Pacific Northwest sighting of invasive Chinese mitten crab WA pilot program offers free walk-on ferry rides to San Juan Islands To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
