Latest news with #SongsofPraise
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Rolex thief who threatened to behead Aled Jones with machete seen for first time
Zacariah Boulares, 18, can be named and pictured for the first time after he was convicted of snatching a phone from Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour - he'd previously targeted Aled Jones This is the face of the machete criminal who threatened to behead singer Aled Jones during a terrifying Rolex robbery. Zacariah Boulares, 18, can finally be named and pictured nearly two years on from the attack, after being convicted of a further offence against Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour. He is a serial phone thief and one of the most dangerous young criminals in London. His full offending can be revealed for the first time today. Welsh baritone Jones, 54, was attacked in Chiswick, West London, in July 2023 by the feral youth, and threatened with a 20-inch blade. Jones was told: "Give me your f***king Rolex or I will cut your arm off." The terrified Walking in the Air icon, who presents Songs of Praise and a show on Classic FM, handed over his £17,000 Daytona. But when the singer followed his robber down the street, the youth taunted him: "Walk the other way or I will cut your head off." The teenager was repeatedly late to his court case at Ealing Magistrates' Court when he appeared in October that year. He had been due to stand trial for robbing Mr Jones at Wimbledon Youth Court, but pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. Chairman of the bench Rex Da Rocha told him his record was "appalling", adding: "Your actions are not acceptable. Pointing that machete at an innocent person is totally unacceptable." Boulares, who could not be named at the time due to his age, previously stole a gold Rolex watch worth £20,000 from a man in his 70s at Paddington station in west London, the court heard. He was handed a 24-month detention and training order. A DTO can be given to a youth aged between 12 and 17, and should mean they are in custody for the first half of the sentence, before being released to be supervised by the Youth Offending Team. But Boulares was freed just 14 months into the sentence and went on to commit a string of further offences. Boulares last week pleaded guilty to thieving from rising Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour, who says she was left concussed after fighting off the London phone snatcher while walking her dog. The Netflix actress - also a former Team GB artistic swimmer and model - was confronted while getting a coffee in Chelsea shortly before this year's Screen Actors Guild awards. She said: 'They didn't expect me to stand up for myself - but I did.' Miss Chenneour has appeared in five episodes of the Netflix hit's third series as rumourmonger Miss Clara Livingston. The robbery happened when Yorkshire-born Genevieve, 27, had stopped to grab a coffee at a branch of Joe & The Juice while out in West London with a friend on February 2. Boulares admitted assaulting another customer during the incident. Speaking last month, Miss Chenneour said: "I was left with a concussion just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards and since then, I've felt constantly on edge. Even my dog was traumatised - now, if anyone touches me, he panics and tries to protect me. Getting a coffee shouldn't be something you need your wits about you for. "I'm so grateful to the staff at Joe & The Juice - they were incredible during the incident and when I went back to see them after." Court documents show he also pleaded guilty to snatching a bag from a woman named Netta O'Carroll at a branch of Five Guys in Chelsea on February 18. The bag contained various goods, including cash and gift cards. It happened just three days before his 18th birthday. Boulares will appear back for sentencing next week at Isleworth crown court. London has been plagued by feral muggers stealing mobile phones, many of them on bikes. A source said: 'Boulares is one of the worst young criminals in London. He has terrorised the capital for years now. He's finally old enough to be properly identified. He is a disgrace. Hopefully he can finally be properly jailed and dealt with. London's streets are safer with him in prison.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cumbria church to raise £500,000 to restore historic stained-glass windows
A CUMBRIAN church is to raise £500,000 in order to restore and repair its historic glass windows. A recent survey found that many of the windows at St Mary's Church in Wigton were in need of repair. The church has a number of historic stained-glass windows including three locally-designed windows donated by Wigton-raised broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and a 1926 William Morris window. One of the windows donated by Wigton native Melvyn Bragg (Image: Supplied) The clear glass windows in the church are the most in need of repair but the parish has already raised around £175,000 towards their target of £500,000. In order to raise more awareness and money the church is holding a series of free events of the weekend of June 6, 7 and 8. The clear glass windows are most in need of repair (Image: Supplied) On Friday, June 6, BBC antiques expert Paul Laidlaw will be valuing antiques and collectors' items, including jewellery, watches, militaria, and any antiques. There will also be an organ recital by David T Shingler on Friday, June 6. On Saturday, June 7, there will be a performance by the Border Concert Band and Sunday, June 8, at 3.30pm, there will be a Songs of Praise session hosted by two members of the Salvation Army. The fundraising weekend will end with a quiz night hosted by comedian and musician, Tom Elliott. St Mary's Wigton is run by the Reverend Richard Corrie who said that the fundraising effort was harbouring 'community spirit' in the town. Reverend Richard Corrie (Image: Supplied) 'Church buildings take a lot of upkeep,' said Rev'd Richard. 'A lot of fundraising is needed to keep church buildings going these days, so it is hard work. 