Latest news with #Stirling
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Stirling dad completes cross-country cycle ride for cancer charities
The eight-strong squad took 12 days to get from Land's End to John o'Groats - and have raised close to £50,000 for a pair of good causes. A Stirling dad who cycled more than 1,000 miles across the length of the UK for a special charity effort has said reaching the finish line was a 'life-changing' experience. Ross Lang was part of a team of eight cyclists who have raised almost £50,000 for a pair of good causes after completing the 12-day trek from Land's End to John o'Groats. They crossed the finish line last week, cheered on by family and friends - as well as the skirl of the pipes from the Wick RBLS Pipe Band. After crossing the line, Ross admitted there were times where he wasn't sure about completing the gruelling pedal, but remembering the connection to the cause pushed him back into the saddle. Ross said: 'It has been one of the best experiences of my life doing this ride. 'Cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats has always been an ambition, while raising so much money for Maggie's and Young Lives vs Cancer is just fantastic. 'It was tough going. Early on, I had a problem with my back, which I thought might stop me in my tracks, but the team's support and remembering why we were riding kept me going.' Each rider had a deeply personal reason for taking on the challenge, having lost a wife, a parent or supported a loved one through cancer. For Ross, 57, he was thinking about several people in his own life who have battled with cancer - including friends and partners - and in 2023, his stepfather passed away following a long battle with throat and lung cancer. The Saltcoats-born dad was roared to the line by wife Jane and kids Ishbel and Dugald, as well as dog Jett. Donations are still continuing to flood in above the £50,000 already raised - with the commitments set to be split equally between Maggie's, which offers practical and emotional support to people with cancer, and Young Lives vs Cancer which helps children and young people find strength as they fight the disease. Ride Against Cancer organiser Jim Webster, co-founder of the architecture studio HAUS Collective, whose wife survived breast cancer, said: 'We took on this challenge to do something together that was positive after each of us had a loved one go through cancer and it's been both incredible and humbling. 'So many Scottish businesses stepped up to support us with logistics, supplies and donations and we've had an incredible team of helpers, including colleagues, friends and family. 'We know that cancer affects almost everyone at some point, but it really hit home during the ride as so many people stopped us after spotting our Ride Against Cancer jerseys to share their own stories. 'We're hugely grateful to everyone who's donated to help Maggie's and Young Lives vs Cancer be there for families when they need it most.' To offer your support to the team's effort, you can still donate at
India Today
a day ago
- General
- India Today
Who Dares Wins: Indian WWII warriors, Special Air Services, and an untold story
When people talk about the world's most elite special forces, the British Special Air Services (SAS) often takes the spotlight -- thanks to war movies, action games, and tales of daring missions behind enemy lines, especially World War what many forget is that during the same war, Indian soldiers were pulling off their own silent, fearless missions -- deep in the jungles of Burma, far from the headlines (warding away Japanese militia from Rangoon). They didn't just support the war effort; they shaped it, often without ever being named or British soldiers David Stirling and Jock Lewes built the SAS from scratch in the deserts of North Africa, Indian operatives like Anil 'Sunil' Dutta Gupta -- better known by his codename 'SDG' -- were torching enemy stockpiles, spreading resistance from within, and risking their lives with courage. This is a story of parallel bravery -- of bold British raids and equally daring Indian missions -- and why it's time we remember both with equal THE 'DEVIL'S WHISPER' CAME TO BEIn 1941, with Nazi Germany destroying and making advancement across Europe and North Africa, Britain needed a weapon. David Stirling, a maverick officer, proposed something unusual: to strike deep into enemy territory with small, mobile units. Many saw this as vague and more of a suicidal tactic. But then British PM Winston Churchill saw potential in such July, Stirling had approval to recruit a handful of volunteers into what was ironically called 'L-Detachment, SAS Brigade' -- a name that suggested a larger airborne unit than existed. In reality, it was barely 60 men first mission in November 1941 was a