Latest news with #Stuart
Metro
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Girl, 12, sent home from school after wearing Union Jack dress
A 'straight A' pupil was hauled out of lessons at Bilton School and put into isolation after wearing a Union Jack dress to her school's culture day. Courtney Wright, 12, wanted to celebrate being British with the Spice Girl-reminiscent dress during the celebrations at the school in Rugby on Friday. But school officials told the Year 7 student her outfit was 'unacceptable' and she was chucked of out class until her dad to collect her. Her dad, Stuart Field, 47, told Metro he has received dozens of messages from parents at other schools saying they had also faced similar issues. He described how his daughter felt after she refused to change into a second-hand uniform and instead sent home: 'Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. 'She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. 'Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political.' Courtney had also written a speech about history and traditions for the day, but was never allowed to deliver it. In it, she celebrated how Britain is 'modern, diverse and always changing', while speaking fondly of tea, Shakespeare, fish and chips and the royals. The school had said the day was 'designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages' in a permission letter sent to parents. But Stuart said the school's actions went against this message and thatother pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away. He added: 'It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. 'She chose the dress and wrote the piece off her own back. 'They day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers.' The school have now 'completely u-turned' according to the dad. He told Metro the school now want to do a charity run with Courtney in her Union jack dress. The board of governors and the headteacher also personally said sorry to the 12-year-old, who he says had never been in trouble before. While Stuart is glad her daughter has now had an apology, he is concerned that what happened to her daughter is not a one-off in the UK. He told Metro: 'I must have had 30 people across the UK saying this has happened to them. 'It has woken up the people about what has been happening to their children. 'Courtney has also received so much support – hundreds of people have messaged her from Poland, the US, Australia and beyond.' The dad said supporters have also flooded Bilton School with complaints, claiming it has caused the school's servers to go down. Bilton School was rated Good in an Ofsted inspection in 2021. It had previously been rated inadequate in 2019. A spokesman for Stowe Valley Trust said: 'At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. 'On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. More Trending 'We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. 'We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. 'We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage. 'As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Pupils hold 'wearing shorts matters' protest in sweltering heatwave MORE: 'I watched my classmate tear down my Pride poster – so I made an LGBTQ+ club' MORE: Sixty children miss dream trip to Europe after coach crashed into school gates
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside Blue Peter star's life 20 years after he left iconic BBC show
Stuart Miles was a regular face on Blue Peter before he sensationally quit the BBC show and now, more than two decades on, the star is completely unrecognisable Two decades after his Blue Peter days, former presenter Stuart Miles looks completely different. Renowned for his role on the beloved children's programme, Stuart departed whilst taking a dig at Blue Peter, arguing it had become disconnected from its young BBC audience. His departure came hot on the heels of his mate and co-presenter Richard Bacon's dismissal over cocaine use. Stuart argued that the traditional craft segments and pet features no longer captured children's attention. "With the year 2000 nearly here we've got to make Blue Peter more relevant to modern-thinking children," Stuart announced, demanding changes to revitalise the programme's appeal. "Less twee, more hard-hitting. I know it's like a comfort blanket for a lot of people, a programme that will never shock or offend you, but we err on the side of caution." At just 27, Stuart had become Blue Peter's longest-serving presenter, making his exit a major setback for the BBC, which was already grappling with the fallout from Richard's sacking and subsequent replacement. It has been 26 years since leaving Blue Peter behind and Stuart's professional journey has remained active. He has taken on numerous prominent roles throughout television, both presenting and working behind the scenes, reports the Manchester Evening News. He's been a guest presenter on hit shows like This Morning and Holiday, and even had a stint presenting on Sky Vegas, the interactive gambling TV channel. He also joined forces with fellow Blue Peter legend Katy Hill to host a breakfast show on Heart radio. In 2008, Stuart debuted his drag act, The Adventures of Pink Peter, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, taking on the persona of Vera Singleton, the fictional sister of former Blue Peter host Valerie Singleton. Reflecting on his Blue Peter tenure a decade later, Stuart expressed regret for not being open about his sexuality during his time on the programme. In an honest chat with Metro, he admitted: "I only have one regret and that is I spent a lot of my time on the show feeling conflicted about my sexuality." He admitted his concerns over potential negative reactions from the media and parents if he disclosed that he was gay. Stuart pointed out: "This may seem daft to someone growing up gay in 2018 but it's easy to forget how, as little as 20 years ago, we were in a very different place." Now at 56, Stuart has undergone quite the transformation since his Blue Peter days and has embarked on a new chapter as a professional speaker with Great British Speakers. Blue Peter itself has seen major changes recently, moving from live shows to pre-recorded episodes. Last year saw former hosts Anthea Turner and Janet Ellis spearhead a campaign to save the iconic show when it faced outsourcing.
