Latest news with #TheWombles
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Place in the Sun Laura Hamilton's life - Womble dad, killer disease and tragedy
Laura Hamilton's one decision as a teen set her life on a completely different path (Image: @laurahamiltontv/instagram) Laura Hamilton has been on our screens for almost 20 years and is best known for fronting A Place in the Sun. Channel 4 star Laura, 43, started presenting the daytime classic back in February 2012, but her career path has been anything but predictable. Born and raised in Kent, her dad, Ian Hamilton, also had a flair for entertainment, and was part of a 70s iconic pop band The Wombles - the spin-off from the children's TV show. Laura also spent plenty of time in Scotland, where her grandad hailed from. "When I was a kid, my parents and I went up on a sleeper train to Fort William to a skiing range. The sleeper train up to Fort William was absolutely beautiful and that was my first skiing experience,' she told the Daily Record. Laura Hamilton's love of travel came from visiting Scotland as a kid, but she tragically couldn't attend her Scottish grandad's funeral due to Covid-19 restrictions (Image: PR SUPPLIED) She added: "As kids, we grew up camping and caravanning. I saw a lot of Scotland. It's beautiful up there. And when I was starting out in my career I worked for a company called Lion TV that is based in Glasgow.' Sadly, Laura's grandad - who had such an impact on her childhood - died in 2020 while the country was still under tight Covid-19 restrictions. The year after, she opened up about the tragedy. "My grandad passed away last August, aged 89, and I had to watch the funeral online. We had a strong bond so it was hard, but I wrote a poem that was read out. I like to think my grandad's watching over me." After studying her A-Levels, Laura set to sit law and psychology at university, but in a life-changing move, she turned down her uni offer and instead signed a one-year contract to work as a runner for Dermot O'Leary on Channel 4. TV was a natural fit and she soon became an Assistant Floor Manager for shows including Top of the Pops, The Buckingham Palace Jubilee Celebrations, and Big Brother. The star turned down her uni offer to work as a runner for Dermot O'Leary, and even worked on Harry Potter behind the camera before starting her presenting career (Image: Instagram/laurahamiltontv) Next, she was promoted to assistant director roles, and even helped behind the scenes on The Bill and the Harry Potter films franchise. After years behind the camera, things changed when she secured the role of Melody in the beloved CITV show Fun Song Factory, before becoming a key Nickelodeon presenter. Soon enough, Laura moved on from kids' TV to work on shows such as The Xtra Factor, and even competed on Dancing on Ice in 2011, with her career kicking off more than ever after A Place in the Sun with work as a guest presenter on This Morning. Alongside her TV work, Laura also has a podcast called The Mile Fly Club, and has some surprising hobbies and side hustles away from showbiz. In 2017, the village shop in her south London neighbourhood was closing down, which she quickly snapped up and saved. Laura then became a landlady, reopening the shop as a pub and restaurant called Lord Roberts on the Green, which she sold in 2021. And her latest venture? Taking to the skies independently. Alongside following her dad into showbiz, Laura's dad Ian also inspired her to learn how to fly planes. She explained: "I've always been interested in learning to fly because my dad has a private pilot's license he had when I was growing up. Running a business, you can never take your foot off the pedal and you're always having to keep an eye on the spend but this was something that has always been on my bucket list. "I'm being taught by a BA pilot out of Redhill, Surrey, which is not too far from where I live. I've had a few lessons in a Cessna 152 and I have to rack up 45 hours before I get my private pilot's license and there's lots of exams I have to pass." Laura opened a pub with her ex-husband Alex Goward, and is now becoming a pilot in her free time after selling the London eatery (Image: Getty Images) Laura added that selling the pub had made room for her ambition, admitting: 'Running a business, you can never take your foot off the pedal and you're always having to keep an eye on the spend but this was something that has always been on my bucket list.' Between working and training as a pilot, Laura is also a mum of two kids, Rocco and Tahlia, whom she shares with her former hubby Alex Goward. In January 2022, Laura announced the end of her nine-year marriage to Alex with a poignant Instagram post quoting Dr. Seuss: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Alongside the quote, she shared a personal message: "This isn't something I ever thought I'd be saying but, after 13 years of being together Alex and I have separated. Our children are and always will be our number one priority and we would respect privacy for our family at this time. Laura." She later revealed that their separation was amicable, explaining: "It was a decision we both came to. We have an enormous amount of respect for each other, but we are now on different paths. At the point it was announced, we'd already overcome a lot of difficult times. But I am lucky that we have the relationship and respect for each other that we have, and our children's happiness will always be our