Latest news with #WW1
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arrests as stolen WW1 plaque found in scrapyard
Two men have been arrested following the theft of two WW1 plaques from a Kent war memorial, police have said. Two military memorial plaques disappeared from the grounds of Christ Church Luton in Chatham between 22:00 BST on Friday and 10:00 on Saturday. Kent Police said one of the plaques was recovered from a scrapyard in Essex on Wednesday. The force said it has arrested a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, both from the Dartford area. Christ Church Luton's priest in charge, the Reverend Andrea Leonard, told BBC Radio Kent on Thursday that she remains hopeful the other plaque will be found. She said: "Hats off to the person, who wants to obviously remain anonymous, but who had the integrity to phone the police and say 'I've got something here that you want'. "He actually spoke to me and he said he looked at the list and thought 'those poor lads that gave everything, they don't deserve this'." Kent Police said it is trying to find the second plaque and appealed for anyone with information about the missing plaques to get in touch. The plaques commemorate 163 people from the Chatham area who died in WW1 and each weigh 93kg. The memorial, which has been in place for 105 years, is "priceless" to the parish and relatives of the soldiers, Ms Leonard said. She believes there has not yet been time for the still-missing plaque to be melted down, but that they will find a suitable replacement if they have to as "it just wouldn't be right" to a have a memorial with names missing. "It was terrible when we discovered that they were gone," she said. "We just could not believe it because it's not only the church, it's the whole wider community." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Military memorial plaques stolen from churchyard Kent Police
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Arrest as Chatham church's WW1 plaque found at Essex scrapyard
Two men have been arrested following the theft of two WW1 plaques from a Kent war memorial, police have military memorial plaques disappeared from the grounds of Christ Church Luton in Chatham between 22:00 BST on Friday and 10:00 on Police said one of the plaques was recovered from a scrapyard in Essex on force said it has arrested a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, both from the Dartford area. Christ Church Luton's priest in charge, the Reverend Andrea Leonard, told BBC Radio Kent on Thursday that she remains hopeful the other plaque will be said: "Hats off to the person, who wants to obviously remain anonymous, but who had the integrity to phone the police and say 'I've got something here that you want'."He actually spoke to me and he said he looked at the list and thought 'Those poor lads that gave everything, they don't deserve this'."Kent Police said it is trying to find the second plaque and appealed for anyone with information about the missing plaques to get in touch. The plaques commemorate 163 people from the Chatham area who died in WW1 and each weigh memorial, which has been in place for 105 years, is "priceless" to the parish and relatives of the soldiers, Ms Leonard believes there has not yet been time for the still-missing plaque to be melted down, but that they will find a suitable replacement if they have to as "it just wouldn't be right" to a have a memorial with names missing."It was terrible when we discovered that they were gone," she said. "We just could not believe it because it's not only the church, it's the whole wider community."
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Inaugural Keith Locke Memorial Debate
Keith Locke - Latest News [Page 1] 'We are encouraging people who wish to remember Keith to attend, as well as those who have an interest in the topic regardless of their views or place on the political spectrum,' said his sister Maire Leadbeater. More >> 100th anniversary for those jailed for WW1 'sedition' Tuesday, 13 December 2016, 3:28 pm | Keith Locke On Thursday 15 December there will be commemorations in Auckland and Christchurch, marking 100 years since arrests began for 'sedition'. More >> Keith Locke starts "Not in our Name" spying petition Thursday, 12 March 2015, 4:04 pm | Keith Locke Former Green MP Keith Locke has launched an internet petition, in the form of an apology to several Asian and Pacific Island nations for the GCSB spying on their government communications. More >> Keith Locke presentation on Countering Foreign Fighters Bill Thursday, 27 November 2014, 4:33 pm | Keith Locke It's a pleasure to be able to talk to members of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee again, and remember my 12 years on your committee. However, I don't wish my submission today to be taken as endorsement of the completely unnecessary ... More >>
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Paul Mescal looks effortlessly stylish in navy suit and denim shirt as he waves to fans at The History Of Sound photocall in Cannes after the 'sexless' gay romance was panned by critics
