Latest news with #KerryThomas
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pembrokeshire photographer's 'stunning' shots star at international festival
An award-winning Pembrokeshire photographer is having her work showcased to thousands of people in a major Celtic cultural festival this month. Joann Randles, who grew up in Saundersfoot, is the only Welsh photographer chosen to exhibit in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (FIL). The event in Brittany, which began on Friday, is the largest of its kind and is expected to welcome around 800,000 people over its 10-day run. The festival is a celebration of the cultural traditions of the Celtic nations and regions, highlighting music, dance and visual arts as well as sports and gastronomy. Father and son Kerry and David Thomas carry on a traditional craft in their Lovespoon Workshop at Cold Inn, near Kilgetty. (Image: Joann Randles) Former Greenhill School student Joanne, 37, who is based in Swansea, has won acclaim for her work in the British Photography Awards, the British Press Photographers' Association and the Wales Media Awards, to name a few. Her images on show in France will reflect aspects of Welsh crafts and culture, including love-spoon making, coracle fishing and weaving. Antwn Owen-Hicks, leader of the Welsh delegation, said, "I'd seen some of Joann's work online, particularly her images of Welsh cultural activity. 'The quality of Joann's images is exceptional and a perfect fit for the Festival Interceltique. Dawnswyr Talog practice for their Eisteddfod appearance. (Image: Joann Randles) "I think that visitors to the EuroCeltic Art exhibition will be wowed by her stunning images." Joann, who will be in France for the duration of the festival, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to represent Wales with a collection of my photography - it means so much to me. Weaving at Melin Tregwynt, Pembrokeshire (Image: Joann Randles) "I'm really excited to be part of the amazing delegation showcasing Wales at the festival in Lorient. I can't wait to meet the other Welsh artistes, as well as representatives from other nations. "This will also be my first exhibition featuring a large body of my work on display, making it an event I will most definitely remember. "I'm incredibly proud." Joann has travelled to France to set up her exhibition at the festival. (Image: Joann Randles) Joining Joann in the Wales delegation at the festival will be the Treorchy Male Choir, three bands, a harpist, a DJ and a visual artist, together with the Treorchy Male Choir whose members will be amongst over 3,000 artists taking part in Sunday's Grande Parade des Nations Celtes.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
We live in town building Britain's NUKES where mysterious ‘explosions' go off – we fear we're targets for war on UK soil
TERRIFIED villagers living in the shadow of Britain's top-secret nuclear weapons site say they feel like 'sitting ducks'. Residents in the sleepy village of Aldermaston, Berkshire, have spoken of their fear after hearing "mysterious explosions" from the neighbouring nuclear weapons facility AWE. 16 16 16 Living next to the Automatic Weapons Establishment - where the UK's most powerful bombs are designed - feels like being "on the front line", according to locals. They say their village would be targeted in the event of a nuclear or terrorist attack and have called on the Ministry of Defence to provide them with greater protection. The Sun can exclusively reveal that the state-owned site has agreed to launch a new emergency text alert system after mounting pressure from panicked neighbours. It comes after years of "mystery explosions", blaring sirens, and rumours of hazardous experiments behind the razor-wire fences – just yards from family homes. Business owner Kerry Thomas was one of the first to sign up to the text service that is due to come into operation in the next fortnight. The 45-year-old told The Sun: 'Everyone in the village was sent a letter by AWE telling us they wanted to share more communications with locals residents about what was going on at the site. 'We were invited to join a text service and the plan is that they will keep us posted about anything that is going on there, such as any planned security drills, or unusual events in and around the complex. "I think it is a great idea because it will stop people worrying or speculating every time they hear the sirens going off. "To be fair to AWE, they do seem to want to engage with the local community. 'I know they donate money for public events here in the village and they have hosted regular village hero award ceremonies. 'They have always worked with the village, rather than against it." Kerry admitted the growing global tensions and hostilities raging in the Middle East has made her nervous about hostile forces targeting her home town. Nuclear strikes, secret bunkers for Royals, & massive cyber attacks… how Britain is secretly bracing for war with Russia She said: 'Sure, we are right in the firing line here, but you have got to carry on living your life as best you can. "It was the same when the West was bombing Iraq years ago. 