'The church here at Wigton is at the heart of the town and the community is pulling together to help. READ MORE: Carlisle Castle to host UK Proms in the Park tour this July | News and Star 'A lot of the pubs have got our little collecting boxes in them, and people often pop into the church and just put the odd pound in our buckets. 'We're specifically putting these events on as most of them are 'non-churchy' because we want all the community to be involved, as the church building gets used by community groups and the schools all the time.' St Mary's will continue to raise money throughout the next year and donations can be made online.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'You might go to a show at the Windmill, fall in love and end up with a tattoo'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Charlie Steen has played a lot of 'strange' venues in his time. The lead singer of the post-punk band Shame credits the band's rise to fame with open mic nights in the London grassroots music scene, where the band would perform alongside acts such as 'a married hippy couple with a tambourine and a flute.' But one venue has captured the heart of the south Londoner – which is none other than the Windmill in Brixton. Speaking inside the venue, Charlie told Metro he doesn't know 'where we would be without the community' who gave them 'love and support.' Shame formed in 2014 by five mates in their mid-teens – Charlie, Eddie Green, Sean Coyle-Smith, Josh Finerty and Charlie Forbes. After playing in pubs like the Queen's Head in Brixton, the band rose in popularity with their debut album Songs of Praise in 2018 and tracks 'One Rizla' and 'Concrete.' Charlie has joined the likes of Billy Bragg and Skunk Anansie to voice his support for London's grassroots scene as part of the launch of the London Grassroots Music Tube Map. The map is part of a new campaign that Metro has launched alongside the Mayor of London, Transport for London and organisations including the Music Venue Trust, Featured Artist Coalition, Outernet and Universal Music. Ticketing app DICE has put together a list of their 25 grassroots artists you need to see in London over the next six months. With tickets ranging from free to £27.50, these shows will ensure a great night to suit all tastes and budgets. Click HERE to catch the full list. It will be screened for a month at the Outernet London, the largest digital exhibition space in Europe. The interactive display of the map will be shown in the Arcade space, which links the nightclub to The Lower Third grassroots music venue on Denmark Street. Charlie, who hails from south London, praised the now-closed Queen's Head, where he sneaked in as a 15-year-old to see bands such as King Krule and Childhood, and the Windmill for allowing them to practice for free and hold their gigs. Named after the nearby historic flour mill, the Windmill Brixton sits on a quaint road of Blenheim Gardens in the bustling London neighbourhood. It was voted London's third best music venue in a 2012 Time Out poll. Bands like Bloc Party, The Vaccines and Hot Chip have played there and it has been a breeding ground for new punk and rock talent since the 1990s, such as Fat White Family and Black Midi. Windmill's booker Tim Perry described it as 'a classic dive bar' that hosts live music every night of the week. Tim said: 'We're very proud of being south London and we try to be good to bands from the area and somewhere they can come and play at short notice, play a lot and with each gig their confidence grows and they get better. 'The music industry really needs to look into its grassroots, and not just grassroots venues, but right down into how we're getting eight-year-old kids into music.' Venues like the Windmill are always buzzing with creatives of all kinds, enabling an ecosystem where people find each other in the heady mix of live tunes, sticky floors and smoke machines. Charlie said: 'When we came to the Windmill, this was the first place we were given the opportunity to put on our own nights. It worked perfectly. 'When we would go and do open mic nights in independent pubs and venues over London, we would always be paired with something that was a little bit strange – like a married hippy couple with a tambourine and a flute – and we would go on to play to no one. He said the community wasn't driven by 'any fame or any kind of achievement, apart from doing what you loved and having a deep passion for it, and that was the like-mindedness of the people.' Charlie continued: 'I can't imagine without the community we had around us being where we would be today. 'There have been a lot of people who didn't need to go out of their way to help, but they did, and they helped not only us but so many other people. 'It's the selflessness that a lot of people in this community have and just a willingness to help you for the love of it. 'We just had the mentality that we just want to play.' And they played – a lot and 'anywhere' they could, including a hat-trick of three gigs in one night. Charlie said: 'We had the idea to do three gigs – one in central London, one in east London and one in south London, where we'd finish it. We got a coach and anyone who's bought a ticket for all three shows could come on the coach with us. 'It was just a real laugh. The shows weren't any good, but it was just a lot of fun. 'We always wanted to try something new and push ourselves. I don't remember much of that night, but it was fun.' As teenagers, finding their home in the grassroots scene was eye-opening for the band, who were exposed to 'all flavours' of life. 'The venues had people who seem to be like-minded in some way, in type of style of clothing, music, and mentality, which I hadn't really been exposed that much because I was still in school, where people are insecure and only want to wear logo-branded hoodies and not show much of an identity or individualism, Charlie said. 'And this was the opposite of that.' 'There was a lack of judgment in these environments, and that was so important.' But venues, many of which closed down during the coronavirus pandemic, could do with more support, Charlie said. He criticised the pressure that gentrification was putting on venues that are part of the London DNA, while people are being 'forced out' by luxury developments. 