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STV News
24-05-2025
- General
- STV News
Memorial held for 45 babies secretly buried in mass unmarked grave
Last year, an ITV News investigation found there are hundreds of mass unmarked graves of babies in cemeteries across England, from Newcastle to Hampshire. By ITV News Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker and Senior Producer Lottie Kilraine This report contains strong language and distressing content Survivors of Britain's forced adoption scandal have gathered in Cumbria to remember children who died in church run institutions and were buried in mass unmarked graves. It comes after an ITV News investigation last year discovered that 45 babies had died at a former Church of England home for unmarried mothers and were buried in secret in a mass unmarked grave in Kendal. The Bishop of Carlisle Rev Rob Saner-Haigh unveiled a memorial garden at Parkside Cemetery and described St Monica's mother and baby home as a place of 'pain, rejection and heartache'. Speaking at the ceremony held on Friday, he said: 'This is a place for those who have lost their children and loved ones. [St Monica's] should have been sanctuary … but for many it became a place of pain, rejection and heartache. They were not treated well by the church and I am truly sorry for that.' If you or anyone you know has been affected by this issue or has a story to share, you can get in touch by emailing: socialaffairs@ The Bishop of Carlisle Rev Rob Saner-Haigh unveiled a memorial garden at Parkside Cemetery in Kendal, Cumbria. / Credit: ITV News St Monica's in Kendal was run by the Diocese of Carlisle from 1917 until its closure in 1970. Stephen Hindley, who has been campaigning for justice for nearly two decades for his wife Judith and her son, also called Stephen, said the memorial has given them 'the dignity they so richly deserve'. In post-war Britain an estimated 250,000 women were sent away to institutions run by religious organisations and the state where they were pressured and coerced to put their babies up for adoption. Other infants died due to mistreatment or poor care. Mr Hindley told ITV News: 'Judith was 17 at the time and she told me she was forced to clean floors and kitchens while heavily pregnant. They were being punished.' Stephen was born in 1964 with disabilities, but he was 'cruelly denied proper medical care and died 11 weeks later', Mr Hindley said. Judith never recovered from that trauma and in 2006 took her own life close to the cemetery where her baby is buried. Last year, an ITV News investigation found there are hundreds of mass unmarked graves of babies in cemeteries across England, from Newcastle to Hampshire. Stephen Hindley has been campaigning for justice for nearly two decades for his wife Judith. / Credit: ITV News / Supplied Burial records obtained by ITV News through a series of Freedom of Information Requests found graves connected to eight institutions for unmarried mothers. Records show that 67 infants died at a Salvation Army home in Newcastle, called Hopedene, and are buried in unmarked graves in four different cemeteries. The majority of the graves were connected to Church of England affiliated institutions. There are 11 unmarked graves from St Saviour's in Northampton, 21 from Putnam House in Aylesbury, and two connected to Sunnedon House Maternity Home in Brentwood, Essex. St Pelagia's Home, Highgate, London, pictured in the 1920's. / Credit: ITV News/History in Pictures There are 36 unmarked graves of babies born at the Winchester Diocesan Maternity Home. Following our report, the Diocese issued this appeal for information. Records for two Catholic church-run homes showed there are 21 unmarked graves of babies who died at the Sacred Heart Maternity Home in Kendal. At St Pelagia's, in Highgate, North London, 37 infants died. They are buried at Islington and St Pancras Cemetery in unmarked plots. The records don't say how the babies died, but experts have told ITV News that infant mortality rates were high within these institutions because 'mothers and babies were treated like second class citizens and were cut off from the rest of the health and social care system'. Bob and Carole Chubb only discovered the 'heartbreaking truth' of what happened to Bob's baby sister Faith after they watched a report on ITV News Other families, like Bob and Carole Chubb, only found out the truth about their loved ones after watching an ITV News report. Mr Chubb's sister Faith is among the 45 babies at Parkside Cemetery. His mother Norah Everard was in her 80s and dying from cancer when she first told him about the trauma she'd endured decades earlier as a teenager in 1941. Pregnant and unmarried, Norah, who was from Barrow-in-Furness, was sent away to St Monica's in Kendal where she was later told that her baby daughter Faith had been stillborn. Burial records seen by ITV News suggest that Norah was lied to and show that Faith had lived for 12 hours and was buried without the family's knowledge in a mass grave in Kendal. Mr Chubb said Friday's memorial was an 'important recognition that Faith existed'. 'I'd like to think my mother would be proud of what we've done,' he added. 