Latest news with #Halls
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK village named a perfect seaside spot but it's 94-miles from the sea
This village in Derbyshire is known as the "seaside town without the sea" but its beloved fish and chip shops, cable car rides and theme park make it a quintessentially British holiday destination This famous town in Derbyshire has all the makings of a great seaside town, except the sea. Located 94.4 miles away from Skegness, this unique destination still has plenty to offer, including fish and chip shops, cable car rides and an exciting theme park. The official Visit Peak District & Derbyshire TikTok account posted a video spotlighting the town of Matlock Bath, referred to affectionately as the 'seaside town without the sea'. The video documents how visitors can spend a day in the colourful and charming town. The TikTok video reveals that Matlock Bath is 'known for its colourful shops and fish and ships restaurants'. One must stop destination highlighted is Halls of Derbyshire, the traditional ice cream and confectionery shop. Halls is a must-visit stop for anyone passing through the area, easy enough to spot with colourful balloons outside and a window full of cotton candy. Another spot highlighted in the video is Kostas Fish Bar, which happens to be right next door. Despite not being particularly close to the sea, Kostas' over 50 years of combined history in the fish and chip industry means that the menu is sufficient to satisfy your seafood craving. According to the video, Matlock Bath has a 'seaside vibe despite being landlocked'. This is most likely due to its position along the River Derwent. The 66-mile long river flows between Matlock Bath and Derby, with Matlock Bath situated in the middle of the river's path. Visitors to the area can enjoy a stroll along the river's path or opt for an elevated view of the town by taking a cable car ride up to the Heights of Abraham. As documented in Visit Peak District's TikTok video, visitors can take a cable car up to the clifftop country park to enjoy picturesque views. There are also caverns, trails and playgrounds to explore for those who make it to the hilltop park. Those interested in more family-friendly activities can also check out Gulliver's Kingdom - a small theme park located on the edge of the Peak District National Park. Gulliver's Kingdom is ideal for a short-term break, full of kid-safe rides and attractions. Matlock Bath's Explorer Package might be a cost-effective option for those planning to visit both the theme park and the hilltop park, as both are included in the cost of some accommodation bookings. That said, you can probably enjoy much of the town in an afternoon and staying overnight isn't necessary given the convenience of its transport options. As shared in the TikTok video, Matlock Bath is easy to get to by bus or train. If you're looking to explore more of Derbyshire, another stop to add to your list is Castleton - considered one of the 'prettiest' villages in the Peak District. Despite its small population - less than 700 residents - the village draws plenty of tourists each year with its quaint pubs, tea rooms and stunning stone architecture.
Powys County Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Buyers from across UK compete to buy Powys border dairy herd
A packed ringside of buyers from across the country competed for quality cattle from a Powys border dairy herd. T. A. Wainwright and Son, from Groton, Marton, near Welshpool saw his herd of 165 in-milk Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and heifers go under the hammer at a dispersal sale, held as part of Halls auctioneers' weekly livestock auction in Shrewsbury yesterday (Tuesday). Allen Wainwright sold the herd to focus on arable farming. His grandfather moved to Groton from Oswestry with his dairy herd in 1921 and three generations of the family bred cows for 'very good legs, feet and udders with strength, not extreme stature, plenty of milk with kilos of fat and protein'. The Groton Herd included 72 cows and heifers freshly calved since February. The trade peaked for the pick of the herd, the hugely admired Red and White Summerfield Awesome Cherry Chip Red, who won the pre-sale show and sold to a Cheshire buyer for the day's top price of £3,400. Calved for the second time on April 29, she was giving 42kg of milk. Fresh calved heifers from the dispersal peaked at £2,700 for a Sandy Valley Earthshaker daughter who calved on April 25. One of the very last cows in the ring was January calved Summerfields Addison Pistolwhip who she sold for £2,550. December to February calved cows and heifers sold from £1,700 to £2,200, depending on quality. 'The sale really took off with the cows due to calf from June to October, with demand significantly sharper than the spring calved,' said auctioneer Jonny Dymond, Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager. 'No doubt this was enhanced by the cows being in calf to British Blue and the farm's reputation for quality calves. 'The Wainwrights have always been great supporters of Shrewsbury Auction Centre with their calves which are firm favourites among the buyers.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app A third calved De-Su Hartley daughter, due with her fourth calf in August, sold for £3,050, a second calver by De Su Reginald, due in July, made £2,800 and a heifer by Skywalker Stark, due in October, achieved £2, 700. A total of 208 dairy cattle were sold at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on the day, with Alisdair Drinkall from Wettenhall, Cheshire taking the reserve champion prize with a heifer that sold for £3,120. Show judge was James Williams from Nantwich. 'It was another highly successful dispersal sale here at Shrewsbury where Halls has drawn new customers to its dairy department,' added Mr Dymond. 'An entire herd has been sorted, sold and delivered all in one day. 'It's emotional selling your cows, so you don't need hassle or a drawn-out sales process. I would encourage any other dairy farmers considering selling their herd to contact me.' For more information about the herds, contact Mr Dymond at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Tel: 01743 462620 or 07803 412617.
