Latest news with #PeterWalker
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Wiltshire widower backs plans for life sentences for cyclists who kill
A widower who has led an eight-year campaign for a change in road safety laws has welcomed proposals that could result in life sentences for death by dangerous Walker's wife Diana, 76, was on her way home from a shop in May 2016 when she was hit by a cyclist in Pewsey, Wiltshire. She died in hospital on the following campaigning with other bereaved families, Mr Walker, 88, said his "dearest wish" was to spare others from going through the new laws - which could lead to cyclists who kill pedestrians facing life imprisonment - have been at committee stage and the Department for Transport (DfT) said they will be debated "in due course". Mr and Mrs Walker had only recently moved into a retirement home and he had been expecting to spend many more years with his wife, who he said was a "very fit person" and a "wonderful mother".Not only a loss to the family, he said she had been very active in the community Walker said she died the day after the incident because she was being kept on life support for organ donation."I don't want anybody to go through what I've had to go through," he said. Mr Walker welcomed the proposed law changes but said that "having to wait nearly nine years for something to happen is an absolute disgrace"."It was just to make certain that the police fully investigated an accident on the highway where a cyclist killed a pedestrian," he changes drafted by the previous Conservative government were dropped when Parliamentary business was halted following the announcement of the general election in July 2024. Updating 160-year-old laws Proposed changes to the Crime and Policing Bill mean a cyclist found guilty of killing a pedestrian could face a life sentence, while those who injure walkers could go to jail for five changes would also mean serious injury caused by dangerous cycling - or death by careless or inconsiderate cycling - could incur punishments of five years in jail, fines, or both.A serious injury caused by careless or inconsiderate cycling would result in a two-year sentence, a fine, or both, under the proposals.A DfT spokesperson said: "Dangerous cycling is completely unacceptable. "The Government is proposing new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling, updating legislation that is over 160 years old, to ensure that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full force of the law." Police treatment 'horrifying' The government has estimated that four deaths on UK roads last year were caused by cyclists."The way Wiltshire Police treated Diana's death was horrifying and it's a huge relief that police will now have to treat cycling collisions as a proper highways accident," Mr Walker Police said extensive enquires were carried out when Mrs Walker died, but an investigation concluded her death was not an unlawful killing and no action was taken against the following concerns raised by the coroner at her inquest, the force said crash investigators would be sent to all serious accidents involving cyclists in future.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Vanuatu president to revoke sentence reduction for 70 prisoners
The victim of a horrific bashing in Vanuatu says he was shocked, confused and re-traumatised by the Vanuatu President's decision to reduce his attackers' sentences. The men who brutally assaulted Peter Walker six years ago were among the 70 prisoners who's custodial sentences were to be reduced to community service. But following the public outcry prime minister Jotham Napat announced President Nikenike Vurobaravu will revoke the order. In a statement Mr Napat says the president was not given accurate information about several of the detainees and there'll be an investigation into why that happened. He also apologised for the distress and concern the situation has caused and says all prisoners remain in custody. That's a relief to Mr Walker but he says it still doesn't explain how the decision was made and why victims weren't notified.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Local elections: voters head to the polls across England
Good morning. It's started. People are already voting in the 2025 local elections. They are England-only, and there are only around 1,600 council seats up for grabs (in some other years, there are more than 8,000 seats up for election in England alone), and so in some respects it's a minor set of local elections. But you will never find an election commentator say that any polling day does not matter, and this year there is plenty to get excited about. That is partly because it is Labour's first electoral test since the general election (and no governing party in modern times has seen its popularity collapse so quickly, as John Curtice pointed out this week). But mostly it is because two-party politics has collapsed, there are now five political parties that competitive in England and the rise of Reform UK means a realignment of the right is already happening. These elections will show how developed that process is. Today people are voting for: More than 1,600 councillors in 14 county councils, eight unitary authorities, one metropolitan council, and in the Isles of Scily. Six mayors – two of them are regional mayors where Labour won last time (West of England, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough), two of them are regional mayors where elections are being held for the first time (Greater Lincolnshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire), and two of them are single-authority mayors where Labour won last time (Doncaster, and North Tyneside). One MP – in Runcorn and Helsby, where there is a byelection. Here is Peter Walker's morning preview story. And, in his First Edition briefing, Archie Bland sets out what would count as a good result for all the main parties. On polling day itself not a lot normally happens. But we've always got dogs at polling stations. A dog walker passing a polling station in Runcorn, Britain, this morning. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA And there may be some non-election politics too. Here is the agenda for the day. 9.30am: Jonathan Reynolds, business secretary, takes questions in the Commons. After 10.30am: Lucy Powell, leader of the Commons, takes questions on next week's Commons business. 11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing. Noon: John Swinney, Scotland's first minister, takes questions from MSPs. If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can't read all the messages BTL, but if you put 'Andrew' in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word. If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @ The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary. I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can't promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog. Share
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Broad Arrow Auctions Offers Historic 1954 Jaguar D-Type 'OKV 2' Set for Auction at Amelia Island
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A significant piece of motorsport history, the 1954 Jaguar D-Type 'OKV 2,' is set to cross the auction block at The Amelia Auction in March 2025. With an estimated value between $6.5 million and $8.5 million, this factory Works competition car represents one of the most storied Jaguar race cars ever built. As the lead car in Jaguar's 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans entry, 'OKV 2' was driven by Stirling Moss and Peter Walker, setting the fastest lap of the race before mechanical issues forced its retirement. Despite its early exit, the D-Type would go on to compete in top-tier European races from 1954 to 1958, with legendary drivers including Mike Hawthorn, Tony Rolt, Ivor Bueb, and Norman Dewis behind the wheel. The D-Type's revolutionary design, developed by Malcolm Sayer and Bill Heynes, featured aircraft-inspired aerodynamics, a monocoque chassis, and an advanced braking system. Its engineering advancements helped secure Jaguar's dominance at Le Mans throughout the 1950s. 'OKV 2' played a key role in developing this success, continuing its competition career with privateer teams such as Ecurie Broadhead, where it earned podium finishes at circuits like Silverstone, Goodwood, and Aintree. After spending time in North America, the car underwent a meticulous restoration by Lynx Engineering in the late 1970s and has since been campaigned in historic racing events, including the Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic. With extensive documentation, period race records, and ownership by renowned Jaguar expert Terry Larson, 'OKV 2' stands as one of the most important D-Types to remain in private hands. As it heads to auction without reserve, this Jaguar D-Type offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a true icon of endurance racing. Broad Arrow Group, Inc. ('Broad Arrow Group') and its subsidiaries, Broad Arrow Auctions, Broad Arrow Capital and Collectors Garage represent the collective vision of its founders, team members, and partners — to be the best advisor, marketplace, and financier for car collectors, with integrity, trust, and innovation. Broad Arrow Group is a holding company founded to develop and operate a portfolio of businesses and brands that address the needs of various segments of the collector car market and to transform the collector car industry. Learn more at
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Lincoln Cathedral hosts Luxmuralis light and sound show
Lincoln Cathedral will be illuminated later as part of a sound and light show exploring which runs until 15 February, takes visitors from the present day back to "the very beginning of everything", according to its projections include text from HG Wells' The Time Machine and the inner workings of director Peter Walker said the cathedral provided a "beautiful backdrop" for the show. He said: "It's a beautiful place to come anyway - it takes your breath away when you walk in."But with Luxmuralis we bring something quite unique."If you have never been to one of our shows before, I think you will be blown away."Mr Walker said cathedrals had a long-standing association with the arts, with stain glass windows and architecture bringing stories to life before the days of moving pictures."We call our work the stain glass windows of our time, and use it to tell these stories about the vast world around us," he added. Samantha Mellows, director of visitor experience, said it was an opportunity to see the cathedral in "a completely different way".She said visitors would be able to take a step back from thinking about the minutes and hours of their daily routine to explore "the whole timeline of our planet, and far beyond".Tickets are available from the cathedral's to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
