Latest news with #Tamworth
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'We fell in love volunteering at our Tamworth Oxfam'
Working at their local Oxfam shop led to true love for two of the store's and James Boyles met while staffing the charity's Tamworth store, got engaged in the shop's back room and posed outside it for wedding have shared their story to mark Volunteers' Week and want to encourage others to give their time to help others."I have made some lifelong friends from volunteering as well as my husband and I can't ask for a lovelier group of people to work with every day," Mrs Boyles said. "I'm very bad at picking up on signals," said Mr Boyles. "Susan had been talking to me on the till but I didn't think it was anything at first."The 24-year-old begun volunteering in 2017 before meeting his wife-to-be, 43, in relationship grew after the pair went to watch the Barbie movie at the cinema together. Just one year later, the 24-year-old got down on one knee and proposed to her inside the shop. "I knew he was going to propose but I didn't know when or where, so it was a surprise," Mrs Boyles said."I could never have imagined meeting James when I first started volunteering for Oxfam. "It's like a dream come true."The bride added that she had found the experience worthwhile due to meeting so many people. "I have never met anyone unpleasant volunteering with Oxfam," she said. "It sounds corny but it really is like a little family and it's so rewarding. Oxfam, which was founded in 1942, currently has 23,000 volunteers at 560 shops in the UK. Karen Gurney, volunteer development manager at the charity, said she hoped the story would encourage others to help it raise funds to tackle poverty. "There are so many reasons why people come to volunteer, whether it is to gain skills, make friends or give back to the community," she said. "But the real joy with volunteering is that there is so much you can get out of it, even things you might never expect." Volunteers' Week 2025 began on Monday. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Spudman thanks Ipswich recovery service after A14 breakdown
A TikTok chef who broke down on a dual carriageway late at night has thanked a recovery service as well as police for their help in getting him whose real name is Ben Newman, has more than 4.3 million followers and is known as a street vendor selling jacket potatoes in Tamworth, attending the Suffolk Show near Ipswich, he revealed on his social media page that his van had broken down on the A14 late on Thursday. Jack Parker, owner of RB Commercial based in Ipswich, helped Spudman home and said his team was always happy to help. Spudman was first helped to a service station near Sproughton by Suffolk Police and said on TikTok he "wasn't expecting a tow" from thanked the officers for their efforts in a video on Friday."We called out a recovery firm, they originally said they'd be half an hour and we paid a deposit, then they said they're going to be two-and-a-half hours," he added in his video."These guys (RB Commercial) just turned up randomly because they saw us on the side of the road and they are fans." Mr Parker explained he had seen Spudman's TikTok and decided to help. "Because we work that road a lot I knew roughly where he was just from his video," he said."At that time as well, lots of people were just turning up madly to the services where he was and taking pictures with him."The poor bloke just worked hard for two days and wanted to get home." Mr Parker sent two of his drivers down to the service station and after some discussions it was decided they would take Spudman back to Tamworth, where they arrived at 03:00 BST on on his TikTok, Spudman added: "We had an amazing [Suffolk] Show."Shame about the van, these things happen... it's going to need a new engine."Mr Parker said Spudman was "a really nice bloke, really sound" and stressed he would "help anyone" in need. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Adam Sherry's tips, inside mail for Kembla, Tamworth on Saturday, May 31, 2025
Form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets, value selection and race-by-race analysis at Kembla and best bets for Tamworthon Saturday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! KEMBLA BEST BET Race 4 No. 1: CHARLEROI Has been good in both runs in town. Step up in trip suits. NEXT BEST Race 5 No. 5: ARE EE QUE All three wins are on the heavy and hard to beat again. VALUE BET Race 8 No. 5: CITY LIMITS Closed strongly on a wet track to win here last start. Good chance again. QUADDIE Race 5: 1, 3, 5 Race 6: 1, 4, 6, 9 Race 7: 1, 5, 7 Race 8: 2, 5, 6, 9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW CHAD LEVER has a nice book of rides and looks a chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Chad Lever looks set for a good day at Kembla. Picture: Bradley Photos TAMWORTH BEST BET Race 6 No. 3: LORD PROTECTOR Narrowly beaten fourth first-up. Is a winner this track and distance. NEXT BEST Race 5 No. 5: SAGAPONACK Good effort to win last start. Can go back-to-back. INSIDE MAIL – KEMBLA RACE 1: THE RACE AGAINST SUICIDE RACE DAY 21ST JUNE 2YO MAIDEN PLATE 1000m RAGING FORCE (6) was $7 into $4.20 on debut in the Breeders Plate when wide without cover in finishing a three length sixth to King Kirk. Has since been gelded. Closed strongly under a hold when third in his May 5 Randwick trial. COSMONAUT (1) raced keenly on debut in the Inglis Challenge at Scone when third to Cashbrook and Gilette. IN LIMBO (7) came from well back when third to Amosu in the MM The Debut at the Gold Coast before a fourth to The Playwright in the Widden Stakes. Bet: Racing Force to win RACE 2: OZTECH SECURITY CG&E MAIDEN PLATE 1300m VETWELVE (7) worked forward to race outside the leader before heading towards the outside fence in the straight when third to Kundabung in a Super Maiden on the Kensington first-up. Was handy in his first campaign including a second at Canterbury. RIGHTEOUS LEGEND (4) was three-wide from about the 900m