priority." She's now rumoured to be in a new relationship with CEO James Pettigrew, with Laura said to have started dating the businessman in January 2024. James was still legally married when they started seeing each other, with their romance reportedly taking his estranged wife Jackie by surprise. Meanwhile, Laura has also been open about her personal health struggles, particularly with Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a condition that leads to a low platelet count and is prone to causing easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. In a candid chat with the Daily Star, Laura opened up about her health struggles. She shared: "I have something called ITP, Immune thrombocytopenia, which is low platelet count in my blood, it's quite an unknown disease. It sort of flares up and down depending on what's going on with my life, and stress often brings it out." One of the reasons for Laura's gorgeous floaty dresses is to hide her bruised legs - after she opened up about her struggle with Immune thrombocytopenia Recalling a recent encounter while filming, she said: "It was really mad a year ago I was filming A Place In The Sun with a lovely couple in France - Mark and Janine - and I just stood there and I had an insect bite on my leg and I started scratching it. I was like 'Oh I shouldn't have done that because I'm gonna have bruises on my leg from ITP.'" To her surprise, Mark responded intimately, knowing exactly what Laura was talking about, "Mark stopped and was like 'how do you know what ITP is?'" His personal connection to the illness brought further gravity to the conversation as he explained, "And he told me that really sadly his sister had died from ITP and he said it was really good how I was trying to raise awareness of it." "It's one of them times where you think they could have been paired with anybody as a presenter and nobody knew about the ITP link so it was just like 'wow'." The presenter continued: "But that's kind of under control at the moment I don't have bruising quite like that on my legs but it does happen it does flare up but I'm always trying to be positive about things and be a glass half-full." Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Business Mayor
27-04-2025
- Business Mayor
English museum home to world-famous collection – as well as UK's oldest monorail
THE UK'S oldest monorail is based at a museum in the New Forest, between Southampton and Bournemouth. The historic monorail, located at Beaulieu, stretches for a mile and allows guests to explore the museum from above. 4 The monorail celebrated 50 years since opening, last year Credit: Alamy 4 A ride on the monorail stretches for a mile Credit: Alamy It even goes over the roof of the National Motor Museum. As guests travel on the monorail, commentary tells the stories behind the different things they see on their journey. Visitors can experience the monorail through regular services across the day. Over 240,000 visitors take a trip on the Monorail each year. Last year, the Monorail at Beaulieu celebrated 50 years since it opened in 1974. Over the decades, visitors have enjoyed the travelling on the monorail at the museum. Back in 1974, it was opened by The Wombles – the furry, secretive creatures created by Elizabeth Beresford. However, it was not the first monorail at Beaulieu. Before the 'Skytrain', there was a less permanent structure in place for the opening of the National Motor Museum in 1972. This monorail featured battery operated mechanics, from milk floats and soon after it was launched, it was realised that something more permanent was needed. Tiny English village named one of the most beautiful in the UK is home to huge motor museum Butlin's was actually the thing that inspired a permanent monorail at the museum, as the resort at Skegness was home to the first commercial monorail system in the UK. An agreement was made, whereby Beaulieu purchased the same mechanism to use for its 'Skytrain'. The trains were recently named 'Monty' and 'Mary' and for the 50th anniversary, the monorail station underwent a refresh, with a new design on both the inside and outside of the carriages paying homage to the history of the ride. Visitors can enjoy unlimited rides of the monorail during their visit to Beaulieu, as this is included in a general admission ticket. There is even Beaulieu Monorail-themed merchandise in the museum's gift shop. Beaulieu is also home to many other attractions for visitors to explore. The National Motor Museum features some of the earliest motor carriages, as well as classic family saloons and Formula 1 cars. 4 Nearby is also Palace House, a medieval abbey that was renovated into a Victorian country house Credit: Alamy Visitors can also head to the Palace House, which was once the gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey and has been home to the Montagu's since 1538. The palace was extensively remodelled in the 19th century, making it into a Victorian country house, with Gothic features. A number of rooms in the Palace have recently been refurbished and will open to the public over Easter. Tickets to the full attraction, including the above and more such as the gardens, is £27 per adult or £15.50 per child, when booked in advance. The closest train station is Brockenhurst, where trains from London regularly stop. A new tour of three historic UK train stations was recently announced. Plus, the 150-year-old British train station named one of Europe's best.
