Latest news with #SandersCoaches
ITV News
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Lionesses star Lauren Hemp presented with bus named after her in Norfolk hometown of North Walsham
Hundreds of fans serenaded Lioness Lauren Hemp with a rendition of Happy Birthday to give her a homecoming to remember. The winger, a key member of England's double Euros-winning team, was returning to North Walsham in Norfolk, where she grew up, as a local bus company named a vehicle after her. She was the overwhelming choice in a public competition to name the new bus, even before her starring role in the Lionesses' Euro2025 victory, said Charles Sanders of Sanders Coaches. Hemp cut the ribbon and was presented with a Lego kit of a double-decker bus in recognition of her favourite hobby away from the football pitch, which she documented on social media throughout the tournament. "Coming here and seeing so many people here is just unbelievable," she told ITV News Anglia. "It's so nice to see my home town supporting me as much as this. "It's only when you come back that you realise how much of a difference it's made." Two days before her 25th birthday, the crowd was encouraged to sing Happy Birthday to Hemp, and she was presented with gifts from the crowd after being introduced by North Walsham's town crier. Reflecting on the tournament win, Hemp said she was relieved that her team-mates managed to win the shoot-out before she was due to take a penalty. "Standing there in the penalty shoot-out was very nerve-racking. We managed to get the job done before I had to take a penalty, so that was a bonus. "After that long six weeks of preparing for it, it finally made the difference and we were able to lift the trophy."
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hundreds celebrate Lionesses star Lauren Hemp in North Walsham
Hundreds of people have flooded the streets of England football star Lauren Hemp's home town to welcome her 24-year-old has won her second European Championship title with the Lionesses to cement her place as the Norfolk town of North Walsham's most famous sporting star.A huge mural already celebrates the forward in the town and Sanders Coaches has now unveiled a bus named after a long queue of people waited to meet her, Hemp said: "I don't think I'll ever get used to it - it's so weird to see. It's such an honour and I'm so grateful." Hemp was a key player as England reached the final of Euro 2025 in Switzerland and retained their crown by beating Spain in a penalty shootout on July her home town packed out for her return, as it was three years ago after she won her first Euros medal, Hemp continued: "It's unbelievable. There's so many people here that I used to go to school with."It's nice coming back and seeing everyone and nice seeing all the support I've got back home."When you're in the tournament, I feel like you don't necessarily see it as much. It's not until you get back here and see everyone supporting me. It's been incredible."She plays professionally for Manchester City but started out playing with boys teams at North Walsham Town joined Norwich City's Centre of Excellence at 10 years old, but it was disbanded five years then returned to her hometown club and was again playing alongside boys until joining Bristol City at 16. Following the Lionesses' success, North Walsham Town has been inundated with youngsters wanting to play football and has appealed for more coaches to get appeal was echoed by Hemp, who added: "The women's game is growing and we need coaches to come and help that growth. It's so important and obviously I'd encourage it so much."I started out somewhere and there were many amazing coaches along the journey to get me where I am today." North Walsham's Market Place was shut between 10:00 and 14:00 on Tuesday for the celebration event, and the single-decker bus named after her was unveiled at 11: Sanders, managing director of Sanders Coaches, said Hemp had been chosen after a competition asking which local person should be honoured."So we asked through her mother whether it was something she would like to have done and she agreed," he said."Obviously we have had to wait until now for her to come back to Norfolk to actually do it, and in between times they've gone and won the Euros again, so it's absolutely brilliant." Hemp was also presented with a Lego bus, having become known as fan of the miniature bricks and being spotted with a Beauty and the Beast castle during England's title Miles, landlord of the King's Arms, was able to watch Hemp's homecoming from his pub."It's a great day for North Walsham. There's hundreds of people in town," he said."She's out there and the kids are all queuing up to have photographs. It's empty in here; everybody is outside." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lauren Hemp celebrates homecoming in North Walsham
England women's footballer Lauren Hemp will celebrate a homecoming in the town in which she grew up and unveil a coach named in her honour. Hemp, who was part of the victorious Lionesses who retained their European champions title last month, will visit Market Square, North Walsham, Norfolk, on Tuesday at 11:00 24-year-old winger won her second Euros medal in Switzerland after the Lionesses beat Spain in a penalty Walsham Town Council said some roads will be closed from 10:00 to 14:00 in anticipation of the public event adding, "crowd controlling and security measures will be in place for safety so your patience will be appreciated". Sanders Coaches, which is based in Holt, Norfolk, said it planned to dedicate one of its single-deck service buses to the footballer. The town council added on social media it was supporting Sanders Coaches "in celebrating our homegrown hero".Hemp started her career in Norfolk and first trained at the Norwich City Centre of Excellence as a currently plays for Manchester City in the Women's Super League. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- BBC News
A140 roadworks starting on major Norwich road at Hellesdon
The first phase of roadworks to improve a major route into Norwich for cyclists and pedestrians starts on Monday and is set to last until £2.2m upgrade will extend the "yellow pedalway" route along the A140 Holt Road between Middletons Lane in Hellesdon, and Broadland Northway, known locally as the Northern Distributor Plant, Norfolk County Council's Conservative cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, told BBC Radio Norfolk it would ultimately benefit "isolated communities that don't have safe cycling access to the city".Local people and business said they were expecting "quite a lot of disruption" but broadly welcomed the plans. Temporary traffic lights will be installed at the A140 junction with Amsterdam Way, by Norwich Airport, overnight on Sunday, They will start operating from Monday between 07:00 and 19:00 until mid-November while a new pedestrian and cycle crossing is installed."It will also improve public transport access to the airport and to community sports facilities at The Nest, enabling those who live nearby to safely walk or cycle there," said Douglass, Conservative member for Hellesdon South East on Broadland District Council, said residents were expecting "disruption" but that ultimately local people would benefit from being able to walk or cycle to the countryside."We have a real lack of green spaces in Hellesdon, so that is a positive," she said. Charles Sanders, managing director of Sanders Coaches, said of the potential disruption that: "We'll just have to see how it goes and hopefully passengers will bear with us."We're really hoping it won't get too bad."The work will include the upgrading and widening of traffic signals, islands and on the paths outside residential properties will be completed in early third and final phase linking the upgraded route to the Broadland Northway will happen next year, at a date to be announced. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