'There was a heightened risk of attack here, but we tried to go out about our lives as normal. 'Despite the extra risk associated with living somewhere like here, it's still a wonderful place to live." Kerry continued: "I have lived with what goes on here all my life, so it's all I know really. "You grow up knowing that if there is ever a nuclear war, we will be among the first to be hit. "We are in the middle of such beautiful countryside, yet really close to Reading and London. "I wouldn't live anywhere else.' She said she understands the need to invest extra billions in our defence capabilities and believes it is "money well spent". She added: "The UK has to keep up-to-date with modern nuclear technology. 16 16 "The way the world is now, it is simply a necessary evil. "We have to be well equipped with the best nuclear weapons in order to protect ourselves. "I wish it wasn't necessary, but in reality it is. "I try not to worry about it anymore and despite what people say about living next to a nuclear site, none of us here glow in the dark.' The government's recently-announced £15bn replacement for Britain's nuclear arsenal is being designed at the site. Earlier this month, Labour's John Healey became the first defence secretary to visit the AWE site since 2018. He told how Labour was making a generational decision to support expensive weapons that he hoped would protect the UK. He said: 'We've got a government recognising that we need to invest now if we're going to be able to maintain our strength of our independent UK nuclear deterrence in the decades to come. Labour's previous leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was heavily opposed to nuclear weapons. Operations have begun to scale up at Aldermaston with the initial phases of work on the new warhead under way. About 1,500 employees have joined AWE in the past year, bringing the total number of workers at the state-owned company to 9,500. Building surveyor Chris Robinson, 65, suggested that the text notifications did not go far enough to safeguard locals. 16 16 He called for the installation of an Israeli style defence shield like the Iron Dome at the 750-acre facility. He said: "I recognise that we need to have a strong nuclear capability because that is the only thing that is going to ensure world peace. "The existence of the concept of mutually assured destruction is ironically what keeps us all safe. "But I would like to see some kind of Iron Dome-style protection for the area because at the moment it feels like we are sitting ducks. "The AWE site would be a prime target for terrorists and we need to be better protected here." He recalled the recent break in at RAF Brize Norton by Palestine Action yobs in the neighbouring county of Oxfordshire as he called for greater measures to be put in place. Chris added: 'You only have to look at the break-in down the road last week to see how easy it is for someone who is determined enough to get into these complexes. 'Can you imagine the damage someone could do if they were to get inside the base at AWE with explosives strapped around them? 'I worry that idiotic leaders like Donald Trump are making the world a less and less safe place. "That kind of reinforces the need for all countries to have the best nuclear bombs because that international nuclear deterrent is what keeps us all safe in the end. 'I've never been inside the base but I hate the look of it from the outside. "It has lots of very ugly buildings. It's a shame they don't screen it a bit better with trees. 16 16 16 'It does feel a bit weird that I'm living right next to a nuclear plant, but I guess it's got to be somewhere." Components for Britain's nuclear warhead – known as Holbrook – are designed, tested and built at Aldermaston. The warheads themselves are largely assembled at the nearby Burghfield site, before being transported by road to Coulport, in Scotland. The assembly process is completed there and the Trident missiles, with their British warheads, are loaded on to submarines at nearby Faslane. Aimee Kirkpatrick, 20, who has lived in the village all her life, told how regular practice drills often send the villagers into a frenzy. She explained: 'Almost every week, sirens will go off at the base. "It's very scary for those of us who live here because we never know if it's a practice drill or the real thing. 'If a nuclear bomb is ever going to be dropped on the UK, and I hope to God it never is, I'd much rather be right underneath it when it lands than die painfully over time from the fall-out. 'I accept we live somewhere that's going to be a prime target, but my life is here so I don't want to move away.' Aimee, who works at a local pub while studying for a marketing degree, said many of her friends from school are now apprentices at AWE. She said: 'They love working there because the company is actually a really good employer. "The pay is good and they're learning interesting stuff. 