disaster. A storm scattered the men parachuting into Tobruk. Only 22 of 62 made it back. But they learnt fast. David Stirling, founder of the Special Air Service (SAS), pictured during WWII. Teaming up with the Long-Range Desert Group (LRDG), the SAS adapted. Rather than parachuting, they were driven to strike targets, launching bold raids on Axis airfields across Libya. Over Christmas and New Year's, they struck the same airstrips twice -- catching the enemy off guard and sowing confusion in the desert the ongoing image that people have in mind today of the SAS with their well-equipped weaponry and air support, initially they lacked supplies and even stole a piano from a nearby New Zealand unit. This often also included basic supplies like bedding, chairs, and decoy tactics soon became a trend rather than an off-beat (and fluke) tactic to beat the military. In the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, for example, India used the strategy of deception by famously using the 'Phantom Brigade' trick – a strategy that was believed to be similar to the time when the SAS was created and LEWES: THE GENIUS BEHIND SASBehind the glamour of Stirling's leadership stood Jock Lewes, the SAS's first training officer and as Stirling himself would put it, 'arguably its true architect'. An Oxford-educated soldier, Lewes structured and framed the training programme that transformed volunteers into desert mimic parachute jumps when no aircraft were available, recruits initially jumped from the backs of moving trucks -- an improvisation ordered by their Kabrit base in Egypt, he drilled men in everything from demolition to wilderness medicine. Several accounts also suggest that after two men died during training due to faulty parachutes, Lewes, like a true leader, volunteered to be the first to jump most lasting innovation was the 'Lewes bomb', a hybrid explosive made of thermite, diesel and plastic explosive -- designed specifically to destroy aircraft on the ground. The National Army Museum describes it as ideal for sabotaging vehicles and planes, despite early doubts from ordnance experts. (AI-Generated Image) advertisementIt is widely believed that Lewes's leadership helped the SAS pull off their first real success in December 1941. Though his team suffered losses during an airfield raid, they still managed to destroy several German Jock Lewes died, he was just 28 years old, but he died with a dream and the assurance that, unlike other wartime units, this one would not be disbanded after the war. He believed it would continue to rise in glory and he was SAS went on to become a pioneer and remains one of the finest special forces units in the Lewes in a letter to his mother, in 1941, wrote 'Together we have fashioned this unit. David has established it without, and I think I may say I have established it within... the unit cannot die as Layforce died; it is alive and will live gloriously renewing itself by its creative power in the imagination of men.'advertisementTHE INDIAN COUNTERPART: WARRIORS IN THE SHADOWS Fighting in the shadows, or guerrilla warfare, has long been a hallmark of Indian warriors, dating back to the medieval era. Whether it was Maharana Pratap or Shivaji Maharaj, this tradition continued through to the elite units and special operations of the modern the SAS was making headlines in the West, what often went unnoticed was how another elite force was fighting in the jungles of Asia -- waging a covert campaign against Japan through units like Force 136 and the 136, the Far East arm of Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE), was born in 1944. Operating from India and Ceylon, it trained some 20,000 local fighters -- Indians, Burmese, and Malays for guerrilla missions in Japanese-occupied job was to blow up bridges, gather intelligence, and support local resistance. Most operated in complete secrecy, even from their own allies. According to research by historian Robert Lyman, their work remained classified for STORY OF SDG In The Special Operations Executive in Burma, author Richard Duckett provides a detailed account of covert missions carried out in the region -- one of the most remarkable Force 136 operatives was an Indian, code-named 'SDG' -- real name Anil 'Sunil' Dutta Gupta. Parachuting into Burma in 1943, he posed as a dockworker in Rangoon. Special thanks to Richard Duckett for preserving this image and history. Personnel record of SDG -- Anil 'Sunil' Dutta Gupta -- the Indian Force 136 operative deployed in 1943 for Operation Mahout in Japanese-occupied Burma. advertisementOver two years, SDG orchestrated sabotage from within. It is documented that he burned a Japanese wood stockpile meant for railway construction, destroying 15,000 logs in one go. The Japanese called it an accident, unaware they were being