Powys County Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
More than 150 cattle for sale at Powys border dispersal sale
More than 150 cattle from a Powys border dairy herd dispersal sale will be going under the hammer. Halls auctioneers at Shrewsbury Auction Centre will be holding a dispersal sale for a herd from near Welshpool tomorrow (May 20). The Dairy Herd from Groton, Marton, comprising 165 in-milk commercial Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and heifers is being told for T. A. Wainwright and Son on Tuesday, May 20 at 11.15am. Allen Wainwright's grandfather moved to Groton with his herd from Oswestry in 1921 and ran a mixed farm until 1966. Sue and John Wainright, Allen's parents, then took over and increased the herd to 100 using higher yielding genetics provided by Brian Challinor. When Brian retired, the family moved to Genus, and Sue and John semi-retired in 2000. This was when Allen took over the breeding policy and the Groton Herd has been on RMS with Genus ABS for the last 15 years. Jonny Dymond, Halls' dairy auctioneer and Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager, said the company is delighted to be selling the Groton Herd on behalf of the Wainwright family 'The Wainwrights began milk production at The Groton in 1921 and now the time has come to remove the daily workload that comes with dairy farming and look for an easier life in the arable sector,' he said. 'This is a modern, healthy and vibrant herd of cattle displaying supreme legs and feet and udder attachment. Sixty-nine have calved since February 1, with 33 due July to September and 46 due in the winter months. 'The Wainwrights have always been great supporters of Shrewsbury Auction Centre with their calves which are firm favourites among the buyers. With this in mind, the fact that all pregnancies are to British Blue of Angus is sure to appeal. 'I recommend this herd most highly for both traditional systems and indoor units where their potential is limitless.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Cows have been bred for very good legs, feet and udders with strength, not extreme stature, plenty of milk with kilos of fat and protein. The herd has used top proven and Genomic sires from Genus following the GMS mating programme using a sexed and beef strategy. Fed a TMR diet with cake in the parlour, cubicle housed and grazed in the summer, the herd is currently producing an average of 30kg of milk per day on an AYR calving pattern. The calving interval is 372 days and 305 day averages are 8,414kg of milk with 4.42% butterfat 3.32% protein and 120 cell count. The herd is vaccinated for BVD, IBR, LEPTO and Black Leg and was TB tested on March 31, having been TB free for more than four years. This auction will be followed by the dispersal of nearly 500 pedigree Holsteins from the Lilleshall Herd for S. M. Gilman and Partners, Abbey Farm, Lilleshall, Newport on Friday, May 30 at 10am.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Split verdict for Uber driver accused of sexually abusing intoxicated passengers
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – A Lee County jury has returned a split verdict in the trial of Theodore Leroy Halls, a former Uber driver from Opelika accused of sexually assaulting two passengers in separate incidents in 2020 and 2022. After three days of emotional testimony, hours of dashcam footage, and intense closing arguments, the jury found Halls guilty of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy related to the 2022 case. He was not convicted of first-degree rape, but jurors found him guilty of the lesser-included charge of first-degree sexual abuse in that incident. In the 2020 case, the jury found Halls not guilty of rape and not guilty of sexual abuse. Prosecutors described Halls as a predator, alleging he cruised downtown Auburn looking for women who were too intoxicated to legally consent. Both alleged victims testified they had no memory of getting into Halls' vehicle, of any sexual encounter, or of being dropped off. They said they could not have consented to what occurred. The case centered around disturbing dashcam footage recorded inside Halls' white GMC Yukon. The videos showed both women appearing disoriented, slurring, and struggling to dress themselves. In one instance, Halls was seen helping the woman pull her pants on after a sexual encounter. Halls took the stand in his own defense Thursday. He testified both women initiated the sexual activity and he believed the encounters were consensual. During cross-examination, prosecutors questioned the credibility of his account, citing his own recorded statements where he described one of the women as 'passed out' and 'and pointing to a search history that included pornographic content involving intoxicated women. Throughout the trial, Lee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Tickal took deliberate steps to protect the integrity of the courtroom. Given the graphic nature of the evidence, he restricted access to the media room, limited movement in and out of the courtroom, and reminded jurors daily not to research or discuss the case. His efforts aimed to preserve fairness for both the prosecution and the defense, while safeguarding the dignity of the alleged victims. Judge Tickal did allow a single pool camera to record the reading of the verdict so it could be shared publicly. Following the verdict, Judge Tickal ordered Halls' to remain in custody until sentencing, which is scheduled for June 17, 2025. At the conclusion of Friday's proceedings, both the prosecution and defense declined to comment on the outcome. