Latest news with #JohnMcNally
BBC News
26-05-2025
- BBC News
DNA test led man to help charity of family with tragic past
When window cleaner John McNally took a DNA test to trace his ancestry, he never imagined it would lead him on a journey helping victims of domestic test revealed Mr McNally, from Shaftesbury, Dorset, was related to Grace Millane, a young woman from Essex who was murdered in Auckland in her death, her family set up a charity - Love Grace - that supplies handbags stuffed with essentials to women fleeing connecting with his new-found relatives and discovering their tragic story he felt compelled to help and now runs appeals for the charity in his home town. Mr McNally, who grew up in a single-parent family, said his journey started with him trying to find out about his said: "I always wondered about my dad. Me and Mum used to talk for hours about him. "Did we, over the years, do enough to find him? We did try but to no avail."In 2023, someone suggested taking a DNA said: "I got the results back and it pointed to a couple of cousins on dad's side of the family."One of the cousins told Mr McNally about the Love Grace charity, set up by Miss Millane's mother, Gillian, and her cousin Hannah O' well as its handbag appeal, Love Grace also raises money for White Ribbon charities in the UK and New Zealand, which educate men and boys on attitudes that can contribute to violence against women and girls. Ms Millane and Ms O'Callaghan were both made an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the 2024 King's New Year's Honours for their services to charitable fundraising and tackling violence against O'Callaghan said: "Grace was my youngest cousin but more like a little sister."We started off thinking we could do 50 bags in Grace's memory but it's grown and we are now at 33,000 handbags worldwide."The pre-loved bags contain six essentials - shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush and shower gel - and items such as make-up, purses, scarves and O'Callaghan said: "These women who leave, they arrive in refuges, police stations and hospitals with nothing."Mr McNally has so far run three appeals for Love Grace, collecting bags and supplies, which he described as "a wonderful experience and very humbling".He added: "It's amazing, I've gone from coming from a very, very small family to being part of a very large family." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Britain's longest-running pop group announce final concert after 70 years
For nearly 70 years, The Searchers have toured the country's clubs, pubs and music festivals, making them the longest-running band in British pop history. But now the Merseybeat band have announced their retirement, culminating with a final gig at Glastonbury – their first appearance at the festival – in June. The Liverpool group, formed by Mike Pender and John McNally in 1957, have been playing with line-up changes continuously for 68 years ever since becoming established as contemporaries of The Beatles. Known as the 'longest-running band in pop history', The Searchers had the first of three UK No 1 hits in 1963 with their version of The Drifters' hit Sweets For My Sweet. Ahead of their final shows, McNally said: 'A Glastonbury debut at 83, can anyone top that? I don't think life gets any better, does it? 'There will be a few nerves, but in a good way, and we'll be nicely warmed up from our shows in June. We can't wait to see our fans again for this incredible final farewell.' 'One final blast' Frank Allen, the bassist and singer who joined the group in 1964, said: 'I have played shows across the world with The Searchers for over 60 years; Glastonbury has always been an ambition that has eluded us – until now. 'The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all. 'What a way to round off a tour and a career. I can't wait to get up on stage and give our fans one final blast.' The Searchers also topped the UK charts twice in 1964 with Needles And Pins and Don't Throw Your Love Away. Other hits have included When You Walk In The Room, Goodbye My Love and Sugar And Spice. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the band was signed to Sire Records, which also represented Talking Heads, The Cure, Madonna and the Ramones. The group has sold more than 50 million records and performed around the world while drawing praise from artists such as The Byrds, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. Their website says: 'You might recall that last year, after having done three 'final' tours we stated that we were at last retiring – unless something that we simply could not say no to was offered. 'And of course we certainly could not say no to this one. The Searchers end their career at Glastonbury. What a great way to go out. And I really do think this will be the last hurrah.' However, it adds that they would consider re-forming if King Charles 'asks us to do another Royal Variety Show'. The Final Farewell Tour runs from June 14 and will end with the band playing the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury on June 27.
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Searchers to end 68-year stint at Glastonbury
The Searchers will end nearly 70 years of touring with their debut at the Glastonbury Merseybeats band, formed by Mike Pender and John McNally, have performed with different line-ups since its formation in as the "longest-running band in pop history", the Liverpool band had three UK number ones, including with their version of The Drifters' hit Sweets For My Searchers' Final Farewell Tour will conclude at Glastonbury on 27 June, which the band said will be its "last ever show". McNally said: "A Glastonbury debut at 83, can anyone top that? I don't think life gets any better, does it?"There will be a few nerves, but in a good way, and we'll be nicely warmed up from our shows in June. We can't wait to see our fans again for this incredible final farewell." Bassist and singer Frank Allen, who joined the group in 1964, said: "I have played shows across the world with The Searchers for over 60 years; Glastonbury has always been an ambition that has eluded us - until now."The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all."What a way to round off a tour and a career. I can't wait to get up on stage and give our fans one final blast."The Searchers' hits also include Sugar And Spice, Needles And Pins and Don't Throw Your Love have sold more than 50 million records and performed worldwide, while drawing praise from artists such as Bruce band's Final Farewell Tour runs from 14 June and will end with a performance on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury on 27 June. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
