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

The winner of an annual cheese rolling race in Gloucestershire has donated her prize to a food charity in London.
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.

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Daily Mail​

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How DOES Sir Rod Stewart still do it at 80? Secrets behind Maggie May rocker's eternal vitality (and how he maintains THAT hair) as he's set to take Glastonbury

At 80 years old, Rod Stewart is still delighting fans with energetic performances while sporting an impressively youthful head of blond rocker hair - so it's perhaps no surprise that after decades in the industry, it was in November confirmed that he would play the Legends slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. And experts have now revealed the secrets behind his vitality ahead of the appearance - which will mark 23 years since the musician's last stint at the Somerset festival in 2002. At the time of the announcement, the singer was 79 - and has since celebrated his milestone birthday. Yet despite being decades older than many of the other acts in the line-up, the star has shown no signs of slowing down over recent years; not only displaying an impressive stamina, but also looking years younger than his age. However, his ability to perform at the highest level is no accident, according to men's health specialist GP Dr Jeff Foster, who described him as 'the epitome of being the Peter Pan of pop, rarely ageing and with the looks and energy of someone at least two decades younger'. The medical director of men's health organisation said that the octogenarian as 'defying the typical expectations of ageing'. This, the medic told FEMAIL, is 'no accident'. He explained: 'Despite his advancing years, he's managed to avoid the all-too-common "middle-age spread" and remains in top form, set to perform in front of thousands at Glastonbury. 'That alone tells us this is a man who takes his health seriously.' The medic said discipline likely plays a strong role in Sir Rod's longevity - listing what type of activities this could include. The rocker could be staving off the effects of ageing via a regular - and likely daily - exercise regime. This, according to the doctor, may include activities like resistance training to preserve muscle mass. 'We're talking also talking a clean, protein-rich diet, minimal alcohol intake, and a well curated blend of vitamins and supplements,' he continued. In addition, Dr Foster suggested that Sir Rod could be working with a private GP behind the scenes, keeping track of vital health metrics. 'Regular blood tests, hormone checks (particularly testosterone), and early interventions are key at this stage in a man's life,' the medic revealed. 'A dip in these markers can rapidly accelerate the ageing process , but proactive management can keep a man feeling decades younger.' When it comes to the rocker, it's not just his energy levels and health that make him seem younger than his years - his looks also knock off decades, according to Aesthetic Expert and Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics Dr Ross Perry. Dr Perry told FEMAIL: 'Sir Rod Stewart looks incredible for his age, and in truth, should probably look decades older, especially considering the amount of time he's spent in the sun over the years.' The medic believes that Sir Rod 'takes care of himself', saying he 'always appears healthy, with a warm glow to his skin'. It's not all about the effort Rod puts in though, Dr Perry suggested, noting: 'From an aesthetic perspective, I'd say he's genetically blessed with good skin, which does run in families, but lifestyle plays a huge role.' In addition to this, steps that can be taken are all important factors, including a healthy diet, minimal sun exposure in later years, adequate sleep, and good skincare. Dr Perry also considered the idea that Sir Rod may have had some help from aesthetic doctors over the years - though this is unconfirmed. 'It's very possible Sir Rod has had a few subtle 'tweakments' over the years,' the medic told FEMAIL. 'These might include a minor eyelid lift to counteract drooping or hooded lids, which is very common with age, and perhaps a touch of Botox around the eyes to soften crow's feet. 'His cheeks still look full, which often hollow with age, suggesting he may have had a small amount of dermal filler but if so, it's been done very naturally and conservatively.' Discussing another aspect of the musician's youthful look, the expert added: 'His teeth are also well-maintained, not unnaturally white or obviously veneered, but youthful and suited to his appearance. That's likely the work of a skilled cosmetic dentist.' One of Sir Rod's features that cannot be ignored is his signature hairstyle, described by Dr Perry as on of his 'most striking features'. 'It's remained largely unchanged for the last four decades, still thick, lustrous and highlighted blonde which is rare for a man of his age, as most would be experiencing significant greying or hair thinning by now,' he continued. 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Explaining the method behind Steve's hairstyle, Elliot said: '[It] was created by putting mayonnaise on his hair and rubbing a towel on his head really fast. And he said he got this from Rod Stewart.' The oily condiment has long been used as a DIY hair mask as it's packed with nourishing properties. Sir Rod's 2025 Glastonbury appearance was announced by co-organiser Emily Eavis in a post on Instagram last year which read: 'Bringing Sir Rod Stewart back for the Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid Stage is everything we could wish for.' 'What a way to bow out with the final legends slot before we take a fallow year. We cannot wait.' The singer will become one of the oldest artists to perform a major set at the event. Burt Bacharach played the Pyramid stage in 2015 at the age of 87, while Paul McCartney headlined the week after his 80th birthday back in 2022. The five-day festival takes place in June at Somerset's Worth Farm and draws in around around 200,000 music fans each year to watch some of the world's biggest musicians perform. The official Glastonbury tickets went on sale on November 14 and November 17. The stakes were even higher than usual, as 2026 will be a fallow year, meaning the festival will not go ahead. Rod's Glastonbury announcement also came just days after the rocker told fans he plans to end large scale world tours. He had claimed his 2025 European and North American tour dates would be his last major projects - but admitted he didn't want to hang up the microphone just yet. 'This will be the end of large-scale world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire,' the musician revealed. 'I love what I do and I do what I love. I'm fit, have a full head of hair and can run 100 metres in 18 seconds at the jolly old age of 79.' The Maggie May hitmaker added he wants to to perform at more intimate venues for his next tour slated for 2026, after the release of album Swing Fever with Jools Holland earlier this year. He explained: 'I'd like to move onto a Great American Songbook, Swing Fever tour the year after next - smaller venues and more intimacy. But then again, I may not. The ambiguous Sir Rod Stewart.' Sir Rod is currently headlining a residency in Las Vegas from March until June at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Speaking to the Soccer A-Z podcast in 2024, Rod revealed: 'Next year is really really busy but it is the best job in the world! I travel I sing, I'm happy and I have a drink after the show and I get paid for it!' he exclaimed. And the rocker is looking at many years in the game ahead. Back in July last year, Sir Rod said he has 'no fear' about death ahead of his 80th birthday and added he aims to stick around for another 15 years. 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Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Professional homemaker who offers £200 workshops in cooking and cleaning has followers as young as 10 years old - but insists she's NOT a tradwife

