Latest news with #Traveller
Press and Journal
a day ago
- Press and Journal
Fifteen-caravan Traveller convoy pitches-up at Inverdee playing fields
A 15-strong caravan camp has set up on Aberdeen playing fields as part of a summer holiday tour of Scotland. The Traveller convoy settled temporarily at the Inverdee playing fields, close to businesses such as Goals and Harvester, and arrived on Sunday June 1. Fifteen caravans along with towing vehicles were spotted on the large cricket pitch next to Great Southern Road. It is understood their arrival proved a surprise to local cricketers, who were forced to call of matches at the weekend. The Press and Journal went down to the site today to speak with one of the families, who told us they were visiting the city on holiday. They were in Aberdeen after previous stops in Edinburgh and Dundee, with the Highlands their next destination. According to one of the Travellers, the group had never stopped in the Granite City before but were pleasantly surprised by how friendly Aberdonians were. He said: 'We always try to find somewhere that is not going to be an issue for anyone, but it is getting harder every year to find a suitable site to set up on. 'We have passed through Aberdeen but never stopped. The people are friendly.' They had been on the site for only a day, arriving around lunchtime the day before. And it was something of a tight squeeze, due to the corner leading down to the pitches from the main road. One of the Travellers told us they 'don't want to upset anyone' and said they were only staying in the north-east for a week before moving on. The Travellers said they had been doing this for several years and found Aberdeen 'much nicer than Dundee'. Interactions between the adults and the young children at the site suggested a loving family unit. The caravans were spread out over the cricket pitch but all 15 families travel as one group. The travellers' arrival comes shortly after another group set up at Aberdeen Beach. We were told the two groups were separate and did not travel together. Within the Aberdeen city area, there few official Gypsy/Traveller sites, with the sole council facility at Clinterty, near the border with Aberdeenshire. It offers 21 permanent pitches, with a waiting list for spaces, and no provision for temporary stays. We also spoke to nearby football centre Goals, who told us the Travellers had asked to use their facilities but were refused permission. He went on to say that a group of cricketers who frequently use the ground were unable to play due to the travellers' presence on the pitch. They will not be able to use the playing field until the group vacate. The Goals worker also said that dog walkers had complained about the travellers' pets roaming freely around the area. A member of management at Harvester confirmed they had asked the group not to make use of the business' water tap after three individuals began filling water tanks. Its toilet facilities, they said, were also being used regularly. An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the encampment and we will progress action to have it removed as soon as possible. 'We are committed to engaging with the traveller community to address accommodation challenges they face.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Liz Truss promotes whiskey launched by fighter once jailed for punching pensioner
Liz Truss has promoted a new Irish whiskey launched by a bare-knuckle fighter who was once jailed for punching a pensioner. The former prime minister attended the launch event for Joyce's Irish Whiskey, a brand from 36-year-old Dougie Joyce, last month and was pictured sitting next to him. She also appeared in a video with the fighter, which he shared on social media, where he handed her a bottle and said his catchphrase: 'Just remember, Dougie Joyce loves ya.' Ms Truss took the product from him and said 'Liz Truss loves you'. A source close to the former prime minister said she was not paid to attend the event at Scunthorpe United's stadium. Mr Joyce, a Traveller, was handed a 19-month jail sentence for grievous bodily harm in 2023 after he repeatedly punched a 78-year-old man in the face in a pub brawl. He was wearing a 'large gold pyramid-style ring' that caused the pensioner 'significant injury', according to Greater Manchester Police at the time. Detective Constable Natalie Hollows described him afterwards as 'an aggressive and violent man who intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78 year-old man'. The fighter turned businessman was later given a 13-month sentence for violent disorder following a fight at a wake involving a rival Traveller family. A spokesman for Ms Truss said she attended the event in Scunthorpe 'to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC', adding: 'I thought the Government believed in the rehabilitation of offenders.' Mr Joyce once claimed that he would be the 'next Tyson Fury', a former professional boxer also from the Traveller community, and turned down a role on the reality television programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. He shared photographs of the launch event on Instagram, and wrote: 'Her presence was a tremendous support, and she took the time to speak about the future of business and the steps we can take moving forward. 'Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion. I am grateful for her support and the insights she shared, which will undoubtedly inspire us all as we look ahead to 2026 and beyond.' A source told The Sun, which first reported the appearance, that the former prime minister 'either doesn't understand the implications or doesn't care. Either way, this is a serious lapse'. Ms Truss came under fire last February after attending the Conservative political action conference in America, when she was interviewed by Steve Bannon. She asked Donald Trump's one-time chief White House strategist whether 'once you've sorted out America, you can come over to Britain and sort us out'.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Travellers move back on to popular family park 24 hours after clean-up
Travellers have moved back onto a popular family park just a day after a clean-up was completed. A small group of caravans set up camp on Swanshurst Park, on the outskirts of Moseley and Billesley, on Sunday (June 1). Their arrival came just 24 hours after members of a volunteer group dedicated to maintaining the park finished picking up rubbish after the last group left. READ MORE: Man glassed and woman punched in face in city centre attack as footage goes viral READ MORE: The posh Midlands town where house prices are falling Read More: Travellers move back onto family park for third time in weeks The Friends of Swanshurst Park spent two days tidying up and amassed an estimated 30 bags full of trash which was taken by a council bin lorry. The latest group is situated by Billesley Fire Station off Brook Lane. Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox When asked if the council would be putting in measures to prevent incursions, they said: "birmingham-city-council>Birmingham City Council is committed to actively protecting its land and will take steps to recover this land where unauthorised encampments encroach upon it. 'The council has useable transit sites and plots for use by the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community – which is in line with Government policy – and details of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment carried out and updated in 2019 can be found on our website." Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join This is the fourth traveller incursion in the park since April leaving locals frustrated. There are constant calls to beef up barriers with logs and other measures to prevent access. Mary Hart said last month on Facebook: "There have been three lots of travellers this year on Swanshurst. "Each time a different group. Last time there were two groups at the same time. "The clean-up is mostly done by volunteers with help from the council."
