Latest news with #SouthGloucestershire
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
New Bristol arena 'could have larger capacity of 20,000'
The group behind a massive new music venue planned for Bristol says it is now planning for a maximum capacity of 20, YTL Arena is being created inside a hangar on the old Filton Airfield, with the latest estimates saying it could open in plans suggested it would be able to hold 17,000 fans, with that later increased to 19, a statement YTL Arena Chief Executive Andrew Billingham said increasing the capacity beyond even those numbers is "really important". Plans for the arena in Filton were first announced in 2018, with it set to be the centre point of the Brabazon development, which will also include 6,500 huge scheme has been much delayed, with the developers - Malaysian-owned YTL - initially saying it could be open by expected opening has already been pushed back by six years, and the idea to increase capacity will now require new planning permission from South Gloucestershire Council. Andrew Billingham, Chief Executive of YTL Arena, said: "We want to attract the biggest artists and events to Bristol, so increasing the capacity to 20,000 is really important to us."We'll achieved this by maximising the size of the floor of what will be our standing area, where concertgoers will be stood on the very same concrete where Concorde was built."The Filton arena was promoted as a more affordable alternative to a previously council-backed scheme next to Bristol Temple Meads railway was first proposed in 2003, but building work never started, and while the plan was resurrected in the 2010s, former city mayor Marvin Rees scrapped the construction is yet to begin on the Filton arena, work on a railway station to bring concert-goers to the venue is under brand new station, North Filton, is set open as an unstaffed station in late 2026, though this is set to be enlarged later when the arena nears hundreds of people have already bought and moved into new homes as part of the development, and there are plans for schools, student accommodation and sports facilities.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Medical trial for penis cancer 'gave me two more years'
A man who was the first to take part in a medical trial for penile cancer says it may have extended his life by two years. Eddie Baker, 83, was given immunotherapy alongside the usual treatment of chemotherapy as part of the clinical trial, named treatment was found to have extended the predicted lifespans of more than half of the participants in the study, which was carried out by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Baker, from Yate, South Gloucestershire, said: "All I can say is, it is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me because I know if I hadn't had that, I would not be on this planet to this day." Mr Baker told the BBC his cancer had been caught late because it took over a year for him to come forward with his symptoms. The NHS says symptoms can include bleeding, a rash, a lump or growth, and a change in skin colour."It didn't look very good," Mr Baker said. "The actual swelling got bigger and bigger and then I was trying to get somewhere to get my life sorted out and find out what it was. It was too late."He had to have an amputation and has been left with incurable cancer. Consultant oncologist and chief investigator of the EPIC study, Professor Amit Bahl, said the stigma around such symptoms often leads to late said: "In cancers like these, there is no support system, you can't go out and talk about it because most patients have never heard you can get cancer in the penis. "If you ask ladies, they have heard about cancer in the cervix, in the vagina, but cancer in the penis never gets talked about."The immunotherapy treatment used in the trial is not available on the NHS, but Professor Bahl is applying to the Cancer Drugs Fund to pay for the small number patients who may benefit. Using immunotherapy to treat cancer is still considered by doctors to be a relatively new more than 60 per cent of the patients in the trial, who all had advanced penile cancer, were found to have had a clinical these patients, predicted lifespans increased to 15 months on Bahl said: "Our aim is to improve outcomes in this rare cancer, which has limited treatment options."Penile cancer can be a very aggressive disease, but this study shows we might be able to give men a little more time."Penile cancer is rare, and it usually presents externally first, so when patients are diagnosed, early treatments which can cure the cancer are possible."The trial has proved so successful that Professor Bahl is now planning to start another trial to give immunotherapy at an earlier stage of the disease, in the hope that it will improve cure rates.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
World War Two veteran celebrates 100th birthday