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh business beat: Meet one of the women behind Nch'ḵay̓
'You don't need big budgets to have a big impact': Squamish Nation member returns home to lead brand marketing for Nch'ḵay̓. She has come happily home, bringing all she has learned along the way with her. A Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) development corporation appointed a new marketing lead last month, who is also a Nation member. Brandi Halls brings to the role not only her professional expertise, but her cultural values, enabling her to implement plans for long-term prosperity. Halls has over two decades of brand-building expertise. She previously worked across North America as brand director and chief ethics officer at Lush Cosmetics, and has now been appointed executive vice-president of brand, marketing and community engagement for Nch'ḵay̓ , the Nation's economic development arm based in West Vancouver, that was established in 2018. Nch'ḵay̓'s 'mandate' is to manage business separately from politics, all the while continuing to uphold traditional values and cultural teachings. Specializing in finance and real estate, Nch'ḵay̓ strives for holistic economic impact on Indigenous as well as non-Indigenous communities. Their projects involve transforming Vancouver's skylines, such as Sen̓áḵw , as well as developing facilities such as gas bars and RV parks. Squamish Valley Gas Bar is an Nch'ḵay̓ business. Mindy Wight, CEO of Nch'ḵay̓ , said of Halls' appointment: 'Brandi's leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our brand and market presence, [her] deep connection to our values makes her the perfect fit to help us achieve our goals in alignment with the Nation's guiding principles.' The Squamish Chief spoke to Halls last week to discuss her new role and professional journey. What follows is a version of that conversation edited for length and clarity. A: I always knew I wanted to bring 20 years of experience in the corporate world back to my Nation. I just really didn't see a pathway there until Nch'ḵay̓ was formed, and I haven't looked back. It's been a tremendous welcoming back home. In my new role, I really get to bring my whole self to work every day. I get to lean into my Sḵwx̱wú7mesh teachings and my passion around Indigenous sovereignty. The cherry on top of all that is that I get to do this with my own community. I'm following in the footsteps of those who walk before me. My grandfather, the late Chief Simon Baker, was an ambassador of Indigenous culture. He was on council for the Nation, and spent his career working for the Nation. My mom, Faye Halls, followed in his footsteps. And now my sisters are both Indigenous educators, so it feels like I found my way back to where I'm meant to be. I don't think I'm alone in that. There are other Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people that [with] the formation of Nch'ḵay̓ [have benefited] their community. A: We [are] 100% owned by the Nation, so that means everything we do [is] always going to be rooted in values and teachings. That's where that inevitable crossover is really natural and feels like the right approach. The separation of business and politics is intentional. It's standard practice for Indigenous economic development arms now, and it really does allow Nch'ḵay̓ to operate at the speed of commercial businesses, and most importantly, allows our council and our Nation to focus on governing its 4,100 people. It works for us. We've got some really standard governance practices in place to ensure that the separation of business and politics [is maintained], but that the foundation of everything we do is the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh way. A: Sen̓áḵw is a brilliant example of short-term strategy for long-term gain. Right now, we have three towers rising from the ground at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge on our traditional Sen̓áḵw lands. The short-term plan there, of course, is to welcome over 1,000 residents over the next 24 months into our purpose-built rental towers. But the long-term goal here is building that generational wealth for the Nation. That project is enormous in scale for the Nation. Specifically, I am very excited about bringing that