'She carried this secret with her for all those years.' Cumbria Police confirmed it had investigated allegations of historic abuse and said it 'would welcome any new information which would assist officers … following concerns raised in relation to these premises'. Earlier this month a public event in Cornwall condemned the treatment of victims of the forced adoption scandal, as campaigners called for an official government apology for the state's role in the 'cruel' practice. This clip contains strong language. Lyn Rodden, 88, recalls the moment her baby son was taken away from her and the 'cruel' treatment she endured at Rosemundy mother and baby home A plaque recognising their suffering was unveiled in the village of St Agnes by Lyn Rodden who was 19 when she was sent to Rosemundy mother and baby home. Ms Rodden, now 88, described the home as a 'slave camp' where they were 'forced to do laundry for the staff and villagers' and scrub the flag stones in the building whilst heavily pregnant. 'It's the cruelest place I've ever been, prison would have better than that, and it's lived with my all my life,' she told ITV News. In 1956 she gave birth to her son Mark but was pressured to give him up for adoption. For 50 years, all she had to remember him by was 'a blurry photo the size of a postage stamp', until Mark tracked her down as an adult. 'All these politicians should be ashamed of themselves,' she said in reference to the government's refusal to issue a formal apology to survivors.' Dr Phil Frampton, who was born in Rosemundy mother and baby home, is calling on the government to apologise to 'help survivors begin to heal' Dr Phil Frampton, who organised the event in Cornwall and was born at the Rosemundy home in 1953, said the plaque offered survivors the 'opportunity to develop a sense of healing'. Dr Frampton spent his childhood in care, describing the mistreatment and racism he faced growing up as 'cruel'. He told ITV News: 'My social services files record someone as saying 'there's no chance of having a mixed race child adopted or fostered in the south of England' … It was a racial issue.' Rosemundy Mother and Baby Home in St Agnes, Cornwall, pictured in the 1950s. / Credit: ITV News / Supplied The unveiling of the plaque in Cornwall was attended by mothers and adult adoptees, some whom had travelled across the country to mark the occasion. Ann Andic, whose son was forcibly adopted in London, described how the service and acknowledgement of the suffering as a 'huge relief'. 'It's like a weight has been lifted, because I know now that I'm not alone, despite what I've been told,' she told ITV News. 'I had to stop myself crying, I felt tears rolling down my face uncontrollably, because it's being acknowledged. 'It's beginning to be known that it happened to so many of us. We were sworn to secrecy, to not even tell anyone we had given birth.' Ann Andic, who travelled from London to Cornwall for the ceremony acknowledging the suffering of survivors of mother and baby homes, said 'a weight has been lifted' The Church of England has previously said that 'we are deeply saddened by any pain and distress experienced by those connected to mother and baby homes.' 'That some children who died in these homes were buried in unmarked graves is a tragedy that raises deeply painful questions for families and communities.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected. We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to engage with those impacted to provide support.' If you have been affected by the issues in this report, please visit the links for help and support: Movement for Adoption Apology – provides information on forced and coerced adoption in the UK and around the globe provides information on forced and coerced adoption in the UK and around the globe PAC UK – Specialist therapy, advice, support, counselling and training for all affected by adoption and permanency – Specialist therapy, advice, support, counselling and training for all affected by adoption and permanency The Diocese of Winchester has issued an appeal for information, find out more on their website here Safe Spaces – an independent service offering confidential support to survivors of Church-related abuse on 0300 303 1056 or on their website Samaritans is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone 116 123 (a free 24-hour helpline) STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Martin Lewis travel money advice on specialist overseas card
"Don't pay to pay," he says in his Money saving Expert newsletter. "We're heading for summer, and if you're planning to go abroad, there are a host of hidden costs to avoid - however you pay. "A set of specialist overseas cards give you the same near-perfect exchange rates the banks get, every time you travel (so sort it now, and you needn't do it again)." Recommended reading: Should I withdraw cash in pounds or the local currency? When abroad, always pay and withdraw cash in the local currency, not pounds. With these cards, you only get the special rate if the card does the conversion. So if overseas ATMs/shops ask: "Do you want to convert to pounds?", say no. Martin explains: "If you have, or get, a specialist overseas card, then there is no doubt that using it and paying in euros is always correct (though do ensure you repay in full to minimise