A decorated World War Two veteran who carried out covert missions behind enemy lines has celebrated his 100th birthday. Henry Charles Francis, known affectionately as 'H', served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after joining up aged 16. At his birthday party, Mr Francis was presented with a personal letter from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, acknowledging his extraordinary service. His daughter, Teresa Betton, said: "What he gave for this country, all the friends that he lost… I'm so proud of him. He tells the stories, but not all of them. He signed the secrets act and has stuck by it." More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Mr Francis' family said the day was deeply emotional as they recalled stories of his daring missions. One tale involved being dropped into the wrong location in what was then Yugoslavia and spending five days finding his way out before being greeted by General Josip Broz Tito, who later became president of the country. Mr Francis, who lives in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the Yugoslavian military medal, which is one of many honours he earned over the years. In his letter, Gen Jenkins paid tribute to the "truly courageous" covert operations carried out by Mr Francis. He also referenced an incident in Burma when Mr Francis was injured by a bayonet before returning to the UK for a time to recover. Gen Jenkins said: "You are an incredible individual with an abundance of character, and you and all your generation are an inspiration to today's sailors and Royal Marines. "I am delighted to be able to send you the Royal Navy's best wishes for your 100th birthday." Asked for the secret to a long life, Mr Francis replied: "Before you argue with a man, make sure you can handle him." Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Stories similar to this Celebrations for WW2 RAF veteran's 100th birthday Veteran appointed MBE days before 100th birthday 100th birthday tribute to AA veteran
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
World War Two veteran Henry Francis celebrates 100th birthday
A decorated World War Two veteran who carried out covert missions behind enemy lines has celebrated his 100th Charles Francis, known affectionately as 'H', served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after joining up aged his birthday party, Mr Francis was presented with a personal letter from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, acknowledging his extraordinary daughter, Teresa Betton, said: "What he gave for this country, all the friends that he lost… I'm so proud of him. He tells the stories, but not all of them. He signed the secrets act and has stuck by it." Mr Francis' family said the day was deeply emotional as they recalled stories of his daring tale involved being dropped into the wrong location in what was then Yugoslavia and spending five days finding his way out before being greeted by General Josip Broz Tito, who later became president of the country. Mr Francis, who lives in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the Yugoslavian military medal, which is one of many honours he earned over the years. In his letter, Gen Jenkins paid tribute to the "truly courageous" covert operations carried out by Mr also referenced an incident in Burma when Mr Francis was injured by a bayonet before returning to the UK for a time to recover. Gen Jenkins said: "You are an incredible individual with an abundance of character, and you and all your generation are an inspiration to today's sailors and Royal Marines. "I am delighted to be able to send you the Royal Navy's best wishes for your 100th birthday."Asked for the secret to a long life, Mr Francis replied: "Before you argue with a man, make sure you can handle him."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Olympian and experts call for major overhaul of PE kits
There needs to be a major overhaul of girls' PE kits to boost participation in sports, experts have comes as figures show less than half of secondary school-aged girls are meeting daily activity guidelines of completing an hour of physical activity every GB Olympian Tess Howard MBE has joined the campaign to improve girls' PE kits, working with University of Bristol researchers who have led a major study into the issue. They recommend that PE uniforms should be offered in a range of styles to suit all pupils and should not be Howard said: "Kit is a public health issue and it's a barrier that can be lifted." Ms Howard, founder of non-profit Inclusive Sportswear, added that far too often, traditional kit policies inadequately forget the purpose of sport, which she believes is to have who took part in the university's study called for more sportswear options, including being able to wear leggings and longer tops. The study, published on Thursday in BMJ Open, involved 12 to 13-year-old girls and PE teachers from mixed-sex schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. It found many girls feel self-conscious in compulsory PE kit items, particularly when they are tight or Alice Porter, from the University of Bristol, said: "Our findings clearly evidence that when girls don't have any choice over their PE uniform, this can be a deterrent to their participation, especially for girls who feel self-conscious and are lacking in self-confidence."One pupil we spoke to commented, 'you see other people and they look better in their PE kit than you do."The study's findings are already shaping a national resource, the Inclusive Sportswear Community Platform, which offers free advice for schools to design more inclusive PE policies.
