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My brush with death and how a stern talking-to from my sister Carole made me change my ways: Why Kate’s ‘Naughty Uncle Gary’ finally gave up partying after being ‘awestruck’ by the Princess’s brave cancer battle
Gary Goldsmith, the Princess of Wales’s self-styled “naughty uncle,” has revealed how a serious health scare and a firm intervention from his sister Carole Middleton prompted him to give up alcohol and partying. Goldsmith, who had already lost six stone using weight-loss injections, suffered a life-threatening episode of internal bleeding linked to liver disease at…
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England’s 1966 World Cup heroes were fun, humble and unlike today’s stars
A Guardian columnist reflects on personal encounters with England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, marking 60 years since the triumph, portraying the players as down-to-earth and approachable in contrast with the wealth and detachment of today’s Premier League stars. The piece uses anecdotes involving Geoff Hurst, Alf Ramsey and the Charlton brothers to illustrate an era…
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Voters in Manchester choose a mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left city hall for Downing Street
Voters across Greater Manchester went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new metro mayor to succeed Andy Burnham, who stepped down after becoming Britain’s prime minister. The election also serves as an early test of public opinion on the governing Labour Party, whose declining popularity Burnham is now trying to reverse from Downing…
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Carmakers ‘delaying investment in UK factories until EV sales rules relaxed’
Carmakers are holding back final investment decisions for their UK factories until the government relaxes rules requiring an increasing share of new car sales to be electric, according to Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Manufacturers with existing UK operations are weighing whether to build new models domestically…
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Volunteers and council workers alike celebrate as city earns coveted awards for parks – thestar.co.uk
Sheffield has gained its 19th Green Flag Award after Shire Brook Valley Nature Reserve was recognised, while several community-run green spaces also received Green Flag Community Awards. The recognition highlights the work of council staff, volunteers, partners and local groups in maintaining welcoming, accessible and environmentally managed public spaces. Shire Brook Valley benefited from habitat…
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10 American actors who butchered a British accent
This is a listicle-style entertainment piece rounding up American actors whose attempts at British accents on screen were widely considered unconvincing. Such pieces are popular with film fans and highlight the difficulty of accent work, even among accomplished performers, when tackling a notoriously tricky regional or national dialect. The article does not provide substantive detail…
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Books and walking are key to living long lives, say residents in England’s healthiest postcodes…while drugs, cheap alcohol and fast food are blamed in the town with the lowest life expectancy
Residents in some of England’s healthiest postcodes have credited habits such as reading and regular walking with helping them live longer, according to a report examining stark regional disparities in life expectancy across the country. By contrast, people in the town identified as having the lowest life expectancy in England pointed to drug use, cheap…
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Britain’s scandalous treatment of Afghan special forces who fought alongside UK laid bare in damning report
A defence select committee report has concluded there were “serious failings” and “material defects” in how the Ministry of Defence handled sanctuary applications from former Afghan special forces soldiers, known as the Triples, who fought alongside UK troops. MPs found the MoD “did not adequately understand or apply” evidence of the units’ relationship with Britain,…
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Burnham explains why £8.4bn nuclear submarine investment will boost UK defence, jobs and apprenticeships
Andy Burnham is set to announce an £8.4bn investment on Thursday to develop the UK’s next generation of nuclear-armed submarines, part of preparing the Dreadnought-class fleet for service by the 2030s. The vessels will replace the ageing Vanguard-class submarines and carry Trident 2 D5 ballistic missiles, with Burnham framing the spending as both a defence…