Latest news with #NewBrighton
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hoylake: Drowned sailor's memorial bench 'will be place to reflect'
A memorial bench honouring a drowned sailor has been unveiled outside one of the RNLI lifeboat stations involved in the search for him, with a plaque urging people to "respect nature" and "stay safe".Haydn Griffiths, who had been selected to train with the GB sailing team, died off New Brighton, Wirral, aged 23, in July 2022, despite being a strong family commissioned the bench, which features two carved owls inspired by his love of nature, and said they hoped people could sit there and reflect on his story and share water safety messages. It has been placed outside the RNLI lifeboat station in Hoylake, Wirral. Volunteer lifeboat crews from Hoylake, New Brighton and West Kirby were part of the search for Mr sisters Megan and Brogan, from Wigan, added a plaque which reads: "Your life was a blessing, your memory is a treasure. Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the sunset. Respect nature and stay safe. #staysafeforhaydn."They launched the Stay Safe for Haydn water safety campaign following his death and have been working alongside the Griffiths said her family was "incredibly grateful" to the RNLI crews who tried to find her brother. "To now have a special memory bench for Haydn, overlooking the sea at Hoylake RNLI feels very special, not only for our family, but for all those who losing Haydn has affected," she said. She said she hoped it would become "a place where people can pause, take in the view, breathe the fresh sea air and reflect - a peaceful spot for crew and visitors alike to sit, remember Haydn's story and share water safety messages that could one day save a life".Brogan Griffiths said she would bring her two sons to the bench, adding: "It's in a beautiful location where we will be able to talk about Uncle Haydn, educate them on water safety and keeping safe at the beach whilst also visiting our friends at the RNLI." Howie Owen, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain, said it was a "privilege" to host Mr Griffiths' memorial bench. "We're so grateful for everything his family have done to raise awareness around water safety and the lifesaving work of the RNLI." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Century of shield battles for seaside rivals
Scott Powell and John Vili with the Falton Shield after New Brighton's win in 2017. PHOTO: GETTY A hundred years of rugby history will be celebrated on Saturday when Sumner and New Brighton clash for the Falton Shield. The trophy, contested annually between the two seaside clubs, marks its 100th anniversary this weekend. The first match was won by New Brighton in 1925. New Brighton head coach Scott Pawson, who played in the fixture during the late 1990s, now leads the club's premier side and knows exactly what the rivalry means. 'Any time I play in a game or coach a game, I make sure our guys know the history of it. 'The games I played in were huge, close games. I can't recall a game that was a massive blowout. 'It's always very close physical games, and it will be the same on the weekend,' Pawson said. Sumner life member and current division 2 coach Robbie Timo has his own fond memories of Falton Shield clashes. 'It was lost for a few years in their offices. I think it was 1978 or 1979 until 1991 or 1992 – they were clearing it out and they found the shield in the back. "They brought it down and said, 'we're playing for the shield', and I remember going into the shed and saying, 'we're grabbing that shield today', and we won 9-3.' Another standout memory for Timo came in 1996. 'We were playing at Rawhiti and there was a real low-lying fog. It was so cold and we managed to win., It was really cool because it was just fog all around you.' Despite the two teams' contrasting fortunes this season – New Brighton sit top of the table with four bonus-point wins, while Sumner are winless in 11th – Pawson expects a tough battle. 'Games like this bring out a different beast and I know their coaches will be making sure they are primed for this. 'The reward is competition points, but also that shield, and it does mean a lot to both clubs.' Now colloquially known as the 'Seaside Shield', New Brighton are the current holders after a 20–7 win last year. The other matches on Saturday see University of Canterbury – behind New Brighton only on points difference – visit Belfast, while third-place HSOB play Christchurch. DCL Shield holders Linwood take on Marist Albion, who dispatched Belfast 71-19 on Saturday. Sydenham also host Burnside and Shirley will take on Lincoln University. Metro Rugby Points New Brighton 20; Canty Uni 20; HSOB 17; Marist Albion 15; Linwood 14; Burnside 10; Lincoln Uni 9; Sydenham 8; Christchurch 6; Belfast 6; Sumner 3; Shirley 2
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tunnels below New Brighton arcade became secret wartime factory
Even at the height of World War Two, the women who worked at New Brighton's amusement arcade turned up for their shifts as they were no longer there to sell tickets, run the stalls, or to serve seaside snacks in the they were there to toil in a secret underground factory producing millions of bullets and shell casings for the war effort. Later this year, the tunnels below the original Art Deco arcade in the Merseyside seaside resort will open to the public as a museum. The factory become so important to the war effort that, after a 1944 concert at the nearby Liverpool Empire, Dame Vera Lynn showed her appreciation for the factory's women by singing for for the Allies - including the US forces who took over the ground floor in 1943 as an ordnance base - knowledge of the factory was a closely guarded secret.A Luftwaffe aircrew bombing map, uncovered by local historian Cathy Roberts, shows that Nazi Germany was totally unaware of what was really going on inside the Wilkie arcade. "With all the shells and fuel in there, if it had been hit it would have taken out most of New Brighton," she said. The New Palace Amusement Centre, next to the Floral Pavilion, was opened by Whilma Howe "Will" Wilkie in August 1939, at a cost equivalent to nearly £1m in today's money. But within a matter of weeks, fun was the last thing on anyone's mind. On 3 September, Britain declared war on Germany, which had invaded Poland two days