A professional homemaker has revealed how she found global success among fans as young as 10 by teaching domestic skills - and why onlookers should never mistake her for a tradwife. Charlie Gray's West Sussex countryside home she shares with her husband Simon and their three children is by no means in perfect order, but that's not her goal. 'It's about slowing down and taking the time to do small things that end up making you feel better if you've had a stressful day,' Charlie, 44, of Ask Charlie, told Femail. Small things, she explained, include ditching microwave meals for homemade dishes, planning housework, and taking time to put household items in their rightful place rather than casting them aside after use. Older generations may consider her tips basic. But, according to Charlie, the mother of Archie, 16, Coco, 15, and Gus, 14, society is witnessing a downward trajectory in home economics skills. Evidence suggests similarly. Not only is there a takeaway boom, thanks to services like Deliveroo distracting Britons from home-cooked options, but a study by Mintel found 76 per cent of the nation's parents, with children aged 6 to 17, say that their offspring have zero cleaning responsibilities. According to Charlie, the trend is resulting in individuals who are unable to adequately care for their homes due to a lack of life experience and education. That's where she steps in. 'I teach practical skills, cooking, running a home, making life easier. From batch cooking, to meal planning and organising your time.' With her values and dedication to a relaxed home, people might be quick to label her a tradwife, but Charlie believes them to be wrong. 'I don't want to be associated with them at all. I run my own business. I have my own income. I pay taxes. So I'm not a tradwife.' Charlie owes her homemaking skillset to her mother, who equipped her with the necessary skills to have a comfortable home life from an early age. 'I had an amazing mother who taught my brother and I how to do most things, and I grew up thinking that that was normal,' she said. When she became a mother, her husband travelled for work, and so she sought outside help to ease her load of raising three children born consecutively over three years. The influencer, who has more than 34,000 followers on Instagram, is married to husband Simon, 18 years her senior, whom she met while working as a secretary - she described him in an interview with The Telegraph last month as 'the most wonderful man I've ever met'. His career, running a successful seafood business, has meant she is able to stay at home and care for the couple's children, Archie, Coco and Gus. Charlie said, 'We didn't have any family that could come and help if there was a problem, or if I'd had a sleepless night. There wasn't anyone to call and say, 'Can you come and be an extra pair of hands?' So, we had an au pair.' Though she didn't know it at the time, that hire would help spark her lightbulb moment for her business because she quickly realised that others didn't share her level of understanding regarding domestic skills. 'It was then that I realised that practical skills haven't been passed down through the generations like they used to be,' she said. @askcharliehow My sourdough masterclass, I have made it as easy as I possibly can to teach you how to make your own starter and bake sourdough bread at home, with very tutorials and the note that go with I take you step by step how to make wonderful loaves at home! The links on my bio #sourdoughbread #sourdoughstarter #sourdoughbaking #makeyourownsourdoughstarter #onlinecourse ♬ original sound - Charlie Gray Charlie believes cooking skills dwindled in the late '70s when ready meals became a novelty in the UK. 'It was easy just to pop something in the oven that was frozen, and it was an exciting novelty. 'Now, there's a shift in society where people don't want ultra-processed food, people want to look after themselves. They want to know what they're eating, they don't want to eat rubbish, and so I think it's a circle back.' By 2018, when her children were a little older, Charlie decided to act on her findings and launched Ask Charlie. Explaining on her website, she writes, 'I am very aware that a lot of these practical skills that were passed down from parents have been lost over time. Without home economics lessons being taught anymore, I hope with Ask Charlie I can help. With her booming social media accounts, where she shares her tips and tricks, comprehensive online courses, and a podcast, Charlie has helped thousands of people across the globe. 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'It's very daunting when you leave home and go off to university, or a first job, or whatever it might be, if you don't know how to do things. So, I think it's about preparing them for the future.' It's not just her children's future she's busy prepping for, but also her own. What that entails exactly, she can't yet reveal. But she assured Femail that a string of 'very exciting' projects are in the works.

