Latest news with #PaulBrown
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
A 'no-brainer' to make Alcaraz deal permanent
Paul Brown from the Paddock Blues podcast spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside about Carlos Alcaraz signing for Everton on a permanent deal: "It was a no-brainer, at the end of the season it was the deal we all wanted to be done straight away so I'm really happy about it."He just has something different about him - he gets his head up and runs with the ball and is always looking for options around him. We don't have a lot of players who are comfortable on the ball but he is definitely in that category."On Abdoulaye Doucoure's departure, he added: "Of course they are both footballers, but I would call Alcaraz more of a 'footballer' than Doucoure. We are trying to go down a different route and we will want the ball more going forward."I would have kept him personally, but if he went than so be it. We need to move on as a club from the past five years and start fresh with a new ground and owners."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Jersey fire service celebrates 75th anniversary
The States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (SJFRS) marks 75 years by inviting the public to an open service replaced the St Helier Fire Brigade in le Flem, whose son is a firefighter, was among those that attended the headquarters on Saturday and watched rescue demonstrations and visited stalls about the service's said his son, Logan, was "just incredible" after he watched him take part in a demonstration marking the anniversary. Logan is 21 years old and became a full-time on-call firefighter in said "to watch him be part of the demonstration was just incredible" but admitted "I'm terrified of heights so it also scares the life out of me".Logan added: "It's really special to be part of this as I'm new into the service but to see the history the service has been through is really rewarding."Logan was part of the rope rescue demonstration where he was lowered out of a third floor window to rescue a fire officer Paul Brown said: "It's not just 75 years of the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, it's 75 years of being a fundamental part of our community."We don't exist for any other reason than to protect the people of Jersey and their interests." Vicky Vasse came along to show her support and admiration for the work firefighters do in the said "I have so much respect for them" and "they put their lives on the line doing this stuff"."They're just amazing people," Ms Vasse added. Beth Bell is the second full-time on-call female firefighter to join the service after she was recruited earlier this said "it's been amazing" and "it's been a while since we've had one of these so it's good to see children – especially girls – seeing the headquarters".Ms Bell added: "I think it's amazing the service is bringing in more females as I think it was overlooked in the past but now it's being focused on and everyone has made me feel so welcome."She hopes she can inspire more women to apply to be a firefighter as the service looks to become more inclusive.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE From bleak… to chic: I spent £100K turning Britain's 'most disgusting home' into a coastal paradise
A pensioner poured £100,000 and three years of her life into turning Britain's 'most disgusting home' into a coastal paradise. Sara Haigh, 65, bought the garbage-filled hoarder's house in Plymouth on a whim after being given just 15 minutes to view it before it went to auction in 2021. A mishmash of overgrown ivy and weeds clung to the gruel-grey pebbledash walls of the three-bed semi on Camperdown Street when Sara first set her eyes on it. The ferocious foliage made the property stand out from the rows of neat, colourful homes in the trendy neighbourhood just a short walk from the city's historic harbour. But the home's unsightly exterior had nothing on the horror that was hidden on the inside. Sara, who lives with her partner Paul Brown, 70, in nearby Stonehouse, said: 'As we waded through the overgrown plant life, it was clear an enormous amount of work and investment was needed. 'But once we got inside, the scale of the work needed was truly shocking.' The kitchen counters were stacked with pizza boxes and food wrappers, while the floors were carpeted with hundreds of plastic milk bottles and tins. Grime caked the walls, mould had taken root, and a ceiling had collapsed – the squalid den was a haven for rodents that constantly hummed with flies. But that was not the worst of it. Sara added: 'Oh my God, there were thousands of bottles of cider filled with urine as well as syringes.' And yet, after renovating her own home for over two decades and itching for a new project, Sara's instinct was 'this could be the one'. The couple won the auction, stumping up £145,000 for the property and throwing their lives into turning it into a proper family home. Sara said: 'The first thing I needed to do was the roof, because there was ivy growing from the inside of it. So, that all had to be stripped off. 'The roof has left lots of debris, which includes the tiles and the felt, so it all had to come off again. 