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Family raising money to return belongings of Irishman who drowned in Canada
The GoFundMe page was set up after Stuart Doonan, from Drumquin, drowned on June 10. The 30-year-old got into difficulty in water near his accommodation in Montreal and was laid to rest yesterday. His devastated sister Stacey remembered her brother as 'the heart and soul of the family' on the online fundraising page which has received over €4,300 in donations. 'We are grateful for all the invaluable help and support we are receiving in getting Stuart home from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, we now face the challenge of bringing his belongings home,' she said. 'We have to navigate the process of getting his personal belongings home as he lived in Montreal for four years. 'We would appreciate any support in doing this.' The family has raised around 95pc of the original target amount and has promised that any money left over will be donated to the charity that helps families repatriate the remains of loved ones who died abroad. 'Excess funds will be going to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (Newry) who have and continue to be a great support to the family,' Stacey said. The trust was set up by the parents of Newry man Kevin Bell, who died in New York in 2013, and has assisted over 1,700 families. The charity covers many of the practicalities involved in repatriation, from liaising with funeral directors overseas to ensuring all necessary documentation is in place, easing some of the burden on loved ones during an already traumatic time. Tributes poured in online from those who knew Stuart both at home and in Canada. Friends remembered him as a warm, kind, and generous young man who loved life and made a lasting impression on everyone who encountered him. Leeds-based music promoter Bad Owl Presents paid an emotional tribute to the one-time regular at their events before 'he recently moved away to follow his dream of living and working in Canada'. 'He brought an excitement and passion to our shows, was a huge advocate of the scene and always had a daft story to regale to us in between bands,' they posted online. 'He will be very much missed and our thoughts go out to his friends and his family.' A death notice described Stuart as a 'dearly beloved son of David and Carol' and 'a devoted brother of Clara (John), Stacey (Will) and the late baby Andrew'. 'A much-loved grandson of Robert and the late Florence and the late Tommy and Jennifer. A dear nephew and cousin,' it added. The fundraising campaign remains open as relatives and friends prepare to pay their respects to Stuart. 'We are devastated about the circumstances surrounding his passing,' Stacey said. 'Stuart was full of life and full of love, the heart and soul of our family and he will be sorely missed by us all. 'Stuart loved his life in Montreal and saw a future there.'
Leader Live
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham head coach named champ at Brazilian British Open
Over the weekend, Stuart Duffy competed in this year's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Open. A post shared by Stuart Duffy (@duffigo) The first-degree black belt, originally from Cheshire, has described his achievement as 'monumental', after training for the best part of 14-years in the sport. Stuart said: "Very light for that division, but came out on top. "To be named champion, especially this weekend in a tougher category was just the icing on top." Three-years-ago, the 42-year-old opened 'Checkmat' inside the Impact MMA facility at Rhos Industrial Estate in Wrexham. As head coach, Stuart trains young people and adults in the sport, holding classes for varying abilities six-times-a-week, before they too eventually compete. And when he isn't sharing his passion and talent with others, he's competing at various competitions. MOST READ Earlier this year, he won gold at the Milan International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025 in the lightweight division. Stuart adds: "Jiu Jitsu is an excellent hobby that anyone can do, regardless of age or ability. "You don't need any experience to start training and, for me personally, it's great for both physical and mental health."
Daily Record
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dad hits out at daughter's school for reaction to her outfit for 'culture day'
"I wanted an answer as to why they thought this was acceptable - and nobody could give me a straight answer, I wanted to know how they had justified it." A dad has criticised his daughter's school after she was removed from lessons for wearing a Union Jack dress to celebrate being British at an organised culture day. Courtney Wright, 12, wore the dress similar to the one worn by the Spice Girls' Geri Halliwell, and wrote an accompanying piece about history and traditions as part of the themed day at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, on Friday, July 11. Her dad Stuart Field then received a call telling him to pick his daughter up. He later arrived at the school to find she had been kept in isolation all morning. The 47-year-old said: "Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. She shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it." The school has since apologised over the incident, stating it "could have been handled better" and will learn from the experience, the Mirror reports. Stuart added: "Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom at being able to wear a dress. This is just what being British means to her." An information letter sent home regarding the celebrations said the culture day was "designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages". However, Stuart said the way the school approached things on the day went against what was said in the letter, and pupils holding St George's and Welsh flags were also reprimanded. He continued: "It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. She chose the dress and wrote the piece off her own back. They day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers. "She also wrote this speech to go with it and was very proud of what she'd done. The next thing I get a call at work at around 9am to say she's not allowed in school dressed like that and that it was unacceptable. "I wasn't able to get away from work until about midday. They made her sit in reception all morning in front of the receptionists and kept her in isolation. "She's a straight A student, one of the brightest in her year and she's never been in trouble before so she was really upset. All the kids there are British in my eyes, I like to think I'm a tolerant person but this was just not right. "I wanted an answer as to why they thought this was acceptable - and nobody could give me a straight answer, I wanted to know how they had justified it. "I spoke to her head of year, and he said he wasn't the best person to talk to about it, so I can only assume he didn't really agree with it either. It obviously came from above him but I don't know for sure who made the decision. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "I was fobbed off and told that I'd get a phone call and I took Courtney straight out for a nice meal to cheer her up. If anything I was extremely proud of what she chosen and what she had written in her speech. "She wanted to celebrate being British, she couldn't understand what was wrong with that. She wasn't the only kid picked out either - one child from a farming background was turned away at the gates for wearing traditional flat-cap and checked shirt. "Another with a St Georges flag and another with a Welsh flag were not allowed in either. It was ridiculous. It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn't allowed. Others were allowed in burkas, niqabs or traditional Nigerian clothing. "They didn't even read or listen to her speech which actually celebrates inclusivity and other cultures. It was just like British culture could not be celebrated. "The school backtracked and eventually apologised, I think once the school governors became involved. But the damage had already been done, Courtney should not be have been made to feel that way. "I put a post on Facebook and I've had messages of support from all over the world really, from Poland to Australia. Everybody is saying how ridiculous it is that any young person cannot celebrate where they are from." The school got in touch with Stuart over the weekend and have since issued an apology. A spokesperson for Stowe Valley Trust said: "At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. "On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. "We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. "We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage. "As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all."