infiltrated from also spread anti-Japanese propaganda and encouraged Indian labourers to defect. Such solo missions, often without back-up, show the level of trust and responsibility given to Indian agents -- and the extreme risks they also reflects the capabilities and valour of many Indian soldiers who operated behind enemy lines. It underscores that Indian soldiers, too, were pioneers in the world of special BEYOND THE HEADLINES By the end of World War 2, elite units had reshaped the battlefield. The SAS had become a legend -- its tactics influencing militaries across the globe. Stirling's motto, 'Who Dares Wins', is now engraved into the fabric of modern special it is equally essential to remember the soldiers whose silent contributions went unrecognised for decades. The Karen guerrillas, Indian saboteurs, Gurkha raiders may not have made it to any Western book or film but that's not the point.- Ends
Times
3 days ago
- Times
Pastor who groped women to ‘remove demons' jailed for 10 years
A former Stirling University professor who founded a prominent church has been jailed for ten years for sexually abusing two female congregants. Walter Masocha, 61, who led The Agape for All Nations Church in Scotland, was convicted of attempted rape, indecent assault and sexual assault. The High Court in Livingston previously heard testimony detailing Masocha's predatory behaviour, with one married woman recounting how he groped her at his Stirling home, telling her she was a 'gift to him from God'. She testified that Masocha justified putting his hand in her trousers and touching her private parts by claiming he was 'removing demons' and bestowing blessings. Another victim, who was just 20 when the abuse began described how Masocha — seen as a father figure by many in the church — told her: 'God has given you to me to nurture you, look after you and provide for you. He told me to love you in any way you want to be loved. You don't need a boyfriend.' She recounted incidents of him grabbing her face and putting his tongue in her mouth, slapping her bottom and placing her hand on his genitals. She also described an attempted rape in his bedroom from which she managed to escape. Advocate depute Michael McIntosh, for the prosecution, said: 'She was looking for prayer and she found herself being preyed upon. Walter Masocha wasn't just a pastor and a preacher, he was a predator who thought that his power and position rendered him immune from suspicion.' The conviction follows a trial last month in which Masocha, of Bridge of Allan, denied all charges, asserting that both women had fabricated their stories. However, the jury found him guilty of the charges relating to incidents between January 1, 2006, and July 31, 2012, in the Stirling area. Judge Susan Craig condemned Masocha's actions as 'appalling', stating there was no alternative to a lengthy custodial sentence. Upon his eventual release, he will remain under close social work supervision for four years and will be on the sex offenders register for life. Non-harassment orders have also been imposed, barring him from contacting his victims. Masocha, who founded his church in Scotland in 2007 after moving from Zimbabwe, had previously been convicted in 2015 of similar offences, though those convictions were later quashed on appeal. New proceedings were launched after two further women came forward with statements to the police. The Agape for All Nations Church grew under Masocha's leadership into an international organisation with more than 2,000 members. He appointed himself archbishop, reportedly on a salary comparable to the Archbishop of Canterbury's, and maintained a lavish lifestyle, travelling to ministries across the UK, the United States, Canada and various African countries.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Predator pastor who sexually assaulted woman while pretending to ‘exorcise demons' jailed for 10 years
A PREDATOR preacher who sexually assaulted a woman while pretending to 'exorcise demons' has been caged for 10 years. Cult leader Walter Masocha, 61 - called 'The Prophet' by parishioners - was also jailed for a rape bid during a six year reign of sexual terror between 2006 and 2012. 