the interest). Going outside of EU in the next couple of weeks? If so & uv never used an E-Sim to cut mobile costs, we'd love to talk to you so we can film & you can report back your +ve or -ve experience for my @itvMLshow Travel Special. Interested? pls email the team at martinlewis@ — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) April 28, 2025 "Yet even without one of these, if you're using your plastic abroad, while the chart shows with one bank there's a very minor gain for paying in pounds – it's negligible. Whereas get it wrong, and you can lose out a lot. So for safety and simplicity's sake, the golden rule is: If using a card and you're asked whether you want to pay in pounds or pay in local currency (eg, Euros) always say the local currency (the same almost certainly applies US dollars when in the States or other currencies elsewhere too)." What else do I need to think about before I travel? Don't forget to buy travel insurance - ideally buy this as soon as you book your holiday in case you fall ill or something stops you being able to go on holiday. Also, there's still time to order a GHIC card, but be quick. The UK GHIC is a key benefit that lets Brits get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay. It replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). And, think about your mobile deal - do you need an eSim? Want to lock in the rate today, rather than on the day you spend? The advice is to get a prepaid travel card. Specialist prepaid cards let you load on to them in advance, and choose the day the currency's converted. So you're taking a punt on how you think rates will move.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Britain's Got Talent 2025: How to vote for your favourite BGT finalist
VOTING for your favourite finalist on Britain's Got Talent 2025 is a straightforward process, but there are a few key steps and rules to keep in mind to ensure your vote counts. There are several methods and voting is only open during specific windows announced during each live episode of BGT. Here's everything you need to know. 4 How to vote for your favourite BGT finalist To vote for your favourite BGT finalist online, you need to visit the official ITV voting website at or, if you're in Scotland, Before you can cast your vote, you must register on the website or BGT app using your UK mobile number. This involves verifying your number by entering it and then typing in a passcode sent via text message. This step is mandatory even if you're voting for your fave BGT finalist from a tablet or computer — it helps ensure that each person can only use their own allocated votes. Once registered, when the voting window opens during the live show, which will be announced by hosts Ant and Dec, you'll be able to cast up to five free votes per registered mobile number. These votes can all go to one act or be split among different acts, but any unused votes will expire once the voting window closes and cannot be rolled over to future rounds. The website is compatible with screen readers, making the voting process more inclusive for viewers with visual impairments. Voting via phone Alternatively, you can also vote on BGT by phone using two premium-rate options. The first is the Premium Rate Telephone Service (PRTS), where you dial the '09' number shown on screen for your chosen act. Each call costs 50 pence plus your network's access charge. BGT fans go wild over 'sexiest act ever' as magician turns up the heat on ITV show and judge brands her 'smoking hot' The second is the Mobile Short Dial Code (MSDC), a five to seven-digit number unique to each act, which you dial from your UK mobile. Each MSDC vote also costs 50 pence. After dialling, you'll hear a recorded message confirming your vote. Note that you cannot vote by texting the MSDC number. There are no limits to how many times you can vote by phone. However, BGT producers reserve the right to disqualify votes if more than 600 are cast for one act from a single number — this is considered an attempt to unfairly influence the outcome. 4 For every phone vote, 15 pence goes to the Royal Variety Charity, so you can support a good cause alongside your chosen act(s). As explains: "MSDCs help our viewers better understand the costs involved with voting. There are no network access charges when voting in this way. "When calling premium rate '09' numbers from mobiles, calls usually cost considerably more than if calling from a landline and the cost can vary from mobile network to network." Voting from outside the UK and using the app Voting is only open to viewers in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Votes from outside these areas, including the Republic of Ireland, will not be counted. You cannot vote using the app this year either. As ITV explained: "Unfortunately the Britain's Got Talent app voting is unavailable for the 2025 series." Finally, always pay attention to on-air announcements about when voting opens and closes — votes cast outside these windows will not be counted. If you encounter technical issues, check your network connection or wait a moment before trying again, as high demand can also sometimes cause delays. The BGT semi-finals continue on ITV1 at 7pm on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