16 16 16 "One of them is involved in nuclear physics, which must be a pretty cool apprenticeship to be doing.' The new nuclear device, called Astraea, will not be ready for deployment until the 2030s or 2040s. It will be designed at Aldermaston, principally using small test explosions, which are then extrapolated by an onsite supercomputer to simulate a nuclear blast. Its explosive power is not yet known, though independent experts think it will probably be more than the 80-100kt Holbrook, and possibly closer to 475kt, a benchmark set by the most powerful US warhead. For comparison, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, which killed between 70,000 and 140,000 people (estimates vary widely), was 15kt. 16
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pancreatic Cancer UK Inspires Runners With Personalised Videos Powered by Idomoo
Innovative campaign supports key event messaging for the 2025 TCS London Marathon's Charity of the Year. LONDON, April 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the official Charity of the Year for the TCS London Marathon 2025, Pancreatic Cancer UK wanted to inspire runners to join their team, showing them the benefits of being part of the team and the purpose behind their mission. Their solution? A personalised video powered by Idomoo. In it, Coach Phil Roberton shares what team members can look forward to, with attention-grabbing personalisation throughout, including the opening scene, a billboard in Piccadilly Circus, a double-decker bus and a running vest. Video production from Bang Boom Creative blends seamlessly with personalised data in Idomoo's Next Generation Video Platform, and the resulting video fits inside a minute, ideal since over 85% of viewers watched it from their phone. "Putting the first-ever early detection test for pancreatic cancer into the hands of doctors could save thousands of lives, and we wanted every single one of our runners to feel united behind that goal," said Kerry Thomas, Head of Mass Fundraising at Pancreatic Cancer UK. "The TCS London Marathon is the ultimate test and demands months of hard work and sacrifice. Using personalised video to inspire people to take up the challenge and be part of delivering a major breakthrough for the deadliest common cancer just made sense. Thank you, Idomoo, for being the partner we needed, for providing insights to increase our engagement and making the launch of our first personalised video campaign stress-free and effective." Idomoo personalised video is often used for event messaging, from the Boston Marathon and Grand Cycle Tokyo to conferences and corporate functions. They can even be interactive, letting viewers RSVP right from the video. Most event hosts distribute the videos via email, as Pancreatic Cancer UK did, but personalised videos can be shared on any digital channel. To produce the video creative, brands can work with the agency of their choice, Idomoo's in-house studio or Idomoo's AI solution. "We love working with all our clients, but it's especially meaningful when we get to support a great cause like this one," said Yaron Dishon, Idomoo CRO. "Funds raised through this event will directly support research and treatment for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and having more runners on the team — which this personalised video promotes — means more funds raised, which can ultimately save lives. We're honoured to collaborate with the 2025 TCS London Marathon's Charity of the Year on such an important project." Learn more about Pancreatic Cancer UK's role in the London Marathon. For more about Idomoo, visit About Pancreatic Cancer UK People affected by pancreatic cancer deserve more than hope — they need results. That's why Pancreatic Cancer UK is making more noise for those who have gone unheard for too long, bringing more research breakthroughs, more change through campaigning and more support. Our nurses provide expert, personalised support and information via our Support Line through our website and in healthcare professional leaflets and materials, available to order at We fund innovative research that will change how we understand, diagnose and treat the disease. We campaign for change; for better care, treatment and research, and for pancreatic cancer to get the recognition it needs. About Idomoo Idomoo's Next Generation Video Platform empowers the world's leading enterprises to transform their CX with personalised, AI-driven and interactive video at scale. With Lucas AI Video Creator, brands can create videos in minutes from simple prompts, slashing production costs. And Next Gen Videos are dynamic, leveraging hyper-personalisation and real-time live data to maximise relevance and conversions. Idomoo delivers unmatched ROI for market leaders like Activision, Chase, Google, Vodafone, SelectHealth, Oracle and American Airlines. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Media contact:Cheryl 434-298-4410