The Age
4 days ago
- The Age
If Qantas is going to use these seats on ultra-long hauls, count me out
Discomfort of strangers I recently flew on a Qantas Dreamliner from Santiago to Sydney. The economy seat was comfortable, with a useful shelf for a tablet or a phone, plenty of storage and good space between the seats. From such a promising start, the flight was one of the most uncomfortable I have ever experienced. For the most part, the person in front of me had their seat fully reclined. This rendered the shelf unusable, the tray table only just usable and the storage inaccessible. While I could have reclined my seat, I didn't want to inflict the same discomfort on the person behind me. I don't wish to enter into the ' recline or not recline ' debate, but If Qantas is going to use the same seats on their planned 22-hour non-stop flights from Sydney to London, I will be flying with someone else. Michael Thomas, Cheltenham, NSW Screen time I'm with Lee Tulloch in facing a long-haul flight in economy (Traveller, May 13). I recently flew Qantas to and from Japan. I always an aisle seat as I get up every two hours to combat the possibility of deep-vein thrombosis. Also, if I get 30 minutes of sleep I consider myself lucky. I got through several seasons of TV shows I had missed. Marie Nash, Balwyn, Vic Letter of the week: Group love The virtue of booking an escorted journey came home to me when on a land/cruise tour from Johannesburg with Cruise Express into Kruger National Park (Traveller, May 10). My wife and I arrived a few days earlier than the main group to explore Johannesburg. It coincided with massive floods in the Kruger region that resulted in many lodges being washed away, including the one where we were meant to stay. When tour director Hardy Schneider and the rest of the group arrived, his team in Sydney were already working on alternative arrangements which included a stay at one of Richard Branson's luxury lodges. I could not imagine what would have happened if we were travelling independently. Roger Summerill, Shell Cove, NSW Got your back
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
If Qantas is going to use these seats on ultra-long hauls, count me out
Discomfort of strangers I recently flew on a Qantas Dreamliner from Santiago to Sydney. The economy seat was comfortable, with a useful shelf for a tablet or a phone, plenty of storage and good space between the seats. From such a promising start, the flight was one of the most uncomfortable I have ever experienced. For the most part, the person in front of me had their seat fully reclined. This rendered the shelf unusable, the tray table only just usable and the storage inaccessible. While I could have reclined my seat, I didn't want to inflict the same discomfort on the person behind me. I don't wish to enter into the ' recline or not recline ' debate, but If Qantas is going to use the same seats on their planned 22-hour non-stop flights from Sydney to London, I will be flying with someone else. Michael Thomas, Cheltenham, NSW Screen time I'm with Lee Tulloch in facing a long-haul flight in economy (Traveller, May 13). I recently flew Qantas to and from Japan. I always an aisle seat as I get up every two hours to combat the possibility of deep-vein thrombosis. Also, if I get 30 minutes of sleep I consider myself lucky. I got through several seasons of TV shows I had missed. Marie Nash, Balwyn, Vic Letter of the week: Group love The virtue of booking an escorted journey came home to me when on a land/cruise tour from Johannesburg with Cruise Express into Kruger National Park (Traveller, May 10). My wife and I arrived a few days earlier than the main group to explore Johannesburg. It coincided with massive floods in the Kruger region that resulted in many lodges being washed away, including the one where we were meant to stay. When tour director Hardy Schneider and the rest of the group arrived, his team in Sydney were already working on alternative arrangements which included a stay at one of Richard Branson's luxury lodges. I could not imagine what would have happened if we were travelling independently. Roger Summerill, Shell Cove, NSW Got your back