Paul Mescal looked effortlessly stylish as he waved to fans while arriving at a photocall at Cannes Film Festival on Thursday. The Irish actor's latest project The History Of Sound premiered at the festival on Wednesday evening - yet so far the new gay romance has been panned by critics. Despite receiving an impressive nine-minute standing ovation, critics have branded the film as 'Brokeback Mountain on sedatives' and 'too polite'. However Paul appeared to not let the negative reception ruin his mood as he posed for snaps alongside the film's director Oliver Hermanus. The star opted for a navy blazer jacket and matching tailored trousers, but added a casual element as he paired the suit with an open denim blue shirt and white T-shirt. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Paul added a pair of stylish shades and completed the look with chunky black loafers. Based on the short story of the same name by Ben Shattuck, The History Of Sound stars Paul and Josh O'Connor as love interests Lionel and David. It follows their journey as they travel together to record the stories and songs of their countrymen during the shadow of the WW1. And Paul's girlfriend Gracie Abrams made sure to show her support for her boyfriend as she attended the premiere, however the couple were not photographed together. But as the first reviews for the film dropped on Thursday, critics branded the romance 'Brokeback Mountain on sedatives' as they complained about the lack of steamy scenes. Critics praised the performances of its lead actors, with one even calling it 'one of the most unabashedly romantic LGBTQ films in recent memory', but many instead branded it 'too polite' and 'monotonous'. Left unimpressed by the film, Owen Gleiberman for Variety said: 'The History of Sound,' which might be described as a minimalist 'Masterpiece Theatre'-on-the-frontier riff on 'Brokeback,' is a drama that mostly just sits there. 'It's far from incompetent, but it's listless and spiritually inexpressive. It's 'Brokeback Mountain' on sedatives.' The star opted for a navy blazer jacket and matching tailored trousers, but added a casual element as he paired the suit with an open denim blue shirt and white T-shirt However other critics praised the performances of its lead actors, with one even calling it 'one of the most unabashedly romantic LGBTQ films in recent memory' Meanwhile Jo-Ann Titmarsh for The Standard rating 2*: 'For a film about music and harmony, alas this story is pretty monotonous. Ironically, it is not helped by the score. 'Mescal and O'Connor put in fine performances here, but the problem lies in the screenplay and direction, which allows little joy or change of pace to muscle their way in.' Nicholas Barber for the BBC said: 'The screenplay by Ben Shattuck is adapted from his own short story, and yet, with its leisurely pace and multiple endings, the film feels longer than its two-hour running time. 'It's left to the melancholy ballads of heartbreak and grief to provide the piercing emotion that is lacking elsewhere. The most romantic sequence has Lionel and David walking through the woods, harmonising exquisitely without any preparation, so it's a shame that such songs are missing for so much of this polite and polished film.' 'The accents and line-readings feel like painstaking expert reconstructions rather than the real thing and the love scenes are at half-throttle – as if they are there to be remembered sadly rather than experienced ecstatically in the here and now,' added Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian. 'Everything here is out of the top drawer of production value: but it never really comes to passionate life.' Richard Lawson for Vanity Fair agreed, saying: 'The tent stuff does, inevitably, bring to mind Brokeback Mountain, another restrained, handsomely staged drama of gay men in harsh times. But History of Sounds is on an even lower simmer than that film, asking its audience to sustain themselves mostly on loaded looks and hushed subtext. 'Too often the film's muted emotion feels more gimmicky than credible to Lionel and David's circumstances, particularly because Hermanus is so demure about sex; we barely even see the men kissing.' It follows their journey as they travel together to record the stories and songs of their countrymen during the shadow of the WW1 Ed Potton for The Times said: 'The last act has a disappointing inevitability, with little of the transcendent emotion of the first hour.' But other critics gushed over the performances of its stars and applauded its use of music to convey emotion. Pete Hammond for Deadline said: 'This may be Mescal's best work in films yet.' Added: 'The History of Sound belongs to Mescal and O'Connor, who both committed to it pre-pandemic well before either became Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning major stars. 'They stuck with it through all the delays and should be rewarded for their loyalty to Hermanus, who has made a film that will stay in your head for a very long time, it's that good.' 'A tender, decade-spanning love story, exquisitely told by director Oliver Hermanus, The History of Sound is yet another wonderful showcase for the considerable talents of Josh O'Connor and Paul Mescal,' James Mottram for Radio Times said. David Rooney for The Hollywood Reporter added: 'If you tap into History Of Sound's soulful undercurrents, the soaring spiritual dimensions of the music — in songs more often about people than Divinity — and the depth of feeling in Mescal and O'Connor's performances, this is a film of lingering melancholic beauty. 'The power of the music alone makes it one of the most unabashedly romantic LGBTQ films in recent memory.' THE HISTORY OF SOUND: WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING Nicholas Barber for the BBC says: 'The screenplay by Ben Shattuck is adapted from his own short story, and yet, with its leisurely pace and multiple endings, the film feels longer than its two-hour running time. 