Latest news with #Gower
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Scot who smoked while watching dad die of lung cancer backs calls for 'smoke free' Scotland
"I realised then that if I didn't stop smoking, I would end up in the same position as my dad" A Scot who took up smoking at the age of just 13 - and continued despite watching his dad die from lung cancer - has backed calls for Scotland to become "smoke-free". Gower Tan took up the habit while he was still at school. And he is now campaigning for an end to the harms caused by tobacco, and supporting the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This afternoon MSPs voted to back UK legislation which aims to create a "smoke-free generation", with a minister hailing it as a "landmark" law. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is UK-wide legislation which would create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning tobacco products for anyone born after January 1, 2009. It would also bring in restrictions on the advertising and sale of vapes, as well as reviewing the packaging of e-cigarettes. Gower was among the campaigners gathered at the Scottish Parliament. The 55-year-old, of Glasgow, supports a team of dedicated Cancer Research UK volunteers in Scotland who have been campaigning for an end to tobacco harms, Glasgow Live reports. He said: "It wasn't long after taking up smoking as a teenager that I realised I was smoking not through choice but addiction. I wanted to quit not long after I started. But it was incredibly difficult. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "I was only able to do so in the end at the age of 40 and with the expert help of a smoking cessation service. Even as I watched dad die from his lung cancer, without thinking, I stepped out into the garden and lit up a cigarette. "I realised then that if I didn't stop smoking, I would end up in the same position as my dad – dying from lung cancer. I was scared my children would have to go through the same thing, to watch me die from lung cancer. Despite repeated attempts, I couldn't quit." Gower's dad Michael, who grew up in Glasgow, also started smoking as a young teenager at Kelvinside Academy. He sadly died at the age of 66. Gower recalled: "I can still picture the thick haze of smoke in our living room. I can see the stacks of cigarette cards dad would collect with every purchase piled up in rubber bands in our dining room sideboard. "I would also go on to collect the cards inserted in each packet of cigarettes I smoked. Trapped in a toxic loyalty scheme, I'd swap the cards in for household items, including two silver candle holders I gifted to my mum. "The irony is I was also trading in years of my life. Secretly smoking in the garden, I knew things needed to change. I was no longer the fit, sporty kid I used to be. "A common cold would knock me out for weeks. Worse still, my children Olivia and Will were old enough to start piecing together my habit. "Anyone who has grappled with addiction will understand that the years which followed were far from easy. What came next was a constant battle: gum, patches, pills, a hypnotherapy session that was over before it began. "My brother later recommended a stop smoking service, which I put off again and again, until years of denial resulted in a 30 second call that changed my life. The hardest part was picking up the phone." Almost 15 years on from quitting smoking, Gower is dedicated to campaigning for an end to the harms caused by tobacco. Today's debate and vote in the Scottish Parliament will pave the way for legal cigarette sales to be phased out for good. Gower said: "When I look back to the day my dad died, I no longer feel guilt. It was the spark – not just of that cigarette, but of my journey to quit. That moment spurred me to cut ties with a product that was stripping away my health. "Our politicians now have the chance to protect the nation's health – and raising the age of sale for tobacco would help do just that. This historic legislation will mean that my children's children will never be able to legally be sold cigarettes. "When it comes to saving lives and making avoidable deaths like my dad's a distant memory, we can't afford complacency. If we've got the chance to stub out smoking for good, we must take it." Once the Bill has completed its journey through the House of Lords and receives Royal Assent, it can become law in Scotland. Following the vote Gower said: "What a gift for future generations".
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Area ceremonies to honor fallen military service members
GOWER and PLATTE CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Memorial Day ceremonies will be held Monday in the area to mourn United States military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The American Legion Post 393 will host an annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11:50 a.m. Monday at the Gower Veterans Memorial, located at 311 Railroad Ave. in Gower, Missouri. After the event, the Gower Lions Club and Masonic Lodge will serve a goodwill donation lunch to benefit the Gower Veterans Memorial. The City of Platte City will hold its Memorial Day service at the Platte County Cemetery at 101 N. Fourth St. in Platte City, Missouri. The ceremony is set to start at 10 a.m. Monday. Both of the events are open to the public.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Luka Modric 'is buying £1m mansion in Swansea' - from one of the club's former midfielders - after purchasing stake in the Championship side and announcing Real Madrid exit
Luka Modric is set to buy a £1million mansion in Swansea after his curious investment in the Championship club, according to a report. Modric raised eyebrows last month when it was revealed he would become a minority owner of the club as his playing career draws to a close. He announced on Thursday that he would be leaving Real Madrid after 13 years in Spain that have seen him become the club's most successful player ever. In total, Modric has collected 28 team trophies during his time with Los Blancos and even toppled Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win a Ballon d'Or back in 2018. But he will now wave goodbye to the club, with Xabi Alonso and Co tasked with replacing someone who has been a stalwart of the side for such a long time. And, due to his recent business ventures that have seen him buy into the Welsh club, some fans have been left speculating that he could take his playing career to Wales when he leaves Madrid. Those rumours were given further weight on Friday, when The Sun reported that the Croat was seen in the country to buy a five-bed mansion in the Gower village of Three Crosses. One neighbour told the publication: 'We don't host many Galacticos in Swansea so it was a bit of a surprise to see him on our doorstep. 