Latest news with #RichardWood
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
VJ Day: WW2 signed flag is 'a piece of history'
The son of a Royal Navy officer who was imprisoned in a Japanese prisoner of war camp has described a flag signed by his father as a "piece of history".Richard Wood from Fordingbridge, Hampshire, spotted his father's name, also Richard, on the union flag when it was featured in a recent BBC TV news had served on HMS Exeter, which was sunk in the Java Sea, before being imprisoned by the Japanese in National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth allowed Mr Wood access to see the flag and is looking to trace family members of other men who signed it. The flag was in an airdrop of food supplies to those in Makassar Prisoner of War Camp in Indonesia by the Australian air force in September 1945 after the Japanese had contained British, American and Dutch servicemen. A large contingent were from the Plymouth-based HMS Exeter, as well as HMS Encounter and the USS Pope, which had all been sunk during the Battle of the Java Sea in March Wood said his father had never mentioned the flag."He very rarely spoke about anything of his time, which was a shame - but I understand they were told not to," he spotted his father's writing on the flag when it was featured on a BBC South Today report about objects held at the museum, and was invited to see it."It's a real piece of history and its a real privilege to see it - knowing he signed in as he knew the war was almost Wood Snr stayed in the Royal Navy until he retired in 1968, having reached the rank of lieutenant commander. He died in 2007, aged 93. Prisoners in the camp suffered dreadful conditions during their three years in captivity. They endured frequent beating, while Malaria and other diseases were Heppa, the museum's curator of artefacts, said the flag had been dropped as way of telling the prisoners, they "hadn't been forgotten".The museum is hoping to put the flag on public display and is appealing for information about other men who signed it."If we can collect as much supporting information about the individuals named on the flag, that would be wonderful," he added. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Global News
17-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
B.C. seniors' centre grapples with booming demand, tight budget
A seniors' centre on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast says it's struggling to stay afloat, despite surging membership. The Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre bills itself as a 'home away from home' to its community. For just $40 a year, members get access to a place to come socialize or play a game, to take an inexpensive class or to get a meal. 'Everything is fairly low cost … things like yoga classes, fitness classes,' centre president Richard Wood explained. It's been a major hit. 4:30 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Wood said the activity centre's membership has surged to 2,000, doubling in three years. Story continues below advertisement One of the most popular services it provides is food — both hot lunches and frozen meals to go. Head cook Emily McPherson started freezing meals more than a decade ago on the request of one client who had come to rely on the centre. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'In 2013 when we used to close the centre for lunch over the summer, one of the guests who was coming every single day for food, she said, 'Well, what am I gonna eat?'' she said. Demand for the service surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and has become even greater amid the rising cost of living, Wood said. 'There might be a single pensioner on a pension that isn't rising, food prices are rising astronomically, they can't afford to go buy all the ingredients to make a recipe,' he said. 'With our frozen foods, we've got probably 25 different recipes.' Income disparity has become a real issue for seniors, not only on the Sunshine Coast but across the country. Retirement for some means just scraping by, and a recent report from B.C.'s seniors advocate found that one in four British Columbian seniors' incomes are below the poverty line. The centre operates on a budget of about $650,000 and just broke even last year. Story continues below advertisement They own their building, but still have to deal with property taxes and the cost of maintenance and upkeep. 3:21 B.C. seniors waiting for years for affordable housing 'The big deal is that we receive no guaranteed yearly funding, we don't have any government handouts, etc. … we have to raise all the money ourselves,' Wood said. 'All the volunteers we have are the only reason this place works at all,' Added McPherson. 'That's a huge cost savings that we're able to pass on as food savings for our membership.' Lunch is typically packed, with hot meals going for $12 and frozen dinners priced at $6 to $8. Last month, they sold nearly 2,500 of the frozen meals, but the rising cost of food has forced them to get creative to cover the bills. Story continues below advertisement They've recently started trying to run monthly online 50-50 draws, with half the purse going to cover their food program. But Wood admits there are challenges with the draw — including savvy online seniors fearing it could be a scam. But until they can secure a more stable source of funding, it's keeping the lights on — and members with tummies full and smiles on their faces. 'We just want to make it a joy to be here, and if somebody just needs to get out of their house because they are feeling lonely, they can come here,' he said. 'So if we can get people in here enjoying a $12 meal, but then meeting people and it turns into a conversation, that's what the seniors need.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wood rejoins Rotherham as first-team coach
Rotherham have appointed former defender Richard Wood as their first-team 39-year-old made 230 league appearances for the Millers between 2014 and 2023 and helped them to win promotion to the Championship three his retirement from playing earlier this month after helping Doncaster win the League Two title."I already know this is going to be a hugely popular appointment with the fans and so it should be, but, by the way, that isn't the reason we have handed Woody this contract," boss Matt Hamshaw told the club website., external"Woody will be the exact same type of coach that he was as a player – fully-committed and always wanting to be the best version of himself. We need that and that's exactly why he's here."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Defender Wood retires after Doncaster promotion
Richard Wood played his first English Football League game in 2003 [Getty Images] Doncaster Rovers defender Richard Wood has announced his retirement after winning promotion for the fifth time in his career. The 39-year-old made eight appearances as Rovers won the League Two title, the last against AFC Wimbledon on 12 April. Wood began his career at Sheffield Wednesday, where he played 174 league games, and later had a nine-year spell with Rotherham United before moving on to Doncaster in the summer of 2023. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "You must listen to your body and say stop at the right time," he said in a message on the club website. "I like to think I have been honest throughout my career. Honest about my limitations as a player and with every teammate and coach I have encountered along the way. "As much as it breaks my heart, I have had to take that same approach with this decision. Defying the odds and pushing these old bones through pre-season after pre-season is a challenge which I have relished but deep down I know it's time to leave that to the next generation – yes, and the one below that." Wood won his first promotion with Sheffield Wednesday in 2005 and went up three times from League One during his time at Rotherham, during which they also won the EFL Trophy in 2022. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement One of his most memorable games came in 2018, scoring both goals, including an extra-time winner, as they beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 in a play-off final at Wembley. "It has been a fairytale. I'm lost for the words to explain how privileged I feel to have enjoyed the career that I have," he added. "667 appearances for eight different clubs – no wonder I'm creaking! – and five promotions is a CV I could never have dreamed of writing as a fresh-faced 17yr old making my debut for Sheffield Wednesday back in 2003." Meanwhile, Doncaster have announced that Tom Anderson, Bobby Faulkner, Ian Lawlor, Joseph Olowu and Billy Sharp are in contract discussions with the club.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Richard Wood: Defender retires as player following Doncaster promotion
Doncaster Rovers defender Richard Wood has announced his retirement after winning promotion for the fifth time in his career. The 39-year-old made eight appearances as Rovers won the League Two title, the last against AFC Wimbledon on 12 April. Wood began his career at Sheffield Wednesday, where he played 174 league games, and later had a nine-year spell with Rotherham United before moving on to Doncaster in the summer of 2023. "You must listen to your body and say stop at the right time," he said in a message on the club website., external "I like to think I have been honest throughout my career. Honest about my limitations as a player and with every teammate and coach I have encountered along the way. "As much as it breaks my heart, I have had to take that same approach with this decision. Defying the odds and pushing these old bones through pre-season after pre-season is a challenge which I have relished but deep down I know it's time to leave that to the next generation – yes, and the one below that."
