Latest news with #Mayall
Ya Biladi
7 days ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Backing Morocco's Sahara plan, the UK embraces its «progressive realism» foreign strategy
The UK's recent recognition of Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara marks a significant moment in British diplomacy. In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, Lt Gen Sir Simon Mayall, a retired British Army officer and former Middle East adviser at the Ministry of Defence, called the move «particularly significant in the context of the new Strategic Defence Review». He highlighted it as an example of the UK «seizing the initiative on a diplomatic issue that has been neglected by the international community for nearly half a century». According to Mayall, the recognition is part of what Foreign Secretary David Lammy has described as a strategy of «progressive realism» — a foreign policy approach that seeks to combine pragmatic interests with progressive goals by strengthening ties with «trusted and reliable» partners. «The political tides in Africa are shifting once again», Mayall noted, «and the UK needs to be clear-sighted about who its friends are». Lammy introduced the concept of «progressive realism» in April 2024 as a guiding principle for UK foreign policy under the Labour government. It blends national interest with support for international institutions and free trade. Mayall also emphasized the economic dimension of the UK's support for Morocco, pointing to a £5 billion facility from UK Export Finance to back projects in the country. «Our support for Morocco and its ambitions in the region will unlock huge economic opportunities for British companies», he said. The UK's shift from a neutral stance to formally backing Morocco's autonomy plan was announced on Sunday. It was accompanied by a series of cooperation agreements across various sectors, including trade, health, education — and soon, defense.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Pioneering organic Pimhill Farm put up for sale at £10m
A pioneering organic farm and its estate have been put up for sale for £ Farm, at Harmer Hill near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has been owned by the same family since 1923 and its owners made the decision to go organic in Mayall family said this was due to a belief that "this was the best way forward for both their land and for their livestock".As well as a farm, the estate includes a Grade II-listed Elizabethan hall, a wedding venue and 67 acres (27 hectares) of woodland. Estate agents Savills said Pimhill had helped "spearhead the organic farming movement in the UK".The farm's founder, Sam Mayall, was vice president of the Soil Association for a number of years in the the 50s, the farm also took the decision to set up its own mill and it became well known for its organic oats and a BBC interview in 2019, Sam Mayall's son, Richard Mayall, said in the early years "some people thought we were totally crackers" and the family had its he added: "I'm glad to say we had sufficient conviction to go on."Louise Harrison, from Savills, said the estate, which also includes an organic dairy farm, "epitomises careful stewardship". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Accountancy firm joins line-up of partners for inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival
A LEADING Worcestershire accountancy firm has pledged its support for the inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Ormerod Rutter, one of the county's largest employers with 240 staff, has joined Nicol & Co as a community partner for the festival, which will run from Saturday, May 31 to Saturday, June 7. The festival, which is volunteer-led and supported by Rik Mayall's family, will feature a range of performances, screenings, and workshops at the Norbury Theatre and other venues across Droitwich. It will celebrate Mayall's legacy while attracting new visitors to the town. The firm will support the festival's final day event, Party in the Park, a community celebration featuring live comedy, music, and family-friendly entertainment. Tony Archer, a partner at the firm for almost 30 years, is leading the firm's commitment to the festival. He said: "At Ormerod Rutter, we are heavily involved in supporting our local community in any way that we can. "We're one of the largest employers in the area with over 240 members of staff – this is the community that our team are part of, and the community that have been our clients throughout our 40-year history. "We like to give back in any way we can. "We were made aware of the festival, and wanted to be involved, especially as many of the partners and team are huge fans of local legend Rik." Julian Powell, finance director of the festival, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Ormerod Rutter for their support as a community partner. "As a well-respected business in the region, their commitment to the local community is evident, and we're delighted to have them involved in the festival's closing celebrations." The firm, launched in Droitwich more than 40 years ago by Peter Ormerod and Garry Rutter, offers a wide range of accounting, audit, tax, and specialist advisory services. Mr Ormerod said: "A huge part of our culture is to give back to the local community. "We sponsor a variety of local grassroots sports teams. "We also raise money for various local charities throughout the year as well as organising volunteer days with them for our team."
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa: Rik Mayall mural unveiled in hometown
A mural dedicated to comedy legend Rik Mayall has been unveiled in the town where he grew up. The special piece of artwork has been created in an empty shop unit on Droitwich Spa's High Street and will help promote the town's first Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Artist Milan Illustrator said it depicts Mayall as the king of comedy and features "five famous outfits from Rik's very famous characters".The community-run festival is taking place from 31 May to 7 June. Tickets for the headliners, who will play the Norbury Theatre, go on sale next month. Greg Davies, Peter Richardson, Shaparak Khorsandi and Helen Lederer have all been confirmed for the event. Mayall was one of the UK's most loved and best known performers when he died in 2014, aged 56. A pioneer of the 1980s alternative comedy scene, his work included The Young Ones, Blackadder and Bottom. Illustrator, an artist from Birmingham, told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester he was familiar with Droitwich Spa and had included local references such as its radio mast. He added that one scene in the mural featured a sign for Droitwich Spa and Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall on their famous Bottom bench. He said his favourite part of his mural was the playing card depicting Mayall as the King of Comedy. Illustrator added he was "proud" to have worked on the design to honour the comedian and had spent hours working on it over the Christmas holidays. The artwork attracted a crowd when it was unveiled in the town on Monday. One shopper told the BBC it was "full of fun" and she loved it. "It's just what we need as well, something different," she said. And another passer-by said he liked the way it brightened up the street. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Retired Chicago-area priest accused of sexually abusing minor at Northwest Side church
A retired priest who worked in multiple churches in the Chicago-area has been accused of sexual abuse against a minor, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced on Saturday. In a letter sent Saturday to the St. Francis Borgia Parish, archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich wrote that Monsignor Daniel Mayall was accused of sexually abusing a minor about 30 years ago while serving at the church located in the Dunning neighborhood. Mayall served at the St. Francis Borgia Parish from July 1993 to January 2002. He 'strenuously denies' the allegations against him, Cupich said. Mayall has been ordered by the church to remain out of the ministry and away from all parish and school activities while civil authorities investigate, according to the letter. The church will also conduct its own investigation into Mayall. 'The Archdiocese of Chicago takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and encourages anyone who feels they have been sexually abused by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee to come forward,' Cupich said. Mayall also served as a pastor for the St. Joseph Parish in Wilmette from July 2016 to December 2018, according to a separate letter sent Saturday to the Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish. He then served as senior priest of the St. Joseph Parish from January to June 2019, and then as senior priest of the Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish from January 2019 to June 2021. Mayall has continued to reside at the parish following retirement, according to the letter. Mayall was also a rector for Holy Name Cathedral beginning in January 2002. He served the Rush & Division church until June 2016 and joined Cupich for mass in November for Holy Name Cathedral's 175th anniversary.
