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Powys County Times
a day ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys man recieves British Empire Medal for chess club
A Welshpool man who has been using chess to help young people for decades received his British Empire Medal in the Powys town. After being listed among the New Years honours list at the end of 2024, Welshpool resident Steve Rigby received the British Empire Medal at a ceremony in The Westwood Park Hotel. Mr Rigby was presented with his British Empire Medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys, Tia Catherine Jones, in her role as the King's representative. He was recognised for his work as part of 3C's chess club in Oldham, having started the club with his friend Roy Williams as a way to give children in the area a chance to do something that would help give them opportunities. He's also taken the game to several corners of the world, listing Uzbekistan, Galveston and Texas as just some of the places he's played chess and gotten to know people through the game. At the time the honour was announced, he said: 'All this publicity isn't me. People are doing this as a gesture to me, I find it very flattering I am absolutely amazed. 'The first thing I thought was about all the people who aren't with us any longer since when we started in 1978 and I immediately thought of them and in a way it is for them. 'In 78 I was a teacher in Chadderton in Oldham, which is not the most fashionable part of the country and had quite a bit of deprivation. 'I always thought that if you give kids the opportunities if you give the families the opportunities they will take it. 'For me chess was a vehicle that allowed me to get to provide opportunities to socialise and learn how to play chess and develop friendships. 'I could take them to places they could experience different venues away from the estates. 'Me and Roy thought this would be a great vehicle to get them out of this academic isolation and get them out there. 'We have had children who have been enormously successful in the chess world but when you have children from quite poor homes and you can take them up and down the country and give them opportunities to see things beyond where they live it's a big thing – it matters.'
The Review Geek
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
MobLand – Season 1 Episode 9 'Beggar's Banquet' Recap & Review
Beggar's Banquet Episode 9 of Mobland starts with Eddie waking up to find Conrad lurking in his room. He wants to have a chat but we don't see the full context of this until later in the chapter. One thing's for sure though – it's not good news. Off the back of this, Eddie ignores Jan in the kitchen and heads outside with a coffee, asking the dog who's better off here. This is, of course, a metaphor for his own life where he feels trapped in a cage and used as a pet for the Harrigans. Elsewhere, Kevin has gone AWOL, determined to get revenge on Rigby for the abuse he suffered back in prison. He plays the role of a taxi driver, taking the guy back home. Kevin manages to work his way into Rigby's house, and eventually confronts him about the abuse. Rigby has had bad memory loss over the years and anything beyond 5 years back is a bit hazy. That doesn't really help Kevin get closure, who has been haunted by this abuse all season long. Rigby does apologize, after questioning if he actually imagined the whole thing, and tells him that he's found Jesus. This is enough for Kevin to get his gun out and, after breaking down crying, shoots the guy in the head. Conrad works with Harry to try and sort out an alliance with Jaime. Conrad is a bit of a loose cannon and jokes about putting a tommy gun in the bathroom before the meet, and it's hard to know if the guy is joking or not. Apparently he is, but either way, this doesn't look like it's going to be a particularly pleasant meet. First impressions are not great either. Seraphina is here to try and smooth things over and gets down to business in order to make a deal. Jaime has his own reasons for being here. He speaks plainly to Harry, ignoring Conrad completely here, and brings up how the earlier favour was for Kat, not for him. Conrad gives him four hours to come to a decision, but Jaime simply looks over at Harry and tells him he can understand why he wants to leave the Harrigans. This gets right under Conrad's skin back home, which isn't helped when Maeve questions him about Alice coming to dinner, warning him off doing anything silly. Alice though is actually buzzing given her undercover escapades. After the murder of those two officers last time out, Colin is now in charge of the case and he recognizes this excitement in Alice. He speaks to her plainly about how she's a risk-taker like him, and encourages her to try and plant evidence at the Harrigan house in exchange for securing a big promotion and a nice payday. Back at the estate, Maeve speaks to Gina and demands she leave Eddie alone. She threatens her badly, scathingly growling that she'll eat her eyeballs, and scares Gina into running away. Bella meets with Antoine and organizes traffic here with the Home Secretary. As the group begin talking, we can see that Antoine is wearing a camera on his tie. Something big is about to go down and it actually comes from this dinner at the Harrigan estate. Colin has bugged Alice's phone and speaks to Richie about the current plan, including a tactical team nearby ready to swoop in as soon as Alice has planted the