Latest news with #Minehead
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Forgotten' photographer's work on display in Minehead
An exhibition showcasing the work of a 1920s photographer is due to start in his home town. Clement Ernest Kille from Minehead worked as a photographer throughout the 1920s and '30s, mainly taking pictures of his daughter and the Somerset granddaughter Atha Murphy has now found the photographs while clearing boxes for a house move and they are displayed at Townsend House until 9 August."I am proud. People come into the exhibition and recognise people they knew in the photos. It's nice to remind people of him," Ms Murphy said. More than 100 years ago Mr Kille ran the Gift and Art shop on Friday Street in Minehead. "He was also a passionate photographer whose work had been forgotten for many decades," his granddaughter said. Ms Murphy never got to meet her grandfather, who died before her parents got she said the pictures she found help to "build a picture of him"."He clearly adored my mum, he took many lovely pictures of her," Ms Murphy said. Throughout the late 1920s and '30s, Mr Kille's photos of West Somerset scenes regularly appeared across a range of national newspapers including The Daily Telegraph, The Manchester Guardian, the News Chronicle, The Daily Express as well as regional family has now found 400 fragile glass plates, each carefully preserved in brown paper sleeves. The photographs depict the local area – the long since demolished Minehead Lido, the last launch of the wooden sailing lifeboat, old farming methods, ships and their sailors. "Everybody knew my family in Minehead, not because we were posh but because we had a shop," Ms Murphy added: "He seemed to have been quiet and sort of creative and a very loving father by all accounts. "So it would have been nice to have known him as my grandfather."The free exhibition at Townsend House is on until 9 August.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Parents of boy who died in school coach crash pay tribute to community
The parents of a young boy who was killed in a coach crash while returning from a school trip have thanked their community for its help. Oliver Price, 10, died after the bus he was travelling in overturned on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope on July 17. The bus was carrying 60 to 70 pupils and staff who were returning to Minehead Middle School after a trip to Exmoor Zoo days before the end of term. Oliver's parents, Lucy and Matthew, released a public statement through Avon and Somerset Police thanking their community for its 'incredible response' following the collision. They said: 'As Oliver's parents we have seen first-hand the incredible response from the community after the awful collision earlier this month. 'We are so very grateful to all the many emergency service workers who responded initially and those who continue to provide support in the aftermath, through the police investigation and the hospital teams who continue to look after those who were injured.' Oliver's parents also thanked staff at a nearby pub who opened it up to those injured in the crash as a safe hub. They said: 'We would also like to thank the team at the Rest and Be Thankful pub in Wheddon Cross for opening their doors to everyone that afternoon, without a moment's hesitation, and for making sure everyone was well looked after and providing a meeting place for parents.' They sent best wishes to the teachers and pupils who were injured, of which two children and three adults remain in hospital. They said: 'We send our best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery to the other children and staff on the bus, particularly those who are still in hospital. You are all in our thoughts. 'The support we've received from our amazing community has been overwhelming. To those who left kind messages, or flowers outside the school, we want to say thank you. 'We are also grateful beyond words for all the staff and parents at the wonderful Minehead Middle School and for the love we've been shown by all our family and friends. We truly do appreciate you all. 'Finally, we would also like to pass on our thanks to the police investigation team for their support and ongoing hard work. We know this is a complex and emotive investigation but we appreciate their regular updates and continued efforts.' The inquest into Oliver's death opened at Somerset Coroner's Court last Thursday. Vanessa McKinlay, the assistant coroner for Somerset, read the evidence of identification from coroner's officer Ben Batley, which said: 'Oliver was found seated in the coach with his seat belt on. His death was confirmed by the attending paramedic. 'Oliver's provisional cause of death is head injury pending results of laboratory investigations.' The inquest is due to resume on January 14 with a one-day hearing to involve evidence from witnesses including the adult passengers on the coach, other witnesses, the coach driver, and specialist collision investigators and vehicle examiners. The headteacher of Minehead Middle School, Laura Mackie, issued a tribute to Oliver, saying the school would 'always treasure the moments we shared with him'. 'The loss of such a brilliant young life has profoundly affected everyone — students, staff, families, and the wider community,' she said in a statement on Thursday. 'We continue to keep Oliver and those closest to him firmly in our thoughts, and we are supporting our school community with great care and sensitivity as we begin to process what has happened. 'Our focus remains on caring for one another and moving forward gently, with compassion, as we begin to navigate the future together.' Around £100,000 has been raised to support those affected by the coach crash by the Somerset Community Foundation's (SCF) Together for West Somerset appeal as well as individual fundraisers.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Parents of boy, 10, killed in school Minehead coach crash thank community for 'overwhelming' support as they speak for first time since their son's death
