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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
School's longest-serving member retires aged 75
A woman who worked at a school for half a century, from the moment it first opened in 1975, is finally retiring. Patricia Hampton, 75, was the longest-serving staff member and "cornerstone" at Sharnbrook Academy in Bedfordshire, attended by Olympic runner Paula Radcliffe. "I'm going to feel very strange come September. I've got a few little holiday breaks, but it will be strange to not set my alarm on 31 August," she said. Mrs Hampton said her role as reprographics manager – printing and preparing teaching resources – had bloomed in the 1980s then reduced more recently as technology developed. "Everything was done in reprographics: printing, binding, laminating etc. It was always very busy. "Two and a half years ago reprographics completely changed when photocopiers were installed around the school and staff were able to do their own copying," she said. Mrs Hampton recalled the giant Xerox copying machine the school bought in 1981. "I saw the film 9-5 which had the same copier as us – the scene with papers flying everywhere!" She said her favourite part of the job was "making sure everybody gets everything they need - just pleasing people, really". "I thought after 50 years it's time to retire, give someone else a chance. Staff are becoming more independent and doing their own stuff now." She was given a surprise send-off party in the staff room. "I've had an ex-student and drama teacher come in and it's so emotional," she said. Former colleagues took to social media to praise Mrs Hampton, recalling "the miracle-maker of reprographics". One said: "No job was too complicated. She made anything and everything happen." Principal Clare Raku said: "Pat has been an integral part of Sharnbrook since its very first day in 1975 - a presence so constant, supportive, and dependable that it's difficult to imagine the school without her. "Her quiet efficiency, good humour, and tireless commitment behind the scenes have left a lasting legacy." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. You might also be interested in Dinner lady retires after 54 years Teacher to retire after 40 years at same school Teacher's guard of honour as he retires after 51 years Related internet links Sharnbrook Academy
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sharnbrook school's longest-serving staff member retires age 75
A woman who worked at a school for half a century, from the moment it first opened in 1975, is finally retiring. Patricia Hampton, 75, was the longest-serving staff member and "cornerstone" at Sharnbrook Academy in Bedfordshire, attended by Olympic runner Paula Radcliffe. "I'm going to feel very strange come September. I've got a few little holiday breaks, but it will be strange to not set my alarm on 31 August," she Hampton said her role as reprographics manager – printing and preparing teaching resources – had bloomed in the 1980s then reduced more recently as technology developed. "Everything was done in reprographics: printing, binding, laminating etc. It was always very busy."Two and a half years ago reprographics completely changed when photocopiers were installed around the school and staff were able to do their own copying," she Hampton recalled the giant Xerox copying machine the school bought in 1981."I saw the film 9-5 which had the same copier as us – the scene with papers flying everywhere!"She said her favourite part of the job was "making sure everybody gets everything they need - just pleasing people, really"."I thought after 50 years it's time to retire, give someone else a chance. Staff are becoming more independent and doing their own stuff now." She was given a surprise send-off party in the staff room."I've had an ex-student and drama teacher come in and it's so emotional," she colleagues took to social media to praise Mrs Hampton, recalling "the miracle-maker of reprographics".One said: "No job was too complicated. She made anything and everything happen." Principal Clare Raku said: "Pat has been an integral part of Sharnbrook since its very first day in 1975 - a presence so constant, supportive, and dependable that it's difficult to imagine the school without her."Her quiet efficiency, good humour, and tireless commitment behind the scenes have left a lasting legacy." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Marathon world record holder suspended for doping
Ruth Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2 hours 10 minutes, has been provisionally suspended following a positive drugs test. The 30-year-old Kenyan, who shattered the previous world record by more than two minutes last October, was found to have the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide in her system following a test on March 14. The substance, which is a diuretic, may be abused to mask the presence in urine of other prohibited substances. Chepngetich was not immediately charged but opted for a voluntary suspension on April 19 shortly after pulling out of the London Marathon because she was not 'in the right place mentally or physically'. Brett Clothier, who heads up the Athletics Integrity Unit, said: 'In the intervening months, the AIU continued its investigation and today issued a notice of charge and imposed its own provisional suspension.' The 2:10 barrier was long considered unbreakable for a woman – and her finishing time in Chicago of 2:09:56 was more than five minutes quicker than Paula Radcliffe's 2003 world record, which stood for 16 years, and eight minutes clear that day of the second-placed athlete. It sent shockwaves through the sport and, at the time, had only ever been bettered by 22 British men. 'It's a time we can't really comprehend – a time we would never have thought was possible,' said Britain's Jo Pavey, the former European 10,000m champion, who was commentating on the race for Eurosport. There were also immediate questions, however, with the American journalist Robert Johnson asking at the press conference whether it was 'too good to be true'. Hundreds of Kenyan athletes have served doping suspensions over the past decade. Athletics Kenya issued a statement in which they said that 'singling out' Chepngetich, who was also the 2019 world champion, was unfair. 'Such aspersions, made without due process, undermine not only her efforts but the integrity of the sport,' the statement said. 'It is important to note that Ruth, like all athletes in major competitions, underwent multiple anti-doping tests, both pre-race and post-race.'
