Latest news with #Whittingham
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Powys County Times
Powys woman who threatened policeman's life spared prison
A woman who has a violent history with police officers has been spared prison for biting, kicking and scratching emergency workers and threatening to rip a policeman's head off. Georgina Whittingham, 51, said she was "disgusted" with herself after Dyfed-Powys Police had to use their PAVA spray despite her being repeatedly warned to stop assaulting officers. A year earlier she had tried to resist arrest by stamping on an officer's foot, digging her nails into his hands and biting his arm before being taken to the ground after she had been stopped driving the wrong way on a road. Chair of the magistrates' bench Anthony Jackson told the Powys woman that she would not be going to prison because of her mental health issues after she admitted three counts of assault by beating an emergency worker - but said she was in "last chance saloon". Welshpool Magistrates' Court was told on Tuesday (May 13) that PC Hewitt pulled over an Audi A1 driven by Whittingham after it was driven the wrong way in Severn Street in Welshpool on February 21 last year. "On speaking to the defendant, she was instantly verbally aggressive and refused to engage," said prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright. Whittingham then tried leaving and was arrested for refusing to engage with the officer. She then bit the officer cutting his skin through layers of clothes and called him a "f***ing w***er" and a "c***" while being placed into handcuffs. PC Hewitt told the court in a statement read by the prosecutor that he had to go to hospital for blood tests and has been left with a scar from the bite. "It's clear that she doesn't like me," PC Hewitt said. "Her actions compromise officer safety due to her aggression and hatred. "It was lucky that we were double crewed that day because I fear what would have happened if Whittingham managed to get back into her vehicle." Whittingham said during a police interview that she was "immediately apprehensive" when PC Hewitt approached her vehicle following previous "unpleasant" interactions. She said that she wanted to get away because of her complex PTSD and unstable personality disorder. On March 29 this year, police were then called to a property in Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain where they found Whittingham near her vehicle about to leave, and believed it was necessary to arrest her. Prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright said the 51-year-old then tried to bite and kick PCs Morris and Dinely as she resisted being handcuffed. After ignoring warnings and continuing to kick the officers, PC Dinely withdrew his PAVA spray. After a two-hour drive to Brecon Police Station, Whittingham told officers that she was "disgusted" with herself. She added that she "respected" the police and only harmed them because she was in a distressed state. Defence solicitor Gurleen Kaur told the court that Whittingham reacted because she felt "manhandled', and it was a "trauma response". "However, the defendant is taking proactive steps to deal and not respond," Ms Kaur explained." Ms Kaur added: "There is some form of bad blood between her and the officer although she does not justify her actions. She has entered a guilty plea expressing remorse. "The defendant would say kicking and stomping would have been accidental and queries the amount of harm given that the defendant was wearing Crocs at the time of the incident and the officer would have been wearing appropriate footwear." Whittingham, of Guilsfield, near Welshpool, was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment for assaulting PC Hewitt and 13 weeks for assaulting PCs Morris and Dinely. The concurrent sentences were suspended for 18 months. "You have a history of violence against police officers," chair of the magistrates' bench Anthony Jackson said. "You seem to have little regard for emergency workers carrying out their duties. Kicking, scratching and biting are not acceptable. These people are in a job of work and deserve our respect. "This your last chance saloon. This is it." Whittingham must pay PC Hewitt £150 compensation and £50 each to PCs Morris and Dinely, plus £238 to the court.