evidence. Richie agrees that Harry is unhappy and it seems like he's not going to get caught in the crossfire here, which is at least something. Jaime agrees to the Harrigan deal but only after confirmation that Harry has got the rat out the house. Harry knows who this is and works to resolve the situation before it gets messy. He also has to meet Kat the following day at 5pm too in order to make good on his favour. The dinner goes ahead that night, minus Gina who's 'not feeling well'. Maeve is a complete loose cannon and speaks about the 'fragility' of marriage, likening it to an egg. It's also worth noting that she grabs Eddie's thigh here, who looks very uncomfortable. As for Seraphina, she gets right to the crux of the issue. She questions Alice's motives, and why she's not feeling a bit scared, given where she is, but it's Maeve who forces Alice's uncomfortableness to flyoff the Richter scale and leave the table. Then, everything kicks off. Conrad questions Maeve and things get hostile between them, while Harry slips away and catches up to Alice, who's busy bagging up 'evidence' to plant across the house. The façade slips here, as Alice knows the game is up. She reveals what's happening, and Harry lets her go. He doesn't tell Conrad either, as he and Maeve wind up at loggerheads… until the police show up. Maeve and Conrad are both arrested, although they wind up singing as they're taken out, laughing all the while as they're bundled into police cars. The Episode Review So it looks like the time of the Harrigans is coming to an end and the final scenes really sum up the absolute chaos that both Maeve and Conrad have caused here. The pair deserve each other, and while they're not entirely evil personified, they're pretty close to being the devil's minions given their cold, calculated and sociopathic tendencies. It's interesting that Harry decided to let Alice leave without much fuss either, especially as he's always been relatively loyal to Conrad. However, even he can see that the pair have been coming apart at the seams for a while. While yes, Freddie was one of the moles, it would appear there could be another inside that house working alongside him. We'll have to wait and see if these charges actually stick for Conrad and Maeve though, leaving things wide open for the finale next week. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Upper Highway resident to complete her 23rd Comrades
WHEN Jen Rigby first watched the Comrades Marathon race on TV, she said, 'These people must be completely nuts.' Little did she know that she will try it and completely fall in love with the ultimate human race. This year, she will be running her 23rd Comrades. Speaking to the Highway Mail, Rigby said she first heard about the Comrades when she was staying in England. 'I grew up in North Rhodesia and Zimbabwe and travelled back and forth to the UK. I ran my first race in 1997 when we moved to South Africa.' Growing up, Rigby participated in athletics, track and field athletics. 'I was introduced to running by my au pair from Norway.' Moving to South Africa, she first joined the Savages Club. Also read: Comrades runner's pink hair attracts fans 'I met people there who became my running friends. From the Savages Club, I registered with the Kingfisher Canoe Club. I joined the club as they did running and paddling. I enjoy paddling.' She is currently with the Kearsney Striders Club where she has been a member for the past two decades. The Assagay resident said the race would not be what it is if it was not for the camaraderie and the people on the sides of the roads. 'Preparing for the Comrades is hard work, and to run the race one has to be mentally prepared. For me, the crowds make the race, the cheer and the support is amazing. 'It is a life-changing moment, it humbles you and on the day everyone is the same.' She said her highlight over the years was running both the up run and the down run in the same time of nine hours and 30 minutes. Having the double green number, Rigby said she enjoys running and wishes to continue participating in the race. 'I am looking forward to being part of the race in 2027 as it will be a milestone, celebrating a 100 years.' To prepare for the race, the Upper Highway runner trains during the week and twice on weekends. Rigby is a fitness fanatic as besides running, she enjoys cycling and mountain biking with her husband. Also read: Local nutritionist shares race-ready diet tips ahead of Comrades Marathon 'I also do spinning and weights at the gym.' She also enjoys swimming in the sea. 'I used to do triathlon, I have also taken part in a few Ironman Triathlons.' An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation. It consists of a 3.9km swim, a 180.2km bicycle ride and a 42.2km marathon run. It is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world. Rigby encouraged children to get involved in sport. 'It is a wonderful way of life and to keep out of trouble. Running is a way of destressing and it clears one's mind – people should try it.' For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Think you can do better?' The player who turned referee