and boxed on well when second to Mignonette at Newcastle first-up. Raced outside the leader and was green in the straight when second to Carnegie Hill at Hawkesbury last start. HOMERIC (1) will be better for his first-up third here. Bet: Vetwelve to win RACE 3: PAUL BRIDGE MEMORIAL F&M MAIDEN PLATE 1300m MAID OF MOOLAH (8) worked home well for a neck second to Nymphadora at Hawkesbury on debut and followed with a fourth to Silver Wedding at Canterbury after being carried wider near the 200m. Battled away for second to Mother Goose here last start. Gets her chance to break through. CHEEKY DANCER (1) was okay when third to Pelosa at Hawkesbury then just nosed but at Tamworth. Boxed on behind Kundabung on the Kensington last start. CRIMSON MISS (2) makes her Australian debut. Runner-up at Ellerslie at her only start. Bet: Maid Of Moolah to win RACE 4: FLICK PEST CONTROL SUPER MAIDEN PLATE 1600m CHARLEROI (1) made ground from well back when third to Maori Chief and Gunroom on debut over 1250m on the Kensington on Apr 25. Was carried wider coming off the bend when fourth to Kundabung as favourite over 1400m on the same track. Looks ideally suited stepping up to the mile. SO LONG FAREWELL (3) was fourth to Maori Chief on debut before a second to Kundabung in that same Kensington race. SHE REX (8) led when fifth in that Kensington race behind Kundabung. Bet: Charleroi to win RACE 5: GO HIRE SITE RENTALS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1000m ARE EE QUE (5) has won three races with all coming on heavy ground. Won her maiden by four lengths at Goulburn last July, won again there in February and returned from a spell with an all-the-way win at Wyong on May 1. Gets in well with the 3kg claim. INOUE (1) resumed with a tough win from Poiema at Gosford and followed up with a nose win from King's Secret over this track and distance on May 10. THE GREY (3) resumes here. Runner-up in both first-up runs. Bet: Are Ee Que to win RACE 6: TRISTAN TRIFFITT EXCLUSIVE ESTATE AGENTS CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1400m NOVEMBER AIR (9) led all-the-way for a nice win at Canberra followed by a second to The Mona Lisa at Goulburn. Stepped up to provincial grade when a third to City Limits in a Bm64 over 1500m on a Soft 7 here on May 17. Drops back top a Class 1. WINNER OF KOWLOON (4) was third to Silver Wedding at Canterbury on debut then fifth to Hopper at Warwick Farm before breaking through over 1200m here on May 17. TANGO QUEEN (6) has claims on her second to Miss Spacegirl last start. Bet: November Air each-way RACE 7: TLE ELECTRICAL WOLLONGONG PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1200m PRESIDES (1) is a model of consistency. Followed a narrow Newcastle win in March with placings at each of his three runs here. The latest was a head third to Hyperbolic on May 10. Is a winner on the heavy. VEGAS DREAM (5) has won three races, all on the heavy, with the latest at the Sapphire Coast on Apr 4. Was then beaten a nose on a Soft 7 at the same track by Capital Heart. Will make her presence felt. YES SIREE (7) did a nice job to win on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on debut. Bet: Presides to win RACE 8: JJJ RACING MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1600m CITY LIMITS (5) had trouble finding clear running until the 100m when fourth to Format here on Mar 14. Returned from a let-up with strong closing run to reel in Tip Top Timing here on May 17. HOOLIGAN TOMMY (2) has been good this campaign with a win and two placings from four starts. Only blip was in a Randwick Midway two starts back. RHEGION (6) battled away when third at Wyong over 1300m second-up. Appreciated the step up to 1600m with a good win here last start. Bet: City Limits each-way
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Former police station to be sold at auction
A town's former police station is due to be sold at auction next month, with a guide price of £ four-storey building in Tamworth was built in 1975 and was in use until Property Auctions said planning permission had been granted to convert it into 54 apartments, with a gym and car auction is due to take place on 26 June. Auctioneer Andrew Parker described the potential development as a "much-needed residential scheme in the heart of Tamworth".The firm said there was high demand for apartments in the Staffordshire town, partly because of its rail links to Birmingham and described the former police headquarters, on Spinning School Lane, as a "brutalist-style property", which had been built to replace the previous Victorian-era police station. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beatbox artists picked for Tamworth grand final
A panel of judges have chosen finalists from around the world for a beatbox and loopstation competition in Staffordshire. The Nue Beatbox grand final is set to take place at the Tamworth Assembly Rooms on Saturday 2 August. Nue (New Urban Era) said it's "fiercely competitive wildcard round" attracted 93 solo beatbox entries and 24 loopstation entries from a total of 33 countries. The arts collective, which organises events and workshops in the town, said the final includes showcase performances from the judges, who include loopstation champion Saro. Nue said such performances would add to the "electrifying atmosphere". Vic Brown, founder of Nue, said the final "promises to be an unparalleled celebration of beatbox artistry, featuring intense beatbox battles and exclusive performances from the very best in the world". Eight loopstation artists, including Ruse from Japan who was the wildcard competition winner, and Lennard from Germany, will compete for the crown. In the solo beatbox category, the 16 finalists include PatBox from France and UK beatboxer Epos, who is the the current Nue Beatbox champion. Organisers begun the competition in 2021 and said by 2023 it was "firmly on the international stage" when it received 60 wildcard entries from 16 countries. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