The Advertiser
17-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Former racing greyhounds seek loving homes for life, pats and belly rubs required
The kids had been spoiling for a pet to look after, and Dad was having trouble finding new reasons to put off the inevitable. Darren Whittingham had grown up with dogs. His dad was an English Sheepdog breeder. They were a part of the furniture. Now, he and his children often dog-sit for their aunt's beloved pet, and when they have to say goodbye at the end of the short stay, there are always tears. Mr and Mrs Whittingham from Lambton have two kids, Charlie and Parker, and at the weekend there was a new addition to the family, a retired greyhound who stood at about Parker's chest height as he held the lead, doting on it lovingly. "We have been thinking about it for a while," Mr Whittingham said. "The kids need something like this, and I think it is sort of time that we got one so they can look after it. They have been frothing at the bit to get one." Theirs was one of a slew of returned racing dogs that were adopted to homes across the city and the region at the Station in Newcastle on Saturday, where re-homing agency Greyhounds As Pets, which has connections to Greyhounds NSW, sought to link families with pets that would otherwise be returned to their trainers. The breed was hardy, the agency's regional coordinator Sara McFaarlane said, and rarely showed the genetic issues that plague big dogs bred for aesthetics over performance. And contrary to assumption, adults are rarely high-maintenance pets. "They have a 20 minutes walk., and maybe a zoomies, and then they're on the couch for the rest of the day," Ms McFarlane said. Kendall Davis, with her partner Brad, was mingling at the edge of the event at the weekend as Roxy, the brindle-coated greyhound, dozed at her feet. The couple were considering adopting, though thought they might put it off for a year, but had come to the meet to better understand what they were in for. Ms Davis, who has experience with dachshunds, said the tall boys were "the opposite end of the spectrum". "Longer legs," she said and laughed, "And less barking." "It has been awesome today. I'm talking to a lot of foster carers as well about how much they adore them and how beautiful the breed is. I didn't really know that much about greyhounds. It has been a really cool experience." The kids had been spoiling for a pet to look after, and Dad was having trouble finding new reasons to put off the inevitable. Darren Whittingham had grown up with dogs. His dad was an English Sheepdog breeder. They were a part of the furniture. Now, he and his children often dog-sit for their aunt's beloved pet, and when they have to say goodbye at the end of the short stay, there are always tears. Mr and Mrs Whittingham from Lambton have two kids, Charlie and Parker, and at the weekend there was a new addition to the family, a retired greyhound who stood at about Parker's chest height as he held the lead, doting on it lovingly. "We have been thinking about it for a while," Mr Whittingham said. "The kids need something like this, and I think it is sort of time that we got one so they can look after it. They have been frothing at the bit to get one." Theirs was one of a slew of returned racing dogs that were adopted to homes across the city and the region at the Station in Newcastle on Saturday, where re-homing agency Greyhounds As Pets, which has connections to Greyhounds NSW, sought to link families with pets that would otherwise be returned to their trainers. The breed was hardy, the agency's regional coordinator Sara McFaarlane said, and rarely showed the genetic issues that plague big dogs bred for aesthetics over performance. And contrary to assumption, adults are rarely high-maintenance pets. "They have a 20 minutes walk., and maybe a zoomies, and then they're on the couch for the rest of the day," Ms McFarlane said. Kendall Davis, with her partner Brad, was mingling at the edge of the event at the weekend as Roxy, the brindle-coated greyhound, dozed at her feet. The couple were considering adopting, though thought they might put it off for a year, but had come to the meet to better understand what they were in for. Ms Davis, who has experience with dachshunds, said the tall boys were "the opposite end of the spectrum". "Longer legs," she said and laughed, "And less barking." "It has been awesome today. I'm talking to a lot of foster carers as well about how much they adore them and how beautiful the breed is. I didn't