Latest news with #WREN
The Sun
04-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Nearly half of Brits don't know when VE day happened, new study reveals – as country celebrates 80th anniversary
NEARLY half of Brits do not know when VE Day happened – and one in 10 don't even know what it stands for. With the country gearing up to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, research of 2,000 adults revealed 46 per cent don't know when VE Day took place. 3 3 And 47 per cent are completely unaware of how their ancestors might have celebrated the momentous occasion in 1945. Despite this, 25 per cent wish they had photos of loved ones marking the day all those years ago. While 38 per cent want to see the celebratory traditions of VE Day kept alive for future generations. The research was commissioned by Findmypast to mark the launch of a VE Day photo archive, and is inviting the public to share their family connections and stories behind the historic images. Pat Owtram, who was 18 when she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) after signing the Official Secrets Act in Liverpool's Royal Liver Building – and went on to become a wartime codebreaker – still has vivid memories of 8th May 1945. She said: 'VE Day was an unforgettable day. 'It came as a huge relief, and I remember the cheers and tremendous excitement of the crowds as I joined them outside Buckingham Palace – though I didn't feel I could celebrate fully while my father was still a Prisoner of War. 'VE Day signified the beginning of a brighter future – six long years of war in Europe were over. 'I felt I'd played my part in the WRENs and looked forward to my father returning home. 'Keeping these memories alive is so important – and having access to wartime records really matters. VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says 'They help us remember, understand, and pass these powerful stories on for future generations.' The study also found two-thirds (65 per cent) have either celebrated VE Day in the past or plan to this year. Many will mark the occasion with a moment of silence (41 per cent) and listening to or watching war stories (28 per cent). While others will talk to or about ancestors who served (18 per cent). Historian Lucy Worsley OBE said: 'VE Day in 1945 was a profound moment in our national history, and these images capture that feeling of immense relief and hope – but it's only if we take a deeper look into the stories behind these smiles that we can understand what this moment truly meant. 'That's why I'm calling on the public to delve deeper into their family's wartime experiences. 'This is a powerful way to understand the everyday realties during an extraordinary time, from your great granny on the Home Front operating industrial machinery to your great-uncles under fire on the Normandy beaches. 'On this special 80th anniversary, let's make sure these wartime stories come to light and are remembered.' Jen Baldwin from Findmypast added: 'The findings suggest that although many are still celebrating VE Day, knowledge of the special day is declining. 'Historical newspapers and records offer a treasure trove of information to help uncover and understand your ancestors' experiences. 'This new collection reveals how millions flocked to the streets to celebrate, but the stories behind many of those smiling faces are not widely known. 'We want everyone to help us create a collective record of the nation's wartime family stories – from the eve of war to VE Day celebrations – to preserve these precious memories for generations to come.' 3
Economic Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
NYT Strands answers for May 2, 2025: Complete puzzle guide, hints, clue words, and Spangram
NYT Strands puzzle answers for May 2 are here, and today's theme — 'What a trill!' — takes bird lovers straight into the world of songbirds. If you're stuck on Strands #425, this guide breaks down all the hints, clue words, and the spangram you need to finish the puzzle. With bird names like LARK, WREN, and SPARROW, this one sings with feathered fun. We've also included quick solving tips and the full answer list so you don't miss a thing. Perfect for puzzle lovers looking for today's NYT Strands help, hints, and solutions in one place. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What's the theme of today's NYT Strands puzzle? What are the clue words to unlock more hints? WICK , WICKS , SOWS , ABLE , CARE , NEAR , , , , , LAID , DROW , RING , WING , BIRD , SHADE , , , , , COIN, SEEK, GIRD, NOIR, CHICK Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What are the NYT Strands answers for May 2? Popular in International LARK WREN SPARROW WARBLER CARDINAL CHICKADEE What is the spangram for NYT Strands #425? SONGBIRDS Need help solving Strands faster? Tweak what you've already found. Got 'WILL'? Look for nearby letters to build 'BILL' or 'SILL.' Scan for word families. Once you find one bird (like 'WREN'), you'll be able to look for other birds in a similar pattern. Use clues wisely. Every three valid words you enter unlocks a theme word. That's often enough to give your brain a boost. Why is NYT Strands trending now? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs: If you're playing the NYT Strands puzzle today, you might already know that it's chirping with a very specific theme — birds. Strands #425, released on May 2, 2025, comes with the playful theme 'What a trill!' — a nod to birdwatchers and fans of our feathered friends. But if you're not a birder, don't worry. We've gathered all the NYT Strands hints, answers, and help you'll need to solve today's headline clue for today's Strands puzzle is 'What a trill!' — a direct hint pointing toward birds and their songs. If that didn't give it away, the secondary clue, 'Feathered friends,' certainly means all the theme words in today's game are types of birds, particularly songbirds. You'll need to scan the board for familiar bird names, especially the ones known for chirping or you earn more help by identifying any valid four-letter words. Once you find three, you're rewarded with a theme word revealed on the grid. For puzzle #425, players have reported using these helpful clue words to get going:These words helped unlock the theme clues faster. You can use them or find your own combinations — as long as they're four letters or more, they you understand the theme — birds — it becomes easier to spot the actual answers. There are several small bird species that make up the list of themed words today. According to puzzle solvers and CNET's coverage, here are the official Strands answers for May 2, puzzle #425:These words fit the puzzle's bird-centric theme and will use up most of the spangram, which stretches from one end of the board to the other and captures the overall theme, is:This word perfectly ties all the themed answers together and reflects the musical nature hinted at in today's 'What a trill!' you've found the spangram and all the related birds, your board should be completely cleared — that means every letter on the board has been are a few quick, human-tested tips to get better at solving NYT Strands puzzles:Thehas quickly become a favorite alongside Wordle and Connections. With its rotating daily themes and clever layout, it's gaining attention across puzzle communities. According to CNET, Strands is being covered daily alongside Wordle, Mini Crossword, and Connections: Sports Edition — showing how popular and competitive it's challenge, focused on birds and songbirds, adds a fun twist for nature lovers and casual solvers spangram isAnswers include, and more.