'The house was like a jungle because the garden was so overgrown, the weeds must have been probably 12 feet high in the back garden. 'While we tried to do as much as possible within our abilities, it was clear we needed help from tradesmen.' Finding the right people to 'proved difficult', Sara added, with some tradesmen still owing the couple money. 'We had problems that needed costly rectification work, which resulted in taking legal action to get some of our costs back. 'One tradesman still owes me several thousand pounds for work not completed by him. 'We have since learned that he owes money to many other people across the South West. 'At the time, I worked at the local hospital as a nurse, and there weren't many shifts available. And, not all of Sara's family were convinced about the project from the start. Sara added: 'My sisters were on a flight together, about to go on holiday, when they saw an article about the house being "Britain's most disgusting property". 'They were laughing about it and thought, who would buy something like this? 'They found out that person was their sister when they got home.' The property is now back on the market with Purplebricks for £300,000, which would see Sara and her partner make a £55,000 profit if the asking price is met. 'Now, after over three years, we have a unique house that would be ideal for a family.' Sara said. 'All the fundamental services have been completely replaced with new plumbing, electrics and gas central heating. 'The kitchen is complete. There is a family bathroom, an en-suite shower room in the master bedroom, as well as a downstairs toilet. 'The three bedrooms are of a good size, and the connected lounge and dining rooms are very spacious. 'What was once described by a neighbour as a jungle, the outside space includes a large grassed area as well as an equally large patio. 'I'm proud of all of it, to be honest, it does look amazing compared to what it was like, but in particular, the garden looks great, especially compared to how we found it.' Local Purplebricks property partner for Devon and Cornwall, Jordan Greenaway, said: 'Camperdown Street is a beautifully presented family home which has been renovated to a high standard throughout. 'My vendor has taken a lot of care and consideration into the refurbishment of the property.' She added: 'After seeing how the property was before my seller took ownership, it is a whole new property, and every detail has been thought out, ready for a new family. 'The size of the property internally and externally is a one-off for the location, and the finishing touch is a credit to my sellers - I am very excited to market the property on behalf of my customer.'
West Australian
7 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Nationals candidate and Keep the Sheep campaigner Paul Brown loses Federal Senate bid
Keep the Sheep campaigner and Nationals candidate Paul Brown said he has no regrets in running for the Senate, saying 'life goes on', while remaining optimistic about the future of agriculture. The Australian Electoral Commission announced the WA Senate results for the 2025 Federal election on Thursday, in which Mr Brown failed to claim a seat. The two newly-elected WA senators are Labor's Ellie Whiteaker and Pauline Hanson's One Nation's Tyron Whitten. Liberals Slade Brockman and Matt O'Sullivan, Labor's Varun Ghosh and The Greens' Jordan Steele-John have retained their positions in the Senate. Mr Brown said he was not surprised by the loss which he described as a 'very long shot' for The Nationals to win a seat in the Senate, but he went into the election with his 'eyes wide open'. 'We always had a strong campaign on the back of the Keep the Sheep campaign and our Nationals campaign, particularly with Mia Davies for Bullwinkle,' he said. 'We haven't had a Nationals senator for some 45, 50 years, so we always knew it was going to be a long shot. 'But we wanted to put our best foot forward and make sure that regional WA had a true regional voice at the table. 'It's just a pity that people from across WA didn't support the Nationals and myself and our bid to have a candidate that would be a strong supporter of regional WA.' Despite the looming live sheep export ban, Mr Brown is positive about WA's 'bright' agricultural future and opportunities. Mr Brown said he would like to see an extension of the live export ban from 2028 to 2034 to provide a 'softer landing' and time to adjust for WA sheep farmers, acknowledging the repeal of the legislation is unlikely. 'We have seen the devastating consequences of that legislation being born out right now with farmers leaving the industry; truckies selling off their fleets, shearers leaving the industry, a very much reduced wool clip, and putting our merino and wool sector in WA at risk,' he said. Mr Brown said he could not see himself running in an election again, whether it be State or Federal, but it is a 'long way in the future'. 'I can't see there being a need for me, but I think that the Nationals have now toured a State election and the Federal election have proven their brand, and that I would hope that someone else would be standing up,' he said. He said agriculture organisations and the wider agriculture industry needed to rethink and hold a conversation about who they wanted representing them. 'I don't think there's anyone at the moment in the political landscape, at a Federal level in WA, that will stand up solely for the regions and agriculture ahead of the party,' Mr Brown said. The AEC will formally declare the results of the WA Senate poll on June 3.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Hope Cancer Support Centre rings in 25 years with Wexford community
