logo
Food charity benefits from Gloucestershire cheese rolling race winner's prize

Food charity benefits from Gloucestershire cheese rolling race winner's prize

Leader Live05-06-2025

Ava Sender Logan, 20, who won the women's race by tumbling down Cooper's Hill in Brockworth last month, was racing for Refugee Community Kitchen, which supports displaced people in northern France and homeless people in London and Edinburgh.
The biochemistry student beat 25 other female contestants to win an 8lb (3kg) wheel of Double Gloucester, a semi-hard cheese renowned for its strong and savoury flavour.
Miss Sender Logan, who volunteers for Refugee Community Kitchen, said it was a 'full circle moment' to see the winning cheese being used to help feed rough sleepers in north London.
Miss Sender Logan told the PA news agency: 'It's a full-circle moment. It's really sweet. The cheese has travelled from Gloucestershire to Oxford to London to the kitchen.
'The cheese is delicious, so I'm really happy people can try it.'
Miss Sender Logan, who was a first-time competitor in the annual daredevil competition, said she was stunned when she won.
'I was trying to hold my head, stay on my feet as much as I could, but there's only so much you can do,' she said.
'I was bruised, I was battered but there were no broken bones.'
Refugee Community Kitchen distributes hundreds of meals a week and has won a number of prestigious awards, including the Observer Food Monthly's outstanding achievement award.
The charity, which was set up by four friends in 2015, has been serving 'nutritious food without judgment' to those fleeing war, poverty, persecution and climate change for a decade.
Co-founder Sam Jones said: 'It's a really nice kind of full circle to have the cheese that rolled down the hill, the Double Gloucester that's going into a cauliflower and broccoli cheese that's going out to the street today.
'We've got about 85 to 90 people that will be scoffing that up in Archway in north London.
'It really fills us full of joy and satisfaction to be able to do that. We're deeply indebted to Ava for putting her life and limbs on the line to get the cheese.'
Mr Jones said he hopes Miss Sender Logan's support will help raise awareness of the work the charity does.
'We've served four and a half million meals in London and in Calais over the last 10 years, so we're just really chuffed to have people on board to do this amazing fundraising and to raise awareness of our charity,' he said.
The Gloucestershire cheese-rolling race has been celebrated for centuries and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.
This year, there were seven races in all, two of them in memory of former cheese rolling winners who have since died.
To learn more about Refugee Community Kitchen and Miss Sender Logan's fundraiser, you can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ava-sender-logan-roll.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Prime Minister weighs in on Kneecap row over Glastonbury show
Prime Minister weighs in on Kneecap row over Glastonbury show

Wales Online

time6 hours ago

  • Wales Online

Prime Minister weighs in on Kneecap row over Glastonbury show

Prime Minister weighs in on Kneecap row over Glastonbury show Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared in court this week charged with displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organisation Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London (Image: PA ) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not think rap group Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is 'appropriate'. He made the comments after one of the trio, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, appeared in court this week charged with displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah during a gig last November. In an interview with The Sun, Sir Keir was asked if he thought the band should perform at the festival. 'No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this,' he replied. Adding: 'This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' On Wednesday the west Belfast rapper (whose stage name is Mo Chara) was cheered by hundreds of supporters bearing "Free Speech, Free Palestine" flags as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court with bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh. Ó hAnnaidh's defence team argued that the charge, which was brought on May 22, was outside the six-month window required to fall under the court's jurisdiction. Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case to August to hear arguments on whether the court has jurisdiction. The rapper, known for songs including Get Your Brits Out, has been released on unconditional bail and Kneecap are scheduled to perform at 4pm next Saturday on Glastonbury Festival's West Holts stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Article continues below The Times reports that the BBC will not show the set live on one of its main TV channels, instead featuring pop star Jade, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile and rock band Weezer who will be performing at the same time. But, according to the newspaper, Kneecap's hour-long performance is expected to be made available on demand afterwards via BBC iPlayer. BBC bosses are said by the Times to be "weighing up" whether to stream the show live on one of the five dedicated iPlayer channels being set up to support the event. The members of Kneecap (Image: Getty Images for BFI ) The footage from the gig in which Ó hAnnaidh is alleged to have displayed an illegal flag was circulated online in the days following a Kneecap performance at US music festival Coachella, where the band repeatedly accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people. Last month more than 100 Welsh musicians including Adwaith, Gruff Rhys and Gwenno issued a joint statement in solidarity with the group. 'Kneecap is not the story, the story is the slaughter in Gaza,' they said. This came after a show of solidarity from musicians such as Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Pulp, the Pogues, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC, Thin Lizzy and Yard Act. "Genocide is the story," they said. "And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British Government is the real story. "Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people." Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the BBC 'should not be showing' Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury, adding: 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.' Last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after Ms Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. The band split the grant between two Belfast youth organisations, Irish language group Glór Na Móna and Shankill Road's R-City. Following this week's court hearing, Ó hAnnaidh said: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. But most importantly: free, free Palestine.' Kneecap denies supporting Hezbollah. In their initial statement responding to the charge, the band said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction.' The Israeli military has bombed large swathes of Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack in October 2023 in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Gaza's health ministry has since said that Israel's attacks have killed at least 55,637 people. Article continues below