The Guardian

2 hours ago

• The Guardian

Move on from a bad workplace

Re Zoe Williams's article (MI6 has appointed its first female leader. What took it so long?, 16 June), after being told by my (new, younger, male) boss that I was 'motherly' and 'aggressive', I handed in my notice. Shame I had to leave the job I loved, but better that than working for dickheads. If they're not interested in you, it is not worth trying to change them from within. Move on to where you are appreciated; good workplaces do JacksonLondon While not wishing to doubt the sincerity of Marci Shore, who said 'The lesson of 1933 is you get out sooner rather than later', and her fellow professors, should they not be anticipating the lesson of 1938 and move further away from the US than Canada (Why a professor of fascism left the US: 'The lesson of 1933 is – you get out', 16 June)?Robert Arrowsmith Blackburn, Lancashire I am a retired teacher, and one morning I asked one of my students: 'How are you this morning?'. 'I'm good,' she replied. 'Don't you mean 'I'm well?'' 'Yeah, I'm well good.' Language evolves, and changes, and the younger generation is always one step (at least) ahead of us (Letters, 20 June).Iain FentonLancaster 'When did cooks start pan‑frying rather than just frying?' asks Dr Mary Oldham (Letters, 18 June). About the same time that they started oven MaltBythorn, Cambridgeshire 'What else can you fry in?' asks Dr Mary Oldham. A deep fat fryer. Or an air EvansEarby, Lancashire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.