'It's left to the melancholy ballads of heartbreak and grief to provide the piercing emotion that is lacking elsewhere. The most romantic sequence has Lionel and David walking through the woods, harmonising exquisitely without any preparation, so it's a shame that such songs are missing for so much of this polite and polished film.' Rating: Jo-Ann Titmarsh for The Standard says: 'For a film about music and harmony, alas this story is pretty monotonous. Ironically, it is not helped by the score. Mescal and O'Connor put in fine performances here, but the problem lies in the screenplay and direction, which allows little joy or change of pace to muscle their way in. Rating: Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian says: The accents and line-readings feel like painstaking expert reconstructions rather than the real thing and the love scenes are at half-throttle – as if they are there to be remembered sadly rather than experienced ecstatically in the here and now. 'Everything here is out of the top drawer of production value: but it never really comes to passionate life.' Rating: Rating: Richard Lawson for Vanity Fair: 'The tent stuff does, inevitably, bring to mind Brokeback Mountain, another restrained, handsomely staged drama of gay men in harsh times. But History of Sounds is on an even lower simmer than that film, asking its audience to sustain themselves mostly on loaded looks and hushed subtext. 'Too often the film's muted emotion feels more gimmicky than credible to Lionel and David's circumstances, particularly because Hermanus is so demure about sex; we barely even see the men kissing.' Owen Gleiberman for Variety: 'The History of Sound,' which might be described as a minimalist 'Masterpiece Theatre'-on-the-frontier riff on 'Brokeback,' is a drama that mostly just sits there. It's far from incompetent, but it's listless and spiritually inexpressive. It's 'Brokeback Mountain' on sedatives.' Pete Hammond for Deadline: 'This may be Mescal's best work in films yet.' Added: 'The History of Sound belongs to Mescal and O'Connor, who both committed to it pre-pandemic well before either became Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning major stars. 'They stuck with it through all the delays and should be rewarded for their loyalty to Hermanus, who has made a film that will stay in your head for a very long time, it's that good.' James Mottram for Radio Times says: 'A tender, decade-spanning love story, exquisitely told by director Oliver Hermanus, The History of Sound is yet another wonderful showcase for the considerable talents of Josh O'Connor and Paul Mescal.' Rating: David Rooney for The Hollywood Reporter: 'If you tap into History Of Sound's soulful undercurrents, the soaring spiritual dimensions of the music — in songs more often about people than Divinity — and the depth of feeling in Mescal and O'Connor's performances, this is a film of lingering melancholic beauty.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Repairs at Heugh Battery Museum under way
Work has started to improve a World War One site which was deemed "at risk" by Historic England in Heugh Battery in Hartlepool was put on the conservation body's list due to "neglect, decay or inappropriate development".The government announced £33m of cultural funding for such sites in March 2024, awarding the historic museum with almost £500, Diane Stephens said the past few months had been "tough" as parts of the site had to close, but hoped work would be completed by the end of August. The Heugh Battery is known as the UK's first and only WW1 battlefield, after three German battlecruisers attacked Hartlepool in than 100 civilians were killed and 400 injured, but the Heugh Battery guns returned fire and are credited with cutting the bombardment securing £497,534 for essential repairs, work began on the site in February. 'Stop the decline' Ms Stephens said the museum was placed onto Historic England's at-risk list initially when the team noticed cracks in the gunning placement and a "big bit fell off".She said it was not the only issue the museum faced."We've got water coming in everywhere, not just even in the cracks and making concrete unstable, but we've had flooding issues," she said."We have had issues in the underground parts of the museum where the metal has gone really rusty. It really needed some management to stop the decline." Due to the work, most of the site has been closed off to the public, but the team has recently opened a new exhibition which features a German bomb from one of the ships during the bombardment. Ms Stephens said the past few months had been tough."Our visitor numbers are down and our income is down about 50% on the same time last year, so we really are struggling to pay our way this year."It's great to have the funding to do the works but we've got to keep the underlying things paid for too, like the electricity." Xsite Architecture's Tim Bailey, who is working on the site, said the location of the museum left it exposed to the elements."This marine environment is battered by wind, salt and water which has meant that quite a bit of the components of the site have been eroded and are decaying," he said. "This work will stabilise that and make sure that it continues to exist for future visitors."He said he hoped to be able to return the site to something that both demonstrated the sacrifice of WW1 and a "place where people will come and talk about what that means today". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