South Wales Argus
03-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly care home resident shares VE Day memories
Eunice David, a resident of HC-One Wales's Parklands Care Home in Bedwas, was born on May 16, 1924. She was 15 at the start of the Second World War and 21 at the end. Eunice served as a WREN when she was 19 (Image: HC-One Wales) Mrs David, originally from Ely in Cardiff before moving to lee-on-the-Solent with her family, joined the Royal Navy and became a WREN at the age of 19. She served her country for two and a half years, including living and working through the Dunkirk evacuation. She met her future husband, John, in Lee-On-The-Solent while he was in the RAF. They married in Cardiff in 1944 whilst he was on leave from Normandy and were together for 59 years. On VE Day, Mrs David, her husband, and her family celebrated by having a street party in Cardiff with their neighbours. She met husband John whilst working as a WREN and they married in 1944 when he had two weeks leave from the RAF from Normandy (Image: HC-One Wales) Ms David said: "I remember the bells ringing and people cheering, but it was the silence afterwards that stayed with me – the kind of silence that comes with relief and remembrance. "We were just girls doing our duty, but on VE Day, we felt like we'd helped change the world." After her service as a WREN, Ms David and her husband travelled around the world together, most notably to Hong Kong. Eunice now lives in Bedwas and is 100 (Image: HC-One Wales) They had two sons, Neil and Phillip, two granddaughters, Cerys and Stacey, and three great grandchildren. Mrs David moved into Parklands Care Home in June 2022. She is looking forward to celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day by joining in the street party being hosted at the care home. HC-One Wales is a family of 14 care homes across Wales. The mission is to support those in care to lead their best life, with kindness as a key cornerstone of their operation. HC-One Wales offers residential, dementia, or nursing care, guided by a heartfelt desire to support those in its care to live better each moment of every day. It works closely with health and social care professionals and has developed a range of innovative and specialist care services, to support people to make the most of each moment, every day. For more information on HC-One homes, visit the HC-One website. The care home is looking forward to celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, 2025. It will be hosting a street party for their residents to commemorate the occasion.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SC has declared Infertility Awareness Week — now let's protect IVF
Sarah Brown, a Birmingham, Alabama, resident and in vitro fertilization patient, holds a sign saying 'I'm Here Because of IVF' at the Alabama Statehouse on Feb. 28, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (File photo by Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) When my infertility journey began back in 2015, no one I knew was talking about it. It felt like this secret club no one wanted to admit they were in. That's why I'm so proud that, thanks to recent advocacy efforts, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a proclamation (provided below) officially recognizing National Infertility Awareness Week, which will be observed April 20–26. It's a powerful step in acknowledging that infertility is real; it's medical; and it affects 1 in 7 couples in the U.S. — including me. Awareness about infertility is just the beginning. Because of my infertility, I tried multiple treatment options — including four rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and three rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF). In the end, we walked away with one living child and one miscarriage that required a dilatation and curettage (D&C) procedure. We paid 100% out of pocket for treatment because, as a military family, we don't have insurance coverage for infertility care unless it's due to a direct injury to reproductive organs. That's something most people don't realize. And it's just one example of how broken and inconsistent the system is when it comes to supporting people who want to build a family. That's part of what drives me today. I now run my own business, Empowered Infertility, as an IVF mindset coach and host the 'More Than Your Infertility' podcast. Since 2019, I have worked with women all over the country to help them emotionally navigate the IVF rollercoaster — because I know firsthand how hard it is and how isolating it can feel. Recently, I participated in a federal advocacy day through Resolve (the national infertility association) where I met with South Carolina legislators alongside other residents impacted by infertility. We shared our stories — the heartbreak, the medical treatments, the financial burden — all in hopes of helping lawmakers understand what's at stake. One of the people who joined us was a hopeful grandmother from the Lowcountry. Her son and daughter-in-law are currently going through IVF to try to start a family — to make her a grandma. And she wanted lawmakers to know that even as a Catholic, she fully supports access to IVF care. Her voice reminded me that this issue crosses political, religious, and generational lines. It's about people, not parties. That's why I'm grateful for the work of the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN). WREN has been a tireless force in South Carolina for years, helping to secure access to contraception, protect bodily autonomy, and defend the right to make informed reproductive decisions. They've helped pass laws like the Pharmacy Access Act, which allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control directly — a huge win for health care access in our state. Now, WREN is helping lead the effort to protect IVF, and they're showing everyday people like me how to use our stories to make a difference — even if we don't have a background in politics. And here's the thing: You don't have to testify at the Statehouse or publish an op-ed to make your voice count. If you're in the thick of treatments right now, just getting through the day is enough — I've got you. But if you're on the other side, or you know someone who's walked this path, now is the time to speak up. Infertility and IVF are no longer topics whispered about in secrecy. More and more people are finding the courage to share — not just publicly, but in everyday conversations. Start with your inner circle. Talk to your friends, your coworkers, your community. When lawmakers hear from people they know and love, it changes everything. IVF isn't a first option. It's often the last resort after years of trying less invasive treatments. It's not a luxury. It's a medical treatment option. It's a lifeline. And it deserves to be protected. As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week here in South Carolina, let's do more than acknowledge the problem. Let's support the people going through it. Let's protect access to IVF for all the people who will need it and don't even know it. And let's make sure our lawmakers understand: Infertility is a medical diagnosis that doesn't discriminate — and neither should our laws.