Jack Draper's Queen's hopes dashed by big-serving Jiri Lehecka
Jack Draper's Queen's hopes dashed by big-serving Jiri Lehecka

The Herald Scotland

timea day ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Jack Draper's Queen's hopes dashed by big-serving Jiri Lehecka

It was a tough loss for Draper on home soil with the British number one angrily smashing his racket and damaging a digital advertising hoarding as the match slipped away. But it has been a successful week for the 23-year-old, with his run to the last four earning him a top-four seeding at Wimbledon. 'It means a lot,' said Lehecka. 'You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor.' One poor service game at the start, punctuated by two aces and a double fault on break point, ultimately cost Draper the first set. He did not get a sniff on the Lehecka serve, with his fellow 23-year-old regularly sending down aces approaching 140mph. Jiri Lehecka celebrates reaching the final (Adam Davy/PA) In the second Draper began making inroads, a stunning flicked backhand cross-court winner helping bring up his first break points. But Lehecka repelled all four to hold for 2-2, with Draper beginning to cut a frustrated figure on the baseline. With singer Jon Bon Jovi watching from the posh seats, the tension was briefly lifted with a blast of his biggest hit 'Livin' on a Prayer' at the change over. Draper re-emerged in a blaze of glory, an ace sealing a hold to love before a winner down the line levelled the match. Jon Bon Jovi, top left, was in attendance for the semi-final (Adam Davy/PA) Lehecka forced a break point at 4-4 but netted after a long, tense exchange and Draper survived. However, Lehecka was looking the stronger and, after a comfortable hold, snatched the break for 6-5 with a stunning backhand winner. Draper smashed his racket in anger, earning a code violation, before Lehecka finished the job to win in two hours and seven minutes, ensuring Britain's wait for a first Queen's winner since Andy Murray in 2016 goes on.

Glamorous racegoers brave soaring temperatures in sky-high head-gear and bold colours at final day of Ascot
Glamorous racegoers brave soaring temperatures in sky-high head-gear and bold colours at final day of Ascot

Scottish Sun

timea day ago

  • Scottish Sun

Glamorous racegoers brave soaring temperatures in sky-high head-gear and bold colours at final day of Ascot