really know that much about greyhounds. It has been a really cool experience." The kids had been spoiling for a pet to look after, and Dad was having trouble finding new reasons to put off the inevitable. Darren Whittingham had grown up with dogs. His dad was an English Sheepdog breeder. They were a part of the furniture. Now, he and his children often dog-sit for their aunt's beloved pet, and when they have to say goodbye at the end of the short stay, there are always tears. Mr and Mrs Whittingham from Lambton have two kids, Charlie and Parker, and at the weekend there was a new addition to the family, a retired greyhound who stood at about Parker's chest height as he held the lead, doting on it lovingly. "We have been thinking about it for a while," Mr Whittingham said. "The kids need something like this, and I think it is sort of time that we got one so they can look after it. They have been frothing at the bit to get one." Theirs was one of a slew of returned racing dogs that were adopted to homes across the city and the region at the Station in Newcastle on Saturday, where re-homing agency Greyhounds As Pets, which has connections to Greyhounds NSW, sought to link families with pets that would otherwise be returned to their trainers. The breed was hardy, the agency's regional coordinator Sara McFaarlane said, and rarely showed the genetic issues that plague big dogs bred for aesthetics over performance. And contrary to assumption, adults are rarely high-maintenance pets. "They have a 20 minutes walk., and maybe a zoomies, and then they're on the couch for the rest of the day," Ms McFarlane said. Kendall Davis, with her partner Brad, was mingling at the edge of the event at the weekend as Roxy, the brindle-coated greyhound, dozed at her feet. The couple were considering adopting, though thought they might put it off for a year, but had come to the meet to better understand what they were in for. Ms Davis, who has experience with dachshunds, said the tall boys were "the opposite end of the spectrum". "Longer legs," she said and laughed, "And less barking." "It has been awesome today. I'm talking to a lot of foster carers as well about how much they adore them and how beautiful the breed is. I didn't really know that much about greyhounds. It has been a really cool experience." The kids had been spoiling for a pet to look after, and Dad was having trouble finding new reasons to put off the inevitable. Darren Whittingham had grown up with dogs. His dad was an English Sheepdog breeder. They were a part of the furniture. Now, he and his children often dog-sit for their aunt's beloved pet, and when they have to say goodbye at the end of the short stay, there are always tears. Mr and Mrs Whittingham from Lambton have two kids, Charlie and Parker, and at the weekend there was a new addition to the family, a retired greyhound who stood at about Parker's chest height as he held the lead, doting on it lovingly. "We have been thinking about it for a while," Mr Whittingham said. "The kids need something like this, and I think it is sort of time that we got one so they can look after it. They have been frothing at the bit to get one." Theirs was one of a slew of returned racing dogs that were adopted to homes across the city and the region at the Station in Newcastle on Saturday, where re-homing agency Greyhounds As Pets, which has connections to Greyhounds NSW, sought to link families with pets that would otherwise be returned to their trainers. The breed was hardy, the agency's regional coordinator Sara McFaarlane said, and rarely showed the genetic issues that plague big dogs bred for aesthetics over performance. And contrary to assumption, adults are rarely high-maintenance pets. "They have a 20 minutes walk., and maybe a zoomies, and then they're on the couch for the rest of the day," Ms McFarlane said. Kendall Davis, with her partner Brad, was mingling at the edge of the event at the weekend as Roxy, the brindle-coated greyhound, dozed at her feet. The couple were considering adopting, though thought they might put it off for a year, but had come to the meet to better understand what they were in for. Ms Davis, who has experience with dachshunds, said the tall boys were "the opposite end of the spectrum". "Longer legs," she said and laughed, "And less barking." "It has been awesome today. I'm talking to a lot of foster carers as well about how much they adore them and how beautiful the breed is. I didn't really know that much about greyhounds. It has been a really cool experience."