Wheelchair rugby league player Adam Rigby has got used to being a trailblazer since taking up the sport as a teenager. And the two-time World Cup winner will create more history on Saturday when he becomes the first person to referee a senior international from a wheelchair. He will achieve that honour when he takes charge of the match between Scotland and Wales at the three-team Celtic Cup tournament in Cardiff, which also features Ireland. However, the 32-year-old told BBC Sport that his route into refereeing opened up by accident. "I was at a competition over in Hull and was challenging a decision that had been made in a game I was watching," he said. "One of the lead referees overheard me and said: 'If you think you can do any better, why don't you give it a go?' "It stuck with me and the following day I signed up to do the wheelchair officiating course. "I had already refereed some friendly games at my club Wigan Warriors, so the interest was there. This was just the push I needed and it came at the right time for me." Rigby has been a pioneer of the wheelchair game, taking up the sport in 2006 and helping England win the inaugural 2008 World Cup in Australia and again on home territory in 2022. He also won the 2023 Grand Final with Wigan. He retired from England duty earlier this month but will still play in the Wheelchair Super League when the new season starts in June. He says his playing experience has helped him as a referee. "It has given me the insight into the game that not everyone has," he said. "I understand the rhythm of the game, the way the momentum can flip, the tactics and probably the little 'dark arts' that players used to try and gain an advantage. "That experience helps massively, especially when making decisions under pressure. "Refereeing has taught me to be a better communicator, how to manage situations and personalities out on court, and how to keep control and calm but deliver your message in a firm way. "It has also made me reflect more on how I play the game - and might have calmed me down a bit. I'm sure some referees will hear that and say: 'It's about time!'" England wheelchair RL's Ashes tour set for autumn Dragons removed from Wheelchair Challenge Cup by RFL Rigby, who was born with the hereditary condition familial spastic diplegia and has been a wheelchair user since his teens, has also had to learn about on-court positioning and how it differs for officials in a chair compared to those standing. As well as refereeing Saturday's opening match, he will be part of the in-goal team for the other two games on the day, in which Ireland take on first Scotland and then Wales. He is keen to send out a message that there is a place for wheelchair users in every aspect of the sport. "I'm excited to give back to the game in a whole new way and hopefully I'm going to inspire some others to take up the whistle as well," he admitted. "It's about showing there are opportunities on and off the court and finding the right one for you. "Over the two decades I've been involved, rugby league has given me so much - structure, friendships, pride in pulling the shirts on and some of the best memories that you can really ask for. "To me, it is more than just a sport and it means the world to me."
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Millionaire bought entire village to turn it into a spa town before it backfired
The swan fountain and the Mistley Towers are the only remaining physical reminders of an ambitious plan to turn the town of Mistley into a saltwater spa in the 18th century At first glance, the charming riverside town of Mistley in Essex might not seem particularly remarkable. However, two enduring symbols of an ambitious yet ultimately failed 18th-century project to transform the town into a saltwater spa still exist - the swan fountain and the Mistley Towers. According to English Heritage, Richard Rigby's father accumulated significant wealth and influence when he was appointed Paymaster General of the Forces by George III in 1786. Back then, the village of Mistley consisted of warehouses, a granary, a malting office, quays and a medieval church - only the porch of which survives to this day. There was also a more recent church, built to the north of the village in 1735 at the request of Rigby's father. However, when Rigby dreamt up his grand plan to turn Mistley into a fashionable spa, the simple brick structure of the church didn't fit with his vision. Initially, Rigby commissioned Robert Adam to design a saltwater bath by the river, but this idea never materialised. Instead, the architect was assigned to work on the church around 1776, reports Essex Live. In a departure from the norm, Adam's design broke away from the traditional 18th-century parish church blueprint, featuring towers at both the east and west ends and semi-circular porticoes to the north and south. It's been suggested that Adam may have drawn inspiration from Roman tombs, giving the structure an unusual flair. Regrettably, Rigby's grand plans to turn Mistley into a bustling spa destination never came to fruition. The central part of the church was demolished in 1870, making way for a newer, trendier place of worship nearby. Despite the original plans falling through, the remaining towers found a new purpose as a "seamark" and were sold off to local families who had aspirations of converting them into opulent mausoleums. Yet, this idea too did not take hold, and over time, the towers were left to deteriorate. It wasn't until the 1950s that the towers saw a revival, thanks to architect Raymond Erith and the efforts of the Georgian Group, who meticulously restored them. The surrounding churchyard is peppered with monuments dating from the early to mid-18th century, including an eye-catching polished black granite mausoleum in the Egyptian style, erected in memory of the Norman family.