'I've just come from Brixton Hill Studios, which is a very important place because there aren't many places to practice either,' he said. 'It feels like space is getting smaller – even though f****** things are being built left, right and centre, it seems everything else is getting crowded and people are not able to find these spaces.' He said grassroots venues are 'massively important' in cultivating 'something good' for the future. More Trending 'It is about the continuation of people having a good time, inspiring people and being able to escape into a safe environment where they feel good and inspired and passionate, and I don't think you can ever undervalue that,' Charlie said. We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO. But there's also plenty of emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch, and you could be there to watch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. 'You might go to a show and you might hate it or love it, meet someone who's going to be your partner in the future, you might end up with a tattoo, you might get something out of it. Even if you don't enjoy it, at least we've learned that. 'Always be open to new experiences, and it's important for the soul sometimes to go out and have fun.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Mayor and musicians launch map of London's grassroots venue 'crown jewels' MORE: Teenagers laughed after killing pensioner by torching his home with fireworks MORE: Metro goes onboard UK's 'Fighting Clan' warship tasked with deterring Putin's subs
Rhyl Journal
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Only Men Aloud to perform final tour date in Llandudno
The eight-piece group, who have performed at the Royal Variety Performance and the London 2012 Olympics, will perform at Venue Cymru on October 31. This will be the final date of their four-date tour across Wales. The group, who were founded by Tim Rhys-Evans, are now an eight-piece group whose day jobs include pharmacy, teaching, and gardening. They will be performing in Cardiff, Aberystwyth, and Swansea before the finale in Llandudno. Craig Yates, an original member of the group and now creative director of the Aloud Charity, said: "This is a celebration tour. "We've had a wonderful time with OMA, which has really evolved over the last 25 years." The group first performed for BBC Songs of Praise at St David's Cathedral in 2000, but it was their appearance on the 2008 BBC One show Last Choir Standing that brought them national fame. They remain the reigning champions of that talent show. Their success led to a tour of America and supporting Diana Ross at Cardiff Castle. Mr Yates said: "We're all adults now, with the range of family responsibilities which come with that. "We've all got jobs and OMA is a hobby – but what a hobby to have. "We've known each other so long that we can drop very easily back into song as it's tough to get everyone together for rehearsals. "We get on so well and went through so many surreal moments together. "It's only when you stop and take stock that you realise what an amazing time it has been. "There are far too many highlights. "For the final of Last Choir Standing, the film crew visited the hometowns of the finalist choirs and we were all speed boated in to Cardiff Bay. "We kept looking at each other in disbelief. "We also realised then that we had fans, because there was a bit of a crowd waiting to see us." The tour will feature anecdotes from their career, alongside their favourite traditional choral arrangements and upbeat adaptations. Only Boys Aloud will open the tour in Cardiff on Saturday, September 27. Mr Yates said: "It's been amazing and we are thankful that people still really enjoy listening to and seeing us. "It's lovely to be back." Tickets for the tour are on sale now. For more information, visit
North Wales Chronicle
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Only Men Aloud to perform final tour date in Llandudno
The eight-piece group, who have performed at the Royal Variety Performance and the London 2012 Olympics, will perform at Venue Cymru on October 31. This will be the final date of their four-date tour across Wales. The group, who were founded by Tim Rhys-Evans, are now an eight-piece group whose day jobs include pharmacy, teaching, and gardening. They will be performing in Cardiff, Aberystwyth, and Swansea before the finale in Llandudno. Craig Yates, an original member of the group and now creative director of the Aloud Charity, said: "This is a celebration tour. "We've had a wonderful time with OMA, which has really evolved over the last 25 years." The group first performed for BBC Songs of Praise at St David's Cathedral in 2000, but it was their appearance on the 2008 BBC One show Last Choir Standing that brought them national fame. They remain the reigning champions of that talent show. Their success led to a tour of America and supporting Diana Ross at Cardiff Castle. Mr Yates said: "We're all adults now, with the range of family responsibilities which come with that. "We've all got jobs and OMA is a hobby – but what a hobby to have. "We've known each other so long that we can drop very easily back into song as it's tough to get everyone together for rehearsals. "We get on so well and went through so many surreal moments together. "It's only when you stop and take stock that you realise what an amazing time it has been. "There are far too many highlights. "For the final of Last Choir Standing, the film crew visited the hometowns of the finalist choirs and we were all speed boated in to Cardiff Bay. "We kept looking at each other in disbelief. "We also realised then that we had fans, because there was a bit of a crowd waiting to see us." The tour will feature anecdotes from their career, alongside their favourite traditional choral arrangements and upbeat adaptations. Only Boys Aloud will open the tour in Cardiff on Saturday, September 27. Mr Yates said: "It's been amazing and we are thankful that people still really enjoy listening to and seeing us. "It's lovely to be back." Tickets for the tour are on sale now. For more information, visit