The National
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Thunderball script that almost destroyed James Bond on sale in Abu Dhabi
It's the James Bond screenplay that nearly derailed the franchise. On display at Peter Harrington Rare Books at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is the original Thunderball screenplay, annotated by Bond creator Ian Fleming. The drama on the page was mirrored in real life, with the script becoming key evidence in a 1963 plagiarism trial that left a mark on Fleming's career and reputation. Pom Harrington, who runs the rare book firm founded by his father, calls the document the trial's 'smoking gun'. With title pages outlining a two-year draft process beginning on December 21, 1959, lawyers for co-writers Jack Whittingham and Kevin McClory were able to prove that Fleming's 1961 novel – also titled Thunderball – was based on their original screenplay. It remains the only Bond novel adapted from another source and the screenplay is on sale at the book fair for €250,000. 'What we have here in Abu Dhabi is the first draft written by Whittingham – so this is essentially the first screenplay,' Harrington tells The National. 'What this proves beyond any doubt is the concept. This is the first draft. It shows that this draft was created by someone else, sent to Fleming, and he absolutely acknowledged that – because his writing's all over it.' With Fleming's first six Bond novels – beginning with 1953's Casino Royale and including From Russia with Love and 1958's Dr No – gaining global popularity, the idea of a film adaptation was floated by producer and friend Ivar Bryce. British screenwriter Whittingham and Irish filmmaker McClory were enlisted to develop the story for the screen, while Fleming contributed story notes. When the process stalled after two years of correspondence between the trio, Fleming – then releasing a Bond novel annually – used the screenplay as the basis for his next book. Thunderball was published in 1961 without crediting either collaborator. That decision triggered the plagiarism lawsuit, which reached London's High Court in 1963 before being settled out of court, with McClory awarded the film rights to the screenplay. Harrington says handwritten annotations by Fleming on the early draft hint at creative clashes with Whittingham and McClory that would later hamper the project. These notes, written in blue ink, were often staccato. A blunt line appears on page 22, in a scene where a government minister discusses with military personnel the threat posed by a missing atomic bomb. Fleming criticises the writing as overly simplistic in characterisation and tone. 'There is no point making a fool out of the government. They don't act this way. This is old-fashioned stuff,' he wrote in the margins. Later, responding to a line about a missing plane, he remarked: 'Aircraft bodies don't disappear – they make wreckage.' 'You can almost hear Fleming sighing through the notations,' Harrington says. 'He wanted the tone to be sharper, more credible and drawn from his own wartime experience in intelligence. It also makes you think Fleming wasn't very collaborative, he just wanted to do his own thing. 'The screenplay writing process would start, stop and eventually stall. At this point, Fleming was committed to writing a novel every year and apparently he was running out of ideas. So he went off and wrote his next book, and essentially based it on this script.' The resulting case took a toll on Fleming, Harrington says, noting that later biographies describe how the trial – which saw Fleming undergo intense cross-examination – affected his health. The writer suffered a heart attack during the proceedings. A second heart attack killed him in 1964 at the age of 56, less than a year after the case concluded. As for why Fleming vigorously defended himself despite what appeared to be a weak case, Harrington attributes it to the reputational hit an adverse finding would have had on his career and standing. 'He moved in high society. His reputation mattered,' Harrington says. 'He came from a very wealthy family. Fleming Bank was founded by his grandfather and was enormous. Most of his money actually came from the family, not from writing.' Harrington said the screenplay came from a law firm involved in the case that had kept the evidence in storage. The firm sent it to McClory's family estate, which then sold it to the bookshop. Despite the hefty price, Harrington is confident the Thunderball typescript will find a buyer. 'About a third of what we sell never even reaches the market,' he says. 'We get it in, we offer it out. We know who wants to buy it. We know their collection better than they do. If we're doing our job properly, we'll say: 'This fits into your collection,' even if they haven't thought of it yet.' Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is running at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until May 5
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
BU Professor and Nobel Prize winner officially Knighted
WINDSOR, UK (WIVT/WBGH) – Binghamton University Chemistry Professor and Nobel Prize winner Stan Whittingham has added another prestigious honor to his collection, Knight Bachelor of the British Empire. Whittingham was dubbed Sir M. Stanley Whittingham during an investiture ceremony presided over by Princess Anne at Windsor Castle in England on January 15th. The Princess used the ceremonial sword to make light taps on each of his shoulders while conferring the honor on him. His wife Georgina, who may now use the title Lady, his son Michael and daughter Jennifer also attended the event. Whittingham, who grew up in Stamford, England, and came to the US in 1968 to attend Stanford University, says he doesn't know who nominated him. 'I'm still a proud citizen of the U.K. as well as the U.S. It was given for contributions to chemistry so it was still science. The other fellow who got a knighthood was for sustainability so they're looking at, I would say, green energy in particular this time around,' Whittingham said. Whittingham says a third person, a woman, was given the title of Dame that day. He says he made small talk with Princess Anne who was friendly and wanted to know why he didn't return to live in Great Britain. Whittingham received a special medal that, while it came with a strap, is meant to be worn pinned to the knot of a tie during formal occasions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