The parents of a 10-year-old boy who died when a bus carrying school kids overturned have thanked their community for its 'overwhelming' support. Oliver Price was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after the 70-seater coach transporting pupils and teachers from Exmoor Zoo back to Minehead Middle School flipped on July 17. The bus had been travelling on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead when it slid down a 20ft slope. Oliver was devastatingly found trapped in his seat having suffered fatal head injuries as a result, with many more children and adults being rushed to hospital. In the near-two weeks since Oliver's death, dozens of mourners in the community have laid bouquets of flowers outside his former school. Now speaking for the first time since the loss of their son, Oliver's grieving parents, Lucy and Matthew, have thanked their 'amazing community' for how they have responded to the crash that shocked the seaside town. They said: 'As Oliver's parents we have seen first-hand the incredible response from the community after the awful collision earlier this month. 'We are so very grateful to all the many emergency service workers who responded initially and those who continue to provide support in the aftermath, through the police investigation and the hospital teams who continue to look after those who were injured.' With many on the bus suffering injuries that day, Lucy and Matthew thanked staff at the Rest and Be Thankful Pub, in Wheddon Cross, who 'opened their doors to everyone without hesitation' so that people could have a safe place to meet. Figures last week revealed that two children and three adults remained in hospital after the tragedy, to whom Lucy and Matthew sent their 'best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery'. They continued: 'The support we've received from our amazing community has been overwhelming. To those who left kind messages, or flowers outside the school, we want to say thank you. 'We are also grateful beyond words for all the staff and parents at the wonderful Minehead Middle School and for the love we've been shown by all our family and friends. We truly do appreciate you all. 'Finally, we would also like to pass on our thanks to the police investigation team for their support and ongoing hard work. We know this is a complex and emotive investigation but we appreciate their regular updates and continued efforts.' The headteacher of Minehead Middle School, Laura Mackie, also issued a tribute to Oliver as she said the school would 'always treasure the moments we shared with him'. In a statement on Thursday, she added: 'The loss of such a brilliant young life has profoundly affected everyone - students, staff, families, and the wider community. 'We continue to keep Oliver and those closest to him firmly in our thoughts, and we are supporting our school community with great care and sensitivity as we begin to process what has happened. 'Our focus remains on caring for one another and moving forward gently, with compassion, as we begin to navigate the future together.' The inquest into Oliver's death opened at Somerset Coroner's Court last Thursday and is due to resume on January 14. Assistant coroner Vanessa McKinlay read evidence of identification from coroner's officer Ben Batley, which said: 'Oliver was found seated in the coach with his seat belt on. His death was confirmed by the attending paramedic. 'Oliver's provisional cause of death is head injury pending results of laboratory investigations.' The inquest will resume with a one-day hearing to involve evidence from witnesses including the adult passengers on the coach, other witnesses, the coach driver, and specialist collision investigators and vehicle examiners. Around £100,000 has been raised to support those affected by the coach crash by the Somerset Community Foundation's (SCF) Together for West Somerset appeal as well as individual fundraisers.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Gladiators Butlin's future decided following licensing rights row
GLADIATORS will not return to holiday camp Butlin's next year following a licensing rights row. Stars from the hit BBC game show were forced to compete in black tracksuits rather than their usual on-screen costumes when they headlined in March. 3 3 Stages for the Meet the Stars of Gladiators experience were also free of the usual logos and branding at the resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. A source said: 'Gladiators won't be coming back for 2026 and will be replaced by another headliner. 'The licensing row was a headache — and bosses have decided that it is best to make room for a new act next summer. 'Fans were excited to see the Gladiators but many were left disappointed to find out they were in black tracksuits for some of the performances.' Hungry Bear Media, owned by telly host Holly Willoughby's husband Dan Baldwin, makes Gladiators for the BBC, and is said to have agreed the deal with Butlin's. However it only holds TV rights in the UK while US entertainment giant MGM owns the original format and branding worldwide. In March, photos of the Gladiators were taken off the Butlin's website. But the stars, who are due to appear at the resorts over the summer holidays and in October, have since reappeared in full costume, including Dynamite. A Butlin's spokesman said: 'Meet the Stars of Gladiators are performing as scheduled, and we have not dropped them. 'Our contract was a one-year deal and we're looking forward to having them at all three resorts this summer and for October half-term. "We've got an exciting line-up of new headliners for 2026.' This holiday park is like Center Parcs, Haven and Butlin's in one 3
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
Boy, 10, died of head injuries in school bus crash
Vanessa McKinlay, the assistant coroner for Somerset, read the evidence of identification from Ben Batley, the coroner's officer. 'He was aged 10 at the time of his death and he was a student,' the statement said. 'Oliver's death was confirmed at 5pm on July 17 by the attending paramedic at the A396 at Timberscombe, near Minehead. 'The brief circumstances of the death are that Oliver was a student of Minehead Middle School who was being taken back to Minehead by coach with a number of other children and staff having been on a trip to Exmoor Zoo. 'The coach came off the A396 road at Timberscombe into a steep wooded area. 'Oliver was found seated in the coach with his seat belt on. His death was confirmed by the attending paramedic. 'Oliver's provisional cause of death is head injury pending results of laboratory investigations.' Inquest to resume in the new year Ms McKinlay said the inquest has been listed to resume on January 14 with a one-day hearing to involve evidence from witnesses including the adult passengers on the coach, other witnesses, the coach driver, and specialist collision investigators and vehicle examiners. 'The likely scope of the inquest will be the events of the day prior to the coach leaving the road, the circumstances in which the coach left the road and Oliver's medical cause of death,' Ms McKinlay said. 'I would like to close by offering my condolences to Oliver's family.' The short hearing was only attended by members of the media. A number of children involved in the crash were discharged from hospital over the weekend, while two children and three adults remain in hospital. Online fundraisers for those affected have raised more than £25,000. The coach was recovered on Saturday and will now be subject to a detailed examination by experts.