Racegoers were armed with sunglasses and hand-held fans today HOT STUFF Glamorous racegoers brave soaring temperatures in sky-high head-gear and bold colours at final day of Ascot Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STYLE met SPF at Ascot today as racegoers braved sky-high temperatures for the final day of the festival. However, the hot weather certainly hadn't prevented attendees from putting their best foot forward in the fashion stakes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Sky-high head-gear took centre stage on the final day of Royal Ascot Credit: PA 9 Unsurprisingly milliner Anna Gilder (left) had perfected her hat game with a little help from her friends Credit: PA 9 Fellow hat-maker Rachel Ellis Oates showcased this show-stopping piece Credit: PA 9 It wasn't all summer dresses, sharp tailoring kept this guest looking fly Credit: PA Day five saw guests arriving in a wash of rainbow brights with subtlety ditched in favour of bold and daring ensembles. Naturally head-gear was the focal point of many of the ladies' outfits with the woman showcasing an impressive display of hats, fascinators and headpieces. Keen to keep their cool, many racegoers came prepared for the hot weather, armed with hand-held fans and parasols. And of course plenty of sunglasses were seen perched on the noses of the well-heeled attendees today as squinting is hardly stylish. The famous event attracts plenty of famous faces, including celebrities, sports personalities and of course royalty. Each year the royal family flocks to Ascot to witness the action. However, on Thursday the Princess of Wales pulled out of Royal Ascot at the last minute as she continues her cancer recovery. It is understood that Kate, 43, was "disappointed" that she wasn't going but 'has to find the right balance' on returning to full time duty. She attended Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter in recent days plus a visit to V&A East Storehouse last week. Known as the pinnacle of British horse racing, Royal Ascot is not just about the thrilling sport but also a celebration of style, tradition, and culinary indulgence. Kate drops out of Royal Ascot at the last minute as she 'finds the right balance' in return to work after cancer Each year, this iconic event attracts over 250,000 visitors across five days, offering an unforgettable experience steeped in history and glamour. Dress to Impress Fashion takes centre stage at Royal Ascot, with each enclosure offering its unique sartorial expectations. The prestigious Royal Enclosure demands the highest level of formality. Gentlemen are required to don morning suits complete with top hats, while ladies must adhere to a refined dress code: dresses or skirts that fall just above the knee or longer, straps of at least one inch in width, and, of course, a statement hat is non-negotiable. For those in the Queen Anne Enclosure, the dress code is still elegant but slightly more relaxed, allowing for a touch of personal flair. Meanwhile, the Windsor Enclosure is the most informal of the three. Although there's no strict dress code here, smart attire is encouraged to maintain the event's sophisticated atmosphere. A Historic Beginning Royal Ascot has a fascinating history that dates back to 1711. 9 Guests camer well-prepared for the sweltering termperatures Credit: PA 9 Hand-held fans were the perfect accessory for keeping guests cool Credit: PA 9 No hat? No problem! A paradol provided shade to this glam guest Credit: PA 9 This brightly-dressed racegoer was all-smiles as she arrived It all began when Queen Anne, during a ride from Windsor Castle, came across a piece of land she thought was perfect for horse racing, describing it as 'ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch.' This marked the birth of Ascot Racecourse. The first Royal Meeting was held in 1768, and over the years, it has grown into Britain's most iconic racing event, blending centuries-old tradition with the excitement and glamour of the modern day. The Daily Schedule Each day at Royal Ascot is meticulously planned to ensure a seamless blend of racing and pageantry. Gates open at 10:30am, with the much-anticipated royal procession taking place at 2pm, a moment that sets the tone for the day's festivities. Racing enthusiasts can look forward to seven nail-biting races, starting at 2:30pm and concluding at 6:10pm. Beyond the Racing: A Feast for the Senses Royal Ascot is not just a sporting event; it's a feast for the senses. Culinary excellence is a hallmark of the occasion, with 350 chefs crafting an array of exquisite dishes. ROYAL ASCOT BETTING OFFERS - BEST FREE BET RACING DEALS ROYAL ASCOT LIVE - ALL THE LATEST ON EVERY RACE Across the five days, guests will indulge in 220,000 handcrafted afternoon tea cakes, 7,300 Angus steaks, and 3,000 kilograms of salmon. ROYAL ASCOT BETTING OFFERS - BEST FREE BET RACING DEALS ROYAL ASCOT LIVE - ALL THE LATEST ON EVERY RACE The Queen Anne Enclosure, in particular, offers a gastronomic treat at the 1768 Grill, where the renowned Argentinian restaurant Gaucho serves up mouthwatering steaks. As for beverages, the statistics are as impressive as the event itself. An estimated 65,000 bottles of Champagne and 100,000 bottles of wine are consumed, ensuring the celebrations flow as freely as the bubbly. A Grand Affair The scale of Royal Ascot is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2023, the event saw approximately 400 helicopters and 1,000 luxury cars ferrying guests to the racecourse. On average, 60,000 attendees graced the grounds each day, making it a true highlight of Britain's social calendar.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store