Latest news with #RichardClegg
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
'VJ Day wasn't of any great consequence to us'
A 100-year-old World War Two veteran said VJ Day did not seem to be of any "great consequence" at the time, even though he was serving in the Pacific. Richard Clegg, from Bozeat, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was on board HMS Victorious on 15 August 1945 when Japan surrendered. Events to mark the 80th anniversary were held on Friday and over the weekend across the UK. Mr Clegg said the events were "for people who weren't there to remember it. People who were there I don't think make a fuss about it really". Victory over Japan Day commemorates the Japanese surrender that brought the war to a complete end. Mr Clegg said that 80 years ago, HMS Victorious was "delivering a load of American planes into the middle of the American Pacific Fleet". He told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos they "got halfway there to our destination" when they were stopped. 'No communication' "We didn't know what had happened, and the next day they then told us that the first atom bomb had been dropped [on Hiroshima], and then... three days later they dropped the second atom bomb [on Nagasaki] so they then said the fleet will disperse," Mr Clegg said. The bombs killed more than 200,000 people – some from the immediate blast and others from radiation sickness and burns – and led to Japan's surrender. Mr Clegg said HMS Victorious sailed to Brisbane and was then used to take Japanese prisoners of war home or to hospital. "[VJ Day] wasn't of any great consequence to us at the time because we were never directly involved with fighting the actual Japanese people," he said. The veteran also said VE Day – marking Victory in Europe – which happened earlier in the year, in May, was not celebrated in the Pacific because it "wasn't possible – there was no communication". The centenarian is the last of his friends from the services still alive, and he put his longevity down to "good fortune". He added: "I've always kept fit. You just learnt to look after yourself when you are in the navy." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related stories 80th VJ Day service is poignant moment for veteran VJ Day explained in 60 seconds Related internet links Royal Navy
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
'VJ Day wasn't of any great consequence to us', says Bozeat vet
A 100-year-old World War Two veteran said VJ Day did not seem to be of any "great consequence" at the time, even though he was serving in the Clegg, from Bozeat, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was on board HMS Victorious on 15 August 1945 when Japan to mark the 80th anniversary were held on Friday and over the weekend across the Clegg said the events were "for people who weren't there to remember it. People who were there I don't think make a fuss about it really". Victory over Japan Day commemorates the Japanese surrender that brought the war to a complete Clegg said that 80 years ago, HMS Victorious was "delivering a load of American planes into the middle of the American Pacific Fleet".He told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos they "got halfway there to our destination" when they were stopped. 'No communication' "We didn't know what had happened, and the next day they then told us that the first atom bomb had been dropped [on Hiroshima], and then... three days later they dropped the second atom bomb [on Nagasaki] so they then said the fleet will disperse," Mr Clegg bombs killed more than 200,000 people – some from the immediate blast and others from radiation sickness and burns – and led to Japan's Clegg said HMS Victorious sailed to Brisbane and was then used to take Japanese prisoners of war home or to hospital."[VJ Day] wasn't of any great consequence to us at the time because we were never directly involved with fighting the actual Japanese people," he veteran also said VE Day – marking Victory in Europe – which happened earlier in the year, in May, was not celebrated in the Pacific because it "wasn't possible – there was no communication".The centenarian is the last of his friends from the services still alive, and he put his longevity down to "good fortune".He added: "I've always kept fit. You just learnt to look after yourself when you are in the navy." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Massive solar farm in Shropshire gets green light at High Court
A huge solar farm near Shrewsbury will be built following a High Court International's plans to build a 30-megawatt solar farm on 44 hectares near the village of Berrington had drawn both objections and support from plans were refused on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate in March 2024. It followed Shropshire Council's decision not to grant permission for the solar farm in May 2023. But a subsequent Planning Inspectorate notice published this month confirmed the appeal decision was "quashed by order of the High Court".The company said the scheme could generate enough power for 7,000 homes per year over its anticipated 40-year lifespan. Planning inspector Richard Clegg also said residents' group Flour not Power had withdrawn its objections after concluding a legal agreement with the appellant over an enhanced landscaping plan and an updated traffic management plan."Several local residents have also withdrawn their objections to the proposed development since the quashing of the original appeal decision," the decision note from 2 May added."Whilst there is conflict with certain provisions, the proposal is consistent with important policies which support infrastructure development and complies with policy provisions concerning nature conservation, economic growth, heritage assets and minerals safeguarding. "I conclude that the proposed development would comply with the Development Plan considered as a whole."One of the conditions that the developers will have to comply with is the provision of an alternative habitat for breeding skylarks on land immediately to the north of the site."Natural England's standing advice on protected species and development makes clear that no more habitat should be lost than is replaced, and not that there should be no net loss of breeding pairs [of skylarks], as referred to in the original appeal decision," Mr Clegg said. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