story to life. We want folks who choose to live there to feel connected to the land and to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people. We are deep in the creative process of bringing the Sen̓áḵw brands to life, imagining 'what is that ad going to look like on the side of buses in the weeks to come?' We're working really closely with Nation artists and knowledge-keepers to ensure that the representation of Sen̓áḵw is authentic and true. I can honestly say that it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime project that I'm really honoured to be part of. [I] get to stretch my creative muscles and lean into the branding work, [and] stay super true to who I am as a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh woman. A: It's a super fine balance [but] our traditional knowledge-keepers can ensure the history we're showing [is] up on our screens, and [that] our mock-ups are accurate. Bringing in young Indigenous artists is another way [to retain that balance]. They've got a more contemporary, modern flair to their work. We're pairing them with knowledge-keepers, other art workers, and designers, so you do really get this beautiful collaboration. We are learning as we're doing. And so far, the process has been really beautiful. Every time we see another version of the artwork that's about to go live externally, we kind of gasp. There have been some tears, and I think we are doing a beautiful job of honouring the past, whilst also celebrating the future. A: The beauty industry that I came from was heavily female, [but] the leadership team in the North American entity of Lush was more male-dominated. I certainly make note of this shift, but also worth drawing attention to is just how lucky I am to work for Nch'ḵay̓, because this organization is led by strong, experienced women in an industry that is typically led by men. Our CEO is Mindy White, our chief development officer who looks after our real estate is Jennifer Podmore Russell, and our board chair is Joy MacPhail. These are all incredibly accomplished women who are really well-known in the industry, and our executive team, which I am a part of; the majority are women as well. Despite the greater housing and real estate industry being more male-dominated, I feel we've done a really great job of lifting women up in our space. 50% of the staff [at Nch'ḵay̓] are also Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people, and 61% of our staff are Indigenous. I've never felt more at home anywhere else, being amongst my people, my community. A: I spent seven years in New York, in Manhattan; I was kind of in the heartbeat of all things brand marketing. The greatest lesson I learned from that time, that I will be bringing into Nch'ḵay̓, is this concept of growing your brand through a really organic grassroots approach. Stepping out of my office door in Manhattan, I was experiencing brand activations in all forms every single day. Niche community building is what I saw, and that's all the way across the West Coast now. You don't need big budgets to have a big impact. What you really need is a team and a community who are super passionate about purpose, and there's definitely no shortage of that passion at Nch'ḵay̓. Being able to nurture this human-to-human approach, building relationships and rapport, that's what's going to result in growing your brand. You just have to lean heavily into building community connection, which transfers beautifully to a brand like Nch'ḵay̓ where our sole purpose is to serve, and build wealth and prosperity for the community of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people. Everything we do in our team is around connection to our community, and informing [them.] It means that engagement and communications are central to our strategy. We need to ensure, within the way we're operating our businesses and within the way we're marketing them, that our people feel seen and heard. I'm excited to grow the enterprise brand, and the business brands within it. A: You have to have a good product, and you have to have good people, and you have to have purpose. It's really easy to come into a place like Nch'ḵay̓ that is so rounded in purpose, filled with people who are passionate about the work and community. Now all we've got to do is tell the stories, and we need to tell them in a real and authentic way. That's going to be a really powerful marketing tool, but also a community-building tool. *Please note that this story was updated after it was first published to correct some grammar and spelling errors, including the spelling of Mindy Wight's last name. The Squamish Chief apologizes for these errors. Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the LJI. The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news. To be considered, please reach out to news@ . While funding for this coverage was provided, The Squamish Chief maintains full editorial control over all content.