The Sun
27-04-2025
- The Sun
English museum home to world-famous collection – as well as UK's oldest monorail
THE UK'S oldest monorail is based at a museum in the New Forest, between Southampton and Bournemouth. The historic monorail, located at Beaulieu, stretches for a mile and allows guests to explore the museum from above. 4 4 It even goes over the roof of the National Motor Museum. As guests travel on the monorail, commentary tells the stories behind the different things they see on their journey. Visitors can experience the monorail through regular services across the day. Over 240,000 visitors take a trip on the Monorail each year. Last year, the Monorail at Beaulieu celebrated 50 years since it opened in 1974. Over the decades, visitors have enjoyed the travelling on the monorail at the museum. Back in 1974, it was opened by The Wombles - the furry, secretive creatures created by Elizabeth Beresford. However, it was not the first monorail at Beaulieu. Before the 'Skytrain', there was a less permanent structure in place for the opening of the National Motor Museum in 1972. This monorail featured battery operated mechanics, from milk floats and soon after it was launched, it was realised that something more permanent was needed. Tiny English village named one of the most beautiful in the UK is home to huge motor museum Butlin's was actually the thing that inspired a permanent monorail at the museum, as the resort at Skegness was home to the first commercial monorail system in the UK. An agreement was made, whereby Beaulieu purchased the same mechanism to use for its 'Skytrain'. The trains were recently named 'Monty' and 'Mary' and for the 50th anniversary, the monorail station underwent a refresh, with a new design on both the inside and outside of the carriages paying homage to the history of the ride. Visitors can enjoy unlimited rides of the monorail during their visit to Beaulieu, as this is included in a general admission ticket. There is even Beaulieu Monorail-themed merchandise in the museum's gift shop. Beaulieu is also home to many other attractions for visitors to explore. The National Motor Museum features some of the earliest motor carriages, as well as classic family saloons and Formula 1 cars. 4 Visitors can also head to the Palace House, which was once the gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey and has been home to the Montagu's since 1538. The palace was extensively remodelled in the 19th century, making it into a Victorian country house, with Gothic features. A number of rooms in the Palace have recently been refurbished and will open to the public over Easter. Tickets to the full attraction, including the above and more such as the gardens, is £27 per adult or £15.50 per child, when booked in advance. The closest train station is Brockenhurst, where trains from London regularly stop. A new tour of three historic UK train stations was recently announced. Plus, the 150-year-old British train station named one of Europe's best.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Abbey House Museum showcases 200-year-old children's books
Children's books dating back more than 200 years have gone on display in Story Time exhibition at Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall features tales from the early 1800s, including The Mice And Their Picnic: A Moral Tale, published by Mary Belson Elliott in based on TV characters including Pinky and Perky, Bugs Bunny and The Wombles are also on display, alongside vintage games and jigsaws made by the Leeds firm Kitty Ross said the exhibition would "hopefully bring back some special memories for visitors". She said: "Storytelling, play and reading are truly timeless elements of our childhoods which span every generation and are such an integral part of our early years."What is fascinating is how our approach to these subjects has changed and evolved over time and how our enduring love of stories has been a driving force behind the creation of so many different genres of books, games, toys and entertainment." Among the Waddingtons collection is original artwork for the firm's circular jigsaws from the 1960s, which were rescued from a bin by a former company firm was responsible for devising Monopoly and Cluedo, among other family board City Council announced plans to close Abbey House Museum, which stands opposite the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey, at the end of last year. Shutting the museum, which is around 100 years old, was proposed to save the cash-strapped council money, though the authority insisted no final decision had been to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