The centre was originally established on Easter Week 1999, when a small group of people affected by cancer, decided to meet up weekly in a local hotel for a chat. After word of mouth spread amongst the community, the group grew significantly, as did the need for a permanent structure to the meetings. The use of a building in Church Street Enniscorthy was acquired, though following an increased need for space, the centre moved into its current location on Weafer Street. And although General Manager Paul Brown only took up his position in 2023, he was drawn to the centre after hearing nothing but good words about the work they do for people in the community. Speaking on the evolvement of the centre, he explained that the charity has strived to expand further by providing more services for their clients. "Originally it was just counselling, but now we also have reflexology, creative therapies and more. We would be very much developed.' Community is at the core of the centre, with many organisations and groups choosing to raise funds for the services throughout the year. "Community is huge – both from the point of view that we help, but also the amount of fundraising that is done. We get approximately 20 per cent from the Government, but the rest is fundraised and so there would be nearly half a million raised by all the people of County Wexford,' he said. One of their biggest fundraisers is the annual Hope and Dream 10 run, which attracted around 1200 participants this year. A fantastic showing of support, he said that although they have not confirmed the final amount raised, they hope to have raised more than last year - which was an incredible €143,681. He added that they were very thankful to Enniscorthy Credit Union who sponsor the run. However, the running of the centre has had its fair share of challenges including the Covid-19 Pandemic, ensuring they have enough funds, and convincing men to come into the centre. "I think the continued challenge is to get the funds in and in encouraging men to come into the centre. I think overall in the country, in terms of men getting support, it is improving and we have in the last six months experienced some men coming in here,' he said. In terms of staff, the centre has three members in the shop, with eight within the premises and three client service coordinators. He said they recognise greatly how demanding the job can be in their day to day tasks. "It is very difficult and even people who do not have a diagnosis will be affected by it. It is challenging, but we have a clients service manager who would manage the three coordinators. It is a challenging enough role to work in this environment.' Big plans are also in store for the centre as they set about to relocate and build a state of the art facility to address the needs of their growing clientele. As laid out in the ambitious proposal, they had initially considered expanding into neighbouring properties, but this option would have forced them to cease operations while building. "We would have had to move out because of the noise, so hopefully the new building will get finished and people could move into it and be a bit more seamless.' To mark the milestone, a crowd of 120 people turned up at the centre last weekend to chat and reminisce – with some of the founding members remarking in awe over how far the centre has come. "I was talking to the founding members the other day and they were thrilled. It is another phase even though everyone loves this building. They would very much say it is the sanctuary behind the blue door, but things change and we will have a much more modern building.' He added that it was great to see such a big crowd on the day, with some clients bringing their family members with them. The festivities were held out in their garden as they wanted to highlight the progress there as well during the good weather. Most of all, on behalf of everybody in the centre and those who have benefited from it, he extended thanks to everyone who supported them over the last 25 years. "A heartfelt thanks to everyone in Wexford who has really helped to make sure that the services continue, both by fundraising and volunteering. Also the staff, who have made a conscious decision to come in and work in the centre.' 'And also thanks to the clients, I know it might seem a bit strange, but thanks to the clients who have come to us for the support and who are incredibly positive. They also help to create a wonderful and positive atmosphere and energy because of their attitude. It is great to have people attend the support group while encouraging others to reach out,' he said.
