Latest news with #SSGreatBritain
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Radio Somerset presenters launch epic flag challenge
Four BBC Radio Somerset presenters are putting their friendship aside to celebrate Somerset Day with an unusual Charlie Taylor, morning host Simon Parkin and afternoon presenters Andy Bennett and Mel Everett will be pitting their flag-raising skills against each other in a celebration of all things winner, after three weeks of displaying the flags far and wide, will be crowned the king or queen of the public has also been asked to get involved to suggest places that the presenters could visit. Between now and Somerset Day on 11 May, the team will have to get their Somerset flags in front of the biggest group of people they can – anywhere in the will be looking for who can fly the flag in the most places, how far away it is, and how many people can get their eyes on the flag in the location it's in. Mel Everett, who can usually be heard on Charlie Taylor's show and is currently presenting on afternoons, got proceedings under way by flying her flag on the SS Great Britain in Bristol, just an hour or so after the challenge Charlie ran one of his flags up the flagpole at (the empty) county cricket ground in who has an idea for a location for the presenters to fly the flag from can use the links below to send their suggestions Simon ParkinSupport Mel EverettSupport Andy BennettSupport Charlie Taylor
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Retiree who was 'careful with pension' wins £1m on scratchcard
A retired sailor says he can enjoy his "independence and freedom" after winning £1m on a National Lottery scratchcard. Alan Wilcock's life changed forever after he bought the winning scratchcard from his local Co-op on Coronation Road, 75-year-old celebrated the win on the SS Great Britain, one of the city's most famous landmarks and a fitting location considering his 15 years of experience in the Merchant Navy."I've gone from being careful with my pension to having choices I never thought I'd have again," he said. "Retaining my freedom and independence is priceless." Mr Wilcock now plans to buy a new mobility scooter and throw a party for his said: "It's not just about what I can buy, it's also about ensuring I can continue to enjoy my independence and freedom to live life on my own terms." Mr Wilcock said he was left shaking after he discovered the win. He headed back to the shop as fast as he could and was told to call the National Lottery to collect his winnings.A son of one of his friends had to find the details, as Mr Wilcock does not have a said the scratchcard did not leave his side until he received the £1m for future plans, Mr Wilcock has said he is still finalising his wishlist but a celebration is on the cards."I know that I want to use the winnings to enjoy life, and that starts with a party for my friends," he said."I'll hire a place, put my card behind the bar and simply say to everyone 'Enjoy'."It'll be a great night and we'll be raising a few glasses of Guinness, toasting the win and my friends."
BBC News
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Free Stratford-upon-Avon festival aims to make Shakespeare fun
Children are being invited to get to know Shakespeare's women, from Titania the queen of the fairies, to the ruthless Lady Macbeth, during free events this primary schools' programme culminates in a free festival in Stratford-upon-Avon on 29 and 30 is part of Shakespeare Week, which is estimated to reach about two million children across the UK with resources on its website and a series of events in other parts of the countryThe festival itself will take place in Henley Street, where the playwright spent his childhood years. The annual festival is organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, with events outside Stratford starting on 24 include an exhibition by children at Barnsley Library, a poetry event with the children's author Michael Rosen in London and a street dance on Bristol's SS Great Britain. Performances, workshops and crafts, enabling costume and puppet making using recycled materials, will also be taking place in manager Sally Gray described the final weekend as "not one to miss"."We can't wait to welcome families back to Henley Street for more fun," she can have their face painted like a magical creature from the Forest of Arden, and make accessories such as a wand for Titania or a staff for the magician will also be a performance inspired by Lady Macbeth, billed as Shakespeare's "most fearsome woman". School activities include a day of workshops for Warwickshire pupils and there will be online daily broadcasts from authors and online exhibition, Are Ye Fantastical, includes a chance to meet the spirit Ariel, the jester Feste and Bottom, who magically gets a donkey's aim of the week is to give children their first experience of the dramatist's stories and language, and make his works accessible.''It is important for us to make Shakespeare fun," Ms Gray stressed. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Money trap' bus lane must be improved after more than £1m fines in six months, judge rules
A 'money trap' bus lane must be improved after drivers were fined well over £1million in six months, a tribunal judge has ruled. Bristol city council made £7,400 a day from the section of Cumberland Road between Jan 1 and May 14 last year. The lane, known as a bus gate, offers buses, bicycles and taxis access to a section of Cumberland Road that is closed to other vehicles. If a car goes through the bus gate, the driver is given a penalty charge notice (PCN) at a cost of £35. This doubles after two weeks. Some drivers have blamed Google Maps for still directing banned vehicles along the road despite the words 'Bus Gate' in white lettering on the ground, blue signs displaying the restricted access, and a 'bus lane camera' warning. Residents argue it is not clear enough and claim it has become a means of financial gain for the council. Mackenzie Robinson, the adjudicator, has ruled more needs to be done to make the gate clearer to drivers. A large proportion of fines were given to drivers turning left from Gas Ferry Road, away from the SS Great Britain, Aardman Animation, creators of Wallace & Gromit, and the Floating Harbour. Mr Robinson said too many drivers are still getting caught out. He added: 'I must look at the situation as a whole and I am concerned that little use has been made of road markings diverting drivers towards the council's preferred alternative route. 'There are a number of possible measures that can be employed, such as directional arrows, wording on the road surface, broken white lines to delineate the route intended for the main traffic flow and so on. 'It is for the council, with its detailed local knowledge and expertise, to decide what specific measures should be put in place.' Steven Dickson, a 64-year-old property owner who has lived on the Cumberland Road for 25 years described the bus gate as a 'money trap' and a 'cash cow'. He told The Telegraph: 'It's a money trap. The local community said they don't want it… It's a cash cow. 'The thing that I take issue with is that when people sign a petition to say they don't want it, the council should listen. Instead, they just tick the boxes and do what they want. 'I really take issue with it. Buses are so infrequent, it's not like the city centre. If you don't know the area, you would drive straight through it.' He said the 'outrageous' bus gate added an extra 25 minutes to his commute. 'We've been charged lots of times,' said Mr Dickson. 'We've probably paid £600 in fines by now because if I take the time out of my day to do a half-an-hour trip to go home, it's too costly in time. 'It comes down to this: do you pay a fine or do you save time? We went on holiday to Cornwall once, and then came back and found we had a huge fine.' Last year, more than 1,000 people signed a petition asking the council to remove the bus gate, saying that it negatively impacted the local economy, and the lives and livelihoods of residents and businesses. John Smith, the council's interim executive director of growth and regeneration, previously said the bus gate would achieve elements of the wider transport policy aspirations of their overall transport strategy. Matt Sanders, an art director who lives nearby, spent months investigating the bus gate. He compiled a 150-page document outlining all the problems with the signage. Commenting on the judge's ruling, he said: 'I am very happy with this decision but these are issues that I have raised time and time again over the past 10 months.' He said that none of the adjudicators had actually come to see the bus gate. They were working remotely, he added, so could not physically see how the signs were confusing given the layout. Mr Sanders told how the 'bus gate is on an island, which is extremely narrow' and the 'signs do not warn you at the beginning of the road'. He said: 'You inevitably end up crossing the bus gate.' The Telegraph has contacted Bristol city council for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