2 The "archbishop" of Stirling-based Agape for All Nations Church told a woman, 58, that God had "given her to him as a gift" and ordered her to kiss his "holy lips". At the High Court in Livingston, judge Susan Craig told Masocha, who watched on via video link from jail, that he had used his front as a preacher to 'callously exploit' his victims. She said: "You are nothing more than an opportunist sexual predator and are guilty of the grossest breach of trust. "The common denominator was the victims worshipped you, a 'prophet' who could work miracles. "You took sexual advantage whenever you felt like doing so." He was jailed for 10 years, given a further four-year extended sentence and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. A 39-year-old witness said she was 20 when Masocha began sexually abusing her. She told the jury: "He would tell me, 'God said I need to look after you and has given me special love for you in particular'." She said the fiend sexually assaulted her in his home in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. He also tried to rape her after taking her into his bedroom. Why I married a sexual predator and I want babies with him The Zimbabwean founded his church in 2007. He lived a jetset life visiting ministries across the UK, US, Canada and Africa. He was convicted in 2015 of a sex assault on a woman and sexual activity with a girl of 15. The conviction was later quashed on appeal. Agape's church was also linked to the horrific killing of five-year-old Scott Chirashi in Alva, Clacks in 2014. His mother Farai Chirashi, who had been shunned by the church, stabbed the schoolboy to death and cut his heart out but was found not guilty of murder at the High Court in Glasgow by reason of insanity. When she killed her son, she thought she was on a "mission from God". One ex-church member claimed that Chiriseri was "demonised" by the preacher when she left his church.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Donald Trump in Scotland: Aberdeen reacts as US President to arrive at Balmedie golf resort
A van displaying a photograph of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein travelled around Aberdeen on Monday. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Aberdeen residents have spoken out about their feelings regarding Donald Trump's visit as he prepares to travel to the north-east. US President Donald Trump has met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday at his Turnberry course. He will then make the trip to his second golf course in Aberdeenshire where he will meet First Minister John Swinney. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Saturday, hundreds turned out to Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen to protest the arrival of the US President. As the president prepares to head north to his Balmedie golf course, The Scotsman spoke to residents of the Granite City to hear their thoughts on his visit. Jenny Henderson, from Inverurie, said Mr Trump 'isn't welcome' in Scotland. She said: 'I wish he'd stay away. We don't want him. I just think he's a criminal and we don't want any criminals in Scotland.' Jenny Henderson said that the President isn't welcome in Scotland. | Ena Saracevic However, Aberdeen resident William Brown had different thoughts about the president's visit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Make sure you keep up to date with news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. He told The Scotsman there was 'good and bad' about Mr Trump, but stressed the US president was 'doing good' for Scotland. 'There's good and bad with the guy,' he said. 'I look at the prospects of Balmedie. The amount of jobs he's put into that place and also down at his other golf courses. William Brown believes there is 'good and bad' with Mr Trump. | Ena Saracevic 'He has definitely brought something to Scotland, whether you love him or loathe him. He's doing good.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ace Kinnaird, from Aberdeen, and Melody Kidd, from Stirling, both said they 'weren't fans' of the US president. Kinnaird said: 'I just don't know why he's here, he doesn't deserve to be here really. He should be in jail.' Last week, First Minister John Swinney announced that £180,000 of public money would be used for the 2025 Nexo Championship at Trump International in Aberdeenshire. Kinnaird added: 'That shouldn't be something we pay for, we should be paying for something that actually matters to our city, not for someone who deserves to be thrown into jail.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ace Kinnaird and Melody Kidd said that Mr Trump 'doesn't deserve' to be in Aberdeen. | Ace and Melody aren't fans of Donald Trump coming to Aberdeen. An advertising van displaying a photograph of Mr Trump with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was driven around Aberdeen on Monday. The action comes amid backlash over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case. Ross Scott, who was working with the Everyone Hates Elon team for their media, said: 'He [Donald Trump] is a terrible person, isn't he? 'I think the really frustrating thing about him is that you can't ever beat him because he'd never accept it. He's just an abhorrent human being. Ross Scott called Mr Trump an 'abhorrent human being'. | Ena Saracevic 'The more people that get onboard with that, the better.'