Irish Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Sonia O'Sullivan: Reaching a new running high at altitude in the French Pyrenees
There is nothing new or particularly novel about athletes seeking out high-altitude training locations to help them prepare for major championships. It has long been regarded as one of the truly natural performance-enhancing aids. However, it has become a lot more popular, and seemingly required, since my competitive running days. I got a reminder of that last week when spending some time in Font Romeu. It was my first visit to the popular high-altitude training centre in the French Pyrenees. Situated 1,850m above sea level – a bit over a mile high, in old money – Paula Radcliffe helped put it on the map when frequently training there during her peak running years. I was there with a group of athletes from Australia , Ireland , Sweden and the UK , all working together on the hard days and sharing the trails on the recovery days, when the runs are always made easier with good company. I wasn't running anywhere near their level, but it can still take some time to find the level you need to be working at when you're at altitude. There is always the danger of getting a bit too enthusiastic the first few days, especially with a group. The need for more time to recover is critical. You need to find what works for you as it can be a very individual reaction to the mountain air. This is the whole purpose of altitude training, to run where the oxygen level in the air is far lower than at sea level, therefore forcing the body to slowly adapt by increasing the oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Font Romeu is popular among athletes who appreciate the benefits of altitude training. Photograph:Font Romeu is not the easiest place to get to. There is a choice of airports to fly in to, but all are still 90 minutes to two hours away. This can all add to the logistical planning, but athletes typically stay at least two or three weeks for the benefits of altitude training to kick in. What is changing is the frequency with which athletes spend training at altitude. They realise it's so important to enable them to achieve peak fitness and reach new levels year-on-year. This is particularly the case in middle- and long-distance events, where the aerobic capacity to train and compete at a faster pace is increasing all the time and can require incredible fine tuning to get the timing right. There are many places all over the world where athletes can spend time training at altitude, generally above 1,500m, where just living and breathing there will improve fitness. The athlete centre in Font Romeu was officially opened in 1967, even though there were some early pioneers who discovered the benefits long before then. The French were not happy with their results in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, where they won 15 medals, only one of which was gold. They decided that they needed to build a training centre ahead of the Mexico Olympics. The 1968 Olympics would take place at altitude and as a result the National Altitude Training centre was developed in Font Romeu. There were other candidates, but the altitude and climate were perfect and it has become a place of pilgrimage for athletes ever since. The National Altitude Training Centre in Font Romeu was first developed for French athletes preparing for the 1968 Olympics. Photograph: Matthieu Rondel/AFP via Getty Images The centre has a recently resurfaced six-lane track built in a bowl, just below the sports centre where athletes can choose to stay in one of the 140 beds. There is the option to sign up for full board which includes three meals a day and full access to all the sports facilities for a very reasonable price. This includes a fully equipped gym and weights room, a 50m swimming pool and access to environmental rooms, where athletes can train and spend time at even higher altitude levels. They can also set the room to high temperatures and humidity. This allows the athletes to acclimatise when an event may be planned for an extremely warm place like Tokyo could be in mid-September for this year's World Championships. [ 'I'm not putting a limit on the score': Kate O'Connor switching back into heptathlon competition mode Opens in new window ] [ Sonia O'Sullivan: Nothing beats the NCAAs as the breeding ground for track and field champions Opens in new window ] The French team returned from the 1968 Olympic Games with 15 medals including seven gold and a new template for success was in place. Even though the centre was built by the French, for the French, it has become a proper international spot. For many years, training at the centre would have been very much a spartan existence. Particularly if you arrived without a car, as the 2km walk down to town would probably seem okay until you had to turn around and hike back up. Not ideal for recovery between training sessions. Nowadays more athletes tend to stay closer to town in rented accommodation and cook for themselves. Arriving by car also affords more flexibility and variation of running routes throughout the week. If altitude is one of the most beneficial training factors available to athletes, I also wonder if it is a combination of the altitude and the attitude that delivers the greatest results. Being away from all distractions and living the life of an athlete, away from home comforts and daily life, is the best approach. Like anything, the success stories will always be highlighted and embraced by those who know what it takes to be successful. It just all seems so simple when it comes to altitude, as you are in the perfect environment – the best of weather, the nicest running trails and nothing else to do apart from sleep, eat and train. I did manage to get out and explore some of the trails, swim in the nearby lake Matemale and borrow a bike to take on some climbs seen in the Tour de France. You might think the altitude would make normal levels of activity more difficult, but I found if you controlled the effort and didn't run up too many hills I was able to run at the same pace I do at home. The big lesson for me was to measure my effort, not rush into anything. Not even to escape a stormy rain shower. The altitude definitely takes adjusting to, but with time and patience the rewards make it all worthwhile. Not least the health and fitness benefits of simply being in such a clean environment.