before. Wilkie answered the call from the government for safe and secretive places that could be used for the war effort. The 100-year-old tunnels were cleared of sand, debris and stalactites and converted into an underground munitions factory. Many of the women who had worked on the dodgem cars, shooting galleries and bagatelles went to work below ground making the arcade's manager became the factory's foreman. With more than 100 acres of tunnels, there was plenty of space in which the women could week, they made more than 250,000 bullets and as many shell cases. In 1943, the arcade building would become even more crucial to the war preparation for the Allied invasion of occupied Europe, US forces arrived in New Brighton. The ever-enterprising Wilkie once again answered the call to action, converting the ground floor of the arcade into a base for American engineers and technicians. Because the Americans' army vehicles and trucks were shipped in flat-pack form, they had to be assembled on a result, the New Brighton arcade became US Ordnance depot O_616. To make way for the US servicemen, the ground floor was cleared, with all the rides, stalls and attractions being moved out into the car park. To this day, the outdoor area is still home to fairground attractions. "Wilkie was quite canny," said Ms Roberts. "So he kept promoting the amusement arcade with press advertisements so no-one would think it was anything else." From the June 1944 D-Day landings onwards, the building continued to play a vital Army vehicles damaged on Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion were shipped back and repaired in the arcade. And the advancing Allies relied upon the bullets and shells that were continuing to be produced by the women working in the munitions factory traces of the factory survive to this day, and the arcade remains in the Wilkie family, with Whilma's grandson David at the helm. LISTEN: Hidden Merseyside - the tunnels under New Brighton's arcade Ms Roberts and other volunteers have been working to turn it into a museum to honour and remember the efforts made by everyone who worked there during the opened to the public on Thursday's 80th anniversary of VE ticketed tour, with free entry for service personnel, was sold out. Ms Roberts said she hoped the museum would become a popular attraction when it reopens later in 2025."We always knew this place was important to the war effort," she said. "But over the years we have learned just how important it was." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mural celebrating 90 years of New Brighton marine lake
A mural celebrating the legacy of a 90-year-old marine lake has been inspired by environmental conservation and mythical creatures, project organisers have said. Spirit Of The Lake pays homage to New Brighton Marine Lake as it celebrates its 90th Joe Forrest, from New Brighton, who was commissioned by The Friends of New Brighton Marine Lake, said the mural also drew people's attention to the town's rich coastal heritage. "We've decided to leave [her] nameless so that people can create their own interpretations of her," he said. Following a grand unveiling, the mural's centrepiece can be viewed by the general public at The Floral Pavilion, before the full mural is installed on the lake's wall."It's an honour to have been selected to create this piece for this very special project," Mr Forrest said."We had a great turn out for the unveiling at The Floral Pavilion and I'm looking forward to the full mural being installed on the marine lake soon."The Friends Of The Marine Lake group said the installation would give the lake a new identity and public perception. Project Leader Tim Brundsen said the mural was designed to be seen from all sides when installed on the said the artwork was inspired by key themes from the lake's legacy, including environmental conservation, wildlife, mythical creatures and water quality improvement."Hundreds of people use the lake every day, whatever the weather, gathering to chat, swim and dip together, building friendships and community, improving their mental health and wellbeing in the process. "Unfortunately, the lake's water quality has been deteriorating, often full of debris and rubbish, green and brackish. "We are taking action to reverse this decline." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Herald
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald
School nutrition programme chaos is unacceptable
For millions of children in SA, the most reliable, and sometimes only, meal of the day is the one served at school. The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is not merely a support service; it is a cornerstone of education, equity and child development. Now that cornerstone is crumbling. The result — children are starving. The Herald reported this week that t housands of children in Nelson Mandela Bay were going hungry as school kitchen cupboards stood empty. This is due to a delay in funding for the nutrition programme. In a circular sent by the education department to schools, it said the first tranche of the NSNP payments could not be processed due to problems in uploading payment files on the National Treasury systems. And while some of the affected schools have made temporary provisions to feed the children, at other schools pupils are learning on empty stomachs. The Herald visited several Bay schools this week where the nutrition programme has all but collapsed. At Pendla Primary School in New Brighton, the cupboards were empty and the kitchen assistants sat idle as a result. A staff member, who is not permitted to speak to the media, said they had not been able to feed their pupils for a few months now. At two other schools — Lamani Public Primary School in New Brighton and Cedarberg Primary in Booysen Park — staff have had to make plans to ensure pupils are fed. This is an indictment on society. No child should spend even a day going hungry. A hungry pupil is at a disadvantage academically as that pupil cannot concentrate, absorb information or engage fully in class. When children go hungry due to logistical failures or poor planning, it is not just an administrative error, it is a moral failure. So those responsible for these delays should hang their heads in shame. And they should do better to ensure our NSNPs run efficiently — that funding is stable and delivery reliable. The Herald