'But it's a fantastic house close to the beach and I'm sure he will enjoy exploring the Gower and the local restaurants. 'I doubt we have as many fancy nightclubs as they do in Madrid, but we have plenty of good pubs where he will be made to feel very welcome.' Modric is thought to be buying the mansion, which comes with a pool table, from former Swans midfielder Leon Britton, who put it up for sale in 2017. He still owns his home in Madrid, but reports suggest Modric wanted a Welsh base too, with the building a short drive from the training ground. The initial report of Modric's interest in Swansea insisted that his venture into club ownership will not affect his playing career, as he wants to continue playing beyond this season. Fans took to social media to express their bewilderment at the news, labelling it 'random' and 'unexpected'. In a statement released via the club, Modric said 'This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. 'Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club's growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.' Modric joins a plethora of current football stars to own a club and play at the same time. In 2024, Kylian Mbappe acquired an 80 per cent stake in Ligue 2 side SM Caen through Coalition Capital. After his move to Saudi Arabia, N'Golo Kante purchased and became chairman of Belgian third-tier club Royal Excelsior Virton in 2023. LaLiga rules and FIFA regulations do not prohibit a player from owning a club in another league, provided the clubs that the player is affiliated with do not compete in the same competition.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Converted Bangor church named as Wales' building of the year
A converted church and cottage extension have been named as Wales' buildings of the year at an architecture awards. Nyth, a community arts venue and Welsh-language theatre in a converted church in Bangor, Gwynedd, was named building of the year at the Royal Society of Architecture in Wales (RSAW) awards on Thursday. Coastal farmhouse Delfyd Farm on the Gower peninsula won small project of the year, Hafod Morfa copperworks distillery and visitor centre in Swansea was named conservation of the year, while a house called Croes Fach near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire was also named a buildings will now progress to the Royal Institute of British Architects awards in July. The four winning projects were chosen by an expert architects Manalo and White were praised for their "intrinsic attitude to inclusivity" and "refreshing approach to conservation."The building was described by the jury as a "sophisticated and at times delightful architectural collage". Delfyd Farm by Rural Office won small project of the year, with architect Neil Haddrill recognised as project architect of the project includes a sensitive extension to a Victorian cottage, designed to highlight the Gower peninsula's striking landscapes. The Hafod Morfa Copperworks Distillery and Visitor Centre won the conservation award. The first phase of the local authority regeneration project repaired and converted a former Victorian steam-engine powerhouse into a distillery and visitor centre. The final winning project was Croes Fach, by Hall and Bednarczyk Architects. A new-build house nestled into the hillside. RSAW jury chairman Ian Chalk said "this year's winning projects span the length of Wales, varying in form, scale and typology". "From highly crafted bespoke homes to sensitive conservation repair works and innovative approaches to adaptive reuse, each project demonstrates the quality and breadth of work undertaken across the country," he Chalk also highlighted a strong focus on sustainability, with local skills and materials helping create spaces rooted in their communities. Muyiwa Oki, RIBA President, said: "This year's winners exemplify architecture's power to transform - turning spaces into places of connection, creativity, and care."Individually these projects inspire and uplift, but collectively, they remind us that architects do far more than design buildings, they shape the way we live, work and connect."The winners of the national RIBA awards will be announced on 10 July, with a Stirling Prize shortlist drawn from those winners later in the year.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Real Madrid star Luka Modric, 39, buying £1.1m house in SWANSEA after shock investment as he's tipped for transfer
REAL Madrid super-star Luka Modric is set to buy a £1.1m house on the outskirts of Swansea, leaving excited fans gobsmacked. The Ballon d'Or winner is snapping up a five-bedroom mansion in the Gower village of Three Crosses, according to a well-placed source. 2 Modric, 39, was spotted at the property and his arrival quickly became the talk of the wealthy neighbourhood. It comes after he confirmed he's leaving Real Madrid - leaving Swans at fever pitch he'll soon be joining the Championship side. One neighbour said: 'We don't host many Galacticos in Swansea so it was a bit of a surprise to see him on our doorstep. 'But it's a fantastic house close to the beach and I'm sure he will enjoy exploring the Gower and the local restaurants. 'I doubt we have as many fancy nightclubs as they do in Madrid, but we have plenty of good pubs where he will be made to feel very welcome.' Father-of-three Modric is buying the huge mansion with a pool table from former Swansea footballer Leon Britton, who put the property on the market in 2017. Modric still owns a £10.1m home in Madrid but decided to create a base in the Welsh city after taking a minority stake in Swansea City, whose training ground is a short drive from the mansion. Former Tottenham midfielder Modric was announced as a co-investor and owner in Swansea City last month having become the most decorated player in Real Madrid history - winning six Champions Leagues, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and five Spanish Super Cups. The Swans finished 11th in the Championship and it is hoped that the backing of the star – worth an estimated £56m and married to glamorous Vanja Bosnic, who acts as his agent – will help them push for promotion to the Premier League. In a statement released through the club, Modric said 'This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Luka Modric passed out in a cubicle and had to be carried out by a bouncer on his first Tottenham night out, says Jenas v2 'Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club's growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future." Modric and Leon Britton were approached for comment.