Metro
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I trained with Olympians at a luxury resort — it wasn't what I expected
I've woken up in Turkey with the blazing sun giving me a false sense of hope. I won't be grabbing a flamingo floaty and wearing a bikini. Instead, I'm in workout clothes to begin four days of gruelling training with Olympic champions at the ultra-luxurious, all-inclusive Anda Barut resort in Didim, on western Turkey's Aegean coast. Can these decorated sporting giants whip me into shape? They'll certainly deserve a medal for trying. I ease into the week with a walk alongside former decathlete Daley Thompson. We chat as we stroll just outside the grounds of the hotel, feeling dwarfed by its size — and the challenges that await me over the next seven days. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. 'I am slowing down because I used to do all the running,' Daley laughs as Paula Radcliffe's running group sprints past us. I make a mental note that, in a day or two, that will be me. Now that my legs are stretched, I'm feeling ready for my next class: Fitsteps with Ian Waite. A Strictly pro I am not, but I've always thought of myself as a good dancer. However, I was truly humbled after doing the Samba Whisk to Olly Murs for 45 minutes. I have a newfound appreciation of ballroom dancers. With all that moving and shaking, it's time for a refreshing iced vanilla latte with a sea view, but my moment of calm is interrupted by the booming voice of JE Thrive hosting their boxercise class nearby. Hearing what I'm going to be in for has put the fear of God into me, but I will rise to the challenge when the time comes. For now, I'm getting myself ready for a yoga class with the charming Leon Taylor. I've never quite managed to master the crow pose, but with Leon on my side, I have hope. I'm not perfect, but I feel like I'm getting the hang of it and, honestly, it's quite satisfying looking to my left and seeing the accomplished James Jordan struggling to keep his balance as a tree. With day one over, it's time to enjoy a dreamy dinner at the beachfront Mansion restaurant, but it'll be an early night as tomorrow, I'll be taking on the 5km run I've been dreading. It's only 8am, but it already feels like it's 30 degrees, and I'm concerned about how long I'm going to last in this heat; the Gate of Sun meeting point makes sense, now. I start strong up front with sprinters Paula Radcliffe and Dame Jessica, but it doesn't take long for me to fall back as we run around the bay of the Delice Peninsula. The blazing heat is getting the best of me, but I make it back to camp surprised at how much I genuinely enjoyed putting myself through a new challenge. I'm struggling to breathe, so it's time to stop and refuel on post-workout shakes and snacks with Chris Baber. The protein blueberry and chia smoothie goes down a treat. My action-packed morning continues with James and Ola Jordan's Dance Shred in the outdoor fitness space. Their class works every part of my core, and by the end, I'm starting to feel the burn, which can only be a good thing, I think. In the evening, I attend a glamorous cocktail party, dine with the athletes at the generous Zestful Bazaar buffet and manage to catch up with other retreaters, many of whom are regular guests on 'body' holidays. It's inspiring that some of them are twice my age, and I think, if they can do it, I can too. I slept like a baby, but every muscle in my body is on fire. Even sitting down makes me wince. Still, I'm not stopping now, and on the schedule this morning is the Sea Front Circuits. How bad could they be? 'I'm going to f**k you up,' Thompson barks at the large group of us standing in a huge circle at the Gate of Sun overlooking the Aegean Sea. Hundreds of sit-ups later, it's punishing, but the Sea Front Circuits have been my favourite activity so far. It feels like a warped school sports day for adults. At this point, I need some inspiration and ask Dame Jessica if she can share some wisdom. 'I'm more of a speed-based athlete, so the endurance side can be quite challenging,' she reassures me. 'Some people play a 5k down, but actually it's a hard distance. The key is just to build it up naturally. 'Be kind to yourself. Recovery and listening to your body are important.' With her words of encouragement, I'm all pumped up to attempt boxercise for the first time, undeterred from overhearing JE Thrive on day one. I give it my best shot and surprise myself with my strength as I channel Rocky Balboa. Sore from boxing, dancing, running and circuit-training, I dedicate the rest of the day to recovery, taking on board Dame Jessica's advice with the gorgeous surroundings of Anda Barut my playground — a grilled sea bream fillet at the Fish Camp is coming right up. It's my final day at Anda Barut, so I take it easy with one last yoga class and finally enjoy the highly-recommended spa while reflecting on all I've experienced over the past few days. I never thought I could enjoy working out as much as I have in Turkey, but perhaps the most shocking part is how welcoming everyone has been at the retreat. I've stumbled across the most supportive community. Is four days of training enough to change your whole outlook? In my case, yes, because it was a total shock to the system. It was humbling to meet these greats of sports, and their words of encouragement and golden tips will stay with me forever. More Trending Yes, it was exhausting and daunting. At times, it was painful. But it has changed my attitude towards healthy eating and keeping fit. Now, I want to exercise, rather than feeling like I have to. You never know if a holiday romance is legit until you leave the resort bubble and get back home. Well, I think this one is the real deal because, not long after I land, I sign up for my local Parkrun. Wellness Week has certainly changed my perspective on fitness, and I'm not mad at it at all. The closest airport to Anda Barut is Bodrum. Direct flights run from the UK, from London, Liverpool, Bristol and Manchester, with prices starting from £89 return in July. Alicia Adejobi was a guest of Anda Barut Collection and the Bayou Villas. For more information on Wellness Week 2026, visit their website. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. 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