Latest news with #MikeGibbons
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Oldest competitor at Transplant Games, 89, thanks wife for kidney
"I've no intention of giving up just yet," says Mike Gibbons, the oldest competitor at the World Transplant Games. "But I am going to have to accept that time isn't on my side and someday I will have to curb my enthusiasm," the 89-year-old from North Yorkshire concedes. Mr Gibbons has been taking part in the annual competition since 2008 - a year after his wife Ann donated one of her kidneys to him. He recently won three silver medals and a gold in squash and athletics at the British Transplant Games in Oxford and will be competing in the under-90s age group - the oldest category there is - at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany, on Sunday. "I have accumulated many medals over the years," says Mr Gibbons, from Draughton, near Skipton. "I accept that at my age, I don't have many competitors, so sometimes I get a medal because I am the only one - but I treasure them nonetheless." His wife Ann now lives in a care home and suffers from dementia but Mr Gibbons carries a picture of them together at every race. The former broadcast technician says: "I hang it around my neck when I attend the games so she's always with me. "She was well-known and loved the Games. People always ask after her. "It's another way of honouring the concept of donation - that someone gives an organ, you never forget their gift." He developed kidney failure when he was 55 and was put on dialysis in 2005. "When I was first diagnosed it came as a bombshell," Mr Gibbons recalls. He was put on a transplant waiting list but there was "no guarantee of a successful outcome" and Ann shared his feeling that he was "only half alive". Mr Gibbons was initially against Ann donating her kidney but in 2007 he "succumbed to his wife's earnest desire" for her to do so. The surgery took place in Bradford and was a success. "I was reborn and I would like to think Ann has peace of mind knowing that our lives can be as one again. "I'm here only by the grace of God of her donation." Mr Gibbons turns 90 next year and has booked a trip to the Antarctic to celebrate."I'm very into mountaineering and wild places, so it's somewhere different. "I've always wanted to go so I have booked it to commemorate my 'big' birthday."Mr Gibbons also wants to thank the medical and nursing team at St Luke's Hospital's renal unit, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust."Organ donation is wonderful," he says. "It's a life-saving and life changing operation and has given me 18 more years of life." He adds: "I think about it nearly every day, especially now with Ann's situation. I owe her my life and I am truly grateful." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Radio Bedfordshire marks 40-year anniversary of launch
Broadcasters involved with the launch of BBC Radio Bedfordshire have been celebrating its 40th station, founded on 24 June 1985, covered major events including a failed IRA bomb attack in St Albans in 1991 and Luton Town winning the Littlewoods Cup in serving parts of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, it rebranded as BBC Three Counties in 1993 to reflect the wider Gibbons, the managing editor who oversaw the launch, said: "The target was get on air and get on air well - that was the most important thing." Gibbons' voice was the first heard on air as he welcomed new listeners, followed by the news bulletins and then breakfast presenter Gareth O' on that first day, Gibbons said: "On that morning, we were all in early and there was an air of anticipation before we started." "We were really, really pleased with the response we got from the audience that day," Gibbons continued."It all went well, the technology held up and we were really grateful to be there." Chris Burns, who was the first afternoon presenter, said she and her colleagues had five weeks of training before launch carried out countless dummy runs and delivered leaflets to people advertising the station."There was a real feeling of camaraderie around the station," Burns said."I think it immediately struck with listeners because that hadn't been there previously." Staff involved in the station's first day met in Clophill, Bedfordshire, on Sunday, to mark the included John Terrett, who went on to become the BBC's business correspondent in New York, US, after leaving Radio Bedfordshire."In those days, having a good voice was pretty much everything," he explained. "It was almost the number one consideration." Terrett once recorded his Back Home show while onboard a flight from Spain to Luton Airport."A friend of mine who lives in Stopsley, right under the flight path, said to me 'I was looking out for that plane and it never came over', and I said 'That's because we recorded it three days earlier'," he added. Another of the major stories covered by the station came in 1987, when campaigners fought to stop nuclear waste being stored at Elstow in it came to sport, commentator John Smith had no fonder memory than Luton's triumph over Arsenal in spent three nights holed up in the Hastings Street studio as Wembley fever swept through the town. "The whole energy and enthusiasm of the public in Luton, it was like you were being held up by a bubble of enthusiasm," Smith recalled."We were a local radio station and we had the most incredible team." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Glasgow Times
07-05-2025
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow PC sexually assaulted his colleagues on duty
Craig Glen, 37, inappropriately touched them in a police car during separate incidents in December 2016 and June 2021. Married police constable Glen also made sexualised comments to them which he later claimed was "banter." READ NEXT: Tik Tok star accused man of being involved Glasgow's Townhead paedophile ring READ NEXT: New expert knowledge may lead to Glasgow nurse's murder conviction being unsafe (Image: Mike Gibbons) Glen's career is in ruin after he was found guilty this week at Glasgow Sheriff Court of two sexual assault charges. He was also convicted of communicating indecently with the same two officers. The court heard that Glen worked in the serious organised crime unit at a police station in the city with his victims. Glen and his first victim attended Sighthill Cemetry to answer a call. The woman recalled Glen speaking to her in front of a member of the public about hair extensions. Glen then told her that he would "bend you over from behind and pull your hair extensions." Glen also allegedly made a sexualised comment about his female dentist in the presence of the officer. (Image: Mike Gibbons) The trial heard how Glen and the officer were later together in a car while he was driving in the city's Springburn on Boxing Day 2016. Kevin Henry, defending, put to Glen when giving his evidence: "We heard you were sitting at lights and you put your hand on her right thigh and deliberately moved your hand up her leg." Glen replied: "No." The officer claimed that she was "disgusted, shocked" and felt "belittled" by Glen's conduct. A second officer was also sitting in a car with Glen behind the wheel on her first day at work on June 29 2021. Mr Henry said: "We heard evidence that you went to change gear and your hand brushed against her leg, did that happen?" Glen again replied: "No." The officer stated to the court that she "laughed off" the incident at the time. Glen touched her again on the thigh two further times which he stated he was "unaware" of. He also denied making a comment that he had to "contain myself." Glen did admit buying her dinner "on a few occasions." Glen also made further comments about the officer wearing leggings. He said: "If I made a comment it would have been banter." The officer was also called a "catfish" and asked her to "give in and have sex" with him. Mr Henry said: "She confided in you about her marriage and you said not to worry because you would still have sex with her." Glen replied: "No." He later made a sexualised comment to the officer about her allergy to latex. An allegation that Glen made a comment outside a school that he would "not be able to contain myself around six year students" was found not proven. Glen told prosecutor Danielle Docherty that he did "engage in sexualised humour" with other officers. The fiscal depute said to him: "You frequently used sexualised language and took thing way too far and crossed the line many times. "You sexually assaulted these officers and you touched them on the leg." Glen replied: "No." In convicting him, Sheriff Paul Reid told Glen that he did not find him "credible and reliable." The sheriff added: "The remarks you made were grossly offensive and completely sexualised - your victims were humiliated. "The [sexual] conduct took place when you were on duty in a police car. "I have the belief that this was not an accident and was clearly deliberate." Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month. Glen was put on the sex offenders register and ordained to appear meantime. Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, Head of Police Scotland's Professional Standards Department, said: 'Craig Glen's actions go against everything Police Scotland stands for. 'Our thoughts are with the victims in this case, and I hope this conviction provides them with some measure of closure. "I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing this individual to justice."
