Latest news with #TheKing'sSchool
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Margaret Thatcher festival planned for centenary
A festival to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's birth is due to be held in her home town later this year. The former Conservative prime minister was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1925 and died in April 2013, aged 87. South Kesteven District Council is planning a programme of events during the week of 13 October. A council meeting earlier heard ideas being suggested for the festival, including themed beers with names such as Iron Lady or Grantham Lass, which would "relate to the Thatcher experience". According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, details of the programme are still being developed, with little yet confirmed about what will be included in the celebrations. Council leader Ashley Baxter indicated the event could be called "The Festival of Thatcher". Speaking at a finance and economic overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, he said he hoped the event would give a fair representation of the former PM's "impact on the UK and the world". Thatcher was the UK's first female prime minister and held the post from 1979 until her resignation in 1990. Karen Whitfield, assistant director of leisure, culture and place at the council, described the anniversary as a "significant event for Grantham". She said: "There will be a lot of organisations wanting to put on events, performances and shows. "What we're trying to do is bring together a group of stakeholders so they don't all end up fighting for the same bite of the cherry, and so there's a co-ordinated approach." Conservative councillor Mark Whittington pointed out that 2027 would mark the 300th anniversary of the death of Isaac Newton and his former school in Grantham was planning to celebrate the milestone. Baxter said he and fellow councillors had met the headmaster of The King's School about plans for a year of events. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. How Margaret Thatcher's life story became an opera Vandalised Thatcher statue officially unveiled Drama tells story of Thatcher's final TV interview Call for museum renaming after Margaret Thatcher South Kesteven District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
14-02-2025
- BBC News
Speed limit on Chester road where boy, 11, killed to be reduced
The speed limit on a road outside a school where a boy was killed is to be lowered after a review. Evan Rothwell, 11, died in hospital days after being struck by a car outside The King's School on Wrexham Road, Chester, Cheshire, on 12 family led calls for the speed limit to be cut from 40mph "to prevent this from happening again" and a petition for it to be lowered gathered more than 14,000 West and Chester Council said it had decided to reduce the current speed limit outside of The King's School on Wrexham Road to 30mph following an independent review. The council said the outcome of the independent review commissioned by the authority confirmed the current 40mph speed limit had been set appropriately and in accordance with national guidance provided by the Department for Transport, and that the design of the junction was the council said having considered all the information and public opinion expressed through petitions and communications, it had "exercised its discretion" in implementing a lower speed limit from next month for "an initial period" of 18 added the review also highlighted a number of matters of concern relating to driver behaviour and congestion caused by traffic seeking to access The King's School. The council said it continued to work closely with Cheshire Police and with the school to address those Police has been contacted by the BBC. Jessica Garner of the Make Wrexham Road Safe campaign told BBC Radio Merseyside the move was a "monumental achievement and a milestone for our campaign".She added: "We are united in the common belief that children should be safe to travel to school and the strength of opinion has been significant as a contributing factor to [the council's] decision-making in lowering the speed limit." 'Prevent this from happening again' A memorial service for Evan took place at St Werburgh's Church in Chester on 14 congregation wore Christmas hats, jumpers and antlers to remember the service, Evan's parents had reiterated their calls for the speed limit to be lowered "to prevent this from happening again".Paying tribute to Evan, the family said he "made them proud every day".They said: "Evan loved life and used his talents to entertain and bring joy to others. The family added he "lit up the world around him". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
08-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gloucestershire school's cycling challenge raises £6k for MND
A school has "smashed" its fundraising target in an ambitious cycling challenge to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).Pupils and staff at The King's School in Gloucestershire cycled 350 miles (563km) on static bikes and raised more than £6,000 for the 4Ed Cycling campaign first ran across three days in summer 2022, after Gloucester Rugby player Ed Slater announced his diagnosis with latest challenge formed part of Wellbeing Week, from 3-7 February, where pupils were encouraged to help others and look after their physical and mental health. Pupils and staff came together to keep the wheels spinning from 08:00 to 17:00 GMT every school managed to average about 70 miles (112km) each day on three static bikes set up on the Rugby coach George Skivington and captain Lewis Ludlow even turned up on Monday to help rack up the miles."The pupils were absolutely delighted to see them," said head teacher George Morton."The players got on the bikes and they did four or five miles each to catch up to the total." Ed Slater, his wife Jo, and Mr Ludlow joined staff and students at their assembly to discuss the campaign and how the money raised will go towards helping families affected by MND. What is Motor Neurone Disease? MND affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Progression of the disease can be rapid and there is currently no than half of those affected die within two years of being charity helps provide affected families with access to psychological and financial support, as well vital mobility equipment, changes to the home, family days out, and respite care. Mr Morton said the event had been a "massive success", having initially aimed to raise just £5,000."They smashed their target on the bikes and managed to reach £6,042."Some were there after school in the cold and the fog. There were two groups of staff who went out on their actual bikes on the road as well."Some of [the money] will be used to support families that are living with MND, and some of it will be used for research to work towards eventually finding a cure."
